Vectors, PS3 Linux, and Knights not being squire – Welcome to the Sword that lost its edge a long time ago known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. I’m your host that is a little happier this week. Why? I don’t know. And no I didn’t get any. Any games (foul foul minds) of course, I’m kinda in a dvd rut. I have a feeling by next and the next couple of weeks that will severely change though. There are at least 4-5 games that I am s…tting on waiting with baited breath that I can’t wait to get my hands on for you kiddies. Then wonderful reviews will come and everybody will rejoice, yeahie!
Ode To Morgan Webb
Suddenly Pong is my favorite game. This really is a superb little picture of our princess, the fabric ever so caresses the skin and it slips into the…hrmmm note from the editor, it reads “Less Smut, More gaming”. *balls up and throws into the nearby trashcan, two points!* Anyhow, Pong was one of the first video games on record; its making a comeback I hear and Rockstar can’t wait to bring it out. Rockstar Games presents Pong, the bloody revenge for your XBox 360. (yes I just slammed table tennis, bite me)
Quick news stories of interest
Terra Soft today announced that it will bring its Yellow Dog Linux v5.0 to Sony’s forthcoming PlayStation 3. This news makes Sony’s announcement of Linux support via the console 100% official and means that users will essentially be able to turn their gaming system into a fully-functioning computer, replete with whatever applications they feel like installing, be it for entertainment or business. According to Terra Soft’s website, Yellow Dog Linux v5.0 will be available in mid-November for the PlayStation 3, and then a version for Apple PowerPC systems will follow shortly thereafter.
Following the company’s standard release system, v5.0 will be made available in a three-phase product rollout. At launch, users of the company’s YDL.net service (which comes at a cost) will be able to download the OS to their computer and burn a bootable disc for installation on the PlayStation 3. Two weeks later, the company will offer ready-made installation discs for purchase through the site. Two weeks after that, it will be made freely available on public mirrors. In short, if you’re willing to wait one month after the system’s release, you’ll be able to download Linux for it for free.
Yellow Dog Linux v5.0 will come with both a single-click installation mode for casual users and an advanced installer for power users. In other words, Terra Soft aims to allow even Linux novices an extremely easy entry point to the OS, while also allowing veterans the ability to customize the system to their liking.
The OS, which is based upon Fedora Core 5, will ship with the following components:
# kernel 2.6.16
# gcc 3.4.4 and glibc 2.4
# Cell SDK 1.1
# OpenOffice.org 2.0.2
# FireFox 1.5.0 and Thunderbird 1.5.0
# Nautilus 2.1.4
Wow, the PS3 just turned into a fully functionable computer. Think about it. Linux runs on our computers and well. There are hundreds and hundreds of apps out there including productivity, games, emulators, etc. You’ll be able to run just about anything on your PS3. I’m thinking this opens up maybe printer support, scanners, anything with a usb port and then can be configured by the linux software. There is just so much stuff written on Linux, I’m all a tizzy over this. PS3 just became a favorite for me to buy with this news. All the emulators on linux folks…virtual console/wii could be knocked out of the water by this. But everybody still has to get past that $600-$700 price tag. Yeah the game just became more interesting.
PS3 Games Already Filling Blu-Ray Discs
In an interview with ThreeSpeech, Sony’s worldwide studios chief Phil Harrison revealed that certain PlayStation 3 launch titles are already nearing the point of filling their 25GB of Blu-Ray space. His statements were in response to concerns that Sony opted to make Blu-Ray the format for PS3 games as a way to push its new media (which is going head-to-head with Microsoft’s HD-DVD) onto consumers.
“Already, at our launch titles, we’re getting up close to the 25GB limit that we have on our Blu-Ray discs this year,” Harrison said. “Next year we’ll raise that to 50GB, and I’d expect that we’ll be getting close to that in the fairly near future as well.”
Many have pointed out that PCs and the Xbox 360 are fitting large next-generation games onto DVD. But Harrison insists PS3 games require the extra storage that Blu-Ray provides. “DVD is not sufficient capacity to power the kind of data consumption, or to feed the data consumption needs of Cell and RSX. It’s got nothing to do with movies. Just purely as a gameplay device, we need Blu-Ray to supply the kind of data that PS3 games use.”
Harrison also tries to lay to rest concerns that all this extra space will be filled with non-interactive movies as opposed to gameplay. “It’s not just, as you say, about movies — it’s about 7.1 audio, it’s about animation, it’s about high resolution textures. If you have a graphics chip capable of displaying the textures in a high enough resolution, the designers would want to exploit that benefit creatively.
What the lord giveth, he taketh away. This isn’t a good sign if before launch they are filling up space. I love the excuses though, filled with non-interactive movies (then why don’t you take some out, you idiot!), Or XBox 360 games fit on DVD but PS3 games must require extra storage. Really, do you believe this crap? What he means to say is that the proprietary software is huge and writing the games in the PS3 code, even bigger. Expect Pong and Pac-Man to be among the first releases. Maybe by next year we can write 16 bit games in PS3 code. This kinda stuff really worries me.
Reasons the Sega Genesis was better than the SNES
Vectorman
The odd and twisted little platformer that was supposed to be the Sega Genesis answer to Donkey Kong country. The game had a funky and quirky creature named Refus Q. Orbot. He could use many weapons, including Wave, Ball and Orb guns. He could also morph into various weapons. It was this unique style that set this platformer apart from its apparent rivals. Vectorman naturally had a sequel that included the same great gameplay. It was also supposed to have a sequel for PS2 but that was kinda scrapped. At least we get to enjoy it for the upcoming Sega Genesis collection coming in a few short weeks! (Translation: $19.99 at your local EB and Gamespot stores).
Retro Game of the Week
Knights of the Round – Arcade, SNES
Coming to a Capcom Classics 2 release near you, this original game debuted in the year of 1992 in a Kingdom far far away. Essentially you could be one of the knights, Lancelot, Arthur or Percival as you fought the terrors in your countryside. This game tended to play out a lot like Golden Axe but went one step further with an RPG type interface where there was a level advancement system that brought you new weapons and armour as you go throughout the game. It was very fun to play and actually really addicitve if you had another person of equal skill among your clan to join in the good fight.
PS2
PS2 in Silver
Cabela’s African Safari
Destroy All Humans! 2
Eureka Seven Vol 1: The New Wave
Jampack Volume 15
Justice League Heroes
Tokobot Plus: Mysteries of The Karakuri
Flushed Away
Kim Possible: What’s the Switch
PSP
Scooby Doo! Who’s Watching Who?
WTF: Work Time Fun
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
XBox 360
Splinter Cell: Double Agent
XBox
Destroy All Humans! 2
Justice League: Heroes
Gamecube
Flushed Away
DS
Nintendogs (Dalmatian)
Scooby Doo! Who’s Watching Who?
Justice League Heroes
Strawberry Shortcake StrawberryLand Games
Flushed Away
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
Contact
GBA
Justice League Heroes: The Flash
Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2
Flushed Away
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Tipton Caper
Woohoo, the PS2 in Silver…well its kinda cool I suppose. Though personally I’d like to see it in red. Yeah I know there are skins, not the same thing :-P. Besides I didn’t even put on the stickers that came with my guitar hero game. Stickers really are the root of all evil. (anybody whose bought something used knows what I mean). Anyhow, Justice League Heroes, Destroy All Humans 2 and the quirky little title WTF (Work, Time, Fun, get your mind out of the gutter!) top the release list this week. I might bring myself to buy Justice League but probably not until it goes budget (if it goes budget). I think I’ll save my money for the following week when Marvel Ultimate Alliance comes out. Quick question since its showing up on 4 different systems this week, who the heck would name their game Flushed Away. Seriously…but I guess that is foreshadowing since that is all you are going to do with the $30-$40 anyway if you buy this piece of junk.
Some Final Thoughts and Mutterings
I bought a webcam this week, you know these things really are wonderful. Except I think somebody is watching me now. Or perhaps now. *keeps shifting neck back and forth*. It has also made me increasingly self conscious. I mean I have to be careful when I scratch my butt, pick my nose, and other short comings. I mean what is the world come to when you can’t surf the web and be buck naked at the same time. (*half of you probably left the column right there, the other half left after the opening paragrah, it evens out*). Anyhow kiddoes, go pick up Marvel Ultimate Alliance next week, I think Circuit City or Best Buy is actually running a special where if you buy Marvel Ultimate Alliance you get X3 the Game for free. Heck of a deal really. Oh, I have a mission for you folks. If you buy Marvel Ultimate Alliance at Target where the freebie is you get unlock Daredevil as a character. Let me know the code and if it applies to all copies of Marvel Ultimate Alliance. This is really important, I’m a Daredevil fiend, and I will buy it at Target if I have to. This was actually a huge surprise to me as all pictures I had seen to this point did not include my favorite comic book hero. Now I know he’s in there (albeit as a secret unlockable character). Have fun folks!
As Always,
Kedrix of Aldrianian
(*The Forgotten One*)
