Messages

Wils --

Well, the price is likely set to drop on the DS in the next few months & I'd definitely recommend it when it does. I was a bit disappointed to note that the Micro didn't support older GB titles, but I suppose the remodelling comes at a price. I'm going to pick up one of the new GBA SPs at some point - the models with the new, brighter screen - so I can start trawling through the GB/GBColour back catalogue.

James --

I've seen mixed reviews of PD0 but, given that many people were forced to review from early, buggy code because it was being worked on right to the last minute, it's difficult to know how much was improved for the release version. The Edge review hit on something that puts me off - namely, that the single-player mode is fairly light and not particularly well designed. While I enjoy multiplayer gaming, I still get the most out of the single-player modes - and the original PD had a pretty strong single-player campaign - so I can't see a game slanted in favour of multiplayer being my thing.

Megadeth --

Well, there is that to consider. However, this is supposed to be a home console, not a piece of delicate lab equipment. It should be able to cope with a certain level of mistreatment/misuse without fritzing, and I would hope that the engineers would have taken that into consideration.

I suspect the old saw about never buying the first version of any piece of hardware is accurate enough - it's the version the marketing department want out, not the version the engineers are happy with.

Wils -- I've got a Japanese GBA Micro in the red & gold Famicom colours. It's a gorgeous little piece of kit, and the screen is stunningly bright & sharp.

The big caveat is that the Nintendo DS can also play all GBA games, and has a growing library of bloody great games. Buy the Micro if you really just want a gorgeous little handheld for playing some great GBA games. If you're after games, Wi-Fi Mario Kart and touch-screen fun, buy the DS.

The 360 launch has been... interesting. What I've found surprising is that so far Microsoft aren't shouting about sales figures - usually a bad sign when it comes to a console launch. The issues over crashes & other faults have perhaps been a touch overblown, but it does appear that a significant number of launch units have some problems - possibly caused by an overheating PSU.

Even if I wanted one - and I've seen nothing that interests me about it so far - I wouldn't be touching it with a bargepole for a good few months yet. It's too damn expensive to be an early adopter, and judging by the reports of faults and duff launch games, not really worth the money yet.

Blimey.

A very bittersweet letter. His closing comments sound very final, and I do wonder quite how well he actually is.

The art is beautiful, and I only wish there was some chance of a proper tribute to him in the pages of 2K. He may not have ever been a "name" 2K artist in the way Brian Bolland, Mike McMahon or Kev O'Neill were, but IMO his work on the prog is just as deserving of attention and appreciation.

Thanks again for bringing us this news, Robby, and I do hope that we hear from Massimo again soon.

Oh, of course, especially when it's such a fun read.

...but that doesn't stop a dino-geek from picking little holes in, does it? :-)

Off the top of my head, I don't think the story is set before the first fossils were discovered, but I believe it takes place before they were recognised as being the remains of once-living creatures, rather  than "devil's toenails" etc.

...and unless the story is set post 1860, Pteranodon hadn't even been discovered & named yet, and unless it's post 1900 I doubt anyone would have had that great an idea of exactly what the creature looked like... :-)

[and]

Actually, Red Seas contains the quote of the week and the clunker of the week:

Pteradons? Someone wasn't paying attention in palaeontology class... :-)

[bloody marvellous]

"Personally, I think I'm bloody marvellous!"

Oop - the brick has returned to life. I suspect faulty memory/motherboard issues, but it looks like my Thinkpad is going to struggle on a bit longer...

As my laptop decided today would be the perfect time to transform into a brick, I'm going to have limited access to the 'net for a wee while. If anyone's trying to get in touch, or if you're waiting for something from me, just bear it in mind & I'll try and get back to you as soon as possible.

Feel free to fill this thread with abuse - I probably won't see it anyway ;-)

Anyone for a JOHN SMITH ending?

Fade back in from black. Our tragic couple have been reborn as six-dimensional alien hyperbeings, and we watch as they frolic together through crystalline worldoceans...

...then Dredd gets buggered by an ant.

I know Robbie Morrison's Dredd sometimes gets a slating, but this prog's episode is a prime example of why - he just doesn't seem to get the character at all. Piss-poor.

Just picked this up today, and it's absolutely blinding.

Perhaps the best version of Mario Kart ever - though the original SNES game is pretty damn near perfect - and the Wi-Fi connection works beautifully. My wireless router is already set up for my laptop, and it was a matter of two or three clicks & a quick connection check to get it sorted on the DS. A few minutes later I had the game up & running and was playing with another pair of players in Worldwide mode. No lag, no hiccups and I've played through several Wi-Fi championships now with no problems at all (well, apart from being so rusty that I got my arse tanned!)

It's an essential purchase for DS owners, and I'd highly recommend it anyone else with the cash spare to pick up the game & console bundle that's out today.

Roll on Metroid Prime: Hunters and Animal Crossing!

Noisy --

I think Adventurer is talking about US availability, which is a little bit behind the release dates...

[that]

The next book on for RT after Regene is Realpolitik by Gordon Rennie

Now that is interesting. TBH, I think Rogue is entirely played-out and - even taking the upcoming game into account - I'm very surprised to see the recent revamp collected.

TBH, I think the chances of any kind of "correction sheet" for Red Tide are slim-to-none. Similarly, a second edition correcting these problems seems unlikely.