I'm still trying to figure out all the names, faces and intricacies of these forums but one of the most obvious ones (to me) has been "Brother" Lou. I haven't seen any of his posts for awhile (was gone for a few days myself last week), just wondering if he's temporarily gone?
Maybe I'm just hitting the wrong threads or my timing is off, who knows? I get a lot out of his posts and replies though (oh, and he's responsible for turning me into a gaming freak).
[ July 12, 2005, 04:22 PM: Message edited by: Ben Del Amitri ]
Posted by Wu (Member # 1) on :
He's still around. He just posted here this morning.
Thanks for the heads up!
Posted by samer186 (Member # 4614) on :
hey ben is that you in your picture?
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
Hey Brother Ben, I'm still around, and thanks go to Brother Wu for showing where.
Sorry I haven't been posting like I used to, I've been saving all my typing efforts for a project(s) I'm working on for the time being, but when those things get wrapped up I'll be showing my ugly mug (actually Russel Crowe's ugly mug) all around as usual.
Thanks for the kind words Ben, and BTW, I didn't exactly turn you into a gaming freak, it was already within you and I just helped draw it out of you. (Speaking of which, go get Mobile Light Force 2 for your PS2. The cover art sucks balls, but the game is ever so sweet! And how far have you got on Gradius V?) Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Russell Crowe? You mean that's not you in the avatar?
Still barely into stage 2 of Gradius V (was out of town for much of last week and not much time on the console) - that doesn't make it any less exciting though and Trinity is hauling BUNS on that thing so I'm scraping by vicariously for now.
I'm going to be gone (again) this week, probably from Thursday or Friday until sometime the week after. With a little luck, I'll have some really nice experiences under my belt when I return. I'll start checking into that Mobile Lite Force 2 thing. I also dug up another odd little game for the old Famicon, it's called "Baltron" - I did about as good with it as Trinity's been doing on Gradius V (was an ego boost).
[ July 13, 2005, 01:55 AM: Message edited by: Ben Del Amitri ]
Posted by Calico Jack (Member # 2299) on :
Naturally I can never resist the urge to follow up on somebody's video game recommendation, so I had to just fire up Baltron on the Famicom. Pretty cool! It's a horizontal scrolling shooter that I found rather reminiscent of arcade classics like Scramble and Vanguard, though Baltron didn't come out till 5 years after those. I guess that's the main thing that struck me about it as I was playing it, that it somehow felt even more retro than it already is.
Calico Jack
Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Calico Jack -
Yes, it's a funny little game and I really get a great, nostalgic feeling when I see these things. I'm amazed to learn you have a Famicon.
The first (and only) game console I ever bought was long ago, back when the original Gradius came out. I was living in Japan at the time. One night not too long ago I pulled it out, dusted it off and put my original Gradius Cartridge in. It was a lot of fun.
This was spurred by a discussion in another thread which was started by Lou. Later that night, I posted these photos of my Famicon and Gradius Cartridge: http://girlswithfeet.com/gradius.htm
I played Xevius, Salamander and (of course) Gradius that night and it brought back some very fond memories. Until a week or two ago, it was the only console I'd ever bought (and played).
Posted by Calico Jack (Member # 2299) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ben Del Amitri: I'm amazed to learn you have a Famicon.
This will likely deflate the balloon of amazement a bit, but mine is actually just a software Famicom emulator rather than the actual original hardware itself. I'm a major retrogamer so all of my systems are right here on the ol' PC. Come to think of it, the only actual hardware consoles that I've ever actually owned were the Atari 2600, Commodore 64, Colecovision, and Vectrex. These days I've got those four systems on my computer along with just about every other classic gaming system from the last 30 or so years. Greed is an ugly thing, isn't it?
Calico Jack
Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
That is fascinating, all of that is. I'm going out for breakfast in a few minutes (and then a few other places) but when I get back I've got about 500 questions on all of that. I can't wait to start getting into some of this.
Posted by Calico Jack (Member # 2299) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ben Del Amitri: when I get back I've got about 500 questions on all of that
500? I think I might go AWOL myself! Lou's a bonafide retrogamer too these days, so between the two of us I guess we can each handle 250 questions apiece.
Calico Jack
Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Alright then, I'll begin with your allotment of 250 and start whittling it down.
You mentioned an "emulator"; so is this then, a "software" console? Where would you get something like this? How much computing power do you need to set this up in your system - and where would you go to get the games?
As to "greed being ugly" (paraphrasing) - no, not at all; not as long as you balance it with the love for sharing. And that's funny - I never grow tired of accumulating tons of things yet on the other hand, never hesitate to loan a camera to a friend going on a picnic, things like that.
And besides, look what it's gotten you - an admirable collection of rare, vintage, interesting and varied computer games!
Posted by Calico Jack (Member # 2299) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ben Del Amitri: You mentioned an "emulator"; so is this then, a "software" console? Where would you get something like this? How much computing power do you need to set this up in your system - and where would you go to get the games?
An emulator is just a software program, frequently packaged in extractable (.exe) form, which emulates the hardware of a particular gaming system. There are tons of them floating around on the web for a multitude of different systems. One of the best resource sites for emulators that I'd recommend would be Zophar's Domain. Once you've got the basics down, it's a simple matter to get them installed and configured.
The amount of space that the emulators themselves take up on your harddrive is generally miniscule, but the games are what can really take up some serious space depending on how modern the system is and thus how large the games are. For instance, the average size of an Atari 2600 game rom ranges anywhere from 2 Kb to 16 Kb, while the average size of a Nintendo 64 game rom ranges anywhere from just over 1 Mb to well over 63 Mb. Emulation on my computer accounts for approximately 60+ Gb of harddrive space, but that figure represents a great many systems, both home console and arcade combined. The amount of power needed is solely dependent on which emulator you are using, but for the purposes of emulating classic systems of yesterday, I think you'll find all of today's (and even most of yesterday's) PCs more than sufficient. The only places where I've really needed the flexibility of a modern hi-speed processor with excessive RAM & video capabilities are with some of the contemporary gaming systems & arcade games that rely on significant hardware acceleration for 3D graphics rendering and the like.
Finally, regarding where to get the games, you'll find that there are many emulation services online that burn romsets to CD-R or DVD-R discs and send them to you. It would be illegal to sell the roms for profit, so these services are happy to share them free of charge provided that you either supply payment for the blank media needed for the order or that you supply the actual media itself.
Calico Jack
Posted by joe (Member # 981) on :
hey lou and other gamers, i just got the psp. i love it. but what do you guys think of it?
Posted by foot lover of london (Member # 2420) on :
A quick thanks too ben, for asking how and where to get emulators And another thanks to Calico for the website addy.
I have downloaded a few emulator lately. But all have failed to work :S So im off now to see if i can get me another thats works Posted by Calico Jack (Member # 2299) on :
quote:Originally posted by foot lover of london: I have downloaded a few emulator lately. But all have failed to work :S So im off now to see if i can get me another thats works
More often than not it's the required configuration which tends to throw people off track who are new to emulation rather than the emulator itself failing to work. Which gaming systems in particular are you interested in emulating, foot lover of london? I'd be happy to recommend my personal favorite emulators for any given console, and naturally if it's one that I'm currently using, I'd be able to answer any further questions about how to set it up and get it running.
Calico Jack
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ben Del Amitri: Russell Crowe? You mean that's not you in the avatar?
Still barely into stage 2 of Gradius V (was out of town for much of last week and not much time on the console) - that doesn't make it any less exciting though and Trinity is hauling BUNS on that thing so I'm scraping by vicariously for now.
No, that's not me, but I kinda' resemble Russell Crowe in his part as Hando in the movie Romper Stomper. If you haven't seen it, check it out, it's a great flick!
So Trinity is still kicking butt on Gradius V? Cool. But Bro, you really gotta get in there yourself and destroy the Bacterion Empire yourself to experience the full effect! I know what you mean about watching it though, I'm always cool with watching friends play the game. It gives me a chance to drool over all the graphical detail I can't notice when I'm trying to stay alive.
If you wind up looking into emulation, please do yourself a favor and download the Genesis and TurboGrafx-16 emulators. You can get all kinds of awesome shooters on those systems (and I will be glad to point them out to you), but be sure to invest in some kind of controller for your PC when you do. Brother CJ can kick ass using the keyboard, but trust me, he is the exception to the rule. Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Lou -
Yes, Trinity's still hauling buns on that thing. In fact, it's become a big deal and she's starting to throw around terms that are (so far) incomprehensible to me, spending MORE time over here and "X-Play" has become her favorite TV show!
In the beginning, Trinity was my InDoc and Training coach on this, and I thought it was great that she had these abilities. Now I'm starting to wish she were more of a "girl" regarding this - more like the others who I've shown this to.
When I showed this to Liv and Heather for example, it went something like this: "Hey that's great. How pretty! What makes those go? I like those curly things. So can we order a pizza and watch Brigadoon?".
I'm going through a very busy time right now but once things settle down, I'm going to wrest control of the PS2 and start going after that Bacterion Empire (and maybe Trinity's feet, while I'm at it).
Thank you for the advice on Emulators. If I get to that point I would start with a dedicated PC for those specific tasks so the questions will be numerous. I'm still amazed at how far games (and gaming) have come!
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
quote: I'm going through a very busy time right now but once things settle down, I'm going to wrest control of the PS2 and start going after that Bacterion Empire (and maybe Trinity's feet, while I'm at it).
Gradius V and female feet? Can you say "win/win scenario"?!
Before I forget to mention it again anytime soon, Brother Ben, be sure and hunt down the game Silpheed 2 for the PS2. This one damn near slipped past my radar, and I shudder to think if it had! Game Arts and *drumroll* Treasure teamed up for this shooter, and it is, of course, awesome as all hell. It's not a Gradius V or Ikaruga kind of awesome, but it is a game you should get, being as you like shooters so much. I scored it for $6 used, being the last copy of the game at the store, and I'm enjoying the fire out of it. I'd wager that you could score it for dirt cheap too.
Oh, and Ben, just to let you in some good news on my end, I should be getting the game Spriggan early next week. It's a CD-based shooter for the Turbo Duo that I have wanted for years, and my Bro scored it off of e-bay for me for less than $40. How cool is that?
Of course, you've got a barefoot Trinity along with your video games, so no matter what game I get you've got me beat in advance! Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Lou -
Great score on the Spriggen! That Slipheed sounds great; I've asked around a little bit and there were a few people at work who knew about it (and had great things to say).
Here's an interesting development - the new "Geronimo's Cadillac" girl (Jamee) knows all about Gradius V. Surprised the heck out of me. During a conversation, she said something about fighting her little brother over the Playstation. I mentioned Gradius and she knew all about it. She says she's "pretty good at that stuff".
On Tuesday night, I'm going to have her and Trinity over here playing each other on it. It's going to be a gas, I think. Who would know that you can find footgirls who are adept at games like this? Crazy!
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
Two foot girls playing Gradius V?! Jeez Bro, that's the kind of scenario I dream of being in! Please say you're going to film or snap pics of this event! Maybe Konami could kick a little money your way for making their game even more appealing!
Thanks for the congrats on my getting Spriggan. I am stoked about finally getting this game, after all these years of wanting it. Check out these sweet screen-shots:
Giant robots...ahhh...I never get tired of them!
Check out the detail in all that crystal, and those golden skulls! 2D sprite-based hand-drawn goodness!
Yes, it's official, this is one BAD-ASS looking boss! I can't wait to fight him!
These screen-shots were taken from here: http://www.classicgaming.com/reviews/aleste/compile.htm One excellent site, where you can read up on Spriggan and other shooters made by Compile. Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Brother Lou -
Those screen shots are GREAT, just beautiful to my eyes. I really love those. I'll bet the sound goes a long way toward embellishing those beautiful graphics in a stupendous way. These things make me wonder who the heck comes up with all these (genius) creations!?!??! I wonder what they must feel like after nailing down the look and actions of a "boss", a background, incidental side graphics, etc .. and then seeing it all play out.
Funny take on the Konami Pitch - you just may have an idea there, Lou!
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
Glad you like the screen-shots Bro. I can already imagine how cool the soundtrack to this stuff is gonna be. The game is on CD format, and going on Compile's work they tended to lean toward guitars and metal soundtracks (aside from the midieval Japanese sounds too). They pulled off some great guitar music on M.U.S.H.A. (Aleste), a cart-based game on the Sega Genesis, a system not really known for it's sound capabilities in the first place. Now, with this CD format on the Turbo, I can almost predict that they're going to rock the house on this game!
Yeah, I'd imagine that it takes way more work than we're aware of to design a good shooter. I've played plenty of duds through the years, but when a team of designers get their stuff together, I will never forget them. It's sad that most people write shooters off for being "too simple" or whatever. The fact is, when you sit down and play a good shooter, you can, in the span of 20 minutes, get the same amount of thrills and excitement that other kinds of games need hours to get across. Everybody seems to go ape over Final Fantasy games, for instance, but you need to sink hours worth of play time into them just to get the same amount of satisfaction and feelings of accomplishment that 20 minutes on a well-designed shooter can deliver. Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Lou -
You mention people writing off shooters for being too simple - in fact, that's what draws me to such games (because I AM simple). I can't dedicate too much time to a "sitting" at the console and if I'm not able to get some thrills and excitelment out of it in a limited period of time, it won't keep my coming back as often.
For some (and I'm one of them), being able to play without having to think much is also a bonus. I don't like having to figure out plots, story lines, characters, etc. It's easy (and FUN) though, to wander through each scene, carrying out the simple acts of trying to defend oneself while shooting everything in sight.
This also makes it easy to turn the thing off when the phone rings, or to go out and jump in the car when somebody stops by.
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
Amen Brother Ben. I totally agree with everything you said, except for calling yourself simple. Bro, you very obviously have a full schedule running the business you do, so it stands to reason that when you sit down to be entertained, you want just that, some fun! You're not simple, you just cut to the chase, and there's nothing wrong with that! Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Lou -
You would not BELIEVE the performance of little Jamee on the PS2!!! She blew me out of the water and was amazing. I hooked up the old Famicon for her and she proceeded to blast through Xevius, King King, Baltron and about five other old cartridges. Then back to the PS2 and she lit up the screen with her expertise. I'm going to develop a complex, what with all these girls wiping the floor with me on my own gamer console - but it's a gas just watching them.
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
Complex? Oh no Bro, you're getting opportunities in disguise! Just make a wager before you sit down to game it up with these girls...something like: "If you win, I'll give you a foot massage." Win/win situation! Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Lou -
I've got that down (was very clever about this). Here's how it works (and so far it's worked with both Trinity and Jamee):
If I win, I get twenty minutes of her feet in my face.
If She wins, she gets a twenty-minute foot massage and toe sucking from me.
They haven't caught on yet, or at least are pretending as much because each round ends quite happily for me. I must add that buying this game console is something I should have done AGES ago.
PS - I do this little thing with foogirl Liv that she calls "Bowling For Feet", a primative take on this game thing; we've been doing "Bowling For Feet" for about a year or so.
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
I obviously forget who I'm talking to. It's you who needs to be giving me pointers when it comes to barefoot girls!
Oh yeah, another recommendation if you don't mind. Gun Grave...get it! Play it! It is bad-ass! It's not a shooter in the usual sense, the type we're used to playing, but picture it...
You play a guy called Grave who carries two pistols that never run out of ammo, a weapons trunk chained to your back (which you can swing around and destroy stuff with too) that holds other weapons you earn as you play, and the object of the game is to shoot and kill anything that moves, and blow-up and destroy anything that doesn't move. This game gives you that same shooter feeling as playing games like Gradius V in the sense that you can sit down and enjoy limitless destruction for a little bit, and then can turn it off when you need to go (no huge quests, no riddles to solve, pretty basic in other words). I picked it up used for $10 and beat it within two days, but it's the kind of game that'll keep me coming back for more. The controls take some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be plowing through all kinds of stuff to destroy like second-nature.
I already know you like shooters, and it sounds like these girls do too. Pick up Gun Grave, you all are sure to love it! Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Lou -
I'll check into that Gun Grave thing. From what I can tell, it has a large following and a wealth of information & resources out there. Again, something I'd have never heard of, where it not for these forums (and you of course).
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
They gave it a 7 out of 10, which is about right IMO. It's not on the level of something like Gradius V, but then, very few games are. However, if you can snag this for about $10 like I was able to you will get your every penny's worth and then some of excitement out of it. Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Lou -
Thanks for this information and the valuable link. I loved those screen shots. A friend of mine down at Real Networks says he's got the game! He's willing to part with it for a few dollars. Real Networks is in Belltown (Seattle), just a few blocks from where Summer lives - so she's going to walk down there and get it from him. With any luck, I may be screening the game at home tonight.
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ben Del Amitri: Hello Lou -
Thanks for this information and the valuable link. I loved those screen shots. A friend of mine down at Real Networks says he's got the game! He's willing to part with it for a few dollars. Real Networks is in Belltown (Seattle), just a few blocks from where Summer lives - so she's going to walk down there and get it from him. With any luck, I may be screening the game at home tonight.
Bro, my knee only bows to God, but if I were a person to bow to other people, you would certainly be it! Now you have foot models bringing you video games too?! Day-umm! That's a bragging right few if any of us will ever get! As worn out as the saying is, I gotta use it again because it is so appropriate: You da' man!
Like I say, when you first get the game it may seem intimidating at first because so dang much happens all at once and right off the bat. Fear not, every enemy has a range to their shots. In other words, just because a guy is standing at a distance and firing a pistol at you doesn't mean you're already taking damage. Learn the ranges, and take a little bit to familiarize yourself with the controls, and you'll be whipping ass in no time!
Also, let me recommend that you don't run to the check points. Just because your goal for a stage is, say, getting to a door, take the time to kill everybody first. Once you've killed every moving target, take a stroll around and see what you can destroy around the scenes. Once you familiarize yourself with targeting things and you get that blood-lust kicked up into killing everything, your scores will sky-rocket.
One last thing for now...go to your options menu before you start playing, and set the blood to ON, just because it's cooler to see the blood spraying as you mow your enemies down. Also, set your rapid fire to ON, that way you can have Grave doing some real gun dancing as he shoots everything. Lastly, keep in mind that the select button on the controller is used to strike a pose. Get used to posing Grave as you play, because this simple act adds to your artistic bonuses for the levels.
Have fun Bro, and remember: kill kill kill!
Oh, you remember me mentioning that Spriggan game? There was some complications, but I will be playing it before the end of this week! I can't wait! Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Brother Lou -
Thanks for all the valualble tips - how in the world would I have known any of those things??? I'll use the information wisely.
Summer didn't make it down to Real Networks yesterday (she got stuck filling in an extra shift for somebody who called in sick where she works). She picked up the game about an hour ago and is coming over right now. I took off a few hours early so I'd be home when she arrives.
It may take awhile. She is stuck in some terrible traffic downtown. Wouldn't it be our luck for there to be a Mariners game and it's going on right now.
To add insult to injury, they are playing the Royals for crap's sake. The two worst teams in baseball and they have to play in the middle of the afternoon, and on the day that little Summer is trying to drive through it all to deliver the game that REALLY counts.
I'll let you know how it all works out and weigh in with my impressions.
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
Well Bro, be sure and give her an extra great foot massage for all her efforts in getting this game to you! Good luck with all of that, and please do give me your impressions of the game after you get a chance to play it.
Like I say, it's no Gradius V, but it is one sweet game.
Just wait 'til you see all the work Sega put into Gun Grave, and even all the work they put into the in-between stages cinema's. I think you'll come away agreeing that Brandon Grave is one gun-totting bad-ass mofo. Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Lou -
You are right on all counts; it is "no Gradius" but it is NICE. It rules. Seeing these things for the first time, it all amazes me. As a novice and non-player, I'm able to see these things for the excellence that went into them - not losing sight of the extraordinary effort, design and art itself.
Then the game - I got off to a rocky start and it took me about a half-hour to begin getting the hang of things. Once I got past that initial "power curve" of familiarization, things began to unfold nicely.
Unlike Trinity, Summer is NO "gamer", not in the least. For her efforts, I promised to take her to "Stanfords" for a late lunch and she waited quietly, reading magazines as I blew everything in sight to smithereens.
All in all, this was a great day and a fine "discovery". Thank you for the guidance and counsel on this!
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
No problem at all, and I'm glad you like the game Bro!
Yeah, for guys like us, where 2D gaming feels so much more natural and second-nature as opposed to 3D gaming, a game like Gun Grave can present quite a bit of a learning curve for us. Just be patient, keep playing, and it'll "click" for you. Trust me on that Bro.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you don't always have to target your enemies (using the L1 button to put a sight on them). Grave will sometimes pick off enemies on his own if you've got him pointing and firing in the general vicinity. This helps out, but don't get in a habit of relying on Grave to pick off the bad guys...be ready to use that sight when necessary.
Another thing is to remember your life recovery option. Max out those beat counters and start storing up power moves (you can hold a max of 9), and don't be afraid to sacrifice a power move to recover some life (pause the game and go into the options screen to use this). It's very easy to refill your power moves since there's usually a flood of enemies to kill filling the screen, and you'll be getting that beat counter back up in no time.
Hope this helps.
Negotiations? Screw that! When you've got the arsenal that Grave does at your finger-tips, let your guns solve your problems. Talk is for sissies!
Sorry Bro, it's just that this game will have you thinking stuff like that once you get into it.
Enjoy! Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Brother Lou (Godzilla) Gojira!
I just saw your pedal pumping post in that thread over there and was elated to see a recent post of yours. Not to pry - things have probably been quite busy for you, but I sure do enjoy these forums more when you are (much) more active. Your insight, perspectives and writing style make your posts some of the most readable and interesting on the net.
So does this (current) post of yours mean you are about to go an a posting binge and light up the boards for us? Either way, have a great day (and week).
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
Thanks for the ultra-cool words Brother Ben.
Yeah Bro, I've been busier than ever, but also, my connection is going to poop on me again. This outside line, for whatever reason, decides to flub up on me every-so-often, so my internet connection has been very hit-and-miss as of late. If I could just get the damned phone company out here to fix the line again...dang it all...
I don't know if I mentioned the huge reason why I've been AWOL as of late, but the reason is a project I'm working on. I'm writing a story about a barefoot girl with none other than Dennis Crabapple McClain. I don't know if his name rings a bell with you personally, but in my book, this is the equivalent of a guitar player getting to jam with Hendrix himself. Dennis is the artist and writer of the Mara-Celtic Shamaness comics and illustrated prose books. This guy is the epitomy of "obsessed with barefoot girls", and his art and writing on the subject has inspired me with my own art and stories for years and years! Getting to collaborate on an all-new project with this guy has been awesome.
Thanks for checking in on me Bro.
Oh, and one last thing...go buy Katamari Damaci for your PS2. I promise I'll stop recommending games to you after you buy this beauty of a game! Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Lou -
That project - it sounds like am ambitious and exciting undertaking. I can see where you can bury yourself and let time evaporate during a project-of-passion, as I've done so a few times myself. In fact, I'm moving in a similar direction at the moment and may end up "awol" (or gone) for long and sporadic periods as well.
I'll be the first in line to buy that book, sight unseen.
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
quote: I'll be the first in line to buy that book, sight unseen.
Thanks Bro, the honor would be all mine, having you buy a book I had a hand in.
We're over 20 chapters in this project, and it's still growing! In fact, a few new story-lines just crept up as one major one got resolved! I've been spending so much time on this, these characters aren't feeling like story characters anymore...I'm starting to talk about them like real people! Kinda' scarey...
Oh, and on a side-note, I was able to snag We (heart) Katamari yesterday, the sequal to the game I keep telling you to go buy Katamari Damaci. Great game, just like the first one, but I've been too busy writing to sit down and really play the hell out of it. Have you got to get anymore game time in on Gradius V or Gun Grave?
Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Brother Lou -
Yes, I did score the Katmari feature and have had a little time on the console with it. As always, you are right - it is SOMETHING! Gradius V and Gun Grave are going well, I'm up to the third stage on Gradius (but have seen all of them, thanks to Trinity).
I understand you completely, as to your characters beginning to take up a life of their own; that's an interesting off-shoot of the creative processes and (I think) a good one.
You get to a point where you are referring to them as real people - or viewing them in that way; I've wondered before if this is something we do sub-concsiously as a way to work on developing those characters, or in reinforcing the characteristics they hold - and fine-tuning them.
While here, I've got another question for you:
Trinity bought one of those PSP systems and it's a big deal for her. The other day we were talking about a movie. I offered to loan her the DVD and she said "Oh, that's alright I've got it on UMD" so I can see it on my PSP player.
What the heck is a UMD??? If it's something somehow connected with games, I thought you might know.
Posted by killa (Member # 8564) on :
hell. i know. i own a psp. a umd is the type of disc the psp uses. you should tell her that buying movies on umd is a waste of money because you can get a big memory card, then rent the movie, and burn and conpress it yourself. that's what i do. also tell her do not- under any circumstances- upgrade past version 1.50. doing this keeps you from using homebrews, and emulators. go to www.engadget.com and search for homebrew.
Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Looks like Trinity already has about thirty movies for her PSP - and I hadn't even heard of these things until now. She says she's been paying anywhere from $9.98 to $19.00 depending on the title. Wow.
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
Thanks for fielding the question killa.
Brother Ben, I'm pretty much in the dark when it comes to hand-helds. The only thing about hand-helds I know is that I've been wanting a Nintendo DS so I can play Nintendogs, Wario Ware Touch, the Castlevania games for it...
...and of course the upcoming Gunstar Superheroes!!!
So you've got Katamari Damacy? Awesome! I knew you'd like it! How far have you got on it? Let me tell you, as great a game as it is...it really gets hopping when you start unlocking the Eternal modes! That's right, no time limits! Just rolling and rolling 'til your heart's content! And it is such a satisfying thing to be able to roll through an entire nation, rolling up whole cities, giant monsters, clouds, even land masses themselves! That's the cool thing about the game...there is nothing in the game that you can't eventually roll up into a katamari...mass destruction, yet done so creatively! Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Lou -
I haven't gotten far (yet). So far I've had but a glimpse and a few stolen moments on it. This Thursday, I'm going to have a little get-together and dedicated some time to it (on the big screeen). I will also have some expert help so it will be an eye opening experience!
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ben Del Amitri: Hello Lou -
I haven't gotten far (yet). So far I've had but a glimpse and a few stolen moments on it. This Thursday, I'm going to have a little get-together and dedicated some time to it (on the big screeen). I will also have some expert help so it will be an eye opening experience!
Oh man, I wish I could be there for that! Playing Katamari Damacy, big screen, hanging out with you and all your beautiful foot-models...that is if I'd get invited...I wouldn't wanna horn in.
I wish I could give some pointers to you on this game, but really, it's just a matter of getting a feel for it and then rolling away! About the only thing I can think of to tell you is to not waste time learning the "dash" on it. I was able to beat the game, unlock the Eternal modes, and find a few hidden goodies without ever using it.
Oh! Wait! I got one...as for those Eternal modes, don't shoot for getting it on every stage, it's only available on three stages, and the three are star stages, not constellation stages. I can't remember the first two, but the third one is on the very last stage. I think the objective is to get a katamari to a size of 300 km within 25 minutes. However, if you can get it to 800 km within the time-frame, you unlock Eternal mode for that stage.
Have fun my Bro! Let the addiction begin. Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Brother Lou -
Paraphrasing you ... "that is if I'd get invited ..."
Lou, you have an iron-clad, air tight, auto-renewing, good-for-life, 100% absolute, genuine, standing invitation ... with a grandfather clause!!! And this goes for situations game-related and otherwise.
Now, back to the game - I don't know how you figure all that stuff out, but I'll be following your excellent advice and tips to the letter. It's fun doing this in a group, because even when you punk out, everybody cheers, laughs, etc, plus you get the benefit of seeing others unlock a few strategies and secrets along the way.
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
Thanks Bro.
As for how I figured this stuff out...well, I really wish I could take the credit, but I checked gamefaqs.com a while back when I bought the game, and checked out the secrets. I beat it first on my own without the secrets, but after a while of hearing about these "Eternal modes", I just HAD to look! I have yet to make a comet on the thing, and I haven't found all of the Prince's gifts...and I'll be damned if I try that trick to get the King to say more stuff...no way I'm popping a disk out while I'm playing a game!
Have fun! Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Brother Lou -
Thanks for the link and great information. I'm (finally) beginning to realize there's an entire culture built around this gaming thing. It's an eye opener and (like many things), I'm usually the last to know.
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
So Ben, how did Katamari Damaci night go? Posted by Ben Del Amitri (Member # 2724) on :
Hello Lou -
It went well, it was a great night. We had a full house; started out as a planned get-together of three or four people. Ended up being eight people (plus myself) and it was so much fun.
The game - Trinity mopped the floor with everybody, as we had expected, but she had some unexpected competition from two others; Nikki and Dale (a friend of mine). Between the three of them, we were able to see all the game held, in all it's great, graphical glory.
I can see where this game can really draw you in. I've been on the console for about five or six cumulative hours since, and it is something else. Makes me worry about all the other great things that must be out there - and how little time I'll have for them.
We had Romio's Pizza, Canneloni with ricotta, Popeye's chicken and Fred Meyers potato salad, plus several other side dishes.
On top of all this, Lou - we did have feet. A lot of it and some of this country's very best. Kirsten, Kristen and Erin (our Seagall) among others.
You can only have so many Thursday nights like this in one lifetime, I suppose. Katamari Damaci was the catalyst of it all, the vehicle for the get-together itself and oddly enough, I have you to thank for it all.
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
Glad you enjoyed yourself my Bro! Sounds like an excellent night indeed!
Yeah, Katamari Damaci is one of those highly addictive games that'll keep you coming back for more and more. Namco, the company that made it, have a real winner in this game series, in my opinion. They're the same company that made Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Galaga, and Pole Position, just to name a very scant few of their games...they've got an awesome track record, so they know what they're doing in designing games!
Did you folks get to play long enough to roll up the moon? I love that stage! I also like the little tribute they have in there to Japanese super heroes with "Jumbo Man" and "Mogran". Shame they couldn't have got the rights to actually put Godzilla and Ultraman in the game. Posted by Summer (Member # 9946) on :
hi Lou! im Summer Ben told me to say hi to you whenever i logged in here. i dont log in her very much so it'll be another few weeks or so before i probably get back. but anyway Ben says youre great & to say hi (i believe him).
from Summer
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
Hello yourself Summer!
Thanks for the kind words. He's said nice things about you as well, and just going on how friendly you are with this post, I believe him.
Ben's a cool guy...just try not to humiliate him too much by cleaning his clock on his PS2. Posted by Summer (Member # 9946) on :
hi Lou its Summer. well it took this long for me to answer im real inconsistent with getting online. thanks and dont worry i wont humiliate anyone in a game. im even worse than Ben. still dont know how to program my vcr, haha.
from Summer
Posted by Lou Gojira (Member # 983) on :
Don't feel bad Summer, I never learned how to program the darned things either!
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