AlanBarber.Org
Video Games
Sunday, August 28, 2005
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess delayed
Well crap! I just read that Nintendo is pushing back the release of the new LoZ game. :( OK, I know it’s old news now but I’m a little behind on the gaming front.
They’re talking sometime mid 2006 now. Assuming the Revolution doesn’t get pushed back they could be releasing at the same time. The obvious thing is many think maybe the big N might dump the cube and use Twilight Princess as a launch title for the Rev. Nintendo denies it and says they’ll still ship it as a cube game. I think that’s a good thing. Call it the last great release for the cube as sort of a farewell gesture to the little box.
The Rev is going to backwards compatible so you could say in a round about way that the game would be a sort of launch title. If it gets huge press and positive reviews and the Rev gets releases around the same time it might be enough to get some to buy the Rev and the LoZ game to play.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
The Acts of Gord
This is probably really, really old for some people but I just found it a few days ago. Figured I’d share it since there’s no hurting in turning a few new folks to this stuff.
The Acts of Gord is a website created about a guy that ran a Video Game store. There are just tons and tons of funny little stories.
Anyhoo, check it out for a good laugh when you’re bored some time.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
More Nintendo Revolution details released
You can read the Nintendo press release.
So, let’s see. Ultra small design about the size of 3 dvd cases stacked together. Very sleek and sexy! 512mb of memory. That seems to be the standard amount for game consoles this round so whatever there. Wireless controllers. That’s a good and bad thing. Wireless is cool but at the same time doing the battery dance can be a pain. Two USB 2.0 ports. Now this seems a bit odd. Why two? I assume they don’t plan on allowing wired controllers so I guess maybe it’s use will be relegated to 3rd party keyboards and whatnot. Build it Wi-Fi support. SWEET! Now this is top notch Nintendo. I like the idea of not having to plug the box in to do online gaming. Also makes good sense since the new handheld player the Nintendo DS had built-in wifi. Means neat links between the player and the Revolution. Two things are absent here. The cpu and graphics chips info. Guess we’ll have to wait for that info later.
Now the real big news is this. First the Revolution will be backward compatible with the Gamecube. I don’t have a very large library but it’s nice knowing I will be able to sell off my cube and just get a Revolution. Second as part of their new online gaming kick they’ll be releasing downloadable classics from the N64, SNES and NES. No word on prices or how it’ll work but still awesome. Being able to fire up the Revolution and play Super Mario 3 or whatnot is a very cool prospect.
You can read more and check out the pictures on the press release.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Next gen Nintendo console "Revolution" to have wi-fi
Kinda old news now but I’m just catching up on gaming news. As a self-professed N-head I like to know what they’re up to…
Here’s a couple of links to read about everything:
http://cube.ign.com/articles/594/594935p1.html
http://planetgamecube.com/news.cfm?action=item&id=6094
The cool info is that the Revolution will be backwards compatible with the GameCube. Thank goodness! I hope this sets a trend for the future at the big N. I hope whatever comes after the Revolution will be backwards compatible with both the Revolution and the GameCube. I know it’s far fetched but I think they should support at least 2-3 generations back. We as gamers pay a lot for games and there’s no reason that we shouldn’t be able to trade in the hardware for the next generation and still be able to use the current software we have.
Other bits of info. The graphics chip “Hollywood” will again be made my ATI. I like this fact a lot. ATI is a top level graphics company and if the chipset is based on their current desktop graphics systems it’ll be one heck of a performance champ.
The cpu “Broadway” is being done by IBM. A bit surprised by this one. IBM is also developing the cpu for the next gen Playstation called Cell. Although they aren’t saying that Broadway is anything like Cell I kind of have to wonder if maybe they’re going to be related. What would be cool is if “Broadway” turned out to be a dual core PowerPC chip. IBM makes the PowerPC chips that go into Macs and they’re planning to make a dual core PowerPC G5 cpu for the Macs.
Throw in a dual-core PowerPC cpu and a graphics chip from ATI and you’d have one heck of a system. MMM yummy.
Finally the big news is the Revolution will have built in wi-fi. The Nintendo DS has wi-fi and it looks like Nintendo is pushing forward with this as a standard feature for the future. Very cool! I like the idea of wi-fi built into all gaming systems. I already have wi-fi setup in the house so I’d have instant networking out of the box.
I can’t wait to see more details about the Rev. Looks to be a pretty sweet product.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Nintendo Power Universal Codes
Nintendo Power Universal Codes
Here are all the Universal Codes that are published in Nintendo Power for the Gamecube game Animal Crossing. Just tell these to Tom Nook and get your free prize.
| Item | Date | Volume Number | Code |
| Mario Starman | January 2003 | volume 164 | 4UF6T948GZ3ZW3 |
| Mario Cannon | February 2003 | volume 165 | 4UT6T6L89ZnOW3 |
| Mario Flag | March 2003 | volume 166 | 4UT6T6L89ZnOW3 |
| Mario Green Pipe | April 2003 | volume 167 | 1mWYg6IfB@&q7z |
| Mario Super Mushroom | May 2003 | volume 168 | #SbaUIRmw#gwkY |
| Mario Coin | June 2003 | volume 169 | rSbaUIRmwUgwkA |
| Koopa Shell | July/August 2003 | volume 170 | rSbaUIAmwUgwkY |
| Fire Flower | September 2003 | volume 171 | 4UT6T948GZnOW3 |
| Brick Block | October 2003 | volume 172 | 1mWYg6IfB@&q75 |
| ? Block | October 2003 | volume 172 | #SbaUIRmw#gwkY |
| mushroom mural | November 2003 | volume 173 | QI6DLEnhm23CqH |
| Block flooring | November 2003 | volume 173 | IboOBCeHz3YbIC |
| Mario trophy | December 2003 | volume 174 | 1mWYg6IfB@&q75 |
| Luigi trophy | January 2004 | volume 175 | EOktvXIJ7WdzRj |
on 03/03/2005 at 05:43 PM
Video Games • Animal Crossing • (0) Comments • Permalink
Saturday, November 13, 2004
It's a gamers weekend!
Hi, my names Alan and I have a problem.
An EB Games opened up 5 miles from my home. It’s now become even easier to get my gamer fix than ever before!
Today I spent nearly 100 bucks on games. I got four Nintendo Gamecube games. Zelda: The Windwaker, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II plus and Megaman: Network Transmission.
Allright it isn’t that bad of a problem. Considering the last game I bought was Simpsons Hit and Run back in like march I think. It’s not like I blow tons of cash all the time on games. I decided to treat myself. Now that I have a job I can afford a luxury every once in a while. These games should keep me happy and busy for a while.
Maybe I’ll do some reviews of the games later or something. For now I’m off to go play!
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Nintendo DS Launch Details
Planet GameCube is reporting on the Nintendo DS Launch Details. For those not in the know, the DS is Nintendo’s new handheld gaming device. It contains two screens, one which is touch screen, built in microphone, wireless networking, and suppose to have the same power as the Nintendo 64!
The DS is not a replacement of the GameBoy though. They claim it’s a third pillar. There will still be a next generation console and a new GameBoy in the works.
The big news is the release date of November 21st and the price of $149.99!
Well here just read the press release…
quote:
REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 20, 2004 - From the very start, Nintendo DS™ broke the existing rules of video game play. Two screens, not one. Wireless connection for game play and personal communication for the sheer entertainment of it. Flexible game control by voice and touch, not just with buttons. Nintendo’s newest innovation, Nintendo DS, will make its worldwide debut in North American stores on Nov. 21, and then in Japan on Dec. 2. It will sell at an MSRP of $149.99, making it an immediate mass-market attraction. Nintendo DS will become the company’s first system ever to make its sales debut outside of Japan.“Nintendo’s mission remains unchanged: expand the game experience,” says Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo Co., Ltd. “Nintendo DS is the road map to the future of video games, and most clearly demonstrates the type of innovation that players demand.”
Nintendo DS is the dual-screened, hand-held video game system redefining the idea of interactive entertainment. One screen allows for touch input using a stylus, while the unit includes both voice recognition and multiplayer wireless features. The sleek silver-and-black system sports a sharp, angular design.
Consumers immediately will be able to pick up and play the new system, as it comes with a free software feature, PictoChat, embedded in the system hardware. PictoChat allows DS owners to write messages with an on-screen keyboard or the stylus and send them wirelessly to other DS users nearby. Users can text chat, draw artistic messages or share secrets, all without saying a word. And a Nintendo DS in sleep mode will spring to life if it senses another DS in transmitting range, alerting users to each other’s presence and setting the stage for an impromptu conversation or game session.
More than 100 companies have signed on to create games for Nintendo DS, while Nintendo itself is already developing its first 20 titles. Electronic Arts, the world’s largest independent software developer and publisher, already has announced that its powerhouse franchises of Madden NFL, The URBZ: Sims in the City, Need for Speed Underground, Tiger Woods and GoldenEye will support Nintendo DS.
“Each time Nintendo creates a hand-held, it introduces new elements of play and sets a new standard for mobile gaming,” says Larry Probst, EA’s chairman and CEO. “The DS is no exception - Nintendo has another big winner with the DS.”
The complete lineup of games planned for the launch of Nintendo DS will be announced in the near future. In effect, Nintendo DS already boasts a library of more than 550 games because it is compatible with single-player modes of games made for the world’s best-selling video game system, Game Boy® Advance SP.
Nintendo chose the United States to lead the worldwide launch of Nintendo DS because of overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic reaction from consumers and to take advantage of the holiday sales season. After the subsequent launch in Japan, the system will be available in Europe and Australia in the first quarter of 2005.
Nintendo DS has a flip-top cover that protects both screens. Two speakers on the unit’s face let users hear virtual surround sound, while its dual screens open games to a multitude of possibilities. Nintendo DS sits 148.7 millimeters (5.85 inches) wide, 84.7 millimeters (3.33 inches) long and 28.9 millimeters (1.13 inches) tall with the cover closed. The new media format for games means that Nintendo DS has no moving parts that could be misaligned if the unit is dropped or jarred.
Man I hope I find a job soon because I want one of these. Heck I want a GameBoy, PS2, XBox and a new computer too. I hate being poor!