Funktion

IGN has the first "real" screenshots of the Wii version: http://media.wii.ign.com/media/825/825377/imgs_1.html

Could this game be released this year???

I have a question for those who are learning the language: what can I "expect" to learn in two years (a total of 240 hours) of Japanese lessons? I've been thinking about signing up to a Japanese course in a local college for years now, and now that I was signing up I just found out the price has more than doubled from last year, so I'm still thinking if it's actually worth it. I know the language is very hard to learn, so I was wondering if 2 years are enough to know the bare minimum in order to actually understand a decent amount of things about it...

Since I have some spare cash I was thinking about getting a PS2 to play the upcoming Yakuza game and some of the Capcom compilations, and I was wondering if someone could help me out with a few questions: -how can you play other region's games in an European console (is there a disc loader, or does it have to be "chipped"? And were can I get a console already "region free"/modded?)? -the new model of the PS2 has a few problems with some games. What games do not work with it? -what's the cheapest place to import the console from, or should I just get the "local" console? -what games do you guys recommend (I don't like Final Fantasy, Tekken, Ridge Racer, Metal Gear Solid, ...)? Since I like "old school" games I'm quite interested in old games compilations, for example, and I enjoy adventure/rpg games with a nice story, especially with a cyberpunk/sci-fi theme.

I'll only decide when we have an actual "final" list of games that will be available on day one, but from what is expected I'll probably get: -Zelda -Red Steel -Wii Sports -WarioWare: Smooth Moves + some VC games, IF we can pay for them and own them (instead of a monthly fee to access "X" number of games like some rumors)

I would say that is a hint that they are planning to translate the upcoming 4th game in the series. You see this new game will feature all new characters, so it wouldn't make much sense to call it Phoenix Wright 4 or a similar name, since Phoenix isn't in it (at least as a main character). On the other hand, Ace Attorney + a subtitle...

I don't know if this was already mentioned, but it seems we're getting a new Phoenix Wright game for the DS (probably a translation of the upcoming game, the 4th). See "Capcom": http://img261.imageshack.us/my.php?image=e39qp.jpg

Seriously, for me the DS lineup at E3 blows every other system so far. I can't believe the huge number of great games coming out this year. I'm particularly impressed with Hotel Dusk: Room 215, from the guys that made Another Code (it looks awesome). I must admit I expected to see a few more surprises for the Wii. Most of the stuff shown was expected (except a couple of first party titles like Disaster).

At least I have to give it to Sony, the conference was awesome. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard... Seriously, if you guys heard them speak about how great and successful the UMD format is, how the PSP is selling (ops, I mean Shipping; yes, all their info was for SHIPPED units) faster than the PS and PS2, not to mention they started the conference by saying they weren't about "gimmicks", only to later show the fricking pathetic remote and say they were always innovating!!! God, it's incredible how cynical and mediocre these guys can be. Now I understand why the PS and PS2 is a success, it's probably the same reason why Michael Bay keeps making movies: there sure is a lot of dumb people who really loves fireworks. I used to buy pretty much every console on the market (not only I bought Nintendo consoles, but I also own pretty much every Sega console (even the GameGear, and add-ons like the 32X and MegaCD), not to mention other consoles), and I never bought a Sony console. I never had a good impression on these guys, but I watched last night's conference expecting them to convince me otherwise (maybe I was being unfair) and maybe buy a PS3 (mainly because I wanted to play Sega's Yakuza game for the PS2). After what I've saw they won't get a cent from me.

Anyone wants a laugh? Check the 1up Podcast (http://zdmedia.vo.llnwd.net/o1/Podcasts/050806.mp3). Just as I thought, anyone who isn't a blind Sony fanboy was REALLY impressed by the Sony conference, their price (apparently the cheapest SKU doesn't have several functionalities), the games showed, the pathetic attempt to copy Nintendo, it was a wonderful conference (I watched it myself, and the crowds reaction was surely what they expected... ). If Nintendo delivers an agressive conference (Reggie, if there's a time to kick ass and take names it's this one!), they will surely leave E3 in a much better place than they are now. Even Microsoft can use Sony's really lame conference to gain significant market from the people who were waiting to see the PS3 before making up their minds. Personally, if I were Nintendo, I would start the conference by showing their "newest" controller, a Gamecube pad (or even better, a NES pad) and I would start tilting it like an idiot, only to say something like "wrong company"...

I'm getting mine on day one as well.

SNK just announced that they will release a compilation of Metal Slug games for the Nintendo Wii. This compilation will include Metal Slug, Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug X, Metal Slug 3, Metal Slug 4 and Metal Slug 5 + a few other surprises (probably Metal Slug 6). Check IGN for the full article: http://revolution.ign.com/articles/704/704020p1.html

Now prepare to finish the game and join the thousands of Shenmue fans in the hopeless and depressing wait for a proper conclusion to the series...

Good luck! You don't know what you're missing, not having played disc 3...

Soooooooooo, first impressions?

No, it's not the Shenmue Passport disc that came with the game (disc 4). Like I previously mentioned Shenmue and Shenmue II are easily my favourite games ever, so I actually started to collect a few things gameplay-related (I don't really care for t-shirts and stuff like that, but I wanted to get additional playable content or video stuff not found on the final releases). So I have a few things like the Project Berkley disc that came with the Japanese VF3TB (http://www.planetxbox.com/shenmuedojo/project_berkley.shtml), the What's Shenmue VHS tape (http://www.planetxbox.com/shenmuedojo/whats_shenmue_vhs.shtml) and the one I mentioned, the What's Shenmue Demo (http://www.planetxbox.com/shenmuedojo/whats_shenmue.shtml), which actually has stuff cut from the final game and an exclusive "quest" of sorts. I actually managed to find new copies of all these items, so these are probably my most prized items in my games-related collection. I also have stuff like the Japanese dvd of Shenmue - The Movie (http://www.planetxbox.com/shenmuedojo/shenmue_movie.shtml), which cost me like 60 euros ( ), only for it to be given away free with the Xbox edition of Shenmue II (at least the Japanese dvd has a couple of extras not featured on the disc that came with the Xbox edition)

Unfortunately I doubt they will make a new sequel. It's clear Yu Suzuki couldn't care less about his series anymore, after the games failed to be the blockbusters they were supposed to be. The games are just too expensive to make (Shenmue was even on the Guiness as the most expensive game ever produced, I believe the production + engine development cost over $70 million), and since all this time has passed you would have to add a new engine (or an improvement of the older) to meet today's graphical "demands" (yep, for some people graphics are everything). It's obviously quite "sad" for me to admit this, since it means we will never see how the series will end (for some reason I always envisioned Ryo being defeated at the end by Lan Di, which would be kind of an ironic fate), but I like to think that at least we got several wonderful chapters to play over and over again. In my case I also have the "What's Shenmue" Demo, so I have something more to play over and over...

I don't have any problems with the English voice-acting of the first game, although I prefer the original voices + subtitles as presented on Shenmue II.

Now you understand why for some of us it's the best game series ever? Be sure to play the second game, it's much longer than the first one. So much to do, so much to see, so many asses to kick...

While I'm far from being the biggest FPS fan (I mostly play RPG's, or story-based adventure games) I really enjoyed UT2004, it was a bargain for it's price. It had lots of fun gamemodes, lots of maps (I see other "mostly multiplayer" games having 10 or so maps, while UT2004 had over 100 maps!), fun gameplay (especially a mod I like to play, Jailbreak), ... But I'm not sure about UT2007. I doubt I'll care for it as much as UT2004, since like someone mentioned above it seems mostly style over substance. They removed most gamemodes (it will feature only a small selection), the number of maps will be a lot smaller, the gameplay seems more "console-oriented" (then again most videos around feature the game running on a PS3), ... They think they will have more sucess by having less gamemodes and maps (they think this "confused" the players for some reason), personally I believe that was one of the big reasons I enjoyed UT2004 so much. If I ever got tired of playing CTF, I would fire a DDOM game, or a BR game, or an ONS game, or a DM game, and so on.

Slight Spoilers (more like a couple of small clues): If it's the Hazuki Family symbol, maybe you should look for something on the Hazuki Residence... (hint) Search the property well, the "sword holder thing" will be used, but not before you do/find/use some other things/objects...

I'm a massive Shenmue fan. I play games regularly since I got a Spectrum 48k in 1982, and I can easily say the Shenmue games are my favourite games ever. I love everything about them, from the story, characters, setting, freedom, the incredible soundtrack (I have hundreds of tracks from the game on my PC), it's simply an incredible experience. Like Stocka mentioned when I play it it's like I start a new life, not a new game. I would love to see a third game, although frankly I don't believe in the article from Kikizo (it's incredibly vague). We'll probably never see a new chapter of the game, but at least we had 2 brilliant releases that I love to play over and over again. Stocka, don't miss Shenmue II. It's funny, it's a continuation of the game but in some ways it's quite different. In the first Shenmue you have a "small" setting in which you get to know pretty much every character, you have lots of interaction with objects, everything's more familiar. In the second Shenmue release you go to a foreign land, and at first you kind of feel lost (I'm not saying this in a bad way, it's just like the character would feel), since it's a much larger setting and it's a place unknown to him. You get less interaction with objects, but a lot more to do and to see. It's simply incredible that if you visit a few buildings and see places and apartments that have nothing to do with the story they will have different layouts and furniture, it's incredible the level of detail of the game.