I know there's already a thread for the current Play-Asia 25% off sale, but I thought it was worth calling out two games I highly recommend: DJMAX Portable 1 & 2 for PSP.

If you've never heard of the series, it's basically Beatmania with a control pad. If that still doesn't make sense, imagine Guitar Hero without the guitar. It's a lot better than you'd think from that description, and it's also horribly addictive. Since getting them, they've consumed the majority of my PSP time, have kept me up way too late because I insist on playing "one more song" (which turns into two or ten more), and I'd even go as far as saying that if you're a fan of music games in the slightest and don't own a PSP, it's worth picking one up just to play these two games.

(DJMAX Portable 2 also made the top 5 games of 2007 list on this site, which I hold in high esteem.)

I could go on, but I just wanted this to be a quick mention and not a review. If you don't...

am i the only one or do i really want this new fangled interface? in my days we clicked through text and we liked it.

As part of Microsoft’s “Bringing It Home” noise, we’ve got a boatload of new demos and videos to check out on Xbox Live. While the offerings consist largely of garbage, there’s some definite good stuff in there. Out of what interested me, I checked out:

The Star Ocean: The Last Hope Trailer:



Star Ocean games are always disappointing, and yet, I never give up on the series. I must be a masochist. Both the second and third game (perhaps the first game… I don’t know since it never hit the US) start out in a promising futuristic setting, but quickly cast you onto a completely generic RPG planet with wooded areas, caverns, empty fields, etc. Boring. Star Ocean 4 supposedly keeps the sci-fi theme running throughout the game, though, which could be interesting given the lack of futuristic RPGs. While the actual in-game footage was brief, it did seem promising,...

I'm a big Cammy fan. Shes been my main for almost as long as I've been playing Street Fighter. That goes all the way back the SFII: The New Challengers on the SNES. I feel that between her appearances in Capcom Vs. SNK, Alpha 3, and TNC/Super Turbo that she has firmly cemented herself as the second most popular female in the series. The UDON comics didn't hurt either. If she isn't in, I'm not buying it day one(a.k.a. full price/$60) because I know i'll have to buy her for thru DLC. I won't pay full price to only be charged extra for my favorite who should have been in there to begin with.(Highlighted for Capcom)


Cammy is just one of eight fighters spanning SFII and SFIII that you can vote in to SFIV. Other include T.Hawk, Fei Long, Dee Jay, Sakura, Ibuki, Hugo, and fan-favorite(why?) Dan. Remember guys.......Chun Li and Crimson Viper......That's all the ladies...

I'm just blogging before I sleep and get up early for the next day of E3 conferences... So to help me sleep... I blog....

You know who owns up El Blaze (Virtua Fighter 5) & El Fuerte (Street Fighter IV) ? I'll tell you who... Yukie Kawamura (MarkMan's <3)... Take a gander...

Here's two possibly illegal and maybe even deadly suggestions made by Microsoft. E3 attendees beware:
ttp://tech-gaming.com/2008/07/14/e3-the-secret-message-of-microsofts-press-pass.aspx

...

Ico, per zewone's suggestion.



I really hate the face on this one, but that blue lead is keeping me honest. It's hard as hell to erase once you press down. I suppose the lesson I'm trying to get is to draw it right the first time and become less dependent on the eraser or digital post-production.

Awesome.

Seeing as Sony's presentation for E3 2008 will be tomorrow,
I thought it'd be appropriate to take a look into the past.

E3 2006...
"RIIIIIIIDGE RAAAACER" brought back many memories and fighting
"Giant Enemy Crabs" (attacking the weak point for MASSIVE DAMAGE) was part of Japanese history.

Sony @ E3 2006= epic failure (It was funny though :P)
Let's all hope E3 2008 is much better (the announcement of FFXIII going multi-platform isn't a good way to start xP)

For my second music rec, I decided to go with something a bit more accessible then Opeth. I listen to a wide variety of rock, metal being one of them, but I am also into a lot of blues based harder rock. So, without further ado, I give to you:



Blast Tyrant is the seminal album by Baltimore's stoner rock masters, Clutch. Every song on this album is a masterpiece. Some of my favs on the record include The Regulator, with it's acoustic intro and verses, and Profits of Doom, with it's incredible bass lines. Promotor of Earth Bound Causes is an extremely catchy tune that my band has been known to cover from time to time. Subtle Hustle is another song that I'm quite partial to and it has some of the best lyrics on the album. Neil Fallon is one of the best lyricists of this era and this band is criminally underrated. Do yourself a favor and check em out.

Here's...

Good news to all those who have bought gamerpics and themes over Xbox Live. It has been confirmed that your pics and themes will work in the NXE when it launches in the fall. This is a big load off everyone's shoulders as i'm sure alot of you were worrying about if your paid content would be forever lost in the new update.


I'm not sure how I feel about the NXE interface. It just doesn't feel quite "right" yet. It felt too bare or something. It might just be because it's early on so it could improve before it's released. I love how the old "Blade" design is the new Guide button interface. That's most likely where the purchased themes will show up now.


The avatars are Mii rip-offs but they seem like some actual effort was put into making them different from Nintendo's. I wonder if they will have their own Home like place to play around in?


Here's the link to Kotaku's hands-on with the NXB, The "New Xbox...

Do you know that when you search PSP free games on Google you get 4,650,000 search results? That's just wrong. Seriously people, I can't even type in PSP on Youtube without finding tutorials on how to transfer stolen Iso games to your PSP memory card. These people work too hard on making these games for dumb s like you to steal them. Not to mention the music industry... There just screwed... Please dont steal games, Just buy them, Or borrow them from a friend. To all of you out there who buy there PSP games... (free smiley face on me)

PHAAAAAAWOO!!

Man, am I excited Avatars and a brand new dashboard. And this deal with Netflix. Now am I correct by saying that people with gold subscriptions get to watch all movies for free. I am sure I am wrong. But anyway, I love the avatars. Yes they blatantly copied Nintendo, but this is a lot better. I mean Sony copied XBOX with the whole achievments thing. I can't wait to make my avatar cuz' I have made a mii before but it gets boring because there are like no options so I like how there are more clothes options and hair etc. I am sure I am the first person to think of this but I am 110% that games like FIFA or Madden will have downloadable content where you can dress your avatar into a Packers shirt or an Arsenal shirt (which I would happily wear).



Now the new dashboard. hhhhhmmmmmm. Love it. (by the way, I'm sure you can totally see the fanboy...

Top 40 Entertainment Software (all Prices)

1 Wii Fit - Nintendo
2 Lego Indiana Jones: Original Adventures - Lucasarts
3 Super Smash Bros: Brawl - Nintendo
4 Top Spin 3 - Take 2
5 Battlefield: Bad Company - Ea
6 Big Beach Sports - Thq
7 Wii Play - Nintendo
8 Beijing 2008 - Sega
9 Kung Fu Panda - Activision
10 Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games - Sega
11 Guitar Hero Iii: Legends Of Rock - Activision
12 Mario Kart Wii - Nintendo
13 Grand Theft Auto Iv - Take 2
14 Dr Kawashima's Brain Training - Nintendo
15 Carnival: Funfair Games - Take 2
16 Wall-e - Thq
17 Unreal Tournament Iii - Midway
18 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots - Konami
19 Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Activision
20 Fifa 08 - Ea
21 The Bourne Conspiracy - Vivendi...

Not sure what Nintendo will have up its sleeve tomorrow, but it will probably be out of left field. Probably they will announce some new peripherals, perhaps new color SKU's. Expect at least 1 huge first party announcement.

What I hope Nintendo comes out with is a Damn Hard Drive solution. Maybe more Wii channels and WiiWare titles.

I would imagine another iteration of the DS, even though the damn thing is selling like hot cakes still. With the PSP stealing some thunder as of late, especially in Japan, they just might come out with a new model though.

Even though E3 has drastically changed the past couple years, E3 has always been my favorite time of year for video game coverage, news and announcements. Microsoft held their press conference this morning at 10:30 AM (12:30 PM in my time zone). Here are some of the highlights and my reactions:

Fallout 3 - They showed part of a new trailer and live gameplay footage. (The remaining part of the trailer premiered online on Xbox Live) The game looks F-ing amazing! It sounds like you can go basically ANYWHERE just like Oblivion. I like the option of switching between 1st person or 3rd person views and you can also play the game in real time or the VATS mode which lets you target different body parts and each part has a higher rate of success. Seems kinda like you can play in real time or turn based? There's a weapon called the "fatman launcher" and its basically a mini-nuke. Holy crap that is sweet. They will also be doing a lot of downloadable content just...

After working on the front template tonight I realized this part is going to take quite a bit of time. I did manage to cut out the general shape of the front in less than an hour though.

First, I traced the shape of the front of the jukebox onto some 1/2" MDF and rough cut it out with my jigsaw staying about 1/8" wide of the line.



Next, I screwed the panel down to prepare to route the panel to size. I am not worried about leaving holes in the jukebox because the material will eventually be removed (more on that much later).



After the piece was secured in place I used my router and flush cutting bit to make the 1/2" MDF panel exactly the right size.

...

This is going to get ugly. Final Fantasy XIII is coming to Xbox 360 alongside the Playstation 3 in North America and Europe. I don't know about you guys, but from reading various message board posts not only here on CAG, but on 1up, IGN, and the dreaded NeoGaf, I can describe my feelings in a single word:

DISGUSTED

Not at Square, as it's purely a financial reason (#1, not coming to 360 in Japan because of poor sales, #2 only coming to 360 in NA/EU because of 360's leads there) but at pure, unadulterated fanboy bullshit. Guess what? If you have ever gave a damn about Final Fantasy XIII, you would've bought a Playstation 3 already. Yes, you would have. Why? Because the overwhelming majority of Final Fantasy fans were sold on the PS3 due to the Final Fantasy VII TECH DEMO, yes, TECH DEMO 3 years ago at this very same conference. Let's think about it for a second.

If you hate Sony, you wanted this game to come, and now that it is, you can dance...

Just broke 500 achievement mark on Battlefield Bad Company, along with me collecting my 50th dog tag.