The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
We are currently in a stage of console evoloution that we can't even begin to imagine.
But because of this Third Gen consoles we can pretty much say goodbye to the second GEN consoles.
Boy what a generation that was.
We will certainly be sad to see it go.
We'll have plenty of happy memories though such as the much loved N64 and the GameBoy Colour.
I am very sad to see these wonderfull consoles suddenly die out.
Almost as if the makers threw the consoles onto a top shelf to let the consoles get covered in dust and rot away.
I guess the gaming buissnes is rather like scientists starting an experiment but then deciding "this is takes to long" and thus they move on to another experiment.
But the future may not be all that bad for these second GEN consoles,
they may become colllectors items and be loved and cherished.
They may also be used to benifit future consoles.
Console developers may decide to go back and use these wonderfull machines as a guidline.
Sega made a very bad mistake by releasing a third GEN console into a second GEN enviroment, we just weren't ready for it and so Sega paid the price.
Console developers will be able to look back and learn from the the these mistakes and will be able to avoid making the same mistake that the second GEN developers made.
Console developing can be a risky buisness and can lead to catastrophoies,
but it can also be a very rewarding buisness to.
Here's to Evoloution
But because of this Third Gen consoles we can pretty much say goodbye to the second GEN consoles.
Boy what a generation that was.
We will certainly be sad to see it go.
We'll have plenty of happy memories though such as the much loved N64 and the GameBoy Colour.
I am very sad to see these wonderfull consoles suddenly die out.
Almost as if the makers threw the consoles onto a top shelf to let the consoles get covered in dust and rot away.
I guess the gaming buissnes is rather like scientists starting an experiment but then deciding "this is takes to long" and thus they move on to another experiment.
But the future may not be all that bad for these second GEN consoles,
they may become colllectors items and be loved and cherished.
They may also be used to benifit future consoles.
Console developers may decide to go back and use these wonderfull machines as a guidline.
Sega made a very bad mistake by releasing a third GEN console into a second GEN enviroment, we just weren't ready for it and so Sega paid the price.
Console developers will be able to look back and learn from the the these mistakes and will be able to avoid making the same mistake that the second GEN developers made.
Console developing can be a risky buisness and can lead to catastrophoies,
but it can also be a very rewarding buisness to.
Here's to Evoloution
XBOX LIVE
Coming soon to a console near you is a new gaming experience gaurenteed to change the face of gaming for a long time. Using Broadband connections, Xbox Live (or XBL) will connect you to gamers all over the world in a minimal lag games arena built purely for gaming.
From the very beginning, Microsoft designed the Xbox to lead the way in the online console gaming revolution the company believes is right around the corner.
WHAT DO I NEED FOR XBOX LIVE?
You need no add-ons to your Xbox, it all came when you bought your system, there is no need to buy extras unlike the PS2 and the Gamecube. Microsoft has had the online idea in their minds from the very offset. The Xbox comes with an Ethernal port which is located at the back of the machine. This is where you will need to connect you Xbox to you broadband line.
You will need an existing Broadband Line or invest in one to be able to play online with the Xbox as microsoft has made it very clear that dial up connections are not good enough for their master of a machine. [Why load your guns with blanks when you could fire bullets?] They have wisely not gone the same route as the Dreamcast, in that it will not be possible in anyway to connect a modem to your Microsoft Mean Machine.
One thing that you will need is the Software. You will be able to purchase this equipment in all game related shops on the launch date of XBL. In the kit you will get the MainDVD which will be crucial for the setup and installation. On this DVD it is planned that you will get a version of game Revolt, though this may change as production continues. It has been rumoured that the japanese version of the Xbox Live software will have a version of Phantasy Star Online which was a big success for the Dreamcast. Along with this DVD you will be given a headset, this will be at no more expense. The price of this kit is not definate as of yet. (read on for price)
THE HEADSET
The headset will come as standard, as XBL will not use a Keyboard or Mouse. Microsoft says that games should not be slowed down by typing when it can all be done by voice. Taunting can be done in a split second, and because its all broadband it will be just as talking on a digital mobile phone. All the software builds so far which are going to be compatable with XBL have got voice recognition and synthesizers, meaning you can change the sound of your voice. Imagine taunting your Unreal Championship opponent with a micky mouse voice whilst blasting them with an assault rifle. Not only will it have dozens of preset voices, it should also have a tool available with various knobs, sliders and switches so that the player can change their voice to anything they desire.
The headset will be connected into the top socket of the Xbox Gamepad which should hopefully minimalize the usual tangle of wires which we have come to expect with special peripherals such as steering wheels and lightguns.
SINGLE USER IDENTITY
This is what seperates you from the masses. This ID you create will be the security, tracking and gaming key for the system. This ID will grant you all the access you need to play all of the games on Xbox Live. When you setup your User ID you will have to choose a nick name and your prefrences. Each player will have his or her own prefrences which you can setup in game. For example if you are playing Project Gotham Racing 2, you can setup your system so that everytime you start it will have your car and your favorate track selected and ready for you to race. Other little details will be easy to tweak and save.
When in the lobbies, your User ID and nick name will be used for buddy chat. This will help people recognise you, see if you are online, if you are available for a game. The buddy list service can alert you even when your in a certain game. If a level has finished, or youve just finsihed a race it will come to your attention that someone is wanting to talk to you, and you'll be able to reply to them without even swapping your Game Disc.
THE MATCHMAKING PROCESS
Not got many friends? It doesnt mater with Xbox Live. The matchmaking process will help you find someone of the same abilities and level. When you play your game all your achievements will be saved. For example kills, deaths, fastest lap times, Kudos points, character levels etc. This means that if you use this tool the software will seacrh for people who have roughly the same kills, deaths, points etc. This means a greater gaming experience for those who are extra good or extra bad at games. For some new gamers it might be very daunting to be against a world champ at Halo2. But with the Matchmaking system it wont let you get picked on by someone who is looking for easy kills to put onto his or her record. It may also be the case that you are getting bored with fraging newbies and are sick of being challenged be people who pose no game whatsoever.
This system will also be able to show world and regional rankings over the network. Clan matches can be setup easily by programming your game to automatically join the side which has the rest of your team are.
Finding people who live near you and substiquently have the same ping as you will be easy to do with matchmaking, for ultra-fast gaming experience.
DOWNLOADS
Ever wondered why you need all 50,000 blocks in your Xbox console? Your games not even scratched the surface of your systems memory? You'll be glad to know that it is there for a reason, and a good one at that. With content downloading you can update large parts of you game and save them on your HardDrive. Ever mastered a beat'em up to the extent that you have learnt everysingle characters punches, kicks and grabs? How about downloading more moves, or even more characters. The games could be limitless, with new add-ons everyweek. It could extend the lasting value of your game hundreds of times over. How about new levels or new cars in racing games? The possibilities are almost endless. The oppotunity is there for you to be able to swap music files with one another. You could listen to the same soundtrack as the person on the other side of the world is listening to. Obviously this would be a risky move to play as it would encourage the transportation of virus' from console to console. If the technology is right, then this is a major oppotunity.
RELEASE GAMES
Of course the most important part of Xbox Live is the games. The xbox is a Gaming machine, so it would be a waste of time if there is to be no games to be played on it. On the launch of Xbox live there should be around 8 games available which will be compatable with online play. These games are:
•Ghost Recon
•Whacked!
•Phantasy Star Online 1
•Phantasy Star Online 2
•Unreal Championship
•NFL Fever 2003
•MechAssault
•Midtown Madness 3
GAMES TO BE LATER RELEASED WITH XBOX LIVE CAPABILITIES
-ToeJam & Earl 3: All Funked Up
-Ghost Recon
-Shayde: Monsters vs. Humans
-NFL 2K3
-Rayman Arena
-Armada 2
-NCAA College Basketball 2K3
-Rainbow Six: Ravens Shield
-Tetris Worlds
-Timesplitters 2
-Lamborghini
-MX Superfly
-XIII
-NBA 2K3
-Counter-Strike
-Star Wars Galaxies
-Amped Xbox Live
-Halo Xbox Live
-Rallisport Challenge Xbox Live
-Project Gotham Racing Xbox Live
-Project Gotham Racing 2 Xbox Live
-Halo 2 Xbox Live
From the release date on, it is thought that most games developers will try and include Xbox Live components in their game, be it the gameplay itself, or maybe just a board online which players and boast laptimes and highscores.
COST
The last listed price for the starter kit was around 50 American dollers. So it is going to be basically the same price as a newly released game. I'm not quite sure on the calculations to change American dollers into English sterling but that should be around the 35-40 pound mark. This isnt very expensive if you are to consider that you get a Starter disc which gives you 12 months FREE subscription to Xbox Live and A copy of Revolt. (may vary with which country you purchase your starter kit from [It maybe that you can buy different discs with different games on them])
With this disc you will also get an official Microsoft Headset for no extra cost.
If you would like the luxery of having two sepperate accounts or nicknames, you will have to buy another starterkit. This maybe neccessary if there are more than one gamer in the residence.
After the 12 FREE subscription there will be a monthly fee, not perminant at the moment but the stated price has been $9.95 (about 6 quid-ish) per month.
LAUNCH DATE
The launch date for XBL has not been comfirmed yet. Microsoft will not give exact dates. They are considering the possibility of hic-cups in the process and aren't going to promise dates and prices until right before launch. Bill Gates is investing over One Billion Dollers into Xbox Live, this can be some relief to those like me who have invested heavily into a Dreamcast and have had to amount to nothing.
Originally Xbox Live was scheduled for a Summer 2002 release, but now is more relaistically looking like an Autum/Fall launch. But as Sods Law states, anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Keep Checking www.xbox.com for updated details.
Keep Checking http://www.xbox.com/uk/default.htm for UK infomation
Thank you for reading
E-mail me @--> [email protected]
Coming soon to a console near you is a new gaming experience gaurenteed to change the face of gaming for a long time. Using Broadband connections, Xbox Live (or XBL) will connect you to gamers all over the world in a minimal lag games arena built purely for gaming.
From the very beginning, Microsoft designed the Xbox to lead the way in the online console gaming revolution the company believes is right around the corner.
WHAT DO I NEED FOR XBOX LIVE?
You need no add-ons to your Xbox, it all came when you bought your system, there is no need to buy extras unlike the PS2 and the Gamecube. Microsoft has had the online idea in their minds from the very offset. The Xbox comes with an Ethernal port which is located at the back of the machine. This is where you will need to connect you Xbox to you broadband line.
You will need an existing Broadband Line or invest in one to be able to play online with the Xbox as microsoft has made it very clear that dial up connections are not good enough for their master of a machine. [Why load your guns with blanks when you could fire bullets?] They have wisely not gone the same route as the Dreamcast, in that it will not be possible in anyway to connect a modem to your Microsoft Mean Machine.
One thing that you will need is the Software. You will be able to purchase this equipment in all game related shops on the launch date of XBL. In the kit you will get the MainDVD which will be crucial for the setup and installation. On this DVD it is planned that you will get a version of game Revolt, though this may change as production continues. It has been rumoured that the japanese version of the Xbox Live software will have a version of Phantasy Star Online which was a big success for the Dreamcast. Along with this DVD you will be given a headset, this will be at no more expense. The price of this kit is not definate as of yet. (read on for price)
THE HEADSET
The headset will come as standard, as XBL will not use a Keyboard or Mouse. Microsoft says that games should not be slowed down by typing when it can all be done by voice. Taunting can be done in a split second, and because its all broadband it will be just as talking on a digital mobile phone. All the software builds so far which are going to be compatable with XBL have got voice recognition and synthesizers, meaning you can change the sound of your voice. Imagine taunting your Unreal Championship opponent with a micky mouse voice whilst blasting them with an assault rifle. Not only will it have dozens of preset voices, it should also have a tool available with various knobs, sliders and switches so that the player can change their voice to anything they desire.
The headset will be connected into the top socket of the Xbox Gamepad which should hopefully minimalize the usual tangle of wires which we have come to expect with special peripherals such as steering wheels and lightguns.
SINGLE USER IDENTITY
This is what seperates you from the masses. This ID you create will be the security, tracking and gaming key for the system. This ID will grant you all the access you need to play all of the games on Xbox Live. When you setup your User ID you will have to choose a nick name and your prefrences. Each player will have his or her own prefrences which you can setup in game. For example if you are playing Project Gotham Racing 2, you can setup your system so that everytime you start it will have your car and your favorate track selected and ready for you to race. Other little details will be easy to tweak and save.
When in the lobbies, your User ID and nick name will be used for buddy chat. This will help people recognise you, see if you are online, if you are available for a game. The buddy list service can alert you even when your in a certain game. If a level has finished, or youve just finsihed a race it will come to your attention that someone is wanting to talk to you, and you'll be able to reply to them without even swapping your Game Disc.
THE MATCHMAKING PROCESS
Not got many friends? It doesnt mater with Xbox Live. The matchmaking process will help you find someone of the same abilities and level. When you play your game all your achievements will be saved. For example kills, deaths, fastest lap times, Kudos points, character levels etc. This means that if you use this tool the software will seacrh for people who have roughly the same kills, deaths, points etc. This means a greater gaming experience for those who are extra good or extra bad at games. For some new gamers it might be very daunting to be against a world champ at Halo2. But with the Matchmaking system it wont let you get picked on by someone who is looking for easy kills to put onto his or her record. It may also be the case that you are getting bored with fraging newbies and are sick of being challenged be people who pose no game whatsoever.
This system will also be able to show world and regional rankings over the network. Clan matches can be setup easily by programming your game to automatically join the side which has the rest of your team are.
Finding people who live near you and substiquently have the same ping as you will be easy to do with matchmaking, for ultra-fast gaming experience.
DOWNLOADS
Ever wondered why you need all 50,000 blocks in your Xbox console? Your games not even scratched the surface of your systems memory? You'll be glad to know that it is there for a reason, and a good one at that. With content downloading you can update large parts of you game and save them on your HardDrive. Ever mastered a beat'em up to the extent that you have learnt everysingle characters punches, kicks and grabs? How about downloading more moves, or even more characters. The games could be limitless, with new add-ons everyweek. It could extend the lasting value of your game hundreds of times over. How about new levels or new cars in racing games? The possibilities are almost endless. The oppotunity is there for you to be able to swap music files with one another. You could listen to the same soundtrack as the person on the other side of the world is listening to. Obviously this would be a risky move to play as it would encourage the transportation of virus' from console to console. If the technology is right, then this is a major oppotunity.
RELEASE GAMES
Of course the most important part of Xbox Live is the games. The xbox is a Gaming machine, so it would be a waste of time if there is to be no games to be played on it. On the launch of Xbox live there should be around 8 games available which will be compatable with online play. These games are:
•Ghost Recon
•Whacked!
•Phantasy Star Online 1
•Phantasy Star Online 2
•Unreal Championship
•NFL Fever 2003
•MechAssault
•Midtown Madness 3
GAMES TO BE LATER RELEASED WITH XBOX LIVE CAPABILITIES
-ToeJam & Earl 3: All Funked Up
-Ghost Recon
-Shayde: Monsters vs. Humans
-NFL 2K3
-Rayman Arena
-Armada 2
-NCAA College Basketball 2K3
-Rainbow Six: Ravens Shield
-Tetris Worlds
-Timesplitters 2
-Lamborghini
-MX Superfly
-XIII
-NBA 2K3
-Counter-Strike
-Star Wars Galaxies
-Amped Xbox Live
-Halo Xbox Live
-Rallisport Challenge Xbox Live
-Project Gotham Racing Xbox Live
-Project Gotham Racing 2 Xbox Live
-Halo 2 Xbox Live
From the release date on, it is thought that most games developers will try and include Xbox Live components in their game, be it the gameplay itself, or maybe just a board online which players and boast laptimes and highscores.
COST
The last listed price for the starter kit was around 50 American dollers. So it is going to be basically the same price as a newly released game. I'm not quite sure on the calculations to change American dollers into English sterling but that should be around the 35-40 pound mark. This isnt very expensive if you are to consider that you get a Starter disc which gives you 12 months FREE subscription to Xbox Live and A copy of Revolt. (may vary with which country you purchase your starter kit from [It maybe that you can buy different discs with different games on them])
With this disc you will also get an official Microsoft Headset for no extra cost.
If you would like the luxery of having two sepperate accounts or nicknames, you will have to buy another starterkit. This maybe neccessary if there are more than one gamer in the residence.
After the 12 FREE subscription there will be a monthly fee, not perminant at the moment but the stated price has been $9.95 (about 6 quid-ish) per month.
LAUNCH DATE
The launch date for XBL has not been comfirmed yet. Microsoft will not give exact dates. They are considering the possibility of hic-cups in the process and aren't going to promise dates and prices until right before launch. Bill Gates is investing over One Billion Dollers into Xbox Live, this can be some relief to those like me who have invested heavily into a Dreamcast and have had to amount to nothing.
Originally Xbox Live was scheduled for a Summer 2002 release, but now is more relaistically looking like an Autum/Fall launch. But as Sods Law states, anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Keep Checking www.xbox.com for updated details.
Keep Checking http://www.xbox.com/uk/default.htm for UK infomation
Thank you for reading
E-mail me @--> [email protected]
Talking of Evolution in gaming, i wrote a preview of Xbox live. Not many people know all the facts. I have written a short (kinda FAQ thing on it) should clear things up on XBL. HERE IT IS
Time_Warp wrote:
> I agree that the second generation will be missed, but we still have
> the consoles at home and if you don't they are cheap! (:)
Yup, go down to your local gamestation they still sell a megadrive if you want one ;)
> But the next generation consoles have brought games in a whole new way
> and Games are using and learning factors from the old games and making
> the game an even more enjoyable experience. Look at Halo, not only
> have the graphics vastly improved but unlike several of the old FPS's,
> some of the levels and enviroments are spaced out and well thought of,
> which is a great change from dark castle levels with a few corridors
> we used to (and still play on now sometimes).
Yes i also love the halo expericance, i still play it now and then (after completing it once on normal mode, just going through it on heroic)
> I agree that the second generation will be missed, but we still have
> the consoles at home and if you don't they are cheap! (:)
Yup, go down to your local gamestation they still sell a megadrive if you want one ;)
> But the next generation consoles have brought games in a whole new way
> and Games are using and learning factors from the old games and making
> the game an even more enjoyable experience. Look at Halo, not only
> have the graphics vastly improved but unlike several of the old FPS's,
> some of the levels and enviroments are spaced out and well thought of,
> which is a great change from dark castle levels with a few corridors
> we used to (and still play on now sometimes).
Yes i also love the halo expericance, i still play it now and then (after completing it once on normal mode, just going through it on heroic)
>
> By the way, is the typo you made on the title, supposed to be like
> that?
I thought I had spelled it correctly!
My appologies if I have not.
Anyway.
I agree with you gaming has entered a completely new phase or a "Alternate dimension" if you like.
Gaming has advanced so much that i'm not sure we can keep up with the speed it's going.
There are so many new consoles being realeased at the moment that i've just about lost track of what consoles are in the limelight and which ones aren't.
In-fact gaming is evolving so fast that there are lready talks about an Xbox2,
There are also very promising romourse that Sony are working on a chip for a PS3 would you beleive it?
Who knows what the PS3 would be like if there were to be one, and i've a funny feeling all will be revealed in the near future.
I've also a funny feeling that it is going to be silver.
I also think that the controllers will change drastically.
In other words it will look completely different to the orginal Ps2 and PS1 controllers.
No doubt there will be a GameCube2 looming in the future.
Who knows what's lying in wait out there in the FOG.
However we'll just have to cross our fingers and wait for the enevitable to happen.
> By the way, is the typo you made on the title, supposed to be like
> that?
I thought I had spelled it correctly!
My appologies if I have not.
Anyway.
I agree with you gaming has entered a completely new phase or a "Alternate dimension" if you like.
Gaming has advanced so much that i'm not sure we can keep up with the speed it's going.
There are so many new consoles being realeased at the moment that i've just about lost track of what consoles are in the limelight and which ones aren't.
In-fact gaming is evolving so fast that there are lready talks about an Xbox2,
There are also very promising romourse that Sony are working on a chip for a PS3 would you beleive it?
Who knows what the PS3 would be like if there were to be one, and i've a funny feeling all will be revealed in the near future.
I've also a funny feeling that it is going to be silver.
I also think that the controllers will change drastically.
In other words it will look completely different to the orginal Ps2 and PS1 controllers.
No doubt there will be a GameCube2 looming in the future.
Who knows what's lying in wait out there in the FOG.
However we'll just have to cross our fingers and wait for the enevitable to happen.
I agree that the second generation will be missed, but we still have the consoles at home and if you don't they are cheap! (:)
But the next generation consoles have brought games in a whole new way and Games are using and learning factors from the old games and making the game an even more enjoyable experience. Look at Halo, not only have the graphics vastly improved but unlike several of the old FPS's, some of the levels and enviroments are spaced out and well thought of, which is a great change from dark castle levels with a few corridors we used to (and still play on now sometimes).
By the way, is the typo you made on the title, supposed to be like that?
But the next generation consoles have brought games in a whole new way and Games are using and learning factors from the old games and making the game an even more enjoyable experience. Look at Halo, not only have the graphics vastly improved but unlike several of the old FPS's, some of the levels and enviroments are spaced out and well thought of, which is a great change from dark castle levels with a few corridors we used to (and still play on now sometimes).
By the way, is the typo you made on the title, supposed to be like that?
Yes, it's always sad to see consoles that you really liked fade away into an everlasting night of magical silence....
Look, I'm getting all sentimental just thinking about it.
I'm still in denial when it comes to the Dreamcast.
Look, I'm getting all sentimental just thinking about it.
I'm still in denial when it comes to the Dreamcast.
We are currently in a stage of console evoloution that we can't even begin to imagine.
But because of this Third Gen consoles we can pretty much say goodbye to the second GEN consoles.
Boy what a generation that was.
We will certainly be sad to see it go.
We'll have plenty of happy memories though such as the much loved N64 and the GameBoy Colour.
I am very sad to see these wonderfull consoles suddenly die out.
Almost as if the makers threw the consoles onto a top shelf to let the consoles get covered in dust and rot away.
I guess the gaming buissnes is rather like scientists starting an experiment but then deciding "this is takes to long" and thus they move on to another experiment.
But the future may not be all that bad for these second GEN consoles,
they may become colllectors items and be loved and cherished.
They may also be used to benifit future consoles.
Console developers may decide to go back and use these wonderfull machines as a guidline.
Sega made a very bad mistake by releasing a third GEN console into a second GEN enviroment, we just weren't ready for it and so Sega paid the price.
Console developers will be able to look back and learn from the the these mistakes and will be able to avoid making the same mistake that the second GEN developers made.
Console developing can be a risky buisness and can lead to catastrophoies,
but it can also be a very rewarding buisness to.
Here's to Evoloution
But because of this Third Gen consoles we can pretty much say goodbye to the second GEN consoles.
Boy what a generation that was.
We will certainly be sad to see it go.
We'll have plenty of happy memories though such as the much loved N64 and the GameBoy Colour.
I am very sad to see these wonderfull consoles suddenly die out.
Almost as if the makers threw the consoles onto a top shelf to let the consoles get covered in dust and rot away.
I guess the gaming buissnes is rather like scientists starting an experiment but then deciding "this is takes to long" and thus they move on to another experiment.
But the future may not be all that bad for these second GEN consoles,
they may become colllectors items and be loved and cherished.
They may also be used to benifit future consoles.
Console developers may decide to go back and use these wonderfull machines as a guidline.
Sega made a very bad mistake by releasing a third GEN console into a second GEN enviroment, we just weren't ready for it and so Sega paid the price.
Console developers will be able to look back and learn from the the these mistakes and will be able to avoid making the same mistake that the second GEN developers made.
Console developing can be a risky buisness and can lead to catastrophoies,
but it can also be a very rewarding buisness to.
Here's to Evoloution