miffy495

I just got back from the dentist to fix me teeth. Only about a half hour after game time should have started. Where is everybody? I'm playing Scribblenauts in front of my 360 waiting to hear those "logging on" sounds...

2 to 3 hours depending on how people are feeling usually. Usually closer to 3. We'll happily take a latecomer though, so sign in and message someone who's in-game. They should be able to send you an invite when there's a lull in the action.

I'm not saying I don't enjoy all those games I mentioned. On the contrary, they were all fantastic and great examples of what can be done on the hardware. I was simply saying that none of them feel "portable" to me. They're great games and the hardware to play them is portable, they don't feel like games you can pick up and put down whenever you want. They require a more dedicated gaming time, so the occasions where I play my PSP are when I know that I'm stuck somewhere for a number of hours and don't have access to a console. It was not a knock at the games, but rather a defense of why I don't consider the PSP to be a portable gaming system (and a reason for why you thought I was "missing the point" of portable gaming. Simply put, so does Sony.) so much as a miniature console. The DS' strengths, on the other hand, is that while there are a few games which require a lot of attention (the Dragon Quest ports, for example) the majority of the games are really well suited to pick up and play, making it a much better system for a bus ride or the like. That's neither a negative nor a positive for either system, but it should be a consideration based on what you're buying the system for. I do agree that Sony's recent marketing barrage with regards to the PSP is encouraging, especially for someone like me who's owned one since 2005 and only finds one or two games a year worth playing on it. I bought the PSP and the DS about 6 months apart, and my games library for the former is about a third the size of the latter. If Sony is going to go crazy with support for the system, I'm very happy. It's something that's needed to happen for a long time now. You'll notice I did recommend picking up the system, as by now the catalog of worthwhile games is at least big enough to keep you busy until their currently hyped games come out, but if you've been following the system all along it hasn't really been the case. It's taken them 4 years to build up a catalog that's easy to recommend a purchase for. Nintendo took about 9 months with the DS. If Sony weren't the giant they are, they would have had to give up on the system as financially unsound long ago.

Goddamn. Hopes up for nothing. Oh well. At least now I have a reason to go back and play Odama again. 61t7bk88lUc

Goddamn. I bought a Lips bundle because I heard that the mics work with Beatles. Confirmed, and also, three part harmonies are fucking amazing. Whether or not Lips ever comes out of the shrink wrap, this was worth it. I already had a mic stand, so I play guitar/bass and sing, or drum while the other three all sing and play depending on mood. Shit, this is the best local multiplay I've had in a long time. I really hope harmonies and backup (in any song that will allow it) are mainstays in Rock Band from here out.

Oh shit, it got read this week? Awesome! I'm still catching up at the moment, as school started up this week and I'm buried in readings to do. Can't wait to get to this one now. Even moreso, as I was already feeling like something was amiss without having had the time to listen to the thumb this week.

You can use bongos? Man. I have Odama, I have bongos. Why have I never done this?

In response, I'd have to say that missing the point of having a portable system is entirely what the PSP is about. The most critically acclaimed games on it are all versions of games that seek to rival their counterparts on PS2. God of War, Grand Theft Auto (Liberty and Vice) City Stories, Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops, Ratchet and Clank, and others are not portable games. The are all good games, sure, but they are simply whole console games which have been made to run on hardware which happens to have a screen built into its controller. The fact that so many of the PSP's best games have been ported over to the PS2 speaks to this. GTA Chinatown Wars actually is a portable game, but I suspect that this is only due to the fact that it was on the DS first. If the PSP was the lead platform, we wouldn't see this happening. While the library is growing, I see very few games that are coming up which actually embrace what distinguishes portable gaming from console gaming and allows the inferior hardware to be a non-issue. Instead we are getting versions of Assassin's Creed, Gran Turismo, (another) Metal Gear Solid, and Little Big Planet that will attempt to look and play as good as their siblings on PS3 and will fail to. Accuse me of missing the point of a portable if you must, but when we're talking about the PSP, I'd say it's the only thing you can do.

Like Odama combined with Singstar?

Well, I did listen to Played, but they haven't updated in a long time. Too good for your old cohosts now, Chris?

And if you don't care about RPGs or Racing, that list is cut in half. Also, a few of those are ports of games that I've already played (GTA Chinatown) or if I play them, will do so on an actual console (Gran Turismo, Assassin's Creed, LBP [maybe?]). Again, I like my PSP, but that list wouldn't convince me at all if I were on the fence. Thanks for reminding me I should pick up Rock Band though. The demo was great, and I love Frequency and Amplitude.

I'm Canadian. We use Canadian Dollars. The exchange rate is currently about 1 Canadian dollar to about 93 cents US. So I pay dollars, but they are worth less than yours. I also use kilometers and spell "colour" and "neighbour" correctly.

Well, I've been using one of the pack in Xplorer guitars from the 360 release of GHII for a while now, as my original Rock Band guitar broke on me. I'd had a chance to use a RB2 guitar a few times, and coveted it very much. Decided on my last shift at HMV that as we were receiving the Harrison and Lennon guitars, I'd finally get one. Man, even between the RB1 guitar and this one, it's like night and day. Such a nice piece of tech. As far as I know, it's just a different shell on the RB2 guitar, but that's all I wanted anyway.

No, I pay in dollars. Mine are just worth less than yours.

That depends. I like my PSP quite a bit when I'm using it. The screen is excellent, and games like Lumines, the GTAs, God of War, Patapon, and Loco Roco are great. On the other hand, the catalogue is anemic at the moment despite Sony's efforts. If you get a decent memory stick, you can download a bunch of PS1 games from the PSN. That makes things very nice. Being able to play Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid on the bus is great. Actually, I've mostly been playing PS1 originals on my PSP lately. It actually has become a portable Playstation. Anyway, I like it. It's certainly not got the same breadth of titles as the DS, but it's by no means a bad choice. Especially if you can get one cheap as you say, go for it.

Since beating it last week, I've actually got quite a strong urge to go back and play it again. It's that good. I bought Metroid Prime Trilogy on the same day, and should really put some time into that instead, but damn do I want to play more Batman. Here's hoping that the teased new free DLC is something for the story mode that'll give me an excuse to go back.

Kilometers. We use kilometers here.

Except for that one Randy Newman thing? Anyway, it's a good policy. A lot of people love parody songs, but I can never stand them after two or three listens. They wear out their welcome so damn fast.

Well, I bought Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road today, despite already owning a whole chunk of Beatles, so I guess I'm even more susceptible to buying the shiny new version of something than I thought. Also, got a Gretsch Rock Band guitar. So pretty. I loves me some Harrison something fierce. I'd kill for one of those McCartney mandolin-bass peripherals, but it seems they're only in the crazy $250 bundle. I even saw him play that thing live, and the second I had a chance to buy a RB replica, it would be done.

You're new, so I understand, but really this is just 'blix being 'blix. Once you've been around for a while, you'll realize that he's actually a very nice guy and it's simply the case that his tongue never leaves his cheek.

Wow. I'm not sure whether to laugh my ass off or be really freaked out. Nick, please confirm this photo (if it is actually you) was acquired through legitimate means so that I may simply be amused.

I didn't see the giant bomb panel, so possibly?

Cheers, dude.

In theory, but Microsoft's online service seems to have some hate on for me accessing anything xbox from my browser. Dunno why, but it's never worked for me.

No, the forum is much older than that. We don't even have thumbs anymore. They atrophied and fell off. Strangely, Miyamoto upending the teatable still works: Anyway, welcome. We're a very nice gaming forum, promise. After years and years of trying different ones out, this is the only forum I've decided to stick with. Well, mixnmojo back in the day, but I migrated. Hope you stick around.