Let the fun begin - July 15, 2000 - Andrew Kaufmann
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this column are those of
the participants and the moderator, and do not necessarily reflect those of the GIA. There
is coarse language and potentially offensive material afoot. I bought this neat guitar pick holder.
It attaches to a mic stand. It makes me feel like a rock star. Don't say we didn't warn you.
Well, Chris is going to be gone for a week. So, frightening as it may sound,
I'm going to be hosting the column in his abscence. Yes, a week of AK.
Frightening, I know. But I think that if we all come together and focus all of
our positive energy and monetary supply on one source, that I will have
enough money to buy some new guitar toys.
I understand yall liked Ed's controversial commenting. This is good. Maybe
we'll see more of him sometime. Props to him for doing a good job filling in
on short notice.
| In defense of FF9 (not that it really needs it) |
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Having actually played FF9 - I had a good laugh reading the absolutely ludicrous letter sent in by "the dark lord" yesterday. I will say that FF9 is a great game, and I am hopelessly hooked on it, but it's strong point is by far its great graphics and interesting storyline - not "innovation". There's no secret that SQUARE is milking the FF franchise for all it's worth and I do not suspect that anyone thought that the last FF game for a dying console, promised to be a return to the 'roots' of the series, would be innovative. I fully believe that SQUARE is capable of innovation - but I just don't think that it will be realized until the FF series leaps onto a new console.
Yuji
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I agree with you in a major way. I get the impression that with Final Fantasy IX, Square is saying goodbye an
era of gaming that's been very good to them. It gives the impression of being
a throwback to the good ole days, a sort of victory lap before going on to
new things.
Square will undoubtedly innovate in major ways with FFX, XI, and onward. In
fact, the worry seems to be less about whether or not Square will innovate, but
whether or not they'll go too far with the online thing and ruin a good franchise.
| In defense of DQVII (it needs some) | | Final Fantasy IX is indeed innovative. Gameplay wise, it features many things such as: "mognet," the active time event system, "trance mode," a new exclamation point interaction system, and a new gameplay system which grants players very different abilities for the same characters depending on equipment; but of course, the most innovative thing of all is the atmosphere of the new world, consisting of flying cities defended by powerful dragons, a variety of demi-human races, and strange institutions.( the rat dragoons,a bandit group, a kingdom with an army of mages, ect.) No matter how "old school" this game was intended, it is obvious that Final Fantasy IX breaks the trend of using cliched characters and predictable settings. The world is truly unlike that of any other Final Fantasy title, which can be stated more concisely with a single word, innovation.
"Which is exactly why series such as Dragon Quest get slammed
so hard for looking so mediocre. We aren't talking about any
old game looking bad, we are talking about the grand-daddy of
all console RPG series. This is the RPG equivalent of Mario
leaving US shores for years and returning looking like old
news because other platformers upped the ante in the
meantime."
Anyone who has any knowledge of the DragonQuest series would
know that some of the more entertaining games in the series
had sub-par graphics for their time. DragonQuest 5 is a prime
example of that. As the first game in the Super Famicom
series, it took a heavy beating from critics for graphics that
looked... well... like they had been designed for the Famicom.
However, the game still delivered when it came to gameplay and
story, the two elements which drive forward the DragonQuest
series. The same is pretty much true of DragonQuest 3. It's
graphics weren't a big change from DragonQuest 2 either,
however the addition of a battery saveram was a nice touch as
passwords and RPGs should never mix well. ;) Again however, it
stresses the point that graphics shouldn't be a serious marker
for the merit of a game. As long as they're not so horrible
that they detract from the ability of the game maker to tell a
story, they shouldn't even factor in to the equation with as
much value as most people seem to be giving them these days.
Some of the best adventure/RPG games I've played have had
horrible graphics... Zork didn't even have any! While other
series, most notably the Final Fantasy series has decided to
take it's fans to the movies, I'm glad that there is still
companies like Working Designs and Enix who remember that we
buy games to play them... FF9 actually looks like a reversal
on that idea on the part of Square, so perhaps they've
realized that fact and have decided to come back to the
fold... 'Bout time...
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You're right, Dragon Quest has never been on the graphical edge. And no,
graphics should not be the determining factor of a game's worth. Gameplay
shouldn't be sacrificed for graphics. That having been said, though, to say
that graphics should only not detract from the game is a pretty low goal.
Graphics done well greatly enhance a story. Again, it's not the only factor,
but it is a factor. If you took two equal games, but made one with NES
graphics, and one with PS2 graphics, I can't imagine anyone preferring
to play the former.
The competition has raised the graphical bar, and right or wrong, many
people expect every company to follow suit. DQ7 has been in development
for so long, it's nigh impossible for it to be cutting edge graphically.
I'm not going to count DQ7 as an average game just because of average
graphics, but it puts itself at a disadvange. It's true what they
say about first impressions.
| Look, and ye shall find | |
J*R J*R?!?!? My God the profanity allowed on this page!!!!
Anyway, DQVII or FFIX? On one side a conundrum of missed release dates and frazzled gamplay, and on the other a quasi- "old school" return to the overdone medieval RPG, which to choose? The answer is, of course, FFIX. Not because it is a better game, but for the obvious fact that it will be more readily available. Square thanks to the recent success of FFVII and FFVIII will be jamming copies of FFIX down retailer's throats, while Enix may send copies to major retailers minor ones will only carry FFIX. See my point, yet? Square's marketing division will also be hard at work creating ads, and TV commercials (but why Coke?), while Enix will be lucky to find a page of PSM to use for an ad. Oh, sure DQ was good, back in the day, but will retailers bet their shelf space on what was good, or what will sell. And what businessman worth his salt would bet money that DQVII will sell better in US the FFIX, hmmm? It's all about the paper, the cash, the benjamins.
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Dude, I can't say that I'm totally hip with your logic. I like to choose my games
based on quality, not quantity. I don't think anyone will have a problem finding
copies of DQ7... and if they do, where there's a will, there's a way. The Internet
has changed things -- you don't need to be next door to an Electronics Boutique
to have their selection of games. Just pull up www.ebworld.com on your favorite
browser, and voila, games! In many cases, shipping is even cheaper than sales tax.
What a deal!
| Meandering a bit off topic |
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AK,
Jeremy and Ed did a great job filling in for Chris, but there's just
something about AK and weekends. One without the other would be like a
peanut butter sandwich without the jelly, and we all know that's just plain
gross.
We tend to discuss a wide range of topics in Double Agent, but I can't
recall just how many of us are comic book fans. You don't need me reminding
everyone that X-Men opened last night, a movie experience I haven't enjoyed
so much since The Matrix hit theaters. Bryan Singer succeeded where
everyone thought he would fail, delivering a movie with characterization,
style, and even the special effects promised by years of comic book reading.
Bryan Singer can't take all the credit. The cast can't, either, 100%.
What's that you see during the closing credits? "Screenplay by David
Hayter"? David Hayter, David Hayter...hey, that sounds familiar!
Yes, friends, the X-Men movie was co-written by Solid Snake. How cool is
that?? I was dubious as to whether it was the same David Hayter. Check out
this link: http://us.imdb.com/Name?Hayter,+David. He was even in the museum
scene! If anyone's still doubtful, check out question #9 here:
http://mgs.gagames.com/Interview_6_1_99.html. At the time of the interview
roughly a year ago, our man Snake couldn't reveal his role with the X-Men
movie, but it's obvious now what he was up to.
Damn. Knowing this shouldn't make the movie any cooler than I already
thought, but it is. Quality voice acting, quality writing...I guess quality
speaks for itself? Here's hoping Konami brings the voice of Snake--and the
rest of his compatriots--back for Sons of Liberty.
Brad Brasfield,
Still chuckling about "Dr. Jean Grey" and Darth Toad
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Well, since I don't know anything about X-Men, and I haven't seen the movie yet, I'll just have
to comment on the first part of the letter! Thanks a bunch for your compliment, it is appreciated.
It makes me feel loved. I love feeling loved. But major props still go out to the Jeramiac and Edly
duo for filling in admirably.
Now, about the sandwhich thing. I agree, peanut butter and bread, without jelly, totally won't cut
it. At all. But, on the other hand, bread and jelly makes for a very tasty snack. Does this decrease
the value of peanut butter? Is stock in Jiffy going to plummet?
| Let's say it was a strategic error | |
Hey AK, I'm a little disappointed with the GIA! In the Rhapsody contest
this week, you listed "The Boat Song" as the song from Lunar: Silver Star
Story Complete. "The Boat Song" is actually called the Winds Nocturne.
What's the deal?
Kaxon
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I don't know who did the story off the top of my head, but I'll come to the defense of this person.
I'm certain that this person was aware of the song's proper title, but decided to call it "The Boat
Song" because that is likely to be a more widely recognized way of referencing the song. I bet
a lot of people would say to themselves, "The Winds Nocturne? Huh?" but the same people would
say "Ah! The boat song! What a funky tune!"
Benefit of the doubt, man!
| An odd request | |
Why do people keep talking about games being "old school?" It's summer!
School is out! Call them "old style." It's a bit more ghetto.
-SC4000
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Well, SOME of us take courses in the summer (I find them easier, for the most part), so I'll pretend to be
offended at your suggestion. But, since we here at the GIA aim to please, I'll pass this along to the
rest of the crew (if I remember), and try to call it "old style" (if I remember).
| Economics | |
Why the hell does Funko Land charge so much for Super Nintendo games??
- Adam
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Ah, supply and demand, my friend! Supply of popular SNES games (I'm assuming you're looking for
the most popular ones -- I'd imagine that a copy of Bait 'n Hook Fishing is less expensive than a
copy of Final Fantasy II) is low, since many are in the hands of collectors, and many more just
evaporate over time (sort of like rare baseball cards). Basically, the market isn't overflowing
with old SNES games, but a lot of collectors are trying to get their grubby paws on them. Low
supply, high demand. Stores can up the prices and still sell the games, because someone out there
is willing to pay that high price. Probably someone that made a bunch of money by investing
in Internet companies, and riding the high tide of Wall Street insanity. Lucky stiffs.
Closing Comments:
And so begins my DA marathon! Well, 9 days in a row isn't really a marathon, tons of letters people
have done it before. But in my little world, it's a marathon. So don't burst my bubble, OK? Take
care!
-Andrew Kaufmann
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