Double Agent

I hate FF8. It and that goddamned lockout scheme that everyone in the free world is asking me about. So, in light of the fact that fully 80% of today's letters were asking about it, I'm going to lay down what I know, and don't know, right now.

1. The lockout system checks the PSX several times during the game, which is why the first code we posted at GIA didn't work in the long-term: it dealt with the first check, but failed the following ones. The current one should keep the game going.

2. I don't know whether the lockout will be in use for the US version, and whether it'll refuse to play on modded US PSXes, because it's not out yet.

3. The codes should work fine with a European PSX... though I can't confirm that with 100% certainty, seeing as I'm not European, don't own a European PSX, a GameShark, or a copy of FF8.

4. And for everyone that wrote in saying so, I assure you that you're not winning any points with me by referring to me as "fucko", much less blaming me for the lockout, and any frustration it's causing you. Screaming and swearing at me because of something like the Sony lockout is just plain stupid, so cut it out.

That covers most of the questions, to the best of my ability.

Good news, for once

Hey! How's it going, allan? good I hope. Now, enough with the small talk, down to business.

I am a subscriber to game informer, and a frequent at your site, because both are, in my opinion, the most accurate resources for information pertaining to games. Well until recently, that is.

What shifted me to doubt was that I saw an article in my March edition of game informer on Ehrgeiz. It showed some cool pics of the game, including ones of the Quest mode and sephiroth and vincent. "Damn! It's going to be even better than the arcade version!" I thought, but then my hapless eyes happen to glance down to the bottom of the page. Well I have to say, what I saw nearly made my jaw dislocate from my skull and tumble to the floor. It said that Square wasnt likely to bring it to the U.S.! Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I clearly remember you guys saying it WAS coming to the U.S. later on this year. Now frankly, I believe you guys over anyone else, but I need to know which is it, are we going to get Ehrgeiz, possibly the greatest Fighting game to exist, or arent we????

Thanks for your time Allan,

John, THE sultan of strange


You heard right. Ehrgeiz, which boasts a hilarious Beach Races mini-game by the way, is coming to the US in May. Rejoice.

Faye Wong

Dude, is Faye Wong's song "Eye's On Me" in Final Fantasy VIII?

In case you don't know, Faye Wong is VERY BIG over here in Asia. The HongKong singer happens to be in town (Singapore) this week on tour.

Cheers

Leonard Teo

Tech-Junkie


Yes, the inexplicably-popular Faye Wong's song "Eyes on Me" is in Final Fantasy VIII at some point. They paid a million bucks for it, so they bloody well should. It'll probably be played during the ending credits.

Who is worthy to judge?

Who among us is qualified to say what constitutes Final Fantasy and whatdoesn't? Not me. Not you(though you come damn close Mr. Milligan). NotAndrew Vestal, not Big Lick, not Ed, not George Lucas, not Thor, notSalacious Crumb, not Pompey, not Caesar, not anybody--but the man whocreated the series and has been active in all of it's incarnations.Hironobu Sakaguchi, the Creator, is the only one who is qualified to saywhat constitutes Final Fantasy, and he alone can decide if hiscreations have outlived their time. Apparently he doesn't think so, and Idon't think that any of us can say that a game isn't really a part of theseries, as long as he thinks it is.

By the way, are you a college kid? You often post these late at nightwhich makes me conclude that you aren't in high school. And if so, wheredo you go?

Etiam, delenda est Carthago,

Caine


I only come close to being qualified? Pish. :) Anyhow, I guess you're right that Sakaguchi is probably the only one who's truly qualified to judge what Final Fantasy is about. Well, maybe him and Uematsu, who's about as much a part of the FF spirit as any person can be.

No, I'm not a college kid. Prior to just recently, I was a high school kid, albeit a very senior one (the Ontario school board, which I attended, effectively has thirteen grades). I also tend to work a lot during the day, clear up to dinnertime, at which point I suddenly realize "oh hell, I've gotta do the column", and, well, things end up with my updating the column *very* late. So, I'm currently freelancing, and not attending school of any kind. Not what you expected, eh? :)

... right

Hey Allan!

i LoVe You MaN!!!!!!!!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!??

BuT i HeRe YOU aRe THe SHaVeD GoRiLLA THaT THe aiDS ViRuS CaMe FRoM!!! You MoTHeRFuCKo!!!!!!

MY DiCK FeLL oFF. FiX iT NoW. CuMoN FuCKo!!! Do iT You aPeSHiT!!!!!

---TVQ


Anyone who ever thought that I had a cool, fun job that's a joy each and every day, and am snippy and angry all the time for no good reason, can now read the above and just shut the hell up.

Quick figures

was just wondering what the best selling video game of all time was, aswell as the best selling RPG. thanx


The best-selling video game of all time is Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES, and the best selling RPG is, to my surprise, Pokemon.

Why I like kicking puppies

Hey Allan!

I have been reading your column for several weeks now, and I was justwondering if you ever get tired of people complaining about challenge ingame, graphics in games, character development in games, spelling ofgames names, crap like that? Ever feel like you just want to banexcessive letters like that? I find that when I play a game, morerecently than before, I don't over-analyze how what a main charactereats for breakfast will effect him when he is fighting monsters lateron. Can't we all just enjoy the game for what it is instead of what isbehind the game??

Sorry for the rant.

-- Taggie


I'm a miserable, pissy sort of guy, so I seem to accumulate negative letters naturally. Moreover, while it'd be nice if we could all just enjoy all games for what they are, it'd also make for some pretty boring columns. "Dear Double Agent, I really loved FF Tactics." "Yeah, me too."

Maybe I'm just a warmonger, but I think conflict and negativity can add a lot of spice and interest to life in general, and entertainment in particular, and seeing as this column's intent is at least partially to entertain, I do what I can do keep it lively. Sure, it gets on my nerves every so often (see the opening rant for an example of me getting seriously torqued off), but hey, that's show business.


Closing comments

Sort of a quick column tonight, in light of the high volume of FF8 protection scheme letters. Feel free to write to me about, well, just about anything else tomorrow. I'll even try and be polite about answering them.

Oh, and note that I was an advisor on the History of RPGs feature currently on display at videogames.com. Consequently, I take credit for anything you like about it, and deny any connection to the stuff you didn't. Fair enough?

- The Double Agent

 
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