Now this is shit hot. Create an environment. Co-op your ass out of it. This thing is bursting from the anus with personality, and I personally can’t wait to play it. Good news, for me, is that it isn’t hitting until the end of the year, not on disc until next year. Maybe I’ll have a PS3 by then if Sony continues at this rate. This is the kind of thing the PS3 Online service needs, and side-scrolling in general. I can’t wait to get in a room with The Troll, The Sauce… well, I suppose Race can come too… and just tear this shit up.

YES! Bite that from XBL and Wii! Do it! That’s what you need! I agree with The Troll that I’m not sure how much I want to be exploring a home instead of having all that info just right in from of me. HOWEVER! I can get that from my 360. The character creation looks as deep as any other good game’s would and the invite idea is a must. Here’s the kicker: achievements(!) in-game can reflect as items in-Home! Achievements that translate into not tangible but not intangible (e-tangible?) rewards for the user hit just a bit harder than bragging rights. (There. I created another word. I’ma be pissed if it shows up on PvP or something.) Good Show, Sony.

I only give half credit for this one because it isn’t an actual product… it’s a philosophy, attempting a slight turn in a new direction for the entire industry. Second Life (egh), Line Rider, and even LittleBigPlanet are a part of this, the drive to include the user in the creation of entertainment. I like the idea, but if Atari-era is Game 1.0 and Online Gaming is Game 2.0, then does that mean the entirely or at least most of digital entertainment is going to turn in our direction? Yeah, it’s empowering, but is it feasible? Really, I think he’s just pointing out something that’s been around for years in the form of Counter Strike, Neverwinter Nights, Sim City, and… hell, D&D. This seems to actually be just officially sanctioned mods. I only hope this doesn’t mean they are giving up all level development to users, making the game pitiful on it’s own. Still, Sony thinking about the user is a welcome change. That last comment is telling. Anyone that knows me, and especially Guy, will tell you that I’m the Sony Anti-Fanboy. You won’t see me sending any quivering love poems their way. Though, here I sit… encouraged.

-Arlo

Sometimes, this is what it feels like. Yes, we’re harping on Sony again. That’s because, yes, they keep doing stuff worth despising. They stop and I’ll shut up. Either way, whatever they did worked. edit: “breaking” news.

I went to a couple of parties on Saturday night dressed as Dr. McNinja. One of those parties was my brother’s and I just knew no one there would have any idea who I was supposed to be. So I took off my balaclava and came in as just a doctor. Here’s a tip: when you go to a party full of perverted schoolgirls and playboy bunnies, you can be guaranteed that there will be at least four doctors there — probably two or three naughty nurses, too. So… grudgingly, I put the mask back on. I swear to God, every last person there called me “Dr. Ninja.” My name was written on a freaking nametag. This payed off, though, not much later that night, when a young boy asked me what I was supposed to be. I didn’t bother telling anyone about the webcomic because my brother and his friends don’t even read mine, but I figured at least I could tell him my name. Before I could get out the first syllable, he shouted at me:

“I DON’T GET YOU!!”

Best part of the night.

-Arlo

P.S. You can see the Dr. McNinja outfit if you watch our newest webcast (a vidcast!), coming soon! Plus, see Jaana as a blonde and Guy as a real American!

If you’re too lazy to click that link, essentialy, Sony got an injunction from a UK judge for online exporter Lik-Sang to stop selling PSPs to the entirety of Europe. This sounds almost like the Divineo case.

A Japan-based company gets a London-based court to tell a China-based company that they can’t sell to an entire continent. Not only does London have absolutely no jurisdiction over Hong Kong (at least since 1999), but they also don’t have any jurisdiction over the entire freaking continent of Europe! The only overlap in jurisdiction I can find here is that England happens to be one part of the EEA (European Economic Area). That’s like the dude at the counter at Macy’s telling you you can’t go to the entire mall. Why? ::shrug:: I don’t know, some dude in Peru asked us to tell you that.

What’s more, Sony decided to carry all of this out, and then notify Lik-Sang afterwards, robbing them of their opportunity to defend their case. Now, in order to continue doing the legal task of selling a PSP, Lik-Sang has to spend a shit-load of money to over-turn the decision. I suppose they could just ignore it; they are still exploring their options. I say they should just keep on trucking.

Sony uses the terms “dishonest manner” and “unlawfully.”

Hi, Pot? This is the Kettle. You’re black.

-Arlo

Gyroscopic Sensors in Controller – Yeah, sure. If you examine the evolution of the playstation controller, this is just the logical next step in the creative process. This has nothing to do with the fact that Nintendo is receiving tons of praise for their innovative control scheme. They didn’t just slap it together and tell developers one week before e3. Sure. I think what really bothers me about this is the psuedo-denial on their part. “Hey, didn’t you guys just steal this idea from Nintendo?” “This is the obvious direction that the dual shock was headed in the first place. You are a moron if you didn’t see that ten years ago.” “Yeah… right… but would you have even considered it an option if it weren’t for Nintendo’s new system?” “……………NINJA VANISH!!”

Download Set-up for Retro Games – This is a great idea for Sony. Only good news. Of course, most PSX games (coming to a PSP near you… soonish…) are made to be played on a console and not on the go. Still, not a bad idea. Too bad Nintendo called this one already. Bigger better selection if all goes well. Sony sees a good idea and runs with it, claiming it was all part of the plan to release their agenda after the competition.

This is the one I saw today:

“Always-On” Internet Connectivity – Really. They actually used that term. That’s the same god-damned words Nintendo has been using to describe their Wii24Connect service, or whatever it’s called, since the get-go. Honestly, do they think people aren’t paying attention? Of course, it’s probably just me.

Like I said about the last one, it’s only good news that Sony has all of these things pumped and primed. These aren’t bad ideas. It just really bothers me that they are being so obstinate about giving credit where it’s due. I know these ideas aren’t new to the world, but for this console generation they sure as hell are. It’s like asking someone a question and they pretend they weren’t listening. “Huh? Oh, hey, did you see MGS4?” So, what’s next?

Sony renames new system “Piii”. Claims PLAYSTATION 3 was “just a name we were kicking around the office” – I’ll give you a minute to let the funny sink in.

-Arlo

If you’re thinking about getting a PS3 when it comes out, chances are that you’ve carefully thought out various alternatives to be able to pay for that sucker. I was thinking about selling commissions, and Arlo spoke of willingly selling the lovely, delicate locks growing from his chin. If push comes to shove, and our funds are not sufficient to fully submerge us into the magical sea of next-gen gaming, then Arlo and I will just have to painfully accept the reality of the matter. We’ll cry big, crocodile, bittersweet tears over our Wii’s…or maybe next to them…don’t want to get them wet and all.

So yeah, the strip’s late. Again. I really gotta stop with this whole full-time job thing. It’s driving me mad. As much as I really like to get strips out on time, my body just will not agree with me. I apologize profusely for our lateness. We still love you, really.

On a brighter note, forum members actreal and wadewilson have gotten me and some others in the forums to play this browser game called The Ring Wars. It’s based on Lord of the Rings, as you may have guessed, and I must say that I’m hooked. UltraMagnus even set up a little webpage for us to more conveniently expand our army! COME! JOIN US! It’s fun, I swear. =) If you don’t want to join, but would like to help us in our campaign, you can just go to the page and click on each link, which will give each of us a soldier! You don’t even have to sign up or anything! Anyway, here’s the site:

http://www.level99comic.com/theringwars

GO! You too can be part of the best Level 99 Army ever!

~Race

Holy CRAP! I thought we were just talking about Pac-Man! Where did this come from!? Ok, we’ve just written ourselves into a corner. Even I’m curious to see how we get ourselves out of this. I promise we won’t go the clone route. It’s toooooooo…. death of Palpatine. Well, it’s good to know that, if neccessary, Guy could replace me. I mean, look at him. That’s uncanny.

News in the gaming industry? Well, I’m sure you’ve heard by now that Sony is now more actively pursuing the “copy protection” method of denying the playability of used, rented, or borrowed games. It’s an old story now, but you and I haven’t discussed it. Talk about shooting themselves in the foot. I think you can all agree with me that they won’t do this (at least not this generation). I mean, the system already cost 600 dollars without games or accessories, and now you can’t trade in your games to get some sort of return on them? Yeah, sure, the purchase of Sony’s used games will go down, but that also means trades will go down, which decreases the ability of the buyer to afford this increasingly expensive hobby, and consequently decreases sales of NEW games, too. Don’t believe me? The video game business is booming, hand in hand with the trade-in business. I italicized Sony there to illustrate a point: this tactic only makes the Sony product less desirable. I’m already apt to buy a 360 and a Wii instead of a PS3, but now you’re saying I can’t buy the games used, or rent them, or even just borrow a game from my buddy at work? Fine, then. Now, I’m definitely not going to get a PS3. See how that works? But don’t worry. This is just a patent. And an old one. For all we know they are just trying to prevent other manufacturers from implementing this without their say so. There is no way they are going to go through with this.

The truth of the matter is an increase in the desirability of your product equals an increase in the attempted piracy of said product. These two items are locked in a marriage that trancends time and space, forever to be held true, recorded in stone in the annals of economics and industry. Flip that around. Efforts to decrease piracy, while at the same time being completely futile, can only decrease the desirabilty of the product. I’ll tell you this: already I don’t really want to pirate any PS3 games.

-Arlo

I just wrote this review for Oblivion on the 360, but I do have something very important to mention.

They’ve announced a price point for the PS3, along with launch date and package details. They’ve done well by adopting the 360 two-package system while keeping both units with a hard drive so the developers can use them as standard. The system with a 20-gig hard drive, or “Core” package, is listing at the previously hypothesized $500. Wowzah. I guessed that’s what they’d release the 60 gig for, but the two package dealy worked in raising the standard price 100 dollars for the 360, so why not 200 more for the ps2, huh? Huh? Right? Well, at least it’s a cheap solution for a Blu-Ray DVD player. That is, if blu-ray wins the war. Otherwise you’re stuck with a betamax that plays games. Kick-ass games, I’m sure, though.

Well, as you can guess, that means the 60-gig system, or “Premium” package, is goin’ for a cool 600 smackeroos. ::sigh:: Guess like I really am throwing in with a friend on this one. No way I can swing that at Christmas time. I wonder how many people will buy the Wii because of this. I just hope Nintendo doesn’t get any ideas and raise their price to $300.

They have, however, done the stupid thing and tried to trick us. They drop the 20 gig on us to reel us in with 500 instead of 600 dollars, and then say, “Why, for only 100 more you can get 40 gigs more, plus memory stick, SD, and Compact Flash reading capabilities. OOOOooooo!” No, Sony. The Premium package isn’t “plus” those features; The Core package is “sans” them. You’re trying to sell us a package lacking tons of features you promised for 100 dollars more than the 360’s Premium package cost. That “slight” price increase is looking larger and larger. Don’t get me wrong, though. Those features are pretty cool. My big gripe so far? The price and the package tomfoolery. Still gonna buy the damn thing.

As for the release date, no real surprises here. Japan on Nov 11th and US & Europe on Nov 17th.

Oh, and apparently, the boomerang controller is back to the dual-shock form. Only with less shock and more gyro-sensors. Can’t wait for that to be implemented. They also promised to double their production numbers to 2 million per month in the first couple months. Yeah, I’ll believe that when my shit turns purple and tastes like rainbow sherbert.

-Arlo