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Little news. Lots of talking. Strange. Joe hosting. Have fun.
Joe: Welcome everyone to yet another edition of the Editor's Note. Filling in for Kevin tonight is your favorite Senior News Editor, Joe. And I have to be, cause I'm the only one. So let's get this ball rolling.
Joe: First topic: Atari brings Budokai 2 to the Cube, now only another century until we get the third sequel.
Paul: you mean the second sequel.
Joe: Same thing. Either way, it takes way too long.
Paul: Just saying. Senior News Editor. :-) You're right about that, though. I smell a Driv3r
Eric: I couldn't have been the only person expecting this. It happened with Budokai 1, it happened again. Why Atari isn't releasing these games in conjunction with their PS2 releases is beyond me.
Joe: Because surely Sony is better than Nintendo. At least we get a quick laugh at the people who all bought it for the full $50, whereas we get it at $20.
Eric: Well, unfortunately, that's what people are becoming trained to think.
Joe: Dare we apply the saying, "Better late than never" to this sort of situation?
Eric: Not really. It wasn't that good of a game anyway.
Paul: While I can understand your ire, here, think about Xbox owners and Grand Theft Auto. I, personally, love that I paid for one game, and got the better version of two games at once.
Eric: While us Cubers are being secretly laughed at by Rockstar....
Paul: Oh, no. They are laughing at us openly.
Joe: I'd be interested to see how that would even work on the Cube; it couldn't fit on one disc.
Eric: Well, they are making GTA Advance for some strange reason.
Paul: I like the idea of GTA Advance.
Joe: There has always been this thing that's irked me though.
Paul: They're taking the graphic approach of the original GTA and combining it with the more advanced stories of GTA III -based games
Eric: "Hey son, are you leveling up your Pikachu?" "No Dad, I'm killing hookers!"
Joe: I would laugh if GTA Advance sold better than its console brethren, by the way. This has always bugged me though. Let's take Eidos for a moment. They fussed and whined that Hitman 2 didn't sell like Halo on the GCN, so no Hitman 3 for us. Well gee, when you release it about half a year to a full one after the other consoles, what do you expect? The logic has always angered me to no extent.
Eric: Ditto with Burnout 3.
Joe: Exactly.
Eric: Burnout 2 sells awesomely, but EA won't bring the third game to us because of no online support.
Paul: At the same time, and let's be honest, reverse engineering has to be done to put some of those games out on the GCN.
Joe: True, Paul, but other developers manage to do it just fine.
Eric: So I ask this. Why the FUCK do you release Madden, Harry Potter, and all your other games on it?
Joe: Interesting point. The other Maddens have online and not the GCN, why can't they release Burnout 3 with the other two consoles?
Paul: No, Joe, they just don't aim high enough to overshoot.
Joe: Yeah, but they still get it done.
Paul: Because some franchises sell well with or without online support.
Eric: Let's face it. Nintendo has gained the unfortunate ire of being a system for children. That's why so many companies are not releasing all their games for it. The lack of online play and their arrogant attitude hurts as well.
Joe: Which also boggles my mind. I'm pretty sure DBZ would sell quite well on the GCN.
Paul: You would think so, sure, but DBZ is perceived as a direct competitor to Pokémon, yes?
Joe: Direct? I wouldn't put it quite that far.
Eric: Not exactly. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't both shows shown on a Turner Networks-owned channel?
Paul: The shows are commercials for the games, both card and video.
Joe: Pokémon is on WB and some on Cartoon Network, DBZ is on Cartoon Network and UPN. Not sure if Pokémon is on UPN. I hope I didn't get the UPN parts backwards, but you get the idea.
Eric: DBZ is only on UPN in syndicated form. Same with Pokemon.
Paul: But they are competitors in the field we are talking about. The shows are secondary concerns to the people who own the property.
Eric: True, and we all know how much Nintendo loves to keep their franchises to themselves.
Joe: I suppose there's somewhat of a blurred line in this part. But at any rate, I suppose we'll get Budokai 3 just as late. About when do you guys predict?
Eric: That said, I'm glad Budokai II is coming to the GCN. I'm sure it will sell about as well as Power Rangers Dino Thunder, but it's just good to see some quality budget software on the system and for my prediction, probably in a year, just as Budokai 4 is coming out.
Joe: Maybe we'll even get lucky and it will sell well enough for Atari to maybe release Budokai 3 after, maybe, 11 months.
Eric: and if we're really lucky, 10!
Joe: Don't push your luck there Eric.
Joe: Next topic: Mario Power Tennis?
Paul: Am I the only one who thinks Mario is getting spread thin? I mean, how are they justifying a plumber in the Open?
Joe: I think videogames threw justification out the window years ago.
Eric: Well, it definitely breaks the trend of earlier Nintendo titles, and I have to say I like it. Of course, I will say you were on to something, Joe, with Koopledon Championship.
Joe: It was actually more difficult to think of a catchy subtitle than I thought it would be.
Eric: I'd put my money on Nintendo having the same problem, hence why they decided on this choice. I still like it, however.
Paul: I can't stop saying it; I like him better in the 2d context.
Joe: It's not a bad title, I don't think. I was a bit surprised to see it had no subtitle though.
Paul: Mario v. Donkey Kong and the Paper Mario franchise... this is where I've enjoyed playing the plumber.
Joe: I still love Mario Tennis no matter what you say.
Eric: I have to agree. It was one of the best games for the N64 and should do quite well on the Cube. It's a big shocker that a game that wasn't even playable at E3 will be released only 6 months later.
Joe: I'm surprised it actually got moved up to November.
Paul: So in answer to my previous question, yes, I am the only one.
Eric: Of course, now Nintendo is leaving all their stuff in for this year, and really aren't thinking about E3 next year. The only game I can think of that will more than likely not be released before it is the new Zelda. Maybe Jungle Beat and Advance Wars.
Joe: Revolution, dear sir?
Eric: GameCube, dude. But in response to your question, Paul, I think they are both great styles. But they are two different types, and I like them both equally.
Joe: I'm not worried about E3; Nintendo ought to have a number of surprises up their sleeves.
Eric: Of course. It's still 6 months away. Nothing to worry about. But back to the topic, I do have to say I hope that some of the lesser-known Mario characters get a nod in this game.
Joe: I expect good things out of Mario Power Tennis: Koopledon Championship, or whatever it may be. The early release sweetens the deal.
Paul: Of course, one could say I shoot my own argument about franchise exhaustion in the foot when I'm looking forward gleefully to Donkey Konga
Eric: I'd kill to see Spiny with a racket.
Paul: ...wow.
Paul: /me takes a few steps away from Eric:
Joe: There you go Paul. Monkeys banging wildly on bongos, there's justification.
Eric: What, don't like Spiny?
Paul: Don't like getting killed.
Eric: don't want to see Ostro charging the baseline?
Paul: ...I don't know, man, all I want is for Zapdos to get the fuck into this Ultra Ball. Then I'll be happy.
Eric: Maybe a mode where you jump around in those green shoes?
Joe: Haha, the green shoe mode would be awesome, Eric. Ahem. Anyway, Mario Power Tennis comes out November 8. November is going to be a busy month for us all.
Joe: Speaking of November, that leads us to our next topic: The DS Conference.
Eric: I'm going to be begging for Money.
Joe: You and me both.
Eric: We're hyping an event made to hype. The gaming world has officially gone too far.
Joe: Hyping an event made to hype in the gaming world? Ha, never.
Joe: *insert laugh track here*
Eric: Anyway, the fact that Shiggy is there, and the fact that it's so close to November, means this is more than likely the conference we've all been waiting for, without question. I know I'll be staying up all night to get the news.
Joe: Yeah. I will be shocked if we don't get a price or a release date. I mean, less than a month away from a release at that point--I'd think it would be about time.
Eric: Hopefully a game release list as well. And to continue your previous thought, Paul, It would be awesome if the new 2D Mario was set for release at launch.
Paul: Agreed.
Joe: Wouldn't mind seeing that. Nintendo mess with our minds? Never. But how many first party games do you think we'll see at launch. Just a general estimate?
Eric: Anyway, my expectations are that Nintendo will keep with the $150-$200 price point, to get their sales in before the PSP. I'm hoping for a release in late November to get holiday sales up, and for 3-4 first party games and a good amount of third parties, as well.
Paul: For a successful launch, I'm going to say at least a dozen total.
Eric: First party, Paul. Not games period.
Joe: I definitely think it will be more than 3-4.
Paul: Sorry.
Joe: What about the pricing of games? I would hope they don't hit that $50 mark that EBGames has been listing.
Joe: The PSP games maybe I can see, but not the DS ones.
Paul: I'm kind of expecting them to.
Eric: There's no doubt that Nintendo wants as many games as they can out by then. I'm hoping for the new Mario (or Mario64X4, which is probably more likely, Prime Hunters, and Wario Ware, Mario Kart too.
Joe: Nintendo hasn't been clear at all here, so that's way up in the air.
Eric: Yeah. I'm hoping for around 30-40 myself. These are cartridges, after all, which I should mention we haven't even SEEN yet.
Joe: I think we have, actually.
Joe: I'm thinking the price of the games might/would be about Eric's range, I wouldn't imagine it's anymore than $40.
Paul: The price point of the system is the main concern for me.
Paul: I'm already used to paying $50 for games, and the DS is going to have higher quality than the GBA, but if I have to pay 300 dollars for it, and answer to my girlfriend...
Joe: Yes, but the GBA is higher quality than the GB, and still is only about $30.
Paul: ...well, let's just say I'll be asking Silver weekly to subsidize a purchase.
Eric: Didn't the Nintendo rep you spoke to say it would probably be out at the 150 - 200 price point?
Joe: I'm hoping the DS itself is $150, that's the main one I've heard on the street.
Eric: Yeah, while the PSP is anything from 250 - 400.
Joe: I've heard as high as $500.
Eric: which is just ludicrous, I might add.
Joe: But it is from Sony and thus must be spectacular. Woo, full of sarcasm tonight.
Paul: I'm sorry, were you asking about me and a Nintendo rep?
Eric: you said there was one at the EB you frequent.
Paul: I talked to a guy from EB Games -- he was certain it would be priced above 300. Not a Nintendo rep, just an EB Games guy.
Joe: What, the DS at $300+? Doubt it.
Eric: Well then, of course he must be right.
Paul: I said something to that sardonic effect last time
Joe: Good job. So the conference will certainly succeed as a major hype machine?
Paul: I think evidence supports the claim that it already has.
Eric: I also see it as a response to the TGS, which Sony has already said they will supply multiple playable PSPs too.
Joe: Yes, "playable."
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