No words express my desire to play this game !!

It's hard to even explain how much I want to play DJ Max Portable; moreso than any other PSP game, this is the reason I'll purchase the entire damn system. I could handle missing Megaman Powered Up, Metal Gear Acid, even Lumines, but I can't handle missing out on this experience. From Justin's glowing review, to my own research, and ultimately to the AMAZING gameplay videos anyone can find Youtube; I simply can't find a single bad thing about this title.

Before Christmas this year I'll own a ceramic white PSP, even with rumors of a redesign swirling around, I can't stand to not give this game a try any longer. Hello PSP, Hello DJ Max Portable, and with it comes the frothing hordes of titles I've been missing out on for this long. My 'Wants' list here at Modjo expresses my feelings on the matter fairly well.

If this game is something you've been considering, go to Youtube, watch some videos of the visuals, the difficulty, and the great design of this game; and then you and I, we'll be in this boat together.

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Jack and the Beanstalk ...

An open critique of Jack Thompson’s appearance on G4 television:

“…every Boolean(?) expert that has been aware of this game (Bully) has predicted that this game will lead to real world violence in schools…”

- I’d actually have to agree with Mr. Thompson on this issue. I believe Bully does have the potential to lead to real world violence in our schools. The youth of our society seem to have an issue with separating game violence from real-world violence. This is something that worries me, surely not because I’m a parent, but because I worry about the future of the human race in general. How can children today make mistakes like not discerning between games and reality? Are we in fact growing more stupid? As a child I played “guns” and I shot my friends … I did it by saying “BANG.” Regardless, the truth is I don’t believe Bully will directly be the result of any more violence in schools, that is to say not any more violence than other events in our society. Where is the study that shows how much school violence is related to arguments about basketball or football? I don’t see us banning children from sports anytime soon.

“…your poll of your viewers who are mostly gamers is interesting, but it flies in the face of all the science and all the medicine.”

- I’m sorry, that’s just a direct insult. Science and Medicine? How exactly do science and medicine interact with the poll? If in fact every person who answered that question was a scientist or a doctor, would the poll be any different? I understand what Mr. Thompson is trying to say at this juncture, but it would probably be much more PC if he were to make a statement without insulting the entirety of the video gaming community.

“So the solution to bad grades is for kids to spend more time playing video games?”

- Hello Mr. Thompson! Please meet Dr. Kawashima-san. He would like to answer your question. “Yes.” I would like to answer it as well. If they’re not doing drugs, and shooting each other, and playing video games instead; what can you really be unhappy about in this situation? Oh, I forgot … you seem to think that because in fact they’re playing games they’re shooting each other. If I could explain something Jack, “I never killed someone with a controller. Never in my life.”

A-A-A-Adam Sessler also made the statement, “I believe that there are greater reasons for the social ills of the adolescent violence than playing a video game, because I believe that violence was existing prior to the release of even Pong.”

- Cute answer. However, that’s actually just side-stepping the real issue. Naturally adolescent violence has existed since the birth of our species, but that has nothing to do with violence as it is today. Adolescent violence today is in fact, a far leap from what it was when Pong was released. But is the violence that plagues our society a direct result of video games? Hardly. I think it’s safe to say that the issues we face today are from a direct result of numerous social difficulties, and surely not video games. I would even go so far as to say that video games just might be a stepping stone that propels some youth who are already encumbered by such social difficulty to violent acts, but removing the video games wouldn’t remove the acts. Their actual source is present regardless, and I think the end result would most likely be negative instead of positive.

Mark Friedler of Gamedaily wins the day with “…we don’t condone gratuitous violence in any way, shape, or form. It just happens to be one of the expressions that happens in video games.”

- This is the answer to so many questions. Too many people, Mr. Thompson included, are concerned with the video games, and not the REASON gratuitous violence is so appealing to children purchasing games. Why is it that children within our society find the idea of gratuitous violence so romantic? Mr. Thompson’s answer would probably include that they were conditioned by games like Doom, or Grand Theft Auto to enjoy this kind of act, but in truth, the answer lies much more deeply rooted than that. Take a look at the core values of much of our society, and in doing so, it is simple to understand the reality that our communities and values are so skewed, that violent video games aren’t the problem. They’re mostly just pathetic attempts to market something to an audience that is already thirsting for it.

“…the dunking of a black students head in a dirty toilet…”

- Thanks for playing the race card Jack. This was a very dirty, under-handed statement that was obviously phrased as such, to reach out to the urban demographic. Are we really still at the point in our society where if a game screenshot includes a white person dunking a black person’s head in a toilet it is considered racist? Jack surely didn’t come out and say that, but he meant it, otherwise he never would have taken the care to say, “black student.” If we took another game, and used a statement similar to Jack’s it might sound slightly awkward. “In Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, a screenshot clearly shows a white soldier shooting and murdering a black soldier.” Honestly Mr. Thompson, that’s sleazy, and stupid ... but mostly sleazy.

“…let me tell you a couple reasons we shouldn’t give Take-Two the benefit of the doubt. Number one, this is the company that put the Hot Coffee sex mod in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas…”

- Touche Mr. Thompson. Touche. However, I do believe we preach “innocent until proven guilty”. Take-Two might win the jackasses of the year award, but I’ll bet when they said there was no sex mod in Grand Theft Auto, they actually thought there was no sex mod. I won’t send them to Hell twice for making the same mistake. They obviously made a pretty blatant error, chances are they won’t do it again.

“…also got the fourth largest school district to pass a resolution condemning the game and it’s release…”

- Is that even possible? If that isn’t un-Constitutional I don’t really know what is. Since when can a student’s school district mandate what video games they can purchase. I don’t deny that he did it, but how was that even allowed?

“…what you actually need to do is real research rather than state your position…”

- I’m sorry; once again, that’s just a direct insult. I don’t even want to critique something as base as that. Try to stay above the belt Mr. Thompson, I didn’t see any copies of your research either, and give Sessler a break, he’s just trying to s-s-s-speak.

There were a few other comments that I’d like to touch on, but I’ll leave it at that. In the end I’m sure Mr. Thompson was furious with the conversation, Adam Sessler made some viable points but they were s-s-s-shadowed by his mannerisms and inability to stay calm and collected throughout, and Mark Friedler of Gamedaily made the best statements of the entire “debate.” I couldn’t guess as to how this actually helped either side of this issue, considering the entire audience was obviously biased.

I’ll come back to this later, and there are some really interesting points to consider that I’d like to cover. Like: Why the hell doesn’t anyone that opposes videogame violence ever look at the full scope of the problem, and try to help our society deal with it’s issues, instead of condemn something as trivial as video games?

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Got some time I can have ???

It's interesting that as of late, I've been catching up on the 2005 season of Doctor Who. I caught an episode of the show on the Sci-Fi channel late one night, and I knew that the series was something I wanted to see. Christopher Eccleston is a stellar actor, and well ... time travel is way cool. I latch on to so many time travel movies and shows, and more often that not I'm dissapointed. Luckily, Doctor Who isn't a dissapointment at all ... I encourage every living human being to go watch it, and enjoy some high class television, or maybe telly ... I don't know all that UK jazzarazz. However, it's totally uncool that he's been replaced ... I haven't seen the new Doctor Who yet, but I will ... and I hope it's just as good.

Anyways, it's interesting because in fact, I have almost no time to myself these days. I've been working 4-5 days a week at the ol' hoagie shoppe (Subway), I've been writing non-stop for Mo..., and I'm getting ready to go back for my upcoming fall semester. I'm glad I'm really excited to be doing two of those things; I love school, and there's not really any negative in writing for Modojo, because the feeling I get when another of my articles gets published can only be described as ... zen.

Look out for the DS Homebrew feature this week, and you might understand why my writing takes up a load of time. Hopefully, I'll be picking up some previews and reviews in the next week, and I won't have any time to grow stale. So with all my time spent pounding the keys, what have I gotten the chance to play? Well, not much ... but I recommend the following absolutely:

- The Dead Rising demo is insane fun. I'll be picking it up for sure, but maybe at a slightly lower price than $60. Their seems to be a lot of enjoyment in the title, but not necessarily $60 worth ... I'm stingy.

- The Ninety-Nine Nights demo is also insane fun. I know the game has some issues, but it can be found for $40 at release, so you can chalk those problems up to it being a budget 360 title. I will be picking this up, well as a matter of fact, I already have. Pre-order FTW!

- Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting on Live Arcade is the hardest game I've played in years, or maybe I just suck. Seriously, I could make my way through the arcade mode in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on the hardest difficulty with relative ease (thank you Cable, Sentinel, and Tron Bonne) but SF2 arcade mode? Not one mother****ing victory. WTF?? I've played over 50 online matches as well ... I won 10. Where did all my skills go? I suppose I gave them away when I started playing so many damn Final Fantasy's. *sob* I still have to recommend the game though, because as much as it owns me ... I'm obviously still playing.

So in conclusion ... well, Cat-Eye Boy vs. Poop Monsters ??? Just watch it.

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Oh! Goemon .... How I Miss Thee ...

That guy up there, he's one of the reasons I love video games. Now, don't get me wrong, I got my start long before Goemon: Mystical Ninja arrived on the Nintendo 64, but for me ... it was just one of those games. It's definitely not perfect, and I would totally understand if someone hated it, but for me ... it was an experience to be had. Goemon is kind of like the Megaman of Japan, except for the fact that well ... Megaman is the Megaman of Japan. Goemon has been the star of more than 25 releases since the 80's, and his journey parallels the blue bomber's pretty well.

Goemon arrived on the scene in the arcades and then the NES with simple side-scrolling gameplay. He then adopted an overworld map style similar to that of Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The N64 era brought Goemon into full 3D, and brought him to my attention for the first time. The series went on to spawn an anime, and Playstation and Playstation 2 titles that re-envisioned Goemon as a newer, cooler character to appeal to a younger (more stupid) audience. (Megaman X hmmm ??)

Throughout his journey only four of Goemon's titles ever made it outside Japan, and out of more than 25 that's basically a kick in the nuts for American fans. I can understand why they haven't seen domestic releases, but at the same time, I totally can't. In all honesty, who doesn't want to play as a spunky lil' thief in one weird Edo? Goemon's best friend is a pudgy ninja, and when he's stuck in a pickle, he can call on his giant impact robot to help him deal with the baddies. Seriously, fat ninjas, giant robots, and I'm pretty sure the story of the N64 iteration involved turning Edo castle into a giant peach where everyone danced all the time. If that's not gaming gold ...

To bring things full circle, I'm thinking about Goemon for two reasons.

One: There is a new Goemon title on the DS in Japan. It's been out for pretty much a year now, so I'm thinking Konami will be skipping a US release. ... and I'm crying on the inside. I'm ready to import, but to even proceed in the game mean's it's time to break out the Japanese books. Well ... I had to get learning anyways.

Two: Games like Goemon are the reason I'm excited for the Wii's Virtual Console. Not only should I be able to pick up one of my favorite N64 titles, as well as the sequel Goemons: Great Adventure, but if Nintendo handles things right and proper, they should allow me to pick up all the Goemon titles I missed out on in the first place. They have to understand that there is a market for importing thanks to the DS, and if they open the back catalogs of games we cound never enjoy before ... Whoosh! ... the amounts of money I will give them. Here's hoping Nintendo's on the right page.

Goemon on the N64

Giant robot action

Goemon DS

Hardcore Gaming 101 has an impressive feature on the entire Goemon series with screens and .mp3's as well. Check it out here.

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The worthy purchases ...

I was hoping to go to Circuit City today and catch some of the excellent DS titles they were selling for their July 4th holiday sale. I wanted to come home with Metroid Prime Pinball, Meteos, and Advance Wars: Dual Strike (all for $8.96). Well, my local Circuit City had Tiger Woods Golf. Woo-Hoo. (...sarcasm intended...)

I decided I wouldn't come home empty handed, and that there had to be some game I could purchase to validate the half-hour drive and wasted gas. I scoured the shelves for discount titles and almost made a purchase of The Warriors, when I noticed the limited edition Marc Ecko's Getting Up resting in the display case for a paltry $8.96. I came to decide that even if the game was a festering hunk of shit, I could at least enjoy a really nice tin case for $8.96.

That purchase didn't quell my gaming needs so I drove off to Best Buy, then Gamestop, and then EB Games, where I saw a delicious copy of the increasingly rare Riviera: The Promised Land for $29.99. My DS was desperate for some GBA love, so I snagged it up, as well as laying down $30 for a Final Fantasy 12: Collectors Edition pre-order.

A good day indeed, with many worthy purchases. I'll be playing Riviera, appreciating my wonderful tin case, and trying to beat 'Ready, Steady, Go' on Ouendan for the 1284th time.

Marck Ecko and P Diddy contemplate what is in fact in front of them.

A.) The Marc Ecko's Getting Up Limited Edtion
B.) A brick
C.) Pangea

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