I recently got into ROM hacks, namely Super Mario World, and to quench my thirst to make games about as hard as most 1980s NES games, I've decided to craft Super Mario Underworld.

Plot: Mario has been summoned into the Hell-end of purgatory and his job is to kill this unknown entity and get himself out alive. Good thing the netherworld tries all it can to keep that form happening!

I'm doing the full monty, overworld changes, palette swaps, an overhaul on that Disney ass music, with hair ripping difficulty tested by yours truely.
I'll also throw in some puzzles, make you think.
The Yellow Switch palace is a good example.

Forcing you to come in with a cape to survive then forces you to get rid of it, so you'll be small enough to get by and press the switch.
So you'll have to backtrack and get the cape and walk by through the stage to know what happens next.
I also added in some infinity holes, that if you fall in them, you must either reset the game, kill yourself (if possible MUAHAHAHAHA) or let the time run out.

I'm in early development, but it's oh so fun.
I guess I can release a demo once I get to the first castle, I'd like others to try it, but be warned.
It's not for those who give up easily.

Archive

SCR 01 Theme song to Sonic Unleashed
SCR 02 Street Fighter 4
SCR 03 OMG Sawnik!
SCR 04 Sprite Rippers
SCR 05 Gears of War 2 Multiplayer
---------------------------

Rant 06 JRPGs and their similarities (to other genres)

I for one, love Japanese RPGs, I love the fantasy world that you're put into, the depth of what the world actually is about, the characters, their developments, the story, the fights, the puzzles, the monsters, it's a fresh experience--to me anyways....

Not a lot of people agree with me however...

Just about everyone, including JRPG fans, disdain the genre, for it's repetition alone.
There is without a doubt a formula, there's one person, sword user, special trait in him that separates him from the others.
That's it in a nutshell, people have grown to bore of this. Understandable, but then they turn to the infamous shooter games to light up some hoes with bullets.

I'm a thinker, and believe me, it didn't take much thought, why are JRPGs hated so much?
It's true to why they are hated, so I guess my question is better rephrased to, "Why are JRPGs hated so much, when just about every gaming genre are guilty of the same crimes in their own way?"

Originality is a new weapon you'll find in the next anticipated shooter.
But it's not a story or character development that you'll find in a JRPG.

Originality is a new character you meet in the next fighting game installment.
But it's not a new magic spell that you can craft through customization.

Originality is being able to strap a grenade to someone.
But it's not a new puzzle you'll find in a dungeon.

It's all the same cake with different icing, with very few exceptions.
So what's the deal? It seems to me that a lot of people are high biased to other genres and then leave JRPGs to die in a cesspool of the same flavor as the other one these people have chose to immerse themselves in.
It's hypocrisy in it's most raw form. There are some people who say that JRPGs are the worst genre in gaming. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but it's viability will always be put into question when their favorite genre has the same equations of staleness and repetition.
One of many reasons that I do not like people.

I'm not going to go into detail that JRPGs have more originality than just about any shooter game, I just want to let you see how this is bullshit to hate a genre for one thing and not even acknowledge the other for the same flaws.

I asked to the many people who bought Modern Warfare 2, "Is there anything that sets this game apart from the other FPS'?"
Most didn't answer me, some didn't give any good reasons. So it's safe to say that this game, despite all it's hype is another run n' gun game.
That's nice, not that there's anything wrong with that, if you like it, you're gonna like it.

Now on the flip side, a JRPG will get shunned for having the main character dress differently from everyone else, a unique wardrobe.
So it's a cliche in the fact that it's original. That irks me more than you think, it seems like JRPGs can't win, they're automatically assumed to be the same as each other, even to those who said themselves that they could never get into the series or have even played the games.

Oh but the shooters!
People'll line up outside a motherfucking Gamestop to buy that game that's just another run n' gun game.
Oh but the fighters!
People hold tournaments over this shit! People spend hundreds of dollars to lose and get a variant of last place for these games.
Oh but the racers!
How Need for Speed is sooooo different from it's last installment, because Gran Turismo has so much spice in it now!
Oh but the sports!
Iverson owns in this game, didn't he own in the last game? Oh look a new player!

Oh, the jrpgs....
Just another emo git swinging his stick at a long haired pretty boy. stale characters with no development boring story looks all the same, blah blah blah....

*facepalms in real life*

I still think the gaming community is going into a decline, in fact, I think it already started. Everything is gravitating to shooters these days. It's nowhere near as bad as it was 2 years ago, it's much more subtle now, but it's still happening.
I'm glad some companies haven't given up. Too bad the gamers have.

You know these days, just about any kid under 18 will bandwagon something, and it's sad and bitter.
Some people can't get an opinion of their own and they dickride someone else's, because they wanna fit in.

This is probably where the bulk of the JRPG hate is coming from, from the kids who need their parents to buy their M rated game for Christmas.
What happened to our community?

I you're a Tales fan, please take a look at this, but comment on this one.

True enough, I managed to buy a swf decompiler, and used that to get my early copy of chapter three (courtesy of Mizox) close to it's original .fla format as a decompiler can do for me.
I have the title screen and all it's elements, the entire movie however still needs to be redone, let hope I can superceed what I did before.

Luckily I have the script (also courtesy of Mizox).

Teaser pic below.

Official announcement?
No.

But through intelligent research, I've concluded that localization is more than likely deep within the realm of possibility and probability.

How? I viewed the trademark, which can be found at http://tarr.uspto.gov/

I searched and found the trademark for Tales of Graces (http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?re gser=serial&entry=77689925), and reviewed it. One thing that caught my eye was the Filing Basis, which shows 1(b).

Now legal definition of a 1b filing basis states "You'll note it's a 1B. When your basis for filing is 1B it means you haven't used it in commerce yet -- that would be 1A, Use in Commerce -- but you intend to:

Intent to Use

Check this box if actual use of the mark in commerce that the U.S. Congress can regulate (i.e., interstate commerce, territorial commerce, or commerce between the United States and a foreign country) has not yet occurred, but instead there is simply a bona fide (good faith) intention to use the mark in commerce at a later time after filing of this application. The intention to use may be by the applicant, the applicant's related company, or the licensee of the applicant. You may file under more than one basis, but you may not file an application based on both use in commerce under §1(a) and a bona fide intention to use a mark in commerce under §1(b) for the identical goods and or services (e.g., you cannot list "shirts" under Section 1(b) and Section 1(a), but you could list "shirts" under Section 1(b) and "pants" under Section 1(a)). NOTE: If filing under this basis, you will be required to submit a demonstration of use (i.e., submission of a form with an additional fee and a specimen (sample) of said use) later in the prosecution process of the application.

Use in Commerce

Choose this basis if actually already using the mark in commerce that the U.S. Congress may regulate (i.e., interstate commerce, territorial commerce, or commerce between the United States and a foreign country) in connection with the goods and/or services identified in the application. You must be able to provide the date of first use anywhere and the date of use in commerce that the U.S. Congress may regulate, and a specimen (sample) of said use. Use may be by the applicant, the applicant's related company, or a licensee of the applicant. You may file under more than one basis, but you may not file an application based on both use in commerce under §1(a) and a bona fide intention to use a mark in commerce under §1(b) for the identical goods and or services (e.g., you cannot list "shirts" under Section 1(b) and Section 1(a), but you could list "shirts" under Section 1(b) and "pants" under Section 1(a)). "

So in a nutshell, Graces hasn't been localized yet, but they plan on localization.
I've never been so hyped up about a Tales Game since Symphonia 6 years ago, looking at it in a Nintendo Power Magazine. And the TGS just made it a deal.
Man, TGS makes E3 look like the joke that it is, but I digress.

Localization very, very possible, but still keep our fingers crossed, Namco, being the owner of the Trademark, they can choose to change their mind--for any reason, or no reason at all, But being a huge Namco fan, I pray they don't.

I have my new computer.
Happy?
Yes....

Archive

SCR 01 Theme song to Sonic Unleashed
SCR 02 Street Fighter 4
SCR 03 OMG Sawnik!
SCR 04 Sprite Rippers
---------------------------

Rant 05 The Gears of War 2 multiplayer system

Recently, I've been able to borrow Gears of War 2 from a friends, and I plan on purchasing the game later on, it's pretty solid, even for me, someone who doesn't fancy to Shooting games often. The story isn't that bad in my opinion, mainly because I didn't expect much from the story to begin with, the gameplay is pretty tight and the graphics do well to speak for themselves, the added colors show nicely.

So why the rant?
Multiplayer.

Don't misunderstand me, the multiplayer isn't THAT bad, however my only gripe is the main feature that completely trashes the experience.

Host.

Similar to the first Gears (and many other online shooters), GoW2 has a host system, mainly the, however unlike the first Gears (and etc.), the host is selected randomly.
So let me put this in a nutshell;

One person (and four others to a lesser extent) is randomly selected to have a completely unfair attack and defense boost and ties to rule in their favor. It's absolute whore shit!
There have been times when I (or someone on my team) have host and it simply made out fight easier, but when the coin flips, fighting against host powers is absolutely miserable, it's rage inducing and it'll be the only reason I quit playing GoW2 should I quit at all.

I don't understand it, playing the Red Faction Guerrilla demo, I can always recall both teams starting on even ground, both players had a fair start and the rest was summed up to skill. That was a good thing, part of why that game has such a rich online experience.

I can't remember how many times I've shot someone point blank with a shotgun 3 times only to have them dive out, turn around shoot me from 3 times the distance and I explode into gorey bits. I can't recall how many times I've been shot down from two shots of the Hammer Burst, I can't recall how many times I've meleed someone 3 times only to get two-pieced in the end. I can't recalled how many times a frag has blew me up from across an entire room. It's ridiculous, why can't all the players start the game on even ground!? What's so radical about that!?

Epic, what are you guys thinking!!??
This is literally the only reason I rage out at GoW2, it's so fucking blatant the advantage they have, skill goes down the drain, I can recall how many times I've blown someone away or downed them with one shot, only because I had host, and I admit, it's funny as hell when I or a teammate have it, but being a sympathizer, I can imagine the very realistic rage that's tearing the opposing team down and I feel their pain.

I hope in the next installation of the GoW franchise, they get rid of this shit, aside from being absolutely fucking retarded, it's fucks up stats which gets on the nerves of many a stat-whore to have their ratio plummet only because of a single round of Guardian where the opposing team had host and did nothing but camp for an hour.

I can see why a lot of people do horde mode only.

So my mom sucks.
Love her to death, but she still sucks. She's been fucking around on my sister's computer and she's finally had it.
She performed a system recovery--without telling me prior.
Due to her shitty computer smarts, she thought she backed up everyone's shit, but didn't.

Long Story short, all the data for my songs in progress and most importantly Chaos Sonic Chapter 3 as well as Chapter 1 and 2 (for reference) are gone.
Like, "cannot recover them" kind of gone. So I'll have to restart the project for Chapter 3 literally from the ground up this time, instead of having used MCs and other elements taken from Chapter 1 and 2, song selection, sound effects, voice clips, custom sheets, and even the script.

If my sister had let me know prior, I would have been able to save those projects on a Flash drive, but because of this, the most I have is a disc copy of Chapter 1, which I'll admit has a very shoddy composition.

That's life, I guess.

P.S. I won't be restarting the project anytime soon.
Hiatus aside, I'll need to find everything I need all over again (sprite sheets, music sound effects, voice clips), reinstall Flash, and remake the script before I can even get back to work. Plus when you spend months working on something that gets put to absolute waste, it hard gaining the will to restart the effort, and having to do more work than previously, on the chance that it may not be as good as it once was.

Kinda old for people who follow me in the VG forum, but it's still a hoot.

I really just got bored of my last blog post so, eh...

Archive

#01 Favorite Sonic games
-------------------------

This Top 10 took a minute to decide one, but now I've come to a conclusion, this Top 10 will be.......
My favorite (non Sonic) classic video games.
If you would like to suggest a top 10 for me to do, please say so, I really have no good idea for one.

Number 10
Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64)
Man, I remember seeing this commercial and got exited out of my mind, not only because it was Mario, who was a healthy alternative from Sonic, but it was Mario in full 3D, which was a brand new thing at the time. Seeing anything in full animated 3D graphics was a thrill to even look at, imagine my anticipation to play it, this game was the reason I wanted a 64 (I never got one). I've played it however, plenty of times too, in fact, Super Mario 64 is my most frequent played Mario game ever, I've played it too many times, I really don't like the game anymore, but something always drags me back to it, and that's why it makes the list, because no matter how much I'll hate it, I'll still love it.

Number 9
Aladdin (Sega Genesis, Amiga, MS-DOS, NES, SNES, Game Boy and Game Boy Color)
As the link implies, I'm referring to the Genesis version, the SNES was inferior and I never played any other port. Now that that's out of the way, time to dive in a great game for the Genesis, a fair amount of difficulty and entertainment, this game was one that had you coming back. The music is pretty damn good, and the gameplay had it's innovation. I remember playing this game all the time, because the difficulty skyrockets by the 5 and 6th level, but it's so addicting to play. This is really the kind of game, you have to play to appreciate, this was back when Disney was still worth something, nowadays, you may not enjoy it too much, but for those who have played it in the 90s, they'll agree with me that this game has aged nicely.

Number 8
Marvel vs Capcom (Arcade, Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation)
Yeah, this game made it, but why so low? Because I never got good at it, at least, not as good as my friends, whew, nowhere near. If you know me, you've heard me talk about how I suck at fighting games, but I can't stop playing them, well this is that sort of situation. Crossover games/comics/tv episodes were all the rage in the 90s and Capcom cashed out on it, prequel to what is considered the greatest fighting game of all time. And I liked it, despite my deficiency of skill, it's always fun to play, picking Spiderman and Chun li, and whipp'n ass with them? Get out! That was great, although any game with Chun li in it is worth playing.

Number 7
X-Men 2: Clone Wars (Sega Genesis)
Another game that made you proud to own a Genesis, X-Men 2 was simply gold, I remember my cousin had it, and I wanted it so bad too, and fortunately, I did, and I played it forever, the game is brutally difficult for a kid to play, and even older, the game gives out a tough ass challenge, I've only managed to beat it without cheats once. That's to say this game has also aged well. It's 2 players too, so you can get a friend to join the action, which would be better in some stages, while in others, it really gets in the way, however with a friend it is more fun overall, you get to help each other out and stuff, boss fights gets a whole lot easier, and surviving become less of a burden as well, assuming both players are experienced to an extent, if one is a noob, then they'll always hold you back and eventually die. They make good enemy fodder though.

Number 6
Streets of Rage (Sega Genesis)
One of the first successful beat-em-ups, Streets of Rage was the only game of it's series I've physically owned, I got 2 and 3 in a collection game, that being said, despite the other Streets of Rage games being really fun, this one has a sentimental charm to it, looking back it's a whole lot harder than 2 and almost as merciless as 3, I like how you can call the cops and they come in with weapons of mass destruction to take the bad guys out. That's really excessive! But I guess something is needed to balance out the implausibility of beating criminals to death with your bare hands, old games are really violent.....

Number 5
Super Mario World (SNES)
Even through all the Sonic hype I was going through, there were a few Mario games that really caught my interest, this was one of them, in fact, this game was the first video game I recall seeing, even before Sonic. I originally wanted a Super Nintendo, because of this game, but my mom got me a Genesis, because she couldn't find a SNES, which I'm thankful for--old Sonic games rock. But still, Super Mario World left a mark on my childhood, it got me into video games, and it was the only reason I ever wanted a SNES, however, this game has not aged well for me, but back as a kid, this game was like an unreachable star, and it held a similar charm, the memories don't flood back like it does for other games, but without this game, there probably wouldn't be any memories to have flooding.

Number 4
Super Mario Bros. (NES)
I wouldn't be a true retro gamer if this game didn't make it. I--like anyone else of my time--had this game, and played it forever, with the abundance of warpzones, enemies and secret passageways, this is a family/friends classic, nowadays, it sucks playing alone, grab some friends and either go 2 players or take turns, it'll be a blast.
Everything else is self explanatory.

Number 3
Ranger X (Sega Genesis)
A game so obscure, there isn't even a wiki article for it, but some of the most obscure games are also the best, this game is no exception, if you like giant mech games, then find/buy/download Ranger X. Featuring great graphics, even for the Genesis, great gameplay and a not-so-bad soundtrack. This game has aged greatly for me, and I still enjoy it, it had a great, but fair level of challenge to it as well, again, one of those games that you have to play to truly appreciate, Ranger X deserves this spot well.

Number 2
Contra: Hard Corps (Sega Genesis)
Easily one of the best Contra games in the series and trounces Contra 3 in the dirt, Hard Corps took an original turn to the series and added multiple weapon choices, non linear stage progression, cutscenes and character selection--to name a few. Another game that made you proud to be a Genesis owner, with hardcore third person shooting at it's finest. There really isn't much to say, this game hasn't aged at all, I still fucking love it.

Number 1
Jet Grind Radio (Sega Dreamcast)
This one takes the cake, and I really don't know why, when I decided to make this list, I instantly decided that this would take the number 1 spot. The best and last parts of my classic video game era was spent with this game, I played it all the time, despite it's straightforwardness, I always found new ways to do whatever with whoever. I love this game and I wish Sega would make another game using this base (not the sequel).
Cube and Gum are still hot.

http://www.mediafire.com/syst3merror