Richard Hobbes is back with a vengeance!

[Richard Hobbes]

Everyone,

Richard Hobbes is back with a vengeance! Finally... Chris fixed my account so I can post. (Thank you Chris!)

I've been unable to post on the VGR boards for about two weeks now. Those who remember my last game related post on the old board will remember that my wife had just bought me an Xbox. At the time, being a long time PS1 and PS2 game collector, I was considering taking the Xbox back. Well... here is what I have to say now. (Keep in mind folks that this is coming from a long time fan of the PS2.)

The Xbox blows the PS2 out of the water in every conceivable way! In short, the Xbox rocks! Here are just a few things I've noticed over the last few weeks of playing.

1.) Much better graphics. While I'm surprised that the Xbox suffers from quite a few aliasing defects, on the whole, Xbox games look much better than PS2 games. Everything from texture quality to lighting effects to color quality and overall sharpness is improved.

2.) The build quality is superb. The Xbox is better built than the PS2 in many areas such as case construction, connectors, and the DVD tray.

3.) Xbox DVD playback leaves the PS2 in the dust. The PS2 refuses to play many DVDs. I had pretty much given up using my PS2 as a DVD player because it either refuses to play disks outright or skips radically during play. By contrast, the Xbox has played every DVD we put into it including those that the PS2 refuses to play. Likewise, with built in features like zoom, A-B repeat, many levels of scanning (single frame, 1/2 speed, 2x, 6x, 10x, 16x, 24x, 32x), and proper chapter and time display the Xbox is a very useable DVD player. The PS2 has none of these features. Many of these features are available after you've installed the updated PS2 DVD drivers, but the drivers take up a huge amount of space on your memory card. Even with the new drivers the PS2 still refuses to play many DVDs and has bugs like not being able to skip from chapter to chapter. (You can skip from chapter to chapter, but the PS2 gets confused on chapter boundaries and often times refuses to go back to previous chapters). Lastly, the picture quality is much sharper and more colorful on the Xbox than on the PS2. In short, PS2 DVD playback stinks. Xbox DVD playback rocks.

4.) The Xbox S controller actually feels better than the PS2 controller. Initially I hated both Xbox controllers (the Duke and the S), but now that I have got used to the S controller, I like it better than the PS2 one. While the S controller does not have the PS2 controllers' four shoulder buttons, it makes up for it with wonderful left and right analog trigger buttons. The trigger buttons have a deep range of throw which allows their analog nature to actually be useful. Like the PS2 itself, after you've played with the S controller for a while, the PS2 controller feels cheap. The Xbox S controller features buttons and sticks that feel more solid, a d-pad with wonderful tactile feel in all eight directions, and more comfortable control placement. Everything about the Xbox S controller feels like it is better constructed and better thought out then the PS2 controller.

5.) The hard drive makes saving games a breeze and load times minimal. Saving games on the PS2 is slow and painful. Because the PS2's file system is flat, many games only allow you to have one save. The Xbox arranges every game into its own folder and allows you to have any number of saves in that folder. During game play, there is a huge speed increase in loading saves and intra-level data on the Xbox. While playing Max Payne, I could not believe the difference. On the PS2, loading intra-level data takes anywhere from one to two minutes. On the Xbox it takes about two seconds. After Playing Max Payne on Xbox, it is excruciatingly painful to go back to the PS2.

6.) Deeper games. While I definitely miss the broad selection of games on the PS2, there is a lot to be said for quality over quantity. You don't get games with the depth of Morrowind and KOTOR on the PS2.

7.) Built in Ethernet makes setting up the Xbox for online play a breeze. Likewise, connecting two Xboxes together is as easy as grabbing a standard Ethernet cable from any computer store.

8.) The sound quality of the Xbox (even just in stereo) is much clearer (with better channel separation) than the PS2.

So... am I glad my wife bought me an Xbox. You bet! Honestly, if the Xbox had come out before the PS2 I don't know if I ever would have bought a PS2. The only flaw I've seen so far in the Xbox is that the system appears to run a little hot. In the next round I will definitely wait to see what Sony and Microsoft come out with before buying. I will certainly be keeping my eye on Microsoft this time. In every area where Sony promised us next generation features, Microsoft delivered and Sony didn't. With all of Sony's current talk about the Cell processor and distributed computing for the PS3, the company already has me worried about their next console. Sony spent all their time creating a complex architecture for the PS2. In the end, Microsoft produced a much better console using simpler, proven technology. Sony seems to be walking the same line for the PS3 by building what appears to be a very complex machine based on unproven technology. I'll be much more cautious this time before buying another Sony console.

RH.

["The Game"Evolution]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Everyone,

Richard Hobbes is back with a vengeance! Finally... Chris fixed my account so I can post. (Thank you Chris!)

I've been unable to post on the VGR boards for about two weeks now. Those who remember my last game related post on the old board will remember that my wife had just bought me an Xbox. At the time, being a long time PS1 and PS2 game collector, I was considering taking the Xbox back. Well... here is what I have to say now. (Keep in mind folks that this is coming from a long time fan of the PS2.)

The Xbox blows the PS2 out of the water in every conceivable way! In short, the Xbox rocks! Here are just a few things I've noticed over the last few weeks of playing.

1.) Much better graphics. While I'm surprised that the Xbox suffers from quite a few aliasing defects, on the whole, Xbox games look much better than PS2 games. Everything from texture quality to lighting effects to color quality and overall sharpness is improved.

2.) The build quality is superb. The Xbox is better built than the PS2 in many areas such as case construction, connectors, and the DVD tray.

3.) Xbox DVD playback leaves the PS2 in the dust. The PS2 refuses to play many DVDs. I had pretty much given up using my PS2 as a DVD player because it either refuses to play disks outright or skips radically during play. By contrast, the Xbox has played every DVD we put into it including those that the PS2 refuses to play. Likewise, with built in features like zoom, A-B repeat, many levels of scanning (single frame, 1/2 speed, 2x, 6x, 10x, 16x, 24x, 32x), and proper chapter and time display the Xbox is a very useable DVD player. The PS2 has none of these features. Many of these features are available after you've installed the updated PS2 DVD drivers, but the drivers take up a huge amount of space on your memory card. Even with the new drivers the PS2 still refuses to play many DVDs and has bugs like not being able to skip from chapter to chapter. (You can skip from chapter to chapter, but the PS2 gets confused on chapter boundaries and often times refuses to go back to previous chapters). Lastly, the picture quality is much sharper and more colorful on the Xbox than on the PS2. In short, PS2 DVD playback stinks. Xbox DVD playback rocks.

4.) The Xbox S controller actually feels better than the PS2 controller. Initially I hated both Xbox controllers (the Duke and the S), but now that I have got used to the S controller, I like it better than the PS2 one. While the S controller does not have the PS2 controllers' four shoulder buttons, it makes up for it with wonderful left and right analog trigger buttons. The trigger buttons have a deep range of throw which allows their analog nature to actually be useful. Like the PS2 itself, after you've played with the S controller for a while, the PS2 controller feels cheap. The Xbox S controller features buttons and sticks that feel more solid, a d-pad with wonderful tactile feel in all eight directions, and more comfortable control placement. Everything about the Xbox S controller feels like it is better constructed and better thought out then the PS2 controller.

5.) The hard drive makes saving games a breeze and load times minimal. Saving games on the PS2 is slow and painful. Because the PS2's file system is flat, many games only allow you to have one save. The Xbox arranges every game into its own folder and allows you to have any number of saves in that folder. During game play, there is a huge speed increase in loading saves and intra-level data on the Xbox. While playing Max Payne, I could not believe the difference. On the PS2, loading intra-level data takes anywhere from one to two minutes. On the Xbox it takes about two seconds. After Playing Max Payne on Xbox, it is excruciatingly painful to go back to the PS2.

6.) Deeper games. While I definitely miss the broad selection of games on the PS2, there is a lot to be said for quality over quantity. You don't get games with the depth of Morrowind and KOTOR on the PS2.

7.) Built in Ethernet makes setting up the Xbox for online play a breeze. Likewise, connecting two Xboxes together is as easy as grabbing a standard Ethernet cable from any computer store.

8.) The sound quality of the Xbox (even just in stereo) is much clearer (with better channel separation) than the PS2.

So... am I glad my wife bought me an Xbox. You bet! Honestly, if the Xbox had come out before the PS2 I don't know if I ever would have bought a PS2. The only flaw I've seen so far in the Xbox is that the system appears to run a little hot. In the next round I will definitely wait to see what Sony and Microsoft come out with before buying. I will certainly be keeping my eye on Microsoft this time. In every area where Sony promised us next generation features, Microsoft delivered and Sony didn't. With all of Sony's current talk about the Cell processor and distributed computing for the PS3, the company already has me worried about their next console. Sony spent all their time creating a complex architecture for the PS2. In the end, Microsoft produced a much better console using simpler, proven technology. Sony seems to be walking the same line for the PS3 by building what appears to be a very complex machine based on unproven technology. I'll be much more cautious this time before buying another Sony console.

RH.</div>

Glad to see you finally made it R.H.I had the same problems trying to post for awhile too.But Chris helped me out too and here I am.So do you like the name change? I figured "Reloaded" had ran its course so now its"Evolution".It seems to go with the latest changes around here.

So lately I've been enjoying SC II and still playing around with KOTOR.Plus I've finally been getting back into playing Splinter Cell as well.Cant wait till Ninja Gaiden arrives in November.So I guess you've been reading all the crap 78 has been posting about the Xbox being so beaneath him lately while he feels the GC has been all that.What a joke!

So whats been up lately R.H.? Write me back.

P.S.I'm glad that you have an Xbox.Now you can get to enjoy the best games from all angles now."Outlaws 4-life."

[trebor]

Well, one thing is for sure, your wife is really cool. I thought my fiancee was being super-cool when she suggested we buy a Gamecube together, but to come home to your loving wife who just bought you a Xbox out of the blue...

I was going to reply in that former thread that regardless if you return your Xbox or not, keep your wife.

[Richard Hobbes]

Trebor,

--- Well, one thing is for sure, your wife is really cool.
--- I thought my fiancee was being super-cool when
--- she suggested we buy a Gamecube together, but
--- to come home to your loving wife who just bought
--- you a Xbox out of the blue... I was going to reply
--- in that former thread that regardless if you return
--- your Xbox or not, keep your wife.

Yup. I'm keeping the wife! I'm also (as you can see) keeping the Xbox too! Just an aside... I love youy new sign-off "Do not adjust your mind: it is reality that is malfunctioning."

RH.

[trebor]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Trebor,

--- Well, one thing is for sure, your wife is really cool.
--- I thought my fiancee was being super-cool when
--- she suggested we buy a Gamecube together, but
--- to come home to your loving wife who just bought
--- you a Xbox out of the blue... I was going to reply
--- in that former thread that regardless if you return
--- your Xbox or not, keep your wife.

Yup. I'm keeping the wife! I'm also (as you can see) keeping the Xbox too! Just an aside... I love youy new sign-off &quot;Do not adjust your mind: it is reality that is malfunctioning.&quot;

RH.</div>

I hope your enjoying KotOR. If/when I ever get an Xbox, that will be the first game I'd buy.

:)

[Richard Hobbes]

Trebor,

--- I hope your enjoying KotOR. If/when I ever get
--- an Xbox, that will be the first game I'd buy.

I just finished writing a comment about KOTOR to The Game in a private message. Of the games I've now played on the Xbox, KOTOR is the most disappointing. From a gameplay perspective it is highly linear. From a graphical perspective it is easily one of the worst looking games on Xbox. I just can't get over how jaggy and low resolution KOTOR looks. KOTOR also has quite a few bugs in it that run the gamut from graphical glitches where the screen freezes to defects that will not allow you to continue if you don't reload a prior save. While I would certainly recommend KOTOR to Xbox owners, I would do so with the caveat that while a fun game, KOTOR has many problems that keep it from being as good as it could have been.

RH.

[Glockstar]

And nice post.
Though you're sure to hear it from the great gaming schizo.

But what a sweet deal, eh my fellow XBots?!?
We dump GF78, and replace him with RH! NIIIICE!

[trebor]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Trebor,

--- I hope your enjoying KotOR. If/when I ever get
--- an Xbox, that will be the first game I'd buy.

I just finished writing a comment about KOTOR to The Game in a private message. Of the games I've now played on the Xbox, KOTOR is the most disappointing. From a gameplay perspective it is highly linear. From a graphical perspective it is easily one of the worst looking games on Xbox. I just can't get over how jaggy and low resolution KOTOR looks. KOTOR also has quite a few bugs in it that run the gamut from graphical glitches where the screen freezes to defects that will not allow you to continue if you don't reload a prior save. While I would certainly recommend KOTOR to Xbox owners, I would do so with the caveat that while a fun game, KOTOR has many problems that keep it from being as good as it could have been.

RH.</div>

Wow. That is the first negative thing I've heard about KotOR on this forum. That is disappointing to hear, as I have had extremely high hopes for this game, since before it was even released. It combines some of my favorite things into a nice package - Bioware, Star Wars and RPG's.

I'll still play it the first chance I can, though.

[Richard Hobbes]

Glockstar,

--- And nice post.
--- Though you're sure to hear it from the great gaming schizo.
--- But what a sweet deal, eh my fellow XBots?!? We dump
--- GF78, and replace him with RH! NIIIICE!

Geesh that had me rolling in stitches! :-) But... because I've not been on the board for a while, I've forgotten if GF78 is one of my allies. Oh well GF78, you gotta' have a good laugh at yourself sometimes!

RH.

[Richard Hobbes]

Trebor,

--- Wow. That is the first negative thing I've heard about
--- KotOR on this forum. That is disappointing to hear, as
--- I have had extremely high hopes for this game, since
--- before it was even released. It combines some of my
--- favorite things into a nice package - Bioware, Star
--- Wars and RPG's. I'll still play it the first chance I
--- can, though.

Well, keep in mind that I still think KOTOR is a wonderful game. It's just that KOTOR doesn't come without a few problems. If you're an Xbox owner and the only other RPG you've been able to play is Morrowind, you're going to think that KOTOR is the second coming of Christ. But if you're like me who has been playing lot's of RPGs on PC and on PS2, then KOTOR does have its share of blemishes. I certainly don't want to dissuade you from getting the game if you buy an Xbox. Buy the game, but don't buy in to all the perfect reviews it has been getting. Like Morrowind, KOTOR is big in scope and with this scope comes a few problems. KOTOR is still a very enjoyable game none-the-less.

RH.

["The Game"Evolution]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Trebor,

--- I hope your enjoying KotOR. If/when I ever get
--- an Xbox, that will be the first game I'd buy.

I just finished writing a comment about KOTOR to The Game in a private message. Of the games I've now played on the Xbox, KOTOR is the most disappointing. From a gameplay perspective it is highly linear. From a graphical perspective it is easily one of the worst looking games on Xbox. I just can't get over how jaggy and low resolution KOTOR looks. KOTOR also has quite a few bugs in it that run the gamut from graphical glitches where the screen freezes to defects that will not allow you to continue if you don't reload a prior save. While I would certainly recommend KOTOR to Xbox owners, I would do so with the caveat that while a fun game, KOTOR has many problems that keep it from being as good as it could have been.

RH.</div>

After I'm done ending it again I'll probably put it on the shelf to collect dust until I become bored someday.Next on the Xbox to die for list no doubt is Ninja Gaiden.Plus I cant wait for True Crime either.Plus I heard that GTA is finally coming to the Xbox too.If this does happen I'll probably get rid of my GTA:Vice City for my PS2 and buy it for the Xbox.Hopefully the price is reasonable though.I'm not about to pay full price for this game again.I leave that for GC owners to do with DC ports.LOL!

[Richard Hobbes]

TGE,

--- I heard that GTA is finally coming to the Xbox too.

Yes. This is true. Both GTA3 and GTA Vice City are being bundled onto a single disk for the Xbox. I'm hoping that this disk has the same graphical improvements as the PC versions. When the bundle disk comes out, I'll probably trade my PS2 versions in for the Xbox one. On the PS2, I was not a big fan of the GTA games, but I'd love to see what they look like with better graphics, better controls, and a better frame rate.

RH.

[trebor]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Trebor,

--- Wow. That is the first negative thing I've heard about
--- KotOR on this forum. That is disappointing to hear, as
--- I have had extremely high hopes for this game, since
--- before it was even released. It combines some of my
--- favorite things into a nice package - Bioware, Star
--- Wars and RPG's. I'll still play it the first chance I
--- can, though.

Well, keep in mind that I still think KOTOR is a wonderful game. It's just that KOTOR doesn't come without a few problems. If you're an Xbox owner and the only other RPG you've been able to play is Morrowind, you're going to think that KOTOR is the second coming of Christ. But if you're like me who has been playing lot's of RPGs on PC and on PS2, then KOTOR does have its share of blemishes. I certainly don't want to dissuade you from getting the game if you buy an Xbox. Buy the game, but don't buy in to all the perfect reviews it has been getting. Like Morrowind, KOTOR is big in scope and with this scope comes a few problems. KOTOR is still a very enjoyable game none-the-less.

RH.</div>

Hmm...well I'm no stanger to CRPG's, that's for sure. I played the hell out of the Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale series, certain Might and Magic titles, and the Bard's Tale series. So maybe I'll be not as impressed with KotOR when I do have the chance to play it.

If it's anywhere near as good as Baldur's Gate 2, though, I'll be a happy man. Which, as you might know, is also a Bioware game, and also my favorite RPG ever.

[Darwin]

Sup Hobbes!! Good to see that you are now free from SARS (Sony's Acute Retarded Syndrome).

Isn't it interesting to see how us multiplatform gamers tend to favor Xbox. You have seen the light, my brother. Do as I did, and get a nice little cubby hole prepared for your PS2 and GC, so they won't collect too much dust. :-)

Now, the next step is .... LIVE. I will tell you that not ONE single person has EVER regretting getting Xbox Live. Every time I see posts by someone who gets Live, they are just amazed at how great the service and the game are online. And our numbers are growing. We've even been able to recruit some new guys to VGR through talking with them on Live. I guaruntee that if you get Live and play a game with us, you'll have a blast. Moto GP2, Midtown Madness 3, Wolfenstein, Unreal ... many of us already have these. So, let us know if you get Live and we'll play sometime. We've already got MaskedGamer, Glockstar, massimodo, myself, and now a slew of newer guys like MatrixArchitect, TapoT911, b7stream, KennyD. A bunch of cool guys to play with online.

And when the Hell are you gonna get Live, Reloaded/Evolutions ??? The new dimention in gaming is here and is going on right now ... all you have to do is signup. Every day you're not online with us is a day you're missing out, brother.

So the Xbot army grows stronger as we add one more to our ranks. Join up and help us wipe SARS off the planet.

"Growing in numbers ....
Noone can stop us now, 'cause we are all made of stars"

[sjsharky]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Sup Hobbes!! Good to see that you are now free from SARS (Sony's Acute Retarded Syndrome).

Isn't it interesting to see how us multiplatform gamers tend to favor Xbox. You have seen the light, my brother. Do as I did, and get a nice little cubby hole prepared for your PS2 and GC, so they won't collect too much dust. :-)

Now, the next step is .... LIVE. I will tell you that not ONE single person has EVER regretting getting Xbox Live. Every time I see posts by someone who gets Live, they are just amazed at how great the service and the game are online. And our numbers are growing. We've even been able to recruit some new guys to VGR through talking with them on Live. I guaruntee that if you get Live and play a game with us, you'll have a blast. Moto GP2, Midtown Madness 3, Wolfenstein, Unreal ... many of us already have these. So, let us know if you get Live and we'll play sometime. We've already got MaskedGamer, Glockstar, massimodo, myself, and now a slew of newer guys like MatrixArchitect, TapoT911, b7stream, KennyD. A bunch of cool guys to play with online.

And when the Hell are you gonna get Live, Reloaded/Evolutions ??? The new dimention in gaming is here and is going on right now ... all you have to do is signup. Every day you're not online with us is a day you're missing out, brother.

So the Xbot army grows stronger as we add one more to our ranks. Join up and help us wipe SARS off the planet.

"Growing in numbers ....
Noone can stop us now, 'cause we are all made of stars"</div>


In total agreement with Darwin on LIVE. At least 50% of my playing time now is on LIVE. My wife has already given me the "It's RTCW or me" ultimatum. GOD, I LOVE THAT GAME! Also Moto GP is an awesome experience, especially with a full room of 16, that is 16 racers not backtracking dickheads. Last year NHL 2k3 was good to me also. I cannot wait for Halo 2 and PGR 2. You will have to pry the controller from my cold, dead hands. A couple of friends of mine are addicted to PSO, but I'm not willing to fork over the extra cash, $9, each month. I love the fact that I can play for a month every hour of the day or not play for a month and not feel like I'm getting hosed or feel obligated to get my money's worth out of the service. For $50 for a year, I feel there is no better bargain.

I also agree with you, RH, regarding the quality of Xbox hardware when compared to the PS2. Since I've had the PS2, this is #2, the A/V cable will not lock in properly to the console and comes lose on more than occasion. Also, the Xbox controllers just feel better built and not as cheaply built as the PS2 ones. BTW, I was a diehard PS1 fan, the N64 pretty much blew with exception of a dozen or so games, but when the PS2 came out all I ever used it for for the first year was to play PS1 games. What a letdown! Granted the PS2 has more than made up for its slow start since, but the success of the PS2 is based in the success of its forebearer, PS1, definitely not in its blazing start/launch titles. I definitely get more mileage out of my Xbox than either the PS2 or GC combined.

Just a side note:

When the Xbox was announced, I was against getting one and told my wife that I wanted a GC for Xmas that year, I already had a PS2.
Well Taco Bell was having their Xbox contest giveaway and lo and behold I won one from them, PGR included. It arrived a couple days before Xmas. On Xmas morning I got the GC from my wife with a couple games, Luigi and Star Wars. Well, I went out and bought Halo and havent looked back. Sony lost me with their crappy first year pickings, as
I mentioned above.
The system I despised on launch and refused to purchase has now become my system of choice. My wife to this day gives me grief about not buying me another system because I dont use the one she bought for me.

In other words, I am a reformed Xbox hater. Give it a chance.

[yacobschlomo]

I've been having some trouble logging on to these new boards myself. Now I am stuck with this name that I used over two years ago.

Anyways, I have been getting more out of my PC, err, Xbox recently since I modified it. I haven't actually bought any copies of Xbox games yet, but I have gotten the SNES, NES, Neo-Geo, GBA, and N64 emulators. There is a total of over 1000 of the games from these sytems saved on my Xbox right now. I guess this is illegal, but I never would have bought any of those games anyways.

After modifying the Xbox, I was able to switch to a 80 GB HDD. With the larger HDD, I have been able to install about 20 games onto the Xbox already. Being an avid game collector, this was the one thing that really made me want to modify my Xbox. Now I can just leave the games in their cases and never have to use them again. The load times have also become much faster.

I can also watch DVD's without using the DVD remote. I have installed A DVD player in the Xbox with many more features than the regualr player. This player allows me to play DVD's from any region along with VCD's and MP3's.

Another feature I love is being able to turn off the system with a remote. I don't have to get my lazy arse off the couch and walk over to the system and turn it off anymore. Best of all, I am able to turn off all these features so that i will be able to play on Xbox Live when I choose to do so.

[Zilla Man]

Richard:

Welcome back, bro! ;) I was starting to get worried! I almost posted a "Has anyone seen Hobbes?" thread1 Now it's on to read your "X-box is superior" post.

But remember, there's only one place where you can play Disgraea and Xenosaga! :p

[Gadfly2317]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

Wow. That is the first negative thing I've heard about KotOR on this forum. That is disappointing to hear, as I have had extremely high hopes for this game, since before it was even released. It combines some of my favorite things into a nice package - Bioware, Star Wars and RPG's.

I'll still play it the first chance I can, though.</div>


I could be mistaken, but this game was being developed for PC. I believe Bioware was encouraged/paid to get it to xbox first, which is better and more prestigious for xbox than getting a months old PC port. It does look unfinished and this is certainly why; really, the xbox is capable of much better. KOTOR will no doubt have finished being polished when it is released on the system it was intended for--PC.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>


I could be mistaken, but this game was being developed for PC. I believe Bioware was encouraged/paid to get it to xbox first, which is better and more prestigious for xbox than getting a months old PC port. It does look unfinished and this is certainly why; really, the xbox is capable of much better. KOTOR will no doubt have finished being polished when it is released on the system it was intended for--PC.</div>



I dunno. I always read that KOTOR was an Xbox game that was going to be developed/ported to the PC. Then again, I did read that in an Official Xbox Magazine. I personally had no problems with the game, considering I have never played a Bioware game before. Anyone who has definitely know a lot more about their work than me, but I think they did a good job considering this was probably their first console game.


Glad to see you back, Hobbes. I had problems posting in the forum until just recently.

[slade]

<div class=\"smallfont\">I've been having some trouble logging on to these new boards myself. Now I am stuck with this name that I used over two years ago.

Anyways, I have been getting more out of my PC, err, Xbox recently since I modified it. I haven't actually bought any copies of Xbox games yet, but I have gotten the SNES, NES, Neo-Geo, GBA, and N64 emulators. There is a total of over 1000 of the games from these sytems saved on my Xbox right now. I guess this is illegal, but I never would have bought any of those games anyways.

After modifying the Xbox, I was able to switch to a 80 GB HDD. With the larger HDD, I have been able to install about 20 games onto the Xbox already. Being an avid game collector, this was the one thing that really made me want to modify my Xbox. Now I can just leave the games in their cases and never have to use them again. The load times have also become much faster.

I can also watch DVD's without using the DVD remote. I have installed A DVD player in the Xbox with many more features than the regualr player. This player allows me to play DVD's from any region along with VCD's and MP3's.

Another feature I love is being able to turn off the system with a remote. I don't have to get my lazy arse off the couch and walk over to the system and turn it off anymore. Best of all, I am able to turn off all these features so that i will be able to play on Xbox Live when I choose to do so.</div>

I fell out of touch with emulation back when the DC died. Does X-box have an emulator for Neo Geo games yet? It was one of the things being talked about for the DC before I lost touch with that scene.

[yacobschlomo]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

I fell out of touch with emulation back when the DC died. Does X-box have an emulator for Neo Geo games yet? It was one of the things being talked about for the DC before I lost touch with that scene.</div>

Yes, the Neo Geo emulator works quite well. I think there were about 200 games on the disc I got. There were a bunch of Capcom games too. About 10 versions of Street Fighter and a bunch of other fighting games were on there. It makes it a lot easier to play these classic games now. I still have some of these older systems, but I would never have gotten them out to play some of these games. I'm not even sure if they still work.

[slade]

Do the fighting games run at full speed? The ones on DC ran at 95% speed and were damn near unplayable.

[yacobschlomo]

I just tried Street Fighter Alpha 2 and from what I can tell its 100 percent. I'm not too sure though.

[slade]

Could you PM me with the sites where you downloaded the ROMS from.

[Gaming Geezer 78]

Glockstar,

--- And nice post.
--- Though you're sure to hear it from the great gaming schizo.
--- But what a sweet deal, eh my fellow XBots?!? We dump
--- GF78, and replace him with RH! NIIIICE!

Geesh that had me rolling in stitches! :-) But... because I've not been on the board for a while, I've forgotten if GF78 is one of my allies. Oh well GF78, you gotta' have a good laugh at yourself sometimes!

RH.

All the Xbox "exclusives" are pissed at me for ragging on Microsoft. Big deal. My Xbox is running just fine BTW except the sticking "A" button on my Controller S. It's a real pain in the ass. It's never gotten dirty or wet or anything else, so I figure the button has just started to go bad. Kinda pisses me off when I have only had the controller for about a year and have treated it very kindly.

BTW...Otogi is a pretty fun "Devil May Cry-eque" game. And it looks pretty nice to boot. I'll talk both good & bad of all the systems, you know that by now Hobbes. But I do hereby relinquish my position as the #1 Xbox promoter on System Wars Forum.

I'm jus having alot of fun. BTW...I also have Billy Hatcher, Viewtiful Joe and P.N.03 coming within a month. More to play!!!

[Richard Hobbes]

Zilla Man,

--- Welcome back, bro! I was starting to get worried!
--- I almost posted a "Has anyone seen Hobbes?" thread.
--- Now it's on to read your "X-box is superior" post.

Thanks for the welcome back. I almost didn't make it. I was getting so frustrated trying to get on to the new board that at one point I said "**** it". Fortunately I decided to write to Chris again and he was able to fix my account. It did take three or four request fixes before my account worked though.

--- But remember, there's only one place where
--- you can play Disgraea and Xenosaga!

Ah yes... Disgraea. I'm playing it now. I found a copy at Future Shop (Best Buy in the U.S.). Usually I go to EB for these kinds of games, but EB didn't have it. When I went to Future Shop, I was actually looking for a copy of DOAX for the Xbox. To my surprise, a single copy of Disgraea was sitting on the PS2 shelves. Obviously I bought it immediately. Disgraea is a wonderful game - one of the best strategy RPGs that I've ever played. Despite all the stuff I like about the Xbox, the PS2 still has many Japanese games that are wonderful. I wish the Japanese would be more consistent though. For every Disgraea there are hundreds of cookie-cutter RPGs and Capcom clones. It's really a shame because when the Japanese are on, they make some great games, but geesh... I'm so tired of RPGs about finding crystals to save the world or RPGs where the main character is a girlie-boy loser (err, I mean loaner). You get what I mean.

RH.

[Richard Hobbes]

Darwin,

--- Sup Hobbes!! Good to see that you are now free
--- from SARS (Sony's Acute Retarded Syndrome).

That is soooooooooooooooo funny! :-)

--- Isn't it interesting to see how us multi-platform
--- gamers tend to favor Xbox. You have seen the
--- light, my brother. Do as I did, and get a nice little
--- cubby hole prepared for your PS2 and GC, so they
--- won't collect too much dust. :-)

To those that have not spent any amount of time playing an Xbox, I'd say the following: go get an Xbox and spend a week playing it. Don't just play one or two Xbox games, get (or rent) a half dozen titles that appeal to you. After you've done this, go back to play some games that are similar on the PS2 and GC. The difference you'll notice is amazing. The technology in the Xbox really shows itself once you've grown accustomed to it and you go back to another system.

--- Now, the next step is .... LIVE.

I agree, but I won't be on Live for a little while. Now that I'm gaming on PS2, Xbox, GC, and PC my budget for gaming is maxed out so I'm going to have to cut back for a while. When I get Live I'll let everyone know.

--- So the Xbot army grows stronger as we add one more
--- to our ranks. Join up and help us wipe SARS off the planet.

I don't really want to wipe Sony off the planet. Where the Xbox is lacking is in games like Disgraea (a new PS2 strategy RPG - read my comments to Zilla Man on this game). Disgraea is a wonderful strategy RPG with so many options, character classes, and new gameplay mechanics that it boggles the mind. It is a great game and there is nothing like it on Xbox. I'd like to see Sony create simpler, more powerful, more reliable hardware. I'd also like to see Sony delivering on its promises instead of hyping things like the PS2 hard drive that never materialized. Ultimately, Microsoft has set the console bar much higher than either Nintendo or Sony did. It will be interesting to see if the Japanese companies rise to this challenge or continue on (as Sony has) seemingly ignoring the threat. One thing seems almost certain to me. If Sony continues to ignore what Microsoft is doing, Microsoft will continue to eat away at Sony's market share in the console space.

RH.

[trebor]

I could be mistaken, but this game was being developed for PC. I believe Bioware was encouraged/paid to get it to xbox first, which is better and more prestigious for xbox than getting a months old PC port. It does look unfinished and this is certainly why; really, the xbox is capable of much better. KOTOR will no doubt have finished being polished when it is released on the system it was intended for--PC.

Nope, you are not mistaken. KotOR is indeed coming out for PC. I'm not really much of a "graphics whore" as we like to call certain resident Xboyz, so the look of it is secondary to the gameplay for me. My main concern is more about the controls - I just think RPG's simply play better with a keyboard and a mouse over a controller. Which is one reason why I think computer RPG's generally are better than console RPG's.

I agree, a game like KotOR is totally meant to be played on a PC.

[Richard Hobbes]

Trebor,

--- I just think RPG's simply play better with a keyboard
--- and a mouse over a controller. Which is one reason
--- why I think computer RPG's generally are better than
--- console RPG's. I agree, a game like KotOR is totally
--- meant to be played on a PC.

This is one area of the PC version of KOTOR that I am concerned about. BioWare obviously designed much of KOTOR's gameplay with a console controller in mind. For this I give BioWare kudos because KOTOR *was* designed as a console game. It will be interesting to see if the controls map well to a keyboard and mouse combination. One thing that would make the game easier to play would be the ability to click on character portraits to quickly change characters. On the Xbox controller you have to rotate through characters using the Black button. I find this very clunky. So... while there are areas of the game that were obviously designed for a console controller, there are still places where the game could benefit from a control re-working. As I said, it will be interesting to see if BioWare deals with all these subtle issues in the PC version.

RH.

[Richard Hobbes]

Sjsharky, Rouge, Gadfly, and Slade;

Thanks for the warm welcome back. I've *really* used up my posting time for today so I'll humbly say thank you and try to respond later.

RH.

[Richard Hobbes]

Yacobschlomo,

Okay. This is my last post for today! I'm glad you managed to get on to the board. It sounds like you had as much trouble as I did. I can definitely say this: perseverance was required!

Regarding modding the Xbox, loading emulators into the Xbox, and loading other software into the Xbox. One thing I'm very touchy about is people ripping off the gaming industry. I've often heard the excuse "well, I wouldn't have bought these games anyway so it is okay to borrow them". Using this excuse, it is easy to steal without realizing it. I mean, let's say that I stole your car from the front of your house with the notion "Well, it was a Mustang, I would not have bought one anyway because I hate Mustangs". Is this stealing? You bet it is! Is putting games that you haven't paid for onto the Xbox hard drive stealing? Yes it is. Thus Yacobschlomo, while I appreciate information such as "how to get all regions of DVDs to play on the Xbox", I would caution you on providing information about putting games on the Xbox hard drive. (Note, I've got lot's of DVDs that I bought in England that won't play on my Xbox because they have the wrong region code.. I legitimately paid for my DVDs and for my Xbox so it ticks me off that a manufacturer wrongfully stops me from enjoying the products that I own).

Once again, thanks for the welcome. I hope you don't think I'm raining your parade. It's just that when you rip off the gaming industry, you do us all a disservice because you make it harder for game developers to make a living. (i.e. the gaming industry is denied money it is rightfully due and we get developers and producers spending more time creating copy protection schemes than creating great games.)

Peace out man.

RH.

[Richard Hobbes]

Bump.

(Read my post entitled "Big thank you and big rant about new bulletin board software" and you'll get it.)

My question is: should we ask the VGR mods to fix this?

RH.

[Fragmastar]

RH, I don't care about your vengeance. BTW, I was laughing the whole time I read your thread so I didn't take it seriously. You have a wife? I didn't know that. I thought you were married to a.....well, I shouldn't talk about that.

[Richard Hobbes]

Fragmastar,

--- RH, I don't care about your vengeance. BTW, I
--- was laughing the whole time I read your thread
--- so I didn't take it seriously. You have a wife? I
--- didn't know that. I thought you were married to
--- a... well, I shouldn't talk about that.

We should resolve this old flame war out of the public eye. Accordingly, I've sent you a private message. Please check your Inbox on the new VGR bulletin board.

Thanks,

RH.

[yacobschlomo]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Yacobschlomo,

Okay. This is my last post for today! I'm glad you managed to get on to the board. It sounds like you had as much trouble as I did. I can definitely say this: perseverance was required!

Regarding modding the Xbox, loading emulators into the Xbox, and loading other software into the Xbox. One thing I'm very touchy about is people ripping off the gaming industry. I've often heard the excuse "well, I wouldn't have bought these games anyway so it is okay to borrow them". Using this excuse, it is easy to steal without realizing it. I mean, let's say that I stole your car from the front of your house with the notion "Well, it was a Mustang, I would not have bought one anyway because I hate Mustangs". Is this stealing? You bet it is! Is putting games that you haven't paid for onto the Xbox hard drive stealing? Yes it is. Thus Yacobschlomo, while I appreciate information such as "how to get all regions of DVDs to play on the Xbox", I would caution you on providing information about putting games on the Xbox hard drive. (Note, I've got lot's of DVDs that I bought in England that won't play on my Xbox because they have the wrong region code.. I legitimately paid for my DVDs and for my Xbox so it ticks me off that a manufacturer wrongfully stops me from enjoying the products that I own).

Once again, thanks for the welcome. I hope you don't think I'm raining your parade. It's just that when you rip off the gaming industry, you do us all a disservice because you make it harder for game developers to make a living. (i.e. the gaming industry is denied money it is rightfully due and we get developers and producers spending more time creating copy protection schemes than creating great games.)

Peace out man.

RH.</div>
I own a copy of all the Xbox games that I have on my HDD. I own about 50 Xbox games right now, but have only put 20 on the HDD. I still haven't purchased any copies and do not plan to do so. The only things that I have on my HDD that could be considered illegal are the Neo Geo, SNES, NES, and N64 roms. I own a fairly large quantity of games for all these systems (all the N64 games), but do not feel like hooking up each system just to play them. Having the roms on my Xbox makes it easier to play these games. I do realize that some of this is actually illegal, but who am I actually hurting? I'm not stealing these games directly from another person. Most of these games are not being sold anywhere except on Ebay. So I don't think your Mustang comparison fits this case.

I relaize that many people will use the HDD to illegally download games onto their HDD, but for me its mostly for convenience. I'm just too damn lazy to always get the games out of their cases and put it in the system. It also allows me to keep my games in mint condition.

[Whaxx]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Everyone,

Richard Hobbes is back with a vengeance! Finally... Chris fixed my account so I can post. (Thank you Chris!)

I've been unable to post on the VGR boards for about two weeks now. Those who remember my last game related post on the old board will remember that my wife had just bought me an Xbox. At the time, being a long time PS1 and PS2 game collector, I was considering taking the Xbox back. Well... here is what I have to say now. (Keep in mind folks that this is coming from a long time fan of the PS2.)

The Xbox blows the PS2 out of the water in every conceivable way! In short, the Xbox rocks! Here are just a few things I've noticed over the last few weeks of playing.

1.) Much better graphics. While I'm surprised that the Xbox suffers from quite a few aliasing defects, on the whole, Xbox games look much better than PS2 games. Everything from texture quality to lighting effects to color quality and overall sharpness is improved.

2.) The build quality is superb. The Xbox is better built than the PS2 in many areas such as case construction, connectors, and the DVD tray.

3.) Xbox DVD playback leaves the PS2 in the dust. The PS2 refuses to play many DVDs. I had pretty much given up using my PS2 as a DVD player because it either refuses to play disks outright or skips radically during play. By contrast, the Xbox has played every DVD we put into it including those that the PS2 refuses to play. Likewise, with built in features like zoom, A-B repeat, many levels of scanning (single frame, 1/2 speed, 2x, 6x, 10x, 16x, 24x, 32x), and proper chapter and time display the Xbox is a very useable DVD player. The PS2 has none of these features. Many of these features are available after you've installed the updated PS2 DVD drivers, but the drivers take up a huge amount of space on your memory card. Even with the new drivers the PS2 still refuses to play many DVDs and has bugs like not being able to skip from chapter to chapter. (You can skip from chapter to chapter, but the PS2 gets confused on chapter boundaries and often times refuses to go back to previous chapters). Lastly, the picture quality is much sharper and more colorful on the Xbox than on the PS2. In short, PS2 DVD playback stinks. Xbox DVD playback rocks.

4.) The Xbox S controller actually feels better than the PS2 controller. Initially I hated both Xbox controllers (the Duke and the S), but now that I have got used to the S controller, I like it better than the PS2 one. While the S controller does not have the PS2 controllers' four shoulder buttons, it makes up for it with wonderful left and right analog trigger buttons. The trigger buttons have a deep range of throw which allows their analog nature to actually be useful. Like the PS2 itself, after you've played with the S controller for a while, the PS2 controller feels cheap. The Xbox S controller features buttons and sticks that feel more solid, a d-pad with wonderful tactile feel in all eight directions, and more comfortable control placement. Everything about the Xbox S controller feels like it is better constructed and better thought out then the PS2 controller.

5.) The hard drive makes saving games a breeze and load times minimal. Saving games on the PS2 is slow and painful. Because the PS2's file system is flat, many games only allow you to have one save. The Xbox arranges every game into its own folder and allows you to have any number of saves in that folder. During game play, there is a huge speed increase in loading saves and intra-level data on the Xbox. While playing Max Payne, I could not believe the difference. On the PS2, loading intra-level data takes anywhere from one to two minutes. On the Xbox it takes about two seconds. After Playing Max Payne on Xbox, it is excruciatingly painful to go back to the PS2.

6.) Deeper games. While I definitely miss the broad selection of games on the PS2, there is a lot to be said for quality over quantity. You don't get games with the depth of Morrowind and KOTOR on the PS2.

7.) Built in Ethernet makes setting up the Xbox for online play a breeze. Likewise, connecting two Xboxes together is as easy as grabbing a standard Ethernet cable from any computer store.

8.) The sound quality of the Xbox (even just in stereo) is much clearer (with better channel separation) than the PS2.

So... am I glad my wife bought me an Xbox. You bet! Honestly, if the Xbox had come out before the PS2 I don't know if I ever would have bought a PS2. The only flaw I've seen so far in the Xbox is that the system appears to run a little hot. In the next round I will definitely wait to see what Sony and Microsoft come out with before buying. I will certainly be keeping my eye on Microsoft this time. In every area where Sony promised us next generation features, Microsoft delivered and Sony didn't. With all of Sony's current talk about the Cell processor and distributed computing for the PS3, the company already has me worried about their next console. Sony spent all their time creating a complex architecture for the PS2. In the end, Microsoft produced a much better console using simpler, proven technology. Sony seems to be walking the same line for the PS3 by building what appears to be a very complex machine based on unproven technology. I'll be much more cautious this time before buying another Sony console.

RH.</div>

RH, glad to see you back, I couldn't have said this better myself, have fun with your Xbox!.

[Zangoose, Furious]

Well, glad to see you get an Xbox, Hobbes! Anyway, I was wondering for all the rest of you with an Xbox under your roof, do you ever have any dumbass problems with 3rd-party titles? Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer was the first to give me problems, followed by Timesplitters 2 (which I can't even finish because the game locks up at the end-of-level save for Neo Tokyo), then Genma Onimusha (it kept crashing on me), then Kotor (which has actually been acting the best out of all of them), and now Hitman 2 (which periodically freezes for no apparent reason). And I KNOW it's not the games themselves because I've done numerous exchanges and I still have the same problems.

And I won't even delve very deep into PoS Official Xbox Magazine and its crappy-ass demo discs. I'd have a better chance of getting hit by lighting twice than get one of their damn demo discs to work. It's really been pissing be off, especially when those bastards never sent me back a replacement disc for one I finally decided to send to them.

I'm just curious: Has anyone else had these problems, or do I just have a defective Xbox? It seems to play 1st-party games okay.

[Joah_from_Alberta]

You guys are a bunch of sad sacks. Do ginue-pigs really care if they're trapped in a plastic cage with the padded floor and mini-play park? Nature would dictate no, that it's all a matter of perspective.

I aquired my fourth mox this week, had to give my friend $300 on an option to buy back the card. Figure a mox sapphire is worth it though.

Two words, potential difference. Okay. Potential difference. These words describe the matter difference between two points. In electronics, it is the switching state of a transistor. In space it measures the distance travelled (eg. earth to moon). In electronics V=AO Higher the difference, greater the voltage. These two words are beautiful English words that provide an effective means to index our perception. Okay, don't like my way of putting it, tough.

We currently have three means of playing video games. 1st is PC. 2nd is console. 3rd is hand-held. If we apply the PD principle to the three, we can see that the 3rd has a higher PD to the 1st than the 2nd to the 1st. Okay, here is the biggest gripe I have with X-bot. If we emplore the amendment principle (US only) and sub-divide the 1st, 2nd, and3rd (for reasons of king of the hill) we get 1st= PC, 2nd= X-bot, PS2, GC, and 3rd= gameboy in that order of PD. In conclusion we determine that if you own the 1st, you would get your highest PD by owning the 3rd (for then you get everything in between). My biggest gripe with X-bot is the fact that they have a limited PD for the x-bot is closest to a PC (let's face it doom3 will never be as good on xbot as it will pc and you know what they say about once you have broadband ... you can never go back to dial-up). So in conclusion, if you won a PC, than owning an x-bot is limited in scope and therefore you are only exceeding the redundancy (at the risk of your own perspective). So yeah, praise x-bot for its extrapolated effects and just know that it will never hold the one end of the extreme, that held by PC and that it is so far away from being in the middle that it is lost to obscurity at best.

[sjsharky]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Well, glad to see you get an Xbox, Hobbes! Anyway, I was wondering for all the rest of you with an Xbox under your roof, do you ever have any dumbass problems with 3rd-party titles? Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer was the first to give me problems, followed by Timesplitters 2 (which I can't even finish because the game locks up at the end-of-level save for Neo Tokyo), then Genma Onimusha (it kept crashing on me), then Kotor (which has actually been acting the best out of all of them), and now Hitman 2 (which periodically freezes for no apparent reason). And I KNOW it's not the games themselves because I've done numerous exchanges and I still have the same problems.

And I won't even delve very deep into PoS Official Xbox Magazine and its crappy-ass demo discs. I'd have a better chance of getting hit by lighting twice than get one of their damn demo discs to work. It's really been pissing be off, especially when those bastards never sent me back a replacement disc for one I finally decided to send to them.

I'm just curious: Has anyone else had these problems, or do I just have a defective Xbox? It seems to play 1st-party games okay.</div>

Ive had problems on more than one occasion with their demo discs. As recent as the Soul Calibur one. They have replaced one previous disc and I am still waiting for this latest replacement. A problem I see with the discs, even though they still tend to work for me, is how the CD player seems to work like a hog to access the data on the disc. With whirring and whining I dont hear with a regular game disc, I sometimes dont even want to bother with the demos for fear of frying my xbox.

[sjsharky]

<div class=\"smallfont\">You guys are a bunch of sad sacks. Do ginue-pigs really care if they're trapped in a plastic cage with the padded floor and mini-play park? Nature would dictate no, that it's all a matter of perspective.

I aquired my fourth mox this week, had to give my friend $300 on an option to buy back the card. Figure a mox sapphire is worth it though.

Two words, potential difference. Okay. Potential difference. These words describe the matter difference between two points. In electronics, it is the switching state of a transistor. In space it measures the distance travelled (eg. earth to moon). In electronics V=AO Higher the difference, greater the voltage. These two words are beautiful English words that provide an effective means to index our perception. Okay, don't like my way of putting it, tough.

We currently have three means of playing video games. 1st is PC. 2nd is console. 3rd is hand-held. If we apply the PD principle to the three, we can see that the 3rd has a higher PD to the 1st than the 2nd to the 1st. Okay, here is the biggest gripe I have with X-bot. If we emplore the amendment principle (US only) and sub-divide the 1st, 2nd, and3rd (for reasons of king of the hill) we get 1st= PC, 2nd= X-bot, PS2, GC, and 3rd= gameboy in that order of PD. In conclusion we determine that if you own the 1st, you would get your highest PD by owning the 3rd (for then you get everything in between). My biggest gripe with X-bot is the fact that they have a limited PD for the x-bot is closest to a PC (let's face it doom3 will never be as good on xbot as it will pc and you know what they say about once you have broadband ... you can never go back to dial-up). So in conclusion, if you won a PC, than owning an x-bot is limited in scope and therefore you are only exceeding the redundancy (at the risk of your own perspective). So yeah, praise x-bot for its extrapolated effects and just know that it will never hold the one end of the extreme, that held by PC and that it is so far away from being in the middle that it is lost to obscurity at best.</div>


PC=expensive
Consoles=relatively inexpensive

PC=configuring
Consoles=ease of use

PC=upgrades
Consoles=standardization

PC=17" monitor
Consoles=50+" HDTV

PC=uncomfortable office chair
Consoles=comfy, cozy couch

PC=apples
Consoles=oranges

what is your point? Not all gameplayers play on the PC.

[Glockstar]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>


PC=expensive
Consoles=relatively inexpensive

PC=configuring
Consoles=ease of use

PC=upgrades
Consoles=standardization

PC=17" monitor
Consoles=50+" HDTV

PC=uncomfortable office chair
Consoles=comfy, cozy couch

PC=apples
Consoles=oranges

what is your point? Not all gameplayers play on the PC.</div>

NICE WORK SHARKY!

And yet, there's more...

PC=keyboard and mouse
Consoles=controller ("old familiar")

PC=generally one person plays at a time
Consoles=where 4 ppl can play on one screen, at the same time... easily