Stephen, I used to post all the time, but lately I just haven't been involved with gaming much so I"ve been inactive here. However you're still my homepage, and this caught me as a shock. I'm so sorry to hear. Just wanted to say I'll say a prayer for you, and that your mom is probably in a better place already.

Please don't worry about the news too much -- what is the harm even if some minor news never gets posted here? Dealing with the loss of your mother vs. some computer game gossip -- there's no contest. However everyone deals differently, so whatever you need to do... good luck.

-JR

Ura-Gamecube

How does Sony plan to have multiple processors in the PS3? Is this radically different that multi-processor computers? They aren't cheap! So how can Sony keep the price reasonable?

-JR

Thinking about it further makes me think that maybe there is more to this story than what's being reported... kind of like the anti-war t-shirt guy. Has to be.

What was the deal with that? I never heard. I read the initial story and had no idea why he'd be arrested for that.


Anyway this pizza place's owner deserves a nice punch in the eye. Screw them. Hope they go out of business, if they don't make a HUGE apology (not that I think the woman should take her job back there -- I wouldn't).

-JR

OpenGL works just fine for plenty of games.

-JR

So if you do want to do this deal, it seems like you need to do it online, since they won't give you the free game if you try to buy it in the store.

yes, the Mario Sunshine bundle + free game deal is on the site only, and is supposed to go until February 22. Even if you didn't want Mario Sunshine, it's still a better deal to buy it since you get the memory card, and then if you wanted to sell the game or something you could get like $20 for it at least. And yeah you'd have your free Metroid to play with


nin: no i didn't get mine yet, I was trying to make absolutely sure before I ordered it that I'd get the rebate and it appears that I can. the problem is that I have a lot of other expenses to take care of next week, so depending on how much that sets me back, I will decide whether or not I can afford to order my Cube before the 22nd. Sucks I know -- I work hard for my money, but school tuition is stealing it all from me right now! If only I had a full scholarship, man I could buy practically anything I wanted.

-JR

As I posted before, www.circuitcity.com is selling the GameCube Mario Sunshine Bundle for $159.99, and you can STILL get one of their 4 offered games for FREE after rebate. So you'll get the system, a memory card, Mario, and another game of your choice for $159.99 plus tax (the site charges some tax, but no shipping charges!). It's easily the best deal to date on a Cube.

This free game offer is only supposed to apply to a regular Cube (not the Mario bundle), BUT www.circuitcity.com advertises the free game with the bundle as well. Since I found this so peculiar, I have contacted both Nintendo and CC about this. CC guaranteed that the offer applies, since it's listed like that on their website. It has been listed since Sunday.

Here is what Nintendo emailed me back regarding this suspicious yet delicious offer from CC:


Subj: Re: Re : GameCube Free Game Rebate Offer
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 07:26:40 --800
From: Part Orders <parts@noa.nintendo.com>
To: me

Hello and thank you for contacting Nintendo,

We appreciate your taking the time to send us another email about the information that you were given at Circuit City about the free game with purchase of a Nintendo GameCube system. Although the information that we are supplying the retailers with states that the free game is eligible only when purchasing the Nintendo GameCube that doesn't have a game with it, if Circuit City is willing to let you have a free game when you purchase the Super Mario Sunshine bundle then that is up to them. However, please note that if there are any problem that arise in connection with this promotion that you will need to deal directly with Circuit City for a resolution.

I hope this is helpful.
Sincerely,

Nintendo of America Inc.
Sharon Matheny

Nintendo's home page: http://www.nintendo.com/
Power Line (Automated Product Info): (425) 885-7529

However, it took FOUR AND A HALF YEARS of dev-time to decide that it was a bad idea???

I can't imagine what it'd be like to work on something for 4.5 years and then decide it isn't working and it's never going to be finished. How much code is written, how much art and animation done, how much research done, in 4.5 years? Where does it all go?? Unbelieveable.

-JR

I actually just heard that Circuit City is in big financial trouble and that its workers no longer get commission.

I haven't been in Circuit City for quite a while, but I used to enjoy going there. Back in the "good old days" around like 1993 or 1995 or something, they very frequently had all CD's for $10.88 or less. That usually beat anyone else's prices. This current week they have all CD's for I think $11.99 or less, which is still very good for today. The store also had a nicer selection of audio equipment than Best Buy, at least several years ago when I shopped there.

Circuit City is a great place to pick up older games (Playstation or Nintendo 64). I've seen huge stocks of them, things you don't see at most places.

About the Cube deal...

I called Nintendo since I didn't think you were allowed to do this if you bought the Mario Sunshine bundle, and they said that even though it's not part of their offer, each retailer can do as they please. So I called the local CC and the main number (1-800-THE-CITY) and they guaranteed me that I could still get the rebate if I bought the Mario Sunshine Bundle. I made my point very clearly that I had not seen this offered anywhere else, and I said that I was almost positive their site listing was in error, but they assured me that if it was listed like that, and they saw it since they can check the site while they talk to you, that I will get it.

If you don't want a Mario Sunshine bundle, they are offering the black or indigo consoles (not platinum) for a mere $139.99! That's $10 cheaper than anywhere else!


My friends are telling me I'm foolish to buy a Cube, and I should get PS2 ( no I don't have that yet either!). I certainly would have both (and maybe even an Xbox... or maybe not ), but money is tight because of college tuition. And I figure that before too long Sony will go ahead and cut PS2 to $149.99, so I can get it then and pick up a ton of cheap games for like $20 or $30. But right now I really wanna play Metroid and then of course Zelda, so I think I've made up my mind.

-JR

OK, I posted about this yesterday, but I've been researching and calling places all day, and it seems that you can order the GameCube with Mario Sunshine and Memory Card 59 (the bundled pack) for $159.99 at www.circuitcity.com, AND also receive a free game (Metroid Prime, Resident Evil 0, Starfox Adventures, or Mario Party 4). According to Nintendo, the deal only applies to the plain console for $149.99, but they said each retailer is handling it themselves. And circuitcity.com is the ONLY site out of like 10 I've checked that lists the free game being eligible even if you buy the Mario bundle.

What a deal! $159.99 for the system, Mario, Metroid (my pick), and a memory card! Choose the "express pickup" option, and you don't even have to pay shipping or tax!

Anyone else looked at this?

-JR

Metriod. Is. Shit.

Why?

If you weren't aware, you can get a GameCube and your choice of:

-Metroid Prime
-Resident Evil Zero
-Mario Party 4
-Starfox Adventures

for $149.99! Yes, the system is $149.99 and you get to pick one of those games free!

OR!!! If you have a Circuit City in your area, they are selling the black or indigo GameCubes (excludes platinum) for $139.99, a whole $10 off, and you still pick from those 4 games for free!

There is also the option of buying a package for $159.99 which includes the system and Mario Sunshine, and a memory card (59 blocks). Not bad either!!!

It's a good time to pick up a Cube! Zelda is on its way people, and there's lots of other things to check out (Free Metroid! yeah!). I'll be getting mine.

-JR

The official date for the new promotions is Sunday the 9th, right in time for all the stores to push the deals in the Sunday newspaper ads.

I can't be without a Cube when Zelda hits, so this deal definitely seals it for me too. I also have been craving some Metroid Prime action.

Hell, I think I'm looking forward to the bonus disc more than the new game!

How can you say that? The "new" Ocarina of Time disc is the exact same game that appeared on N64, not even any graphical improvements here. And the "Ura Zelda" is simply like the second quest in the original Zelda (NES). The dungeons are just rearranged a bit or something. I think that's cool, but heck, it's not a new game!!

I have shut myself out almost completely about info on the Wind Waker; I've probably seen less than 15 screenshots. When it was first revealed that the game would have the new cell animation style, and I saw a few shots, I was pretty disappointed, especially with Link looking so childish. However just a few days ago I was paging through some Cube magazine and saw a few really large shots that looked awesome! Now I'm quite excited about the game, especially having read in that same magazine that there is a much bigger emphasis on the plot in this game. That's cool! I hope it satifies!

-JR

You can hack into your gaming console!

I traded in my PSX, N64, and 8 games total on an Xbox, only paid $160 for the system and Halo . But then a week later they announced the bundle deal, argh! But oh well, still saved $100.

I'd never trade in a system and a bunch of games just to save a little money. Think of how much more the system(s) and games cost you when you bought them! A lot more than $100! Even with new games out all the time, I always tend to be consumed by nostalgia for older games, like say, Goldeneye for N64, and heck, tons of SNES games. Ah, those were better times...

-JR

Does anyone here do any modding or mapping for this game? Just wondering. I don't know anything about it. Is it easy (relatively) to modify?

-JR

In the article about the new quantum cryptography method, they say that "the largest prime number" was found last year in a distributed computing project. They should have said that the largest known prime number to date was found, for, as we all know, there is no largest prime number!

Other than that, it was a good article.

-JR

OK, I'll ask myself, what is up with this Climb the Plantation game???

http://www.palaisdetokyo.com/tokyogames/opniyama.html

Yesterday's Play Time link continues to baffle...

-JR

How long should I wait before buying a new system (or building one)? Any expert outlooks on future price drops? I can't wait too long; this machine can't handle any new games at all anymore (not even good enough to post specs).

Will someone start a sh*t fit over this already? BTW this Senator Fritz needs to be voted out of office.

Don't die like Ambrose did; quit smoking, fools.

-JR