LATEST GAMING BUZZ

If you are an avid gamer that more than likely you are aware that Playstation 2 debuted in Japan on March 4. Almost a million Playstation 2's sold in the first few days of release for about $370 per unit. People stood in line for hours just to get their hands on this highly anticipated console. Some of the Launch titles like Ridge Racer 4 and Street Fighter EX3 represented the better of the first generation game showings. Overall though, most of these games, although very beautiful, had been hurriedly prepared to meet the deadline for the system's launch and only scratched the surface of the machine's capabilities. The price of the unit is expected to drop considerably for the US launch this Fall. It is expected to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 249.99. Frankly, I can't wait, and by the time it launches here in the states there will be a wider variety and better games to choose from. I will definitely have a Playstation 2.

Microsoft has now officially declared it's entry into the gaming market with X-Box, which Bill Gates favorably claims as being the most advanced gaming system to come surpassing Playstation 2, Nintendo's Dolphin, and Dreamcast in capability and raw power. X-Box is touted as having 200Mhz 64 MB unified memory architecture DDRRAM, a 600 Mhz Intel Processor, a 256-bit Next Generation version of the NVidia GForce Graphics Processor, an onboard 8 GB Hard Drive, and DSL and high speed internet access. According to Microsoft's claims the unit will render a whopping 150 MILLION Textured Polygons Per second (Double Playstation 2's maximum). Bill Gates feels that Microsoft can compete in the Console Gaming Market by spending billions of dollars on the project and be able to render photorealistic movie-like environments ushering in a golden age of gaming. One wonders if the X-Box will make computer based gaming obsolete considering the new console is in essense a sophisicated graphics computer and PC game developers will have virtually no difficulty making the transition. Then again, it's release date of Christmas Season 2001, puts it on a projected track where computers will likely technologically meet and surpass by that time. Microsoft wants the unit to not be a computer but a raw gaming powerhouse devoted to games and only games. Developers are already chomping at the bit to get their hands on this unit because of it's ease of use but are still a little apprehensive about Microsoft's ability to enter a market already solidified by Sony and Nintendo, with Sega a close 3rd. But, then again, look and Sony and the Success of the Playstation which itself was a newcomer to the gaming scene in 1994. Also too, look at the Atari Jaguar, a total failure. Time will tell as to whether Microsoft can win over the masses with X-Box. Remember, it's not a vastly superior unit that sells games, its the games that sell games. With the kind of gaming power Microsoft is touting, if some developers really get their acts together to produce software unparalleled on it's competitors systems and Microsofts find the kind of support it needs the X-Box could be another Playstation.

Dolphin as been delayed until the Second Fiscal Quarter of 2001 (about mid year before X-Box). Nintendo is still remaining relatively tight lipped about Dolphin. No game screenshots have been demonstrated yet, and just exactly how much RAM, and what the full capabilities of the unit are have not yet been released. Nintendo plans to start beginning it's hype toward the end of 2000 and into early 2001. No word as of yet what the main mascoted launch title will be. (Metroid would be nice)

Perfect Dark has been delayed yet another time to May 23rd. I had already planned to purchase this game, but I guess I'll have to wait yet again. Pokemon Stadium has been released (...yawn...) and Mujula has also been delayed in Japan to April 27th. Maybe it's just me but Nintendo is losing it's shine, though they claim otherwise with delay after delay. Waiting in the wings later this year (hopefully) a game that I would have previously written off as another loser title has renewed it's potential as being innovative in the way that Simpsons, Beavis and Butthead, and South Park opened our eyes to cartoon comedy with mature humor. Conker's Bad Fur Day proves to be probably one of Nintendo/Rare's most shocking creations to date. Conker's use of profanity and sexual innuendo will definitely be a first for Nintendo who prides itself on making games for kids and a company who advocates wholesome gaming. Frankly, the latest news in the transformation of Conker's personality from a cute brown squirrel to a bad mouthed little son of a bitch, makes me feel a little better that maybe Nintendo hasn't forgotten the older gamer. Now though the originality of the game is a good thing, but it remains to be seen weather Conker's Bad Fur Day will have a worthwhile gameplay system and actually be something worth actually playing rather than just a novelty. Frankly, I'm optimistic because Rare has produced some really good games in the past, and I think that having forged into that domain of possibly getting a game banned from stores just so us older gamers can laugh our asses off, takes balls. I am anxious to see just what will become of this game.

The arguement has been posed at times that these consoles are nothing that special when compared to PC's and in the case of the X-Box a would be gamer should buy a PC. In all honesty I can't see using my PC for the next generation of games. I have some PC games, but overall they are mostly Sims, and in general nothing compared to my console games. I for one would rather just put a disc in a console and press the start button to begin play than rather loading a huge file onto my computer, hoping my system has the right drivers and specifications to run the game, then having to calibrate my controller or joystick to work with it only to find out I doesn't work for *who knows?* reason and I have to take it back to the store. Thanks, but no thanks, I'll keep my consoles for my gaming and my PC for the internet, and other Multimedia applications.

Right now is a great time to be a gamer. Revolutionary gaming systems are at our doorstep. As an older gamer, I take a lot of appreciation in the advances in technology because I remember the way things were and how in my Mind's Eye many years ago I envisioned worlds like the ones that are being created today back when the term Polygon was restricted to Geometry class. When I played games like the original Zelda for the NES, I used to think about the day when I would be able to wander in a realisic 3-D world filled with creatures and people and worlds of adventure behind every turn. Those days are here, and as time marches forward we will see so many advances in this industry that it gives me a great feeling just living in this day and age where prior civilizations on this planet couldn't dream of the luxuries we possess today.

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