Messages

76

Video Game Chat / Capture Cards

« on: July 30, 2012, 05:09:13 PM »

Anyone have a capture card? At the moment I have a Happauge HD-PVR (which replaces the old Dazzle Pro I have or whatever it's called). (PRO-TIP: DO NOT PURCHASE A DAZZLE CAP CARD). Anyway, the HD-PVR records everything fine until I try to play a virtual console game. I dunno if it has to do with changing refresh rates or anything of that sort, but it just hangs the capture software and is impossible to record with. It accepts both component and composite inputs. It has no composite output. Switching every setting in the book from the Wii's resolution, to different settings on the capture card itself, all the way down to changing the cable setup didn't get me anywhere. I'm really in need of capturing some SMRPG. Dunno if anyone has experienced this problem with any type of capture card and/or capcard software.

CURRENTLY OWN:

Dazzle Pro DVD Whatever Recorder: $50 (waste of money, piece of crap, only SD 640x480, and it couldn't look worse, weird flickering green lines at the bottom handful of scan lines, Windows Movie Maker knockoff software that you unavoidably must install, can't use raw video to transfer to other programs [forced to render it within the program], software crashes often, A/V syncing issues within 10 minutes of straight recording, dropped frames, slow & sped up video/audio upon playback, scratchy or non-existent sound upon playback)

Happauge HD-PVR: ~$175 (excellent quality, loads of options, not resource heavy, pass-through to TV is 100% latency free whether you're recording or not, easy and intuitive setup, does exactly what it says on the tin and does it well)

77

Mario Chat / Re: Cheating AI makes me angry.

« on: July 09, 2012, 12:01:23 PM »

While not as bad as SMK or MK64, every Mario Kart produced from then on suffers from some pretty bad rubberbanding still.

The two things that stand out as silly is, first, why they still have preset racing grids. Like if you hit a character who is the predetermined "leader" and they drop to fourth, for example, they'll be back in their original spot within 10 seconds. Same for essentially any other CPU player.

Also, starting with Mario Kart 64, when you win a race, that's just it. Whatever place the computers are in when you cross the finish line is what their place is, and the game allows them no time to finish and let it pan out. While I know it's intended to speed up the game, it can be irritating when the results for each CPU are the exact same unless you hit a player with an item just feet before the finish line. There ends up being no tension because you already know that the player destined to be second place will always be second, etc. It can also screw up Grand Prix victories, say, if you're falling behind by just a few points, it's the final race, and you know that if you can get the preset leader character to get a bad place you can end up taking the lead. Well, unless you manage to do that, like I said, within the last leg of the race, it won't happen.

78

Mario Chat / Re: New Super Mario Bros. U

« on: July 01, 2012, 03:48:36 AM »

I wouldn't call it that. It's more like criticism. And it's valid criticism if you ask me.

Quips by members tend to follow any criticism regardless of the way it's said.

Yes, I think they should jumble up the series rather than relying on an engine and art style from 2006 when the original NSMB launched. HD's cool; I'm glad Nintendo's making that step, but as far as the NSMB series, looking at NSMB Wii on the Dolphin emulator and looking at NSMB U ends up looking almost identical because the Dolphin emulator apparently upscales Wii games to 1080p thus eliminating any jaggies (which was a prime reason even beautiful Wii games could look funky).

I guess the most important point I've been trying to make is that they should inject some personality into the series. Preferably more edge-of-your-seat, frantic action that DKCR was chock-full of that complimented its rock-solid control and level design. More depth, more detail... a much more alive, active, varying, and dynamic Mushroom Kingdom.

Just for some random comparison, here's some photos of NSMB Wii being run on Dolphin compared to a screenshot of NSMB U.



NSMB Wii on Dolphin





NSMB U





Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Dolphin (just for the hell of it)

79

Mario Chat / Re: New Super Mario Bros. U

« on: June 24, 2012, 08:34:43 PM »

I'll probably pass on both games and maybe pick them up when they're on sale. Besides, why am I not allowed to talk about Nintendo for not really changing anything about NSMB other than adding questionable gameplay and musical elements?

But, oh yeah, I'm at a Mario forum.

80

Mario Chat / Re: New Super Mario Bros. 2

« on: June 24, 2012, 06:58:53 PM »

I made a post in the NSMB U thread chronicling this stupid additional tracker added to the music for when you're holding a baby Yoshi, but discovered that apparently the chipmunk track is gonna be in NSMB 2 as part of the Walking the Plains theme.

For those who haven't read my NSMB U post yet, holding a baby Yoshi adds an ear ache-inducing harmony track of the "BAHH BAHH" people, but it sounds like a bunch of chipmunks.

Go to 1:07 to hear it

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SaRxYlL9dM" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SaRxYlL9dM</a>

81

Mario Chat / Re: New Super Mario Bros. U

« on: June 24, 2012, 06:48:51 PM »

Yeah, if they'd just make the foreground actual 3D that is integrated into the background instead of the flat foreground pasted on top of the scrolling background, then that'd be cool (so, pretty much SMG2 intro sequence). DCKR did it, Kirby's Return to Dream Land did it, so why not NSMB?

Also, they seem to love the physics style of NSMB which I consider one of the crappiest feeling Mario games. If they could blend SMB3 and SMW physics, it'd be just fine. SMB3 seemed tighter and more refined, while SMW, while seemingly slippery, gave you a lot more control over Mario's steering in the air, and a little more control when walking. NSMB seems to say, "Screw whatever you grew up with" and throws all that out the window.

However, the craziest thing that has made me sick to my stomach is what they did to the music when you're holding a baby Yoshi. It adds another track to the music just like the bongo drums when riding Yoshi; however, when you're holding a baby Yoshi it adds a harmony of the.... "BAHH BAHH" people. It sounds like chipmunks, and it just drones over the music and other sound effects, and is so grating and irritating, you can't focus on the game.

Go to 5:20 for Yoshi harmony track bonus music ear rape. Is it really necessary? As if it couldn't get any worse, it seems they've also added the chipmunk track to NSMB 2 as part of the normal songs.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzH0Zt5bPpM" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzH0Zt5bPpM</a>

82

Video Game Chat / Re: What does Nintendo have up its sleeve?

« on: June 22, 2012, 04:56:47 PM »

Star Fox? 
No.

Social Gaming? 
No. Nintendo is too scared of strangers interacting with each other in any way that isn't a pre-written message.

Professor Layton 3DS/Wii U?
Was just announced for 3DS   

Miyamoto's FPS???
I don't think that'll come anytime soon, if ever.

83

General Chat / Re: The ANGST thread: Complain here!

« on: June 22, 2012, 04:13:08 PM »

Touchy subject that has been brought up when I mentioned some of my family members dying: shouldn't there kind of be a different thread for death-related stuff or something? It just makes it awkward to go to the next subject (as my announcements did.)

Anyway, though, I'm sorry to hear.

Also, NSMB U & 2 are gonna be stupid. Hearing certain music in NSMB U made me want to vomit and makes me not want to buy it ever.

84

Video Game Chat / Re: New Wii U controller revealed!

« on: June 17, 2012, 06:18:37 PM »

What, about the 360 controller clone?

Yeah, I imagine that might be awkward, especially considering the Gamecube controller wasn't set up that way. Though, if they did do it just like the Xbox controller, I imagine Nintendo would somehow be infringing on MS' controller design (even though all Xbox controllers were essentially fatter, more organized GCN controllers).

85

Not at the Dinner Table / Re: 360 versus PS3

« on: June 14, 2012, 10:42:58 PM »

It's actually the Wal-Mart description. Those last two paragraphs are the last two paragraphs of the description.

Was looking at Wal-Mart because it's always cheaper than gamestop, and I figure I'd be able to get a refund for it once I'm done with it. (also don't wanna order online for a product I'm gonna use once, and wait 3 days on top of that).

I'm aware that this product will do exactly what I need it to do, but the literature just mystified me. I dunno if they're saying that... literally? Like, you can't do straight up 360 HDD to 360 HDD without the USB interface? Or, maybe they meant you can't do it system to system.

86

Video Game Chat / New SimCity

« on: June 14, 2012, 05:36:33 PM »

I saw the trailer for this sometime back.

My history of Sim-related things is as follows: played SimTown and SimAnt in elementary school, then never played another SimCity game again (until just last year when I got SNES SimCity on VC). Played a little bit of The Sims, sorta messed around with the second one.

This SimCity though... I really feel like I could buy this one. It's looking great and I've never really given any of the SimCity games a chance.

87

Not at the Dinner Table / Re: 360 versus PS3

« on: June 14, 2012, 04:40:12 PM »

"The Xbox 360 Data Transfer Cable helps you transfer all your original data from the Xbox 360 hard drive to the next [...] This hard drive transfer cable can be used for a number of times; however, you cannot use this Xbox 360 data cable to transfer data from an Xbox 360 hard drive to another Xbox 360 hard drive.

Xbox 360 Data Transfer Cable:
Designed to transfer data from Xbox 360 hard drives to other Xbox 360 hard drives and/or Xbox 360 S hard drives."

What... am I missing something?

88

Mario Chat / Re: New Super Mario Bros. U

« on: June 13, 2012, 08:58:04 PM »

I don't really have a problem with the NSMB style visuals, it's just that when you look at the graphics of these newer mario games, they're all starting to look the same. Ninitendo seems to be playing it safe for some reason. There's a reduced amount of experimentation on their part, and you can see that when you go back and look at the last few years of Mario graphics.

That's my point: the NSMB visual style can't and won't change from its flat, Candyland-looking color & style. It doesn't look organic or good at all.

Without mentioning DKCR again, I'd say take a look at SMG2's opening sequence or its forced 2D sections as an indicator of what artistic direction they should take a sidescroller Mario game.

89

Mario Chat / Re: Paper Mario 3DS images

« on: June 12, 2012, 08:35:36 AM »

Paper Mario games only ever seem to change by replacing one gimmick with another, like the sticker idea.

If you're referring to its gameplay concept, then you might have a point, but as far as literally any other aspect of it, I'd say they're different.

90

Mario Chat / Re: Mario Tennis Open

« on: June 10, 2012, 10:51:20 AM »

Is it just me or do you guys happen to get connected to the same people over and over and over?

Also, do you get a lot of ragequitters? I get one about once every five matches. There should be a severe penalty for disconnecting when someone else has their match point. -100 rating.