This week sucked

[zabuni]

What was with this week?

I usually stop by my local crack dealer, the GameCrazy down the road. This week I came to a sad site. Nothing to preorder, nothing to buy.

The lack of Xbox 360s was a primary cause. According to the clerks, people would come in, ask for any 360s, and then leave. It was killing there preorder numbers. They hadn't had a preorder all week.

They were also unpacking games as I came in. Never saw such a sad cavalcade in my life. Several Aeon Flux games, a Totally Spies GBA game, and a copy of TimeSplitters. That and a couple of novelty controllers. Not even the cool DQ8 slime ones, but the crappy shaped like vague monster thingys. It was pathetic.

They didn't even have copies of games that might sell. The manager was complaining about not having copies of Half Life 2 for Xbox, and a couple of other hot titles.

So what gives? Did the Xbox 360 suck the life out of the console market? Is it a lull in the ps2 release schedule, with little from the xbox or gamecube to fill it? Is it the lull after the initial pre-Christmas rush?

[Marcus]

Dude Animal Crossing DS on Tuesday! Dont forget about that.

[BDGE]

Weird, I had to make the difficult decision on buying Mario & Luigi DS or Prince of Persia 3, both which released this week.

I chose Mario, mostly because I couldn't find PoP3 PC.

[RickH]

So what gives? Did the Xbox 360 suck the life out of the console market? Is it a lull in the ps2 release schedule, with little from the xbox or gamecube to fill it? Is it the lull after the initial pre-Christmas rush?

Yes, it's the hot item you can't get. Great if you're selling them on eBay.

Yes and yes, most publishers aiming for Q4 got their stuff out by the end of Nov.

I hate this time of year because all the retailers are trying to hold the line on prices so they can soak the Christmas buyers. Even Fry's is advertising stuff at MSRP.

[Dave Long]

Don't try to buy Animal Crossing at Game Crazy. Those fools never get enough copies of DS games in the store.

--Dave

[Ephraim]

Yeah, this week did suck.

I couldn't find an Xbox 360 or a copy of Guitar Hero. And it wasn't for lack of trying. Guitar Hero just isn't available anywhere in Canada yet, and the X360 just isn't available anywhere at all. Well, maybe in Japan in a couple of days.

*sigh*

[Marcus]

or a copy of Guitar Hero. And it wasn't for lack of trying.

I have had the exact same problem with Guitar hero. All of my local stores are sold out and they dont expect a resupply for another week or so. I did pick up Mario for the DS though and that game is turning out to be great fun. I highly suggest picking it up.

There was also a new RPG for the PSP that came out but the reviews of it have been very harsh. I bought it on a whim but left it in the package till I could read some reviews of it.

[Dave Long]

There were a bunch of Guitar Hero boxes at Best Buy here in Reading.

--Dave

[Marcus]

Yeah I dunno why my area sold out as fast as it did but it figures now that I want one its sold out.

People have been saying its a must buy though and after playing with one at Bestbuy I can see why.

[Kadath]

hundreds of GH at my local BB in a stack, this was in the states tho

[Xaroc]

Saw a bunch of Guitar Heros in TRU and BB while out looking for the 360. I picked it up, it is a fun game. I question whether or not it would easier to pick up my guitar and learn some of these songs than play them with the controller but I am still enjoying it for the challenge.

-- Xaroc

[Marcus]

Yeah I dunno whats up with my area but it might be because its a school town and all the kids wanted it for their dorm rooms.

One thing I can say for sure though get M&L : Partners in Time for the DS. I am having a lot of fun with it and its a great DS game. If you liked paper mario and Superstar saga I highly reccomend getting it. Also the voices in the game are so darn cute!

Its yet another DS must buy....
This DS thing is getting expensive :(

[Dave Long]

Heh... I'm still so wrapped up in Mario Kart DS that I'm waiting on M&L:PiT even though M&L:SS was second only to Wind Waker that year as my GOTY pick. I still need to finish Castlevania too.

--Dave

[BDGE]

I'm loving Partners in Time as well, the area maps on the second screen surprisingly add quite a bit to my enjoyment. I never feel in the dark about when the next savepoint will arrive, and the vivid map drawings detail exactly what all these corrdors and rooms portend to be with that loveable toon style. The game is just wonderfully presented.

DS is on a roll though. I really enjoyed Sonic Rush recently, and though I stopped about half-way through, Phoenix Wright kept me busy my entire plane flight over Thanksgiving weekend.

[Jab2565]

Ok I need help deciding what DS or sp game to buy. I'm waiting for trama center to go down in price so that's not an issue. But I'm torn between Mario and Luigi Ds, metroid pinball, super gunstar heroes advance, and even astro boy for the ds.

[Marcus]

like I said if you liked Paper Mario or Superstars you will like Partners in Time. out of all the ones you listed IMHO that would be your best choice.

[BDGE]

Metroid Pinball is worth a look if you are REALLY aching for portable pinball. It coulda used a few more tables, and the experience starts to wear down fast if you don't intend to push for high scores. The ball physics and presentation are in a class above pretty much any other handheld pinball attempt however. Also you get that rumble pack which is compatible with M&L:PiT.

I'm not much of a fan of Gunstar Super Heroes. It lacks cohesiveness in the shooting and the collection of wacky subgames that make up most of the levels. The graphics are nice, but I'd go with Astro Boy and not look back, really loved that game.

If you haven't played Superstar Saga yet, that gets an easy recommendation as well.

[Dave Long]

Good interview with Nate Bihldorff that I found at Game|Life on Wired. He's the guy who does the excellent writing for the M&L games.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1517252/20051201/index.jhtml?headlines=true

--Dave

[Marcus]

Also you get that rumble pack which is compatible with M&L:PiT.

Its also compatible with Animal Crossing DS.

[Toddy]

I still need to finish Castlevania too.
--Dave

What, you couldn't find a spare 15 minutes? Sorry to be snarky, but I was pretty underwhelmed by the short, dull Sadness of Flatulence or whatever the hell the DS Castlevania was subtitled. Basically bought a DS to play the game, and blew through it in something like three sittings. I really, really don't get the critical raves. Weakest of the GBA/DS Castlevanias, IMO.

[forgeforsaken]

I still need to finish Castlevania too.
--Dave

What, you couldn't find a spare 15 minutes? Sorry to be snarky, but I was pretty underwhelmed by the short, dull Sadness of Flatulence or whatever the hell the DS Castlevania was subtitled. Basically bought a DS to play the game, and blew through it in something like three sittings. I really, really don't get the critical raves. Weakest of the GBA/DS Castlevanias, IMO.

Well I certainly don't agree with that. It's definately way better than Harmony of Dissonance, I couldn't even be compelled to finish that one. I think it is better than Circle of the Moon as well. Didn't play Aria so I can't say. It's also the only one of the portables to be getting multiple playthroughs out of me.