News of the Gaming World

News of The Gaming World
News

This many gamers

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SOA:Another chance? Or dead in the water?	2/16/97
Over the past month or so SOA has been stuggling to right some of the wrongs, with announcements of some more US releases even in the wake of almost every major retailer dumping Saturn's and Saturn games from their shelves at a record pace. Even the Master System did not see this kind of exodus from retailer's hearts. But all is not lost, EB and Babbages both are still carrying new titles, and Capcom is still searching for a way to bring the 4 meg games to the states. We can only wait and hope for a better future(and a 16 meg+modem Katana)to bring Sega back to the front where they belong

SOA:Another chance? Or dead in the water?

2/16/97

Over the past month or so SOA has been stuggling to right some of the wrongs, with announcements of some more US releases even in the wake of almost every major retailer dumping Saturn's and Saturn games from their shelves at a record pace. Even the Master System did not see this kind of exodus from retailer's hearts. But all is not lost, EB and Babbages both are still carrying new titles, and Capcom is still searching for a way to bring the 4 meg games to the states. We can only wait and hope for a better future(and a 16 meg+modem Katana)to bring Sega back to the front where they belong

Zeta Gundam:A GOOD Bandai game?	12/12/97
I will be picking this up in Japan when I go. Expect a full review when I get back. Here's the cover:

RAM cart may be coming stay tuned	12/12/97
Capcom is in talks with Sega about the RAM cart right now. We should have a definate by next week! This could save Sega(short term)People are buying Saturns just to play it!

Baka Sega AGAIN:No RAM cart	11/08/97
Shoting themselves in the foot yet again, Sega has stated that they will not produce the RAM cart unless there are games to support it.(there are but they don't care) Capcom WANTS to bring out all their new games here for Saturn, but Sega's stopping them. Why don't they let Capcom pay their license fee, produce the games+cart and let them sink or swim?? STUPID SEGA!!! You could even just put Japanese carts in the box for gods sake!!! Just put a notice in the box for complaining people it was either this or nothing! Geez!!

Baka Sega AGAIN:No RAM cart

11/08/97

Shoting themselves in the foot yet again, Sega has stated that they will not produce the RAM cart unless there are games to support it.(there are but they don't care) Capcom WANTS to bring out all their new games here for Saturn, but Sega's stopping them. Why don't they let Capcom pay their license fee, produce the games+cart and let them sink or swim?? STUPID SEGA!!! You could even just put Japanese carts in the box for gods sake!!! Just put a notice in the box for complaining people it was either this or nothing! Geez!!

Tekken Anime Announced	11/08/97
Tekken the OVA is due out Jan 21st in Japan with Volume 2 coming out on Feb 21st. Originally touted as a CG movie, the project was later turned to straight anime. No word yet on the content(let's hope Baek is a major character, and that Paul is slowly beaten and then his head and manky beard shaved!!! heheh) More info to comeas we get it......

New Dural Specs:BAKA SEGA!!	10/23/97
Sega sources have informed Gamefan of new Dural Specs, and All I can say is BAKA SEGA!!!! They are as follows: CPU: 128bit SH4 or a 64bit MIPS R5000 CD-ROM: 6x speed (not 12 speed like previously thought) RAM: 8 Megabytes of total RAM (not 16 megabytes like previously thought) Resolution: 320 x 224 & 640 x 240 Graphics chip: NEC’s Power VR 2 capable of displaying 1.8 millions texture mapped polygons at 30, I repeat 30 frames a second. OS (Operating system): OS is based on Microsoft’s Windows CE, also utilizing Direct X. Modem: Sega of Japan is still considering it but its not 100% official according to sources at Sega of Japan. Memory card: Yes, Sega’s Dural will have a memory card with a built in LCD display on the memory card. Controller: 6 button controller with a analog stick very similar to the N64 controller When: In Japan November 1998 for under $300 In America Summer 1999 for under $199 Final word:Great move on the memory card and the modem(please). But cutting the RAM and CD speed is bad. The more RAM the better is the lesson learned by all PSX programmers out there. Cm'on Sega, you can win this time. Also, NO N64 PAD CLONES!!! It's the worst pad I've ever seen, DON'T MAKE ME USE IT PLEASE!!!!!!!!

New Dural Specs:BAKA SEGA!!

10/23/97

Sega sources have informed Gamefan of new Dural Specs, and All I can say is BAKA SEGA!!!! They are as follows:

CPU: 128bit SH4 or a 64bit MIPS R5000 

CD-ROM: 6x speed (not 12 speed like previously thought)
RAM: 8 Megabytes of total RAM (not 16 megabytes like previously
                                thought)

Resolution: 320 x 224 & 640 x 240

Graphics chip: NEC’s Power VR 2 capable of displaying 1.8
millions texture mapped polygons at 30, I repeat 30 frames a
                                second.

OS (Operating system): OS is based on Microsoft’s Windows CE,
                                also utilizing Direct X.

Modem: Sega of Japan is still considering it but its not 100%
                                official according to sources at Sega of Japan.

Memory card: Yes, Sega’s Dural will have a memory card with a
                                built in LCD display on the                                 memory card.

Controller: 6 button controller with a analog stick very similar to   the N64 controller                           
                                
When: 
           In Japan November 1998 for under $300
           In America Summer 1999 for under $199

Final word:Great move on the memory card and the modem(please). But cutting the RAM and CD speed is bad. The more RAM the better is the lesson learned by all PSX programmers out there. Cm'on Sega, you can win this time. Also, NO N64 PAD CLONES!!! It's the worst pad I've ever seen, DON'T MAKE ME USE IT PLEASE!!!!!!!!

PSX2 vs Dural	10/23/97
WIth expectations of the next generation of console systems reaching an all time high, it's time to sit back and take a hard look at what's coming. Dural is Sega's attempt to bring back the glory days of Genesis. Hopefully they're taking into account the mistakes they made with the Saturn. With the AM divisions' muscle behind the machine, we're sure to have incredible arcade translations, and judging by the specs, a near perfect VF3. However, as usual, the sound seems a bit weak. Why is it that all Sega systems have inferior sound? For sure Capcom will be behind the Dural, with SFEX2 being a likely canidate for a launch title as it's being done on Model 3. With Sony's constant pissing them off during the 32-bit era, blocking their 2-D titles, look for more and more Capcom games to be Dural exclusive. The general consensus is that Sega might have a good chance at ruling the war for the next Generation. PSX2, Sony's new entry will have alot of raw power behind it, as well as the best feature in a long time, until now only seen on the Negaverse 64, 4 player built in!(this is based on the mock up on Next Generation) With it's brand name, and powerhouse of titles in the wings(+SingleTrac, the best US console company! Too bad their making games for N64 too)Twisted Metal 3 is almost definately a launch title, as well as possibly Warhawk 2(please!) PSX2, unless it's a piece of junk(likely not) will be a solid console. A NOTE:I would like to start a petition NOW to stop them from locking out Japanese games. Do I have any support in this?

PSX2 vs Dural

10/23/97

WIth expectations of the next generation of console systems reaching an all time high, it's time to sit back and take a hard look at what's coming.

Dural is Sega's attempt to bring back the glory days of Genesis. Hopefully they're taking into account the mistakes they made with the Saturn. With the AM divisions' muscle behind the machine, we're sure to have incredible arcade translations, and judging by the specs, a near perfect VF3. However, as usual, the sound seems a bit weak. Why is it that all Sega systems have inferior sound? For sure Capcom will be behind the Dural, with SFEX2 being a likely canidate for a launch title as it's being done on Model 3. With Sony's constant pissing them off during the 32-bit era, blocking their 2-D titles, look for more and more Capcom games to be Dural exclusive. The general consensus is that Sega might have a good chance at ruling the war for the next Generation.

PSX2, Sony's new entry will have alot of raw power behind it, as well as the best feature in a long time, until now only seen on the Negaverse 64, 4 player built in!(this is based on the mock up on Next Generation) With it's brand name, and powerhouse of titles in the wings(+SingleTrac, the best US console company! Too bad their making games for N64 too)Twisted Metal 3 is almost definately a launch title, as well as possibly Warhawk 2(please!) PSX2, unless it's a piece of junk(likely not) will be a solid console. A NOTE:I would like to start a petition NOW to stop them from locking out Japanese games. Do I have any support in this?

Dural Specs:Analysis for the technically challenged	9/22/97	All Info is tenetive CPU: Hitachi SH-4 200 MHz CPU:A custom 128 bit CPU(though it still communicates with the bus at 64 bits, making the system not true 128-bit) GRAPHICS CHIP: PowerVR2 (Highlander):A good 3D chip. My sources say 1.5 million Polygons/second SOUND CHIP: Yamaha ARM7-based ASIC:Anyone's guess how good it is MAIN RAM: 8 Megabytes:A nice healthy amount, should be enough for some hot games VIDEO/TEXTURE RAM: 8 Megabytes:2 megs of VRAM is good enough for a nice high res display, and with 6 megs left over for textures, it's gonna be sweet AUDIO RAM: 2 Megabytes:Some good audio samples can be stored here, with realistic instruments CACHES: 8k instruction/16k data/128K CD ROM buffer:CD buffer's a little light, but otherwise great MODEM: Modem card (possibly PCMCIA based):Multiplayer dial-up gaming. Mmmmmmm. Expect 28.8kbps OUTPUT: VGA and 640x240 anti-aliased RF:You'll be able to plug it into your monitor! kickass smooth-edged polygons CD ROM: Custom dual format:Regular 640MB discs and a custom double sided 1.2 gig format. NOT based on DVD Roundup A great Model 3 compareable system, VF3 should cook on this baby. It appears to fix all the problems with the first gen of 32-bit systems, except I would still prefer to see 16 megs of main RAM to be safe. Beggers can't be choosers however, lets just hope the modem is all we want(DIAL UP GAMES PLEASE!!!) UPDATE:X-Men vs Street Fighter, SATURN ONLY Confirmed is XMvsSF is Saturn only, as I predicted. They just couldn't get it to run. Told yousnigger

FF7:and they say RPGs don't sell!	9/08/77
Well, almost a week has passed since the unofficial release of FF7, and gamers everywhere are still crawling all over people for it. Estimated figures of 400,000(unconfirmed) copies have been sold thus far putting it close to the top for the year. Until this year, they claimed RPGs don't sell, well there's a big middle finger in your face guys, heheh. We can be sure that all the other SquareSoft pieces are put on an accelerated track including the eagerly awaited(in English anyway)FFTactics and SaGa Frontier

FF7:and they say RPGs don't sell!

9/08/77

Well, almost a week has passed since the unofficial release of FF7, and gamers everywhere are still crawling all over people for it. Estimated figures of 400,000(unconfirmed) copies have been sold thus far putting it close to the top for the year. Until this year, they claimed RPGs don't sell, well there's a big middle finger in your face guys, heheh. We can be sure that all the other SquareSoft pieces are put on an accelerated track including the eagerly awaited(in English anyway)FFTactics and SaGa Frontier

Japanese extras and nich genres	7/21/97
Konami has given in to the demands of gamers, and the cool extras will be included with Castlevania:Symphony of the Night. The Art book (which is nice) will only be available at EB(due to some exclusive deal)while the CD will be at all locations. This says that the demand by the fans is finally being paid attention to. Nich genres are also coming out in the US. Games such as Tail of the Sun, which appeal to a very small audience(it was neat, but not my style of game). Princess Maker for the H/girlfriend simulator fans is coming to PCs. RPGs are finally hitting the mainstream with FF7 being the most highly anticipated title in PSX history(with a cool T-Shirt to boot!).

Japanese extras and nich genres

7/21/97

Konami has given in to the demands of gamers, and the cool extras will be included with Castlevania:Symphony of the Night. The Art book (which is nice) will only be available at EB(due to some exclusive deal)while the CD will be at all locations. This says that the demand by the fans is finally being paid attention to.

Nich genres are also coming out in the US. Games such as Tail of the Sun, which appeal to a very small audience(it was neat, but not my style of game). Princess Maker for the H/girlfriend simulator fans is coming to PCs. RPGs are finally hitting the mainstream with FF7 being the most highly anticipated title in PSX history(with a cool T-Shirt to boot!).

Namco and Square:What does it mean?	7/21/97
Namco and Square teaming up for arcade games only spells one thing:happy gamers Namco has repetedly given us some of the best games out there, and Square ,as we all know is the king of RPGs. With the Tobal team working on their first arcade effort, my guess is that we will see some kind of Tobal arcade game, with incredible graphics etc, sometime next Spring or Summer.

X-Men vs Street Fighter:The Real Story	7/08/97
Sega of Japan has announced a new 4 meg RAM cartridge for Saturn. Capcom has announced the first titles for it will be theirs, not SNK. The titles are:X-Men vs Street Fighter, Marvel Superheroes vs Street Fighter, and Darkstalkers 3:Vampire Savior. It is unknown at this time whether or not it will come out here, but with the inherent complications of fitting 4 characters into 2.5 megs of system RAM, when they had enough trouble with 2 in previous games, makes the pack in of the cart with X-Men/SF in the US more than likely. Capcom is also talking as if these titles will be Saturn exclusive, a good thing considering that with only 2 megs on PSX, non expandable, the games would truely suck. No word yet on SFIII, but the likelyhood is that the only other system it may appear on is N64 Bulky Drive, due again, to PSX RAM limitations.

X-Men vs Street Fighter:The Real Story

7/08/97

Sega of Japan has announced a new 4 meg RAM cartridge for Saturn. Capcom has announced the first titles for it will be theirs, not SNK. The titles are:X-Men vs Street Fighter, Marvel Superheroes vs Street Fighter, and Darkstalkers 3:Vampire Savior. It is unknown at this time whether or not it will come out here, but with the inherent complications of fitting 4 characters into 2.5 megs of system RAM, when they had enough trouble with 2 in previous games, makes the pack in of the cart with X-Men/SF in the US more than likely. Capcom is also talking as if these titles will be Saturn exclusive, a good thing considering that with only 2 megs on PSX, non expandable, the games would truely suck. No word yet on SFIII, but the likelyhood is that the only other system it may appear on is N64 Bulky Drive, due again, to PSX RAM limitations.

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