Sega things

Kendrick Kerwin Chua wrote:

>
> As far as Sega stuff goes, I've been focused on the niche stuff lately.
> Phantasy Star Universe is taking up all my time, and I'm looking forward
> to the PSP version (that seems to be modelled on the Monster Hunter ad-hoc
> co-op play model.) I've got Sonic 360 on order, which everybody tells me
> is terrible but I'm willing to give it a shot anyway.
>
> -KKC, who can't get anything done at work the week before the holidays...


I actually have the Sonic 360 game (got it used for 17.99 at Gamespot).
I got past the first action level and want to sit down more with it.
(This will happen later this week when my nephews show up ^_^).
Biggest problem I have with it is the almost constant load times
(I talked to one guy, and before talking to him I got a 15 second
load time. Talked maybe 10 seconds, turned away and got another
15 second load). It seems pretty tough, but manageable, at least
from what I played.

Is Phantasy Star Universe good? I saw the computer version of this
at a local Big Lots for 6.00 yesterday (they had several).
 >> Stay informed about: Sega things 

In article <cZ0aj.59$pA7.53@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net>,
Relic <relic1980 DeleteThis @ameritech.net> wrote:
>
>Is Phantasy Star Universe good? I saw the computer version of this
>at a local Big Lots for 6.00 yesterday (they had several).

The game itself is terrific, really satisfying to play. Sega 'borrowed' a
lot of gaming concepts from Guild Wars and Final Fantasy XI, so the game
is much more co-op friendly and less like a 3D Diablo. I really like that
the plot is a reset, with the same basic setting and races from the
original Phantasy Star without the baggage that comes with the whole Dark
Falz story. Missions are fun too, since you can switch combat classes at
will and try out the pros and cons of every ability with the same
character.

The reason Big Lots had so many copies of the PC version is because the
expansion just came out, which functions as a stand-alone version of the
game. Did they only have the PC version? I think that Sega decided to use
a version of the Starforce copy protection, which is essentially
sanctioned spyware. I'd recommend the PS2 version over all others,
although the 360 version is perfectly playable. The only disadvantage is
that Xbox Live separates their players from those on other platforms; a PC
player and a PS2 player might meet online, but Xbox 360 players will only
ever see each other.

If you have a 360, Sega has a perpetual demo for download that lets you
play online. Just about every area is open in the demo, but the character
data gets erased every week. Try it out on a friend's machine if you want
it for another platform.

-KKC, cooking lumpia for his workplace holiday lunch.
--
-- Universal survival rule #109 - Chicken nuggets must be served -- kendrick
in a quantity that is also a prime number. Failure to do so will -- @io.com
result in a geometric disturbance conducive to the resurrection of Cthulhu.
Disregard this rule if the meat in the nuggets is not actually chicken.
 >> Stay informed about: Sega things 

In article <fkc3vs$k8r$1@aioe.org>,
BelPowerslave <bel DeleteThis @whipassgaming.com> wrote:
>> Did they only have the PC version? I think that Sega decided to use
>> a version of the Starforce copy protection, which is essentially
>> sanctioned spyware.
>
>Sweet merciful Jesus, are you serious!?
>
>Looking over the Starforce infected list it doesn't show, but man that
>is a scary thought.

Looks like I was mistaken. The specific protection method that Sega uses
is something called Gameguard. It's not as bad as Starforce, but the PSU
message boards are full of people who can't get the PC version going
because they can't get past the Gameguard protection. I absolutely
understand that Sega is fighting off scammers and hackers with a whip and
a chair, so it's something of a no-win situation for PC gamers.

With hardware prices being what they are, I'd almost be tempted just to
have a separate machine for running games. You block it from doing any
other functions (web browsing, auto OS updates, and so on) and just have
the gaming TCP ports open. Not an efficient use of metal and plastic, but
it would keep a working Windows machine from being weighed down.

-KKC, who should really get to bed now.
--
-- Universal survival rule #109 - Chicken nuggets must be served -- kendrick
in a quantity that is also a prime number. Failure to do so will -- @io.com
result in a geometric disturbance conducive to the resurrection of Cthulhu.
Disregard this rule if the meat in the nuggets is not actually chicken.
 >> Stay informed about: Sega things 

Kendrick Kerwin Chua wrote:
> In article <fkc3vs$k8r$1@aioe.org>,
> BelPowerslave <bel.TakeThisOut@whipassgaming.com> wrote:
>>> Did they only have the PC version? I think that Sega decided to use
>>> a version of the Starforce copy protection, which is essentially
>>> sanctioned spyware.
>> Sweet merciful Jesus, are you serious!?
>>
>> Looking over the Starforce infected list it doesn't show, but man that
>> is a scary thought.
>
> Looks like I was mistaken. The specific protection method that Sega uses
> is something called Gameguard. It's not as bad as Starforce, but the PSU
> message boards are full of people who can't get the PC version going
> because they can't get past the Gameguard protection. I absolutely
> understand that Sega is fighting off scammers and hackers with a whip and
> a chair, so it's something of a no-win situation for PC gamers.
>
> With hardware prices being what they are, I'd almost be tempted just to
> have a separate machine for running games. You block it from doing any
> other functions (web browsing, auto OS updates, and so on) and just have
> the gaming TCP ports open. Not an efficient use of metal and plastic, but
> it would keep a working Windows machine from being weighed down.
>
> -KKC, who should really get to bed now.

I may have to try that (I do have both a 360 and a PS2). As for the
various game security devices, I have a program that does a pretty
good job of blocking them. Unfortunately Big Lots does just have the
PC version, but will have to try at least the 360 demo. Thanks for
the advice.
 >> Stay informed about: Sega things 

>> Looking over the Starforce infected list it doesn't show, but man that
>> is a scary thought.
>
> Looks like I was mistaken. The specific protection method that Sega uses
> is something called Gameguard. It's not as bad as Starforce, but the PSU
> message boards are full of people who can't get the PC version going
> because they can't get past the Gameguard protection. I absolutely
> understand that Sega is fighting off scammers and hackers with a whip and
> a chair, so it's something of a no-win situation for PC gamers.

I miss the days of just stuff like Securom. I mean, hell *every* PC
owner has that installed on their PC due to Diablo II, and I've yet to
hear anyone complain. Seemed like solid protection too...

> With hardware prices being what they are, I'd almost be tempted just to
> have a separate machine for running games. You block it from doing any
> other functions (web browsing, auto OS updates, and so on) and just have
> the gaming TCP ports open. Not an efficient use of metal and plastic, but
> it would keep a working Windows machine from being weighed down.

I don't mind having one machine for everything...I just wish there was
an easy, reliable way to just move your HDD over to a new PC without
having to completely re-install Windows. I have been sticking with this
P4 3ghz machine for a few years now, and though I'd love to move up to a
dual processor(or core) machine with PCI-E, I just can't make myself do
it because I WILL NOT start all over with Windows...

> -KKC, who should really get to bed now.

Screw sleep, Star Trek on HD DVD waits for noone!

Bel
--
Whip Ass Gaming: http://www.whipassgaming.com/

"No I'm not playing hard to get, I'm telling you sir it's not that kind
of phone line!"
- Donatello, TMNT
 >> Stay informed about: Sega things 

In article <kIlaj.80887$Um6.76676@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net>,
Relic <relic1980 RemoveThis @ameritech.net> wrote:
>
>I may have to try that (I do have both a 360 and a PS2). As for the
>various game security devices, I have a program that does a pretty
>good job of blocking them. Unfortunately Big Lots does just have the
>PC version, but will have to try at least the 360 demo. Thanks for
>the advice.

Thanks for the tip about PSU at Big Lots, I'll have to get myself a copy.
You may already be aware that the PlaySega account that gives you Phantasy
Star Universe access works on both the PS2 and the PC, so if you play one
platform you can get to your character on the other. I don't know if I'll
ever use the PC version, but I feel like I should have a copy. I missed
out on Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst, and so I didn't get a chance to
try out all the Episode IV content. In the unlikely event that anything in
the game becomes platform specific, it'll be nice to have the option.

Oh, before I forget... Note that the 360 PSU account isn't portable among
other platforms, and can only be bought over the Xbox Live interface. But
you don't need to buy anything (other than Xbox Live Gold) in order to try
the demo. Have fun.

-KKC, who just thought to wonder if the Casino lobby in PSU is available
offline...
--
-- Universal survival rule #109 - Chicken nuggets must be served -- kendrick
in a quantity that is also a prime number. Failure to do so will -- @io.com
result in a geometric disturbance conducive to the resurrection of Cthulhu.
Disregard this rule if the meat in the nuggets is not actually chicken.
 >> Stay informed about: Sega things 

On Dec 18, 1:34 pm, Ted <nospamfor....RemoveThis@nospam.com> wrote:
> Yakuza 2 is coming out in the US for PS2. Now that I have a component
> cable for my PS2, I can finish up 1...

Loved Yakuza 1. Kind of bummed that Y2 won't have an English dub but
am stoked that the fighting system is being upgraded a bit.
Definitely looking forward to this one.

> Nghts came out for the Wii; no one is talking about it here? Or it's all
> been google cross posts so I just haven't seen it?
>
> I checked out Magic Box for the first time in months and I see the
> original Nights is coming out on the PS2, with Christmas Nights. In February.http://www.the->magicbox.com/0712/game071215e.shtm

Killer! Definitely will be picking that one up.
 >> Stay informed about: Sega things