Official US Playstation Magazine Demo, August 2006

As it turns out, I DO get the DVDs with the magazines! So sorry this one is late, but here it is, reviews for the demos in the August Issue of Official US Playstation Magazine!

Only two new ones, one of which is movie only, the other a demo, on this particular disc, so first up, let's check out the movie for...

Disgaea 2 (rated T)
"The SRPG that turned gamers into insomniacs..." Now THAT'S a bold statement to make about a game, and espcially an SRPG... wait, not really, strategy RPG players tend to play for hours and hours on a game ANYway. It looks to be more of the same, with a few new elements thrown in like "stacking" (placing players on top of each other for a multiple-hit combo attack) and the ability to throw a character to another space (within a certain distance of yourself of course). Also, doesn't look like there's any actual anime-animations, just stills when characters are advancing the plot. Kinda lame if you ask me; I'd really like to see some anime (especially since there IS a Disgaea anime in Japan).

And here's our demo of the disc,
Yakuza (rated M)
I honestly still find myself awed at the idea of a Sega game on a non-Sega console, even if it's been a few years since the trend started up. I played through Yakuza, expecting maybe to try out a drug deal or some other kind of "gang" thing, but instead I found a casino, a battling cage (I don't know, maybe to practice for beating people up?) and the battle system (where, indeed, I beat people up). The battle system felt a bit like the game Fighting Force for the PS1, just a button-mashing fest where the only real strategy is "who do I swing at next." It's extremely easy to get caught with a punch, the kick takes a bit of time to actually connect with (and it leaves you WIDE open when you miss... which you probably will), the only thing kind of interesting is the throwing. One button is punching, one is kicking, and one has you taking the collar of a baddie and chucking him over your shoulder. The bigger they are, the more and the faster you have to push the button to get them over, which is a nice touch as opposed to the rule of "everybody weighs the same." But overall, I didn't see anything to get really excited about in this game. Maybe the batting cages. That was kinda fun.


There are other, "Classic" demos on here (the list is Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Killzone, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, God Of War, Lego Star Wars, and Sly 3: Honor Among Theives), but overall... a little disappointing. The video of the auditions for sending someone to E3 was a fun watch though... nothing better than watching gamers make complete fools out of themselves. But some of them DID get to go to E3...

Maybe the September issue has some good stuff in it, a good demo or two... Lego Star Wars II!?

Classic Gaming Expo

So sadly, this year there will be no Classic Gaming Expo to attend. It's a shame, but I understand why the organizers aren't putting everything together; it's a huge task to create not only a show for anyone, but with the things people have had to go through in the past year there was no way to give the show what it really deserves.

But that's OK. Because there will be a Classic Gaming Expo NEXT year. And I will be there... I've yet to miss one since 2001.

For the uninitiated, Classic Gaming Expo, or CGE, is a show put on by a small handful of devoted individuals who get together great vendors for the show floor, ask around and get as many individuals from the days of early game consoles and companies (guests in the past have included Ralph Baer, Nolan Bushnell, Bill Kunkel, Al Alcorn and David Crane, among others), even asking collectors to contribute to the gaming museum that's pieced together cart by cart, generation by generation, oddity by oddity. There's live music playing on the show floor from video game inspired bands, and even an auction where gaming valuables from years past have been sold off, the proceeds of which have been dedicated to charity.

What I've found to be the biggest event of CGE isn't what is hosted, but who is hosted, and not even the celebrities of the culture at their keynote speeches. It's a ground where you can literally strike up a conversation with just about anyone about just about anything. I've sat in the keynote rooms and had great (sometimes quite short, but still great) conversations with someone I've never seen before, wearing a t-shirt from a game I might not even know. And if you watching gaming television shows (like Attack of the Show! on the G4 network) or read gaming publications, you just might be able to spot and swap a few words with some of the talent (two years ago at the auction I sat in front of the head editor of Game Informer Andy McNamara, and last year I spotted and took a picture of the movie release guy from AotS!, who was watching the band perform as I worked at their booth).

The best experience, however, is being able to meet people that you've only swapped messages with online. People have come from all over the country (and all over the world) to visit CGE, representing England, Mexico, Australia and Japan to name a few (and a lot of time they bring stuff with them; there was a group from Japan last year who brought FamiCom and Super Fami games to sell, as well as systems and random toys and trinkets). Those people that you share your love of the hobby with just might visit the show, and you'll have the opportunity to talk face to face, shake their hand, and who knows, play or trade a game or two.

CGE will be coming back in 2007 for a big 10th anniversary show, and should be the biggest and best show yet. The devoted classic gamers will come out in droves, will bring their wallets, their memories and their geeky t-shirts (I know, because I'll be wearing mine) to experience their childhoods all over again... and who knows, maybe a few new classic memories will be made.

(Check out the web site for updates, www.CGExpo.com )