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[Ranger X]

Yeah, because there's no legitimate reason for me to want to play games at a higher clock speed with shorter loadtimes on a format much more efficient than UMD. And there's obviously no legitimate reason for me to want to play my NES/SNES/Genesis/GBA/SCUMM/Doom engine games on one handheld. Upgrading deprives you of a lot of amazing features and the ability to play a lot more games.

For $250 plus $100 for a memory stick, I don't see what's wrong with people wanting to get the most out of a handheld that otherwise would have a fairly small library of compelling exclusive games. If I own Earthbound, I have no problem with going through a couple extra steps to play it on a handheld.

I've never pirated a game. I don't have any games on my PSP that I don't own. And I still think the 1.5/2.71SEB rocks. Letting users customize their PSP in any way they see fit is an amazing, brilliant thing for a handheld, even if it's not authorized. The PSP is a beast, and it's capable of a lot more than Sony tells you.

So don't knock it.

It's not that it's all wrong. The point is that it fills the PSP thread everytime. Have yourself a thread of complaining. It you don't want to upgrade your firmware and you're not complaining then it's fine with me.
Also, it is a legitimate reason to pirate your PSP. But it's not a PSP feature that's for sure because you wouldn't need to pirate it. A PSP should be bought for what it offers. If you're not pleased you don't buy. Piracy DOES kill a console and when they think about conceiving another one, they don't go and ask pirates what was missing from the last version.
In short, you participate in killing my gaming but if you're not complaining or infesting all the PSP threads i still love you.

 

[Bebpo]

Yeah, because there's no legitimate reason for me to want to play games at a higher clock speed with shorter loadtimes on a format much more efficient than UMD. And there's obviously no legitimate reason for me to want to play my NES/SNES/Genesis/GBA/SCUMM/Doom engine games on one handheld. Upgrading deprives you of a lot of amazing features and the ability to play a lot more games.

For $250 plus $100 for a memory stick, I don't see what's wrong with people wanting to get the most out of a handheld that otherwise would have a fairly small library of compelling exclusive games. If I own Earthbound, I have no problem with going through a couple extra steps to play it on a handheld.

I've never pirated a game. I don't have any games on my PSP that I don't own. And I still think the 1.5/2.71SEB rocks. Letting users customize their PSP in any way they see fit is an amazing, brilliant thing for a handheld, even if it's not authorized. The PSP is a beast, and it's capable of a lot more than Sony tells you.

So don't knock it.

Personally I think it's like having a modded Xbox with Media Center. You aren't afraid of upgrading because you are losing important features that you bought the PSP for, you are afraid of upgrading because you have turned your PSP into something beyond what Sony says it is and you'd rather use it as that then use it the way Sony intends it. It's sorta like if Modded Xboxs couldn't play on live.

I think the real solution is to do what DCharlie did, which is buy two systems and use one for the homebrew/iso_no_loading/emu/etc... and then the other to play new games that you want to play.

 

[Flynn]

when they think about conceiving another one, they don't go and ask pirates what was missing from the last version.

So you're telling us that Microsoft didn't look to all the hacks on the Xbox when thinking about what features people wanted for the 360?

 

[Ynos Yrros]

That's a retarded argument. What does being-on-a-handheld have to do with it?

You gota be kidding me.
GameSpot expected that this game will be more advanced than GTA: SA on PS2.
As you all should know, PS2 is more powerful than PSP, thanks to the EE.
If using same rating standards for those platforms is logical, then why don't they rate DS games by GCN standards? What the hell? They should be praising PSP to hell that it allows them to play games like VCS on a handheld, but no, it doesn't bring anything new to the series after GTA: SA :lol .

GameSpot blows, get over it.

GTA: VCS is so far the best handheld game ever made from a technical standpoint, and in my personal view.

 

[Ranger X]

So you're telling us that Microsoft didn't look to all the hacks on the Xbox when thinking about what features people wanted for the 360?

Not that they ignored it but i believe they push want they want to push and not what you want to see there.

 

[Ranger X]

Oh and let's talk Vice City Stories

'KOZ IT RAWKSS.

 

[Corwood Rep]

Personally I think it's like having a modded Xbox with Media Center. You aren't afraid of upgrading because you are losing important features that you bought the PSP for, you are afraid of upgrading because you have turned your PSP into something beyond what Sony says it is and you'd rather use it as that then use it the way Sony intends it. It's sorta like if Modded Xboxs couldn't play on live.

I think the real solution is to do what DCharlie did, which is buy two systems and use one for the homebrew/iso_no_loading/emu/etc... and then the other to play new games that you want to play.

Honestly though, there've never been any major problems with having to wait for games. Devhook's almost always there when people need it, and when it's not, there are exploits and patches that negate the problem anyway. People aren't exactly waiting for months to play new games.

That said, having two systems is silly. The correct solution is the Undiluted Platinum for $100. Dual boot hackery-friendly firmware and actual Sony firmware at the same time, with zero chance of ever bricking.

And as for Vice City Stories, I just beat the mission where you're recovering the moonshine. That took me like 10 tries to get right. I'm pathetic.

 

[elostyle]

You gota be kidding me.
GameSpot expected that this game will be more advanced than GTA: SA on PS2.
As you all should know, PS2 is more powerful than PSP, thanks to the EE.
If using same rating standards for those platforms is logical, then why don't they rate DS games by GCN standards? What the hell? They should be praising PSP to hell that it allows them to play games like VCS on a handheld, but no, it doesn't bring anything new to the series after GTA: SA :lol .

GameSpot blows, get over it.

GTA: VCS is so far the best handheld game ever made from a technical standpoint, and in my personal view.

You're talking only about technical things, they don't. There are a bunch of DS games that have done more for their particular genre than their console counterparts. And PSP games for that matter too (I suppose). You're just reading hate/bias into where there is none.

 

[Diseased Yak]

Getting back on topic here: The Ambulance missions are a cakewalk, I suggest everyone do them asap. You get

Spoiler

unlimited sprint after successfully completing mission 15

which obviously would help you the rest of the game. I only failed once and that was because I was going too fast and accidentally ran over a patient :lol .

As with past GTA's, I've barely done any missions, instead I've just been cruising around looking for stuff. I've only found 1 red balloon and have completed about 4 rampages.

About the only frustrating thing I've done (and still not completed!) is the shooting range. I usually fail the 4th round and only once have I made it to the 5th, which I failed.

 

[typhonsentra]

You're talking only about technical things, they don't. There are a bunch of DS games that have done more for their particular genre than their console counterparts. And PSP games for that matter too (I suppose). You're just reading hate/bias into where there is none.

I dunno, sometimes I wonder. I was willing to accept their score for Mario Kart because online was a first for the series, but NSMB?

I started on the game last night by the way and I like it (Only the first two missions, I had a headache and it was late when I got around to it), but the lack of camera controls are a big drag. I'll get used to it, but I keep reaching for an analog stick that just isn't there! :lol

 

[Ranger X]

the lack of camera controls are a big drag. I'll get used to it, but I keep reaching for an analog stick that just isn't there! :lol

I've been surprised too at first. I never realised i was using the manual camera this much while playing a GTA game. At least when you hold "L" the analog nub can move the camera around. If i didn't had that to explore are was selling this game right there.

 

[evil ways]

I just realized. Is Louise's baby the first child to ever be in a GTA game?

Yeah. Also for a moment I thought her baby and San Andreas' Mary Beth were the same person but the age and timeline doesn't match. Same name, same hick upbringing, but different ages.

 

[Ynos Yrros]

You're talking only about technical things, they don't. There are a bunch of DS games that have done more for their particular genre than their console counterparts. And PSP games for that matter too (I suppose). You're just reading hate/bias into where there is none.

Did you even read the review? I'm not reading hate or bias in there, I'm reading stupidity. To expect that PSP 2nd gen game won't have technical problems of PS2 3rd gen game is plain stupid.

 

[elostyle]

Did you even read the review? I'm not reading hate or bias in there, I'm reading stupidity. To expect that PSP 2nd gen game won't have technical problems of PS2 3rd gen game is plain stupid.

Maybe it's just on the wrong platform then or overly ambitious. Which is not a good thing and a valid complaint if the issues are there.

 

[Juice]

Well, gee, why don't they just give the game away? Voice actors cost money. Licensed tracks (100 of them) cost money. Actually hiring decent programmers costs money. Not to mention it comes with a full color manual and a fold out map...

Seriously! You know, I heard Superman Returns cost like $400 million to make. It would have really made sense for them to charge about 500 grand a ticket, IMHO.

...

 

[sugarhigh4242]

I'm about 2.5 hours into it. So far, i'm sort of between IGN and Gamespot.

On the one hand, you got to give the game credit for being what it is.

On the other hand, it is a bit unwieldy as a handheld game. The loading between gameplay and cinematics gets really irritating. I wonder if they could've used half as many cinematics and instead had the characters in the gameplay view speak to relay the mission objectives. the way they chit-chat a bit during escort missions.

Also, there's no excuse for not having a save-anywhere feature. Every mission ends up taking twice as much time because you have to get back to the safe house after each one. If you don't, you risk losing all your gear if the next mission is particularly difficult (and most of them are tough) and you die.

Personally, i think the controls are great. But they could have spent more time tweaking the manual sensitivity. You can really see how bad it is during the shooting range minigame.

And so far, besides the music, i don't see a lot of 80's influence. Maybe there's more of that as Vic moves up the ranks though.

As i'm playing it, i'm simultaneously blown away that they could make a handheld game this ambitious, and torn wondering if they should.

VCS is a clear improvement over LCS, but being the 2nd go-round, it doesn't come with the rose-colored glasses of being the first "REAL (OMG) Handheld GTA (!!!)".

 

[typhonsentra]

Well the problem with saving is in every GTA game. I can't believe that no one here. no one at all has either bought nor talked about this game though. It's shocking and seems almost unprecented for such a major release.

 

[Juice]

Well the problem with saving is in every GTA game. I can't believe that no one here. no one at all has either bought nor talked about this game though. It's shocking and seems almost unprecented for such a major release.

I'm not shocked at all. PSP is already dead when it comes to SW sales in the broader arena, and as we've known for years, blockbuster holiday releases for handhelds generally don't seem to fare better than trite stocking stuffer fare. The $50 price tag on this game is just absolutely laughable at this point; for how poor the PSP is doing right now, that's not a price that's going to appeal to anyone but a hardcore GTA fan.

It was funny, this was the first time I'd ever seen Best Buy take units off the floor and put them back in the back. They had a ton of VCS copies at an endcap and it just looked pathetic (literally hundreds). So they sent someone out with a box and he cleared out half of them.

 

[Corwood Rep]

I'm about 2.5 hours into it. So far, i'm sort of between IGN and Gamespot.

On the one hand, you got to give the game credit for being what it is.

On the other hand, it is a bit unwieldy as a handheld game. The loading between gameplay and cinematics gets really irritating. I wonder if they could've used half as many cinematics and instead had the characters in the gameplay view speak to relay the mission objectives. the way they chit-chat a bit during escort missions.

Also, there's no excuse for not having a save-anywhere feature. Every mission ends up taking twice as much time because you have to get back to the safe house after each one. If you don't, you risk losing all your gear if the next mission is particularly difficult (and most of them are tough) and you die.

Personally, i think the controls are great. But they could have spent more time tweaking the manual sensitivity. You can really see how bad it is during the shooting range minigame.

And so far, besides the music, i don't see a lot of 80's influence. Maybe there's more of that as Vic moves up the ranks though.

As i'm playing it, i'm simultaneously blown away that they could make a handheld game this ambitious, and torn wondering if they should.

VCS is a clear improvement over LCS, but being the 2nd go-round, it doesn't come with the rose-colored glasses of being the first "REAL (OMG) Handheld GTA (!!!)".

Not to bring firmware into the argument again, but if you play the game off your memory stick, loading between cutscenes/gameplay is virtually nonexistant and borders on being seemless.

Also, a save anywhere feature would kind of mess up the flow of the mission structure. It'd be pretty lame to have a tough mission and instead of actually beating it, just save and re-load every 10 seconds until you get through it. It hurts the sense of accomplishment that finishing a mission gives you. Plus having to go to safehouses and whatnot is kind of nice because it allows you to just enjoy the scope of the game and the radio stations and stuff. But maybe that's just me.

 

[typhonsentra]

I'm not shocked at all. PSP is already dead when it comes to SW sales in the broader arena, and as we've known for years, blockbuster holiday releases for handhelds generally don't seem to fare better than trite stocking stuffer fare. The $50 price tag on this game is just absolutely laughable at this point; for how poor the PSP is doing right now, that's not a price that's going to appeal to anyone but a hardcore GTA fan.

It was funny, this was the first time I'd ever seen Best Buy take units off the floor and put them back in the back. They had a ton of VCS copies at an endcap and it just looked pathetic (literally hundreds). So they sent someone out with a box and he cleared out half of them.

It's not really about software sales even though. Games which regularly sell sub-10k copies regularly get massive topics on GAF. Recent examples being Dragon Quest Rocket Slime, Baten Kaitos 2, Contact, Killer 7 and Phoenix Wright. All were huge bombs but people on GAF still gave these titles a huge amount of support. Hell, more people posted in/viewed these topics than actually bought the game! I don't know how well this GTA will perform, but I think it's safe to say it'll beat any of the games I've listed.

 

[Spainkiller]

Well the problem with saving is in every GTA game. I can't believe that no one here. no one at all has either bought nor talked about this game though. It's shocking and seems almost unprecented for such a major release.

Strange, isn't it. I searched for this game expecting a 30 page topic at least. Man, I remember when the first screens for Vice City on the PS2 came out, and the excitment. And the legendary SA topic... what's happened?

 

[Oni Jazar]

Man This is one hard game to make portable. I don't have much more then 15 mins or so of playtime with breaks. Having to run to the save point inbetween missions really is a pain. They better not have this in GTA4.

 

[levious]

Strange, isn't it. I searched for this game expecting a 30 page topic at least. Man, I remember when the first screens for Vice City on the PS2 came out, and the excitment. And the legendary SA topic... what's happened?

while they both improve on the previous game (GTAIII -> LCS, GTA:VC -> VCS), both are also a few steps back from the gameplay of San Andreas. That plus the fact that there's a bunch more people that were able to downgrade to 1.5 recently.

 

[Roi]

How can I listen to my own music -_-' ?

 

[McBacon]

How can I listen to my own music -_-' ?

I think the official shit isn't out, but try this:

http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=41531

It sounds stupid, but I didn't read it all.