Mailbag 08.10.06
The hardware transition woes continue.
Mailbag BLOG
You guys are pissing me off. Update the mailbag.....PLEASE.
We'll do it, but only because you asked nicely, not because it was making you mad.
-- Erik
I was just wondering have LucasArts and Bioware talked about a new Knights of the Old Republic game. One more thing, what's up with Blue Dragon? Have they made an actual release date for September or what? Thanks.
We've heard no official word about Knights of the Old Republic III. Hopefully we'll be able to stop speculating about the title's existence soon. As for Blue Dragon, I wouldn't count on that game hitting shelves until 2007.
-- Erik
Please call Capcom
Howdy,
I love the site and enjoy writing in. I actually have a request; Please ask Capcom to do something for us regular TV gamers. Dead Rising's text is illegible on regular AV hookup. I can't play the game aside from cutscenes. If I sit to close the letters are really distorted, too far and they can't be seen. So in the small sweet spot of vision I still can barely distinguish anything.
Please try and get some info, represent for the poor college gamer. Or be super awesome and send 1 HD tele to me. I will go so far as to XXXX XXXX for a nice 5 grand super TV. Or be a manslave, or anything else you can think of. Cheers guys.
You're not the only one to write in with this issue. You probably won't be the last. I noticed this same problem while I was playing NCAA Football 07 on an older TV. As more games are built from the ground up for the Xbox 360 rather than for the Xbox and then ported, standard definition televisions are going to begin to the get the short end of the stick. Cutting edge software is always made for the best hardware available. When you take text that looks nice in HD and put it on an old CRT, the results aren't always pretty.
So what's the solution? There's so much variety in which TV's exist in homes that you're unlikely to ever get a game that looks great on all of them. We'll stay on the lookout for games with small text syndrome (SRS - coined by reader Alex) and try to keep you informed when we talk to those making the games.
-- Erik
What do you use to capture screenshots?
I was wondering, what device do you use to capture such high res screenshots and videos from your Xbox 360? I assume you guys are running the xbox on your computer to be able to do that. If so, I'd like to know how so I can get the best screen quality off my apple cinema monitor.
We've got this nifty little program that runs through the network and connects with a debug Xbox 360. It allows us to snap pictures straight from the 360, making them as crisp as they come. The great HD videos come courtesy of an HD capture station we recently acquired that costs quite a pretty penny. Your best bet is to get a good TV tuner for your PC or Mac so that your signal isn't getting degraded too much by the time you want to capture it.
-- Erik
Price drop anytime soon?
Honestly, I'm a PS2 owner, and was holding out for the PS3. However, it seems like a lot of cool games are coming out (and are out) for the Xbox 360. With the Arcade (which includes my favorite arcade classic Smash TV) and Live, now I really want to get an Xbox 360. I was wondering if you had any definite information on near future 360 price drops (maybe when the PS3 comes out?). I realize the 360 is a good deal and I sound really cheap, but it would be stupid to buy it and then they drop the price soon after. Thanks for all your help.
Microsoft is going to keep any plans for a price drop under lock and key until they're ready to let everyone know. If word got out, you can bet sales would plummet while everyone waits to save some cash. Some have speculated that there would be a price drop this holiday season to compete for even more sales against the PS3, but with a $599 price tag as their main competition, there doesn't seem to be any real pressure. You're more likely to see bundles that include a free game with your purchase, much like the recent PGR 3 one that was released in Canada, at the same price.
-- Erik
Wii60
Have you (Doug) been to any of the Wii60 sites? Do you think it'll have any impact on the PS3's sales? What do you think would happen if there really was a Wii60 partnership, both Nintendo and Microsoft have headquarters there in Redmond. Wouldn't you like to play Halo DS or Metroid in HD on the 360?
Who wouldn't want to play more of their favorite franchises? As far as an impact on PS3 sales, I wouldn't expect one this holiday season. Sony and Nintendo are going to be running their factories at full capacity just to keep up with demand; much like Microsoft did last winter. The first wave of buyers are always the hardcore that are willing to put in the extra cash and wait in long lines, regardless of how much they just spent on other games and consoles. It's too early to speculate further down the road though…
-- Erik
