Lisa

Heeeeeeyyyyyyy! I'm glad you liked Game Genealogy. I'm pretty proud of it. We have more coming but I think we started pretty big and ambitious with the Final Fantasy series. As for FFXIII I am enjoying it so far. The way you unlock new abilities is reminiscent of FFX's Sphere Grid, and the battle system seems like a natural evolution of FFXII's (but not the same). I feel like I have a better handle on the fighting than I did 20 hours into FFXII. And of course it's beautiful. Review coming soon! Let us know when your grad party is and we'll be there.

Thank you!!!!!!!!

(and yes, Chris forgot).

Well, you should give Tactics a chance. It really is a cool game. It has the same problem as FF VII - great story buried under poor writing (yeah, yeah, I know you love FFVII ::rolls eyes::) :)

I agree, kinda silly to have Cloud and Aeris (the girl who dies but keeps making cameo apperances!).

You want to be responsible now...in another 10 years or so (or when you're my age!) you're going to say, screw what people think, I'm Tifa goddamnit!!!! Besides, your reputation is already ruined since you hate FF XII :)

Heh, after making that Tifa comment I realized you mentioned that in your bio already, lol. Seriously, hadn't seen that before.

Well at least you like the DS FFV... so you can't be all bad :) Can't wait for them to remake FF VI.

Now Tactics... why'd you have to go there????????????
That game was awesome! Ok, that was one convoluted mess of a story, clearly translation issues, but the gameplay and especially the soundtrack ROCKED!

Nice pic. You kinda, sorta look like Tifa. JK :)

Ok, not finished, lol...

"3. I have to disagree with you on the characters for FF12 - they WERE shallow, immature (in developement and personality), and we've seen them all before."

Explain this comment. How are they immature and shallow? Pick one and show me how!! :)

"Since when have any of the stories NOT been melodramatic? It's what they're supposed to be."

A story can be dramatic and moving without it being overdone. Subtlety is a very effective thing. It's like in well written music where the silence or space between notes is just as responsible for conveying mood as the notes themselves.

It's the difference between a great film and a soap opera!

"Did you play these games in order as they came out, or did you start with FF10 then work your way around? I can see why people don't like the older versions "

I never said I didn't like the older games. My first FF was actually VI (FFIII when it released here in the U.S.) way back in 1995.

Then I played IV just before VII came out. So I played VI - IX in order of release. I didn't own a PS2 until a little over a year ago so I played X & XII in the last year.

My faves used to be IV, IV and IX. Until I played X & XII. Now they're IV (I love this one to death! Currently playing the DS remake), X and XII. VI is a very close 4th.

And VI loses to XII only because I prefer the gameplay mechanics, I do admit the story is better in VI and IV than XII. But I did say "I thought it (XII) had the best writing. Not so much as far as story but dialogue."

So as far as dialogue, FF XII is the best. Not so much in terms of story.

I still loved VII's story just that it was convoluted and the dialogue was bad. What's up with Barret being written like he stepped out of the "hood"? Square & the FF series' first black character and he's just some embarassingly stereotypical guy.

I loved the setting though, probably my favorite in ANY FF game. The theme was good too, just the writing brought it down a few notches.

On top of that? Those ridiculously long summons animations were a total bore and made the game drag on. And every fight was a cakewalk. Same with every FF game up to X.

I like challenging combat in my RPGs, otherwise it's just an interactive novel.

So don't misunderstand me, I love the series too, especially the earlier games.

I just thought XII brought a lot more to the table as far as gameplay tweaks, presentation (that opening is awe inspiring and the game had some excellent voice acting), and I loved that the world was HUGE and you can actually explore for once (not fun to do with random combat).

I can totally understand why you didn't like it though. But to call it terrible? Ouch!!! I didn't like FFVIII and think it's the worst FF game but I still wouldn't call it terrible. Just mediocre.

Anyway, nice to meet another passionate FF fan :)

You play any of the Phantasy Star games?

Oh, sorry for the length...guess I go carried away, lol.

What did you find wrong with the story? Not trying to "get you started" hehe, just curious what you think of it.

I thought it had the best writing in any FF game. Not so much as far as story but actual dialogue. The only one that PERHAPS bests it is 10 and probably because that had the 2 familiar elements that are the usual foundations for most FF games: the whole "world in imminent danger" plot and the very personal inner struggle of the main character.

12 on the other hand focused on a more relatively mundane set of event, that's for sure, but I appreciated the toned down" melodramaticism" and the more direct and concise storytelling style (more Hemingway than Anne Rice).

But weak character development? In what way? All the characters are ALREADY well-developed (for a change) and in ways that seem plausible (again, as far as FF goes). They all have distinct personalities, goals, quirks. Sure they don't change a whole lot from the beginning to the end but we do get is more plausible and real.

I just hope you didn't make the same mistake I made when I first played it. I didn't pay too much attention to the initial movie in the game and I also missed some of the conversations and cut scenes that occur from time to time, usually when you get to a new area or reach a new goal. So I didn't think much of the game. Played it again after already putting in about 60 hours and it was like a revelation.

There are a lot of little details in the conversations that are easy to miss that connect certain story elements and characters and the second time I played it the game felt much deeper and I appreciated this different method of story telling. The characters may seem shallow at first but there really is a lot of depth and well, character to them.

Certainly more than or if not at least as much as in the series' best.

VII was horribly written. The story itself was good as was the setting was awesome but the execution was poor. I would LOVE to see a remake with a whole new script.

THe characters in IV & VI seemed to have more personality. And with VIII Square tried to show ambition and sophistication and it could have worked if not for the unlikeable or otherwise dull cast. Sad when the antagonist, sorceress Edea is more interesting than the rest of the cast. Like Ledger's Joker stealing every scene from Bale's Batman. Those "flashbacks" didn't help either.

IX had some interesting characters but most were just window dressing and some of the characters were just thrown at you without justifiable reason.

X I loved and is probably my favorite. I thought the story was touching and didn't mind the narration which I know irritated some fans. I thought it lent weight to Tidus and made him more believable. X seemed to be a perfection of what they were trying to achieve in the modern games, VII - IX.

True, XII went in a new direction but "horrible"? And the fighting system? Personally I preferred X's turn based combat. I'm old school. But STILL I liked the new direction. I HATE random combat. I prefer to decide WHEN I want to fight instead of having to stop every 3 or 4 steps which is frustrating when you're just trying to make it to a location. And the Gambits were genius. It didn't make the game any easier if you played it at the fastest speed just less cumbersome. And for once the world felt truly like a world. It was LARGE.

Ok, I could go on - and I'm not trying to convince you (or make you angry) it's just that I truly think you can "like" or "love' this game but to hate it so much? Save the hate for VIII and X-2! :)

Hi! Thanks for the add.

You didn't think FF XII was any good???? Oh please say, it isn't so!!! :)

I TOO need real Maple syrup. F those sugar solutions that they try to pass as real syrup. It's funny how Mrs Butterworth's list of ingredients doesn't even have maple syrup listed as an ingredient, or at least it didn't last time I checked.

And you know, more hacked zombie signs would be cool for those reasons, but a real zombie attack would be even cooler. Agreed?

Do you really eat caviar and champagne for breakfast? I'm more of a waffle fan myself. Have you seen any good highway sign hacks since the zombie one? I'm just waiting to see the one on the way to work get hacked with something creative.

Haha, thanks! It was much brighter before but it kind of washed out. I will probably dye it again soon cause the Emily the Strange people sent me all this Emily Manic Panic, so it's just sitting in my house, waiting to be used.

Yes. Made from scratch last night.

Don't think I'll partake in your political discussions, though.

http://www.gamervision.com/gamer/sarah/news/article/littlebigplanet_release_getting_pushed_back_in_europe

I was piiiiiiiissed! That story pretty much broke the internets on Friday, all other video game news pretty much came to a halt. One of the most anticipated games of the year, and rightfully so. It's really ridiculous. I think Sony hit the panic button waaaaaay too quickly because they didn't want any more controversy--they already offended religious freaks with Resistance because some combat took place in a famous chapel, which apparently equals "desecration". Ugh. Get over it, people.

oh man, the song from captain eo is like every good michael jackson song rolled up in one. and i was totally listening to it on the way to school and work today which totally made MY friday :D

http://www.toplessrobot.com/2008/10/the_10_people_you_meet_on_xbox_live.php

#2. Fleres the 3rd
#3. SOC13TY
#9. TRlPLESIXX
#10. Monchichiii

Also, you should probably watch this... immediately.