The Social Gamer Youtube channel

Yeah rejoice…! The Social gamer now has a Youtube Channel. Stop on by and subscribe. More video game trailers in HD not that low res crap. I have new HD converting software. Just need to get used to all of the options with the new software but everything should be in order very soon. Peace

Visit the channel

Grand Opening of Gamestop Flagship store.

Today was a horrible and and the same time it was grand..!

Today we are having one of the worst snow storms this season, IMO.  I guess that is the worst part of it..LoL

Now for the GRAND part of this post. Today was the Grand opening of the Cranston, RI Gamestop Flagship retail store. The store is normally packed to gills with customers but the storm was freaking bad, I was even scared to leave the store since I had to drive about a half hour and with the snow storm it was more like 45 minutes or so. But for the sake of getting these photos out to all of my Twitter followers. I had planned to live Tweet the photos from my iPhone but I thought it would be easier for me to take the photos first then get home and update the blog.

I won’t write much more on this post as I have added captions to all of the photos them selves. I hope you enjoy these pictures, I took them with my iPhone and the Darkroom App.  So without further a do here they are.

Well there ya have it. I probably could have taken more but the customers and staff were looking at me funny. LoL

I don’t know if you’ve ever shopped at a Flagship Gamestop before but from my point of view and from buying games from the company for more years than I can remember, it’s the best experience I have ever had in a Gamestop store. The whole mood and environment was really fun.

I actually wanted to stay longer but the winter storm was telling me to get home before it was to late. LoL

Talk to you all soon,

One of this generations Great JRPGs

Well let me begin with what a JRPG is for those that don’t know. In simple terms it’s the abbreviation for the words Japanese Role Playing Game. Simple right? Just click on the link above for the Wiki detailed information of JRPG(s).

I have been into these types of game for dare I say around 20 years. I have played imported jrpg(s) with complete printed out translation scripts, now that’s a geek if can say so…and I can. LoL

To get to the point of the title the game in reference I am referring to is Lost Odyssey on the Xbox 360. To begin with if you have ever played any of the Final Fantasy series games then you gave a perfect idea of what this game is like in both presentation, battle system, and story progression. Lost Odyssey was produced by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the famed Final Fantasy series.

Lost Odyssey uses a traditional turn-based battle system seen in most Japanese role-playing games, similar to early Final Fantasy iterations. There are two types of characters that the player controls. “Mortals” gain skills by leveling up, but can benefit from additional skills by equipping accessories. “Immortals” do not know any skills initially, but instead gain skills by “linking” with a mortal character that is currently part of the battle formation, earning skill points in battle towards complete learning of the skill. Immortals can also learn skills from accessories by equipping them in the same manner, much like in Final Fantasy IX. Once a skill is learned, the player can then assign these skills to a limited number of skill slots, initially starting at three but able to be expanded via “Slot Seed” items or skills. Immortals also have the ability to auto-revive in battle should they lose all their hit points.

Lost Odyssey is set in a world in which a “Magic-Industrial Revolution” is taking place. While magic energy existed in all living creatures beforehand, it suddenly became far more powerful thirty years before the beginning of the game. Because of this, it has affected society greatly, with devices called “Magic Engines” harnessing this power for lighting, automobiles, communication, and biological augmentation of monsters. However, such progress has also caused two nations; the kingdom of Gohtza, and the Republic of Uhra, recently changed from a monarchical society; to develop new and more powerful weapons of mass destruction. A third nation, the Free Ocean State of Numara, has remained neutral, though it is falling into disarray.

To make thing easier on your self I recommend taking your time through the story exploring every nook and cranny of the environments. Talking to everyone and walking into certain areas will trigger a memory. Memory sequences were penned by an award-winning Japanese short story writer, Kiyoshi Shigematsu, who worked directly with the game’s producer Hironobu Sakaguchi on Kaim’s backstory, while Sakaguchi alone wrote the game’s main story.

I remember one part that I won’t mention that actually almost made me want to cry..well my eyes had something in them so they got watery..LoL The game spans 4 DVDs do to allot of CG and in game engine cut scenes and even blend the transition from CG to actual game play so smoothly that you don’t even know that the game is back to actual game play. Just breath taking in my honest opinion. This game would of sold more if it were called Final Fantasy because take it from me when i tell you this is a Final Fantasy game in disguise. The game’s graphics and high production values were some of the best seen on the XBOX 360, and long load times and frame rate issues that most gamers complained about are now nearly null and void after the NXE update to allow for full installs of your games onto the 360 HDD. Warning though if you plan on installing all of the disks at one time it will take about 5 minutes for each disk with an average size of 5 – 6GB of space needed for each disk. But for people with the 20GB HDD need not worry just install the disk that you are on and un-install that disk once you change disks and then install the next one. You will not change or damage any of the saved progression.  Loading from the HDD is more than 2x as fast as disk loading. So install it if at all possible.

OK, so now I am at the end of the story and by the end of the game you will be able to fly and control a hybrid Jet/Speedboat/Sub Marine to go from place to place and even able to dock it into a huge ship and then you can control the huge ship to travel great distances on the world map. Very Final Fantasy-ish.. LoL

This is the Lost Odyssey Theme song:

I hope you enjoyed this Lost Odyssey brief and if you love classic style JRPG(s) and you own a n Xbox 360 you owe it to your self to have this game in your collection.

Leave a comment on your thoughts. This was one of those games that was split down the middle as far as reviews go. But as you can tell by now I love the game. I am hoping the when Final Fantasy XIII come out later this year or maybe even in early 2010..LoL I will get the same if not more of this style of role playing game.

The Social gamer

Lost Odyssey load times: DVD vs HDD, Big difference!

I have been debating that the installs of game DVD on the Xbox 360 are a good thing for those who have the HDD space to spare. I have an Xbox Elite and have it totally stripped of any non essential data on my HDD so I am now up to 92GB of free space. No demos no trailers, movies or music. I will now only stream all pictures, music and videos right from my networked PC. I love the ease of use that the Xbox360 offers it’s user base.

I love Lost Odyssey and all of it’s 4 DVD goodness but wished I didn’t have to swap out my DVDs or have suck long load time and this game has some long load times…lol

Here is a somewhat blurry youtube video of Lost Oddesey installed on the Hard Drive vs DVD load times.

I was blown away at the amount of time that is actualy saves you on load screens..OMG..!

Can the NXE Lessen the Risk of RROD?

Gamers Platform has a good article written by author: Mark Fajardo

“One of the most appealing features in the New XBOX Experience is the ability to download the game file over to your Hard Drive to minimize loading times. As we go hands-on with the New XBOX Experience and tried downloading numerous XBOX 360 games to our hard drive, there is one thing that we notice that will really lessen the XBOX 360 from overheating, which will lead to the RRoD.

If we remember when we played the game without installing the game files to our hard drive, our machines would use twice the power it needed, making the fans go loud, and, of course, making the system produce too much heat that can eventually lead to overheating to a Red Ring of Death. We observed a new feature of the NXE that lets you download the game through your hard drive. Once the game is downloaded to the system, we noticed that our machine doesn’t produce the same heat it does when playing the game without installing it to our hard drive. The fan is not loud as it used to be, and the system feels like you just turned it on.

Could this be the solution of Microsoft to decrease the chance of RRoD in their system?”

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I had a blast on The Bitbag podcast last night.

I was invited to join in on The Bitbag show last night and had a great time discussing and debating game(s). The Bitbag has become a regular part of my gaming incite and rumor mill news. LoL
But in any case the podcast should be on the site soon. The podcast was recorded late late night or very early morning depending on how you see things after 12am EST…! Go check out the blog
and listen in The crew is real talk fellas and it not for the kiddies at all.

The Bitbag

NETFLIX HD….reviewed

If you have been all gitty on the Netflix feature coming to the NXE on your XBOX 360 this November 19th. Then check out these links with indepth testing of the new service. The most important thing is the fact that the 360 will be the only place to begin with the new Neflix HD content. More information after the links.

Netflix HD Impressions, On Xbox 360

HD Netflix streaming comes to Xbox 360 first

Video tour: New Xbox Experience Exposed

Head on over to our NXE page for the link. This videos are great and give you a more current feel of what to excpect from the update this November 19th. Remember to scroll to the bottom of post for all updates.

<The Social Gamer’s NXE Page>

OMG…! Just 99 bucks….lol

Over at Gamestop.com there is a new product available for pre order online. They will be selling a special Hard Drive XBL bundle…!

The easiest entry into Xbox LIVE for Arcade

• Incredible value; includes a 60 GB Hard Drive, Headset, Ethernet cable, and a 3-month LIVE Gold subscription.
• 60 GB Hard Drive allows users the ability to download HD video content, XBLA games, and Xbox Originals.
• Rip your music to the Hard Drive and create custom playlists to use in-game and out.
• Enjoy online multiplayer gaming and other exclusives with the included 3-month LIVE Gold Subscription Card.
• Strategize with teammates or just chat with friends while playing your favorite games with the included Xbox 360 Headset.

<Gamestop.com>

Xbox Experience will have special Avatar Store/Shop.

“Where you’ll be able to buy branded items for your Avatar.”

Microsoft is planning to launch an ‘Avatar Store’ next spring, which will allow gamers to buy branded items for their Avatars, a new feature coming with the release of the New Xbox Experience update on November 19.

Gamers will be able to buy game related items from publishers, like T-shirts, as well as non-game related items, perhaps related to football, Microsoft has revealed.

Robin Burrowes, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) product manager for Xbox LIVE, told VideoGamer.com at a recent hands-on preview event for NXE that it believes the potential is there for fashion brands to launch new clothing ranges through the store, and that gamers will be able to dress their Avatar like a character from a game.

The New Xbox Experience update will allow gamers to create an Avatar, which will become the virtual representation of their 360 gaming self. For launch there will be a raft of free accessories and clothing items, but Microsoft said it has plans for gamers to be able to buy new items, like game-branded T-shirts, and unlock accessories that are related to in-game Achievements, like Guitar Hero guitars.

Burrowes said: “The plan of record will be to launch a more extensive Avatar Store from spring time onwards next year, and that store in theory would have branded content in there, game publisher IP stuff in there as well.”

When asked what might be sold through the Avatar Store, Burrowes replied: “There’s a whole creative canvas for these things. Due to tight time lines there’s nothing at launch as such but our vision for these in the future is well and truly tied to game releases and us working with publishers very closely to encourage rewards from those games to be tied to your Avatar.

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Microsoft is an online retailer through Xbox Live!

Head of Xbox Live says console service eases pressure on High Street space.

Xbox Live boss John Schappert has told MCV that Xbox Live’s role as an ‘online retailer’ is taking the pressure off the battle for High Street shelf space.

Speaking in the build-up to the ‘revolutionary’ Xbox Live Dashboard update next month, Schappert said:

“There are games coming that would not get the space at retail, and that’s a big part of why we’re refreshing the system.”

“We want to widen the content to make it more accessible for different users. It’s pretty hard to get retail distribution these days, and shelf space continues to be a challenge and people are opting for that – Penny Arcade is a great example of that.”

<Read ful Artical>

NXE dedicated page is up…!

We put up a dedicated Xbox Experience page to detail the functions and features that all connected Xbox 360’s will get come this November 19th. Information will be added as more become available. Please feel free to comment and leave any suggestions you may have. You can find the link to the NXE Page on the left under the Pages section.
Have a great day…!

Major Nelson asks… Do you want the NXE early?

Here is Major Nelson’s podcast.

Major Nelson Blog

Potty Mouth XBOX Live users, Daddy is coming home…

I found a great article over on the Destructoid Blog. I always felt so powerless on XBL when ever I would get into a game and hear that complaining cry baby that would do nothing but bitch and drop F-Bombs all over the chat channel on Live!, well all I have to say is look out Microsoft is on the hunt for you sour apples on XBL..!

Rejoice…!  There is light at the end of the tunnel.

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Saints Row 2 is everything GTA4 should’ve been “REVIEW”

OK, now I am going to state “MY OPINION” alright?  Now that I got that out of the way here I go.

I have been a GTA gamer since the begining I even loved the series when it was 2D top down graphics on the PC.
Secondly my favorite GTA was and still is San Andreas it just felt so adventurous, I loved it.
So now onto SR2 (Saint’s Row 2)….I think that Volition really wanted to add everything into this game that they
didn’t add into the 1st Saints. I like the way that you really do make the game yours. I kid you not when
I tell you that you can customize just about everything you get your hands on.

Customize – Apartment
Customize – Gang Hangout
Customize – Your self…lol
Customize – Your cars, trucks, bikes (motorcycles)

Everything that is customized (“everything” crib, hangout, cars clothing “everything”)
is represented into the all of the actual games in engine cut scenes.
I have been playing this game non freakin stop. GTA4 I stopped playing it and was bored of the story
very quickly. About 7-9 days it was back on Gamestops pre-owned shelves and I never missed it and still don’t.
Not to mention the character I just never liked him. LoL
The aiming in GTA4 was OK at best and the driving after a little while was OK as well but nothing I could recommend.
You only fly in a attack helicopter with no missiles or lock on…On SR2 you have News Helicopter, Appatchi Helicopter
with reticule for both turret and missile “lock on”, You can fly a small propeller plane and a fast private jet that really
needs runway space to take off of land. lol
Cars, trucks, and bikes so many I just can’t name them all since I never say them all.
Boats, tons of fast boats, jet ski, sail boats and others…All of the same activities that are found in GTA4
like taxi driving, ambulance, and cops. their are 5 gangs and I put over 20 hrs into the game and all
I did was completed one of the gangs story arch.
COMBAT:
I love the combat system. You can grab anyone and use them as a shield like the new system in Gears2 while shooting
from behind victim. You actually learn different fighting techniques, it’s amazing what you can do.
You also have the option to snap the victim your holding’s neck or shot them in the head if your using a gun.
The option are so vast and so customizable that this is a closer step in the right direction for sandbox gaming / games.
MONEY:
You can earn money anyway you want. Robing stores or people, activities missions, story. Many, many, many options.
I mean you can even brake of the parking tolls from the sidewalk and use them as weapons and pick up the coins that
fall out. This is true for the environments. You can use many items as weapons and projectiles.
For instance chairs, bottles, new paper machines, bricks ……..you get the point you can pick up almost anything
including the garbage bags outside and even break off fire hydrants and yes the water will gush out of the ground.
As you see this is a huge game and very fun indeed. I am hooked and I hate to say this but the NEXT GTA will
have to top all of this and then some to make me go back to them. I know my layout here is all over the place
but I just had to express my feeling on the game.

I have only played the XBOX version so I can’t vouch for the PS3 version. The online is rock solid with no lag
ever. At least not for my friends or myself.