News

Because of final exams I have not been around much as of late, and now that they are over and I'm back home on dialup I am going to be around even less most likely.  I am also going to be out of the country and away from an internet connection for the second half of summer studying at Cambridge University.  Due to my recent absence, and my future absence, I have decided to resign from the CoN Staff.  I feel that I do not deserve to call myself part of active staff when I'm not around much to do anything, mostly because the rest of the staff works so hard and does such a magnificent job with everything.  I don't think it is right for me to share the same title.  

I have discussed my resignation with Josh, and he was kind enough to offer me a position back anytime.  I will most likely take him up on that sometime in the future, but probably not anytime soon, as my classes will only become more and more demanding in the years to come.  

This does not mean I won't be around, I will be around as much as I can chatting it up and posting here, I still enjoy being here and I love discussing this and that with all of you.    I wish Josh and everyone else on staff the best, thanks for putting up with me when I wasn't doing much, and thanks for understanding why I must do this.

Square Enix has announced more games for their Electronic Entertainment Expo line-up. Most titles have already been confirmed for release in America.

The list of announced games and their perspective release dates are below:

Final Fantasy XI (PlayStation 2 and PC) - TBA 2003
Final Fantasy X-2, (PlayStation 2) - November 2003
UNLIMITED SaGa, (PlayStation 2) - June 2003
Star Ocean: Till The End of Time (PlayStation 2) - Spring 2004
Drakengard (Drag-on Dragoon), (PlayStation 2) - Spring 2004
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (GameCube) - TBA 2003
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (Game Boy Advance) - TBA 2003
Sword of Mana (Shinyaku Seiken Densetsu), (GameBoy Advance) - TBA 2003

Source: RPGFan.com

/******/

Hm. I can't wait for Sword of Mana, which if you didn't know is the remake of Final Fantasy Adventure, and Star Ocean: Till the End of Time. Both are gonna be so goood!

I'll assume X-2 is also being looked forward to by alot of people, any others anyone is waiting for?

There is a price drop rumoured to occur during the upcoming E3 convention.

The new prices that each console is thought to be selling for after the convention are (all prices in US Dollars): Sony's Playstation 2 for $149.99, Microsoft's Xbox also for $149.99, and Nintendo's GameCube for $99.99.

Remember that these are just rumours and that the E3 convention is still a few weeks away.

Source: Games_Are_Fun

/******/

Good news for gamers.  I would assume that the price drops would be occurring everywhere, but the Games_Are_Fun only had the US prices.

$100 for a GameCube?  That's looking damn good from where I'm standing.  I wonder if they are still going to have the deal that if you buy a GameCube you get Metroid Prime, Star Fox Adventures, Resident Evil 0 or Mario Party 4 for free after the price drop have occurred.  If they do, that will be quite a steal.  

Anyone want to buy a console now?

The Caves of Narshe has expanded again, this time offering one of the most complete and innovative Final Fantasy Tactics sections available on the net.  I could write all about the different sections that are available in the new section, but it's probably best for you to check it out for yourself.

http://www.cavesofnarshe.com/fft/

The CoN staff is extremely proud of this section, and we'd like to ask you to post your comments and reactions to it right here, as well as beginning discussion in the newly-opened FFT section.  Enjoy!

And there will be even more added once all of NP's awesome caricatures are finished.  Enjoy two pieces of fanart each from Kame and Narratorway, and one each from seventh and Hikaroo!  

Visit http://www.cavesofnarshe.com/fanart/new.php for all the newest fanart.
Visit http://www.cavesofnarshe.com/fanart/ for all fanart!

Nintendo has finally released new info and screenshots (news and screenshots both courtesy of Games Are Fun) for the lastest incarnation of the Mario Kart series for the the Gamecube, titled Mario Kart: Double Dash.

Changes have been made in this versions since the N64 and Super Nintendo games.  One of significance is that there will be two riders on each kart now.  The idea being that the front character drives and the one located in the rear controls all of the power-ups and weapons.    The cast of characters has also changed.  Included are Mario, Luigi, Peach, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Yoshi, Birdo, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Bowser, Bowser Jr., Koopa, and Paratroopa.  Poor Toad must have come down with a case of SARS or something because he seems to be in quarantine for this title.

One more tid bit on the gameplay for now.   As mentioned, each kart has two characters.  You can switch the two characters mid-race for different effects to change balancing and such during turns and going up hills.  

Source:  Games Are Fun

/~~~~~~~/

It is games like these these that make me wish I had a Gamecube.    The screenshots look pretty fantastic and it looks like the game could be a lot of fun, especially when played with friends (for those of us who actually have those anyways .)  And it is nice that they are making some changes in the gameplays while keeping the basic Mario Kart formula intact.  Even though it was one my favorite N64 games, I've heard that it was a disappointment to many after the SNES versions.  Hopefully this will make it up to those who viewed the N64 Mario Kart in this manner.

Thoughts, opinions, flames? Toss them at me (or the game)