Newsletter: Sega World Weekly issue 136
From Video Game Morgue File
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S E G A W O R L D W E E K L Y
M A G A Z I N E
~~ Issue No. 136 Jun 11th 2001 ~~
Proudly sponsored by http://www.LIK-SANG.com/
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-- Please Support Our Sponsors Intro --
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<<.>> Do yourself a favour and let Lik Sang work for you :)
You have your own web site? You can become a Lik-Sang.com
affiliate and earn real cash. By putting a link on your
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-- http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
> Sega World Weekly is best read in the Courier New font.
For past issues see http://www.SegaWorldWeekly.com/
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-- Editors Comments Page 1 --
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Earning, saving or mooching the money to buy the latest
game or console can be hard. But having read the advert up
above, it looks like Lik-Sang could help. US$10.5
guaranteed off every one of your sales with their affiliate
program, that's pretty amazing. Hence I had to mention it
in the Editors Comments here too. If you want to, you can
sign up right away here...
http://www.lik-sang.com/?click=con,Affiliates,sww
Then just below here is our cover feature, where Chris is
at it again :) This time around he takes an interesting
look at how game reviews and advertising effect the
industry. In particular the examples of the top 10 games
at the moment certainly surprised me.
Then in the news, Sega of America launches an Unreal
Tournament, Sega of Europe gets a new head, and we still
continue to cover Crazy Taxi 2. Red Hot Rumors also make a
return this week as we hear whispers that Sega is
branching out into the animation industry! Then in the
Sega Downloads there's Music Videos, wallpapers, screen
savers, programs, icons and more!
Looking for a little Sega humour? Check out our latest
Comic online at http://www.segaworldweekly.com/comic4.gif
Finally, I'm very happy to say our forum is still burning
red hot! Last week we were drawing closer to the 1,500th
post, and now it's gone beyond 1,700! Don't miss out on the
action online - http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
- Graham "Crazzzzzzy Money" Parker (Editor)
NOTICE - From the middle of June to mid September, I'll be
away in America working at Cedar Lake Summer Camp in PA.
Hence please do not send any email to my madcow@ihug.co.nz
address after June the 16th. Thanks :)
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|| C O N T E N T S ||
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|| 2 - Cover Story ||
|| 3 - Websites to Visit ||
|| 4 - Weekly News ||
|| 5 - Red Hot Rumors ||
|| 6 - Lik-Sang Low-down ||
|| 7 - Sega Downloads ||
|| 8 - Question & Answer ||
|| 9 - Letters ||
|| 10 - Our Support Sites ||
|| 11 - Credits ||
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HOT QUOTE this issue: "AAAAARRRGGGHHH!! Not Half-Life
too. What is this?"
-- Question & Answer - Page 8
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-- Cover Story Page 2 --
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<<.>> Why Sega pulled out of hardware - A business view.
-- Written by Chris (Clay.Camel) Heggelund
First of all, let me comment on my last article, which was
written several weeks ago. Even in this relatively short
time period, there have been some major moves in the
Console Industry. Sony has teamed up with AOL to bring the
PS2 online. This move occurred because Sony wants the PS2
to be more than just a gaming machine. In addition to be
being a gaming machine and a DVD player, it can now also
provide content. Imagine all the resources AOL-Time Warner
can provide. Anything from online news, results, chats,
shopping, to cable stations and full feature Hollywood
movies. Expect more of the same from Nintendo, Sony, and
Microsoft.
Also, Reuters reported that Sega and Sony have teamed up to
enable users of the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 to play
games via the Internet.
OK, that's enough about last week (last week is old news in
the technology industry anyway). Today I would like to take
a look at how advertising and game ratings shape our
perception of the gaming industry. Why do some companies
keep us in the dark about what they are doing while others
let us observe every step of the development? Is all the
information we hear about different consoles really true?
As an example let me make fun of Sony. The rumor that the
PS2 had export restrictions because the chip could be used
to create missile guidance systems is ridiculous. Fine,
maybe the chip can in fact be used on some simple
navigation systems, but if someone in Iraq really wanted
get their hands on a good computer chip they can just go
online and buy the latest AMD or Intel chip, which will be
much more powerful than any PS2 chip. I suspect this rumor
was created by the Sony advertising department to draw
attention to the PS2 and the launch.
Now, what's the deal with release dates? Why do gaming
companies always tell us Summer 2001, or Q3 2002 as release
dates? Why can't they just give us the darn release date?
Well, it is all about politics. Most companies are afraid
of breaking promises to the consumers, and prefer being
vague on the release date, while others actually know the
date, but they rather announce it with a big bang and a
fancy press conference to draw attention to the game. Being
vague about the release date also makes for much discussion
and rumors among fans and fan websites, which again equals
more press coverage and more attention. I think there is a
fine line between too much secrecy and too little secrecy.
You don't want to reveal the whole game before it is out,
but you want to give potential consumers enough fuel to
make them excited about the game. It will be very
interesting to see how the X-Box and the $500 million they
are going to spend on marketing will affect its success.
I think Sega did a decent job when they introduced the DC
to the US. The whole commercial was actually made with the
DC, and it showed off the awesome graphical capabilities of
the DC and made us excited about the gaming potential
(yeah, yeah... I know the DC ultimately failed, but I don't
think it was due to advertising) (Tails - just wondering
though, how many casual gamers knew the commercial was
rendered on the Dreamcast?)
Once a game finally hit the shelves, do you run and buy it
right away or do you wait for reviews to come out? If you
think the same way I do, then you buy some games right
away, while with some you wait and see. There are certain
titles that I follow closely throughout the development and
that I will purchase as soon as humanly possible. Games
such as Anarchy Online (PC), Crazy Taxi 2 (DC), and any
Sega2k sports games are games that I will buy without ever
reading a review. However, for many games I totally depend
on reviews and word of mouth before I will consider buying
them. So before I spend my hard earned $50, do I trust one
single source? NO, off course not (unless the source is SWW
off course... hehe bias is everywhere). Almost all reviews
you read will be bias to some extent. As a gamer it is very
hard to remain totally neutral. I am sure all of us reading
this very magazine get a certain tingling in our bellies,
and spark in our eyes when we talk about Sega (is it
love?), as I am sure any game reviewer will develop a
certain bond with a given game, gaming company, game
designer, or type of game. I can say right now that I will
buy any game designed by Sid Meier (legendary PC game
designer - Civ II, Railroad Tycoon, Gettysburg ++). And
this bias isn't necessarily bad, as long as the reader is
aware that a bias exists.
Does a good review equal success and does a bad review
equal failure? That question can be easily answered by
looking at the latest sales charts for the US. Games like
Barbie's Pet Rescue, Deer Hunter, and other titles that
received horrible reviews are in the top 10, while the game
that won "Game of the Year" awards, Deus Ex, is nowhere to
be found. Sometimes it seems like a games sales success is
determined even before that game hits the shelves. Good
reviews will just further increase sales, while bad reviews
won't affect sales much at all. Even though the many gaming
companies try cloud their games in secrecy, the Internet
and e-mail can provide us with some much information about
a game that we have already decided if we will buy it weeks
before we see it in the store. The fact that many reviews
don't appear until a month or so after the game comes out
strengthens this theory. It is like we read the reviews
just to confirm that we made the right decision by buying
the game.
I am sure that if I made a graph with the correlation
between game reviews and sales, it would show a positive
correlation, but it would not be true for all cases. My
best advice when it comes to trusting reviews is the same
as your stockbroker will tell you, DIVERSIFY! Read reviews
from different sources, ask what they say in the store, and
listen to friends/family. If you find a source that always
seems to think the same of games as you do, then go ahead
and add that to your "trusted reviewer list". I have
already added SWW and a few others to my "trusted reviewer
list" and when in doubt I will not let all the advertising
hype and rumors get to me, I will wait for a review before
I buy a game. I advice you to do the same, and I hope that
we here at SWW can help you in that process.
Feel free to comment on this article, or ask my opinion on
just about any game (I have played a lot, both for PC and
consoles). The good thing about gaming magazines (with
reviews) is that we can bring them to the beach, on the
boat, or wherever we go and actually get some fresh air and
work on that summer tan, (no, the radiation from your
monitor or TV does not count :-p) sometimes I even print
SWW and read it outside on my lunchbreak.
<<.>> Letter about last week's article from Chris Brown:
(this is an edited summary of his e-mail)
"I know that everyone is trying to make an all in 1 system,
but whatever happened to the days when you wanted to make a
great gaming system, not a DVD player/mp3 player/receiver/
cable converter game system?"
My Reply:
When it comes to the all in 1 machine, I still think that's
what will happen. We must realize that many of the people
that buy the PS2, DC, GameCube, or X-Box are not hardcore
gamers, as a matter of fact I am willing to bet most of
them are not. And even though you and I just want the
ultimate gaming console, most people will look for more
functionality in their hardware. And from a parent's point
of view, getting a gaming machine for the kids and a DVD
player for themselves might just seem to good to pass up.
<<.>> Comments?
Direct your comments, flames, ideas, or thoughts to me at
ceo@flexicorp.com
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-- Websites to Visit Page 3 --
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<<.>> The GameBrain Network - http://www.thegamebrain.net
Sega Sony Nintendo Xbox PC&Mac Anime. News, reviews,
forums, columns, and more! For our re-opening we have FREE
game/anime wallpaper for your computer!
<<.>> United Games Fanzine - http://www.unitedgames.co.uk
Why?
Because email will never be as exciting as post.
<<.>> Play AS MANY Games as you WANT this SUMMER!
- http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?adux+A2cvBw+sumunrenprog.html
Red Octane's summer unlimited rental program membership
entitles you to 3 months of unlimited game rentals, 3 Free
issues of Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine, and more!
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-- Weekly News Page 4 --
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<<.>> The Unreal Tournament... erm... Tournament
So you think your da man at Unreal Tournament don't ya? (or
da girl). Well it's time to put a rocket launcher where
your mouth is, and enter Sega's online tournament.
"The Grandmasters: Unreal Tournament" began on June 6th,
and will continue to run for four weeks, ending on July
3rd.
Rankings are ordered through a ladder style scoreboard,
leaving you constantly fighting for that one next frag that
could take you up a place. Then on July 3rd if your in the
top 64, you'll go to the playoffs which begin on Sunday,
July 8th. The winner will wash the blood and body parts
off, and claim the title of the "Ultimate Grand Master."
There's a genuine leather, classic black, UT branded
jacket to be won, plus SegaNet Championship and Unreal
Tournament shirts, and finally UT medallions, and a UT
beanie!
So sign up for your license to frag today (it's free after
all) at http://grandmasters.sega.net
<<.>> Even more Crazzzzzy Taxi 2...
The game is already out, but Hitmaker are still revealing
more goodies! A few weeks ago we linked you to a cardboard
Taxi model, and then this week they added videos of the
original drivers in Crazy Taxi 2, which you can unlock
through the mini-games, and also a bunch of new
wallpapers. Check out Hitmakers site below.
http://ct2.hitmaker.co.jp/pc/ct2_gifts.html
<<.>> Sega Europe gets New Head
Sega Europe announced that Yoshio Sakai will become their
new President and COO this week. Yoshio Sakai succeeds
Kazutoshi Miyake, who stepped down as COO after eight years
with Sega to pursue other interests within the industry.
Mr Sakai, who has been a main board director at Sega for
five years and is also a director of Isao, Sega's Japan
based network company, will move to London with his wife
and operate out of Sega Europe's west London Headquarter
building.
"This is a challenging time for Sega Europe, the transition
from a hardware business to a multi platform business
continues and I have a great deal to do in restructuring
Sega Europe for a profitable future.", Sakai commented, "My
first task will be to develop a business model in line with
our new multi platform strategy and I will be looking to
ensure that our invaluable know-how is redirected in the
most productive manner. I am delighted that I will benefit
from the guidance of Kazutoshi Miyake who will remain at
Sega as a consultant to me in this transition stage."
With no offence to Mr Sakai, it's a shame they didn't try
and put a person who already lives in Europe on the job
first.
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-- Red Hot Rumors Page 5 --
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<<.>> Sega at the Movies
With Sherk, Monsters Inc, and of course the Final Fantasy
Movie all coming out this year, it's clear computer
animation has earned it's self a solid place in the movie
industry. Now rumor has is that Sega is expanding into that
area themselves.
Wether it's fully blown cinema style movies (which
perhaps Sega shouldn't be spending their money on right
now), or just small cartoons and films, we don't know, but
we'll keep an eye on this, and of course bring you news if
any Sega animation is revealed. In the mean time, perhaps
some Sega fans will write a script for Panzer Dragoon
movie...
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-- Lik-Sang Lowdown Page 6 --
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<<.>> Earn US$ 10.5 off every sale!
- http://www.lik-sang.com/
You have your own web site? You can become a Lik-Sang.com
affiliate and earn real cash. By putting a link on your
web site, we will pay you US$ 10.5 every time a customer
you referred makes a purchase with us! Talk about easy
money!
- Place your links online now, we have 1000+ hot video
game products to sell
- Each of your sales is US$ 10.5, guaranteed!
Join for free:
http://www.lik-sang.com/?click=con,Affiliates,sww
<<.>> Classics Selection
8bit, 16bit or 32bit? There are a lot of classic products
around for the Famicom (NES), Super Famicom (Super NES),
Mega Drive, Saturn and other consoles. Definitively worth
a look for all collector and classical video game freaks.
We still carry items you can hardly find anywhere else.
For example the Famicom Game Axe, a handheld console that
plays 8bit Famicom (NES) games.
http://www.lik-sang.com/catalog/product_list.php?category=12
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-- Sega Downloads Page 7 --
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<<.>> Sonic hits MTV
Well not really, but he's on his way. Check out this site
below, the final in our three weeks of "Sega Downloads",
for Sonic Music Videos! We're not kidding, there's almost
20 different videos to be downloaded there...
http://www.planetdreamcast.com/sonic/sonic/4/index.html
The site is also jam packed full of Sega wallpapers (over
200!), screen savers, programs, desktop themes, skins,
icons... and more. Now this is the reason we started the
Sega Downloads page!
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-- Question and Answer Page 8 --
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Do you have a question for your Sega know-it-all? Simply
e-mail in your questions to Ross at zondaro@usa.net and
look for the answers soon in an issue of Sega World Weekly.
We are unable to personally reply to all emails.
You can also post your questions online, via our forum
which we all check regularly at...
http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
Next week: Gameboy Advance Ponderings?
<<.>> Sad Truth of the Dreamcast'd
Q) AAAAARRRGGGHHH!! Not Half-Life too. What is this? It
seems that every game I have been looking forward to
isn't going to come out. Maybe it is consolation for
some folks that these games will be coming to the X-Box,
PS2 or PC. However, I can't afford to upgrade my PC to
play games or buy any of the new consoles. It looks like
I won't be playing Half-Life, Soul Reaver 2, etc.
I didn't write so that I could just complain I know that
you don't own Sega. What I want to ask: With all the
cancellations what are the chances that we will get any
of the games that are slated for a third or fourth
quarter release? I specifically have been dying for a
new NHL game, will NHL2K2 actually come out? With the
playoffs about to end I need my hockey fix. Thanks.
- Travis Stafford
A) Its just the sad truth that not all of the games Sega
promised for Dreamcast will actually come out before the
end comes. Sorry. I got the feeling that if they weren't
showing it at E3, then it wasn't coming to DC. That said
they did promise NHL2k2, even showing some footage next
to a DC. Along with a new baseball game that as the Sega
reps went out of their way to promise won't suck like
the last one.
<<.>> Two Times the Fun of Two
Q) I've heard that Capcom vs SNK 2 is coming out on PS2.
Is this true? Is there a version of this game for the
Dreamcast? Thanks. - Alessandro Dimauro
A) Yup. Chalk up another DC game that should be, going to
another system. However, given Capcom's support of Sega
I wouldn't be surprised if CvS2 comes out on DC. However
you might have to import it.
<<.>> Emulating an Emulator
Q) I have a friend who says that he knows another guy who
can put classic games like Contra, Super Mario Bros,
Donkey Kong Country, etc... on a Dreamcast disk. Now I
know that sounds crazy so I was wondering could you get
the inside scoop on this new discovery. - Ojieh O.
A) Yes, its possible. There are a lot of hack/programming
sites up for Dreamcast. I would suspect that more will
appear after March 2002. You can also find Quake1 on
some of these sites, but don't ask me where they are.
Because, SWW does not support or condone emulation.
<<.>> Still Waiting...
Q) Would you or Graham know whether or not Grandia 2 is
going to get a release in New Zealand? It's already out
in Britain. Skies of Arcadia is out soon but none of the
stores seem to know much about a local release of
Grandia 2. The same goes for the Sega Smash Pack (which
I don't hold much hope for.) - Richard
A) Tails - Indeed, Grandia 2 seems to have disappeared off
the face of our release schedules here. That's really
strange, but these days you could probably order a copy
online from the UK, and including shipping still pay a
great price. Same with the states (even with our
terrible exchange rate!), but you'd also have to find a
Gameshark or Boot CD. Sorry we couldn't be more help on
that, but it seems almost no 3rd party titles are coming
to NZ anymore.
<<.>> All Capital Letters Boy
Q) ANY NEWS ON BASS FISHING?!!
- David Saucedo
A) No. But, I did see a copy up and running on a Dreamcast
at E3.
Make all checks payable to - zondaro@usa.net
Join in our forum - http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
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-- Letters of the Week Page 9 --
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Do you have an opinion who wish to share with all the
readers of Sega World Weekly? Simply e-mail in your
thoughts to zondaro@usa.net and look for them in an issue
of Sega World Weekly. Letters will be edited for length.
You can also post your letters and thoughts online at our
forum... http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
Hot Topic: Paying to Play PSOv2
Cold Topic: Reviews on Short Games
Next Topic: Please, more PSOv2 letters!
<<.>> Paying for Less Lag
I think it is actually good news that Sega is charging to
pay and play PSO. This is of course if the fee is
reasonable, the money actually goes to server maintenance,
things like bad lag, cheating, BSOD etc, and not to pay for
ports to other systems. I know what I will do and in a way
encourage a lot of the people who say they won't buy it to
just hold off awhile and see what they do with the servers
if the message boards get the word that the lag is gone and
etc. That maybe the 10-20 bucks a month is worth having
this game in a form where its a lot easier to enjoy.
- Cory Willard(Canadian)
[Well, I'm not sure how much of the money will go to
reducing the lag. I'm pretty sure most of it will go
to funding Ops who will try to crack down on illigal
hacking. Also, I don't think it will be more then $10
a month. - Zondaro]
<<.>> playability vs Playing Time
If Crazy Taxi has only short term playability, as all of
the reviews at the time stated. Then why am I still able to
bring it out and play it and still enjoy it? And why do all
the new reviews of the PS2 version claim "it's still great
fun but has short term playability" If they're still
enjoying it then doesn't it have extremely long term
playability? It still seems as fresh today as it ever did
to me.
- Glen Mackie
[I don't think many people would claim that CT isn't a
fun game. I think rather the reviewers are just saying
that the amount of time you can play at one sitting
isn't that much. It can get boring after awhile. Once
you've played it for half an hour, you've pretty much
seen all there is. Long term playability would be an
RPG. Still, the CT is fun and its always nice to pull
it out every now and then for a quick trip around town.
- Zondaro]
[It sure is Zondaro, in fact if there's one game that's
made the most come backs in my Dreamcast console, it's
Crazzzzzy Taxi. - Tails]
Anyone want to send me a Gameboy Advance? - zondaro@usa.net
Join in our forum - http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
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-- Support Sites Page 10 --
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Sega World Weekly goes out to 40,000 gamers every week, but
how did we get so many people signed up? With the help of
these websites, that's how...
<<.>> System Zero - http://system-zero.com
As game music goes well beyond the beeps and bleeps of the
past and into the soundtrack quality tracks we hear today,
Perfect Zero becomes one of THE most important sites for
game fans. Hosting hundreds of MP3s from different games,
turn up those speakers and click that link.
<<.>> DC-United - http://dc-united.com
The Premiere Dreamcast Community, DC-United.com gives you
the ability to view members online, build your own
homepage, send messages, read in-depth reviews, and much
more. DCU Network Members are also eligible for various
monthly prizes.
<<.>> The Next Level - http://www.the-nextlevel.com
The Next Level is a multi-platform gaming magazine focused
on current and upcoming next-generation systems. We provide
up-to-date news, in-depth reviews, reader reviews,
intriguing editorials, and more.
<<.>> PSY Online - http://www.consolereviews.net
PSY Online is a multiformat reviews website specialising in
the Sega Dreamcast console. With 24/7 updated news, forums
and chat, its a great place to hang out for Sega fans.
<<.>> Future Gamez - http://www.futuregamez.net
What ever console your looking for, Future Gamez have them
all. From Dreamcast to GameCube, and X-Box to Playstation
2. So get your news, reviews, previews, and more at Future
Gamez, and stay on top of all systems.
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-- Credits Page 11 --
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O Editor: Graham "Tails" Parker - Madcow@ihug.co.nz
O Q&A / Letters: Ross Fisher - Zondaro@usa.net
O Staff Writer: Michael Monahan - Mikelad1@aol.com
O Staff Writer: Chris Heggelund - Heggelun@pilot.msu.edu
<<.>> http://www.segaworldweekly.com/ - Our Website
<<.>> http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/ - Our Forum
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<<.>> How many reasons to get a Dream Connection 2in1 do
you need ?
- You want to connect your PC Keyboard to your Dreamcast ?
- You want to connect your WIRELESS PC Keyboard to your DC?
- You would like to prepare for OutTrigger meanwhile ?
- The last Quake battle damaged your original Sega Mouse/
Keyboard ?
- There is no good looking Dreamcast Keyboard ?
- You like BLUE ?
Dream Connection 2in1:
http://www.lik-sang.com/?click=pi,4,716,sww
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Copyright 1998-2001 Graham Parker - Madcow@ihug.co.nz
No parts may be copied without prior permission or correct
credit where due. There should probably be a pile of other
legal lines here, but please just play nice and don't
steal, lol! Thanks for reading Sega World Weekly!
Well there goes that plan of getting a sun tan while
writing Sega World Weekly :(
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