Newsletter: Sega World Weekly issue 131
From Video Game Morgue File
_________________________________________________________
/ \
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. 131 May 7th 2001 ~~
Proudly sponsored by http://www.levelsix.com/
\_________________________________________________________/
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Please Support Our Sponsors Intro --
\_________________________________________________________/
<<.>> Light Gun - Buy one for Confidential Mission!
- http://www.levelsix.com/
This small light gun is the perfect solution for tired
arms, but that doesn't mean it's small on features. Packing
a built-in rumble feature, including recoil rumble (which
can be turned on/off with a switch), Auto-fire and
Auto-reload modes, a flashing LED light and four buttons
along with the D-pad. This gun would be perfect for the
upcoming Confidential Mission!
- http://www.levelsix.com/
> Share your thoughts online now at our brand new forum:
-- http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
> Sega World Weekly is best read in the Courier New font.
For past issues see http://www.SegaWorldWeekly.com/
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Editors Comments Page 1 --
\_________________________________________________________/
Almost 150 messages have been posted on our forum over the
past week, which is a brilliant start! Thanks to all those
who registered, and I hope you're all enjoying the place.
Over the past week we'll talked about Jet Grind Radio 2 on
the Dreamcast, Sonic on the Gamecube, Phantasy Star Online
V2, Dance Dance Revolution stages, Crazy Taxi 2, a Chao VMU
Editor, and new Shining Force games just to name a few
topics.
It's fast become a great place to talk with other readers,
and it only takes a few seconds to sign up (it doesn't cost
anything either, and we don't try to force you on to other
mailing lists, heh).
You can join today, or look around as a guest, all from...
http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
Now onto this weeks issue, we have a cover feature on game
music, pitting the classic old bleeps vs modern cd songs.
It's a battle that might not end like you'd expect and one
that will result in you listening to your games in a new
way. Then this week's topic for letters is something that
has been a concern in the industry for a little while now:
[ Will arcades still be the same in five years? ]
- Email zondaro@usa.net or...
Visit our forum at http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
Finally if you've enjoyed reading Sega World Weekly, please
remember to visit the store at http://www.levelsix.com/
Thanks, and Happy Gaming,
- Graham "Tails" Parker (Editor)
/\ /\
|| C O N T E N T S ||
|| ||
|| 2 - Cover Story ||
|| 3 - Weekly News ||
|| 4 - Red Hot Rumors ||
|| 5 - E3 2001 Coverage ||
|| 6 - Level Six Low-down ||
|| 7 - Question & Answer ||
|| 8 - Letters ||
|| 9 - Our Support Sites ||
|| 10 - Credits ||
\/ \/
HOT QUOTE this issue: "Have you got any questions you want
asked to the developers at E3?"
-- E3 2001 Coverage - Page 5
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Cover Story Page 2 --
\_________________________________________________________/
<<.>> Videogame Music - Old vs New
-- Written by Graham Parker
Do do, do-do... Do do, do-do... The theme song from the
first ever videogame I played is just as fresh in my mind
as the #1 song off the charts last night. Yes the music of
Alex the Kidd in Miracle World made just as big of an
impact on me as the gameplay it's self, and so began the
tradition that lasts today with titles like Jet Grind Radio
and Shenmue.
Music and Sound is one of the four major categories in
Which games are rated with in most reviews. It's right up
there with graphics, gameplay, and lastability, yet often
you can see games with flashy graphics but with a
soundtrack just slapped right on. Such a waste.
The background music of videogames is all too often left as
just that, background music. Something that doesn't even
try to stand out, or enhance the game. From that guy
singing "Daytonnnnaaaaaaaaa", although some would argue
that doesn't count as "singing", to the perfectly placed
notes in Tomb Raider, chances are game music has touched
you at some stage or another. Maybe it was the monks
chanting away in the background of Sonic 3D Blast, or that
ending song to NiGHTS you'll never forget.
Along with the massive storage space of a CD came it's
amazing sound capabilities. Getting rid of those beeps n'
bleeps for good, locking them all in a box, getting Taka
Arashi to sit on it, and Sonic to run away with the key.
But was that entirely a good thing?
CD quality sound is without a doubt top of the game,
opening doors for classics like Panzer Dragoon. But using
Sonic Adventure as an example, gone are the catchy tunes of
the past, instead replaced by different music. You could
instantly recognize each zone in the old Sonic games just
from it's music, however that just doesn't work in Sonic
Adventure.
Not saying it's just the beeps that make a tune memorable
however, not in the slightest. On the occasional game, like
the Sonic titles, why can't quality sound exist with the
catchy style and tunes? Sonic Team pulled this off with
NiGHTS, and really went all out with the Saturn's sound
chip, programming the music to change depending on the mood
of the Nightopian A-Life creatures living in each level.
Yet after NiGHTS Sonic Team went into full CD music, in a
very different direction. Was there no place for tunes like
in the past anymore?
For Sonic in particular, the ever changing music of NiGHTS
could be used to great success by making the music speed up
as Sonic runs faster. Thus enhancing the sense of speed and
then the gameplay it's self. Or CD quality music in Chu Chu
Rocket that gets more insane as the action in game does.
We're talking about reactive music.
Surely these next generation machines have enough power to
do more than simply stream pre-made music off a CD/DVD.
Developers have been impressing gamers with their graphics
for years, and there's no doubt more original titles have
been coming out in this past year or so, but how about
putting a little of that creativity into the music. Perhaps
Yuji Naka needs to listen to the Marble Hill and Starlight
Zone tunes again. Wouldn't the Ice Cap zone from Sonic 3
make a great song? One music guru has already proved it
would from a perfect MP3 remix. It doesn't sound old, it
doesn't sound beepy, it certainly doesn't sound like
trash... but it does sound like Sonic.
So when was the last time you felt a huge smile grow across
your face while listening to music in a game? When did you
last feel the need to just start flicking your fingers in
time to the music of your favourite game (looking pretty
silly but who cares)?
Sure that style doesn't fit every game, but it would be
nice to see more games where the developers have clearly
spent time on the music. Where they didn't hand the game to
a composer and say go, but where the designers of the game
had a hand in the design of it's music themselves.
Now what ever your thoughts on videogame music, we want to
hear them! Please post your view online at our forum:
http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
And it's while listening to the ending theme of Sonic 2
this writer wishes we one day hear what the powers of a
next generation sound chip, CD quality sound, and classic
creativity can come together to produce.
Finally a special note goes out to Richard Jacques, the man
behind the tunes of Sonic 3D Blast, Sonic R, Shinobi X,
Darxide, F1 Challenge (Europe only), Euro '96, Daytona CCE,
Worldwide Soccer '98, Sega Touring Car Championship, and
most recently Metropolis Street Racer. It's sad news to
hear that with Sega Europe's cut backs Richard had to leave
Sega. Personally I see that like losing one of their top
game designers, and I wish Richard luck with his future,
hopefully still in game music.
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Weekly News Page 3 --
\_________________________________________________________/
<<.>> Jet Grind Radio 2
In an interview with NGeners Peter Moore was asked about
the upcoming sequel of Jet Grind Radio, wether or not it
was still coming to the Dreamcast. In a reply that's sure
to please fans, "Jet Grind 2 is ready for the Dreamcast".
The full interview can be read online at:
http://hub.ngenres.com/sega_pres_interview.html
<<.>> VMU Chao Editor Released
Alessandro Sanasi who is a great home VMU programmer (we
interviewed him about VMU Pac man a little while ago) has
now come out with a Chao Editor. It can be used right on
your VMU, and allows people to set/modify basically
everything on a Chao that their heart desires: Type, Color,
Stats, Inventory, Animal Mods, Affection, and lots more,
all done with easy-to-understand text menus. And best of
all, you can even create 'Second Evolution' Chao, like for
example a fully-developed NiGHTS or Sonic Chao.
There's full details and the download on his website...
http://www.franken.de/users/deco/myfiles/editor.html
Which is also host to many other VMU titles!
<<.>> Are you a Sega World Weekly Insider? (a joke)
Following the moves of several websites, Sega World Weekly
will soon offer an Insider Service! For $19.95 a month
you'll get exclusive coverage and treatment like no one
else (because you might be the only person to ever sign
up!).
Along with exclusive interviews and news added to each
issue (wait, does that mean we've been slacking off these
past years?), you'll get a live webcam view of me typing up
each issue of Sega World Weekly on my keyboard. Now let me
take this time to remind you, it's only $19.95 a month for
all this! Wow! But wait, there's still more...
You'll receive Extra Issues of Sega World Weekly, yes you
know the ones, like we did early this year with more
adverts and also the content that wasn't good enough for
regular printing :) But best of all, these issues will
include contests where you can win amazing prizes! (actual
prizes may just be trash we find laying around... oh like
this Dead or Alive 2 that doesn't boot up anymore, and my
old Master System II box that's all broken down the side!
Brilliant!!)
Every week you can read our Roundtable discussion where us,
the editors and writers of Sega World Weekly think up new
ways to make money.
Then you'll be able to use our new forums, and wait for
it... have the power to post those little smiley graphics
instead of a :) This will revolutionize your message board
experience! Girls will pay more attention to you, you'll be
the envy of every expressionless gamer, and your life will
never be the same again!!
Plus much much more... (one or two items that certainly
weren't worth mentioning in the list here.)
But don't take our word for it, just see what one of our
happy members had to say... "SWW Insider is brilliant! It
was so worth my $19.95 a month! To think I was going to buy
some actual games with that money... when I could spend it
here and read how the editors are enjoying the games I
could have had. The best $19.95 I ever spent!" (isn't it
great how sarcasm isn't so obvious in emails?)
So how can you resist not signing up today? Simply send your
credit card number, cheque, bank draft, cash, spare change,
or anything we can pawn to our head office (my house, where
I live with my mum) now! ...No, I'm serious, send ANYTHING,
we need money NOW for all the new consoles coming out this
year!!
p.s No offence to IGN or Segaweb, the service is better than
you ending up like Daily Radar, but... yeah well...
<<.>> Outrun Returns
It's happened to NiGHTS, to Samba De Amigo, to Chu Chu
Rocket, and now Sonic Team announced their next Cellphone
game, Outrun. The team have made this new version, and
from the two screens at http://www.sega.co.jp/segamode/ it
looks like they have done a very good job with a cellphone!
A version of Space Harrier can also be found here,
http://www.sonicteam.com/sonic_cafe/h_04.html and looks
like a pity these games can't be played over the net.
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Red Hot Rumors Page 4 --
\_________________________________________________________/
<<.>> Sonic Cubed!
Sonic Team are certainly more than interested in Nintendo
and their new hardware, having been confirmed to be
working on several new titles. But this week rumors have
it that one of those titles is the big blue hedgehog
himself, Sonic! (but I guess you already figured that from
the headline, heh)
Anyway Sonic is already coming to the Gameboy Advance next
month, as a US launch title, so an E3 announcement of Sonic
on the Gamecube and being compatible with the Gameboy
title doesn't seem so out of the question anymore.
Perhaps Sonic will be a launch title going against Mario,
but what ever is going to happen, it's almost certain we'll
hear big news on Sega's mascot either at the E3, or next
month on his 10th birthday. After all Sonic Team did
promise something exciting for his big 10.
Here comes another plug for the forum, heh -
http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- On the Road to E3 2001 Page 5 --
\_________________________________________________________/
<<.>> E3 Show Updates
-- 1 1/2 weeks to go!
-- You Decide What We Cover!
What games do YOU want to see at this years E3 show? Who do
you want us to talk to? What free stuff do you want us to
grab? :) Which console are you most interested in reading
about?
Do you want more shots of the actual show, or the games?
Have you got any questions you want asked to the developers
at E3?
Working with Gamecube Weekly, in just one and half weeks
we'll be there on the show floor representing you! Please
send in your E3 coverage ideas and requests to
e3trip@gamecubeweekly.com or post them online at our forum:
http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
-- E3 on DVD
For the past two years NextGenVideos have produced an E3
Video, then a VideoCD, and now in 2001 a DVD. Having
received both previous years videos, we can personally say
these guys know how to deliver for gamers. Now they have
the chance to pack two hours of footage onto a DVD, on the
"100% Unofficial E3 2001 DVD".
> Over 2 hours
> Video Interviews with leading Publishers and Developers
> Over 30 Featured Developers
> Region Free encoding for international compatibility
Complete with all the game footage, the DVD also has
interviews with developers, footage from over 30 different
companies booths, and even Dolby Surround Sound! The disc
will be released on the second week of June, and can be
pre-ordered for AUS$24.95 (about US$13) plus shipping
(AUS$5, US$3). The pre-order forms are here...
http://e3dvdorders.nextgenvideos.com
Now without sounding like a payed advert here, you can find
more information on the DVD at there website...
http://www.nextgenvideos.com/expos/e32001faq.htm
-- Over 750 new games!
According to the latest ISDA report, this year's E3 will be
hosting more than 750 "never-before-seen" video games and
related products, according to an exhibitor survey fielded
by the show's owner. The ISDA comments that about 400
companies, including 123 first-time E3Expo exhibitors will
showcase thousands of games and products at this year's
show, which will be held May 17th to 19th at the Los
Angeles Convention Center. We hope that our readers give us
a hand deciding which of those 750 games and products we
should drool over.
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Level Six Lowdown Page 6 --
\_________________________________________________________/
<<.>> L6 Special!
A new feature titled the "L6 Special" was added to the
website today. This is a continuous special that will
feature one item at a very low price. Only one item will be
featured at one time and the item can be featured for a
short time (one day) or a long time (weeks). This time
period will not be regular and will not be posted on the
site. As you can see from the first item on special, the
prices will be cut drastically (right now, the price is cut
from $10.95 to $5.45). The first item is for the
Playstation, a Mini DDR Controller.
<<.>> High Quality Maracas at a Low Price
- http://www.levelsix.com/
Wonder why you are not having much fun with Samba De Amigo
with just a hand-held controller? The answer can be found
with a set of maracas! These maracas have a longer cord
(2.6 meter) compared to the Sega brand maracas.
<<.>> Dreamcast Hais Joysticks - Packed With Features!!
- http://www.levelsix.com/
Some games just were not meant to be played with a handheld
controller. This joystick includes a VMU slot, built-in
rumbling, turbo and slow-mo buttons, a solid heavy base,
and five different colors to choose from. In stock now, so
order your big new Hais Joystick today at LevelSix.com
<<.>> PC Keyboard or Mouse on your Dreamcast?
- http://www.levelsix.com/
Forget aiming with a controller in Quake 3 Arena, now you
can use your PC mouse! The Total Control 5 lets you use a
normal scroll wheel mouse, an optical mouse, or a keyboard.
Full details on the website here, http://www.levelsix.com/
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Question and Answer Page 7 --
\_________________________________________________________/
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: E3 Pimping!
<<.>> Something for Nothing: Survivor Version
Q) Hi. First off, great newsletter! I've got a question in
regards to free ISP's. I live in Australia and was
wondering if any of the free ISPs that were described at
www.dreamcastfun.com work for us Aussies. Since we don't
have a local online game server. It seemed that most of
the sites were just for the US. Cheers! - Matt
A) Right now the internet is in a state of flux. The
marketing people finally figured out that paying For an
AD-Bar that results in less then 3% click thru business
is dumb. This is the reason a lot of game sites have
started going down, like Dailyradar.com. Free net
access is also drying up. When I started writing the
Q&A section there were a lot of free internet companies,
now there are less then a handful of good ones. Most of
the ones left don't work on the Dreamcast without quite
a bit of hassle. If you are outside of the USA its
almost impossible to find free service, sorry.
( www.zfree.co.nz works in NZ if anyone needs one here
though - Tails)
<<.>> Dreaming of Free Peripherals
Q) I've been thinking of ordering some DC peripherals from
Liksang but I've noticed you don't support it anymore,
does it mean that they're not leaving their customers
satisfied? - Eric Pedraza
A) Tails - "No, certainly not. Levelsix.com are our
sponsors at the moment. But I have personally got
products from both those import stores, and can say
they're great. And that's being totally honest, not
just because they are advertisers."
<<.>> Dreamcast'in on the Go
Q) Is there a product out there that allows you to use the
screen of a laptop to view and play DC games?
- Bruce Malin
A) I'm not to sure about how laptop screens work. I know
that you can run the video signal out to a full monitor
on some of them, but running video-in is a different
story. If it supported VGA input then a standard VGA
Adaptor would work.
<<.>> The Short and Simple Question
Q) Would you consider posting Daytona Top Ten Online lists
in your newsletter? That would be sweet. - Paul
A) Sure. Right now the SWW PSO Clan page is down because
of all the E3 stuff, but after E3 we're looking to do
something like a Sega.net page. Any other ideas for such
a page?
<<.>> No More Quarters
Q) Will Sega keep making amazingly great arcade games like
Top Skater and Hydro Thunder? - Nic
A) I'm not sure about Top Skater, but I know that Hydro
Thunder is made by Midway. Despite the lagging near
death state of the Arcade industry, I would not be
surprised if Sega continued to make arcade games.
<<.>> Calming Fears of Capcom Fans Everywhere
Q) The release date of Project Justice was sometime in
March. But I am still waiting EBgames.com release date
is on 05/16/01. The release date keeps moving back. Is
this a bad thing? Thanks. - Stanley Rodriguez
A) By the time you read this the game should be on store
shelves.
Who knew it could be so cool? - zondaro@usa.net
Join in our forum - http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Letters of the Week Page 8 --
\_________________________________________________________/
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: Nintendo Still Kiddy
Now Dead Topic: Bob Malmet
<<.>> Just In: Canadian Girls Angry at American Guys
Bob Malmet, calm down...o.k..calm. Zondaro makes me mad
too, but you just have to let go. Why don't you two hack it
out at the forum instead of SWW. After all we are trying to
read it and we want to get the most info in fewest words.
That's why letters are altered. Besides you're fighting a
lost cause. I agree with ZOndaro on this one, an AR game
would suck! I think you are suffering from a lot of wishful
thinking.
- Angelina
I totally agree with Zondaro. Alien Resurrection does
suck, basically because it was made by Fox Interactive.
FYI: Fox Interactive will no longer be producing games in
other words they have closed their doors. That's why they
sold the Simpsons Wrestling to Activision 3 weeks before
its release. I guess making "quality games" like Fox Sports
Hoops, and Independence Day (all suck!) really helped them!
-Indy
<<.>> Is the Gamecube just a N64-2?
I think there is the possibility of the Gamecube going the
way of the N64 where it primarily targeted the younger
market with just a few mature games that older gamers can
enjoy such as Goldeneye and Perfect Dark.
I fear that Nintendo will let Xbox and PS2 battle it out
for the number 1 position while Nintendo target their games
to a younger audience with stacks of cutesy platform titles
and "party games". Do you think Nintendo is really aiming
at reclaiming their videogame throne that they once held
with the NES and Super Nintendo or will they settle for
the Pokeman market and raking in huge profits from Gameboy?
Unless Nintendo changes, I think that Gamecube will be
plagued with the same problem that N64 had, it that will
it eventually have AAA titles, but they will be very few
and far between. For example to have a great Gamecube
collection like Metroid, Mario 128, Perfect Dark 2 and
Zelda, it may take 2-3 years after the consoles launch
before all these titles make it out and in the meantime
there will only be a sprinkling of kiddie games.
- Cheers, Matt
<<.>> Last Weeks Topic: Does Nintendo need to change?
I believe Nintendo may need to change. The average gamer is
older than before with the initial wave of people with the
NES have grown up and are still playing games. I feel
Nintendo needs to shake its "kiddy" image and become a more
serious all age game developer to stay on top. Except for
select few titles Nintendo never really has had that many
mature games made by a first-party studio. Many may argue
that The Legend of Zelda one of Nintendo's franchises in
not a kiddy game but it isn't exactly very violent or
mature, this is the same with many Nintendo franchises.
To stay on top Nintendo really needs to target older gamers
because Mommy isn't going to go out and buy little Johnny a
$200+ machine. So if Nintendo doesn't want to end up like
Sega, or not controlling the market share they need to
target everyone and not the kiddies hooked on Pokemon.
- Cory Willard
[Does Nintendo still need to be Number 1? They've been
behind the PSX every year for 5 years, and you know what?
They've been laughing all the way to the bank. Has Disney
grown up? We all grew up, did Disney movies grow up with
us? No. Just because a game looks cute, (Mario Tennis),
doesn't mean that its not fun. However, do look for
second-party Nintendo studios to make more mature games
for the Gamecube, and also expect more third-party games
thanks to the optical disk format. - ZOndaro]
Still begging to be forgiven by Canadians - zondaro@usa.net
Join in our forum - http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Support Sites Page 9 --
\_________________________________________________________/
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...
<<.>> 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.
<<.>> 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.
<<.>> 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.
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Credits Page 10 --
\_________________________________________________________/
O Editor: Graham "Tails" Parker - Madcow@ihug.co.nz
O Question & Answer: Ross Fisher - Zondaro@usa.net
O Staff Writer: Michael Monahan - Mikelad1@aol.com
O Staff Writer: Paulo Santos - Paulo@sega2000.net
<<.>> http://www.LevelSix.com - Our Sponsor
<<.>> http://www.segaworldweekly.com/ - Our Website
<<.>> http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/ - Our Forum
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
<<.>> PC Keyboard or Mouse on your Dreamcast?
- http://www.levelsix.com/
Forget aiming with a controller in Quake 3 Arena, now you
can use your PC mouse! The Total Control 5 lets you use a
normal scroll wheel mouse, an optical mouse, or a keyboard.
Full details on the website here, http://www.levelsix.com/
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
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!
Not that anyone would, but please don't ask to join the
Sega World Weekly Insider :)
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Please note the advert below is added on by our mailing
list, it's in no way connected to Sega World Weekly...
