Simply a fantastic post (both, actually). Thank you.

I like your style.

Add a new Panzer Dragoon RPG and Sega would've STOLE the show UNQUESTIONABLY.

His answer to Shenmue makes me think they are INVESTIGATING the possibility, though there is nothing to talk about. I believe that to be true. But he didn't say its dead.

What I didn't like is he said "one of the most requested fanboy games". Its not just fanboy. I'm not a fanboy of the series, but I enjoyed the world it created and would like to see the story resolved and gameplay elements explored further. I think relegating the requests to "fanboys" is wrong.

Then again, he may have a different definition than I as to what a fanboy is ...

Now they need a show to make up for it. The return of ... SPACEWORLD???!!!

She has one of the absolute most beautiful faces that I've ever seen. And one of the blandest bodies I've ever seen. You win some ....

I actually said that like I wanted to know hard numbers on how OTHER RPG's sell other than FF and DQ. We all know they sell on a level that is without JRPG peer. I'm not insinuating that others don't sell, though. Just wonder what's the sales expectation for 'other' titles.

??????????? Are you serious? MGS alone has Too Human, Viva Pinata Trouble in Paradise, Fable II, Gears of War 2 and Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts coming THIS year. Next year we should have Halo Wars, Alan Wake and the PJ Halo project. How are they, as you said and I quote, "They have become money hungry for this casual market and have abandoned their core fan almost wholesale to try and get more and more of it"?????????

Seriously, how could you even type such a thing??? Is this a complete and utter joke? Please, PLEASE tell me it is, because if its not it is among the most incorrect statements that I have ever read on these comment pages.

Sorry if this seems like an attack, but ...

What I don't understand is why when a system has a ton of the games that your region and culture love you STILL refuse to buy it. And by 'you' I mean the Japanese console gamer.

I'd love to see sales of JRPG's in Japan that aren't called Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest. I wonder how they do.

Am I the only one, though, that walked away from this thinking that he hinted at a actual price cut this year?

Fortunately, MS will likely show something at X08 and Sony at TGS. Is Nintendo officially done with Spaceworld, though?

I need to see/know more to get excited, but I've been intrigued ever since I saw the quad-core footage from like 2 years ago.

I say REAL bad. Seriously, a month before release ala Crackdown and Too Human. People need to really get a taste of this game (these 15-20 minute expo experiences just aren't doing it) to see what its about and, most importantly, if its for them.

@kojirodensetsu:
Thank you for bringing a comment free of console extremism. The PS3 IS doing better, but let's be realistic here about the future. The 360 is not going anywhere, has a great line up of games coming, a possible price cut this holiday and growing appeal in the online sector. And it sounds like next year will see a new Halo title, possibly Peter Jackson's Halo project, possibly Mass Effect II, Star Ocean 4, Alan Wake, Halo Wars, the list goes on and on.

Folks, MS is here to stay and will not concede to Sony or anyone. And Sony will not concede either. They both will continue to fight and scrap and make it hard for us to spend our time and money anywhere outside of gaming. So please, just grow up and stop the fanboy comments. Folks like koji and I really tire of it.

AGAINST: MGS4 proves that it is not one of the elite franchises, as its sales fall far below initial sales of numerous titles released during this generation such as GTA IV, Mario Kart Wii, Halo 3, Gears of War, Super Smash Bros Brawl and Call of Duty 4. With worldwide sales likely near 2.5 million, and large drop offs in sales, it would be interesting to be a fly on the wall of Konami and find out if these sales are impressive, neutral or disappointing. As a title that is very important for Konami's financials, it'll be interesting to see how things play out.

B) Maybe they're not as bad as Fahey says but just very different from the other levels.

C) Maybe my dreams are slowing being crushed in front of me and I'm in typical denial ...

Shenmue III would be a thank you to ridiculously loyal Sega fans and, if you develop it right (Yakuza series, GTA, and Bully have paved the way), it could be a really BIG game too. Plus it would give them an excuse to re-release the others on VC, XBLA or PSN.

They should give some solid reasons why not instead of just saying "no plans right now".

Home is sounding more and more like an idea that Sony is stubbornly holding on to as a brilliant way to separate them from MS and Nintendo in the online space. Just because it separates doesn't mean its a good idea. I'm pretty positive that most PS3 owners would rather have the development effort and resources moved to something that has a more tangible benefit than what Home is offering.

They scrapped 8 days and The Getaway. Why not this?

And as for the press conferences, MS had the one that didn't suck as much as the others. Nobody actually 'won'.

Yeah ... dunno what to say. It turns me more away from the game, but I'm sure I'm in the minority.

Oh well ...

As for Nintendo, they are making money right now. Its hard to see long term when you're making that much money, but I honestly feel the Wii is a fad. Its a fad that will last THIS ENTIRE GEN and continue to make huge money, but will these people REALLY come back next gen and do this all over again? The core gamer will be back. You can't minimize them.

That doesn't bode well for me with this game ...

Couldn't sit through the parody, though. His voice grated.

My big question, though, is why NOT release it in Japan? No localization need take place, so all of the heavy lifting will be already done. Is it because they wouldn't be able to release it simultaneously with the PS3 one? With the WEALTH of JRPG's available on the system, it would stand to reason that being able to purchase FFXIII on it as well would definitely BOOST sales a lot in Japan, maybe even close to weekly PS3 numbers (which were never THAT high anyway).

Cut. Price CUT. Stupid brain ...

The REAL price will (speculation) come later in the year when we get our $229 Arcade, $299 60g Pro and our $379 Elite ...

For now, I'm glad that the old marketplace is still there. But its VERY FRUSTRATING that Sony Pictures movies will never be there. That's why Sony owning a movie studio is such a conflict of interest. It'd be like MS not letting their OS be used on Sony computers. Yet, here we are ...

And am I the only one that feels the FP perspective actually takes away from the parkour experience?

The COMPETITION during this gen has some wonderful aspects as these results. Looking forward to the new XBL.

I've never played a game like this before. No Diablo or any of its kind. I was curious about this, but not excited. But I found myself eager to get my hands on it because of the history of the games development and the constant discussion among the internet community.

Well, I've played the demo and I must say ...... I liked it! But not at first, really. It took a while for things to start clicking. For the combat mechanics to make a bit more sense. For the RPG elements to clearly show themselves.

One thing that grabbed me immediately was the STORY PRESENTATION, though. It never came off well in trailers and things I've seen online, but in the demo it all works TREMENDOUSLY well. There are even little things thrown in to give surprising dramatic weight to the events. The cinematics are well done, though not among the best I've seen. The graphics and animation and sound are all fairly good as well. It doesn't wow in those departments, but it doesn't dull the senses either.

All in all, I'm pleasantly surprised and intrigued at this point. In fact, I found myself HUGELY disappointed once I reached the END of the demo. I wanted to play more. Isn't that the best feeling that a demo can leave you with?

I'll wait for a confirmation and more info first, but I'm pretty much "meh" for now.

$229 Arcade?
$299 Pro?
$379 Elite?