ria_oaks: (Default)
ria_oaks ([personal profile] ria_oaks) wrote2006-11-14 01:53 pm

FF ramblings

I happened to check Rpgamer.com a few minutes ago and noticed that FFIII:DS comes out today (I haven't really been keeping track...). I'm probably just being too over-emotional, but this day feels rather historic in the RPG world - the last Final Fantasy that wasn't released in the US is finally here. I checked, and it's been approximately 16.5 years since FFIII was released in Japan - well, better late than never, I guess. XD I mean sure, I played it years ago on a translated ROM and I won't be buying this version anytime soon (lack of a DS... and lack of time to play. woe.), but it's still cool to think that it's here. It's sort of a pity that the original version of the game will never make it here, most likely (how hard would it have been to include the orignal version in the new game, really...?), but the new version looks pretty spiffy. Hopefully I'll get to play it someday.

3 FF games in the past 2 weeks, 2 of which are new to the US (FFXII and FFIII:DS) and one of which only ever made it here in a mangled fashion (FFV Advance) - makes me miss the days when I could play all the time... I haven't really been into gaming as much the last few years, largely because of a. lack of time during school, b. other interests take up my free time, and c. i'm lazy., but I still get excited hearing about games and still want to play when I get the chance. I'm way behind on all the games I'm playing, but I still plan to ask for either FFXII or Disgaea 2 for Christmas (leaning towards the latter - FFXII will be easy enough to find for years to come, and it'll get cheap fairly quickly, whereas Disgaea 2 will start disappearing soon...). I am sorely tempted by FFXII, though - it's been getting fantastic reviews, and hell, it's FFXII! We've been waiting for this game for years, and it's finally here... and I really can't justify the time or money to get it. Part of me, too, is still a bit uncertain about it - but most of the reviews have said that the game is nothing like (and much better than) anything we've seen of it to this point, including the demo. I plan to give it a chance eventually, but can't do it yet.

And... I'm procrastinating. Back to my Farscape paper... it's due tomorrow at 9, so I need to get moving. Up to 5 pages, need about 12 - and I'm still blathering on about the context, haven't even gotten to analysing the series itself! Ehehehe. baaack to work.

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-03 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
The feedback is fine, so I wouldn't worry about it being caseless... it's more a matter of, do you want a case? And as I said, there is possibly that other auction with the case, but I can't guarantee that it won't be expensive.. anyways, I'll watch the one tomorrow and we'll see.

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
I'm gonna assume the $26 one from last night is already over $100 or finished. >.>

But I'm going to have to step away from the computer for a while, so in the event that the auction is still within my price-range, I won't be around. So bid up to $60... no wait, what the hell, $70. *shrug*

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
Actually it doesn't end until tomorrow, sorry. I read it wrong. It's at $44, plus $20 shipping. Will likely go up, and that shipping is pretty steep... another one's at $51 and the shipping's only $4.50. That one ends Tuesday ~7.

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 06:09 am (UTC)(link)
And I'm back.

Ah, the shipping on that one pretty much negates any reason for not going after the ~$80 auctions.

I dunno; I guess if I really want this I have to spend more money. But spending money is the devil. Long live savings and investments!~

Exciting, no?

I'll probably end up taking the money and running, since new auctions will crop up and end up at around the $100 price-range, so this can go on indefinitely.

If you really want to buy me something, you can get me Swap Magic 3.6 from modchip.ca. They're reputable, but the only caveat is that they only accept credit card payments, and I'm not sure how comfortable you are with giving your number out. I'd pay up the difference since it'll come to around $30-35 including shipping. If not then that's fine. :p

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, unfortunately I suspect it's unrealistic to hope to get it at a low price. :( I'll keep checking eBay randomly, but it's unlikely.

Sure, I can get that for you if you want. Looks nifty. Would you prefer that or cash? I don't much care either way. I have no problem with giving my credit card # out online so long as it's a reputable seller, like you said, and hell, it gets me points on my card. ;) (i probably should be more concerned about doing it, but... oh well.) You said that you use something like this already, right? Is it an older version? And if so, can I have the old one if you get the new one? XD XD I can pay... esp if it plays illegal copies of games. ;) (I'm a terrible person, I know... but I'd probably only use it for really old rare games)

Anyway, let me know if you'd prefer this over cash, and I'll order it. :) No prob. Just email me your mailing address and I'll have it sent straight to you.

(you know, what I really wish for is something to emulate PSP and DS games... preferably something to let me play them on my TV. There are an increasing number of games for both that I want to play, but I don't want to buy both... and I don't like the idea of a tiny screen. But damn, I want to play the FFT remake. ^^ Not for awhile, though, I suppose, since I just replayed it. But it'd be awesome if one day we both got it and could play 2-player. :) I'd want to get Crisis Core, too, and the Valkyrie Profile remake. And prob the FFXII sequel. And.. whatever else there is, I can't remember. But on DS there's FFIII and IV remakes, so... waaah. Any word on good emulators for either yet?)

(not that I should be caring, anyway, considering the ridiculous number of games I have to finish first. Finished Giruvegan in FFXII, btw, and am now planning to do some hunts before going to Pharos. I might do some research on Gamefaqs, and see about good sidequests and shit to do to get better equipement and whatnot before I go in. Almost done, anyway, finally! Though I'll rather miss it, I suppose. Dull though the storyline is, it's fun to play. I may end up doing more side-stuff after all...)

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
I prefer the Swap Magic 3.6 over cash. While you're at it, you may as well add the Slide Card Tool to the order, because otherwise I'd have to cut up an expired credit card (or whatever) as a substitute, and I wouldn't trust sticking it into my PS2 to pull out the tray. >.>

Would it be possible to have it delivered to your house? Nobody is ever home in the mornings here. Once when I ordered something I had to go to the courier's Downtown warehouse to pick it up myself because the courier missed us twice. -_-

The ironic thing is (I think) is that with Swap Magic 3.6 I can play my burned copy of VP1 on my PS2. -_- Unfortunately it's not a good rip of the game as some voices are fucked up, but that might be the fault of the emulator I use.

Besides MAME (arcade emulator), I haven't kept up with the emulation scene. Last I checked, there were DS emulators in progress that could partially play games. But it's going to take a while.

The only worthwhile thing you should do in FFXII is to fight Gilgamesh. He's awesome. Battle On the Big Bridge is also awesome. And the fight takes place on a bridge. So yeah.

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
Righty oh. :) Sure, I'll order both. Shipping's only $2.50, I think, so it should come to maybe $35-37. I'll let you know when I go through the entire ordering process. Probably tomorrow; I'm tired right now... And sure, yeah, I'll get it sent here. Probably to Bowen, because then it'll just be kept at the post office with a slip sent to my box, as opposed to here where sometimes they leave the package on our front stoop. *eyeroll* We told them NOT to do that so they hopefully won't anymore, but still...

Ooh yeah, Gilgamesh... I'll have to go look up info on fighting him. If I have to level up to, like, level 80, I might skip it, though. ^^

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 06:47 am (UTC)(link)
Getting to level 99 only takes a few hours, and the most that's required from you is leaving and re-entering a room every few minutes. Still boring, though. I don't remember what level I was at when I fought Gilgamesh; I do remember that it was really hard, however. You should at least see his introduction.

All the courier does here is knock lightly, wait a second, and run off. They don't even notice our doorbell. I think they're on a tight schedule, but it still sucks to have them gone by the time you get to the door. -_-

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 06:55 am (UTC)(link)
Where's the levelling ground to do that? I've heard of some good ones, I think, but can't recall where. Anyway, I checked a guide and it said level 60+, which is doable in awhile for me... I'm around level 43-45 right now, and finding the storyline stuff pretty easy. Did some levelling, mostly to make money, in the Feywood, since you can chain Mirrorknights there and make a fair chunk of money quickly. :) Anyway, I'm going to go blast through some hunts, most of which are pretty old now so will be quite easy, then we'll see. Once I get to the harder stuff, I might wait until after Pharos so I can get better equipment and magic (I want Hastega... and Holy and Flare. All of which you get after Pharos). Not sure if I'll bother going after more Espers; frankly they've been pretty useless so far. I've used them maybe 2-3 times. And then, just to see what they did. But yeah, anyway, I want to see Gilgamesh - he's awesome. :) I was trying to recall which FFs he's been in, besides V. VIII and IX, I think? But where the heck was he in VIII? There's a Triple Triad card with him on it, I believe (I own a physical one in my card set...), but I don't remember him in the game. Was he a summon?

That's dumb. -_- Odd that they don't just put a slip in your mailbox and keep it at the post office? That's what they do for us now. Last time I had a package here I just got the slip in our box then went up to Parkgate.

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
Okay, see now I just spent like 20 minutes on Gamefaqs trying to figure out where Gilgamesh was in FFVIII... turns out he was a randomly appearing GF. Totally forgot about that. ^^ Didn't seem to have a card, though, even though I have on in my physical set. It's a Japanese set, though, so maybe there's only a card of him in the Japanese version.

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 07:10 am (UTC)(link)
It's in the Henne Mines, unfortunately. It's kind of a pain in the ass to gain access to, and it's one of the hardest dungeons in the game. You can see the leveling strategy here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIh_vJ054PI I started doing this between levels 60-70.

Yeah, I did the Mirrorknights thing too. But a better place to make money (the best place) is the Shrine of Miriam, after defeating Zeromus. That room spawns about 30 undead which drop bones that sell for 1,200 Gil a piece. It's easy to get 99 of those very quickly, amongst the other items that they drop as well.

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 07:41 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm, yeah, I went and read up on that and some other strategies on Gamefaqs. I need to get 10 espers first to do that, though, so that will take some doing. The faq I checked had some other good ones, though, anyway. And wow, I've never seen a chain that big - in the video the enemies are dropping big crazy balls of light or something. Whoa. I've never managed to get above about 25-30, and I thought that was pretty high. ^^ Need to find places like they're mentioing where the same enemy respawns over and over again.

My brain's starting to explode from just how much there is to DO in this game. o.o How the fuck do people figure all this stuff out? Is it all in the official guide, I wonder, or did people really work this stuff out alone? The power levelling of course, yeah, but I mean all the secret bosses and weapons and whatnot... yikes. Games seem to be getting more and more complex and have more and more stuff to do. ^^; FFVII and VIII had their fair share of sidequests and secret bosses, but.. it feels like more in this game. Either that or I'm getting lazy in my old age. ;)

Dammit, wish I was on Bowen now with my PS2 and had another few hours before bed... want to play. :( Though honest to god, I don't ever know where to start on all the things I want to do.

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 08:09 am (UTC)(link)
People just figure things out for themselves. The Japanese mainly do it first; and as you know, they're really hardcore about this kind of stuff. Square also releases Ultimania guides for their games (~300-600 pages) which reveal absolutely everything, as well. Puts every published English guide to shame.

I just played through it using guides. I did the Mark Hunts and various side-quests (there aren't too many) as they became available. By the end of the game I only had a few more Hunts to finish off. Never really got around to doing that.

I'd never bother figuring things out on my own, though. I'd make mistakes and miss shit. Ultimately it would probably make me end up replaying the game.

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 08:17 am (UTC)(link)
Heh, wow, people are hardcore. :) I'm always in awe over the super-detailed guides; there's so much STUFF in them. o.o

Watching those videos on Youtube is amusing, anyway. I poked through a bit and found several showing the same method, some more detailed than others. One showed the guy hitting 999 chain... sweet. Didn't get anything special for it, though, which kinda sucks. But yeah, soon as I'm back on Bowen (Tuesday night...) I'm going to get moving. Think I'll just do some hunts and stuff for now, then do Pharos, then get down to business. I want some of the magic/equipment that you don't get until after Pharos.

Didn't I say earlier that I wasn't going to bother with this stuf? ^^;; Oh well... I kinda want to now, or at least do some of it. Now that most of that boring storyline stuff is done (seriously, I have no clue what is going on in the main storyline anymore.. I don't care, either. Which is a first for me; normally I care most about the story) I want to have fun with the gameplay. Also want some of the higher level magicks that I can't get without doing hunts and sidequests, esp. Bubble.

Shit, it's 12:15... should go to bed... o.o want PS2... :( sucks I had to come down today. *sigh* Suppose I can go out or something tomorrow afternoon, but no sure what I'd do. Should probably study. Going to grandparents' place for dinner, since my aunt's in town, then hopefully will be home by 8 for Prison Break/Sarah Connor Chronicles/JKR documentary consecutively. :)

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 08:18 am (UTC)(link)
And woo hoo, we're almost at 1700! *is blatantly making random comment to get to that point*

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 08:29 am (UTC)(link)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDdnx22y2Ck&feature=related

See now, this is amusing. :) According to the comments, even at lower levels he's ridiculously hard... I assumed that now, at level 45, he'd be easy (compared to how he kicked my ass at level 4 or whatever), but I don't think so. o.o Esp if he's already eaten a few wolves. Anyway, I think it's hilarious that it eats wolves and levels up. ^^ And holy crap, 9999 damage and the Zodiac Spear did 0. o.o Crazy. And shitty loot/exp, too. But pretty funny.

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Zodiac Spear is really nice. I got it early on, but I had to restrain myself from using it, because I like challenge in my games.

Also, do let me know when you send the order out.

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, unfortunately I fucked up my chances of getting the Zodiac Spear early on. :( I think there's still a small chance that I can get it, like a chest that has it .01% of the time or something dumb, but... oh well. Otherwise I'd have someone learning spears; as it is I'm pretty pedestrian in my weapon choices (always have been, really) - sword for Vaan/Basch/Ashe, bow for Fran/Penelo (since the latter is my healer and I want something that does some damage but is ranged), and axes/hammers/ocassionally other random things like ninja swords for Balthier. Meh. The axes/hammers can do a lot of damage, but sometimes they do, like, 20. -_- And they're slow. But sometimes they do 3000, which everyone else is doing 1000, and that makes me happy. :)

I'm watching an auction right now, before I order that - $61 and it ends in 4 hours. $8 shipping. I'll watch it, though I'll be at my grandparents' place when it's ending ("uhh, sorry Grandma, your dinner's very nice and all but I need to go use your computer to check an eBay auction. Bye!" lol). You're willing to go to $70, right? So that's $45 from you? If it ends around $75-80, inc. the shipping, I'll probably toss in an extra ten bucks... consider it part of next year's present. ;) Would you prefer me to wait until it's over and see how it goes before I order the other thing?

I want my PS2. *sighs* Stuck in North Van and supposed to be studying. Though I got to go to Cap Mall and have McDonalds, which was a plus. ;) And I cleaned half of my room (only half because then I started sneezing uncontrollably in spite of the Reactine I took, hence the going out to Cap Mall to clear my sinuses ^^;), which is a relief. Vacuumed all behind my desk and sucked up quite a few spiders, dead and alive. Yuck. Might possibly have done a girly scream when one started moving and yelled to my dad to come get rid of it. ;) Next is my bed area, which I'd rather like to do today because suddenly I'm a bit edgy about sleeping in here, having seen the kind of crap that was behind my desk, but I don't feel up to it right now.

Can you tell I'm procrastinating from studying?

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I started out with Vaan using one-handed swords, Fran using bow, and Ashe using...something, but eventually, Vaan ended up using great swords and Ashe ended up using the Masamune + Genji Glove combo (regular combos of 6-8 hits are awesome). Then I remember I had Balthier use spears/guns, and Penelo use dagger. I don't remember that other guy's name, but he used one-handed swords as well. Eventually I filled out the License Board for every character, so it didn't really matter in the end. >.>

To be honest I think I'd get a lot more out of the Swap Magic and game I want to import than VP1. It's a tough choice. >.> The auction will probably go over $80 excluding shipping.

I need to study too. Can't afford to procrastinate today because of Prison Break, later.

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-04 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll probably end up switching at least Vaan to great swords, yeah, since all the best swords are those ones. But I need something, like armour or whatever, that will give me high evade to make up for losing the shields. I enjoy the fact that I block a good chunk of the attacks coming at me because of my shields. :)

Mmkay, well, I'll watch the auction and we'll see how it goes. Here it is, btw, if I can't be there to watch it - http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260207579921&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching. If it doesn't go too high, then let me know what I should go for. But yeah, in the end we probably won't have a choice since it'll skyrocket...

I might not be back in time for PB, btw, sorry. :( Hopefully I will be, though. I don't like to miss discussing it; it's more fun than watching it. ;)

*still hasn't started studying* *in part because that would involve cleaning off her desk*

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
Hahaha.. 10 minutes ago it was at $61, now, $81. I guess someone really wants it.

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
6 min left... shall I bid? :)

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
$20 shipping, though... yikes. It'll be $100 right now. Probably more, really. Too much?

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
Still $81; one minute left... but $20 shipping. Sigh. Oh well.. if the shipping was less, I'd say go for it, but...

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
Aaand, ended for $91. Other than the $20 shipping, that's not TOO bad. Cheaper than I thought you could get them for. Interesting that it went from $81 to $91 in 35 seconds. ^^ Anyway, shall I order the other thing? Or wait until the other one, currently at $67 and ending tomorrow at 7:19pm, ends? Shipping's only $4.50 on that one, but it'll probably go up. Let me know. :) I do rather enjoy watching these, lol, and bidding - had a good time bidding on Heroes s1 during my lunch hour one day. Manager probably thought I was nuts.

1 hour left to PB; still at Grandma's and have to take aunt back to hotel downtown... miiiight make it. *crosses fingers*

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