A: Yes and no. An Xbox incarnation of Crash Bandicoot is in development at Universal, but the franchise is not coming to the Dreamcast. Q: I think Resident Evil: Code Veronica is the best game in the Resident Evil series, but why is it only on the Sega Dreamcast? Why isn't it on the PlayStation or N64? If Resident Evil 1, 2, 3, and Survivor are on the PlayStation, so why isn't Code Veronica? A: For starters, the PlayStation is a six-year-old piece of hardware that has already reached its peak. Also, Capcom has always been a strong supporter of Sega, so it makes sense for Capcom to give Sega a big exclusive title. In the case of Code Veronica, Sega of Japan actually did most of the programming, while Capcom handled most of the design work. Q: I just bought a Dreamcast with a bunch of games, four controllers, four VMUs, and an RFU adapter from Game Performance. Now my Dreamcast won't show any video, just audio. What can I do to fix this? I really need your help. A: The first thing you need to do is make sure you have the RFU adapter hooked up properly. Remove the cable that's normally coming out of the back of your TV and plug it into the RFU adapter, then plug the RFU adapter into the back of the TV. If you still don't get any video, you should contact Sega at 1-800-USA-SEGA or support@sega.com. Q: My friend told me that the PlayStation 2 is better than the Dreamcast because it will have online gaming in all of its games this year instead of just some of them. I haven't read any news stories that say anything like this, so I'm wondering whether my friend is right or not. A: Your friend is wrong when he says that all PlayStation 2 games will support online gaming. In fact, none will until late 2001 at the earliest. Q: Do you know how hard it is to become a game tester for a video game company? I know that you have to be good at games and be dedicated because of the long hours, but do you really need to be a good critic or have technical knowledge? Do companies ever even listen to their testers? A: Being a game tester is a lot less fun than it might initially sound because of the long hours, which can also be very erratic towards the end of a game's development cycle. Whether or not you need to be a good critic really depends on the company. Some companies really value their testers' opinions on every aspect of the game, while some companies want the testers to do nothing but find bugs. Technical knowledge isn't essential, but it is helpful because rather than saying, "I found a bug," you might be able to say, "I found a bug, and here's what I think caused it to happen." Q: I've heard that Sony may purposely limit production of the PlayStation 2 in order to increase demand. Do you think this is true? A: That's always a possibility, but I doubt it in this case. Sony is a smart enough company to realize that many consumers are going to be unable to buy a PlayStation 2 and will buy a Dreamcast instead. If Sony were to intentionally limit PS2 shipments, that would be the equivalent of handing Sega additional market share on a silver platter. Q: Do you personally want to get a PlayStation 2 right away or will you wait for a price drop and some better games to come along? Also, do you know if Sony will make enough PlayStation 2s for the Christmas demand? A: Personally, I buy every half-decent system on the first day it comes out simply because I can't stand the idea of a great game being released for a system that I don't own. Sony recently announced that a total of 1.3 million PS2s will be shipped to US retailers before the end of the year. If that figure is accurate, it won't be enough to meet demand because there are certainly more than 1.3 million people who would like to buy a PS2 this year. Q: What are your thoughts on what Sony Europe is doing (making people pre- order the PlayStation 2)? Ever since Microsoft announced the Xbox, Sony has been doing some strange things because this has never happened in England before. A: I think it's a bold move by Sony to make people pre-order the PlayStation 2 in Europe, but a move that will ultimately lead to less unhappy customers than there will be in the US. It's going to be extremely hard to find a US PlayStation 2 if you haven't already pre-ordered one, which will lead to lots of unhappy customers who can't buy a system. Sony Europe's strategy will send a clear message to consumers that you have to pre-order the system if you want to get one. In the US, many people aren't going to discover this fact until they show up at a store expecting to buy a PS2 and go home empty-handed. Q: With the announcement of Bleemcast, do you think Sony will make it so that the PlayStation 2 can play Dreamcast games? A: Doing that would certainly give Bleem a taste of their own medicine, but it's not going to happen, if for no other reason because of Sony's lawsuits against Bleem and Connectix. Sony has been fighting desperately in court to establish that commercial emulators are illegal in princple. If they were to turn around and release an emulator of their own, their lawsuits against Bleem and Connectix would go down the tubes. Q: Can you have any modem speed with any ISP for the purposes of online gaming? Or does DSL have its own ISPs that you need if you want to use DSL? A: If you want DSL access, you have to sign up with one of the companies that specifically offers DSL access. Also, it's only available in certain areas right now, and there's nothing you can do if it's not available in your area (which is the case with me). A few DSL providers you can check out are dsl.prodigy.net, www.bellatlantic.com/infospeed, www.covad.com, and www.northpoint.net. On all of those sites, you can enter your phone number and they will tell you whether or not DSL is available in your area. Q: I was wondering if you could send me some codes for Rainbow Six for the Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, or Sony PlayStation. I really would appreciate it! A: I don't know of any codes for the Dreamcast version of Rainbow Six because it was just released, but I do know where you can find some codes for the PlayStation and N64 versions. Click here for the PlayStation codes and here for the N64 codes. Q: What are your favorite game companies? I would like for both Ivan and Jimmy to answer this question. A: Ivan's favorite game companies are Square and EA. While both of those companies have released some stinkers over the years just like everyone else, their overall reputations in their respective fields are unmatched. Nobody makes RPGs quite like Square, and nobody makes sports games quite like EA. GameArts and Working Designs deserve honorable mentions because of Lunar. Jimmy's favorite game companies are Square and Capcom (Square for the Final Fantasy series, Chrono Trigger, and Secret of Mana; and Capcom for the Resident Evil series). Q: Have you heard anything about the Xbox? Do you think it will be that good? A: It's too early to say for sure, but the potential is certainly there. The Xbox is much more powerful than the PlayStation 2 while also being easier for developers to work with, which should ensure that the system will have lots of third-party support. Q: Is it even worth it to have AOL for playing games online? From what I hear from everyone, AOL sucks for games, but my AOL works fine when I play Tribes and Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun. Maybe it's just that my 56K modem is good, I have a well-built PC, or just that these games play well on pretty much any modem. A: AOL is by far the slowest Internet service in America. I don't know about Tiberian Sun, but Tribes has phenomenal network code that runs well on just about any connection. Your game performance would be much better if you switched to a different Internet service. Q: Can you get on the regular Internet with SegaNet? A: Yes, SegaNet is a full-fledged ISP that lets you do everything that every other ISP does. The only difference is that it supposedly offers much better game performance. Q: What advantage does broadband have over SegaNet and my current ISP? A: Broadband basically means "really fast Internet access," as in a cable modem or DSL connection. SegaNet offers great game performance, but it still isn't as fast as cable modem or DSL access. Q: I was wondering if you could tell me how the new Resident Evil is on the Dreamcast. I have gotten mixed reviews and I really want to buy it, but I don't want to waste $50 on a game like I did with Trickstyle, which is almost as bad as Superman for the N64. A: Don't worry, Code Veronica is much better than Superman (and most other games on the market, for that matter). If you liked the previous Resident Evil games, spending $50 on Code Veronica will be well worth it. Q: I was horribly disappointed with Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun. What do you suggest I do? A: Get Homeworld or Age of Empires 2. Q: Can you play as Chaos in Sonic Adventure? If so, can you tell me how? A: Sorry, but there's no way to play as Chaos in Sonic Adventure. Q: How long is SaGa Frontier 2? I just rented it, and now I'm thinking about buying it. A: It only took me about 25 hours to beat SaGa Frontier 2, which is a heck of a lot less time than it took me to beat FF7 and FF8. SaGa 2's lack of length is one of the reasons I rated it Good instead of Awesome. Q: I was wondering if you or anyone else on the Master Gamer staff knew how to get the last plane in Air Force Delta for the Dreamcast. I have 29 planes, but I know that there are 30 planes in total. A: You have to beat the game on the Hard difficulty level to unlock the 30th plane. Q: Do you know how to play a multi-player game with Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun? I logged into Westwood's web site, called Westwood's hotline, and went to EA's site, but none of them were of any help. How do I do net play? A: Tiberian Sun is playable over the free online gaming service Heat. You can get your free Heat membership by going to www.heat.net. You should also be able to sign up for Westwood's own online service by going to http://www.westwood.com/westwoodonline/signup.html Q: I was delighted by Abe's Oddysee and Abe's Exoddus, and I would like to know if there will be any more Oddworld games released before Munch's Oddysee. A: No, there won't be any Oddworld games released before Munch's Oddysee. The Hand of Odd will be released after Munch's Oddysee. Q: What system was the first Final Fantasy released on? A: The NES. Q: I can't see how the Internet can handle the processing juggernaut necessary to run Dreamcast games online. I mean, don't you normally see graphical jerks or delays when you play Quake online? Or am I wrong about the technical aspect of online gaming? What do you think? A: One of the biggest reasons Sega delayed online gaming on the Dreamcast is to avoid the very slow, choppy gameplay that you describe. SegaNet offers game performance better than any other ISP, and Sega will also be releasing an Ethernet adapter for people who already have DSL or cable modem access. Q: What games have been annouced for online gaming on the Dreamcast? A: The Big Three this year are NFL 2K1, NBA 2K1, and Quake 3. January of 2001 will see the release of three big online Dreamcast games: Half-Life, Phantasy Star Online, and Unrela Tournament. Q: Is the Dreamcast version of Slave Zero supposed to have Internet capabilities or not? A: It was going to, but the Internet capabilities were taken out of the game before it was finished. Q: Everybody keeps talking about the PlayStation 2's online capabilities, but they fail to mention what web browser it will use. What do you think? A: Sony hasn't announced what web browser it will use. It probably won't be announced for a while since the PlayStation 2 won't have a modem until 2001. Q: I read in Master Gamer News that there's an adapter that allows PlayStation controllers to be used on the Dreamcast, but is it also compatible with the Dual Shock 2? A: The adapter in question only works with the PlayStation 1's Dual Shock controller, not the PlayStation 2's Dual Shock 2 controller. However, it's not out of the question that a different adapter will be created somewhere down the line that lets you play Dreamcast games using the Dual Shock 2. Q: What are your thoughts on Pokemon? Is it a kiddie game or will adults enjoy it too? A: There are plenty of adults out there who enjoy Pokemon, but the fact remains that it's targeted at six-year-olds. Personally, I prefer Monster Rancher for the PlayStation. It's a lot like Pokemon, but it's better in a lot of ways (and it's not a Pokemon clone because it came out before Pokemon). Q: Is there a Crash Bandicoot 4 coming out for the PlayStation? A: No, but a Crash Bandicoot puzzle game called Crash Bash is in development. Q: I have a friend who offered to get me some "burned" games (I think that is the right term). Are they safe for my PlayStation? A: I'm pretty sure that your friend is referring to games that he copied and wants to give you. This is a federal offense and is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 for every game copied, as well as jail time. If I were you, I would turn down your friend and go on buying games legally. Q: What do you think about the Dreamcast's controller? A: Maybe I just have big hands, but I think it's way too small. The PlayStation's controller is very comfortable for me, but the Dreamcast's controller isn't big enough, almost to the point of making my hands hurt. Q: What is it like surfing the web with your Dreamcast? A: Buying a keyboard for the Dreamcast is a must if you want to do anything with e-mail or chat rooms because the on-screen keyboard just isn't practical. It takes too long to type the most simple things. The Dreamcast is all right if you want to go on the Internet to read, but it's worthless if you want to go on the Internet to type. I would much rather get on the Internet using my computer and be able to do both. Q: The PlayStation 2 will more powerful than the Dreamcast, but is there anything that the Dreamcast can do that the PSX 2 won't be able to do? A: The biggest advantage the Dreamcast has over the PlayStation 2 comes in the important area of video RAM. The Dreamcast has 8MB, while the PlayStation 2 only has 4MB. Q: How far do you think video games can go before they can no longer be classified as video games? The way technology is growing these days, it seems as if they are turning into realistic simulators rather than games. What do you think? A: Video games will always be video games because they always be about having fun regardless of how realistic they may be. For example, NFL 2K is worlds above Tecmo Super Bowl in terms of realism, but it's still just as much of a "video game" as Tecmo Super Bowl. This is never going to change no matter how advanced video games may become in the future. Q: If there was a fire in your house, which games and systems would you try to get out of the house first (or would you worry about other things instead)? A: Well, certainly after it was certain that nobody else's life was in jeopardy, I would go right for Chrono Trigger and Baseball Stars. I would go for all my PlayStation stuff second rather than first because it would be a lot easier to replace than older games like Chrono Trigger and Baseball Stars. Q: I'm trying to teach my dog how to play video games. What system and game should I start him out on? A: Mario Party for the Nintendo 64, because it takes the intelligence of a dog to play it. Be forewarned that your dog might not be able to handle the trauma of playing Mario Party, and it could react violently if forced to play the game for long periods of time. Q: What is Final Fantasy like? Does it have fighting and lots of gore, or is it just about exploring places? I am seriously considering getting a Final Fantasy game, but I don't know which to get. Which do you think would be better for me: Final Fantasy 7 or 8? A: It's hard to describe exactly what Final Fantasy is like, but the emphasis is on the story line and character development. Final Fantasy games are also known for their great music and their innovative graphics. There are a lot of battles, but no gore. Enemies simply change colors and disappear when they die. As for whether you should get FF7 or FF8, I prefer FF7, but they're both worth buying. Q: Why did Bernie Stolar leave Sega and what does he plan to do now? A: Stolar was fired by Sega of Japan, and he is now the president of Mattel Interactive. Q: Where does Square stand as it relates to the Dreamcast? A: Square is one company that has gone on the record saying they will not make Dreamcast games. Q: What the hell is the Wonder Swan? A: The Wonder Swan is a magical swan that comes into your house and does all kinds of useful things for you. It can clean your game CDs, build up your levels in RPGs, and even call in a pizza at your requset. Seriously, the Wonder Swan is a portable gaming system from Bandai that is selling surprisingly well in Japan. Q: A lot of peripherals came out along with the Dreamcast. Which ones did you buy right away and why? A: Being the cheap person that I am, I only bought two very essential peripherals with the system. I bought an RF unit so that I can hook the system up to my old TV, and I bought a VMU because you need it to save your Dreamcast games just like you need a memory card to save your PlayStation games. That's it. If I decide at a later time that I really need a keyboard or any other peripheral, I will buy them at that time. Q: How much memory is on the Dreamcast's VMU? In other words, how many memory blocks does it have? A: It has 200 blocks of memory, but many games take up a large percentage of that space for a single saved game file. Q: I know EA doesn't usually release really violent games, but do you think they might make an exception and eventually release Thrill Kill? A: No, but the developers of Thrill Kill at Paradox did release Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style, and it's based on the Thrill Kill engine. The Wu Tang game is like Thrill Kill in that it features a lot of gore just for the sake of gore. Q: Ready 2 Rumble for the Dreamcast is a really hot game. Is Midway going to bring it to the PC? A: Unfortunately, no. Q: I would just like to know your thoughts on the PlayStation 2 vs. Dreamcast saga. A: I've said it before and I'll say it again: the PS 2 vs. Dreamcast battle as it stands now is all just a bunch of hype until the PS2 is actually released. Q: I heard about the new Iomega Zip drive add-on for the Dreamcast in Japan. Is this add-on packaged with the system in the US? A: No. Q: Are you a video game fan or specifically into RPGs? Do you like anime? A: I'm into all sorts of video games, but RPGs and sports games are my favorite kinds of games. I haven't seen much anime, so I can't say whether I like it or dislike it. If I took the time to watch it, I imagine that I would probably like it. Q: Where will E3 be held this year? Is it going to be in Atlanta again? A: E3 will be held in Los Angeles, California at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the next several years. Q: I heard that you could acquire a virtual pet in the Japanese version of Sonic Adventure which could then be transferred onto the VMU for portable play. Is this feature in the American version of Sonic Adventure? A: Yes. Q: What got you into video games? A: One day my older brother Sean got an NES with Mike Tyson's Punch Out and Baseball Stars as a present, and I was hooked instantly. At the time, doctors said my motor skills were bad and they would never be at the level of a normal person's, so I might have trouble performing basic tasks like throwing a baseball back and forth. However, playing the NES shot my hand-eye coordination through the roof and saved me from living a dysfunctional life. I'm one of the few people who can honestly say that they have been told by their doctors to "play more video games." Q: Is it true that Metal Gear Solid is coming to the Dreamcast? A: No. It has been rumored on and off for years, but it's completely untrue. Q: Can games that are on the Sega Noami arcade board be ported to other consoles such as the PlayStation and Nintendo 64? A: The odds of this happening are almost completely non-existent. Tecmo ported the Model 2-based Dead or Alive to the PlayStation, but it's different with the Naomi because it is on a higher level technologically than the PlayStation and N64. Sega itself would certainly never make N64 or PlayStation games, and even for third-party developers, porting a Naomi game to the PSX or N64 would be extremely hard work, and probably not worth the effort, especially considering how easy it will be to port Naomi games to the Dreamcast. Q: I have heard a lot about the Sega Nomad. What is this handheld? A: The Sega Nomad is a powerful system that can run any Genesis game on it. It seemed promising when it was first released, but unfortunately it ate up batteries like no one's business and it was introduced towards the end of the Genesis' life cycle. If you really love the Genesis that much, the Nomad might be a sensible purchase, but be prepared to shell out a lot of extra money for batteries... Q: Since the Sega Dreamcast is supposedly so similar to a PC, can you run PC games on it? A: No, but many PC games are being ported to the system. Q: I have the old Super Nintendo and wanted your thoughts about the N64 versus the PlayStation. I know little about either. A: Nintendo 64 owners may hate me for this, but you're asking for my honest opinion and I'm going to give it to you. I recommend that you buy a PlayStation. The N64 has its fair share of good games, but there are just so many more A+ games on the PlayStation than on the N64. There are also a lot of horrible games released for the PlayStation, but the same can also be said of the N64. In the end, it's all a matter of personal preference, but I say buy a PlayStation if you have to choose one or the other, or if you can afford it, buy both. Q: Will the Japanese Dreamcast's modem work in Britain if you register it? A: You can't dial into Sega's servers because they block out the Internet access if you don't live in Japan, but you can enter your own ISP's dial-in number and connect that way. Q: Do you watch the cartoon show, Pokemon? Does this show not cause you to fall off of the sofa and relieve yourself while still dressed? Do you not smile in a girl-ish way whenever Pikachu says, "pika pika pika"? Did you not cringe when you first heard the theme song that shames any rock star from Bon Jovi to Stryper? Do you not sing along impulsively when the studio singers proclaim "Pokemon: heart so true / you teach me, and I'll teach you!"? A: No, I do not. Q: I am very interested in buying a Dreamcast. I am especially excited about the Internet access, but when I heard that Sega doing something to block out porn, my enthusiasm waned. How does Sega plan on doing this? A: I don't know exactly how Sega plans on doing this, but I assume it will be with some sort of basic filtering program like Cyber Patrol or Net Nanny. If you're basing your purchase of a game system on the possibility of downloading porn with it, then you've got the wrong idea... Q: Some Japanese magazine gave Zelda 64 a perfect score. Now that Zelda 64 is out and everyone knows it's awesome, what do you say about the N64 being inferior? Will you renounce your evil Sony ways? A: If my "evil Sony ways" are the fact that I play my PlayStation more than my N64, then no, I don't think my "evil Sony ways" will be changing anytime soon. There are simply more AAA games on the PlayStation at this point. However, I also enjoy my N64 and Zelda is making me enjoy it a lot more. But I still think it's going to take a lot more than one single game (no matter how incredible it is) to catapult Nintendo back to the top of the video game industry. Q: What is the price of the Dreamcast in Japan? The system uses CD-ROMs, right? And what the f--- kind of queer @$$ name is Dreamcast, anyway? I liked Katana better. A: The price of the Dreamcast in Japan is equivalent to approximately 220 US dollars. The system will almost certainly cost either $250 or $200 in the US. The system uses special high-density CD's called GD-ROMs. The "G" stands for gigabyte because they hold more than a full gigabyte of data (1.2GB, to be exact). This will offer developers double the storage space per disc and will also help prevent piracy. I agree that the Dreamcast sounded really weird at first, but it's not that bad. Besides, "PlayStation" isn't the most ingenius name for a video game system ever conceived, and look how successful it has been (and continues to be). Q: When are any cool games going to be out for the PlayStation? The only real cool game they have out is Metal Gear Solid and I am almost done with that. A: There are plenty of great games out for the PlayStation that you should check out if you haven't already (like Final Fantasy 7, Wild Arms, Resident Evil, Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, and Twisted Metal 2). More recently, I've been thoroughly enjoying Crash Bandicoot: Warped, NHL '99, and Madden NFL '99. Q: When is Final Fantasy 8 coming out in the USA? What about a demo? Is Square going to release a demo of FF8 like they released an FF7 demo with the first Tobal? A: The full version of Final Fantasy 8 is not coming out in the US until late this year, but Square has already released two demos. There is a non- playable demo packaged with Parasite Eve and a playable demo packaged with Brave Fencer Musashi. Q: Would it be sensible to buy a PlayStation right now? I mean, sure it's good fun, but how much longer can it last? With the upcoming Dreamcast, how much longer would you say the PlayStation has to live? When is the PlayStation 2 coming out? A: The PlayStation has so many great games already available or soon to be available for it that I would say yes, without a doubt, it's worth the $130 to buy a PlayStation. The Dreamcast is looking like a very attractive system, but it won't be out until the US until September 1999, and even then the PlayStation isn't going to disappear into thin air. The PlayStation is selling way too well for Sony to abandon it, and third-party developers are starting to squeeze things out of the PlayStation's admittedly old hardware that were never thought possible. The PlayStation is not going away anytime soon. As for the PlayStation 2, nobody knows its true release date at this point, but the absolute earliest it could be released would be later this year in Japan and next year in the US. Q: When is Sony's PlayStation PDA coming out in the U.S. and how much will it cost? A: The PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) is now being called the PocketStation and is due out in the US sometime this year. There's no word yet on how much it will cost in the US, but the price in Japan is equivalent to $15 in the US. Unfortunately, the PocketStation's screen is too small to support full-blown, advanced games, but it will service its purpose well as a way to raise and train characters in games like Monster Rancher 2. Q: When will the 64DD be out and how much will it cost? A: The 64DD will NEVER be released in the US. It's dead. Q: Is Duke Nukem Forever planned for any consoles yet? A: Not yet. Right now 3D Realms is concentrating on finishing the PC version, then they can worry about possibly porting it to other systems. Q: After Sega had such a hard time getting Sonic Adventure on store shelves on time in Japan, do you think the US version will be delayed as well? A: With almost a year between the Japanese launch and the US launch, I believe that Sonic Adventure will be finished in time for the Dreamcast's launch, but you never know for sure. Q: In Final Fantasy 7, how do you get the fourth limit break for Aeris? It is impossible unless you have an airship or a gold chocobo, and you don't get either of these until the second or third disc. I have a player's guide, but it dosen't say how to get it, so please, if you know, let me know. A: This is a tricky one. You don't need a gold chocobo or the airship to get to the sleeping old man near Junon, but you do need a blue chocobo. When you get to the old man, he will mumble out some of your stats. Sometimes he tells you how many battles you've fought. You need to have the last two digits of this number match, so you would need to have gotten in 122 or 233 battles, for example. If the last two digits match, he might give you a piece of Mythril. You have to just keep trying until he does. Once you have the Mythril, take it to the weapon seller to the east of Gongaga, and trade the Mythril for the item in the small box he wouldn't let you touch before. The item is Aeris's Great Gospel Limit Break, which is an awesome healing spell. Q: I was wondering how big of a deal (I mean deal as in costly deal) the Dreamcast will really be when it comes out. To do this I want you to find a computer that has the closest specs you can find to the Dreamcast and then see how much it costs compared to the Dreamcast. I know a computer can't have two Voodoo 2 cards (which you say would equal the power of the Dreamcast's graphics card), but just use common sense. A: First of all, computers can have two Voodoo 2 cards. It's called SLI. As for comparing the Dreamcast to a state-of-the-art computer in terms of cost-to-power ratios, it's a no contest: Dreamast wins. The Dreamcast is more powerful than any consumer-level computer on the market for gaming purposes, and it still will be when it is released in the US later this year. The graphics chip in the Dreamacast is like the PC version of NEC's newest graphics chip, only it's even more powerful than the PC version. And the PC version will supposedly as powerful or more powerful than Voodoo 2 in 3D performance, which is quite a feat considering that NEC's chip will will be much cheaper than a single Voodoo 2 card. Plus, the NEC chip will have awesome 2D graphics acceleration; Voodoo 2 has no 2D graphics acceleration. The Dreamcast's CPU (the Hitachi SH-4) is also much more powerful than a Pentium 2 chip, particularly in the crucial area of floating point operations. The SH-4 is "only" 200MHz, but it is still much, much more powerful than a 450MHz Pentium 2, in much the same way the 33MHz PlayStation is more powerful than a old 486 computer running at 66MHz, and the 93MHz Nintendo 64 is more powerful than a Pentium 133 (un-accelerated). Now consider that buying a top-of-the-line computer costs at least $2,500, and the Dreamcast will cost around $200, and it's really a no-brainer. The Dreamcast hardware wins in terms of value. But it's all meaningless if the games aren't there, so let's hope they are. Q: What do you think of the iMac? For the price ($1,299!!), I think it's the best computer available. A: I think that while the design is sleek, I'm wondering who exactly Apple is trying to appeal to with the system's $1,300 price tag. The iMac is too cheap and poorly-equipped for the hardcore buyer who wouldn't even think of spending less than $2,000 for a computer. And it's too expensive for the extremely casual buyer who is looking only for a sub-$1,000 system. It will be interesting to see if iMac sales continue their current brisk pace. Q: Now that Duke Nukem Forever has switched from the Quake 2 engine to the Unreal engine, what changes will this show for the release date of the game, size of the game, and quality? A: It will push the release date back a little bit, but it's ultimately going to be released "when it's done" anyway, and God only knows when that will be. As for the size of the game and the quality of the game, who knows? We'll just have to wait and see when the game is released. Q: Does the developer of the engine a game is developed with get payed royalties? A: Yes. Also, the company using the engine has to pay licensing fees initially just for the right to use the engine in the first place. Q: Tell me SOMETHING about the Buffy: The Vampire Slayer game. A: All I know is that: -It's for the PlayStation -It's being published by Fox Interactive -It's being developed by Europe-based Vis -It's due out in late 1999 If I knew anything else (even the slightest little tidbit), I would tell you. Unfortunately, the above information is all that is known about the game. Fox hasn't even said what kind of game it is, much less released in-depth gameplay details. I'll let you know as soon as I learn anything else about the game. Q: What do you think of WCW Nitro for the PlayStation? A: I think it sucks compared to WCW Vs. NWO: World Tour and even WCW Vs. The World. The control interface in Nitro is very different than the other two games, but unfortunately the change was not for the better. Success in WCW Nitro (the game) is based too much on luck, although this is better than success in WCW in real life, which is based on whether or not you're friends with Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash. Q: If a monkey was biting your neck, but not drinking your blood, would it be a vampire? A: No, but it would be a very bad monkey. Q: If a bird insults your mother, do you insult it back? A: Yes. Q: It is obvious that the PlayStation has superior 3rd party developer support right now. What I want to know is how does the Dreamcast (I like the name, by the way) compare with the PlayStation's superior power? Is Sega making any moves to counter-act Sony's dominance? A: In terms of hardware power, the Dreamcast eats the PlayStation for breakfast (it eats Voodoo 2 for breakfast, for that matter). In terms of third-party support, right now developers are flocking to the Dreamcast in masses. As the old saying goes, it would appear that everybody and their dog is making games for the Dreamcast. Remember that the man behind the third-party relations of the PlayStation's launch, Bernie Stolar, is handling the same business aspects for the Dreamcast at Sega. Sega is in good hands, and right now it looks like the answer is yes, the third-party support appears to be there. Q: Does the Game Boy Color's screen look like the Super Game Boy or like the Game Gear's color screen? A: It depends what game you're playing. If you're playing a game that was specifically designed to be run on the Color Game Boy, then it will run in full color (much better than the Game Gear). However, if it's just a regular Game Boy game that was not specifically designed for the Color Game Boy, it will only use a few colors, similar to the Super Game Boy on the Super Nintendo. Q: What ever happened to those games that were to come out for the N64 but nobody ever heard anything more about? I mean some of these games sounded cool and now I haven`t heard one thing about them since. A: Many of these N64 games that have seemingly disappeared from the face of planet are still going to be released eventually, but have just been delayed so many times that everyone has forgotten about them. And unfortunately, some of the games have simply been cancelled. Let me know if you want the current status of a specific game. Q: Which Resident Evil game will the Resident Evil movie be based on? Will it just be based on the first one or a mix of 1 and 2? Maybe it won't be based on any of the games just a whole bunch of zombies running around. Do you know the answer to any of these questions? A: According to Capcom's Resident Evil 2 strategy guide, the Resident Evil movie will be based on the first game.
