Typing this search in google twice a day for the last 3 weeks...  "Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix psn Europe release"... Well, they don't hurt anymore actually. That's because google recognizes my search even before I start typing it! I want this game. I really really want it. It's going to bring chilhood memories, afternoons playing with friends, etc. But hey, you americans already have it don't you!?

Here in Europe, and according to Capcom. NO RELEASE DATE. None. Zip. NADA. That's bullshit. I understand USA is "one big country" and that Live service in Xbox is (mostly) global. But hey! Why do we have to wait for this game longer than everyone else in the world!? Europe is divided in many countries, and the UK market is the first of them. I don't even live in the UK  but if a game is good for Americans... it must be good for England, France, Spain, etc. And I'm writing this knowing that tomorrow there's an European PSN actualization but Capcom already confirmed that the game won't be there. I don't know what else to say. I intended to play SSF2HDR and wait for Street Fighter IV... now I don't even know what I'm gonna do... I should get Street Fighter IV and plug my SNES back in... without waiting. Out from the oven...

I'm sick of being European.

PS: Yeah, and I know I could create an American PSN account just for this game... but neither Capcom or I deserve this...

Peace. Shalom :)

Well, long time since my last post... playing games and stuff but also getting awfully nervous about the choice I'll have to make in a few weeks...
FIFA 09 or Pro Evolution Soccer 2009!? You know the deal, as an european gamer ( who is YET waiting for Rock Band... ) I like soccer. And soccer games are the most played at home, with friends... Here are my thoughts on both games.

Fifa 09 is the evolution of FIFA 08 by all means. Graphically it surpasses Pro in every way. It sounds perfect but it lacks of that PES gameplay... I tried the demo and they're doing a great job in terms of gameplay but it's still two steps away from PES...
Pro evolution Soccer 2009 is the redeem title from Konami after last year's Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 which was the first next-gen soccer game for the PS3 from the japanese company. It looked pretty bad, the series have never had a good soundtrack or fx... but it played better and with friends it was awesome... although it had a few technical problems...

So I need to make a choice, I'll trade my PES 2008 copy but I don't know which game to buy... I must admit I like SIMULATION style over arcade... so I shouldbuy Fifa 09... but PES 2009 should definetly play better than PES 2008 and as long as I've seen on screenshots, will look better... and it's better with friends... but Fifa 09 has an awesome online... and all teams and leagues licences... but PES has Messi in the cover ( and living 40 miles from Barcelona and supporting Barça that's a thing to count in )...

I must make up my mind, quick!!

Today - Fifa 09 70%    Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 30%

and waiting for Pro's demo on the psn... soon...

Cheers, shalom!  :)

My history as an European Gamer is the same as the vast majority of gamers who live in Europe. We are trashed by the big companies… let me explain how.

You know that awesome game called Rock Band!? Well, I do know that it exists because of game sites… American websites… here in Europe every month this game is coming “next month”… for 249€… that’s like 400 bucks… yup, like a PS3 in America! Because in Europe, the cheapest PS3 sells at about 399€, or 635 US dollars!!! WTF!

I don’t really know if life is more expensive in Europe but the prices of not just platforms, even games itself are a LOT more expensive. Take GTA IV, selling at 59.95$ in Best buy ( that’s like 37€, right? ) in Europe, it’s 69.95€ (111$!!!!!). Last month I didn’t understand a thing, I bought MLB The Show for the PS3 and shipped home for  47€… I mean, this game doesn’t exist in Spain at least, but 47€ seems like a fair price!!!

And now release dates… we had to wait 6 months minimum for the NES or the SNES or the Genesis… but now all the companies tell us about “World Release” and in most cases, we have to wait a lot, even now in the 21 century!! Only GTA IV or MGS4 did what they were supposed to do, a world release. Sony’s PS3!? 6 months. XBOX360? 4 months… and so on…

I should move to the States, anyone willing to adopt me!?

Shalom J

My History as a Gamer

Surprised by the affinity question when I was signing up this morning ( yes, I live in Europe ) I kept thinking what pushed me to choose Sony instead of MS or the Big N…  After all, I’m in my mid 20s… and been playing games since I was like 7 years old… so… let me explain to all of you my History as a Gamer.

My father is guilty of getting me involved with this awesome world. Back in year 1988/89 he bought me the one and only console I haven’t purchased myself, that shoe-box that was NES. I had lots of fun playing Duck Hunt or Super Mario… I mean, I was controlling what happened on the TV, that’s amazing! I wish I could use this for my soccer team! Hehehe That was my 8 bits era.

So I was abducted. You know, playing games is neat! So a few years later, and with money I earned from birthdays and stuff like that I bought a SNES 16 bits era began. Super Mario World, baby! I also played a lot of F-Zero, Mario Kart, Zelda,Street Fighter 2, etc. Back in those days, half my classmates had a SNES and the other half a Megadrive ( what do you call… Genesis!? ) I became a Nintendo Fanboy “Original Licensed Product”. Seal of Quality Gamer. Defending Nintendo from Sega. Arguing with my colleagues… and finally we got ourselves the answer about which platform was better… and that honor was for… NEO GEO! I’ve never ever owned one, but we used to stop by the only shop which had one and play for hours… OMG! Greatest platform EVER! So years later I find out that a next generation of consoles was coming up… “32 bits” era. So I checked out, my options where Saturn ( no, no… Sega! )… a thing called Playstation ( those Sony boys, get your money from your Tvs and walkmans… ) and yes, a cartgridge thingy called N64… Being a Nintendo fanboy, it was clear… and I’ve never enjoyed games like with my N64 ( I even have one still, in the garage, with a tv only for it! ). Goldeneye, Super Mario 64, Zelda Ocarina of Time, Perfect Dark… Wow… I mean, wow!

Getting on… three years later, another next generation got out… huh… Sega was out with Dreamcast ( I liked, I really liked it… but it was far too expensive ), Sony was out with Playstation2 ( huh, so maybe those guys did it okay with PSOne… ) and even Microsoft ( uncle Bill company ) had a thing called XBOX out… but hey, Nintendo forever… so I bought a little purple box called Gamecube… and the dark years of gaming began. All my friend had bought PS2 ( you know, in Europe and even more in Spain, where I live, Sony has it all… ) and I got stuck with a hardcore gamer platform without hardcore gamer games… you know what I mean!? Curious fact: Nintendo Gamecube, a hardcore gamer platform is a failure and a thing called Wii ( without Nintendo on it because if it fails we don’t have nothing to do with it ) is one of the major successes in the history of videogames… huh…

So I played GC for a while… nothing too much interesting… and although I kept playing once in a while… I forgot about videogames. Played PC strategy games online for another while and then, it happened… I moved off my parents’ house. We got a little apartment with my girlfriend two years ago, and the metamorphosis began. I did not take any console with me, but about a year and a half ago, we needed a dvd… a cheap dvd… and we get a PStwo and man, I got the best selling platform ever and when the games were AAA and quality proven. GT4, MGS 2 & 3, God of War ( I & II ) … and as I was playing these games… and discovering great game sites on the internet, and enjoying reading magazines... guess what!? Another generation of consoles… XBOX 360 ( hard to be an xboxer in Europe.. not as hard as in Japan but here in Spain kinda… ), Nintendo with a little thing called Wii ( wich I like, really, I like the idea, but hey, gimme a nice big controller full of combinations! And the Sony Playstation 3… I bought myself one the first time they ever pulled the price down, 10 October at 10:00 am… I like it, I enjoy it… and while I am a Sony Fanboy, I’d never attack other consoles on exclusivities, games, online service, etc.

I like VIDEOGAMES people! Thanks for reading through it and excuse my English, it’ll get better in time if I keep practicing it.

Shalom

Well, so far so goooooooooood... Let's get started then!
In the words of Master Ford Farlane:

I'm so terrific I have my own toll-free number: 1-800-UNBELIEVABLE.

Good Luck People!