Jordan:
Yeah, you forgot the guest host too...

1:
As for me personally, I am in my second semester of Japanese. It builds up quickly, but it is definitely worth it. Stick with it. I think it is the best language on earth.
2:
I doubt that Napster will ban them. They don't seem like the more popular downloads.
3:
My favorites include Wild Arms, FFT, Xenogears, and FF4-6.
4:
Go for FFT and Xenogears. Those have the best battle systems I know of.
5:
Same as question 4. Can you tell that those are two of my favorites?

Googleshng:
I know enough Japanese to understand about half of what I hear, and about a tenth of what I read. Which says quite a bit about learning it I'd say. Since game soundtracks tend to come from Japan, and Napster not the US, I don't think you have much to worry about. Now, as for games with good soundtracks plots and battle systems, I would have to say Skies of Arcadia, Xenogears, FFT, and Valkyrie Profile all do quite well in all of those respects.

Jordan:
Congradulations! You have lots of time on your hands!
As for the second part, *waves hands and chants... and it starts to rain* Sorry, no can do. All I can do is make it rain outside...

Googleshng:
Well, I can't give you your time back, but I can give you the recognition of having more free time than I do, and that says a lot. I have a question for you though. What the heck does that spell DO to be worth so much trouble?

Jordan:
***SPOILER*** I agree. The whole gender debate is old. As for me, I am almost positive that Google is... human. If anything, Goog's some kind of super being that can handle all the work. As for your second question, FFT is a wonderful game. I will never forget some of the better points in the game like when Ramza finds out that the church is behind everything. The game has so many twists and turns that you never get bored, and the game is truly hard. I haven't played a game that hard in a while. Have fun playing all the way through it.

Googleshng:
First off you seem to have a seriously warped image of yesterday's column. 10 months ago, Brad Lohr, then weekend Q&A guy, forwarded 3 letters to me that he couldn't or didn't feel like answering that weekend. Somehow, they were lost in the murky depths of RPGamer's mail server until yesterday, so I printed them. No letters were from old friends of mine, and I am definately not named Brad. That said, yeah, FFT rules.

Jason:
Lunar is a good one. Give her FF7 as well. I'll let Goog think up some more

Googleshng:
Lunar might be a LITTLE on the tough side. I'd go with something easy like FF7, or better yet, FF6!

Jason:
I don't have a Dreamcast. I USED to have a PS2, and I'm getting a new one on Saturday. So... I'll let Goog field this one.

Googleshng:
You block randomly based on your mag's IQ and sync, but you can also block by hitting an attack button just before a monster's attack connects.

Jason:
Personally, I think the game looks great. I might even buy it despite the fact that I said I wouldn't buy any more PS1 games. That team hasn't let me down yet, so I wouldn't think they would let me down this time.

Googleshng:
Tactics Ogre is just like FFT, but with units from Ogre Battle instead of the FFs, more characters at once, and uh... Ogre Battle's class system instead of Job points. The experience system is also a tad screwy. All things considered though, the have a branching plot and the fact that you can get necromancers does kinda make up for the fact that it's more worthwhile to invite the enemy's spiffy mage than to character build your own.

Jason:
You actually mentioned me! *gives you a % for remembering me...* I think the game looks good, and I can't wait to play it when it hits the US.

Googleshng:
Well, I worship the people making the game, and the new features I've heard of sound quite cool, so I'm thrilled. Of course it should also be noted that I love the whole subgenre to death... except maybe Vandal Hearts 2. As for why it took so long to translate, well, it turns out that the second you stop working for Squaresoft, everyone forgets you exist. Combine that with the little fact that TRPGs don't sell well as a general trend, and that the translation rights were more or less up in the air, and you see why it took forever. Still, time to rejoice.

Jason:
Whoo Hoo! My first real question! (Even though you don't say hi to me... )
1:
Sorry... I understand how you feel, since I need to borrow money to buy a new room. My room got broken into and I am buying EVERYTHING new...
2:
Okay, it works out to be something like this: A lot of people like me started playing RPGs with games like FF4. At that time, all the games had that "old school" feel. Then, FF7 comes out, and it is all shiny and new. The games are just as good, but they are not the same as they used to be, and thus people don't like them. Different = bad to some people. The truth is, FF7 and 8 aren't bad games at all. Some people just want something to complain about. As long as you like them, that is all that matters.
3:
Yes! Buy it now. FFT is an amazing game and that price is simply amazing.
4:
People just want to put the blame on something. "It can't be MY fault, it must be the video games that they play." I played violent video games as a child, and I don't have too many problems... :)

Googleshng:
The FF series is so popular that every game in it will have droves of people who love it, and droves of people who hate it. Hate is more satisfying to vocalize. Buy FFT now. Right now. Finally, tons of people blame real violence on things like videogames. These people quite frankly have no idea what they're talking about, but luckily are very rarely in positions of authority, so they just blow off steam every so often.

The Last Laugh: