Matt Demers - 01:44 EST

A FUN THING TO DO if you're deep-frying something is to wait until the oil is at super-high temperatures (350 degrees or so); then take a single drop of water and let it fall in. The oil will pop REALLY loudly, and it's kinda scary; I wouldn't recommend it, because I'm sure there's some risk involving kitchen fires (assuming you do this in the kitchen).

How would I know this? Well, let's just say that it's best to create confections by yourself without inviting curious friends along to spectate. That is all.

We shall speak no more about my kitchen misadventures; let's now turn to the trusty mailbag.

The World of Emulation

I came to my surprise about your aggressive nature toward the emulation scene. I find it disconcerting how you categorize the emulation seen as some type of maverick Pirate Warez group. I believe we need to discuss about the facts concerning the emulation scene.

Its illegality is based on the downloader and not of those who supply the digital copy. It has been officially stated by Nintendo that digital backup copies of originals are allowed. The method to attain a digital back-up copy has never been detailed thus it is completely LEGAL to download a digital copy of Tales of Phantasia, as long as you have purchased the Japanese cart. What the translation groups do to the digital copy is of course within the grey area. How much control do you have over a product that is purchased for personal use? If we believe that the translators have no legal rights to manipulate code, then it would also mean that flashes containing Nintendo characters or music videos spotlighting anime scenes would be considered illegal. They of course are not. Anyone who argues against this point clearly does not have working knowledge of our copyright laws.

This community of RPG fanatics grew up with American released RPGs, but if you notice most people’s top ten list, always contains a SNES Japanese import. Are we to assume that the majority of these people played them in their original Cart in Japanese? Maybe, just maybe, they used translated roms. People always use the excuse that they were in high school, and that they didn’t know it was illegal; I’m not just referring to Matt, many people use this excuse. It seems odd to that everyone would never notice a huge legal agreement contract put on almost every single emulator/rom site. How can you not know that it’s illegal to download a copy of a non-purchased product? Just because you were a freshman doesn’t mean you don’t have the intelligence to know what is legal and not legal to do. It’s a weak excuse, simple as that.

We have to be truthful to ourselves and to others, and simply agree that the emulation scene is what created the huge boom of RPG popularity that we see nowadays. People talk about how they played such and such domestic release, but it is those translated ROMs that really brought old school RPGs to the hands of the younger generation. I don’t know if 13 year olds still play around with emulators, but their impact has been felt. If it weren’t for the huge popularity of SNES emulation that occurred in the late 90s and early 2000’s, Nintendo may have never thought if re-releasing those games through the Nintendo Revolution.

People spout about how Nintendo Revolution will do this or that, but at the moment its pure marketing fluff, and what exactly are their plans for the American market is still to be heard. I know people seem to be adamant over Nintendo’s future plans, but they aren’t set in stone and can easily change. I hope we get to see some good old school SNES RPGs be released through the Revolution here in the States, but I’m not holding my breath. Console after console has thought me not to trust marketing hype.

Anyway I can understand people’s adverse reaction toward emulation, but it is thanks to those hard working people that we got play such great games. Emulation isn’t something to demonize. It has viable legal reasons to exist. What other way can I play my old beatup copy of Super Mario Bros 3. I have full legal rights to play a digital back up copy of Super Mario Bros. 3. It is not illegal to own or create an emulator. It is illegal to own a digital copy of a un-purchased product. This means I can buy a SNES Tale of Phantasia cart, download a digital back up copy, apply a translation patch, play it using an emulator, and this will all be considered legal. This is exactly what I did during my high school years. I do the same thing with PSX emulation. I have full legal rights to make a back-up copy of my old psx rpgs, and play them on my computer. I must confess that SNES games that I can not get a hold of I have downloaded them. I have to confess that I have a huge library of PC- Engine roms and Neo Geo Roms. Yet you tell me how I can get a hold of most of those games. If there was a legal way to download them I would do it.

Now, don’t get me wrong; I don’t support downloading domestic or import games of this generation or the last. Those games can be attained legally and easily. I would love to be able to buy old SNES RPGs and have them digitally distributed. If Nintendo actually follows through with their plans I will be the first one in line to buy and download their games. Until then, I’ll stick with my emulation.

Some people may think that emulation is just plain wrong. I can’t change your minds if you think that way. Do you people really think that for every fighting game I download for my Neo Geo emulator, SNK (or Playmore) will lose a sell of king of fighters 96. BTW, I own the console ports of many SNK games, I even own an Arcade cabinet of KOF ’96. Yet, how many people can actually go buy a now defunct arcade cabinet of a 10 year old arcade game. SNK makes no profit from the sales of those arcade cabinets that you see in Ebay, so who exactly am I cheating money out of.

Take this train of thought. Imagine 10 years from now. Sony decided not to do any backwards capability on any of their new consoles. You’re 13 years old and you’ve never played FFVII. Sony doesn’t sell the game anymore and they don’t sell the consoles that play the game anymore either. As a consumer do you think you are allowed to get yourself a downloaded copy of FF7 and play it on a psx emulator? Do you think it’s wrong to go down that path? This is the exact situation that is occurring now with Neo geo, turbo-grafix, and SNES. Now if sony decided to re-release ff7 on their new console, we as law-abiding consumers are obligated to purchase this now legal and officially distributed version. Luckily for Sony, they decided to keep backwards capability. Their reason to do so have more to do with cutting down illegal distribution of their products than with baiting consumers with the idea that they aren’t losing their money by switching to a new console.

I know you can come back with the point that it doesn’t matter, it’s still illegal. Well you’re right. If you want to be anal about, then sure it is illegal. Try explaining that to a 13 year old kid wanting to play Star Ocean for the SNES. Are you going to tell him, no sonny, you can’t download that digital copy of Star Ocean, until Nintendo get’s off their ass and re-releases it for the new console? What if Nintendo doesn’t, then what? People seem to think that they can look down at emulation, since Nintendo has expressed their plans for re-releasing old SNES games. Well, that wasn’t case back in the late 90s. Nintendo had no plans of doing such a thing. Anybody who looks down at emulation needs to reflect back what emulation did for the RPG community. Think back really hard, and then re-evaluate your thoughts. It may have been illegal, but it taught console companies that gamers still love their old games and that they truly want a legal and easy way to play them.

Sorry for my ranting.

---Byrc

Come now, play fair; just because Nintendo had no plans for releasing old games TEN YEARS ago doesn't mean that they can't change. Did Microsoft have plans to release a video game system ten years ago? Doubtful. Did Sony plan on releasing a portable game system to compete head-to-head against the Nintendo monopoly ten years ago? Ha! The past actions of a company by no means condemn them to a set path forevermore.

In any case, I'm glad you took the enormous amount of time to write in, because you obviously have a very passionate opinion on the subject. Certainly, I understand your frustration, and I can't say that I'm entirely unfrustrated myself. All I can say is that I am optimistic for the future; whether or not it will turn out the way we want it to is out of our hands.

You have sparked the nerd in me. Dammit, man. I try to keep that in the closet, next to the skeletons and mental images of people I'd enjoy eating.

Anyway, in reference to your Star Ocean dilemma, your special-ed AI, and I don't mean that in any derogatory sense, but in the sense that what they need is a little bit of special education. Doesn't take a retard to figure it out, but I'm a nice guy, so I'll give you the run down. First, let me ask if you ever tried playing as any of the other characters? So of them were really fun, and by that, I mean so so cheap. I was a killing machine in that game; Albel was a good one (MP kills like it's nothing to it), the blonde dude (sure, I could look their names up, but so could you...f*** it), the girl knight is a rabid beast...I could go on...perhaps I will someday...this little reminiscence has made me want to go back and beat it, since I quit when the end got spoiled...that really is a shitty way to end a game...shame on them for that.

But the battle system deserves to be intensely enjoyed. There is a system, just takes figuring out. Anyway, I digress. What you need to do is play as the other characters, and get them a move set that chains easily. Fool around with them until they kick ass, basically. Not all characters are equal, as I'm sure you know, and some do, to be blunt, suck. Once you do that, just fight as them for a bit. It seems that you can train the AI and tune it to your play style by using the different characters in battle. Be sure to switch if you're main character starts to take a lot of damage... he does seem to get dumb sometimes... but once you are back to controlling him and have a team that can actually fend for themselves... that's when the real fun starts...

Seems like I might need to catch up on that Battle System a little, and try to use my words better next time.

Anyway, a question... speaking of Battle Systems... what do you think some of the better ones are?

For active battles I like:

Star Ocean 2, 3. With this series as well as Grandia, I've enjoyed how the respective systems have evolved thru each itteration of the series. They keep managing to be fun and engaging experiences, while giving something new and fresh.

Grandia 1 and 2, and really looking forward to 3. Today's the day. I'm feeling kind of excited. My nerd is exposed and twitching.

Zelda OOT and WindWaker, assuming we've resolved that those are, in fact, RPGs

I liked Chrono Trigger (turn-based) because of the Double and Triple Techs and also because there were no random battles. Same with Secret of Mana. I enjoyed the magic systems in both of those games as well, even if they were very linear...

Ok... I think I could go on, but one more for now. Skies of Arcadia... I absolutely loved the airship battles, and even tho the turn-based group battles were slow and happened so often, I still remember enjoying most every fight. Plus, it never got too easy, and I do appreciate a good challenge...

So, that's about it... and please don't censor my email unless you absolutely have to,

Sincerely,
My Nerd Named Streezus

I almost never censor e-mails, and I don't even know circumstances that I'd have to, unless someone happened to write in with an R-rated word or two. Er, what!? You actually used one in the first paragraph, O Cheeky One. *edits*

Anyway, as far as turn-based RPGs go, I've always loved the strategic simplicity of Dragon Quest, and the ATB era of Final Fantasy. One of my favourite turn-based battle systems, though, is one that isn't often mentioned: Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter had a wonderful turn-based battle system that blurred the line between tactical RPGs and, well, "everyday" RPGs, I guess you could say. I thought it was well done, anyway, and there was certainly no lack of challenge or strategy involved!

Thanks, Streezus! Your letter is most appreciated.

Hey Matt,

Political commentary in DQ VIII? Well...one of the first monsters I recruited to fight for me was a leaping, axe-weilding moron named Bush W.(but I suppose that could have stood for bushwhacker).

Worst RPG ever? This one is hard since there are so many truly awful games out there. Arc the Lad 3 and Twilight of the Spirits come to mind right away as does FFX-2, but there are many others.

Anyway. Someone in some letter mentioned Soul Blazer and I was reminded of how I beat the last boss. Before I fought the boss, I exploited the cheapest leveling tactic in any rpg ever in the final dungeon. I can't remember the specifics but I know it had something to do with an object that kept respawning after I destroyed it. I also remember that this game had a really high limit on how strong it let you become. Eventually I discovered that I was easily 10 times stronger than the second form of the final boss (I defeated the first boss in personal record time of 1.8 sec). My question is: Does anyone else have game that sticks out in the mind because of an easy final boss or an easily exploitable game mechanic?

Cap

Good question! I guess it depends on what you want to include; where does "you being strong" turn into "exploiting game mechanics"? This is especially true for RPGs, I think; for a prime example, think of using Mime materia with the strongest summon we all know in a certain popular game. It's cheap, sure, and technically, it's exploiting a game mechanic. I don't think that counts, though.

The first "cheapo" thing I can think of occurs in Dragon Warrior 2, where the item shop owners can randomly give you a lottery ticket if you buy enough items. After obtaining a very large sum of money, and without anything left to do with it, I would go to the local shop and buy as many herbs as I could carry, just to obtain Lottery Tickets, since I think you could win MP-restoring Wizard's Rings by playing the lottery.

Can anyone think of any better examples? Oh, WAIT! There's one VERY obvious one that Square really overlooked: In Final Fantasy VIII, if your HP is low, then there is a chance of getting a limit break, as most of you know. The fact that you can just keep pressing the "pass your turn" button until the limit break option appears is, in my opinion, something that Square shouldn't have allowed... it's really kind of stupid and artificial if you think about it. THAT is a much better example.

Thanks for the great question, Cap! Do write in again.

Yeah, I know Grandia III is shipping, but I really just want to know one thing. What's wrong with my Growlanser Generations discs? My PS2 works fine with every other game I own, but it freezes everything Growlanser 2 or 3 loads. One of you must have broken it, but who? Who did it???

I was really looking forward to playing this...oh well. I just hope my wife bought me Grandia III.

- Macstorm

Bah... yet another example of Sony crapmanship, if you ask me. That said, if all of your other games work, maybe it is just the disc. Is it free from scratches, cracks, fingerprints, and dust? Is it fully intact? I'm guessing so, but you never know.

Also, I've found that there are a few "unstable" games out there. Star Ocean: Till the End of Time behaved very badly while I was playing it; it froze up on a few occasions, and so did Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana when I played it last fall. I guess these are mechanical issues that SHOULD be addressed before a game's release; it seems like stupid marketing to release something that glitchy.

Hopefully you find a way to play your game somehow! If not, at least you can enjoy your new one. :)

hi please could u tell me where i get fire arrows form on zelda ocarins of time

Ocarins of time? I'm unfamiliar. If, though, you're referring to the N64 hit "The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time", then I'm afraid you've wasted your finger-juice by typing me that e-mail. This is a place for debatable debatables, not easy-to-look-up RPG specifics. Heck, some would debate the RPGness of Zelda in the first place! Next time, write in about the social implications of Fire Arrows or something.

Good luck on your quest in the meantime.

Question #73 was:

In the upcoming movie, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, the English voice actor for Sephiroth also was once part of a well known band. The name of the band, roughly translated, means what?

The answer for 30 points was "c - in harmony and in time," but it turns out Sephiroth is being played by George Newbern not Lance Bass, witch makes the correct answer was "e - none of the above." I'm not suggesting you start taking SOCK points away from people, I just though I'd point it out.

~Kanato

Mannn... you caught me in my own web of disaster! Firstly, that was somebody else's submitted question, so it's actually their fault. I don't remember who it was, and maybe I should, but I point the finger at them!

I noticed it when the voice cast went up in a recent news update, so I was a bit worried one of you would catch it. I'd give everyone who guessed it wrong 30 extra points if they felt that passionately about it, but it's not like your answers from two months ago still exist in my mailbox. All I can do now is beg for your forgiveness...

Lately, I've been grimacing when I look up and right from my computer screen to the wall behind it. That is where my Albert Einstein picture hangs; you know, the one with his tongue sticking out? I feel like whenever I face a misfortune, he's poking fun of me from the great beyond, wherever that might be. I'll get you, Albert Einstein.

Sock time!

#115 was a cute question that most of you got right; the confectionlike character is b) Quistis, since by altering her last name, Trepe, by a single letter, you can obtain the delicious crepe, which is especially good with peaches and whipped cream. 105 points for ça.

#116 was a question posed by Rexy; for those of you Katamari fans, a) The Prince's buddy is not a miniature version of himself, so those of you that guessed correctly got 85 points while Rexy scored 170.

Question #117:
What is the first name of the person whose letter was featured first in yesterday's column? (95 points)

a) Judith
b) Danielle
c) Annette
d) Diane
e) Matt

Question #118:
Ask KnightTrain!-->At one point during Lunar: Silver Star Story, Jessica makes a necklace out of clay. What does Kyle claim the necklace looks like? (80 points)

a) an intrauterine device
b) a donut
c) animal feces
d) a sausage link
e) his unmentionables

Are you willing to add to this giant conversation about the merits of emulation? Can you think of any "cheapo" ways to exploit RPG mechanics that I may have missed? Do you have a philosophical perspective to share about the merits of fire arrows? Failing any of those... how about those Mother 3 screens? Is the sequel finally taking shape? SO many questions! I'd love to try and answer them all, but to do that, you need to write in!

Until next time...

***Matt set a new crunch-record today!