So I was reading an article on Joystiq today about PSP sales in Japan. The most interesting thing they stated was that handhelds blow next gen consols out of the water in Japan when it comes to sales hands down. And that got me thinking What kind of numbers have handheld gaming systems done over the years. So I did a little research on Wikipedia and here is what I came up with:


1. GBC/GBA 75 million (June 06)
2. GB 70 million
3. DS 35 million (to date)/
DS Lite 17 million (to date) (52 million combined)
4. GBSP 39.7 Million
5. PSP 24.7 million (to date)
6. Game Gear 8.65 million
7. Lynx 2 million


Now of course the PS2 is the best selling game system of all time at 115 million units. I'm just shocked that handhelds are putting up the numbers they are. The Gamboy's have all outsold the xbox and xbox 360 combined. That's pretty impressive. I think that this speaks to the fact that availability is key when pushing game systems. I know my handheld gets more attention because I can stick it in my bag and take it with me anywhere. So what's your thought on handhelds? Could you love em or leave em?

   Alright, so I've been playing Metal Gear Solid:    Portable Ops. And, can I just say that I believe    this might be the best game on the PSP to date.    Yes, I know God of War 2 is coming to PSP, and
   I am looking forward to it. But, right now as the    lineup looks MGS:PO is by far the best game on
   the system. As soon as you load the game up it sucks you in. The graphics are amazing, and the storyline is engaging. Of course as with any shooter game, the controls take a bit to get used to, but are the perfect setup for this game.

Now the few things that seem to be hitches in this game are the semi long dialogs, and the game play setup. I wish you could skip through more of the dialog when needed. And as far as the game play, I wish this had shorter play segments. I was hoping for something more of a "pick up and play for 5 minutes" type situation. The dialog issue also plays into that as well.

Overall though, this is an amazing game. I would say it's a must buy for PSP owners. I am new to the MGS series and if this is how the other 3 games on the PS were, (excluding the Acid series and the other MSG PSP titles) then Kojima is a freaking genius. What an engaging game. There have only been a few games that I just didn't want to put down over the years (Super Mario 3, Adventure Island, Super Mario World, Earthworm Jim, Mega Man 2, Guitar Hero 1&2 to name a few). There's that unexplainable X-factor to these games that just won't let go. For Guitar Hero it was the whole living out the rockstar dream, and communal experience of the game that made it great. Super Mario World had amazing scenery and great new characters. MGS: PO has the element of sneaking. Syphonfilter has sneaking, but nothing like this. Somehow they have made it like you are Snake himself. And the element of urgency is very much felt as you sneak around. They couldn't have picked a better perspective to have the camera in.

So to conclude here are the ratings for MGS: PO


   Even at first glance this game is amazing. You
   can see the detail and thought they put into this    title from the second it loads.







   This smells like some great sneaky sneaky
   action. Well refined control mechanics, and
   great storytelling make this game rich and    deep.







   I now know why people love MGS. Snake is one
   of the most versitile characters since Mario hit
   the NES. You get sucked into this game from the
   begining, and can't seem to put it down.    Forward rolls, creeping, stealth manuvers make you feel like you are Snake himself. Let me put it this way. When a new vintage of this game comes out I will be the first in line to buy one to put in the Cellar for safe keeping.

Cheers.

Well, after a long weekend of fighting with my PSP, I finally got to play the new games I got this weekend. The 3 games I got are

  Gunpey

  Me and My Katamari

and last but certainly not least....
  Metal Gear solid: Portable Ops.

I will give a review on these as soon as I get to play them a bit more. My initial impressions are as follows...


Gunpey- This game was made by a puzzling masochist. The controls aren't hard, your brain just doesn't want to work that way. The most lines I think I've gotten are 6. Yeah pretty bad.

Me and My Katamari- I've played "We Love Katamari" before this, and my impression is the same. What a great time waster.

and lastly..
Portable Ops.- I'm still learning the controls. I've never played any metal gear, but this looks like it will shape up to be a great game. I love the cut scene art. I think it's a better story telling tool than all the real video cut scenes. Kojima is a genius. It reminds me a bit of Syphonfilter: Dark Mirror. That's a must play as well!!


I'll be back with more updated reviews later.

P.S. I think I finally got the hang of Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts. Yet another masochistically hard game. I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment.

CASTLE CRASHERS NOT COMING TILL 2008!!!!





Well, there is some sad news about the game I talked about yesterday. Alas Castle Crashers will not see the inside of an X-box 360 till at least 2008. I know bummer. I was watching it again today, and I couldn't help but feel that old chill up my spine that I got when I played X-Men in the arcade for the first time. I don't know what it is about the formula, but publishers should take note. It might not have real skin textures and lightbeams, but dang it you can't help but get sucked into this experence.

So my condolances go out to all you 360 owners out there. I know this was a big reason you bought, or were going to buy, a 360. Hang in there. Maybe someday game companies will learn the cash cow that is updatable online content!!!


Silly Microsoft, late relases are for kids!!!

Just a quick post....


  Well from the footage I've seen so far this smells
  like it's got notes of four player fun,
  good strong game play, but just the right
  amount of age and smoothness.




  Looks like this has good legs,
  but only time will tell.




I was checking out this video , and WOW is all I can say!!! You have to check this out. This could be huge in gaming. brilliant idea. Most unique idea I've seen for a game in a long time. You just have to check it out!! Oh!!! and watch till the end. The boss battle is sick!!

Well today is a new start. I have decided to berth out of my love of games, the Game Cellar. Now you might ask "What's in the name?" Well, I was thinking of games like a fine wine. A great game is something that gets better with age. Something to be appreciated and savored. There are memories and history tied to it. It is not just the "wine" itself, but the place it takes you to.

So with that being said, I am what you would call a conosur. I'm not a hardcore gamer by any stretch of the imagination. I haven't gotten into franchise games. I don't really have a pull to a certain console. I just love games. Not just any game but great games. The games that stories are told about.

I feel blessed that I have been able to see gaming from its berth, to what it is today. I took a sebaticle for many years from games. Not that I wasn't paying attention to what was going on, just that I had no resources to play them. I have played pretty much every console there is at least once in my lifetime. And what I have learned is that consoles are like people. Each one tells a story a different way. I have recently picked up gaming again, and felt like sharing the love of games that I have had, and forgotten, for so long.

So what I aim to do with this site is to crack open a nice vintage and give you my take on what I feel makes these games great. To get my attention, let alone keep it, is a very daunting task. I'm sure some of you might disagree with the opinions I give, but I believe that you will come to love many of these games like I did.

I'm just a simple gamer, who loves great games...