20070918

Prognostication: Everest at Range

I had listed the Ice Climber's return as "Probable" and here they are. At the same time, they've been completely overshadowed by today's announcement.

Super Smash Brothers: Brawl will be playable over the internet.

I don't know about you, but I can think of several dozen people who just cackled maniacally, expounding upon dire machinations of my doom with tumultuous thunder crashing in the background.

Sakurai makes a note that should be common sense to just about everyone, things over the internet experience lag. This is probably the most honest I've ever heard a game developer when it comes to internet gaming. If you listen to comments from developers about Halo 3's online cooperative mode, or Unreal's fragfests you don't hear them saying "Well, we can't promise the same twitchfest action a LAN allows." There's no acknowledging the obvious with them, but Sakurai is humble enough to admit that his code is not some magic panacea for the ailments of the internet. There will be lag, it will suck on occasion, and a little electric rodent is going to defeat your brave swordsman handily because of it.

We'll see how this all pans out, but I would again recommend getting a Wii now even if you don't intend on using it for months. December 3rd they will be sold out, guaranteed.

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