_______ ______. .________ __________ ________/ __/ _/ __|_______/____|____ \/ /_______/ / __/_. / / / \ / /\ \/ \ /__________| /__________/ / /____/____/_________/ / /________| <-/-rS!-------\________/--------------------\________/-----+ ___________/_______________ ________ | _/ / / \ _ \ ________|____ \ | The Console / /\ / / / / /_/ / / / | Scene Charts! /______/\ /\________/____\ / /__________/ | \_/ \__/__________|<-------------+ Gameboy Advance Console World Charts for October 1 - October 31, 2001 Issue Number 5, Released November 5th, 2001 Staff: ennay & Featuring Guest Commentaries by: MFM / Eurasia & jus / VENOM .- Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------. Here it is folks, a few days late but at least its out (Unlike some other GBA chart that lasted 2 issues). I'm not certain if there are any mistakes in this month's issue, but I'm sure someone will be crying to be if I forgot to add/change/update something. This month was quite interesting, it's been the most competitive since the GBA scene has started. I'll keep this introduction short as you're probably not even reading this section anyways. We have 2 people commentating for this month and they are: MFM / Eurasia - He's heavily involved in the GBA & GBC scene (Most of you have used his excellent GBX Tool) and has strong opinions regarding most console related issues. jus / Venom - Yes due to popular demand, jus is back for another fun filled slander fest at Console World. But seriously, I respect his opinion and that's why I've asked for this commentary this month. I'd just like to say thanks to both of you guys for pointing out the many mistakes in the WIP version of this chart. Enough jibber jabber, let the charts BEGIN! - ennay RULES & POINTS -------------- -1 Point - DUPE: Released a game, but only after another group already beat you? -1 point then. DUPE TRAINER: A Late Trainer with the same or less options. BROKEN: If you release a game/trainer/crack that doesn't work, -1 time! +0 Points - BETA: Beta releases are cool to check out, but they are not the real deal. No points are given or taken for these. TERRITORY DUPE: If a game is released in Europe first and contains English, then a following USA release is considered a territory dupe. If a game is released in the USA first, and it releases later in Europe with no additional languages, it is also considered a territory dupe. Games that have additional game features/levels/etc. added are void from territory dupe rules. Only Roms that contain differences when file compared fit into the territory dupe category, if a Rom is the exact same in 2 territories, it fits into the -1 dupe category. Territory dupes receive 0 points. FIX: A non-protection related fix for a released game gets 0 points. EEPROM FIX: A fix for games containing EEPROM saves, to allow the game to run without EEPROM saving on the current GBA copiers. These get 1 point for now, they will get 0 once flash-carts featuring EEPROM saving become more mainstream. +1 Point - TRAINER: Any selectable trainer including a menu receives 1 point. MULTI: A European Multi Language release of a previously available US title. FOREIGN: A German/French/Spanish/Etc. release of a previously available English title. TOOL: A tool for the PC that is useful for Gameboy Advance purposes gets 1 point. +2 Points - AVERAGE JAPANESE: An average Japanese game. Most RPGS, Mahjong titles, Slot games, Sims, Adventures, etc. will be put into this category. These receive 2 points. FOREIGN WORLD FIRST: If a German/French/Spanish/Etc. game is out before the English version, it gets 2 points. CRACK: A crack for a protected/non-working game gets you 2 points. +3 Points - ENGLISH WORLD FIRST: The first release of a game in English. This is generally the first release of the game available, either in Europe or the USA. These receive 3 points. QUALITY JAPANESE: A quality Japanese title that is either highly awaited or playable will receive 3 points. Generally games from major companies due out for release later in English will fit into this category. Most action games, fighting games, etc. will also fall under this category. TRANSLATION: Translating a non-English game to English = 3 points. The points reflect the major amount of work this requires! +4 Points - MAJOR: Usually the best/most-anticipated game of the month. .- Charts for the Month of September 2001 ---------------------------------. ___/\____/\_________ /\ ________ \__ ___/ __/\__ /__/ \__\ _ /poyZ __ _/ / | __/ / / _/ \_ _/ _/_ __ \\_\\ _____| _____/_____\__/\__/__\ \ //_// .----\/----|/----------------------\ /------ Cezar ------------------------ Date Game Name / Company \/ Info Pts N o t e s --------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 12 Konami Krazy Racers +6 EUR/IPS +1 October 29 Tang Tang MULTI6 - Take 2 EUR/32 +1 -- Total Points - 02 Comments: ennay: The usual stuff that you can expect from Cezar, territory dupes for the collector in everyone! mfm: Again some releases from Cezar that other groups wouldn't want to release... jus: Some groups will release this type of shit, and Cezar is no exception. MTX!____.--._)\____ .-. ____/(___:.___ .--/ _ | | \___ \/ _ \/ ___/___]/ _ \--. | / __| l | _/ \___ \ / \ | `-\____ \_____|_\_ \__|__/ ____/___\ |__/-' .------\(---------\(-----)/---------`-'----- Eurasia ----------------------- Date Game Name / Company Info Pts N o t e s --------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 03 Kiki Kaikai Advance - Taito JPN/64 +3 October 04 Hatena Seneta - Hudson JPN/32 +3 Kiki Kaikai Advance +5 Trainer JPN/IPS +1 October 18 Minna De Puyo Puyo - Sega JPN/64 +3 October 24 Phalanx - Kemco JPN/32 +3 Phalanx +6 Trainer JPN/IPS +1 October 30 Spyro Season of Ice MULTI5 - Universal EUR/64 +3 -- Total Points - 17 Plus 2 points for last month mistake, read my comments. Comments: ennay: In the NFO for Kiki Kaikai, Eurasia mentioned that they'll only be releasing quality titles. I applaud their decision and perhaps this has allowed some other groups to release titles in the Japanese department. Phalanx was a pretty sweet shooter on the SNES and the GBA version is just as good! My apologies to Eurasia for a little mistake in last months total, Atlantis and Jurassic Park 3 only got 2 points when it should of been 3 each. This hasn't changed the the final rankings for Sept. though (Mode7 still won). mfm: We promised that we would stop releasing unplayable hamster titles and this is the result. Kiki Kaikai Advance is a conversion of the SNES/SFC title with the same name (released in USA/Europe as "Pocky & Rocky"). The Puyo Puyo titles are usually good and this is no exception, it's nice to see that it has a setting for English language in it. Phalanx is a great shoot'em'up, also converted from the SNES. Spyro is also worth checking out... jus: Once again Eurasia brings us the usual slew of Jap games, however this month they chose to release only the best and let the competition take all the unplayable crap. They even managed to score an English game this month. Sega's Puyo Puyo is an excellant rendition of the classic, but what else would you expect from Sonic Team. I played Kiki and Phalanx for 5 minutes but these conversions were somewhat dissapointing compared to the SNES originals. ___.:___ ___ _____ __.:___ H I G H \ || /(___)\ __// || / H I G H SOCIETY_/ \\ \_ \\ \_SOCIETY ____ _\\____||________________||____//_ ____ _____ ___ _____ __ ______ _____ _____ cDr _\ _// \\ _/(__))_ /_ _/__| / ms_/ /__ | / /__/ | | | _/ _\\___________________________|___|______\ _---- High Society -------------- Date Game Name / Company Info Pts N o t e s --------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 14 Lego Bionicle MULTI8 - Lego Media EUR/64 +1 GROUP 1ST October 31 Super SF II X Revival - Capcom EUR/64 +3 -- Total Points - 04 Comments: ennay: High Society enters the GBA scene with a territory dupe. Plus 1 point for the Multi8. Super Street Fighter II X was a nice release, but the Japanese one was quite playable. mfm: The JAP version of Super SF II X had a little japanese text so I guess some people will appreciate a pure english version. jus: After a lackluster start in the GBA scene with another worthless multidupe, High Society scores unexpectedly with the English version of SSFII. The control scheme with the GBA's limited buttons turned me off to the game, but if you're a fan of the series (and who isn't) or enjoyed the Jap version it's worth checking out. ___ _ ___ _____ _____ / /__\/__/ _/____ / /___ / /----+(\S! / \_ / / / _/+ + _____________/___/____/____/____\ ---------. _____ _____ _____ ___ __ : / _/ _ /_/_ // _/____/_/___lIGHTfORCE' _/ // _/ / \ _\ / 2 o o 1 ___\ _____\__\____\ ____________\----------- .----------------------------------------------- Lightforce ---------------- Date Game Name / Company Info Pts N o t e s --------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 14 Boxing Fever - Majesco USA/64 +3 October 15 GyakutenS Saiban - Capcom JPN/64 +2 October 23 Hello Kitty Coll. Miracle - Imagineer JPN/64 +2 European Super League MULTI5 - Virgin EUR/32 +3 October 29 Lucky Luke Wanted MULTI6 - Infogrames EUR/32 +3 October 30 Spyro Season of Ice - Universal Studios USA/64 +0 TERR. DUPE -- Total Points - 13 Comments: ennay: A little controversy for LFC this month. I've heard from reliable sources that the release of European Super League actually came from a website. I can't confirm this (Nor do I give a shit about rom pages) so LFC will get the points. Other than that, seems like these guys are providing the games that Eurasia has passed along (Or perhaps supplied by Eurasia?) Spyro gets 0 points because Eurasia did the European Multi language one earlier that day. mfm: A pretty good month for LFC, even if Lucky Luke was the only game of them that I've tried (and it was exactly like on SNES, GBC etc). jus: A mixed bag from Lightforce this time around. While they managed to pick up 2 English originals this month, their performance was tarnished by the other shit they released. Namely the unplayable Jap crap, a territory dupe, and (rumor has it) a rom that was downloaded from the web and repackaged (Euro Super League). It's also worth mentioning that while they claim Lucky Luke is a pre in their nfo, in fact the game was available in-stores in Germany. ._ - M O D E 7 - ______ _________ | /\__ ____________ __\ | _ ____\__ / / \/ _/ _ \ .|___\_ \/ // // \ / \ / // | |/ _____/____/ . ____|\/|___\______/\_______\_______/-rtx! _| Mode 7 ----------------------- Date Game Name / Company Info Pts N o t e s --------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 03 Snood - Rebellion USA/32 +3 October 25 Monsters Inc. - THQ USA/32 +3 October 26 Doom - ID Software USA/64 +3 -- Total Points - 09 Comments: ennay: Quite a slow month after doing really well in September. Snood looks like some lame shareware PC game (What a SUPRISE, the game WAS ported from the PC) The other noteworthy title was the release of Doom which I thought was a pretty good port. mfm: Doom was probably the most anticipated game this month. Was it worth the wait? There's different opinions on this, but I think it's not THAT bad. Snood is a ripoff of Puzzle Bobble, only worse. jus: After lasts month's flood of games, Mode 7 slows down but still manages to grab the highly awaited GBA conversion of Doom. I had hoped Snood would keep me satisfied until the release of Bust-A-Move next month, however the piss-poor graphics and gameplay flaws make it nearly unplayable. Puzzle Bobble addicts like myself will have to keep waiting. M.U.G.S MOST UGLY GAMEBOY SCENERS --------------------------------- We are ugly and you suck, fact! ================================= .------------------------------------------- Most Ugly Gameboy Sceners ----- Date Game Name / Company Info Pts N o t e s --------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 16 Lady Sia Proper Dump Multi 6 - TDK EUR/64 +1 -- Total Points - 01 Comments: ennay: I'm pretty much sick of seeing all of these Lady Sia dumps/repacks and whatever else. This game is obivously popular, so buy the friggin' game! mfm: Not much to say, except that the supposedly proper dump is twice the size of the real cart. jus: We are multidupe and overdump, fact! _______ __________/\_______/\__ \__ \| ____ __/_ ___/ / \ \/ \/ \_/\ / \ \_ \_ \_ \_____\_______/________/__________/md .--------------- NIL --------------------------- Date Game Name / Company Info Pts N o t e s --------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 24 Hamster Monogatari 2 - Culture Brain JPN/64 +2 GROUP 1ST Nakayoshi Mahjan Kaburiichi - Konami JPN/32 +2 ESPN XGames Skateboarding - Konami JPN/64 +0 October 26 Dokodemo Taikyoku Yakuman Adv. - Ninteno JPN/64 +2 -- Total Points - 06 Comments: ennay: Another group enters the GBA scene with some Japanese stuff. Good for the rom collectors out there. ESPN XGames Skateboarding gets 0 points because it's already out in the USA & Europe. mfm: First GBA releases from NIL, no playable stuff though. Maybe better luck next month. jus: Nil brings us the finest Japan has to offer, hamster sims and mahjong games galore! Perhaps they will provide some competition to Eurasia on the playable stuff in the future. ()()==================D~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ pARAcOX - wE sUXX cOX .----------------------------------------------- Paracox ------------------- Date Game Name / Company Info Pts N o t e s --------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 31 Kao the Kangaroo - Titus USA/32 +3 -- Total Points - 03 Comments: ennay: Paracox manages to bring another title that noone can confirm whether it's a final or not. Like Final Fight One (Which turned out to be a European final) I'll give these guys the benefit of the doubt on this one. Anyhow, keep bringing the releases, I love to see games that are WIP. mfm: Kao the Kangaroo is a nice platformer, but is it a final? It seems buggy atleast: if the demo play is on, it will sometimes at random restart the game and show the initial "Licensed by Nintendo" screen and force you to select language again. jus: I've heard nice things about this game, however I've also heard its buggy and reaks of beta. Still worth checking out, as most people find these WIP games somewhat interesting. .__________________________/\______/\ ___ |_____ / ________ / ______ \ __ \/ / / ___/ | |/ _ __/ | | | \ | \ _ / / | / | \ \_ | / | / / \ /___|/ |__|__|\ / |__|____/____/ /___\ -+---/____|-------\/__|-----------/__/RtX-+-- Paradox ---------------------- Date Game Name / Company Info Pts N o t e s .--------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 16 Lego Island 2 Multi 8 - Infogrames EUR/32 +1 GROUP 1ST -- Total Points - 01 Comments: ennay: Not exactly a stellar release to enter the GBA scene. Will these guys do better in the following months? mfm: Not a great first month for Paradox in the GBA scene. jus: Paradox take a break from releasing DVD isos and bring us this fine multidupe. ___ ___ ________________________:___ / _ \/ | \/ _ \ _ \_. ._/ __ \ | / / |_ \ | \ | \_/ _/ | |/ \__/ \ \___ \/____/ |__/\ \RD| |\________|___) <----\__/-----' \__) `--:---------:----->-- Quartex --------------------- Date Game Name / Company Info Pts N o t e s .--------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 10 Konami Krazy Racers +3 Trainer USA/IPS +1 GROUP 1ST October 18 Steven Gerrards Total Soccer 2002 MULTI6 EUR/64 +3 Denki Block MULTI 5 - Rage Software EUR/64 +3 October 20 Dexters Laboratory +5 Trainer USA/IPS +1 October 29 Lucky Luke Wanted +3 Trainer EUR/IPS +1 Boxing Fever +3 Trainer USA/IPS +1 October 30 The Wild Thornberries Chimp Chase +3 Tr. USA/IPS +1 Spyro Season of Ice +5 Trainer EUR/IPS +1 Spyro Season of Ice +5 Trainer USA/IPS +0 DUPE TR -- Total Points - 12 Comments: ennay: A very strong month for Quartex. Their trainer menu kicks total ass and its got a nice little mod tune playing as well. The +5 Trainer for Spyro USA gets 0 points because it's pretty much pointless. Even the individual who did the trainer admitted it (from my reliable sources) And it wasn't spread too much. mfm: An ok month for Quartex, even if I didn't try any of the games. They also started releasing trainers this month, with a quite neat trainer menu. jus: Last issue I asked these guys where the trainers were, and this month they answer in spades. Quartex released a multitude of trainers, some for older games but the Spyro and Lucky Luke trainers were quite fast. There was a small foul-up with the Lucky Luke trainer however it was quickly fixed. The GBA version of Denki Blocks is a highly addictive puzzler with nice looking graphics and is easily one of the better games released this month. Overall a good month from Qtx, and the new trainer menu (not used in any of these releases) kicks ass.. keep it up. _______ _______.___________ __ .____\_ \____\_ \ _ / _ |. |. / // | //. |___/ .| |:. || \ \_ _____/|| _/ .::| `-- l_____|\_____/____|-rtx!l_____| ------'-- Rapid Fire ------------------- Date Game Name / Company Info Pts N o t e s .--------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 19 Prehistorik Man - Titus EUR/32 +3 Prehistorik Man +6 Trainer EUR/IPS +1 October 25 Monster Inc. +3 Trainer EUR/IPS +1 -- Total Points - 05 Comments: ennay: Prehistorik Man is a nice SNES port. Rumour also has it that the game originated from the web. mfm: Webpage Willy is back with a new supply: Prehistorik Man, another good game converted from SNES. The trainers were released pretty fast, but please take the time to add level skip/select to the trainers next time. jus: Rapid Fire add some spice to the trainer scene and prove that they can still turn out a trainer when they want to. Greets go out to Byte-Patch Bob. -------------------------------------------- s H i T f o R C E -------------------------------------------- wE sHiT oN u cUZ wE iS dA == sHiTfoRCE == -------------------------------------------- Shitforce --------------------- Date Game Name / Company Info Pts N o t e s .--------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 24 Crusin' Velocity - Midway USA/32 +0 BETA Comments: ennay: This group was formed to mock Lightforce (Maybe a statement towards their web page repacks?) I personally found their NFO quite hilarious and just as entertaining as the Paracox NFO's. I wonder if these guys will be back for more? mfm: Another beta from the web. jus: And the web repacks continue. _\____ /\_/\____/\_____/\_____ /\__/_ \ |/ / ___/ \ / _ \_ \/ _/ poyZ __ _\ / / __/\ \_ _/ / | \/ |__ __ \\_\\_\ __/_______\ /_\ _____|__||_ |_//_// <--- --\/----------\/---\/----------\|------- Venom ------------------------ Date Game Name / Company Info Pts N o t e s .--------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 03 S.Illustrated for Kids Baseball - BAM USA/32 +3 October 04 The Wild Thornberries Chimp Chase - THQ USA/32 +3 Scooby Do and the Cyber Chase - THQ USA/32 +3 S.Illustrated for Kids Football - BAM USA/32 +3 October 19 Scooby Do and the Cyber Chase +5 Trainer USA/IPS +1 GROUP 1ST October 26 Doom +5 Trainer USA/IPS -1 BROKEN October 31 Batman Vengeance - Infogrames USA/64 +3 -- Total Points - 15 Comments: ennay: Quite a strong month on the USA front for Venom. Batman Vengeance was a pretty nice looking title. The trainer for Doom was broken, and the fixed one got released after the month of October. I'm suprised no other group bothered to make a trainer for Doom. Great work guys, and thanks to jus for the last minute commentary. mfm: Mostly sport and kid titles from Venom this month, I can't say that I tried any of them. The Venom trainer menu is nice, too bad it took a long time to get a fixed trainer for Doom (hopefully out when you're reading this). jus: Our sophomore month on the GBA scene is a very good one indeed. Although not as many titles were released compared to last month, Venom scooped up plenty of English games. Batman is a nice sidescroller/beat em up in the old arcade style. This month also marks the release of our first trainers on GBA. Unfortunately the Doom +5 trainer was rushed out without being thoroughly tested (it was friday night and most of us in Venom had better things to do) which resulted in a non-working option. It has since been fixed and released (+6 this time), a day too late to be included in these charts. .- Group Totals & Summary -------------------------------------------------. Rank Group Points 1. Eurasia 17 2. Venom 15 3. Lightforce 13 4. Quartex 12 5. Mode 7 09 6. Network International Ltd. 06 7. Rapid Fire 05 8. High Society 04 9. Paracox 03 10. Cezar 02 11. MUGS 01 12. Paradox 01 13. Shitforce 00 - Eurasia takes back the No.1 position, but Venom comes in a close second. - Only 5 points seperate the top 4 groups. This is definitely the most competitive month. - 4 groups enter the GBA Scene: High Society, NIL, Paradox & Shitforce. All Time Rankings & Points Points Previous All This +/- Total = Time Rank Group Month Points Points 1. Eurasia 17 + 133(+2) = 152 2. Mode7 09 + 82 = 91 3. Captial 00 + 32 = 32 4. Rapid Fire 05 + 20 = 25 5. Venom 15 + 08 = 23 6. Lightforce 13 + 04 = 17 7. Quartex 12 + 03 = 15 8. Cezar 02 + 08 = 10 9. Independent 00 + 08 = 08 10. The Corporation 00 + 08 = 08 11.a Menace 03 + 03 = 06 11.b Network International Ltd. 06 + -- = 06 11.c Paracox 03 + 03 = 06 12. Perversion 00 + 05 = 05 13.a High Society 04 + -- = 04 13.b Inferno 00 + 04 = 04 13.c Total Crap 00 + 04 = 04 14.a Most Ugly Gameboy Sceners 01 + 01 = 02 14.b Nintendo Backup Crew 00 + 02 = 02 15.a Absence 00 + 01 = 01 15.b Anthrox 00 + 01 = 01 15.c Gameboy Lamers 00 + 01 = 01 15.d Paradox 01 + -- = 01 15.e Subport 00 + 01 = 01 16.a -Q 00 + 00 = 00 16.b Shitforce 00 + -- = 00 17.a -P 00 - 01 = -1 17.b Milkmen 00 - 01 = -1 18. Lost 00 - 02 = -2 BTW, it wasn't fun updating this section. .- Conclusion -------------------------------------------------------------. ennay: What a great month October has been, lots of competiton as you can see. I'm a little tired now, so that's all I'll have to say. I hope you guys have enjoyed reading this month's issue, and I apologize for being a little late on this one. Thanks again to mfm & jus for their contribution this month. mfm: A quite interesting month with some competition for the games and trainers. Some good games were released, too bad many of them were old titles converted from the SNES instead of new and original titles. A lot of titles are scheduled for November so hopefully that month will be even more interesting. jus: Competition heats up on all fronts in October. Quartex and Venom start making trainers. Nil and Lightforce challenge Eurasia's domination of the Jap stuff. Paradox and High Society race each other for multi-dupes. Rpf, Shitforce, and Lightforce - who will be the fastest to repack the next dump off the web? .- Greetings & What We're Playing Currently -------------------------------. ennay - Currently Playing: - Metal Gear Solid II / PS2 - Simply the GREATEST game I've ever played, anyone who consider themselves to be a gamer must check this one out. This one is simply perfect. Hideo Kojima proves once again that he is the master at story telling and directing. - Tennis 2K2 / DC - Probably the last DC game I'll ever play. This one isn't vastly improved over last year's but how could you really improve an already stellar game? Greets to: Basilisk (Here's your friggin' greet) & All others that have demanded Console World to continue on. Sorry for not being around too much on Efnet these days. But I'll try to be a bit more active in November. mfm - Currently Playing: - Warioland 4 / GBA - Easily the best looking game on GBA, plays great too. Nintendo, make more new games like this instead of converting old games that we already have. - Phalanx / GBA - A great 2D shoot'em'up, my favourite title from the GBA releases this month. - WipeOut 64 / N64 - Still the best version of WipeOut. jus - Currently Playing: - MegaMan Battle Network / GBA - Capcom brings MegaMan with a twist to the RPG genre. Top-notch gameplay and graphics. - Tennis 2K2 & NBA 2K2 / DC - And who said Dreamcast was dead? Greets to : Rotox - wheres my ascii? @BEGIN_FILE_ID.DIZ ------------------------------------------ Console World GBA Charts Number 5 For the month of October 2001, released on November 5th, 2001. ------------------------------------------ @END_FILE_ID.DIZ .--------------------------------------------------------------------------.