Part 21 has filled up, and Heroic Mario nabs the 500th post. Does the tradition of someone else making the topic in the offseason continue? That`s all up to solarshadow, of course. But this can at the very least be a temporary home until he shows up.

Stats websites:

Summer 2002 Contest:
http://solarshadow2002.tripod.com
Summer 2003 Contest:
http://solarshadow-stats.tripod.com/2003/index.html
Spring 2004 Contest: (not currently updating)
http://solarshadow-stats.tripod.com/sp2004/index.html

Stats topics:

Summer 2002 Contest:
http://solarshadow2002.tripod.com/page1.html
Summer 2003 Contest:
http://solarshadow-stats.tripod.com/archive/topic1p1.html
http://www.angelfire.com/games5/sum_contest/Page1.htm (See note)
2003-2004 Off-Season:
http://membres.lycos.fr/shindohikaru/stats1.htm (See note)
Note: Don't use the links in the topic to browse through the pages, change the page number in the URL.
Spring 2004 Pre-Season:
http://sc2k4.com/archive/04SpringPreSeason1.htm
http://sc2k4.com/archive/04SpringPreSeason2.htm
http://sc2k4.com/archive/04SpringPreSeason3.htm
Spring 2004 Contest:
http://sc2k4.com/archive/04SpringStats1.htm
http://sc2k4.com/archive/04SpringStats2.htm
http://sc2k4.com/archive/04SpringStats3.htm
http://sc2k4.com/archive/04SpringStats4.htm
http://sc2k4.com/archive/04SpringStats5.htm
http://sc2k4.com/archive/04SpringStats6.htm
http://sc2k4.com/archive/04SpringStats7.htm
http://sc2k4.com/archive/04SpringStats8.htm
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=8&topic=14375688 (until purge)

!yawA tsoP
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

So what do we talk about now?
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

What new characters there should be next year?

Yeah, that sounds good. Viewtiful Joe..Billy Hatcher..what else?
---
"Haha SMRPG wins because this is RPGFAQs." "If SMRPG wins then GameFAQs has no credibility." - Fanboys.

V Joe might make it, but who is Billy Hatcher?
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

From Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg, or whatever. Some oddball game from Sega.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Viewtiful Joe's probably gonna be a one-round deal, sadly.

---
"Magus is my god and I will worship him forever."
~Sir Chris

Billy Hatcher better not take up a perfectly good spot. << Waste of space.

I`d like to see a Fire Emblem character, doesn`t matter which one, represented in the contest though I don`t think the recent GBA game is popular enough to warrant nominations. A shame that people haven`t played the old Fire Emblem games, despite them being released only in Japan.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

From the previous topic:

I am personally shocked that TRE actually changed his sig. I thought you`d never do it, but thanks for being a good sport.

Really? What made you think I wouldn't change my sig?
---
*UltimaterializerX is my God!*
I'll think of something better later...

I'd like to post my Summer Contest 2004 topic which has been around since November.

http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=8&topic=11347656

There are plenty of potential brackets and analysis there. If I personally had something meaningful to contribute to this particular topic, I would. :/
---
Finished the Spring Contest with 166 points and 54 battles correctly picked.

Billy Hatcher better not take up a perfectly good spot. << Waste of space.

Heh, it sadly might not matter what new characters come in, cause Nintendo and Square will..no, let's not thing about that! >_>'

Well..anyways..erm...can't wait until the SC2K4? :-)
---
"Haha SMRPG wins because this is RPGFAQs." "If SMRPG wins then GameFAQs has no credibility." - Fanboys.

I guess I might as well post my own proposed SC2004 Psuedo Bracket.

Oh, and did Carmen Sandiego appear in a game first? If not, than give her spot to Sarah Kerrigan.

1. Cloud Strife
16. Frogger

8. Morrigan Aenslad
9. Chun-Li

5. Donkey Kong
12. Gordon Freeman

4. Alucard
13. Terra Branford

6. Fox McCloud
11. Miles "Tails" Prower

3. Tidus
14. Sora

7. Master Chief
10. Frog

2. Sephiroth
15. Duke Nukem
------------------------------
1. Link
16. Marina Lightyears

8. Luigi Mario
9. Rikku

5. Bowser Koopa
12. Ramza Beoulve

4. Squall Leonhart
13. Vyse

6. Auron
11. Aeris Gainsborugh

3. Zero
14. Sub-Zero

7. Yoshi
10. Aya Brea

2. Megaman
15. Scorpion

-------------
1. Crono
16. Fawful

8. Vivi Orinter
9. KOS-MOS

5. Ryu
12. Kefka Palazzo

4. Zelda Hyrule
13. Bomberman

6. Knuckles the Echidna
11. Viewtiful Joe

3. Solid Snake
14. Carmen Sandiego

7. Kirby
10. Jill Valentine

2. Samus Aran
15. Ryo Hzuki

----------------
1. Mario Mario
16. CATS

8. Pac-Man
9. Lara Croft

5. Tommy Vercetti
12. Pikachu

4. Janus "Magus" Zeal
13. Ritz Malebur

6. Shadow the Hedgehog
11. Ryu Hyubasa

3. Ganondorf Dragmire
14. Mewtwo

7. Dante Sparda
10. Geno

2. Sonic the Hedgehog
15. Crash Bandicoot
---
UltimaterializerX is my God!

So what do we talk about now?

summer contest hype, i would hope.
that's why i'm still hanging around.

Heh, it sadly might not matter what new characters come in, cause Nintendo and Square will..no, let's not thing about that! >_>'

random chance would result in square and nintendo characters crushing all others.
sorting by company would result in square and nintendo characters crushing all others.
sorting by previous strength would result in square and nintendo characters crushing all others.
limiting the number of characters per series or company would result in square and nintendo characters crushing all others.
...banning square and nintendo characters would result in complaints about square and nintendo characters being able to crush the champion.

perhaps the solution is a bracket of 64 square and nintendo characters?
---
signature (n.): a random bit of gibberish that no one ever reads.

Perhpas people should stop complaining and realize it's just for fun.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

perhaps the solution is a bracket of 64 square and nintendo characters?

No, then all the Megaman and Sonic fans will torch the board and burn it into a crisp. :-(
---
"Haha SMRPG wins because this is RPGFAQs." "If SMRPG wins then GameFAQs has no credibility." - Fanboys.

...but the complaints are part of the fun.
---
signature (n.): a random bit of gibberish that no one ever reads.

Really? What made you think I wouldn't change my sig?

I don`t know, you just come off as a really, really serious guy who doesn`t get involved with silly little games like that. I`m shocked you even signed up, to be honest. But hey, more power to you. It`s not like I wasn`t already a fanboy of yours or anything ~_^
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

Redline: There's nothing wrong with square and Nintendo. If their games rock, it will show.

Major Characters I want in the contest: Mario, Link, Ganondorf, Kirby, Bowser

Minor Characters I want in the contest: Luigi, Roy(Fire Emblem), Popo or Nana, Tetra/Zelda, Toad.

---
Ñïñtèñdð²®
<><»»Jesus is cool.

have you talked to kirin to findout his tiebreaker?

Do you think you won?
---
Just Keep Barking!

...but the complaints are part of the fun.

True. My favorite part of the contest: seeing a game lose and watching the flames..and I'll try to avoid doing some myself. *ahem* (Great..now I'm just talking bull again..) And..yeah.. I wanna do an analysis of how the fanbase of a losing game reacts...taking down flame topics....yeah, then rank from the whiniest to the most humble at the end...

Speaking of that, what fanbase do you think was the most whiniest in SP2K4? SFII?


---
"Haha SMRPG wins because this is RPGFAQs." "If SMRPG wins then GameFAQs has no credibility." - Fanboys.

...come to think of it, six of my ten favorite games are made by square or nintendo.
i'd never thought about that...

I wanna do an analysis of how the fanbase of a losing game reacts...taking down flame topics....yeah, then rank from the whiniest to the most humble at the end...

rather...malevolent analysis, don't you think?

Speaking of that, what fanbase do you think was the most whiniest in SP2K4? SFII?

i believe the fanbase against ff7 wins this contest easily...
---
signature (n.): a random bit of gibberish that no one ever reads.

I feel like doing a brief rundown of the contest:

Highlight: Starcraft. Surprised an awful lot of people and put the icing on the cake of a very exciting 128 division.

Lowlight: The final. I'm not an RPG fan, so to see my predicted final of Mario 3 - FF7 not happen was annoying. But this is GameFAQs after all, I was just glad that FF1 didn't knock Mario 3 out. Which would have been silly. The final was, in one word, an anticlimax.

Best match: Lots of contenders here, but I'll go for Halo-Starcraft. Lots of lead changes, lots of flaming, lots of whining. A good match can be measured in terms of board reaction. This took it.

Worst match: FFX - FFTA. See my "not an RPG fan" comment. Same series match, hugely one sided.

Biggest surprise: If I can ignore Starcraft's run for a minute, quite possibly Link to the Past's absolute pwning of Super Metroid. I just couldn't believe it. LttP is a good game, but to nearly triple up SM? Crazy.

Most obvious thing: The whole 32/64 division. Only dropped one point, through overestimating Perfect Dark. Complete snooze-fest. My 8 division would have been similar, were it not for the idiotic decision of picking Tetris over Zelda.

My "godlike genius" moment: Apart from nailing the Pong-Tetris prophet challenge, er, well, that's it. At least I got the winner right. Oh yeah, Doom over Earthbound.

My "what were you thinking?" moment: Having Super Metroid beat Doom in round 3. And that whole Vice City in the final 4 thing. And blowing my whole betting stack on Starcraft against SSBM. And blowing my whole spread betting stack on Mario 3 (+3) against Chrono Trigger.

Final thought: Damn RPG fanboys :-)
---
Jon Thomson - final score : 138/192

^^that's a nice rundown.
---
Ñïñtèñdð²®
<><»»Jesus is cool.

I would like to analyze the contest too, if I may use the same format the previous poster used(is that okay? :))!

Highlight: Starcraft. I agree here. It seemed like for the first three rounds that Starcraft had pulled off upsets fair and square. The early and late vote would've given it a bit of a boost, anyway.. but it also kinda is a lowlight, as I'll say below.

Lowlight: The final. I also agree here, as it pretty much was anti-climatic that FFVII was going to win this thing. Also, the sudden burst of votes Starcraft got against SSBM. It made it so obvious that cheating was going on in that round. It might have pulled off(or barely lost), if it wasn't so obvious then that something was going on. In fact, I don't think people would've made a deal about it.

Best match: CT/LttP. Back and forth throughout the day. LttP couldn't hang on near the end, though.

Worst match: The final. Too anti-climatic. It was over before I woke up.

Biggest surprise: The Zelda games not making it to the final four. Maybe it's that Link is more powerful than his games? I would definitely think the Zelda games flopped in this tournament, even if they had blowouts early on. ONE should've made the final four at least.

Most obvious thing: FFVII winning. It's getting a lot stronger than I had ever imagined, and I feel it'll continue into the summer contest.

My "godlike genius" moment: None, my bracket sucked :)

My "what were you thinking?" moment: Overestimating the young vote. I had imagined the younger vote would be more anti-Nintendo, and pro-violent games. I had Vice City going very far in my bracket. I didn't have it winning, of course.

Final thought: Maybe the Summer Contest will be a lot less anti-climating. Something tells me I'll be wrong though.

---
Vote in the Best. Random Video Game Character. Ever. Contest!

What also disappointed me:

I had WW vs. GTA:VC in the finals of the 128 bracket in my predicted bracket. I imagined WW winning and going to the Final Four by the result of 50.01 - 49.99 percent :). The boards i had felt were going to be awesome that day. All the insults, the kiddy accusations, all the "Why Playing VC makes ME mature." posts and the explanation being all childish..

Too bad it was not meant to be :)

---
Vote in the Best. Random Video Game Character. Ever. Contest!

Highlight: Starcraft, duh.

Lowlight: Too many undeserving games in the bracket, the nomination system, and certain fans.

Best match: Starcraft/SSBM

Worst match: Zelda 1 vs Adventure

Biggest surprise: Starcraft over Wind Waker. Mark my words, there is no way in hell Wind Waker loses that match under the old layout.

Most obvious thing: FFVII winning

My "godlike genius" moment: Everything having to do with Starcraft vs Halo, from my analysis to me having the closest Oracle prediction to my series of update topics hitting 500 like it was nothing.

My "what were you thinking?" moment: Street Fighter 2 over SMRPG (I blame Slowflake)

Final thought: I`m not one for banning characters from contests, as they vary in strength from one game to the next. But FF7 cannot and will not ever lose a poll on this site. I wouldn`t mind seeing both it and Ocarina of Time not in the next contest.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

I will break down Yesmar's bracket!

1. Cloud Strife
16. Frogger

Cloud.. Duh. Could put anyone against Cloud and get the same result.

8. Morrigan Aenslad
9. Chun-Li

Both are probably overseeded.

5. Donkey Kong
12. Gordon Freeman

Both are probably overseeded.

4. Alucard
13. Terra Branford

Alucard's good. Terra might be slightly underseeded.

6. Fox McCloud
11. Miles "Tails" Prower

Both are probably overseeded.

3. Tidus
14. Sora

Sora's underseeded. Tidus might be good anywhere from 3-5.

7. Master Chief
10. Frog

Swap seeds :D

2. Sephiroth
15. Duke Nukem

Sephy's a #1 seed. Duke's good here.

------------------------------
1. Link
16. Marina Lightyears

Dunno who Marina is.. Link's the weakest of the #1 seeds I feel, so I'd at least put someone that could put up 20% of the votes against him :P

8. Luigi Mario
9. Rikku

Good.

5. Bowser Koopa
12. Ramza Beoulve

Like this matchup, but I think Bowser's a little overseeded.

4. Squall Leonhart
13. Vyse

Good.

6. Auron
11. Aeris Gainsborugh

a FFVII character #11? She's likely #4, though I think realistically she has a shot at a #3 seed or even one of the #2s! Auron is good here, but Aeris is so severly underseeded.

3. Zero
14. Sub-Zero

Good.

7. Yoshi
10. Aya Brea

Good, though I think Aya's a little overseeded since the Parasite Eve franchise disappeared from the public eye since 2002, where she did respectably.

2. Megaman
15. Scorpion

Megaman's good. Scorpion might have some magic in him to go far again, who knows :P. He's underseeded.
---
Vote in the Best. Random Video Game Character. Ever. Contest!

1. Crono
16. Fawful

Good.

8. Vivi Orinter
9. KOS-MOS

KOS-MOS is good.. Vivi'll probably be a double digit upset special.

5. Ryu
12. Kefka Palazzo

Good.

4. Zelda Hyrule
13. Bomberman

Good for Zelda. Maybe boot Bomberman?

6. Knuckles the Echidna
11. Viewtiful Joe

Good..

3. Solid Snake
14. Carmen Sandiego

Good.. like Bomberman, dunno if Carmen makes the contest.

7. Kirby
10. Jill Valentine

Good.. everyone wants to see Kirby/Jill Valentine battle, I see :P

2. Samus Aran
15. Ryo Hzuki

Good.. this particular section's real good.

----------------
1. Mario Mario
16. CATS

Swap Mario with Sephiroth. CATS is cult enough to get a higher seed.

8. Pac-Man
9. Lara Croft

Lara's overseeded. Double digit fodder. Pac-Man'll be overseeded in the end so this is okay :P

5. Tommy Vercetti
12. Pikachu

Drop Pikachu a little.. Tommy's #5

4. Janus "Magus" Zeal
13. Ritz Malebur

Not sure who Ritz is.. Magus is good.

6. Shadow the Hedgehog
11. Ryu Hyubasa

Ryu might be slightly higher. Shadow's right.

3. Ganondorf Dragmire
14. Mewtwo

Mewtwo's a #9 or #10 seed..

7. Dante Sparda
10. Geno

Geno might be overseeded, but I think he's going to make the contest now. Dante's good. Swap Mewtwo with Geno.

2. Sonic the Hedgehog
15. Crash Bandicoot

Good.

I like discussing possible summer contest brackets, but sometimes I get a feeling of deja vu when reviewing :P

If I've already reviewed one of yours and I review it again, lemme know :P

---
Vote in the Best. Random Video Game Character. Ever. Contest!

Link's the weakest of the #1 seeds I feel,

Mario and Mega Man both aren`t even in the same league as Link. He`s the second strongest #2 seed out there.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

I'd laugh real hard if anyone made an analysis of my non-serious bracket (includes licensed characters):

1. Cloud (Duh!)
16. Tornado Tonion (MMX7) (WORST. MAVERICK. EVAR!!)

8. Master Cheif
9. Mass Carriers

5. Eggman/Robotnik
12. Rayman

4. Kirby
13. Dan Hibiki

6. Doom Guy
11. Emerl (Sonic Battle)

3. Shadow (SA2)
14. Dig Dug

7. Rouge (SA2)
10. Cut Man (Mega Man)

2. Mega Man
15. Anyone from "Tokimeki Memorial" series (The father of all dating sims). Or Sims generic male/female

EAST

1. Link
16. A car from Big Rigs

8. James Bond (Hey, how could Goldeneye slip in Best Game Ever?)
9. Johanna Dark

5. Kirby
12. King DeDeDe

4. Roy (SSBM)
13. Culex (SMRPG)

6. Mr. Game & Watch
11. That Metool you blasted up in any MM game with your buster.

3. Proto Man
14. Spongebob (I think he's the only license that got good games lately IMO)

7. Hard Man (MM2)
10. Jigglypuff

2. Sonic
15. Akari Kamigishi (To Heart)
Pic: http://allsoft.scei.co.jp/jacket/l/slps01919.jpg

SOUTH

1. Mario
16. Infinity Mijinion (MMX6)

8. Amy Rose
9. Roll (Mega Man)

5. Sigma (MMX series)
12. Biolizard (SA2)

4. Bender (Futurama)
13. Perfect Chaos (SA1)

6. Bass (Mega Man)
11. Zelda

3. Aeris
14. Heat Man (MM2)

7. Kamek (SMW2)
10. The MM1 US Box art XD

2. Crono
15. Barney (Barney's Hide & Seek)

WEST:

1. Sephiroth
16. Superman (No duh!)

8. CATS
9. Gordon Freeman (Match of the screwed!)

5. Fry (Futurama)
12. Scorpion (MK)

4. Homer Simpson
13. Dante

6. Wario
11. Mary-Kate and Ashley

3. Rocko
14. Cream (Sonic)

7. Vector (Chaotix/Sonic Heroes)
10. Wheel Gator (MMX2)

2. Samus
15. John Madden (LOL!!)
---
Nominate Sakura Kasugano & Mr. Game & Watch for the Summer Contest 'cuz they pwn j00.

Highlight: SSBM and SC killing all in their path, these two deserved the final!

Lowlight: Eh, the mass cheating.

Best match: Super Smash Brothers:Melee vs. StarCraft! Awesome match.

Worst match: Any game FFVII slaughtered..

Biggest surprise: SSBM and SC, though I thought SSBM would do good...

Most obvious thing: The winner....

Final thought: 128 forever, man!

In regards to Yesmar's bracket:
You have GDorf as a 3 and Magus as a 4. Magus is certainly on the same level as Ganon, so kick Tidus down to a 4 and elevate Magus to 3.
Switch Snake (3) with Sonic (2). MGS did respectably well, and Sonic 2 got pwned. There's not much Sega love around here.
Frog seems awfully low at 10. Keep kicking Tidus down and move Frog up to a 4.
---
Final SpC2k3 Score: 163 (It's all Starcraft's fault)
RPGs beaten: 54 and counting

Highlight: Starcraft

Lowlight: Adventure: Its 5% was caused by referrences to it on Homestar Runner and the only thing worth it on that site is Strong Bad.

Best Match: SC vs. WW. The boards were awesome, it reminded me of Mario vs. Crono 2!

Worst Match: Anything involving Sega getting its ass kicked.

Biggest surprise: Pong taking down RCR.

"Take a wild guess" moment: The winner.

Final thought: NO MEGA MAN!?!??! Screw this!
---
Nominate Sakura Kasugano & Mr. Game & Watch for the Summer Contest 'cuz they pwn j00.

I wouldn`t be so ready to give Frog a #4 seed. Tidus is the lowest of three (Ganon, Magus, and Tidus) but he is still pretty equal to them.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

5. Donkey Kong
12. Gordon Freeman

Lower Donkey Kong to 7/8

4. Alucard
13. Terra Branford

6. Fox McCloud
11. Miles "Tails" Prower

Lower Fox to 11/12

3. Tidus
14. Sora

7. Master Chief
10. Frog

Raise Frog to 5

2. Sephiroth
15. Duke Nukem

Sephiroth deserves a 1 seed he take Crono or Mario's seeding

------------------------------
6. Auron
11. Aeris Gainsborugh

I know Aeris has been a 11 seed in the east division for the last 2 years, but really she deserves a 4

3. Zero
14. Sub-Zero

Lower Zero to 4 Raise Sub-Zero to 7/8

-------------
5. Ryu
12. Kefka Palazzo

4. Zelda Hyrule
13. Bomberman

Lower Zelda to 5

3. Solid Snake
14. Carmen Sandiego

Raise Snake to 2

7. Kirby
10. Jill Valentine

Raise Kirby to 6 and Raise Jill to 8

----------------
8. Pac-Man
9. Lara Croft

Even though the both deserve lower this will be a great match

5. Tommy Vercetti
12. Pikachu

Lower Vercetti to 7 and either take Pikachu out or swith seeds with Mewtwo

4. Janus "Magus" Zeal
13. Ritz Malebur

Raise Magus to 3

3. Ganondorf Dragmire
14. Mewtwo

Raise Mewtwo to 11/12

7. Dante Sparda
10. Geno

Raise Dante to 6

2. Sonic the Hedgehog
15. Crash Bandicoot

Lower Sonic to 3

---
LUE is a cancer, and if it can't be destroyed, it must be contained. - CjayC
My Score 149/192 congratulates Ulti, winner of the Guru Bracket Challenge!

Someone analyse my bracket (includes licensed characters):

1. Cloud (Duh!)
16. Tornado Tonion (MMX7) (WORST. MAVERICK. EVAR!!)

8. Master Cheif
9. Mass Carriers

5. Eggman/Robotnik
12. Rayman

4. Kirby
13. Dan Hibiki

6. Doom Guy
11. Emerl (Sonic Battle)

3. Shadow (SA2)
14. Dig Dug

7. Rouge (SA2)
10. Cut Man (Mega Man)

2. Mega Man
15. Anyone from "Tokimeki Memorial" series (The father of all dating sims). Or Sims generic male/female

EAST

1. Link
16. A car from Big Rigs

8. James Bond (Hey, how could Goldeneye slip in Best Game Ever?)
9. Johanna Dark

5. Kirby
12. King DeDeDe

4. Roy (SSBM)
13. Culex (SMRPG)

6. Mr. Game & Watch
11. That Metool you blasted up in any MM game with your buster.

3. Proto Man
14. Spongebob (I think he's the only license that got good games lately IMO)

7. Hard Man (MM2)
10. Jigglypuff

2. Sonic
15. Akari Kamigishi (To Heart)
Pic: http://allsoft.scei.co.jp/jacket/l/slps01919.jpg

SOUTH

1. Mario
16. Infinity Mijinion (MMX6)

8. Amy Rose
9. Roll (Mega Man)

5. Sigma (MMX series)
12. Biolizard (SA2)

4. Bender (Futurama)
13. Perfect Chaos (SA1)

6. Bass (Mega Man)
11. Zelda

3. Aeris
14. Heat Man (MM2)

7. Kamek (SMW2)
10. The MM1 US Box art XD

2. Crono
15. Barney (Barney's Hide & Seek)

WEST:

1. Sephiroth
16. Superman (No duh!)

8. CATS
9. Gordon Freeman (Match of the screwed!)

5. Fry (Futurama)
12. Scorpion (MK)

4. Homer Simpson
13. Dante

6. Wario
11. Mary-Kate and Ashley

3. Rocko
14. Cream (Sonic)

7. Vector (Chaotix/Sonic Heroes)
10. Wheel Gator (MMX2)

2. Samus
15. John Madden (LOL!!)
---
Nominate Sakura Kasugano & Mr. Game & Watch for the Summer Contest 'cuz they pwn j00.

I'd laugh real hard if anyone made an analysis of my non-serious bracket (includes licensed characters):

This should be fun

NORTH

8. Master Cheif
9. Mass Carriers

Mass Carriers like pong paddles and tetris blocks won't be in the contest

5. Eggman/Robotnik
12. Rayman

Lower Eggman to 12/13

4. Kirby
13. Dan Hibiki

Lower Kirby to 6

3. Shadow (SA2)
14. Dig Dug

Lower Shadow to 9/10

7. Rouge (SA2)
10. Cut Man (Mega Man)

Lower Rouge to 13/14 and Lower Cutman to 13/14

EAST

1. Link
16. A car from Big Rigs

See M1ss Carriers Response

5. Kirby
12. King DeDeDe

Why is there 2 Kirbys?

4. Roy (SSBM)
13. Culex (SMRPG)

Lower Roy to 10/11

6. Mr. Game & Watch
11. That Metool you blasted up in any MM game with your buster.

Lower Mr. G&W to 14 and See Mass Carriers response for the Metool

3. Proto Man
14. Spongebob

Lower Protoman to 5/6 and Spongebob can't be in the contest because he was from a tv show first

7. Hard Man (MM2)
10. Jigglypuff

Lower Hardman to 14/15 and Lower Jigglypuff to 13

2. Sonic
15. Akari Kamigishi (To Heart)

Lower Sonic to 3

SOUTH

8. Amy Rose
9. Roll (Mega Man)

Lower Amy Rose to 12/13 and Lower Roll to 13

5. Sigma (MMX series)
12. Biolizard (SA2)

Lower Sigma to 9/10

4. Bender (Futurama)
13. Perfect Chaos (SA1)

See Spongebob Response for Bender

6. Bass (Mega Man)
11. Zelda

Lower Bass to 6/7 Raise Zelda to 5

3. Aeris
14. Heat Man (MM2)

Lower Aeris to 4

7. Kamek (SMW2)
10. The MM1 US Box art XD

See Mass Carriers response for the Box Art

2. Crono
15. Barney (Barney's Hide & Seek)

See Spongebob response for Barney

WEST:

1. Sephiroth
16. Superman (No duh!)

See Spongebob response for Superman

8. CATS
9. Gordon Freeman

Lower CATS to 16 and Lower Gordon to 12/13

5. Fry (Futurama)
12. Scorpion (MK)

See Spongebob response for Fry and Raise Scorpion to 8/9

4. Homer Simpson
13. Dante

See Spongebob response for Homer and Raise Dante to 6

6. Wario
11. Mary-Kate and Ashley

See Spongebob response for Mary-Kate and Lower Wario to 9

3. Rocko
14. Cream (Sonic)

Who's Rocko???

7. Vector (Chaotix/Sonic Heroes)
10. Wheel Gator (MMX2)

Lower both to 13/14


Review: Your bracket has many fodders and illegal characters in it this may help me when I'm looking for some fodders
---
LUE is a cancer, and if it can't be destroyed, it must be contained. - CjayC
My Score 149/192 congratulates Ulti, winner of the Guru Bracket Challenge!

I'll join in the fun.

Highlight: Watching SSBM make the semifinals.

Lowlight: Not necessarily FF7 winning, but FF7 winning each match by damn good margins.

Best match: Legend of Zelda/Adventure. That was an even bigger blowout than the Male/Female poll.

Worst match: FF7 VS (Insert opponent here)

Biggest surprise: Besides Starcraft over Wind Waker? Watching so many of these games get blown out in the first round or two.

Most obvious thing: FFVII.

My "godlike genius" moment: The short time I made my bracket reflect my favorites. The semis were SMB3 VS Earthbound and Mario 64 VS Fire Emblem, with Fire Emblem beating Earthbound in the finals.

OK, so that wasn't genius. Shut up.

My "what were you thinking?" moments:

-Super Mario World over Chrono Trigger
-Having SSBM win over FF6 in the finals.

Final thought: Don't do this again. Unlike the Summer Contest, there aren't any actual tiers, as the games aren't equal enough to the point of having an unclear winner should we remove some games. Well, if we remove FF7, OoT, and CT, we might have some dispute over SMB3 or LttP.

Other than that, the 32/64 bracket seems pretty weak once you take out its two star games.

---
I hope the game I marry will be DoA:XVB.
Come on, I'm not the only one who thinks that game is good in the sack.

Might as well..

Highlight: Uh..Starcraft?

Lowlight: No Zeldas in the Final Four. Second comes an all Square Championship..

Best match: MGS vs FFT.

Worst match: FFTA vs FE, because of the board being burnt up by FFTA bashers. :-(

Biggest surprise: FFX not being able to double FFTA, the so-said ugly duckling of the Final Fantasy Series. FF7 was destined to win after that, as far as I was concerned.

Most obvious thing: LoZ raping Adventure hard in the [...].

My "godlike genius" moment: Seeing red in my 128 bracket (it was incomplete) only because I had Halo going to the Elite 8. :-)

My "what were you thinking?" moment: Realizing I wasn't. :-(

Final thought: ON TO SC2K4! ONWARD!
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"Haha SMRPG wins because this is RPGFAQs." "If SMRPG wins then GameFAQs has no credibility." - Fanboys.

bandwagons are fun:

highlight: starcraft vs. halo.
or, chrono trigger's performance.

lowlight: starcraft vs. ssbm.
or, super metroid's performance.

best match: mgs vs. fft, despite the ending.
or, zelda vs. the final four.

worst match: ff6 vs. lttp, despite the beginning.
or, mega man vs. the nomination system.

biggest surprise: ff7 vs. chrono trigger, hour 1.
or, starcraft in general.

most obvious thing: ff7 vs. chrono trigger, hours 2 through 24.
or, ff7 in general.

i am so smart: smrpg vs. sf2.
or, coming within 39 votes of picking an fft upset correctly.

smrt: lttp vs. super metroid.
or, coming within 16430 votes of picking a ct upset correctly.

final thought: the summer contests sound more fun than this...but i wouldn't mind seeing this again with some minor adjustments.
---
signature (n.): a random bit of gibberish that no one ever reads.

chamander, why don`t you make your own bracket before analysing everyone else`s? Not saying your opinions suck, but you`re telling us where to put characters without giving reasons. Like, I understand Auron isn`t a 12 seed, but I wanted to put him up against Tidus. Making a balaned-yet-fun-and-unpredictable bracket isn`t as easy as it looks.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

I'd like to do an analysis.

Highlight: Starcraft in a no-brainer.Console fanboys screamed blue murder, as they frantically searched google to find out what Starcraft was as it was creaming their favourite console game.

Lowlight: The final. It was a damn disgrace to this site.2 games that I don't own(i've only played ff7 for a short amount of time, and CT wasn't even released here) and don't care for the RPG genre either.These contests get more completely pointless every year that FF7 wins.

Best match: For board atmosphere and fun, Halo VS Starcraft.For sheer match quality, CT VS LttP.

Worst match: 75% of the contest.

Biggest surprise: Apart from Metroid gaming getting wasted, I would personally say Perfect Dark losing to SoTN....I hadn't even heard of it SoTN before this tourney.

Most obvious thing: The 8 Division.It was obvious that too many 12 year olds were nominating games fro memory, as they never actually played any games from that time.This time period had the some of the best games EVER, and yet some of them aren't even good enough to be spat on.

My "godlike genius" moment: Nothing godlike, but I did have Starcraft beating Halo and Kingdom Hearts.Also, I ended with 122 points, which compared to my previous efforts was fantastic.

My "what were you thinking?" moment: 3 come to mind.

1 - I had Tetris beating Zelda in my bracket.
2 - I had Metroid Prime going to the division final.
3 - I had OoT winning the contest.

Contest thought - To make this contest seem good, you have to adapt the philosophy of "It's not the destination, but the journey that matters".The final result was terrible, but the journey there was fantastic.Better than the character battles, not just because of the matches but because having a game contest seems more epic than a Character battle.

Any improvements? Yes, Ceej should step down and let someone who actually knows what they are doing run the contest.
---
Supporter of Starcraft and Ocarina Of Time in the Spring Contest!

Like, I understand Auron isn`t a 12 seed, but I wanted to put him up against Tidus.

Well I would seed Tidus as a 3 or 4 and Auron as a 6 or 5 and make them meet in round 2 (besides Tidus deserves a 3 and Auron deserves a 5) so it will be ok
---
LUE is a cancer, and if it can't be destroyed, it must be contained. - CjayC
My Score 149/192 congratulates Ulti, winner of the Guru Bracket Challenge!

Eh, why not?

Highlight: Loz vs. Adventure, just for fun factor.

Lowlight: Whining about SF II.

Best match: MGS vs. FFT.

Worst match: Pong vs. River City Ransom.

Biggest surprise: Starcraft in general.

Most obvious thing: FFVII.

My "godlike genius" moment: Realizing that Starcraft had a very good chance at making the division finals.

My "what were you thinking?" moment: Siding with KotOR. Then again, I'd do it all again if I didn't know the results.

Final thought: Wow. I broke 100. Yay!

---
Ulti pulled a Damage Split on my bracket. Go Guru Ulti!
Smart Ask! National Champion (2003) www.rpgdl.com

Hey, I have a question for all of you guys...

Can Magus beat Sonic?

If he does, that means that Sonic is officially out of the Noble Nine...and that Magus is in.

He seems to be the strongest new character from 2003, and he and Sonic were very close to each other in the extrapolated rankings, IIRC.
---
"Thank you, Mario. But our princess is in another castle."
-Toad in Super Mario Bros.

That`s all up to solarshadow, of course. But this can at the very least be a temporary home until he shows up.

It'd be easier if you were going to make a temporary topic not to take the official name, because that would prevent the unfortunate situation where I type up a detailed post thanking everyone and making some comments, try to post it, have it rejected because the topic title has just been taken, try to refresh it only to have my connection freeze, try to fix that only to have my computer lock up, then lose everything completely. Aggravating. Can't fault the intent, but it's unfortunate what happened. Ugh. Maybe I'll just sleep for a week...
---
And special thanks to UltimaterializerX, who completely pwned me in the Guru contest.

"Can Magus beat Sonic?"

No reason why he can't.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

<3 solarshadow
---
UltimaterializerX is my god.

i like this little analysis format. good job, jonthompson. ^_^


Highlight: for me, personally, it's a tie between SMB3 whooping Zelda 1 and Starcraft's cheaters finally being caught against SSBM. those are the two moments where i felt the most vindicated. Starcraft's performance, or rather Battle.Net's performance, was not a highlight of this contest; it was a stain on this contest.

Lowlight: Battle.Net beating Wind Waker. that match was pure crap. like Ulti said, if it was the old site layout, Wind Waker would've won. it was obvious that they were up to no good; it just took one more match for Battle.Net to slip up and get busted.

Best match: MGS vs. FFT what a finish. second place goes to Duck Hunt vs. DK Duck Hunt only needed another 15-20 minutes to steal the win. third place goes to CT vs. LTTP for being dead even for over half of the day.

Worst match: a tie between Super Mario 64 vs. Zelda:OOT and Super Metroid vs. LTTP neither of those masterpieces should have been obliterated that badly against any game, especially Mario 64 against the overrated OOT.

Biggest surprise: Starcraft and Duck Hunt's comeback in a close second. and also, no Megaman or Mario Kart games in the contest.

Most obvious thing: FFVII vs. CT in the finals. and Zelda scoring 95% against Adventure.

My "godlike genius" moment: i had a few, the biggest ones being: saying that Phantasy Star had no chance against Contra, saying that Zelda 1 had no chance against SMB3, and saying that LTTP vs. FF6 and LTTP vs. CT would be close.

My "what were you thinking?" moment: Earthbound over Doom and Pokemon over Xenogears............... what? i thought they both had a chance.

Final thought: overall, i did enjoy this contest and look forward to several more to come.


oh, and , yes, i could totally see Magus beating Sonic.

---
Nominate Shadow from FF3/6 for SC2K4!!
Through great Luck (and a bit of skill) ULTI pounded me in the Spring Contest!!

Highlight: FFT coming so close to victory. Contrary to my posts at the time, I didn't actually think it would come down to the final 15 minutes. Being the fanboy that I am though, I had to look like I supported my game. :P

Needless to say, I was inordinately pleased to proven correct.

Suikoden II getting in at all runs a close second.

Lowlight: Starcraft obviously cheating, getting caught at it, and watching a hoard of people criticize CJayC for pointing it out, claiming the votes were somehow legitimate. I realize in the end it didn't matter, but this event lowered my faith in humanity a couple notches, and staining what was otherwise the best story of the contest.

Best match: Tie: FFT Vs. MGS, Starcraft vs. Wind Waker

Worst match: SSBM Vs. Starcraft, for the above reasons.

Biggest surprise: You have to give it to Starcraft here. And for that matter, the whole 128-bit division being harder to predict than originally thought, which I would have thought impossible.

Most obvious thing: Unfortunately, it was FF7's chances of winning. I was 90% sure before the contest started, and after the whooping laid down on MGS I was convinced that there was no chance of it losing.

My "godlike genius" moment: SSBM for the division, Starcraft over Halo, and correctly predicting 14 of the last 15 matches.

My "what were you thinking?" moment: My entirely misplaced optimism for Sonic 2 and Metroid Prime, both overmatched by far more powerful series. I knew creating my bracket these were terrible longshots, but I took them anyway. Considering I would have had 181 points instead of 177, these were my big blunders.

Contest thought - I love these contests, and it is my firm belief that it doesn't matter who wins, the fun is in getting there, and looking at what went right and wrong afterwards. On a personal note, I placed 43rd with 177 points with my first ever prediction bracket. Go me.

Any improvements? Put the poll back in the upper right hand corner and don't mess with the polls so damn much. With all the restarts, glitches, secondary polls, and the site change, the contest popularity took a beating. It wasn't broken, so there was no need to fix anything. All the glitches and poll stoppages were irritating to no end.
---
Theifenburg Uncertainty Principle - Without any witnesses, who's to say what happened?
Proud warrior of THE LUCA BLIGHT ARMY

Well, might as well do it.

Highlight: SSBM shutting the trap of these Starcraft people. Two more days of this and I could've gone insane. ;)

Lowlight: Pong and Sonic 2 losing in blowouts. Ugh. Also OoT getting slammed by FF7 from the first 15 seconds.

Best match: CT/LttP. Never had a lead varied within a range as low as 700. Statistically, it IS the best match ever.

Worst match: Sonic 2/SMW. All that hype for an undeserved 70-30 match.

Biggest surprise: First, Starcraft. After that, all these SFF snorefests in the second rounds - Metroid Prime was the only second round loser involved in that kind of match to go anywhere.

Most obvious thing: Barring the matches involving horrid jobbers, the entire 32/64 hoopla. The BangFang Triangle failed to deliver any surprises, and FF7 winning... duh.

Godlike genius moment: Not buying into the hype for MGS2 and Vice City.

What Was I Thinking moment: Buying into the hype for FF10. (No, no regrets about Halo.)
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SpC2K4 Status (FINAL) --- Points: 169/192 --- Matches: 54/63 --- Rank: 00232/40940

Highlight: Gotta say the shocking performance of StarCfaft

Lowlight: Kingdom Hearts lousy performance...

Best match: FF Tactics/Metal Gear Solid: CLose all day when most peeps said it would not be. And ended by such a narrow margin too...

Worst match: FFTA vs Fire Emblem: See godlike genius below...

Biggest surprise: Mario RPG over SF2...had no idea this was even possible.

Most obvious thing: Chrono vs FFVII in the end. So obvious my bracket had it there!

My "godlike genius" moment: Correctly called FFTA vs Fire Emblem being lowest voting total of the whole contest, Won 2 Oracle Challenge Matches: Ocarina over Goldeneye and Chrono over Mario 3, First to call that no Zelda would touch the Final Four...

My "what were you thinking?" moment: P Star over Contra....Stupid stupid pick.

Final thought: Too many bad games in the 8 bit and 16 bit divisions, could have thought of many better ones!
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!
Steve Illumina: Standing tall against fanboys for over 20 years

Magus could beat Sonic, and that's why he should be seeded at 3 instead of 4. He can't beat a 1 seed (see last year against Link), but he could upset a 2 seed (Sonic, maybe Snake or Samus, or even Crono).
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Final SpC2k3 Score: 163 (It's all Starcraft's fault)
RPGs beaten: 54 and counting

Wow, this is crazy!(bump)
I won't be joining the bandwagon because I missed 3/4 of this contest anyway....

---
Ñïñtèñdð²®
<><»»Jesus is cool.

Can Magus beat Sonic?

He definitely can. He and Ganondorf both could upset Sonic, that is why if the brackets have one of these two against him I`m going with them over Sonic.

Highlight: SSBM coming through and making the final four. I loved that.

Lowlight: No Zelda games in the final four. I mean not even one. That doesn`t make me happy by any stretch of the imagination, but alas the losses were there because of a stronger opponent... minus that Wind Waker one.

Best Match: Chrono Trigger vs. A Link to the Past. This match rocked, I loved watching it from start to finish. What would have just put this over the top of everything by a mile would have been if it was a photo finish. Regardless though this was the match.

Worst Match: Chrono Trigger vs. Super Mario World. For a game like SMW to get beaten like that just didn`t sit to well with me.

Biggest Surprise: As much as I hate it, this easily goes to StarCraft. It was cute to see it make it past Halo but from there it persisted in causing problems not only on the board but in the contest as a whole. It screwed up my bracket beyond belief and managed to be a #16 seed in the final four. Crazy run for SC.

Most Obvious Thing: Final Fantasy VII winning the contest.

My "godlike genius" Moment: I didn`t have to many of these, heh, but probably my best moment would be calling almost everything perfectly in the CT vs. ALttP match.

My "what were you thinking?" Moment: Duck Hung over Donkey Kong. Despite how it was close, I can`t believe I was influenced enough by my own worry and the boards pro-Duck Hunt rally to get me to make this last minute change.

Final Thought: This was a pretty good contest overall. A little later in the contest, I wasn`t exactly doing to well when it came to predicting matches and or percentages. But all in all good contest.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

Duck Hung over Donkey Kong

She quacks! She quacks!
---
SpC2K4 Status (FINAL) --- Points: 169/192 --- Matches: 54/63 --- Rank: 00232/40940

Lol. That should read Duck Hunt. =P
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

Meh, might as well...

Highlight: SSBM/Starcraft's run to the division finals.

Lowlight: FFVII vs. OoT. What happened there?

Best match: Halo vs. Starcraft. The board was something else that night.

Worst match: FFTA vs Fire Emblem. God, so boring. Worse than Tetris/Pong (at least that had a good picture).

Biggest surprise: Starcraft in the Elite 8.

Most obvious thing: FFVII taking the gold.

My "godlike genius" moment: Predicting SSBM coming out of the 128 div. Tied for 3rd on the final leaderboard.

My "what were you thinking?" moment: Earthbound over Doom. Ugh.

Final thought: IMO, much easier to predict than the Summer contests. We'll see if that changes next year...
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My name is Reggie. I'm about kicking ass. I'm about taking names, and we're about making games.

I could be blinded by fanboyism, but I seriously doubt Magus would beat Sonic.
---
Currently Playing: Sonic Advance 3, Dead or Alive 2

Highlight: Stunning performance of Final Fantasy. The original NES game even gave Super Mario 3 a good run for its money.

Lowlight: Me not taking time to fill out my bracket... hehe. In the contest... Castlevania: Symphony of the Night CONTINUES to underperform. WHY does noone love this GREAT game?

Best match: Starcraft and OoT.... gotta give it props.. it was a wire to wire.

Worst match: LoZ vs Adventure. I actually voted for Adventure, after seeing the stats and realising my vote wouldn't matter that day. So I gave it to an Atari 2600 game that I have rather fond memories of (I hate that bat, and LOVE the white dragon!)

Biggest surprise: Mario RPG over SF2...I hate SF, and yet I still voted for it. It was a LEGENDARY, groundbreaking game. But, it still won't save it from purgatory....

Most obvious thing: FFVII winning it all. A moron could have pegged it.

My "godlike genius" moment: Unbelievably, NAILED the final battle... and much to my dismay, picked the winner. I still like CT better than FFVII, if not by the slimmest of margins.

My "what were you thinking?" moment: Filling out my bracket as fast as it would update..... Watching the Star Wars Trilogy before doing so.... Yes, both messed me up royally.... If I only had an extra couple minutes to spare, my perfect 8-bit and near perfect 16-bit brackets would have been backed by a near perfect 32/64 division, and at least a passable 128 bit. I was SO off on that last division (mostly due to the time thing) that it wasn't even funny.

Final thought: I'm once again going to back Sephiroth in the Summer Contest. If he wins this year, I'll stop being so smash-mouth about him.
Also, please nominate Bahamut. He's popular enough to go far, but most people don't realise he's a character! (Need proof, consult FF where he was an NPC and FFII/4 where you had to fight him to earn him NPC/enemy = Character!)

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Sign and help SAVE the Summer Contest! http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=7&topic=14242163

the rankings show that magus probably would beat sonic.
zero came very close last year.
and sonic 2's performance this year could mean sonic is even weaker now.

...i would probably go for the upset win in such a match.

in other news, jonthomson must be feeling rather proud right now...
---
signature (n.): a random bit of gibberish that no one ever reads.

Gosh darn it WHY do I always get OoT and Wind Waker mixed up?!?!?!?!?!

That match above... Starcraft vs Wind Waker, if you please....

---
Sign and help SAVE the Summer Contest! http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=7&topic=14242163

I wasn't going to do one of these, but now I feel left out ;)

Highlight: Like everyone else, this involves Starcraft, but I'm with cyko and slowflake - the eventual defeat of Starcraft was much more satisfying than any of its wins.

Lowlight: Aside from all the battle.net stuff, I really have no complaints. I'm not disappointed that FF7 won, but I wouldn't want a repeat if there is a Spring contest next year.

Best match: SSBM/Starcraft, just for the sheer excitement of being there during the infamous 'spike'. At first we didn't know whether it was genuine or not, maybe this was just SC's true power at last! It turned out not, but it was an exciting time.

Worst match: SMB3/CT. Exactly how I expected it to go, unfortunately.

Biggest surprise: LttP murdering Super Metroid. Unbelievable.

Most obvious thing: Zelda over Adventure?!

Godlike genius moment: Crawling up from 30th to finish 5th in the guru challenge. Dropping only 1 point in the entire top half! (PS over Contra, fact fans)

What Was I Thinking moment: FFX over SSBM?! It just seemed so obviously right that I never questioned it. I even prefer Melee! I must have been nuts.

If only the 128 division rankings were less screwed up... we honestly still don't know how strong KH is - high in the rankings, but widely regarded as disappointing. Weird.

-----
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's pwning us all in the Guru challenge. Congratulations!

IMHO, it seems that Sonic is losing some popularity ever year. After seeing Zero's impressive performance against him last year, I wouldn't hesitate to pick Ganondorf over Sonic, the same holding true for Magus as well.
---
My name is Reggie. I'm about kicking ass. I'm about taking names, and we're about making games.

Highlight: MGS beating FFT

Lowlight: CJayC finding Starcraft fans cheating. Most of the Starcraft fans were pathetic during the competition with there spamming, and finally being caught cheating just proved it so. I like Starcraft, but I'm glad it lost then.

Best Match: Chrono Trigger vs. Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Worst Match: Super Mario RPG vs. Street Fighter II.

Biggest Surprise: Starcraft.

Most Obvious Thing: Final Fantasy VII winning.

My "godlike genius" Moment: Legend of Zelda over Adventure...j/k.
Nah, probably having SSBM going all the way to the Final Four without a doubt in my mind.

My "what were you thinking?" Moment: Tetris over Legend of Zelda.

Final Thought: Loved the contest. I enjoyed more then both of the Character Contests because of the shear number of close, unpredictable matches. Only a little sad that no game really gave FFVII a run for it's money, and that CT or OoT didn't win.

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Buy him out boys!
*seX-Box0rz j00r face*

I really wish Zelda: LttP beat CT...because then this contest at least wouldn't have been so "obvious"...

Having a final predicted correctly by over half the gurus (okay, maybe not, but I'd assume) gives me a bitter taste in my mouth, and makes a score of 169 seem mediocre. Sure, the prediction rates may have been pretty high for the finalists, but I don't think we nearly unanimously concluded that Mario and Link would be the finalists in 2002, did we?

I suppose I'll also fill one of those things out...

Highlight: One of my favorite games ever making the Final 4...that's right, SSBM. It happened on my graduation day, too.

Lowlight: Zelda: LttP failing to beat CT, duh. Not that I really care for either game...I loved them at one point, but don't care for them too much anymore.

Best match: Final Fantasy Tactics vs. Metal Gear Solid...I wasn't even expecting it to be close.

Worst match: Zelda: LttP vs. Super Metroid. I was hoping Super Metroid would finally earn some respect, but...nope.

Biggest surprise: Well, for the boards in general, Soul Calibur leading against Kingdom Hearts. For me, personally? Starcraft defeating Zelda: WW. Past results seemed to point strongly against that...

Most obvious thing: Um, Legend of Zelda beating Adventure.

My "godlike genius" moment: Um, I did say that Zelda: OoT would obliterate Super Mario 64, and I also had the #1 pick in solarshadow's Oracle Challenge 4 or 5 times, including 2 in a row. (Pong vs. Tetris followed by CT vs. SMRPG)

My "what were you thinking?" moment: picking Metroid Prime to take the 128-bit division. It wasn't even a game that I particularly loved. I just wanted a Metroid game to get past Round 2. >.<

Final thought: See the very top of the post.

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UltimaterializerX owns me in every aspect of life...I mean, of GameFAQs Spring Contests, that is.

Highlight: Starcraft's screw up in the SC vs. SSBM match

Lowlight: The final match, but at least I saw it coming

Best match: Super Mario RPG vs. Street Fighter II (how could 60% screw this one up, especially with all of Mario RPG's blatant advantages)

Worst match: Half-Life vs. Metroid Prime

Biggest surprise: Starcraft

Most obvious thing: FF7 winning, SMRPG winning

My "godlike genius" moment: Starcraft over Halo

My "what were you thinking?" moment: The other Starcraft matches. Eliminating SSBM first round.

Contest thought - I wonder how different this contest would be if Starcraft was placed in the correct division.
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AKA: BertTheOne
Can't hurt this Bert
boards.tokyotosho.com/

Since everybody else is doing one...

Lowlight: Cheater(s) caught for Starcraft in the SSBM vs Starcraft match. Considering how close Starcraft's other matches were, it bring up the question of just how legit those wins were.

Highlight: SSBM going all the way in Division 128 and beating Starcraft even with the cheated votes. Should've taken down FF7 too, but I'll take what I can get.

Best match: Lttp vs CT. Close match all day long. Lttp just couldn't hang on after CT's night vote's kicked in.

Worst match: Lttp vs CT. *rips up bracket* Pokemon GSC vs Xenogears comes in at a close second, I'm sure you can figure out why.

Biggest surprise: Halo's extraploated ranking. But it probably has more to do with Starcraft than Halo.

Most obvious thing: Wind Waker over Starcraft. Oh wait...

Godlike genius moment: None. All my risks fell through.

What Was I Thinking moment: Phantasy Star over Contra. Should have stopped to look at just how popular Contra was.

Final Thought: Link for Sc2k4!!!
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*UltimaterializerX is my God!*
I'll think of something better later...

i maintain that phantasy star was not an obvious loser.
two of its games got into the contest, after all.
...of course, i did pick phantasy star to win that match...so perhaps this is just denial.

on another topic:
after today's interesting poll about ff7, i was hoping tonight's poll would pose the same question about chrono trigger.

...disappointment.
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signature (n.): a random bit of gibberish that no one ever reads.

Charmander's fact of the day:

Do you know 6/8 of the games in the bottom half of the 8 bit division will get below 10% against FFVII according to stats
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LUE is a cancer, and if it can't be destroyed, it must be contained. - CjayC
My Score 149/192 congratulates Ulti, winner of the Guru Bracket Challenge!

Dammit, I`m sorry solar =( You can kick my ass a few times if it would help, and I assure you that I wasn`t trying to do any harm or anything. I was a total idiot for using the official name here, and I definitely wasn`t thinking.
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Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

Highlight: Starcraft. Beating Halo, KH, and Wind Waker. Deserved each win.

Lowlight: FF7 having no competition. Or the cheating. And Prime losing.

Best match: Lttp vs CT. Fun to watch, lots of lead changes.

Worst match: Any match involving FF7

Biggest surprise: Metroid games doing so poorly.

Most obvious thing: Adventure's loss.

Godlike genius moment: Starcraft over halo?

What Was I Thinking moment: Prime over WindWaker.

Highlight: for me it was Link to the Past beating FF6. I wanted my favorite game to do well. CT was just a bridge too far.
Lowlight: FF7 vs OoT was too much of an anticlimax. Though I saw it coming
Best match: Donkey Kong vs. Duck Hunt was fun and the first close match of the tournament so I look back on that the most fondly.
Worst match: FF7 vs OoT
Biggest surprise: Starcraft by a mile but also I was surprised that SSBM beat FFX
Most obvious thing: FFVII
My "godlike genius" moment: I never doubted FF7 would beat OoT
My "what were you thinking?" moments: Looking back now Contra vs Phantasy Star was my only stupid mistake. I got blinded by the seeding. All my other wrong picks made sense at the time. Or where a total 50/50 shot.
Final thought: I can't believe this would work again either. Games are not like characters with there popularity changing over years. The only things i could suggest though would be a Game of the Year tournament done with this same format (Although it might be pushing it to have 64 contestants). Or an all out Square or Nintendo tournament, which would obviously piss a lot of people off.

If Magus vs. Sonic was in the Summer contest bracket this year I would probably put Magus down to win.
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Link to the Past!

I`d put Sonic, personally. If you haven`t played a single Sonic game, you still know who he is. But few people who haven`t played Chrono Trigger could possibly tell you who Magus is.
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Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

IMHO, it seems that Sonic is losing some popularity ever year. After seeing Zero's impressive performance against him last year, I wouldn't hesitate to pick Ganondorf over Sonic, the same holding true for Magus as well.

I have to wonder now.. could Sonic even be a victim of an upset special in the first round? It's possible, depending on if he's up against a relatively strong and somewhat popular character(Mewtwo perhaps?) that somehow is underseeded?
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Vote in the Best. Random Video Game Character. Ever. Contest!

I would like to fill one of these out too...

Highlight: SSBM getting as far as it did. I didn't expect it to beat FFX, nor did I expect it to beat Starcraft after Starcraft beat Wind Waker...

Lowlight: Definitely the cheating of Starcraft and fans giving it a bad name.

Best match: CT vs. AlttP, because of the many times the lead changed. Too bad the end was a bit anticlimatic.

Honorable mentioning goes to Final Fantasy Tactics vs. Metal Gear Solid because it was so close and wasn't decided until the very end, Donkey Kong vs. Duck Hunt for almost having the greatest comeback in contest history and finally Halo vs. Starcraft for obvious reasons.

Worst match: Legend of Zelda vs. Adventure. Why? It was boring. This 'prize' would have gone to the final, though, for being so anti-climatic if it wasn't for the way it started out.

Biggest surprise: Starcraft. Need I explain why?

Most obvious thing: Legend of Zelda vs. Adventure. 99.02% had it right in their brackets. Hard to argue with numbers, no?

My "godlike genius" moment: I wouldn't call it "godlike genius" but I am pretty proud of having Castlvania: SotN vs. Goldeneye in my bracket and having called it right.

My "what were you thinking?" moment: I have many of these... Duck Hunt over DK, Zelda 1 and Tetris being the main one. Also Mario World over CT, Lttp and SMB3. And then there was also FE over FFTA...

Final thought: I think the Pokemon G/S/C vs. Xenogears match should be mentioned somewhere since there were actually two matches (Remember?). I helped discover the glitch. Made me feel pretty smart.
CJayC also should of waited with the layout change until after the contest. Would have been more fair with the tiebreaker and all. Maybe some of the (closer) matches would have turned out differently then too?
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If you put everything necessary to make a watch in a small box and shake it up for eternity, will the contents ever make a watch?

Yeah, in a way. Ulti would've won was it not for the layout change... though Wind Waker may have taken the division was it not for it, making it another ball game entirely.
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"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Well, Chrono Trigger has been played by quite a lot of people if it can make the finals like it did.
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Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

I just don't see Sonic making it past the 3rd round anymore, especially if he doesn't draw the important 2 seed. If he's seeded 3rd, he'll have to contend with either Snake, Mega Man, Crono, Samus, or Mario in round 3, the odds stacked heavily against him.
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My name is Reggie. I'm about kicking ass. I'm about taking names, and we're about making games.

I have to wonder now.. could Sonic even be a victim of an upset special in the first round? It's possible, depending on if he's up against a relatively strong and somewhat popular character(Mewtwo perhaps?) that somehow is underseeded?

I've been saying it since last year, Sonic won't blow anyone out, but he WILL NOT lose to anyone that isn't in the elite class. He isn't going to be dropping matches to a Pokemon or any other lesser competition anytime soon. He may be declining, but it's a slow decline, not a steep drop.
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GGXX Fans: Please nominate Slayer for SC2K4
Also supporting: Morrigan, Aya, Strider, & Chun-Li

I've been saying it since last year, Sonic won't blow anyone out, but he WILL NOT lose to anyone that isn't in the elite class. He isn't going to be dropping matches to a Pokemon or any other lesser competition anytime soon. He may be declining, but it's a slow decline, not a steep drop.

Maybe so.. I just have a feeling though he could be a victim of a first round upset :P, but he still is considered stronger than his games(especially Sonic Heroes)
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Vote in the Best. Random Video Game Character. Ever. Contest!

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Highlight: Starcraft beating Kingdom Hearts. Square fans everywhere cried themselves to sleep that night. Beautiful...

Lowlight: Tetris losing to Legend of Zelda by so much. I wouldn't have minded much if it was a close contest and Tetris lost, but Tetris performed so poorly that it made me sad.

Best match: Starcraft vs. Anything. The Starcraft matches were so great, because of the response they got.

Worst match: Street Fighter 2 vs. Super Mario RPG. Street Fighter 2 should have won, and by an awful lot.

Biggest surprise: Tetris losing. It shocked me. By all accounts Tetris should have won the entire contest. I guess it's not as popular as I thought...

Most obvious thing: Nearly everything was obvious, to me atleast.

My "godlike genius" moment: I got PERFECT 32/64 bit and 128 bit divisions. I kick ASS!

My "what were you thinking?" moment: I accidentally put Phantasy Star over Contra. I say accidentally, because I can't remember ever being stupid enough to think it could win.

Final thought: Had I not put Tetris into the Final Four, I would've won the whole thing. I'd even have beaten Ulti/Kirin. I just couldn't bring myself to deny Tetris' obvious superiority. Oh well, I wouldn't have needed the prize anyways, I'm literally SURROUNDED by video games right now. (I own a video game store, for those who don't know)

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Playing a video game for the story is like dating a woman for her personality...

Bump

While we're talking about godlike genius moments, an element that flied completely under the radar as far as my daily preview goes was when I said that the unity of the Internet SSBM community was questionable. Looks like I was right: I heard reports of many people getting modded on Smashboards and other places for linking to the poll against Starcraft.

It's good to be right sometimes. Thank goodness the GameFAQs fanbase was strong enough on its own - on a Thursday...
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"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Sorry slow, but I'm sure WW would still have lost to SSBM even if it could have overtaken SC.
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I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

If the Saturday factor could count for at least 2000 votes, that is. I hear B.net traffic is down by 50% on weekdats compared to Saturdays... so if Starcraft got at least 4000 votes from B.net spamming against WW (and I wouldn't put it past 'em), a winner is WW.
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"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Ok, give it a shot...

Highlight =
The amazing highest would definably be SSBM. It's victories and success saved Nintendo from total ignomy. It's success is basically just fighting for a final seat for Nintendo. On the way it owned the SC fanboys, and GTA criminals.....yeah, SSBM rocks.
Lowlight=
The final four itself was totally boring and pretty straightforward. I mean, CT and FF7 just blew Nintendo to pieces in the final four. There was pretty much no point in keeping track of things. The final matche too was kind of dull, insipid....
Best Match=
It's either LTTP vs CT, or SSBM vs SC. Great matches, fighting hard to achieve final four. Tough, and rough to the end.
Worst Match=
The final match. I hadn't played either games to be honest. Also, the match wasn't even close. It has to be one of the worst finals evar!!!!
Biggest Surprise=
Having no Zeldas in the final four really surprised me. In my bracket, I put that at least two would get into the final four, yet none did. Shame and loss.....
Most Obvious Thing=
SMB3 vs Zelda 1. SMB3 would win easily.
My "godlike genius" Moment=
My prediction that SSBM would reach final four was later corroborated. But that's it. I'll tell you why in the next paragragh.
My "what were you thinking?" Moment=
I thought that Nintendo would rock up this contest. I was wrong. I leik, totally underestimated Square. Yikes, Square sort of smacked me in the face with a gold club. Actually, the final 8 is what really brought down my score(because later matches are worth more points).
Final Thoughts=
It's been a pretty good contest, and I argue it's better than last year's. I can't wait for the next one.


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Ñïñtèñdð²®
<><»»Jesus is cool.

A year from now SSBM would probably beat Zelda: WW, anyway. SSBM has shown that it has stood the test of time more than FFX and GTA:VC, so that says a LOT.

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UltimaterializerX owns me in every aspect of life...I mean, of GameFAQs Spring Contests, that is.

Highlight: The No-Zelda Final Four. That, and the entire board meltdown when Starcraft beat Link, showing the bandwagoners and Link bias of the site.

Lowlight: FFVI losing to LttP. I still think that FFVI can beat Chrono Trigger straight up, which may seem crazy, but I was disapointed that LttP got the W.

Best match: Starcraft v. Wind Waker, see my highlight for why, excluding the comeback to end all comebacks.

Worst match: Xenogears v. Pokemon. First there are poll problems, then Pokemon gets blown out even worse the next day. And I had them going on too.

Biggest surprise: Tetris losing. It shocked me. By all accounts Tetris should have won the entire contest. I guess it's not as popular as I thought...

Most obvious thing: Starcraft being underseeded.

My "godlike genius" moment: A perfect 128 bracket. That, and my prediction back in the first round that no Zelda game would make the Final Four, which was laughed at and scoffed at by everyone who had jumped on the bandwagon.

My "what were you thinking?" moment: FFT over FFVII, Tetris in the Final Four.

Final thought: I made a bunch of picks that looking back, seemed insane. If SC had been blown out by Halo, I'd put it up there with FFT and Tetris. I did manage a perfect 128 bracket though, and there was a method to my madness which could've played out.

CJayC really needs to find a new best x ever tournament though, as it's pretty much obvious now who wins, discluding certain factors. Perhaps a series of tournaments with small prizes, like one for best game in *insert genre here*, or best game to come out this millenium, or something like that, where we have no idea is the strongest.

Oops...GTA:VC came out in 2002 or 2003, didn't it? Whoops...oh well, basically the same support as GTA3, I'd assume.

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UltimaterializerX owns me in every aspect of life...I mean, of GameFAQs Spring Contests, that is.

I said it before, but I can't see another Best. Game. Ever. contest working. And from reading other peoples reviews they seem to think so too. I was wondering if anyone thinks a Best Game of the Year Contest could work?

It might be hard to get 64 contestants. But it could be interesting. There's 5 major platforms at the moment. + Arcade with the DS and PSP to come 64 decent contestants might be possible.

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Link to the Past!

Actually, just looking back at the Polls of the Day. For the regular game of the year polls, 10 games are put forward for each format plus 10 mulitformat games so there was 60 games in it last year so 64 would definitely be possible.

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Link to the Past!

Hmm, Tarrot brought up an interesting point with there should be other, smaller contests. I had said this a long while ago, or at least thought about it, but has anyone noticed how they're used to be several more contests other than the Character ones? They're were several, and a lot of them could be easily repeated, and really were quite inventive. I have a feeling they were stopped as the site became more and more mainstream, but it would have been nice to have some of them to look forward to during the year.
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Revenge is a dish best served cold.-Old Klingon Proverb
Congrats to UltimaterializerX, winner of the Guru Challenge.

I'm not sure I like a best game of the year contest. There are just so many games every year that I couldn't care less about.
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I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

*bump*

*Cannot wait for SC2K4*

Oh yeah, 2004 is the year of the Hedgehog. Sonic will pwn you this year. :-)
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"Haha SMRPG wins because this is RPGFAQs." "If SMRPG wins then GameFAQs has no credibility." - Fanboys.

The topic of which division was easiest to predict came up in Ulti's PCA topic, and inspired me to spend a few minutes plugging in some numbers to get an answer that was a little bit more definative than a bunch of people spamming the topic claiming how many point they lost in each. These numbers are the average prediction level for each Division, using CJay's official stats.

Div 8: 75.20%
Div 16: 71.94%
Div 32/64: 75.32%
Div 128: 48.40%

These numbers gives even weight to the whole division, so it may be flawed if someone wants numbers weighted to give more value to the later matchs. But, just at a glance, it does suggest that Div 32/64 was actually the easiest to perdict, despite the Bang/Fang triangle, which was greatly overhyped before the contest began.
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Tomorrow will take it away, the fear of today.
It will be gone, into our magic songs...

Oh yeah, Sonic's gonna own alright, he's gonna own a ticket out of the bracket in round 3.
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I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

If Sonic doesn't get a 2 seed, he'll be out in round 3, no doubt about it. Even if seeded #2, his chances of getting to round 4 aren't very high.
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My name is Reggie. I'm about kicking ass. I'm about taking names, and we're about making games.

If Sonic doesn't get a 2 seed, he'll be out in round 3, no doubt about it. Even if seeded #2, his chances of getting to round 4 aren't very high.

the only #3 seeds i could see beating sonic are magus and ganondorf.
...or possibly shadow, who would be a long shot at best.

but i think i would prefer seeing one of those matches to the alternatives:
-any other opponent, which he would most likely defeat.
-getting a #3 seed, which would most likely spell his doom.

of course, all this is assuming the bracket's seeding will follow the performance rankings.
...which it almost certainly won't.
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signature (n.): a random bit of gibberish that no one ever reads.

Why the Sonic hate all of a sudden? Because he was beat by Samus in 2002 and Cloud in 2003? He`s still a good character, it`s just that Sega has no common sense.
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Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

well i don't hate sonic.
i think sonic advance 3 is my favorite sonic game.
but sonic's performance gets worse with every contest gamefaqs holds...which suggests that he's not a safe bet this year.

as for why i want him to face magus or ganondorf...i'm just looking for a good match.
rather than something wholly predictable.
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signature (n.): a random bit of gibberish that no one ever reads.

The sooner Sonic goes out the better if you ask me.
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Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

Leave Sonic alone. He's just had to face some good characters:

2002: Lost to Samus by 34 votes in the Sweet 16. Against SAMUS!

2003: Beats Zero and Aeris and lost to Cloud, a big FF7 character, a Big 3 member and eventual SC2K3 champion in the Elite 8. Cloud couldn't reach 70% on Sonic. I bet the boards would have been flamed mercilessly if Cloud broke too much of a sweat on Sonic.

How can Sonic have been bad with that? If Sonic had an easy path like Megaman in 2003, he'd have a good chance at the Final 4 considering he could take on Solid Snake.

To me, Sonic has done nothing to make himself look bad in these contests so far.
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"Haha SMRPG wins because this is RPGFAQs." "If SMRPG wins then GameFAQs has no credibility." - Fanboys.

How can Sonic have been bad with that? If Sonic had an easy path like Megaman in 2003, he'd have a good chance at the Final 4 considering he could take on Solid Snake.

Agreed. You throw out the matches where the Noble Nine members faced each other & Sonic has had the toughest set of opponents to go thru of the group. Throw out Pitfall Harry & you have Tidus, Ken, Zero, & Aeris, that's a tough group to go thru. In fact, name me any character not already in the Noble Nine that could beat those four, plus come as close as tying Samus...I assure you the list is very short.
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GGXX Fans: Please nominate Slayer for SC2K4
Also supporting: Morrigan, Aya, Strider, & Chun-Li

Magus and Ganondorf. THAT'S IT.
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"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Unless Sonic has an easy path, he won't make it to the division finals. If the divisions are going to be by company, though, and thus he doesn't have to go through Square or Nintendo, then his only serious competition would be Mega Man.
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Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

Oh, and Tai, while I agree with you, don't you remember the board on the day of Cloud vs. Sonic? Sonic getting almost doubled by the man Mario beat the previous year caused a gigantic uproar. Of course, until then, you could make a point for every Cloud match: CATS is a worthless jobber, he got SFF on Auron, Bowser's 4-pack was horribly weak since they were all newcomers. The last two wound up false; Auron and especially Bowser have very interesting power.

But, of course, there's no way we could've known this earlier, because he hadn't faced a top dog yet. The match against Sonic was a real wake-up call, highlighting the fact that yes, he was a genuine threat to Link. Before that, and even before the Auron match, Cloud got some hype to beat Link. We all dismissed it like we dismiss the "This year is Snake's year!" people that constantly come back each summer. Until that Sonic match, that is.
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"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

I don`t think either of them could do it, either.
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Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

Oh, and Snake, too. But the point is that in a bracket divided by company, Sonic could do very well, since he wouldn't have to go up against most of the characters that could beat him.
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Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

Solid Snake vs Sonic the Hedgehog is one match I never, ever want to have to pick.
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Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

I have a wierd feeling that Sonic will get a 2 seed and CjayC will make another Mario vs. Crono in round 3
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LUE is a cancer, and if it can't be destroyed, it must be contained. - CjayC
congratulates Ulti, winner of the Guru Bracket Challenge!

I don`t think either of them could do it, either.

I would put a lot on Ganondorf and Magus beating Sonic. If Zero can almost oust him with 47% of the vote I`d be definitely seeing that match being Ganon/Magus vs. Sonic resulting in an insanely close match that would be to close to call really.
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Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

Sonic may be stronger than his games, but I think the lukewarm reception to Sonic Heroes might be his undoing. I just can't see him going past the third round either, sadly.

Reception to recent games, or other news, does have some power to sway voters in these contests, I feel.
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Nominating: Slayer, Jam, Flannery, Mewtwo, Colombian(GTAIII), ??? for Summer 2K4

Hmm hmm. Problem is, Dante stayed about the same... after DMC2. If Dante had only one game to fall back on, I can't see why Sonic couldn't do the same with his million games.
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"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

i've never believed sonic would lose to anyone but magus, ganondorf and the "noble 9."
i've even argued against that at some point.

but sonic's chances against cloud, link, sephiroth, mario, crono, mega man and samus are grim.
he's not exactly a lock against snake, magus or ganondorf, either.

and that is all we are arguing over: that sonic will most likely have trouble in the third round...because he will most likely face one of those characters.

sonic is a very safe bet against just about anybody else.
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signature (n.): a random bit of gibberish that no one ever reads.

Yeah, fairly safe bet... But I think more than Magus and Ganon could beat Sonic. FF7's popularity seems to still be rising around here, Aeris could make a slightly stronger showing this time, and Zero could as well. Zero was new, not that many people expected him to outright own scorp like he did, let alone Sonic. He's got some real growth potential.
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I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

If Magus and/or Ganondorf ever beat Sonic, instead of kicking him out of the Noble Nine as some people have suggested, wouldn't it make more sense to just expand the group to the Terrible Ten or something?

I think that people trying to predict the next Kingdom Hearts-esque upset special will be really disappointed come this summer. Just because there was a "huge" turnaround in character popularities in the second year of the contest doesn't mean it's gonna happen every year.

And in the grand scheme of things, KHF only really affected three matches (Squall Vs. Jill, Squall Vs. Luigi, and Cloud Vs. Link.*) Three matches out of how many? Depending on how the brackets are set up next year, any upset specials could be easily stopped before they get too far.

And as to who I think wil win the Summer Contest? Cloud, Link, or Snake. Not that I think Snake is gonna end up any place close to the other two, but if any character is gonna get a huge KH-esque boost, it's gonna be Snake.

*Cloud Vs. Sephiroth and Mario Vs. Sephiroth are debatable, but I could conceivably see those two matches going the same way in 2002 (although not with the same percentages.)
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UltimaterializerX is my God!

Snake's chances are too slim, TS sold too little. Mega Man is still quite strong though, and should the top 3 begin to slip I think MM will be the first non-nintendo, non-square to be there.
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I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

I think Mario vs MegaMan would be an interesting battle, I think Mario would win, but that's only what I want to happen, not what actually could.
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Revenge is a dish best served cold.-Old Klingon Proverb
Congrats to UltimaterializerX, winner of the Guru Challenge.

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Oops, you were speaking about outcomes. My bad. But maybe, just maybe, Mario or Megaman could've had Sephiroth if KHF didn't step in.
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"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Yeah, it'd have been damn close for both of them. I think, unfortunately, FF7 is the way to think this summer. And of course by FF7 I mean Cloud. Winning the Sp2k4 like that shows that more of Cloud and Seph's strength was from FF7 than many people (myseld excluded) thought. Even if the KHF does wear off, they still have a whole lot to back themselves up with.

That being said, we're left wondering if anything can top them this year. The answer of course is in all likelihood no. WW managed the top 20 or so easily, iirc, but it's a Zelda game so it's expected. Does WW add enough to Link to put him back over C/S? I don't really think so.

Link and Cloud may very well be the only two capable of beating Seph. The next 4 closest don't look capable of it. Mario lost to Seph, MM lost to Seph, Samus lost to Seph, and Crono would have to be quite the wonder child to beat Seph. I won't put it past him like some people, though.

All that nonsense being said, I think Link would still have beaten Seph last year in a direct matchup, just by less than 2k2.

If Link can't beat Cloud as it stands, and KH has proven time and again to be less influential than first thought, what held Cloud back before? As theorized it could have been the launch of SMS. A one day boost from the fans that later realized the game wasn't as good as hoped? It's not impossible. Why then wouldn't SC2 made the difference in 2k3? God only knows. Is the KHF real? Why would it extend almost solely to FF7 touching briefly on Squall and making almost no difference to Tidus... and why would it extend to FF7 as a game? With all this added influence, why isn't KH a powerhouse? The lead lost in the first round to a character who has been somewhat secondary at best (though I love her) and making only minor appearances since... The game didn't perform up to expectations, even after considering that its opponents performed above expectations... and still FF7 is declared top dog.

Something doesn't add up, and perhaps there is no KHF, or it has been severely overestimated. We've all at one time either looked for "the next KHF" or spent time shooting down those theories *chuckles* because not a damn one of them seems even probable. "This is Snake's year!"... but TS only sold in the 6 digit range... "This is Sonic's year!"... but SH was only well received by the people that liked Sonic already, and multi-console or not he does't look any better... "Magus was screwed by lack of voter confidence!"... and I stand by that :) Anyway you look at it, though, there doesn't seem to have been anything worthy of shifting the favor in the last year enough to change the winner, and the next game that can is a long way off... be it the eternally delayed Mario 128 or the yet to be named Zelda. They won't be in time to make for a huge shift in 2k4 for sure... and assuming a tournament in 2k5 they may still be in the distance.

That being said, don't pick Cloud to win, because you probably still won't win if you're right... or so the game theory people would say.
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I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

There's some truth to that. But assuming KHF does exist, there's something interesting on that issue:

KH is weak by itself, but an excellent catalyst.
SSBM is powerful by itself, but a pathetic catalyst.

Hmm.
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"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

"SSBM is powerful by itself, but a pathetic catalyst."

Perhaps.... but perhaps not. It would be reasonable to say that Samus 2k2 was held up by SSBM. While we can assume that a great portion os Samus' strength comes from the early games we can say without doubt that if you don't have current generation "legs" to stand on you'll be outrigth screwed in some fashion, lest ye be Crono. I've seen people go into detail about how old all of the top characters and how all of them have been in a game X years old from Cloud all the way down until you hit Tidus... but all of those characters (excepting Magus) have also appeared in more recent games as well. Perhaps the idea isn't a "cataclyst", but more of a foot in the door to the newer generations. The problem with that idea of course is that FF7 itself would appear to have been boosted by KH, but given the nature of this site I'd be willing to be that a Sp2k2 would have gone to FF7 regardless of Link's win in the summer.

Nevertheless, do remember, Samus had nothing of her own to stand on in 2k2 that wasn't two generations past.
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I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Even if the KHF does wear off,

See now if it does wear off, that gives Link a prime opportunity to overtake Cloud should the two face off again. Cloud is still going to be insanely strong with or without the KHF but when and if he loses that guess who is right there to give him an even closer run than last year? Since I`m planning on putting down Link as my winner I`m going to have to hope that the KHF wears off and gives him the chance to take back the win.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

Peeps of GameFAQ's! It is the offseason...and many of you have been writing me emails, sending me offlines, and posting on the board here, seeking new material! And I appreciate it immensely!!!

Well, in the tradition of this Spring's Contest and its satirical prose which brought me worldwide GameFAQ's fame, I now give you, without further adieu...

Steve Illumina Speaks

Indeed it is so, the legendary and ever humorous commentary spews forth again, to attempt to offer some funny and lighthearted yet well-honed levity, here on this the stats thread... the past, present and future bastion of proven intelligence on this overly fanboy dominated board.

Until the official noms are ready to be selected and I happily cast my ballots for those worthy characters I shall choose from all walks of gaming lore, I shall now mock the very process we all hold dear...and give you..

Steve's Top Ten Joke Nominations

Thats right kiddies :) I shall "nominate" worthy joke characters and "praise" their virtues...extoll their eccentricities...and poke fun at nerdy fanboys all the while. We begin with...#10!

#10. The L Shaped Tetris Block

Games Appeared In: All 456 Versions of Tetris, Tetris 2, Tetris & Dr. Mario, Tetrisphere, Tetrinet, Tetris Worlds

Likely Seeding: Between 7-10

Shot at Upset: Highly Probable

Comments: Hahaha, we begin with this commonly tossed around idea for a wasted nomination...one of the 7 mythical Tetris blocks! I choose the L piece because...well...it has its devoted nerdboy following of 2 or 3 idiot puzzle genre fanboys.

These nerdboys trade scores, speed records, and stories of how they once played Tetris for 10 hours straight on a car trip from the Jersey Shore to the Florida Keys...or the tale of how they bet their Game Boy and lost them in a playground Tetris grudge match back when they were in 6th grade. And who can forget the story of the kid who became Head Nerd of their class, and got a yearbook picture to boot, for winning an All-Conference Tetris Tournament!

Editor's Note: The brown top hat from Hatris has demanded a recount of the dumb puzzle piece nomination vote counts, claiming it was left out due to "headware discrimination"

So, then, L Shaped Block...I nominate you for your unwavering polygonal beauty which helped to create a puzzle game that created a genre and brought Nintendo great portable platform wealth.
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Standing tall against fanboys for over 20 years

There were seriously 456 versions of Tetris?
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

Don't forget Mass Carriers, Steve...
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

The L block has been in 456 versions AND has mass carriers?!

Oh..ok..I thought you were actually serious for a while. O_o'
---
"Haha SMRPG wins because this is RPGFAQs." "If SMRPG wins then GameFAQs has no credibility." - Fanboys.

My nominations:

1 - Mass Carriers
2 - Gordon Freeman
3 - CATS
4 - L-Shaped Block
5 - T-Shaped Block
6 - Pong Paddle
7 - Frog
8 - Laharl
9 - Etna
10 - Kerrigan

I`d nominate characters that I already know will get in, but, um, they`ll already make it.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

Don't forget Mass Carriers, Steve...

9 more slots in my list smitelf...aint no way StarCraft evades it either!

:)

---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Standing tall against fanboys for over 20 years

How would releasing a game the day of a match really help out? Maybe in very close matches it would have an effect, but otherwise they're almost two independent entities. I mean people who bought the games are probably already going to vote, so while a game in the long run could help, I don't really put too much faith in a release causing much of a boost.
---
Revenge is a dish best served cold.-Old Klingon Proverb
Congrats to UltimaterializerX, winner of the Guru Challenge.

Wow. Today's poll is really surprising to me, though it goes a long way in explaining why this past Contest ended up going down the way it did. As of right now, only about 6% of the total GameFAQs population is playing what has for some time now been the site's #1 FAQ, Ragnarok Online. I knew that the Top 50 wasn't all that important in predicting a game's strength, but had I know it was THIS useless, I seriously doubt I would have ended up giving my backing to some of the other big-time FAQ games, like FFX, Pokemon, and Kingdom Hearts.

Speaking of which, might as well take a look at my Top 100 FAQ listing, and see how all those games ended up doing.

http://geocities.com/cyber1166/gamefaqs/topfaqs/

Hm... let's compare to the final extrapolated standings, from http://www.sc2k4.com/excel/spc2k4_extrapolated.htm.

1
Final Fantasy X = 11
2
Final Fantasy VII = 1
4
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City = 12
6
Kingdom Hearts = 13
8
Metal Gear Solid 2 = 18
9
Super Smash Bros. Melee = 7
10
Zelda: Ocarina of Time = 2
11
Pokemon Gold/Silver = 44
15
Zelda: A Link to the Past = 4
16
Final Fantasy Tactics = 22
21
Metroid Prime = 17
23
Final Fantasy III = 6
28
Chrono Trigger = 3

Actually... those line up a little better than I thought they would. X, Vice, and KH all underperformed no matter how you look at it, but the comparision is for the most part saved by Melee's good performance against FF7, which boosted all of 128 into looking good.

---
the-elite.net congratulates Ulti, winner of the Guru Bracket Challenge! (185 pts)
Contest Archives: geocities.com/cyber1166/gamefaqs

Actually, I'd say KH is vastly overrated by these rankings. Vice and FF10 are in their places, due to lack of Starcraft involvement.

EVERY SINGLE YEAR, Pikachu/Pokémon get loads of backing because of these darned FAQ lists, and every time they get sunk. Good for me, who never picked either to win a match (since I didn't have an account in 2002, heh, but it beating PaRappa was obvious no matter how you look at it).
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

So, i decided to check what the average strength of each division was, just to see if we could get anything that might help us decide which division is the BEST. DIVISION. EVAR.

So, i totaled up each division's expected percentage it would receive against FF7 (using the SFF adjusted version, of course), and then divided by 16. Simple enough to find, though i don't know if it it really gives us anything that is very concrete. Rather, its nothing more an an "average against FF7" type of deal, so i guess its merits lie in whatever you make of that. However, i still found the results interesting as hell.

8 bit division - 18.07%
16 bit division - 23.82%
32/64 bit division - 22.96%
128 bit division - 30.75%

So, assuming the extrapolated results to be valid (HA!), the 128 division slaughters every division ruthlessly. The 18 bit division average, in fact, only would beat a single 128 division game - fire emblem. I think this says a lot about the overall 128 bit strength. Crazy as Starcraft may have been, i can't in any way seeing it being responsible for an increase of anything more than 3-4 percent, let alone the 7 percent that the 128 division is ahead by.

I was also disappointed by the 32/64 division - i thought that it would do better than it did. Removing FF7 and OoT, the average of the remaining 14 games drops to a pathetic level of 19.37 percent. Which, of course, means that the 8 bit division is significantly worse than pathetic, but i don't think any of us really questioned that in the first place.
---
Sp2k4C-120 pts.
Vincent, Ultros, Auron, Frog, Ghaleon, Nanaki, Kerrigan for S2k4C!

"Maybe in very close matches it would have an effect,"

Gee, did you even see Mario vs. Cloud? You sound like you weren't around then. That was a close match.

"but had I know it was THIS useless"

I did, I just didn't want to over state the point. But there's not all that much reason why it should be expected, because if it is a top faq it would be reasonable to think it's a popular game. The board activity is much more telling.

"I'd say KH is vastly overrated by these rankings"

I find it highly unlikely. There's such a good chance that, like so many other games, you never gave Soul Calibur a fair shake. I preached about that game for so long, explaining to you people how badly you underestimated it, but you wouldn't listen. Truth be told it is in fact stronger than you expected, even if SC does skew the results slightly.

"I think this says a lot about the overall 128 bit strength."

Not with starcraft being in existance.

"means that the 8 bit division is significantly worse than pathetic, "

You don't actually believe that, do you? If the divisions weren't done by era and you still did the same thing I'd be willign to bet that 8 bit would be pulled up a lot and 128 bit would drop drastically.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Not with starcraft being in existance.

Lets see how little sense it makes to attribute that seven percent entirely to starcraft.

Starcraft, at its full strength, legitimate or not, seems to be about equal to WW. So, we can assume that Starcraft did not really screw around with the SSBM side of the 128 bracket. Any changes it will have caused there will be minimal.

So, suddenly we are left with only 8 games being affected by the starcraft effect. In order for starcraft to be solely responsible for the higher percentage of the 128 division, it will have have had to change the results of these matches by absolutely insane percentages - 15+ percent. While it is possible to say that starcraft pulled as much as a five percent error on that side of the bracket (and even this i think is extreme), anything higher than that would be plain silly. Which means that there is, even counting in starcraft's effect on the tournament, a huge advantage that the 128 division holds over the others.

Seriously, starcraft messed up the rankings a bit but there seems to be some sort of fanatacism about how it radically altered the entire 128 division extrapolated results. While it did in fact due a lot of damage to brackets, it did not do all that much damage to actual game strength.

---
Sp2k4C-120 pts.
Vincent, Ultros, Auron, Frog, Ghaleon, Nanaki, Kerrigan for S2k4C!

For instance, Let's go back to Halo vs starcraft. If we assume that 5000 votes were swung in from b-net, which is probably much higher than reality looking at our voting trends, that sticks starcraft with 51258 out of 107889 votes. That is 47.5 percent - not exactly exhibiting a huge swing percentage wise. And thats assuming 5000 votes, which appears nonsensical considering the really was only of about 1000 votes and starcraft should have won the night vote anyway. Using a more realistic number of 2000 votes, we get starcraft at 48.9 percent - a change that is almost negligible.

Looking ahead to the WW match (The KH seemed to have very little spamming of b-net, since starcraft was safely in the lead the entire day), we see a total of 82789 votes. Again, we will use our handy little 5000 vote figure, which is again probably a bit high, although here it seems more realistic. Even with those 5000 votes taken out, starcraft still has 46.8 percent of the vote.

Simply put, starcraft does not even come close to explaining away the strength of the 128 division as a voting anomaly.

If the divisions weren't done by era and you still did the same thing I'd be willing to bet that 8 bit would be pulled up a lot and 128 bit would drop drastically.

I don't know if what you say about the 128 division is true - we really have no serious way of knowing unless we have another contest, one in which the eras were mixed. However, i still think the 8 bit era games did about as well as they could have hoped, with few exceptions. I mean, honestly, in a mixed bracket at most 5 or 6 of those games could even hope to get a single digit seed, and i don't think that more than ten of them would actually make the contest. I mean, the bottom eight or so games in the 8 bit are jokes. Its as if we had half an entire division of comprised CATS and Gordon Freemans.
---
Sp2k4C-120 pts.
Vincent, Ultros, Auron, Frog, Ghaleon, Nanaki, Kerrigan for S2k4C!

I agree with Andaca. I don't see Contra doing any better against MGS2 than against FF1 (both are about equal in the standings) just because MGS2's a recent game.

The old games were overrepresented, that's a problem. I put 10 of them in my bracket, 8 of which were there this year. The seeds I gave them? 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 14, 15, 16. Suffice to say, the last three are even older than the rest (Tetris, Pac-Man, Pong).

Back to the overrepresentation problem, remember how CJayC put in a ****load of fighting characters in 2002? Three SNK characters, and all failed miserably. Terry is weaker than Kite, Iori lost badly to DUKE NUKEM, and Kyo barely beat some alien few even heard of en route to a blowout loss to PAC-MAN. And let's not forget Akira allowing KNUCKLES THE ****ING ECHIDNA to pick up an 80%+ blowout, and Kazuya getting tripled by Scorpion of all people. Only Ryu, Ken, Scorpion and Morrigan went anywhere. Result? In the following year, the bracket was stronger, thus all but the top three had to take a hike. I wouldn't be surprised to see deserving games like Metroid or Contra get a Morrigan-like shaft next year if he mixes the divisions.
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Peeps of GameFAQ's! It is the offseason...and many of you have been writing me emails, sending me offlines, and posting on the board here, seeking new material! And I appreciate it immensely!!!

Well, in the tradition of this Spring's Contest and its satirical prose which brought me worldwide GameFAQ's fame, I now give you, without further adieu...

Steve Illumina Speaks

Indeed it is so, the legendary and ever humorous commentary spews forth again, to attempt to offer some funny and lighthearted yet well-honed levity, here on this the stats thread... the past, present and future bastion of proven intelligence on this overly fanboy dominated board.

Until the official noms are ready to be selected and I happily cast my ballots for those worthy characters I shall choose from all walks of gaming lore, I shall now mock the very process we all hold dear...and give you..

Steve's Top Ten Joke Nominations

Thats right kiddies :) I shall "nominate" worthy joke characters and "praise" their virtues...extoll their eccentricities...and poke fun at nerdy fanboys all the while. We proceed with...#9!

#10. The L Shaped Tetris Block
#9. The Right Pong Paddle

Games Appeared In: Pong!, Atari Anniversary Edition Also as Minigame in Mortal Kombat II

Likely Seeding: 15 or 16

Shot at Upset: Yah sure.

Comments: OMFG! This pathetic nomination is probably the saddest one that will grace my list. Nominated by kiddies who probably never played it cause it is the 'in' thing to do...this so called character was for a time...the pinnacle of programming achievement.

Along with its loyal companion and trusty ball...the Right Paddle was the benchmark of a worthy Player 2. It sought to defeat the equally potent Player 1 and its Left Paddle in each and every game of Pong...

Did it win? Did it lose? WHO CARES!!!

Editor's Note: Meanwhile...The Left Pong Paddle is angry...slighted by a "right wing conspiracy!"

So, then, Right Pong Paddle...I nominate you for your unwavering rectangular form...so elegant...so graceful...and so OLD!
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Andaca, you miss the most important factor... without that terrible nomination system the 8 bit era games get better reps... Mega Man got screwed, and Adventure never have gotten in. That right there changes the 8 bit average % by a lot.

"Terry is weaker than Kite"

DK/Mario SFF, Punk! Without it, it looks to me that Terry is just ahead of Kite.

"Iori lost badly to DUKE NUKEM"

Iori sucks, he should have been replaced with Mai who would probably have whooped Duke's ass.

"Kyo barely beat some alien few even heard of"

First, Kyo sucks almost as bad as Iori, and Terry would have done much better in that possition, second Geese Howard (or Kim Kaphwan) should have replaced Kyo because he's much cooler, third if you haven't heard of Abe you're not a gamer, and you should probably stop pretending to be one.

"And let's not forget Akira"

Not even the coolest VF character... but VF didn't need a rep anyway.

"Kazuya getting tripled by Scorpion of all people"

Kazuya was the wrong character to represent Tekken, if you didn't know. It should have been Jin or Heihachi.

"I wouldn't be surprised to see deserving games like Metroid or Contra get a Morrigan-like shaft next year"

Won't happen. Metroid and Contra got more nominations than any Mega Man, they got nominations with games like Mario 3 and Zelda in the running, and their performance showed that they got the nominations they deserved... even if Metroid wasn't as strong as expected.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Andaca, you miss the most important factor... without that terrible nomination system the 8 bit era games get better reps... Mega Man got screwed, and Adventure never have gotten in. That right there changes the 8 bit average % by a lot.

No, i didnt miss it....its just that we arent talking about some magical, ideal 8 bit bracket. We are talking about the 8 bit bracket that we actually had. And it sucked. I agree that mega man got screwed, and that his games would have done at least decently well ( though he still probably couldnt have goten above 4th or 5th in the division).

You can't possibly argue that the games that we had in the 8-bit bracket would have done better if put up against newer games. If anything, i think they would have done worse. When put against monsters like CT, OoT, and FF7 (which they would be, since they all are basically 15/16 seeds in a legitimate bracket) I can see most of these games polling far under 10 percent.
---
Sp2k4C-120 pts.
Vincent, Ultros, Auron, Frog, Ghaleon, Nanaki, Kerrigan for S2k4C!

Mega Man was extremely screwed out of a game because of that nomination system. <<
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

in addition to chirichimuyo's rant:

...en route to a blowout loss to PAC-MAN.

Pac-Man 62.84% 32607
Kyo Kusanagi 37.16% 19282

by that definition, final fantasy i suffered a blowout loss.
...which it clearly didn't.

just to be as confrontational as possible, however:
abe is not significant enough that you can't be a gamer unless you've heard of him.
if not for munch's oddysee, he would have been obscure...even in 2002.
---
signature (n.): a random bit of gibberish that no one ever reads.

I totally agree. Adventure, Pitfall and RCR...you could make not one argument for those to be in that division.

Duck Hunt and P Star are stretches too.

Everything else, even Galaga, was a worthy candidate and were found on greatest game lists at one point or another over the years.
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Yeah, galaga is really a fun game, plus it has been included in all the namco releases, it deserved its spot.
---
Revenge is a dish best served cold.-Old Klingon Proverb
Congrats to UltimaterializerX, winner of the Guru Challenge.

Everything else, even Galaga, was a worthy candidate and were found on greatest game lists at one point or another over the years.

I agree that it deserved its spot. However, that does not change the fact that regardless of where you put it it would be a weak competitor.

There are, maybe, 6 or 7 games in the 8 bit division that would have received above a 14 seed in a bracket that was not divided by era.

If games were nominated with no regard to era, so that there was no guarantee of evenly divided the contestants between eras, what would we see?

SMB3 would be a 2 or 3 seed, easily.
LoZ would be a seed or so down from SMB3, either 3 or 4.
Final Fantasy would pull a 6 or seed.
Metroid and Contra would both probably be around 9 or 10 seeds
Tetris could possibly pull a 13 seed.
And out of the rest of the games, i don't think any of them apart from Donkey Kong and Pong could make the contest. The rest would be muscled out my more popular games from other eras.

Galaga, as deserving as it is, probably would not make the contest.
---
Sp2k4C-120 pts.
Vincent, Ultros, Auron, Frog, Ghaleon, Nanaki, Kerrigan for S2k4C!

Bah, Iori didn't lose THAT badly to Duke Nukem...Duke Nukem didn't even come close to doubling Iori. I thought it showed Duke's overestimation more than anything.

As for Abe...I really liked the Oddworld games (the sidescrolling ones for PSX). As a result, I was really expecting Abe to beat Kyo back in 2002. Maybe it's true that not many people (relatively speaking) have played Oddworld. :(

Also, Scorpion got 71% against Kazuya...not close enough to call it tripling. anyway, I agree that a Tekken character that I've actually HEARD OF should've been in Kazuya's spot such as Jin. (bah, not Heiheichi...)

Hm, and Adventure and RCR are commonly mentioned as being either great or revolutionary games...so I could argue for those. Other NES games that I'd be curious about...Kid Icarus, anyone? How about Crystalis, Double Dragon, or (can't believe I forgot about this) Dragon Warrior? Then there's the obvious Mega Man 2. Oh, and we can't forget about the first SMB or SMB2!

Speaking of Dragon Warrior, it just gave me a thought...I remember Dragon Warrior 1 dominating "What's your favorite Dragon Quest game?" on a GameFAQs PotD? Now, if you talk to anyone who's played DW4, they will almost all say that DW4 > DW. Now, this could mean that people are really biased toward first games of series regardless of how good it is. Therefore, Phantasy Star really COULD be a lot stronger than Phantasy Star IV...

POLL: If Super Mario Bros. vs. Final Fantasy occured, who would win?

---
"Ah, a party! We haven't had one of those. It could be fun! So...what is a party?"
"Well, you drink punch and eat CAKE! ...I think."

Even taking Mario/DK SFF into account, Chichiri. Terry got a similar performance against Aya to what Kite did against Vercetti... the difference is that Vercetti actually beat DK.

Pac-Man 62.84% 32607
Kyo Kusanagi 37.16% 19282

by that definition, final fantasy i suffered a blowout loss.
...which it clearly didn't.

You haven't seen anything until you see Ulti saying 43% is "utter destruction" or something to that effect, heh.

Anyway, my point is, what happened to fighting characters could very well be indicative of what could happen to the classics. The four that did perform well OR could have if not for SFF are, ironically, from Mario, Zelda, FF and Metroid, arguably the "big four" here at GameFAQs. SMB1 and Megaman 2 could do well too. These six will probably make it back next time, except maybe SMB1 if CJayC keeps the one game/series/era rule, and maybe also Metroid if there's a part of SFF he doesn't understand. Tetris and Pac-Man will also probably make it back as low seeds, just for what they mean to gaming. They're as good fodder as anything else. Pong? Ugh... it did so bad, I'm not so sure it's coming back. ;_;
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

POLL: If Super Mario Bros. vs. Final Fantasy occured, who would win?

SMB. I can't think of too many reasons why someone would vote SMB3 over FF but vote FF over SMB. Sure, it's not as strong as a game as SMB3, but it's even more classic, and it gets the "first game in the series" nostalgia. It would be somewhat closer than SMB3/FF, but SMB would still win by a fair amount.

Now, if you talk to anyone who's played DW4, they will almost all say that DW4 > DW.

True. DWIV is far greater than DW. I remember selecting DWV for that poll, though.
---
Final SpC2k3 Score: 163 (It's all Starcraft's fault)
Nominate Frog for SC2k4!

I can't think of too many reasons why someone would vote SMB3 over FF but vote FF over SMB.

IT'S A TRAP!

Remember the hype for Ganondorf beating Magus in the last few days before SC2K3? Logic was extremely similar. I think this one would be tough to call... but for some reason I'd tend to give FF1 the edge. Simply because I have my doubts about SMB1 beating LoZ, and LoZ barely did better against SMB3 than FF1. The voters proved time and time again that they don't necessarily vote for innovation, as Trollbooth "kindly" reminds us from time to time. They vote for what they prefer, and although SMB1 was good, SMB3 was such a step up in terms of quality it's not even funny.
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Listen guys, I know my 8 bit (anyone wanna relive the experience of Metroid/Metal Gear comparissons?) and I'm telling you, the division is far weaker than it would have been in a normal nomination system. I've seen mention here and there of games that may have had a chance... but they are far from complete. I see no mention of Castlevania. Simon may not have been powerful in 2k2, but if you locked him in a division with 8 bit characters only he'd have looked better. TMNT 2, anybody? Vastly superior to The Simpsons, no doubt. Battletoads, perhaps. No matter what you think it is, though, there are far better representatives of that era than what made it.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Here's how the SpC2K4 would look like if not split by eras. Using the extrapolated standings (which Starcraft did screw with, I know), I comprised this bracket. For the odd seeds, the top game of the seed went in the North, second in the West, third in the South, fourth in the East. For the even seeds, the top game of that seed went in the East, second in the South, third in the West, and fourth in the North.

North
(1)Final Fantasy VII vs (16)Adventure
(8)Castlevania: Symphony of the Night vs (9)Sonic the Hedgehog 2
(5)Metroid Prime vs (12)Metal Gear
(4)Super Mario World vs (13)Dance Dance Revolution
(6)Super Mario RPG vs (11)Metroid
(3)The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker vs (14)Duck Hunt
(7)Goldeneye vs (10)Tetris
(2)Starcraft vs (15)Pitfall!

East
(1)The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past vs (16)Phantasy Star IV
(8)Super Metroid vs (9)Perfect Dark
(5)Half-Life vs (12)Fire Emblem
(4)Kingdom Hearts vs (13)Pac-Man
(6)Metal Gear Solid vs (11)Pokemon GSC
(3)Final Fantasy X vs (14)Panzer Dragoon Saga
(7)Super Mario 64 vs (10)Skies of Arcadia
(2)Super Mario Bros. 3 vs (15)Gunstar Heroes

South
(1)Chrono Trigger vs (16)NiGHTS into Dreams...
(8)Doom vs (9)Contra
(5)Final Fantasy vs (12)Phantasy Star
(4)The Legend of Zelda vs (13)Fallout 2
(6)Final Fantasy Tactics vs (11)Resident Evil
(3)Grand Theft Auto: Vice City vs (14)Pong
(7)Street Fighter II vs (10)Shenmue
(2)Final Fantasy III (VI) vs (15)Galaga

West
(1)The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time vs (16)River City Ransom
(8)Mortal Kombat vs (9)Xenogears
(5)Metal Gear Solid 2 vs (12)Suidoken II
(4)Soul Calibur vs (13)The Simpsons
(6)Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic vs (11)Secret of Mana
(3)Halo: Combat Evolved vs (14)Donkey Kong
(7)Final Fantasy Tactics Advance vs (10)Earthbound
(2)Super Smash Bros. Melee vs (15)Shining Force

I know I have comments about this, but I'd like to hear what you guys say too.
---
This is the alternate account of swirldude.
Ulti owned my sorry ass in the Spring Contest!!

I Dunno about anyone else, but this looks a lot more fun than the real thing. I'll asterisk the real good matchups.

North
(1)Final Fantasy VII vs (16)Adventure
*(8)Castlevania: Symphony of the Night vs (9)Sonic the Hedgehog 2
(5)Metroid Prime vs (12)Metal Gear
(4)Super Mario World vs (13)Dance Dance Revolution
*(6)Super Mario RPG vs (11)Metroid
(3)The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker vs (14)Duck Hunt
(7)Goldeneye vs (10)Tetris
(2)Starcraft vs (15)Pitfall!

East
(1)The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past vs (16)Phantasy Star IV
*(8)Super Metroid vs (9)Perfect Dark
(5)Half-Life vs (12)Fire Emblem
(4)Kingdom Hearts vs (13)Pac-Man
*(6)Metal Gear Solid vs (11)Pokemon GSC
(3)Final Fantasy X vs (14)Panzer Dragoon Saga
(7)Super Mario 64 vs (10)Skies of Arcadia
(2)Super Mario Bros. 3 vs (15)Gunstar Heroes

South
(1)Chrono Trigger vs (16)NiGHTS into Dreams...
*(8)Doom vs (9)Contra
(5)Final Fantasy vs (12)Phantasy Star
(4)The Legend of Zelda vs (13)Fallout 2
(6)Final Fantasy Tactics vs (11)Resident Evil
(3)Grand Theft Auto: Vice City vs (14)Pong
(7)Street Fighter II vs (10)Shenmue
(2)Final Fantasy III (VI) vs (15)Galaga

West
(1)The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time vs (16)River City Ransom
*(8)Mortal Kombat vs (9)Xenogears
(5)Metal Gear Solid 2 vs (12)Suidoken II
(4)Soul Calibur vs (13)The Simpsons
*(6)Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic vs (11)Secret of Mana
****************(3)Halo: Combat Evolved vs (14)Donkey Kong :p
(7)Final Fantasy Tactics Advance vs (10)Earthbound
(2)Super Smash Bros. Melee vs (15)Shining Force

Some great matches, looks like SFF wasn't taken into account for SoM though. And, of course, most of the really good matches are 8/9. The last two 16 seeds reallly deserve better though... :(
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

The last two 16 seeds reallly deserve better though... :(

Preach it! I'm the resident NiGHTS fanboy around here, so you know how I'm feeling.
---
This is the alternate account of swirldude.
Ulti owned my sorry ass in the Spring Contest!!

Listen guys, I know my 8 bit (anyone wanna relive the experience of Metroid/Metal Gear comparissons?) and I'm telling you, the division is far weaker than it would have been in a normal nomination system. I've seen mention here and there of games that may have had a chance... but they are far from complete. I see no mention of Castlevania. Simon may not have been powerful in 2k2, but if you locked him in a division with 8 bit characters only he'd have looked better. TMNT 2, anybody? Vastly superior to The Simpsons, no doubt. Battletoads, perhaps. No matter what you think it is, though, there are far better representatives of that era than what made it.

True, but how many of these games do you see actually making it if 8-bit wasnt guaranteed a full 16 game division? I'd be surprised if we saw more than 8 or 9 total, and although they would be stronger than the average 8-bit game in this contest, i still don't see them being strong.
---
Sp2k4C-120 pts.
Vincent, Ultros, Auron, Frog, Ghaleon, Nanaki, Kerrigan for S2k4C!

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

(edit: reforming the second part of this post.)

...for some reason I'd tend to give FF1 the edge. Simply because I have my doubts about SMB1 beating LoZ, and LoZ barely did better against SMB3 than FF1.

...that's a good way of putting that match in perspective.
i still think smb would scrape by...but i wasn't even giving ff1 a chance until i read that statement.

as for comparing dragon warrior and phantasy star...they are in different situations.
phantasy star most likely sold more than ps4...but by a small margin.
whereas dragon warrior sold in the millions, and dw4 had less than half a million copies produced in this country.

ps4 was also on a more popular system than ps1.
which would mean that more people were able to buy it used...or play it through emulation.
---
signature (n.): a random bit of gibberish that no one ever reads.

Peeps of GameFAQ's! It is the offseason...and many of you have been writing me emails, sending me offlines, and posting on the board here, seeking new material! And I appreciate it immensely!!!

Well, in the tradition of this Spring's Contest and its satirical prose which brought me worldwide GameFAQ's fame, I now give you, without further adieu...

Steve Illumina Speaks

Indeed it is so, the legendary and ever humorous commentary spews forth again, to attempt to offer some funny and lighthearted yet well-honed levity, here on this the stats thread... the past, present and future bastion of proven intelligence on this overly fanboy dominated board.

Until the official noms are ready to be selected and I happily cast my ballots for those worthy characters I shall choose from all walks of gaming lore, I shall now mock the very process we all hold dear...and give you..

Steve's Top Ten Joke Nominations

Thats right kiddies :) I shall "nominate" worthy joke characters and "praise" their virtues...extoll their eccentricities...and poke fun at nerdy fanboys all the while. We proceed with...#8!

#10. The L Shaped Tetris Block
#9. The Right Pong Paddle
#8. Duck Hunt Dog

Games Appeared In: Ducky Hunty

Likely Seeding: -1

Shot at Upset: Back to the kennel, pup!

Comments: Going to the dogs now is the list...as I must mock this silly idea of a nomination...the Dog Without a Name.

As the first animal to be found on a NES game, the Duck Hunt Dog is adored by a few fanboys...or maybe more than a few...cause that silly pointless game somehow made it into the Spring Game Contest. Thankfully for me and all that is right in gaming, the Great Ape stomped the Dog down. But that was a different time...

We are living for the present! And the Dog is the champion of flaky fanboys everywhere, who miss shooting rounds with their Zapper lightgun. BANG! BOOM! "click" :)

Editor's Note: Anyone up for some clay shooting?

So, then, Duck Hunt Doggy Dogg...I nominate you for your uncanny ability to always find those same 3 ducks...in the same spot of shrubbery!
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

What do Gordon Freeman, Ryo Hazuki, and River City Ransom have in common?

The entity they lost to lost in the next round, and that entity lost to another one in the next round, and so on.

Summer 2002: Gordon Freeman Lost to Tina Armstrong, who lost to Aeris, who lost to Snake, who lost to Crono, who lost to Mario, who lost to Link

Summer 2003: Ryo Hazuki Lost to Dante, who lost to Ryu, who lost to Snake, who lost to Megaman, who lost to Sephiroth, who lost to Cloud

Spring 2004: River City Ransom Lost to Pong, who lost to Tetris, who lost to The Legend of Zelda, who lost to Super Mario Bros. 3, who lost to Chrono Trigger, who lost to Final Fantasy 7

They got spanked in extrapolated thanks to this.
---
This is the alternate account of swirldude.
Ulti owned my sorry ass in the Spring Contest!!

The voters proved time and time again that they don't necessarily vote for innovation, as Trollbooth "kindly" reminds us from time to time. They vote for what they prefer, and although SMB1 was good, SMB3 was such a step up in terms of quality it's not even funny.

Final Fantasy is stronger than Final Fantasy Tactics, which is clearly superior to FF1. This no sense. I would bet that Final Fantasy is (a lot) more powerful with name recognition than Final Fantasy Tactics is. Gah, I really don't think Final Fantasy was played by more people than FFT, even after counting ROMs.

---
"Ah, a party! We haven't had one of those. It could be fun! So...what is a party?"
"Well, you drink punch and eat CAKE! ...I think."

Being in a long string of calculations doesn't really matter...for Ryo Hazuki, the only thing that killed his ranking was his performance against Dante. Even Dante was ranked better than the previous year, relative to the other S2002 characters.

I still think Gordon Freeman may have lost that badly due to TJF (and the only match to involve that). Look at Tina Armstrong's picture! Not saying Freeman would have won, but just not as badly. Who knows, though...maybe the proportion of Half-Life players have been increasing here, as the population has been growing, and you know how popular Half-Life is outside of GameFAQs.


---
"Ah, a party! We haven't had one of those. It could be fun! So...what is a party?"
"Well, you drink punch and eat CAKE! ...I think."

you know how popular Half-Life is outside of GameFAQs.

Which is funny considering if CT had beat FF7, Half-Life would've been in River City Ransom's place, right along with Gordon Freeman.

Damn FF7 fanboys
---
This is the alternate account of swirldude.
Ulti owned my sorry ass in the Spring Contest!!

Final Fantasy is stronger than Final Fantasy Tactics, which is clearly superior to FF1. This no sense. I would bet that Final Fantasy is (a lot) more powerful with name recognition than Final Fantasy Tactics is. Gah, I really don't think Final Fantasy was played by more people than FFT, even after counting ROMs.

This isn't the first time nonsensical stuff like this happens. MGS2 > MGS, Tidus > Squall, Tidus > Auron, heck, Tidus > everyone but the Noble 9, Magus and Ganondorf. To top it all off, Tidus pounded Squall bad TWICE.

Oh, and looks like Wind Waker is a wee bit stronger than LoZ, EVEN with the Starcraft factor. Like I called it before the contest, heh.

...that's a good way of putting that match in perspective.
i still think smb would scrape by...but i wasn't even giving ff1 a chance until i read that statement

Actually, that reasoning ALREADY paid off in bracket points for me. Last year's Mario vs. Crono for instance. I could have seen Mario beating Sephiroth, but just not Crono, even without SFF (and I doubt there'd be much SFF in such a match anyway). Then SMB3 vs. LoZ. I had an inkling towards LoZ, but I doubted its chances against CT much more than SMB3's, hence why I picked SMB3. Once again, huge payoff.
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Peeps of GameFAQ's! It is the offseason...and many of you have been writing me emails, sending me offlines, and posting on the board here, seeking new material! And I appreciate it immensely!!!

Well, in the tradition of this Spring's Contest and its satirical prose which brought me worldwide GameFAQ's fame, I now give you, without further adieu...

Steve Illumina Speaks

Indeed it is so, the legendary and ever humorous commentary spews forth again, to attempt to offer some funny and lighthearted yet well-honed levity, here on this the stats thread... the past, present and future bastion of proven intelligence on this overly fanboy dominated board.

Until the official noms are ready to be selected and I happily cast my ballots for those worthy characters I shall choose from all walks of gaming lore, I shall now mock the very process we all hold dear...and give you..

Steve's Top Ten Joke Nominations

Thats right kiddies :) I shall "nominate" worthy joke characters and "praise" their virtues...extoll their eccentricities...and poke fun at nerdy fanboys all the while. We proceed with...#7!

#10. The L Shaped Tetris Block
#9. The Right Pong Paddle
#8. Duck Hunt Dog
#7. Dan

Games Appeared In: Street Fighter Alpha Series, SNK v Capcom Series

Likely Seeding: 14

Shot at Upset: Slight if taking on any SNK characters, for they are too unappreciated on this site.

Comments: If fighting games were revered and worshipped like their RPG brothers are on this site, then topics would spring up like weeds in Kansas wheat fields seeking nominations for this sissy laughingstock of a fighting game character...the pink clad Dan.

Introduced in SF Alpha as a hidden character to fight, Dan the Man is a complete wimp, especially in his earlier incarnations. Capcom, taking a page from the tried and true Mortal Kombat book of palette swapping, made Daniel-San as a mockery of Ryu and Ken...a weak pathetic fighter with no good moves to fight with beyond basic attacks.

He is rarely picked by gaming experts as a worthy choice to play in tourney matches or even SNK v Capcom pick up games. He is a personification of the wannabe fighter many kids are...nerds who dream of kicking the bully's butt every time the bully shoves them into their locker and padlocks it afterwards.

Editor's Note: No..Birdie is not a joke character...But he does suck.

So, then, Danny Boy...I nominate you for your uncanny ability to waste a perfectly good square on the selection screen.

SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Slow: I deleted my post that was in error...

Goes back to the corner now ^_^
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

I was browsing through the old PotDs, and I found these good ones:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=179

Had we found this poll beforehand, we'd have thought SotN would've completely destroyed it. Still, 53-47 ain't too bad.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=319

Pokéhate isn't recent, you know.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=743

From December 14, 2001. CJayC should've gotten a clue and spared us of Serious Sam and Gabe Logan in the SC2K2. Instead they get a 3 and a 10-seed in the most overpowered division ever. XD. Also, removing the votes for these two, I'd think an actual match between Snake and Duke would turn out not so different from that, though Snake'd probably do a wee bit better.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=748
http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=749
http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=762
http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=776
http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=1656

Something's wrong here. SSBM made a much bigger splash than FF10 initially... then it gets more votes than it got owners in a "Best FF" poll. Ahead of FF6 at that. After that, SOMEHOW it got even bigger and doubled SSBM for GotY. And then, we all know how their match in this Spring Contest turned out...

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=765

*Sigh* FF7 is such a powerhouse, it smacks the living hell out of a game in much more dire need of a remake.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=766

Best. Runner-up. Ever.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=845

Vincent ahead of Aeris is barely a surprise, considering the support he gets from the hardcore FF7 populace. But TIFA? CID? Then again, Yoshi and Luigi beat Mario in a poll before...

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=847

For some reason, despite this, I don't think Shadow would do so well in a contest. I just get this "fan-favorite" aura... and as Auron and Yoshi can attest to, it's not good.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=931

BEFORE RELEASE, Wind Waker was beating Metroid Prime. Both were facing a lot of criticism at that time, criticism that faded away of course.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=1010

The second oldest "favorite Mario" poll... SMW was ahead of SM64 back then. What happened?

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=1081

A few weeks after release. It made a much bigger splash than FF10 or SSBM, yet it couldn't beat either now in a contest.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=1207

Speaking of splash within weeks of release, we can say VC > SSBM > WW > FF10. Yup.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=1235

Totally off-topic, but the result is still surprising, considering what we see on the boards.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=341

I'm surprised Bush was EVER the favorite in here.

And to close that, the BEST. POLL. EVAR:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=3
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Steve... Dan rocks, and in CvS and SFA2 he's actually a great character. Also, he was made to make fun of Ryo who looks too much like Ken and Ryu. Dan was originally clad in orange, and wore shoes like Ryo. His short projectile was a play on Ryo's, which was shorter than Ken or Ryu but not as short as Dan. Also he is know as the "taunting master" because in AoF you could use taunts to reduce your opponent's special move bar.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

I wish I had seen that Pokemon poll prior to the contest. <<
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Dodongo Dislikes Smoke - Old Man; The Legend of Zelda

Slowflake:

Weird, I've been going through a lot of the old polls recently, also.

As for the Mario thing, a portion of SM64's votes are probably going to SMS. If SMS wasn't there it would probably beat SMW, albeit barely. The same thing probably happened with FF7 and FF8 in the first Favorite Final Fantasy Poll.

And as for those Final Fantasy Polls, I've only seen the first three and here are some comparisons

1st Poll: November or December 1999
2nd Poll: May 2000
3rd Poll: Late 2000 (after FF9's release)


Between the first and second polls, nothing really major happens, except that FFVII goes up a lot, which can be explained by saying that FFVIII was sucking up some of it's votes due to its recent release. FFVI does go down some, but not by any astounding amount or anything.

However, when the next poll rolls around, a lot of stuff is shaken up. FFVII rises a teensy-bit, although it's barely over 1%. The original also drops a little-bit also. However, one of the big shake-ups is that the three SNES FF's all feature significant drops in popularity, especially FFVI, which drops from 30.73% to 24.23%

The dropping of the SNES games is probably due to the release of FFIX, though. Also FFIV and FFIV TrueType* are also combined into one category, but I don't see why that should make any kind of difference.

However, the huge shocker is that FFIIjp and FFIIIjp feature boosts in popularity (a HUGE 2.64%-6.44% in FFIIIjp's case).

The weird past is that for the first time FFIV and FFVI have the US number in parentheses, which would if anything, lower the number of votes for the NES games.

Weird.

*What is the difference between these two exactly?
---
UltimaterializerX is my God!

Problem is, Sunshine barely decreased: in fact, its decrease is LOWER than SM64's increase, and SMW lost a few points as well. So SMS is probably not the only reason.
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Problem is, Sunshine barely decreased: in fact, its decrease is LOWER than SM64's increase, and SMW lost a few points as well. So SMS is probably not the only reason.

Oh well, Sunshine voters would probably be more likely to side with SM64 than SMW in a poll anyway, so SM64 would probably still have a slight advantage if the two butted heads directly.
---
UltimaterializerX is my God!

Okay in a direct matchup SMW is not going to lose to SM64.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Dodongo Dislikes Smoke - Old Man; The Legend of Zelda

What is the difference between these two exactly?

Several special character commands were "dummied out" in FF2us, like Rosa's Pray or Gilbert/Edward's Medicine. Dummied out meaning that they are still in the game, but you can't use them unless you have a Game Genie or similar. Also, crappy battle items that appeared in FFIIIj that basically emulated spells (Artic Wind = Ice2, for example) also got dummied out. And I'm not entirely sure on this, but I think enemies in FFIV have better stats. The FF2us translation is also seriously messed up.

That's it, I think.
---
Final SpC2k3 Score: 163 (It's all Starcraft's fault)
Nominate Frog for SC2k4!

Hey, the Battle Items are useful!

..onl yagainst FF3j Hyne and FF4j Antlion, but for those two fights, they come in handy! Fighters and Gilbert can be useful! Hooray!
---
FIESTAAA!! CUÑAAAAAAAOO!!! BOOOOMBAAAA!!! ESPAÑA VA BIEN!!!! CERO PATATERO!!!

Also, he was made to make fun of Ryo who looks too much like Ken and Ryu.

I thought it was Robert that Dan was mocking, what with him having the same face and all ^^;

---
I can see the headline now. High Summoner Yuna in concert: sings like ass, shows ass.
-Videogame Recaps

Peeps of GameFAQ's! It is the offseason...and many of you have been writing me emails, sending me offlines, and posting on the board here, seeking new material! And I appreciate it immensely!!!

Well, in the tradition of this Spring's Contest and its satirical prose which brought me worldwide GameFAQ's fame, I now give you, without further adieu...

Steve Illumina Speaks

Indeed it is so, the legendary and ever humorous commentary spews forth again, to attempt to offer some funny and lighthearted yet well-honed levity, here on this the stats thread... the past, present and future bastion of proven intelligence on this overly fanboy dominated board.

Until the official noms are ready to be selected and I happily cast my ballots for those worthy characters I shall choose from all walks of gaming lore, I shall now mock the very process we all hold dear...and give you..

Steve's Top Ten Joke Nominations

Thats right kiddies :) I shall "nominate" worthy joke characters and "praise" their virtues...extoll their eccentricities...and poke fun at nerdy fanboys all the while. We proceed with...#6!

#10. The L Shaped Tetris Block
#9. The Right Pong Paddle
#8. Duck Hunt Dog
#7. Dan
#6. Gato

Games Appeared In: Chrono Trigger

Likely Seeding: 15

Shot at Upset: You know those Chrono fanboys...

Comments: Chrono Trigger fanboys are among the most fanatical, most annoying, most outspoken fanboys on this site. They led their beloved SNES RPG to 2nd place in the Spring Contest...and they would love nothing more than to see more characters from their dearly beloved make it in the Summer Contest. Frog is the prohibitive favorite...but there is another the CT geeks want...and that is Gato.

"Who is Gato?" asks the young newbie without a clue. Well let me enlighten ya! Gato is the goofball robot you can 'fight' in the beginning of the game to win Silver Points to play minigames with in Leene Square.

He can sing...he can dance...he thinks he can fight! He is GATO! CT fanboys think he is really great...I have absolutely no idea why. Not a clue. Is it his name??? Is it cause he is a robot??? Who knows...or cares???

Editor's Note: Poor Pierre...gets no respect!

So, then, Gato...I nominate you for your uncanny ability to provide me Silver Points quicker than drinking sodas!
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Chrono Trigger fanboys are among the most fanatical, most annoying, most outspoken fanboys on this site.

Spoken like a true Zelda fan. Keep up the good work =)
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

Aw, come on Steve, CT's great! We just happen to be a lot of people who agree.

I'm intending on building a chart for the console wars on GameFAQs, as far as ownership goes over time. That was my previous intent while browsing old polls yesterday, but I got carried away.
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Steve... Dan rocks, and in CvS and SFA2 he's actually a great character. Also, he was made to make fun of Ryo who looks too much like Ken and Ryu. Dan was originally clad in orange, and wore shoes like Ryo. His short projectile was a play on Ryo's, which was shorter than Ken or Ryu but not as short as Dan. Also he is know as the "taunting master" because in AoF you could use taunts to reduce your opponent's special move bar.

Yes, I believe I have been PWN'd!

Nice work, Chichiri!

For those that might care...my favorite/best CvS team is Ryu, Mai, and Zangief :)
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

We just happen to be a lot of people who agree.

Lol.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

I like Zelda...I like CT...I like FF...I like Mario & Mega Man... I am just tryin to have a little fun :)

There aint much I DONT like to be honest! :)
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Here's the chart. I'll update it when the current batch of polls is over. I was tempted to put a Milk column for that one "Got Milk?" poll back in late 2001, but I decided against it.

. . . . . . PS2 . . . GCN . . . X-Box
10/00 . 17.71% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
12/00 . 18.07% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
01/01 . 22.78% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
02/01 . 28.47% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
03/01 . 33.71% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
07/01 . 42.25% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
09/01 . 44.70% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
11/01 . 55.51% . 22.60% . 07.64%
01/02 . 62.61% . 36.21% . 13.56%
03/02 . 63.13% . 39.08% . 14.05%
06/02 . 64.57% . 45.13% . 19.97%
11/02 . 67.50% . 52.46% . 24.39%
12/02 . 70.54% . 57.01% . 28.16%
03/03 . 71.49% . 58.24% . 28.15%
05/03 . 71.79% . 60.11% . 29.12%
09/03 . 71.54% . 60.49% . 30.42%
12/03 . 72.33% . 62.38% . 32.33%
02/04 . 73.59% . 67.07% . 35.80%
07/04 . ??.??% . 69.50% . ??.??%

My, what a one-year head start can do.
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

GCN almost at 70%.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

"I thought it was Robert that Dan was mocking"

If you're playing SvC, then yes, there is some weight to that as they keep calling him Robbert, but in other games he is much more related to Ryo because he actually dresses like him and not Robbert. He has some of Robbert's facial features, but that's about it really. Given that Ryo and Robbert are the heroes of AoF it shouldn't be surprising that they took a little from each though.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

A topic for those who think Starcraft`s strength ruined the stats:

http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=8&topic=14635087
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

I am going to post my bracket here so the Gurus can make their comments.


North:

(1) Cloud
(16) CATS
(8) Master Chief
(9) Luca Blight
(4) Kirby
(13) Nightmare
(5) Bowser
(12) Bomberman
(6) Tidus
(11) Sam Fisher
(3) Alucard
(14) Sigma
(7) Zelda
(10) Kefka
(2) Snake
(15) Akuma

East:

(1) Sephiroth
(16) Gordon Freeman
(8) Mewtwo
(9) Tails
(4) Aeris
(13) Rikku
(5) Knuckles
(12) Sora
(6) Squall
(11) Ghaleon
(3) Magus
(14) Ryu Hayabusa
(7) Yuna
(10) Fox
(2) Sonic
(15) Ridley

West:

(1) Link
(16) Toad
(8) Vercetti
(9) Donkey Kong
(4) Zero
(13) Celes
(5) Auron
(12) Serge
(6) Shadow (The Hedgegogh)
(11) Kain Highwind
(3) Ganondorf
(14) Viewtiful Joe
(7) KOS-MOS
(10) Slayer
(2) Samus
(15) Laharl

South:

(1) Megaman
(16) HK-47
(8) Pac-Man
(9) Wario
(4) Ryu
(13) Vyse
(5) Yoshi
(12) Ramza
(6) Frog
(11) Scorpion
(3) Crono
(14) Falco
(7) Luigi
(10) Dante
(2) Mario
(15) Jak

---
One of the 30 persons officially PWN'D by Ulti in the Guru contest.

Okay, *comments*

North:

(1) Cloud
(16) CATS
(8) Master Chief
(9) Luca Blight
(4) Kirby
(13) Nightmare
(5) Bowser
(12) Bomberman
(6) Tidus
(11) Sam Fisher
(3) Alucard
(14) Sigma
(7) Zelda
(10) Kefka
(2) Snake
(15) Akuma

Just so you know, you have the 4/13 and 5/12 matches backwards. The 5/12 comes first, and I think you did this all through your bracket. And Kirby isn`t deserving of being seeded above Bowser. I would also switch around Alucard and Zelda.

East:

(1) Sephiroth
(16) Gordon Freeman
(8) Mewtwo
(9) Tails
(4) Aeris
(13) Rikku
(5) Knuckles
(12) Sora
(6) Squall
(11) Ghaleon
(3) Magus
(14) Ryu Hayabusa
(7) Yuna
(10) Fox
(2) Sonic
(15) Ridley

Lots of hard matchups in this thing, especially Aeris vs Knuckles. That one will be a real *****. Yuna/Fox and Squall/Magus are two other tough matches, and your Sonic/Magus possibility looks like it would be pure hell to call.

West:

(1) Link
(16) Toad
(8) Vercetti
(9) Donkey Kong
(4) Zero
(13) Celes
(5) Auron
(12) Serge
(6) Shadow (The Hedgegogh)
(11) Kain Highwind
(3) Ganondorf
(14) Viewtiful Joe
(7) KOS-MOS
(10) Slayer
(2) Samus
(15) Laharl

Toad, Celes, Kain, and Slayer are bad contestants IMO.

South:

(1) Megaman
(16) HK-47
(8) Pac-Man
(9) Wario
(4) Ryu
(13) Vyse
(5) Yoshi
(12) Ramza
(6) Frog
(11) Scorpion
(3) Crono
(14) Falco
(7) Luigi
(10) Dante
(2) Mario
(15) Jak

I don`t care whether or not Mario struggled last year or not, I dont ever think Mega Man should be given a 1 seed abov him.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

Just so you know, you have the 4/13 and 5/12 matches backwards.

Yeah, I didn't remember but I knew that the resultant match would be the same so I didn't care.
---
One of the 30 persons officially PWN'D by Ulti in the Guru contest.

I'm certain Slayer's is getting in now, but #10 is waaaay too high. I can picture him as a 13, 14, or 15.
---
GGXX Fans: Please nominate Slayer for SC2K4
Also supporting: Morrigan, Aya, Strider, & Chun-Li

While I understand the point you're trying to make, Ulti, I just can't swallow Halo being in the top 10. You know what that means, don't you? That means that in a poll against FF7, the percentage of votes Halo would get is roughly equivalent to X-Box ownership. It would most likely get 30%, maybe 35%, but 38%? NEVER IN A HUNDRED YEARS.
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

I wouldn`t be surprised if Halo could pull that off. Outside of our site, Halo is huge. Just because a small number of regular visitors don`t own an Xbox doesn`t mean that Halo would crash and burn in a match.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

I'd be very shocked if Halo of all games could manage almost 40%.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

Peeps of GameFAQ's! It is the offseason...and many of you have been writing me emails, sending me offlines, and posting on the board here, seeking new material! And I appreciate it immensely!!!

Well, in the tradition of this Spring's Contest and its satirical prose which brought me worldwide GameFAQ's fame, I now give you, without further adieu...

Steve Illumina Speaks

Indeed it is so, the legendary and ever humorous commentary spews forth again, to attempt to offer some funny and lighthearted yet well-honed levity, here on this the stats thread... the past, present and future bastion of proven intelligence on this overly fanboy dominated board.

Until the official noms are ready to be selected and I happily cast my ballots for those worthy characters I shall choose from all walks of gaming lore, I shall now mock the very process we all hold dear...and give you..

Steve's Top Ten Joke Nominations

Thats right kiddies :) I shall "nominate" worthy joke characters and "praise" their virtues...extoll their eccentricities...and poke fun at nerdy fanboys all the while. We proceed with...#5!

#10. The L Shaped Tetris Block
#9. The Right Pong Paddle
#8. Duck Hunt Dog
#7. Dan
#6. Gato
#5. Moogle

Games Appeared In: FFV, FFVI, FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX, FFX, FFX-2, FFXI, FFXII, FF Eternal... Secret of Mana, Etc...

Likely Seeding: 10-12

Shot at Upset: You know those FF Fanboys/Fangirls...they can part the Red Sea if they will it to be so!

Comments: If FF had a mascot..it would be the sacred bird, the Chocobo. That is a worthy nomination. But to some fanboys and fangirls, the only FF mascot worth mentioning is the little white Kirby wannabe puffball...the Moogle.

Debuting in FFV, the lovable Moogle has become a FF series staple, but always in a minor role. Its not a star...its only been playable in a handful of situations, summoned here and there, well you get the idea.

But what the Moogle is, especially in the eyes of young girly gamers, is cute and cuddly. So they are attached to it...sometimes scarily so. When other girls their age are on the phone calling their boyfriends or doin their nails, the young FF fangirls are instead drawing ASCII art of Moogles! Showing their love for the lil' puffball that has in its own small way, helped make FF a household name.

Editor's Note: I support the Fat Chocobo! For he is obese like many a gamer! Hahaha

So, then, Moogle...I nominate you for your uncanny ability to be cute, lovable, huggable, and did I mention cute? :)
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

If Final Fantasy had a mascot, it would be a dollar sign.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

If Final Fantasy had a mascot, it would be a dollar sign.

LOL! That was great. XD
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

Just because a small number of regular visitors don`t own an Xbox

Make that 60%. Twice as much as the other two.
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

That meant to be DO own an Xbox. Typo.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

Heh, thanks HM. Nothing like a good old Square bashing to jumpstart everyone`s morning.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
I would like to take this moment to politely orgasm over Ulti's Halo/Starcraft analysis. -smitelf

Even there, it's FF7 we're talking about. FF7, the game most people who come to this site wet their pants at the sole mention of it. It getting a "measly" 62% on Halo doesn't click. Especially when AERIS beat Halo's star by a similar percentage - and I'd bet X-Box fans are passionate enough to recognize Chief in a close-up picture, the same that's on the Halo boxart.
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

"I would also switch around Alucard and Zelda."

I think you're confused... why would Zelda be above Bowser, Alucard, and Tidus? In short, she wouldn't be. I might switch Kirby for Tidus and Bowser with Alucard.

"especially Aeris vs Knuckles"

You'd have to think about that?

"Toad, Celes, Kain, and Slayer are bad contestants IMO."

While I think Cecil should come before Kain and Toad should just not ocme, these aren't bad contestants. They aren't especially strong, but they aren't bad.

"I dont ever think Mega Man should be given a 1 seed abov him"

I don't either, but the number do say it should be so.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

I think you're confused... why would Zelda be above Bowser, Alucard, and Tidus? In short, she wouldn't be. I might switch Kirby for Tidus and Bowser with Alucard.

The seeding in general was messed up. As Alucard isn't getting a #3 seed and Zelda isn't getting a #7 seed. However it makes more sense for Zelda to be a #3 seed than Alcuard because she was stronger.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

I think I will change Alucard, Zelda, Bowser and maybe a few more. But don't expect Zelda to be higher than a 5 seed.
---
One of the 30 persons officially PWN'D by Ulti in the Guru contest.

As long as Zelda is ahead of Alucard your good, and Bowser ahead of them both.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

I will like to see an Alucard vs Zelda match. It will be good.
---
One of the 30 persons officially PWN'D by Ulti in the Guru contest.

Query: Which member of the Noble Nine deserves to get shafted with the 3 seed? Sephirot1 Returns says Crono, I say Sonic. What do the Gurus think?

Incidentally, Steve, Moogles first appeared in FFIIj. Even if they were called beavers the first time around.
---
Final SpC2k3 Score: 163 (It's all Starcraft's fault)
Nominate Frog for SC2k4!

Which member of the Noble Nine deserves to get shafted with the 3 seed?

Well technically Magus just beat him out last year in the top nine, but Sonic should get a #3 seed. Mega Man, Solid Snake, Samus, and Crono are all stronger, better #2 seeds.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

I say Sonic. Or Snake as a second choice. The other seven MUST have 1s and 2s.
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

(1) Cloud
(16) CATS
(8) Master Chief
(9) Luca Blight
(4) Kirby
(13) Nightmare
(5) Bowser
(12) Bomberman
(6) Tidus
(11) Sam Fisher
(3) Alucard
(14) Sigma
(7) Zelda
(10) Kefka
(2) Snake
(15) Akuma

As I said to Ulti, the 3-6 seeds need to be shuffled. Also, I'd hate to see anyone lose to Halo or MC, and that's a 9 seed that can't match it. The Mid-upper tier characters go quite deep in this division, it would seem.

East:

(1) Sephiroth
(16) Gordon Freeman
(8) Mewtwo
(9) Tails
(4) Aeris
(13) Rikku
(5) Knuckles
(12) Sora
(6) Squall
(11) Ghaleon
(3) Magus
(14) Ryu Hayabusa
(7) Yuna
(10) Fox
(2) Sonic
(15) Ridley

Sonic doesn't deserve a 2 seed, he should be a 3. While Knux can win his match, I'm not sure if he deserves a 5. Looks like this division gets the best of the new characters.

West:

(1) Link
(16) Toad
(8) Vercetti
(9) Donkey Kong
(4) Zero
(13) Celes
(5) Auron
(12) Serge
(6) Shadow (The Hedgegogh)
(11) Kain Highwind
(3) Ganondorf
(14) Viewtiful Joe
(7) KOS-MOS
(10) Slayer
(2) Samus
(15) Laharl

DK/Vercetti round 1? That has the potential to be extremely boring, but even if it IS exciting there's almost nothing on the line. Neither beats Link, so at most only one point is on the line. A lot of new square characters in this division, perhaps Serge could be moved so that he doesn't hit an obviously higher ranked Square first round.

South:

(1) Megaman
(16) HK-47
(8) Pac-Man
(9) Wario
(4) Ryu
(13) Vyse
(5) Yoshi
(12) Ramza
(6) Frog
(11) Scorpion
(3) Crono
(14) Falco
(7) Luigi
(10) Dante
(2) Mario
(15) Jak

I'm sick of Mario Vs. Crono, and if you really want to set it up then you damn well have Mario as the one seed, Crono as the two, and Sonic as the three. That's a pretty damn clear path there, win or lose in the 2/3 match we get to see something a lot of people want to see, and the seedings are actually more accurate. While east gets the best new characters over all, this division gets the best new character.

Over all you made two mistakes in the bracket.. the one Ulti pointed out and having south as the bottom division, south should be the 3rd one. You are missing quite a few good new characters that should/will hopefully make it in, and the removal of Gordon, Max Payne, Raziel, and the like lead me to believe you are trying for a stronger bracket. My suggestions for new characters, with this in mind, would be Chun-li over Akuma... Vincent, Geno, and Vivi. Vivi is stronger than any new Square you have in there, geno is stronger than any new Nintendo you have in there, and Vincent is stronger than 3/4 of the entire bracket.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

It getting a "measly" 62% on Halo doesn't click. Especially when AERIS beat Halo's star by a similar percentage - and I'd bet X-Box fans are passionate enough to recognize Chief in a close-up picture, the same that's on the Halo boxart.

Yeah, but Halo being vastly stronger than its star doesnt surprise me in the slightest. Main characters in shooters just don't have much support outside of die-hard fanatics of the game. I mean, look at Gordon Freeman's performance. Now think how the guy from Doom would do in a contest. With the result from the half life/Prime match to back us up, i think we can see that Halo is likely vastly stronger than Master Chief.

And Halo getting 35+ percent on FF7 wouldn't surprise me. Anything above 40 might cause a few raised eyebrows, but come on - the 1 seed does count for something. We can surmise that the 128 division is likely the strongest division in terms of sheer depth, unless you want to assume that starcraft caused something llike a 15-20 percent swing in every single one of its matches. Halo is well on par with the stronger games in that division, and i can't think of a single matchup in that division where Halo wouldnt get at least 45 percent.

Halo is easily the best known game on the X-box, and there are a decent enough number of X-box owners on this site. Additionally, i think even most of the non X-box owners have spent a good amount of time playing Halo - it's one of those games thats hard to avoid. So, Halo has the exposure, and the support - ~56k votes in a first round match against starcraft says something for it, doesnt it? 35 percent would be no surprise at all.
---
Sp2k4C-120 pts.
Vincent, Ultros, Auron, Frog, Ghaleon, Nanaki, Kerrigan for S2k4C!

My suggestions for new characters, with this in mind, would be Chun-li over Akuma... Vincent, Geno, and Vivi. Vivi is stronger than any new Square you have in there, geno is stronger than any new Nintendo you have in there, and Vincent is stronger than 3/4 of the entire bracket.

You could put in pretty much any playable character from FFVII except Cait Sith and they'd be stronger than at least half the bracket. Hell, I think Reno would do pretty well.
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

"As long as Zelda is ahead of Alucard your good"

Quit being rediculous, you sound like a drooling fanboy. Last year Alucard and Zelda were close enough that they should have equal seeding, if anything, but if we're going to be realistic (making the bracket like ceej would) then when it comes down to it, if they are both in the same division Alucard gets the bump for better past performance (s16 two-timer).
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I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Quit being rediculous, you sound like a drooling fanboy.

I'm just looking at the standings last year, while I do prefer Zelda to Alucard I wasn't putting a bias on that one. :)

Last year Alucard and Zelda were close enough that they should have equal seeding,

More than likely they could both get #5 seeds. I really meant to be imply that if it came to it Zelda would need to be ahead of Alucard, as there wouldn't be a reason for Alucard to ever be ahead of Zelda. Zelda ranked 19th last year and Alucard ranked 22nd, Zelda would be expected to get 30.29% against Cloud and Alucard would be expected to get 27.56% against Cloud.

if they are both in the same division Alucard gets the bump for better past performance (s16 two-timer).

Going by the way he makes it more than likely.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

"any playable character from FFVII except Cait Sith and they'd be stronger than at least half the bracket."

Though what I said was clearly 3/4, which is because Vincent is vastly more powerful than any other FF7 that isn't in the contest yet.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

"I wasn't putting a bias on that one."

Lies. If you were looking at the standings then you know they are too close in % to say one is clearly deserving of a higher seed than the other.

"Zelda would be expected to get 30.29%"

Doesn't mean that it'd happen.

"Going by the way he makes it more than likely."

Duh, that's why I said it.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

smitelf's in-depth analysis of Sephirot1's bracket

Kerrigan: no
HK-47: yes

Your score: 5/10
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

Though what I said was clearly 3/4, which is because Vincent is vastly more powerful than any other FF7 that isn't in the contest yet.

I think Cid could possibly challenge him, or Tifa. You're missing the general point, though, that being that an uber bracket would have so many FFVII characters that it would be sick to look at it, so excluding Vincent isn't such a great sin, though he is the most tempting of the remaining FF characters.
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

Lies. If you were looking at the standings then you know they are too close in % to say one is clearly deserving of a higher seed than the other.

There was a 3% difference between the two, in favor of Zelda. There is enough difference between her and the characters inbetween to put Zelda as a #5 seed and Alucard as a #6 seed.

Doesn't mean that it'd happen.

You could say that about every single character on that list too.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

You could put in pretty much any playable character from FFVII except Cait Sith and they'd be stronger than at least half the bracket. Hell, I think Reno would do pretty well.

That is what I don't want to put Vincent in.

The most support that Geno can have is from the board and still I have only seen one or two people nominating him, he will not enter. I will think about Vivi.

Sonic as a 3 seed doesn't sound right to me and I have changed Mario to a 1 seed as I know CJayC will do it.

---
One of the 30 persons officially PWN'D by Ulti in the Guru contest.

Kerrigan: no
HK-47: yes

Your score: 5/10


I think I am going to change Toad and put her.
---
One of the 30 persons officially PWN'D by Ulti in the Guru contest.

Smitelf: If you looked at that bracket I'm sure you'll notice 4 FFX characters... if any square game is to have 4 characters it isn't FFX.

"You could say that about every single character on that list too."

Unless they actually had a match with Cloud. That's where the extrapolateds fail... the further from from your focus point the less accurate you get. If we count Link as out focus point, since he supposedly didn't budge in strength, Zelda is 4 matches away, Alucard is 1. If we count Cloud as the focal point, since he came out so clearly on the top, Zelda is 3 away, Alucard is none.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

I'm not saying the extrapolated standings are high supremacy in accuracy but using them as a reference, much like I did, helps out in this instance.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

"That is what I don't want to put Vincent in."

Vincent is a good character, and deserves the entry, it doesn't matter if he ends up being too strong for most of his competition.

"The most support that Geno can have is from the board "

Perhaps you missed Mario RPG in the Spring contest, it did fairly well, better than Sonic 2. Geno would be a great mid-tier character.

"Sonic as a 3 seed doesn't sound right to me"

And obviously you're absolutely insane, because MM as a 1 seed doesn't sound right to anyone else.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Smitelf: If you looked at that bracket I'm sure you'll notice 4 FFX characters... if any square game is to have 4 characters it isn't FFX.

But that’s not what we’re discussing and I didn’t say I agreed with that. I did, in fact, agree with you that Vincent would be a great addition to the bracket -- however, so would virtually any other main character from FFVII so unless you want the character contest to become the FFVII character contest then we have to draw the line somewhere.

I do predict, however, that Vincent will, indeed, make it into this year's bracket.
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

"but using them as a reference, much like I did, helps out in this instance. "

Except in this instance it tells you to do something that wouldn't likely happen. I don't think Ceej would put Zelda above Alucard this summer. And still, through the standings they should be even in seeds if you make a realistic bracket. Ceej = Alucard over Zelda, Pure math = Zelda over Alucard, realism = same seeding because MC, among others, I'm sure, will get in above both of them,
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

"Sonic as a 3 seed doesn't sound right to me"

And obviously you're absolutely insane, because MM as a 1 seed doesn't sound right to anyone else.


That is not the problem, the problem is CJayC, he will put Sonic as 2 seed even if Sonic doesn't receive any nomination.

And I have already changed Mario.
---
One of the 30 persons officially PWN'D by Ulti in the Guru contest.

Except in this instance it tells you to do something that wouldn't likely happen.

The way I would see it and how the numbers would have it would be for Zelda to be over Alucard. More than likely we'll see Alucard and Zelda as the same seed, but the problem I found was how Alucard was ahead of Zelda, and by such a margin.

I don't think Ceej would put Zelda above Alucard this summer.

I doubt he would do it either, despite how I think she should be above him.

realism = same seeding because MC, among others, I'm sure, will get in above both of them,

Hehe.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

"we have to draw the line somewhere."

Well I'm drawing it at Vincent, dammit.

"the problem is CJayC, he will put Sonic as 2 seed even if Sonic doesn't receive any nomination."

Nope, I don't think Sonic is getting a 2 seed. If you have divisions by company he gets bested by MM and Snake, if you don't it's clear that he doesn't deserve the 2 more than Crono because Crono is almost dead even with Mario who is getting a 1 seed unless we have divisions by company. With that though in mind in all fairness Crono has to get a 2 seed. Seph should have a 1, no doubt, and I'm sure Ceej sees that now. With Seph as a 1 and Crono in the same division there is practically nothing to stop a MvsC3.
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I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Heh, I saw MvsC3 and I thought you were talking about Marvel vs Capcom 3.

Yeah you are right, if Mario is a 1 seed and Mario = Crono (Except the cheating), Crono must be a 2 seed.
---
One of the 30 persons officially PWN'D by Ulti in the Guru contest.

"but the problem I found was how Alucard was ahead of Zelda"

Oh, I agree, Alucard shouldn't have a 3, and that was the real problem. Not his place in relation to Zelda but his place in relation to his performance. 6 is his lucky spot though, I'd say, and he may as well have a 6 three years running. It certainly hasn't hurt him yet. But in that case I'd say take Zelda and put her in another division entirely. That top one has too many mid-tier characters going too deep anyway.
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I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Well I'm drawing it at Vincent, dammit.

The question is whether Ceej will, though. We already have three characters from FFVII, those being the identity-challenged hero, his annoying slut girlfriend, and His Royal Sexiness, so Vincent is going to have to convince Ceej that letting in more than three characters from one game is a good idea before he gets in.
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Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

"his annoying slut girlfriend,"

Tifa isn't in this contest...
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I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Tifa isn't in this contest...

I meant the other annoying slut girlfriend. Amazing how two slutty girls could be so attracted to one loser that they would give up every fragment of decency in their characters to be with him. It reminds me of high school.
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Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

Aeris isn't slutty though, and only a yaoi loving, drooling fan-girl* could say such a thing. She doens't dress like a tramp, she never makes any sexual advances towards anyone, and she obviously doesn't sleep around. She doesn't even sleep with anyone for that matter.

*Note: Take this from the guy whose favorite FF7 characters are Vincent and Sephiroth... and Aeris, of course :)
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

so Vincent is going to have to convince Ceej that letting in more than three characters from one game is a good idea before he gets in.

Considering that Vincent was much stronger than the slut girlfriend in that one FF7 character poll we had a while back, its more likely that Aeris would be dropped rather than Vincent not allowed in.
---
Sp2k4C-120 pts.
Vincent, Ultros, Auron, Frog, Ghaleon, Nanaki, Kerrigan for S2k4C!

Here is my sc2k4 bracket

1.Cloud
16.HK-47
8.Fox McCloud
9.Ramza Beoulve
5.Tidus
12.Ghaleon-gives ghaleon a good shot at moving on
4.Shadow
13.Crash
6.Vincent Valentine
11.KOS-MOS
3.Aeris-Aeris vs Vincent will be good, whoever wins faces Sephiroth
14.Kerrigan
7.Kefka- Sets up Kefka vs Sephiroth :)
10.Wario
2.Sephiroth-Sephiroth a 1 seed would make him, Cloud and Link automatic entries to the final four. We need other characters like Chrono, Megaman,Mario,etc
15.Bomberman

1.Link
16.CATS
8.Auron
9.Pac-man
5.Zelda
12.Ryu Hayabusa
4.Ganondorf-Zelda vs Ganondorf will be good
13.Viewtiful Joe
6.Knuckles
11.Tails
3.Sonic-Knuckles vs Sonic would be awesome
14.Ridley
7.Vercetti
10.Scorpion
2.Samus -Samus vs Sonic Part 2
15.Jak

1.Chrono
16.Gordon Freeman
8.Dante
9.Ken Masters
5.Bowser
12.Gordon Freeman
4.Squall
13.Lucca Blight
6.Frog-Frog vs Magus will be good
11.Jill Valentine
3.Magus-Magus has good shot at facing Chrono if he can beat Snake
14.Max Payne
7.Kirby
10.Master Chief
2.Solid Snake
15.Liquid Snake

1.Mario
16.Slayer
8.Yoshi
9.Yuna
5.Alucard
12.Conker
4.Ryu-Should be a fun match
13.Akuma
6.Luigi
11.Mewtwo-this could be close
3.Zero
14.Vyse
7.DonkeyKong
10.Vivi-possible upset
2.Megaman-Megaman vs Zero:)
15.Protoman:)

Comments appreciated

---
Currently playing: Tales of Phantasia

Hehe, Zelda vs. Ganondorf and then Link vs. Ganondorf. =P
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

I also like the Frog vs. Magus match. :)
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

I forgot to put Geno in, I'll replace Yuna with Geno
---
Currently playing: Tales of Phantasia

*Note: Take this from the guy whose favorite FF7 characters are Vincent and Sephiroth... and Aeris, of course :)

I like Reeve :) Being Shinra's financial guy, he reminds me of me at my job totally.

Vincent in the tourney...not a bad idea...but my bracket calls for a different FF entrant :)

Ulti...loved the line about the $ being the FF mascot!

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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Your bracket can call for another entrant, but out of the entire fing series no one that has been held back so far strikes me as having any chance of being better than Vincent.
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I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

My serious bracket...(since bracket talk is up these days...)

NORTH

1. Cloud Strife
16. Death (Castlevania Series)

8. Donkey Kong
9. Seifer

5. Shadow the Hedgehog
12. Geno

4. Zero
13. Ramza

6. Luigi Mario
11. Miles 'Tails' Prowler

3. Magus
14. Cervantes de Leon (Soul Calibur Series)

7. Yoshi
10. Wario

2. Solid Snake
15. Kefka Palazzo

EAST

1. Sephiroth
16. Blinx the Cat

8. Sora
9. Pac-Man

5. Kirby
12. Max Payne

4. Squall Leonhart
13. Sweet Tooth (Twisted Metal Series)

6. Tommy Vercetti
11. Scorpion

3. Aeris Gainsborough
14. Pikachu

7. Knuckles the Echidna
10. Morrigan (Darkstalkers Series)

2. Samus Aran
15. Maximo

SOUTH

1. Link
16. Lara Croft

8. Yuna (FFX)
9. Vivi (FF9)

5. Ryu
12. Dr. Wily

4. Ganondorf Dragmire
13. Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden)

6. Princess Zelda
11. Viewtiful Joe

3. Frog
14. Ken Masters

7. KOS-MOS
10. Dante

2. Crono
15. Sam Fisher

WEST

1. Mario
16. Rayne (BloodRayne)

8. Aaron (FFX)
9. Sigma (Mega Man X Series)

5. Alucard
12. Ghaleon

4. Bowser
13. Ness

6. Master Chief
11. Fox McCloud

3. Sonic the Hedgehog
14. Kerrigan (StarCraft)

7. Tidus (FFX)
10. Chocobo

2. Mega Man
15. Heihachi (Tekken Series)
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Your bracket can call for another entrant, but out of the entire fing series no one that has been held back so far strikes me as having any chance of being better than Vincent.

I called for the Chocobo hehe. If dumb Yoshi can get in, so too should the FF beast of burden!

Did u think i was gonna nominate Hojo or somethin!??

:)
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Aeris isn't slutty though, and only a yaoi loving, drooling fan-girl* could say such a thing.

I don’t agree that only a yaoi loving, drooling fan-girl could say such a thing but this one certainly is ^_~

She doens't dress like a tramp, she never makes any sexual advances towards anyone, and she obviously doesn't sleep around. She doesn't even sleep with anyone for that matter.

She throws herself at Cloud. It’s gross. He and Sephiroth are obviously meant for each other, anyway.

*Note: Take this from the guy whose favorite FF7 characters are Vincent and Sephiroth... and Aeris, of course :)

Sephy and Vincent are my favorites, too…though yaoi-wise, I like Cloud/Sephiroth best :)

Considering that Vincent was much stronger than the slut girlfriend in that one FF7 character poll we had a while back, its more likely that Aeris would be dropped rather than Vincent not allowed in.

Don’t be so cruel as to give me hope that Aeris will be dropped.

Your bracket can call for another entrant, but out of the entire fing series no one that has been held back so far strikes me as having any chance of being better than Vincent.

I agree that Vincent is likely the strongest Final Fantasy character currently being given the snub. If there is a God, then he will replace Aeris. Please, please, please…
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

smitelf’s in-depth analysis of brackets

TyRaNuS
Kerrigan: yes
HK-47: yes

smitelf’s score: 10/10

steve illumina
Kerrigan: yes
HK-47: no

smitelf’s score: 5/10
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

I like Aeris, and she belongs in the tourney. I named my cat Aeris! So yep I will defend this non-slut as much as I have to :)

Vincent, swap Cloud for him :) Cloud really dont got nuttin on the big bad V
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Vincent, swap Cloud for him :)

Oh, yeah, that's going to happen.
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

I don't comment often on others' brackets, Steve, but since it's you, I'll do a special.

- Does FF8 really need two reps?
- Nice call on Shadow. Geno at 12 is great too, I have him at 13.
- I'm not so sure Wario should be kept... but if he is, 10-seed would be about right.
- Hey, I had Sephy/Sora happening in round 2 too before I edited my bracket.
- A bit too much fodder in the East, other than that it's alright.
- Lara a 16? Come on, she's weak for her status, but she should be a 9 or a 10.
- Reverse Dante and KOS-MOS and you got yourself something good. (The seeds, I mean, not the match itself.)
- Too much Megaman.
- I doubt Ghaleon is popular enough to deserve a spot, let alone a 12-seed.
- Bowser/Ness again?
- On my edited bracket, I have Sonic and Kerrigan facing off in the first round too. XD
- Tidus a 7? WTF? And a CHOCOBO? The comparison between it and Yoshi is certainly not going to be in its favor, unless these rabid FF7 fanboys say otherwise... then again, when going for a strong bracket, it's hard not to put the entire cast of FF7 in.
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"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

I just noticed that in your bracket, Steve, you have Link vs. Ganondorf and Mario vs. Bowser in round 3. I like that. :)
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

Steve - Awesome bracket, just a few things that might make it more interesting:

Swap Ness and Sweet Tooth. We don't need another Bowser vs. Ness. In fact, you might just kick Ness out, considering how bad of a character he is.

Swap Sonic and Frog. We don't want Frog to be raped by SSF, do we?

Swap Knuckles and Vercetti. I think Knuckles is probably stronger, although a match between the two might be interesting.

Pac-Man's seed is way too high. He was the most over-seeded character in the last contest, and he lost to Kefka, who you gave a 15 seed to.

Swap the seeds of Kos-Mos and Dante. Dante is clearly the stronger of the two.

Kick Blinx out. Blinx is a terrible character, and Gordon Freeman would probably be better than him.

Other than that, fairly good bracket, and I especially like the South and West.

Besides the fact that we don't really need a second FF8 character, if we had a second it'd have to be Laguna.

We also only need one additional MM character.

Shadow is too high. He won't perform up to that.

Wario IS a wasted slot, and Kefka IS too low.

Pac IS overseeded. KOS isn't stronger than Dante.

Chocobo is more deserving of your joke nomination list...
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

- Does FF8 really need two reps?
- Nice call on Shadow. Geno at 12 is great too, I have him at 13.
- I'm not so sure Wario should be kept... but if he is, 10-seed would be about right.
- Hey, I had Sephy/Sora happening in round 2 too before I edited my bracket.
- A bit too much fodder in the East, other than that it's alright.
- Lara a 16? Come on, she's weak for her status, but she should be a 9 or a 10.
- Reverse Dante and KOS-MOS and you got yourself something good. (The seeds, I mean, not the match itself.)
- Too much Megaman.
- I doubt Ghaleon is popular enough to deserve a spot, let alone a 12-seed.
- Bowser/Ness again?
- On my edited bracket, I have Sonic and Kerrigan facing off in the first round too. XD
- Tidus a 7? WTF? And a CHOCOBO? The comparison between it and Yoshi is certainly not going to be in its favor, unless these rabid FF7 fanboys say otherwise... then again, when going for a strong bracket, it's hard not to put the entire cast of FF7 in.

I appreciate your critique, cause your opinion is respected by all :)

Now let me comment on why I did what I did :)

FF8 does deserve two reps I feel due to Squall doin so well and FF8 being one of the more liked FF games these days. Squall and Seifer are both well placed midcarders. Badboy Seifer would be an interesting addition to the tourney, I strongly feel.

Shadow and Geno..appreciate you agreeing. I did not copy your bracket at all, not intentionally anyway! It was a great one though your bracket. You should repost it here.

I dont like him, but I feel Wario belongs. He is a low-level Nintendite, but that WarioWare minigames crap for GBA might help him get a few votes this year....

Sephy/Sora hehe. I think Sora and Pac Man is one of my best 8-9 matchups, cause Sora did not do much last year and Pac Man could surprise against a 2nd tier Square hero.

I tried to spread the fodder out as best I could...if the East has more..well, it might heh

Lara could not win a match if she tried...its a good mockery of her and all other PS1 platform crap to put her as a 16...

Dante and KOS-MOS would be a great match and tough to call. No matter what the seedings are! I can see your point about flipping them though.

Megaman needs more representing than 2 spots like last year. Wily and Sigma belong as good low level seeds and they add variety to the whole thing. The Mega Man Anniversary set comes out next week and will stir up old school Mega Man sentiment. Last year there were too many platformers like Ratchet and Conker and so forth...give someone new a chance!

Ghaleon is one of them bums with a cult following like Ness...

Had to put Ness somewhere...forgot Bowser thumped him last year...heh

Sonic and Kerrigan would be a hell of a 3-14 match. And if Sonic lost, a real possibility, he would never live it down among the Elites.

Tidus lost last year...a 7 is appropriate. Also, the Chocobo belongs. And it would be a scary #10 and I think it could beat Tidus for it is loved by so many FF fanboys of all the series, blah blah

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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Steve - Awesome bracket, just a few things that might make it more interesting:

Swap Ness and Sweet Tooth. We don't need another Bowser vs. Ness. In fact, you might just kick Ness out, considering how bad of a character he is.

Swap Sonic and Frog. We don't want Frog to be raped by SSF, do we?

Swap Knuckles and Vercetti. I think Knuckles is probably stronger, although a match between the two might be interesting.

Pac-Man's seed is way too high. He was the most over-seeded character in the last contest, and he lost to Kefka, who you gave a 15 seed to.

Swap the seeds of Kos-Mos and Dante. Dante is clearly the stronger of the two.

Kick Blinx out. Blinx is a terrible character, and Gordon Freeman would probably be better than him.

Nice comments. I will switch Kos & Dante having heard it twice. I avoided jokes like CATS & Gordy in favor of new jokes like Blinx and Maximo. Kefka will do worse this year I feel if he makes it at all. I also will swap Tooth and Ness, to avoid a rehash of last year...

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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

And if Sonic lost, a real possibility, he would never live it down among the Elites.

Sonic wouldn't come close to losing to Kerrigan.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

My serious REVISED bracket...(since bracket talk is up these days...)

Swapped Ness & Tooth, and Dante/KOS-MOS seeds switched. Also moved Pac & Kefka around since Kefka did beat the icon... and moved Ghaleon too so it made some sense...

NORTH

1. Cloud Strife
16. Death (Castlevania Series)

8. Donkey Kong
9. Seifer

5. Shadow the Hedgehog
12. Geno

4. Zero
13. Ramza

6. Luigi Mario
11. Miles 'Tails' Prowler

3. Magus
14. Cervantes de Leon (Soul Calibur Series)

7. Yoshi
10. Wario

2. Solid Snake
15. Ghaleon

EAST

1. Sephiroth
16. Blinx the Cat

8. Sora
9. Kefka Palazzo

5. Kirby
12. Max Payne

4. Squall Leonhart
13. Ness

6. Tommy Vercetti
11. Scorpion

3. Aeris Gainsborough
14. Pikachu

7. Knuckles the Echidna
10. Morrigan (Darkstalkers Series)

2. Samus Aran
15. Maximo

SOUTH

1. Link
16. Lara Croft

8. Yuna (FFX)
9. Vivi (FF9)

5. Ryu
12. Dr. Wily

4. Ganondorf Dragmire
13. Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden)

6. Princess Zelda
11. Viewtiful Joe

3. Frog
14. Ken Masters

7. Dante
10. KOS-MOS

2. Crono
15. Sam Fisher

WEST

1. Mario
16. Rayne (BloodRayne)

8. Aaron (FFX)
9. Sigma (Mega Man X Series)

5. Alucard
12. Pac-Man

4. Bowser
13. Sweet Tooth (T Metal)

6. Master Chief
11. Fox McCloud

3. Sonic the Hedgehog
14. Kerrigan (StarCraft)

7. Tidus (FFX)
10. Chocobo

2. Mega Man
15. Heihachi (Tekken Series)
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

I'd put someone like Peach in over Sweet Tooth. I haven't seen her appear in any brackets recently either, she'd do pretty well.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

Tidus lost last year...a 7 is appropriate.

He did put up a hell of a fight against Ganondorf, who's considered to be at the gates of the Noble Nine. I think Tidus really is Sweet 16 material.
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"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Besides the fact that we don't really need a second FF8 character, if we had a second it'd have to be Laguna.

Laguna is cool..yah... He would be ok instead of Seifer.

We also only need one additional MM character.

With all the FF peeps and Mario characters, influential Mega Man should have 4 I think. Plus I was running out of good low level seeds ideas that were not jokes for the 15 and 16 slots.

Shadow is too high. He won't perform up to that.

Shadow is worthy of a 5...peeps love him for some strange reason.

Wario IS a wasted slot, and Kefka IS too low.
Swapped Pac and Kefka around some, and KOS-MOS and Dante were flipped too.

Pac IS overseeded. KOS isn't stronger than Dante.

Chocobo is more deserving of your joke nomination list...

Glad u read that list! And I did think about sticking the Chocobo on the list, but I did not. I decided the cheesy Moogle was a better entrant for the list. 4 slots for the list remain...and some of them are not hard to figure out. :)
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Tidus lost last year...a 7 is appropriate.

He did put up a hell of a fight against Ganondorf, who's considered to be at the gates of the Noble Nine. I think Tidus really is Sweet 16 material.

True. And assuming Tidus beat the Chocobo on my bracket and went up against Mega Man...I think that match would be quite close too...

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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Oh better idea, take out Wario and put in Peach. She'd obviously do better than he would.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

I'd put someone like Peach in over Sweet Tooth. I haven't seen her appear in any brackets recently either, she'd do pretty well.

Peach??? That fruit? You been eatin' too much Nintendo Cereal System again, aint ya, Heroic Mario?

^_^
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

"Shadow is worthy of a 5"

Actually there is fair reason to believe he isn't. I'd like to wait and see him do something meaningful before giving a 5 seed to him when another character deserves it more.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Peach??? That fruit? You been eatin' too much Nintendo Cereal System again, aint ya, Heroic Mario?

Lol. =P
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

I think a Megaman/Tidus match would be around 55/45 for Megaman. Way too close for a 2 vs. 7 match. Although, we DID see a 7-seed quintuple a 2-seed in the past... ;)

Lemme guess... Mass Carriers are probably in the top 4... for the rest I have no idea... dunno, the sand on Kefka's boots?
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"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Actually..Peach probably could do better than Wario...

Oh well. One Nintendo Princess (Zelda) is enough!
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Even with the Mario anti-vote, I'd give Shadow a 6 AT THE VERY WORST. And you all know what I think of Shadow.
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"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Lemme guess... Mass Carriers are probably in the top 4... for the rest I have no idea... dunno, the sand on Kefka's boots?

One never knows...:)
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

That 55-45 match with Mario vs. Shadow last year was just... ><
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

Yeah, and I'd still have Tidus in that 5 seed before Shadow... and you all know how I feel about FFX.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

That 55-45 match with Mario vs. Shadow last year was just... ><

Dont remind me of that torture! For real though, Shadow, the generic palette swap that he is, should not have done that to Mario...

But cause he did, this year he will be a scary entrant wherever Ceej sticks him.
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Yeah, and I'd still have Tidus in that 5 seed before Shadow... and you all know how I feel about FFX.

Swappin them two would work on my bracket....hmmm...
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

No he won't. We all know Mario vs. Shadow was just Mario vs. Sonic. Against any other oppoenent he probably wouldn't do half as well.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

We all know Mario vs. Shadow was just Mario vs. Sonic

That is actually what I always saw that match as strange enough.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

A true Mario vs Sonic match is one I would love to see, to put to rest forever the age old argument that Sonic and his games are/were better than Mario and his games heh.

Growing up like I did in the Nintendo/Genesis wars and the Mario/Sonic playground arguments... For me its got sentimental value. Mario World vs Sonic 2 this spring was nice, but I still would not mind seein the real thing.
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Mario would take it 60-40 :)
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SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

"Mario World vs Sonic 2 this spring was nice, but I still would not mind seein the real thing."

what if that WAS the real thing?
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

I'd like to see Mario rip apart Sonic like SMW did to Sonic 2, but since that wouldn't happen I can at least see a win from Mario. ;)
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

what if that WAS the real thing?

That would own.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Ultimaterializer > Nintendo

Since so many people are making brackets here and considering what might get in, I think I'll make one. I'm operating under these rules:

-Anyone in the Sweet 16 last year is getting in this year, no matter how weak they may have been.
-Anyone with an 0-2 record not named Gordon Freeman or CATS will be dropped. Sorry, Tails and Ken.
-A maximum of three characters per game.
-No new characters will be given higher than a 6 seed. No character who has yet to win a match will be given higher than a 9 seed.
-Mario vs. Crono will NOT happen until the finals, if it happens at all.

I would like to note that this was not easy, making a bracket that might happen. I'm sure there are some problems with it, and I'm sure people will see the theme matches I've set up.

North:
1. Cloud Strife (FF Tactics)
16. Nightmare (Soul Caliber series)

8. Dante (Devil May Cry)
9. Kirby (Kirby series)

5. Tommy Vercetti (GTA: Vice City)
12. Dr. Albert Wily (Mega Man series)

4. Ganondorf (Zelda series)
13. Vivi Ornitier (Final Fantasy IX)

6. Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong series)
11. Crash Bandicoot (Crash Bandicoot series)

3. Ryu (Street Fighter)
14. Raiden (Metal Gear Solid 2)

7. Jill Valentine (Resident Evil series)
10. Strider Hiryu (Strider)

2. Crono (Chrono Trigger)
15. Gordon Freeman (Half-Life)

East:
1. Sephiroth (FF VII)
16. Viewtiful Joe (Viewtiful Joe)

8. Master Chief (Halo)
9. Bomberman (Bomberman series)

5. Zelda (Legend of Zelda series)
12. Sarah Kerrigan (Starcraft)

4. Squall Leonheart (Final Fantasy VIII)
13. HK-47 (KotOR)

6. KOS-MOS (Xenosaga)
11. Mewtwo (Pokémon RBY)

3. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic series)
14. Fox McCloud (Starfox series)

7. Yuna (Final Fantasy X/X-2)
10. Sora (Kingdom Hearts)

2. Solid Snake (Metal Gear series)
15. CATS (Zero Wing)

South:
1. Mario Mario (Mario series)
16. Duke Nukem (Duke Nukem series)

8. Yoshi (Yoshi series)
9. Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden series)

5. Alucard Tepes (Castlevania series)
12. Mid-Boss (Disgaea)

4. Zero (Mega Man X/Zero series)
13. Ghaleon (Lunar series)

6. Sub-Zero (Mortal Kombat series)
11. Luca Blight (Suikoden II)

3. Magus Zeal (Chrono Trigger)
14. Max Payne (Max Payne series)

7. Knuckles the Echidna (Sonic series)
10. Pit (Kid Icarus)

2. Samus Aran (Metroid series)
15. Little Mac (Punch-Out!)

West:
1. Link (Legend of Zelda series)
16. Larry Laffer (Leisure Suit Larry series)

8. Auron (Final Fantasy X)
9. Jak (Jak and Daxter series)

5. Shadow the Hedgehog (Sonic Adventure/Battle)
12. Samanosuke Akechi (Onimusha series)

4. Aeris Gainsborough (Kingdom Hearts)
13. Heihachi (Tekken series)

6. Luigi Mario (Mario series)
11. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider series)

3. Bowser Koopa (Mario series)
14. Morrigan Aensland (Darkstalkers series)

7. Sam Fisher (Splinter Cell series)
10. Kefka Palazzo (Final Fantasy VI)

2. Mega Man (Mega Man series)
15. Felix (Golden Sun series)
---
Ulti pulled a Damage Split on my bracket. Go Guru Ulti!
Smart Ask! National Champion (2003) www.rpgdl.com

And don't mind me breaking one of my own rules with Yuna, it was the only way to fit her in the bracket. I suck.
---
Ulti pulled a Damage Split on my bracket. Go Guru Ulti!
Smart Ask! National Champion (2003) www.rpgdl.com

Hey, I was just wondering if anyone who got a prize in the Spring contest ever got contacted for their prize? or even what place the tiebreakers were at?
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To be complete, that would mean it would be the end, right? - Ryoma Echizen

5. Zelda (Legend of Zelda series)
12. Sarah Kerrigan (Starcraft)

I'd have fun with that one. >:)

I love the Kirby vs. Dante match though.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Dodongo Dislikes Smoke - Old Man

BUMP

I gathered some stats from Solar's websites. Some of the upsets last year were:
12 Ganondorf vs. 5 Tidus
13 Magus vs. 4 Sam Fisher
11 Aeris vs. 6 Sora
12 Kefka vs. 5 Pac-Man
10 Max Payne vs. 7 Gordon Freeman
10 Zelda vs. 7 Lara Croft
6 Squall Leonhart vs. 3 Luigi
11 Aeris vs. 3 Master Chief
6 Alucard vs. 3 Kirby
2 Sephiroth vs. 1 Mario
The 3 major FF7 characters brought 4 upsets. Obviously, FF7 was underrated at the time. However, Link won the 2002 contest. All of this is really getting quite unpredictable. People's attitudes change so often.

Does anyone think that the new Zelda will give Link a chance? Will Mario remain 1st seed?
---
Ñïñtèñdð²®
<><»»Jesus is cool.

Does anyone think that the new Zelda will give Link a chance? Will Mario remain 1st seed?

The new Zelda hype would probably give Link a slight boost if anything at all. And Mario will remain a #1 seed.
---
Nintendo® - We Make Games Worth Playing
Dodongo Dislikes Smoke - Old Man

The 3 major FF7 characters brought 4 upsets. Obviously, FF7 was underrated at the time. However, Link won the 2002 contest. All of this is really getting quite unpredictable. People's attitudes change so often.

I wouldn't exactly call these upsets. Had I done a BOP last year, Aeris would have smacked the other three in her 4-pack, and Sephiroth would probably have emerged as a slight favorite over Mario and Crono for the South title, as it was the board opinion.

Then again, on the Aeris thing, Master Chief had a helluva lot of brackets going for him outside the board, I'll give you that much.
---
"I'd like to see things from your point of view, but unfortunately I can't get my head that far up the rearend." -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Hey, I was just wondering if anyone who got a prize in the Spring contest ever got contacted for their prize? or even what place the tiebreakers were at?

Nope. Our wonderful leader cares so much about us that he is making us wait forever for him to perform a simple, ten minute task.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week. -smitelf

Eh, what the hell:

North

/(1)CATS
\(16)Cloud
/(8)Scorpion
\(9)Sub Zero
/(5)Zero
\(12)Ramza Beoulve
/(4)Bowser
\(13)Riku
/(6)Kirby
\(11)Crash Bandicoot
/(3)Zelda
\(14)Pikachu
/(7)Pac-Man
\(10)Wario
/(2)Sephiroth
\(15)Ness

East

/(1)Link
\(16)Laharl
/(8)Tommy Vercetti
\(9)Donkey Kong
/(5)Tidus
\(12)Auron
/(4)Ganondorf
\(13)Mewtwo
/(6)Yuna
\(11)Bomberman
/(3)Frog
\(14)Kerrigan
/(7)KOS-MOS
\(10)Jill Valentine
/(2)Magus
\(15)HK-47

South

/(1)Mega Man
\(16)Luca Blight
/(8)Miles 'Tails' Prower
\(9)Fox McCloud
/(5)Ryu
\(12)Ken Masters
/(4)Aeris
\(13)Geno
/(6)Yoshi
\(11)Sora
/(3)Sonic the Hedgehog
\(14)Nightmare
/(7)Master Chief
\(10)Dante
/(2)Samus
\(15)Ridley

West

/(1)Mario
\(16)Duke Nukem
/(8)Knuckles the Echidna
\(9)Shadow the Hedgehog
/(5)Alucard
\(12)Simon Belmont
/(4)Squall
\(13)Max Mayne
/(6)Luigi
\(11)Raiden
/(3)Solid Snake
\(14)Liquid Snake
/(7)Kefka
\(10)Lara Croft
/(2)Crono
\(15)Gordon Freeman

Out:
Aiai
Felix
Isaac
Sam Fisher
Ratchet
Conker
Tom Nook
Mr. Resetti
Raziel
Captain Olimar
Ryp Hazuki
Vyse
Kite

In:
Frog
Ridley
Geno
Luca Blight
Liquid Snake
HK-47
Sub Zero
Mewtwo
Kerrigan
Riku
Nightmare
Laharl
Simon Belmont

Note: I didn`t go solely by character strength with this bracket, rather I wanted to see interesting matches.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week. -smitelf

Three things I noticed just glancing over your bracket, Domadragoon.

1. Jak is seeded way too highly. I don't see any reason he'd perform better than someone like Ratchet.

2. Bomberman is overseeded as well. He had a very poor showing last summer.

3. Where's Tidus? You have Yuna in there, and he would own her in a poll if they were to face off.
---
Summer Contest Nominations: Squall Leonhart, Frog, Musashi, Diddy Kong, Sub-Zero, Serge, Viewtiful Joe, Kirby, Vyse, Vivi

Note: I didn`t go solely by character strength with this bracket, rather I wanted to see interesting matches.

Yes, it would be very interesting indeed to see a 16 seed win the whole thing. You either have a StarCraft hangover, or it was a typo having CATS as the 1 seed and Cloud as the 16.
---
Summer Contest Nominations: Squall Leonhart, Frog, Musashi, Diddy Kong, Sub-Zero, Serge, Viewtiful Joe, Kirby, Vyse, Vivi

Peeps of GameFAQ's! It is the offseason...and many of you have been writing me emails, sending me offlines, and posting on the board here, seeking new material! And I appreciate it immensely!!!

Well, in the tradition of this Spring's Contest and its satirical prose which brought me worldwide GameFAQ's fame, I now give you, without further adieu...

Steve Illumina Speaks

Indeed it is so, the legendary and ever humorous commentary spews forth again, to attempt to offer some funny and lighthearted yet well-honed levity, here on this the stats thread... the past, present and future bastion of proven intelligence on this overly fanboy dominated board.

Until the official noms are ready to be selected and I happily cast my ballots for those worthy characters I shall choose from all walks of gaming lore, I shall now mock the very process we all hold dear...and give you..

Steve's Top Ten Joke Nominations

Thats right kiddies :) I shall "nominate" worthy joke characters and "praise" their virtues...extoll their eccentricities...and poke fun at nerdy fanboys all the while. We proceed with...#4!

#10. The L Shaped Tetris Block
#9. The Right Pong Paddle
#8. Duck Hunt Dog
#7. Dan
#6. Gato
#5. Moogle
#4. Sand on Kefka's Boots

Games Appeared In: FFVI

Likely Seeding: Next to a bag of Potting Soil at Home Depot

Shot at Upset: To even think mere granules of sand could win... Wait! They were on Kefka's boots! Yep, they can win... this is GameFAQ's...

Comments: Fellow Elite Slowflake called this one and shocked the heck out of me by doing so yesterday on the Stats thread. I thought for sure no one would see the sand coming in my list. Kudos to ya bro!

But seriously, sad and unbelievable as it may be, this summer contest message board joke from last year will get write-in votes this year. Bet on it.

But why? Cause some fanboys can not even be serious about that which they love. Or they figure, well, after nominating Setzer, Mog, General Leo, The Imp that falls off the mountain when the world changes, etc, they can use their last nomination slot on some sand. Desert sand from the windswept sands of Figaro...whose presence was felt by the boots of the vile Kefka, who demanded his lackeys polish his shoes and cleanse them of its polluting corrosive ways.

To me, it is a stupid board fad right up there with ASCII art and "PWNd", but to some nerds, the sand is the funniest thing since "You spoony bard!"

Editor's Note: A few votes came in for Palmer's expunged flatulence, but not enough to take out the sands of evil!

So, then, Sand on Kefka's Boots...I nominate you for your uncanny ability to be....ummmm....uh....yellow sand?
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Okay, here's my psuedo-bracket for this summer. I took a much different approach than most of you. I did seed by strength...to an extent, and also by what I think MIGHT be the rankings for amounts of nominations. I also did some random placing, and added a few characters that I'm biased towards that COULD make it, but likely not. I also decided to make it fodder-free, for the most part, since I hate fodder.

North:
1 - Cloud Strife
16 - Felix
8 - Knuckles the Echidna
9 - Vincent Valentine
5 - Ganondorf
12 - Scorpion
4 - Alucard
13 - Jill Valentine
6 - Shadow the Hedgehog
11 - Bomberman
3 - Yuna
14 - Max Payne
7 - Yoshi
10 - Auron
2 - Samus Aran
15 - Fox McCloud

East:
1 - Sephiroth
16 - Luca Blight
8 - Kerrigan
9 - Kefka
5 - Vivi
12 - Crash Bandicoot
4 - Magus
13 - KOS-MOS
6 - Zelda
11 - Ramza Beoulve
3 - Squall Leonhart
14 - Strider Hiryu
7 - Master Chief
10 - Pikachu
2 - Crono
15 - Rayden

South:
1 - Mario
16 - CATS
8 - Donkey Kong
9 - Yoshimitsu
5 - Ryu
12 - Geno
4 - Kirby
13 - Terra
6 - Dante
11 - Chun-Li
3 - Sonic the Hedgehog
14 - Claire Redfield
7 - Gordon Freeman
10 - Miles "Tails" Prower
2 - Solid Snake
15 - Fei Fong Wong

West:
1 - Link
16 - Duke Nukem
8 - Lara Croft
9 - Tommy Vercetti
5 - Tidus
12 - Cecil Harvey
4 - Zero
13 - Morrigan Aensland
6 - Luigi
11 - Marth
3 - Bowser
14 - Mewtwo
7 - Pac-Man
10 - Frog
2 - Mega Man
15 - Viewtiful Joe

---
"Ah, a party! We haven't had one of those. It could be fun! So...what is a party?"
"Well, you drink punch and eat CAKE! ...I think."

Er, pseudo.

---
"Ah, a party! We haven't had one of those. It could be fun! So...what is a party?"
"Well, you drink punch and eat CAKE! ...I think."

7 - Gordon Freeman
10 - Miles "Tails" Prower

Bah. Why would you do that? I'd abstain.
---
UltimaterializerX is my god.

It's to give Tails a chance to win, off course.

---
"Ah, a party! We haven't had one of those. It could be fun! So...what is a party?"
"Well, you drink punch and eat CAKE! ...I think."

The seeding for CATS and Cloud is a joke.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week. -smitelf

To me, it is a stupid board fad right up there with ASCII art and "PWNd", but to some nerds, the sand is the funniest thing since "You spoony bard!"

I'm taking the blame on this one... I started that in a Max Payne vs. Bill Cosby topic.
---
I'm going to kick the first person to tell me that it's really spelled Arrith Dome in the balls. -Videogame Recaps on CT's Arris Dome

Slowflake...YOU started the sand??? No way!

Hey can u tell me something though: Who started CATS and how did it happen and all?
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

http://www.allyourbasearebelongtous.com/history/

When you`re done reading, click on 'All Your Base Flash Animation'.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week. -smitelf

The obvious: Toaplan massacred the translation 15 years ago.

As to how it became a fad... no idea.

And yes, you betta believe it, I started the sand. Shame people can't recognize Kefka's greatness, he should've been the one to beat Crono with 80%.
---
I'm going to kick the first person to tell me that it's really spelled Arrith Dome in the balls. -Videogame Recaps on CT's Arris Dome

Basically, it was word of mouth. All Your Base is the single funniest fad ever seen, and you know how news spreads. It was simply spammed all over internet message boards, then spread to everyone else through word of mouth. And once this fad appeared on one large medium, it was over.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week. -smitelf

Er, over as in it exploded into the public, and everyone found it hilarious.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week. -smitelf

I thank you both for telling me all that. :)

Cause as u both already know...no Top Ten Joke Nomination List is Complete without CATS! I just never knew the story behind it cause I was not here in 2002.

Ulti..u rule. Slow...u rule.
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Shame people can't recognize Kefka's greatness, he should've been the one to beat Crono with 80%.

Slow, u KNOW I agree with that. Remember how I defended Kefka last year against Crono. Not just cause I had Kefka in my bracket..but cause he really is better. I may never understand why peeps love Crono so much. My theory...its a fad, but hey, what do I know?

:)
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Ulti..that site is hilarious...Geesh...
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

OH MY GOD! I got it!

3. CATS
2. Gordon Freeman
1. Mass Carriers

Not sure on the ranks, but I'd think these are the only three left.
---
I'm going to kick the first person to tell me that it's really spelled Arrith Dome in the balls. -Videogame Recaps on CT's Arris Dome

OH MY GOD! I got it!

3. CATS
2. Gordon Freeman
1. Mass Carriers

Not sure on the ranks, but I'd think these are the only three left.

Nice job on the three left, the ranks u will have to wait and see. These 3 will be fun to make fun of though, no doubt. :)
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Peeps of GameFAQ's! It is the offseason...and many of you have been writing me emails, sending me offlines, and posting on the board here, seeking new material! And I appreciate it immensely!!!

Well, in the tradition of this Spring's Contest and its satirical prose which brought me worldwide GameFAQ's fame, I now give you, without further adieu...

Steve Illumina Speaks

Indeed it is so, the legendary and ever humorous commentary spews forth again, to attempt to offer some funny and lighthearted yet well-honed levity, here on this the stats thread... the past, present and future bastion of proven intelligence on this overly fanboy dominated board.

Until the official noms are ready to be selected and I happily cast my ballots for those worthy characters I shall choose from all walks of gaming lore, I shall now mock the very process we all hold dear...and give you..

Steve's Top Ten Joke Nominations

Thats right kiddies :) I shall "nominate" worthy joke characters and "praise" their virtues...extoll their eccentricities...and poke fun at nerdy fanboys all the while. We proceed with...#3!

#10. The L Shaped Tetris Block
#9. The Right Pong Paddle
#8. Duck Hunt Dog
#7. Dan
#6. Gato
#5. Moogle
#4. Sand on Kefka's Boots
#3. Gordon 'Gordy' Freeman

Games Appeared In: Half Life, Half Life 2 (whenever it feels like coming to store shelves)

Likely Seeding: He was a #7 last year...gulp! Ceej must have been drunk on cheap Riunite (wine) the night he seeds this bum so high.

Shot at Upset: Better than almost anyone on this list.

Comments: What would a top ten list of joke noms be without Gordy? An incomplete list! No way I am gonna let Mr. Freeman slide!

The star of Half Life, a PC phenomenon not seen since the rise of Quake, Mr. Freeman is loved by those who spend their life savings on the hottest rig. And I dont mean a Peterbilt!

Though loved by many more than Duke Nukem was in his prime 10 years ago, our buddy Gordy has become quite the tourney joke, losing horribly to Max Payne of all peeps last year, who was the biggest dud of the 2nd round last year! And worse than that...losing horribly to freakin' Tina Armstrong! If that is not jobbing, I dont know what is!

Gordy's 2 defeats at the hands of lesser characters have him in counseling with Duke Nukem at FFPSA, Fallen First Person Shooters Anonymous. Below follows a transcript of part of a session:

Dr. Quack: "How do you feel, Gordy?"

Gordy: "Terrible..I mean..Doc..I lost to a woman...and to some guy with a gun...I mean...

Duke (interrupting): Least u got a game coming out...look at me...sitting in development hell for 6 years now...

Gordy: "Whoa...that long Dude?"

Duke: Yah...Hail to the King baby! Not! They call it Forever...well thats the hell its taking!

Dr. Quack: "Share your feelings Duke..."

Duke: (starts crying) "Its so unfair ya know..I used to be the man...giving money to ho's, firing off 1 liners...Now look at me...I got no dinero...The Rock took my one liners...I am just a forgotten...waaah!

Gordy: (puts arm on Duke's shoulders) I feel your pain bro.

Editor's Note: If he gets in again...its only to job again and nothing more.

So, then, Gordon Freeman...I nominate you for your uncanny ability to be....a total pathetic waste of an entrant who will never taste the scent of victory!
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

North:
(1) Cloud
(16) Gordon Freeman
(8) KOS-MOS
(9) Knuckles
(5) Tidus
(12) Viewtiful Joe
(4) Aeris
(13) Crash
(3) Magus
(14) Jill Valentine
(6) Zelda
(11) Ryu Hayabusa
(7) Kefka
(10) Luigi
(2) Crono
(15) Lara Croft
East:
(1) Sephiroth
(16) Mass Carrier
(8) Yuna
(9) Max Payne
(5) Kirby
(12) Pikachu
(4) Ryu
(13) Bomberman
(3) Sonic
(14) Tails
(6) Master Chief
(11) Max Payne
(7) Shadow
(10) Ryo Hazuki
(2) Mario
(15) Duke Nukem
South:
(1) Link
(16) Sagat
(8) Fox McCloud
(9) Pac-Man
(5) Donkey Kong
(12) Captain Falcon
(4) Bowser
(13) Simon Belmont
(3) Squall
(14) Ness
(6) Ganondorf
(11) Jak
(7) Frog
(10) Ghaleon
(2) Snake
(15) CATS
West:
(1) Mega Man
(16) Parappa the Rapper
(8) Scorpion
(9) Yoshi
(5) Zero
(12) Wario
(4) Tommy Vercetti
(13) Geno
(3) Alucard
(14) Sarah Kerrigan
(6) Dante
(11) Sora
(7) Auron
(10) Sam Fisher
(2) Samus
(15) Ridley

This includes everyone I intend to nominate, joke nominations included. Have fun!
---
Jon Thomson - final score : 138/192

Er, why do we always have to have CATS and Gordon Freeman? I guess it's funny and all since they would make reliably incompetent 16 seeds but am I the only one getting tired of seeing the same two characters get raped?
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

They're as good as anyone else for fodder, and they're actually funny to watch, unless, say, Ryo Hazuki or Tom Nook.

And it's about time I update that chart with the new numbers we had this week.

. . . . . . PS2 . . . GCN . . . X-Box
10/00 . 17.71% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
12/00 . 18.07% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
01/01 . 22.78% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
02/01 . 28.47% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
03/01 . 33.71% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
07/01 . 42.25% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
09/01 . 44.70% . XX.XX% . XX.XX%
11/01 . 55.51% . 22.60% . 07.64%
01/02 . 62.61% . 36.21% . 13.56%
03/02 . 63.13% . 39.08% . 14.05%
06/02 . 64.57% . 45.13% . 19.97%
11/02 . 67.50% . 52.46% . 24.39%
12/02 . 70.54% . 57.01% . 28.16%
03/03 . 71.49% . 58.24% . 28.15%
05/03 . 71.79% . 60.11% . 29.12%
09/03 . 71.54% . 60.49% . 30.42%
12/03 . 72.33% . 62.38% . 32.33%
02/04 . 73.59% . 67.07% . 35.80%
07/04 . 74.25% . 69.50% . 36.86%

Gamecube continues its crazy climb, and X-Box is outpacing PS2 due to oversaturation.

It would be priceless if the Gamecube was to pass the PS2 before this generation ends...
---
I'm going to kick the first person to tell me that it's really spelled Arrith Dome in the balls. -Videogame Recaps on CT's Arris Dome

It would be priceless if the Gamecube was to pass the PS2 before this generation ends...

It will eventually face oversaturation as well. I doubt there will be a big gain between this year and next in ownership, though I suspect it would easily come within a few percentage points of the PS2.
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

I also would love to see the Cube be 1st in sales...it is amazing though how many PS2's have sold worldwide though...

---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

As for fodder...I agree with smitelf..I am sick of the same fodder. I am all for new fodder every year. My bracket I made had all new bums to beat up on, and some of my 10 sacred nominations I will put in when I am able to (Ceej..hello!!!) will be worthy fodder.

CATS and Freeman are old and stale and need to move on...

Same with bums like Bomberman, Duke Nukem, Mr. Shenmue Guy for that matter...
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

Alright, I've made a few crucial modifications to my SC2004 bracket...tell me what y'all think.

North Division:

1- Cloud Strife
16- Mass Carriers

8- Dante
9- Lara Croft

5- Alucard
12- Yuna

4- Squall
13- Ghaleon

6- Kirby
11- Jill Valentine

3- Zero
14- Tails

7- Gordon Freeman
10- CATS

2- Mega Man
15- Bomberman

East Division:

1- Crono
16- Adol Christin

8- Kerrigan
9- HK-47

5- Ryu (SF)
12- Ryu Hayabusa

4- Tidus
13- Conker

6- Luigi
11- Master Chief

3- Sonic
14- Ken Masters

7- Donkey Kong
10- Morrigan

2- Mario
15- Sam Fisher

South Division:

1- Link
16- Duke Nukem

8- Strider Hiryu
9- Scorpion

5- Shadow (SA2)
12- Felix

4- Zelda
13- Kefka

6- Frog
11- Wario

3- Magus
14- Fox McCloud

7- Auron
10- Pac-Man

2- Snake
15- Crash Bandicoot

West Division:

1- Sephiroth
16- Ryo Hazuki

8- Yoshi
9- KOS-MOS

5- Bowser
12- Viewtiful Joe

4- Aeris
13- Captain Falcon

6- Vercetti
11- Sora

3- Ganondorf
14- Eliwood

7- Knuckles
10- Mewtwo

2- Samus
15- Fawful

The only reason that Mario has a 2-seed is so I could set up Mario vs. Sonic and Mario vs. Crono in the same division with Sonic receiving a 3-seed. A couple other finishing touches, but nothing too major.
---
"Thank you, Mario. But our princess is in another castle."
-Toad in Super Mario Bros.

Kerrigan versus HK-47?!?!?

You're cruel...too cruel...but at least one of them would make it to the second round...that's good...
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

Er, why do we always have to have CATS and Gordon Freeman? I guess it's funny and all since they would make reliably incompetent 16 seeds but am I the only one getting tired of seeing the same two characters get raped?

I can understand not letting CATS in anymore, but Gordon Freeman is the main character of one of the biggest online multiplayer games in the world.

ulti... u rule

Saturating my already inflated ego isn`t usually a good idea, but I thank you anyway <3
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week. -smitelf

Bracket Ranking time

North:

(8) KOS-MOS
(9) Knuckles

Raise Knuckles to 6/7

(5) Tidus
(12) Viewtiful Joe

I'm not sure how many times I've said this, but Tidus deserves a 3, a 4 at worst

(7) Kefka
(10) Luigi

Lower Kefka to 11/12 Raise Luigi to 8/9 (or if you really want this match switch seeds)

East:

(3) Sonic
(14) Tails

Raise Tails to 11/12 (I know this will be a great match, but do you really want Sonic to kill Tails)

(6) Master Chief
(11) Max Payne

Didn't I see Max before?

(7) Shadow
(10) Ryo Hazuki

If it's the hedgehog raise it so a 5 if not then leave it

South:

(5) Donkey Kong
(12) Captain Falcon

Lower Donkey Kong to 7

(3) Squall
(14) Ness

Maybe trade Squall with Tidus

(6) Ganondorf
(11) Jak

Trade Ganondorf with Alucard

(7) Frog
(10) Ghaleon

Raise Frog to 5

West:

(8) Scorpion
(9) Yoshi

Raise Yoshi to 6

(4) Tommy Vercetti
(13) Geno

Lower Vercetti to 7/8

(3) Alucard
(14) Sarah Kerrigan

Trade Alucard with Ganondorf

---
LUE is a cancer, and if it can't be destroyed, it must be contained. - CjayC
congratulates Ulti, winner of the Guru Bracket Challenge!

North Division:

8- Dante
9- Lara Croft

Raise Dante to 6

3- Zero
14- Tails

Raise Tails to 11/12

7- Gordon Freeman
10- CATS

Lower Gordon to 13/14 and CATS to 15/16 I know you want this match, but it will be too boring and a better match could be used on this space

East Division:

8- Kerrigan
9- HK-47

Lower Kerrigan to 12/13/14

6- Luigi
11- Master Chief

Lower Luigi to 8 Raise Master Chief to 6/7

West Division:

8- Yoshi
9- KOS-MOS

Raise Yoshi to 6

---
LUE is a cancer, and if it can't be destroyed, it must be contained. - CjayC
congratulates Ulti, winner of the Guru Bracket Challenge!

I'm not sure how many times I've said this, but Tidus deserves a 3, a 4 at worst

I don`t know how many times I`ve said this, but you need to make your own bracket before critiquing other people. You can`t simply move someone. The character you move bumps someone else out of their spot, and they have to move, and then another character gets bumped out of their spot. It is a much more difficult task than it looks.
---
Married to smitelf on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week. -smitelf

Indeed. I WTFed like mad when I wound up giving Bomberman a 14. I mean, he's worth a little better than that, no?
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I'm going to kick the first person to tell me that it's really spelled Arrith Dome in the balls. -Videogame Recaps on CT's Arris Dome

I can understand not letting CATS in anymore, but Gordon Freeman is the main character of one of the biggest online multiplayer games in the world.

So?
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

8- Kerrigan
9- HK-47

Lower Kerrigan to 12/13/14

Why? She's slightly better than fodder, I think. Maybe she's a little high but the lowest I would go would be 11/12. If anyone should be lowered it would be HK-47 (though it pains me to admit it).
---
Married to UltimaterializerX on 5/21/04
Ulti pwned me so completely in the Sp2k4 contest that I won't be able to sit for a week.

(6) Master Chief
(11) Max Payne

Didn't I see Max before?

Yeah, my mistake :-)
---
Jon Thomson - final score : 138/192

Yeah, every character I plan on nominating for the contest is in my bracket. So sue me.

North Division
(1)Cloud
(16)Pikachu
(8)Yuna
(9)Jill Valentine
(5)Auron
(12)Sora
(4)Squall
(13)Raziel
(3)Ganondorf
(14)Isaac
(6)Shadow
(11)Sam Fisher
(7)Frog
(10)Fox McCloud
(2)Mega Man
(15)Ultros

East Division
(1)Link
(16)Ryo Hazuki
(8)Luigi
(9)Wario
(5)Zelda
(12)Lara Croft
(4)Aeris
(13)HK-47
(3)Sonic
(14)Kite
(6)Knuckles
(11)Vyse
(7)Tommy Vercetti
(10)Scorpion
(2) Solid Snake
(15)Conker

South Division
(1)Sephiroth
(16)CATS
(8)Master Chief
(9) Yoshi
(5)Alucard
(12)Ken
(4) Red XIII
(13)Raiden
(3)Vincent Valentine
(14)Felix
(6)Bowser
(11)Tails
(7)Ryu
(10)Donkey Kong
(2)Chrono
(15)Bomberman

West Division
(1)Mario
(16) Crash Bandicoot
(8)KOS-MOS
(9)Kerrigan
(5)Tidus
(12)Duke Nukem
(4)Zero
(13)Ness
(3)Magus
(14)Ghaleon
(6)Dante
(11)Ramza
(7)Kirby
(10)Kefka
(2)Samus
(15)Gordon Freeman

---
Sp2k4C-120 pts.
Vincent, Ultros, Auron, Frog, Ghaleon, Nanaki, Kerrigan for S2k4C!

wow, thats alota characters...
---
I'm PepsiPlunge's flunky!!!
If you say alas something stupid, you will get smacked with my ugli stick!

Still discussing brackets here?
---
Hard work may not kill you, but why take chances?
Aeowyn is my Goddess - Heroic Tails here

Contest Stats & Discussion - Part 22


duh!
---
I'm PepsiPlunge's flunky!!!
If you say alas something stupid, you will get smacked with my ugli stick!

Hijack attempt detected. Countermeasures activated!
---
I wanted to be a neo-deconstructivist but mom wouldn't let me.

Destroy the alasers (and no, alasers doesn't count)!
---
"I think major league baseball should have a salary cap... alas, how does a salary cap work?" -Granddaughter of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner

Great job Ulti...

it was really good that you kept up the whole time with updates and such

(:
---
Vote in my User Tag Tourny II, User OOT, alas & Capcom/Konami OOT
Plot? What plot? I'm Canadian, that makes me brutally simple. - HydraCores

I can't wait until SC2K4.

I won't be lazy when I make my bracket, alas, I will have a better chance of winning..I hope.
---
"Haha SMRPG wins because this is RPGFAQs." "If SMRPG wins then GameFAQs has no credibility." - Fanboys.

you block me tai, i block you
---
Vote in my User Tag Tourny II, User OOT, alas & Capcom/Konami OOT
Plot? What plot? I'm Canadian, that makes me brutally simple. - HydraCores

Thanks Sabin. I owe you one...
wait. You already owed me a few...
never mind.
---
"I think major league baseball should have a salary cap... wait, how does a salary cap work?" -Granddaughter of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner

Yeah, I like your seedings
---
A Lantern Always Shines

Hahaha bowser, bolding?
---
Calvin: Why are you still standing up? I shot you with a laser beam. Hobbes: You missed. Calvin: I'm two feet away! Hobbes: You're a terrible shot.

What a pathetic attempt.
---
DEFENCE, DEFENCE
"Alas, History is nothing but a lie agreed upon" - Napoleon Bonaparte.

Yes, indeed, young one. :-)


---
"Haha SMRPG wins because this is RPGFAQs." "If SMRPG wins then GameFAQs has no credibility." - Fanboys.

Glove save and a beauty!
---
*Trying out different sigs*
FinalBowser = The Official Topic Killer

"but am I the only one getting tired of seeing the same two characters get raped?"

The problem with this statement isn't the inherrent truth about it, it's the twist on it that can be taken that many people are fond of..

"but am I the only one getting tired of seeing the same two characters raping everyone else?"

If you make a legitimate case why some characters shouldn't return there will always be a counter argument of "well then, why not this too!"
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

The addition of Gordon Freeman in most brackets isn't just because he's a loveble loser. Gordon is the ultimate example of wasted potential. Gordon is the main character of one of the most popular games on the PC, and has great recognition among PC gamers. The console ports of Half-Life didn't do incredibly badly, I believe, so he could count on at least a slight draw from there as well. By all accounts, Gordon should do well in the average contest, possibly even making the Sweet Sixteen. But we see him lose time and again to supposedly "inferior" opposition: a semi-nameless wrestler from a fighting game (Tina is not the best draw from the DOA series) and a predominantly PC character in the same style as Gordon who had fewer sales than Freeman did on all platforms. In short, Gordon just can't live up to what's expected of him. (On a related note, run Gordon vs. Tina today and I'll put money on Freeman winning.)

CATS has a very rabid, very loyal fanbase. He's included in most fan-made brackets because we KNOW he's getting in. It'd be more likely for two-time SS contenders Aeris and Alucard getting the boot than seeing our Zero Wing mascot outside the 64. No matter how unlikely it is that he's going to win (I think even Little Mac could give CATS more than he could handle), CATS is here to stay.

This leads to a good question that could be asked among the contest faithful: What, to you, makes a good bracket? Is it the characters? The seeding? A specific matchup that does/doesn't happen?
---
Ulti pulled a Damage Split on my bracket. Go Guru Ulti!
Smart Ask! National Champion (2003) www.rpgdl.com

For me its all about the characters in it. Even if they are destined to lose, its cool if it is someone I like a lot or even a little bit.

I cant stand boring matches with jokes like CATS who I have no affinity for whatsoever or even peeps like Tommy who can win some matches, but again, he does nothing for me.

What I like is seeing peeps from games or series I love, like Kefka...a great example. Love him, love FFVI, but I also know he will have probs with most other characters in these tourneys. Yet, I still enjoy his presence.

So for me, by far, its the characters involved over the other factors.
---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

"It'd be more likely for two-time SS contenders Aeris and Alucard getting the boot than seeing our Zero Wing mascot outside the 64"

I hope you don't believe that... Between Ceej and both of those character's hardcore fans that's about impossible. I don't think a SS character will ever get dropped, and unless Ceej makes a 3-per rule that magically doesn't apply to Mario and Sonic there's nothing to take either of those characters out.

"What I like is seeing peeps from games or series I love, like Kefka"

But Steve... that's the thing, some people like to see GF and CATS. They have fans too, and as nice as it would be if it could all be about you, it won't happen.
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Know what I want to do? I want to try and make these brackets based by company. One with two misc. divisions, the other with Sega/Capcom/Konami regrouped. And for kicks, I want to try a bracket by era too. Coming back later with the results.
---
I'm going to kick the first person to tell me that it's really spelled Arrith Dome in the balls. -Videogame Recaps on CT's Arris Dome

Comming back with the results when?
---
I stand second only to the one and only Lord of Gurus, UltimaterializerX who bested me by no less than 11 points!

Yeah, I want to see just how boring a bracket by developer would be, and how weird a bracket by era would be.
---
Final SpC2k3 Score: 163 (It's all Starcraft's fault)
Nominate Frog for SC2k4!

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Peeps of GameFAQ's! It is the offseason...and many of you have been writing me emails, sending me offlines, and posting on the board here, seeking new material! And I appreciate it immensely!!!

Well, in the tradition of this Spring's Contest and its satirical prose which brought me worldwide GameFAQ's fame, I now give you, without further adieu...

Steve Illumina Speaks

Indeed it is so, the legendary and ever humorous commentary spews forth again, to attempt to offer some funny and lighthearted yet well-honed levity, here on this the stats thread... the past, present and future bastion of proven intelligence on this overly fanboy dominated board.

Until the official noms are ready to be selected and I happily cast my ballots for those worthy characters I shall choose from all walks of gaming lore, I shall now mock the very process we all hold dear...and give you..

Steve's Top Ten Joke Nominations

Thats right kiddies :) I shall "nominate" worthy joke characters and "praise" their virtues...extoll their eccentricities...and poke fun at nerdy fanboys all the while. We proceed with...#2!

#10. The L Shaped Tetris Block
#9. The Right Pong Paddle
#8. Duck Hunt Dog
#7. Dan
#6. Gato
#5. Moogle
#4. Sand on Kefka's Boots
#3. Gordon 'Gordy' Freeman
#2. Mass Carriers, et al.

Games Appeared In: StarCraft!

Likely Seeding: Could go as high as a 6 with the way 'the next big thing' can stir the common gamers and blind them into willing submission!

Shot at Upset: How many peeps in Korea??? Millions. Even if .01% votes...Nuff said.

Comments: The mother of all fads in 2004, the game that defied expectations brought with it the most intense board flame wars and infighting since Mario/Crono II. And it took goofy fanboyism to a whole new level...with the rise of the Mass Carriers.

Mass Carriers...a method of playing the game to win by building massive fleets of carriers to overwhelm the enemy. It became a synonym for the massive waves of votes that sailed in to help the unheralded #16 seed vanquish Halo, K Hearts and Wind Waker. Although the fleet sputtered when faced with a Melee...it still sailed proud, and became a mocking joke of the game, a new found fad, and now my #2 joke nomination.

It is not #2 just cause it is new and fresh, its cause Mass Carriers, along with Kerrigan, will gather lots and lots of nominations. And none of them really belong in a true greatest character tourney. I mean, if we are gonna put these in, we may as well also put in...

Mammoth Tank: Red Alert
Tesla Tank: Red Alert 2
Catapults: Age of Empires
Orcs: WarCraft 2

And the list goes on and on and on...

Still folks, the Carriers will sail on, with the fanboys manning the sails, as jokes which go too far too long earn undeserving spots in these tournaments. Only 1, the #1 joke, does this even better...

Editor's Note: Hums "Come Sail Away" by Styx...

So, then, Mass Carriers...I nominate you for your uncanny ability to be.... a passing fad...or a GameFaq's phenomenon...time will tell the tale.

---
SCK24: 164/192, User Tourney V: Rank 32!, Oracle #30
Steve Illumina: Proud to be a Pub Trivian Since 9/03!

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Here it is... the reason why brackets by company are trash. You may remember the Nintendo one from when the idea first came around... except I twisted it a little, because I forgot to put Fox in it (Ness was the one to get the boot).

First: Square, Nintendo, two misc.

SQUARE DIVISION

/ (1) Cloud Strife
\ (16) Kefka Palazzo
/ (8) Frog
\ (9) Auron
/ (5) Tidus
\ (12) Yuna
/ (4) Janus "Magus" Zeal
\ (13) Ramza Beoulve
/ (6) Aeris Gainsborough
\ (11) Aya Brea
/ (3) Crono
\ (14) Seifer Almasy
/ (7) Squall Leonhart
\ (10) Vivi
/ (2) Sephiroth
\ (15) Serge

MISC. DIVISION 1

/ (1) Solid Snake
\ (16) Gordon Freeman
/ (8) Liquid Snake
\ (9) Morrigan Aensland
/ (5) Alucard
\ (12) Ryu Hayabusa
/ (4) Dante Sparda
\ (13) Sarah Kerrigan
/ (6) Scorpion
\ (11) Ken Masters
/ (3) Shadow the Hedgehog
\ (14) Nightmare
/ (7) Master Chief
\ (10) Lara Croft
/ (2) Sonic the Hedgehog
\ (15) Crash Bandicoot

NINTENDO DIVISION

/ (1) Link
\ (16) Pikachu
/ (8) Luigi Mario
\ (9) Kirby
/ (5) Bowser
\ (12) Fox McCloud
/ (4) Ganondorf Dragmire
\ (13) Mewtwo
/ (6) Zelda
\ (11) Wario
/ (3) Samus Aran
\ (14) Geno
/ (7) Yoshi
\ (10) Donkey Kong
/ (2) Mario Mario
\ (15) Captain Falcon

MISC. DIVISION 2

/ (1) Megaman
\ (16) CATS
/ (8) Strider Hiryu
\ (9) Kasumi
/ (4) Knuckles the Echidna
\ (13) Duke Nukem
/ (5) Tommy Vercetti
\ (12) Bomberman
/ (6) Jill Valentine
\ (11) Miles "Tails" Prower
/ (3) Ryu (SF)
\ (14) Pac-Man
/ (7) Sam Fisher
\ (10) KOS-MOS
/ (2) Zero
\ (15) HK-47

Second: Square, Nintendo, Sega/Capcom/Konami, one misc.

The Nintendo and Square brackets remain the same, duh.


SCK DIVISION

/ (1) Megaman
\ (16) Vyse
/ (8) Knuckles the Echidna
\ (9) Alucard
/ (5) Shadow the Hedgehog
\ (12) Strider Hiryu
/ (4) Zero
\ (13) Morrigan Aensland
/ (6) Ryu (SF)
\ (11) Liquid Snake
/ (3) Sonic the Hedgehog
\ (14) Ken Masters
/ (7) Dante Sparda
\ (10) Jill Valentine
/ (2) Solid Snake
\ (15) Miles "Tails" Prower

MISC. DIVISION

/ (1) Tommy Vercetti
\ (16) CATS
/ (8) Bomberman
\ (9) Ryu Hayabusa
/ (5) Kasumi
\ (12) Crash Bandicoot
/ (4) Sam Fisher
\ (13) Max Payne
/ (6) Lara Croft
\ (11) Pac-Man
/ (3) Scorpion
\ (14) Gordon Freeman
/ (7) KOS-MOS
\ (10) Sarah Kerrigan
/ (2) Master Chief
\ (15) Diablo
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I'm going to kick the first person to tell me that it's really spelled Arrith Dome in the balls. -Videogame Recaps on CT's Arris Dome