System Change

I changed the blog system. Permanent address is now here.

我将日记系统更换了。如今永久地址是这里。

我將日記系統更換了。如今永久地址是這裏。

西奧多流浪記

多謝 i88gerbils 的英文翻譯。

Theodore's Travel Journal/Diary
09/26/05 (Mon.) ~ 10/04 (Tue.)

Theodore will travel to various cities around Europe to glorify the deeds of Soldiers & express the love of Lovers. However Theodore, who is bored with this style of poetry, wants to write poems about the Adventurous Tales of up & coming young seamen [voyagers/sea people/etc]!

Bar ... place to win fame [by showing?] your honor & future hopes/dreams?

From Today, he will lend an ear to those who he talks with as he travels back & forth across the seas.

看來西奧多是一個吟遊詩人。而且他好像對吟唱戀人的愛情和騎士的英勇感到厭煩了。所以他現在將到各個港口去收集海員們的新故事。

所以如果你要聽他的故事或轉述你的際遇，你必須首先，找到他？唯一的線索就是歐洲城市（港口）。所以大家必須有線人分布在各個港口，然後在發現西奧多後互通消息。

如果大家想聽西奧多的故事，我覺得應該不需要什麽先決條件吧。不過如果你想轉述你的故事，或許你必須達到某個聲望？或許你必須完成一些任務？然後你的回報或許是一些聲望。

每天每個服務器一個小時。而且我不覺得西奧多會在一個港口停留一天。所以當他走出酒館消失後你必須重新尋找他。還有我不覺得他必須服從旅遊到不同的港口是需要時間的定律。嗯...

西奥多流浪记

多谢 i88gerbils 的英文翻译。

Theodore's Travel Journal/Diary
09/26/05 (Mon.) ~ 10/04 (Tue.)

Theodore will travel to various cities around Europe to glorify the deeds of Soldiers & express the love of Lovers. However Theodore, who is bored with this style of poetry, wants to write poems about the Adventurous Tales of up & coming young seamen [voyagers/sea people/etc]!

Bar ... place to win fame [by showing?] your honor & future hopes/dreams?

From Today, he will lend an ear to those who he talks with as he travels back & forth across the seas.

看来西奥多是一个吟游诗人。而且他好像对吟唱恋人的爱情和骑士的英勇感到厌烦了。所以他现在将到各个港口去收集海员们的新故事。

所以如果你要听他的故事或转述你的际遇，你必须首先，找到他？唯一的线索就是欧洲城市（港口）。所以大家必须有线人分布在各个港口，然后在发现西奥多后互通消息。

如果大家想听西奥多的故事，我觉得应该不需要什么先决条件吧。不过如果你想转述你的故事，或许你必须达到某个声望？或许你必须完成一些任务？然后你的回报或许是一些声望。

每天每个服务器一个小时。而且我不觉得西奥多会在一个港口停留一天。所以当他走出酒馆消失后你必须重新寻找他。还有我不觉得他必须服从旅游到不同的港口是需要时间的定律。嗯...

The Adventure of Theodore

Thanks for i88gerbils' English translation.

Theodore's Travel Journal/Diary
09/26/05 (Mon.) ~ 10/04 (Tue.)

Theodore will travel to various cities around Europe to glorify the deeds of Soldiers & express the love of Lovers. However Theodore, who is bored with this style of poetry, wants to write poems about the Adventurous Tales of up & coming young seamen [voyagers/sea people/etc]!

Bar ... place to win fame [by showing?] your honor & future hopes/dreams?

From Today, he will lend an ear to those who he talks with as he travels back & forth across the seas.

From the look and sound of it, it seems that Theodore is a bard. And he seems to have grown tired of singing about the love of lovers and the deeds of the knights. So now he is going to visit ports to gather fresh stories from voyagers.

So if you want to listen to his stories or add your tales to his collection, you must first of all, find him? The only clue is Europe cities (ports). So people have to have contacts placed at various ports and spread the news when Theodore is spotted.

If people just want to listen to Theodore's tales, I think that would not need any requirements. But if you want to add your tales, maybe you need to have reached certain Fame points? Or maybe you need to do some quests? And maybe your reward would be some Fame points.

An hour per server per day. And I don't think Theodore will stay at one port for a day too. So you have to search for him again when he walks out of the bar and disappears. Somehow I don't think that he will be governed by the law where travelling between ports need time. Hmm...

新信長遊戲？

我回來了。離線幾天同樣也代表有比平常多的東西可以去看看。:)

我不確定這篇法文文章的真實性，不過它英文的翻譯說光榮會在 2006 年春天推出 PS2 版的 Nobunaga No Yabô Kakushin。

首先，我們需要知道 "Yabô Kakushin" 的日文文字到底是什麽。或許那些會日文的可以幫到忙。在我們確認了日文的文字後，我們就可以知道到底它是現有遊戲的平台轉移，還是是一個 PS2 的新遊戲。（從翻譯文看來，我猜測是前者。）

接下來我們需要知道它到底是日文版的還是英文版的。我猜想 "... on the Nipponese ground" 大概是指日文版的吧。還有，從文章看來，我覺得它是一個單人版本。

所以如果新聞是真的，而且它只是一個日文版現有遊戲的平台轉移，我們還不需要太擔心。最快的英文版本大概只會在 2007 推出，所以英文版的信長系列（或許也包括信長之野望 Online）也只會在那個時候推出。然而如果它是英文版的，那麽我們就需要努力祈禱了。

新信长游戏？

我回来了。离线几天同样也代表有比平常多的东西可以去看看。:)

我不确定这篇法文文章的真实性，不过它英文的翻译说光荣会在 2006 年春天推出 PS2 版的 Nobunaga No Yabô Kakushin。

首先，我们需要知道 "Yabô Kakushin" 的日文文字到底是什么。或许那些会日文的可以帮到忙。在我们确认了日文的文字后，我们就可以知道到底它是现有游戏的平台转移，还是是一个 PS2 的新游戏。（从翻译文看来，我猜测是前者。）

接下来我们需要知道它到底是日文版的还是英文版的。我猜想 "... on the Nipponese ground" 大概是指日文版的吧。还有，从文章看来，我觉得它是一个单人版本。

所以如果新闻是真的，而且它只是一个日文版现有游戏的平台转移，我们还不需要太担心。最快的英文版本大概只会在 2007 推出，所以英文版的信长系列（或许也包括信长之野望 Online）也只会在那个时候推出。然而如果它是英文版的，那么我们就需要努力祈祷了。

New Nobunaga Title?

I'm back. And being offline for a few days means that there are more stuff to check out than usual. :)

I'm not sure about the authenticity of this French article, but the English translation says that Koei is going to release Nobunaga No Yabô Kakushin for the PS2 during the spring of 2006.

First and foremost, we need to know what are actually the Japanese characters for "Yabô Kakushin". Maybe those who know Japanese would be able to help. After we have identified the Japanese characters, we would be able to know whether it is a platform migration for an existing title, or it is a new release for the PS2. (Reading the translation, I suspect it is the former.)

Next we need to know whether it will be a Japanese release or an English release. I guess that "... on the Nipponese ground" most probably refers to a Japanese release. And yes, from the tone of the article, I think that it will be a single-player release.

So if the news is true, and that it is only a platform migration for an existing title in the Japanese, we have nothing to worry, yet. The earliest English release would most probably only occur in the 2007, meaning that the debut for the English Nobunaga series (and maybe also the Nobunaga's Ambition Online) would only occur then. If however it is an English release, then we need to pray hard.

基准測試軟件的目的

過去我一直認爲基准測試軟件的唯一目的是讓你測試你的電腦是否適合執行那個遊戲。不過現在我改觀認爲它其實是一個吸引更多玩家的營銷工具。

那些會去玩的玩家無論有沒有基准測試軟件都會去玩。從普通的遊戲迷到死忠的遊戲迷來說，大多數人只要靠著最低配置的內容就能夠決定是否要升級他們的電腦了。

所以看起來基准測試軟件好像用處很少。當然除非是你要吸引更多玩家。是，是有 trailer 沒錯。不過雖然 trailer 的主要吸引力是畫面的精美度，但是很少有遊戲出版商釋放出高清晰度的 trailer。

或許你會說試玩會更適合，畢竟玩家可以自己試試看遊戲的可玩性。如果是單人遊戲的話，這個論點是沒錯，畢竟要包裝故事的前幾章會容易得多了。不過以線上遊戲來說，通常的手法是讓玩家免費試玩 n 天，畢竟大部分地方的自由度都很高。

在現時遊戲內容變成更複雜，需要更多硬盤空間的當兒，我覺得要一個只有一點點興趣的玩家去下載幾個 gigabyte 的安裝軟件來安裝看看自己是否想玩是有點困難的。不過如果只是一百 megabyte 左右的基准測試軟件，會有更多人願意試試看。

所以你用 trailer 來吸引最多人的注意力，然後那些有點興趣的可以去下載基准測試軟件來看看遊戲在他們的電腦上會如何。接下來如果他們還是有興趣的話，他們會下載完整的安裝軟件來試玩。最後玩家會決定是否願意付費或是離開。

當然第二個步驟是可有可無的。不過如果它能夠吸引更大的玩家族群，實行它是很邏輯性的決定吧？在這裏我們可以測試到遊戲公司/出版商的營銷能力有多成熟。

p/s 我在我爲期三天的出門回來後會繼續我的日記。

基准测试软件的目的

过去我一直认为基准测试软件的唯一目的是让你测试你的电脑是否适合执行那个游戏。不过现在我改观认为它其实是一个吸引更多玩家的营销工具。

那些会去玩的玩家无论有没有基准测试软件都会去玩。从普通的游戏迷到死忠的游戏迷来说，大多数人只要靠着最低配置的内容就能够决定是否要升级他们的电脑了。

所以看起来基准测试软件好像用处很少。当然除非是你要吸引更多玩家。是，是有 trailer 没错。不过虽然 trailer 的主要吸引力是画面的精美度，但是很少有游戏出版商释放出高清晰度的 trailer。

或许你会说试玩会更适合，毕竟玩家可以自己试试看游戏的可玩性。如果是单人游戏的话，这个论点是没错，毕竟要包装故事的前几章会容易得多了。不过以线上游戏来说，通常的手法是让玩家免费试玩 n 天，毕竟大部分地方的自由度都很高。

在现时游戏内容变成更复杂，需要更多硬盘空间的当儿，我觉得要一个只有一点点兴趣的玩家去下载几个 gigabyte 的安装软件来安装看看自己是否想玩是有点困难的。不过如果只是一百 megabyte 左右的基准测试软件，会有更多人愿意试试看。

所以你用 trailer 来吸引最多人的注意力，然后那些有点兴趣的可以去下载基准测试软件来看看游戏在他们的电脑上会如何。接下来如果他们还是有兴趣的话，他们会下载完整的安装软件来试玩。最后玩家会决定是否愿意付费或是离开。

当然第二个步骤是可有可无的。不过如果它能够吸引更大的玩家族群，实行它是很逻辑性的决定吧？在这里我们可以测试到游戏公司/出版商的营销能力有多成熟。

p/s 我在我为期三天的出门回来后会继续我的日记。

The Purpose of a Benchmark Program

I used to think that the only purpose of a benchmark program is to let you see whether your computer is fit to run the game or not. Now I feel that it is more of a marketing tool to lure more players.

Those who are going to play the game are definitely playing no matter whether there is a benchmark program release or not. From the average fans to the hardcore fans, most of them could make their computer upgrade decision solely based on the minimum specification list.

So there seems to be little purpose for a benchmark program. Unless, of course, if you want to attract more players. Yes, of course there is the use of trailers. But even though the main attraction of a trailer is the details of the graphics, seldom publishers release a trailer in high resolution.

Well, maybe you'd say a demo would be better where players could actually try out the game play themselves. This maybe quite true for single player game where it would be easier to package just the first few chapters of the story. But for online games, usually the tactic is to let the player tries free for n days as most of things are open-ended.

Now as the game content grows more complex and more hard disk space is needed, I feel that it is a bit difficult to ask a casually interested player to download a few gigabytes of installer and install them just to check out whether he wants to play the game. However if it is just a hundred magabytes of a benchmark program, more people would give it a try.

So you catch most people's attention with a trailer, next those who are casually interested could download the benchmark program to check out how the game would run on their computer. Then if they are still interested, people would download the full installer to try out the free trial. Finally people would decide whether they are willing to pay or just leave.

Sure, the second step is optional. But if it could attract a larger base of players, it would be logical to goes for it right? Here we could test the maturity of the marketing skills of a computer game company/publisher.

p/s I would continue posting after I return from my three-day trip.

航向未知海域

The Korea Times 于2005年7月28日所刊登的文章 Setting Sail Into Uncharted Waters（的最後一段）確實菅野よう子小姐的 remix 作品也被收錄在 GVO 裏。

這裏是 Kevin Murphy 對大航海時代 2 特別版的評論，此外也包括了一些試聽。我不知道開場曲，無盡的旅途，也收錄在 GVO 裏。原版聽起來很大膽的感覺。還蠻適合你第一次航海的心情。

最初在韓國網站播放的 remix 版本變得比較輕柔了，不再催促你馬上揚帆出發，我覺得對 GVO 裏的情形還蠻寫實的。

回到 the Korea Times，除了正式收費將計劃在這個秋天推出外，並沒有其他新資料。那麽公開測試將只會有一個月左右的期限罷了。

航向未知海域

The Korea Times 于2005年7月28日所刊登的文章 Setting Sail Into Uncharted Waters（的最后一段）确实菅野よう子小姐的 remix 作品也被收录在 GVO 里。

这里是 Kevin Murphy 对大航海时代 2 特别版的评论，此外也包括了一些试听。我不知道开场曲，无尽的旅途，也收录在 GVO 里。原版听起来很大胆的感觉。还蛮适合你第一次航海的心情。

最初在韩国网站播放的 remix 版本变得比较轻柔了，不再催促你马上扬帆出发，我觉得对 GVO 里的情形还蛮写实的。

回到 the Korea Times，除了正式收费将计划在这个秋天推出外，并没有其他新资料。那么公开测试将只会有一个月左右的期限罢了。

Setting Sail Into Uncharted Waters

To back up that Miss Yoko Kanno's work is remixed and used in the GVO, the article Setting Sail Into Uncharted Waters published in the Korea Times on 28 July 2005 indeed mentioned so (in the last paragraph).

Here is a review of the Daikoukaijidai 2 Special Edition by Kevin Murphy, with some sampling. Well, I've no idea that the opening song, Endless Journey, is also used in GVO. The original sounded bold. Quite suitable since it would be how you feel for your first voyage.

The remix version initially played at the Korean site has a softer touch, no longer urges you to immediately set your sail, which I guess is quite the truth for the GVO.

Going back to the Korea Times, nothing new except that the full service is scheduled to be lauched this fall. That means the open beta will only take around a month or so.

大航海時代 2 特別版

我對預測未來感到累了，所以就讓我們回到過去吧。

大航海時代 2 特別版是著名的大航海時代 2 的 OST。從光榮在 1994 年就爲大航海時代 2 推出 OST 的動作來看，它的成功是無法量計的。我已經忘記大航海時代 2 的音樂到底如何，不過它確實很配合遊戲。

日本的鏡像網站透露所有的演奏是由菅野よう子負責。而菅野よう子先生/小姐也在其他動畫的音樂工作上有份。

我聽說 GVO 的音樂還不錯。就不知道在不久的將來光榮是否會爲它推出 OST 了。

大航海时代 2 特别版

我对预测未来感到累了，所以就让我们回到过去吧。

大航海时代 2 特别版是著名的大航海时代 2 的 OST。从光荣在 1994 年就为大航海时代 2 推出 OST 的动作来看，它的成功是无法量计的。我已经忘记大航海时代 2 的音乐到底如何，不过它确实很配合游戏。

日本的镜像网站透露所有的演奏是由菅野よう子负责。而菅野よう子先生/小姐也在其他动画的音乐工作上有份。

我听说 GVO 的音乐还不错。就不知道在不久的将来光荣是否会为它推出 OST 了。