
    .____________________________________________________________________.
    |.                                                                   |
    |.:.                           T H E                                 |
    |:::.       ______|_ _            ______                             :
   _______    __\_    |____  /\__. ___\_    \___|_   __  _______  _____/\___
  /     _/__ /   _   .|    \/    |/    /   //   |____  ___\_    \/    /    /
 //    |    /    |   ||.        ://   _____/.   _    \/    /   //    /   //
 \______    \_________||   \/    \________/||   |   //\________/\_____   /
  \  _______|         l____||____|         |________/  -rtx/art  \  ____/
   \/       `                              '                      \/     .
    .                 __ |_____   ______|_ _      ___/____               |
    |       _______ .____|    | __\_    |   ______\_    _/______ __      |
    |     _/     _/ |    |   .|/   _   .|___\_    \/    \/    _/___      |
    |    //      |__|    _   |/    |   ||.   /    /     \\_____    \     |
    |    \_________/|    |____\_________||   \____\______/\  ______/    .|
    |               `----'               l____|            \/         .::|
    |  Issue #5 (Advance)  -  July 2002       '                     .::.:|
    `--------------------------------------------------------------------'


  [- Released on August 3rd 2002 - Gameboy Charts Staff: Wayne Kerr & Jus -]

                   [- Featuring Special Guest Host Ennay -]                

                          [- And Guest Writer Cod -]                       


 INTRODUCTION
 ------------

 Is it that time again already? Shit.. just when I was recovering from last
 month's charts they strike again.

 The summer has officially arrived and its nowhere more evident than in the
 GBA scene. July was one of the slowest months we've seen in awhile, with 
 only one new title coming out in the US and the rest of the action taking
 place in Europe and Japan. Even the territory dupe groups seem to have 
 slowed down.

 Since Wayne is busy with some personal issues this month (again), our good
 friend Ennay from Console World fame will be filling in for him and taking
 the second editors chair this time around. Huge thanks go out to him for his
 selfless dedication to producing charts, even after he buckled under the
 pressure and quit doing his own. Even bigger thanks go out to Cod/MODE7 for
 providing the guest commentary this issue on such short notice, and coming
 through in a big way. Listen up, and take a lesson.
 
 You know the drill...

                                                                    - jus


 Wow, I thought I'd never be doing another one of these issues again, but

 it seems that the last minute bail out by WK has forced me to become a

 "special" for this month.  At first, I was going to refuse, but after some

 thought, I figure July is such a slow month that doing the commentary

 wouldn't be so bad.  Anyways, enough jibber-jabber, let the charts BEGIN!



                                                                  - ennay



 Well here we go, my first time writing for these charts, on a fairly
 slow month compared to the previous ones. The summer drought has now
 kicked in but there's still been some nice titles to keep us going
 while we tan ourselves in the sun and get drunk!
 
                                                                    - Cod


 .__________________________________________________________________________.
 |                                                                          |
 `--------------------------------------------------------------------------' 


 RULES & POINTS
 --------------

 The rules are simple. Territories are relative and unimportant. Distinctions
 in these charts are made by language. A Japanese game with all English text
 or an English select is considered English.


 +4 Points - MAJOR: Usually the best/most-anticipated game of the month.

 +3 Points - A world-first English game (never before released in English,
             or as a 100% PLAYABLE Foreign).

           - A world-first PLAYABLE Foreign (non-English) release. 

 +2 Points - An English FINAL of a previously PLAYABLE Foreign release.
             This rule is applied with discretion, depending on how playable
             the previous Foreign release was.

 +1 Points - A world-first UNPLAYABLE Foreign (non-English) release.

           - A trainer, crack, or useful gba/hardware related tool.

 +0 Points - TER.DUPE: Any subsequent version of a game that has already been
             released in English (final) is considered a dupe, regardless of
             any extra languages or which territory it is from.

           - BETA: A beta version of a game will get 0 points.

           - A late trainer with the same or less options is a DUPE trainer.

 -1 Point  - If you release a game/trainer/crack that doesn't work, -1 time!

           - DUPE: If you release a game that's identical to a previous 
             release, this is different from a territory dupe and the penalty
             is more severe.


 NOTES
 -----

 Overdumps are noted for posterity, however no points are deducted for over-
 dumping a game, as it doesn't affect the playability of a game, and is easily
 truncated with any number of tools. Similarly, "redumps" and "propers" of 
 overdumped games will not receive any points, or even a mention in these 
 charts.

 Releases done by individuals or "groups" of a single person are tallied up
 under the Independent section.

 The playability of a foreign game is based upon the experience of any 
 number of people who have actually played the game. Decisions are final, so
 don't bitch that your favorite super shogi pachinko slot gaiden game 
 deserves more points.


 .__________________________________________________________________________.
 |                                                                          |
 `--------------------------------------------------------------------------'


 - Blizzard

     ______   ____  _________ _
   _/     /__/_  /_ \\         \_
   \______     \  /  \______\   _/
     /         / /_ /\  _/     /___
   _//   /    / /_\   \/      /jer_/
  /__ _____ _//___ _ __//______ __/

 DATE    GAME/COMPANY                                  OGN/SIZE  PTS     INFO
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Jul 31  E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial - NewKidCo         EUR/32M     0 TER.DUPE
                                                       -------------
                                                       TOTAL:      0
                                                       -------------
 COMMENTS
 --------

 These respected PC/PDA guys take a stab at the GBA scene with the European
 version of ET, a game that has been on shelves in Europe since March. Don't
 quit your day job guys!
 
 - jus


 A territory dupe for a pile of shit game.  Blizzard should stick to their

 PC development, rather than releasing GBA roms.  <If any of you think I'm

 serious, then you are a moron>



 - ennay



 Blizzard coming with a release right on the last day of the month. A ter.dupe
 mind, so not really anything at all special, but who knows, maybe they are 
 just warming up or something. We will see!

 - Cod


 .__________________________________________________________________________.
 |                                                                          |
 `--------------------------------------------------------------------------'


 - Cezar

      ___/\____/\_________   /\   ________
      \__  ___/  __/\__  /__/  \__\  _   /poyZ
   __ _/  /  |  __/  /  / _/    \_  _/ _/_ __
  \\_\\ _____| _____/_____\__/\__/__\  \ //_//
   ----\/----|/----------------------\  /---- 
                                      \/
 DATE    GAME/COMPANY                                  OGN/SIZE  PTS     INFO
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Jul  2  The Pinball of the Dead - Sega Japan          JAP/64M     0 TER.DUPE

 Jul 22  Hikaru no Go 2 - Konami                       JAP/128M   +1

 Jul 25  Ghost Trap - Artoon / Eidos                   JAP/64M    +1
         Shaman King - King Records                    JAP/64M    +1
                                                       -------------
                                                       TOTAL:      3
                                                       -------------
 COMMENTS
 --------

 The usual japcrap from Cezar again, PBOTD was a nice game but most of us 
 already played it last month when Venom released the US version. As far as
 the other stuff goes, Ghost Trap is a cool looking Res Evil clone but the
 story-driven game mixed with the sheer amount of Jap text makes my head 
 spin (and unfortunately no US or Euro version has been announced). Same 
 goes for the other 2 games, minus the "cool looking res evil clone" part.
 
 - jus


 Lots of stuff that would never see the day of light on my flash card or

 even load up in an emulator. As usual, no comments regarding the games

 itself.



 - ennay



 A Japanese board game by Konami based on some card collecting craze that
 all the kids are into, was of no use to anyone, unless you are 10 years old 
 and fluent in Japanese. A ter.dupe and a shitty JAP card game where also
 played for the same amount of seconds it would take to cum inside Britney
 Spears. 
 But Ghost trap was nice. It IS like Resident Evil and I look forward to the
 English language version as this one looks promising.
 Overall CEZAR remain consistent. But consistent isn't nesacerly a good
 thing when it comes to unplayable JAPANESE shit!! 

 - Cod


 .__________________________________________________________________________.
 |                                                                          |
 `--------------------------------------------------------------------------'


 - Eurasia

  ._________./\______  __  ____/\ _____  __
  \__  ___/ | \\_ _  \/  \/  ___/_\__ | /  \
   /  __/   |   \ / _/    \_____ .|   |/    \
  //     \  '   / \  \_/\ \\_  | :|  _/  /\ \\
  \____  /_____/__|\_____\__/_____|__\  /____/
  <----\/-----------------------------\/------

 DATE    GAME/COMPANY                                  OGN/SIZE  PTS     INFO
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Jul 16  Disney All-Star Sports: Soccer - Konami       JAP/128M   +3 PLAYABLE

 Jul 17  Super Ghouls N' Ghosts - Capcom               JAP/32M    +4  G.O.T.M

 Jul 22  Bubble Bobble: Old & New - MediaKite / Taito  JAP/32M    +3 PLAYABLE

 Jul 24  Custom Robo GX - Nintendo / Noise             JAP/64M    +1

 Jul 31  Super Robot Taisen R - Banpresto              JAP/64M    +1
                                                       -------------
                                                       TOTAL:     12
                                                       -------------
 COMMENTS
 --------

 Eurasia was silent for the first half of the month, but turned things back
 on during the last couple weeks, bringing us a couple excellent SNES
 remakes in the form of Super Ghouls N' Ghosts and Bubble Bobble. There's
 no doubt in anyones mind that SGNG was the GOTM for July. It was a wicked
 rad game 10 years ago and it still holds up to this day. Bubble Bobble 
 really needs no introduction, if you don't know this game you need to 
 break out the KY and remove your head from your ass where you've had it
 for the last decade. My only gripe with this game is the remixed music in
 the "New" mode. Attention MediaKite: don't fuck with perfection!

 Disney All-Star Soccer is based on Konami's excellent Winning 11 GBA engine,
 with the addition of comical Disney characters and thematic elements. Soccer
 ain't really my thing, so not much else to say about this one except, what 
 happened to Disney All-Star American Football? I guess it will appear on the
 chinese web pages in a month or two.

 The other games Eurasia released towards the end of the month are very text-
 heavy and without a degree in otaku you're going to have a hard time figuring
 out wtf is going on, let alone actually playing them.

 Overall an OK month for Eurasia.
 
 - jus


 Super Ghouls N Ghosts definitely deserves to be the GOTM.  The game is an

 amazing port of the SNES version (oh the glory days!) with some special

 arranged features.  It's nice to see the game get released a few days

 before retail, but I personally feel this shitty scene doesn't deserve it.

 

 Bubble Bobble is another title that I've enjoyed, like SGNG, the game has

 the original & arranged mode with new levels, enemies and stuff.  Another

 great release from these guys.  Good job, and I always look forward to

 playing the major Japanese titles released by EUR.

 

 - ennay



 EURASIA again bringing us all the JAP majors. I have played EURASIA's
 releases more than any other groups this month. Super Ghouls N' Ghosts
 deffiently deserves G.O.T.M simply because it has been the most played
 game out of all this months releases. 
 Bubble Bobble also got played a lot.
 Disneys Soccer is nice. Especially the 3D intro at the begginging. Also,
 altough all the menus are JAP, it is not to hard to figure it out and is
 deffiently playable.
 Custom Robo GX reminded me of those button bashing Track and Field games.
 But this was simply due to the fact that I had to constantly hit the A 
 button to skip what seemed like an endless amount of JAP story text,
 before finally managing to get into the actual game. 
 But overall a very good month for EURASIA!!!

 - Cod


 .__________________________________________________________________________.
 |                                                                          |
 `--------------------------------------------------------------------------'


 - Independent

                               _______  -poyZ!
       __    ___\______________\   __/ __
      /_/\  _\   \_   _    /   _   \  /_/\
  .---\_\/-/______/___/___/_________\-\_\/---.
  `------------------/-----------------------'

 DATE    GAME/COMPANY                                  OGN/SIZE  PTS     INFO
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Jul  3  Beyblade: Ikuze! Gekitou! C.J.B!! - Broccoli  JAP/64M    +1

 Jul 14  Monster Gate - Konami                         JAP/64M    +1
                                                       -------------
                                                       TOTAL:      2
                                                       -------------
 COMMENTS
 --------

 Yawn. The usual week-old japcrap.
 
 - jus


 Two japanese games that I've never played and don't plan on checking out.

 Read my comments on Cezar if you want know my opinion.



 - ennay



 The usual crap that no one else wants/cares to release. Although saying 
 that, Monster Gate could be a nice Zelda clone, but the JAP version is
 totally unplayable.

 - Cod


 .__________________________________________________________________________.
 |                                                                          |
 `--------------------------------------------------------------------------'


 - Menace

     ___ __   ____ ____ ._______  ____   ____
    /   '  \_/__  \ _  \|  ____ \/ .  \_/__  \
  _/   \/   \ \___// \  \_ /  .  \_|--<_ \___/
  \____||___/______\__\____\__|___/____/_____\

 DATE    GAME/COMPANY                                  OGN/SIZE  PTS     INFO
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Jul 15  Kong: The Animated Series - BAM!              EUR/64M    +3
                                                       -------------
                                                       TOTAL:      3
                                                       -------------
 COMMENTS
 --------

 This once dominant US group has all but disappeared in recent times, and
 it seems the only one left in Menace that cares is a Euro supplier or two.

 The game itself, Kong, is an average platformer with nice looking
 graphics. I have to admit I only played it for a few minutes tho.
 
 - jus


 After pressing the A button (to abort the cut scenes) for about 100 times,

 I finally got into the game itself.  It is a fairly nice looking platformer

 where you get to control Kong.  Kong himself is one of the biggest sprites

 I've seen in a GBA game, but I didn't want to suffer through BAM's efforts.

 

 A nice release by Menace though.


 - ennay


 MNC has been quite latley but in July they brought us Kong nice and early. 
 A decent game which is worth checking out. 

 - Cod


 .__________________________________________________________________________.
 |                                                                          |
 `--------------------------------------------------------------------------'


 - Mode 7

  ._     - M O D E 7 -   ______       _________
  | /\__  ____________ __\    | _ ____\__     /
   /    \/   _/   _   \      .|___\_   \/   //
  //   \  /  \    /  //   |  |/   _____/____/ .
   ____|\/|___\______/\_______\_______/-rtx! _| 

 DATE    GAME/COMPANY                                  OGN/SIZE  PTS     INFO
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Jul  5  Pinball Challenge Deluxe - Ubi Soft           EUR/32M    +3

 Jul 15  Top Gun Firestorm Advance - Virgin / Titus    EUR/32M    +3
                                                       -------------
                                                       TOTAL:      6
                                                       -------------
 COMMENTS
 --------

 A slow month in the US means a slow month for Mode 7, who managed to score
 a couple games from Europe despite the drought in the States. Pinball
 Challenge Deluxe is a remake of the old pinball classics Pinball Dreams and
 Pinball Fantasies. The table designs are pretty basic compared to modern day
 pinballers but it does have a wide variety of tables and decent graphics. 

 Top Gun Firestorm Advance is a fresh mission-based isometric shooter,
 in the vein of such SNES classics as Desert Strike. The cut-scenes and menus
 look rushed and have a cheesey feeling to them, but the actual game engine, 
 graphics, and gameplay are all top notch. A fun game and a nice catch for
 Mode 7, thanks to their new UK supplier.
 
 - jus


 Slow month for Mode7, with 2 European titles.  Pinball Challenge Deluxe

 reminded me of the old Pinball Dream games on the Amiga (they're probably

 ported for all I know) and Top Gun Firestorm Advance is a pretty 3/4 view

 shooter.  

 

 This is also the first month where Mode7 did not release any USA title.



 - ennay



 Mode 7 only managed 2 releases in July but seen as there was only one
 USA title last month (and with USA titles being what M7 specialise in)
 they had to rely on picking up the EUR releases instead.
 Both titles are pretty good too. Top Gun is basicly Desert Strike in a
 plane, but it is very good fun.
 Pinball Challange is also very nice. Lots of differant tables and good
 visuals.
 Overall Mode 7 continued their reputation of releasing quality games to
 the scene, even if it was only 2 titles. 

 - Cod


 .__________________________________________________________________________.
 |                                                                          |
 `--------------------------------------------------------------------------'


 - Patience


 DATE    GAME/COMPANY                                  OGN/SIZE  PTS     INFO
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Jul  5  Chessmaster - Ubi Soft                        FRE/32M     0 TER.DUPE
                                                       -------------
                                                       TOTAL:      0
                                                       -------------
 COMMENTS
 --------

 Look straight ahead and walk on by.
 
 - jus


 Useless dupe, unless you're a rom collector.  And if you are, then I guess

 this stuff is as valuable as gold.



 - ennay


 Well, what can I say. It's Chessmaster in French. What a load of bollox!!
 Patience has only managed 1 usless ter.dupe in July as opposed to their
 usual standerd of 10 usless ter dupes and proberlly 1 firstie.
 It just shows what a quite month it has been.

 - Cod


 .__________________________________________________________________________.
 |                                                                          |
 `--------------------------------------------------------------------------'


 - Mugs


 DATE    GAME/COMPANY                                  OGN/SIZE  PTS     INFO
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Jul 28  Pinball Challenge Deluxe +1 Trainer - UbiSoft EUR/IPS    +1
                                                       -------------
                                                       TOTAL:      1
                                                       -------------
 COMMENTS
 --------

 I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that MUGS stands for more useless
 gratuitous shit. 

 - jus


 A trainer that I did not bother applying.  I thought +1 trainers were banned

 in the scene.  Guess not.



 - ennay



 I honestly don't know what to say. It is a +1 trainer. Err...well done :/

 - Cod


 .__________________________________________________________________________.
 |                                                                          |
 `--------------------------------------------------------------------------'


 - Quartex

     ___  ___  ________________________:___
    / _ \/ | \/ _ \  _  \_.  ._/ __ \  |  /
   /  |_ \ |  \ |  \_/ _/ |  |/  \__/     \
   \___ \/____/ |__/\  \RD|  |\________|___)
  <----\__/-----'    \__) `--:---------:----->

 DATE    GAME/COMPANY                                  OGN/SIZE  PTS     INFO
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Jul 17  Kong: The Animated Series +6 Trainer - BAM!   EUR/IPS    +1
         Top Gun Firestorm Advance +5 Trainer - Virgin EUR/IPS    +1

 Jul 24  Buster's Bad Dream +3 Trainer - Treasure      EUR/IPS    +1
                                                       -------------
                                                       TOTAL:      3
                                                       -------------
 COMMENTS
 --------

 Quartex's quality, speed, and more importantly consistency have really 
 improved since their early days in the GBA scene. Gone are the days of 
 broken trainers. Quartex are now a competitive force in the trainer 
 department. I personally enjoyed the quick trainer for Buster's Bad Dream,
 a game that gets damn near impossible in the later levels without one.

 - jus


 Three trainers that I did not bother to patch.  Nice work anyways...



 - ennay


 Here we go. THIS is what making trainers is about. QUARTEX once again back
 with some great trainers for some great games. Very good work.

 - Cod


 .__________________________________________________________________________.
 |                                                                          |
 `--------------------------------------------------------------------------'


 - Venom
  
       ___________ ____  ______________ _____.
  .____/    /  _/__|_  \/     /   \    \/    |
  |   /    /   _/   /   \    /  \  \  \      |
  |_______/________/___\____/_______\__\/    ;
  <----------------------- / --------mAZ!____|

 DATE    GAME/COMPANY                                  OGN/SIZE  PTS     INFO
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Jul 13  Stuart Little 2 - Activision                  USA/64M    +3

 Jul 19  Super Ghouls N' Ghosts +7 Trainer - Capcom    JAP/IPS    +1

 Jul 20  Final Fire Pro Wrestling - Spike              JAP/64M    -1  BADDUMP
         Final Fire Pro Wrestling REPACK - Spike       JAP/128M   +3 PLAYABLE

 Jul 22  Bubble Bobble: Old & New +4 Trainer - Taito   JAP/IPS    +1

 Jul 23  Buster's Bad Dream - Conspiracy / Treasure    EUR/32M    +3
         Moorhen 3 Chicken Chase - Ubi Soft            EUR/32M    +3

 Jul 25  Antz Extreme Racing - Empire / LSP            EUR/32M    +3

 Jul 26  Antz Extreme Racing +4 Trainer - Empire / LSP EUR/IPS    +1
                                                       -------------
                                                       TOTAL:     17
                                                       -------------
 COMMENTS
 --------

 Venom put on a killer performance this month with a wide assortment of 
 releases including trainers, Euro games, Jap games, and the one and only
 game published in the US this month, Stuart Little 2. They even managed
 to bring out a playable Jap major, which is usually the exclusive domain of
 Eurasia. Fire Pro was originally dumped at 64Mbit, however the game was 
 actually 128Mbit (66Mbits) and a redump was put out asap. 

 Buster's Bad Dream is a fresh side scrolling beat 'em up by Treasure, and
 like most of their games it's quirky but fun. Antz Racing is a cool kart 
 style racer with a slick interface and nice graphics. It actually adds some
 new elements to the genre as well, instead of completely ripping off Mario
 Kart like most of these games do.

 Leave it to the germans to come up with a game as sadistic and twisted
 as Moorhen, where the only point of the game is to blow up poor little 
 chickens. You know they say violence towards animals leads to violence
 towards people, and it's no coincidence the Moorhen series is a major hit
 in Germany. I bet hitler shot chickens at various scenic background 
 locations in his spare time too. The game itself bored the hell out of me
 after about 30 seconds.

 Throw in a few quality trainers and you got the recipe for the #1 spot this
 month.

 - jus


 A decent month for Venom.  They are the only group to consistently release

 both games and trainers.  Stuart Little 2 was the only USA title released

 in July.

 

 I was a bit suprised to see Venom releasing Fire Pro Wrestling. I still

 have my memories of jus bitching to me about Eurasia's Japanese games

 getting full points in Console World GBA (Flame of Recca & Hyper Sports

 2K2 come to mind) which had as much Japanese in it as Fire Pro 2.  Jap 

 menus aside, the game itself is pretty decent and playable. 


 Anyways, lets hope their Japanese supplier can put Eurasia on their toes.



 - ennay



 [Note to ennay: its not the amount of Jap text in a game that makes it
 playable or not, but whether the understanding of what the text is trying
 to convey to the player is intrinsic to the game or not. Get it?]
 
 - editor


 VENOM have had an EXCELLENT month in July. They released good titles,
 produced some nice trainers (especially for Ghouls and Ghosts cos it seems
 I have got worse at games in the last 10 years as I have been struggling 
 on the second level doh!!) and VENOM even managed a nice JAP game, FINAL
 FIRE PRO WRESLTING, the sequal to the first one on the GBA.
 Also the only USA title, Stuart Little 2, was snapped up completing an
 extremely dominant month for VENOM.

 - Cod


 .__________________________________________________________________________.
 |                                                                          |
 `--------------------------------------------------------------------------'



    .____________________________________________________________________.
    |.                                                                   |
    |::.     JULY     __ |_____   ______|_ _      ___/____               |
    | .     _______ .____|    | __\_    |   ______\_    _/______ __      |
    |     _/     _/ |    |   .|/   _   .|___\_    \/    \/    _/___      |
    |    //      |__|    _   |/    |   ||.   /    /     \\_____    \     |
    |    \_________/|    |____\_________||   \____\______/\  ______/     |
    |               `----'               l____|            \/            |
    |                                                                    |
    |    Position                Group Name              Total Points    |
    |    --------                ----------              ------------    |
    |    1ST                     Venom                        17         |
    |                                                                    |
    |    2ND                     Eurasia                      12         |
    |                                                                    |
    |    3RD                     Mode 7                        6         |
    |                                                                    |
    |    4TH                     Cezar                         3         |
    |    4TH                     Menace                        3         |
    |    4TH                     Quartex                       3         |
    |                                                                    |
    |    7TH                     Independent                   2         |
    |                                                                    |
    |    8TH                     Mugs                          1         |
    |                                                                    |
    |    9TH                     Blizzard                      0         |
    |    9TH                     Patience                      0        .|
    |                                                                  ..|
    |                                                                .:::|
    `--------------------------------------------------------------------'

    - Venom takes the #1 spot again for the first time since March.

    - Quartex and Venom continue to be the only groups consistently making
      trainers. 

    - Mode 7 falls to 3rd place for the first time ever in these charts.




    .____________________________________________________________________.
    |.                                                                   |
    |::.   ALL-TIME   __ |_____   ______|_ _      ___/____               |
    | .     _______ .____|    | __\_    |   ______\_    _/______ __      |
    |     _/     _/ |    |   .|/   _   .|___\_    \/    \/    _/___      |
    |    //      |__|    _   |/    |   ||.   /    /     \\_____    \     |
    |    \_________/|    |____\_________||   \____\______/\  ______/     |
    |               `----'               l____|            \/            |
    |                                           Last    This    Total    |
    |    Position        Group Name            Total + Month = Points    |
    |    --------        ----------            ----- - ----- - ------    |
    |    1ST             Mode 7                 122       6      128     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    2ND             Venom                   84      17      101     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    3RD             Eurasia                 45      12       57     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    4TH             Rapid Fire              21       -       21     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    5TH             Independent             15       2       17     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    6TH             Quartex                 13       3       16     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    7TH             Menace                  12       3       15     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    8TH             Lightforce              12       -       12     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    9TH             Cezar                    8       3       11     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    10TH            Hyperion                 6       -        6     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    11TH            Patience                 5       0        5     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    12TH            Paradox                  4       -        4     |
    |    12TH            The Corporation          4       -        4     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    14TH            97                       3       -        3     |
    |    14TH            Rocket                   3       -        3     |
    |    14TH            Paracox                  3       -        3     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    17TH            Cream                    2       -        2     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    18TH            Mugs                     -       1        1     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    19TH            Koma                     0       -        0     |
    |    19TH            Evasion                  0       -        0     |
    |    19TH            Blizzard                 -       0        0     |
    |    19TH            Oldskool                 0       -        0     |
    |    19TH            Drastic & Lost           0       -        0     |
    |                                                                    |
    |    24TH            Q                       -1       -       -1    .|
    |                                                                  ..|
    |                                                                .:::|
    `--------------------------------------------------------------------'

    - Separation between the top 2 and the rest continues to widen. The 
      top 2 together have more points than every other group combined.



 SUMMARY
 -------

 The July issue of the Gameboy charts has finally come to an end...
 With the lack of any action in the US (besides Stuart Little...), the
 most significant games this month were the Jap majors, including Super
 Ghouls N' Ghosts, Bubble Bobble Old & New, and Final Fire Pro Wrestling.
 It's nice to see that a group besides Eurasia can take a Jap major when 
 they want to.

 Venom and Mode 7 went head to head on the Euro games this month, with 
 Menace throwing in an early Euro title just to show they still can. It's
 kinda funny to see 3 primarily US-based groups are the only ones able to
 score legit Euro titles. Surprisingly, most of the euro games were above
 average titles, with the highlights for me being Buster's Bad Dream and
 Pinball Challenge Deluxe. In fact the only real stinker was Moorhen.

 As usual, Quartex and Venom are the only groups consistently putting out
 trainers. It's nice to see 2 groups competing in this area and in the end
 everyone benefits from it. Be sure to check out all the sweet new menu 
 intros by both groups.

 This month also marked the release of USB linkers and 512Mbit carts, known
 as Visoly's "xtreme" line up. After much hemming and hawing and delaying
 on their part, the goods have finally arrived. From what I've heard Visoly
 has changed hardware manufacturers, and its somewhat evident in the design.
 
 The USB linker itself is a lot more compact, and the USB cable its a lot 
 less hassle to deal with than a parallel cable and an ac adapter. I also
 find my 128 XT cart flashes a bit faster than my old Turbo cart. The 
 software is  major improvement as well over buggy old FAW software. I'll 
 admit I still prefer FL.exe tho, and I hope Jeff adds USB support soon. 

 I wanna express my thanks again to Ennay for picking up the slack, and
 especially Cod for helping out in a time of need this month. Greets 
 go out to everyone in Venom...

 See you in the next issue! (maybe)

                                                                   - jus


 And we finally conclude after 30mins of me typing up my comments.  It was

 quite refreshing doing these comments after being idle for so long.  No,

 this doesn't mean I'll be taking a full time position here.  I would of

 kept Console World going if I wanted to do that.  

 

 Special thanks and a good luck to jus as I can imagine how tired he must

 be after doing the charts.

 

 I would like to send my respects to all my friends Kalisto & Mode7.  I

 really doubt you'll be reading this stuff but who knows.  Also, an extra

 special HELLO to Cod who has been doing guest commentary this month. :)

 

                                                                  - ennay



 Well July is over and as previouley mentioned, it has not been a major
 month for the GBA scene but we still saw some excellent titles. Also
 there has been quite a few 128mbit titles than usual. Maybe a 512mbit
 card will be a worthy upgrade by Xmas time.
 Thanks to JUS for letting me contribute to the charts this month. Also
 shoutouts to ENNAY and the family. Personal greets to Jimbo, AZ and ib!
 WORD!!!!
 
                                                                   - Cod


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