I just got Michelle's game!

[Sharon]

It looks great! Inside there is a free replica of Michelle's good luck dragon charm, in silver color, on a red cord :-)! You can email pictures from your programs. You can skate as yourself, "against" Michelle...AS IF! I don't think I can load this yet. I'm pretty sure I need to upgrade my computer. Better video and sound card!

[Rene]

I just got mine too Sharon! But I have to get ready for work. You can make a scrapbook too. Michelle's hair is in a bun. The box says: Skating Moves: opening moves connecting moves edge jumps toe jumps split jumps spins spirals combinations final poses 80 different dresses accessorize with glitter, straps, etc. 25 skirts 20 boots any hair color 4 skin colors 5 body types Skate in regional championships and work your way up to international comp. It looks like alot of fun!!!!!!

[skatingfan]

Where did you order the game from?

[Rene]

O.k. I just played it really quick. I ran the JUST SKATE and tried to practice the jumps. Poor Michelle, I made her fall on all but one jump! The mouse clicker thing( I am a computer idiot, warning)mine is a PIKACHU, it's a skate. But it is very difficult to manuver. It's like it has a delay or something. Weird. There is a bar and when a jump is coming up a triangle starts to move and you click it when it gets to the middle. You know when you miss because Michelle says"next time click when the triangle is in the middle" then she falls! It really looks like they've copied her skating pretty good. The skating looks choppier than I thought it would. Everything seems to take a long time, too. Like when you want to change the camera angle you don't know if it is going to change or if you didn't click right because it takes so long and it doesn't do anything to signal that it's responding(like a box around it or changing colors or something) It was really cute when you exit and Michelle says "ok, see you next time on the ice" I think it may take awhile for me to get better because I am so lame. Also, when you are installing it in the corner they show Michelle skating to ON MY OWN, and when the game first starts they show Michelle at the Goodwill Games. After a jump they (real Michelle and Cyber Michelle) sorta merge. I hope I can get this down a little better tonight.

[Rene]

I ordered it online. It's by Electroic Arts. I think it was Brian who had a link and I just used that. If it helps, in the booklet it says their website is www.ea.com

[Sprampt]

Rene, did you get a replica of Michelle's good luck charm too?

[Icare]

Rene, what is the setup of your computer, like the cpu speed in MHz, ram size in MB, and type of your CPU, like whether it is a pentium etc. Let us know please, that may tell us the performance of EA software on our computer. Thanks.

[Rene]

yes, I did get a replica of her good luck charm, it's on a red cord. I'm so sorry. I don't know anything about our computer. It is a Packard Bell. We bought it new in Dec.1998 and we have windows '98.

[Googoo]

That is sooooo cool that it comes with a replica of her necklace!! So when did you gals order the game? Since they had a press release about "EA has shipped the game" do you think it means now they will ship them sooner? Sorry if this makes no sense! ANYWAY still no in-store sightings folks??

[sw10025a]

If you're really bad at it, skate as Maria Butyrskaya or Julia Soldatova or Tonya Harding until you get better. We don't want any bad karma for Michelle! :-)

[sw10025a]

Michelle's got midterms this week, and we don't want her all black and blue, do we? :-)

[Sharon]

GooGoo, I ordered it about 3 weeks ago from eadirect.com (I posted the link in the demo thread). I suspect that you would get it pretty quick if you order now that it's released. I'm going to try loading it this weekend, hope it works with my system, but I'll skate as myself until I'm better...no bad karma for Michelle from me....

[Karin]

Make her do a 4axel/4toe competition!!!... Hey...is there a Kwan-spiral??? And the marks???...

[Rene]

I think mine goes slow because we have 32 ram and the rec. ram is 64. It works but it's a little slow. Yes it does have marks, but only one set. OMG, I made Michelle get 4.0's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was horrible. In the kiss'n'cry she touches her nose and pulls her ear. I tried to change the face and I came out with this monstrosity. It is soooooooo frightning! I had to get Mcihelle back because the faces are REALLY SCARY!!!!!!!!!! It's a little confusing, my son is trying to help me, without much luck! Maybe it will be easier when I get more ram. If anyone wants to know the min. and rec. configurations I will write them down for you. I'm off to attempt another practice. Oh yea, you can skate in Lyra, Rach, Taj and Salome costumes. I don't like alot of the music but I think you can somehow use your own. If you're good at computers you'd do alot better, I think.

[Rene]

I forgot about the spiral. I haven't designed a program yet, but interestingly enough the symbol to click on for spirals is the charlotte, without a pointed toe! Also, Michelle is holding a Teddy bear in kiss'n'cry.

[Rene]

OK I can make her jump now. It's really cool. The harder the jump(I'm talking about just skate only)the smaller the margin of error. I was just a tiny bit off on a 3/3 and she landed the first triple and 2 footed the next. Then I made it perfect in the middle on a triple and the audience clapped. They don't clap everytime, though. Sometimes if you're off she lands a little wobbly. I made the camera really close up, you could see Michelle's face. Now for my scores: 5.9's and 5.8's!!!!!!!! I took a picture for her scrapbook in the kiss'n'cry and you can e-mail it to anyone.I don't have 64 ram so I changed the level of detail from high to low and it really helped in the jumping. Sorry to post so much, but nobody else cares! Also, when you go into comp, if you don't make it on the podium at regionals you can't advance to the next level. Michelle's outfit was very dark burgandy with a sheer burgandy skirt and oh so delicate, tiny austrian crystals(they WERE Austrian crystals, I swear) I think I'm going to try to create a program, wish me luck!

[Googoo]

This sounds like so much fun! I ordered it today! I hope I get it soon!!!! So what kind of music do they have available?

[Rene]

This is SOOOOOOOOO FUN! Here's my program: opening pose 2 axel spread eagle 3 lutz (clapping) camel comb spin Charlotte Pose KWAN Spiral (yes, it called that) 3toe 3toe (clapping) stag jump into falling leaf 3 loop 3 flip (clapping) layback (perfect center ice) 3 lutz 2 toe end pose I got 5.8's and 5.9's !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't fit in the salcow. It's hard because you have to put the jumps only in certain places. Sometimes even "just skate" won't be available. It's funny because Michelle will come on and say "I don't think that will fit there". Then you're kinda stuck because you can only erase back one move and you have to actually add them just to see what they are, so you're stuck with whatever is available next(bad explaination). sw10025, I accidentally made a hideous monstrosity and I was stuck with it until my son came home. So to practice (I was getting 4.0's) I named it Maria. I even changed the costume to a white leotard and see through skirt(Otonal?) It was splatting but good!(Please don't get mad at me MB fans sw10025 told me to) Anyway the music is OK. There's about 12 different songs I think. Swan Lake composer(I won't attempt to spell) DEBUSSEY,DANCE,LATIN,SURIN'RACH1,2,3,&4(I think) AVE MARIA. I can't remember what else.

[Rene]

Also, you can use your own music

[Jenny]

Wow Rene -- the full game sounds sooooo much cooler than the demo (which is pretty cool itself!). You have way more element choices (I didn't have the "Kwan spiral" so I had to do an inside spiral followed by an outside spiral in order to emulate it somewhat), and also more music choices.... I don't have Rach at all (but I do have Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Debussy, something with an "L", Dance, Latin, Ave Maria, Surfin, and Ballad). I spent a good part of the evening playing with the demo, and now I'm really anxious to compete to see how I'm doing.....I still haven't seen the different rinks or the kiss & cry. I can't wait to get the full game so I can go for a world title, LOL! Glad you figured out those jumps by the way!

[Rene]

Jenny, if you want to see the kiss'n'cry I can e-mail it to you from Michelle's scrapbook. It's so cute when she touches her nose and tugs her ear, holding a teddy bear. Alright, I've had my quota for saying "cute" today!LOL! It's funny, but I feel intimidated to wear any of her famous outfits yet. I'm not worthy!!!!!

[Rene]

Congrats to cyber Michelle. She just landed a: 3/3 3/AXEL 3/Lutz 2/toe 3/Loop 3/flip 3/sal 3/Lutz There are only 8 judges and she got: 4/5.9's and 4 6.0's !!!!!!!

[Karin]

Very impressive!!!...

[GinnySmith]

This game sounds like a blast! Am I too old at 49 to get this? Should I purchase it and try to compete against Michelle? I have only 4 of my group lessons left and actually managed to maneuver a spin at last week's lesson. I need to work on my exit though-which at this point is falling down dizzy. But--my motto is that if I don't fall down I'm not trying hard enough. Based on this, I am working very hard!!! What do you think? Should I go for it? I'll compete as Maria because my style is much more like hers at this point. We both have a very close relationship with the ice!

[pkay]

I also got her new game, but I got it at my local computer software store. I was surprised that it was there already. I have played it for a few minutes and got mostly 5.7 and 5.8's. It is pretty fun trying to figure out a program and get in a variety of moves.

[Jackylutz]

I think every figure skating fans should buy this game because it is fun. I am going to buy it too. So Ginny, it is never too late for anything, and definitely never too late for some fun. Just imagine yourself skating as Michelle or against Michelle(good luck!) :) off topic, Ginny, what free style level are you on? I really want to take lessons too.... Go MK!!!!!

[Icare]

Since I am still wondering whether I should learn skating, and feeling a little bit intimidated by fear of falling and getting hurt(heard several horror stories of adult beginner skaters), Ginny, you have my respect! Just wondering, did you fall a lot when you first started the lesson? Were you totally new to skating? Did it hurt you badly? Any precaution? How were your adult classmates doing? When did you know you made it?

[Googoo]

No one's too old to play this cool-sounding game! Pkay-- was the store you bought it from a big chain like J and R or something?

[GinnySmith]

I will get this game. It is just too irresitable! Icare-The first time I fell on the ice, was last week. It is not as bad as I anticipated. I have a roller skating background and falling on the ice is not as bad as a roller rink floor or asphalt pavement. Unless you are doing really difficult moves like a triple whatever (ie Michelle and the 3flip) you can at least slide on the ice. The only thing is getting all of the shavings all over you. But they brush off easily. In my youth, I really banged up my knees on the roller rink floor--bumps, bruises and burns (the 3 Bs, I call them). So falling the first time on the ice was not nearly as bad as I anticipated this time. Of course, 30 years ago during my first ice attempt, I fell very hard on the same hip all night and that was painful! But my advice to you is to try and not be afraid. Just take it easy, one step at a time and you will be OK. It's too much fun to let it pass you by! I am having a great time, getting exercise and feeling good about at least trying. I have such a great respect for Michelle. Not only has she mastered everything so that she makes it look easy. When she takes a fall, like she did at Skate America and gets up and finishes the program with gusto, I am amazed. That fall on the 3 flip, had to hurt and take a lot out of her, but she really fought throught it and was amazing. What a skater!!!!!

[pkay]

Googoo, I got it from a store called Software Etc. I don't know if it is a large chain or not. It was at our local mall. This store has computer software, computer games, and games for Nintendo, and the play station. I hope this helps.

[Jenny]

Rene -- I'm probably going to get the game today (or later this week), so I'll be able to see the K&C myself. I've actually seen what it looks like from the electronic arts website, but I just haven't seen it in action! Thanks though! Is the scrapbook just stills, or movies?

[Rene]

just stills

[Icare]

for making me feel better about trying skating. Also thank you guys for letting me ask Ginny skating questions in this thread.

[Googoo]

Rene, actually they call the spiral Inside/outside spiral but the Y spin Kwan spin. I think they should have called the I/O spiral Kwan spiral! Your scores are so good! With some programs I get average scores (5.6's) but with this one program I got 5.9's and 5.8's! Woo hoo! The Salome costume you are talking about-- isn't that the greenish- blue one? Please does anyone know how to load different music?

[Cherie]

I just got my game too, but you'll never believe how. I got a call this morning from our local police dept. Apparently someone found a box on the side of the road addressed to me. And they turned it into the police station, who in turn called me and then delivered it to my house. The box was in terrible shape, ripped and completely opened. I was sure that the game would be damaged, but the game itself looks to be unharmed. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm sure it's O.K. It wasn't even my road it was found on. I was really surprised that it was turned in, and even more so that it wasn't damaged. I only wish I knew who found it, so I could thank them.

[Googoo]

Cherie--lol that's crazy! What the heck happened? Did it fall out of a plane?? Anyway enjoy the game!