I'll catch some backchat for this but in the case of GTA 5 Rockstar got the balance right. Quality single player experience which had replay value. Lost count of the amount of times I replayed it. Then an online they could tap into and make all of that cash the others were milking.
As long as they don't dilute the single player side of GTA 6 or worse integrate the two. I'd be happy with that.
Always going to be divisive. I think there is a habit to review this as a "game" whereas it's more just an interactive experience. Probably why it's also free.
Not tried it yet but I'll probably still give it a bash.
Looking forward to Rollerdrome. Didn't pick it up on Game Pass as I prefer Playstation Pads for anything with skating/blading involved so might give this a crack now.
@Sakai it will increase competition but it may also accelerate industry consolidation which ultimately is bad for the consumer.
No one knows which way it will go until the deal goes through so its fear of the unknown at this point but if it does, it will hurt the consumers you support.
@HonestHick Agree. It was always going to go through and despite any posturing from Sony they have ultimately done what is best for business anyway. Whole load of drama for nothing.
Regardless of what happens next any consolidation worries aside. I doubt either the FTC or CMA will get involved anymore now so any other deals on this scale will probably get far less scrutiny.
Sonys investment in live service is the equivalent of someone putting £100 on an acca on a football betting site. Most of them wont pay off but if one pays off it will pay -big-
@CutchuSlow I get your point and I dont disagree on Sonys tactics. But that last bit. Trillion dollar company trying to keep themselves alive in a market? Nah. They are just trying to buy competitive advantage same as Sony, but on a bigger scale.
@Tharsman agree. The hoo har with this one seems to be around something Phil said about not taking games away from PS.
Dont know the ins and outs but Id hazard a guess development was in pre production when the acquisition went through so a contract amendment at that stage is perfectly fine.
Should he have made a broad statement like that and not think it wouldnt come back to bite him? Nope. But how many times has Jim Ryan done the exact same, all as bad as each other.
@Tharsman its a little bit different than Spiderman. Sony bought the licensing rights to the franchise for film and gaming rather than just to make a singular game exclusive.
If it turns out MS has done the same with the Indy license you are right its hypocrisy to complain about one over other.
Outside of that I am not sure it can be compared though? Maybe Im wrong. I am in the camp of I dont see the issue anyway it happened with Redfall was bound to here too.
@Triumph741 just games with a small budget and not special? I recommend giving Indie Game the Movie a watch the amount of effort those people go into just to get a game out there is unreal and some indie games are absolute classics.
I dont disagree with Rockstar games pushing the envelope at all, they do. But you cant discount all linear experiences as being dinosaurs. They offer something different and there are some cracking linear games out there.
As for boycotting Ubi and Guirella for being lazy. I dont really play Ubi games so cant comment. As for Guirella Horizon is their only open world franchise so cant really say they copy and paste the same formula into all of their games. Their releases prior were mainly FPS.
@Triumph741 none of the games in my earlier post were made by Sony studios so a bit off base making that comparison.
They were all made by indies. Indie devs keep the industry fresh. Provide something new. Because they are indies a lot of the games due to dev size are linear experiences, doesnt make them dinosaurs.
You seem to be intent on just plugging Starfield into every comment so I am probably wasting time here, but linear and open world provide very different experiences, they cant be compared directly.
@Triumph741 Great games just need to be fun to play. What defines that is down to the individual gamer. Big budget doesnt always = a good game.
Way you are talking its like you have access to some Starfield review code already. Lets see come September, I am sure it will be a great game but even if it is, it is not the only one pushing the medium forward.
If open world games were the only games pushing it on the industry is in a sad state.
@Triumph741 I still remember Project Ego on Xbox "anything you see in the distance you can walk to it" turned out to be Fable and while a great game in its own right, was a classic example of being far from the vision the dev talked it up to be.
Its certain from footage so far Starfield is vast, it is ambitious but without it being out and played, driving the medium forward is a bit premature, remember how long it has been in development for. Almost a case example of the point of the article.
Ubi games are bad examples but I would argue games like lets say, Journey or Pentiment, or Limbo, or Ori, do as much to "drive the medium forward" as any AAA game out there with a fraction of the development time.
I think its pretty clear they are permanently going down the road of (with exception of Spiderman) saving any detailed look at first party games for State of Plays. Which is why they perhaps were not shown much here. Announcing them here with CGI trailers imo would have been a bad idea.
Geoff Keighley has probably secured a couple for Summer Games Fest but outside of that id expect SoPs.
This one was mainly to showcase indies, third parties and the upcoming GaaS titles.
Still convinced a new Syphon Filter on the cards after all the classic releases. But will be good either way to see what all the first parties cooking up.
I get the worry but I think it is too early to have it.
I dont think it is the lack of software or the lack of marketing that is causing the issue. Its the price. And that is the risk with a high end product.
Eventually manufacturing costs catch up and that price comes down. By that time there will be a lot more content and it may hit its stride.
Like most 3d sonics going to be a bit of a marmite type of game. But i preordered and enjoying it so far. On the level of Generations? Not quite but one of the better games in recent years.
On one hand, I can understand these remasters targeting those new to the Playstation Ecosystem that have not played the original games.
But on the other, it is just the price. Even targeting those players I cannot understand or see how they could justify the £70 price tag on Last of Us Part I so if this goes the same way it paints a very bad picture.
Comments 181
Re: Older Live Service Titles Take Up Over 60% of Overall Playtime, Report Says
I'll catch some backchat for this but in the case of GTA 5 Rockstar got the balance right. Quality single player experience which had replay value. Lost count of the amount of times I replayed it. Then an online they could tap into and make all of that cash the others were milking.
As long as they don't dilute the single player side of GTA 6 or worse integrate the two. I'd be happy with that.
Re: Older Live Service Titles Take Up Over 60% of Overall Playtime, Report Says
@__jamiie I've not watched Metal Jesus on the tube in a long time. His game collections were mental back then be so much more so now. Lol.
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth?
Backlog is too big so not too far into it at the mo. Got a feeling I'll still be plugging away at this one by Christmas!
Re: Silent Hill: The Short Message (PS5) - There's a Reason It's Free
Always going to be divisive. I think there is a habit to review this as a "game" whereas it's more just an interactive experience. Probably why it's also free.
Not tried it yet but I'll probably still give it a bash.
Re: Free Silent Hill Game The Short Message Out Today on PS5
@michaelf on the UK one now? I'd stopped checking a bit ago sound lad thanks for the heads up there.
I'm the same up in 5 hours so will have to wait until probably after the football tomorrow.
Re: Free Silent Hill Game The Short Message Out Today on PS5
@awp69 said shortly after the state of play airs. So probably not completely immediate. I keep looking every 5 mins lol reckon it'll be an hour or so.
Re: PS Plus Essential Games for February 2024 Announced
Looking forward to Rollerdrome. Didn't pick it up on Game Pass as I prefer Playstation Pads for anything with skating/blading involved so might give this a crack now.
Re: The Latest PS5 Firmware Update Is Available to Download Now
Will get folders one day!
Re: WWE 2K24 Celebrates 40 Years of WrestleMania, Out for PS5, PS4 on 8th March
They could do so much more with this by sacking off cross-gen. Hopefully this is the last year of it.
Re: When Is The Game Awards 2023?
@EYEBALL or Jack Thompson, that would be priceless.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 500
Alan Wake 2.... Spiderman 2... back to Alan Wake 2.... back to Spiderman 2.
Annnd repeat.
Re: Rumour: State of Play Incoming? Death Stranding 2 Dev Photo Seems to Suggest Showcase
Definitely could do with a state of play centred on first party to round things off so we know whats coming up.
Re: If It Wasn't Obvious, The Elder Scrolls 6 Will Skip PlayStation
@OrtadragoonX It should have died with Snes and Genesis, unfortunately the internet and social media made it worse.
Re: PS Plus Essential, Extra, Premium Price Increases Announced by Sony
@Sakai it will increase competition but it may also accelerate industry consolidation which ultimately is bad for the consumer.
No one knows which way it will go until the deal goes through so its fear of the unknown at this point but if it does, it will hurt the consumers you support.
Re: Preview: Like a Dragon Gaiden Feels Like an Evolution of the Yakuza Franchise
Cant wait for it. Love the series.
Re: Rumour: God of War Ragnarok DLC Expansion Deep in Development for PS5
There was such a lack of major first party content in the last showcase I am expecting there will be another one this year. This may feature.
Re: PS5's Meteoric Rise Underlined by Staggering German Sales Graph
@GamingFan4Lyf oh man the hate between "Trekkies" and "Jedis" makes any console wars look like soft play. I dont understand it either. Lol.
Re: Assassin's Creed Mirage Release Date Pushed Forward as Game Goes Gold
Just making headway on my backlog and October is going to ruin it. Still good problem to have. Lol.
Re: Sony and Microsoft Sign a 'Binding Agreement' to Keep Call of Duty on PlayStation
@HonestHick Agree. It was always going to go through and despite any posturing from Sony they have ultimately done what is best for business anyway. Whole load of drama for nothing.
Regardless of what happens next any consolidation worries aside. I doubt either the FTC or CMA will get involved anymore now so any other deals on this scale will probably get far less scrutiny.
Re: SEGA Plotting More Sonic the Hedgehog Reboots and Remakes on PS5, PS4
Remakes of Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 - I would be down for those.
Re: FTC Fails to Delay Microsoft's $69 Billion Buyout of Activision Blizzard
Bickering and drama over here too. Oh the internet.
Both boxes are as plastic as each other. No need to go to war for either.
Re: Sony Is Increasing R&D Costs to Fuel Live Service Games, Report Claims
Sonys investment in live service is the equivalent of someone putting £100 on an acca on a football betting site. Most of them wont pay off but if one pays off it will pay -big-
Re: Reaction: What Happens to PlayStation if Microsoft Buys Activision Blizzard?
@CutchuSlow I get your point and I dont disagree on Sonys tactics. But that last bit. Trillion dollar company trying to keep themselves alive in a market? Nah. They are just trying to buy competitive advantage same as Sony, but on a bigger scale.
Re: PlayStation and Other Gaming Titans Flock to Twitter Rival Threads
@AdamNovice second this haha. MySpace was so simple. Where is Tom when you need him.
"MySpace Angle" will always be a term for selfies I find hilarious.
Re: Sony 'Can't Risk' Sharing PS6 Details with a Microsoft-Owned Activision
I can kinda see the argument but not the way its presented. They will be expecting MS to reveal the same to Bungie so its a bit pot and kettle.
I suppose the biggest difference is I doubt any Bungie content will be exclusive to PS.
Re: Indiana Jones Game Deal Amended to Exclude PS5, PS4
@Tharsman agree. The hoo har with this one seems to be around something Phil said about not taking games away from PS.
Dont know the ins and outs but Id hazard a guess development was in pre production when the acquisition went through so a contract amendment at that stage is perfectly fine.
Should he have made a broad statement like that and not think it wouldnt come back to bite him? Nope. But how many times has Jim Ryan done the exact same, all as bad as each other.
Re: Indiana Jones Game Deal Amended to Exclude PS5, PS4
@Tharsman thanks for clarifying that makes more sense to me now.
Re: Indiana Jones Game Deal Amended to Exclude PS5, PS4
@Tharsman its a little bit different than Spiderman. Sony bought the licensing rights to the franchise for film and gaming rather than just to make a singular game exclusive.
If it turns out MS has done the same with the Indy license you are right its hypocrisy to complain about one over other.
Outside of that I am not sure it can be compared though? Maybe Im wrong. I am in the camp of I dont see the issue anyway it happened with Redfall was bound to here too.
Re: Starfield, Redfall Exclusivity 'Powerful Evidence' Against Xbox's Activision Buyout, Claims FTC
-grabs popcorn-
Re: Sorry, But Games Are Probably Going to Take Longer Than Ever to Make on PS5
@Triumph741 just games with a small budget and not special? I recommend giving Indie Game the Movie a watch the amount of effort those people go into just to get a game out there is unreal and some indie games are absolute classics.
I dont disagree with Rockstar games pushing the envelope at all, they do. But you cant discount all linear experiences as being dinosaurs. They offer something different and there are some cracking linear games out there.
As for boycotting Ubi and Guirella for being lazy. I dont really play Ubi games so cant comment. As for Guirella Horizon is their only open world franchise so cant really say they copy and paste the same formula into all of their games. Their releases prior were mainly FPS.
Re: Sorry, But Games Are Probably Going to Take Longer Than Ever to Make on PS5
@Triumph741 none of the games in my earlier post were made by Sony studios so a bit off base making that comparison.
They were all made by indies. Indie devs keep the industry fresh. Provide something new. Because they are indies a lot of the games due to dev size are linear experiences, doesnt make them dinosaurs.
You seem to be intent on just plugging Starfield into every comment so I am probably wasting time here, but linear and open world provide very different experiences, they cant be compared directly.
Re: Sorry, But Games Are Probably Going to Take Longer Than Ever to Make on PS5
@Triumph741 Great games just need to be fun to play. What defines that is down to the individual gamer. Big budget doesnt always = a good game.
Way you are talking its like you have access to some Starfield review code already. Lets see come September, I am sure it will be a great game but even if it is, it is not the only one pushing the medium forward.
If open world games were the only games pushing it on the industry is in a sad state.
Re: Sorry, But Games Are Probably Going to Take Longer Than Ever to Make on PS5
@Triumph741 I still remember Project Ego on Xbox "anything you see in the distance you can walk to it" turned out to be Fable and while a great game in its own right, was a classic example of being far from the vision the dev talked it up to be.
Its certain from footage so far Starfield is vast, it is ambitious but without it being out and played, driving the medium forward is a bit premature, remember how long it has been in development for. Almost a case example of the point of the article.
Ubi games are bad examples but I would argue games like lets say, Journey or Pentiment, or Limbo, or Ori, do as much to "drive the medium forward" as any AAA game out there with a fraction of the development time.
Great games dont always need open worlds.
Re: Sorry, But Games Are Probably Going to Take Longer Than Ever to Make on PS5
@Snake_V5 aye we are in a generation of idiots with a "model myself on reality tv stars like its an obsession" its kinda sad. Lol.
Re: Sorry, But Games Are Probably Going to Take Longer Than Ever to Make on PS5
@Tharsman couldnt agree with this more. The obsession with production value is ruining gaming a bit for me.
If I wanted that Id watch a movie. With games I just want fun gameplay.
Re: BMX-Based Deliveroo Outing Parcel Corps Pedals to PS5, And We Want It Now
@Ravix takes me back that one!
Re: Poll: Was This Sony's Best PlayStation Showcase Yet?
I think its pretty clear they are permanently going down the road of (with exception of Spiderman) saving any detailed look at first party games for State of Plays. Which is why they perhaps were not shown much here. Announcing them here with CGI trailers imo would have been a bad idea.
Geoff Keighley has probably secured a couple for Summer Games Fest but outside of that id expect SoPs.
This one was mainly to showcase indies, third parties and the upcoming GaaS titles.
Re: PlayStation Showcase Finally Announced for 24th May
Still convinced a new Syphon Filter on the cards after all the classic releases. But will be good either way to see what all the first parties cooking up.
Re: 23 Games Hit PS Plus Extra, Premium Next Week in Big Update
I am convinced (and hopeful) with all the Syphon Filter games on Premium that a new one is Sony Bends next game.
Re: Shuhei Yoshida Gets on the Sticks for Chill Let's Play Indies! Tchia Sesh
@NEStalgia second that.
Re: Shuhei Yoshida Gets on the Sticks for Chill Let's Play Indies! Tchia Sesh
I would totally be for replacing Jim Ryan with Shu but I doubt he would want the job.
He is a saving grace for Sonys indie relations though.
Re: Soapbox: PSVR2 Already Feels Like It's on Course for Failure
@AdamNovice agree. I also think they knew the price would have a slow adoption rate along with it.
Re: Soapbox: PSVR2 Already Feels Like It's on Course for Failure
I get the worry but I think it is too early to have it.
I dont think it is the lack of software or the lack of marketing that is causing the issue. Its the price. And that is the risk with a high end product.
Eventually manufacturing costs catch up and that price comes down. By that time there will be a lot more content and it may hit its stride.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 457
'Scuse the monotone format
PS5 - finishing up GOW Ragnarok/making more headway in Callisto Protocol
Series X - High on Life (not me the game obvs!)
Switch - Bayonetta 3
Re: Out Today: The Witcher 3's Free PS5 Upgrade Is Available Now
@fido thanks mate!
Re: Out Today: The Witcher 3's Free PS5 Upgrade Is Available Now
Anyone know the actual download file size on PS5 version?
Only got 80gb free so I feel i may have to finish some other stuff first or consider an SSD purchase.
Re: Poll: Did You Buy Sonic Frontiers?
Like most 3d sonics going to be a bit of a marmite type of game. But i preordered and enjoying it so far. On the level of Generations? Not quite but one of the better games in recent years.
Re: FIFA 23's World Cup Mode Arrives 9th November for Free
@ShogunRok Needs to recover from that Leeds defeat first.
Re: Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.25 Includes Four More Cars, Out on PS5, PS4 Soon
Looking forward to trying Whitby out.
Re: Talking Point: We Need to Discuss This Horizon Zero Dawn PS5 Remaster
On one hand, I can understand these remasters targeting those new to the Playstation Ecosystem that have not played the original games.
But on the other, it is just the price. Even targeting those players I cannot understand or see how they could justify the £70 price tag on Last of Us Part I so if this goes the same way it paints a very bad picture.