@Th3solution almost, and close enough. San Andreas is the state, Los Santos is the city of LA. Here is some GTA sports lore/teams, if you're interested:
Heat: Vice City Narcos seem to have the Heat logo, but with lines of βοΈ instead of fire, too. I assume they won't use that logo for the league game π
But yeah, Vice City is Miami (for obvious reasons) and the game itself will have a lot of Florida influences with more of Leonida included, I guess.
And getting the Heat to change their name, branding, court, arena etc for a whole game is just crazy marketing π (do we think the NBA had to actually schedule around this to make sure it lined up on the night before?) Plus it is already semi-marketable as a game with it being Giannis vs the Bucks, and I assume the big TV game of the week even before this news.
I mean, Sony has had some cool advertising campaigns before, but this is crazy from R*
Oh, no! Why does this have to be really cool π I kind of hope I don't like the jersey or else some sacrilege might have to occur in secret.
Though, I do now wonder if I could get one with Beat The Heat printed on the back to avoid Mazzulla's wrath should he become aware of me buying Miami merch π
@Nightcrawler71 Ah, cheers. It was the main thing i'd seen mentioned online, but hadn't delved into specifics yet. Although if it isn't an option maybe it looks alright anyway.
One thing I saw was advice to turn off the Bloom setting for the game not to appear washed out if that is an issue (PC Only, apparently)
Is this varying performance definitely at console level, or at television level, do we know? as some tvs work better than others with various frame related issues, some people are also more susceptible to things, unless it is obvious slow downs that we should all should see. What were the main complaints? And is there a pattern between what people have their pros plugged into or console level settings like forgetting to turn VRR back on if not using that while playing dawnwalker or something? π (people definitely had to fiddle with ps system settings for Dawnwalker, and I imagine there is a large crossover playerbase)
@get2sammyb I feel last time something like this was mentioned (I can't remember the exact games or what the figures related to, maybe it was just general single player sales) wasn't it something like a 7:1 split rather than the expected 3:1 if things were balanced towards install bases, suggesting xbox was even more heavily hindered by being a Game Pass machine or second console, not the primary destination for game sales for big releases
Score 1 for bad memories. But there was something like that going around a while back.
What is this? Midnight? Has Sammy used up all his time-notches already?!
And if you can't guess what i'm playing from that, i'll just tell you:
The Blood of Dawnwalker
Which may have to be known colloquially as Witcher: Come Deliverance
May I see your wares? Coen, dear boy, you are far, far too polite for your own good.
It doesn't take long to get into this game, at all! At first I wasn't sure if i'd play it now or wait, and when I loaded it yesterday I thought "hmm, maybe it needs patches" But i'm in deep, now. And i'm actually only one time-notch into the prologue! The vibes are strong! I quite like the combat (I fought a very angry bear to learn how it works) and yeah, the game is made for me, I swear π RPG players, unite!
Also, maybe some deliveries on Death Stranding 2. But, for now, i'm just excited to tell people that Dawnwalker is very good, despite some flaws. So, it is basically like all great RPGs, where the flaws are vastly outweighed by the good sh**!
@GirlVersusGame thankfully I already had it made, and also thankfully quite tame for my photomode exploits π (I did have to chase it around an island when I originally had the idea for the 'Bad Lieutenant' shot, though)
@get2sammyb Just wanted to tag you in and credit you for instantly reporting on it with skepticism. We don't want people who deeply care about their physical media to be drawn into a narrative that plays with their emotions, and i'm sure some publications or, more likely, influencers, will disregard that care and consideration when reporting on this rumour.
Yeah, the minimal scraping of the barrel for maybe some logic could be that CDPR want Witcher 4 to have a disc, and they know it will release 2028 at the earliest, and thus the 'production cancellation' date could be delayed slightly to make it align with that specifically, especially as CDPR has been working with PS5's to make sure their game is well optimsied for consoles. They aren't going to suddenly remove their game from that 100 million + install base. They could have been running those tech demos on PC, but they were using PS5/PS5 Pro to show this is their focus to get it right first time on console this time.
Witcher 4 will be a big, big seller, and a disc for that would also sell very well, but beyond that, maybe not so much a reversal of the decision, maybe just a verbal agreement to push it back a bit. If a credible source said they delay it to 2029 or until the ps6 launches, it could be understandable at least.
In general though, I think everyone who reads this should remember the quote: it is the hope that... what was it? Satisfies everyone and nothing bad ever happens ever again? Something like that. So hope away, one and all, there is sure to be no downsides to feeling relief and believing this rumour.
Also, credit to Sammy for instantly saying he is not sure in the article, too, rather than acting like it is gospel and trying to drive a narrative that could in fact make things worse for people that get wrapped up in it. I'm sure some sites/influencers will try to get people's hopes up without a care in the world for if it is even remotely true.
@GirlVersusGame ah, this is why I originally thought you'd enjoy the game, as it is a massive sandbox in the most sandboxy sandbox kind of way, more than any game I think i've ever seen! How long the feeling last will depend, but it's great that it is fulfilling at the moment π hopefully it lasts!
@GirlVersusGame oh, but I didn't forget, it was Sam who forgot π I read the quest, I planned the route, I printed the PCC, and I made Sam make the journey, I built the watchtower and cleared out the base. Sam then felt the need for validation and so had to go back and specifically trigger the game he is stuck inside to tell him to do that with a specific starting animation before setting out travelling, for whatever reason. I think he maybe has a type of OCD and is clearly an attention seeker. He's definitely in it for the likes, i'll say that much ππ
That packed release schedule is starting to catch up with the Push Square reviewers! Stay hydrated, guys! π
As for me, well I'm just looking to hitch a ride in the wonderfulΒΉ world of Death Stranding 2 as walking is clearly too hard.
ΒΉ Wonder levels may vary on a per-user basis and fluctuate day-by-day depending on in-game events. You may be attacked by bandits, BTs or strange entities whilst ambling through the wild environments of Death Stranding 2. Some players may pass through seemingly innocent signs placed by griefers and faceplant on the ground, some may even have their body and / or vehicle and all of their cargo launched into a ravine. Ingesting too much Kojima is known to cause hallucinations and mania in 87% of individuals. Please play Death Stranding 2 responsibly.
Vampires, for me. Then probably Wolverine. If i'd played and finished Control i'd be getting it... but I haven't, so this will have to really prove itself during the review stage to make it onto my list as a standalone experience worth picking up regardless. Maybe it will?
It looks like a really good game in a year of really good games, so I hope they do make some profit this time
@ShogunRok I think I get this, but I kind of feel the exact same way about Ghost of Tsushima, too. Both are great games, but both are quite safe in design, the open worlds are still miles behind what makes great open worlds feel real, and they are far from RPG's. They are very, very, very good Ubisoft style games, with far better use of cutscenes and far more grounded stories, and they definitely add some cool elements to disguise what the base game actually is. But even with those improvements, even when you genuinely enjoy the heck out of them, they lack something in their design and at the core.
I loved playing as Atsu for a few months. But i'm now back to my pre-release phase of asking why they can't commit to being obsessed with making the open-world more real, make the NPCs function in more interesting ways? Why not learn from RPGs to make your narrative action game something more? Why settle for the generic roaming pack of enemies/hunters like Ubisoft does?
But we now know this fundamentally is their style, and they are happy with it, and although they definitely improved on it quite a bit, and it is fun to play, it is still that same style of game and it will always remain a cut below good RPGs, and present itself more like a good version of a Ubisoft open-world. So it is what it is, until they learn to obsess over their world in a new way.
I always find myself enjoying them most when i'm doing a combination of stealth and combat to make my way through a guarded area, making my own path to clear bases, and I feel the exact same way when I play Assassin's Creed or Far Cry, there are moments when gameplay really clicks and you are making your own decisions and having a blast But outside of those gameplay moments, and when not on an actual main narrative mission you are essentially sprinting about like a headless chicken so the map clears as you hoover up resources/loot in a world that doesn't really react to you being there.
It is a good read though, and I think we just have to accept that games (even great ones) can have their limits and that is okay if they dom't quite meet that expectation we have. But I think the fantasists in us will always want to ask "but what if they were better? What if they were more like a great open-world RPG?" π
I was supposed to be playing Mafia The Old Country but late last night I randomly started Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - Reforged so i'm sure i'll be back in some french sewers, soon enough. Mon Dieu!
@AaronBayne i'm just going to post here to remind myself to watch this later. It is an interesting topic, and one worth getting stuck into. I also think I once requested PS let you loose on YT a lot more because you are clearly good at it, so I might as well swell your ego a little while i'm writing this, too π
@GirlVersusGame π Correct, haha! But I will tag in @Tjuz @Th3Solution and @werehog for full transparency π
But, also only correct in one sense. I do have a genuine interest in them since finding out about them in the fantasy league, so if Push Square ends up doing articles on them it is only a good thing because they look ace π and knowing Sammy is maybe primed for reviewing The Witch's Bakery is maybe also a good thing to know...
Full disclosure, some pushsquarians are doing a fantasy game publishing league (like fantasy football), @get2sammyb but i'm not trying to butter you up for a good review (it is based on aggregates anyway) just taking a genuine interest if they are games that have entered your gaming-sphere and if the site will have more about them. Grave Seasons i'm really looking forward to, but the trailer for The Witch's Bakery intrigued me, it looks both cosy and well written for the characters, but the heart palace/trauma and healing aspect was a really interesting twist so I want to see how that plays out, too.
Grave Seasons however is cosy farming with a Horror/murder mystery twist (check it out π) i'm hoping they get it out for Halloween after a delay from August, but who knows. It just looks such a cool concept, and the art style is really appealing to me. It went right on my wishlist and is up there with GTA 6 and The Blood of Dawnwalker for releases i'm most hyped about this year.
There are a lot of really nice hand-drawn and pixel-art animated games set to come out fairly soon, and it is great to see!
I'd mention The Eternal Life of Goldman, too, but that is not so cosy, but it looks genuinely epic.
@get2sammyb how about cosy games with a twist with games like The Witch's Bakery and Grave Seasons coming soon?
I don't know if Push Square has had any access to any previews of these yet, or if you yourself may know more about them. But I think they look pretty cool, tbh.
@dschons there is another thread to pull on. People who only like physical games but only buy second hand. They could make sure to only buy new from retailers when they really want a game, even if it means buying fewer overall. The figures would show a noticeable difference then. What was it? $6 billion the trade-in market was touted at, recently? Eye watering numbers.
I'm a digital gamer, myself, but I don't necessarily want physical to die out, and since the announcement have bought physical games from retailers. And there will be others who have done the same.
Yes, it probably wouldn't change anything, but that is a campaign I could get behind. A positive campaign that shows players do still genuinely value their physical games, rather than just hate change π€·ββοΈ
If someone with genuine clout can get that campaign going so it genuinely makes an impact I'll keep supporting games that way. The fact it would help actual devs is a nice bonus, plus you get to play the game as normal. There isn't really any reason not to be doing that. If it fails you still played the game you wanted to play and the dev still gets a sale. No downside, no anger, just gamers gaming and supporting the things they like.
Cheers, @Mr-Cage hope you enjoy KCD. It is maybe 80% vibes and humour 20% combat 100% Henry sim RPG. I always resort to a comment I once read and stole. The quests are like The Witcher 3 without Witcher Senses. You'll understand once you get into the flow of things. It doesn't hold your hand, but it is better for that, it really feels like a classic rpg where you need to be thinking with real logic rather than 'game logic' or following markers blindly.
figlio di buttana! I can tell i'm going to like this one, too. It is definitely inspired by the old 2kczech Mafia games. BTW the writer of Mafia 1 and 2 created and wrote KCD, so... π€·ββοΈ perfetto
@GirlVersusGame my main thing going in was 'please, no races' π but nearly right away, bam! Race or fail. Managed it first time, thankfully, but I nearly crashed my horsey with my one obligatory mistake in the final stretch π¬
@Mr-Cage think of it not as an action game or any other game, but as a medieval 'lad' simulator. And this lad just happens to be in a dangerous place at a dangerous time and so has to grow up fast and become an overpowered war machine alongside still being just a stupid lad. It will take a little practise and effort to become an overpowered war machine (effort in the game itself, not via guides) but that is fair enough. The other 90% of the game is being a stupid lad, proper rpg questing or looking at scenery and hunting or picking flowers if you so wish.
Just remember to stock up and save before you go out to do things that may become dangerous. But the game itself will teach you this because losing hours of gameplay once because you weren't actively on a quest with autosaves is enough to teach a player to be smarter in their approach, I find. It has probably happened to us all, and we either adapt or move on π
"We really, really, really want to make Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, CoD, Doom and Diablo exclusive, but as we bought them all as established IPs we are kind of scared and unsure, especially considering our much smaller install base and the amount of sales we will miss out on, plus the ethics of it won't go down well. Instead we are randomly giving PS one Gears of War, some Forza's, a Halo and a Fable before we buckle and put the others on PS anyway, after pretending we aren't" π€·ββοΈ
Commit to everything being exclusive and deal with the lawsuits and outrage, or commit to being a publisher that also has a console for whatever reason. Or pack in having a console and just be the world's biggest multiplat publisher. Just pick a lane so people can understand the product.
Imagine if people had to have a mirror next to their screens as they type some of these things. The world might be a bit less annoying with some introspection, and seeing themselves might give them the nudge they need to look inwards.
@GirlVersusGame so you genuinely couldn't give a fuack? That really is such a shame *giggles childishly
Your base is looking top fuacking notch, at least!
Can other players try to invade or is it offline pals only? And how much time is spent petting vs building, mining and fighting, i'd hope it is at least 50% of the time dedicated to petting!
@StrickenBiged yep, a far more fair point than some make. And the choice for digital buyers will now actually increase as retailers will still want to compete for your money and will be selling digital codes instead of the plastic discs. The ownership part is the main issue they will need to address by Jan 2028.
@WhatTheFrog IMPORTANT NOTICE: From Jan. 2028, newly released games on PlayStation will be available for purchase on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital format only.
At this point I feel like some people would rather comment on posts about physical media rather than actually buying any new games from a retailer. (Not everyone, of course, far from it. And this probably doesn't apply to you reading this. But the proportion still seems a tad off from the real aggressive types. Like, imagine if those people were this passionate about actually buying games in the first place π€·ββοΈ)
I still think there is a lot of have your cake and eat it types in the wider social media world. They want physical games, sure, but they also don't ever want to buy them new from a retailer. And they also really want to be mad at something, like during every new game release how they are all mad that it is too woke or not woke enough, or maybe has a minor bug, or, heavens forbid, a female character design that doesn't match their expectations. These are the types that already actively look for reasons not to buy games, and this is another bandwagon for them to jump on to justify them not buying games.
No phsycial sucks for normal people with genuine reasoning, especially for kids just getting into gaming, but honestly, I don't think that type of person sinks to the level of pure vitriol, as they can have a normal discussion without resorting to that. But those other types... They don't deserve gaming in the first place, and the sooner we can ditch them the better.
Tldr: there is definitely a problem with angry, spoiled (so and so's) in the gaming sphere. And it'd be nice to separate them from the normal people who have genuine thoughts and concerns.
I have this pre-ordered on disc even though I don't have a disc drive on the pro, yet (support the games you want to see made) and I feel I can trust these devs to have a good go at making a game i'd like, and they deserve my support on merit (true RPG, Vampires and Witcher devs)
@MrPeanutbutterz yes, making a joke about being bored of it being the only talking point in every aspect of gaming is definitely the same as actually liking the decision myself π
The joke is it that even though it sucks, it is also very boring to read about. (It's also partially me making fun of myself for doing so π) But I forgot i'm not allowed to do any of that without people feeling attacked.
@BearsEatBeets (i'll tag you as you might find it funny. In a 'if we don't laugh we may cry' kind of way) @Andee but what about the second hand pizzas out of the bins? That is what is costing the pizzeria the real money. Everyone is stuffing themselves full with those and not spending any money in the restaurant any more. Half the chefs and waiting staff have been let go because of it π¬π
Right, so this is going to be a bitter pill, we all know this. And the response initially will be highly emotional. It sucks. And it will suck for a lot of people for many reasons. But i'd love to dig into it from a cold perspective, as it may be interesting to analyse.
15% physical sales is very low. That is obvious. But the reaction against digital is very strong. Does this mean the balance of people buying second hand is far greater than those buying direct from the publisher. This is going to be brutal, but it does mean that devs miss out on the entire cut for all of those second hand purchases.
And it may be that the only actual way for gaming to survive is to buy direct from the publisher. It sucks, it really sucks, especially when so many are also shutting down devs they own while still making a bunch of money themselves. But all I can think is this must be the main reason for the numbers. If 70% of people will buy less, it means that a whopping number are not currently buying in a way that rewards developers or the publisher.
Maybe a poll could be devised (maybe next week when it has calmed down a bit) to gauge people's habits vs their viewpoints and understand some of these numbers a bit better.
I'll keep my head down π but will reiterate that yes, it really does suck for many reasons π¬
Comments 2,270
Re: GTA 6 Rebrands Miami Basketball Team to Vice City for One Night Only
@Th3solution almost, and close enough. San Andreas is the state, Los Santos is the city of LA. Here is some GTA sports lore/teams, if you're interested:
Lakers:
https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Los_Santos_Panic
Knicks:
https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Liberty_Penetrators
Heat: Vice City Narcos seem to have the Heat logo, but with lines of βοΈ instead of fire, too. I assume they won't use that logo for the league game π
But yeah, Vice City is Miami (for obvious reasons) and the game itself will have a lot of Florida influences with more of Leonida included, I guess.
And getting the Heat to change their name, branding, court, arena etc for a whole game is just crazy marketing π (do we think the NBA had to actually schedule around this to make sure it lined up on the night before?) Plus it is already semi-marketable as a game with it being Giannis vs the Bucks, and I assume the big TV game of the week even before this news.
I mean, Sony has had some cool advertising campaigns before, but this is crazy from R*
Re: GTA 6 Rebrands Miami Basketball Team to Vice City for One Night Only
@Th3Solution
Oh, no! Why does this have to be really cool π I kind of hope I don't like the jersey or else some sacrilege might have to occur in secret.
Though, I do now wonder if I could get one with Beat The Heat printed on the back to avoid Mazzulla's wrath should he become aware of me buying Miami merch π
Re: Rumour: New Uncharted Game in the Works at Naughty Dog, Nathan Drake Not the Lead Character
Ah S***, here we go again
Re: The Witcher 3 Remastered PS5 Pro Performance Seems to Vary Massively Between Players, and No One Knows Why
@Nightcrawler71 Ah, cheers. It was the main thing i'd seen mentioned online, but hadn't delved into specifics yet. Although if it isn't an option maybe it looks alright anyway.
Re: The Witcher 3 Remastered PS5 Pro Performance Seems to Vary Massively Between Players, and No One Knows Why
One thing I saw was advice to turn off the Bloom setting for the game not to appear washed out if that is an issue (PC Only, apparently)
Is this varying performance definitely at console level, or at television level, do we know? as some tvs work better than others with various frame related issues, some people are also more susceptible to things, unless it is obvious slow downs that we should all should see. What were the main complaints? And is there a pattern between what people have their pros plugged into or console level settings like forgetting to turn VRR back on if not using that while playing dawnwalker or something? π (people definitely had to fiddle with ps system settings for Dawnwalker, and I imagine there is a large crossover playerbase)
Re: GTA 6 Can't Completely Sweep This Year's GOTY Awards Anymore
Big Walk is coming for all your awards, anyway!
(Oh, *reads article... it almost literally is π)
Re: GTA 6 Collector's Box Is $400, Doesn't Include the Game
The Spoon, Mirror and Razor Blade is certainly a choice, and bang on theme.
Re: GTA 6 Pre-Orders 'Heavily Skewed' Towards PS5
@get2sammyb I feel last time something like this was mentioned (I can't remember the exact games or what the figures related to, maybe it was just general single player sales) wasn't it something like a 7:1 split rather than the expected 3:1 if things were balanced towards install bases, suggesting xbox was even more heavily hindered by being a Game Pass machine or second console, not the primary destination for game sales for big releases
Score 1 for bad memories. But there was something like that going around a while back.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 648
What is this? Midnight? Has Sammy used up all his time-notches already?!
And if you can't guess what i'm playing from that, i'll just tell you:
The Blood of Dawnwalker
Which may have to be known colloquially as Witcher: Come Deliverance
May I see your wares? Coen, dear boy, you are far, far too polite for your own good.
It doesn't take long to get into this game, at all! At first I wasn't sure if i'd play it now or wait, and when I loaded it yesterday I thought "hmm, maybe it needs patches" But i'm in deep, now. And i'm actually only one time-notch into the prologue! The vibes are strong! I quite like the combat (I fought a very angry bear to learn how it works) and yeah, the game is made for me, I swear π RPG players, unite!
Also, maybe some deliveries on Death Stranding 2. But, for now, i'm just excited to tell people that Dawnwalker is very good, despite some flaws. So, it is basically like all great RPGs, where the flaws are vastly outweighed by the good sh**!
Re: Big Walk (PS5) - An Ingenious Co-Op Experience Unlike Anything Else on PS5
@GirlVersusGame they made Goose Game. It was never in doubt. Honk! πͺΏ
Re: 30 New GTA 6 PS5 Screenshots to Blow You Away After Extended Look
@GirlVersusGame thankfully I already had it made, and also thankfully quite tame for my photomode exploits π (I did have to chase it around an island when I originally had the idea for the 'Bad Lieutenant' shot, though)
Yeah, iguana is cool and he knows it.
Re: 30 New GTA 6 PS5 Screenshots to Blow You Away After Extended Look
@Yousef- @GirlVersusGame @get2sammyb @Fluberuper
Thank you, all, for the set up. Also
Re: Sony's Rumoured to Be Reversing Its Physical Discs Decision, But I Don't Buy It At All
@get2sammyb Just wanted to tag you in and credit you for instantly reporting on it with skepticism. We don't want people who deeply care about their physical media to be drawn into a narrative that plays with their emotions, and i'm sure some publications or, more likely, influencers, will disregard that care and consideration when reporting on this rumour.
Re: Sony's Rumoured to Be Reversing Its Physical Discs Decision, But I Don't Buy It At All
@Ainu20 @Grumblevolcano
Yeah, the minimal scraping of the barrel for maybe some logic could be that CDPR want Witcher 4 to have a disc, and they know it will release 2028 at the earliest, and thus the 'production cancellation' date could be delayed slightly to make it align with that specifically, especially as CDPR has been working with PS5's to make sure their game is well optimsied for consoles. They aren't going to suddenly remove their game from that 100 million + install base. They could have been running those tech demos on PC, but they were using PS5/PS5 Pro to show this is their focus to get it right first time on console this time.
Witcher 4 will be a big, big seller, and a disc for that would also sell very well, but beyond that, maybe not so much a reversal of the decision, maybe just a verbal agreement to push it back a bit. If a credible source said they delay it to 2029 or until the ps6 launches, it could be understandable at least.
In general though, I think everyone who reads this should remember the quote: it is the hope that... what was it? Satisfies everyone and nothing bad ever happens ever again? Something like that. So hope away, one and all, there is sure to be no downsides to feeling relief and believing this rumour.
Also, credit to Sammy for instantly saying he is not sure in the article, too, rather than acting like it is gospel and trying to drive a narrative that could in fact make things worse for people that get wrapped up in it. I'm sure some sites/influencers will try to get people's hopes up without a care in the world for if it is even remotely true.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 647
@GirlVersusGame ah, this is why I originally thought you'd enjoy the game, as it is a massive sandbox in the most sandboxy sandbox kind of way, more than any game I think i've ever seen! How long the feeling last will depend, but it's great that it is fulfilling at the moment π hopefully it lasts!
Re: Next-Gen Xbox Prioritises 'Affordability' as Rumours of Stupidly Expensive PS6 Continue
@get2sammyb i'd bet that renting a console to play cloud streamed games is 100% in their plans down the line. And people are mad at Sony now π¬
Re: Protesting PS5 Players Now Plan Permanent Blackout, Meaning No GTA 6 or Wolverine
Day 7 be like:
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 647
@GirlVersusGame oh, but I didn't forget, it was Sam who forgot π I read the quest, I planned the route, I printed the PCC, and I made Sam make the journey, I built the watchtower and cleared out the base. Sam then felt the need for validation and so had to go back and specifically trigger the game he is stuck inside to tell him to do that with a specific starting animation before setting out travelling, for whatever reason. I think he maybe has a type of OCD and is clearly an attention seeker. He's definitely in it for the likes, i'll say that much ππ
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 647
That packed release schedule is starting to catch up with the Push Square reviewers! Stay hydrated, guys! π
As for me, well I'm just looking to hitch a ride in the wonderfulΒΉ world of Death Stranding 2 as walking is clearly too hard.
ΒΉ Wonder levels may vary on a per-user basis and fluctuate day-by-day depending on in-game events. You may be attacked by bandits, BTs or strange entities whilst ambling through the wild environments of Death Stranding 2. Some players may pass through seemingly innocent signs placed by griefers and faceplant on the ground, some may even have their body and / or vehicle and all of their cargo launched into a ravine. Ingesting too much Kojima is known to cause hallucinations and mania in 87% of individuals. Please play Death Stranding 2 responsibly.
Re: Opinion: Hermen Hulst Has Failed and PS Studios Needs a Change
Re: Marvel's Wolverine Limited Edition PS5 Consoles, Controllers Announced, Pre-Orders Next Week
Is anyone else seeing Wolverine's rage as more of an exaggerated Ray Liotta laugh here? Or maybe something like a Soyjak?
Re: PS Plus' Big Walk Hits Big Sales, Surpasses 1 Million Copies Sold in Under a Week
@werehog @th3solution @Tjuz I still think we should be playing this at some point π§ Just look at it go! Looking like 'Game of the Year' over here.
Re: 'A Must-Have Day One Purchase': You Only Need to Buy Control Resonant in September, Remedy Reckons
Vampires, for me. Then probably Wolverine. If i'd played and finished Control i'd be getting it... but I haven't, so this will have to really prove itself during the review stage to make it onto my list as a standalone experience worth picking up regardless. Maybe it will?
It looks like a really good game in a year of really good games, so I hope they do make some profit this time
Re: Unsettling 'Cosy' Game Village in the Shade Arrives on PS5 for Halloween
@Yousef- cool π are they all an allegory for the horrors of trying to keep a farm profitable? π±
Re: Unsettling 'Cosy' Game Village in the Shade Arrives on PS5 for Halloween
Wait, there are two cosy farming horror games coming out in the same year? Is... this normal? some kind of trend? Or a big mad coincidence?
Re: Opinion: Ghost of Yotei Was a Weirdly Disappointing Sequel After Loving Tsushima
@ShogunRok I think I get this, but I kind of feel the exact same way about Ghost of Tsushima, too. Both are great games, but both are quite safe in design, the open worlds are still miles behind what makes great open worlds feel real, and they are far from RPG's. They are very, very, very good Ubisoft style games, with far better use of cutscenes and far more grounded stories, and they definitely add some cool elements to disguise what the base game actually is. But even with those improvements, even when you genuinely enjoy the heck out of them, they lack something in their design and at the core.
I loved playing as Atsu for a few months. But i'm now back to my pre-release phase of asking why they can't commit to being obsessed with making the open-world more real, make the NPCs function in more interesting ways? Why not learn from RPGs to make your narrative action game something more? Why settle for the generic roaming pack of enemies/hunters like Ubisoft does?
But we now know this fundamentally is their style, and they are happy with it, and although they definitely improved on it quite a bit, and it is fun to play, it is still that same style of game and it will always remain a cut below good RPGs, and present itself more like a good version of a Ubisoft open-world. So it is what it is, until they learn to obsess over their world in a new way.
I always find myself enjoying them most when i'm doing a combination of stealth and combat to make my way through a guarded area, making my own path to clear bases, and I feel the exact same way when I play Assassin's Creed or Far Cry, there are moments when gameplay really clicks and you are making your own decisions and having a blast But outside of those gameplay moments, and when not on an actual main narrative mission you are essentially sprinting about like a headless chicken so the map clears as you hoover up resources/loot in a world that doesn't really react to you being there.
It is a good read though, and I think we just have to accept that games (even great ones) can have their limits and that is okay if they dom't quite meet that expectation we have. But I think the fantasists in us will always want to ask "but what if they were better? What if they were more like a great open-world RPG?" π
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 645
@GamingGod the humour is on-point early and i'm already loving the characters.
Apart from one, of course. Thanks for nothing, Todryk!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 645
I was supposed to be playing Mafia The Old Country but late last night I randomly started Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - Reforged so i'm sure i'll be back in some french sewers, soon enough. Mon Dieu!
Re: The Eternal Life of Goldman Still Stuns in Latest Trailer, But Where's the Release Date?
@Th3solution i'll put you in the oven if you carry on π‘
Re: Video: What Are Your Favourite Video Game Worlds?
@AaronBayne i'm just going to post here to remind myself to watch this later. It is an interesting topic, and one worth getting stuck into. I also think I once requested PS let you loose on YT a lot more because you are clearly good at it, so I might as well swell your ego a little while i'm writing this, too π
Re: Sounds Like Wolverine Gets His Arse Out in Insomniac's Upcoming PS5 Exclusive
Will there be advanced haptics for that real bum feel?
Re: This Cutesy PS5 Cosy Game Really Stands Out in a Crowded Genre
@GirlVersusGame π Correct, haha! But I will tag in @Tjuz @Th3Solution and @werehog for full transparency π
But, also only correct in one sense. I do have a genuine interest in them since finding out about them in the fantasy league, so if Push Square ends up doing articles on them it is only a good thing because they look ace π and knowing Sammy is maybe primed for reviewing The Witch's Bakery is maybe also a good thing to know...
Full disclosure, some pushsquarians are doing a fantasy game publishing league (like fantasy football), @get2sammyb but i'm not trying to butter you up for a good review (it is based on aggregates anyway) just taking a genuine interest if they are games that have entered your gaming-sphere and if the site will have more about them. Grave Seasons i'm really looking forward to, but the trailer for The Witch's Bakery intrigued me, it looks both cosy and well written for the characters, but the heart palace/trauma and healing aspect was a really interesting twist so I want to see how that plays out, too.
Grave Seasons however is cosy farming with a Horror/murder mystery twist (check it out π) i'm hoping they get it out for Halloween after a delay from August, but who knows. It just looks such a cool concept, and the art style is really appealing to me. It went right on my wishlist and is up there with GTA 6 and The Blood of Dawnwalker for releases i'm most hyped about this year.
There are a lot of really nice hand-drawn and pixel-art animated games set to come out fairly soon, and it is great to see!
I'd mention The Eternal Life of Goldman, too, but that is not so cosy, but it looks genuinely epic.
Re: This Cutesy PS5 Cosy Game Really Stands Out in a Crowded Genre
@get2sammyb how about cosy games with a twist with games like The Witch's Bakery and Grave Seasons coming soon?
I don't know if Push Square has had any access to any previews of these yet, or if you yourself may know more about them. But I think they look pretty cool, tbh.
Re: Angry PlayStation Fans Propose PS5 Blackout in Protest of Sony's Disc Decision
@dschons there is another thread to pull on. People who only like physical games but only buy second hand. They could make sure to only buy new from retailers when they really want a game, even if it means buying fewer overall. The figures would show a noticeable difference then. What was it? $6 billion the trade-in market was touted at, recently? Eye watering numbers.
I'm a digital gamer, myself, but I don't necessarily want physical to die out, and since the announcement have bought physical games from retailers. And there will be others who have done the same.
Yes, it probably wouldn't change anything, but that is a campaign I could get behind. A positive campaign that shows players do still genuinely value their physical games, rather than just hate change π€·ββοΈ
If someone with genuine clout can get that campaign going so it genuinely makes an impact I'll keep supporting games that way. The fact it would help actual devs is a nice bonus, plus you get to play the game as normal. There isn't really any reason not to be doing that. If it fails you still played the game you wanted to play and the dev still gets a sale. No downside, no anger, just gamers gaming and supporting the things they like.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 643
Cheers, @Mr-Cage hope you enjoy KCD. It is maybe 80% vibes and humour 20% combat 100% Henry sim RPG. I always resort to a comment I once read and stole. The quests are like The Witcher 3 without Witcher Senses. You'll understand once you get into the flow of things. It doesn't hold your hand, but it is better for that, it really feels like a classic rpg where you need to be thinking with real logic rather than 'game logic' or following markers blindly.
figlio di buttana! I can tell i'm going to like this one, too. It is definitely inspired by the old 2kczech Mafia games. BTW the writer of Mafia 1 and 2 created and wrote KCD, so... π€·ββοΈ perfetto
@GirlVersusGame my main thing going in was 'please, no races' π but nearly right away, bam! Race or fail. Managed it first time, thankfully, but I nearly crashed my horsey with my one obligatory mistake in the final stretch π¬
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 643
Slashing faces and winning races in Mafia: The Old Country π€
Re: The Next Kingdom Come Game's Title May Have Leaked Thanks to a New Trademark
@Mr-Cage think of it not as an action game or any other game, but as a medieval 'lad' simulator. And this lad just happens to be in a dangerous place at a dangerous time and so has to grow up fast and become an overpowered war machine alongside still being just a stupid lad. It will take a little practise and effort to become an overpowered war machine (effort in the game itself, not via guides) but that is fair enough. The other 90% of the game is being a stupid lad, proper rpg questing or looking at scenery and hunting or picking flowers if you so wish.
Just remember to stock up and save before you go out to do things that may become dangerous. But the game itself will teach you this because losing hours of gameplay once because you weren't actively on a quest with autosaves is enough to teach a player to be smarter in their approach, I find. It has probably happened to us all, and we either adapt or move on π
Re: Prime Yourself for Marvel's Wolverine on PS5 with This Prequel Comic
It'd be nice if they did it as an optional intro cutscene
Re: 'It Isn't Something Carved in Stone': Xbox Still Unclear on Future PS5 Ports
"We really, really, really want to make Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, CoD, Doom and Diablo exclusive, but as we bought them all as established IPs we are kind of scared and unsure, especially considering our much smaller install base and the amount of sales we will miss out on, plus the ethics of it won't go down well. Instead we are randomly giving PS one Gears of War, some Forza's, a Halo and a Fable before we buckle and put the others on PS anyway, after pretending we aren't" π€·ββοΈ
Commit to everything being exclusive and deal with the lawsuits and outrage, or commit to being a publisher that also has a console for whatever reason. Or pack in having a console and just be the world's biggest multiplat publisher. Just pick a lane so people can understand the product.
Re: Indie Devs Unfairly Attacked Over Sony Decision to Stop Making Discs
Imagine if people had to have a mirror next to their screens as they type some of these things. The world might be a bit less annoying with some introspection, and seeing themselves might give them the nudge they need to look inwards.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 642
@GirlVersusGame so you genuinely couldn't give a fuack? That really is such a shame *giggles childishly
Your base is looking top fuacking notch, at least!
Can other players try to invade or is it offline pals only? And how much time is spent petting vs building, mining and fighting, i'd hope it is at least 50% of the time dedicated to petting!
Re: Irate PlayStation Fans Want You to Buy Games Anywhere But PS5
@StrickenBiged yep, a far more fair point than some make. And the choice for digital buyers will now actually increase as retailers will still want to compete for your money and will be selling digital codes instead of the plastic discs. The ownership part is the main issue they will need to address by Jan 2028.
Re: Irate PlayStation Fans Want You to Buy Games Anywhere But PS5
@WhatTheFrog IMPORTANT NOTICE: From Jan. 2028, newly released games on PlayStation will be available for purchase on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital format only.
Re: The Elder Scrolls 6 Heavily Impacted by Xbox Layoffs, Team Morale at Rock Bottom
"We are looking to invest in and focus on our core IP's moving forward" - Xbox
(Imagine that in alternating capital and lower-case letters for the real Asha effect π€ͺ)
Re: PlayStation's First Post Since Physical Games Debacle Draws 57k Replies
At this point I feel like some people would rather comment on posts about physical media rather than actually buying any new games from a retailer. (Not everyone, of course, far from it. And this probably doesn't apply to you reading this. But the proportion still seems a tad off from the real aggressive types. Like, imagine if those people were this passionate about actually buying games in the first place π€·ββοΈ)
I still think there is a lot of have your cake and eat it types in the wider social media world. They want physical games, sure, but they also don't ever want to buy them new from a retailer. And they also really want to be mad at something, like during every new game release how they are all mad that it is too woke or not woke enough, or maybe has a minor bug, or, heavens forbid, a female character design that doesn't match their expectations. These are the types that already actively look for reasons not to buy games, and this is another bandwagon for them to jump on to justify them not buying games.
No phsycial sucks for normal people with genuine reasoning, especially for kids just getting into gaming, but honestly, I don't think that type of person sinks to the level of pure vitriol, as they can have a normal discussion without resorting to that. But those other types... They don't deserve gaming in the first place, and the sooner we can ditch them the better.
Tldr: there is definitely a problem with angry, spoiled (so and so's) in the gaming sphere. And it'd be nice to separate them from the normal people who have genuine thoughts and concerns.
Re: Round Up: Ridiculously Positive Dawnwalker Previews Claim It's a Game of the Year Candidate
Looks like RPG's back on the menu, boys.
I have this pre-ordered on disc even though I don't have a disc drive on the pro, yet (support the games you want to see made) and I feel I can trust these devs to have a good go at making a game i'd like, and they deserve my support on merit (true RPG, Vampires and Witcher devs)
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 640
@MrPeanutbutterz yes, making a joke about being bored of it being the only talking point in every aspect of gaming is definitely the same as actually liking the decision myself π
The joke is it that even though it sucks, it is also very boring to read about. (It's also partially me making fun of myself for doing so π) But I forgot i'm not allowed to do any of that without people feeling attacked.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 640
I'll be unknotting my panties and dipping into my digital game catalogue and maybe finally get back to 007: First Light
Oops, I couldn't help it. The more people make every single gaming topic about this, the more I want to push back for no real reason π
Re: Sony Already Retraining Staff at PS5 Game Disc Manufacturing Facility
@BearsEatBeets (i'll tag you as you might find it funny. In a 'if we don't laugh we may cry' kind of way) @Andee but what about the second hand pizzas out of the bins? That is what is costing the pizzeria the real money. Everyone is stuffing themselves full with those and not spending any money in the restaurant any more. Half the chefs and waiting staff have been let go because of it π¬π
Re: Just 15% of All PS5 Software Was Purchased Physically Last Quarter
@get2sammyb
Right, so this is going to be a bitter pill, we all know this. And the response initially will be highly emotional. It sucks. And it will suck for a lot of people for many reasons. But i'd love to dig into it from a cold perspective, as it may be interesting to analyse.
15% physical sales is very low. That is obvious. But the reaction against digital is very strong. Does this mean the balance of people buying second hand is far greater than those buying direct from the publisher. This is going to be brutal, but it does mean that devs miss out on the entire cut for all of those second hand purchases.
And it may be that the only actual way for gaming to survive is to buy direct from the publisher. It sucks, it really sucks, especially when so many are also shutting down devs they own while still making a bunch of money themselves. But all I can think is this must be the main reason for the numbers. If 70% of people will buy less, it means that a whopping number are not currently buying in a way that rewards developers or the publisher.
Maybe a poll could be devised (maybe next week when it has calmed down a bit) to gauge people's habits vs their viewpoints and understand some of these numbers a bit better.
I'll keep my head down π but will reiterate that yes, it really does suck for many reasons π¬