Comments 1,524

Re: Call of Duty Devs Walk Back Kratos Voice Actor Criticisms, 'It's Not About the Joke'

Robocod

@NotSoCryptic Thanks for the reply! Always insightful hearing from someone who's been at the the coalmines!

Been wondering about that myself on the "reviving old IP's",promises...I mean,in theory a revival of GUN for example would grab headlines...but IF they wanted to give it the full RDR 2 type reboot they'd need a Rockstar (& contractor),sized studios...& like you say,a Hexen,or Starcraft Ghost or whatever would need multiplayer live services to be worth their while over a Crash/Spyro single player game...barring Skylanders mobile!😱😂

All the cold sweat memories of flogging Skylanders,& different Guitar Hero bundles in the games stores many moons ago just sent a chill up my spine!!😂

Re: Free Radical Closure Confirmed as Embracer Shuts Studio Ahead of Christmas

Robocod

Sadly can't see all these closures just merely end the blood letting with Embracer sitting on a bunch of dead IP's gathering dust. Whether Embracer survives itself or not,these IP's will end up in a fire sale to lord knows where.🤔

It's a little bit surprising none of the big three saw an opportunity to snap up some sort of exclusivity on Timesplitters,you would've thought it'd been a cheap buy for it.

Re: Call of Duty Devs Walk Back Kratos Voice Actor Criticisms, 'It's Not About the Joke'

Robocod

@NotSoCryptic Slightly off-topic,but for all the promises of bringing "creative freedom" back to Activision by Microsoft,do you think the COD crunch might get worse given they also promised feature/content parity on COD between Ninty, XB, PS,PC etc.going forward,,to get their takeover approved?
Going to be a few plates to juggle to keep the promise!🤔

Back on topic,guessing the ex-Infinity now Bungie dev might’ve got a rather pointed DM that slagging off a beloved Sony franchise given Bungie's current status not exactly a wise choice!!

Re: Feature: We No Longer Accept Cash Stored in Underwear, and 8 Other GTA 6 Easter Eggs You Missed

Robocod

As far as easter eggs go,not much,albeit one breakdown noted apart from the Cheetah, the Dodo plane & Seaspray Chopper were in there too.

As for whether we'll se tennis,or Off road racers etc.,they seem possibilities. Again though a while to wait on what sort of campaign mode it has & whether it'll require an online account for single player time will tell. (Likewise any classic DJ'S like Fernando).

Although not new for Mafia 3 fans,having Everglades type scenery & alligators & the like is a new look for a modern Vice City setting.

Re: Random: Yes, Netflix Really Is Getting GTA for Christmas

Robocod

@themightyant Best reference i saw online was the "five finger save",which sums up some of the books well,eg: Mystery ar Chimney Rock or Horror at High Ridge quite well!😂 Also put the finger save to good use in the Fighting Fantasy & Sorcery!,books too! Good times!👍

Re: Random: Yes, Netflix Really Is Getting GTA for Christmas

Robocod

@themightyant Recall "playing" Bandersnatch when housesitting for family...harked back to the old Choose Your Own Adventure books I read in my youth but unlike even the spookiest entries of that series still had some sort of "good" ending!

Bandersnatch endings kept veering from depressing to bad to horrid!!😱😂

Re: Microsoft Still Wants to Put Xbox Game Pass on PS5, PS4

Robocod

"This increased [Game Pass] competition has not been welcomed by the market leader Sony,"
Also Microsoft: We want Gamepass on EVERYTHING & we'll keep buying up AAA thrid party publishers & IP's to force you to get them via Gamepass!" Mwwahahaha! 🙄
Wonder even IF they'd gotten their wish if they'd do so via streaming rather than a native port in any case!

Re: Random: Yes, Netflix Really Is Getting GTA for Christmas

Robocod

@get2sammyb Don't forget Netflix also bought up some dev studios like Night School Games (Oxenfree series),too.

Given the mobile releases & porting of those efforts of Grove Street Games back to PS3,PS4 etc.,before the horrible rush job of "definitive edition remaster",feels appropriate it's getting a mobile streaming port!

Just a shame we'll never see a console port like some PC Modders put in AND get the FULL soundtracks to make a real definitive remastered edition from a penny pinching Take-two obsessed with GTA Online revenues from Rockstar.😕

Re: Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Re-Release Appears Imminent

Robocod

I found myself surprisingly engaged when I got the HD version as a ps plus pickup on ps3. Despite the rough controls & rougher camera i wanted to see more,only finally stopped in my tracks rather lost in one of the maze like areas of laser traps & guards etc.
If they've updated those aspects,would actually make the first Ubisoft game I'd be interested in since Rayman Legends!

Re: Reaction: You Really Shouldn't Be Surprised Kids Want PS5, PS4 Game Currencies for Xmas

Robocod

Whilst I freely admit I might suggest a PSN, Steam, or prepaid credit for GOG etc.,for digital sales, it's not I'm anti physical,far from it. It''ll usually be knowing time is a premium around Xmas & family etc.,struggle to find a physical bargain.

I do miss the older PS Gens Platinum or equivalent physical range,(the Greatest Hits PS4 Gen was a bit more limited than past gens. Though you still had varied price points like ps4 Ratchet, Medievil,or Concrete Genie.

Sadly,though you have a generation or so of younger players that were introduced not only to preorder bonus dlc,but then Season Passes, or "Ultimate team",(Fifa),Fighting & driving games having add on mtx for tracks,cars,fighters rather than unlocking them as you did pre-online. Then you have "crafting/sandbox" games built around live services,& obviously juggernauts like GTA Online that have abandoned single player dlc & the single player is built around introducing the online mtx (RDR 2 tried & when it didn't get the GTA audience Take-two washed their hands of it)..

I still love my single player games whether select Sony first party ala HZD,GOW,GOT,HFW or in the past like Detroit Become Human,Until Dawn, Motorstorm,LBP 2,Heavy Rain etc,or indie titles. I feel a bit sad though many usually younger gamers just live for online only stuff ala roblox, fornite, Minecraft etc ,devoid of any story modes & just after the latest gear.

Re: Rockstar OGs Compel Former GTA Developer to Pull Insightful Blog

Robocod

Similar situation happened to Mike Dailey (creator of Lemmings & former DMA designer/ programmer,the precursor to what became Rockstar North),when he posted some old design shots & details of his GTA works from the original 2d top down view game. He was getting an effective cease & desist on his game that helped birth the current day Rockstar!🙄

It'd seem pretty harmless given they were hardly insights into the current day game engine/game but Rockstar/Take-two are gonna be the corporate hoods they once made fun of!

Re: Former Rockstar Dev Sheds Light on Fate of Lost PS3 Exclusive Agent

Robocod

After the disappointment of the 360 timed exclusive on GTA IV DLC,(which took a while to finally confirm it would eventually to PS3), Agent was a curious beast getting announced as an exclusive but virtually zero detail from either Sony or Rockstar thereafter!🤔...it was a bit hard to be excited for something one didn't know much about!

TBH,probably hurt a bit more a rumoured Bully 2 got started/scrapped in that ps3/360 era as current day Rockstar/Take-two are very much focused on cashcow live services rather than single player storyline games.😕

Re: The Last of Us 2 PS5 Remaster Announced, Has a Brand New Survival Mode, $10 Upgrade Path

Robocod

Whilst it's welcome they've been forward enough to spell out the upgrade path for PS4 owners, it's a shame that upper management of ND/& or Sony don't share the same love for redoing a Jak & Daxter remaster (or a better PS2 emulation for PS5),or a Ratchet & Clank style reboot if they were looking at a project for those not involved in Factions or whatever else they're doing.😑

Re: GTA Publisher Lays Out Complex Entertainment Per-Hour Pricing Algorithm

Robocod

Well this is the same Strauss Zelnik that lost no sleep over the deceptive trailers & pricing of the bug ridden underbaked mess that was GTA Trilogy remastered "definitive edition" (minus many of the OG games soundtracks),& claimed it only had a bug or two,& also claimed the no frills RDR remastered deserved it's priceppint minus content of it's PS3 version he has a rather overinflated guesstimate of "value for money"!🙄

Sadly with Take-two's GTA Online obsession, Rockstar is a shadow of it's golden era!

Re: PS Plus Premium Poised to Add Another Classic Disney Game

Robocod

Unfortunately this is an area where there really doesn't feel like Sony's 3rd party content team's have put any great efforts into with regards to bolstering "PS Classics" content.

What on earth ever happened to the rumoured Dino Crisis games,or surely RE 2 & 3? Or Rayman, or there's EA games like Theme Park/Hospital, Wing Commander 3 & 4. Alundra,Blood Omen Legacy of Kain,& the Adventures of Lomax, or the Colony Wars series....

Nevermind if they bothered doing a new ps2 emulation capable of running on ps5 properly there'd be stuff like NFS Underground 1 & 2, SSX Series,Maximo Quest for Glory & Army of Zin, & the Sly Cooper & early God of War games just to name a few!

Sad to say, but felt like PS Deluxe was a mere afterthought for regions like mine that never had PS Now streaming, with little budget or teams to bring across PS Classic content.

Re: Broken Roads Delayed Days from Launch, and While Being Reviewed

Robocod

Whilst unlikely that the gaming press had tipped them off specifically on critical reviews,if there were enough questions coming back on game bugs/impending day one patches it might’ve spooked them enough not to join Tintin, King Kong,& Gollum in the "hold my beer" award & hold off 'til at least the day one patch instead now becomes the new "pre release" template instead!

Re: Maligned Modern Warfare 3 Developed in Just 18 Months, Staff Required to Work Nights and Weekends

Robocod

Pretty easy to sum up. You had a hostile Activision board having splashed out millions in various "settlements",all carrying no fault NDA disclosures,plus lawyer & P.R. focused getting Bobby Kotick's $70 billion deal & multi billion payout approved.
Consequently what was once upon a time an important marketing/revenue deal now was a nuisance in light of Microsoft's takeover so its shovelled out in as contractually obligated minimal effort possible.

Re: Sony Delays Six Live Service PS5 Games, But Company Remains Committed to Model

Robocod

Live service stuff really doesn't really appeal to me,but I can sadly understand the logic in terms of wanting to try come up with their own COD/ GTA Online cashcow.

Like others,remained concerned at the focus having felt being more on those efforts at the expense of others...in particular,feel like the opportunity to have enjoyed the best of both worlds by tapping into IP's like bringing LBP 2 to current gen (which had plenty of mtx dlc), or tapped into the likes past games like Twisted Metal (with a solid single player/co-op mode), or maybe Warhawk,or even stuff like LBP Karting,Jak racing or similar.

Time will tell,I guess.

Re: GTA 6 Reveal Trailer Debuts in Early December, Rockstar Says

Robocod

Once upon a time,I'd eagerly look for every bit of pre release news on a Rockstar release....but after efforts like the GTA "Definitive edition remaster" trilogy,& the functional,but unspectacular & overpriced RDR 1 remaster,just view any GTA VI announcements with a wait for the second shoe to drop approach.

With the likes of Dan Houser & Lazlow long departed now,will we still even see a substantial single player story mode? Or will they go the Diablo IV approach & force everyone online to enforce those mtx? My initial enjoyment of GTA V's story wore down with it's share market driven tutorials which led towards the online mode's sjark cards to buy any properties & ever changing prices online. 😑

Nevermind the humour of the ps2 era games with Lazlow,Fernando etc.,& over the top 80's/90's atmosphere & superb soundtracks back then. Modern day Take-two directed Rockstar has become the very souless corporate company they used to poke fun at!😕

Re: Elon Musk May Try to Stop PS5, PS4's Twitter Integration Removal

Robocod

@Ainu20 Uep,Wyle E. Coyote "super genius" sure seems to have opened the portal to spam, nutter & crypto bots much like when Walter Peck shut down the containment grid in OG Ghostbusters!🙄

Says he'll look into it,but will undoubtedly set his conspiracy bot army onto Playstation & just whinge it's all their fault.

Re: Sony Will Help Fund and Distribute a Live-Action The Legend of Zelda Film

Robocod

@GamingFan4Lyf I know it's all in jest,but did you ever play (or at least watch a longplay),of Alundra on ps1? Must admit never got in as far in as the longplays of my video store rental of it but enjoyed it as much as I was tearing my hair out BITD!

YouTube channel A Bit More Jordan has a nice retrospective/playthrough of it,well worth a watch!

Re: Dev Admits PS5, PS4 Tintin Game Is Unfinished on the Same Day It Releases

Robocod

@LieutenantFatman I did own a buggy copy of C64 Robocop which I successfully swapped BITD, but have learned from one of the old Ocean devs on twitter it was actually a mastering issue where the bug wasn't picked up...apparently some later versions & also certain cracked ones fixed it so there were later levels. Not to say other games weren't back then...the PAL version of Predator was almost unbeatable due to a bug to set up the log trap on the Predator! C64 Karnov had an incomplete version given to Ocean by Activision for a compilation but none of the game testers could get far enough in to find out!😱😂

Apparently the Megadrive & SNES Tintin games I've seen on YouTube are super hard,but would be better options for fans of the classic series. At least there you got Captain Haddock etc.

Re: Dev Admits PS5, PS4 Tintin Game Is Unfinished on the Same Day It Releases

Robocod

Slightly off-topic, but wondered if Pendulo's Blacksad ever got fixed whether PS4 or PC as occasionally seen it on sale but no point if it remained near unplayable.

Its why the insert South Park BP We're Sorry gif PR apology rings as hollow as it sounds AFTER release than before!🙄
It's a shame that the PS Store doesn't have a Steam style refund system in play to incentivise publishers a bit more to delay these messes.

Re: Insomniac Confirms Primary Marvel's Spider-Man Moving Forward

Robocod

A lot of the comments point towards Insomniac, but realistically it harks back to the "modern" day direction of the likes of DC or Marvel/Disney or any other corporate reboot eg: Star Wars, Indiana Jones,Doctor Who etc.

Marvel comics went the way of the likes of Female Thor,Hulk, Miles etc. Insofar as the Disney model goes you generally see a insert new character with a usually "broken hero",to make the new hero look perfect & it just comes off as a borefest at best or disrespectful depending on some I.P's that might’ve been childhood memories.

I'm NOT singling Spiderman out specifically as doing anything quite as bad here...but like Last of Us 2 as an example. When I played as Joel going through the university on TLOU & read/heard the clues Ellie wasn't the first bite survivor,nothing in retroactive sequels & tv shows would convince me Joel was "selfish" in saving Ellie. I don't hate on the sequel as a game,but I'll never warm to Abbey no matter how hard they tried.

It's like a generation of kids now regard Bumblebee as Autobot leader....but for my generation a Peter Cullen voiced Optimus is always the leader,Rodimus be dammed!😋

For a younger set,Miles is being pushed as the new gen always Spiderman...I'll still play em so long as the games are fun,but don't do a Disney & tell me every other minute how awesome the new corporate creation is over Peter or you'll just end up with it going all Poochie!

Re: All PS Plus Members Handed a Movie Discount on Sony Pictures Core

Robocod

@Throb Funny, having the same issue in my region down under too! I can login to the PS web store on PC, but when I hit the add comment Tab,it just defaults to the top of the page. The "Login" to account prompt does the same...but if I click on the Sony link & then select login,it shows my profile as per having logged in correctly. 2FA etc.,work fine,it just doesn't won't let me login properly on the blog to add a comment!

Re: PS5 Cloud Streaming Is Now Available for PS Plus Premium Members in North America

Robocod

@__jamiie Been picking up certain old TV shows & movies on DVD & Bluray just on the very basis that there are older ones i know won't be shown on local streaming services down under here most of the time,nevermind not affording half a dozen ones! Not to mention the at times awful reboots of classic movies/shows!

Still wondering for the "new & improved" streaming,whether this will translate into Sony expanding the service like they initially promised launching the new tiers. Deluxe now near $200 down under for the trickle of "classic" games. Can only imagine the extra for streaming!🤔

Re: Atari Ramps Up Retro Ambitions with Digital Eclipse Acquisition

Robocod

Whilst the latest iteration of Atari looks like it's leaning into classic gaming & making all the right noises,given the low bar of hotels & NFT's etc., I do hope for the likes of Nightdive & Digital Eclipse this isn't just the latest "fad" using investors money only for it to go all Embracer later as both devs are a step above most in giving old classics the TLC they deserve!🤞

Re: Former PlayStation Boss Shawn Layden Says It's 'Criminal' Industry Isn't Properly Preserving Games

Robocod

Won't say Sony's track record was perfect when he was part of Worldwide Studios,with short lived ventures like the "ps2 classics on ps4" venture. (In his defence probably wasn't his department), but you can't help but feel with Crash Bandicoot making a surprise comeback on the back of his Uncharted cameo, Shadow of the Collossus remake & even Medievil, you can't help but wonder if we'd seen LBP/LBP 2 ports,or God of War 1 & 2, Sly Cooper/Ratchet/Jak series might’ve seen light of day by now, vs TLOU PS5 by now if he had been still around.

Shawn would be a popular figure to return to PS towers,but whether he'd want to is another matter. Executives rarely return to their old haunts (unless you were Steve Jobs),& probably a fair turnover of staff from when he was there last.

Unfortunately current management can't seem to be bothered beyond a trickle of mostly obscure PSP & ps1 games for classic content!😑

Re: Sony on PS Plus Price Increase: We Want to Make PlayStation Plus Great

Robocod

As always,it's actions that'll speak louder than words. Whilst it'll likely give them a little bit bigger warchest to try chase after the next Rocket League/Fall Guys type mtx hit,how much trickles down into the miserly "classic games" efforts remains debatable.
Pretty much not only PSP led,with a trickle of PS1 games,no sign of PS2 games being added either first party or third-party,....but it's not like Eric Lempel would interact with the paying audience on the PS Blog to answer such questions anyway. 😕

Re: Xbox Boss Promises '100% Parity' for Call of Duty on PS5, PS4

Robocod

As was exposed during the FTC lawsuit,take anything "Gamer Phil" says publicly with a pinch of salt & then run it through a fine tooth comb of legal double Dutch snake oil to look at what he doesn't say/omits to interpret Microsoft's true intents.

He mentions PS4/PS5....note no mention of future systems like PS6...would be rather convenient to release COD on next gen XB but not PS....
Likewise,you can be certain future iterations of Diablo,Crash,Spyro,or potential revived IP's will be exclusives. Just look at the Zenimax email directives that anything unannounced & not contracted will get cancelled.

Obviously,the case is done,Microsoft's lawyers, $$ & influence saw to that...but buying up AAA publishers & established IP's to permanently exclude them off the competition isn't good for gamers no matter how much the acolytes try to spin their hypocrisy.

Re: Netflix Aims to Be PlayStation's Next Big Rival, And It Wants Grand Theft Auto

Robocod

Though disappointed to see indie studio Night School get bought out by Netflix,(liked Oxenfree), this is also the same Netflix that as most movie studios have all gone to chasing their own streaming services has left them with so-so reboots of shows bearing little resemblance to their originals,or shows that even if good get cancelled after a season or two. (Dark Crystal, sigh!)

The bigger concern might come if the likes of Apple,Amazon,etc.,decide to either go head to head with Microsoft's buying spree,or in theory could afford a takeover bid of Sony itself.

Re: Disney CEO Reportedly Being Pressured to Double Down on Gaming

Robocod

Technically have Jedi Survivor in my pile of shame from a sale,but would have to go back to PS2 era NFS Underground/SSX series or GOG PC games like Theme Park/Hospital etc,for EA being a go to for me.

That said,would absolutely detest a Disney run EA even moreso. Currrent day Disney's bereft of any creativity,with remakes minus the soul of what made their originals good or designed by committee borefests to feed their streaming machine.

Literally killed off the once innovative Lucasarts Games as one of their first acts of taking it over!🙄

Re: PS5 Slim's Digital Edition Gets a Stealth Price Increase in USA

Robocod

Looking at $40 extra in dollaryoos my neck of the woods,($160 Blu-ray add-on). It's a nice option to have rather than be "locked in",as you are on the current digital models whether ps5 or Xbox.
But if you're on the fence or have an extensive ps4 physical library common sense says you get the model bundled with the drive from the get go.

Happy enough with my current model purchase during the recent Days of Play promotion,& daresay there'll be more as they'll want momentum to continue beyond this year.