History tells us this is a strong launch. It also tells us that overly strong launches lead to droughts that get characterized as an overall "Lack of games."
The Xb1 line up is crammed with 360 ports and low res cross plats. I hate the myth that it's somehow super strong. Why? Because of the smallest Forza ever? Because of DR3 that was rushed and hits 16 fps at 720? Ryse? Ha!
The Ps4's launch is fine and this year will be good, next year, amazing.
@bliquid yeah Dead Nation is way underrated, I love that game. This studio really gets it done. Resogun is definitely one of those "one more game " experiences. Love it .
The game is way underrated. I theorize this comes mostly from people coming to the insane conclusion this is an "unfair button masher." Um no... This game takes skill...stop sucking.
Been looking fwd to this for so long... They should have released it in october though... They buried it under a pile of console releases and Mario. Hopefully this game still shines through.
@Epic we'll also have to see what gets announced at the VGA's. I think surprises are still very possible because avoiding the dreaded drought has been one of their stated strategies. Like, why waste time convincing preorder holders? They won't even be able to supply enough units to people who want them already till the new year as it is. That said, give us some surprises Sony! (Though, the launch lineup is keeping me busy for the time being)
Ok so, have now played some Killzone. (Kids are in bed) Holy crap... Not only is it great looking, but wow it really makes you think about the potential going fwd. Not just for post launch performance bumps.. But just imagine a Naughty Dog game of this graphical fidelity. The framerate....so nice.
To be fair to this game specifically, as a big fan of the series, I should add, it's off to a great start, story and gameplay-wise.
Review sites, by and large,have talked down everything next gen... To me, based on my experience so far, that is mental.
The machine is amazing. Very intuitive and the dedicated resources for the UI take things to a whole new level. The UI 'feels' like it weighs nothing. Jump in and out of games with zero effort.
The DS4 feels incredible in action.
Only played Knack and Resogun so far. Kids are up. Knack is actually what I thought it would be in the beginning: punishing old school platformer. Yeah it's not a 10...but so far it feels like a very solid 7 to me. That's a good thing. I got it for $20 off too, which helps since I think the game's ideal price might be more $20-30. It's not a typical day-one buy, but for many a worthwhile console-launch-day-one buy, especially if you have kids.
I actually find it amazing how little I've spend on games this launch, tons of deals to be had.
@ShogunRok seriously...a first week failure rare of 0.2%? If they could keep this up this would be the most successful launch ever...by miles. The first week fail is more like 15 times higher. Failure within 4 years averages 15%. Ps3 had an amazing record with only 10%.
@charlesnarles You know, I've yet to play a MGS game...I plan on it, but catching up seems like a HUGE feat. I know it's gonna be worth it when I can find the time though.
The Last of Us SPOILER ALERT:
The way I see the end is a bit different than some. Some saw Joel as a villain, selfishly trying to redeem himself for his inability to save his daughter. I see it differently:
The world has two ills. The infection and the loss of basic humanity. Curing the infection isn't enough. Ellie had more than just that in her. The same way her body resisted the infection, her mind resisted the loss of humanity that everyone else suffered from. To my mind, Joel knew that the infected could eventually be destroyed, but the spirit of life was so much harder to restore. Human goodness, even he had lost.
They were going back to live at the power station with his brother and that small community, so who knows what will happen.
My take away though is the title. It's easy to assume it means "the last uninfected humans" but to me, the title gives me goosebumps, because I believe it refers to only one person: Ellie. Ellie is the last person with humanity, something so much more valuable than the cure. She is the point of the whole game and the only thing worth protecting at all costs. She is "The Last of Us."
@charlesnarles wow, no wrong answers, it's totally subjective, but I had the total opposite reaction to the game. I loved everything about it. To each their own though. What game stories have you enjoyed in recent years? Just out of curiousity.
@Dodoo you're going to love Tomb Raider, especially at that price. The comparison confuses some people, because they are different in many ways but in terms of vibe, the game is like a spiritual successor to Resident Evil 4, one of my favourite games ever.
There are some overt similarities, but mainly it's the feeling the game gave me. It's hard to pay a game a higher compliment. Oh that and to say that it does third person action similarly as well as the Uncharted series.
Based on those two comparisons I'd have to say it was one of my top games of the generation.
Man, next gen is almost here and it's about time, but was this gen ever good.
@get2sammyb DEFINITELY play Tombraider, it's superb. Also, Farcry 3 is an awesome game, I platinumed it with pleasure, never getting sick of it whatsoever (though honesty compels me to mention the coop missions are weak.)
To be honest I think they should actually force a big announcement if one isn't planned. Defusing all this hype would be a mistake. Even something like a promotion such as for the next 24 hours PS+ will be $1 for a one year subscription (with stacking limit, like one new one) at the very least.
A big announcement like SSM or Naughty Dog title would be ideal, but they have to do something either way. Definitely best if they at least tease a new AAA. Also, some footage of SS and 1886.
Also, they should make the production awesome. Maybe have tapped Quantic Dream for some cool realtime CGI etc.
They are likely to rehash stuff for the sake of casuals, but they should remember that hardcore gamers are going to be glued to this thing, you have to wow people. Make people literally say "wow!"
@get2sammyb I like the last second hype idea. True hardcores will be watching from smartphones in line at midnight launches, but also many will watch from home too, such as those buying from online retailers and those buying from stores w/o midnight launches. That said, this event is good for pushing fence-sitters over the line and just generally turning the hype up to 11. I think it's genius. It worked on me...just when I thought I couldn't get more excited -bam! LOL
Also consider it a clever strategy for stealing headlines from PSN hiccups and post-launch-hype-quick-acting-malaise.
I think they should also do a PSN bonus akin to what they did prior to the announcement press conference. Was clever.
Muramasa Rebirth, kinda digging it. Also, I figure I'd mention that a copy of Knack sits on my shelf, awaiting the 15th. Was the only pre-order in stock aside from the ds4 but it's a start!
Yeah, I've got my extra ds4 and will get the games once all my preorders are in. I really do like the new way of being relaxed about this stuff. Feels less cold and more friendly. Also, will cause less slowdowns at the cash at launch day.
Resistance 2 is one of my most hated ps3 games. It was a bizarre followup to pt1 and probably robbed many people of the will to give the stellar pt3 a try.
Format face-offs matter because people are deciding what to buy right now. Early weakness is a sign of short console lifespan. So yeah, these faceoffs are litmus tests.
@get2sammyb I can't disagree enough. The difference in the visuals seen in a web video may look small, and you might even argue that the difference is small on a big screen at home (which I doubt based on the strong words of journalists that have played both on large screens), but the story here isn't which one looks better, but which one PERFORMS better.
The numbers are in, the xb1 is running at 720p native resolution, the Ps4 is running at 900p. VERY important numbers. This means that the Ps4 is pushing ~50% more pixels! 50%!!!
This is significant for tons of reasons. Among them: it confirms rumours we'd been hearing which were "too extreme to be true", it shows a multiplatform disparity WAY beyond the ps3/360 Unreal engine issues that had ps3 users 5 fps behind, it also shows that MS has been hiding this and indicates many other "doomsday rumours" might well be true.
But don't forget, this isn't just resolution, amazingly the Ps4 has a better framerate and more power-hungry features such as ambient occlusion.
What this shows us, is not only about BF4, it's about ultimate potential. Imagine this wasn't a cross-gen/cross-plat mad dash. Imagine you were just creating a game for xb1 and ps4. Imagine due to the xb1's perceived limitations you locked the res at 720. Then from there you fleshed each version out to peak potential. You would have 50% more power to work with. Not theoretical, but actual usable power. The difference is almost cross generational.
I love you Sammy so sorry to go off on a rant on you but this talk of this "not being a big deal" blows my mind. It would be like a sprinter winning a race with a 25lb shoe on each foot and people saying "he only won by 3 seconds, what's the big deal?"
Been thinking of doing a super-custom colour on my ds4, I have a few weeks before it'll be of use anyway. The sticking point is durability though. I know there are plastic paints, but still. Tempting though.
@Grockumus LOL yeah totally. Also a classic is how Rico keeps screaming "A**hole!!!" In Killzone Liberation. It's so oddly out of place, especially in a top-down action title. Made me laugh everytime.
@Lelouch Ah ok, fair enough. For me, I just hope they bring good characters. I've enjoyed every game in the series, including Pt1 and Liberation. I just hope they bring more balance into the characters to reflect the mature narrative. It's felt like they thought they had to dumb down parts of the game. Games like TLOU prove it's unnecessary, in 2013.
However, I will now, and forever occasionally be possessed to yell "Vektan scum!" at my loved ones. Some cheesier parts, I guess I'd miss.
@Lelouch I might be wrong, but I think what you meant is "characters" is where they usually screw up. The reason I say that is because if you think about the basic stories and the history of the KZ it's pretty interesting...then saunters in Rico.
If they have finally eliminated this problem, they will be way ahead of the game.
Though, maybe you just dislike the basic premises, which I can respect, but don't agree with.
I just picked up my preordered ds4, they had cameras in stock too actually. (I'm in Canada)
My initial impressions are good. Sticks are tighter, the triggers are way better and in fact l1/r1 are too. The touch pad makes it more front heavy, depends how you hold it I guess. Face buttons closer together and evenly spaced, but spaced miles apart compared to Vita, which I love anyway. The touchpad click is pleasing and overall the unit feels good quality. More "for business" than the ds3 which immediately seems flimsy in comparison. The dpad also seems nicer, more smooth and quality.
One thing I noticed that "time will tell" about is the sticks seem to have less overall travel, edge to edge. This could cut either way, but with the reportedly smaller deadzone this might amount to nothing but greater comfort due to less extreme range of motion.
Anyone having questions about it, just tag me in the comment, I'll try to offer insight, based on having it in hand.
Yes, well you are actually proving my point. Board games are always like 10-20 bucks. Why? Several reasons. For one, they are traditionally inexpensive and you can't reasonably jack up the price without alienating your audience...but further, it would be unreasonable to do so. Why? R&D + production costs. Monopoly was a self published creation by an american woman over 100 years ago. The cost of making it could be recooped by selling, what? 1000 boards? Well, over 250 million units have been sold. Development costs, have been covered. (Think: Game of the Year Edition pricing) But further to the point, the fact is, you could make your own with household items for darn near what it sells for.
Now, we're talking about two primary comparisons. AAA shooters to each other and AAA shooters to Movie Blurays. The comparison of AAA vs AAA is simple. There really aren't many, or possibly any, excellent AAA shooters that run more than 10-12 hours. Why? Time and money. As it is, many shooters lose money selling at $60 because of their failure to be "the next big thing" (identical to movie industry in fact, with regards to many films not making money) So to say this game fails in some way by it's length, without taking into account a fair comparison to it's peers/market is illogical. To say that $60 is too much to pay for something that cost over 100 millon dollars to make (with zero guaranteed ROI) is western consumerism at it's worst. Especially since these games are not only so expensive to make, but they also take hundreds of people years to produce. Basically put, you won't be making it at home for "darn near what it sells for."
Further, to compare a game to a movie is not a huge stretch. Especially modern games. Watching the Avengers provides, excitment, laughs and yes, maybe a few tears (spoiler alert: Coulson!!!!) Both mediums come on bluray disk in a bluray case, with an eyecatching paper insert and are shrinkwrapped in plastic. You can use both by inserting them into your ps3. Both are "replayable." The primary difference is interactivity. Some would argue that games are more/less replayable or that interactivity adds/retracts value. At the end of the day, you are sitting on your couch, alone or with others, staring at your tv, thinking and feeling. The comparison is not so far fetched dude. Not at all.
So while it's fair to compare anything we spend our entertainment budgets on simply because it's always a value proposition and those things we value most will provide us the greatest motivation to spend, some things are more easily compared. However, interestingly, the issue of how we compare similar things becomes more complex at times. This rears it's head in videogame genre cross-comparisons as opposed to videogames vs movies.
Movies are made of a length to be watched in a single serving, games are not. That said, game length is limited more so by a time/budget factor. The cheaper and easier your game is to make, the longer it can easily be, but the less it will contain set pieces and dramatic mindblowing settings and details. I like both simple games and big glitzy AAA showstoppers. As long as that is the case I will always have to accept that some games will be 8 hours and others 30. To not accept that would make me naive or possibly even spoiled.
Long response, but short compared to the broadness of the subject.
Yeah, I find it interesting that Killzone is a series where you play as a member of an army which was responsible for illegitimately invading foreign lands... Yet no one seems to draw parallels to modern military operations and foreign wars. It seems like Guerilla is getting at something with all this, but they never take the subject head on. Will be interesting how that changes in a more serious looking game like Shadow Fall. Either way, I hope this underrated franchise's time has finally come.
I can tell you're new around here (and quite possibly to gaming industry analysis, based on the quality and accuracy of your statements). Your tone is all wrong.
I'll stop here out of respect to the site, but you're A: making no sense, and B: disrespectful, while preaching civility. (The worst kind,imo)
Don't expect an additional response, I feel like I'm in the comments of IGN with you around.
Actually, I don't often say this but you're actually dead wrong.
Comparing anything people spend their entertainment dollars on is entirely fair because ultimately all the activities are competing for those very same dollars. This is particularly true of activities so very similar as movies and games.
From a marketing perspective these type of value propositions are entirely how they judge their solvency in today's ever crowded entertainment market. Comparing videogames and movies to strip clubs is more hyperbole however due to the fact that strip clubs are not only forms of entertainment but also sexual outlets. So in that sense, your comparison was far more apples to oranges while mine was more red apples to green apples.
Further, if you are talking about competing in a story driven AAA FPS environment, specifically outside the multiplayer domain, then I'm a little more than confused at your assertion that a game that runs for more than 10 hours is "short." In fact, such a length, would place it far enough past average to certainly qualify it as "long."
In fact, if you're comparing a game like this to a open world genre FPS game that runs 30 hours with none of the cinematic flair the AAA FPS genre is known for,(not to mention REQUIRED to deliver) then not only is that wrong, but it's actually a bigger stretch than comparing it to a movie, not only from an experience perspective (emotional journey/investment, story arc, etc) but particularly from an assets creation and management perspective (add ten more missions in Skyrim, increase budget ~1%, add 10 more missions in COD, increase budget by ~50%. This not even factoring in the budgeting of time, always a concern, but vital during launch window. This is because as much as I enjoyed Skyrim, I acknowledge the game's lack of production values and abundance of filler content, such as the endless fetch quests and similar environments -all staples of it's genre)
I could go on, but if you don't see my point by now, you probably won't.
@RicksReflection and yet people buy blurays at launch for a first playthrough value of about $15 an hour.
They get interactive entertaintment for $6.50 an hour (not including countless multiplayer hours or replay if they don't care for those.)
I like long games too, but they are rarely long and also good. Those are rare great games. Most long games drag.
It's probably better to wait for price cuts on a title that doesn't excite you, but if excited and you can't wait, 6 bucks an hour is better value than a lot of entertainment.
Both are great and important, but hell, consider that today's indie is on average way better than most AAA titles made a few gens ago, without qualification. Some people get so hung up on definition. Fun is fun.
@-CraZed- Yeah, don't get me wrong. Had planned on buying Contrast, day one. So this is nice...yet you are compensating people expecting "free" access to 90% of a AAA racer on their new console, day one. They sold the service to many with they promise. Not me, I'm pleased...you're pleased, we don't matter, we're buying it no matter what. Sony has to tread lightly here as far as the masses are concerned.
Want to play it, but can wait... only concern comes from Sony keeping the ship righted. They should add more beyond Contrast (despite that I'm happy to get it free)to compensate. Not that they inherently owe anyone, but then again they sold this machine to many people on a free day-one Driveclub. Why give up any ground this late into the game?
Well, Watchdogs was a loss, now this...WD bothered me way more, but in both cases they are done when they are done.
I do see the pr issue here. What will follow will be a test of how well they think on their feet. Time for some really cool news, Sony.
What really makes me mad is all around we're seeing a lot of scrambling from devs. Really devs? After all the universal complaints about how the last gen was too long and after all the work Sony (and to a lesser extent MS) has done to make dev friendly consoles, VERY few titles are rock solid. Unacceptable.
@-CraZed- Yeah, unfortunately just read that Ubisoft's stock has fallen 32% on the news of the delays of Watchdogs and the Crew. Ouch. Rough year for Ubi.
It's awful news...for the Watchdogs team. The launch window is a great time to rack up sales and secure new loyalties. It's when franchises are often born. Slipping into spring will see this game competing with more heavy hitters. It might not have the impact it would have.
That said, it's better to ship a great game late, than a broken one on time.
As for my ps4 launch dreams, this fit right in there...It will be missed. It's nowhere near a deciding factor for me, of course, I'm a day one ps4 preorder guy.
Now the conundrum, do I fill the hole with AC4? I have all the earlier games in my backlog, I keep not feeling like playing them, not sure why. I usually play sequentially, but yeah I dunno. Any thoughts on AC4 and the series? My only experience has been a bug filled ride through AC:Liberation which ended when I got the save file corrupt bug. So yeah, I'm a bit AC agnostic.
@Scollurio it seems on the surface that we're debating, but on most points we actually agree heartily.
That said, I think there is room for games where failure doesn't occur, think Flower or Journey for example. I don't think we should penalize too heavily for non-traditional structure.
Funny enough what you said about the whole game potentially being a cut scene was interesting because it drew my attention to the fact that modern games are just that easy. Having been gaming for more than 30 years I really almost see no difference between a "no lose game" and a more traditonal one. Modern games usually only add grinding or difficulty spiking. Mostly, completion is all but certainty. They're still fun, but this QD style might just be the Kurtz in the Heart of Darkness, getting persecuted for being a pure version of what everyone is making.
Now someone bring up Demon's Souls and we can all go home. LOL
While I am enjoying the game, flaws and all, I do think Heavy Rain was more on track with it's consequences system (or so it seems).
I think to say that the game goes on fail-or-not is sort of an oversimplification. All games do that. You just have to restart from the checkpoint or whatever. In the case of this game, your sense of accomplishment isn't in avoiding failure, but in how smoothly you succeed. In the end that's true of most games anyway isn't it? Mario always saves peach if you keep playing. Mario's version of "smooth" is collecting everything and not dying often, in BTS smoothness is making good choices and not staggering around like a fool getting beat up and messing everything up. The fact is though, in both games, you keep playing you get to the end (in a similar amount of time too, actually).
I see this as the infancy of a new form of incredible gaming. At the moment it's got a few too many warts, but to say that consoles are for games and not interactive movies isn't fair really, since there's room for all genres from Singing and Dancing games to Gameshow games to FPS games and interactive movies fit right in there. However, more importantly, I think we're only a few iterations away from a QD game that nails the experience and blows the world away.
What's needed? They need to hone the 'gameplay' elements. Unconventional mechanics can work and do to a degree but there's a lot of room to feel more in control. Storyline created by real screenwriters. David Cage has his moments but much of his stories feel forced and/or weird. Dynamic range...from individual to individual the story has to feel very different based on how they played it.
So yeah, works in progress, but let's not get out the torches and pitchforks just yet, remember early third person action games? There was plenty of reasons to give up on that genre but they didn't and now we have games like The Last of Us. The industry is sometimes about giving us the best new version of what we love, other times it's about planting seeds for the future.
@Scollurio GTA is a better game, and so are the naughty dog games. The comparison to GTA seems to be a stretch though, because despite the cutscenes, the game is open world, different genre entirely. What ND does is much more of a fair comparison, except that ND games are like AAAA titles, and in a league of their own. What QD does is worthy of praise though.
Comments 228
Re: Talking Point: Is the PS4's Limited Launch Lineup a Problem?
History tells us this is a strong launch. It also tells us that overly strong launches lead to droughts that get characterized as an overall "Lack of games."
The Xb1 line up is crammed with 360 ports and low res cross plats. I hate the myth that it's somehow super strong. Why? Because of the smallest Forza ever? Because of DR3 that was rushed and hits 16 fps at 720? Ryse? Ha!
The Ps4's launch is fine and this year will be good, next year, amazing.
Re: Review: Resogun (PlayStation 4)
@bliquid yeah Dead Nation is way underrated, I love that game. This studio really gets it done. Resogun is definitely one of those "one more game " experiences. Love it .
Re: Review: Knack (PlayStation 4)
THIS is a fair score for this game. Finally.
The game is way underrated. I theorize this comes mostly from people coming to the insane conclusion this is an "unfair button masher." Um no... This game takes skill...stop sucking.
Re: Review: Tearaway (PlayStation Vita)
Been looking fwd to this for so long... They should have released it in october though... They buried it under a pile of console releases and Mario. Hopefully this game still shines through.
Re: Review: Trine 2: Complete Story (PlayStation 4)
Only thing holding me away from it is the $19.99 price. I think I'll try to grab it on sale.
Re: Poll: How Would You Rate Your First Weekend with the PS4?
Some of them needed an "all of the above." so many right answers...such an awesome console.
Re: Blimey, One Million PS4s Were Sold in Just 24 Hours
@Epic we'll also have to see what gets announced at the VGA's. I think surprises are still very possible because avoiding the dreaded drought has been one of their stated strategies. Like, why waste time convincing preorder holders? They won't even be able to supply enough units to people who want them already till the new year as it is. That said, give us some surprises Sony! (Though, the launch lineup is keeping me busy for the time being)
Re: Blimey, One Million PS4s Were Sold in Just 24 Hours
Amazing! Definitely kicking some major ass!
Re: Talking Point: What Are Your First Impressions of the PS4?
Ok so, have now played some Killzone. (Kids are in bed) Holy crap... Not only is it great looking, but wow it really makes you think about the potential going fwd. Not just for post launch performance bumps.. But just imagine a Naughty Dog game of this graphical fidelity. The framerate....so nice.
To be fair to this game specifically, as a big fan of the series, I should add, it's off to a great start, story and gameplay-wise.
Review sites, by and large,have talked down everything next gen... To me, based on my experience so far, that is mental.
Re: Talking Point: What Are Your First Impressions of the PS4?
The machine is amazing. Very intuitive and the dedicated resources for the UI take things to a whole new level. The UI 'feels' like it weighs nothing. Jump in and out of games with zero effort.
The DS4 feels incredible in action.
Only played Knack and Resogun so far. Kids are up. Knack is actually what I thought it would be in the beginning: punishing old school platformer. Yeah it's not a 10...but so far it feels like a very solid 7 to me. That's a good thing. I got it for $20 off too, which helps since I think the game's ideal price might be more $20-30. It's not a typical day-one buy, but for many a worthwhile console-launch-day-one buy, especially if you have kids.
I actually find it amazing how little I've spend on games this launch, tons of deals to be had.
Re: Review: Stick It to the Man (PlayStation Network)
In think I'm going to grab this game. Looks pretty awesome. Picking up my PS4 in 1 hour, btw. Oh man...excited.
Re: Don't Worry, Sony Believes Defective PS4s Are Isolated Incidents
@ShogunRok seriously...a first week failure rare of 0.2%? If they could keep this up this would be the most successful launch ever...by miles. The first week fail is more like 15 times higher. Failure within 4 years averages 15%. Ps3 had an amazing record with only 10%.
Re: Poll: How Many PS3 Games Do You Hope to Finish Before Fully Focusing on PS4?
@charlesnarles I like to think of it as subtle storytelling, but I respect your opinion, for sure.
As for MGS1, next gen starts this week in Canada so, not just yet, but once things slow down, I'll try to get caught up before V comes out.
Have I told you guys lately that this is my fav gaming site? Everyone here is so sane. Never change pushsquare...never change.
Re: Poll: How Many PS3 Games Do You Hope to Finish Before Fully Focusing on PS4?
@charlesnarles You know, I've yet to play a MGS game...I plan on it, but catching up seems like a HUGE feat. I know it's gonna be worth it when I can find the time though.
The Last of Us SPOILER ALERT:
The way I see the end is a bit different than some. Some saw Joel as a villain, selfishly trying to redeem himself for his inability to save his daughter. I see it differently:
The world has two ills. The infection and the loss of basic humanity. Curing the infection isn't enough. Ellie had more than just that in her. The same way her body resisted the infection, her mind resisted the loss of humanity that everyone else suffered from. To my mind, Joel knew that the infected could eventually be destroyed, but the spirit of life was so much harder to restore. Human goodness, even he had lost.
They were going back to live at the power station with his brother and that small community, so who knows what will happen.
My take away though is the title. It's easy to assume it means "the last uninfected humans" but to me, the title gives me goosebumps, because I believe it refers to only one person: Ellie. Ellie is the last person with humanity, something so much more valuable than the cure. She is the point of the whole game and the only thing worth protecting at all costs. She is "The Last of Us."
Re: Poll: How Many PS3 Games Do You Hope to Finish Before Fully Focusing on PS4?
@charlesnarles wow, no wrong answers, it's totally subjective, but I had the total opposite reaction to the game. I loved everything about it. To each their own though. What game stories have you enjoyed in recent years? Just out of curiousity.
Re: Poll: How Many PS3 Games Do You Hope to Finish Before Fully Focusing on PS4?
@charlesnarles worst ending ever?! Huh????
I'm confused. LOL
Re: Poll: How Many PS3 Games Do You Hope to Finish Before Fully Focusing on PS4?
@charlesnarles worst ending ever?! Huh????
I'm confused. LOL
Re: Poll: How Many PS3 Games Do You Hope to Finish Before Fully Focusing on PS4?
@Dodoo you're going to love Tomb Raider, especially at that price. The comparison confuses some people, because they are different in many ways but in terms of vibe, the game is like a spiritual successor to Resident Evil 4, one of my favourite games ever.
There are some overt similarities, but mainly it's the feeling the game gave me. It's hard to pay a game a higher compliment. Oh that and to say that it does third person action similarly as well as the Uncharted series.
Based on those two comparisons I'd have to say it was one of my top games of the generation.
Man, next gen is almost here and it's about time, but was this gen ever good.
Re: Poll: How Many PS3 Games Do You Hope to Finish Before Fully Focusing on PS4?
@get2sammyb DEFINITELY play Tombraider, it's superb. Also, Farcry 3 is an awesome game, I platinumed it with pleasure, never getting sick of
it whatsoever (though honesty compels me to mention the coop missions are weak.)
Re: Talking Point: Is a Big Reveal Likely During Sony's PS4 Launch Livestream?
To be honest I think they should actually force a big announcement if one isn't planned. Defusing all this hype would be a mistake. Even something like a promotion such as for the next 24 hours PS+ will be $1 for a one year subscription (with stacking limit, like one new one) at the very least.
A big announcement like SSM or Naughty Dog title would be ideal, but they have to do something either way. Definitely best if they at least tease a new AAA. Also, some footage of SS and 1886.
Also, they should make the production awesome. Maybe have tapped Quantic Dream for some cool realtime CGI etc.
They are likely to rehash stuff for the sake of casuals, but they should remember that hardcore gamers are going to be glued to this thing, you have to wow people. Make people literally say "wow!"
Re: Talking Point: Are You Upgrading Your Television in Preparation for PS4?
@PMasterTy9 I agree.
Re: Naughty Dog: You'll Be in Awe When You Play Our PS4 Game
@get2sammyb I like the last second hype idea. True hardcores will be watching from smartphones in line at midnight launches, but also many will watch from home too, such as those buying from online retailers and those buying from stores w/o midnight launches. That said, this event is good for pushing fence-sitters over the line and just generally turning the hype up to 11. I think it's genius. It worked on me...just when I thought I couldn't get more excited -bam! LOL
Also consider it a clever strategy for stealing headlines from PSN hiccups and post-launch-hype-quick-acting-malaise.
I think they should also do a PSN bonus akin to what they did prior to the announcement press conference. Was clever.
Re: Review: Proteus (PlayStation Network)
@darkhairwarrior agree! Was positive I was getting it till I saw the price. $9.99/$6.99 ps+ would have been the sweet spot for me.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 17
Muramasa Rebirth, kinda digging it. Also, I figure I'd mention that a copy of Knack sits on my shelf, awaiting the 15th. Was the only pre-order in stock aside from the ds4 but it's a start!
Re: Opinion: Why Sony's Smart to Ship PS4 Accessories So Early
Yeah, I've got my extra ds4 and will get the games once all my preorders are in. I really do like the new way of being relaxed about this stuff. Feels less cold and more friendly. Also, will cause less slowdowns at the cash at launch day.
Re: Feature: Five Frightfully Bad PlayStation 3 Games
Resistance 2 is one of my most hated ps3 games. It was a bizarre followup to pt1 and probably robbed many people of the will to give the stellar pt3 a try.
Re: Talking Point: How Much Do Format Face-Offs Really Matter?
Format face-offs matter because people are deciding what to buy right now. Early weakness is a sign of short console lifespan. So yeah, these faceoffs are litmus tests.
Re: Battlefield 4 Commands Next-Gen Advantage on PS4
@get2sammyb I can't disagree enough. The difference in the visuals seen in a web video may look small, and you might even argue that the difference is small on a big screen at home (which I doubt based on the strong words of journalists that have played both on large screens), but the story here isn't which one looks better, but which one PERFORMS better.
The numbers are in, the xb1 is running at 720p native resolution, the Ps4 is running at 900p. VERY important numbers. This means that the Ps4 is pushing ~50% more pixels! 50%!!!
This is significant for tons of reasons. Among them: it confirms rumours we'd been hearing which were "too extreme to be true", it shows a multiplatform disparity WAY beyond the ps3/360 Unreal engine issues that had ps3 users 5 fps behind, it also shows that MS has been hiding this and indicates many other "doomsday rumours" might well be true.
But don't forget, this isn't just resolution, amazingly the Ps4 has a better framerate and more power-hungry features such as ambient occlusion.
What this shows us, is not only about BF4, it's about ultimate potential. Imagine this wasn't a cross-gen/cross-plat mad dash. Imagine you were just creating a game for xb1 and ps4. Imagine due to the xb1's perceived limitations you locked the res at 720. Then from there you fleshed each version out to peak potential. You would have 50% more power to work with. Not theoretical, but actual usable power. The difference is almost cross generational.
I love you Sammy so sorry to go off on a rant on you but this talk of this "not being a big deal" blows my mind. It would be like a sprinter winning a race with a 25lb shoe on each foot and people saying "he only won by 3 seconds, what's the big deal?"
Re: Weirdness: You're Going to Wish That Your PS4 Controller Is White
Been thinking of doing a super-custom colour on my ds4, I have a few weeks before it'll be of use anyway. The sticking point is durability though. I know there are plastic paints, but still. Tempting though.
Re: These New Killzone: Shadow Fall PS4 Screens Sure Deserve Your Attention
@Grockumus LMAO.
Re: These New Killzone: Shadow Fall PS4 Screens Sure Deserve Your Attention
@Grockumus LOL yeah totally. Also a classic is how Rico keeps screaming "A**hole!!!" In Killzone Liberation. It's so oddly out of place, especially in a top-down action title. Made me laugh everytime.
P.s. You're Vektan scum.
P.p.s. I mean that in the best possible way.
Re: These New Killzone: Shadow Fall PS4 Screens Sure Deserve Your Attention
@Lelouch Ah ok, fair enough. For me, I just hope they bring good characters. I've enjoyed every game in the series, including Pt1 and Liberation. I just hope they bring more balance into the characters to reflect the mature narrative. It's felt like they thought they had to dumb down parts of the game. Games like TLOU prove it's unnecessary, in 2013.
However, I will now, and forever occasionally be possessed to yell "Vektan scum!" at my loved ones. Some cheesier parts, I guess I'd miss.
Re: These New Killzone: Shadow Fall PS4 Screens Sure Deserve Your Attention
@Lelouch I might be wrong, but I think what you meant is "characters" is where they usually screw up. The reason I say that is because if you think about the basic stories and the history of the KZ it's pretty interesting...then saunters in Rico.
If they have finally eliminated this problem, they will be way ahead of the game.
Though, maybe you just dislike the basic premises, which I can respect, but don't agree with.
Re: Battlefield 4's Story Trailer Punches a Dog in the Chops
Looks amazing but yeah, dog punching is a sketchy area. Kill 100 villagers? No problem. Punch a dog? Then people are like "Oh no you didn't!"
Re: Video: There Are Already PS4 Controllers Out in the Wild
@get2sammyb
I just picked up my preordered ds4, they had cameras in stock too actually. (I'm in Canada)
My initial impressions are good. Sticks are tighter, the triggers are way better and in fact l1/r1 are too. The touch pad makes it more front heavy, depends how you hold it I guess. Face buttons closer together and evenly spaced, but spaced miles apart compared to Vita, which I love anyway. The touchpad click is pleasing and overall the unit feels good quality. More "for business" than the ds3 which immediately seems flimsy in comparison. The dpad also seems nicer, more smooth and quality.
One thing I noticed that "time will tell" about is the sticks seem to have less overall travel, edge to edge. This could cut either way, but with the reportedly smaller deadzone this might amount to nothing but greater comfort due to less extreme range of motion.
Anyone having questions about it, just tag me in the comment, I'll try to offer insight, based on having it in hand.
Re: You'll Kill Well Over 10 Hours in Killzone: Shadow Fall's Campaign
@Temple-Overlord
Yes, well you are actually proving my point. Board games are always like 10-20 bucks. Why? Several reasons. For one, they are traditionally inexpensive and you can't reasonably jack up the price without alienating your audience...but further, it would be unreasonable to do so. Why? R&D + production costs. Monopoly was a self published creation by an american woman over 100 years ago. The cost of making it could be recooped by selling, what? 1000 boards? Well, over 250 million units have been sold. Development costs, have been covered. (Think: Game of the Year Edition pricing) But further to the point, the fact is, you could make your own with household items for darn near what it sells for.
Now, we're talking about two primary comparisons. AAA shooters to each other and AAA shooters to Movie Blurays. The comparison of AAA vs AAA is simple. There really aren't many, or possibly any, excellent AAA shooters that run more than 10-12 hours. Why? Time and money. As it is, many shooters lose money selling at $60 because of their failure to be "the next big thing" (identical to movie industry in fact, with regards to many films not making money) So to say this game fails in some way by it's length, without taking into account a fair comparison to it's peers/market is illogical. To say that $60 is too much to pay for something that cost over 100 millon dollars to make (with zero guaranteed ROI) is western consumerism at it's worst. Especially since these games are not only so expensive to make, but they also take hundreds of people years to produce. Basically put, you won't be making it at home for "darn near what it sells for."
Further, to compare a game to a movie is not a huge stretch. Especially modern games. Watching the Avengers provides, excitment, laughs and yes, maybe a few tears (spoiler alert: Coulson!!!!) Both mediums come on bluray disk in a bluray case, with an eyecatching paper insert and are shrinkwrapped in plastic. You can use both by inserting them into your ps3. Both are "replayable." The primary difference is interactivity. Some would argue that games are more/less replayable or that interactivity adds/retracts value. At the end of the day, you are sitting on your couch, alone or with others, staring at your tv, thinking and feeling. The comparison is not so far fetched dude. Not at all.
So while it's fair to compare anything we spend our entertainment budgets on simply because it's always a value proposition and those things we value most will provide us the greatest motivation to spend, some things are more easily compared. However, interestingly, the issue of how we compare similar things becomes more complex at times. This rears it's head in videogame genre cross-comparisons as opposed to videogames vs movies.
Movies are made of a length to be watched in a single serving, games are not. That said, game length is limited more so by a time/budget factor. The cheaper and easier your game is to make, the longer it can easily be, but the less it will contain set pieces and dramatic mindblowing settings and details. I like both simple games and big glitzy AAA showstoppers. As long as that is the case I will always have to accept that some games will be 8 hours and others 30. To not accept that would make me naive or possibly even spoiled.
Long response, but short compared to the broadness of the subject.
Re: Feature: Five Killzone: Shadow Fall Story Trailer Queries Blown Wide Open
Yeah, I find it interesting that Killzone is a series where you play as a member of an army which was responsible for illegitimately invading foreign lands... Yet no one seems to draw parallels to modern military operations and foreign wars. It seems like Guerilla is getting at something with all this, but they never take the subject head on. Will be interesting how that changes in a more serious looking game like Shadow Fall. Either way, I hope this underrated franchise's time has finally come.
Re: You'll Kill Well Over 10 Hours in Killzone: Shadow Fall's Campaign
@RicksReflection
I can tell you're new around here (and quite possibly to gaming industry analysis, based on the quality and accuracy of your statements). Your tone is all wrong.
I'll stop here out of respect to the site, but you're A: making no sense, and B: disrespectful, while preaching civility. (The worst kind,imo)
Don't expect an additional response, I feel like I'm in the comments of IGN with you around.
Re: You'll Kill Well Over 10 Hours in Killzone: Shadow Fall's Campaign
@RicksReflection
Actually, I don't often say this but you're actually dead wrong.
Comparing anything people spend their entertainment dollars on is entirely fair because ultimately all the activities are competing for those very same dollars. This is particularly true of activities so very similar as movies and games.
From a marketing perspective these type of value propositions are entirely how they judge their solvency in today's ever crowded entertainment market. Comparing videogames and movies to strip clubs is more hyperbole however due to the fact that strip clubs are not only forms of entertainment but also sexual outlets. So in that sense, your comparison was far more apples to oranges while mine was more red apples to green apples.
Further, if you are talking about competing in a story driven AAA FPS environment, specifically outside the multiplayer domain, then I'm a little more than confused at your assertion that a game that runs for more than 10 hours is "short." In fact, such a length, would place it far enough past average to certainly qualify it as "long."
In fact, if you're comparing a game like this to a open world genre FPS game that runs 30 hours with none of the cinematic flair the AAA FPS genre is known for,(not to mention REQUIRED to deliver) then not only is that wrong, but it's actually a bigger stretch than comparing it to a movie, not only from an experience perspective (emotional journey/investment, story arc, etc) but particularly from an assets creation and management perspective (add ten more missions in Skyrim, increase budget ~1%, add 10 more missions in COD, increase budget by ~50%. This not even factoring in the budgeting of time, always a concern, but vital during launch window. This is because as much as I enjoyed Skyrim, I acknowledge the game's lack of production values and abundance of filler content, such as the endless fetch quests and similar environments -all staples of it's genre)
I could go on, but if you don't see my point by now, you probably won't.
Re: You'll Kill Well Over 10 Hours in Killzone: Shadow Fall's Campaign
@RicksReflection and yet people buy blurays at launch for a first playthrough value of about $15 an hour.
They get interactive entertaintment for $6.50 an hour (not including countless multiplayer hours or replay if they don't care for those.)
I like long games too, but they are rarely long and also good. Those are rare great games. Most long games drag.
It's probably better to wait for price cuts on a title that doesn't excite you, but if excited and you can't wait, 6 bucks an hour is better value than a lot of entertainment.
Re: Soapbox: Stop Sobbing Over Retail Releases and Embrace PS4's Smaller Titles
Both are great and important, but hell, consider that today's indie is on average way better than most AAA titles made a few gens ago, without qualification. Some people get so hung up on definition. Fun is fun.
Re: Weirdness: Even the PS4's Screws Are a Work of Art
Yeah, I want some too.
Re: Talking Point: How Have This Week's Delays Affected Your Anticipation for PS4?
@-CraZed- Yeah, don't get me wrong. Had planned on buying Contrast, day one. So this is nice...yet you are compensating people expecting "free" access to 90% of a AAA racer on their new console, day one. They sold the service to many with they promise. Not me, I'm pleased...you're pleased, we don't matter, we're buying it no matter what. Sony has to tread lightly here as far as the masses are concerned.
Re: Talking Point: How Have This Week's Delays Affected Your Anticipation for PS4?
Want to play it, but can wait... only concern comes from Sony keeping the ship righted. They should add more beyond Contrast (despite that I'm happy to get it free)to compensate. Not that they inherently owe anyone, but then again they sold this machine to many people on a free day-one Driveclub. Why give up any ground this late into the game?
Re: Rumour: Could DriveClub Be Racing Past Its Launch Release Date?
@get2sammyb
Well, Watchdogs was a loss, now this...WD bothered me way more, but in both cases they are done when they are done.
I do see the pr issue here. What will follow will be a test of how well they think on their feet. Time for some really cool news, Sony.
What really makes me mad is all around we're seeing a lot of scrambling from devs. Really devs? After all the universal complaints about how the last gen was too long and after all the work Sony (and to a lesser extent MS) has done to make dev friendly consoles, VERY few titles are rock solid. Unacceptable.
Re: Reaction: Watch Dogs' Delay Is a Shame, but PS4 Won't Lose Connection with Consumers
@-CraZed- Yeah, unfortunately just read that Ubisoft's stock has fallen 32% on the news of the delays of Watchdogs and the Crew. Ouch. Rough year for Ubi.
Re: Reaction: Watch Dogs' Delay Is a Shame, but PS4 Won't Lose Connection with Consumers
It's awful news...for the Watchdogs team. The launch window is a great time to rack up sales and secure new loyalties. It's when franchises are often born. Slipping into spring will see this game competing with more heavy hitters. It might not have the impact it would have.
That said, it's better to ship a great game late, than a broken one on time.
As for my ps4 launch dreams, this fit right in there...It will be missed. It's nowhere near a deciding factor for me, of course, I'm a day one ps4 preorder guy.
Now the conundrum, do I fill the hole with AC4? I have all the earlier games in my backlog, I keep not feeling like playing them, not sure why. I usually play sequentially, but yeah I dunno. Any thoughts on AC4 and the series? My only experience has been a bug filled ride through AC:Liberation which ended when I got the save file corrupt bug. So yeah, I'm a bit AC agnostic.
Re: Review: Beyond: Two Souls (PlayStation 3)
@Scollurio it seems on the surface that we're debating, but on most points we actually agree heartily.
That said, I think there is room for games where failure doesn't occur, think Flower or Journey for example. I don't think we should penalize too heavily for non-traditional structure.
Funny enough what you said about the whole game potentially being a cut scene was interesting because it drew my attention to the fact that modern games are just that easy. Having been gaming for more than 30 years I really almost see no difference between a "no lose game" and a more traditonal one. Modern games usually only add grinding or difficulty spiking. Mostly, completion is all but certainty. They're still fun, but this QD style might just be the Kurtz in the Heart of Darkness, getting persecuted for being a pure version of what everyone is making.
Now someone bring up Demon's Souls and we can all go home. LOL
Re: Review: Beyond: Two Souls (PlayStation 3)
@Scollurio @gamer83
While I am enjoying the game, flaws and all, I do think Heavy Rain was more on track with it's consequences system (or so it seems).
I think to say that the game goes on fail-or-not is sort of an oversimplification. All games do that. You just have to restart from the checkpoint or whatever. In the case of this game, your sense of accomplishment isn't in avoiding failure, but in how smoothly you succeed. In the end that's true of most games anyway isn't it? Mario always saves peach if you keep playing. Mario's version of "smooth" is collecting everything and not dying often, in BTS smoothness is making good choices and not staggering around like a fool getting beat up and messing everything up. The fact is though, in both games, you keep playing you get to the end (in a similar amount of time too, actually).
I see this as the infancy of a new form of incredible gaming. At the moment it's got a few too many warts, but to say that consoles are for games and not interactive movies isn't fair really, since there's room for all genres from Singing and Dancing games to Gameshow games to FPS games and interactive movies fit right in there. However, more importantly, I think we're only a few iterations away from a QD game that nails the experience and blows the world away.
What's needed? They need to hone the 'gameplay' elements. Unconventional mechanics can work and do to a degree but there's a lot of room to feel more in control. Storyline created by real screenwriters. David Cage has his moments but much of his stories feel forced and/or weird. Dynamic range...from individual to individual the story has to feel very different based on how they played it.
So yeah, works in progress, but let's not get out the torches and pitchforks just yet, remember early third person action games? There was plenty of reasons to give up on that genre but they didn't and now we have games like The Last of Us. The industry is sometimes about giving us the best new version of what we love, other times it's about planting seeds for the future.
Re: Review: Beyond: Two Souls (PlayStation 3)
@Scollurio GTA is a better game, and so are the naughty dog games. The comparison to GTA seems to be a stretch though, because despite the cutscenes, the game is open world, different genre entirely. What ND does is much more of a fair comparison, except that ND games are like AAAA titles, and in a league of their own. What QD does is worthy of praise though.