Random Gaming Talk Thread

[Bebpo]

Japan has been such a failure at HD games this gen.  Making games with better graphics than PS2 SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THAT HARD.  Not so hard that it blindsided every A++ dev out there in Japan and caused them to screw up all their projects.  The timetables have just been an utter mess.

MGS4 - Time-wise not really too out of control.  MGS games took 3 years each, and MGS4 took 3 1/2.  But the game still turned out a mess and development seems like it had troubles.
FFXIII - ~4-5 years from announcement.  Result...'nuff said. 
GT5 - ~6 years from GT4 and a mess
FFXIII Versus - if it comes out in 2012 it'll have been 6 years from announcement...good luck!
The Last Guardian - if it doesn't make this year it'll 6-7 years from SoTC...good luck!

Seriously, these aren't smalltime devs that should having so much difficulty making a game in 1280x720p GRAPHICS.  PC games have been in that resolution or higher for DECADES.  It really is ridiculous how fucked up Japan development became this gen.  About the only ones who can get their shit done is Capcom and that's because they outsource everything. 

They need to sit down and say 18 month dev cycle for all games in Japan.  Fix your scope of your game to comply.

[magus]

http://gamersareembarrassing.tumblr.com/

Posting about IGN being embarrassing is like posting about a kitten being cute in that it is far more notable when it doesn’t happen.

[Smooth Groove]

Japan has been such a failure at HD games this gen.  Making games with better graphics than PS2 SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THAT HARD.  Not so hard that it blindsided every A++ dev out there in Japan and caused them to screw up all their projects.  The timetables have just been an utter mess.

MGS4 - Time-wise not really too out of control.  MGS games took 3 years each, and MGS4 took 3 1/2.  But the game still turned out a mess and development seems like it had troubles.
FFXIII - ~4-5 years from announcement.  Result...'nuff said. 
GT5 - ~6 years from GT4 and a mess
FFXIII Versus - if it comes out in 2012 it'll have been 6 years from announcement...good luck!
The Last Guardian - if it doesn't make this year it'll 6-7 years from SoTC...good luck!

Seriously, these aren't smalltime devs that should having so much difficulty making a game in 1280x720p GRAPHICS.  PC games have been in that resolution or higher for DECADES.  It really is ridiculous how fucked up Japan development became this gen.  About the only ones who can get their shit done is Capcom and that's because they outsource everything. 

They need to sit down and say 18 month dev cycle for all games in Japan.  Fix your scope of your game to comply.

I think MGS4 pretty much turned out out how Kojima wanted it to be, apart from the visuals.  He clearly expected the PS3 to give him much more horsepower to work with but I think the general design of the game would have stayed the same.  Having the game run in 1080p/60fps wouldn't have change how anyone felt about it. 

When it comes to tech wizardy, Capcom definitely has been da man among Jap developers.  It still amazes me that RE5 is able to run at 60fps with full detail even when I use a ridiculous level of AA that basically renders every pixel at 4 times 1080P.  Framework MT is just remarkably efficient for a multiplatform engine. 

[Bebpo]

So the new Acquire game by the Way of the Samurai people is a psp game called AKIBA'S TRIP which is an action adventure that takes place in akihabara and features real store tie-ups and you fight vampires who are killing otaku or something.

[Bebpo]

And apparently Sakaguchi's The Last Story got a 38/40 in famitsu.  Kind of impressive considering that Mistwalker has no money to moneyhat like SE.  Maybe the game will actually be good.  LO/BD were good, but not 38/40 good, so either this is his best work since FFVI or famitsu is high again.

I don't really like the character designs at all, but I'm looking forward to playing it next week.

[Bebpo]

And according to GAF SNK is shutting down all internal development.  No more KoF or anything, boo.

[Smooth Groove]

Never really dug anything SNK did except for Samurai Showdown.  Hope they sell it off to Capcom.

And apparently Sakaguchi's The Last Story got a 38/40 in famitsu.  Kind of impressive considering that Mistwalker has no money to moneyhat like SE.  Maybe the game will actually be good.  LO/BD were good, but not 38/40 good, so either this is his best work since FFVI or famitsu is high again.

I don't really like the character designs at all, but I'm looking forward to playing it next week.

What was that other FF-like Wii rpg you played last year? 

[Bebpo]

Xenoblade.  Darn good game.  Scored a 36/40 in famitsu for reference.

[cool breeze]

The Last Story does look great.  I hope it isn't another Wii rpg that is kept in Japan.

I think MGS4 pretty much turned out out how Kojima wanted it to be, apart from the visuals.  He clearly expected the PS3 to give him much more horsepower to work with but I think the general design of the game would have stayed the same.  Having the game run in 1080p/60fps wouldn't have change how anyone felt about it. 

I disagree, at least assuming the initial talk about MGS4 wasn't hot air.  MGS4 initially seemed like it would be an open battlefield with multiple sides fighting and you could join any side of your choosing.  The final product isn't that different from MGS3.  Levels are still broken into small chunks with loading time between them (basically giant "organic" rooms) and choosing sides was: those guys are bad guys, these are arabs or something; help arabs or no help arabs?

So the new Acquire game by the Way of the Samurai people is a psp game called AKIBA'S TRIP which is an action adventure that takes place in akihabara and features real store tie-ups and you fight vampires who are killing otaku or something.

http://www.imagebam.com/image/80d875115742675
http://www.imagebam.com/image/3f7328115742684
http://www.imagebam.com/image/ba5ee3115742689

excited based on the talent behind it and concept

[Bebpo]

That last page 

Man, Persona 3 is probably the most influential game made in Japan in the last decade.  It's the equivalent of Call of Duty to Japan. 

[Bebpo]

I want to play Last Story next week and I have the import pre-ordered, but I dunno if I really want to start playing an rpg during my last 5 weeks of studying for the bar exam.  I basically study 7 days a week from 8-9am -> 5-6pm and then have like 2 hours to game at night.  That works fine for playing short stuff like PoP games or 3rd Birthday or LBP2 over a few days, but I dunno if I really want to play a real rpg like that, especially if it turns out to be a great one :\ 

Might just play an hour to check it out and then shelve it until March.  But I already decided the first game I'm playing after the test is Catherine, so I'd have to wait until after that.  Still debating if I want to play Dead Space 2 now or hold that off as well until March.

[Bebpo]

btw, Valkyrie Chronicles 3 got a 36 (9/9/9/9) and Dragon Age Origins got a 37 (10/10/8/9).  I hope VC3 is good.  VC2 was sooooo not for me and so I skipped it.  If VC3 is good I'll probably play it at some point eventually. 

[iconoclast]

Yeah I didn't like VC2 at all. It was such a gigantic step back from the first game that I couldn't even be bothered finishing it. VC3 looks better, but I'm not expecting much out of it due to the hardware it's on.

[Bebpo]

I don't think the second the 3DS comes out they will just walk over to the PSP rack and knock it down.  PSP will get its own space, just that space will get smaller.  It's not like there's going to be a whole lot of 3DS software to fill up the racks in 2011.

[MCD]

And according to GAF SNK is shutting down all internal development.  No more KoF or anything, boo.

Someone better buy them then.

[Smooth Groove]

I want to play Last Story next week and I have the import pre-ordered, but I dunno if I really want to start playing an rpg during my last 5 weeks of studying for the bar exam.  I basically study 7 days a week from 8-9am -> 5-6pm and then have like 2 hours to game at night.  That works fine for playing short stuff like PoP games or 3rd Birthday or LBP2 over a few days, but I dunno if I really want to play a real rpg like that, especially if it turns out to be a great one :\ 

Might just play an hour to check it out and then shelve it until March.  But I already decided the first game I'm playing after the test is Catherine, so I'd have to wait until after that.  Still debating if I want to play Dead Space 2 now or hold that off as well until March.

Don't you just have to pass for the bar?  Like scores don't mean anything, right, unlike medical board exams?

Plenty of time to mess around for a smart dude like you. 

[Damian79]

Last Story got 10/10/9/9.  Glad to see Final Fantasy lives on after the garbage that was FFXIII.

[Bebpo]

I want to play Last Story next week and I have the import pre-ordered, but I dunno if I really want to start playing an rpg during my last 5 weeks of studying for the bar exam.  I basically study 7 days a week from 8-9am -> 5-6pm and then have like 2 hours to game at night.  That works fine for playing short stuff like PoP games or 3rd Birthday or LBP2 over a few days, but I dunno if I really want to play a real rpg like that, especially if it turns out to be a great one :\ 

Might just play an hour to check it out and then shelve it until March.  But I already decided the first game I'm playing after the test is Catherine, so I'd have to wait until after that.  Still debating if I want to play Dead Space 2 now or hold that off as well until March.

Don't you just have to pass for the bar?  Like scores don't mean anything, right, unlike medical board exams?

Plenty of time to mess around for a smart dude like you. 

haha, yeah but it still takes a lot of work to pass   The pass rate for the Feb one every year is like 50% in CA for first-time takers compared to 75% for the summer ones.  I dunno if it's because the winter one is harder, or most people who take it in winter first are dumber because they didn't graduate and take it on a normal schedule.  Still, 50% is iffy!  Gotta study study study so I pass on my first try.

[magus]

http://www.siliconera.com/2011/01/18/sonic-creator-takes-to-the-sky-and-3ds-with-machinist-of-the-sky-rodea/

anybody cares?

[Cindi Mayweather]

huh? I'm not seeing the connection.

personally all they had to do was pallete swap jet set radio future for sonic characters and replace tags with rings.

[demi]

http://www.develop-online.net/news/36797/Breaking-Activision-recommends-Bizarre-closure

:laugh

But guuuuuys Blur is a good game

[ferrarimanf355]

http://www.develop-online.net/news/36797/Breaking-Activision-recommends-Bizarre-closure

:laugh

But guuuuuys Blur is a good game

You're a real asshole, demi.

[EmCeeGrammar]

huh? I'm not seeing the connection.

personally all they had to do was pallete swap jet set radio future for sonic characters and replace tags with rings.

I hope you're joking. 

[Purple Filth]

Propaganda games is now dead and i blame AdmiralVisen and his burn on Turok PS3   

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/propaganda-games-shuttered/

[Philip Cardgage]

the BishopTL curse!

[maxy]

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/01/20/frontiers-the-outsider-has-been-cancelled/#more-48379

[Philip Cardgage]

[Philip Cardgage]

Gonna go buy Wolverine for 5 buxxx and pre-order Dead Space 2.

[magus]

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3382650

oh shit! i can't spoil myself a game i might want to play but at the same time i love reading the stuff that comes from this guy?

what to do... what to do....

[Cindi Mayweather]

read it later

[Cindi Mayweather]

huh? I'm not seeing the connection.

personally all they had to do was pallete swap jet set radio future for sonic characters and replace tags with rings.

I hope you're joking. 

nope

[Stoney Mason]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/01/activision-calls-in-reinforcements-for-next-call-of-duty-following-infinity-ward-meltdown.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newsandbuzz+%28News+%26+Buzz%29&utm_content=Twitter

[EmCeeGrammar]

huh? I'm not seeing the connection.

personally all they had to do was pallete swap jet set radio future for sonic characters and replace tags with rings.

I hope you're joking. 

nope

Sonic is all about a-b. Jet set is like, arena gameplay. 

[maxy]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/01/activision-calls-in-reinforcements-for-next-call-of-duty-following-infinity-ward-meltdown.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newsandbuzz+%28News+%26+Buzz%29&utm_content=Twitter

They have no choice,COD is their cash cow.I don't expect some sloppy work but it will be interesting to see new COD.

[Stoney Mason]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/01/activision-calls-in-reinforcements-for-next-call-of-duty-following-infinity-ward-meltdown.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newsandbuzz+%28News+%26+Buzz%29&utm_content=Twitter

They have no choice,COD is their cash cow.I don't expect some sloppy work but it will be interesting to see new COD.

Who knows how it will turn out. I'm the closest thing to a resident COD fanboy on the board but IW isn't the same IW. Sledgehammer is an unknown quantity. And Raven hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire recently (even though I liked Singularilty) especially on the MP side despite their past background. It's a lot of resources. Three companies on a game. But that also has the potential of making it feel completely disjointed. Like MOH felt.

Also this

http://kotaku.com/5738885/did-the-creators-of-call-of-duty-delay-a-map-pack-to-help-out-the-competition

[Bebpo]

http://kotaku.com/5738885/did-the-creators-of-call-of-duty-delay-a-map-pack-to-help-out-the-competition

Why does anyone think it's a good idea to write stuff like this in e-mails that are hard written documented evidence. 

Although I wouldn't put it past Activision to have fabricated the message.

[maxy]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/01/activision-calls-in-reinforcements-for-next-call-of-duty-following-infinity-ward-meltdown.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newsandbuzz+%28News+%26+Buzz%29&utm_content=Twitter

They have no choice,COD is their cash cow.I don't expect some sloppy work but it will be interesting to see new COD.

Who knows how it will turn out. I'm the closest thing to a resident COD fanboy on the board but IW isn't the same IW. Sledgehammer is an unknown quantity. And Raven hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire recently (even though I liked Singularilty) especially on the MP side despite their past background. It's a lot of resources. Three companies on a game. But that also has the potential of making it feel completely disjointed. Like MOH felt.

Also this

http://kotaku.com/5738885/did-the-creators-of-call-of-duty-delay-a-map-pack-to-help-out-the-competition

I hope it doesn't turn like that,I like COD.They still have Treyarch so people could always look forward to a sequel and latest COD has proven that they are up to job.

But if the game turns to be some mess and it falls financially,Bobby will feel the heat

[Stoney Mason]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/01/activision-calls-in-reinforcements-for-next-call-of-duty-following-infinity-ward-meltdown.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newsandbuzz+%28News+%26+Buzz%29&utm_content=Twitter

They have no choice,COD is their cash cow.I don't expect some sloppy work but it will be interesting to see new COD.

Who knows how it will turn out. I'm the closest thing to a resident COD fanboy on the board but IW isn't the same IW. Sledgehammer is an unknown quantity. And Raven hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire recently (even though I liked Singularilty) especially on the MP side despite their past background. It's a lot of resources. Three companies on a game. But that also has the potential of making it feel completely disjointed. Like MOH felt.

Also this

http://kotaku.com/5738885/did-the-creators-of-call-of-duty-delay-a-map-pack-to-help-out-the-competition

I hope it doesn't turn like that,I like COD.They still have Treyarch so people could always look forward to a sequel and latest COD has proven that they are up to job.

But if the game turns to be some mess and it falls financially,Bobby will feel the heat

Well I think the game will sell. COD is that hot right now. And it takes multiple "bad" iterations of a big franchise generally before it starts to sink. But definitely if it doesn't hit a quality bar that people expect out of the series then that's the first sign of trouble. On a personal level I'm fine waiting for the next Treyarch one since I like what they did with the mp so we'll see how this turns out.

[Stoney Mason]

http://kotaku.com/5738885/did-the-creators-of-call-of-duty-delay-a-map-pack-to-help-out-the-competition

Why does anyone think it's a good idea to write stuff like this in e-mails that are hard written documented evidence. 

Although I wouldn't put it past Activision to have fabricated the message.

Activision definitely didn't fabricate the message. EA claims the email was a joke although we'll see how the legal stuff works itself out.

[maxy]

I would be fine waiting for Treyarch also.

[Cindi Mayweather]

huh? I'm not seeing the connection.

personally all they had to do was pallete swap jet set radio future for sonic characters and replace tags with rings.

I hope you're joking. 

nope

Sonic is all about a-b. Jet set is like, arena gameplay. 

What in the hell are you talking about?

Jet Set Radio Future is about finding tags and spraying them in huge labyrinth levels and platforming your damnest to find them all. I see nothing wrong with making 3d Sonic about finding rings to complete a level. 3d Mario isn't like 2d Mario, so why do they have to be the exact same thing?

Also, arena? What the hell?

[maxy]

[Raban]

(Image removed from quote.)

Oh my god this looks fucking awesome. Are they going to record this and put it up on the site? I have to work at 4.

[maxy]

dunno,it will be streamed on justin.tv

they usually have recorded stuff

[magus]

i feel this is relevant to a discussion i had with oscar a while ago.....
http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/114/1144373p1.html

[Bebpo]

i feel this is relevant to a discussion i had with oscar a while ago.....
http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/114/1144373p1.html

So it's not the next Nier?

[EmCeeGrammar]

huh? I'm not seeing the connection.

personally all they had to do was pallete swap jet set radio future for sonic characters and replace tags with rings.

I hope you're joking. 

nope

Sonic is all about a-b. Jet set is like, arena gameplay. 

What in the hell are you talking about?

Jet Set Radio Future is about finding tags and spraying them in huge labyrinth levels and platforming your damnest to find them all. I see nothing wrong with making 3d Sonic about finding rings to complete a level. 3d Mario isn't like 2d Mario, so why do they have to be the exact same thing?

Also, arena? What the hell?

I just really don't see the jet set physics and general flow being conducive with Sonic at all.  And arena would be in reference to how the level is layed out.  Its not a linear obstacle course like in most platformers.

[Cindi Mayweather]

What's wrong with Jet Set Radio Future physics? JSR physics != JSRF physics

[EmCeeGrammar]

PLAY SONIC COLORS

[naff]

PLAY SONIC COLORS

!!!IT'S A TRAP!!!

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Looks like another over hyped shitty sonic game, just not quite as turdalicious as previous installments

[close]

[EmCeeGrammar]

I like it its fun shut up

[iconoclast]

New Eschatos trailer:
[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

Looks pretty good. I'm liking the multiple difficulties and odd camera angles they're using for some battles. Plus with Judgment Silversword and Cardinal Sins on the disc, this should be a pretty good value.

Also, in the description for the video it says, "This game is released only in Japan, but it will be worldwide-region disc." So I guess that means it's region free. Yay.

[magus]

i feel this is relevant to a discussion i had with oscar a while ago.....
http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/114/1144373p1.html

 

How so?  FeelPlus game turns out shitty, film at eleven.

well ok fine we'll see what happens when lord of arcana get's released next week *shakes fist*......

who's developing lord of arcana again?

[chronovore]

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/01/20/frontiers-the-outsider-has-been-cancelled/#more-48379

Announced in 2005, Frontier Developments’ game was to be set in the present-day Washington, with you playing as a CIA agent who ends up a fugitive. Then put in an open world you would have been able to make your own decisions about how to continue, the game proposing to break some storytelling boundaries. It was intended to bring the freedom of Elite to a third-person action game, boasting an impressive new graphics engine, and proclaiming “genuine freedom” for the player to define the narrative. But our source close to the project claims that it is no more.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Announced in 2005, Frontier Developments’ game was to be set in the present-day Washington (...)

[close]

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Announced in 2005(...)

[close]

No wonder it was canned. Jesus, I don't think the rules of production allow for starting prior to the generation's start and then USING THE WHOLE PERIOD.

[maxy]

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/01/20/frontiers-the-outsider-has-been-cancelled/#more-48379

Announced in 2005, Frontier Developments’ game was to be set in the present-day Washington, with you playing as a CIA agent who ends up a fugitive. Then put in an open world you would have been able to make your own decisions about how to continue, the game proposing to break some storytelling boundaries. It was intended to bring the freedom of Elite to a third-person action game, boasting an impressive new graphics engine, and proclaiming “genuine freedom” for the player to define the narrative. But our source close to the project claims that it is no more.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Announced in 2005, Frontier Developments’ game was to be set in the present-day Washington (...)

[close]

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Announced in 2005(...)

[close]

No wonder it was canned. Jesus, I don't think the rules of production allow for starting prior to the generation's start and then USING THE WHOLE PERIOD.

Well not all is lost,"not canceled" apparently,probably trying to save what can be saved,but with this competition around...

Cambridge studio Frontier Developments has not cancelled production on The Outsider, its founder David Braben has told Develop.

However, 17 workers at the group have been made redundant as Frontier rethinks its approach developing the game.

“There is still publisher interest in the project, and we haven’t cancelled it,” Braben told Develop.

“The priority has been reduced, but we’re still working on it,” he said.

“A publisher has not cancelled the project”, he later said when asked for clarification.
The Outsider has been in production for six years.

Earlier Braben told games site Rock Paper Shotgun that the studio has "had to change priorities because of requirements on other unannounced projects".

He added: "Some people have been moved, and we are very sad to have made some people redundant.”

Making staff redundant is “a hateful thing to do” Braben told Develop.

“It’s gutting, but one of those things you are forced to do sometimes.”

Following redundancies, Frontier has over 210 staff at its studio, Braben said.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/36812/The-Outsider-not-cancelled

There are few interesting comments in that link


I wish they started working on Elite IV six years ago...really working
 

At least they have Kinectimals

[Philip Cardgage]

Crysis 2 MP demo Tuesday.

Too bad I'll be playing Dead Space 2.

[Philip Cardgage]

Oh, bulletstorm demo too.

WTF EA

[Stoney Mason]

http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-mindjack/17-3702/
 

[TEEEPO]

http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2011/01/21/brand-new-killzone-3-multiplayer-video/

looks hot

[maxy]

http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-mindjack/17-3702/
 

well,at least they are trying