Ben-DutkaHope everyone had a safe and happy July 4th. 🙂
I know why Sony didn't expect Microsoft to eliminate Kinect so quickly
Sony says they always figured Microsoft would ditch the Kinect as a mandatory Xbox One accessory, but they didn't expect it to happen this soon . Well, I know why they didn't anticipate it.
It's because they didn't expect the Xbox One to have such a slow start, nor did they expect the PlayStation 4 to be as far ahead (globally) as it is.
Let's face it, after the previous generation, even optimists wouldn't have figured the next Xbox would've been substantially behind the new PlayStation. In fact, many analysts were thinking Sony would be lucky to draw even with Microsoft in North America (although most did believe PlayStation would ultimately rule the European and Japanese regions). Microsoft got rid of Kinect to boost sales, plain and simple. They most likely would've done it later in the console's lifespan – I would've originally predicted holiday 2014 – but they couldn't let Sony grab more and more of the console market share.
I knew from the start that Xbox One was in for a rough ride if it launched at the same time as the PS4, but with a more expensive price. I'm just a little surprised Microsoft didn't immediately make Kinect optional to defray the extra $100; as far as I'm concerned, they waited too long.
I think people need to be reminded about the definition of "beta"
There are too many gamers out there who don't seem to understand the purpose of a beta test. When DICE revealed the myriad of improvements they were making to Battlefield: Hardline as a result of the recent beta, I think some gamers were surprised. I know I've come across gamers who honestly believe a beta is basically just a demo. It really isn't. It's called a "test" for a reason; it's designed specifically for quality assurance purposes. It's not so you can play the game early (and for free); it's so you can spot any problems and report them to the creators. It's the best QA you can find, just because you're utilizing thousands of testers.
When you participate in a beta, you undertake a responsibility. I'm not saying you need to issue a bullet-by-bullet report to the developer; I'm just saying you're supposed to be helping . It's not merely an opportunity for you to play a game early, and it's not the finalized product, either. These are two points that too many gamers miss.
Personal gaming update
I know I should be finishing Grand Theft Auto V but for some strange reason, I started up a new game of Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance last night. I stupidly got the sequel on Xbox (which I don't have anymore), so I'm stuck with the three classes in the original title, but it's still lots of fun. I really do miss games like this, which is why I think I might enjoy Diablo III on the PS4. I got some enjoyment out of the Intercept DLC for Killzone: Shadow Fall but after playing Wolfenstein: The New Order , I'm sorta FPS-ed out.
There's really nothing coming out that I want to play and whenever that happens, I feel like I've got more time than I actually do. So, I invariably end up going back to an old game…yeah, I know, it's a sickness. 😉
I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that EA's former CEO and MS believed this gen was going to be the death blow to Sony. Which is possibly a reason why EA so quickly disbanded the Online Pass and quickly got into bed with a Titanfall exclusivity deal with MS. They pretty much figured it was going to go all according to MS's rules. Boy were they wrong. Talk about pride before a fall. Now both EA's former CEO and Xbox's former head have been replaced. haha
I tried to get into the Hardline beta but EA's servers kept crashing. No really. It's not a joke.
PGU: After 15 hours of Titanfall I can say I need to stop for a while because it's pretty dang addictive. It took me by surprise. Initially writing it off as another 'would be' FPS multiplayer game (which it is but the formula underwent some changes/improvements to both open it up to more gamer types while at the same time keeping a solid hardcore appeal about it. I suppose most PS4 only gamers will ride on skepticism until they get a good chance to try it with a sequel. But right now, as it stands, of all the "new releases" I've played this year, Titanfall really would rank the highest among them, being the only 9+ caliber game I've played for 2014. (Rayman Legends was 2013)
I do look forward to playing the next one on PS4, come the day.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 7/5/2014 10:10:36 PM
I heard that too about EA, serves em right for counting out Sony. Consumers learn, but slowly, and they recall the crimes of MS.
Were there plenty of gamers on Titanfall? I've heard it's emptying out in an exodus and not holding as much attention anymore.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 7/5/2014 11:04:05 PM
Seems happening to me, PC-side.
PGU update: I finished MGS GZ. It was one sweet little ride. It just makes me more excited for MGS5. THere was a time though, if people remember, the "free" MGS2 demo that made it's way into many PS2's back in the day. Which felt about the same length… for a single playthrough anyway.
p.s. it's hard getting used to the new Solid Snake voice.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 7/6/2014 12:03:49 AM
I couldn't wait anymore, got Wolfenstein for $40. I like it but so far it's not as good as I'd hoped or the scores might suggest. It has a good combo of mechanics for an FPS but is still outdated with some mediocre production values. I still like it, and I needed a new shooter.
Also trying to finish FFX-2 HD without getting the worst ending possible (100% is impossible).
Busy finishing a novel I've been working on for years, it's time to wrap that motherf*cker up.
PGU:
I am addicted to Killzone Mercenary. I played the MP to death but just recently started the SP. I must say this SP is way better than Shadowfall.
My son and I had a blast with Rise of the Dark Spark. I know it got bad reviews but we really had fun. After finishing the SP I introduced Escalation to my son and he loved it. He made it through all 15 levels his first gem playing on Obsidian. We are already maxed at level 25 and have over 40 hours into Escalation alone! Having so much fun with RotDS makes me want to play more online COOP so I may buy KZ Intercept.
Tell me about it! The multi player isn't even that complex and I had a blast playing online! There are only three modes and yet the game really was more enjoyable than Shadow Fall. Come on Cambridge give us another top quality KZ!
yep, mercenaries campaign i found to be more enjoyable than shadowfall's.
Oh yeah baby!! Finished KZ:M today on Veteran and it was WAY better than Shadowfall. Not to mention the very best FPS on a handheld! Such a technically sound effort. Guerrilla Cambridge should develop the next KZ for the PS4.
I replayed multiple games this week. I've decided its finally time to replay some of those ps3 games I never gave much love or attention to. Like Bioshock for example. I was never a big fan of it and I still am not. But I had a lot of fun with it. One of the most challenging games on Survivor difficulty ever.
Infamous 1 and 2 are addictively entertaining. And the story for the sequel is fantastic. I see now why people weren't that impressed with Second Sons story, 2 was like the best superhero story out of the series. I will say Second Sons powers are much much, much much better. I'm a huge fan of lightning powers but Neon just felt so much better to play with.
I platinum'd Mass Effect two and three finally. I really will miss that series. I can't believe I never gave it a chance before. So enjoyable.
Next year I feel like the ps3 is going to run its course for me and I'll be on the ps4 almost 90% of the time. So this backlogs gotta go. Playing those games this week reminded me of the much simpler days of asking my mom for like 50$ and going to GameCrazy. The manager always gave me super awesome deals with games. I remember gettin Grand Theft Auto 4 and Bioshock, new, for like 75$ in 2009. If any used gamestore can make me wish they were around, it would be GameCrazy. I really do miss that place.
Hope everyone had a good week. The heat is starting to make me consider moving to Rapture. I can only imagine the heat in Columbia.
oh rubbish, everyone knew the xbox one was going to sell poorly at launch!
M$ really f*cked themselves when they announced the thing with their mixed messaging, and stupid consumer restrictions.
they pissed allot of people off with that crap and thats why they took such a big hit out of the gates.
im sorry but you have to be a blind drunk freaking retard to not see they were going to have a slow shaky launch.
dual edged blade with betas.
yeah its true allot of people dont treat them the way they should, but you cant blame them because most of the time its the publishers fault for marketing them as a easy way to play the game early.
how many games do we have these days releasing a "beta" 3 or so weeks before launch?
im sorry beta is not 3 weeks before launch, beta is MONTHS before launch!
not weeks!
so its kinda unfair to be pointing the finger at consumers when publishers are the ones marketing betas the way they are.
maybe if betas were released months before release like their suppose to, and were not used as marketing tools to sell games, then we would not have this problem.
one thing i hate about this industry were always quick to blame consumers, but always forget hey maybe consumers are taking it that way because thats how its sold to them!
so freaking hate this time of the year, your left with so little games releasing, and the 2 that do release between the june – august window, are always pretty craptastic!
sniper elite V3 has to be THE WORST game ive played in a long long time!
no, scratch that the worst game ive played EVER!!!!!!!!!!!
its in the title, SNIPER ELITE!
so why are so many of the levels so small and confined?
i thought this was SNIPER ELITE not CLOSE QUARTERS elite!
even your character himself says it in so many of the mission descriptions, until i reach this place it would be suicide to use my sniper.
right, so lets create a game wholly based around sniping and replicating sniper physics, and will create most of the levels so its impossible to use the whole point of the game for half of the mission.
WTF!?
no seriously, what the &^%$!?
forget how f*cking buggy it is, so much so it makes skyrim on ps3 look like freaking uncharted 2!
forget the bugs, forget the batsh*t dumb AI, forget the frustratingly long levels, why the blazing hell would you create a game solely built around something then make it impossible to use that something for the majority of the game!
WHY!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
at least V2, where pretty much the same as 3, buggy, batsh*t dumb AI, repetitive and boring, at least that let you enjoy the whole point of the game which was the bullet ballistics and the sort of mini sim of sniping.
so f*cking sick of sequels these days, instead of taking things that dragged the predecessor down and removing or improving them.
were taking things that made the predecessor great and removing them.
since when did this industry become hell bent on making sh*t games!?
and to wash all that down i picked up murdered soul suspect today.
oh dear……………
havent started it yet but i can just feel its not going to go well.
it cant be as bad as V3 though, right?
…………… RIGHT!?
as the great worms would say, a decent game, a decent game, my whole f*cking kingdom FOR A DECENT GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think I found your facebook profile pic…
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m47ndtMYbk1r7r1l7o1_r1_500.gif
Am starting to see a d1p for a Remastered TLoU. When I first heard about it I was a little bitter much less considering a buy. Since then times have changed. Really did enjoy that game.
What's the gap in NA between XB1 and PS4 now? If the XB1 doesn't get a decent lead with in the next year or so they are going to have a very difficult time dealing with the PS4 line up of exclusives. It's now or never M$.
PGU: Finally beat Wolfenstein. Going for another playthrough on an easier setting just for a joy ride. Limbo was great. Now I'm back into KZ:M. Sure wish Sony would push for more AAA vita titles, b/c another KZ would be grand.
Wrath of the White Witch is alright. I do like JRPGs, but this one is a little bit overkill. It helps if I pretend I'm 8 years old again. The battle system needs to slow down a bit, but at least I can level grind myself to safety and the open world is beautiful.
And once again I find myself sucked into Skyrim. Oh how I love sidequest and running around and exploring the terrine.
I had to ditch PSX on my chrome browser. I can view and comment just fine through Opera, but chrome and Firefox were getting a PUP like virus through this site. It took about 2 months of screwing around with my poor Asus before solving the case. So glad to have my precious back to normal. Strange no?
PGU: Still Xcom, but I've started all over with the Enemy Within expansion since it's essentially the same campaign only with a lot of extra stuff.
I can now say for sure that I've never enjoyed a strategy game more.
the original xcom on PC years and years ago was considered great too. my brother raved about it back in the day.
Yes, I can't recall playing it myself but several others at work has mentioned that game when I've talked about this new Xcom over lunch. So apparently it was quite the blast back then too.
Last edited by Beamboom on 7/6/2014 2:54:02 PM
PGU: Got a VGA adapter for my Dreamcast and started playing Shenmue again. Haven't played that game in years!
PGU: I just beat Shadowfall, but even though I love co-op, I don't play online so Intercept was a no-go for me.
The summer drought got to me though and I'm now waiting for a slightly cheaper UFC to arrive in the mail while I wait for the last of us and Diablo.
After playing the demo more I win almost every time, but I'd probably still suck if I bumped it up to normal. The standing clinch is still clumsy as hell to play and I doubt I'll ever make anyone submit, but oh well.