Ben-DutkaDamn, some decent weather… finally . Actually feels like you can go outside without melting.
Not that I want to harp on this Activision thing, but…
I think we talked about it enough this past week; what with my editorial and the news that Activision would join the battle in combating pre-owned games . The latter turned into more of a dispute concerning the pre-owned industry itself – which I'm not about to touch – but there is one final element regarding the analysis of Activision that we should at least recognize. Being the world's biggest publisher of video games, they have their name attached to a ton of titles. It just so happens that their focus is indeed on blockbusters, so the sequels and continual entries in established franchises are always in the limelight. But this causes the new IPs published by Activision to fall by the wayside; a good example of this is Singularity , which has a darn good shot of becoming our Most Under-Appreciated Game of the Year, and other examples are DJ Hero, Blur, Prototype, etc.
One of the company's reps, Neil Wood, mentioned this when he contacted me after reading the editorial. Company policy says he can't post in our Comments section but he wanted to respond to some of your comments made to the article. It's a little late in the day now, but his reminder is worth mentioning. I'm not pro- or anti-Activision; I'm just trying to be as reasonable and fair as possible.
Me likey SC and PoP
Although I can't really say that this generation, Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia were two of my absolute favorite franchises in the PS2/Xbox generation. I still say the first Splinter Cell may have been the best game of 2002 and I've played every entry (except for the last one, Conviction , because I heard the single-player just wasn't worth the cost of admission). And yes, I played them all on Xbox because, let's face it, they were better than the PS2 versions. For me, I would always play SC for the really fluid, authentic gameplay and I'd play MGS for the story. As for the other series, The Sands of Time is still one of my favorite games and although I didn't really like Warrior Within much, The Two Thrones was a return to glory. I also enjoyed both PoPs from this generation. So to hear that trilogies for both SC and PoP might be coming is intriguing…I might just want them for my collection.
I have all the games that would be in those trilogies, though…hmm… Anyway, if you missed out on these gems from some time ago and these HD remake trilogies really do come out in November, I would strongly suggest you give 'em a shot. Great stuff.
Personal gaming update
So SMG2 is on permanent hold as I go through Alan Wake . I like it a lot; the story is cool, the acting is good (though not fantastic), and the writing in the actual manuscript pages is solid. It's really uber-creepy, which I wasn't entirely expecting. This is one game that will legitimately freak you out if you play it at like 1 a.m. with all the lights off. The concept is fairly unique, too, in that you must expose the enemy's "solidarity" with light before being able to use a firearm. Then there are some possessed things that can only be "exorcised" by light, either by your flashlight, flares, or flashbangs. Lastly, they did the right thing by focusing on the story and not the fighting; you actually play through episodes like it's a TV series, so when a new episode starts, it'll go, "Last time, on Alan Wake…"
I have a few small problems with it, and some of those are the technical misgivings and I'm sorry but it has to be said- they're technical missteps that I just don't see in PS3 exclusives these days. It really shows the 360's age. The game looks great but…well, I won't continue. It's just more evidence that the 360 has pretty much been tapped out.
Reviews to look out for: Madden NFL 11 , NCAA Football 11 , Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days , Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2 , Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions , and Mafia II . Just a heads-up for about the next month or so. 🙂
My ps3 does the same when playing those two games. I believe they stream off they disc so the ps3 is working harder longer. That's why there's no loading.
I just think the whole Activision situation stems from them not listening to gamers at all. And the countless sequels. Until they produce a new IP that is just 'wow' for me, i can't justify buying one of their games.
Looking forward to a HD collection of the PoP games all of them were a fun experience and I wouldn't mind going through them again. Not much of a SC fan however.
PGU
I recently got plats for the GoW Collection. Which was fun going through again. Started going through Fallout 3 Point Lookout and having a blast. Btw anyone have the GotY edition for Fallout 3? Ever since I got it, I've had problems with it freezing up on me. Any suggestions?
I finally got Bioshock 2 and the storyline has me hooked. Other than that been playing R&C:ACiT so I can get the last two trophies that I need for plat, as well as Dead Space. Dead Space 2 comes out on my birthday so I'm very excited.
I've also noticed that I've become a trophy addict, I need help. Also it's been hot as hell here. Last week it hit 100+ twice and it's going to do it again this week. Don't know but I like it, lol, I know I'm a sick man. Have a happy people and stay frosty.
Well sunspider… yes… as in my previous comment made (within the original Activision thread), the CoD series is becoming commodious at best… CoD will be become a factory line product title… every six months we will change location, open Houdini's box aaaannnddd…. Wadda you know… it is another CoD! No thank you!
Wadda and Activision should marry….
Wactivision…
Update: This week I have been playing BFC2 multi-player (that has the been the case for the last 2 months or more… and will continue until I get all upgrades and max my character out)
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Last edited by Qubex on 8/8/2010 2:50:43 AM
people dont hate activision because of the number of titles they release so quickly, its because they dont give a sh*t about the quality of there games!
like GH, people would not mind if they released as many as they do as long as theres something new instead of a new track list that stuff should be DLC!
another prime example of them not giving a sh*t about there games is crash bandicoot nitro kart 2 on the Iphone.
ive played over 50 games on my Iphone and NEVER have i had a game lag.
NEVER!
bought nitro kart, started a race and its so laggy its like im playing crysis on a Pentium 2!
they dont give a sh*t about there games, they dont care if there games get perfect scores, and everyones raving about them.
all they care about is how much $ they bring in.
if they made uncharted 2 they would be pissed because it did not sell 5M+ copies!
i really hope the SC and PoP collection is true, especially PoP i never got to finish the first PoP and i really loved the 2nd and 3rd ones!
im actually playing through the third one, the two thrones on my wii wich was re branded rival swords.
forgot how good that game was, by far the best in the series, and 1000 times better than that crap they call the forgotten sands!
Dont really care about Activision, but would like to see the PoP collection since i loved them on ps2, i also never played the splinter cell series on ps2, so this would be a great way to get into it.
PGU: Playing alot of uncharted 2 online, need to get to level 60 so i can be donut drake xD.
Also am playing GTA4 since ive had the game a while now and still havn't completed the story.
Offtopic but a lot of people are having trouble (usually 80 gig models) with GOW 3 after the sony update , my Ps3 doesn't even recognize the game =S .
oh man thats not good i have an 80gb one :S
Is there a newer update since the last one that released? Mine is playing good, haven't had any problems.
dont really care about activision either tbh but it would be nice to see more hd remake for the ps store
I am hoping that ACTIVISION will change their prospective for used games after reading posts from all over video games websites
buying a used game will give the seller a chance to buy another new game, used games market is pushing the new game market cycle forward
my playing experience ,Im playing AC2 hoping ill get the platinum within this week so i can move back again to MAG ,beside that i hope that ill have the chance to play my new games F.E.A.R2 and mirror's edge which Im so happy for paying less than 6 dollars for it
Last edited by ABUrabad on 8/8/2010 8:20:34 AM
by the way what do u people think about my profile picture
Interesting Avatar, but what character is it?
Q!
"Wadda + Activision = Wactavision"
Last edited by Qubex on 8/8/2010 8:26:34 AM
its that ninja from metal gear solid one
"That ninja?"
It's Gray Fox, THE Gray Fox! Also known as Frank Jaeger
"We're not tools of the government or anyone else. Fighting was the only thing… the only thing I was good at, but… at least I always fought for what I believed in. Snake… farewell…"
these were his last words,and beside that i have something with remembering names after 12 years
I'm sure if I was getting paid a nice salary from Activision to say nice things about Activision, I'd say nice things about Activision. Kind of impugns the motives of the individual, don't you think? Doesn't make any difference anyway. When the CEO of the company is saying and doing things that are making large numbers of gamers say they'd never consider purchasing an Activision game, a PR man trying to put a positive spin on things isn't going to accomplish anything.
Anyhow, personal gaming update: I got my platinum on Fallout 3 the other day 🙂 Now I'm playing the Broken Steel DLC. It's pretty fun – a bit more action oriented, and the gameplay goes off in a slightly different direction than the main game – "cranks it up a bit" would be a good way to describe it. Having lots of fun!
Red Dead Redemption is sitting on my shelf, waiting to be opened. I'm really looking forward to the whole Western environment and atmosphere. And if the gameplay is good, like everybody says, well…I will be one happy camper.
I loved Singularity it was a great game that I really enjoyed playing.
Still unsure about Kane & Lynch though after playing the demo. It still doesn't feel or look right to me who wants to play a game through CCTV camera when we want decent graphics etc. It looked very hazy to me.
Hey Ben, sorry if I missed something but in this WiR you said, "One of the company's reps, Neil Wood, mentioned this when he contacted me after reading the editorial. Company policy says he can't post in our Comments section but he wanted to respond to some of your comments made to the article. It's a little late in the day now, but his reminder is worth mentioning."
What exactly were his comments?
Just reminding me about the new IPs Activision had produced recently.
Damned PS3 has too many games!
I've always been strictly a 'one game at a time' person, but Demon's Souls came along too soon after ModNation Racers, then Joe Danger was getting rave reviews, then I saw Siren Blood Curse for cheap and now I'm stuck with four unfinished games and it's cranked my OCD up to 11. Woe is me.
I guess I'll just have to man up and deal with it, but I do envy the xbots and their lack of games.
It would be interesting to hear what the Activision rep had to say regarding the company image. It seems like Activision is figuring that they can have an even larger more loyal audience if they play nice. Whats that saying again… you can attract alot of flies with honey but even more with Sh*t. Something to that effect. Not sure which of the two Activision is using at the moment. Maybe a combination of both.
Some trilogies are fine for HD upgrades but I would not mind at all if some were downloadable. My disc collection is becoming enormous.
As far as Alan Wake. It is a good game on a good machine. It would be a Great Game if it was on the Greater machine. The 360 has been on its last legs for some time now. Humans can live up to the age of 100. But they wont be running any marathons now will they. The Kinect is the 360s crutch. It will extend the consoles longevity. MicroSoft plants seeds in its tech. Live in the Xbox. The Kinect in the 360. It may work for them. Maybe.
I just wish SONY would ONE-UP MicroSoft and introduce an interface that will show that The EYE can already do what KINECT is promising. Voice integration. Skeletal recognition. Advertising these capabilities coupled with the Move and its "BUTTONS" would steal some of that "thunder". Small caps cause its more like a spark to me. But tell that to the average consumer.
Last edited by FatherSun on 8/8/2010 2:21:53 PM
I already have voice recognition with Singstar and I have several PSEye games that do motion control based on tracking your bodies movements. What more should they do? Needlessly burden the XMB interface with the extra code required to handle this type of input? It really doesn't seem like a worthwhile use of their time.
Something Microsoft could have learned before wasting their time as well.
Highlander, That is the exact point I am getting at. As you have stated many times. The EYE already has the capabilities but the masses are under the impression that KINECT is an innovation versus what it truly is. A slightly more advanced clone of the EYE.
Well, I've been paying FFVIII nearly exclusively over the last week, or so. I don't know what happened. I was having a grand time playing Mass Effect, and then, for some bizarre reason, I decided to intermittently keep chipping away at the FFVIII bit. Intermittent sessions quickly turned to longer, more frequent ones. I've temporarily stopped on Mass Effect and now I'm working towards the final portion of FFVIII. I obtained Doomtrain, Lionheart, Cactar, and I've junctioned some good abilities and status boosting items. I'm storming Ultimecia's castle and slowly breaking my sealed powers. I'm pretty certain the end is near, and after 60 hours I'd say this game has given me more than my money's worth. After which, I'll be happy to go back and work some more on Mass Effect. I do look forward to downloading FFIX and giving it a go. It'll be the last one to play that will complete the streak of FF games I've played through since FFVI (FFXI doesn't count, and I haven't played the X2 one either).
Kill Omega! Kill Omega! 🙂