Ben-DutkaAnother busy week, and many more to come. 🙂
So…how far along is The Last Guardian, anyway?
Fumito Ueda spoke a bit about video games as art – of course they are; both ICO and Shadow of the Colossus are excellent examples of that fact – and for the most part, I expect great things from his new project. But was anyone else just a little concerned about that game update…? It doesn't worry me so much that the boy doesn't have a name, but the following sort of stuck out: "…haven't quite decided on the actual method of controls and button layouts." Really? I know the game isn't due out until the end of next year, but without the actual mechanics, isn't the game little more than an interactive theory right now? Doesn't that imply the team hasn't even figured out how much control we'll have over the boy, or even what we'll be able to do with him? And what about the commands given to Trico, which I'm assuming will have to be included? It's just a little worrisome.
Maybe I don't know enough about game design but I would've thought basic controls would be one of the first things a developer tackles. Granted, we are talking about more of an artistic game, and I certainly appreciate an emphasis on atmosphere, story, presentation, and emotion. But this is still an interactive medium, so don't wait too long to nail down a set of solid and reliable controls…
Would I rather have 60FPS or 3D?
In all honesty, I have no idea. EA boss Peter Moore says most gamers would rather have max frames per second , but there are a ton of varying factors. First of all, a whole lot of great games run at 30 fames per second, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (arguably the best game of the generation) included. It all depends on how the developers implement the individual elements, and whether or not a fame rate negatively impacts the gameplay. If it doesn't…who the hell cares? At the same time, I don't like the idea of sacrificing something better (60FPS) for a technology that hasn't proven itself just yet. I'm speaking of 3D, of course; I haven't yet played a game in 3D but I have the capability and I will soon. …I'm just not entirely sold on the concept. I like the idea, certainly, and it could be amazing for something like Gran Turismo 5 and Killzone 3 , but is it truly another level of immersion…? I'm not about to believe it yet.
Personal gaming update
As most of you probably know by now , I'm playing and enjoying Halo: Reach . I really was a little leery about this one, but it has turned out very well. It should certainly be done before I start on the next two games I want to play, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West . October is looking crazy nuts as usual so there's plenty to do, especially in regards to work…i.e., reviews that need to be done, but not necessarily games I want to play. Speaking of reviews, you can expect EyePet , Dead Rising 2 , and Quantum Theory this week. I still have to do the PlayStation Move hardware review, too.
Also, I'm looking to set up more interviews, two in particular related to "The Tester" and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit , and I expect to see the answers from Insomniac (for Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One ) this week. Yeah, things will go nuts between now and the holidays. LOL
I believe Team Ico know what their doing.Ico and Shadow of the colossus HD will look Epic.
Until 2 or 3 yrs finally when i get the chance to play on a 3d tv i will wait.
I cannot wait to see Avion (5th colossus) attack me in 3D.
In October Naruto Fans don't forget to buy NSUNS2.I hate Naruto Shippuden,i hope the game will be better.Story till pain fight.
Last edited by Kiryu on 9/25/2010 10:08:46 PM
Ninja Storm 2 looks good so far.
But I will have to wait and see.
Haha, well after NUNS1, NUNS2 is an instant buy for me 🙂 so if either of y'all get it I'll see y'all online, besides, at least it's got 42 characters and every akatsuki member =P But I'll probably be duking it out using Gaara most of the time. Only thing I disliked about NUNS1…naruto & sasuke seemed awfully overpowered, they'll probably be the same in this game =(
The kids are loving EyePet over here. Once they learned to stop treating the controls like a game, and more like how they should do things in real life, they started understanding how to use the Move motion controllers.
Looking forward to anything NfS: Hot Pursuit related. That game looks like oodles of fun. Oodles!
Maybe the Last Guardian thing isn't that big of a deal with the controls still being sorted out. I don't really know about at what stages the exact interface elements get implemented, but it would seem bizarre not to have that sort of thing figured out earlier on. Maybe it's like those musicians who first create their song and melody before even applying the lyrics.
60fps or 3D:: Eh, I think it's situational. Ideally, 60fps AND 3D would be my pick. But life isn't always a techie miracle land for everyone all the time.
Halo Reach was awesome. And I think enough has been said about it here.
Personal Gaming Update::
I spent the last nearly two weeks soaking up Halo Reach but I'm taking time away from it now.
And finally, I picked up Uncharted 2 for just $25. Woo Hoo! Now I can give it some more serious love'n. Hehe and man, forgot how funny that game is; That whole "hooker at church" lines were hilarious.
NGS2 is coming along on Master Ninja. I'm at the stage 4 boss(I just don't like using more than 2 potions on a boss). I can only handle this game in small doses at a time at this difficulty. It is so dang punishing when so many things kill you with one slip up.
I'm also considering giving SSF4 my time over DOA. When it comes to fighters you have to be selective on your commitments if you ever want to be competitive online. I don't see DOA coming to PS3 anytime soon, and I fear Tecmo Koei is going to tank within the next 5 years…. or majorly change their focus. I know it seems fatalistic, but man, things just don't look too rosy for them, and gaming is looking like its becoming more and more for the big cats with deep pocketbooks.
Congrats on U2. I hope you like it. It's in my top 5 favorite games, and for $25, you at least got tremendous value for your dollar.
Regarding NGS2 on masters, the first few levels are unrelenting, but i assure you, it gets much easier (especially after you finished all the chick levels). It even gets enjoyable. Don't feel bad for using your potions (towards the end of each chapter). Each level has them laying around for you to get back, so unless you use them, you're holding on them for nothing. The only ones you have to be conservative about are the magic potions, and the talismans. Beating the game on Masters is hard enough, but beating it w/o using potions would be too many retries for me to take, and too many deaths just shy of victory for me to endure. Sure, you want to conserve them for the more difficult checkpoints, but considering how they're useless against clean hits and throws (that you must avoid or they'll OHKO (one-hit-KO) you) and that you will incur partial damage here and there, you should use them generously where need be.
If by chapter 4 boss fight, you mean Alexei, then yes, you should use them sparingly only because you have to fight Statue of Liberty right after him, and before finishing the chapter. Tips for fighting Alexei: stay mid-distance from him (too far will open you up to his super attacks, and too close will make him hard to predict), dodge his attacks, and follow with the x,y,y/->x,y,y/->y,y combo with the dragon sword (it's fast and can even make him stagger opening him up for multiple attacks). His magic attacks can be dodged, but if you're low on life, just use your magic attacks. It will barely hurt him, but it will nullify his magical attack. Statue of Liberty fight is fairly straight forward (you stay in the corner and attack with Emma's Fang UT with proper timing in the beginning). You just have to remember to use your arrows to break her shackles when she ceases to incur damage later in the fight, to drain her remaining health.
Last edited by Shams on 9/26/2010 12:10:52 AM
Thank you, Master Shams. I'll implement your pointers on my next time at play.
I think Ueda simply meant that they haven't decided on the default control scheme yet. I don't think his comment implied any uncertainty about gameplay at all, only the button layout.
You missed the most important part. He said they hadn't decided on "the actual method of controls." That means something a lot different than assigning controls to buttons; it's talking about creating the basic controls.
His comment was translated from Japanese, he could've been alluding to a simple issue in game development, rather than what you're thinking. I read that interview yesterday, and even then I thought he was only referring to the control scheme, which I agree, can be decided in the later stages of development. The fact that he is hopeful of releasing the game next year is also a sign that the actual development is not in its infancy.
Every week my gaming update is the same, trying to platinum Demons Souls! Arghhhh the frustration involved is unbearable. Almost there though..
Well, for me it is at least 2 playthroughs far, because I messed up my Character Tendency!!!!! I'm Pure Black now, and i'm doing the Mephistopheles sidequests. That will give me the Foe's Ring, but I still need the Friend's Ring, for which I need Pure White, and for that I have to kill all the 5 Black Phantoms twice!!! that makes 2 playthoughs.
Right now I'm on NG++, and the game has become incredibly easy! I beated The Penetrator without a shield, no Biorr to help and just using the Warding spell. Soul Level 135.
Last edited by hellish_devil on 9/25/2010 11:09:15 PM
A question for the guys at Criterion when you do the NFS interview…Is there a new Burnout game in the long term plan, or is NFS Hot Pursuit the spiritual successor to Burnout Paradise? Talk about it.
Last edited by TheHighlander on 9/25/2010 10:43:21 PM
Actually, the interview concerning FPS won't be with Criterion; it'll be one of the bands who contributed music to the game, Hadouken.
Still have to try and set a time, though.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 9/25/2010 10:45:52 PM
D'Oh!
Back to my PSP.
BTW has anyone ever noticed that FFVIII appears more advanced graphically compared to FFIX? Even though FFIX uses 3D models for the characters, they are designed with a more cartoony, almost sprite look and feel. I started the game on the PS3 to have a quick look and was surprised. Perhaps it will look better on the PSP.
That is the best band name ever.
It's hard to guess if you're talking about, say, the sprites look choppy or jagged and such or just that you think the designs of everything look worse in general? I love the IX graphics, but there's definitely an interesting 'real' feel to the VIII graphics, so maybe it's just you're not keen on the more toonish style of IX…aka the best FF ever =P LOL.
Is this your first time playing IX Highlander? I thought the graphics improved in IX as a whole, they just changed the style to be more chibi instead of realalistic like VIII.
My band will be named shy-ryu-ken!
Trying to platinum GOWIII, only 1 trophy away from my first ever platinum!!!
Because I've never played games in 3D, I'll be in the group that prefers 60fps.
I always love my games running like butter smooth.
And I'm not worried about Last Guardian, I can already imagine the controls for the boy.
Good luck Snaaake.
I gotta be honest – I love trophies. I just don't play enough different games to be a true trophy whore. 😉
I'm not trophy whore but I find GOWIII's trophy to be rather easy to get.
And thanks.
Last edited by Snaaaake on 9/25/2010 11:27:52 PM
The hardest part of GoW3 was a few of the challenge things. The battering ram thing took me about a dozen tries to finish.
Challenge of Olympus ain't that hard if you know how to do it.
I got the Ultimate Edition so I gained access to the Challenge of Exile and I couldn't even finish a single challenge.
You're not going to give us your thoughts on the Deadspace 2 multiplayer beta?
If you're really going to get into Dead Rising 2, don't forget to tell us if the save game function is pants or not. The first one was so poorly designed I could hardly believe it.
I never played Dead Rising so what's wrong with the saving function?
It's a lot like not having one. There are save spots that save certain progress, but overall you just have to get everything done before the clock runs out. It's really awkward and hard to describe.
If Ben says the second one is the same it'll be an insta-pass for me.
The saving is fixed. There are WAY more bathrooms and the game auto saves when you do something significant.
And yes, I'll try to take care of the Dead Space 2 beta as well.
For my gaming update, I've downloaded Resident Evil 3. Now that is a game that RULES.
Besides the graphics (for obvious reasons) I love everything that it offers. The music, the shooting, the level design, the Nemesis, and Racoon City itself is really creepy. Every noise you hear, it is so real.
A really recomended survival horror, from the master Mikami and the not-yet-western-wannabe company Capcom.
I agree with you. Though I treat it as a RE 2.5 since it takes place during RE2 and in the city.
The Nemesis was a great enemy and the game is full of scary moments. Plus I love the added bonus given for playing the game again after you beat it.
And Ben, will you review The Sims 3 console edition?? It releases on October 26 I think.
'sigh' I'll try. Just please remember there's a looooot in October and I have a priority list.
Oh. OK =)
Last edited by hellish_devil on 9/26/2010 10:58:01 AM
This game will be AWESOME 3D!!
Hey Ben, do you have any news on the PS3 Exclusive Agent? Any news at all? Im pretty sure people here want to know about it! There seems to be NO news…
Agent was announced by Rockstar to calm down the Sony fanbase when they decided that GTAIV was going to be multiplataform.
Or so it seems…
I think it is a bit odd to think of how the control method isn't done for TLG. Maybe he just means the control form. Like whether to hold down a certain button to run, or using cerain buttons for certain functions. Then again, maybe he means that he's thinking of taking it Move-exclusive. I hope not.
Considering I yesterday bought a 50" TV, for $1000, I do not see myself investing in a 3DTV for a long time to come, so I'll say gimme 60FPS.
Personal Update:
Well, as above I just got my TV home, so I'll set about setting that up when I'm finished on the computer.
I'm onto part 6 of Anna Karenina now and loving every word.
Still determined to finish GTAIV by the end of the month, and I've only just gotten to Alderney. Also putting time into VC2, but cannot get past March. I keep getting absolutely annhilated. I'm thinking I should just run and leave all of the enemies there, because there is no way to beat them.
And tragedy of tragedies, I had written much of the book I'm currently working on by hand. I went down to the city and mum left the door to my room open. The dog got in and ripped the book it was written in to pieces. Ten months of work gone. I don't know whether to murder someone or cry.
Peace.
Oh, and Ben, I've got to say, I really appreciate all of the work that you do in regards to keeping this site among the best. Listening to the members and giving us what we ask for; if only politicians were like you.
Sorry to hear about your book buddy.
Anna only gets better and better, I swear.
So sorry about the book, though. Not that you want to hear it right now, but here's some solace- if it's your first attempt – and no offense at ALL intended – it would've likely had to be almost entirely rewritten, anyway. Sitting down to write it again from scratch might actually be the best thing for the project.
And just as a future note, do it in Word, save it and here's the kicker- send it to yourself as an attachment in an e-mail, and just keep it in your inbox. Wouldn't matter if your entire PC exploded…it'll always be there 'cuz the Internet doesn't die, and you can always get to it, regardless of whether you change computers. 😉
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 9/25/2010 11:58:34 PM
Thanks. I'm trying to stay positive by telling myself it needed to be rewritten anyway. *sigh*
EDIT: Thanks for the advice Ben. I'll make sure to do that.
Peace.
Last edited by Lawless SXE on 9/26/2010 12:04:23 AM
ff, I can afford it, no fear, I'm just not going to buy another. And no, I've only done the last… thirty-five-ish pages digitally because I ran out of room in the book.
What do you mean you were able to do and see things that you couldn't have done before may I ask? Just extra sidequests or the like, or different battle styles? Curious.
Peace.
I hope we can fly with Trico!
I'm not sure if it will be able to fly. But it was swimming in the trailer.
Off topic if anyone can help me:
Is this a good TV?
http://www.amazon.com/ViewSonic-VT2300LED-23-Inch-1920x1080p-Built-/dp/B003ES5B6S/ref=sr_1_1?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1285208605&sr=1-1
I need a cheap hdtv between 200-260$ and is ViewSonic a good brand?
You know, just because people put "OT" in the post doesn't mean it's immune to our no OT policy…
We do have forums.
I honestly don't know why you're asking us. AMAZON shows 16 customer reviews for the product you're asking about. Why don't you read what the people have to say that have already bought the TV.
Oh and Ben's right, the forums are the place for that kinda question. I suggest you visit it, lots of goodies like JPop videos.
For some reason I can't log into my account in the forum section.
im getting a little worried about TLG, i mean i remember reading about it back in 2007 when a guy from the BBC saw it.
than after E3 he revealed that TLG was the game he was talking about earlier, and was shocked they did not show much off on it.
so that leads me to believe its been in development for over 3 years, so 3 years in and they still have not decided on controls?
god, how long does it take to make one game?
looks like we wont be playing this late next year after all!
id much rather 60FPS for now since i dont have a 3D TV just a 3D PC monitor but once i get a 3D TV that will change.
60FPS is just so important especially for fast paced games like GT5, GOW or even shooters.
theres a reason why IW decided to have MW2 at sub HD and 60FPS instead of settling for 720P and 30FPS.
60FPS just gives a game a real shine over it, looks like everythings made of silk just makes it look so smooth its beautiful!
MW2 may not have high detail in environments, but everything just looks so smooth it more than makes up for it!
now that lucas arts have developed their tech that allows you to have 60FPS with full AA effects but with the hardware drain of 30FPS with no AA.
only thing is i dont think there substituting it out to other developers, i think there keeping it in house which is disappointing.
but, hopefully others can take the tech and develop their own version of it that way i wont have to put up with 30FPS games anymore.
tis the massive difference from PC to consoles, you can really notice the difference going from playing BFBC2 on my PC at a average rate of 70FPS to playing on consoles which if i remember right is locked to 30.
same game, but a MASSIVE difference!
grinding dead rising 2 now, and i really do mean grinding.
never have i had to force myself to finish a game, i just hate playing it that much!
im trying to force myself to like it, thinking maybe if i get far enough in it things will change and ill start enjoying it.
its just so freaking frustrating having to constantly redo things over and over again, especially since missions are so far apart.
DR2 has the same problem as mafia 2, you have to constantly travel 10KMs just to start a mission, if you die on the way than start all over again!
i dunno about you, but i find walking around extremely boring and when i have to do it over and over and over and over again, well…….
its such a shame, it could of been such a fun game if they just toned the seriousness of the game down a little.
stop with this no auto saves bull sh*t, stop this if you pick up a chainsaw, or really and weapon you want to use than get hit you drop it BS.
any weapon you actually want to use in the game, it makes you not want to use it because if you get hit, and you will ALLOT! you drop the item than have to pick it up, but cant because if you stop even for 1 nano second a zombie will latch onto you.
and fix the god dam AI the game could of been so much fun!
the AI is really the Achilles heel of this game.
almost every single mission in the game has you saving people, and escorting them back to the safe house.
ok, fine no problem you say but the AI is so dumb its constantly shooting you!
no big deal really, you think ok i die ill go back to a save point so ill start again right where the mission started.
WRONG! you start back wherever you last saved the game, that might be 5 hours ago, it might be 2 seconds ago depending where the mission is the nearest save point might be 2mms away it might be 50KMs away.
i have lost count the amount of levels i have had to redo just because the dumb as bat sh*t AI has shot and killed me.
and here is the most frustrating part.
the bosses are and im serious invincible!
first boss i encountered is in the restrooms hides in there than pops out and stabs you with glass.
ok, so he hits me once with glass and it takes off one square of health.
ok, so one square of health is lost from 1 attack with glass, so some would assume a bow laced with dynamite to the eye ball would do more dammage, thats a safe assumption no?
well, you would assume wrong!
i fired 8, yes count that 8! bows into his head, they exploded in his freaking face but how much health did it remove?
not even a quarter!
how can a piece of glass take off one square of health, but a freaking exploding arrow does not even take off a fifth of that?
WTF?
dead rising 2 takes cheap cheating AI to a whole new level!
and i thought the AI in mod nation racers was bad, o boy i had no idea!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe you should write a reader review rather than raving.
Peace.
You're wrong when you say that consoles are locked at 30 frames per second, they are not. No console does 70 frames per second, because consumer TVs accept 480i/480p/720p/1080i/1080p input formats, none of which run past 60 frames per second.
The reason for the subHD resolutions in multi-platform games such as MW2 has more to do with the 360's hardware than anything else. Games on the 360 that use a sub-HD 600p (or there about) resolution are doing so because by using that slightly sub-HD resolution they get the 'free' AA available on the 360's GPU. They could go to a higher resolution and still hit 60 frames per second, just without the free AA offered by the 360's hardware. As for how that works on the PS3, you're taking a game engine optimized for the 360 – including the resolution compromises made for the 360's GPU to use it's 'free' AA, and porting that to a system with a completely different architecture and GPU. Is it any wonder that the PS3 version is forced to follow the 360 and run sub-HD?
If Microsoft had had the guts to pay for it, the 360's GPU could have had more eDRAM sufficient for free anti-aliasing of a full 720p frame. They didn't and that's why you see games running at an ever so convenient sub-HD resolution. Not to mention that rather conveniently PAL systems operate with a vertical resolution of 576, which just happens to allow a full PAL 576p widescreen image fit in the eDRAM for free Anti-aliasing.
Sorry, but I couldn't really grasp the point of the rest of your rant.
Last edited by TheHighlander on 9/26/2010 3:16:08 AM
Is it just me or is this guy an inherent pessimist? I don't come around here as much as I used to but __________'s comments often seem to display a certain level of cynicism.