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Ben’s Week In Review: December 23

I just can't believe Christmas is two days away. That really doesn't seem possible. 🙂

Elizabeth better be the best damn AI partner ever

Here's the thing- I loathe babysitting. I despise having to worry about an AI partner. I hate having to spend half my time protecting a mediocre partner. The first two Bioshock titles represented a couple of my favorite gaming experiences of the generation, and next year's Bioshock Infinite is my third most anticipated game of 2013 (only behind The Last Of Us and Grand Theft Auto V ). When I heard Irrational's new potential masterpiece was including an AI ally, I was pissed . I mean, I have every confidence in those guys, but there are just so many ways an AI buddy can screw you over and tick you off. But then, I read what Ken Levine said about making elite AI and now I feel better. I'm not entirely appeased by any stretch but I do have faith in Levine and Co.

We've had so few examples of truly excellent AI partners that I'm leery of the entire premise. However, done properly, a character like Elizabeth could add a huge amount of depth and personality to the story (which should be very special, by the way). I still believe Bioshock Infinite will be amazing and I might actually like having Elizabeth around, but she better be fantastic . In other words, she should be just as polished as the rest of that production. Which, by the way, is guaranteed to be top-notch.

Final Fantasy Versus XIII further proves its vaporware status

For a long time, Duke Nukem Forever defined the term "vaporware." Then it came out and blew stinky chunks. Now we have a new epitome of the comical term, and it's Final Fantasy Versus XIII . The latest news is that Square Enix might be changing the title…? I'm sorry, but that's hilarious . All that tells me is they have no clue what they want to do with the project. You can't get this far into development and change the name , unless the project in question has become something completely different, something foreign even to the designers who started it. If the title is "tentative," they're still way out in left field, contemplating stuff that shouldn't be contemplated at this juncture. Then again, maybe previous rumors that Versus XIII had become Final Fantasy XV are true…

Well, whatever. I'm too despondent to talk much about Final Fantasy right now, especially after seeing that depressing Lightning Returns trailer . Maybe it'll be a cool action game, I don't know. I just know it isn't Final Fantasy . And as I'm fairly certain that Versus XIII won't ever show up – and if it does, it too will be unrecognizable to RPG fans – I remain bitterly indifferent. Okay, mostly bitter. So what?

Personal gaming update

Haven't had much time to play much, what with the holidays, work, and the new girlfriend. And no, she's not a gamer, although she has had quite a bit of fun playing some old SNES games and Katamari Forever and Hots Shots Golf: Out of Bounds on the PS3. 🙂 But her not playing doesn't bother me one way or the other. So I'm still working on Assassin's Creed III and Far Cry 3 , and I'm looking forward to Halo 4 (which I should be getting as a Christmas gift). And I have to remember that January brings Anarchy Reigns , DMC , and Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch , so that's hardly a dead month. Hell, the entire first quarter is pretty freakin' busy.

By the way, if anybody is wondering why I haven't issued an editorial addressing the politicians attacking video games for the Newton tragedy, the reason is as follows-

I don't see the point. Such an issue goes far deeper than games, guns, or even mental disorders. As is always the case with such earth-shattering situations, the causes are deep and complex and there's no solving them by pointing fingers at any one thing. And that includes pointing fingers at those who are pointing fingers. Seriously, why? It won't bring back those children and teachers, and it certainly won't make those affected feel any better. Let the victims rest in peace and hope the future brings better days. That's all I'm going to say about it.

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WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

Did I call it or did I call it? I knew it was a woman.

Anywho, I'm trying to tell myself that Elizabeth will add a level of environmental immersion that will further attach us to the plot and locations. I do that because the alternative is unacceptable.

All I'll say about FF is that I'm pretty sure nobody working on these games has played the old ones. Versus will come, and it will shock us all either in a good way or a horrible way. Not surprised at the name change, they did it with Type-0 and "XIII" is cursed now among fans.

I got myself Atelier Meruru and Rage. Still waiting on Rage to arrive. I feel like shooting something.

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
11 years ago

…knew what was a woman?

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

Some time ago you were apologizing for your recent delays in posting the next days news here at night. I noted an irregularity in your offered explanation, a particular coyness only previous encountered when you used to tell little stories about your life beginning with a tale of a possible love polygon in which a man found himself in a tree. So I said that you must have met a woman on a number of occasions, and here we are.

Remember not to overdo the Christmas gift.

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
11 years ago

Ah, okay. The site still has basically the same amount of content; it's just not always put up at the EXACT same times every day, like I used to do. 🙂

And I have not overdone the Christmas gift. I think it's just right, actually…we'll see. 🙂

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

heh, great time of year.

SayWord
SayWord
11 years ago

Hmmm… its really interesting that there are two games coming in the near future that will have ai companions. as you said it could make or break the game but with two really well respected developers, im pretty optimistic.

i just finished the walking dead (i had to play it after all the rewards it recieved). i loved every second of it.

now im going back to finish the platinum of ff13 and ff13-2. yes i really liked them and yes im really excited for lightning returns… 😛

we might not have to wait much longer to hear about versus… if all is true we shall know in january, my fingers are crossed. 🙂


Last edited by SayWord on 12/22/2012 11:02:31 PM

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

Despite my many misgivings, I'd still like to have a super duper mega save file when I get Lightning Returns for $15 used, so I'm playin a little of those on the side when I can.

SayWord
SayWord
11 years ago

hopefully its even good enough and worth picking it up used for $15. haha…


Last edited by SayWord on 12/22/2012 11:22:51 PM

Temjin001
Temjin001
11 years ago

The Ico babysitting was mostly annoying but I realize though the game would've been pretty flat without that component as it was. I still need to play Bioshock… but I'm sort of a weenie these days with horror-esque games (Bioshock is that right?). I'm not kidding when I say this, but ever since I stopped doing those games I stopped having nightmares(btw, I wasn't some nightmarish looney or nothing, I just had them on a occasion, usually of the zombie type).

Now that Lightning Returns game play is on the table I feel pretty underwhelmed. I was hoping for something more lively and beautiful. Instead, I see lots of rigidity of design and an odd-for-FF black and white color palette thing going on. Lightning appears to have matched the motif with her new outfit…. I suppose S-E thinks they're trying to appeal to an older audience, or something.. Ironically the audience who knows what FF usually meant in gaming.

Good to read about your relationship Ben. My wife and I have enjoyed Sonic All-Stars racing together quite a bit. We also do a lot of Tetris. Ah and we used to do a lot of Pinball, like Pinball FX2 (Zen on PSN) with 2-player split-screen.

PGU: I beat LBP2's story mode with my girls earlier this week. GOod fun stuff. LBP2 felt a little less pure-platformer and more varied. Which is cool because the original game still feels unique to itself from it's sequel. It's a shame MM has left the franchise.
I've been enjoying Rage and Dirt 2 this week on my PC. Man, I just love off-road racing games and Dirt 2 and 3 are just so awesome. Extremely thrilled by playing them. I love them. Oh, I've made a bit more Xenogears process. It's good stuff. Lots and lots of story. I'm sort of hoping the combat starts to kick in more. I am only 8 hours though.

Also, I'm so stoked about having snagged Darksiders 2 with all DLC. I really want to put the time in on that one.


Last edited by Temjin001 on 12/22/2012 11:41:59 PM

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
11 years ago

Sonic All-Stars might be a good one for us to try…she seemed to really like the old-school SMK on SNES. 🙂

Dreno
Dreno
11 years ago

So here's a question, if ffv13 is all but gone now, will we finally get any new on kingdom hearts 3?

Cause I'm in the middle of the current series, having already beaten bbs,kh(again) and 358/2 days, all on proud, and am continuing onto recom, recoded, kh2 and kh3ds. Id very much like to hear something about kh3.

Well square, were waiting…

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

Something to consider: http://www.the-kingdomhearts.com/news_read.php?id=5


Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 12/23/2012 2:07:30 AM

Killa Tequilla
Killa Tequilla
11 years ago

For anyone interested, you can buy AC3 Liberations and AC3 Gold Edition on the PS Store for $60.

PGU: AC3 Liberations.

Lawless SXE
Lawless SXE
11 years ago

I just think that it's a given that Versus is changing names. Agito did it, supposedly shooting off into a series in its own right and I wouldn't be surprised to see Versus do the same. And the further they market it from the Lightning Saga is probably for the better at this point.

Personal Update:
War and Peace still.
Finished Dishonored. Gotta say that it left me feeling unfulfilled. I really can't figure out why because it's a very solid game, but I just don't think that it is entirely deserving of the acclaim that it has received. Maybe I just don't "get" it. I dunno.
I've started to play Deus Ex: Human Revolution and… my feelings on it are kinda similar. I love the setting and Jensen's a pretty cool character, but the game elements just feel kinda discontinuous. To be fair, I'll probably end up giving it countless more hours as I've only completed the first set of missions in Detroit, but I don't think my feelings on it will change too much.
I just don't understand why I'm not feeling these games when, based on previous experiences, I should love them. *sigh*

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

I wonder if Versus will be put off to the next generation, time is tick tick ticking away.

Beamboom
Beamboom
11 years ago

Hey, you've found a potential ms Dutka? Congrats then! Soon there will be many miniDutkas running around with each their Vitas. 🙂

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
11 years ago

Let's not get carried away. LOL

Dukemz_UK
Dukemz_UK
11 years ago

Yes Beamboom, let's not get carried away. What makes you so sure they'll have Vitas? ;-D

___________
___________
11 years ago

ive always LOATHED friendly AI for that exact reason, you always end up failing because of your incompetent friend.
why am i being punished for something completely out of my hands?
as if fighting off 100000 enemies and managing my health is not enough, i now have to worry about my partners health too?
1 thing i HATE about assassins creed liberation, so many times ive failed missions elise is retarded.
so many times especially in stealth missions i would be hiding in a bush, so she just runs past me in front of a guard.
the guard starts attacking her so i have 2 options.
1 let her die thus failing the mission.
2 save her a$$ by assassinating the guy, but killing him will automatically fail the mission.
great!
again, why am i being punished because of the games incompetence?
that said though, ken nailed the little sisters in bioshock so im sure elizabeth certainly wont be a burden instead a help.
as hes been saying in many interviews lately, she was BY FAR the hardest part of the game, and she actually is constantly talking about your surroundings and when your in battle she looks around for weapons and ammo.
so quite the opposite, instead of being a burden shes actually helping!
one thing i love about the last of us as well, ellie can hold her own.
your out of ammo? no problems, eat brick bad guy!

how do we have " a new epitome of the comical term vaporware"?
DNF earned the title because it was in development for over a decade!
versus still has quite a way to go till it reaches that, err, greatness…….
im sure will see it as a launch title, $E dident go to all that trouble creating the angilis tech demo, and making it look like a FF game, for the sake of it.
ill eat my hat if versus has not been moved back to a ps4 launch title!

finally got my new gaming laptop today so happy!
the alienware M18X was having BSOD and other issues, pretty disgusting considering it cost me 5000 bucks!
not to mention its only 3 months old!
yea suffice to say ill never be going back to dell, really poor reliability and their customer support STINKS!
so i finally sent it back and dells organizing a refund for me.
thought to get a gaming desktop for now but i need a laptop for work so i thought id get a gaming laptop for now, then in the new year once the refunds processed ill get a gaming desktop.
need to break it in tonight with a little hitman absolution still havent had a chance to finish that its such a bloody long game!
hope steam has backed up my save files otherwise im not going to be very happy!
cloud saves, the ONE good thing the internet is good for!
😉


Last edited by ___________ on 12/23/2012 2:47:29 AM

Dukemz_UK
Dukemz_UK
11 years ago

I've got ZERO excitement for anything Final Fantasy. But to be fair to the franchise, my family couldn't afford a games console back in the day when the classic FF's were being released. Most plays were at friends' homes.

About A.I in games, perhaps Ben could write us an editorial on gaming A.I. I was impressed with Killzone 3's enemy A.I. I haven't played this years Blockbusters yet, so can't comment on games where enemy A.I is paramount, like Hitman, Far Cry 3, Dishonored.

My most recent frustrating A.I memory goes to Resident Evil 5, Sheva. We have the Gold Edition free on PS Plus here in the U.K.

PGU: Resident Evil 5 Gold Ed, just completed the extra missions. Played some Motorstorm Apocalypse. Also enjoying the free stuff for PS + on Vita: started Gravity Rush. (PS + is such a bargain!) Also downloaded the Journey and Unfinished Swan bundle. Looking forward to experiencing these this week.

*Bargain on PS store in UK until Tuesday: Far Cry 3 = £24.99. Nice!


Last edited by Dukemz_UK on 12/23/2012 1:00:55 PM

homura
homura
11 years ago

First of all, Ben congrats with your new girlfriend.

As for Lightning Returns, I'm willing to forget the mess they have done in XIII-2 and I accepted that it's going to be an action rpg game and I will get it used but now I'm not, because of that trailer, it's so underwhelming. Maybe it will change in the coming months, but for now it's pathetic. And about that AI in Bioshock Infinite, the way they focused on it, looks like it's going to be amazing.

PGU:

Finished Dead Space 2 in zealot mode the other day and what an amazing game. What a roller coaster ride, and for me, it's way more difficult than the first Dead Space. Even with a large amount of ammo, I still can't survive some levels in the late part of the game, and I just give up shooting everything and just use stasis on those freaking necromorphs and run as hell on the next objective, what an experience it was. Now I'm playing Resonance Of Fate, the battle system is so much fun, it's really addictive, and the bosses is really not that difficult just pay attention to every details, and you'll tri attack and smacking down enemies in no time. It maybe the best turn based battle system. And the costumes is wonderful also the artistic design of Ebel City is amazing. And I also like the world map, it feels like your'e playing a mini game, sort of a board game.


Last edited by homura on 12/23/2012 3:13:05 PM

Corvo
Corvo
11 years ago

Merry Christmas everyone. Hope you all have safe trips and fun gifts!

Gordo
Gordo
11 years ago

Merry Xmas and happy new year to all. Will next year bring a PS4? Not sure…

This year was all about the Vita for me (since I gave my PS3 to my policeman brother last Xmas). Uncharted, Assassins Creed, FIFA, Golf, Lumines, Gravity Rush, MGS 2 and 3, Wipeout, Zero Escape and numerous downloadable titles has left me very content gaming wise.

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