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Ben’s Week In Review: May 26

Everyone's only talking about one thing after this week, so I suppose it deserves a bit more of my attention.

Microsoft effed it up

In so many ways, I thought it was there for the taking. You already have the majority of US gamers in your back pocket. You know what Sony announced. You had months prepare. And you end up dropping an absolute dud in every sense of the term.

And why? Because essentially, that was an event that actually brought core gamers together, because just about every core gamer despised the Xbox One unveiling. This backlash isn't about Sony fans aimlessly, childishly bashing a product just because Microsoft produced it. If that was the case, there'd be just as many – if not more – Xbox defenders to combat such a reaction. Instead, it seems as if anyone who calls themselves a gamer hates the damn thing.

That GameSpot Twitter poll is perhaps the most telling. At 88% to 12%, it's an annihilation, not a battle. And that's because gamers frequent GameSpot. Core gamers. The group Microsoft supposedly says they care about, literally days after producing an event that essentially had very little to do with video games. It appears that Microsoft has thrown their lot in with the casual gamers, which does make a lot of sense. After all, that's the vast majority of the consuming market right now. The only problem is that core gamers, journalists, analysts and web sites generate word of mouth , which the mainstream does hear.

And when it's this one-sided, that's bad news. People say we haven't gotten all the details yet from either Sony or Microsoft. That much is true, and there's a very good chance that Sony may have similar plans for pre-owned software. However, if I'm Microsoft and I care so much about the core gamers, why haven't they tried to counter all the hate that's flying around? All they'll say is that they "haven't announced everything yet." This, while there are reports that the PS4 is significantly more capable ( 50% more graphics power ). Evasive, vague dodging while people are even wondering if the Xbox One can be considered a video game system first. Well, clearly, it isn't. It's a multimedia system first.

Gamers don't care about that, Microsoft. You made a very big mistake in assuming that despite the size discrepancy between core and casual participants, the core crowd has no pull. You're finding that that isn't the case, now aren't you? Fake applause ? The chance that PS4 could run some games at 60FPS while the Xbox One might only manage 30? Kinect a must? Mandatory this, required that? The restrictions seem to be piling up faster than the features. Which, of course, is vintage Microsoft but whatever.

The point is, there's a reason why the Xbox One is so widely mocked right now. It's because the core gamers are the ones on forums talking about it…and the core gamers really, really don't like a machine that evidently isn't designed for them at all.

Personal gaming update

So I finished Tomb Raider with 100% complete. Great game and tons of fun. And as my girlfriend and I are done with Portal 2 now, I'm looking for another game to play co-op. Sadly, there's nothing even close to Portal out there in terms of puzzle-type games, which is what she wants. We may try LittleBigPlanet , but that may be a little demanding (remember, she almost never touched a controller before I met her). I wish I had more time to spend with Soul Sacrifice , which is pretty fun and gives me an excuse to use my Vita (for once). But I'm working on a Fuse review, which will go up this week, and I also want to check out Call of Juarez: Gunslinger .

And I remain optimistic about Remember Me , despite my many reservations. Can't forget that The Last Of Us is on June 14! 🙂

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Siris86
Siris86
10 years ago

Have you thought about Quantum Conundrum? I don't know if it's co-op, though.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
10 years ago

He could play The Cave with her, probably a better idea than LBP for the puzzle love.

Siris86
Siris86
10 years ago

Possible worst idea for puzzle love: Catherine.

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
10 years ago

I don't know if QC is co-op, either…don't think it is.

The Cave is a better idea, provided the platforming isn't too demanding later on.

Temjin001
Temjin001
10 years ago

Trine may be a good one too. Isn't that a co-op puzzler?

Comic Shaman
Comic Shaman
10 years ago

Ben, did you ever play Lara Croft & the Guardian of Light? My wife and I really enjoyed that one as a co-op experience, though the action may be a bit demanding at the higher levels.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
10 years ago

Catherine's a great game at any other time. I should really play that again for another ending.

frylock25
frylock25
10 years ago

QC is not co op. trine 2 and the cave are good ideas. little big planet 2 is less demanding of the platforming imo. plus with lbp2 there is all the user content that you dont even need to worry about platforming.

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
10 years ago

Comic: Yeah, I loved Guardian of Light. Did the review. 🙂 I think that might be too demanding from the action aspect, though.

All- Catherine would be TOUGH. LOL Trine might be a really good idea…

Thanks!

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
10 years ago

MS seems to be getting out of the gaming business with this console, maybe that's the right move for them. A company like that doesn't really have the heart or head for this business. The biggest mystery is how they bamboozled a whole generation into taking them seriously. I say make room for a serious contender and let PS4 be the second coming of PS2.

I'm interested in the Fuse review but more excited for the Remember Me review. I think if it's a good game with a solid protagonist that is original then that's enough to begin the IP and build from. It's hard to make these first outings perfect.

Just finished Leon's campaign in RE6, are there any other campaigns I should play before I sell it?

bldudas1
bldudas1
10 years ago

Have you played all the campaigns?

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
10 years ago

I started Chris's but it seems to be a third person CoD so kinda lost interest.


Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 5/25/2013 11:17:54 PM

bldudas1
bldudas1
10 years ago

I liked Ada's campaign the best. Jake's is good too. Chris's is the worst, I think.

berserk
berserk
10 years ago

You should at least play Ada campaign before selling it .You re lucky since there is no need to beat all of the campaign now .Also , did you tried changing the camera ??? the game better with it as far away as possible .

Funny thing about chris , 1 of his chapter is the closest you ll get to a survival horror feel .

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
10 years ago

I'm playing Ada's, she's a sexbomb 🙂

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
10 years ago

I decided to replay the RE remake for GC before diving into RE6 this weekend. Bad idea…I've invested a few hours into the game and I'm hating it. The camera is far too close and it's far too easy to just melee the zombies.

bldudas1
bldudas1
10 years ago

I would really like for Microsoft to get out of the console business. Before Sony came in, there were really only two companies, Nintendo and Sega. Atari had not been relative for years. I would love to go back to that. Microsoft seems to be doing a good job of getting out by themselves.

Kryten1029a
Kryten1029a
10 years ago

As much as they've disappointed me this week, I really don't want to see them fail-not really. Competition is a good thing and I'd prefer to have three healthy companies vying for attention. Not that I'd buy an Xbone anytime soon; they've pretty much lost me as a customer.

Fane1024
Fane1024
10 years ago

If you believe in competition, you should be fervently opposed to Microsoft. They are as strongly anti-competition as a company can get, building monopolies not by providing better products, but by c***-blocking, undermining, or flat-out purchasing their competitors. The longer Microsoft survives in the business of gaming, the closer we are to having NO competition.


Last edited by Fane1024 on 5/28/2013 2:56:07 AM

Hand_of_Sorrow
Hand_of_Sorrow
10 years ago

time for microsoft to stay on the porch and let the big dogs play,
put a fork in them, they're (xbox) done

pgu, encountered a bug in metro last light that i'll have to start a new
play through, so i put it aside for now.
been playing rdr online, my kind of mp

Temjin001
Temjin001
10 years ago

First a very big thank you Ben for the package that arrived in the mail today. I am most appreciative =)

I agree that the Xbox One debut was a disaster for core gamers. I think now the whole thing has finally sunk in for me. The whole 'new MS vibe' thing.

I do suspect MS will try to make a heavy gamer focus for E3 to try and temper the gamer angst. As for first impressions though… heheh well. Worst in history that I can recall. That's not a great way to make an entrance.

So basically for me it'll take a lot of work on MS's part to persuade me to make a purchase. It will need to come in the form of incredible games that just need to be played. Games that won't just arrive better on PC either. Seeing though that they still have those barriers of entry that I don't value or even want, like Kinect, in place it seems even less probable. It doesn't help to know I now have to rely on yet another connected device for operative game play, let alone having a semi-always on connection… now it's not just a console quality control concern but now also a concern over that little tech-loaded camera that comes part of the package. Numbered among the woes there's paying for online play, and of course a lesser powered system. The odds don't look good but I won't rule nothing out. I am a gamer first so if MS wants my money they'll need to show me they care.

PGU: I've been playing Jak 3 and DOA5. Jak 3 has finally warmed up on me. I was pretty offset by how unfocused it's design felt early on. Now being a bit farther I've somewhat adjusted to it's tempo. It does have a pretty strong adventure feel to it, something I like. It's also interesting seeing how many last-gen tropes are in it. Tony Hawk style skateboarding? Check. GTA3 style car jacking and pedestrian harassing? Check. The obsess-ant need for a game that didn't really need guns to get guns? Check. (I know Jak 2 got 'em first)

I've been holding out on digging into Darksiders 2. I want to bad but I just don't think I can give the time at the moment. It's one I'd like to really sink my teeth into.


Last edited by Temjin001 on 5/25/2013 11:42:39 PM

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
10 years ago

Woah, that got there today? I sent it on Thursday afternoon; they told me Tuesday delivery. LOL

But hey, you deserve it. 🙂

Temjin001
Temjin001
10 years ago

Yep, my wife called me at work to tell me the news. I was quite surprised. Thank you.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
10 years ago

What'd ya get Temji?

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
10 years ago

He won the latest User Review contest and he picked Gravity Rush. Then I just completely forgot to send it out for a while, until he emailed to ask if he could get Fuse instead.

So for my tardiness, I gave him both. 🙂

dmiitrie
dmiitrie
10 years ago

As much as I hate the XBO, this might just be a good move for MS and for Sony and for gamers. It's should be obvious by now that the casual market is far larger than the core market, so it's unsurprising that MS would move to compete more heavily with Nintendo for that market. Which, of course, leaves Sony to cater exclusively to the core demographic. Hopefully, this means that developers will begin to treat the XBO like they do the WiiU and make sure that the PS4 version of multiplats is unquestioningly the superior product. I can easily see how this model could go horribly awry, but it does seem like there's a way for everyone to get what they want.

PGU: haven't gamed much this week, so I'm still plugging away at Tropico 4. But, I may put that aside and start something new. Only problem is that I have no idea what to play next. I got several games in the last few weeks that I haven't tried yet: CitiesXL, Torchlight2, Deus Ex HR, or Hereos MM. But I've also have been feeling a little nostalgic and might also go back to an old favourite like Divine Divinity, KOTOR, Dawn of War or Bioshock. Decisions, decisions.

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
10 years ago

I don't see these devices doing anything new. They offer the same functions I already have with other devices. Technology is ruining gaming, something I never thought would happen.

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
10 years ago

Again, I'm still trying to figure out how MS got everyone thinking they were some sort of consumer caring company. This whole generation people abaolutely were hooked on MS and it only took a day to finally put some light on the situation.

Anyways I dont really care what MS does either way. All I care about is the console I buy is passionate about games. That obviously is not MS and Sony has shown games are still first.

PGU: Borderlands 2. Just cant get enough, but considering my character is a level 58 and im almost done with my 3rd playthrough, after this next piece of dlc I think ill put it away unless theres another level increase. Unfortunately 11 levels just wasnt enough. Looks good on paper but once you get into the third playthrough experience is gained super quick.

Getting back into GoW mp, which is super fun. Sony Santa Monicas support is unbelievable. One of the best supported games of the generation.


Last edited by bigrailer19 on 5/26/2013 1:40:13 AM

Norrin Radd
Norrin Radd
10 years ago

Did you get the BL2 season pass? What about Krieg? I'm still addicted to this game also – and very excited for June 25th!

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
10 years ago

No season pass for me. Basically because the characters were not included. Im fine with paying for the dlc seperate anyways, totally worth it. Havnt tried Krieg, I know a lot of people like him but Im not interested in his skill trees. They seem… Idont know all over the place. But I hear a lot of people like him. If I ever did another character id do Gauge I think. In fact I might just start a playthrough with Gauge now that im talking about it. Ha, oh boy this game has that affect.

What character are you playing with mostly? You got a group you play with?


Last edited by bigrailer19 on 5/26/2013 4:44:46 PM

Norrin Radd
Norrin Radd
10 years ago

I'm strictly a solo player due to many reasons. Having a family has that effect on you! Lol!

My favorite is Maya – love her action skill. At 61 she just smokes mobs. I can literally engage the Phasleock and watch it kill and bounce from mob member to mob member. Second for me is Gaige. Axton is 3rd, but I mostly (95% of the time) play the other two.

IMO, Gaige is worth the price. Krieg – I got him but I'm not exactly enamored with him. I've tried Sal and Zero – ok but don't match my play style.

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
10 years ago

Yea I always play in a group so I use Maya for healing. So ive got the middle skill tree maxed and spread out between the other two. Im working towards getting the tree your talking bout filled actually. I dont care for the cataclysm skill tree much. Although from the outside it would appear to make her much more powerful… sadly it just doesnt.

I love Maya too though, shes awesome. Are you on ultimate vault hunter? Hows your skill tree set up and what guns you roll with? Im still using my lvl 50 legendaries but its getting tough. Im having to rely on the high level blues, purples and pinks again until I get far enough to farm some legendaries. I havnt got any pearlescents yet either but it sounds like they are not to special compared to the legendaries. I know the seraph weapons are decent but I have bad luck with Hyperion and pete dropping crystals on a normal basis so I dont get to purchase those often, rather ever! Actually my best weapon I got is a lvl 50 pink slag smg. That thing just tears through enemies like its cool, and for a little.more oomph ill slag then pull out my legendary sniper that does 200% critical. But its getting difficult as the enemies Im normally up against are 2 levels ahead of me. So just looking for any good info.!


Last edited by bigrailer19 on 5/26/2013 6:30:18 PM

Norrin Radd
Norrin Radd
10 years ago

I have been plying UVHM – although it is not my favorite mode! I really enjoyed TVHM and do wish that it scaled and leveled to 61 like UVHM. Personally I find UVHM rather tedious, moreso than fun. BUT, I do understand that other people really dig it – which is great! The more options the better, IMO.

Maya Build: I started my Maya by going 5 in Sweet Release. Then, I never touch the Harmony tree again! I live on Sub-sequence (at 100% its just a thing of beauty), Ruin and Thoughtlock and fill out the other two trees as best I can. Suspension, Quicken, Converge and Fleet are also biggies for me. Fleet mostly for fun with the Rough Rider and a Breakneck Banshee mod with +6 Fleet – man she can MOVE!!! Converge and Subsequence – I just love together. I guess I also tend to like the Cataclysm tree more than most do. I find capping that and the Motion tree make me very kickass.

Gear: I've tried a few Pearls – didn't really care for them that much, TBH. I am totally in love with my Phoenix Maya build – complete with a Grounded Hide of Terramorphus. Why Grounded? I hate those damn surveyors!!! renders them 100% ineffective against me. Plus I love Spike shields – nothing better than ignoring Surveyors AND Raaks at the same time – anything that flies bugs me and removing them from worry altogether makes me a happy camper. I worked hard and long to get that thing though. I have stumbled upon some legendaries. My favorite is probably a Homing Storm Front (I'm a sucker for Tesla grenades). I also find myself using a lot of pistols with Maya – don't know why. With Gaige I have a few purple Vladof ARs which I think are some of the best guns in the game. Relics – I like the Sherrif's badge a lot – probably why Maya uses a lot of pistols. Class mods I vary all the time – I like the Legendary Class mods okay – but I mostly use anything on Maya that increases fire damage. I need to go look at that character again – I KNOw she's set up for fire mayhem. And she's a badass.


Last edited by Norrin Radd on 5/27/2013 11:06:01 AM

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
10 years ago

Yeah I can see why you like the cataclysm skill tree, being a solo player. Your character sounds pretty sweet.

Me being in the support role I have to use the harmony tree. I also love that I have a ton of health. Thats the sacrifice I make I guess. Ive got the harmony tree stacked to aid myself and teamates and then ive got motion pretty much filled up to aid as well and make the phaselock powerful. Its working okay right now. I did at one time use the cataclysm and harmoney tree but the acid cloud didnt do as much damage as id had hoped. It really just wasnt helping my build.

When we go to a raid boss its split up actually between the 3 trees but mostly for revival and healing.

I use a mod that ups my health regen and max health and adds bonuses to healing and regen. I use the bee shield to help me deal damage but I also use a shield that increases my max health and health regen when I really need to be in the support role.

I love torgue grenades. Right now I use one that spawns 9 child grenades and it just decimates the enemies. Its homing as well.

Yeah my weaponry is getting better. Ive got a lot of legendaries but they are all level 50s so they are becoming weak which sucks. I worked hard for those.

Beamboom
Beamboom
10 years ago

Aha – coop gaming, my speciality 🙂
It has to be local coop only, right Ben? Well then:

You can safely go for LBP, the difficulty level is very casual (multiple chances, easy to understand what to do, the most experienced can get you though the harder parts, etc). At our house we've played LBP 1+2 many times when we got friends over, and neither my wife nor her girlfriends are experienced gamers at all (quite the contrary) and they master LBP with no problems. Embarrassingly enough they are even better than me at times.

Another game that is a bit harder than LBP but should still be within casual range, is Rayman Origins. Top quality game that's gotten far less attention than deserved.

Trine 2 may be a bit hard (from a casual perspective) but is well worth to try, also cause it looks so amazingly good. Beautiful game.

Then, of course, we got the LEGO games. They are wonderfully fun and very friendly for the casual, in addition to having a certain attraction for the more experienced gamers too.

There's plenty more where this came from, but I think you'll enjoy all of the above, both of you.


Last edited by Beamboom on 5/26/2013 3:42:19 AM

Norrin Radd
Norrin Radd
10 years ago

My kids LOVE playing Rayman Origins co-op – and one of them will only be 6 in July. That's a great suggestion for an easier co-op game. And it's very pretty, too.

And of course, all the LEGO games, too. I found the Harry Potter ones particularly addictive. Probably because of the underlying very good story. And very accessible for newer gamers, too.


Last edited by Norrin Radd on 5/26/2013 9:24:20 AM

xenris
xenris
10 years ago

Rayman Origins is one of the best 2D platformers I have ever played period. If you just play it to beat it it isn't too hard its just good old fun. But if you go for the time trials..well that is where you see how truly brilliant the game design is.

I got the platinum trophy in that game and will do it again for Rayman Legends with my co op team 😀

Definitely play that with her Ben.

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
10 years ago

The Lego Games are a great suggestion. Ive only playes the Indiana Jones games but I hear the others are better and thats saying something.

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
10 years ago

Agreed about Rayman Origins. It's absolutely fantastic, and I think still our highest-rated Vita game at PSXE. But it can be VERY difficult.

LBP might be the way to go. I think I've only got the first one but that should be fine…and the LEGO games are all sorts of fun, but I think they're more for kids. She's not so much into that (like she doesn't love animated movies).

I originally thought of LBP before trying Portal 2. I think it'll have to be that one. 🙂

Beamboom
Beamboom
10 years ago

Aha… Hmm, if she don't like "kid games" then I'm not so sure if she'll like LBP or Rayman either – I think both are quite "kiddylike" in their presentation?

But you are right, the world NEEDS another Portal! But with the rate Valve releases their games we should not expect another Portal for at least five more years. 😀


Last edited by Beamboom on 5/27/2013 1:07:47 AM

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
10 years ago

Yeah, I told her not to expect Portal 3 until both of us are over 40. LOL

She's not into kiddie stuff, but I think LBP has a universal charm to it. 🙂

Dukemz_UK
Dukemz_UK
10 years ago

I believe Microsoft's Xbone shows exactly how far a greedy corporate can go to try and squeeze more money out of you! This always-on Kinect sending all sorts of info back to m$ servers about you, the people in your house, who visits u, what they watch and play, even your web browsing habits, what u buy, etc, it just creeps me out !!
Unfortunately, you'll still get millions of brainless twits buying the Xbone and happily allowing m$ access to their privacy.
PGU: With the PSN sales on, I've picked up Trine 1 and 2. Just finished 1, about to start 2. Beautiful games for the price. Also playing Double Dragon Neon with my kids: a great old school blast.

___________
___________
10 years ago

ones reveal proved 2 things.
1 how childish people still are these days.
2 how god dam impatient people are!
3 weeks, just wait 3 f*cking weeks it wont kill you!

finished vice city yesterday, so now im moving onto san andreas.
that is the perfect example of the perfect sequel.
EVERYTHING that made vice city so great has been carried over, and theres so much new stuff added as well.
from the weapon customization and leveling up, to the character customization with your health and such, to the customizable cars, jesus tap dancing christ what isent in this game!?
just goes to show how disappointing the industry is currently, i mean its been what 8 years since it released?
say 8 years, and how have we progressed?
if anything weve gone backwards!

Ludicrous_Liam
Ludicrous_Liam
10 years ago

Y'know, I said at the time that I thought the Sony conference had a certain Microsoft vibe to it. Maybe it was all the social elements & that damn share button or something. But after seeing the Microsoft conference, I can confidently say that Microsoft out-Microsofted Microsoft (you might wanna run that through your head a few times lol).

I'm NOT getting a next-gen console – or atleast, I can't forsee myself getting one – but I'm glad Sony is making the right calls. Or maybe it's just Microsoft shooting themselves in the face; I'm glad either way XD

xenris
xenris
10 years ago

The Xone has a 1984 feel to it. Kinect is always on…internet is always required…microsoft gives you permission to play games etc

I honestly think that the only way Xone is going to sell to core gamers is if microsoft gets CoD to be exclusive.

I think that the 12% of gamers who apparently like the Xone reveal must have thought that CoD was exclusive or something.

Otherwise I really have no idea what microsoft was thinking with this reveal.

Also did anyone else think the in game graphics for the football and racing game looked kind of bad? I assume that is in game but it wasn't actually gameplay footage. I dont know something looked very plastic about it.

Oh well I guess all we can do is wait until E3 and see what these 15 new exciting kinect games are. Well Im sure a couple will be real games but who wants to bet most of them are gesture based childrens games?

PGU

Im not playing anything except Dota 2 and some competitive shooters on the PC right now. I'm just eagerly awaiting the release of the last of us, which isn't to far off now 🙂

berserk
berserk
10 years ago

" I think that the 12% of gamers who apparently like the Xone reveal must have thought that CoD was exclusive or something. ".

That or they are american sports fan .

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
10 years ago

Glad to hear you've been enjoying yourself with Portal2. My apologies for my absence.

Clamedeus
Clamedeus
10 years ago

Welcome back LV.

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
10 years ago

::kisses:

Was always here just not commenting. I ALWAYS need my PS news.


Last edited by LimitedVertigo on 5/26/2013 8:28:22 PM

Underdog15
Underdog15
10 years ago

*intercepts kiss*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjJVGvbsn1c

Awl riiiiight…..

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