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Shoddy Ports Promote Multiplatform Gaming

Ben-Dutka 103 Comments

No, this isn't 2007 when crappy PlayStation 3 ports abounded ('cough' The Orange Box 'cough') but even so, we still can't seem to leave such unpleasantness behind. At least, not entirely.

EA got in the doghouse early by shafting PS3 owners with Madden 09 ; the version for Sony's machine ran at only 30 frames per second while other versions fared much better in that department. EA has since cleaned things up and we haven't seen many significant differences between PS3/360 versions of their games. But just this year, despite Sega's assurances, Bayonetta lagged on the PS3, and I had to remind everyone that the 360 version was a 9+ game (as most sources claimed). Just recently, Mafia II underwhelmed critics; the console version was significantly inferior to the PC version. I'm not sure if there were clear differences between the PS3 and 360 versions, but the point is that Mafia II is best played on one platform above all others.

There does appear to be a formula that seems to work almost 100% of the time: if a game is made on one platform first, and then brought to other platforms, the original platform invariably gets the best version. If the designer works on all versions simultaneously (and most are doing that these days), nobody gets ripped off. Platinum learned from their mistake with Bayonetta and made sure that the upcoming Vanquish wouldn't piss off PS3 owners. They did use the PS3 as the lead dev platform but they already had a working knowledge of the 360 after their stylish action slashfest earlier this year. But the problem still exists in the industry and if exclusives don't promote multiplatform gaming, the shoddy ports do. Hardcore gamers have always been better off with multiple options, anyway.  If you're willing to shell out, of course.

So if you were only a 360 owner and were considering a PS3 purchase due to games like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves , God of War III , Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots , Gran Turismo 5 , and Heavy Rain , you'd also like to know that Final Fantasy XIII is probably best played on Sony's machine. If you were a PS3 owner, and titles like Gears of War 2 , Alan Wake , Mass Effect 2 (yes, it's coming to the PS3 but you wouldn't have known that back then, would you?), Fable II , and Halo 3 / Halo: Reach didn't entirely convince you, it'd be good to know that Bayonetta is best experienced on Microsoft's console. In the end, we want the best versions of games we intend to play and as of yet, they're not all identical across all major platforms.

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THQ: Saints Row 3 “Less Urban” And Not All “Gangsta”

Ben-Dutka 27 Comments

It's easy to compare THQ's Saints Row franchise to Take-Two's Grand Theft Auto series because, let's face it, they're pretty darn similar.

But THQ boss Danny Bilson says the upcoming third Saints Row installment will separate their series even further from GTA, as the biggest change will center on the atmosphere and setting. He told CVG it'll be "less urban" and "definitely not 'gangsta,' so be prepared for an overhaul in terms of storyline, characters, and environment. Said Bilson:

"We don't compete with GTA. We're differentiating even further with GTA with this one. The new Saint's Row will be less urban – it's definitely not about 'gangsta' anymore at all. And it's more fun and almost sillier and wackier and weirder than the other one.

I love GTA – especially the last one, which knocked my socks off. That's almost like a Martin Scorsese cartoon, right? We are more like the Mad Magazine version of that or something. It's colourful, it's wild, it's fun."

To be fair, Danny, it's not so much that you "don't" compete with GTA; it's that you can't . That's not a slight on the Saints Row games, either; we're just merely stating the obvious fact that almost nothing "competes" with GTA in terms of popularity and, in our opinion, open-world quality. Bilson does say there are "new gangs in a new world," so we won't be leaving all the grit behind in Saints Row 3 , but he stressed that it's "not all about criminals." He also adds the game will boast "the most robust transmedia play on any game ever done." …that includes plans for a "Saints Row" movie, by the way.

Well, we'll have to see what THQ is cookin' up, here. Personally, I was never a big fan of the previous settings, so perhaps this new idea will appeal more to me.  As for the pic, how many times do I have the option of substituting a pornstar for a gameplay shot, and still be able to call it accurate for the story at hand…?

Related Game(s): Saints Row 3

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Sony After E3: “We Have A Huge Amount Of Momentum”

Ben-Dutka 92 Comments

The PlayStation 3 has been chipping away at the overall worldwide sales lead held by the Xbox 360, and Sony is confident that eventually, they will pass the competition (if not the Wii).

During an interview with Industry Gamers , Sony Worldwide Studios VP Scott Rohde spoke about post-E3 thoughts concerning the PlayStation Move, 3D, and the continued rise of the PS3. In regards to 3D, Rohde likened the emergence of this technology to the Blu-Ray launch, calling the price obstacle a "strategy" rather than a "concern." He reminds us that at the start of Blu-Ray's career, people were opting to stick with their DVD collection without any desire to upgrade; but Sony just had to keep pushing and prove that it's a superior way of viewing movies and playing games. Then, when IG mentioned that many analysts see the PS3 overtaking the 360, Rohde replied:

"We certainly hope that’s going to be the case. We are confident that we have a huge amount of momentum and we see that from all of our partners in the industry at retail and third party partners. The buzz is about where the PS3 is headed in the future, and I truly believe that future-proof message is a big part of that.

A lot of developers, a lot of publishers out there are saying, 'Wow, we like what the Move is offering, we like that you guys are on the cutting edge of 3D, so we’re going to get involved now, because when the PS3 really hits its stride we want to be there with it.' So we’re very confident that we’re in a very good spot right now. And our partners are echoing that sentiment back to us."

With only a total of about 5 million units separating the global sales tally between the PS3 and 360, and the added benefit of superior exclusives and an ever-expanding Network, this could very well happen. By the way, speaking of the PSN, they addressed the idea of the total number of accounts being "inflated:" that just because there are multiple PSN accounts in a single household doesn't mean the overall number is false (different people with different tastes). However, the PR guy admits they should make it clearer that the number also includes PSP PSN accounts.

For most fans of the PS3, the eventual overtaking of Microsoft appears inevitable. But you don't count your chickens…and all that.

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