Mighty Lame?

[Kuat]

Mighty reason. Money, that is.

www.massiveincorporated.com/

nationalcheeseemporium.org/

www.penny-arcade.com/images/2006/20061020.jpg

This may be nothing new to you guys, but behold the future of gaming for those who haven't. Along with incredible amounts of style over substance, and bump-mapped bits and bytes over actual gameplay, we've got this to look forward too.

Hell, and while we're on that, let's look at some of the other gaming innovations. This one brought by our good fiends at sony:

news.softpedia.com/news/Gran-Turismo-HD-for-PS3-The-First-Racing-Game-with-No-Cars-36127.shtml

Apart from outright stealing ideas from the other two game companies, sony wishes to bring some more shit into the mix. As much as everyone has been avoiding a console wars discussion, I can't stand sony and their shenanegans.

"Hey, let's force our proprietary blue ray on everyone! AND SAY WHAT A GOOD DEAL IT IS TOO, LOL!"
"Hey, I know, let's start upping the prices of games again! 60 and above, here we come; screw that, let's release games that you need to buy umpteen addons to just BEGIN to play!"
"Also let's just add on a bunch of shit that people may or may not want, but make 'em pay for it anyway because we want to have a monopoly of the family room".

It's like a zombie cross between microsoft and EA. Monopoloy bullshit with fleecing bullshit. The reason I don't have as much to fire tword Microsoft or Nintendo is that they still don't pull as much bullshit as sony does. Yet, that is. But considering trends, microsoft will. Hell, maybe you can also count on shoddy ps2-like construction for the ps3, reguardless of how much you pay for it.

Indeed the whole scene seems to be getting worse. What with Valve with steam and the innane episode system, EA with making soulless games by the dozen, and the whole advertisements scheme among other things. But everyone seems to feed on this excrement.

'Tis the blessing and a curse of a free market economy. Most say "why care". These games I want to play, and that's that, right? Well, being apathetic allows the bullshit to flow freely like after a night of bad mexican food. What it boils down to is that we're gonna have to pay more for the same or less quality experience. A great deal more. And we'll have less privacy, and more hassle with every game. No more will you just pick up a game for about 50 bucks and "that's it". Why? Because it will be profitable not to. Because gamers make it so by just showing they don't care and lying prostrate.

My fears that are rightfully supported are that every multiplayer RPG will become an MMO where you have pay per month, and your charcters that you spend at least $150 on developing will be deleted eventually. Games where to get an actual ending you have to buy episodes 1-50. Advertisements at every loading screen, spawing point, sniper's nest and toilet seat. Anti-piracy software so pervasive and invasive you'll need 2 gigs of ram to run the shit. Graphics that look so good but gameplay that sucks so bad you can't hold it for a day. Consoles that have all the functions of the world, but cost as much and do each of those functions in a shoddy half-ass way. Every series that you love turned into some form of horrid schlock that no longer resembles what it was. Some of this has already happened, and will continue to happen. Why?

Half Life 2 sold quite well. I'm sure grand turismo will have quite a few people buying every single little add on. World of Warcraft may have been the siren song for actual real game development from Blizzard. And we're all familar with gorgeous but soulless guild wars. Command and Conquer: Starcraft clone some of us are guilty of owning.

I mean, these things aren't inherently bad. I mean, people loved Half-life 2, and Generals is fun to an extent. But these guys are the homo-habilis of game evolution. These are the new trends. They have to be good. Now that valve introduced episodic content, will the future Daikatanas be realesed that way? Will starcraft just be warcraft III (which no one here liked anyway really) in space? Will the next mario cart have the yoshi driver selling at $5, the wario car selling at $10 and the star alley track selling at $15? Will future consoles try to basically become a glorified PC instead of something that does what we pay it to do, play games (Oh, wait, too late, Mr. PS2 and Mrs. Xbox and expensive their bastard children).

This is alot of bullshit, ja? Who can say that these trends induced by these companies will help the gamer? Any takers?

[You probably can't touch this.]

That is mighty lame.

The game industry crashed over quantity versus quality before. Looks like they're going for a second time, albeit a prettier downfall.

[Muramasa]

Well, some did predict that these series of events would lead to a sort of gaming collapse like the one back in the mid 1980s or something (of course, these "some" aren't necessarily credible sources. Just felt like throwing out that random bit of info). Whatever happens, I think it's just time to sit this whole gaming thing out. Maybe buy a DS and a few games, but I've got my share of games I need to finish anyways.

[Captain Galaxy]

This is so true. There are too many gimmicks that companies are using to promote their next generation consoles. Better graphics, which has actually always been a feature, but now this time around its this whole motion-sensing addition. This is what Nintendo Wii and the Sony PS3 are doing. Except the PS3 is by far looking like the better console with the better graphics, but of course this doesn't say much for game quality. Nintendo Wii is just a revamped Gamecube with an uncomfortable looking controller, I don't know about you but TV remotes have always been uncomfortable to me. The Xbox 360 has great graphics but a small game library, yet the quality of their games is really high; Dead Rising, Call of Duty 3, DOA4. ESIV: Oblivion. Of course, its hardware tends to fail, so much even that there's tips in the instruction manual on how to avoid them, but if you follow these then there shouldn't be a problem right. Of course this doesn't mean microsoft's console should be given the reputation of bad production, Sony's PS2 and Nintendo's Gamecubes have also been known to have problems, mainly with disc reading. And Sony's next-gen console isn't looking so good; the blue ray disc isn't as optimal as it seems; slow disc reading equals slower loads, and the refresh rate isn't as fast as the X360's. People say all all the new consoles are just computers, but the thing is that they have always been, and the first few consoles were in fact marketed as computers themselves. In this case many people have said that getting a computer is better, but the thing is that you will always have to keep upgrading a computer, while the console insures that you'll be able run EVERY game, because they are designed for them. In any case, graphics don't make the game; Silent Hill is still considered better than most newer horror games and its graphics are outdated. Pretty much, these companies are selling their consoles with what always sells: looks, this time being graphics-wise. When I buy a game I do infact want to say, that's it, but unfortunately enough this trend of sellling add-ons to players is beginning: PS3's version of Madden will be selling new costumes for their in-game players. But so far from the proof I've seen this is only evident in sports games, cuz football enthusiastics are stupid. And just for everyone's information: Command and Conquer was relased three years before Starcraft.

[Inaaca]

Gah...that is a lot of crap indeed.. Awful, awful, awful... To me it seems SO extreme though that I can't imagine gamer's putting up with it. If this crap goes through the industry isn't gonna be doing so hot..

[Blighton]

I was looking at game pro day and the price of everything for playstation with all the add ons were close to a thousand dollars.

I really see the gaming market slowing down in the quality of the graphics. I mean how much better do you really need to get with a game. IN the end it's all about the experience of the game and weither you enjoy it. Call of duty three for the wii is most likely going to not to be the best graphical and might not have online play but That's why I have cod on my computer for that and I killed all the time so It's not like it's the best fun in the world. I liked to be sucked into a game and things like graphics come second to the over all experience.

I think this whole add-ons that you need to buy is crap, why should I pay 600 for something because it has blue-ray? Why should I pay for development that I don't want which is the beef I have with the anime companies is I'm pay more for a DVD because they want to hire lousy English actors when all I really want is good subtitles on the original version?

Microsoft always has computers to fall back on and even if there video game system fails I really think bill gates is only in the video game market for the kicks and perks that he wasn't cool back in the day wants people to like him for the game system. the Nintendo company has been around for at least a hundred years and until maymoto dies I doubt it's going to go any were. AS for Sony well let's hope they learn there lession and learn to not be arrogant.

[Kuat]

vampyreheathen said:

This is so true. There are too many gimmicks that companies are using to promote their next generation consoles. Better graphics, which has actually always been a feature, but now this time around its this whole motion-sensing addition. This is what Nintendo Wii and the Sony PS3 are doing. Except the PS3 is by far looking like the better console with the better graphics, but of course this doesn't say much for game quality. Nintendo Wii is just a revamped Gamecube with an uncomfortable looking controller, I don't know about you but TV remotes have always been uncomfortable to me. The Xbox 360 has great graphics but a small game library, yet the quality of their games is really high; Dead Rising, Call of Duty 3, DOA4. ESIV: Oblivion. Of course, its hardware tends to fail, so much even that there's tips in the instruction manual on how to avoid them, but if you follow these then there shouldn't be a problem right. Of course this doesn't mean microsoft's console should be given the reputation of bad production, Sony's PS2 and Nintendo's Gamecubes have also been known to have problems, mainly with disc reading. And Sony's next-gen console isn't looking so good; the blue ray disc isn't as optimal as it seems; slow disc reading equals slower loads, and the refresh rate isn't as fast as the X360's. People say all all the new consoles are just computers, but the thing is that they have always been, and the first few consoles were in fact marketed as computers themselves. In this case many people have said that getting a computer is better, but the thing is that you will always have to keep upgrading a computer, while the console insures that you'll be able run EVERY game, because they are designed for them. In any case, graphics don't make the game; Silent Hill is still considered better than most newer horror games and its graphics are outdated. Pretty much, these companies are selling their consoles with what always sells: looks, this time being graphics-wise. When I buy a game I do infact want to say, that's it, but unfortunately enough this trend of sellling add-ons to players is beginning: PS3's version of Madden will be selling new costumes for their in-game players. But so far from the proof I've seen this is only evident in sports games, cuz football enthusiastics are stupid. And just for everyone's information: Command and Conquer was relased three years before Starcraft.

FOR CHRIST SAKES SPLIT THAT SHIT UP.

With C&C I was reffering to General's "revamped" playstyle. NOT the pre-EA C&C's.

As far as computers "needing" to be upgraded... That's faulty logic. With consoles no one can take advantage of evolving technology. You have to do it in quantum bursts, from gen to gen. With a PC, development happens with innovation. In other words, it's the developer's perogative. The PC gives them more options because it evolves more rapidly. The main problem I've had with EVERY console is that why can't the games be played on a computer (realeased for a PC) as well. Why? Well, money and licensing. Every console that is out, including the 360, has PC emulation. Consoles are just cheaper ways to play games. At least, what they were.

And as far as "gimmicks", that remains to be seen. Adding a new dimension to playstyle is always a plus, instead of rehashing ye same olde shite with OMG REALISTIC GRASS. Then again, if they turn it into a gimmick instead of a real asset, only time will tell.

In additon, the point of the first post wasn't DIE LOL CONSOLE WARS but OH NO, LOOK AT THE HORRIBLE FUTURE SUPPORTED BY MOST ALL THE MAJOR GAME COMPANIES! Sony is acting especially greedy because they WILL dominate and CAN get away with whatever they pretty much want. If MS or Nin were in the drivers seat, at least *some* if not all similar shit would be pulled. Eventually what crap prevails this gen will dominate the next, for better or for worse.

[Captain Galaxy]

To you play a game that requires newer, better, more capable hardware DOES require that you upgrade your compter. I completely understand what you mean by saying that next-gen consoles upgrade hardware every few years but my point was that you don't have to worry about whether or not your console can play a game, since each game that is developed for a certain console is modified to run on it without any defect. I'm not sure how much the expenses would be for going from console to console, nor do I know how much it costs to keep upgrading your computer, so going from console to console might cost more or less than upgrading once in a while. Cost however, is irrelevant to the anxiety or lackthereof one feels before runnig a game for the first time.

[Captain Galaxy]

blighton said:

I was looking at game pro day and the price of everything for playstation with all the add ons were close to a thousand dollars.

I really see the gaming market slowing down in the quality of the graphics. I mean how much better do you really need to get with a game. IN the end it's all about the experience of the game and weither you enjoy it. Call of duty three for the wii is most likely going to not to be the best graphical and might not have online play but That's why I have cod on my computer for that and I killed all the time so It's not like it's the best fun in the world. I liked to be sucked into a game and things like graphics come second to the over all experience.

I think this whole add-ons that you need to buy is crap, why should I pay 600 for something because it has blue-ray? Why should I pay for development that I don't want which is the beef I have with the anime companies is I'm pay more for a DVD because they want to hire lousy English actors when all I really want is good subtitles on the original version?

Microsoft always has computers to fall back on and even if there video game system fails I really think bill gates is only in the video game market for the kicks and perks that he wasn't cool back in the day wants people to like him for the game system. the Nintendo company has been around for at least a hundred years and until maymoto dies I doubt it's going to go any were. AS for Sony well let's hope they learn there lession and learn to not be arrogant.

What are the add-ons?

Yeah, graphics don't have to be all that good in a game, but it doesn't hurt if they are. Take Half-Life 2 for example, great story, great gameplay, great physics, great graphics. They got it all right. While they may not be the most important, graphics are actually part of the experience that can enhance a games greatness.

The answer to your questions is simple: FREEDOM. You DON'T have to buy any of those things. If you don't want to spend 600 on a PS3, spend 500, and if you don't want to spend 500, don't buy it. The same goes for audio translation on animes. No one is shoving these things down your throat.

I don't think computers is something MS "falls back" on, their OS is their main source of income and is pretty much used by most of the world, unless something more accesible and commercial comes along, MS will dominate computers for a long ass time. THEN they better come up with something to fall back on. Right now they're just doing, or will do what Brian says they are: monopolizing. To be honest with you I think Nintendo is the one who's features I like the most, simply because they are family-oriented, which is an audience more things in this world need to be aimed towards. As for Sony, I wouldn't say they're being arrogant, I'd say they're being asses.

[Inaaca]

I'm not trying to ignore you're main points or anything Adrian, and you've been making good ones, but one thing you said in your first post irked me that I couldn't help but point out. The Wii is anything but an upgraded Gamecube with a funky controller. You might contest this, but really, everything I've researched and discovered on the Wii is in the complete opposite direction of game companies in the past, including Nintendo.

[Dex]

This is buuuuullshiiiiit.

[Kuat]

dex said:

This is buuuuullshiiiiit.

Verily.

[Blighton]

The add ons are things like buying cables for the Ps3 that don't come with the system and Xbox needs it's own drive to play HD cd's

In the end let the sells and time will give out the outcome and to be honest it feels more like a political campain. I plan to buy the wii either in january after the holiday rush or when they come out with a blue one and Ps3 when they stop being arogant and it gose down to at least $300 untill then there are still games coming out for the current systems that'll keep me busy along with my DS.

[Captain Galaxy]

blighton said:

The add ons are things like buying cables for the Ps3 that don't come with the system and Xbox needs it's own drive to play HD cd's

In the end let the sells and time will give out the outcome and to be honest it feels more like a political campain. I plan to buy the wii either in january after the holiday rush or when they come out with a blue one and Ps3 when they stop being arogant and it gose down to at least $300 untill then there are still games coming out for the current systems that'll keep me busy along with my DS.

Yeah, I'm just starting to get into the XBox and the PS2, both good cheap consoles with lots of games that sell for around 20 bucks at most. The PS3 and the Xbox 360, will not go down in price for a LONG TIME, since the price at which they sell their consoles is about 200 below the price its costs to produce them. The Wii, I'm definitely getting, just to swing around the controller as Link.

[You probably can't touch this.]

Reading, no add-ons there.

[Muramasa]

Unless you attend graduate schools.

[Kuat]

mysticmuramasa said:

Unless you attend graduate schools.

lolerskates.

Seriously.

[Blighton]

sony just like to piss people off. www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901