The Sony fanboys hate Microsoft and everything they stand for. The Microsoft fanboys hate Sony with every fiber of their being. Both the Sony and MS fanboys generally ignore the Nintendo fanboys, but the Nintendo fanboys don’t care because they secretly hate everybody who isn’t a Nintendo fanboy.
All this hate going around is really good for the industry. Tensions get high, message boards get filled up, and the corporations are forced to produce even better product. “Our console was out first…we’re first to market!” “Oh yeah, well, our offering will be more powerful than you could possibly imagine!” “Well, we have a gorilla-chasing plumber as our mascot…so there!”
Personally, I follow the software…the games decide what console I’ll buy. I’m a Sony fanboy, but I’m 100% sure I’ll buy an Xbox 360 as well as a PS3. If the games look good, I’ll even pick up a Wii. But that’s not the point of this post. The point is this:
Playstation Haters, Xbox Haters, Nintendo Haters…UNITE! Let’s all bring the hate together against the PC gamers! Those uppity bastards have had it coming for a long time!
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
Civil War!
Well, this just has to be said. Iron Man is a jerk.
This Civil War storyline from Marvel has got to be the best thing to come out of the House of Ideas in a very, very long time. I was just beginning to lose hope, too. It was starting to look like anything except for the Ultimate stuff (and anything by Bendis) was bound to suck. Hard. But, in walks Civil War, and all the tie-ins, and I’m completely blown away.
In case you’re unaware, the basic premise is that the powers that be in the US government in the Marvel Universe (Marvel “616”, to be exact) have decided that all practicing superheroes need to either register themselves with the government (thereby revealing their identities to various agencies, and essentially become government employees themselves), or they need to hang up their tights for good. No one pays much attention to this initiative until the New Warriors are involved in the destruction of a schoolyard full of kids while trying to bring in some bad guys for a reality show. Iron Man agrees the measure needs to be pushed through, and Captain America disagrees. A deadline passes, and Cap and the rest of the heroes who refused to register become criminals.
I can’t reveal too much more without ruining the story, but just know that Iron Man is indeed a huge jerk. And as of this writing, Spider-Man isn’t too far behind.
This Civil War storyline from Marvel has got to be the best thing to come out of the House of Ideas in a very, very long time. I was just beginning to lose hope, too. It was starting to look like anything except for the Ultimate stuff (and anything by Bendis) was bound to suck. Hard. But, in walks Civil War, and all the tie-ins, and I’m completely blown away.
In case you’re unaware, the basic premise is that the powers that be in the US government in the Marvel Universe (Marvel “616”, to be exact) have decided that all practicing superheroes need to either register themselves with the government (thereby revealing their identities to various agencies, and essentially become government employees themselves), or they need to hang up their tights for good. No one pays much attention to this initiative until the New Warriors are involved in the destruction of a schoolyard full of kids while trying to bring in some bad guys for a reality show. Iron Man agrees the measure needs to be pushed through, and Captain America disagrees. A deadline passes, and Cap and the rest of the heroes who refused to register become criminals.
I can’t reveal too much more without ruining the story, but just know that Iron Man is indeed a huge jerk. And as of this writing, Spider-Man isn’t too far behind.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
What the?!? Only 400k PS3s for the US Launch???
This is painful...truly painful. I can't lie to you...I'm a Sony fanboy. Sure, I own an Xbox, and, as I've said before, I plan to buy an Xbox 360. I'll most likely be buying a Wii at some point, too. But in deep down inside, I'm pulling for Sony all the way. Sure, I'll probably have to slip the Game Stop clerk $50 to make sure I get my name at the top of the PS3 reservation list, but I still plan to get a PS3 on the day it launches. And I'll stand by my decision, just like I did for the Sega Dreamcast...not that my support for Sega's best console made much difference in the end. It's too bad...the Dreamcast was a worthy console.
Aside from the fact that there will only be 400,000 PS3s (projected) in the US, Sony has decided to scrap their plans for a worldwide launch. For the initial launch, only the US and Japan will be receiving units. And Japan will only be getting 100,000 PS3s (projected). Ouch. The rest of the world will have to wait until March 2007. Ouch again. Either that, or wait to buy a PS3 for $5000 on EBAY. That goes way beyond "ouch".
The problem is this: Sony, at least publicly, is trying to say that this drastic cut in their PS3 launch numbers are no big deal. They're saying that this'll be the same as the PS2 launch, and better than the Xbox 360 launch. Sure, when the PS2 launched, they had about the same amount of hardware. But, they also didn't have any real competition when they launched. If you wanted to play on the newest console, and you missed out at launch, then tough...you just had to suffer through the PS2 shortage. This time around, there are two other new consoles out there -- one of which will be brand new (the Wii, of course). As for the faults of the Xbox 360 launch...well, they did it the same way Sony did with the PS2. They launched when there were no other new consoles due out for months. They launched when there was no competition, and now they have a foothold. At least in the US and Europe. They are still sucking pretty hard in Japan.
In closing, this PS3 hardware shortage may be good for the short-term profits of the EBAYers out there, but I'm not so sure it bodes well for the future of Sony's PS3. Either way, I'll still have my PS3 on the day it launches. And I'll stand by my decision, just like I did for the Sega Dreamcast.
I just hope the PS3 has a brighter future than the Dreamcast.
Aside from the fact that there will only be 400,000 PS3s (projected) in the US, Sony has decided to scrap their plans for a worldwide launch. For the initial launch, only the US and Japan will be receiving units. And Japan will only be getting 100,000 PS3s (projected). Ouch. The rest of the world will have to wait until March 2007. Ouch again. Either that, or wait to buy a PS3 for $5000 on EBAY. That goes way beyond "ouch".
The problem is this: Sony, at least publicly, is trying to say that this drastic cut in their PS3 launch numbers are no big deal. They're saying that this'll be the same as the PS2 launch, and better than the Xbox 360 launch. Sure, when the PS2 launched, they had about the same amount of hardware. But, they also didn't have any real competition when they launched. If you wanted to play on the newest console, and you missed out at launch, then tough...you just had to suffer through the PS2 shortage. This time around, there are two other new consoles out there -- one of which will be brand new (the Wii, of course). As for the faults of the Xbox 360 launch...well, they did it the same way Sony did with the PS2. They launched when there were no other new consoles due out for months. They launched when there was no competition, and now they have a foothold. At least in the US and Europe. They are still sucking pretty hard in Japan.
In closing, this PS3 hardware shortage may be good for the short-term profits of the EBAYers out there, but I'm not so sure it bodes well for the future of Sony's PS3. Either way, I'll still have my PS3 on the day it launches. And I'll stand by my decision, just like I did for the Sega Dreamcast.
I just hope the PS3 has a brighter future than the Dreamcast.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
'52'
Well, when I first heard of DC Comics' idea to publish a cohesive story in the style of TVs '24', I was a big sceptical to say the least. The plan was for DC to put out a weekly comic (called '52') for one year that would take place in real time in that the series would cover an actual year of comic time.
Cool idea, but I had already been burned too many times by late shipping comics. I had decided not to get it -- not a very dificult thing to do since I already didn't get very many DC titles. Then I walked into the comic store to retrieve my regularly held titles, and the damned comic store guy had put the first two issues in my box. I gave him a dirty look. He assured me that I would like them. So, I got them, took them home, and read them.
Sixteen weeks later, I'm still reading 52, and it has yet to ship late. Not only that, but now I'm reading more DC titles than ever before. Don't get me wrong, I'll always be a Marvel Zombie at my core...I'm just a Marvel Zombie with a little DC around the edges.
Cool idea, but I had already been burned too many times by late shipping comics. I had decided not to get it -- not a very dificult thing to do since I already didn't get very many DC titles. Then I walked into the comic store to retrieve my regularly held titles, and the damned comic store guy had put the first two issues in my box. I gave him a dirty look. He assured me that I would like them. So, I got them, took them home, and read them.
Sixteen weeks later, I'm still reading 52, and it has yet to ship late. Not only that, but now I'm reading more DC titles than ever before. Don't get me wrong, I'll always be a Marvel Zombie at my core...I'm just a Marvel Zombie with a little DC around the edges.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
All I Want From My Video Game System
Yeah, it's been a long time since my last post. Sue me. Anyway, I've been thinking, and although I've been a hardcore gamer since Atari and Intellivision, there's always been something missing from my gaming life. Seamless gaming at home and on handheld. Sure, the technology hasn't always been there, but I think it's here now. For instance, 'Tomb Raider: Legend' is basically the same game on the PSP as it is on the other consoles and PC. That's all fine and good, but it's time for the next step
Here's what I propose: Make a game that I can start on my home console (PS3, X360, Wii, whatever), and continue on my handheld from where I left off. Now, I understand that now all gamers may not have both the handheld and the home system, so the game would have to be available seperately for both platforms. What the game companies need to do is offer the game at full price, and include a '60% off' coupon for the same game on it's sister platform. Additionally, they need to include some type of 'crosstalk' feature (similar to what Sony did with 'SOCOM 3' on PS2 and 'SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo' on PSP) so you could swap game save information back and forth.
Just imagine...sitting at home, playing the latest RPG on your PS3 when you look at the clock and remember that you have a plane to catch in 3 hours. You save your game, download the save data to your PSP, and run out the door secure in the knowledge that you'll still be able to make progress on that 60+ hour monster of a game while you're at the airport, on the plane, and even in the hotel at your destination. And then, when you get home again, you can download the save data from your PSP back to your PS3 and continue the adventure.
Will everyone be willing to buy the same game twice (even if there is a deep discount on the second copy)? Probably not. But since most games have a handheld port anyway, they might as well throw in the crosstalk feature for those of us who would entertain having seemless gameplay. A true "Play Anywhere" experience.
Here's what I propose: Make a game that I can start on my home console (PS3, X360, Wii, whatever), and continue on my handheld from where I left off. Now, I understand that now all gamers may not have both the handheld and the home system, so the game would have to be available seperately for both platforms. What the game companies need to do is offer the game at full price, and include a '60% off' coupon for the same game on it's sister platform. Additionally, they need to include some type of 'crosstalk' feature (similar to what Sony did with 'SOCOM 3' on PS2 and 'SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo' on PSP) so you could swap game save information back and forth.
Just imagine...sitting at home, playing the latest RPG on your PS3 when you look at the clock and remember that you have a plane to catch in 3 hours. You save your game, download the save data to your PSP, and run out the door secure in the knowledge that you'll still be able to make progress on that 60+ hour monster of a game while you're at the airport, on the plane, and even in the hotel at your destination. And then, when you get home again, you can download the save data from your PSP back to your PS3 and continue the adventure.
Will everyone be willing to buy the same game twice (even if there is a deep discount on the second copy)? Probably not. But since most games have a handheld port anyway, they might as well throw in the crosstalk feature for those of us who would entertain having seemless gameplay. A true "Play Anywhere" experience.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Standard Game Length
As gamers, we need to make sure we set forth the expectation to the video game publishers that we expect our games to be of a certain length. This shouldn't be news to any of them, because they used to adhere to these previously unwritten rules back in the day of SNES and Genesis. We need to make sure they know that pretty graphics do not make up for a 10 hour game (I'm looking in your direction, 'Onimusha'). In the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube generation, games ran about $50 each. In the PS3/X360/Wii generation, we're most likely looking at games going for $60 each. We need to get our moneys worth, people! Stand united!
The rules are as follows:
The rules are as follows:
- An action game (defined here as a running-and-gunning game with minimal puzzles; e.g. Metal Gear Solid, Devil May Cry, any FPS) must be at least 25 hours long. Not counting the cinematics.
- An adventure game (defined here as a puzzle solving game sprinkled with spurts of action; e.g. Resident Evil, Prince of Persia, Tomb Raider) must be at least 35 hours long. Again, not counting the cinematic sequences.
- An action/adventure game (defined here as an adventure game where the '"puzzles" involve a more action-based solution -- sandbox games fall into this category; e.g. The Warriors, Mercenaries, the whole GTA series) must be at least 35 hours long to complete the main storyline, and at least 45 hours long to complete all of the side quests. Not counting the cinematics, of course.
- An RPG (defined here as any story-heavy game that, for the most part, does not rely on quick reflexes; e.g. The Final Fantasy series, The Xenosaga series, the Dragon Quest series) must take at least 60 hours to complete the main storyline, and at least 70 hours to complete all of the sidequests. This time, of course, should not take into account any cinematic sequences (I'm looking at you, 'Xenosaga'...)
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