Tag: Talking Point - Page 19
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 30
Gaming with the window open
It's been a long and warm Summer week for this Associate Editor. Android-like boss Sammy abandoned his post to run away on a lovely country holiday, but we've somehow made it through without the site catching fire or exploding — and you know what that means. Indeed, it's time to set aside your worries and relax by...
Talking Point Should Sony Ditch E3 Stage Shows Like Nintendo?
A different direction
Very few people earnestly enjoy change. This author gets the jitters if Chart-Track’s weekly UK sales data isn’t ready to write about first thing on a Monday morning, and don’t even mention routine rupturing Bank Holidays. It was little wonder, then, that the web was awash with cynicism last year when Nintendo opted to...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 29
Short and sweet
Stop the world and let us get off, because everyone at Push Square towers is pretty pooped this weekend. While the sheer excitement of E3 2014 has kept the sleepiness away, there’s no doubt that it’s taking its toll on all of us right now – and you’re probably feeling a little groggy after those late night press conferences...
Talking Point How Did the Three Major Manufacturers Fare at E3 2014?
Compare and contrast
E3 2014 is over, and we’re breaking the fabric of time and space in order to celebrate. In this inaugural cross-platform, cross-network, cross-website extravaganza, the editors of Nintendo Life, Pure Xbox, and, er, Push Square have put aside their boxing gloves, and joined forces to bring you this industry wide look at all...
Talking Point What Does E3 2014 Tell Us About the Future of the PlayStation Vita?
Handheld hysteria
Ask a non-gamer to yawn through Sony’s meaty E3 2014 press conference, and they’ll probably come away with the assumption that the Japanese giant is a single console manufacturer. Much like Microsoft before it, the PlayStation 3 barely registered as a blip during its media briefing, and the PlayStation Vita only obtained a...
Talking Point Why Is Sony Saving Its PS4 Reveals Until the Last Minute?
Let it cook
There was a sense of disbelief when LittleBigPlanet 3’s logo nonchalantly appeared on Sony’s sizeable E3 2014 press conference screen. These media briefings have become so pre-meditated over the years that it’s often easy to predict the types of titles that are going to be shown – after all, our pre-show predic
Talking Point Will Sony Have Enough PS4 Material to Topple Microsoft's Game Heavy Show?
Games, games, games
Microsoft’s heavily hyped E3 media briefing this year was always going to be about redemption for the put upon platform holder. With new gaffer Phil Spencer attempting to turn around the organisation’s image, the press conference was filled with phrases aimed directly at fans. “Thank you” was a statement that seemed...
Talking Point What Are Your Hopes and Fears for PS4 and Vita at E3 2014?
Greatness awaits
The clock is counting down to the most important convention in the gaming industry, and Push Square towers is in a state of panic as the seconds seep away. Beyond our soggy brows and short tempered conversations, though, there’s a real sense of both excitement and trepidation surging through the office. Will the ill-fated Team ICO...
Talking Point Why the Low Expectations for PS4 at E3 Could Work in Sony's Favour
Off the rails
Everyone loves an underdog. The plucky pretender that fends off match point against the future Wimbledon champion is always treated to the biggest applause on Centre Court, and the same is true in almost all other walks of sporting life. This mentality appears to extend to the gaming industry, too, with Sony’s troubles with the...
Talking Point Will the PS4 Get a Price Drop at E3 2014?
The million dollar question
No convention is complete without some speculation regarding hardware prices. It’s hard to believe that this time last year, the PlayStation 4’s recommended retail price was very much still up in the air, with many expecting Sony to plump up for a more costly figure than its nearest competitor. As it happens,
Talking Point What Are Your Fondest Memories of the PSP?
The whole world in your hands
There’s something poetic about the PlayStation Portable bowing out just as the PlayStation 4 claims its place at the head of the home console space. Back in the hazy days of 2004, a much more lucrative Sony was on top of the world, with the PlayStation 2 blowing away its competitors, and the Japanese giant’s...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 28
Panic stations
There are now just ten days until the industry turns on its E3 press release machine, leaving many of us at Push Square towers dabbing our nervous brows. Fortunately, video games offer ideal escapism, so we’ll be spending our weekend trying not to think about the avalanche of information that’s heading our way. After all, when all...
Talking Point Is Watch Dogs Proof That You Can Have Too Much of a Good Thing?
Greedy guts
There’s no shortage of gamer clichés capable of sending groans through the office each time that we encounter them, but this editor has a particularly vehement distaste to the vapid criticisms pertaining to game length. While we can appreciate that gaming is an undeniably expensive hobby, we find it frustrating that consumers are...
Talking Point Has Watch Dogs Hacked Your PS4's Heart?
ctOK
We’ve been watching Watch Dogs for a while. When we checked out a behind-the-scenes demo of the ambitious sandbox last year, we hinted that the hands-off nature of the presentation didn’t bode well for the open world escapade. Our misgivings certainly weren’t misplaced, as the title was delayed mere weeks before its intended deploy date,...
Talking Point What if PS4 Title The Order: 1886 Removes Its Top Hat 'Til 2015?
Old fashioned fail
Rumours suggest that God of War: Ghost of Sparta developer Ready at Dawn may have spent too much time watching Sam Mendes’ television smash Penny Dreadful to finish The Order: 1886 ahead of the holidays. While it’s nothing more than alleged ‘insider’ speculation at the minute, it’s a believable
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 27
Here comes the sun
The sun is shining, the weather is sweet – and already this editor is acting like a classic Brit by complaining about the scorching temperature outside. It’s all shorts, flip-flops, and closed curtains here at Push Square towers, as we attempt to avoid the heat and enjoy some good old-fashioned gaming time. Regardless of the...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 26
This little light of mine...
... I'm gonna let it shine. Oh, sorry about that, we didn't see you there. Ahem. It's time for another 'What Are You Playing This Weekend', in which the majority of the team will be delving into a little game that our very own Mat Growcott described in his review as a "painted paradise". But what does this Bank Holiday...
Talking Point Why PS4's Delays May Be a Blessing in Disguise
Midas touch
You could almost sense the falling fire and brimstone in forums when both DriveClub and Watch Dogs were delayed mere weeks before the PlayStation 4’s release. While the platform holder had acted impeccably leading up to the next-gen syste
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Easter Edition 2
Cracking good time
The long Easter weekend is upon us, which means that this editor will be spending his lie-ins hoping that Jessica Rabbit hops by with a chocolate heart. Curious fantasies aside, it’s been over a year now since we started the ‘What Are You Playing This Weekend’ series, meaning that this is the second Easter Edition that...
Talking Point How Frequently Do You Want PS4 Firmware Updates?
Time for a change
Firmware updates on the PlayStation 3 were serious business. Take a gander at some of our older articles on the subject and you’ll spot more than a handful of prickly jabs pointed at people that complained about the constant need to update the console. In hindsight, it was a problem, with the system seemingly taking an age to...
Talking Point Is The Last of Us Remastered Enough to Carry PS4 Until Christmas?
Something to fight for
Sony clearly intended to make a bigger splash with The Last of Us Remastered before it leaked. The platform holder admirably attempted to shrug aside the mistimed comments made by Turkish executive Sercan Sulun late last month, but it couldn’t gloss over the big gaping banner advertisement that it acc
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 25
Somebody put out the moon
The winding road ahead may well be a mine field, but we’re here to steer you through your weekend with our bi-weekly gaming itineraries. As is customary for this filler feature, you’ll find our schedules directly below, but we want to know what will be keeping your consoles hot over the coming days. Peruse our plans,...
Talking Point Has Sony's Dithering Turned Off PS Vita TV's Chances?
Change the channel
As expected, Amazon broadcast its arrival into the microconsole space today. The straightforwardly named Fire TV is a miniscule set top box designed to stream media applications such as Netflix and Hulu to your television. However, in addition to being a conduit for video content, the miniscule machine can also be upgraded with a...
Talking Point PlayStation's Big Employment Perception Issue
In and out
Sony’s Worldwide Studios got a lot lighter this month. There’s been more hiring and firing within the platform holder’s pool of first-party developers than an episode of The Apprentice of late, with departures seemingly occurring every day. The end of SCEA president Jack Tretton’s colossal tenure was sad enough news at the...
Talking Point Are We Starting to Expect Too Much from PlayStation Plus?
More, more, more
You can have too much of a good thing. Way back in 2010 when PlayStation Plus first launched, this editor greedily gobbled up the single free PlayStation Mini that was given away as part of the premium service every month. It was a real novelty when you got a full game – a selection of SEGA Mega Drive ports fleshed out the...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 24
A little bit of this, a little bit of that...
... It started with a kiss, and now we’re up to bat. Still, this isn’t the time for Santana songs, as we’ve got another glorious edition of ‘What Are You Playing This Weekend?’ to compile. Your usual guide Katy Ellis is taking time out this week following the conclusion of her educational...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 23
Zombies ahoy
It's evident from the Push Square staff blurbs below that now is definitely a good time to be a PlayStation gamer. Whether you're an RPG, shooter, puzzle, visual novel, or action-adventure fan, there's something for everyone this weekend. Of course, this isn't a one way street, so don't forget to let us know which titles you'll be...
Talking Point Should Sony Respond to Microsoft's UK Xbox One Price Cut?
Incredible crisis
You’ve got to hand it to Microsoft, it knows how to react quickly. The Redmond-based manufacturer has been flip-flopping between Xbox One strategies faster than Usain Bolt in sandals, starting all the way back at E3 where the company controversially defended its abhorrent digital rights management policies – only to yank them...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 22
Back to school
Guess what? There are only 305 days until Christmas! More importantly, though, there are only ten days until everyone's favourite time of the year – Pancake Day. Here at Push Square, we're all about forward-thinking, and that's exactly why we're letting you in on our gaming plans for the weekend. But in between your sudden rush to...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 21
Saturday scares
While Valentine's Day may only be around the corner, some of our writers are more interested in scaring themselves silly than snuggling up with a romantic visual novel. Assuming that you're not too busy trying to track down roses or crying in a corner, though, do let us know which games you'll be gorging on this weekend. Go on, you...
Talking Point Is the Vita Really Dying a 'Slow, Painful Death'?
Last legs
Seasoned industry analyst Michael Pachter couldn’t possibly paint a bleaker picture of the future of Sony’s handheld gaming business. Speaking with Game Informer in a recent interview, the popular sales predictor noted that the platform holder “misjudged the market” with the PlayStation Vita, and hinted that it
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 20
Weekend wonders
Issue 20? Wow, time flies – it feels like only yesterday that we began this feature. Nevertheless, things haven't really changed much since then, as the majority of us here at Push Square towers will be once again using our weekends to start new adventures, continue old quests, and shoot stuff. Except one of our writers, who has...
Talking Point Do the December NPD Results Flag a Flaw in PS4's Strategy?
Chink in the armour
Isn’t it funny how your expectations can adapt in little to no time at all? This intrepid author has spent the past seven or so years scouring negative PlayStation 3 news, but within the span of a couple of months, the outlook of Sony’s home console market has significantly changed. Since its release late last year, the...
Talking Point Do Sony's Family Franchises Have a Future on PS4?
Eye to eye
Nintendo fans may try to convince you otherwise, but Sony was the first to unlock the casual game market. Its competitor may have found global success with the motion controlled Wii, but the Japanese giant had already spent several years marketing brands such as Buzz and EyeToy to a more mainstream audience by that point. However, with...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 19
Happy New Year
Christmas has passed, and the New Year is here – but that doesn't necessarily mean that the Push Square team has scaled back its PlayStation play time. Once again, we're bringing you the inside scoop on the gaming habits of our writers this weekend, but don't forget, this isn't a one-way affair – so feel free to let us know what...
Talking Point Will Someone Please Frag Online Exclusive Trophies
Trophy locked
We had hoped that the backlash to Tomb Raider’s undercooked (and unnecessary) multiplayer mode would have strong-armed adamant creator Crystal Dynamics into reconsidering the upcoming PlayStation 4 port’s Trophy roster, but a leaked list detailed late last week has confirm
Talking Point What New Year's Resolutions Should Sony Make in 2014?
Changing for the better
We’ve somehow lurched into 2014 without a nuclear disaster or some other life-ending apocalyptic event, so that means that it’s time to make resolutions for the future. While the majority of the planet ponders whether it should finally stump up for an expensive gym membership, the arrival of a New Year can also provide...
Talking Point Has Father Christmas Added to Your PlayStation Backlog?
Tell us about your gaming gifts
Christmas may be about a lot of different things, but we’d be lying if we said that we didn’t predominantly enjoy the gifts. In addition to gigantic roast dinners and terrible television shows, sharing presents has become a pivotal part of the festive experience – and we want to know whether you received any new...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This... Christmas?
One more sleep
We’ve all been forced to endure an avalanche of hype over the past couple of weeks, but as we frantically tap out this last-minute message, Christmas has virtually arrived. To be honest, we’re not overly fond of Brussels sprouts, charged family disputes, and terrible terrestrial television – but we are thrilled at the fact that...
Talking Point Should Sony Mirror Steam's Discount Strategy for PSN?
Door busters
Sales can actually be a pretty cunning strategy. Supermarkets are particularly good at them, lowering the cost of sought after goods in order to obtain publicity and drive foot traffic through their stores. It only takes one heavily discounted item to coerce thrifty shoppers into a cash splashing frenzy, and that allows retailers to...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 18
Snow isn't falling, all around us
The holidays are coming, and that can only mean one thing – it's time to grab your favourite Christmas sweater (you know, the one that your Nan knitted for you), hold a yummy mince pie in one hand, and pick up your DualShock with the other. This weekend, here at Push Square towers, we'll be busy Trophy hunting and...
Talking Point Is PlayStation Plus Helping or Hindering the PS Vita?
Playing the waiting game
Speculation seeping out of this week’s NPD sales report suggests that Media Molecule’s universally acclaimed PlayStation Vita exclusive Tearaway sold around 14,000 copies in North America during its release window. That number is heartbreaking for a title that not only came close to a 10/10 on this site, but also secured...
Talking Point Do the PS4 Controller's Gimmicks Add Anything Worthwhile?
Bright like a touch light
You’ve (hopefully) had the PlayStation 4 in your home for a few weeks now, meaning that you’ve had ample opportunity to test out all of the devices features and functions. We’ve already polled you on your overall impressions of the device, its
Talking Point Why the PS4 Is Well Set for Success
Perfect position
It’s amazing the difference that a generation makes. Sony sauntered into the PlayStation 3 era with an industry leading brand, lofty ambitions, and its eye off the ball. An embarrassing price tag, awkward architecture, and out-of-touch board of directors consigned the platf
Talking Point PS4 Proves That Consoles Are Alive and Kicking
On the pulse
We relish bad news like a kitten does catnip. As a species, it’s deep coded into our genetic makeup to pay utmost attention to the darkest parts of life and brush the positives under the carpet. Newspapers lead with murders rather than acts of bravery, television bulletins push cheerful clips to the tail-end of their schedules, and...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - PS4 Special Part 2
Greatness revived
The time has come. The next-generation of PlayStation gaming has arrived, and its already busy consuming our weekends. In the last edition of 'What Are You Playing This Weekend', a few of our North American team members shared their exciting first steps into the world of the PlayStation 4, while the rest of the world moaned in the...
Talking Point Share Your European PS4 Launch Stories Here
Greatness comes to those that wait
The wait for the PlayStation 4 has been especially difficult for Europe. Those of you living in North America were able to snatch the next generation system two weeks ago, meaning that folks in the UK, France, and Germany have been left twiddling their thumbs for almost 14 days. No more, though, as the console...
Talking Point Is the PS4's Controller Pushing Your Buttons?
Perfect peripheral
There’s no doubt that the PlayStation 4 comes with a number of improvements over its current generation counterpart. The system’s user interface, for starters, is much slicker than its predecessor’s – despite the implementation of multiple new features such as game profiles and live streaming. Furthermore,
Talking Point Share Your Greatest PS4 Moments So Far
Show boat
Arguably the PlayStation 4’s neatest new feature is the ability to capture screenshots and video clips of whatever you’re playing at any time. While the lack of YouTube support makes it slightly more difficult to share gameplay footage at the moment, it’s significantly easier to post screenshots dem
Talking Point Is the PS4's Limited Launch Lineup a Problem?
Day none
Subtract resolution from the equation and the hottest topic of the past few days has pertained to launch lineups. With new consoles from both Sony and Microsoft prompting platform warriors to froth at the mouth, the weeks leading up to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One’s respective launches have been
