Comments 159

Re: Reaction: PlayStation Needs to Take a Long, Hard Look at Itself

Juvenlast

Here is my two cents.

Going all in and making major investments on games as service is simply foolish. In the Games as Service model it seems like you either make it big or you deliver a bust. The risk/reward cost/profit gap seems to be far to large to be spending major capital in trying to crank out these things.

I'm not an analyst and I don't have figures in front of me - but it seems like I see more and more stories of these kinds of games flopping hard.

Get back to what you do best Sony. Keep cranking out single player narrative driven games. If you want to diversify - look into the Splitscreen couch co-op narrative driven game market which is rather slim pickings these days.

But for the love of Pete - stop dumping money into these games. Get back to what you do.

Re: Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin, More Closed in Brutal Bethesda Restructure

Juvenlast

The moves they are making is effectively eliminating any possibility that Bethesda attempts to create anything new or innovative. Nothing new or creative will ever come out of Bethesda, They bought it to be a cash cow. The same will happen with Activision/Blizzard.

But hope is not lost. There are some devs out there that are trying to do new and innovative things in the industry. Until they get bought by Micro$oft.

Re: Fallout 4 Next Gen Version Is Out Now on PS5, Xbox, and PC

Juvenlast

@frankmcma Thanks for your comment. I was having a similar problem that the GOTY was charging me money. I think I bought the GOTY version for PS4... but after switching to the standard free, the DLC populated as free also. Hope your comment is seen by many. It helped me

Re: Immortals of Aveum Cost $125 Million, Branded a 'Truly Awful Idea'

Juvenlast

Ah the blame game.

I bought Immortals on sale. I rarely buy games at full price if I can help it.

I platinumed it. While I agree that the main story was probably a little on the long side - I don't have any complaints about the game at all.

Why did it fail? It wasn't because it was a single player shooter. I think it failed because of the current subscription models and live service games. Everyone expects to pay very little for a lot. That works with an established IP. But with games trying to put a new idea out there... it is a recipe for disaster.

TL:DR - The video game industry is a mess which works to stifle new ideas. Go buy Immortals and play it.

Re: Helldivers 2 Has Gone Gold, Ready to Fight Back the Alien Hordes on PS5, PC

Juvenlast

So admittedly, I haven't been paying too close of attention to this game. But I loved the first one and assumed this would be similar. But there are some obvious changes/improvements here.

Are the missions still like 5-10 min long? That was really cool. Just little bite sized chunks.
Is there a single player option or is it only Multiplayer?

Re: Poor Immortals of Aveum Sales Leads to Significant Lay-Offs

Juvenlast

I think this speaks to the difficulty in this industry of starting a fresh IP. There is a lot of risk involved there.

I want to own this game... but I don't buy games new unless I absolutely know that I'll love them. Perhaps I'm part of the problem. But I only have so much time and resources to play video games.

I wonder if new IPs would be better suited launching into a service like Game Pass or PS Plus. That establishes a player base and then the sequel would gain that fanbase for a full price purchase? Other business minded people can comment on that idea.

Re: PS5's Remote Play Portable Will Allegedly Launch in November

Juvenlast

I just don't know what need this is meeting. If it were over a 5g connection, I could see it. You could have your system on at home and play anywhere. But this is over Wifi. Meaning I'm sitting in my house somewhere, playing on this thing... why? Because someone else is using the TV. Meaning that this is already a less preferrable way to play.

Sure, adding haptic is nice. But I'm already not as immersed as I would be while playing on a TV. AND I can buy a backbone on Amazon right now for $100. All I am losing is haptic.

Depending on price this could be worth it... but people are saying around $200. I'm not sure having a dedicated screen and haptic is worth an extra $100.

Re: 32 Games Will Be Taken Off PS Plus Extra, Premium Next Month

Juvenlast

So... Here is my main problem with subscription models like this and maybe just PS sub model in particular. I am a Premium subscriber. I have on my list to play 3 of these games. I have just been told with a little more than 30 days notice that they are being removed. This is... quite simply... not enough time. How long has Sony known that these games were leaving the service? Could I get a list of the departure dates so I can prioritize what games I play? Like... why isn't that just a normal part of being subscribed? Maybe someone from PushSquare has an insider view as to why this happens.

Re: Talking Point: Would You Care About a PS5 Remote Play Handheld?

Juvenlast

My wife and I just got a switch for Christmas. She plays games on it while I play other games on the PS5. But if we wanted to switch that up and me play remote play and her play on the TV... that process is long and complicated and doesn't work as seamlessly.

My thoughts... unless the handheld is some kind of Switch esque competitor - it is not going to have a high adoption rate. If I can pick up the handheld and instantly take over a session on my system and then put my system into rest mode or even turn it off somehow and then instantly plug it back in and get right back to it on PS5... then maybe it is worth it. Otherwise... pass.

Re: Huge PS5 Firmware Adds Discord Voice Chat, VRR at 1440p, Much More

Juvenlast

"We made the following improvement in game library:
You can decide the default sort order for games within gamelists."

Does this just happen? Like when you sort it one way it stays that way? Cause I go into my gamelists now and the only thing I can do is add games to it. Is this not for my custom gamelists?

Very confused on this one.

Re: Hogwarts Legacy (PS5) - A Harry Potter Dream Come True

Juvenlast

As is clear from the sheer number of moderated comments, push square is ok with raising a controversial issue but gagging anyone who may have an opinion they do not agree with. So I won’t voice mine since it will be deleted anyway.

My buddy surprised me last night with a Christmas gift. A pre-ordered Hogwarts Legacy! So excited, especially since favorable reviews are coming in!!!

Re: Fallout 76 - A Shockingly Bad Attempt at Multiplayer Survival

Juvenlast

@danlk1ng Thanks for engaging me on it. I obviously disagree on the relevancy of my comment.

I don't think they are necessarily saying that their review is relevant again because they posted it again. It is possible but they didn't actually say that.

I think the best practice going forward would be

"We do not do review scores of Games as Service. Simply because they evolve over long arcs and sometimes that drastically changes the quality of the game."

Re: Fallout 76 - A Shockingly Bad Attempt at Multiplayer Survival

Juvenlast

I'm going to take the other side of the fence on this one.

What is the purpose of a review score? Perhaps there are other purposes, but in my estimation the main purpose of a review score and for that matter a meticulous review of a game is to try to let a consumer know the pros and cons of a product before they purchase it. I literally shop this way all the time. I look for reviews for the best headset, the best vacuum cleaner, the best wireless camera system and then based on several sources make a decision for a purchase.

PushSquare should not be obligated to re-review a 4 year old game that didn't do well when it was released. I think this for 3 reasons.

1.) It incentivizes developers releasing poor products out the gate knowing that they will have another try at it later on. Its like that professor that gives you 10 tries to take a test. No one tries on the first attempt.

2.) The magnitude of this game, and finding out at best a month ago that this was being released on PSEssentials, would require even MORE work from an already (I assume) rather slammed journalist outlet. So if it is important to you that they do this - perhaps send them a sub every month to help offset the cost?

3.) Review scores are for when you are looking to purchase something. Since you either have essentials or you don't and you are making no other purchase, it really doesn't matter. Try it. See if you like it. If you don't - you've got no skin in it. No harm, no foul.

And as a bonus - 1 reason to post this review as is, is to point out exactly what all of you are pointing out. That this game has come a long way. To post this review and then to play the free version on PS+ Essentials - you marvel at how well the Developer improved the product.

Re: PS Plus Extra, Premium Will Add New PS5, PS4 Games Every Month, Sony Confirms

Juvenlast

So here's a question and apologies if it has been asked (I haven't read the comments yet.)

If we download the games, will it work like current PS+ and you keep the games on your system or in your library for the duration of your sub or will they be separate from your library and thus your access to them ends when they leave the service?

I understand no one knows the answer but it would be good to know this.

Re: So, It Seems Xbox Really Will Keep Activision Games Like Call of Duty on PS5, PS4

Juvenlast

I think there are two layers here.

1 - the threat of investigation for a monopoly. To be honest, I don't think they would be prevented from making this buy anyway - but with this committment that becomes less of likely.

2 - With Sony's purchase of Bungie and their uncharacteristically blunt and transparent intentions from the beginning to continue to release Bungie games on all plats - this coy game Xbox keeps playing of non-committal answers, keeps looking worse and worse for them. Image isn't everything, but it does count for something. And dangling non-Xbox users on a hook is just... unprofessional.

Re: Talking Point: In Theory, Could Xbox Game Pass Come to PS5, PS4?

Juvenlast

@BamBamBaklava89 See them saying they don't believe in exclusives and then buying them out... makes me think that their strategy all along was this...

"Ok Sony has us beat on a lot of stuff. They make great games that we simply cannot compete. What do we have that they don't? $$$."

At that point their strategy became to slowly position themselves to be the Netflix of video games and eventually bring that app to everything that could play games. Which would include PS hardware.

In short - I think their statements and purchases when pushed together make complete sense if putting Game pass on Sony systems was always the goal.

Re: Talking Point: In Theory, Could Xbox Game Pass Come to PS5, PS4?

Juvenlast

Here is how it could work

Sony gets its own tailored version of game pass wherein the only games that come to it are Xbox 1st party games. In addition, those games are sold in the PS Store so Sony can make money on the games if people do not wish to subscribe to Xbox. They will never go on sale. Finally, Sony 1st party games will phase into production on a more often than not basis to come to PC and possibly Xbox storefronts.

This Game pass version will still be $15 a month.

Microsoft then stops trying to compete on a hardware level and releases an Xbox series S style console every few years.

Re: EA Is the Next Major Publisher Tipped for a Takeover

Juvenlast

@get2sammyb Knowing you are busy this is a pie in the sky ask. But what is the structure of EA? Like I was trying to think of the games under them and Battlefield came up. I know they are DICE but isn't DICE part of EA? Madden? Is EA sports still a thing? Doesn't EA do mobile?

I am basically asking for another article HAHA. Sorry.

Re: EA Is the Next Major Publisher Tipped for a Takeover

Juvenlast

After thinking through this and seeing the writing on the wall - as antithetical as it is to Sony's strategy, perhaps their strategy needs to change.

CoD's main competitor (I Think - isnt battlefield EA?), Overwatch's main competitor, star wars, Madden (I think), It seems like this is a no brainer for Sony to go after if they want to stay relevant.

I hope they don't make an offer for EA... but if they do and end up buying EA - I think Sony's influence on these games would bring them to an even higher degree of quality.

Re: These Are the Franchises PS5, PS4 May Lose to Activision Blizzard Buyout

Juvenlast

Micro$oft has successfully rebranded their DRM plan from Xbox One and has sold it and sold it well. People are now fine with never owning their games.

From my perspective Sony can fight that... but if they do they are fighting more than Microsoft. They are fighting against Amazon, Netflix, and every other subscribe to borrow format out there.

If they fight it will be long, hard, and probably unsuccessful.

If they cave and create something similar, they must seek to get gamepass on PS5. Which is probably what M$'s plan was all along. That gives color to the comments of "we want to bring games to all gamers with no limtits." They want to not only have a console in the race but be a game provider like Peacock TV or Netflix that provides content as a sub.

My guess is when Sony comes asking - Microsoft says absolutely and we won't even stick you with a higher price. You will have to wait for our first party games for 6 months because you chose to play on a Sony system. But hey - 6 months from now - we'll let you play Halo Infinite!

Re: Microsoft Buys Call of Duty Publisher Activision Blizzard

Juvenlast

Honestly, I think the easiest solution is:

1.) Make Spartacus as close to if not better than Game Pass as you can

2.) Work with Xbox to offer a trade for Spartacus and Game Pass.

Everyone keeps the incentive for their first party games (assuming that PS owners would get those just later than Xbox or PC subs) And no gamer gets left in the cold.

Probably won't happen though

Re: Microsoft Buys Call of Duty Publisher Activision Blizzard

Juvenlast

Micro$oft is that 11 year old kid who isn't really good at the game but whose mommy and daddy are really rich... so he purchases a save data of a maxxed character to convince everyone else he is really good.

I wonder if the quality of these games will show considerable decline over time. We'll see.

Re: Poll: Did You Buy Far Cry 6?

Juvenlast

@Dr-M Hard to say really. Didn't like Farcry 3 very much. 4 was good, primal didn't grab me super strong but I platted it. 5 was alright - loved the DLC for 5

Re: Poll: Did You Buy Far Cry 6?

Juvenlast

@Ken_Kaniff I'm a completionist. So the formula of marking things off the map and checking all the boxes is kinda comforting. It is like a Zen garden kinda thing. Less about fun and more about that sense of "easy" "low-risk" accomplishment.

Re: Poll: Did You Buy Far Cry 6?

Juvenlast

I know it is probably a super weird reason not to want to play a game - but the whole scrounge for equipment to build make-shift weapons... is just a big turn off for me. I'm not exactly sure why. I think it is like - there is usually so much to do in these games, that I just want my weapons to be my weapons and that be the end of it.

FYI - Played 3, 4, 5, and primal

Re: Soapbox: After a Year of Silence, Today's PlayStation Showcase Can't Afford Dead Air

Juvenlast

I agree. And as much as it pains me to say it - it can't just be a montage of strung together videos of games that are coming. They need a back end win. PS Plus needs a boost or some kind of jolt. Something that will re-establish it as the superior value to everything that Microsoft is offering. When they first came out with PS plus it deflated that live service. Well gamepass has successfully done that now to plus. It needs a boost

Re: State of Play Livestream Confirmed for Thursday, Featuring Deathloop

Juvenlast

@wiiware No I get that that is how it is. And I understand that Sony is doing fine. But generally - it doesn't look good when Sony keeps getting former 1st party games sniped by Xbox and giving it to their subscribers for free. It also doesn't look good when Sony makes it impossible for Indie devs to actually turn a profit. With these two perceptions growing - It is hard to say which Sony is for devs or players. They need to answer gamepass. Especially since they said they were going to. Every month that passes without an answer... is more reason for people to give up trying to get that hard to find system and just get an Xbox instead.