Excellent article and a fascinating view into how the business side works. I have sympathy for the back end issues that hopefully will change but lack of time and attention for smaller games is purely a question of resources and interest. How much worse will the PS ecosystem be without varied indie games?
I don't like acquisitions on the whole but I think this is an interesting development from Sony and is very in line with what their unique selling point is.
Making studios work needs a lot of vision and careful nurturing. Buying say, Naughty Dog, doesn't guarantee a Last Of Us. If Sony bought SquareEnix for example, what would they be buying? A large publisher with varied titles and mixed success in terms of quality?
Better to invest in a smaller studio then build them into something larger. I think that we are going to see expansion of major studios to increase output.
I mentioned this on thread when Greedfall upgrade was announced and pretty much got called entitled.
People keep using the word free but that is not the case. I pay for PS Plus. Now in my mind it depends on the upgrade path - if I can upgrade to PS5 version for a minimal cost I may consider it. In the case of FF7 Remake, I was slightly annoyed that as something I had paid for via PS Plus, the only way I could get an upgrade at the time was to pay £70 for an entire version.
With Greedfall, I can get the similarly upgraded version on Gamepass without any additional fee.
Is this the end of the world? Not at all. It is a small point. It's just something that niggles as an early adopter of the PS5. I just want a simple and consistent upgrade path.
@danlk1ng The infuriating element, to me, is the uncertainty and knowledge. Also, I think you missed some of my main points.
1) You use the word free. I rent these games with my subscription. I do not own them, they are dependent on me maintaining a payment to Sony.
2) By claiming a copy of FF7 Remake you are unable to buy a digital upgrade seperately OR to buy a copy of the PS4 game digitally to upgrade. If you wish a digital copy, you must buy the PS5 version at £70. As you say, is this worth it?
3) It's great you have a PC and use that to play high resolution games. Of course, I don't believe Final Fantasty VII remake is on PC as yet (though I have no doubt of a port in future). As someone that has invested in a PS5 at launch and there is an upgraded version available, why would I not want to play that version?
Ultimately, I may sound like an entitled gamer (tm) but I feel it is reasonable that there should be a clear upgrade path on a title that I received as part of a subscription rather than have to buy the game entirely fresh again. If that costs some, then I am OK with that but why would I pay £70 as you pay for an upgrade on a title that I have technically already paid for.
I mean, of course, the actual solution in my case was to pay £15 for a second hand copy on PS4 and get the upgrade for free but then nobody really wins there except the person I bought it of. He was called Roy.
This is a great article. Apart from some obvious ones (and to all those people who told me Bethesda games aren't going exclusive - na na na na na), the show was very much like most Xbox shows. Slick and some great games but very little tied to the brand.
BUT Gamepass is a big disrupter. It doesn't matter too much that they don't have their own games, why buy a game at launch when you can get it on gamepass.
@BadPlayerOne Agree completely - for me the review process is something that helps me to decide on a game or not. That doesn't mean I don't play games that aren't very highly rated but it sets my expectations correctly and how much I think I can afford to play the game. It just seems that people decide beforehand they like a game then get angry if the consensus isn't the same.
Still don't understand how passionately people take review scores. As others have said, a review can only ever be one persons view. If you are interested as a consumer, read a mix of reviews to get a flavour of what the game is like and whether you think it will suit you.
Huge supporter of PSVR and loved the headset dearly but I have taken the jump to the Quest 2 and to be honest, it has made me less likely to be a day one adopter of PSVR 2. Since I have a VR capable PC I get the wireless experience for smaller games and have now played Half LIfe ALyx and can play most top tier PC titles.
I think the kicker for most people will be the cable to the unit - now if this is because they are really using the PS5 to push visuals and experiences then I'll probably be on board. I have a wait and see - this is not Sony's fault, only that the VR headspace has moved on a LOT.
@themightyant I also played on Gamepass and it is true that maybe that affects your opinion since I thought it was a nice little game. I obviously wouldn't consider price. All in all though I think the game is above average but these type of story games are all about connection. I liked it but I can totally see otherwise.
I can't comment on the PS5 upgrade side of things, but this references the original game being very disappointing which I don't really agree with. I am a fan of the original movies and I thought it did a good job of engaging the player. It is very much a AA game in scope and ambition but it is emminently playable.
Of course, charging for an upgrade that is not necessarily worth it is a different matter.
It's a fair review - I possibly liked this game more than the reviewer, I think its setting and story/lore were intriguing and it had a very neat spin on lovecraftian horror. It also never outstayed its welcome. Personally I'd put it at a 7 but I can understand some of the criticisms made.
As a consumer, I've said it elsewhere, I can't afford £70 for a game that isn't necessarily in my wheel house. I refer again that Ghost of Tsushima as £20 less at launch 9 months ago.
@Beefy01 I dunno - I paid £49.99 for Ghost of Tsushima on launch day less than a year ago and now i have to pay £69.99 for this game at launch. I don't understand why there is this price hike.
Great review but I am not a fan of roguelites and I am just not paying an extra £20 on a new release for no reason. I am glad the title is reviewing well... but yeah, most people seem to forget this.
@Jaz007 Completely this - I'd love to support the game, even though I am not a huge fan of roguelikes but I can't justify that cost for one game at the moment.
This has nothing to do with the quality of the game - it's just a price point that I'm not comfortable with when I know that this will be reduced in 6 months time.
Hopefully this is a case of a large day one patch but this is sad. I will qualify that Disco Elysium is one of the best games I have ever played. I am tempted to double dip just.. well, because it is that good!
Still, if it has launched for consumers in a bad way then the quality of the game is secondary.
Open mind from me - I personally see it will probably be a very similar style to A Plague Tale: Innocense - stealthy narrative based adventure. If it has an engaging story and plays true to the character and world (looking at you sexy Shelob on Shadow of War) it could be a nice little game.
Ultimately, if Sony turns its servers off, games become unplayable anyway because they need massive updates to run at their optimum version (unless you have a GOTY version that has the latest build on it).
Did you also know that everyone that got the first smallpox vaccine in 1798 has died? Makes you think.
Game preservation is a big deal to me. I do collect retro games but there are some games I can never play without emulation because of rarity and cost. Also, playing games on a modern set up is great. I understand that most players say they want it but don't play it and I don't play retro over newer games typically. However, for me, it is madness not to monetize nostalgia. I'd love to be able to have a library of retro games on a modern console.
Xbox is great for this, true, but Playstation has such a great legacy.
I am playing this right now and am about 40 hours in and... yeah, this game is too long. Like Odyssey before it, the game is ace in so so so many ways. Stories aren't bad, the world is beautiful. It is fun to play. Music is wonderful. It is just so huge and has a full kitchen sink approach. It's like the Witcher 3 on crack.
I genuinely believe that a 40-50 hour game (max) with less filler would have made this and Odyssey stone cold classics.
Anyways, as to the point of the article, I've had no game affecting bugs so I have been lucky (playing on PS5).
It's just the uncertainty. I'm not expecting support for old platforms forever and I get usership of these consoles is very very low BUT if you want to get people to buy into a digital future, respect peoples digital libraries.
I get where Jim Ryan is coming from - I suspect that the people that want backwards compatibility in older generations and those that play it are different but game preservation and legacy is important AND a no brainer. If I can't buy a game, how does someone get access to it?
I have taken mine upstairs to the office when I moved my PS4 as the PS5 is downstairs. That means I am fine for sit down games but I have no room for anything active. I also have a 4k HDR tv so not using the passout box on the PS5.
I'm tempted by the Occulus Quest 2 at the moment, especially since Sony are clearly a year or two out from releasing the PSVR2. THe idea of wireless with no cables, or if I want PC gaming, just one wire, will give VR a new lease of life to me.
@Ralizah I know... part of me is annoyed as I have been collecting... the other is going to do his Smaug the dragon impression by laying on all his Vita physical collection.
Though that would probably break them all. Hadn't thought that through.
@Balosi Exactly - I have been quietly collecting physical games for some time now where I can find them cheap but a lot of the best games are not available in the west.
Plus the price and unreliability of the bespoke memory cards mean I can't just download all my games locally.
This is very disappointing for me as an active Vita users. I want them to confirm if a) my already purchased titles will still exist, b) will trophy info still sync and c) will physical titles still have patches available for download?
I'll probably jump on the Occulus Quest 2 first and then see what if offers, just coz I really want to go wireless but these are nice looking controllers and the haptic element will be really important.
@Col_McCafferty I fully agree and there are some titles that are almost evergreen too. BOTW, Hollow Knight, Skyrim, any From Soft game all have loyal communities and still get good views etc. I think more should be done to reflect on great past games and review the history. Retro gaming has never been more popular.
@Jaz007 I completely agree that any abuse in the workplace should be reported equally. I just wouldn't state that because these aren't reported for all studios that any studio should get off the hook.
Techland should defo address these allegations. This video is just weird as it rails on tweets from internet nutters, states it will launch this year then promotes the game.
With regards to ND, Ubisoft, Rockstar etc., I find it baffling that almost all media outlets will happily post the most minor of updates and hype for games yet NOT mention industry abuse at the same time. I think there is room in the media for both. Their products are good but that shouldn't give a free pass.
Well I personally don't understand a lot of the comments. As fans of the industry, should we not be expecting that serious allegations are dealt with and opened? Why should I be hyped for a game that may (or may not) be borne of a toxic workplace? Everything is always not the time or the place. I guess what people are saying is yeah that's bad, as long as I get a game that I'd quite like to play.
I get that a promo video isnt the place but this is a weird juxtaposition of the two. Addressing that the game has suffered some development issues, bemoaning mean tweeters, then promoting the game.
I will sometimes finish a game then pick it up and play straight afterwards (TLOU, Hollow Knight and lots more). Sometimes games are made to be replayed in a lot of ways. Sometimes it is nostalgia. I loved going back to Gun last year on the 360 and I replay Super Metroid yearly on different platforms.
It is the same with films. I'll happily rewatch a film several times. Often there are different things to appreciate.
I think the media (no offense) and FOMO culture is what makes it seem weird. We have to be on the new big thing all the time and don't necessarily appreciate what laid the path before it.
That said, I'm weird. I don't see the appeal of MP games that people put thousands of hours into. Give me a bit of SMB3 any time.
I am playing at the moment and gosh darn is this a long game. Still I might as well redeem since it's 'free'. To be honest, I've found you can ignore almost all these kind of premium things.
I played it end to end and got the Plat, though I am weird like that. It's a great game, bogged down slightly with some bloating in terms of collectibles and a narrative that I thought conflicted with gameplay choices but I can see why so many have completed it.
I also wonder, judging by comments, that a trophy system that rewards playing all aspects of the game rather than silly challenges or multiple run throughs helps player engagement?
It's sort of a shame - though I only ever interacted to checked the Push Square community and even then not regularly... so it is easy to see why it is going!
I guess - I mean you could argue that PS5 is doing strongly out of the gate BECAUSE they have been more mysterious, given that Xbox were far more forthcoming.
There is a content issue coming for Sony. So many companies are buying out smaller devs, not just MS but Epic, THQ etc. There is only a certain sized pool of established developers out there. It means that competition for dev studios is going to hot up. Sony are smart in expanding their existing studios to increase output. We can see that with Guerilla and Insomniac. Still, MS have the money to pump into their Gamepass service.
It's an interesting generation and I look forward to what happens.
@Robinsad I guess but to me (and I'll admit I'm not an expert), that your point of spending a whole grand is no guarantee of ever getting one of these is the key bit. I could spend a grand on lottery tickets and not win a jackpot.The artificial scarcity is to get people to spend more to try and win it.
@Kidfried This is possibly the best way I have seen the truth laid out about this whole thing. It's what I see every day and feel so down that more don't see it.
I try not to comment on too many incendiary topics but I feel passionately about this. If people are able to profit by black marketing (either by being an insider or just trading in general outside of the game), this completely closes down the argument that FUT is not a form of gambling and a blight on the landscape of gaming.
@Th3solution Completely - they are really throwing themselves into this and pulling out all the stops. At the same time, they can afford to. Xbox as a brand is generating a lot of revenue still so it's not like Stadia that is bringing in close to zilch for Google while costing lots.
I'm in two minds. MS are either geniuses, who are going to pioneer a new age of gaming software as a service, making their subscription service almost device agnostic, completing rewriting the rules on video games. Or they are going to push something that doesn't really click with consumers and they start to bleed too much cash. It is clear to me that Microsoft want to emulate their success in Azure and Office 365, which is less about buying a product and subscribing. Whether the industry is ready for it... well, that's another matter.
@Th3solution Oh you are totally right in the money stakes. Is Gamepass a sustainable model? Who knows? Right now, no but if you look at the Netflix model it makes more sense.
Netflix was and is slightly continuing, to spend money as fast as they get it to attract people to the service. The profits there in 2020 were quite low.
If you see Gamepass as an investment then I think it does make sense. Microsoft are going to be at a point where their Gamepass service can be run via browsers and via the cloud. Imagine a service, like stadia, where you can game on console, on PC, on your phone or even smart devices like TV's. Now imagine that they have must have intellectual properties like Elder Scrolls, Doom etc and the way to play is via that service. It's like Netflix having Stranger Things or whatever that weird period drama is about.
It's a big if but I'd see buying up studios and IP's as a big part of that strategy.
Comments 3,632
Re: Demon's Souls Documentary Is an Hour Long Deep Dive into PS5 Remake
Can't wait to watch this properly. Love things like this.
Re: Report: How PlayStation Is Failing Indie Developers
Excellent article and a fascinating view into how the business side works. I have sympathy for the back end issues that hopefully will change but lack of time and attention for smaller games is purely a question of resources and interest. How much worse will the PS ecosystem be without varied indie games?
Re: Sony: We're Not Going Around Making Random Acquisitions
I don't like acquisitions on the whole but I think this is an interesting development from Sony and is very in line with what their unique selling point is.
Making studios work needs a lot of vision and careful nurturing. Buying say, Naughty Dog, doesn't guarantee a Last Of Us. If Sony bought SquareEnix for example, what would they be buying? A large publisher with varied titles and mixed success in terms of quality?
Better to invest in a smaller studio then build them into something larger. I think that we are going to see expansion of major studios to increase output.
Re: PS Plus Version of Greedfall Won't Upgrade to PS5 Version for Free
@Westernwolf4 Pretty much this.
I mentioned this on thread when Greedfall upgrade was announced and pretty much got called entitled.
People keep using the word free but that is not the case. I pay for PS Plus. Now in my mind it depends on the upgrade path - if I can upgrade to PS5 version for a minimal cost I may consider it. In the case of FF7 Remake, I was slightly annoyed that as something I had paid for via PS Plus, the only way I could get an upgrade at the time was to pay £70 for an entire version.
With Greedfall, I can get the similarly upgraded version on Gamepass without any additional fee.
Is this the end of the world? Not at all. It is a small point. It's just something that niggles as an early adopter of the PS5. I just want a simple and consistent upgrade path.
Re: Greedfall PS5 Version Out Next Week Along with Big Expansion
@danlk1ng The infuriating element, to me, is the uncertainty and knowledge. Also, I think you missed some of my main points.
1) You use the word free. I rent these games with my subscription. I do not own them, they are dependent on me maintaining a payment to Sony.
2) By claiming a copy of FF7 Remake you are unable to buy a digital upgrade seperately OR to buy a copy of the PS4 game digitally to upgrade. If you wish a digital copy, you must buy the PS5 version at £70. As you say, is this worth it?
3) It's great you have a PC and use that to play high resolution games. Of course, I don't believe Final Fantasty VII remake is on PC as yet (though I have no doubt of a port in future). As someone that has invested in a PS5 at launch and there is an upgraded version available, why would I not want to play that version?
Ultimately, I may sound like an entitled gamer (tm) but I feel it is reasonable that there should be a clear upgrade path on a title that I received as part of a subscription rather than have to buy the game entirely fresh again. If that costs some, then I am OK with that but why would I pay £70 as you pay for an upgrade on a title that I have technically already paid for.
I mean, of course, the actual solution in my case was to pay £15 for a second hand copy on PS4 and get the upgrade for free but then nobody really wins there except the person I bought it of. He was called Roy.
Re: Greedfall PS5 Version Out Next Week Along with Big Expansion
@LordOfTurnips My exact question as well - For FF7 Remake, you did NOT get a free upgrade if from PS Plus. Which was rather infuriating.
Re: Reaction: Xbox Game Pass Is the Thorn in PS5's Side
This is a great article. Apart from some obvious ones (and to all those people who told me Bethesda games aren't going exclusive - na na na na na), the show was very much like most Xbox shows. Slick and some great games but very little tied to the brand.
BUT Gamepass is a big disrupter. It doesn't matter too much that they don't have their own games, why buy a game at launch when you can get it on gamepass.
Re: Biomutant (PS4) - The Classic Case of What Could Have Been
@BadPlayerOne Agree completely - for me the review process is something that helps me to decide on a game or not. That doesn't mean I don't play games that aren't very highly rated but it sets my expectations correctly and how much I think I can afford to play the game. It just seems that people decide beforehand they like a game then get angry if the consensus isn't the same.
Re: PlayStation Fans Aren't Happy with This New Uncharted Movie Picture
As my avatar suggests, this film will flop HARD without a moustache. We all know, I'm just the bravest one to say it out loud.
Re: Biomutant (PS4) - The Classic Case of What Could Have Been
Still don't understand how passionately people take review scores. As others have said, a review can only ever be one persons view. If you are interested as a consumer, read a mix of reviews to get a flavour of what the game is like and whether you think it will suit you.
Re: Soapbox: I'm Beyond Excited for PS5's Next-Gen PSVR
Huge supporter of PSVR and loved the headset dearly but I have taken the jump to the Quest 2 and to be honest, it has made me less likely to be a day one adopter of PSVR 2. Since I have a VR capable PC I get the wireless experience for smaller games and have now played Half LIfe ALyx and can play most top tier PC titles.
I think the kicker for most people will be the cable to the unit - now if this is because they are really using the PS5 to push visuals and experiences then I'll probably be on board. I have a wait and see - this is not Sony's fault, only that the VR headspace has moved on a LOT.
Re: Mini Review: Call of the Sea (PS5) - A Pretty But Predictable Puzzler
@themightyant I also played on Gamepass and it is true that maybe that affects your opinion since I thought it was a nice little game. I obviously wouldn't consider price. All in all though I think the game is above average but these type of story games are all about connection. I liked it but I can totally see otherwise.
Re: Mini Review: Terminator: Resistance Enhanced (PS5) - Enhanced Is Pushing It
I can't comment on the PS5 upgrade side of things, but this references the original game being very disappointing which I don't really agree with. I am a fan of the original movies and I thought it did a good job of engaging the player. It is very much a AA game in scope and ambition but it is emminently playable.
Of course, charging for an upgrade that is not necessarily worth it is a different matter.
Re: Mini Review: Call Of The Sea (PS5) - A Pretty But Predictable Puzzler
It's a fair review - I possibly liked this game more than the reviewer, I think its setting and story/lore were intriguing and it had a very neat spin on lovecraftian horror. It also never outstayed its welcome. Personally I'd put it at a 7 but I can understand some of the criticisms made.
Re: UK Sales Charts: PS5 Roguelike Returnal Off to Slower Start Than Other Sony Exclusives
As a consumer, I've said it elsewhere, I can't afford £70 for a game that isn't necessarily in my wheel house. I refer again that Ghost of Tsushima as £20 less at launch 9 months ago.
Re: Returnal (PS5) - Housemarque's Deep, Dark Shooter Is a PS5 Must Have
@Beefy01 I dunno - I paid £49.99 for Ghost of Tsushima on launch day less than a year ago and now i have to pay £69.99 for this game at launch. I don't understand why there is this price hike.
Re: Returnal (PS5) - Housemarque's Deep, Dark Shooter Is a PS5 Must Have
Great review but I am not a fan of roguelites and I am just not paying an extra £20 on a new release for no reason. I am glad the title is reviewing well... but yeah, most people seem to forget this.
Re: Hands On: Why You Should Be Hyped for Returnal, the Next Great PS5 Exclusive
@Jaz007 Completely this - I'd love to support the game, even though I am not a huge fan of roguelikes but I can't justify that cost for one game at the moment.
This has nothing to do with the quality of the game - it's just a price point that I'm not comfortable with when I know that this will be reduced in 6 months time.
Re: Hands On: Maybe Don't Buy Disco Elysium on PS5 at Launch
Hopefully this is a case of a large day one patch but this is sad. I will qualify that Disco Elysium is one of the best games I have ever played. I am tempted to double dip just.. well, because it is that good!
Still, if it has launched for consumers in a bad way then the quality of the game is secondary.
Re: Here's Your First Look at The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Gameplay
Open mind from me - I personally see it will probably be a very similar style to A Plague Tale: Innocense - stealthy narrative based adventure. If it has an engaging story and plays true to the character and world (looking at you sexy Shelob on Shadow of War) it could be a nice little game.
Re: PS4 Owners Are Worried Their Games Won't Work if a Clock Battery Fails
@Octane I hope so!
Re: PS4 Owners Are Worried Their Games Won't Work if a Clock Battery Fails
Ultimately, if Sony turns its servers off, games become unplayable anyway because they need massive updates to run at their optimum version (unless you have a GOTY version that has the latest build on it).
Did you also know that everyone that got the first smallpox vaccine in 1798 has died? Makes you think.
Re: Ghost of Tsushima Movie Announced with John Wick Director at the Helm
Of all the properties, this isn't a bad one to take. I can't wait to see some naked hotspring Jin butt on the big screen. Gonna go IMAX
Re: PS4 Masterpiece Bloodborne Turns Six Years Old Today
@lolwhatno I couldn't possibly say... but imagine how great Ebrietas would be in a kart racer.
Bluepoint - call me.
Re: Talking Point: Would You Buy a PS1, PS2, or PS3 Emulator for PS5?
Game preservation is a big deal to me. I do collect retro games but there are some games I can never play without emulation because of rarity and cost. Also, playing games on a modern set up is great. I understand that most players say they want it but don't play it and I don't play retro over newer games typically. However, for me, it is madness not to monetize nostalgia. I'd love to be able to have a library of retro games on a modern console.
Xbox is great for this, true, but Playstation has such a great legacy.
Re: PS4 Masterpiece Bloodborne Turns Six Years Old Today
One of my favourite games of all time - despite how much I struggled, suffered and swore.
Remember the age old quote on how to master combat in Bloodborne.
"We are born of the Roly Poly, made men by the Roly Poly, undone by the Roly Poly"
Quote stolen from Viva La Dirt League.
Re: Soapbox: Why Must Assassin's Creed Valhalla Still Be So Glitchy?
@Flaming_Kaiser Agreed but I think that half the content would still make for a really good game. Possibly better because it would be more focused.
Re: Soapbox: Why Must Assassin's Creed Valhalla Still Be So Glitchy?
I am playing this right now and am about 40 hours in and... yeah, this game is too long. Like Odyssey before it, the game is ace in so so so many ways. Stories aren't bad, the world is beautiful. It is fun to play. Music is wonderful. It is just so huge and has a full kitchen sink approach. It's like the Witcher 3 on crack.
I genuinely believe that a 40-50 hour game (max) with less filler would have made this and Odyssey stone cold classics.
Anyways, as to the point of the article, I've had no game affecting bugs so I have been lucky (playing on PS5).
Re: Sony Must Communicate Its Plans for PS3, PS Vita, and PSP
It's just the uncertainty. I'm not expecting support for old platforms forever and I get usership of these consoles is very very low BUT if you want to get people to buy into a digital future, respect peoples digital libraries.
I get where Jim Ryan is coming from - I suspect that the people that want backwards compatibility in older generations and those that play it are different but game preservation and legacy is important AND a no brainer. If I can't buy a game, how does someone get access to it?
Re: Soapbox: PSVR's Crap Load of Cables Has Put Me Off
I have taken mine upstairs to the office when I moved my PS4 as the PS5 is downstairs. That means I am fine for sit down games but I have no room for anything active. I also have a 4k HDR tv so not using the passout box on the PS5.
I'm tempted by the Occulus Quest 2 at the moment, especially since Sony are clearly a year or two out from releasing the PSVR2. THe idea of wireless with no cables, or if I want PC gaming, just one wire, will give VR a new lease of life to me.
Re: PS3, PS Vita, and PSP Online Stores to Close This Summer, Says New Report
@JapaneseSonic Good idea and I do though my HDD is fairly full on that. Good suggestion though, thanks!
Re: PS3, PS Vita, and PSP Online Stores to Close This Summer, Says New Report
@Ralizah I know... part of me is annoyed as I have been collecting... the other is going to do his Smaug the dragon impression by laying on all his Vita physical collection.
Though that would probably break them all. Hadn't thought that through.
Re: PS3, PS Vita, and PSP Online Stores to Close This Summer, Says New Report
@Ralizah They really have already. Some cart titles are already going for £25 plus for the most common games with many rarer going for upwards of £50.
Re: PS3, PS Vita, and PSP Online Stores to Close This Summer, Says New Report
@Balosi Exactly - I have been quietly collecting physical games for some time now where I can find them cheap but a lot of the best games are not available in the west.
Plus the price and unreliability of the bespoke memory cards mean I can't just download all my games locally.
Re: PS3, PS Vita, and PSP Online Stores to Close This Summer, Says New Report
This is very disappointing for me as an active Vita users. I want them to confirm if a) my already purchased titles will still exist, b) will trophy info still sync and c) will physical titles still have patches available for download?
Re: Next-Gen PSVR Controllers Revealed, Includes Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers
I'll probably jump on the Occulus Quest 2 first and then see what if offers, just coz I really want to go wireless but these are nice looking controllers and the haptic element will be really important.
Looking forward to more details!
Re: Soapbox: Why Do You Replay Games?
@Col_McCafferty I fully agree and there are some titles that are almost evergreen too. BOTW, Hollow Knight, Skyrim, any From Soft game all have loyal communities and still get good views etc. I think more should be done to reflect on great past games and review the history. Retro gaming has never been more popular.
Re: Dying Light 2 Targets 2021 Launch in Poorly Thought-Out Update
@Jaz007 I completely agree that any abuse in the workplace should be reported equally. I just wouldn't state that because these aren't reported for all studios that any studio should get off the hook.
Techland should defo address these allegations. This video is just weird as it rails on tweets from internet nutters, states it will launch this year then promotes the game.
With regards to ND, Ubisoft, Rockstar etc., I find it baffling that almost all media outlets will happily post the most minor of updates and hype for games yet NOT mention industry abuse at the same time. I think there is room in the media for both. Their products are good but that shouldn't give a free pass.
Re: Dying Light 2 Targets 2021 Launch in Poorly Thought-Out Update
Well I personally don't understand a lot of the comments. As fans of the industry, should we not be expecting that serious allegations are dealt with and opened? Why should I be hyped for a game that may (or may not) be borne of a toxic workplace? Everything is always not the time or the place. I guess what people are saying is yeah that's bad, as long as I get a game that I'd quite like to play.
I get that a promo video isnt the place but this is a weird juxtaposition of the two. Addressing that the game has suffered some development issues, bemoaning mean tweeters, then promoting the game.
Re: Soapbox: Why Do You Replay Games?
I will sometimes finish a game then pick it up and play straight afterwards (TLOU, Hollow Knight and lots more). Sometimes games are made to be replayed in a lot of ways. Sometimes it is nostalgia. I loved going back to Gun last year on the 360 and I replay Super Metroid yearly on different platforms.
It is the same with films. I'll happily rewatch a film several times. Often there are different things to appreciate.
I think the media (no offense) and FOMO culture is what makes it seem weird. We have to be on the new big thing all the time and don't necessarily appreciate what laid the path before it.
That said, I'm weird. I don't see the appeal of MP games that people put thousands of hours into. Give me a bit of SMB3 any time.
Re: Assassin's Creed Valhalla Gives All Players 'Godly Reward' Pack, Includes Altair's Outfit, Armour, 300 Opal, and More
I am playing at the moment and gosh darn is this a long game. Still I might as well redeem since it's 'free'. To be honest, I've found you can ignore almost all these kind of premium things.
Re: Over Half of Players Completed Ghost of Tsushima's Campaign
I played it end to end and got the Plat, though I am weird like that. It's a great game, bogged down slightly with some bloating in terms of collectibles and a narrative that I thought conflicted with gameplay choices but I can see why so many have completed it.
I also wonder, judging by comments, that a trophy system that rewards playing all aspects of the game rather than silly challenges or multiple run throughs helps player engagement?
Re: PS4's Communities Feature to Be Shut Down, Sony Confirms
It's sort of a shame - though I only ever interacted to checked the Push Square community and even then not regularly... so it is easy to see why it is going!
Re: Reaction: What Next for PlayStation?
I guess - I mean you could argue that PS5 is doing strongly out of the gate BECAUSE they have been more mysterious, given that Xbox were far more forthcoming.
There is a content issue coming for Sony. So many companies are buying out smaller devs, not just MS but Epic, THQ etc. There is only a certain sized pool of established developers out there. It means that competition for dev studios is going to hot up. Sony are smart in expanding their existing studios to increase output. We can see that with Guerilla and Insomniac. Still, MS have the money to pump into their Gamepass service.
It's an interesting generation and I look forward to what happens.
Re: #EAGate Erupts as FIFA 21 Employee Is Alleged to Have Sold FUT Cards for €1,000s
@Flaming_Kaiser Ha ha - very true! Plus has real world value if you DO win.
Re: #EAGate Erupts as FIFA 21 Employee Is Alleged to Have Sold FUT Cards for €1,000s
@Robinsad I guess but to me (and I'll admit I'm not an expert), that your point of spending a whole grand is no guarantee of ever getting one of these is the key bit. I could spend a grand on lottery tickets and not win a jackpot.The artificial scarcity is to get people to spend more to try and win it.
Re: #EAGate Erupts as FIFA 21 Employee Is Alleged to Have Sold FUT Cards for €1,000s
@Kidfried This is possibly the best way I have seen the truth laid out about this whole thing. It's what I see every day and feel so down that more don't see it.
I try not to comment on too many incendiary topics but I feel passionately about this. If people are able to profit by black marketing (either by being an insider or just trading in general outside of the game), this completely closes down the argument that FUT is not a form of gambling and a blight on the landscape of gaming.
Re: Bethesda Says 'Some' Future Games Won't Launch on PS5, PS4
@Th3solution Completely - they are really throwing themselves into this and pulling out all the stops. At the same time, they can afford to. Xbox as a brand is generating a lot of revenue still so it's not like Stadia that is bringing in close to zilch for Google while costing lots.
I'm in two minds. MS are either geniuses, who are going to pioneer a new age of gaming software as a service, making their subscription service almost device agnostic, completing rewriting the rules on video games. Or they are going to push something that doesn't really click with consumers and they start to bleed too much cash. It is clear to me that Microsoft want to emulate their success in Azure and Office 365, which is less about buying a product and subscribing. Whether the industry is ready for it... well, that's another matter.
Re: Bethesda Says 'Some' Future Games Won't Launch on PS5, PS4
@PossibLeigh Ha ha - oh yeah. New film idea... THERE WILL BE SALT!
Re: Bethesda Says 'Some' Future Games Won't Launch on PS5, PS4
@Th3solution Oh you are totally right in the money stakes. Is Gamepass a sustainable model? Who knows? Right now, no but if you look at the Netflix model it makes more sense.
Netflix was and is slightly continuing, to spend money as fast as they get it to attract people to the service. The profits there in 2020 were quite low.
If you see Gamepass as an investment then I think it does make sense. Microsoft are going to be at a point where their Gamepass service can be run via browsers and via the cloud. Imagine a service, like stadia, where you can game on console, on PC, on your phone or even smart devices like TV's. Now imagine that they have must have intellectual properties like Elder Scrolls, Doom etc and the way to play is via that service. It's like Netflix having Stranger Things or whatever that weird period drama is about.
It's a big if but I'd see buying up studios and IP's as a big part of that strategy.