@PossibLeigh That may be the case - who knows? However, to be honest, historically, gamer outrage doesn't go very far. If someone really wants the product, they'll moan but there have been very very few successful boycotts of games. Also not forgetting that many passionate Bethesda fans are also PC gamers which this won't really affect, other than the launcher they have to use.
I mean, Battlefront 2 is probably the biggest gamer outrage of the last few years and it sold under expectation but still sold 9 million copies in the first 3 months of release despite all the hoo ha.
I can see gamers being up in arms at ES going exclusive, then it will launch, everyone will report on it and it will get lots of attention and subscriptions.
@sanderson72 I would very much expect so since for online service games, you really need as many people playing as possible to make it financially viable.
If a platform holder buys a large brand with large tentpole franchises, it really does make little sense to launch them on rival platforms. Microsoft's aims have always been to get more and more people to buy into their services, not necessarily buy an Xbox over a PS5. Could we see some titles come to Playstation? Absolutely. Particularly if they are already long in development.
However, I think those games will be ones where player base matters. You'll see Elder Scrolls Online or Fallout 76 remain multiplat as well as expansions for those games.
Personally, I think Starfield or Elder Scrolls will be exclusives. If the only way to play those was via PC or Xbox, regardless of what people say, they'll sign up to Gamepass to play it in droves.
I agree wholeheartedly with this. I am playing AC:Valhalla and that game is just too large and content spread out too think. I find most of my time just travelling between objectives. I don't get a chance to learn about the area or recognise landmarks because I get through missions then move on to the next huge area.
Which is a shame because the worlds are so so beautiful and I see no reason why the same amount of story couldn't have been packed into a smaller world.
I think a way a lot of open worlds deal with story progression is to move the story into new areas of the map since it can be difficult to forge big story moments into areas you have already existed but that is more to do with creativity than anything else.
I have a pair of these and they do the job. They look nice and work well enough for in game chat on Co-op. I tend to not use them on games unless the other half is doing something. Battery life is OK but a couple of gaming sessions is enough to drain them enough that I have to recharge to make sure they don't cut out.
They are not as comfortable as my Steel Series Arctis 7 which was also PS4 compatible and that has far better build quality but then you are paying an extra £50 on top.
Truthfully, this means I probably won't pick up the game at launch. It looks like a great game, I want to support new titles for the PS5 but that price point is just too high.
I can't see what I'm getting for the extra £20 (or more). If I wait several months, I could get this and probably another title for the same price, such as the deep sales most games get given.
It is a real shame because the game deserves some serious attention.
@Gaia093 I can really identify with this. I have had fun in local coop but that is more of a special occasion and being with someone (pre-covid obvs).
I have tried playing online coop and it is fun but it doesn't seem to sustain itself. A close friend who I do a podcast tried playing games like A Way Out and they just fizzled out. We are trying Borderlands 2 with another friend, as well as Star Wars Squadrons and they are fun but for me, I think what I enjoy from gaming I get more from solo play.
@Deanster101 This is the top casting choice of the decade.
This actor was also recently in His Dark Materials Season 2 and i have seen her in The Worst Witch (my daughter watches it, honest) and haven't been that impressed. Particularly with the need for a good american accent. However, I'll wait to see the finished product before I actually have a strong opinion.
@LTPenguin I played this on PC and it was my first isometric RPG and I got on fine with it. It takes a little getting used to the mechanics but largely, any progress is your progress based upon how you react to dialogue and events.
@LordSteev Ha ha don't worry, I read it all! You are spot on with armour sets. I ended up getting what I got in the game and then just upgrading those. In Skyrim (great example), I would do whole quests to get a sword that set people on fire. Then do another quest to get another SLIGHTLY better sword. I ignored all of that in AD:Odyssey because it was never as good as what I could have bought.
@themightyant I feel your pain. I have Hades and I can see it is a truly excellent game yet, after yet another run and failure, I feel like my evening was spent getting nowhere.
It's tough to work out how to feel about games like Genshin. They are quality but they thrive on constant engagement. I'd say if you like it and are enjoying it, enjoy and just be aware of the more predatory aspects.
@themightyant I've really loved the aesthetic of Genshin but I don't really play those games because I struggle with open ended games. I have a strange OCD that I want games to have an end - be it a tournament or story or something. I struggle with some roguelikes because I don't feel I am making progress.
That said, I think the F2P model can yield really good games and I've heard a lot of people really praise Genshin as being a really fun game. I think the issue is the predatory industry and monetization around it to make a select few get the FOMO and spend more than they should.
@themightyant Free to play games are an interesting point and I do agree. I know that there are some great models that have worked well. Also, in F2P games, grind is often the main model. I know that a lot of people sing the praises of Warframe for making you want to support the devs rather than pay for basic features. I also agree though, that these games mtx's target those who are susceptible.
@Jimmer-jammer Thanks for the thoughtful response and you make a really valid point. I mean, in perspective, I put 80 hours into AC Odyssey, even with the monetization and enjoyed the game (having spent nothing additional on it). It is just that it felt jarring in game that this was a really good 40 hour game, stretched into a longer 80-100 hour experience for no reason other than to encourage engagement.
When I compare to the excellent Ghost of Tshusima, which had many elements, by playing and exploring you got all the content, cosmetics etc. whereas you can't get that in the AC game without paying or grinding excessively.
I guess they don't make the games bad, per se, but I think they are affecting game design which is detrimental to the end product.
Still it is complicated and as said, I've played games to the end that had these in so maybe I am part of the problem!!
@Jimmer-jammer It's an interesting point and I don't know which games you play so would hate to make a generalisation but the games we are playing are affected by micro-transactions, even if we don't actually buy them.
Let's take the last two AC games (possibly 3, I haven't played Origins). Fine games, well made. The main complaint from gamers is the grind and the amount of padding in the game. Fair comment. Then you consider there are literally paid options to skip this grind and you can see that time and money was spent to create grind to generate a need for SOME to pay their way out of it.
I remember Far Cry 5 and there was a particular weapon I wanted because it fit my player style and I think it would have taken me many hours to get the resources to get it OR just buy it for a few £'s. That isn't accidental. That's by design. In Far Cry 3, I got a similar scaled weapon by just playing through the story.
My last comment would also be that if you aren't affected by micro transacitons then you aren't the target market. They are designed to go for the players that are susceptible to this. Fortnite is a great example. Free game that gives playes peer pressure amongst the community to spend more time and money to look better or engage more.
I still maintain that Stadia was a good product, launched and maintained poorly. This will only limit the confidence in the product further, meaning its end is more inevitable.
Amazon Luna, on the other hand, if bundled with a better games model and launch, possibly tied to Prime has a far better chance to succeed.
@polljord Forgive me for saying but I'm not sure of the link between the two? I mean I agree that the handling of Covid is a disaster but I don't think anyone is saying that getting a PS5 is as big an issue or deserves a bigger outcry than Covid 19. I mean, an MP bringing this up is just daily government business that hasn't stopped because of Covid. It is just being reported and discussed by gamers because it is part of the hobby. There are huge injustices in the world that dwarf any consumer rights issues but (most) people are capable of being interested in one more point and sensing scale. By the same logic, climate change is going to risk far more lives than Covid over the next few decades so we shouldn't be making a fuss about Covid when we have that to deal with?
@deathaxe All very true - it's a shame and a lottery about what gets brought forward.
I mean we have consumer protection laws and this is a consumer protection issue when all is said and done. Essentially a consumer does not have an equal opportunity buy a product as someone that uses software to drive up demand by ensuring product unavailability.
Good news that this is taken seriously and I mean that genuinely.
Well two things at play - the real impact of the pandemic is now being felt as the disruption of the last year has really settled in, and the Cyberpunk fallout.
No one in the immediate future is going to launch a faulty game unless they really really have no choice.
A shame but... you know, I would rather people stay safe and do the best work possible. There are still lots of great titles coming this year and I have a backlog bigger than an elephants... trunk.
@deathaxe No they don't - Activision lost the game rights in 2014 I believe so they reverted to Marvel and Sony did a deal with Disney as part of the MCU movie rights to get a first party game out.
Disney have no problem licensing out exclusives - as others have said, there are several Disney games exclusive to certain platforms, such as the Marvel game that came out a year or so ago to Switch.
The point is that Disney don't really care - they get paid for the rights regardless of single or multi-plat.
I am happy with my PS5 purchase. I've played through Spiderman Miles Morales and The Pathless, and have AC: Valhalla (gifted to me) and Demon's Souls to play as well as all my previous purchases to get through.
I also moved my PS4 up into my work office so play that when the TV is in use (playing Hollow Knight on it at the moment).
@SwitchVogel This is 100% my issue with them. They turn games a little into to do lists and are designed to get you coming back, whether you fee like you want to or not.
Happy New Year to you all as well (plus all fab PS regulars). I haven’t been as active of late due to a multitude of things but have enjoyed my visits and am excited for the next year of games and tings.
@Kidfried Well there are two things to pull apart here - firstly from a crunch perspective, I think consumer rights and protection and the abuse at the studio aren't mutually exclusive - as in I never ever think it acceptable that workers have to crunch to make these made up release dates. I personally get annoyed when sites (even this one) ask for patches as soon as possible without considering the human cost of doing so. The game should not have been released and should not have been crunched this badly regardless of outcome.
However since it DID and the mgt made this decision, I think consumer rights now kick in. People have bought the game and yes, personal responsibility comes into it. However I'd state that we are outliers in the community. Those of us who are really into games could see the signs that reviews weren't out and all that but an average consumer who has been hyped for ages and been deliberately given no reason to think the game wouldn't be awesome might have ordered.
I think pre-order culture is a bad idea and I don't support it but I think if companies push it so hard, but given that this can happen, i think consumer protection is important.
I think a refund policy like Steam's is necessary on any digital store. I have been lucky with getting a refund before BUT it took a lot of effort (I unwittingly bought DLC for a US copy of a game that was incompatible - they refunded after I took photos of the game disc and sent it).
Should everyone be able to try before they buy? I think so. Sure there is a fine line between me spending an hour or so with a game and getting a refund coz I didnt like it and a game where there are unsolvable problems at launch.
Things are tough this year - some people no doubt bought Cyberpunk 2077 as gifts OR as their game for the christmas period. They have a right to get the money and spend it elsewhere.
@mookysam Excellent point - I keep seeing statements in comments and in media stating they 'hope CDPR can get fixes out quickly'. What of the human cost to do that? These guys have been crunching for untold months.
This apology is nice but ultimately meaningless as it skirts over the truth that they deliberately misled purchasers on day one.
This game was marketed for years as being a PS4 and XB1 game - the largest install base combined is the PS4 and XB1 console. This should have released before next gen consoles were a thing.
Ultimately they are stating that you will get an inferior product if you play on PS4 or XB1 and you'll never get it as good as higher end machines.
You could argue that this has always been the way with next gen games released on older machines except this has been marketed for those consoles. It should be running at an acceptable level on those consoles. Now the statement says you'll never get as good an experience on older hardware. Where was that in the marketing?
If you have a PS5 and it runs ok, great. However you will have paid the same price as someone who bought it for their base PS4 because it says it is a PS4 game.
Clearly they were in a financial state where they could not afford to launch and knowing that they deliberately withheld console copies for review and demanded reviewers signed up to unfavourable terms.
As consumers it is correct to ask for refunds and to return when the game is at an acceptable standard.
This game is amazing and while I am not sure I want to play again because I felt my first playthrough was so unique to me, I loved what voice acting there was in the original release.
There are clearly core intrinsic issues with getting this to run on base consoles and I'm not surprised - it feels very much like the ambition outstripped the hardware. It looks, and I stress I haven't played but have seen a lot of posted footage etc, like playing on base consoles is going to give you a worse experience than playing on Pro and PS5 or PC of course. However, the price is the same.
The delays and the lack of console review versions are a good indication that this was known. The game itself is probably great but I do feel that launching a game at the same price with such issues across all platforms is a little disingenous and reviews etc. should reflect that.
It's to do with the internet age and the way the advertising market rolls on. Everyone needs engagement, everyone needs clicks or views and you tend to get that with news and hype for the next thing. Publishers pump a lot into getting people hyped, then media outlets push that hype to get views and we, the readers, also want to read the new thing.
There are some exceptions - some communities are large enough to keep topics and games alive (look at Dark Souls) beyond this period but ultimately, they'll all die pretty quickly. Sign of the times.
I have a whopper of a backlog across multiple devices. Some times I love it - I just fancy something and wham, can play. Other times, I get stressed at having such a large backlog.
What the last generation has shown is that the market cannot sustain multiple online games that can bring in that revenue. If you dedicate your time to Warzone, you aren't playing Apex Legends and The Division 2 etc.
For every success story in the online space, there are far more fails. Revenue is not guaranteed.
A single player game can never reach the revenue of an online game like Fortnite or GTA V but it doesn't need to succeed in the same way.
Comments 3,632
Re: Bethesda Says 'Some' Future Games Won't Launch on PS5, PS4
@PossibLeigh That may be the case - who knows? However, to be honest, historically, gamer outrage doesn't go very far. If someone really wants the product, they'll moan but there have been very very few successful boycotts of games. Also not forgetting that many passionate Bethesda fans are also PC gamers which this won't really affect, other than the launcher they have to use.
I mean, Battlefront 2 is probably the biggest gamer outrage of the last few years and it sold under expectation but still sold 9 million copies in the first 3 months of release despite all the hoo ha.
I can see gamers being up in arms at ES going exclusive, then it will launch, everyone will report on it and it will get lots of attention and subscriptions.
Re: Bethesda Says 'Some' Future Games Won't Launch on PS5, PS4
@sanderson72 I would very much expect so since for online service games, you really need as many people playing as possible to make it financially viable.
Re: Bethesda Says 'Some' Future Games Won't Launch on PS5, PS4
If a platform holder buys a large brand with large tentpole franchises, it really does make little sense to launch them on rival platforms. Microsoft's aims have always been to get more and more people to buy into their services, not necessarily buy an Xbox over a PS5. Could we see some titles come to Playstation? Absolutely. Particularly if they are already long in development.
However, I think those games will be ones where player base matters. You'll see Elder Scrolls Online or Fallout 76 remain multiplat as well as expansions for those games.
Personally, I think Starfield or Elder Scrolls will be exclusives. If the only way to play those was via PC or Xbox, regardless of what people say, they'll sign up to Gamepass to play it in droves.
Re: Soapbox: How Yakuza Proves Bigger Open Worlds Aren't Always Better
I agree wholeheartedly with this. I am playing AC:Valhalla and that game is just too large and content spread out too think. I find most of my time just travelling between objectives. I don't get a chance to learn about the area or recognise landmarks because I get through missions then move on to the next huge area.
Which is a shame because the worlds are so so beautiful and I see no reason why the same amount of story couldn't have been packed into a smaller world.
I think a way a lot of open worlds deal with story progression is to move the story into new areas of the map since it can be difficult to forge big story moments into areas you have already existed but that is more to do with creativity than anything else.
Re: Hardware Review: PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset - A Sturdy All-Rounder with Above Average Audio
I have a pair of these and they do the job. They look nice and work well enough for in game chat on Co-op. I tend to not use them on games unless the other half is doing something. Battery life is OK but a couple of gaming sessions is enough to drain them enough that I have to recharge to make sure they don't cut out.
They are not as comfortable as my Steel Series Arctis 7 which was also PS4 compatible and that has far better build quality but then you are paying an extra £50 on top.
Re: Housemarque on Returnal's Price: We're Doing Our Half of the Value Proposition
Truthfully, this means I probably won't pick up the game at launch. It looks like a great game, I want to support new titles for the PS5 but that price point is just too high.
I can't see what I'm getting for the extra £20 (or more). If I wait several months, I could get this and probably another title for the same price, such as the deep sales most games get given.
It is a real shame because the game deserves some serious attention.
Re: Soapbox: We Were Here, the Free PS4 Game No One Will Play with Me
@Gaia093 I can really identify with this. I have had fun in local coop but that is more of a special occasion and being with someone (pre-covid obvs).
I have tried playing online coop and it is fun but it doesn't seem to sustain itself. A close friend who I do a podcast tried playing games like A Way Out and they just fizzled out. We are trying Borderlands 2 with another friend, as well as Star Wars Squadrons and they are fun but for me, I think what I enjoy from gaming I get more from solo play.
Re: This Is Who Will Play Ellie in The Last of Us TV Show
@Deanster101 This is the top casting choice of the decade.
This actor was also recently in His Dark Materials Season 2 and i have seen her in The Worst Witch (my daughter watches it, honest) and haven't been that impressed. Particularly with the need for a good american accent. However, I'll wait to see the finished product before I actually have a strong opinion.
Re: Poll: Have You Been Experiencing Drift on Your DualSense PS5 Controller?
Works pretty well so far. Only put about 100 hours into the console though so not exactly a heavy user.
Re: Metal Gear Solid 5 Scouts Surprise PS4 Patch, But It Ain't Chapter 3
Probably some more indulgent animations for Quiet around the helicopter.
Re: Random: Horizon Zero Dawn Graphical Downgrade Goes Viral
This is amazing... and you say unplayable? I say this is how I played Tomb Raider 2 on my old PC back in the 90's.
Re: Interview: The Disco Elysium Team Talks PS5 Porting Process, Extra Content, and Dumb Deaths
@LTPenguin I played this on PC and it was my first isometric RPG and I got on fine with it. It takes a little getting used to the mechanics but largely, any progress is your progress based upon how you react to dialogue and events.
Re: This Is Why PS5, PS4 Microtransactions Won't Be Going Away
@LordSteev Ha ha don't worry, I read it all! You are spot on with armour sets. I ended up getting what I got in the game and then just upgrading those. In Skyrim (great example), I would do whole quests to get a sword that set people on fire. Then do another quest to get another SLIGHTLY better sword. I ignored all of that in AD:Odyssey because it was never as good as what I could have bought.
Re: This Is Why PS5, PS4 Microtransactions Won't Be Going Away
@themightyant I feel your pain. I have Hades and I can see it is a truly excellent game yet, after yet another run and failure, I feel like my evening was spent getting nowhere.
It's tough to work out how to feel about games like Genshin. They are quality but they thrive on constant engagement. I'd say if you like it and are enjoying it, enjoy and just be aware of the more predatory aspects.
Re: This Is Why PS5, PS4 Microtransactions Won't Be Going Away
@themightyant I've really loved the aesthetic of Genshin but I don't really play those games because I struggle with open ended games. I have a strange OCD that I want games to have an end - be it a tournament or story or something. I struggle with some roguelikes because I don't feel I am making progress.
That said, I think the F2P model can yield really good games and I've heard a lot of people really praise Genshin as being a really fun game. I think the issue is the predatory industry and monetization around it to make a select few get the FOMO and spend more than they should.
Re: This Is Why PS5, PS4 Microtransactions Won't Be Going Away
@themightyant Free to play games are an interesting point and I do agree. I know that there are some great models that have worked well. Also, in F2P games, grind is often the main model. I know that a lot of people sing the praises of Warframe for making you want to support the devs rather than pay for basic features. I also agree though, that these games mtx's target those who are susceptible.
@Jimmer-jammer Thanks for the thoughtful response and you make a really valid point. I mean, in perspective, I put 80 hours into AC Odyssey, even with the monetization and enjoyed the game (having spent nothing additional on it). It is just that it felt jarring in game that this was a really good 40 hour game, stretched into a longer 80-100 hour experience for no reason other than to encourage engagement.
When I compare to the excellent Ghost of Tshusima, which had many elements, by playing and exploring you got all the content, cosmetics etc. whereas you can't get that in the AC game without paying or grinding excessively.
I guess they don't make the games bad, per se, but I think they are affecting game design which is detrimental to the end product.
Still it is complicated and as said, I've played games to the end that had these in so maybe I am part of the problem!!
Re: This Is Why PS5, PS4 Microtransactions Won't Be Going Away
@Jimmer-jammer It's an interesting point and I don't know which games you play so would hate to make a generalisation but the games we are playing are affected by micro-transactions, even if we don't actually buy them.
Let's take the last two AC games (possibly 3, I haven't played Origins). Fine games, well made. The main complaint from gamers is the grind and the amount of padding in the game. Fair comment. Then you consider there are literally paid options to skip this grind and you can see that time and money was spent to create grind to generate a need for SOME to pay their way out of it.
I remember Far Cry 5 and there was a particular weapon I wanted because it fit my player style and I think it would have taken me many hours to get the resources to get it OR just buy it for a few £'s. That isn't accidental. That's by design. In Far Cry 3, I got a similar scaled weapon by just playing through the story.
My last comment would also be that if you aren't affected by micro transacitons then you aren't the target market. They are designed to go for the players that are susceptible to this. Fortnite is a great example. Free game that gives playes peer pressure amongst the community to spend more time and money to look better or engage more.
Re: Share Your Gaming Stats with Spotify-Esque PlayStation Wrap Up 2020
I can't get it work despite knowing that I have met all the criteria and having done it in separate years.
Headline figure - you played an AWFUL lot of Bloodborne, Ghost of Tsushima and Hollow Knight in 2020.
Re: PS Now Competitor Google Stadia Ceases Internal Game Development
@deathaxe Very true... though Google Pharma will probably last 1-2 years before being axed and leaving patients without medicine!
Re: PS Now Competitor Google Stadia Ceases Internal Game Development
I still maintain that Stadia was a good product, launched and maintained poorly. This will only limit the confidence in the product further, meaning its end is more inevitable.
Amazon Luna, on the other hand, if bundled with a better games model and launch, possibly tied to Prime has a far better chance to succeed.
Re: PS5 Stock Shortage Has UK Politicians Pushing for Online Bot Ban
@polljord Forgive me for saying but I'm not sure of the link between the two? I mean I agree that the handling of Covid is a disaster but I don't think anyone is saying that getting a PS5 is as big an issue or deserves a bigger outcry than Covid 19. I mean, an MP bringing this up is just daily government business that hasn't stopped because of Covid. It is just being reported and discussed by gamers because it is part of the hobby. There are huge injustices in the world that dwarf any consumer rights issues but (most) people are capable of being interested in one more point and sensing scale. By the same logic, climate change is going to risk far more lives than Covid over the next few decades so we shouldn't be making a fuss about Covid when we have that to deal with?
@deathaxe All very true - it's a shame and a lottery about what gets brought forward.
Re: PS5 Stock Shortage Has UK Politicians Pushing for Online Bot Ban
I mean we have consumer protection laws and this is a consumer protection issue when all is said and done. Essentially a consumer does not have an equal opportunity buy a product as someone that uses software to drive up demand by ensuring product unavailability.
Good news that this is taken seriously and I mean that genuinely.
Re: Have the Platinum Trophy in Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales? Sony May Email You with a Reward
I just received this in my emails today. NO idea what it is but YOINK.
Re: Sony Removed All the PS5 Target Dates from CES 2021 Trailer
Well two things at play - the real impact of the pandemic is now being felt as the disruption of the last year has really settled in, and the Cyberpunk fallout.
No one in the immediate future is going to launch a faulty game unless they really really have no choice.
Re: Talking Point: What Other PS5 Games Could Be Delayed Past 2021?
A shame but... you know, I would rather people stay safe and do the best work possible. There are still lots of great titles coming this year and I have a backlog bigger than an elephants... trunk.
Re: EA Will Keep Making Star Wars Games Despite End of Exclusive Deal
Well I quite liked Star Wars Squadrons...
Re: Bethesda Teases Indiana Jones Game, But Will It Come to PS5?
@deathaxe No they don't - Activision lost the game rights in 2014 I believe so they reverted to Marvel and Sony did a deal with Disney as part of the MCU movie rights to get a first party game out.
Disney have no problem licensing out exclusives - as others have said, there are several Disney games exclusive to certain platforms, such as the Marvel game that came out a year or so ago to Switch.
The point is that Disney don't really care - they get paid for the rights regardless of single or multi-plat.
Re: Bethesda Teases Indiana Jones Game, But Will It Come to PS5?
@deathaxe Except Spiderman PS4 and Miles Morales - Sony don't own the game rights to the character, they are still licensed by Disney.
Re: Bethesda Teases Indiana Jones Game, But Will It Come to PS5?
@get2sammyb One would hope not... it isn't really a seal of quality.
I suspect exclusive. Unless keeping it multi-plat was part of the licensing deal and Disney have no issue with content being platform exclusive.
Re: Soapbox: PS5 Backwards Compatibility Has Kept Me Glued to My Next-Gen Console
I am happy with my PS5 purchase. I've played through Spiderman Miles Morales and The Pathless, and have AC: Valhalla (gifted to me) and Demon's Souls to play as well as all my previous purchases to get through.
I also moved my PS4 up into my work office so play that when the TV is in use (playing Hollow Knight on it at the moment).
Re: Soapbox: I Think I Like Battle Passes, But They Do Stress Me Out a Bit
@SwitchVogel This is 100% my issue with them. They turn games a little into to do lists and are designed to get you coming back, whether you fee like you want to or not.
Re: Rejoice! Joe's Diner Has Gotten a PS5 Patch
I saw the headline picture and thought... AH HA so THIS is what that guy who broke into the Capitol building thinks he looks like (in his head).
Re: Poll: What Was the Best PS4 First-Party Exclusive of the Generation?
Bloodborne closely followed by God Of War
Re: Happy New Year from the Push Square Team
Happy New Year to you all as well (plus all fab PS regulars). I haven’t been as active of late due to a multitude of things but have enjoyed my visits and am excited for the next year of games and tings.
Re: Cyberpunk 2077 Aiming to Be a 'Playable, Stable Game without Glitches and Crashes'
I've seen so many comments about people stating, well PS4 and XB1 is old tech - this is holding the game back.
Probably true - so don't release on those consoles. Don't make it a massive focus of your marketing campaign. Admit the issues. Sigh.
Re: Reaction: Cyberpunk 2077 Debacle Proves Sony Needs a Better PS Store Refund Policy
@Kidfried Well there are two things to pull apart here - firstly from a crunch perspective, I think consumer rights and protection and the abuse at the studio aren't mutually exclusive - as in I never ever think it acceptable that workers have to crunch to make these made up release dates. I personally get annoyed when sites (even this one) ask for patches as soon as possible without considering the human cost of doing so. The game should not have been released and should not have been crunched this badly regardless of outcome.
However since it DID and the mgt made this decision, I think consumer rights now kick in. People have bought the game and yes, personal responsibility comes into it. However I'd state that we are outliers in the community. Those of us who are really into games could see the signs that reviews weren't out and all that but an average consumer who has been hyped for ages and been deliberately given no reason to think the game wouldn't be awesome might have ordered.
I think pre-order culture is a bad idea and I don't support it but I think if companies push it so hard, but given that this can happen, i think consumer protection is important.
Re: Reaction: Cyberpunk 2077 Debacle Proves Sony Needs a Better PS Store Refund Policy
I think a refund policy like Steam's is necessary on any digital store. I have been lucky with getting a refund before BUT it took a lot of effort (I unwittingly bought DLC for a US copy of a game that was incompatible - they refunded after I took photos of the game disc and sent it).
Should everyone be able to try before they buy? I think so. Sure there is a fine line between me spending an hour or so with a game and getting a refund coz I didnt like it and a game where there are unsolvable problems at launch.
Things are tough this year - some people no doubt bought Cyberpunk 2077 as gifts OR as their game for the christmas period. They have a right to get the money and spend it elsewhere.
Re: CD Projekt Red Apologises for Hiding Cyberpunk 2077 on Base PS4, Makes Refunds Widely Available
@mookysam Excellent point - I keep seeing statements in comments and in media stating they 'hope CDPR can get fixes out quickly'. What of the human cost to do that? These guys have been crunching for untold months.
Re: CD Projekt Red Apologises for Hiding Cyberpunk 2077 on Base PS4, Makes Refunds Widely Available
This apology is nice but ultimately meaningless as it skirts over the truth that they deliberately misled purchasers on day one.
This game was marketed for years as being a PS4 and XB1 game - the largest install base combined is the PS4 and XB1 console. This should have released before next gen consoles were a thing.
Ultimately they are stating that you will get an inferior product if you play on PS4 or XB1 and you'll never get it as good as higher end machines.
You could argue that this has always been the way with next gen games released on older machines except this has been marketed for those consoles. It should be running at an acceptable level on those consoles. Now the statement says you'll never get as good an experience on older hardware. Where was that in the marketing?
Re: Sony Processing Cyberpunk 2077 Refunds for PS5, PS4 Players
Will it eventually be a good game? Yes.
Did it launch in a state that is acceptable? No.
If you have a PS5 and it runs ok, great. However you will have paid the same price as someone who bought it for their base PS4 because it says it is a PS4 game.
Clearly they were in a financial state where they could not afford to launch and knowing that they deliberately withheld console copies for review and demanded reviewers signed up to unfavourable terms.
As consumers it is correct to ask for refunds and to return when the game is at an acceptable standard.
Re: Disco Elysium Greatly Expanded with New Quests on PS5, Runs at 4K 60FPS
This game is amazing and while I am not sure I want to play again because I felt my first playthrough was so unique to me, I loved what voice acting there was in the original release.
Re: Open Roads Is the Next Game From Gone Home, Tacoma Dev Fullbright
Both Gone Home and Tacoma were great so I will defo check this out.
Re: Poll: Is Cyberpunk 2077's Poor PS4 Performance Acceptable?
There are clearly core intrinsic issues with getting this to run on base consoles and I'm not surprised - it feels very much like the ambition outstripped the hardware. It looks, and I stress I haven't played but have seen a lot of posted footage etc, like playing on base consoles is going to give you a worse experience than playing on Pro and PS5 or PC of course. However, the price is the same.
The delays and the lack of console review versions are a good indication that this was known. The game itself is probably great but I do feel that launching a game at the same price with such issues across all platforms is a little disingenous and reviews etc. should reflect that.
Re: Gangs Are Raiding Lorries to Steal PS5 Stock
Fast & Furious 12 - PS5 Drift.
Re: Soapbox: The Conversation About Games Moves Too Quickly
It's to do with the internet age and the way the advertising market rolls on. Everyone needs engagement, everyone needs clicks or views and you tend to get that with news and hype for the next thing. Publishers pump a lot into getting people hyped, then media outlets push that hype to get views and we, the readers, also want to read the new thing.
There are some exceptions - some communities are large enough to keep topics and games alive (look at Dark Souls) beyond this period but ultimately, they'll all die pretty quickly. Sign of the times.
Re: Soapbox: I've Missed the Feeling of Having a Backlog
@hi_drnick Yeah and a lot of the games I see on my backlog are just huge so I know I'll never get through them.
Re: Sony Backs Single Player Gaming in Leaked PlayStation Documents
@Flaming_Kaiser Exactly - it also takes time to get into a MP game and develop your skills and levels etc.
@KippDynamite Good point - Sony benefit from anyone else who succeeds without the risk. Why would they need to?
Re: Soapbox: I've Missed the Feeling of Having a Backlog
I have a whopper of a backlog across multiple devices. Some times I love it - I just fancy something and wham, can play. Other times, I get stressed at having such a large backlog.
Re: Sony Backs Single Player Gaming in Leaked PlayStation Documents
@carlos82 Very good point about COD - you can't have a persistant online game and yearly iterations and not expect overlap.
@ShogunRok Thanks!
@NickTheGeek JINX!
Re: Sony Backs Single Player Gaming in Leaked PlayStation Documents
What the last generation has shown is that the market cannot sustain multiple online games that can bring in that revenue. If you dedicate your time to Warzone, you aren't playing Apex Legends and The Division 2 etc.
For every success story in the online space, there are far more fails. Revenue is not guaranteed.
A single player game can never reach the revenue of an online game like Fortnite or GTA V but it doesn't need to succeed in the same way.