Comments 858

Re: Rent-a-Girlfriend in New PS4 Visual Novel Inspired by Popular Manga

SuntannedDuck2

So now they are bringing out more of the big romcom IPs of the modern era to console and more wide world then JP only. FINALLY. It's junk food but I enjoy it in some ways.

The anime/manga compared to the other Rental Girlfriend manga that's more sweet and less all over the place as this Rent A Girlfriend series that's messy on purpose.

Still getting Sumi would be nice and her more less messy moments then the main series is wouldn't sell would it. But she will I assume be part of this game and all the other heroines.

Quintuplets was cool but Rent A Girlfriend wasn't even thinking of a game to be honest but not surprised due to the success/messy situations it's had of story the past few chapters and as weird but not as far as Domestic Girlfriend has.

I'm interested though, waiting on S3 Blu-rays, didn't even finish the S3 anime, need to. Heard manga goes weirder. I'm still interested.

Re: Preview: Ignore The Haters, Concord Is a Good PS5 Shooter We Can't Wait to Play More Of

SuntannedDuck2

Part 2:
I don't think the Guardians style is a bad thing, it's a bit annoying at this point the safeness creatively, but I think it offered an interesting ad, even if like many the gameplay ideas make me go uh just put it in a singleplayer game or a co-op game not a typical multiplayer game and not be that intriguing at all in the level design with bland map layouts or terrain to utilise them.

It has potential I just don't know how long it will have or if people are that interested in it. People can jump into story based stuff in Destiny as a group or typical multiplayer in the Crucible as well.

Like Destruction Allstars I didn't hate the idea, I just didn't think it would sell knowing the audience, and it was obvious why it wouldn't. I mean what audience cares about a vehicle arena game for teens? Even besides the price tag being low.

With the gap of many vehicle games and more realism and many of us racing gamers wanting more of the variety we used to get but people go what smoke trails in NFS as well as cell shaded characters as if 8th gen just went too safe and people forgot what creativity was like, what made them think a younger audience cares about a vehicle arena game not just because of exposure to games of those types but just the approach in general let alone skins, battles or general flow of gameplay. It was just obvious.

That's without going into me just being more gameplay focused and well audiences want other stuff, if the games flop I still buy them, did Balan, did Forspoken, Aveum, Babylon's Fall, Battleborn, probably others forgetting.

To me story/themes can be one thing but if gameplay sucks I'm going to dislike it. Resistance 2 I think is pretty average, it like Spiderman was to Sunset Overdrive made more safer gameplay decisions,

Resistance 2 is very COD like of gameplay so seeing a Dualshockers writer say they like it I was like sure they are open to their opinions but I was also thinking what makes that game good really? Other than maybe story if a particular angle, gameplay wise it's so trend following I didn't care for it (played & bought many 7th gen shooters on mechanics alone), still beat it but not my favourite, fair set pieces, but no weapon wheel.

Not as heightened fun as the others. 3 went as much Insomniac as they would a Ratchet, even if it was Ratchet like mechanics I'd still think yeah that's an Insomniac game if they added something else, but the weapon wheel like 1 was back & weapon leveling like Ratchet, made it a much more fun game.

Sunset had tower defence or particular challenges I felt more interested to master the mechanics. Spiderman had moments of that but to me while story was fine to me ground pound in 1 mission, the laser one was good and the lab puzzles were fun, the task master ones used things well.

To me it was a fine game but to me it wasn't really that fun to me. Infamous Second Son while the decision making part I felt was more gamey and dumbed down then the original with more interaction timed events for good/bad so kind of like the Mass Effect moments to either do good/bad and you either do it on accident as it shows up thinking a QTE attack prompt or know the game well enough to go yeah I want to do this and be this type of character. But the minigame like missions were fun to me, I didn't care it was yet in Seattle I had fun with the missions and that's what I bought it for. I didn't play Spiderman because it was Spiderman I'm not that simple.

Re: Preview: Ignore The Haters, Concord Is a Good PS5 Shooter We Can't Wait to Play More Of

SuntannedDuck2

I don't hate it, I am past games being trend chasers I know what games I am interested in, I see potential in multiplayer games IF they are interesting enough but I don't find they are as they trend chase but have really uncompelling aspects to the gameplay/level design part and more to the characters/abilities/business model part and more typical stuff.

People playing, I get, playing or footage first. Balance is fair but quality of life/gap closing it's very minor. Fighting games level design is boring to me, the rest is fine design.

Like racing, oh the licenses, yet the same safe modes. Give more exciting modes/mechanics not sell cars/same tracks/core game. Concord has 3 familiar modes, besides the story aspect or how the maps/core gameplay are it might be good, regardless of $40. If it does good I'll praise it, right now don't think much of it. Also 1 platform is hard ask for live service games.

Problem I feel is it trying to compete & how. I mean Foamstars I made up a bunch of solution game modes/aspects for mechanics, I didn't care for it, but I still gave my IF I did what it could do to be more interesting suggestions response. I watched footage, wasn't going to play it anyway but I thought it had a chance then went nah it's not that great.

It was business model first, 2 samey minor tweak modes live service. It could have stood out but was too lazy, too boring/safe on seasonal content (doesn't need crossovers but still something exciting to start off) & awkward use cases of mechanics with not that great of modes/maps. That's it's problem.

Splatoon is close to it but yet it's mechanics & the 'territories' focus not only pushed such a niche mode in other games more forward but it also has fair other modes, the core is fun to stealth, to reload & to fire. Simple as that. That & the solo mode for 2 was excellent.

It's not like I don't think Biomutant wasn't too safe for a AA, gas immunity cool, fair animal apocalypse, but animal moveset so basic making navigation boring (even besides ok missions/story), swap it for a human, sprinting/peeing on signs is nothing exciting of an animal character to play as. N64 games have better movesets. That & Little Kitty Big City and it's more about cat cuteness and Stray/Goose inspiration. Indie trend following, HMM.

Thought Titanfall 1 was a fair idea but like Anthem was it a good idea to mix story/multiplayer when some multiplayer gamers have a focus on the other aspects, not story in their multiplayer or boss introduction cutscenes happen instead but that's about it not really breaking the flow that much.

Those that want a story co-op experience I assume enjoy something like the Uncharted 3 the 5 co-op chapters or any other co-op type campaign game or something not typical multiplayer that's not the best flow for a game to have interruptions. Like sure you can have a story in an arcade game but some people want just a high score, short sessions mode type of flow to things.

It's like having story in a puzzle game you can but people usually want the more curated levels or a high score or just to play. Unless good balance of level gimmicks.

A fair attempt and I welcome them being a thing to try but they just don't fit in some cases. If Concord was more of a Diablo or others with a flow for co-op I'd say sure but it being more 5-5 and other multiplayer trends to me is just strange. Overwatch has it's story/ads separated from them the combined breaking the flow of the game sessions.

Re: Woo One of Six Beauties in Acclaimed Chinese Dating Sim Love Is All Around

SuntannedDuck2

@Zeroo More like Five Dates or Super Seducer (as western FMV dating game examples) I assume.

But with whatever Chinese flare.

5 Dates was on PS4 and was more date themed and the webcam choices things. They are pretty clean games. No idea if some topics maybe are saucy but the visuals are yes clean not graphic, it wouldn't be on console otherwise.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=5+dates+FMV+game+review

Any others I can think of that your referring to at least are more animated or cheap 3D model whatever scenario garbage or whatever eroge visual novels. I don't know enough or really care about many FMV related ones of that sort similar to this. That or whatever the bigger than Steam app for those sorts of games video I saw exists. Which is it's own thing entirely for that audience. Struggling to find that video (it is clean just about the business practices and companies behind it).

Re: Bite-Sized Ratchet & Clank Will Prove Size Matters on PS5, PS4

SuntannedDuck2

While 100% is not worth it (as someone not into NG+ for these games and just repeats levels 20+ times to grind bolts or does the challenges, why no ratchet arena till SAC, gadgebots puzzles were really well made, weapons and mods were fair, the races were ok but awkward to control at times, gadgets were cool and new, fair giant clank, the frame rate on Metalis bolt secret area always ran bad on PSP and PS2, but the skill points in SM are fair, SAC are worse and the key cards and shades symbols, glad I've gotten them but they aren't worth it, just weapon leveling for me to go, not doing the skill points).

2 & 3 trophies to me were hard but easy enough, other entries I just can't be bothered with the trophies. If the trophies for SM/SAC are as bad as can theorise pass. Already 100%ed Size Matters anyway. I'm good.

Hmm SM multiplayer, the treehouse and the crazy ideas of these PSP games are really cool, sure the aspects of characters are different but they make sense what they were going for and the mechanics and even getting bolts/secrets are really interesting in this game.

I enjoy the OG 4 but to me SM/SAC aren't bad by any means, it's like saying Mario Lost Levels is bad just because it's harder and throws off players different sure but still really good even if some parts are awkward in SM/SAC and are still PSP limited so pacing or other aspects do make them annoying at times.

Re: PS Store Sales Charts: GTA 5 Manages to Dethrone Elden Ring in Shadow of the Erdtree Release Month

SuntannedDuck2

Lack of creativity and nonsense is what it is. Emotional responses people have for their hobbies into a game. Like they have no creativity. I can come up with gameplay ideas from FOAM. That's even more devoid of something yet can have more ideas for it. They need better designers/out of the box thinkers in games and audiences need better brains for better products to be on shelves then the safest trash we see.

There is a reason I hate popular IPs is the more I look at them the safe mechanics and whatever familiar licenses of cars and actors and other attractive garbage is why we ended up in this mess with PS3/360 and PS4/Xbox One is garbage and safe concepts for idiots. I don't hate popular IP because they are popular I hate what they offer isn't exciting when the competition had way better. Or they too devolved into duller games with garbage story and garbage mechanic priorities too. Whoever was in charge was just too casual about it and let it happen because of their families and garbage priorities to let things of the creative process of the company happen for safer garbage execution.

I'll stick to buying up any retro gems, the odd AA/Indie that is worth my time of GAMEPLAY not the boring story and basic themes attempted/not enough gameplay depth kinds, the industry doesn't need my money. 2024 to me is so boring that only Indies interest me and they aren't out yet so retro game purchases it is currently. Not digital though. Not as much PS4/Xbox One pre-owned physical either, PS3/360/Wii/PS2 mostly.

Indies sure could but I mean they have (not all but certain areas) just as much safeness/nostalgia (how are they any different from AAA when they know how safe to make their games or inspiration and audiences eat it up because oh familiar and just familiar is good, no it isn't creative ripoffs/reliving games on modern platforms isn't GOOD) with nothing distinct to their games so they are just too heavily inspired or too ripoff-ish so why should I give them money.

Too many Indies good and boring come out so hard to support them all or only certain ones of interest anyway and waiting on those instead.

Re: PS Store Sales Charts: GTA 5 Manages to Dethrone Elden Ring in Shadow of the Erdtree Release Month

SuntannedDuck2

The GTA5 sales basically tell me this. Bots or new people or same people that owned a PS4 copy rebuying it because narrow vision of the SAME GAMES OVER AND OVER of GTA5, sports and COD/playing Fornite and skins (whether teens, or adults not just kids stealing their parent's credit card), safe game purchases and laziness to branch out to Indies or any other IPs. This is why the industry is in a messy state.

For any others however simply to understand, however fit of themes/concepts, however easy to play with others, get updates, MARKETED TO DEATH that they are. Casuals need things shoved in their fast or recognisable concepts in games/movies to care because research is too much effort but enough cat videos or drama is fine for them. They have no brains. Buying games that are hobby based I'm totally fine with of gardening, climbing, farming, city building creativity, I totally get that appeal. But anything outside the fair range of those and I just go yep safeness, same problem with mainstream anime, SAFENESS.

We hobbyist/hardcore/enthusiasts and so on appreciate the medium, most treat it as just as simple as an arcade/board game/movie or card game, something to pass the time, a joyride, a period of time to fill and whatever other mundane things to do and talk boringly about in their other times about nothing that goes on in a day.

It's why we get the same tropes is because people still fall for the same boring drama tropes or garbage emotional writing trash that makes me go why is this here it doesn't even approach the themes well enough, messages are repetitive and it's not worth it. Sure people grow up and so on but regardless of demographic the same garbage appears any demographic still. I'm so immune to at this point and emotionally sucking garbage that doesn't phase me I can't cry or feel anything for it.

To me GTA is 'fine' but controls horribly, eh themes of crime thriller aspects I've seen in better IPs, boring locations to set the games in, what is even going on characters I can't tolerate and the gameplay isn't exciting, but casuals LOVE no gameplay and just generic missions and walking around boring recognisable locations, the world is fine of a recreation and whatever satire but I don't play holiday destinations I play video games.

But the industry LOVES holiday destinations because casuals are pathetic and have no imagination and the developers are also just as pathetic of destinations or sights and inspirations. It's like how much of rock climbing do we need in games, you boring developers with no imagination get your hobbies out of your games and make them better of a purpose for that rock climbing or archaeology or whatever, make it MATTER not whatever hobby they love and have to have in digital form. What a boring inclusion by boring people.

Re: German Dev Piranha Bytes Latest Studio to Close Under Embracer

SuntannedDuck2

RIP Piranha Bytes. As janky as their games were they had a lot of charm and cool about them. So for their next game or whatever else unfortunate state of them.

Surprised that some AAs just don't have a publisher wanting to support them, why? Too ambitious? Too costly? No interest because they don't make trending safe games yet we see some European publishers just having awkward games repackaging being dodgey, as if I don't notice for some games physical Switch carts and Definitive editions but reselling them as digital codes.

Or whatever other reasons there are? Very unfortunate. Hope Piranha Bytes staff do well from this, forming new studios or finding other jobs. They will be remembered for sure.

The publisher also owning their IPs sigh, not surprised there either.

I assume Gothic remaster happened?

Re: Netflix's Horizon Zero Dawn TV Show Reportedly on Ice

SuntannedDuck2

Fair I guess. The game does a fair job telling what it needs to. Even the Monster Hunter animated movie was better than the live action.

To make the CGI for the dinosaurs or just the story work or whatever of casting or whatever TV show staff had in mind and make it THEIR own besides Sony/Guerilla staff guiding things I guess.

It's story is a good part of the games but yeah translating that world to TV I don't know it's a challenge but would have been impressive.

I think they just need the right people to make it happen just like Uncharted movie took years (even lined up after 4/Lost Legacy but PS5 versions came to work with them and yes Uncharted is bigger/been around long then Horizon but even still something has to be going on with Sony or others or whatever the TV staff think which seeing some gaming movies some are just weird half the ideas or execution they are going for when the games already present fair movie/tv like aspects already just with gameplay added.

Sure I don't care for that but I won't deny how well they do convert that or fit the movie/TV series inspirational details to a degree even I don't think some are that good but at the same time it's also the game part holding it's part then the other and I don't care for game stories usually anyways) when I mean if Treasure Buddies or others can come out why? Or was it the back and forth was the challenge of TV production staff and Sony/the devs thoughts on the execution? Anything is possible.

I don't care for the IP (know people that do) that much the gameplay bored me but it doesn't mean the IP isn't strong in some ways.

Re: Feature: Push Square Readers' 20 Most Anticipated PS5 Games for the Second Half of 2024

SuntannedDuck2

20. Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars (cool to have but not enough I know about them, not sure if care, may depends on the combat/general design, not a turn based/real time RPG person with typical RPG quests)
19. Ys X: Nordics (cool I guess, 9 was fine, not of interest to me)
18. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero (not an IP I care for)
17. Sonic X Shadow Generations (bought the original for cheap, feels weird to play, it's ok)
16. EA Sports College Football 25 (skip)
15. Visions of Mana (cool, not for me)
14. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (skip haven't cared for COD since BO3 co-op or better ideas in the past, got the older WW2 entries to play instead)
13. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (cool but not for me)
12. Life Is Strange: Double Exposure (cool but not for me)
11. Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake (cool but not for me)

10. The Plucky Squire (cool, not sure about it yet but good presence of ideas from what I remember)
9. Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 (wanting a decent not Indie/AAA historical shooter and a GOOD fantasy one yes please I care about this game, Aveum flopped even if was a fair game. I want Space Marine to succeed, will play the first one again as got stuck but really want to like it)
8. LEGO Horizon Adventures (could be cool, not interested, I like the idea of Horizon but never the gameplay, also sick of Lego games, also to me I'd rather Astro or others succeed then Sony allowing things like this because they can't get Ratchet/Sackboy to sell)
7. Metaphor: ReFantazio (cool but not my thing)
6. Dragon Age: The Veilguard (I appreciate the series but just can't get into them. I am on the sidelines cheering people on into it though I respect the series a lot and Bioware's survival)
5. Silent Hill 2 (cool but not my thing, I can stomach other horror games not this)
4. Assassin's Creed Shadows (not my thing)
3. Black Myth: Wukong (it's cool but not my thing)
2. Star Wars Outlaws (cool but not my thing)
1. Astro Bot (good to see, since the prior articles not surprised it deserves some high support I just never know it's THIS high of support).

To me Gori Cuddly Carnage, Steam World Heist 2, Akimbot or Space Marine 2 are more my thing this year, beside Astro of course, everything else is older years 9th gen or retro for older systems.

Playing Mario Rabbids (random pickup and halfway through it been binging it but taken a few days break) or Forza Motorsport 2 (again) right now.

Re: SEGA's New Crazy Taxi Game Is Open World and Multiplayer

SuntannedDuck2

It better have crazy missions or else just crazy driving isn't that exciting at least not these days. I appreciate arcade games or arcadey games with less arcade time limit/other differences.

Solo for me. MP pass.

It being realistic sure I mean the originals went for a more silly but stylised look I think or 'as realistic as could get for the time during Dreamcast, GameCube or PSP' but either way sure. Arcadey fun with realism isn't that bad.

Yes I have never played the series but have other Sega IPs (especially been curious for their other racing series to come back with fake cars not just Crazy Taxi), yes I don't know a lot about it other than the many entries or some clones or bits about Smashing Drive and it's cool GBA port.

I'm interested though and I've played other arcade racers but yes no Simpsons Road Rage or Crazy Taxi at all.

I am VERY open world picky with anything driving/racing or action adventure games. The movesets or the missions need to be compelling or that world isn't worth my time no matter the IP. There is a reason I found Spiderman (other than lab puzzles, laser, radar, ground pound missions or task master) boring & Gravity Rush/Sunset Overdrive/Infamous Second Son more compelling is movesets & missions design.

If the missions aren't 'good' and take advantage of the craziness or the world/character's capabilities and just some generic human, some generic car driving experience & isn't as good as Burnout Paradise (even then I didn't like Paradise but appreciate what it tried to do and the stunts/takedowns/races & more. I got lost/hated the open world roads of driving on that map over time & AI just being not fun or stunt point counts too high and struggling to find places to do any without the lower amounts being harsher with repeated stunts) translated Burnout well to open world then I'm just not interested, missions matter to me and the physics.

Same way events restrictions or event TYPES as in drift, touge (not been in games in years), hillclimbs, race, time trial, cones, soccer, potato, bomb (GT Club PSP for example soccer to bomb), stylish driving related (Project Gotham Racing), gates/barriers (or rings to drive through) to break for points (WRC 3 or Project Cars 3) or any others (different parts of the track to trigger things like Drive Club or say Blur/Split Second even besides the kart racer action elements but the objectives) matter to me in circuit racers & if the events suck I am not interested.

I mean stylish driving makes sense for different fares them just destination. Even Test Drive Unlimited 2 (not Solar Crown) has that with being careful to survive and keep the money amount high enough to reward yourself on the Point A-B.

So more objectives for different customer fares would make sense for Crazy Taxi then just 'go to this restaurant, mall/shopping centre'. As fair of the simplicity and arcade fun of the originals. IF that's what they are going for/modernisation.

Also online with nothing fun to do is just silly to justify a product.

Besides just the originals in the game (Like Yakuza has arcade cabinets to play some other Sega games).

Simple as that. It's more than just car licenses it's game design that matters to use such vehicles to make things more exciting on the track or on the streets/fields and worth playing.

I miss The Club/PGR type arcade style modernisation then just the many trends we see nowadays.

Re: PS5, PS4's New PS2 Emulator Fails to Pass Tech Test

SuntannedDuck2

Is unfortunate but didn't have high expectations either. Whelp PS2/PS3 still works so good there for the future.

Then again what gets offered. I don't assume Capcom will offer Under the Skin for them at all. Who knows what will be offered really, and the time and care better uploads to the service either and updates as they go/news to gain hype.

I was surprised Push Square put the PC/Android emulator options at all, but at also not wrong either, at the same time it is what audiences would compare that are deep into games or were already doing is original hardware or fan emulators and brave journalists willing to say whatever the case other than say archive type news sources like Time Extension part of this group of new sites.

I mean no one wanted to compare Mario 3D Allstars to fan emulators because getting on company good sides or to the originals when fans will go yeah nah better options even besides mods/PC port.

Re: PS5, PS4's New PS2 Emulator Fails to Pass Tech Test

SuntannedDuck2

@Flaming_Kaiser It has it's ergonomic differences but I mean it's people's fault for not knowing Impulse Triggers (rumble triggers of sorts) existed before HD Rumble and Haptics on the Xbox One controller since 2013 launch model controllers even if in so few games use it that I can tell (I own what 30 or so 1st/3rd party games for it then my 100+ PS4 library and that's my largest console library) same as the few that use the Touchpad as a touchpad for gestures or half buttons (4 quadrants on Vita) then a big Select button. Or scaling the vibration levels I came across in Azure Gunvolt collection for PS4, other games may do that I don't know. Besides the few that use gyro as well.

It wasn't just design changes again for the Xbox One controller, it did have a hardware feature upgrade just no one paid attention when they did it because of the start of the Xbox One launch people talked about more.

It works fine in Gears gun reload minigame to time it or Forza/Project Cars 3 for accel/brake guidance. Those are the only games I have experienced it in so far.

Other than that if the gyro in the next console controller happens sure it will be inline with Sony/Nintendo but otherwise it's still fairly caught up more than people realise but yes not as much as the other two because of lacking motion controls or as much vibration/haptics as the Dualsense or HD Rumble offer.

But to say it's the 'same' controller is inaccurate. For people that skipped the console I don't blame people but just saying as when playing multiplatform then 1 platform as all can afford or all of interest (makes sense) just jumping in the more I've experienced collecting for all 3 platforms to inform/point out politely.

Re: Poll: Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Essential Games for July 2024?

SuntannedDuck2

Among Us is well known or free or whatever cheap price. Any other Indie is more worth putting for the money. It's a fair game but I mean something different would be better.

Borderlands 3 people know if they want it or not and if getting around to it now by all means, even besides the eh writing it's fair gameplay improvements but prefer Tiny Tina.

Sports, it being Hockey aside even if it were EA FC or Madden or Golf or Boxing/Wrestling or whatever it's so low value or quality till the next one when if Sony REALLY tried they'd offer one of the arcade/fantasy ones by Indies as a better offer then the EA sim ones are these days

That or a party game or something else should have been offered but nope Sony and the casual crowd offering this month.

They are desperate and can't find any other offerings this month quite surprising, even a VR game is more worth it then Among Us or sim sports, what they have cycled through or other games haven't gone down in value/worth offering yet according to other publishers it seems. Hmm.

I don't even sub but I know people that do I just look out of curiosity.

Re: Sunset Overdrive PS5 Port Not Happening, Insomniac's Too 'Busy'

SuntannedDuck2

It's called get another studio to do it instead of Insomniac let alone they also can't VR because Sony doesn't want it (waste of their skills) and Marvel is all they are good for anymore apparently.

Why is giving it to another studio such hassle for Sony I don't get it. They didn't remaster the Ratchet games Idol Minds did or Mass Media for the Vita port. Or Idol Minds for Deadlocked port as well. Do they not do that anymore with other studios to make deals and hand over the source code/assets? Do they really want to do it themselves?

Cost makes total sense even besides finding a studio that can to it, but if they want to do it themselves why do that to themselves?

I get other studios are busy too but find one that can if possible. It's on Xbox One and PC as it is, is a PS5 port that difficult or other studios to ask to port are too busy/would take too long to find one at all?

I don't care either way I own it happily on Xbox One but for those that didn't experience it why is it that much trouble for them to port it is the cost too high that sounds more fair then 'were busy'.

Then again they made a garbage Ratchet 1 remake, Spiderman 2018 just wasn't my kind of open world anyway compared to Sunset Overdrive's design being more appealing and minigame playground fun in comparison besides all the similar Ratchet or Resistance 3 elements.

Rift Apart was the safest game they have ever made and was a disappointment to me at least.

To me besides Sunset Overdrive their last game I actually cared for beside Song of the Deep as an ok other project (and not played their VR titles) was Ratchet Crack in Time or Nexus. The last time they actually did anything dramatically different too then safe games and really eh ones since

(Sunset Overdrive does enough to make me WANT to play an open world because of the weapon leveling of Ratchet, tower defence then boring outposts of Spider-man (only cared for the lab puzzles and ground pound, radar and laser side missions, or task master ones, otherwise found the game incredibly boring and a fair story, but gameplay wise was very boring, up to last 3 villains fight, don't care to beat it)

and other games part of generic open world formats, and just better humour then I expected like Journey to the Savage Planet or others will fair humour as I first hated it for that then replayed it and loved it for the gameplay, while having actually fun environments and fun minigame like platforming side missions besides typical side missions).

Sunset Overdrive, ReCore and Rare Replay are the reasons I even keep an Xbox One around besides back compatibility, good media viewing menus for disks (apps for Soundcloud/CDs/Blu-rays to have as Sony has Spotify/DVD and Blu-ray but no CD or expansion app support which is fair) and the trashy Forza Motorsport 5-7. Most things on Xbox One for me are optional.

Even when I don't like a lot on PS4 either. Only a handful of games, may be my biggest library still don't like the PS4 games, but do the PS4 menu/folders over Xbox One oh that OS sucks.

Re: Round Up: Concord PS5 Previews Seem Torn on Sony's New Shooter

SuntannedDuck2

Yeah because Titanfall 1 or Anthem as a story/multiplayer combo was a good idea. They were at the time cool and new (and Anthem ended up that way because Bioware + EA multiplayer demands) but not nowadays too risky and most people want the in and out fun not a story.

The reason people play multiplayer is for the gameplay and to get what they want out of it.

If you want a multiplayer story shooter do a Strange Brigade or something else more suited to it, a more co-op story game not a competitive story game with whatever factions and nonsense. Even Planetside 2 doesn't do that I think.

Not Overwatch [cutscenes sure but not during the main game]/Destiny Crucible (than the regular game) I assume but also make that not work too well either in HOW they go about it of maps.

As far as the footage showed in the State of Play at least. I have no idea how it will actually be but it looks like a typical multiplayer with story talking over and that's not a good idea because who can follow it or cares.

I think they are wasting their time. There is trend following and putting a spin on things, but making that spin worth something is why I get disappointed in the game's industry doing stuff like this is because I think it's the wrong way to put a spin on things compared to other more viable ways instead.

Then again Foamstars had 2 modes and a buisness model. I had more ideas then it's base had so it shows they cared for money and not a good gameplay model because they didn't care. Neither did Diofield either with an eh story and the gameplay was pathetic when 2018's Valkyria Chronicles 4 has more depth even for it having less depth then 2010's original game in some areas.

Same as why Lucid wasted their time with Destruction Allstars and forget most people don't care for vehicle based games or vehicles that's why the racing genre and vehicular combat genre aren't doing well is the creativity is dead for them.

Making it 'modern' doesn't save it if the appeal of it's core isn't there for their intended target audience and an audience that would be fine with those types of games aren't compelled either because it's so disappointing.

Re: PS Plus Essential Games for July 2024 Announced

SuntannedDuck2

Among us seriously it's free do they need subs to PS+ that bad and go whelp young people or other trend focused adults join.

Borderlands 3 is fair but I think something else could be there.

Sports because why?They are worth nothing over time and most already bought it or will later so why even if benefits.

Sony is lazy to pick something else. They make their audience target clear here this month the Idiots.

I think a tactics game or arcade racer or something party or puzzle would do for variety. Not expecting a visual novel after all to slip in.

I buy only old arcade or racing annual nowadays because Sims suck this gen. Any arcade racer would be good to offer anti grav or kart racer or otherwise Indie ones.

But even an arcade fantasy sports game is better than major sports series.

Give people those.

I don't sub but an indie or other AAA would do but these, pass. I got Borderlands 3 already.

Re: Astro Bot PS5 Took 60 Developers Around Three Years to Make

SuntannedDuck2

@thefourfoldroot1 I wondered that too at times in the trailer what recycling was done, sometimes it's fine but other times and how much they do I do question it and would prefer more effort in new environments or bosses/stages to them or enemy types that aren't reskins, recycled animations or stages either.

With the many AAs of PS2 I've played or others I see recycling aspects sometimes I can give it a pass but in others I can't and AAA or not some things need enough distinction texture recycling or other assets/level design, minigames, movesets, etc.

That or reusing areas saying 'there is a mission here' and me just facepalming going great we really need more than that recycling extent in some games. Backtracking I don't mind but story wise later or keeping a key moment again is just not good design and can devalue the experience. Let alone a remade level being worse than the original either even if recontextualised what's happening in it and some parts being cut down and less exciting even if to show time has past or a different region of the same labelled area or a few parts crossover.

Re: Astro Bot PS5 Took 60 Developers Around Three Years to Make

SuntannedDuck2

@Max_the_German It's very much a sign of possibilities but industry changing nope as much as we wish it would it won't change anything.

Even ones that have or could didn't change anything either for other genres or studios success to prove things. The state of things will still keep happening but stories and teams showing it's possible will still be proving what could and can happen.

Re: Astro Bot PS5 Took 60 Developers Around Three Years to Make

SuntannedDuck2

@Archius9 Would be nice but I think it's good enough for it being focused as it is for one player at the moment. Maybe a two player update. Maybe a two player game later.

But yeah co-op platformers besides Sackboy or It Takes Two or others yeah not that common these days. More common in the older era or other genres a co-op campaign mode and sigh online then offline co-op more so. That and being more than just a Mario game with a cursor too.

Re: Astro Bot PS5 Took 60 Developers Around Three Years to Make

SuntannedDuck2

Great to hear just like the past, fewer devs, more controlled management and engagement from staff, smaller game in this case then a Song of the Deep type Spyro scale team for a Metroidvania AAA or however much for Pentiment.

The rare moments we see it happen are always nice to see to fill in gaps or just sometimes in my case are the console buying type games then the other bigger titles but it varies for each person.

Hardcore sales I can't wait for it to do well, for more than that for casual families/kids I don't know but maybe. But for hardcore players and their families I can't wait for this to sell well or others that still love a good platformer or good family friendly game and enjoying their inter child gaming experience again years later.

Let alone COD PS3 era at 200 and fair ideas at the time whatever the case of management Activision had to 300+ employees and many studios than just the 2 doing their thing prior and worse results as well. Then again EA treating NFS or others to milk was just as bad let alone other studio deaths of the 90s/00s they offered.

Says a lot really. It's not just because it's a platformer and may not require much (I mean many games of Spyro Reignited, Ratchet, Sonic all require a fair bit for sure with the right effort put in of personality, polish and ideas in mind) it's that they had the better effort put into the game, regardless of artstyle, good attention to detail the many PlayStation references or Astro related world elements that are charming.

They made it in a shorter time and it shows with many signs in the trailers and in articles like this with how they manage their business and budget correctly and control things much better no matter their skills and coordination.

Something many studios and publishers could take notes from cough cough.

Re: UK Video Game Retailer GAME Will Reportedly Stop Stocking Video Games

SuntannedDuck2

Seeing as many in my own country for just swap meets or certain retailers too regardless of the state of GAME or CEX or others in the UK it's sad to see how much things are changing around the world of physical. Some of us will keep going but if only collectors I am not sure. The physical experience is just so good to find gems or any major games I want. Not digital only. I don't find it convenient at all let alone appealing. I get more enthusiasm for physical. Sure the drive/bus trip there but otherwise that's nothing compared to the experience of going there all the time.

A digital store/app isn't as fun as exploring what I want when most of these digital options the searching sucks, you don't always find anything that great even if more are digital and besides the constant advertising compared to physical when you can ignore most of it anyway let alone better prices physical then very much still waiting a while to be good enough discounts on digital. Physical any day even for how bad the prices are then USD prices I have to deal with.

Well more AU/EU to keep looking forward to of physical releases for how long left it has I guess. Not collectors edition only releases I don't want that future because of how I shop.

Then again if we see more digital code physical then those companies can get what's coming to them no purchase. They choose to not handle the multiplayer download or the Japanese audio or enough balancing of game bundles. That's on them for being lazy not for me to accept their laziness.

There is a reason I only bought Drawn to Life physical digital code on Switch, I wasn't getting it on mobile or PC. Major IPs I couldn't care less niche games sure I want that physical because of how particular and unique case of release they are over a digital purchase. I wasn't buying Gear Club Unlimited 2 that way I got the definitive edition all on one card and the standard edition with the Porsche DLC code and never used that code at all. Codes like that I don't mind for DLC or themes. Otherwise pass. Bundling 3 games and 1 on the card or part of pass.

Also Spyro reignited 1st on the disk Activision can get stuffed for that.

Any other old games wanting digital codes because they think they won't sell with a cart that's on them.

Re: Poll: Can a Game's Brutal Difficulty Put You Off Playing It?

SuntannedDuck2

Because I play all genres or platformers that had enough of all genres I got used to many others making it easier. I make the effort to dive in and understand them no matter how awkward or foreign many like hack n slashes/tactics are my new favourite genres.

Like when I find a new music genre/style I try to understand it, I find the ones I like and get a sense of the artist or the genre.

Re: Poll: Can a Game's Brutal Difficulty Put You Off Playing It?

SuntannedDuck2

Depends/kind of depends on the challenge/what the game offers, what era of gaming it is as well, what genre expectations or the studio's typical games are like of challenge or just some parts are just awkward as many PS1-3 titles can vary.

PS2/PS1/PSP I don't mind the experimental & awkward design because they don't always have difficulty settings, with current ones (certain PS3/Vita but obviously PS4/5 era (PS4 for me) as usually pretty typical of easy these days but some exceptions come up such as some racing or souls (or Indies mimicking old gen design or overlooking aspects and sometimes problems that should be solved not replicated that much of inspiration besides their good old school core design), the level/game design as awkward was more exciting and fair of trying to refine itself.

Nowadays the difficulty to me I just put it low or if it's pro level like Ride 4 or MotoGP16/assuming others are too hard on very easy (the rally/dirt bike opponents are easy, the MotoGP riders AI is way too hard that's how I know because that game has those 3 types of gameplay and I enjoy the Ride series it was easy to work out the differences), many of Ride 3 and older were fine I'm buying up the PS3/360 era ones currently and are easy.

Some of GT Sport's F1 or endurance races sucked but the rest was fairly balanced of AI or time trial goal times. So if 90% was playable that's fine by me. But still sucks as when GT3-6 has different AI/time trials I find them still playable other than the S-6 GT6 license test being too hard for me to even Bronze not Gold like other players say of it being challenging. XD

Not just AI/pitting & easy in GT3 & 4 besides GT5 and 6 having awful tire physics even worse I find then the Forza Motorsport 2 or 3 & 4 era feel of cars for mid game events. Or endurance in those games in GT Sport to me those events (2 F1 style and what 4 endurance so 6 all up and varied of races and regardless of cars from a Porsche Race Car to others made no differences of One Make not otherwise) were just unplayable from the starting line.

Soulslike don't interest me. For those that want them that's totally fine I respect niches for sure I like many niches continuing on in their own way. But the challenge is ok I just get lazy or bored with the way they want to offer the challenge/combat so in a way it is on me with the stamina and enemy patterns.

Ninja Gaiden 2 was hard too of enemy patterns and laziness to deal with the first boss in level 2 of that game but most other hack n slash/character action games are still playable enough for me besides their difficulty on Normal, anything higher and I can't do it. Darksiders 2 highest difficulty run was ok but I got sick of doing that, beat the game on Normal anyway. I no interest in difficulty trophies, never play on Hard+ (doing well with Valkyrie Elysium as started the demo on hard & gotten through it well, Wanted Dead on Normal kicks my butt so I have to start it again) and to me if the Normal mode is too hard that's a sign.

To me I play enough of PS2/3/4 era titles and current gen on PS4 (equivalents on Nintendo and Xbox) to get an idea how difficulty, design in the games/studio or genres are these days. PS1/PSP control schemes don't bother me either.

Depends on the game, the era, the extent they are aiming for of eh QTE I sometimes can pass. Other times just odd segments, odd movesets that while fun are still better than boring current gen.

Re: Rumour: Sony's Still Working on PS3 Emulation for PS5

SuntannedDuck2

This rumour will keep going. When is Vita support going to PS5 even? Never likely sigh Is the PS5 capable yes, will they because moving it to PS6 or otherwise complexities with games/the emulation. I don't think they want to. They won't contact the RSPCS3 team either. That team does amazing amounts of effort with the project but they are the only ones willing, other platforms people want to make emulators for instead & major companies can replicate with ease.

As good as PS3 is if Sega cared about Binary Domain (I enjoy it too as buying up many shooters from 7th gen PS3/360/Wii) as much as many of us do they would have ported it. Same with many of the major third parties shooters east or west instead of the handful we saw in PS4 and have PS5.

Sony does make more money from games they can remaster/remake. Most of the IPs they cared or can went to PS4 or PS5 already. PS2/PSP/PS1 they treat like Nintendo does NES/SNES/N64 regardless of the prices they are old enough for nostalgia & regardless of price value. Complexity like Saturn and interest is clear.

Gamecube as remasters then emulation while Wii U well it had a Wii inside it so it wasn't that hard to do while GameCube they didn't want to scale it. Same with GBA the Ambassador program on 3DS they didn't want to emulate it on the chips just do virtualisation (Win XP fake using the same hardware & booting the OS to simulating it not hardware that's more powerful to pretend to be weaker hardware) instead.

Has the nostalgia for PS3/360/Wii happened yet? As PS2/Xbox/GameCube/Dreamcast has? I don't even care about nostalgia I just pick up what seems interesting to me regardless of price and wait it out if too high.

If people want CIB that's on you but I don't seek them & still end up with the CIB manual, disk & maybe no advertising, all of it, or just the disk/artwork/after market case. I'm happy I care more about the disk then I do CIB and that's why people complain about the price, who reads the manual. If the disk works then sure.

But not everything is going to be scratch free. Anybody wanting that wants the same quality of a fresh disk but that's not how things go and that's unrealistic. I had Wolfenstein 2009 not work, eh The Darkness 2 1st level that's it, but for the most part PS3 lasts well, not working was usually PS2 or 360.

My results have been pretty good so far can't say for others and where they shop & the differences. Then again I had no issues with EB games when they still offered PS3/360/Wii U/DS in 2017-2020 cut off and now just 3DS, Switch, PS4/Xbox One/PS5/Series only now.

Those left behind IPs they don't care about so why bother buy a PS3/360/Wii instead. I know having a Wii makes it possible to do what major third parties won't of games to Switch or even PC/VR of any kind either. Let alone their own subscription services on PC/PS4/Xbox One and PS5/Series.

The PS3 era titles studios that want to support already offer with streaming even if streaming is limited to Premium and not available for Deluxe tier regions/countries.

Get a PS3 they aren't that hard to get at least where I shop they haven't been that pricey, can't say for other regions/countries the games from 2017+ and Super Slim I got 2023 have been cheap enough to go by. Not always ebay/Price charting or other sources.

Re: Sony Is Allegedly Pulling PSVR2 Funding, Report Claims

SuntannedDuck2

I love ambitious things yet audiences don't or it's too expensive for any tech to do anything new or evolve let alone games to offer when Devs won't bother either. Experimentation is dead of PS2 era. PS3 safeness and the design we have seen for PS4/5 gen of hardware and game design has taken a dive. So hardware like this won't be pushed unless it's cheap or has an application of us in or outside gaming.

Not surprised Nintendo hasn't bothered they know it won't take offer yet and yet even besides that I'm sick of phones or anything taking 10+ years to do anything because of prices or audiences being so slow to adopt it. Companies can't make anything anymore that's ambitious. It's why phones also suck.

Social convenience or Miiverse/Xbox social features but anything actually exciting nope goodbye any of those moments. I blame audiences. Not just companies with sometimes awkward approaches or ad garbage forcing down our throats.


Responding to quote with deeper details on Gameranx or others articles that Push Square, VGChartz and others don't dive further into.

Better ideas of Master System 3D with arcade games with 3D like aspects aka making it more than just racing and shoot em ups as NES/Famicom did. That person is saying the same as NES 3D so I find it a load of garbage.

Yes 3D and VR are different but same point can be made. If Sega got Genesis VR or Atari Jaguar VR besides Nintendo Virtual Boy or the Vectrex also had it's limits too of Vectors besides time it came out may have gotten it with effort yet we hear excuses from VR Devs being just as unimaginative or ambitious with the tech or saying it can't be done what of safe games, safe camera or other design work around that then.

Just state the truth they can't be bothered and want other things and aren't creative enough to do it because games are as generic as they are and these same people making the same mistakes in VR and under ambitious. They just don't care to find a solution not just sales.

Re: Sony Is Allegedly Pulling PSVR2 Funding, Report Claims

SuntannedDuck2

Only works in first person uh not every VR game that's good is a racing or cockpit style game they are third person cameras. Better developers right harder. It's how we got third person in the first place. Sigh. Any idiot knows they can put a camera in third person games as such and have the character move around so the player is a camera not the lack of 1st person with less of the character model. We don't need everything for VR to be overly immersive just because they don't have the skill, imagination or brain power to devise such solutions and only see what they want or THINK audiences will accept or only think on basic real terms, it's a video game think outside the box you idiots. It's software, many things can be worked around if they think hard enough no matter how cryptic or archaic. It took how long for analogue sticks to get used to, same with motion/rumble handhelds or consoles. Same with 3D TV or 3D cameras or backgrounds with 2D games. Also good examples of many things tried but nowadays people are too stupid and think real logic when making games and I'm like but movies/tv series have dramatised or romantised worlds no problem and it still works. How can games not be treated the same way? It's it's own world with it's own rules to create not recreating the real ones because they can't think outside the box. Idiots with no creativity or no effort to try hard enough.

When they adapt and put effort into many other solutions if they tried hard enough in their games. I get even SNES or PS2 eras had awkward things about them but they also had a lot of good mix in with the awkward not just oh we4 only do that same we have seen 8th gen be is boring movesets so standardised and boring I went back to old gen because the experimental touches don't actually bother me and because what was tried is gone because the studios went too realistic and too brain dead to try and find GAMEY solutions not real solutions. I swear some people aren't creative enough to go beyond to find a solution and it annoys me a lot.

They work well enough if approached the right way like Astro or Moss. Any idiot with a brain can find the solutions. The same way making sure the arms for core mechanics translate well instead of over using the hardware for bad motion controls when they worked fine in the past but they go oh we can do more yet bad Wii motion comes in when good ones with better balance can make VR games possible. Stop the whole pull to reload or pull off back a weapon and the tracking being garbage. Just keep it simple. How hard is that. Idiots over engineering software solutions to things I swear.

Re: Sony Is Allegedly Pulling PSVR2 Funding, Report Claims

SuntannedDuck2

The other sources I've seen with more details are a joke. Tangent
https://gameranx.com/updates/id/501928/article/rumor-sony-making-deep-cuts-to-funding-for-psvr-2-games/ (the additions here are great to just show how lacking of execution they are besides budgets and reference or experimentation)

Insomniac having VR experience what a waste they weren't used for it and instead Marvel games. Why?

Even then London or others why not?

If they can offer Dioramas or better third person cameras almost like walking a dog of floating and not having to be human just any sort of objects/other being or just a camera or other things for how a camera can act and can't perform it they are useless.

If their tools suck why not just make their own or make plugins on existing ones. Make tweaks where it counts. Actually think about the situations the player is in, ignore reality and actually think while avoiding the nausea and still make it safe not overly crazy. Not everything has to be REAL. People get nausea from just awkward lighting or set pieces outside of VR, as if that wasn't obvious in other games of old.

They can add VR modes they are lazy. Third person games can work as if Astro, Tethered or Townmen VR which has bad controls but is a city builder those 2 games besides Astro being a platformer making the camera a focus with the platforming then why are these idiots saying third person can't work.

Make the view of the camera/screen and view of the world if like i've seen how Minecraft of view to load besides the actual generation (but not visually in view because of detail and the depth of that vision and interaction the player will do that the game can't predict till the player moves or interacts) or some others may do it work well enough. Stop with garbage visuals pushing of the hardware and make the camera work to view things well, avoid nausea and have good enough mechanics not realism level nonsense no one asked for because they aren't creative enough to think outside the box. I've played many experimental, shovelware or reasonable that still get the job done. Why can't they do it. That's from current gen and old gens but mostly old gens when we had better experimentation regardless of sales.

The history learned from GDC Wii/Move is just not in their minds because they are stupid. Gaming even in the experimental field is dead because they can't think things up better for how to go nuts and branch out of design at all, treat it as new, actually think about what to problem, solve and play in the worlds without realistic rules at first because nowadays real rules make things as boring as they are not just for oh nausea level crazy either, have eh budgets because of the risk and yet we get bad games and bad experimental ones because things are too safe nowadays. What a sad state of the world. Imagination in gaming is dead for some studios or people. Some studios can still pull it offer but others just can't. They can code/animate probably well enough of skilled or not but they don't have creativity at all and it's like how did you even get here.

It's like with eh stories, too much family/emotional garbage to get some pathetic reaction out of a player/viewer when I came for a video game. Give me a video game not some garbage fan fiction wannabe movie trash.

Re: Sony Is Allegedly Pulling PSVR2 Funding, Report Claims

SuntannedDuck2

I think while the pricing was high for console standards not other VR standards as many are higher priced then PSVR2 but not as cheap as others more underpowered headsets. It's a submarket but the efforts made in it haven't been very good either.

Prices or games, the ambition like Remote Play was it taking 10+ years is just annoying to me we have to wait that long or another attempt like 3D 3 times in movies and gaming. Or still given up.

They couldn't be as cheap as Move/Eye Toy because of the complexity VR offers and in comparison to PC VR with different options, the portable or PC cable of Meta's headsets and more the range of VR shows when people want particular IPs or support that appeals, the price is lower then others but not for console audiences or just the PS5 price in parts of the world and only certain stores discounts of the console I don't know about the headset.

if we had VR applications sure it may go the way of Kinect and reused use cases, I mean HoloLens or others fit for business only use cases well. Kinect got used well in other ways then gaming.

If we got more VR modes or smaller games even then sure but if very few were offered, ports were offered of course I'm aware of that, the adaptor for PS5 was there of PSVR1, the tech had to evolve to what the others did not stay as the light tracking of PSVR1 forever it couldn't. Sure they could try to make PSVR1 work on PS5 games but it was tied to PS4 for a reason not just to upgrade but the APIs and tech I assume very heavily.

Control schemes weren't better pushed too far and too Wii 2006 bad again of look realism but are too clunky and over compensating then balance of buttons/motion uses then the learning done by Wii 2009 of some games back then. Some Wii/Move games made it easy to understand VR besides the differences and see how far devs are incorrectly pushing the tech. Pushing immersion, people just treating it as a party trick with some experience games anyway. The nausea and people not getting used to it which I'm surprised is that hard to convince.

But Indies were struggling then yeah its unfortunate. They didn't want to contribute third parties and when it was Meta they went nah not good enough sales what do they expect mobile phone sales numbers the idiots have high expectations of sales. Vita got more games in it's 3-4 1st party contribution besides the Japanese third parties doing a great job besides Indies offerings for 10 years.

But VR is very different so not surprised. It's unfortunate but audiences to me also have been the issue I find for just games in general I find many I'm excited for flop. Partly it's because I seek other things in games but makes it hard to support something if full price or little support makes no difference with 1 person.

Re: Sony Is Allegedly Pulling PSVR2 Funding, Report Claims

SuntannedDuck2

Well if major third parties don't care aka like Vita the right idiots without mobile as an excuse this time.

Own but worry & PC use. Google like effort, high sales in era of generic audiences/bad 3rd parties. 10+ years for a worse then Vita remote play also a joke & then audiences jump on, sigh players.

So much for Sky Dance/others at State of Play. Ubisoft & Red Steel 2 VR where is it you cowards. Brief VR modes in games even? Sigh.

Indies struggling with PSVR2, small marketing, Sony wants to push experiences & tech yet barely cares. Vita was a great platform they just don't try & expect dumb western third parties care.

They expect niches to be big when they can't. Sad no smaller games, eh efforts with hardware but don't support. PC VR sure, their fault & devs not putting the effort in, audiences not buying it with unrealistic price/quality expectations.

Also garbage control schemes (they ignore their GDC/past history and start from scratch it's infuriating the idiots , newcomers or veterans to VR/motion , No Man's Sky backtracking it's control scheme is a joke,

If GT7 wasn't a garbage campaign I'd do the same thing I did with GT5 & 6 replay them in 3D. Got new batteries for the glasses and the 3D TV hooked up still.

Horizon was ok not great just Robinson the journey with some tweaks.

Star Wars had bad reload animations & connections for motion pushing the tech too far and going immersion when I know how far the tech for motion has gone or the Devs brains not far of intelligent design to suit it idiots.

Cosmic Smash is cool but a Dreamcast IP reworked in a good way, yet most don't know about it or care. I found out about it the day before the VR version. I think VR improves it a lot.

RE8 & GT7 aren't enough and some people are very eh on old games, or content handling let alone whatever else Vita/Wii U were too soon but VR/Switch weren't but not many wanted to contribute to VR this time forget hardware of Devs and publishers won't bother or audiences.

I can pick out many Wii U eshop games let alone future ideas for ifhr hardware &vaudiences couldn't care less because who wants out of the box or small fun or hardware craziness a small audience.

Most people are typical, boring & Devs are safe at this point, some staff aren't capable yet, others don't have time, meetings go however they end up, publishers want what they want/execs. The gaming industry is trash.

Baby steps to setting/game design branching out has been slow, those games flop due to audiences sucking due to other priorities. Whelp $20 support from me not $100 or $70.

This is why I go retro but try to support new ideas when I can or think up different ideas audiences won't, Devs won't push them their too business model & safe IPs or design of garbage worlds eh themes with game design the point of the medium is dying when that's what makes it good, stand out, the worlds/business models better fun).

If Wii/Move had more motion & button balance when VR wants to be real aka Wii 2006 bad again when too soon. I'm sick of this realism like control scheme garbage when the tech isn't there yet nor FUN. Visuals yet video game clunkiness.

Developers or audiences feel like boring adults, oh forget imagination, putting actual effort in to games kiddo time to be boring, especially so with game design these days. Even experimental platforms like VR boring prioritising, they found a way.

The future of gaming is bad.

Re: Round Up: We're All Sleeping on Capcom's Kunitsu-Gami, as Super Positive Previews Drop

SuntannedDuck2

Maybe heard of it but barely know anything about it. Hope it does well not really fussed.

To me it seems like Onimusha but not the same problems Exorpimal has, something else then what people want and also better design of the past too likely.

They can try new but want to without the good attributes and those licenses or expectations why do they waste players time?

Too many blend together, it doesn't have the same exciting appeal of other niche Capcom IPs and I barely care for their big IPs. Tried a few and they are ok not really my thing.

Re: Ex-Sony Boss Shawn Layden Explains How to Make Games Faster, Cheaper

SuntannedDuck2

@Callmegil The Capcom poll results (gameplay, then characters looking appealing, story, graphics and others underneath) say one thing (and people that are in the know about games) and the actions/other results we don't see from other companies audiences and what games they value more in the ways they value them is telling of those that vocally or act on gameplay, characters, story, visuals and just value for money no matter how trash the content is (may be different in their eyes or just the safe range of games they play let alone the 8/10+ logic as well and 7/10 and below treatment is just sad).

Give me a AA that tries then an 8/10 AAA that priorities other things to get that score.

Or just singleplayer/multiplayer and judge all games as the same when not all are an open world or RPGs or multiplayer skin grinding shooters but they want their money's worth even if a series is consistent of hour count for those games or the genre and people skip the differences and different content handling but people see it differently. It says a lot really about people's priorities.

Let alone looks AAA is AA or Indie and because visuals look good and don't understand the budget/staff size or skill they judge it unfairly as well. Says a lot. Then again some gamers don't always understand the details of what goes into development and why meetings, why things get cut, what we look at in prototypes and so on just what they seek in a game, it coming out, as fast as possible and moving on anyways rather than those that savior it, analyse it and respect it.

Re: Ex-Sony Boss Shawn Layden Explains How to Make Games Faster, Cheaper

SuntannedDuck2

@get2sammyb Part 2

I do treat differently games & genres, studios quality/budget (respectfully do my research or go in blind but still go oh this many staff or first game or what I may seek).

"hours don't = the same for each game" as that's just not suitable. If people play only open worlds, RPGs/multiplayer shooters/sports/racing for their hour counts & don't care about the quality in some ways that's on them.

Previous year's games prices change, if people don't see them & have fewer games they seek out while many of us have plenty to play from any year. Having the latest.

People that want the value in the quality, no padding are very different to those wanting anything to last. They notice the Indies, know quality, notice budgets/staff count/vision, hour count, quality content, familiar/different stand out game design. Context while also an audience that watches the prices and discounts. While also not being the types to want a 100 hour game or a bad reputation game for $1 or something unreasonable because that's also a blown out of proportion logic as silly & exaggerated.

I don't find 20+ hours games fun the padding is noticeable of the open world missions as many tropes and design are clear by this point even if first time, 100th time or footage browsing to understand them or the linear but still lengthy grind or a good balance of enemies, combat, exploration (if paths or not for secrets or just simple ammo/collectibles of other worth) puzzles.

Linear games going for of story or the gameplay being so basic which many safe these days, 8th gen is why I went backwards/collected more or as strict of current gen as it is because the gameplay isn't satisfying, the movesets aren't appealing & story is pushed yet not entertaining (varies from game to game).

Foamstars were so easy to nitpick and offer modes (multiplayer example even if didn't play it observed) but they wanted business model over game design to justify it (then again many Square published games from 2022 didn't impress me either Diofield was worse than Valkyria Chronicles 4 a 2018 game in depth & priorities of gameplay/story).

Biomutant to me I went what's with the movesets for the animals being less exciting then an N64 game, where is the moveset depth of digging, swimming or flight or something else. They have gas immunity but no ability depth. They think their setting and typical dungeons is enough, it's not. The world design and visual spectacle isn't enough.

Spiderman to me was just puzzles and 3 side missions the rest was just formulaic open world design I found boring besides the passable story. Why because Sunset Overdrive had a more playground open world design and tower defense then outposts. To me they went backwards.

Racing games have long lengths, certain ones yet the events are boring, cars use cases aren't existing & we get updates that aren't worth it because what you do with the cars isn't fun. Just offering characters isn't fun. Progression sucks, sell us the same cars and yet the tracks/event types or restrictions to offer good progression isn't offered.

Lasting two weeks/a month is fair if people want a lengthy open world game, but I think some people binge a game too much/have the same values, not all are RPGs?

Not all singleplayer games have to match multiplayer hours either. Money value/quality/entertainment lasting, multiplayer/solo audience and how people treat games.

Re: Ex-Sony Boss Shawn Layden Explains How to Make Games Faster, Cheaper

SuntannedDuck2

@get2sammyb Some people want their value for money and that's fair. Some of us just want the quality not the quantity and padding but it depends on the purpose and the person. No game can be that much quality & last a year because not viable.

Small audiences aren't much sales but over time they are? Sandbox/Vib Ribbon music to level/level editors in games are infinitely replayable. Selling GPUs/marketing terms.

Not everyone wants a 8-15 minute song & complains most are 3 minutes commonly? They want value in the song don't they? I enjoy some 8 minute songs. Games they value it differently. Ratchet was consistent 10-12 hours yet gets judged similarly by other audiences yet not by us that usually know they were that long but the content handling is different not 18 planets or similar level of bonus content skill points and other things but fewer levels but length/other aspects were offered instead. Different perception of us 20-50+ year olds yet my perception is the same as when I was kid not changed like others.

Seen the videos on worse graphics & make if shorter games. I agree with them to a degree. Sure I'm buying up old games so the prices differ a lot & the demand for them differs but I understand the then, now, & have a better perspective of current/prior. I judge games, I think of ideas for why some games could use some when they lack because other priorities.

Yeah I do buy games at $28 AUD 1 year later wait (vary of $80 on Switch to $100-120 PS5/Series & I buy PS4/Xbox One & older not 9th gen consoles), sometimes bit more, sometimes bit less, varies. $50 USB games in 7th gen & for solo campaigns less then 20 hours for some games yet 8th gen+ people want more hours? Money, time & things in the world happening makes sense. Besides the yes certain N64 games were just as expensive as games today.

So people that were fine with small hour counts in singleplayer games (fair hours in multiplayer as progression design took off, I assume player's expectations are too high in some cases), understood the quality and effort put in and with less games of some budgets as studios get cut and staff move into other studios or form new ones or whatever and many Indies games of some good ideas, some nostalgic & overly rip off safe vary. But while more games come out many of a certain quality haven't yet people want more hours? Strange.

I get something lasting a long time due to the situations in the world (or other countries currency value/consoles pricing) but do they really want anything no matter how trashy to still be a 3 hour movie let alone a 100 hour game? Do they watch for quality at all? Depends what they value of course in dialogue/visuals & for me gameplay wise most of them don't meet that.

Do they have to have everything new and now/FOMO. When they can wait for a discount, can play it next year even (waited, played retro, played year prior too), not have a warped so cheap it's dirt cheap mentality either and have to experience it? Having 1 game counts, how many want probably 10 to be a thing this year to call it a good year. Or do for a console purchase. or things to look up in some areas.

But at the same time if I know a game is short it varies, if I know what type of content in what series or new game it is & I think the balance of content is worth it. Sure 60 hour tactics games (know the series), or flops Balan/Aveum, etc. that 1 sale wouldn't save them anyways.

Re: Indie Gem Pepper Grinder Confirmed for PS5 and PS4, Out in August

SuntannedDuck2

Looks good for once. Most Indies I go eh what sets this apart, not a lot, eh movesets, eh level design, heavily inspired so don't stand out. This at least looks good enough. Other than seeing Skully recently.

Most Indie platformers look boring. This having some drill uses not in the same way as Drilldozer is fine. It has very Rayman Origins/Legends looking gameplay/animations mixed with something else so a bit of comparison but still good enough to be it's own thing FINALLY.

It looks interesting for once with it's moveset which many fail at being good or exciting enough to want to play and fair level design/artstyle from other videos I looked at.

Takes some devs to actually try not be lazy and tracing similar of the attempts that make me disappointed like AAA, tracing the blueprint, not trying hard enough to make a good art piece they can if they wanted to.

Re: As If There Was Any Doubt, a Sequel to the Uncharted Movie Has Been Confirmed

SuntannedDuck2

I do wonder about this. Success to follow up on sure but it was very close to Uncharted 4 with references to the others. So are we getting something new which would be interesting with something different then something of reference all the time? Similar to the others of Lost Legacy or the older ones? I do wonder about that.

Actors people can't wait to see, IP brand power, loyal fans of the actors/games/adventure film easy to get an audience if done well and whatever aside this film could go either way. But I mean if it's safe enough or odd enough in how they handle it sure.

That aside nice colour for the movies or others on the blue there. Really surprised me.

Re: Interview: The Making of Astro Bot, the PS5's Next Great Exclusive

SuntannedDuck2

@Meowmixes98 They are but they still have western staff (lack of a better term) as well (they likely live there so are residents of Japan or just for the work periods). It's not uncommon.

Not all people that go to Japan are tourists, translators/coordinate things to the rest of the world (other regions of the business) type staff or Japanese Vloggers or something else. There are some that do work and live there.

Re: Interview: The Making of Astro Bot, the PS5's Next Great Exclusive

SuntannedDuck2

Just reading sponge, was enough for me to go oh they know what they have in mind. The fun, playable and just creativity of the world to play in. Making each power up/ability/moveset count something I find a lot of games lack because the focus is elsewhere. Having abilities, varied ones, uses for them or just pacing of them as well.

Comparing this to Splatoon 2 just being reminded of the simplicity of the mechanics but the levels with the sponge or other platforms (thin, interactive of elevators, the weapons having a good mix of grappling, and the core mechanics in fun ways) and 'how' they used the weapons. Platforming with the core not just oh we have jumping and we have enemies it's like nah give me more of this puzzle platforming with the weapons. If Portal and platformers can do it why not. The singleplayer is a side project from the main multiplayer but I was still impressed. Simple story but the gameplay counted. Something Sackboy kind of does and Ratchet the gameplay disappointed and the story is the focus when I'm a gameplay first for that series so eh.

Astro is great to see is doing what PlayStation used to have of good mix of gameplay and what Nintendo has with it's genre variety or certain platformers done a fair job of wild ideas or a core but still good simplicity and how it paces things. Something other games do but some of their cores drag on and some enemy types/weapons mixed in or stats or whatever and level design (especially graphics and holiday destinations and how they utilise the world and what NPCs do and what boring missions they offer when sometimes I just want to use abilities and collect nonsense in a platformer not some deep or superficial thing I don't want to help NPCs and do favours for them sometimes a minigame not some boring situations of dialogue exchange and boring scenarios so mundane they aren't fun or the writing is too serious and not engaging) haven't made me care for 8th+ gen a lot it's just too much of the same in many games besides my genre branching out. How to make it 'too accessible' well make it fun writing and gameplay to be accessible but not always dialogue focused. I'd rather drive a car in fun events not just drive a car. I'd rather play a character then listen to the boring characters.

The cameos are fine but I don't need the fan service/references to care just solid ideas is enough and they are offering that which is good. Even if they are nice nods. Much better than telling me and emotionally wasting my time with dialogue to about it. Besides just visually humour.

The way they present the bots is excellent. They did just go oh from Firesprite's Playroom we just had these bots that I guess were like Sackbots from LBP2 or Ape Escape Monkeys or something (me assuming) like that similar and just were easy to animate with different situations to fit into quickly that's fun I guess when they went about it after the tech demo app success of the Playroom VR Rescue Mission short level. It makes sense he is easy to draw and may or may not be comparable to Tearaway I guess with the paper craft?

Either way the simplicity and limitations to be expressive then overly detailed and more to it is a good thing to see in some games it doesn't take away from it. But I can see why they just played around with things and eventually went with a platformer (they always lend themselves to a level of creativity to make the most of things I think the enemies are obstacles and you keep moving and the jumping/abilities offers a lot which is why I like the genre so much it's so filled with personality in gameplay and worlds and good pacing and also makes me understand other genres differences). Just more to explore i guess the creativity that way besides just that 1 minigame was praised in the Playroom VR app?

I mean sometimes you need a silly side to present these serious IPs why not. Ah Vib Ribbon a classic.

I love when devs just have that sort of experimentation or concepts. Triggers or not. What platforms, what characters do in the world, the world complimenting that visually or interactively it's just great to see.

Not all this wow look at the real life like looking world and drama and this and that. Just fun mechanics, fun worlds video games can offer of physics (I hope the character weight/jump height or other aspects isn't an issue I always find that to be the case in modern games and it annoys me even if Astro did usually seem to be good there).

Re: Poll: So, What Are Your Thoughts on Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

SuntannedDuck2

Not a fan but am interested on behalf of others. I see the appeal, I know enough about the series and dipped into Origins/Inquisition.

I think it's going in some fair directions. Tactics I mean some handle it better than others most care about action. The story telling is great, the worlds are clear of Dragon Age.

The art is like many things odd at first but when realise oh that's how they modernised or presented it and Dragon Age or the lighting mostly it does look good. Just the right angles of the environment/characters.

Re: LEGO Horizon Adventures Is on Nintendo Switch Because It's a Game 'For Everyone'

SuntannedDuck2

For a family friendly audience I think it makes sense. It's just very unexpected to go to Switch besides just the for kids/families sales the Switch has of audiences besides many of us adults seeking other games or factors of the Switch. I think the game on Switch is fair to have for sure. If they want to broaden things they will be PC or Nintendo makes sense. That or because Xbox they know sales might not be much? Not just competition and seeing Nintendo as less of competition because they mostly do their own thing and the sales of Switch are worth it to them.

This game has always been a because Horizon is very particular of it's appeal yet also Lego fits the mature but more well handled approach. To me it's just a introduction through something else to the other. But for Switch audience also then just PS5 then playing the other games on PS5 or because those audiences didn't play it (not just because Horizon isn't on Switch). It's an introduction game and fans may dip into it as well. It's understandable but eh. To me Horizon's world/story was good the gameplay bored me how it was done. A Lego skin/structure isn't doing to do much I find but for other people it may. The Lego feel here is different but who knows how it actually turns out. The Lego game elements Travelers Tales offered at least did a fair job of their own humour/feel besides the movie licenses/other Lego sets to make games from. Depends how this one goes about things.

As much as people are on PS4 I mean the few with a Switch/Xbox or PC or playing other games. I can see the reason for the moving people on to modern platforms and that's fair. To me I mean to Disagea 7 was on Switch so I got it there. Demo for PS4 was there but no physical PS4 I saw. So focusing on current gen is fine. Some Xbox resources is a fair amount of effort for sure or audience being clear as far as data then data of the personality of people on Xbox and other platforms that no matter their age will play something fun and family friendly that data can't be made clear of by age alone.

Whether fits the Horizon Zero Dawn remake rumours who knows. The multiplayer game though even no clue there either.

The game itself may be great but to me the Switch aspect is fair, the brand part is what scares me to go welp there goes creativity because brand matters more. Sigh if Astro flops I'm going to be sad but not surprised the market disappoints me every day as it is yet I go my own modern or retro gaming path. At least enough Hardcore will pick it up then other IPs no matter what form people gravitate towards.

Re: Preview: Astro Bot on PS5 Could Be the Best 3D Platformer This Side of Nintendo

SuntannedDuck2

I'd agree actually. The footage alone made me go wait they have many different bits of gadgets/gear. YES. The pacing and the gear alone makes me go oh this game is perfect. The past Astro games have shown a lot of greatness and this furthers it in the right ways. This is a game we need to succeed. Or else as fair as Lego Horizon is I think it also makes the market even more clear.

I mean to me Splatoon 2's campaign had a good use of little but well spread use of the weapons for puzzle platforming besides the core moveset. Yet Foamstars while multiplayer had 2 modes and a business model, yet lacking modes I have posted at least 10+ times already they could have done but didn't. Mechanical depth matters if your maps/story aren't good enough. Yet messaging stories I don't care about (or care less about because the game is boring to play) and basic moves rule modern gaming and it bores me to death.

The technique/structure I see gets muddled or dumbed down while Astro is full of personality in it's worlds and it's mechanics, HOW HARD IS THAT GAME DEVELOPERs stop pushing eh worlds/story and offer personality or mechanical depth.

It screams Japan thinking about how to approach this game well which is awesome. Western teams can but they have different goals in mind and while some are good, some lack in ways to compel me. It varies from game to game.

To me Ratchet is a story 3rd person shooter it's gadgets in Rift Apart were ok but not exciting, it's why I found the gameplay other than Blizar to be so boring and I quit playing. Watch Useless Podcast old Ratchet devs play it and others play it and I still found it boring.

Sackboy does a fair job but it isn't the same.

Astrobot feels like what I want out of an old school game but modern the colour is well presented per region, personality in levels is excellent to set the scene but the platforming while not much is varied of sliding, swinging, the gloves to box boss fights, the grapple is fair.

Give me mechanics over plot sometimes. It's why I'll play a puzzle game over some story. I can test my brain, my memory of past puzzles in games and I get that 3D obstacle course puzzle fix. Not match 3 or falling blocks I'm not into those. Some flash game formats I don't mind but many on PSP of Crush (aka Super Paper Mario mechanic on PSP and released before that came out on Wii), Cube, Exit, Mercury, Practical Intelligence Quotient 1 & 2 as examples. I mean Devil Dice on PS1/Bombastic I think the PS2 entry is called.

Spyro is fine but to me the game became more about minigames/open world playground logic that is fun while most modern open worlds are boring. I prefer Spyro 1 because it's an obstacle course of secrets and main levels. Even the side areas cut in the prototypes as simple as they are I was like WHOA that's cool sad they cut it. More than I was Elora's dialogue cut in Spyro 2 for the level openings to set the scene.

Technique/structure appeals to me more.

It's why Gravity Rush, Sunset Overdrive or Infamous Second Son's side missions appealed to me more and are my favourites the playground approach not the holiday destination and generic character RPG quests approach.

It's what I want to see that many Indie platformers suffer from. Being a Mario/Sonic/Spyro/Crash/Banjo clone but only on the surface. Clive and Wrench is simple. The moveset isn't as good as Banjo of varied things the characters gain of moves. Yet it has many inspirations and the first level is clear on the bookshelf title spoofs but the game itself is very boring because the level design is fine but the context/structure is very boring. There isn't much to keep me excited. Other games have theirs but to me platforming/racing Indies suck. Some do stand out but many suck. Heck seeing Hades clones was just sad to me. They have some differences but not enough. Gaming is too close copy cat these days.

5-6th gen things were new but even then the competition had mechanical depth. The left behinds still are fresh to this day. Even those in racing rewind systems dumbed theirs down to what it is today yet the introductionary game (that I know of) had more depth than just that to that system and other systems. Sigh.

It's why I look back at older games, what's fresh or good today even if clunky in other areas. Why it's easy to see what possibilities from some basis are still able to be expanded but aren't explored.

Nowadays it's gone and TOO close of competition it's boring because they aren't really good competition. They can be or feel fan game close AAA or Indies depending where you look. Some stick out others don't. Palworld is inspired by popular things, succeeds. No Man's Sky or Nightinggale good approaches by veterans. Nightinggale might as well not exist. It's a great game that to me the Minecraft Mystcraft book/card use is amazing but that's the thing stand out feature. Most people would have never heard of it. Veterans can go that way of new space, new ideas, or keep to what they were doing like a Yooka/Judas/Bloodstained/Splitterhead and may do well.

Many others feel similar very not exciting in the movesets with like 1 move. I get that from 7th gen shooters, 1 cool mechanic and I ignore the story/setting/level design because they are so generic.