No, it's more akin to asking people to buy the 60 gig iPod model (i.e. the DS or PSP) when they're already happy with their perfectly working 20 gig model (the GBA).
Fable came out. Many were not pleased with the short main quest time after all the hype that had spewed forth from the mouth of Peter Molyneux (the lead game designer of Populous and Black & White, et al fame) over the past few years. Many wanted to believe there was more to do, and so some of us held out hope.
Fast-forward to a week after release. A new xbox.com Fable forum poster (i.e. The Better Bard) started a new thread entitled "For the loyal - a week after release" or something akin to that in which he purported himself to be "contracted" (but, of course, under an NDA) to give out hints on the xbox.com Fable forum pertaining to extra lands and goodies you could get if you could solve his iambic pentameter riddles.
Although there were doubters, many, many people had their interest piqued enough to dive in headfirst, so to speak, enthusiastically trying to figure out his riddles.
His poetry, while not Shakespeare, was written just well enough to be taken seriously for several days, in which the thread he started grew to over 200+ pages in size.
Flame wars ensued between the doubters and the believers, the likes of which haven't been seen since the hey-day of Derrick Smart. New web pages were born overnight with all of his posts listed...many were just hoping against hope that he was for real.
Of course, since you're reading this, you know it was a hoax. He eventually fessed up, and some applauded his efforts while others promised to heap a thousand curses upon his head and that of his offspring for time immortal.
When I play UT2004, the game throws up a static screen every time the level changes, and I have to stare at it for 10-15 seconds. There are only about six different screens, and they old pretty quick. If the publishers wanted to toss some advertisements up there instead, I wouldn't mind... heck, I might even welcome it.
Yes, but how long before that 10-15 seconds turns into 30-40 seconds?...and not because your HD is churning away, either.
I think many are worried that in-game advertising is very much on the proverbial slippery slope, and it's just a matter of time before the once innocuous "product placements" become full-blown, gameplay-stopping, time wasting commercials - while the price of the video game remains the same.
And contrary to some what people are saying, it is quite possible that in-game advertising could lead to reduced game prices. If advertising becomes a major revenue stream for game companies, then it would make sense for them to reduce their prices to get more viewers for their ads.
Akin to the way movie theaters have reduced their ticket prices because Coca Cola decided to buy an advertisement before my movie? I wish I could share your optimism, but unfortunately I think it's unfounded. If a corporation thinks it squeeze just one more nickel out of its customers without consumer backlash you can be absolutely sure it will.
Of articles comparing the sales of a single period of a single year to the same period of the next and calling that a fucking trend.
Much of these sales figures largely depend on what was actually released during said time period. So, what, we didn't have another Sims expansion pack released in Q1 of this year, so profits dropped from 2003 to 2004? You don't say...
The absolute best IP is "Star Wars." It has the whole idea of the Force, which translates well into gameplay. It also has a very compelling universe to explore. I don't see LucasArts ever running out of steam with that IP; they can milk that one forever.
Then comes "Lord Of The Rings"... and then James Bond because of all the gimmicks he uses. Then there's Indiana Jones. If I were to make a game based on Indiana Jones, I'd focus on his whip, which can be his unique gameplay hook. Follow that with "Star Trek" to a lesser extent. And then there's "Alien." I'm on the fence with "The Matrix." It does have a unique gameplay hook, but "Max Payne" beat it to the punch with the whole slow-mo bullet thing.
It's quite obvious, in context, that he's talking about which movie IP is or has become useful as viable gaming IP, in which case he's clearly just wrong.
Is the game worth playing? As usual in MMOGs, it depends.
Now there's a strong statement if I've ever heard one.
In all seriousness, I actually RTFA and have to admit, I'm even more depressed about the possibility of returning than I was before I read it (which is to say it hadn't even crossed my mind):
"Combat still broken"
"Macroing is alive and well"
"Role-playing is still...rare."
And SOE, the king of "fuck you" at the helm? Let me be the first to say, no fucking thank you.
In an interesting twist on the standard in industry pricing (which Slashdot previously covered), Sega's ESPN NFL 2K5 is an astoundingly low $20.00.
Remarkably (and understandably, imho), some fans of the series have been worried that because people view $50.00 as the entry point for "good" games, people will pass on a $20.00 game because it obviously sucks if it's so cheap.
Visual Concept (the developers of the game) and Take 2 interactive's response to this argument can be read here. Quite an interesting read. Gaining market share is absolutely crucial for the future of the Sega NFL franchise, and they know it.
Great news! NG was already a good game, but I'll take a free, unexpected update any day. I think it's only a matter of time before consoles follow the way of the PC (in regards to patches, bugfixes, etc) anwyay, so I don't mind it starting now....even if this isn't necessarily a bugfix, per se.
Slashdot Mirror
I can't read this article you insensitive clod
'cause God knows the susbscriptions aren't cutting it.
I, for one, welcome our new streaking overlords...
I wasn't expecting a "life altering" experience from Fable, just one that could alter it a little longer than 9 hours.
No, it's more akin to asking people to buy the 60 gig iPod model (i.e. the DS or PSP) when they're already happy with their perfectly working 20 gig model (the GBA).
Fable came out. Many were not pleased with the short main quest time after all the hype that had spewed forth from the mouth of Peter Molyneux (the lead game designer of Populous and Black & White, et al fame) over the past few years. Many wanted to believe there was more to do, and so some of us held out hope.
Fast-forward to a week after release. A new xbox.com Fable forum poster (i.e. The Better Bard) started a new thread entitled "For the loyal - a week after release" or something akin to that in which he purported himself to be "contracted" (but, of course, under an NDA) to give out hints on the xbox.com Fable forum pertaining to extra lands and goodies you could get if you could solve his iambic pentameter riddles.
Although there were doubters, many, many people had their interest piqued enough to dive in headfirst, so to speak, enthusiastically trying to figure out his riddles.
His poetry, while not Shakespeare, was written just well enough to be taken seriously for several days, in which the thread he started grew to over 200+ pages in size.
Flame wars ensued between the doubters and the believers, the likes of which haven't been seen since the hey-day of Derrick Smart. New web pages were born overnight with all of his posts listed...many were just hoping against hope that he was for real.
Of course, since you're reading this, you know it was a hoax. He eventually fessed up, and some applauded his efforts while others promised to heap a thousand curses upon his head and that of his offspring for time immortal.
There...now you have it.
Wait until you hear Obi-Wan scream like a girl when scaring the Sand people away from Luke's speeder.
:(
Coincidentally, "why the fuck did Lucas change this!" were my exact words when I heard the new "scream"
What the fuck, pray tell, was wrong with the old scream?
Because it's upset mostly when it sees CloneCD, not Nero's ImageDrive.
When I play UT2004, the game throws up a static screen every time the level changes, and I have to stare at it for 10-15 seconds. There are only about six different screens, and they old pretty quick. If the publishers wanted to toss some advertisements up there instead, I wouldn't mind... heck, I might even welcome it.
...and not because your HD is churning away, either.
Yes, but how long before that 10-15 seconds turns into 30-40 seconds?
I think many are worried that in-game advertising is very much on the proverbial slippery slope, and it's just a matter of time before the once innocuous "product placements" become full-blown, gameplay-stopping, time wasting commercials - while the price of the video game remains the same.
And contrary to some what people are saying, it is quite possible that in-game advertising could lead to reduced game prices. If advertising becomes a major revenue stream for game companies, then it would make sense for them to reduce their prices to get more viewers for their ads.
Akin to the way movie theaters have reduced their ticket prices because Coca Cola decided to buy an advertisement before my movie? I wish I could share your optimism, but unfortunately I think it's unfounded. If a corporation thinks it squeeze just one more nickel out of its customers without consumer backlash you can be absolutely sure it will.
nt
Of articles comparing the sales of a single period of a single year to the same period of the next and calling that a fucking trend.
Much of these sales figures largely depend on what was actually released during said time period. So, what, we didn't have another Sims expansion pack released in Q1 of this year, so profits dropped from 2003 to 2004? You don't say...
Either way, it's silly to call this a "trend".
Well, at least you don't have to worry about me coveting your wife...
"what changes would you like to see in a new Tomb Raider title?"
Something done by Warren Spector that wasn't totally fucked up.
Ack! We've lost 30 years on our graphics! So how long do we have to wait before we're controlling Doom 3-like graphics with our minds? :(
*FOOOOOOOMMMMM* What's that? It's the sound of the joke flying right over your head.
Sweet! I just found the next pop-Christian bracelet idea!
The complete quote:
... and then James Bond because of all the gimmicks he uses. Then there's Indiana Jones. If I were to make a game based on Indiana Jones, I'd focus on his whip, which can be his unique gameplay hook. Follow that with "Star Trek" to a lesser extent. And then there's "Alien." I'm on the fence with "The Matrix." It does have a unique gameplay hook, but "Max Payne" beat it to the punch with the whole slow-mo bullet thing.
The absolute best IP is "Star Wars." It has the whole idea of the Force, which translates well into gameplay. It also has a very compelling universe to explore. I don't see LucasArts ever running out of steam with that IP; they can milk that one forever.
Then comes "Lord Of The Rings"
It's quite obvious, in context, that he's talking about which movie IP is or has become useful as viable gaming IP, in which case he's clearly just wrong.
but 'Max Payne' beat it to the punch with the whole slow-mo bullet thing.
*ahem*
The Matrix: 1999
Max Payne: 2001
Of course, when you're living a lie from day to day "working" on Duke Nukem Forever, I imagine it gets a little hard to sort fact from fiction.
In that case, could I perhaps interest you in some oceanfront property in Arizona?
Is the game worth playing? As usual in MMOGs, it depends.
Now there's a strong statement if I've ever heard one.
In all seriousness, I actually RTFA and have to admit, I'm even more depressed about the possibility of returning than I was before I read it (which is to say it hadn't even crossed my mind):
"Combat still broken"
"Macroing is alive and well"
"Role-playing is still...rare."
And SOE, the king of "fuck you" at the helm? Let me be the first to say, no fucking thank you.
In an interesting twist on the standard in industry pricing (which Slashdot previously covered), Sega's ESPN NFL 2K5 is an astoundingly low $20.00.
Remarkably (and understandably, imho), some fans of the series have been worried that because people view $50.00 as the entry point for "good" games, people will pass on a $20.00 game because it obviously sucks if it's so cheap.
Visual Concept (the developers of the game) and Take 2 interactive's response to this argument can be read here. Quite an interesting read. Gaining market share is absolutely crucial for the future of the Sega NFL franchise, and they know it.
Great news! NG was already a good game, but I'll take a free, unexpected update any day. I think it's only a matter of time before consoles follow the way of the PC (in regards to patches, bugfixes, etc) anwyay, so I don't mind it starting now....even if this isn't necessarily a bugfix, per se.
Pretty soon it'll be "You've got Male!"
So does $52,000
Imagine a beowulf c. . . gah nevermind.