Chances are all 12 of those games would work on the software emulation today. And chances are even higher once you realize that software emulation will be even better in a few years when he upgrades. The people with software emulation now are the ones reporting the bugs that get fixed for the smarter late adopters. That's why the software emulation has improved so quickly.
Perhaps I misread that. Are you claiming software emulation is better than native hardware in the box? Or are you suggesting the late adopters will be "smarter" since they bought the system after a (presumable) price drop?
Sony and Nintendo should be ashamed of themselves for their prudish prohibition of AO-rated titles on their consoles,
Just for the record, Microsoft has the same stance with the 360. Every one of the big 3 requires the game be rated before it appears on their system, and no one allows AO games.
Rockstar should have the last laugh by releasing Manhunt 2: Uncut for the PC at some point down the road.
The real kicker is they could "technically" leave in Wii-Mote support. It is BlueTooth after all. (although there are probably development agreements to prevent this.)
The usable space is only 7Gb. This is wholly inadequate for many next gen games when 5.1 surround sound, HD FMV and even textures & polygons are going to take 4-10x the space of last gen yet the disk is only 2x larger than last gen. And localized content is totally out of the question too.
Honestly, I'm surprised any developer is doing Pre-rendered FMV's with the current gen systems. Why not do everything with the in game engine? The graphics look great to begin with, it saves space on the disk, less/ no load times between the switch, and it doesn't break the immersion.
With very few exceptions (something like Rogue Squadron II ) I'd be happier to see FMV's go away.
Nobody with more than half a brain thinks the price of the PS3 is going to go back up to $599. Pretty much everybody accepts that they will start selling it for $499 but without the freebies after the 60GB models are sold out. (Which is almost everywhere now, though I personally have yet to see an 80GB model for sale in the US)
Nobody with half a brain? This IS Sony we're talking about...
PS: The 80 gig version was announced for an August release.
I hate to admit it, but for the most part, Ebert's right. Not very many games (if any) have achieved a high-art status;
To date, many people don't think any Video Games have achieved "High art status", and that is a result of how they classify "art". If you view Art as "____" then it may be obvious to you that Video games "clearly aren't, nor could they be art..." but if you view Art as "____" then it may be obvious that Video games "Are, or certainly could they be art..." and that is the discussion.
I question Mr. Ebert's assertions of video games myself, but it is after all his opinion and he is entitled to it. The subjective nature of Art invites these kinds of discussions. To get back to one of your points however...
...games tend to steer away from any sort of truly artistic expression, instead focusing on pure low-level emotional experience (think of your standard FPS). Enormous amounts of death with little or no repurcussion are also present - and if a there IS a consequence, 99.9% of the time it's a hard GOOD or BAD. Drama is for the most part completely absent, and when it exists it barely reaches the quality of a throwaway soap opera.
I will first state that I agree with you that most video games are done in a way that forgoes their classification of "high art" by most standards, I would argue however that cinema is no different. Shall we hold up every Pauly Shore movie, or Uwe Boll film as exhibits A & B that cinema is not art?
Do the existence of non-artistic pieces (even if the majority) preclude the possibility that a medium may achieve high art?
But that doesn't change the fact that the most a video game will make you contemplate what it means to be a person or what a person is capable of being is a quick glance at a STAT menu.
I have to disagree with this. Haven't you ever played a game with a strong enough narrative where you could actually relate to the character and understand why they make the choices the make?
Re: C&C3 on an older machine, or laptop?
on
Protoss For a Day
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· Score: 1
I played it [C&C3] on a 4-year old computer, and it worked fine... Obviously not with all the settings on their max, but still perfectly playable.
Can you please tell me your specs? I just bought a laptop (HP dv6000), and I find it distressing that despite having a dual core 1.75 Ghz chip, the specs suggest I couldn't play (the C&C3 box says 2.2 Ghz min). Granted I didn't buy the Lappy for gaming, but if I can get the occasional RTS on it, I'd be happy. I'm curious if I could play the game (with effects, and Graphics turned down)
Would a Dual Core 1.75 processor, 2 gigs of Ram, and the Integrated Intel Graphics chip be able to handle it?
Re:You love it... You should buy it.
on
Protoss For a Day
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· Score: 4, Insightful
As much as I love the Starcraft/Command and Conquer games, I won't buy them. At least not for several years. I was sorely disappointed that Command and Conquer 3 wouldn't run on a one year old top of the line computer (and I returned it to the store). PC games are ridiculous, as far as requirements go. I'm looking forward to buying Starcraft 2 from the bargain bin in a few years when I own a PC capable of playing it.
Fortunately Blizzard typically "low balls" their system requirements to pull in the largest audience possible.
Starcraft and Broodwar had very low system requirements, even at release. Warcraft, Diablo, and WoW were the same...
In a way they are the antithesis of iD Software...
You save $20 (10%) and get over $100-worth of movies. So the saving is substantial (if you want the movies).
That's how I would value them as the movies are $20 on Amazon (and that's where I buy them), but it should be noted the HD DVD's MSRP are $25 so the potential savings is $125 in movies... (If of course you want them...) which would make the player $55.
The reason upconversion on the player side makes sense is because it happens in the digital domain. Whereas if you go over component and have your TV upconvert it, it's lossier - it has to go to analog and then back to digital again and then gets upconverted.
Past that it just becomes a matter of which thing is better at conversion, your player or your TV.
The main gain from upconverting players is that they force you to use a 100% digital connection.
The 360 does DVD upconverting over a VGA (analog) connection.
I'm no expert but I just googled this article that was posted yesterday. It appears that neither console currently supports it but Sony is currently 'working on it'. Good luck. http://kotaku.com/gaming/sony/ps3-dvd-upscaling-pr omised-218517.php
Both the 360 and PS3 upconvert DVD's (if your system has the latest updates) but only over VGA or HDMI. Upconverters (of any kind) aren't allowed to use component video due to a licencing restriction on the DVD format.
Golf tends to lend itself to the Wii controller a bit more than football does, in my opinion.
Agreed, and there are a number of things that help that. One of which being they dynamic of older players playing the Wii. Golf (like Bowling) only requires the Wiimote, is turn based (reflex speed isn't an issue) and from a basic rule stand point it's easier to explain the fundamentals of [how to play] golf over football so the sport is immediately more approachable.
I own both Madden and TW 07, and I LOVE how Madden simulates a game of backyard football, and the motion controls work great (the pointer, not so much but it's barely used) however when playing with my retired parents it is undoubtedly TW golf, or Bowling that gets played.
I am sorry that you cannot seem to understand what I am saying. As I mentioned multiple times, I have listed of games that I am interested in this fall. I just cannot get excited about games that won't see the light of day until next year when there is so much good content coming out between now and December.
I am curious, you put Assassins Creed in the PS3 column rather than the 360 one. What gives the PS3 version an edge over it in your opinion? To my knowledge they should be the same game delivered the same day. Is there something exclusive to that version I just don't know about?
I had to sign up for Gamefly, it's just too much money to buy all these games. But the problem is that the subscription money I'm paying to Gamefly for all these rentals isn't going back to the developers. I will be buying a few of these games, but just the ones I expect to play repeatedly. I usually just finish a game and never go back. It's not a terrible problem right now, but I wonder if rentals will start to impact game industry growth. Perhaps additional payment structures can be arranged to fill the hole that caused Gamefly to come about?
That's where downloadable content comes in. You are less inclined to re-sell a game that has downloaded content that you bought and is not refundable. The Big DLC push is to try and combat used game sales, and constant renting.
"PS3 Still out sold by GBA" and it would also be true. It simply depends on the spin you want to put on your article. I don't know why GBA numbers were excluded from the parent article since the "Last gen PS2" was also included... Here are some more numbers...
DS - 561,000 units
Wii - 381,000 units
PSP - 290,000 units
PS2 - 270,000 units
X-box 360 - 198,000 units
GBA - 113,000 units
PS3 - 98,000 units.
Clearly Sony can put their spin on it for "Total dollars spent" or "Combined units sold", but the numbers just don't indicate the PS3 is doing well (even if it is better than the months prior).
GTA IV....Mass Effect...Ace Combat...you did some to leave off some big ones.
Not nessessarily, since this is his Personal list. For example, To date there is a single PS3 exclusive that interests me; "Lair". The others "MGS4, FFXIII, Home, etc..." just don't interest me. So he may simply be excluding the other biggies, since he won't be buying them anyway.
I am curious as to why he put Assassins Creed in the PS3 column rather than the 360 one though, Is there something exclusive to that version I just don't know about?
Quite a while prior to the Wii being released, Microsoft had the Xbox Live Arcade. They have been courting the 'casual' crowd for a while. They have had some success with it, (not as much as Nintendo) and it should not be forgotten.
When I was sick feverish stupor a few weeks ago, I played Catan for about 20 hours over a two day period. I played Luxor 2 this morning, and I am looking forward to some Bomberman tonight.
The main difference with Nintendo right now is that they are PRIMARILY going after the casual market.
It's not that people forget XBLA exists, it's just that it is such a side concern for MS it's easy to say "casuals aren't really their market". When was the last time you saw a TV commercial promoting Live Arcade?
I for one feel that it is mind boggling that (despite having more titles available), the VC is much less "Casual friendly" than XBLA. The Wii should get titles like Catan, and Carcassonne, and online Uno, and Bejewled 2, and online poker, but for whatever reason they haven't pushed the original titles or casual retro titles yet. Even Tetris, Dr. Mario, or a SuDoKu game would be helpful at this point...
You are correct though in pointing out the fundamental difference between the two. Most people don't buy a 360 for Catan, or Uno... They buy it for Gears, or Oblivion, or Halo, or GTA... They buy the system for the "Core" franchises, and they (or perhaps others in the same household) buy / play the casual games in addition.
Conversely people ARE buying the Wii for WiiSports and the like, and are completely content not to dabble into "the core" titles.
That is half true. The Wii HAS been outselling the PS2 for a while now (on a month to month basis) but it still isn't selling the MOST of all the systems. That would be the DS Lite, the Wii is selling second best to that.
I think every self-described hardcore gamer who dismisses the potential of the wiimote should sit down with a copy of Twilight Princess and a savegame with the hero's bow already acquired. If they can't have fun shooting things for half an hour and still still complain about how the wiimote doesn't add anything to the game, then they've obviously suffered severe brain damage and any other opinions they hold can thus be appropriately gaged.
Or RE4. The Wii controls work wonderfully, and it IS the best version of a truly great game.
Re:maybe they just want to get the board out there
on
Where the Wii Fits In
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· Score: 1
Nintendo may realize that they have to capitalize on these advantages, and are attempting to do so. XBOX and Playstation six axis game controllers are already in development. The Wii could lose it's spec ial charms at any time. What they have at the moment is the opportunity to get a jump on the competition with new interface formats and new game styles. We may be seeing a frantic research project on the part of Nintendo to find a way to get a lock on the "new thing" while they still have exclusive access.
The already have. Nintendo has the "Mindshare" of the public already, so it doesn't matter if MS and Sony come up with the exact same controller as the wiimote... People looking to buy a Wii aren't looking to buy "a video game system", they are looking for something specific, a "Wii" much in the same way that many people don't shop for an "MP3 player", they shop for an "iPod". Given the sceneraio of a "Market imatator" (which is what Sony / MS would be in this case) people would see it as an imatator that is more expensive. If Sony/ MS want to go the "Wiimote route" they need to do it at the start of the next gen, and has to improve on the current design, and hopefully whatever nintendo does to improve it.
A surf or skateboard game would seem to be very preferable over a yoga game, but they don't have to make one. They just have to get the board into the marketplace before microsoft. I'm sure the yoga game was a lot quicker to write. Where they make the money is not by making a semi-popular game with a controller that is probably a wash profit wise. They make it when "Tony Hawke" comes out for their patented controller and everyone's got to buy a Wii so they can play it.
The "Wii Balance Board" should make these games (Tony Hawke, SSX) the prefered version to play.
My first thought of the Wii-mote was that it was a gimmick, however after using it I can see a lot of potential in it. My problem with the Wii at this point is the lack of RPGs and online games.
No console launches with an RPG (Zelda's not an RPG) nor do they get them within the first year of the console's life... They simply take too long to produce. To my knowlege Oblivion is the one exception, and that came 6 months after launch.
Online gaming has started on the Wii and will expand, but it hasn't mature yet. Pokemon & Mario Strikers are online now, Madden & FIFA 08 will be online, Guitar Hero III, Battalion Wars, & Mario Kart also. Medal of Honor Heroes 2 is touting up to 32 players online...
So it may not have what you are looking for now, but it is coming...
I love the "more fun" claim being brought up in any conversation regarding consoles. As near as I can tell, "more fun" really means "more nostalgic" or more concretely "more franchises that I remember liking as a kid" or even more concretely "more franchises that I remember being popular as a kid".
Slashdot Mirror
Perhaps I misread that. Are you claiming software emulation is better than native hardware in the box? Or are you suggesting the late adopters will be "smarter" since they bought the system after a (presumable) price drop?
Just for the record, Microsoft has the same stance with the 360. Every one of the big 3 requires the game be rated before it appears on their system, and no one allows AO games.
The real kicker is they could "technically" leave in Wii-Mote support. It is BlueTooth after all. (although there are probably development agreements to prevent this.)
Agreed. In fact I just set the .EXE extension to be associated with Winzip. Let's see what happens.
Wait until christmas then. You should have other bundles available and get off cheaper or have more included for the same money.
Honestly, I'm surprised any developer is doing Pre-rendered FMV's with the current gen systems. Why not do everything with the in game engine? The graphics look great to begin with, it saves space on the disk, less/ no load times between the switch, and it doesn't break the immersion.
With very few exceptions (something like Rogue Squadron II ) I'd be happier to see FMV's go away.
Thanks for the glasses. I'm getting old I guess....
Stuff like "We will be the market leader by selling a $600 console?" for example?
Nobody with half a brain? This IS Sony we're talking about...
PS: The 80 gig version was announced for an August release.
To date, many people don't think any Video Games have achieved "High art status", and that is a result of how they classify "art". If you view Art as "____" then it may be obvious to you that Video games "clearly aren't, nor could they be art..." but if you view Art as "____" then it may be obvious that Video games "Are, or certainly could they be art..." and that is the discussion.
I question Mr. Ebert's assertions of video games myself, but it is after all his opinion and he is entitled to it. The subjective nature of Art invites these kinds of discussions. To get back to one of your points however...
I will first state that I agree with you that most video games are done in a way that forgoes their classification of "high art" by most standards, I would argue however that cinema is no different. Shall we hold up every Pauly Shore movie, or Uwe Boll film as exhibits A & B that cinema is not art?
Do the existence of non-artistic pieces (even if the majority) preclude the possibility that a medium may achieve high art?
I have to disagree with this. Haven't you ever played a game with a strong enough narrative where you could actually relate to the character and understand why they make the choices the make?
Can you please tell me your specs? I just bought a laptop (HP dv6000), and I find it distressing that despite having a dual core 1.75 Ghz chip, the specs suggest I couldn't play (the C&C3 box says 2.2 Ghz min). Granted I didn't buy the Lappy for gaming, but if I can get the occasional RTS on it, I'd be happy. I'm curious if I could play the game (with effects, and Graphics turned down)
Would a Dual Core 1.75 processor, 2 gigs of Ram, and the Integrated Intel Graphics chip be able to handle it?
Fortunately Blizzard typically "low balls" their system requirements to pull in the largest audience possible. Starcraft and Broodwar had very low system requirements, even at release. Warcraft, Diablo, and WoW were the same ...
In a way they are the antithesis of iD Software...
That's how I would value them as the movies are $20 on Amazon (and that's where I buy them), but it should be noted the HD DVD's MSRP are $25 so the potential savings is $125 in movies... (If of course you want them...) which would make the player $55.
The 360 does DVD upconverting over a VGA (analog) connection.
Both the 360 and PS3 upconvert DVD's (if your system has the latest updates) but only over VGA or HDMI. Upconverters (of any kind) aren't allowed to use component video due to a licencing restriction on the DVD format.
Agreed, and there are a number of things that help that. One of which being they dynamic of older players playing the Wii. Golf (like Bowling) only requires the Wiimote, is turn based (reflex speed isn't an issue) and from a basic rule stand point it's easier to explain the fundamentals of [how to play] golf over football so the sport is immediately more approachable.
I own both Madden and TW 07, and I LOVE how Madden simulates a game of backyard football, and the motion controls work great (the pointer, not so much but it's barely used) however when playing with my retired parents it is undoubtedly TW golf, or Bowling that gets played.
I am curious, you put Assassins Creed in the PS3 column rather than the 360 one. What gives the PS3 version an edge over it in your opinion? To my knowledge they should be the same game delivered the same day. Is there something exclusive to that version I just don't know about?
Just wondering. thanks.
That's where downloadable content comes in. You are less inclined to re-sell a game that has downloaded content that you bought and is not refundable. The Big DLC push is to try and combat used game sales, and constant renting.
"PS3 Still out sold by GBA" and it would also be true. It simply depends on the spin you want to put on your article. I don't know why GBA numbers were excluded from the parent article since the "Last gen PS2" was also included... Here are some more numbers...
DS - 561,000 units
Wii - 381,000 units
PSP - 290,000 units
PS2 - 270,000 units
X-box 360 - 198,000 units
GBA - 113,000 units
PS3 - 98,000 units.
Clearly Sony can put their spin on it for "Total dollars spent" or "Combined units sold", but the numbers just don't indicate the PS3 is doing well (even if it is better than the months prior).
Not nessessarily, since this is his Personal list. For example, To date there is a single PS3 exclusive that interests me; "Lair". The others "MGS4, FFXIII, Home, etc..." just don't interest me. So he may simply be excluding the other biggies, since he won't be buying them anyway.
I am curious as to why he put Assassins Creed in the PS3 column rather than the 360 one though, Is there something exclusive to that version I just don't know about?
Agreed. Though some will flag you as "misinformed", as the PS3 added software scaling with Firmware 1.80
It's not that people forget XBLA exists, it's just that it is such a side concern for MS it's easy to say "casuals aren't really their market". When was the last time you saw a TV commercial promoting Live Arcade?
I for one feel that it is mind boggling that (despite having more titles available), the VC is much less "Casual friendly" than XBLA. The Wii should get titles like Catan, and Carcassonne, and online Uno, and Bejewled 2, and online poker, but for whatever reason they haven't pushed the original titles or casual retro titles yet. Even Tetris, Dr. Mario, or a SuDoKu game would be helpful at this point...
You are correct though in pointing out the fundamental difference between the two. Most people don't buy a 360 for Catan, or Uno... They buy it for Gears, or Oblivion, or Halo, or GTA... They buy the system for the "Core" franchises, and they (or perhaps others in the same household) buy / play the casual games in addition. Conversely people ARE buying the Wii for WiiSports and the like, and are completely content not to dabble into "the core" titles.
That is half true. The Wii HAS been outselling the PS2 for a while now (on a month to month basis) but it still isn't selling the MOST of all the systems. That would be the DS Lite, the Wii is selling second best to that.
Or RE4. The Wii controls work wonderfully, and it IS the best version of a truly great game.
The already have. Nintendo has the "Mindshare" of the public already, so it doesn't matter if MS and Sony come up with the exact same controller as the wiimote... People looking to buy a Wii aren't looking to buy "a video game system", they are looking for something specific, a "Wii" much in the same way that many people don't shop for an "MP3 player", they shop for an "iPod". Given the sceneraio of a "Market imatator" (which is what Sony / MS would be in this case) people would see it as an imatator that is more expensive. If Sony/ MS want to go the "Wiimote route" they need to do it at the start of the next gen, and has to improve on the current design, and hopefully whatever nintendo does to improve it.
The "Wii Balance Board" should make these games (Tony Hawke, SSX) the prefered version to play.
No console launches with an RPG (Zelda's not an RPG) nor do they get them within the first year of the console's life... They simply take too long to produce. To my knowlege Oblivion is the one exception, and that came 6 months after launch.
Online gaming has started on the Wii and will expand, but it hasn't mature yet. Pokemon & Mario Strikers are online now, Madden & FIFA 08 will be online, Guitar Hero III, Battalion Wars, & Mario Kart also. Medal of Honor Heroes 2 is touting up to 32 players online...
So it may not have what you are looking for now, but it is coming...
It's hard to not come up when even Sony claims the Wii is more fun.