The Good, The Bad and The Ugly 08.24.09: PS3 Slim is Here, Fable III in 2010, Release Dates for DJ Hero and Blur, More
Posted by Armando Rodriguez on 08.24.2009
Plus, Rock Band 3 all but confirmed and details on Napoleon: Total War!
Hello guys and gals and welcome to another edition of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly News Report. I am your host Armando Rodriguez. First of all, I want to thank you all for the feedback to last week's column. Right now I am working out the kinks of a new format that will debut very soon. Right now I have the first edition of September penciled in to debut the new format. The new format will split the column on three parts, with all GOOD news at the top, BAD news in the middle and UGLY news at the bottom. My take on those news will be included on the report as well. Also I will alternate "The Reader's Voice" and "The Random Rant" with only one of them appearing on any given week. Finally, I will debut a new section called ‘The _____ Game of the Week". What goes in that blank will be either, the word "Good", "Bad" or "Ugly" depending on which game I am dealing with. For example, something like Gran Turismo or Metal Gear will be a "Good" game, but something like "E.T. The Extraterrestrial" would be an "Ugly" game. I will write a short summary of the game's facts, such as release date, system and genre, followed by a mini-review that will incorporate the "Good, Bad and Ugly" rating system. All those changes will debut in September, so stay tuned!
Now on to this week's news:
Biggest News of the Week : Sony Cuts PS3 Price to $299, Debuts PS3 Slim
The worst kept secret in the industry was officially let out of the bag at Gamescom this past week: The PS3 Slim is here! However, even bigger than the official unveiling of the PS3 Slim was the announcement that Sony will be cutting the price of the PS3 by $100. The Playstation 3 (slim or fat) will retail for $299, cheaper than the Xbox 360 Elite. The PS3 Slim will hit retail stores on September 1. The Slim model is 33% smaller, 36% lighter and consumes 34% less power than the original model. The Slim model features an upgradeable 120GB hard drive, the cooling system has been redesigned and the Cell Processor has moved to a 45mm manufacturing process. The system also runs quieter than previous models.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
GOOD: FINALLY! I think the price cut came a year too late and that it is going to be very hard to catch up with Microsoft, but at least it is finally here and I predict augmented sales for the PS3 this Christmas. The Slim model looks sexier than the fat model and will finally shut up the complaints about how big the PS3 is. However, it still lacks backwards compatibility, which is one of the main complaints from prospective buyers. Still, it is hard not to be optimistic about the price drop and with big name titles like God of War 3 and Gran Turismo 5 around the corner (in 2010) this might be Sony's best chance at making a dent in the console race.
Rock Band 3 In Development
Because we can't get enough music games, Harmonix confirmed during an interview with MCV this week that they are already working on a new Rock Band. According to Executive Vice President Scott Guthrie, the team is looking at another genre-spanning game like the first two Rock Band games (in other words, Rock Band 3) and another band-specific game, like The Beatles: Rock Band. Guthrie also mentioned that with technologies like Project Natal in the horizon, the future Rock Band games might not need instrument peripherals.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
GOOD/BAD: First of all, I am a fan of the genre and I am excited to see that we will get new games next year. However, I am concerned about how many music games there are in the market right now and how many we will get next year. I think that Harmonix has the right idea here: Only one genre-spanning game and one band-specific game per year. It just feels right, especially if they are 4-6 months apart. But this year we have already seen the release of Guitar Hero: Metallica and Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, plus we are getting Guitar Hero 5, Guitar Hero: Van Halen, DJ Hero, Band Hero and The Beatles: Rock Band in a span of 4 months. That is WAY TOO MUCH! I think that if Activision and Harmonix release only two titles each per year it will be alright, but Activision will release half a dozen games in the same year. That is overkill and will kill the genre sooner than later. I am also concerned about this "Project Natal" and "lack of instruments" talk. I mean, isn't it the point of these games to make you feel like a rockstar? How will you achieve that without instruments? I guess we need to wait and see. Who knows? Maybe they will make it work. But I think it is a bad idea. I hate having a bunch of plastic instruments around as much as the next guy, but if they stopped making instruments for every single game and just made a good, UNIVERSAL peripheral and then make software for it, it would work fine. Just don't expect to make and sell new instruments every time a new game comes around.
DJ Hero Release Date
Activision has confirmed that DJ Hero will be released on October 27 in North America and "late October" in other markets. DJ Hero's standard edition will be priced at $120 and the "Renegade Edition" will be priced at $200. The Renegade Edition comes with a carrying case that also turns into a stand, new CD's by Eminem and Jay-Z featuring unreleased tracks and a "premium" black and gold turntable controller.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
GOOD/BAD: Sorry for the double ratings, but I really have good points and bad points to make. First of all, the good stuff: It is different from the rock-based music games out there and can carve itself a new market. I am not a big fan of hip-hop culture or the DJ's themselves, but I am excited about trying something new and I will try to play it when it comes out. The bad part is the ridiculous $200 price tag for the Renegade Edition. I mean, how far are publishers going to push the price for these things? Every music game bundle that comes out is expensive as hell: with $200 and spare change you could get yourself a Wii and with a bit more a PS3 or 360. That's right; you could purchase a brand new game system instead of a game and plastic toys.
Blur Release Date Set
Activision Blizzard has announced that the arcade racer Blur will be released on November 3 in North America and November 6 in Europe. Blur is the first game made by former Project Gotham Racing developer Bizarre Creations since being acquired by Activision in 2007. The game seeks to combine the elements of racers like Mario Kart with realistic racers like Project Gotham Racing.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
GOOD: This is a game I am looking forward to play, if only because the premise of "Mario Kart meets Project Gotham" sounds absolutely ridiculous enough to actually work. Take real life cars and locations, add insane power-ups to the mix and you have something that has not been done before. Well, I think EA did an arcade NASCAR game for the PS1 that was similar in concept, so what do I know? At least it is not another Need for Speed or Burnout clone.
Napoleon Gets His Own Game
One of history's greatest generals is getting his own game. Sega and The Creative Assembly revealed Napoleon: Total War at Gamescom. Following on the footsteps of the highly praised Empire: Total War, the new Napoleon game will advance the game to the 19th century and will focus on the battles of the legendary general and emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. Players will choose between Napoleon and his many rivals and compete for world domination. The game will begin with Napoleon's early battles in Egypt and Italy and culminate with his defeats in Russia and his final defeat at The Battle of Waterloo.
The game will also have features first introduced in Empire: Total War, like a detailed campaign map, sea battles and expanded diplomacy mechanics. Napoleon: Total War will arrive in February 2010.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
GOOD: I am sure war and history buffs are salivating right now. Hell, I am salivating right now! Napoleon is probably one of history's greatest warmongers and the decision to make a Total War game based on him was a no brainer. It also opens up a whole can of possibilities for future General-based Total War games. Can you imagine a Genghis Kahn: Total War? I am really excited about the possibilities and I hope this game delivers when it hit stores next year.
Fable III Coming In 2010
During Microsoft's Gamescom conference, Peter Molyneux announced Fable III, complete with a trailer and first details. The game will center on your character from Fable II, as you are able to continue from your previous game's save file, inheriting all of your past deeds and indiscretions. The goal of the game is to take down the tyrant that is ruling Albion and becoming the King of Albion. That's right; you will become the ruler of the entire world! As King you will need to play politics and also decide the fate of your subjects, leading to brand-new gameplay mechanics, quests and places you have never seen before. Fable III will be released in 2010.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
GOOD: I really enjoy this concept of using your previous game's save file in the new game, it gives the series a level of continuity that is lacking in other games. Of course, Mass Effect 2 came up with the idea first, but whatever. Another thing that looks awesome is the fact that you will rule the world and will need to play politics to satisfy your subjects. I believe that has never been done before in an RPG. Fable II is one of the reasons I would love to get a 360 and Fable III just added to those reasons.
Goodbye:
No Random Rant or Reader's Voice this week. I am preparing everything for the new layout and hopefully I will have all the kinks worked out by the first edition of September. As always I welcome your feedback and ideas to improve the column. Until next week!
