411 Games Fact or Fiction 10.26.09: MAG, Modern Warfare 2, XBLA/PSN, More

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 10.26.2009

Is Xbox Live still a better system than the PlayStation Network? Will MAG prove to be a popular game? Are RTS games better on the PC or console? Would Blu-ray support on the Xbox 360 be pointless? 411's Trace Aber and Joshua Richey debate these topics and more in the latest edition of 411 Games Fact or Fiction!




With Trace Aber joining in this week, we also welcome back Joshua Richey; one of our original Games writers who's been gone for some time. However, he's back and ready to jump straight into some Fact or Fiction action and so let's get it on!

1. You don't really care that Infinity Ward is using a proprietary server system for the PC version of Modern Warfare 2.

Joshua Richey: FACT - I'm really not the right person to be giving my opinion on a subject like this. I'm more of a console guy; so I don't really have a horse in this race. But there is a petition going around that has already been signed by over 100,000 butthurt CoD fans. It's never a good thing to have your fanbase angry like that; especially so close to launch. But it appears that this is just one of those things that they'll have to get over.

Trace Aber: FACT - Much like Josh, I'm a console gamer and don't have too much to say about this issue, but I have been loosely following the story. A lot of fans are pretty pissed about this and have started the petitions while IW is seemingly trying to make it seem like a big misunderstanding and that the new server system is better for everyone involved. I think it's one of those things that we'll just have to wait and give it a shot to see if it actually works. To me, it appears as though fans are jumping the gun since, to my knowledge, not a whole lot of info has been released on the subject. I'd just say reserve judgment until you try it and give IW the benefit of the doubt that they wouldn't make a decision like this unless they believed in their alternative.

Score: 1 for 1


2. A Nintendo DSi Speak Channel would in fact be a good idea.

Joshua Richey: FACT - It's not a terrible idea. I'm sure that if it's anything like the Speak Channel on the Wii – which you would have to assume that it is – than I'm sure that some people out there would use it. Regardless to whether people use it or not, the fact that Nintendo is still working on improving the DSi is very exciting and hopefully a sign of things to come.

Trace Aber: FACT - Only because there's nothing bad with adding a new feature (or channel, in this instance). Sure, it may not be the most useful or even practical tool (I mean, were there a lot of people begging for a speak channel on their DSi's?), but there will always be people willing to try it out. As long as Nintendo can keep giving people reasons to purchase yet another new DS model then they can somewhat justify having them, which is what I think is going on here.

Score: 2 for 2


3. Blu-Ray support on the Xbox 360 would be pointless.

Joshua Richey: FICTION - It really depends on how long of a life cycle Microsoft sees the 360 having. If they're planning a new console for a few years down the line, than I'd say that it probably wouldn't be worth it. But if the 360 is to have a shelf life of another 4-5 years – which the launch of Project Natal could very well do - then I say they should absolutely support Blu-Ray. You have to remember that there are a lot of people out there that will never own both consoles. If you're a casual gamer, the fact that the PS3 can play Blu-Ray's is a huge selling point. They see it as a huge advantage to what the 360 has to offer. If you were to add an optional Blu-Ray drive, you can take away that advantage.

Trace Aber: FACT - Since the PS3 came out the one thing that set it apart for casual gamers was Blu-Ray support. In some cases, it was actually cheaper to buy a PS3 than a standalone Blu-Ray player. This is the way it has been since the 360 and PS3 came out and that's how most casual gamers still understand it. While I do believe whatever add-on they would release to support Blu-Ray would sell modestly well, I don't think it's going to bring in too many new console buyers. People would rather have it built in and with something they know that works and have had instilled in their heads for a couple of years - PS3 has it and 360 doesn't. Microsoft doesn't have a whole lot to gain from this move in the long run.

Score: 2 for 3

Switch!!!!

4. MAG will turn out to be very popular when it releases for the PlayStation 3.

Trace Aber: FACT - While I don't see it outselling Modern Warfare 2, I still feel that MAG will prove to be the second most popular FPS on the PS3. I'm actually in the beta on the game but haven't been able to actually play it thanks to ridiculously large updates you have to download (just not enough time), but from what little I've seen it appears that the game will have enough to set it apart. The ability to eventually command an entire army is a real intriguing aspect of the game for me and it should be a nice diversion from the typical run and gun techniques you often see. In MAG you have to work as a team and I believe they set up their scoring system based on overall teamwork, something that is missing from a lot of team-based modes. And, besides, the idea of having so many people playing online at once on a console is an experience that many people will flock to and possibly even buy a PS3 for.

Joshua Richey: FACT - Curiosity itself is going to make MAG a popular title at launch. But it's important that this game has a smooth launch; otherwise this will end up being a very unpopular mess for Sony to clean up. It has to live up to the hype. There can't be any problems with the servers, or lag, or anything like that. There are a lot of people out there that are already hesitant about getting excited for it, so it really needs to deliver. If it does, MAG will be a huge hit.

Score: 3 for 4


5. After all the hub-bub about the PS3's online structure being free while the Xbox 360's is for a yearly fee, you STILL feel Xbox Live is superior to PSN.

Trace Aber: FACT - I own both a PS3 and a 360 and to me the 360 has the superior service. While the PS3 has some nice features that the 360 doesn't have such as Home, they're nothing more than little diversions for people. On cross-platform games I find that 360 games always have more people, are generally more stable, and there are more people with microphones. One thing I really dislike about PSN is that they don't demand demos on every downloadable game. The 360 has more games to play (arcade and indie) and each one of them have a respectable demo. There are many games I would possibly buy on the PS3 but with no demo I don't want to take the risk of losing money. To me, that's the biggest thing (I love downloadable games) and that's free on the 360 anyways.

Joshua Richey: FACT - I'm going to have to agree. I've not heard one person say that they don't think that they're getting their monies worth with Live. Everything is neatly organized, it has a large community, and it's constantly getting useful upgrades that make it even better. The PSN has made strides since the Playstation 3 launched, but it's still no Xbox Live. You may have to pay money for it, but you get a lot of bang for your buck.

Score: 4 for 5


6. It's been tried over and over but honestly, RTS titles are just much better on a PC than on any console.

Trace Aber: FACT - Though, that's only a half-fact simply because I don't play too many RTS titles anymore, PC or console. Although I used to be a huge RTS fan and have played more recent RTS games on the 360, and even the older PC games played better than the new ones on consoles. But, giving credit where credit is due, the console RTS games have improved dramatically and perhaps with time (and a lot of it) I could seem them at least being on the same level of PC versions. Who knows, anything can happen?

Joshua Richey: FACT - I'm not a big RTS guy, but let's be honest, if Halo Wars didn't break the RTS-on-console glass ceiling, then it's probably not happening - though that hasn't stopped developers in the past. They'll continue to make RTS's in hopes that their game succeeds where games like Tom Clancy's EndWar failed. I'm not saying that RTS titles can't work on the console, I'm just saying that history shows that it's a nearly impossible feat.

Final score: 5 for 6

Ok now it's time to turn it over to you, our readers. Fact or Fiction? Let us know your thoughts!