411 Games Fact or Fiction 01.26.10: Mass Effect 2, Half Life 2, Earthbound, More

Posted by Mark Salmela on 01.26.2010

This week features 411’s favorite brothers Derek and Drew Robbins. Was delaying the PS3 motion controller a smart idea? Will Mass Effect 2 come out on the PS3? Should we have gotten another Crimson Skies? Should Valve be ashamed at the development process of Half Life 2: Episode 3? Is Earthbound overrated? These questions and more in Fact or Fiction.



Welcome back to another glorious edition of 411 Fact or Fiction. I am your respectable host Mark Salmela, and this week features 411's favorite brothers Derek and Drew Robbins. For those not in the know Derek Robbins was the original host of the 10th Hour, and Drew Robbins was the original host of Coming Attractions. I think you can figure out who's the talented writer of the family. Hell I shouldn't pick on Drew, I mean everyone deserves a second chance. That's why he wrote the PC Centric News Report… Oh, wait a minute… Well, he did run Three-Player Co-Op for a while. And he did have a short run as host of Fact or Fiction! AND now he's on here being humiliated by the new host, ME! The circle of life, isn't it beautiful?

Also, what do you think of the new banner? I contacted my old B3yond the Superfan, the guy who made me all of the banners currently on display in B3yond the Report, to make a banner for Fact or Fiction. I hated the banner that Ramon was using, I just didn't get around to changing it due to the fact that the B3yond the Superfan didn't respond to my emails. Well I've put my glorious editing skills to the test and came up with this! For those not in the know it's Hit Girl from the upcoming movie Kick Ass which is based off a comic. Alright on with the show!


1.) Sony was smart in delaying the PlayStation 3 motion controller until the fall.



Derek Robbins - Fact: Of course they were. Not only is fall considered prime time for new purchases, but also it allows for actual games that support it to be out at the same time. I really can't think of a single PS3 game that would benefit from a motion controller right now, so pushing it back to the fall really helps. I mean, I probably would not purchase one regardless, but I am sure some PS3 owner out there will care about this crazy controller.

Drew Robbins - Fiction: Delaying it, yeah, that was probably a smart move. But to the fall season, that is a questionable idea. It is going to be pretty tough to sell people on spending so much of their money on one extra accessory to their console, and considering the PS3's demographic, it will be even tougher to get them to budge around the Holiday season. You want to release something like this in the summer months, like Nintendo did with Motion plus, so customers don't avoid your product in favor of...well, other products of yours. Honestly I probably wouldn't have bought one anyways, but coming out with the holiday bunch certainly isn't helping that matter.

Score: 0 for 1 - In my opinion releasing the motion controller with little to no games would have been the nail in the coffin for the motion controller. I still think Sony needs to get this thing on store shelves before Natal however. I don't think Natal will set the world on fire, but I do think it'll outsell the PS3 motion controller by a long shot.



2.) Recently some WiiWare developers have voiced their frustrations with Nintendo over their lack of promotion for their download services. Nintendo doesn't care about those developers nor do they actually care about WiiWare.



Derek Robbins - Fiction: I think Nintendo cares about anything that can net them money, honestly. I figure the lack of promotion Nintendo gives for wiiware games is probably more on a belief that people will just sporadically check the channel and find something they want to get on there. I think as long as Nintendo views Wiiware as something that can make them a little bit of money, they will care about it...even if only a little bit.

Drew Robbins - Fact: While I wouldn't say they don't care about the developers (Capcom does develop on WiiWare, occasionally), I think it is pretty obvious that they couldn't give a care about WiiWare. You have to think, WiiWare is mostly the product of people complaining that Nintendo was only giving out old games to download on their service, as opposed to the fresh new ideas found on Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network. They put it out there to appease that crowd, but I sincerely doubt they spend much time at all thinking about the service or how to further it as a successful entity.

Score: 0 for 2 -I think Drew hit the nail on the head with this one.



3.) The Mass Effect games will eventually be released on the PlayStation 3.



Derek Robbins - Fact: For the most part, system exclusives are dead. Developers realize they can make more money by making their game available across multiple platforms. The Mass Effect franchise is associated with Microsoft, but I figure eventually they will want some of that sweet Sony money. I think it is not a matter of if Mass Effect will come over to the PS3, but when. I mean, shoot, it's gotten to the point where even franchises you wouldn't think would appear on other consoles (Dead Rising) make it to other consoles! (Dead Rising Wii, heh) Between the X-Box 360 and the PS3, it doesn't really matter which you own.

Drew Robbins - Fiction: I'm saying this with little to no research or knowledge of its current exclusivity agreement, so keep in mind, PS3 fan boys, take this with a grain of salt. Mass Effect has a pretty comfortable living over on the 360, and I'm sure it has done fairly well for itself on the PC. Why on earth would they waste valuable development time porting a game which has already made plenty of profit over to a different format that has often been a burden to those transferring games over to the PS3. I know Dragon Age is on the PS3, but it was developed for both platforms simultaneously. When Mass Effect came out, the PS3 was little more than a grill-shaped Blu-Ray player...oh and it had the first Uncharted. That was good stuff.

Score: 0 for 3 - I don't know about Mass Effect 1, but I don't see why Mass Effect 2 can't eventually come out for PS3.






4.) When the January 2010 NPDs are released Mass Effect 2 will have sold over a million copies on Xbox 360.



Drew Robbins - Fiction: I've never played the original Mass Effect, and I'm pretty sure that outcasts me from a grand majority of the readers out there. Much like Knights of the Old Republic it was able to put a Western RPG frame around something that gets the masses pumped. For KotOR, clearly, it was Star Wars. Mass Effect, well that has shooting, and since most games don't make it to store shelves without including at least one firearm, it is pretty safe to say that gamers enjoy shooting. All of this being said, Mass Effect is still a Western RPG, and because of that I highly doubt that the sequel will reach one million sales in January. You also have to consider the fact that Mass Effect 2 releases at the very tail-end of January. Will it get close? I'm sure, 700,000 copies seems like it should be a pretty safe bet, but I'd say that a million is a little bit off.

Derek Robbins - Fiction: If Mass Effect 2 was only available on the 360, then yes, I do think it would break the one million mark in the month of January. Unfortunately for it, the game also sees release on PC, which in my opinion will split the sales. There won't be an even split, but there will be a split none the less. I would say Drew's guess of about 700k is probably about spot on though.

Score: 1 for 4 - My prediction? 900,000 copies on 360 in January, just short of a million. Oh and thanks for screwing up the streak Derek.



5.) According to GameInformer Half-Life 2 Episode 3 won't be released in 2010. Valve should be embarrassed at how long it's taking.



Drew Robbins - Fact: Episodic gaming has been around for a while now, and why not, the idea has great appeal. Pay $10, see a new installment every month for a period of time, what's not to love? Valve, though, doesn't seem to understand this very simple definition. The games aren't short by any means, they don't come out on a consistent schedule, and the wait for this latest episode is prepared to extend to over three years. If you are going to call something an "Episode," at least have the dedication to get it out in a reasonable amount of time. By now we should be worrying about a third installment to the base franchise, not another addition to the second game.

Derek Robbins - Fact: Oh sweet God is this a fact. Are they nicknaming Half Life 2: Episode 3 Half Life 2: forever? It's just getting crazy at this point. It seems like Gabe is more focused on making sequels that would be better served as expansion packs. What makes it all the more ridiculous is that episode 2 was released on October 10, 2007 as part of the Orange Box. Half Life 2 was released on November 16, 2004. There's episodic gaming and then there's "We'll just get around to it when we damn feel like it." At this rate, Episode 3 better be LONGER than Half Life 2...or they better just scrap it all together and make a Half-Life 3. There is about no chance that Episode 3 will be worth the wait.

Score: 2 for 5 - Remember when people thought Half Life 2 took forever to come out? Well guess what, it's taking longer for the episodic expansion packs to come out for Half Life 2 then Half Life 2 did! It's been 6 years since Half Life 2 came out. Put out the third expansion pack already and call it a day.



6.) Airtight Games would have been better off developing another Crimson Skies title instead of Dark Void.



Drew Robbins - Fact: Crimson Skies isn't something I'm terribly familiar with, but I hear it brought up and praised often. Normally I would support a developer extending outside of their comfort zone and trying something new. But...this one doesn't seem to be going well. Reviews for Dark Void are middling, at best. The game doesn't have any commercial momentum; honestly I had all but forgotten about this game until I read this question. Due to the lack of said momentum, the game won't have the same benefit that Assassin's Creed had. When the first AC got mixed reviews, it was still a foregone conclusion that a sequel would be put out. Dark Void? Not a prayer.

Derek Robbins - Fact: I don't really have a good answer for this one other than the fact that I absolutely LOVED Crimson Skies. It was one of my favorite games to play on X-Box LIVE. I remember my friends wanting to play Halo 2, but I was all, "Fuck that, I want to fly planes around". So yeah, I want that experience again.

Score: 3 for 6 - I can think of a lot of games that should have been developed instead of Dark Void. Oh and stop casting Nolan North in your games if you're just going to make him sound like Nathan Drake.



Bonus Question #1: Coming Attractions was the worst column in the history of 411Games.



Derek Robbins - Fact: I mean, who wants to know what is coming out? I for one just go to Gamestop every Tuesday and go: "What is new, allow me to purchase it" like the consumer whore I am.

Drew Robbins - Fact: I certainly didn't enjoy writing it! Though I was a fan of reactions I got from giving scathing criticism of the Disgaea franchise. To those offended by my stance, I apologize for nothing.

Mark Salmela - Fact: The comments section loves to hate on me for the praise I give Target Terror and Shaq, but damn Coming Attractions was simply embarrassing. I've written my fair share of garbage. I mean I wrote 10 editions of Games Only a Mother Could Love, but Coming Attractions? Even I couldn't have birthed an idea so terrible if I tried. And trust me, Greg Bruno and I have tried to come up with some terrible ideas for columns.



Bonus Question #2: Face it Derek, Earthbound is overrated.

Drew Robbins - Fact: Not a day goes by where I'm not reminded how much Derek loves this game. Sorry, bromosapien, but Earthbound? Nothing special. Who needs a sense of humor? If I wanted to laugh, I'd watch Transformers 2, not play this garbage. The U.I. is cluttered as can be, the main character doesn't talk, and most of all, it is an RPG. Who likes those, anyways?*

Derek Robbins - Fiction: Over-rated is a funny way of saying "Second greatest game of all time." The first being, of course, Mother 3. What's the matter? Formulaic, old-school RPGs too deep for ya?

Mark Salmela - Fact: Yes Derek, RPGs are way too deep of a pile of shit for me to sink my teeth into.



Bonus Question #3: Let's come clean, Derek and Drew Robbins are the same person.

Derek Robbins - Fact: I just have schizophrenia.

Drew Robbins - Faction: Well, technically I guess, I was cloned from his DNA.

Mark Salmela - Fact: And guess what Snake? You were both cloned from my DNA! Suck it boss!



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Not counting the bonus questions Derek and Drew end up with a respectable 3 for 6. Not bad for brothers *allegedly*. Now that I'm done with Derek he shall return to the depths of my basement. Drew? Well he'll go back to the 8th grade where his punk ass belongs. What? The age jokes don't work anymore? Well damn… I guess he'll go back to competing with Greg Bruno for most inconsistent writer on the site. As for me I'll kick back, have a beer, and do my best to ruin any credibility these writers ever had. Be sure to check back next week for more, I'll cya in 7!