411 Games Fact or Fiction 04.05.11 GAME, Nintendo, Mega Man Universe and More

Posted by Adam Larck on 04.05.2011

Is it disappointing that Mega Man Universe was cancelled? Is Nintendo smart by not making its next console 3D? Is Microsoft trying to compete with Sony with a new disc format? Is the online pass being overdone? 411’s Dan Watson and Jeremy Thomas debate these questions and more in this week’s 411 Fact or Fiction: Games!

Welcome back to another week of 411 Games Fact or Fiction. I'm Adam Larck, and the DS reviews are a work in progress. Other than that, I've been playing a bit of Full House Poker and You Don't Know Jack.

This week, we have Dan Watson going up against Jeremy Thomas. Let's see how these two do. Time for banner!





1.) It's a good move by Nintendo not to include 3D in their next home console.

Dan Watson - Fact: I am not going to be one of those guys that buys a 3D TV and wears glasses while watching TV. This was a brilliant move to make it a novelty that only the handheld market will see. Could you imagine a 3D Wii....instead of controllers through televisions you will have people jumping through them.

Jeremy Thomas - Fact: Well, I think it's a good move, anyway. But then, I loathe 3D because an eye condition makes it impossible for me to see it properly. But even with that aside, the fact of the matter is that 3D isn't where people want it to be. People want it to be the effects that they've always dreamed of, where it's some sort of holographic projection. Until we're sitting in our own Holodecks rocking it like Picard and Data in a Sherlock Holmes tale, people won't generally be happy with 3D. Now, that is NOT to say that Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft need to wait the Xbox Projection Gaming System is developed before they can put a 3D device on the market, but now 3D is definitely in its infancy. What they should do is use the 3DS as a tool to gauge interest. Does it hold up to sustained sales from the 3D, or does it burn up and fade away quickly? Once that decision is made, they can move on.

Score: 1 for 1 - For a handheld its fine, but Nintendo could have alienated a lot if its fan base with 3D because of eye problems people have with it.



2.) It was low of GAME to buy 3DS from a competitor just to resale at a new price.

Dan Watson - Fact: It was clearly an unethical decision. There are some big issues with the idea of buying a system to re-sell at your store for a higher price and call it used. This was a poor decision on management's part and even poorer that they punished an employee for not following this insane memo. Note to all the kids out there... never put anything in writing or on tape that you don't want others to see.

Jeremy Thomas - Fact: Low and, I'm pretty sure, borderline illegal. Okay, as far as the consumer is concerned, it's not that huge of a difference. They were still getting the same 3DS's and paying the same price they otherwise would, right? Wrong. The problem with that theory is two-fold; it requires the belief that people are inherently noble, and it assumes that all of these consumers were going to buy from GAME anyway. The 3DS is a hot-ticket item, and quantities are limited. Is a freaking retail chain is buying up all the cheaper ones, it fucks the consumer who is being forced to pay the full retail price. Also, it implies that the employees being semi-forced to do this wouldn't actually play the systems. And we all know that's not going to happen. I imagine some of those systems ended up dinged, dirty and even damaged. And the consumer was none the wiser until they got it home. Yeah, fuck GAME. That's low.

Score: 2 for 2 - Honestly, I hope the plan backfires on them. But, given the demand, they're probably making a nice bit of profit from the unethical practice.



3.) You're disappointed that Capcom canceled Mega Man Universe.

Dan Watson - Fiction: I have never been a big Mega Man fan. Maybe it was that I got into it too early in my life and just never really gave it a fair shot. I think there may be a few other gamers that feel the same which would be why this game was canceled. I would also hope that Capcom has some better games in the works like a Resident Evil game.

Jeremy Thomas - Fact: I'm always disappointed when a Mega Man game doesn't make it out. I'm an original NES gamer and I've enjoyed the Mega Man franchise through its long and involved history. My interest has fluctuated at times, but I have played each of them and am always looking forward to a new one. Not getting that new one makes for a sad Jeremy. *tear*

Score: 2 for 3 - The game looked like a lot of fun, so I'm pretty disappointed that it won't be released.

---

*~Twitter Break!~*

My own Twitter
411Mania
411Games
411Wrestling
411Movies & TV
411Music
411MMA

---

4.) The new disc format Microsoft is trying out is being done to compete against Blu-ray.

Jeremy Thomas - Fiction: Here's why: Microsoft isn't that stupid. A new disc format to compete with Blu-Ray would be like trying to bring back Betamax tapes in 1990 amidst VHS during the height of its popularity. I've always been surprised that Blu-Ray defeated HD-DVD, if only because of the name, but it did and at this point Blu-Ray is like the Spartans in 300. It's already slaughtered one Persian army; do you really wanna send another one against it? Microsoft would be moronic to do so, as their disc would be proprietary to their system while Blu-Ray discs work in Blu-Ray players—which many people own nowadays—as well as PS3's. Yeah, if Microsoft tries to make the Xdisc or whatever you might call it, I'll laugh.

Dan Watson - Fiction: I think that Microsoft is going to work on creating a disc that is either an anti-theft concept or a bigger storage concept. I don't think Microsoft is going to compete again against Blu-ray after their last idea didn't work out so well (HD-DVD player). Instead they will focus on creating bigger storage space and maybe some sort of anti-hack idea.

Score: 3 for 4 - I just want to see what companies can do with the new format-size.



5.) The layoffs by THQ and Sony Online Entertainment are surprising.

Jeremy Thomas - Fiction: Layoffs rarely surprise me. We are still in a tough economic state, even if unemployment is decreasing bit-by-bit. Companies will always find a way to cut costs, and even ones doing well like THQ and Sony will do layoffs if they think they need to and they can afford to cut the workers. It sucks, undoubtedly. But it doesn't surprise me one bit.

Dan Watson - Fiction: At this point, no layoff surprises me. The economy is down. People aren't buying games like they did 7-8 years ago, instead it is wait until used games come or until the next big game. I have even cut back on buying games that I am unsure of or iffy of just because I don't have the disposable income I once did. Also, Sony being based in Japan, has a few issues to work out and I doubt this layoff was something they wanted to do during tougher times.

Score: 5 for 5 - I really figured THQ wouldn't be laying off people with two new games set to release this year.



6.) GameStop is spreading themselves too thin by trying to compete with Steam and OnLive with their recent purchases.

Jeremy Thomas - Fact: GameStop is a retail outlet. They need to remain a retail outlet, because that it their strength. We've seen many companies, in many industries, try to play it both ways and fail. Look at Blockbuster. The movie giant used to be on top of the freaking world, and when Netflix came along they couldn't figure out how to compete in the online marketplace and thus they're now going on the bankruptcy auction block. The big difference between GameStop and Blockbuster is that people DO still want physical media, and so there is a use for retail outlets. With BB, people had the option to get the physical media without having to go to the store; there is no such option for video games unless you count GameFly. And no one counts GameFly for anything. So yes, people will always want discs, at least for the foreseeable future. Those who download have their option with Steam and OnLive which are already known brands in the downloadable games marketplace; those who want physical games will go to Target or Best Buy. …okay, or GameStop. You get my point.

Dan Watson - Fiction: This may be the niche that GameStop needs to save itself. Gamers aren't buying games like they used to and more importantly video game developers are killing the used game market with their 1 time use passes. GameStop can make a push on the PC side of things with downloadable games that you can use your GameStop credits/gift cards on. I think this is a great business decision on their part.

Score: 6 for 6 - It certainly seems like GameStop is trying to cover every aspect of the game market, doesn't it.



Bonus Question.) The online pass feature is being overdone.

Jeremy Thomas - Fact: Oh my god, Fact. Listen, I don't do a lot of online gaming, and I get that used game sales is an issue. But this is flat-out stupid and it will cause people to reject online gaming as opposed to used games. People will always want games cheap. Always. If they can buy Mortal Kombat for $25 used instead of $50 new than they will, end of story. And not everyone will care if they need to buy an online pass. So the game studios are just shooting themselves in the foot. Dumbasses.

Dan Watson - Fact: One game having the online pass is too many. I used to love to pick up MLB 2k series used when it was $20-$30, but now I will not be because of the excessive cost of buying a stupid online pass. This is the worst idea a company has had in a long time. If you are going to have an online pass be in the game, drop the game $10 at launch. I know you get 1 free code but gone are they days of taking the game to a friends house and playing 2 vs 2 basketball over Live. This is killing sports games as well as any other genre that implements this concept.

Adam Larck - Fact: I understand the idea behind it, but can't we find another way to counter used games. The online pass should add extra incentives to games, like what Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2 did. However, more companies are starting to use it to take what should be normal features out, such as multiplayer. Developers should start taking a page out of BioWare's book if they want to keep using this. Otherwise, find something else to do.

The pair goes perfect this week, getting a 6-of-6. What do you think? Agree or disagree with their answers? Let us know. See you in seven!