411 Games Fact or Fiction 09.02.06: Blue Dragon, Good Vibrations, Ten Year Lifespans, Backwards Compatibility, More!
Posted by Tommy Coloma on 09.02.2006
Andrew Mellick and Mathew Sforcina talk Blue Dragon, vibration feedback, ten-year lifespan consoles, Nintendo's online plans, backwards compatibility, and the rumored PSP redesign in this week's edition of Fact or Fiction Games.
This week's participants have already made a name for themselves in the Music and Wrestling sections of 411mania.com. Over in the Music Section, Andrew Mellick takes a look at who is making news and whether or not people care in Hyped (Over/Under). He also does album reviews, game previews, and has recently started The Psychoholic Slag, his new news column. Over in the Wrestling Section, Mathew Sforcina takes a look at a character's entire development from debut to today and beyond in Evolution Schematic. He has also had his share of news fill-ins. Now it's time for these two to branch out and show us what they think about the video game industry.
1. Blue Dragon will single-handedly save the Xbox 360 in Japan and make it the system to beat in that region this holiday season.
Andrew Mellick: FICTION
While I do feel that this game looks great and will definitely appeal to the Japanese market, I think it will take more than one game for them to take over this market.
Look at it this way. The Halo franchise basically put Xbox on the map in the States. But the reason for Xbox's continued success is due to the way they have worked their butts off to get good games on their system. Halo was the cornerstone but it took more than just that game to establish Microsoft in the US and they still didn't take over the lions share from Sony. Plus America has been much more open to the Xbox.
I give Microsoft a lot of credit for coming into the console war when it was already dominated and making a respectable place for themselves. I'll even say that it is possible for them to take Japan, but one game isn't going to do it for them. It's a start but it will take more to get the Japanese to buy into the 360.
Mathew Sforcina: FICTION
Andrew seems to know what he's talking about, and that logic makes sense. Of course, who knows with the Japanese market? It seems to change every few seconds.
Score: 1 for 1
2. Vibration feedback is an important part of the gaming experience.
Andrew Mellick: FACT
Vibrating controllers were introduced a few years back and once all the jokes had been made, the gamers learned to adapt to this new little pulsing. The feature just quietly vibrated in our hands for the next few years. Ok, this sounds bad but there is a point. You see, I think the vibrating controller has become a part of gaming. I know that when I heard the PS3 controller wouldn't have this feature I was legitimately disappointed. Of course, then I heard the price and I was really disappointed. But that's not what this is about. I think the vibration is something we have come to expect. From going off road in Need for Speed, to feeling the slight pulse when we watch a cut scene of Snake slitting a guard's throat in MGS3. Yes, this feature has become as American as apple pie.
Developers have turned this little side feature into an important function. Some games use it to alert danger. Others use it to pulse with the music in rhythm based games. What I am saying is that it's not just a useless bell and whistle type add-on any more. It is a legitimate part of gaming that I think will be sorely missed on the PS3.
Mathew Sforcina: FICTION
Yes, for some games it's very useful and such. But it's far from a must have. It's an important bell and whistle, but it's still a bell and whistle. This might be culture shock here (after all, I am Australian which is a different market than America; we took the Xbox to heart straight off after all), but there are several things that a game needs - gameplay, story, graphics, replayability, customization - all way ahead of vibration. Missing out on it is a bummer, yes, but it's hardly the death of gaming as we know it. But as soon as someone develops an atomic battery, it'll be back. But right now, the consumer seems to want wireless more than vibration.
Score: 1 for 2
3. You like the idea of having a console with a ten year lifespan.
Andrew Mellick: FACT
Yes I do. Let's look at the facts here. Systems release and the first year is filled with bugs and questionable games. Developers are still trying to figure out this software and in the process bastard games are created. As the years wane the games become better and hardware bugs are worked out. The PS2 is a prime example of this fact. There are still great games slated to come out all the way through the PS3 launch (whenever that is).
There is a definite rift forming in the videogame world. People want quality games, not crappy games with good graphics. We don't want the console world to be like the PC world where you have to update every year in order to play the latest games. Give me a system with good games that lasts for ten years and I'll be happy. This question will truly be answered in about ten years from now and my money is on innovative games over new glossy systems every few years.
Mathew Sforcina: FACT
I still play Civ 2. I own most arcade collections for the Xbox. Quality lasts. And putting out a console with a 10 year life span, you make a statement - We will be here in 10 years time, and we will still be making great games. That's a positive statement. I'll happily wait 10 years for the Xbox 720, the PS4 and the Nintendo Poo. Provided the games are good. (And they make SSB: Nintendo vs. Sega for the Poo)
Score: 2 for 3
4. It is being reported that Nintendo will not allow third party titles to go online until early next year. This move is yet another example of Nintendo's inability to make good business decisions when it comes to their consoles.
Mathew Sforcina: FICTION
Nintendo are kinda behind the 8 Ball here. They have the Brand Juggernaut that is the PlayStation on one hand, and the Company Juggernaut of Microsoft on the other hand. Instead of trying to match these two guys shot for shot, they need to reestablish to the world that they are Quality. Ergo, focusing on the Wii online games that everyone will want (Mario, Zelda, SSB, etc. etc.) and making them work great online before letting other guys in is pretty sound. Better great at a select few than crappy over many.
Andrew Mellick: FICTION
Ok, a year ago I would have yelled fact from the hilltops. However, Nintendo has shown their creativity and marketing ability in spades. They have positioned the Wii in a place where it could very well take back a good portion of the market. The 360 was looking like a great alternative to the much more expensive PS3 but the Wii is even cheaper and features the innovation that both other systems lack. They are putting all their money on fun, creative games and I think it will pay off. While I would like to see third party games online sooner than next year, I can understand Nintendo's reluctantly to do so in the name of quality.
If they are able to put forth a solid online experience they could take some business away from Microsoft and with the price tag and innovation they are looking to take business away from Sony. With their last two consoles being a huge disappointment and online play virtually nonexistent this could be the biggest turnaround in gaming history.
Score: 3 for 4
5. You care about backwards compatibility.
Mathew Sforcina: FACT
You're damn right I do. I don't care that the 360 has all these bells and whistles, one of the main things holding me back from upgrading is that I can't play Bard's Tale on it. Unless they re-release games with added stuff that would work on the new consoles (which would actually be kinda cool, like 2 games per disc or something), letting me play the really great games from their back catalogue is a very important part. After all, graphics aren't everything, right?
Andrew Mellick: FACT
I agree with Mathew. While I didn't use the feature all that often with my PS2, I did use it sometimes and had great enjoyment for a while going back and playing games like Castlevania, Metal Gear Solid, Twisted Metal 2, and so on.
Why make an entire gaming library obsolete when it isn't necessary? We can't all afford to buy next gen games after we just spent all our money on a next gen system. Backwards compatibility allows gamers time to build up their new game library for the next system. It also allows for fun weekends of retro gaming.
I do think Mathew is onto something there. Revisit old games and add some new content and sell them for cheap. Even with this idea I think that backwards compatibility is a viable and often used feature.
Score: 4 for 5
6. It's too early for a redesigned PSP.
Mathew Sforcina: FACT, barely
It was the wrong time for the PSP full stop really, but if they rebuild the PSP now, it's a real sign of weakness. That's something Sony can't really afford. Nintendo always had "The last was good, this is different" thing going for them, they improved. Sony has to try and get the PSP over now, or while their new design might be perfect, it'll fight an uphill battle from the start. Well, more so.
Andrew Mellick: FACT
I remember when the battle between the PSP and the DS raged. I remember talking about it with my friends. The thought was, the PSP will have amazing graphics and the DS will have just two screens. It seemed Sony was destined to take the handheld market. Fast forward to today and the DS is rocking the world while the PSP is on life support. Stores are hardly selling UMD's and the games are becoming less frequent.
Here is an idea: leave the PSP alone and go in and develop a good damn game! The new games for the PSP are nonexistent. Quit making ports of good games and make real good games. Sony needs to figure this out before the PS3 is out for a year and they are talking about a redesign. It's not all about graphics, it's about game play. Listen to your fans Sony before it is too late.
Score: 5 for 6
A final score of 5 for 6. Another week. Another score of 5 for 6. Don't forget to check back again next week for more FoF goodness!
