411 Games Fact or Fiction 12.26.06: Regular DS & Wii Games, Sega's Franchises, Master Chief's Face, Sony, EA vs. 2K, and More!
Posted by Tommy Coloma on 12.26.2006
Caleb Newby and Andrew Mellick discuss DS and Wii games with regular control schemes, Sega’s ability to treat its franchises with dignity, the merits of seeing Master Chief’s face, whether EA should be afraid of 2K, the way Sony treats its customers like idiots, and downloadable content in this edition of Fact or Fiction Games.
We are back with another explosive edition of Fact or Fiction. Caleb Newby and Andrew Mellick once again return to tell us what's what in the world of video games. Caleb, our games section editor, somehow finds time to write reviews while keeping his fellow staff members in line. It appears that he has gotten his hands on a PS3 as his last two reviews have been for that system. Are games for the PS3 worth the price of admission? Find out in his reviews for Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Need for Speed: Carbon. Someone who already knows the answer to that question is Andrew. Witness The SIXAXIS News Report, his weekly column that many have made their "one stop shop for all things Sony." Sony fans and haters alike - this column will give you something to talk about. Of course Andrew also does reviews. His latest reviews are for NBA '07 and Genji: Days of the Blade for the PS3. Make sure to check them out. The scores are not what one would expect from the writer of The SIXAXIS.
Time to get started -
1. A DS game that doesn't use the stylus or a Wii game that doesn't make use of motion sensing? Get out of here! Time to go back to the drawing board.
Caleb Newby: FICTION
It's not required that a game on the Wii or DS use motion sensing or the touchpad, respectively. Games have been fun before these features and can be good without them. That being said, it's silly to not try to make use of the feature since it adds another element of game play and interactivity. Plus, it's all still innovative and new enough that games may get a higher review with these features than without.
Andrew Mellick: FACT
Caleb, you couldn't be more wrong. It makes no sense for a game to be on a system with these abilities and not utilize them. It may not be "required" but they definitely need to go back to the drawing board. Think of a game with graphics on par with the PlayStation One being released for the PlayStation 3. It would be the biggest bust of the year. Nintendo has chosen to sacrifice graphics in the name of innovative game play. To not utilize this ingenuity is downright dumb.
Score: 0 for 1
2. Nights and any of Sega's other classics should not be updated as today's Sega would most likely ruin whatever franchise they decide to bring back.
Caleb Newby: FACT
Though I am saying this based off of an assumption. I have no experience with Nights so I can't comment on that game in particular. But based off of the Sonic series and the demo I played a month or so ago... yeah, they need to be careful where they take the classic games of years gone by. I'd love for them to prove otherwise though.
Andrew Mellick: FACT
I got to agree with Newby on this one. Sega seems to have lost their magic. It is too bad to see a company that put the fear of God into Nintendo, go out this way.
Maybe it's writers block or maybe it's a lack of creative people but the bottom line is that Sega now sucks. They shouldn't tarnish the good names they have created. Let your legends be remembered as legends, or sell the rights to a company who actually knows how to make a successful game in this era.
Score: 1 for 2
3. Bungie should show Master Chief's face in Halo 3.
Caleb Newby: FACT
Fact, fact, a thousand times fact. Master Chief has always screamed to me that of a character that wasn't expected to take off... a bland, ordinary, generic soldier typical of first person shooters in years past. There is no aura around him where taking his helmet off would ruin the tradition and history of the franchise.
Halo multiplayer is fun, but two things have bugged me about the series. First, the repetitive game play on single player/co-op. Secondly is that people buy into Master Chief being this awesome or unique character. Giving him a face gives him a personality beyond merely being a placeholder of a character filling a role.
Andrew Mellick: FICTION
Don't be angry with Newby, he is used to Final Fantasy games where characters drip with gooey emotions, depressing back stories, and emo-like facial expressions. What he doesn't realize is that the faceless warrior that is Master Chief speaks volumes in his lack of emotion. It conveys his business like attitude in the face of what would make any spikey-haired, fruity pants, Final Fantasy character cry in the corner while listening to Dashboard Confessional.
Look, I'm all for deep stories and deep characters. But I think the Halo franchise has created for themselves a different kind of story telling. "This is war. War is hell. Business as usual."
Score: 1 for 3
4. It is being reported that 2k will be releasing a football game next year that will focus on historical players in order to get around EA's lock on the NFL. EA still has nothing to fear.
Andrew Mellick: FICTION
This is a tough one; I may be saying fiction because I am more hopeful than anything, but I think 2K has a shot here. See, EA has made Madden into a juggernaut. However, 2K rose up to create an alternative threatening enough that EA felt it necessary to dish out major cash to get exclusive rights to the NFL and its players.
2K will have quite an uphill battle creating a game that could capture the fun and excitement of a Madden title with a roster of former pros. However, after breaking into NFL games and creating a viable substitute for a multimillion dollar franchise like Madden, I think lightening could strike twice. I will say that I am definitely excited to see what they come up with.
Caleb Newby: FICTION
I agree with Andrew in hoping this cracks the EA stranglehold on football. With 2K Sports recently making headway until the exclusive contract fiasco between EA and the NFL I think it's possible that 2K does better than folks would give them credit for. The reason for my biggest optimism is the fickleness of gamers, particularly when they feel bullied, i.e. Sony's Blu-ray drive causing gamers to resent the Blu-ray system and put support behind HD DVD. So sure it may be a few years before EA starts to feel any effect here, but it is possible. Stranger things have happened. If nothing else let's hope it makes future Maddens better.
Score: 2 for 4
5. The whole alliwantforxmasisapsp debacle proves that Sony underestimates its customers' intelligence.
Andrew Mellick: FICTION
No, what Sony did was unethical, but lets be honest here, every company does this stuff. Don't be so shocked. Sony isn't underestimating their customers, they are just playing hardball. Nobody likes being lied to and I understand if people are upset, but let's not blow this thing out of proportion. Sorry folks but that is just business.
Too often we gamers get all justified in the name of "ethics" that we will bash a company from here to Christmas over something that the rest of the world has already accepted. We complain on message boards and bitch in blogs all the while we are downloading free music, pirating software and etcetera. So let's try to get a grip here.
Caleb Newby: FICTION
I really wanted to disagree with Andrew here but I can't. He's right - this stuff happens all the time from companies. If it's not one thing it's another. They are going to poke around and see what works to increase business. If it doesn't they'll dump it, ala the viral marketing.
So I say be pissed if you want to, but don't take it all that personally and learn to expect things of this nature (and worse) from the big bad business world.
Score: 3 for 5
6. Developers and publishers should take care of their customers. Downloadable content for games that you've already bought should be free.
Andrew Mellick: FACT
Companies always whine about the costs of making new games. Like somehow this will make us accept parting with what could pay for 14 meals so they can make their down payment on their Mercedes.
However we, the loyal customer, are supporting you in the first place by dishing out more and more money to cover your costs in the initial purchase. Now you're telling me that to enjoy the game for more that the 10 hours it takes me to beat it I have to pay more money? It would be nice to see these developers actually give a little something extra to the customer for once.
Caleb Newby: FACT
But this is because I am old school (as in beyond the last 2 years). This is the same reason I don't do MMORPGs. If I buy the game, I don't want to keep paying for it. I understand that it's getting more and more expensive to make these games but it's the idea behind it.
That all being said, this isn't the hill I'm going to die on when it comes to games. As long as the new content that costs money is secondary to the main game and doesn't detract from it, I'll just be slightly annoyed and nothing more.
Score: 4 for 6
A final score of 4 for 6. I heard that the Pirates of Pestulon need software developers. Don't forget to join us next time or I might accidentally mention your name while talking to Elmo Pug.
