411 Games Fact or Fiction 03.13.07: Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out, the Benefits of Piracy, Happy PS3 Owners, and More!
Posted by Tommy Coloma on 03.13.2007
Chris Kovatsh and Adam Smith tell us what they think about porn-quality acting in FMVs, Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out on the Wii, rumble in the SIXAXIS, whether piracy is beneficial, Phil Harrison’s ability to make PS3 owners happy, and the best way to distribute Tetris in this edition of Fact or Fiction Games!
Welcome to another fun-filled edition of Fact or Fiction. This week Chris Kovatsh and Adam Smith return give you more of what you're looking for. Both of our participants for this week are active reviewers for the Games section. If you've been wondering how well Super Mario World has held up after 16 years, don't miss Chris Kovatsh's recent review for the VC version of the game. Chris also has several reviews coming later this month including ones for Mario Party 8 (Wii), Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (DS), The Godfather: Blackhand Edition (Wii), and Cake Mania (DS). Not to be outdone, Adam Smith also has a few reviews here at 411mania. His latest is for Hotel Dusk: Room 215 for the DS. Like Chris, Adam will also be doing several reviews this month. They include Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai - Another Road (PSP), Earth Defense Force 2017 (Xbox 360), Cooking Mama: Cook Off (Wii), and SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighers DS (DS). Make sure that you check back regularly to read what they have to say about those games. Lets get going -
1. You prefer porn-star level acting to serious acting in FMVs.
Chris Kovatsh: FACT
I really enjoy the porn-star level acting - it's so bad it's hilarious. Also, if you're going to spend a whole bunch of money on putting real actors in a videogame you're really wasting money that should be put into making the game good. The reason why I prefer the porn-star acting is all because of the end of Command and Conquer. Man, I wish I had those videos to watch all the time.
Adam Smith: FICTION
As gaming becomes less of a cheap (expensive?) form of entertainment and gradually approaches art, one has to expect that the quality of virtual acting needs to rise. I enjoy B-level acting as much as the next guy, but I'd much prefer serious, good acting.
Score: 0 for 1
2. There is no way in hell that we are going to get Mike Tyson's Punch-Out on the Wii's Virtual Console.
Chris Kovatsh: FACT
We will definitely get the non-Mike Tyson Punch-Out for the NES. It seems like there might be some trouble with using the Mike Tyson version legally. I'm not complaining either way. Both games are excellent and very similar. Let's just hope and pray for Super Punch-Out for the SNES on the Virtual Console.
Adam Smith: FACT
We'll see Punch-Out but Mike Tyson won't be anywhere near the game. Sadly, Nintendo doesn't want to associate themselves with a convicted rapist. Thankfully, Michael Jackson *ahem* got off so we could still see Moonwalker.
Score: 1 for 2
3. Despite the fact that rumble is a "last generation feature," the addition of rumble in the SIXAXIS is inevitable now that Sony and Immersion have settled their differences.
Chris Kovatsh: FACT
Why not? People always enjoy rumble and it's always something that can help add to your gaming experience. It can always be great especially if you're shooting or even getting shot in videogames. The rumble function shouldn't be too hard to start implementing on the SIXASIS controllers and it won't be all that costly. Even little things like walking down a hill and having a little rumble for each footstep really makes things more exciting, as little as it is.
Adam Smith: FACT
Sony's spent about a day before announcing their rumble controllers so it's really a moot point. I'm really looking forward to the $60 Sixaxis Rumble controllers though....
Score: 2 for 3
4. Piracy helps console makers in the long run.
Adam Smith: FICTION
Perhaps the greatest fiction I've ever heard. Unlike music, gamers who download ROMs or ISOs do not turn around and buy the games they really like. Furthermore, the vast majority of titles on all three download stores are old games that are directly affected by piracy. Piracy has never ever helped console gaming and it almost certainly never will.
Chris Kovatsh: FACT
If it's just the console makers then definitely it helps. People will buy an original Xbox these days just to mod it and put classic SNES titles on it. The people who make the games are definitely losing out on people just renting games and copying them to their hard drives. There are not many people buying Xboxes now unless they plan on doing some sort of piracy with it. Console sales for old systems are still going to be higher if you can mod them or pirate games easily. Look at the Dreamcast - people are all about buying that because all you need to do is find it on the Internet and then burn it onto a disc to play.
Score: 2 for 4
(note - the following statement was given to the writers before GDC took place)
5. The days of PS3 negativity are over. Phil Harrison's keynote at GDC will make PS3 owners "very happy" and convince those who waited to PLAY B3YOND.
Adam Smith: FICTION
Considering Kotaku did the rundown of what Harrison's speech was going to cover, there's a lot to be happy about with Sony in the next few weeks. Sadly, Sony hatred would not diminish across the Internet unless Sony were to give out free PS3s to everyone that posts on a message board. Still, current PS3 owners will be "very happy" with seeing Sony's online strategy while the masses continue to hate on it until Metal Gear Solid 4.
Chris Kovatsh: FICTION
There are still tons of PS3's available in almost every gaming store I go in. The fact that they just released God of War 2 for the PS2 means there's almost no reason yet to buy a PS3 for awhile. The Wii hasn't really lost momentum and the 360 has maintained its own very well. The PS3 is definitely the weak link as of right now and it's going to take a lot of convincing to get people to start believing in it since its horrible launch. Harrison does have some great things to say, but it's not going to make the system great by any means.
Score: 3 for 5
6. THQ is foolish for selling Tetris Evolution in disc format instead of on Xbox Live Arcade.
Adam Smith: FICTION
I may still be of the old mindset, but I like having my games on a physical medium. THQ probably would have sold more copies of Tetris Evolution if it was up on Live (assuming the price point was the same), but I still think 95% of gamers would take a DVD over a piece of downloaded content without exception.
Chris Kovatsh: FACT
They could've made a lot more money I think if they kept it on Xbox Live Arcade. If people have any spare money they're going to look at it online and say "Well I got a few extra dollars, why not give this game a chance?" If they're looking in a game store with thousands of games, Tetris looks pretty bleak in comparison to say Crackdown.
Score: 3 for 6
A final score of 3 for 6. That's it for this week. Check back again next week or be prepared to be charmed by my magic punches!
