B3yond the Report 05.06.08

Posted by Mark Salmela on 05.06.2008

This week I give my impressions on Grand Theft Auto 4. Also, could a re-mastered MGS1 be included in MGS4? Will God of War 3 have online play? Plus news on SingStar, Haze, Little Big Planet, Metal Gear Online, Echochrome, Pixel Junk Monsters Encore, Fatal Inertia EX, and more when you go B3yond the Report!




Well, well, well; if you're reading this column that must mean you've given up on GTA4 and officially hate it. Don't worry, I hate it to. It's a piece of crap that should be banned worldwide for the intense violence that it promotes to the children of America.

Now hopefully you understand that I'm kidding. GTA4 is quite an awesome game, and I laugh at all of the public interest groups like MADD that are flipping out over GTA4. But that's neither here nor there, I'm here to talk about the real news *we all knew the media would flip over GTA4*. I've been quite a busy man at 411 this week with a Fact or Fiction *coming soon*, a GT5 Prologue review, and now this column. While one would assume that this would have been quite the dead week due to GTA4, there's actually been a couple of interesting stories. So let's get to it, as I'm sure I'm not the only one who's clamoring at the chance to hop back into Liberty City.



Now with a 6 star rating, it's B3yond the News of the Week~!

God of War 3 to have online play?



An interesting job advertisement popped up on Sony Computer Entertainment America's official website this past week. A job opening for "an online gameplay programmer" to work on the God of War team went up this week. While this is still a rumor and Sony probably won't even comment on the issue until E3 in July, this could be huge if it turns out to be true. God of War has become one of Sony's top franchises, and with God of War 3 set to be the final title in the trilogy, what better way to send the game off than with an awesome online mode. God of War 1 and 2 just about perfected the single player gameplay, so improved PS3 graphics and sweet online multiplayer could make God of War 3 a must have. While I have no clue what we an online multiplayer for God of War 3 would be like, I'm sure it would be absolutely brutal. Imagine the amount of blood involved in the potential online battles. I'll have more coverage on this story as it unfolds.




The final chapter in the God of War series will be released on the PS3 next year.

Credit: SCEA


US Singstar details



Well after a long wait the highly anticipated SingStar franchise will be launching on the PlayStation 3 on May 20. SingStar is a karaoke style video game that was very popular on the PS2. For the PS3 launch, SingStar will be supporting downloadable content through the SingStore, which is sort of like the in-game store for Rock Band. But what has me excited is what you appear to get with each download of DLC in SingStar. While not confirmed, it appears that when you purchase a song in the SingStore, you get not only the song for the game, but you also get an mp3 version of the song for the go as well as the original music video. In previous games like Rock Band all you get is the song playable in the game, so to see that SingStar will give you both the original song and the music video all for $1.50 a song is a great deal. Sony is a huge music company in addition to a video game company so they are one of the few companies who could offer users such a deal. While only 30 songs will come on the disc for SingStar, Sony says they will add 25 – 50 new songs every month, which is more than any other game including Rock Band puts out. With 25 – 50 songs a month, chances are your favorite songs will pop up in SingStar sooner or later. In addition to the SingStore users will also be able to film themselves using the PlayStation Eye and upload videos of themselves singing for others to check out. SingStar is looking very cool, be sure to check it out when it launches on the PS3 on May 20.

Credit: PlayStation Boards


Activision Blizzard pulls out of E3, ESA



It looks as if E3 might be running into some problems. It turns out that Activision Blizzard, Vivendi, NCSoft, Her Interactive, and id Software have all chosen to not attend E3 this year. Apparently the companies are upset over the increased rental fees to secure a booth at E3 due to the event being back in the old convention center of E3's past, and as a result Activision Blizzard will hold their own press event separate from E3. Other possible reasons include bad timing for E3, as some analysts are predicting that holding E3 in July is too early to show video games that won't be released until November or December. This seems like a clear sign that some companies, especially Activision Blizzard, are angry with ESA president Mike Gallagher.

So while Activision will be holding a separate press event near the same time and place as E3, they will no longer be a part of the ESA. Some websites have been quick to say that E3 will be a huge failure this year, and while I do think that it will have some problems, I'm still pumped for it. Nintendo has yet to explain what, if anything they have planned for the holiday season. Microsoft has claimed that Fable 2 and Gears of War 2 will be coming, but details on said games as well as other hidden projects *Allan Wake* have been scarce. Sony also has a big line-up planned, with games like Killzone 2, Resistance 2, Little Big Planet, and more looking to get back into the spotlight. We've yet to hear officially what Naughty Dog is working on, as well as Team Ico. Hopefully E3 will bring some answers as to what these highly acclaimed development teams are up to.

Credit: Kotaku


The PS3 version of GTA4 is having some serious problems



Well leave it to Sony to be at the forefront of problems again. It seems that every time a big multiplatform title comes out, it's always the PS3 version to run into significant problems. Well it's happened again, as there have been a significant number of complaints about the PS3 version of GTA4. Of course the 360 version isn't perfect either, but there has been far less complaints about the 360 version. Both Rockstar and Sony have been quick to issue a response saying they are working on the problem, but so far they've only had minimal luck.

The first problem was the lack of online mode. For almost the first 4 days the PS3 version of GTA4 was without a working online mode. This was an error on Sony's part as Rockstar had the online running perfectly up until the game's launch. Thankfully Sony took action and got the online up and running, as this appears to be a fixed issue for GTA4.

But the second problem is much more substantial. A number of people have been complaining about their PS3's crashing while playing GTA4, especially people with a 60 GB PS3. This is a problem that has yet to see any major fix, although a patch is promised to be coming to fix the problem. This also hasn't stopped users from coming up with their own temporary solutions, as people are truly dying to play GTA4. One of the big temporary solutions to playing GTA4 without freezing issues is to unplug an Ethernet cable *if you have one* from the PS3 and turn off all online functions on the PS3. Sure, you can't play online obviously, but playing the single player is better than playing nothing at all. Other temporary solutions include turning off vibration, turning off auto-save, setting the resolution to 720p, and installing the latest PS3 firmware update. If none of these options help you, I guess you're going to have to wait for the promised GTA4 patch from Rockstar. It's too damn bad the PS3 version is having such problems, because even though I bought the 360 version of GTA4 I would love to see the PS3 version succeed. GTA is a PlayStation brand you know. I'll have more updates on the situation as they come in.

Credit: Kotaku


Sony PlayStation Store update for the week of May 1



Dammit, I'm getting so sick of waiting around for the Pixel Junk Monsters expansion pack. First I thought it was on April 15, then the week after, and now I thought it was this week. Well fuck me I was wrong. Once again the PlayStation Store went on with its typical Thursday update with no Pixel Junk Monsters expansion pack. It wasn't a total failure however, as this week saw the release of Echochrome, Sony's hit puzzle game. Now I've said this before and I'll say it again, this game will blow your freaking mind. The concept that your character will do anything and everything as long as it looks possible *meaning it's in perspective* is insane. If you don't believe me just download the demo and watch the AI play the demo, it's insane. I am a big fan of puzzle games, especially when it comes to Dr. Mario and Tetris, but Echochrome has just entered my list of one of the best puzzle games ever. Since I don't consider Portal a puzzle game I'd say Echochrome is probably the best puzzle game in the past 5 years *much better than Lumines and such*. You need to get Echochrome. Considering PSN users can create and upload their own levels for others to download, the possibilities are endless with all the free DLC.

In addition to Echochrome we also saw a ton of promotional materials for Echochrome go up suck as game videos and wallpaper. We also got a video for Kung Fu Panda *WTF?!*, a demo for Dark Sector, and the typical Rock Band update. Wait, I got a couple of complaints last week that I was too lazy to post what songs were updated on Rock Band. Well I normally don't list the Rock Band DLC because it usually sucks. I pretty much sold my Rock Band because I was so bored with the DLC. I bought the Queens of the Stone Age pack and that was it. What the hell happened to Nirvana's Nevermind anyways? Oh well, this week saw "Zero" by Smashing Pumpkins, "Time-Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear" by the Mother Hips, and "Red Tandy" by the Mother Hips. Happy?


It makes my brain tickle.

Credit: Sony



B3yond the tabloids!

Sony's game division posted their 2007 sales numbers, with an overall loss of 1.52 billion dollars. Although that may seem like a lot, this is a big improvement from the 2.20 billion dollar loss the game division suffered in 2006. Sony is looking to bring that number down again and become profitable starting in 2009 or 2010. As a whole the company Sony saw an operating profit of 3.6 billion dollars in 2007, so don't think they're about to go out of business or anything.

Today is the official PlayStation Day sponsored by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Because of the event, the European PSN will have two updates next week. One of the updates will include demos for the upcoming Haze video game as well Race Driver: GRID. Here's hoping the rest of the world will get the demos as well, as I can't wait to play Haze *the demo is the first level*. Sony will also be holding a PlayStation Day event in Europe that will include a presentation from Insomniac games detailing the 8 player co-op mode in Resistance 2. I'll have coverage of the PlayStation Day next week.

The highly anticipated game Prototype has been delayed until 2009. Prototype was the sandbox style game that everyone loved at GDC with the shape shifter.

The upcoming Motorstorm 2 may have gone through another name change. I reported last month that Motorstorm 2 had officially been renamed Motorstorm: Pacifica. Well now it appears as if the title has been renamed again to Motorstorm: Pacifica Rift. Motorstorm 2 will be out on the PS3 in the late fall and will include 4 player split-screen. The game will take place in the Pacific rift and will include levels in the jungle, the beach, the desert, and even around volcanoes. Look for more details at E3 this year.

A weird Y2K bug occurred this past week. A countdown appeared on Rockstar's site with the GTA2 logo on it, leading people to believe that GTA2 would be coming out on the PSN this month. IGN has since verified however that the countdown was originally intended for 1999, but because of Y2K and a programming error the countdown simply reset itself. Why it took until 2008 for anyone to find it is beyond me.

In an interesting note Microsoft and Sony are currently arguing over GTA4 sales numbers. Microsoft was quick out of the gate to claim that the 360 version of GTA4 was outselling the PS3 version 2 to 1. Sony quickly responded saying that the number was a lie and that the number is much more even than that. While we won't know the official sales numbers until the NPD sales numbers come out in a couple weeks I will say that if the numbers are as close as Sony says they are than I'd consider this a huge success for Sony. I was thinking that Sony would get crushed by a ratio as much as 3:1 in Microsoft's favor. If Sony's smaller install base can put up such high attach rates than this will be a very positive sign.

Infogrames has officially purchased Atari for $11 million. That's a really low number. Oh well, Infogrames is entertainment. If you've never heard the Infogrames company theme song be sure to look it up, it's quite funny.

Koei's Fatal Inertia EX will be arriving on the PSN in late May. Fatal Inertia EX will support DualShock 3 and will cost $30. Fatal Inertia EX was originally going to be a PS3 launch title. The game came out on the 360 last year and it sucked, so I wouldn't bother with this game.

Here's the link to the official Haze website. There are some pretty cool videos among other things to view there. It definitely pumps me up for the full game later this month.

Even though we're still waiting for the Pixel Junk Monsters Encore expansion pack *it better be this Thursday or I'll kill somebody*, this hasn't stopped Q-Games from releasing details about the expansion pack. The expansion pack will include 15 new levels on a brand new island *called Toki Island*. Also included will be 5 new music tracks. Gameplay changes include the Ice Tower becoming a default item *you no longer have to pay gems to unlock it*, and the Tesla Tower will also cost less gems to purchase.


B3yond the Cinema!



Is it possible that Snake returns to Shadow Moses in MGS4? Or could a remade MGS1 possibly be unlockable in MGS4? We'll have to wait until June 12 to find out. Either way this is sure to make a lot of people "wet their pants" if you know what I mean.



Here's some gameplay footage of Echochrome, one of my favorite puzzle games ever.



Here's some footage of the MGO Beta. Playing as Snake is fun.



Finally, here's the first hands-on demonstration of Little Big Planet by G4. The game looks awesome. Sony hinted at a closed-Beta for Little Big Planet coming this summer, so if I hear any more about it I'll be sure to let you guys know. Little Big Planet launches in September 2008 for the PS3.



The One Man Water Cooler~!



Well I hope everyone has been having fun in Liberty City. Ever since GTA4 came out last week that's all I've been seeing people playing. When the Xbox Live numbers come out for this past week I'll be extremely surprised if GTA4 didn't overthrow COD4 and Halo 3 for the number 1 spot *just like I predicted last month*. While GTA4 is probably the best $60 I've spent on a video game, I do have some minor complaints. With sites like Gamespot and IGN giving the game a perfect 10/10 *which is extremely rare for both sites* I thought we had the second coming on our hands. I still want to make it clear that GTA4 is still one of the best video games ever, but I don't think it's perfect, nor should it get a 10/10. If I was to review the game *which I'm not, this is not a review for 411 in any way* I'd personally give the game around a 9.6 – 9.7/10.

The first thing you actually do in Liberty City is drive your cousin Roman home. That's where my first problem comes in. The driving in GTA4 is terrible. While some vehicles like the bikes and heavy trucks handle well, most of the vehicles handle like the tires are glazed in Crisco. When I try to make a sudden stop *handbrake or normal brake* I tend to either spin totally out of control or not slide at all. While a lot of people including myself have "gotten used to it" the fact still remains that the driving needed more polish. Considering Rockstar makes its own driving franchise *Midnight Club* and the fact that it's called Grant Theft AUTO, I'd expect the driving to be perfect. It didn't ruin the game by any means, but driving could have been improved.

The other major complaint I have is the lock-on system. Now I know you can turn it off in the options settings or just press the trigger half-way to enter free aim but that doesn't stop the auto-aiming from sucking. There have been numerous times where I have a key gang member or cop that I must eliminate at all costs to avoid death that I just can't hit because of the lock-on. There are times where I am staring at a cop 2 feet in front of me who's about to blow me away with a shotgun and I can't do anything about it because Niko won't lock on to him, instead he aims at the cop running for his life in the other direction. It wouldn't be so frustrating if it was a rare glitch but this kind of thing happens all the time, especially in multiplayer. In the middle of a fight it can be difficult to switch between free-aim and auto aim and I imagine it's even harder to pull off for PS3 users since the triggers suck.

Like I said these are only minor gripes that I feel keep the game from being perfect or deserving a 10/10. I may be in the minority and I won't be writing an official review but that is my opinion. Neither of these complaints have stopped me from loving the game to death and I still recommend GTA4 as a must have. I don't want to write out any spoilers but the game gets really incredible after the first few hours of single player. There are a ton of fun Easter eggs that will keep me coming back all summer long.

By the way I have a request for my readers. When I went to the Gamestop midnight launch I picked up one of those free GTA4 music downloads *everyone got one*. Now call me lazy but I haven't been able to find the song title for the Russian hip-hop theme that plays when you drive Roman home in the beginning of the game. It was also featured in one of the trailers as well as in a bunch of IGN's coverage of GTA4. If you guys could give me the name of that song as well as any other names of songs you recommend me downloading I'll be most grateful.



B3yond the Mail



Well I've said before that I recommend my readers leave me feedback, whether it be questions and or comments. I already answer basically every email I get personally but before I was only answering comments with another comment in the column. Since people may not see it I've decided I'm going to add in a new section where I can answer fan questions or give my response to reader comments from the previous week. I can't promise I'll do it every week *depends on whether or not I get reader response* but for at least now I'm going to add in a new section where I can personally address reader comments *maybe it'll boost the number of comments*.

To webbslinga21: I wish I got paid for that Target Terror advertisement last week. I could use the money when MGS4, Ninja Gaiden 2, and Battlefield Bad Company come out next month. Not to mention Haze is almost here as well.

To Step back for one second: About my Home rant from last week. First off, no one *that I know of* is rubbing it in my face that Home isn't out. I don't work for Sony; I have no official connections to them. I'm just an upset costumer who's expressing his opinion. If you think I was a crybaby in my rant last week that is fine, I respect your opinion. You are right that Home is not advertised on the back of the box, but they have promised to support the PS3 and Home is one of their big guns. Even though I've already purchased my PS3, I'm sure there are people out there who're waiting for features like Home before they buy a PS3. Home is only an example, there a numerous products that Sony has been dragging their feet on. Everything from cross media bar access to Killzone 2. If Sony keeps dragging their feet potential customers will give up and buy a 360. I'm not saying I have all the answers, but I am trying to help Sony. I guess I'm trying to "light a fire under their ass" if you will.

To Jerome Saloser: I specifically mentioned what songs were released in the PlayStation Store update this week. I hope it makes you happy. I would have no problem doing it every week, but I don't own Rock Band and the songs that go up each week usually suck ass.

To Snake (Guest): You are right that winning as Snake in Metal Gear Online is possible. If you trained a lot I could imagine some people becoming incredibly good as Snake. While I still believe it's harder to win as Snake then as the other teams, it is a lot of fun to play as Snake. Metal Gear Online is a lot of fun in general.

To calem (Guest): You do bring up a lot of good points. A lot of people who want to play online with their friends will simply call them on the phone or text them instead of trying to find them on PS3 or XBL. But on the opposite side there are people who strictly know each other online. I think I know the phone number of 2 of my 30 PSN friends *my PSN name is Fester*. For those other 28 people that I don't know but still want to play with online we do need a place like Home. But it's too damn bad Home will never get here so we'll just have to make do with sending messages back and forth like we do now. I would elaborate further but then I'd just be repeating my thoughts on Home *I hate it* which I wrote about in last week's column which you've already responded to.

To going against the grain (Guest), Methoes (Guest), and Guest#1551 (Guest): Yes, this is a PS3 themed column. But just because this is a PS3 themed column doesn't mean I can't write about other consoles. 411mania has given me the authority to write about whatever I choose to write about. If you don't like that then don't read the column. I love my PS3 and always will, but that doesn't stop me from loving my 360 or Wii either. If you didn't notice I wrote about Target Terror as a joke last week. While I still think the game is a blast, I can recognize the game barely runs and by a technical standpoint is a piece of shit. But there are people such as myself who on occasion choose to watch a shitty movie instead of a good one, and the same logic applies with video games. I like variety, and that even means playing one of the shittiest but funniest video games ever.

As for GTA4, I said I purchased the 360 version because I felt it was superior to the PS3 version. Just because I write about the PS3 doesn't mean I have to blindly accept it as awesome. I even commented last week that the PS3 version was even technically a little superior to the 360 version. But with the constant problems like no online modes that the PS3 version has been having, I feel justified in my 360 purchase. The PS3 version of GTA4 is still awesome, but I wanted to give my readers who have both consoles my opinion as to which is better. Also for the guy who made the comment that "he probably doesn't buy PS3 games", I do own over 22 disc based PS3 video games not including WarHawk *downloaded it*. I also own every downloadable PSN title except for Toy Home and Rocketmen: Axis of Evil. When a title comes out I am like the typical consumer, I buy the version that best suites me. I bought Devil May Cry 4 for the PS3 because I thought it was superior to the 360 version, and I bought the 360 version of GTA4 because I thought it was superior to the PS3 version *because of DLC and the working online modes*. Rather than blaming me for wanting the 360 version of a title over the PS3 version, you should be blaming Sony for letting exclusives like GTA get away from them and letting multiplatform titles run better on the 360 version. I remember a time when Sony was aggressive and climbed to the top by pulling strong business moves, not letting companies and publishers kick them around.


As I said before I always read what you guys send me and I appreciate the comments, even if they're sometimes filled with hate. If you wanted a response to your comment and I didn't respond I apologize.



The 411mania Empire~!



Notice how the week after I relate 360 writer Joe Roche to Jack Thompson he mysteriously "disappears" from 411?
Nintendophiles by Theo Fraser. Guitar Hero on the DS is a retarded idea. Sadly it'll probably sell decently well.
The PC Centric Extravaganza by Chris Evans. No new Portal in 2008 makes Mark cry.
The Select and Start News by Vincent Chiucchi. I would buy a pole dancing game without question for the Wii. Does that make me a bad person?
The Negative Edge by Tommy Coloma. It's ok Tommy. Street Fighter 4 makes me want to cry too.
The 10th hour by Derek Robbins. I normally don't pimp the columnists but Derek just rated the top ten Genesis titles. Not only that but he mentioned General Chaos. My love for this game is unprecedented. God bless you Derek. If you've never heard of General Chaos for the Sega Genesis be sure to look it up, it's incredible.



Signing Off!



Well th-th-th-th-that's all folks! In addition to playing GTA4 this week I've spent a lot of time playing Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. I don't know why so many reviewers hit this game so hard, hopefully I justified my score in my review *usually I'm the one to give low review scores*. I just wrote my review this past weekend and I really enjoyed the game. I received a few complaints about my last two reviews for not writing enough about the contents of the game, so hopefully the GT5 Prologue review will satisfy some of my critics. So look for me in Fact or Fiction sometime this week, as well as the Gran Turismo 5 Prologue review. Then of course is this column, the foundation of my work at 411. I'll be back next week, don't drink and drive America!