B3yond the Report 9.03.08
Posted by Derek Robbins on 09.03.2008
This week B3yond the Report brings you a ton of Little Big Planet news including information on a possible PS3 bundle. On top of this, there is also rumors circulating about Kingdom Hearts 3 being revealed at the TGS. All that and more in 411's Sony Report.
Hello and welcome to B3yond the Report! This is the "Day Late, Dollar Short" edition…and for that I apologize. As I was writing the article last night my computer kept crashing and I just said: "Screw that" and reformatted my hard-drive. So, like, here I am! With no more computer difficulties, I am back and STRONGER THAN EVER.
B3yond the News of the Week~!
Little Big News
Sony keeps insisting that Little Big Planet is the marquis release of this year. They claim it to be a system mover and while I cannot wait for this game…I have trouble seeing that. Here in America usually for a game to sell well, or certainly…to move consoles…it would either need to be a sequel or a shooting game. Well it looks like Sony intends to directly prove me wrong as rumor has it…Little Big Planet could very well be bundled with 80 gig PS3s come November 5th.
This is a pretty big deal to me as when I think of games that get packaged I generally think quality. Sonic 2, Super Mario Brothers, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Gran Turismo 3 are just some of the high-tier titles to be bundled with a console and now you're telling me that Little Big Planet could join those ranks? From a consumer standpoint it really speaks levels to me about how confident they are with the product…
There are a couple of things that could possibly hamper excitement. First of all, this was revealed on a European site called Fnac. That means if this were to exist, and it hasn't been confirmed to exist yet so we really don't know, it's only to this point been confirmed for European release. So who knows if we'd see something like that in the states. On top of that, the listing was taken down…but this could be a number of things including Sony telling them to take it down.
If you haven't purchased a PS3 yet this may be the bundle you're looking for. It will probably cost $400 dollars to go along with the new price for the 80 gig PS3 so you will essentially be getting a free game and what better free game to get than Little Big Planet? I can't speak for someone who doesn't own a PS3…but I think this deal would at least intrigue them.
But WAIT! I am not done with Little Big Planet news! You thought I was kidding when I said Sony was dead-set behind making Sack Boy the next big gaming icon? Well, I wasn't…Sony worldwide studio boss Shuhei Yoshida says that the title will be the PS3's biggest release this year. Not Metal Gear Solid 4, not GTA IV, not Resistance 2…Little Big Planet!
Yoshida had the following to say:
"History tells us how difficult it is for games developed in Europe or in the US to be successful in Japan, and with this generation we see Japanese consumer supporting more and more games coming from western Europe."
later on he added:
That really shows the way the whole industry will be heading. Giving power to the consumers to express their creativity by creating something that's fun for others to play. So we really want to make it a global success, including the Japanese market.
They clearly have high hopes for this game that…well…is a brand new intelligent property but considering how many new and unique things it offers this may not be a bad thing to hope for. I am very, very curious as to whether this will hit home with the Japanese or not. As Yoshida said, the Japanese have a habit of not buying western games but…this one seems different, this one seems special…and Sony appears to be putting everything they have into this.
Mario v. Sack Boy v. Master Chief. Is that possible?
Time to move on to the…wait, what? There's more Little Big Planet information? Well then, let's just keep the train rolling…
According to Media Molecule's Jim Unwin Little Big Planet out of the box offers 50-ish levels of content made by the developers themselves. There is indeed a story that ties everything together, but personally I wouldn't expect anything Earth shattering there…Anyhow though, about HALF of the game is comprised of tutorial getting the user used to the games mechanics. How long is the game supposed to be in total? Twelve hours according to Jim…so that's six hours of tutorial.
Normally that sort of news would have me banging my head against the wall shouting WHY, WHY Nancy Kerrigan style. The thing is though…most of the enjoyment from this game will be extracted from the online component. The ability to play through an infinite number of user created levels and teaming up with friends online just seems too good to resist.
Also, a minor note…for those interested there's apparently some sort of complexity gauge which rates how complex your levels are. I imagine this sort of thing would really appeal to some. I know it does to me because I'm a sadist and want whoever is playing my stuff to suffer to the utmost degree.
Some may be concerned about original content from fellow users. After all, you can use your Playstation eye (and more things in the future apparently, claims Unwin) to help create some things for your levels. Sure, this ISN'T X-Box LIVE so we probably don't need to worry about seeing testicles adorning our LBP levels…but juuuust in case, Unwin said :
There'll be user moderation, so people can flag different levels if they find content abusive. [...] We could brick someone's PS3. I mean, that's an extreme example, but we have the ability to do that. Mostly, though, your level will be removed and, if you repeatedly offend, you could get banned from the service.
So, like, they could brick your PS3s maybe? Err…be careful with what you put up would ya'?
Let's pretend that you're like everyone else on this planet and thought: "Golly gee, I sure did like that Resident Evil 4 game"…so naturally you wonder what the fifth title will be like, right? Well…the trailers look like more of the same but as many of you may know there's a new control style that hasn't been revealed yet. Well, you don't have to wait much longer to find out how exactly it will control…at TGS this year we'll find out!
WELL what's to report then? Apparently Jun Takeuchi referred to the control style as Gears like. This may take you a second to digest…Gears…Gears…Guilty Gear? Resident Evil Fighting Game with slick 2D animation! No, wait…GEARS of War. Oh, you mean the shooting game that was pretty much the epitome of generic shooter, with…err…cover mechanics I guess.
I'm hoping he just means that Resident Evil 5 will institute a more sophisticated covering system because frankly that's the only thing you could ask for after Resident Evil 4. They already altered the gameplay enough that some fans simply shun the franchise…but if they were to full-out make it "Gears like"…I'm not sure how I would feel. Resident Evil would just be a shell of its former self. I hope, hope, hope it's just a cover-system over-haul and not a complete gameplay change (as seen with 4)…I just don't know how I'd react.
Capcom does hold the Resident Evil franchise in high esteem though, so no matter how they end up making this…you know it'll be quality. I just hope it doesn't join the ranks of "run-of-the-mill shooter" because that would be a real shame.
Remember how big of a deal people made about GTA IV's exclusive downloadable for the X-Box 360? They paid a lot of money for it…so I'm sure you at least are aware of it. I mean sure, they are sort of dragging their feet releasing it, making sure gamers couldn't give a care about the game but point is it's COMING. Well, Sony finally decided to strike back as it has apparently struck a deal with EA Digital Illusions CE for exclusive DLC on their system.
A statement from an official Sony spokesperson said the following:
PlayStation has an exclusive marketing agreement with EA regarding the title. Exclusive downloadable content will be offered on the PlayStation Network.
This does not mean that from now until 1999 AD Sony will have exclusive rights…but for the time being it looks like they do…so you have to wonder what it will be? I wouldn't expect anything super spiffy/story related, but if you were looking at this game going: "Damn, which console do I buy THIS for?"…it appears the PS3's exclusive content may be just for you. I am lead to believe this helped push GTA IV on the 360 so why not for this game too?
Also, of note, it has been mentioned before that the PS3 is better suited for this game. That could have something to do with this as well…though errr, didn't Mirror's Edge win Leipzig's X-Box 360 game of show? How peculiar.
Sorry, like, I couldn't come up with an intelligible title for this one.
So, are you living in the stone age? Are you a hairless ape who has no idea what service can record those funny men trapped in your TV? Well, for those of you who don't have a DVR and live in the UK there could be something quite handy coming to your PS3 soon!
Let's say you are watching a rather intense Manchester United game. You do love your souccer football after all. ALAS! You remembered that you promised your best mate Steve you'd meet him on Warhawk to kill some troublemakers. WELL NO WORRIES, apparently you can record a show whilst you play a game! No more quandaries, just straight up gaming!
Apparently though, according to the Guardian's review of the service, you can't record more than one show at once…You can watch a show while one is recording which seems kind of weird because at that point you may as well just WATCH TV but the option is available for you to, err, use I guess.
Really though, I guess this is appealing to people who can't afford a DVR service. So if you can't, great…this might very well be for you. If you CAN DVR though this is something you might as well not even bother with from the sounds of it.
Hey, it's the news. I gotsta' report it.
- Kinda like this, but you know...not as handy.
B3yond the Tabloids!
You do know what game was released last Tuesday don't you? I'm not sure you do. For a mere 49.99, or TEN DOLLARS LESS THAN ALL OTHER PS3 GAMES, you can own Disgaea 3. Arguably the biggest release in the past ten years. Enjoy the fun! Enjoy the humor! Enjoy the grinding! Being an honor student has never been so much fun!
An interesting little rumor has sprung out of OPM. We all know Kingdom Hearts is an exceedingly popular game…and with the revelation that Final Fantasy XIII would hit the X-Box 360 one could assume that KH 3 would be the next one to jump over, right? Well, wrong apparently. According to a source of OPM's KH 3 will not only be revealed at TGS but it will also be announced as a PS3 exclusive. I quite enjoy the franchise despite its fanbase and the flack people outside the fanbase give it.
Famitsu brings us some new Metal Gear Solid 4 passwords. That's right! If you're too lazy to earn your unlockables you can simply plug in a password – assuming you've cleared the game – and get a couple of things. The ones revealed were Mk. II's scanning plug and an iPod track entitled "Subsistence Action". The codes are skynytktjp and mgo2play respectively.
So do you feel like playing a bad game? Why not try Vampire Rain: Altered Species? Well, before you try it you may want to check your hard drive space as apparently it commands a 3.8 Gig hard-drive install. That has, quite literally, got to be the biggest waste of space ever.
So how many of you are waiting with bated breath for Resistance 2? Well, err, I'm not really (I'm taking up a beta spot though, Haw haw)…but YOU might be so I have come bearing release date information! It comes out on November 4th. So, write that day down…it's the date Resistance is shooting for.
Drew wanted me to say that apparently the new Prince of Persia game might have trophies. MIGHT? That's not much of a news story. There you go though I guess.
So do you not feel like purchasing that Final Fantasy VII Advent Children…director's cut or whatever the devil they're calling it just for the FF XIII demo? Well not to worry as apparently Sony plans on releasing the demo for sale. Now you may be thinking: "WHOA WHOA WHOA…money for a demo? I don't think so!" Cool your pants down…the demo is over 90 minutes long and assuming it comes out here I don't see it costing any more than five dollars. There are certainly worse ways to spend your five.
For those of you living under an internet rock, Square is planning to purchase Tecmo. This could be beneficial to both companies. Tecmo obviously needs some help since they've been average as a whole for several years now and Square could use some new IPs I guess. Really, I just want to see Ayane beat the shit out of Cloud Strife. That would make my day.
I know you all probably know this but Street Fighter III's parrying system is gone. This distresses me greatly. THANKS EVERYONE WHO IS LIVING IN THE PAST AND CAN'T ADMIT SF III'S UPERIORITY. Still though, it will be a good game…I hope.
B3yond the Cinema!
This is a trailer for Dissidia featuring a match between Tidus and Jecht. This game is looking rather fun…if I had to be honest the gameplay looks sort of similar to Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, but I'm sure it won't play exactly like that. I just hope they include more than two characters from each Final Fantasy in there. I really want Vivi in the game…
If you haven't seen the Mercenaries 2 commercial you really need to. If you want quality game music, this is where you would turn. Oh no, oh no, oh no you didn't. This game looks alright…but this commercial has really sold me.
This footage shows how you can approach different situations in different ways. So, like, you don't have to play linear if you don't desire. You can do this in several games, but just look how cool this looks? Also, this is from PAX…amazing how that is now the premier North American gaming show huh?
Surprise, a Street Fighter IV video! This one features Vega facing Chun Li and I have to tell you…the game still looks beautiful and stylish. I am still fuming about the lack of a parry system since comebacks akin to last week's Daigo comeback video are a thing of the past but…I can't help but fall more and more in love with this game the more I see. Perhaps I need help.
To go along with the load of LBP news this week I bring you a new trailer for LBP that features some neat looking gameplay and Sackgirl. This game is going to be big according so Sony…and I can't wait to see if their hype is right.
The One Man Water Cooler!
I understand that I said last week was the last One Man Water Cooler but with my computer issues I did not exactly have a chance to create a new graphic and thus…I fall back on Mark's old one and revert to the old Water Cooler ways for one more week. Worry not Toddo…your custom title is coming next week dangit!
This is primarily a Sony Report, I know this…you know this…everyone knows this. First and foremost though I consider myself a videogame man and I have something to rant about that isn't Sony related…but Nintendo related. Oh yes, Nintendo…easily the best selling console of this generation and easily the most recognizable brand in our industry. For the longest time people would label all video games under the universal label of "Nintendo"..
Problem is, I find it harder and harder to stick by the N and the reason that sticks out to me this week is their latest title Mario Super Sluggers. I was a huge, huge, huge fan of the original Mario Baseball. It may have had a weak single player mode but through and through it was fun. Hell, on my old blog website I wrote an actual column comparing my 9-man team to real baseball players. The two most obvious were Waluigi as Randy Johnson and Yoshi as Juan Pierre.
So it's only natural as a man who loves both baseball and Mario baseball that the newest title would appeal to me. I went to the store to pick it up on the day after launch – since Tuesday was Disgaea 3 day, more about that in my review later this week – and brought it home to try it out…what laid before me was quite indicative of Nintendo's direction as a company currently.
The very first thing I wanted to try out were the motion controls. I've played games such as MLB the BIGS that do wii baseball motion control right and I figured if Mario baseball could do it…we'd have a winner. Thing is, they don't. They have you make very un-necessary and awkward movements every step of the way. For instance, you have to do a windup and a pitch…this would be okay if you were actually pitching but instead of that you just move your elbow up and down. Oh sure, I guess it's less taxing on the arm…but considering to do different sorts of pitches you have to twist your wii-mote during the throw (as opposed to wii sports baseball where you press different buttons to do different pitches) it's very awkward to pitch correctly.
Batting is also quite troublesome considering you find yourself accidentally swinging a lot when you're just trying to charge your swing. Look, I get it, it's MARIO baseball…it's supposed to be kind of gimmicky but there's got to be something you can do to make these wii motion controls less awkward.
The only way this game is even playable, in my mind at least, is if you turn off the motion controls totally. If you absolutely MUST play with motion controls make sure you use a nunchuck because, no joke, Wii-mote only Mario Baseball is one of the worst games I have ever played. It's essentially an awkward playing version of Wii Sports baseball.
Even when you turn off the motion controls there are tons of little annoyances. The pitchers, for WHATEVER REASON, get tired after about three innings of work. THREE. I don't know why that is…have you ever seen a starter get tired after three innings of work every time out? They wouldn't have a fucking job as a starter. It just feels like they're encouraging you to play games that are less than nine innings long. Of course, it's not like you can go much more than nine innings. The game, like the last one, TIES AFTER TWELVE INNINGS. WHAT THE FUCK!? Why would anyone want to tie in baseball? You finish the game out…is it that hard?
To compliment the suddenly Jason Marquis-esque pitchers is the fact that, by default, you can have a marker show where the sweet spot of the bat is. THAT'S RIGHT…you can now hit home runs and doubles every time up if you so wish! Wow, that sure would be fun…You can turn it off, but the fact is it's on by default so it's like they expect the player to WANT it there. Seriously?
To make things even MORE annoying is the single player mode. Last time was pitiful. It was playing against computers who NEVER swung at something outside of the strike zone and ALWAYS swung and miss at fast balls down the fucking middle of the plate. That took a lot of skill. The Single player mode promises to improve on that but falls on its face. In between relatively fun mission-style gameplay segments you must do various things throughout the game's stadiums. In doing these tasks, you often need to use your wiimote in weird and un-necessary ways to get things done. Like, say, flipping a lever. I hate to say it Nintendo but I buy a baseball game to PLAY BASEBALL…not to play minigame sessions and wii-mote gimmicks. BASEBALL.
The reason this game is indicative of Nintendo right now is fairly simple. All the default setting to this game are for people who don't play many video games. Motion controls, a bulls-eye, games fewer than 5 innings…it's just very anti-gamer. To even enjoy the game you need to turn off ALL the extra features and avoid the single player mode. Yes, there is fun to be had with Nintendo…you just have to ignore all of their bullshit to get to it. I have fun when I play this game. With normal controls, and NOT the controls they want you to play with…it's a fun experience.
Maybe I'm just weird…I prefer the Wii games that DON'T force me to use the motion controls too much. I guess that's also part of why this game is Nintendo in a nutshell. Motion = gimmicky and awkward (KEEP IN MIND, there are exceptions. There can be fun games that utilize motion), non-motion = fun.
I know Nintendo will continue to release quality products that everyone can enjoy, but right now as a fan of what they do its hard to endorse them. This game is them in a nutshell and it's…just maddening.
Oh, and just to make it MORE Nintendo it even lacks online play. SERIOUSLY!? Is it that hard to include online play for this game? You could have random play like you did with Mario Strikers and have a system for choosing characters wherein you take turns like on a school yard! What a dropped opportunity…
It's not worth your money. Simple as that.
B3yond the Mail!
Spell-Check wants to keep me in check
So to have a headline such as: "Miyamoto changes his mind, re-embraces Metal Gear" You mean Kojima, unless Mario and Link are going to have some sort of Octocamo armor or something.
Considering throughout the rest of that section I referred to the creator of Metal Gear as Kojima (or Hideo) I feel safe in saying it was a typo. Maybe I just had Mario on the brain? I wouldn't mind seeing some sort of Metal Gear style Nintendo game assuming that, you know, it's done the right way.
MattL is with me on SF IV
Yeah that EVO clip was frigging awesome. It's too bad we won't see anything like that in SF4 because it's been ridiculously dumbed down from SF3:TS.
Plus the art style of SF4 is awful. What happened to the black ink style from the first teaser trailer? That looked bad ass.
To be honest I still think it looks pretty bad ass, but you are certainly right about it being dumbed down. Sure enough, the creator pretty much said as much when he was talking about why parrying was removed from the game. Seriously, why would you do that? Ugh…
I still can't wait for the game though, it's probably just because I am a stupid SF fanboy though.
Ladies and Gentleman, Ocelot 422
The 360 has NO variety. All it has are shooters. The PS3 is the place for variety and worthwhile exclusives.
Star Ocean, Banjo 3, and Tales of Vesparia sure are shooters aren't they? Not to mention titles like Dead Rising that have shooting elements but would be very hard to define as shooters. Try again.
David R demands there be justice in a game where there is an ABSENCE of it.
Derek has my vote to do the review for Disgaea 3: Abscence of Justice. I do not want to see a third-rate hack write the review for a game they do not even understand. >__<
It will please you to know that I am INDEED reviewing the game because I am the only man right for the job. Everyone else would complain about it, I only love its pixilated goodness. Also, monster fusions. Fuck yeah.
I have a feeling next week's comment section will be a bit light since this week's report is up a bit late but feel free to leave anything you want. Also, you can send me mail at Dragonmaster_Alex_158@hotmail.com GET THIS, I CAN WRITE YOU BACK NOW BECAUSE MY COMPUTER WORKS. Technology loves me again.
Tommy Coloma moderates Fact or Fiction He also writes the Negative Edge News Report.
Mark Salmela filled in for me this week. SEE COMPUTER, THE 10TH HOUR LIVED ON At the 10th hour
Uhm, he also wrote my brother's Coming Attractions column. Would this make him Mark Robbins? Also, like, both the 10th hour and Coming Attractions substitute banners are hilarious. Bea Arthur > Gary Busey.
I saw Vampire Rain: Altered Species in shelves today - and was a bit surprised. I thought it was some game I'd never heard of called ALTERED SPECIES, as that's in huge print with 'Vampire Rain' in small script above it.
They must be trying to get whatever sales they can.
Posted By: Rod Oracheski (Registered) on September 03, 2008 at 12:39 AM
Thanks for the highlight. :)
And i am right. You think the 360 meatheads will even buy the 3 games you listed? They'll happily buy the next Gears of Bore of Halo instead of those 3. Its already entrenched thet the 360 is filled with shooters. Anything else will be overlooked and flop miserably. C'mon, Tales Of Vesperia will sell loads if on the PS3, but they decided they hate money and try to appeal to the cavemen who go "shoot. BOOM!" You know i am right.
Posted By: Ocelot 422 (Guest) on September 03, 2008 at 01:18 AM
I'm sorry that you hate the new Super Mario Sluggers. I've never really been a fan of the Mario sports games (don't get me started on Mario 3-on-3 for the DS). I understand your anger...
However, I picked up Mario Kart Wii today (finally). The game is VERY easy...and the game's control is a bit gimmicky; however, I'm still enjoying the hell out of the game. I always have a special place in my heart for Mario Kart games. :-)
Only a few more months until Person 4 and Chrono Trigger DS. Woot! (Guess which games I have pre-ordered besides LittleBigPlanet?)
Posted By: lateralus81 (Registered) on September 03, 2008 at 01:59 AM
Sony should talk to EA before they talk to the press. First they said Mirror's Edge was a timed exclusive for the PS3 and EA quickly said it was not. Now Sony said the game will have exclusive downloads on PS3 and EA has again said that is not the case, they haven't decided on downloadable content plans at all. I would guess EA has to be getting tired of Sony talking about an EA game so much. Not the attention though, the "getting everything wrong" part
Posted By: Trent (Guest) on September 03, 2008 at 03:52 AM
Dave he doesn't hate the game he just...well lets say that when we played our traditional opening one-on-one game, I nearly broke something over those horrible controls.
Posted By: Drew Robbins (Registered) on September 03, 2008 at 07:33 AM
What exactly is the premise of this Little Big Planet game? I know that one of the big selling points is user created content, but what exactly will be the object of the game? What is your goal?
Posted By: Toddo (Guest) on September 03, 2008 at 11:40 AM
It does one thing well. The rest of the stuff it does is terrible.
Posted By: Derek Robbins (Guest) on September 03, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Actually Derek I think I should be the one to review Disgaea. I think I'm more qualified and a bigger fan of the genre.
Posted By: Mark Salmela (Guest) on September 03, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Toddo, it is a platformer with 50(?) levels.
If that alone doesn't grab you then you sir, are a bad man :P
Posted By: Drew Robbins (Registered) on September 03, 2008 at 05:04 PM
That does grab me. I was just curious. I read this column faithfully, and all I ever really heard about the game was how awesome it looks and how much everyone is anticipating it, and created content, and this and that. It made me realize that I had no idea what this game was about. I suppose a google search would have produced results, but meh... It certainly does sound more interesting now though. Thanks for cluing in the bad man Drew. :P
Posted By: Toddo (Guest) on September 04, 2008 at 12:58 PM
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- Kinda like this, but you know...not as handy.
