411 Games Fact or Fiction 03.16.09: Adult Games, GDC, Don King Boxing and More

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 03.16.2009

This week, Joe and his boss agree to disagree (or do we?) on topics such as an organizer for the Nintendo DS, a Wii Power Glove, GDC announcements and Adult Games. Check it out on this week's Fact or Fiction.



It wouldn't be a Monday without a little Fact or Fiction action and this week's no different. Entering the zone this week is Joe Roche, author of our Full Circle news report report as well as a frequent reviews writer. Going head to head this week with Joe is none other than our Godfather – our Games Editor: Me! Now without any threats to ol' Joe and an open floor, let's get into this week's FoF.

1. You expect at least one major announcement for a big publisher at GDC this month.



Ramon Aranda: FACT - With E3 going down in June, that still leaves quite a bit of time for publishers to keep hush hush on some secrets. I don't expect something mind boggling but I'm sure there's bound to be some major announcement at least in terms of hardware. Will it be a price cut on the P3? Maybe...or what about the new version of the PSP? Could be. Also let's not forget Tecmo's making a new game announcement on the 24th. Maybe Microsoft will have something up their sleeves and don't forget that the Nintendo President himself is making a keynote.

Joe Roche: FICTION - I don't mean to say that there won't be some big announcements are GDC. I do fully anticipate the PSP2, but I don't consider that a major announcement because everyone and their sister already knows its coming. I absolutely do not think Sony will announce a price cut until after E3 in June so I don't think that's coming. As for Microsoft, they used GDC to make the Gears of War 2 announcement, but I think they're holding all of their cards until E3 to make a big push for the holiday season. Nintendo has already announced something like 150 games for the rest of the year, so other then some gameplay footage what could they possibly announce that would be considered a major announcement? I anticipate some good stuff coming out of GDC, but with the push towards making E3 more special again this year I think most teams are going to wait until then to make their major announcements.

Score: 0 for 1

You're stunned that Nintendo hasn't yet come up with a personal organizer software for the Nintendo DS.


Ramon Aranda: FACT - Very stunned. In fact, I had this idea like two years ago and I think it would be a great way to push out more DS'es. I know I'd use it! Perhaps another publisher will think about it but I feel it would be more effective sales-wise if it had the Nintendo brand behind it.

Joe Roche: FICTION - You know I never thought of this until this
question was posed, and now I'm convinced it'd be a fantastic idea. I'm not shocked that nobody has done it yet because I think there is still some feeling that the DS is aimed at a younger audience, but with news breaking that Nintendo has shipped like a billion DS units there can be no denying that it's got appeal across all age groups. I'm convinced now that personal organizer software would be hugely successful and might even get me to purchase a DS. So am I surprised that nobody has done it yet? Not really because I never even gave the idea a thought, but do I think it'd be successful if it was created? Absolutely.

Score: 0 for 2

3. Don King Boxing which will use the Wii Balance Board will be fun to play.



Ramon Aranda: FACT - I'm still skeptical; and as a boxing fan and writer, I'll be more critical of it than most. Still the balance board gives us some interesting things to play with in terms of ducking, dodging and what not and from what I understand, the Nintendo UK review is already out and it gave it a big ‘thumbs up'. I'll be looking forward to it for sure and I'm hoping it will be fun.

Joe Roche: FACT - I just got a Wii balance board, like two days ago and having toyed around with it a little bit I think that Don King Boxing utilizing the balance board will be a pretty good time to play. I am a boxing fan - not as big as Ramon - but I do love me some of the sweet science and I think adding in the interactive component of ducking and dodging with the balance board should turn an otherwise average game into an above average, fun to play boxing simulator/game. I'm know I'm looking forward to it.

Score: 1 for 3

Time For The Customary Switch!

4. You think gameplay reigns over graphics any day of the week!



Joe Roche: FICTION - I'm saying Fiction because I don't want to be that guy who gives a FACTION answer, but hear me out. I think gameplay is the most important thing for a game. I'd rather play a fantastic game with average graphics then a terrible game that looks beautiful. That being said I'd also rather play Prince of Persia then Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which isn't to say that I don't play Ocarina of Time (I've got it on the Wii right now), but 9 times out of 10 I'm going to end up playing a beautiful looking above average game, over a terrible looking (by current day standards) fantastic game. I'm really most thankful that this decision hasn't had to be made by me lately because the current-gen consoles are releasing such beautiful looking fantastic games that I don't really have to make a choice. In my rotation right now I've got Star Ocean: The Last Hope, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Prince of Persia, Fallout 3, GTAIV and Gears of War 2 just to name a few and all of those games have beautiful graphics and solid gameplay. In the end did I skirt the issue? Of course, but that has more to do with my own shame at admitting I want my games to look good and play good – the old cake and eat it too answer from this guy.

Ramon Aranda: FACT - Nice answer…wuss!! No but seriously, I totally disagree with you Joe. And Prince of Persia over The Legend of Zelda: OT?? Where did you buy your cocaine?! I too want games to look as good as possible but to me, gameplay will always take center stage. I'd much rather play games like Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!! over Don King Presents Prizefighter. One game is fun with old graphics while the other looks fantastic but plays like a backhand to the throat – not so fun. We all want a happy medium of course but when it comes down to it and I have to choose…gameplay my friend; that's what matters the most to me! I can throw out other examples but I don't want to metaphorically urinate on your thought process =)

Score: 1 for 4

5. Adult Rated games should be given a shot on current-gen consoles.



Joe Roche: FACT - Here is the problem with this question – is there any stated policy that adult rated games can not be available for the current-gen consoles? I mean the real problem is that stores won't carry them, hell even online retailers like Amazon probably wouldn't carry an adult themed games so what incentive would a company have for creating them? Everyone knows that there is an adult themed game sector in the Asian market, and if companies want to start developing solely for them I'd be fine with it. I have no problem with a company putting out an adult theme game now, and I think they should be allowed to explore to their hearts content. However, I won't sit here and say that Wal-Mart should be required to sell those same games, and with that in mind while I do think that they should be given access to the platform of the current-gen consoles, I don't foresee adult themed games popping up in local retailers anytime soon.

Ramon Aranda FACT - I think you bring up a great point Joe. There are some Adult oriented games floating around (in Asia) but retailers aren't exactly open to selling them here in the US if they were made out here. I do think, to answer the question that retailers AND the console manufacturers should be open, to allowing them to be available. Then again, with porn readily available online, they might not sell as great as we think they would.

Score: 2 for 5

6. If an updated Power Glove was released for the Nintendo Wii (for play with VC and new Wii titles), you'd buy it in a heartbeat.



Joe Roche: FICTION - My problem is mainly with the phrasing of this question. I would under no circumstance pick up Power Glove v2.0 in a heartbeat. I would be one of those people who cautiously sat back and watched how the PG2 was implemented into Nintendo platforms before I jumped on the bandwagon. I'd hate to be sitting here in a couple years talking about the time I spent $160 on the Wii Glove only to have it collect dust in the corner because Nintendo only made it compatible with Iron Chef Pizza, and Wii Wack-a-Mole.

Ramon Aranda: FICTION - As tempted as I would to grab one if it looked bitchin', I also see your point and having to be smart about it, I too would sit back and see if it was properly supported with something worth playing. You know what would kick ass though? If it was implemented perfectly for a game like Metroid or Mega Man!

Score: 3 for 6 - Ok so we don't see eye to eye on everything but at least Joe's somewhat sane. Can't say the same for myself though!

With that, we finish up this week's FoF and invite you to give us your thoughts. Fact or Fiction? Let us know!

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A few members of the 411Games staff on COD5 on Sunday... [We will be hosting readers vs. staff game nights in the very near future so stay tuned!]