I used to write The SIXAXIS Report, B3yond the Report, and Games Only a Mother Could Love. I used to be the Lead Dance Choreographer for The Spice Girls, until an unfortunate disagreement broke us up.
Other credits:
Best Dance Choreographer - 1999.
Quote:
"Lady Gaga is a woman!" - Mark Salmela
History:
I am from Northern Minnesota, where life revolves around woodsheds, snow, and lots of moose. Basically I spend my day whacking those silly moose with shovels.
Blog
Like awesome games? - 08.06.2009
Love awesome games? Than check out my column discussing full motion video games. The Sega CD lives on!
Did Sony actually include Blu-Ray in the PS3 to progress technology or was it all an elaborated defense against piracy? B3yond 05.05.09 - 05.06.2009
For years I’ve been under the impression that Sony included Blu-Ray in the PS3 to further advance technology. After all, Sony’s platforms have been synonymous with new technology. The PS1 was one of the first consoles to popularize the CD format for video games. The PS2 was the first console to use DVDs and helped launch the DVD format. The PSP used UMDs, and while they weren’t new, it was the first portable system to my knowledge to use a disc based format. The UMD format may have failed, but they at least tried. The PS3, Sony’s latest console, is currently using Blu-Ray. I’m not here to put up a debate as to whether or not Blu-Ray is a failure, since that isn’t the point. What I’m trying to get at is why did Sony choose to use Blu-Ray over DVD.
Sony is the only console this generation using a new disc format. The Xbox 360 and the Wii are still using DVDs. While some people have been complaining about disc space, so far most people have admittedly been able to get away just fine using DVDs. Yes, DVD is not future proof. Games are getting bigger, and the number of multi-disc 360 games is growing. But for the most part, games are getting along just fine without the extra storage space Blu-Ray provides. Most developers have been using the extra space to copy the game’s code several times on the disc to lower the time spent searching for information on the disc. Most developers have also been using uncompressed audio, which really packs on the GBs of space. But is it necessary? I mean come on; can you really tell a huge difference between 360 and PS3 games in terms of sound? I don’t, and I consider myself to have a solid surround sound system.
So why did Sony choose Blu-Ray? Besides the cell processor it’s one of the main reasons the PS3 costs so much. If the PS3 had stuck with the DVD format I am almost positive the PS3 would have launched at a lower price point. What if the PS3 had launched with a 20 GB PS3 for $400 and a 60GB PS3 for $500? Would we still have a $400 console today? Would PS3’s have sold at a much faster pace than they are now? Something just isn’t adding up.
Well it wasn’t, until I really started thinking about it. What has Sony been known for ever since the PS1? Piracy. Piracy has been absolutely rampant on the majority of Sony’s platforms. The PS1 was the first widely modded system. Who doesn’t know someone who burned PS1 games? The PS1 was one of the most modded systems of all time. It was easy and people knew how to do it.
To its credit the PS2 was not modded quite as often as the PS1. It could be done. Both hardmods and softmods existed for the PS2. But it wasn’t as wide-spread as the PS1. The PSP on the other hand, once again faces a huge problem with piracy. Once again I ask who doesn’t know someone who’s modded their PSP? Sony has been blaming piracy for the poor sales of PSP games for years now.
Sony has been burned over and over again with piracy. With Sony’s large investments into the cell processor, Sony knew it would be tough to regain a profit on their investment, and piracy would not help that cause. Sony needed to ensure that the PS3 would not fall victim to piracy. They could try with firmware updates, but as Nintendo and Microsoft are now noticing, it doesn’t help. It didn’t help the PSP either. Sony needed something more. Sony needed a totally new format that could not be pirated. Sony found that in Blu-Ray.
I’m not going to get in-depth with Blu-Ray’s insides, but Blu-Ray has an insane amount of copyright protection in it. While that has been hacked, Blu-Ray holds one key that has kept the pirates at bay. That is of course the storage space. Who has the time and patience to download a 25 – 50 GB game? 4 GB isn’t that bad, but once you multiply that number by 6, it’s no longer an easy task. Metal Gear Solid 4 is 50 GB, who has the time to download that behemoth? Better yet, who has the bandwidth with today’s data caps to download that?
Besides the large storage space, who has a Blu-Ray burner in their house? Sure some of the hardcore tech geeks may have it, and it’s rapidly becoming more common, but it’s still a relatively small amount of the population. Blu-Ray discs aren’t cheap, nor are Blu-Ray burners. Pirating Blu-Ray just isn’t feasible. It’s time consuming, and it’s expensive. The only reason piracy existed on other consoles is because it was easy and affordable. We’re 2 and a half years into the PS3’s lifespan and pirating Blu-Ray still isn’t feasible.
Sony has continuously had problems with piracy. Sony hates piracy, and they would do anything they could to stop it. Well they managed to do that with the PS3. Do I think piracy is the sole reason Blu-Ray exists in the PS3? Of course not. Blu-Ray has its benefits. But was the world really ready for Blu-Ray? Did we really need Blu-Ray games in 2006? Or was Sony really ready to solve their problem with piracy?
The PS3 is an incredible machine. It really is built to last. If Sony wants it to, it can easily be their lead platform for 10 years *2016*. Blu-Ray will help to ensure this. But there’s more to Sony’s inclusion of Blu-Ray than its large storage space and desire to last 10 years. Sony needed to beat piracy, and they needed to beat it at any cost. But my question to all of you: Was it worth it?
Early impressions on Six Days in Fallujah and overall thoughs on games based on the Iraq War. - 04.12.2009
From B3yond the Report 04.14.09
There has been a lot of discussion about Konami’s new shooter Six Days in Fallujah over the past week. For those unaware Six Days in Fallujah will be a shooter based on the 2004 battle of Fallujah that happened in Iraq. Over 1000 civilians were killed in a very bloody battle that is not looked highly upon by the public. Konami has stated that they’re not trying to make a social commentary nor give their opinion on the war, but rather they just want to make an entertaining game.
On one hand I can see that the Iraq War is untapped potential in terms of video games. Sure there are references and games that have dabbled in the conflict but there has never really been a full blown game based off of real events from the war. Someone at Konami probably thinks that there is a lot of money to be made from exposing the events of the Iraq War. I’m not going to state whether I think that is right or wrong. But I’m sure someone at Konami is thinking that because otherwise that design document would have never been passed through.
But on the other hand it could be a case of “too soon”. There are a lot of families with siblings who are currently still over in Iraq, along with families who’ve suffered casualties from the war. I don’t want to cross the line into politics too much since this isn’t the place for that sort of thing but it’s still a very touchy issue for some people. A lot of real lives were lost during that battle, and for some people it’s not going to be ok to reenact those events so soon. It might just be a video game but you’re still going to be reenacting events that killed thousands of people only 4 years ago.
My real question to anyone out there who’s listening is when does it become ok to talk about actual events that were tragic? I don’t see a whole lot of people who have a problem with World War 2 games. Does anyone have a problem with a game based off Vietnam anymore? When will the war in Iraq become fair game for developers, if ever? I have a feeling that at some point there will be a new generation who didn’t grow up during those events who won’t have the same type of emotional connection that we might have with the Iraq War and to them it might be perfectly acceptable to make a game like Six Days to Fallujah.
In my opinion a video game needs to be entertaining. I am careful to not use the word fun because I do see the potential for video games to really become an art form that appeals to all emotions, including our ability to feel sad. For some people they’ve already crossed that line, with the death of Aries from Final Fantasy 7 being a prime example. But I want to stress and will go on to explain in a minute that those games will have to include more than the ability to feel sad.
The problem is that there still needs to be a redeeming quality to a video game in order for me to accept it and give the game my hard earned money. This isn’t like a movie where I can feel satisfied giving my eight dollars to Schindler’s List to see a depressing movie. Schindler’s list is depressing but it is also only 3 hours long. Most video games are around 6 – 12 hours in length and cost $60. I’m not sure if I want to pay $60 if the video game will make me feel bad and leave a bad taste in my mouth during 6 – 12 hours of gameplay. It’s not that I can’t stomach it it’s that I don’t want nor feel the need to experience it, and I’m sure I’m not alone.
Six Days to Fallujah was just announced last week. For all we know the game could completely change within the upcoming months and all of this could become irrelevant. So far there have been veterans both for and against the idea of Six Days to Fallujah, and I wouldn’t say either of them are necessarily wrong. I will say that if the game is entertaining and provides great gameplay, I will probably play it. But if the game is released and either doesn’t work properly, or tries to create an entirely negative experience that makes me feel depressed the entire time than I’m not going to play it. I don’t feel obligated to play a game like Six Days to Fallujah if it’s just going to be a learning experience about how bad war is, because I don’t need a video game to tell me that. I already went through history class. I already learned about the battle of Fallujah and learned about it when it actually happened. I don’t need to be reminded of the horrors of war.
Oh my gods, first post in over a year. - 03.20.2009
Hey everybody, I'm still alive and well. I'm pretty much strictly a reviewer and contributing editor now, which is why my posted articles section has all but completely dried up. Look for me in Fact or Fiction, top 5 *pretty much weekly contributions*, What If, and Three Player co-op.
Oh, and if anyone ever actually reads this, send an email to marksalms@gmail.com mentioning this and I'll make it worth your time *prizes*.
And we're rolling... - 03.16.2008
Well this past week I finally got a hold of my own DualShock 3 controller, imported fresh from Japan. For those of you who don’t know the DualShock 3 controller has been out in Japan since late last year and controllers will work on any system *they’re region free*. I would have picked one up last Christmas but the import rates were outrageous *near $85 after shipping* so I was much happier to find a couple of good eBay auctions this week *paid $60 after shipping*. I picked up the white DualShock 3 controller, since all my other SIXAXIS controllers are black and I wanted to try a different color. Needless to say, white is pretty sexy. The white PS3 and controller has been out in Japan for 6 months now, hopefully we’ll see an American release soon.
The first thing you notice on the DualShock is the weight, as the controller is nearly twice as heavy as the SIXAXIS. Now don’t panic, it’s no where near too heavy. The SIXAXIS controller was way too light and felt uncomfortable at times because of it. The DualShock 3 feels about as heavy as a wireless 360 controller, and is much more comfortable to hold. The second thing I notice is the improved shoulder triggers. Don’t get me wrong, they still look the same as the SIXAXIS triggers, but they fold back much easier than the SIXAXIS. The SIXAXIS triggers *L2 and R2* are universally agreed to suck, so to see improvements *it’s far from perfect, but much better* with the DualShock 3 are more than welcomed. Also the battery life of the DualShock 3 is around 15 hours, so anyone worrying about battery life has nothing to worry about. The battery life is shorter than the SIXAXIS controller, but the DualShock 3 battery still lasts longer than double A batteries or any of the 360 or Wii charge kits.
The final thing about the controller is of course the rumble, the whole reason Sony made the DualShock 3 in the first place. While rumble is far from revolutionary, you have no idea how happy I am to have it back. Rumble has breathed new life into games such as Motorstorm, and it has made the game much more fun to play. So far I’ve only tested a select few games *Uncharted, Motorstorm, Resistance, WarHawk* and so far rumble has definitely made the games more fun to play. Rumble on the DualShock 3 works pretty similar to rumble on the DualShock 2, and it doesn’t interfere with using SIXAXIS controls at all.
So if you can still sell your SIXAXIS controllers at a decent price or you’ve been holding off on picking up extra controllers I highly recommend waiting for the DualShock 3 controllers. The DualShock 3 controller comes out in North America on April 15 for $55 and is definitely worth the $5 increase over the SIXAXIS controller. I have sold 2 SIXAXIS controllers myself and have picked up a white DualShock 3 and just bought one of the new Satin Silver DualShock 3 controllers *neither color confirmed to be coming to America, so far it’s just the black*. I plan to sell my final two SIXAXIS controllers soon and pick up 2 black DualShock 3 controllers once they reach America next month. You’ll see rumble functions added to a lot of games within the next month, and it’s a feature that should have never been taken out of the PS3 in the first place.
Once again thanks to my HANDY-DANDY PLAYSTATION EYE~! I can capture pictures of my hot DualShock 3 controller. So feast:
What a sexy beast!
Exciting, isn’t it?
As a final note no I will not be changing the name of the column from the SIXAXIS Report to the DualShock 3 Report. Stop asking! Although if someone does come up with a better name for the column let me know and I will take it into consideration, a name change wouldn’t hurt at all now that SIXAXIS is inferior to DualShock 3.
And we're rolling... - 03.11.2008
Since my guide to installing a new hard drive on the PS3 went so well 2 weeks ago, I thought I’d do one more for everyone. While most of the internet savvy people such as most of my readers *hopefully* know, the PS3 is capable of running a full fledged operation system such as Linux. While I don’t think anything as user friendly as Windows XP runs on a PS3 yet Linux works like a dream. So this week I’m going to show everyone how to install my favorite Linux, Yellow Dog Linux version 6.0 onto their PS3’s.
As I did with my last guide I’m not actually going to write out a long step-by-step, since other people have already done it before *and did a better job then I could ever do* so I’m going to cover the tips they don’t usually cover while linking to the guides.
The first thing you need to do is actually find where to download Linux. Terra Soft *makers of Yellow Dog Linux* has a selection of sites to download YDL from, but navigating those sites can be confusing. Since most of my users are probably from the US you’ll want to click one of the “mirrors” under the US *I recommend using the primary mirrors*. Once you are in one of the “mirrors” you’ll want to navigate to “iso” as that’s what you’ll want to burn to a DVD. Once you are in “iso” ignore everything else and just scroll to “Yellow Dog 6.0 DVD.iso” or a YDL 6.0 iso equivalent and download it. The download should be around 3.7GB so it might take a little while depending on your download speed *took me a little more than an hour downloading in the background*. If you’re still not sure if you have the right download be aware most of the “dates” will read that they were uploaded on or around March 3, 2008 *that’s when YDL 6.0 became a free download*.
The first thing to note is that the hardest part of the whole process is burning the iso to a DVD. Honestly, if you can get the iso burned to a DVD *which isn’t too hard now days* then the rest of the process is basically just following a bunch of steps and letting Linux install itself. Most programs like Nero let you burn .iso’s by going through “burn an image to a DVD” and selecting a .iso file.
Once you have your iso DVD burned you will need to go to the PS3. In previous versions you also needed some separate .self bootable files but with YDL 6.0 all you need is the .iso DVD. On your PS3 you will need to first “format utility” under “system settings” which means formatting the hard drive using “custom format” to allow 10 GB for “other os” which means Linux. Hopefully if you saw my guide for installing a separate hard drive that you should have done this process as soon as you got your PS3 or when you changed your hard drive since formatting the PS3 hard drive will delete your save files and downloads *they can all be downloaded back or backed up*. Once you have allowed space on the hard drive for Linux you need to go to “install other os” under “system settings” and put in the DVD you burned with YDL 6.0 on it and let the installer do its thing. Sadly I couldn’t find a decent install video for YDL 6.0 but keep checking youtube hopefully something will pop up eventually. After going through a stupidly easy install process where Linux does most of the work you’re set to go. There is also the option to boot the “game os” *the normal PS3 menu system* back up when you turn off Linux, and you’ll have to choose whether you want Linux or the PS3 hub to start up normally when you turn on the PS3 via the settings menu.
While some people want Linux to be installed on PS3’s right off the bat even I must admit I don’t have a whole lot of use for it. There’s always potential for the future and the fact that it is an actual running computer for those who only have one computer in their house, but for most having Linux is just bragging rights. I’ve had Linux on my PS3 for over a year now and to be honest I haven’t used it for more than a few hours, mostly just tinkering around seeing what I can get to work *sadly I’ve had trouble getting things like emulators to run on the PS3 Linux*. So hopefully those who were curious about how to get Linux on their PS3’s have had their questions answered for the most part. Obviously I accept no responsibility in the extremely rare chance that something goes wrong, but feel free to ask me questions in case you’re still not sure how to get Linux to run on the PS3.
And we're rolling... - 02.23.2008
Well just like I promised kids, this week I’m going to show all of you how to upgrade your PS3 hard drive. I have successfully done this process by myself and can confirm that any of my fellow readers out there are more than qualified to handle the process *that means you*. While it’s not as painfully simple as pop-off and pop-on like the 360’s hard drive, it’s also not a $180 rip off like the 360’s. Now that being said obviously you’re responsible for anything you do to your PS3, and while it doesn’t void the warranty to change the hard drive you screwing something up on your hard drive probably isn’t covered by Sony *how you’d screw it up I don’t know*. Just covering my ass boys, just covering my ass…
Now that said I was prepared to write a big and in-depth guide myself on how to do it including neat photos by my handy-dandy PlayStation Eye, but I’ve found there are guides more than capable of doing the job. But first let’s go over some little clarifications.
The PS3 can use any 2.5 inch Serial ATA *otherwise known as SATA* internal hard drive *commonly referred to as a 2.5 inch SATA notebook drive*. The PS3 also runs at 5400 RPM *it’s basically the speed* so do not go less than 5400 RPM. It is possible to use 7200 RPM or something greater than 7200 RPM but than you run the risk of heating up the PS3 beyond normal temperatures so it’s something you do at your own risk. I stuck with 5400 RPM myself *and the new hard actually makes my PS3 cooler than the old hard drive*. Seagate is the company that makes all current PS3 hard drives but you do not have to use a hard drive made by Seagate. I am using a Western Digital hard drive myself and have no problems.
So for one last time your PS3 hard drive has to be a 2.5 inch form factor hard drive, it has to be a Serial ATA drive, and I recommend you stick to 5400 RPM just to be safe. If you find a hard drive that meet these 3 qualifications it’s more than likely compatible. Now then I’ve found a nice written guide with pictures *that I used while installing my hard drive* as well as a nice video guide that does a great job showing how to do it.
If for some reason the link ever dies off or anything just Google search “installing a PS3 hard drive” and you’ll find a million links.
Now that you have a guide to show you how to do it and you know what qualifications you need for a hard drive to be compatible, let me tell you what you need. A mini-Phillips head screw driver. If you’re not sure if you have a screw driver small enough just pop off that HDD tab on the side of the PS3 and you can see for yourself. Now while I recommend you stick with the guide and get 2 screw drivers just to be safe I only had one screw driver *not a flat head* and I’ll admit I actually stripped the non-flat head screw. So if any of you are worried about stripping the blue screw be aware I did strip it and I turned out fine. Be aware the blue screw is very tight and would not budge for me, but it did come off eventually *probably because I didn’t have a very good screw driver* and after that the other 4 screws came off easy. Otherwise just follow the guide and trust me changing your PS3 hard drive is easy.
With all that said I bought a 250 GB Western Digital Scorpio from newegg.com for $135 with free 3-day shipping. Here is a link to the page where I bought my hard drive from, and I recommend newegg.com as the best source for getting a PS3 hard drive. My 250 GB hard drive is great and I definitely recommend it as a great deal *especially considering the 360 is $180 for 120 GB*. Just make sure it meets the 2.5 inch Serial SATA form with 5400 RPM and you’ll be all set for a PS3 hard drive.
As for a final passage you will need to format the hard drive no matter what once it is in. So when you turn on the PS3 and it wants to format itself don’t panic. The formatting only takes about 2 minutes and after that you are pretty much set. Although as a tip readers I recommend going back into “Settings” > “system settings” > “Format Utility” and doing a custom format and “allow 10 GB for other OS” as you have to do that if you ever want to install Linux onto your PS3. Yellow Dog Linux 6.0 becomes free to PS3 users in a couple of weeks and I’ll have a guide on how to put Linux onto your PS3 as well. Also once the PS3 hard drive is all formatted you will lose 20 or so GB, that’s normal and it’s just system info the PS3 puts on the hard drive so it runs properly. I only had about 220 GB out of 250 GB once my PS3 was all formatted.
Also once you install a new hard drive all of your saves and downloaded games are not carried over to the new hard drive *they’re gone!*, so I recommend putting in a PSP, i-pod, flash drive, memory stick, or some sort of external hard drive to back up your save files so you don’t lose them *basically copying all of your save files onto your new hard drive so you don’t lose them*. As for all of your game and video downloads go to download list in the PlayStation store and you can re-download all of your media once you have your new hard drive. All of your system settings like your friends list and account information are saved onto the system memory so you won’t lose any of that stuff by changing your PS3 hard drive.
With all of that said I definitely recommend everyone go change their PS3 hard drive to something bigger, it’s really easy. Not to mention once things like Sony’s Play TV DVR tuner for the PS3 come out your hard drives will fill up really fast. Think for the future people, upgrade your hard drives. Any further questions or requests for help can be left in the comment section or sent to my email, thanks.
And we're rolling... - 12.24.2007
Well after 3 weeks of nominees, the time has finally come to announce the 2007 SIXAXIS Game of the Year. Last year Rainbow Six: Vegas for the 360/PC/PS3 won the SIXAXIS GOTY, and now I have selected the top 5 nominees for the current GOTY.
In the first article I nominated Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii. The second article featured the nominations of God of War 2 *PS2* and Halo 3 *360*. Then last week I nominated Call of Duty 4 *PS3/360/PC* and BioShock *360/PC* as the final two nominees.
For those of you wondering why Mass Effect and The Orange Box didn’t get nominations, let me explain. I considered The Orange Box to be 5 separate games, like they are listed on Steam. Portal was a great game, but I didn’t feel justified nominating a game I beat in less than 2 and a half hours. Team Fortress 2 has way too many bugs to get nominated, and is far from the best multiplayer game of the year. Half Life 2: Episode 2 is a great game, but it is again too short and doesn’t feature a whole lot of new features to get a nomination from me. It was a great game, and The Orange Box is probably the best deal you can get on a video game this year, but I didn’t feel any of the 3 new games individually were strong enough to get a Game of the Year nomination from me.
As for Mass Effect, I want to say it was the hardest decision I made for the GOTY awards. The game is simply phenomenal, but that is only when the game actually works. Mass Effect has a lot of problems, and I don’t think any one person will deny that. But the problem is that this is an award for the best game the video game industry had to offer in 2007, and Mass Effect is too unpolished to be the single representation of what 2007 was in video games. People are too willing to forgive the tremendous amount of bugs in the game simply because it is a large and open experience. Other people may ignore the terrible framerate and the horrible camera, but I will not. Mass Effect is a great game when it works, but due to the increasing number of problems people are having with it, I will not give Mass Effect a nomination for the best game of 2007.
I also enjoyed Rock Band a lot, but that was only when I played with 4 other people in a party. There are not enough songs, and the single player isn’t nearly good enough to deserve a nomination. That and $170 is still a lot for any one game, not to mention the huge number of problems that people are having with the guitar and drum kit breaking *they both broke on my unit*. Rock Band is a great party game, but it is not on the level of the other 5 nominees.
So without further adieu, I will now give out The SIXAXIS Game of the Year award.
The 2007 SIXAXIS Game of the Year award goes to:
Cooking Mama
Super Mario Galaxy for the Nintendo Wii
Honorable Mentions: Call of Duty 4, Halo 3, God of War 2, and BioShock
One day Mr. Miyamoto must have looked up into to the sky and had a vision. There is almost no other way to explain his incredible talents. The way Miyamoto has revolutionized the industry over the years has proved that he is the single best developer in video game history. No other person has had such an impact on video games. Starting with Super Mario Bros on the NES, the game which helped bring the industry out of the depression the home console market had been in since the Atari 2600, Miyamoto has carried Nintendo on his back. The list of blockbuster games Miyamoto has created is stuff of legend, and Super Mario Galaxy is no different. The story will warm even the angriest gamer’s heart, and will bring back childhood memories for any Mario fan. For me, playing Super Mario Galaxy reminded me why I fell in love with video games in the first place. Video games don’t have to be violent, nor feature any sort of deathmatch gamers have become accustomed to having.
Super Mario Galaxy features some of the best graphics the Wii has ever seen. Hell, even without 1080p high definition graphics, Super Mario Galaxy is phenomenal. Super Mario Galaxy shines with some of the most well designed and artistic levels ever in a video game. Super Mario Galaxy is a true work of art. The sound is also top notch, so good it’s actually spawned its own soundtrack CD with music from the game. The gameplay is also top notch, featuring some of the most inventive and perfect platforming you’ll ever see. There is a reason Mario is often looked at as the mascot of video games, and Super Mario Galaxy proves he more than deserves this title.
I think the best relation I heard of Super Mario Galaxy was this: Super Mario 64 was like Super Mario Bros. It was revolutionary and defined the genera. Super Mario Sunshine was like Super Mario Bros 2, while a good game; it fails to live up to the original and often gets lost in the shuffle. Super Mario Galaxy my friends, is like Super Mario Bros 3, it is the best title of the set and perfected every possible aspect of the genera. Super Mario Galaxy is not only the best video game of 2007, but it is perhaps the best video game in the past 3 years. I can not do Super Mario Galaxy justice by talking about it; all I can do is recommend everyone out there buy it.
Super Mario Galaxy is part of a dieing breed, a breed of video games that I don’t want to lose. In an industry that is constantly maturing into a blood filled gore-fest, Super Mario Galaxy outshines them all. Super Mario Galaxy has marked its spot in history, and I can only hope people will not ignore this gem. This is a game people should be playing decades from now, this is a game you will play with your grandchildren and smile. Congratulations Super Mario Galaxy, you are the best of the best. Super Mario Galaxy has not only won the 2007 SIXAXIS Game of the Year award, but a spot in history.
And we're rolling... - 10.09.2007
Well my children, today I'd like to talk about a little something that's been bothering me as of late, and by bothering, I mean pissing me the hell off!
You see, Sony announced the successor to its PlayStation 2 in May of 2005, to be called *what else*, the PlayStation 3. Now, no official launch date was given, but heavy rumor was they were planning on a release in March of 2006 *the month the PSP had launched a year before*, with the slight chance that it may launch at the end of 2005 to compete with the XBOX 360. But then, we got a delay, as Sony officially announced it was pushing back the launch of the PS3 until November of 2006, and this, my friends, was the first delay for the PlayStation 3. It wouldn't be the last, we're a long time from seeing the last delay on the PlayStation 3, and if things keep going the way they are, we may NEVER see the end to this madness of delaying title after title for the PS3.
This week I would like to talk about the real reason Sony is losing the next generation console wars. Now sure, bad marketing and bad publicity *not to mention the original price point shock* started the PS3 on the wrong foot, but with 110 million PS2 users, there was almost no way Sony could mess it up with a slightly higher price point, but they did...
The Xbox 360 and the Wii are both right around 11 million units sold, I call that a drop in the bucket of the potential buyers of this next generation of the console wars. I still think the race is far from over, anyone can win, but at the rate we are heading the only thing I can guarantee is that the DelayStation 3 WILL NOT win the war.
The PS3 was originally supposed to launch with around 40 games, and guess what it launched with? I don't have the official numbers, but if my mind serves me right, it couldn't have been more then 10 or 12. That means that 75% of the initial games set for the PS3 launch in November 2006 were delayed, 75%! Now some will say, "But Mark! It was the PS3 launch, give them a break, they needed more time to work with the hardware!" To that, I say, you're right. I can not place a lot of blame on the launch titles, or even the titles in the first couple of months that got delayed; they simply didn't have time to work with the console. But that time has passed, the PS3 is approaching 1 calendar year on the market and still, almost every major blockbuster game from Sony has been met with a delay.
Halo 3 is an amazing game, and definitely sold more then a few 360's, but it didn't move as many units as predicted, it wasn't the "end all" of video games, and nor will Super Mario Galaxy or Super Smash Bros Brawl. Sony really could have cleaned house this holiday season, a price cut is nice, but software moves the hardware, and that is a cold, hard fact. There's no question about it, at $500, or even $600, the PS3 could have cleaned house this year. But it is due to delays of games such as Killzone 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, Home, Devil May Cry 4, and many other blockbuster games, that Sony is bound to get last place this holiday season.
Just look at some of the recent delays for the PS3, and this is just off the top of my head: BlackSite: Area 51, Stranglehold, The Orange Box, Uncharted, Unreal Tournament 3 *though not 100% official it's very likely*, Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition, DiRT, Devil May Cry 4, Turok, Mercinaries 2, Grand Theft Auto IV, Metal Gear Solid 4, and there's many, many more.
Now sure, some of those games are multiplatform and got delayed for other consoles too, but for the most part, those are Sony only delays. Some will say they have no say over whether or not they get delayed, and I say that is a bunch of crap, Sony goes and works specifically with developers hands on, and they are working with their own technology for games they have been working on for *in most cases* years. There's no reason games like Killzone 2 are getting delayed over a year past its initial launch date *Christmas 2006, now coming spring 2008*. Some say Sony will lose the console wars because they lost too many exclusives, I say they will lose because people like me are fed up with waiting for all of these triple A titles Sony promised all of us back in May of 2005.
There's a reason Sony doesn't even announce launch dates of its PSN games, as after Calling All Cars was set to be released every week for over an entire month, people got fed up with waiting for Calling All Cars, and sales were severely hurt. Sony has lost almost all of its exclusive games this holiday season to delays with the exception of Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune *which Uncharted still got delayed 3 weeks in the US*.
The price point is fine; the number of exclusives is acceptable, the only real reason I see for which Sony will get a distant third place this holiday season and fall even further behind in the console wars is because they failed the consumer. They failed me, they failed their fan base, they failed you, they failed all of us. Sony Computer Entertainment failed to deliver its promise of great video games for this holiday season, and for that, they will fail, miserably.
I said earlier the console wars are far from over, which they still are, but Sony, this is from me to you, you are on your last straw. I don't care how awesome your first quarter of 2008 looks, if you delay your games any longer, the fans will turn on you. It is now time for the PS2 fan base to look for a next generation console to buy, there will be no more waiting around, and they are just about fed up with waiting for you. Both Microsoft and Nintendo are releasing triple A awesome games RIGHT NOW and they aren't going to wait around for you guys to play catch up any longer. I bought my PS3 at launch from a reserve ticket; I denied selling my PS3 on e-bay because I had faith in you guys, but that faith is wearing thin. Sony, your company has fallen severely into debt with how much money you guys have lost recently in your other production departments, but yet you put billions of dollars into the PlayStation 3, and it is one of your last hopes to make up this huge defecate. People may not believe me, but you could potentially bankrupt your company if you don't save your PlayStation brand and make back that money, and soon... Let's hope you know what you are doing and listen to what I have told you today. Stop delaying your games and get them onto the market, now!
And we're rolling... - 09.23.2007
One thing I’d like to bring up is how much of a jackass company Gamestop is. Now maybe it’s just me, but they’re the most unprofessional company I’ve ever dealt with. I put down my Halo 3 preorder and asked if they were holding a Halo 3 midnight launch, and the first thing the employee there said to me was “yes, but if you are a jerk at the launch we reserve the right to kick you out and deny you the game”. Now it’s not like I walked up and insulted the guy’s mother or anything, he was just a straight up ass, and he’s supposed to be working. Umm… Hello? Customer service anyone? The customer is always right? Did anyone teach this guy marketing 101?
I don’t expect perfect customer service, but come on, this isn’t the first time it’s happened either. I had a friend who asked a Gamestop employee whether or not BioShock had online multiplayer the week before it came out, and the guy said “Duh, it’s Microsoft, of course it will”. Not only that, but I know a Gamestop employee and he’s told me about how he’s told many different people Halo 3 is coming out for the original Xbox. Now for the internet savvy like myself and all of you, that’s no big deal we’re not stupid, but any random Mom out there shopping for her son who wanted Halo 3 for his birthday, or Christmas *come on, you know parents are stupid and will buy their kids M-rated games and then blame it on the game makers*, they wouldn’t know whether or not their son needs and Xbox or an Xbox 360. Gamestop still carries original Xbox’s, and who says they wouldn’t sell some Mom an original Xbox because they just told her Halo 3 will be on it. Remember, this is the same store who gives you 50 cents for all of your games on trade in prices.
There is a difference between joking around on your free time and being professional on the job, and this doesn’t apply to all Gamestop employees, I know there are plenty of honest workers there who just love games. But come on, most of the people there are a bunch of idiots who couldn’t make it out of community college, and get their personal enjoyment from being a bunch of asses to all of the customers.
I really try to like Gamestop, but they rip you off and don’t care, and have some of the worst customer service ever. And yes, I told them this to their face, and now whenever I come in they say “that game probably doesn’t provide good customer service” to whatever I look at, which not only doesn’t make sense, but provides me to remind them they work at Gamestop, and still live in their parents basement. I, as a writer, may get a lot of shit from angry readers, but I promise to never be an ass to you, and hope you think twice before shopping at Gamestop, I know I will.
And we're rolling... - 09.14.2007
Hey what's up everybody? Being the new writer in town *commonly referred to as n00b, luckily I was born at the age of 25*, I thought I'd give you guys a way to contact me so you can thank me, hate me, embarrass me, or whatever your little heart desires.
Email: marksalms@gmail.com
Xbox Live name: The Salms
Playstation Network name: Fester
Wii Code: 5600 8530 8903 9730
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thesalms
AIM: Salms Classic *yes there is a space*
The 411 Games Top 5 11.05.09: Week 36 – Top Sega CD Games
(11.05.2009)
Christmas comes early for one writer in particular. This week the 411 staff or at least those brave enough to participate take a look at the greatest games to come out of the Sega CD. Yeah, it was bound to happen eventually.
Shimano Xtreme Fishing (Wii) Review
(11.03.2009)
Up on the shore they work all day, out in the sun they slave away, while we devotin’, full time to floatin’, under the sea!
Dirt 2 (PS3) Review
(10.20.2009)
Codemasters is back with their off-road rally racer. How does Dirt 2 stack up to the completion? Click and find out.
NHL2K10 Conference Call Report
(08.31.2009)
411’s Mark Salmela sits in on a conference call about the upcoming NHL2K10. Look inside for a full report on this year’s features.
NHL10 (PS3) Preview
(08.24.2009)
Hands-On: Over the past several years the NHL series by EA has been among the best sports games of the year. Will that streak continue? Read and find out.
Afrika (PS3) Preview
(08.22.2009)
411’s Mark Salmela takes a look at the closest thing to a new Pokémon Snap. Oh, and that’s a good thing.
DiRT 2 (PS3) Preview
(08.21.2009)
Hands-On: 411’s Mark Salmela goes hands-on with the European demo of DiRT 2.
B3yond the Report 07.21.09
(07.21.2009)
This week we take a look at the June NPD numbers. Also, what’s with 2009’s biggest titles being sequels from 2007? Plus news on Namco Museum Essentials, DiRT 2, MAG, Valkyria Chronicles 2, Killzone 2, Infamous, Shatter, Wipeout HD Fury, and more when you go B3yond the Report!
B3yond the Report 07.14.09
(07.14.2009)
On this relatively slow news week we take a look at ways Sony can strengthen the PlayStation 3. How about including PS1 and PS2 games installed onto every new PS3? How about every PlayStation 3 coming with all 4 Metal Gear Solid games? Also, news on Battle Fantasia coming to PSN, NCAA Football 10, Mod Nation Racers, Uncharted 2, Battlefield 1943, and more.
B3yond the Report 07.07.09
(07.07.2009)
This week Mark discusses PS2 emulation on the PS3. Will the PS3 ever receive PS2 backwards compatibility again? Plus, news on the PS3 Slim, Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time, BlazBlue, Afrika, Battlefield 1943, Punisher: No Mercy, a new PS3 bundle coming to Best Buy, DJ Hero, SOCOM 4, and more when you go B3yond the Report.
B3yond the Report 06.30.09
(06.30.2009)
411’s Mark Salmela returns with a vengeance as he discusses the weekly news. ID Software was recently purchased by the same company who owns Bethesda, is this a match made in heaven? Also, Warner Bros buys out Midway, Call of Juarez and BlazBlue are out this week, Square Enix is making bank off the PSN, Mobile Light Force on PSN is awesome, Activision tries to make itself feel important, and more when you go B3yond the Report.
B3yond the Special: Top Ten PlayStation 3 Titles
(06.17.2009)
411’s Mark Salmela is sick and tired of hearing people say that there are no good games for the PS3. In this edition of B3yond the Special, Mark counts down his top 10 PS3 games! From Infamous and Uncharted to Killzone and even Metal Gear, see which games made the top 10 and in what spot! Plus, leave your list of favorite PS3 games for all to read!
B3yond the Report 06.16.09
(06.16.2009)
This week 411’s Mark Salmela discusses his trip to E3. Was Mark able to survive the wrath of E3 as well as the wrath of staying with his fellow 411 writers? You’ll have to read to find out. Also, news on Metal Gear Solid: Rising, Mirror’s Edge 2, Battlefield 3, Bomberman Ultra, Gunstar Heroes, Final Fantasy Tactics, Motorstorm: Pacific Rift expansions, and more when you go B3yond the Report.
E3: God of War 3 (PS3) Preview
(06.09.2009)
Hands-on: 411's Mark Salmela tests out the latest in the God of War franchise.
B3yond the Report 06.09.09
(06.09.2009)
411’s Mark Salmela is back to talk about his experiences at E3. There is a lot to discuss, including the PS3 motion controller, PSP Go!, Mod Nation Racers, God of War 3, Final Fantasy 14, Uncharted 2, Ratchet and Clank: A crack in Time, The Last Guardian, Agent, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Pixel Junk Shooter, and more when you go B3yond the Report
SPOTLIGHTS
