Nintendo Revolution Controller
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Nintendo's new console will come with a controller that could be mistaken for a chunky remote control.
Nintendo are no longer competing on the cutting edge of technology, that is now left to Microsoft and Sony to throw money at. Nintendo are basically focusing on play and accessability. I suppose that the DS was the start of the experiment, and it paid off big time. Now they are going for the mass market.
End of the day you can spend an increasing amount of effort and advertising spend chasing the same old game consumers, or you can open up the new markets of the famed "casual gamer" and mothers and girlfriends. End of the day 90% of people don't play games regularly, and as such are a pretty lucrative market if you can take away the fear of the new. And what is more known and comfortable than the TV remote.
However, for me playing a game is an immersive experience. A good controller will become invisible and you will simply exist in the game. I think that you will be so conscious of the new controller that you will never have that same suspension of disbelief. I also wonder about playing in bed. I like to play games on the horizontal and all that point at the screen stuff will make that rather difficult. All in all this accounts for why I probably won't be joining the Revolution, but then I was never the target market in the first place!!!
Nintendo's new console will come with a controller that could be mistaken for a chunky remote control.
Nintendo are no longer competing on the cutting edge of technology, that is now left to Microsoft and Sony to throw money at. Nintendo are basically focusing on play and accessability. I suppose that the DS was the start of the experiment, and it paid off big time. Now they are going for the mass market.
End of the day you can spend an increasing amount of effort and advertising spend chasing the same old game consumers, or you can open up the new markets of the famed "casual gamer" and mothers and girlfriends. End of the day 90% of people don't play games regularly, and as such are a pretty lucrative market if you can take away the fear of the new. And what is more known and comfortable than the TV remote.
However, for me playing a game is an immersive experience. A good controller will become invisible and you will simply exist in the game. I think that you will be so conscious of the new controller that you will never have that same suspension of disbelief. I also wonder about playing in bed. I like to play games on the horizontal and all that point at the screen stuff will make that rather difficult. All in all this accounts for why I probably won't be joining the Revolution, but then I was never the target market in the first place!!!
September 17, 2005
Medal of Honour : Frontline (Gamecube)
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This had sounded fantastic a couple of years ago, being able to actually play through the Saving Private Ryan film. So why is it just that little bit underwhelming now?
I guess that slogging through the trenches of Normandy was never going to be a barrel of laughs, but the bland flat texturing and slightly fiddly Medal of Honour controls blunted the experience somewhat. I am beginning to think that xbox experience takes the shine off games on any other platform.
Have said that, the plot jogs along at a decent pace, and a fair fegree of tactical thought must go into "solving" various bottlenecks. A decent array of levels and a nice train yard section also lighten the load.
Unfortunately, perhaps due to historical accuracy, the slow pace of actual gameplay and an under-powered, loose-aiming feel to the weapons cause the experience to drag a little at times. Perhaps having honed my skills on any number of fast paced FPSs, I'm now desensitized to this slower, more measured approach. This could have been a refreshing change, but a distinct paucity of stealth based sections makes for a less thrilling outcome. However, some sniper alley shootouts go some way to redressing this lack of tension.
Sound, as ever, is top notch in this series and there is a certain thrill to be found eavesdropping on drunken Germans from an adjacent room, knowing you will be bursting in to their Nazi gentleman's club, bullets spraying in a riot of righteous vengence.
Take that Heinz.
gameFAQs
This had sounded fantastic a couple of years ago, being able to actually play through the Saving Private Ryan film. So why is it just that little bit underwhelming now?
I guess that slogging through the trenches of Normandy was never going to be a barrel of laughs, but the bland flat texturing and slightly fiddly Medal of Honour controls blunted the experience somewhat. I am beginning to think that xbox experience takes the shine off games on any other platform.
Have said that, the plot jogs along at a decent pace, and a fair fegree of tactical thought must go into "solving" various bottlenecks. A decent array of levels and a nice train yard section also lighten the load.
Unfortunately, perhaps due to historical accuracy, the slow pace of actual gameplay and an under-powered, loose-aiming feel to the weapons cause the experience to drag a little at times. Perhaps having honed my skills on any number of fast paced FPSs, I'm now desensitized to this slower, more measured approach. This could have been a refreshing change, but a distinct paucity of stealth based sections makes for a less thrilling outcome. However, some sniper alley shootouts go some way to redressing this lack of tension.
Sound, as ever, is top notch in this series and there is a certain thrill to be found eavesdropping on drunken Germans from an adjacent room, knowing you will be bursting in to their Nazi gentleman's club, bullets spraying in a riot of righteous vengence.
Take that Heinz.
gameFAQs
October 01, 2004
Gamecube console
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Well, I've just spent the first 24 hours with my new toy and I have to say that I am a little underwhelmed. At the end of the day it is just another console, and the core of it is the controller. That is where my problems start. I like the feel of the analogue sticks but the buttons just feel oddly plasticy and the thing as a whole is just to small for my big hands.
I did manage to spend two and a half hours with Animal Crossing and it was very sweet, but I get the sense I have seen all I am going to see. I can only imagine that you just get more of the same over and over again, almost like the village stuff in Zelda but without any narrative or dungeons or peril. P.N. 03 was a bit poor too. It looked great but gameplay wise it was like revisiting all the worst aspects of Gun Valkyrie.
All in all this just really confirms my respect for the Xbox. Best graphics, best controller, best music and video, just lacking the exclusives unfortunately.
gameFAQs
Well, I've just spent the first 24 hours with my new toy and I have to say that I am a little underwhelmed. At the end of the day it is just another console, and the core of it is the controller. That is where my problems start. I like the feel of the analogue sticks but the buttons just feel oddly plasticy and the thing as a whole is just to small for my big hands.
I did manage to spend two and a half hours with Animal Crossing and it was very sweet, but I get the sense I have seen all I am going to see. I can only imagine that you just get more of the same over and over again, almost like the village stuff in Zelda but without any narrative or dungeons or peril. P.N. 03 was a bit poor too. It looked great but gameplay wise it was like revisiting all the worst aspects of Gun Valkyrie.
All in all this just really confirms my respect for the Xbox. Best graphics, best controller, best music and video, just lacking the exclusives unfortunately.
gameFAQs
September 10, 2004
P.N. 03 (Gamecube)
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This things has so many similarities to Gun Valkyrie. A foxy heroine, in a pumped up suit, battling through short mapped missions. Great graphics but awkward controls.
As far as the aliasing goes, no more than in any other game, but the black and white nature of the level design just makes it more obvious. I thought full screen anti-aliasing was supposed to be the next big thing. You can get it on PC, do people just consider TV screens to be too fuzzy to bother with?
All in all an exercise in style over substance. Old school shoot 'em up it may be, but that is better left to spaceships than 3rd person characters.
gameFAQs
This things has so many similarities to Gun Valkyrie. A foxy heroine, in a pumped up suit, battling through short mapped missions. Great graphics but awkward controls.
As far as the aliasing goes, no more than in any other game, but the black and white nature of the level design just makes it more obvious. I thought full screen anti-aliasing was supposed to be the next big thing. You can get it on PC, do people just consider TV screens to be too fuzzy to bother with?
All in all an exercise in style over substance. Old school shoot 'em up it may be, but that is better left to spaceships than 3rd person characters.
gameFAQs
September 09, 2004
Microsoft Dual Strike
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I picked this little oddity up the other day from eBay. Another strange chimera to add to my collection of bizarre game peripherals. The gimmick with this game pad is a split design with a ball and socket type joint between the left and right halves. Ostensibly mirroring the pivot of the head for FPS games, the movement is actually over so wide an area as to give me wrist strain.
Robustly built and as configurable as any other of the Microsoft peripherals, but the fact you can't change the zone of transition between head turning and body movement. I may have to persevere but I never really thought the mouse and keyboard option were broken. In all honest I think two anaolgue sticks are a simple enough alternative and at least have the advantage of analogue sensitivity.
Nice idea then, shame about the reality.
I picked this little oddity up the other day from eBay. Another strange chimera to add to my collection of bizarre game peripherals. The gimmick with this game pad is a split design with a ball and socket type joint between the left and right halves. Ostensibly mirroring the pivot of the head for FPS games, the movement is actually over so wide an area as to give me wrist strain.
Robustly built and as configurable as any other of the Microsoft peripherals, but the fact you can't change the zone of transition between head turning and body movement. I may have to persevere but I never really thought the mouse and keyboard option were broken. In all honest I think two anaolgue sticks are a simple enough alternative and at least have the advantage of analogue sensitivity.
Nice idea then, shame about the reality.
September 07, 2004
ECTS 2004 - or excuse me, did I miss a game show?
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Man was that weak!
When a little surround sound booth is the highlight of the show, there has to be something amiss.
Reading the show programme for ECTS the guy totally slags off ELSPA for putting so much on at the same time. Tee hee. It seems that all the vaguely consumer stuff has been moved off site, and there is a fair bit of other stuff going on, undeniably to the detriment of the main show. One has to wonder if it will see another year. I would have checked out Game Stars but I boycott events featuring "Sports Stars" and the latest "Happening Bands". Ah well!!!
There weren't any lovely finds like last years Metal Arms. A cute little bongo drum game on the Gamecube was pretty much the biggest crowd puller. Not that there were any real crowds. Lots of CD cleaning manufacturers and shelving units. Ho hum!
I did wind up speaking to a couple of interesting people. The Xbox sound system guy was very interesting, and obviously knew his engineering. I would jump at the chance to get one of those setups, but again I simply don't have the house for it. Maybe when I own my own place I can make the committment.
Also a chat with a woman representing a speech recognition company. They bought out Lernout and Hauspie a few years back and are the only provider of speech products across the industry. I suggested that she talks to Microsoft as I am sure that speech control will be a must for the Media PC. Remote controls are all well and good, but speech and gesture are the way to go when you no longer see your PC in the house.
The Dare to be Digital bunch were down as well and got to see their finished projects. Finally saw Sally's City Scrawlaz game which was in fact very stylish and quite anarchic. Fantastic animation too. Interesting to see where they end up.
ECTS
Man was that weak!
When a little surround sound booth is the highlight of the show, there has to be something amiss.
Reading the show programme for ECTS the guy totally slags off ELSPA for putting so much on at the same time. Tee hee. It seems that all the vaguely consumer stuff has been moved off site, and there is a fair bit of other stuff going on, undeniably to the detriment of the main show. One has to wonder if it will see another year. I would have checked out Game Stars but I boycott events featuring "Sports Stars" and the latest "Happening Bands". Ah well!!!
There weren't any lovely finds like last years Metal Arms. A cute little bongo drum game on the Gamecube was pretty much the biggest crowd puller. Not that there were any real crowds. Lots of CD cleaning manufacturers and shelving units. Ho hum!
I did wind up speaking to a couple of interesting people. The Xbox sound system guy was very interesting, and obviously knew his engineering. I would jump at the chance to get one of those setups, but again I simply don't have the house for it. Maybe when I own my own place I can make the committment.
Also a chat with a woman representing a speech recognition company. They bought out Lernout and Hauspie a few years back and are the only provider of speech products across the industry. I suggested that she talks to Microsoft as I am sure that speech control will be a must for the Media PC. Remote controls are all well and good, but speech and gesture are the way to go when you no longer see your PC in the house.
The Dare to be Digital bunch were down as well and got to see their finished projects. Finally saw Sally's City Scrawlaz game which was in fact very stylish and quite anarchic. Fantastic animation too. Interesting to see where they end up.
ECTS
September 03, 2004
Judge Dredd vs Death (Xbox)
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I narrowly avoided an embarassing encounter a fortnight ago. I had the good fortune to chat to Jason Kingsley, the head of Rebellion Games, at the Edinburgh International Games Festival. I happily told him I had bought myself a copy of his latest title and was looking forward to playing it soon. Had I met him now I would be in a dashed awkard position if he asked me what I thought of it!
I don't know if it is the bland textures or the sluggish controls but it just fails to engage me. I know I will plug on through, but it has turned out to be a peculiarly joyless experience. God knows they have some terrific IP and some of the Mega City advertising hoardings are laugh out loud funny, but there is simply no magic. The damned thing is there isn't anything particularly wrong with it, it just doesn't gel. How frustrating it must be to a developer who can manifestly see the problem, but is at a loss how to inject that certain something.
Three levels in is probably not quite the place to cast judgement, but at present I can see that it thourougly deserves Edge's lack-lustre 5.
ONE WEEK LATER - Well I can't say that I have really changed my opinion, but I have to wonder why the saved all the best till last. The final few levels are more assured in design, but maybe less interesting to play. The geometry in the Deadworld level in particular are worthy of note. Even then, in the final skeleton bound arena, the gameplay is such that you don't get the chance to step back and enjoy the scenery.
Lighting is good and a very cartoony set of shaders build on the comic book heritage, but where the action should be larger than life, I am just frustrated by the slow speed of the Judge and the super-fast reflexes of the enemies. That and the rather flimsy feel of the weapons means you feel more of a desk jockey than a kick-arse lawman.
Overall, nice try, but not there yet. Overly linear and lumpy game play makes for a missed opportunity. Pity.
gameFAQs
I narrowly avoided an embarassing encounter a fortnight ago. I had the good fortune to chat to Jason Kingsley, the head of Rebellion Games, at the Edinburgh International Games Festival. I happily told him I had bought myself a copy of his latest title and was looking forward to playing it soon. Had I met him now I would be in a dashed awkard position if he asked me what I thought of it!
I don't know if it is the bland textures or the sluggish controls but it just fails to engage me. I know I will plug on through, but it has turned out to be a peculiarly joyless experience. God knows they have some terrific IP and some of the Mega City advertising hoardings are laugh out loud funny, but there is simply no magic. The damned thing is there isn't anything particularly wrong with it, it just doesn't gel. How frustrating it must be to a developer who can manifestly see the problem, but is at a loss how to inject that certain something.
Three levels in is probably not quite the place to cast judgement, but at present I can see that it thourougly deserves Edge's lack-lustre 5.
ONE WEEK LATER - Well I can't say that I have really changed my opinion, but I have to wonder why the saved all the best till last. The final few levels are more assured in design, but maybe less interesting to play. The geometry in the Deadworld level in particular are worthy of note. Even then, in the final skeleton bound arena, the gameplay is such that you don't get the chance to step back and enjoy the scenery.
Lighting is good and a very cartoony set of shaders build on the comic book heritage, but where the action should be larger than life, I am just frustrated by the slow speed of the Judge and the super-fast reflexes of the enemies. That and the rather flimsy feel of the weapons means you feel more of a desk jockey than a kick-arse lawman.
Overall, nice try, but not there yet. Overly linear and lumpy game play makes for a missed opportunity. Pity.
gameFAQs
