Cheerful Ghost: An Awesome Community For Gamers

Interview -w Aurore Dimopoulos of Unity

Unity is the game engine and set of tools that is widely becoming the game development platform of choice. If you have checked out many of our Cheerful Ghost interviews, Unity is quite popular in new Indie Game Development. Since Unity is becoming a cornerstone of how games are made I decided to contact Unity Technologies and ask them a few questions about what they were up to. I was put in contact with Aurore Dimopoulos the Unity Community Manager.

Since Unity is a engine used by game developers I asked a local game designer to help me with the interview. Clifton is the lead designer of Clobbr, an upcoming mobile puzzle game written in Unity.

jdodson: Unity is an... Read All

Hotline Miami: A Violent 80's Theme 2D Action Game

Hotline Miami was the main reason I picked up the Humble Bundle 8. I heard good things about it, but for whatever reason didn't pick it up till it came with the recent Humble Bundle. I think I can describe Hotline Miami best as "The Drive move video game." I don't mean that in a negative way, Hotline Miami is excellent as is the Ryan Gosling film.

The story is really interesting and like some indie games, doesn't lay itself out in a way that is easily accessible. Since the games story isn't entirely straight forward you can interpret it in a number of ways. The Hotline Miami story is a kind of 80's movie where the main character appears to be schizophrenic. At least,... Read All Hotline Miami was the main reason I picked up the Humble Bundle 8. I heard good things about it, but for whatever reason didn't pick it up till it came with the recent Humble Bundle. I think I can describe Hotline Miami best as "The Drive move video game." I don't mean that in a negative way, Hotline Miami is excellent as is the Ryan Gosling film.

The story is really interesting and like some indie games, doesn't lay itself out in a way that is easily accessible. Since the games story isn't entirely straight forward you can interpret it in a number of ways. The Hotline Miami story is a kind of 80's movie where the main character appears to be schizophrenic. At least, that's how I looked at the masks you unlock and the story breaks where the Horse , Rooster and Owl Mask characters talk to you. They are just the main character talking to himself from a different part of his personality.

If you take this way of looking at the game to its end many things happen in strange ways that hinge on the character being insane. I am not entirely sure viewing the main character as schizophrenic works, its just made to me. That all said, the game is amazingly fun along side the unique story.

Hotline Miami is a 2D top-down GTA style kill-em-up where the goal is to kill everyone on a floor. The later levels have many floors and the games floor design is really great in that the challenge keeps ratcheting up as you progress. One other element of Hotline Miami is that __you will die a lot__. I can't stress that enough, you will die a ridiculous amount of times in this game and that's all part of the fun.

You need to evolve some strategy to win the game OR you will hit a brick wall with it. A few things I learned to stay alive:

Knives are amazing, learn to find and use them. They are fast attack and if the enemy doesn't have a gun and you use the knife right you will always kill them.

You can charge into a room with two gunmen and kill them quickly if they are close.

Running into a room and immediately running out cause guys to follow you, so you can hit them when they go through the door. Lie in wait and kill when they are close.

Typically speaking, get better at using hand to hand weapons because somehow I found them to be typically more useful than guns.

The game soundtrack is very well done. If you are interested in listening to the games unique score, check it out here:

https://soundcloud.com/devolverdigital/sets/hotline-miami-official

Over the last few days I have sunk a few hours into it and just beat it a few minutes ago. The game took me about 6 hours to beat start to finish. This is one of those games where beating it feels like an accomplishment because of its difficulty and unique flavor.

If you have it, I seriously recommend you play Hotline Miami. I do want to warn you though, the game is odd and filled with horrific violence and other disturbia. Which, you know, is part of the fun.

Tungsten wrote on 06/13/2013 at 09:46am

I really enjoyed Hotline Miami as well. For a game that is known for its violence, it requires a great amount of strategy and has quite a moving story.

They do have a sequel planned: http://aol.it/163CL8x

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/13/2013 at 02:38pm

Awesome, thanks for sharing that. I think a sequel would be great. And your right, it requires a ton of strategy, much more than many of the shooters ive played.

Travis Admin wrote on 06/13/2013 at 04:25pm

Is it cheap-hard or Nintendo-hard?

Gary_Butterfield wrote on 06/13/2013 at 05:51pm

Watch the Errant Signal video on it for a new angle of appreciation. There's more to this game than meets the eye.

Tungsten wrote on 06/13/2013 at 06:14pm

Nintendo Hard. Everything is fair and consistent: you just have to be a beast to pull it off. Luckily it has a catchy sound track and no load time between respawns. You still actually enjoy a level after you've died on it 120 times.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/14/2013 at 04:30am

Interesting Errant Signal video and he brings up some interesting points. To save everyone a Google:

http://www.errantsignal.com/blog/?p=424

From the video:

"Hotline Miami suggests that narrative is meaningless and narrative is irrelevant."

Uhm, or it is providing a off key narrative and metaphor that isn't accessible for the style of the game. This guy kind of lost me when he said that and im not sure folks involved with the game agree here.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article/sv-interview-devolver-digital-s-nigel-lowrie-talks-hotline-miami?page=0,0

"So the aesthetic came first and the story came second, is that common?

I don’t know if it’s common, the story usually comes first and then the artist will have some interpretation on that and they’ll come to an agreement on it with design. What happened here is the type of game you’re playing — a fast-paced, trial-and-error, almost Super-Meat-Boy-type of action — was really what the aesthetic was built on. Story was kind of secondary. The original story was focused on the drug trade and cocaine cowboys. The name was changed because as the game evolved the team came up with a new story based on the idea of these answering machines; these hotlines people were calling and leaving these messages and the violence that came out of that."

So yeah, it wasn't a first class consideration but I don't the game was trying to say it is meaningless or irrelevant, I think it might be something else.

Gary_Butterfield wrote on 06/17/2013 at 04:27pm

You programmer types always forget your Dead Author! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_the_Author

I don't always agree with dead author but in the case of video games, an explicitly commercial medium, I think it's an important step to finding deeper meaning in games.

That said, I don't 100% agree with Campster on this one. I think the game being about violence angle is pretty valid.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/18/2013 at 12:14am

I think the game is about violence for sure. Yay for that too, it was a fun aspect of the game. Shocking to be sure, but very fun.

I am not trying to limit what people want to do or the places they want to go with art. The guy that made that video is capable and does make videos and I am not going to stop that, well clearly. I just don't agree with his interpretations up to the last 25% of the video. Because, well, it just didn't make sense with how I played the game and how it sort of seemed to me.

Thing is, he didn't say "you know this is what the game said to me" he said thats what the game was saying.

I agree with the notion that the work has an effect and that can take a life of its own outside the author or original intent. You know, thats maybe not what Death of the Author means but thats the best way I can describe it because if it truely means we must divorce ourselves from the author or original intent then that concept can jump off a cliff. At least for me, because I like behind the scenes shit and understanding what people wanted to do to see how I looked at it and contrast. I think many people outside my personality style do the same thing too.

That said, I don't mind people taking a work and reading a ton of meaning in it intended or otherwise based on what they bring to it. I think thats a different thing that people saying "THIS IS WHAT THE GAME IS" when the author clearly didn't mean that. Because we do bring things to the table when we experience art and thats fine. I think with some work and its popularity it can have an effect where it takes on a whole life of its own. Star Wars is such an example as its so ingrained in all of us it takes on a life that George Lucas may have never intended and his intent may not be relevant anymore.

That said, really in this instance I just don't agree with this guy and his opinion on what the game is trying to do. Which, I think is fine.

Gary_Butterfield wrote on 06/18/2013 at 10:41pm

I think the best thing you can take away from Dead Author is that if we find meaning in a work, that's enriching and helps bring us closer to the work and that's valuable on it's own. What the author intended shouldn't take away from that.

I'm pretty sure he says he'd like to "posit" a different interpretation, which suggests to me "suggest" rather than decree, but, again, I don't totally agree with him either. I am, however, fine with people saying games are about whatever they want to say they're about. Might be baseless and not backed up with evidence (and I'd argue that Campster supports his argument well) but I don't think it's wrong to do so.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/18/2013 at 11:05pm

Yeah totally. I took away things from Super Mario Brothers I am sure were not intended, but it was sort of how I looked at the game from my childhood perspective of mad wonderment. I am not sure I can look at games that way again and am not sure I want to save it things were fresh in ways they are not.

On that note, which isn't related to our original discussion at all... It kind of seems more art is being created now and of such high quality that our collective tastes have risen such that we chide awesome work in ways we wouldn't have otherwise. I kind of think something like Raiders of the Lost Ark would be slammed in ways it isn't now because we had lower expectations then. If you adjust the movie for a modern spin, then again perhaps a modern take would be a less interesting movie.

For whatever that is all worth.

Gary_Butterfield wrote on 06/18/2013 at 11:15pm

That's undeniably true. The older I get, the more interested I get in inner spaces. My reaction to things is important and true and everything else I take with a grain of salt. Not quite solipsistic but closer.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/19/2013 at 12:32am

True. But it may be more than possible for rocks to exist. And cats

But it might just be me. Rather, my mind :D

Tungsten wrote on 06/19/2013 at 11:09pm

If you've seen any of the coverage of the sequal, it looks interesting, and fairly pertinent to the discussion. It certainly lends itself to the "This game is a criticism of violence" side of the story, but it seems to have expanded a bit:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/06/19/revealed-hotline-miami-2-wrong-number/

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/20/2013 at 03:04am

That RPS write up is great. I really like how they are thinking about the follow up and look forward to checking it out.

"The fans" stuff looks cool. And even if the author was right and this is more like Hotline Miami 1.5, bring it on.

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

XBox One's internet requirement fix: The Xbox 360

You just can't make this stuff up.

When asked about what the 1/4 of the country without broadband should do about the Xbone's phone-home requirement, Xbox chief Don Mattrick said "Fortunately we have a product for people who aren't able to get some form of connectivity. It's called Xbox 360."

Suggesting people use their almost obsolete console is a bold marketing move, to be sure.

hardeyez wrote on 06/12/2013 at 06:18pm

At least he didn't say to get a PS4 :) Even though that's what it means if you want the new releases. Developers stop supporting the old generation quickly... But that could change and specific cases in the past have shown that. E.g. kids games on the PS1 kept coming out (probably because they ps1 was moved from the living room to the kids room when they upgraded)...

Tungsten wrote on 06/12/2013 at 06:25pm

Someone has to post it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOosVWP--j0

Blue_Element wrote on 06/12/2013 at 07:11pm

Good job, Microsoft. Good job.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/13/2013 at 01:04am

Yeah, they're in trouble. I love how Jeff was holding his composure during this interview. I bet in the XBone version of Watchdogs, you'll actually play as a corporate henchman, rather than the resistance. "See guys! This isn't so bad!"

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 06/13/2013 at 03:41am

I feel like I've been hard on Microsoft lately and think that maybe I should be less biased, but then I see things like this.

Tungsten wrote on 06/13/2013 at 07:26pm

I'm a bit of an MS fanboy (that's right, I have owned multiple Zunes), and I really have to hand it to Sony: they are making a game machine that I am more likely to buy that Microsoft. This little bit of arrogance is just icing on the cake.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 06/13/2013 at 07:28pm

The Zunes were truly awesome devices. I wish they'd stuck around.

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

Diablo III on consoles looks pretty nice, actually

I saw this video last night, and today I read about some ways they're changing the game for consoles. Some of this looks really interesting. A new dodge mechanic will change how you approach battles to some extent, allowing you to dodge out of attacks easily. This adds a little more hack'n'slash skill to the battles. Some camera angle and perspective changes here and there seem to give you a better view of what's going on. And especially the loot changes-- since there's no Auction House on the console versions, they've made it more likely that the gear you find will be for your character.

What do you think? Will you dive back into the game on a new platform? I was... Read All

hardeyez wrote on 06/12/2013 at 06:09pm

Argh... "The developers also tweaked the loot drop system. The console version will not include the PC version's Auction House, real money or otherwise. To compensate, there's a higher probability that you'll find relevant loot for your class."

So, yeah, how many times did they say the PC version was designed around and balanced for play w/o the auction house. And, yet, they tweak the loot drops on console to account for there being no auction house.

Yeah, the console version sounds like the d3 I wanted to play. If it plays w/o rubber-banding all the time even better...

But I just can't justify spending another $60 on that game. Maybe when it drops to $20...

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 06/12/2013 at 09:08pm

Some of these features could come to PC

http://diablo.somepage.com/news/1567-d3-developers-pc-diablo-iii-may-get-console-features

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/13/2013 at 02:31am

Thanks for sharing that Travis. I hope some of them do.

Also found it interesting the new Diablo III lead was the console lead who was allowed some free reign over the project. Seems like dropping auction house and a lot of other things they did might be good for the PC game proper.

Id take an increase in better loot drops for the auction house going away. I wonder if most other people would too.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 06/13/2013 at 02:59am

I played the RMAH early on, when everyone was paying ridiculous amounts of money for crap gear. I sold some crap gear for real money early on and left it there until I came back to the game recently, at which point I was able to use that real money in my Blizzard account to buy gems, which I then sold for gold on the gold auction house. I turned a couple of pieces that were probably worth 100,000 gold into 350 million or so.

Then, a friend of mine gave me some gift cards to the RMAH-- his brother got them and had been banned for exploting, so he didn't want them. I gave one to my wife and kept another. So I had some gold to spend.

This was all to show where I am in terms of getting gear. I don't really have any problems. I have geared my level 60 Monk entirely with millions of gold on the Auction House (with the exception of some awesome-ish crafted bracers), but I would *still* take a game where I could get good drops for my character over one where the AH is practically mandatory for a good build.

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy the content, and I don't mind getting gear from the AH. It doesn't change the way I play at all, so I can still have tons of fun. But the thrill of getting a good piece of gear is almost entirely lost in the game as it currently stands, and I would love to have it back.

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/13/2013 at 05:57am

Interesting. I didn't know they sold gift cards for the RMAH.

You are so the 1% in Diablo III.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 06/13/2013 at 01:02pm

Haha, you'd be surprised. People don't think twice about dropping 2 billion on an item.

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

Starcrafts Pool Party + SC2 Event

This Starcrafts video was released in tandem with the recent Starcraft II spawn support.

Also wanted to let you know that Tomorrow a few Cheerful Ghoster's and I are playing Starcraft II and if you want to join us feel free. You don't need to buy the game as you can download the Starter Edition and play with us that way.

http://cheerfulghost.com/jdodson/events/22

Below: The Next Collab -w Capybara & Jim Guthrie

Explore, survive and discover are some of the only words that are featured on the new site for Below, the upcoming collaboration between Capybara Games and Jim Guthrie. The released video looks very cool and seems to evoke a rogue-like element featuring the Capy style fused with Jim Guthrie's amazing music.

One point of note is the site mentions XBox One as the only platform listed. I hope, as with Sword & Sworcery this game will make it to PC and Phones/Tablets. Whereas I would cringe somewhat if this were a XBox One exclusive hopefully it would be ported to PC and other stuff later. That said, the game looks great and I am looking forward to more information as... Read All

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/12/2013 at 05:17am

Looks like it's actually published by Microsoft Studios. Might not stray too far from the XBone anytime soon, if ever. Sad. This looks to be an amazing adventure.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/12/2013 at 04:00pm

Sword & Sworcery was eventually ported to PC, Mac, Linux an Android. If/when the exclusivity ends then maybe?

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/13/2013 at 01:30am

Maybe! It took a year for Limbo to make it to other systems, so who knows ;)

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/13/2013 at 02:32am

True. I can wait, just as long as it comes at some point.

Being that I have a ton of games in my backlog, waiting is something I have in spades :D

Travis Admin wrote on 06/13/2013 at 03:45am

If MS Studios has the publishing rights, I doubt it will make it to PS4. It might come to PC, Microsoft has been pretty good about that in the past, but it would be unheard of if it came to PS4.

That all depends on the publishing rights, though. It's possible MS were a good bunch o' lads and only have MS publishing rights, but I doubt it.

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

Wind Waker HD Comes to Wii U

During Nintendo's E3 event today they dropped the news that Wind Waker is coming to the Wii U in HD. The visuals in the video looks incredible and the remastered version looks great. This is a nice addition to the Wii U and for people that love this game and have the console could see this as a must buy!

Travis Admin wrote on 06/13/2013 at 03:46am

I want a Wii U, but only for the Nintendo-published games. Kinda where I was on the Wii. I'll probably end up getting one when it's down to $150 or something.

This looks stellar. I just can't justify it yet.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/13/2013 at 06:01am

Yeah. I don't have a Wii U and whereas this game looks incredible, like you, it would be the only reason I bought one. And I can play Wind Waker on my Wii.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/25/2014 at 05:32am

I thought Wind Waker was an AWESOME game! I was also very happy with the bonus disc I got with my pre-order of the game (that disc is why I can play Majora's Mask, Ocarina of Time, and the first two Zelda games on the Gamecube, or Wii). Still, I've played Wind Waker recently and I'm not quite yet compelled to buy a Wii U because of this game. A new Zelda game would definitely make me more compelled to buy one. Initially I loved the idea of the Wii U and wanted one, but over time my interest seemed to die. I can afford one now, but there's nothing that's making me want one in particular. However, that trailer for the new Zelda game is probably what it might take for me to finally get one (regardless of price).

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

Gunpoint: A Stealth 2D Mission Based Action Game

After reading caffo's post about Gunpoint a few weeks ago I waited for the final release and then noticed there was a demo available to try. Gunpoint is a 2D stealth based action game where you play a secret agent of sorts that goes on missions of increasing degrees of difficulty. A game I have played recently that it feels like is U R Not A Hero but Gunpoint doesn't feature a frenzy of gunplay.

The game has a interesting story that you experience through reading messages sent to your phone. When you first start the game you are seemingly thrown from a window and land on the ground and are immediately called by someone in a building. She is murdered while you are... Read All

Destiny: A Game That Compels Me To The PS4

Typically I don't nab a console for one game but Destiny looks so good I might make an exception to that rule. Since I have never owned an XBox I haven't played any of the Halo games and Bungie's next game seems like a re-visioning of that universe.

With the Steam Console being on the unknown horizon and the PS4 seeming to support the Indie scene as well as it claims, I might get a next gen console much quicker than I thought.

What do you think, does Bungie's next game look interesting to you? If so how do you plan on playing it?

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/11/2013 at 04:25am

Since this isn't coming to PC (that I've heard, anyway), I plan on picking it up on Ps4. I'm a big Halo/Bungie fan, so I'm really looking forward to see what they do with a multiplayer persistent world. Looks like there may be some inter-planetary travel, too!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/11/2013 at 04:50am

Yeah, I am really looking forward to more details on this game. It looks so pretty.

Chowda wrote on 06/11/2013 at 06:59pm

This looks pretty interesting but I am firmly in the camp of not buying a console for a particular game. My PS3 is more of an entertainment console anyway, I think I'll stick with it until it dies. I'll need a lot more than one interesting game to pick up the PS4. I had plans to put a guest OS on my PS3 when I got it. With a mandatory firmware update they removed that option a few months later. I'm not bitter...

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/11/2013 at 07:14pm

Yeah, I dont typically nab a console for one game either. Also, like you I use my PS3 as a media center the majority of the time too. Destiny does look good though and over time I might get excited about a few more games to help the prospect.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/11/2013 at 09:44pm

Something I usually use as a decider in any game purchase, is the the controller that's available. Prior to this year, I would have never purchased a First Person Shooter on the Ps3. The Xbox 360 controller just felt right for that type of game on a console. I'm starting to get used to using keyboard/mouse on the PC side of that coin, but I feel more at home with a controller. The DualShock 4, if it's as tuned as everyone says it is, makes playing a game like Destiny even more accessible on a Playstation system. I think it will be a key factor, in conjunction with the apparent lack of gamer love coming from Microsoft, that will draw a good chunk of the Xbox players over. Seriously, is it just me, or is that controller just dead sexy!?

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/12/2013 at 03:02am

The PS4 controller looks pretty good. Not sure why people dislike the PS3 dualshock, I think its pretty good but the XBox 360 always felt way too big for my taste.

BR Supporter wrote on 06/12/2013 at 08:40am

I prefer the xbox controllers because of the placement of the joysticks. They just feel much more natural when I hold them.

But about Destiny. I've been extremely excited for this game and I would really like to get it. BUT, I ,just a few days ago, built a brand new PC and its going to be hard for me to go back to console after making such a beast machine. If I do end up getting a console I'm leaning towards the PS4. The slightly better hardware and the new design for the controller definitely has me thinking I will part from the xbox, Although, the xbox one does have the ability to switch back and forth between windows and xbox operating systems which is kinda cool(or so I've been told).

So I have no idea.

Travis Admin wrote on 06/13/2013 at 03:47am

This is published by Activision so I'd be surprised if it didn't come to Xbox One and PC as well. You should be safe BR :)

BR Supporter wrote on 06/13/2013 at 04:56am

I was talking to some of my friends at work today and they were saying that destiny will only be on the PS4 and PC. I'm not sure if this is true but I haven't had the chance to look it up yet. Also, after talking to them a bit, I found out about the PS4's stance on used games and online restrictions. I'm thinking I will be buying the PS4, considering they actually know what the people want.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/13/2013 at 05:38am

Bunnie's pre-order page shows it for Ps3, Xbox 360, Ps4 and XBone. I don't think it's coming to PC at all.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/13/2013 at 06:01am

Yeah, not listed as a PC port. Sad, it would be great if it came to PC.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/13/2013 at 06:07am

Apparently, I get all my games from Bunnie's Game Cache here in Anchorage...

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/20/2013 at 03:55am

Destiny MIGHT come to PC:

http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/02/18/destiny/

"I’d say we would absolutely love to be on PC,” Parsons said. “If you go upstairs and talk to the people upstairs, we play on all platforms. So stay tuned."

So, ill hold off on my "buying the PS4 for this one" until we get the official "sorry, no."

BR Supporter wrote on 06/20/2013 at 04:48am

Cross your fingers people! Destiny would be Badass on PC!

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.

And the gauntlet has been thrown down

http://www.destructoid.com//ul/255939-h2.jpg

Sony has announced that the PS4 will be available this winter for $399. That's $100 less than the XBox One (or as I've taken to calling it, the XBone). Sony has apparently learned from the mistakes of old.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/06/playstation-4-will-be-available-for-399-this-holiday-season

In addition, they showed off some interesting games. Final Fantasy XV (which was once Final Fantasy Vs. XIII), Kingdom Hearts 3, a new Mad Max game (seriously, how fun could that be), a new Infamous, and The Order: 1886 which from the teaser looks amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tdcXjOfiLsg

They made it a major point to point out that... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/11/2013 at 03:44am

Yeah, Sony really seemed to verge strongly from what Microsoft is doing during this event. As I was watching the event people were seeming to eat it up and when the price point hit I think that was game for many.

I am curious to see how this translates to gaming as a whole, but for the people that are very passionate about used, indie and playing games Sony is the clear frontrunner no question.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/11/2013 at 03:56am

Ha! I loved the sharing video! I'm going to have to make a pro/con list for both the PS4 and the XBox One...

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 06/11/2013 at 03:56am

But I want to watch cable on my console even though I have that capability without a console already.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/11/2013 at 04:07am

Nice to see that little video throwdown. Microsoft now sits in a very lonely pot of hot water, and I don't know that they even realize it. Where do they go from here? They have to reinforce their commitment to the games, otherwise what is the XBone: http://youtu.be/KbWgUO-Rqcw

scrypt Supporter wrote on 06/11/2013 at 04:23am

Did you catch the small print on that 'game sharing' video? Multiplayer will require PSN account and PS+ subscription. Interesting, if they abandon the free structure they have now, though I don't think too many people will complain. Sony's online service has been growing into a welcome place, and if they can implement a better social experience (better party system, cross-game chat, etc), the money will be well spent.

hardeyez wrote on 06/11/2013 at 04:31am

Dying Light looks pretty good also... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsdcRgY4U8E

hardeyez wrote on 06/11/2013 at 04:35am

Oh, and Knack also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD8XMXqTAG4

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/11/2013 at 03:29pm

Microsoft recoils in fear, already a price drop:

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-One-Console/dp/B00CMQTVK0

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 06/11/2013 at 04:03pm

I don't see a price on that Amazon page.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/11/2013 at 06:17pm

I see a $0.96 price increase!

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/12/2013 at 03:00am

When I posted it, it was a 4 cent price drop. :D

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/12/2013 at 03:13am

If my XBone is always on, and they all come with a Kinect... the paranoid side of me worries about having the possibility of always being watched. And yes, I do have things to hide!

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/12/2013 at 03:32am

Everyone does, privacy is import for that reason. I kind of worry about that too, I dig the idea of the Kinect but always on always recording? No thanks.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/25/2014 at 05:36am

Thanks for mentioning the new Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts games! Right now I don't seem to have any interest in the new PS4, except for those games. I imagine I might get a PS4 when one of those games is released. I really wish it was backwards compatible, especially since I've been having issues with my PS3. If that was the case, I would have a PS4 already. It is going to be backwards compatible, but in that you have to get the older games in the store, it's not like it'll play the old pre-PS4 discs, which I think is disappointing. However, I did see something about the PS3 when it was backwards compatible and how PS2 games on the PS3 looked worse than they did on the PS2. That feature was later removed. All that said, and to wrap up, I believe it will take the new Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts game to get this oblivious gamer to buy a PS4. That said, I might also mention that as with the XBox 360, I have absolutely no interest in the XBox One.

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.