The evening Inbox tries to name the best hair in video games, as one reader has a surprise meeting with Eugene Jarvis.
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Snowed in
Hope all readers are safe and warm and perhaps enjoying some video games with all this snow. First thing I did with my six-year-old on Wednesday morning was put on the mini SNES and start Super Mario RPG.
Classic Nintendo charm and perfect gameplay. We are both fed up of loading times, updates, and cut scenes when all you want is a quick blast of gameplay. Looks like the mini SNES will take a backseat tomorrow morning though when the sledge comes out! Might try Secret Of Mana for the first time in the evening…
What are others doing if they’re stuck at home?
Zederic
Hair-raising question
So this morning I downloaded Rise Of The Tomb Raider with Game Pass, and while watching one of the cut scenes I had a thought: what’s the best hair you’ve seen in a video game? Not the hair hairstyle, the actual hair?
It was noticeably off-putting in the cut scene I mentioned and most games I’ve played. I’d value yours and the readers thoughts on what is possibly the most important question in gaming today.
Woodfish187 (gamertag)
GC: It’s probably not what you mean but the hair in the Shadow Of The Colossus remake makes us want to pet a dog.
Big problem
The big thing that’s stopping me getting a Switch is that I secretly hope they release an XL model later. I certainly wouldn’t be interested in an even smaller one.
Having played my friend’s for a good few hours last week, I can see why it is the size it is – both ends fit the hands perfectly. But with the average tablet being that bit bigger, I’d definitely love a Switch XL.
Owen Pile
GC: Today’s report didn’t seem to have any specific information on whether a new model would be smaller or bigger, just that it wasn’t coming soon. We don’t think a larger version is particularly likely though, because as you imply a bigger screen would be unwieldy to hold.
E-mail your comments to: [email protected]
Ned Stark wasn't this lucky
Two months in and I’m winning 4-3. Yes, that’s right: I have completed more games on the backlog than I have added. Valiant Hearts, The Turing Test, and Forza Horizon 3 have all had their main campaigns completed. This was my new year’s gaming resolution, seeing as the gym one wasn’t worth setting just to fail.
The fourth game was Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and I thought it was a bit disappointing (minor spoilers follow). The shooting was decent without being spectacular, but certain elements within the story were just ridiculous. I know it is already a sci-fi/alternative universe story, but it is difficult to take the whole thing seriously or care about the characters when things go *too* crazy. The topless pregnant wife scene as well, seemed ridiculously unnecessary near the end as well.
Recent Inbox discussions have involved the GAME poll where people care more about story and I don’t find that to be the case, like other Inboxers have said. I kept playing the game in spite of the story, rather than because of it. My driving force was to best the enemies and finish the game, rather than to see what happened with the story.
If the story is good and that is the main focal point then it can work well. To this end, I’m currently playing and enjoying Oxenfree. There isn’t a huge amount of gameplay per se, but the game is story driven and so expectations are met in that regard. The game is currently dovetailing with Rocket League – a game which is essentially the polar opposite in having no narrative whatsoever, but just pure gameplay.
NatorDom
Forum for thought
I’ve been a reader for more years than I would care to mention, as I’m a huge fan of the site and all who contribute to it (even though I have never wrote in myself – who knows, if this makes it to the letters page I might even write in about the Hot Topic.).
I was just wondering recently how come there’s no forum here? Reading the Inbox is a daily highlight for me when I’m at work and the vast majority who write in seem like good, thoughtful people who care about the games industry.
Just a random thought. Anyways thanks for the fantastic work over the years and long may it continue.
Torro
GC: Thanks for reading. The question of a forum has never really come up. It doesn’t really fit in with the nature of the rest of the site and the Inbox fulfils most of its uses. But if there was a lot of interest we could try and look into it.
Condemned to a duology
I have been a fan of the Condemned series since the very first game. One memory of the first Condemned game on the Xbox 360 was the amazing graphics and the mysteries you got to solve with a great storyline. I also would listen to the title screen music, which I found catchy.
The second and third game has been developed and released and even though they have done well, does everyone agree we should have a fourth game?
I am hoping Sega will eventually produce a fourth game but will combine all the great features of the three games into the fourth and add some amazing tweaks. Perhaps a theatre mode that would let you replay video cut scenes or the in-game music that wouldn’t normally fit or make it onto the official soundtrack. Also, a great variety of multiplayer modes would keep the game interesting and allow updates by Sega for the online modes.
Given Condemned is similar to Outlast, except with weapons, a fourth game if developed would be refreshing news for Condemned fans to hear.
For those who are Condemned fans among GameCentral and its readers what would you like to see in a fourth game?
gaz be rotten (gamertag)
GC: There were only two Condemned games, and neither was very successful. Developer Monolith Productions are now owned by Warner Bros., so they wouldn’t be available anyway.
The X factor
In regards to the letter about PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds dying I’d just like to say that just this week I’ve gone from Fortnite to PUBG.
The grittiness and vast open space is exhilarating and what put me off was the building aspect of Fortnite became the winning factor, rather than gun battles. Fortnite has polish no doubt, and is good fun, but PUBG just has that X factor that you can’t put your finger on.
Let’s not forget that Fortnite is free and free will always beat out fee.
DAN JMK (gamertag)
Currently playing: PUBG (Xbox One)
Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here
Personal appearance
Just got back from a weekend at Arcade Club in Bury, Manchester, where I attended a meeting of the Facebook group; Williams Defender Players Unite. We are massive fans of the games that Williams electronics produced in the early ‘80s, mainly Defender and Robotron: 2084, two of the best shooters ever made – designed and programmed by the legendary Eugene Jarvis.
See the attached photo of the corner of floor two of Arcade Club that the organisers put together for the event.
What no-one expected, not even the organisers, is that Eugene and his wife Sasha flew in from Chicago especially to see us! I managed to get my picture taken with him, and I also had a chat to them both! They spent the day talking to everyone, playing games, drinking beer, and they also went for a curry later with some of the attendees! Such a nice couple, and Eugene clearly had a great time. What a day! I still Can’t believe it!
Tim Keeling
GC: Wow, that’s amazing! Robotron: 2084 is our favourite golden age coin-op too, along with most of Jarvis’ other work.
Inbox also-rans
Anyone else a bit disappointed by Brigitte as the new Overwatch character? Her abilities don’t seem very unique and she’s just a cross between two other existing characters.
Dolan
I didn’t know HAL Laboratory weren’t owned by Nintendo, that’s weird. What if they decided they wanted to make a PlayStation 4 game?
Sponge
GC: Nintendo has invested in them but doesn’t own them outright, they really don’t like buying companies unless they have to.
This week’s Hot Topic
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Cranston, who asks what one video game do you think most deserves a remaster or remake?
With an unusual number of video games already having been reworked and re-released this year, we want to know what other game you’d most like to see get the same treatment. It can be any game from any console, but we want to know why you think it deserves the attention and what changes you’d make to it.
Would it just be tidying up the graphics or would you want to see more significant changes? What else would you change about the visuals, and would you alter anything about the gameplay or controls? Do you think the remaster would be widely popular or would only existing fans enjoy it?
E-mail your comments to: [email protected]
The small print
New Inbox updates appear twice daily, every weekday morning and afternoon. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length.
You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word 4Player viewer features at any time, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.
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