The evening Inbox thinks Detective Pikachu could be a watershed for video game movies, as one reader looks forward to more cowboy games.
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Second class
Now that were getting towards the end of the Christmas games rush its got me wondering what there is for what, for want of a better word, are the years also-rans? Apart from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate there arent any major games after Battlefield V next week (or is it this week? Or last week? Who knows) but there are a bunch of sort of second tier games come after that that Im kind of curios about.
Im not sure which is the most unexpected though, Darksiders III or Just Cause 4, because I wouldnt betted on never seeing either again. With good reason when it comes to Just Cause I think, but Darksiders could be interesting. I like the developers enthusiasm and itd be good to play an open world game that doesnt take itself so seriously.
Personally I like the look of Mutant Year Zero the most though, which claims to be XCOM but with mutated animals in a post-apocalyptic world… or something. Im not sure whats going one with the story but anything XCOM is good by me.
JoePlo
Cinematic purpose
Im not gonna lie, that Pokémon film actually looks really fun. Seeing all the pokémon with pseudo-realistic looks and it actually seeming quite funny, it sold me on the idea even though I havent played one of the games in 20 years but its kind of piqued my interest. Especially as I always avoided playing Pokémon GO.
I do remember when the first game came out and the world went crazy the first time, and it really was called a fad. Crazy to think its bigger than ever and will probably get bigger still when that movie comes out. Fair play to those involved, because if it does turn out to be a good film itll be because it took the source material serious and, more importantly, there was a reason to make it a film.
Tomb Raider looked like the game but, so what? You might as well have just played it for all the difference it made to watching the movie. But the Pokémon movie gives you a view of the game universe weve never seen before. If its a hit (and Im certain it will be, because it managed to get more than double the first day hits as the Toy Story 4 teaser) I hope they understand thats why.
Clint
Slow learners
I wonder if Red Dead Redemption II will lead to a bunch more cowboy games in the future? Im guessing probably not, because although companies like to copy each other in terms of gameplay and ways to sell things they really dont seem to copy that sort of thing.
Although Im still surprised how few Battle Royale games there are considering how easy they seem to be to make, so maybe its not even that straightforward.
I know all these things look easy from the outside but I dont think Im the only one that gets the feeling that the games industry really doesnt seem to know what its doing most of the time. So much of it seems so random, and so many obvious ideas left on the table. And thats before you start on release dates. Something tells me Bethesdas about to get another schooling on that issue though. Maybe theyll learn this time…
Bowiser
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Multiple launches detected
Reading Jonnos thoughts this morning its no wonder people are confused about the release date of Battlefield V, as the whole thing is a bit of a debacle and there have been a fair number of comments in the Battlefield community as a whole.
There are actually three distinct dates you can start to play it, which are:
- November 9th for EA Origin Access Premier members (PC)
- November 15th for Deluxe Edition Pre-orders (PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One)
- November 20th for the main retail release
There was also a 10 hour trial for PC and Xbox One for people with EA Access/Origin Access Basic on the 9th of November.
The whole pay for early access thing seems to be getting worse and publishers are trying to claw back money they cant now get from loot boxes or season passes (Battlefield V has no season pass) as far as Im concerned.
Astartespete
Fake games
That looks like a real video game. My husbands words a week ago while he watched me playing Destiny 2. I handed him the controller and said, Have a go. He did and was sold. Hed been playing Red Dead Redemption II since launch and I think its fair to say that he was not having a happy time of it. Apart from the graphics, which he said were amazing, he had the same issues as Radioleg with the go here, do that scenario, and he thought the control system was a mess.
The upshot was that he ditched Red Dead Redemption II and bought a second-hand copy of Destiny 2 for a fiver. Like me hes loving it and, although I havent got the Forsaken expansion yet I definitely will be and any future Destiny games because, like him, I think Destiny is a real video game.
Gill C.
You wouldnt download a car
Im really shocked at how negative the general online reaction was to Nintendos lawsuit victory. The general argument seems to be that if Nintendo arent making their games available then its okay to pirate them. I mean, I can understand the frustration, but at the end of the day its Nintendos property to do with however they like.
I remember the Disney vault, is that still a thing? What happens if a Netflix produced show is taken off Netflix, say if Bojack Horseman just disappears? Its not hosted anywhere else, and it was never made available physically. Theres nothing the general public can do really, since we dont own the property. Maybe thats a worrying future? Especially if games as a subscription model becomes the norm…
Matt
GC: People would prefer to get things for free than pay for them. Although we do wonder how theyd feel if it was something theyd made that was been pirated.
Empty disc
Its annoying when you buy a game and then realise most of the content isnt on the disc and has to be downloaded anyway.
Step forward Spyro Reignited Trilogy with your incredibly annoying 42GB install. Supposed to be the first game on the disc and the other two are downloads. Cant even play the first without this stupid install. Very irritating.
Neil
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Business considerations
Its been interesting to read some of the comments on these pages concerning the acquisition of the developers Obsidian and inXile by Microsoft, especially the surprise that, with their vast cash reserves, they didnt seek to buy a bigger player in the gaming market.
It seems to me that a lot of people are missing the most obvious reason in that a developer/company has to want to be bought out in the first place. More importantly, people seem to think that companies are almost sentient beings with a will of their own to make their own decisions when in reality the decision makers are a very few people at the very top of a company with their own goals and agendas.
If its a public limited company then ultimately its the shareholders that have to make the decision, expressed through a majority vote, and thats assuming any such proposal got past the board of directors. Similarly, shareholders are unlikely to agree to the sale of a company if they believe their shares and the dividends paid are worth more than the share offering of the acquiring company.
If its a privately-owned company then the directors of the company make the decision. In a lot of cases this could simply be an individual who also feels a responsibility to the employees they employ and doesnt want to simply cash out. The developers may be safe in a buyout but what about the other ancillary staff employed at the business who are almost certain to lose their jobs. Does the individual want that on their conscience?
Alternatively, perhaps those same individuals just like being their own boss and get a kick out of running their own company. i.e. being the big fish in a little pond is preferable to being one of many smaller fish in the ocean.
Perhaps its just a money thing and directors and shareholders alike firmly believe that their latest projects will go on to considerable success meaning they value their company at more than is currently being offered so dont wish to sell. Similarly, Microsoft, or any other acquiring company, is not going to want to pay more than they believe the company is worth.
Basically, there are a great many factors which play a part in the acquisition of another company; its rarely as black and white as some are suggesting.
Heinz57
Inbox also-rans
Not too surprised Hitman 2 was more of the same, as they dont seem to have had much time since the first one. Although Im not sure what else they could do even if theyd had loads of time.
Cubolat
When can we expect your Spyro review?
Neo
GC: Hopefully tomorrow.
This weeks Hot Topic
The subject for this weekends Inbox was suggested by reader Gilo, who asks whats your favourite open world game?
With Red Dead Redemption II just out, and games ranging from Zelda: Breath Of The Wild to Assassins Creed Odyssey offering up some of the largest and most interactive worlds ever seen in a video game, we want to know which is your favourite game featuring an open world environment.
What does a good open world add to a game and what do you find are its limitations? How would you like to see this style of game evolve in the future and do you think there are too many at the moment or not enough?
E-mail your comments to: [email protected]
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