The morning Inbox asks why supermarkets have given up on video games, as readers continue the debate over Xbox Game Pass.
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No sex please, were Sony
I am curious to know GCs views on Sony beginning to enforce censorship on niche fan service/sexy games in the West?
For those unaware, Sony have forced publisher XSEED/Marvelous to remove an Intimacy Mode from the new Senran Kagura remake. Basically, you can interact with the girl of your choosing, including some rather lewd things – a mode that has been in the last two PlayStation 4 games with no backlash at all. Both PEGI and the ESRB had no problems passing it through rating appropriately.
Ive seen enough coverage from GC to know you loathe sexual aspects in games (well, anime style ones at least) and you rarely go near ones which veer towards niche markets like Senran Kagura does. That said I hope you wouldnt be encouraging of Sony in this censorship, however creepy or abhorrent you view this material as?
I am likely in the extreme minority of GC readers who is very much the target audience for these games and get angry when were being attacked. Were told time and again that violent games do not influence people in real life so why is this stance pushed to the side when its sexual content? Is it just Western hate for anything sexual while violence, murder, and the like get a free pass? A line I can never get my head around.
Sony banned Omega Labyrinth Z earlier this year late on, causing the publisher PQube to lose a lot of money. Its clear the baying mobs (Western games media) got to them with the well-documented Super Seducer situation and now they dont want to publish anything that upsets a minority who had no interest in the game anyway and want to police content. I didnt care for Super Seducer but dont see how that or Senran Kagura is any worse content wise than something like Mortal Kombat where I can rip someones spine out or your annual first person shooter where you shoot to kill all game.
As an aside, in the year 2018, Nintendo, of all companies, are less censor happy than Sony since they allowed Senran Kagura Reflexions on their eShop no problem.
I thought we had got to that sweet point where people can play what they want without do-gooders interfering, but it looks like we are regressing now.
CerezoMask
GC: We dont support censorship, no. But we also dislike the Senran Kagura series and its creepy sexual content, so were not exactly going to storm parliament over it if Sony feels the same way. That said, we do agree with you over the general inequality between what is tolerated for sexual and violent content – which has always seemed grotesquely unbalanced in the US and, to a lesser degree, the UK but generally more sensible on the Continent.
New year planning
Its a good thing I like long games. Im about 30 hours into Assassins Creed Odyssey, which Im loving and not finding particularly grindy. Ive just ordered Divinity: Original Sin II from Amazon because its currently just 30 quid and Ive also got Red Dead Redemption II on pre-order.
Im not too sure where all the hours are going to come from, but I know that these games will keep me going till next year. And thats not even thinking about Fallout 76, which I quite fancy. To me, as long as theyre quality, long games represent good value.
Neil
GC: The real story here is that Divinity: Original Sin II is just £30 on Amazon. It only seems to be Xbox One, but thats still an absolute steal.
100-hour barrier
I was a bit confused about Ryans giving up on Assassins Creed Odyssey due to length. If a game has a likeable character, great game mechanics, and mission variety then what is the problem? Especially when Ryans next planned game is Red Dead Redemption II, which I imagine will be very similar in length and have the same gameplay loop mechanics found in most open world games.
I have only just finished the main Assassins Creed Origins quest and horrifyingly I spent 92 hours on it! I would say I really enjoyed it, the gameplay did get repetitive, but I just totally loved the setting of Ancient Egypt. I do wish they would rebrand the series somehow, shed the modern day nonsense and retire this ridiculous Creed vs. Templar rubbish.
I liked the fact that Bayeks quest was primarily personal revenge but as a Medjay (Egyptian roving policeman) he would get involved with local problems and help those in need. I now have the Hidden Ones DLC to wade through. Looks like I will easily break the 100 hours barrier!
Lord Leaping Lynx
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Rockstar flu
Red Dead Redemption II being 60+ hours long is pretty much what most people were expecting, I think, but its convinced me Im just not going to have time to play it properly. Id genuinely considering taking holiday time off to play it (and do other things, mind) but I havent got any left this month so, erm… Im going to take a sickie next Friday.
I cant imagine I wont be the only one either. I seem to remember about Japan having a law that Dragon Quest couldnt be released on a school day, so I wonder if the UK will start a new one about Rockstar games?
Dougal
Try before you buy
RE: Simundo Jones. Regarding the Game Pass debate, I would just like to say I personally bought the Xbox One S on the strength of being able to pay £7.99 per month and having almost 200 games at my disposal whenever I want. I got it for the old retro games and Ive also tried other games that I would never would of done before. For £2 per week I really cant see how anybody can complain about the service Microsoft are offering, from the likes of Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition right through to the brand new Forza Horizon 4 I think I its unbelievable value! How can you possibly expect all the DLC on all the games as well?
Yes, not everyone will like all the games thats on offer and when Microsoft do swap and change some games each month it will be a pain, especially when that particular game you play or like has been removed. I just dont understand why Microsoft cant just keep adding new games each month to the Game Pass library and not keep removing any, as this obviously would be a lot better all round for everybody!
JAH
GC: It wouldnt for Microsoft, who want you to buy those games outright if youve grown to like them.
Battle Royale unplugged
To the reader who mentioned Game Pass I myself am on the fence about Game Pass. Im really enjoying Forza Horizon 4 but dont know whether to get the ultimate version for the DLC and the cars.
Also, I dont know for how long the game will be on Game Pass. However, I did see a website offering a 12-month subscription to Game Pass along with 12 month EA Access for £56, which seems a good deal.
matc7884
PS: Does anyone know if the Blackout (Battle Royale) mode will be available offline with bots on the new Call Of Duty? As Im debating whether or not to get the game at some point and my online subscriptions have lapsed and probably wont renew anytime soon.
GC: We think first party games are always on Game Pass. Wed be cautious about that website though until someone can vouch for it, as weve never heard of it. As for Blackout, there seems next to no chance of bots and itd miss the point of it anyway.
Successful purchases
RE: DMR. Ive ordered with Base.com several times and found them always reliable. But I prefer The Game Collection due to posting same day and being able to checkout as a guest (hence no account creation required).
stanley71
Ive used Base.com before with pre-ordering Shadow Of The Tomb Raider. Was £39, everywhere else was £45. Game turned up two days early without an issue. Will be using them again.
Stuart Robinson
RE: DMRs post-pre-order worries: Ive used Base.com a few times and theyve been fine.
Magnumstache
RE: Base.com. I used to use Base.com when it was called DVD.co.uk and they had a good service but have not tried them since their change of name. It says on the Base website that they are run by the same people who ran DVD.co.uk.
Andrew J.
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You cannot buy what is not stocked
Just a comment on the sales figures for Call Of Duty and others. I couldnt actually find a physical copy of the game in my local area, North Dorset. Admittedly I dont have a huge range of shops in my area (20 miles to the nearest big town) other than small supermarkets, Tesco or Asda, to choose from and none had it on sale on any format – despite the fact they both have a very small selection of games. I asked a supervisor and was told they didnt have any and they werent expecting any either. So I was left to go digital. In fairness I could of ordered it and got it delivered but I wasnt planning on getting it, It was friend pressure who wanted to play Friday night.
Other noticeable absentees from the local supermarkets include FIFA 19, Forza Horizon, Assassins Creed, Spider-Man, and God Of War. I can however get PlayerUnknowns Battlegrounds and Crash Bandicoot!
Now I will not be alone in having difficulty getting hold of new games, so is this lack of supermarket involvement driving people towards digital downloads? Over the years I have bought many games on release day at my local supermarket with big displays, especially for the likes of Call Of Duty or FIFA. And even the supermarket petrol station, as it was 24 hours and sold games for midnight launches!
With the demise of independent retailers, and even some GAME outlets, getting games to play is getting increasingly more difficult if you dont live in a big town or city. I know I could forward plan and pre-order but often I want to see an impartial review from trusted sites like yourselves before making the purchase and once Ive decided to buy I want to be able to play it that day and not wait for a delivery to turn up. If it turns up on the day expected!
So for me, digital downloads are increasing on all three consoles and physical sales are declining slowly. Ive bought five games recently and its two digital, three physical.
Keep up the good work.
Dirtystopout
GC: Were shocked they dont even stock FIFA or Call Of Duty. Youre right that this must certainly be playing a part in the rise of digital sales.
Inbox also-rans
I fell behind with a few of your reviews. Sadly, the review archive has been taken off the site. Any help with a way to access your previous reviews would be greatly appreciated.
Kehaar
GC: The review archive is still here and available on every review page if you click on the Games reviews tag at the bottom.
RE: Simundo Jones question about Game Pass. I have yet to pay the full price for Game Pass. If you are willing to let your subscription expire and wait a few weeks you will usually get an offer on your dashboard. I got three months for the price of one last time, which handily expires the day Red Dead Redemption II comes out.
Sam
This weeks Hot Topic
The subject for this weekends Inbox was suggested by reader msv858, who asks where and how do you buy your video games?
With digital downloads becoming increasingly popular are the majority of your purchases digital or for physical discs and cartridges? If you still buy physically then where do you get them from and how do you make sure you get the best deal? Do you buy second-hand and how often do you resell?
For digital downloads how do you reconcile the high prices when not in a sale? Do you pre-order for either method and if all things are equal which do you prefer: physical or digital?
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