Ben's Week In Review: October 9
View Large ImageJust a busy week that leads into another busy week. Still got a ways to go, too.
I normally don't care much about ads, but...
I gotta say, Sony blew me away with that "Michael" commercial, which showed a tremendous dedication to their long-time fans. It's extremely well done and really, I can't wait to see how they honor the next die-hard PlayStation fan. Typically, I really don't notice ads much; they don't invoke much in the way of emotion these days, just because I think I've seen it all. This goes double when it comes to video game commercials. But this one really surprised me, I have to say. That being said, I wonder if this will generate a sales spike in the same way the "It Only Does Everything" campaign did.
And that's why I just had to ask if Sony will see a return on their investment. Some say something like this will only appeal to the fans Sony already has, but I really believe it's exactly the opposite. It shows a corporation that appreciates its community, doesn't it? And wouldn't outsiders want to be part of that community? I'm sorry, but Microsoft hasn't appreciated a single human soul since their inception.
You know, I really want a story-driven racer
Now, I'm not implying that Need for Speed: The Run is the answer. It's true that EA might be doing something new with the upcoming racer; i.e., being able to get out of our cars and walk around, and the very intriguing concept of real death. Of course, I don't believe you'll actually die in the new NFS, nor do I believe the story will be anywhere near as prevalent as they want us to believe. But it gets me thinking: imagine what a true story-driven racing game might be like... It would pose some definite design and development hurdles, though, as we'll have to have gameplay mechanics outside of standard racing, right?
Then again, maybe the racing fans wouldn't like it. They probably don't care enough about a story; they just want to race. Nevertheless, adding an amazing narrative to a game that focuses on driving seems like a very cool idea to me.
Personal gaming update
I've been busy so I wasn't able to finish RAGE, but I'll definitely do that at some point. I also want to finish Catherine, although I can guarantee it's gonna take me until the end of the year. The schedule is just too crazy. I just did the Crysis review on a day I normally don't review anything, and that's going to have to keep happening. Dead Rising 2 and Ace Combat: Assault Horizon are sitting here, and I'll have to take care of Sideway: New York this week as well. Not to mention Batman: Arkham City the week after, among other titles.
I'm also moving towards the tail end of this insanity in the middle of next month, so that isn't going to be easy. Let's just say that I'm asking for a little patience and a little understanding for the next six weeks...please don't choose that time period to make inflammatory comments or posts in the forums. I might snap. Thanks. :)
10/8/2011 Ben Dutka
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Comments (62 posts)
Temjin001
Saturday, October 08, 2011 @ 10:16:01 PM
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Anyway, I've spent less than 2 hours with Rage this week. I've been so very busy with school, there's just little time for any real dedicated play sessions. It's mostly been short burst, pick up and play for a bit sessions and then it's time again for other stuff. Like now, I should just stop posting this and finish this assignment.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, October 08, 2011 @ 11:52:07 PM
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ace_boon_coon
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 2:02:53 PM
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kellett007
Saturday, October 08, 2011 @ 10:25:32 PM
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PGU: My backlog of games had only been increasing lately it seems. I have recently discovered some of the great deals Kmart has with there credits they offer towards future game purchases. Just beat Gears 3 and have been playing some Resistance 3 along with some Gran Turismo 5 to try to prepare for the spec 2 patch later this month. Also downloaded RE4 for 10 bucks but not sure when I will get to it with all these new games coming out.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, October 08, 2011 @ 10:43:52 PM
For some reason, my eyes rarely get strained this way.
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TheAgingHipster
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 8:09:57 AM
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SolidFantasy
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 9:44:23 PM
Last edited by SolidFantasy on 10/9/2011 9:45:12 PM
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kellett007
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 9:17:56 PM
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JDC80
Saturday, October 08, 2011 @ 10:39:05 PM
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PGU: I'm about to finish "Dead Island"so I can send it back to Gamefly for "Batman Arkham City"when it drops next Monday. Finished both first round series in NHL 11 and NBA 2k11 and I just started to play "Spider-Man edge of Time" it's pretty good but that free falling thing with Spider-Man 2099 does gets annoying.
Finally I picked up Dead Rising 2 for 4 bucks starting a new game already at level 50.
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PasteNuggs
Saturday, October 08, 2011 @ 10:52:52 PM
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PGU:
I've been playing a lot of the BF3 beta and tonight I picked up Rage. I went to get Catherine but it was sold out so I guess that's kind of a good thing for the game. I also bought R&C: A Crack In Time. Also, I've been playing Dead Island but I think I won't finish that until after Rage, R&C and Battlefield.
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maxpontiac
Saturday, October 08, 2011 @ 11:15:34 PM
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In my eyes, it's what defines greatness.
Whether it's working, teaching, parenting or even playing, when there is a passion for whatever you're doing, it's easy to see and feel it.
That very thing is what I experienced when I watched the "Michael" commercial. I'll even admit I was stirred when the WW2 soldier began describing D-Day. It was that believable.
Long Live Play, indeed.
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kokoro
Saturday, October 08, 2011 @ 11:26:00 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, October 08, 2011 @ 11:50:40 PM
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TheAgingHipster
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 8:01:04 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, October 08, 2011 @ 11:49:56 PM
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Stabs88
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 12:26:42 PM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 7:55:47 PM
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main_event05
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 12:42:50 AM
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main_event05
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 2:25:27 PM
"I'm sorry, but Microsoft hasn't appreciated a single human soul since their inception."
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___________
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 1:29:08 AM
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i as usual was really disappointed by it.
i mean why the ^%$# would you hype up a freaking commercial?
hey, im going to have eggs for breakfast tomorrow so heres a really cool tease trailer for that.
yup, appreciates its community.
but only if you live in the states!
otherwise, they dont want to know you!
what the ^%$# are you talking about!?
M$ has appreciated heaps of their fans!
and not only the ones in the states!
have you never heard of the xbox live rewards program?
i got a invitation from them months ago!
got 200 points for joining which i can spend on anything on XBLA!
and since i was one of the first 10K to sign up i even got a years worth of gold membership for free!
i dont see $ony giving out free wallet credits, or free plus memberships!
$ony just like people to think they give a sh*t about them, they really dont!
that certainly would be really cool!
id love to see a open world racer like midnight club LA, but with a propper story, multiple cities, cut scenes, the usual things you see in story driven games.
i guess you could say undercover was story driven, or even driver SF.
but id be cool to see a more open set of what the run is offering.
i think the runs a perfect example, but thats much more linear.
your set on this road, you take this route, you drive this car.
id be cool if you could switch and change which cities, which road, which route, which car to get to the same destination.
kinda like burnout paradise but in a much larger, much more varying city.
i think the run will be the perfect example of this, only need to open it up and have multiple roads, multiple routes, multiple cars to choose from and it would be perfect!
im really trying to enjoy RAGE, i blow up a mutant that is racing towards me and i blow his head into a million pieces 2mms away from me and i get the screen saturated in blood.
i cook a grenade and i turn 6 clustered enemies into a mix of red mist and airborne body parts!
that puts a massive smile on my face.
then i turn around and see the really sh*t textures and its all gone away.
:(
come on, how can a id game look this bad!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
what happened to the old days where everything id released looked 10 times better then what you were expecting!?
i still remember cracking open my copy of doom 3, and just staring at the scenery for hours.
it was beautiful!
come on id, you can do so much better then this!
i always said the buyout from bethesda would be the death of them.
but they did not have to prove it to me!
im done for good with bethesda now!
until they can release 10 bug free games in a row, im never touching any of their games ever again!
well, until doom 4 comes out.
obviously!
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FxTales
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 3:31:06 AM
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aaronisbla
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 7:41:06 AM
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maxpontiac
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 9:09:00 AM
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___________
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 9:19:43 AM
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johnld
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 2:48:54 PM
oh by the way, plus is also a fan appreciation program. i bought it day 1 and i got a bunch of stuff from them already making it worth it. then they decide to give me all of the uncharted 2 dlcs for free.
@aaronisbla
actually, i would rather hear him rant in person. that way i can just beat the hell out of him to shut him the hell up. much more satisfying that way.
Last edited by johnld on 10/9/2011 2:52:53 PM
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___________
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 9:26:12 AM
ive never been offered anything free from $ony!
thats my point.
to say "Microsoft hasn't appreciated a single human soul since their inception" is just ridiculous!
in fact, you would be more accurate to say dogs go moo.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 9:49:48 AM
SHUT UP.
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LegendaryWolfeh
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 2:22:07 AM
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Lawless SXE
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 1:18:13 PM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 7:56:59 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 3:40:01 AM
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Ultimadream
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 6:08:36 AM
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As for my PGU, I recently imported Catherine, as the UK release date is now early 2012, which I could not wait for. I am convinced it is my favourite game of this gen. This is coming from someone who does not like puzzle games! But the interative narrative is very impressive, after I got my ending I could reflect upon the game and undestsand how I got my outcome, that is impressive alone. But the game has a great story, voice acting, art design it excells on every catagory.
I have also noticed how very anti-current gen it is. It does not have online play, but co-op multiplayer modes. It does not try fit into every catagory like many others this gen and I respect it for it.
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Oxvial
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 6:08:57 AM
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Beamboom
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 7:03:00 AM
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Dead island: So, my main coop buddy and I decided to play that darn game just *one* more time before we trade it in, just for the heck of it. And would'nt you know, all of a sudden it was an entirely different game to play! I've not played it just him and me earlier, it's always played either with other friends or at least three players, with us all just rushing ahead to the next goal.
But my regular and I are much more synchronized than we are with other coop friends so we took our time, followed the story, did some cooperatively exploring (as opposed to running in each our own direction), and voila! The game *really* started to shine. This game will not be traded in - it will be played.
Deus Ex: I am at another boss now, and omg how I hate those boss fights. They are so totally meaningless in this game, they really are utter crap. I hate them. Really, really hate them. If there was a cheat code to skip them I would PAY for it. I am not sure I will bother getting past this boss, actually. So sad.
Crysis: The sequel were definitely better in my opinion (it impressed me so much that it made me rediscover FPS, no less), that whole "tropic island" thing is just not as interesting to me. But the original Crysis still stands the test of time, it's jolly good fun and confirmed to me that this is now my favourite FPS series.
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/9/2011 7:05:26 AM
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Fane1024
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 7:33:14 AM
I doubt they'll get hired to create boss battles again, given the widespread negative response.
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Beamboom
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 7:44:27 AM
When you get to the next boss and you shout "oh nooooo, not again, not already?!" and it's only the second boss after hours of play then something is wrong. To me this is a showstopper. I *hope* I am able to gather enough strength to try to force myself past it, but right now I feel more like giving up the whole game.
These bosses would probably work well in other kind of games, the kind of games I generally hate for all they are worth (linear, scripted button-sequenced junk), but they are just soooo misplaced in an intelligent game like this.
Who on earth would outsorce the bosses in a game like Deus Ex?! What kind of insane decision is that?!
Oh the pain, the pain.
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/9/2011 7:58:25 AM
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TheAgingHipster
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 8:07:00 AM
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Beamboom
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 8:46:43 AM
But how did you play the game? Cause I play 100% stealth, I wanna get that "no kills" trophy so I have hardly touched the lethal weapons at all, barely fought a single fight. So these bosses are like *wham bam thank you maam* and then I lay there in a pool of my own blood.
Three-four seconds into a boss fight and my screen turns red. Again. "Load last save?".
Hmmm... I should probably spend some skill points on health and armour.
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/9/2011 8:51:14 AM
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Beamboom
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 2:11:15 PM
Human Revolution is yet again an awesome game and will remain so until the next boss encounter. ;)
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/9/2011 2:12:35 PM
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johnld
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 2:44:08 PM
heres something you'll definitely hate about deus ex since you're going for the no kill trophy. did you check every single body you killed with a nonlethal weapon? nonlethal weapons are glitched, then can kill people. i only found this out after i used my taser and stun gun to stop a bunch of people and didnt check if their out or dead. go figure, i hit them with nonlethal rounds, i thought they'd be out and not dead. so now i dont know if i'm could get that trophy anymore. i shot someone on the body with a taser and he died. had that skull icon instead of the Zs. i was so pissed because i was doing the no alarm and no kills playthrough. ended up doing close range non lethal takedowns from that point on.
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Beamboom
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 2:57:29 PM
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/9/2011 3:02:40 PM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 7:59:01 PM
You CAN save Malak and it CAN be done in a non-lethal way. ...you just have to be fast. And I would strongly recommend having your cloak maxed.
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johnld
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 12:40:04 AM
malik is the helicopter pilot right? if thats the case, i saved her. all you need is a emp grenade, a full battery bar(3 is good enough), and my taser. threw the emp at the machine, tasered the heavies first, then tasered the rest. the full battery bar is just in case you are caught reloading. lucky for me, noone died when i did that. at first i left her alone, then a trophy popped up so i thought maybe i should save her. took out my taser and just started shooting. they barely notice you since theyre too busy shooting at the helicopter. thats the only thing i dont like about the game. its a pretty long/big game but theres trophies that are easily missed because its up to which decision you pick. so you'll have to make a second run. other than the difficulty trophies, i want all other trophies to be able to get in one playthrough.
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Beamboom
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 5:35:43 AM
That fight sounds like pure nightmare. Hopefully it's a long long time until I get there.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 9:51:31 AM
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Stabs88
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 12:28:33 PM
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duomaxwell007
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 1:51:54 PM
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Excelsior1
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 1:54:11 PM
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pgu
i rented rage and beat it. it's a nice, fun game. unlike blank line up there i thought it looked great. i'm a big fan of post-apocolyptic settings in games. one of my favorite games of this gen is fallout 3 for example. wouldn't it be great if we could get a fallout game with the production values of rage? after watching fallout 3 chug along on my ps3 at 5ps at times i can dream right? oh well. moving on.
i bought the re hd games which ofcourse includes re code veronica x, and resident evil 4. they were half price for ps plus members. you can also download re1 directors cut(dualshock version), re2(dualshock version), and re3 for free as well. what more can a re fan want besides having re5 erased from their memory? i'm only kidding(kind of). one thing i will say about the hd games is this is not one of the better hd conversions i have seen. things look a little nicer but not by much. still, they are great games and well worth revisting in hd.
oh yeah ms has been known to show up at certain luanch parties for games. they give out free games and hardware to gamers. does that count? i'm only sayin.
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 10/9/2011 2:04:32 PM
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Beamboom
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 3:03:54 PM
Fallout 3 is one of my favourites too. Those were hours well spent.
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/9/2011 3:05:22 PM
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DazeOfWar
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 3:46:01 PM
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PGU: I just finished inFamous 2 as good and started my 2nd playthrough on Hard as evil. I loved everything except for his new voice. It just didn't feel right for some reason. It also drove me crazy when he would grab onto everything. Those are just little flaws that didn't ruin the enjoyment of the game.
I also picked up RAGE, Dark Souls, and the Splinter Cell HD collection this week. I'll probably start RAGE next. I then paid off Batman:AC and have $10 left for BF3. Oh I have also been playing a little of the Uncharted 3 MP from Subway. I'll be paying off my copy of that probably next week.
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Russell Burrows
Sunday, October 09, 2011 @ 4:30:32 PM
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Easy.
Create an engageing story.
Failing is not an option for Max Raceline where missing a checkpoint is the death of a family member and loosing the long race means not only the end of Max Raceline but also the end of the Human Race............
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Lairfan
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 7:17:47 PM
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Yeah, I understand that having an excellent community is a good thing. I agree with that, as I agree with the fact that you can't get much better of a gaming community than with Sony. However, the fact remains that most gamers nowadays don't want community, and this promotion is only going to be liked/observed by the true hardcore fans.
As far as the idea of a story-driven racer, I highly agree with you; that would be awesome. NFS: The Run is a step in the right direction, but right now it looks like it could have a very "Fast and Furious" story, which is to say, not a very deep or engrossing one. I'm not saying that's how its gonna be, but it kinda looks like that's the way its gonna turn out. But either way, I kinda hope it does well so other racing devs take notice and start to put better stories into their games.
PGE: Been playing lots and lots of Rage. Just can't put it down (well, except to take small breaks with R3; I'm gunnin for R3's plat, so I kinda have to take some time out of Rage-playing for that). Definitely a fun game with near-exclusive level graphics, and the story's been good so far. Nothing overly bad about it yet, although I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that aspect of the game. Can't wait to beat it!
Last edited by Lairfan on 10/10/2011 7:18:13 PM
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Lawless SXE
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Saturday, October 08, 2011 @ 10:02:49 PM
That Michael ad really was quite impressive, and to have almost all of the voices involved was awesome. Apparently it took something like 3000 man hours to complete, which is ridiculous for a commercial that runs two minutes. But yeah, I think that the appreciation that it shows for the fans is really good. I wonder where else they'll take this Long Live Play campaign and what else they'll do.
I mean, they can't really do any worse than they did at the launch of the PS3, and maybe this will help them to win back some of the fans that jumped ship at the beginning of the generation in showing that Sony want them back.
I don't really see how an epic story-driven racer could be done to be honest. I mean, how would it ultimately be any different to like... Fast and the Furious? Although I'd love to see a Bullitt chase scene in a game. That'd be awesome. I definitely want to see more games and more genres really striving for an engaging, well told tale.
Personal Update:
Didn't get as far through Paradise as I'd hoped, but I'll hopefully be able to put a few hours aside for that tonight.
Gave up on Bad Company 2 after the game glitched on me. Eh, probably a good thing as I would've ended up breaking something anyway... Irritating game, my review of the entire subseries is live, but it takes a different tact from my usual ones, mostly to take advantage of the frustration that I feel towards them. Still tried to be fair though...
I've now moved fully onto Dante's Inferno, and it's alright but clearly has issues.
That's about it from me methinks...