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[PAX, Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, a larger font, and more in this issue!]

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TalkBack / Nintendo World Report: Powered Off - Issue 4

« on: March 31, 2013, 05:50:39 PM »

PAX, Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, a larger font, and more in this issue!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/33704

Download Nintendo World Report: Powered Off Issue 4

This is a pretty packed issue! To kick it off, we have a great exclusive article from James Jones, which elaborates on a discussion point from the RFN PAX East panel. Speaking of PAX, included inside we also have a two-page photo gallery showing what the NWR crew got up to over the event.

That's not all though: If I Were in Charge of Zelda continues with Andrew Brown discussing his thoughts on making Link female, Jonathan Metts discusses the future of Metroid, and to wrap things up we have a Nintendo history lesson with Donkey Kong Vs. King Kong.

All that and more is included for this month, so check it out! We have also enlarged the font size slightly, making it even easier to read.

We want letters for the mailbag! You can send your mail in here. Thanks for reading!

[DICE is 'playing it safe' with its latest shooter.]

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TalkBack / Battlefield 4 Won't Be Coming to Wii U

« on: March 27, 2013, 12:14:36 PM »

DICE is 'playing it safe' with its latest shooter.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/33652

The recently-announced Battlefield 4 will not be making its way to the Wii U, DICE confirmed. 

During its European unveiling in Stockholm last night, the game was confirmed for a 2013 launch at Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Creative director Lars Gustavsson explained that neither DICE nor its publisher, Electronic Arts, has plans to bring the shooter to the Wii U.

"I think overall for me as creative director, number one is to deliver a really great game and experience," said Gustavsson, on the subject of Battlefield 4 on Wii U. 

"Sometimes, at least for us, it's focus on what you do well and what you know well, and ensure that you deliver something good than trying a bit too much, stretching yourself too thin and risking it."

"I'd rather play it safe, deliver something really good and then look at the future and what could possibly be done than trying a bit too hard and [failing]."

Battlefield 4 is widely expected to hit Sony and Microsoft's next-gen consoles, though this has yet to be confirmed.

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TalkBack / Re: Amazon Lists Deus Ex: Human Revolution For Wii U

« on: March 20, 2013, 12:51:20 PM »

The link is down at Amazon. Hopefully it comes back up with a saner price point.

Huh? The link's still working for me, Shaymin.

[The Director's Cut marks the series' debut on Nintendo platforms.]

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TalkBack / Amazon Lists Deus Ex: Human Revolution For Wii U

« on: March 19, 2013, 01:09:16 PM »

The Director's Cut marks the series' debut on Nintendo platforms.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/33593

An Amazon listing reveals that Deus Ex: Human Revolution will come to the Wii U later this year in the form of a director's cut.

A profile for the game went live on Amazon earlier today, complete with Wii U-specific box art and a release date of May 7.

The enhanced port is said to feature a "multitude of improvements, features and additional content" over the 2011 original, including the use of the Wii U GamePad touch screen with a new augmentation called the "Neural Hub."

Last week, Square Enix teased an unnanounced Wii U project set to be revealed at PAX East. It's looking likely that this is indeed the mystery title.

[Shin'en continues its fantastic track record with this enhanced eShop exclusive.]

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TalkBack / Nano Assault EX Review

« on: March 12, 2013, 01:59:03 PM »

Shin'en continues its fantastic track record with this enhanced eShop exclusive. 

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/33536

Nano Assault launched in North America back in 2011, but this spiritual successor to the Nanostray titles never saw the light of day in Europe. Nano Assault EX is an enhanced, eShop-exclusive version of the original, and features updated graphics, a new survivor mode, and support for the Circle Pad Pro, something Neal clamoured for when he reviewed the game back in 2011. At its core, the game is a twin-stick shooter and plays similarly to Nano Assault Neo for Wii U. Shin’en has adapted the control scheme well to the 3DS’s button layout, and I never felt hindered by the lack of a second stick. However, having said that, I would still imagine use of the Circle Pad Pro to be preferable. 

Nano Assault EX’s story mode is split into 32 missions across seven clusters. Missions fit into three styles of play – ground, air, and boss fights. The ground-based missions plunge you into the middle of the Nanostray virus and onto an infected cell. Typically, you must clear the cell of any hostile organisms and collect three strands of DNA in the process. Shin’en is no stranger to Nintendo platforms, and I couldn’t shake the feeling there was some specific influence here: the cells feel like Super Mario Galaxy’s planetoids, only infused with a decidedly Metroid-esque vibe. The enemies on these mutated cells are plentiful and varied, each with their own behavioural patterns and attacks. Some chase you down; some are more placid; others burrow underground to attack you from beneath. The range of enemies keeps things fresh, and keeps you on your toes.

EX’s ground segments are its weakest part, especially in contrast with the quality of its air-based missions. Taking cues from Nintendo, the on-rails flight sections feel similar to Star Fox, specifically Star Fox 64. These fast-paced, frantic firefights are where the game—and its gorgeous 3D engine—shine. Without a tangible reward for defeating enemies, it often feels like you’re better off simply dodging their attacks than returning fire, but the difficulty gradually ramps up, necessitating your retaliation. Even as a shoot-‘em-up novice, I found the game more than hospitable. The somewhat tepid difficulty may turn off purists, but EX is not an easy game by any stretch of the imagination. You’ll fail a lot, but not because of a masochistic, scream-your-head-off-and-tear-your-hair-out difficulty.

You face a boss at the end of the land and air segments. These fights are fun for the most part, and offer the tensest, most chaotic, and visually stunning moments of Nano Assault EX’s brief campaign. Taking a leaf from the book of Metroid, bosses feature big, glowing red orbs on their bodies, indicating where you need to hit them in each of their forms. These encounters are enjoyable for the most part, though one boss more or less just stood there and let me destroy it. 

Aside from some lower-resolution textures, Nano Assault EX looks almost comparable to the Wii U version. It’s not quite as pretty, but it’s not worlds apart, either. The 3D effect is great, too; not only could I tolerate having the slider all the way up, but I’d actually recommend playing that way. Whether it’s the gorgeous lens flare effect floating above the action, the microscopic ship visibly whizzing back and forth in the foreground, or a cavalcade of laser beams and bullets penetrating your eyeballs, EX’s use of stereoscopic 3D not only looks great, but provides a genuine advantage over playing in 2D. It allows you to more easily discern distances, not only between yourself and any incoming bullets, but between the bullets themselves, making weaving in and out of danger that much more manageable. 

The 3D effect is most prominent during the boss fights and air segments, where the illusion of depth is both impressive and believable. What’s more, you can even shoot burst weapons by holding down the fire button, so there’s no reason or tendency to ever leave that 3D sweet spot, particularly if you’re playing on an XL system. There is, however, a price to pay for all this visual loveliness. Turning on the 3D disables the anti-aliasing and so there are noticeable jaggies. The frame rate also stutters occasionally when there’s a lot happening on screen, and there’s some slight ghosting in dark areas.

After completing the campaign, you unlock a self-explanatory boss rush mode where you race to defeat bosses as quickly as possible before posting your score to the online leaderboards for friends and strangers alike to challenge. EX also adds a new survivor mode, which pits you against the game’s levels with a single, paltry life. While a nice addition for those who want the challenge, it’s a shame you have to play through over 10 hours of content just to access it. Other additions are largely filler. There’s a Nano Shop where you can convert 3DS Play Coins into in-game currency to spend on tracks from the game’s score and viewable 3D models, like in Super Smash Bros.

If you already picked up the retail version of Nano Assault, there’s little reason to take the plunge into EX, unless of course you found the original’s control scheme particularly egregious. As a standalone game, however, Nano Assault EX is fantastic; it’s the definitive version of an already great game, and on that basis alone, it’s worth your attention. Shin’en signalled their intent to develop high quality downloadable games with the stellar FAST Racing League for WiiWare, and the five-man team have once again delivered one of the standout digital titles on a Nintendo system. Gorgeous visuals coupled with a stunning use of stereoscopic depth make for one of the most graphically accomplished packages on the Nintendo 3DS. Luckily, it’s a lot of fun to play, too. 

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TalkBack / Re: Nano Assault EX Hits the 3DS eShop on March 7

« on: March 07, 2013, 04:42:54 PM »

Does anyone know how the controls work in this version? I remember the lack of a second analogue stick being a pretty common criticism of the original.

I'm playing it right now. The ABXY buttons fire right, down, up and left respectively. It actually works pretty well.
The Circle Pad Pro is supported for this version, though, and I'd imagine that's the best way to play it.

[This is the best Grand Theft Auto game on Wii.]

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TalkBack / Retro City Rampage Review

« on: March 06, 2013, 05:46:48 PM »

This is the best Grand Theft Auto game on Wii.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/33504

“It's my brain converted to pixels,” muses Brian Provinciano, garage developer and mastermind behind what is possibly WiiWare’s true swansong. Candidly, we’re worried about his mental state; Retro City Rampage is absolutely bonkers.

For the past 10 years, Provinciano has dedicated the best part of his life to the project. For the past three, it’s been his full-time job. Developing this 8-bit love letter has consumed much of his leisure time, but is it worth any of yours?

If you don’t yet know the story behind Retro City Rampage’s development, I suggest a spot of light bedtime reading. Like many other indie titles, the tale of how this 8-bit love-in came to be is somewhat endearing.

The game started life back in 2003 as a de-make of Grand Theft Auto III. Provinciano actually devised his very own NES development kit, and set about creating a low-tech rendition of the 2001 blockbuster title.

As he experimented with adding assets from other games, he started to throw in references to some of his favourite titles. After a while, Provinciano decided to turn the project into a full game and, eventually, his full-time job. This is the story of Retro City Rampage.

A parodic pastiche of the past two decades of our industry, Retro City Rampage’s primary influence is, of course, Grand Theft Auto. The open-world setup will be instantly familiar to anyone who played the original crime-‘em-up back in 1997. You’ll be jacking cars, mowing down civilians, and partaking in killing frenzies regularly, but it’s not just Rockstar’s game that Retro City Rampage draws influence from.

During Retro City Rampage’s introductory sequences, you’ll be swamped by videogame and film throwbacks and references, both past and present. Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario Bros., Metal Gear, Duck Hunt, Frogger, Back to the Future, The Dark Knight and even Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure are all referenced within the first half hour. There’s even a Paperboy-themed segment.

Even at the tender age of 19, I instantly picked up on the game’s plentiful allusions, though I’m sure a couple inevitably passed me by. The game is practically dripping with videogame and pop culture references, satirising – usually cynically – the modern games industry at every turn.

“Congratulations, you died,” reads the death screen, sarcastically notifying you of your -9x life count, which has literally no impact on your progress, score, or enjoyment of the game.

“Game Genie, transport me to the other side of town!”

“What? I thought you wanted the game to last 40 hours!”

The script is razor sharp, smart and, at times, genuinely hilarious. There were times when I laughed aloud at Retro City Rampage’s brilliantly eccentric characters and self-referential scenarios, times that I find to be all too rare in today’s increasingly humourless gaming landscape.

The game controls largely as you’d expect. A Classic controller or Classic Controller Pro is recommended here, as the twin-stick layout is the optimal setup for the more intense shooting segments. With the Wii Remote, you’re at the mercy of the computer’s auto-aim, which is never ideal. 

The action is hugely varied in terms of gameplay styles and objectives. The 62 missions offer a plethora of scenarios; some feel like Metal Gear, some feel like Cannon Fodder, and some feel like straight-up Contra, but they all retain the quirkiness and unique style that Provinciano has so lovingly injected. Despite this, prolonged playing sessions can start to feel stale.

Depending on your level of expertise and patience, Retro City Rampage’s story mode will run you from six to twelve hours. Outside of the campaign, though, there is a truly staggering amount of content to be enjoyed. There are over 40 arcade challenges, and even a free-roam mode. There are arcades to visit, skateboards to ride, and donkeys to bet on. You can even ride a gorilla.  

Completing arcade challenges allows you to unlock a plethora of playable characters, including Meat Boy, Bit.Trip Runner, and even Steve from Minecraft. It’s almost incomprehensible to think that Retro City Rampage is a mere 10MB download.  

It’s practically impossible for me to fully cover the sheer number of distractions. Unfortunately, while the amount of side content is admirable, little of it will truly hold your attention for any meaningful length of time.

Patience is something you’ll need a lot of if, like me, you’re not accustomed to the brutality of the 8-bit era. Later levels are trying, but include fair checkpoints, so difficulty rarely becomes an issue. A difficulty option would have been nice, though it could have potentially detracted from the game’s old-school authenticity. 

The game’s story leaps from place to place in whimsically unpredictable fashion. “A single laser-like focus was never the vision,” claims Provinciano in what is possibly the understatement of the year. The storytelling is brilliantly frenetic, regularly mixing up perspectives and themes, alluding to an almost dream-like sequence or drug-induced trip. It’s the only way the narrative could ever keep up with the gameplay, and it’s tremendously entertaining to watch it unravel.

The Wii version is perhaps the definitive one. Provinciano says he’s addressed a number of issues that critics picked up on when the game launched on the PlayStation Store back in October. It also features a PC- and Wii-exclusive mode called ROM City Rampage. This prototype allows you to experience a version of the game as if it was actually running on NES hardware. Honestly though, it’s a neat experiment and nothing more. Perhaps it would resonate more with an older, more nostalgically attuned audience. 

Still, this is practically the same game the Xbox 360 received last month, and the same game the PlayStation 3 received back in October. If you’ve bought the game on either of those platforms, there’s nothing here that can justify a double dip. It’s doubly disappointing that the game will launch on the slowly dying WiiWare service, rather than the Wii U eShop.

It’s plain to see that Retro City Rampage has been a labour of love for Brian Provinciano. That’s a term that gets bounded around too readily (Randy Pitchford, I’m looking at you) but here, it holds true. This man has tirelessly poured his heart and soul into this project for almost a decade, simultaneously developing for five different platforms. 

The fact that one person could invest so much time and energy into singlehandedly crafting a videogame is heart-warmingly refreshing. On that basis alone, Retro City Rampage is utterly commendable and should be supported. 

What you’re actually doing in Retro City Rampage isn’t always fun, but it’s at once so charming and engaging that you can almost always forgive it. Its irresistible quirks and idiosyncrasies make for a package that is too joyous to not recommend, and there are far worse ways to spend ten hours and ten bucks. 

A sharp, witty script, videogame and pop culture references galore, and a nostalgia-inducing soundtrack make Retro City Rampage a worthwhile endeavour for anyone looking to take a vacation to the 8-bit days of yore. Just don’t expect to permanently relocate to Theftropolis after your brief weekend visit.

[Watch the introductory scenes of this GTA-inspired WiiWare title.]

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TalkBack / Retro City Rampage (WiiWare) | First 10 Minutes

« on: February 26, 2013, 04:59:47 AM »

Watch the introductory scenes of this GTA-inspired WiiWare title.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/video/33428

Retro City Rampage launches February 28 on WiiWare. In the meantime, you can check out the game's opening 10 minutes below.

[The quirky action platformer series makes its way forward.]

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TalkBack / Mighty Switch Force 2 Announced for 3DS

« on: February 24, 2013, 07:31:26 PM »

The quirky action platformer series makes its way forward.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/33425

A sequel to 2011’s Mighty Switch Force is in development for Nintendo 3DS.

Mighty Switch Force 2 will see the return of protagonist Patricia Wagon and will again feature music composed by Jake Kaufman. The development team is aiming for a release in either Q1 or Q2.

WayForward director Austin Ivansmith announced the game during a Destructoid podcast. The developer later confirmed the reveal on their Twitter page.

Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition is currently on sale for 50 percent off on the Wii U eShop.

[Watch us hunt down the Lagombi in this gameplay video.]

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TalkBack / Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Wii U) eShop Demo Gameplay

« on: February 24, 2013, 10:36:02 AM »

Watch us hunt down the Lagombi in this gameplay video.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/video/33424

The official demo for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate hit the Wii U eShop on Friday. We've got over 10 minutes of glorious 1080p footage for you to feast your eyes on. 

[What are the staff's thoughts on the impact of Sony's new console?]

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TalkBack / Roundtable Discussion: PlayStation 4 Unveiling

« on: February 23, 2013, 10:54:10 AM »

What are the staff's thoughts on the impact of Sony's new console?

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/roundtable/33420

Few doubted we'd see a console introduced at the high-profile Sony press conference earlier this week. While remaining coy on the price, design, and other specifics, Sony spent the evening's presentation discussion and demonstrating some of the features and capabilities of its newest platform, the PlayStation 4.

The event created no shortage of questions, concerns, and opinions. With these in mind, our staff took some time to discuss the PS4's reveal from a Nintendo-centric perspective.

Alex Culafi, Previews Editor

I saw the whole thing, and I'm wonderfully impressed in several ways.

The console, assuming it's as developer friendly as they say, could put Sony back to where they were during the PS2 era, if not better. With a combination of great graphics (near-photo realism!), easy development, and their movement to make downloads a thing of the past, the Wii U looks... a bit shoddy in comparison. While one could say "You might have to pay 700 dollars to have the PS4 and Vita do what Wii U does" and be totally right, I'm a person who happens to have a Vita and will happen to have a PS4, and the select compatibility for Off-TV Play on Wii U might actually be overshadowed by PS4's nearly off-TV play, depending on how many games utilize it.

If that's the case, we're at the point we were with the Wii. Wii U won't really have the features to stack up, and it won't have the technology; in other words, Nintendo will spend this generation 100 percent reliant on games. While that might not be bad to some, they certainly have a lot to prove to anyone who isn't part of the Nintendo faithful.

Not all was fine and dandy, though. While the new Infamous and Killzone games look very cool, Sony was lacking in the games department. The two best games there were part of established franchises, the new IPs aren't totally convincing to me yet, and closing with a Diablo III port and a previously announced Bungie game was a dire mistake. Also, where's the console itself?

I still need to be convinced in the game department and pricing department somewhat before I purchase, but I think Sony is off to a great start—a start Microsoft and Nintendo might have difficulty catching up to.

Karl Castaneda

The good:

-Self-publish on PSN.

-Knack! That game looks hella sweet.

-The Witness looks interesting.

-Watch Dogs looks great (though not platform exclusive)

The bad:

-No price point probably means 499 US dollars.

-A bunch of non-announcements ("A Final Fantasy game will be coming to PS4... Thankyouverymuch!").

-Speaking of, Square Enix wants to sell us soda, I guess? That was a terrible teaser trailer for what is likely nothing.

-Killzone looks hella boring.

-The pulled a translator out for Ono.

-That Drive Club guy looked like he was going to splooge himself onstage.

Zack Kaplan, Staff Writer

I watched a good chunk of the presentation and found it to be quite dry, like most Sony conferences. I was underwhelmed by the PS4, and am not regretting buying a Wii U. None of the games were that interesting to me; everything was just meh. Also, Killzone looks terribly uninteresting; the only thing that could have been worse would have been Resistance.

Neal Ronaghan, Director

I really dig some of the concepts that Sony talked about it. It's sort of like their social hooks are Miiverse but, you know, the way Sony would do it. However, as we saw with Miiverse and Wii U, I doubt all of those features will make it for launch. I could be wrong, but I expect to see a lot of hype for their social stuff and then see it get berated for a few months and then slowly form into something incredible. Also: Sign me up for using my Vita as a controller for my PS4. While I have concerns over how well it will work (Remote Play from PS3 to Vita is dodgy), it'll be great if it does.

Then they started rattling off games I could care less about. Knack looks fantastic, but other than that, only The Witness and Watch Dogs caught my eye. Both of those games are hitting other platforms. Sony needs to roll out like 2-3 dynamite launch titles for me to even consider getting one close to launch. Then again, I bought a Vita on the strength of Hot Shots Golf, Lumines, and Mutant Blobs Attack. I'm easy.

Zach Miller, Features Editor

I'm basically "meh" on the whole thing. The controller is hideous, BTW. But seriously, Infamous and Killzone? I couldn't care ANY less. I'm going to wait until E3, kids.

James Jones, Senior Editor

I didn't see much (including a console). They spent a lot of time on the "you can play anywhere, on anything," but can I? Really? Can I play an FPS on a tablet? Would I want to?

That entire subject sounded a bit like normal Sony talking points.

I do wonder if they're trying to get to a future where all the processing is done remotely and you just pay for access to the service. They could then sell cheap set-tops. Imagine OnLive but with the backing of a company of Sony's stature.

Zach Miller

I started to wonder if Sony's going to charge a PlayStation Plus-esque subscription fee for all this content streaming and user sharing/uploading.

Jon Lindemann, Contributing Editor

I'm sure they'll paywall at least parts of it, or charge for premium services like expanded cloud storage. And you know what? I'm OK with that. The one good thing about Sony is that you pay top dollar for their products and services, but you get a lot in return. Microsoft gives you less for more, and Nintendo gives you less for less.

Overall, I was neutral on the presentation. I'm a Killzone fan, so Shadow Fall pleased me, and the Gaikai streaming to Vita is awesome, but the games shown were very underwhelming. Nothing wowed me. No mention of Gran Turismo 6, and the Square Enix and Capcom videos were yawn city. No mention of the mysterious Last Guardian either.

And am I the only one who was disappointed by so many games being released on both PS3 and PS4? That made many titles feel less exclusive and "next-gen."

The controller was a sensible extension of the DualShock 3, but nothing groundbreaking. Social sharing is cool and welcomed. What, no Home for PS4? COME ON.

Sony checked a lot of boxes for me with this presentation, but didn't knock my socks off. On the other hand, a lot of what they said made sense and didn't raise any red flags with me. So, neutral all around.

J.P. Corbran, Community Manager

We've got to remember that Sony is likely holding back a fair amount, especially in the way of software, for their E3 presentation. The game lineup today left a lot to be desired, but Sony's almost certainly saving its best stuff for June. While I'm still not sure about the prospect of streaming games, the implications it will have on the Vita have me cautiously excited. The vision Sony laid out sounds a lot like the Wii U's Off-TV Play, and while it's significantly more expensive than Nintendo's implementation, and likely won't work quite as well, it's a feature I'm very interested in, and will be a significant factor in my decision of whether or not I buy the system.

Rory Cocker, Europe Correspondent

Watching the Killzone trailer, I was hoping it would be a new IP.

It made me laugh how they spent like 15 minutes talking about the new hardware allowing developers to more easily implement their ideas and free their imaginations, how innovative and mind blowing PS4 games would be, then the first thing they showed was a linear, scripted FPS with quick time events.

Meet the new gen, same as the old gen.

Still, dat 8GB DDR5 RAM. Sony don't skimp on specs, I'll give 'em that!

Dave Mellert, Contributing Editor

I think the story of the next gen is going to be the system RAM. The graphical differences won't be obvious per se, but having huge open spaces with varied textures, a ton of AI, and minimal load times is going to be awesome.

Jonathan Metts, Contributing Editor

Based on what we heard, a major chunk of that RAM will be reserved for system features.

Andy Goergen, Reviews Editor

I don't have any real intention of buying another game console anytime soon, but based on what I've seen so far, and from what I've seen from the current gen HD consoles, I will definitely be choosing a PS4 over the next Xbox. I don't like how Microsoft has converted their console dashboard into ad space, and I don't like being forced to pay for basic online features like online play, Netflix, and HBO GO. It still remains to be seen how Sony and Microsoft will shape their Plus and Live services in the next generation of consoles, but if what we have today is any indication, Sony's service offering will be a much better bang for your buck.

Guillaume Veillette, Podcast Editor

My backlog has made me immune to console hype, and I've got so much invested in PSN already, including many games I still haven't played yet, that if I'm going to invest in a new Sony machine, it's probably going to be a slim PS3 once my current one kicks the bucket.

Add to that the fact that I'm not that enamored with Naughty Dog, that I have had enough of Infamous, that Japan Studio's games really don't resonate with me even though they look like they should, and I'm just not in the market for a PS4.

Some of the streaming features are impressive, but impractical in my case, given my download cap, and the fact that I haven't found a free Wi-Fi access point that allows me to download games on the eShop, or even load web pages fast. I'm very skeptical on that one. 

What made me take the plunge last generation was Fallout 3, and PSN games like Flower pushed me towards a PS3 instead of a 360. I've long ago realized the mistake I made: I really should have invested in a PC instead.

Michael "TYP" Cole, Senior Editor

Sony talks a good game, as always, but it really comes down to the games and price point. I wouldn't expect Sony to showcase games I care about as part of this sort of presentation, so the jury's out on that. But there are plenty of PS3 games I want to play still. I doubt this console will be in impule purchase-pricing territory for me though—$350 for Wii U was pushing it and I'd expect PS4 to be $100 higher.

Realistically I will neither buy Sony nor Microsoft consoles at launch. It's a matter of how soon afterward and which one.

Jon Lindemann

Yeah, my guess is a $400 basic and a $500 deluxe version that includes a year of PS Plus.

Dave Mellert

Final thought: No way I am buying one at launch. I only do that with Nintendo systems and, even then, only rarely. But I think that the huge increase in fast RAM is going to open up game *design* in a way that has never really been possible. I am looking forward to full-scale battles with hundreds of enemies acting independently on a richly detailed battlefield.

Tyler Ohlew, Staff Writer

The PS4 is a reminder that not only is the industry heading in a direction I have little taste for, but so is the audience. The excitement for sharing video, cloud saves, and content streaming are not interests or priorities of mine.

This isn't a Sony versus Nintendo thing, it's a "where do my tastes align best" thing. Miiverse is the extent to which my interest in communicating with a broader audience extend. I don't want to watch someone play a game, or share 10 seconds of glitches in whatever Bethesda Softworks has in store.

Does the PS4 live or die on these capabilities? Absolutely not. But, judging from this presentation, those are the facets of the hardware Sony wishes to tout. Games are obviously important, but aside from Deep Down, nothing grabbed my interest.

I look forward to Sony showing off the PS4's library of games. That's when I can better gauge my own interest.

Jon Lindemann

At the end of the day PS4 is still going to be a video game machine, whether or not you share something to Twitter, save a game in the cloud, watch something on Netflix, or stream a PS3 game. All of this stuff is optional for gamers, and pushed by Sony only to check the check boxes of the hot stuff of the moment. Consoles are expected to do much more than "just play games," so Sony has to let the public know that it's doing that.

Tyler Ohlew

If you're referring to me, I make it known that my interest in the PS4 will be gauged when Sony shows more games. As it stands, it hasn't shown me anything yet. Are we judging the PS4's potential, or what was shown? Based off that presentation, I'm no more or less interested. Just pointing out I'm indifferent to Sony's ideas of socializing.

Alex Culafi

I know that some of us have way more or way less excitement than others, but I think the really interesting question is whether technology/development ease opens up more new ways to play than a unique control method (or if it's the other way around). Assuming PS4 fulfills its promises about development ease and it picks up in the way I hope, I think there's a good chance that the new traditional console generation will out-innovate Nintendo.

Jon Lindemann

What I think is huge is that Sony is openly embracing free-to-play as a business model. It's out there actively courting F2P games/developers. Microsoft and Nintendo haven't done that, and it's a huge part of the market now.

[Get twice as many points for shooting people in the face.]

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TalkBack / Black Ops II Double XP Weekend Starts Today

« on: February 22, 2013, 02:28:50 PM »

Get twice as many points for shooting people in the face.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/33411

A double XP weekend for Call of Duty: Black Ops II is happening right now.

The weekend promotion runs from Friday to Monday, and is available to players on Wii U, PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

To participate, simply hop online between February 22 and February 25, and you’ll automatically earn double the experience points for every headshot, frag kill, and flag capture you can rack up.

The Black Ops II community has grown steadily on Wii U since launch day. If you’ve yet to jump in, now would be the perfect time.