Topic: PODCAST: Radio Free Nintendo: E3 08 Day 4

[NWR_Lindy]

Really? So Resistance isn't basically a carbon copy of every other FPS out there especially Halo? I'd love to hear to hear your rationale about Resistance having some sort of style that makes it a non-generic game. Even reviewers that liked the first game admitted it wasn't unique, polished but far from unique. Gears of War 1 was knd of unique Gears of War 2 looks like a quick n dirty (OK maybe not dirty but by the books) sequel, so I believe my point stands ESPECIALLY for Resistance 1 which was a lame extremely linear FPS post-apocalyptic shooter with Halo enemy designs and a generic online battle mode that doesn't even compare to Halo 3 in map design. Also I'd take Conduit's pointer controls over any clunky analog control for a FPS.

Conduit may not be fresh but at least it is an example of a developer wanting to work hard on a game and polishing it up unlike other similar developers on the Wii. I don't believe anyone would argue Conduit isn't generic in its design, but at least be honest about Resistance, and to a lesser extent Gears of War (yet another extremely linear game).  Is it really that hard for people who own a 360 or PS3 to admit that they enjoy games that aren't particularly fresh or even a bit generic? Besides don't supporters of 360/PS3 shooters want to avoid comparing those games to PC counterparts? So why should Conduit be any different when comparing it to the 360/PS3 shooters? You cannot have it both ways, Conduit is a fresh Wii game, while Resistance for example is NOT compared to many similar titles on PS3. Not to mention Conduit is doing something few games even attempt and that is fully customizable controls, isn't that something fresh in itself? We still don't know what all the eye will do either. I think it would be hilarious if Conduit turned out to be more fresh than Resistance when it comes to FPS games!

Regardless to get back on topic, I think games Wii owners should watch closely are games like Little Big Planet, truly fresh titles. Oh yeah, there is also a FPS game coming out that has potential to revolutionize the genre and that Mirror's Edge. Why not hype those two games up? They aren't games that are trying to go by the books and use "Oh man isn't that cool I can ride a big monster" to pad their gameplay.

GP, Resistance is the wrong whipping boy here.  I have to refute your presentation of it as the poster child of generic first-person shooters.  It's definitely NOT a carbon copy of every FPS out there.  It plays entirely differently than Halo 3; it's a different style within the genre.  Halo 3 is slower-paced, while Resistance plays a lot faster (it's similar to Unreal Tournament 3, but with an actually storyline and better selection of weapons IMHO).

Its online is also anything but generic.  It had 40-player online back in 2006 (No other console FPS has that even now, as far as I know...Halo 3 only has 16), and it also introduced a ranking system that allowed you to level up your character (well before an improved version was implemented in Call of Duty 4).  It also has different styles of maps from Halo 3.  They aren't as wide-open, lending themselves more to quick skirmishes than Halo 3's emphasis on vehicle attacks and longer-range warfare.

And how was Resistance not fresh on PS3? It was the first FPS released on the system, as a launch title!  You can't get much fresher than that.  Is it as fresh now?  No, of course not, but it was released almost two years ago!

As for Gears of War, it introduced the "sticky cover" mechanic that has been adopted by virtually every FPS game that followed it.  It was really groundbreaking at the time.  The shaky-cam view that follows your player when you run while crouching was introduced in Gears of War as well.

My point is that you can apply the carbon copy argument to any game genre that has more that two titles.  Rock Band is just a carbon copy of Guitar Hero, right?  And Banjo-Kazooie is just a carbon copy of Super Mario 64, right?  Just like you can look at Resistance and classify it as a generic FPS because it has a World War II theme and alien enemies, I can classify The Conduit as generic because it has you battling alien invaders (about the most generic plot you can get in video games) and the whole customizable controls thing was already done in Medal of Honor Heroes 2.

If you want to talk about generic first-person shooters, Haze and Dark Sector are the first I'd mention.  But Resistance?  HELL no.  I also think that The Conduit is going to be bad-ass...it's the kind of game that I wish Nintendo would make, but they're too busy making non-games.

[GoldenPhoenix]

So let's see Resistance has:

-Ranking with level up....OMG amazing
-Fast paced
-40 player online
-Small shoot em up arenas

I change my mind, it is GROUND BREAKING. Never seen ANYTHING like that before.


Gears of War:

-Stick cover control
-Shaky camera

OMG I once again change my mind. GROUNDBREAKING.
Gears of War is an extremely linear shooter with simplified all in one button controls. Strip out the cover and you get another alien shoot lots of bad guys and look cool game. OMG you can chainsaw them, so cool! It is pretty sad when people call something groundbreaking now based off ONE control mechanic.  I'll admit it is being adopted by others but that does not make the game as a hole groundbreaking in its design, just one aspect of it. I miss the days when a ground breaking game was one whose whole package revolutionized how games were designed like a Mario 64. Now revolutionary is "Wowee it can handle 40 people online and WOW it has sticky single button controls!"

I would agree that BK was never a fresh game, extremely polished and well designed but not fresh. See that is a big difference between me and others, I'll admit when a game isn't that innovative and still say I like it. Rock Band did things never before done in the genre and that INCLUDES PC. Resistance has done squat for the FPS genre beyond being able to handle 40 people online which is technical progression. Even Halo has done more for the genre than Resistance.

You would have a point about

game genre that has more that two titles.

though you forget the FPS genre has been abused beyond belief like the platform genre was back in the N64 days, actually WORSE. Resistance is one generic FPS in a sea of dozens. It's only distinguishing factor is that it was relatively polished and was unique for the PS3 because it was a launch game. It did nothing to help propel the genre. At least I begrudgingly admit Halo helped the genre along even though it paled in comparison to PC shooters.'

Before I conclude this way LONG and boring reply, I think the main reason people are excited about the Conduit is that it is doing something daring on the platform. Its customizable controls are amazing but I think people are more interested in how it will set the stage for future Wii titles more than anything. It is not unique in its theme or even its gameplay style but it is showing what companies SHOULD be doing on the Wii.


P.S. I may still get GoW2 and Resistance 2 in case you are wondering. Just because I'm harsh (I call it realistic) doesn't mean I'm saying they'll be bad games. Not to mention that Resistance can only go up from the first game

[NWR_Lindy]

GP, it's pretty obvious you aren't a fan of the first-person shooter genre, since you seem to paint them all with the same brush.  According to your logic, no 3D platformer from here on out will ever be unique because it's all been done before.  Incidentally, you could make the same argument about fighting games, but fighting game fans would probably react the same way that I am.

The only thing that makes The Conduit unique is that it's on Wii.  If it was on any other platform, it would be the "one generic FPS in a sea of dozens" (but of course it can't on the Wii because there's about three FPS games total for the platform), and in fact the best FPS games out there would surely crush it and its wimpy "we hope we can technically achieve 8-players" online component (8-player online, wow, that's REVOLUTIONARY).

Again, not to diss The Conduit, I think it'll be good, but I think you're overhyping it because the list of upcoming FPS games on the Wii is what, two titles deep?  High Voltage could take a dump in a bag, ship that to retailers, and that'd be the best FPS on Wii.  It's not hard to be the best when you have no competition.

It's like anything short of completely remaking a genre into something entirely different isn't considered "groundbreaking" to you.  Like Resistance would only be good if it incorporated Tetris-based battles or something.  It's incremental evolution in an established genre, what more do you want?  It's not like The Conduit is going to be revolutionary either, yet you hype it like the second coming of Doom.

"Doing something daring on the platform" my ass!  Somebody's making an FPS for Wii!  Alert the press!  Nobody's ever done that before!  My God, customizable controls!  No game has ever let you re-map your buttons!

I hope you buy Resistance 2, because then we can settle this argument Carbine-to-Carbine.   

[Dasmos]

Conduit sucks.

Resistance sucks.

Halo sucks.

FPS' suck.

Argument is settled.

[D_Average]

However, to High Voltage's credit, "Animales de la Muerta" is one my most anticipated games of the year.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Well I FINALLY finished your guy's podcast and I agree with all your non-Wii games (well not really Prince of Persia but that is because I don't know anything about it but another Zeldaish adventure game is ALWAYS something to get excited for!). Nice to see Gears of War II or Resistance not mentioned (take that Lindy!).

[GoldenPhoenix]

However, to High Voltage's credit, "Animales de la Muerta" is one my most anticipated games of the year.

I still fear it may not get past the Nintendo censors

[NWR_Lindy]

GP, fix your signature.  The first bold tag is missing a "]".

 

[GoldenPhoenix]

GP, fix your signature.  The first bold tag is missing a "]".

 

I have no idea what you are talking about.Must mean that Resistance fans are stoopid heads.

[NWR_Lindy]

I have no idea what you are talking about.Must mean that Resistance fans are stoopid heads.

Or we have an eye for detail, as well as a desire to see things done right.  ;-)