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[Wiktor]

As much as I loathe any DRM I don't think much of Anno community cares about TAGES in Anno 1404. We got used to it. Anno 1701 had TAGES too and 1503 had Securom.

So to me it seems the "community" that' s angry at 1404's DRM is mostly non-Anno fans seizing opportunity for another DRM bashing festival.:lol

 

[Wiktor]

I don't understand why people are so put off by the price of Trine. Half of the 60 dollar games I've played in the last two years have been the same length (or shorter), and nowhere near the level of quality. The latter is far more important to me when deciding value, but even if you do base that off how many hours you can get out of it, I don't get it!

I thought the rage over Trine pricing was simply because they expect PCgamers to pay $10-20 more than PS3 gamers for no sensible reason.

 

[inner-G]

As much as I loathe any DRM I don't think much of Anno community cares about TAGES in Anno 1404. We got used to it. Anno 1701 had TAGES too and 1503 had Securom.

So to me it seems the "community" that' s angry at 1404's DRM is mostly non-Anno fans seizing opportunity for another DRM bashing festival.:lol

It's definitely no reason to not buy it.

 

[NeoUltima]

It's been said already but PSN does have cross-game text chat.
The problem with PSN is the way the features are presented. It's got the features but they're just not in a very...approachable/streamlined(I can't think of the right word) fashion.
edit: and yes 100 cap on psn friend list

 

[tetrisgrammaton]

So Mevo and the Grooveriders seems to be a very direct imitation ie ripoff of a level from Rhythm Tengoku.

I'm just judging from youtube tho.

 

[Paznos]

John's complaining about PS3 firmware updates yet again, just how often does he actually play the PS3? he acts like there are updates every other day or week, Plus the 2.80 update was optional and maybe that's how they will make the updates from now on unless they are really needed.

 

[DevelopmentArrested]

John's complaining about PS3 firmware updates yet again, just how often does he actually play the PS3? he acts like there are updates every other day or week, Plus the 2.80 update was optional and maybe that's how they will make the updates from now on unless they are really needed.

John always complains about shit he has no experience in. See: Resident Evil and Castlevania series.

 

[Mar]

What's this stuff about the price of a game calling into question the score it's going to get in a review? This is one of the most retarded things I've heard in gaming media in a long time. Why would price matter at all? It can fluctuate from week to week, especially with a digital distributed game. You are reviewing the content of a game, not how much it costs.

I am shocked a professional reviewer actually said this.

 

[kuYuri]

David Ellis, not sure if you meant this, but for PSN downloads, you can redownload something as many times as you want. The 5 limit activation is for 5 different consoles.

 

[CartridgeBlower]

I don't mean to write a "THE SHOW IS NOTHING WITHOUT SHANE" post like many people have since he left, but what IS missing from the show now is knowledge.

Yes, sometimes he used to blow shit out his ass, but for the most part he knew his shit. He knew the little details that made me believe these guys knew and loved videogames. But I get the feeling these days that these guys know much less than the average core gamer. I don't want to get specific or call out any one individual, but there are so many mistakes and things said that are flat out wrong on some of these later episodes, that it just makes it less enjoyable. Breaks the spell or something.

 

[mujun]

I don't understand why people are so put off by the price of Trine. Half of the 60 dollar games I've played in the last two years have been the same length (or shorter), and nowhere near the level of quality. The latter is far more important to me when deciding value, but even if you do base that off how many hours you can get out of it, I don't get it!

In my case there isn't really much logic to it. I saw the game for the first time and assumed it was a downloadable title, at that point I decided I'd be willing to spend at most $20 dollars on it. I want to play it but with so much other stuff keeping me busy I'm just not going to bother getting it unless I can nab it for the $20 limit I set myself.

 

[SolidSnakex]

What's this stuff about the price of a game calling into question the score it's going to get in a review? This is one of the most retarded things I've heard in gaming media in a long time. Why would price matter at all? It can fluctuate from week to week, especially with a digital distributed game. You are reviewing the content of a game, not how much it costs.

I am shocked a professional reviewer actually said this.

I don't really see how you can ignore the price in some cases. Take something like NobyNoby Boy. It's priced at $5, and most agreed that it's perfectly fine at that price. I know I had no regrets about buying it. But if it were $20, that would be very different. There's just not enough meat there to justify that type of price.

 

[NullPointer]

Not enough split infinitives.

 

[Dante]

David Ellis, not sure if you meant this, but for PSN downloads, you can redownload something as many times as you want. The 5 limit activation is for 5 different consoles.

No... Please tell me he didn't get that wrong....

 

[Deleted member 30609]

and heeeere come the circus

 

[Dante]

And heeere comes the hopeful ass kissers. ( Rod )

 

[davidthemute]

I listen to this podacst every week. But sometimes they completely have no idea what they're talking about when it comes to a specific topic. Haha. A veeeerrry specific topic i mean.
Most of the time they are spot-on though. So it's all good though.

 

[Benjamin1981]

Yeah Anno running through the cloud, right. Did John ever see Anno 1404 running ? It's freaking demanding if you want to play it on high details. I can imagine one of the older Annos running through a client but hell no to 1404.

But i am looking foward to the opinion of Garnett on this game. The game deserves more attention.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Yeah Anno running through the cloud, right. Did John ever see Anno 1404 running ? It's freaking demanding if you want to play it on high details. I can imagine one of the older Annos running through a client but hell no to 1404.

But i am looking foward to the opinion of Garnett on this game. The game deserves more attention.

Yeah I love John, but he was talking out of his ass with that cloud computing stuff. First of all, there aren't any serious games that actually run out of a browser. The best we have is Flash crap and even then you are loading the assets into your memory.

Ellis (I think it was Ellis) was much closer when he said we might be streaming video of games like onLive and playing them that way in 5 - 10 years, but I doubt it will be close to a mainstream method of distribution even then. Command and Conquer 4 in a browser? Give me a break...

Getting rid of physical medium isn't going to do anything to stop piracy either. It will only hurt sales of games because people without fast connections (who can't pirate games anyway) will be unable to purchase them. There is no way to outright prevent piracy. All publishers can really do to prevent it is to make games more affordable or add in compelling online modes and features that require some kind of authentication with servers.

 

[Sidzed2]

I am a fan of the podcast, but it really bothered when Guybrush Threepwood was referred to as "GUY-BUSH".

Grumble, grumble, grumble.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

I am a fan of the podcast, but it really bothered when Guybrush Threepwood was referred to as "GUY-BUSH".

Grumble, grumble, grumble.

:lol

 

[legend166]

What's this stuff about the price of a game calling into question the score it's going to get in a review? This is one of the most retarded things I've heard in gaming media in a long time. Why would price matter at all? It can fluctuate from week to week, especially with a digital distributed game. You are reviewing the content of a game, not how much it costs.

I am shocked a professional reviewer actually said this.

I'm shocked you're shocked.

Many sites still look at reviews as somewhat of a buyers guide, and from the perspective, the price is very, very important.

 

[Rlan]

I could see C&C4 being Digital though, since they attempted a little bit of that via C&C RA Expansion (I think)

But C&C3 and C&CRA has a stupid amount of HD video with real life people. Realistically you can't do that all over the world. When people in Australia still have 20GB download limits on some services, you can't stream shit.

If you struggle with 7 minute PS3 installs, You'll love streaming cloud content

 

[StuBurns]

David Ellis, not sure if you meant this, but for PSN downloads, you can redownload something as many times as you want. The 5 limit activation is for 5 different consoles.

Ellis didn't come up with that though, someone had posted it and they just read it out without correcting the poster. But you're right, it's five activations and you regain an activation when you deactivate an account.

John did fail to mention the fact that some FWs were optional (only one so far though). However, it's not going to be the norm, that just happened to be an update that was only for developers with nothing directed at the end user. Most the time we're still going to have to wait for updates, and they do it way too often.

The required installs are bullshit too. Everyone was mocking MS for not including a harddrive in every unit it. It was genius. MS do not allow for required installs, and they won't this whole generation.

I completely agree with John, any waiting on a console is just bullshit. The whole point for me of consoles over PC gaming is that I don't have to wait, and yeah, you get the games in a worse quality, but I don't care about that. Now though, you get it worse, and you often have to wait for FW and required installs. Thankfully it's not so common, I can't remember the last game I brought that did it (probably BioShock?).

 

[GhaleonQ]

i just really dont know what any of these games are about, and i havent even seen a pic or have a general sense of what a game is about, ill get very bored listening to 4 guys talking about it. the best part of listen up/1up yours is what cha been playing and getting some input on the newest games, but this is the summer season, even last years 1up podcasts sucked because usually games in the summer are never as good as the winter season.

...?

I'm glad I don't listen to the podcast for opinions about what I play, then. *scans the descriptions for 2009* Dragon Quest V, Retro Game Challenge, Ys (not that edition), Punch-Out Wii, and I'll get Tales Of Monkey Island when all of the episodes are out. 5 purchased games for 2009. You don't listen to hear general debate about games you haven't played (and possibly buy them based on the discussion)?

 

[rollingstart]

What's this stuff about the price of a game calling into question the score it's going to get in a review? This is one of the most retarded things I've heard in gaming media in a long time. Why would price matter at all? It can fluctuate from week to week, especially with a digital distributed game. You are reviewing the content of a game, not how much it costs.

I am shocked a professional reviewer actually said this.

A lot of reviewers use reviews as a buyers guide rather than rating based on quality. I don't agree that it should be the case since game prices do constantly change, and ways people can play games (renting, etc.) are different, but that's just how it is.

and while I think mandatory installs are bullshit (optional installs are great, though), John comes off like he has suger and crack for breakfast everyday. It's only a few minutes, man, just wait it out. Even iPhone games need to time to download. I mean, if it was a concern about hard drive space, then that would be a bit better.

...I want Sin Episodes 2

 

[Barrett2]

BCR was $10, not $15. But even if it were $15, how in God's name is that not a good value?

@_@

 

[Kintaro]

I completely agree with John, any waiting on a console is just bullshit. The whole point for me of consoles over PC gaming is that I don't have to wait, and yeah, you get the games in a worse quality, but I don't care about that. Now though, you get it worse, and you often have to wait for FW and required installs. Thankfully it's not so common, I can't remember the last game I brought that did it (probably BioShock?).

Man, when did people become so impatient? You wait for months and years for a game to come out and you can't wait for a install? Seriously? Can't wait out for an update that makes your console better or a patch that makes a game better?

Anyone bitching about firmware gives themselves away to only playing their PS3 once a year. Just sell it if that's a huge deal to you since you're not playing it anyway.

 

[jax (old)]

podcast was alright. very middling though. Maybe because I didn't care for the majority of titles discussed. The DRM talk is sort of rehashy... it aint going anywhere guys....

as for the talk about RPG elements... I think cliffy remarks were for "rpgesque" elements - maybe a money system to upgrade weaponry in gears3..etc etc. XP for skills sets. Not a bad addition if you ask me.

RE4's inventory system/money--->weapon upgrade is "rpgesque" and the game was all the better for it..


anyhow, anything that increases level of engagement, really isn't a bad thing,

 

[Zombie James]

John complaining about firmware is so hilarious. First of all, Sony releases (on average) about one firmware update per month. For you to be able to buy a new PS3 and have it include the latest release is impossible unless you buy it fresh from the factory. Secondly, "5 minutes is too much" is one the dumbest arguments i've heard someone make on this show in the longest time. John loves Burnout but he never complains when you boot it up and occasionally have to download a 300MB update before you can play. They want the PS3 to be a better system, they can wait 5 minutes to download an update every month or two to do that.

Also, when's the last time you saw a piece of electronics update firmware in the background? I can't burn a DVD while i'm flashing my burner's firmware. I can't watch TV while i'm flashing my TVs firmware. I can't take photographs while i'm updating my camera's firmware. No piece of electronics that offers firmware updates can update while doing something else.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Thank you very much David Ellis, whenever I objected to something one of the others were saying you seemed to speak my opinion exactly.
Agree with John re:the firmware too, it is really annoying, especially in comparison to the 360.
As for Trine, do hope it comes to Euro PSN the same time as US PSN...

What's this stuff about the price of a game calling into question the score it's going to get in a review? This is one of the most retarded things I've heard in gaming media in a long time. Why would price matter at all? It can fluctuate from week to week, especially with a digital distributed game. You are reviewing the content of a game, not how much it costs.

I am shocked a professional reviewer actually said this.

Fluctuate from week to week on services like PSN & XBLA? I don't think so, price changes on these are pathetically rare. Steam yes.
Price has always been part of something a consumer faces, and thereby a reviewer faces.
Could not disagree with you more on this actually.

 

[fistfulofmetal]

only a few minutes in and I just heard John say he associates Battlefield with 360.


what the.

 

[HamPster PamPster]

TVs have firmwares now? WTF! ::hugs sdtv::

John is right, this has gone too far. Down with firmware!

 

[Snowden]

only a few minutes in and I just heard John say he associates Battlefield with 360.


what the.

PC doesn't exist except as a vessel for free to play Korean MMO's don't you get it

 

[El-Suave]

I think the reason for the Trine price on PC may be that the game is also released at retail (in Europe at least) on PC, while PS3 most likely won't see a retail release:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ASCARON-Entertainment-UK-Ltd-Trine/dp/B001TDKIYU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1247347649&sr=8-1

What annoyed me a bit is how quickly they glossed over the Battlefield server problems - especially on a paid service like Live that shouldn't happen. Microsoft certifies everything down to that default plane controls can't be inverted (read that in the Edge review). Why can't they make the number of servers that need to be set up at launch part of that process? If a small game hits it big unexpectedly, that's a different story, but this game was from a beloved franchise and heavily advertised. For the customer it's Xbox Live that's not working, not so much EA, so it would be in Microsoft's best interest to try to avoid this situation in advance.

 

[CartridgeBlower]

If it bothers John so much to install PS3 games that it causes him to not even play certain games, does that mean he's never played a PC game in his life?

 

[ghst]

If it bothers John so much to install PS3 games that it causes him to not even play certain games, does that mean he's never played a PC game in his life?

find me one instance of john talking about pc games in the last year where he doesn't morph into that pompus upper octave sneer and blow 6 tonnes of bullshit out of his ass and i'll buy you a toffee.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

What annoyed me a bit is how quickly they glossed over the Battlefield server problems - especially on a paid service like Live that shouldn't happen. Microsoft certifies everything down to that default plane controls can't be inverted (read that in the Edge review). Why can't they make the number of servers that need to be set up at launch part of that process? If a small game hits it big unexpectedly, that's a different story, but this game was from a beloved franchise and heavily advertised. For the customer it's Xbox Live that's not working, not so much EA, so it would be in Microsoft's best interest to try to avoid this situation in advance.

I was thinking about this too, we've heard so much about the ..stringent nature of MS certification that the only way it got through was with the smaller amount of testers on the servers or something.
Because remember it was definitely working fine when Giantbomb did their quicklook on 360?
I blame EA/DICE completely, think it was outline that's it still not up to a point where I can connect to their god damn servers.

 

[Mutagenic]

What's this stuff about the price of a game calling into question the score it's going to get in a review? This is one of the most retarded things I've heard in gaming media in a long time. Why would price matter at all? It can fluctuate from week to week, especially with a digital distributed game. You are reviewing the content of a game, not how much it costs.

I am shocked a professional reviewer actually said this.

Why would the price matter at all? Is this a serious question? Value most definitely comes into play and SHOULD with any review.

 

[CartridgeBlower]

Funny also how none of them mentioned the fact that Battlefield plays perfectly on PS3. If you want to play it and Live is having so many problems, just buy the PS3 version. It's like it doesn't even exist to these guys. You don't have to play it on Live. Especially when it works significantly better on another system at this point.

 

[StuBurns]

Man, when did people become so impatient? You wait for months and years for a game to come out and you can't wait for a install? Seriously? Can't wait out for an update that makes your console better or a patch that makes a game better?

Anyone bitching about firmware gives themselves away to only playing their PS3 once a year. Just sell it if that's a huge deal to you since you're not playing it anyway.

I play my PS3 pretty much every day, so you're just plain old wrong.

As for impatience, you've completely missed the point. Waiting is fine if it's required, but it's not. You don't have to install any game on the 360, and when you do, total installs don't take as long as installing the 5GB installs on PS3.

It's when compared to it's competition that it's pathetic, not in isolation.

 

[MikeE21286]

are we seriously fucking still complaining about PS3 firmware....jesus christ


John... in regards to PS3 firmware updates see *OPTIONAL* FW 2.80

 

[ravien56]

imagine if mark mcdonald was on the podcast.:lol

 

[teiresias]

imagine if mark mcdonald was on the podcast.:lol

Imagine if anyone on this podcast made factually correct statements and had sensical arguments to make.

 

[rollingstart]

Why would the price matter at all? Is this a serious question? Value most definitely comes into play and SHOULD with any review.

It doesn't get much consideration with other media, so why games? it leads to lines like:

it's fun, but man, it doesn't feel $15...

If it's fun, it's fun. It may not be $15 in the future, so should we expect a re-review and new impressions then?

 

[ravien56]

that cant happen...what would everyone be complaing and bitching about then?

 

[Deleted member 30609]

Also, when's the last time you saw a piece of electronics update firmware in the background? I can't burn a DVD while i'm flashing my burner's firmware. I can't watch TV while i'm flashing my TVs firmware. I can't take photographs while i'm updating my camera's firmware. No piece of electronics that offers firmware updates can update while doing something else.

to be fair, outside of video games, I can't think of any other common home entertainment system (or camera etc etc) that forces you, or even prompts you, to upgrade its firmware. It's usually something you have to seek out yourself (unless I'm just living in the past over here in Australia).

 

[Zombie James]

to be fair, outside of video games, I can't think of any other common home entertainment system (or camera etc etc) that forces you, or even prompts you, to upgrade its firmware. It's usually something you have to seek out yourself (unless I'm just living in the past over here in Australia).

Which is a positive for consoles. Can you imagine how much people would bitch if you had to manually download an update on your PC, stick it on a USB flash drive, and plug it into your system every single time?

 

[Snowden]

Which is a positive for consoles. Can you imagine how much people would bitch if you had to manually download an update on your PC, stick it on a USB flash drive, and plug it into your system every single time?

People just wouldn't do it, and then instead of complaints about firmware than takes five minutes and may add some new useful features, you'll hear complaints about how the PS3 is behind on 'x' feature and how they really want that feature and how Sony is garbage.

Can't win. I do wish Sony hadn't seemingly taken the vocal whiners into account. I liked getting firmware when it was done, rather than having to wait for it to be spaced out every two months because some asshole who doesn't even turn on his PS3 except once a fortnight was pissed that he had to update. Fuck him.

Still not as bad as Microsoft's move to one update a year. Fucking joke.

 

[Halvie]

John complaining about firmware is so hilarious. First of all, Sony releases (on average) about one firmware update per month. For you to be able to buy a new PS3 and have it include the latest release is impossible unless you buy it fresh from the factory. Secondly, "5 minutes is too much" is one the dumbest arguments i've heard someone make on this show in the longest time. John loves Burnout but he never complains when you boot it up and occasionally have to download a 300MB update before you can play. They want the PS3 to be a better system, they can wait 5 minutes to download an update every month or two to do that.

Also, when's the last time you saw a piece of electronics update firmware in the background? I can't burn a DVD while i'm flashing my burner's firmware. I can't watch TV while i'm flashing my TVs firmware. I can't take photographs while i'm updating my camera's firmware. No piece of electronics that offers firmware updates can update while doing something else.

This!

Dudes keep talking about how digital download games are the next huge thing and they can't fucking sit for 5 minutes to update their systems....have fun waiting hours to download the games you want to play....total shit podcast this week.