The morning Inbox suggests developers go to the library for some inspiration, as one reader is not impressed by The Crew beta.
To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk
It’s funny because it’s true
I just watched the Freemium Isn’t Free episode of South Park. It brilliantly sums up my feelings on the recent trend of freemium games, even if it is a particularly silly episode. I always used to watch South Park because it was rude and funny (and me not being ‘allowed’ to watch it obviously made me want to watch it more), but it took a fair few years for me to appreciate the brilliantly scathing satire and love how it’s always so current!
It’s Season 18 episode 6 for those interested, and it’s definitely recommended… it’s not nearly as good as the Make Love, Not Warcraft episode, but it’s still worth a watch.
Freefall_Hero (PSN ID)
I’ve just watched the new episode of South Park and never has microtransactions and ‘free’ mobile games been explained better! Give it a watch if it’s your thing!
Chris
Brief impression
Well, I downloaded The Crew beta and in short it was terrible! The graphics are like a PlayStation 2 game. The handling and car physics are all over the place. When I was driving off road it was like driving on a bouncy castle and the draw distance and pop-in of other cars appearing right in front of you is horrendous. I only played it for about ten minutes, then deleted it.
Ubisoft would be foolish to release the game in this state. Hopefully negative feedback from this beta will force them to delay the game until its in better shape but if not I don’t see a good end product. I’m surprised they thought it was even good enough to release in beta form. Needless to say I wont be doing a feature on it.
I hope they delay it because the idea and scope of the map is great. I might do a Reader’s Feature on Halo: The Master Chief Collection though. I’ve pre-downloaded it so will try and get a feature in time for next weekend.
Big Angry Dad82 (gamertag)
GC: We might not know anything about driving games but we played it back at E3 2012, and it certainly didn’t look like a PlayStation 2 game then.
Rhetorical question
Drat, double drat and triple drat, GC. I have just seen the news that the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of GTA V will include a first person mode. And cats. I know that the first person mode won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but it is mine. In fact it is a big, steaming mug of my favourite brew with three sugars.
Having grudgingly accepted the fact that I can’t yet afford a current gen console, my mind is now in a complete whirl and I feel as though I have reached the gaming equivalent of the glass ceiling – I can see what I want but I can’t get there. Even if I could afford a console now, the other dilemma is which one to buy? I am interested to see if there are any responses to the letter from MCGaG1888.
What is the chance of a massive pre/post Christmas price reduction? Yeah, I know. The same odds as a spherical collection of ice crystals surviving in a very hot place. I can but dream! Keep up the good work!
Ron Obvious
E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk
Change the story
This last year’s games haven’t set the world alight. A few got good reviews and have been well received by the journos and gamers but nothing has really stood out.
Why is this?
I’m going for a lack of imagination in the studios!
New consoles should have seen new franchises. Instead we have had two new Call Of Duties and two FIFAs, to name a few sequels; a whole host of remakes for next gen; and a few also-rans alongside the awaited Forza Horizon 2, Sunset Overdrive, and Destiny. Say no more!
So how do we solve this problem?
I’m thinking the great books. This world has amazing stories all through history which would make great games, and I’m not talking about war and conflict.
Games have come in for a lot of stick recently and one reason is the stories are pants. There are so many great books that could be used to reignite gaming. Metro 2033 is a fine example of a book-to-game, but it happens so rarely. The game industry is happy to do movie remakes but not books. How often have you heard this expression: good film, but not as good as the book though!
Lord Of The Rings games based on the films, not the books.
Harry Potter games based on the films, not the book.
I could go on but that would be boring.
So game studio workers take a step away from your desks, go outside and walk to your nearest bookshop and talk to the sales assistant and ask for a great book. And not ones with pictures in. I know this puts the fear of god into geeks and techies but you may just find the next big thing.
Dirtystopout
PS: I’ve always thought the books of James Herbert would make good games. Imagine The Rats!
Ink and cartilage
I’ve just watched the new Splatoon video and wow! Nintendo’s first attempt at an online shooter and they’re already conjuring up weapons the likes of EA or Activision could only dream of. I’m sure the masses will pass this game off as patronising because there are no bullets, guns, blood or guts evident.
But in my 30 odd years (I’m not proud to be that old by the way) of gaming I have to say, that all gamers are searching for is that euphoric state of being a kid again – with the best present Father Christmas could ever bring them. That’s fine, I understand that.
The old heart-thumping mummy can’t stop me now midnight launches with only 10 minutes to go, or the rushing over to your friends to tell them you’ve got the latest game and you’ve played it – I get it, it’s childish but I get it.
I predict that not long into the distant future that graphics and power are not going to be so relevant. it’s already started with the whole frames per second or enemies on screen at the same time kerfuffle .
So if you’re not too bothered about raw power (a bit like a car that can do 260mph on the road but the roads are limited to 80mph) then ladies and gentlemen let me introduce to you Nintendo. Making people regardless of race, creed, age, colour, religion or gender feel like a big kid again since 1889.
freeway 77
PS: I’ve never understood why the big N have never teamed up with Disney? Their ideologies are exactly the same. Everything is given a characteristic or character and their medium reaches out to everybody regardless of the examples I have outlined above?
Rein on your parade
Just so you know I purposefully misspelt rain in my letter about Red Dead Redemption that you printed in Friday evenings Inbox as I was making a little joke. There’s lots of horse riding in the game so, you know… ‘rein’ effects…. ahem.
It least now I can use the excuse of jokes never being funny after you have to explain them for the lack of rolling in the aisles.
Meestah Bull
PS: I’ve never played it myself but I’m assuming the PlayStation 3 downloadable title Rain must be a contender for best rain effects in game what with precipitation kind of being it’s raison d’être.
GC: Rain is very low budget though, so the graphics aren’t great. We’re not sure what we’d choose actually, maybe it will end up being GTA V.
Isabella to the rescue
We don’t really have to look to Banjo-Kazooie to have a Mario Kart 8 course with changing seasons, they could have opted for an Oracle Of Seasons Zelda track. But as that DLC has been announced we can turn to Animal Crossing instead.
Animal Crossing is founded on seasonal events, your town’s look changes with snow, new growth, baking heat and falling leaves. Surely it’d make sense to reflect this in the next DLC? Although I sadly suspect they’ll opt to just have you driving around the various buildings seen in the games without any dynamic weather changes.
Euclidian Boxes
Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here
Call of poetry
I spawn on a path in front of a tree
And see a man in the tree shoots me
I wonder who he could be
A camper? Maybe
I respawn on a hill covered in green
I sneak to the edge trying not to be seen
I see the man in the tree and quickly shoot
Before running down to grab the loot
With his shiny new gun I lay waste to my foes
Shooting them from head to toe
I get a SAT COM, telling me where to go
To get EXP, after killing foe after foe
Soon I get a Loki Satellite which adds to the fight
As I give my allies formidable might
I then supply drop a Juggernaut
As I watch from above like an astronaut
But it was not to last
As my Loki was shot down by a big blast
I turn around to see the man in the tree
Holding a massive RPG
Then the match was over
The game was done
I look at the leaderboard
And saw that I won.
ar1speedboy
GC: That, was amazing. Well done!
Inbox also-rans
RE: StreetPass hits. In my local HMV In Southampton you get 10 hits per floor, that’s 30 hits. But I will try out Marks and Sparks now though, thanks.
Chopsworth nin
GC: It must be these StreetPass relay transmitters. But why go to the trouble of setting them up and then not telling anyone about them? Although we suppose that is typically Nintendo.
I think I can summarise 90% of the emails you will receive in the next week (including grammatical and spelling errors): Only 8/10 4 Halol! Your teh bias.
PazJohnMitch
This week’s Hot Topic
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader ar1speedboy, who asks what single game have you put the most hours into?
Some games actually tell you how long you’ve been playing for, but even if you just have to guess what title have you clocked up the most hours for? Whether it’s Destiny or Pokémon, we want to know what game has kept you coming back for more and why.
If it’s a multiplayer game what has kept you playing, and just as importantly what have similar titles failed to do to tempt you away from it? Have regular updates and additions been the secret, or something else? And if it’s a primarily single-player game, does that involve multiple replays or just one never-ending playthrough?
E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk
The small print
New Inbox updates appear twice daily, every weekday morning and afternoon. Letters are used on merit and may be edited for length.
You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word 4Player viewer features at any time, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.
If you need quick access to the GameCentral channel page please use www.metro.co.uk/games and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.
