680°

PS4's in-house launch games appear to be all guts, not glory

Polygon: The lineup of first-party games launching alongside the PS4 this holiday is a multi-genre showcase that, while perhaps lacking in innovation, strives to deliver experiences that demonstrate the raw power of Sony's next-generation console. But the aim is clear: the development focus is on promoting the technology, rather than offering completely new, unique adventures.

-Gespenst-3932d ago

TOTALLY agree with this. I know Polygon have a slightly anti-sony bent, but they're right about this, and I personally thought the Last of Us review made some strong points.

Hey, I mean it's not like it's any different with the Xbox One. This graphics / tech drive, it needs to stop. In no way is it necessarily conducive to making a good, memorable, and unique game. More risks need to be taken, no more triple A games designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator.

wishingW3L3932d ago ShowReplies(10)
majiebeast3932d ago (Edited 3932d ago )

You really expected a truly original game at launch? That kind of stuff starts happening 1-2 years after launch when the fanbase has grown. The launch of a console is always about mass appeal Knack,Killzone and Driveclub seem like a good start. Just wait for Media Molecule to bring the unique experiences in the mean time indie games are filling that void.

Their Lastofus review was garbage deducting points cause the reviewer sucked and felt bad after killing people i mean wtf. If anything feeling bad is a plus it means the immersion of the game is incredible. The beginning of the game is one of the strongest this generation next to God of war 3.

Roper3163932d ago Show
Aceman183932d ago Show
greyhaven333932d ago

Well said, took the words out of my mouth. Bubble up

Seraphemz3932d ago Show
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spaceg0st3932d ago Show
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Thehyph3932d ago Show
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Minato-Namikaze3932d ago

Sony has pleny of games like that (innovative). Not sure why you think they wouldnt continue down that path especially since they are really embracing indies.

3932d ago Replies(4)
TKCMuzzer3932d ago

@-Gespenst-
You totally agree with a website that has not played any of the final release versions of any of the launch games and are pre judging what's to come.....interesting..

die_fiend3932d ago Show
Jaqen_Hghar3932d ago

KZ is more open than any previous titles in the series and most shooters in general. It lets you tackle the situations your own way. That's the kind of innovation a man wants in shooters. It has new gadgets like the owl and the zipline that you can pop up anywhere to give you even more options. A man loves this next gen openness as well as the prettiness. A man also knows Guerrilla will deliver great shooting mechanics. Knack is an old school platformer with next gen physics. Driveclub is a socially connected racer like we've never seen. Infamous offers the world a next gen superhero push which a man doesn't remember seeing that many of. A man sees indie titles as well that will make their console debuts on PS4 (at least 8 shown at E3) so a man doesn't see any lack of innovation or variety here.

T23932d ago

The man makes good points but also innovation is fine and dandy but if 20 mil people want grand theft auto , they dont want publishers going all mad crazy with it. Your sequels should be consistent and strong. New games are for innovation and Sony will show these in due time... To sum up , stupid article

psyxon3932d ago Show
quenomamen3932d ago

Yea, PS4 needs a game changer at launch like Killer Instinct.

Aceman183932d ago

to be honest it was the most unimpressive game shown at E3 and EVO this past weekend.

one dimensional game where all we heard was combo breaker after combo breaker lol

Ju3932d ago

I tend to believe you are not representing the majority of xboxers, even though, if you believe how many bring up KI as the second coming of Christ than I have the feeling you guys have never played a fighting game before.

Really? Yet another "comic style" fighting game is what we need? Why? Haven't you guys played Streetfighter by now?

I am not sure if you guys are the same guys trash talking PS4 titles. But all that really makes me do is laugh. I really tried to get hyped for some of your Xbox's "great" titles - but none of those really gave me something beyond what I already had.

I think the PS4 launch lineup is quite awesome. More titles than I can afford. More will show - what you think, Santa Monica will put God of War to rest ? or Naughty Dog is going out of business? It'll last, which is in fact a good thing.

I can't wait for KZ:SF. A reason to get a PS4 for me. DriveClub anyhow - because I have PS+ - and then we'll see what else is launching. I miss me some Resistance - but just because I have memories how the PS3 started.

The_Con-Sept3931d ago

No not like killer instinct what so ever. There are a lot of fighting games already in existence. I'd much rather see a more action oriented fighting game when it comes to that genre. Not like Tekken 6, God Hand, or chilli con carne. But something that is just a bit more different than God of war, Devil May Cry, or Dynasty warriors.

Anyway the games coming out for the PS4 are the games I want to see at the beginning. Ryse kind of reminds me of Viking battle for asgard and Halo isn't for me anymore.

It is about time we play as a creature again. Not a platformer but something like the creature mode in nightmare creatures.

S2Killinit3932d ago

if you believe that "more risks need to be taken" why would you agree with an article that bags on a creative game like The Last of Us? Sounds to me like covert fanboyism that's all.

3932d ago Replies(1)
pixelsword3932d ago (Edited 3932d ago )

They don't know the meaning of that meanint: wouldn't it be "all glory, no guts" if that was the case,then?

It seems like garbage, so I'm not clicking the article.

+ Show (11) more repliesLast reply 3931d ago
iamnsuperman3932d ago (Edited 3932d ago )

"Sony's first slate of PS4 games aren't trying to be new from a gameplay standpoint — but in terms of visuals they are gunning to be the best-looking. Sony has lined up what will be the decorative gems of the console's coming-out party, the flashiest graphics with the brightest colors that best represent that next-gen power."

It is the same with the Xbox One. They both are doing a pissing matching trying to outdoor one and other with visuals. I would like interesting use of gameplay and better AI....but I don't think that will be the case because those types of things takes time to develop and get right. The first year is going to be about visuals. Its the years after that where the tech limits will be pushed in other areas

edit: I personally believe both console's launch games are poor. I like Killzone and I know what I am getting with that but the rest or meh/I am not interested in. Nothing new but I was expecting that

Gazondaily3932d ago

Yeah this is where Third Party studios will come into their own. Just look at the lineup for proof:

1) Titanfall- hardly the best looking next-gen game but the gameplay looks incredible

2) Battlefield 4- Amazing visuals PLUS amazing gameplay, massive destruction, massive player count, intuitive use of smartglass etc

3) The Division- Ambitious TPS with a persistent online world, amazing immersion and excellent mechanics

4) Destiny- Highly ambitious online FPS

I'm sure there are others. Project Spark is the only really innovative first party game I can think of at this stage.

iamnsuperman3932d ago (Edited 3932d ago )

And yet when is Project Spark releasing? That game could be miles away or go into limbo like Milo did.

What Microsoft and Sony are doing is right. They need to get some games out there that they now appeal to people. In a year or two they can start taking risks when they have the ability and knowledge to do it.

I agree with you by the way. Third parties on the other hand can. They are not there to sell systems but just the games. I assume both Sony and Microsoft are taking losses on these consoles.

Novistador3932d ago

None of those are ground breaking. You just listed off 3 fps games (of which just look pretty) and a generic tps. Spark looks interesting though and could do wonders for the industry if done right.

Ju3932d ago

What's wrong with KZ:SF?

- New open level design
- Player can freely choose missions
- Killer AI - as always. It was never bad to begin with
- New gadgets

And to the list above.

- Titanfall? I think we had jetpacks and "robots" in Warhawk/Starkhawk (minus the bots) How is that new?

- BF4? Yeah, - it's not smart glass but a tablet app (battle commander). But other than that it's the exact game as before. Quite disappointing (and you'd hardly play tablet & console at the same time, huh. As nice as the idea is).

The other two I like. And than Watchdogs and Black Flag.

Ju3932d ago (Edited 3932d ago )

- Double post...??

ShinMaster3931d ago

Titanfall is like COD and Starhawk. I've already played those games.
Not really seeing much innovation.

Polygon just spouting bs again.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3931d ago
dazzrazz3932d ago Show
xReDeMpTiOnx3932d ago

I don't trust anything polygon has to say and reading the abysmal last of us review.

Also people need to realize by now its not all about "new" it's about taking things that have been done before and re-defining them and making them better.

At this point in time it's very hard to come up with something "new" as the ideas and concept have been present in books,media,tv, other games etc.

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70°

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190°

Bethesda Needs to Reduce the Gaps Between New Fallout and Elder Scrolls Releases

Waiting a decade for new instalments in franchises as massive as Fallout and Elder Scrolls feels like a waste.

Read Full Story >>
gamingbolt.com
-Foxtrot13h ago

Microsoft have Obsidian but I feel it's Bethesda who just don't want to play ball as they've always said they want to do it themselves.

Once MS bought Zenimax in 2020 they should have put the Outer Worlds 2 on the back burner, allow Bethesda to finish off its own Space RPG with Starfield (despite totally different tone why have two in your first party portfolio with two developers who's gameplay is a tad similar) and got Obsidian for one of their projects to make a spiritual successor to New Vegas.

When the Elder Scrolls VI is finished Bethesda can then onto the main numbered Fallout 5 themselves.

The Outer Worlds 2 started development in 2019 so putting it on the back burner wouldn't have been the end of the world, they'd have always come back to it once Fallout was done and it would have been nicely spaced out from Starfields release once they had most likely stopped supporting it and all the expansions were released.

If they did this back in 2020 when they bought Zenimax and the game had a good, steady 4 - 5 years development, you might have seen it release in 2025.

We are literally going to be waiting until 2030 at the very earliest for Fallout 5 and all they seem bothered about is pushing Fallout 76.

RaidenBlack11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

Its not just only Todd not playing ball.
Obsidian have made a name for themselves in delivering stellar RPGs, but most famous once have always been sequels/spin-offs to borrowed IPs like KOTOR 2, Neverwinter Nights 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Stick of Truth etc.
Obsidian wants to invest more in their own original IPs like Outer Worlds or Pillars of Eternity with Avowed.
Similar to what Bluepoint & inXile wants to do or Kojima is doing (i.e not involving anymore in Konami's IPs).
So yea, even if New Vegas has the most votes from 3D Fallout fans, Obsidian just wants to do their own thing, like any aspiring dev studio and MS is likely currently respecting that.
But a future Fallout game from Obsidian will surely happen. Founder Feargus Urquhart has already stated an year ago that they're eager to make a new Fallout game with Bethesda, New Vegas 2 or otherwise. Urquhart was the director of the very first 1995's Fallout game after all.
And don't forget Brian Fargo and his studio inXile, as Brian Fargo was the director of Fallout's 1988 predecessor: Wasteland

KyRo7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

Obsidian should take over the FO IP. They're do far better with it than Bethesda who hasn't made a great game for almost 15 years

RaidenBlack1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

@KyRo
So, by 15 years, you mean Fallout 3 was the last great game Bethesda made?
You don't consider Skyrim a good game, which came out 13 years ago?
I'd consider Fallout 4 a pretty decent game as well. It's Story & RPG elements were a bit downgrade from New Vegas but the exploration and shooting on the other hand, were upgrades.
FO76 was disappointing and Starfield could've been better at launch I'll agree.

Duke197h ago(Edited 7h ago)

I disagree. Part of these games is the support for the mod community. If they move to releasing a "next game" every 2 or 3 years, the modding support plummets and the franchises turn into just another run of the mill RPG.

Make the games good enough to withstand the test of time, to keep people coming back to them and expanding on them with mod support.

--Onilink--4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

I dont think anyone is saying they need to come out every 2 years (not to mention almost no game is released that quickly anymore)

By the time Fallout 5 comes out, it will be more than 15 years since Fallout 4 came out (same with ES6 coming out 15 years after Skyrim). Even if you want to use F76 as the metric for the most recent release, that one came out in 2018. It will be a miracle if F5 comes out before 2030

The point is that for a studio that doesnt seem to operate with multiple teams doing several projects at once, that their projects normally take 4-5 years as a minimum, and that now they even added Starfield to the rotation, it becomes a 15+ years waiting period between releases for each series, which doesnt make sense. Imagine that Nintendo only released a mainline Mario or Zelda game every 15 years…

They either need to start developing more than 1 project at a time, let someone else take a crack at one of the IPs or significantly reduce their development times

Duke193h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Why should someone else take a crack at one of the IPs? Look at what happened to Final Fantasy as a recent example - there is pretty clear FF fatigue setting in because they are now pumping out titles in the franchise every few years. Pumping out more games faster doesn't always make a series better.

There are plenty of options to make new games, not just create more titles in the same universe at a faster pace.

-Foxtrot34m ago

"Why should someone else take a crack at one of the IPs"

He's literally just told you why

We're waiting like 15 years before a sequel comes out, it's insane

Skyrim came out in 2011, the next game is expected to come out in 2027 at the earliest so that's 16 years apart while Fallout 4 came out in 2015 and might not release until 2031, again 16 years.

We're fine with Bethesda trying new things and doing new IPs like Starfield but adding a new game to the cycle now means a bigger wait. Also Starfield didn't meet most peoples expectations, can you imagine waiting 15 years or so for a sequel and it's disappointing? It would feel even worse because you would have to wait another 15 years to see if they manage to come back from it.

They need to give it to another developer, we don't need main numbered titles but a spin off of Fallout and Elder Scrolls should be cycled in between the long gaps of the main releases.

Once again you are making out people want these games as quick as possible when all we want is a standard development time of at least 4 years or so rather than waiting 15.

mandf4h ago

Yeah I’m going to say it, who cares about the modding community when making a game? Half the time developers only tolerate modders because they fix there game for them.

Skuletor6h ago

Yeah, let's all advocate for smaller gaps between series' releases, then we'll probably get headlines about how the series have dropped in quality and they could have benefited from more time in the oven. Let them cook.

SimpleSlave5h ago

"how the series have dropped in quality and they could have benefited from more time in the oven" So every Bethesda game then? Got it.

Listen, I would agree if this was about From Software or something, but Bethesda?

🤣

C'mon now. What timeline are you from?

Skuletor3h ago

Think about it, they're already bug filled messes on their current schedule, can you imagine how much worse it would be if they rushed things?

-Foxtrot31m ago

@Skuletor

Who's saying to rush the releases? No one is saying that...

People just don't want to be waiting 15 years for a sequel, they aren't working on the game for that long, you do realise that right? The issue isn't coming down to them working on the game and us "rushing them", it's the fact they are working on other games like Starfield now meaning bigger gaps before they even get started on them.

I bet you any more Elder Scrolls VI only entered full development last year when Starfield was finished despite being announced in 2018.

Duke193h ago

I mean you aren't wrong. People are going to complain about anything

isarai5h ago

Hows about you focus on quality, just a thought 🤷‍♂️

Sciurus_vulgaris4h ago

Bethesda [or Microsoft] would have to reallocate internal and external studios towards fallout and elder scrolls titles. Bethesda has the issue of developing 2 big IPs that are large RPGs on rotation. If you want more Fallout and Elder Scrolls, development will have to be outsourced.

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