180°

Underperforming games of 2008 holiday season - PS3, Xbox 360

Gamer Blorge writes:

"This holiday season is said to have been a complete cluster mess by many in the gaming industry. Even famed David Jaffe had some choice words for the studios who released all of their top tier games during the holiday season. I would like to point out a couple of the games that should have done well, but underperformed.

Since there has to be a cut off for underperforming games, I would like to say games that sold under a million per platform underperformed. Also, I will focus on games that were highly anticipated."

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TheMART5595d ago

They forgot all the big PS3 exclusives

LBP
Resistance 2
Motorstorm 2

MegaMohsi5595d ago (Edited 5595d ago )

All 3 are over a Million,LBP being a new IP outsold Dead Space, Prince of Persia and Mirrors Edge, all multi-platform games.

BURNDOWNTHEHOUSE5595d ago

They also forgot Too Human, Kingdom Under Fire, Infinite Undiscovery, Last Remnant, Ninja Gaiden, Banjo......Tales of Vesperia.......oh just every 360 game that wasn't Gears or Fable. :) XD

Hot_tea5595d ago

Dead Space = boring
Mirrors Edge = crap
Prince Of Persia = crap

It's when quality titles like Valkyrie Chronicles get outsold by by madden or some dumb wrestling game that I really cringe inside.

ChampIDC5595d ago

I wouldn't go so far to say any of those games are crap. There's just too many other bigger releases than them that are overshadowing them. Personally, I bloody loved Dead Space. Mirror's Edge is a good concept with only decent execution, and Prince of Persia is pretty darn good until it gets repetetive.

And yeah, I wish brilliant games like Valkyria Chronicles would get more love. That and Tales of Vesperia are my favorite games this year in terms of graphics, but that's most likely because I'm a sucker for anime style.

San anto5595d ago

You truly have not played any of those games too busy trolling round dead space is brilliant.

Hot_tea5595d ago (Edited 5595d ago )

I don't have a 360, but was wondering how Infinite Undiscovery was? I know it didn't get high marks or good sales but It looks awesome. I don't care about reviews btw...especially for Japanese games.

@San anto
No, my buddy bought Dead Space on release and although I was blown away byt the graphics on my TV (52" Bravia) the game was very slow paced and much like doom3 for my liking. I would not pay 60 bones for it.
Mirrors edge, I got demo off PSN, total crap, no way I would buy that for 60 bucks.

ChampIDC5595d ago

Sorry bud, I wish I could tell you how good it is, but alas, I haven't played it yet. Too many other releases overhsadowed it for me. I plan on picking it up cheap someday. I thought it looked pretty interesting as well, and I'm not very inclined to believe the reviews at the moment. I think the biggest issue people had with it was the fact that it's very linear, but if it has good story and gameplay, that's a-ok with me.

And also, I'm glad you mentioned Dead Space is like Doom 3. That's one of the reasons I love it so much, haha. I'm a Doom nut. =)

Atomic5595d ago

Dead Space = excellent , survivor horror done right.
Mirrors Edge = interesting aesthetics, average/limited gameplay
Prince Of Persia = noob friendly crap, the game basically plays itself.

Information Minister5595d ago (Edited 5595d ago )

Sorry but I own Dead Space and the game is great!

Not sure about Mirror's Edge and Prince of Persia though. I would definitely put Valkyria Chronicles as #1 in any list of this kind.

MasterChief36245595d ago

Disagree on almost all counts.

Your reference to Valkyria Chronicles, though... I definitely agree on that one.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 5595d ago
Kinetix5595d ago

Deadspace can get boring, however it does pick up and get better. It's not like assassin's creed where it's boring the whole time.

ChampIDC5595d ago

You forget, Assassin's Creed is interesting until you realize you do the same 4 missions the entire game. That time varies based on your intelligence! It's like the shirt that has both on front and back "Want to keep an idiot entertained for hours? Look on the back/front."

Bigrhyno5595d ago

I am liking Mirror's Edge and Prince of Persia (neither are GOTY but I am glad I bought them). I can't comment on Dead Space because I don't really like to play horror games.

ChampIDC5595d ago

Dead Space is a good one for your to avoid then if you don't like the horror genre. It's definitely one of the better horror games I've seen. Too many horror games stray too far toward action against things that might be scary instead of using environments and sounds to scare bodily fluids out of you like Dead Space attempts to do. It really captures into a game what a good horror movie can do.

I'm weird, though. I pretty much hate horror movies (except for a few amazing ones), but I love horror games.

ambientFLIER5595d ago (Edited 5595d ago )

Horror games creep me out :( I couldn't even play fear. Resistance 2 had just the right level of exploring dark corridors with a flashlight.

I_LOVE_MYSELF5595d ago

1. LBP - Failed to live up to the hype... Like everything Sony related its broken online at release and still lags... Average platformer (theres plenty better platform games like SMG, R&C this gen)... Very bland gameplay really...

2. R2 - The campaign is not very good... The visuals fail to a certain extent especially the water... Multiplayer has decent stat tracking and coop is fun for 5 minutes... The fact that it isnt as gripping as a FPS that was released a year before (halo3) really lets it down... I guess Halo3 set standards to high for this average fps

3. MotorstormPR - Its a laughable franchise... The first game delivered less than half a game on the disc and you had to DL a lot for replay value... This one seems better BUT the gameplay is horrid and the handling sucks

Theres what I consider to be the 3 fail games this holiday season... Its a very unbias list and very honest

List for GREAT games are as follows

1. Banjo N&B - Refreshing and takes a great approach to the franchise... Beautiful to look at and all round quite amazing... Very refreshing

2. Gears2 - Makes one of the greatest games this gen even greater... We all know it pwns and boasts the best visuals this gen... I dont even see KZ2 topping these stunning graphics

3. Fable2 - Amazing game and theres nothing like it on any other format really... Great art, gameplay and also very refreshing to play amongst all the shooters this gen

so theres 3 fail games this holiday and 3 amazing ones... totally unbias and straight to the point... i hope you appreciate my honesty :-)

PSN: GametimeUK
XBL: Gametime UK

OmarJA5595d ago

Ok we get it you're a 360 fanboy...

but thanks for making me laugh.

ChampIDC5595d ago (Edited 5595d ago )

I can't decide if I should laugh, cry, or eat a small child in spite.

ambientFLIER5595d ago

I'm an Xbox fan, but I have a ps3 and finished R2 last night. The graphics were great, ESPECIALLY the water. Besides bullet entrances making waves instead of little fountains of water, it looks very realistic. Everything that touches it makes waves, and there's refraction.

Unless you means the 2D streams of water coming from the pipes, which are kinda disappointing.

poindat5595d ago

Totally unbiased eh? Right... Look, I don't own a 360 but I don't go around making biased judgements on games I haven't even played. In fact, I would very much love to play the 'top 3' games that you listed there.

You, my friend, should grow up and do the same. It is plainly obvious that you haven't played any of those 'disappointments.'

Atomic5595d ago

Wow , your fanboyism is so transparent it's not even funny.
be more subtle in the future.

Highatus5595d ago (Edited 5595d ago )

Wow thanks for posting nothing that pertains to the Article whatsoever.

I'm happy for you that you only like 360 games, would you like a cookie?

I don't know, seems like you are fishing for something.

I own 4 of the six you listed and they are good games

LBP - R2 - Fable 2 - Geow2

Still trying to find a point to your post. When those titles are selling well and are not underperforming?

San anto5594d ago

Heres what i got from your comment "360 is teh best guyz"

/of reply to noob.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 5594d ago
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200°

EA Japan Exec Criticises Japanese Ratings Board

An executive of Electronic Arts Japan has criticised the Japanese video game ratings board for allowing upcoming action game Stellar Blade to be released uncensored while EA's own Dead Space was banned in the country.

CrimsonWing691d 3h ago

He’s got a point. If a game is M-Rated, which is the equivalent of an R rating, I don’t get why you need to censor anything. The rating is the indicator of the content and the age appropriate. If it’s appropriate for adults… why treat them like children? 🤷‍♂️

Eonjay19h ago(Edited 19h ago)

This is about gore... not about anything sexual. And specifically I think it is about the realistic depiction of gore. Unfortunately I don't know the nuance of the CERO board or how it is relevant their specific culture (as a prohibition on gore may transcend age) so I hesitate to make a statement. Can anyone else provide insight to what kind of gore is considered unacceptable?

CrimsonWing6919h ago(Edited 19h ago)

Yea, I know this is about gore, but thanks for pointing that out.

My point still stands, if a game is essentially rated for a mature audience then why censor for them as if they’re too young to view it? Makes no sense.

To answer your question: Decapitation, dismemberment, like… anything gore. They have been censoring that since CERO was established. Look up RE4 chainsaw decapitation or any MK games that made it there.

Cacabunga17h ago

EA Japan? Wtf never heard of that

ZwVw15h ago

Yet, the Oneechanbara series (y'know, the game with half-naked samurai females slicing up zombies to bloody pieces) get released in Japan uncensored.

The CERO ratings board is an equilibrium.

gold_drake19h ago

definitely has a point.

but .. its japan. are we really surprised?

VersusDMC18h ago

I don't know if the EA executive is going off the one close up of an arm being cut off in the demo. Maybe it's uncensored because it's the arm of a cyborg or it doesn't happen that often (didn’t see EVE dismemberment when killed in the demo) .

In the states there's a certain amount of swear words allowed to a PG13 movie before it is deemed R. So maybe it's the same in Japan for gore?

Eonjay16h ago

Yes I think you may be on to something. The violence is gory but I wouldn't call it gruesome.

Retroman16h ago

Ea Japan please make Knack 3
in the future

Eonjay15h ago(Edited 15h ago)

Does EA Japan actually make games at all? Or are they just a regional publisher?

370°

One Year Later, What Was The Point Of The Dead Space Remake

The remake teased an expanded universe, but now a sequel has no chance of delivering on it.

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isarai7d ago

Honestly i believe it was mainly as retaliation for the original devs breaking off and making colisto protocol. They've done this a few times, ignoring fan demands for the return of a belived ip until someone does it for them, then they retaliate by only then announcing an entry. Colisto protocol was announced and EA announced the remake shortly after, Session finally hit consoles and skate 4 was announced, shortly after Undisputed was shown off, talks started happening about a new fight night.

ZeekQuattro6d ago

I agree. Reminds me of when Inafune announced Mighty No.9 and the initial reaction of the game industry was that of celebration and suddenly Capcom said ohh shit we need to announce Mega Man 11. 😆 Still waiting for MM12 & the next X title.

isarai6d ago

Exactly, it's BS that pettiness has more power than demand for some reason.

Cacabunga6d ago

i liked the remake as much as the original.. it has so many improvements, the most noticeable to me was the seemless transition between levels which should be a must and a standard nowadays.
I cannot wait for the sequel's remake too.

Tacoboto6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

That's a very farfetched conspiracy.

Callisto Protocol was announced in February 2021 and Dead Space in July. They didn't just decide in March 2021 to "retaliate" by remaking from scratch Dead Space in under a two year timespan.

If anything, Callisto is the result of a has-been Creative Director whose only inspiration is his previous work, and EA took inspiration long before Callisto was known about from the insane success of the RE Remakes and endless calls at the time for the RE4 Remake.

0hMyGandhi6d ago

So, how do you like working at EA?

shadowhaxor6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

And yet,fans of Dead Space, myself included, have been asking EA to bring back Dead Space for a better part of a decade. To which EA refused, stating that it was done with the series. Specifically after Dead Space 3 failed to meet EA's sale goals (sound familiar?) But magically, after they caught wind of The Callisto Protocol, with Glen at the helm, Dead Space remake was greenlit.

For those not counting, The Callisto Protocol call was announced in 2019, while Dead Space remake was announced in 2021. Long before TCP was announced?

badboyz096d ago

100% that's the way EA operates

Extermin8or3_6d ago

You know how long it will have taken to make this game, this is some rediciulous logic.

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Tacoboto7d ago

It was a solid game and we'll have to move on and accept it for what it is. Just because we're not getting a sequel (original or remake) doesn't mean there's no point anymore in what is a great, tense, well-paced single player experience. No one's taking Dead Space Remake away.

I just hope that the game isn't so technically stitched together on PC that driver updates render the game unplayable like what happened with me and my RTX 4070 last year, requiring a driver downgrade just months after the game came out. If you're a console player then you've got no worries.

TheProfessional7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

Yeah but it was a pointless remake since the original still looks pretty good. They should've done a sequel, something original or Dante's Inferno 2.

Way too many remakes now. Even resident evil 4 had already been remastered twice before the most recent one. No originality. Why not just hire the original team to make a new game instead?

Harkins17216d ago

For the hopes to get a new generation of people into the game. OG still looks good but it stopped selling long ago. So I get why they do remakes.

Knightofelemia7d ago

Most likely for EA to cash in on the remake craze that followed Capcom when they started remaking RE games. I am glad EA did it I enjoy the game. DS is one of my favorite franchises love the sci fi horror shit. What I don't like is EA not remaking DS2. So DS1 remake did not do well with the numbers so what. DS2 has a solid fanbase and is probably the best entry in the franchise depending on the fan. DS2 remake would have been a day one for me but I got a reminder on why I hate EA. Scrap the DS2 remake for a shitty Iron Man game.

chicken_in_the_corn7d ago

It's because the gaming community want remakes and remasters over new games.

mandf7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

Thank you for recognizing that. One group always complains over remasters or remakes.gamers want them and they sell. To the once’s that complain your console has no games to do again. If you did ,they would remake them.

Crows906d ago

Or maybe we can tell most of these devs can't deliver good new IP for some reason.

isarai6d ago

When it's hard to find a modern game that isn't broken, incomplete and monetized to hell, remakes are a sure bet for having a complete experience as older games weren't plagued with those issues

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Fonsecap7d ago

I think that is for the best of the franchise o be left alone then to be turned into a game as a service or something like that, EA has the awful habit of trying to monetize everything.

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70°

Review: Passion and tragedy collide in Jordan Mechner’s book Replay - Entertainium

The mind behind Prince of Persia shares his family’s life story as well as his own as a videogame developer in an emotional and very personal book.

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entertainium.co