Do We Even Care About Crackdown 3 Anymore?

A debate between two members of WTMG's staff, each one with a completely different opinion towards Crackdown 3.

WTMG's Todd Eggleston: "Crackdown 3 has been pushed back again until 2019. Is this a surprise to anyone? More importantly, do we even care at this point?"

[FallenAngel1984]

Why did it get extremely hyped in the first place?

Take the power out of the equation and you see a bunch of frauds who weren’t interested in the first two start putting this latest game on a pedestal

[Brave_Losers_Unite]

Microsoft kept on pushing cloud technology and it was, for a long time, their most talked about topic. Crackdown 3 was set to revolutionize gameplay. But that utterly failed and now we have a huge downgrade of what was initially supposed to be a game unlike any other.

[UltraNova]

Forget the cloud stuff already... Why shouldn't we care for a new game? They should make ot the best it can be and release it already, their fans deserve at least that.

[BlaqMagiq1]

@uRaDeception

Red Faction Guerilla is better than any Crackdown game. That game knows how to do destruction and physics right. Not even Crackdown 3 will come close to its greatness.

[Sunny_D]

@uradecepticon

Oh please the games are mediocre. Maybe the 1st was bearable (most people would not have bought it if it wasn’t for the Halo 3 beta that was included inside) but the 2nd game was trash.

[UltraNova]

uRa

Thats exactly how this IP makes me feel (I imagine most people too) care and dont care at the same time...its mediocre at best.

That said its still a game, its choice, its....needed on the xbox side.

[rainslacker]

@Ultra

If cloud compute wasn't attached to CD3, then it never would have received the early hype it did. It might now, given how things like SoD2 and SoT seem to garner more hype than we'd typically see for the caliber of games they are, but at the start of this gen, MS didn't need CD3 to be a hugely hyped game, because they actually had better games to hype up.

CD3 is one of those smaller mid-tier titles that get some notice, and round out the release lists for console war debates, but it isn't really worthy of the hype that you'd see for a AAA high profile game. CD3 is equivalent to say Hot Shots Golf from Sony in terms of level of hype you'd expect to see for the game.

@uRaDeception

Your name is fitting, because MS hyped up the game's tech(cloud compute) as a major selling point for the x1. Yet, 4-1/2 years in, and they have failed to deliver that selling point.

Sony fans may or may not care, but MS used deceptive marketing to promote their system. They used tech that wasn't ready, and after all this time, still haven't delivered.

As of right now, CD3 is not a unique experience. It isn't even an experience yet. What limited playtime has been offered, and what has been shown to the public, has not shown that the experience is unique at all. It's shown a very generic experience, and the impact of the building destruction on the game play is nowhere to be seen. It's way too early to be saying that it's unique, because the only thing the game has that's unique is the destruction.

[UnHoly_One]

You guys remember that the cloud based destruction was only ever going to be in the multiplayer mode, right?

I keep seeing comments about downgrades and the "destruction is nowhere to be seen", etc...

That's because the last thing they showed was single player, it's not supposed to have the cloud based destruction.

Listen, I don't really care about this game either way. I liked the first game, but the second one was kind of crap. I'll probably play this at some point but unless one of my buddies wants to co-op it immediately it won't be right at launch.

My point is I'm not "defending" the game like everyone will accuse me of doing. I just hate seeing all this bullshit misinformation all the time.

[BlaqMagiq1]

@uRa

Did you just say the CD3 DEMO? Lmfao that is a laughable statement.

[mcstorm]

I do find this site funny sometimes. Do people not remember this kind of thing happening over GT5 was to set the standard of SIM racing yet after being put back and put back it was an unfinished game only had 200 full hd cars and a hand full of tracks with bad FPS and screen tare. Then people keep saying how they are going to win E3 ok cool but where are all the VR game? Also ones that show off the pro? We all forgetting the vita to? Sony seemed to. I know people will come back at me on this and for me I don't really care as as a gaming fan I see the plus and negotiate sides to all 3 consoles and depending on the games you like all 3 have some of the best IPS we have have seen and also most fun MP games to. Horizon 3, uc4, halo 5 MP, zelda, mario oddissy and horizon just to name a few. So let's stop going on about I hate this company for xyz and support the IPS and consoles you like. I don't like some of the big games like GTA or rdr but you never see me on there posts going on about how bad I think they are as them games are just not my type. Enjoy the games you like and you will find gaming alot more fun. At the end of the day if it was not for sony Microsoft and Nintendo making mistakes in the past they would not have some of the consoles we have now as all 3 push each other and need each other going forward.

[TyrellCorp]

If by power you mean all the “power of the cloud” hype, the original was still a cult classic, and the series still had untapped potential despite a disappointing 2nd game. Add in the dearth of first party content from MS, and anticipation for a new Crackdown was elevated.

[The Wood]

I'm glad someone noticed the 2nd game that was weak, announced as DLC then converted to full price retail because ms were short on exclusives at the time. . Same map and assets in an open world game. . . ..c'mon now talk about bait n switch. . .

This game got elevated to more than what it ever was because it was supposed to demonstrate the 'leveller' technology. Ms caught wind of the power discussion so they put the carrot out there saying the cloud would be that thing that not only closes the power gap but swings it in their favour. This was bliss for their fans and they ran with it. . . . . .years went by and that run changed into a bloody marathon and then some. . .they lied simple. If the cloud was as they billed then there wouldn't have been an x before any cloud. Crackdown is the perfect example of one of the things wrong with Xbox. They say so much yet provide so little in terms out output.

[TyrellCorp]

I was just saying I was excited for a Crackdown sequel, secret sauce or not. Because I enjoyed the original. Was that not the question? Why was it hyped outside of the cloud power bs? Fans of the franchise were excited, I’m sure I wasn’t the only fan of the series.

Also a lack of substantial exclusives from MS elevated it’s profile. Not sure what people are disagreeing with.

[Sunny_D]

I’m still waiting for the cloud to bring us the power of 4 xboxes... do you think there’s hope?

[rainslacker]

The early hype was all about the cloud though, and that's why it was elevated. MS didn't have a dearth of first party content)(if you include 2nd party) when CD3 was first revealed. The hype for the game was elevated solely through MS attempt to make the X1 seem more capable than it was. Because of this, the game will probably end up being disappointing to most, because many have placed huge expectations on the game, which current showings of the game just don't match.

[TyrellCorp]

I’m not saying that the hype around cloud tech wasn’t the main thrust behind CD3’s promotion, and obviously the idea that a game could level the playing field with Sony was exciting for MS gamers. I was replying to the op, and maybe I misunderstood his/her comment but I read something to the effect of “why was it hyped outside of the power?” The op then asserted that it was by frauds who didn’t care about the first two games. I thought that was odd because I would think people who were excited about the game secret sauce or not, would actually be the fans of the series going back to the original. Like myself.

And as for the original topic of relevance, again MS does not have a lot of exclusive offerings so CD3 will remain in the spotlight until that situation changes.

[DarkVoyager]

“Do We Even Care About Crackdown 3 Anymore?“

I never cared about it after seeing the first gameplay reveal. Crackdown 3 is just another overhyped Xbox exclusive such as Sea of Thieves and State of Decay 2.

Let’s be honest other than destruction the game doesn’t have much going for it.

[rainslacker]

The cloud compute was the only thing I was interested in. It was never my kind of game, although I have no problem with those who are into the game play or mechanics. But the cloud compute is an intersting concept, and I was curious to see who well it worked on a technical level.

At the same time though, I know that what MS was talking about with cloud compute does not a good game make. Massive destruction is great and all, but if it's not fluid to the game play, then it can actually be a hindrance.

So, in short, it would have been a great technical showcase for what's to come...and may or may not have been a good game.

As it stands, cloud compute is just another in a long list of MS marketing terms for this gen that failed to deliver on it's promise, or was not quite what they made it out to be, or was marketed way too early as something much more significant than it actually was. 4-1/2 years in, and cloud compute was supposed to be the tide turner for the X1's lack of power.

Oh well...maybe it'll have more significance next gen....and if it actually works, maybe MS won't need to make a new console for next gen and they'll be able to achieve their glorious always connected future they so desperately desire.

[Liqu1d]

"Why did it get extremely hyped in the first place?"

At first it was because of Microsoft's claims about the cloud and that is still partially true, but at this point Microsoft's sparse 1st party output is a reason as well. With so little 1st party games being released you have fanboys hyping up games more than they should, like State of Decay and Sea of Thieves, as desperate reasons to fight a console war.

[RandoCommenter]

I cared before i found out it was multiplayer focused

[Jinger]

Well that didn't take long for the haters to jump all over this lol

[SpaceRanger]

More like it didn’t take long for the Xbox fanbase to pretend like they didn’t hype this up every year.

[AspiringProGenji]

Just like when Scalebound was cancelled. Suddenly no one was ever hyped for it after it got cancelled. The crow serving this gen is nothing like I’ve seen before

[OffRoadKing]

Its a fair question the game looks like crap.

[rainslacker]

About as fast as people got hyped for this game because it used cloud compute.

What do you expect for a game that got hyped up well beyond what it could actually deliver. People seem more focused on cloud compute than how that cloud compute would actually work in game play, and the game itself seems like a after thought in why people are hyped for it.

[Automatic79]

Here come the anti-x articles. Shocker right before E3.

[Barbauer]

but half of the article is about a guy actually saying we still and should care about Crackdown 3!

[bluefox755]

It shouldn't be a shock, the xbox has been an utter failure this gen with regard to software.

[AspiringProGenji]

Because MS has been doing so good not to deserve it...

[CorndogBurglar]

Where have you been? There's pretty much a constant stream of anti-x articles all year long.

[Jinger]

Who ever the todd guy is writing his part seems like such a troll... saying shit like DACLAWD! Smh

[UCForce]

The cloud, not DACLAWD, buddy. The problem I have with this game. MS think destruction environment with power of the cloud is their system seller which is BS. Game like Red Faction Guerrilla which has destruction environment without “the cloud”. Like I said, MS take their expectations way too high.

[Bobafret]

Still not the same.

[UCForce]

@Bobafret Maybe, but it’s like MS don’t want to admit that the others game have destruction environment before Crackdown 3 was a thing.

[Jinger]

Lol oh UCForce...

"This was the title that was going to show you the power of the cloud! 100% destructible environments! DA CLAWD!!"

Also red faction was no where on this scale or detail of this destruction

[Palitera]

Which destruction? There's no destruction in a game that they can't even make after years and years of back and forth development, marketing and delay.

Which scale? Which detail? The planned scale of the planned detailed destruction is not even know, given how much it will still change before an eventual release.

Look, I'm actually interested in Crackdown, as I like this kind of unpretentious games. But if you're thinking you're looking at a system seller, an amazing game, a masterpiece, damn... you really bought their cloud hyperbolic marketing scheme.

[Gazondaily]

Its hilarious that people are desperately plugging Red Faction's destruction when comparing it to Crackdown 3 and what it is purporting to do.

If the cloud tech works, it will completely demolish (excuse the pun) any comparative points in favour Red Faction's destruction tech.

@Palitera

"Which destruction? There's no destruction in a game that they can't even make after years and years of back and forth development, marketing and delay. "

This destruction:

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[UCForce]

@Septic @KillBill But where is it now ? We haven’t seen it since Gamescom 2014.

[Gazondaily]

Gamescom 2015 you mean.

And what do you mean where is it now? Its in development. The game is going to be shown off in 2 days. Its slated for release in Feb 2019.

[Palitera]

Even your title shows the "prealpha" tag. Hence planned. They are struggling with it for years now.
How well it plays, how is this going to the final game, how much the "big objects are only glued and have baked destruction" annoys the players will only be know if sooooomedaaaay they let people play the beta version or even release the game.

Until then: planned, advertised and stuck in development hell.

[Palitera]

As a X1 owner, I'm hoping for a good game, not cheering against it.

No hopes on being a masterpiece, though, as I get a clear Watch-Dogs-marketing feel out of all this.

If someday they show anything final, cool. For now, it's just promises from a company that is not making up to them with any quality standard.

And finally: is it the destruction "on this scale on detail" still only for MP?

[UCForce]

Remember this game ? https://youtu.be/8mmg1kdwDn...

[Bobafret]

Nope. Not even close.

[UCForce]

@Bobafret Well, the thing is that the destruction environment in Red Faction Guerrilla was using actual physics effect, not pre rendered and scripted like BF3 and BF4. And again, the game using destruction environment without using The Power Of The Clouds.

[KillBill]

@UCForce - Did you play Red Faction Guerrilla? It didn't have the same complete destruction that previous games had. Only identified structures were able to be destroyed and the physics behind them were nothing like what is being done in CD3.

[UCForce]

Yeah, i know Crackdown 3 have Single Player and multiplayer, but if you want to feel the true power of the cloud and fully destruction environment, you have to play it online. Good luck with that. You can play Red Faction Guerrilla with offline and online. Here the thing, Red Faction devs weren’t overconfident about their game and they focused what made Red Faction Guerrilla was great in first place.

[Palitera]

At this point, is there anyone still overconfident in Crackdown 3?
Not even the devs' grannies should be proud about it.

But seriously, it must be terrible to be stuck in development hell.

[crazychris4124]

We'll find out next week at the conference. If we get what was promised then people will care. If it doesn't then people will move on.

[morganfell]

Next week will not give you anything. You won't know the truth until February provided it launches. If you think MS is going to be honest next week then I have a bridge in Brooklyn I would like to sell you.

[PowerOfTheCloud]

But phil is a nice guy and a gamer himself. He won't lie to us.

🤥

[Bathyj]

How much for the bridge?
Can you deliver?

[morganfell]

We do have a white glove delivery service, times are guaranteed within a 30 minute window. Prices for half bridge sale begin at a pittance of a mere $1000 USD (per brick) or 10 cents per disappointed gamer jumping location. River impact spot not included with the latter of course. They'll have to make their own hole.

[Palitera]

Next week, it the big marketing show? lol

[SlappingOysters]

Not really. It's definitely not a system-seller.

[Cobra951]

I don't. I've left the Xbox behind at this point, pretty much. I game on PC now, and I'm not looking back.

[snkiworld]

LOL NO

[bluefox755]

I never did to begin with. The original was mediocre, the sequel was worse, and the gameplay footage I've seen of the 3rd seems to follow this trend.

[Baza]

The original was fun albeit repetitive. Never played the second cause it looked the same as the original. Not sure how the 3rd is any different. MS needs this to be successful.

[DeadManMMX]

Like everything we care if it winds up being good.

[TheOttomatic91]

I personally don’t, Crackdown 1 is available on XB1 BC for 4K just play that. It’s guaranteed to be FAR better than whatever Crackdown 3 turns out to be.

[Bathyj]

Sure everyone's jumping on the bandwagon now, but I've been not caring about this game from the beginning!

[EazyC]

So much so that you click on articles for it to let people know how much you don't care...

[Bathyj]

God that has got to be the most feeble argument.

It was a click. It cost me nothing. My finger was already on the phone.

And as Prettygoodgamer said the comments and my desire to make bad jokes provide more entertainment to me than this disaster of a game ever will.

[Veneno]

I wasn't caring before the beginning!

[jznrpg]

Didnt care about 1 or 2 why would anyone besides Xbox fans desperate for anything care?

[Grown Folks Talk]

Never was going to be game of the year, but if it's more like the 1st than the 2nd, i'll enjoy it.

[majedx9]

even the "FACE" in there logo doesn't care anymore

[morganfell]

Ha ha that had me laughing.

[PhoenixUp]

The only reason this series got any relevancy way because the first got bundled with a beta for Halo 3.

The first installment was nice but the series as a whole never got a reason to have so much attention as Crackdown 3 garnered

[doantienhuan09]

delaying gives MS more time to polish crackdown 3. However, I have doubt about the quality of this game right now because MS's situation is getting worse with terrible quality of exclusive games.

[ClanPsi1]

It still isn't out yet? I thought it launched like three years ago....

[Lokii]

No

[2ndhandcorn]

Yes why wouldnt you.

[r3f1cul]

i never got the reasoning behind hyping THIS franchise ... the first only sold because the halo 3 beta ... the 2nd didnt really improve upon anything the first offered IMO ... its such peculiar franchise to try and put hype behind

[EazyC]

They soiled a potentially good series. Crackdown 1 was shallow but mechanically very fun, and they failed to capitalise on that potential what so ever. Let's be real, M$ has just shit the bed constantly and Crackdown 3 will probably be the killing blow for them.

I'll wait til E3 I guess, but I fear MS might be pretty much finished in the games industry.

[Profchaos]

The game was originally teased at the xbox one launch in 2013 the e3 conference by this point its probably been in development hell so long it will be a shock if it is a good title.

I think we should of had this year's ago if ms stopped trying to turn it into a giant tech demo for cloud physics

[Gunstar75]

Oh look, another Xbox article swarming with Xbox haters. #yawn

[Hedstrom]

It will probably be deacent. Meta between 70-80 :)

[Relientk77]

Never cared about it in the first place

[PhantomS42]

Did anyone even care to begin with? The first two were okay at best but only really only were even noticed because the first game came with the Halo 3 beta.

[WitcheRivia]

I never cared about Crackdown. The only time I played Crackdown was when it was a pre-order bonus for buying the Halo 3 beta.

[lellkay]

Crackdown was an OK game. Fun and addictive but hardly mind blowing.

Crackdown 2 was garbage.

Crackdown 3 looks like a last gen game and doesn't excite me at all...

[syphon32]

Meh

[maybelovehate]

I loved the first game so I do care. It was sandbxing bliss. What is not to love about platforming and shooting if done well

[Chaos_Order]

They need to be able to demonstrate that their cloud computing method for dealing with advanced physics is a reality, not just a pipe dream. And I don't mean "yeah we got it running on this isolated setup" I mean in a large scale environment without network issues ruining the experience.

[Cheesetoenails]

Yes

[sazselesbon]

Would you write this piece If you dont?

[MLGecko]

It is a discussion article with one explaining why they are still hyped and one explaining why his interest has waned. So.... yeah.

[sazselesbon]

That's what I mean. If a game has zero interest around it, there is no point in such articles. So, the very existence of the piece answer the question.

[SixFragz]

i guess you could say crackdown 3 won't be anything it was cracked up to be...

[MLGecko]

I upvoted because obvious joke is still accurate :)

[SixFragz]

you are the man...

i gave you an upvote so we can both be 1 upvote and 1 downvote :')

[MLGecko]

You know how the YES lost, because he wrote a damn encyclopedia! Like getting resumes, immediately toss the three page ones. They are fluff with little to say.

[Father__Merrin]

I'm sure it will be a great game. CD12 we're good games. It got hyped by n4g Xbox fans due to cloud compute. Dx12 and azure servers plus earam chip etc

[Blaze929]

Better question is who is "we". Xbox fans? I don't see why they would stop caring about a new game coming to their platform.

"other" fans? well,

[Razzer]

People will care about Crackdown 3 if it turns out to be a great game. That is true with all games. Hyped it not, the end result will drive interest for better or worse.

[Tross]

Well, like with all companies pushing an IP, the onus is on MS to make us care about it. The hype train they built derailed a long time ago, so they're back to square one. Whether we care or not is contingent on what they show us. I for one am not expecting much so they need to wow us.