Is Final Fantasy XIII More of an Adventure Game Than an RPG?

BioWare writing director Daniel Erickson made lots of noise yesterday in an interview with Strategy Informer by stating that Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIII is not an RPG. It’s an interesting stance and a great starting point for discussion. Before I get to that, here’s the exact quote:

You can put a ‘J’ in front of it, but it’s not an RPG. You don’t make any choices, you don’t create a character, you don’t live your character… I don’t know what those are — adventure games maybe? But they’re not RPG’s.

I agree with two of his three points. You don’t make choices or create characters in FFXIII, but I definitely enjoyed viewing things from the characters’ perspectives. The characterization is one of the game’s strongest points. That said, is FFXIII more of an adventure game than a true RPG? Or has the definition of what an RPG is evolved over time? I’d love to hear your thoughts on that matter!

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Google to Kill Nexus One Online Sales

Well…that didn’t last very long. In January, Google made a bold move and started an online phone store featuring the Android-powered Nexus One. Four months later the company has announced that it will be phasing out its online initiative in favor of brick-and-mortar retailers. VP of engineering Andy Rubin posted the news on the Google Blog:

Once we have increased the availability of Nexus One devices in stores, we’ll stop selling handsets via the web store, and will instead use it as an online store window to showcase a variety of Android phones available globally.

With Sprint and Verizon rejecting the Nexus One after pledging to support it, Google didn’t have the carrier support it needed for its atypical business model. In America, so much of the handset business is carrier driven and controlled. Take Nokia, for example — it’s the largest handset manufacturer in the world, but since it doesn’t have much support from the “big four” (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon) it’s a minor player in America.

I’m sad that Google isn’t giving its online store more of a shot. Certainly it made several mistakes over the last few months, but its online venture still has the potential to change the way consumers buy phones. *sigh* I just prefer the Asian and European models of paying more for phones and using cheaper services that are contract-free. Perhaps I’ll wear black at Google I/O next week to mourn the death of Google’s online phone store.

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Coffee Talk #145: What Will You Play Games on in the Future?

At a recent financial results briefing, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said, “We do not think that the combination of a game system and dedicated software will last forever.” As we all know, nothing lasts forever…even cold November rain. Seriously though, I found it terribly interesting that Iwata was completely candid about consoles eventually going the way of the dodo. If Nintendo — which sells tens of millions of systems every year — can admit this then shouldn’t we be wondering what’s next?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, tomorrow’s excellent boxing card on HBO, Google I/O, or Captain Carrot, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

At a recent financial results briefing, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said, “We do not think that the combination of a game system and dedicated software will last forever.” As we all know, nothing lasts forever…even cold November rain. Seriously though, I found it terribly interesting that Iwata was completely candid about consoles eventually going the way of the dodo. If Nintendo — which sells tens of millions of systems every year — can admit this then shouldn’t we be wondering what’s next?

What do you think you’ll be playing games on ten years from now? Surely you don’t think the disc-and-box combination will still be around, do you? Perhaps systems like OnLive and Gaikai are glimpse of what the future holds. Maybe you’ll be plugging controllers directly into your television, which will stream games to you in the blink of an eye. Will game pads have even more buttons? Or will motion controls be so advanced that even intricate games will be easily controllable through hand gestures?

Put on your thinking caps (fact: I never owned a thinking cap) and share your vision of gaming’s future (please)!

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

There’s only one game that exists to me right now: Scrabble on Hasbro Family Game Night. My training has been going well. My power level is increasing, though it’s still not where it was when Zoe and I competed. Hopefully it will get to that level…and perhaps beyond. The only thing that could possibly get in the way is Alan Wake. I should have my copy tomorrow and that’ll probably be too good to pass up.

How about you guys and gals? Any Mac users out there giving Steam a whirl? Or is it going to be another weekend of Just Dance? Kindly share your weekend playlist!

NPD Hardware Sales Figures for April 2010

NPD Group released its console sales data for April 2010. This is the first time that I didn’t see any numbers for the PlayStation 2. Is the sun finally setting on Sony’s ridiculously popular console? How did the boys and girls at Microsoft and Nintendo fare? Digest April’s numbers as I digest a Cadbury Creme Egg in honor of Easter month.

  • Nintendo DS: 440,800
  • Wii: 277,200
  • Xbox 360: 185,400
  • PlayStation 3: 180,800
  • PSP: 65,500

It was a slow month for all systems except for the Nintendo DS, which continues to shatter records and sell like MacDoubles. Four months into the year and the PS3 is holding its own against the Xbox 360. Unless it has a killer Q4 — which is certainly possible — I don’t see how the PS3 overtakes the Xbox 360 in North America, as some analysts have predicted.

Now it’s time for you to play Jesse Divnich and Michael Pachter. What do you think of April’s console sales numbers?

NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of April 2010

Here are NPD Group’s console software sales figures for April 2010. It was a slow month for the business and the list is full of old releases. Check ’em out!

  1. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction (Xbox 360): 486,100
  2. Pokemon SoulSilver Version (Nintendo DS): 242,900
  3. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii): 200,300
  4. Pokemon HeartGold Version (Nintendo DS): 192,600
  5. God of War III (PlayStation 3): 180,300
  6. Wii Sports Resort (Wii): 179,000
  7. Battlefield Bad Company 2 (Xbox 360): 166,000
  8. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Wii):
  9. Just Dance (Wii): 144,000
  10. Super Street Fighter IV (PlayStation 3): 143,000

Unless my eyes are broken — which is entirely possible after way too much Scrabble — Splinter Cell: Conviction and Super Street Fighter IV are the only new games on the list. Again, there weren’t that many big releases in April so  seeing the usual suspects makes total sense. It also makes this month’s list kind of boring. The one thing that makes me happy is seeing Pokemon trounce the world. Tell me again that Pokemon is dead. Tell me!!!

RPad.tv Chick Magnet Uses the Force Thanks to TheJediRevan

Today’s RPad.tv chick magnet pictures are from TheJediRevan. It’s a great pair of photos that lets you know what he’s about. On top of the Jedi robe and the lightsaber is…a “me” magnet! These are pretty awesome! Thanks for sending them in!!!

Keep serving up these excellent photos guys and gals. I’m really digging them!

T-Mobile to Release UMA Android Phone?

Here’s a rumor that I really, really, really hope pans out. According to Boy Genius Report, T-Mobile has a UMA (unlicensed mobile access) Android phone in the works. As some of you already know, this is one of my favorite features about T-Mobile. UMA lets you use WiFi signal in place of your mobile signal. In addition to being fantastic for indoor reception or areas with poor reception, this feature is brilliant for international travel — as long as you’re calling through WiFi, calls made from other countries to America count against your bucket of minutes. Anyway, here’s the word from BGR:

We have just heard T-Mobile is going to begin testing UMA calling on Android devices starting in Q3 of this year. Finally.

Please, please, please be true!!!

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Speculation: PSP2 Coming at E3 2010?

I know you’re all looking forward to what’s new with Nintendo’s Vitality Sensor at E3 2010, but MCV has speculated on something a wee bit more interesting — a PSP2 announcement! According to its sources, heavy marketing dollars from two Sony publishers are being allocated for Q4 2010 and they might be used to support games for new hardware:

MCV has been informed of a significant increase in marketing spend at two key publishers for Q4 2010. At a time when the PSP is languishing in Western markets — and its most recent iteration, the PSPgo, is falling flat — it is being speculated that publishers are laying the ground for an offensive on a brand new iteration of Sony’s handheld.

The way E3 is shaping up, you pretty much know what’s going down on the hardware side. You have Sony’s PlayStation Move, Microsoft Project Natal, Nintendo’s 3DS, and the Wii Vitality Sensor you all love. A PSP2 announcement would be a most welcomed and very intriguing surprise. The timing is about right, but do you think it will happen? Speculate people (please)!

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Killzone 2 Helghast Featured in Hot Shots Tennis for PSP

In a supremely cute crossover, the Helghast from Killzone 2 are playable in the upcoming Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip for Sony PlayStation Portable (available June 2010). Sony Computer Entertainment America producer Chris Hinojosa-Miranda hinted at additional unlockable characters on a PlayStation Blog post. As a huge fan of the Mario Tennis series, I’m really looking forward to this PSP game and am very curious about the other unlockable characters.

Are there any Sony characters you want to hit tennis balls with? I bet Sly Cooper has a wicked slice backhand. Clank’s precise movement probably rivals Roger Federer’s. Kratos probably has some mad power. The possibilities are awesome!

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