This outstanding photo of a cosplayer dressed as Final Fantasy VII’s Cloud Strife was tweeted by several of my friends. It stands out for eschewing realism and being true to FFVII’s primitive graphics. I’ve seen lots of great cosplay costumes (mostly from Japanese cosplayers) over the years, but this is one of the best, most original, and funniest I can recall. Check it out! I know you’ll love it.
People raised their eyebrows at Nintendo when it announced that it was going with a dual-screen handheld for its next portable system. Even more people laughed at the notion of an underpowered console that relied on a “gimmicky” motion-control scheme. In both cases, the company sold millions of units of hardware. With that in mind, do you think the company will sell millions of Wii Vitality Sensor accessories?
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, Lost spoilers (please), Bryan Danielson going off on Michael Cole, or Hanley Ramirez phoning it in, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
People raised their eyebrows at Nintendo when it announced that it was going with a dual-screen handheld for its next portable system. Even more people laughed at the notion of an underpowered console that relied on a “gimmicky” motion-control scheme. In both cases, the company sold millions of units of hardware. With that in mind, do you think the company will sell millions of Wii Vitality Sensor accessories?
On paper, it sounds boring…maybe a little stupid. It’s a frickin’ heart rate monitor! While I had my doubts about dual screens and motion controls, I knew they had the potential for fun. There’s nothing fun about a heart rate monitor.
Having said that, I know I’m not smart enough to doubt Nintendo. I’ve done it too many times in the past…but I can’t help questioning the company on this one. Shigeru Miyamoto is undoubtedly a game design genius, but can he make the Wii Vitality Sensor fun? I’m not so sure. Yet Nintendo has proven its doubters wrong so many times that I’m doubting my doubts.
All this second guessing is giving me a migraine. I know that quite a few of you have this anti-Nintendo thing going (rather unreasonably, in my opinion), but forget about whether you’ll like it or not. Do you think the Wii Vitality Sensor will sell? Do you see a way that it can be fun? What do you think a Miyamoto game featuring the Wii Vitality Sensor would be like? Make sure your heart isn’t beating too fast as you answer these question. I am not responsible for what happens to you as you type.
It looks like EA’s Online Pass — described by RPadholic smartguy as “Just a money grab” — is a trendsetter. Ubi Soft will likely implement a similar ploy, which strongly discourages used-game sales. During a recent earnings call Ubi CFO Alain Martinez said:
We are looking very carefully at what is being done by EA regarding what we call the “$10 solution,” and we will probably follow that line at sometime in the future.
It’s funny that this morning I was thinking about how games will get more expensive. I can easily see several publishers adopting their own version of EA’s Online Pass. I understand how it benefits developers and I’m all for that. However, it just makes more money for publishers and makes things more expensive for consumers. That last part…just sucks.
3D stereoscopic gaming has been getting a ton of press attention since CES 2010 (January). I was really skeptical about the tech until I experienced it in person at GDC 2010 (March). That said, I still think it’s unfeasible — at least for a few years — for a variety of reasons. Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada doesn’t think it’s going to take off either. Translating an article from Impress Watch, Andriasang quoted Wada as saying:
I’d be happy if it would revitalize the market. However, while it will likely become a big topic, I don’t believe it will form a market. Whether naked eye or with glasses, the method is unstable.
I’m excited to see more 3D games at E3 2010, but I still don’t think 3D on consoles will take off in a big way — not for a few years.
What do you think of Wada’s stance? Do you agree or disagree? Back in February you shared your opinions on 3D gaming in Coffee Talk. Has anything changed for you since then?
Source via Andriasang
It used to be that you needed a console, a controller, and cartridge/disc to enjoy a game. While the prices of consoles and games haven’t gone up too much over the years, you have to spend more money than ever to play games. On the hardware side you have accessories, on the software side you have DLC, and on the services side you have Xbox Live Gold. All of that stuff adds up!
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, Monday Night Raw rocking Toronto, your American Idol pick, or Nick Johnson lasting an entire month before requiring surgery, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
It used to be that you needed a console, a controller, and cartridge/disc to enjoy a game. While the prices of consoles and games haven’t gone up too much over the years, you have to spend more money than ever to play games. On the hardware side you have accessories, on the software side you have DLC, and on the services side you have Xbox Live Gold. All of that stuff adds up!
While I’m surprised that Sony has taken this long to offer a premium version of PlayStation Network (rumored to be debuting at E3 2010), I’m impressed by EA’s ingenuity when it comes to making games more expensive. The EA Online Pass makes used and rented games more expensive by requiring a code to access all online content and features. I understand that company’s issue with the used-game market, but from a consumer’s perspective the company has pissed on two ways gamers can save money.
What’s left? How can publishers, console manufacturers, etc. get more of our money? It looks like all the bases are covered, but I’m sure someone, somewhere (probably Bobby Kotick *snicker*) will find a new way to part gamers with cash. What do you think it will be? How can gaming get more expensive?
Here’s a cool UFC Undisputed 2010
I know RPadholic Big Blak is really looking forward to this game. Anyone else planning on picking it up? Want to start an RPad.tv stable? We could rule the MMA world!
I love the Disgaea series. The gameplay and writing are superb. As you can imagine, I’m super psyched for the June release of Disgaea Infinite
Square Enix has finally announced the released date for the North American version of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
Players will explore iconic Disney worlds in a unique gaming experience that unfolds through the perspectives of three different main characters: Terra, Ventus and Aqua. Their journeys will take them through Sleeping Beauty’s Enchanted Dominion, the Dwarf Woodlands from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Deep Space from Lilo & Stitch. Additionally, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep includes four all-new multiplayer modes that allow players to enjoy the action with their friends.
I love the Kingdom Hearts franchise and can’t wait for this game! Button-mashing combat, Disney characters, Final Fantasy characters, and Nomura art — what’s not to love?!? Who else is psyched for this one?
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
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!
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)!
