E3!, The gaming event of the year! Options

[PsychWardMike]

So E3 is upon us. The time for new games and this year, new systems! What're you looking forward to? Keep us updated on big news! The official E3 2005 topic is here!

[Mata]

A friend of mine will be sitting on the Tomb Raider stand. Josie ( http://josienutter.com/ ) is one of the programmers on the next Tomb Raider game, and she's also a cyber/goth model. According to her she'd rather be wandering around in a fun outfit! That said, I suspect many of the attendees would rather that too...

[Righteous]

I'm actually keeping an eye out for the new action RPGs. Rick rips through those and I'd like to help him find things to keep his ADD-ridden ass entertained (it's amazing how he goes from cool surfer/skater/drummer guy to complete geek when you put an RPG in fron of him).

That said, is there any word regarding another Elder Scrolls game or a sequal to Champions of Norrath?

[PsychWardMike]

Haven't heard anything about them, but if you have a PS2 Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows might be good. Not completely an RPG, but it looks like a good romp. I wouldn't worry about sequels to your games, though, Ri. They're pretty much a garuntee.

(Ask pgrmdave for info on action RPGs for the computer. He's much more knowledgable than I)

[Jonman]

I'm actually keeping an eye out for the new action RPGs. Rick rips through those and I'd like to help him find things to keep his ADD-ridden ass entertained (it's amazing how he goes from cool surfer/skater/drummer guy to complete geek when you put an RPG in fron of him).

That said, is there any word regarding another Elder Scrolls game or a sequal to Champions of Norrath?

I did hear some rumblings about a new Elder Scrolls game, but it's kind of short on details

Clicky clicky

[PsychWardMike]

PS3 official! New Devil May Cry game for it! New Viewtiful Joe!

(check gamespot.com for the best updates)

*twitch*

[Tenacious C]

Dangit. I was just ready to get a PS2.

[Mata]

You still can, and it will probably be a lot cheaper now than before. I'd be a bit surprised in the next gen consoles come in at much less than £300 to start off with, that was the price point last time.

[Righteous]

Do you guys think that the PS3 will be backward-compatable like the PS2?

[PsychWardMike]

PS3 is backward compatible to the PS1. Also, the new Elder Scrolls was announced and the Revolution is to be announced tonight.

[Righteous]

So you won't be able to play PS2 games on the PS3, only PS1?

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

So you won't be able to play PS2 games on the PS3, only PS1?

I think he ment it'd be backward compatiable with PS2 AND PS1

[PsychWardMike]

^Indeed.

[Mata]

Has the XBox confirmed backwards compat yet? I think I remember hearing that it would have it, and considering the standardised media it would be daft if they didn't.

I'm actually pretty worried about the next gen stuff. It's estimated that games will cost around $20m to make, jumping up from $10m-15m at the moment. Most companies don't make much on games as it is (so they tell us, poor wickle games industwy) so who's going to pay the extra $5m? Is it us? Or are we just going to get pop-up adverts on our games every five minutes, streaming junk from the web that we don't want to see but we can't stop otherwise the games would all cost £60?

I'm sure there are a number of developers out there having the same concerns. I've not been able to afford to buy first-hand full-price games for a fair while now, and I just see it getting worse. Christmas time for parents is going to be pretty nasty too...

[Jonman]

I hear you , but I don't think that'll be the case. I think that there'll be developers that spring up to meet that middle-market, producing games that cost a reasonable amount to make, but lack the shiny FMV ludicrousness of the top-tier efforts.

It'll be like the Speccy days again. £1.99 for a tape with a game on it down the newsagent!

*feels giddy*

[Mata]

_A_ game? There was often two or three games and a couple of playable demos! Those were the days...

'Course, we've got the internet for that kind of thing now.

Rumours are that Micro$oft is earning that dollar sign once again by pushing for games being £60 each (that's around US$100). I had been being slowly turned to Xboxyness, but that's definitely put the kybosh on that.

[Jonman]

60 quid you say?

Be fair, it's not that much more than the 50 quid price tags I remember seeing when N64 launched. Or PS2 for that matter. And considering you've got 4 years of inflation at a couple of % a year, it's not that outrageous is it?

Give it a year or two and the prices come crashing down. I'm considering giving up riding the bleeding edge of the technology wave, and sitting a year behind the crest meself. Easier on the wallet, and it's not like I've got any kind of shortage of games to play in the meantime.

Oh, and if you think American gamers are going to pay $100 per game, you've got another think coming. Even more reason to import your machines in the future.

[CommieBastard]

I hear you , but I don't think that'll be the case. I think that there'll be developers that spring up to meet that middle-market, producing games that cost a reasonable amount to make, but lack the shiny FMV ludicrousness of the top-tier efforts.

It'll be like the Speccy days again. £1.99 for a tape with a game on it down the newsagent!

*feels giddy*

Or maybe a rise in the bedroom programmers, like the lovely blokes at Introversion Softwre, who made Uplink and Darwinia.

[Mata]

Except there aren't dev-kits for the XBox going for free. Nice idea though.

I'm actually a little interested in the way that some of the mobile platforms are going. Some of them appear to be compatible with more standard programming languages, so there might be a real homebrew circuit there. I've got a few home-made games on my GP32 and they're great.

[Jonman]

Except there aren't dev-kits for the XBox going for free. Nice idea though.

I'm actually a little interested in the way that some of the mobile platforms are going. Some of them appear to be compatible with more standard programming languages, so there might be a real homebrew circuit there. I've got a few home-made games on my GP32 and they're great.

There's been a homebrew GameBoy scene for years - there's a funky little device that is the size of a cart, but is essentially a caddy for SD media cards, which then allows you easily transfer stuff from PC over to GB/GBA.

Thing is, until recently, a portable system was that so much less powerful and complicated that the idea of knocking up a bit of code yourself for it wasn't ridiculous. Mind you, PS1 had that too with the black Net Yaroze machines.

[Mata]

The leap in the technology is really going to pose some issues for homebrew coders. I think that's a great shame, because in my opinion it's those kind of people who come up with the small ideas that re-energise the industry. It's easier to play when you don't have a huge financial imperative and focus group behind you.

EDIT: Speaking of which, I'm really looking forward to Rag Doll Kung Fu... When the guy eventually finishes it...

[pgrmdave]

Oh, and if you think American gamers are going to pay $100 per game, you've got another think coming. Even more reason to import your machines in the future.

I haven't paid more than $20 for a game in a long time. I buy games that are at least one year old - they are just as good as when they first came out, and they are sold for much less.

[Mata]

Heh, nice idea. In the UK it takes about three or four years for a good title to drop the US$20. The 'low price' of a decent game is usually around £20 (c. US$37), new games are usually £40ish (c. US$75). This is why I haven't bought a new game for ages.

The last game I bought was Project Zero 2: Crimson Butterfly for the PS2. That was £6 in a very rare actual-clearance sale at HMV (rather than a 'we ordered 300 copies of Hulk and need to shift some of them' clearance sale). Usually I have to spend around £15-20 to get a game, even a year after release.

Importing is appealing in some respects, but I don't like the idea of not being able to walk into a shop and buy something on impulse if I really wanted to.

[pgrmdave]

Of course, I am torn on the idea of getting games for free through p2p or cd burning. While I like the idea as a gamer, and as someone who doesn't have much money, I want to either program or design games for a living, and that would cut into my livelihood. It is very similar to the problem for entertainers, but more detrimental. Game designers/programmers, while well paid, are not superstars. And, ironically, the companies that produce the games that gamers want most are the ones most likely to go out of business because of theft.

[Usurper MrTeapot]

I've always felt a bit guilty about downloading games. They're long lasting, highly enjoyable, imersive and cost quite a bit to make so I'd rather buy a game if I can to make sure the good developers can afford to keep going. Just doing my bit.