This week some more game companies came into town. On Tuesday was Namco, and was easily the worst press event I have ever experienced. I know I probably shouldn’t talk about such things publicly, but I’m still shocked by what went down, so anyway…
I showed up at my appointed time and was immediately greeted by a Namco rep. I told her upfront, and in my usual very nice and casual manner, that my editor and I had gone over the list of games that would be on-hand and I was only really interested in seeing just one title, Katamari 2. I was representing Nickelodeon Magazine, and whenever doing so, I almost always have to pass on a few games from that’s too violent or adult for the Nick Mag audience. But this time around, many of Namco’s games, which were GBA games starring Hello Kitty and Gumby, were too young for us (the games are for kids 5-8, and our audience is 8-13). Also, since a coworker was on vacation, I was needed at SVA to cover for her, so my time was also very limited, and I pointed this out as well.
Since Katamari 2 was being occupied, it was suggested that I check out a new Curious George game that’s based on the upcoming movie in the meantime. To be honest, I really can’t say anything about it, good or bad, cuz its super early… too early to be shown to the public in my opinion.
Next was the game I had been waiting months to play, We Love Katamari. And it was everything I had hoped it would be: its just like the first game, but much more. I tried out two areas, an under water level and a bit of the two player mode, which was loads of fun (and much better than the first game’s). I spent about ten to fifteen minutes with it, but unfortunately, since the game kept crashing (it was a work in progress build of the American version) I got in five or so minutes of actually play time. In the interim, I chatted with the Namco guy doing the demo, and ended up making it pretty clear that I’m a big fan of the franchise, believe it or not, cause a problem…
Aside from the Namco guy was a PR person (often game companies will use local PR firms to organize events). The best PR people are the ones that can get information across in a pleasant, professional manner. Often one will say things that I already know, which is funny since in reality, I probably know more about video games than the person, and most probably have no clue what they’re saying anyhow. But hey, they’re just doing their jobs, to sell the game, and I can respect that. But I can’t respect any person who just doesn’t listen to the person they’re shilling to, or anyone who gets all in your face, no matter how “pleasant” they believe their demeanor to be. Anyway, once it was established that I knew everything there is to know about the game beforehand, I got the feeling there it was then sorta pointless for me to even see the game. Geeze, cuz I guess wanting to play the game that I plan on possibly writing about is not good enough if I already know all the hard facts.
So this woman shuts off the system, while I was literally in the middle of playing the game! Then she says “I know you’re short on time, but I would really love it if you could check out our new Gumby game!” You know, I rag on EA’s games and business practices, but the PR folks they have deserve kudos for being such outstanding professionals, who never dare do such a thing.
Anyway, I was so shocked that I dully followed her. Then I watched some guy play this GBA game, with about five or sex Namco and/or PR folks all watching me, watch the game! They all formed this semi-circle around me, and were all a bit too close… it was rather creepy. As for the game? Honestly, it looked horrible; the guy was playing this mine cart level (sorry, but even five year olds have seen that about a million times before) and kept dying, so he had to restart. Gee, if a game for little kids is too hard for an adult, that’s really bad. Then he wanted to show me a side scrolling platform level, but couldn’t get to the action cuz he couldn’t skip a cutscene. For a GBA game.
Wanting to fill the uncomfortable silence, I asked when the game was due, and was told something like next week. At that point I had enough, and it took a lot of self-control to explain in a calm manner “Well, the reason why we look at games in the production cycle is to ensure that when we go to press with our story, the game will just be coming out for sale. Even if I wanted to write about this game, it would be too late, since the game would have been out for at least three months already.” When the PR woman then asked if I wanted to see anything else, I re-stated that I was only there for one game, being Katamari 2, and that I actually wanted to check it out some more, but was dragged away from it, and now my time was all used up. She said that she could get that demo person back for me, but I noticed him eating his lunch and I didn’t want to interrupt that. I just wanted to get the hell out of there.
Actually, they had Soul Calibur 3 and I had planned on getting a few minutes of that in after I was done with what I needed to see, but I was so upset; I just wanted to leave. They even promised lunch and had a huge spread, but again, I was extremely shocked and upset to stick around. As I made my way out, I noticed everyone just looking at me with stunned silence. I do have an idea for something terrific story idea in mind for the magazine involving Katamari, but now I’m afraid that might not be possible. I really hope what I just wrote makes it way to someone in Namco HQ because they should be made aware of how the PR firm they’re spending money on is handling themselves.
I really wish I could talk more about the game… it looked awesome, and music was just as excellent, but again, I didn’t get a chance to really play it! Enough bitching…
On Wednesday was Sony and I got to see various PS2 game in action, along with a PSP title.
First up was two EyeToy titles, Play 2, another selection of mini-party games, which like the first seemed insanely fun. Then there was Kinetics, a title that emphasizes physical fitness; it stars two personal trainers that takes the player along various exercises that ranges from aerobics to kickboxing to various other kinds. I’ve always been a fan of the technology behind EyeToy but have never had a real excuse to buy one. Well I do now; I’m currently trying to get into better shape and Kinetics looks like it can help me with the job. All of it is strictly low impact, but even the guy demoing it was getting exhausted after a while with one of the kicking exercises.
Next was MediEvil for the PSP, a series that I always thought was kinda neat but never really got it. But I have friends, like Rod, who loves the original two games for the PSone and they might like the new one. Though I recall the camera being sorta pulled back, giving those games a different feel to the world as opposed to the traditional, camera right up close and behind kind of game that I played. But it looked nice enough and with the original developers on board, again, fans should enjoy the game.
Though I will say that the game’s Teen rating makes zero sense, but I’ll bitch about the USRB later.
Saw a bit of the new hockey game starring Wayne Gretzky. Gotta admit, there’s something fun about a game where both teams is comprised of nothing but Gretzky’s and hearing the announcer go “Gretzky passed the puck to Gretzky. Gretzky checks him. Now Gretzky has it… Gretzky steals it…. Is Gretzky gonna score? Gretzky for the steal!”
Lastly, I saw Shadow of the Colossus being played right in front of me for the first time, and it is now the one title I am most looking forward to this year, more so than the new Zelda game. I cannot even begin to describe how beautiful and awe-insprining the game is. Not only does it look amazing, but it feels amazing (in a way that one can sense without having to touch the controller), plus it really pushes the system to point of breaking, which like other games that come out in a system’s later years, is something that I really appreciate and savor.
But I can tell you right now that the game is going to be an absolute bomb. In this day and age when people expect a game to have 40 hours of non-linear gameplay, with tons of side-quests and items to fetch, they won’t be able to handle a rather simple game with a singular objective and that emphasizes art and atmosphere over just letting the player do whatever the hell he wants. There’s 16 monster to take down and that’s it… there’s no other enemies or goals, just take down one monster, find out where the other one is, take it down, repeat. Think of it as a great book; sure you can read one in just one sitting, or you can take your time and let it settle in your mind. You don’t see many people trying to trade in a good book at a Barnes & Noble just because its too short do you? But most game players may not be as reasonable. I blame games like GTA, and the advent of 3D gaming in general…
And yesterday, Sega came to town, which is a first if I’m not mistaken. They had a bunch of stuff for all the systems.
First up was Shadow the Hedgehog, a game that as you might recall, I’ve criticized and ridiculed quite a bit already. And the game didn’t play any better what I had expected. It was like a Ratchet and Clank clone, but with a poor camera. Plus the game does indeed look like a Dreamcast game, and not in a good way.
Next was a much better Sonic game, Sonic Rush for the DS, which was quite good. It’s like Sonic Advance but with a different esthetic and feel… think of the difference between Sonic 2 and 3 on the Genesis. Its actually a bit harder with two screens, since its easy to miss a platform to you jump to and the such.
Then was Virtua Tennis for the PSP. I was a big fan of the original on Dreamcast and this one is just as good if not better. While it is a bit of a chore to play with the analog nub (the DC’s controller was perfect for the game), its all about the mini-games, in which are seriously pretty Goddamn brilliant. In fact, Virtua Tennis for the PSP is the game Mario Power Tennis should have been.
The final game was Super Gunstar Heroes. As a hardcore fan of the original, I had pretty lofty expectations, and for the most part, they were met. There’s been a lot of controversy regarding the changes to the gameplay, specifically how there’s no mixing of weapons, but the tweak in the mechanics now gives the game a more Alien Soldier feel (just like the original screenshots indicated) which is actually quite nice. Also there’s not as much frantic running and jumping around, though I attribute that to the difference in ratio between the environment; your character is much bigger and the screen is much smaller.
But that being said, the graphics and animation were top-notch, and was like the Genesis game but on steroids. Seeing the confrontation against 7 Force once again but totally revamped will make any Gunstar fanboy gush. And I love how the new shooter segments play like Tempest. Its already GBA game of the year for me.
There was a Xbox 360 game there, but I didn’t have the time to give it a spin (like this lucky kid). There’s some Microsoft event coming up soon so I’ll get my chance then, but at the very least I should have picked up the controller to see how it felt. Everyone seems to love it thus far…
One last thing: I just wanted to mention how awesome the Sega folks were. It was complete 180 of the Namco debacle; everyone was just nice, friendly, and very chill. Then again, its always good when the folks who demo games obviously enjoy them (plus it always fun hearing anecdotes like how they are all actually very competitive, to the point that one practiced Virtua Tennis will into the night and still lost, and then flipped out in the office).
- As for news, the whole week has been more or less dominated by San Andreas Hot Coffee controversy which has hit absurd proportions. Earlier in the week the USRB changed its rating from Mature to Adults Only, which promoted all the major retail chains, Wal Mart, Target, Circuit City, Best Buy, and Gamestop, to pull the game off store shelves. Rockstar plans on repackaging the game with the offensive material removed… which once again is not part of the game proper and is only unlockable with a cheat device or a hack… but it might take them much time and money (not that I particularly care for Rockstar of course). But now it seem as if the major retail chains may not carry the new game with the changes.
The only reason why I even care about all this is that its frightening how much ill-informed hysteria can control businesses. First off, it just exposes how much of a joke the ESRB really is. I think its totally ridiculous that they don’t even play the games they rate, they just review a tape that the game’s manufacturer provides (I have to assume most don’t know about this). Plus most people don’t even pay attention to the ESRB’s rating anyhow, hence why so many little kids are playing the game; cuz their parent bought it for them. The game should have been AO in the first place, but I guess a game where you go around shooting cops is okay for those under 18 is okay… but one where there’s a little sex is inappropriate isn’t? Once again, this country has it’s moral standards all fucked up.
When EA purchased Paradox entertainment, it decided to not release the ultra violent four player fighting game Thrill Kill that was in development. Why? Because a few folks from the inside felt that such a game would cause so much controversy that it could be used by lawmakers and moralists in their favor to over-regulate, and even destroy, the industry. And looking back, I really can’t say that it was such a bad move.
There has always been a very thin, line that all game developers and publishers don’t speak of, in which they don’t dare cross with overly violent or sexual games. That line has been pushed, further and further, but now it seems likes it might be coming to a head. So now it seems that a whole lot of precious time and my (and your) tax money is going to be wasted over a fucking sex min-game that’s not even supposed to be in the game! And now it seems the floodgates are opening since there’s some lawyer in Miami calling for a ban on the Sims 2 for its nude patch. For once I’m happy that EA is so super rich, since they can hopefully counter-sue this guy in oblivion.
I guess I better get Gods of War ASAP since there’s tits in that game as well.
Also, it sure didn’t take long for the t-shirt to come out.
- In other news, very quick like: there’s word from the San Diego Comic Con that Street Fighter 4 is now in the works. And like everyone else on this earth, I hope to God that its 2D. But you just know it won’t. As someone already predicted, it’ll probably be 3D but with cel-shading.
On a related note, the new Tony Hawk for the DS is cel-shaded, and has more than a passing resemblance to Jet Set Radio.
Biohazard (Resident Evil) 5 for the Xbox 360 and PS3 has also been unveiled, which makes it the very first next-gen multi-platform game. Would you expect anything less from Capcom? You probably won’t have to search far for the trailer; looks decent. And it apparently retains the look and feel of part 4, which is a very good thing.
Plus there’s also word of yet another shooter headed for the Dreamcast… maybe, hopefully (since its coming out in the arcade on the Naomi board). It’s called Radilgy and its by the makers of Chaos Field. Here’s the page that suppose to have the info, but as I write this, it won’t open. Maybe there’s too many hits?. I wonder if it has anything to do with this game, Radirgy. It looks like Radiant Silvergun, but… wait for it… cel-shaded!
And courtesy of Sho Nuff from the GAF is some instructions on how and where to best enjoy porn on the PSP which came with one of the recent releases:
Here’s the translated text:
1) In the company toilet
2) Waiting to meet someone
3) In the park
4) On a tuna fishing boat
5) Skydiving
6) Winning stupidly
And here’s a link to a slightly bigger sized version of the pic, just so you better see the little guy’s boners.
- Finally, the last bit of big gaming news, at least for me, is that the Insert Credit boards are finally alive again. As much as I enjoyed the place the first time around, it did feel as if things were starting to become a bit tiresome during the final days, and was sorta glad to see it put to rest. But now that it’s back, I’ve only now realized how much I rather missed it, so its good to be back (plus I think the massive reset has been extremely beneficial). In fact, thanks to one of the excellent forum members, I can now finally download a copy of Mario Battle No.1 for myself!
