Square Enix Hitman Absolution: Glacier 2 Engine Trailer
During Comic Con NYC 2011 Rockstar gave journalists a treat by showcasing Max Payne 3. We didn’t get to post much from the show do to the redesign of this site. We will still use the content, but in a refreshing way. Back on topic though, Max Payne 3 is something special. What we were giving during the press event was a distinct look at what the developers would like gamer’s to experience playing the game. Bullet time is back, but the way it’s being done is part situational, half voluntary on the gamer’s part. Using the ability comes with a risk, and a high reward. Not just being useful for gun play, but also in how you move in the environment. Your movements are more focused, faster, and deadlier. There are nuances to the evolved game mechanic that allow the game to be played strategically with goals the gamer can achieve. Not going in guns blazing, shooting up enemies just to clear the level. Say for instance you enter an area where you have to get from one place to another. There are enemies posted all over the place, let’s also say you have a companion with you. Obviously you can go in with guns blazing. Nothing wrong with that. You’re just the type who likes to not finish games, and loves headaches. Harsh, but the point is using some sense about your surroundings, and abilities are a great way to beat the game, while not getting frustrated by it.
Another aspect to Max Payne 3 we feel will set gamer’s ablaze with satisfaction is how the story, and cinematic story are taking place. Graphically the game is plush. Show casing new technology that makes the story worth the time to get into. You automatically get the impression that the developers took their time, bringing ideas from other games. In some ways there is an open world aspect to the game, though the title is far from one. Again this is pulled off aesthically, because the developers poured much into the atmosphere surrounding where game play happens. So if you’re in Brazil, and in some junk yard. It’ll feel like you’re in a dingy, broke down car lot. Yes this has been done before, but not at the level Max Payne 3 is achieving.
Take Two/Rockstar are taking Max Payne 3 serious, deciding in fact to delay the games March release. Essentially missing their current fiscal year forecast,  taking a loss on this move. The game will end up on shelves in May on the 15th. Which is not too long a wait. At the same time they are offering an extension on the pre-order window for the game’s special edition. You’ll have to drop $99.99 on it. Costly, but it comes with a plethora of swag so if you are fan, and feel it’s worth the purchase you’ll be fine. Gamer’s have up until April 2 which is when pre-ordering ends. President of Take Two Strauss Zelnick had this to say of the delay, “We do not take changes to our release schedule lightly, and this short delay will ensure that Max Payne 3 delivers the highest quality, groundbreaking entertainment experience that is expected from our company,”. From what we saw during Comic Con we believe that gamer’s won’t mind based on the quality that they are getting.
Prey 2
Do Gamer's Really Want New Game Experiences?
I’ve been an avid gamer for quite some time in my life. Never straying to far from the hobby, but there are many aspects of the game universe I’d like to explore before my ashes are spread over Halle Berry’s garden. *Ahem* I have always been active in my participation with game communities on line, and in forums expressing my feeling, sharing my thoughts along with others. I’m more than sure many of you have as well. At the same time finding the time to write about games, and participate on other levels has been very rewarding for me. One of the things I’ve always been an advocate for is that gaming should evolve, and be expressive in a way that changes the dynamic of what we see, play, and feel.
game doesn’t have to be high brow, or low brow. Only requisite is fun. At the same time I’m one of those gamer’s that absolutely loves trying new games that don’t follow the beaten path. I’ve often found myself on the other side of conversations championing games that most of my friends, and peers are iffy on. Questioned the idea of why not, ultimately chalking up my battles into a philosophy of “Well that’s not their type of game”. We are talking about some classic games like “Guardian Heroes” all the way to “Odd World Stranger”, games that are unique draw me. These games rarely sell well, get missed by gamer’s because gamer’s don’t want new gaming experiences. This generation has taught me that lesson big time. Publishers know as much as gamer’s scream about wanting something new. We never use our dollars to support, and make the case. The very fact that the most popular genre in gaming is FPS games should tell us this to be true. If you go to any website right now. The majority of news will be heavily in favor of FPS games that will come out this fall. Not a bad thing, but why? If you ask a website journalist, or owner they will tell it’s the only way gamer’s will care about their site, and content.
Think about it, why would a game publisher experiment with spending millions of dollars on a game when they look at the numbers, and don’t see our support as gamer’s? Tons of great games from the PC to consoles have had great potential to be something refreshing. Only to find that they sit on the shelf. The worst part is publishers know this, and ignore gamer’s because it’s their job to make sure they stay successful by giving you what you want. So if gamer’s are saying one thing, and our pockets are saying another. Guess what? We will continue to get the same game experiences. All it takes sometimes is for a game to sell above 500,000 units. Even as an FPS “Bulletstorm” was magnific. Epic, and People can fly made a game that was fun, different, and replayable on soooooo many levels. That it boggled my mind how it flew over the radar. Fine it’s an FPS, but show me another game like it?
Let’s not get it twisted. I also blame us journalist who can be snobs, and quite condecending when it comes to games. We tend to thumb our noses up in the air when we hear something new is on the horizon. Beating up the game without really digging in deep enough to understand where the developers are coming from.
Then for some strange reason when we do give the type of analysis that is needed, we give it to the worst, and most obscure crud. I’m not going to call “Heavy Rain” crud, but was it really that monumental and different? The game certainly had it’s moments, but the fan fare, and attention it garnered has me asking many questions. Still the game was an attempt to shake up what we’ve become accustomed to. I’m starting to understand that perhaps gamer’s want updates to what they already enjoy rather than new experiences. New experiences mean you leave your comfort zone, and I doubt that many gamer’s want to leave what’s comfortable. So if it means 8 more Call Of Duty titles, 23 more Halo’s, 45 more God of Wars, and 17 more Pokemon games, then hey that’s what it will be. Unless we actually support what we believe.
