Kaloudz

No one will ever change my mind. AC Unity has one of the best cinematic trailers ever made.

https://youtu.be/xzCEdSKMkdU?si=ZMKw5fqeDonabSxq

@Fiendish-Beaver CV is one of my fave RE games. It's by far one of the most messed up, but fascinating creepy stories in the franchise. That will be a very difficult game for them to remake given today's climate. If any RE remake is at risk of boycotting, it is CV. I can see them retconning a few things which will sadly take away some of the game's identity.

I love the screen on the front. Reminds me of the classic Dreamcast controller with VMU.

@Daffy-Duck Could not agree more with you if I tried mate. It's coming and people need to get used to it. If it didn't have more pros than cons, it would not have got this far. AI is smarter than man, faster than man, and more capable than man - despite being manmade. It's the future and whether we all like it or not, that's the direction we're heading in. Your post hit the nail on the head.

Not many people like change, but it's the drum we all walk to and have done since the dawn of mankind. It is what it is lol.

@Fiendish-Beaver To be fair mate, and don't enjoy this too much please; but I finally think I agree with you in regards to Spencer not calling the shots and Nedella being the puppet master. I also agree that I think Spencer was just the face of the backlash and not the author of it. Granted, it took me a while to get there, and granted (again) I can admit that there's a fair bunch of mistakes they've made.

However, I do think that they're acutely aware of it now. Sales have clearly gone downhill as a result. That's why I think they've shafted him (Spencer) off. I think this new blood we're getting is almost like a red herring. It may very well be an excuse to use a new mouthpiece to say "I'm here now, and look, let's undo a few things because I'm all about getting back to the high times". That's the kinda feeling I got from her statement and the situation as a whole.

I also think you're right about game pass. I think we will see it move to first party only - now that they have a much more attractive catalogue (something they didn't really have when it was first released). That may also mean a healthy price drop but time will tell.

I do not think, however, that multiplatform will go away as an Xbox strategy - which will be interesting to see how they navigate that with this new leader. I'm intrigued to say the least, but I do think that the timing here is very telling. New leadership on the heels of not only the 25th anniversary but the dawn of the next gen? It's a prime time to 180 a bunch of decisions and try and claw back console sales, but who knows?

And I love the socks off you too chief. I've never disliked you and I've always appreciated your honesty and integrity when it comes to chatting and debating and standing true to your beliefs. Never change brother! I'm fairly certain we will find something we disagree on soon. Lol.

@GameOverScreen Dude you're so far off the mark its unreal. @Fiendish-Beaver has a long comment history of calling out MS/Xbox for their decisions and practice these last few years. So much so that he and I have a running joke about how much we disagree lol. Whatever the weather though, people need to give the girl a chance. Can you imagine how the world would be of we judged based on one description and an over the shoulder glance...

Also Beaver, I am going to reply to your posts above as soon as I've sorted dinner out. I need my laptop for a lengthy reply lol.

@Brigurugi Can you hear yourself dude? You're blaming random people on the internet for award ceremonies that have nothing to do with the brand this website reports about. Would you like to blame me for global warming too?

As for B-tier devs and their balloning costs. The answer is quite simple. Make good games, get good sales. Case in point Stardew Valley, Expedition 33, and more besides.

It's the industry as a whole that's becoming massively expensive and oversaturated. Devs tried other channels to make more money (MTx, DLC, loot boxes, etc..) but crowds boycotted the practice and they went away. What happened next? Price hikes - and we all know how that is turning out. Blaming a few forum users over actions the masses performed, or industry movement, is bonkers.

@Elbow @Jenkinss He's said the same stuff to me for donkey's years. I don't know why he's so anxious to watch me go all Rambo on the brand lol. Either way, even I, a huge fan, haven't touched my console in months. It's just gone a little flat for me. Still, I uphold what I've said here a few times over the last couple of days; this new blood and new energy might be 1) Just the thing we need, and, 2) the higher ups knowing they've screwed up and want to hide a table flip behind a new leader.

We will just have to wait and see but I am surprised that so many are writing her off before Phil's locker goes cold lol.

@FatGuyInLilCoat Exactly bud. Could not agree more. Too many people writing the lass off before she's had a chance to show us what she's got.

@Gemini53 That offended you? You literally called me ignorant and naive but I can't play back? Come on...

That's extremely telling.

Anyways, I don't want to derail. I'll move on. Have a good night. Genuinely ❤️

@Gemini53 Yet businesses across the globe are pushing for it... 🤔

You're right. There's no evidence whatsoever. There's no evidence to the contrary either. Only time will show facts, but one fact before then is absolute. AI is where the future is heading.

You don't have to agree with it but I'd suggest buckling up.

Anyway, my Oracle, we're getting nowhere fast. Enjoy you day.

@Gemini53 That hasn't always been the case and it certainly wasn't the case when people were protesting about factories replacing humans with machinery - it wasn't a 1:1 replacememt factor so let us not move the goalposts.

And no this isnt a "let's defend MS at every hurdle" position. I do however assume that you'd be okay with AI if it cut development time and costs, allowing for more profit and less studio closures and job losses?...

Ignorance really is bliss.

@Gemini53 You don't have to like it, but change happens, and change doesnt really care about your feelings. That is just a matter of fact.

Don't give me the nonsense about jobs. We've heard this since the dawn of the industrial revolution and every decade since. It used to be "machines are taking over all the jobs" and we survived it...

It's not that deep and plenty of opportunities will still be present in lowend jobs that AI can't touch.

There's nothing ignorant about me. I'm just attuned to the change. Anyway, we're getting off track, no?

@Fiendish-Beaver I agree (believe it or not). If she's been installed and nothing changes, then id have my own concerns too. However I genuinely believe that the big boss knows he dropped the ball and os using this reshuffle to excuse a turnaround.

Spencer and Bond leaving at the drop of a hat reminds me of the Don issue. When you're the head of a company thats made a fair few mistakes on the way, the words you speak carry no weight. Install a new leader and you have every opportunity to say "they did great work, but here's what we're going to do now" (much like Spencer's "games games games" after picking up from Don's mess).

Only time will tell.

@Gemini53 Only time will tell, but I do think at the very least she should be given the space, and a chance, to show everyone what she's got before everyone sharpens their pitchforks for the sake of it.

My thoughts on AI are, and always have been clear. There's nothing wrong with it. It's the way forward whether people like to believe it or not - and the sooner the childish tantrum-like practice of boycotting comes to an end, the better.

@Millionski no offence but because of loyalists like you, this company do whatever they want. Its ok to criticize and not accept BS when it is clearly BS

I have lost count of how many times you've told me that it's okay to criticize something...

I'm entitled to think, feel, and say what I like thank you very much 😊

Perhaps spend less time calling other people whose opinions don't align with your own a loyalist, and spend more time being constructive my friend ❤️

Im personally excited. New blood. New energy. New enthusiasm. I reckon, as I said elsewhere, this is a result of thr higher ups realising they've made a few mistakes and the best way to cover up a 180 is to install a new leader. I'd give her the benefit of the doubt. She's clearly pretty passionate and energetic and eager to do well. I am keen to see where this goes.

I personally think the brand needs this new sort of high-energy. I love Phil, but he was clearly getting tired and brittle. I reckon the higher ups know they have dropped the ball, and nothing covers up a 180 like a change in leadership (think Don > Phil).

I also think the switch in leadership now, just in time for the 25th anniversary, is a great opportunity for her to take the stage and announce a new vision or direction to the globe. Just my two cents but I think she deserves the benefit of the doubt.

I personally think she deserves the benefit of the doubt. She seems full of energy, and full of enthusiasm. I'm quite interested in her statement about urgency and recommitting to the core players. Perhaps the higher ups know that they've made some mistakes, and the best way to disguise a recourse is to remove the head and install a new one?

To be fair, he's looked tired, brittle, and worn for a couple of years now. He's also looked less enthusiastic. Perhaps this is for the best. One thing can be said, when he took the brand over from Don, he has achieved amazing things.

@Fiendish-Beaver 007 looks major off to me too. That being said, I didn't really like what I saw when it was first revealed.

@Fiendish-Beaver It feels weird that we agree lol. Got this whole Stiffler / Finch relationship going on between us haha!!

Reckon it's too early to see FF7R-3? With a 2027 release? It'd seem fitting given that part 1+2 are now multiplat in 2026.

Got to feel sorry for the staff here at PX. Most (if not all) third party announcements won't mention Xbox or Switch in the trailers. Meaning they have to read the fine print press releases one by one 😅

@Kramlar I disagree bud. Whilst it's fine to disagree with the practice of AI use, I think it's entirely different to judge a game (or a team) based on the merits of development processes. This will end up at a point where communities start "boycotting" and that's a step too far IMO. Actively looking for a problem will only ever serve to disappoint.

One way to look at it. Let's pretend this issue was never discovered. Let's pretend that this game went strong for three years and was hailed as the best shooter ever made. Would it have made the lick of difference then? Nope. It's only a problem because we're making it a problem.

I honestly think this is going to become a new industry obsession, and I find it absolutely pointless. Let's assume they did use AI in parts of the game. So what? Does that take away the fun that players are having (and have had since launch) or the acclaim the game raised at launch and beyond? No. People need to lighten up, stop looking for imperfections, and just enjoy life...

If you ask me they need to drop the sub-genres altogether and just make fresh stories each release. We don't need Black Ops 23 or Modern Warfare 12. Sure, revisit a sub-genre after a decade or so, but they really shouldn't be relying on it.

DI1 was a sensational game. Really looking forward to seeing what they do with the sequel.

E33 winning by a mile.

Turn 10 will be sunset in time, it's pretty much a given now.

@Fiendish-Beaver Totally agree. I almost went so far as to say that it was the best video game adaptation on the screen.

@Nighto4 What do you mean matey? I don't follow.

@Nighto4 True, very true.

@OldGamer999 Yeah they're my thoughts too. I'm curious as to how this one plays though. Do you think it's in the same style as the last three? Or have they reinvented the wheel?

Expedition 33 is GotY - and it's not even close. Not by a mile.

@OldGamer999 Haha yeah I got there in the end. yeah they look great but I would love to know where they sit in the franchise. Even if just roughly.

@Cakefish I honestly cant keep track of her myself lol. She must be what, 40-50 now? It could be that Catalyst takes place after Underworld.

@Cakefish I don't think they will reboot it. They recently had someone tying all the games and lore together didn't they? Or am I mistaken. I'd assume Catalyst is post SotTR and the other TR is based somewhere during Lara's early years?

They didn't get robbed. They got trampled on. E33 was very deserving of the awards they've accumulated. We're talking about a small team that absolutely rattled the RPG space out of nowhere, and delivered arguably one of the greatest turn-based RPGs since the late 90s / early 2000s.

I do, however, think it's time that RPGs got some sub categories for award ceremonies. Turn-based RPGs and ARPGs can almost be entirely different. KCD2, for example, I see as a life-sim RPG. It's almost unfair to group games like this together if you ask me. Nonetheless, E33 beats every RPG ten times over.

I'll be grabbing this. I really wish Creative Assembly would make a survival horror of Terminator in the same fashion as Alien Isolation.

Fable, Clockwork, Gears, FH, and Halo (with an additional surprise I think - perhaps SE related?). I just hope we see the summer showcase unveiling SoD 3!

I can already see the modding community rubbing their hands at this lol.

I'm yet to catch up on all the news, but are these two games with the latter a sequel to the former? The trailers seem to have very distinct age differences for Lara. Do we also yet know if these are based before / after SotTR?

@Fiendish-Beaver You've never annoyed nor offended me brother. I value your replies and comments ❤️

@NeutronBomb Be my guest. We're talking about the same character that spent 3 days in Raccoon City (RE3) without ever taking a bath

I think we will get some pretty nifty BC game dumps, or, some remastered classics.

@Chip-Douglas Hopefully they don't waste take twos time and money like they did with Microsoft on perfect dark!

Exactly this.

They need to kill off a few of the OG characters IMO. The plot armour is unreal. Chris needs to be eaten, Leon (much as I love him) needs to be eaten, and Jill needs to be eaten.

We barely see Billy, or quite a few of the other OG characters as much as we do the current ones.

This will sail through on the basis that MS got theirs through with concessions, and on the basis that Disney exists (whom I'm assuming are bigger than Netflix across the board?). I don't see any issues preventing this merger myself.

Sidestepping that - it'll be interesting to see these sharing IP. Netflix IP for games and WB IP for Netflix movies and shows - without having to worry about licence fees.

I tried hard to get into these but I just couldn't get through the first few hours.

@Cptnemouk Lol it's too funny isn't it.

Glad you're having a good time man. It's one hell of an amazing game.