Qozmyk

Is there any actual meaning behind AAA? Are there other designations?

Planet of Lana was a joy to play!

Both Plague Tales

Sonic Frontiers. I went into it with low expectations but greatly enjoyed it. And the 'checklist' quests were fun because it actually meant something and the classic stages were just the right length and difficulty.

Tales of Arise: I'm not a JRPG player (like ever) but Tales of Arise sucked me in with its absolutely unique story and voice acting. I actually 100% it and that's saying something as I have only have 5 100% games. It's one of those games that you almost wish it had a skip to next cutscene option (looking at you Guns of the Patriots). I've since tried a couple other JRPS and nothing even came close to keeping my interest.

FWIW I don't think we discuss that Sony needs something to vitalize them as well. They're not comfortable. The news industry focused on when they cut jobs a couple months back but didn't really focus on the actual financial reports. Their operating income has declined 75% (Seventy-Five percent!). Plus their recent announcement of new new major 1st party games until next year.

https://www.thestreet.com/technology/sonys-latest-announcement-reveals-trouble-in-a-billion-dollar-industry#:~:text=But%20Sony's%20operating%20income%20for,continuation%20of%20an%20upsetting%20trend.

@TheGrizMan I'm 10000% with you and I think Microsoft should be concerned that (I believe) many of us feel this way. Since the 360, ANY multi-plat release was a no brainer for me to buy for Xbox. I have also owned every Playstation. I have 247 games on Xbox and about 20 on Playstation. Now for the first time I hesitated when I got Dragon's Dogma 2 on what console to get it on.

My logic is starting to be that maybe I don't BUY any game for Xbox anymore and just use it when a Game Pass game comes out I want to play. If I had to guess, many people feel that particular way. And maybe Microsoft is ok with that now, but what happens next gen when people understand that they get a PS6, play a lot of ported MS games, and for those of us blessed with decent internet, just cloud stream the others?

Like maybe they don't care and maybe they even want to leave the console biz. I could see an argument for producing a slightly inferior platform (cloud streaming) for the low barrier of entry of a simple streaming stick. I don't have answers, but I do know I'm at the least confidence I have had in the Xbox console experience. I believe MS will continue to make great, big games, but I don't know if they care about console players anymore.

And to clarify I don't own a PC nor will I ever. And maybe perhaps I'm just not the gamer that Microsoft cares about any longer.

Oof that voice over actor though… hope that’s not the in-game one bc I don’t know if I could do a whole game listening to that over-the-top dramatic recitation

@Banjo- 100% I think the only way they can stem this is by announcing new hardware (that's already been leaked anyway) versus just saying things. This week has given me pause and I'm starting to consider moving my multi-plat purchases to PS5 going forward and just keeping Game Pass with Xbox. I think this coupled with the recent Take-Two leak/announcement (whatever) that PS5 has twice as many consoles out in the wild really does make one start to wonder about 3rd party releases.

@Darylb88 you know… that could be very smart on their part. It’s already leaked so reiterate to fans games are considered on a “case by case basis” and then officially announce it to help show they are still in the hardware biz. I could see it

I bet 90% of the people who complain about 4 never played it.

As a die hard Halo fan that fondly remembers standing in line in for Halo 3, I am in 100% support of taking the helmet off. I enjoyed the show. Oh well I guess I’m in the minority.

It’s definitely the Dreamcast 2

@Banjo- that’s correct. As your friend from across the pond she is a progressive Biden appointment who wants more government control. She’s requesting a 4x bigger budget for the FTC and her stance on blocking big business is well documented. It 100% is political agenda

Kahn is testifying to Congress judiciary committee today. I hope they grill her on this appeal and blatant disregard of tax payer’s money to advance her agenda.

The salt at Push Square is strong

@Feffster +1 for Asobo. They have the chops to compete with Naughty Dog

Yeah honestly quite excited for this. I’m agnostic and own both consoles and it feels more necessary than ever to have both to really enjoy the market.

I would love a mid cycle refresh that would let me play games like Hogwarts Legacy and Jedi Survivor at 4k 60 on its fidelity setting. To me that would be very much worth the money.

Oof the frame rate dips are noticeable and annoying. I’m normally not particularly phased by dips and although I play with VRR I have never been bothered by tearing. But it’s rough. If you dip low enough for me to notice you got some issues

@Jenkinss thank you - my thoughts exactly.

@BRT15 I have to agree. As an ardent fan of the 2 & 3 remakes I couldn’t shake the feeling this looked less impressive. But it was one area so I’ll reserve judgment. But good to know I wasn’t alone.

@Kaloudz to be fair it says “Nintendo platforms” which could be more about a Switch successor than the Switch itself.

@GamingFan4Lyf part of the issue is people/devs/companies respond which just encourages and perpetuates the community behavior. Which realistically is like, what, 0.1% of it anyway.

Yay! I could always use more Camilla Luddington in my life.

@Titntin Yeah people's preferences are so fun to hear. Like I can't fathom how people like the PS5 controller. I would love to be able to hook up my xbox controller to my PS5. I find it big, bulky, and I truly, 100% despise the triggers. The novelty was cool for a moment but I don't understand how people's finger literally don't get tired by pulling against the force trigger. Anyway, glad we have choices!

@munstahunta oh I read. I just don’t see anywhere where it was promised it could do the same frame rate at any given time at lesser resolutions. That’s a simplification to assume it scales equally just because resolution is decreased. Maybe they’ll adjust it. Maybe not.

You knew when you bought a Series S it was less powerful. You save $200 and then you complain when it can’t do what the $500 console can.

Hm. Still waiting on New Game+. Odd because Witcher had it so quickly. Honestly I played at launch on Series X and loved it.

Bought on Amazon. Submitted Receipt. Got code. Redeemed. Cancelled Amazon order. It was that easy.

@Tharsman that is my exact thoughts and sentiments.

@Blessed_Koz Except there’s a huge difference between Microsoft saying something vs allowing an acquisition to retain publishing and developing independence, which, if the press release is to be believed—Sony is allowing Bungie to do. Those terms were probably unacceptable to Green Team and I get why.

IF this is true this could explain why Microsoft didn’t reacquire it. Multiplat could have been a hardline for Bungie. No way Microsoft is dropping $Bs to not do exclusivity.

Took me 24 hours to LASO Infinite and that was the perfect length. I'm ok with 30 hours. Any longer and it starts to feel bloated with disconnected stories or too silly 'collectibles'

Infinite was a perfect example of appropriate time to 100%. Took me 24 hours on Legendary. That's the kind of time I want to commit to a game, otherwise it can get very repetitive ala Assassin's Creed.

Andromeda... fight me. It had a good story that wasn't 'fate of the entire galaxy in the hands of one person' and did a good job establishing political issues while having interesting dungeon designs.

I feel strongly that it’s just “in” to dunk on games. As if FOMO and schadenfreude had a psychological baby. Especially since Cyberpunk.

Super Mario Sunshine was an absolute blast and Luigi’s Mansion was so unique too!

Although I played the crap out Rogue Squadron.

I have phenomenal memories playing the stupid Super Monkey Ball party games with my family too!

@Sakai like how Xbox players can enjoy Bloodborne?

I actually... would buy one. I’m slightly ashamed of myself. But I would...

I had NO idea Octopath was a available on Xbox!?!?

@Vinsanity I’m a weirdo and enjoy CBSAllAccess/Paramount+. I pay for it and watch it a lot.

@Lajt I would normally agree. Phil strikes me as a pretty decent guy, though.

The Seagate expansion was a day one purchase for me. 2TB (combined) seems to be a sweet spot with the current size of games. May need more by the end of this generation though. I wish the console was better at just treating it as a unified storage instead of internal + external.

I broke out RE3 and wrapped 100% achievement completion.

Yep. Surprising gem. I played it and beat it earlier this week. It’s a great game.