Interesting Phenomenon

KungPaoChicken · Post by **KungPaoChicken** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 1:01 am

I was just going through some reviews on games and noticed a very interesting phenomenon. Now, I'm one to knock online console gaming because it's more money that I don't want to spend. However, this isn't about that. Well, not entirely.

What I'm talking about is what seems to be happening with games as of late, particularly Xbox games, and even more precisely, a little title called Brute Force.

Having been in development practically since the announcement of the Xbox, this "tactial shooter" game came out fairly recently.

And then proceeded to be slammed because it didn't include Xbox Live.

Which leads to the phenomenon that this thread is addressing.

Do you think that by having Xbox Live and having it be promoted as practically a must-have suppliment to your Xbox gaming experience, it is actually hurting games and making reviewers more critical of the game? It seems so.

Take Brute Force, which is essentially a 3rd person clone of Halo, except you now have 4 lives and supposedly "tactics", for example. It's a perfectly fine action shooter game, minus the whole "tactical" adjective, but reviewers are actually slamming it for not having online play.

Considering that the game was in development for a long period of time, and the considerable amount of extra work needed to make this game Xbox Live ready, it would concievably been not-so-good news if Brute Force were to support Xbox Live play.

Yet ironically, Brute Force is still being deducted because of lack of support for Xbox Live online play.

Which then begs the question: Is Microsoft hurting their games by so agressively pursuing Xbox Live to the point where the public preceives that all Xbox games should have Xbox Live support, and those who don't are snubbed?

Or is it just a matter of Brute Force not living up to the hype?

Discuss.

Alucard_FoN · Post by **Alucard_FoN** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 1:33 am

Here's a thought for Microsoft: stop the XBox live bullshit. I don't play console games to go online, I have a PC for that.

EarthCurrent · Post by **EarthCurrent** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 1:37 am

Alucard_FoN wrote:Here's a thought for Microsoft: stop the XBox live bullshit. I don't play console games to go online, I have a PC for that.

But not everyone who has and XBox has a PC...or if they do, perhaps the PC is not set up for gaming...

If a console can provide an enjoyable online gaming experience, what's wrong with it?

Alucard_FoN · Post by **Alucard_FoN** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 1:42 am

Because it's expensive :/. And all of the games made for XBox Live could be done a lot better on PC. In the end, an XBox is just a PC in a small box with a huge controller instead of a keyboard and mouse. ANd online games are better on PC's because the vast majority of PC's just have so much better computing power than a console... and once technology advances, as it inevitably does, the XBox gets outdated for online gaming anyway because PC's will outstrip them so much.

EarthCurrent · Post by **EarthCurrent** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 1:59 am

Alucard_FoN wrote:Because it's expensive :/.

You know, you sure are snappy tonight, Alucard_FoN...don't really know why...

Anyway...I like PC games, and I like Console games, but to argue that XBox live is expensive comparable to PC gaming is total BS...

And I'm not going to get into which provides the "better" gaming experience since that is so subjective...

Yet, let's look at some numbers:

$199 Xbox (excluding cost of TV)
$50 Random Game
$40 Broadband Internet Connection
$13 XBox Live Monthly Subscription
-------
$249 initial cost $53/monthly

$700+ base no real frills PC that can "generally" play games (excluding cost of monitor)
$50 Random Game
$40 Broadband Connection
-------
$750+ base cost +$40/monthly

So, all I want to do is play games...which is the better value...???
And this is excluding the costs for "upgrades" to hardware that you inevitably have to get with the PC...or upgrades to the console when the next generation comes out.

SnhKnives · Post by **SnhKnives** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 2:06 am

Xbox is intially cheaper, and yes i guess if ALL you want to do is play A game, then it would be a better deal. But in my opinion many of the games that come out on PC are better than those that come out on Console. Now there are your GREAT console games, thats why i own both. I mean, come on....who can live without Halo and Final Fantasy? But, The PC also provides numerous amounts of other function, thus the cost. Unless your one of those 31337 H4X0R5 who like install Linux on PS2

Alucard_FoN · Post by **Alucard_FoN** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 2:06 am

Let's also look at these numbers:

Things the XBox can do: 1 (play games)
Things the PC can do: A whole lot more than 1 (play games, surf the web, chat on IRC, watch AMV's, etc., etc., etc.)

The PC is a better deal overall in my opinion. Not that I'm against consoles, not at all, I have a PS2 and enjoy it very much. But I don't play games online with it, because it has a large library of good titles that do not need online play to rock, including but not limited to: Dark Cloud 2, Dynasty Warriors 4 (and 3 for that matter), Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, and so much more.

shadow-the-hedgehog · Post by **shadow-the-hedgehog** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 3:15 am

Alucard_FoN wrote:Let's also look at these numbers:

Things the XBox can do: 1 (play games)
Things the PC can do: A whole lot more than 1 (play games, surf the web, chat on IRC, watch AMV's, etc., etc., etc.)

The PC is a better deal overall in my opinion. Not that I'm against consoles, not at all, I have a PS2 and enjoy it very much. But I don't play games online with it, because it has a large library of good titles that do not need online play to rock, including but not limited to: Dark Cloud 2, Dynasty Warriors 4 (and 3 for that matter), Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, and so much more.

Okay I don't want to get into a big Xbox/anti-Xbox discussion, but...

The Xbox is a console. You play games on a console. THATS IT. Well thats all its meant to do. DVD playback are a plus for some people.

I like the idea of online console gaming. I want to be able to play online against other people. I would like more games with this, but I don't really tthink that a game should be given a lower score or something based on teh fact that it don't have online play. Some games DO deserve an online plan, mostly FPS and mebbe some fighting games. SOCOM online rox. Even though that is the only online game I have right now, i honestly can't wait till i get PSO fer the xbox.

KungPaoChicken · Post by **KungPaoChicken** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:50 am

i like the opinions, but I think a lot of you are missing the point. I'm asking whether or not Microsoft's aggressive pursuit of pushing Xbox Live is actually having a negative effect on Xbox games; specifically towards games that don't support online play through Xbox Live.

NME · Post by **NME** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 9:46 am