Mailbag 01.08.07
Back in the saddle again.
Assassin's Creed
I am very confused about which next-gen console Assassins Creed is coming out on, because Jade Raymond a producer at Ubisoft said that"Assasins Creed is coming out in 2007 for the playstation 3. I am confused because you have it in the Xbox 360 section of ign. All i want you guys to do is remove it from the Xbox 360 section because im guessing that hundreds of other people out there are confused as well. Thank You.
Assassin's Creed was originally a PS3 exclusive, and prior to Microsoft's X06 event in October, that was a fact. But as with so many things, that fact changed. Now, Assassin's Creed will come to Xbox 360 and PS3. So, if you own an Xbox 360, rejoice, you don't have to buy a $600 finger-print collecting fax machine (oh!) to play it.
--Douglass
Xbox 360 v2.0
With the new version of the Xbox 360 coming out with an HDMI port and a 120 GB HDD I am really syked! However, I just bought a 360 for Christmas and I am not about to spend more money on video games or accessories after I pretty much broke the bank this holiday season. This new system should have been made AFTER all of the problems with the first one and should have been ready this holiday season.
Doug, will it be possible for us gamers who just bought a 360 to possibly upgrade to the newer model at a lower price, or will we be forced into keeping our low grade systems while we drool over our friend's new 360?
Well damn, that's the first thing that ran through my head too. I don't see how the Xbox 360 could be upgraded to use an HDMI output, but it's possible to upgrade to a bigger hard drive; just buy one and attach it! So, while I don't officially know for sure, I don't see that Microsoft is going to hand out 10.4 million new systems for that upgrade. Sucks. Seems like Microsoft is doing a little SEGA number on people if that Xbox 360 v2.0 does in fact come out.
--Doug
"Fanboyism" Part. 1
Douglass writes this:
"So, I'm a fanboy because I wrote a story about the possibility of MGS4 coming to Xbox 360?"
No, not necessarily. But then you wrote this:
"If the article about MGS4 sounds a little off kilter to you, or is written with a s***-eating grin, it's because the tide is turning from Sony dominating the console markets to Microsoft's leadership."
Yes, the Glorious Revolution is at hand. Soon, the people will rise in open revolt, and Glorious Leader Gates will rain down endless bounty upon the gaming masses with his superior and flawless system, and make those filthy Sony pigs pay for their crimes. You see, consumer choice thrives under a one-system market. Microsoft, as you know, means variety.
Okay, granted, that was snarky. But I just laughed out loud when I read that Sony's previous market victory referred to as "domination" while the prospect of a Microsoft takeover is simply "leadership". Cue the dramatic music.
Now, I know looking to IGN for objectivity is often comparable to asking a Chevy salesman about Ford's new lineup, but come on. If you like Microsoft, then just like 'em for god's sake, and drop the "I'm not a fanboy" nonsense. You've got an opinion, and it bleeds right through everything you write. That goes for every editor -- and every gamer -- on this site. We're all fanboys, here. Even the open-minded ones have a preference. So, let's get real and just admit what's so obvious to begin with, and then we just might get somewhere in this ridiculously polarized environment we're forced to game in.
You're positively salivating at the prospect of Sony losing MGS4 as an exclusive, as is nearly every 360 fan on the planet, and that's why you wrote that article despite the fact that there is almost no substance to it whatsoever. You're crafting an issue out of thin air, which is something you all but admit within the article itself.
If it remains an exclusive upon its debut, which it likely will, I doubt your report on that -- if indeed there is one -- will be as enthusiastic.
All that said, keep up the good work. At least the 360 mailbag is up to date, which I cannot say for the PS3 channel.
F&&& you, I am not a fanboy!!!!!!!
Heh. Just kidding; little fanboy joke.
Look, personally I'm not that thrilled about MGS4. I lost interest in the series a while back, like with MGS2 and then completely with MGS3. It's a gorgeous game and Kojima is a brilliant game designer and thinker. Would I like to see it come to Xbox 360? Sure. The reason is that it brings credibility and the potential of more sales to the Xbox 360. I want to see Microsoft's system succeed because, for the most part, its system is dang awesome. And I admit to a little saliva dripping from my mouth when I see Sony's long list of exclusives whittled away to almost nothing. But is that fanboyism? Or Underdog-ism? I admit whole-heartedly to being a champion of the underdog, and Microsoft happens to be a weird mix of giant monopolistic company coming into an industry and starting off as the underdog. I feel like it's got both underdog and king of the hill status. In the end, I would like to see games, such as MGS4, appear on Xbox 360 for financial reasons. See, I already own an Xbox 360. I don't feel like shelling out $600 for another system. So, really, it's all about money.
--Douglass
"Fanboyism" Part 2
Douglass, something I've noticed in your mailbag section is the increasing accusations of "fanboyism" or something of the sort. Which, by the way, I think is such a stupid word to begin with. Especially when adults use it, calling other people fanboys; it just sounds moronic and says something of the idiots who throw around the term. Anyway, every time I see an accusation of biased reporting I always have to laugh because there is usually no reasonable basis for an argument.
To the person who wrote in about the MGS4 article and took it upon him/herself to call you a "total fanboy" and suggested you not "lower" the entire Xbox 360 section's quality of work: It's the f****ing XBOX 360 SECTION. The accusations of not being multi-platform gamer are ridiculous. It's not the responsibility of the writers of the Xbox section to offer viewpoints in relation to other platforms. That's why the site is divided into subcategories; it saves time by presenting information for only one platform and enables a higher level of specificity than would be possible in multi-platform articles.
Secondly, your argument of why you expect more out of IGN was so stupid and incoherent I cannot believe you are able to operate and type at a computer: "i(sic) expect more from ign considering i(sic) hope to buy both a 360 and a ps3 in 2007." So you expect more from the writers at IGN because you're going to buy an Xbox 360 AND a PS3 in 2007. Yeah, good point. Moving on...
Finally, from what I've read the PS3 section operates no differently than the Xbox section does. They offer their opinions from the perspective of a PS3 owner because (SHOCKER!) they write in the PS3 section. For example, an article was recently released on the PS3 site stating that an analyst believed that the PS3 would sell strongly in 2006. By your argument because it made no mention of other platforms, and only related to the PS3, it too should be labeled as biased. Is that true? Was that inappropriate for the PS3 site to release an article that pertains to the PS3? Of course not.
I think the bottom line is that way too many people with IQ's below 80 are writing into the site and need to show self-restraint when they conjure up these illogical ideas. Sorry for the lengthy message, but I find it so annoying when people send you guys these kinds of letters and felt the need to rant. Anyhow, I think you guys do a great job and love this site.
PS: Do you think Square will ever bring the Final Fantasy single player games to the Xbox 360?
Thanks for the long, detailed and articulate letter. Yeah, long live the flaming fanboy emails. It's just the way people think. If they buy a system, they feel the need to defend it to death, even if they sound like little warlords supporting their little territory to death. Just think: Wouldn't it be cool if somebody wrote a book like Lord of the Flies but about videogames?
Your question about Square is a good one. Square has looked long and hard at the Xbox 360 and it's still looking long and hard at that system. I know for a fact that Square was thinking it would bring a new Front Mission title to Xbox 360. I'm not sure if the idea was scrapped or if it's still on the table, but it's an indicator of Square's position. Square, I believe, is still partially owned by Sony, which affects the system it puts games on -- but not entirely. My thinking, which is partially influenced by my talks with Square, is that it will continue to bring Final Fantasy RPGs, in the proper sense, to PS3. There might be some off-shoots to the Final Fantasy series, and maybe, maybe, some new IPs that might go cross-platform. Also, perhaps games like Front Mission will come to other systems. Square is a tough cookie to read and it's also very quiet about its plans. So, for now, I wouldn't hold out for a Final Fantasy game on Xbox 360 (aside from FFXI, which came out last year).
--Doug
Tomb Raider Anniversary
Hey IGN! Is Tomb Raider Anniversary coming to 360? The port-up Crystal D did for Legend was sooo good; I was really hoping they'd keep it up. Honestly, if the remake doesn't come to 360, I'm not buying it. I've never been too big a fan of my PS2, and besides Guitar Hero and GH2, I really don't feel like playing anything on it. Especially when I know that in some other universe, there's a superior version of Tomb Raider available for 360...
Officially, Tomb Raider Anniversary is coming to PS2 and PC only. Eidos told me that because of Tomb Raider's legacy on those systems, it made best sense to keep the anniversary games on those systems. What they didn't say was that they probably don't want to re-code them either. Heh.
--Doug
Q-Tips
1. I have shipped 3 gallons worth of Q-tips to your all's office. Please use them. Why? Best Sound Award on the 360 went to Fear? Are you kidding me? Rainbow Six Vegas has much better sound, and NO, that is not arguable. The gun sounds ALONE absolutely KILL Fears' gun sounds. Not to mention all of the shots hitting the glass, slot machines, walls, metal signs, wood, the screaming chants of the terrorists, etc. WAY BETTER than fear, and for you guys to NOT recognize this absolutely has confirmed to me that you people need more schooling to better prepare yourself to write "professional" reports on gaming in general. Seriously, turn up the volume very high (if you have a quality audio system to do this on), turn OFF the music in the game....and come back and tell me Fear still wins. Do it. Rookies...
(By the way, I am shocked that Gears of War recieved so much praise. Way over-hyped. Good, solid game worthy of an 8.0 score. Best thing since sliced bread? Hell No. Saw it, played it, and heard it. And NOTHING stood out that is worthy of 9+ scores. Blood is VERY weak, gun sounds decent at best, and no real feeling of "power" behind the entire shooting aspects of this game. Honestly, Rainbow Six blows this game out of the water...and for yall to yet again FAIL at seeing this.....amazes me. Really does.)
cya.
You can't ship gallons of Q-Tips to us. It's not proper English. Gallons refer to liquid forms. You can ship tons of Q-Tips, or even butt-loads of Q-tips, since a butt-load is slang and can be applied to anything type of material. See ya.
--Doug
Thumb Theory
I was thinking on how the "X button" is said to revolutionize gaming or something of the sort in the upcoming Halo 3. One of the theories out there is that it's a "run" button, but a big problem with that theory is that how are you to control the right analog stick with your thumb holding down the X button?
By taking your thumb off the analog stick you basically make it impossible for you to turn left or right while "running." I guess you could slide your hand over keep the X button depressed with the inside of your right index fingertip and still keep your thumb on the analog stick, but that's pretty impractical...and this is coming from a guy that once tried to play Predator: Concrete Jungle with the default control settings.
I suppose it's possible that if it is a run button, that you could press it and it will "lock" you into running and only let you stop running when pressed again, like how you turn on "feral running" with Far Cry. But that's far from, "forever changing the way you play FPS," I believe the quote is.
Anyway, just some thoughts on eliminating a theory about the vaunted Halo 3 X button ballyhoo...oh yes, "ballyhoo," I went there.
Thanks for the thumb theory. I can't wait to play a game that "forever changes the way you play FPS." Bold statement. I guess my question is how on Earth will Bungie live up to the unwieldy hype that surrounds Halo 3? Is it really possible?
--Doug
