Xbox Game Studios + Bethesda + ABK |OT30| Why So Series X|S?
- Thread starter Andrei Rublev
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In my opinion, there are two ways to look at this.
Firstly... A lot has been made about how the sequel is very much the same game as the first one and while I can see where people are coming from, I personally think many miss a subtle, yet fundemantally really big difference between the two games and that mostly lies in the sequel's deliberate nature. The first game, for a lack of a better term feels more gamey, perhaps the result of Ninja Theory's first attempt at this sort of experience like direction as well as balancing their lower budget with delivering fantastic production levels. There is nothing of sorts when it comes to Senua's Saga, there is no balancing done or attempt at a genre here. While the first one can feel as a more universal and paired down 3rd person action adventure, the sequel is a different kind of beast. Every inch, every second, every element, everything is so meticulously planned and deliberate, it takes the concepts and foundations of the first game and transforms them into something completely different and new. It might sound strange and obviously they're extremely different games, but the comparison that comes to mind would be Red Dead Redemption and RDR2. Basically the same game, same mechanics and foudnations, but at the same time vastly different games in their feel and purpose. Again, I'm not comparing the games themselves as much as the difference between the sequel and the predecessor.
So to answer the question, yes, I think the first Hellbalde can be easier to get into, because it starts and feels more familiar, like a normal game.
Secondly, I also can't help but feel there's a bit of bad faith involved as well. While I believe a lot of people are rightfully saying they loved the first one more and are really disappointed by the sequel, I also think this idea kinda spread a bit like wildfire and some started using it as a sort of extra crutch to shit on the sequel; the disingenuous, "it was my favourite game and the developers took a bit shit on it" type of discourse, etc.
yeah i like that it been like that since the 360 generation which is good since these marketing campaign have been few and far between
I finished Hellblade II last night and I'm just glad NT stuck to their vision for the game. I think the God of War comparisons and fever dreams didn't quite help in this case. But the end product is so spectacular, it's an audiovisual treat and has such great production values. I said it elsewhere: Video games can be many things, and despite being light on gameplay, NT still managed to make Senua's fights feel intense.
Inspired from all the Japanese talk in here, I went deep into my backlog and finally got around to Asura's Wrath. Man, this feels like playing those Dragon Ball episodes I loved as a kid. Definitely interesting to see elements of Indian religious beliefs mixed into that anime style as well.
Inspired from all the Japanese talk in here, I went deep into my backlog and finally got around to Asura's Wrath. Man, this feels like playing those Dragon Ball episodes I loved as a kid. Definitely interesting to see elements of Indian religious beliefs mixed into that anime style as well.
maybe Microsoft can hold off announcing any more third party releases other than ABK games until after they see the absolute inevitable influx of revenue from CODBO6 that is getting hyped up to levels that even surprise me. Patience would be a very wise move, I don't expect them to have it.
MS leadership (aka Satya and Amy) are anything but patient. They are garbage people
Xbox is at a crossroads right now regarding whether to pursue a multi-platform strategy or not. I feel the decision-makers know that there is no turning back if they proceed with making things multiplatform, hence why they have been coy at talking to us. They would also know they would have then to forgo whatever ambitions they had with Game Pass.
I'm not sure that influx will benefit the first party-third party strategy unless it drastically changes numbers for the platform and/or game pass. If something like COD continues to be as huge on other platforms, I think it will only show executives that third party releases are the way to go
They can't be dumb and make everything Multiplat. It's literally the dumbest strategy. Will be a self destruct on any Xbox hardware
Being one of three companies who have had tremendous success in this industry would be something you would think you would never want to throw away for the future so you would assume they want to make sure they keep a robust hardware ecosystem so they can always be at the table in the console market. To me that means exclusives. So, if they want to keep a seat at the table, I would assume they make lots of exclusives going forward. If they have decided they don't need a say and would like to give up their hard-fought and incredibly unique position in the market then so be it, but I think they'll live to regret it.
You could say they're garbage executives, but garbage people I think it is a bit too much
He's ensuring that the incredibly huge company he runs has no way to reach any of its climate goals, all in the pursuit of "AI" goals. I think that's pretty awful.
Gaming stuff doesn't even compare to that, so I'm comfortable calling him whatever.
I don't think this current or any future Microsoft CEO will ever care about that. It doesn't fit with Microsoft's business model and really never has. That version of Xbox would need to be its own entity.
Digital Foundry video on Hellblade 2 is excellent. Highly recommend every watch it just to see the sheer amount of detail and effort Ninja Theory put into this game.
Overall, I'm trending towards giving the game a 9/10 right now. I'm about halfway through the game going by the spots lighting up on the trees. I certainly wouldn't want many other games to be designed like this, but I'm so glad this one exists. This is the Xbox I wanted to see when I moved back into the ecosystem in 2020. Creative, risky, polished. Now, time for Towerborne, Flight Sim, Shattered Space, Ara, Age of Mythology, Indiana Jones, Avowed, and COD to do their jobs. You can't get any more diverse of a lineup as that. To quote a bad movie, this is where the fun begins. Really hope the Xbox folks don't throw in the towel right as we're on the precipice of everything coming together.
Overall, I'm trending towards giving the game a 9/10 right now. I'm about halfway through the game going by the spots lighting up on the trees. I certainly wouldn't want many other games to be designed like this, but I'm so glad this one exists. This is the Xbox I wanted to see when I moved back into the ecosystem in 2020. Creative, risky, polished. Now, time for Towerborne, Flight Sim, Shattered Space, Ara, Age of Mythology, Indiana Jones, Avowed, and COD to do their jobs. You can't get any more diverse of a lineup as that. To quote a bad movie, this is where the fun begins. Really hope the Xbox folks don't throw in the towel right as we're on the precipice of everything coming together.
Thread 'Midori just posted the Placeholder Logo for Persona 6.' https://www.resetera.com/threads/midori-just-posted-the-placeholder-logo-for-persona-6.880122/
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I hope Ninja Theory has an interview with DF or sponsored content segment planned. Seems like a missed opportunity not to do that. We have seen a ton about their audio and motion capture and photogrammetry work, but having a deep dive conversation about their in-engine/graphics/systems work would be cool to see.
View: https://x.com/Eul_keke/status/1793720922740060395
this has to be the most realistic looking model/in-game photo of a human I've ever seen
if you put money over people im gonna consider you a garbage person
i wonder if being at the same showcase as call of duty made it easier for microsoft to convince big third party games to show up for their showcase lol
The thing that blows me away the most, seeing it on my oled, are the eyes. Just crazy how real they look.
Continuing Hellblade 2 (only at chapter III right now) and what an incredible piece of art this game is. I'm 100% onboard with their vision, and could not even care that combat is reduced to the very basic fondamentals in gaming. I just love how visceral everything feels.
I actually wish more games felt that good in combat because a lot of times the depth of gameplay and choices would really be elevated with that kind of presentation. Each hit feels real.
And the cinematics direction is literally perfect. The way the cinematics are made here remind me of what they tried in Halo: Infinite, most of the time floating around the characters while they speak, but somehow this feels just so much more real. And I swear this is not just because they are human characters and because the character models are that good, there is something real in the way it is shot.
I do however feel like, occasionally, Melina or the animators go too far with Senua's expressions (like a scream where the mouth just opens a little bit too much and it's not quite right for example). Shit is so well done that this is the kind of thing that jumps out to me.
For now it's a 9/10 for me that's for sure.
Exactly the kind of short highly-polished slap in the face I needed, after playing a few long open-worlds
The good thing is you mostly all agree that such a list makes sense. Which proves to me that there is still a path for Xbox/Microsoft to have their cake and eat it too. But they should do exactly what you say they won't: they need to make such a list and find a way to communicate it clearly. It doesn't have to be about specific games, but if they say "big licensed games will be first on Xbox" then it's pretty clear what this means.
All of that doesn't preclude them from going even more multiplat in 5 to 6 years. But right about now they should still see how important the console business is.
I actually wish more games felt that good in combat because a lot of times the depth of gameplay and choices would really be elevated with that kind of presentation. Each hit feels real.
And the cinematics direction is literally perfect. The way the cinematics are made here remind me of what they tried in Halo: Infinite, most of the time floating around the characters while they speak, but somehow this feels just so much more real. And I swear this is not just because they are human characters and because the character models are that good, there is something real in the way it is shot.
I do however feel like, occasionally, Melina or the animators go too far with Senua's expressions (like a scream where the mouth just opens a little bit too much and it's not quite right for example). Shit is so well done that this is the kind of thing that jumps out to me.
For now it's a 9/10 for me that's for sure.
Exactly the kind of short highly-polished slap in the face I needed, after playing a few long open-worlds
The good thing is you mostly all agree that such a list makes sense. Which proves to me that there is still a path for Xbox/Microsoft to have their cake and eat it too. But they should do exactly what you say they won't: they need to make such a list and find a way to communicate it clearly. It doesn't have to be about specific games, but if they say "big licensed games will be first on Xbox" then it's pretty clear what this means.
All of that doesn't preclude them from going even more multiplat in 5 to 6 years. But right about now they should still see how important the console business is.
Not a lot of people are playing Hellblade 2 on my Xbox friends list.
I know it's not the same, but when Starfield released literally everyone was on it, most even right from the start of the early access.
Now, I never expected those numbers, but I still am surprised that only a couple of my gamer friends with GP are trying it out. I know two people in my close circle who are finishing other games before going into this one. But still.
I'm not even that confident it's hitting 3-4 million players in a month at this rate.
I'm sending pictures I've taken in the game to try and convince them lol.
I know it's not the same, but when Starfield released literally everyone was on it, most even right from the start of the early access.
Now, I never expected those numbers, but I still am surprised that only a couple of my gamer friends with GP are trying it out. I know two people in my close circle who are finishing other games before going into this one. But still.
I'm not even that confident it's hitting 3-4 million players in a month at this rate.
I'm sending pictures I've taken in the game to try and convince them lol.
Either this year or next year yeah. I think a teaser is on the table for this summer but the atlus heads think it'd overshadow Metaphor, which is a fair point
I don't know, if you manage to fire 20,000 people in the span of 15 years there must be some kind of sociopathy in there. But what do I know.
Anyway, maybe I was hallucinating or something, but I think that Thórgestr's skin/muscles reacted to Fargrímr's touch when he patted his arm during a cutscene. If that actually happens, that's an absurd level of details.
Also, I like how supportive the voices inside Senua's head can be when I'm trying to solve a puzzle... "she understands", "she knows what to do". Thank you girls, but I don't know what the hell I'm doing.
Just ready for the showcase. I'd like to be excited for their output again. Here's hoping they don't have a barren 6 month stretch again.
View: https://x.com/realZigzagLeo/status/1793644798014095538?t=KFNsA6xV_UD2GzNxvje42A&s=19
Really unique looking game and straight to game pass.
Big W.
One really cool thing in Hellblade 2 that I don't see much comment about is that effect when you find a face and, after Focus on It, It becomes a Path. So cool.
We're back (to rise)?!
We're back (to rise)?!
You won't regret it. No doubt Gears 6 will also look phenomenal on an OLED display.
Jez did say in his article about the Xbox Showcase that Iron Galaxy and Microsoft reached a deal to work on Killer Instinct franchise again.
I would 100% bet that KI2 is going to be multiplatform day and date. If any game goes multiplat, it's going to be that one.
I would 100% bet that KI2 is going to be multiplatform day and date. If any game goes multiplat, it's going to be that one.
Everything looks so much better on OLED. Even games like Ori and FH5 are gorgeous on a good OLED.
View: https://x.com/jnavok/status/1793779722997973268?s=46&t=gf8rfJgiXtRzEKTUzSF5Yw
Thread on the recent Square Enix earnings stuff. Just something to keep in mind… 😬
View: https://x.com/jnavok/status/1793779749904634234?s=46&t=gf8rfJgiXtRzEKTUzSF5Yw
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It would be fantastic news for the IP and its fans. If they can make a sequel as good or better than the 2013 game then it will likely gain a wider following in the fighting game community.
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