Millsington
Member
Alright I give, you sentimental bastards! Please replace all silence with kid noise.
The Player 1 Podcast Topic
- Thread starter GhaleonQ
- Start date
Alright I give, you sentimental bastards! Please replace all silence with kid noise.
So which one of you would he be classifying as the horrible guest?
infinityBCRT
Member
I think your opinions on video games aren't actually that different from his when you aren't bashing him.
The Polygon review score changing stuff is interesting. I think, yes, the Diablo 3 score was proved wrong to come out with a high score at first, but they corrected their error (which is way more ballsy than most outlets). And honestly, I think changing review scores rather than making it a static review score (where you're way more inclined to give a higher score in spite of technical flaws which you assume will be temporary) is more consumer friendly. I think thus far what Polygon is doing is scoring the game as if they aren't going to change it (thus Diablo 3 and SimCity getting high scores at the start), and then as the story on the game evolves, if there are egregious issues and it warrants changing, they change the score. You guys scorned them for not bringing up the SimCity score back up to the initial score, but as time goes on, people found issues that a single reviewer was not likely to find, so they incorporated that into their new score.
Anyway, I hope you like the music episode they just did. Definitely one of the things I enjoyed listening to the most over the holiday break.
KimonoNoNo
Member
Senran Kagura more a fan-service hack'n'slash than a moeblob RPG.
I've only started listening to you guys for about 6 months, but If there's a podcast of the year award you'll get my vote.
I've only started listening to you guys for about 6 months, but If there's a podcast of the year award you'll get my vote.
Two big problems in my opinion:
1. A shifting score system needs a bit more structure than what's there. Do they update the score of every single game they review on the site? And what's the limitation? How long does a game have to be out before they put the review to bed and don't go back update?
2. The problems with the simulation aspect of SimCity were apparent pretty quickly. All you really had to do was build up one (tiny) city to see the routing issues. Even if you couldn't explain exactly why they were happening, it was extremely apparent that something was broken. It did not take hardcore sim nerds weeks to figure this out. Even a casual player like me saw the problem within a day or two (and that's including the time it took to get past server issues).
I think a shifting review score system could work, but not the way Polygon seems to be using it. Right now it seems the motivation is to adjust their reviews over time to make sure they fall in line with public opinion. That's not serving anyone but Polygon.
The shifting score system is a creation of publishers. It allows sites to give clearly broken but incredibly important games like Sim City outrageous meta critic scores and then immediately put out the real score a couple days later. Everyone wins since meta critic doesn't adjust scores. Publishers get to dictate temporary high scores while sites get to trick rubes into thinking they have integrity.
Well, everyone except the consumer, but Goose and the Kooch have already clearly stated their dismissal of such plebes.
Well, everyone except the consumer, but Goose and the Kooch have already clearly stated their dismissal of such plebes.
The shifting review scores doesn't work for me either. There should be a set score for the core game. The online features should be a separate one. You can't just keep changing them because something suddenly doesn't work. We would be altering scores for online games all fucking day.
infinityBCRT
Member
It's not perfect, but they are trying something different, and what gets updated is going to depend on what has the most spotlight on it. This isn't 1996 where there are two monolithic game sites which review every single game that comes out on the market. I think the readers understand that. I think it ultimately comes down to-- if a reviewer or outlet feels strongly enough about a game's problems to make a statement, they will.
Haven't played SimCity so I don't have my own experience to rely on, but what I can say was that I remember during the beta, on various podcasts, people were glowing about SimCity. It took more than a few days for the average game journalist to figure out the game was deeply flawed. Also, you know exactly how games are reviewed these days-- in a super compressed schedule, where it's more likely that things like this can be overlooked.
I don't think that's the motivation. I think it's just that they would prefer not to change the score if it's just launch day/week issues since ALL games seem to have these launch issues now. Once it's apparent that it's not just a launch period thing is when they change it. I guess people who buy the game based on the initial review might be boned, but again, at least them updating it helps people who aren't buying right at launch.
Kyle Orland pointed out every single issue with the game weeks before reviews were published. Everyone complained about city size but like the good PR stooges they are, games press decided to give them the benefit of the doubt.
infinityBCRT
Member
Good on Kyle Orland. I don't want to call out specific people, there were definitely people, lets say on a podcast that confirms weekends, who were glowing about the game initially.
My point was it didn't take more than a few days to recognize every single issue. The only issue that needed time to manifest was the hilariously broken traffic and emergency response AI.
Weekend Confirmed also glowed about Aliens CM.
The flaws of shifting review scores became very apparent for me with Battlefield.
They gave that game a high score based on publisher promises to fix their broken game. A month later, after all the majority of sales were already done, they decided to change to score and say, "This game is still broken so we're lowering the score."
If it is "still" broken, then that means the new score was what the original score would have been if they were more interested in their readers than making sure EA remains happy.
The review system at Polygon serves no one but themselves and publishers. They can play nice with publishers by getting them a high metacritic score and get more hits on the same content later and try to gain some credibility by hitting games with lower scores.
Why is it they only ever adjust scores for big games like Diablo and Sim City and Battlefield? FFXIV for example got a huge patch recently. Why aren't they adjusting score for that? They only do it for the big games because that gets them more hits.
They gave that game a high score based on publisher promises to fix their broken game. A month later, after all the majority of sales were already done, they decided to change to score and say, "This game is still broken so we're lowering the score."
If it is "still" broken, then that means the new score was what the original score would have been if they were more interested in their readers than making sure EA remains happy.
The review system at Polygon serves no one but themselves and publishers. They can play nice with publishers by getting them a high metacritic score and get more hits on the same content later and try to gain some credibility by hitting games with lower scores.
Why is it they only ever adjust scores for big games like Diablo and Sim City and Battlefield? FFXIV for example got a huge patch recently. Why aren't they adjusting score for that? They only do it for the big games because that gets them more hits.
infinityBCRT
Member
Some reviewers don't spend more than a few days to review games unfortunately
.I realize the initial Polygon review is an outlier compared to most reviews at there, but at least they fixed their mistake. There are so many more reviews of other games that came in high where outlets have done nothing to recognize that maybe they were a little too praiseworthy about a game (see: Assassin's Creed 3).
I'm sure you'd expect me to say this, but that actually couldn't be further from the truth. He's said time and again that he'll take a game that's technically and mechanically proficient--but treading a well-worn path--over a game that's trying something out of the ordinary, but has troubled, even broken, gameplay. I am on entirely the opposite end of the spectrum. One isn't better than the other, but they're worlds apart. That's what leads to me loving a broken mess of a game like Alpha Protocol and him saying things like "Gears of War Judgment is the only competent shooter released in 2013." He cares a whole lot about framerate, pixel-perfect precision, and input latency. I couldn't give a shit about any of those. I think we also have wildly divergent interests in games. I'd characterize his interests as being a foot wide and a mile deep, while mine are the exact opposite. The only thing I see that's similar at all is that we're both insufferable cunts.
If they really wanted to do something different, they could. They could review games when it's appropriate. They could eschew review events. They could write reviews that help their readers make informed decisions. Instead, they write reviews for other reviewers and for the hand that actually feeds them. I know--you have to have your review out the day of release to compete with the likes of IGN and Gamespot. But then... are you really different?
Not. At. All. the original score was even more of a joke than the shifting tide of the revised scores.
I turned it off after the second song. Did they ever move on to anything more interesting than the godawful generic butt rock that the episode started with?
infinityBCRT
Member
Okay, I guess you guys just kinda sound the same when you're talking about games (re: insufferable cunts)
. But seriously-- the last episode you were actually praising AC3, and I was thinking, the only other person I know that will still openly praise that game is Arthur 
Yeah.. Kentucky Route Zero, Gunpoint, Gone Home, etc. You can see the list of music in the podcast description. I guess I kind of listen to that episode to just listen to music from random games this year rather than to hear stuff that I like. That being said I'm sure it would've been more interesting if Kevin Van Ord or Ryan O'Donnell was on that episode-- dare I say it would've been almost too good.
infinityBCRT
Member
On another note, so glad Castle of Illusion got its due. IMO PC version is the way to go as they patched in 60FPS support. The game plays amazing.
If you fancy another video game music podcast (or two), you should check out the episode of Critical Music that Mr. Greg Sewart hosted and produced:
http://www.criticalstrike.net/2010/09/13/critical-music-23-welco-metot-henex-tlevel/
Or the one that I did.
http://www.criticalstrike.net/2010/06/12/critical-music-20-sellout/
(All the Critical Music podcasts are awesome compilations of video game music of all shapes and sizes)
http://www.criticalstrike.net/2010/09/13/critical-music-23-welco-metot-henex-tlevel/
Or the one that I did.
http://www.criticalstrike.net/2010/06/12/critical-music-20-sellout/
(All the Critical Music podcasts are awesome compilations of video game music of all shapes and sizes)
Some reviewers don't spend more than a few days to review games unfortunately
That's not really an excuse, though
If you're really worried about the honesty of your score and serving your readers, then you don't review something like SimCity after sinking so little time into it. I bet your website's credibility goes through the roof in the process. Of course, you lose those day 1 hits...
That's not really an excuse, though
Of course, you lose those day 1 hits...
Gametrailers does it better. If their reviews aren't done, they simply post an impressions video on review day and post the complete review later. It's a much better method than rushing through a review for day one. I think more review sites should do this. Incomplete or inaccurate reviews will only do their reputation a disservice down the line.
I've been meaning to harp on some Toki Tori 2 some, especially since you guys haven't really played it.
It's probably my game of the year.
Granted, I haven't played much. Having a toddler, I just haven't had the time to dedicate to games much, and I only have a 3ds and wii u.
Toki Tori 2 is perhaps best explained as a no hand-holding puzzle platformer. It is simply presented, with simple mechanics - where the game shines is in puzzle design.
You control a bird with only TWO moves - whistle and stomp. The puzzles are all about getting access to the next area or puzzle (the world is more or less just a continuous flow, although broken down into areas) and trying to reach and collect the golden wings.
The puzzles are essentially environmental - you come across enemies, friends, blocks, ladders, and various critters that all react differently to your two moves. It's up to you to figure out how to use them all to advance and get the items.
Sounds kind of like your standard platform puzzler.
But the BEST thing about it is how the puzzles are designed. They are devious and get you to really think. They present all the clues right there in front of you and all of the puzzles are logical and can be thought through. There some real head scratchers, but pretty much all of them are solvable if you think carefully and use what you have learned. Which leads on to to next amazing thing - no other game I've played in a long time has presented puzzles in such a manner is to feel like I'm solving them as opposed to discovering solutions.
Many of the puzzles I played out in my head while not even playing the game. Once you know what elements are presented to you you just KNOW it can be done with enough thought and logic since you only have two moves at your disposal. Don't be deceived, however, as these two moves are used in some remarkable ways to interact with the various wild life for different effects.
In most other games, you progress and power up using abilities the game explicitly gives you at certain times. In Toki Tori, however, the abilities are all given to you at the beginning, but you LEARN how to utilise them differently. Right up until te very end of the game, I was learning new tricks. In no other game have i felt like I was levelling up my own skillset as opposed to just gaining abilities. It's like ME the player was levelling up as I played, not my character. It's an extraordinary feeling to discover new ways of approaching things you always could have done, but could never before, because you didn't think of it until it was presented to you in a clever puzzle.
Lastly, you'd think they'd run out if ways to implement puzzles, but part of the amazing design is that very few puzzles actually play out the same.
Oh, the near complete lack of handholding is refreshing, as you do a lot of exploring and learning on your own, which is part of the charm. You're dumped in the world, and instantly you meet certain elects that you have to LEARN what to do by experimentation. The game guides you by design, not text. It's remarkable. This learning curve holds up for the entire game
Seriously, for me, it's a perfect game. There's little to fault for me. If you're into REAL puzzles, where you have to actually examine yor environment and think things through as opposed to just pushing blocks or finding hidden things to get past, then you'd be doing yourself a disservice to pass this game.
.
It's probably my game of the year.
Granted, I haven't played much. Having a toddler, I just haven't had the time to dedicate to games much, and I only have a 3ds and wii u.
Toki Tori 2 is perhaps best explained as a no hand-holding puzzle platformer. It is simply presented, with simple mechanics - where the game shines is in puzzle design.
You control a bird with only TWO moves - whistle and stomp. The puzzles are all about getting access to the next area or puzzle (the world is more or less just a continuous flow, although broken down into areas) and trying to reach and collect the golden wings.
The puzzles are essentially environmental - you come across enemies, friends, blocks, ladders, and various critters that all react differently to your two moves. It's up to you to figure out how to use them all to advance and get the items.
Sounds kind of like your standard platform puzzler.
But the BEST thing about it is how the puzzles are designed. They are devious and get you to really think. They present all the clues right there in front of you and all of the puzzles are logical and can be thought through. There some real head scratchers, but pretty much all of them are solvable if you think carefully and use what you have learned. Which leads on to to next amazing thing - no other game I've played in a long time has presented puzzles in such a manner is to feel like I'm solving them as opposed to discovering solutions.
Many of the puzzles I played out in my head while not even playing the game. Once you know what elements are presented to you you just KNOW it can be done with enough thought and logic since you only have two moves at your disposal. Don't be deceived, however, as these two moves are used in some remarkable ways to interact with the various wild life for different effects.
In most other games, you progress and power up using abilities the game explicitly gives you at certain times. In Toki Tori, however, the abilities are all given to you at the beginning, but you LEARN how to utilise them differently. Right up until te very end of the game, I was learning new tricks. In no other game have i felt like I was levelling up my own skillset as opposed to just gaining abilities. It's like ME the player was levelling up as I played, not my character. It's an extraordinary feeling to discover new ways of approaching things you always could have done, but could never before, because you didn't think of it until it was presented to you in a clever puzzle.
Lastly, you'd think they'd run out if ways to implement puzzles, but part of the amazing design is that very few puzzles actually play out the same.
Oh, the near complete lack of handholding is refreshing, as you do a lot of exploring and learning on your own, which is part of the charm. You're dumped in the world, and instantly you meet certain elects that you have to LEARN what to do by experimentation. The game guides you by design, not text. It's remarkable. This learning curve holds up for the entire game
Seriously, for me, it's a perfect game. There's little to fault for me. If you're into REAL puzzles, where you have to actually examine yor environment and think things through as opposed to just pushing blocks or finding hidden things to get past, then you'd be doing yourself a disservice to pass this game.
.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
HamPster PamPster
Member
This podcast and their "the videogames are cool thanks to the PlayStation crowd" mentality could never appreciate the game changing, cancer curing, brilliance of Toki Tori 2
Chuf left O_O
He was the reason I kept listening as long as I did but I finally gave up the podcast this year during the Sim City stuff. I just... I just couldn't take anymore. Mik is a stronger man than I to power on.
Chuf left O_O
He was the reason I kept listening as long as I did but I finally gave up the podcast this year during the Sim City stuff. I just... I just couldn't take anymore. Mik is a stronger man than I to power on.
Do they still have that guy who they bought a gaming PC using money donated by 1up forum ppl to fund the show?
infinityBCRT
Member
Anthony still Skypes into the show. And honestly I think the show is better this year than last with Mitch Dyer from IGN replacing Tyler. Tyler seemed to be SO disinterested during the end of his run on the show.
I still enjoy Rebel FM quite a bit. For me, Bombcast, CAGCast, Rebel FM and Player One are the must listen to podcasts every week.
I think there have been periods of time that I've been disinterested in each-- Bombcast for example was getting really boring a few years ago until they finally cut the Nintendo eShop stuff/new releases and brought on Patrick. When Shipwreck became a regular on CAGCast it got much better over time. Rebel FM-- I think when Nick Suttner left it pretty much crushed that podcast for me as it was just Arthur & Anthony, but I think their chemistry together got better, and then once they brought in Tyler it became a much better show.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
Oh, he's still in then? I guess that makes some sense, since otherwise there'd be no tie to 1up whatsoever. Although given how most of these guys working at a game studio seem to quit podcasting altogether, I'm curious as to what he's allowed to say.
Why did Tyler leave? Did he get a job in the industry somewhere?
Why did Tyler leave? Did he get a job in the industry somewhere?
infinityBCRT
Member
Yeah he's still in. And to be fair Matt Chandronait also worked at 1up, and Athur appeared on the 1up show I think. I still think Rebel FM is the only podcast out of the 1up children (Rebel FM, Sports Anomaly which became 4th String which I think partially spawned the Press Row Podcast, Geekbox, Weekend Confirmed) that actually still has that 1up feel to me. I guess maybe the last 2 Weekend Confirmed shows have had that classic 1up Yours feel with everyone being drunk and getting angry at each other though.
I think Tyler got bored of video games. At least that's the impression I got from what he was saying. I think the last show he was on was just before he got married.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
I'm not even sure what the 1up feel actually means any more unfortunately. Well, other than Garnett getting drunk on his "goddamn show".
And, well, I hope he returned the PC if he was done with games then.
And, well, I hope he returned the PC if he was done with games then.
Matt is the biggest reason I still listen to RebelFM. I really liked him from his first appearance on 1up Show. There's just something about these 1up alumni, that it always makes me happy to hear that they've landed in a good spot. None more than Garnett, but Shane and Matt also seemed like the kind of guys I wouldn't mind hanging out with.
I wonder if there ever will be a gaming site like 1up ever again.
infinityBCRT
Member
I think the closest thing to 1up was probably Giant Bomb during the Whisky Media days. It felt a lot more spontaneous. Especially when you would also get Gary, Will, etc showing up on Giant Bomb stuff.
Mik... Mike...? Mik-Mike? Tomato-tomahto... obrigado!
Ahem... sorry. I was sounding it out in my head.
When are you leaving your wife for your PS4 and Vita? I can feel a strong love-sense! Or maybe it's your love for hating Dr. Gies? I don't know. I enjoy your updates. Hupdates?
What?
Oh, and the best "racing" game ever is Ivan "The Iron Man" Stewart's Off-Road Soda-Covered Three-Wheeled Orgy Machine. Bank it!
Ahem... sorry. I was sounding it out in my head.
When are you leaving your wife for your PS4 and Vita? I can feel a strong love-sense! Or maybe it's your love for hating Dr. Gies? I don't know. I enjoy your updates. Hupdates?
What?
Oh, and the best "racing" game ever is Ivan "The Iron Man" Stewart's Off-Road Soda-Covered Three-Wheeled Orgy Machine. Bank it!
HamPster PamPster
Member
I'm looking at frostyxc's post history and, while brief, its all magic. I'll have what he's having
I bought steamworld dig based on impressions of p1p and rfn and so far it's infinitely inferior to toki tori (I know different game, but both are downloadables).
I'd go so far as to say Steamworld Dig is pretty boring. It's grind grind back to surface to cash in and back to grinding. Level 1 the same as level 5 except you do 5x more damage on rocks and enemies with 5x more life (not literally I'm being metaphorical).
There doesn't seem to be any real 'skill' or learning. Rooms occasionally hold the promos of an interesting layout but inevitably disappoint.
It does remind me of an iOS game called Spade Miner, which has a similar concept but instead of being a metroid-style version, it's an Asteroids-style take and a MUCH better game. It actually had better humour, varied gameplay, more interesting upgrades, and had an engine that actually required some skill to master and was this much more interesting and fun.
I'd go so far as to say Steamworld Dig is pretty boring. It's grind grind back to surface to cash in and back to grinding. Level 1 the same as level 5 except you do 5x more damage on rocks and enemies with 5x more life (not literally I'm being metaphorical).
There doesn't seem to be any real 'skill' or learning. Rooms occasionally hold the promos of an interesting layout but inevitably disappoint.
It does remind me of an iOS game called Spade Miner, which has a similar concept but instead of being a metroid-style version, it's an Asteroids-style take and a MUCH better game. It actually had better humour, varied gameplay, more interesting upgrades, and had an engine that actually required some skill to master and was this much more interesting and fun.
Harlock
Member
Played only the demo, but I dont like Tearway. And dont get the comparison with LBP. Ok, was hardwork, but you could create a lot of things in LBP, while in Tearway you can take photos and draw textures, what is not even close to anything like LBP.
Other problem is that Tearway is too much a lets have a cool experience game, rather than fighting enemies and exploring levels, like Zelda 3DS. The indie style games needs to remember with Nintendo what fun action games are.
Other problem is that Tearway is too much a lets have a cool experience game, rather than fighting enemies and exploring levels, like Zelda 3DS. The indie style games needs to remember with Nintendo what fun action games are.
The_Darkest_Red
Member
My iPhone is not so much a phone as it is a Super Hexagon device. Otherwise, I agree!
Take Ridiculous Fishing, for example. The entire gameplay loop is built around the same stupid principles as f2p games (focus more on grinding for upgrades than improving skill), only most people think RF is awesome because instead of spending real money on upgrades it's all in-game currency. It's kind of fun in a really shallow way but once you realize that you aren't actually getting much better at the game it all starts to feel kind of pointless, at least to me. There just isn't enough substance. It's Jetpack Joyride without microtransactions.
Also, for the most part touch controls just suck for games. If I'm going to play a classic handheld game I want to play it on 3DS/Vita, and a lot of games that are designed to work well on iOS from the ground up suffer from a lack of depth due to control restrictions (Republique is an example of this to me).
You haven't played Device 6.
Neuromancer
Member
Yeah he's a great poster. Unfortunately, like Brigadoon, he only shows up for a short while and then is gone.
I thought we pretty much said Tearaway was very different from LBP. That's the only way I could get those guys to try it, after all!
HamPster PamPster
Member
Next week will be 5 years since the big layoffs. Time flies when you have no GFW Radio
In other news, Rebel FM and the Geekbox have been going for 5 years! Happy anniversary everyone