Mailbag From Nov 22, 2005 |
360 Mailbag, with bundled SWG!
Ah, the fine readership at IGN PC. After our explosive article last night on the 360, we expected to be escorted into the building by the National Guard the following morning, but our inbox was not only favorable but legible as well! I guess we didn't stoke up the fire enough, but the honest truth is that we like the 360 and would like to have some units -- just not quite yet, and not bundled with a bunch of games that will stay inside their shrink wrapping until we cart them over to our local game den for store credit (like a lot of other people will probably do).
Now the stores get to sell those games twice, raking it in on the "used" copies that haven't been opened. Yay for commerce! And yay for letting some people pre-order systems, months ago, that your inventory won't fulfill until next year. You rock! And I should also add that I'm quite impressed that I can save "over $60 dollars" when I plunk down one thousand on one of your crappy bundles. I mean, that's a savings of six tenths of one percent! Your generosity knows no bounds. That is to say, it will know no bounds when those bundles get restocked several months from now, with the added bonus of games we definitely know we won't want at that point.
And now I must craft some snide responses to those who dare to disagree!
Since you guys have taken such an impartial stance on comparing the 360 to a PC, allow me to balance the scale.
1. Yes, the new launch lineup is pretty weak compared to the previous XBOX lineup, but it's obviously strong enough to send people out to storefronts and have them sleep overnight in tents in the cold like earthquake refugees. I can easily gurantee that no PC will EVER do that, not even with the launch of Vista. Also, the early 2006 lineup owns house already and all it needs in 1 game to start the four year long thrust; GEARS OF WAR and eventually, Halo 3 will rise.
2. The image quality has only begun to be exploited. Match Point: GEARS OF WAR. 360 will surpass the computers and eventually be challanged, but by then, you will have wasted $ on a new comp to do all of the same but play better games (point of vista) and well have saved up for a new system.
3. Prices. Xbox- $400. + games and acc including live- about $250 depending on what type of gamer you are. HD TV- $2000-8000 (go big or go home) * optional. Approx 6 grand if you go all out. Besides, the systems can do more and more PC- like functions these days.
PC (HD,ram, mem,vid card,sound card,speakers ect.)- $1000-3000(go big or go home) Monitor- $1200 Software,warranty on an expensive hunk of metal, special XPS tech support and any other BS that dell decides to overcharge on - $1000
Approx 4.5 grand if you go big
But wait, PC's are good for more than gaming... Becuase we all need a 5 thousand dollar pc to browse the internet and type right? (or write letters to computer band wagon editors becuase we couldn't get a 360 thanks to the damed refugees...)
What about the sweet new HD TV we just got for our living room and multiple user counsel for friends?
3. Controllers rule the shooter world. Why you ask? Well: there are no cramps, faster, more comfortable in the long term, and wireless keyboards and mouses don't work. Oh yeah, It's really hard to feel like a gun totin' hero when using a dorky keyboard and mouse that don't even have vibration.
4. We dont have to upgrade our systems to be able to handel the next gen of online games without lagging and Well never get Viruses, HA!
Bottom line, PC's are just not worth blowing major cash on when all they will generally be used for is gaming, browsing,music,typing and dirty videos. Wouldn't you rather have a beastly new gaming system(360) and a tankly new TV? My old comp will do just fine for now thanks. *although I do want to play the next strategy games (';
-- Jordan G.
Indeed! Spoken like someone who didn't read the article or spent thousands of dollars of his parents' money on a 360 utopia! And written with carriage returns at the end of every line. Well played, Jordan.
--Tom
Great comparision guys. I actually didn't think the article was too biased. It's obvious that the 360 doesn't quite justify the $400 plus bucks right now. Not to say it's not going to be great because GOW looks amazing! So, 360 will be good, im pretty sure of it, but I'm going to take your advice and wait a little while for some AAA games. As far as the PS3 is concerns, well, I'll leave that for another day. But I think PC does have more to worry about with the release of Sony's new hardware than Microsoft's. Great article though guys, this will show everyone that you guys might have your favorites and whatnot, but a least you try to be unbiased. And really, we're all human so that's all you can ask for. Good work!!!!
--Smilez
I read IGN PS3's article, Patience 360, and it failed to make any solid arguments. It was all one-sided, and really didn't say anything about the good things XBOX 360 offers. The article was even childish at times. The IGN PC staff did much better at their article. They stated pros and cons of both XBOX 360 and PC. The IGN PC staff definitely has my respect for being talented, unbiased writers. I guess you may know already, though, that about every XBOX gamer also has a PC. Thanks for the great article, IGN PC.
-- Gabriel G.
Thanks man, we've actually gotten a few good responses about the feature and a few pieces of hate directed at the PS2 guys. I think their article actually makes some good points, though I think in some cases they might have been stretching it a bit� which I also think they knew they were doing. Thank you for the kind words though, it's good to know that people appreciate at least some of what we do every day!
--Dan
Umm... You guys are forgetting the fact that if there is indeed something wrong with a game, you can patch it to make it do what it's supposed to do on a pc, which makes me wonder why they dont implement something on console gaming where you can download patches onto the hard drive and fix problems like that too. Just a thought.
-- Terence M.
Ah, we were doing so well for that stretch. Terence, if I wanted to patch my games, I'd buy a computer!
--Tom
man i really wish the xbox360 controlller worked with pc. it actually works terribly on the pc, i figured this out a while ago because i wanted to play nhl 06 and tiger woods 06 and nba 06 and none of them work properly with the xbox 360 controller. i wish they would work because these games suck with the mouse and keyboard combo, but it sucks 10 times more when you go buy a 40 dollar xbox360 controller thinking it will work well.
--Andrew
Well that blows. I know that Jon Robinson had problems getting the controller to work with NBA Live 06, but other people around here haven't had a problem with any other games they've given a chance. I guess we'll have to see how compatible this controller really is. Sounds like a feature! Tom, get on it.
Dan
Yeah i like the comparison you wrote on PC vs 360. I myself was going to purchase the 360, but like you I didn't like the lineup of games, the stores around me only sell bundles $500 and up. Also, I own a a pretty good PC... amd64 athlon 4000, 1GB of RAM... ATI Radeon 800XL, and yeah you're right, the online gaming is more fun on the PC. Now with that money, I'm gonna go buy microsoft stocks. Thanks for the report, you helped me save 500 dollars. Haha.
-- J
You said exactly what I've been thinking...the same arguments you've provided are the EXACT same reasons I've been putting off getting a 360. That, and the fact that I'm still having an orgasm from plugging my 7800gt into my 50' HDTV, there's so much going on, on the screen that it's almost too much to comprehend. Just saying, good article, screw the 360 right now...power to the PC!
P.S. CoD2 looks so much better on my box than it does on the 360, and it's not that good of a game to headline anyways...who wants to start a game out as the Russians anyways?
-- Kyle Mish
I'm a Systems Admin and have a love relationship with computers. I upgrade my PC about every six months and admit that I would rather play a FPS with a mouse and keyboard than a controller any day. I had to wait for Halo to come out on the PC to be able to play it (I think Retro got it right with Metroid Prime). I own a GameCube and have now picked up my 360 (I will probably get the revolution too) and can't wait to play it. I love the Age of Empires series and Battle for Middle Earth and they must be played with the mouse and keyboard so there are a lot of strong points going for the PC.
But the number one reason that consoles are better (IN MY OPINION) and why PC games irritate me is that no matter how many times I slap that disk into a console it WORKS! Since I am a computer/hardware junkie I upgrade for the thrill but computer games never take advantage of the hardware that is already out. Now I realize that this is not the game developer's faults but hardware life cycles but it still annoys me.
PC Specs:
AMD X2 4000+
BFG Gforce 6800 overclocked (AGP)
3 GIG PC3200 RAM
SATA drives
AND CALL OF DUTY 2 STILL RUNS LIKE CRAP! (I shouldn't have to play it in DirectX 7)
Thank you,
Keith Grey
A.K.A. TheIrishWolf
PS You guys do a great job across all the sites with your non-bias opinions, that's why I pay for the subscription!
Yes, an excellent point, Keith. I too would like to just put it in and play. See kids, a little butt-kissing goes a long way!
--Tom
Awesome article. My feelings exactly! I am so glad that it has been made public. This also helps Nintendo out because, I'm a PC gammer and I want a "Revolution" because it offers something new and different. I stayed out of the last generation console race due to my PC rockin' with exception to gamecube late in it's life for the Nintendo exclusives. I'd have to say that the PC and Nintedo system is the route to go for maximum gamming.
--Chris
Brilliant review of the xb360, except however as you are hopelessly biased against it you have forgotten to inform everyone that an nvidia 7800 GTX video card which costs �300+ can't actually play any video game, nope, nought, nothing!, infact is as useful as a chocolate fireguard, without the rest of the pc. And unless you plan to stick the card in some crusty old 486 you'll be buying the rest of the pc as well.
It will probably cost you well over �1500 to purchase a pc that compares with the 360. Why not purchase a �280 xbox 360? If you really want to nit pick shell out another �800 for a 32" lcd HDTV and still have plenty of change? Any have the ability to watch HDTV broadcasts as they are meant to be! Want to surf the web purchase a �500 quid pc.
What about multiplayer? Fine Pc's can use network connections or the internet to play multiplayer. What if you don't have two pcs or a network, or internet? Don't think a pc can allow four players to use�one machine as once!
I'm not buying a xb360 to write a letter or do a spreadsheet! Its a bloody games console. I'm buying a xb360 to play games.
Don't be biased against the xb360 saying its expensive, just remember you can get a xb360 for less than the price of a decent video card alone, and without the continuous 6 month upgrade cycle of the pc world. That xb360 will last for 4 - 5 years making it extremely cheap.
Regards,
S. Dickinson
I'm sorry, I'm going to have to call you on that one, S. Although a video card cannot play a game, it is likewise impossible to purchase a 360 that does not come with a half dozen copies of Barbie Horse Adventure 360. I exaggerate slightly. And as it turns out, that expensive HDTV could also be used... as a computer monitor. Have at you!
--Tom
PC guys at IGN,
Not writing to complain but to agree with that your article said about PC vs. 360. Main reason I agree is that most of Xbox's games are on the PC and play better on the PC. That is why, after my original Xbox broke, I sold it, instead of getting a new one. But after the reflex controller comes out, Console FPS players might have another argument against PC players. I know the superiority that a mouse and keyboard bring to a FPS over a controller, but my hands can't take using a mouse and keyboard for too long and the Reflex controller will be a wonderful replacement and possibly bring FPS on a console to a closer level to the PC. I am on your side and I will wait until the 360 pumps out better games. Oh, one final thing, if you guys to read this, this there anyway to get the old school sierra games(quest for glory) to run well on a new PC?
Thanks,
Greg
yea the 360's graphics arent very impressive, and i'm not going to buy one,
the console market still boasts alot of benefits to gamers everywhere-
the question is why is it so crazy to suggest doing a few simple things with the next gen consoles-
*giving monitor hookups to them- awesome, no new hdtv, just go get a high def computer monitor for 1/1000 the price
* allowing you to hook up standard keyboards and mice into usb ports- why in gods name hasnt anyone allowed this... it would make pc gamers so much more interested in consoles and expand the console market.
*it would increase game innovation, kind of like the revolution's new controller, except in a good way this time. :)
* imagine it, buy a console, and then hook up the mouse and keyboard and monitor you already own and experience high def out of the box. awesome.
*game consoles aren't a total rip off. (unlike other things :) you can buy a ps3 for 400 dollars that will do things no computer can, for less than you would pay for a high end graphics card... i love pc games and i love my mouse, but i'm all for allowing game consoles to hook up pc equipment to them.
* developers already know w hat to expect from consoles, they can give everyone the exact same and equal experience, because they dont have to worry about accommodating for a variety of types of systems, thus more fair and competitive online gameplay.
--- we already have internet connection biases, do we really need system biases too?
* i realize that consoles may not encorporate certain luxuries such as word typing programs, video editing etc... but it seems to me like everything i ever needed a computer for was stuff that a 50$ yard sale one could do. gamers should be able to enjoy the GAMING benefits that come from pc's (mouse, keyboard, patches, high def monitors) without having to go out and buy a 3,000 dollar new desktop.
* i'm not saying pc gaming should every die, but I think that everything about my pc that i ever enjoyed could be easily encorporated into these next gen consoles(mouse,keyboard,patches,monitor)
while everything i ever hated (viruses, crap system, spyware, etc...) could be left out.
i love my pc, but the fact that i have to keep shelling out thousands of dollars to keep it up to date when all i really want are the things i listed above... that is bulls---.
**consoles are currently able to give every pc gamer what they want. for some stupid ass reason they havent.... could you address this?
just think if you could buy a 360 and hook it up to all your pc peripherals without buying anything new. that would be awesome.
it would greatly expand the strategy game market, just a total increase in game development because games that run better on pc equipment could be sold and ported to consoles too. better games, more games, more innovative games i cannot comprehend why the things above havent been done.
thanks,
houdini
This a rather disorganized list of pros and cons, respectfully. But since it's a long letter, you must have some good arguments in there somewhere. I hope you do, because I didn't really read it!
--Tom
And now for something completely different...
Star Wars Galaxies Stuff
I just love the way you gloss over the fact that these fundamental changes were announced 1 DAY after the public release of the Trails of Obi-wan expansion. Part of that release was promised equipment upgrades to classes that are slotted for the recycle bin. Bait and switch is what that sounds like if you ask a lot of the Creature Handler community.
--Paul
In your interview the DEVs say it's like Diablo or a FPS, which is a huge change from a MMORPG. I might add that most FPS or games like Diablo dont charge subscription fees.
Even if this new combat system is fun, how long will it be fun for? Even with all the problems I have played SWG for over two years. I cannot see playing a game with one fire and one special button for more then a few hours before it gets boring. SOE/LA should just come out and say PC players are beta testers for the PS3 version of SWG because most veteran players think thats what this is all about.
Needless to say I have cancled my accounts and most people I know in game in game have too. A few are going to hang around but will be very lonely until the PS3 or XBOX360 versions come out and that's if they dont make console specific Servers. Sadly I could go on and on how badly SOE has treated their player base but I am trying to keep this short.
--Gregt55
Hello all-
�
I feel very comfortable being able to write to you guys and express my feelings about the upcoming combat upgrade for Star Wars: Galaxies. While most fans have already done so on the Galaxy forums, I feel I can here without someone flaming me, calling me all those wonderful internet terms like "noob" (spelling it however they feel like), and many other wonderfully creative ways to make me feel like my opinion is full of it and not worth the dime. It's on this subject that I am writing.
�
First off, I am a relatively new player. I came into the game about a week after the first CU. I waited so long because now I'm positive I can afford college as well as drop an extra $15 a month for the game. Nevertheless, I find myself to be very eager to try out the new CU system. I don't hate the old system; But it will be nice to see some true Star Wars-esq fighting finally. Scaling down the professions to 9 core ones is a bit dramatic for me, and I am going to have to wait to see if they are as good as the ones now. I understand why SOE decided to do this to help balance things out, but it will be interesting to see if the means are justified in the end. I'm worried about my character and his place in the next week or so, and I'm worried about the equipment I've labored to get in the time I've spent on the galaxy. These are issues that are going to be dealt with, and whatever the outcome I am sure I can live through it and if need be grind-up to the point where I can keep using the weapons and armor I have.
�
It is weird, though. I regularly read the forums at the Galaxies web-page and for some time I always hear about how unbalanced this is, how un-Star Wars-like that is, and how much this game sucks in general and how people are always wanting to cancel accounts. I sometimes wonder what they do with their lives when they aren't playing this game and aren't posting on the forums. There must be people over the age of twenty on the forums, but for the most part it seems like a lot are in high school. When this was announced I was as shocked as everyone else, but my immediate reaction was not to run around screaming like Chicken Little, but to keep an open mind, which these days is regarded as "the corporate answer" to many.
�
I'm looking forward to the upgrade. If it really sucks, then I get to see if they fix it. If they don't, then I keep and extra fifteen bucks a month. It sucks to lose a fun gaming experience, but there are so many games out there that I can give a try for only a flat fee of forty to fifty bucks. Of course, trying to find the money to pay for them is the next great challenge.
�
Thanks for letting me express my view.
--Dan
You asked for feedback, here's some.
�
The people who actually liked Star Wars Galaxies during the past two years is a very small minority.Compared to the Star Wars Fans out in the world, the people who actually liked SWG are a drop in the ocean.
The Star Wars License have a huge potential, but the original SWG just had everything wrong.
I have been playing the game for about one and a half year now. Most of my friends quit after a few weeks due to A) No content, just barren wastelands, no quests�and no reason to pvp�B) The endless boring questless�grind that you are mostly forced to do yourself�C) No Star Wars feel and a system that works against using the iconic Star Wars stuff (Stormtrooper Armor and Han Solo's DL44 were among the worst items in the game, while Composite Armor and Power Hammers (neither present in books or in the movies) was the best you could have).
Up to now I have been ashamed for the amount of time I spent in the glorified anti-starwars chat known as SWG. With the new publish it's the first time in one and a half year I can wholeheartily recommend Star Wars Galaxies to my friends. The NGE have made it to exactly what it should have been in the first place. The "Dungeons & Dragons" style professions where finally axed, and the new game is filled over the edge with quests and storydriven content.
�
With the new game, roles are back. There's a need for each one of the 9 professions, compared to just 4-6 professions and 31 broken ones. A Medic will truly feel worthy now. (What good was 35 professions when people just played 5 cookie-cutter templates and the BH vs Jedi war represented more than 90% of the game.)
�
With the new game, loot is back. There's heaps of loot. Heaps of things to do. Heaps of things to explore. Before this change a pve fan could do little but go to dathomir to kill nightsisters. That's pretty much what we have done for the past year. This morning I spent 4 hours straight running quests for iconic star wars characters, and for the first time since I started the game I had fun. Really fun.
�
Even Jedi now have heaps of content. If you where not interested in bumping a "pvp rating"�value upwards, there where absolutely no content at all for a Jedi back before the NGE. At best, PvE players who seeked content was hunted down and griefed by teenage kids playing Bounty Hunters that could be created in less than a week. Not to mention about 70% of Jedi was broken.
Thoose who are leaving Star Wars�now were just in the game for the system. The�Star Wars fans left ages ago. And there was never anything unique with the system. Some players liked it becouse it was easy to build a supertemplate that could beat absolute everything that did not pick the "key stuff". They where never here becouse of Star Wars.
The NGE is supposed to impress Star Wars fans, and it shows. My old friends who quit back in 2003-2004 are slowly returning to the game now. This is what Star Wars Galaxies should have been since launch. This feels like KOTOR3, and I am very excited for the future of this game.
Best Regards,
Staffan "JemyM" Bengtsson
Well folks, there were a lot of these emails. A lot. A ton. As we expected. The Galaxies community has been one of the most vocal for years now. Sometimes it's a little much, but this was one of those issues that we were pretty sketched about as well. Changing the whole dynamic of the game is pretty intense. Whether it turns out to be good in the long run or not, I'm still scratching my head about why they didn't just create a sequel and ditch the game altogether. They've said they like the foundation� I don't completely know what to think.
Opinions on whether this is a good change or not are obviously widely varied. A lot of people feel ripped off, especially after the update came out a day after the expansion pack launched, which really is a bunch of crap and I apologize for skipping over that part. I was trying to organize my thoughts when writing the piece and it slipped through. That was a big thing to slip through.
Any shady business decisions aside, I still think the game looks like more fun than it ever did before. I hear it has a lot of bugs however. Our own Steve Butts (a man with much more Galaxies experience than myself) will be writing up a closer look at the changes as well as the Obi-Wan expansion in the coming weeks so keep your eyes out for that.
--Dan
And now I must craft some snide responses to those who dare to disagree!
Since you guys have taken such an impartial stance on comparing the 360 to a PC, allow me to balance the scale.
1. Yes, the new launch lineup is pretty weak compared to the previous XBOX lineup, but it's obviously strong enough to send people out to storefronts and have them sleep overnight in tents in the cold like earthquake refugees. I can easily gurantee that no PC will EVER do that, not even with the launch of Vista. Also, the early 2006 lineup owns house already and all it needs in 1 game to start the four year long thrust; GEARS OF WAR and eventually, Halo 3 will rise.
2. The image quality has only begun to be exploited. Match Point: GEARS OF WAR. 360 will surpass the computers and eventually be challanged, but by then, you will have wasted $ on a new comp to do all of the same but play better games (point of vista) and well have saved up for a new system.
3. Prices. Xbox- $400. + games and acc including live- about $250 depending on what type of gamer you are. HD TV- $2000-8000 (go big or go home) * optional. Approx 6 grand if you go all out. Besides, the systems can do more and more PC- like functions these days.
PC (HD,ram, mem,vid card,sound card,speakers ect.)- $1000-3000(go big or go home) Monitor- $1200 Software,warranty on an expensive hunk of metal, special XPS tech support and any other BS that dell decides to overcharge on - $1000
Approx 4.5 grand if you go big
But wait, PC's are good for more than gaming... Becuase we all need a 5 thousand dollar pc to browse the internet and type right? (or write letters to computer band wagon editors becuase we couldn't get a 360 thanks to the damed refugees...)
What about the sweet new HD TV we just got for our living room and multiple user counsel for friends?
3. Controllers rule the shooter world. Why you ask? Well: there are no cramps, faster, more comfortable in the long term, and wireless keyboards and mouses don't work. Oh yeah, It's really hard to feel like a gun totin' hero when using a dorky keyboard and mouse that don't even have vibration.
4. We dont have to upgrade our systems to be able to handel the next gen of online games without lagging and Well never get Viruses, HA!
Bottom line, PC's are just not worth blowing major cash on when all they will generally be used for is gaming, browsing,music,typing and dirty videos. Wouldn't you rather have a beastly new gaming system(360) and a tankly new TV? My old comp will do just fine for now thanks. *although I do want to play the next strategy games (';
-- Jordan G.
Indeed! Spoken like someone who didn't read the article or spent thousands of dollars of his parents' money on a 360 utopia! And written with carriage returns at the end of every line. Well played, Jordan.
--Tom
Great comparision guys. I actually didn't think the article was too biased. It's obvious that the 360 doesn't quite justify the $400 plus bucks right now. Not to say it's not going to be great because GOW looks amazing! So, 360 will be good, im pretty sure of it, but I'm going to take your advice and wait a little while for some AAA games. As far as the PS3 is concerns, well, I'll leave that for another day. But I think PC does have more to worry about with the release of Sony's new hardware than Microsoft's. Great article though guys, this will show everyone that you guys might have your favorites and whatnot, but a least you try to be unbiased. And really, we're all human so that's all you can ask for. Good work!!!!
--Smilez
I read IGN PS3's article, Patience 360, and it failed to make any solid arguments. It was all one-sided, and really didn't say anything about the good things XBOX 360 offers. The article was even childish at times. The IGN PC staff did much better at their article. They stated pros and cons of both XBOX 360 and PC. The IGN PC staff definitely has my respect for being talented, unbiased writers. I guess you may know already, though, that about every XBOX gamer also has a PC. Thanks for the great article, IGN PC.
-- Gabriel G.
Thanks man, we've actually gotten a few good responses about the feature and a few pieces of hate directed at the PS2 guys. I think their article actually makes some good points, though I think in some cases they might have been stretching it a bit� which I also think they knew they were doing. Thank you for the kind words though, it's good to know that people appreciate at least some of what we do every day!
--Dan
Umm... You guys are forgetting the fact that if there is indeed something wrong with a game, you can patch it to make it do what it's supposed to do on a pc, which makes me wonder why they dont implement something on console gaming where you can download patches onto the hard drive and fix problems like that too. Just a thought.
-- Terence M.
Ah, we were doing so well for that stretch. Terence, if I wanted to patch my games, I'd buy a computer!
--Tom
man i really wish the xbox360 controlller worked with pc. it actually works terribly on the pc, i figured this out a while ago because i wanted to play nhl 06 and tiger woods 06 and nba 06 and none of them work properly with the xbox 360 controller. i wish they would work because these games suck with the mouse and keyboard combo, but it sucks 10 times more when you go buy a 40 dollar xbox360 controller thinking it will work well.
--Andrew
Well that blows. I know that Jon Robinson had problems getting the controller to work with NBA Live 06, but other people around here haven't had a problem with any other games they've given a chance. I guess we'll have to see how compatible this controller really is. Sounds like a feature! Tom, get on it.
Dan
Yeah i like the comparison you wrote on PC vs 360. I myself was going to purchase the 360, but like you I didn't like the lineup of games, the stores around me only sell bundles $500 and up. Also, I own a a pretty good PC... amd64 athlon 4000, 1GB of RAM... ATI Radeon 800XL, and yeah you're right, the online gaming is more fun on the PC. Now with that money, I'm gonna go buy microsoft stocks. Thanks for the report, you helped me save 500 dollars. Haha.
-- J
You said exactly what I've been thinking...the same arguments you've provided are the EXACT same reasons I've been putting off getting a 360. That, and the fact that I'm still having an orgasm from plugging my 7800gt into my 50' HDTV, there's so much going on, on the screen that it's almost too much to comprehend. Just saying, good article, screw the 360 right now...power to the PC!
P.S. CoD2 looks so much better on my box than it does on the 360, and it's not that good of a game to headline anyways...who wants to start a game out as the Russians anyways?
-- Kyle Mish
I'm a Systems Admin and have a love relationship with computers. I upgrade my PC about every six months and admit that I would rather play a FPS with a mouse and keyboard than a controller any day. I had to wait for Halo to come out on the PC to be able to play it (I think Retro got it right with Metroid Prime). I own a GameCube and have now picked up my 360 (I will probably get the revolution too) and can't wait to play it. I love the Age of Empires series and Battle for Middle Earth and they must be played with the mouse and keyboard so there are a lot of strong points going for the PC.
But the number one reason that consoles are better (IN MY OPINION) and why PC games irritate me is that no matter how many times I slap that disk into a console it WORKS! Since I am a computer/hardware junkie I upgrade for the thrill but computer games never take advantage of the hardware that is already out. Now I realize that this is not the game developer's faults but hardware life cycles but it still annoys me.
PC Specs:
AMD X2 4000+
BFG Gforce 6800 overclocked (AGP)
3 GIG PC3200 RAM
SATA drives
AND CALL OF DUTY 2 STILL RUNS LIKE CRAP! (I shouldn't have to play it in DirectX 7)
Thank you,
Keith Grey
A.K.A. TheIrishWolf
PS You guys do a great job across all the sites with your non-bias opinions, that's why I pay for the subscription!
Yes, an excellent point, Keith. I too would like to just put it in and play. See kids, a little butt-kissing goes a long way!
--Tom
Awesome article. My feelings exactly! I am so glad that it has been made public. This also helps Nintendo out because, I'm a PC gammer and I want a "Revolution" because it offers something new and different. I stayed out of the last generation console race due to my PC rockin' with exception to gamecube late in it's life for the Nintendo exclusives. I'd have to say that the PC and Nintedo system is the route to go for maximum gamming.
--Chris
Brilliant review of the xb360, except however as you are hopelessly biased against it you have forgotten to inform everyone that an nvidia 7800 GTX video card which costs �300+ can't actually play any video game, nope, nought, nothing!, infact is as useful as a chocolate fireguard, without the rest of the pc. And unless you plan to stick the card in some crusty old 486 you'll be buying the rest of the pc as well.
It will probably cost you well over �1500 to purchase a pc that compares with the 360. Why not purchase a �280 xbox 360? If you really want to nit pick shell out another �800 for a 32" lcd HDTV and still have plenty of change? Any have the ability to watch HDTV broadcasts as they are meant to be! Want to surf the web purchase a �500 quid pc.
What about multiplayer? Fine Pc's can use network connections or the internet to play multiplayer. What if you don't have two pcs or a network, or internet? Don't think a pc can allow four players to use�one machine as once!
I'm not buying a xb360 to write a letter or do a spreadsheet! Its a bloody games console. I'm buying a xb360 to play games.
Don't be biased against the xb360 saying its expensive, just remember you can get a xb360 for less than the price of a decent video card alone, and without the continuous 6 month upgrade cycle of the pc world. That xb360 will last for 4 - 5 years making it extremely cheap.
Regards,
S. Dickinson
I'm sorry, I'm going to have to call you on that one, S. Although a video card cannot play a game, it is likewise impossible to purchase a 360 that does not come with a half dozen copies of Barbie Horse Adventure 360. I exaggerate slightly. And as it turns out, that expensive HDTV could also be used... as a computer monitor. Have at you!
--Tom
PC guys at IGN,
Not writing to complain but to agree with that your article said about PC vs. 360. Main reason I agree is that most of Xbox's games are on the PC and play better on the PC. That is why, after my original Xbox broke, I sold it, instead of getting a new one. But after the reflex controller comes out, Console FPS players might have another argument against PC players. I know the superiority that a mouse and keyboard bring to a FPS over a controller, but my hands can't take using a mouse and keyboard for too long and the Reflex controller will be a wonderful replacement and possibly bring FPS on a console to a closer level to the PC. I am on your side and I will wait until the 360 pumps out better games. Oh, one final thing, if you guys to read this, this there anyway to get the old school sierra games(quest for glory) to run well on a new PC?
Thanks,
Greg
yea the 360's graphics arent very impressive, and i'm not going to buy one,
the console market still boasts alot of benefits to gamers everywhere-
the question is why is it so crazy to suggest doing a few simple things with the next gen consoles-
*giving monitor hookups to them- awesome, no new hdtv, just go get a high def computer monitor for 1/1000 the price
* allowing you to hook up standard keyboards and mice into usb ports- why in gods name hasnt anyone allowed this... it would make pc gamers so much more interested in consoles and expand the console market.
*it would increase game innovation, kind of like the revolution's new controller, except in a good way this time. :)
* imagine it, buy a console, and then hook up the mouse and keyboard and monitor you already own and experience high def out of the box. awesome.
*game consoles aren't a total rip off. (unlike other things :) you can buy a ps3 for 400 dollars that will do things no computer can, for less than you would pay for a high end graphics card... i love pc games and i love my mouse, but i'm all for allowing game consoles to hook up pc equipment to them.
* developers already know w hat to expect from consoles, they can give everyone the exact same and equal experience, because they dont have to worry about accommodating for a variety of types of systems, thus more fair and competitive online gameplay.
--- we already have internet connection biases, do we really need system biases too?
* i realize that consoles may not encorporate certain luxuries such as word typing programs, video editing etc... but it seems to me like everything i ever needed a computer for was stuff that a 50$ yard sale one could do. gamers should be able to enjoy the GAMING benefits that come from pc's (mouse, keyboard, patches, high def monitors) without having to go out and buy a 3,000 dollar new desktop.
* i'm not saying pc gaming should every die, but I think that everything about my pc that i ever enjoyed could be easily encorporated into these next gen consoles(mouse,keyboard,patches,monitor)
while everything i ever hated (viruses, crap system, spyware, etc...) could be left out.
i love my pc, but the fact that i have to keep shelling out thousands of dollars to keep it up to date when all i really want are the things i listed above... that is bulls---.
**consoles are currently able to give every pc gamer what they want. for some stupid ass reason they havent.... could you address this?
just think if you could buy a 360 and hook it up to all your pc peripherals without buying anything new. that would be awesome.
it would greatly expand the strategy game market, just a total increase in game development because games that run better on pc equipment could be sold and ported to consoles too. better games, more games, more innovative games i cannot comprehend why the things above havent been done.
thanks,
houdini
This a rather disorganized list of pros and cons, respectfully. But since it's a long letter, you must have some good arguments in there somewhere. I hope you do, because I didn't really read it!
--Tom
And now for something completely different...
Star Wars Galaxies Stuff
I just love the way you gloss over the fact that these fundamental changes were announced 1 DAY after the public release of the Trails of Obi-wan expansion. Part of that release was promised equipment upgrades to classes that are slotted for the recycle bin. Bait and switch is what that sounds like if you ask a lot of the Creature Handler community.
--Paul
In your interview the DEVs say it's like Diablo or a FPS, which is a huge change from a MMORPG. I might add that most FPS or games like Diablo dont charge subscription fees.
Even if this new combat system is fun, how long will it be fun for? Even with all the problems I have played SWG for over two years. I cannot see playing a game with one fire and one special button for more then a few hours before it gets boring. SOE/LA should just come out and say PC players are beta testers for the PS3 version of SWG because most veteran players think thats what this is all about.
Needless to say I have cancled my accounts and most people I know in game in game have too. A few are going to hang around but will be very lonely until the PS3 or XBOX360 versions come out and that's if they dont make console specific Servers. Sadly I could go on and on how badly SOE has treated their player base but I am trying to keep this short.
--Gregt55
Hello all-
�
I feel very comfortable being able to write to you guys and express my feelings about the upcoming combat upgrade for Star Wars: Galaxies. While most fans have already done so on the Galaxy forums, I feel I can here without someone flaming me, calling me all those wonderful internet terms like "noob" (spelling it however they feel like), and many other wonderfully creative ways to make me feel like my opinion is full of it and not worth the dime. It's on this subject that I am writing.
�
First off, I am a relatively new player. I came into the game about a week after the first CU. I waited so long because now I'm positive I can afford college as well as drop an extra $15 a month for the game. Nevertheless, I find myself to be very eager to try out the new CU system. I don't hate the old system; But it will be nice to see some true Star Wars-esq fighting finally. Scaling down the professions to 9 core ones is a bit dramatic for me, and I am going to have to wait to see if they are as good as the ones now. I understand why SOE decided to do this to help balance things out, but it will be interesting to see if the means are justified in the end. I'm worried about my character and his place in the next week or so, and I'm worried about the equipment I've labored to get in the time I've spent on the galaxy. These are issues that are going to be dealt with, and whatever the outcome I am sure I can live through it and if need be grind-up to the point where I can keep using the weapons and armor I have.
�
It is weird, though. I regularly read the forums at the Galaxies web-page and for some time I always hear about how unbalanced this is, how un-Star Wars-like that is, and how much this game sucks in general and how people are always wanting to cancel accounts. I sometimes wonder what they do with their lives when they aren't playing this game and aren't posting on the forums. There must be people over the age of twenty on the forums, but for the most part it seems like a lot are in high school. When this was announced I was as shocked as everyone else, but my immediate reaction was not to run around screaming like Chicken Little, but to keep an open mind, which these days is regarded as "the corporate answer" to many.
�
I'm looking forward to the upgrade. If it really sucks, then I get to see if they fix it. If they don't, then I keep and extra fifteen bucks a month. It sucks to lose a fun gaming experience, but there are so many games out there that I can give a try for only a flat fee of forty to fifty bucks. Of course, trying to find the money to pay for them is the next great challenge.
�
Thanks for letting me express my view.
--Dan
You asked for feedback, here's some.
�
The people who actually liked Star Wars Galaxies during the past two years is a very small minority.Compared to the Star Wars Fans out in the world, the people who actually liked SWG are a drop in the ocean.
The Star Wars License have a huge potential, but the original SWG just had everything wrong.
I have been playing the game for about one and a half year now. Most of my friends quit after a few weeks due to A) No content, just barren wastelands, no quests�and no reason to pvp�B) The endless boring questless�grind that you are mostly forced to do yourself�C) No Star Wars feel and a system that works against using the iconic Star Wars stuff (Stormtrooper Armor and Han Solo's DL44 were among the worst items in the game, while Composite Armor and Power Hammers (neither present in books or in the movies) was the best you could have).
Up to now I have been ashamed for the amount of time I spent in the glorified anti-starwars chat known as SWG. With the new publish it's the first time in one and a half year I can wholeheartily recommend Star Wars Galaxies to my friends. The NGE have made it to exactly what it should have been in the first place. The "Dungeons & Dragons" style professions where finally axed, and the new game is filled over the edge with quests and storydriven content.
�
With the new game, roles are back. There's a need for each one of the 9 professions, compared to just 4-6 professions and 31 broken ones. A Medic will truly feel worthy now. (What good was 35 professions when people just played 5 cookie-cutter templates and the BH vs Jedi war represented more than 90% of the game.)
�
With the new game, loot is back. There's heaps of loot. Heaps of things to do. Heaps of things to explore. Before this change a pve fan could do little but go to dathomir to kill nightsisters. That's pretty much what we have done for the past year. This morning I spent 4 hours straight running quests for iconic star wars characters, and for the first time since I started the game I had fun. Really fun.
�
Even Jedi now have heaps of content. If you where not interested in bumping a "pvp rating"�value upwards, there where absolutely no content at all for a Jedi back before the NGE. At best, PvE players who seeked content was hunted down and griefed by teenage kids playing Bounty Hunters that could be created in less than a week. Not to mention about 70% of Jedi was broken.
Thoose who are leaving Star Wars�now were just in the game for the system. The�Star Wars fans left ages ago. And there was never anything unique with the system. Some players liked it becouse it was easy to build a supertemplate that could beat absolute everything that did not pick the "key stuff". They where never here becouse of Star Wars.
The NGE is supposed to impress Star Wars fans, and it shows. My old friends who quit back in 2003-2004 are slowly returning to the game now. This is what Star Wars Galaxies should have been since launch. This feels like KOTOR3, and I am very excited for the future of this game.
Best Regards,
Staffan "JemyM" Bengtsson
Well folks, there were a lot of these emails. A lot. A ton. As we expected. The Galaxies community has been one of the most vocal for years now. Sometimes it's a little much, but this was one of those issues that we were pretty sketched about as well. Changing the whole dynamic of the game is pretty intense. Whether it turns out to be good in the long run or not, I'm still scratching my head about why they didn't just create a sequel and ditch the game altogether. They've said they like the foundation� I don't completely know what to think.
Opinions on whether this is a good change or not are obviously widely varied. A lot of people feel ripped off, especially after the update came out a day after the expansion pack launched, which really is a bunch of crap and I apologize for skipping over that part. I was trying to organize my thoughts when writing the piece and it slipped through. That was a big thing to slip through.
Any shady business decisions aside, I still think the game looks like more fun than it ever did before. I hear it has a lot of bugs however. Our own Steve Butts (a man with much more Galaxies experience than myself) will be writing up a closer look at the changes as well as the Obi-Wan expansion in the coming weeks so keep your eyes out for that.
--Dan
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