Tag: Sony

Horizon Forbidden West vs Elden Ring: Criticizing What We Don’t Like and Not Criticizing What We Do Like

A woman with red hair in braids on the left side and a man in armor with a large halberd and a lion-like monster behind him on the right. Words in picture = Horizon Forbidden West vs Elden Ring
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDyIG5ba9FQ

I often wonder if people will interpret my posts detailing the ways in which Sony and its Playstation brand is perceived as opposed to Microsoft and its XBox brand as simple “fanboyism,” bias towards the Playstation brand, and a perpetuation of the “console wars.” However, I want to assure you, the bias isn’t mine, per se, but simply a recognition that the bias exists in the general public, especially in the news/gaming media, which, while reporting the news, doesn’t do enough to acknowledge their own biases and the fact that they also make the news as well. I’ve found two differing examples with two differing (and well respected YouTube channels/review outlets) to illustrate how these biases display themselves and why it is important to pay attention to them and to point them out.

Exhibit 1: YouTube Channel–HDTVTest & Horizon Forbidden West

So, this is a YouTube channel that I followed for a while (approx. two years) and in that time, while I’ve noticed a slight bias towards Microsoft, for the most part, I felt that he kept his channel fairly “evenhanded” and produced a fair amount of content for Playstation (even going so far as to purchase 2 PS5s in order to test various settings. However, I started to notice things going a little “off the rails” (with me) with his videos on the PS5’s HDR display settings. When I tried his “method,” it didn’t look right and was far too dark. Moving to AVForums recommended settings for the TV and using the in-built PS5 setting “correctly” game me a picture more in line with what I was expecting. While HDTVTest has years of calibration and is certified, so too is the crew at AVForums, so credibility isn’t the issue.

However, what is the issue is that HDTVTest (for some reason) is unhappy with the HDR performance of Sony Playstation’s newest flagship game, Horizon Forbidden West as you can see in the following videos (which caused me to unsubscribe to his channel) in stark contrast to Digital Foundry who noted the inconsistencies, but found that they didn’t impact the overall presentation of the game in any significant way.

Video #1 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3pyEiLmOeM&t=170s

Video #2 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPMW4RqTR8g&t=10s

Now, I’m not sure what’s going on with HDTVTest who usually discusses televisions and only rarely jumps into video game/computer/console gaming areas (although he sometimes covers games in order to prove a point such as Fortnite and Dirt 5), but let’s say you’re an average consumer, who’s subscribed to HDTVTest, but not Digital Foundry. You might be PERSUADED to think that the Playstation lacked correct visual fidelity and not want to buy a game that isn’t visually “perfect” without understanding that this is actually a “PS5 Graphics Masterclass” (Digital Foundry’s words, not mine).

Exhibit 2: Game Informer & Elden Ring (specifically, PC Version)

The second exhibit is Game Informer and the new release of Elden Ring. Now, there has been a lot of hype for the Elden Ring game, so much so, that I question the impartiality of many reviews by many media outlets. Game Informer, in particular, is one of the media outlets that has been really “bullish” on this game since it was announced and just game the game a “perfect” 10 for its review of the game.

Game Informer Elden Ring Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aUEN2iLtxY

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I hear that a piece of media (especially, a game) gets a “perfect score,” then I expect a perfect (or near perfect) experience in ALL aspects. From character, to gameplay (for games), to story, visuals, etc. However, Digital Foundry, once again, notes the strengths and weaknesses of Elden Ring, especially the places where the performance of the game simply isn’t up to snuff. While a personal decision, a couple of the Digital Foundry editors note that they are putting off playing the game until the performance issues are addressed on PC, and they also note the two ways in which console gamers can get the best experience (PS4 Pro version played on a Playstation 5 or Xbox Series X with a VRR display).

Again, I don’t know about you, but these compromises don’t indicate a “Perfect 10” score. At no point would another (non-hyped) game receive such a great score with a less than stellar performance on either the PC or Console. And it’s not just this particular outlet–last I heard, Elden Ring was the highest rated game on Metacritic, so there are a LOT of outlets who have “minimized” the performance aspect of the game simply because it is a game that they like and want to see to do well. While fine, outlets need to be transparent about this particular “bias,” acknowledge it, and then move on with the review.

Closing Arguments

Bias is one of the most important things that is a part of media that isn’t addressed. Many places claim impartiality, but either ignore/minimize their own likes and dislikes and don’t address them in any meaningful way. Forbes, for instance, has an implicit bias towards Microsoft based on many of their articles that (praise) Microsoft and excoriate Sony. Forbes‘ gaming editorial unit (based on wording of articles/way coverage is unevenly applied) would be very happy to see Sony disappear from the gaming landscape and to see Microsoft dominate (without noting the many negatives that Microsoft have introduced into gaming).

Warning: Foul Language

While I pick on Forbes, HDTVTest, and Game Informer for this post, this is endemic in the media and is a problem that doesn’t need to be–simply acknowledge your biases in the review (we like Elden Ring and want to see it succeed, therefore we aren’t going to penalize it for certain gameplay issues) or (we don’t like Sony and so we are going to penalize them for not being absolutely perfect on everything they do). However, no one either wants to admit to having bias in stories or that they actually are biased and would prefer one thing/outcome over another. Even with bias in their stories, they still want to appear as impartial as possible because impartiality (even false) aids in credibility.

Credibility is something that’s earned, not innate. If you’re not going actually be impartial (aka liking both Microsoft and Sony, for example), then please, stop trying to pretend that you are impartial. It’s not only disingenuous, but it also really kind of silly once someone starts looking at the language (negative and positive language) used in the story.

Also, if a game isn’t perfect and doesn’t play perfectly, then it really isn’t a “perfect 10” is it? No matter how much you like it and want it to be.

Sidney

Please consider supporting these fine small press publishers where my work has appeared:

Currently Working On (February 2022):

  • The Runner (Fantasy Story–4000 words)
    2022 Revision; Out to Market.
  • Unhallowed (Weird Western Story–4400 words)
    2022 Revision: Completed; Out to Market.
  • The Independent (Science Fiction Story–4800 words)
    2021 Revision: ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION

Platinum Journey: Horizon Zero Dawn (Playstation 4)

Aloy (female hero with a bow) fighting a robot tyrannosaur in a green landscape with decaying skyscrapers in the background.
Source: https://www.guerrilla-games.com/games

Today is the release date for Horizon Forbidden West, sequel to the 2017 hit for the Playstation 4 game, Horizon Zero Dawn. As I work on grading and assignments, I will delve a little into the newest game over the weekend, but probably not a lot as I have quite a bit of work to do. However, as I’ve earned the Platinum Trophy for Horizon Zero Dawn just a few weeks ago, I wanted to take a moment just to talk about the 1st game and my experiences with it now that I’ve completed it.

Horizon Zero Dawn

I’m not 100% sure, but I think Horizon Zero Dawn is the longest game it has taken me to achieve a Platinum Trophy in on the Playstation consoles that I’ve owned. The game is brilliant, make not mistakes about it–and it has recently been ported to PCs, so now others outside the Playstation ecosystem can see what all the fuss is about it. It is a 3rd person, open-world, action adventure game with stealth elements, much like the Assassin’s Creed series. It has a science fiction premise with “robotic animals” as its central hook. The game is graphically amazing and the story really drew me in.

I have been a fan of this game since its initial reveal trailer all those years ago. Everything from the world, the mystery, the story, and the protagonist really intrigued me and I bought it right away.

2017 – 2022

However, this was just before I really started having financial issues brought on my graduate school and I didn’t have a lot of time to devote to it due to my classwork and teaching duties, so it kind of faded to the background as other games would get released.

I would pick it up and play it periodically, making progress is fits and starts. Part of the issue is that I really like action games and want to play games in that fashion. However, HZD has a heavy stealth component and rewards players who are stealthy in their gameplay, especially at low levels. High level players can pretty much play how they want, but at low levels, games like this are pretty punishing.

I had to learn how to play this game effectively by playing through and “Platinuming” (getting the Platinum Trophies) for other 3rd person open world action/stealth games like Assassin’s Creed Origins and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. I used strategies learned in those games to help me with this one.

I also learned a bit from a student who I had in my Themes in Literature: Science Fiction class. He had completed the game and gave me tips on taking out a creature that I was stuck on (the Thunderjaw) and his tips really helped me develop a strategy for reliably taking out the creature and getting past the place where I had been stuck.

Outstanding Story

I’m not going into any story spoilers here because this is a game where you really want to learn and enjoy the story for yourself. The story in this game is incredible! It really is something special in the terms of normal video game narratives and deserves to be explored and experienced by the player.

One thing that I really like is that they tell the story in multitude of ways: traditional cutscenes, main quests, side quests, conversation trees, “codex” like entries, audio “codices,” and “interactive” in-game holograms. Each one of these methods have a piece of the story and you put the story together and form a whole after interacting with these various story “pieces.” I really like this design and feel that it is a great way to tell the story.

Game Rating/Platinum Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This was both an enjoyable game to play and experience as well as a fun one to do all the in-game “trophies” and get the Platinum Trophy. There was only one really frustrating trophy (doing the trials), but it was more irritating that truly frustrating, as you had to do them all to get the corresponding trophy. I enjoyed playing the game and I hope that it doesn’t take me another 5 years or so to play and complete (and hopefully Platinum) the sequel, Horizon Forbidden West! Great game!

Great work, Guerrilla Games and Sony Playstation!

Sidney

Please consider supporting these fine small press publishers where my work has appeared:

Currently Working On (February 2022):

  • The Runner (Fantasy Story–4000 words)
    2022 Revision; Out to Market.
  • Unhallowed (Weird Western Story–4400 words)
    2022 Revision: Completed; Out to Market.
  • The Independent (Science Fiction Story–4800 words)
    2021 Revision: ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION

Microsoft Being Microsoft Yet Again: Or, THIS is the Reason Microsoft Should Have Been “Broken Up” in the 1990s

Say No to Monopolies. Has a picture of the Windows logo with a red circle and slash through the logo.
Source: http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/766881.html

MONOPOLY. Definition = a company or group having exclusive control over a commodity or service.

I just want the definition of a “monopoly” established at the outset. Microsoft and its many American fans would have you to believe the Microsoft isn’t a “monopoly.” Their argument, tenuous as it is, is that there are always other players in whatever market they dominate/want to dominate. Apple in the computer market/operating system market, Sony in the video game market, Chrome/Firefox in the browser market, Google in the Search Engine market, etc. and etc., ad naseum. There is always supposed competition in that market (even when there really isn’t). Let’s be absolutely clear: Microsoft is a monopoly and it uses its monopoly advantage to destroy competition in a market that it decides it wants to dominate to detriment to consumers.

I wrote a blog entry that Microsoft has projected a different “corporate image,” but that underneath, it is the exact same corporate culture practicing the exact same anti-competitive practices as always, and the recent acquisitions of Bethesda and Activision simply prove my point, no matter what their vaunted “marketing department” says about the company. The old adage proves true once again: if you want to know about a person (or in this case a company), watch what they do, not what they say.

Windows (Where is the Competition?)

Go to your local Target, Walmart, or other retailer and try to buy a PC with a different operating system other than Windows and report back when you do. Notice, I said, a PC, not a Chromebook, which runs on a different (much lower spec system than a traditional PC), nor did I say an Apple computer, which like a Chromebook, is its own separate classification of machine (just on the higher end typically). No, I said a PC. I’ll wait . . .

Still waiting . . .

And I could keep this going, but the realistic fact is, you can’t. Oh, if you know someone (or know how), you can use speciality OSs like Ubuntu and Linux, but in day-to-day reality, if you’re buying a PC, then you’re buying a computer running Windows for which Microsoft has been paid a licensing fee by the PC manufacturer, which has probably been passed to you, the consumer, in the purchase price of the machine. Now, multiply that buy how ever many PCs (not Chromebooks/Macs) are sold each year all around the world and you have 1) a de facto monopoly and 2) a revenue stream that completely dwarfs the GDP of many 3rd World Nations (Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-tech-giants-worth-compared-economies-countries/). And Microsoft knows that Chromebooks and Macs aren’t equivalent products to Windows (they don’t compete for the same customer base usually), but it has lobbying power to convince many techno-illiterate lawmakers otherwise who only see a computer as something with a screen and keyboard and who don’t understand the nuance behind it all.

Thanks to this de facto monopoly status, Microsoft has far more money than it should because there’s no real competition in its marketplace. If there was a, I don’t know, call it a “Portal OS” for lack of a better example, that controlled 40% of the operating system market, then 1) Microsoft’s profits would be far less because 40% of it would be going to another company and 2) Microsoft would have spend more money (of their 60% market share revenue) on R&D to keep their lead and stay ahead of “Portal OS” and not let them gain even more marketshare. Returning to the same example with Sony, for a moment, we see that in the TV space where Sony competes, there’s LG, Samsung, and Song, not to mention the TCL and Hisenses of the world. Windows has no real competition and it lets Microsoft get away with things that it normally wouldn’t be able to due (Microsoft Cloud Services, Gamepass’s low price subsidies, purchasing Bethesda and Activision, for example).

Bethesda and Activision

Why are these bad for consumers? Microsoft has the (ill-gotten) money, after all. These are bad for consumers because it removes choice from the equation for the consumer. If you want these brands that were once available to both/multiple consoles, now you have only one choice. You remove competition (the very life-blood that Americans say makes our capitalist system the best choice). See, we Americans say we want competition as it makes companies compete for our dollars and makes products better, until we rally around 1 dominant team/company/thing that we see as a “winner.” Once we’ve identified a “winner,” then all pretext of fairness goes out the (pardon the pun) window, and we back that one, even if it HURTS us in the long run.

Here, there’s no competition happening with the purchase of Bethesda and Activision. We have 1 winner: Microsoft and 3 losers: 1) Sony 2) Nintendo and 3) Competition. The only way for Sony and Nintendo to fight this move is to 1) retaliate in kind with other consolidations, forcing fewer and fewer choices on the consumer or 2) ignore Microsoft and hope that their own moves will be sufficient. At no point is the consumer served with less choice.

Now, I can already see some of my Microsoft X-Box adherents warming up their keyboards about Sony’s exclusive first party games. The difference there is that Sony had expend time, resources, and talent to create those games, market them, all under the pressures of competition in Sony’s respective markets. Sony doesn’t have/didn’t have a monopoly to gather unlimited resources; per my point with Windows, Microsoft did. Sony is, to use an Americanism, “succeeding while playing by the rules” in a market economy. Great games people want to play while having to compete in its various industries. Microsoft, not so much. Thanks to all the money its been able to wrack up year after year without a robust competitor in its Operating System market, it can simply “cherry pick” and buy what’s hot/best without having to do any work. Microsoft is essentially given a “free pass” in the American market system while Sony has to fight on ALL FRONTS and then create a compelling game; Microsoft only has to see someone else develop a compelling game and say, “right, thanks to our pot of (again, pardon the pun) ‘Monopoly money,’ we’re going to acquire that.”

Internet Explorer . . . Oops, I Meant Internet “Edge”

Now, we’ve already seen what happens when Microsoft comes to dominate a product category. In the mid to late 90s, everyone thought that the browser would be the ticket to internet dominance, not the search engine. Netscape Navigator was the king of the browsers and ran just fine on Microsoft Windows. However, Microsoft decided they wanted to be king of the browser space and leveraged their position as, say it with me, a monopoly, to bundle Internet Explorer in with every copy of Windows, thereby killing off Navigator and other Window-based browsers for a time. However, when it became clear that 1) Microsoft was number 1 in the browser wars and 2) that internet dominance would be fought in the realms of the search engine, Microsoft let IE languish. It was completely moribund product for several years until Chrome and Firefox came back on the scene, pushing the browser forward from Microsoft’s uncaring snubbing of their own number 1 product. A few years ago, IE was “retired,” and Microsoft “Edge” took its place. However, since it is no longer interested in “the browser wars,” Microsoft has chosen not to expend capital (i.e., money) to purchase ANY major browser technologies to push past its rivals. It is content, again because there’s no interest in the company in being number 1 in the browser category, to let both Firefox and Chrome claim the lion’s share of the browser market. It doesn’t have to “compete” in that market (no money/prestige to be gained), so it chooses to sit on the sidelines while other companies innovate. Because it is a monopoly, it doesn’t HAVE to expend resources, where another company (like Sony) who is competing has to compete in every market category it is a part of (video games, TVs, VR, headphones) or risk being overwhelmed by its competition. For example, Sony did the first lower priced VR headset and while it did well, wasn’t as well regarded as its more expensive (& feature rich) PC competitors. Rather than give up on the category (a la Microsoft with Internet Explorer or Zune or any of a number of failed Microsoft products/initiatives that I could name), Sony has had to spend time, resources, and money to create a successor product (PS VR2) that seems to be more in line with what consumers value. Microsoft either buys a company in order to compete or it leaves the category all together.

The Media and Congress Should Know Better

In closing, I fault much of this on the American media and the American congressional system. Yes, Microsoft’s lobbying efforts and marketing are legion, but neither the media nor congress has done their jobs.

The media, instead of investigating and talking about these issues, act very much like cheerleaders and marketing arms for Microsoft. I hate to call out news organizations, but the video game arm of Forbes in particular, is one such outlet that I have to call out. I’ve regularly read their coverage on the video game industry for the past 2 years or so via their inclusion with the “Playstation News feed” on Google. I’ve found that they regularly act as a “cheerleading” arm for Microsoft with coverage that tend to favor Microsoft and whenever Sony is deigned to be mentioned, it is usually backhanded a best and downright negative at worst–so much so, that I’ve stopped reading them and I no longer consider them a credible/unbiased resource (at least for video game coverage). There are several other major organizations who should be looking at with a more jaundiced eye at this deal, but only a few are: Digital Trends for example. Why, I wonder, is Digital Trends doing the work that Forbes should have done? Even The Motley Fool seems to be more interested in the money/company strategies than Forbes is with this story and about Microsoft in general. Now, Forbes isn’t the only guilty party in terms of cheerleading rather than actually presenting news about Microsoft in an unbiased way–there are quite a few publications and outlets who have been gulled by Microsoft’s money, influence, and power, the same company, by the way, who only a few short years ago ticked them all off with their disastrous and abortive Xbox One strategy. Now, however, a few years of Gamepass (which is STILL $14.99 a month = $179.88 a year, I might add, which is over $350 for 2 years, closing in on the price a console or a budget TV, by the way), a couple of high profile acquisitions, and all these outlets are ready to bow down at the alter of Microsoft.

In Closing

“Major” PC Operating System(s): Windows

Game Engines: Unity, Unreal, CryEngine 3, IDTech, Luminous, Frostbite, etc.

TV Manufacturers: Sony, LG, Hisense, TCL, Samsung, Vizio, Panasonic, etc.

Phone Manufacturers: Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc.

“Major” PC Operating System(s): Windows

Again, the criteria here isn’t that there aren’t other operating systems, but rather, are there viable alternatives that you can go to a store and buy? Can you get an OS on PC that you purchase in general circumstances, Walmart, Bestbuy, etc. that you can generally walk in and buy. Both Chrome OS/MacOs requires purchase of a particular type of hardware and, in general, Linux requires you to put it on your system after purchase or during a “build.” In reality, there’s only 1 operating system for PCs and as the definition above states: 1 = a monopoly.

While I have no illusions that Microsoft will ever be broken up (we Americans seem to no longer have the stomach for such things now that “business people” have inculcated themselves in the American political landscape), but at least there are still people in America who aren’t Microsoft cheerleaders and are willing to at least “question” the legality of Microsoft’s moves, even if it will (most likely) come to nothing: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/01/19/microsoft-has-avoided-hot-seat-years-its-new-mega-deal-may-change-that/.

Microsoft’s recent moves are nothing short of using its lack of competition (in one market) to its advantage (in another market). Now, business is business, but I have to question this fact: if competition makes it better for the consumer, why is no one questioning the lack of competition that Microsoft has in its PC Operating System and why is no one questioning how the money/revenue/profit is being used in other markets. I’m going to end this post with the words of Jesse Lennox from Digital Trends:

“Games have already been feeling less risky and exciting with development taking more time and money than ever before. Bringing more studios under a single roof is only going to exacerbate this stagnation. I pray this is the last acquisition we see Microsoft make, but can’t realistically think it will be. Until it risks an actual monopoly, it’s going to keep pushing. It probably won’t be in the next couple of years, but the repercussions of this deal are coming — and I don’t think we’re going to like them.”

Jesse Lennox (https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/microsoft-activison-blizzard-monopoly/?utm_campaign=169212_Editorial_Decrypted_01192022&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dotdigital&dm_i=6MG2,3MKC,1335D0,H540,1)

Amazing what insights a real journalist can come up with when that person is actually not cheerleading for a particular “side.”

Sidney

Please consider supporting these fine small press publishers where my work has appeared:

Currently Working On (January 2022):

  • The Runner (Fantasy Story–4000 words)
    2022 Revision; Out to Market.
  • Unhallowed (Weird Western Story–4400 words)
    2022 Revision: Completed; Out to Market.
  • The Independent (Science Fiction Story–4800 words)
    2021 Revision: ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION

Platinum Tales: Astro’s Playroom

White and black Playstation 5 controller with Astro (white, black and blue robot) and other robotic characters surrounding the robot on blue background.
Image Source: https://www.pushsquare.com/guides/astros-playroom-guide-tips-tricks-and-all-collectibles

I’m taking the title from a YouTuber’s series. She “platinums” more games than I do and so she has a whole series of videos with this title. Generally speaking, I only (realistically) platinum 1-3 games per year (and that’s only when I do manage to platinum games–there have been years when I’ve earned 0 platinums). For those not in the video game space (or the Playstation space), “platinuming” = earning a platinum trophy on a Playstation game for in-game “achievements.” The trophy system (bronze trophies, silver trophies, and gold trophies) are achievements that designers specify in their games. On Playstation systems, there is a “platinum” trophy for earning all the other trophies (achievements) and so it is a mark of “excellence” to “platinum” a game.

Astro’s Playroom

So far, I’ve earned 2 platinum trophies this year. The first was Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (at least I think I platinum it earlier in the spring). About 2 months ago, I also managed to platinum Astro’s Playroom. This is a game that is included with every Playstation 5 and serves to show off the advanced controller features of the console. Most of the achievements (challenges) were fairly easy, but the time trial segments, which are the ones that I put off until last, were surprisingly difficult in some areas. There were also a couple of “hidden” collectibles that I couldn’t find and had to resort to the console’s “hint” system to figure out where they were hidden, but overall, I thought the process of platinuming the game went fairly well.

A Love Letter to the Playstation “Brand”

I’m sure that this has been said in pretty much every review of the PS5 and the game, but I enjoyed platinuming the game largely because Astro’s Playroom is a love letter in every sense of the word to the world of Playstation. As a Playstation player since the original PS days (wasn’t known as the PS1/PSone as it is sometimes called now–it was just the Playstation), there are a LOT of “Easter eggs” hidden throughout the game that really brought the nostalgia back from all the good times of playing games with my family and with my late uncle in particular as he was also a “gamer” (at heart).

In fact, (digression here) one of my most favored memories were loading in the original Gran Turismo game and EA’s Triple Play 99 and being stunned by their introductions. In both cases, we both knew where the intro “should” have stopped based on limitations of earlier Nintendo/Sega cartridge based consoles, but they just KEPT GOING! I remember my uncle and myself being stunned into silence as we were conversing at the beginning and then we both became engrossed in the imagery and soundscape that filled the living room (where the PS was set-up at the time).

Astro’s Playroom brought back all of the nostalgia and all of the great times of playing PS consoles over the years. It also did a great job of showing consoles/peripherals that I knew about but didn’t get a chance to own (remember, I was a kid, so I had to wait for Christmas/my birthday for many of these items–at least for the earliest consoles–the PS2 was the first console I ever bought with my own money).

Ah, The Memories!

In closing, I just wanted to mention that if you are a Playstation fan of any level (original PS, PS2, PS3, PS4, or PS5), you owe it yourself to pick up this console at some point just to play Astro’s Playroom. Not only are the graphics cool and the controller tech super innovative, but the gameplay, while a bit on the simple side (it is after all definitely geared towards a family audience), still manages to capture the “magic” that makes Playstation what it is: a fun, varied experience that the whole family can enjoy and smile with as you bop to some terrific music.

And I challenge you to NOT get that “GPU” song stuck in your head after you hear it a couple of times. What am I talking about? Well, here you go! You’re welcome!

Captured directly from the game!

Sidney

Please consider supporting these fine small press publishers where my work has appeared:

Currently Working On (August 2021):

  • Unhallowed (Weird Western Story)
    2021 Revision: Completed; Out to Market.
  • Starlight, Starbright (Science Fiction Story)
    2021 Revision: Completed.
  • The Independent (Science Fiction Story)
    2021 Revision: Completed; Out to Market.
  • To Dance the Sea of Storms (Fantasy Story)
    Prewrite: Completed, Plan & Outline: Completed, Write a first draft: Completed, Revision: In Progress
  • Project Runner (Fantasy Story)
    Prewrite: Completed, Plan & Outline: Completed, Write a Rough draft: Completed, Write a First Draft: In Progress (1000 words), Hard Deadline: August 31st, 2021 (Special Issue)

Sony State of Play 2021: Horizon Forbidden West

Alloy standing on beach with colorful ruins in the background. Blue skies and white clouds dominate the tropical beach and blue-green waves. Metal birds fly overhead.
Image Source: https://games.mxdwn.com/news/game-director-mathijs-jonge-provides-new-insight-into-horizon-forbidden-west-set-to-release-in-2021/

So, as I’m writing this, Ubisoft is presenting their Ubisoft Forward conference highlighting their upcoming games for this fiscal year (and upcoming projects for the future. However, about two weeks ago, Sony released some information on a couple of their key games for this year that they announced with the introduction of the Playstation 5. While I will probably talk about both of them, I wanted to start with Horizon Forbidden West.

I’m actually playing the first game, Horizon Zero Dawn, now (although I’m taking a short break from it). I’m pretty deep into it, but I’ve not yet finished it. I estimate that I’m 60% -70% through. I’ve wracked up kills on all but the biggest “machines” in the game. I hope to finish the first game before this one comes out, but even if I don’t, this one is definitely on my radar.

Aloy is Back and Better Than Ever

Aloy Is the back! And as a a new Sony protagonist, I’m really interested to see her continue her journey. I’m also interested in her new abilities. It looks like that she has received an upgrade in both abilities and equipment. While the shield wing that she uses to float looks really cool, I’m more interested in her other gadgets such as her grapple tether. It also looks like her combat abilities have gotten a new upgrade along with her Valor Charges which do lots of damage.

I also like the fact that one of the newest female protagonists is back and that we are continuing her story. I like a diversity of characters and protagonists and I’m glad that we don’t have to play the same “square jawed” male heroes over and over again. Aloy has her own strengths as a character and it looks like her upgrades will make her fun to play.

New Land, New Story

I can’t talk too much about the new story as I’ve not yet finished the first story and don’t want to include spoilers (nor do I want to look too deeply so as to spoil myself on the story), so I’ll keep this section fairly general and brief. I like the fact that we are headed to the Americas (specifically, San Fransisco–the Golden Gate Bridge is referenced in the trailer). The land was was amazing to look at and hauntingly beautiful.

I was especially impressed by the underwater segments, but I’m just a little concerned at the potential for “stealth” mechanics as there is a segment where Aloy must hide to avoid a “Snap-Maw” (a machine alligator/crocodile) and unfortunately, in my time with Shadow of the Tomb Raider where you had to “hide” from piranhas, I’m not so sure that this mechanic is going to be to my liking. However, I’ll keep an open mind as I really like what this game series and this developer is trying to with world-building, protagonists, setting, etc.

Still Working on Horizon Zero Dawn (1st Game in the series)

So, Horizon Zero Dawn (HZD) is one that I’ve started and stopped multiple times. I really like the game, but I enjoy the bow combat and spear combat above all. However, I’ve realized in my last play though session before I stopped that, in order to be effective against all the creatures, you really have to master all of the weapons and utilize them in tandem with each other. In fact, to take down the biggest creatures, you really want to master the technique of fracture the weapons of the biggest beasts off and utilizing their own weapons against them. While you can win in other ways, this is by far the most effective strategy and one that I’m not really good at doing.

This is a game that I need to get back and finish before I start working on this 2nd game launches, so hopefully, sometime soon, I’ll find my way back to HZD and finish it off finally (I’d estimate I’m approximately 60% – 70% finished, not including the Frozen Waste DLC.

Sidney

Please consider supporting these fine small press publishers where my work has appeared:

Currently Working On (June 2021):

  • Unhallowed (Weird Western Story)
    2021 Revision: Completed; Out to Market.
  • Starlight, Starbright (Science Fiction Story)
    2021 Revision: Completed.
  • The Independent (Science Fiction Story)
    2021 Revision: In Progress.
  • To Dance the Sea of Storms (Fantasy Story)
    Prewrite: Completed, Plan & Outline: Completed, Write a first draft: Completed, Revision: In Progress.

Caveat Emptor (Let the Buyer Beware)

Let the buyer beware. One of the most important concepts in a free market economy, and yet, consistently Gen Z and Millennials haven’t seemed to have learned this lesson anywhere as it keeps happening time and again, especially in the video game industry. Cyberpunk 2077 was the latest “scandal” in which a game didn’t deliver on its very high promises. And yet, still so many were taken in by the company and the game. How?

Cinematic Trailers Masquerading as “Gameplay Trailers”

First, we have to look at the idea of trailers, those small pieces of advertisements that purportedly give gamers an idea of what the game is going to be about. Cinematic Trailers are much like their movie counterparts: they show you characters, settings, and sometimes narrative situations to give you an impression of what the game is going for. These are loved by companies as they can suggest the game without having to show “actual” graphics, mechanics, and assets of a game still in development and whose look may change before the final release. Gamers hate them for exactly the same reason–there’s no way to know exactly what type of game they’re going to be getting, how it looks, performs, etc. Gameplay Trailers, on the other hand, show elements of gameplay, the graphical fidelity of the game, mechanics, and sometimes gives an idea of the story. Length, advanced mechanics like skills, any RPG-like mechanics are either minimized or not covered at all. The goal is to give you an impression of the minute-by-minute gameplay loop for the game. Gamers love this as it acts as “shorthand” for them so they can quickly sort the game by genre, play style, graphical fidelity, and a host of other categories and factors that may influence their potential buying decision. Again, companies hate this because it means potentially alienating customers before the game is finished. Companies have learned how to “cheat” the system: trailers that look like “Gameplay Trailers” showing HUDs, mechanics, graphics, etc., but are actually cinematic trailers in that the game that they are showing hasn’t actually been built yet and represents the target for the game. Anthem and Cyberpunk 2077 have been reported (by the investigative journalist Jason Schreier) to have developed in this way.

Anthem Trailer

Cyberpunk Trailer

Microsoft vs Sony (Round 6,523)

It is important to note that both Anthem and Cyberpunk 2077 both had co-marketing agreements with Microsoft and this is something that should not be ignored as each of these games didn’t live up to their trailers shown on Microsoft’s stage. However, as per usual, Microsoft never gets any blowback from these trailers that were later reportedly discovered to have been “targets” rather than representative trailers. Yet, let’s turn back the clock to 2005 when Sony was promoting their Playstation 3 and talked up the “infamous Killzone 2 trailer.” Sony, as per usual, caught “heck” from the gaming community and was derided (and still is in certain circumstances) for its overly ambitious trailer for what the game, and what the PS3, could be capable of doing in the game environments.

Killzone 2 trailer

Sony was so stung by this that they changed their approach to their E3 stage shows. The actually cut away from the game (much to the ire of players and those watching streams) to show that real people were actually playing the game. Games like God of War clearly show someone playing the game and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End actually had a live “mishap” because Sony was keen to show that the game being shown was the game you would play.

God of War E3 Demo (Stage)

Uncharted 4 E3 Demo (Freeze) & Uncharted 4 E3 Demo (Full)

Microsoft has no such compunctions–they seem to only want to be #1 and seem to be willing to do anything to get there, including showing games without verifying whether or not those games actually represent what they are showing–and the gaming industry doesn’t seem to be interested in holding them as accountable as they are holding Sony accountable for its missteps/mistakes.

What You See Is What You Get

WYSIWYG is a computer abbreviation that basically is an acronym of “What you see is what you get.” This is what companies are purporting to show with gameplay trailers, but many aren’t actually operating in good faith as they are showing targets rather than what actually is. There is a game I’m planning on buying who is releasing a DEMO later this week (Outriders for those who are wondering). If the demo is good (and I’m expecting it to be), then they will have earned a purchase through WYSIWYG. They’ve shown what looks like representative gameplay since it was released, and they are giving me the opportunity to try it out for myself. This is the way ALL gaming companies should operate if they don’t want the backlash that Anthem and Cyberpunk 2020 generated. Let me see if the game that you’ve shown actually matches the game that I want and, if so, you’ve earned a sale. Mass Effect Andromeda showed me that Bioware/EA are more interested in the investors than me, so I began to practice the caveat emptor philosophy more diligently in the video game industry than I had in the past. Until more people embrace this same philosophy, and until they hold platform holders like Microsoft accountable when they “co-market” and hype up these deceptive trailers (and not go ga-ga over celebrity endorsements like Keanu Reeves on their stage), we’re going to continue to see such disappointing products and backlashes. Remember, the money the companies want is yours, not theirs, and they have no obligation to it. Caveat Emptor! Make the companies show you the actual games that you will be playing (demos) and if they choose not to, hold your purchase until reviews are released, regardless of the Preorder bonuses they shower you way.

Caveat Emptor! Let the buyer beware!

Sidney

Please consider supporting these fine small press publishers where my work has appeared:

Currently Working On (February 2021):

  • Unhallowed (Weird Western Story)
    Out to Market
  • Starlight, Starbright (Science Fiction Story)
    In for Revision & Editing
  • The Independent (Science Fiction Story)
    Out to Market
  • To Dance the Sea of Storms (Fantasy Story)
    Prewrite: Completed, Plan & Outline: Completed, Write a first draft: Completed, Revision: In Progress

CES 2021

Multiple flatscreen tvs by LG.
Image Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/tv/news/lg-2021-oled-tv-lineup-announced-4k-monitor-launch-specifications-ces-2351177

“Where does he get those wonderful toys?”
-The Joker, Batman (1989)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuAXcZmLNmM

Okay, this is only a week and a half behind schedule. Actually, compared to last semester, I’m doing pretty good. Last week I couldn’t really write like I wanted to because I needed to get my class ready and at the beginning of this week, my students were concerned that we weren’t having Zoom class meetings as we did last semesters (which we’ve worked through), but this means that I was answering a lot of email early in the week. Now that the craziness of school and beginning of classes has settled down, I finding (some) time to get around to blogging about the topics that I’ve really wanted to talk about for the past couple of weeks.

Consumer Electronics Show

I’m a fairly late convert to CES. I only started paying attention to it in the past 5-6 years (actually longer, but only for a subset of products which I’ll get into in the next section). While I like technology, so many things (it seemed) from CES were rarely brought to market, or those that were failed to make a true impression into the technology market. However, in the past few years I’ve been watching more and more coverage of CES and the various products that are being released and are truly viable thanks to initiatives like Apple’s Homekit, or Alexia and other smart devices that are enabling true home automation. These products now actually make it to market and work where you use to get as many conceptual ideas or prototypes looking for funding/distribution outlets at the show rather than being ready “for the consumers.”

This year, due to Covid, the show was virtual. It meant that I got to see most of the major brands’ press briefings/showcases/digital events, but also meant that I missed that “man/woman on the ground” where a reporter for a digital platform, traditional or new media, would go around the show floor and highlight some of the coolest tech, gadgets, and devices, in addition to covering the more mainstream offerings. So, while I got more information, it didn’t really feel as “cool” as it did in past years, but it’s Covid, so what are you going to do?

TVs, TVs, and more TVs

I’m not going to lie: this is what I tune into CES for and I suspect that this is true for the majority of people. Every since High Definition became popular, TVs have become the go-to technology platform to see what’s new and innovative and to see where all the trends are happening. Remember the push for 3D and 3D content? Yes, that faded away for bigger, ever more immersive screens (as did the curving screens of the 2012-15 years), but still you can see where entertainment is headed by the TVs that are produced.

While I liked the presentations by all brands, the 3 major players (Sony, LG, and Samsung) all had TVs with features that captivated me. I like that Samsung (I think) has a TV that will try to identify and tweak the picture based on a game’s genre and I like the fact that LG has a TV that puts gaming controls front and center when there’s a console available. My primary gaming display is a Samsung but it is ancient (2008). However, I use my display for games, movies, and (occasionally) sports (I would do more sports if the streaming packages for them weren’t so outrageously expensive). Currently, the Samsung and LG are my top picks for a display, with Sony behind. The technology in the Sony TVs is awesome, but the styling is less than impressive. I personally do NOT find TVs with “feet” a good look.

If we could lose the feet, they’d be up there with the Samsung and LG models. While I’m not going to give specific model numbers, I’m interested in the LG for their OLED models, but Samsung has made great strides with their QLED panels too. I guess, like everything, it will come down to my (oh so limited) budget and the reviews that are out there. Right now, I would say the LG G1 Evo is the TV to beat, but because the Evo is only in the G series this year (and not the more mainstream C series), they may have priced me right out of their market–only time will tell. Still, this for me, is where the real magic of CES lies: in these wonderful TVs and getting to see how these technological marvels operate.

AVRs and Other Tech

Next on the list would be Audio/Video Receivers: those pieces of technology that interface with your TV, game system, and speakers to create a highly immersive environment. I didn’t actually see any AVRs at the show this year, so I don’t know if I missed them or if they just weren’t featured in the various keynotes (or if they are shown at a different conference). Regardless, I hope to see more of them later in the year.

I did see something cool that I liked and wondered what the price might be: LG’s washer and dryer combination. It looks really neat, it doesn’t take up a lot of space (as it is in a vertical configuration). My own washer/dryer unit is on its last legs. I think I have a space small enough for the unit to fit. If it isn’t super expensive, I might see what the price is and who sells it later on this year.

I won’t go on into the other, more speculative, tech like LGs transparent tvs because there’s no way to know if they will really come to market and be a reality or if they are just like many of the cars–cool concepts to look at, but never really have any practical influences on the market. However, it is always fun to “geek out” once a year and look at all the nice shiny new products (even if I’ll probably never truly have the money to actually get any of these cool looking things)!

Sidney

Please consider supporting these fine small press publishers where my work has appeared:

Currently Working On (January 2021):

  • Unhallowed (Weird Western Story)
    Out to Market
  • Starlight, Starbright (Science Fiction Story)
    Out to Market
  • The Independent (Science Fiction Story)
    Out to Market
  • Project Seas (Fantasy Story)
    Prewrite: Completed, Plan & Outline: Completed, Write a first draft: In Progress

Missing in Action Video Games–The PlayStation Edition

Shigeru Miyamoto sitting with a black background in the back. A quote in white letters says, "A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad."
Image Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/799459371338916598/

I hate to do this, but I’m going to have to call out one of my favorite YouTube channels, Eurogamer. I generally find the Eurogamer’s video game coverage, especially on their YouTube channel to be very fair and mostly unbiased. They have a love for all the systems and (generally speaking) don’t play favorites, although it often appears that PC is their platform of choice (and while not appearing on the channel a lot, I can tell the the Switch is near and dear to most of the team). However, what actually gets the views are the Playstation and X-Box games even though they generally are considered second-fiddle to the PC & Switch (Switch, while popular, doesn’t really seem to get the same level of views as PCs, Playstation, and X-Box.)

However, in one of their latest videos (of this writing), they focused on games that have been missing in action for a while. That’s not what got my dander up–it is good to point out games that have been announced, but not actually released, especially when that goes over the normal 2-3 year development cycle for most games. No, my problem is that Eurogamer chose games that were either X-Box/PC specific and completely left out several, super interesting games from the Playstation side. There is at least one game for the Playstation that have been missing in action for the ENTIRE 7 year life-cycle of the Playstation 4 and yet it didn’t receive a mention. Two games that are then ENTIRE reason that Microsoft (aka Micro$oft) bought Zenimax (the parent company of Bethesda, the game publisher) are EACH ON THE FREAKING LIST, taking up two slots. To imply these two games are “missing in action” is disingenuous at the least, and (if I’m not in a gracious mood), more of a marketing move than anything else. These two games ARE COMING OUT and they are coming out for the X-Box. Microsoft/Micro$oft bought the company for these two games! There is NO WAY that Microsoft/Micro$oft would have purchased this company had those two games been in distress.

So, this is my attempt to correct the imbalance and discuss some very intriguing games on the Playstation side that should have made the list and we, as customers, should inquire about at every opportunity.

Deep Down (2013, Capcom)

Yup, that’s right. This one is in the announcement stream for the Playstation 4, a full seven years ago. Now, normally when you don’t hear about a game for this long, it generally means it has been cancelled along the way. However, the last time the creator spoke about it, he specifically said that it wasn’t cancelled. I don’t believe there’s been any significant information since that last interview, but here we are–in the giddy honeymoon period for the Playstation 5 seven years later, and a game that was announced for the previous generation of game consoles STILL hasn’t been released. And this one wasn’t worthy of finding out more information on, but Elder Scrolls 6 was, even though E.S. 5 was ported to every major (and minor) system since its release (with the running joke that if Bethesda could find a way to port it to your refrigerator, they would).

Below is the trailer for the game, but in essence, it is a medieval role playing game that had some insanely impressive graphics (especially for 2013), but which still hold up decently well with 2019/2020 games. I’m not sure that it will hold up in 2-3 years time, so if Capcom does have plans of releasing this game, I would hope they do it fairly soon because, to me, in about 2-3 years graphics will have probably surpassed the innovations in the trailer and the game will need a graphical overhaul (which means more time and expense) for a game that is already 7 years late.

Deep Down YouTube Video

Biomutant (2017, Experiment 101)

This one is a particular “bug-a-boo” of mine. This game was shown off in 2017 and really seemed like a game right up my alley. I kept my eye on it and the preview coverage gave the impression that it was far along in development and that it would only be approximately another year/year and a half of normal development time before it would be released (generally games get preview coverage at the 1-2 year mark.) Sometimes, if development is particularly fraught, it often slips to 2.5 to 3 years after the game as been initially shown to the public for the first time. However, this has been (for the most part–especially where Sony is concerned–become less frequent due to fan backlash).

This game is post-apocalyptic game that takes a squirrel-like creature and pits it against the many different creatures to survive in this new post-apocalyptic world. Biomutant features an open world and a “kung-fu” weapon-based combat (martial arts and guns). I thought this one looked awesome and kept an eye on it as time passed and passed . . . and passed. And here here we are in 2020 and about to go into 2021, and so far, no Biomutant. This one has actually a bit of an update as the developers released a trailer (3rd, 4th, 5th) for the game in the middle of the year with a cheeky update that said the release date would be “when it’s ready.” Now, normally I don’t mind that sentiment as I would prefer a well made game rather than a rushed release (Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem I’m looking at you). However, I don’t believe that the developer should have shown their game that early–as it was an extensive gameplay demonstration. See for yourself and judge if what they showed looked like a polished game that was only a year or so out from release:

BioMutant YouTube Video

Project Awakening (2018, Cygames)

So, this is the game that I really thought that Eurogamer was going to cover in their video as this game caught the attention of the gaming public (although most of its thunder was undercut by Elden Ring–a game in the over-popular Souls-Born series that includes a collaboration with George R. R. Martin which is enough to make games media and gamers alike salivate.) However, for the brief time before the ER trailer was released, Project Awakening garnered massive amounts of attention and generated massive amounts of hype. This game is one that really resonated with many gamers–me included, especially after the success of Monster Hunter World.

Basically, this game’s video (linked below) puts me in my of a cross between Elden Ring and Monster Hunter World. However, it is the animation and textures that really set off this particular project and makes me think that it really could be an awesome game. However, like all trailers, I’m aware that it is something that is a project that is in-progress, but the idea of playing a fantasy warrior going up against fantasy monsters (without the “dark world”/”grim dark” that the Souls-Born games fall into).

Project Awakening YouTube Video

Final Thoughts

So, to be clear–these are not the only games out there that have been announced, but have gone MIA. These are just 3 that I’m interested in and want to know more about — I don’t need the entire development cycle, but having periodic updates would be nice (even a yearly/bi-yearly update would be helpful). I wanted to point these out as Eurogamer should have featured these three games in their roundup. Elden Ring, Starfield, and Elder Scrolls 6 aren’t really “M.I.A.” games (instead they are just games with popularity and internet cachet.) The latter 2 will eventually come out (and will have a sizable coverage on Microsoft’s/Micro$oft’s stage–as probably will Elden Ring knowing Micro$oft’s penchant for having “the MOST POPULAR” game series on their systems — the same Halo/Gears of War strategy that they’ve been using since the late Xbox/early Xbox 360 era). I had hoped that we would hear more about these games that I discussed earlier in this post during the 2020 Video Game Awards, but that wasn’t the case. Hopefully, in the upcoming year, we’ll get an update on all 3 of these games as I feel like each one has significant potential (especially over the hype-generating games that were originally covered the Eurogamer article).

Until next time!

Sidney

Please consider supporting these fine small press publishers where my work has appeared:

Currently Working On (11/2020):

  • Unhallowed (Weird Western Story)
    Out to Market
  • Starlight, Starbright (Science Fiction Story)
    Out to Market
  • The Independent (Science Fiction Story)
    Out to Market
  • A Spell in the Machine (Science Fantasy Story)
    Rewrite (Planning): In Progress 
  • Project Seas (Fantasy Story)
    Planning: Completed, Rough Draft: Completed, First Draft: In Progress
  • KnightWatch Graphic Novel (Fantasy Graphic Novel)
    Planning: In Progress

Playstation 5

White and black PS5 console and controller.
Image Source: https://www.pocket-lint.com/games/reviews/playstation/154419-ps5-review-playstation-5

Wow! For someone who is so invested in Science Fiction (and Fantasy), I never realized how hard it would be to teach a “literature” class on the subject. I’d say 90% of my struggles are, of course, COVID-related as teaching virtually has a set of challenges that has really knocked me off course in terms of this blog. However, I do have an (unfinished) blog post about the difficulities of teaching during a pandemic still in “draft” mode, so I’ll “table” this discussion for another blog post.

I did want to use this time to briefly cover my experience with the Playstation 5, which I was lucky enough to pre-order and receive yesterday! Now, some of this is filtered through a 24 hour sinus infection that limited my time with the (oh so cool) device, so I’m looking forward to more playtime over this weekend to see how it stacks up and if it will be a good one (hint: I already think that it will be!)

Delivery and Set-Up

So, the system came before class time yesterday. Right after it came, I developed a sinus infection, but I think it was just coincidence and not from the driver or anything like that (we both wore masks). I sat the box down and went through the “student hours” portion of the class (an hour I set aside for students to log into D2L in order to asks questions, get help, or check on their grades), but no one did. Those hours usually fly by, but, of course, this time the hour dragged on (made worse by the incessant sinus pain and constant blowing of my nose).

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the hour was up and I turned my attention to the unopened Playstation 5 (PS5). Now, when the PS4 released, the delivery came late and my mother was already here, so she watched me unbox it and set everything up. I can’t remember if I actually got to play a game while she was over, but I do remember her being caught up the new console “hype.” However, this one came just before lunch, so after my “class” was over, I called her and asked her if she wanted me to wait to set it up or if she wanted me to go ahead, set it up, download any updates and then show her the games when she came over later in the evening. She said to go ahead and get everything set up and that’s what I did.

Most people are complaining about the PS5’s size, but really, until you put into your console, it isn’t that bad. Most people haven’t had a PS3 and in terms of weight and sheer heft, I’d say they are similar. Sure, the PS5 is taller (lengthwise), but when you’re handling it, there’s not really much difference between it and the PS3. My Entertainment unit is an “open” design, meaning that the shelves are very spacious and the top shelf is completely open to the room. I could put 3 PS5s on it and they still wouldn’t reach the (normal) ceiling, so as long as you aren’t trying to fit it into a small space, size isn’t really as much of a problem as reviewers are making it out to be–again, depending on the risers/overall configuration of your entertainment center.

System and Configuration

So, having had a Playstation for every generation (i.e., PS 1 – 5), I find the system software to be an “evolution” of the PS4’s system. It is different, but not so much that a PS4 player won’t be able to quickly and efficiently set up the system and have it ready to go quickly. For me, it took me a moment to figure out the stand, but that was because I assumed that one of the pieces went somewhere else and then had to refer to the Quick Start Guide to find out where it actually went. All in all, it took me 5 minutes total to install the stand. I had two small issues after that: 1) while the system recognized my Wi-fi password and looked like it was configured, something didn’t connect right and it didn’t get internet. A quick swapping out of my ethernet cable from the PS4 to the PS5 solved that issue. 2) Related to #1–I couldn’t sign in and that’s when I discovered the wi-fi issue. Once the ethernet cable was in, and it found the internet, signing in was a breeze. It took literally minutes to get the software downloaded, the games installed, and the options of the system configured the way that I wanted them. I was up and running in well under an hour (35-45 minutes). I was set-up so quickly that I decided to stop and go watch YouTube and wait on my mother before playing any of the games.

I purchased a few of the accessories, and before I ended the session, made sure they were all in working order. At first, I couldn’t get the headphones (optional accessory that doesn’t come with the system) to work, but that was “user error.” I’d mistaken the “mute” button for the on/off button. The on/off button is actually a different type of switch just a bit farther down on the left headphone, and once I realized that, connecting was a breeze! This time, I really did have to go looking for the instructions because the “push in/push out” button in my mind screamed on/off and I never would have figured that out.

Games and Controllers (DualSense)

Once my mother arrived, I showed her the system and she liked the aesthetics of it–she’s always thought it looked good and distinctive, in a modern way, which is a again, yet another criticism of the system. I then showed her the controller’s defining feature of haptic feedback by showing her Astro’s Playroom, a PS5 game built to show how the controller can showcase the idea of immersion through feel and touch. She was absolutely amazed by the look of the game and the way the controller buzzed, plopped, and shook to replicate the various actions on the screen. We then moved on to Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (AC Odyssey) where we were both stunned by the graphical improvement on the game. I hadn’t been keeping up, so I don’t know if there was a PS5 upgrade to the game, but it sure seems like it. The colors were greatly improved (especially on the bushes) and everything seemed sharper and crisper–and this is on a 1080p set–but it definitely looked better from the PS4 version. We were both blown away by how good it seemed! Next, I showed her Bugsnax and Spider-Man Remastered. Those two games, while good, really are ones where you can see there brilliance later, so I didn’t play these too much. Finally, we finished off with Spider-Man Miles Morales and wow, from the very first moment, that game was amazing! It loaded quickly, and even on the title screen, you could see the texture of Miles’ hair, something that video games, while getting better and better each generation, traditionally struggle with in terms fidelity, but this was on-par with the best I’d seen. Then the gameplay kicked in and I was both playing the game, while at the same time passing the controller to my mother during cutscenes and transition scenes so that she, too, could experience the feeling of immersion in the controller. I played the first mission and by the end, we were both really hyped for what the console has to offer.

Right now, I’m working my way through Astrobot and AC Odyssey. I hope that once school is out (class is done next weekend before the Thanksgiving holiday–although some may take my “extension” for extra time on their project which will end the first week of December), I’ll be able to put significant time into Spider-Man Remastered and Spider-Man Miles Morales before moving on to other games on my backlog.

Sidney

Please consider supporting these fine small press publishers where my work has appeared:

Currently Working On (11/2020):

  • Unhallowed (Weird Western Story)
    Out to Market
  • Starlight, Starbright (Science Fiction Story)
    Out to Market
  • The Independent (Science Fiction Story)
    Out to Market
  • A Spell in the Machine (Science Fantasy Story)
  • Rewrite: Planning
  • KnightWatch Graphic Novel (Fantasy Graphic Novel)
    Drafting: 1st Draft (Issue 1)

Playstation Marketing

Playstation 5 --standard disc edition and the digital discless edition with prices listings beside each.
Image Source: http://www.worldoptic.com/fix-broken-sunglasses-repair-eyeglasses/solder-laser-weld-metal-eyewear-frame.php

Author’s Note:Once again written without the aid of glasses. Typos should be ignored.

Yesterday, Sony held an event that showcased some more gameplay of the Playstation 5 games and the price. The console will will be $499 dollars (Us) and it will be releasing on a staggered worldwide launch with 2 different release dates depending on where you are in the world. I hope to get one, but rumors and reports suggest that demand might outpace supply in this case, we’ll see what happens.

Rumors, Rumors, Rumors

Unfortunately, I have to “wrap Sony on the knuckles” (which is an American idiom meaning that I need to chastise them. Much of the PS5 “news” this year has been rumor and conjecture due to a lack of information on the company’s part.

Yes, I understand the “new thing” in marketing as a “drip feed” approach, where you release little bits/teases of information at carefully controlled times to build hype and marketing buzz. I don’t like that as it 1) caters to social media and 2) allows for rumor mongering and speculation to replace real information and it doesn’t give me the information I need to make an informed decision.

Playstation 4 vs Playstation 5 Marketing

In the Playstation 4 era, we knew most of the key elements of the system thanks to a consumer facing event focused on showcasing the features and upcoming games of the new system. This was thanks to a news conference that happened towards the end of February. While Covid obviously altered plans, we’ve never gotten a forward consumer focused event for the PS5. Even now, we still have no idea of the UI (outside of one brief tease that was shown in between the games at the first Showcase). or any of the day-to-day real world use cases for the system and it si the middle of September. That is very annoying to me. Mark Cerney’s in-depth dev talk convinced me that he and the other engineers were interested in pushing the PS5 forward while addressing the PS4’s shortcomings. However, having to take someone’s word on it (even a man as credible as Mark Cerney) and not getting to see and judge for myself is just a bit of a crappy move by the marketing team. It means that I have to rely on trust rather than critical thinking, and that never sits well with me.

Matching Microsoft

When pundits were floating these astronomical figures of $599, $650, and even $699, I knew they were wrong. I suspected the cost would be in the $499 – $549 range. While I’m not employed by Sony, I guessed that they did NOT want to be undercut by Microsoft as they did to Microsoft on the previous generation. They wanted to at least “match” their competition’s price, which is what lead to this game of price “chicken” over these past few months. Thus, while these two corporations “fight,” it is we consumers who don’t get enough information to make informed purchasing decisions. Competition may lead to lower prices and feature parity, but it isn’t always lead to the best outcomes for consumers as popular wisdom might suggest.

While it seems I’m angry or unhappy about the knowing the PS5’s price and release date, nothing could be further from the truth. I’ll actually cover some of the games I’m excited for in a later blog. I just don’t think that the “drip feed” approach is particularly consumer friendly nor the right way to market a premiere product. Drop feeding for me has exactly the opposite of its desired effect. Instead of getting me hyped for a product, it only serves to annoy me rather than to excite.

Sidney

Please consider supporting these fine small press publishers where my work has appeared:

Currently Working On (8/2020):

  • “Project Wall” (Science Fiction Story)
    Drafting: 2nd Draft
  • Unhallowed (Weird Western Story)
    Revising: 2nd Draft (Working Draft)
    
  • KnightWatch Graphic Novel (Fantasy Graphic Novel)
    Drafting: 1st Draft (Issue 1)
    

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑

Dr. Eric Perry’s Blog

Motivate | Inspire | Uplift

DIANA MARIN

CREATIVE WRITER & SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

LUNA

Pen to paper

Amaris Emersleben

Amaris Emersleben official website

Brielle R Campos

With Great Power Comes Great Rhetoric

Ashley O'Melia, Author

A garden of wild thoughts in straight little rows

LAUREGALIE

BOOK REVIEWS

Pauls Pages Too

Extra Content from PaulsPages.com

DragOn Writing

Sci-Fi and Fantasy writer, dreamer and Netflix junkie

The Godly Chic Diaries

BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

Learning to write

Just your average PhD student using the internet to enhance their CV

Blog Writing Profits

Memoir of a Writer

perfecting language on paper

Tiger Riding for Beginners

Bernie Gourley: Traveling Poet-Philosopher & Aspiring Puddle Dancer

unbolt me

the literary asylum

The Solivagant Writer

The world is my playground; the pen, my friend

James Harringtons Creative Work

A site of writings, musings, and geek culture, all under one domain!

renegade7x

Natalia's space

Read Men and Nations

S.A. Barton