Has Valve just reinvented the game controller?

Today’s evening Inbox maintains that no game could ever be as anticipated as Super Mario 64, as one reader enjoys the thrills of Farming Simualtor.

To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk.

Strange control

The Steam Controller looks pretty weird – who thinks touch sensitive is better than physical? It reminded me of this gem, a Turbo Touch 360 for the Mega Drive and SNES.

At the time the American magazine adverts claimed that it would make you better at Street Fighter II – which is otherwise known as a blatant lie, it was utter toilet.

Alan Lovedog




GC: The idea is that it’s still supposed to have the illusion of physical control thanks to the haptic feedback. Like anyone else though we won’t be convinced until we try it.

Never play alone

RE: Valve’s trackpads. I had a Mega Drive joypad that had a yellow touch-sensitive pad and it broke after a week or so. Granted, technology has moved on since then but I still think it will have too many limitations.

I hadn’t had the time to read GC for several weeks, but when I did I was drawn to your Farming Simulator 2013 review. Curiosity led me to YouTube and now that I’ve had a few quiet evenings I found myself hooked on the adventures of Yogscast’s Duncan, Sjin, and Lewis (and later Rig).

I can’t quite believe I’ve watched almost 10 hours of a farming sim but their escapades are surprisingly addictive and often hilarious. Several times I’ve ended up crying with laughter! It’s not a game I’d want to play by myself, but it does look like a laugh if there are a few of you. Their videos are worth a look if you have the time.

Renaissance Man

PS: It’s late, but after flicking through my gaming catalogue my most anticipated game by far was Perfect Dark.

Next gen prices

I read that Sony are pricing there first party PlayStation 4 games RRP between £54.99 to £59.99 on PlayStation 4 and that third party games may go up to £64.99. Do you have any details on this or how much retailers are likely to knock off that price? Microsoft online store still lists games at £44 to £49.99 but is it likely these will go up too. If so next gen could get pricey.

DarKerR (gamertag)

GC: If you look at the shop sites you can see PlayStation 4 games cost between about £49 and £53. But as we’ve pointed out before next gen games always cost more in the first few weeks and if they follow the normal pattern those prices will start to go down. The RRP is irrelevant if no one’s selling the game for that much, although what it will mean for download prices we’ll have to wait and see…

E-mail your comments to: gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk

Serious for a moment

Sorry for late Hot Topic submission. Work, etc.! Seeing Super Mario 64 being mentioned reminded me of why it was also my most anticipated game and that it was actually your predecessors fault. Back in the mid-90s I used to rely solely on Digitiser for my game reviews – after all they were the only unbiased reviewers around because all the magazines were beholden to advertising money as Biffo and co. constantly and amusingly reminded us.



The fact that Super Mario 64 was released in Japan months before we could get our hands on a copy made it worse. But what sent the anticipation level into orbit was Digitiser’s review of the game, which they did around the time it came out in Japan. After years of reading hilarious down to earth and generally underwhelmed and satirical reviews I can still remember the 10 out of 10 review they gave the game and the stellar write up that proceeded the score which captured the gobsmacking leap in gaming genius that they had clearly experienced.

In fact, nearly 20 years on I can still remember how Digitiser concluded the review ‘We reckon we have overestimated the score on every other game we have reviewed by 25 per cent.’ Oh my god!

And then I had to wait another six months to actually play it…!

dowser00

Under age conspiracy

So, went to Eurogamer over at Earls Court Friday and had a pretty good day out. Had a blast on Wolfenstein: The New Order, Dying Light, and the mighty Battlefield 4 on the Xbox One! But all of these games along with Watch Dogs, Titanfall and a few others were up stairs on the ‘Over 18s only’ floor. Now that didn’t bother me in the slightest, but as my mate pointed out as we looked out over the ground floor from above, how come Call Of Duty: Ghosts was down there and not up on the Over 18s floor?

Surely it’s not much worse off than Titanfall and Battlefield? Is it purely to sell it to the mass market and all the 12 to 17-year-olds who aren’t allowed up stairs? If so, I guess a huge wad of cash would have had to exchange hands. I just think it’s really pushing it towards the parents of young children.


But like I say, had a good day out there. Not many freebies which was annoying, was hoping to come home with 17 lanyards, but I couldn’t leave empty-handed and so decided to treat myself to a plush Companion Cube (which I got around my girlfriend that it’s sort of for her as it has hearts on it!).

MitchLive (gamertag)

GC: Call Of Duty: Ghosts is the first game in the series to be a 16 in several years, presumably because it doesn’t have much gore in it. We’re not sure why you’re implying anyone’s been bribed though.

Blame the controller

I haven’t written in for a few months due to lack of gamespiration and laziness and nightshifts, all a bad mix so I hope you haven’t ostracised me. I thought I’d write in to praise Splinter Cell: Blacklist that I was driven to buy while I waited for GTA V to come back into stock. It was out of desperation that I bought it but what a game.

I enjoyed Conviction a lot but this is a step up for me. Apart from the occasionally over sticky cover system I can’t really fault it with decent graphics, satisfying gunplay, and although it strays from its very stealthy routes in places, can be strategically challenging. The upgrade system makes the side missions addictive as you want to earn enough to buy the awesome guns. The story… is so-so.

I have to level with you though, I sucked at the original Splinter Cells… the really stealthy nature was, sigh, too hard for me. Although I was younger then, maybe I’ve improved. The same goes for the Hitman series actually, where I really struggled with the older ones on the old Xbox (probably partly to do with the gargantuan old Xbox controller I had) and yet really, really enjoyed the newest one. In fact I’m going to blame all my past game failings on the old Xbrick controller. I didn’t have the third hand necessary to use it.


Which leads me to an open question of whether any other readers have experienced such experiences: sucking at the older titles of a series of games but enjoying and winning at the newer ones? Now back to hiding in the shadows, stalking people. Then I may play Splinter Cell later on.

Redant22

Cowboys > gangsters

Having played GTA V all day on Saturday on my little brother’s Xbox 360 I have to say ‘Meh!’ I think I’ve just went off the whole GTA franchise. Having said that I picked up Red Dead Redemption Game Of The Year Edition off eBay for £8.50 and really enjoying it starting from scratch.

Also playing Dark Souls which I find highly addictive and highly infuriating. Will Dark Souls II be coming out on PlayStation 4 eventually? If not then it will probably be my last PlayStation 3 purchase in March.

cosmic250 (PSN ID)

GC: Namco Bandai have not ruled out next gen versions of Dark Souls II, but neither have they actually confirmed them.

Catch up on every previous Games Inbox here

Servers don’t grown on trees

I’ve had been enjoying GTA V like the rest of the world but since the recent reveal of microtransactions, I have only racked up half an hour of game time. Like most gamers (or so I thought) I despise the idea and personally avoid pretty much every game they are in. A lot of people have seemed to get on board with the idea with some even promoting the idea, just because it’s Rockstar. Had I known that they were in the game I would have given some serious consideration into buying the game.

Do you guys know anything about the costs of running the servers or any other related costs? Is it unreasonable to expect this to come as part of the game? I would much rather pay for extra content with a monthly sub or downloadable content packs rather than play with people shamelessly just trying to get ahead.

CharlesAx

GC: It’s unreasonable not to expect to pay for the online component in some way, if it’s being maintained and updated in the manner of a massively multiplayer online game. Arguing in favour of subscriptions or more substantial download packs is perfectly reasonable though, if that’s your preference.

Inbox also-rans

I missed Conker’s Bad Fur Day when it was originally released. Is there any chance of a HD version being released on current or next gen machines?

Andrew

GC: There’s never been any hint, but the game wasn’t a big hit in either of its previous incarnations.

I am actually considering building a PC instead of getting a console next gen. According to Game Debate this rig should be able to handle most games at a good setting, Battlefield 4 and Titanfall being my main interests.

Cold Waste (gamertag)

I would just like to congratulate reader Bingo Rose on his breathtaking use of the word ‘ensorcelled’. I tip my imaginary hat to you, sir.

Tim F

Quake and Unreal were fantastic games at the time, and I couldn’t wait for the sequels… what a heap of rubbish they turned out to be. Half-Life 2 was a pleasant surprise, however.

chster616

I agree that the dinosaur jokes should stop. It’s time to bury the subject.

Mr F. Ossil

This week’s Hot Topic

The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Mr Verbosity, who asks what’s the most unfairly difficult section you’ve ever played in a video game?

We’re not interested so much in games that are advertised as being purposefully difficult, but those that are just unfair due to bad design, wonky controls, cheating computer characters, or some other problem.

Was the incident you got upset about a relatively isolated moment in the game or did it have a generally uneven difficultly curve? How willing are you to spend the time and effort to beat a difficult section if you’re otherwise enjoying a game – and what games have you just given up on entirely?

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