Finn said:
The release schedule they're having with this one still creeps me out. Ubi has of course done enough entries to the franchise by now that they don't really have to build every nut and bolt from scratch - far from it - but I still think that what we're going to have on our hands come the holidays is merely a good game, rather than a truly great one.
There's a picture on the franchise's Facebook page of the main studio in Montreal; a quick scan indicates that there's at least two-hundred(!) folks involved in
Black Flag's core team. With a reported 8 studios on the muster list, it isn't hard to imagine that a
thousand people are working to dutifully churn this thing out in a timely manner! Nuts!
The point: They certainly are throwing enough bodies at this project to have it succeed. I do share your overall concern, though; except, my main issue is they **** up a really appealing pirate adventure with the nonsensical meta narrative the series has come to be known for. As a scholar and historian of absolutely no regard, I appreciate the series' appreciation of history; but everything else is entirely superfluous.
---
Finn said:
Meet Elizabeth. Apparently she is one of the most lifelike digital personalities to ever grace our screens.
The hive mind certainly is climbing over each other to heap praise upon
The Thrilling Adventures of Booker Dewitt & the Handyman. Oh, and
there's a girl too!
Kidding.
The
System Shock series was never on my radar. Beyond the vague knowledge of a giant robot and a little girl, I couldn't tell you anything about it. Was I playing games when it came out? I don't remember. Anyway, I've been paying casual attention to
Bioshock Infinite's promotional campaign, but the nagging sensation of being burned by the Millennial wish-fulfillment that was
Far Cry 3, I'm leery about picking up another FPS.
This, however, is a cool commercial. The art direction is generally spectacular.
Fin de siècle America and its Progressive Era bookend is a fascinating time in American history. So I'm glad to see the time period being explored in whatever medium, but I'd rather see a movie of the game's events.
I was flipping through a copy of The Art of Bioshock Infinite @ WonderCon over the weekend, and I continue to be impressed in the visual aspect of the game.
To anybody else interested in the game, be very careful when trolling the 'net for videos and reviews and commentary. A collection of 'tards have already blown through the game and feel the need to talk about it in the various comment sections.
Finn said:
And to not simply throw true and tried IPs out there, I guess there's this:
Capcom had a demo (and flew in the producers for a signing) on the floor @ WonderCon. I didn't see much open world exploration on display; rather, it was a lot of corridor & arena-like gameplay you see in
Uncharted. Visually speaking, it looks great. The animation is very fluid. I'll be curious to see more, but it looks like a miss for me @ this point in time.
Now, this on the other hand was some of
the best news from last week.
DuckTales! I really don't remember the original (now
Maui Mallard &
QuackShots on the other hand...), but this highly anticipated. Played a demo this past weekend, and the hand drawn animation is gorgeous, and the voice acting never misses a beat. This'll be first full game I've ever downloaded onto my PS3.
I pumped a tonne of quarters into Capcom's beat 'em ups over the years. Probably none more so than the two Dungeons & Dragons games they put out. Now Capcom is re-releasing them in one bundle with updated graphics and other assorted bells n' whistles.
I haven't played anything recently.
Sly 2: Band of Thieves remains about halfway completed.