Having trouble keeping up with all the gaming news flying off the RGM news desk? Don’t worry, so am I. To help you stay up to date with the big news stories from throughout the week we have put together a brief re-cap of the stories we know you will want to the news about.
Getting us started this week, what Went Wrong With No Man’s Sky? Sean Murray Could be About to Explain
No Man’s Sky is probably one of the biggest talking points of gaming’s 2016 and unfortunately, not for all the right reasons.
Being developed by a tiny development team over a three-year period, the task of bringing 18 quintillion planets to life certainly wouldn’t be an easy task, even if they were procedurally generated. When it finally released there were…mixed feelings towards it.
Our review on RGM gave it a solid 7 out of 10 but we were certain it was a ‘Marmite’ type of game as the reviewers concluded:
“There is no middle ground here, you will either love or hate it. There are some great qualities below the inventory management and the game can feel repetitive. It feels more like a survival game than an exploration game, and has potential to grow and become even better.”
Some players immediately got lost in the game, some found the centre of the universe (something that was supposedly near impossible), whilst others found other people in the universe (something else that was supposedly near impossible). Cracks had begun to show in No Man’s Sky’s design and it became apparent that there were things missing from one of the most hyped games in recent memory. There was a lot riding on this, Hello Games first AAA title, and Sony had bagged exclusivity for the PlayStation 4.
Players began to lose interest in the game, finding it repetitive and lacking; player numbers dipped quicker than the value of global currency in the 1920s. At one point, it had been reported that more people were playing Borderland 2 (a four-year old game) than No Man’s Sky. Players felt they were mis-sold the game and that the developers had intentionally not discussed what was and what wasn’t going to be in the game. Then followed a mass refund. Many players receiving refunds from major retailers such as Amazon and Steam and currently, No Man’s Sky is under investigation in the U.K. for false advertising. There were reports that shops were covering certain areas of marketing and boxes with stickers to hide bits of information.
So what happened? How could they have got it so wrong? Did Hello Games suffer from ‘Peter Molyneux syndrome’ (promising more than you can deliver because you’re just over-excitable about the product, i.e. Fable) with selected mutism, intentional or not?
Throughout this whole debacle it seems Hello Games are just carrying on as normal; rolling out technical updates to No Man’s Sky whilst seemingly shrugging off these concerns from their fans and the community. Until now…
It has been detailed on Tech Times that Geoff Keighley, a videogame journalist, has revealed that Sean Murray of Hello Games is open to the idea of appearing on Keighley’s podcast to discuss No Man’s Sky and what went wrong. He is scheduled to appear on the podcast in October at some point, whether he will or not is anyone’s guess at this point, but there are a lot of people out there wanting answers.
It was reported that Keighley may feel partly responsible for over hyping No Man’s Sky from the beginning and was opposed to the game being full AAA release at full whack, suggesting it may be better suited to an ‘early access’ format.
I kept my eyes on No Man’s Sky although I will admit, it didn’t appeal to me, it was always on my periphery. To be honest, I never saw the ‘point’, people would say to me “you can mine things” and I would end up in an endless loop of “and then what?” I also got the impression that it would get old fast, lots of repetition; how many planets and species were the same but a different colour?
I don’t know, just something I had the impression of about the game. But I do know that if you mis-sell or mis-lead those who are interested in what you’re touting then you need to be held accountable and whether it was a genuine error or not, it needs to be explained. How else are people to know what the hell was going on? Integrity wise, for Hello Games, this is crucial, will anyone buy your products again if you feel you are going to be misled. They need some damage control or I can imagine their next game might end up boycotted.
Do you go back to the restaurant you got food poisoning from?
Author: Adam Stewart
Next up we have, Green Man Gaming offering digital PlayStation Games, Xbox and Nintendo coming soon?
Well known online retailer, Green Man Gaming, has partnered with Sony to sell PlayStation games digitally. The announcement comes via a post on their webpage which goes on to explain a few details concerning the new deal. Available games include Uncharted 4, The Last of Us Remastered and the grueling Bloodbourne among many others. While the selection is quite robust, all titles are only usable by PS gamers in the United States. The good news is both companies have plans to expand this partnership to new games and other regions, outside of the USA, in the future.
Green Man Gaming has traditionally been a seller of digital PC games and is famous for offering some gigantic markdowns when it comes to pricing. Hopefully, that practice will flow onto console games as well in the future. In fact, as an introductory offer, they are cutting 5% off all PlayStation games available which is great news!
They also appear to be attempting to broaden the number of platforms they cater to, with pages for Xbox and Nintendo up on the site. The Xbox page has a “Coming Soon” banner on it and the Nintendo one is stocked with games but also directs to a “Coming Soon” when you click on a title.
It remains to be seen whether or not the patented Green Man Gaming big discounts that they offer regularly on PC games will be applied consistently to console platforms. Super cheap digital console game sales…yes please!
Author: Josh Hobbs
Pleasing many is: Here’s 5 reasons Lost Odyssey should be the next RPG you play on Xbox One
Last week, one of the greatest JRPG games ever made received backwards compatibility to the Xbox One. Lost Odyssey is a 9-year old role playing game that Hironobu Sakaguchi, the famed creator of the Final Fantasy series, and Nobuo Uematsu, the name behind the music of the greatest JRPG games of our generation, released exclusively on Xbox 360. Without receiving much in advertising, Lost Odyssey performed quite well for a new IP on sales charts but quickly faded into oblivion.
For JRPG fans, Lost Odyssey may easily be the best “Final Fantasy“-style game since the release of Final Fantasy X, which makes sense since the minds that made the series great are behind this as well. What makes Lost Odyssey so different is the way the story is told and the mechanics of combat. It feels unapologetically old-school, yet includes elements that haven’t been used in JRPGs since their inclusion. So let’s take a look at why you can cool your hype for Final Fantasy XV and jump into Lost Odyssey right now.
An incredible story that unfolds brilliantly as you play
Kaim, the main character of Lost Odyssey, is an immortal being that has honed his incredible combat skills throughout the annals of human conflict. He initially seems to carry repressed memories that are revisited as he sleeps but seems cold and distant as the relationships he builds are only temporary to him. This changes after being tasked to investigate a disaster that wipes out the armies of two nations and he learns he isn’t the only immortal being on the planet. The story focuses quite a lot on mortality and memory. It’s incredibly well done.
Lost Odyssey takes an interesting spin on traditional combat
Lost Odyssey‘s combat system is simple, yet complex enough to keep you entertained. Melee combat allows you to use “rings” which let the attacker do extra damage with a well-timed button press. Of course there is magic and special skills that can be used as well but these can only initially be learned by mortal party members. Immortal characters can’t directly learn skills and abilities but instead learn them by linking with mortal characters or equipping accessories. This allows a lot of different nuances in battle and can really let you customize your party for particular fights.
Amazing soundtrack
Nobuo Uematsu is a legend when it comes to creating game soundtracks. Lost Odyssey is no exception with a masterfully orchestrated soundtrack. Oddly enough, there are several points in this game where the atmosphere becomes significantly more like Final Fantasy due to some familiarity in Nobou’s soundtrack. As a bonus, the battle themes are also great, which is handy since you’ll hear them a lot.
A ton of content
Lost Odyssey is a 4 disc game, when installed on the Xbox One, the total install is about 23 gigabytes. This isn’t just empty fluff either. The main game takes about 70 hours to complete and about an additional 30 of side quests and item hunts. Battles can also be quite cerebral, so there will be many times you may need to stop and work on tactics too. Mix that with a traditional overworld map and lots of exploring and you’ll find yourself busy until the major releases of the holiday are upon us.
Probably the best “Final Fantasy” experience since Final Fantasy X
With all the info I’ve already discussed, along with nuanced things as simple as menu operation, Lost Odyssey absolutely feels like an unofficial Final Fantasy game. Everything blends together well enough to create nostalgia for longtime RPG players, but doesn’t alienate players that aren’t familiar with older RPG titles.
Going back and playing through the beginning of the game again, I’m shocked that as old as Lost Odyssey is, it still looks pretty great. I’m hoping that the new attention the game should receive now that it can be played on Xbox One will convince Microsoft to encourage some sort of sequel. This game alone does enough to create an awesome world in which there are so many stories to be told. You’ll need to get your hands on the discs right now though, as Lost Odyssey currently isn’t available in any digital formal… yet.
Author: Josh Knowles
News just keeps coming in about the FPS we all love to hate: Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare IS set in the same universe as Modern Warfare
Not long to go until the anticipated arrival of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, and some other little game called Infinity Wardfare or something that’s attached to it… Aaah I had you going there didn’t I? I’m actually really looking forward to CoD: Infinite Warfare, with Modern Warfare Remastered just being a great bit of icing on the cake!
Anyway, today I bring you a fan theory that’s come from Twitter user @Blade_151 regarding where Infinite Warfare sits in the annals of Call of Duty. Check out his Tweet below.
https://twitter.com/Blade_151/status/782364611232215040
The image is of an official poster that it shows the classification of the Retribution ship that is due to feature heavily in the game, which states:
“Retribution’s hull classification is SWC-141 (Space Warship Carrier). The numerical designation was recommended by representatives of the Russian Federation in remembrance of the heroic actions of Task Force 141 in rescuing Russian President Boris Vorshevsky.”
Now if you remember the events of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, President Vorshevsky is rescued in a joint operation by Delta Force and Task Force 141 in a Siberian diamond mine. These events are canon within the Modern Warfare trilogy, and that they are not just nodded to but literally referenced in black and white (OK a kind of dark blue and white), is pretty much irrefutable proof that Infinite Warfare is set in Modern Warfare’s future.
I would very much say that this falls outside of rumor and speculation and is so specific in who and what it mentions that it must be fact.
I’ve heard that some people are opinionated with regards to Call of Duty, and that Infinite Warfare is no different – so with that in mind, tell us what you think about this revelation in the comments below.
Author: Richard Talbot-Ashby
Closing off this week’s wrap-up is: Neil DeGrasse Tyson is making a game (and yes, it’s about space)
Although there’s a good chance that Neil DeGrasse Tyson has ruined one of your favorite movies thanks to his world-class nitpicking, there’s certainly some kind of magnetism and legitimacy to every statement that he makes.
His knowledge of space and science in general is impressive, and much like Bill Nye, has made being a nerd much cooler than it previously had been.
Keeping that in mind, the news that Neil DeGrasse Tyson is now helping develop a space-themed VR game is certainly intriguing.
The game is going to be called Neil DeGrasse Tyson Presents Space Odyssey and the player will travel to Mars, Europa, and places even further beyond.
The Space Odyssey website offers a decent idea of what gameplay will consist of:
“Meet at the Mission Control Spaceport and set off on missions by piloting your spacecraft through your friends galaxies, colonizing and growing your own galaxy, all with some guidance from Neil, your trusted Space Adviser.” “Grow galaxies, develop planets, colonize worlds, nurture species, harvest, mine, explore and discover unique life-forms, and civilizations. You’re part of a community that’ll shape the future of this gaming Universe.”
Considering Tyson’s involvement in the game, it has been stated that there will be “scientifically-accurate” gameplay, as well as a Minecraft element involving the creation of “your own celestial civilizations to compete with others in an intense game of strategy.”
Mark Murphy from Space Odyssey’s development team also went into detail on what you could do with the planets themselves:
“You can grow and mature these planets as much as you’d like, creating colonies, ports, mining structures, undertake trade of elements you discover/mine or invent or innovate.”
Considering the size and scope that’s being teased here, as well as Tyson’s involvement and the ambition being described, this could be a hidden gem for a VR genre that doesn’t quite have a massive system-seller yet.
It sounds like a No Man’s Sky kind of exploration-type game, mixed in with a planet creation element that could raise it above the kind of creation games that have come before it.
If you’re still not convinced, Tyson will be your trusted Space Adviser the whole time throughout your journey. How could you resist such an opportunity?
Does Space Odyssey already have you hooked, or do you need some gameplay before you’ll get hyped? What movie has Neil DeGrasse Tyson ruined for you? Let us know in the comments!
Author: Kevin McCasland
So there you have it, a wrap up of some of the interesting items that landed on the RGM news desk this week. While you are here you may also enjoy:
This week’s Deals with Gold and Spotlight Sales are in – October 27
SPOILER WARNING: Battlefield 1 Opening Cutscene Available
Grand Theft Auto 5 Rakes in $700 Million for Rockstar
Gears of War 4 ‘Legacy Rewards’ Announced
