It has been a while since we have seen the rotund yellow chomper in his own game. However, the fine folks over at Namco Bandai are bringing him back in PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventure! You can also see PAC-MAN return to television when he debuts his new animated adventures over at Disney on June 17th!
You can expect to see PAC-MAN hit the PS3, Xbox 360, and the Wii U this fall. A special side-scrolling edition will release for the 3DS (I love side-scrollers, but why put one on the 3DS?)
In today’s society, too often we want things yesterday. If we are hungry, we have no problem speeding through a drive through to grab a hamburger, yet complain if it takes three minutes to receive it instead of one minute. The same impatience applies to the gaming world. We want sequels, remakes, remasters, and anticipated new IPs as soon as they are announced, instead of waiting for them to be complete.
Three of the more notable games that I am seeing this with are Kingdom Hearts 3, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, and Final Fantasy VII. Although there is a huge demand for all three, do we really want them now?
As far as Final Fantasy VII is concerned, I am not so sure we are ready for a remake if the game. Due to the graphical limitations on the PSone, a remaster is not possible. Therefore, we are looking at basically a brand new game developed from the bottom up. That wouldn’t be so bad except that new things are almost always added in this scenario, and other things are left out. Although the changes might reflect the original vision of the developers, and may actually be possible now due to the advancements made since the original release, I can see a lot of upset gamers that will be in an uproar over any variations from the original. Just look at the newest remaster of the Original Star Wars movies. In my opinion, they should wait until the sales of the title slow to a halt. It can currently be downloaded and the sales are still good, so why hurt the sales, when they can profit at a later time?
Final Fantasy Versus XIII is a different scenario. Since 2006 we have been mesmerized by the same game trailer over and over again. Every time I see it, I salivate uncontrollably. However, we have to remember that what we saw was really just a tech demo. All of us wanted it then and now, no ifs, ands, or buts. However, there were many projects ahead of Versus XIII, and it was put on the back burner. As of April 17th, we have been told by Mr. Nomura that we will hear more about the game soon. Sure, we have heard this before, but I have a feeling it is getting closer. At this point, I think that Square feels rushed to release the game. I know that the fans are getting impatient, but I really hope Square takes their time. If they release the game and it is not absolutely perfect, fans will riot in the streets. I think we need to be more patient with this one. We might already have unrealisitc/inflated expectations and it will only be catastrophic if the game fails to impress.
Kingdom Hearts III is another story all together. It has already been said that the game will not even be started until Versus XIII is complete. Many fans are upset that we have waited so long for an update or release. To keep the fans interested, Square has announced a release date for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5, they have released Dream Drop Distance, and many other games since the first installment in the series has come out. Yet, all we hear is complaining that III is not out yet. It is speculated that Kingdom Hearts III will be the last installment in the current story line. With that said, Square Enix really needs to take their time with the game. At the end, all holes in the story will need to be filled (unless they play a crucial part in the next storyline), and it needs to be flawless. Like Versus XIII, the fans have waited a long time for this one and Square cannot disappoint. There are many things that we want to see in the game, but also have to remember that we are not the creators, but the players. Our “wants” should not persuade the developers and writers how the game should play out. However, the developers and writers should be aware of how the fanbase can be and ensure that they craft something that will blow our minds.
In a time that we want something the instant it is brought to our attention, we are also just as impatient to complain when we don’t get exactly what we want. Patience is a virtue, and our impatience will only lead to disappointment. So, when you hear someone complain about the length of time it takes a game to come to market, the lack of titles for a new console, or even the horrible quality of a rushed game (Aliens: Colonial Marines), tell them to be patient, replay their favorite game, experience another IP until their anticipated title launches, dabble in a hobby. As a gamer, I don’t want to see a rushed title geared towards fan service. Instead, we need well thought out and intricate stories that will keep us coming back for more.
Are you waiting to pre-order your copy of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix? If so, you might want to act fast! Those that do pre-order will receive a limited edition art book with their order. The catch? Supplies are estimated to be very limited. Although there is no official word on the number of copies that will be available, it does not appear that it will be available after the official launch. So, instead of taking chances, get your orders in now! If you are not sure where to order from, go ahead and head over to Amazon.com to place your order.
Still unsure about pre-ordering? Don’t forget, for the insanley low price of $39.99 ($39.96 on Amazon) you will receive two full games (One being a final mix!), One game in which the cinematics were remastered for your viewing pleasure, and a FREE art book! For Only $39.99!
Included in the art book will be early sketches of the characters, early renders, and artwork that never made its way to North America.
Hit the jump for the Official Square Enix Press Release
For just over ten months, the PSN has been absent for the South Korean gaming culture. This has been due to a law that prohibits gamers under the age of 16 from playing games during Midnight until 6am. However, on May 16, the PSN will make its return to south Korea.
Many South Korean gamers are obviously excited about PSN’s return, however there is one catch. Only gamers 18 and up can access the online store.
All gamers that have been victim to the shut down will receive a free one month subscription to Playstation Plus as a welcome back gift. Although one month does not seem like a long time, it should be enough to reignite the flame.
What are your thoughts on only allowing 18+ to access the PlayStation network? How would you feel if this same course of action was taken in North America or Europe?
Let’s have a serious, and adult conversation about the next GEN gaming consoles. Of the five (Wii U, Xbox 720, PS4, Ouya, and Steambox) which has the better chance of survival as a stand alone unit? Now, I am not asking about which has the better graphics, which is more powerful, etc… Why, simply because Graphics and power do not define the greatness of a game. A game should be judged on its storyline and playability, not graphics.
To make this fair, let’s go in Alphabetical Order, shall we?
First off is the OUYA:
Although not yet officially launched, the Ouya does have the ability to release games to the market rather quickly. The downside is that it could be a rather niche market. Android OS fans are sure to love it, and its open sourceness is sure to attract developers, hackers, and those that dabble in developing. The $99.99 price tag (US) is sure to attract a multitude of sales.
In my opinion, we will probably see quite a bit out of this little guy. The price alone is a huge selling point. Although I don’t think it will fully compete with the big 3, it will surely be the chihuahua biting at their ankles.
Second is the PS4:
At this time, we still do not know a lot about the PS4. During their announcement, they showed some pretty impressive tech demos, but the console itself was…well..nonexistent. Pricing is sure to be an issue here, it will come nowhere near the pricing of the Ouya (understandable), but the higher price tag will only guarantee sales to the PS Fanboys and girls. To those on the fence, it will come down to game availability. Again, I would say power, but you need interesting games to harness that power. My concern is that the PS4 will not have enough original titles to lure fans away form the others. If Call of Duty is available on all consoles, I don’t think I would buy a PS4 just to play it if I already own it on Wii U or 720. In this next Gen, Sony needs to work on creating new and original titles exclusively for their consoles.
In my opinion, without a selection of core titles to rely on, Sony will always struggle for dominance with the Xbox like two arch rivals courting the same girl in high school. Both have equal chances, but constantly mimicking each others stale moves is getting them no where.
Third is the Steambox:
The Steambox is almost a dream come true for PC gamers. A non-PC with the capability to run PC games seems like a great idea. But PC Gamers are a dedicated and vicious bunch. Take away their favorite PC, and they suddenly become rabid. The Piston Steambox has a selling point between $499 and $999. That is rather expensive, however I would guess that a true PC gamer will be willing to shell out the cash as long as it lives up to promises. There are rumors that Valve will release something less expensive, but I am not sure that I have the faith in Mr. Newell.
In my opinion, I have doubts that we even see this anytime soon, and if we do I have a feeling that the PC gamers will stick to their set ups, opting to incrementally upgrading their PC as they seem fit. Sure it will sell, but just like Gabe running a marathon it might be tightly packed into spandex, but it will still come in last.
Fourth is the Wii U:
The Wii U is the one next gen console that has enough esxclusive titles to survive without third party support. They also have the imagination, and the guts, to try new things and test new original titles. I think their biggest issue right now is third party support. Nintendo has to not only capture more third party cross platform games, but also convince those same developers to create exclusive titles. We saw Rayman Legends take the lead here, until Ubisoft pulled out at the last minute to make the game cross platform. A huge plus is that Nintendo was the first to release the console for the next gen. With a collection of great games released already, and many more to look forward to, I think we will see great things to come.
In my opinion, the Wii U has staying power. Nintendo is not afraid to gamble (think back to their Love hotels and Taxi services), and they did just that with this console. They could have released Pikmin, Zedla, etc… immediately at launch, but instead chose to wait and perfect the games. This angered some fans, but I think they need that extra fire power once Sony and Microsoft releases their consoles. However,like Lil Mac, Nintendo is never afraid to back down from a fight.
Finally, we have the Xbox 720:
I almost left this one off of the list because we know nothing about it yet. However, their announcement is coming soon. To win over the fans, and 1-UP Sony, they need to show us an actual console during the reveal. Much like the PS4, there are plenty of fanboys and girls that will line up for this console regardless of price. However, much like Sony there are too many third party cross platform titles that the console relies on for sales. They do have Halo, however I feel that the series needs some sort of upgrade to make it a serious threat to exclusive titles like Mario. One thing that Xbox does have going for it is Xbox Live, in my opinion it is still the best online service, followed closely by Wii U, then PSN.
In my opinion, The Xbox 720 will be successful, just like the PS4, there are a lot of fans out there that are dedicated. However, their battle for supremacy with Sony will always get in the way. Unfortunately, both Sony and Microsoft seem to forget about Nintendo when they are battling it out. However, one has to knock off the other before they can seriously confront the grandfather of gaming. One down side of Microsoft is the lack of a handheld. I think in this generation, a handheld is essential. Hopefully the 720 will have a solution for that.
So, in my opinion, the Wii U will come out on top in this next gen market. To me, Sony and Microsoft are too busy trying on dresses in an ongoing cat-fight to see who will look better, but in the end they both seem to pick the same dress. Nintendo is contempt with their Bermuda shorts, Hawaiian shirts, and Tom Selleck mustache, so they can spend their free time thinking ahead. Although there is potential for Steambox and Ouya, they are still new on the block and will take some time to earn the respect of the big boys.
Who do you choose to come out on top, and why? Let’s have a discussion in the comments below.
