Podcast XXI: Halo 3, NPD and stuff

Scotracer · 01-11-2007, 07:17 PM

We're back, and we bring Halo 3 impressions and gripes along with NPD numbers that may be all too familiar to some, but still ever valid.

The PS3 still struggles to find it's footing with a stick-shift and is stuck in neutral, the Wii continues to laugh at all it surveys, and Microsoft chuckles all the way to the bank with its $300 million in revenue from Halo 3 and for the first time....a profit!

We bring respect for our European, Japanese and Australian members who are getting a bum-deal from the conglomerate monster that is Microsoft.

With such a long gap without a podcast, expect a lot to be discussed. So, crack open another Brew and sit back and enjoy the ramblings of me, Scotty boy and Joel.

Scotracer · 04-11-2007, 07:41 PM

The PC is up, lads. Enjoy.

Bobby Roc · 04-11-2007, 08:57 PM

THANK YOU for mentioning the inconsistencies in Halo 3's multiplayer. I already broke one controller over this **** out of frustration. Hopefully Bungie will fix this issue asap.

IIJoshIII · 04-11-2007, 09:00 PM

Cool, now Sports will stfu.
Looking forward to this one.

Nate2583 · 04-11-2007, 10:47 PM

Excellent PodCast.

Sir Charles · 05-11-2007, 06:15 AM

Very good PC, TTK FTMFW

Kona Palangi · 05-11-2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby Roc

THANK YOU for mentioning the inconsistencies in Halo 3's multiplayer. I already broke one controller over this **** out of frustration. Hopefully Bungie will fix this issue asap.

That was my main beef for the entire Podcast. While others may praise Halo as a deity I went straight for the jugular due in part to how broken the MP is. Too many inconsistencies, too many flaws, too many variables and randomness. I have reached a point where I only play with TTK and team doubles. Other than that, Bungie ****ed up the online experience for me so I refrain from playing with others. Obviously this is bunk **** because otherwise, Halo 3 online is great.

sportscrazed2 · 05-11-2007, 08:00 AM

thanks for the Pc dudes i know you are busy. and that is the one thing i hate about halo 3. my favorite new map is valhalla and i always end up playing the pit

Boost King · 06-11-2007, 04:14 PM

Hi Guys,

Excellent Podcast. I was surprised to see it on itunes as I was perusing my normal crap and voila, there it was. To my pleasure, Malo, thanks for the mentions, you knows it gets me all warm n fuzzy to be spoken of. So thankyou for that.

Also, when discussing the new SKU's you mentioned the New Core (Aracade Pack) should have come with a Hard Drive? I had thought about this, but then realised if you added a Hard Drive to the new Arcade, then what is the difference between the premium and arcade. Both have Wireless Controllers, both have HDMI, and both would have a hard drive, so whats the price difference for, the HD AV Cable????? I think thats the entire reason for not having a hard drive, is to keep the price differential and model distinction clear. Also, I completely understand your point to have a HDD for game caching etc, but didn't scotty say the only game to actually take effect of this and use it was Oblivion? Therefore, its clear all developers currently still dont take advantage of that, and if they did they'd eliminate the Core or Arcade users from their potential customers. Personally I hope they drop the Arcade model and just sell the ever so popular Premium and Elite systems only, with Hard Drive space being hte only differential. At least now HDMI is not a differentiating factor.

As for HD DVD, it was great to hear some news about it. Thats a pretty solid effort for 1 title to push so many sales. I dont also think HD DVD is at a limitation, I mean, theres dual sides, multiple layers etc etc. I really get all torn and twisted inside when developers or whatever say comments about oh that particular issue or item is limiting the development, ie remember when GTA4 was limited on the 360, or PGR4 limited on the 360. Again, a PS3 fanboys wet dream to ride that comment like the whore it is, all the way to the sunset. As discovered both statements were taken completely out of context. So with HD DVD, fitting so many audio options, maybe isn't a bid deal after all is swahillian isn't a language option!

Also, 2007 (whats remaining) is a big line up, and 2008 looks great as well. I think the 360 is a fantastic machine. Also Scotty, when Malo asked about whether the 360 was a success or not in regards to Halo, I think the 360 is a success. Heres why. Call of Duty 2, 3, 4, Gears of War, NFL, Bioshock, PGR3 & 4, Forza 2, Arcade Games, Oblivion, etcetcetc. These are all great games and there are many others. The point being these games did it on their own, and performed well on 360. I personally love my 360 for all these reasons, including their online service, downloadable content (despite Aussies getting shafted) and further its arcade games which are fun and a welcomed idea, that Nintendo and Sony are trying to copy. The 360 has also been the first to go HD, and Next Gen. Microsoft as far as I am concerned did it all on the 360, WITHOUT Halo 3. Now Halo 3 is out, sure it moved copies and consoles, but with no more Halo's for a while, who cares. So much else is on its way and lined up for the future whats there not to look forward to or say is successfull. I mean to bank the whole 360 on Halo is not a good idea. Maybe for XB1, it was Halo that launched the console, and that can never be forgotten.
Then again, Mario launched the Nintendo, does that mean all is relied upon him to save the system? No, Nintendo has shown all it can do the right thing without its No1 franchise and deliver a new experience. Now he's a Mascott thats probably the biggest in gaming history.

So in summary, without Halo 3, the 360 is Not facing a uncertain future, but a future filled with success and opportunity that it has so well built up and deserves.

And yes, I also agree for people to remove the "XBL for Free" mottos and replace them with "PX360". We need to pay money to keep the service so top quality and excellent in my opinion. You want free, go mess around on Sonys online (if you can call it that) service.

Great podcast guys, look forward to the next one as well.

Again, call me anytimes to help!

Boost King

Kona Palangi · 06-11-2007, 05:58 PM

MS needs to alter their MSRP for each HDD to begin with. They are ridiculously overpriced and MS is basically ****ing over everyone who purchases one. A smaller, 5-10 GB HDD would be sufficient enough for those borderline casual to avid gamers and would indeed differentiate one SKU from another, it would be called storage capacity. They can always upgrade if they so choose but the benefits of having and actual Hard Disc Drive are many and most should go without saying. As for now, caching is relatively insignificant and far from prevalent but I was speaking of other titles slated to be released in the future such as GTA IV (2008) UTIII and so on. DVD9 has its limits. Once this format has reached its apex, what are developers going to do in order acclimate to the limitations in a cost effective, time efficient manner?

FLANKER 5 · 06-11-2007, 07:06 PM

great podcast fellas, well done

Boost King · 06-11-2007, 07:46 PM

I think a 5GB model should be ample, surely they could swindle that. Yes going forward the future of DVD9 will reach its limits, no doubt. Is there a way to add more layers to DVD9 and increase its storage for normal drives to read?
I think if they chose like HDDVD that would rock, but that opens a whole new can of worms, that I cant be blown even going into today.

Great podcast again, fantastic to hear you all again.

Boost

IIJoshIII · 08-11-2007, 05:38 PM

Malo you swine! My name must be mentioned when using my Copyrighted saying Righteous Truthiness, which includes the Podcast!
Good episode.

Scotracer · 09-11-2007, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boost King

I think a 5GB model should be ample, surely they could swindle that. Yes going forward the future of DVD9 will reach its limits, no doubt. Is there a way to add more layers to DVD9 and increase its storage for normal drives to read?
I think if they chose like HDDVD that would rock, but that opens a whole new can of worms, that I cant be blown even going into today.

Great podcast again, fantastic to hear you all again.

Boost

Problem is a portion of the HDD (in both 20Gb and 120Gb iterations) is used for system functions; be it caching, whatever. So, if they introduced a smaller HDD (and 20Gb is pretty much costless nowadays) they'd have to work around that.

The way I'd do it:

-Increase Premium to 60Gb
-Drop Core/Arcade
-Cange current Premium to new SKU.

This way it keeps the categorical difference between each SKU, but allows better software to be produced.

hahnking · 09-11-2007, 04:45 AM

Thanks for the podcast guys, its great to hear what I believe is the best 360 PC out there at the moment again. Shame its such a time between each one but I can attest to how busy we all get.

As for the new SKU, I totally agree with Scotracer, lets go with a larger HDD with the Premium and give the "Arcade" a smaller HDD or even keep the 20GB HDD. This should allow the developers to work with an even playing field and hopefully prolong the life of DVD9 until some clear winner has emerged in the format war.