Gaming News: Microsoft’s Plans For Xbox, Fable Legends Canceled, No Man’s Sky

In early March Phil Spencer said that he envisioned a future where Xbox One could be upgradeable. This conjured ideas that one could replace standard components like GPUs with more advances ones, for unknown reasons the greater YouTube audience panicked about this. Personally, I would love such a change, but I’m a techie and regularly take things apart and do my own repair jobs. I can see, however, that this might not appeal to console regulars. A majority of people chose consoles because of simplicity, making console upgrades could conceivably complicate the traditional console atmosphere. Fear not, though, in an interview last week on Major Nelson’s podcast Phil “clarified” by saying he meant that the Xbox would be subject to upgrades similar to that of iPhones. This is somewhat misleading, because this could either mean that people will be able to go to the store and exchange their Xbox for a newer version (Xbox 1.2; Xbox S 1, etc.) , or just some kind of extension of the current software updates. No matter what it means, I can insure you that none of this means that Microsoft has giving up on Xbox (I really don’t know where that theory comes from) .

On the subject of Microsoft giving up; Lionhead Studios is stopping production on Fable Legends, and the studio itself is being closing down. This is not necessarily a bad thing. The Fable franchise has being going downhill for a very long time, and after a long sequence of screw-ups, it’s not surprising that they’re shutting down. Not many studios get as many second chances as they have. Don’t get me wrong I’m a huge Fable fan, but ever since Fable 2 I’ve been increasingly disappointed with the newer games, and as a Fable Legends Beta tester, I can personally tell you that Legends (though entertaining) quite simply was not a Fable game. Again these things actually prove that Microsoft cares about Xbox rather than “giving up” on Xbox.

Finally, good news! No Man’s Sky has an official release date. Devs have given official release dates for both PS4 and PC. Releasing first on Playstation on the summer solstice (June 21, 2016) and then on the PC three days later. As of yet, no word on a Mac or Xbox One release. No Man’s Sky, for those people who live in a cardboard box under the stairs in the corner of the basement, (if you get that reference, I applaud you) is an immense space exploration sandbox game, with an entire universe of world-sized worlds to explore and plenty of alien civilizations to observe, or fight with, or form alliances with.

ESO, and Fallout 4 Updates on the way!.. Plus Mod Support!

Elder Scrolls Online is due for a new update this month for Xbox One and PS4. The update coincides with the release of the Thieve’s Guild dlc  that has fans like me exited, and includes a series of game play fixes, which are obviously always welcome. Thieve’s Guild will bring with it a new map region, a new faction and a series of new quests, in hopes of satiating the need for new content. Rumors also abound relating to a Dark Brotherhood based dlc as well.  Hopefully, one day Tamriel might truly be unlimited.

Fallout 4 should be seeing it’s new patch this month as well. Clearly, Bethesda has been busy lately. The patch, initially will fix bugs and glitches, and will also allow for dlc compatibility for the 3 new dlc’s scheduled over the next three months and for eventual mod content in console versions of the game. Allegedly the Creation Kit should be available for PC players either at the end of March or in April. The following month will bring mod support to Xbox One and then PS4 the month after the X box.

What’s Wrong with Fallout 4 : Bethesda Or Hype?

 

A glimpse at Oblivion in the Commonwealth?

When Bethesda first Announced Fallout 4, excitement flooded the gaming community as it became one of the most anticipated games of 2015. Despite the storm of hype the internet, the games release was met with less than favorable reviews, citing sub-par graphics, and complaining about general bugginess. However, when examined the game is very functional, and really is a vast improvement over previous titles in the franchise, which is actually exactly what Bethesda promised for the game, So why are so many people upset? Well, the answer has less  to do with Bethesda or the IP, and more to do with the fans. So let’s examine the nature of the hype that revolved around the announcement of FO4 , along with the fickleness of the gaming community.

The beginning of the Fallout 4 discussion started as far back as Fallout: New Vegas, because ,just like today (with FO4), New Vegas was not well received by Fallout fans. People were dissatisfied with New Vegas to the extent that some people wouldn’t ever consider it as a sequel to FO3, claiming  that it was more of a expansion than a stand alone game. As unfair as that may sound today, it was a very real trend in the Fallout fandom, Although New Vegas was clearly not a very large technological leap, it did have some game play improvements like; the ability to use iron sights aiming, weapon customization, and a more balanced perk upgrade system like FO2. Despite, all this, today the fandom has been hailing NV as the best Fallout game ever made. When Fallout 3 came out the Interplay purists condemned it and held the original two games FO1 &FO2 aloft upon the highest pedestal, preferring the old turned based combat to the New FPS style combat.

Power Armor in FO3

And the obvious improvements….

So, in light of these past trends, one could draw conclusion solely off of this information alone.We will, however, note the tendency of nostalgic longing among the FO fan-base and move on to yet another friend; the hype factory.

I have noticed the hype engine that pops up around game announcements. Not just a FO problem , it tends to extend it merciless grasp into all games. What happens; is that a developer/ studio/ publisher will make an announcement like,’’ We are working on our next game,’’ This is what it’s called,’’ it’ll be the the best game we’ve made yet.’’ From this point forward, unless you see a statement on the company website, everything else you will hear about the game will be, far the most part,conjecture. For most IPS the hype wagon is a short ride that isn’t taken seriously but Bethesda has a fairly good history with making game of the year (GOTY) titles, and fan’s expectations are set on this idea, and subsequently want the next title to reach that status. Yes, this may he unreasonable, and quite possibly short-sighted, but Bethesda fan a are very proud and passionate people, and they always want their favorite publishes on top. Furthermore, Bethesda has a very strong modding community, one that Bethesda fully supports and encourages. In the past the company has shown appreciation for modders, by using the ideas that the modders came up with, so Bethesda has a reputation as a company that listens to it’s fans. What we fans have to realize, though, is that Bethesda is still a small studio and can’t possibly implement all of our ideas. I know that fans are aware of all of this, but it seems that a large portion are still offended that FO4 didn’t their ideas (“ I know they can’t do every games ideas, but my ideas was the best, it was essential,’’

I suppose that what I’m trying to say is that Fallout 4 is an excellent game by every standard. It may not he the best game in the world. Or even the best Bethesda game, but these are relative terms what is true for you may not be true for Todd Howard or Pete Mines, perhaps they like Fallout4 better than their past games, perhaps not.The fact remains that FO4 is one of the funnest, most entertaining games on the nest gen market. Sure graphics could have been better, but if production started after Skyrim, then chances are FO4 started its life being designed before the next gen came out. I can assure that the next Elders Scrolls, or the next Fallout will be 100% next gen in design. As small as they are starting over 1/2 way isn’t an option.

… and now, for something not all that entirely different…..

Weather, you like it it as not, FO4 is great. If you don’t like it perhaps you should examine your  own expectations. Our tendencies, as fans, to expect Flawless production from such a small studio, and the hipster-like nostalgia envy, is really unrealistic. Bethesda is not at fault for making a ‘’ Bad Game’’ they are victims of the pedestal we put them on.