The Monday letters page considers the possibility of a video games industry crash, as one reader hopes for The Last Of Us Part 3.
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Last chance
So, I see that The Game Awards have been announced for December 7, which is the usual spot for the show. That’s going to be an interesting event, considering that both Sony and Nintendo have plenty they could show there and yet I wouldn’t bet on either of them actually announcing anything.
In fact, I’d probably bet against Sony do anything. If they haven’t said anything new this year, then I don’t see them suddenly changing their approach during someone else’s show. Unless Jim Ryan’s replacement is already calling the shots.
Nintendo though… who could ever predict Nintendo? December 7 is late enough not to affect Christmas sales too much, so could they be looking to end the year with a bang by announcing the Switch 2? I wouldn’t rule it out, especially when you remember the Xbox Series X/S was first announced at The Game Awards and so was the first clip of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
These companies know just how many people watch The Game Awards – it was over 100 million last year – so you really couldn’t ask for a bigger audience. I’m interested to find out…
Gifford
Physical solution
The Reader’s Feature about Spider-Man 2 costing too much is a perfect example of why I still support physical. Yes, if you buy day one digitally it will cost £70. Which I don’t think is too bad anyway.
However, pre-order it on disc from Amazon and it’s £62.99 and Currys have got a 15% discount. Plus, I’m sure that Asda will have it at a decent price as well.
Then when you are done with it trade it in a CeX.
To me that doesn’t sound so expensive.
Tony- -1975 (PSN ID)
Worth the upgrade
I was ill last week and so having lots of time I decided to pay and get the premier edition upgrade of Forza Motorsport (I got the normal version on Game Pass).
I have played a good few hours and I think it’s amazing. The gameplay, both single-player and multiplayer, is first class and the graphics are first rate, but what really surprised me was the sound, which seems much better than the last game.
I do like the new way you increase your levels with cars as you drive them, which then allows you to upgrade. It’s very addictive seeing the level rise while you are driving.
I was envious when Gran Turismo came out for the PlayStation 5 and even considered buying a PlayStation 5. I’m glad, since I waited, Forza Motorsport doesn’t disappoint.
Manic miner 100 (gamertag)
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Apocalypse now
The gaming industry crashing out might not be such a bad thing in the long term. Obviously, the job losses and human cost would be horrendous and the long term won’t mitigate any of that.
But I think if it does happen eventually, it will bring about the single format. It is way past time. The current situation is untenable, these companies don’t exist to keep gamers happy and if they are no longer profitable, they will either call it a day or go under trying to fight a lost cause. The single format streamlines the whole industry.
As an aside, I’m playing The Witcher 3 on PlayStation 5 and Zelda: Tears Of The kingdom and I’m having a proper nightmare with the buttons on the controllers. So, no single format but at least agree to have the controllers on all three consoles mapped the same way, so that jump is at the bottom of the triangle and back is to the right.
Mitchell
GC: The back button could be standardised, but which button does what in terms of jumping and other actions is different for every game – a single format wouldn’t affect that at all.
One example
I’m getting fed up of game developers making DLC for a game and then thinking, ‘Well, we’ll sell that as a standalone game and charge full price.’ Modern Warfare 3 (2023) was meant to be DLC for Modern Warfare 2 (2022) and they’re hoping people are going to buy DLC for £70.
Well, I can tell you now, for the first time in 20 years I won’t be buying Call Of Duty day one till after Xmas. The new Assassin’s Creed Mirage was meant to be DLC, that came out as a standalone game (yes, I bought it not knowing that) and then game developers have the cheek to say we aren’t charging enough. I don’t mind paying £70 to £80 for a top game, that started life as a game but not after making DLC into a game is getting a joke.
David
GC: Mirage wasn’t meant to be DLC, the idea just started life that way – there is a difference. It’s also not quite full price.
Bring it on
Apart from excellent reviews, one of the other aspects of GameCentral I really enjoy is your gaming information, I appreciate this is your job but still, excellently done.
So, I read with great interest your most recent story about the possibility of a remaster of The Last Of Us Part 2.
I consider The Last Of Us games to be as good as it gets; the first game was incredibly enjoyable, brilliant, but Part 2 was just amazing from start to finish.
Normally, when I play games, I can find them enjoyable and entertaining but can usually find areas where I can point a finger and say, ‘That could have been done better.’
But, honestly, The Last Of Us Part 2 for me was faultless; great story, the depiction of a world in decay, fantastic level design, good combat… for me, it’s all there.
Seeing the story from two different perspectives, Ellie and Abbey, was a great idea from Naughty Dog.
Of course, there’s no escaping an absolutely grim business for all concerned, but I was gripped.
Would I like a Part 3? Yes, without hesitation. But until, if ever, that arrives, a remaster of Part 2 is very welcome.
Johnny five stars
GC: Thank you.
The good old days
I believe both consoles have failed the individual player and concentrated too much on multiplayer. They all need to make games like they used to.
The single immersive experience is what it should be about, especially if it’s a game like Call Of Duty and other first person shooters. They have put the multiplayer part way before the single-player, which seemed like an afterthought.
Dave
Old Gear
I’m a 60-year-old retiree and used to enjoy playing Xbox games like Gears Of War, Tomb Raider, and the like. But with advancing age, my ability to play has diminished and I simply no longer have the hand-to-eye coordination I once had. I can’t do the quick time actions, I can’t jump and land on a dime while spinning mid-air, I have the shooting accuracy of a highly trained Star Wars stormtrooper.
I recently tried to play Gears 5 – one of my favourite franchises – but had to give up at the end of act 2 because I could not get past the boss. I knew what needed to be done but just didn’t have the speed to be able to stun the boss, run behind it and then unload 340 clips of ammo into its back. Why 340 clips are needed is a mystery only the 20-something developer can answer, but my guess is that his desire to make the game hard is the driving force. Young boys like the braggadocio that comes from beating a hard game.
Old farts like me just want to enjoy the game and get value for money by being able to complete the story. Sometimes we like to just relax with a favourite game and shoot things for fun.
Old farts like me have a lot more time and a lot more money than the average 20-year-old and we vote with our wallets. Epic Games will never get another nickel from me, and that’s a shame because my money funds the development of games that young people want to play too.
Game developers need to add one simple element to their games: a ‘skip past’ function that allows players to skip past any section of the game they are finding too difficult or frustrating. Allowing players to move forward with the story takes nothing from players that don’t need this function.
As for me, I guess I’m relegated to playing Sudoku, for free, while my money languishes in a bank somewhere.
Happy Wanderer
GC: That’s not a bad idea, but did you try just playing it on easy? Also, Microsoft owns Gears Of War now, they bought it from Epic.
Inbox also-rans
Read your article on John Carpenter – can you tell me who is in the process of making the Dead Space movie this year and who the director is?
TRPF
GC: He never said, unfortunately. There was nothing about it being this year either.
Just had a mate text me to see if I’m playing the new Call Of Duty beta tonight, assuming I had pre-ordered it. It looks like an expansion, so I’m not paying more than £25 for it. I bought the Cyberpunk 2077 DLC instead.
TommyFatFingers
I have started going through Super Mario Galaxy 2 again. It is one of those games where at the time it didn’t really click with me, as I preferred the first one, but I have come to appreciate it, playing through it later. Is it 10 years since release? Scary! It really is absolutely superb though – it is gaming gold dust all the way.
Simon
GC: Funnily enough, that was originally imagined as DLC too. And it was 13 years old in May.
This week’s Hot Topic
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Fennel, who asks whether you try to beat every game you play?
There’s been a lot of debate recently, over whether video games are getting too long or bloated, but do you always try to beat them, regardless of their length? What do you count as beating the game and are you happy to move on once you’ve completed the story or do you try and 100% it as well?
How often have you given up when playing a game and what caused you to do so? What’s the shortest amount of time you played a game before giving up?
E-mail your comments to: [email protected]
The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.
You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.
You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.
MORE : Games Inbox: Zelda as the best video game franchise ever, Cyberpunk 2077 humility, and PS2 HDMI
MORE : Games Inbox: Xbox and PS5 having a bad year, Forza Motorsport Metacritic, and Assassin’s Creed 2024
MORE : Games Inbox: Spider-Man 2 on PS5 being too short, The Last Of Us multiplayer, and Starfield mods
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