@guitarwarrior66: I am not sure they even have the talent to create games like Kotor, Jade, or mass effects. By talent I mean writers and directors that can pull the narrative of a game along with combat, while also fighting off the accountants checklist of crap that tacks on needless features and add on gameplay for increased profit.
I am not even sure that todays mass market of aging gamers 40+ are enough to push the needled for big budget AAA games, where a generation of gamers have been groomed on live service and gambling mechanics. Do the prime age of spending gamers 14-35 even have the patience to play a long form narrative game like KOTOR anymore.
There is tons of money in the gaming industry, the vast majority of publishers and developers are chasing the quickest dollar, even with risk of failure.
@attirex: I had more problems with the plot pacing and slow transition from act 2-3 with antagonists that were not well thought out. For instance the ritual with the blade during the eclipse, Rook is betrayed, Varric is killed, onto the 3rd act with a chase to Solas. At the end, spoiler, choices of convince him to stop or atone. slog.....
Overly, complicated and silly with a lack of clear point A to point B motives by Solas just pulls you out.
Combat was also too fast and not as strategically fun as the first couple of DA games. I would like more combat rolls and less twitch action.
The world and setting was amazing though, great graphics and use of artistic settings. Music was well done. I miss the first two, but I would still place this game above Inquisition.
They really are having a time telling a narrative, while accountants are pushing a checklist that ruins it for the gamers and consumers.
@just1mohr: Give Indiana jones a try, it was like a grand adventure game from the early 00's, but with Morrowind like controls. It was not a 10/10 game, but it was up there, and worth a ride.
I personally always try to buy physical on console at every opportunity. I play a game, and then I rarely if ever go back and play it again. I give it to family, or friend at work.
Sadly, you have to buy PC games. Which I usually buy on discount, or if given to me.
You are an outlier and hopefully a trend setter. Most people sadly - backed up by data- tend to play a game for a certain percent, not finishing and never buys the game to keep on Gamepass. But the DLC, and microtransactions are incredible. Skins and shark cards, and battle passes- that industry profit is sky rocketing.
@tbird7586: I tried it, it was a very good game. I had a lot of fun. Played it on PC.
I also think it was a powerhouse of a AAA game that would appeal to the mass market world wide, young and old. It is a cultural icon that everyone knows about to some degree, like a Batman, or Spiderman.
Without a doubt its sales per unit was affected by being offered on gamepass.
Which is fine.... I guess. MSGD MS games division I am sure,... NO I HOPE, is paying Machine Games and somebody, somewhere, for the value of each access on GP. They have rooms full of accountants trying to determine its value, and of course its VALUE to MSGD continued health of Gamepass.
So one could buy this game on PC, or what the vast majority did, play on it Gamepass and pc GP or just pay the one month sub. Will it sale well when it comes to playstation, of course. There is at least 70 million consoles by now, 65.5 last summer. It will do amazing, but since MS has never given any actual numbers or tracking info to NPD, on consoles sold, tie in ration (software to hardware) or gamepass numbers, that only they give out, and cannot be variifed... no one knows, but at best ballpark guesses.
I mean, MSGD gave Machine Games a nice fat check to help them make this wonderful game, that is how the sausage is made and a move they hope will benefit them in the end. If Machine Games ultimately gets burnt by this on GP, they will have to course correct.
Like you, I hope more get to try this game out, and more games from Machine Games.
-Star Wars Jedi Survivor over $300 million to put you on gamepass service.
-Mortal Kombat and Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League $250 million each
-Starfield- bought out Bethesda for this exclusivity for $7.5 Billion (afraid Sony/Tencent would)
Baldur's Gate 3.... MS we will throw you $5m or what ever is under the couch cushions. Larian Studio's, "Go fu$k yourself, our game is actually a 10/10, GOTY, you guys are a joke- our game will not touch Gamepass"
John Romero is blowing Phil Spencer while stroking the balls, hoping MS Games Division will give them at least $5 m for their game, to be on gamepass.
As we have read the news coverage over the years, we have seen more developers say they were not pleased with gamepass revenue as time went on. Romero is an outlier and full of shit.
Hey, gamepass is amazing. I had GP on PC for 2 yrs ... but there is nothing on it, that you cannot find elsewhere and lacking in quality exclusives. I did not renew my yearly sub after Starfield, and I doubt I was the only one. (a good deal if you have NO access to any other platforms)
@Spartan_418: I also hope the xbox handheld will disrupt the gaming industry and divide up the markets more evenly, so that PS/Tencent are not as monopolistic as they are now. I mean they deserve their lead, they created tons of exclusives, took big risks and have gain a huge market share accordingly. But they use that lead to keep others from gaining ground on them. Nintendo sales well, but they are no where near the tie ratio or software to hardware that PS is. Steamdeck, xbox hopefully will cut into the mobile phone and console market and have a strong install base to promote competition. ... hopeful wishing I know.
I am not as bullish about the power the xbox handheld will bring. They will limit the system to 45 watts or else it will eat the battery up in no time with gaming. Switch promised 9hrs, but some games only last 2.5hrs and most under 6 as it aged. Maybe with the Mini m.2 storage and better ram draws- it will do better. I mean this is a bad analogy but imagine 1.5 v at around 1.5 watts AA or AAA battery. It is not exactly even but not too far off. It would take 30 batteries to equate to 45watts and volts. Even with the best batteries and smaller sizes that will put a ton of weight to that handheld. So it is all about the chip, that will be the most important thing. Prob the latest arm chipsets.
What I am afraid of is xbox will have a parity chip.... argh. But if they sale one sku - with a battery or screen better, or a separate dock, cooling etc. And KEEP THE INTERNALS THE SAME, much like what ps5 and slim did. They could have a affordable and premium version, but it will not hurt the developers like this gen has.
Again, big wishful hoping. Hope for the best, expect the ... past mistakes.
Come on, we all know that the AI tech bubble was bound to bust. Every economist said get in early because this pyramid scheme is gonna pop and you do not want to be the last in.
They all speculated what corporation was gonna lead AI, much like who was gonna be the front runner in steaming wars like Netflix. As soon as small bit of disruption happens, investors start panic selling. I am not saying Nvidia 3 trillion dollar valuation will ever come back... but a 600% increase in a year or two... A new AI can be copied, cloned, and duplicated with in a year. Do you think trade partners like China, Russia, N Korea, Iran care about copyright. They will flood the market and laugh. Not saying deepsink is a copied product... but come on wink wink.
In ten years advanced AI programs will work on low end hardware, sipping little amounts of juice, and will be as small as to fit on a thumb drive... if we even use those.
This was bound to happen, it was a matter of time. I just feel sorry for the tons of investment bankers who dropped in granny retirement saving into certain stocks that are over valued by a mile. Gonna be a rough ride kids, and it will not get smoother, hang on.
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