Video Game Quick Hits 9/24/13

Grand Theft Auto V has taken the world by storm. It’s selling like mad and actually reached the $1 billion mark quicker than Marvel’s The Avengers. It’s also a very fun, engaging game with plenty of side content to keep you occupied. But it’s not a perfect game. In fact, Rockstar is looking into several issues with the title and we should expect a patch of some sort soon. The franchise has long had issues with cars saved in garages disappearing at random. The newly expanded upgrade system for vehicles has added another element to that glitch, with saved upgrades now disappearing as well. According to the game’s support site, “please try to avoid parking a car in a garage, driving one already in a garage, or getting in a default vehicle, when playing as a character other than the one with your upgrades,”. Rockstar’s statement seems to indicate that Franklin (for instance) driving one of Michael’s (for instance) vehicles may be erasing Michael’s saved changes.

Of much greater concern is that GTA V also seems to be crashing many older XBox 360s, particularly models from pre-2008. Rockstar is researching a genuine fix, but they do have a recommended workaround. Fair warning, this seems a little excessive:

  1. Delete all GTA5 game data.
  2. Clear system cache three times. [Really, three times?]
  3. Delete marketplace data from storage system items.
  4. Unplug console for three minutes. [Assuming this is a hard reset for the system.]
  5. Install disc 1.
  6. Power off, do not insert disc 2.
  7. Restart.
  8. Install disc 2.
  9. Play.

This is a great game and I recommend fans of the series play it as soon as possible. But I also recommend Rockstar work a little harder on their quality control.

There is another small bit of controversy brewing about GTA V, in regards to the online play. If you’ve already picked up the game, you know their online service hasn’t started and isn’t scheduled for at least another week. According to a few enterprising players that like to pick apart XML files, it may have microtransactions. The reported file indicates Rockstar will be selling cash cards for real world dollars to boost your in-game wealth. This is par for the course in the current game economy and should surprise no one. But there are two extra considerations here. One, you can rob other players of their in-game cash; does this mean you can steal the cash they paid to get? Probably not, but maybe. Two, the game has already released to extremely positive reviews; is the delayed multiplayer a gambit on Rockstar’s behalf to gain good press while avoiding what could be a knock against it in the multiplayer component? Ultimately, I don’t care. The single-player experience has been worth what I paid for the game. If the multiplayer experience is worth spending more, then I’m okay with it. But not everyone will see it that way and they may have legitimate complaints.

Speaking of pay models, Shuhei Yoshida, head of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, announced via Twitter this past weekend that the upcoming Deep Down from Capcom, a PS4 exclusive, will be a free to play title. The online game has procedurally generated dungeons and is actually set in New York, despite what look to be medieval fantasy elements. For good or bad, it appears to be inspired titles like Dark Souls and Dragon’s Dogma. The news that it will be F2P has likely had the opposite effect of what Yoshida-san envisioned, though it shouldn’t be a surprise. Gaming is so pervasive now that I hesitate to use terms like “casual” and “core” but it’s a bit apt in this instance. F2P has a growing place in the economy, particularly among “casual” gamers, but it can also work well with a more “dedicated” audience (Star Wars: The Old Republic, DC Universe Online). “Core” gamers bear a lot of resentment for model, particularly the way many of them become “free to play, pay to win.” For those who really want to enjoy the full meat of the game, F2P can often result in costing the player much more than simply buying a full retail release. So let’s think about who is buying a PS4 day one: casual, dedicated, or core gamers? Not coincidentally, it’s that same group that follows Shuhei Yoshida on Twtitter. If the pay model doesn’t push you away, watch for the beta in February 2014. The final release date has not been announced.

Shuhei Yoshida has been talking about other things too, like what the long term goal is for the PlayStation brand. He doesn’t see the brand as simply a hardware manufacturer and software publisher, but becoming more of a service model:

Speaking of the ultimate, we would like to deliver PlayStation games to all devices. So we’re considering various things like PC, TVs, Blu-ray players, smartphones and tablets.

We hope to continue to expand not only to Sony devices, but even to devices other than Sony’s. This is still being studied.

We previously spoke about PlayStation going from hardware to something closer to a service, regardless of the device – of PlayStation will still be the center, but I think we would like to expand to different things.

Sony’s purchase of Gaikai, a game streaming service, is already planned for heavy incorporation in the PlayStation 4, possibly even providing the entire back catalog of PlayStation titles through all generations. These comments indicate their plans could go much deeper. Game streaming services have been tried before, with some degree of success. Having a juggernaut like Sony in the field could give the model a much greater push, especially if it appeals to customers that tend toward consoles instead of PC gaming.

Over on the XBox side of things, you may still have some unresolved questions about Microsoft’s changing to real money for online transactions instead of Microsoft Points. If you don’t use a credit card for your purchases you’ve been basically stuck with only the point bank you had before the conversion. Gift cards are planned for retail release in October. The only noticeable drawback is that it appears you’ll no longer be getting them in the two dollar range, as ten dollars looks to be the minimum value. The cards will be valid across Windows and XBLA.

For those looking forward to sharing game videos from their XBox One, Albert Penello (XBox Product Planning) has clarified what you can expect on day one, and when you can expect more.  Initially, your video sharing will be available only through XBLA. Youtube and Facebook sharing will be added sometime in 2014. The console will automatically record your last five minutes of gameplay, which can then be shared with your friends. This sharing function will require Gold membership.

Sadira is the latest character announced for inclusion in the free to play XB1 exclusive Killer Instinct. The game, which launches alongside the new console November 22, 2013, will include one fighter. Additional characters, like Sadira, will be available for $5 each or as part of the full roster pack for $20. Sadira is a pale woman with long, black hair and the deficiency of clothing typical to fighting game females. She also has an apparent affinity for Wolverine style spikes.

A couple of changes are coming to the PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection with today’s store update. Rayman Origins for the Vita will be joining the IGC, while Resident Evil Chronicles HD Collection is being shown the exit. The service is also getting a range of discounted items, as usual, including Limbo, Worms Revolution, Lone Survivor: The Director’s Cut, and Pinballistik content.

That’s all for this week’s early edition. Check back Friday for another round-up of the top gaming news.