Brink's offline modes will let players get used to the game before PSN's back.
PlayStation Network went down the same week as SOCOM 4 launched. Two weeks later, PSN has not come back online, meaning the service outage is affecting subsequent games with an online focus.
Bethesda Softworks and Splash Damage are launching the long-in-development, class-focused Brink on Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3 this week. Bethesda told me there have been no changes made to the game's rollout this week, and explained what PS3 buyers can do with their game in the meantime.
"Fortunately, Brink is a game that allows you to seamlessly move between all modes of gameplay: single-player, co-op, and multiplayer," said the company in a statement to me this morning. "So all the experience and unlocks you get while playing single-player will carry over to multiplayer once PSN is back up. So the good news is that PS3 fans can still enjoy the game and learn about the teamplay aspects, objectives, maps, the different roles, and continue to customize their character and unlock new items, and then take all of that with them as soon as multiplayer is available."
It's still unclear when any of PSN will be back online. Sony had planned to restore part of it by the end of last week but that never happened. Sony has since said it expects full functionality by months-end.
Hopefully, anyway.
Brink comes bundled with AI-controlled bots. That'll have to be enough until PSN returns.
And this right here is why I never buy games that don't have GOOD single player. I don't want my fun to be dependent on other factors than my own stuff.
I did consider changing my pre order from the ps3 version to the 360 but I realized psn isn't going to be down that long. Besides I'm pretty sure I'll live with just single player for a while.
" I'm waiting for the reviews to see how similar this game is to Borderlands. If it's anything like that I'm definitely getting it. But on 360 "
Aside from the fact that it's an FPS with XP and a post-apocalyptic sci-fi style, it's really quite different. The campaign is supposedly a series of objective-based multiplayer maps that can either be played with bots or dynamically with other players. You customize your character's looks, unlock new outfits and weapons (rather than finding them like Diablo loot) and personalize them with upgrades. "
Weapons are based around unlocks? Wouldn't that mean that basically everyone who is the same level as you has the exact same weapon then? "
Abilities unlock with level. Weapons unlock through challenges. You could unlock every weapon before your first online match.
" @Enigma777: The only place I have been hearing this is on forums.From all the videos and first impressions from PAX that I have seen and read the AI is pretty challenging as they have no limitations and can perform all human actions. "
Did we watch the same videos? Cause they looked pretty braindead to me. Most of them were just standing still and not even shooting much...
" I'm waiting for the reviews to see how similar this game is to Borderlands. If it's anything like that I'm definitely getting it. But on 360 "
Aside from the fact that it's an FPS with XP and a post-apocalyptic sci-fi style, it's really quite different. The campaign is supposedly a series of objective-based multiplayer maps that can either be played with bots or dynamically with other players. You customize your character's looks, unlock new outfits and weapons (rather than finding them like Diablo loot) and personalize them with upgrades. "
Weapons are based around unlocks? Wouldn't that mean that basically everyone who is the same level as you has the exact same weapon then?
" @Sniper_Fox: Oh no, I totally agree with you, man! I mean, I bet if Microsoft didn't waste all that money on silly things like keeping their server and firewall software up to date, they could be free like PSN too!
And I mean, you've really got to respect Sony for how they've responded to this intrusion and outage. I mean, Microsoft probably would have brought Live back online from backups the next day, and then maybe taken it offline again for an afternoon a few days later so that they could update their security. Pshaw! Pretty rash, right? But Sony has the guts to go ahead and keep it offline for a few weeks- you know, really take the time to fully analyze the problem and take stock of the situation. And instead of doing something really hasty like immediately emailing all their subscribers telling them their personal information might have been compromised, they wait until they're really sure that the information has been compromised before they officially tell anyone. I mean, no use everyone changing their passwords and things if its really just a false alarm, right?
Yeah, no man, you've really got to give credit to Sony for showing us all how to run a network like this.
@Sniper_Fox: Oh no, I totally agree with you, man! I mean, I bet if Microsoft didn't waste all that money on silly things like keeping their server and firewall software up to date, they could be free like PSN too!
And I mean, you've really got to respect Sony for how they've responded to this intrusion and outage. I mean, Microsoft probably would have brought Live back online from backups the next day, and then maybe taken it offline again for an afternoon a few days later so that they could update their security. Pshaw! Pretty rash, right? But Sony has the guts to go ahead and keep it offline for a few weeks- you know, really take the time to fully analyze the problem and take stock of the situation. And instead of doing something really hasty like immediately emailing all their subscribers telling them their personal information might have been compromised, they wait until they're really sure that the information has been compromised before they officially tell anyone. I mean, no use everyone changing their passwords and things if its really just a false alarm, right?
Yeah, no man, you've really got to give credit to Sony for showing us all how to run a network like this.
" I'm waiting for the reviews to see how similar this game is to Borderlands. If it's anything like that I'm definitely getting it. But on 360 "
Aside from the fact that it's an FPS with XP and a post-apocalyptic sci-fi style, it's really quite different. The campaign is supposedly a series of objective-based multiplayer maps that can either be played with bots or dynamically with other players. You customize your character's looks, unlock new outfits and weapons (rather than finding them like Diablo loot) and personalize them with upgrades.
PR people blatantly lying like if we are all retards. Why don't just they say the true!? Is not even bad in this case they could come out with something like:
We have a publishing deal for this date and we are to honor our retailers schedule our investors partners are confident that PSN is going to be back in time and bla bla.. That would be totally OK for me, Is not like they shut down PSN.
Anyway I'm not even getting this game.. so whatever I guess.
Same as the co op and multiplayer story. It's the same for all three. When they said seamless transition between the three they weren't kidding. Campaign can drop in/out friends or even have human opponents on the other side.
@Enigma777: The only place I have been hearing this is on forums.From all the videos and first impressions from PAX that I have seen and read the AI is pretty challenging as they have no limitations and can perform all human actions.
still waiting for reviews because i keep hearing conflicting things. although i'd probably go pc if i do get it, i got tired of paying for xbox live and using it for only a month.
I think this is pretty friggin sweet, so we can basically play singleplayer or free play and all that gear,weapons,abilities etc. can be carried over to multiplayer when PSN is back?I haven't seen that before.Though I do feel bad for SOCOM4 their sales are probably down the shitter now.
" That is cool and all but the 360 version is going to vastly outsell it I think. Why would any multi platform owner choose PS3 right now? "
More reliable system. I've gone through 3 Xbox 360's. And the noise of the fans really pisses me off. I am only keeping my Xbox 360 for Gears of war 3. I see it the other way, why would anyone with a PS3 chose to buy games on 360, given the choice. The differences between 360/PS3 multiplats are trivial and not important 99% of the time. I think sites like Digital Foundry and Lens of truth are made for muppets who get bent out of shape over trivial shit that doesn't matter , like anti aliasing and a few extra blades of grass.
I don't see any reason to pay for it, I got a PS3 and 360. I think it's a myth that live is better, I've never had a issue playing Uncharted 2 or Killzone 3 online. Just because you pay for something doesn't make it better. I was playing Diablo 2 for years on PC on battlenet and that was free.
I payed for Xbox live for years, and think it's a mugs game to be honest. If you think paying to play your games online is cool , then more power to you.
I feel they should hold it back for PS3, nobody wants to buy an online focused shooter only to discover they can't play it.
"
Holding it back would just force multiplatform owners to buy it for the 360 or PC, and it will just piss off PS3 owners who want the game as it will make them feel slighted by an extra delay that only effects them.
@Sniper_Fox: I'd be cautious about getting the PS3 version even if it reviews well. Reviewers won't be able to test ANY of the online features of Brink for PS3. It may work well on 360 and PC, but what if it's completely broken on PS3 when PSN comes back online? To me that seems like a pretty big risk to take.
" All I want to know, Patrick, is if shit is still broke. From your article the answer seems to still be yes. "
Shit is still broke. And the PS3 version of Brink is pretty much dead on arrival because of it.
I do have to mention that Sony's done an awful job at PR, letting rumours get out of control (e.g. "Everything twas stored in plaintext") and ultimately damaging the company's reputation further than it should have been.
bots enough? i don't believe that, people with both 360/ps3 will most likely get the version that will allow them to play a game online, i originally was going to get this on ps3 but im not going to be forced to play bots for the next 2-3 weeks so im picking it up on 360, along with a bunch of my friends im sure we aren't the only ones.
I am not saying the ps3 version won't sell well, or that people who own both won't get the PS3 version, im just saying people who pay for Live and own a PS3 will probably want to get the 360 version to play with their friends, not be stuck with bots till the end of may, and that's if it's even up by then i personally don't believe sony, they lied to us numerous times about it coming up, waited 7 days to inform us that our information was stolen etc.
Personally this whole debacle of PSN has made me purchase numerous games on 360 over PS3, and i know alot of people who did the same.
They can't really back off of Brink at this point. PSN was supposed to be at least partially back up by now, chances are they had to just push on with release despite the outage.
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