mellotronrules

no need to apologize, i appreciate the thoughtful response! and here comes my wall :)

i don't challenge the notion that if Sony gets in the habit of asking for $70 every 3 years for the same game- that comes off as crass and maybe feels like a shakedown and/or icky. there's a reason why Skyrim has become a bit of a punchline in the industry, and it's probably because it's been repackaged roughly 45 times since 2011. it doesn't actively bother me though- i was one and done with Skyrim on PC on 11.11.11- that version still works great.

however- i also kinda get why remake/remaster city might be happening. for one, if you look at the two high profile cases right now (TLOU and HZD)- both have dev teams that likely ballooned to close out their most recent games of TLOU2 and HFW- and while both have other projects on the go (TLOU multiplayer and Horizon VR)- my guess is the new projects or new IP can't justify all the support, non-lead employees staying on, but a remake/remaster potentially could. or put another way- brainstorming doesn't have the same staffing requirements as going gold.

and from a Sony publishing perspective- since they don't have business units with cash to burn (like Microsoft with Windows, Office and Azure), and because they aren't propped up by recurrent rev like their competitors are- they need to squeeze every dollar from each successful IP- which probably means, like an Apple or Nintendo- making sure there's always a full price version of their tentpole products for sale. thus, new TLOU1 and new HZD.

i'm a single player, narrative-driven consumer, and i tend to invest deeply in a few titles per year as opposed to graze and hop around. i'm also fortunate to not be trying to stretch my gaming dollars as hard as i used to- so a $70 hit, two or three times a year for games i'm really enjoying is not so rough...which is all to say the Sony setup tends to play more to my tastes than Microsoft IP and Game Pass. if the $70 remake/remaster shakedown is the new normal so they can continue to make what they make (which is usually what i like)- i'm probably ok with that. and strangely enough, i'd probably be more pissed at remake/remaster city if they were propping up a subscription model than a la carte or $70 opt-in.

but don't get me wrong- new IP or proper sequels are almost always preferred to a remake/remaster. i just don't think a 'redo' precludes new creative work- especially if it's coming from a large team that is still figuring out what their next thing will be.

i really don't understand the consternation and gnashing of teeth with remakes/remasters. i get that they might be among the least creative endeavors a AAA dev can engage in, but if they're keeping large teams employed that know how to make a specific type of game, adding things like enhanced accessibility settings, and no one is being held at gunpoint and obligated to purchase...maybe just shrug it off?

not to mention- every piece of pop culture seems to do this- movies have multiple versions, bands release multiple versions of albums per cycle (to say nothing of rereleases), comics are offered in multiple SKUs.

yes, $70 is a lot to ask for a relatively recent game- so maybe make that personal value judgement and move on?

just got the plat on this- this game is real good yall! $40 well spent (even cheaper if you're not on ps5).

now i just need them to put out the OST!

eeey Natalie Flores!

i first found her by way of her fantastic TLOU2 review, and then later Janet Garcia's (Minnmax/Kinda Funny) Drunk Spoilercast.

always find her thoughtful and well-spoken- all the best towards better thngs ahead!

appreciate they seem to achieve the look and vibe they're going for- but i don't think i enjoy giger enough to play this for a sustained period.

edit: watching this on youtube mobile, there's some real unintended comedy gold happening with the programmatic ads. sentient flesh blob suffers- cut to "CHECK OUT THIS NEW LAUNDRY DETERGENT."

well i'm fuggin sold.

i'm an easy mark for metal games (yeah, i'm that guy that had a pretty good time with Brütal Legend)- but this seems like it achieves that synthesis of OST and gameplay that made Doom feel so damn good.

thanks Jess and Jerf! yall gotta get Gwarsenio and the Two Minutes crew to have a look at this thing in some capacity.

wooo danielle!

circumstances might be a wicked pisser, but it was sincerely great to see a familiar face in the copilot seat. all the best for moving forward!

clicker mushroom tip confirmed. 🧐

decent showing! but i think fire emblem is the only thing i'm actively looking forward to- and honestly since Three Houses was my first (and i really enjoyed the interweaving stories aspect)- the throwback nature of this one kinda sails over my head.

here's hoping its self-contained story is...ENGAGE-ING 😎

eyyy minnmax kyle! love this guy.

hope the crossover continues, i'd love to see what a sarah podz game mess looks like. she'd be great for a Nintendo newsy day.