Why can't you just hope for both systems to get both games? Choice is always better.

Honestly I wouldn't mind... there's no reason why I wouldn't want both console gamers to enjoy a good game. But as for now - that's not really how it's looking like unfortunately (again looking at the RPGs on line). So I'm trying to give myself a deciding factor (yes I actually have a job and no I still dun have the $$ to own both consoles).

Not really. A development focus on one system usually results in a better game. We need more games that focus on individual system strengths rather than getting a bunch of games developed for the least common denominator.

That's a pretty stupid outlook.

Even teams with small amounts of resources can do cross platform stuff fine. In most cases, the end result turns out to be pretty swanky, regardless of platform. How often do you end up with titles exclusive to one platform that the other couldn't do from a technical standpoint in this day and age?

Considering how small most of those strengths are on both sides, it seems like a far more sensible outlook to want to have other players experience the good games more than wanting them to miss out so you can have some mild to practically non-existant addition to your titles.

The lowest common denominator these days are the devs, not the consoles. When was the last time you saw them take advantage of anything, even when going exclusive?

Multiplatform development is heavily restrictive still. If you are developing a game with two platforms in mind you must design your entire game down to each individual scene so both platforms can run them identically. Can't run 5 enemies on screen at once with AI on that Xbox 360? Gotta drop them down to 3 enemies on both versions. Can't push enough polygons for that scene on the PS3? Gotta drop the detail down on both versions. That's not to mention the huge Blu-Ray consideration for these types of games. Hell just consider the effect on the content in GTA4 if they didn't need to worry about DVD-9.

It's still very much a consideration for both platforms especially considering how different the two are in regards to CPU and GPU balance. It also adds a complex layer to design which has a huge impact of how a game turns out multiplatform over being platform specific.

We need less multiplatform games, not more. There is a reason why the most technically impressive games of this generation are largely exclusive to their platform. Not to mention multiplatform development costs money and more of that money is going into engine and technical development rather than content development when dealing with two platforms rather than one.

No I think this is a pretty dumb outlook. Is there some rule preventing people from buying more than one console that I wasn't aware of? I want the best games possible.

The problem with "best games possible" is that even developers working on exclusive titles for any of the platforms rarely do anything with the strengths of the specific console in mind. I can't remember the last time I saw anyone really take advantage of many of these strengths, and in cases such as that, I certainly wouldn't really care if it got ported to another box just so users who are not as fortunate as ourselves can get to enjoy it.

To complain about BEST POSSIBLE would require the industry to put forth the effort to meet that, and fuck, they almost never do that anymore. Maybe if they did, I'd be more inclined to agree with your viewpoint.

Well after the fact ports aren't so bad mostly because those tend to get an additional budget plus the original development usually doesn't have to keep the second platform in mind.

But this simultaneous platform development is killing these games. They pretty much get the same budget and development time as exclusive games but that budget is split between two sets of development teams rather than one. Plus framework creation takes longer so content creation ends up with a smaller time slice than exclusive development. You can bitch about the general state of the industry in terms of quality, but there really is no way in hell you are getting an equal game from simultaneous development with resources for the project being split across two platforms rather than those same resources being focused on a single platform.

I don't think I ever disagreed with the notion of a simultaneous development on multiple platforms ended up splitting costs or resulted in longer times in the oven.

I'm saying that going for a single platform rarely results in a better product, regardless of these design and implementation issues. So rarely, in fact, that I rarely give a shit if something is going to be exclusive anymore. It's not likely that they'll take advantage of the situation and give us a better product in the end, anyway. So yeah, you often do get an equal game.

If they did, sure. Otherwise....eh', why not?

Gameplay demo footage

Forever Fantasy - Infinite Undiscovery Demo Video Part 1

Download: http://trailer.forever-server.net/in...july-part1.wmv

YouTube Video

If anyone can translate some of what the Tri Ace developer says in the footage, that would be nice. I like what I can see in the battle system so far.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...0750_1_big.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...0750_2_big.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...0751_4_big.jpg

This is the best thing to ever happen to JRPGs.

IGN REVIEW UH OH

Might have to wait for the Last Remnant for a better squareenix offering.

What the fuck, I read through that whole review twice and I couldn't figure out what they actually disliked about the game.

Absolute shit article with arbitrary scores. Is this the norm for IGN?

Pretty much, yeah, especially for RPGs. I was shocked they actually liked Tales of Vesperia. Many of their reviews consist of the writer complaining about how much he hates the game, then giving it a 7.x score.

It's not that unusual for a whole bunch of sites (*ahem*... just saying).

Although I haven't read the review yet cause I'm at work I really am looking forward to this time. It comes out on my bday. I love how the battle system looks.

Infinite Undiscovery: New Japanese Infinite Undiscovery Gameplay Trailer

New trailer, all footage is in game. Looks really nice so far to me.

Oh hay, did anyone else get this? I was in an RPG mood for some reason, and thanks to Namco being cunts with Vesperia (region locking the US version, PAL version not due out for another eight months) I decided to give this a go. With my wallet. And my hands.

I've put in a few hours so far, destroyed the first chain. It's pretty okay I guess. I like the combat, you can play this game with the control pad, the visuals are typically displayed on a display of some sort. It has music. I'll possibly play some more later on and keep you updated okay.

I got the game also. It's ok in it's own way, but could have had a few improvements. The main character's VA in the beginning is awkward. :p

Yes....yes it is.
IGN is just bad for that reason along with others. It's like the content written within the review doesn't even match up to the score. You'd probably get a better job of having monkeys writing. :erm:

Hell, just about the only few places I even give any small concern, is with Gametrailers, and GameInformer, because they at least give some sort of content to go upon.

I'm planning to buy this from my local Play N Trade, but he wasn't getting it in until today. I'll probably trade in a couple of old DS games to lower the price a bit, but if nothing else he charges $2 less on new titles.

I plan on getting this as well, but since I'm in the midst of Tales of Vesperia, I might wait a bit.

I'm going to rent this from blockbuster tomorrow or Sat for sure. I can't wait!

I picked it up from Gamestop today on a whim, gonna get to it after I finish Vesperia. I was also given the pre-order bonus, despite not having the game pre-ordered. Pretty nice surprise, although ultimately something I likely won't care about.

I got a good 6 hours in with this game today. It's an average Tri-ace game and reminds me a lot of Radiata Stories in that it has a lot of great concepts but they just couldn't bring them together very well. I'll finish it eventually but eh nothing much to mention about this one.

I'm enjoying the game quite a bit, I'm about 10 hours in now. The game really picks up pace after the first 6 hours I'd say, and things get a good deal more fun. Unfortunately the first 6 hours can be pretty painful.

I'm enjoying the gameplay -- the computer AI is great for your teammates. They actually heal you, and they actually run away when they're dying. What a relief!

For anyone that hasn't played a Tri-Ace action RPG, think of it kind of as a cross between Ocarina of Time swordplay and Star Ocean group play. There's quite a bit of customization that you can throw in there -- though some of the combat elements can feel a little wonky at times (though other times they shine, so I'd say the issue is more with some of the encounter designs).

Overall, it's a lot of fun, an untraditional style RPG. And the story gets a lot better if you can just get through the beginning without giving up! =P

I'm only a couple of hours in (I broke my vow of completing Vesperia first). The game itself is fun. Dialog is a bit awkward, but that's to be expected from a JRPG. What gets me most is the motion capped cutscenes. It's not just this game, but it really underscored the problem: Whoever they get to motion cap these things could not look more jerky and awkward if they tried. It's like they don't know how to move naturally. Maybe it's a Japanese Actor thing.

The battle system and AI are great. As Guru said, the AI runs when low on HP and heals whoever needs it usually without any prompting. The quick Connect commands are also really helpful for getting the drop on enemies.

The music caught me by surprise, too. It's one of the more original scores that Sakuraba has churned out recently, and I'm enjoying it thoroughly.

Not a half bad impulse buy if I do say so myself.