Morning Discussion

Last night I finally watched the Coen Brothers adaptation of True Grit. I was a big fan of the flick and, as I suspected it would, by the end I wanted to race home and play some more Red Dead Redemption.

It's a little sad that the wild west has fallen off as a setting for films. When Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven came out, I remember some referring to it as the last great western. Looking back at film history, there's a deluge of movies taking place in the era.

I suppose it falls into the category of American Exceptionalism--what, in story terms, separates America as a nation from others. How men from very little will often rise to the occasion and become a hero in the face of evil. That's what I'm told, at least. I'm Canadian.

What is also does is offer the modern gamer a glance at a time where survival skills, honor, and reputation were the things that defined a man.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it but the western is a fantastic place to show the rise and fall of our favorite characters.

Except that Insane Clown Posse movie "Big Money Rustlas." That doesn't work as an example of anything. Entertainment included.

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    January 28, 2011 5:03 AM

    NGP/PSP2

    The more i read the more i'm looking forward to it.

    But i really want to see some proper video footage and not some more camera footage of a projection from another camera.

    • reply
      January 28, 2011 5:07 AM

      I don't know. Like the PSP looked great on paper, and the games never quite came together nor did the experience. Not sure if I'd want to try and trust Sony again to have a good follow through.

      • reply
        January 28, 2011 5:11 AM

        This is how I feel too.

      • reply
        January 28, 2011 5:12 AM

        Regardless, it was an impressive announcement. I'm not saying it's a day one purchase, but Sony has put in the work on this one.

      • reply
        January 28, 2011 5:22 AM

        the games never came together because it had ONE THUMBSTICK. that was the sole reason a lot of big games didnt work as well as they should have.

        That has been fixed, now there is no reason the games can't be as good as console games.

        • reply
          January 28, 2011 5:30 AM

          I think you're deluding yourself a bit in saying that thumbstick #2 was the root of all issues. I'm, how do you say, not much of an action gamer... The RPGs and strategy games were fewer than the DS and the wireless/online usage was poorly thought out and executed. And then there was homebrew, while everyone cites piracy as one of the platform problems, the frustration of home made software constantly being oppressed was more frustrating for me. Yes I will buy your goddamn games but not if they keep breaking my stupid SNES emulator.

          • reply
            January 28, 2011 5:46 AM

            Has nintendo taken a better stance towards homebrew than Sony? I genuinely don't know and am curious.

            In any case, the PSP always leaned more towards the action/platformer genres, but I still think the NGP deserves a fair shot. Sony realizes the PSP was a disappointment, yet they are trying again with a device that looks like a strong competitor. I am reserving judgment until I learn more.

            • reply
              January 28, 2011 6:15 AM

              Yes Nintendo was friendlier in the way that new games don't break your old homebrew like PSP firmware updates would.

              And yeah, I didn't mean to be so dismissive of what PKF said, the 2nd thumbstick will really help, I just wonder if it's enough to help fight the PSP's worst enemy, ie Sony. I mean the interface actually looks worse than the old one, how is that even possible?

              ALso, have we heard if it will have HDMI out? Probably not, but that would be amazing. I've got an S-Video out cable for my PSP and like it very much.

              • reply
                January 28, 2011 6:41 AM

                i understand your point geedeck, the psp was very lacking in great games. There were a few good ones early on but then it trailed off pretty quickly. I probably spent most time on Burnout Dominator.

                Im usually overly optimistic (as i was when i saw Natal) about these things as i see the potential more than what is actually happening.

                Hopefully the similar controls and specs of the NGP to current consoles will help make porting console games to a portable console much better.

                HDMI out (which doesnt look like a feature) would be an amazing addition, and the current OS build looks sloppy but sony have said that isnt final, im sure it will be improved.

                If devs start to put on ports of ps3 games like MGS4, LBP2 and Killzone then i would buy a NGP over a ps3. Hands down.

      • reply
        January 28, 2011 6:26 AM

        I'm not into RPG's and strategy games at all and I thought the PSP was MUCH better than the DS. I used my PSP quite a bit while the DS gathered dust. This new one looks impressive. I'll be curious to see it when released. Not sure I'll get it right away, probably wait for the price to drop. I don't use portables much anymore. Usually just play a quick game on my Droid.

Hello, Meet Lola