August 20th 2024.
Hey there, have you heard the news? It looks like we might be getting a new Tomb Raider game announcement this week! I know, I'm just as excited as you are. The Tuesday letters page has been buzzing with talk about the value of gaming consoles and what this could mean for the future. One reader even asked if Space Marine 2 will be coming to Game Pass. Can you imagine?
I've been eagerly anticipating Gamescom this week, but unfortunately, I never got the chance to attend before the pandemic hit. But now, with the Opening Night Live livestream on Tuesday night, I might just have to stay up and catch it. Although, I'm not exactly sure what to expect. There's been talk about Borderlands 4 and Resident Evil 9, but it seems like they've been debunked as possibilities. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Tomb Raider. It's been years since we've heard anything new and they have a new animated show coming out, so I have a good feeling about this one.
Of course, I can't help but hope for a sneak peek at Mass Effect 4 as well. But my guess is that they won't reveal anything until the new Dragon Age is released and they see how that does. There are so many possibilities, but then again, we have to remember to keep our expectations in check. We don't want to be disappointed if it's just a bunch of DLC and other small announcements. As the saying goes, "expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised."
Now, let's change the subject for a moment. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed Silent Hill 2. It's a relief that they gave you plenty of time to play it. To be honest, I hadn't heard of Bloober Team before, but all the negative reviews almost made me give up on the game. But now, with the positive previews coming out, suddenly everyone is interested again. If you take a look at the latest trailer, you'll see that there are hardly any dislikes now.
I think it's silly for publishers to withhold information about a game until it's almost ready to be released. Sure, we don't want to hear about a game for three years straight, but now they're going too far in the opposite direction. Even big games are being released with little to no build-up or information. I miss the old days when E3 was a thing and there was just the right balance of hype and information. And it's not like things were going wrong last generation, it's this generation where everything seems to have gone off the rails.
Maybe this is a sign that the new way of doing things isn't the best idea? Anyway, I'm definitely interested in reading your review and seeing the final release of Silent Hill 2.
Speaking of value, have you noticed that the perceived value of gaming isn't increasing in line with how much games actually cost? I mean, a bucket of chicken can cost over £20 and only give you about 30 minutes of enjoyment, but a 20-to-40-hour game can cost £70 and people think it's too expensive. And don't even get me started on consoles. The PlayStation 3 was over £400 almost 20 years ago and the PlayStation 4 was around £350 10 years ago. But now, people can't wrap their heads around paying over £300 for a console in 2024. It's a tricky situation for console manufacturers and game developers, that's for sure.
I know there are talks about the Switch 2 being in production, so do you think we'll get some kind of leak about what it looks like and what it can do? I vaguely remember pictures or descriptions of the PlayStation 5 being leaked early, so maybe there's a chance. But then again, maybe it's better to just wait for an official announcement. I don't know about you, but I'm just ready to know what the new console is and start looking forward to it with some real game details, prices, and a release date. It's like that old South Park episode where Cartman freezes himself until the Wii or Xbox 360 comes out. If that were possible, I might consider doing it too.
Lastly, I agree with the recent comments about not investing in the current cycle of consoles. The graphics upgrade doesn't seem worth it when you can play most games on Game Pass or through cloud gaming on an older console. It's usually around this time that we start to see discounts on consoles, but instead, it seems like we're moving towards price hikes and updated consoles just to keep the price the same. It's clear that something needs to change for the industry to move forward and come up with new innovations, but who knows where that will come from. Let's just hope that things start to turn around soon.
It's that time of year again, when the gaming world eagerly awaits announcements and surprises at Gamescom. For many, it's a highly anticipated event, with hopes of new game reveals and updates on long-awaited titles. However, for one reader, it's also a reminder of missed opportunities, as they never got to attend pre-pandemic.
Despite that, they're still excited for the Opening Night Live livestream on Tuesday night, and may even stay up late to watch it. They have their predictions and hopes, including the possibility of a new Tomb Raider game being shown.
But they're also realistic and acknowledge that it could just be a bunch of DLC and other disappointments. They know that the key to enjoying these events is to have low expectations and hope for pleasant surprises.
The conversation then turns to a positive review for Silent Hill 2, a game that was initially met with a lot of negativity. The reader believes that publishers are being foolish by holding back information and not building enough hype for their games. They long for the days when E3 was still a thing and there was a good balance of hype and information.
Another topic of discussion is the perceived value of gaming. The reader points out that while the cost of gaming has increased, the perceived value has not. They compare the cost of games to other forms of entertainment and question whether it's worth the price.
The topic of new consoles also comes up, with the reader expressing skepticism about investing in the current cycle. They see little value in the graphics upgrade and are hesitant to spend money on a new console when they can still play most games on Game Pass or through cloud gaming.
Finally, the reader laments the lack of information about the upcoming Switch 2 and wonders if any leaks will surface. They express a desire for an official announcement with game details, prices, and a release date. In the end, they joke about freezing themselves like Cartman from South Park until the new console is released.
Overall, the reader is cautiously optimistic about Gamescom and the future of gaming, but also acknowledges the challenges and concerns facing the industry. They hope for surprises and innovations, but also recognize the need for change and improvement.
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