January 19th 2024.
Wow, did you guys catch that Xbox Developer Direct? It was pretty impressive, right? I was really impressed by Indiana Jones And The Great Circle, and it seems like I'm not the only one. One reader even mentioned being hopeful for a new Road Rash game. But if you want to join in on the discussions, just email us at email. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the world of Indy gaming.
Anyway, back to the Xbox Direct. It was exactly what I expected, in the best way possible. Microsoft has really stepped up their game when it comes to these presentations, and it shows. They're doing what Sony used to do, but for some reason Sony just isn't putting in the effort anymore. I won't get into why that is, but I have to say, I really liked how Xbox presented themselves.
Now, to be honest, the only game that caught my eye was Indiana Jones And The Great Circle. But that's not to say that the other games were bad or anything. In fact, everything looked pretty solid and seemed to hit the mark in terms of what they wanted to achieve. I will say, Avowed and Hellblade 2 are probably the least interesting games on Xbox's schedule, and it feels like they're just trying to get them out of the way before they can really hit their stride. But even the generic-looking Avowed didn't look too bad.
But let's talk about Indiana Jones. That game looked really promising, with impressive graphics and gameplay that seemed to have a lot of love put into it. I'm hoping that this game will wash away the bad taste of the more recent Indy movies. Good job, Xbox. Now let's see Sony try to top that.
Okay, I have to mention this because it's been stuck in my head ever since I saw the trailer. Da, da, da, daa, da, da, da... Yes, I'm talking about Indiana Jones. I've been a fan since I was a kid. I mean, Nazis... boo! Old James Bond... yay! Short Round, leather whip, snakes, and "that belongs in a museum". And as a bonus, no aliens, time travel, or Shia LaBeouf!
I'm also really excited for Visions Of Mana. Japanese anime role-playing games have been a favorite of mine for years, but they've been few and far between in recent generations. So when Ni No Kuni was released on Game Pass, I was ecstatic. I've already played it on PlayStation 3, but I liked it so much that I couldn't wait to revisit it. "Mr Drippy in't it."
Overall, it was a pretty good Direct from Xbox. I'm looking forward to the upcoming months now.
Speaking of Indiana Jones, did you guys see the trailer? That game looks like it's right up my alley. It's like Uncharted, but not quite. The gameplay could use some work, but overall it looks fantastic. Does it make me want to go out and buy an Xbox? Not yet. But I wouldn't mind borrowing my friend's console when he goes on holiday. Playing as Indy would be a dream come true.
Moving on to a different topic, I have to say I'm shocked at how poorly Xbox consoles are selling, even in America. It's been three years since launch, and the Xbox Series X/S is being outsold by the nearly seven-year-old Switch. And on top of that, there was a $150 price cut over Christmas! And yet, it's still selling less than it did last year? What's going on?
Some people say that it's Phil Spencer's fault for not knowing what he's doing. But maybe he was right when he said that Xbox's problem is that everyone is too invested in the PlayStation ecosystem from last generation. And now they're not willing to leave. It's frustrating because the Xbox doesn't deserve to be doing so poorly, but at the same time, the PlayStation 5 doesn't deserve to be doing so well. And I say that as an owner myself.
Sony has been slacking off for over a year now, and they're not facing any consequences for it. In fact, they're being rewarded. I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft changes their strategy, but until streaming becomes more accessible for everyone, I don't know what else they can do.
I know there were a lot of letters yesterday claiming that it's not gamers' fault that physical gaming has died off. But let's be real, it's partially our fault. Sure, there are some minor conveniences with digital games, but the downsides far outweigh the benefits.
As GC mentioned, the damage is done. There's no going back to physical games and trade-ins. And the publishers are probably thrilled about that. It's a general rule that if publishers want something, it's not good for consumers. And yet, we all just went along with it.
On a lighter note, can we talk about how physical games used to come with maps, posters, or photos? That was part of the joy of getting a boxed game. Sadly, I'm dealing with some health issues at the moment, but I wanted to thank you guys for the pleasure you've given me since the Teletext days. I'm 58 years old and still fighting.
Oh, and I have to mention that I recently got three Platinum trophies, bringing my total to 11. The games were Alan Wake 2, RoboCop: Rogue City, and The Invincible. I had some issues with Alan Wake 2, but it's still a unique experience that I would recommend. As for RoboCop, it's an odd game, but I really enjoyed the action sections. And as for The Invincible, it was a bit disappointing, but I was invested enough to try out all the endings.
I also picked up a few more games with my Christmas vouchers, including Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Chants Of Sennaar, and Gravity Circuit. Next on my list is Pacific Drive, which I've been hearing good things about. Isn't gaming great?
So, I finally got around to watching the Xbox Developer Direct and I have to say, it was pretty solid. As GC mentioned, Microsoft has really improved in these presentations and it's clear they put a lot of effort into it. It's interesting how they've taken a page out of Sony's book, but it seems like Sony has lost their touch in this department.
Overall, I was impressed with how Xbox presented themselves. While I'm not going to delve into why Sony seems to have lost interest in these showcases, I will say that Xbox did a great job. Of course, the highlight for me was the reveal of Indiana Jones And The Great Circle. I've been waiting for a new Indiana Jones game for so long and I was not disappointed. But even the other games showcased were not embarrassing by any means. Everything looked polished and stayed true to their intended vision.
I do have to admit, Avowed and Hellblade 2 didn't really catch my interest. To me, they seem like the least exciting titles on Xbox's schedule and it feels like they're just trying to get them out of the way. However, even with the generic-looking Avowed, it didn't look too bad.
But let's talk about Indiana Jones. That game looks amazing! The graphics are top-notch and although the first person view takes some getting used to, I really enjoyed the gameplay they showed. You can tell that the developers put a lot of love into it and I have high hopes that this game will redeem the franchise after the disappointing modern movies. Great job, Xbox! Now let's see Sony try to top that.
Speaking of great games, did anyone else watch the Indiana Jones trailer and get all nostalgic? As a kid, I loved Indiana Jones with his leather whip, Short Round, and his iconic catchphrase "that belongs in a museum." I'm a big fan of the Wolfenstein games and this new Indiana Jones game looks like it's going to be just as good, if not better. And the best part? No aliens, time travel, or Shia LaBeouf!
I also have to mention Visions Of Mana. As a fan of Japanese anime role-playing games, I've been waiting for a good one for a long time. It's been slim pickings these past few generations, so the recent release of Ni No Kuni on Game Pass was a dream come true. I've already played it on PlayStation 3, but I loved it so much that I couldn't wait to revisit it again. "Mr Drippy in't it," as they say.
Overall, it was a great Xbox Developer Direct. I'm looking forward to the upcoming months, especially with games like Hellblade and the highly anticipated Indiana Jones on the horizon.
But let's talk about something that's been on my mind lately. I'm genuinely shocked at how poorly Xbox consoles are selling, even in America. It's been three years since its launch and the Xbox Series X/S is being outsold by the nearly seven-year-old Switch. And to make matters worse, it had a $150 price cut during Christmas! And this is considered an improvement from last year? It's clear that the problem lies with Xbox's inability to compete with the PlayStation ecosystem, as Phil Spencer himself pointed out.
It's a shame because I don't think the Xbox deserves to be doing this badly. But at the same time, I don't think the PlayStation 5 deserves to be doing so well. As someone who owns both consoles, I can confidently say that Sony has been slacking off for over a year now, yet they're still being rewarded. It's no wonder there are rumors of Microsoft changing their strategy. But until streaming becomes a viable option for everyone, I'm not sure what else they can do.
Moving on to a different topic, I couldn't help but notice the letters in the Inbox yesterday claiming that it's not gamers' fault for the decline in physical gaming. Yet, they go on to describe how changing a disc is too much work and how they can't wait a day for a game to be delivered from Amazon. As someone who prefers physical games, I have to say that this situation is our collective fault. There are no real benefits to digital games, only minor conveniences, yet we've allowed the downsides to outweigh them.
As GC mentioned, the damage has been done and there's no going back now. Physical games and trade-ins are a thing of the past, and the publishers couldn't be happier. It's a general rule of thumb that if publishers want something, it's not in the best interest of consumers. But we all sleepwalked into this situation.
On a more nostalgic note, I couldn't help but reminisce about the joy of opening a brand new game and finding a full-size map or poster inside. Sadly, those days are gone. But as someone who's been a fan since the Teletext days, I want to thank the GC team for all the pleasure they've given me over the years. I've also made great friends through this site and I am grateful for that. Even at 58 years old, I'm still fighting and gaming has been a great source of joy for me.
Finally, let's talk about some games I've been playing. I recently got three Platinum trophies, bringing my total to a modest 11. One of them was Alan Wake 2, which I had some issues with but still recommend. However, I don't think it's as clever as some people claim it to be, and the combat can be a bit tedious. Another game I played was RoboCop: Rogue City, which was surprisingly charming for such a violent IP. And lastly, The Invincible, a sci-fi walking sim that was a bit underwhelming. But I did manage to get all the endings, so I was invested enough to see it through.
I also picked up a few more games with my Christmas vouchers, including Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Chants Of Sennaar, and Gravity Circuit. But my next game is going to be Pacific Drive next month, as I've been hearing great things about it. Isn't gaming great?
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