Poll: Xbox One or PS4

[Sideways&Smiling]

I think I read somewhere you can do cross-brand engine swaps now in Forza 5. Is that true? Can you do LSX/2JZ swaps in cars like the Silvia/240sx & FR-S/BRZ/GT86?

[strat61caster]

@f0rge Nailed it. First time I picked up a controller for a current gen console was for FM5 in a gamestop, I nearly walked out of the store with a box in my hands but resisted. Reflecting back I'm glad I didn't, it'd be collecting dust right now since I really don't have the desire to game anymore. It really felt like a tech demo, a good sim with not much depth. I have some great memories of FM1, 2 and Project Gotham and just how much fun it was playing with people online, maybe some rose colored glasses but there was something special there, I still remember stories from playing those games a decade ago.

I think after all the backpedaling M$ is positioned to take this round, for better or worse on the outside they seem to be at the forefront of developing a console experience throughout it's cycle, 360 day one to today is a radically different machine (some good, some bad) whereas I couldn't tell you the difference from a day one PS3 to today despite seemingly weekly patches.

I can't wait for Nintendo to give up on the Wii and make a worthy competitor again, the WiiU is burdened with a bad name, horrible marketing, and an underutilized gimmick. But ultimately it's a huge step in the right direction, they're developing an online community, they've returned to standard controllers, maintained backward compatibility and are building a compelling online catalog. Lure developers back, support streamers (SSB could turn the tide for the WiiU) and seriously study XBL (easily accessible friends lists, a party system, indie games, quick matching in compelling games that generate stories [looking at you Monster Hunter]).

If Nintendo can drop their aversion to the competitive scene, not even embrace it, just allow it to develop with their hardware, they can really pull back into the race. I don't need ultra-hd graphics or a billion and a half ways for someone to deliver ads to me or collect my data, I need quality fun engaging games and Nintendo seems to be the only ones with that at the top of their priority list but their walled garden, kiddie gloves, and stale IP's aren't going to get them back in the fight.

[f0rge]

Sadly I haven't played a Nintendo game in years, despite the fact that I grew up on Gameboy/SNES/N64.

Just no interest in what they're putting out these days. I don't want to say they're "kiddie" games, because that's not really true but they look like kiddie/cartoon games when everyone else is pushing photo-realistic graphics. I also feel they're not serious enough, story or content wise.

For example Borderlands 2 looks cartooney, but the content in the game is anything but.

[f0rge]

Originally Posted by Sideways&Smiling

I think I read somewhere you can do cross-brand engine swaps now in Forza 5. Is that true? Can you do LSX/2JZ swaps in cars like the Silvia/240sx & FR-S/BRZ/GT86?

No not really, but sometimes, sort of maybe.

The problem is they don't give you quite enough details on the engine itself. Like if I didn't know a 5.7L Chevy engine was an LS1 the game wouldn't point that out for me.

So you end up with some really random engines and you're not sure where they're from half the time.

[Eurasianman]

As others, I agree that FM5 is good, but not as good as FM4 in regards to content. And you can do engine swaps, but as f0rge said, you have no idea really what engine it is. I can drop a 5.7L V8 into the BRZ, but the only way I can partially tell it is an LS engine is by looking at the power/torque graph/numbers.

As far as Nintendo goes. Not going to lie. Mario Kart 8 looks amazing. However, not enough for me to warrant picking up a Wii U. I already have a Wii, PS4, PS3, XB1, XB360, gaming computer, etc. Out of all of those, the Wii gets used the least. When I first got the Wii, it was used almost every day. A year later, it started collecting dust. Only recently has it gotten some use just because I wanted to play some of the Mario and Zelda games that came out on the Wii. Nintendo, in my opinion, needs to change something if they want to survive. Otherwise, I see the Wii U going down the same bath as the Dreamcast

[Giccin]

Originally Posted by f0rge

Sadly I haven't played a Nintendo game in years, despite the fact that I grew up on Gameboy/SNES/N64.

Just no interest in what they're putting out these days. I don't want to say they're "kiddie" games, because that's not really true but they look like kiddie/cartoon games when everyone else is pushing photo-realistic graphics. I also feel they're not serious enough, story or content wise.

For example Borderlands 2 looks cartooney, but the content in the game is anything but.

Legend of Zelda was the shit. :<

Also the old PS1 games.

[MokSpeed]

Originally Posted by f0rge

Sadly I haven't played a Nintendo game in years, despite the fact that I grew up on Gameboy/SNES/N64.

Just no interest in what they're putting out these days. I don't want to say they're "kiddie" games, because that's not really true but they look like kiddie/cartoon games when everyone else is pushing photo-realistic graphics. I also feel they're not serious enough, story or content wise.

For example Borderlands 2 looks cartooney, but the content in the game is anything but.

Nintendo is just focusing on what they do best: handheld gaming. They have been, and still are, king of handheld gaming. Their whole gimmick niche marketing for consoles just isn't going to work anymore. They need to get back to releasing games with amazing stories and high replay value. Forget all this futuristic controller BS.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by f0rge

they look like kiddie/cartoon games when everyone else is pushing photo-realistic graphics. I also feel they're not serious enough, story or content wise.

I feel the same way about the photo realism, I've played countless mech games over the years (holy shit I can say decades now!) Titanfall has zero appeal to me, as does another FPS which is essentially a twitch based point and click game at this point despite the thousands of hours I've sunk into Halo and TF2. This on the other hand is barrels of fun:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmL7epUlNGo"]Let's Play - New Super Mario Bros. U Part 1 - YouTube[/ame]

Wind Waker is my favorite game of all time at this point and it's gorgeous on the WiiU, gameplay takes precedence for me at this point, I'd rather have fun than a 'serious experience'. No argument that they're mostly rechurning old properties, which is my biggest criticism but it seems like everyone is these days unless you're a lone guy in a basement. I can't sway you to give it a shot, it just seems like they're so close to picking up where the gamecube left off, you don't need top tier specs to make top tier games.

Originally Posted by MokSpeed

Nintendo is just focusing on what they do best: handheld gaming. They have been, and still are, king of handheld gaming. Their whole gimmick niche marketing for consoles just isn't going to work anymore. They need to get back to releasing games with amazing stories and high replay value. Forget all this futuristic controller BS.

I have a hunch that the next iteration of handheld will fully integrate with their next console, they've been toying with it since the GameCube and now with the gamepad and Monster Hunter/SSB crossovers I would be surprised if it didn't happen next gen, as long as they don't make it mandatory with cheaper alternatives than a full handheld. Completely agree they need to focus on fun interesting innovative games, they seem to be realizing the value of their back catalog, hopefully as they re-release these games they pick up on why they are so revered.

Idea time: take the LoZ hack and slash and turn it into a MOBA with the character selection of SSB.


Edit: fuuu, now I just want to ditch work and go home and play Pikmin 3...
Edit2: MarioKart 8 will use the right thumbstick for throttle, looks gorgeous, and when I buy it I'll get a free game

[cfusionpm]

Originally Posted by f0rge

I agree 100%. Forza 4 was the best racing game we've had to date on any console (note I didn't say PC).

F5 almost feels like a tech demo to me. But it's still fun, and a great way to demo the X1 since it looks and plays absolutely amazing.

The one thing I like is the free track updates. They already gave out Road America and just recently released Streets of Long Beach. Having been to Long Beach myself, I absolutely love having that track there. I was sitting in the turn 10 bleachers, looking at 9/10/11.

[f0rge]

Originally Posted by cfusionpm

The one thing I like is the free track updates. They already gave out Road America and just recently released Streets of Long Beach. Having been to Long Beach myself, I absolutely love having that track there. I was sitting in the turn 10 bleachers, looking at 9/10/11.

I'm a sucker and I bought the $50 season pass too.

At least I get a lot of cool cars and they don't make you spend in-game credits to buy them anymore (you get one free version of each car with each car pack, each car after the free one costs in-game credits to buy).

[n2oinferno]

I cannot freaking wait for Mario Kart on WiiU. Apparently the weapons have been toned down a ton, there are no more cheap one shot get from last to first gimmicks, and racing skill is the name of the game in this version.
Will probably be getting the free Zelda Wind Waker as well. I have the GameCube version but for some reason I bought it and never played it for more than half an hour... I had a tendency to do that a lot when I was much younger. Shame on me.

My WiiU doesn't get a ton of play admittedly, but when I got NSMBU I didn't put it down until I had beaten it. That's a rarity for me, really.

[cfusionpm]

Somewhat relevant:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS1p7W5dmBE"]Game Theory: Wii U is the New Virtual Boy - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxhs-GLE29Q"]Game Theory: Are Gamers Killing Video Games? - YouTube[/ame]

[n2oinferno]

[f0rge]

That new Mario Kart does look pretty slick, but I'm not buying a whole console just to play it.