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Coming from someone who knows the entire plot of MGS4, some of their NDA requests are not as unreasonable as you might think. Especially the locations one. I will say no more. Dont read too much into that. As far as publisher NDAs go, that is quite reasonable all round.
I still don't like the install times one. The locations one is DEFINATELY understandable. Some people are going to love some of the environments and knowing some of them would definately spoil the game.
I can understand why the install one was prevented. There is no way to spin an install in a good light. It may not affect people but it is open to potential bad PR.
Kotaku had this article today about the NDA for MGS4,
"Payton says the NDA covered: Install times, length of cutscenes (the ending in particular), number of environments, opening "movie", product placement and a half dozen story-specific items."
Can't talk about product placement is a huge red light for me.
"Number of environments."
I suppose I could see that spun as being part of not revealing the story, and MGS games haven't been known for jumping from location to location in the way traditional level-based games do, but still ... variety of location and gameplay can certainly be a factor in assessing a game, whether critically or for purchase. If you play in a single environment the whole time, or if you travel to ten different locations, isn't that legitimate information worthy of including in a review?
Konami is already going into major spin mode on cutscene length, which is raising my eyebrows:
Responding to recent rumors that Metal Gear Solid 4 would include multiple 90-minute long cutscenes throughout the story, MGS4 assistant producer Ryan Payton told Kotaku that those rumors are a "gross exaggeration."
"I'm surprised nobody has stepped forward to debunk this rumor," Payton stated, referring to the claims made by CVG in a recent preview.
"There are no 90 minute cutscenes in MGS4. The ending is long, but 90 minutes is a gross exaggeration. And here I thought gamers liked long endings!"
Also, an NDA on the install time? Seriously? NDAs on story elements are common, but this seems to be going over the line. Then again, we don't really hear about install times on games that often in reviews, so maybe that's common as well.
Wordherder on
Why the crap did I ever make my original name "cloudeagle?"
Yup. So, who do you think today, is a good games journalist? I can name a few: N'Gai Croal, Stephen Totilo, and perhaps the GFW crew (Jeff Green, Shawn Elliott especially).
You named the first three that came to mind: Stephen Totilo, Jeff Green, and Shawn Elliott.
I appreciate Totilo's objective approach and willingness to put worthwhile questions out there, as seen in his recent series on game reviewing. He raises valid questions and allows a wide range of views to be aired. He realizes game coverage isn't just about what game is AWESOME and why Platform X TOTALLY OWNS. It can and should be about more.
Green and Elliot have the right philosophy, in my opinion. They're avid gamers, they're genuine fans, but they're also genuine journalists who are frustrated with the way gaming media works. I like their views on gaming criticism and would like to see others latch onto their approach. They don't get sucked into platform wars nonsense, either, which is a plus.
Heck, GFW had some fine freelancers as well. Don't recall the names, but they did a series on gaming overseas a year or two ago, and several of those installments were excellent. I'd like to see more reporting like that. Reviews and previews are fine, so is light and funny reporting, but let's look at gaming as the important cultural landmark it is, too.
I'm not sure that there are any reviewers I follow. If I'm unsure about a game I tend to read three or four, then come here and see what people are saying. I do have to say I'm on the Ben 'Yahtzee' Cross bandwagon -- even though I disagree with him on a lot of games. Not only is he funny, he's clear about his views and honest in expressing them. I can learn more about a game I'll like from one of his negative reviews than I can from a dozen positive reviews.
Yup. So, who do you think today, is a good games journalist? I can name a few: N'Gai Croal, Stephen Totilo, and perhaps the GFW crew (Jeff Green, Shawn Elliott especially).
You named the first three that came to mind: Stephen Totilo, Jeff Green, and Shawn Elliott.
I appreciate Totilo's objective approach and willingness to put worthwhile questions out there, as seen in his recent series on game reviewing. He raises valid questions and allows a wide range of views to be aired. He realizes game coverage isn't just about what game is AWESOME and why Platform X TOTALLY OWNS. It can and should be about more.
Green and Elliot have the right philosophy, in my opinion. They're avid gamers, they're genuine fans, but they're also genuine journalists who are frustrated with the way gaming media works. I like their views on gaming criticism and would like to see others latch onto their approach. They don't get sucked into platform wars nonsense, either, which is a plus.
Heck, GFW had some fine freelancers as well. Don't recall the names, but they did a series on gaming overseas a year or two ago, and several of those installments were excellent. I'd like to see more reporting like that. Reviews and previews are fine, so is light and funny reporting, but let's look at gaming as the important cultural landmark it is, too.
I'm not sure that there are any reviewers I follow. If I'm unsure about a game I tend to read three or four, then come here and see what people are saying. I do have to say I'm on the Ben 'Yahtzee' Cross bandwagon -- even though I disagree with him on a lot of games. Not only is he funny, he's clear about his views and honest in expressing them. I can learn more about a game I'll like from one of his negative reviews than I can from a dozen positive reviews.
The guy you are thinking of is Dr Max Chill MD. also know as bobito, kabito, Max Chill Ace Attorney, Robert Ashley.
Yup. So, who do you think today, is a good games journalist? I can name a few: N'Gai Croal, Stephen Totilo, and perhaps the GFW crew (Jeff Green, Shawn Elliott especially).
You named the first three that came to mind: Stephen Totilo, Jeff Green, and Shawn Elliott.
I appreciate Totilo's objective approach and willingness to put worthwhile questions out there, as seen in his recent series on game reviewing. He raises valid questions and allows a wide range of views to be aired. He realizes game coverage isn't just about what game is AWESOME and why Platform X TOTALLY OWNS. It can and should be about more.
Green and Elliot have the right philosophy, in my opinion. They're avid gamers, they're genuine fans, but they're also genuine journalists who are frustrated with the way gaming media works. I like their views on gaming criticism and would like to see others latch onto their approach. They don't get sucked into platform wars nonsense, either, which is a plus.
Heck, GFW had some fine freelancers as well. Don't recall the names, but they did a series on gaming overseas a year or two ago, and several of those installments were excellent. I'd like to see more reporting like that. Reviews and previews are fine, so is light and funny reporting, but let's look at gaming as the important cultural landmark it is, too.
I'm not sure that there are any reviewers I follow. If I'm unsure about a game I tend to read three or four, then come here and see what people are saying. I do have to say I'm on the Ben 'Yahtzee' Cross bandwagon -- even though I disagree with him on a lot of games. Not only is he funny, he's clear about his views and honest in expressing them. I can learn more about a game I'll like from one of his negative reviews than I can from a dozen positive reviews.
The guy you are thinking of is Dr Max Chill MD. also know as bobito, kabito, Max Chill Ace Attorney, Robert Ashley.
Yup. Him too. I think quality begets quality. It definitely affects the way you hire, who you're looking for, etc. That's why I was very glad to see the GFW guys stick around even after the magazine went away. If they can hire more people like them to work on 1UP and EGM, we could see some really good things.
I am also on the Yahtzee bandwagon. To me, he's actually like the Gabe and Tycho. They have strong opinions. You don't have to agree with them, but they're damn entertaining.
A good chunk of that GFW staff was pretty excellent, really. I appreciated their willingness to experiment with what game magazines did, the way they endeavored to get away from "top ten shooters of the year!" stories in every issue, and to break the mold on how games are reviewed. It didn't always work, but I certainly admire what they were trying to accomplish. It's a shame that magazine folded. Fantastic staff, included folks I did not name above.
Product placement in MGS4, on the restrictions list of things to put in reviews?
Hah, there's been product placement in past MGS games, that's not new. As far as MGS4, other sources/sites have already 'leaked' some of the known product-placed items in the game.
Its so damn hard to see where you're going what with all the ads and shitty articles plastered all over the walls.
Mandolore on
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
"Enough expository banter. It's time we fight like men. And ladies. And ladies who dress like men. For Gilgamesh...IT'S MORPHING TIME!"
—Gilgamesh, Final Fantasy V
He is the Dean of Gaming after all. That's an official title too, bestowed on him by Miyamoto himself.
As ironic as it seems, MTV was actually a breath of fresh air, and I've actually been quite satisfied with their game coverage. (and gametrailers is the only HD game video site that actually has enough bandwith to stream HD reliably)
Product placement in MGS4, on the restrictions list of things to put in reviews?
Hah, there's been product placement in past MGS games, that's not new. As far as MGS4, other sources/sites have already 'leaked' some of the known product-placed items in the game.
Mainly because the product itself is kind of spoilerish to some unknown gameplay mechanics.
I mean, Snake having an iPod pretty much says a lot.
The_Scarab on
0
KageraImitating the worst people. Since 2004Registered Userregular
edited June 2008
Snake is fighting against Bill Gates and Microsoft's Zune?
Posts
I still don't like the install times one. The locations one is DEFINATELY understandable. Some people are going to love some of the environments and knowing some of them would definately spoil the game.
Konami is already going into major spin mode on cutscene length, which is raising my eyebrows:
http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/06/no-90-minute-cu.html
Also, an NDA on the install time? Seriously? NDAs on story elements are common, but this seems to be going over the line. Then again, we don't really hear about install times on games that often in reviews, so maybe that's common as well.
I appreciate Totilo's objective approach and willingness to put worthwhile questions out there, as seen in his recent series on game reviewing. He raises valid questions and allows a wide range of views to be aired. He realizes game coverage isn't just about what game is AWESOME and why Platform X TOTALLY OWNS. It can and should be about more.
Green and Elliot have the right philosophy, in my opinion. They're avid gamers, they're genuine fans, but they're also genuine journalists who are frustrated with the way gaming media works. I like their views on gaming criticism and would like to see others latch onto their approach. They don't get sucked into platform wars nonsense, either, which is a plus.
Heck, GFW had some fine freelancers as well. Don't recall the names, but they did a series on gaming overseas a year or two ago, and several of those installments were excellent. I'd like to see more reporting like that. Reviews and previews are fine, so is light and funny reporting, but let's look at gaming as the important cultural landmark it is, too.
I'm not sure that there are any reviewers I follow. If I'm unsure about a game I tend to read three or four, then come here and see what people are saying. I do have to say I'm on the Ben 'Yahtzee' Cross bandwagon -- even though I disagree with him on a lot of games. Not only is he funny, he's clear about his views and honest in expressing them. I can learn more about a game I'll like from one of his negative reviews than I can from a dozen positive reviews.
The guy you are thinking of is Dr Max Chill MD. also know as bobito, kabito, Max Chill Ace Attorney, Robert Ashley.
Yup. Him too. I think quality begets quality. It definitely affects the way you hire, who you're looking for, etc. That's why I was very glad to see the GFW guys stick around even after the magazine went away. If they can hire more people like them to work on 1UP and EGM, we could see some really good things.
I am also on the Yahtzee bandwagon. To me, he's actually like the Gabe and Tycho. They have strong opinions. You don't have to agree with them, but they're damn entertaining.
- Don't add me, I'm at/near the friend limit
Steam: JC_Rooks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JiunweiC
I work on this: http://www.xbox.com
He is the Dean of Gaming after all. That's an official title too, bestowed on him by Miyamoto himself.
And why not? People have successfully sued for much, much stupider things.
Hah, there's been product placement in past MGS games, that's not new. As far as MGS4, other sources/sites have already 'leaked' some of the known product-placed items in the game.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
Its so damn hard to see where you're going what with all the ads and shitty articles plastered all over the walls.
"Enough expository banter. It's time we fight like men. And ladies. And ladies who dress like men. For Gilgamesh...IT'S MORPHING TIME!"
—Gilgamesh, Final Fantasy V
As ironic as it seems, MTV was actually a breath of fresh air, and I've actually been quite satisfied with their game coverage. (and gametrailers is the only HD game video site that actually has enough bandwith to stream HD reliably)
Mainly because the product itself is kind of spoilerish to some unknown gameplay mechanics.
I mean, Snake having an iPod pretty much says a lot.