The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
I haven't been about much the last few weeks, because I've been extensively playtesting the next generation console from Microsoft. This is basically the report that I submitted to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) afterwards:
Console: XBox
Location: Salt Plains, Nevada.
Preparations:
An unusual location you might think, but apparently it was the only area where we could actually fit the XBox and still have room to move. For this session we were kitted out in radiation suits (those green markings on the XBox might have been emitting who knows what so we felt it was better safe than sorry), and industrial chain mesh gloves were equipped due to rumours of the XBox controller biting people as they handled it. We also wore strings of garlic around our necks because you just never know, do you?
A stuntman had been hired from an agency in Las Vegas just in case we needed to climb up the side of the console, load a disc and then abseil down again, due to rumours of its height.
Playtest:
We approached the XBox from downwind in case it caught our scent, but it appeared oblivious to our movement. When we got to within what we thought was about half a mile of the console, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that this was just some kind of mirage and that we were only a few inches away from it. Having sacked the stuntman we then inserted the demo disc for this session, and went straight for Project Gotham Racing.
Whilst the controller was awkward to handle at first, the removal of the industrial protective gloves was deemed necessary to get a true feel for it. Once this was facilitated the controller was found to be surprisingly light and easy to handle. The layout of buttons and analogue sticks was a hybrid of existing genres, the triggers fitting more comforably than on the Dreamcast 'wrist wrencher' controller of ye olden dayes.
On-screen menus were intuitive and fast, and we were off and running within seconds. Project Gotham Racing was found to be very reminiscent of MSR (same developer, what else would you expect) and having played that game before the handling of the cars in the demo was quite natural. The main differences to note were that the graphics had acquired a substantial boost, and that the engine sounds and other effects were so true to life that this tester got a bit carried away and the controller had to be removed forcefully from his grip.
Following this, we watched a rolling demo of Halo. Then we watched it again, not quite believing that the AI and graphics that we were seeing were real. The only phrase that comes close to describing the experience is 'mindblowing'. We can certainly see why Edge magazine gave this game 10/10.
We ended the session with a quick go of Amped, a freestyle snowboarding game that this particular tester didn't normally go for. The main surprise here is that when at the top of a mountain, you can actually 'see' all the way to the bottom without there being any intrusive fogging. Perhaps they just waited for the right weather when creating this game. Either way, it's stunning. Tony Hawk on ice is the closest we can get to describing it.
There was a marked constrast between the soaring temperatures inside the radiation suits under the Nevada sun and the cool, crisp appearance of crunchy white snow on the screen in front of us, at which stage we decided to risk the removal of the remaining protective gear. No adverse radiation effects were detected, although the smell of garlic was palpable.
Opinion:
Rumours of the XBox biting people seem to be unfounded, although our particular test console may have just been a tame one. We also feel that the 3 extra runways planned for Heathrow to allow for the Hercules transporter aircraft to carry in XBoxes to this country 3 at a time are a little excessive.
For the general well-being of gamers, however, we highly recommend that bundles of the XBox include at least Halo or Project Gotham Racing, or perhaps both. Although with both we could see the reappearance of 'gamer hermit' syndrome where players disappear for weeks on end. Perhaps an 'Excessive Fun Advisory' label should be included with these kinds of bundles.
End of Report.
Console: XBox
Location: Salt Plains, Nevada.
Preparations:
An unusual location you might think, but apparently it was the only area where we could actually fit the XBox and still have room to move. For this session we were kitted out in radiation suits (those green markings on the XBox might have been emitting who knows what so we felt it was better safe than sorry), and industrial chain mesh gloves were equipped due to rumours of the XBox controller biting people as they handled it. We also wore strings of garlic around our necks because you just never know, do you?
A stuntman had been hired from an agency in Las Vegas just in case we needed to climb up the side of the console, load a disc and then abseil down again, due to rumours of its height.
Playtest:
We approached the XBox from downwind in case it caught our scent, but it appeared oblivious to our movement. When we got to within what we thought was about half a mile of the console, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that this was just some kind of mirage and that we were only a few inches away from it. Having sacked the stuntman we then inserted the demo disc for this session, and went straight for Project Gotham Racing.
Whilst the controller was awkward to handle at first, the removal of the industrial protective gloves was deemed necessary to get a true feel for it. Once this was facilitated the controller was found to be surprisingly light and easy to handle. The layout of buttons and analogue sticks was a hybrid of existing genres, the triggers fitting more comforably than on the Dreamcast 'wrist wrencher' controller of ye olden dayes.
On-screen menus were intuitive and fast, and we were off and running within seconds. Project Gotham Racing was found to be very reminiscent of MSR (same developer, what else would you expect) and having played that game before the handling of the cars in the demo was quite natural. The main differences to note were that the graphics had acquired a substantial boost, and that the engine sounds and other effects were so true to life that this tester got a bit carried away and the controller had to be removed forcefully from his grip.
Following this, we watched a rolling demo of Halo. Then we watched it again, not quite believing that the AI and graphics that we were seeing were real. The only phrase that comes close to describing the experience is 'mindblowing'. We can certainly see why Edge magazine gave this game 10/10.
We ended the session with a quick go of Amped, a freestyle snowboarding game that this particular tester didn't normally go for. The main surprise here is that when at the top of a mountain, you can actually 'see' all the way to the bottom without there being any intrusive fogging. Perhaps they just waited for the right weather when creating this game. Either way, it's stunning. Tony Hawk on ice is the closest we can get to describing it.
There was a marked constrast between the soaring temperatures inside the radiation suits under the Nevada sun and the cool, crisp appearance of crunchy white snow on the screen in front of us, at which stage we decided to risk the removal of the remaining protective gear. No adverse radiation effects were detected, although the smell of garlic was palpable.
Opinion:
Rumours of the XBox biting people seem to be unfounded, although our particular test console may have just been a tame one. We also feel that the 3 extra runways planned for Heathrow to allow for the Hercules transporter aircraft to carry in XBoxes to this country 3 at a time are a little excessive.
For the general well-being of gamers, however, we highly recommend that bundles of the XBox include at least Halo or Project Gotham Racing, or perhaps both. Although with both we could see the reappearance of 'gamer hermit' syndrome where players disappear for weeks on end. Perhaps an 'Excessive Fun Advisory' label should be included with these kinds of bundles.
End of Report.
Rubbish.
The X-Box controller sucks, and even IGN agree with me.
The X-Box controller sucks, and even IGN agree with me.
the DC pads were only uncomafortable for PS2 users. Also the Xbox pad is great, it is well crafted and is quite small really and is much better quality than the PS2 pad...
The DC pad was allegedly quite uncomfortable, but I always though it was great.
I haven't played the XBox yet, but I can't believe that microsoft would spend so much on a console, and have it end up with a really naff pad.
Would they?
I haven't played the XBox yet, but I can't believe that microsoft would spend so much on a console, and have it end up with a really naff pad.
Would they?
T'was for me, but then I've probably got bigger hands than...everyone else.
"Once this was facilitated the controller was found to be surprisingly light and easy to handle."
Rubbish.
Rubbish.
I'm going to promise myself never to play an X-Box from now on.
My allegience is to Nintendo, and as soon as GC is released, i'll sell or give away my PS2 to a friend and play some proper games... and then when StarFox comes out.....*droooooooooooool*!
Rare rule... I love Rare...
I wonder what they could actually do on PS2 and X-Box... it'd be good to see...
My allegience is to Nintendo, and as soon as GC is released, i'll sell or give away my PS2 to a friend and play some proper games... and then when StarFox comes out.....*droooooooooooool*!
Rare rule... I love Rare...
I wonder what they could actually do on PS2 and X-Box... it'd be good to see...
Very extensive
I haven't been about much the last few weeks, because I've been extensively playtesting the next generation console from Microsoft. This is basically the report that I submitted to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) afterwards:
Console: XBox
Location: Salt Plains, Nevada.
Preparations:
An unusual location you might think, but apparently it was the only area where we could actually fit the XBox and still have room to move. For this session we were kitted out in radiation suits (those green markings on the XBox might have been emitting who knows what so we felt it was better safe than sorry), and industrial chain mesh gloves were equipped due to rumours of the XBox controller biting people as they handled it. We also wore strings of garlic around our necks because you just never know, do you?
A stuntman had been hired from an agency in Las Vegas just in case we needed to climb up the side of the console, load a disc and then abseil down again, due to rumours of its height.
Playtest:
We approached the XBox from downwind in case it caught our scent, but it appeared oblivious to our movement. When we got to within what we thought was about half a mile of the console, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that this was just some kind of mirage and that we were only a few inches away from it. Having sacked the stuntman we then inserted the demo disc for this session, and went straight for Project Gotham Racing.
Whilst the controller was awkward to handle at first, the removal of the industrial protective gloves was deemed necessary to get a true feel for it. Once this was facilitated the controller was found to be surprisingly light and easy to handle. The layout of buttons and analogue sticks was a hybrid of existing genres, the triggers fitting more comforably than on the Dreamcast 'wrist wrencher' controller of ye olden dayes.
On-screen menus were intuitive and fast, and we were off and running within seconds. Project Gotham Racing was found to be very reminiscent of MSR (same developer, what else would you expect) and having played that game before the handling of the cars in the demo was quite natural. The main differences to note were that the graphics had acquired a substantial boost, and that the engine sounds and other effects were so true to life that this tester got a bit carried away and the controller had to be removed forcefully from his grip.
Following this, we watched a rolling demo of Halo. Then we watched it again, not quite believing that the AI and graphics that we were seeing were real. The only phrase that comes close to describing the experience is 'mindblowing'. We can certainly see why Edge magazine gave this game 10/10.
We ended the session with a quick go of Amped, a freestyle snowboarding game that this particular tester didn't normally go for. The main surprise here is that when at the top of a mountain, you can actually 'see' all the way to the bottom without there being any intrusive fogging. Perhaps they just waited for the right weather when creating this game. Either way, it's stunning. Tony Hawk on ice is the closest we can get to describing it.
There was a marked constrast between the soaring temperatures inside the radiation suits under the Nevada sun and the cool, crisp appearance of crunchy white snow on the screen in front of us, at which stage we decided to risk the removal of the remaining protective gear. No adverse radiation effects were detected, although the smell of garlic was palpable.
Opinion:
Rumours of the XBox biting people seem to be unfounded, although our particular test console may have just been a tame one. We also feel that the 3 extra runways planned for Heathrow to allow for the Hercules transporter aircraft to carry in XBoxes to this country 3 at a time are a little excessive.
For the general well-being of gamers, however, we highly recommend that bundles of the XBox include at least Halo or Project Gotham Racing, or perhaps both. Although with both we could see the reappearance of 'gamer hermit' syndrome where players disappear for weeks on end. Perhaps an 'Excessive Fun Advisory' label should be included with these kinds of bundles.
End of Report.
Console: XBox
Location: Salt Plains, Nevada.
Preparations:
An unusual location you might think, but apparently it was the only area where we could actually fit the XBox and still have room to move. For this session we were kitted out in radiation suits (those green markings on the XBox might have been emitting who knows what so we felt it was better safe than sorry), and industrial chain mesh gloves were equipped due to rumours of the XBox controller biting people as they handled it. We also wore strings of garlic around our necks because you just never know, do you?
A stuntman had been hired from an agency in Las Vegas just in case we needed to climb up the side of the console, load a disc and then abseil down again, due to rumours of its height.
Playtest:
We approached the XBox from downwind in case it caught our scent, but it appeared oblivious to our movement. When we got to within what we thought was about half a mile of the console, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that this was just some kind of mirage and that we were only a few inches away from it. Having sacked the stuntman we then inserted the demo disc for this session, and went straight for Project Gotham Racing.
Whilst the controller was awkward to handle at first, the removal of the industrial protective gloves was deemed necessary to get a true feel for it. Once this was facilitated the controller was found to be surprisingly light and easy to handle. The layout of buttons and analogue sticks was a hybrid of existing genres, the triggers fitting more comforably than on the Dreamcast 'wrist wrencher' controller of ye olden dayes.
On-screen menus were intuitive and fast, and we were off and running within seconds. Project Gotham Racing was found to be very reminiscent of MSR (same developer, what else would you expect) and having played that game before the handling of the cars in the demo was quite natural. The main differences to note were that the graphics had acquired a substantial boost, and that the engine sounds and other effects were so true to life that this tester got a bit carried away and the controller had to be removed forcefully from his grip.
Following this, we watched a rolling demo of Halo. Then we watched it again, not quite believing that the AI and graphics that we were seeing were real. The only phrase that comes close to describing the experience is 'mindblowing'. We can certainly see why Edge magazine gave this game 10/10.
We ended the session with a quick go of Amped, a freestyle snowboarding game that this particular tester didn't normally go for. The main surprise here is that when at the top of a mountain, you can actually 'see' all the way to the bottom without there being any intrusive fogging. Perhaps they just waited for the right weather when creating this game. Either way, it's stunning. Tony Hawk on ice is the closest we can get to describing it.
There was a marked constrast between the soaring temperatures inside the radiation suits under the Nevada sun and the cool, crisp appearance of crunchy white snow on the screen in front of us, at which stage we decided to risk the removal of the remaining protective gear. No adverse radiation effects were detected, although the smell of garlic was palpable.
Opinion:
Rumours of the XBox biting people seem to be unfounded, although our particular test console may have just been a tame one. We also feel that the 3 extra runways planned for Heathrow to allow for the Hercules transporter aircraft to carry in XBoxes to this country 3 at a time are a little excessive.
For the general well-being of gamers, however, we highly recommend that bundles of the XBox include at least Halo or Project Gotham Racing, or perhaps both. Although with both we could see the reappearance of 'gamer hermit' syndrome where players disappear for weeks on end. Perhaps an 'Excessive Fun Advisory' label should be included with these kinds of bundles.
End of Report.