Rothbart's Rant #27 - "Armchair Quarterback" Edition
by Sean "rothbart" Workman
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/rothbart_photos/sarcasticgamer/kennedy-leather-recliner-sm.jpg
Armchair Quarterback - arm·chair quar·ter·back (plural arm·chair quar·ter·backs) noun
Definition:1. viewer who criticizes conduct of games: somebody who is certain that he or she can make better calls than the coaches or players while watching a competitive sport on television

2. giver of unwanted advice: somebody who offers unwanted advice about how to do something or tries to supervise an activity without being askedI am an armchair quarterback. I can't help it. And I'll bet you are too. Rather than focus on being something generally considered a nuisance, let's take today's rant space and put it to good use. I'm giving everyone an assignment today. I'm going to list some companies and I want everyone to give a sentence or two saying how they would do things better than the company is currently doing. Now I'm not suggesting we're changing history here, your suggestions are to be more of a change of direction or focus than a comment of how you would change things that have already happen (unless your plans are to undo those things in the future).

Microsoft - They need to nail down their reliability problems. Extend their warranty "across the board" to three years to boost consumer confidence. And they need to work on filling gaps in their library (Where are the platformers?)


Nintendo - They need to put out some games (ie. plural) that will cater to the traditional and/or hardcore gamers. Expanding your userbase is all fine and good. Show some love to those that have loved you over the years. Super-fast track your online multiplayer offerings. Come up with some cheap large capacity storage or find a way to support plain USB drives. Lower VC prices drastically, and offer original content for download.


Sony - Reduce the PS3's price. Make sure your games are top notch (we don't need another "Lair"). Implement missing XMB features ASAP. Double-time it on getting developers the SDK/feature-set they need to bring compelling "only on PS3" stuff to market. Stop saying stupid stuff like "The PS3's original price was correct, we were supply constrained".


EA - Learn how to program the PS3. Avoid "money grab" games like My Sims. Why does that game exist in its current state? You need to stop trying to cash in on your own brands on brand recognition alone. Fund more original content... sequels are fine when they're warranted. Substandard sequels should never get released... you will gain fan support if you hold off on releasing sub-standard games until they're decent.


Ubisoft - Learn how to program the PS3. Try releasing your PS3 games at the same time you're releasing your 360 versions... if that means waiting to release the 360 version, then wait. Releasing another version months later is about the same as sending it to die. Don't go "casual" at the expense of traditional games... go casual IN ADDITION to your normal game offerings. You're treading thin ice on coming off as a sell-out. You're responsible for MANY great games and franchises... don't pull a Nintendo and simply follow the money to the casual gamer franchises.


Activision - Learn how to program the PS3. Don't nickel and dime us with song download pricing. You'll get more by charging a fair price and having more people buy your stuff. Also, we're really not THAT interested in mediocre licensed games. It'd be pretty amazing if you actually knocked the ball out of the park with one of your licensed IPs...

Now it's your turn...

Microsoft -


Nintendo -


Sony -


EA -


Ubisoft -


Activision -

I would love to add to your list there, but you seriously hit the nail on the head with every single company. Every thing I thought of before I read your list, ended up being on your list.

Great point about Microsoft filling the gaps in their library. I'm sick of FPS's. Microsoft bought Rare years ago and they have yet to deliver a great game. Where the hell is Banjo-Kazooie 3?! They showed a trailer for the game over a year ago and we haven't heard a damn thing about it since.

If Nintendo doesn't do something soon about their pathetic online capabilities then they are going to lose every single fanboy that has been with them since the NES. I'm one of them.

It's obvious what Sony has to do. Lower the price and release good games. Sony knows it, too. Now they just have to do it.

Don't even get me started on EA. In my opinion they are the biggest travesty in the history of video games. Ever since they sold their souls in order to have professional sports exclusivity, they have sat with their thumbs up their butts when it comes to updating their yearly titles. I miss the days of Madden and NFL Quarterback Club competing each year to be the best NFL game.


I really wish that I could sit down with the heads of these corporations and get their take on the decisions they make. I'm sure most of their decisions were good decisions on paper, but in actuality were awful and it blows my mind that there isn't at least one person in the group of Executives that has common sense enough to make a decision based on what fans want, not what they (the usually non-gamers) think will be best.

Microsoft - They need to nail down their reliability problems. Extend their warranty "across the board" to three years to boost consumer confidence. And they need to work on filling gaps in their library (Where are the platformers?)

This is funny. Just last week I was having lunch with a buddy. He wants to get a current-gen game console for his kids. I asked him, "What types of games do they like to play?" After describing the type of games they play, I concluded he was describing platformers. I said, "Well, on the PS2/PS3 you've got the Sly Cooper, Jak & Daxter, and Ratchet & Clank franchises. On the 360 you've got... uh... I can't think of any."

I went to both companies web sites and found the game catalog page. If you select Platformers on the 360 site I believe you get one title.

I went to both companies web sites and found the game catalog page. If you select Platformers on the 360 site I believe you get one title.


And was that Kameo? ;)

IMO Microsoft was successful to a fault. They wanted the hardcore FPS gamers... and they focused so tightly that they nailed it. But I feel it was at the expense of other genres... I just keep getting drawn back to platformers because I personally love them. I just won a copy of Ratchet & Clank Up Your Arsenal (somehow I'd not played that one) and I'm so impressed that's a PS2 game... I'm stoked for Ratchet & Clank Future!

EA - They make a great base game (Sims, Sims 2) but user created content is so much better than what they put out.

I think I will start my own thread about what I love/hate about the Sims line of games.

EA - They make a great base game (Sims, Sims 2) but user created content is so much better than what they put out.

I think I will start my own thread about what I love/hate about the Sims line of games.

Let me start you off. It is usually hooked to bad graphics, but, hey they cant help that. But it does give you a clue on how much your life sucks compared to this guy you control that gets laid all the time and gets everything he wants. Who doesnt like to play God every once in a while? Everyone who doesnt play Sims, apparently. o.o

Sony- Stop making sequels to games nobody likes. Keep the price on the PS3, hell, you paid for it. Blu-Ray and all that. Who do you think your kidding? Don't try an RUSH yourselves to compete with Microsoft. Your too worked up with throwing something out there and hoping it sells. Go back to beating the crap out of Nintendo, they can take a hit. But, hey PSP was a good idea. *patts*

Rothbart - Get a better armchair.:D

all right here I go
EA: fix your damned customer support it freaking sucks I don't even want to say what happened with me and their customer support. Make good games otherwise you will loose alot of your fanbase. Battlefield 2 was good, Battlefield 2142 not so much, oh and if you are going to put ads in your game at least make the game cheaper.
Nintendo: I have been with you for a while and you have been my favorite of them all... but come on you're starting to loose your fans even some of the diehard nintendo fans are starting to doubt you. Please. Super smash bros. brawl is going to be good but we want more then that. Oh and mario galaxy better be good especially after Sunshine.
Ubisoft: when making games for the wii make sure the controls are good. Please don't let red steel 2 suck.

Microsoft - Stop shitting on your PC gamers (Halo 3 NOW) while simultaneously trying to reorganize and control the PC gaming industry with Games for Windows. When you make products, get it right the first time.


Nintendo - Change the goddamn Pokemon plot already.


Sony - I will never get the PS3 and you can't make me. You failed.

EA - When you finally obtain complete dominance over rights to sports franchises, don't just give your game better graphics and a new roster every year.


Ubisoft - No comment.


Activision - No comment.

Rothbart - Get a better armchair.:D


Actually, this is my chair (not my house, this is the "model photo" of my chair from the manufacturer though)... the one in the article was a Google Image Search special...

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/rothbart_photos/4940326_G.jpg

And was that Kameo? ;)

Now I had to go back and check.

It actually shows two under the genre of 'Platform':

Mega Man Anniversary Collection
The Simpsons Game (which isn't even out yet)

Now this could be a case of bad categorization by whoever set up the catalog, but they definitely need something like the Sony franchises. I like shooters, but I also love the Ratchet and Clank series. They need something lighter that is still a whole bunch of fun.

Sony - Reduce the PS3's price. Make sure your games are top notch (we don't need another "Lair"). Implement missing XMB features ASAP. Double-time it on getting developers the SDK/feature-set they need to bring compelling "only on PS3" stuff to market. Stop saying stupid stuff like "The PS3's original price was correct, we were supply constrained".


EA - Learn how to program the PS3.....

Ubisoft - Learn how to program the PS3. Try releasing your PS3 games at the same time you're releasing your 360 versions... if that means waiting to release the 360 version, then wait. Releasing another version months later is about the same as sending it to die.

Activision - Learn how to program the PS3.


Uhm... No. Never. Forget it. Why should a publisher being held responsible to iron out the mistakes sony did with their architecture/SDK/Dev support? And even worse: Why should people who bought other consoles have to wait longer just so devs could figure out how to work the PS3?

I understand that you had some misfortune with Microsoft and the 360. I really can imagine how much this have to suck and that your opinion regarding multiplatform releases (and the longer wait or crappy PS3 versions) may be tainted by this.

But take for instance GTA4. Scheduled to be released this month. I know that there is no definite explanation but the rumors tent to point in the PS3's direction a the source of the delay. So IF this is true I would pissed that the PS3 is the cause of the delay and I have to wait longer.


Thats only my point of view though. I know that for developers/publishers there a way more things to consider.

But take for instance GTA4. Scheduled to be released this month. I know that there is no definite explanation but the rumors tent to point in the PS3's direction a the source of the delay. So IF this is true I would pissed that the PS3 is the cause of the delay and I have to wait longer.

Would you be equally pissed to find out that the delays were caused by the lack of a hard drive requirement on the 360? Just a thought. ;-)

I have to agree on the reliability issue for MS, that is probably the only thing holding me back from buying a 360 at the moment, and a full three year warranty would probably sway me enough to buy one. As things stand, I think the only way it will happen is through Costco (you'd have to pay me to buy a used 360).

I don't see most publishers waiting for the PS3 release of a game if development is lagging significantly, unless they have a contract to that effect. The 360 has a much larger install base, so they are likely to want the bulk of their money as soon as possible...can't really blame them for that.

Uhm... No. Never. Forget it. Why should a publisher being held responsible to iron out the mistakes sony did with their architecture/SDK/Dev support? And even worse: Why should people who bought other consoles have to wait longer just so devs could figure out how to work the PS3?


So at what point do we see third parties producing "quality" PS3 games is it fair to point a finger at a dev and say "You suck!"?

Sure, it sounds like the developer tools could've been better, but it's largely the programmer's responsibility to make whatever they have work. Ubisoft hasn't been vocally bashing the PS3's programming difficulties (although they have bashed the price and install base -- which is understandable).

IMO, these devs need to do what it takes to make their product what it should be. That should be guided by, but not dictated by a release schedule. I also feel strongly that if they're opting to release the exact same product on multiplatforms, they need to work really hard to do it simultaneously. It's in their best interest to get that "big splash" of an initial release. Take GRAW 2 for example... it was largely an identical experience. But why did it take so many months longer for it to come out on the PS3? What about Rainbow 6 Vegas? The time difference almost makes it seem like they're not even trying... to be honest, under ideal circumstances, I would think 6 months might even be enough time to start, finish, and test a port to another system... when exactly did they start the PS3 versions? I find it hard to believe it really took them THAT much longer if they were expending the same resources. And if you put out a substandard product, you can expect substandard sales and not a large increase in install base from your contribution to the platform.

I'm sure this will become a thing of the past over time though.

I'll just do three of them.

Microsoft: Make a reliable product so you don't end up losing money even when you're leading the industry. Let Bungie do whatever they want with their next game regardless of whether it's Halo related or not; they've already proven that they are more than capable of making a kick-ass product. Not to mention that you owe them because they saved your platform. Oh, and ditch Vista.

Nintendo: Grow up. There's a difference between casual gamers and children. Also, stop leaving in the dust the people that are fans of Nintendo rather than a gimmicky controller. Last of all, make an online system that actually allows for communication between people. This ties in with the point about children.

Sony: You probably should have just kept up the momentum gained by the PS2. The PS2 was similarly priced with its top competitor (Xbox), and although it was less powerful it still had a huge game library. At the moment the PS3 is more powerful and higher priced than its main competitor (Xbox 360), and lacks the extensive game library that the PS2 had. Also, make an online system that works. You're at least aiming in a better direction than Nintendo is, but your implementation of it has nothing on Xbox Live. Home doesn't have much going either; no one in your target audience likes The Sims.

I just have one company and thats my dear good old unreliable Micro$oft! Nah never mind we all know the story with them. NUF Said

IMO, these devs need to do what it takes to make their product what it should be. That should be guided by, but not dictated by a release schedule. I also feel strongly that if they're opting to release the exact same product on multiplatforms, they need to work really hard to do it simultaneously. It's in their best interest to get that "big splash" of an initial release. Take GRAW 2 for example... it was largely an identical experience. But why did it take so many months longer for it to come out on the PS3? What about Rainbow 6 Vegas? The time difference almost makes it seem like they're not even trying... to be honest, under ideal circumstances, I would think 6 months might even be enough time to start, finish, and test a port to another system... when exactly did they start the PS3 versions? I find it hard to believe it really took them THAT much longer if they were expending the same resources. And if you put out a substandard product, you can expect substandard sales and not a large increase in install base from your contribution to the platform.



It's a finite pool of resources publishers are willing to put into a product. Putting more into the PS3 development would result in less resources for the 360.

I would say that right now the PS3 has the status of a unloved stepchild. The main sales are on the 360 and that's where developers have to put their main effort into to keep it in competition with other titles out there. Developers are always in struggle to make the next big thing. Make it bigger/better/prettier/whatever. As long as there is no gain over the alternative I don't see them saying "Hey let's pull some people from the 360 put them off to help with the PS3 version".

I don't want to bash any device here. I don't give a damn which one I have to fire up to play a game. I just want the possible best games the devs can come up with, without getting a lesser game or waiting longer for it because one system is spoiling the other (in terms of development resources).

I could easily put this into the other direction. I don't want Konami put resources away from MGS4 to make a 360 port. If they do it after the original is finished I don't have a problem with that.


Would you be equally pissed to find out that the delays were caused by the lack of a hard drive requirement on the 360? Just a thought. ;-)

As a matter of fact, yes. If this would have meant that the PS3 version has been delayed because of the 360.