Well done Microsoft for looking like complete idiots and shooting yourself in the foot. Perfect example of a PR Blunder right there. Needed to get this right on the big stage as they can't make a second first impression as it were...

Make an option of X-Bone minus the completely needless camera and match PS4's price and we might start to take it seriously. What a mess of a console announcement this has been.

Shame Microsoft lost their nerve. Their original stance would have been better in the long run. Instead we are stuck with the same over priced market we have now.

As for Live vs PSN as a service it's a complete walkover for Live. PSN was horrible and clunky in comparison. It should catch up some what with the PS4 due to it being pay to play though.

Agreed regarding the last of us. Just got this game today. I only just traded up from my ps2 so for me it was incredible

Anybody interested in an old school style, rock hard platformer/hack n slash should absolutely take a look at a game called Rogue Legacy that recently came out on Steam.
It's only £12, so not too pricey, and is a roguelike set in a similar vein to the old castlevania games, but with added humour and its tongue firmly set in its cheek. By 'roguelike' I mean you only get one life, and after you die, the castle that you are exploring will reset with new monsters, treasures and a completely new layout.
The general idea is to do as well as possible on the one life you get, collect as much money and find as many items as you can, then once you die (and you will die a LOT) your 'heir' will inherit all of your money and gear which they can use to level up, increase stats/equipment and generally grow stronger, allowing them to get that little bit further into the castle.

I bought it last night and spent almost two hours on it straight off the bat, I died loads of times. It's a very unforgiving game but it is incredibly addictive, the quick deaths and turnover of characters just makes you want to run back in and have one more go at exploring the castle.

Anyone looking for something fun to play that's not too expensive or needing a decent pc to run, I would definitely advise them to check it out. Such a fun game, I can see myself putting a lot of hours into this no problem.

Bump, new GTA V trailer has just been released, showing off actual gameplay footage this time.
Go and check it out in the obvious places - it's looking pretty damn amazing!

So, Don Mattrick: Walked or pushed?

Seems like he's been pushed but it's been made to look like he's walked in order for Microsoft to avoid another potentially damaging PR disaster.

Whilst I can't help feeling "The last of us" is a re-skinned Uncharted, and it has some conventient gameplay mechanisms (i.e. girl who can't swim) around half way through the thing I feel it's one of the best games I've played. In terms of plotline and story it's way ahead of anything else. I like open-world games such as Skyrim, and whilst this has to be the oppisite to that to facilitate the tight storyline, I'd think it's one of the best games of this generation.

The Last of Us, has definitely been one of the best games I've ever played. The storyline could be quite easily made into a movie it's that good. It certainly has an Uncharted feel about the game, but that isn't a bad thing.
Will there be a second? I would imagine so yes.

Any call of duty gamers wanna team up for sum pubs or league play,

Bump!
This thread always suffers over the summer months



Anyway today was the Gamescom event over in Cologne, major news from both MS and Sony although the MS one was behind closed doors so there isn't quite as much to sink your teeth into.

The big MS news is that any pre-orders of an Xbox One will ship with a copy of FIFA 14 for FREE. That pretty much makes up for the diff in prices in the consoles. Of course, if you're not a fan of fifa then this will mean nothing to you



As far as Sony goes, they showed off some nice looking indie titles but nothing too major. There was, however, an official release date given. The PS4 will launch in Europe on 29/11/13 for £349 (15/11/13 in the USA).
If you haven't pre-ordered a console already I suspect you may not be allocated a launch day unit.