Microsoft (XBox etc)............................

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everything starts off black and white with splashes of colour, with full colour returning to areas as you defeat the Nazis.

Cool.

Thats quite a neat idea.

Yeah it's really well done and very effective even if on paper it sounds almost like a cliche...."the depression of living under Nazi occupation".

The game itself is very decent too.  Sneaking around Paris rooftops taking down searchlights and lookout towers was fun, but wandering the beautiful countryside taking out and Nazi patrols you come across is even better.

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Finished up with The Saboteur now and for a title that didn't get much hype at the time, I loved it.

I wish I could say the same for Crackdown 2 which I've finally got around to playing.  It's pretty much Crackdown 1.5 and the little changes that have been made make no significant improvement to the game with some actually making it worse IMO.  It doesn't help that the things that needed fixing in the original haven't been and the things that made that game stand out have now been done a lot better in other games.

Considering how much I loved the original at the time, this was a big big disappointment.

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How long has the latest DLC for Trials HD been out?  Oh no....too busy....must resist. 

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So it sounds like the latest XBox dash update.... which continues the theme of all the others in that it makes things harder to find and forces more and more ads into a smaller space.....also downgrades HD video playback for any content that wasn't bought through Microsofts own Zune store.

Very underhand if true 

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Rumours of an internet browser finally being added to the 360.  Considering Microsoft seem more intent on making the 360 the media centre in everyones living room than they are on it being a games machine ATM it's amazing it's taken so long to add a browser.

[fog]

So what do we think of the new Microsoft Surface tablets chances of success then?

It looks quite nice IMO and has a few neat touches (built in stand, screen cover that's also a keyboard) and the fact it's a Windows machine (*) will no doubt make it appealing to the masses.

(*) It's also confusing as hell into the bargain.  Two different machines with different versions of the OS and completely different chipsets.  One of which will run normal Windows programs and the other will only run specially written apps. Quite possibly the biggest mistake they could have made.

[las6]

Well, can't say much without knowing price or availability, but I don't think it matters - people just don't like Microsoft. Look at what people are saying about the Zune device(s). IMO, that would have been a perfect product for me (had it been available here) but people still continue to make fun about it.

Also, the idea they seem to be pushing is that tablet can be more than just for consuming content and I like that idea, but I don't think that's how most people see it. Most people just want to play games, browse the web and check Facebook.

I don't think the two different versions will be as big of an issue as it sounds now since I personally believe the price difference between an ARM device and x86 Intel device is going to be notable. So the same people won't be considering both of them... at least not at the same time.

[fog]

Well, can't say much without knowing price or availability, but I don't think it matters - people just don't like Microsoft. Look at what people are saying about the Zune device(s). IMO, that would have been a perfect product for me (had it been available here) but people still continue to make fun about it.

Is that really true of the average person though?  The sort of people that wander into PC World, know nothing about tech and will snap up the hardware because it does everything they want (email, the net and office applications).

And they will happily buy Microsoft hardware because they are a big brand name and they know tablet computing is cool because they've seen all those iPad TV ads.  I doubt they even know they run completely different OS.

I don't think the two different versions will be as big of an issue as it sounds now since I personally believe the price difference between an ARM device and x86 Intel device is going to be notable. So the same people won't be considering both of them... at least not at the same time.

True.  Although I wonder how many devs will rush to support it and how many will be put off by the differences?

[fog]

After Valve and Blizzard slated it last week, it sounds like Notch isn't a big fan of Windows 8 either.

"If Microsoft decides to lock down Windows 8, it would be very, very bad for Indie games and competition in general," he said. "If we can keep open platforms around, there's going to be a lot of very interesting games in ten years, mixed in with the huge AAA games that we all love."

Can't say I've read up on Microsofts plans for W8, but I assume from what Notch says that they intend making it some sort of closed platform like the App Store making it harder for indies to release stuff?

[T_M_C]

Can't say I've read up on Microsofts plans for W8, but I assume from what Notch says that they intend making it some sort of closed platform like the App Store making it harder for indies to release stuff?

Thats currently how i understand it too.

I'm still quite happily using Windows XP.

No need to upgrade and have no intention of upgrading.

In fact, is it really an upgrade?

The only thing i'm missing is Direct X10 and breaking the 3gb ram limit.  My graphics card is DX10 but i'm limited to DX9 on XP and although i have 4 gb ram installed XP can only use 3gb of it.

But those arn't issues for me.

I see no reason to upgrade.

And another thing that puts me off upgrading would be the need to upgrade all the 3rd party software and drivers.


If MS do decide to go a closed system route then i can see Linux really gaining in popularity.

TMC

[fog]

I'm still quite happily using Windows XP.

Likewise.  It does everything I want well and I can't be bothered with the hassles of updating my other apps as well.  I'd be lost without my 10 year old version of Paintshop :p

In fact, is it really an upgrade?

It sounds like they've gone further down the "simplification" route and hidden all but the most basic of options.  That should be easier for your averge user, but stuff like this sounds awful...

The Start menu is no longer there, but there's a hot corner that makes up for it (unfortunately on multiple screens it's somewhat of a pain to use).

    Lower-left corner + Left click Goes to the Start screen (Metro).
    Lower-left corner + Right click Power user shortcut menu (Device Manager, Control Panel, Command Prompt, Power Options, etc.).
    Upper-left corner Shows open window thumbnails, click to switch between them.
    Upper screen limit + Click & Drag on desktop Move to left or right to snap the current desktop or Metro app to one side of the screen.
    Lower-right corner Windows 8 Charm menu or Windows Aero Peak.
    Upper-right corner Shows Windows 8 charm menu.

This is well worth a read:

http://kotaku.com/5897763/three-killer-problems-that-threaten-windows-8

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I posted earlier (lost in host crash  )  about an Indie game, Fez, not getting updated on the XBox because of the costs Microsoft charges.  Well it appears the big publishers are now doing the same.

Konami have updated the PS3 version of Silent Hill HD, but wont do the same on the 360.  It's actually cheaper for them to give everyone free games  

Konami's considerate decision not to patch the broken Xbox 360 version of the Silent Hill HD Collection (read: because it costs money) has led the publisher to offer a free game to those who complain (read: because it costs less money).

http://kotaku.com/5933814/did-you-buy-a-borked-silent-hill-hd-on-xbox-360-here-have-frogger-on-the-ps2

[T_M_C]

Amazing.

I did post a reply before the Forum crash about Fez, don't know if you read it.

I've read elsewhere from public replies about the Fez issues and from what i've read the Dev's don't get much sympathy from the public.

If you go the Xbox only route then you really are at the mercy of MS.

I think the dev's have been badly burnt by the experience and i wouldn't be suprised to see them jump ship.

TMC

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I did post a reply before the Forum crash about Fez, don't know if you read it.

I've read elsewhere from public replies about the Fez issues and from what i've read the Dev's don't get much sympathy from the public.

Yeah I read your Fez post before "The Forum Crash".

Unfortunately the Fez devs have been quite vocal and said a few things that in hindsight they might regret.  Slagging off the whole Japanese games industry for the quality of their work and then releasing a bugged game yourself will have that effect. 

We all know it's almost impossible (or at least impracticable) to release a 100% bug free game so it's a subject best avoided when commenting on other devs work.

[TheKhakinator]

So Forza 4 is positively brilliant. Had been itching for a race, fired up Forza 3... and didn't have a lot of fun. Bit the bullet, and laid out the cash for the new game and I was blown away. I think the biggest thing is the AI... it is genuinely challenging to pass in Forza 4, where in Forza 3 you could usually just drive right by. The lines the AI are taking into and around corners, and driving defensively... it's amazing. The physics are ace too, though almost feels too easy... Don't really believe I've gotten good overnight.

I'd still rather be playing Gran Turismo 5 (as you can actually get a decent wheel for the PS3) but without a PS3 it won't happen.