Fifteen bucks, little man…

I can remember a time well over a decade ago when paying a subscription to play a game wasn’t too far fetched. I guess they still exist now? I’m not sure. Seems most died out or went free-to-play and offered other ways of making money rather than paying something monthly.

Still, playing World Of Warcraft or City Of Heroes was a monthly fee. For one game. And I paid it willingly without issue. Like it was…reasonable. I have monthly fees now that cover so much more than a single game. Game Pass sort of broke that mold, but we were still doing it with places like GameFly and some other sub services that offered a few games a month.

It may still be around for MMO type of games like the ones I mentioned earlier but you just don’t see it anymore, really. That I know of. I could be wrong and there’s a whole world of subscription games. But I’m willing to bet there’s less of them now than there were a decade ago.

Having said that, here comes Zen Studios with a subscription plan for…pinball. I never thought I would see something like this come to pinball. A subscription model. For pinball. And it’s $15 a month. I mean, I know it lets you play all their tables for $15 a month, but that’s absurd.

I have a ton of their tables and I’ve played them a lot, but there’s this whole “bridge too far” thing, and I think I found it. And I get you’re paying that to play ALL of those tables so maybe it doesn’t break down to $15 for one game, but I’ve owned most of the tables on previous versions and only had to pay once for that. Now, they’re moving to a different storefront (it’s a stretch to say “platform” here) and tables will not transfer. You’ve gotta buy them all over again. OR…pay a monthly fee to play them all. They knew this would happen and I guess came up with the subscription plan as a way to say “Hey, you don’t have to rebuy them, just pay this a month and you get all of them!”

They’ve also changed how you buy the tables as well and it’s a mess. They’re catching the right kind of flack for this and I hate to see it happen because I’m a big fan of theirs. But bad business is bad business and I hope they eventually find a way to fix this for their customers and fans alike.

Meanwhile…Ubisoft, it’s been 3,154 days since the last Splinter Cell game (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, or VR exclusive).

Welcome to PlayStation Plus Plus Premium Elite Ultimate (or Monkey See Monkey Do).

At first I wasn’t sold on this PlayStation Plus restructuring. Reading through it during this episode made me raise an eyebrow on that middle tier. I mean 400 games, I think, is worth the extra $40. HOWEVER, if they really wanted to be bold, they could have just kept the price as is and added it into the regular subscription. I think a timeline exists where Sony actually does that, but not currently where we are now.

Obviously the comparisons to Game Pass are numerous. The differences are well highlighted. You won’t get first party titles to play on day one. We don’t yet know the expanse of the library, but depending on the tier you choose, it can be anywhere from 400 to maybe 600 games. There’s little difference there, by the way, until you start looking at pricing.

To start with, I can’t even find a yearly subscription model for Game Pass Ultimate. Looking around it seems to be $180 a year, though with sales and discounts and stacking 3-Month subs, you can do it cheaper than that. Still, that’s $60 more than what’s on offer from Sony at their highest tier. If you go monthly, it’s $15 for Microsoft and $18 for Sony. Both of these will get you access to A LOT of games and both will allow streaming/downloading on PC. But only one will get you day one titles (Microsoft) and only one gives you access to EA Play (Microsoft). There’s a lot of other little bonuses you get going with Game Pass so the value seems to edge out Sony here.

If you only play on PlayStation, putting in for the mid to upper tier doesn’t seem like too bad a deal. And there’s plenty of room to grow here for Sony with everything else they have their hand in (music, movies, television), so we could see additions to the plan with movie streaming or subscriptions to other networks. But…that’s just speculation. We’ll know more in the months to come and the official rollout is in June.

Meanwhile…Ubisoft, it’s been 3,147 days since the last Splinter Cell game (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, or VR exclusive).

It’s like McDuck’s Money Bin…for games.

Just a note that we won’t have a show next weekend, but we’ll return on April 2nd.

We talk a lot about video games. Be them new, old, classic, vintage. We also bring up board games from time to time – like this episode for instance – and we’ll mention pinball on occasion.

There’s a wealth of games to be had out there in whatever form you may desire. And some of them might even be free, or really cheap. We try to let you know when the free and cheap ones come up. The Epic Games Store on PC gives out a free game every week. Amazon, if you’re a prime member, gives out games every month. There’s Playstation Plus, and Games With Gold on Xbox and Gamepass will likely be our future if our video entertainment path is any indication. There’s Humble Bundle that offers a lot of games for very little (And you can decide how much of what you spend goes to charity, the developers, or the storefront). Speaking of charity, you’ve also got the big ones like the one for Ukraine we mentioned that raised millions because for $10 you got like 1000 games. That one ended but another has come up with 170 items for only $40 (I can probably pick 3 or less games in that bundle that would regularly cost that amount so it’s a great deal).

The whole point here is that if you like games, of almost ANY type, something is out there for you and probably doesn’t require all that much for you to enjoy it (Vampire Survivors is the best $3 I’ve spent on a game ever). And in a lot of cases with these big bundle things, you’re helping others in a charity. Gaming for good, as it were.

You will likely build a backlog the likes of which you may never escape. And that’s really not a bad problem to have.

Maybe one day I’ll have another Splinter Cell in my backlog…Ubisoft, it’s been 3,133 days since the last Splinter Cell game (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, or VR exclusive).

Fair warning for those about to listen, there might be a spoiler or two for the first Hellblade at the beginning of this episode. Also, there’s vagueness around some possible spoiler stuff for Guardians Of The Galaxy as well – not the ending, mind you, but just a section of the game.

The reason I’m throwing out that warning is because we talk about some video game tropes. Two, specifically, and I don’t want to throw them out here because maybe you’re trying to avoid ANY kind of spoilers for either of those games. Having said that, however, it’s going to make it a little difficult to write about here, but I’ll try.

…10 minutes later…

Okay, so that’s pretty difficult. Anyway, sometimes tropes work. Sometimes building a mechanic that strays away from the usual gamer mentality (and I don’t mean that in a general sense but more in the habits of how we play and have played games) can be a good thing. We brought up examples from Eternal Darkness, X-Men on the Genesis, and Metal Gear Solid 2. There are elements of these games that play with the player. It’s really very creative.

One that isn’t creative, and this isn’t a spoiler for any game at all, is the one where you start the game completely upgraded and then at the end of the level it’s all taken away. You spend the rest of the game getting back to that point only to enjoy it for maybe not even a level before the game ends. I hate that trope. And underwater levels. And time trials.

There’s more to it, but you get the idea. I’m curious what video game trope annoys you the most. Or maybe there’s one you absolutely love. Let us know.

As long as we all agree to hate escort missions.

Another trope I can’t stand is when game companies NEVER do anything with good properties…Ubisoft, it’s been 3,126 days since the last Splinter Cell game (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, or VR exclusive).

To Play Or Not To Play

Elden Ring still tempts me. And I don’t completely know why. There’s no FOMO there. It’s all very self contained and…singular, in a way. It’s something that can be played now or years from now and you likely won’t be spoiled on content or story or, really, anything at all.

The hesitation comes from the history of the studio. I guess it’s a gut vs. impulse feeling. The impulse is to get it right now and start playing it. The gut feeling is that I’ve never enjoyed the kind of game Elden Ring is – just simply based on the studio that made it. They have a type…as it were. They invented a genre. One known for brutal difficulty and constant trial and error.

I have briefly given their previous outings a try. Once with Dark/Demon Souls and then again with Bloodborne. None of these have ever stuck with me. But then you watch reviews of Elden Ring and read people’s impressions and it really wants to pull you in again. But I think I can wait it out.

Something will come along to take its place in the zeitgeist. Something else will lure my attention, but I won’t forget. Because at the right price of entry (for me), temptation will come calling again. And I will give in to it. Maybe to be fooled once more, or maybe to be surprised by how well I take to it.

Either way, I’ll eventually play the game.

Also eventually, I may play another Splinter Cell…Ubisoft, it’s been 3,119 days since the last Splinter Cell game (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, or VR exclusive).

Now You’re Playing With Power, Portable Power!

I can’t speak to owning a Steam Deck. I can speak to owning almost everything else Valve has released on the hardware side of things (minus THEIR version of VR) and it makes me skeptical.

Not in the sense of what the Deck can do. But more about how much Valve will support the device. They don’t have the track record of say, Google, when it comes to making things and then killing them, but they do have a record. And it’s the record of following up. There is no “version 2” of anything Valve has made. And maybe there doesn’t need to be so far with what they’ve made but the biggest aspect I see of the Steam Deck is the room for improvement.

Watching reviews of the Deck, this thing is no slouch for a handheld device. There does seem to be plenty of room for improvement where the screen is concerned and there will always be improved performance as time goes on. Does that mean we’ll get one somewhere down the line?

History on Valve’s part says no. But I have a horrible feeling of optimism in this case.

Speaking of making something and never following it up…Ubisoft, it’s been 3,112 days since the last Splinter Cell game (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, or VR exclusive).

Two Is Better Than One

Sequels, as we all know, can be hit or miss. And this extends to threequels, prequels, and whatever else comes before or after. Point being, is the next one better than the one that came before it?

In most media, the original stays winning, but in gaming, that isn’t always the case. There’s a lot more levels to judge on where gaming is concerned. With the jump in tech happening so fast the sequel to a game can LOOK better than the first and win out on those merits, but they can falter a bit in the story/writing department.

What you’ll usually find in gaming is that a sequel to a game is, probably 8 times out of 10, better than the original. Especially the more recent you look. Uncharted 2, Assassin’s Creed II, Mass Effect 2…all outshine their previous counterparts. But then go back even further. Was Kid Icarus 2 better than the first? Was Contra? Mario…well, that’s kind of a special case isn’t it?

It doesn’t always work but it is usually pretty close and there’s almost always some aspect of the later games doing at least one thing better than the original. The problem, however, is that if a studio can make a good first game, it might end up being a long time before you ever see them make anything new again. It takes a long time and a lot of money to make these things and when they work, you can expect them to ride that horse into the ground.

And then there’s Ubisoft, who haven’t made another Splinter Cell game (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, or VR exclusive) in 3,105 days.

The Bungie Cinematic Universe.

I don’t really know what it means with Sony buying Bungie. As a Destiny player, I don’t think it’ll mean anything. The road map for this game seemed pretty clearly defined. They plan on wrapping it all up with an expansion next year (or maybe the year after?), and have also told us that Destiny will carry on beyond that. And beyond that is what I don’t know. I figure with the current expansions planned that Destiny 2 really won’t see much change. But everything after that and outside of that…stands to reason Sony will pull some exclusivity out of it.

But, maybe not? It’s just odd right now because Bungie is known for two things and one of them isn’t theirs anymore. And what’s left is a cross-platform, cross-save, free to play (somewhat) game. It’s something I don’t see them changing the formula of any time soon. Yes, they have other things they are working on but most of that is unknown and probably a ways off, so right now, this is all we have to speculate on.

Then there’s the media side of things. Turning the properties (well, it’s just Destiny, at the moment, really) into some sort of TV show or film. There is potential there, and maybe a lot more of it than we think. In fact, out of this purchase, I think we’re more likely to see Sony do something like that before they announce anything exclusive or otherwise with the company and property.

And speaking of Destiny, it was released a year AFTER the last Splinter Cell game from Ubisoft, and it’s been 3,091 days since the last Splinter Cell release (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, or VR exclusive).

Don’t Believe Their Lies

There’s been a running joke on the show over the years about me not willing to drop $15 on a game on sale cause I think it could be lower or that $15 is too much. Then I’ll turn around and tell you I just dropped $250 on a steelbook or something. Proportionally, the money thing has always been a bit skewed when I talk about it.

But, it’s also a good example of how the value of something can be a point of perspective. But it is REALLY hard for me to see the perspective of the NFT thing going on. I’m still not about to tell you what to do with your money, but I will say the same thing I tell anyone who asks about making a purchase of anything – do your research. I might buy a really great TV, but that’s usually after about 6 months or so of really looking over what I want and then magnifying that even further to find the best of what I want.

I see the perspective from a seller point of view. And I can’t see how anyone that pushes NFTs doesn’t feel at least a little off in what they’re offering the buyer – and for what price.

I don’t really care that Ubisoft or any other company gets in the NFT game, but they think if you don’t buy in, you’re missing out or are completely clueless as to how it works.

They also think if you do buy in, well, they don’t actually care once you do that. Again, not going to tell you how to spend that money, but I will urge you enthusiastically to research every single bit of what you are buying when it comes to NFTs.

And speaking of Ubisoft, of course, it’s been 3,084 days since the last Splinter Cell release (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, or VR exclusive).

Microvision Blizzardsoft

That’s pretty much what the whole show is about. There’s a time or two we talk about a few other things but really the focus is on Microsoft buying Activision.

Oddly enough, having talked about it for two hours there were still things we didn’t get to – mainly the good and bad of things or, well, if this is good or bad.

I think almost any other sort of acquisition I might be questioning the ramifications of it as well, but I’m not in this case. Activision needed new management. From the highest point on down, really. And outside of being bought like this, I don’t think it was ever going to happen. Maybe they shoot themselves in the foot enough with the government and that causes a change, but they probably had enough money and pull to skate by without worry. Although lately it seemed like the water was getting above their heads when it comes to this stuff. Given that, I’d have probably been okay with any company buying them, and I’m totally okay that it was Microsoft.

It remains to be seen how good or bad this will end up being, but hopefully it’ll break the awful cycle in that company and I feel like that’s probably good, regardless.

It would be great if someone would buy Ubisoft, cause it’s been 3,077 days since the last Splinter Cell release (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, or VR exclusive).