The latest Ratchet and Clank installment is a game that I asked for because I felt I should–as a PS3 owner–have. I have never played any of the previous games, and I am not even that much of a fan of platformers. However, after spending every waking moment of the last two days playing Ratchet, I can safely say that this game kicks ass.

The game is beautiful. Granted, as Aegies pointed out to me, it has plenty of places where it has lower res textures, but it comes together as a whole quite well. The game plays to the system’s strengths, creating a world that graphically looks somewhere between a Pixar movie and a PS2 game. And, as far as the cut scenes are concerned, they look just like a Pixar movie, complete with awesome dialog and quirky characters.

I know that Ratchet games are deeply based on the weapons system, but as a newcomer to the series I have to say that it really does have some of the coolest weapons I have seen in a game in a long time. This is partially due to the fact that the setting of the game allows the designers to create whatever crazy weapon comes to mind, but goes to show that the creators still know how to make fun weapons and items.

The pacing of the game is also something I really enjoy. Players can complete levels in a relatively short span of time, do side tasks even in shorter periods of time, and there is no “lives” system. No matter how many times you die, Ratchet is pretty forgiving.

The bottom line is that every PS3 owner should go out and buy this game (and while you’re at it, pick up Uncharted as well). Wipe the dust off that beast, it’s time to get your reality synthesizer working.

Chufmoney

P.S.- if someone from Sony or Insomniac reads this: will you please just let Insomniac create a middle ware engine for the PS3 already?

ShackNews reports that PS3 firmware version 1.94 — included on Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction — will include rumble support. Players will be able to toggle the rumble support by pressing the Playstation button. However, rumble will only be enabled on the dual-shock controllers — the ones Sony has yet to release.

Most of you are very familiar with the statements that Sony has previously made regarding rumble. However, they have realized the error of their ways — or rather, worked out things with their legal issues — and is now ready to make your fingers vibrate once again.

Is this that important of a feature to y’all? Personally I enjoy the feature when it is there, but it isn’t something that I miss when I play my handheld games. Hell, it’s not even something I miss when playing Warhawk. I just don’t get it.

Chufmoney

Those crazy Brits have gathered a mega-massive amount of data to confirm that, yes, people are buying $60 games and they will continue to do so. You can peep the insanely long article here. I’ve had mixed reactions to the idea of price and the new generation of gaming awesomeness. On one hand, I think that some games are worth the price, such as GRAW 2 or Forza. These games obviously took a long time to develop and it shows. On the other hand, there are some games that aren’t worth the price, and still get the $60 price because that is what a new game costs. Shadowrun is an excellent example. A purely multiplayer experience might be worth the high tier price for some, but for me there needs to be more packed in. I’ve never understood, in any market, the idea of a flat rate price. Comic books are priced different amounts according to what is inside the book. Some album prices vary, not many, but some. And books have a constant sliding pricing scale. Locking first-day games to a certain price means that some people can work extra hard and get little while others can do nothing and receive a lot. But, if gamers really cared, they would protest by not buying the games. This has actually happened. You can get Splinter Cell: DA on 360 for $29.99. And, on a bigger scale, look at the PS3 price drop and the rumored 360 drop. So remember, children. The wallet is the best way to complain about anything.

Sony confirmed today that the PS3 price drop is true. As of today the 60GB system will be 499$. Moreover, Sony will be releasing a 80GB system packaged with Motorstorm for 599$. This move comes just after the recent leak of the Circuit City ad that showed the PS3 on sale for 499$ as of July 15th.

While it is surprising that this news came prior to E3, it is certainly going to be welcomed amongst the community. The system, while certainly not cheap, will be much more competitively priced now. The only real question that remains is when will Microsoft drop the price of their system? The Elite cannot stay at the 479$ price because it will pale horribly in comparison with the PS3.

After some discussion with Arthur, I have decided what I feel the best pricing for the 360’s various SKUs would be:
-Elite 399$
-Premium 329$
-Core 249$
This pricing would allow Microsoft to compete with both the PS3 and the Wii. The Wii would face the graphical and price comparison to the 360 and Microsoft could still tout the system as the cheapest Next Gen option.

If the price drop for the 360 happens this week, expect it at the end of the Microsoft press conference, after the inevitable Halo 3 video.

Chufmoney

[via Kotaku]