Kong IS King!!

[ringsyde]

I recently returned to Gamestop as a holiday employee. My new career in academia ended my old managerial career with them, but I thought it would be fun to do the hourly thing over the holidays (who am I kidding, I need the money and the discount on my 360 stuff wont hurt either!!).

Today, we received our XBox 360 in-store unit. We also got demos for Project Gotham Racing, Perfect Dark, Kameo, Call of Duty 2 and King Kong.

I just spent the last two hours playing these games, and I have to say that Peter Jackson's King Kong completely stole the experience. Perfect Dark was awesome, and Project Gotham was pretty impressive (although I'm not much of a racing guy). Shattering T-Rex skulls and jaws, swinging from ledges and vines and decimating everything in front of me just felt so right to me. Kong was so impressive that I put it on my reserve list for launch.

I think the folks who have either shot down the 360 or declared themselves anti-Microsoft should try to get some play time in on these new machines. The controllers are streamlined, the system is extemely powerful and the games will snatch your attention. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

As for those of you already onboard, get King Kong!! This game feels like a combination of the recently released Hulk game (when you're playing as Kong) and Goldeneye (as the humans). I had a bear of a time trying to fight off 2 T-Rexes at once, but instead of being frustrated (as I normally am during these types of gaming moments), I was laughing and shouting and trying to figure out a quick way to even the odds. This game is truly worthy of consideration this holday season.

[gamtime247]

Put down my preorder at Toys R Us yesterday just so I dont have to wait in lines at midnight. How does the new controller play? I read about the white and black buttons changing location which I like. The package I ordered comes with Madden, Live, Kameo, Perfect Dark, Project Gotham, and Tony Hawk. I have no clue about any of those games besides Madden and Live but to say I'm pysched about playing Madden in 2 weeks on 360 is a huge understatement.

[ringsyde]

The only suspect game in your list is Tony Hawk, and that's because it's really the same old game on a new console.

The new controller is smaller than the "S" controller, and now that the black / white buttons have been replaced by two additional shoulder buttons, it feels even more natural.

I'm with you; the thought of playing Madden (and Live '06) on the 360 in just 13 days is getting me pretty fired up for this launch!!

[Barnestormer]

You know, I really hate to be a party pooper on the X-Box, but personally I'm not a great fan of the game system. I tried one out at a Meijers one time, and not only were the controls too hard to control, but the buttons were way too hard and hurt my thumbs when I pressed them. I prefer the PS2, and can't wait until the PS3s hit the shelves. I'd love to try one of those out before I decide if I want to buy one down the road after the price comes down on them.

[ringsyde]

The PS3 is already being labeled junk by Activision, Sega, Merryl Lynch and a few other development studios and financial centers.

The problem? In order to put everything into the machine that they promised at E3, Sony has to retail it for at least $800.00 (Merryl Lynch, CNN Business and Forbes broke this news during their coverage of Sony's recent financial troubles). They want to turn a $1500.00 IBM computer into a console system, and they think they can do it for an "affordable" price. Of course, Sony (like Sega and Nintendo before them) has reached a level of success that they think cannot be hurt, so they are currently contemplating releasing a system well outside the consumer price range

Of course, they're not going to do that, so they've already done away with the hard drive, multiple controller support (originally slated as 7-controller compatible, the machine is now 2 controller compatible), and extra USB ports to cut costs. Sony has retro-compatibility on the chopping block, and they are looking at doing a cheaper (and larger) controller. Along with the aforementioned cuts, they cut the interest of Activision, Square Soft, Sega and a few other developers. Meanwhile, the 360 has already won Popular Science's award for best new gaming console, and more awards are forthcoming.

The most keen Sony insiders are saying that in spite of all of this, the machine will still likely retail for over $400.00.

Too bad you didn't like the X Box because of the controller. After years of GoldenEye 64, I was totally unphased by any controller. Quality graphics, load times and economic set-up meant more to me, and the X Box crushed Sony in all three areas (built in hard drive, better graphics and about half the load time)

I urge you to try out a 360 system. You'll see a big difference in the controllers right away. Of course, if you've seen Sony's new controolers, you'll see that your argument against Microsoft's machine may soon be applicable to Sony's.

[Talison]

PS3 can suck or not. I'm still waiting for it. Unless it gets delayed multiple years or some such.

It's not a matter of being anti-Microsoft. It's being pro Sony. I've been pro-Sony for a long time, and will continue to be. I was pro Playstation before I ever heard of X-Box.

Not that that can't change. I used to be pro Nintendo, until the N64 took multiple years longer to come out than announced and other announced hardware repeatedly never surfaced. And it took me a lot to give up on Nintendo. And it took me even more to be convinced that the guys who made my Walkman should also make my console.

But back on topic. I've ben really considering getting Kong (it is on all platforms). I am a HUGE Kong fan, but you know how movie adaptations tend to go. If I can play a demo before X-Mas I may get it.

[ringsyde]

Most every Toys R' Us, Gamestop, EB Games, Best Buy and Meijer store has an XBox 360, PS2 or XBox demo of this game, and many of them are contracted to have the demo playing through the release of the movie. If you stop at one of them, I'm sure you'd get a chance to play it.

As for the tradition of movie games, this game cannot be lomped in with the previous efforts. In fact, I think that (some of ) the LOTR games, this one, the recent Star Wars games and the upcoming Superman and X-Men games are going to go a long way in changing that sad tradition.

I'm getting a PS3 as well. I just don't think Sony's going to offer much this go-around. Also, I kind of scratched my head at Banestormer's comments about the 360. Especially the controller, which has been almost unanimously dubbed the new standard for videogame controllers (about twenty different magazines, several online polls, gamers conference polls and thirty consumer reports polls - all using gaming fans as the control group). Some folks are so "anti" that they feel the need to overstate opposition. (NOTE: this is in no way an attack on Barnestormer. It's more of a call to get the factional gamers to open up and try a pretty impressive system.)

[Talison]

Yeah, I actually managed to get a demo for the PC after my last post. Plays pretty cool. A possible maybe on my X-Mas list.

Yeah, there have been some good movie games. I think Batman & Robin on PS1 was the best game ever made of a bad movie. But I was generalizing. I'll give anything a chance.

[canadianpittbull]

King Kong is a really good game although not very long. I played this on the PS2 and it looks and plays great. As far as the whole console wars. I will stick it out for the PS3. I think the X-box and the 360 are very unimpressive and people can try and talk it up and I will still look at it as a lot of gimmick bits all thrown together. I will always be a Sony and Nintendo supporter.

I played the X-box and hated the way the graphics look. All plastic looking and very unrealistic. I think the whole changing the face plate crap with the 360 is BS. I want to play a game not ride in the bloody thing! I am sure the more you bling out your 360 that the chicks will come runnin'

Dunno, Kong IS King and the 360 is another waste of money.

[ringsyde]

I think the pitbull proves my point excellently. He offers nothing of substance in his argument against XBox (360) except that he's a Sony fan.

I'm a GAME FAN!!! It can be Sony, Nintendo or Microsoft. I've even got a Dramcast and a few other consoles lying around here. As a game fan, my loyalty is to quality.

Unfortunately for Sony, Microsoft set the benchmark for console quality last go around. Nintendo is more durable, and Sony has had more titles, but nothing played or looked better than it did on the X Box.

[gamtime247]

I agree with you Ringsyde. I too am a game fan, got just about every system there is and have nothing but love for my ps2. I have to say though if you haven't actually played an xbox 360 on an hd tv then you have no idea what your talking about when you say the console is garbage. I have friends show up just about everyday playing ours asking when more come to the shelves. Call of Duty 2 is probably one of the most enjoyable games i've ever played.

I'll end up pulling a ps3 because like you said I am a video game fan, but I love the new 360 controller and looking at that ps3 boomerang thing really kind of scares me this go around.

[Talison]

Well, I agree with you RingsYde and that is why i don't like the X-Box. I am a gaming fan. I have not played anything on X-Box and another system that I did'nt not like better on the other system (Battlefront, X-Men Legends, Spider-Man 2). I have not played any X-Box exclusives that I would want to add to my collection (Halo). I hate the controller.

I'm not out to get the X-Box, or have a vendetta against it, it just simply has not impressed me even after playing it for hours at my friends house. And when he asks me to play something on it I don't say, "I won't play your stupid X-Box," I simply play the game in question and find myself unimpressed by it.

[canadianpittbull]

I added some substance, I gave reasons for why I don't like the X-box. I could have just said the X-box sucks and leave it at that but I gave my reasons why I didnt find the X-box appealing so jump off the high horse and slow down bud. If your a game fan then you shouldn't be getting bent out of shape for me not liking the X-box.

Obviously you ARE a X-box fan and have to defend it and all of its short comings. I am not going to get into a chewing match over which system is better war. I don't like the X-box and gave my reasons. Nuff said.

[ringsyde]

canadianpittbull said:

I added some substance, I gave reasons for why I don't like the X-box. I could have just said the X-box sucks and leave it at that but I gave my reasons why I didnt find the X-box appealing so jump off the high horse and slow down bud. If your a game fan then you shouldn't be getting bent out of shape for me not liking the X-box.

Obviously you ARE a X-box fan and have to defend it and all of its short comings. I am not going to get into a chewing match over which system is better war. I don't like the X-box and gave my reasons. Nuff said.

First thing, first: Brothers DON'T ride horses.

Now, on to the important stuff, shall we. Yes you did say you hated the system, but you insulted owners and fans by calling it a gimmick and by insinuating that those who "bling" it out are some sort of depraved nerds.

Aside from having already earned more than $1000.00 doing customized airbrushed faceplates for friends, students and others who like the idea of personalizing a system, I think you'd be hard pressed convincing them they have made a mistake by listing all of the systems faults as you did (you didn't list any except the"plastic" look, which is a developer issue).

This was my point. Most detractors of Sony, Nintendo or Microsoft are making ultra-loyalist arguments with NO SUBSTANCE. When I rip into the PS3, it's because of the lack of hard drive, game encyption codes, an uncomfortable controller and a hatchet job being done on internet service. These are things fans can understand better than " . . . a lot of gimmick bits all thrown together."

I'm not sure what your nose is bent out of shape about, but you can give the "high horse' bit a rest. I would dare to bet the income for the next ten years that no one alive and breathing would put me on a high horse. Certainly no one with common sense and an understanding of basic English would've read my previous post (or any in this thread) and accuse me of talking down to you or anyone else. I'm sorry you feel like I called you out, but that wasn't the case. The bottom line is that I prefer to discuss system wars (and debate ANY issue) with people who have a little more to offer than "it sucks . . . I hate it . . . it's dumb" (these are the typical responses from those who are so loyal to something they wont even begin to entertain the possibility that the other side may have something worth looking into), because frankly, that's not much of an argument.

Whoops, gotta run. My horse is sprinting out of the stable.

[canadianpittbull]

Not bent out of shape over anything? And I hope that my PM back to you clarifies that. Oh and as far as Brothers riding horses check this out....

www.blackcowboys.com/

Besides this is really a spot to talk about the King Kong game really so I guess we should get back on topic. Cheers and have a great weekend.

[ringsyde]

Good link!! My (real) brother almost mugged me for my "Brothers don't ride horses" comment after he read my post (over my shoulder). Aside from riding them in the Marine Corp, he reminded me of the movies, POSSE and ROSEWOOD. Brothers rode lots of horses in those. My point was that black folks consider "high horse" an insulting or offensive expression.

You're right, this is about King Kong, but I tend to let the conversation go where it will - as long as we're not ripping and flaming each other (which I hope you realize I am not). I just read your pm, and we have NO PROBLEMS here.

and now, back to your regulalry scheduled thread.

[canadianpittbull]

Well I have PM'ed you about my ignorance on the "High Horse" comment. And am sorry I didn't realize this was so personally offensive to you.

I value your opinions even if I disagree sometimes and enjoy your wrestling views and comments. So no hard feelings.