JetmanUK

I've enjoyed all the Pinball FX/Zen Pinball games, across multiple formats. Like everyone else I do find it frustrating to keep buying the same tables, but then lots of people buy FIFA every year. 🤣

Joking aside, it's a little frustrating. The good thing about Xbox is that you can play Pinball FX 1-3 on your Series or One generation console so if you have amassed a large library of tables you can still play them.

I personally will have a look and see how much the tables are, I suspect outside of sales I won't be buying into this version.

I am really disappointed to hear this as I did play it quite a lot and felt that it offered something different in the console shooter space.

It had improved greatly, from where it was at its dodgy launch, it just could not get past the reputation that it had gained, it was no way the worst game, not at all.

I also can't believe that the single player is going away too! I haven't finished the whole thing, and with my life being busy right now I don't think I will get to, so single player content that I paid for is going down the drain. I doubt I would support this developer again.
I feel that I should be refunded for the single player, they can keep the spend I made in multiplayer, I don't mind, but a single player campaign disappearing? That is just wrong, MS should step in here with refunds.

I had a a spending spree yesterday, picking up a few of these games and all DLC for any that I own. I feel it would be frustrating to go back and play a game and not be able to play the dlc if I had really been enjoying it.

Let's not forget that MS have done so much for game preservation in the console space, way more than their competitors. Also, I don't believe that this is their choice, it is a most likely licensing issues with each game, it's a publisher driven thing, again I can't really criticise them for that either, sometimes business is business, as disappointed as we all are that's the harsh reality.

Amongst others I picked up both Left 4 Dead games and their DLC, I didn't play them back in the day. Am I in for a treat? I didn't really enjoy Back 4 Blood when I tried it with a couple of friends. Hoping they are more fun.

Xbox Fans Want To Know What's Going On With Square Enix In 2023

Answer

Sony

All opinions, I know... but I'd def add Crackdown (both!), Black Ops... and the game of the generation Deadly Premonition.

I'm not saying they were wrong to leave last gen behind, far from it, but judging by the comments from the Digital Foundry analysis it seems that the title is not especially 'next gen' (current! 😋) in its features. I dare say a 30fps version of this game would totally be capable. That said I am in favour of leaving the last gen behind now, it's been long enough (I know there are gamers out there with financial issues, but it's time).

@themightyant It's funny that you mention a dedicated audio chip. Last gen Xbox One had a dedicated audio chip. It was supposed to make the load on the CPU lighter, which may have made a performance difference... if Xbox was the lead platform... which was almost never the case.

@theduckofdeath I remember this.

Totally off topic, your tag is similar to a nickname I was briefly given in very poor taste years ago. Haha I will leave that there.

@InterceptorAlpha Yeah and even further back, Gamecube/XB/PS2.
I think it really came to the forefront more in the XB1 generation with games supporting truly impressive and immersive audio like Atmos, but you are right, it's an old feature.

@Would_you_kindly
Well like I said Sony have done a good job on marketing their audio features, Xbox a bad job.

XB1 and Series consoles support the following-

For headphones:
Windows Sonic
Dolby Atmos
DTS X
(No proprietary headphone hardware required either!)

For home cinema:
Dolby
DTS
(Numerous versions of the above, plus other modes too).

Xbox is king when it comes to audio, and has been for two generations now, it's just that no one talks about it, or even seems to know. Really weird.

@Would_you_kindly I found it really odd that Sony leaned into 3D Audio on PS5 like it was a new and ground-breaking console feature... when even the XB1 VCR offers three types of it! And has for years!

But your comment is an example of how well their marketing has worked on people.

This is great news. The best Xbox site should have a YouTube presence too. I wish you guys lots of success.

My advice to Microsoft:

Pull out of the deal and get the COD marketing rights back when the Sony deal runs out. Not worth all the hassle.

Spend the billions on marketing rights and exclusives, you know, like Sony do. Play them at their own game but use your deeper pockets.

Run your own studios more efficiently to actually get games out in good time and in good order.

I loved the 360 controller, it was so good... but... it was improved upon so much with all the Xbox controllers since then.

Hopefully it won't be too good a replica, they need to fix the dreadful D-Pad.
I remember opening my 360 on launch night and trying out the controller, I initially assumed that it was broken! Nope, just the worst D-Pad ever. Such a weird thing as the rest of the controller was the best ever to me (at that time anyway).

I might pick up a black one for the collection anyway.

Ah so nothing special, well that along with their poor optimisation of the game makes it a pass from me, maybe a deep sale game or give it a go on Gamepass, if it makes it on there

As someone who bought both an S and X on launch day I can tell you that the S is very much worth it, it's a steal at this price, whether you want it as a second or main console, great machine, great deal.

Has this guy ever heard of:

VRR
120hz/40fps mode

???

Both would offer something of a solution.

Not to mention, dynamic resolution, variable rate shading, FSR 2.0. So many tricks, no excuses.

I just don't buy that this game wouldn't run 60fps, not being rude, it's their engine/skill with the engine (I don't know which engine it's running on) that's the issue here.

Lots of other games run better than this. Yes, it probably requires some work, but the Series S user base is not insignificant, so support it properly!

EDIT
It's Unreal Engine 4?

Come on devs, do a quick search for other games running on UE4, take a look at Gears 5! The Series S can run UE games very well.
I guess with the Series X version running at such a low resolution (for that console anyway) it's indicative of the problems you are having with your game.

I preordered this, I rarely peorder. As I have been so busy with house renovations I haven't had time to jump in fully, nut a quick look through the menu told me this is a quality product, really well put together.

@Hayter @Riziden
I missed this news yesterday as I was busy at work, it's always challenging as I am old, I work with children, and I sit around eating muffins all day.

That aside it being in Gamepass will save me some money, which is doubly good as I share a bank account with my mother and would otherwise have to ask her permission to purchase this game...

I remember this game, the song, and that it was only a dollar (states it in the theme song). I wonder if they have updated the song to say it's now free? haha

I just watched the Digital Foundry PC analysis for this game, I'd recommend all console owners to do the same.

A brief summary, even with a powerful CPU this game hitches and drops frames. The game is a mess. Don't expect a 60fps mode, the best we can hope for is a stable 30fps. A 60fps mode would take a total overhaul of the code, it doesn't use all the cores of the CPU to their capability. It's not the console or PC that is a limiting factor here, it's software, terrible optimisation.

This explains why there's no last gen version, it would look pretty much the same, but be 5fps. 🤣

I'm a big fan of the earlier games but waited for a review of this one, consequently I did not buy it.
I really hope they can turn this around.

@Banjo- Good post.

I almost think they should just close it down now, no way is it going back to its time as a high quality site.

I've tried it already, it's ok. Ish.
Kids would definitely get some free fun out of it.

@Banjo- To follow up on this, Eurogamer are getting absolutely rinsed in the comments of an article about a £1 subscription offer, it seems many think their content isn't even worth a quid. Haha.
I have chimed in too, of course.
It's sad to see what they have done to that site.

https://www.eurogamer.net/support-eurogamer-and-get-your-first-month-for-1

@Kaloudz Was all good thanks, I hope yours was too.

I was on with more house renovations, moving in is getting closer now, it's nice to be moving into a large place.
I will have my own 'Music Room' (as I am calling it).
Some would call it a man cave, basically, consoles and guitars with some (possibly odd) decor choices all of my own, will be nice. The Mrs is getting her office, I think I am using my own room more creatively! Ha

I hope you enjoy PUBG. Drop me your tag I will play when I finally get back on.

I'm going to have the 360 and Kinect set up in my 'Music Room' at my new place, so this is on the list of games I'm going to jump back into.

Thanks for posting this article.
I purchased the 2TB one and used the monthly payment option, nice little deal from Amazon.
Next consideration, do I sell a 1TB card or keep it for archiving older games that won't be updated?

@Kaloudz Apparently I am being a 'd***'.

I didn't read the rest, it's not a good idea to start a post that way really. Even if he had some good/interesting points he was dead in the water right there.

It also makes me wonder where the moderators are on this site. Hmmmm

@Kaloudz Ah man, Prodeus (?) it looks awesome.

Yeah, I need a more chilled time, I am just glad that I am not someone who gets my knickers in a twist over quick resume. haha
PUBG is in the best state that it's been in, especially if you play on a Series console.

@Cikajovazmaj Interesting analogy, but for me... way over the top.

I just see this as something that already has a decent solution, a simple solution. I would much rather they spent dev resource time on other matters, matters that don't have a solution in place already, then get round to trivial 'issues' like this.

Opinions though, right?

@Kharjo This is a good point, I have done similar things with online games myself. Exiting the game at the optimal point and picking up from there with Quick Resume.

This is prime example of understanding a feature and smartly using an OS.

It's much better to know how to use something, gain real control and make things happen that even the devs didn't think about when implementing a feature. That is why it's so beneficial to know how to use something properly instead of wanting everything automated. An online game would probably just get excluded from the feature in an automated solution, whereas using your brain like you have has made it work.

Great post!

@Cikajovazmaj I do think that both of your ideas sound like a good way to deal with this (if people need it, good for them, this may help).

I do stand by that for me, and some others at least, this is a 'first world problem' to a tea.

@Kaloudz Well I have so little time to game properly at the moment, moving house and renovations. I can't wait to get normal life back, whatever that is, I can't remember!

When I can I will be back on PUBG and trying out some Gamepass stuff, so much to play. How about you?

@Kaloudz I dunno mate, sometimes when I game I slouch a little and get a bit achy.
Do you think they could update the console so it could give me a little massage when I hit Turn off console, nothing seedy, a sport massage?

@dannnylee Or perhaps if your kids are old enough to be able to understand how to use a controller to play a video game they can surely press the menu button and scroll down to quit....

@Kaloudz Haha.
Exactly, maybe this guy would like Phil to come round and turn the console off for him too.

EDIT:
I get that this would be a nice new feature (I suppose), but does everything need to be automated?
There are always things you have to do when using any operating system, computer, tablet or phone.
Not everything is done for you. Learn to use the OS! SMH

EDIT 2:
I use accessibility features; I actually have one mapped to the share button, this proposed feature is a different thing entirety.

Two Xbox One games, Okaaaaaaaaaay.
(Facepalm)

@Banjo- EG's community is AWFUL!

Thank you for the recommendation, I will give that site a go.

@Banjo-
To summarise:

Jarring political comments
Slow reporting
Anti Xbox/MS
Boring
Badly written
Cringeworthy
Sensationalist

Yep. 100% with you, utter trash.

It's a shame as I must have been around since it's early days, can't even remember when I started visiting the site. I was a fan of C&VG too, sad that it closed.

There is a gap in the market for a good multiformat site, or can you recommend one? Maybe I am not aware of it.

I am just so pleased that Pure Xbox returned after shutting down, at least we have a good Xbox site!

@Banjo- Absolutely with you regarding Eurogamer. I've been a visitor of their site for years and years and it's been on a massive decline for quite a long time now. Couldn't believe it when they introduced a subscription. 🤣🤣🤣💩💩💩

They definitely do not favour Xbox (putting it politely!) either.

The site is a shadow of its former self. I still visit, more out of habit, but rarely read their articles, it's just not my cup of tea now.

Turning the splash screen boot up noise off will be great as I've gone without the chime for ages now, dating back to when they first introduced the feature back on Xbox One, and also the dimmer Xbox logo on both the console and controller, so the splash screen noise blasting through my sound bar was quite at odds with the otherwise gentle boot up I enjoyed!

Gotta say, the PS3/4/5 with their horrible high pitch BEEP(!) When turned on are awful!! Come on Sony, let us switch that off too. 😬😬🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️💩

I don't want the blades back, but yeah I have nostalgia for that time too, I got my 360 at midnight on launch and I loved that generation.

I think perhaps to lean into that nostalgia they could change the guide, instead of the left/right tabs they could include blades in that part. That might please a few people.

@JayJ Yep completely agree, all these online competitive shooters should have an offline Bot mode. Without exception, at least you would still have a game you could play when the community dies.

I don't mind if a game is multiplayer only (totally without a single player campaign), as long as they include a COD style bots match option on all maps, I often play that mode in COD games, really fun. I like to Rambo solo against multiple Bots.

I can't vote on this one as I bought both the official XB360 and XB One chatpads.

I did buy them on deep sales, no way would I have bought them new.

The speed looked nice, and I appreciated the top row of tiles now being the same size.... but they can't take away the ability to add your own groups/pins to the home page surely? That must be because they are experimenting with new features in the dashboard preview, no way they would take that away, would they?!

I don't usually bother with Free Play Days games, but I am intrigued by Riders Republic, anyone played it? What do you think of it?

I think it was Bruce Lee on the Spectrum, then Bruce Lee on my brother's C64. 🤣

Back then most games were really hard so I didn't complete many. Bruce Lee was fun and accessable, a platformer with some fighting.

I also completed Afterburner and LED Storm. Fun arcade conversions. I don't complete that many these days more due to time constraints more than anything else, and I'm ok with that.

Best custom I've seen so far this gen!
XSS or XSX.