PS3/Vita Payment

I see a lot of complaining right now on this. A little shortsighted given it is three weeks away from the intended date, but not anything out of the ordinary. Sony is winding down on their PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 and Vita. They will be open until whenever they deem is necessary to shut it down. By when, I don't know. They are looking at October 27th as the day they don't accept credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal payments.

This isn't new by any stretch of the imagination. Ending certain form of payments started with stuff such as the Wii, Nintendo DS, and PSP. To expect console storefronts to function forever is impossible. The PC, I can't comment. Yet, I see this uproar. I wouldn't be surprised if it's people that want to make the PlayStation brand look awful. Nintendo and Microsoft are going to do the same thing. Whenever the 360 finishes up in terms of its online, there will be upset people. Credit and debit cards won't be usable on the 3DS and Wii U after mid January 2022 in Japan. Anywhere, I don't know. And those systems had decent lifespans, but not as long as PS3.

Certainly, the announcement of the store shutdowns earlier in the year have people on edge despite the decision to keep the PS3 and Vita ones open. There are parts of the world where a credit card is necessary when it regards to buying specific games with specific ratings according to a GameSpot article. These console manufacturers can't risk their old infrastructures taking hits if they were to be hacked. There are also computer games that no longer have multiplayer due to their infrastructures.

PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have a lot of digital games that will be lost unless there is someone that dedicated to preserving them. I hope someone has done that for the Wii, DS, and PSP, too. Because once PS4 and Xbox One are finished them along with the Wii U and handhelds are going to need major preservation immediately. We're talking thousands of titles digitally that could be lost. My ending point is to not make Sony out as the only bad guy. A lot has to be done to make sure a number of games can be played. Doesn't matter if the game is good or bad, having access to the full library is what will be important for the future.

Explorer Finishes

If you were around in the second half of the 90s, computers were the rage. It also marked the Internet paving the way. Microsoft went for their share with Internet Explorer, competing against Netscape Navigator. The former led the way and has been a dominant browser. To last 26 years is a feat, but plans are to finish up with it. Sites such as The Verge and Cnet have put out articles and others have followed by announcing that the browser will be finished next year.

There is an alternative called Edge that Microsoft created in 2015. Basically, it's their way of trying to adapt to a better and more reliable form of Internet browsing. That comes into play because as technology gets bigger and grander, it gets more difficult to keep an aging product going. Internet Explorer has had many issues over the years and it couldn't handle modern stuff. But Edge, according to The Verge, has a mode for it with support until at least 2029.

One of the concerns is compatibility. Microsoft is aware of old websites and Edge provides a smoother experience for them. Not everyone uses modern tools for their websites. Going off topic for a second, Windows XP still had a lot of usage from various businesses. I'm not sure how many upgraded since 2014, but comfortability is also a factor. Granted, this stuff won't be 100 percent perfect, but transitioning will help make things a bit better and prepare for a future without Explorer.

No matter what, technology always ends at some point. What are your memories of Internet Explorer? Send your thoughts. 

Xbox Live Hike and Reversal

If you were to get an Xbox, the way to play most online games is through their Live Gold. They range at one month, three months, and a year. The year one is 60 dollars, which is the equivalency of buying a full priced game. On the 360, there were perks to using it and there still is reasons to have it on Xbox One. But Microsoft considering doubling it to 120 dollars, which met obvious backlash and they reversed their stance on it. They also have plans, according to sites like The Verge and Cnet, to make free to play games free without using their service.

The game industry makes a lot of money every year. Here's the thing however. Most gamers are not going to bend over for something like Live Gold. I don't think parents would go for it for their kids. Even if you were to budget, 120 is very high, no matter how much you slice it. Game Pass has become one of Microsoft's main focuses in recent memory. Reminds me a bit of Sega Channel with picking games you want out of the selection. But this requires a lot of bandwidth. Lots of downloading, too. Internet speeds are not the same for everybody.

I hope this was a test to see reactions. If not, this was a dumb move on Microsoft. They seemed to be making the right choices before the Series S/X came about. Nothing too bad in its first two months. But the PlayStation and Switch are still the top choices for everyone. This will not be anywhere near the disaster of the Xbox One reveal. And Phil Spencer better think about trying to get people into buying his systems. This isn't like the last generation where you're riding high on your major hit. I like the Xbox brand, but they need to get some of their exclusives out if they want even a shot at second place. PS5 and whatever new Nintendo system comes out in a couple years will eat them alive.

Halo 360 Services Shut Down Preparation

This shouldn't be a surprise. Halo's first game on the Xbox 360 came in the fall of 2007 with Halo 3. After that were at least five more with the last one being Halo: Spartan Assault in 2013. These all have single player stuff, multiplayer that drives huge interest. Always has been since at least the second game. But plans have been set for the 360 games to be losing their servers. These will be taken off serves effective December 2021.

I've probably mentioned it in other blogs, but it bears repeating. Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are consoles that still get a bit of play out of them. There's been updates for these two systems over the last two years or so. Beyond the games, some might still use them for Netflix machines. You got apps for certain products like YouTube and Amazon. With the exception of one PS3 game back in August, both haven't had games in about two years. You're still able to buy games through the digital stores. Over 1000 titles on 360 with mostly 360 and some original Xbox titles. PlayStation 3 is roughly the same number, maybe a little higher with a combo of games for that, PS2, and PS1. It's also the only way to buy PSP games digitally since you can't on a computer anymore.

People do still cling to older releases. That will never die out at any point. You'll have the followers who dedicate to playing an older title.  Think of some of the older Call of Duty games. That logic can be applied to Halo. Not everyone moves on to newer hardware and if some do, it might be well late into the generation. Even with backwards compatibility, that doesn't mean some were going to jump to Xbox One just to play certain 360 games along with the limited list of games.

The TL:DR of what I'm saying is, you have to get used to it. PlayStation has had over the course of the last couple of years, had servers shut off for a number of games. This is going to happen with 360 games if some of it hasn't happened already. The likelihood of 360 servers shutting down altogether, I don't know. There isn't a good prediction for it. I'd figure 2020 or 2021. I'm not sure anymore. But get your play out of it while you can for the online aspect. Inevitably, the two systems will be bowing out in terms of everything getting shut down. One day, it will happen. 

Xbox 360 at 15 Thoughts

I'm not big into Microsoft's home consoles like I am with their computers. But I do have some good memories of playing the Xbox 360 for a good seven years or so. It was a push to a new generation when it came out around the end of November 2005. Easy to develop games for, smoother playability, lots of digital stuff. You get the good with the bad that includes the Red Ring of Death, scratched discs, squandering what they had in 2010. However, you can't deny it being a great system to have.

My first experience with it was in 2009. I was not too familiar with the Xbox brand. My older brother had an original Xbox, but didn't play it except once or twice. I do remember commercials for 360 within the first couple years, especially the Game Fuel Mountain Dew ads and Halo 3.That game was the first title I experienced on 360 with the multiplayer via system link. Seven of us played and I was not good. About a year later, my younger brother and myself get our own 360. Get a handful of titles, including some Call of Duty games and GTA IV, 2010 was pretty good.

With being away at college, my opportunities of playing it were on specific weekends I came home for a couple years. Played a lot of The Simpsons Game, Dead Rising, Call of Duty single player from Modern Warfare to Black Ops. Little bit of Forza. Played a lot of GTA IV for about six months going through the single player. Invested until 2016 into other games, especially when I got my own 360 in 2014. Fallout, The Orange Box, Sonic Unleashed and many more. I haven't played much of it since due to playing more PlayStation 3 and 4, but it was still a great experience.

You look at it, and it paved the way for online being what it is with its pros and cons. Extra content, various apps, multiple things. But I do wonder if it could have kept the same pace from 2011 to 2015/16 like it did its first five years and continued with bringing big exclusives of their own. It's still hard to believe that it has reached 15 years old. And it still gets support from Microsoft despite no one making titles for it since 2017. The legacy will still go on and people have not given up on it being their main machine. Still plenty of practical use for a lot of ways besides gaming.

Microsoft Zenimax

My first experience with Bethesda was through emulation in the mid 2000s playing Home Alone on the NES. The first real experience was in 2011 with Fallout: New Vegas on PlayStation 3. Since then, I've enjoyed the Fallout series, played my share of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Though I've played my share of Id Software games since 1995, I've gotten into most of their properties this generation and their mid-90s releases. Now, Microsoft has acquired Zenimax, the parent company of Bethesda. At 7.5 billion dollars, it's a big risk they are willing to take.

This is a huge gamble with their Xbox Series systems coming out in less than two months. You can speculate all you want on what Microsoft might do. Some online think it could be for Game Pass. I could see it a little bit. To play some of the Xbox One library and have the output they have had since 2013. Comes off a bit attractive. Future titles like Elder Scrolls VI could spike interest in getting Xbox Series compared to PS5 and Switch, though Microsoft can be a little lenient in letting their releases go to competitors. Sony is going that route with some titles as well. The companies Bethesda has can make a hit any time they can.

All that aside, Microsoft could dictate what they want, but let's not jump to hasty conclusions. Bethesda will be in spotlight, but the light will get brighter. When they make games in house, they do have their share of issues. The biggest ones being frame rate issues and locking up titles as you play them. I think the criticism will be a bit bigger. Not to mention the titles. Doom Eternal just released this spring for PS4 and Xbox One. Elder Scrolls VI will come out. The question is when?  I think 2022 or 2023. Wolfenstein 3 is one that is going to come out I believe sooner than later. Could it see release on next generation hardware along with current systems? I wouldn't hold my breath, but New Order got released on PS3 and Xbox 360 along with new generation hardware in 2014.

Take it as you will. Microsoft better not be expecting high expectations. Id is one of the reasons PC got really big in the 90s. Elder Scrolls got its start on DOS. A slow burn should be anticipated. 

Xbox Series S Thoughts

 It leaked and Microsoft has confirmed about another version of the Xbox Series X. The Series S, which sites like The Verge have discussed, could be the way people get into the new generation and the tech giant trying whatever they can to win customers back. Come November 10th, which is the supposed date of release (Could be for Series X as well), it will get its share of praise and criticism.

First, the price is one of the only positives that I'm seeing out of it. Starting at 300 dollars, it's not a bad entry for people who want their system on day one. But the drawbacks expose it. Two crucial parts that could lead to buyer's remorse.  One is being just over 500 gigabytes on a solid state drive. For 300 dollars, I can get an Xbox One S with 1 terabyte. Maybe 200 this Thanksgiving, which I did two years ago. That's not a lot. It might have been in 2013, but games have gotten much bigger in these last seven years. I hope people do their research.

Two is that it's an all digital system. Microsoft experimented last year with the One, and I don't think anyone bought into it. That was discontinued earlier this year along with the Xbox One X. As I said, 500 gigs is not a lot today. I can't imagine millions of people over the next year or two going for this. It doesn't justify the price tag.. A couple other things include less powerful chips compared to Series X and less graphical power potential.

Xbox is still looking for ways to get back into the mix. That being said, I'm not sure this is the way to reinvent themselves.

Windows 95: Revolution and Memories

To say it helped computers is a huge understatement. Seeing Windows 95 within that first year was a real treat. With it turning 25, it is easy to understand what made it stand out. Microsoft had operating systems going for 10 years prior to it. They got better and better with it, but not enough to be convincing. But what helped?

It was accessible. A shell that include a start menu. Menus you could access. Features such as Office and Encarta. Very CD-Rom friendly. The ability to play the hot new games and play older ones. Capable of playing DOS. It hit at the right time when sites like eBay and many dot com places wanted hungry audiences. Tremendous power for the time. You were going to pay a couple thousand dollars, but it was worth it. It wasn't your normal operating system. It paved the way for what computers could do.

What I remember back in 1995-96 was the ability to play all sorts of games. Shareware stuff, to be exact. Playing on a Packard Bell computer and the various pack-in games it had. Tuneland, the Kidstory games. Playing fully released stuff like NASCAR Racing and Doom II. Catching a glimpse of what websites had to offer, though Internet I didn't fully use until the early to mid 2000s. Dial-up sounds. I know it's not going into full detail, but these are what I can remember being a three year old back around that time.

Even though I haven't used Windows 95 since 1999, it is still etched in my head as a memorable operating system. It's why I have grown to enjoy Windows products, use them for personal an professional usage, and find a deep library of titles that make it stand out as much as a game console (though it was more unique 20-25 years ago.) We will never see something to the level of this again.

Geeks and Jocks Episode 4: Console Buyers Guide

Thought on Game Sizes

No review today as I want to discuss an issue many gamers know about. You just got a game that you have been wanting to play for a while. Put it in your PS4, Xbox One, or Switch. Not a minute goes by where you have to let the thing download and install the file. What gives?

From the 70s, a lot of video games didn't hold much data. It was kilobytes, something that would continue on into the 90s where Genesis and Super NES games were still small. A little bigger but still in the kilo section. As file sizes got bigger, cartridges got more expensive, hence the 70 to 90 dollar games back in the early to mid 90s. Even with CD's, a lot of them had multiple discs as companies were trying to find ways to utilize the medium. Until the Saturn and PlayStation came, it was a mixed result.

With technology, it's obvious stuff gets bigger and bigger. A CD size was not enough by 2000 and the DVD started becoming the norm following the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2000 and 01 respectively. This is where instead of megabytes, we saw gigabytes. And that number has gotten higher with each new generation since to where the games now need download time. Personally, I don't see this going down anytime soon. It might get to the point where 200 gigabyte games might be the norm.

Computers suffer from the same thing, though it's mainly digital and the emphasis on using something like Steam or GOG. Discs are an afterthought, unfortunately. Stuff is not compressed and while that might be nice, it's not nice on people who may not have enough storage to do another download. PlayStation and Xbox have been able to compensate with very good storage size for the average person. Something like the Switch suffers from not having a huge storage size and the focus is getting SD cards if you are set on playing non-Nintendo games, which even something like Zelda takes up a good chunk of space.

It's following the same route as upgrading technology, though the leap in sizes will be much bigger. We just have to grin and bear it. Nothing is going to change, and we have to live through this for a very long time. Future generations will have it much worse long after we are gone from this planet.

New Xbox Thoughts

Things are still pretty vague regarding Microsoft and a new Xbox system. With the announcement in June, there is hope for it to be out soon. Some sites are saying 2020. Whether this helps improve the company over the Xbox One debacle back in 2013 will be left to be determined if they play their cards right.

I see this as being similar to what happened in 2005. The original Xbox was a decent seller, but was never going to top what the PlayStation 2 had. Microsoft got out of the gates early for new generations consoles with the 360 that November. For most of the run of it, it held a very sizable lead in terms of games, and getting the hot new material for major third party releases. That being said, Sony had the better run late into it with its marketing, system costs and exclusive games for the PlayStation 3.

This could be the potential for Microsoft to spring themselves back up to the top. If that's their intention, they have to be a lot smarter compared to five years ago. That would mean no always online nonsense. No paying for a second hand copy if someone already used the disc. Beefing up their exclusives beyond Halo. Small things that can help build a momentum and swing things their way. I'm going to say this. They better be ready for 2020.

Microsoft better hope that people still have faith in them to deliver. If not, they can go back to what were prior to 1999 when they started helping Sega with the Dreamcast. Computers have always been their thing, and they can always work on making Windows better.

Battletoads is Back!

No review today, but some interesting stuff to come out of Microsoft's E3 conference. Within the past year, we've seen Sonic Mania, a new Bubsy, and the recently released Shaq Fu sequel. It's like living in the 90s again. Now it's going to keep feeling like that decade with the announcement of a new Battletoads video game.

The franchise made it's debut in the summer of 1991 on the NES and only lasted a few years. All of it's games were developed by Rare and were pretty much an attempt to go after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Years have gone by and there's that question of whether there would be new games. It's slated for next year and that has to be making waves.

Now comes this question. What kind of game is it going to be? If anything, it could be a platformer/beat em up type similar to the original. Then again, it could be one genre, but how that flies with Rare is up to them. As long as it doesn't stray from what made it a bit recognizable, this could be one of Microsoft's bigger exclusives for the Xbox One. Hopefully, it's not as brutally difficult as the NES original.

People envy the 90s, and that's not always a bad thing.

Investing in Last Generation Consoles

No doubt, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are about finished. There might still be a couple titles coming out for each of those systems, but when, I don't know. Most stores will try to get whatever remaining stock they have of the older systems software, so with that in mind, let's get into the main discussion. Should you be going after the last generation consoles?

Personally, I would get into it now. There are a lot of titles that you can find for relatively low prices, especially for some of the base games. One of these examples is Grand Theft Auto IV. Not every store will be like this, but I saw it at GameStop for practically nothing. You can find a lot for PS3 and 360 for 20 dollars and under. There are exceptions like Ghostbusters from Atari and even kids games like Toy Story 3. For the most part however, the local stores and some GameStops should be fair enough with these two systems, both hardware and software.

What about Nintendo systems? To be honest, it's hard to discuss this company. The systems they have are the hardest to deal with due to expensive prices. No average person is going to waste 60 dollars on an N64 Mario Kart or a GameCube Smash Bros. Melee. For the Wii, it might be an exception for now. If you're dead set on getting that system, invest now on those games that are coveted. Odds are most of the shovelware and certain ports will stay very low, while something like a Zack and Wiki or Metroid Prime Trilogy will get higher prices. I wish I would recommend getting the system purely on the Virtual Console and its physical library, but with Nintendo shutting down the ability to add Wii Points in March, I can't put it high on the must buy list.

With handhelds, it shouldn't be too bad. The problem is finding all sorts of licensed junk. That is one of my gripes with the Game Boy Advance. It seemed like the later half of its life was littered with just about every Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network show getting a game adaptation if it weren't a 16-bit port. The DS still has that problem, but there's still a rich library that you can have. Outside of some Nintendo games, it shouldn't be cost prohibitive. Try finding them at the local used stores. Finding them in the cases is critical.

In regards to the PSP, it's going to be very tough. Despite 70 million in hardware sold, it's library had a tough time finding audiences. Your best bet is seeing if the local used stores have them. Even then, it could be slim pickings with some baseball titles, a Syphon Filter game, and maybe some UMD movies typically seen in a small section. I'm not sure if price will be a huge problem as much as finding any games. You can still download some games, but not on a PSP. More so with a Vita or maybe PS3 if you can find anything or if they are compatible such as PS1 Classics.