X06: ...and the rest
by Kyle Orland 
{ Sep 28th 2006 at 10:15PM }
Quick impressions and thoughts on some other noteworthy games shown on the X06 show floor.
- Guitar Hero II (360): Not playable, but demo'ed continuously by two rock gods with the stamina of heavyweight boxers (see picture). They confirmed that the final Xbox 360 guitar controller would look like a Gibson Explorer but refused to comment on wireless capabilities or the intriguing D-pad on the base. Game itself looked nice in hi-rez, but graphics lagged a bit with the music at this early stage.
- Viva Piñata: Playable tutorial walks you through building a house, attracting new piñatas and making baby eggs. Rare demo with ten hours of progress showed a thriving garden brimming with life and fully accessorized piñatas. Hired helpers prevent the game from becoming a micromanagement chore. Looks like it could be a hit with the Pokemon set.
- Forza Motorosport 2: Game had major frame rate issues, making it very difficult to play and/or judge. PR handlers say it's 60 percent complete... that last 40 will be an uphill battle.
- Halo 2 (PC): Game played great with the mouse and keyboard, and looked great on the decked out Dell Dimension 9150 with large widescreen monitor. Other than that, it's still Halo. Map editor was not available for demo.
- Crackdown: Grand Theft Auto meets Hulk: Ultimate Destruction in a mess of a game with rough graphics, sloppy controls and an awful camera system. Needs serious work to be a worthy contender.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Xbudz @ Sep 28th 2006 10:32PM
Crackdown at least looks better than Saints Row as far as fun-factor.
Alcoholic Zombie @ Sep 28th 2006 10:47PM
VIVA LA HALO 3 & HALO WARS!
Also, Brains are fun too.
Cant wait to own on Halo 2 for PC!
Happy @ Sep 28th 2006 10:47PM
Saints Row is awesome, it's been alot more fun than GTA.
elShaggy @ Sep 28th 2006 10:49PM
Interesting to hear someone say such poor things about Crackdown, last word I heard about it was from the 1up guys. They said that graphics looked solid, no missing textures popping in and out of view, unlike the final game of Saints Row. They said their lastest play time was huge improvements above what they have seen before. Contradictions worry me. I want this game to rock!
heavyness @ Sep 28th 2006 10:59PM
i'm guessing the D-pad on the guitar will let you change your distortion and what not. can't wait.
Mooch @ Sep 28th 2006 11:02PM
FINALLY, Guitar Hero on the 3360, now I wont have to go dig up my PS2!!
Figboy @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:57PM
i played this game at E3 and it was ridiculously fun. i thought that's what matters most, nowadays? it's not the graphics, or anything else, it's the fun.
i played single player and co-op, and both were really awesome.
they declined to tell me when the release date was, so i'm sure they'll tweak the controls more. odd that at E3 the controls were very responsive and slick. maybe joystiq just doesn't like anything with a GTA pedigree behind it... (this title was created by the guy who originated the GTA series).
bottom line to those that read this blog: if there's ever a demo on the marketplace, check it out. don't rely on anyone elses opinions (even mine), and make up your own mind. you may be surprised with Crackdown (and this coming from a guy who's a big Playstation 3 supporter).
daver @ Sep 28th 2006 11:46PM
really.
to those from ireland and england
sensible world of soccer online is reason enough to buy a 360.
that and the soft porn of doa.
im in.
360 costs 485 cad at staples
with 10 percent off (wife is manager)
and pgr3 bundled !!!!!
perfect.
SWOS ! ;)
daver @ Sep 28th 2006 11:49PM
clunky polygons in pes and fifa really spoil the 'great game'
best news ever !!!
between this and the wii i can relive my misspent childhood !
James @ Sep 29th 2006 12:09AM
The impressions of pretty much every other review (or news or blog) site of CRACKDOWN (Riot Act in Japan) are in stark contrast to your own. LOL Were you playing a different build then the rest of the 'game-journalist' world?
Also - other sites have also told of the fact the forza was clearly not ready (and since its still 6 months out, who is surprised?); but they still said it PLAYED well and was everything that Forza fans know and want. ARe you so sure that the framerate and non-final textures were SOOO bad that you couldnt tell us about what the GAMEPLAY was like? I am sure you will tell me that since you are not a review site, that places like IGN and GS are sugar coating their reactions so they dont piss anyone else off - and that you can be more honest because this is a blog site. OF coruse, then, why do the direct feed gameplay video's speak a different tale then your reactions? Of coure, some sites say the targeting is just like GTa, other says it a slick hybrid between GTA and Saints Row - lets hope for the second option!
"... its still HALO" - and? whats wrong with that?
Whatever - I mean this all rhetorically.
OF coruse, why these bullet point run downs of X06 are all seemingly negative and pissy and why the more detialed and individual blog entry's for specific X06 info and games is more positive, i dont know... but it IS interesting!
James @ Sep 29th 2006 12:11AM
oops - the end of the second paragraph starting with "I am sure you will tell me that since you are not a review site..." shoudl really be part of the first.
Too bad I cannot edit my post.
Donutta @ Sep 29th 2006 12:22AM
I have a love/hate relationship with this place, but one thing I do love is that Joystiq is honest when it comes to previews. There's no tip-toeing around problems with the games here. You just say it like it is:
"[A] mess of a game with rough graphics, sloppy controls and an awful camera system. Needs serious work to be a worthy contender."
That kind of honesty is always, always appreciated.
Todd Rabanus @ Sep 29th 2006 1:34AM
this is pretty typical of all the reviews from a trade show. a product is put out on display to generate a bigger buzz for a game that already has lots of buzz. all of the titles shown (that have been reported on) were games that already had a buzz. so crackdown had some problems, but guess what? it hasn't been released yet. to some it up somebody (can't remember who) once said "Bad publicity is better than no publicity". Maybe... i think i heard that somewhere or maybe i made it up. either way its true
iTard @ Sep 29th 2006 6:27AM
Kyle Orland, the non gamer writing for Joystiq. I liked your X06 live blog. Very different from what other people, including the readers, thought of it.
Also, I've heard nothing but praise for Crackdown, including the visuals. From writers that have played the game.
Jo @ Sep 29th 2006 6:51AM
Hey Joystiq editors:
Whooa there! What's with all this honesty in previews?!
A preview is supposed to be a glowing summary in which everything looks 'great' or 'promising.'
If you see any problems, like for instance terrible framerate, then just say, "We noticed some minor framerate issues, but the devs assured us that these will be soon remedied."
Anyway, this tip is for free. The next time I'll charge. (About $20 a year, like IGN...)
Jo @ Sep 29th 2006 6:55AM
You can get videos of Crackdown, go to gamespot or xboxyde and see for yourself.
It's a visual catastrophe -- imagine the byproduct of Ronald McDonald having butt-sex with Barney. To the powe r of 3.
KR @ Sep 29th 2006 4:05PM
#15 - there's a reason people do that. If you were making a volcano for your fifth grade science class, and the teacher came over and graded it before you were done, you'd probably bitch like...a fifth grader.
Get a clue. There's a reason stuff isn't judged before it's done. Saint's Row looked like ass at E3, but the final game was almost universally praised.
Intangible 360 @ Sep 29th 2006 8:33AM
Was Star Trek: Legacy at X06? It is supposedly releasing this month or next month, but there has been almost no information about it...I was really hoping for an HD trailer.
peter7898m @ Sep 29th 2006 10:06AM
The Guitar is too small and tacky, looks like its for ages 8-12. I would price it for £20, if it goes with wireless technology it should go for a bit more...£39.99 (but i still wouldn't get it). This product still needs improving.
Dave @ Sep 29th 2006 11:04AM
I'm guessing the D-Pad is for navigating the marketplace menus, used to purchase the other 90% of your game.
olanarchangel @ Sep 29th 2006 11:32AM
Yeah, what the hell?! Your review wasn't the same as everybody else's?! Joystiq is so stupid. You guys are so biased against the PS3!
Cryoakira @ Sep 29th 2006 11:43AM
Well, I've watched many Crackdown movies (in hi-re) and find it pretty neat.
The design might be special but I really like this 80's comics tone. We can see many real-time shadows, environemental reflections on cars, nice distortion effet with explosions, physics, impressive line of sight... and no camera problems.
Still have to actually play it, but many previews (both on web or in the least Edge) where quite positives.
James @ Sep 29th 2006 2:07PM
To back up what I said about CRACKDOWN and the impressions here being odd and out of place - check out this game play video from X06 - no framerate issues, nice high rez textures, and an aiming systme that is not like GTA - magic, I dont need the "honesty" of joystiq - i have my own two eyes.
"X06: Car Tossin' (Off-Screen) (September 29, 2006)" http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/773/773714/vids_1.html
gamerx @ Sep 29th 2006 3:46PM
isnt Guitar Hero II for retarded people who dont have the ability to learn a real instrument?
that being said, i look forward to getting bashed and "pwned" ;)
Serious Kriss @ Sep 29th 2006 5:14PM
@23 : Guitar Hero is a rythm game, nothing more and nothing less.
I have friends who do play the guitar and still went ahead and bought the game, and enjoyed it. How would you explain this mysterious phenomenon?
Exick @ Sep 29th 2006 5:20PM
It would be really bad if Crackdown turns out to be shitty because GTA meets Hulk Ultimate Destruction sounds like a game I could play for years.
Exick @ Sep 29th 2006 5:24PM
@23. The same way that Need for Speed is for retards who can't drive 200mph in a real car, GTA is for retards who can't really steal shit, Call of Duty is for retards who can't shoot real guns, and Super Mario Bros. is for retards who can't fix their own real toilets.