Sony sends out 'Lair Reviewer's Guide' -- Must. Not. Laugh.
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Sep 7th 2007 at 5:50PM }
We probably couldn't say it better than Tycho of Penny Arcade when he wrote what every video game professional with half a brain should think, "For my part, I don't give a good Goddamn if someone has trained themselves to eat shit and like it. The game is not challenging, it's difficult to play, and it's taken many years but I'm ready to begin making this distinction." Controls shouldn't need an explanation (or a video like the not-official one after the break), innovation can be intuitive if it's done right. Yeah, you can explain what the buttons should do, but when professionals can't use the controls properly, and they're trying to review the game for a general video game enthusiast -- that's a problem.
The fact that Sony and Factor 5 had to send out a packet telling reviewers how to play the game a week after the fact is so painfully tragic that it's funny. Oh, and just to be totally clear, there are typically "fact sheets" bundled with games and even follow-up info emails sometimes, but this "Lair Reviewer's Guide" goes well beyond that with "gameplay advice." Insulting with just a hint of desperation is what the "Lair Reviewer's Guide" is.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Fernando Rocker @ Sep 7th 2007 5:56PM
This is the incarnation of desperation.
Shig @ Sep 7th 2007 6:02PM
Seconded.
ukickmydog @ Sep 7th 2007 6:35PM
why don't they do this for all their half rate games...o wait, thats a crapload of manuals
xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Sep 7th 2007 6:54PM
Fernando Rocker FTW? LOL!! SHIIIIT YEAHHHH!!! Good poop bro good poop. Sony is rediculous.
Trev @ Sep 7th 2007 7:00PM
How did I know you would be first? You always jump at the chance to bash Sony.
This time they deserve it though, or probably Factor 5 instead. They promised something amazing with Lair and they didn't deliver and now they're whining about it.
Maybe they should have had pictures of them working on the game instead of them having a picnic, then it wouldn't seem like they were slacking so much on it.
Henry @ Sep 7th 2007 7:14PM
This is exactly what you shouldn't do. Nothing good will come out of this. It's just bad publicity for Sony.
ThornedVenom @ Sep 8th 2007 12:06AM
QFT.
HaleysComet @ Sep 8th 2007 12:34AM
OMFG sony has reached the height of pathetic...
I never thought I'd see this day...
NATO_Duke @ Sep 10th 2007 12:20PM
I think Sony has a great idea here.
No, really...I meant to say they have a pathetic idea here.
ridestowe @ Sep 7th 2007 5:57PM
oh my......sony packs in the hilarious daily.
hvnlysoldr @ Sep 7th 2007 5:57PM
I shall laugh for you.
mr nimblewick @ Sep 7th 2007 6:00PM
At least it shows that they really do think the game is good.
DSR7997 @ Sep 7th 2007 6:01PM
This redefines "pathetic".
Slaziman @ Sep 7th 2007 6:01PM
hahahahahaha WOW
When your game needs a guide to be reviewed you know your game sucks
Mr Khan @ Sep 7th 2007 7:42PM
agreed:
They had my sympathy with the whole "a review shouldn't define a user's interpretation thing"
but this is just.... obnoxious
Fernando Rocker @ Sep 7th 2007 6:02PM
"Sony tells Next-Gen that it’s the consumers that matter, not the critics."
If they dont care about the critics, why are they sendind this to the reviewers?
So, every Lair buyer are going to receive a copy of this, or they are lying as usual?
Fernando Rocker @ Sep 7th 2007 6:05PM
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7080&Itemid=2
Snukadaman @ Sep 7th 2007 6:42PM
shit fernando your making some good points today dude...good shit.
Billy Bastard @ Sep 7th 2007 7:13PM
Everyone who buys Lair should get this.
LOLOLOOOLLLLZ
ssuk @ Sep 8th 2007 3:57AM
Sony also said that Rumble was SO last gen, but seems there's a rumble controler on the way. You can't take anything PR says at face value with Sony... Or most companies, but Sony just seems to be more unreliable than the rest...
rom @ Sep 7th 2007 6:03PM
That is just plain insulting!
joeyg @ Sep 7th 2007 6:04PM
that video actually made me want to play the game...controls look fine to me, unless your a nervous idiot.
Guybrush Threepwood @ Sep 7th 2007 6:04PM
Good God, it's called a joke.
Some people here need to buy unbunching panties.
Mal F4cti0n @ Sep 7th 2007 6:12PM
Whats the joke? That Factor 5 sent out a guide on how to review/play their game. oRRLY? What's the joke there, Tiger?
Guybrush Threepwood @ Sep 7th 2007 6:22PM
It's obviously a joke in response to the crappy reviews.
This is about as serious as Lair's Hot Coffee cheat.
DangerMouse @ Sep 7th 2007 6:34PM
So let me get this straight? They spent years and millions of dollars creating a game for the purpose of getting embarrassing reviews? It's no joke. This is their last desperate attempt to save what little credibility this game has left.
Mal F4cti0n @ Sep 7th 2007 6:49PM
Threepwood,
You are completely wrong.
The joke is on them, that they would resort to sending out a "guide" to professional video game players telling them that, "No, wait, you didn't get the video game." There is nothing to get. Factor 5 sent this out to justify the decisions they made while programming the game.
End result: it's sad.
Who cares what "you meant" it is what you delivered, and Factor 5 delivered a boring game with unresponsive, and sometimes frustrating, controls. No "how to" guide will fix that, EVER.
ukickmydog @ Sep 7th 2007 8:46PM
he only wishes it was a joke because he spent 600 on that console and an additional 60 for a crap game
Guybrush Threepwood @ Sep 7th 2007 8:53PM
Actually, I don't own a PS3, so whatever.
NATO_Duke @ Sep 10th 2007 12:23PM
This is obviously no joke. Sweet of you to give them the benefit of the doubt.
rdj75 @ Sep 7th 2007 6:06PM
Sony, Sony, Sony (shaking head in dissappointment) This is just sad, nuff said.
Joop @ Sep 7th 2007 6:06PM
Every single time I think Sony can't shoot themselves in the foot again, and think maybe they'll realize what they're doing and are finally on the track to pull it around...they do something like this. Every. Single. Time.
Patrick @ Sep 7th 2007 8:34PM
I think Sony is on a wheelchair by now.
LaughingTarget @ Sep 7th 2007 10:27PM
With all the times they have shot themselves in the foot, it is a surprise that gun hasn't run out of ammunition.
LaughingTarget @ Sep 7th 2007 10:27PM
With all the times they have shot themselves in the foot, it is a surprise that gun hasn't run out of ammunition.
Mal F4cti0n @ Sep 7th 2007 6:09PM
Thanks for the video.
Sure shows how boring the gameplay is. Oh and thanks for the note to "just relax" while trying to control the game. I mean, no one ever complains about a game being "unresponsive".
"See, you need to wait about 5 seconds for the game to respond to your commands. Just relax and it will eventually do what you want."
Thanks for proving that the game DOES still suck.
Jitty @ Sep 7th 2007 6:27PM
The game is not "unresponsive" You're controlling a freaking dragon. It's not a plane. It's a living being. It will gradually turn, not instantly like the flying vehicles you're use to. People need to get this through their head. Plus that wait is a 1 at most, not "five seconds".
You watched the video, you should know this. You can see the dragon gradually turn as the guy tilted the controller. If you try to control it like a plane it will seem unresponsive and crappy. But thats because, once again, it's not a plane. It's a dragon and it needs to be controlled like a dragon!
eelb @ Sep 7th 2007 6:34PM
jitty- so what if it's a dragon? in games, good control mechanics are more important than realism- if the controls aren't responsive, the game becomes frustrating. even though it is a dragon, it should control as a plane because it would make the game more enjoyable.
jake11 @ Sep 7th 2007 6:37PM
its a video game, not a dragon simulator
Mal F4cti0n @ Sep 7th 2007 6:55PM
If my dragon is flying right, and I tilt the controls from right to left very fast, the dragon should change direction realistically to the left as long as my controller is still tilted left. I shouldn't have to SLOWLY tilt my controller from right to left to SLOWLY get my point across to the friggin' game.
Do you SLOWLY change direction on your controller in madden? NO! You slam the directional control from full right to full left and the player will realistically change directions. Thats the point.
BluLotusArtGuy @ Sep 7th 2007 7:22PM
Yup, because when FLYING A DRAGON in a FANTASY universe, with DRAGON DOG FIGHTS, and giant ELEPHANT MONSTER... I want my controls to be as realistic as possible... I was the experience to feel like I was to really go out and ... fly... a...dragon....
killploki @ Sep 7th 2007 7:24PM
Have you ever riden on a dragon. How can you be arguing about the controls being realistic for a fictional creature. Who's to say a dragon couldnt maneuver similar to an airplane if they did exist anyways.
Vegnagun @ Sep 7th 2007 7:38PM
Jitty how the hell do you know the mechanics of a dragon? Maybe dragons can turn on a dime, they're dragons they don't exist! You can't justify bad controls with "dude it's a dragon, I know dragons and dragons aren't planes.". Maybe they aren't, but how the hell do you know the flight patterns of a mythical creature. gtfo fanboy
ill trooper @ Sep 8th 2007 6:16AM
What Jitty is saying is true in this game: you're playing a rider controlling a dragon, not directly controlling a dragon. It's like the horse in 'Shadow of the Colossus.'
Listen, I'm not saying that's a better experience, and I'm not making excuses for the game, just reiterating what Factor 5 expressed in some video from E3 last year or something. No, I don't know the link. Sorry.
dsub @ Sep 9th 2007 2:03AM
The SIXAXIS seems to represent the flight wheel of an airplace more than the reigns of a dragon. Since when do you steer reigns like a wheel? I mean, this is supposed to be realistic right? Cause your playing as a guy riding a dragon. So wouldn't it control more like riding a horse? This game should have come with some SIXAXIS spurs so you could kick the dragon in the side to get him going. THAT would totally be a realistic control scheme for a dragon rider.
Shit. Did I just use realistic and dragon in the same sentence? Damn. What was I thinking.
waves @ Sep 7th 2007 6:09PM
Oh dear. They must really have wanted the game to succeed,
Autopsy15 @ Sep 7th 2007 9:18PM
No, they made a million dollar, five year project just to laugh and watch it burn at the hands of reviewers. In reality this was just a sick joke by Factor 5.
waves @ Sep 7th 2007 10:47PM
Those bastards!
Rob Accomando @ Sep 7th 2007 6:09PM
that is pathetic.
Mal F4cti0n @ Sep 7th 2007 6:11PM
Whats the joke? That Factor 5 sent out a guide on how to review/play their game. oRRLY? What's the joke there, Tiger?