Looks good. Graphically a bit rough compared to the best games this gen.

Metacritic Update:

Hybrid is at 75.

What I would like to know is:

1. Did these guys quit because of some philosophical disagreement with the new ownership (Epic prior had majority stake though).

or (more likely in my view)

2. Did they get effectively get a "golden parachute" from Epic. Here's some money, we own you, now go away.

Epic Games revealed it has purchased developer People Can Fly. The company previously held a majority stake, but now the studio is a wholly owned subsidiary. People Can Fly is currently working on Gears of War: Judgment, due out this coming March for Xbox 360.

"We doubled down on People Can Fly," Epic Games VP Mark Rein told Polygon. "It was something we always hoped to do." The purchase led to the departures of key developers Adrian Chmielarz, Andrzej Poznanski and Michal Kosieradzki last week. Epic also saw long-time producer Rod Fergusson leave to work at Irrational Games on BioShock Infinite.

Gravity Daze is a pretty good contrast too.

It's Red Steel 2. Er except. I guess 3. It's made to exploit the launch window while making good use of what makes the U unique.

It's the other side of Ubi's Janus like head (the god of beginnings). One facing toward exploiting launches, the other toward exploiting their top-end games into the ground with annual releases.

Media Molecule's New Game 'Tearaway'

Now that I've finally watched this I have to say, not even impressed a tiny tiny bit. This game reminds me of all those early DS games like Rub Rabbits or Lost in Blue that just to incorporate all the unique features of the system and crammed a game around it. This is the same damn thing. Yelling into the Vita to attack monsters? Yeah that's going to be fun. Can't believe Media Molecule's talent got wasted on this.

It's not too late. I think there is a place for an anti-art game reviewer to represent the public against the gushing-collective-review-machine.

With Papo & Yo, I do wonder how much play it would have gotten with the gaming press if the creator didn't share his pity-me story of child abuse.

I'm not anti-art games, in fact I respect Sony for being the torch bearer for innovation in this area. I have not tried many of them because they are DL only, so I don't have a say on them critically one way or the other. I reflexively dislike reviewers who use the art angle as an excuse for lack of gameplay though.

If a game comes out and says, "This is not a pipe" I can dig that. But I also want an assesment of the technique, not just the concept.

Exhibit A:

"As a video game, Papo & Yo can be lacking – the mechanics are simple, and while the technology is capable of creating some beautiful moments, it's just as capable of being frustrating. As an expression of autobiographical emotion for creator Vander Caballero, however, and a rendition of the complicated relationship between a young son and his abusive father, Papo & Yo succeeds in the strongest ways."

It's funny that you mention that because I was in the middle of writing a rant about the "games as art" bullshit trend that I'm seeing in reviewer circles.  I just found this review about Papo & Yo and after the first paragraph I'm already convinced I shouldn't touch it because of this sentence.  "You can only find a handful of games that can truly be classified as Games as Art, and this is definitely one shining example."  No more of this... please??

I think at the heart of my frustration isn't "games as art" games, rather it's the positive critical reception they all seem to get. I get that most people seem to like Journey. I understand that I was in the minority on that one. What I don't understand is why my opinion was reflected virtually nowhere else in the gaming media world. I thought it was the biggest waste of money and time I've endured in the gaming world this year, and for some reason I was alone on that island. Critics all seem to have to get behind stuff like this and give the artistic risks it took as reason enough to play it and give it a AAA rating.  I don't buy it for a second. I refuse to believe I'm the only person who just wants "games and games." Or at the very least for the developers who go the artistic direction put a good game behind it. Team Ico figured out how to do it after all.

Gahhhh.... I need beer.

robio said:

It's funny that you mention that because I was in the middle of writing a rant about the "games as art" bullshit trend that I'm seeing in reviewer circles.  I just found this review about Papo & Yo and after the first paragraph I'm already convinced I shouldn't touch it because of this sentence.  "You can only find a handful of games that can truly be classified as Games as Art, and this is definitely one shining example."  No more of this... please??

I think at the heart of my frustration isn't "games as art" games, rather it's the positive critical reception they all seem to get. I get that most people seem to like Journey. I understand that I was in the minority on that one. What I don't understand is why my opinion was reflected virtually nowhere else in the gaming media world. I thought it was the biggest waste of money and time I've endured in the gaming world this year, and for some reason I was alone on that island. Critics all seem to have to get behind stuff like this and give the artistic risks it took as reason enough to play it and give it a AAA rating.  I don't buy it for a second. I refuse to believe I'm the only person who just wants "games and games." Or at the very least for the developers who go the artistic direction put a good game behind it. Team Ico figured out how to do it after all.

Gahhhh.... I need beer.

Totally with you, this art bullshit needs to hit a wall or actually produce a game worth playing. It seems all you have to do is make a $15 game that is "artistic" and everyone gushes.

robio said:

What I don't understand is why my opinion was reflected virtually nowhere else in the gaming media world.

One of many things that makes this a discussion that describes me.  This is what drove me to my "everybody sucks" rant a couple podcasts ago.  It's kind of like when PS, and for me, N64 came around and everybody was "OMG 3D!!!" yet nobody seemed to care that because of the newish tech all the games were very rough (particularly in controls) and, I'm sorry, worse than their 2D counterparts.  How every aspect of a game (as I break it down, presentation, controls, audio, value, variety and depth), seemed to be described not based on their merits, but melded to fit the score chosen after-the-fact.  "Games as art" are another way to say "Production values! 9/10".