CAGcast #253: The 2011 Tokyo Game Show Show of Shows

[CheapyD]

15060[/IMG-L]CheapyD finally gets his hands on a Vita and gives his impressions of everything Tokyo Game Show. The whole gang discusses the viability of the Vita and 3DS in the USA and a bunch of other exciting topics, including sweaty men. Get your questions or topics answered on future shows via CAGbag (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71382) or Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/cheapyd).
CAGbag (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71382) or Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/cheapyd).


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Show Linkage/Notes (click the button below to expand):
Intro/Outro: Lovin' Spoonfull vs. Fast Times at Ridgemont High

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[teknikalei]

*sniff sniff* Fresh podcast! Sweet! :D

[Cokomon]

Woo! Can't wait to hear Cheapy's report on Tokyo Game Show. Especially given that he opted to do this podcast rather than go back.

[Manloi]

When you tell us about the Bangkok 8: A novel, it's kinda remind me one of the Nick Cage's Bangkok Dangerous. It's not really a great movie. However, It's a movie about a hitman in Bangkok.

Good Show by the way.

Anyway, TGS Pre-show press conferences from both Nintendo and Sony are sucks. Too much Handheld information that do not concern me at all. Not many new excited gaming news. I truly hope that there are new game announce except Resident Evil 6 (Just announce. Update: it was fake, Sorry).

I believe the reason that Microsoft does not have a press conference at all (not sure, not that I know of. If there is one, I am sorry that I was wrong) is that they are doing very bad in Japan. I truly hope that the Japanese can accept the quality of Xbox 360. I think PS3 and Nintendo are doing great too. I am not a fanboy.

[viiral]

Yay.. just what the doctor ordered. a new cag cast episode.

btw: you have used this intro before :)

[Mahoney07]

Anything that wasn't Magneto, Professor X, or Kevin Bacon was boring and useless in Xmen: First Class but those three were so amazing it made the movie great.

[CheapyD]

Yay.. just what the doctor ordered. a new cag cast episode.

btw: you have used this intro before :)

Yeah, I love it though...especially when it's so hot out.

[Mahoney07]

I hate the 3DS because Nintendo wasted so much graphics power and battery life for 3D. (because of the double resolution screen)

[link182]

So happy to be listening to the cag cast by the way this pulled me through the night for stupid U.S history HW. I love you cheepy D and Wombat

[Porksta]

I think the reason there was no Modern Warfare 3 this year nor at PAX was that they were focusing all their attention on the XP convention.

[Necrozilla]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTtX6GF6D3I

[Pajama_Man]

Another one but of course these rolls arn't anywhere as rapids as the ones shown in the new Ace Combat game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1qJYBD040I

Great show.

Now I want some Bloomin'Onions of death!

[LiK]

Mandatory towels!

[liquidcross]

C'mon, Wombat, your lack of comic book knowledge is letting us down! Darwin was not a "red shirt" specifically created for X-Men: First Class. He's been in the comic books for many years.

[Wombat]

C'mon, Wombat, your lack of comic book knowledge is letting us down! Darwin was not a "red shirt" specifically created for X-Men: First Class. He's been in the comic books for many years.

According to comicvine his 1st appearance was 2006. He might as well have been a red shirt.

[liquidcross]

And he's survived worse in the comics, too.

[zoward]

Wombat, you mentioned that you missed Shawn Michaels at the Cabela light gun demo, and I didn't know who "Shawn Michaels" was, so I typed "Sean Michaels" (note the alternate spelling of the first name) into Google, absentmindedly clicked on the first link returned, "www.seanmichaels.com", and got something not quite suitable for work At work. In an open area. Ouch. Now I know that the other Sean Michaels was the recipient of the 2010 AVN Award for Best Double Penetration Sex Scene. Note to self: next time do the search in Wikipedia first!

[Monsta Mack]

lol @ Zangief

[dacool561]

I highly recommend Ready Player One by Ernest Cline from Audible. It's read by Wil Wheaton and is a great book for the old school and new school gamers.

If any of you guys (CheapyD, Wombat, Shipwreck) give the book and try and don't like it, then I will sign up for audible and buy a couple of domains from GoDaddy I've been meaning to buy for awhile now :)

[mrx001]

I don't believe your Chinese informant.Does Microsoft really develop,design and engineer,electronics at a factory in China?They might produce prototypes of some sort.

[j-fever]

To beat a dead horse...Helicopter Barrel roll...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdprMRMjs1c&NR=1

[trip1eX]

Dedicated handhelds will still be around.

$40 3DS games aren't really $40. CAG 101. Hell you can still get $20 for Mario Kart DS or Super Mario Bros DS. And those games are much better than any $1 iPhone game. IT's also not like the 3ds doesn't have an online store. YOu can buy cheap games on there as well as we speak. I imagine a few iOS classics will make their way to the 3DS as well. Don't forget that the real cost of an iPhone is $700 too.

And as Wombat touched on - there are the controls. A touchscreen is fine for some games, but for others it sucks. Plus they take up screen real estate. The 3ds also brings the dual screens to the table. And being a dedicated handheld means bringing future gaming hardware advances to the table that smartphones won't come with. Shipwreck touched on the last point. Nintendo has the franchises. They have the Mario name. Zelda. etc. And they have the gaming development talent. And the back catalog of games.

I think right now iOS device owners are hypnotized by the ability to very easily and instantly buy games for a couple of dollars. And that has alot to do with the fanaticism. Understandable. But I don't think the games themselves are driving that fanaticism. Although sure Apple could release something like Nintendo did for the 3ds. An official attachable stick and button peripheral for the iPhone and Touch. Maybe that could change the outlook here.

Overall though I don't see Nintendo going away or dedicated gaming handhelds. iOS could drive out many of the casual fans from Nintendo's grasp. I wouldn't doubt that. But alot of gaming fans want bigger games. GAmes with buttons. Games with sticks. Two screens. They like games. And will go where ever to get them. Nintendo has a good rep amongst parents too. And has lots of fans.

Plus who knows. iOS could make gaming fans out of more people and drive them to dedicated handhelds in addition. A 3DS is only $170. And will be even cheaper within a few years.

I do think Nintendo will need to take advantage of the cost savings of digital distribution even with their big gaming franchises. That will happen naturally probably. IF their games sell less than expected into next year you could see a move towards this for all Nintendo games very quickly. They'll have some leverage with retailers then. They won't be seen as abandoning them.

[Gluteus]

Very much looking forward to the Deus Ex discussion! Gears 3 discussion should be cool since Cheapy seemed to really enjoy the beta (plus I love Gears).

[Mahoney07]

I feel bad for kids these days playing $1 flash games on their iPod touches when I played Pokemon.

At least they can watch porn on it.

[Jackovasaurus]

Great show fellas. I really appreciate the transparency when it comes to the sponsors, you put it all out there, 100% honest with your listeners. Much respect to you.

[b3b0p]

I hate the 3DS because Nintendo wasted so much graphics power and battery life for 3D. (because of the double resolution screen)

Link to references stating such or retract.

[urmomlikesme]

I signed up for audible. Is there an auto renewal feature? I don't want to pay for it after the two weeks are up. I don't seem to find it anywhere.

[Thomas96]

I can still hear echoes of shipwreck talking about how big the PS Vita is. I didn't think he'd ever stop. We got it...ITS BIG!!!!

Otherwise, Good Show!

[sheppyboy2000]

Thing I liked about X-Men: First Class was it went back to the accusations from long ago that Charles Xavier only recruits and protects the "pretty" mutants. Ones which can pass for normal. Throughout the movie, you get the sense of Charles constantly berating Raven when she's in her blue form. Because the sense of wonder as he discovers her as a child is quickly faded, her ultimate betrayal wasn't something shoved in, most of the film telegraphed it.

Also, Angel was a more recent addition added when the school went public and Xorn taught a class of "special" children.

[Sgt Barone]

Can't wait to listen!

[bickle]

Link to references stating such or retract.

Why? To prove the obvious? Or do you honestly think that 3D doesn't cause a performance hit?

How's this for a reference: play a game like DOA. Switching off the 3D doubles the framerate.

[meager]

Cheapy's argument for the iPhone is my main argument against the iPhone. I don't want to rebuy the same product every year. I want them to support the expensive piece of hardware for more than just a few months. They should take a few years between models to get it right, instead of constantly putting out new models with little tweaks. It should be like a home console that it is supported with software updates.

And while they do constantly pump out new DS models each year, the vast majority of games can be played on the original DS Phat from 7(?) years ago. (The 3DS games are the exception, of course. But unless it financially fails, the 3DS will be considered the successor to the DS, not just a tweak.) The iPhone is newer than that, but they stopped supporting the the first couple generations already.

And of course there's the battery... don't want to run it down playing a game if I'm expecting an important call, do I?

Basically, there's plenty of reasons the seperate handheld market is still viable. Cheapy, I think you're just not a portable gamer. Do you ever feel like playing your iPhone when you're sitting in front of your Xbox, or do you just play it when it's the most convienent thing to play? Like before you had a iPhone, you'd probably just played your DS/Gameboy in the bathroom cuz you didn't have anything else to play.

[iCephalopod]

I was going to create an audible account to help you guys out, but they require your credit card info to sign-up so they can auto-renew you after the trial expires. I'm sure you can cancel the auto-renew, but since I'm not that interested in the product, my clicks stopped there.

[SpazX]

Doodie doo, where are you?

[bobo2k4]

Signed up for audible for you guys!

[epicelite]

Cheepy, if you think Japan has hot summers. Stay away from Florida.

[Orb01]

Signed up for the trial to help with college fund so you're welcome Wombat. Hey Shipwreck, did you ever post that spreadsheet of your G.I. Joe collection that I ask some cagcasts ago or did I miss it?

[jumpiestranger2]

You should have titled this podcast "Poop Free"

[thorbahn3]

I thought Shipwreck was joking about the stripper pole until I saw this: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/tgs-11-booth-babe-montage/721139

[thakingrocka]

X-MEN SPOILERS

I understand how Mystique's turn seemed too quick to Wombat, but I feel it was completely justified because she was clearly stunted in terms of maturity. Its her own shallowness that dictates her actions. She was a fool not to see how much she had with Xavier, but is it so crazy to have a character who cannot see the greater picture? She's flawed. She's a young girl overly concerned with body image, which makes her one of the more realistic characters if you ask me.

Also, Xavier failed the test to keep her when he reacted negatively to her greeting him in the kitchen in her true form.

[apathylad]

Signed up for the Audible via the link on the first post, I expect report cards from Sabrina or I will revoke the scholarship! :P


Anyway, the whole iPhone vs. 3DS discussion has been beaten to death. I've given my feeling about this on the past. In fact, I'm just going to copy and paste my take on this from an earlier show out of laziness. Gimme a minute....

I don't have a 3DS (I actually do now), and I've had an iPhone for about a year now, and I still don't get why the two are frequently compared to each other. I like my iPhone, and I've bought many games for it, but there are certain genres that just don't work on that device. I've made the mistake of buying ports of games that don't work with the touch interface. As for the cost disparity, many people would gladly pay $40 for a 3DS Pokemon game, but iPhone games don't cost that much because they're not worth $40!

I still feel the same way. I recently beat Dead Space for iPhone. While I do think it was a great game, the controls were terrible. If the 3DS has games you don't see anywhere else (Pokemon, Professor Layton, Phoenix Wright, etc.), it will sell well.

[Rei no Otaku]

According to comicvine his 1st appearance was 2006. He might as well have been a red shirt.
A red shirt? A guy who recently survived being touched by Hela, the goddess of death, by adapting and becoming a death god himself isn't a red shirt. I'm not saying I like Darwin, but his death in First Class was quite silly. Also I'm not a huge fan of the Morrison run on X-Men either, but I still know the difference between Pixie and Angel. Not to mention not really knowing much about Emma Frost one of the top 3 characters in the X-books right now. Kind of lacking in the comic book knowledge there...

[Sgt Barone]

Signed up for Audible trial!

[bickle]

The Vita isn't that big. Bigger than an iphone, yes. But barely larger than a PSP. Ship makes it sound like it's a Galaxy Tab or something.

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/07/the-playstation-vita-is-smaller-than-you-think/

[shipwreck]

The Vita isn't that big. Bigger than an iphone, yes. But barely larger than a PSP. Ship makes it sound like it's a Galaxy Tab or something.

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/07/the-playstation-vita-is-smaller-than-you-think/

I make it sound like a Galaxy Tab, because it's an apt comparison. Check this out.

Galaxy Tab Dimensions: 7.484 in x 4.742 in x 0.472 in
Galaxy Tab Volume: 16.75 inches cubed

PlayStation Vita Dimensions: 7.2 in x 3.289 in x 0.73 in
PlayStation Vita Volume: 17.29 inches cubed

Here's another comparison from Kotaku showing the Vita next to other handhelds: http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2011/01/sizetime.jpg

[WhipSmartBanky]

I make it sound like a Galaxy Tab, because it's an apt comparison. Check this out.

Galaxy Tab Dimensions: 7.484 in x 4.742 in x 0.472 in
Galaxy Tab Volume: 16.75 inches cubed

PlayStation Vita Dimensions: 7.2 in x 3.289 in x 0.73 in
PlayStation Vita Volume: 17.29 inches cubed

Here's another comparison from Kotaku showing the Vita next to other handhelds: http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2011/01/sizetime.jpg
Pwn'd.

[Kosh]

Wow, more misinformation from the Cagcast.

The battery life of the Vita, is actually worse than the 3DS.



It's not, it's actually the same, 3-5 hours.

[shipwreck]

Wow, more misinformation from the Cagcast.





It's not, it's actually the same, 3-5 hours.

Maybe I'm wrong, but didn't I correct him almost immediately on that? I thought I did. If not, throw it in our pile of misinformation over there.

[Kosh]

Yeah, you did. I'm still currently listening and have nothing better to do. :razz:

[skadave]

I think most parents try to refrain from purchasing a phone for their kid as long as possible.

If i get a new iphone, i will certainly not be giving my old one to my 4 year old daughter. She can get any DS device she wants, but she'll have to wait till she's at least 12 before she'll get her own phone.

[skadave]

BTW: Audible carries Opie and Anthony rebroadcasts. So if you are a fan, it's a good way to pick up a show here or there.

[Decker]

Wombat, you should try the Move Sharpshooter while it's cheap at Game Stop. I don't think Shipwreck did it justice in his description. I'm left handed, and a couple of years ago (before I had yet purchased a Wii), you alerted me to the issues of playing FPS games with the Wii as a lefty. Like you, I struggle aiming with my Right hand and can't get my head around controlling movements with my right thumb. The Sharpshooter by its design allows for you to control movements with your left thumb while still letting you aim with motion control in a totally intuitive and natural way. I won't disagree with Ship that it isn't very well balanced and is heavier in the front, but if you brace it against you with the shoulder stock, that's less of an issue. Besides, we're left-handed and therefor put most of the weight in our dominant hand anyway. Don't get me wrong, it's still not nearly as easy to control movement in a FPS game as it is with a standard controller, but for a different, arcade-like experience, I think the Sharpshooter works pretty damned well.


Ship, you should try to keep your movements small while using the Sharpshooter. As long as you keep the Move pointed somewhere on-screen, it's not too hard to control. It's the big jerky movements and the pointing off the side of the screen that usually causes me problems.

Thanks everyone. I'm enjoying the shows. Keep 'em coming!

[bickle]

I make it sound like a Galaxy Tab, because it's an apt comparison. Check this out.

Galaxy Tab Dimensions: 7.484 in x 4.742 in x 0.472 in
PlayStation Vita Dimensions: 7.2 in x 3.289 in x 0.73 in


If it's an apt comparison, it's only apt in showing how much bigger the Tab is. Check the width of the devices. A 1.5 in difference in width is a big difference in a portable device.

Regardless, both pics show that the difference between the Vita and the PSP is nowhere near how it's getting hyped on the Cagcast.

[shipwreck]

If it's an apt comparison, it's only apt in showing how much bigger the Tab is. Check the width of the devices. A 1.5 in difference in width is a big difference in a portable device.

Regardless, both pics show that the difference between the Vita and the PSP is nowhere near how it's getting hyped on the Cagcast.

The PlayStation Vita is 23% larger in volume than a PSP2000/3000. I already think the PSP is large for a portable device and it has hindered the usefulness of it to me. There are numerous situations where I have left the PSP at home because it's cumbersome to carry around - especially if you have it in a case of some sort to protect the screen/analog stick. If you want to take the Vita with you, you either need to wear clothes with much bigger pockets than I do on a daily basis or you are going to have to take a bag/backpack/purse to carry it in (much like you'd need to with a Galaxy Tab).

It's a half inch longer than a PSP and a half inch wider than the PSP. IT IS BIG.

[SikFlux]

Great show guys, and thanks for the free audiobook hook-up.. 20 hours of Neil Gaiman's American Gods should keep me company while waiting for the next CAGcast.

Keep up the great work!

[Tsiawd]

Portable gaming is at an ALL time high right now and will continue for a long time, but its not because of the 3DS or anything sony makes. Smart phones are the Future of gaming. My friend has a 12 year old son... Guess what he wanted to buy? IPOD touch and not a DS. You know what my 5 year old plays in the Car, IPOD touch. You know what adults play? Iphone games. Wombat is, well Wombat again for thinking this. My guess is the Comic book nerd doesnt understand cuz he doesnt have an Iphone or a daughter who can play games yet. Hardcore gamers and ages 6-11 will pick up the new portable systems. Anyone past puberty or casual gamers will all play games via Cell Phones.

[trip1eX]

Wow, more misinformation from the Cagcast.





It's not, it's actually the same, 3-5 hours.

The misinformation would be declaring the Vita has the same battery life as the 3DS before the Vita ever gets into the wild.

[trip1eX]

The PlayStation Vita is 23% larger in volume than a PSP2000/3000. I already think the PSP is large for a portable device and it has hindered the usefulness of it to me. There are numerous situations where I have left the PSP at home because it's cumbersome to carry around - especially if you have it in a case of some sort to protect the screen/analog stick. If you want to take the Vita with you, you either need to wear clothes with much bigger pockets than I do on a daily basis or you are going to have to take a bag/backpack/purse to carry it in (much like you'd need to with a Galaxy Tab).

It's a half inch longer than a PSP and a half inch wider than the PSP. IT IS BIG.

I think Sony goofed and should have made the Vita even bigger. iPad sized. See the Wii U controller.

Most of the things probably won't leave the house or car or surrounding area anyway. Why be stuck with a portable device that doesn't fit into your pockets anyway.

[Wolfkin]

I rarely have time to comment on shows but I had to come back to express how much the arguments or "discussions" like the one on that show are why I listen to CAG. While I mean no offense to Cheapy and I do enjoy hearing from him and Shipwreck. This is yet another episode where Wombat once again proves he is the voice of the people. Everything he said about the 3DS vs the iPhone is everything I've been yelling at Cheapy thru my headphones for numerous episodes. I know how much everyone hates long ranty comments so I'm just gonna once again say thanks to Wombat for giving volume to my voice on the show, two thumbs up and say great show good sirs. great show

[Tsiawd]

"i'll have the Gears of War 3 review up before it comes out!" <--- FAIL

[Kosh]

The misinformation would be declaring the Vita has the same battery life as the 3DS before the Vita ever gets into the wild.

You must live in the same cave as CheapyD.

[Zacmanman]

I feel like it's apt to bring up the 'post-desktop era' that Steve Jobs thinks he's created. He hasn't, because that's ridiculous, but I feel like it's the future Cheapy D sees (at least partially)

I could write a lot on how I feel about the misinterpreted 'iPhone Revolution' but I'll stick to games.

The market is different now, not because of smartphones but because of misdirection. Sony competes in many fields, many more than Apple does, actually, and that's probably why they can't pump out a new PSP or PlayStation every year. It's much more difficult to compete with a cell phone because phones are essential to our everyday lives (and Sony makes and sells just as many phones as Apple does), so the point of competition is a little biased. Very few to zero people buy an iPhone with the thought of it playing games, or having an indepth gaming experience. Most people who I see playing games on their smartphones play the same assembly of simple cell phone games we were playing five years ago. Even if games like Fruit Ninja, Cut the Rope, Angry Birds and Infinity Blade have changed the way we see that, it still doesn't change the masses. I want to say it again, Very few or zero people buy iPhones so that they can play those games.

Similarly very few or zero people buy handheld gaming systems for functionality beyond playing games. The issue is that this space has become very awkward. High-end gaming systems are expensive (not as expensive as high-end smartphones though) and have somewhat limited functionality. Sony has tried amending this space with the Xperia Play, but I think this is all still misdirection.

Honestly, I don't care if my PSP or DS can browse the internet or have amazing graphics, but Sony and Nintendo know people want that. Sony knows that people wanted streamlined consoles and experiences. Perhaps they went about it wrong but they gave us the PSP Go. Nintendo knows social networks are all the rage and so they added StreetPass. The issue these hardware developers have run into is keeping the price low. It's okay to have a $800 smartphone because any service provider will subsidize most of that price in trade of you paying for their service. This is why you can buy an iPhone for $100. However, Sony and Nintendo can't do that since there is no dedicated market. No one wants to buy a $100 PSV so they can pay $50 every month for some service.

But at this end, I don't know where to go personally. Is the mobile gaming market dead? No, certainly not. Android and iOS show us a very lively market that is developing and evolving. Will we see another 3DS or PSV in five years? I don't know, but I wouldn't bet on it. Sony has already shown their interest in making high-end Android-gaming Smartphones. Will that succeed? I don't know, but Tommy Refenes has one, and that's good enough for me.

[Zacmanman]

Also, I agree with Shipwreck on the size of the PSV. I own a device that has a 3.2" screen and an Archos 5 with a 5" screen and the difference is huge. The PSP is quite large, even after numerous revisions. The PSV is even larger and it just sounds like a small TV.

[MSUHitman]

Sorry for the late reply, just now listening to the show:

As the biggest Cyclops and Emma Frost fan on CAG and in the history of the VS. System trading card game, I was disappointed, but not surprised at the horrible performance January Jones gave from Emma Frost. Any Mad Men fan knows she's the worst part of that show and she was also the worst part of this movie and was only cast as Emma as she had the body and hair color.

Emma is suppossed to be cold, but also coniving, seductive, and out for herself, at least at that point of her character's development. Every opportunity January was given to show these traits she just came off as a wet fish. I sent an angry tweet at her Twitter account and was made fun of by my friends. FYI she's hasn't updated her official Twitter since Mad Men season 4 came out on DVD/BR.

Wombat, Pixie has become the new "this is the young character to showcase the trials and tribulations of growing up a mutant" in the last few years. Also Pixie in the comics is caucasian. She's basically Jubilee/Shadowcat 2.0 as those 2 characters have their own problems now (Jubilee is a vampire and Shadowcat saved the earth by phasing a planet killer bullet she was stuck inside through the earth but couldn't phase back to solid form essentially "killing" her only for Magneto to find the bullet going through space and bring her back to Earth but only as a living ghost.)

[MSUHitman]

Also I think the Move sales are part of Sony's Long Live Play campaign as Amazon now and KMart next week are doing similar deals. The sign at Gamestop also has the Long Live Play campaign slogan on it.

And you forgot to mention White Knight Chronicles II in the new releases section.