The Manor makes its triumphant return (at least we’d like to think so), and brings you another show full of mindless banter served with a side of less than stellar wit. If we got paid to do this we’d have been fired by now. Click play and you’ll hear Thrillhouse and Chia talk about Rock Band and Guitar Hero woes, a special Virtua Fighter 5 preview, Ratchet and Clank impressions, and more! Guaranteed satisfaction or your money back!

• Rock Band and Guitar Hero Don’t Like Each Other.
• Virtua Fighter 5 Preview
• GT5 Prologue Update
• Ratchet And Clank
• More. Much More.

 

 The Manor Episode 6: What happened to 5? [76:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I deserve no respect. I should be shunned, cast away, and ignored. I have no dignity, no self worth. I am the lowest of the low. Thanks to this:

Want.

There is clearly something wrong with my brain. I already own two Nintendo DS’s, the fat old grey one and a sleek black DS light. Now they are worthless to me. I hate myself. But I must have it. And on black Friday, the day all vengeful warrior moms scour store aisles, I will brave the terror and claim it as mine.

To be clear, I’m talking about the Zelda DS. I’m not that pathetic.

Thanks to Destructoid for the image and news. The original story was here.

Hope you’ve got this much room, you’ll eventually need it.

With Guitar Hero 3 being released this week, and Rock Band a couple weeks later, living room rockers will be getting their fantasy dream fix this holiday season. As someone who admittedly once had dreams of becoming a rock god, I love these guitar rhythm based games. So it goes without saying that I’ve been greatly anticipating both titles. What I hadn’t planned for was a dilemma, with certain factors being “instrumental” in my decision.

Embarrassingly bad puns aside, the purchase of GH3/Rock Band isn’t as simple as save money, spend money. Being a multi-console owner, it becomes needlessly complicated thanks to console reliability failure rates, downloadable content (or lack of), my wanting to play online with friends, and guitar compatibility issues. So which console will allow me to reach my maximum rock out potential? Humor me as I explain each step in the decision making process.

1. Console Reliability and Downloadable Content: Both of these titles have advertised constant updates and support long after release date. With GH3 you’ll be able to download more songs (hopefully not in awful packs), and Rock Band will offer full length albums. This is something that I’m very interested in, as it lets you fully customize your experience based on your musical taste.

I plan on purchasing quite a bit of content. I’m also sure that the 360 will receive this content, but have no assurances that the PS3 will. But, I’m also sure that my 360 will break again, (I own three 360s, and have had 4 red rings so far) and since I don’t always have access to high speed internet (and despise the fact that my content is tied down to my being signed in or not) I may not be able to access the content I legally purchased and own. While on the PS3 a simple hard drive swap (should it ever break, but I don’t think God could break that sucker) would solve the problem. And, through questionably legal means, I may or may not have the option of sharing content with up to 5 other consoles (I’ll never admit to anything).

2. Online Friends Play: New to GH3, and Rock Band, is online play. Most of my gaming is done online now, as being away makes playing with friends on the same TV a rare event. Almost all of my friends own 360s. I guess that there’s no arguing this point: The 360 is the clear victor here.

3. Guitar Headaches: IGN and 1up recently posted articles explaining that not all guitars are created equal. Let me shamelessly copy and paste from 1up.com:

Guitar Hero II’s X-Plorer

Rock Band? Yes

Guitar Hero II? Yes

Guitar Hero III? Yes

Guitar Hero III’s Les Paul

Rock Band? Yes

Guitar Hero II? Yes

Guitar Hero III? Yes

Rock Band’s Stratocaster

Rock Band? Yes

Guitar Hero II? Unknown, but unlikely

Guitar Hero III? No

As you can see, not every game likes to share. Specifically the Guitar Hero games. This incompatibility is, in simple words, motherf*****g insane. The blame lies entirely on the makers of Guitar Hero, as a spoke person for Harmonix (Rock Band) has stated:

“Guitar controllers are like any other standard game controller — -the controller sends a signal back to the game depending on the buttons you push. If a third party game controller is based on open standards, then it should work with Rock Band as well.”

So what do I do now? I still want to play the thorn-in-my-side GH, but would like to do so with a friend. Should I purchase the 360 version, use my GH2 guitar (which is compatible with everything), forgo the downloadable content, then purchase the Rock Band bundle (giving me 3 guitars total, 2 wired, because they aren’t selling instruments separately at launch, and I want me those drums)? With this solution I’d still have to buy 2 more guitars: the Rock Band (bundle forced) AND the GH3 pack (because Rock Band guitar incompatible with GH).

Or should I get the PS3 version, forget about using my GH2 guitar, get all new guitars (I’d have to get 3 more guitars, all wireless, 2 GH and 1 RB, because it’s forced by the bundle), and permit myself to get downloadable content (which would be contingent on the PS3 getting the same content)?

It really is frustrating because the selling point of Rock Band is the fact it’ll be supported by weeklyish additional tracks. And it’s also INSANELY frustrating because my backup backup (you read that right, I have 2 backup 360s) just red ringed on me for the second time, and will be out of commission during my whole November break. (Why? Because 2 of my 360s are currently at customer support, and the other will be shipped to MS the day I get back. All three of my 360s are broken right now. The 360 is a piece of shit console.) So when my next 360 breaks, I don’t want to suddenly not be able to access the content I’ve purchased and own.

But I also don’t want to have to get 3 more guitars, which would be added next to my GH1 and GH2 guitars. I also forgot to mention that these things don’t just take up space, but cost money as well. Rock Band is 170, GH3 with guitar is 100, an additional GH3 guitar is…unavailable? Not sold separately?

Moments like these make me want to grab everything and smash it. And then burn it.

Due to an admittedly limited number of Playstation exclusives this holiday season, Haze has fallen under a (perhaps undeserved) critical microscope. Chia had the pleasure/misfortune of playing this on-again-off-again PS3 exclusive at PAX, and was unimpressed. Yet, despite his claims of extreme mediocrity, I look forward to this title, and hope that it delivers enough fresh content to merit my time. Looks like European Playstation owners (and those claiming to be) will be able to give this game a test, and see if it’s worth squeezing in between the other blockbuster holiday titles.

What I find interesting, and extremely promising, is that the demo will apparently offer a segment of the game playable both in single player and 4 person co-op. Here’s hoping that Chia was wrong.

http://es.playstation.com/ps3/news/articles/detail/item82530/Demo/

Taken straight from gamesindustry.biz:

Playstation 3 hardware sales jumped 178 per cent last week with the introduction of two new SKUs, helping the system record its third highest week since launch in the UK.

Data supplied to GamesIndustry.biz reveals that although Sony’s console enjoyed a considerable sales boost, Nintendo’s DS was still the best-selling hardware system in the UK, followed by the Wii and then the PS3, with the Xbox 360 behind its home console rival.

Two new PS3 models were introduced to market last Wednesday. A 40GB model with less functions has gone on sale for GBP 299, and the 60GB model has been reduced to GBP 349, bundled with two free first-party games.

PS3 software has also enjoyed a resurgence, with Resistance: Fall of Man climbing the all-formats charts from 22 to eight, Heavenly Sword re-entering the top 40 at number 14, MotorStorm moving from 22 to 18, and Formula 1: Championship Edition also back in the official charts at number 24.

So the PS3 managed to sell more units than the 360, despite Halo the third, thanks to the new cheaper-yet-gimped model. As I’ve said before, the EU is Sony Playstationland. Hell, anywhere outside the US Playstation is synonymous with video games (like Nintendo was back in the 80s), so it should be no surprise that this more affordable model manages to sell well. Especially since Pro Evolution/Winning Eleven/Soccer/Boringass”football” is coming out shortly, which sells megatons and is best know for on the PS.

On an observational note, the 40GB PS3 is selling in special bundles in Italy, with the new Pro Evo packed in, for 430 Euros. And all pre-orders for this have completely sold out. Looks like the PS3 is finally picking up some steam.

Chia stages a coup d’etat, leaving Thrillhouse17 and special guest Steve519 with little to say. From his throne of power he discusses Everyday Shooter, The Orange Box, Unreal 3 and COD4 PC demos. Hopefully next show freedom will reign, and his reign of terror will fall.

Discussion Topics:

• Chia talks about Everyday Shooter
• Chia talks about The Orange Box (Portal, Team Fortress 2)
• Chia talks about COD4 and Unreal 3
• Chia quits the band, goes off to start solo career. (Not really)

 

 The Manor Ep. 4 [60:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By the time you’re done listening to this Sony will have announced 3 more SKUs. Chia, Thrill and returning guest ROORHighness discuss WCG, the new 40 GB PS3 model, Unreal Engine problems, and try to clear the rash of hate surrounding the PS3 lately. Join us at The Manor.

 

 The Manor Ep 3: Backwards Compatibility Be Damned [76:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

I’m starting to feel like a contestant on The Price Is Right. How much do you think the PS3 is worth? Six hundred, five hundred or four hundred dollars?

In an “announcement” that shocked no one Sony UK officially pulled back the curtain and revealed the 40 GB version of its home entertainment console. This newest version will run our tea and crumpet friends 299 pounds (or 610 bucks, ouch), and is speculated to cost us 400 bucks. This special “Short Bus Edition” will feature 2 usb ports (compared to the usual 4), will not be including the multi media memory card slots (which were not included on the 20 GB version, remember that one?), and will not feature any sort of backwards compatibility.

Lets get this out of the way:

PS3 Fanboy Response - See, this is why Sony is the greatest. They listen to consumers and give them the greatest console in the world. They heard us complaining about the price being too high (even though they should charge double) so now they’re removing the extra features that we don’t need (but were given anyway, because Sony is sooo nice) so now everyone can enjoy the extensive library of exclusive games that the PS3 has to offer.

Xbox 360 Fanboy Attack - Sony is so stupid. This is why they don’t understand their consumer. They make a console that is way overpriced, doesn’t have rumble, and is only good for movies. Then they make the price the exact same as the 360 but take away features like PS2 compatibility? I’d rather play my core 360 and buy the hard drive separately because that’s way cheaper. Good thing that Halo 3 is FTW and has an excellent campaign with a rich fulfilling story, and that xbox live is charging me for premier service like achievements. As soon as my 360 gets back from customer service it’s nothing but tea bagging noobs online while singing into my headset.

We’ve all known for quite a while now that Sony had a cheaper console in the works. What we didn’t know was that this new edition wouldn’t be quite as feature-rich. Removing 2 usb ports from the console is odd, as they can’t cost Sony that much to include. The 360 has 3 usb ports, however one is there solely for the Wi-Fi adapter (100 dollar add-on), which this newest PS3 already has built in, so perhaps this exclusion is acceptable. Removing the multi media card slots was almost expected, as the 20 GB version didn’t originally have them, and isn’t a feature that many users take advantage of.

The most prominent feature to slip through the cracks is backwards compatibility. Does including this feature, even if it has to be via software emulation, really significantly add to the sticker price? If the tech has already been created, and successfully implemented in the other versions, does it make economic sense to strip down this new model? Apparently so.

How important is backwards compatibility? With today’s buy and trade consumer mentality, does anyone really go back to older gen games? Or was Sony thinking that since there are 120+ million PS2s already in homes removing this feature was a viable solution to the PS3’s “high” price point.

I don’t know, and question this latest move. As someone who owns 100+ PS2 games (only about half have actually been completed) this newest model doesn’t interest me. Backwards compatibility, while not exactly necessary, is an important feature to me. I’ve been known to crack open a dusty copy of last gen’s greatest offering and reminisce for a few hours. Still, I consider myself to be in the minority. Most people are probably willing to sacrifice previous gen support for a little extra cash in their wallets. Plenty bitched about the 360 not being fully backwards compatibly, but how many actually used the feature?

Odds are if you desire this feature then you have a working PS2 already. I’m not trying to justify Sony’s decision, as I don’t fully approve it, but I do in part understand it. I guess that you have to move on and grow up sometime.