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Time is money
#31: What does value mean to you?
The Last of Us series is never far from the headlines, and seems to generate controversy like few others (hey wait don't go, this isn't all about The Last of Us I promise!). But the uproar over the recent remake's £70 price tag has been loud even by Last of Us standards
Naughty Dog's new remake is undoubtedly a full-scale PS5 production, rebuilt from the ground up for the console and as complete a remake as you could hope for, according to Digital Foundry. But of course the game running underneath - the mechanics, the performances, the score and everything else - had already been made.
Sony argue the remake is a AAA production in every sense, and the results certainly reflect that, but should we really be paying £70 for an upgraded game that's only 9 years old and is still actually playable on the PS5? The majority of reviews say yes. But of course, many don't agree.
In my opinion price shouldn't be factored into a review. Not only because a game's price (and content) will vary dramatically over time as the review invariably remains static, but because each person’s financial situation and reasons for wanting a game is different. A good review should tell you everything you need to know about the game and give an informed opinion on the experience it offers. It’s up to the reader to determine whether that experience is worth the current asking price.
Those who have never played The Last of Us in its previous form are getting one of the best and most influential games of modern times in full PS5-sized glory for Sony's PS5-sized price tag. Those who have played it before will have to decide for themselves whether the upgraded visuals are worth buying the game again. Still, with so many games remade and remastered with minimal effort (a subject covered in The Week in Games previously), it's at least good to see one given the lavish attention the original deserves.
We often assign value based on a game’s length, and that's problematic. It’s £70, but it has a 60 hour campaign and an additional 100 hours of side missions - it must be worth the money, right?
But how much of that time is actually enjoyable? How much of that time actually stays with you?
Indie games by nature are smaller and usually quicker and cheaper to produce, and that is reflected in their asking price, but many of the best reviewed games of all time are indies lasting no more than a few hours. Those experiences are worth just as much to me as the longer ones.
Of course I'm not suggesting indie games should cost £70. Merely that the value of a game is completely dependent on the player. I know if I’d paid £70 for Journey and whichever Assassin’s Creed was around then that - looking back now - it wouldn't be Journey I'd felt I'd wasted my money (or time) on. For many, the opposite would be true.
When I look back at my favourite games I never think about how much they cost me. I think about how worthwhile the experience was at the time and how much of it stayed with me.
To the Moon (a 16 bit-styled narrative adventure from Freebird Games) is only about 4 hours long and it changed the way I think about video games and the stories they can tell. I played it over seven years ago and its scenes, characters, and achingly beautiful score have stayed in my thoughts ever since.
You can’t put a price on that.
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I hope you enjoy the rest of the newsletter!
Take care
Jeff
NEWS
Setting your Xbox to energy saver mode instead of standby mode could save you up to £5 per month.
Another batch of Xbox Game Pass titles for console, PC and Cloud have been announced.
September’s PlayStation Plus games are now available to claim.
8 PC games are being offered to Amazon Prime Gaming members throughout September.
Microsoft has confirmed the new Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan and its pricing.
A new God Of Ragnarok gameplay video gives a glimpse of Svartelheim in 4K.
Microsoft starts testing new Xbox Home UI that will arrive in 2023.
Sony has said Xbox's Call of Duty offer was "inadequate on many levels".
Images claiming to show Konami’s Silent Hill 2 remake have appeared online.
Microsoft has revealed a less expensive Xbox Elite Series 2 'Core' Edition Controller.
Humble Bundle's September Choice games have been announced.
Sega's Mega Drive Mini 2 retro console full game list has been revealed and pre-orders have opened.
This week's Ubisoft Forward digital showcase will "unveil the future" of Assassin's Creed.
Sony’s new PS5 model has been totally redesigned inside and uses less power.
NES icons are now available for Nintendo Switch Online members.
The head of Xbox Game Studios says the days of single studios working on large-scale games are “long gone”.
A new PS5 system software update is out now. Here's an official rundown of the new features.
A new noise suppression feature is now available on Xbox Series X/S to remove unwanted noises in voice chat.
CD Projekt Red has announced that the first Cyberpunk 2077 story expansion Phantom Liberty will be released next year.
A new "Camouflage Collection" (including a wireless controller, PS5 console covers, and Pulse 3D wireless headset) joins the PS5 accessories lineup soon.
The Quarry director says his next game will be ‘just as big’ and could deviate from teen horror in a new interview with VGN.
Matt Booty, Head of Microsoft Studios, has assured fans that The Initiative's Perfect Dark game is in good shape, despite the involvement of Crystal Dynamics.
No Man’s Sky for Switch arrives this October.
DEALS
There's a PlayStation Indies Sale on at the moment on the PS Store with up to 75% off, well, indies. PlayStation's Extended Play Sale rolls on, with up to 60% off games and DLC until next week, alongside the continuing Games Under £15 Sale. PlayStation's Deal of the Week sees Assassin's Creed Valhalla reduced to less than £20, AC Odyssey reduced to £10.99, and AC Origins for just £6.99.
Sony are still offering 7-day free trials for their new Extra and Premium PlayStation Plus tiers, if you're not already a subscriber.
Xbox has an Open World Sale running, and the Optimised for Next-Gen Sale, and the Super Saver Sale are all still on, but end early next week.
There's no specific promotion running on Nintendo’s eShop at the moment but there are hundreds of games on general sale anyway.
You can still get up to £150 off HTC Vive VR hardware. But only until Sunday 11th September.
Hundred Days and Realm Royale Reforged are currently free on the Epic Games Store. Spirit of the North and The Captain are free from 15th September.
Steam are running a Resident Evil Sale until Monday 19th of September. With up to 80% off mainline games and DLC.
As always, there are plenty of games on general sale on the Epic Games Store and Steam has a number of current Special Offers including 30% off Forza Horizon 5 and 59% off the Mass Effect Legendary Edition Trilogy.
More!
PS5: The Ultimate Game Guide
As an incentive to sign up to The Week in Games, new subscribers now receive a link to download my PS5: Ultimate Game Guide for free. As most readers signed up before this offer started, I'd just like to give anybody who wants one a chance to grab a copy.
If you do, simply reply to this email directly letting me know and I'll send you the link as soon as I can.
Heterotopias 009
The latest issue of the wonderful Heterotopias "game spaces & architecture zine" launches on Tuesday September 13th. It's been a long time coming, but if previous issues are anything to go by it'll be worth the wait. You can check them out here.
NEW RELEASES:
The Last of Us remake hit PS5 last week and caused as much of a stir as expected. But anyway, the game itself is a masterpiece, and the critical consensus for the remake's upgraded visuals was extremely positive.
Less controversy from Splatoon 3 of course, which is out now on Switch and which Eurogamer claims is the best Nintendo's spectacular series has been to date.
(PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – September 6
(PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) – September 6
(PS4, PS5) – September 6
(PC) – September 8
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – September 8
(PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC) – September 9
(Switch) – September 9
UPCOMING RELEASES:
(PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC) – September 13
(iOS, Android) – September 13
(Switch) – September 13
(Xbox, PC) – September 14
(Switch) – September 15
(PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – September 15
(PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – September 15
(PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC) – September 15
(PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC) – September 15
GAME OF THE WEEK
A randomly selected game each week! Any and all games are eligible for selection regardless of age, platform, popularity, or otherwise.
This week, the honour goes to…
SoulCalibur (Arcade 1998, Dreamcast 1999)
The Dreamcast was home to some truly incredible games during its depressingly short lifespan, and Namco’s SoulCalibur is one of the very best.
A staggeringly pretty and accomplished game, SoulCalibur also featured something all-too-rare in the fighting genre; an expansive and genuinely worthwhile single player campaign.
RECOMMENDED READS
By Rebekah Valentine - IGN
Howard Scott Warshaw shares his perspective on the games industry’s transformation since his tumultuous stint at Atari.
By Sarah Spitz - Vice
Alicia Kostoglou wasn't even born when the first Tamagotchi was released, but she's become one of the most prolific collectors since.
By Alicia Haddick - The Verge
When games like Dragalia Lost shut down for good, what happens next?
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Old School Gamer Magazine
Ryan Burger - Campaign ends September 14th
The next generation of retro gaming magazine - Adding more content, more History - more Style and more Subscribers!
Filmmakers Without Cameras: The Trilogy
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A journal filled with gorgeous art and thoughtful writing on film, video games, and roleplaying games.
World of Anterra
81monkeys - Campaign ends September 23rd
"Skyrim with pixel art." An innovative, open world RPG influenced by classic and modern games.
nofio wireless adapter for Valve Index
nofio - Campaign ends September 27th
Experience the wireless freedom of Valve Index without a cable to the PC.
RPG Stories
Brave Alice - Campaign ends October 1st
A 3D Virtual Tabletop featuring a massive World Builder and Rulesets for all kinds of TT RPGs.
Fusion Retro Books 2023 Annuals
Fusion Retro Books - Campaign ends October 7th
When 3 Annuals became 6 - time for a bumper Annual Xmas this year!
VM2: The Next-Gen VMU
Dreamware Enterprises - Campaign ends October 9th
The Next-Gen VMU for the Dreamcast with Micro-SD storage, upgraded LCD, embedded Battery and Micro-USB port.
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