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Now that Shenmue is in the hands of ININ, which is a very active company, we are optimistic that we will see more from this groundbreaking franchise. - SDGT Entertainment
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Embark on a Charming Adventure from a 2-member Indie Dev team!
“The Spirit and the Mouse” is a game that captures the essence of childhood adventure. While it’s perfect for younger audiences, adults can also enjoy its charm. With only mild language, it’s a family-friendly game that looks great and is packed with action.
A Tale of Unlikely Allies
After a shocking thunderstorm, Lila the mouse and Lumion the Spirit Guardian must join forces to restore balance to their quaint village. Lila, with her big heart and newfound electrifying powers, embarks on a journey across Sainte-et-Claire. Along the way, she befriends playful electric spirits called Kibblins to bring light back to the village.
Narrative-Focused Adventure
This narrative-driven adventure game encourages players to explore every corner of the world, complete objectives, and collect items to help those in need. Listen to the villagers’ woes and find the mischievous Kibblins causing electricity problems. By working together with these lively spirits, Lila can help Lumion return to the sky where he belongs.
Key Features
A Short but Sweet Experience
While the main story is about 4 hours long and takes around 6 hours to complete fully, the experience is well worth the $19.99 price tag. Despite its length, the game’s charming story and engaging gameplay make it a delightful adventure. So, if you get your hands on “The Spirit and the Mouse,” game on!
In a recent revelation by N4G’s Sajjad Hussain, Ubisoft’s CEO has attributed the poor sales of Star Wars Outlaws to gamers’ "extraordinary expectations". I couldn't simply give this a side eye, now could I?
Ubisoft’s CEO claims that delivering solid quality is no longer enough to satisfy gamers. However, this completely overlooks a fundamental issue: the game’s quality itself. When gamers invest in a AAA title, they expect a product that meets AAA standards when it comes to technical performance and... gameplay at least. If a game falls short in these areas, you don't turn around and point the finger at the gamer. Who made the game? Who decided on the project window? Who saw what they needed to see and release the game in a form that would result in a number of complaints that made some gamers save their coin for something else? You don't do that crap, instead apologize and ensure that updates are coming.
The ambition behind Star Wars Outlaws (or SWO) is evident to an extent, but perhaps the game would have benefited from a phased release if it was too much to serve up at one time. Launching in chapters could have provided the development team more time to refine the game and ensure a cohesive experience.
This would've helped to zap the games bugs and technical issues that hinder the overall experience because more time could've gone into that based on it being a smaller segment. Nevertheless, addressing these problems in Star Wars Outlaws through updates and patches could significantly improve the game’s reception among gamers. The beginning isn't the end, but they have to be willing to do what they need to do to make a positive impact on both sides because it's not like a number of gamers don't want to play it.
Speaking of sales... It’s essential to recognize that the world doesn’t revolve around Ubisoft and its games. Various factors influence a gamer’s decision to purchase a title. Economic constraints play a significant role, especially when AAA games like Star Wars Outlaws are priced between $69.99 and $129.99. Many gamers and their families are financially strained right now and cannot afford to invest in a game that may not meet their expectations if they have the coin to make the purchase to begin with. They may be doing research... on top of research to make sure the money doesn't go to waste if they happen to have enough saved up.
Additionally, the hardware requirements for Star Wars Outlaws are another potential barrier for some PC gamers. The game demands a minimum AMD Radeon RX 5600XT (6GB) or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 (6GB) graphics card. For PC gamers, upgrading their systems to meet these specifications can be costly, further deterring potential buyers... and let's not forget about the power supply they may need to upgrade. So trust and believe it's not all about SWO, a number of gamers don't have the specs to play a number of the latest games. Developers may want to seek hardware info to know what the median specs are for PC gamers.
Again, Instead of pointing fingers at gamers, Ubisoft’s CEO should take responsibility for the game’s shortcomings. Engaging with the gaming community to gather authentic feedback could provide valuable insights for future projects as well. Gamers have witnessed the evolution of the industry and can distinguish between genuine quality and subpar offerings... while at the same time a number of us have the ability to identify those complaining just for the sake of complaining. That's not the case when it comes to Star Wars Outlaws.
Ubisoft must address the issues within Star Wars Outlaws and strive to deliver a product that meets the standards they want to be appreciated for. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is badass and got extraordinary appreciation, so... a shift in the approach to this matter needs to be made ASAP because it boils down to the games working as expected.
Developers must recognize when a particular concept has reached its saturation point at a particular time. With the abundance of PvP games on the market, how was Concord going to successfully compete? Instead, it could have been a single-player experience featuring a cast of memorable, badass characters on an unforgettable adventure. The concept was there as seen in the trailer, and this can still be salvaged and flipped because the structure is still there. For $400,000,000... I would sure as heck try to flip it.
There could have been an aspect of the game that allowed for competitive online play, but... a full-blown PvP game in today’s saturated market, especially with numerous solid free-to-play options, was a risky move. I would have been surprised if it succeeded. I wouldn't even add PvP personally, competition would be served up in a different way.
This isn’t coming from the angle of a hater. $400,000,000 is a lot (like aloooooottttt) of freaking money to lose. The reaction from gamers might have been different if I had been involved in the decision-making process regarding the genre and direction of the game though and I highly doubt they'd be sitting in discount bins for $1. I can say that with a straight face. Sometimes, a fresh perspective can make all the difference.
Overall, Sony’s Concord game had potential, but a different approach might have led to a more successful outcome. The assets can and should be whipped up to make single player magic, everything doesn't have to be multiplayer and this didn't have to be a... PvP hero shooter. It's okay to salvage or give it away.