Rare Backs Down - Banjo Kazooie Fix Coming

[Evil Avatar]

Despite earlier reports to the contrary (story (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69266)), a post to the Banjo Blog (http://forums.banjo-kazooie.com/blogs/sample_weblog/archive/2008/11/08/13757.aspx) has the good word that Rare will be patching Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts so that the game text is more readable on standard TV's.

“It has come to our attention that people are experiencing subtitle readability issues with Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts on Standard Definition TVs. We would like to assure you that contrary to earlier reports, we are aware of the issue and currently working on a title update to be released within the next 30 days that will fix it for those with Standard Definition TVs. We’re committed to ensuring all fans of the franchise are able to have the best experience possible with Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.”Is 'title update' the new politically correct term for 'Is This The Patch That Adds The Fun?'

[Ozena]

I see these issues two ways . . .

One, it's completely inexcusable for some aspect of a game, no matter what it is, to give a player a disadvantage over another with some different equipment. Like the above Banjo text, or Dead Rising's.

But then a person can look at it from the perspective that these games are meant to be played on an HD set, and designed for such. In that respect, there shouldn't be an issue to begin with.

I agree it should be fixed, but there's probably going to be a back-and-forth until high definition really and truly becomes the one and only medium for people's home entertainment.

[Froggy]

I think testers will be out of a job oh... tomorrowish, considering that the industry just realized that they can get away with letting the public find their game-breaking bugs and ommitions and release a patch. I'm talking to you, Lionhead.

[Syl]

But then a person can look at it from the perspective that these games are meant to be played on an HD set, and designed for such. In that respect, there shouldn't be an issue to begin with.
I think this is entirely a bullshit approach. One of the main aspects of consoles over PC gaming is the fact that a console is "cheaper". If you're FORCED to throw in a multi-hundred dollar TV, that negates the point of them entirely.

This is why Nintendo is printing money at the moment. They went for the lowest common denominator, cheapest system (at launch) that can run on any TV, even the one your grandparents have. Microsoft/rare needs to understand that not everyone who has a 360 has an HDTV. I won't be buying one for many years; I can afford a 360, but I can't afford to put down thousands of dollars on the TV I want to play it on.

[cppcrusader]

But then a person can look at it from the perspective that these games are meant to be played on an HD set, and designed for such. In that respect, there shouldn't be an issue to begin with.


And that's why I don't purchase Capcom games new anymore, because of this mindset. The mindset that you should buy an HD tv to fix something that should have been accounted for in the first place is idiotic and inexusable.


I agree it should be fixed, but there's probably going to be a back-and-forth until high definition really and truly becomes the one and only medium for people's home entertainment.

This still another decade out, at least.

[donkeydrop]

If you don't have an HDTV then buy a PS2 and play the thousands of games that are available for cheap. Ok, you want to enjoy new games but you are just wasting money.

When I want to see my favorite band I have two choices to have a good time, (a) pony up the big money for good seats, or (b) stay home, buy a DVD or CD, some nice food/drink. I learned long ago that option (c), get crappy seats where the band looks like ants, is less enjoyable than burning the money and sitting in a bus station for 3 hours. Plus you end up sounding like a whiner to everyone else.

[Zurik]

I can afford a 360, but I can't afford to put down thousands of dollars on the TV I want to play it on.

This made me laugh, as it sounds like the developer's "You need a $6000 PC to run this" kind of comment. HDTVs are really not that expensive anymore, I paid around $700 for mine and its not a off-brand type that's no good for gaming.

[modeps]

I'm hoping that the same update allows scalable text for HDTV users... that text is way too small.

[Syl]

This made me laugh, as it sounds like the developer's "You need a $6000 PC to run this" kind of comment. HDTVs are really not that expensive anymore, I paid around $700 for mine and its not a off-brand type that's no good for gaming.

The HDTV I want is closer to $1200

I'm not going to spend $700 on a "stop-gap" measure before I can get the one I truly want. As with everything else technology oriented, the longer i wait. The cheaper they become. I have a 36inch SDTV in my living room that works wonderfully well for playing games and watching (standard) DVDs. I don't see any particular reason to replace it just yet. I'm not going to replace it with a smaller display simply because the resolution is higher. Considering how rarely I use my TV, it doesn't make sense to invest so much money into it.

Especially when:
If you don't have an HDTV then buy a PS2 and play the thousands of games that are available for cheap. Ok, you want to enjoy new games but you are just wasting money.
I play almost all the major Xbox 360 releases on my PC, with superior resolution and quality. Not to mention superior controls in some cases, as well as free online.

[Ozena]

I didn't say I agreed with the "HDTV is mandatory" argument, I was just presenting it as an alternate viewpoint.

Again, until HD becomes universal, there's going to be these issues . . . which should be fixed before it becomes a hassle to the public, not after. Playtesting should encompass everything, especially a known problem like this.

[Froggy]

Ok, you want to enjoy new games but you are just wasting money.



That's silly.

[Venkman]

I think this is entirely a bullshit approach. One of the main aspects of consoles over PC gaming is the fact that a console is "cheaper". If you're FORCED to throw in a multi-hundred dollar TV, that negates the point of them entirely.

All the consoles require a display device, just like PC games. If the person wants, they can play an Xbox 360 on a 20 inch monitor from Dell for $200, or a $300, 24 inch HDTV.

You can't even buy CRT TVs in my local Walmart anymore.

[Venkman]

And that's why I don't purchase Capcom games new anymore, because of this mindset. The mindset that you should buy an HD tv to fix something that should have been accounted for in the first place is idiotic and inexusable.


You don't hear about PC users whining that some newer games (or software) require more than a 640x480 screen.

[Furious Wang]

OH MY GOD. HDTVs have been affordable for nearly a DECADE now. GET A FREAKING HDTV ALREADY YOU LOSERS. Jesus Christ. If you can't afford a freaking tv with a S-Cable hookup, you shouldn't be able to afford a freaking current gen system. 1980 called, it wants its tv sets back.

[cppcrusader]

You don't hear about PC users whining that some newer games (or software) require more than a 640x480 screen.

That would be because most PC games these days still support those lower resolutions. ;)

OH MY GOD. HDTVs have been affordable for nearly a DECADE now. GET A FREAKING HDTV ALREADY YOU LOSERS. Jesus Christ. If you can't afford a freaking tv with a S-Cable hookup, you shouldn't be able to afford a freaking current gen system. 1980 called, it wants its tv sets back.

S-video does not an HDTV make. Hell, my tv has component inputs, isn't even five years-old, and still isn't recognized as an "HDTV" by the 360.

[jacktion]

But then a person can look at it from the perspective that these games are meant to be played on an HD set, and designed for such. In that respect, there shouldn't be an issue to begin with.


But these games are not meant to be only played on an HD set. That is incorrect. Most people have non-hd sets. So if Rare wants this game to be for only hd people than that is fine, but they are throwing away a lot of money and aiming at a niche audience.

The real insult here is that apparently Rare is happy to take SD people's money but they don't really make their product for those people.

It is like if you made a car that ran on diesel and unleaded gas. Then when people put unleaded gas in it it doesn't start. Then the car maker says, "We won't be fixing that, even though we sold it as being for unleaded gas cars too."

[Ozena]

But these games are not meant to be only played on an HD set. That is incorrect. Most people have non-hd sets. So if Rare wants this game to be for only hd people than that is fine, but they are throwing away a lot of money and aiming at a niche audience.

The real insult here is that apparently Rare is happy to take SD people's money but they don't really make their product for those people.

It is like if you made a car that ran on diesel and unleaded gas. Then when people put unleaded gas in it it doesn't start. Then the car maker says, "We won't be fixing that, even though we sold it as being for unleaded gas cars too."

The 360 is touted as an HD system . . . as is the PS3.

I'm not saying that people should expect crap just because they don't own an HD set, but it is a driving force behind the consoles.

Ideally, everyone should be accomodated, which is hopefully what this patch will do . . . but how often does every person be pleased, no matter what?

Maybe I should've worded my original post a little better. I'm not supporting the "these games are HD, so live with it" argument . . . just presenting it as an idea, and trying to explain where people are coming from with it.

[Syl]

OH MY GOD. HDTVs have been affordable for nearly a DECADE now. GET A FREAKING HDTV ALREADY YOU LOSERS. Jesus Christ. If you can't afford a freaking tv with a S-Cable hookup, you shouldn't be able to afford a freaking current gen system. 1980 called, it wants its tv sets back.
I have a Wii, PS2, DVD player and my SNES* hooked up through an S-video cable. S-video isn't HD, it's simply the best 480i hookup that my tv has for an input. I also have an input on the switch I use so I can watch movies and listen to music from my ipod directly into my TV. Which is quite nifty.

I'm also sorry that I don't consider $$$ affordable for a SCREEN when I can spend less on the system that actually does all the work to display things on the screen.

Likewise, why do I not have an HDTV? Because i'm a poor college student who has to pay for everything on a waiters wage. $1500 to me was a CAR, not a fucking television.

Likewise, as has been said. The problem isn't the fact that HDTV's are expensive, it's the fact that the the games are made for a system that is marketed for non HDTVs. If 99% of other games on the system are made (Live Arcade titles are *required*) to work with non HD-TVs, I don't see how this one should be an exception.

It's not like the box has a little thing saying "High Definition viewing device required"

*My SNES will continue to be hooked up to every single TV I ever have until it is no longer plausible. <3

Ideally, everyone should be accomodated, which is hopefully what this patch will do . . . but how often does every person be pleased, no matter what?
This isn't a matter of "everyone being pleased" it's a matter of entirely alienating close to half the market for a game. It's part of the reason that PC gaming is failing, something like Crysis getting known for not running on the majority of systems. If your product becomes known for NOT WORKING for the majority of people, it'll vastly impact sales.

[ScottBravesFan]

OH MY GOD. HDTVs have been affordable for nearly a DECADE now. GET A FREAKING HDTV ALREADY YOU LOSERS. Jesus Christ. If you can't afford a freaking tv with a S-Cable hookup, you shouldn't be able to afford a freaking current gen system. 1980 called, it wants its tv sets back.


Do you realize what the average American lives off of a year? Do you realize that there is a recession going on? Do you realize that the unemployment rate is at a 14 year high? Do you realize that HDTV's have not been affordable for a decade and they are still not affordable for some people? They have come down in price the last couple of years but to act like they have been inexpensive for a decade is stupid. And S-cable hookups are not HD. As for not affording a current gen system the Xbox 360 cost 200 dollars new. You aren't going to get a 19 inch HDTV that's worth anything for that price. I'm not sure you could buy the Best Buy or Walmart brand for 200 bucks. Also if someone has a TV that works fine right now they aren't just going to waste that money to buy another one when people are having trouble paying their mortgage.

You should seriously put down the controller and turn on a news channel because you are ignorant in the ways of the real world.

[robcat09]

Likewise, why do I not have an HDTV? Because i'm a poor college student who has to pay for everything on a waiters wage. $1500 to me was a CAR, not a fucking television.

You're a poor college student who somehow managed to afford the extravagance of an Xbox 360? and GAMES, at $60 a pop? Dude, you're not that poor!

I wouldn't imagine playing a current-gen 360 or PS3 game in standard definition. I actually thought 'HD' was required. It should just say so on the box to make everyone's life easier.

[Syl]

I don't have a 360, I have a nice gaming PC that was mainly paid for from insurance due to a hurricane a couple years back.

[Bahamut]

You're a poor college student who somehow managed to afford the extravagance of an Xbox 360? and GAMES, at $60 a pop? Dude, you're not that poor!

I wouldn't imagine playing a current-gen 360 or PS3 game in standard definition. I actually thought 'HD' was required. It should just say so on the box to make everyone's life easier.

Add in the expense of a TV, and then of a TV stand & home theater system that you'd probably want for the TV, and the costs rack up. It is a lot of money to plunk down all at once if you don't have a credit card, and if you spend money on other things such as a car, maintenance for the car, groceries, rent, etc.

[ProfPuppet]

At least they're going to fix it. I remember Dead Rising having the same issue, and the company that produced it going 'Well, we just can't do that. It's, like, images, not actual text, and the download size would be too big.' Lying, incomptetent bastards.

Spattering textshit over the internet

Some people have bills to pay and live in the real world, kiddo.