Topic: L.A. Noire - OT

VIRTUOS BEHIND L.A. NOIRE ON NINTENDO SWITCH

https://www.nintendo-insider.com/virtuos-behind-la-noire-on-n...

@JaxonH Don't get me wrong, HD rumble is nice, and is the next step for rumble technology...I just don't really care about it. It's a nice little addition, but it does absolutely nothing for me when it comes to convincing me to buy a game. Maybe gimmick was the wrong word for it, but ultimately what I was trying to say is that better visuals matter far more to me than a slight rumble improvement, especially with a game like this.

@KirbyTheVampire
Gotchya. And I agree. HD Rumble is nice, I really do like it, but it's more of a nifty extra than it is a version selling feature.

For me, it's the versatility of the Switch version. I play mostly at home docked, but I just love not being restricted to it, and I feel such liberation knowing if/when I leave I can keep playing. Or even just running downstairs to heat up some pizza, or going to the bathroom, or lounging in a recliner downstairs. Visiting my brother and taking my system with me to play over there, and I can still dock it on his TV if I want, or not...

If given the choice, that will always take priority for me. Maybe if the graphics were a substantial enough leap I would pick another version (like say, the jump from 3DS to PS4) but games on Switch look pretty similar- high enough up on the visual ladder that the difference becomes kind of like HD Rumble- a nice little extra but nothing that will sell me on that version

@JaxonH Yeah, it's definitely worth it for people who play with it as a handheld a lot. I'll probably even start taking it out of the dock more once games like Animal Crossing come out. I just tend to use the TV when I'm not playing something really casual, because the small screen, the lowered resolution, and the lack of the Pro controller all combine to make playing it in portable mode a not quite as enjoyable experience, at least for me. It's probably largely due to the fact that aside from my Gameboy Color with 1 game, this is the first portable system I've ever owned, and I'm not nearly as used to it as other people are.

@KirbyTheVampire
Oh you never owned a 3DS? Ya for me, this thing is the most comfortable portable system I've ever owned, with incredible HD resolution that looks almost as good as the TV (quite a dramatic improvement coming from 240p 3DS). Full button set with clickable analogs... we've never had a portable system like this before. Vita was the closest to a real console and even that was missing ZL/ZR and clickable analogs, and sub-HD.

But tbh, I always bought handhelds for the exclusive games. I would take 3DS and Vita on trips, but that was seldom. Took to work, but only when I was really into a game.

With Switch, my whole mindset and behavior is changing. I bought a slim black case with built in handle and zipper pocket inside- enough room to fit a huge 26,800mAh portable battery with USB-C Power Delivery (So it charges as fast as official charger) and USB-C PD Wall charger, a tiny foldable tripod for tabletop mode with just enough room to plug in to charge while playing, and Bose earbuds, and 20 games. It's so convenient now to just grab Switch out of the dock, put in case and take it with me to work everyday. Some days I'm too busy to play it but some days I'm not. But I take it with me everywhere.

When I went to get my oil changed and car washed at the dealership, I busted out my Switch and played Zelda for an hour. As long as I take it with me everywhere, I'll always have it when the situation arises. It's just a whole new lifestyle and way of thinking. I was never much of a portable gamer before but this system has made me a portable gamer now.

And I like that. Playing MHXX the other day with TeeJay, my old MH4U hunting buddy, and a quest started so I couldn't just pause or disconnect or die, so I undocked and took with me to the kitchen downstairs while I got more tea and crackers, went to the bathroom, then came back and docked and kept playing. The Wi-Fi connection ensured I stayed connected the whole time during the transition. It's... hard to go back once you've grown accustomed to these kinds of benefits

@JaxonH Yeah, I never ended up picking one up, which is something I regret, since it has a great library. I might end up buying one someday, but seeing as I bought a PS4 and a Switch within a couple months of each other, and a total of 10 games to go with those systems (and a couple fairly cheap PC games on the side), I wouldn't feel okay with buying a new system right now, even though variations of it like the 2DS are dirt cheap at this point.

But yes, compared to other handhelds, it's a masterpiece, and I'm sure I'll get more used to it in time.

I have both Lemmings and Lemmings 2: The Tribes on the SNES and on the Game Boy. I have both Space Station Silicon Valley and Body Harvest on the N64.
And I have Bully: Scholarship Edition, Manhunt 2, and Rockstar Table Tennis on Wii.
I don't know if I counted all of the Rockstar Games I have, but L.A. Noire is going to be in my collection as well. Well, as long as there's no mandatory download in the physical release.

As for which version to get, obviously the Switch version.
I have no 4K TV and no VR headset, but even then, I want the full game on a cartridge and on the go.

I really see no value in systems that need mandatory downloads for physical games. All those physical XboxOne and PS4 discs are dead shells in 20 years (or in the case of NBA 2K18 incomplete shells), while I can still play my Switch version of L.A. Noire out of the box.

At least that's what I hope.

Nintendo sells you full games on physical media so that when you pay for them you own them infinitely (or as long as you want). The others only sell a disc with a license to unlock and play the game: you pay but don't own.

Even with 10$ - 20$ "Switch tax" you get more for your buck.

@SKTTR
Agreed. I'd prefer if all games were 100% on cart- I'd pay $10 extra for that every time. But, if the odd game has certain content as a downloadable update, as long as part of the game is playable, that's still better than digital. Obviously in those instances the tax isn't justified. But like with NBA 2k, let's say the single player campaign and exhibition is all available on cart, and it's just the side modes as an update... that's doable. As for RE Revelations, it's understandable since both games total more than a 32gb cart. At least one of them comes on cart. That's how they did it on Vita for a lot of games. Obviously it's not ideal but it's still better than 100% digital.

And, I don't trust digital store fronts to remain open that long but I do trust update content to remain open that long. As more and more people buy digital, I think they're going to have to accommodate those people by providing a way for them to re-download their software when necessary.

So, this was a game that always intrigued me, because I love the setting. I thought it was sort of a point-and-click, though, since it has a sleuthing theme... and now I realize it's an actual, fully-realized open world?

OK then, day one for me.

While I appreciate the sentiment, and I prefer owning physical games, you absolutely don't own physical games indefinitely. I was just reading an article yesterday that seems like the perfect explanation of why not, so I'll just link it here: https://kotaku.com/why-some-video-games-are-in-danger-of-disa...

@SKTTR

Please elaborate.

There's no difference between the two. You're not buying a download code, and you don't need to download anything. There's a big difference between installing the game from your disc onto your HDD, and downloading the game. When the PSN store is closed down in 50 years, I can still buy an old PS4, pop in the disc, install the game from my disc, and play the game (provided the physical media itself still works of course).

The only thing I'd worry about are all the patches, but that's an issue across all consoles.

@Octane I dare not think what world we will live in come 50 years time, let alone where video gaming will be. Mario will be a very old man, probably a little too old to go around chasing princesses. May even have a pacemaker. So many questions.

L.A. Noire is just 49,99€ whereas Skyrim and Doom are at 69,99€.

I think I'm going to preorder L.A. Noire and Super Mario Odyssey for now.
Hope I can find Skyrim and Doom a bit cheaper.

@SKTTR
EU really needs a discount program like we have in the US.

When I can get LA Noire for like $35.99 Day one (20% off + 6% back + 4% back) I can't find a reason not to. When Doom and Wolfenstein are $43 each day one, it's really hard not to order both. When Mario Odyssey And FIFA 18 and NBA 2K18 is $33 day one, I have a hard time not ordering two copies.

If games were $70 with no discounts I might not be so cavalier with my games purchases...

Games are usually €60 over here. Not sure why AAA games on the Switch are suddenly €70...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild started this new expensive trend in Europe with a retail and download price of 69,99€. We haven't had such a high price for a standalone 1st party game since the N64. On Wii U all first party games were 59,99€ at most and 69,99€ was the exception for just a couple of 3rd party games.

Switch games are generally more expensive overall, not just on retail but in the eShop as well.

@JaxonH Aren't all those day one deal's physical only? That drives me crazy with Amazon. I only want digital and I have to pay MORE for them even though it definitely cost far less to create and distribute digital.

@Hawkstream

I actually use BestBuy, but yes it's physical. Digital is same price due to price integrity. Cost for them doesn't factor in.

I usually scoop a code off eBay or something when I want digital. Got Splatoon 2 a few days ago for $40, cheaper than I paid physical

@SKTTR I've never seen €70 for any retail game until Zelda. There were some exceptions, but those were limited or special editions, or came with a season pass or something like that. I don't have a Switch yet, so I can't check for myself, but I was genuinely surprised when I read this is the new norm.

Guess Switch tax applies to big games too

The situation here in Canada is pretty bad because Best Buy doesn't have the same club as the US and Amazon butchered the Prime savings (went down to 10% from 20% and now it is ONLY pre-orders, not games up to 2 weeks after release). Most games in Canada are 79.99 so the 10% off doesn't help that much. I am still debating on LA Noire because it is slightly cheaper at 64.99. Hopefully reviews are out on the Switch version prior to release date so I can make a snap judgment to get the 10% discount..

I hope L.A. Noire fits on a single cartridge, that's the only thing concerning me about this game and future Switch games.

56 days remaining until release.