Comments 13,174

Re: Talking Point: Given The Voice Artist Controversy, Will You Be Boycotting Bayonetta 3?

JaxonH

FACT 1: She was offered $4k
FACT 2: By her own admission, she recorded Bayo2 in 16 hrs- 4 days of 4-hr sessions
FACT 3: Wage table shows going rate for 4 days of 4-hr sessions to be $4k

She refused $250/hr going rate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1k7Cwr66O0&t=452s

Untitled

What I think happened is, she let her ego get the best of her, thought she was irreplaceable as if any other posh British VA couldn't do the gig, and out of pride refused the offer, thinking she was some A-list Hollywood celeb.

Platinum said ok, we'll have to hire someone else then. Fast forward 5 years, reviews drop and they're glowing, fans are going crazy with excitement, and suddenly she realizes her mistake- the series can AND WILL go on without her. Suddenly she regrets passing on the job, and in a fit of rage uploads videos in an attempt to enact retribution.

She conveniently omitted the $4,000 was for just 16 hours work, phrasing it as "for the ENTIRE GAME", and banked on peoples' ignorance of required hours and going rates for union VA work.. She bamboozled everyone. And Twitter took the bait- hook, line and sinker.

As a result, she has tanked her career permanently (though of note is the fact she hasn't done any voice work since 2014- which only strengthens the case she was not some notable VA that perhaps deserved more than the standard union rate). Ironically, this is the best publicity the game could have ever received.

In the 48 hours after the incident, Bayonetta 3 skyrocketed up to #25 on Amazon Best Sellers chart. It was around #70-80 the day before the controversy broke. As they say, "Controversy = cash" and "All publicity is good publicity". There is truth in those statements. Because the average joe who isn't looking to parade their faux moral virtue isn't going to care that some VA they never even heard, for one language, declined an offer they didn't like.

Coming to terms with the fact there are literally ppl boycotting a game because some VA, in their pride, refused a standard union wage offer of $250/hr, a wage most ppl would kill for, is the epitome of fake outrage and virtue signaling. To be fair, most ppl didn't know the offer was actually reasonable at first. They took her at her word when she said it was "insulting". But "insulting" to someone with an inflated ego isn't the same thing as objectively unfair.

It also kills me seeing hypocrites boycott this game, while reviewing Overwatch 2 and Diablo Immortals. You're ok with rape, sexual harassment, intimidation, not paying workers, etc, but God forbid a company make an offer of $250/hr exceeding union wage scale. THAT is downright unforgiveable... how dare they!

Meanwhile, others do it just because they have an inflated sense of self-worth and like to flaunt their false morality for all to see on social media. They're not concerned with truth, or investigating the facts, verifying info... none of that. Why? Well, because then they'd lose the opportunity to parade their virtue. They're so desperate for a cause to rally behind, they don't care if it's a sham controversy or not. As long as they can leverage it for personal gain.

It's because they're fakers. They like to romp around on their high horse, basking in the glory of their own self-righteousness. They love the "atta boy's" and back pats and circle jerking from other like-minded fakers. Makes em all feel so morally superior to everyone else.

Re: Bayonetta's OG Voice Actor Asks Fans To "Boycott" Third Game After PlatinumGames Wage Fallout

JaxonH

@rjejr
That’s reasonable assessment.

At the end of the day, I get it. She feels shafted. But that doesn’t justify slandering Jennifer Hale and telling fans they should skip the game just because she refused an offer she didn’t like.

She clearly accepted the offer for Bayonetta 2, and I guarantee they didn’t offer less than that game. So… it’s just a case of her demanding more than the going rate, then getting upset they said ok fine, we’ll hire someone else then.

I can sympathize with her, but it irks me that she’s bad mouthing the new voice actress. I would never in a million years boycott a game over something so frivolous as someone refusing an offer they didn’t like, but even if I was, bad mouthing the new voice actress would cause me to do a complete 180.

Re: Bayonetta's OG Voice Actor Asks Fans To "Boycott" Third Game After PlatinumGames Wage Fallout

JaxonH

So here's my thoughts.

First off, I love her as Bayo and would have been glad to see her return. And I can appreciate the fact she stood on her principles and refused an offer she felt wasn't enough. I don't know if it was high, low or normal. Surely they didn't offer her less than for Bayo2 and she accepted that. So... it seems to me she just wanted more, and maybe she deserved it. In fact, let's assume she did deserve more. OK fair enough. She rightfully voted with her actions and more power to her.

However.

Saying, "Jennifer Hale has no right, I'm the one who made the voice, you should skip the game and donate your money instead" is crossing the line. If it bothers her that much, she should have just taken the job. I admire her sticking to her guns, but you can't then go and get salty they hired someone else and expect fans to just skip out on a masterpiece.

I'm sorry. But no. I'm not skipping this game. I shouldn't have to miss out on a top shelf game because a voice actress refused a gig.

Jennifer Hale is one of the most prolific and successful voice actors in all of gaming. If the pay was good enough for her, then it seems to me expecting more than what the most prolific voice actor is willing to accept was expecting too much. But even if it wasn't, slandering Jennifer Hale for taking a role you refused is downright scummy.

Re: Talking Point: It's About Time Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night Came To Switch

JaxonH

@-wc-
Definitive proof beyond reasonable doubt? No.

But I can present the evidence and reasons for why I believe it if you're curious to know

1) Sony has a long history of buying up exclusives at every turn. Be it Godfall, Kena, Oddworld, Deathloop, KOTOR Remake, Stray, Ghostwire Tokyo, Forspoken, Solar Ash, Little Devil Inside, Final Fantasy VII Remake 1, Final Fantasy VII Remake 2, Final Fantasy XVI, etc.

Heck, Little Devil Inside was a game I personally kickstarted for Nintendo, but Sony swooped in and paid the devs off to make it a timed PS5 exclusive. Now we're hearing they pay devs to not release games on Gamepass, too? Absolutely no line they won't cross.

2) Every other modern re-release of Castlevania games has been multi-plat, and the Switch versions have consistently ranked higher on sales rankings charts, evidence that there is incentive and desire to release these games on Switch. And yet, the one game that was originally a PS release, is conspicuously only released for PS4.

3) The game released right around the time of Belmonts in Smash, which provides motive, capitalizing off the hype

4) The alternate explanation, that Konami just arbitrarily decided to re-release the most desired entry on PS and no other platforms, despite the clear record and trend doing the exact opposite, seems more unlikely than the aforementioned theory in preponderance of the evidence.

Re: Talking Point: It's About Time Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night Came To Switch

JaxonH

It's been time.

But ****block king Sony did what they do best- swooped in and paid Konami to keep it off Switch to capitalize off Simon and Richter in Smash. Literally ever other Castlevania game is multiplat. There is no reason Konami would intentionally skip other platforms, especially with the Switch versions of the collections outselling other versions. Unfortunately they're as petty as they come. Any opportunity to screw other players to devalue their platform, they're on it like a shark on blood.

Re: Review: Shovel Knight Dig - A Finely Formed Roguelite That Strikes 16-Bit Gold

JaxonH

@Retrogamindaddy
Also, since you got me interested enough to do some research, I have to seriously question your assertion that they are so different I can't rightfully say I dislike one if I dislike the other.

https://whatnerd.com/what-is-a-roguelike-roguelite-difference/

ONE tiny aspect makes the difference. Literally one. You could hit all the bullet points of randomization, permadeath, exploration, etc, but not be top down and boom, roguelite. You were trying to use my lack of detailed knowlege against me banking on the fact I wouldnt look it up. But I did. And thats a wild assertion to make. I tell you I've played half a dozen games with 6-7 shared aspects, and you think I'll magically like it if its also top down and turn based? That's ridiculous.

As I said, I don't like the death aspects of starting over. And that is common across both. So it literally makes no difference.

Furthermore, per the linked article,

But for everyone else, the distinction doesn't seem to matter much at all. Any game with procedural generation and harsh penalties upon death tends to get labelled as a "roguelike" these days—and this trend seems to be entrenched more and more with every passing year.

So while there are technical differences between the terms "roguelike" and "roguelite," we might just have to throw in the towel and accept that the original definition of a "roguelike" no longer holds.

...makes very clear it's not uncommon to lump them together as I have. So please, let it rest with this whole lecture on the difference.

Anyways, one thing you said I do agree with,

there are good games in most genres, but not all genres are for everyone

I'm a firm believer every gamer can enjoy every genre, and I quite literally buy and play games from every genre. I used to hate turn based, now I'm a diehard turn based fan. I used to hate shmups, now I'm a shmup lover. All it takes is finding 1 game to change your perspective. But there are a small selection of genres I have yet to find that magic game that sells me on it. I'm not giving up, but I am becoming more skeptical. Whereas I used to buy every game in the genre no questions asked to explore my tastes, I'm now waiting for one that really catches my interest by showing some indication of better progression between deaths without as much repetition during replays. I'll know it when I see it.

Re: Review: Shovel Knight Dig - A Finely Formed Roguelite That Strikes 16-Bit Gold

JaxonH

@Retrogamindaddy
Sigh...

I love conversating, but I hate arguing. And your response, right off the bat, was some anal nitpick that served no purpose other than to get on a high horse with, "well actually" and I just don't have the time or interest in that.

I gave you my reasoning, and yet again with the, "well actually". I have no interest in petty arguments being started with me for no reason. I'm enjoying life too much to get dragged down into misery by those desperate for company.

I don't like them. I don't like the death aspects. I've never liked any of the ones I've played. I don't care about the subtle differences between because I'm not writing a book about it. Many ppl use the term interchangeably, and I don't care enough to do otherwise.

Re: Bandai Namco Releases Switch Demo For Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival

JaxonH

@MewTwins
I'm not. At least, not digitally til it's on deep discount. I got it physically cause I collect. For one, it uses a subscription model, most of the songs of which are Drum n Fun DLC songs. Guess it depends if you're interested in the subscription model.

All the Drum n Fun DLC costs like $350. But you own forever and can pick and choose. Rhythm Festival costs less if you just do the sub for a few months but you don't own anything from the subscription.

Re: Bandai Namco Releases Switch Demo For Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival

JaxonH

@Rykdrew
As mentioned in my above post, you can buy from Amazon Japan for $65 USD shipped, which is cheaper than the $70 + tax + shipping (potentially) the official Bandai Namco Store charges.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/4961818028876/dp/B07D1H7CW3/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=2BGJ6VMQMYLTR&keywords=%E5%A4%AA%E9%BC%93%E5%A4%AA%E9%BC%93&qid=1664157581&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjM5IiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=taiko+drum%2Caps%2C187&sr=8-2

Re: Bandai Namco Releases Switch Demo For Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival

JaxonH

I just ordered the Hori drum from Amazon Japan for $65 USD shipped

Gotta love that exchange rate 😉

Bought Drum n Fun digitally for $9.99 and I'm off to the races. I have Rhythm Festival physically preordered so I'll try that too, but I don't like the subscription. I'm gonna buy it digitally also when it's on deep discount. For now, I just plan to buy a DLC pack every week for Drum n Fun and after a year I'll own them all. Will do the same for Rhythm Festival, for whatever songs they do end up selling as permanent DLC.

Re: No Man Sky's 4.0 Update Will Be "Fully Focused" On The Nintendo Switch Launch

JaxonH

@BadPlayerOne
You're telling me. I have all of them preordered both digitally and physically (don't ask), as well as the collector edition for Persona 5 Royal and Bayonetta 3, and the gold edition for Mario + Rabbids.

I'm gonna have to dip into my emergency fund and make a deposit at the bank

@Krysus
Should never judge a game by install size, especially on Switch. It's normal for Switch games to reduce file size by 67% or more. Persona 5 Royal cut down from around 45gb to less than 15gb, for example.

No Man's Sky was never large on other platforms anyways. It launched on PS4 at only 6gb. So cutting down to 3.2gb is actually not even a 50% reduction. Other games have seen far larger reductions.

Re: Where To Pre-Order Fire Emblem Engage On Switch

JaxonH

It's so good!

I only really care about CEs when they have a steelbook case and art book, and guess what... this has both!

The box is soooo gorgeous too. And the game in general is just spectacularly beautiful. You better believe I'm grabbing this! In fact put me down for two!

Re: Rayman Returns In Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope DLC

JaxonH

@gloom
??

The entire point of the game is to do a crossover with the Rabbids and offer an experience unlike what traditional Mario games offer. Rayman is where the rabbids originated. So actually, it's a lot more than "just an Ubisoft character". Throwing Assassin's Creed in, that would be "just an Ubisoft character". This? This is the most natural fit they could have chosen. Just as with the DK expansion in the first game (DK was the game Mario originated in), Rayman is the game Rabbids originated in.

Re: Review: Pawarumi - An Amazing Shmup That's Like Ikaruga On Steroids

JaxonH

@MsK
Just got into the shmup genre after a lifetime of gaming ignoring it. I'd beaten Ikaruga and Sin & Punishment but didn't even know who Cave was.

Now I'm on a rampage buying everything I can. Just grabbed this game digitally and physically through Play Asia. Maybe one day we could see a follow up, similar to how Ikaruga followed Radiant Silvergun? Perhaps with some added features for filthy shmup casuals like myself? A rewind feature such as seen in ProGear in Capcom Arcade Stadium would do wonders for learning from mistakes. Maybe disable leaderboards if using it?

Re: UK Charts: TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection Cleans Up On Switch

JaxonH

@KindofaBigDeal
Yes, but it's their money and their right to choose to do whatever they want with it. At the end of the day we're gamers, not activists. If you feel it sends a bad message, vote with your wallet. If they feel it's worth it despite the message it sends, they are free to cast their vote how they wish, irrespective of whether or not you approve.

Where you cross the line is when you start insulting ppl over what they buy with their money. You don't have to approve, or like it. But if you think that means that gives you the right to insult others for what they do with their money, you're mistaken. Ppl can burn their money in a bonfire if they want. And neither you nor I have any right to say anything to them about it, regardless of whether we personally think it's foolish.

Re: UK Charts: TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection Cleans Up On Switch

JaxonH

@KindofaBigDeal
Let ppl buy what they want.

I personally am not buying it since it's a story driven game and I already played it (if I do buy again it'll be on Steam down the line for $29.99). I hated the 2nd one but did like the first.

But still. If ppl think it's worth it to them, let them enjoy it. As I said, a story driven game with no replayability getting 3 HD releases in 9 years, with the final release cutting content for $70... I'm not interested, even with the gyro aiming. But what others do with their money is their perogative.

Re: New Tales From The Borderlands Footage Provides Laughs And Thrills

JaxonH

I watched that 18 minute trailer and went from no interest to preorder confirmed.

I'm not even really into these types of games, but the humor and characters grabbed me. The first is included in the physical release as a free download too, and is Telltale's highest rated game I believe at an 88 (or one of the highest, anyways).

This is being developed by Gearbox though which is really cool. The formula works so well for Borderlands.

Re: Poll: Do You Actually Want Switch Ports Of Wind Waker And Twilight Princess?

JaxonH

Of course I do.

I want every video game on the planet on Switch OLED.

Ppl buy ports and remasters of games in droves on other consoles when they offer nothing more than "it's native 4k now instead of checkerboard! $70 please!". How much more then will people want ports and remasters of games that will offer a new way to experience them- handheld + console + tabletop...

The ppl who are happy with older versions don't have to buy it. But at least make it an option for those who want it. And I don't think I need to explain just how many ppl want all their fave games to go hybrid.

Re: Nintendo Switch Sales Surpass 111 Million

JaxonH

@SwitchVogel
but no way does it pass the DS in sales

Mmmm...

I see no way it doesn't pass DS sales at this point. They only thing that can stop it is Nintendo themselves, releasing a successor before it gets there.

Just consider the sales trajectory.

Yr 1 18m
Yr 2 35m
Yr 3 56m
Yr 4 85m
Yr 5 107m
Yr 6 128m (projected).

Switch will only be 26m away from the DS come March 2023 on its 6th year anniversary. It would only need to sell another 16m in Yr 7 and 10m in Yr 8 to break the record. Considering it did 23m last year and is on track for 21m this year, it would take a massive trend shift to not pull at least 16m and 10m the following two years.

And that's not accounting for the fact it has yet to receive a price drop, or the fact they have one good revision left in them to push at the tape. The only way Switch doesn't average 13m per yr for the next two years, is if Nintendo themselves intervenes with a successor. But given their language regarding a "longer generation" and the fact they're still blowing out over 20m units per year, I don't foresee them throwing a stick in the spokes any time soon.

Re: Game Journalist Doubles Down On Zelda News At Upcoming Nintendo Direct

JaxonH

I was going to buy Windwaker and Twilight Princess digitally on Wii U before the store closes (I have physical but can't be bothered with changing discs/carts anymore). But I'm waiting until March first to see if they come to Switch.

It Takes Two is a perfect fit for Switch. Surprised it didn't release on the system to begin with, tbh.

Re: Soapbox: Endless Zelda Remakes Are A Poor Substitute For Backwards Compatibility

JaxonH

Switch can't be BC, obviously, due to the radical departure from previous disc based PowerPC architecture systems. So... this feels like a moot argument to make.

That said, I'd rather have remasters any day of the week. I value the jump to HD, the critical fixing of mechanics like adding non-motion controls and full camera control in Skyward Sword, or the upcoming Metroid Prime which will surely add gyro aiming and dual analog controls.

BC is fine if the games are recent and already HD and already offer gyro aiming, etc. But for sub-HD games from a bygone era? Ya. No thanks. I'll take the remasters.

Re: Japanese Charts: SD Gundam Battle Alliance Is Switch's Top-Seller In Strong Week For Sony

JaxonH

Only time PS games are ever top 10 is the week of new releases. I see Soul Hackers flopped. Atlus said it was their "big new property" implying they expected Persona numbers... that clearly didn't happen. Should've put it on Switch. I'm not gonna bother playing it unless it makes the jump.

SD Gundam is yet another example that, when games release day and date on Switch, they outperform. That wasn't always the case. I remember 3rd party games doing significantly worse on Switch back in 2017-2018 in Japan. But now? Even 3 year late ports hit 75% of the original launch sales. It's crazy.

@Sam_ATLUS
I don't expect PS sales to drop in the short term, because although the price increase will lessen demand (that's just an economic principle), there's still enough demand to buy out all the supply.

HOWEVER.

What it will result in for the short term, is boosted sales for Xbox Series. Here's why. Let's say there's 70k ppl per week looking to buy a PS5. Price increase drops that to 60k. Say they're only supplying 40k... they still sell out the 40k. But the other 10k who decided it was too much, they may decide to buy an Xbox instead. Maybe 5k of them do. Xbox sales increase from 5k per week to 10k per week.

This is all hypothetical with random numbers for the sake of illustration, but you get the point. I think in the short term PS sales stay flat, Xbox sales get a small boost, and over the long term it costs Sony 3-5% of their total sales, but the drop won't be tangibly noticed because it'll filter down and gradually come out of the tail end of its lifespan.