So hey where's that Fortune Summoners demo (FS status update/chat thread)

[BlondRobin]

The most hilariously annoying example I faced was in Atelier Rorona, where the game had X for confirm and O for cancel everywhere except for the save/load system, which reverted to my Asia-region default of O-confirm and X-cancel.

That's happened to me a few times when I've played imports on the PS3; it seems like Sony's done some standardizing of the OS UI so that it changes button assignments with the regions. SOME games, like Disgaea 4, also change their button assignments with it (so even the Japanese version uses the standards for the console's current region), others don't, so the controls change depending on if you're in the game UI or the OS UI... Hopefully they'll improve on that.

Skyrim seems like something I should probably get sometime in the future, considering how many people seem to be enjoying it. I usually get Bethesda-type games (Oblivion, FO3, FO:NV) when there are plenty of mods out for it, because I tend to get the most enjoyment when I can install mods that make it, well, anime-style.

I'm eager to see what the Japanese modding community will develop for Skyrim. They created some cool stuff, including the premier character visual rework and also a cool (totally not lore-friendly) companion mod, just off the top of my head for Oblivion- I'm hoping they'll do some cool stuff for Skyrim once the actual construction set hits.

[Goldfish]

It confuses me why America ever bothered switching the confirm and cancel buttons on PSone. I mean seriously guys, in what world does it make sense that Circle isn't OK and X isn't No. I've played so many Japanese games that way now that it breaks my mind trying to switch back.

For some odd reason though, Metal Gear Solid game (well at least MGS1-3, haven't played the others) had "O" as confirm while "X" as cancel even in the NA versions. Crazy stuff indeed.

They should implement a way to change the buttons. Could Sony/Micrisoft do it in a PS3 or Xbox 360 updates? (That way even if a game doesn't feature button remapping, at least you could do it via console maybe ?)

Speaking of that - I find it a bit odd that Final Fantasy VII (as far as I remember) is the only game that allowed you to change buttons >.> (though FFVII had a few glitches regarding changing buttons so it wasn't recommend to change it). I don't particularly remember any other RPG allowing you to do that (typically fighting games allow you to change controls but not RPGs).

IMO console games in general need more options for players (it should become a standard if possible).

Let me compare The Last Remnant (PC version) to Final Fantasy XIII (PS3) [Both are games from Square-Enix]:

The Last Remnant features every option you can think of (volume for voices, turning off background music or sound effects, changing keys, etc) but FFXIII just features... reversing the camera controls (this is way better than FFXII though. FFXII lacked that option >.>).

What is the reason why console games usually lack various options PC games have (stuff like remapping buttons, volume control for voices, etc)? Developers being lazy or some sort of limitations?

[BlondRobin]

What is the reason why console games usually lack various options PC games have (stuff like remapping buttons, volume control for voices, etc)? Developers being lazy or some sort of limitations?

Having never worked with consoles I can't give a solid answer, but I can say- sometimes it can actually be differences in design theory. I know of at least one Japanese developer that did not allow remapping controls on the grounds that it would, get this, be an admission that they failed to create the ideal control scheme.

Aside from the insanity that admitting failure/mistakes is a bad thing, it's also amusing that they apparently believed that there is some kind of ideal control scheme, when controls and control preferences are something that are so incredibly individual. To see a great example, check people's opinion on y-axis reversal for cameras (moving the camera view up-down). Some people can't stand it. Other people can't imagine not using it. I dislike it except when controlling a flying vehicle, in which case I absolutely need it.

The point is, I don't think there's any one reason, especially on modern consoles.

[dorbabil]

In the 360 and PC Japanese style RPGs that I've played, the typical use of the 360 controller is similar to the use of the SNES controllers. The green button is confirm and is in the same place as a, the red button is cancel and is in the same place as b, the blue button is usually used for menus and is in the same place as x, and so on.

That's not really how I remember the SNES controller being used, though. Or more specifically the Super Famicom controller that I used, where A is the rightmost button and is red, and is mostly used as Confirm. (B is yellow, X is blue, Y is green.)

Derp, you're right. I must have swapped, in my mind, the red and green button positions (on the 360) when i made that post.

Either that, or i was completely wrong, and the confirm/cancel buttons are typically swapped on the 360 controller, and i've just gotten used to switching between SNES and PSX/360 era games control schemes.

[QC]

Aside from the insanity that admitting failure/mistakes is a bad thing, it's also amusing that they apparently believed that there is some kind of ideal control scheme, when controls and control preferences are something that are so incredibly individual. To see a great example, check people's opinion on y-axis reversal for cameras (moving the camera view up-down). Some people can't stand it. Other people can't imagine not using it. I dislike it except when controlling a flying vehicle, in which case I absolutely need it.

Oh Robin, why do you so often say things that I myself would say? (Often better than I would, too)

Whoever that developer you spoke of was, I have contempt for them. The best thing you can give a player is options. So they can customize/personalize their gaming experience-- ultimately making more enjoyable to them by imbuing it with their personal preferences. Be it controls, difficulty, blood/gore amounts... whatever feasible options you can provide. (I just named the three I'd like to see more often these days)

[oasis789]

We're still going to have the demo out before the end of the month, though, come hell or high water, and I definitely want to see the full game out before the end of the year. The one big consideration for that is the Steam Holiday sale which will be starting sometime in the second half of December, though I have some ideas about that.

Would the Steam holiday sale hasten or delay release? Presumably you wouldn't release during the sale.

[tech7]

More likey delay. This was the case with Chantelise. Imo, they could release during the sale. While they shouldn't offer a bigger discount for FS, they could offer something like, buy FS during the sale and Recettear for free, ors omething like that. Well, we will see.

[TheSwordUser]

The month is ending. Big surprise.

And releasing during or shortly before a sale is not a good idea imo....well, we won't really know until we have 1st month numbers for Cave Story+, which was released a day before thanksgiving sale.

Also, 100th post. Woot.

[JCD]

Part of me would be very disappointed if Fortune Summoners gets pushed back till after the holiday sale. But quite frankly, with the new Terraria patch coming out soon, I'd probably put off buying it for a month or so anyways (there's a lot of lava in hell, and someone's gotta pump it out, right? Right?).

[DDRJake]

There's only 18 hours or so left of my November.

[Goldfish]

The month is ending. Big surprise.

And releasing during or shortly before a sale is not a good idea imo....well, we won't really know until we have 1st month numbers for Cave Story+, which was released a day before thanksgiving sale.

Also, 100th post. Woot.

Agreed. Two problems are:

1. The game has to compete with games on sale.

2. Less advertisement. If you released it outside of sales, usually it will be on the front store page which is good for advertisement.

Though it seems Cave Story+ is doing decently despite the above. It's 17th most sold right now which isn't bad but it probably would have done better if it was released outside of the sale (or outside of any major title release. November is month with lots of games).

[Naryoril]

honestly, i'v got more than enough to play at the moment anyway. I'll most probably buy Fortune Summoners on release day anyway just to support CF in what they are doing (i wish more japanese games would get a localization, i'm currently playing Idolm@ster 2 for example, even though i hardly understand anything of the story, but i love the gameplay). But playing it will have to wait for quite a while unfortunately.

[QC]

While they shouldn't offer a bigger discount for FS, they could offer something like, buy FS during the sale and Recettear for free, ors omething like that.

I like that idea. It could be used with Chantelise as an option instead of Recttear, even. It should help promote CF games in general (primarily FS), regardless of current sales.

I was kinda hoping it'd be out by now myself, if only because I may be losing internet access for a bit soon and that would give me something to play. Oh well...

Here's hoping FS sells well regardless of all other factors~

[DDRJake]

Welp, it's December.

[blizgerg]

Welp, it's December.

I'm assuming he meant the end of November in his time zone. Which, if my assumptions are correct, will be in about 7 hours at the time I write this.

Perhaps he meant the end of November as in the time at which it is no longer November anywhere on the planet? (which if I understand correct will be GMT+13 or 14 or something, weird)