640°

Mad Box Investors Pulling Out After Google Stadia Announcement

Following the announcement of Google Stadia, it would seem that investors are pulling out of the Mad Box console project from Slightly Mad Studios.

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techraptor.net
darthv721855d ago

Well that's understandable.

SierraGuy1855d ago

Not necessarily. I'd rather purchase a MadBox rather than that oddly named "stadia".

b00mFargl31855d ago

MadBox sounds just as stupid if not worse.

Gaming1011855d ago

The name is the least of their concerns... the market is already over saturated. Trying to steal a piece of the same pie away from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo is going to be very difficult for any company. Microsoft is the newest of the three at the game and they're still making hit and miss decisions after almost 17 years in the business this November, and I can hardly believe it's been that long since xbox first released.
I feel old -_-

ThatArtGuy1854d ago

Stadia is the latin plural of stadium. You're welcome.

MajorLazer1854d ago

Screw the name, that's the least important thing

DivoJones1854d ago

Not to mention the MadBox was going to be a physical console while Stadia is an online streaming service. So you're not purchasing "a stadia" but rather buying a game and playing it through the service.

It takes a long time for a console to gain enough brand recognition and earn consumer trust to compete with existing systems. Xbox is still working on that, being the newest of the primary console brands.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1854d ago
1855d ago
meep3161854d ago

how? it makes no sense, but neither did the madbox.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1854d ago
Christopher1855d ago

They shouldn't have invested in the first place if it only took Google to come out. I mean, seriously, the streaming stuff from Google and Microsoft hitting is two years old news in the industry. Why would you invest with that data out there?

blacktiger1855d ago

I agree hundred percent and not only that, ur scared of Google? you should be scared of 94 million sold system

RangerWalk2671854d ago

I would be more afraid of those with deep pockets and those who innovate. Sony is just doing the same thing every gen, which is fine. You'll always have that kind of gamer. But Google and Microsoft have sooooo much more resources and money. They could come out of left field with something as ground breaking as the iPhone. we would have never gotten to the Moon by playing it safe. I'm glad Microsoft and Google are stepping outside of the box.

blacktiger1854d ago

so much more resources doesn't matter u know why because they haven't sold crap, it's all about selling friend not innovate, don't believe me, ask APPLE

rainslacker1855d ago

I wonder if it's just because of Stadia, or maybe the PS5 announcement. Even with what limited specs they did release, which was really nothing beyond some vague hardware mentions, it already looks impressive. It's also reasonable to assume Sony isn't going to price it out of the market, and that they're probably going to go strong into next gen. Mad Box was vague to begin with, and in the market, they'd have a lot of competition which would probably be hard to go up against.

Christopher1855d ago (Edited 1855d ago )

I think, and I know I don't have anything to back it up, but it's an excuse for them to back out without shining a bad light on the company itself and how its plans are likely not going to be able to compete with next generation consoles in general.

italiangamer1855d ago

Other than this, the PS5 would have destroyed this. Reading the tweet in the news makes me laugh like a madman now that we know what Sony has for the next gen.

Kados1855d ago (Edited 1855d ago )

You either did not read much into the MadBox, or you are massively overestimating the PS5. The MadBox was stated to be running native 4k @ 120fps, with hardware that would be considered similar to "a fast PC 2 years from now" (The system was scheduled for a ~2022 release). It would have been easily 50% more powerful than the PS5. Likely in the 16-18TF range. The PS5 and Nextbox will likely be around 10-12TF.

bluefox7551855d ago

Yes, the specs they played up on the "madbox" were obvious BS. A substantially fast pc costs you at least $800, depending on what you mean by fast. No one thinks they're going to sell an $800 console, so they're specs were BS.

MadLad1854d ago (Edited 1854d ago )

Then buy a PC.
Bluefox is right.

PC gaming is actually getting cheaper, and building a really good PC can be had for less than a grand. Easily. It goes up from there, of course. But telling people you're going to have a super computer at console pricing is just a lie.

Kados1854d ago (Edited 1854d ago )

I never said it would be at console pricing, and afaik, neither did they. It was also scheduled for a 2022 release which is 3 years from now. So the hardware wouldn't have been high end by PC standards at the time of release. 2021 hardware, 2022 release. Still be well beyond the mid-range 2020 hardware with a low end laptop grade CPU that the PS5 will have. FYI i already have a high end self built PC.

oricon1855d ago

are you a 10 year old? lol

BizarroUltraman1855d ago

PS5 aint destorying Shit!! Its all Love!

jznrpg1855d ago (Edited 1855d ago )

That’s lame. There is enough room for competition in all things. Just because Google is a big company it doesn’t mean their product will be the best for consumers . If you were going to pull this easy you shouldn’t have invested in the first place .

bluefox7551855d ago

I wish more good competition would come along, but I don't think "madbox" ever stood a chance.

kneon1854d ago

There really isn't much room for more competition in this market. Developers already have to target 3-4 platforms if they aren't going to go exclusive. Each new platform adds development and maintenance costs, so unless a new platform can substantially grow the overall market then it's not beneficial for anyone.

porkChop1855d ago

I can't help but laugh. The CEO of SMS was so smug and full of himself. He was living in fantasy land, talking about how powerful it would be before any hardware deals were even worked out. I wonder if he's still so smug now.

Segata1855d ago

Well it is from the guy who Kickstarted a game for Wii U took Wii U owners money then released the game on everything but Wii U...oh and they said it would release on NX instead. It has not. SMS is run by a scumbag.

porkChop1855d ago

Yup. Pure scum. It's a shame, too. Their games released with issues, but the core of the games were pretty solid.

TheColbertinator1855d ago

I remember that. Still waiting for PCars on Switch like a fool.

The 10th Rider1854d ago

And that was after they would go on about how powerful the Wii U was and how great of performance they were getting out of it. Clearly they were talking out of their asses.

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250°

Avowed Moved to Unreal Engine 5.3

With Support from The Coalition

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gamingbolt.com
ThinkThink1d 9h ago

That's great news. Hopefully the Coalition can smooth some of those edges from the last Avowed reveal.

phoenixwing1d 6h ago (Edited 1d 6h ago )

Well I'm annoyed. Especially at all the ppl who said the graphics sucked. It's your fault they probably shifted the game to unreal so it could look more fancy for you. I was ok with it and hoping to actually play it sometime soon. Now it's like 99% chance it's delayed.
Edit: effing graphics whores

Obscure_Observer21h ago

"Well I'm annoyed. Especially at all the ppl who said the graphics sucked. It's your fault they probably shifted the game to unreal so it could look more fancy for you."

What the hell are you talking about dude? Avowed was already in development using the UE5. The Coalition is just helping Obsidian in the transition to its latest version (5.3)

MrBaskerville20h ago(Edited 20h ago)

Probably not even that big of a difference. Coalition might only have helped because they got a deadline to meet.

Unreal isn't nearly as bad as Unity when you update a project. Though it obviously depends on the project. But unity generally gets an aneyurism if you threaten to update, where Ue is usually less stingy.

Reaper22_20h ago

In excited for Avowed and Gears 6.

Fishy Fingers21h ago

It already was Unreal 5, its just moving to the latest build.

CantThinkOfAUsername13h ago

Latest build is 5.4 and it's better than previous iterations, particularly in animation and performance.

Lightning771d 6h ago

Apparently the latest build looks way better graphically. This rumor from Jez Cordin (who's credible) pretty much confirms it.

Interested in seeing more on Avowed in a few weeks.

Notellin21h ago

UE 5.3 has been out since September of last year. I can't believe this is news or that anyone is hyping this up.

MrNinosan21h ago

As Hellblade failed to set the world on fire, just like Halo Infinite and Starfield before it, it's time to look forward to the next Game of the Decade candidate.
Of course it needs to be hyped up ahead of time 😏

Notellin13h ago

I didn't mean the game itself. I can't believe there is a news article about an Unreal Engine update that launched a year ago.

Reading comprehension is tough for fanboys on N4G.

got_dam5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

@MrNinosan I just want to see what Obsidian can do with a real budget and development time. They have a made a some memorable games with massive time constraints an lackluster funding.

--Onilink--3h ago

Many games stick to a specific version of the Engine they had already been using to avoid delays, problems with migrations to newer stuff etc.
The version being released in September isnt really relevant, just that they decided to make the jump to it at some point in development, which is arguably good news since we know with each iteration, performance has been getting much better

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3h ago
truthBombs20h ago

I liked the games unique artstyle when It was revealed. I hope they're not making the migration based on criticism. It's only a rumor anyways

MrBaskerville20h ago

I imagine the art style will stay the same. But there'll probably be some visual upgrades here and there.

anast20h ago

This was the only game I was jealous of, but It's a wait and see game now. Plus, I can wait until they release it on PSN.

Miraak82 18h ago

Right!!! Obsidian is like only XB GS that I wanna play there games . Pillars of Eternity is one of my fav game franchises and I'd love to step back into the world of Eora . Their world building and rpg systems are one of the best , I hope XB higher ups don't get in the way of them. If they released it on ps I would definitely buy it day 1

anast16h ago

I bought both Pillars for PC and Console. Good games.

Show all comments (28)
230°

Steam Account Transfer Via Will on Death is Not Permitted, Valve Confirms

In case you were curious, a Steam account transfer via will is not permitted according to an official response from Valve.

anast1d 15h ago

The games are theirs. People just pay to ride the ride.

Skuletor23h ago

Would be nice if the article's writer looked into and reported whether other digital game libraries could be transferred over via will (Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo, EGS, EA app, GOG, Ubisoft Connect, Rockstar Launcher etc) instead of this half-baked piece but it's probably the same for all of them anyway

Kornholic22h ago

This seems like a way bigger issue than mandatory PSN account linking for PlayStation games.

So where is the outcry?

Skuletor22h ago

It's not like PlayStation is doing any different.

"You may not sell, buy, trade, or transfer your Online ID, Account or any personal access to PSN Services through any means or method, including by use of web sites."
https://www.playstation.com...

Kornholic3h ago

So you are that saying Steam is being very anti consumer with its policies. That's why I'm so baffled by the lack of outcry from the PC audience.

NotoriousWhiz22h ago(Edited 22h ago)

It's not like your account just stops working when you die. Include your email, account id, and password in the will (including the password to your email) and your survivors should have no problem using your games.

anast19h ago

PC gamers are a different lot. They don't mind renting their games forever, they don't mind spending money on overpriced equipment, and they don't mind fiddling with settings for hours before they even play the game, but linking a PSN account demands a riot. This is hard to understand, but then again, we all have to draw our lines somewhere.

Skuletor19h ago

You sure talk a lot of nonsense.Go look up the percentage of digital sales compared to physical sales of PS5 games, then tell me again about "renting" games.

mandf18h ago

Overblown funny and 100percent true

anast17h ago(Edited 17h ago)

There is no option at all to buy a physical copy of a PC game... And more people game on consoles for the reasons that make PC gamers a different lot.

VIK212116h ago

it's not so much the linking but the fact that certain countries aren't allowed to access psn...

VIK212116h ago

@anast I have a disc ps5 since launch, initially I bought some disc games, but I can't be bothered to walk to a physical store nowadays... I just buy the titles when they go on special sale or gray market store like CDKeys...

DustMan16h ago

PSN was a different story altogether. It kept people who bought the game from playing in countries that PSN wasn't supported. I never understood the issue anyway.

I don't know if PC stuff is overpriced considering that you can buy a new video card with the same amount of money you'd spend over 5 or 6 years paying to play games online with a console. I'll never pay double to use the same connection. That is what I'll never understand about console gamers. "let me pay an extra hundred & twenty dollars a year to use the same internet I pay for monthly and use on literally every device in my home for free....except for my Playstation"

Extermin8or3_15h ago

@Skuletor about 50-60% of sales are digital for most games. Meaning 40-50% are physical....

anast15h ago

@VIK

You might not but you are not the expectation that creates a universal.

Skuletor14h ago

@Extermin8or3_
Right and where are you getting that information from?
https://www.statista.com/st...

@anast

"Renting games"
In the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023, approximately 77 percent of Sony Corporation's PlayStation gaming sales were generated via digital downloads.

"overpriced equipment"
Some people are willing to pay a premium for better performance, the way you keep talking about the PS5 Pro on N4G proves you're a hypocrite in that regard but whatever, lol

"fiddling with settings for hours before they even play the game"
Most pc games will give the option to scan your system to choose recommended settings or start with moderate settings that will run the game fine but you're free to mess around at your own leisure, to improve performance or quality if you wish to. For those that don't want to, there's free software that can do that for you, such as Nvidia's Geforce or AMD's AMD Catalyst. Geforce Experience even gives you the option of choosing whether to prioritize performance vs image quality with a simple slider for easy optimization, it's not rocket science, like you try make it out to be.

"linking a PSN account demands a riot"
Playstation selling Helldivers 2 in regions without the legal means to create a PSN account by Sony's own standards, then telling people in those regions that already bought the game that they can no longer play the game, isn't a cause for concern? Though you've already heard about that but keep going along with your own narrative because of your weird vendetta against PC on here.

This is hard to understand, but then again, we all have to draw our lines somewhere.

PRIMORDUS9h ago

I don't rent I torrent to keep, if they take them down that's ok I don't care I have them LOL. I do buy PC games but very little as I want full control which is why I torrent to keep them in my collection, and I do not give a fuck what the devs or publishers want. I never did never will.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 9h ago
thorstein21h ago

So just give your progeny the passwords.

OtterX21h ago

Keep the password sealed in the Will, only to be opened after death. :)

Aphrodia18h ago

Right? How are they gonna know you are dead?

FinalFantasyFanatic16h ago

The only way they will know is when an account is active for 300 years, lol.

Show all comments (35)
290°

CDPR say Witcher 4 will be different from Witcher 3: "We don't want to be stuck in the same spot"

The next Witcher game will still be an RPG but players can expect new things as CD Projekt Red want to push boundaries and discover new ways of storytelling.

Terry_B1d 13h ago

Each of the 3 existing Witcher games is pretty different from each other..

just_looken22h ago

They were different because they went from being a port studio with there last port being the god awful saints row 2 pc port to making the witcher one.

The first witcher was there first actual game with there own engine the 3rd one showed there years of experience/in house engine improvements.

This witcher game has very very few of the original people behind it and its using unreal engine like so many other games.

The big elephant in the room is that they are now proudly esg supports and go to a panel of esg reps to approve there games now.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

The is cdpr 2020's not the 2010's cdpr we used to know.

https://www.gamesradar.com/...

Take the blood/sex/nudity/adult humor/combat system/rpg mechanics/writing/story charecters/art/design and there passion/drive from the first 3 games throw it in the fucking trash there now you got what they have right now for the witcher 4.

New engine new writing team new everything even esg leadership so yeah "Witcher 4 will be different from Witcher 3"

Sonic188121h ago(Edited 21h ago)

This doesn't sound good without the original team

RiseNShine17h ago

Didn't know that, disgusting, so i'm going from day 1 purchase to wait and see until i know how bad this gets.

Crows9014h ago(Edited 14h ago)

I'll say that cyberpunk 2077 is a great game. Witcher 1 is my favourite game in the series with the 3rd being my least favourite.

We'll see how the new team does.

@risenshine

Never buy day1 regardless of studio

MeatyUrologist12h ago

Uggh thanks for pointing out. Didn't realize they sold out to the esg crowd. Too bad, I thought they were one of the few untouched "gamer" developer. Poland was one of the last non-woke countries left but appears they too have caved to the ESG money.

jznrpg7h ago

It’s common for people to shit on games before they come out. We haven’t even seen anything of Witcher 4. It could be great it could be mediocre etc. I’m not going to prejudge just because the company has interests in other areas. I only care if the Witcher 4 is good or not.

just_looken5h ago

@jzn

I think you need to look at the games dei/esg have been involved in/ help fund like sr/ss

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5h ago
Kaii1d 12h ago

My only issue with 3 was with the combat

bRuud831d ago

Combat was never the strongest part of the series.

just_looken22h ago

True but anyone that thinks witcher 3 2.0 combat is bad would never get past the first section of witcher one.

Profchaos1d ago

I felt 3 was ok took a long for it to click but I tried 2 and I found combat controls to be my biggest barrier to actually enjoying it was about 50 times clunkier than 3

thorstein22h ago(Edited 22h ago)

I thought the weakest point was the copious amount of dialog. Sometimes less is more. I remember clicking through just to get to the objective.

outsider162422h ago(Edited 22h ago)

Compared to W1, W3 feels like a masterpiece in combat..lol.

Nacho_Z20h ago

I loved it despite the combat so if they can get that right it'll be an incredible game. The other thing I wasn't fond of was being deluged with loot, quality over quantity for me.

sagapo20h ago

Can someone tell me what they didn’t like about the combat? Was it the pace or something? Because I didn’t have any problem with the combat once I realized it wasn’t a button mashing type of combat…
I honestly like to know.

Nacho_Z14h ago

Weightless, floaty, without impact and generally unsatisfying.

Also on the hardest difficulty you could literally get one shotted by a dwarf with a wooden club despite max gear so there was a hell of a lot of dodging and rolling, as in almost constantly, which didn't add to the fun.

sagapo13h ago

@Nacho: I haven’t played on the hardest difficulty truth be told so I can’t comment on that part.
My build however was a dual wield/aard sign build; knock back enemies and hit them hard + ranged got deflected. I did dodge and roll a lot anyway with this build so it didn’t really bother me, so yeah, fun for me, not for you I guess.
Thx for sharing your thoughts tho.

thorstein9h ago

I would say that, for me, it was the silly cutscenes in the middle of boss fights that didn't match the fight itself.

Example: I mastered the combat early. In one boss fight, I was untouched, flawless. Then a cutscene shows me barely beating the boss toe to toe.

Ciri vs 3 witches. I took down the one from the cutscene first. She's dead. I blink away. Fight, defeat the other two. And blink to the entrance before the cutscene triggered. Suddenly, I'm in the middle of everything with a crone who has long since been defeated and, instead of blinking away, Ciri becomes the dumbest character ever, and stoops to let the very precious token dangle in front of the crone.

Both of those are narrative breaking.

jznrpg7h ago

It’s the best of the series. Of course it could improve but at least it’s not Elder Scrolls combat which hasn’t changed since ever.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 7h ago
helicoptergirl1d 12h ago

Bethesda seems like a studio that is "stuck in the same spot". Development wise. Glad CDPR are wary of that element in game design.

jznrpg7h ago

They have actually declined from all the systems they had in Morrowind. Acrobatics Athletics is gone. Spells are simpler. Combat hasn’t changed at all. They added a strip of sprint button and you only have enough stamina to run for 10 seconds but you can kill dragons and powerful beings. I could go on but yeah they are stuck in reverse

babadivad4h ago

I was done when they made races purely cosmetic.

Hugodastrevas1d 1h ago

This can either go very well or very badly. I hope the latter.

DaReapa15h ago

So you're wishing bad on the game?
J/k, lol. I assume to know what you meant.

just_looken22h ago(Edited 22h ago)

That is on your mobile device they copied pokemon go few years back
https://www.thewitcher.com/...

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

It was such a flop they removed the videos and removed the link to that article but its still on there servers.

Show all comments (38)