The Bobby Blackwolf Show

686 - 11/24/19 Bobby Blackwolf Show - Google Stadia Impressions, Half-Life: Alyx Confirmed

  • We open with a tribute to one of the main creators of EverQuest, Brad McQuaid, who passed away at the age of 51.
  • I got my Google Stadia Founders Edition, and the technology works and uses a lot of data, but the service isn't there yet. Like the old AT&T You Will ads predicted, game streaming WILL be how we play games in the future, but the company to bring it to us will NOT be Google.
  • Valve announced Half-Life: Alyx, a new AAA VR game coming out in March of 2020.
  • A lot of people are asking why Alyx doesn't have arms and why that breaks immersion, but I present the case that not having arms is better than having arms that aren't tracked (and are therefore not the same as the actual position of your arms.)
  • Then we take a call about how both VR and game streaming can't be the future.


AT&T You Will



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Podcast by - 11/27/2019 4:50 PM100 views

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e3vL
e3vL
11/29/2019 3:26 AM

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Seen a lot of mixed reviews for Google Stadia even from major mainstream outlets; most calling out 'great when it works'. Unless you have the perfect setup and if ISPs are willing to take out data caps (not likely seeing no net neutrality) it's hard for most to jump in.

I personally think Google Stadia came out at least a year too early. Especially with the weak launch window lineup having over 90% of it being games that are 1+ years old at higher cost than there competitors, no exclusive killer app, and not working on all devices/screens at launch

Calling the next Half Life game, 'Half-Life: Alyx' instead of 'Half Life 3' tells me that it's going to be more of a glorified tech demo to get gamers on the fence into VR instead of a killer app that everyone must buy.

Have yet to see a killer app/game for VR that has mainstream appeal. Think VR needs at least half a dozen to get most interested seeing the high cost of hardware, and to get AAA developers/publishers to make games for it.

Hardware needs to be more steamline. A co-worker of mine was confused with PSVR (like he was with Wii U) on whether you needed a console or not; and in the end decided not to purchase it.

Even with success of PS VR, Sony has yet to make a AAA first party title for the platform.

Don't think game streaming is going to phase out traditional (disc, digital download) gaming anytime soon. Look at the music industry for example.

We have our music steaming services like Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc

But we still have digital downloads: itunes, Google play music.

Physical media is still strong. People don't buy CDs and cassette tapes, but vinyl is very popular now for some reason.
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