- 5,300
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- MRT_Cinnamon
Slightly Mad Studios is Working on Its Own Console
- Thread starter GTPNewsWire
- 345 comments
- 38,641 views
- 24,614
- Anoka, MN
You mean besides dropping hundreds of dollars on the games and other aspects of the hobby?
Considering how expensive this hobby is, I don't think it's a bad thing to voice your concern. If anything it's a positive thing as it allows companies the opportunity to address issues before they become a major problem.
Corsa
Premium
- 2,104
- United States
I'm not a boy in anyway, I have three daughters older than you.
I am saying it's ridiculous to for us to pick up virtual swords and go to battle over a box we haven't even seen a picture of or read it's specs.
Who knows what it is or isn't?
What if it really will "blow the competition out of the water"?
I'm optimistic.
- 5,051
- Netherlands
If you use common sense it is unlikely the madbox will have any mass appeal. A premium console with a hefty pricetag and good profit margin for a niche public is more realistic. If they manage to build a console with propiety software and/or hardware competing with Nintendo/microsoft/Sony will be a tough task. If it runs without propiety software or hardware the console will also need to compete with High end PC's or DIY PC's. So personally I think its a moneypit.
Did no one read @OJT6627's post about the plan for a B2B (business to business) version of PCARS? The Mad Box being (primarily) a boxed-PC "console" for commercial use to play that special non-consumer version of PCARS is the most likely and straightforward explanation for this. A good insight on @OJT6627's part, instead of jumping to conclusions, as I did myself.
Regarding the usual chorus of "buggy and unfinished!" and "poor controller support!" -- I spent last night playing PCARS2 online for hours, winning a few races as well as qualifying and finishing on the podium with the DualShock 4, against a 3/4 full room of mostly wheel users, without experiencing even one bug, glitch, or any network hiccups worse than brief stutters when someone would join or leave a running session.
I will admit I've only just begun playing the game online, having only purchased PS+ recently for the intention of playing The Crew 2...but between PCARS2, Ride 3, and TC2, the smoothest and most rewarding experience so far has been with PCARS2, and I think it's how I'll be getting my money's worth out of PS+ for the time being.
On the subject of playing with a controller, there is room for improvement, but the analog stick steering is now way different to how it was at launch or in the demo, and smooth and relaxed compared to PCARS1. It is comfortable enough that I have drifted rallycross tracks until the car runs out of gas. "Flow" is achievable. Most likely not for everyone, but it's no pain in the hands like PCARS1 was for me.
I was there for PCARS2's launch and I know how bad it was, I know some bugs still remain, and I know which cars to avoid driving (and ones that used to be on that list, but are now fixed). If you are unwilling to give SMS another chance, then don't, and it's SMS's own fault that they have this reputation, but it's a fact that most impressions of PCARS2 from those who haven't continued playing it are out of date.
Regarding the usual chorus of "buggy and unfinished!" and "poor controller support!" -- I spent last night playing PCARS2 online for hours, winning a few races as well as qualifying and finishing on the podium with the DualShock 4, against a 3/4 full room of mostly wheel users, without experiencing even one bug, glitch, or any network hiccups worse than brief stutters when someone would join or leave a running session.
I will admit I've only just begun playing the game online, having only purchased PS+ recently for the intention of playing The Crew 2...but between PCARS2, Ride 3, and TC2, the smoothest and most rewarding experience so far has been with PCARS2, and I think it's how I'll be getting my money's worth out of PS+ for the time being.
On the subject of playing with a controller, there is room for improvement, but the analog stick steering is now way different to how it was at launch or in the demo, and smooth and relaxed compared to PCARS1. It is comfortable enough that I have drifted rallycross tracks until the car runs out of gas. "Flow" is achievable. Most likely not for everyone, but it's no pain in the hands like PCARS1 was for me.
I was there for PCARS2's launch and I know how bad it was, I know some bugs still remain, and I know which cars to avoid driving (and ones that used to be on that list, but are now fixed). If you are unwilling to give SMS another chance, then don't, and it's SMS's own fault that they have this reputation, but it's a fact that most impressions of PCARS2 from those who haven't continued playing it are out of date.
- 1,036
- New Zealand
- noshog
Yeah I dont know if I have much trust in this guy. PC1 was advertised as a racing game made by sim racers for sim racers, I bought into it and it turns out it didn't even have triple monitor support ?? (for me this is a must if you releasing a racing game on PC)
Now he's saying he wants to release a console with specs that a $3000 PC would probably struggle to get to ??
I know I'm a little out of touch with all the latest hardware specs etc, but pretty sure he is just putting his pipe dreams out to the public with this one.
Now he's saying he wants to release a console with specs that a $3000 PC would probably struggle to get to ??
I know I'm a little out of touch with all the latest hardware specs etc, but pretty sure he is just putting his pipe dreams out to the public with this one.
- 14,434
- Los Angeles, CA
- Lma_robot
- lImaRobotl
While I've yet to pick up PC2, the first one was riddled with problems. If it wasn't the terrible pad optimization, it was the extremely weird slow motion-FPS during events that have high traffic with weather. I realize that it's said quite a bit, but it's not like it's unfounded. From what I understand, many of the issues where fixed later on it's life, but the first impression was already made, and by that time I had gotten rid of the game so all I have to go off of was my initial impressions. Outside of those two things I mentioned, it was relatively functional for me, but those are two major area's that definitely caused so much issues that it outright ruined the fine underlying game.
While I do still want to pick up PC2 eventually, from what I understand is that it had its issues as well. I can't comment on that just yet though.
That's very true, however, with their two last projects essentially launching in very similar states, it somewhat leaves you questioning how something, that is much more massive in comparison, might be. It's good on them that they did what they can to alleviate some issues, however.
I'm all for waiting and seeing what actually happens, but being a skeptic isn't necessarily a bad thing like some try to make it out to be. Some people have valid reasons to be.
@ImaRobot -- I'm not disputing the inclination to be skeptical with SMS, or the fact that it's deserved. Having followed along with them since Shift 2 Unleashed, I am also naturally skeptical about the things they do and not quite sure whether supporting SMS by buying the next PCARS game at launch will be worth the buggy mess I expect it to start out as. The reason I support them is because they're the only ones on the scene making simulators that come close to fitting what I want out of a simulator.
I'm only pointing out that these common complaints don't hold so much water anymore at this point in PCARS2's lifespan, and at least with regard to analog stick steering, looking at the progress from S2U to PCARS1 to PCARS2 1.0 to PCARS2 in its current state, I see no reason to expect their next game to not improve on it some more. You'll just have other game-breaking bugs to deal with.
I'm only pointing out that these common complaints don't hold so much water anymore at this point in PCARS2's lifespan, and at least with regard to analog stick steering, looking at the progress from S2U to PCARS1 to PCARS2 1.0 to PCARS2 in its current state, I see no reason to expect their next game to not improve on it some more. You'll just have other game-breaking bugs to deal with.
- 14,434
- Los Angeles, CA
- Lma_robot
- lImaRobotl
Oh no, no, I understood that. That didn't really have to do with what you wrote, but more so was a general statement for all. I did actually enjoy Pcars1 outside of those issues, so I know that there's something good going on there, but it definitely left it's mark.
When I got my One X, I did want to give it another shot because I bet that would have fixed at least one of my problems, but the game was long gone by then.
Much like the notion that GT' cars sounds like vacuum cleaners, I don't think those complaints are going to be going away anytime soonI'm only pointing out that these common complaints don't hold so much water anymore at this point in PCARS2's lifespan, and at least with regard to analog stick steering, looking at the progress from S2U to PCARS1 to PCARS2 1.0 to PCARS2 in its current state, I see no reason to expect their next game to not improve on it some more. You'll just have other game-breaking bugs to deal with.
I'm open to improvements, and it's always good to see continuous support, but I'm going to watch this one from the sidelines. Hell, I still haven't even picked up a PS4 even though I've really been wanting one, so I can always play the waiting game.True, but it's worth putting in my POV for others on the sidelines to consider.Much like the notion that GT' cars sounds like vacuum cleaners, I don't think those complaints are going to be going away anytime soon
In the end it's an exceptional sim, not the best, but among the best in my opinion.
It's not cool. There is no plot against Ian or SMS.
He puts himself in the spotlight for that.
And don't forget we are talking about someone who doesn't know how to control himself when someone makes a critic about his games, resulting in insults to buyers and bans from SMS forum.
It's the same person that cannot make a stable game and says it will make a console that will destroy all consoles.
What's not to mock about?
- 308
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Or a salesman, talk is cheap
- 5,008
- Puerto Rico
- MW3Fan34
This may probably end up having the same fate as every other independent console in the past :/
Also this studio gets more ridiculous every single day, someone notify me when they actually release a POLISHED and NOT buggy as hell product at launch.
Also this studio gets more ridiculous every single day, someone notify me when they actually release a POLISHED and NOT buggy as hell product at launch.
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INEEDNAWZZZ
Premium
- 1,829
- Lincoln
- EGGSBAWCKS
- DigitalLuke64DD
Even if this does come to fruition, I doubt it'll succeed, much like the Ouya, OnLive, PSTV and so on. Consumers these days will only really stick the main three, and history has proven that too much choice alienates people and lead to them not buying anything at all (see early 80s video game crash in America).
I can already tell this will just be another PC in a fancy frock like a lot of these other newcomers. People who'd ideally want the features this would have could just build a PC for less, and I'd imagine indie developers would be ambivalent since Steam, the PS4 and Switch provide perfect platforms for their work to be shown anyway.
I can already tell this will just be another PC in a fancy frock like a lot of these other newcomers. People who'd ideally want the features this would have could just build a PC for less, and I'd imagine indie developers would be ambivalent since Steam, the PS4 and Switch provide perfect platforms for their work to be shown anyway.
- 6,365
- Nantes
- P308R
I really do dig the design 👍 But design only isn't good enough to sell a console. Still trying to see in which way they want to convince gamers and families to buy their console and how they are going to attrackt development for it? I simply fail to see but hey... I am a simple soul...
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- 9,148
- United Kingdom
- neema_t
In my opinion they should skip the hardware, especially if it looks like that, but take a crack at 'SteamOS but for sim rigs rather than TVs', or even just a storefront that predominantly sells racing games, racing hardware and early access to stuff built in their engine.
cjr3559
Premium
- 2,810
- Ohio
- cjr3559
Looking forward to more news in the future. This could be a device that could pull me away from two decades worth of Sony consoles. Seeing that I’ve been considering switching to PC for a couple years, and the fact I never get a console at launch, 2022 would be about the time I’d be in the market for an upgrade.
Though it’s marketed as a console, it sounds more like a PC hybrid. And PC flexibility checks off one of my needs since it seems I may have outgrown consoles and the limitations I come across.
Also, seems to me the XB1 and PS4 have been becoming more similar in their design and UI with each console release, and now that crossplay is becoming a reality, choosing one console over another comes down exclusive games, and the latest batch on both systems haven’t got me that excited. Forza is now GT, and GT is iRacing? It makes me ponder why I have a PS4 in the first place.
We’ll see. I’m all about supporting something new and the competition it provides in the marketplace. There’s a lot to learn in three years time, so it’ll be interesting to hear more.
Though it’s marketed as a console, it sounds more like a PC hybrid. And PC flexibility checks off one of my needs since it seems I may have outgrown consoles and the limitations I come across.
Also, seems to me the XB1 and PS4 have been becoming more similar in their design and UI with each console release, and now that crossplay is becoming a reality, choosing one console over another comes down exclusive games, and the latest batch on both systems haven’t got me that excited. Forza is now GT, and GT is iRacing? It makes me ponder why I have a PS4 in the first place.
We’ll see. I’m all about supporting something new and the competition it provides in the marketplace. There’s a lot to learn in three years time, so it’ll be interesting to hear more.
- 15,532
- Cairo, Egypt
- GTP_SEMS
You think multi billion dollar mega companies who have been at it for years are worried about this?
Anyway, the design they shared certainly looks attractive, but no idea how they already settled on a design of a hardware 3 years away.
Ian on Twitter is doubling down on the it's a console not a PC thing (though it was going to be a PC). So this thing will have a custom OS (Android?), play movies, etc.
- 13,269
- GTPlanet
- Street-King-07
- Quattro Saltire
That's just a custom PC. This really is sounding like another Steam Machine episode. A lot of promises given, yet nobody wants to capitalize on it.
- 15,532
- Cairo, Egypt
- GTP_SEMS
Which is weird considering Ian is still maintaining that this is not a PC. No way that design is final though.
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