Burnout and RFOM, PS3 Lookin' Better!

[ThaMaskedGamer]

First let me say my 360 died(see thread) but i'm lucky in that I had downloaded the Burnout demo for 360 and was impressed and was going to buy it for the 360, luckily it died before I bought the game. So I got the PS3 version instead. It actually looks and plays just like it did on 360 the only thing, which is getting to be a broken record, I miss RUMBLE. The other thing is i'm having a network issue with my PS3. I don't know if it is the game or if it is my system and router, but Burnout tried to install a patch but couldn't download it, the connection kept dropping. So I played the game without the update and I couldn't go online without the connection dropping. Haven't had time to troubleshoot it yet.

I also bought F1. Since my 360 died I figured I needed a meaty game. I was torn between F1 and Burnout, so I got both, snagging a used copy of F1. I always said if I got a PS3 F1 would be the game i'd get, so I look forward to playing it. I haven't tested it out yet, but I read the reviews and heard it is tough, so I know i'm gonna like it. I just need a wheel!

Anyway, I rented RFOM and thus far I have to say, the game is pretty good. Eurogamer got the AI dead wrong, I don't know what they playing but the AI really is exactly opposite of what they said. Don't get me wrong, it isn't nearly as active as Halo's AI or Rainbow 6, but it is pretty good. First of all the Chimerian don't even rush straight at you, generally the first thing they do is take cover! And they bounce back and forth and pot shot from cover. The only thing i've seen rush you or not display any kind of intelligence are these bug type creatures that run straight at you. So hopefully the AI will hold up for the rest of the game.

Elsewhere, the game looks really good. Great detail in the environment, great clarity and sharp resolution. The animation, especially for the chimerians seem very stiff, at times they almost seem to slide from position to position.

My only real problem with the game is it seems non-challenging. I rented it, so I put it on medium instead of hard. Eurogamer said the first mission was really hard or something, it was a breeze, honestly I don't know what they reviewed and normally their write-ups are really accurate, if not their score. But Bullseye gun they use fires so slowly compared to your rifle, all you have to do is straff side to side and blast them. It really isn't a challenge at all. The bugs are simple and then you get a tank that just rips through everything. I'm thinking about restarting on the hardest mode, but i'm afraid the game might be unbalanced and I want to finish it on one rental.

As far as what they say, the game really does play like a combo of COD2 and Half-life2, moreso Half-life2 because the enemies really seem to act like the combine soldiers and you move linearly through the game though they try and make it feel like an open game. Overall I would say the game is impressive and my initial concerns are no problem at all, this is a high quality shooter thus far. I can definitely see how their plans for RFOM2 might easily scale up to that kind of scope. Too early to say what i'd rate the game, but i'm starting to wish maybe I had of bought it. Hopefully the action will pick up because my only complaint is the game is a little too slow, too easy and not enough enemies.

[Gadfly2317]

Did you ever post your PSN ID?

I've been playing a lot of Burnout online. I'm not that great, but I did manage to win a few races and other stuff online.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

Did you ever post your PSN ID?

I've been playing a lot of Burnout online. I'm not that great, but I did manage to win a few races and other stuff online.

Its PHASE-VELOCITY. Anyone else on here playing it? Don't worry about not being that good, its funny I can play sim-racers, but I suck at arcade racers. You'll probably whoop up on me easy.

[Fivespot]

I'm playing it on the PS3 as well. User name FIVESPOT.

[Cuddly Knife]

I borrowed the PS3 version from my niece(she'd rather play Motorstorm), so I will hold off on getting it for the 360, unless I can convince her to trade Motorstorm for Burnout, then I can get it basically for free, considering how much I don't dig on Motorstorm. I haven't taken it online because of my shoddy internet connection. I hate racing and then having my sh!t drop. Sucks for me, and for my fellow racers. I plan on giving it a few tries online tonight though, if anyone wants to race a little some-some.

As for impressions of the game, it doesn't hold a candle to Takedown or Revenge. I'm already sick of seeing the slo-mo crashes(you can't disable the takedown cam like you could in the other games), in the same way that I got sick of the slo-mo knock-outs in FNR3.

The drifting seems slightly broken, and when you take down cars your vehicle gets reset to certain spots on the road and your speed is slowed - even reset at times.

The open-world idea is fun until you have to race from one end of the map to another , but you're going so fast that the icon to let you know that your turn is coming up appears for half a blink, causing you to miss your turn and be put in a direction opposite of where you need to be going. I refuse to pause the game in the middle of a race to see where I need to go next, and i'm pretty sure you can't do that online. Also, I miss multiple lap races, where the traffic patterns are different each lap.

Last but certainly first amongst my annoyances, Showtime mode is a waste of gameplay. Boy, that got old in a hurry. I wasn't a fan of Crash mode, but now I miss it something fierce.

[T.Tashi]

Sorry to hear about the 360 TMG.

My ID is T-Tashi. Racers aren't my thing but I'm sure we'll bump heads online eventually. Other than on a messageboard that is.:ihih:

[ilnadmy]

Gametrailers gave Burnout Paradise an 8.2. It also said the PS3 version looks slightly better. There's a comparison there too, but I didn't bother to check it out.

[thelastword]

Burnout Paradise got an 8.8 from gametrailers, not 8.2.

[ilnadmy]

Oops, I was thinking of No More Heroes.

[Gadfly2317]

I'm really enjoying Burnout Paradise; I can understand some of the complaints, and its definitely weird getting used to racing an open world, and frustrating as hell to kick ass and then blow a win because of wrong turn, but the diversity of gameplay here has made the game fun offline, and I'm loving the online play.

I'm a total noob to online gaming, with the DS stuff like Mario Kart making up most of my online gaming experience. I'm understanding the addiction here, though, much to my wife's dismay, because I'm gaming a lot more hours now than ever, except for a few months in college when I quit going to class, resorted to selling coke, and just gaming nonstop. Speaking of Mario Kart, I enjoy Burnout Paradise in much the same way I enjoy Paradise, because its so unrealistic and just goofy fun. I'd LOVE to see Mario Kart rip off Paradise, and give us an open world Mushroom Kingdom racing world.

Do you guys use headsets? Was racing with Fivespot and Cuddly, and could sorta here them talking, but I just have a camera w/ speaker, and that doesn't work well for communicating. I'm not much for talking while gaming, and if my wife's home, I'm sure she'd hate me talking to "strangers" more than I'm talking to her, but do you guys think real-time chat adds to the game? I know I kinda feel left out of conversations I can vagually make out.

[Fivespot]

We were wondering why you weren't talking much and CK even asked at one point if you had a headset. Obviously you didn't hear us. That's cool that the camera mic works like that because I certainly heard you talking. And those pics.. Too funny.

Yes, we have headset. I use the bluetooth that came free with Warhawk and it works magnificently. Requires a frequent charging but beyond that is hassle free. I think the same headset costs $40-$50 new making the Warhawk bundle an attractive deal ($59.99 for game and headset). It's hard to find these days however as they rereleased the title without pack-in headset at a $39.99 price. They can still be found if you look around.

Otherwise any compatible bluetooth headset will work. You can alternately use a usb mic/headset but then you're teathered to the machine. I prefer the wireless choices (bluetooth).

[Cuddly Knife]

Do you guys use headsets? ... but do you guys think real-time chat adds to the game? I know I kinda feel left out of conversations I can vagually make out.
Like Five said I I mentioned just now in the GRAW PS3 thread, it works very well. Plus Warhawk is a great online-only game, so that's a bonus when buying the headset.

IMO, it can add or take away from the experience. It really depends who you're playing with. Some people are a-holes and do nothing but talk trash all game long. Some are young kids, or adults pretending to be young kids, and they will cuss you right out of the game. Friends list is the best way to go, and after a while playing the game online, you'll learn who is who and just play in certain rooms and such. That's the way it went down in Revenge and Takedown nyways.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

Sorry to hear about the 360 TMG.

My ID is T-Tashi. Racers aren't my thing but I'm sure we'll bump heads online eventually. Other than on a messageboard that is.:ihih:

I'll add you guys tonight.:thumbsup:

[ThaMaskedGamer]

I'm really enjoying Burnout Paradise; I can understand some of the complaints, and its definitely weird getting used to racing an open world, and frustrating as hell to kick ass and then blow a win because of wrong turn, but the diversity of gameplay here has made the game fun offline, and I'm loving the online play.

I'm a total noob to online gaming, with the DS stuff like Mario Kart making up most of my online gaming experience. I'm understanding the addiction here, though, much to my wife's dismay, because I'm gaming a lot more hours now than ever, except for a few months in college when I quit going to class, resorted to selling coke, and just gaming nonstop. Speaking of Mario Kart, I enjoy Burnout Paradise in much the same way I enjoy Paradise, because its so unrealistic and just goofy fun. I'd LOVE to see Mario Kart rip off Paradise, and give us an open world Mushroom Kingdom racing world.

Do you guys use headsets? Was racing with Fivespot and Cuddly, and could sorta here them talking, but I just have a camera w/ speaker, and that doesn't work well for communicating. I'm not much for talking while gaming, and if my wife's home, I'm sure she'd hate me talking to "strangers" more than I'm talking to her, but do you guys think real-time chat adds to the game? I know I kinda feel left out of conversations I can vagually make out.

I'm enjoying the game too, the little bit I played. I actually wasn't going to get the game, but the 360 demo changed my mind. The game really reminds me in some way of Midtown Madness and I remember the fun I had with that game online. Plus I have been away from the Burnout Series for a long long time, the last one I had I think was the first one on the original XBOX or maybe it was the second. I definitely won't be buying the series probably again this generation, that's just the way I am with arcade racers. But hopefully i'll get a lot of playtime from this one.

I would say just from my experiences online is simply not the same without communication, especially if you are in a room with friends or people you know or guys from this site. I can kinda understand not talking to strangers, but I usually don't play online with strangers anyway. Usually you kinda get new friends from the friends you have and kind of build up a network of people who have the same maturity and interests in games that you do.

Like CK said though, the replay of the crashes does get old. I haven't tried out all of the different types of events, I haven't done showtime yet for instance. I'm sure some of them are probably better than others. But overall I think the game feels good for an arcade game, usually I hate the physics of arcade racers. This is okay, it doesn't turn properly at low speeds and I hate how the camera reverses when you stop or try and back up. But overall I think the game is impressive. Visually its fantastic and it is a crapload of fun, playing it online will add variety because it will get old in single player. The fact you can seamlessly transition between on and offline is great. I guess if you were close to the old game like CK and Tappy were the changes are probably really noticeable, but for me its all new and i'm lovin it.

[Tappy_Tibbons]

I bet you will miss custom soundtracks as well. BO P SUCKS though in the end...no racer will ever beat BO3.

[Cuddly Knife]

Tapps is right, this game's soundtrack is already old. It is better than the one in Takedown and Revenge, as there is some light electronica involved. When my niece takes back her game, I will definitely get the 360 version, unless I hear that they are putting custom ST in the PS3 version. But unlike hater Tappy, I don't think the game sucks, but it just isn't as polished as Takedown or Revenge.
_______________________________

Check this out. Look at Tapps sig. If you stare at the blade near Hyabusa's chest, keep your head still and with your eyes, catch one of the extendy blades spinning, then move your head slightly while keeping the extendy blade in your sights, and you can control the spinning direction of the blade!

[Gadfly2317]

Check this out. Look at Tapps sig. If you stare at the blade near Hyabusa's chest, keep your head still and with your eyes, catch one of the extendy blades spinning, then move your head slightly while keeping the extendy blade in your sights, and you can control the spinning direction of the blade!

OK. That was freaky.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

Oh god they ruined the game I tried to like it. But they took to much away from the old ones. I want BO2 & 3 crash modes. I want traffic checking back. It's stupid you can't automatically restart races. The race routes are horrible.

A great open world racer is Midnight Club 3 dub edition it's better than this.

[Cuddly Knife]

You want BO3 gameplay, but with traffic checking? Dude, you want Revenge.

I've logged in ten hours so far, and it's growing on me more and more as the time goes. Sure, I don't dig on the open-world concept as much as I could, but when I start up a race or Marked Man(which I'm sure was inspired by gamers like me in Takedown and Revenge, that's how good I was, where the whole room was out to take me down), I see some excellent track design, especially around White Mountain. Now, if only it was a linear path, instead of random racing. I also hate the resetting of your car when you take someone down. Lame-sauce.

And Showtime is the worst game mode I've ever played.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

Got a plantronics bluetooth headset for $30 yesterday, was going to play some but ended up playing RFOM for about 30 minutes. I probably won't be able to go online 'till later this week.

Its funny because custom playlists are cool, but I have yet to use them once on my 360 since I've had it. I guess I just don't care about music in games this generation as much as I did when I had the XBOX. Or it could be that the music in games is becoming less annoying than it use to be. Also in racing games like Forza, I usually turn it off or ignore it.

But I guess for people who do care about music that could be a big factor in which version to get. I know one thing is certain though, going online with this game is a lot simpler than it was with the last version I played.

[Fivespot]

I'm w/TMG on this one. I rarely listen to my own custom soundtracks when playing games so it's not crucial for me to pick up the XBOX 360 over the PS3 version.

[Cuddly Knife]

So, you like the tunes on the game? Sure, it's a million times better than Motorstom, but damn. Hey, at least you can turn off the music on this game. Licensed soundtracks have just never agreed with me. The only ones I've been able to tolerate have been Amplitude and Frequency.

[Fivespot]

No, I don't like the music in BOP. I also don't like the music in thousands of other games so my not liking the music doesn't surprise me. Unless the game has atmospheric music like Halo or Bioshock, I usually just tune it all out anyway.

I actually prefer games like Amped 3 that have a boat load of independent music. Even if I don't like the artists and/or songs I can at least listen to something that I haven't heard a billion times prior. I also like the fact that it supports "smaller" bands. Wish more games went that route but that's the local musician within me talking and not Fivespot the gamer.

[thelastword]

Man it's crazy, but all this soundtrack addiction is such bs. People are going, I don't like the songs in this game or I don't like the songs in that game, who gives an eff. Play the game, is the game good? I don't buy games to listen to the music, I buy games to enjoy the gameplay and have fun. If the score in a game is exceptional, in the vein of SOTC, LAIR, HALO AND UNCHARTED, I believe that is excellent, but people are nitpicking effin music tracks in a racer for crying out loud, and most times, they aren't even that good at the racing part to begin with.

Listening to your favourite singer is not going to make you do better in Burnout, do you actually focus on the lyrics of your favourite crooner when you're being trampled to all hell in takedowns, Is your gaming really enhanced when Alannis Morissette is strumming at it in the background in Marked Man? or are you concentrating and focusing on evading your furious seekers instead. The music is entirely irrelevant at that point. I'm not saying that music doesn't have it's focus, but nitpicking tracks will not make you have a better/fun game or make you a better racer, it's the core gameplay that does that.

Custom soundtracks in racers or anygame is overrated, everybody is going to like the music they like, it's irrelevant to how gripped you will become to a game, your favourite tracks in burnout is not going to make it fun if the gripping gameplay is lacking. Great sound design in games, is in the vein of the games I mentioned earlier (SOTC, UNCHARTED HALO etc..), not this nitpicking of tracks BSing.

[Gadfly2317]

Custom soundtracks in racers or anygame is overrated, everybody is going to like the music they like, it's irrelevant to how gripped you will become to a game, your favourite tracks in burnout is not going to make it fun if the gripping gameplay is lacking. Great sound design in games, is in the vein of the games I mentioned earlier (SOTC, UNCHARTED HALO etc..), not this nitpicking of tracks BSing.

I don't think it's overrated. I really miss it.

Sure, I can just turn on my stereo and turn off the in-game music, but it's not the same.

I don't use custom soundtracks on anything but driving games, because in a lot of games the music is an artistic aspect of the whole presentation.

But in driving, you are simulating a car. And every car out there these days has a CD player in it, and many cars now have harddrive based music/nav/phone systems that hold MP3 files. Driving and listening to music just go together. And can you imagine buying a REAL car that only played 30-40 songs selected by the manufacturer? It would be stupid as hell.

So, in Burnout, when I drive around Paradise City, I should be able to control my music in the car, just like in a real car. Lack of custom soundtracks isn't the MOST important thing about a racing game, but its absence sucks for anyone that realizes driving go together like milk with cereal.

[thelastword]

But in driving, you are simulating a car. And every car out there these days has a CD player in it, and many cars now have harddrive based music/nav/phone systems that hold MP3 files. Driving and listening to music just go together. And can you imagine buying a REAL car that only played 30-40 songs selected by the manufacturer? It would be stupid as hell.
You see, this is not about vanilla driving, it's about racing, it's about stunts, escaping, it's about crashes, it's about 360 flips and the andrenalin pump fueled by great gameplay with actual bone crushing opposition, experiencing the same or seeking similar gameplay doused rewards.

To esteem that experience at the same level as a vanilla cruise to your barn, listening to the likes of Michael Bolton is just uncivilized. It's not the same, I can understand that the most exciting part of your drive would emanate from the tracks of your car cd player, but that's because there's no bone breaking car chasing fun gamplay, there's no...these guys are coming to take me down and flip me out (takedown style, sweaty palms) kinda excitement, there's no feeling of...I must escape, like in burnout. Your journey to your home is simply not as exciting, so you've got to create and formulate your own level of excitement and release by playing your favourite tracks. In burnout the gameplay does that, your favourite tracks are simply not necessary to create the excitement.

[ilnadmy]

I'll be honest, I couldn't have played Burnout 3 on the Xbox without custom soundtracks. The beats of 2Pac as I rocketed down the streets increased the intensity of the game for me. That lame-o testicular-deficient music they had on the disc made my stomach churn every time I heard it come on (which was every time you turned on the game, if I'm not mistaken...you had to go into the options menu and choose custom soundtrack every time you booted it up, which sucked ass).

[Cuddly Knife]

... do you actually focus on the lyrics of your favourite crooner when you're being trampled to all hell in takedowns?
Yes. Well, I don't really pay attention to individual parts of music when I play soundtracks on my games(unless it's GTA), but more the song as a whole.

Is your gaming really enhanced when Alannis Morissette is strumming at it in the background in Marked Man? or are you concentrating and focusing on evading your furious seekers instead. Well, I think Alanis would hamper my racing skills.:D But really though, yes, concentrating on the music in any game keeps me focused in the task at hand. Almost like if I'm watching myself play the game, controlling myself controlling the game. Is that "zen"?

The music is entirely irrelevant at that point. I'm not saying that music doesn't have it's focus, but nitpicking tracks will not make you have a better/fun game or make you a better racer, it's the core gameplay that does that. Well, I was able to turn off certain tracks and leave some on, and I must say that it made the game better for it. Now I don't skip half of the soundtrack while driving around Paradise City. Also, the game even has change when you turn off the music.

your favourite tracks in burnout is not going to make it fun if the gripping gameplay is lacking. It'll make it more enjoyable, yes. You can have great gameplay, and a decent soundtrack too, you know. A lack of a good ost lessens in ways. Maybe not to you, but to me, for sho.

Great sound design in games, is in the vein of the games I mentioned earlier (SOTC, UNCHARTED HALO etc..), not this nitpicking of tracks BSing. Yes, I agree that those games would be whacked-out if they had some Divine Heresy or Sublime jamming in the background. But then again, you have games with great soundtracks like Oblivion, where a different groove changes the atmosphere of the game.

And don't limit yourself to pop-rock, man.

[-=PuMpKiNhEaD=-]

I put GTA: San Andreas on after a real ordinary day at work, pump up the hard rocking tunes (from my custom soundtrack) and run over everything I can see.

Makes me feel so much better after a horrid day. :)

Wouldn't be the same without my choice of hard thumping tracks.

[Gadfly2317]

You see, this is not about vanilla driving, it's about racing, it's about stunts, escaping, it's about crashes, it's about 360 flips and the andrenalin pump fueled by great gameplay with actual bone crushing opposition, experiencing the same or seeking similar gameplay doused rewards.

To esteem that experience at the same level as a vanilla cruise to your barn, listening to the likes of Michael Bolton is just uncivilized. It's not the same, I can understand that the most exciting part of your drive would emanate from the tracks of your car cd player, but that's because there's no bone breaking car chasing fun gamplay, there's no...these guys are coming to take me down and flip me out (takedown style, sweaty palms) kinda excitement, there's no feeling of...I must escape, like in burnout. Your journey to your home is simply not as exciting, so you've got to create and formulate your own level of excitement and release by playing your favourite tracks. In burnout the gameplay does that, your favourite tracks are simply not necessary to create the excitement.

No kidding dipwad. So even MORE than driving an ordinary car. . . when I'm pulling down some of the seriously psychotic and intense things that you can do in Paradise City. . . maybe YOU listen to Michael Bolton, but frankly, the in-game soundtrack is closer to Michael Bolton than the tunes I would LIKE to use. Personally, if I had a 360, I'd have bought Paradise City for 360.

Last gen I bought all my racing games for Xbox, because even if all things are equal except custom soundtracks, then custom soundtracks win because sorry, but being able to destroy the competition to the pulse of Ministry's "New World Order" or whatever musical accopmanyment I CHOOSE to destroy the competition with beats the hell out of HAVING to listen to a limited bit of licensed music chosen for me.

What kind of retard would actually even argue the position you are? Just you. For now. But as soon as Sony starts supporting custom soundtracks, so will you and other zombie fanboys.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

"I won't deny it I'm a straight rida.....You don't wanna Fu*ck with me.......dahadah dah daaaaaaaaaaa"

Yeah that makes Burnout at least 2 points better.

TLW that has got to be the dumbest post I've ever read. Music enhances the gameplay. The Burnout music has hisorically distracted from it.

edit:
Yeah what Gaddy said.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

What kind of retard would actually even argue the position you are? Just you. For now. But as soon as Sony starts supporting custom soundtracks, so will you and other zombie fanboys.

You have to understand the position he's really arguing. He isn't talking about Custom soundtracks. He's talking about 360 vs PS3. Being the Custom Soundtracks are a PS3 features. He has to defend the PS3 especially in a game that is built for the PS3 first (even Criterion says it pretty much developes the same way Capcom does).

He has a believes that Sony is better in every single aspect so he's defending that. Nothing to do with Custom Soundtracks. Because he knows that's an indefenseable position.

[ilnadmy]

"I won't deny it I'm a straight rida.....You don't wanna Fu*ck with me.......dahadah dah daaaaaaaaaaa"

Yeah that makes Burnout at least 2 points better.

TLW that has got to be the dumbest post I've ever read. Music enhances the gameplay. The Burnout music has hisorically distracted from it.

edit:
Yeah what Gaddy said.

Haha hell yeah! Personally I loved it whenever Still Ballin' came on.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lKmBMwsCnVY

And this song, while played out, always made me slam down the nitro haha:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FWOsbGP5Ox4

Dammit, I'm in a 2Pac mood now! Hahaha where did I put those albums...

[NEO-360]

I'll add you guys tonight.:thumbsup:

Sorry to hear about your 360 man. So far my 360 is still running pretty good. Cant wait till next week. Devil May Cry 4 will be out on the Xbox 360 & The PS3. Oh yeah!!!:D

[Fivespot]

Played some BOP online with TMG last night and had a great time. I wasn't aware of all the available coop missions of which there are 350. Excellent!!

One had us jumping a bridge from either side with a goal of crashing in mid air. Other coop missions had drift goals, oncoming traffic goals, meet at a certain location, etc.. I'm sure it gets more involved in the later missions but even the early ones are a blast to play. I think we got through 12 or so.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

Played some BOP online with TMG last night and had a great time. I wasn't aware of all the available coop missions of which there are 350. Excellent!!

One had us jumping a bridge from either side with a goal of crashing in mid air. Other coop missions had drift goals, oncoming traffic goals, meet at a certain location, etc.. I'm sure it gets more involved in the later missions but even the early ones are a blast to play. I think we got through 12 or so.

Hey Five, sorry about the audio. I had the bluetooth paired, but I didn't know you had to enable it as the audio device in the PS3 dash. I got it working after our game. That was pretty fun, a lot better than the old BO games in my opinion, a lot more to do. It was pretty fun and coordinated without audio working! I was impressed because we kinda just knew what to do, especially that one time when we had to jump from opposite sides of the bridge and smash into each other in the air, I figured there was no way to pull that off without comms, but we did it on the second try.

I'll be on somemore this afternoon and maybe tonight:thumbsup:

[Gadfly2317]

TMG, I sent a friend request to PHASE-VELOCITY. Is that correct. . . and the dash is supposed to be there?

[ThaMaskedGamer]

TMG, I sent a friend request to PHASE-VELOCITY. Is that correct. . . and the dash is supposed to be there?

Yup I accepted it last night Gad, I just hadn't been online in a few days. I'll be on tonight again if you want to play some B.O.

[T.Tashi]

I never cared about custom soundtracks until Eye of Judgment. That music takes me totally out the game.

[Tappy_Tibbons]

This place is full of absolute MORONS...to try to spin the lack of custom soundtracks for PS3 as though it's not a big deal. This was a feature on Xbox 1 for goodness sakes. This is 2001 console tech.

Go ahead and justify if you will the same idiotic argument the PS2 fans used "b b but I c can j j j jjust use m m m mah home stereo"

Remember when Burnout 3 came out with better ratings on the Xbox than PS2 just solely for the custom soundtracks? Oh, nm, it wasn't a big deal then either. Well you know what? BLU RAY ain't a big deal to me!!!!!

I like the PS3 and I plan on picking one up one day, but seriously guys call a spade a spade and quit being such blind zealots

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

Don't get mad, Tappy, just because you praise a feature that a lot of gamers here no longer care for. If some people aren't using it on their 360s, then why would they even care if it's on the PS3 or not?

Also, it's not even done right on the 360. The last time I used it on a non-racing game was Saint's Row, and the music was playing all through cutscenes and talking. Back in 2001, when it was actually an important feature, the music would stop during the talk and cutscenes and pick up during the action.

One more thing. I wouldn't use my home stereo. Music kind of sucks nowadays.

[NEO-360]

Don't get mad, Tappy, just because you praise a feature that a lot of gamers here no longer care for. If some people aren't using it on their 360s, then why would they even care if it's on the PS3 or not?

Also, it's not even done right on the 360. The last time I used it on a non-racing game was Saint's Row, and the music was playing all through cutscenes and talking. Back in 2001, when it was actually an important feature, the music would stop during the talk and cutscenes and pick up during the action.

One more thing. I wouldn't use my home stereo. Music kind of sucks nowadays.

Speak for yourself RBH. Custom soundtrack is indeed a nice addition to have. Why would anyone care if its on the PS3 or not? Well, because its deemed to be the most powerful console on the planet but yet not only does it not support custom soundtrack features but it sure as hell dont push games at a full 60 fps like the inferior The 360 does. So for me if I was a PS3 owner I would be a little pissed about that. Games like Saint's Row and GTA are where custom soundtracks shine the most. As well as racing games..

Games like Burnout are indeed cool to play. Being able to listen to the right music while playing is indeed a bonus. Of course if you own a Playstation this isnt a big deal because you've never been given this luxury before. This is why alot of us has an Xbox as well as a PS2;etc. The PS2 had the games and the Xbox had everything else. Now the shoe is on the other foot. The Xbox 360 has the games and the PS3 has everything else.(But falls a tad short from a technical standpoint)

Pretty funny stuff IMO.:cool:

[Cuddly Knife]

Fiveski mentioned the online challenges for multiple players, and I'd like to give a little more info on it. I think it's a deal where you can do different challenges, depending on the number of players you have in your room. 2-8, 50 challenges per different number of players, for 350 challenges.

[Tappy_Tibbons]

BO:P is trash. They screwed up the PERFECT controls of BO3:T by making them mushy in BO:R then they make them even worse with this ebrake crap that makes all the cars control like frikkin fatal inertia. Please bring back linear tracks and the tight controls of BO3:T which was the best arcade racer of all time and get rid of this lame attempt at an open world.

I HATE EA...they RUINED the Burnout series by trying to appeal to the masses.

[slade]

Custom Soundtracks on the 360 isn't implemented right anyway. I tried it once and only once and like mentioned previously, the music overlayed the entire game. I'd rather that the track come to a stop once a level is finished and move onto the next song. Basically, I want different tracks for different menu screens as well as levels. Having the same track play through the end of a level and through five seperate menu screens and onto the next level isn't immersive. It pulls me out of the game.

[Glockstar]

Yeah, I've said that from the beginning: the 360 way of doing Custom Soundtracks sucks. The way the original Xbox did it was awesome. The 360 is only slightly better than playing your separate stereo system - because you don't necessarily have to get up to play your music or access your playlists. So if you're looking at the Pro's and Con's of the systems, or if you're still speculating a 360 purchase, you should only put a half a tick mark for Custom Soundtracks for the 360. I think Cuddly is the only one who likes the way the 360 does CS better. But then again he likes Dead Rising, so...

[Gadfly2317]

BO:P is trash. They screwed up the PERFECT controls of BO3:T by making them mushy in BO:R then they make them even worse with this ebrake crap that makes all the cars control like frikkin fatal inertia. Please bring back linear tracks and the tight controls of BO3:T which was the best arcade racer of all time and get rid of this lame attempt at an open world.

I HATE EA...they RUINED the Burnout series by trying to appeal to the masses.

I had Burnout Revenge; thought it was OK, but just never got into it. Possibly because it was the Ps2 version and I was spoiled on Xbox racing games last gen until I got rid of it.

I love Burnout Paradise though. Am I the masses? I don't know. . .generally not that mainstream in my tastes, and I'm not particularly blown away by open-world games. . . its over used.

But for whatever reason, I really love Paradise. I love the variety of races and multiple paths you can complete the race with, as opposed to closed tracks. The stunt runs are awesome in an open-world, and the online co-op challenges are giving me hours of fun. It was fun, last night, parked in the hayloft waiting and watching the other players (Cuddly for one) try to boost their cars enough to reach the loft without sliding out the other side of the barn (Challenge: everyone get their car parked in the hayloft at the same time.) There are like 350 of these challenges. Total blast if you've got several good players together.

I love the fact that the online is free on the Ps3 version.

Finally a racing game that got me to stop playing Motorstorm, which is a flat out incredible racing game. . . if you don't like it, that's fine, a matter of taste, but Motorstorm and Paradise are seriously fun, truly next-gen arcade-style racing. Motorstorm is not only fun, its still one of the best looking next-gen titles (it released in NA in 2007.)

Mario Kart is going to have to do something pretty amazing to win me back from these games (and I'll be gearing up soon for sim racing with GT5 Prologue!)

[Cuddly Knife]

But then again he likes Dead Rising, so...
I'll tell you what I told RBH. Dead Rising rules your house!

And one of the reasons that I like the way the 360 has its custom soundtrack set-up is because you can listen to songs all the way without having it cut off mid-song because you finished your 2-minute race.

As for Paradise, Burnout was not meant to have a map. The game's just too fast for one, and you need to use it during runs where you have to go from Angus Wharf to say, Lone Peak Observatory, which just can't be done. Memorize your routes now, boys. Burnout was not meant to have races with 90 degree angled turns. It was all about hundreds of feet of drift.

Other than that and the broken drifting, sorry excuse called Showtime, and the takedown system, the game rocks. I'm finding the online challenges to be my new crack. Even just cruising and taking down fools is fun for a bit between events.

[T.Tashi]

I'll tell you what I told RBH. Dead Rising rules your house!

And one of the reasons that I like the way the 360 has its custom soundtrack set-up is because you can listen to songs all the way without having it cut off mid-song because you finished your 2-minute race.

As for Paradise, Burnout was not meant to have a map. The game's just too fast for one, and you need to use it during runs where you have to go from Angus Wharf to say, Lone Peak Observatory, which just can't be done. Memorize your routes now, boys. Burnout was not meant to have races with 90 degree angled turns. It was all about hundreds of feet of drift.

Other than that and the broken drifting, sorry excuse called Showtime, and the takedown system, the game rocks. I'm finding the online challenges to be my new crack. Even just cruising and taking down fools is fun for a bit between events.

You guys are really making me wanna get this game.

I think Tappy and Gad are right about one thing tho. Right now the current train of thought seems to be: linear=bad. Sandbox=good. I've seen some games graded down because of it. Since when is being linear "bad"? It's a legitimate gameplay design that has its own pluses and minuses just like open ended games.

I agree about the map because that's what sucked about Midnight Club. The game was too fast to read the map. We had to have 2 players. One to read the map and one to drive. Having highlighted checkpoints helps but if it's far off in the distance it's pretty useless other than giving you the general direction.

Although.........

GTA+RE (with Uncharted graphics) would be hella sweet.

[Fivespot]

I wish Burnout Paradise allowed for you to join friends rather than only being able to send invites. I logged on last night and saw that both CK and TMG were online playing (not sure if together or not). Tried connecting to either game and couldn't. Didn't want to send an invite as it was possible they were already enjoying a match together.

Beyond that the online interface is marvelous and I especially like the in game XMB access to friends. Slick!!

[Gadfly2317]

I wish Burnout Paradise allowed for you to join friends rather than only being able to send invites. I logged on last night and saw that both CK and TMG were online playing (not sure if together or not). Tried connecting to either game and couldn't. Didn't want to send an invite as it was possible they were already enjoying a match together.

Beyond that the online interface is marvelous and I especially like the in game XMB access to friends. Slick!!

I've been able to join games in progress. I joined a game CK was in the other night. I think the times that that option didn't show up, maybe they already had 8 players.

[Fivespot]

Ah, that's good to know. The only option that was visible was an invite option. Thanks!

[Cuddly Knife]

Actually, I wasn't playing online, I was just connected while playing some single-player. That's how well Criterion has done with the seemlessness of online and offline gaming. I usually try and get me some offl;ine stuff and wait until someone starts a room so I can join, so everyone doesn't get kicked when my internet goes to sh!t.

BTW, how many cars you all have? The other day Gad was wrecking me all kinds with his car that looked like a casket-carrier, and I can't recall ever seeing that car before. I only need six cars left to unlock. I completed all of the Marked man and only need a few more races. I hate Stunt Run.

[Fivespot]

Wow, you're much further than me. I have about 15 cars or so (can't remember exactly). I currently have a class B license and are only 5 events or so from a class A license.

How much time have you guys spent playing BOP that you're already that far along? I think I'm like 9 hours in.

I also hate the stunt runs. They're fun but when you start a stunt event out in the boondocks it's difficult finding spots to earn points.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

I wish Burnout Paradise allowed for you to join friends rather than only being able to send invites. I logged on last night and saw that both CK and TMG were online playing (not sure if together or not). Tried connecting to either game and couldn't. Didn't want to send an invite as it was possible they were already enjoying a match together.

Beyond that the online interface is marvelous and I especially like the in game XMB access to friends. Slick!!

I have been wanting to play this game but haven't had the time. Each time I go to play it, something pops up. I started playing last night and the phone rang, I ended only playing for about 15 minutes though it looked like i was on longer, I saw you and CK, but couldn't join.

I don't think i'll be able to play tonight, maybe this afternoon. But definitely thursday and friday night. I'd like to get a VGR match going with you, Gad, CK, at least. You guys are going to kill me, I suck at this game and I have nothing unlocked, not even close to 15 cars. But I like the game it is a blast!

[Fivespot]

I'm buried in 18 inches of snow if anyone is available tonight. Nothing better to do but fire up the PS3 and get some gaming in. That and snow blow but I prefer videogames. :)

[Gadfly2317]

Wow, you're much further than me. I have about 15 cars or so (can't remember exactly). I currently have a class B license and are only 5 events or so from a class A license.

How much time have you guys spent playing BOP that you're already that far along? I think I'm like 9 hours in.

I also hate the stunt runs. They're fun but when you start a stunt event out in the boondocks it's difficult finding spots to earn points.

I just got my A class license; I think I have maybe 20 cars. I think I could have the next license already (Elite license or something like that) if I hadn't spent so much time online. I pretty much just goof around in freeburn playing whatever is the host's whim. I've hosted a few times, but usually I just join in a random games, unless I see someone online I know, and then join that.

I love the stunt runs. I don't know if I'm good or not; my best stunt run was 180,000 points. What I hate are races that take you out to the windfarm, because when you finish the race--win or lose--you are in the middle of nowhere miles from downtown.

Also, how do you start up crash mode, or exhibition, or whatever it is called? I did it once, instructed by the game, but now I can't remember how to do it and it isn't in the instruction book. Because I don't know how to do this, I don't "rule" any roads yet.

[Gadfly2317]

I probably can't play tonight; the wife wants to go to a movie. And I'm on west coast time, so a lot of time my "evening play" is pretty late for central and east coast players.

Occasionally I can get on in the evening between 5-7pm, which is usually when I seem most likely to hook up with central and east coast VGR players.

[Fivespot]

Hit R1 and L1 at the same time to enter the crash mode dealy.

To do the Road Rules, hit right on the D pad and choose that option. You can then choose time, stunt, etc. I think I may have done 1 or 2 but will probably save them all for later down the road. I first want to get further in the campaign.

Played a few minutes ago and I'm actually 10 wins from an A and have 17 cars (little off on my stats earlier). I hope to be on again later after more snow blowing. I feel like the Duncan Donuts guy but instead of making donuts I have to snow blow. Time to snowblow. Wake up at the crack of dawn and time to snow blow.....

[Cuddly Knife]

LOL, sunny skies here in NM.

I think that If I were to host a game, I could put the option on to where everyone would have to use the same car as me. That would be cool, for everyone to all have the police car, or Indy racer, or the Revenge Racer, or the truck!

For anyone interested in unlocking their cars, just pick a car, then on the map look for the event with a star inside a circle, and if you win the event, you'll unlock a better version of the car you're using. I think just about almost every car I have has an alternate.

And I'm 26 hours in. I put in well over 300 hours each in Takedown and Revenge. Most of it online.

[Gadfly2317]

my best stunt run was 180,000 points.

Finally had a stunt run I feel pretty good about: 676,000. Cuddly probably has 60billion, like his old Super Stardust score :(

There is just so damned much stuff to do in this game. I haven't even started trying to do the road rules yet. . . only completed one of those. Have nearly thirty cars though.

When do you get the police car?

[Fivespot]

Speaking of Stardust HD, any tips? I've only played it a few times and can't yet figure out how you both have such higher scores than me.

[Gadfly2317]

Speaking of Stardust HD, any tips? I've only played it a few times and can't yet figure out how you both have such higher scores than me.

Don't run into rocks or lasers, and don't die.

The game is damned hard, I don't remember what my high score is, but I know its DWARFED by Cuddly's, which I think is over 200 million now. Your question about "tips". . . I have the same question. Because to score 200 million points, either you are staying a live and playing for a LONG time, or there must be some kind of combo system or something that good players can exploint for huge points quickly.

These games though, it seems like they are just really hard, and made for extreme hand-eye coordination. And it's like I have a genetically inherent limit for how good I can get at these kinds of twitch shooters. No matter how much I practice I might be able to eke out just a little more points, but I usually get as good as I'm going to get within the first few hours. That goes for games like Contra 4, which I'm playing right now too.

[Fivespot]

Well your score is 4 or 5 times mine (rough guess). I guess I'm even worse at twitch shooters than you. I already knew Cuddly was the king.

[Fivespot]

I think part of my problem with Super Stardust HD is that I can't easily tell the difference between the different colored rocks (gold, white, grey) and that obviously creates further problems as I don't know which weapon to use. I often trial and error through the weapons choices and if one weapon works better than another then I must be shooting the ___ colored rocks. Maybe spending some more time with the game would help me decipher which is which a little easier.

[Cuddly Knife]

Oh, I owe all of my accomplishments on this game to CUSTOM SOUNDTRACKS. Without it, I'd still be at 100 million. :D

Five, I don't know what you're shooting at, but all I know is that there are rock colored rocks, then Gold, then the Ice. Rock Crusher goes with the rocks, Gold Melter goes with the Gold, and Ice Splitter goes with Ice chunks. I always upgrade my Rock Crusher first, letting the weapon power-ups change to the proper color before I collect them, even waiting for my shield power-ups and definitley extra lives(since I get those after every few mil) to downgrade to a Rock Crusher, although there are some times when i get paranoid and have to get me a shield first. Then i upgrade a few Gold Melters for the second stage and after a few of those I totally max my Ice splitter for max destruction on the third level. The thing you have to realise is that when you have a powered-up weapon, you basically disintegrate anything in front of your area of fire, so as long as you stay in that path, you're safe. My main technique is to do a wavy-spray kind of motion with my bullets, like in Geometry Wars. Also, I don't know if I would be in the minority here, but I don't even really look at my ship. I don't look much at anything, I just zone out on the whole screen, and let things flow the way they should. Somehow, I'm stilll able to see when i'm about to get wrecked, though. Mostly.

As for combos, all I know is that if I shoot the correct bullets with the correct rocks, then I get a build up multiplier that nets me a certain amount of points with each rock crushed. Also, when you make it to an end of a level without dying, you have that multiplier also. That's really all there is to it, because I got that score by beating the game on default difficulty, then game+ continued and beat it on Insane difficulty, then I went on and got to the second level of Elite difficulty. Took maybe a little under 2 hours? I'm not too sure.