bit-tech.net | Mirror's Edge

impar 13th November 2008, 10:11

Greetings!

The final score seems not to coincide with the article.

Interestingly, just read the ArsTechnica review, that finished with a Rent verdict.

Hoping for a DDRM-free PC version and a demo.

Phil Rhodes 13th November 2008, 11:34

If I was to play the really suspicious bar-steward, I'd ask why all the screenshots in the review are the same as the downloadable ones from the manufacturer's website.

I know bit-tech has grown hugely in the last few years, so you may need to carefully resist becoming the kind of place that writes reviews from the press release.

P

PS - As it happens I think the game looks really interesting and represents the sort of original idea that should do well - is this UE3? Does UE3 render radiosity into its light mapping? Whether it's lightmapped or just carefully manually set up, the only reason all that white works is because of the nice way it renders fall of light.

CardJoe 13th November 2008, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Rhodes
If I was to play the really suspicious bar-steward, I'd ask why all the screenshots in the review are the same as the downloadable ones from the manufacturer's website.

I know bit-tech has grown hugely in the last few years, so you may need to carefully resist becoming the kind of place that writes reviews from the press release.

P

It's nothing to do with writing from the press release, it's to do with the fact that we don't have developer consoles and so are unable to take screenshots from any game running on a console. In fact, even if we did have a developer console then we'd be unable to take screenshots as all those taken on developer consoles and which use developer code are subject to special agreements between the console makers and the publishers.

In short, these screenshots were among about thirty that EA has uploaded to a specialist press website for this express purpose. I'd be suprised if you could find a website out there which has reviewed the game and not used screenshots provided by the publisher.

Rest assured though, when we do have the chance to take our own screenshots, we do. All PC reviews are done using our machines, our screenshots and our data. For consoles this just isn't an option.

Phil Rhodes 13th November 2008, 11:49

Could you record it HDMI into a Blackmagic Intensity?

Do the games fire up the HDCP on the HDMI outputs?

Bindibadgi 13th November 2008, 11:53

That would be just doing it for the sake of doing it and going to the effort to hook up HDMI-in for screenshots that are likely crappier than the in-game shots EA provides is not time efficient at all. Andy doesn't work in the office either, so we don't expect him to have this type of equipment too.

:)

Phil Rhodes 13th November 2008, 12:42

Well I'd have thought it'd be doing it for the sake of not having exactly the same screenshots as everyone else, but I won't presume to tell you your job.

P

Whalemeister 13th November 2008, 13:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fod
wait waaaaaiiiit. I'm not saying that pcs aren't awesome. They are. I just prefer the context of usage consoles give. You know, schlumped on a sofa with your great av setup. While I play plenty of games on my pc too, I've never felt comfortable playing with a joypad on one. I mean which do you prefer, office chair or sofa?
Conversely, sofa & kbd/mouse would never work either.
Are we clear now?

X360 controller plugged into my PC, PC plugged into my Sony Bravia HDTV and sound from 5.1 surround speakers, PC quality from the comfort of my sofa...

I'm having my cheesecake and eating it ;)

Flibblebot 13th November 2008, 13:05

tbh, taking screenshots is a pita, even on a PC when tools like FRAPS are available. In those cases where I've done PC reviews, sorting out screenshots has often taken longer than actually writing the review!

As Bindi said, I don't have the equipment to take screenshots from a console - and even if we did, the time taken to take decent shots and the hoops that we'd have to jump through with the developers and publishers mean that we'd never get any reviews published.

As for "writing reviews from the press release", that will never happen, no matter how big bit becomes. I personally ignore any PR bumf that comes with a game - I'd rather review something based on my own judgement, not the judgement of someone who's paid to praise a game.

Fod 13th November 2008, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whalemeister
X360 controller plugged into my PC, PC plugged into my Sony Bravia HDTV and sound from 5.1 surround speakers, PC quality from the comfort of my sofa...

I'm having my cheesecake and eating it ;)

yeah i've thought about moving my PC into my living room for this very reason, but gave up on the idea shortly after realising it just causes the sofa+keyboard problem. i just built a HTPC in a nice case for video playback and very, very light gaming instead.

plus, i ain't having a behemoth of a p182 in my living room; there's nowhere to hide it.

Burnin' 13th November 2008, 16:36

looks like the best polished version of the U3 engine so far... and for gamers like me who still own a trusty (but quite old) 8800 GTS that's good news! We can still run the game with full settings... Gonna have to wait for the PC version though.

I found out a long long time ago (as well as Walemeister did) that the PC + widescreen monitor + 5.1 speakers + gamepad + bean bag couch + "jamaican aroma" formula works really REALLY well... Who the hell needs a console?

kidding

HourBeforeDawn 13th November 2008, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by CardJoe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Rhodes
If I was to play the really suspicious bar-steward, I'd ask why all the screenshots in the review are the same as the downloadable ones from the manufacturer's website.

I know bit-tech has grown hugely in the last few years, so you may need to carefully resist becoming the kind of place that writes reviews from the press release.

P

It's nothing to do with writing from the press release, it's to do with the fact that we don't have developer consoles and so are unable to take screenshots from any game running on a console. In fact, even if we did have a developer console then we'd be unable to take screenshots as all those taken on developer consoles and which use developer code are subject to special agreements between the console makers and the publishers.

In short, these screenshots were among about thirty that EA has uploaded to a specialist press website for this express purpose. I'd be suprised if you could find a website out there which has reviewed the game and not used screenshots provided by the publisher.

Rest assured though, when we do have the chance to take our own screenshots, we do. All PC reviews are done using our machines, our screenshots and our data. For consoles this just isn't an option.

thats a pretty lazy response if you ask me, there are many many many ways to record and take screen shots from console games, yes most involve using a pc but umm you guys are Bit-Tech so Im sure thats not the issue lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi
That would be just doing it for the sake of doing it and going to the effort to hook up HDMI-in for screenshots that are likely crappier than the in-game shots EA provides is not time efficient at all. Andy doesn't work in the office either, so we don't expect him to have this type of equipment too.

:)

ah well you guys need to hook him up then so you can do a more proper review. ^__^

any how is there any word about a demo for the PC?

Redbeaver 13th November 2008, 18:42

i'll wait for the PC.

no money to buy PS3....

...and xbox is soooo yesterday.... :)

Bindibadgi 13th November 2008, 18:51

PC stuff is coming in January and it'll be a "proper" PhysX title according to NV.

HourBeforeDawn - it's time:cost and if good screenshots can be taken easily (like PC games) then we'll do them, but with consoles it's far more difficult to take good ones of quality.

Redbeaver 13th November 2008, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fod
wait waaaaaiiiit. I'm not saying that pcs aren't awesome. They are. I just prefer the context of usage consoles give. You know, schlumped on a sofa with your great av setup. While I play plenty of games on my pc too, I've never felt comfortable playing with a joypad on one. I mean which do you prefer, office chair or sofa?
Conversely, sofa & kbd/mouse would never work either.
Are we clear now?

i'm sitting on my Omni Sumo lounge beanbag now :) kbd/mouse + sumo > console + sofa

:p

CardJoe 13th November 2008, 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by HourBeforeDawn
thats a pretty lazy response if you ask me, there are many many many ways to record and take screen shots from console games, yes most involve using a pc but umm you guys are Bit-Tech so Im sure thats not the issue lol.

True, but a lot of those ways also require expensive equipment (contrary to belief, we don't get a lot of free stuff) and a lot of time. Why waste the time to get a slightly different screenshot when you could be playing more of the game or writing more of the review? It's more important to get the review right than it is the pictures and as it takes at least three or four days to do a game review as it is...

Phil Rhodes 13th November 2008, 22:16

I think the fear of this is that the publisher's shots will inevitably be designed to make the thing look as good as possible, so if you consider the screenshots to be part of the review, you're giving a more than slightly biased impression of the quality of the graphics. I mean, y'know, there are bits of Max Payne which still look pretty if you're careful enough :)

P

CardJoe 14th November 2008, 07:17

We're aware of that though and make sure to discuss graphics where relevant so that people don't have to rely on screenshots.

The boy 4rm oz 14th November 2008, 08:24

Looks like a interesting game. I may have to try it.

hexx 9th December 2008, 11:34

@ Fod - sorry mate, i wouldn't call onkyo and MS speakers proper setup ;) denon with B&W yes, but onkyo with ms

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