Pokemon Battles, Mass Effect potential re-release and Onlive's relaunch also reveals a new Steambox!

Pokemon Link: Battle! (UK) aka Pokemon Battle Trozei (US)... is just around the corner, and Onlive Steambox?! Yep, you heard right!!! Mass Effect Trilogy re-release for PS4 & XB1(?)... why?

This Pokemon game brings puzzle action to the 3DS in a familiar way, except you're matching... (well) Pokemon for the sake of collecting the wild ones you are essentially battling. The game has over 700 Pokemon to collect, so that gives you something to look forward, as you progress... and I hope that the challenge gets extremely hard as we move forward because that increases the value (versus a cakewalk).

There is street pass, as well as (up to 4 player) co-op gameplay, but I wanted to see some head to head action in this game... that's one feature that I feel would really increase the value a lot.

Get more info here: http://www.pokemontrozei.com/en-us/

The game is priced at $7.99 / €7.99 / £7.19 in the respective regions... with the US version (March 20th, 2014) being released a week after the one for Europe (March 13th, 2014).


Onlive's relaunch and why a Steambox emerged

While we couldn't say anything until this time... Onlive has been relaunched, and basically allows you to not only enjoy your games purchased through Onlive and/or the monthly PlayPack game library... but it also gives you to option of enjoying (select) games from your Steam account via the CloudLift.

So with this relaunch they have basically created a Steambox that allows you to stream your Steam library to your TV. Why does this get praise? Well... their Steambox is only $99 or less (aka the Onlive Microconsole). Not only can you enjoy games streamed through your PC/Mac and TV with Onlive... but you also have the option of doing the same on mobile devices (and since they have a bluetooth controller... you know what time it is, but you can use other controllers that you have also, as well as bluetooth headsets). You can spectate games as well, which is one of those things I have enjoyed quite a few times myself (because gaming is not always an option).

There is a downside to this though... outside of the limited Steam library (which should grow), the problem that I have with the CloudLift option is that it's $14.99/month. I don't know who thought this would be a great idea (granted you can play the games on multiple devices), but they have the opportunity to be more competitive at a $10/month range or even less to be competitive with Microsoft & Sony. The PlayPack is $10/month, granted it's on their servers, but they would be making money hand over fist... by giving gamers access to games that we already own. In the least, you get a 7-day free trial to check it out and see what you think, and if it's something you like... you would basically have a Steambox (for a monthly fee) without the need to update your PC, just make sure that you have a good internet connection. 

Also I can't forget... what exactly is the backup plan for games through Onlive? Will we be able to get codes for all the games we purchase on Onlive to be downloaded through Steam? Valve allows us to do that with other games, so I don't see why not, I think that back up plan would be great... and is something that we will contact them about.

More info here: http://games.onlive.com/

Here are a few screens and video... compliments of Baby Fury Gaming:

Opening screen

Welcome screen

Mass Effect Trilogy relaunch? I wouldn't buy it. Why?

I don't want to sound like a hater when it comes to the Mass Effect franchise... because its actually not hate (I have the trilogy for PC as a matter of fact), but on that note why invest more money in the same thing? If someone hasn't played the game before and they'd like to get it... awesome, but why risk it if a large amount of people have been there and done that (knowing that we're still able to go back at a much lower price to play it again)?

My vote is for new content (but they could always reach out to the community to see what the majority would be willing to buy)! I know that they plan on taking their time with Mass Effect 4... and there is nothing wrong with that (I am actually glad to hear that as long as it doesn't rival the Duke Nukem development cycle), but in the mean time they could present a side story or something that possibly leads into the pending ME4. They could even develop a side story of survivors that were a bit more... off the grid... during past situations (in 1 - 3), but unknowingly played a valuable role. If we are able to enjoy such an off the grid story, that would be cool... which could also lead into the next game if they set it up that way. If the experience ranges from ME 1 - 3 that would buy them plenty of time... and they could come in the form of downloadable games that are more like episodes, or a full game that spans the time period. That's creative recycling... maybe we should be creative consultants or something. :p  Game on!

 
#Pokemon   #PokemonLinkBattle  #PokemonBattleTrozei   #Onlive   #Steambox  #MassEffectTrilogy   #MassEffect4   #PS4   #XboxOne