You know, they're called Standard Definition TVs for a reason. The videogame industry has been quick to jump on the Hi-Def bandwagon, regardless of the fact that SDTVs are still the, y'know, standard, and Rare has made a clear example of this with the ridiculously tiny text in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.
Despite Nuts & Bolts following in the footsteps of Dead Rising by practically excluding SDTV owners, Rare has stated that the barely legible text seen in the BK demo will likely be exactly the same text seen at retail.
"Unfortunately, this is an issue that doesn't look like it will get changed. I don't want to bore you with the technical side of things (I really don't understand it all myself), but the long and the short of it is that the text you see in the demo will be the same as that which you find in the retail version of the game," stated Rare community manager George Kelion. "I'm sorry that we weren't able to address this issue as nothing would please us more than turning all your complaints into gleeful responses, but it's simply something that's too expensive in terms of time, resources and money to alter.
"Please don't kill me. This *doesn't* mean we don't care about or respect the community. This *does* mean that, when all's said and done, we're only human."
I don't know about anyone else, but I found the text was too small even on an HDTV. I had to walk across the room to get close enough to read it, and that's not cool -- especially for a game that relies on text for all its dialog and tutorials. I don't play videogames to stand a foot away from a screen and squint.
Contest:
9:30 AM on 11.05.2008
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How hard and costly could it possibly be to add a bit of code that checks for an SDTV, and adjusts the text accordingly? Think about your customers.
I believe just last year, SDTVs still outnumbered HDTVs. I could be wrong though.
i'd say don't buy it, or anything else they put out. if you know it's an issue you fix it!
Not really, I just haven't forked over the money for a good HDTV yet. My first sentence stands, though.
Another thing to think about: many, MANY people don't have internet connections. These are the people that buy games like Tiger Woods and Guitar Hero 2. You know, those games that have a tendency to brick your system until you get a patch. So, what do you say to EA and Harmonix? (Bad example games, I know, but I didn't have a 360 then.)
But come on now, all they have to do is enlarge the text and smooth or sharpen it. What's so hard about that? It's not like it's going to be out of focus or anything if it matches the resolution.
Here is your chance to shine, and make a difference for gaming. Raise some hell, and keep pounding away at them until they realize the complete disservice microtext is to video games, and the customers that support them.
And yes, I'm serious. Tired of nearly going blind, while trying to play through today's games. Even Nintendo got that one right, and people love to rag on them.
QUIET MOM! I'M PLAYING BANJO!
Also Barak Wins, Flawless Victory.
Yes, ofcourse, because adding slightly bigger text would be a programming miracle of the likes no one has ever seen. Please don't hate him people. He is human, and humans do have a tendency to shit all over the people that are paying their bills.
And Rare immitating Nintendo by avoiding voice actors like they were made of poison certainly didn't help here. Seriously guy we are in 2008 now and you are programming for an HD-Console so please give us some decent voice over.
Honestly, I could only read about 5 percent of the text in the demo, if that. In a game based on a new build your own crazy vehicle concept, don't you think the text that explains this should be legible?
SDTV's are still around but why invest in HD gaming systems and play them on a crummy tv. But I forget a lot of gamers are teenagers with nothing but an allowance. My 50 inch panasonic 1080p plasma was the best investment I made over a year ago. Games, movies,and tv are stellar. Technology always moves forward so there is no reason for the gaming industry to use outdated methods unless they want to lose to the competition and have their games mocked. might as well buy a wii.[/quote]
"SDTV's are still around but why invest in HD gaming systems and play them on a crummy tv. But I forget a lot of gamers are teenagers with nothing but an allowance. My 50 inch panasonic 1080p plasma was the best investment I made over a year ago. Games, movies,and tv are stellar. Technology always moves forward so there is no reason for the gaming industry to use outdated methods unless they want to lose to the competition and have their games mocked. might as well buy a wii."
Sorry for the double post, I hit send before I typed it my response in. Everything that was stated above me in the quoted text is made out of complete ignorance. With every sentence you made yourself appear more ignorant and more pretentious. Good job.
Wow. Just wow. If buying an HD t.v. is the best investment you ever made in the last year I feel very sorry for you. Depreciating assets ftw! I would hardly call any consumer goods an investment.
Considering probably SD tv's still outnumber HD tv's you are alienating and potentially losing half of your revenue base.
@RARE
"We are only Human." Worst excuse ever. YOU ARE NOT HUMAN YOU ARE A COMPANY. I can't believe they didn't test their games on SD tv's. Man, developers are getting lazier and lazier these days.
Because they were the standard before HDTVs were made? What a silly statement.
Canceled my preorder, will go buy a GOOD game instead.
But yeah, I definitely still need an HDTV....
Cheer up. Its just a blog.
You can buy more SDTVs for sale at the Good Will than you can at any Wal-Mart now.
Douches.
Fonts look like they're 2pt size.
As for banjo kazooie... Rare fucked up but it's their call. The 360 is supposed to be a high def gaming platform. I very much doubt I wouldve bothered getting a 360 if I didn't already have an HDTV. I've played the 360 in SD and it's a mess and not fun to play.
If I had to make a call on investing in either HDTV or a game system now(as I bought my tv months before the 360 came out) I'd still buy the tv first. I know a lot of games aren't being played on the 360 for their compelling story. Bioshock is a great game but of has to look like mud in SD. I can't even begin to fathom what fallout would be like.
Hell, it took Dead Rising to come out for me to take an actual interest in the 360.
If no one can read the text, then isn't this encouraging people to break the health and safetly rule stated when you stat the game? This is one time I'd like to see the media go after a game. It would pressure them to fix it. Well, I guess I'll cancel my preorder then, sorry rare. Your game now sucks and I'm not buying it.
Rare is acting like the thought never occurred to them. I want to know what it's going to take before it becomes widespread knowledge amongst developers that this small text is messing up their games for a huge chunk of their audience. If they were aware of it from the beginning, it would be one of the easiest problems to address.
in fixing the text then I refuse to buy Banjo.
This is exactly what keeped me from finishing dead rising.
banjo is known for its fun super mario 64 game play and humor and with vehicles and comedy being less funny for we miss the text due to its size there is no point.
RARE fails. Im going to pre-order it just for the original banjo for live arcade then switch it to something else.