Game Scoop! 652: The GTA Trilogy Deserves So Much Better
Welcome back to IGN Game Scoop!, the ONLY video game podcast! This week your Omega Cops -- Daemon Hatfield, Tina Amini, Sam Claiborn, and Justin Davis -- are discussing Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition, Halo Infinite, Saints Row, and more. And, of course, they play Video Game 20 Questions.
Watch the video above or hit the link below to your favorite podcast service.
Listen on:
Game Scoop! 652: The GTA Trilogy Deserves So Much Better
Welcome back to IGN Game Scoop!, the ONLY video game podcast! This week your Omega Cops -- Daemon Hatfield, Tina Amini, Sam Claiborn, and Justin Davis -- are discussing Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition, Halo Infinite, Saints Row, and more. And, of course, they play Video Game 20 Questions.
Watch the video above or hit the link below to your favorite podcast service.
Listen on:
Hideki Kamiya Apologizes to Fans and Microsoft For Scalebound Cancellation
One of the most highly anticipated exclusive titles for Xbox One and PC was Scalebound, which unceremoniously got canceled in January 2017. Platinum Games director Hideki Kamiya is now apologizing for the game's development.
In a new interview with the YouTube channel, Cutscenes, Kamiya shed some new light on Scalebound's cancelation. He had the desire to make a high-end, photorealistic game. That meant Platinum Games had to improve its graphical abilities as the next step in modern game creation.
"I’m sorry to the players who looked forward to it, and moreover I’m sorry to Microsoft who had placed their trust in us as a business partner," Kamiya said. "I want to apologize both as a creator and as a member of Platinum Games."
Kamiya said that he loved fantasy worlds with swords, magic, and dragons growing up. He also played classic PC games like Sorcerian and Hydlide, so that's where he got the idea to center Scalebound around a young man fighting together with a dragon.
"However, it was a big challenge for Platinum Games," says Kamiya. "We were working in an environment we weren’t used to. We were developing on the Unreal engine, we also lacked the necessary know-how to build a game based on online features. The hurdles we had to overcome were very big."
He explains that the studio wasn't experienced enough to get over the many walls, leading to the cancelation of Scalebound. Back in 2019, Kamiya also lamented that Microsoft took the brunt of the criticism, noting that both sides had issues.
Last year, Platinum Games said that the studio would love to finish Scalebound, but Microsoft owns the entire IP. So It's up to Microsoft to decide if the game ever comes back.
George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @yinyangfooey
Hideki Kamiya Apologizes to Fans and Microsoft For Scalebound Cancellation
One of the most highly anticipated exclusive titles for Xbox One and PC was Scalebound, which unceremoniously got canceled in January 2017. Platinum Games director Hideki Kamiya is now apologizing for the game's development.
In a new interview with the YouTube channel, Cutscenes, Kamiya shed some new light on Scalebound's cancelation. He had the desire to make a high-end, photorealistic game. That meant Platinum Games had to improve its graphical abilities as the next step in modern game creation.
"I’m sorry to the players who looked forward to it, and moreover I’m sorry to Microsoft who had placed their trust in us as a business partner," Kamiya said. "I want to apologize both as a creator and as a member of Platinum Games."
Kamiya said that he loved fantasy worlds with swords, magic, and dragons growing up. He also played classic PC games like Sorcerian and Hydlide, so that's where he got the idea to center Scalebound around a young man fighting together with a dragon.
"However, it was a big challenge for Platinum Games," says Kamiya. "We were working in an environment we weren’t used to. We were developing on the Unreal engine, we also lacked the necessary know-how to build a game based on online features. The hurdles we had to overcome were very big."
He explains that the studio wasn't experienced enough to get over the many walls, leading to the cancelation of Scalebound. Back in 2019, Kamiya also lamented that Microsoft took the brunt of the criticism, noting that both sides had issues.
Last year, Platinum Games said that the studio would love to finish Scalebound, but Microsoft owns the entire IP. So It's up to Microsoft to decide if the game ever comes back.
George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @yinyangfooey
Original Versions of the GTA Trilogy to Be Relisted for Sale on PC
Rockstar's definitive edition of the GTA Trilogy had a, um, not so great launch last week, and now Rockstar is responding by giving everyone back the original trilogy on PC. You know, the one with surprisingly fewer bugs.
In a blog post today, Rockstar apologized for the numerous technical issues plaguing the remakes, acknowledging that they hadn't met standards, and that the studio was planning to "address the technical issues and to improve each game going forward," beginning with an update in the coming days.
In the meantime though, Rockstar went further to acknowledge that maybe it ought not have removed the original, non-definitive edition trilogy from storefronts last month ahead of the definitive edition's release, and so it's returning the original Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas to the Rockstar Store in a bundle. They're also giving the bundle out for free to anyone who purchases the Definitive Edition trilogy via the Rockstar Store through June 30, 2022. Sadly, there's nothing here about whether the original trilogy will return to the other storefronts it was pulled from, including consoles and Steam.
Bugs and technical issues are a sizeable bit of the problem with the definitive editions, but in our review we pointed out a number of other ways in which the return of the GTA Trilogy was surprisingly disrespectful to the original creations. Meanwhile, on a more mysterious note, fans think they might have found a tease for GTA 6 hidden in a photo within the Definitive Edition.
Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.
Original Versions of the GTA Trilogy to Be Relisted for Sale on PC
Rockstar's definitive edition of the GTA Trilogy had a, um, not so great launch last week, and now Rockstar is responding by giving everyone back the original trilogy on PC. You know, the one with surprisingly fewer bugs.
In a blog post today, Rockstar apologized for the numerous technical issues plaguing the remakes, acknowledging that they hadn't met standards, and that the studio was planning to "address the technical issues and to improve each game going forward," beginning with an update in the coming days.
In the meantime though, Rockstar went further to acknowledge that maybe it ought not have removed the original, non-definitive edition trilogy from storefronts last month ahead of the definitive edition's release, and so it's returning the original Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas to the Rockstar Store in a bundle. They're also giving the bundle out for free to anyone who purchases the Definitive Edition trilogy via the Rockstar Store through June 30, 2022. Sadly, there's nothing here about whether the original trilogy will return to the other storefronts it was pulled from, including consoles and Steam.
Bugs and technical issues are a sizeable bit of the problem with the definitive editions, but in our review we pointed out a number of other ways in which the return of the GTA Trilogy was surprisingly disrespectful to the original creations. Meanwhile, on a more mysterious note, fans think they might have found a tease for GTA 6 hidden in a photo within the Definitive Edition.
Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.
GTA Trilogy Remasters to Be Patched, First Update Coming Within Days
Rockstar Games has announced that it will be taking steps to improve the quality of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition starting with the first Title Update which will be released in the coming days.
In a new blog post, Rockstar says that "The updated versions of these classic games did not launch in a state that meets our own standards of quality, or the standards our fans have come to expect." To this end, Rockstar will address the technical issues in the trilogy.
The hope is that with each update "the games will reach the level of quality that they deserve to be."
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition is a collection of remasters that includes Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. While these games have been updated with newer graphics, players have discovered multiple bugs and other noticeable graphical imperfections.
Bugs range from visual oddities to AI difficulties. One bug causes planes to keep crashing around the open world for no apparent reason.
It didn't help that Rockstar de-listed the original versions of each of these games, making the Definitive Edition the only available way to play these titles. However, in the same blog post, Rockstar announced that the classic PC versions of GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas will be available again on the Rockstar Store as a bundle. Anyone who purchased the Definitive Edition will receive the classic versions of these games for free.
Check out IGN's review of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy in which we highlight how this new edition fails to live up to the legacy of Rockstar's three crime classics.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
GTA Trilogy Remasters to Be Patched, First Update Coming Within Days
Rockstar Games has announced that it will be taking steps to improve the quality of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition starting with the first Title Update which will be released in the coming days.
In a new blog post, Rockstar says that "The updated versions of these classic games did not launch in a state that meets our own standards of quality, or the standards our fans have come to expect." To this end, Rockstar will address the technical issues in the trilogy.
The hope is that with each update "the games will reach the level of quality that they deserve to be."
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition is a collection of remasters that includes Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. While these games have been updated with newer graphics, players have discovered multiple bugs and other noticeable graphical imperfections.
Bugs range from visual oddities to AI difficulties. One bug causes planes to keep crashing around the open world for no apparent reason.
It didn't help that Rockstar de-listed the original versions of each of these games, making the Definitive Edition the only available way to play these titles. However, in the same blog post, Rockstar announced that the classic PC versions of GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas will be available again on the Rockstar Store as a bundle. Anyone who purchased the Definitive Edition will receive the classic versions of these games for free.
Check out IGN's review of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy in which we highlight how this new edition fails to live up to the legacy of Rockstar's three crime classics.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
The CW’s Batwoman Shares First Look at Nicole Kang as Poison Ivy
The CW's Batwoman has unveiled a new image of Nicole Kang as Poison Ivy ahead of the show's midseason finale on November 24.
The image depicts Mary Hamilton's transformation into Gotham City supervillain Poison Ivy, as she gears up to use her newfound powers to stand up, stand out, and express her most deeply buried opinions and desires, regardless of who or what may be in her way, in the midseason finale of Batwoman, "Pick Your Poison," which airs on November 24 on The CW.
The forthcoming episode, directed by Holly Dale from a script by Kelly Ota and Emily Alonso, will see Ryan's family dynamic grow even more complicated. She will find herself in the middle of a Bat Team stand-off between Luke and Mary while Alice finds a new sidekick in her stepsister who is transforming into the supervillain that makes all others green with envy.
"I'm so excited to bring you Poison Ivy. She's here... finally! That's a sentence I never thought I'd say. Wow," Kang said in a statement. "In our story, I am most proud that Poison Ivy is an Asian villain whose danger does not stem from her foreignness or her mystique. Instead, we discover her personal motivations alongside those of the OG Poison Ivy's and see them intertwine in an organic and powerful way.
"I am so humbled to be a Korean girl in line behind THE Uma Thurman to play the next live-action Poison Ivy (what?!). Hopefully the future holds space for others like me and beyond to portray one hell of a character. For everything you've let me feel, scream, and become through you, Poison Ivy— thank you."
"The fun part of making each villain's powers transferable is that we get to do our own spin on the character -- this one through the lens of what Mary would create: something heightened, playful, fashion-forward, and sexy," executive producer Caroline Dries added. "It was so exciting to work alongside Nicole as we picked hair color, eye color and, of course, the clothing itself. But it wasn't until Nicole showed up on set and absolutely killed her performance that the character of Poison Ivy Mary was complete."
Costume designer Maya Mani, makeup department head Cory Roberts and hair department head Ashley Young helped to bring Kang's Mary Hamilton alter-ego to life on the show, which you'll see in all its green glory when the episode airs on November 24. It will also be available for free on The CW app and site the day after broadcast.
Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.
The CW’s Batwoman Shares First Look at Nicole Kang as Poison Ivy
The CW's Batwoman has unveiled a new image of Nicole Kang as Poison Ivy ahead of the show's midseason finale on November 24.
The image depicts Mary Hamilton's transformation into Gotham City supervillain Poison Ivy, as she gears up to use her newfound powers to stand up, stand out, and express her most deeply buried opinions and desires, regardless of who or what may be in her way, in the midseason finale of Batwoman, "Pick Your Poison," which airs on November 24 on The CW.
The forthcoming episode, directed by Holly Dale from a script by Kelly Ota and Emily Alonso, will see Ryan's family dynamic grow even more complicated. She will find herself in the middle of a Bat Team stand-off between Luke and Mary while Alice finds a new sidekick in her stepsister who is transforming into the supervillain that makes all others green with envy.
"I'm so excited to bring you Poison Ivy. She's here... finally! That's a sentence I never thought I'd say. Wow," Kang said in a statement. "In our story, I am most proud that Poison Ivy is an Asian villain whose danger does not stem from her foreignness or her mystique. Instead, we discover her personal motivations alongside those of the OG Poison Ivy's and see them intertwine in an organic and powerful way.
"I am so humbled to be a Korean girl in line behind THE Uma Thurman to play the next live-action Poison Ivy (what?!). Hopefully the future holds space for others like me and beyond to portray one hell of a character. For everything you've let me feel, scream, and become through you, Poison Ivy— thank you."
"The fun part of making each villain's powers transferable is that we get to do our own spin on the character -- this one through the lens of what Mary would create: something heightened, playful, fashion-forward, and sexy," executive producer Caroline Dries added. "It was so exciting to work alongside Nicole as we picked hair color, eye color and, of course, the clothing itself. But it wasn't until Nicole showed up on set and absolutely killed her performance that the character of Poison Ivy Mary was complete."
Costume designer Maya Mani, makeup department head Cory Roberts and hair department head Ashley Young helped to bring Kang's Mary Hamilton alter-ego to life on the show, which you'll see in all its green glory when the episode airs on November 24. It will also be available for free on The CW app and site the day after broadcast.
Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.