It’s no secret that I do not like mandatory installs for my game systems. I don’t mean to focus on the PS3, but it’s currently the only game console that does this so, here we go again…

Let’s forget the fact that installs suck for people with smaller hard drives. And let’s forget the fact that requiring said installs completely negates the benefit of having the massive storage capacity of Blu-Ray disc (if I have to install a third of the game anyway what does it matter if it’s off of one third of the br-disc, or one out of 2 dvds?). And let’s forget the fact that most of these games do not require installs on “other” game consoles for some mysteriously magical reason. The biggest thing I personally hate about mandatory installs is the feeling I get when I can’t actually get instant entertainment from my game disc.

Whether it’s 5, 10 or 30 minutes to install it drives me bonkers that I can’t begin my adventure from the moment I hit start. Some game makers have tried to put distractions in, but watching an old dude smoke for twenty minutes or some anemic slide show for DMC4 is hardly entertaining.

But Tecmo’s Team Ninja has upped the ante and decided those who held out for the PS3 version deserve some love too. Not only did they give us more gameplay, but in exchange for seven minutes of install their treating us to a digital version of a Ninja Gaiden 2 Sigma comic book, complete with sound effects that acts as a prequel to the game. Well hell, if all mandatory installs game with real entertainment as a trade off I could probably be swayed to stop bitching about them so much… Nah, prolly not.

Why would Sony green light this horrible crime against humanity? According to the bleeding heart information site Toward Freedom one of the ingredients needed is an “unrefined metallic ore, coltan. After processing, coltan turns into a powder called tantalum, which is used extensively in a wealth of western electronic devices including cell phones, computers and, of course, game consoles.” Now common sense may lead you to the idea that Sony is more than likely just one of many electronic manufacturers which would use this powder. You may also do a little digging and realize that it is mined from other places that apparently do not use the equivalent of slave labor from the locals.

But Toward Freedom has determined that Sony’s Playstation 2, with it’s huge demand and short supply, was the catalyst that:

“prompted Rwandan military groups and western mining companies to plunder hundreds of millions of dollars worth of the rare metal, often by forcing prisoners-of-war and even children to work in the country’s coltan mines.”

“Kids in Congo were being sent down mines to die so that kids in Europe and America could kill imaginary aliens in their living rooms,” said Ex-British Parliament Member Oona King.

Sony (like many other electronic giants) has since stated that they actively work to avoid purchasing the material from that region, although researcher David Barouski says that it would be statistically impossible to avoid it completely.

My thoughts on this are simple… who cares? It is not Sony’s responsibility to police or govern the local mining companies that happen to provide a raw material to another company which refines it, to another company that turns it into the final piece that they put in their products. That is what their local police and government are for. And if those two bodies are corrupt then the locals should grow a pair and revolt like many other civilizations have throughout history. I’m all for a global social responsibility to an extent, but I just don’t think we need to shed a tear for every injustice that occurs, or in this case happened several years ago. Maybe Sony should release a free game to build awareness on the PSNetwork, get Leo DiCap’ to do the voice for the main character and make everyone feel a little more humanitarian at the end of the day.

I hope this encourages more bands to make possible exclusives for this new breed of music-game market, lord knows the numbers have been great for the DLC purchase rates, and if they can make money via digital format then maybe record companies as we know them could be a thing of the past. Oh well, wishful thinking I’m sure, but regardless good job well done all around. On a side note, how the hell does the guy from Disturbed sing like that without spitting up blood!?

News from the BCR official blog fills us in on this gung ho attitude and just makes me feel a little warm and fuzzy inside. I think it’s great that they’re willing to not only put a lot of polish into this product, but also maintain a level of conviction to it’s source material. Now I can’t wait to punch somebodies face in with a mechanical arm!

“Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots PS3 Bundle
To coincide with the much-anticipated North American launch of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots in late Q2 2008, SCEA will introduce a PS3 bundle, which will include an 80GB PS3, the upcoming blockbuster Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and a DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller for $499.99 (MSRP).”

and for the PSP

“God of War PSP Entertainment Pack
In June, a new PSP Entertainment Pack will be hitting stores, featuring the famous face of the Ghost of Sparta — Kratos. Here’s what you get in the bundle, which will be available for $199.99 (MSRP):

• Limited-Edition “Deep Red” PSP with Kratos silkscreened on the back
• God of War: Chains of Olympus
• Superbad on UMD video
• Voucher to download Syphon Filter: Combat Ops from PLAYSTATION Store for free “

Now i’m digging the red PSP and certainly a nice bundle.  What makes me chuckle though is the voucher for a free Syphon Filter game download yet the PSP includes no memory card?  Don’t get me wrong, I would rather purchase a cheap 4GB memory card online or somewhere else but that will still be mighty confusing for some wondering what to do with that voucher.

Kramez says “While the game is loading, you get to watch a really nifty series of screens that completely catch you up on the Devil May Cry back-story… It’s great for those new to the series and also a good refresher to serious fans.” Did you catch that last part? That’s an old trick car salesmen use also to help make you the purchaser feel special, with that “serious fans” bit. It causes you, the loyal purchaser to now question whether or not you should be miffed at this required loading process and risk not being a “serious fan” as opposed to being just a jerk who bought a game. Keep in mind you can also view these same screens in the library mode. Mr Kramez then pokes fun at this issue by saying “If you don’t want to watch the “Previously, on Devil May Cry…” portion of the install process, go make a sandwich and grab a soda, then come on back. You’re going to be spending some serious time with this game, and we don’t want you going hungry. Low blood sugar will make you dizzy and you’ll need to be focused like an Alan Parsons Project to defeat the enemies in this game.”

To put things in perspective for you Kramez ask if you’ve ever played a PC game and then implies that you are a crybaby of sorts who should appreciate their generosity in that “At least we aren’t making you shuffle multiple discs into a ROM drive, or continuously click “Yes!” on a series of endless Windows dialog boxes.” Aside from the asinine comparison of my game console to a PC (I avoid PC games for the very reasons he mentions), Kramez makes one fatal flaw in his argument against all you wussies that just want to play that game you bought right out of the box. He gives the example: “Installing on a console may seem like a weird idea, but there’s a real benefit. Unreal Tournament also has an option to install files onto your PS3; I’ve done it and it makes a great game even better.” After dissecting this statement the part the stands out is the word “OPTION.” You see UT3 gives you, the owner of this item, an option to do what you want to either enhance load-times or play as is right away. The game itself will play the same, it does not REQUIRE the install.

Devil May Cry 4 for PS3 however, REQUIRES this install. The 360 version does not. So my question is this. Were the developers inept at programing for the Sony Beast, or just lazy? Perhaps the fault is not even theirs. Maybe they wanted to master the monster that is Sony’s allegedly difficult architecture but the publisher pushed them into rushing to meet sales deadlines. I’m calling you out Capcom, why the difference between the two? Conversely why no OPTION to install to my 360 hard drive? Other visually intense games for PS3 do not REQUIRE this sort of install. Uncharted ran fine for me, Rachet and Clank, etc. Chris “Kramez” Kramer can make light all he wants, but if he is being presented as the voice of Capcom for the general gaming populace, then Capcom sounds like a douche-bag to me. These sort of positive spin campaigns through “grass roots” blogging really just insult real gamers and make the companies look bad. I think Capcom should keep this Kramez character out the blogosphere until he can learn to give some respect to the purchaser that provide his company the funds to keep him on the payroll.