The biggest criticism of Factor 5’s L.A.I.R. was its non-optional use of the SIXAXIS motion controls. Recently talking to IGN, Factor 5 President Julian Eggebrecht recognised the criticism and even hinted that an update could be on its way to change the control scheme.
“If we find a chance in the future that would bring Lair to the audience which didn’t get any access, that would be fantastic. I can’t say anything quite yet, but there might be something in the works there. We might have a chance yet to bring those back to the table and hopefully, if that should happen, they would give the game a second chance.”
I really feel sorry for the devs on this game
They did theyre upmost to provide a top game in the semi early stages of the ps3’s life and then the haters stept in.
I buy most games but its just not my thing in anycase and that has nothing to do with the ‘controls’
dont give up F5, were still here and waiting for something to suit
Comment by komp — Feb 12, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
I still have the urge to buy / try this game. The concept is good and original. I don’t imagine the controls to be such a big deal - perhaps the game design / gameplay was just flawed. Hard to say until I try it as this game does have its fans.
Comment by Obli — Feb 12, 2008 @ 6:20 pm
Try playing SKY DIVING if controls are an issue… man that game sucks so bad I wouldnt ask an xbot to play it.
Comment by komp — Feb 12, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
SIXAXIS = EPIC FAIL
no game i have tried so far, with the one exception being fl0w, has been any good playing with the 6x controls, you think Lair failed because of the haters? try playing Blazing Angels, Warhawk or Motorstorm using that control option. i bet anything you’ll soon be switching back to the trusty and responsive thumb sticks.
the sad truth is the developers have had plenty of time to fix this but they sat on their high horse and refused to LISTEN to the PS3 owners after the US release. they could have patched this quite easily before it was released in Europe giving us the option to choose the control method but decided not to.
are we supposed to feel sorry for them now because what looked a good game was ruined, not by the haters or people who played the game, but by the companys own arrogance.
i think SCEE could learn a lesson from this.
sure, bring out a patch, say sorry - you were wrong and promise not to do it again in the future, and just maybe i’ll have a look in the trade-in bin to see if i can find a copy cheap enough after the patch comes out.
Comment by mobiletone — Feb 12, 2008 @ 6:54 pm
some other good news. the ps3 has outsold the x360 worldwide AGAIN. that’s every week so far this year that the ps3 sales have been up on the other console.
*goes to set up video capture and get comfy for Phoo Action on bbc3*
Comment by mobiletone — Feb 12, 2008 @ 8:41 pm
[...] Source: Lair Update On The Way? - at Threespeech (No Ratings Yet) Loading … RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL Write a comment [...]
Pingback by Lair Update On The Way? | GameBlews PS3, XBOX 360, Wii, PSP, DS News — Feb 12, 2008 @ 8:47 pm
Why don’t they just supply a demo?
That way people may be pleasantly surprised.
Or are they afraid of something?
Comment by Ton Capone — Feb 12, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
@4 - I must disagree. I do much better at Motorstorm using the 6axis than the thumb sticks. It is a matter of personal preference . I’m also one of those few that like Lair but I must admit it took some practice to get use to.
Comment by Gokker — Feb 12, 2008 @ 9:05 pm
I think there are a whole bunch of Warhawk players out there as well that prefer using the motion controls as it frees up the left thumb stick for more accurate gunning.
Comment by Rick — Feb 12, 2008 @ 11:16 pm
LAIR (or “LIAR”, as some were calling it at the time) is dead. F5 should swallow their pride, lick their wounds etc. And move on to LAIR 2 or, better still, simply put their experience of LAIR to better use with future releases and NEVER trust a console vendor that tells them “Yeah, it will be great with just that feature of the controller”.
They should know better that it translates to (disaster and) “Yeah, you sink your money and we’ll see what the reaction will be for free”.
Comment by Zed Zee — Feb 12, 2008 @ 11:19 pm
I much prefer the motion control in Warhawk over the analogue sticks. As for L.A.I.R, the problems were with the ‘180degree’ turns etc where the controller simply didnt register your movement. The problems were greately exaggerated and anyone saying its “unplayable” has just tried to pick up the game and play without wanting to give a go at learning the controls.
Comment by Tom Eccles — Feb 12, 2008 @ 11:59 pm
Well, I played it , and it’s true that the controls aren’t that comfortable. But Lair has a beautiful, deep storyline, and its graphics, sound effects and soundtrack are amazing. It deserves another chance, maybe with better controls.
Comment by Nymeria — Feb 13, 2008 @ 10:39 am
I agree with a demo , if they wanted more people to try it when not release a demo??
Comment by Paul — Feb 13, 2008 @ 11:21 am
Like Obli, this game has always intrigued me, in terms of the setting and the gameplay concept at least. What prevented me from parting with my cash was the critical slamming it received, which focused largely on the controls. Therefore, if F5 go ahead with this update then I’ll go all the way for sure.
As for SIXAXIS, in the brief moments I’ve used it - Heavenly Sword, R&C, Uncharted - it seems like a nice novelty. It’s not meant to be a rival to that silly Wii thing to be fair. Call me a traditionalist, but I play videogames to relax, not to wave my arms about like I’m having a fit.
Comment by rooee — Feb 13, 2008 @ 11:22 am
not that i’ve played it … i’ve seen other people saying the controls were fine, but the game just sucked.
but i doubt that has anything to do with the excessive hate - it was the height of the anti-sony crap and the continuing anti-motion control crap.
(though gems like ‘feel ski’ or whatever it’s called don’t help - the motion controls aren’t great but the game is absolutely shit. i will never waste another dollar on one of the go! games again).
Comment by michael — Feb 13, 2008 @ 11:47 am
To write off LAIR would be ridiculous. They have invested a lot of time, effort and money in the game. I think a patch that gives the users the options to use analogue stick controls, resolves some reported issues such as the graphical glitches and strange targeting system. There are a few people here in the same position as myself that are interested but not sure. So, to boost sales and help recoop the loses, I think Factor 5 need to:
+ Release a patch (not just for controls but some other issues reported in reviews).
+ Release a demo of the latest version.
Perhaps this is what is in the works. What is the point of releasing the demo if it is the ‘flawed’ version that seems to get panned?
@mobiletone - I recall Julian Eggebrecht saying that implementing analogue controls late in the game would be more than just activating them. I think he was saying that there needs to be gameplay balance and a lot of changing / tweaking things to ensure it is right. i.e. testing to ensure things aren’t made too easy / impossible with certain controls. Basically, playtesting the whole game again.
I agree though, it was a mistake to exclude analogue from the start. If they had developed the game from start to finish with both control systems in mind, they wouldn’t be in such a mess.
Comment by Obli — Feb 13, 2008 @ 4:23 pm
Why even bother patching this crappola game?
Comment by bummm — Feb 13, 2008 @ 5:05 pm
If they couldn’t do a demo because it would have been too large, it would have been great if they just made a little tech/toy demo where you at least get to fly the dragon around a simple landscape, just to get an idea of the controls and the feeling of flying. That probably would have been enough to intrigue quite a few people who were put off by reading negative reviews.
I’ve been tempted to rent Lair for a while just to feel for myself whether the controls are difficult or not.. but if there was some way I could have downloaded even a little “fly around a blank background” demo and it felt alright, it would have been enough to get me to buy the game.
Comment by Rick — Feb 13, 2008 @ 11:08 pm
In the videos of LAIR the constant blathering of your character in an annoying American accent really put me off. He never shut up with inane comments like “I’m gonna burn your flesh” and “Fly toward the castle men” in thee most wince/cringe inducing Yank voice.
Analogue control and your own in game music may save this game yet.
Comment by Ton Capone — Feb 14, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
One thing I been wondering about with the sixaxis recently is if the problem is that the technology was created for a different controller. I mean the bigger ‘bananna’ controller that was showcased with early PS3 prototypes might actually be a much better controller for motion sensing than the updated PS2 controller they ended up with. For instance having your hands further apart like the ‘banana’ controller would have led to would make the motion sensor controls easier to operate in my opinion as your movement axis would have been longer.
Comment by Christian — Feb 15, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
@ 20
Ssssssshhhhhh! Don’t dare criticise our Sony overlords or you’ll make “The List”.
Don’t you know by now that they know and see all?
They are above reproach and any such advice/criticism/request will be promptly and completely ignored. Best just keep your head below the parapet and keep consuming all the overpriced pile of jobbies they are serving up on the network. ULP! I think I’ve said too much, they are coming!!!
Comment by Ton Capone — Feb 19, 2008 @ 4:57 am
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a comment