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PS3's Lair Playable Via Remote On PSP

Posted by Zonk on Tue Sep 04, 2007 04:57 PM
from the big-dragon-little-monitor dept.
PlayStation (Games) Sony
Next Generation has confirmed with Sony a rumor working its way through fan boards: Lair is playable via remote on the PSP. That is, you can load up the game on your PlayStation 3, and then actually play it on the PSP's small-but-beautiful screen. This is functionality that Sony has been hinting at since the PS3 was announced, but up until now remote play has been restricted to music and movies stored on the console. Kotaku notes in their writeup that you need to play through the tutorial first on the console proper if you want to do this. The PSP doesn't have the buttons the game uses to brake.
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[+] Sony Dismisses Critics of Lair 55 comments
Despite some very public, very negative criticism of Factor 5's dragon/shooter Lair, Next Generation notes that Sony remains unfazed. "Outgoing SCEA PR boss Dave Karraker told Next-Gen in a phone interview that despite poor critical reception, the flying lizard game isn't necessarily grounded. 'At the end of the day, I'll be interested in the consumers' response, because the consumer awareness for this title was so huge.'" Meanwhile, MTV's Stephen Totilo notes, with more than a touch of seriousness, that Lairs production may have been a touch cursed.
[+] Lair Review 136 comments
Nothing disappoints me more than having my expectations met. I managed to see The Matrix without knowing what to expect, and as a result it was a fine moviegoing experience. Lair, one of the first in a series of high profile PlayStation 3 games due out this year, met every expectation I had when I picked up the controller. If you haven't been paying attention to games sites of late ... that's bad. Pushed for time and under pressure from higher ups at Sony, Factor 5 has poorly rehashed the same formula that made for a couple of very playable GameCube games. The difference? Lair is, in some places, literally unplayable. It's disappointing, and a frustrating way to begin my relationship with the PS3. Read on for my thoughts on Lair, and what might have been.
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PS3's Lair Playable Via Remote On PSP 50 Comments More /

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  • Awesome! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Wordplay (54438) <geo@snarksoft.com> on Tuesday September 04 2007, @04:59PM (#20470671)
    Now it can be terrible on -two- systems!

  • Great (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Pluvius (734915) <pluvius3@@@gmail...com> on Tuesday September 04 2007, @05:02PM (#20470731) Journal
    Now maybe they could do this with a game that's worth playing.

    Rob

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by seebs (15766)
      Someone pointed me at a gameplay video which makes me think the game's fine, it's just that the controls are too realistic -- which is to say, they respond just fine, but gradually, and overreaction and overcompensation produce garbage. Makes sense to me.

      • Mounted dragon combat _simulator_?!?!? (Score:5, Funny)

        by Corngood (736783) on Tuesday September 04 2007, @05:37PM (#20471205)
        Too realistic... that's an interesting take on it. I guess most people prefer a less realistic take on dragon flying.

        • Re:Mounted dragon combat _simulator_?!?!? (Score:4, Insightful)

          by seebs (15766) on Tuesday September 04 2007, @05:44PM (#20471305) Homepage
          Compare arcade steering to the steering of, say, an actual large object... Or compare it to what actually happens if you're riding an animal and you pull on the reins. It ought to react well, over time, to a gentle nudge, and not reward wild twisting and yanking.

          In short, imagine driving an actual car, at freeway speeds, by yanking the wheel sharply (say, 90 degree turn of the wheel) every time you want to shift lanes. Would that work?

          No.

          But if you made a game where the controls reacted too much like an actual steering wheel, people would bash them as unresponsive or inclined to overrespond, because they expect a simplified interface.
          • I actually do get what you're saying, it just seems absurd on the surface. Even with mythical creatures you can still use Newtonian dynamics, and try to make things internally consistent.
            • It is sorta ridiculous, but it makes sense if you're used to arguing over what's "realistic" in D&D! :)
          • If you're driving a car on the road, you can *feel* the car turning. If you're driving a car, this sense is a large part of deciding how far and fast to turn the wheel. It's all pretty much an unconcious process, I'm sure you remember steering too much or too little all the time when you started taking driving lessons. You lack this sensation when using a controler, even if it's a steering wheel with force feedback and whathaveyounot.

            You CANNOT make a computer car drive realistically without having some bra
      • Explain the ass-tastic targeting system described in the reviews, then.

        Also, if you're going to give the character a certain kind of "realistic" control intentionally, then you need to intentionally design the environment so that the "realistic" control isn't a hindrance. On this all the reviews seem to be unanimous -- in wide-open spaces with no enemies or objects, the controls are fine. It's just much of the action takes place in tight quarters.

        If you're going to give the player a C-130, you don't ask t

  • And the point is? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by supabeast! (84658) on Tuesday September 04 2007, @05:08PM (#20470835)
    Why would anyone want to play a PS3 game via the use of a PSP as a remote as opposed to just playing it on the PS3? Is there some added functionality here that I'm missing, or is this just geeks at Sony wasting effort?

    • Why would anyone want to play a PS3 game via the use of a PSP as a remote as opposed to just playing it on the PS3?


      Someone else is using the TV for something else?

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by androvsky (974733)
      Because it can be done from anywhere there's a wifi connection, not just at home? If someone really enjoys a game, it's a neat idea to be able to play it a little from work/school/coffee shops, or even friends houses. I'd suspect lag would make it largely unplayable for action games, but it's still a good way to show someone the game or get a quick fix.

      • Because it can be done from anywhere there's a wifi connection, not just at home? If someone really enjoys a game, it's a neat idea to be able to play it a little from work/school/coffee shops, or even friends houses. I'd suspect lag would make it largely unplayable for action games, but it's still a good way to show someone the game or get a quick fix.

        Remote Play, for anyone who hasn't tried it yet, is like VNC. Basically, when it's enabled, the PS3 switches from whatever high-def output it's doing to 480i

    • Why would anyone want to play a PS3 game via the use of a PSP as a remote as opposed to just playing it on the PS3?

      Well, presumably in your Sony®-branded home, you'll have your Playstation® 3 connected up to your expensive and enormous Sony® BRAVIA® high-definition television. But what happens if some other member of your household wants to watch the television? Do you go without playing your wonderful games? No! Just get out your Sony® PSP® and continue from where you left of

      • Aha! How silly of me to think to simply move the PS3 to another room.
        • Because the 60GB and now the 80GB PS3 has WiFi why would you want to move your PS3? If you have a second TV just get a Component/Composite stereo transmitter and take your controller in the room you have your second TV and play any PS1/2/3 game. Of course a second HDTV (say 26") is almost a must but it would leave the rest of the family free to watch the large screen HDTV in your living room, unless they want to watch a Bluray movie on the PS3 (sigh!). Having the ability to play the PS3 game on your PSP (if

  • PS3's Lair Playable Via Remote On PSP


    Well thank goodness! It sure isn't playable with the PS3 on it's own!

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by DrXym (126579)
      The biggest complaint so far in the reviews is the awful control scheme. Maybe playing it through the PSP's interface will fix that. Certainly worth watching, in any case.

      My understanding is that no, it doesn't. The PSP is missing the second shoulder buttons that you need for fast turns and other buttons. Why it was left on is anybody's guess. Perhaps it was as a proof of concept for future games.

      Remote play is a cool feature but it introduces a small but very noticeable latency. This is not surprising

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by JordanL (886154)
      Super Stardust HD and Warhawk are far and above worth playing.

      Other than that... Echochrome and GT5: Prologue look like all we've got for the rest of the year worth picking up, (maybe Heavenly Sword if you really like the genre), and Everyday Shooter whenever it is released.

      There's also Home in the next few months if you find it interesting, but not everyone does. Working for a PS3 related website... I have to say that LittleBigPlanet almost seems like it's worth the purchase of a PS3 by itself, but I
      • I'm in the minority that actually enjoys Lair it seems. But quite honestly, I find the PS3 I bought last week to be about as useful as a paperweight. I only bought it because 60GB PS3s are on the way out, and I need something to play Assassin's Creed on. (And I DETEST Microsoft).

        • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

          by Anonymous Coward
          So. . .how's the Sony boycott going?
        • Why did you want a 60GB PS3 specifically? You do know that it's a near-certainty that the 80GB PS3 will go down in price by the end of the year, right?

          Rob
          • The Emotion chip plays PS2 games primarily through hardware, whereas the 80GB and later models emulate the PS2 through software. Sony has admitted that software emulation will reduce backwards compatibility. So for those who want to play the broadest range of PS2 games with the highest possibility of compatibility, the 60GB model is the way to go.
             
            • That'll be meaningless unless you don't update the firmware ever. In fact, I'm pretty sure all of the EE-equipped PS3s are already running software emulation under the latest firmware.

              BTW, the difference between hardware and software emulation is fairly small and getting smaller every day. And with the EE you don't get some of the nifty results of software emulation like upscaling.

              Rob
          • You do know that it's a near-certainty that the 80GB PS3 will go down in price by the end of the year, right?

            Well if you are willing to wait another one, two or three years (how about 10 years) you will get a much better deal. Sort of stating the obvious don't you think.

            Getting the 60GB or 80GB disk is not that much of a difference and if you want you can always put in a much larger off the self 2.5" disk (120Gb through 250GB plus) if you want. If you are genuinely looking at getting a PS3 then look

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Darth (29071)
      I'm not necessarily a sony fan ( dont feel strongly about them either way, certainly not enough to be considered fanatical). I do have a PS3, though, so here's what i thought of the games i am familiar with.

      I played the Motorstorm demo and hated it. (I'm not really into off-road racing so it is probably a good game for which i am not the target market).

      F1 Championship Edition is a good game and lots of fun if you like Formula One. The big downside is that if you play career mode, it takes between 2 and 3 ho

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Tony (765)
      The biggest complaint so far in the reviews is the awful control scheme.

      Yeah. I remember when we went from the single-joystick, four-button controllers to the scheme both Microsoft and Sony use, and Nintendo used on the Gamecube. Everybody complained about how complex it was.

      I played Lair for the first time tonight, and after just a few minutes, I could do things with the combination motion-control and joystick/buttons that you couldn't dream of without the motion control. I can assure you, the control sche
      • Your suggesting that one games poor control system is comparable to the upgrade to dual analogue. Thats just daft.

        For one its nothing to do with the technology of the pad as other games using the technology have pulled it off nicely. Its everything to do with how they set up the control system and the vast vast majority hate it.

        Secondly, who exactly is this 'Everybody' because as far as I can remember no one complained about dual analogue apart from a) the people who continue to believe the pad is too compl
        • I have played on many game machines and with regard to analogue sticks I don't really have any issues with the Gamecube, Xbox or even the PS controllers. I normally adjust my hands to accommodate the sticks and I can play for hours without getting sore hands. The exception to this was the N64 controller which I found IMHO to be horrible since I could only play an hour and my hands would cramp. Still what works for me may not work for others.
      • Translation: It's a very nice control scheme, it just doesn't suit the purposes of the game.

        Sounds like they made a great 747 flight simulator, but replaced the model of the plane with a dragon. AFAIK, 747s don't have the best handling for, say, picking up cows off a bridge.

    • The controls are very cool. Tilt left and right and your dragon turns that way. You have a range fire attack with one button, and an up close attack button where you go head to head with other dragons.


      I really wish there was a slashdotscanner ala wikiscanner to prove that you're the same AC who's always posting about Wii controllers being gimicky and "bolted" on.

      • I don't think that sort of proof is necessary. The writing style and rabidness are the same.

        Rob
    • "I get the feeling that there are people who really fear this game. I suppose the fact that the PS3 can run a game that looks this good at 1080p and shows what a real next gen game's disc requirements are(25 gigs for Lair) make people feel their console is inferior and need to lash out."

      Yeah, that'd be so much worse than somebody using a horribly reviewed game with pretty screenshots to pre-emptively lash out at the people using more popular consoles.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by DrXym (126579)
      The problem with LAIR is mostly down the control scheme. Forcing people to use tilt and gestures for flying with no alternate conventional control scheme was a TERRIBLE IDEA. They should have supplied a normal stick control scheme for people who don't like gesture based gaming. Tilt might just about work but abstract gestures that bear little relation between the physical action and what happens in the game suck big time. They've always sucked and they'll continue to suck. I remember the frustration after e
      • Forcing people to use tilt and gestures for flying with no alternate conventional control scheme was a TERRIBLE IDEA.

        Let's see-- "Forcing people to use *two joysticks* (one under each thumb) and two sets of crazy buttons, with *extra buttons under each index finger* is just insane!"

        The point is, the gameplay was built around the sixaxis controller. That's one of the things Sure, you could fly around, but you couldn't do much else. The shear variety of attack sequences available would be prohibitive. It'd b
        • The control scheme for flying is intuitive, easy-to-use, and makes for amazing gameplay.

          No it isn't, or it wouldn't have been repeatedly panned by critics. Some people do not like twisting their wrists or making spastic abstract gestures to make their dragon / plane / duck react. The duck is reference to Super Rub A Dub - a simple tilt puzzle game where the single jump gesture managed to be screwed up. Especially when there is a stick and a surfeit of buttons to provide an alternative scheme with little d

        • If dual shock works then that says to me the effort of providing a proper patch is minimal.
        • You're right Black & White did get a lot of awards and in some ways it was an amazing game. Gestures was not one of those ways. It sure as hell wouldn't have hurt the game to provide a keyboard or menu alternative to gestures either.

          I'd also point out that LAIR is not an amazing game. It has amazing graphics and the potential to be amazing but clearly the game play mechanics are not up to snuff. It doesn't help when the control scheme alienates reviewers and players with no alternative scheme to use.

      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        by Pluvius (734915)
        I'm confused as to how you know how well Lair is doing at the cash register. I wouldn't mind if it did do well, since that would give the PS3 leverage, but the only thing I've seen is that it's #1 on the PS3 list at GameStop, which isn't saying much in and of itself. Especially since it doesn't show up on the overall best-sellers list at all.

        Rob

      • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

        by toolie (22684)
        You haven't actually played Lair, have you?

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