It came to my attention recently that Crackdown and Infamous have more in common then the fact that they are in the same vein of gaming. I was watching television last night when I heard that Infamous would have a beta voucher for Uncharted 2 multiplayer. Now this sounds startingly similar to another game. You guessed it Crackdown. Similar exclusive games that also offer the same beta voucher for another highly anticipated exclusive game. I would go so far as to say the idea was ripped off.

Though when Crackdown came out that very practice was deemed by many as disgusting and underhanded. They proclaimed you cannot trust the sales, because players are really just buying the beta. I am not going to debate whether that was true or not. I felt the game was worth the money and the beta was just a bonus. However it occurs to my that this is one of those situations where it is either ironic or hypocritical. For the simple but undeniable truth that the argument now has done a 180. There is plenty of pun there for the picking, but I will just continue on.

I am really interested what the Sony flamers in particular think about this situation. Are you now going to defend the practice. Are you going to offer up the same justifications. Are you going to bawl when the next Xbot plays turn the table. Basically would you feel at all hypocritical about changing your stance now that it serves your purposes, or are you actually going to show integrity. Stand by what you said back then, and point the accusing finger at Sony. I doubt the latter, but would admit to being pleasantly surprised.

This is the perfect Catch 22. The game sells well and everyone can blame the beta. The game sells poorly and everyone can say that gamers really are not excited about Uncharted 2. It is the true no win situation your damned either way you go, and if the game is good and sells well. Saying so is just viewed as a fanboy denial. Talk about being screwed seven ways from Sunday. Infamous had a chance, but thanks to the voucher it will always have a stigma.

good points overall. I loved Crackdown.

Hmm i knew that inFamous was a crackdown rip off :P

inFamous is better tho

Halo 3 is a much bigger game that Uncharted 2, nobody would disagree with that. However, most would agree that many of Crackdown's sales were due to Halo 3, but there were still a good deal of sales. Also, the inFamous and Uncharted thing is an online thing only in the UK, whereas Halo 3/Crackdown you just got a code in the box everywhere

i honestly can not remember people be hypocritical about crackdown using the halo 3 beta, but there is always a certain few that complain about everything. but i think its good business to add these beta's. if it sells more of your game then go for it. so more power to suckerpunch and anyone else who throws in a beta voucher to squeeze out some sales, even if it does show a lack of confidence in your game :P

The only thing that Infamous and Crackdown have in common is they are exclusive console sanbox games. There are millions of sandbox games out there but infamous came out in 2009. That's why it's the hot new game. Crackdown is 2007. 360 fanboys really can't seem to let 2007 go. There are plenty of 360 exclusives to talk about this year like Ninja blade and Gay Tony. Why don't you talk about those games?

I guess its because 360 gamers seem to have the best back catalogue of any game system by miles on the market right now, with the exception of the PC. That, and because to many gamers 2007 was the best year in gaming this gen(to some, of any gen), and 360 had a ton of stuff that year.

actuall Crackdown and Infamous are really similar games - sandbox titles with superhero as a main character. though i like Crackdown more(it's my favourite 360 game besides Forza 2 and Dead Rising) - i love pure awesomeness of this game(i hope MS will make a sequel with better driving mechanics and full destructable enviroment that would be best game EVAH for me)

the ps2 is still on the market

Ah, thats true! Second best behind PC then? :P