Michael Pachter, professional videogame analyst, or overpaid guesser?

Michael Pachter for those of you who don't know is an analyst for Wedbush Morgan securities. He is someone who takes bits and pieces of info and guesses the outcome or reasoning. In simpler terms he's a glorified guesser. He is much like an over hyped piece of shit game in its marketing campaign that ultimately fails to deliver. He's made quite a little cozy position "predicting" the videogame industry and their are many who humor him in his effort to do so. Frankly I would never go after a n analyst of this or any type, but Patcher is somewhat of a celeb at this biz and has dropped the shit out of the ball on his credibility.

On March 12th Pacther released his research note that stated GRAND THEFT AUTO 4(GTA) would sell nine million copies during the fiscal year and that six million of those copies would be sold to 360 owners.http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/gta-iv-could-sell-over-9m-this-year-says-pachter/?biz=

Of course 360 fanboys were thrilled by this "guess" and PS3 fanboys called Pacther non credible among other things. Pacther has now said GTA 4 will sell more on the PS3 in the long run because of brand loyalty.
http://www.gametrailers.com/bonusround.php?ep=20

Now the table have turned between the 360 and PS3 fanboys, ironic. But the bigger picture here is Pacther quickly changing his tune, but with skill mind you. He says the PS3 will sell more in the "long run" because of brand loyalty. By wording it like that he thinks his credibility will stay true.....he's wrong. The time between his two comments are suspiciously close, and no analyst would pull such a screw job. SONY is on ends with the impending lease of GTA 4 and it would not be beneath them to grease Pacther. Not sure about anyone else but I know a bullshitter doing damage control when I see it. His argument for his new "research" is brand loyalty, which anyone with a third grade education can tell you doesn't and hasn't meant shit for SONY this gen. The people waiting in the wings to buy either console are not waiting on GTA 4, they already know that the game is coming out on both platforms on the same day. So what are these mythical brand loyal people waiting on then? To make sure the game is actually coming out on the PS3? I know I'm not the only one who sees just how retarded that sounds. People who haven't bought either system are not waiting on a game they KNOW is coming to the system that according to Pacther they are loyal to. They are waiting on both systems to become more affordable for them, simple as that, Pacther and the crushed fanboys can spin it anyway they want.

Pacther is a glorified paid guesser nothing more. But because of the glorified position he is in, he can manipulate the masses. You either need to be smart enough to see pass the bullshit or be another mindless follower.

GTA 4, no confirmed Down loadable content on the PS3.

It has been known for a while now that the XBOX 360 version of GTA 4 will receive two episodic down loadable content(DLC) packs, it is also known that Microsoft paid $50million dollars for the DLC. Nobody knows the deal of if its just for those two packs or all DLC in general. SONY affiliates and low end gaming news websites have been speculating and falsely claiming the PS3 will get its own DLC as well. While SONY downplays the idea of DLC.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=129379

You would think instead of trying to downplay the EEDLC that Microsoft has secured and preaching the mythical brand loyalty that will boost their sales, they would take time to talk about or HINT at all this mythical DLC that the PS3 is supposedly getting. Even if part of Microsofts deal states SONY can't mention if they will or won't get DLC that doesn't mean they can't drop obvious hints. No, instead they will downplay DLC, preach about mythic brand loyalty, and talk about two irrelevant games that are their system movers....but no hints.Curious.

Its far too easy to claim something that is false, many brain dead people will eat it up but these low end "gaming news" site and magazines need something to generate traffic, the best are the sites that use the magazines as their source. But when they say "ROCKSTAR told us", "THEY said" or the very popular "our inside source" most people should be smart enough to know that its complete bullshit, however many won't. The grasping few will proclaim it as "confirmed fact" and continue to make themselves look even more foolish. Its ok for them to spread such bullshit because there isn't a law against bullshitting, so thats why they can get away with it. Some of these sites & magazines are clever in the way they word something, its simply trickery. IF the PS3 was getting "any" kind of DLC SONY would be preaching it loudly much like Microsoft has but neither ROCKSTAR nor SONY have confirmed any DLC for the PS3, that could be because (A). Its in the Microsoft contract that they can't mention it until after a set time or (B). Microsoft does have all the DLC exclusive and SONY has deal with ROCKSTAR to not confirm or deny if the PS3 has any DLC until after the release for fear of deterring sales. Its all speculation as of now. The PS3 "might" get some DLC and it might not, but as of now there are no confirmations from any identifiable ROCKSTAR employee being quoted "directly". I challenge anyone to find where a ROCKSTAR employee was quoted "directly" confirming DLC for the PS3. The XBOX 360 is the only one who has EDLC confirmed and it is said that the content will be sizable.

Many will simply dismiss the above post because its a blog and turn a blind eye to the valid points I've made. But when in such desperation you tend to ignore the fine print.

EA the new age NAZI'S.

EA is something once mentioned on any gaming forum on the net creates anarchy amongst the gamers, getting them all riled up and ready to start a lynch mob, and with good reason. EA put bluntly are the NAZI'S of the gaming industry. Much like peasant villagers, gamers protest loudly their discontent when EA wants to buy/ hostilely takeover a developer or publisher. Just like peasant villagers, gamers can do nothing but sit by and watch as EA marches down the street( metaphorical ) after invading a developer or publisher. Sure the invaded parties all "act" happy about the deal and proclaim their praise for EA. But thats what prisoners do...act happy when they are told to. The bad thing is unlike the Nazi's EA can't be defeated, they are an unbeatable foe. It wouldn't be so bad if EA would put out a quality product from one of these captured properties, but they won't they will simply milk and ultimately destroy. Then move on to the next one.

The recent country( metaphorically ) EA is determined to invade is Take-Two which they would also acquire ROCKSTAR the developers of the immensely popular GRAND THEFT AUTO in the process. EA offered Take-Two an all cash merger of about $2 billion dollars. Take-Two's board rejected the offer which in turn( like a spoiled bratty kid who didn't get what they wanted ) EA made their offer public to the share holders hoping to entice them.

"Our all-cash proposal is a unique opportunity for Take-Two shareholders to realize immediate value at a substantial premium, while creating long-term value for EA shareholders. Take-Two's game designers would also benefit from EA's financial resources, stable, game-focused management team, and strong global publishing capabilities. ... There can be no certainty that in the future EA or any other buyer would pay the same high premium we are offering today."

Have you ever smelled such horse shit? The fact is EA wants in cheap before the launch of Grand Theft Auto 4 to capitalize their profit, while monopolizing the licensed sports game rights and then destroying whats left of Take-Two. After the launch of GTA 4 Take-Two shares are likely to spike, which means EA would have to pay more, which is bad for EA no matter how many billions of dollars they have. Sure, if EA managed to buy Take-Two before GTA 4's release they would baby feed Take-Two and ROCKSTAR until the launch of GTA 4 but after that, they would fire off the talent or force most into quiting because EA will refuse to pay them what they are worth and what they are use to making.

"Dear Strauss," Riccitiello wrote in the February 19 letter, "I am disappointed that you have rejected Electronic Arts' $25 per share cash offer to acquire Take-Two Interactive Software...and declined to engage in the friendly negotiations we proposed. We continue to believe that an acquisition of Take-Two by EA is in the best interests of your shareholders, employees and other constituents, and we remain interested in acquiring Take-Two. So to further demonstrate our seriousness and encourage you to move forward now, I am writing to increase EA's offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Take-Two to $26 per share in cash."

By making their letter and their offer public EA has put the "guns" on Take-Two to accept a premium offer over their share price. Their alternative is a hinted at is shareholder lawsuit against Take-Two's management if they refuse. A deal like that would make Hitler cry. Its no loss for EA they just want the damn name and the property, they'll fill the offices with their in house slaves. Outside of utterly destroying the GTA franchise they will hold a complete monopoly over sports games which is EA's second primary goal. Making it virtually impossible for any other developer or publisher to produce a licensed sport title. Funny how mainstream gaming news outlets overlook this info. They are a destroyer of companies. With the recent "shady" acquisition of BIOWARE we can only hope there may be one last good game from them, not sure about you but I'm not keen on playing MASS EFFECT 2 or KOTOR 3 to a soundtrack of 100 hip hop songs. Sadly BIOWARE'S days are numbered and its a crying shame.

They are a plague on the gaming industry and the only people who will tell you that are gamers. Not some assclown who is paid to type a predetermined outlined transcript or a piss ant TV gaming journalist. Sure the casual sports gamer would disagree, but what do you expect they've been mind screwed into buying mediocre updated sports games every year from EA, which fuels the machine. If the gaming industry ever crashes again you can bet a large part will be due to EA.

The blu-ray hype.

I'll keep this short. SONY's ushering in of blu-ray pissed many off, mainly supporters of HD-DVD. But SONY proclaimed blu-ray as the holy grail of disc. While there is nothing wrong with blu-ray itself it has caused a retard race amongst SONY developers. The developers of LAIR, HEAVENLY SWORD, and Resistance all shouted loudly that ONLY on blu-ray could there games be done. The hype ball was started. The orders were passed down from SONY to these developers "fill the space", and they did. Lots of uncompressed material and buffers, and bam you have a 20gb game or bigger. Lair has about 4 1/2hrs of gameplay, Heavenly sword has 6hrs, and resistance has about 9 -11hrs. Resistance is about what the average game last, Lair and HS are embarrassments for games, yet they needed blu-ray.

The latest developer to start the blu-ray hype train up is Hideo Kojima developer of the METAL GEAR SOLID series. Hideo is actually claiming blu-ray( 50gb of storage space most games even next gen games don't even reach 9gb ) is not big enough for MGS 4. Now unlike other site who are kissing Hideo's ass I'm calling bullshit on him, MGS is SONY's supposed savior, its their flagship title for the PS3. There is no doubt that this is publicity stunt by Hideo & SONY to severly over hype MGS4. But good god talk about overkill, a little hype is good to sell your product. I have to believe its a publicity stunt to help push blu-ray even more its either that or Hideo's mind has gone the way of the Mayans.

Kojima : I am not satisfied with the quality yet, however…there isn’t enough space.
Interviewer: Not enough space on Blu-ray?
Kojima: Yes. [laughter] Not enough space.

This is not a harp on blu-ray. Blu-ray can be good for games, but only if its used efficiently and not as some moronic pissing contest.

G4 the further decline of stupidity.

I was an avid fan of Tech tv, they had many quality programs that favored information over comedic scripts and sexual overtones. Tech tv would later be sold to G4, who's primary goal was to out MTV, MTV. At the start( the golden years ) G4 had some very good shows such as Judgment day, pulse, & filter to name a few. Many of the shows provided good info on the gaming biz as a whole, with host and writers who were more inclined to keep people updated rather then making them laugh or reporting on completely irrelevant shit. Those days are long gone and now we are left with scripted half ass sitcoms trying to masquerade as news or review shows, and reruns of programs no one ever cared about when they were new. Absurd shows from across the way now fill most spots on the network.

Attack of the show( AOTS ) had some promise at the start until the morons who run G4 decided it wasn't hip or sexy enough. So the cast was overhauled to aspiring actors & actress's who can read from a cue card and well ACT like they have a clue as to what the hell they are talking about. The abundance of ignorance that the host of AOTS portray during their hour slot is beyond sad and sometimes makes me feel embarrassed for these actors. Especially when they try so desperately to mix humor and sexual overtones into the mix. Not to mention the total mismatching or miscasting of the host's, you have Kevin Pereira a PC nerd gone wrong, this guy seriously looks like someone who possibly might spend his off hours outside of local playgrounds. On the female side of the cast we have Olivia Munn an aspiring actress who wears push-up bra's 8 times to small which would explain why her head always looks like its about to explode and her facial movement is very restricted, then theres Kristin Holt a former American Idol.....nuff said.

The next show we have is X play, a supposed game review/news show. Adam Sessler has been doing this show since it was titled Extended play and then he wasn't bad, he did his job. But management changed and cue cards changed, shit happens. He has always looked like he is a day away from retiring, but he goes on, unlike his hair. For the cream of the crop we have his co host Morgan Webb, I'm sorry but whoever thought this girl was camera friendly needs to be hit 7 or 8 times in the head with a tire iron. Not mention her voice......I've heard cats **** with more harmony. Outside the insults, much like AOTS X play favors comedic scripts focused more on making stupid ass jokes rather than giving a good coherent assessment on what ever game they claim to be reviewing.

Beyond my childish insults of the "characters" of these shows the fact remains that none of them even do their job well. A lot of that could be blamed on the writers, but be clear when you hire an actor you know right off, they either got it or they don't. When either of the shows interview a developer its the worse, they are far more concerned with kissing ass and getting greased then asking legitimate questions like "why would you release a game in such bad shape". G4 apparently only care about reaching the kids....the "hip" kids, but I'm not exactly clear on how they plan to do that with reruns of cops. I understand that as a company such as G4 needs to reach an audience, but they are absolutely clueless on who they are trying to reach, without a doubt G4 is the most unstable disoriented Television network I have ever had the displeasure of viewing.

They put polls on their site to see what fans would like to see and to take suggestions, then they totally ignore the results. Hell, they want even allow you to criticize, debate, or question any of their host on their forums anymore, doing so will result in suspensions and bans. I'm still waiting to see if they try to create their own TRL, with Kristin Holt hosting that train wreck. We can only hope G4 will eventually get their act together or another network will start up. Its sad that most gamers and PC enthusiast have nowhere else to turn on TV for the info they want and are subjected to the stupidity that is G4.

Does Saints row 2 have a chance on its own?

With the impending release of GTA 4 around the corner much is being kept very quiet about the sequel to possibly the best street gang themed game. Saints row 1 was the first crime sandbox genre game ushered into next gen exclusively on the XBOX 360. While the moronic many proclaimed it a clone or a ripoff the secure few played and enjoyed the hell out of it. Its campy storyline and its chaotic gameplay elements provided hours of enjoyment for those willing to try it. But it was not only labeled a clone or ripoff by kids who have no understanding of genres or gaming history, but also by "supposedly" pro gaming journalist and T.V personality's. Saints row 1 wasn't really given a fair shake by these "supposedly" pro gaming journalist. In fact many of them found it hard to review the game on its own merits w/o bringing up GTA. Which only tells me that apparently the stupid kids who don't understand genre's or gaming history are now stupid adults who still haven't learned.

The sad part about all this is that the bigger gaming news companies are the guilty of this the most. Nate Ahearn of IGN said this in his preview for Saints row 2,
"Its not easy for a company to make an open-world game that stands totally separate from the titan that is grand theft auto. THQ went the opposite direction of other companies and decided to make their first entry into the free-roaming gangster genre what was essentially reskinned GTA"

He acknowledges the free roaming gangster genre as such, but continues to contradict his intelligence. I guess its good many of these journalist were just a glimmer in their dads eye when gaming first started getting some attention. Its not about saints row being a flop it isn't, in fact according to VG Chartz it has sold over 1.7million copies, its not about Saints row 2 being a flop, chances are it will not. Its about these so called journalist dealing with the game on its own merits, and getting their heads out of their ass. You really have to wonder if any of these people have a clear cut understanding to what exactly a genre is and how it is built. Although Saints row 2 is sounding very promising the stupidity parade that is "pro" gaming news is already marching to the same ignorant beat they marched to before the release of the first Saints row.