By Gamecentral

Copyright metro

Mass Effect 2 – are BioWare in danger? (EA)

The Wednesday letters page discusses the best Tactics games ever made, as one reader struggles with the realisation that WipEout is now 30 years old.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Yachts for me, not for theeThis business with EA sounds absolutely awful. I can’t help thinking of Toys ‘R’ Us, where it got bought out just like this, saddled with billions in debt and then went bust. But no one cared because the execs and investors, and whoever, had already made their money. The only thing stopping this happening to EA is that Saudi Arabia seems to want to be some kind of global media giant.

We all know what this is going to mean: more yachts for execs and more layoffs for ordinary developers. And gallons of AI slop to make up for their exit. I have real difficulty imagining anything good coming of this. Maybe they’ll publish more indie games than they currently do, for a bit, but I wouldn’t even bet on that.

My biggest worry is what’s going to happen to BioWare? They’ve had three flops in a row now and they’ve already lost people. I’m not convinced that any serious work is going on for Mass Effect and if I was a soulless venture capitalist they’d be the very first studio I’d shut down, but probably not the first. I bet we don’t get that third Star Wars Jedi game either.Grackle

Publisher of the DeadSo EA is what now? Some kind of zombie publisher, who has to desperately pay off the debts it didn’t have until yesterday, by… sacking a bunch of people and cutting corners everywhere? Well, that sure does sound swell. I don’t think.

What is going on with these companies? It seems the better the games are that get released the worst they act. I guess they’re panicking or whatever over the cost of games, so the only response possible was to… implode and get $20 billion in debt. I mean I’m no financial expert but that sounds insane.

We’re now in the position where the biggest publisher in the world is owned by a console maker who can’t convince anyone to buy its consoles and the second biggest is now the victim of some sort of venture capitalist loophole that’s going to end up with thousands of people losing their jobs.

Great job games industry! You really are giving vibes of being totally logical and sensible, I can completely see why people would want to invest in you and work for you.Limpton

Start the clockSo EA Sports have been bought out and the only people that think it’s a really good idea are the ones making money from it.

I wonder how long will pass before workers are basically sacked and profit is put before games. Shouldn’t be be long for both of them to happen.David

GC: Not just EA Sports, but the whole of EA.

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Virtual escapeNice reviews of Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2. Since I never got Super Mario 3D All-Stars I haven’t played either in over a decade, so I’m going to get the double pack and try and forget the awfulness of everything (looking at you EA!) by indulging in some classic Nintendo fun.

Some people say that video games are pointless or childish but when the world is getting worse by the day, I think there’s a lot to be said for something you can just turn on and immediately know you’ll have a good time with.

I wouldn’t even be surprised if that had a small effect on why the Switch 2 has been such a success. People are looking for an escape from it all and a few hours on a top-notch 3D Mario seems like the perfect solution to me. Only thing that would be better is if it were Super Mario Galaxy 3.Bosley

Long time comingAs an Amiga fan it is cool to see The Settlers 2 listed on your game release schedule for 2025, I see it is on a Saturday the actual release. I remember in the ‘90s the Amiga getting the first game and wondering if it would ever get the second game and 30 years later here we are!

A friend has mentioned to me that they plan to release the full size Amiga in January 2026 possibly, so I will be buying that day one as the A500 Mini has sold out now, so don’t want to miss out in January with the new hardware release.Andrew J.PS. Really enjoyed your Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 review. Can’t wait to get the physical version.

F is for fantasticJust finished Silent Hill f and I absolutely was not expecting that! As a game I agree with your complaints about the combat, but I think that’s overall a fairly minor issue, because I loved the story and characters. Hinako is very reserved by really cool in her way and felt so bad for her once you realised what was going on in the Otherworld.

The graphics are fantastic, especially the facial animation, and it’s really creepy. It might not be super frightening all the time but seeing those mannequins creaking about in the fog is really nasty, especially when you’re trying to decide whether to make a run for it past them.

I really want to discuss the ending and the story, but I realise I can’t here. Although I will agree that the David Lynch influence is strong, despite the complete change of location. You don’t realise how much at first but it’s obvious that’s what they were thinking of.

I am surprised there weren’t more connections to the original games though. I felt sure the town’s name was going to end up meaning Silent Hill but it doesn’t. There’s no connection at all as far as a I know, except for one obscure thing that I read up on once I beat it.

That doesn’t really change anything even when you know about it, but I guess it does confirm that the game is set in the same universe, or parallel universe with similar elements. Great stuff though, so happy this franchise is back on its feet after all these years.Syke

Tactical choicesIn the Final Fantasy Tactics review you stated that it was not your favourite tactics game, which prompts the question: What is GC’s favourite tactics game?PazJohnMitch

GC: If you stick to a fairly narrow definition of the genre we’d probably say Disgaea 4. But we’re also big fans of Shining Force 2, Unicorn Overlord, Fire Emblem Awakening, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns. We’ve got a secret soft spot for R-Type Tactics too.

Forgotten mindblowerI know you did the top UK PS1 video games list on Monday, but it didn’t really click with me until now that that means WipEout is also 30 years old. Oh boy, does that make me feel old!

I remember being at university and Sony was putting on events and had this tent where you could go and play the PS1 and WipEout was the main game they had there. It was all an attempt to make the PS1 seem cool and not like the older consoles, and I gotta say it worked.

It definitely made me want to get one and I know a number of people at the time, that wouldn’t be seen dead owning a Mega Drive or SNES, that were also impressed. There’s a lot of talk about Super Mario 64 being the biggest step forward ever for gaming and I think that probably is true… for the game itself.

In terms of what a video game could be I think the jump to PS1 was just as important. I’m willing to bet that WipEout had more affect on the way adults in the UK think of video games than Super Mario 64 ever did. Perhaps any game, definitely of that time. The soundtrack along was such mindblower.

I’m not having a go at Nintendo’s games, I love them too, but I can’t help but feel a little sore that while Super Mario Bros. is celebrating his 40th with movies and games and remasters, we’ll probably never see another WipEout again. Not even a remaster or remake of the original.Tony T.

Inbox also-ransThat indie Parasite Eve knock-off looks really good. With work like this, pretty soon I don’t think we’re going to need normal games companies, especially if they’re all going to go the way of EA.Kramer

I didn’t realise the Super Mario Galaxy remasters weren’t Switch 2 games. That’s actually put me off buying them. Seems a bit of a wasted opportunity.Polos

GC: They are better on Switch 2, in terms of the resolution, but there’s no specific Switch 2 version.

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

ArrowMORE: Games Inbox: What does the EA buyout mean for gaming?

ArrowMORE: Games Inbox: Is the PS5 good value for money?

ArrowMORE: Games Inbox: What is the best samurai video game?