Why You Should Buy This Month's Issue of Play

http://www.playmagazine.com/megaten/images/p4cover.jpg

Because I did the cover story, bitches! So support me!

Ten pages of Persona 4 goodness... well, actually, nine pages, and one page of Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online goodness. Almost 2,500 words of blissful text in the review, three interviews for Persona 4 (director / producer Katsura Hashino, art director Shigenori Soejima, and composer Shoji Meguro), a P4-themed layout done by myself as well, and an exclusive, custom cover done for us by Soejima.

I've also put up a special webpage with bonus content, found here. Extra questions I couldn't fit into the mag, a Persona history, and a contest where we're given away thirty prizes.

I really busted my ass to try to put together something cool for my first-ever cover story, and it meant a lot to me since it was a game and a series that I care about. Even if you don't buy a copy (though obviously I wish you would, since this issue selling well would be good for my reputation at the office), at least check it out if you see it while browsing the local bookstore. (Subs are getting their copies now, so it should be out for sale to the general audience by next week).

Spammer shidoshi banned.

Just kidding. Congratulations on getting the cover.

nice!

Sweet! I'll probably pick it up if I see it, real excited for P4. what'd you give it?

I'll be sure to pick up a copy. Congrats, 'doshi!

Will get. Gratz!

Send me a copy, they don't sell it here.

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Originally Posted by mannerbot

Sweet! I'll probably pick it up if I see it, real excited for P4. what'd you give it?

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Play doesn't give numerical scores anymore, they just print infoads.

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Originally Posted by mannerbot

what'd you give it?

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I gave it five fluffy kittens out of a possible seven pink hearts.

Oh god Persona oh god.

Pass, but I'll buy the game.

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Originally Posted by kingoffighters

Play doesn't give numerical scores anymore, they just print infoads.

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I can see their reasoning behind this, but it's had the opposite effect on me. Before, when I saw a score, I was interested in reading why they gave it what they gave it. Now I just don't bother reading the reviews anymore, especially when some of the reviews sound more like previews (i.e., Halverson's Dead Space review).

Congrats. You're movin' up.

I like Play for the niche/under the radar coverage and the interviews, but I think the reviews are biased and a little too generous. I usually peruse it at Borders, but haven't bought an issue in awhile. I'm curious about Persona 4. I'm on the fence whether or not to buy it. I enjoyed P3 for about 40 hours, after that it felt like a grind-fest and I just wanted it to end.

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Originally Posted by Nash

I can see their reasoning behind this, but it's had the opposite effect on me. Before, when I saw a score, I was interested in reading why they gave it what they gave it. Now I just don't bother reading the reviews anymore, especially when some of the reviews sound more like previews (i.e., Halverson's Dead Space review).

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So if you don't read the reviews, and they no longer have scores......why look through the magazine?

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Originally Posted by Dyne

So if you don't read the reviews, and they no longer have scores......why look through the magazine?

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I don't. I used to read Play's reviews on their website. Ever since they got rid of scores, I've visited the site less and less.

I think the plan after the relaunch of the site is to have the games that don't make it into the magazine (ie the ed's favorites) on the site with scores.

Shin Megami Tensei Imagine is looking to be the first Cave game with an American release since Steep Slope Sliders. How mean is that?

You do your country of F-chanistan proud.

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Originally Posted by Nash

I don't. I used to read Play's reviews on their website. Ever since they got rid of scores, I've visited the site less and less.

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Well, first of all, I think your thing against reviews without scores is pretty ridiculous, as scores do more harm than good when it comes to reviews. (And if a review is going to sound like a glorified preview, it's going to sound that way no matter if it has a score attached or not.)

However, you will be happy to know that scores have already started to return to the site, and the plan is to have the site-based reviews have scores as the norm.

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Originally Posted by Beefy Hits

I'm curious about Persona 4. I'm on the fence whether or not to buy it. I enjoyed P3 for about 40 hours, after that it felt like a grind-fest and I just wanted it to end.

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If the dungeon crawling was the main point that bothered you, I'll let you know that that portion of the game is totally changed up now. Instead of one big dungeon, it's a lot of little dungeons that flow better and feel more unique.

Then again, however, I never considered P3 to be a grind-fest, especially at any point within the first 40 hours, so you know.

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Originally Posted by shidoshi

However, you will be happy to know that scores have already started to return to the site, and the plan is to have the site-based reviews have scores as the norm.

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The fact that you are bringing the scores back means Nash is right. :p

GJ 'doshi. Will buy :)

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Originally Posted by kingoffighters

The fact that you are bringing the scores back means Nash is right. :p

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No, it means that the people who wanted to keep scores won out in the end over the people who wanted them to go away.

But, unfortunately, Nash IS partially right. Even as much as the industry (developers, publishers, consumers) bitch about scores, they also bitch when there aren't any.

When is it on shelves?

When book stores reorder toilet paper i'll buy a copy as an apology

If I see this on shelves, I'll definitely pick it up. Congrats on getting the cover, 'doshi.

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Originally Posted by StriderKyo

When is it on shelves?

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I have heard numerous reports of it being found at Barnes & Noble stores across the country. So if it isn't on your local stand now, it should be very soon.

I will buy a copy if you sign the front and mail it to me.

Saw it at B&N tonight and bought a copy to support shidoshi. I am super nice like that.

I bought a copy at work yesterday.

Shidoshi, how much of the design do you do? I seriously love a few of the layouts, especially in comparison to some of the other game magazines. Ugh.

Nice to see Halverson gushing over Sonic again, too. I'll wait until some Sonic fan/sucker here buys it for impressions instead of taking those four, crinkly pages seriously.

I'm gonna sit down and read through the Persona section when I can devote my full attention to 'em.

Never bet on a 3D sonic.

I think I'll pick up a copy. Good job Shidoshi.

I'm a Play subscriber, so I'll be getting it :)

Personally, I'm glad that the scores are gone. I find myself reading more of the reviews and not dismissing a game because of a number.

If you're going to have scores, why not just have one guy have the job of assigning review scores to all of the games released that month, independent of the reviews? Just a list of titles and numbers to please the publishers. Scale of 7 to 10: seven is bad, eight is average, nine is above average, and ten is great. As long as you define the meaning of the numbers, nobody can complain and the publishers will appreciate the high scores. (Maybe that's what's going on with the web site, but if you leave out all the games reviewed in the mag you'll be leaving out a lot of titles.)

I picked up a copy at Borders when I picked up a gift card for my Dad. Haven't read the P4 article yet, but I will soon.

I for one, like to see scores on games. Either an A-F scale, or a 1-10 scale. It tells you at a glance what a game is like w/o you having to read the review for games you're only minorly interested in like that you'd pick up after a price drop.

Edit: Read the article. It has me interested. The weather system sounds cool, as does the extra stuff to do to kill time. About how long is this game? Is it as long or longer than P3? I'm guessing so. I might end up picking it up.

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Originally Posted by Beefy Hits

Edit: Read the article. It has me interested. The weather system sounds cool, as does the extra stuff to do to kill time. About how long is this game? Is it as long or longer than P3? I'm guessing so. I might end up picking it up.

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Depending on how you play, about as long as the core of P3, so between 90 and 100 hours. (Unless you seriously avoid the whole Social Link stuff in order to rush through the game).

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Originally Posted by ChaoofNee

Shidoshi, how much of the design do you do? I seriously love a few of the layouts, especially in comparison to some of the other game magazines. Ugh.

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For this issue, all I did was the 10 pages of Persona 4/Imagine Online coverage. What layouts most caught your eye?

Oh, and thanks to everybody who is picking up a copy of the issue. Honestly, unless for some reason this issue ends up doing super numbers, it won't mean much for me job wise, but the support means a lot to me personally.

Finished reading play. You seem to be expanding your coverage to less niche oriented games. You're also more brutal on some games. I like the idea of the parting shot (and the bullet bill graphic), but I still prefer to see scores.

I might pick it up from Amazon, even though there's a bunch of other RPGs I'd like to play (Fallout 3, Lost Odyssey, Fable II, Star Ocean II, Possibly Last Remnant). If nothing else, it can wait until the summer drought.

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Originally Posted by Beefy Hits

Fallout 3, Lost Odyssey, [...] Star Ocean II, Possibly Last Remnant

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I still don't understand how anyone can have the time to play this many 40-100 hour games. (NOTE MY EXCEPTION)

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Originally Posted by ChaoofNee

I still don't understand how anyone can have the time to play this many 40-100 hour games. (NOTE MY EXCEPTION)

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There are people here who put in way more hours into the Gears of War series than all of those games combined.

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Originally Posted by shidoshi

Oh, and thanks to everybody who is picking up a copy of the issue. Honestly, unless for some reason this issue ends up doing super numbers, it won't mean much for me job wise, but the support means a lot to me personally.

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Kotaku noticed your work in some sort of a way

http://achievements.schrankmonster.d...gazine%20cover

Congrats Doshi!

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Originally Posted by GKM

Kotaku noticed your work in some sort of a way

http://achievements.schrankmonster.d...gazine%20cover

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Dammit you beat me to it.

Uhh, congrats again?

Congrats, shidoshi. I probably won't buy Persona 4 as it sounds too similar to the previous game (which was cool but way too long and the social links didn't affect the game how I wanted them to) but I'll give this a read.

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Originally Posted by ChaoofNee

I still don't understand how anyone can have the time to play this many 40-100 hour games. (NOTE MY EXCEPTION)

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You can add Fallout 3 to the exception list. It's a short game if you're not doing too many sidequests.

If I haven't played either, should I play Persona 3 or 4? As far as I can tell there isn't any serious continuity issues with the storylines...

I enjoyed Persona 3 enough to preorder Persona 4 and pick up SMT: Nocturne and SMT: Digital Devil Saga 2, so...

Go play Nocturne.

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Originally Posted by ChaoofNee

I still don't understand how anyone can have the time to play this many 40-100 hour games. (NOTE MY EXCEPTION)

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These things help:

1.) No Life
2.) No Girlfriend/fiance/wife/kids
3.) (Mostly) Empty Weekends
4.) Nothing better to do

Although I do draw the line at 80-100 hour games. I have something resembling the life of a normal human to not dig into those real deep. I usually give up on them about 60-70 hours in. With Dragon Quest I make exceptions, but even then it can be a stretch. I quit a 2nd playthrough of DQ8 70 hours in.

I have time for them, and I have a 1.5 hour commute home from work 1 way. I usually play 2 hours a day around 3 days a week, with marathon sessions on the weekends. Takes me about a month to beat a 40-50 hour game. 2 or more months to beat a 60-100 hour game.

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Originally Posted by Beefy Hits

2.) No Girlfriend/fiance/wife/kids

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Melf and kingoffighters are both married and have children, and they have two of the higher gamerscores on TNL.

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Originally Posted by Nash

Melf and kingoffighters are both married and have children, and they have two of the higher gamerscores on TNL.

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That's probably because their kids play on their account when they're @ work. :lol::eek:

That's pretty cool, shidoshi! I'll have to give it a read!

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Originally Posted by Beefy Hits

That's probably because their kids play on their account when they're @ work. :lol::eek:

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I'm fairly certain KoF's kid ain't playing the xbox.

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Originally Posted by bbobb

I'm fairly certain KoF's kid ain't playing the xbox.

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She loves to watch Gears 2, although the part where you are in Centaur in the cave scared her alittle bit.

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Originally Posted by Salsashark

If I haven't played either, should I play Persona 3 or 4? As far as I can tell there isn't any serious continuity issues with the storylines...

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If you can only play one, I'd say P4, since it's the better game technically, and the characters are more enjoyable. Unless you really love dungeon crawling, at which point P3 might be more your thing.

Oh, and you jerks who are tagging this thread are jerks.

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Originally Posted by shidoshi

(...) 2,500 words of blissful text

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from the school of Halverson...
I'll pass.

You tell him! Lord knows Shidoshi doesn't have a voice or perspective of his own. I'll bet Halvey wrote the whole piece and just attached Shidoshi's name to it!

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Originally Posted by Some Stupid Japanese Name

You tell him! Lord knows Shidoshi doesn't have a voice or perspective of his own. I'll bet Halvey wrote the whole piece and just attached Shidoshi's name to it!

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stfu you fat pos.
"blissful text"
is directly from the school of Halvy.
whether 'doshi knows it or not.

Personal attack, ban pls.

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Originally Posted by Shooting Love

stfu you fat pos.
"blissful text"
is directly from the school of Halvy.
whether 'doshi knows it or not.

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Hey, maybe it's possible that I DO know that, and wrote that as a joke, knowing the reputation of Play (and especially Dave) around here.

But no, that couldn't possibly be the case.

One other thing: is it possible to turn the voice acting completely off in any of these games?

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/board/a...1&d=1227933635

omg