It Shouldn't be a Competition! inFamous and Prototype

[vultureX21]

It's really begun to irk me, like a thorn in the side or a needle in a new shirt. Everyone is bickering over Prototype and inFamous, trying to make the case for why the game they like is better than the other. While a certain degree of debate is always healthy, this has rapidly descended into a pissing contest and, as the name implies, no one ever wins one of those.

Part of this is the console exclusivity of inFamous, which is understandably frustrating because I would love to play the game but I own a 360 not a PS3 so I don't get to take it for a spin until I can find a friend with a copy. That is a good reason to say, "Aw man, I really wish I had the means to play that game." It is not a good reason to start bashing the game because you are mad you can't play it.

Think about it, we have a great pair of games based around sandbox super-hero destruction and we're busy bitching over which one is better! I haven't played either one of them yet, but I know I want to so badly just to get in the shoes of a whirling dervish of destruction. Admittedly, I'm not as excited about being a cooler version of The Shocker (no, it is not what you think) as I am being a biological freak, but that's just cosmetic preference. Point is, we have had three quality games based around super-heroes released recently (counting Wolverine) and we should be happy about that, not busy trashing one over the other.

But go on fanboys, keep on bitching. I'm going to grab a copy of Prototype, then kidnap someone with a PS3...

 

[Dantes Alaska]

first off, im with you

second

I'm going to grab a copy of Prototype, then kidnap someone with a PS3...

do what i do, make friends, get them to trust you, and barrow theirs, im doing that right now, but i dont have infamous...

oh well, back to MGS4

 

[Tehpwnsauce]

I can honestly say I have no interest whatsoever in either game.

 

[xxnightlawxx]

It's really begun to irk me, like a thorn in the side or a needle in a new shirt. Everyone is bickering over Prototype and inFamous, trying to make the case for why the game they like is better than the other. While a certain degree of debate is always healthy, this has rapidly descended into a pissing contest and, as the name implies, no one ever wins one of those.

Part of this is the console exclusivity of inFamous, which is understandably frustrating because I would love to play the game but I own a 360 not a PS3 so I don't get to take it for a spin until I can find a friend with a copy. That is a good reason to say, "Aw man, I really wish I had the means to play that game." It is not a good reason to start bashing the game because you are mad you can't play it.

Think about it, we have a great pair of games based around sandbox super-hero destruction and we're busy bitching over which one is better! I haven't played either one of them yet, but I know I want to so badly just to get in the shoes of a whirling dervish of destruction. Admittedly, I'm not as excited about being a cooler version of The Shocker (no, it is not what you think) as I am being a biological freak, but that's just cosmetic preference. Point is, we have had three quality games based around super-heroes released recently (counting Wolverine) and we should be happy about that, not busy trashing one over the other.

But go on fanboys, keep on bitching. I'm going to grab a copy of Prototype, then kidnap someone with a PS3...

Ahh. Yes how it does get annoying but wut would you expect for games thatare both like Crackdown in a a way. With some very minor differences. But Protoype is better because of multi-platform it will get more sales.

 

[PauL o_O]

In my opinion, what one game lacks in one area, it makes up in another.
inFamous has superior graphics, but the game play is chunky and inaccurate.
Prototype has 'meh' graphics, but, YOU CAN FLY.
It's obvious to say that of the two, I favored Prototype, but still, any sandbox games with super powers is like a dream come true.

 

[Fire Daemon]

I can honestly say I have no interest whatsoever in either game.

Same here. The hype has completely gone over my head so much that I can't be bothered to read the back of the box for these games, yet alone argue about them over the Internet.

Still, fanboys do as fanboys do. When there is a chance for a bickering, there will be a bickering. It's almost admirable, in a pathetic sort of way.

 

[Pandalisk]

Good god, here i am waking up in the afternoon and im treated to a bounty of Protype Vs Infamous and DAH threads, what is this? christ.

Anyway, they both focus on free-roaming and powers so i see the cause for some fanboys screaming which is better, its much better than my friends pointless FF vs RE speeches since they have nothing in common to be fair.

one focuses on action, the other morality, both good.

i dont know why people assume i give a fuck about there opinions sometimes.

 

[Simalacrum]

first off, im with you

second

I'm going to grab a copy of Prototype, then kidnap someone with a PS3...

do what i do, make friends, get them to trust you, and barrow theirs, im doing that right now, but i dont have infamous...

oh well, back to MGS4

what? no thats a stupid idea, making friends and borrowing stuff is so 1990's. Nah its all about kidnapping people these days

as for the discussion, I think that its good for a little banter, but I'm gona rely on the reviews... see which one gets a better review average, then go for that one.

 

[Christemo]

its true, they are both sandbox games with superpowers, but they are different by far. inFamous has the karma stuff n elecric stuff, prototype is about a guy with a hoody taking revenge on everyone untill he finds out how he was made (i think, ive played neither of them).

 

[Yooz]

I'm finally splashing out for a PS3 soon, and I'm getting inFamous.

 

[somerandomguy76]

I can honestly say I have no interest whatsoever in either game.

This. Never did, never will.

 

[mchoueiri]

the only thing that is the same of the two games is that their sandbox games

 

[vultureX21]

first off, im with you

second

I'm going to grab a copy of Prototype, then kidnap someone with a PS3...

do what i do, make friends, get them to trust you, and barrow theirs, im doing that right now, but i dont have infamous...

oh well, back to MGS4

what? no thats a stupid idea, making friends and borrowing stuff is so 1990's. Nah its all about kidnapping people these days

as for the discussion, I think that its good for a little banter, but I'm gona rely on the reviews... see which one gets a better review average, then go for that one.

Absolutely, I'll be kidnapping and then have something go hilariously wrong in the process leading to incredible hijinks eventually involving a B-List celebrity. My life is just like poorly conceived action-comedy!

its true, they are both sandbox games with superpowers, but they are different by far. inFamous has the karma stuff n elecric stuff, prototype is about a guy with a hoody taking revenge on everyone untill he finds out how he was made (i think, ive played neither of them).

The differences are precisely why I'm annoyed with the fanboyism/arguments, why aren't we excited about two conceptually similar yet tantalizingly different games? And they are about super-heroes! I guess I just have a difficult time understanding the need for people to take sides with this sort of issue, it's not like screaming down the opposition is going to get you showered with candy and condoms or something.

 

[Same River New Water]

this has rapidly descended into a pissing contest and, as the name implies, no one ever wins one of those.

Depends which way you're facing...

Seriously though, I think it's a worthwhile comparison. Ok, the games should also be considered on their own, and the debate shouldn't devolve into crossfire, but the two games are perfect for comparison. They're similar enough to be directly comparable on nearly all points, but different enough that comparing them is neither a matter of tiny details nor simply choosing which one "wins". They take different approaches to the same material and favour different aspects of the game.

I actually think it's a really fascinating case study in the design decisions that game developers have to make. Infamous and Prototype could be the results of two different developers being given the same project briefing and left to determine how to implement it, so it's instructive to see how they solved key problems. For example, how should the player-character get around the city? Infamous uses engaging with the environment (rail grinding), Prototype uses the inherent power of the player (gliding). And that's really indicative of the whole approach to the game: Infamous is all about the city - it looks stylish, it's distinctive, it reacts to your actions, you even draw your power from it - whereas Prototype is all about the main character, his powers, his abilities, his back-story and the mystery he has to unravel. And yet despite this, it's Infamous that has a moral choice system and Prototype that literally requires the brutal slaughter of innocents. Isn't that ironic (don't you think)?

All these decisions in each game only pop out at you when you have something similar but different to compare it to. It's a really useful exercise.

But to argue about which game is better? Well, I'm not saying that's necessarily pointless, because surely one might be clearly superior than the other, but from all the opinions I've seen it seems they're about even, just with different strengths and weaknesses.

 

[vultureX21]

this has rapidly descended into a pissing contest and, as the name implies, no one ever wins one of those.

Depends which way you're facing...

Seriously though, I think it's a worthwhile comparison. Ok, the games should also be considered on their own, and the debate shouldn't devolve into crossfire, but the two games are perfect for comparison. They're similar enough to be directly comparable on nearly all points, but different enough that comparing them is neither a matter of tiny details nor simply choosing which one "wins". They take different approaches to the same material and favour different aspects of the game.

I actually think it's a really fascinating case study in the design decisions that game developers have to make. Infamous and Prototype could be the results of two different developers being given the same project briefing and left to determine how to implement it, so it's instructive to see how they solved key problems. For example, how should the player-character get around the city? Infamous uses engaging with the environment (rail grinding), Prototype uses the inherent power of the player (gliding). And that's really indicative of the whole approach to the game: Infamous is all about the city - it looks stylish, it's distinctive, it reacts to your actions, you even draw your power from it - whereas Prototype is all about the main character, his powers, his abilities, his back-story and the mystery he has to unravel. And yet despite this, it's Infamous that has a moral choice system and Prototype that literally requires the brutal slaughter of innocents. Isn't that ironic (don't you think)?

All these decisions in each game only pop out at you when you have something similar but different to compare it to. It's a really useful exercise.

But to argue about which game is better? Well, I'm not saying that's necessarily pointless, because surely one might be clearly superior than the other, but from all the opinions I've seen it seems they're about even, just with different strengths and weaknesses.

Remember when I said I was cool with debate and discussion? Yeah, this is exactly what I meant. We can probably end the thread right here, it was the kind of thoughtful response I was hoping for.

 

[Same River New Water]

1)One is a PS3 exclusive. The PS3 is the hated console because its pricey in a time of economic problems.
2)Infamous has received better reviews. Mixed with above point and you get a lot of bitchy fanboys for the 360 who suddenly realise their idea that they have more/better exclusives no longer flies.

1) To put my hand up as an exception to the rule, I'm a 360 owner who'd really rather play Infamous.

2) On Metacritic PS3 reviews, Prototype [http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/prototype?q=prototype] averages 84 and Infamous [http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/infamous?q=infamous] averages 85. Hardly a clear winner there.


I just noticed that both games have stylised names, but whereas you often see Infamous written as inFAMOUS, you rarely see Prototype written as [PROTOTYPE]. Weird.

 

[Gamer137]

I can honestly say I have no interest whatsoever in either game.

I'll second that.

The rivalry is just the natural order of things. They are virtually the same and have been released very close together. Not many people can afford to get both, so a choice must be made.

 

[Slash Dementia]

I can honestly say I have no interest whatsoever in either game.

Seconded.

Also...people like to compare things. They don't care what they're comparing, if it looks even a slight bit similar, they'll compare it.
Which DVD case is better? The clear one, the black one, or the green one? (There are more colors, but these are the ones I see right now near me.)