@Chances: Yes you're absolutely right, I so hoped Lair would be a system mover for the PS3, but it was not to be. It felt more like a Launch title, and given that Resistance as a Launch Title is still one of the best games on the system that may be disrespectful to the PS3's launch titles ;)

DaiMacculate

You know, it wasn't the controls that made me dislike Lair, though I agree they didn't help. It was the fact that everything I've grown to dislike about Rogue Squadron games is also present in Lair, from the "Defend the Convoy!" missions to the limp dogfights.

Factor 5 has serious issues in general, and I'm not sure anything is going to fix them short of a reexamination of their whole development process and the basic mechanics of their games.

DaiMacculate

What hurts most about Lair's legendary suckage is we all wanted to love it, and it broke our hearts. We saw
riding dragons and boggling graphics and said "yes, please", and then Lair was Lair.

Chances

Yes, I will pick it up cheap someday. Just to see, what a mess it is.

ParaParaKing

I'm appalled by how long this game has been out, and this game-breaking problem is only now being fixed.

dowingba

I don't see how anyone can have sympathy for Factor 5. It's their own arrogance, as well as Sony's, that got them into this mess. Lair is not a good game, regardless, but there's no question that it'd be better with analog control.

The problem is that Factor 5 was told this ages ago, by more than a few people. There's a 1UP preview of Lair from way back in 2006 where they have misgivings about the control scheme and mention to Factor 5 that maybe, just maybe, the simple *option* for analog control might be a good idea. 1UP isn't the only one to have mentioned this to them.

Here's a quote from that 2006 1UP preview, which was also written over 11 months before Lair's eventual release:

"The final version will support traditional thumbsticks, but Associate Producer Ryan Hamlyn told us that some of the team argued against them because they liked the tilt controls so much once they got used to them. And therein lies the catch."

See? Arrogance. Stubborness. The team liked their nifty tilt-control, so they figured everyone else would and left it as the only option, even though they had actual internal arguments about this and were warned by outside people. It's amazing, really.

Another quote:

"The emphasis on the tilt-control, though, leaves us cautiously skeptical. Hamlyn noted that casual gamers seem to pick it up more quickly than the hardcore. That sounds a lot like the Wii argument (not coincidentally most likely), but where Wii games are aimed at a casual target market, Lair sets its sights squarely on the hardcore. If it really is so in love with the tilt control mechanic, maybe Factor 5 would have been happier sticking with Nintendo and developing for the Wii."

Yeah, they probably should have. Good call, 1UP.

Zeliard

@KidU:

39 brand new here at EB.

*wow*

This is the second time I've heard you Americans are getting charged MORE than us now. You guys dont have Rayman for 19 bucks new either.

Komrade_Kayce

@mishakoz: I go with the British spelling since, you know. It's their language. That and it's what I use, being Australian and all.

Luke Plunkett

@mishakoz: It's analogue if you don't speak US English. Just like how we know colour and aluminium have a U in them.

Anyway, I think I must be the only person in the world who liked Lair as is. It's an enjoyable game and I never found the motion controls to be a problem. The only real problem with Lair is that the framerate sometimes becomes a slideshow... :(

Will I use analogue control? Maybe, but I'm not going to cry about it not being there.

Donutta

"The update will also offer the ability to show a targeting icon, and Dual Shock 3 rumble support....Lair owners will be able to download the Wind Dragon and Poison Dragon for use in all stages."

It seriously took them 8 months to realize that analog controls and a targeting reticle were good ideas? Yeesh, most any videogamer could have told them that from Day 1.

KidU

$25 at a local shop....I just may have to snag a copy. I'll need something to play after Metal Gear and before Socom.

Venin

@ mishakoz: It's "olde" English, and it's also the first thing I took notice of too. Also take note of "rumour" and "arse".

holy_cow

Clearly, no dragons worked on this game.

Does Not Equal

Still $40 used at Game$top. Not exactly italics worthy as far as cheapness goes.

KidU

@Stormrider: Denial was the heart of the problem. The first step is always admitting you had a problem!

Balance_In_Life (PSN)

@Stormrider: Yeah, it makes you wonder if people even care anymore at this point.

VeritasVierge

It's been what, 8 months since this game came out? You'd think they would have been a bit more timely about it.

Stormrider

Analogue? Funny, i thought it was spelled Analog.

And i rather like LAIR. The Sixaxis controls are a little temperamental, but the gameplay isnt that bad. Its a fun pick up and play game.

mishakoz

The Art of Polishing a Turd, 101.

Zeliard

I see this mainly as damage control, it's not meant to influence sales on Lair, but give their future projects some of the credibility that Lair initially lost the studio.

Klopfer123

Well I'm glad there addressing the control issue at least.

I don't suppose anything can be done at this point to alleviate the crap-tacular framerate?

Or the fact that you can't skip the THX/Factor 5 intros.

Or the mid-level cutscenes which should simply be displayed picture-in-picture style so as to not completely disorient the player.

In spite of all of these (glaring) flaws I still can't help but like the game...it's The Getaway all over again.

Nightshift Nurse: Nursier and Shiftier

I'm glad they're doing this, mainly to shut people up. But if they can do it now, couldn't they have done it a month after release, when all of the sales-shattering Internet bitching about the controls was going on?

Luv2Hate

@ Rockwallaby: What do you mean? You know what I mean. I don't believe one to be the correct spelling, and the other incorrect. On the other hand, one I do consider at very least outdated.

holy_cow

Garo

Word Man

Does that mean IGN and everybody else will regrade the game? I think now they should just give it an even worse score for taking so long to add a function it should of already had to begin with.

kylo4

@holy_cow: yeah, "old" or correct, one of the two

Rockwallaby

Wow, this is messed up. Testers at SCEA had to FIGHT to get analog controls during the time the game was there. I can't believe it took them this long to give it to everyone else.

xenorevlis

They should have done this LAST YEAR, when somebody might have cared. Hell, if they were really smart the game they released would have offered analogue controls at least as an option. It would probably have gained their game 1 or 2 points on every review.

DrXym

@boxofthegods: Don't get me wrong the controls pissed me off to no end, but I did eventually get them down and I ended up enjoying the game very much so that I do not regret buying it. Of course though people do have different limits and taste in what they like and what they're willing to be put through for that difference.

Word Man

@Word Man:
I understand getting used to controls on a new game you've never played before but this was basically a dragon version of the Rouge Squadron series. This is how I look at games, if I can't get a handle on the controls in the first 5-10 minutes of gameplay and thats being generous, they are just plain bad. Not to mention the fact that there is no option to customize the controls at all.

boxofthegods

wow that was fast/

RafiRAF

Well, at last I will have a reason to replay it again just to check out the new controls.. :)

Better late than never.. ^^

Shad0X

@Word Man: by you saying that the controls pissed you off to no end, you are admitting that the developers pretty much failed at providing an enjoyable, entertaining experience, aka video games.

Still, with Lair going for around $20 on Ebay, and with the analog patch coming next week, you can't go wrong.

DigiMish

@Luke Plunkett:

The British might have invented it, but the Americans perfected it. Americans can pronounce their "r"s where they are written, and try not to pronounce them when they don't exist. "Got the idear"?

I will have to go pick up Lair now. I was really wanting to get it, but the reviews about the controls threw me off. It looked beautiful, and it certainly will on my Bravia TV.

Of course, this is all optimistically speaking in the sense if I have money to go buy it eventually. lol.

deviantchicken

@DigiMish: Like I said they were arrogant in only allowing one playable control setting. Just cause it pissed me off did not mean that it did not entertain me, you of all people should know that. And we've talked about this very topic before.

But at the most part if the controls did bug people, for those who have a ps and psp they could've done remote play and adjust the controls. Not a great fix, but it works

Word Man

@superevilcube: Because to those who reviewed it, it felt unresponsive. Offering analogue controls as an option is hardly a crime, it certainly let the game down for many so this should hopefully serve as a lesson for developers to heed from.

Spew

Lair was a fantastic game; the motion controls worked well. I don't know why all the reviewers were saying they were non responsive because they were never once non-responsive to me.

I've stopped playing the game because I've gotten all Platinums, but I'll probably download the patch and check out the new controls. For some reason I doubt they're going to be as good as the motion controls.

superevilcube

Lair was only 30 bucks at Fry's last week. Man, I'm going to have to go back and check on it.

nxp3

$35 at Costco, for you members out there.

Caduceus

I'll get it if the analog controls arrive in the US ... for one thing, my girlfriend loves dragons, so it'll be enough if she can just fly around a bit :)

jayntampa

The internet has already ripped this game apart. It cannot be redeemed.

Superstar90 UNLEASHED

Definitely and absolutely going to support Factor 5 by going and buying a copy of Lair once and for all. I've had my doubts about its shittiness for a while now, and with a whole new control scheme that they went through the trouble to give the crying masses, I believe it's finally time to take the plunge. I know a few folks who actually really enjoyed it as it was, so with analog controls, how could it be so bad, eh?

Strange Bedfellows

It's about damn time. Everyone knows this game would have had lower suckfullness levels if they'd just done this from the get go.

Options = GOOD, game developers. Get a clue!

Demaar

@deviantchicken:

I guess you learned the hard way that the only country that can be insulted without an outright banning is the ol' US. Sucks you got banned for something so simple, but not really suprising.

On topic: I was really wanting this to be a great game when it came out. It was onr of the main games pushing me to get a PS3. Then after the reviews and friends telling me how it played, I put a hold on that shiny PS3.

I_Hate_This_Place

@holy_cow: But, see, that's precisely where people will disagree with you.
It's not outdated, it's just the British spelling that millions of people use every day.
Saying "analogue" is outdated would make "colour", "centre", "analyse" and many other perfectly valid spellings outdated, too.

Antiterra

It was an ok game with crap design, but a patch isn't going to make this game suddenly golden, just a bit more playable. Actually to me the controls were not bad and the game's problems were other things like the poor lock on system and general mission design.

Kyle81

This game is on clearence at Target for 29.98. I may pick it up with this good news.

xibis

@RPGr: That's only because of your country being partially ruled by Britain or whatever. I seem to remember something about a queen...

eastx

@Antiterra: Actually, I think the only country that uses "Analog" would be the US. In Canada it would be spelled "Analogue" (we use the British spelling and "Left-tenant" not "Loo-tenant" at least officially).

RPGr

Awesome news! Now maybe I can finally finish this one. I actually had a good experience with the original controls until, (and I must have been at the 3rd or 2nd to last level) they did the patch that "tweaked" the tilt controls. Messed me all up!

For anyone that was thinking they might like this game, I definately recommend you give it a chance now. It's like LOTR meets Rogue Squadron.

vyrus

@xibis: lol I was about to say the same thing...I picked it up and like it, but I am waiting to get to deep into it until the analog controls are out.

Seiven

@eastx: I hope that was made as a tongue in cheek joke. If not then "you are ignorant".

RPGr

I actually played this for the first time last night. It's unplayable with tilt controls.... fucking terrible. I haven't been that frustrated with a game in a LONG time.

It's going to sit on the shelf until this patch comes out.

Jabbertrack

'too late'?

whatever.

this very well could breathe new life into my copy- giving me the opportunity to enjoy the game. its never too late to enjoy a good game made wrong but then made right.

sure the game got a good pounding all around. but if the new controls are good, and with positive news and impressions from sites like kotaku, ign, 1up, etc. along with positive reader impressions and comments, it may turn opinions around for many.

evermourn

@deviantchicken: The British might have invented it, but the Americans perfected it.

You knobheaded cockfarmer.

Cruithne

Count me in,I will buy it once it get the "Greatest (really?) hits" treatment,along with the control patch I'm not seeing a real reason why I can give this game a chance.

OT79

As soon as it hits the bargain bin I'll pick it up.

DocBacca

I don't think it is too late considering how many people still haven't purchased a PS3. Just because a game came out before I buy the system does not mean that I won't buy it.

Not having played the game, I couldn't tell you whether or not the controls were broken, but they probably were. I do like that they made one system mandatory though. I like to be able to configure buttons, but if they meant for the game to be played with the 6 axis, I am glad that they stuck with that. I think that it is a copout that Nintendo invents a "Revolution"-ary controller and then abandons it for major games. In recent months, it seems that they have conceded that the Wiimote is only the better controller in limited circumstances, like Wii Sports. I find that to be disappointing. I am also disappointed when games mix keyboard and mouse people with controller people. For the record, since I only have a Wii at this time, I would have to agree with Nintendo's big developers that the Wiimote is only the best option in a limited number of genres, just like how the DS touch screen is ideal in some circumstances and not others.

kingofallcosmos

I actually liked the tilt controls....i found nothing wrong with them...it was actually enjoyable...people are just lazy =P I guess I'm one of the few people out there who actually like it....

xarchsagex

I do not give a rat's arse!

I so wanted to enjoy that game when I first got it, and I despised Factor 5 for not adding analog controls.

Seems they originally wanted this game to advertise how sixaxis is so great to play, and I can't thank them enough (and Sony I guess) for coming to reason.

Hurray :)

Yaven

@Nightshift Nurse: Nursier and Shiftier: why would anyone want to skip the THX intro? The THX intro sound is the coolest sound ever!

fenderfuel08

hey, now I may buy it! I want to hear about how good the analog controls are and if they work well I'll buy!

fenderfuel08

Sweet. I am a recent PS3 buyer, and I picked up Lair on sale at Target just to show off the graphics, I played through some of it and I didnt think the controls where as bad as unplayable, but this will make me have the will to go back and try and few more levels.

rup3t

@fenderfuel08: THE AUDIENCE. IS. DEAF! ;)

@Kyle81: Wow, that may be the closest I've ever seen us come to both agreeing on something, on the same post!

*checks window for blood rain, plague of toads, etc*

Nope, not the apocalypse yet, whew! :P

DaiMacculate

LittleBigPlaneteer

Still can't find it cheap anywhere (neither Heavenly Sword) but it's definitely moved up higher on my "to buy" list.

mariospants

too lil too late

wonder what this will do to the ebay prices though? Last I checked, people were getting peanuts for this game

Mrmoo2002

Hiroken

from the reviews, it sounds like the tilt controls weren't the only issue.

stevesan

I might get it if I find a used copy for less than 15 bucks. And don't already have too many awesome games to play.

artofwar420

Surely I am not the only one with regenerated interest in this game...? So what if it is 8 months old - if it has been improved, for me, it might now be worth the purchase. I have been tempted to pick LAIR up for some time and I'm sure others have been on the verge of making the purchase.

I also heard that the patch improves the targetting system and that there is a demo out of LAIR on the HK store...

Obli