Factor 5 might finally fix Lair's control scheme
by Chris Powell 
{ Feb 12th 2008 at 9:30AM }
However, Factor 5's President Julian Eggebrecht recently hinted that a fix may finally be in the pipeline. "I can't say anything quite yet, but there might be something in the works there," he said. Additionally, he admitted the decision to only include the SIXAXIS control scheme was a mistake. "If you're on a platform where this whole motion control is something new and not being pitched as the main feature of the platform, you should probably give the choice between having different control schemes, there is absolutely no doubt about it," he added.
It's hard not to agree with Eggebrecht, but what a lot of gamers out there want is just a fix for what many believe is crippling controls for an otherwise decent game. Hopefully, Factor 5 chooses to give us what we want.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Justin @ Feb 12th 2008 9:34AM
Wow...a little late aren't they? Where was this months ago?
Did some guy working at Factor5 wake up one morning last week and suddenly yell "Eureka!"
Dehshizknight @ Feb 17th 2008 4:00AM
Congratulations on getting mentioned on the PlayStation Nation podcast episode 48.
Go to http:www.ps3nation.org and listen to the episode to hear it.
linebeginstoblur @ Feb 12th 2008 9:37AM
I've been considering buying Lair, but I've been putting it off. I rented it and it wasn't horrible to control, but I did wish they could have just kept analog an option, just like you HAD to use analog on the PSP Remote Play version. If they do make it analog-compatible, I'll be much more likely to actually buy it.
kingofwale @ Feb 12th 2008 9:42AM
I will buy this game after the patch come out.
halebound00 @ Feb 12th 2008 10:17AM
I actually really liked Lair, the graphics were sweet and the story was pretty good. However, there were times where I literally wanted to throw my controlled through my TV screen, but it was rewarding to finally get past those missions. These guys should've done this months ago. Hopefully there'll still be some interest in this game if they fix it. Maybe you guys could re-review it if they do.
Otsego_Undead @ Feb 12th 2008 1:55PM
I totally agree. Great graphics, decent story, fun to play, but man, id get soo frustrated with the motion controls sometime. I'd deffinitely give it another go when this patch is released.
xFenixKnightx @ Feb 12th 2008 10:21AM
If they do this Ill try this game out. Its looks amazing but looks arent everything of course. Hurry the hell up!
Ghaleon @ Feb 12th 2008 10:22AM
Sony execs said there's nothing wrong with Lair at all in the new EGM. bwahaha
Trev @ Feb 12th 2008 10:24AM
Not to nay-say for the people above now considering the game, but the controls weren't the problem. They were set up to listen to the input you gave them. Unlike the wii, they didn't ignore most of it and just look for the right motion. To do the dash forward, you were supposed to quickly move the controller downward, like you were giving the reins a snap, but if you pulled the controller back first (as people are likely to do) you'd end up doing the 180 turn which is activated by a quick pull back.
The controls for Lair are great, its the...
-bad camera (works great for air targets as long as you have tons of open space, but having it fixed onto an enemy when ANY maneuvering is required is a huge disadvantage.)
-frequently interrupting cutscenes (just to tell you something somewhere is in trouble without giving you anything for information. Gamplay stops with no warning, they show you a catapult tipping over or something, then gameplay instantly restarts)
-vague mission objectives (you aren't really told where anything is and end up having to use your targeting comp--"dragon vision" to find everything, but enemies are red and friendlies are yellow so at a distance you can hardly tell if they're under attack anyway)
-inability to decide what it wants to be (big orchestral sound track, a story that tries to be really epic and continent-spanning, moral ambiguity and... pew-pew shooting fire breath?)
...that hamper the game. Pick it up for cheap if you want, but don't expect more than Rogue Squadron with a dragon pasted on. That's what it is in every respect, even down to the invisible turn-around non-walls that make up the map border. I'm shocked there wasn't a trench run in it.
Dave Comeau @ Feb 12th 2008 1:07PM
I think you're probably right. I bought the game used from a mate at work who was going to trade it in. I played it about 15 minutes and wasn't impressed with the flow of the game.
I was willing to give the motion controls a chance, but when you factor in the other weak aspects of the game, it didn't flow. So I never tried it again and eventually traded it in to buy Burnout.
Some bad product management maybe? Or just letting the game go gold to get another title in the tiny library? We can give you a break this time Factor 5, but you better get the next game right.
Sergorn @ Feb 12th 2008 2:08PM
"Pick it up for cheap if you want, but don't expect more than Rogue Squadron with a dragon pasted on."
Well that actually sums it up pretty well. Thing is that's pretty much *why* I loved Lair - it *was* Rogue Leader with Dragons and that pretty much what I expected. And considering I love both... Lair was really a thrill for me. Sure it was nothing more than a classic shoot'em up - but a good one IMO. My main problem with it was that the game clearly lacked some polished (numerous slow down, bugs, and freeze up) and came out too early. I also love the SIXAXIS motion controls though I'd agree they should have given the choice.
That being said I'm probably in a minority, but I'd love a Lair 2 that would expand on the first game while removing the flaws.
-Sergorn
Dude @ Feb 12th 2008 10:43AM
yeah now all they need to do is let users exit ut of that dumb THX thing at bootup.
let us press 'start' or 'x' to get rir of them dam robot with the cow horn.
i am looking forward to the patch, LAIR was one of my most anticipated games (asside from HAZE COD4 and FFXIII) for the PS3 and the case has been collecting dust since september.
DirtnSky @ Feb 12th 2008 10:51AM
___It's not even an announcement from the company. Nothing firm or even stated. Just an admission of faint notice in the part of themselves alone. Too little... Too late.
___In my opinion, the boats left the pier and only a few Hard gamers might retake the plunge for this game. I've sold it long ago and am not tempted to ride that again.
___Ever.
TheSh0wstopper @ Feb 12th 2008 11:28AM
Is it me or that a Sega Saturn Controller. Ahhh Saturn how I miss you.
-TheSh0wstopper
MCX @ Feb 12th 2008 2:26PM
YES!!! Thats my fav. controller of all time. Best for Street Fighter!!!
MCX @ Feb 12th 2008 2:28PM
http://zhooibaal.files.wordpress.com/2006/01/standard.JPG
aaron_k7 @ Feb 12th 2008 11:54AM
I've been holding out on getting Lair. $60 is a lot to pay for frustration. Just for comparison, how many people use motion control to pilot their warhawks? I know I don't!
Bryant @ Feb 12th 2008 12:22PM
Just freaking do it, alright?
Gurn Blanston @ Feb 12th 2008 1:00PM
Funny thing is the sixaxis flying controls were fine, it was just turning around and boosting forward etc. that were misread (most of the time) using the sixaxis. All they had to do was map them to a button or have you pull back on a thumbstick etc. and let the sixaxis control the pitch and yaw. I imagine it would have taken a programmer a couple of hours at the most to do this and have a pretty decent game. Idiots.
PhillyVu @ Feb 12th 2008 3:08PM
Yep, I give it a few levels and just got frustrated at certain spots, so the game is currently shelved. Definitely will start it up again if this patch comes out.
Phoenix8387 @ Feb 12th 2008 3:47PM
I've been wanting to pick up Lair ever since its release, the SIXAXIS controls don't scare me. It's just I'm not sure the depth and length of the game warranted a purchase. Though if it does indeed get updated it may jump up higher on my list.
If it manages to drop to ~$30 somewhere I'll definitely pick it up regardless.
Lars @ Feb 12th 2008 4:08PM
Sellouts! They're just doing this to try and squeeze out a few more sales to fund their next project on Wii.
I think I was the only one who agreed with their vision of trying to make a game less mechanical. Will this patch include radar too?
Note: this satirical post is an exaggeration of my actually feelings.
BlaKout172 @ Feb 12th 2008 5:14PM
its about for pplz like me who own lair. i only played it once since the game only offered six axis movement.
Dave @ Feb 12th 2008 6:45PM
My father in law loaned me this game some time ago and I haven't played it hoping this would happen. It's a shame for the company that it took this long because sales could have been salvaged for this game had it been done sooner. Perhaps they are pondering a sequel and this is a way to get the game re-reviewed.
DrunkRaba @ Feb 12th 2008 6:46PM
Good for them I suppose, pandering to all the whiners out there. The game was great and the controls seemed perfect for flying a giant freaking dragon. I would have been upset if it had moved like an f-22 like some people think it should. Only issue I ever had was getting the dragon to flip a 180, but you could just do an actual turn and it didn't really hurt you.
Ether02 @ Feb 12th 2008 8:59PM
acctualy the controls weren't that bad,I got the hang of it after going through the training mode and it was easy to control but I agree that they should have giving people a choice.
pABSO @ Feb 13th 2008 2:38PM
I hope that they do issue this fix, I've long wanted to play Lair but I can't stomach $59.99 for a game whose controls may ultimately make the game seem broken, I've got enough next-gen titles that have technical flaws marring enjoyable experiences to last me as it is.
sharkfan87 @ Feb 16th 2008 6:37PM
LAIR is a game that wont benefit from having dualstick controls. at the very least you should play through it with sixaxis. i have made threads asking people what they think of the controls or what they didnt like from the game, out of the 30 or so replies, only 1 was negative towards the controls. many people dont think the controls suck, but the few loudmouths and reviewers condemned a fantastic game from getting anywhere.
AT THE VERY LEAST, i would ask people to give the game a rent and decide if they like the game. as for factor five, please, please, please! dont do this. at the most i would ask you to make it an unlockable or something for beating the game.
for those wondering my thoughts, here is my review.
http://media.putfile.com/LAIR-Review
-nabokovfan87