Thoughts On Futurama - The Game (Possible Spoilers)

[Reply #360 on:]

You forgot to mention that they release the games incomplete.

[Reply #361 on:]

I wouldn't know; I haven't played an EA game for years.

[Reply #362 on:]

Look at Sims 3 for example, it seems pretty basic and they released about 30 DLCs where all 30 were the same price as the game.

[Reply #363 on:]

They generally didn't release incomplete games in the PS2 days, with there being no DLC and all.

[Reply #364 on:]

The game wasn't too bad. I mean the cutscenes/main plot was really great. But the game's controls were mediocre at best. I still enjoyed playing it though, to an extent.

[Reply #365 on:]

The Planet Express level is so fun. I used to play it over and over again just to explore the building. The game also had an awesome score from Chris Tyng.

[Reply #366 on:]

I can agree with that. It was always neat exploring the building, even if it's missing a lot of key rooms (and if you look at a top-down view of the level, you can see that it most definitely doesn't fit into the shape of the building).

[Reply #367 on:]

Question: what year is the game set in within the show's universe? 3003?

[Reply #368 on:]

About that. I kinda thought it was set before the third and forth season. I mean, it's non canon anyway, so it could be set at any time.

[Reply #369 on:]

I think I've asked this before but does anyone know if the PS2 version of the game is compatible with the PS3? Some old Playstation games work (every game I've tried, actually), but apparently not all do and the Futurama game is obscure enough that I can't find any confirmation of this, either way, online.

I played the game back when it came out, over at my friend's house, but it'd be nice to buy it and revisit it at some point. Especially given that here in the UK, you can pick a copy up for pretty much the cost of postage and packaging.

[Reply #370 on:]

I think I've asked this before but does anyone know if the PS2 version of the game is compatible with the PS3? Some old Playstation games work (every game I've tried, actually), but apparently not all do and the Futurama game is obscure enough that I can't find any confirmation of this, either way, online.

The original Xbox version is compatible with the 360, so I'd be quite surprised if the Playstation 2 release wasn't also forwards-compatible.

[Reply #371 on:]

I believe it depends on which PS3 console you have. They stopped making them backwards compatible at some point.

a quick search..

The model and serial number can be used to determine whether or not the unit is compatible, and can be found on the bar code sticker on the bottom or back of the console. The model number follows the 11-digit serial number.

    The CECH-Axx and CECH-Bxx models, 60 GB and 20 GB models, respectively, are backwards compatible. The CECH-Cxx and CECH-Exx models, 60 GB and 80 GB models, respectively, are partially compatible.[2]
    Models G, H, J, K, L, M, P, and Q are "fat" models that are not compatible.
    None of the "slim" models are backwards compatible.

I once tried playing the game on an emulator. It was slow as hell, but the novelty alone was worth it.

[Reply #372 on:]

All my old Crash Bandicoot games work on my PS3, so I expect it'll be fine. I think I just need to take the plunge and buy an old copy.

My girlfriend just started playing my old copy of The Simpsons: Hit & Run and it's reminded me how much I would have loved a similar game based on Futurama. I don't think a video game would be an unreasonable way for them to continue the franchise in some fashion, but, sadly, I can't see it happening at this point. It's a shame.

[Reply #373 on:]

Our best hope is a big publisher sees some potential in the Futurama IP, and gives it a crack. I'd love a Futurama game developed by a studio like Rocksteady.

[Reply #374 on:]

If there are any more Futurama video games in the future, it would most likely be a much smaller, download-only project. I can't imagine the existing Futurama game turned a huge profit for the developers.

Which is a shame, as on a conceptual level, Futurama lends itself better to potential video game adaptation than just about any other franchise I can think of.

[Reply #375 on:]

I think the cel-shading graphics worked really, really well with the first game; it was a nice thing to look at alone. The gameplay was difficult, but once you get used to it and work out how each level works you can get through the game without too many problems.

[Reply #376 on:]

I have to disagree on the graphics. I get that it's an old game and technology's come a long way since then, but I found the visuals to be really off-putting. They still looked like low-poly 3D models and the textures were a bit weird.

Maybe I'm nitpicking a bit here.

[Reply #377 on:]

I thought graphics were good, even surprisingly so (though it may have been better resolution with emulator). I agree cel-shading is fitting to style, characters were also close enough to original in order to not bother.

[Reply #378 on:]

It bothered me that you couldn't see Fry's back points most of the time. He and Leela looked crap, Bender and the Professor looked good though.

[Reply #379 on:]

If there are any more Futurama video games in the future, it would most likely be a much smaller, download-only project. I can't imagine the existing Futurama game turned a huge profit for the developers.

Which is a shame, as on a conceptual level, Futurama lends itself better to potential video game adaptation than just about any other franchise I can think of.

As long as it's not just a Futurama tapped-out rip-off, I'll take it.

[Reply #380 on:]

If there are any more Futurama video games in the future, it would most likely be a much smaller, download-only project.

Nailed it!

Also, in case anyone is interested, I did take the plunge and buy the Futurama game and it doesn't play on the PS3, so it's just sitting on my shelf, collecting dust.

[Reply #381 on:]

Which system is it for?  I got a ps2 from the dumpster recently, but the optical drive was ripped from it.

[Reply #382 on:]

Yeah, sorry 'bout that.

For what it's worth, it was delicious.

[Reply #383 on:]

I also have a psx.  It's sitting in a plastic box waiting to see the sunshine again.

[Reply #384 on:]

Does anybody know where I can find a copy of this for XBox that isn't 100 bucks or more? Not understanding why it's so pricey. I'm in the midst of watching Futurama from start to finish for the first time in ages (and I haven't even seen the last few seasons ever) and kinda want to play the game while I'm watching.

[Reply #385 on:]

Oh, jeez, this game is definitely not worth a hundred bucks (and I say this as someone who more or less enjoys it). Have you explored emulator options? A quick search on Reddit produces some potentially promising leads, albeit for PS2...

Also, welcome to PEEL, new guy--good to have you on-board!

[Reply #386 on:]

Nah, I actually want to own it. And yeah, I'm fully aware it's not worth a hundred dollars. I literally figured I'd go on eBay and find it selling for 5 to 10 bucks. Boy was I wrong. Lol

I mean, I'd be willing to go as high as 40 or so, even though I know it's not worth that even, but a hundred? Nope. I think I saw it going for even more than that too.

[Reply #387 on:]

The game had quite a bit of attention a few months ago due to a hard to find Easter Egg which has since been solved.
https://kotaku.com/16-years-later-players-still-cant-figure-out-this-futu-1836561844

https://tcrf.net/Futurama#Easter_Eggs

The full TCRF page is worth a read as well. For those who don't know, it's a site which documents unused content in games.

[Reply #388 on:]

Nah, I actually want to own it. And yeah, I'm fully aware it's not worth a hundred dollars. I literally figured I'd go on eBay and find it selling for 5 to 10 bucks. Boy was I wrong. Lol

I mean, I'd be willing to go as high as 40 or so, even though I know it's not worth that even, but a hundred? Nope. I think I saw it going for even more than that too.

How about mod your xbox and b*rn a c*py?

I got the xbox from the dumpster too.  It orange ringed, but I fixed it by unjamming the fan.

[Reply #389 on:]

The full TCRF page is worth a read as well. For those who don't know, it's a site which documents unused content in games.

Thank you so much for sharing, BusinessMonkey! I had no idea that this was going on. I played the game lots back in 2008, I remember completing it then going back and finding all the hidden Nibblers!

(Chris Tyng's score for the game is amazing, too!)

[Reply #390 on:]

You should have bought it at $100, the game is worth nearly $300 now

I think I have a copy in my parents house somewhere, just hope they haven't thrown it out.

Might hold onto mine, should only go up in value.

[Reply #391 on:]

I have my copy for the original Xbox gathering dust in a drawer, since I no longer have an Xbox or Xbox 360 and it's not backwards compatible with the newer systems.

I do have half a mind to grab a used 360 on the cheap, since I'd also like to replay my old Simpsons games (particularly Hit and Run). Maybe one day...

[Reply #392 on:]

Hit and Run is great.  I played it with the kids the other day.

[Reply #393 on:]

Ahhh, Hit and Run. A timeless classic. I used to play that game so much just to run around town in all the cars I'd earn with only the sincerest honesty... by going to the menu and promptly entering in all the cheat codes.

As for Futurama's PS2/ XBox 360 outing, I own a pretty minty copy of it. Paid $40 for it on eBay probably around 2006 or so, and it was a sealed copy. It was exactly like buying it brand new at the store at the time, so I said 'heck with it', pulled the bidding trigger, and won it. Naturally once it arrived at my humble home, I promptly destroyed all collector's value and ripped off the plastic wrap and sealing tape so that I could play it.

It's a bit mid for a platformer; some areas were outright obnoxious to play, and it can get kinda repetitive, especially the voice lines as you run around shooting and jumping  (the day I don't hear Fry yelling 'Whimmy wham wham wozzle!' will be the day I'm dead). But I enjoyed the fact it was just like playing through an episode of the show, and I liked that you got to play as all three main characters. I'm honestly shocked to hear it hasn't been emulated in the year of our lord 2023. EVERYTHING is emu'd.

...Now if anyone would like to offer me a small sum of one million dollars, I might be able to part with my beautiful copy of this fine game. Perhaps for another million, I can throw in my monopoly set, sealed with golden Bender piece and packaged with the error replacement cards~?

[Reply #394 on:]

How much is it worth now?  :3

[Reply #395 on:]

How much is it worth now?  :3

Well- If we're talking about the Monopoly game, there are very few copies that have sold in recent history. It seems that all of them on offer were opened and/or used, and most of them were sold incomplete. There was only one set with the golden Bender that sold for about $240. It was opened, and didn't have the error replacement cards included.

Given the fact my golden Bender copy is sealed with the original shrink wrap, and that I have the replacement cards... God only knows what somebody would pay. If I was enough of a lunatic to send it off for collector grading and slabbing, some chump would pay double whatever speculative price I could get outta this thing. I know slabbing's been around for a while, but it's as nuts a racket as ever, what with social media influencing people.

Anywho, for my standard edition of Futurama Monopoly, I'd probably get no more than about $150 out of it. I've opened that one and played it a few times with friends. Maaaaybe I'd get more because it's complete. I'd hesitate to say it would go for over $200.

[Reply #396 on:]

You should have bought it at $100, the game is worth nearly $300 now

I think I have a copy in my parents house somewhere, just hope they haven't thrown it out.

Might hold onto mine, should only go up in value.

Yikes, the thought of paying that much makes my skin crawl, especially since the actual good parts of the game (the cutscenes) are one YouTube search away.

[Reply #397 on:]

The cut scenes were also included on one of the DVD releases, right? (The Infosphere confirms it was TBWABB.) I recall being quite amused by them, garish though the characters looked as early-2000s 3D renderings.

It's a bit mid for a platformer; some areas were outright obnoxious to play, and it can get kinda repetitive, especially the voice lines as you run around shooting and jumping  (the day I don't hear Fry yelling 'Whimmy wham wham wozzle!' will be the day I'm dead). But I enjoyed the fact it was just like playing through an episode of the show, and I liked that you got to play as all three main characters.

Yeah, that's my recollection as well: it's not an earth-shattering game by any means, and I doubt people who aren't already fans of the show would be particularly engaged by it, but man did I enjoy playing it as a dorky little 12-year old.

Which isn't to say the game didn't frustrate the hell out of me. There's one level with Bender, the memory of which haunts me, where he's dangling from these ledges on a wall, progressing upward from ledge to ledge; it took me forever to realize that I needed to push my joystick diagonally—not merely vertically—to get him to actually pull himself up onto the ledge rather than hang there in perpetuity. And in fact I don't think I realized it myself, but gleaned it from some random internet walk-through guide I consulted after many, many failed hours spent trying to get that fucking robot to climb the ledge. The game controls were, shall we say, not particularly intuitive.

[Reply #398 on:]

Which isn't to say the game didn't frustrate the hell out of me. There's one level with Bender, the memory of which haunts me, where he's dangling from these ledges on a wall, progressing upward from ledge to ledge; it took me forever to realize that I needed to push my joystick diagonally—not merely vertically—to get him to actually pull himself up onto the ledge rather than hang there in perpetuity.

Is that the junkyard level with the metal I-beams and vaguely desert-y terrain? Because I remember that level absolutely sucking when it came to grabbing the collectibles.

[Reply #399 on:]

I just double-checked the Infosphere and yup, that's definitely the one! I think in general I liked Bender's levels the least, and Fry's were my favorite (mainly because they took place in New New York and its nearby environs; it was fun playing in a setting familiar from the show rather than original to the game). I definitely enjoyed playing as Leela the best because her style of hand-to-hand combat was most familiar to me as a gamer raised on, like, Crash Bandicoot.

Also, looking through the game's entry on the Infosphere, while I'm positive I ultimately beat the game, I have no memory of the final act (nor, until seeing it again now, of the goofy little Zoidberg mini-game sort of level). Fuck, am I old.