Interesting article on what Sony is doing wrong this generation
03-22-06 | 04:13 PM
#26
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Saturn had like a dual processor or something, it was the only one able to run an arcade perfect port of Marvel vs. Capcom if I remember although you needed the ram cartridge. I do believe it was the most powerful of that time but also the most difficult to program for.
03-22-06 | 06:56 PM
#27
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From: Mayberry, NC. Really, it is
Originally Posted by Vandelay_Inds
...American developers are utterly incapable of producing something more endearing than skateboards, sports or FPS games. The Japanese have a virtual monopoly over games with heart and imagination...
"Utterly incapable"? I beg to differ. These western-developed games were all jam-packed with "fun and imagination" :
Beyond Good and Evil
Psychonauts
Eternal Darkness
Prince of Persia series
Grand Theft Auto series
Knights of the Old Republic series
Splinter Cell series
Ratchet and Clank series
Sly Cooper series
I think the problem is in the attitude of otaku fanboys who refuse to play something just because isn't "Japanese enough" to suit them (yes, I heard one say that). Anyone who would choose to play bad RPGs and card battle games instead of KOTOR or BG&E for this reason deserves what they get.
Last edited by NC-36; 03-22-06 at 07:04 PM.
03-22-06 | 07:50 PM
#29
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From: Alexandria, VA
Sony to launch online service with PlayStation 3
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060323/...sony_online_dc
SAN JOSE, California (Reuters) - Sony Corp.'s (6758.T) top video game studio executive said on Wednesday that a new online service debuting with its PlayStation 3 console in early November will open up a world of new content for gamers as well as new revenue opportunities for the company.
The service, which lets users buy games and communicate and compete with other players via the Web, again puts the company in head-to-head competition with Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news)
Sony, one of the world's leading technology manufacturers and entertainment companies, aims to retain dominance over the roughly $30 billion global video game market with the PS3.
Rival Microsoft introduced its next-generation
Xbox 360 game console in November of last year. The company's Xbox Live subscription service, which offers game downloads and online play, has been a hit on the new machine and Sony had been widely expected to offer a similar service.
The basic level of Sony's online service, known internally as PlayStation Network Platform, will be free, Phil Harrison, president of worldwide studios for Sony Computer Entertainment, said at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose.
Users will pay for subscriptions to game services and premium content, he told Reuters in an interview.
When asked if Sony would tap its music and film libraries, he said: "Obviously, the strategy is for more than just games."
SAN JOSE, California (Reuters) - Sony Corp.'s (6758.T) top video game studio executive said on Wednesday that a new online service debuting with its PlayStation 3 console in early November will open up a world of new content for gamers as well as new revenue opportunities for the company.
The service, which lets users buy games and communicate and compete with other players via the Web, again puts the company in head-to-head competition with Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news)
Sony, one of the world's leading technology manufacturers and entertainment companies, aims to retain dominance over the roughly $30 billion global video game market with the PS3.
Rival Microsoft introduced its next-generation
Xbox 360 game console in November of last year. The company's Xbox Live subscription service, which offers game downloads and online play, has been a hit on the new machine and Sony had been widely expected to offer a similar service.
The basic level of Sony's online service, known internally as PlayStation Network Platform, will be free, Phil Harrison, president of worldwide studios for Sony Computer Entertainment, said at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose.
Users will pay for subscriptions to game services and premium content, he told Reuters in an interview.
When asked if Sony would tap its music and film libraries, he said: "Obviously, the strategy is for more than just games."
03-22-06 | 08:03 PM
#30
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From: So Cal
His analogy is also flawed in the end. He's comparing methods of transportation to gaming systems...which can work, but here goes:
SONY is the one who is developing cars. They take you anywhere you want to go and are much more flexible but the amount of travel and enjoyment you get out of it is based upon how much money you have to throw around.
The XBOX is a train. If you want a ride, you HAVE to follow their rules. If you want to go online with the Xbox, you MUST have Xbox Live. There is no third-party independent online access. And your only choice for communication is voice chat.
SONY is the one who is developing cars. They take you anywhere you want to go and are much more flexible but the amount of travel and enjoyment you get out of it is based upon how much money you have to throw around.
The XBOX is a train. If you want a ride, you HAVE to follow their rules. If you want to go online with the Xbox, you MUST have Xbox Live. There is no third-party independent online access. And your only choice for communication is voice chat.
03-22-06 | 09:56 PM
#32
Retired
None of the companies have showed me anything to really get me super excited for the next gen systems.
The Revolution has a ton of potential, but the controller could also be under utilized and just used as a gimmick or as a new way to control the same old games. Much like the DS. I love the system, but because it's the only place to get stuff like Castlevania, Princess Peach and Mario and Luigi (i.e. good, old school games) not because of the touch screen which has been fairly gimmicky. With the exception of Kirby I've not really enjoyed a game that made novel use of it. Thus I'm skeptical of more of the same with the revolution controller.
As of now I'm planning on picking up a revolution for the Virtual Console and hopes that the controller will lead to a change in the types of games beyond what we've had on the PS, N64, PS2, X-box and GC as these systems have nearly killed my desire to keep gaming.
The Revolution has a ton of potential, but the controller could also be under utilized and just used as a gimmick or as a new way to control the same old games. Much like the DS. I love the system, but because it's the only place to get stuff like Castlevania, Princess Peach and Mario and Luigi (i.e. good, old school games) not because of the touch screen which has been fairly gimmicky. With the exception of Kirby I've not really enjoyed a game that made novel use of it. Thus I'm skeptical of more of the same with the revolution controller.
As of now I'm planning on picking up a revolution for the Virtual Console and hopes that the controller will lead to a change in the types of games beyond what we've had on the PS, N64, PS2, X-box and GC as these systems have nearly killed my desire to keep gaming.
03-22-06 | 11:26 PM
#33
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From: So Cal
Originally Posted by Josh Hinkle
None of the companies have showed me anything to really get me super excited for the next gen systems.
The Revolution has a ton of potential, but the controller could also be under utilized and just used as a gimmick or as a new way to control the same old games. Much like the DS. I love the system, but because it's the only place to get stuff like Castlevania, Princess Peach and Mario and Luigi (i.e. good, old school games) not because of the touch screen which has been fairly gimmicky. With the exception of Kirby I've not really enjoyed a game that made novel use of it. Thus I'm skeptical of more of the same with the revolution controller.
As of now I'm planning on picking up a revolution for the Virtual Console and hopes that the controller will lead to a change in the types of games beyond what we've had on the PS, N64, PS2, X-box and GC as these systems have nearly killed my desire to keep gaming.
The Revolution has a ton of potential, but the controller could also be under utilized and just used as a gimmick or as a new way to control the same old games. Much like the DS. I love the system, but because it's the only place to get stuff like Castlevania, Princess Peach and Mario and Luigi (i.e. good, old school games) not because of the touch screen which has been fairly gimmicky. With the exception of Kirby I've not really enjoyed a game that made novel use of it. Thus I'm skeptical of more of the same with the revolution controller.
As of now I'm planning on picking up a revolution for the Virtual Console and hopes that the controller will lead to a change in the types of games beyond what we've had on the PS, N64, PS2, X-box and GC as these systems have nearly killed my desire to keep gaming.
03-22-06 | 11:37 PM
#34
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally Posted by chess
This is the first era with three viable consoles. Everything you name was a non-player, other than the Saturn, which never really had a chance either...and sure didn't LOOK more powerful than the PS1 which was doing transparencies and other cool stuff IIRC.
We certainly agree on the last point, but I don't think the article made it. I don't think anybody in their right mind would ever make the case that the X-box had or is going to have the best games...which makes his true point (that Live is the big factor) moot.
I wasn't trying to make the point that "the most powerful system wins"...I was simply illustrating that this guy is full of guano...and on multiple levels. Not only is his basic premise silly, but his "data" are flimsy at best.
We certainly agree on the last point, but I don't think the article made it. I don't think anybody in their right mind would ever make the case that the X-box had or is going to have the best games...which makes his true point (that Live is the big factor) moot.
I wasn't trying to make the point that "the most powerful system wins"...I was simply illustrating that this guy is full of guano...and on multiple levels. Not only is his basic premise silly, but his "data" are flimsy at best.
I think we are basically arguing the same thing and neither one of us getting our point across very well. I think we are on the same side of this one.I will say though, whether a console is viable or not, there has always been a more technically impressive option out there than the dominating console. And it is true, they never win.
03-23-06 | 04:09 AM
#35
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From: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Originally Posted by NC-36
I think the problem is in the attitude of otaku fanboys who refuse to play something just because isn't "Japanese enough" to suit them (yes, I heard one say that). Anyone who would choose to play bad RPGs and card battle games instead of KOTOR or BG&E for this reason deserves what they get.
03-23-06 | 06:19 AM
#36
DVD Talk Legend
So the product is Xbox Live? No wonder I have no interest in buying. I will never be an online gamer. Free online with the PS2, PSP and DS hasn't pulled me in for more than a try here and there so there is no way a pay service will ever interest me in the least.
Whether the Xbox and 360's failure in Japan is based on nationalism or whatever it doesn't change the fact its a total failure and without a foot hold in Japan the 360 can never hope to knock Sony from their throne in the gaming arena. The mostly western game support killed my interest in the original Xbox and it looks like I will be passing on the 360 as well for much the same reasons.
Whether the Xbox and 360's failure in Japan is based on nationalism or whatever it doesn't change the fact its a total failure and without a foot hold in Japan the 360 can never hope to knock Sony from their throne in the gaming arena. The mostly western game support killed my interest in the original Xbox and it looks like I will be passing on the 360 as well for much the same reasons.
03-23-06 | 10:05 AM
#37
Retired
Originally Posted by NC-36
"Utterly incapable"? I beg to differ. These western-developed games were all jam-packed with "fun and imagination" :
Beyond Good and Evil
Psychonauts
Eternal Darkness
Prince of Persia series
Grand Theft Auto series
Knights of the Old Republic series
Splinter Cell series
Ratchet and Clank series
Sly Cooper series
I think the problem is in the attitude of otaku fanboys who refuse to play something just because isn't "Japanese enough" to suit them (yes, I heard one say that). Anyone who would choose to play bad RPGs and card battle games instead of KOTOR or BG&E for this reason deserves what they get.
Beyond Good and Evil
Psychonauts
Eternal Darkness
Prince of Persia series
Grand Theft Auto series
Knights of the Old Republic series
Splinter Cell series
Ratchet and Clank series
Sly Cooper series
I think the problem is in the attitude of otaku fanboys who refuse to play something just because isn't "Japanese enough" to suit them (yes, I heard one say that). Anyone who would choose to play bad RPGs and card battle games instead of KOTOR or BG&E for this reason deserves what they get.
For instance, I loved Beyond Good & Evil, but didn't think it was worth all the hype. It was basically just a watered down zelda game (since you didn't have the variety of items and attacks). I always suspected it got hyped as it was popular among people who though Zelda was too Kiddy.
Out of the others you listed, Eternal Darkness is a classic, the first Prince of Persia was great, and Ratchet and Clank and Sly Cooper are solid but don't compare to say the Mario series. Psychonauts I haven't played yet.
KOTOR is ok, but I liked it for the Star Wars atmosphere much more so than the gameplay. I'd prefer it to be more simpler, menu driven battles ala japanese RPGs.
I loathe the GTA and splinter cell series.
The japanese games just fit my styles more. And I'm hardly an Otaku fanboy as I don't give a shit about japanese culture, have never watched (nor plan to watch) an Anime etc.
It's just my favorite developers (Nintendo, Sega, Konami, Capcom, etc.) who have historically made 99% of my favorite games happen to be Japanese.
The western developers seem to just put out knockoffs that aren't as good, or focus on genre's like American style RPGs, FPS, RTS, sim games, open ended games like GTA, and so on that I just don't like. So I'm not saying western developers are inferior, but just that, with few exceptions, they don't make the types of games I like to play.
03-23-06 | 10:08 AM
#38
Retired
Originally Posted by darkside
So the product is Xbox Live? No wonder I have no interest in buying. I will never be an online gamer. Free online with the PS2, PSP and DS hasn't pulled me in for more than a try here and there so there is no way a pay service will ever interest me in the least.
I'm 100% the same. I play games to unwind in the rare occasions I actually have some free time and don't feel like watching a movie. Thus I've never even been big on multiplayer games and it's not a competitive or social thing for me.
Factor in all the idiots online, and the fact that even so many of the non-idiots play 100x more often than me and thus wipe the floor with me, it's just no fun.
03-23-06 | 10:11 AM
#39
Retired
Originally Posted by Superboy
It's strange, but some of the most innovative games on the DS haven't even utilized the stylus, but I think the innovative nature of the DS itself has led developers to being more open to publishing titles that normally would never have left Japan. It was a great way to get some obscure titles in through the back door. Meanwhile the PSP, though technically superior, is much more a by-the-numbers system.
If not, at least I'll have the DS and the virtual console on the Revolution.
