Sex, lies, and video games, but without the sex part — actually, that could be there too.
Sony never needs to worry about development costs. They let other companies do their work for them. After last nights E3 press conference, the Internet lit up with heavy and harsh criticism for video gamings leading seller, and all of that still isn't enough to give them what they deserve.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Lonato
That’s fine all of you barbaric jocks that came into the video game market because it was cool can keep your Sony garbage and let use real geeks have the Xbox 360 and Wii. Good luck affording the PS3 it will take a lot out of your booze money.
27 - jock
jocks are well-balanced, socially-adjusted people. this allows them the ability to afford superior gaming systems. don't be so jealous. you still have your xbox and nintendo...have fun playing super mario XXVII...LOL
28 - DragonMasterNYC
Yes I must say that the Sony Press Conference was bad, but thats not the main thing I follow when I buy a PS system. To me it's all about the games and gameplay. If I want great GFX I'll play on my old gaming rig thats still working(over 4 years old and still running, and I thought I was gonna kill the thing 2 years ago when i overclocked some things, anyway). I know that just like any system the GFX will get better as the years go by, look at the GFX on the first PS2 games and look at the GFX now.
The card game looked good now I'm not sayin I'm gonna buy it, but I think I see a money making idea don't you. If you don't, don't worry because I'm sure someone will think of some way to get kids to buy the cards and go back to their store just to play with them on the screen, and pay to do it.
As some of you said that Sony riped some ideas from other things its true, but look at movies, music, games, and etc. Heres a perfect example the Matrix how many movies and games have taken a seen from that movie and put it in their own. GTA another good example how many games are similar in some way to it. Look at True Crimes: Streets of LA it has elements from GTA and the Matrix.
Ah my favorate thing about Sony free net play, and they are not stoping it so I'm still happy. One reasone my Xbox is under my Atari 5600 (yes even under that) even my Atari gets used more.(lol kinda sad isn't it)I think the last time I used it was 2, 3, maybe even 4 years ago why you might ask because you had to pay to play. Also most of the games that I liked for Xbox were on PC, PS2, or GameCube. I wonder what a barely used Xbox would go for when it becomes an antique.
Yes it is a little pricy for me, but I have been saving up for the last few months and almost half way there, but it's not looking good unless I get a rael job.(Loading ringtones, wallpapers, and games on people's cellphones + building 1 PC for someone got $100 for that try it because its not that hard to build one)
Ok Nintendo's Wii system I will at a later date buy it only because of the games but only a few. Now since Zelda will be on Gamecube it helps me because then I don't have to buy Wii right away.
Gotta get to that $700 mark $658.99 for a game and system with over head for taxes.(got to just love those taxes)
Written By,
DragonMasterNYC
29 - ko
I think Sony's system is pretty uninspiring as well, but it's pretty unfair to say that the only innovation they've had is the eyetoy. Unlike nintendo, they foresaw the time when 3D games would require larger storage capacity and built a system with, not just a CD player, but also the horsepower to make use of it.
The playstation 1 didn't get popular randomly. It got popular because it was a superior system for a while.
That said, nintendo has clearly created something special this time. The PS3 and 360 are incremental increases. I don't know why people get excited when the ipod goes from 40gigs to 60gigs and I don't understand why people get excited about the PS3, but some people do.
30 - don'tBaHater
the author of this article forgot to mention 1 thing...none of this really matters
people buy consoles for the games, not for what some suits had to say at a conference
31 - boogers
Perhaps you didn't notice that Nintendo has innovative sports games, and even the Madden team are redesigning the game strictly for Wii.
Not to mention that the best sports games are still for NES. Tecmo Super Bowl ftw.
32 - PS3IsForTools
Well, I'm glad that at least that Sony has decided to take the PS3 out of the Household Gaming Market. $600 for a system that MOST people won't be able to fully utilize is an absolute joke, let alone the fact that the Low End version of the PS3 is a joke... Oh, and the fact that Sony is essentially paying HALF of the system costs themselves just so that you won't crap your tighty-whities at the nearly $1000 actual cost.
Yeah... Sony's a BIG winner.
At least Nintendo knows how to run a business: I.E: Make Money.
Maybe SONY's Playstation Division'll get around to doing that one day - you know, after they're done recovering from the PS2 and PSP and UMD.
Face it, SONY's a sinking ship and no amount of Madden XIIXI's is going to stop that.
Oh, and enjoy your $60-$70 games kiddies, all alone in your basements while wii get to mingle with all the curious hot girls who want to try out this new "controller-thing"... believe me hoss, us geeks'll be right in line to show'em how.
33 - hey_snot
nothing comes close to the original. there have been many attempts by nintendo and xbox to make comparable sports games, but it has never worked. they just do not get it. it being PLAYABILITY. sega owned sports at one time and now it is playstation. they are far ahead of any gaming system when it comes to sports.
the playability and complexity of playstation games is much more advanced. i think this is intentional by all parties (PS, xbox, and nintendo). playstation is geared towards an older audience. i think other systems dumb down the games because they are targeting younger audiences.
34 - Matt Paprocki
"they foresaw the time when 3D games would require larger storage capacity and built a system with, not just a CD player, but also the horsepower to make use of it."
Nintendo had the idea, because the SNES CD that was a joint venture with Sony eventually became the Playstation.
35 - Matt Paprocki
"they are far ahead of any gaming system when it comes to sports. "
You do realize that Madden and the rest of EAs franchise are on every gaming system out there, right?
36 - matty
i am well aware. i have also played the EA games on all consoles...PS is the best by far...in my opinion
37 - Josh W.
Before I take any of this credibly, I'd love to see some evidence. Evidence that is completely lacking in this OPINION article. I'm with the guys who say: "I gbuy the console for the games." However, a good system is integral to the games. As for motion sensors... they were in development at the same time. With the advent of wireless remotes, you know everyone was going to be working on gyroscopic controllers. Everyone thinks the same now... so is merely rushing it through production first innovation? I think not.
As for the horrible nature of the press conference, I have a hard time believing it went as horrible as has been said. Sony is a major corporation, and they know better than to do something so stupid.
As for innovation on games... NO ONE has any. Every single console (no to mention movie theatres) have given up on new games. Everyone merely does remakes, and sequels. It's a sad state of affairs personally. Sony is (personally) holding onto the 'better, more diverse' titles... however this is quickly coming to an end. The first person to come out with a new set of interesting games should win a medal... I'm tired of the shit I'm seeing for ALL of the consoles out there.
To sum it up... with the way gaming consoles are going, I'm not surprised to see this happen. However, I highly doubt it went as badly as its been made to believe. Besides, too many people (probably including many of you above) have too much money to care. I DON'T have the money to spend on a 500 dollar system, so I'm not getting it. Personally, the graphics whores have finally gained enough holding, and have enough of mommy and daddies money, that the corporations are selling only to them now. However, I'm still enjoying my games for the PS2, Xbox (only halo 1 & 2), Dreamcast, SNES, NES, Atari, Virtual boy, and Gamecube.... when the systems are finally worth their price tag... I'll get them. Games and game play are far more important than features or graphics. And if you disagree... you're saying it yourself. You care more on looks than gaming.
38 - ToolWithMoney
Don't be angry that you can't afford a PS3. Just put down your Wii and get a job so you can afford a real gaming system.
39 - Matt Paprocki
Josh, you're looking for facts in an opinion piece. You can't make an opinion fact. We have a conference recap up with no opinion involved at all, or you can watch the press event on a number of websites. That said, they skipped over so many important facts, like the removal of feature in the cheaper version, that those little snippets alone make it an awful event.
More than a few have backed that up in the comments section, but again, see it for yourself.
As for the innovation, Nintendo's press conference had plenty of that.
40 - innovation
too bad nintendo/xbox can't seem to translate entertaining press conferences into great games
41 - DragonMasterNYC
Josh W. is right but its the combination of everything and balance that makes it a good game now i know that gfx arent everything which is true there were some good games that came out over the years that got overlooked because of the gfx. REZ a PS2 game (if you know what that is) the gfx looked like a oldschool game in 3D, but it wasnt it is a good game to play if u can find a copy(im not happy that i sold that game now) the gameplay was great thats why most people liked it not because it looked retro. So what if it was all wireframes the game was good. Balance see thats all a game needs. To tell you the truth i got a few games for my PC that i wish i didnt download bc i only looked at gfx and the game sucked after i played for a wile.
sorry for this sorry looking post im trying to get somethings working again and plus a site for a mod has gone down i trying to get the download on a few sites to spread the bandwith over more sites
42 - Matt
If Sony is manipulating their audience, I'd have to say that you are doing the same to your readers.
I think you need to change your header fron OPINION to BIASED-OPINION
43 - Phillip Winn
Matt (#42), do you realize what an OPINION is?
44 - HeyPhil
Yes I do, but I also can tell when someone has an agenda they are trying to spew.
45 - PS3IsForTools
Well, hey, at least you admit you're a Tool, that's a start. Now all you have to do is stop throwing money on a burning trash pile and you'll be on the right track.
Look at the facts, even by purchasing a PS3 all you're doing is helping Sony dig its own grave. They've already estimated losses in the HUNDREDS of millions for the PS3... in the first year alone. On the bright side, at least you'll be helping to put them out of their misery.
Consider it a mercy killing.
46 - opinion
"it's getting to the point where even the mainstream will figure it out"
come on now...matt is either biased or just not smart. the mainstream doesn't care about this junk, they just care if the games are good
47 - Tool
I don't care about sony or how much money they make or lose...I just like to own the best console and games...and in my opinion that is sony.
i don't see how your point has any relevance...unless you just like to hate sony for some reason.
48 - PS3IsForTools
Everything about the PS3 - from consumer reports to people developing for the system - says that the PS3 is essentially an XBOX 360 with a Playstation Logo slapped on it. Developers have been quoted as saying that the PS3 and XBOX 360 will look almost exactly the same when put side by side.
So you're getting hyped up over a $200 more expensive X360? Doesn't make sense to me.
49 - Umm...
"a fine way to try and slip by important facts to the press who may not read the rundown on paper"
don't give the press a free pass here. it is their job to read the rundown on paper.
50 - Tool
I'm not getting hyped up about it. I am just pointing out that people by consoles for their games...this shouldn't be news to anyone. This article implies that if people knew what SONY was up to, they wouldn't buy the console. That is just ridiculous.
I'll prolly buy the console because I have like sony's games much better than any other system out there. In my opinion, xbox/nintendo playability don't match up to SONY.
51 - PS3IsForTools
And you're welcome to your opinion, 'Tis a free country after all. With that said I'll admit that I love my Guitar Hero - but that's one game for the PS2 versus about 6 for the XBox (Halo 2, Crimson Skies, Forza, Burnout: Legends, DOA:Online and GTA: San Andreas - Custom Soundtracks rule!) and 8 for the Gamecube (Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime: Echoes, Smash Brothers, Resident Evil 1 (Remake), Resident Evil 4, Eternal Darkness, F-Zero GX, Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker).
I don't have alot of time to play games so when I do play, I want it to be fun. I don't play sports games because I prefer to actually be outside playing sports instead. Yes, I don't get any cheat codes when I get my ass tackled - but it's alot more fun.
52 - something something
I'm still iffy on the Wiimote, it just seems a lot of work to play a game, but you look pretty dumb waving around a controller...sorta how people look when they play the EyeToy. I'm gonna get a PS3...well not when it comes out, more like when it comes out with a good game IE MGS4. I'm a bit disappointed by the $499 version of the PS3, but you know what? I might as well goes balls out, the lost of cash will be compenstated by entertainment I'll discover, via PS3 games or a collection of my older games. Sure I can get a Wii or a 360...but their game roster doesn't seem all that appealing to me, and ya know thats all that matters in the end...the games.
53 - some guy
All i can say right now, "what is gaming coming to these days?"....... -_-;
54 - UseR
Lol, typical $ony, it was expected sooner or later.
No HDMI port in the $499 ps3? What happened to the hype of Hi Def gaming this generation, and "all our games will run in 1080i"?
Granted, $ony didn;t steal the "Wiimote" they did use the idea of the controller. Tilt sensor? lol, warioware twisted on the gba has a tilt sensor, so does Kirby on the gba...
Nothing original, nothing new, just rehash after rehash... Take off your fanboy glasses and have a good look... Nice controller $ony, looks familar...Dual shock? No more rumble. Good contradition... Nuff said
55 - gossett
in my opinion of what i have read and seen on videogame sites i think microsoft put the other big two to shame. microsoft has a lot of things going on with their system that really shows they are pushing the envelope for their 360 and xbox live plus xbla. games that are coming out that didn't look that much different from sony...speaking of sony that company is so arrogant they were quoted as saying if we want their system we better save up for it, is the ps3 good enough to pay all that money for,not for me its not i would rather spend my thousand some where else, i don't need blu ray i'm good with my dvds...nintendo is a joke to me i'm done with mario and zelda and metroid i have play these same games since i was 10...i don't have to try the controller to know i won't like it..why change a good thing.i have played every system that has come out since the early 80's and in my opinion i think microsoft has given me what i want in my gaming experience
56 - trebba webba
I've owned both PS1 and PS2, but I doubt I'll be buying the PS3. $600 is just asking too damn much, and I don't see any of Sony's games as an incentive to spend that much. Final Fantasy's turn based combat and linear storylines are boring compared to newer RPGs (Oblivion, KOTOR, etc.), GTA is coming out on 360 at the same time as PS3 this generation, and basically the only reason I kept my PS2 was so I wouldn't have to wait 6 months to play GTA on my Xbox. Metal Gear Solid 4 will probably be pretty good, but I can always get my stealth fix on Splinter Cell Double Agent instead. I already have a 360, and I think I'll just get a Wii instead of the PS3. It'll probably be cheaper and I'd rather try out something new and fresh instead of Sony, who's just churning out sequel after sequel that's garaunteed to sell just because of the name slapped on the box.
57 - Ken Edwards
UseR, it is actually called the Dual Shake. And you can do Hi-Def WITHOUT the HDMI. All you need are component cables. It just is analog, where HDMI is digital.
It doesn't matter if Sony really "stole" the Wii's motion sensing tech. from Nintendo or not. It is too close (in time frame) and it looks like a desperate move. Also there is an interview on Eurogamer with the developer of Warhawk, saying they had officially know about the tilt sensors in the PS3 controllers for "about a week and a half."
That screams tacked on at the last minute. It also screams last ditch effort. They tried to steal Nintendo's Wii-mote thunder, and it backfired on them.
A week and a half? I don't care which color of jaded glasses you look through, that looks bad.
58 - Ken Edwards
Eurogamer: When did you first learn about this controller?
Dylan Jobe: We've really known officially for about a week and a half, and we did the final tuning just a couple of days ago.
59 - lol
1) Super innovative nintendo hasnt brought out a decent game for the gamecube now in a year - mines collecting dust cause theres nothing to play on it. Who cares if the wii is the best console ever if theres nothing good out on it. Gimmicky controller will get old quickly..
2) Sony is not going to go broke because a bunch of randoms whinge that itll suck and they are only gonna get a wii
That is all.
60 - Pete
I don't see how u could think Sony are stealing Nintendos ideas... even if they did, why care? its called benchmarking. The ps3 controller uses different technology to that of a wii controller.
61 - Neutral
good artists copy, great ones steal.
it's always there in the industry.
Xerox comes up with the Graphics User Interface(GUI) and the mouse. The executives thought it was pointless. Apple Computers go there steal the entire thing use it for their OS. MS lifts it off of Apple.
It doesn't matter for the source unless they own rights for the patent or some such.
What matters in the end would always be who markets their product better, who has better service, who comes out with better products, in this case games and of course last but not least who has better ties with developers.
Nintendo will always have its niche as will Sony. Lifting a controller feature will not make a bigger difference as opposed to other factors. If it works all good, if not they'll probably come out with some sort of backup(hopefully for their sakes).
62 - Santa
Sony is just stea;ling ideas like they always do and they will continue to do. for those people who just buy sony for the sake of games, the ration of good games to crap game sis probably like 1:50.
63 - PC FAN
I never bought a console in my whole life and it's never too late. Judgeing from what MS managed to work out of 360 and the HUGE time frame gap between console launches, i'd say that Sony who was the more "serious" player in the market should have pulled something better and first.
How MS did it, i don't know but i tip my hat to them and to Nintendo as well. Why to Nintendo ? Coz they didn't have to compete with high end graphics or specs with they're console against the BIG players. They maintained their position and are still takin a hold of it. I would buy a Wii first ,and then a 360 besides the PC that i currently use and will use for long to come.
I'm lookin at Sony and Sony don't look so good, they kinda thought no one would challenge them for the crown... hehe "fate it seems is not without a sens of irony". They were'nt up to the challenge...
64 - jungo
there is alot of complaining here. dont forget the warhawk demo was a demo hopefully the bugs are ironed out. Sony may of took Nintendos idea its not a bad idea for Sony to keep this feature it can be adapted. befoe we talk about stealing the differance between a PS2 controller and a 360 one is the sticks ware D-pad is black and Whate is gone and look what we have a LB and a RB looks and feels like Sony to me but im not bitching because i like the new buttons.i liked Sonys Con as for the cheep option u get what u pay for if want to use memory cards Ect get the 60Gig Console.
i had a sega and a nintendo and the best thing sega did was die i like sega dont get me wrong but no room for them. keep making sega games will be all good. now all that needs to happend is nintendo to Die i said it DIE keep Zelda and mario Donky Games Comming as Well there same as sega is doing now there Classics and are still good. still PSP is way better then DS so meny things u can do to your PSP Mods Ect and now good old PS games. Nitendo should stick to game boys for the kidys and Let Big Boys Sony and Microsoft lead the Consone Market.
Thats my Say and If you Dont Like it i Dont Realy Care Im not Losing Sleep over it so why should You. there all out to make money. at the end of the day if im happy and your happy whats to warry about.
65 - chris
SOURCE:
Nintendojo The creative director of Ubisoft Montreal had harsh words for Sony during an E3 workshop focusing on next-generation game design.
Clint Hocking, the creative director behind titles such as Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory explained how he was disappointed by Sony's attempts to copy technologies from the other consoles. After referring to Sony's mimicking of Xbox Live, and then duplicating components of Nintendo's motion sensitive controller, Hocking paused in frustration.
"How much more 'me too' can [Sony] be?," he asked.
Earlier in the discussion Hocking attacked the industry's strategy to up the ante in visuals significantly with each console.
It's a "fundamental problem of approach" to continue to push for stronger graphics, he said. He argued such an approach puts game developers in situations where they have to be factory workers. Assemble art texture here, model texture shades here. Repeat.
Further, Hocking claimed the adoption rate of high-definition televisions is so low, that the approach wastes resources on art that many customers won't even appreciate.
At the conclusion of the workshop, Hocking applauded Wii's new controller interface. If it can meet the technical accuracy promised by Nintendo, it can open up the creative minds of game designers, he said. While graphics may add emotion, Wii's new controller interface is more likely to bring emotion directly to the player.
66 - schizo
you are all saying that nintendo's controller is innovative! will you havent plyed it yet!! just imagine how tiring it is to hold that god damm thing or swing it around for an hour!! man i want to play games lying or sitting like shitty crazy!!! if i want to get some exercise ill go to the gym not while playing, coz it takes the fun out of it, you fanboys say that sony stole from nintendo DUH!!! everybody steals!!! remember sony was the first to introduce the vertical implementation of the ps2!! now ninty is using it!! or how about the memory card!! hahaha!! well see at the end!! im definitely buying ps3 with all that games!! even if i work my ass off!! or worst sell my gf!! lol
67 - guy
All you morons complaining about the price.. umm, do you think that the Xbox HD-DVD add-on is free?
They'll shove it down your throat until you buy it. It'll be $200 minimum, so there. In the end, Xbox 360 will be more expensive than PS3. Just because you spent $400 (probably more buying stupid accessories) last year and $200 this year doesn't mean that's cheaper than $599 at once.
I don't think Bill Gates has enough room for all of you on his jock.
68 - Matt Paprocki
Schizo: SNK gave us the memory card first with the Neo Geo. The PC-FX gave us a vertical orientation.
It's funny how the Sony fans are saying that stealing is fine. $100 says they'd be on the opposite side if Nintendo pulled the same thing and snagged something from Sony.
Guy: THe 360 add-on isn't neccesary. It's not going to play games according to them, just HD-DVDs. That's a damned cheap HD-DVD player given they retail for $500, even assuming it does hit $200. Again, it's not needed, so the cost factor is meaningless in the console "war."
"Yes I do, but I also can tell when someone has an agenda they are trying to spew."
Yes, my agenda is to destroy Sony. You SOOO got me. I mean, the two PS Ones, the PS2, and the PSP sitting next to me OBVIOUSLY means that I have an agenda towards them.
Also, I love that the fanboys come in here and say how I hate the PS3, when I never said a single bad word about the console itself. Anywhere. I ripped apart their press conference and buisness tactics. If you read anymore into it, then you're not reading the article, you're putting words into it becaue you can't fathom Sony doing something wrong.
It's irrelevant if the mainstream doesn't care about the press conference. That's not the point of the article. However, it will catch up to them. It may not be this gen, and it may not be the next one either. Eventually though, it will backfire. You can't run a buisness where you charge $600 for something you can get elsewhere cheaper, and possibly even better, or completely without change.
The mass public gets tired of things quickly and begins looking for the next thing. That's something Nintendo is trying. We won't know if it will work, but capturing the soccer mom market is HUGE if they can pull it off. No amount of Resident Evil sequels and flashy graphical tech demos can turn a soccer mom into a video game fan.
69 - schizo to Matt Paprocki
ya but sony was the one that implemented vertical in the console first, god ninty is not the one who came up with the sensore thing in the first place,, i will buy a ps3, im loyal its because from the beginning sony didnt dissapoint me when it came to gaming experience.. i had so much fun, well... we have our own opinions, and i respect your opinion but wl cross the bridge when we get there..
i mean lets not speculate on whos going to suck or sell,, and not be judgemental lets all be optimistic for our preffered consoles,, hehehe
so stop banging the ps3 when its not even out yet,, youre just trying to discourage potentials buyers.. yes sony's conference didnt go well i admit that but the conference doesnt make the game or the console,, well just see at the end.. coz im definitely buying the right console !! ps3 all the way!
70 - schizo to Matt Paprocki
Oh! one thing! just please admit it that your a nintendo fanboy! lol! you giggle(like a little girl) when miyamoto started playing the Wii (and you wishd the Wii controller was ur *bleep*, hehehe), all the trouble for the article defntly is a die hard fanboy!! hehehe! good for you! lucky bastard!!lol
71 - Dynamo of Eternia
I thought it was a bad idea when Xbox 360 came out with 2 different units. Any now, Sony has taken a bad idea and made it even worse.
When 360 came out, people were camping out to get it, etc. And you know that most people wanted the $400 unit with all of the extras. But, many got stuck getting the $300 unit after their wait, otherwise their only other option was to walk away empty handed. BUT, at least they could still buy the compentents separately to eventually have exactly the same thing that comes in the $400 package. Granted, in total it will cost you more than $400 to get it all, but you can still have everything.
In Sony's case, you cannot buy the extras separately to upgrade the cheaper unit. And you know that this will siginificantly piss off a lot of people trying to get the system at launch. Even though the shortage problem probably won't be as bad as that of Xbox 360, PS3 will still likely sell out during its initial shipments. And the people who are later in line will likely get stuck getting the cheaper, crappier unit. I believe that this will cause a lot of anger, resentment, and contraversy for Sony. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out.
As for me, I am a gamer across the board. I try not to be blindly loyal to any one particular company. I own many games systems: Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Genesis, Sega CD, 32X, Sega Saturn, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PS2, Gamecube, Xbox, Xbox 360, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance Sp, and Nintendo DS.
My opinion of Sony has been up and down over the years. When they were first coming out, I was very skeptical. Mainly because during the early to mid 90s, most systems not made by Nintendo or Sega didn't last long (Neo Geo, 3DO, & Jaguar all come to mind), and I initially expected PS1 to be more of the same. I ended up being wrong, and eventually got one. It was a good system, certainly the best of its time overall. However, looking back, a big part of Sony's success at the time is significantly due to the mistakes of the competition. Nintendo went cartridge with N64, which was more expensvie and more limited than CD, and Saturn was just difficult to program for. So, while Sony really did nothing wrong or sneaky, but they were kind of like an average runner competing in a race against the fastest runners in the world, and ended up winning simply because both fast runners happened to trip and fall during that race.
But still, it was a good system, and I got into it.
When it came time for PS2 to come out, I was all excited, reserved it, and got it at launch. It was pretty cool. Then Xbox and Gamecube came out. I didn't get either of those at launch. I got cube the following summer after its first price drop, then got Xbox as a gift the following Christmas. As time progressed, I found myself using my PS2 less and less. There just weren't that many exclusive games on it that I personally cared for.
Then, more and more, I started hearing about PS2 having disc read errors (usually with the blue CD-rom discs). I learned about this from employees at a couple of different Gamestop stores. One guy who worked there was actually on his 4th PS2 because of this. I found this surprising because I had never had a problem with mine. But, as time went on, I heard more and more about this issue. Out of concern, if a 3rd party game came out for more than one system, I would avoid getting it for PS2 whenever possible, in order to avoid wear and tear on the system. I would only get exclusive games that I really wanted (I am a huge fan of the Kindom Hearts games for example).
But, still, eventually even my system fell victim to the problems. Last fall (of 2005) I discovered that my system had the disc read errors. Luckily my fiance and I had just moved in together, and she had a PS2 that she had barely used, so I didn't have to buy a new one.
However, as a result, my opinion of Sony wasn't exactly high. Apparently this disc read issue has been a problem over the course of the life of the system. It's not just something that is specific to the ones from the orignal launch (altough I am unsure if the newer, smaller PS2's have the same issue, I just know that its been ongoing for the larger model versions).
Now, there are those who have supposedly never had a problem, and find this info surprising. But then there are those who know the problem all to well. I'm sure there have been defective Xbox's and Gamecubes out there as well, but I haven't heard of one consistent, ongoing problem with either of those (though the recent Xbox 360 freezing issues have become a concern to me. I am yet to experience them myself, but I am becoming leary of that as well). In my personal experience of just people I've met in real life (meaning that this doesn't include any online stories that I've read), I can probably account for about 12 PS2's with this problem.
So, for some time, PS3 has been concerning me. I mean, obviously PS2 couldn't truely handle being able to play all of the different kinds of discs (DVD, PS1, 2 forms of PS2) that it was made to, otherwise these issues wouldn't happen. And now in addition to those same functions, PS3 will be playing a whole new gaming and movie format. This concerns me, and with good reasoning. And all of the price rumors that were going around (some saying it would be as low as $400, others staying it would be as high as $1000+) had me worried as well.
However, I had been trying to keep an open mind to some degree, waiting to hear all of the final info about it. I figured maybe some info would be revealed at E3 that would make me really want the system. But, as it stands, that didn't happen. The price, while not as bad as what some of the speculation had indicated, is rather high. This could hurt Sony. Making 2 different models in which the lower one cannot be upgraded is simply a BAD move. And the controller came across as a rip off of Nintendo's idea. Even if they had been planning this from the get-go and it wasn't a copied idea, Sony's timing was aweful in announcing this, and it really didn't look good in favor of them.
As many have stated, what it boils down to is the games that come out for each system. And on many levels, that is what truely matters. And that is mostly an issue of individual taste. Each person has their own preferences, and that is fine. For me, there is only a handful of exclusives that Sony offers that I care about, and none of them are coming out at launch. So, I will wait and see if I get one eventually (probably after a price drop). Kingdom Hearts 3 will probably be my breaking point.
But, as important as that is, one issue that I would say is bigger is the system's ability to play the games. And if PS3 ends up having functional problems like PS2, then what good are the games if the system can't play them properly? So, I will take a watch and wait stance.
The price factor could be a major issue that works against Sony's favor. They may lose their #1 spot in the market. Or, at the very least, the gap between #1 and #2 may become a lot smaller. But, only time will tell.
But, all-in-all, I am trying to be as blindly unbiased as possible, using the facts that I see before me and the pressidents that have been set as an indicator of what systems are the best to get. I already have 360, I will get Wii at launch as it interests me, and I may eventually get PS3. I will just have to see how everything pans out.
72 - Dhaynes
Actually Sony didn't steal the tilt sensor idea from Nintendo. Anyone remember the Logitech and Microsoft PC controllers from 1999? Here's an article on it:
73 - Neogin
"sony has the best sports/action games: madden, nhl, tiger woods, socom etc.
if you like the xbox/nintendo games, you must be reliving your days of dungeons and dragons...hahaha"
Please, God hates fanboys.
Anyway, Sony's press conference wasn't all that it was cracked up to be.
74 - raj
i already have an xbox 360 and most likely will get a ps3 on x-mas...most likely will be sold out neways to me a true gamer doesnt pick sides he just plays games :)
75 - Znatas
"a true gamer doesnt pick sides he just plays games :)"
agree 100%, couldn't say it better myself.
each console out there has its advantages and disadvantages, always have, always will