BlueDev

Join Date 12/2003

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Incompetence, ignorance, and the success of the PS3

Time and again, Sony has demonstrated its incompetence.

No example could be more obvious than with the upcoming launch of the Playstation 3. Early reports are that the online component is broken. Resistance: Fall of Man, one of the biggest and most important launch titles, has reported that they are going to have to build their own online sign in, friend list, messaging system, etc. Tony Hawk 8 won't even have online play at launch on the PS3. And these are just the first two examples that come to mind.

Manufacturing problems have abounded with the processors for the PS3. This has resulted in a dramatically decreased launch. Having bragged and bragged about a worldwide launch, Sony will now have less than 500,000 worldwide, with only 80,000 going to Japan and Europe getting the short straw completely.

Add to that the fact that the console costs significantly more than its competitors, and industry reports state that in terms of actual power, the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are very comparable (the PS3 having a small edge in processor power, the 360 edging out in terms of memory ability), it would appear that the PS3 is much more bust than bang. In fact, many, many gamer and tech geeks are announcing the doom of Sony with the launch of the PS3.

Nevertheless, I have every confidence the PS3 will be a huge success.

I don't say this as a PS3 fan either. I lived without a PS or PS2 just fine for years. There are no games coming exclusively to the PS3 that are compelling enough for me to even want to consider supporting Sony. Frankly, I think they have treated gamers pretty poorly, and the deluge of disinformation and outright lies coming from Sony is enough to piss me off to the point I would secretly like to see the console fall flat on its ugly little face.

But Sony has something huge going for them. Something I don't think we can discount. And that secret weapon is this: consumers are ignorant.

It is this very ignorance that will save them. Sure, lots of us geeks realize just how bad Sony has blown things with the PS3. We read the reports, follow the trails, and lots of us are put out. But most consumers haven't a clue.

They are well-to-do parents who will buy their children whatever they want. They are regular working class people who have been playing their Playstations for years, and just want to play the next round. They are Sony fanboys who have to have the next big thing. Or, perhaps, they are informed, but are hard core enough that they will shrug off all the garbage to have all the next gen consoles.

Call it what you want, but when you get right down to it, I have a feeling that Sony will do just fine this next gen. I even think they will win it again. They have been too huge the last two generations to shrug them off. The ignorance of the average consumer will be their salvation. They will reap their rewards, all while slapping the unsuspecting consumer in the face.

But hey, ignorance is bliss, right?

gaming

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Depressing that it cost such large amounts of cash for something that isn't noticeably better.

Pity.

But the biggest pity is that you're right. Sony will win the day again.

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Depressing that it cost such large amounts of cash for something that isn't noticeably better.

I think what bugs me the most about Sony in all of this is their horribly superior attitude. Them stating that "the next generation begins when we (Sony) say it does" just rubs me wrong.

Honestly, the little bit of me that is an admitted fanboy really wants the 360 to walk all over the PS3, but there is no way that will happen.

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Honestly, the little bit of me that is an admitted fanboy really wants the 360 to walk all over the PS3, but there is no way that will happen.

Ah, showing your true colors. I will , however, be interested to see the reaction to the new Nintendo console. It seems very . . . different. I don´t know how well it´s going to go over . . . I guess we´ll have to wait and see.

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It seems very . . . different. I don´t know how well it´s going to go over . . . I guess we´ll have to wait and see.

I saw some gameplay video of the next Zelda game, and it looked very awkward to me. But who knows. At least Nintendo is trying to innovate.

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I've owned consoles since Atari 2600 up to Xbox, but as game console prices reach into budget PC territory it just doesn't make since any more to buy a console. Even a current budget pc can play games close to the graphics level of a current console. If not, it will in six months. So I'll be staying out of the future console wars until they can justify the price of a mostly single purpose machine.

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The worst thing about the console wars is the exclusivity of some game titles being married to particular platforms.

I want to play the Soul Calibur series of games on my PC. I know that's selfish, but there it is.

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Honestly, the little bit of me that is an admitted fanboy really wants the 360 to walk all over the PS3, but there is no way that will happen.

I agree, but I think that there is a decent chance that the Wii might beat the PS3. For one thing, while the 360 won't succeed in Japan, Nintendo is already a huge player over there in the handheld market and it shouldn't be that hard for them to translate that into success in the console area. It helps that the new Zelda game looks a heck of a lot better than anything the PS3 has.

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While PS3 will probably be my console of choice, I don't think I'm going to buy it until the price comes down considerably. The limited number of sets available at launch has the effect of driving prices up. And the price is crazy -- I can buy a pretty good gaming computer with that money.

I'll be keeping tracks until the price drops and the console has a considerable library of good games. I'm not done with my PS2 yet anyway.

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I'm happy with my PS2, happy playing the games I've got and don't think an upgrade to PS3 is necessary. I am a fan of Sony hardware. My entertainment components, with the exception of my television, are all Sony. These are nearly 4 years old now, still look really good and we've had no performance problems with them (I know this is a little off topic but I've been taking leaves out of your brother's book).

I wouldn't mind playing an XBox for comparison, though.

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for me, it isn't ignorance or a fanboy-ish perspective.

Sure, I own a GBA (love it), but xbox never really appealed to me (for reasons that are invalid in this post).

I've read about the PS3 launch shortage, but haven't read it from a credible source - i.e. bbc's world service news (which, btw, I'm probably going to check after I write this - go fig

) - mostly it's been just bashing, and apparently after w/e happened to the consumer market, hate sells t_t.

It seems the more other people hate it, the more the PS3 will sell to them, etc., etc.

Yes, I agree it isn't very good logic, but have you seen some of the ways in which MMORPG's are handled day to day? You / I are hard pressed to find someone who is willing to be decent or just help out for the sheer joy of it

.

These are the people that are spoiled and get what they want, I argue

..

Truth to tell, this is a semi-defense of the PS3, I agree, but only from one of the few people who Are, or at least try to be, decent on games and life

.

Xbox is not at stake. The Japanese and Asian market is

. Nintendo has always done sleeper-well, even with the N64 and "Superman (Returns)" w/e. Sony has always been a big hitter, but the countless bashing Sony and sometimes Nintendo gets seems to come from an American audience, and thus to me, an arrogant audience who have relied on someone for the past 6 years to Be arrogant and to get our way (Dubya)...and to me, the sad thing is, it's worked.

So, in short, with Bush as role model (and votes not checked yet, altough I have voted this past day - go me!

), this country (America) has gone down the tubes, IMO.

*tangent catcher*

so, before you say "I, as a hardcore gamer from yester-year" am ignorant on the fact that the PS3 is failing, look at a lot of launch titles/systems....not many of them made it then, either.

I am no longer hopeful or content to watch this "escapade" unfold as November 17th enter - I am confident.

Confident that this BS I keep hearing about it will subside once people realize how much of an *expletive deleted* they've been to other people's chosen system.

As I've said, sony is not my one and only. In fact, sony was never around when I was a kid, so I can safely (albeit, also arrogantly (rofl!) ) say that I am not loyal to them in the monetary or fan-boy sense. I just look for a good system, ignore the hate against it (which, I argue, is not ignorance, but a secular faith in new technology

), and make my own decisions (Shock and Awe!, no? ).

I close with this: if we, as Americans, Aren't the "fantastical" (fantasy-ized) "borg", why do we act like it?

-Joren T. cole

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Sony's arrogance isn't just on display with the PS3.

This attitude has dominated their corporation for as long as I can remember. Remember the VHS and Betamax wars. Although Sony's Betamax was far superior in terms of picture and sound they ended up losing to VHS because Sony refused to license to 3rd parties. They wanted to be the only ones you could buy a betamax player, and then everybody saw the writing on the wall that they would charge huge licensing fees to content providers as well.
Ironically, this is the same reason why they will lose the looming blue-ray HD-DVD war too. Even though, like the betamax, blue-ray is arguably better in terms of technological potential, it appears as if Sony has no interest in sharing blue-ray with 3rd parties. So basically, it is "rinse and repeat" with Sony ever 20 years and they will constantly loose because of a arrogant corporate attitude.

This is apparent in everything they do. Rather than listening to players and making concessions they continue to watch their most popular game, EverCrack, lose market share to WoW. It was also apparent when they shipped music CD's that, when played on pc, installed intrusive spyware on everybody's computer.

The problem with game counsels is that it is basically 2 major corporations with tons of cash (Microsoft and Sony) that thinks they can win the consol war with marketing. I understand that the 14-28 year old demographic is fickle, constantly moving on to whatever is the new sexy thing, but you're not going to hold that demographic that way.

Folks, do you honestly think that production delays are unintentional? Trust me, the small number release is very intentional. Though you act outraged over the 600$ price tag you know people as well as I do that will spend that money on the PS3. After all, what's a PS3 other than a PC made just to game, and how much does a decent gaming computer cost? The pricing is very intentional. Just like the 360. How long has the 360 been out? What's the price now? About the same as release. Limited supply and high demand.

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If "consumers are ignorant" as you say it will NOT mean that the PS3 rules - rather the Wii will come to dominate the console market.

As soon as a consumer sees one in a tv advert they instantly "get it" (meaning that they "understand how it works").

Virtual Tennis, Golf etc - just use the controller like a bat/club/lightsabre or whatever. This appeals to all age groups.

The Wii is cheaper than the Sony, and it has a H-U-G-E wow factor - motion sensitive gameplay.

I can't think of a console that has ever been released with such a huge improvement over anything that has gone before it.

Quite frankly I would pay MORE for the Wii than for the PS3 as it offers fun game play. Yet the Wii is going to be cheaper.

The Wii also looks like it will be FUN to play its games - and Nintendo have a reputation of making amazingly good games.

Wii lets you play the console and forces you to exercise at the same time - how cool is that? Sign me up!

Wii also appeals to people like me - GalCiv2 is the only game I play and I've not owned a console since the Snes - I "grew out" of it. Yet I'm strongly considering buying a Wii and probably will.

PS3 = the usual typical 3-year improvement in graphics.
Xbox = the usual typical 3-year improvement in graphics.
Wii = a revloution in gameplay.

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Warriorinformer: I agree 100%. Sony has been demonstrating their arrogance and incompetence for years. They have been pushing proprietary formats for decades now, Betamx, Minidisc, Memory stick, Blue-Ray, heck, even their own format for digital media. Stupid.

Birney: I agree that the Wii is doing something new. It looks interesting to me, but I will withhold judgment until I get a chance to play. Watching videos, it looks a little akward. Time will tell, but at least Nintendo is trying something new.

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I agree when I first bought the ps2 it was 300 dollars and well thats not even including the games. I had to send it in cause of disk read errors and although they fixed it and sent me another for a fee of course I am staying away from this 1 and sticking with pc games. I am not perfect but I want something that works for what i pay for.

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I will be buying a Wii thats for a sure. Its the onyl console that i will buy. I dont feel that the xbox/p3 offer anything better then my computor. My comp. smokes the hardware on all 3 console, but i dont have those handy dandy nunchucks like on the Wii. I mean its like this thing was made for drinking games.

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I won't be getting a PS3 any time soon, I figure, so I don't have a whole lot to say about it. But.... that commercial with the baby doll freaks me out, man! Totally gives me the willies.

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With a $600 pricetag (that's before any games)I'm not too sure PS3 will be a success. Who knows; this may end up help out PC gaming.

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With a $600 pricetag (that's before any games)I'm not too sure PS3 will be a success. Who knows; this may end up help out PC gaming.

One would think that, but I just have this gut feeling that it will still be a smash.

Chiprj: it totally freaks me out as well. Creeeeeepy.

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the original xbox was nothing more than a dumb budget budget pc, not sure if the 360 is the same though. Only title I know of for the 360 i want is mass effect from bioware.. ps3 who knows, maybe a wii though, always liked my nes stuff

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First of all, I'm a big Nintendo fan... with that said:

Two Words:

Nintendo Wii controller = Power Glove...

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Nintendo Wii controller = Power Glove...

YES! I agree completely. I think it is cool, it is unique, it is innovative, but I just am not sure it will catch on.

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With a $600 pricetag (that's before any games)I'm not too sure PS3 will be a success. Who knows; this may end up help out PC gaming.

I read somewhere that the difference in price between the PS3 and the XBox 360 is two years of online/live gaming with the systems (which PS3 throws in for free?), which would even out before the next next-gen system comes out from either company. Pay it up front or pay it over time, I guess. Of course, with 360, it works out to much cheaper if you don't play online.

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