There it is, $500

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Tue May 09, 2006 9:32 pm

Sounds like DSP is going to become a bunch of Wii supporters!!! I know i'll get getting one for sure regardless.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Tue May 09, 2006 9:33 pm

GTHobbes wrote:That's a pretty good deal to me. Nothing I hate more than having to pay MS $50/year or whatever it is to play online and not get anything in my hands to actually show for it.

Oh, how nice of Sony to give away online service with their $600 console. They must have felt guilty for overcharging me for the PS2 network adapter and memory cards and figured they had to make it up to me somehow.

reeche · Post by **reeche** » Tue May 09, 2006 9:39 pm

Leebo33 wrote:
GTHobbes wrote:That's a pretty good deal to me. Nothing I hate more than having to pay MS $50/year or whatever it is to play online and not get anything in my hands to actually show for it.
Oh, how nice of Sony to give away online service with their $600 console. They must have felt guilty for overcharging me for the PS2 network adapter and memory cards and figured they had to make it up to me somehow.

This sounds weird.....but I actually like the idea of forcing people to pay for the online service....In fact if it was possible I would pay a little more like a platinum xbox live service to seperate myself further from the jackballs....

Free for online service on a console generally means let every asshat play and act like a jerk...

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue May 09, 2006 9:42 pm

Agree. Free service means more intruders.

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Tue May 09, 2006 9:55 pm

I second the Wii support.

This machine will be perfect for my son and wife to play as a family. My wife will actually play this system. I can't wait.

PS3......blah!!!!!Even MLB 2007 wont get me to purchase it.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue May 09, 2006 9:56 pm

10spro wrote:Agree. Free service means more intruders.

Yes probably...but more importantly...I seriously doubt the quality...

You get what you pay for...

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue May 09, 2006 10:04 pm

In regards to WCO earlier...

I think it is probably safe to say we won't see a lot of custom animations on launch titles. I think it would probably be a bit too difficult to pull off. That being said, I believe the controller will be able to detect movement on a very fine level. For instance during the press conference they said for the tennis game if you swing low to high it will hit a lob, or if you twist your wrist during the swing you'll hit a topspin shot. Now for each of those 'classes' of movement I bet there will be differing animations.

Also, about the baseball game, I have a feeling the games will let you get away with ugly swings. I mean the whole point of the Wii is that everyone can play, so they're not gonna want to make a game where it takes a finely tuned real baseball swing to be good at it.

Lastly, I am PUMPED about FPS games on Wii. I gave up on console FPS a few years ago, mainly because they just couldn't touch PC graphics and the mouse setup, but the Wii's pointing abilities are perfect for this genre. It should be a blast, and I found myself nodding in approval when Reggie Fils said during the press conference that metroid was not only the newest game in the series, but it will be 'the most intuitive shooter ever.' It's not often that such hyperbolic statements are true, but I think the Wii may be the exception.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue May 09, 2006 10:09 pm

I'm able to have an intelligent conversation with you guys here without having to pay for it. If we're all on the same free service and can set up leagues, where do the jerk-offs come into play? Am I missing something here, or are you guys saying that you like having to pay for something that Sony says is free. Quality issues remain to be seen, and if their service sucks, then I guess it really doesn't matter if they're giving it away free with boxes of Cheerios over at Kroger. But if it's free and it works as good (or almost as good) as XBox Live, I certainly aint going to complain about it.

My original thought in posting was that it might help some feel better in paying the extra $100 to Sony up front, when 2 years into XBox Live, you've already paid more to MS (in theory).

reeche · Post by **reeche** » Tue May 09, 2006 10:18 pm

GTHobbes wrote:I'm able to have an intelligent conversation with you guys here without having to pay for it. If we're all on the same free service and can set up leagues, where do the jerk-offs come into play? Am I missing something here, or are you guys saying that you like having to pay for something that Sony says is free. Quality issues remain to be seen, and if their service sucks, then I guess it really doesn't matter if they're giving it away free with boxes of Cheerios over at Kroger. But if it's free and it works as good (or almost as good) as XBox Live, I certainly aint going to complain about it.

My original thought in posting was that it might help some feel better in paying the extra $100 to Sony up front, when 2 years into XBox Live, you've already paid more to MS (in theory).

I was only mostly kidding about how I'd rather pay for an online service but there is a reality that when you pay for something that somehow makes a service more responsible to its paying customers and raises the base level of who is playing the games. (although you of course run into a lot of jerks still on Xbox live). My belief is that it's unlikely Sony will provide the level of service in a free system that Microsoft charges for but I could be wrong of course. Another belief is that without an effective system of grouping gamers (and a pay service is at least a minimal barrier) then the Sony service will make the Xbox live crowd seem like Phd's by comparison. I could be wrong their of course too. It sounds a bit elitist which I'm normally against but that's the reality I've always seen with online gaming. Make someone pay for something as a privilege and they are slightly less of a neanderthal online. Of course if Sony puts up a free service that matches Xbox Live, I will be the first to admit it and think it's really cool. I just have my doubts.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:14 pm

There have been rumors circulating lately that MS is working on making Live free with sponsors footin the bill.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:18 pm

reeche wrote:Make someone pay for something as a privilege and they are slightly less of a neanderthal online.

I understand where you guys are coming from, but maybe since the system costs $500-600, the neanderthals won't be around anyhow. If someone is serious enough about videogames to pay that kind've coin, maybe they're less inclined to be jerks when playing online. Maybe not, but we'll have to wait and see.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:20 pm

reeche wrote:My belief is that it's unlikely Sony will provide the level of service in a free system that Microsoft charges for but I could be wrong of course. .

Bingo!!!

I will bet on that...

SoMisss2000 · Post by **SoMisss2000** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:22 pm

Just to throw my .02 in. I only think about that $50 one time per year. It's one luxury that I have that I forget I have to pay for.

ddtrane · Post by **ddtrane** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:06 am

maddoc1979 wrote:And paying $4 a gallon for gas is going to free up tons of cash to buy a video game system...

Doc

Maybe not for you, but I only go to work once a week.

ddtrane · Post by **ddtrane** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:07 am

maddoc1979 wrote:And paying $4 a gallon for gas is going to free up tons of cash to buy a video game system...

Doc

Maybe not for you, but I only go to work once a week.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:09 am

If wii is just 199, then I may get it just on the fact that it's got an 'old school' price compared to game consoles these days. Like PK said, give me a damn gaming machine! I dont need it to wash dishes.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed May 10, 2006 8:31 am

GTHobbes wrote:
reeche wrote:Make someone pay for something as a privilege and they are slightly less of a neanderthal online.
I understand where you guys are coming from, but maybe since the system costs $500-600, the neanderthals won't be around anyhow. If someone is serious enough about videogames to pay that kind've coin, maybe they're less inclined to be jerks when playing online. Maybe not, but we'll have to wait and see.

That's daft. Do you know how many kiddie punks have parents who will pony up $600 to shut up their kids by buying them the latest and greatest toy? Lots.

Do you know how many morons there are who live check-to-check but will put $600 on the VISA just so they can have the latest and greatest console? Lots.

Take care,
PK

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Wed May 10, 2006 8:52 am

Maybe it is daft, whatever that means. Frankly, I don't know what's going to happen. But for a bunch of guys who seem to love online gaming so much, I'm wondering how so many of you are putting faith in the Wii at the same time you're knocking Sony. What's Nintendo ever done online? Also, if everyone and their brother buys it at the Wal-Mart friendly price point, what kind've guys do you expect to find online? Again, I don't know what's going to happen.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:09 am

The DS has worked pretty well online so far. Hopefully the Wii's online service will be even better.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:17 am

GTHobbes wrote:Maybe it is daft, whatever that means. Frankly, I don't know what's going to happen. But for a bunch of guys who seem to love online gaming so much, I'm wondering how so many of you are putting faith in the Wii at the same time you're knocking Sony. What's Nintendo ever done online? Also, if everyone and their brother buys it at the Wal-Mart friendly price point, what kind've guys do you expect to find online? Again, I don't know what's going to happen.

Daft, from Merriam-Webster Online: 1 a : SILLY, FOOLISH b : MAD, INSANE

I don't think many of us are buying the Wii for its online capabilities. Most guys here have said they would buy the Wii as a secondary console due to its innovative controller, probable funky game lineup and family-friendly nature.

Most guys here already are quite pleased with the Xbox 360/Xbox as their online console of choice. And I don't know any Xbox Live users, myself included, who think that the $50 annual subscription fee is a rip-off. Hell, I felt like I got my money's worth from Xbox Live after one week.

I just find it highly ironic that a free online service is being touted by a company that is producing the most expensive major console at launch in gaming history. Whoop-dee-f*cking-doo.

Take care,
PK

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:18 am

pk500 wrote: Do you know how many morons there are who live check-to-check but will put $600 on the VISA just so they can have the latest and greatest console? Lots.

Take care,
PK

I know one for sure...but I hope I have more sense this time

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:18 am

Double-post. Sorry.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:21 am

GTHobbes wrote:Maybe it is daft, whatever that means. Frankly, I don't know what's going to happen. But for a bunch of guys who seem to love online gaming so much, I'm wondering how so many of you are putting faith in the Wii at the same time you're knocking Sony. What's Nintendo ever done online? Also, if everyone and their brother buys it at the Wal-Mart friendly price point, what kind've guys do you expect to find online? Again, I don't know what's going to happen.

I think you're mixing groups together. It sounds to me like the Wii supporters want it for thier own (and their families) use, not for online gaming. There is another group of DSPers that prefer 360 online capabilities to what the PS3 has shown.

Personally, I think there are plenty of a$$hats on Xbox Live, so I don't see how Sony's online experience can be worse in that regard. At this point it's a lot of speculation about what Sony's online experience will be like. From a simple price standpoint, at $50 a year, the free online access balances out the costs of a 360 vs PS3 after 4 years.

I keep getting this feeling lately like we're all being pushed ahead as fast as the electronics and "entertanment" companies can push us. I'm sure their ideal sisutation is for us to be plugged into content all the time, with a slow drip IV of micro payments contstantly streaming from our bank accounts (or more likely our credit cards) into theirs. I am acctually getting sick of all the new formats and technologies (DVD, HD-DVD, Blu Ray, DVD+R, DVD-R, HDMI, TIVO, HDTV, ringtones, etc..) hitting us all at once. There is only so much people can afford on entertainment.

I'm to the point where I know I'm behind in more than a few areas, but I don't care. I don't watch movies or play games and wish the picture was even sharper. I wish that the stories or gameplay was better. I wish that stupid bugs didn't infest my games, not that I can now count the hairs on Randy Johnson's back.

I am also tired of the swiss army knife approach to home entertainment. I hardly ever listen to music at home. I listen to it at work and in the car. I do not need my gaming machine to also be my home jukebox. Not to mention the fact that we are a fmily of four, not one. Not everyone in the houseehold wants to listen to music at the same time. One may want to play a game while another may want to listen to some tunes in another part of the house. You can also forget taking that all-in-one media center to a freinds house because you'de be taking the entire families entertainment with you.

OK, I'm going to take a deep breath now and relax

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:34 am

GTHobbes wrote:Maybe it is daft, whatever that means. Frankly, I don't know what's going to happen. But for a bunch of guys who seem to love online gaming so much, I'm wondering how so many of you are putting faith in the Wii at the same time you're knocking Sony. What's Nintendo ever done online? Also, if everyone and their brother buys it at the Wal-Mart friendly price point, what kind've guys do you expect to find online? Again, I don't know what's going to happen.

I think what people are trying to communicate is that the Wii has some innovation in the controller that is intriguing from a gameplay standpoint. There is no real history with Nintendo for online gaming, so I think that can be called a crapshoot at best at least until we know more about it.

I also think that people are ho-hum about Sony offering online for free because the online features from the PS2 have been left to the whims of the individual game developers with Sony showing little to no interest in online features to compete with MS. Now that they see how integrated and valued the 360's approach is, they claim they will "me too" online play and "oh by the way", it will be free. While it sounds good that online will be free, I would be shocked if Sony's online feature set came anywhere near the functionality and polish that XBox Live currently has. It seems to me that online features were an afterthought once the 360 features were launched.

As far as the demographics of who is playing online, from a strictly monetary (price) standpoint, I think it is a draw between Sony and MS. I think the anonymity of the internet fosters idiotic behavior in some people because of the perceived lack of consequences for acting in such a manner. I don't believe that their actions are a result of whether they paid for their online service or not when you consider how expensive these machines and hobbies are.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:50 am

Another way to look at it. If the $600 configuration was $400, would people still balk?

It will eventually come down to $400 but it won't be for at least a year. Even that's doubtful as in the fall and winter of 2007, they will have some big games coming out. Of course a price war could make these companies do stupid things.

Will there be games in that first year to justify the $200 premium (that's generally assuming they will do a $200 price cut in one year)? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe by the tail end of that year.

Perhaps for people with HDTVs, the high-def movies will help justify that one year $200 premium.

Hell more than a few here pay way more than $200 a year to upgrade their PCs right? If there are no PS3 games in 2006-2007 worth $200, that's fine. But if you think waiting until MGS4 or FFXIII comes out in the fall/winter of 2007 is a better plan, it would only make sense if you knew with 100% certainty that there was going to be a price cut at that point.

But for people on limited budgets or people with no interest in the Sony exclusives (not interested in them at any price, not because of the $600 price) or uninterested in high-def movies, the answer is pretty simple.