Official PS3 thread (Part Deux)

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:23 pm

Madden has gotten so bad over the last 2-3 years that I'm wary when they announce new features. It's many of the new features which have made the game worse.

This gang tackling sounds like some extra new animations, not the incorporation of physics. When you hear them talk about decleating, you know realism is out the window, especially when DBs go for high kill shot hits on much bigger ball carriers (whereas in the NFL, DBs go low most of the time to take out backs and TEs when they're running with full steam).

People wondered if VC could put out a game and let the community create NFL rosters and such. If the PS3 really let you share files, it would make such an attempt easier to try.

Not that NFL2K didn't have it's problems but the ones Madden have are getting really tiresome. And no this isn't necessarily the result of the exclusive license. I think a lot of these features have had unintended consequences and some of them preceded the exclusivity deal.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 8:08 pm

Gang tackling is a plus, but it still won't fix the dreadful presentation. The game is stale, pure and simple.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 8:47 pm

You really have to be a die-hard to play Madden anymore, with so many other games available that actually offer something new. It's really a shame, but fortunately for me the Steelers suck this year (never thought I'd say that) so I don't really miss football videogaming as much as I used to.

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:37 pm

Wow....staggering figures that Sony is losing.....pales in comparison to what MS is losing in their respective divisions. Plus, this Stringer guy is clueless:

Despite the increased cost, Stringer expressed confidence that the PS3 will be a success. "The point really is that PlayStation 3 is already finished and has been tested in America and has been deemed a creative success," he said. "In the end that is what counts."

How can a machine that is not even shipped be "deemed a creative success"? The arrogance becomes even more astonishing....

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6160667.html

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:50 pm

"One reason cited for the increased costs is Sony's decision to drop the price of the lower-end PS3 model in Japan. At last month's Tokyo Game Show, the company announced it would lower the price of the 20GB version of the next-gen console from 60,000 yen (about $515) to 49,980 yen (about $429)."

I don't understand how lowering the retail price of an item would increase a company's *costs.*

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:01 pm

DivotMaker wrote:How can a machine that is not even shipped be "deemed a creative success"? The arrogance becomes even more astonishing....

Stringer didn't say a financial success. He said a creative success. The hands-on previews are starting to trickle in at the gaming mags and Web sites, and the results for games like Resistance are very impressive.

I think that's what Howie Boy meant.

Take care,
PK

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:50 pm

pk500 wrote:
DivotMaker wrote:How can a machine that is not even shipped be "deemed a creative success"? The arrogance becomes even more astonishing....
Stringer didn't say a financial success. He said a creative success. The hands-on previews are starting to trickle in at the gaming mags and Web sites, and the results for games like Resistance are very impressive.

I think that's what Howie Boy meant.

Take care,
PK

Yeah, I understand the fundamental differences between financial and creative, but aren't both of those determined by the end user and not the media?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:35 am

DivotMaker wrote:Yeah, I understand the fundamental differences between financial and creative, but aren't both of those determined by the end user and not the media?

No. There are countless accounts of creative genius being ignored by the public, whether it's art, music, film, etc.

Critical darlings don't always become box-office successes.

Plus gamers are influenced by media more than many consumers. With so many gamers being teens or early 20s, in most cases their ability to think logically and rationally isn't as developed as an older person. So those younger gamers inhale positive media like a free buffet, and that enthusiasm becomes viral.

That's why shrewd companies like EA court the living f*ck out of mega-sites like IGN to ensure good review scores and prominent preview placement, further influencing the young gamer and creating more buzz, whether the game is good or not.

Take care,
PK

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:45 am

pk500 wrote:
DivotMaker wrote: That's why shrewd companies like EA court the living f*ck out of mega-sites like IGN to ensure good review scores and prominent preview placement, further influencing the young gamer and creating more buzz, whether the game is good or not.

Which makes Divot's constant criticism of Sony, and general backing of EA, all the more curious to the casual observer of these threads.

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:00 am

GTHobbes wrote:
Which makes Divot's constant criticism of Sony, and general backing of EA, all the more curious to the casual observer of these threads.

I guess you have not paid too much attention to WHAT I have posted about EA lately, especially in regards to Tiger Woods and the fiasco that the PC version has become. I have also been rather critical of them for the past few months as well, but I guess you just gloss over those comments and only remember what you want to remember. You might want to clear your "cache" and actually READ what I have said about EA recently. Pretty big differences between what I have been posting recently and what I used to post here in the past.

As far as Sony is concerened, I am entitled to my opinion about their handling of the PS3 launch and I am damn sure not alone in my criticisms of their recent actions. I keep waiting for some sign that Sony is starting to "get it" and the media to start posting POSITIVE information about them and the PS3. Do you have access to such information? If so, please post it here as I keep hoping Sony will turn this thing around because if they don't, then that means they are not as competitive with MS and Nintendo and that would NOT be a good thing for users at DSP nor the gaming industry in general. Not sure why you are trying to piggyback my criticisms of Sony with anything I post about EA as they are pretty much very separate topics.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:48 am

I think Sony is going to lose a staggering amount of money. The machine itself sounds very solid, but the whole marketing and distribution strategy is insane. They're doing nothing to let the public feel like they are getting value for their money. Lukewarm launch list, product shortages, manufacturing issues that definitely raise red flags about quality, and a very high price point...I think this is what Keith Moon was referring to when he coined the name Led Zeppelin.

seanmac31 · Post by **seanmac31** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:25 am

Kazuya wrote:This one's for you, WCO... PS3 Madden with Gang Tackling (at least I think you're the one who is always calling for it in EA's game)

http://www.ps3land.com/article-871.php

The "gang tackling" on the PS3 version has already been thoroughly debunked over at OS. It's an added canned animation, not a revamped physics model, which is what the gang tackling crowd are asking for. Madden on the PS3 is just about identical to the 360 version.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:26 am

Brando70 wrote:I think Sony is going to lose a staggering amount of money. The machine itself sounds very solid, but the whole marketing and distribution strategy is insane. They're doing nothing to let the public feel like they are getting value for their money. Lukewarm launch list, product shortages, manufacturing issues that definitely raise red flags about quality, and a very high price point...I think this is what Keith Moon was referring to when he coined the name Led Zeppelin.

But then you have people, like the ones from Screw Attack's "on the scene at TRU" video, who are excited about Blu Ray despite not knowing what the hell it means. If it just takes saying "Blu Ray is the future" to get enough people on board, then they really don't need a coherent message until Spring 07.

I think there's too much "not ready for prime time" technology in the machine. It is just too complicated and expensive to manufacture right now.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:29 am

EB to cancel PS3 preorders?

http://www.destructoid.com/rumor-eb-to- ... -preorders

Just a rumor, but interesting. I would think the amount of sleuth work needed to weed out those who are selling their pre-orders on eBay is a waste of time.

EB is selling the units. So why should it care what is done with the units after the sale? It's called a free f*cking market.

Take care,
PK

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:33 am

Yup, Its none of EB's business what is done with them. Anyway, I won't be listing mine on ebay until I have them in hand.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:38 pm

pk500 wrote:EB to cancel PS3 preorders?

http://www.destructoid.com/rumor-eb-to- ... -preorders

Just a rumor, but interesting. I would think the amount of sleuth work needed to weed out those who are selling their pre-orders on eBay is a waste of time.

EB is selling the units. So why should it care what is done with the units after the sale? It's called a free f*cking market.

Take care,
PK

They're also free to try and get the machines into the hands of people that want to play them instead of auctioning them to idiots with more money than sense. Much in the same way people try to prevent scalpers from buying tickets.

Probably just a rumor, I imagine it would be hard to track.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:53 pm

They also know that they make no money selling the consoles themselves but do make money selling the games and accessories. Every console they sell to someone who won't buy any games or accessories because they're putting the system on Ebay loses them money. I can see their side of things especially when they'll open at midnight and have to pay staff only to make lose money because nobody is buying games or accessories.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:08 pm

Dave wrote:
Brando70 wrote:I think Sony is going to lose a staggering amount of money. The machine itself sounds very solid, but the whole marketing and distribution strategy is insane. They're doing nothing to let the public feel like they are getting value for their money. Lukewarm launch list, product shortages, manufacturing issues that definitely raise red flags about quality, and a very high price point...I think this is what Keith Moon was referring to when he coined the name Led Zeppelin.
But then you have people, like the ones from Screw Attack's "on the scene at TRU" video, who are excited about Blu Ray despite not knowing what the hell it means. If it just takes saying "Blu Ray is the future" to get enough people on board, then they really don't need a coherent message until Spring 07.

I think there's too much "not ready for prime time" technology in the machine. It is just too complicated and expensive to manufacture right now.

Even with reduced quantities, the launch volume is comparable to the X360 launch volume of around 350k last year. So why did MS not get assailed for having a bad launch?

There really hasn't been a killer launch title since maybe Super Mario 64. All consoles since then have launched with the promise of killer titles later, such as Gears of War or Halo3 for the X360 a year ago.

DSP and other sites will jump on Sony at the slightest appearance of a misstep. But will that be representative of the gaming market as a whole? Sony's best hope is that their brand equity leads some of the people who bought 100-some million PS2s to continue their brand loyalty.

The presumption is that only the hardcore, early adopters and profiteers will try to acquire PS3s at $600 for launch or before a price drop or two. But there are anecdotes of soccer mom types camping to get preorders at TRU so who knows, there may be some of the Cabbage Patch Doll phenomenon going on. Economy is suppose to be slowing down (despite lower gas prices) and consumer spending growth is uncertain in the next 6-12 months so we'll see what kind of Christmas we have, whether people are going to spend as lavishly as in previous years and launches.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:19 pm

wco81 wrote:There really hasn't been a killer launch title since maybe Super Mario 64.

Does Halo ring a bell?

Take care,
PK

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:22 pm

Brando70 wrote:
pk500 wrote:EB to cancel PS3 preorders?

http://www.destructoid.com/rumor-eb-to- ... -preorders

Just a rumor, but interesting. I would think the amount of sleuth work needed to weed out those who are selling their pre-orders on eBay is a waste of time.

EB is selling the units. So why should it care what is done with the units after the sale? It's called a free f*cking market.

Take care,
PK
They're also free to try and get the machines into the hands of people that want to play them instead of auctioning them to idiots with more money than sense. Much in the same way people try to prevent scalpers from buying tickets.

Probably just a rumor, I imagine it would be hard to track.

Frankly I don't understand why pre-orders weren't made to be non-assignable in the first place. It's one thing to sell it after you get it, but I don't want all the people walking into my store on launch day picking up a PS3 with no extra cash for games and accessories after they've already been gouged by a middleman for the unit itself.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:31 pm

"Phil Harrison and Sony Crew showing PS3 Store" from youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9gBDemw7Bs

I think it already looks better than Xbox's Marketplace (which I like a great deal, except for navigation sometimes). Certainly very nice for a first effort. I've seen some comment that Sony went with an iTunes look and that seems pretty fair.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:58 pm

pk500 wrote:
wco81 wrote:There really hasn't been a killer launch title since maybe Super Mario 64.
Does Halo ring a bell?

Take care,
PK

Halo was a big seller but did it really move Xbox consoles? Not enough to make a difference in marketshare.

MS did a major price cut less than a year after launch.

The price cut was a much greater catalyst to selling consoles and increasing marketshare than Halo was. I get the sense that people bought Xbox got Halo since it was the main exclusive game, not that people bought the Xbox to play Halo.

Halo2 may have reversed that.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:01 pm

More fuel for the fire.

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/co ... op+stories

Sony will have to try to catch up to MS in reducing costs.

Both have reasons to delay price cuts or getting into a price war but their hands may be forced, especially if Wii gets any kind of traction.

Here's hoping that their hands are forced by this time next year.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:27 pm

wco81 wrote:Even with reduced quantities, the launch volume is comparable to the X360 launch volume of around 350k last year. So why did MS not get assailed for having a bad launch?

Well I thought microsoft had a bad launch just because I couldn't walk into a store and get one until January. I wanted one at launch but didn't preorder because I didn't think it was going to be that hard to get but I was basing that off of picking up a Dreamcast and Gamecube with no problem in their first week of release.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:29 pm

All Sony needs to do with the PS3 to have a better launch than MS with the 360 is build a launch machine that actually works a year after it hit retail.

MS had shortages. Sony will have shortages. MS had/has pretty serious reliability problems.

Sony is now on the clock ...

Take care,
PK