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Okay so up until now I've always had the idea, indeed the unshakeable faith, that the PS2 was THE console. I don't want to have this topic as some kind of 'console wars' thing but, to me anyway, PS2 was the console to buy and it was going to beat everything hands down. Titles like MGS2 and GT3 were, and still are, games to look forward to because they were PS2 games. Same goes for the Final Fantasy series, Sony have for the past few years always been close to Square and if you wanted to play new FF games you needed a Sony machine. The fact that PS2 did DVD was also a bonus over other console formats.
But now ? Well MGS 2 is going to be available for X Box as Metal Gear Solid 2X, FFXI will also be on X Box and Gamecube, and X box will utilise a scart cable for DVD playback, minus the green screen of course. Namco are rumoured, on Gamespot.com , to be heading to Microsoft's console and it seems clear that the PS2 is losing exclusive developers. When PS2 launched with around 10 games ( I might be wrong on that figure ) 2 of those were Namco titles exclusive to the PS2. RR5 may not have been brilliant to some but it certainly contributed to selling some consoles in the early days. More importantly, whilst PS2 is losing exclusive developers, Sony ( SCEE in our case ) do not seem to be making much effort on the marketing side of things. Where are the tv adverts e.t.c ? Xmas is not far and other consoles launching in the USA and Japan are going to be grabbing headlines. Another thing is that the X Box is getting many games like Air Force : Delta Storm which are 100% exclusive to the format, another major loss is that the Buffy game is X Box only :( Many may laugh at this fact, I mean the game wil probably be bad, but Buffy is the bestselling VHS and DVD series in the UK, Sky pays a substantial sum to air it, and in America its even more popular.
So, in conclusion, I feel that the PS2 is still a great console, but the recent lack of games ( the fact it is summer is no excuse, and GT3 is just one game ) and the growing details of developers leaving it plus less games becoming exclusive to the PS2 make me feel Sony have betrayed us all slightly.
What does everyone else think ? ( Apart from "this is a stupid topic and its only a newbie" )
But now ? Well MGS 2 is going to be available for X Box as Metal Gear Solid 2X, FFXI will also be on X Box and Gamecube, and X box will utilise a scart cable for DVD playback, minus the green screen of course. Namco are rumoured, on Gamespot.com , to be heading to Microsoft's console and it seems clear that the PS2 is losing exclusive developers. When PS2 launched with around 10 games ( I might be wrong on that figure ) 2 of those were Namco titles exclusive to the PS2. RR5 may not have been brilliant to some but it certainly contributed to selling some consoles in the early days. More importantly, whilst PS2 is losing exclusive developers, Sony ( SCEE in our case ) do not seem to be making much effort on the marketing side of things. Where are the tv adverts e.t.c ? Xmas is not far and other consoles launching in the USA and Japan are going to be grabbing headlines. Another thing is that the X Box is getting many games like Air Force : Delta Storm which are 100% exclusive to the format, another major loss is that the Buffy game is X Box only :( Many may laugh at this fact, I mean the game wil probably be bad, but Buffy is the bestselling VHS and DVD series in the UK, Sky pays a substantial sum to air it, and in America its even more popular.
So, in conclusion, I feel that the PS2 is still a great console, but the recent lack of games ( the fact it is summer is no excuse, and GT3 is just one game ) and the growing details of developers leaving it plus less games becoming exclusive to the PS2 make me feel Sony have betrayed us all slightly.
What does everyone else think ? ( Apart from "this is a stupid topic and its only a newbie" )
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Yeah, I agree - the European PlayStation site is... well... pretty poor. Especially when compared to the US site at http://www.us.playstation.com
And even though I can't read a word of it (apart from the few that are in English), even the Japanese one looks better - http://www.jp.playstation.com
The European on is just confusing - there's a lot of Flash used, but I always get the feeling that it should do more. And it can be a real git to navigate around. I think SCEE should use a more conventional presentation. I would love a well-designed, official PlayStation news site, with release dates that can be trusted.
I usually find the unofficial sites much more attractive, but the problem is that you never know what's genuine news and what's rumour and speculation posted by the site owner or contributors.
And even though I can't read a word of it (apart from the few that are in English), even the Japanese one looks better - http://www.jp.playstation.com
The European on is just confusing - there's a lot of Flash used, but I always get the feeling that it should do more. And it can be a real git to navigate around. I think SCEE should use a more conventional presentation. I would love a well-designed, official PlayStation news site, with release dates that can be trusted.
I usually find the unofficial sites much more attractive, but the problem is that you never know what's genuine news and what's rumour and speculation posted by the site owner or contributors.
Well okay I guess theres a lot of good games coming to PS2. Just seems recently that releases have come in a drip drop fashion. I don't doubt that PS2 has the software, I just think Sony should do more to make everyone aware they have all these great titles !
A better official site would be nice to becasue the current scee one is okay but as far as info goes Gamespot beat them hands down.
A better official site would be nice to becasue the current scee one is okay but as far as info goes Gamespot beat them hands down.
Stranger In Paradise wrote:
> Microsoft are buying into the console
> industry by giving developers cash....but didnt Sony do this wiht
> the Playstation ?
Sort of. Everyone does it, but not in the same way as Microsoft. For example: MS have 'loaned' Interplay several million dollars, and in return, are insisting that they deliberately cripple all non-Xbox versions of The Matrix game, with no voiceovers by the actors, no on-line play, no motion capture for the fight scenes, etc.
As I've posted on these forums before, I have no objections to 'exclusive' titles, but to deliberately cripple software on other platforms is a new low for any company. It also gives the impression that they are not entirely confident that their machine can out-perform the competition on a level playing field.
> It does look like Sony are sitting back and enjoying
> themselves ! thats the problem ! We need games to be released a bit
> faster than this.
Well, they have worked hard on the PS2, so they're entitled to a bit of a break. However, I'd have to disagree with you, because not all software release dates are down to Sony. Many other companies are developing titles, and their release dates are their business - Sony can only playtest titles when developers supply them with code. Also, Sony have been working extremely hard on the broadband internet solution, and hard-drive add-on, among other things.
> Okay so GT3 is coming soon but whats after GT3 ?
> code veronica in september ! What on earth happened to august,
> apart from Dark Cloud on 31st/8 ?
Remember that summer is traditionally slow for new releases. But apart from Dark Cloud, you have Giants and RE:CV, plus Extreme G3 which is looking pretty good. September will hopefully see Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, Commandos 2 and Lotus Challenge, October has Dropship, Silent Hill 2 and Spy Hunter, November has Devil May Cry, Jak & Daxter, Robocop, Top Gun, Wipeout Fusion, World Rally Championship.
Of course, whether the games are any good or not is purely down to your own personal opinion - but there's more than enough there to keep me happy for the rest of the year... and that's not even a definitive list!
> There is no competition for until
> next year but already shops are starting pre order systems for X
> Box/Gamecube,
That's to be expected, though - I pre-ordered my PS2 with game at the end of March/beginning of April last year
> the scrap between
> Dreamcast/N64/PSone ended when Dreamcast stopped production despite
> its technical superiority.
You've more or less put your own worries to rest with that one statement! Technical superiority does not guarantee success! It didn't for the N64, and it didn't for the Dreamcast. Yet the PS1 is still going strong.
What makes or breaks a console is the software, and on those grounds alone, I certainly don't think the PS2 has anything to worry about.
> Microsoft are buying into the console
> industry by giving developers cash....but didnt Sony do this wiht
> the Playstation ?
Sort of. Everyone does it, but not in the same way as Microsoft. For example: MS have 'loaned' Interplay several million dollars, and in return, are insisting that they deliberately cripple all non-Xbox versions of The Matrix game, with no voiceovers by the actors, no on-line play, no motion capture for the fight scenes, etc.
As I've posted on these forums before, I have no objections to 'exclusive' titles, but to deliberately cripple software on other platforms is a new low for any company. It also gives the impression that they are not entirely confident that their machine can out-perform the competition on a level playing field.
> It does look like Sony are sitting back and enjoying
> themselves ! thats the problem ! We need games to be released a bit
> faster than this.
Well, they have worked hard on the PS2, so they're entitled to a bit of a break. However, I'd have to disagree with you, because not all software release dates are down to Sony. Many other companies are developing titles, and their release dates are their business - Sony can only playtest titles when developers supply them with code. Also, Sony have been working extremely hard on the broadband internet solution, and hard-drive add-on, among other things.
> Okay so GT3 is coming soon but whats after GT3 ?
> code veronica in september ! What on earth happened to august,
> apart from Dark Cloud on 31st/8 ?
Remember that summer is traditionally slow for new releases. But apart from Dark Cloud, you have Giants and RE:CV, plus Extreme G3 which is looking pretty good. September will hopefully see Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, Commandos 2 and Lotus Challenge, October has Dropship, Silent Hill 2 and Spy Hunter, November has Devil May Cry, Jak & Daxter, Robocop, Top Gun, Wipeout Fusion, World Rally Championship.
Of course, whether the games are any good or not is purely down to your own personal opinion - but there's more than enough there to keep me happy for the rest of the year... and that's not even a definitive list!
> There is no competition for until
> next year but already shops are starting pre order systems for X
> Box/Gamecube,
That's to be expected, though - I pre-ordered my PS2 with game at the end of March/beginning of April last year
> the scrap between
> Dreamcast/N64/PSone ended when Dreamcast stopped production despite
> its technical superiority.
You've more or less put your own worries to rest with that one statement! Technical superiority does not guarantee success! It didn't for the N64, and it didn't for the Dreamcast. Yet the PS1 is still going strong.
What makes or breaks a console is the software, and on those grounds alone, I certainly don't think the PS2 has anything to worry about.
The article sounds a bit too anti X box to be believed but like you say, its just a rumour.
Microsoft are buying into the console industry by giving developers cash....but didnt Sony do this wiht the Playstation ? After all if you want someone to make games for a new machine you have to finance them so they will even consider them considering the intial low potential user base for any game.
PS2 is #1 at the moment, thats true. Its also the only "next-gen" machine out in this country so thats #1 by default.
It does look like Sony are sitting back and enjoying themselves ! thats the problem ! We need games to be released a bit faster than this. Okay so GT3 is coming soon but whats after GT3 ? code veronica in september ! What on earth happened to august, apart from Dark Cloud on 31st/8 ?
There is no competition for until next year but already shops are starting pre order systems for X Box/Gamecube, on the net we're seeing more and more news on both upcoming machines and Sony needs to stand up because most wars are won before they even start ! Realistically I think theres only room for 2 succesful next gen consoles...the scrap between Dreamcast/N64/PSone ended when Dreamcast stopped production despite its technical superiority.
On the exclusive games side of things, I found out one nice peace of news...whatever Gamespot say..Buffy is an all formats release ! YAY ! :)
Microsoft are buying into the console industry by giving developers cash....but didnt Sony do this wiht the Playstation ? After all if you want someone to make games for a new machine you have to finance them so they will even consider them considering the intial low potential user base for any game.
PS2 is #1 at the moment, thats true. Its also the only "next-gen" machine out in this country so thats #1 by default.
It does look like Sony are sitting back and enjoying themselves ! thats the problem ! We need games to be released a bit faster than this. Okay so GT3 is coming soon but whats after GT3 ? code veronica in september ! What on earth happened to august, apart from Dark Cloud on 31st/8 ?
There is no competition for until next year but already shops are starting pre order systems for X Box/Gamecube, on the net we're seeing more and more news on both upcoming machines and Sony needs to stand up because most wars are won before they even start ! Realistically I think theres only room for 2 succesful next gen consoles...the scrap between Dreamcast/N64/PSone ended when Dreamcast stopped production despite its technical superiority.
On the exclusive games side of things, I found out one nice peace of news...whatever Gamespot say..Buffy is an all formats release ! YAY ! :)
Stranger In Paradise wrote:
> It would be interesting to see the
> X Box article thing if you could post it.
Okay, here it is...
From issue 78 of Play magazine, page 7, in the "Nozin' around" section. Be aware that the heading for this section states: "Rumours we can't substantiate, whispers of secret projects, general snooping, that's what this regular column is all about."
The item itself reads:
"Microsoft drops da bomb
Rumours circulating around the industry suggest that Microsoft's Xbox has already lost the next-gen war after (what many described as) the US giant's woeful showing at E3. Talk overheard at the show by Play's best spy (who was resting in a toilet cubicle at the time) suggests that both developers and publishers are dropping planned titles like flies. What with worldwide PS2 sales passing 10 million and Sony's massive presence at the LA show, things are looking rather bleak for Mr Gates and his minions. Looks like you can't win 'em all, Billy boy."
Now obviously I don't know exactly how much faith to put in the story, and it could well be that they're getting a bit optimistic/pessimistic (depending on your view) but Play are *usually* quite hot with their rumours.
Personally, though, I wouldn't count Xbox out just yet.
> It would be interesting to see the
> X Box article thing if you could post it.
Okay, here it is...
From issue 78 of Play magazine, page 7, in the "Nozin' around" section. Be aware that the heading for this section states: "Rumours we can't substantiate, whispers of secret projects, general snooping, that's what this regular column is all about."
The item itself reads:
"Microsoft drops da bomb
Rumours circulating around the industry suggest that Microsoft's Xbox has already lost the next-gen war after (what many described as) the US giant's woeful showing at E3. Talk overheard at the show by Play's best spy (who was resting in a toilet cubicle at the time) suggests that both developers and publishers are dropping planned titles like flies. What with worldwide PS2 sales passing 10 million and Sony's massive presence at the LA show, things are looking rather bleak for Mr Gates and his minions. Looks like you can't win 'em all, Billy boy."
Now obviously I don't know exactly how much faith to put in the story, and it could well be that they're getting a bit optimistic/pessimistic (depending on your view) but Play are *usually* quite hot with their rumours.
Personally, though, I wouldn't count Xbox out just yet.
Theres no real need to worry about the Playstation 2 at the moment its predicted to remain the number one console in the world until at least 2005. By then Sony will have sold 56 million Playstation 2's with Nintendo and Microsoft only managing to sell 32 million GameCubes and Xboxs respectively.
It may look like Sony is sitting back enjoying themselves, thats because they are, at least in the UK where there will be no competitors until next year. Im sure in the US and Japan Sony will defend its territory by cutting the price of the Playstation2 when the Xbox and GameCube is released in November.
As for the Xbox now looking like it will have many of the titles that were until recently Playstation 2 exclusive, well theres no need to worry about that either.
Microsoft you see have given a load of money to developers to make games for the Xbox, infact this extra investment from Microsoft may actually make some games better. This is Microsoft buying its way into one of the most profitable industrys in the world.
Although some games may be Xbox exclusive for 6 months or so during the Xboxs launch period these games will eventually be released for the Playstation2. After all the Playstation2 will still be the worlds number one console, and in order to make the maximum amount of profit these game have to be released on the Playstation2.
In the long term increased competition from Microsoft and Nintendo should mean that the Playstation2 is pushed to its limits. Which should mean better games for all of us, and hopefully cheaper games too :-)
It may look like Sony is sitting back enjoying themselves, thats because they are, at least in the UK where there will be no competitors until next year. Im sure in the US and Japan Sony will defend its territory by cutting the price of the Playstation2 when the Xbox and GameCube is released in November.
As for the Xbox now looking like it will have many of the titles that were until recently Playstation 2 exclusive, well theres no need to worry about that either.
Microsoft you see have given a load of money to developers to make games for the Xbox, infact this extra investment from Microsoft may actually make some games better. This is Microsoft buying its way into one of the most profitable industrys in the world.
Although some games may be Xbox exclusive for 6 months or so during the Xboxs launch period these games will eventually be released for the Playstation2. After all the Playstation2 will still be the worlds number one console, and in order to make the maximum amount of profit these game have to be released on the Playstation2.
In the long term increased competition from Microsoft and Nintendo should mean that the Playstation2 is pushed to its limits. Which should mean better games for all of us, and hopefully cheaper games too :-)
Stranger In Paradise wrote:
> It would be interesting to see the X
> Box article thing if you could post it.
I will look for it as soon as I get home.
> It would be interesting to see the X
> Box article thing if you could post it.
I will look for it as soon as I get home.
I found the Metal Gear Solid bit from Gamespot ;
"Konami of Japan announced today that it will develop several high-profile games for the Microsoft Xbox and other next-generation consoles. The major announcement was the confirmation of Metal Gear Solid X for the Xbox. It will be a port of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 2, which signifies an end to the brief console exclusivity of the franchise. The other games being published by Konami on the Xbox console include Jurassic Park X, Crash Bandicoot X, Silent Hill X, and a game based on director John Carpenter's The Thing. "
"Konami of Japan announced today that it will develop several high-profile games for the Microsoft Xbox and other next-generation consoles. The major announcement was the confirmation of Metal Gear Solid X for the Xbox. It will be a port of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 2, which signifies an end to the brief console exclusivity of the franchise. The other games being published by Konami on the Xbox console include Jurassic Park X, Crash Bandicoot X, Silent Hill X, and a game based on director John Carpenter's The Thing. "
Wòókiee Møn§†€R wrote:
> As far as I know, MGS2 is PS2 only. The X-box version is >supposed
> to be a mish-mash of MGS1 and MGS2, hence its name: Metal >Gear Solid
> X.
Gamespot's website are calling it Metal Gear Solid 2X
and its looking like a straight conversion, but as is always the case they could be wrong.
It would be interesting to see the X Box article thing if you could post it.
> As far as I know, MGS2 is PS2 only. The X-box version is >supposed
> to be a mish-mash of MGS1 and MGS2, hence its name: Metal >Gear Solid
> X.
Gamespot's website are calling it Metal Gear Solid 2X
and its looking like a straight conversion, but as is always the case they could be wrong.
It would be interesting to see the X Box article thing if you could post it.
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