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"The return of add ons!"

Most people will know the history of add ons. Sega's 32X and Mega CD were made to exploit their lucrative 16bit console even though the industry was screaming for 32bit, and Nintendo's 64DD would allow extras for games and the ability to surf the net. All of these failed horribly.

So why, oh why are Sony trying to make people buy a modem and Hard drive add on to the PS2?

What my above examples have proved is that if a feature doesn't come with a console then games won't support it. If games don't support it, then gamers won't buy it, and so the cycle continues. Basically, if it ain't in the box when you buy the console it won't take off.

However, has the industry changed enough to make sure that Sony's add ons don't flop? After all, both of these things are aimed at internet gaming, which is seen by many to be the way into the future.

Not only that, but already it appears that Sony have some big-name games coming out that will support the modem- Final Fantasy 11 being the biggest.

But what about the hard drive? What will it actually do? It could save upgrades for games- but if people don't buy it then there won't be any games supporting it. It could save things from the internet... but why would people want to buy a whole new unit to do this?

Personally, I am still in the mind that manufacturers have to either provide features in the console when you buy it, OR make upgrades cheap and necissary for people to buy them.

The N64 expansion pack was bundled with games, and even required for some big titles. It was cheap, no hassel, and took off very well. Likewise, I can see the Xbox's cheap upgrade to allow it to play DVDs taking off big time- after all, for £30 you erradicate the need for a DVD player.

However, with the PS2 upgrades, things are different. The hard drive really does have no appeal to any non-hardcore gamers- it's simply too costly to warrant buying. The modem will probably take off in limitted numbers, but how many games developers will really support it to make casual gamers buy what is a fairly pricey piece of kit?

Sonnic

The BA kinda needs the HDD to take off properly.. OK OK
The BA will be able to be used without the HDD for online gaming and the like but where will the amazing extra levels/characters of the XBox be rivalled???

The XBox will beat the PS2 hands down in the HDD BA department simply because it is all built in and no extra money will be needed to pay for the extra features...

???

You mean the BA is both broadband and normal modem encoded?

I thought they were 2 different things- so it'll take off then.

But still, the HDD is doomed

Sonic

Sonic - you wouldn't be forgetting it also contains a conventional modem would you?

Turbo, I completely disagree about the Broadband adaptor doing well (in the UK at least). Simply because not many people can e bothered with the high cost!

In America and Japan, it'll almost certainly take off though.

Slave4games, I cannot disagree more with what you're saying... UK gamers will buy add ons just because, if they don't, they'll have to buy a new console? eh? Certainly, some people will buy a modem. But not many will buy the HDD... even though some games need it.

Sonic

I find my swanky USB keyboard and mouse very useful for doing YaBasic coding.

Yeah, but that on-screen keyboard was awkward to use, and it took ages to type, so I got a regular keyboard. When you were talking about one thing, by the time you'd finished typing, you mates would be on the next subject

I (for one) will buy anything that is Necesairy for FFXI. Although I doube a keyboard will be nesecairy because they will probably have a PSO like onscreen keyboard.

Sice Sony own such a big slice of the European market, there will be a slight case of the public buying what they tell them to buy. E.G, because Sony is lading the pack in terms of console sales, few people will want to change consoles, hence, they will buy the neccasary add-ons etc, to make their gaming pleasure complete.

The Broadband Adaptor will do well I reckon, but not the HDD, because it's far too much and not really necessary. The BA, however, is very useful and will actually enhance gaming experiences. Also, it's the right price to viably ask for as a present, or to buy oneself.

Exactly... it's totally outrageous!

Sonic