The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
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
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
Page:
*digs out topic from abyss known as 'Older Topics'. Blows off dust. Opens cerimoniously.*
===SONICRAV---> wrote:
> I have found a use for the HDD!
In order to play FFXI you HAVE to have one.
> However, you also HAVE to have a MODEM, KEYBOARD, GAME and a SUBSCRIPTION to the
> play online games network...
how many people outside Japan will
> bother?
Sonic
That will either do wonders for the game or will make it one of the most unpopular games EVER. Casual gamers will never pay for a HDD, modem,keyboard,game and subscription just so that they can play a game for a couple of hours a week maybe less....
OK OK there maybe a core of gamers who are willing to spend the (circa.) £300 on a game a couple of extras which might never be used in a game EVER...
Whatdya think?
===SONICRAV---> wrote:
> I have found a use for the HDD!
In order to play FFXI you HAVE to have one.
> However, you also HAVE to have a MODEM, KEYBOARD, GAME and a SUBSCRIPTION to the
> play online games network...
how many people outside Japan will
> bother?
Sonic
That will either do wonders for the game or will make it one of the most unpopular games EVER. Casual gamers will never pay for a HDD, modem,keyboard,game and subscription just so that they can play a game for a couple of hours a week maybe less....
OK OK there maybe a core of gamers who are willing to spend the (circa.) £300 on a game a couple of extras which might never be used in a game EVER...
Whatdya think?
I have found a use for the HDD!
In order to play FFXI you HAVE to have one. However, you also HAVE to have a MODEM, KEYBOARD, GAME and a SUBSCRIPTION to the play online games network...
how many people outside Japan will bother?
Sonic
In order to play FFXI you HAVE to have one. However, you also HAVE to have a MODEM, KEYBOARD, GAME and a SUBSCRIPTION to the play online games network...
how many people outside Japan will bother?
Sonic
HelloHowAreYou wrote:
> Case Closed.
lol... well, we'll have to wait and...
Now just let my topic sink into the abyss of the forum..
Sonic
> Case Closed.
lol... well, we'll have to wait and...
Now just let my topic sink into the abyss of the forum..
Sonic
Case Closed.
I understand, and mostly agree with, your points there, but surely Sony would only release something that they thought would make money. Also, I had the impression that most developers would make any changes for the right amount of money! :-)
As I said before, it will certainly be interesting to see how it all pans out.
As I said before, it will certainly be interesting to see how it all pans out.
pb wrote:
> I didn't realise that you had to have the modem for the HDD to work! Oh well,
> Sony could have used it to speed up games, save game files (saving teh gamers
> tons on memory cards) and adding bits to games just as little extras to entice
> the gamer into buying the modem (programmed into the game to become available
> when the modem was attached).
Ah, but would developers code a completely new way to run games just for a small minority of people who have the HDD. certainly not. Nor would people buy it for this reason alone.
Of course, the HDD will replace memory cards- but it's a pretty expensive substitute!
Hence the over-ridding use of the HDD is storing downloads fro games... which won't be made because few people will have them. Even if they are made, will people buy a HDD just for a few extra levels that should have come with the game anyway?
Sonic
> I didn't realise that you had to have the modem for the HDD to work! Oh well,
> Sony could have used it to speed up games, save game files (saving teh gamers
> tons on memory cards) and adding bits to games just as little extras to entice
> the gamer into buying the modem (programmed into the game to become available
> when the modem was attached).
Ah, but would developers code a completely new way to run games just for a small minority of people who have the HDD. certainly not. Nor would people buy it for this reason alone.
Of course, the HDD will replace memory cards- but it's a pretty expensive substitute!
Hence the over-ridding use of the HDD is storing downloads fro games... which won't be made because few people will have them. Even if they are made, will people buy a HDD just for a few extra levels that should have come with the game anyway?
Sonic
I didn't realise that you had to have the modem for the HDD to work! Oh well, Sony could have used it to speed up games, save game files (saving teh gamers tons on memory cards) and adding bits to games just as little extras to entice the gamer into buying the modem (programmed into the game to become available when the modem was attached).
As for using the HDD to store downloaded stuff, fair enough for extra levels, but apart from that I don't think that side of things will be used much. If the HDD could be used seperately, then I think that Sony would be throwing money at developers to add those little extra bits. After all, money talks and the games would still work without the HDD.
The modem or adaptors would sell as long as the call cost or installation of broadband worked for the consumer. I've put off the connection to my PC as it would be far too much at the moment, but it will come down and I will get it, eventually.
Streaming broadband....mmmmmm.
As for using the HDD to store downloaded stuff, fair enough for extra levels, but apart from that I don't think that side of things will be used much. If the HDD could be used seperately, then I think that Sony would be throwing money at developers to add those little extra bits. After all, money talks and the games would still work without the HDD.
The modem or adaptors would sell as long as the call cost or installation of broadband worked for the consumer. I've put off the connection to my PC as it would be far too much at the moment, but it will come down and I will get it, eventually.
Streaming broadband....mmmmmm.
Ah, but pb, that's the point!
Will developers make games for peripheral that haven't been released. Well, only it gamers buy them. Which'll only happen if games are developed for them....
Chicken and egg...
With the modem, the answer is easy- make lots of games have online modes, and have a few online only games, like FFXI. That'll sell the modem in Japan at least.
As for the HDD, there is a big problem. The ONLY way to use a HDD is by first having a modem. So, not only will a small proportion of games have a modem, but now you want them to buy ANOTHER peripheral.
Well, few gamers will do this. And hence few games will use the HDD.
There is one cunning way around the idea- sell the HDD and modem together.
However, the cost of this would have to be at least £60, which will just put a vast majority of Western gamers off both the peripherals completely.
How Sony can sell the HDD at a profit is beyond me!
Sonic
Will developers make games for peripheral that haven't been released. Well, only it gamers buy them. Which'll only happen if games are developed for them....
Chicken and egg...
With the modem, the answer is easy- make lots of games have online modes, and have a few online only games, like FFXI. That'll sell the modem in Japan at least.
As for the HDD, there is a big problem. The ONLY way to use a HDD is by first having a modem. So, not only will a small proportion of games have a modem, but now you want them to buy ANOTHER peripheral.
Well, few gamers will do this. And hence few games will use the HDD.
There is one cunning way around the idea- sell the HDD and modem together.
However, the cost of this would have to be at least £60, which will just put a vast majority of Western gamers off both the peripherals completely.
How Sony can sell the HDD at a profit is beyond me!
Sonic
sorry that was a mistake ( the second time)
too true about the GADd pb, too true........
i persoanlly think that the broadband adaptor will take off everywhere EXCEPT Europe..
Why?
Its pretty simple no1's prepared to invest the money needed for broadband
Whats goint to happen is thatdevelopers will wait for customers to buy the adaptors and customers will wait for developers to make games...
The only reason that the broadband took off in Jap and USA was that SEGA decided to actbefore customers and got bored of waiting and so released games like Unreal, Daytona and the unforgetable ChuChuRocket.. These games actually broke te ice and so people invested in the broadband adaptors for the DC instead of useing their modems. Very Smart.
Now that Sega has fallen apart (console-wise) the infrastructure is there and developers can design games knowing that people have the hardware is there to be used....
All we need now is for A developer to use the broadband and internet capabilities on the big three consoles.....
i persoanlly think that the broadband adaptor will take off everywhere EXCEPT Europe..
Why?
Its pretty simple no1's prepared to invest the money needed for broadband
Whats goint to happen is thatdevelopers will wait for customers to buy the adaptors and customers will wait for developers to make games...
The only reason that the broadband took off in Jap and USA was that SEGA decided to actbefore customers and got bored of waiting and so released games like Unreal, Daytona and the unforgetable ChuChuRocket.. These games actually broke te ice and so people invested in the broadband adaptors for the DC instead of useing their modems. Very Smart.
Now that Sega has fallen apart (console-wise) the infrastructure is there and developers can design games knowing that people have the hardware is there to be used....
All we need now is for A developer to use the broadband and internet capabilities on the big three consoles.....
Page: