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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
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its pretty obvious whats gonna happen isnt it?
people are gonna wait for developers to produce games that use the HDD before they but the HDD and devlopers are gonna wait for people to buy the HDD before producing the games....
as some1 else said before..
Chicken and Egg..
its pretty much a no win situation for Sony...
people are gonna wait for developers to produce games that use the HDD before they but the HDD and devlopers are gonna wait for people to buy the HDD before producing the games....
as some1 else said before..
Chicken and Egg..
its pretty much a no win situation for Sony...
I really can't see a hard drive for the PS2 taking off, esecially as most of the people who own a PS2 tend to be casual gamers anyway.
slik ~_~
slik ~_~
I have a PS2. But frankly, I'll give it to someone else when the GameCube arrives. You see, the thought of on-line gaming doesn't appeal to me that much.
Why?
Well, because there are 7 people in my family, I have friends round all the time, and despite being able to play against Bjorg in Sweden, the whole on-line gaming scene is just a gaming honeypot for cheats.
I mean look at the GT3 Cheat Disc... you think there won't be one of those for GTN (Network) Of course there will. You'll be racing in your half-suped-up Mitsubishi Lancer, and they'll have a fully kitted Speed 12 and they'll absolutely kill you!
Granted there are a few cheats that you can do in Multiplayer games like Goldeneye (Invisible Mode), but they're nowhere near as serious.
As for the hard drive? Who cares?!
It's all well and good that you can update the WWF Roster every month thanks to THQ Online, but what about the new skins for HALO, the new cars in Project Gotham, the extra characters for Final Fantasy, Extra teams, Items, Arenas, Cars, People, Cheats... these all have to go into one hard-drive, and it makes you wonder just how far it'll go! Sure it's big... but for some gaming fanatics, it won't be big enough... and you never know how big some of the files will be!
it's my sworn duty to plug the GameCube - so here I go.
The GameCube is great... look at Smash Brothers.. I've just watched the gamespot Video Review, and the game rules! There is so much to do... people go on about how GTA3 will last 70 hours (See my review...:)) But Smash Brothers is like... Infinite. Theres loads of stuff in the game, but that doens't need a hard drive.
On-line console gaming might be a good thing, but it's not the time for it yet... maybe in a couple of years. People go on about how the games of today are so good.... well if that's the case, why worry about add-ons and hard drives?
Game: Been Day-Dreaming Ever Since Starting To Write This Post!
Why?
Well, because there are 7 people in my family, I have friends round all the time, and despite being able to play against Bjorg in Sweden, the whole on-line gaming scene is just a gaming honeypot for cheats.
I mean look at the GT3 Cheat Disc... you think there won't be one of those for GTN (Network) Of course there will. You'll be racing in your half-suped-up Mitsubishi Lancer, and they'll have a fully kitted Speed 12 and they'll absolutely kill you!
Granted there are a few cheats that you can do in Multiplayer games like Goldeneye (Invisible Mode), but they're nowhere near as serious.
As for the hard drive? Who cares?!
It's all well and good that you can update the WWF Roster every month thanks to THQ Online, but what about the new skins for HALO, the new cars in Project Gotham, the extra characters for Final Fantasy, Extra teams, Items, Arenas, Cars, People, Cheats... these all have to go into one hard-drive, and it makes you wonder just how far it'll go! Sure it's big... but for some gaming fanatics, it won't be big enough... and you never know how big some of the files will be!
it's my sworn duty to plug the GameCube - so here I go.
The GameCube is great... look at Smash Brothers.. I've just watched the gamespot Video Review, and the game rules! There is so much to do... people go on about how GTA3 will last 70 hours (See my review...:)) But Smash Brothers is like... Infinite. Theres loads of stuff in the game, but that doens't need a hard drive.
On-line console gaming might be a good thing, but it's not the time for it yet... maybe in a couple of years. People go on about how the games of today are so good.... well if that's the case, why worry about add-ons and hard drives?
Game: Been Day-Dreaming Ever Since Starting To Write This Post!
===SONICRAV---> wrote:
> Ali, the reason I do not mention the GC modem is simply because Ninty have not
> released plans for one. Oh, and I did mentio the 64DD as well!
They have, the pics in SR's latest mag show the broadband and the phone line modems plugging into a socket on the bottom.
> Ali, the reason I do not mention the GC modem is simply because Ninty have not
> released plans for one. Oh, and I did mentio the 64DD as well!
They have, the pics in SR's latest mag show the broadband and the phone line modems plugging into a socket on the bottom.
Ali, the reason I do not mention the GC modem is simply because Ninty have not released plans for one. Oh, and I did mentio the 64DD as well!
Resevilfan, I think you're right about the modem cost, but isn't that JUST for Japan? Over here I expect it'll be more. There's even talk of you only being able to buy the modem and HDD together!
Sonic
Resevilfan, I think you're right about the modem cost, but isn't that JUST for Japan? Over here I expect it'll be more. There's even talk of you only being able to buy the modem and HDD together!
Sonic
You highlight a problem but it appears you only think that Sony have a problem here. Which is where I think you are wrong.
Sony are currently working on a Sony Network in which users can log on and play games but also downlaod music, videos etc. I have no idea if Microsoft and Nintendo are doing anything similar. Also Does the GameCube come with a Modem? You didn't seem to mention Nintendo in the post which makes me wonder if they are in an even worse position than Sony?
The way I see things is we are not ready for on-line gaming, well at least not in a big way. Firstly there isn't enough information about the technology required and the costs. In my opinion it will be a few years before it takes off.
Sony are currently working on a Sony Network in which users can log on and play games but also downlaod music, videos etc. I have no idea if Microsoft and Nintendo are doing anything similar. Also Does the GameCube come with a Modem? You didn't seem to mention Nintendo in the post which makes me wonder if they are in an even worse position than Sony?
The way I see things is we are not ready for on-line gaming, well at least not in a big way. Firstly there isn't enough information about the technology required and the costs. In my opinion it will be a few years before it takes off.
===SONICRAV---> wrote:
The modem will probably take off in limited numbers,
> but how many games developers will really support it to make casual gamers buy
> what is a fairly pricey piece of kit?
erm the modem costs about the same as a PS2 memory card and I think most if not all PS2 owners will be interested in the PS2s online capibilities and to play other people online. As for the HDD its not an essential purchase and if the case was let it load or spend £100 I think many people will just let it load :-)
The modem will probably take off in limited numbers,
> but how many games developers will really support it to make casual gamers buy
> what is a fairly pricey piece of kit?
erm the modem costs about the same as a PS2 memory card and I think most if not all PS2 owners will be interested in the PS2s online capibilities and to play other people online. As for the HDD its not an essential purchase and if the case was let it load or spend £100 I think many people will just let it load :-)
Yes, the MS zone is very poor! However, the point was that MS have the potential to make a great online gaming environment- something that Nintendo and Sony will need to team up with telecommunication companies to do.
Anyway, getting back to the point at hand, Meka makes a good point about there being a need for some great online games if people are to take the modem seriously. However, I think that Sony need even more than this to succeed!
Casual gamers will not pay more than about £40 for anything after their initial console purchase. Even if they had the oportunity to play great online games, people would still consider a modem costing £50 too expensive. The fact is that if there are say a couple of online games that people want to play, then it'll cost them about £130 just to do that (with a £50 modem and 2 £40 games)- which is simply too expensive!
Sonic
Anyway, getting back to the point at hand, Meka makes a good point about there being a need for some great online games if people are to take the modem seriously. However, I think that Sony need even more than this to succeed!
Casual gamers will not pay more than about £40 for anything after their initial console purchase. Even if they had the oportunity to play great online games, people would still consider a modem costing £50 too expensive. The fact is that if there are say a couple of online games that people want to play, then it'll cost them about £130 just to do that (with a £50 modem and 2 £40 games)- which is simply too expensive!
Sonic
===SONICRAV---> wrote:
Anyway, I genuinely think that internet games on
> the Xbox will be far more ranged than the PS2. Not only because the modem and
> HDD are standard, but also due to MS's huge internet experience- they could
> probably run a gaming network on their own servers!
Have you ever actually tried Micrisofts PC gaming site ? "The Zone" as its called, and still is I think, was no where near as good as other independent sites when it came to multiplayer games - unless you had broadband it wasn't worth bothering really. I reckon that the PS2 may actually have a good chance when it comes to online gaming as Sony an established base of users who have had time to get used to the console and the games, and form their own communities like the ones on forums like this. X Box has a good potential but Microsoft... ? Internet Explorer is in its 6th version and its still the most unstable piece of software on my PC !
Anyway, I genuinely think that internet games on
> the Xbox will be far more ranged than the PS2. Not only because the modem and
> HDD are standard, but also due to MS's huge internet experience- they could
> probably run a gaming network on their own servers!
Have you ever actually tried Micrisofts PC gaming site ? "The Zone" as its called, and still is I think, was no where near as good as other independent sites when it came to multiplayer games - unless you had broadband it wasn't worth bothering really. I reckon that the PS2 may actually have a good chance when it comes to online gaming as Sony an established base of users who have had time to get used to the console and the games, and form their own communities like the ones on forums like this. X Box has a good potential but Microsoft... ? Internet Explorer is in its 6th version and its still the most unstable piece of software on my PC !
The thing is, many games will still have some functionality without the HDD and modem.
You won't have to buy them unless you want to make use of the online features.
Will there be enough games that use it to justify the cost?
Surely the likes of Final Fantasy 11, and Gran Turismo Online will be the types of games that will make people want one, but they also need to know that there will be a future for it.
Rumours of the PS3 just won't die, are people going to shell out for these add-ons, if they think that Sony will replace the PS2 with a console that has a HDD and modem out of the box?
You won't have to buy them unless you want to make use of the online features.
Will there be enough games that use it to justify the cost?
Surely the likes of Final Fantasy 11, and Gran Turismo Online will be the types of games that will make people want one, but they also need to know that there will be a future for it.
Rumours of the PS3 just won't die, are people going to shell out for these add-ons, if they think that Sony will replace the PS2 with a console that has a HDD and modem out of the box?
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