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This November the Playstation 2 will be two years old, and nearly 3 years old in Japan. It's a great console, no doubt about that, but the entry of the Xbox from Microsoft and the Gamecube from Nintendo has seen the console market suddenly get quite crowded ! However much some of us might deny it, both these cosoles do have features that will improve games - Microsoft's decision to add a Hard Disc Drive and Broadband modem, Nintendo's newly designed game pad and reliance on gameplay and original titles.
Later this year, hopefully, the Playstation 2 Hard Disc Drive will be released along with the modem add on. I think most will agree that at the very least the modem is worth getting, especially seeing as Sony have decided to support the 95% of console users that don't have Broadband. It may hold back what Sony can offer but it is fair and there is always the future, yes ?
The future for Sony obviously lies in a new Playstation console. So how do we all imagine this new console will be ? What will it offer ? How will it be different and unique ?
I think that a built in Hard Disc Drive and modem are obviously essential, but new pads are definitely in order. DVD playback (with RGB as standard Sony....) another essential. Convergence is the key factor, Sony need to incorporate as much different technology into the machine as possible. With luck, BT will have stopped its vampire like hold on Broadband and it will be reasonably cheap for all to use - because unless nearly all users can use it it is no worth bohtering with - and this will be Sony's major advantage as they can push out films/music/tv over their little whateve coloured box. New forms of control and interaction will also help define the PLaystation brand more, I'm thinking here of voice control in games, increased force feedback, real time internet chat between online players, maybe even video chat if it can be done cheaply enough, and a whole host of new ideas.
Playstation 3 cannot simply be a soupedun PS2 with HDD/Modem, can it ?
Later this year, hopefully, the Playstation 2 Hard Disc Drive will be released along with the modem add on. I think most will agree that at the very least the modem is worth getting, especially seeing as Sony have decided to support the 95% of console users that don't have Broadband. It may hold back what Sony can offer but it is fair and there is always the future, yes ?
The future for Sony obviously lies in a new Playstation console. So how do we all imagine this new console will be ? What will it offer ? How will it be different and unique ?
I think that a built in Hard Disc Drive and modem are obviously essential, but new pads are definitely in order. DVD playback (with RGB as standard Sony....) another essential. Convergence is the key factor, Sony need to incorporate as much different technology into the machine as possible. With luck, BT will have stopped its vampire like hold on Broadband and it will be reasonably cheap for all to use - because unless nearly all users can use it it is no worth bohtering with - and this will be Sony's major advantage as they can push out films/music/tv over their little whateve coloured box. New forms of control and interaction will also help define the PLaystation brand more, I'm thinking here of voice control in games, increased force feedback, real time internet chat between online players, maybe even video chat if it can be done cheaply enough, and a whole host of new ideas.
Playstation 3 cannot simply be a soupedun PS2 with HDD/Modem, can it ?
They is alot of things going for and against me getting the HDD and that lot.
The price is a bit too much for a first attempt into the unknown and i think that this is only a tester to see who will use the hard drive and use the internet with their PS2's.
I like the idea as i have said millions of times, GTA4 will be amazing online and i will never go school when it eventually comes out, the gang warfare in it will be amazing and all the plans and teamed mission you will be given and how you will be able to *rule some territory*
KR
The price is a bit too much for a first attempt into the unknown and i think that this is only a tester to see who will use the hard drive and use the internet with their PS2's.
I like the idea as i have said millions of times, GTA4 will be amazing online and i will never go school when it eventually comes out, the gang warfare in it will be amazing and all the plans and teamed mission you will be given and how you will be able to *rule some territory*
KR
I don't really see any reason why Sony cannot let people use existing ISP's rather than try to create their own in an already overcrowded market. Many people haveBT lines already so can get internet access realtively cheap, other have ntl e.t.c. Maybe a small fee for using Sony's online gaming site, but if they did this then the site would haveto have some major effort put into it - i.e. real time chat, moderated forums, customer service access, reviews, exclusive material, and when the hard drive comes out exclusive demos or movies of new releases. Potentially sony could do very wel if they can gather an online following that regularly use a paid for site, as it would be guaranteed advertising space - they can say to software companies "advertise here and you can see X number of gamers will see it and at least be interested". I've got to admit that I'm going to get the HDD and modem as soon as it comes out just for the internet use capability, I'd rahter mess around from somewhere more comfortable than this desk lol ( Plus I get staff discount...)
There are really many factors that could affect the hard drive's popularity. The ability to play online games is certainly attractive, but I doubt there will be any must-have online games until next year. I am actually pretty sure that most of the UK gamers are going to purchase a hard drive with the release of Final Fantasy 11.
The hard drive should also be cheap, like most of you said because I doubt that people are going to pay £150-£200 for something that they may not need for a long time. I am also not too happy about the service charges that Sony are planning to introduce.This would mean, many of us will be paying for 2 different connections. And to be honest I dont see PS2 substituting the PC in terms os online internet features.
The hard drive will act as a memory card, I believe, so that will save many people some money on purchasing new cards.
But as Pro said, many developers are a tad too cautious at the moment. The PS2 is a relatively new console and we are only beginning to see the machine being pushed to its limits. So I am not sure if many developers will decide to gamble on bringing out a great online game, when there is hardly any HD owners out there. On the other hand we all know how fun online gaming is so I dont think there will be any problems with Sonys service as long as they think of all the users and introduce a cheap, and user-friendly online access to us.
The hard drive should also be cheap, like most of you said because I doubt that people are going to pay £150-£200 for something that they may not need for a long time. I am also not too happy about the service charges that Sony are planning to introduce.This would mean, many of us will be paying for 2 different connections. And to be honest I dont see PS2 substituting the PC in terms os online internet features.
The hard drive will act as a memory card, I believe, so that will save many people some money on purchasing new cards.
But as Pro said, many developers are a tad too cautious at the moment. The PS2 is a relatively new console and we are only beginning to see the machine being pushed to its limits. So I am not sure if many developers will decide to gamble on bringing out a great online game, when there is hardly any HD owners out there. On the other hand we all know how fun online gaming is so I dont think there will be any problems with Sonys service as long as they think of all the users and introduce a cheap, and user-friendly online access to us.
Im still contemplating whether to get the Hard Drive or not yet. Its not going to be cheap by any means so im going to have to think carefully before i spend my cash, and at the minute im not too keen to get it. So far i have heard little about what its actually going to do, of course i dont want to be spending my money on a big memory card when my other is not even full. To justify my purchase its going to have to improve the games somehow, maybe not the old ones, but any new games that will becoming, and i dont just mean loading times. Improved graphics are faster gameplay, something like that which would make it an essential buy.
But then, i hope that if it is going to be good that enough devlopers get behind it, whats the point in having it when only Konami and Namco are utilising it? I suppose we Europeans get the advantage with the USA and Japan getting it first, we can see what its going to be used for without buying it just yet.
As for the modem, that all depends on whether you can use your own company and how many games will start to use that too.
But then, i hope that if it is going to be good that enough devlopers get behind it, whats the point in having it when only Konami and Namco are utilising it? I suppose we Europeans get the advantage with the USA and Japan getting it first, we can see what its going to be used for without buying it just yet.
As for the modem, that all depends on whether you can use your own company and how many games will start to use that too.
This November the Playstation 2 will be two years old, and nearly 3 years old in Japan. It's a great console, no doubt about that, but the entry of the Xbox from Microsoft and the Gamecube from Nintendo has seen the console market suddenly get quite crowded ! However much some of us might deny it, both these cosoles do have features that will improve games - Microsoft's decision to add a Hard Disc Drive and Broadband modem, Nintendo's newly designed game pad and reliance on gameplay and original titles.
Later this year, hopefully, the Playstation 2 Hard Disc Drive will be released along with the modem add on. I think most will agree that at the very least the modem is worth getting, especially seeing as Sony have decided to support the 95% of console users that don't have Broadband. It may hold back what Sony can offer but it is fair and there is always the future, yes ?
The future for Sony obviously lies in a new Playstation console. So how do we all imagine this new console will be ? What will it offer ? How will it be different and unique ?
I think that a built in Hard Disc Drive and modem are obviously essential, but new pads are definitely in order. DVD playback (with RGB as standard Sony....) another essential. Convergence is the key factor, Sony need to incorporate as much different technology into the machine as possible. With luck, BT will have stopped its vampire like hold on Broadband and it will be reasonably cheap for all to use - because unless nearly all users can use it it is no worth bohtering with - and this will be Sony's major advantage as they can push out films/music/tv over their little whateve coloured box. New forms of control and interaction will also help define the PLaystation brand more, I'm thinking here of voice control in games, increased force feedback, real time internet chat between online players, maybe even video chat if it can be done cheaply enough, and a whole host of new ideas.
Playstation 3 cannot simply be a soupedun PS2 with HDD/Modem, can it ?
Later this year, hopefully, the Playstation 2 Hard Disc Drive will be released along with the modem add on. I think most will agree that at the very least the modem is worth getting, especially seeing as Sony have decided to support the 95% of console users that don't have Broadband. It may hold back what Sony can offer but it is fair and there is always the future, yes ?
The future for Sony obviously lies in a new Playstation console. So how do we all imagine this new console will be ? What will it offer ? How will it be different and unique ?
I think that a built in Hard Disc Drive and modem are obviously essential, but new pads are definitely in order. DVD playback (with RGB as standard Sony....) another essential. Convergence is the key factor, Sony need to incorporate as much different technology into the machine as possible. With luck, BT will have stopped its vampire like hold on Broadband and it will be reasonably cheap for all to use - because unless nearly all users can use it it is no worth bohtering with - and this will be Sony's major advantage as they can push out films/music/tv over their little whateve coloured box. New forms of control and interaction will also help define the PLaystation brand more, I'm thinking here of voice control in games, increased force feedback, real time internet chat between online players, maybe even video chat if it can be done cheaply enough, and a whole host of new ideas.
Playstation 3 cannot simply be a soupedun PS2 with HDD/Modem, can it ?