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Being the insomniac that I am, I watched a BBC learning program the other night on video games. It was all about the developers talking about who will win the super console race. Here are some quotes I remember from it. "The playstation 2 will revolutionise gaming". "The X-box and Playstation 2 are the superconsoles." "Microsoft is going to really try hard to beat playstation". You get the idea. What happened to the Dolphin? I am getting increasingly worried when developers talk about just those two, as if Nintendo doesn't exist. Also recently, in Lucasarts site, there was a poll asking "Will you buy a Playstation 2?" Laughably, about 40% said no I will wait for X-box or Dolphin, and about 40% said they weren't sure. Shows how much the developers know.
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> You definatly see a lot more advertising for ps than
> for n64. One last thing, I honestly can't remember in a ps advert
> any of the game being shown running properly, only fmv sequences are
> shown.
Well, N64 ads can only be shown if they have an advert to show. Maybe this is Nintendo's fault?
You're right about PS adverts though - but ads for the actual machine tended to be just that - ads for the machine, as in merely letting you know it's there.
Most PS game adverts tend to be just a few seconds long, though - giving you 'tantalising' glimpses of the games, to peak your curiosity and make you go looking for it. It's just a style they've adapted. I like it, cos it's different. I'm not saying it's everyone's taste, but it seems to work.
> for n64. One last thing, I honestly can't remember in a ps advert
> any of the game being shown running properly, only fmv sequences are
> shown.
Well, N64 ads can only be shown if they have an advert to show. Maybe this is Nintendo's fault?
You're right about PS adverts though - but ads for the actual machine tended to be just that - ads for the machine, as in merely letting you know it's there.
Most PS game adverts tend to be just a few seconds long, though - giving you 'tantalising' glimpses of the games, to peak your curiosity and make you go looking for it. It's just a style they've adapted. I like it, cos it's different. I'm not saying it's everyone's taste, but it seems to work.
It was interesting that all the way through this thread the Dreamcast did not crop up once during the discussion of Superconsoles for the next generation, only the PS2, X-Box and Dolphin. The Dolphin is no more. That leaves the PS2 and the X-Box. Rather disturbing.
With regards to propoganda, yes, that will always happen. The programmme director wants to show their view, the programme editor will want to show their view and so on. So bias will always creep in to TV broadcasts, with emphasis being placed on certain items and less on others. The phrase 'a map is not the terrain' applies equally well here as it does in all representation scenarios.
As for developers being biased towards a specific console, there is no reason why they cannot program for two or more consoles at the same time, in fact, it would take less manpower because visual artists and musicians could work for both platforms, you'd just need extra programmers and producers and directors, but overall it would be cheaper to diversify a software development company in this way.
With regards to propoganda, yes, that will always happen. The programmme director wants to show their view, the programme editor will want to show their view and so on. So bias will always creep in to TV broadcasts, with emphasis being placed on certain items and less on others. The phrase 'a map is not the terrain' applies equally well here as it does in all representation scenarios.
As for developers being biased towards a specific console, there is no reason why they cannot program for two or more consoles at the same time, in fact, it would take less manpower because visual artists and musicians could work for both platforms, you'd just need extra programmers and producers and directors, but overall it would be cheaper to diversify a software development company in this way.
Maybe I was wrong, maybe the programme was being biased towards Nintendo and ignoring the possiblitys of anyone being slighty interested in what they had to say. But then, can you honestly say that developers are not more attracted to the PS2 than the Dolphin. Probably not. The thing is though I get annoyed that they don't get the whole story, like we don't get the whole story with the tv programmes. This, I believe, is known as propaganda, used to influence what you think through use of advertising and other broadcasting methods. This also disturbs me. After all, is it just a war of advertising that wins the super console race? Or can anything else matter? You definatly see a lot more advertising for ps than for n64. One last thing, I honestly can't remember in a ps advert any of the game being shown running properly, only fmv sequences are shown. Any input? Grix out.
Being a software engineer myself, I can sympathise with the games developers need to concentrate on a single machine, especially when the specifications are there and you can start writing for it straight away.
The computer industry moves so fast that you have to focus on one technology and then exploit it in the best way that you can, otherwise you can be forever chasing the next new thing. Who's to say that the Dolphin will be out any time soon? Programmers and developers have to concentrate on the here and now.
Unless you have had the experience of designing and producing a large piece of software you can not know the scope of such a project. The man power and set up costs alone can be astronomical and considering you are taking quite a risk, it is not something that can be done lightly.
Having a bias towards a specific machine will mean that developers will have a deep understanding of the capabilities of their chosen machine, allowing them to get the best game they can out of it.
Leave the developers alone. They have opinions just like everyone else and are allowed to prefer the console of their choice.
The computer industry moves so fast that you have to focus on one technology and then exploit it in the best way that you can, otherwise you can be forever chasing the next new thing. Who's to say that the Dolphin will be out any time soon? Programmers and developers have to concentrate on the here and now.
Unless you have had the experience of designing and producing a large piece of software you can not know the scope of such a project. The man power and set up costs alone can be astronomical and considering you are taking quite a risk, it is not something that can be done lightly.
Having a bias towards a specific machine will mean that developers will have a deep understanding of the capabilities of their chosen machine, allowing them to get the best game they can out of it.
Leave the developers alone. They have opinions just like everyone else and are allowed to prefer the console of their choice.
When developers pour huge sums of money on one console (eg EA on PS2), they have to say that the machine they are working on is the best. Else, what is the justification of the money they are spending?
anyway, who cares what they say? It's what your personal opinion that matters...even if it is in the minority...
anyway, who cares what they say? It's what your personal opinion that matters...even if it is in the minority...
Being the insomniac that I am, I watched a BBC learning program the other night on video games. It was all about the developers talking about who will win the super console race. Here are some quotes I remember from it. "The playstation 2 will revolutionise gaming". "The X-box and Playstation 2 are the superconsoles." "Microsoft is going to really try hard to beat playstation". You get the idea. What happened to the Dolphin? I am getting increasingly worried when developers talk about just those two, as if Nintendo doesn't exist. Also recently, in Lucasarts site, there was a poll asking "Will you buy a Playstation 2?" Laughably, about 40% said no I will wait for X-box or Dolphin, and about 40% said they weren't sure. Shows how much the developers know.
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