PS3
© Sony
Top 6 Reasons 2008 Could be the Year of PS3
By: Josh GordonDate: Tuesday, January 15, 2008
I believe that 2008 could be the year of the PS3. Microsoft took second place after a monumental pricing blunder by Sony. An arrogant Sony released their new console, as we all know, for $700.00 which forced us to purchase a Blu-Ray player along with their game console whether we wanted to or not. Microsoft intercepted and scored major yardage. A slew of A+ games, their understanding of how important the online component is to gaming and a more down to earth (if not wholly reasonable) price point allowed them to gain a foothold that would have seemed impossible a few years ago.
Last gen’s first place king, Sony is now in third place playing catch-up. The previous generation’s let down, Nintendo, has regained its throne and is now completely dominating. The previous dark horse Microsoft is now in a very healthy and powerful second place.
Nintendo’s domination is so supreme that they’re not even in the battle right now; their problem is trying to keep up with demand. Another ingredient in this tasty deathmatch cake is that it isn’t really even a deathmatch. It’s a fight to dominate but not reign in singularity. That won’t happen. Each player is a supreme powerhouse that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Each has the bank accounts, ability and sales figures to be here for a long time to come. That’s a good thing. Contrary to EA, I think console competition is great for gamers.
So, on to the top 6 reasons why I believe 2008 could be the year of PS3.
6. The processing power of the PS3 will finally be unleashed.
When games like Resistance 2 and Killzone 2, are released could it be that we will be blown away beyond our expectations? Will developers finally unleash the cell processor’s artistic delicacies that will warp our fragile little minds? Only time will tell but if it happens, it could turn the tide.
5. The 360 is too expensive.
If in the coming year most of the best games are going to be released on both systems why wouldn’t a consumer get the PS3?
The PS3 comes with Wi-Fi, a 40GB hard drive, and a Blu-Ray player.
The 360 comes with a 20GB hard drive. No Wi-Fi, no HD DVD player.
Let’s look at the pricing. The 360’s wireless network accessory is $99.00, buying a second 20GB to match Sony’s storage capacity costs $99.00, the external HD-DVD drive is another $179.00. All in all to match the entry level PS3, the 360 will set you back a whopping $726.00. While I applaud Microsoft’s decision to not force you to buy all the pieces all at once, I do take serious umbrage with the pricing of their accessories - a 20GB hard drive for $100.00? When was the last time Bill and the boys perused a Fry’s isle? The price of all of the 360’s aforementioned accessories should be chopped in half. The 360 Elite should be $349.00 and the Premier should be $249.00. The Arcade model should nixed altogether.
- Microsoft is going into 2008 with a broken Xbox Live.
Aside from a stellar line-up of 360 exclusives Microsoft’s feather in its cap is Xbox Live, by far the best of the three console’s online components. Unfortunately that feather was plucked over the holidays as the influx of new users crippled the system and rendered the multi-player portion of all these great games virtually useless. Trying to log on to “Call of Duty 4” over the weekend was spotty at best and frustratingly futile at worst. It’s now almost two weeks past the new year and it’s still impossible to log on early evenings and weekends. Didn’t they have someone on the team that thought “Hey we should ramp up XBL capacity for the holidays”? It boggles the mind.
These kinds of glitches should be non-existent. How could Microsoft not have anticipated holiday growth? How is MS still unable to supply the bandwidth needed to keep XBL running smooth? Let me ask that first question again: “HOW COULD THEY NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED HOLIDAY GROWTH?” If this is any kind of indicator about Microsoft’s ability to plan for the future then they may have already lost the battle.
3. The 360 doesn’t have enough system selling exclusives in the pipeline.
2007 was a banner year for the X360; Bioshock, Mass Effect and Halo III, Gears of War (Xmas 06) among others. PS3 had Ratchet and Clank, Uncharted, MotorStorm and Warhawk.
What’s on the horizon for PS3?
Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XIII Versus, Metal Gear Solid 4, Killzone 3, Gran Turismo 5, Little Big Planet, Resistance 2
What’s ahead for X360?
Too Human, Ninja Gaiden 2, Fable 2, Halo Wars.
When asked what exclusives are coming in 2008 Microsoft’s VP of Interactive Entertainment Don Mattrick himself only names GTA4. Mr. Mattrick, exclusive content is just that, exclusive content.
With games like Call of Duty 4, Turok, Devil May Cry 4 and Burnout: Paradise City coming out for both systems what does Xbox offer that PS3 doesn’t? (Ok, the best online component of all three systems but is that enough? If those were the games that I wanted to play it wouldn’t justify the higher cost)
Now Ninja Gaiden 2 and Fable 2 are “can’t live without” titles for me but how many others feel the same? How many others that still haven’t bought a system yet?
- Microsoft hasn’t conquered it’s hardware issues (OR Screen Freeze is the new RRoD)
I took home my X360 on November 27th. I hadn’t been that happy or excited about something I owned since I was given a Slingerland drum set by my dad when I was fourteen.
On Jan 10th 2008 I returned my X360 to Best Buy. Screen Freeze. My system was a 65nm falcon system. Lot # 742, MFG Date: 10-07,
175W power supply. I was naively shocked. I thought MS had figured out the error of its ways and fixed its hardware issues. I just don’t get it. I just don’t get it. Two years later and they still can’t produce a machine that works. I’m THIS far away from using my Best Buy credit (they’re all out of Xbox’s) to get a PS3. I can sell my 360 games and get CoD4 and Ratchet & Clank. I’ll get a shiny new Blu-Ray player out of it and a hip load of movies to watch on it.
And another thing! Despite my catchy title, screen freeze has been going on for awhile. There are literally thousands of postings on it on the official XBOX forums alone. And while we’re at it, what about the people that are on their 4th or 5th console? If you can’t fix it the first time, they should get a brand spanking new console. It’s past reaching the point of absurdity.
Mr. Gates told the BBC at CES that XB360 will become the most reliable system on the market. BWAHAHAHA!
If Mr. Gates knows something we don’t I wish he’d let us in on the secret.
1. Overconfidence
Look what happened to Sony. You HAVE to be cocky to sell a game system for $700.00 (I don’t care WHAT it does!). Sony went into this gen as king of the hill. Even for the head-start the 360 had, everyone was holding their breath for the PS3. Nobody thought Sony could be toppled, not until they announced the cost of the PS3. With Microsoft keeping relatively low key so far for 2008 it seems that arrogance might have changed hands with the changing of the New Year. In a great interview with MSNBC’s gaming editor Kristin Kalning, Don Mattrick, senior VP of Microsoft Interactive Entertainment stated that the 360’s big plans for 2008 is GTA4 (Huh?). Here’s what he says
KK: Tracking ahead to exclusives for next year, what does Microsoft have on tap?
DM: There’s a collection of exclusive and third-party hits, and we’re going to have a similar year to what we’ve enjoyed in 2007... We’re excited about “Grand Theft Auto [IV],” not only because it’s a great title, but there’s multi-play and downloadable content that consumers will only be able to get on 360. That’s a huge win. Arguably that title has the potential to be the “Halo” equivalent in calendar year 2008 in terms of number-one title revenue unit.
WHAT? As I stated earlier GTA4 isn’t an exclusive. He totally evaded the actual question. Just because it’s got exclusive downloadable content doesn’t mean it’s an exclusive game. He couldn’t name ANYTHING else? That just isn’t a very exciting announcement. And besides, I just can’t see GTA4 as another Halo 3 for the 360; it’s coming out on two major consoles. GTA4 is without a doubt a system seller of the highest order. It could surpass Halo 3 on both systems combined (although I don’t know if as many moms are going to buy it for their kids). If the only game I really cared about was GTA4 what system do you think I’m going to buy it on? PS3. I wouldn’t even have to think twice about that one. The allure of getting a free Blu-Ray player packed in with my game system is too sexy to pass up. Also, there are no hardware reliability issues to worry about with the PS3.
So if GTA4 is the only game Mr. Mattrick can name when asked about future of exclusives for the 360 what does that say for the future of the 360 library?
It’s a general overconfidence and lack of self-awareness like this that toppled Sony from the top and could do the same to Microsoft.
However it turns out it will no doubt be a fascinating game to watch. Let’s just hope us gamers aren’t too badly harmed in the process.
Guess my tax refund if already spoken for! lol.