"The Sims" Online, and on the PS2

bahamlabs writes "Sony is is attempting to venture into the online gaming market with what is now the most popular computer game of all time, "The Sims"." It'll be interesting to see how both the console version of the game, and the online version deal with expansion and customization- the two things that allowed The Sims to become among the most entertaining games ever.

Comments

Sony's Evil Twin

[e5z8652]

Isn't this the SAME Sony that is pushing "copy protected" CD look-a-likes in an effort to eliminate your fair use rights? And you purchase their products? Doesn't that just tell them that what they're doing is OK?

Or is that Sony an evil twin from the mirror universe?

Re:RIP XBox

[rseuhs]

XBox isn't going to die just yet. Don't compare it to platforms that were dead from lack of public interest.

XBox *IS* dead because lack of public (and developer's) interest.

PS2 sells over twice as many units in the US, about 10 times as many units in Europe and over 60 times (!) as many units in Japan.

And all this only few months after release, where the sales are usually the highest.

Time is working against the XBox:

• At release, the XBox looked attractive to PC-gamers (XBox' primary audience), it looks a bit outdated today and in half a year it will be hopelessly outdated compared to any PC-gaming system. Even after 2 years, the PS2 doesn't look outdated.
• Sony just reduced their costs by producing everything one one chip. Microsoft will not be able to get a GeForcentium.
• When XBox is outsold several times by an 2-year old PS2, what will happen against a brand-new PS3? Everybody knows that sooner or later the PS3 will come, and just like 2-year old PC-tech can't keep up with the PS2, in 2 years PC-tech won't be able to keep up with the PS3, especially if you don't ignore costs. So even if MS releases a XBox2, it won't be able to keep up with the PS3 (and would be a bad move anyway, because XBox1 owners would be pissed. You don't want to replace your console every 2 years). The only pro-XBox argument is that (because of newer manufacturing techniques) it performs quite good and has a couple of features the PS2 lacks. If you take that away, what's left?
• The gap widens (see above). With every month that passes, it is becoming harder and harder to convince devopers to develop for the XBox and not the PS2.

I think MS will open their online stuff, then see that nobody is interested, quietly shut down production, sell the rest of their stock at Christmas and then just say "sorry".