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The 10 Biggest PS2 Rumors Analyzed
Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to IGN.com's article discussing the 10 biggest Playstation 2 rumors currently circulating. Subjects discussed include whether Final Fantasy VII-2 is really planned, if there's actually a sequel to Ico called Nico, the chances of Starcraft:Ghost ever appearing on PS2 (low, apparently?), the likelihood that UGO/Sega are working on an Astro Boy game, and, naturally, rumors about the PS3. As IGN so succintly puts it: "What's the truth worth when you have imagination?"
Well, I could easily see them phasing out PS1 game backward compatibility. It might not be the best step for them to do, as it will alienate some gamers. But, as with almost all companies out there, you do have to stop supporting legacy hardware and software at some time (in this case, only the software part counts).
I hope they don't, though, as having the backward compatibility built in saves on the number of boxes you have to hook to your TV.
IGN is right up there with website gags like file planet. Thinking of the stupidest reasons to filter people to their site.
This is really old journalism BS. "Let's feed the audiences imaginations to increase industry demand..."
By spreading rumors they don't have to be held responsible for anything if (when) they don't come true. Plus it allows them to make the most outrageous claims and not have to worry about it because "eh... hey, we were just speculating...".
Nintendo used to (does) do it, Sega used to do it, IGN is just a marketting vehicle for all the publishers. It's blatantly obvious, as a poster above pointed out, that Ghost will most likely be on all three platforms, but who knows how much brownie points they win from Microsoft for giving them the speculative advantage.
Of course, IGN editors and writers are notoriously stupid, so it could be that too...
I thumb my nose at thee...
2) What's ridiculous about calling PS3 features "rumors"? The specs haven't been finalized, so ANY predicted features are rumors. That particular entry isn't ridiculous at all. Obvious maybe, but not ridiculous. (I would also note that by your logic all three consoles should have come with some kind of network compatibility since Dreamcast "upped the ante" by including a modem.)
3) You're welcome to deride the idea of console versions of SWG, but the fact is that LucasArts THEMSELVES announced the development of said ports in the past. In their deal with SOE, in fact, they retained the rights to do the console versions themselves while using the code SOE has developed for SWG. It was only recently (just before E3, as I recall) that LucasArts made the announcement that console versions of SWG were on hold while they focus on the PC version.
My take on the SWG issue is that they've likely decided to push the console versions into the next generation so that they can get more bang for their buck - by this, I mean that if they did 2004 releases on PS2 and Xbox versions (the consoles previously announced - Gamecube was left out) they could have as little as 18 months' worth of subscriptions before the next console generation is released (note that the only date I've seen so far is Microsoft predicting a 2006 Japanese release of Xbox Next while not mentioning a US timetable). Add in the X-factor of the PS2 hard drive and how well it's going to be received stateside (which will be the biggest market for SWG), and it makes said release even more iffy.
In short, IGN isn't being ridiculous at all. They've merely tried to firm up or discount rumors. I consider it a laudable endeavor and something that should probably be a regular feature.