Still A Rough Road Ahead for the PlayStation 3

TobyToadstool writes "Despite the good news out of GDC last week, it still seems like Sony's new console has some image management to do. CNET says that the PlayStation 3 is 'the most unwanted console in recent memory' and asks 'why is the PS3 so undesirable?' They specifically question the company's wisdom in emphasizing the power of the console. Their impression is that this invites developers to neglect gameplay, in favour of investing in graphics. Likewise, Gamespot is running a piece suggesting ten ways to make the PS3 worth buying. A lower price is just one of the suggestions with exclusives, and the need for online standardization, following close behind. Looks like Sony still has its work cut out."

Comments

Re:Seriously

[26199]

I stopped buying Sony after the rootkit fiasco. The quality of the PS3 became a non-issue at that point.

But even ignoring external considerations, the Wii is far more appealing than the PS3. It just seems... more fun. (I'm not going to comment on the Xbox. My sense of the hypothetical is not sufficiently advanced to encompass a world where I'm willing to buy from Microsoft).

Re:More power = less gameplay?

[flitty]

I don't think you should use the word "logic" in that statement...
Unless you say "Follow that to its logical fallacy of slippery slope, and we should all be playing pong"

Right. Being a happy PS3 owner isn't unusual.

[Paradox]

Yeah.

The PS3 is probably used only slightly less than my cable box. It's a fantastic DVD player, media player, Blu-ray player, and game console. Once I got over the price, I took the plunge and grabbed it. It's on for a few hours every night, in either linux or crossbar.

What's really ironic is that Sony has made the most open console, and no one seems to want to mention this. If it weren't so expensive, we'd see an incredible surge of hack activity on the product. With a free and fairly good linux distro already available, the sky is really the limit. Not to mention that with a quick conversion it plays nearly any media I download. It also uses Bluetooth peripherals. No overpriced-piece-of-crap microphones or obnoxious cable adaptors. All my mice and keyboards already work with it.

What's most frustrating about being a PS3 owner is that everyone immediately assumes you've wasted your money. If you explain that the PS3 has been a terrific experience, they immediate assume you either: a) Don't have a Wii and are bitter or b) are a Sony shill.

At least Motorstorm is out now. When people come over and I beep on the PS3, their snide comments quickly fall off as they watch a few rounds. And I actually have people coming over to play VF5, which was the first time I had friends want to check out my PS3.

I hope with the upcoming price drop and Home (and Little Big World) on the way, Sony will get the PS3 back on track, because there really is a lot to like about it.

Uh, no. It really is the price.

[androvsky]

Yeah, everyone pissed all over the PS2 when it came out because of stupid Sony execs over hyping the console, but when it launched most games looked worse than Dreamcast games, but it was more expensive.

Everyone I know, from average gamers to low-level systems programmers WANT a PS3. Badly. The gamers because they love the PS2 and all the great exclusives it had, and expect the PS3 to do the same, but with far better graphics. They don't follow gaming news quite enough to hear stupid quotes from various Sony execs, they're too busy playing Oblivion. Only problem is they can't afford the stupid thing, which is too bad since I know they'd go apeshit over Home.

The programmers I know want to play with the Cell, myself included. From everything I've heard, it's living up to the hype, even if you only get to play with 6 of the vector units on the PS3. It's also living up to the "pain in the ass to program" stories too, but that just makes some of us want to take a shot at it even more. But that's still not enough motivation to spend $500 - $600 to screw around with it, even though the programmers could afford it.

The PS3 is getting more and more exclusives every day (LittleBigPlanet, God of War 3 just got announced), and that's all it really needs now that they announced Home (and rumble too, I guess). The price really is the sticking point. I have a good friend who's a huge God of War fan, but there's no way in hell he's getting a PS3 in the next four years, he only got the PS2 last year. They won't be able to drop the price fast enough over the PS3's lifespan for it to ever approach PS2 sales numbers, but it can compete with the Xbox 360.

One old guy's take on this

[93 Escort Wagon]

Disclaimer: I'm easily twice the age of the average Slashdotter.

We just (finally) got our hands on the Nintendo Wii. We'd bought it for our daughter; but after just trying the Wii Sports... I am completely blown away. As some of you will probably point out, the graphics only go to 480P; but actually playing it - you really feel like this is the next generation of how home gaming systems. It just seems so amazing.

It seems to me like Sony AND Microsoft, going with HD versions of the same old thing (and yes, I have seem the 360 on an HD television), have totally missed the boat. Nintendo bet heavily on being innovative, and they've scored big time. But Sony has, in addition to missing the boat, decided to shoot itself in the foot a few times for good measure.

Re:Seriously

[Manatra]

Actually, I'd say you could buy a whole computer that is able to run WoW for less than a PS3.

It really is price and not much else.

[guidryp]

Around here (Canada) you still can't find the 20GB model anywhere and the 60GB model is $700.

At that price your market is a small group of early adopters.

Other than that. The console is fine, lots of power for years to come, next generation outputs, Blu Ray. Lots of good stuff that makes it lasting in the market.

Sony marketing/PR is done by absolute morons but still that really doesn't matter. In the end it comes down to price.

The last console I bought was Coleco Vision, but I am thinking of getting one of these when they get cost reduced a bit.

What it needs:

[pontifier]

1: Rumble
One reason I play my PS2 more than my PS3.

2: Media management
More visualizations, browsing etc

3: multi-tasking
There is no excuse for forcing me to wait for a download to finish to continue browsing.

4: Guitar Hero controller
Another reason I play the PS2 more than PS3.

5: Fun multi-player games
Why I play my friend's Wii more than my PS3.

6: Full access to hardware under linux
A major reason I bought the PS3, and the reason I haven't bothered installing yet.

There's more, but I'm tired.

meh

[smash]

1. Price - this will inevitably come down as manufacturing process improves - the pS2 is 6-7 years old this year, the ps3 is no doubt intended to live about as long as that - it's early days yet, and i severely doubt that sony is going to go broke in the mean-time
2. Online services - the framework is there, this can be added as it develops

As far as I can see, the *other* main reason the ps3 is facing lukewarm reception is because sony has totally dominated the last 2 generations with the ps1 and ps2, and it's "cool" to be different and back the underdog.

I know i'll be buying one once the price is appropriate.