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In Wake of Price Drops, Further PS3 Doubts

Sony fans undoubtedly cheered the news of a $100 drop in price for the 60GB PS3, but even with the price drop there are several issues surrounding the console. 1up reports that the 80GB PS3 is following the lead of the EU-released PS3s by removing the Emotion engine and relying on software emulation for backwards compatibility. In an effort to decrease costs Sony continues to reduce features and develop their product. Meanwhile, Konami executive Kazumi Kitaue doesn't see much impact from the cut ... and in fact told Reuters that they're seriously considering a multi-platform release for Metal Gear Solid 4. "Kitaue said Konami may need to expand the target hardware for its blockbuster fighting game Metal Gear Solid, which has so far been developed for Sony's PlayStation machines, to other consoles in the future to recoup development costs ... The release of the latest version of Metal Gear Solid series is expected to help lure hard-core gamers to the PS3 and alleviate concerns over scarcity of strong PS3 titles. Underscoring sluggish PS3 sales and robust demand for the Wii, Nintendo shot past Sony in market value last month and bumped the Tokyo-based electronics conglomerate off the list of Japan's 10 most valuable companies."

424 comments

  1. Sweet! by KillaBeave · · Score: 1, Funny

    I was really hoping to get MGS4 for my Wii60 :)

    1. Re:Sweet! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Keep hoping.
      "We don't buy exclusisvity."

      No. they cleverly 'exchange' it for movie deals.

  2. PS3 fans happy? by ShadowsHawk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I doubt I'd be all that pleased. To me, it would seem that I payed $100 too much since they're dropping the price so soon after launch.

    1. Re:PS3 fans happy? by Viv · · Score: 1

      OTOH, I bet they'd be less happy if Sony fails to do anything to try to increase the install base; without a bigger install base, game support will melt away, and they'll end up with an expensive brick that can play a few crappy titles.

    2. Re:PS3 fans happy? by Ykant · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Personally, I think it would be a great gesture on Sony's part if they comped all the early adopters controllers with the vibrating feature restored (you know it's coming).

      --
      Spelling, grammar, punctuation? We need something that checks logic.
    3. Re:PS3 fans happy? by eln · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Early adopters always have and always will pay inflated prices. You paid extra to get the PS3 at launch. If you were concerned about a hundred bucks, you should have waited until a year after launch to buy. Sure, this price cut comes a little earlier than usual, but price cuts are by no means unprecedented. As with any new technology, the prices start out very high and decrease over time.

      The best case scenario for manufacturers is for price cuts to happen because economies of scale start to kick in causing manufacturing costs per unit to drop. However, it is certainly not unheard of for new technology (or any other product for that matter) to get a price cut because the sales numbers are disappointing. Next you'll be complaining that Dole owes you 10 cents because you bought a can of peaches the day before it went on sale.

    4. Re:PS3 fans happy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Early adopters pay the premium price. Get over it, it's always been like this for all products. If $100 is that much to you, maybe you shouldn't buying game machines in the first place. Most people spend that on beer a month FFS, or a decent family meal.

    5. Re:PS3 fans happy? by Jaqenn · · Score: 1

      ...and they'll end up with an expensive brick that can play a few crappy titles. I've been keeping my fingers crossed that the console will tank so that I can pick one up on the cheap and make it a Linux box. I have no clue what I'm doing, so I'm unwilling to pay $X99.99 to tinker with it...but $50 for a used console from an angry ex-Sony fan? Sign me up!
      --
      You are awash in a sea of fiercely stated opinions. Obvious exits are: 'File->Quit', 'Reply', and 'Page Down'.
    6. Re:PS3 fans happy? by Kohath · · Score: 1

      Because usually electronics don't go down in price as time goes on?

    7. Re:PS3 fans happy? by FroBugg · · Score: 1

      It's indirectly good for the early adopters. When they lower the price, sales should go up. If sales go up, it has the potential to attract more developer attention. More developer attention means more games being released.

    8. Re:PS3 fans happy? by GrayCalx · · Score: 2, Funny

      Dole peaches are on sale? Son of a...

    9. Re:PS3 fans happy? by Applekid · · Score: 1

      PS2 had a price drop 8 months from launch. PS3: 7 months.

      Of course, doesn't mean early adopters ought to be cheering in the streets... unless you consider that a price drop may mean more sales of the console. A bigger install base means there's a wider audience for your game to develop for PS3. And that's good for everyone with a PS3 including early adopters.

      --
      More Twoson than Cupertino
    10. Re:PS3 fans happy? by Ogive17 · · Score: 1

      Yes, prices usually drop over the long run, but not 7-8 months after release because the unit isn't selling.

      If I had bought a PS3 at launch and found out about the $100 price drop, I would be upset. I would be mad the 'loyal' fans had to pay more. At the very least, I'd want a voucher for a free game.

      Because honestly, if it wasn't for the loyal playstation fans, would they have sold any units yet?

      --
      "Action without philosophy is a lethal weapon; philosophy without action is worthless."
    11. Re:PS3 fans happy? by k_187 · · Score: 1

      According to Wikipedia (so take it with a grain of salt, but it does match what I can remember), the PS2's price history from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS2#History :
      North America[24]

      US$299.99 (October 26, 2000, release date) (CAD$449.99)
      US$199.99 (May 14, 2002) (CAD$299.99)
      US$179.99 (May 13, 2003, "temporary" pricing) (CAD$249.99)[2]
      US$179.99 (August 18, 2003, official pricing)[3]
      US$149.99 (May 11, 2004) (CAD$179.99)
      US$129.99 (April 20, 2006) (CAD$139.99)

      You have to remember that the PS2 was in the 360's position last round (or more accurately , the 360 is in the PS2's). The PS2 didn't have any real competition for over a year after its launch. I believe that the original xbox (and maybe the gamecube too) got a price cut about the same in 2002. So there is a prescedent for price cuts this early, but not with Sony.

      --
      11 was a racehorse
      12 was 12
      1111 Race
      12112
    12. Re:PS3 fans happy? by Applekid · · Score: 1
      --
      More Twoson than Cupertino
    13. Re:PS3 fans happy? by trdrstv · · Score: 1

      PS2 had a price drop 8 months from launch. PS3: 7 months.

      Incorrect. It was the PS1 that had a price drop 8 months after launch. The PS2 waited 18 or so after launch for it's first price drop. The Dreamcast was already hurting that first year, and the new systems from Nintendo / MS launched a full year after them.

      Why cut the price so soon when you have no competition?

    14. Re:PS3 fans happy? by k_187 · · Score: 1

      Ah yes. They did that in preparation for the N64's launch in september. They were a little less cocky back then, eh?

      --
      11 was a racehorse
      12 was 12
      1111 Race
      12112
    15. Re:PS3 fans happy? by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      I recall MS overpricing the XBox in Europe at first, cost about 480€ (back then the Euro was lower than the dollar). They quickly dropped the price and compensated those who bought it at the higher price with a second controller and two games IIRC. Wiki says that drop was after a little more than a month though.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    16. Re:PS3 fans happy? by Afrosheen · · Score: 1

      I'm still not sure if this price drop is a result of low sales (which month for month are on track with the X360 launch) or because Sony wants to clear the pipeline for the new 80G unit bundle. Also it may be because they've already found cost reduction in their manufacturing process (blue diodes are way cheaper and the EE has been cut out). Why not smile when a manufacturer reduces costs and extends the loss they're eating to sell you something?

    17. Re:PS3 fans happy? by r_jensen11 · · Score: 1

      I doubt I'd be all that pleased. To me, it would seem that I payed $100 too much since they're dropping the price so soon after launch. What about all those people who payed $2k for a PREORDER SLIP? Supply and demand.
    18. Re:PS3 fans happy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "wiki says"? wtf? which wiki says?

    19. Re:PS3 fans happy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've had one for a while now. I doesn't bother me.

    20. Re:PS3 fans happy? by null.account · · Score: 1

      Yes, but they're dropping the price not only because to increase sales, but also because they have an "improved"[*] version pending which will replace the current 60GB unit at $600.

      *sigh* This is nothing more than an articulation of the unfettered arrogance of the decision-makers at Sony's games division.

      [*] which evidently means 20GB more of unused storage space than you currently have, and cheaper, shittier hardware.

    21. Re:PS3 fans happy? by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      In Europe, the original XBOX was launched at 479 Euros, but the price was slashed to 250 within a few months. To prevent it from pissing off buyers, they gave everyone who bought it at that price like four new games or something.

    22. Re:PS3 fans happy? by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      The funny thing was that the only demand was due to people hoping to make money off the high demand. Not many were prepared to spend even the retail price for the console, and a large portion of sales was returned, after people came to their senses (and probably spent a fair amount on ebay fees)

      The only people who actually made money are the ones who sold the preorder slips, as there was going to be some imbecile ready to pay for it.

    23. Re:PS3 fans happy? by darkain · · Score: 1

      The one that I'm currently editing to say it.

  3. Nintendo Shot Past Sony? by FreeKill · · Score: 1

    For some reason that kind of surprised me. Sony is such a huge company with their music label, movies, consumer electronics, computers, video games while Nintendo is pretty much only in the gaming market. The Wii must be really selling a huge number of consoles to climb over Sony like that...

    1. Re:Nintendo Shot Past Sony? by nelsonal · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The stock markets are all about where you are going. If a company can't sell a story or concept to investors it typically trades at a fairly low multiple of earnings (these are classified as value companies). When they can they trade at a much higher multiple of earnings. As examples Apple is trading at 38x it's earnings. Dell trades at about 20 times it's earnings this year. Investors believe that Apple is more likely to grow its earnings faster than Dell will so they pay a higher price now.

      The other factor that impacts market value is the total size of your profitablity. It's likely that Sony's other businesses earn less money (per dollar of sales) than consoles (in good times), so Sony's other businesses don't add as much as you might expect to its market value.

      --
      Degaussing scares the bad magnetism out of the monitor and fills it with good karma.
    2. Re:Nintendo Shot Past Sony? by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1

      Sony's been in decline for a while. About the only thing really keeping them in good health was the release of a Spiderman movie, their gaming division, and oddly enough their financials/insurance division. Media divisions were being buyoed for a while, but I think they're in the black now.

      They're getting kicked around in consumer electronics, computers, and more recently video games... and the media divisions aren't compensating for it.

      The company isn't going to fold or anything, but I'd be interested in seeing the logic behind someone ranking their stock as a "BUY".

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    3. Re:Nintendo Shot Past Sony? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Keep in mind that Sony's other divisions are not necessarily PROFITABLE... like their TVs, Laptops, and Walkmen aren't making much bucks lately.

      Second, some Nintendo properties are extremely lucrative. Pokemon is a billion dollar industry alone.

      Third, speculators drive a stock price. If lots of people are wagering that nintendo will continue to do well, while other people bet that Sony will fail, they will buy and sell stock accordingly. So the market cap is decided by money managers, who are PAYING HIGHER STOCK PRICES for similar assets (office buildings, etc) at Nintendo vs Sony.

    4. Re:Nintendo Shot Past Sony? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      300,000+ a month every month since release. About 8 million consoles sold, and quickly catching up with the xbox 360 in terms of total units moved.

    5. Re:Nintendo Shot Past Sony? by the_ridd1er · · Score: 1

      I thought the same thing too, until I started to hear what friends are saying and did some research. Seems Wii's are still hard to purchase, because of the demand for them. A friend passed me this URL to check out the current Next-Gen War stats. http://nexgenwars.com/

  4. Article is FUD by Dr+Kool,+PhD · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Software emulation on the PS3 works just as well as the hardware emulation!! Software emulation as been in the Euro consoles since release over there. No features are being taken away at all. This is a gaming console we're talking about, not a PC. There is no disadvantage of emulating in software rather than hardware. There are no background apps that will be starved for CPU time because the emulation is in software rather than hardware!

    What's with all the anti-Sony FUD lately?

    1. Re:Article is FUD by ulysses38 · · Score: 1

      the disadvantage is loss of backwards compatability with ps2 games. just like the xbox 360. this can be solved with firmware updates, but software can't get the same level of compatability as the actual hardware on board.

      --
      my sig is an honor student
    2. Re:Article is FUD by JordanL · · Score: 1

      Lately? Anti-Sony orgies are one thing that both Slashdot and Digg do with equal prepubescent ferver, and have for months.

    3. Re:Article is FUD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Soo... screw the PS3 with software emulation for PS2 and 1 titles, I'll buy a 360 that has software emulation for Xbox games instead..

      Seems like more FUD to me, no real mention as to the fact that (for now) the PS3 is #1 on amazon.com:

      http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/videogames/re f=pd_ts_vg_nav/104-3196751-9419921?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKI KX0DER&pf_rd_s=left-1&pf_rd_r=1Y0CG236NWPTM8FF9HH1 &pf_rd_t=2101&pf_rd_p=221591101&pf_rd_i=home

      Sure it won't last forever like that, but they sure as hell ain't end of the world.

    4. Re:Article is FUD by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 1

      software can't get the same level of compatability as the actual hardware on board

      That's right. Hardware is fashioned from semi-sentient fairy dust.

      In our world, though, hardware is an expression of an algorithm, said algorithm being implementable in software as well. Haven't you ever used Qemu or any number of video game emulators? It's quite possible to get exact emulation down. It may not be easy and I'd hate to be the one that had to do it, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    5. Re:Article is FUD by Khisanth+Magus · · Score: 1

      I have yet to find a video game console emulator that can emulate 100% of the games on that console to 100% their normal performance. There is always SOMETHING that isn't quite right. Some of these have been developed for over a decade, and still they aren't perfected. If all the games for a system were made exactly the same way, it would be easy. But until you are able to get all game developers to do things exactly the same, it will require constant tweaking to get compatability through software emulation.

    6. Re:Article is FUD by ravenshrike · · Score: 1

      However, this isn't because the emulator doesn't run according to spec. This generally is because various developers used programming tricks to generate effects that were outside of spec.

    7. Re:Article is FUD by AuMatar · · Score: 1

      Software emulation is inherently more buggy than using the actual hardware to emulate it. The reason the PS2 emulated the PS1 so well was that the main CPU of the PS1 was used in the PS2 as an auxilliary processor and could be used to run the PS1 games. Even if you had a perfect emulator environment without software bugs (not gonna happen) a software solution will never have the same timings as a hardware solution because it has to go through an extra layer. And yes, video games trying to max out the bare metal will fail in odd ways if those timings are radically different.

      --
      I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
    8. Re:Article is FUD by Carnildo · · Score: 1

      For the recent generations of consoles, this is because the emulator programmers are using OpenGL or DirectX to emulate the console's GPU. Since OpenGL, DirectX, and console GPUs have different capabilities, and none of them is very flexible, there's a resulting loss of accuracy -- but since no other part of a desktop computer is fast enough to do the job, they do it anyway.

      The PS3, on the other hand, has a half-dozen SPUs. These are every bit as fast as a GPU, but far more programmable.

      --
      "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
    9. Re:Article is FUD by shoptroll · · Score: 1

      Really?

      How come there's a list on their website which states which games will and won't work with the PS3?

      Software emulation will always take a small performance hit compared to hardware implementation because you have a layer of abstraction going on. Hardware emulation usually involves the previous generations chip still on the hardware. The GBA and DS do it. The PS2 did it. The Wii probably does it for Gamecube games.

      --
      Insert Sig Here
    10. Re:Article is FUD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Kega Fusion.

      I have yet to come across any Master System, Game Gear, Mega Drive, Mega CD or 32X title that won't run on it flawlessly. Keep in mind it was also developed by a single guy in his spare time with no Sega inside knowledge of how any of those systems were designed.

    11. Re:Article is FUD by plague3106 · · Score: 1

      There is no disadvantage of emulating in software rather than hardware.

      Its slower, although I don't know if it matters. It also has more of a chance to be buggy, because features of the older hardware may not map 100% to features of the newer hardware. I image though that the software part of the PS3 can be flashed though.

    12. Re:Article is FUD by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      The PS3, on the other hand, has a half-dozen SPUs. These are every bit as fast as a GPU, but far more programmable.

      If they were the PS3 wouldn't have an expensive GPU. For Sony's TFLOPS claims the GPU still had almost 10x the performance of the Cell including all of its SPUs.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    13. Re:Article is FUD by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 1

      In our world, though, hardware is an expression of an algorithm, said algorithm being implementable in software as well. Despite the hype of the next-gen machines, they are NOT powerful enough to completely emulate all hardware functions of the last gen consoles in software, specifically the rendering capabilities. Your example is slightly skewed, as most emulators of old game machines emulate much less powerful machines, and so are able to emulate them 100% in software with no real performance issues.

      What gets trickier is when you must instead write an emulation layer that maps instructions originally designed for one set of hardware onto a second set of hardware, both of which had their own quirks. Making this even harder is the fact that the PS2 was a largely to-the-metal programming job. There was very little in the way of any sort of software abstraction there (an OS, essentially), unlike on the current generation of hardware. This will make it trickier for Sony.

      I'm not saying it's impossible - just that it's very tricky to do (I know, you did say this). Microsoft has discovered how tough emulation is (seeing such a small percentage of games is currently emulated on the 360) - we'll see if Sony can do a better job of it. That being said, there are some advantages with software emulation + using current hardware. One big one is that graphics rendered with more modern GPUs can take advantage of higher screen resolutions, full screen AA, etc.
      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    14. Re:Article is FUD by seebs · · Score: 1

      It's more accurate than your pro-Sony nonsense. The software emulation is far from complete, while actually running games on their original hardware was fairly effective.

      --
      My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
    15. Re:Article is FUD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Huh? The DS has the same hardware as the GBA (besides the obvious clocked up processor and extra DS hardware) inside of it. The only thing missing is the bits letting it run GBC stuff...all but the GBC's sound generator are gone so far as I know. It has just what GBA games use.

      I think it's probably similar with the Wii and Gamecube, but I don't honestly know. Considering I've heard no reports of games that don't work (No, stuff like Max Drive Pro don't count, as late-model European 'Cubes block this as well, it's something in the BIOS apparently), I think it's at least probable.

    16. Re:Article is FUD by shoptroll · · Score: 1

      Actually the GBA contains a Z80 co-processor (which is the same architecture from the GBC) that enables the GBA to run GBC games. The DS doesn't play GBC games because it only has two processors: the GBA's ARM7 and the ARM9. No co-processor means no GBC.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_Color
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_Advance
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DS#Hardware_ specifications

      If you're interested. This is also the same reason a Nintendo rep gave me when I called them before purchasing a DS.

      --
      Insert Sig Here
    17. Re:Article is FUD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      ZONK is an ass hole...
      Being an editor, he is such a pathetic 360 fannie...
      I stopped /. only because this guy is just pure sony hate.
      All he does is scout the internet for anti sony rumours.

      HOW much did the M$ pay you, ZONKy boy?

      First grade dick!!!!

    18. Re:Article is FUD by Dawn+Falcon · · Score: 1

      Do remember that in Europe, it's been software emu from day 1. And apparently, from what's been said the vast majority of titles work fine. I've certainly not heard the same sort of compaints that the 360's had.

    19. Re:Article is FUD by TheQuantumShift · · Score: 1
      Because Sony's an easy target these days and slashdotters are lazy.

      Anywho, of course it's all business speak crap when there's really nothing to talk about. Just see the line in the summary:

      "blockbuster fighting game Metal Gear Solid"

      From that alone either Konami doesn't know what the hell they make or the "reporter" doesn't. And what kind of response were they looking for to a price cut announced yesterday?

      "Well, the PS3 hasn't shipped 3 million units in the last 24 hours, start porting that crap to the Wii, Saturn, Game Gear, and Turbo Express platforms right now."

      --

      Shift happens. Fire it up.
    20. Re:Article is FUD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The PS3, on the other hand, has a half-dozen SPUs. These are every bit as fast as a GPU, but far more programmable.

      Not quite. It would be nonsensical to directly compare Cell's SPU to some GPU because they are so different (because they are designed for so different tasks and dataflows), but you can get a ballpark figure by comparing the amount and clockspeed of the key execution units, in particular the FMAC units:

      One SPU has four 32-bit FMACs at 3200 MHz. The pixel shader core of Cell's RSX alone has 240 32-bit FMACs at 550 MHz. (24 main pixel pipelines, each with two 4x32-bit vector and two 1x32-bit scalar units.)

      The SPU is far more programmable, yes, but not *quite* "every bit as fast" if you are rendering computer graphics.

      On the differences... the RSX has tailored datapaths and caches for the specific data resources needed; and it would absolutely suck in any kind of branchy general-purpose code. RSX is practically a huge pipeline dedicated to the workflow of OpenGL-style graphics rendering; and also capable of certain "GPGPU" scientific calculations (see Nvidia's "Tesla" line of video cards without monitor outputs...) but fairly inefficient (if all in all powerful) at them.

      However, many PS3 programmers have found it beneficial to do some vertex preparations (like culling of away-facing thus invisible and useless triangles, or generating detail triangles from higher representations such as subdivision surfaces or NURBS' or displacement maps) on one or two SPUs to ease the vertex shader burden on the non-bleeding-edge RSX. This division of work is smart, as those preparations are better done closest to the rest of the processing of the game's world model -- near the CPU (cluster) and the main memory.

    21. Re:Article is FUD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      True, I've heard nothing but good things about the software emulation, mainly since the last couple of firmware updates.

      Sadly, the only PS2 game I want to play is SSX Tricky, and that's not on the list at all.

    22. Re:Article is FUD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so, how accurate is 'fairly effective'? And how far is 'far from complete', and what units are you using to measure this?

    23. Re:Article is FUD by Carnildo · · Score: 1

      Not quite. It would be nonsensical to directly compare Cell's SPU to some GPU because they are so different (because they are designed for so different tasks and dataflows), but you can get a ballpark figure by comparing the amount and clockspeed of the key execution units, in particular the FMAC units:

      One SPU has four 32-bit FMACs at 3200 MHz. The pixel shader core of Cell's RSX alone has 240 32-bit FMACs at 550 MHz. (24 main pixel pipelines, each with two 4x32-bit vector and two 1x32-bit scalar units.)


      I'll admit that the Cell's SPUs aren't as fast as the PS3's GPU, but the important question is how it stacks up to the GPUs in the XBox, Gamecube, and PS2. I'm fairly sure it's enough faster to emulate any of them.
      --
      "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
    24. Re:Article is FUD by seebs · · Score: 1

      Actual hardware emulation seems to have been close enough to flawless that I've yet to hear of a PS2 game not working with it; software emulation seems to work on something like 50%-80% of games, assuming you skip cut scenes and otherwise go easy on it. Unit would be "games you can play through completely", and it's about 99% to about... less. Maybe 80%, optimistically. Don't be fooled by "I put in the game and got the splash screen". As an example, a software emulator for the PS1 I had some years back ran Wild Arms fine -- until you wanted to teach the magic user a new spell. Then it locked up. There was no workaround for this. It just couldn't be made to work. The game could not be completed, but you wouldn't know until several hours in.

      --
      My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
    25. Re:Article is FUD by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 1

      Yeah, that's true. I guess I'm talking in future tense when past tense is probably more appropriate. To answer my own question then, it seems that Sony did indeed do a better job of backward compatibility than MS did. It seems like about 2/3 of my old Xbox games still aren't supported.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
  5. This might not help by Jaaay · · Score: 0

    outside of Japan it seems most people prefer the 360 with the online services but it's going to end up as a question of who can lose more money for years on end with both consoles posting huge losses. I really doubt a 20% drop is going to make people who would otherwise buy a wii/360 buy a ps3. It's still a lot of money and for some reason people who might spend $500 on a phone like to get up in arms and principled about consoles that cost this amount of money.

    1. Re:This might not help by Dr+Kool,+PhD · · Score: 1

      The price cut will definitely steal buyers away from the 360. Why buy a 360 for $400 (or $480) when you can get a PS3 with free online, HDMI (only 360 Elite has HDMI), Blu-Ray player, free online forever and a free MMO forever (Home). In addition there's no big quality problem with the PS3. Unlike the 360, the PS3 is well-engineered and doesn't suffer from widespread overheating problems. Yes, M$ upped their warranty, but sending your console away to get fixed is still downtime.

    2. Re:This might not help by MeanderingMind · · Score: 1

      This will help when it comes to anyone who hasn't bought a PS3 or 360 yet, I'm just not sure how much going to impact people who have already bought a 360. There isn't much reason to own both, as the exclusive are (for the most part) rather similar in genre and nature. Barring games like Dead Rising and MGS4, the exclusives are mostly analogous.

      --
      Thunderclone: ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE! ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE!
    3. Re:This might not help by Eponymous+Crowbar · · Score: 1

      If you want to buy a console to play Blu-Ray movies, then your argument holds water. If you wanted it to play games, you'd happily buy a 360 and some games or extra controllers instead of the PS3. On top of that, expect lower prices for the 360 soon, and an improved manufacturing process that will help lower the defect rate. I am interested in adding a PS3 to my 360, Wii and older consoles but I honestly can't think of a single PS3 exclusive that I want to play. I will probably wait for the next price cut, in the hopes that some AAA titles will come out between now and then.

    4. Re:This might not help by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. It's been pointed out (many times now) that this isn't really a price cut, it's just offering a few extras at the same old price. Same old, same old.

      And what's with your comments? You've written a bunch and they really do read like sales quips. You sound like a used care salesman.

    5. Re:This might not help by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Why buy a 360... Maybe because it has more games? For a gamer the cost of a console is basically the entry fee to a games library and the PS3 doesn't offer nearly enough games for the amount you pay for it. The PS3 could steal people away who know jack shit about the games available on each platform but those aren't the kind that buys many games and not an attractive userbase to developers.

      Furthermore, Sony needs to worry more about the Wii than the 360. They can harp on the advantages of HD as much as they want, the Wii offers access to a games library for half the price (even less than that in Europe) of the PS3 and it has impressed developers so much that even EA is retooling its game designs for it. The Wii is getting more and more reports of new games and new developer support while the PS3 is getting one story after another about games that are no longer exclusive to it. Unless Sony can reverse that trend soon (and I have doubts about that, more games mean more users mean more games and thus the cycle cannot be reversed easily) they don't even stand a chance, they're going to be annihilated by a cheap console with weak hardware that promises what people have been wanting from gaming for a long time, accessibility and innovation.

      Sony sees the console as the center of the living room and thus something you'd want to spend $$$ on but does the end user share that vision? To me it looks more like the end user just wants something cheap to game on.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    6. Re:This might not help by flink · · Score: 1

      If you want to buy a console to play Blu-Ray movies, then your argument holds water. If you wanted it to play games, you'd happily buy a 360 and some games or extra controllers instead of the PS3.
      I'm haven't made up my mind yet, but I'm leaning PS3 mostly because of SCE. Given that many third parties are going multiplatform, it seems like the main differentiator is going to be first and second party exclusives. And ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, and God of War argue pretty strongly for Sony, especially since I don't care about Halo. I would like to give Viva Pinata a try though. (On the other hand, LittleBigPlanet.)

      The other question is where are the quirky third party exclusives going to come out -- things like Rez, Okami, Odin Sphere, KoTOR, Katamari, Amplitude, Eternal Darkness, Ikaruga, Guitar Hero*. Last generation, the PS2 seems like it got the lion's share of these. This round, I'm hoping it's the Wii.

      I'm rooting for the PS3 not because I love Sony and hate MS, but because I don't want to buy a PS3 and a 360. I just want to play the games.

      * Yes, some of these are no longer exclusives, but they debuted and remained on one platform for a long time. Guitar Hero was exclusive to PS2 for 1 1/2 years, for example.
  6. Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by kannibal_klown · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's kind of like a Catch-22, with Sony stuck in the middle.

    Price flamewars aside, the main issue with the PS3 is its library isn't really spectacular. Without a decent library (either general or exclusive titles) it is not going to sell well, even if it was the exact price of an XBox 360.

    So, Konami is thinking about not making MGS exclusive to the PS3 because the sales have been poor.

    But the sales won't increase without publishers hitching their star to the PS3 as exclusive titles (even if it's just exclusive for a year or so).


    Then again, I don't see why 3rd party publishers go exclusive anymore. If you can increase sales by 50% by simply recoding an existing product then go for it. Note: I'm a software developer and I know very well that's not as easy as it sounds. But it's obviously possible asince it's being done now (even across the Wii and the 360, which are as different as you can get).

    1. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Dr+Kool,+PhD · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The game library of the PS3 is small compared to the 360 because it shipped a year after the 360. Compare the library of the PS3 to what the Wii has for a fair comparison -- PS3 has far more games. This "problem" with the PS3 will be fixed shortly, there are a bunch of great exclusives just around the corner. MGS, Gran Turismo, Heavenly Sword, Hot Shots Golf, Little Big Planet, etc, etc.

      PS3 is doing just fine for a console that shipped only seven months ago.

    2. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by *weasel · · Score: 1

      Really, the only problem of the PS3 is the price. That's it.
      There's just a limit to how many people are going to shell out 500/600 for a game console.
      They sold a ton of PS3s at launch and they hit that limit.

      That's why this price cut is so mind-boggling -- it just brings the current price back inline with what was offered at launch. To gamers, the difference between the original 500/600 dollar SKUs just wasn't relevant. If there was anyone out there who was willing to pay $500 for a PS3, they already have one.

      The games library isn't a real big problem, because the PS3 will get all the major cross-platform titles anyway. People would buy the PS3 over the 360 simply because they likely have a ton of PS2 games and wouldn't mind a blu-ray player. They just won't do it while there's a $200 price differential.

      --
      // "Can't clowns and pirates just -try- to get along?"
    3. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Sciros · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's doing "alright," but the Wii was launched at the same time and it's doing MUCH better.

      The sheer number of games doesn't matter. The quality of the games (and marketability, etc. of course) is what makes the difference. A console can have only 10 games and still be fine if those 10 games are so awesome that everyone buys all 10. Halo 3 for MS is better than 20 crap RPG games for Sony that will barely sell. Likewise FFXIII and FFXIII Versus will do more for PS3 than 20 rubbish sports games on 360. Indeed, you are 100% correct when you mention "great exclusives," because those are key to a console's success and legacy.

      And nowadays, doing "alright" for a console just isn't good enough because when these "exclusives" end up costing as much as they do, the potential sales on that console simply aren't enough to make the game profitable. Selling as many units as the PS2 did in 7 months, or even a bit more, just isn't good enough considering how much more expensive PS3 games are to produce than first-generation PS2 games were.

      --
      I like basketball!!1!
    4. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Dr+Kool,+PhD · · Score: 1

      I agree that AAA exclusives are very important for a console. So let's look at the AAA exclusives for PS3: Resistance, Motorstorm, Ninja Gaiden Sigma. Now the AAA exclusives for PS3: Zelda, Wii Sports(!?!), Wario Ware (?????). Those last two are reaches in my opinion, especially Wii Sports which is fun but isn't a full-length game.

      If you look at the Wii library against the PS3 library you'll see the same number of great games, yet PS3 has a whole lot more okay to good games, and a whole lot more games period. So while people complain that the PS3 is lacking games, the Wii is starving for games. Yet people keep buying and praising the Wii, buyers don't seem to care.

      I think in a few months the PS3 "no games" rap will have subsided once this next line of exclusives hits the market.

    5. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Winckle · · Score: 1

      You missed off Super Paper Mario, and motorstorm isn't actually that good.

    6. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Evanisincontrol · · Score: 1

      You don't think Mario Party 8 is an important exclusive for Ninetendo? 'cause I sure as hell do, and so do at least two other people I know who bought a Wii specifically to play Mario Party 8.

    7. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by hardburn · · Score: 5, Insightful

      PS3 worldwide sales are so far following the sales trends of the GameCube, with the PS3 getting a small boost from the EU launch. It also follows pretty close to the worldwide XBox sales, which only had a large market share in the US and ignored everywhere else. For US numbers only, the PS3 is selling slightly below the GameCube--the also-ran of the last generation in terms of market penetration.

      The PS3 is competing against a console with a year's head start to break 10m units, and another console that has a wicked upwards surge and will probably break 10m units within the next few months. Sony has a lot of work to do to avoid becoming the also-ran of this generation. With the number of exclusives moving multiplatform, it may already be too late to retake momentum.

      --
      Not a typewriter
    8. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 1

      So let's look at the AAA exclusives for PS3: Resistance, Motorstorm, Ninja Gaiden Sigma.

      I keep seeing Ninja Gaiden Sigma referred to as a 'AAA exclusive,' or similar wording, when it is just a port of Ninja Gaiden Xbox, with a few new weapons and moves thrown in, and Rachel as a playable character.

      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
    9. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by ivan256 · · Score: 1

      I'd be excited about it if they got online play working.

      Otherwise it's catering to the 9-12 year old market, and the College Drinking Game crowd. Nintendo will exhaust their sales potential in those markets very soon.

      Regardless, the reviews are as close to awful as review sites are willing to give.

    10. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Sciros · · Score: 1

      Ah, well I can't disagree on the lack of good games on the Wii right now. Wii sports is bundled and it's something I'd rather them take out so I could save some money when I *do* buy the system. Zelda is IMO better on GCN, and certainly not much worse (not $250 worse that's for sure).

      On the other hand, those AAA titles you listed for PS3 are spanked by 360's current lineup, which might be one of the biggest problems the lineup hasn't helped the PS3 much. Resistance was almost universally rated "good but worse than Gears of War." Motorstorm looks cool but racing folks probably look(ed) towards 360 for Forza 2 and Project Gotham Racing. And NG Sigma, while A MASTERPIECE (yes I love NG and consider it the best game of the last generation), is less of a jump from its predecessor (NG Black) than NG Black was from the original NG. So... it's *definitely* not worth the price of a new console.

      So, the "no games" rap is deserved (for BOTH PS3 and Wii) I think. And I'm not so confused about why the PS3 isn't selling with regards to that, I'm actually more confused about why the Wii is impossible to find in stores when there's diddly squat to play on it. Though it's a bit cheaper than some of the competition (PS2 is still in the game), I can't see it as an investment from a gamer's perspective until something like Smash Bros hits shelves.

      --
      I like basketball!!1!
    11. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Sciros · · Score: 1

      Well, if you haven't played NG or NG Black and you're considering a PS3 for whatever reasons, then NG Sigma is most certainly a must-buy (I'd say just like Zelda: TP is a must-buy for Wii despite being on the Gamecube). It's a great game, despite not being new at all.

      Though buying an original Xbox, NG Black, and a new set of tires makes more sense ^^

      --
      I like basketball!!1!
    12. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by harlows_monkeys · · Score: 1

      Compare the library of the PS3 to what the Wii has for a fair comparison -- PS3 has far more games

      It does? Amazon lists more Wii games than PS3 games. Gamestop does list more PS3 than Wii games, but only about 10% more, not "far more".

    13. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1

      I agree that AAA exclusives are very important for a console. So let's look at the AAA exclusives for PS3: Resistance, Motorstorm, Ninja Gaiden Sigma. Now the AAA exclusives for PS3: Zelda, Wii Sports(!?!), Wario Ware (?????). Those last two are reaches in my opinion, especially Wii Sports which is fun but isn't a full-length game.

      Motorstorm is garbage. Excite truck, for all its warts(learning curve for it's control scheme is why it's scored so low) is a better arcade racer, and it includes colors other than brown. I don't see how I can take you seriously when you left off Virtual Fighter 5 in a PS3 list(it's exclusive for now...), and included Motorstorm. Especially when you pop in Sigma and then leave off RE4.

      If you look at the Wii library against the PS3 library you'll see the same number of great games, yet PS3 has a whole lot more okay to good games, and a whole lot more games period. So while people complain that the PS3 is lacking games, the Wii is starving for games. Yet people keep buying and praising the Wii, buyers don't seem to care.

      23 Wii to 20 PS3 > 70% (Good->Great) for all games with over 20 reviews.
      30 to 26 PS3 @ > 60% (OK), same criteria.
      34 to 29 PS3 @ > 50% (Playable), same criteria.

      I'll give the PS3 +1 for Sigma. So 23 to 21.

      If we knock off all the sports games(many of which, like Madden, scored better with motion controls) from the PS3 lineup, we're left with 10 games. 3 of which are FPSes. 2 are arcade racers. 1 is a fighter. 1 is Oblivion. 1 is Sigma. And the other two are Marvel Ultimate Alliance, and an almost straight port with some minor enhancements of a PS2 GTA clone(which the wii version is better than).

      The Wii genre coverage is RIDICULOUSLY superior(there are things in there that don't even traditionally classify, like Elebits and Trauma Center), and it has far more exclusives.

      You are, quite simple, very, very wrong.

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    14. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by MeanderingMind · · Score: 1

      It's a matter of taste.

      For someone like me Resistance, Motorstorm and Ninja Gaidin are dubious exclusives. They're either genres with entries spanning back into the depths of time, or the third iteration of a game I've beaten about 7 times. That's not how it is for you, hence we discover the obvious that people are different.

      What we find is that what ultimately brings the most people to a given console are unique games. Katamari Damancy, Guitar Hero, and Wii Sports are these kinds of games. They are practically genres unto themselves. As polished and well made as Metroid Prime: Corruption, Halo 3, or Resistance might be, they don't bring the family/friends together the same way.

      For now, all three consoles could stand to have larger libraries. When MGS4 and Brawl arrive on their respective platforms, we'll probably see the end of the library lethargy.

      --
      Thunderclone: ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE! ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE!
    15. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1

      And why would you include Sigma in a comparitive list, but then not include the Wii RE4 port?

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    16. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by AuMatar · · Score: 1

      I'm neither in the 9-12 market, or the college drinking crowd. And I don't give a shit about the online ability. I want to play with my friends. Everyone else- not really. Most of the PC games I own with multiplayer I never even touch those modes. If MP was that important, MS would have owned last generation and everyone would have had live. As it was, about 10-15% of Xbox owners ever subscribed.

      Hey, don't get me wrong, I'll be glad to see the Wii get that option. But its not the blocker for most you think it is.

      --
      I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
    17. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Senjutsu · · Score: 1

      PS3 worldwide sales are so far following the sales trends of the GameCube, with the PS3 getting a small boost from the EU launch. It also follows pretty close to the worldwide XBox sales, which only had a large market share in the US and ignored everywhere else. It's also tracking the sales trend of another console from the last generation.

      The truth is, it's simply too soon to tell.
    18. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Pluvius · · Score: 1

      That's why this price cut is so mind-boggling -- it just brings the current price back inline with what was offered at launch. To gamers, the difference between the original 500/600 dollar SKUs just wasn't relevant. If there was anyone out there who was willing to pay $500 for a PS3, they already have one.

      That would only be the case if the $500 version was available in any significant quantity in the past eight months. It wasn't. And there's also the fact that the difference between the versions was relevant to at least some people, just like the differences between the roughly similar XBox 360 Elite and the Premium are also relevant.

      I do agree that $100 is not a big enough price drop to ensure success, though, especially when faced with a near-inevitable 360 price drop. $150 would've been a lot better, and the only reason I can think of that they didn't drop the price that far is that Sony thinks that they can succeed at $500. Drops in production costs of BluRay and the Cell processor combined with the removal of the Emotion Engine should have been enough to cover a $150 price drop.

      Rob

    19. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by ivan256 · · Score: 1

      Hey, don't get me wrong, I'll be glad to see the Wii get that option. But its not the blocker for most you think it is.


      There may be other Wii games that appeal to you though. I was speaking specifically of Mario Party with the 9-12/drinking comment. Are you a Mario Party fan?
    20. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by noidentity · · Score: 1

      If you can increase sales by 50% by simply recoding an existing product then go for it. Note: I'm a software developer and I know very well that's not as easy as it sounds.

      It's easier if you plan ahead and avoid using unique features of a particular console (at least in your core architecture). This of course makes it even worse for Sony, since it discourages use of the Cell units except for minor aspects of a game.

    21. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by HappySqurriel · · Score: 1

      PS3 worldwide sales are so far following the sales trends of the GameCube, with the PS3 getting a small boost from the EU launch. It also follows pretty close to the worldwide XBox sales, which only had a large market share in the US and ignored everywhere else. For US numbers only, the PS3 is selling slightly below the GameCube--the also-ran of the last generation in terms of market penetration.

      The PS3 is competing against a console with a year's head start to break 10m units, and another console that has a wicked upwards surge and will probably break 10m units within the next few months. Sony has a lot of work to do to avoid becoming the also-ran of this generation. With the number of exclusives moving multiplatform, it may already be too late to retake momentum.


      The unfortunate thing (for Sony) is that vgchartz.com does not have data for the Gamecube in Europe ...
      In other words the PS3 is selling at (approximately) 2/3 the rate of the Gamecube ...

      Pal Regions

    22. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Unbundling Wii Sports from the Wii console would be a bad idea since then people wouldn't see a good Wiimote implementation before plopping in Generic Movie Tie In 12: The Cash In, they'd think the horrible controls were an inherent flaw in the wiimote rather than just a horribly made game.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    23. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When you consider that the GameCube had a price advantage in the previous generation, and the PS3 is at a price disadvantage... hmm.

      And back in the context of the current generation, it looks like it's tracking the X360. (That chart also makes it crystal clear how much the Wii is kicking ass.)

    24. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by dakameleon · · Score: 1

      History suggests it might not be doing too badly, actually. (yes it is all relative, but it's interesting given the PS1 is widely considered a successful console too)

      --
      Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
    25. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by dakameleon · · Score: 1

      Can I also add - damn, I like playing with this charting tool - that if the GC is considered an "also-ran" of the previous generation, then so would the Xbox.

      --
      Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
    26. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by hardburn · · Score: 1

      The XBox had a strong showing the American market, and weak everywhere else, particularly in Japan. So it depends on where you live.

      --
      Not a typewriter
    27. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by hardburn · · Score: 1

      Match those against the Wii, and it's clear who's winning so far.

      Sony's strategy of losing money on the console and making it up in game licensing only works if they're on top so that they can get a lot of third party games. If they don't have enough consoles out there, fewer games will be sold and they'll end up with a net loss.

      --
      Not a typewriter
    28. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by malakay · · Score: 1

      The only thing that is wrong with the Playstation 3 is its price. The Wii is priced such that I could pick it up on anytime if I felt like it, without worrying much about the money. The Playstation has a price tag that makes me think twice before I will purchase it. I don't even consider the XBOX 360, despite the great XBOX Live Service. Its games, all in all, do not appeal to me. In my opinion, it does have neither the great Nintendo titles, nor the awesome performance of the Playstation 3. In my opinion, PS3 beats the XBOX 360, hands down. PS3 has an online service I don't have to pay for, and its performance is superior. The Wii and the PS3 are hard to compare, if any at all. At half the price, the Wii is an entirely different product. Also, the Wii is a video game console, while the PS3 is a home entertainment system with BluRay support. I think that both systems serve different markets, that overlap only partially. In my opinion, the Wii will surpass anything and everything in the long run. I was enthusiastic about the system even when everybody on Slashdot made fun of its title, which I still think is great. XBOX 360 and PS3 will fight for 2nd place, which PS3 will eventually win, unless the XBOX division gets a major cash injection by Microsoft. Face it, not everyone likes WWII shooters/sims/rts titles. As a vision, the PS3 is unique. It shows what home entertainment will be like in a couple of years. Unfortunately, the technology of tomorrow is yet too costly, today.

    29. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by tlh1005 · · Score: 1

      The game library of the PS3 is small compared to the 360 because it shipped a year after the 360. Compare the library of the PS3 to what the Wii has for a fair comparison -- PS3 has far more games. The poster specified "decent" game library, he wasn't only comparing the number of releases in each. The why doesn't matter, it just matters that the deficiency exists.

      This "problem" with the PS3 will be fixed shortly, there are a bunch of great exclusives just around the corner. MGS, Gran Turismo, Heavenly Sword, Hot Shots Golf, Little Big Planet, etc, etc. The biggest name in that list is MGS and the story highlights the possibility that it may become a non-exclusive.

      PS3 is doing just fine for a console that shipped only seven months ago. As you've stated it only shipped seven months ago, yet the price is dropping $100. I don't think Sony shares the same opinion.
    30. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Evanisincontrol · · Score: 1
      I'm in college and I don't drink, and I love this game. I have college friends that drink , and they love this game. My dad is 59, and he loves this game. I can't really think of anyone who has played this game and said they hated it, or even disliked it.

      Otherwise it's catering to the 9-12 year old market, and the College Drinking Game crowd.
      Says you.
    31. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by brucmack · · Score: 1

      The thing is, even if the titles are released for every console, there should still be some difference in the gaming experience... If the PS3 really is the best console, then the game should look and feel best on that console. But this of course depends completely on how good the developers are at harnassing the power available to them.

      And you're right, it's not easy to port a game... but presumably all of the gameplay design, 3D modelling/textures/other graphical goodies, sound effects, etc. can be reused without any significant changes, and at least the first item on that list should have been a significant percentage of the design work.

    32. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Scudsucker · · Score: 1

      If you're comparing the rate of sales between the PS3 and the Gamecube, you should also mention that Nintendo never took a loss on the hardware...as opposed to Sony, who sells at a loss.

    33. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Sciros · · Score: 1

      So you're saying it's a bundle for idiots.

      --
      I like basketball!!1!
    34. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by AmbientSidewalk · · Score: 1

      How about buying a 360 and a copy of Ninja Gaiden Black? Makes even more sense to me.

    35. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by Sciros · · Score: 1

      Hmm I have both Xbox and Xbox 360 and NG Black... and for some reason NG Black lags on my 360 :-/

      --
      I like basketball!!1!
    36. Re:Catch-22 Sucks for Sony by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Yep. The Wii is about expanding markets after all and there's loads of idiots out there.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  7. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  8. Re:Price Drop != Cheaper PS3 by Dr+Kool,+PhD · · Score: 0

    No, it's a price cut. The vast majority of PS3 buyers chose the 60GB version because of the (incorrect) assumption that the 20GB was a gimped console. New buyers will now save $100. Smart buyers will still be able to buy a 20GB console, which are selling for around $400 new or $350 second-hand on Ebay right now.

    A price cut is a price cut, even if you cover your eyes and plug your ears and scream "la-la-la-la-la I can't hear you".

  9. Whether or not by Bullfish · · Score: 1, Insightful

    People think the PS3 is trash or the best thing ever, it is plain that the Sony braintrust has to do a serious rethink as to their marketing, packaging, partnerships and PR in regards to their console. A $100 price drop isn't going to help their cause much. They gave Nintendo a lesson back in PS1 vs N64 days, a lesson they seem to have forgotten.

    1. Re:Whether or not by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're right, a $100 price drop isn't going to help, so they should just never drop the price at all. ANY cut is good for people that are considering buying it, 100 isn't so insignificant (1/6). What do you expect them to wait until they can afford 150-250 drop?

  10. But I don't WANNA PS3! by SparkyFlooner · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Last generation, the XBox was my "Don't WANNA" console. I didn't want to buy it, but I had to for Ninja Gaiden. So I basically spent hundreds of dollars for one game, and I only played Halo 2 on it after that. (Actually, my computer was my primary game machine, but out of the consoles, my PS2 got used the most, primarily as a DVD player.)

    I'm not doing that ever again. (Especially now that I'm married and my wife would kill me.)

    So this generation the PS3 has become my "Don't WANNA" console. I don't wanna have to buy it, and I probably won't, even if Final Fantasy XIII remains exclusive to it. There are no games that will make me spend the ungodly amount of money I'd have to drop on the PS3.

    I have the HD-DVD add-on for my 360, and in retrospect I think it was a bad purchase. Thanks to the HD war, not all the movies I want to see are available for HD-DVD, and I find that when I'm forced to resort to regular DVD...I don't really care. I'm just as happy either way, to tell the truth (with my 1080p tv). I could've and should've waited, and I can tell you from experience, HD movies aren't worth a 200 dollar player right now...and they CERTAINLY aren't worth a 500 dollar player.

    1. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by goatpunch · · Score: 1

      I have the HD-DVD add-on for my 360, and in retrospect I think it was a bad purchase.
      Buy 'Planet Earth' on HD-DVD, it's the reason 1080p TVs were invented.
    2. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by SparkyFlooner · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm not saying a 1080p movie isn't impressive looking. I'm saying that at some point I forget to notice how 'crisp' it looks and start paying attention to the events unfolding in the movie.

      When you first get an HD player, you get HD movies just to see how they look. Hell, I would've watched The Adventures of Hanna Montana in HD if it was the only thing available at the time. But as time passes, you stop being hyper-aware of how it looks and start going back to just watching a movie.

      I guess my ultimate point is that the difference between HD and standard def doesn't change my enjoyment of a movie. A good HD movie would've been just as good in standard def.

    3. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by GrayCalx · · Score: 1

      Well I disagree with the point about a movie being just as good in either format. If you take a movie I love, lets say Batman Begins, I'd much rather watch it on HD-DVD than regular DVD (be it upconverted or not).

      That being said I agree with your original point. I bought the hd add-on for my 360 (got a good deal, so theres that). But now I'll be watching some regular DVD that isn't out in HD, and I'll just stare at my tv stand, with my $100 hd add-on and my 5 hd-dvds and wonder if all of that was really worth the $260 or whatever I paid.

    4. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by goatpunch · · Score: 1

      I agree- once you get into a good movie you forget how fancy the picture looks- a good movie on a 12" Black & White TV is still a good movie.

      But 'Planet Earth' in HD is different- every time you see a panoramic view of an African plain with clearly identifiable animals moving all over it, or a time lapse satellite shot of a weather system moving around the curve of the Earth, you're reminded how stunning the picture is.

      I personally find that sport in HD, 360 games, and 'Planet Earth' are the three things my 1080p set does best- I bought a couple of movies on HD-DVD and as you said, I didn't really enjoy them any more than I would have on DVD.

    5. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by VJ42 · · Score: 1

      But 'Planet Earth' in HD is different- every time you see a panoramic view of an African plain with clearly identifiable animals moving all over it, or a time lapse satellite shot of a weather system moving around the curve of the Earth, you're reminded how stunning the picture is.
      I hope you're watching the original* one narrated by David Attenborough and not the one that's been translated into American (from the original english) by Sigourney Weaver. ;p


      *before I'm corrected by a pedant: yes, I know that the BBC co-produced it with the Discovery Channel so there is no "original" but it's a joke, laugh.
      --
      If I have nothing to hide, you have no reason to search me
    6. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by goatpunch · · Score: 1

      I hope you're watching the original* one narrated by David Attenborough
      Of Course! I grew up in England, and have have been listening to David Attenborough's voice (on and off) since I was 4 when 'Life on Earth' was first shown.


      I think the Sigourney Weaver narration is only available from the discovery channel store. I can't work out why they didn't just release one version with both narrations. I really can't work out why they left the 'making of' programs off the HD versions- who wouldn't want to see someone duct-taping their trousers to keep out the cockroaches and bat shit?

    7. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did David Attenborough start speaking in drunken scotsman or with a really heavy welsh accent or something?

    8. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by VJ42 · · Score: 1

      I think the Sigourney Weaver narration is only available from the discovery channel store. I can't work out why they didn't just release one version with both narrations. Wikipedia to the rescue. It seems that they did only release on version, the David Attenborough one (thank god). Sigourney Weaver only did the narration on the Discovery channel broadcast:

      Both the Blu-ray and HD DVD versions feature 1080p transfers of the original UK broadcast, as narrated by David Attenborough -- even though the US Discovery Channel broadcast featured Sigourney Weaver as its narrator. The good news for me though is that all the bonus stuff is available on the DVD box set; I don't have an HD-DVD\BluRay player. And having first seen them on BBC 1, I can say they look pretty awesome in SD as well (I'll probably end up buying the HD version when I get an HD-DVD or BluRay player; hopefully they'll have re-released it with the bonus stuff by then).
      --
      If I have nothing to hide, you have no reason to search me
    9. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by VJ42 · · Score: 1

      I said it was translated from the original *English*, mixing up the English with the Scots or Welsh is a sure way to err.. Well I suppose the english thing to do would be to either politely correct you, or set some Chavs on you. So,as I don't believe in cruel or unusual punishment; mixing up the English with the Scots or Welsh is a sure way to get politely corrected:

      For future reference, Scotland and Wales are not part of England, the three combine with Northern Ireland make up The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. So as you can see England, Scotland and Wales make up the Great Britain part. Scotland and England are seperate countries, Wales is (now) a Principality. The three (along with Northern Ireland) have undergone various acts of union to form a single Nation state. I know it's a constitutional mess, but that's what you get after 1000 year of history, we've had a long time to confuse things.

      --
      If I have nothing to hide, you have no reason to search me
    10. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by goatpunch · · Score: 1

      I think the Sigourney Weaver narration is only available from the discovery channel store. I can't work out why they didn't just release one version with both narrations.
      Wikipedia to the rescue. It seems that they did only release on version, the David Attenborough one (thank god). Sigourney Weaver only did the narration on the Discovery channel broadcast
      Wikipedia to the rescue again; as I said there are two versions of the DVD/HD-DVD/BluRay release: "The U.S. version also features a new narrator: award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver. The Discovery Channel DVD release should contain this new narration, as listed on the Discovery Store website; but the BBC's DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD releases in the USA will feature the original version with David Attenborough as narrator"


      The Discovery store confirms this: http://shopping.discovery.com/product-65763.html?e ndecaSID=113B1FCBBE40#desc "Award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver narrates this 11-part series."

    11. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Um... all three are countries. Just because Wales is not a kingdom doesn't stop it from being a country.

    12. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was thinking you meant *English* as in UK/British English, as opposed to American English, which would include the two accents/regions I listed... not *English* as in people who live in England/are English, under the St. George's Cross, but not Welsh. Because the Welsh are seperate(except for the whole prince of Wales stuff), but as far as I know have the same flag... I'm going to throw a dart at the wheel of Monarchs and blame.... Ethelred the Unready for the confusion.

      Scots/Welsh accents were the two I immediately thought of when I thought "tough for an american to understand".

    13. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by tlh1005 · · Score: 1

      Many people spend more than $200 on 480p and upscaling, non-1080p DVD players. I myself would expect to pay $500+ for a 1080 player alone (not a console) when I look at the feature sets of the first gen players currently on the market. If one wants to simply get into the 1080p realm then the PS3 is a great option. However, most who are really interested from an audio / videophile standpoint will want more.

    14. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by VJ42 · · Score: 1

      Sorry, my misrtake. That's what I get for only skim reading a source that's unreliable anyway...

      --
      If I have nothing to hide, you have no reason to search me
    15. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by VJ42 · · Score: 1

      Scots/Welsh accents were the two I immediately thought of when I thought "tough for an american to understand". The reasons Americans don't understand English is nothing to do with accents; it's because they removed the letter "u" from the alphabet... ;p

      Besides, scouse and geordie are as bad as Scots or Welsh, if not worse. Seriously (well partly) speaking I was just trying to extol the virtues of a David Attenbrough narration over *anyone* else in a marginally funny way.
      --
      If I have nothing to hide, you have no reason to search me
    16. Re:But I don't WANNA PS3! by LKM · · Score: 1

      Well I disagree with the point about a movie being just as good in either format. If you take a movie I love, lets say Batman Begins, I'd much rather watch it on HD-DVD than regular DVD (be it upconverted or not).

      But the DVD costs half as much and can be ripped to your Computer and watched on, say, a PSP. Also, you can take it to a friend and watch it at his place. You can't do that with a Blu-Ray or a HD-DVD.

  11. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by anotherone · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What have they screwed up besides the unreasonably high price? I wouldn't want them to scrub the PS3 and start over, the replacement would just be MORE expensive.

    --
    Username taken, please choose another one.
  12. Lately? by Tony · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What's with all the anti-Sony FUD lately?

    There's been anti-PS3 FUD from day one. I don't know why. Microsoft has contributed with their multi-million dollar "grass-roots" PR campaign, but I don't think they are the sole reason. Sony *has* screwed up in a few ways (like shipping sixaxis controllers with no rumble), but considering how even a *price drop* causes the FUD to fly, it's hardly all due to their mis-steps.

    I don't know why everyone is Sony-hating, but they've been doing it for a long time.

    --
    Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.
    1. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My guess is that Microsoft and Nintendo's own "grass roots" campaigns have simply been far more successful. Anyway, the PS3 is shaping up to mimic the PS2 almost exactly. Early on a small number of games, with lots of developers complaining about the difficulty in programming for the platform, and low sales. It takes a couple of years for things to get going and developers to figure it out, but with the amazing horsepower inside the PS3, I fully expect to see Sony kicking some serious ass in the next couple of years as the XBOX360 and the Wii start to creak due to their fundamentally lacklustre architectures.

    2. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      I don't know why everyone is Sony-hating, but they've been doing it for a long time. * Lik-Sang
      * Rootkit
      * Poorly built products (Especially compared to the quality of products they were producing in the 80's)
      * Still charging high prices for the poorly built products. If Sony's quality was still top notch, they could charge those prices with no problem. Now they're still charging more for poor quality products, riding on the reputation that they built a few decades ago.
      * Arrogance (People will buy the PS3 even without any games available, People don't know what a rootkit is so it doesn't matter to them, etc...)
    3. Re:Lately? by ivan256 · · Score: 0

      * Plays4Sure
      * Windows Monopoly
      * Funding the SCO lawsuit
      * Bullying hardware vendors to not allow dual booting
      * Windows Genuine Advantage
      * Patent trolling (Funding immersion's suit against Sony, amongst dozens of others)
      * Charging high prices for poorly built products
      * Advertising in a for-pay online service
      * Red ring of death

      And speaking of not knowing what a rootkit is, you're one to talk, seeing as you're spouting the same nonsense from back (5 minutes after the story broke) when people changed "Used rootkit-like technology to hide their DRM software" to "Rootkit".

      Pot, meet kettle.

      In contrast, Sony has opened up the PS3 to Linux installations and non-proprietary memory formats, standard DLNA media services, user upgradeable storage, etc... But people are willing to forgive Microsoft their decades of (and continued) abuse of the consumer and are unwilling to forgive Sony their recent missteps. Funny, really.

    4. Re:Lately? by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      I don't know why everyone is Sony-hating, but they've been doing it for a long time.

      The PS3 isn't the only thing Sony screwed up. Remember the rootkit?

      Personally, I was hating Sony before it was popular -- the company's infatuation with stupid proprietary formats (MemoryStick, UMD, MiniDisc, etc.) was enough to do it for me.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    5. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And all this changes what sony has been doing... how? Just because MS does stupid this as well does not mean that sonys PS3 and company image does not suck latly.

    6. Re:Lately? by SydShamino · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The first anti-Sony rants specifically concerning the PS3 that I saw on Slashdot were in March-April 2006, when Sony announced the price for the PS3, and SCEI president Ken Kutaragi made multiple brash statements to support its price. Posters mocked the hubris.

      http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/12/ 1738239

      Articles like this followed:
      http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/15/ 1745252

      Before that time, most of the PS3 posts I remember regarded how cool the cell processor was supposed to be, and how great it would make PS3 games look and feel.

      This of course ignores the rootkit fiasco, and the general hatred of Sony that resulted from it, as Sony stepped out from behind the cover of the RIAA to be in the spotlight as a big bad music label. And it ignores people upset about the Blu-Ray / HD-DVD war and how Sony's 30-year plan to own its own formats has screwed consumers time and time again. And how Sony's content divisions have taken control of the company, rendering products made by their (previously high-quality) hardware divisions crippled, like my otherwise very nice Sony plasma TV that can't play Sony Pictures' movies released on Sony Blu-Ray discs in a Sony Blu-Ray player without downscaling the graphics, because I "might try to copy them".

      --
      It doesn't hurt to be nice.
    7. Re:Lately? by MeanderingMind · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's a fundamental issue of respect. Sony's PR department has been incompetant, and displayed on a consistant basis the attitude that we, the loyal gamers were sheep for them to shear at their leisure. Over time they improved somewhat, but there was a long period following E3 2006 where nothing that came out of Sony's marketing department was anything but an insult to the intelligence of those reading.

      Gamers, apparently, have a strong ability to bear grudges. While at this time Sony has definately improved their PR, that means diddly squat to a lot of gamers who are still angry about how they were treated last year.

      It doesn't help that Sony hasn't explicitly stated they screwed up their PR, although at this point I'm not sure that would be enough to calm many people.

      --
      Thunderclone: ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE! ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE!
    8. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      LOL. We have an AC complaining about the Microsoft and Nintendo astroturfing (never mind that there isn't any evidence that either company has an astroturf campaign) who's clearly a Sony astroturfer - and there is evidence that Sony has been astroturfing. Remember the "all I want for Christmas is a PSP" blog? And that UK Sony astroturf blog? Then there's this Sony astroturfer on Slashdot. (Seriously, go through his comment history, it should remove any doubt.) That Google search I linked lists tons more Sony astroturf attempts.

      What's the saying? You always expect your enemies to do what you'd do or something like that?

      And to response to the Sony astroturfer that started this thread, software emulation will never be as good as running the original hardware. NES emulators have had a good 25 years or more of development, and they still fail to completely emulate the original NES. SNES emulators, even 10 years after the last SNES game was released, still fail to emulate the entire SNES catalog. And that's on relatively simplistic hardware like the SNES!

      Imagine how long it'll be until software emulation manages to properly emulate the PS2. It'll never do as good a job - it simply can't. It's not FUD, it's reality.

    9. Re:Lately? by _xeno_ · · Score: 4, Insightful

      [List of evil things Sony has done] [List of evil things Microsoft has done]

      Gee - I wonder if this might be why I currently own a Wii, and not a PS3 or an Xbox 360[1]. Of course, Nintendo has been evil in the past, but they seem to have moved beyond that after having it blow up in their face.

      It's not this is a war between only the Xbox 360 and the PS3 - there is another console to consider.

      [1] Actually, it's not. The Wii has the games I'm interested in, and neither the Xbox 360 and PS3 do. But in any case...

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    10. Re:Lately? by ivan256 · · Score: 1

      It doesn't change what Sony has been doing. It merely frames the question.

      Clearly the original poster was wondering why everybody is hating Sony, and this forum has simultaneously turned into a Microsoft love-fest.

      My point was that, yes, there are plenty of good reasons to be upset with Sony, but that doesn't mean we should hop in bed with Microsoft instead.

      (Yeah, yeah, Nintendo, etc... I have a Wii, and it's great, but it's like a toy you have along side your real next-gen gaming system. Other than going on sale around the same time as the 360 and the PS3, it's really not in the same league. Both in terms of graphics and network functionality. The answer to "What system do you have?" is going to be "I have a Wii and [insert other system]". Which one becomes the other system is the interesting question.)

    11. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Idiots like you were probably moaning about Sony doing a 3.5" diskette, when we have perfectly good 5.25" diskettes, and 8" offerings before them. Morons like you probably thought that CD was pointless too. Just because some new formats fail on what is generally budget products, it doesn't mean companies shouldn't keep trying new things. People like you probably moaned at Philip doing compact cassettes, as they're clearly inferior to every other magnetic tape system around at the time too. Portable cassette players? Nah, Sony Walkman was a failure too and didn't set of a massive portable music device drive, indirectly saving Apple from oblivion.

      Rootkit? Who gives a fsck! They got slapped for a huge fine, and hardly anyone was affected. Bitch about MS and their fscking pathetic security model that allows spambot flood the net, costing home users and business billions each year trying to combat the crap.

    12. Re:Lately? by flitty · · Score: 2, Interesting

      let me continue...
      *My Fifth(!) broken ps2
      *Minidisc
      *UMD
      *"People will work two jobs to buy a ps3"
      *Uncertain future
      *Home (seriously, wtf, go play second life)
      *Exploding batteries
      Yeah yeah yeah, now all the Sony apologists will say that Microsoft has the same problems. Yeah, and? Are you saying that we shouldn't take either of these companies to task for their crappy business practices? I won't buy a x360 until they stop getting the red ring of death, and I won't buy a ps3 until sony gives me a reason to buy the damn system. Sony HAS harmed me on several occasions (unknown rootkits, and broken ps2's, DVD's that won't play due to Copy Protection) while I haven't had a problem with MS (I avoid things like Playsforsure and Zzune, guess i've been lucky), So ME PERSONALLY, I don't trust sony from the crap I'VE experienced. I hear about the bad things MS does too, but I've never had any experience of it. My original xbox works like a charm, and still gets played frequently. I can't say that about my fried ps2.

      --
      Whether or not there is some sort of god, I'm not supposed to say/god is a word and the argument ends there-Smog
    13. Re:Lately? by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

      "In contrast, Sony has opened up the PS3 to Linux installations...."

      And sued LikSang into non-existence. Spare us the Sony is pro-freedom bullshit.

      "But people are willing to forgive Microsoft their decades of (and continued) abuse of the consumer and are unwilling to forgive Sony their recent missteps. Funny, really."

      Microsoft made a decent game machine. Sony built one on arrogance, told their customers to get a second job if they didn't like the price, and they berated their competitors for innovations that they ended up doing a half-assed job of copying. It's less funny when you actually know the details.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    14. Re:Lately? by jollyreaper · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The first anti-Sony rants specifically concerning the PS3 that I saw on Slashdot were in March-April 2006, when Sony announced the price for the PS3, and SCEI president Ken Kutaragi made multiple brash statements to support its price. Posters mocked the hubris. This sort of thing always makes me stop and gape in wonder. A large, successful company run by people who have proven themselves with smart decisions in the past make a momentous decision with serious future ramifications and proceed to trip over their own dicks. What the hell? These sorts of slow-motion trainwrecks never should have happened. There are rules in place, people whose livelihoods depend on making the right call are in positions of power and have a vested interest in doing right and yet they all trip over their own dicks. And if the view from the outside isn't spectacle enough, just wait until the books get written about what happened on the inside.

      One can expect this sort of insanity from, say, a dot.com run by 20-somethings or the "Behind the Music" epic blowout of a drug-addled mega rockstar. It's more surprising still when you get institutional failures in old-line companies. You dig into the story, you've got people drinking some serious kool-aid. Charismatic personalities, leaders trying to work through personal psychological issues with Other People's Money, people who know better who are browbeaten into conformity or who are treated as Cassandra's, party-poopers to be voted off the island, it's the sort of story that's repeated time and time again but never seems to get old or go out of style.

      I'm reading Hubris right now, a book on the lead-up to war in Iraq. Hoooooooooly shit. Leaders decide on a course of action and look for the intelligence to back them instead of the other way around. Deliberately ignoring dissenting opinions, forcibly shutting down people who won't play ball, using every political trick in the book to then get themselves into a problem that nobody knows how to get out of. I bet the story of the PS3 is just like that but with less dead people. This isn't a specific Bush slam, this is a slam against poor decision-making in general.
      --
      Kwisatz Haderach
      Sell the spice to CHOAM
      This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    15. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So you agree with Sony? Since people don't know what a rootkit is, or what rootkit-like technology is, they shouldn't worry about it?

    16. Re:Lately? by AuMatar · · Score: 0

      Disagree. I have a wii. I have a PS2. I have a PC. I play the PC daily, the wii close to it. I haven't touched the PS2 in over a year. The wii brings something new to gaming. The PS3 and 360 bring nothing. Most people this generation will end up with just a wii, with the hardcore gamers adding PC gaming on the side. The consoles just bring no advantages this gen. Hell, they don't even have the advantage of not requiring upgrades, thanks to MS and Sony's 15 SKUs of doom.

      --
      I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
    17. Re:Lately? by xero314 · · Score: 1

      * Lik-Sang Closed due to a decision made by the High Court of London.

      * Rootkit Create by First 4 Internet and removed by Sony BMG.

      Poorly built products (Especially compared to the quality of products they were producing in the 80's) I'm guessing you didn't actually own any Sony consumer electronics in the 80s, they were pretty shoddy back then too. But to counter that I happen to own an initial release PS2 (built in the 00s mind you) that still runs to this day. Not to mention that the PS3 has good track record for reliability compared to the console market as a whole.

      * Arrogance I think you may be confusing confidence with arrogance.
    18. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go on! Go on! Beat the SHIT out of that straw man! And hey, who cares if Sony pushes malware?

    19. Re:Lately? by flitty · · Score: 2, Insightful

      [rootkit]Create by First 4 Internet and removed by Sony BMG.

      What!! yeah, Sony had NO idea that a rootkit was on their cd's. Completely someone elses idea. It's SOOO easy to slip that in a major record company's major releases.

      [lik-sang]Closed due to a decision made by the High Court of London.

      OMG. Yeah, that's a pretty far stretch. That's like saying that allofmp3 wasn't closed down by the RIAA or the US, it was shut down by a russian Judge. You win fanboy of the day.
      --
      Whether or not there is some sort of god, I'm not supposed to say/god is a word and the argument ends there-Smog
    20. Re:Lately? by Dan+Ost · · Score: 1

      I think you may be confusing confidence with arrogance.

      It is a fine line to draw.

      --

      *sigh* back to work...
    21. Re:Lately? by ShaggyIan · · Score: 1

      The answer to "What system do you have?" is going to be "I have a Wii and [insert other system]".
      Not entirely true. For a personal example, I offer my 74 year old father, who purchased a Wii last week, and spends way too much time one it.

      He isn't even interested in Twilight Princess, the by far most popular game on the platform. There is 99% certainly that he will NEVER buy a 360 or PS3, as he doesn't want any of the features they offer. He is certainly not alone.

      The Wii is an odd thing, in that it is attracting the Bejeweled crowd in droves. I wonder how long the novelty will last, but guessing it will be a while, as the "gamers" are still bitching at the quality of games available for it.
      --

      This sig was generated randomly by one million monkeys with Speak 'n Spells. . .
    22. Re:Lately? by jez9999 · · Score: 1

      What the hell? These sorts of slow-motion trainwrecks never should have happened. There are rules in place, people whose livelihoods depend on making the right call are in positions of power and have a vested interest in doing right and yet they all trip over their own dicks.

      If my dick was big enough for me to trip over, I'd probably be concentrating on stuff other than taking boardroom decisions too.

    23. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bet you'd know an awful lot about baseball with a dick that big too. Seeing as how if you ever stopped thinking about it you'd probably wind up passing out from the blood loss.

    24. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      * Lik-Sang Closed due to a decision made by the High Court of London. A decision that would not have been made if not for the course of action taken by Sony.

      * Rootkit Create by First 4 Internet and removed by Sony BMG. And First 4 Internet snuck in the CD pressing facility late one night and changed the masters without Sony knowing. Clearly.
    25. Re:Lately? by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      Here's a clue, dumbass: the problem with Sony's formats is not that they were new, but because they were proprietary. Did you see me complaining about (for example) CompactFlash or SecureDigital? No? Gee, I fucking wonder why!

      Some companies are smart enough to invent a format and not seek draconian control over it. Sony isn't one of them.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    26. Re:Lately? by xero314 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Sony had NO idea that a rootkit was on their cd's. I'm not a Sony insider so I do not know what they did or did not know, but I have worked with contracted work where the client had no clue what was happening inside the product. This is not uncommon. The state of Washington didn't know the Tacoma narrows bridge was susceptible to high winds, this is after all why you higher outside contractors. I could have mentioned that it was an exploit of a flaw in the Windows Operating system that allowed the Rootkit to exist in the first place, so why is Rootkit not in the MS list of "evil things."

      I'm not actually defending Sony, just saying that they did rectify the issue and paid excessive fines (far above any damage actually caused) yet I'm not hearing any flack about the other companies involved, such as First 4 Internet, Microsoft, and any of those companies continued partners.

      That's like saying that allofmp3 wasn't closed down by the RIAA or the US, it was shut down by a russian Judge. First of all lik-sang was not shut down by anyone, they shut themselves down. Second they chose to shut down because they were not able to continue to hide behind the protection of Hong Kong law and instead had to contend with the laws of the countries of the citizens they conducted business with. Complain to, and about, the law makers if you have an issue with the law, not to the company that attempts to exercise their rights protected by those laws. And it's not like I didn't purchase from Lik-Sang since I have a number of Gundams and Gundam related products purchased through them.

      As for allofmp3.com, I think you are starting to understand how law works. You can can demand or make all the threats you want but in the end it is the law makers that make the decisions.

      You win fanboy of the day. If by "fanboy" you mean purveyor of facts, then I'll take that award.
    27. Re:Lately? by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Lik-Sang was closed because of what amounted to a DDOS via the legal system. Sony filed so many lawsuits in so many different countries Lik-Sang couldn't mount a defense for all of them. If it was just one country they'd have shrugged it off.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    28. Re:Lately? by xero314 · · Score: 1

      A decision that would not have been made if not for the course of action taken by Sony. An action that would not have been taken if it were not for Lik-sang's violation of international laws. International laws enacted by UK law makers. UK law makers elected by UK residents...Butterfly's wings in Madagascar.

      And First 4 Internet snuck in the CD pressing facility late one night and changed the masters without Sony knowing. More like First 4 Internet produced a DRM product under contract by Sony that happen to contain a flaw which revealed an exploit in Microsoft Windows that was not caught by Sony Quality Assurance before being released to the public which ultimately caused no appreciable damages, was patched in short time, and caused Sony to pay fines far in excess of even potential damages.

    29. Re:Lately? by LKM · · Score: 1

      I think you may be confusing confidence with arrogance.

      With regards to Sony? No. No, definitely not. Arrogance all the way.

    30. Re:Lately? by Killjoy_NL · · Score: 2

      Hello ye old purveyor of facts:

      Feast thy eyes on this little article then

      http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/09/sony_drm_w ho_cares/

      I'll quote the most delicious sentence ""Most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?" he huffed." as said by The President of Sony BMG's global digital business division Thomas Hesse.

      The article also goes on about the damages

      And this article

      http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/Sony-BMG/

      Also gives some nice info on the Rootkit case.

      But you mentioned damages, let's take a look at this article

      http://www.securityfocus.com/brief/34

      It tells about the ruckus the rootkit caused that made cheating in games such as World of Warcraft a lot more difficult to detect, impossible at that time even (don't know if it can be now), Blizzard probably lost customers over this, they had to program pieces of extra security software like "the Warden" to check for known cheating/botting programs, costs I don't think that will be covered by the nice chaps at Sony.

      So don't mind me if I agree with the other poster on the opinion that you are a fanboy, nothing wrong with that, your choice, but don't feign innocence.

      --
      This is the sig that says NI (again)
    31. Re:Lately? by Orange+Crush · · Score: 1

      Considering Sony designed the PS2 in the first place, they're certainly in a much better position to emulate every quirk and "undocumented feature" of the PS2 than an outsider (who is probably forced to do a lot of reverse engineering and "whack a mole" style bug testing with many many different titles). I don't know if they actually did, but I can't think of a good reason why they shouldn't be able to produce a perfect emulator for their own platform.

    32. Re:Lately? by ASBands · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      I'm pretty sure that it's their PR that is making gamers...er, everyone...hate them so much. Sure, their was a press release for the rootkit ordeal stating "If you don't know what it is, it can't hurt you." However, a better solution would have been to, say, not rootkit the music CDs in the first place and perhaps releasing a patch that actually fixed the problem. I hate Sony for the same reasons the majority of the people here hate Microsoft: their continued stupidity and deliberate handicapping of products and markets which they should not take part in. Is it bad PR? Yes - but shit in any other light would smell as foul.

      --
      My UID is a prime number. Yeah, I planned that.
    33. Re:Lately? by MrNiceguy_KS · · Score: 1

      Maybe the Sony execs have really short legs.

      --
      Redundancy is good And also good.
    34. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So your take on this is the tired old "don't hate the playa, hate the game" line. Nonsense. That's a cop-out way to shift the blame to someone else (in this case, the legal system which permitted the "playa" to abuse the "game"). Sure the legal system is broken, but that doesn't make abuse of it ethical. Sony was being a bunch of dinks and battered Lik-Sang into the ground using this broken legal system as a mallet, once again proving that you can buy your way to a favourable legal decision if you have more money than the defendant.

      As for the second point, that's a no-go too. If you don't have the ability to oversee what your departments, contractors, and people are doing before something goes to market, you deserve the backlash that comes your way when shit like this happens. The only reason they did ANYTHING to rectify the situation is because of the public revolt and lawsuit the occurred. It was simply damage control. They got caught, and the only way to save face was to back down. Just like when politicians try to slip shit by the taxpayers and get caught. "Oh, we had no idea people would be upset about this hidden tax hike we added as a rider to a bill for senate pay raises!"

      Blaming Microsoft for this isn't really applicable either. They're guilty of incompetence, while Sony is guilty of deliberate, malicious behavior. Pretty different issues.

    35. Re:Lately? by xero314 · · Score: 1

      So your take on this is the tired old "don't hate the playa, hate the game" line. No I am taking the old, take some responsibility for your own actions line. Lik-Sang brought the situation on themselves by being ignorant of the laws of the countries they were operating with, and not even trying to work out a reasonable agreement with Sony. There are many other outlets, brick and mortar and online, that sell Sony products that have not been sued by Sony.
      You on the other hand have decided to follow the chain of responsibility right up to the organization you wanted to dislike in the first place. Blaming Sony for this is arbitrary, they are neither the direct cause nor the initial cause, but merely a conduit through which the cause traveled.

      If you don't have the ability to oversee what your departments, contractors, and people are doing before something goes to market, you deserve the backlash that comes your way when shit like this happens. So basically what you are saying is that if you were to use word processing software to write a document and that software had a flaw that attached an exploit to all document and then you distributed the document you created that you would be 100% responsible for the exploit. Or replace word processor with compiler. And you are also saying that if you were to create an operating system that was easily exploitable that you are not responsible for the security flaws and that responsibility should be entirely upon anyone that releases software that exploits the flaw, even if unintentional.

      [Microsoft is] guilty of incompetence, while Sony is guilty of deliberate, malicious behavior. I guess if you consider attempting to protect your intellectual property and accidentally revealing an Operating System exploit as deliberate and malicious, then sure. Now if you can find one shred of evidence that show definitively that Sony intentionally and knowingly added a rootkit to their customers systems for the purpose of exploiting the rootkit at a later point for some purpose other than DRM then I'll take back everything I said. I might still buy sony products if they are worth it, but I would certainly think twice. But so far there has been no such proof, or even speculation out side the usual conspiracy theorist circles.
    36. Re:Lately? by StikyPad · · Score: 1

      Really?

      I'd be interested to know what games the Wii has that you really like to play. Most people would agree that the Wii has 2 good exclusives: Paper Mario and Zelda. Maybe RE4, but that's only exclusive if you count the controls; the content is exactly the same. In any case, the latter two are painful to play on an HDTV (or even an SDTV if you've played any 360 or PS3 titles). If a game is multiplatform, like Marvel Ultimate Alliance, there's no question that I'm going to avoid the Wii version. Wii Sports has all the entertainment value of Rock Paper Scissors. The Wii only has two games rated 9+. Compare that to the 360 with 6 games making the 9.0 cut (only 3 exclusive, though none available on the Wii), and the entire rest of the page consisting of 8.0+ titles. While that's proportional to the consoles' respective times on market (~2 9.0+ titles per 6 months time on market per console), it makes sense to consider both the present and future value of a system. If I get 3x as many (mutually) exclusive quality games on Console A today, and have no reason not to expect at least an equal quantity of exclusive titles in the future, AND have other value-added features, such as networked play, a large library of downloadable titles (both old and new), HD resolution (which is "future proofing," even if you don't have an HDTV today), and HD-DVD add-on (although the utility of that is debatable at best, especially if you don't own an HDTV, since better and cheaper stand-alone players will probably exist in the very near future), then it would make sense to choose it over Console B with fewer quality titles available today, an equal number of future titles, and fewer/inferior value added features.

      The Wii is clearly the right choice for budget-limited and/or extremely casual gamers (as even semi-casual gamers can find plenty to like about the 360), and those who are turned off by the slightly more complex interface of the 360. If one enjoys either single-player or networked gaming in the least, then the 360 is the way to go. Personally, I would perfer the PS3, but I cannot justify its purchase to myself or anyone else, given its anemic selection of titles. Believe me, I would love to recommend anything other than Microsoft (and I personally avoided the original X-Box completely, and avoided the 360 until just recently), but they clearly have the most to offer this time around.

    37. Re:Lately? by Snowspinner · · Score: 1

      You're a cute little troll, you are. I particularly like how you declare Wii Sports to have no entertainment value (I still love a good game of tennis), and how you declare there to only be two good exclusive games (Curious - I remember loving Elebits, for instance. And Wario Ware.)

      Not to knock the 360. I intend to pick one up before 2007 is out. But the Wii bashing was kinda pathetic there.

    38. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You own a Wii because you like dipshit kiddie games, party games and stupid gimmicks, you're clearly NOT a multiplayer gamer or serious single player gamer who likes a good narrative (Zelda excluded being the only one)

      Frankly, fuck the Wii.

    39. Re:Lately? by StikyPad · · Score: 1

      I know this may be hard to swallow, but everyone who points out the blaring shortcomings of something is not a troll. Just because it's unpopular to say anything negative about the Holy Wii doesn't make such a statement a troll.

      I said that Wii Sports has the entertainment value of Rock Paper Scissors, and I stand by that -- they're both short games which are fun to play a few times, but end quickly, and most people lose interest equally quickly.

    40. Re:Lately? by StikyPad · · Score: 1

      Also, I forgot to mention that, given the sensitivity (or lack thereof) of the WiiMote, the games seem to be a large measure of chance too -- equal parts skill/chance at best. This is particularly true of Wii Sports Baseball, where it's impossible to spot the difference between a fastball and a curveball until it's too late, and the outfield is completely automated.

      I haven't played WarioWare, so I declined to comment on it.

    41. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Having played through Zelda - no. No, it doesn't have a good narrative.

      You can tell when in development they realized it wasn't going to make it out in time to be a launch title. All of a sudden the story skips ahead to Gannon and the game ends. Not to mention that the only other "good game" people frequently mention is "Super Paper Mario" which also sucks balls (forces you to use the Wiimote in a completely unnatural way, with crappy controls to boot). The Wii has one thing going for it: the Virtual Console. That's the only thing I've used it for since blowing $400 on it. (Added game cost, VC controller cost, and modern video cable cost.)

    42. Re:Lately? by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1

      So I take it then that Han shoots first in your world? Since SDTV content is painful, and Greedo only shoots first in SD.

      I'm really glad your kind does not matter.

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    43. Re:Lately? by Nizer · · Score: 1

      Wholeheartedly agree.

      I have both a Wii and a PS3. The PS3 I bought (rather than a 360) in the expectation that the next Gran Turismo will be a PS3 exclusive. Thus far I have Oblivion and Resistance, both of which are top-notch in my humble view.

      I bought the Wii because, like most of Slashdot evidentally, I recognised the massive potential of the controller. Thus far, that potential is a long way from being realised. Zelda:TP, Wario Ware, Rayman, Madden all employ the controller to great effect. But the parent's right: these games are clearly the exception. Most games for the Wii are terrible ports of PS/Xbox games, that don't take advantage of the controller (or do so in a half-assed fashion).

      That's not to say that Wii might not get there eventually - I'm hoping that it does. But as it stands currently, the 360 is a country mile ahead in terms of the quantity of high-quality games. (And as a PS3 owner, I don't say this lightly!)

      --
      My other sig is a ...
    44. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Tacoma Narrows bridge weakness was an accidental bug, not an intentional feature. The rootkit thingy was a feature, not a bug. -- Regardless of who actually put it there, who else should be responsible for it but SonyBMG? (However, IMO, in the end they carried that responsibility well. Save for a few very unfortunate public comments.)

      (BTW, IMO, Sony would be wise to rename the record label just "BMG" to distance themselves from all the MAFIAA action. They are primarily known as an consumer electronics company, after all.)

    45. Re:Lately? by LKM · · Score: 1

      What. Wii games are painful on your HDTV? I think that must be an issue with your TV set, I've yet to experience any pain while playing these games. And you'd rather play Godfather on the PS3 than on the Wii? That's all kinds of insane.

      Wait, let me guess, I just got trolled. Sorry about that.

    46. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You actually installed the rootkit?
      haha.

    47. Re:Lately? by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      I said that Wii Sports has the entertainment value of Rock Paper Scissors, and I stand by that -- they're both short games which are fun to play a few times, but end quickly, and most people lose interest equally quickly.

      I've been involved in a rock-paper-scissors game that lasted over an hour. It was a drinking game in a bar with 10 people playing. It wasn't the game itself that was fun, it was the "experience". Playing bowling by yourself sucks. However, if you had friends, you could have them over. With a larger group, bowling is more fun. I'll let you in on a secret. Bowling by yourself is boring. Pool by yourself is boring. There are many games we do that are boring when played by yourself (even though they can be played successfully one-person). But, when you get together 4 people to play a game, the game becomes more than just the one-person game. There is the cheering, the heckling, and all that. That is what makes the game fun, not the gameplay. The gameplay is sufficient to allow fun, but it does not mandate fun. So yes, sitting in your mom's basement playing Wii Sports by yourself will result in boredom. But that doesn't mean that anyone that says they are great games is wrong.

      I know this may be hard to swallow, but everyone who points out the blaring shortcomings of something is not a troll.

      You are either an idiot for not knowing why they are fun (and there have been many posts about the group experience making them fun, and it is always groups in the commercials), or you are a troll for discounting such "extras" and rating it based solely on solo gameplay. Between idiot and troll, you've declared that you aren't a troll...

    48. Re:Lately? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you didn't own a Cube, RE4 is great. Also, check out Godfather or Scarface for the Wii. They were both mediocre on the PS2, but the controls really help them in the Wii versions. Godfather in particular, slamming a merchant into a cash register for protection money is awesome.

    49. Re:Lately? by xero314 · · Score: 1

      The Tacoma Narrows bridge weakness was an accidental bug, not an intentional feature. That is not entirely true. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge was designed to sway in the wind and it did exactly what it was supposed to do. It so happened that the compounded effects of the wave already in the bridge and the additional winds was not well thought out.

      The rootkit thingy was a feature, not a bug. An exploitable rootkit was an unfortunate and possibly unforseen (at least by Sony) side effect of the desired DRM.

      The Tacoma Narrows Bridge cost tax payers millions of dollars. The rootkit cost no one other than Sony (unless you count companies that had flaws in their own systems revealed)
    50. Re:Lately? by rtechie · · Score: 1

      Second they chose to shut down because they were not able to continue to hide behind the protection of Hong Kong law and instead had to contend with the laws of the countries of the citizens they conducted business with. This reasoning is absurd. If a US citizen makes a purchase of Nazi memorabilia by mail from a German company should that US citizen be subject to imprisonment in Germany? No form of international law I'm aware of considers states to have legal jurisdiction outside their borders.

      Complain to, and about, the law makers if you have an issue with the law, not to the company that attempts to exercise their rights protected by those laws. This is even more absurd. Companies bribe lawmakers to pass laws that screw consumers (example, recent credit card legislation), but somehow we should only be angry at the lawmakers? It's okay to give bribes but not to receive them?

    51. Re:Lately? by xero314 · · Score: 1

      If a US citizen makes a purchase of Nazi memorabilia by mail from a German company should that US citizen be subject to imprisonment in Germany? This is not applicable. The judgment made by the High Court in London only stated that the shipments too their jurisdiction were in violation of Sony's rights. The London High Court does not have jurisdiction to inforce this ruling on other countries. Lik-Sang chose to shut down because they were no long to sell to locations under the Jurisdiction of the High Court of London, and because they were well aware that other countries and jurisdictions would be likely to make similar rulings. A better analogy would be if a company was selling illegal substances to US citizens that the US would be in their jurisdiction to intercept these shipments and deny them to be delivered to the US citizens (assuming the deliver is to a US city).

      Companies bribe lawmakers to pass laws that screw consumers (example, recent credit card legislation), but somehow we should only be angry at the lawmakers? If lawmakers were not corrupt they would not be able to be bribed. Personally I think you statement about bribery is bordering on conspiracy theory at best. If you do not like the legal system in your country then change it, or elect those that can change it, and if you don't have elected officials in your country, move or overthrow them. I'm guessing if you are posting on slashdot you probably live in a democracy.

      It's okay to give bribes but not to receive them?

      Actually I do believe the acceptance of a bribe is far worse than the offer. It's the same issue that selling illegal products or services is a higher crime than purchasing them. The lawmakers in this case are the ones that allow the system to operate the way it does, the corporations are only working within a defective system.
    52. Re:Lately? by rtechie · · Score: 1

      The London High Court does not have jurisdiction to inforce this ruling on other countries. Lik-Sang chose to shut down because they were no long to sell to locations under the Jurisdiction of the High Court of London No, it's more complicated. Sony filed lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions. The appropriate jurisdiction was Hong Kong, where they didn't have a leg to stand on. So they convinced the court to transfer the case to London, where they had the advantage, and got an enforceable ruling against Lik-sang IN Hong Kong due to trade agreements. It's classic "venue shopping". Sony shut them down, period.

      Personally I think you statement about bribery is bordering on conspiracy theory at best. "Campaign contribution" is a euphemism for "bribe". If ANYONE gives money to a canidate with the intention of influencing specific legislation they are engaging in a corrupt practice. It doesn't matter if they are grandma contributing $5 or ExxonMobile contributing $5,000,000. Hell, I'd change this to "give money" period. Campaigns should be publicly financed.

      Congress LITERALLY has the lobbyists write the legislation which they then sign off on. Why are you defending these practices?

      The lawmakers in this case are the ones that allow the system to operate the way it does, the corporations are only working within a defective system. They're GAMING the system. Just because you're part of a business organization does not mean you are immune from the laws of the land. Most large businesses engage in tax fraud, and really, fraud of all kinds. White collar enforcement isn't enough of a priority in the US, mainly because DAs don't want the hard work.

    53. Re:Lately? by xero314 · · Score: 1

      The appropriate jurisdiction was Hong Kong The appropriate jurisdiction is any country which Lik-Sang chose to do business with. Read the decision. Judge Fysh concluded that the acts were perpetrated in the High Court of London's Jurisdiction because the sale was to residents of the EEA. Had Lik-Sang not attempted to violate Sony's legal rights in the EEA they would probably not been prosecuted and certainly not found against. Sony did not have a legal case in Hong Kong and there for did not file a complaint in Hong Kong. When you do business with residents of another country you have to take the legal jurisdiction of that country into account. It's the same thing as selling Cuban goods, or illegal substances to US citizens, it is illegal and you can be found guilty and charge do too agreements between he countries. Countries have these agreements to keep people from fleeing legal responsibility.

      Why are you defending [the practice of buying legislation]? I'm not defending it, I'm just trying to place the blame squarely were it belongs, on the corrupt politicians. It's not Sony's fault that the Laws enforced by the High Court of London are in their favor, nor is it, in my opinion, wrong for Sony to attempt to defend the rights they have under the law.
    54. Re:Lately? by gamer4Life · · Score: 1

      How is this overrated? Probably modded by a victim of Microsoft's astroturfing.

    55. Re:Lately? by rtechie · · Score: 1

      When you do business with residents of another country you have to take the legal jurisdiction of that country into account. It's the same thing as selling Cuban goods, or illegal substances to US citizens, it is illegal and you can be found guilty and charge do too agreements between he countries. Countries have these agreements to keep people from fleeing legal responsibility. And it's THIS very interpretation that I have a problem with. Their activity is LEGAL in Hong Kong, but ILLEGAL in the EEA. Legal agreements between Hong Kong and the EEA make judgments (and effectively the laws of) the EEA enforceable in Hong Kong. How is this not "venue shopping" by Sony? How is this fair and democratic, since Lik-Sang has to obey laws of a nation thousands of miles away that they have no democratic control over? The appropriate thing to do would have been to enjoin Lik-Sang from doing business in the EEA or to go after the customers themselves since they're the ones who reside in the nation whose laws are being violated. But that would have been less effective at putting Lik-Sang out of business, which was Sony's goal.

      It's not Sony's fault that the Laws enforced by the High Court of London are in their favor, Yes, it is. Since Sony was one of the players in pushing (and writing) these kinds of trade agreements it's disengenous to claim that they are just "defending their rights under the law" since they CREATED the law and these so-called "rights" to begin with. You are wearing blinders if you don't believe lobbyists control legislation, especially trade legislation.

  13. Not so sure about that by alvinrod · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I think people really like to rag on the PS3 for not being vary successful, but it seems to me that it's not doing terribly bad. If you look at sales numbers and align the launches of the PS3 and the Xbox 360, the PS3 is more or less on the same track that the Xbox 360 was on.

    If you check Amazon you can see that the PS3 moved up to the number one selling item in the video game section. I think it was substantially lower (If I recall correctly it was 28th) before this from what I've been reading on other sites.

    With E3 and the possibilities of some big ticket games being shown, It's possible for Sony to pick up even more steam. They've done a lot to shoot themselves in the foot, but I think they can still make a decent showing this round. Right now it's outpacing the Gamecube and the original Xbox, both of which were wonderful systems with great exclusives. I think Sony is given a lot more crap than they deserve.

    1. Re:Not so sure about that by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 1

      Ah, but don't forget, the 360 was launched in November, IIRC, and there were supply problems until at least March, if not all the way into summer, of the next year; PS3s seem to have been in easy supply since launch.

      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
    2. Re:Not so sure about that by Lord+of+Hyphens · · Score: 1

      Not that hard to keep in easy supply when nobody seems to want them.

      --
      "I've spent my whole life figuring out crazy ways to do things. It'll work." -- Montgomery Scott, "Relics"
    3. Re:Not so sure about that by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      Look at the sales rate on that graph. If your statement were entirely true, then as soon as more supply became available, the Xbox 360 would have seen a large spike in sales, but the sales trend continues at the same pace until the Christmas season when you see the sharp increase. I imagine that Sony will experience something like this with the PS3 and then fall back to normal, as did the Xbox 360.

      There are plenty of Xbox 360's out in the wild right now that are sitting on shelves and Microsoft had to decrease their shipment target from 15 million down to 12 million by the start of July, 2007. I think that they've found out that despite the initial clamour, that the consoles that they released within the first five months were enough to saturate the market for that time period. Had they managed to release more I don't think that the end results would be very different than they are now.

      The only difference is that Sony overestimated their sales and produced more than they could sell, requiring them to slow production or find a way to move more units to keep up with their production. Considering that like Microsoft, Sony has a number of other divisions in the company that can support the gaming division, they can just bleed money on the PS3 and worry about making it back later.

      I'm going to keep watching the sales charts and we'll see if there are any major changes in the coming months. For now it's a close race though.

      On another interesting note, while messing around I noticed that according to those charts the Gamecube has actually sold more units than the original Xbox. That may suggest Microsoft came in third in the last generation. Then again second place is largely meaningless when the first place company pushed over twice as many units as the second and third place companies combined.

  14. Platform Longevity by rockmuelle · · Score: 0


    It's worth keeping in mind that the Wii and 360 are already maxed out from a development perspective (ignoring the Wiimote, of course). The (mostly) standard hardware matches the PC model, making it easy for developers to fully utilize the systems.

    The PS3, on the other hand, is a radically different hardware platform that developers are only now starting to fully understand. The first generation games only scratched the surface of the PS3's potential. The second round of games will be much better, but the real fun will start once the developers have had a few rounds to learn the ins and outs of the Cell.

    So, a slow start is fine for Sony as long as the developers continue to learn how to use the Cell. In 2 years, PS3 games will still look "cutting edge" while 360 games will starting showing the age of that platform.

    Of course, Sony could still blow it on the online/casual games. But, at least the linux distro is giving everyone a chance to play around with the Cell.

    -Chris

    1. Re:Platform Longevity by BoberFett · · Score: 1

      Bullshit. The Xbox was basically a PC, and compare the games from the beginning of it's life to the end. Vast difference in quality. I have no doubt that 360 games will continue to look better as time progresses. The PS3 may in fact have more grunt than the 360 (though from what I've read, the 360 sounds to have the better graphics subsystem while the PS3 seems to have a far more powerful CPU) but to say that the Wii and 360 have already maxed out on their graphics is asinine.

    2. Re:Platform Longevity by Floritard · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yea guys. The Cell processor is pure chocolate magic. Don't forget that. Just like the Emotion Engine before it. Remember the raw emotion that little baby pumped out! It was crazy town. Wait, what?

    3. Re:Platform Longevity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Do a bit of digging for the technical specs on the PS3 and 360. You'll find that the 360's graphics hardware is in fact superior to the PS3's, and its memory architecture is more flexible.

      Developers will come to know the power of the PS3, true, but they'll also come to know its limitations. And in these days of tightening deadlines and limited budgets, it is unlikely that many developers will even complete the learning process.

      The console death spiral: gamers aren't buying, so developers hold back. Devs hold back, so gamers hold back even more. And so on...

      The PS3 has begun its descent already. It will take a lot of time, money, effort and random luck for Sony to dig it out. It's not impossible, but it's also unlikely. Good luck...

    4. Re:Platform Longevity by DeepHurtn! · · Score: 1
      One major flaw in your reasoning is that developers will have no incentive to invest the resources to "learn the ins and outs of the Cell" if there's not a huge install base. Those AAA titles are fuckin'*expensive*, especially on strange ass hardware no one's used before. So no, Sony can't really afford a slow start. Slow start = small install base = no return on expensive AAA titles. For example, in this very article Konami is talking about making MGS non-exclusive. Do you really think cross-platform games will be super-optimized for the Cell? Why would any company invest tonnes of money in developing for the system with by *far* the smallest install base and by *far* the lowest sales numbers?

      And besides, the overwhelming success of the Wii should show that, despite what a certain type of elitist gamer would have everyone believe, *most people don't really care about "cutting edge graphics"*!!!

    5. Re:Platform Longevity by ravenshrike · · Score: 1

      The graphics architecture on the 360 is only better if you ignore the cell proc. However, if you even task 1 SPC to graphics processing the PS3 blows the 360 out of the water.

    6. Re:Platform Longevity by shoptroll · · Score: 1

      Exactly. Look at Square-Enix's "The Last Remnant". Perfect example of trying to reduce costs and turn as big a profit as possible.

      Let's see:

      * Licensed Engine? Check.
      * Cross-platform to reach largest possible audience? Check.
      * Protagonists to appeal to both Eastern and Western audiences? Check.

      --
      Insert Sig Here
    7. Re:Platform Longevity by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Ballmer would explain why you are wrong as "cache cache cache cache cache." The bottom line is the Cell's smaller processors have a very small memory cache, and a hard time accessing the RAM. So, not quite true. Also, keep in mind that the PS3 specs remove three of the smaller Cell processors (one because the manufacture was too difficult to make reliable, and *2* for internal OS stuff).

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    8. Re:Platform Longevity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Xbox 360 has a custom GPU (made by ATI and similar to their R580 GPUs) and a custom CPU (three-core PowerPC that is not, to the best of my knowledge, used in anything else). The PS3 has a custom GPU (made by nVidia and similar to their G7x GPUs) and a custom CPU (Cell, which was available in workstations/servers from IBM before the PS3 was released). I would not call either of them "mostly standard" - but it seems that PS3 is slightly closer to meeting this description than the Xbox 360. The Wii, however, does indeed meet this description due to its similarity to the GameCube.

    9. Re:Platform Longevity by MemoryDragon · · Score: 1

      Dont count on it, the graphics dont really come from the Cell, the cell is good for many things, in the PS3 mainly for marketing.

      The cell is a sluggish general purpose processor with only one core, and a handful of dsps attached to it. What you get is basically blazingly fast signal processing.
      Excellent if you want to encode videos, or if you want to do some serious 2d imaging or physics calculation, but the number of polygons pushed are not getting higher that way. (A simple NVidia GPU is taking care of that)

      in fact it makes things way harder for the people utilizing it because the cell definitely does not make multithreaded programming easier and normal program execution times are way worse, after all you cannot push a lot of algorithms which need parallel processing through a multitude of dsps!

    10. Re:Platform Longevity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No system has been maxed out from the beginning. Not the NES, SNES, Gameboy Color...whatever. Virtual Boy maybe....but ah, anyway, it's inevitable that down the road devvers will learn little 'tricks' and things of that sort that will help make there games better or better looking.

    11. Re:Platform Longevity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      PS3 specs remove three of the smaller Cell processors (one because the manufacture was too difficult to make reliable, and *2* for internal OS stuff).

      Not quite. Sony reserves one SPU to improve yield and PS3 uses just *one* for internal OS stuff. So developers have six out of eight at their disposal.

      But GP was wrong saying PS3 would blow the 360 out of water. Preprocessing vertices on SPUs helps the RSX GPU's vertex shader work, but it's still at a slight disadvantage with pixel shading and especially in simple Z/stencil fillrate -- the ATI (okay AMD) Xenos is quite a jaw-dropping GPU.

      I'd say both consoles can easily produce incredibly pretty graphics -- it's really up to the artists to create the notable differences! As always.

      CPU comparos then are a whole different school of fish, let's not go there now. A bit like comparing a bunch of bananas to three grapefruits ;-)

    12. Re:Platform Longevity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The SPUs are not DSPs! They are capable of independently running even branchy code and managing their own memory. They really are more in the class of "general-purpose CPUs", although *heavily* oriented toward floating-point vector processing.

      But sure it takes programmers extra thinking and data designing to get performance out of Cell. Notably it's important to pack tasks into 128kB chunks of code + data (to double-buffer tasks on the 256kB SPU memories to completely hide DMA latency) -- and then deal these packs freely, in "first available takes" manner, to the pool of SPUs (instead of dedicating a SPU for a certain task, in which case you get performance-killing SPU idling).

      However, in recent weeks PS3 developers have been talking that doing it wasn't as bad as they feared. Maybe thanks to the tons of tools and resources and frigging university courses IBM has put out to advocate Cell (they have the JS20 Cell blade servers and stuff, you know).

      after all you cannot push a lot of algorithms which need parallel processing through a multitude of dsps!

      But this is not the case with Cell. There are the 256kB SPU memories which work well if you use them as double buffers, there's the super-fast Ring Bus (4 x 25.6 GB/s), there the lighning-quick Atomic Cache Unit (pretty much like shared registers) for inter-SPU communication... in short, you can, if you design your data and code properly -- which isn't trivially easy but not impossibly hard either.

  15. We get it already by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    PS3 bad, 360 good, and Wii is mana from heaven. Did I miss anything slashdot?

  16. Less Incentive to Buy by Silentknyght · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Wasn't the emotion engine supposed to be the next thing since sliced bread? How will removing something powerful make your system sell more? Sure, it will cut down in price, but Sony already took the "Expensive System, sure, but look at the power!" stance. If they buckle on it, I predict they'll continue to crumble.



    At any rate, for myself, selling me a crappier system for $100 less is worse than selling me the real deal for the original price.

    1. Re:Less Incentive to Buy by pl1ght · · Score: 2, Informative

      Today the PS3 is the #1 selling system on Amazon. Futureshop.CA reports they are sold out, and Best Buy.ca was also sold out at one point this morning. It may just be a quick jump following the Price cut and we may see Sony slip back down, but the 100$ off is obviously getting people pulling the trigger on it who otherwise wouldnt be.

    2. Re:Less Incentive to Buy by Blackman-Turkey · · Score: 1

      Wasn't the emotion engine supposed to be the next thing since sliced bread?

      Yeah... seven years ago.

    3. Re:Less Incentive to Buy by Applekid · · Score: 1

      I think it's helping that Amazon is offering it at $500 with a rebate for 5 Blu-Ray movies (of the buyer's choice) with it.

      --
      More Twoson than Cupertino
    4. Re:Less Incentive to Buy by sokoban · · Score: 1

      So is circuit city, IIRC. I don't think circuit city is including a copy of memento and a remote though.

      --
      09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 is the magic number.
  17. Re:Price Drop != Cheaper PS3 by techiemikey · · Score: 1

    And the glass is only half empty if you drank the water first, right?

  18. Software emulation as good as hardware? Yah right. by Chris+Burke · · Score: 5, Informative

    Software emulation on the PS3 works just as well as the hardware emulation!!

    Not according to Sony's own compatability list for the EU PS3. While many games work fine, there are also a significant number in the lowest-score "noticeable issues" category. Also note the caveats, like how you should skip optional FMV sequences and how you shouldn't use network modes due to graphical corruption.

    The fact is without even the specifics it should be obvious that software emulation will not work just as well as hardware emulation. Which isn't emulation at all, it's hardware compatability, it's physically utilizing the original PS2 hardware that the game was originally designed to run on. With the hardware "emulation", you basically have an actual PS2 to run your PS2 games on. The Emotion Engine is not simple, and creating a perfectly compatible software version that exactly matches not only every bit of functionality but also the relative timing of operations which many games depend on is very difficult and not something that is going to be made perfect. They will necessarily have to go on a case-by-case basis finding games that depend on a particular quirk of the Emotion Engine and fix them and issue patches.

    I'm not saying the software emulation is crap, and if the games you want to play are well supported according to the compatability list then you should be good to go. I am saying that the switch from hardware compatability to software emulation has hurt backward compatability. That's not FUD, it's a fucking fact. Which should be obvious, because before the EU PS3 release they didn't even have a compatability list because there was no point.

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  19. I don't get it. by lancejjj · · Score: 1

    In an effort to decrease costs Sony continues to reduce features, and continue to develop their offering. I don't get it. What features were removed from the console?

    I understand that Sony has dropped the price of the PS3, and I understand that they've updated its internals for the sake of manufacturing expense.

    But it seems to me that the feature set available to the user are identical. Am I missing something?
    1. Re:I don't get it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well. They removed the hardware emulation, which means that a lot of previously backwards-compatible games don't work (Well... they still work with hardware emulation, but they don't work with the new emulation).

      On the plus side, this means that BC games look better since they're upscaled and upsampled and all that fun stuff, but on the down side... a good chunk of the library that was only working because you crammed PS2 and PS1 hardware in there no longer works...

      So. I suppose you could call it "Removing a feature", although it's more "changing the feature". Backwards compatibility is still there, but it's no longer as effective as it was, even though it now is shinier. Or something.

  20. The models with the chip are using software emu... by ivan256 · · Score: 1, Informative

    Since the 1.8 firmware, even the models that have the hardware emulation have been using the software emulator if you enable upscaling. Yet the emulation is still better than acceptable. Certainly, I prefer it to my non-upscaled actual PS2.

    But you should swear about it, and turn it into a huge issue, and pretend that it's worse than the competition, etc... Go right ahead. It's what we expect from the Slashdot 360 Fanboy, er.... Slashdot Games section.

  21. You forget... Nintendo owns Pokemon... by Fallen+Kell · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That is all you need to know. Think of how many billions they have made on that simple fact. It isn't like it costs $8 to print 10-20 cards. You are seeing pure profit in the card game. Not to mention the millions in TV franchise rights, movie revenues, and finally video game sales (which also happen to require requisite video game consoles which also sell at a profit unlike competitors). It has been a cash printing machine for the last 10+ years. It makes more money at less risk then any music business can.

    You also forget that Nintendo owns a LOT of different IP which they license to many other entities. Their entire business model is based such that even if console tanks, they have enough cash to continue onwards. They keep their development costs low as well as their production costs and make sure they always are making a profit on each and everything they sell so they do not have to rely on future revenue from game sales to make a profit. They have had several systems which have flat out tanked in the past, but have always been able to continue through the market ups and downs (unlike some competitors, Atari, Activision, NeoGeo, SEGA... who couldn't last a single bad console release).

    --
    We were all warned a long time ago that MS products sucked, remember the Magic 8 Ball said, "Outlook not so good"
    1. Re:You forget... Nintendo owns Pokemon... by PixelScuba · · Score: 2, Funny

      That's not true... Atari and SEGA had numerous bad console releases they couldn't recover from from.

    2. Re:You forget... Nintendo owns Pokemon... by shoptroll · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Nintendo also has a 100 year history. Think of how much money they must have sitting aside for a rainy day. Pokemon, the DS and now the Wii have pretty much solidified that they're not going away anytime soon.

      Unfortunately, Sony has been hemorrhaging money for the last few years. Remember a couple years ago when they slashed some divisions, like the AIBO group? Investor's are reacting to this, especially since the PS3 & Blu-ray were touted to be the saviors of the company.

      --
      Insert Sig Here
    3. Re:You forget... Nintendo owns Pokemon... by bogjobber · · Score: 1

      If by hemorrhaging money you mean turning a profit, then yeah, I suppose you're correct. Sony's stock price is near a 5 year high, and is ~60% higher than it was two years ago. Profits are dropping, but overall Sony's doing just fine. Just because Nintendo's raking in the money doesn't mean Sony is losing money. It's not a zero sum game, particularly when you have a massive company like Sony. I'm not claiming Sony is a great company or anything, but they certainly aren't hemorrhaging money.

      On a slightly related note, OP is completely right. Pokemon saved Nintendo. At one point, something like 40% of their profit came from Pokemon-related products, with most of the rest coming from the Game Boy division. It held them over some tough times as a company and allowed them to (sort of) recover with the Gamecube and the kick ass with then Wii.

    4. Re:You forget... Nintendo owns Pokemon... by shoptroll · · Score: 1

      I won't argue that they're doing fine. Cutting a bunch of projects like the AIBO was a smart move. But stock price doesn't mean you're succeeding. I mean, look at what happened with the Web bubble 7 years ago. Regardless, Sony knows this is isn't a sprint. They can recoup their losses from the PS3 with enough time. It's just not the overnight success that the PS2 was. Same thing with Nintendo and the N64. If Sony sticks to their guns and learns from the experience then they will turn out fine in the long run.

      --
      Insert Sig Here
    5. Re:You forget... Nintendo owns Pokemon... by ucblockhead · · Score: 1

      You know Sony as a whole made a profit last year, right? And that it's stock is up over the last year, right?

      It's fortunate that Nintendo is managing to make a profit, because the other two console makers have proven that they have both the funds and the will to lose money for a very long time to attempt to dominate the market. Sony has likely lost a couple billion so far on the PS3, which is comparable to what Microsoft loses on the XBox. But with $67 billion in gross revenue, that is no where near a company killer.

      --
      The cake is a pie
    6. Re:You forget... Nintendo owns Pokemon... by LKM · · Score: 1

      It's fortunate that Nintendo is managing to make a profit

      "Fortunate"? "Managing"? You make it sound as if it was surprising that Nintendo is making money. It's not. That's what they've always done.

    7. Re:You forget... Nintendo owns Pokemon... by ucblockhead · · Score: 1
      Fortunate because if Nintendo didn't manage to turn a profit in an industry where everyone else has to sell the base system at a loss, there'd be one fewer manufacturer in the industry, which would be bad.


      Sega was making money until they suddenly weren't. My point was more than a Sony or a Microsoft can afford to push along a console. A Sega or a Nintendo can't. One poor selling machine puts them out of the market.


      If the Wii had sold like the XBox, Nintendo would be out of business.

      --
      The cake is a pie
  22. WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    What are you talking about?

    The emotion engine is the core of the PS2, it has nothing to do with the speed or quality of PS3 games, and the PS3 CPU is fast enough to easily emulate the PS2 and more. In fact, as the software emulator gets better I fully expect PS2 games will be better on the PS3 than they were on the PS2.

  23. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Kelbear · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Screw-up is harsh term for the PS3 thus far. I wouldn't ding them that harshly. Once the price issue is removed, it isn't a catastrophe, it's just...not the best. It's got online and it's free, but it's just not as good. Interface has a few nice features like internet browsing, but overall, it's not as tight of an experience as Xbox360 with relation to gaming, and this is a gaming console. On the other hand, the Wii is far worse, so I wouldn't say the PS3 is doing terribly here, just not as well as the Xbox360.

    Games and lost exclusives, it is indeed Sony's job to make sure the games are in place, this is their biggest problem IMO. They didn't have enough of the right games, and have lost exclusivity on some of their better ones. But this is very much a matter of opinion, and I don't see them doing terribly here, just not as good as the Xbox360 or Wii in targeting the seperate markets. The Xbox360 is a direct competitor to the PS3 in terms of the games being fielded, and it's winning, while the PS3 can't compete at all with the Wii for obvious reasons.

    So while there are no catastrophic mistakes aside from the price added by packing in Blu-ray, coming in 2nd-place in all categories leaves this console without a clear picture of what it's good for and who should buy it.

    If I were to pick the worst part of the PS3's performance, I would have to stretch to include the marketing. It has been pure CRAP. Truly terrible. You would almost think that they have intentionally been sabotaging themselves. Have you seen the "This is Living" campaign? Soccer fanatic lying naked except for a jockstrap masturbating to a soccer game on TV? A busty-blonde pooping in a toilet telling stories about her mother? The mercenary's clip had a superb performance by the actor, really good stuff, and unfortunately, the message was that you should go and buy a bar of chocolate. However, this was a European campaign.

    The U.S version was not that much better, though it had improved later on to actually show some clips of a game (Resistance). However, it had kicked off with a plastic baby crying blood to the sounds of Armageddon in a white room. Apparently they're trying to tell you that the PS3 kills babies and will bring about the Eschaton.

    But as I have said, the PS3 isn't that bad of a package aside from the pricing. The games will happen someday, and when they do the PS3 will pick up some momentum. I don't think it has any chance of catching the Xbox360 or Wii. However, the PS3 has successfully established the next media format. HD-DVD is dead in the water since there are so many more blu-ray players in the wild. And releases will go to the format with the most people who can play them. And people will buy the format with the most releases on them...etc. etc. So Sony has that at least. Whether that translates into PS3 sales later on due to Blu-ray's lead on HD-DVD is questionable though.

  24. No by coren2000 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Sony fans undoubtedly cheered the news of a $100 drop in price for the 60GB PS3
    No. Sony fans already bought the PS3 at the full price, those waiting for price drops will wait further.
  25. Kazumi Kitaue is wrong about one thing by Kohath · · Score: 1, Redundant

    He says: With $500, you can buy a personal computer.

    No you can't. Not one that lets you play the new games at the same quality as the PS3 anyway.

    The PS3 may or may not be too expensive still, but not for this reason.

    1. Re:Kazumi Kitaue is wrong about one thing by Life2Short · · Score: 1

      This two-year-old article begs to differ.

    2. Re:Kazumi Kitaue is wrong about one thing by Kohath · · Score: 1

      You can get a PC for $500. You can't get a PC that's a comparable (or even a capable) gaming rig for $500. That article doesn't accomplish your goal. It's already more than $500 and it doesn't include an OS. Does it do 60 frames per second at HD resolutions on new games?

      If you want a gaming PC that plays new games, you're not going to be buying a $500 PC in general. It will cost somewhat more than that.

    3. Re:Kazumi Kitaue is wrong about one thing by shoptroll · · Score: 1

      But it will play a might fine game of Nethack at the very least. Or anything that's been out for over 3 years, which for some people might be all you need. Especially if you just want to play Starcraft of Counter-strike, which are still the most played games on the 'net excluding MMOs.

      --
      Insert Sig Here
    4. Re:Kazumi Kitaue is wrong about one thing by LoverOfJoy · · Score: 1

      Did he say a snazzy gaming rig? No. You can buy a personal computer for $500. It may not play games as well as a PS3 but then a PS3 can't create word or excel documents as well as a PC. In fact, for $500 I could easily find a PC deal that'd throw in a printer. If you're heading off to college and considering a PS3, realizing that a very capable (except for gaming) PC can be had for the same price might make you rethink your decision.

    5. Re:Kazumi Kitaue is wrong about one thing by Tacvek · · Score: 1

      Interesting article, although it is important to note that they did not list all components, and those can really add up. it has no case, keyboard, mouse, monitor, or operating system. That can be significantly over $100.

      --
      Stylish sheet to fix many problems in Slashdot's D3: https://gist.github.com/801524
    6. Re:Kazumi Kitaue is wrong about one thing by Kohath · · Score: 1

      So the PC and the PS3 you can get for $500 aren't really competitive. They are different. Why the comparison then? You can also get an iPhone for about $500 or certain breeds of dogs, or 12 pairs of jeans. You could also get a barebones PC and a DS or PSP.

      A comparable PC gaming rig is a little more than $500. That's really my only point.

    7. Re:Kazumi Kitaue is wrong about one thing by dangitman · · Score: 1

      In fact, for $500 I could easily find a PC deal that'd throw in a printer.

      I'd pay you more if you didn't include the printer. Are you trying to scare your customers off, or something?

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
  26. Re:Software emulation as good as hardware? Yah rig by crossmr · · Score: 1

    Heck, Legend of Dragoon is a PS1 title and is given their lowest rating for playing in software mode.

  27. Too much concentration on the testosterone market by LordRobin · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So let's look at the AAA exclusives for PS3: Resistance, Motorstorm, Ninja Gaiden Sigma. Now the AAA exclusives for PS3: Zelda, Wii Sports(!?!), Wario Ware (?????).
    Note that all three of the PS3 titles listed appeal primarily to young adult males. While the Wii titles appeal to kids, older adults, and women.

    This is why Nintendo is winning this war, folks. Sony and Microsoft have narrowed their focus to the testosterone-junkie market, leaving all the little kids, old folks, and females to be served by the DS and Wii.

    My wife is the big gamer in our house. She owns almost console ever made. Yet until Ratchet & Clank comes out, there won't be anything on the PS3 to grab her attention.

    ------RM

  28. Re:Price Drop != Cheaper PS3 by trdrstv · · Score: 3, Insightful

    No, it's a price cut. The vast majority of PS3 buyers chose the 60GB version because of the (incorrect) assumption that the 20GB was a gimped console. New buyers will now save $100. Smart buyers will still be able to buy a 20GB console, which are selling for around $400 new or $350 second-hand on Ebay right now.

    A price cut is a price cut, even if you cover your eyes and plug your ears and scream "la-la-la-la-la I can't hear you".

    Ok, Sony Started out with 2 versions selling at $499 and $599. Now they have 2 versions selling at $499 and $599. The feature spec is now different, but how is that a price cut? For the sake of comparison let's take Sony out of the picture and compare Cameras.

    Last year you could buy a 5.1 Megapixel camera solo for $199, or a 5.1 Megapixel camera with a bag, & extra batteries for $249.

    This year you can get a a 5.1 Megapixel camera with a bag, & extra batteries for $199, or you can get a a 5.1 Megapixel camera with a bag, extra batteries and a memory card for $249 and they no longer sell the 5.1 Megapixel camera by itself.

    You are getting more for your money, but at the core you're buying a camera at the same price as was offered last year.

  29. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Seumas · · Score: 1

    I was going to go buy a PS3 this week after the price drop, but then I remembered that the only game of any interest available on the PS3 is some car racing game that I can already play on the XBOX 360.

    I'm happy to buy a PS3 as soon as they manage to get at least a few PS3-only games that I absolutely want to play.

    But hey, it's only been nine months. You can't expect a company to release at least one good game in only nine months, right?

  30. Re:Price Drop != Cheaper PS3 by MeanderingMind · · Score: 1

    The price of entry for the average Joe looking for a PS3 is still $500. While he's getting more for his money, the minimum amount of cash he needs hasn't changed.

    Some people will get ebayed PS3s cheaper, but that isn't the primary method by which any console is bought (save for the first 24 hours after a launch).

    --
    Thunderclone: ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE! ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE!
  31. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by AbuBamsry · · Score: 0, Troll

    1) High Price
    2) Forcing Blu-Ray down people's throats (Beta-Max, plus HD-DVD has the porn industry behind it)
    3) Lack of solid supporting games
    4) Hack Job of a "Motion-sensitive" Controller (Wii-mote rip-off)
    5) Cell Processor Issues (some Cells do not have all 8 cores functional, and will not be noticed until further games utilize/require all parts of the Cell)
    6) Development Difficulty
    7) Loss of most "exclusives" Third-Party games
    8) False Sony claims (PS3 = PC replacement; PS3 will last for multiple decades; PS3 will bring massive damage to the enemy's weakspots
    9) Focusing on graphics means worse game play (usually)
    10) Slow sales for the start is spelling disaster already. Developers canceling Games, and moving to Wii and the 360.
    There are plenty more reasons too.

  32. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by ivan256 · · Score: 4, Informative

    not the best. It's got online and it's free, but it's just not as good. Interface has a few nice features like internet browsing, but overall, it's not as tight of an experience as Xbox360 with relation to gaming, and this is a gaming console.


    This sounds like the commentary of somebody who hasn't spent much time with a PS3.

    I used to think exactly what you just said, but my console experience this generation was limited to the 360, and the Wii. I had only played with store demo PS3s. I recently picked up a PS3, though, because I needed a new DVD player, and I wanted the upscaling and the BluRay support, and I must say that i'm generally impressed with the interface; even the online parts. "Tight" is exactly how I would describe it, and everything about the system. It's the first console I've ever owned that doesn't feel like a toy. I was also surprised to find that the downloadable content for the system far surpassed what was available for the Wii, which basically only has "classics" (read: old games; only some are truly classic). I haven't even turned my Wii on since I bought the PS3. I was also surprised by how open the system is. Standard memory card formats, many codecs playable from standard media servers, the ability to upgrade the hard drive, the controller being a HID compliant USB games controller.... Very un-Sony-like, but also very good.

    I do agree that the marketing for the system is terrible though. And the game selection is still mediocre. The price was a little steep for me, which would mean that it was really steep for a college kid, or a parent, but with the price cut it'll hurt a little less.
  33. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by radish · · Score: 1

    Who said anything about it being worse than the competition? Point me to one quote in this thread saying that. What people are saying is that emulated back compat is not as good as hardware back compat, and that this means that the newer model PS3's are not as good (in this specific respect) compared to the older PS3's. That's all.

    There's no doubt that the PS3, even using software emulation, is better at BC than the 360 - but the original PS3 implementation and the Wii are both better yet as they include the actual hardware.

    --

    ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"

  34. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Luthair · · Score: 1

    Holy Fanboy, take off your tinfoil cap! The parent never compared the PS3 to the 360, they merely explained that software emulation is worse than hardware emulation.

  35. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Rolgar · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The GP did say Sony, and I know I've read many comments, many previous to launch, where people were planning on not buying because of the PC root kit fiasco. They've also been severely trashed for not having rumble in the controller. I hear their isn't much to their library, and nothing you couldn't get on the 360 so why spend the extra cash.

    I suppose all of the other PS3 issues relate in some way to the price of the console. When Sony first announced the price of the console, the executives acted very aloof like they were giving customers the privilege of being able to buy a PS3 at $600 (Apple has managed to do the same thing with a phone that also requires a $40 service plan and get adored for it), made statements about how the next generation didn't start until they launched, and generally acted like they didn't care what the customers thought and people should be lining up to give them money just because they're Sony. That's not a very customer friendly attitude to have, and has made everybody that felt condescended by Sony look at their product and decide that there isn't enough of a difference between the PS3 and the 360 to warrant the higher price, so they'll get the 360 since most games will be ported anyway.

    Sony also has not paid attention to the history of consoles, and how no $500 console has ever done well. Further, all of the tens of millions of people that bought the last system are now about 2-6 years older than when they bought a PS2. For the twenty and thirty somethings in that group, many are now married, have kids, and the $700 or $800 (because you want games with that console right?) commitment is not as feasible that the $400 or $500 of the PS2, and many have also decided "been there, done that" for most of the games, and decided not to ante up for the newer model when they older one does just fine, or they've moved to the 360 for a better online experience, or to the Wii to try something new.

    The last round, the Xbox was the hard core system, the PS2 was mainstream system with the GameCube. It's like Sony decided they wanted to switch roles with Microsoft, and go after the higher end market. HELLOO!!! You guys kicked the crap out of the Xbox last time because they were the high end system, and you were more affordable, and you decided to go after their part of the market, and left the core open for Microsoft and Nintendo to swoop in and take it away from you.

    Also, with the PS and PS2, Sony used misinformation and hype to bury their competition because everybody waited to see what Sony had to offer which made the Atari Jaguar, 3DO, Sega Saturn and Dreamcast suffer, and Sony managed to do well enough to beat those offerings plus the N64, GameCube, and Xbox. This time, they're competing with a 360 that is comparable to the PS3 on value basis and a Wii that wants to take away the casual gamers that Sony had last generation.

    The biggest thing of all has been the word of mouth. Sure, Sony kicked Nintendo's tail on launch week. But it didn't take long until word of mouth got around and demand for the Wii was through the roof. My wife reads lots of parenting magazines, and every one of them has had articles recommending a Wii for family friendly fun so that the family can spend time together while playing instead of junior hanging out in a corner of the basement alone, and they have the option of providing junior with active games so he'll be in a little better shape than he would be with any PlayStation game other than DDR or Guitar Hero. They also option of playing games that they played 10-25 years ago, and wouldn't mind playing again, with their kids.

  36. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Chris+Burke · · Score: 0

    But you should swear about it, and turn it into a huge issue, and pretend that it's worse than the competition, etc... Go right ahead. It's what we expect from the Slashdot 360 Fanboy, er.... Slashdot Games section.

    Oh shut the fuck up. I didn't even mention the competition, comparing only the PS3 with Emotion Engine to PS3 with software PS2 emulation, and I'm not making it a bigger issue than it is, in fact I linked to the website where Sony describes exactly how big an issue it is for each game. Is Sony spreading FUD about themselves now?

    Just because I pointed out the un-arguable truth -- software emulation is inferior to the original hardware for backward compatability -- doesn't make me a 360 fanboy. You're assuming such just shows how you think, fanboi.

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  37. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by monopole · · Score: 1

    Apparently they're trying to tell you that the PS3 kills babies and will bring about the Eschaton.

    Hell, had I known that, I'd have bought one already!

  38. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by ivan256 · · Score: 1

    Who said anything about it being worse than the competition? Point me to one quote in this thread saying that.


    I won't, because there wasn't one. That doesn't mean it's not relevant though. Nor does my saying that invalidate the rest of my point. Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm not), but last I checked, the PS3 was competing against another system, not against itself. Comparing it to the competition isn't what you do when you're a "fanboy" (as your sister post implies), it's a sane comparison. If I had only mentioned the comparison to the competition, you might have had a point.

    I'm sorry if I offended your system.

    While you were focusing on the fact that I mentioned the 360, you missed my actual points, which were that the software emulation is actually preferable in the majority of cases (due to upscaling), and that it's being used on the older systems (even if they have the chip) anyway.
  39. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Chris+Burke · · Score: 0

    I don't care to repeat myself, so here's a link: http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=248053&cid=198 15989

    You don't care to repeat yourself, but you do accuse people of saying things even though you are fully aware that they did not say them? Honestly, what is wrong with you? I never pretended the 360 was better like you claimed I did, you know it, but I still get slapped with the 360 fanboy monicker? And you're telling me that's sane?

    And then you try to play the racism card in a desperate attempt to grab the moral high ground. That's pathetic. If I have a spelling affectation from hanging out with the people that I'm supposedly being racist against, well tough crap. Oh yeah, and if you can't handle some fucking swearing, then you need to grow a pair. I didn't get modded down for swearing because nobody with a brain gives a shit, and you got modded down even though you didn't swear because you were the one being a troll calling people fanboys for no reason.

    Sheesh. Your UID says you're almost 30, and your behavior suggests you're almost 12.

    Just like your assumption that my telling the factual truth about the problems of software emulation in general meant I was a 360 fanboy, thus revealing your own fanboism, this comment here does a fantastic job of inadvertantly revealing your true (psychological at least) age.

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  40. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by jollyreaper · · Score: 1

    If I were to pick the worst part of the PS3's performance, I would have to stretch to include the marketing. It has been pure CRAP. Truly terrible. You would almost think that they have intentionally been sabotaging themselves. Have you seen the "This is Living" campaign? Soccer fanatic lying naked except for a jockstrap masturbating to a soccer game on TV? A busty-blonde pooping in a toilet telling stories about her mother? The mercenary's clip had a superb performance by the actor, really good stuff, and unfortunately, the message was that you should go and buy a bar of chocolate. However, this was a European campaign. Ok, I'm already scared that they thought this would work in Europe. The more important question: did it? Because if so, I shudder to think what they'll use to advertise the PS4, furry snuff films? Or did Moby already beat them to it?
    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
  41. It's all about the games. by MaWeiTao · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The PS3 still has a chance to be successful. In the end it may not be the dominant system, but it can still do quite well. However, it has one giant obstacle to overcome, even larger than it's price tag. And that's a lack of games.

    The PS3 is suffering from the same problem as the PSP, most games available for the system are crap. There are quite a few that are decent, for the PSP anyway, but virtually none that truly stand out. The cost of the console and questionable media format are mostly secondary factors driving people away from the system.

    It's crucial, of course, that Sony and third party developers are devoted to the console in the long run. I'm impressed by the broad appeal of the Wii. I've met people who I'd never expect to be interested in game consoles telling me they own one. However, I'm also discovered a recurring pattern amongst these people. Many of them own one game: Wii Sports. If they own a second game it's almost always Wii Play, and that's because the game comes with a second controller. Unless there's a somewhat informed gamer in the household I don't see these people buying anything else. And when they do own additional games everyone uniformly considers Wii Sports the most fun. That's the thing with casual and non-gamers. They aren't the most loyal of consumers, at least not in this segment. They're not going to be buying 10 games or more a year.

    So this is where the PS3 still has a viable future. Provided, of course companies start releasing some great games for the console. If the PS3 had phenomenal games people wouldn't be complaining about cost and Bluray. People have no problem paying for an iPhone which other than having a unique interface and the Apple brand image doesn't really do anything the competitors can't do. And on top of that it costs as much as a PS3!

    1. Re:It's all about the games. by pionzypher · · Score: 1

      I partially agree with you. My father owns a wii. He owns two games, Wii sports and some jet game. Those games satisfy him for now. Here's the part where we deviate a bit though.... He's perfectly happy with those games and is satisfied with the Wii at this point. Nintendo is also satisfied. They don't rely on game sales to make the Wii profitable, it's already sold at a profit.

        This is similar to the NES. He didn't play more than half a dozen games during the lifetime of the NES (mario, contra, tiger-heli, bionic commando and a few others). To him the system was still worth the money he paid. I don't see Nintendo getting too upset with these very casual gamers, and there are always going to be a goodly percentage of owners that are shelling out for more games. Third party devs still get a slice.

      --
      I'll believe in corporations having personhood when Texas executes one... - advocate_one
    2. Re:It's all about the games. by CaseM · · Score: 1

      You are absolutely correct in your observations about the Wii-purchasing demographic. I constantly see anecdotes along the lines of "My Aunt Sally played Wii sports and now she went out and bought one too. OMG the Wii revolution is here!!1" But just as you said, Aunt Sally won't be buying Madden 20XX or the next Resident Evil. She's content to pick up one or two games if any and probably won't be buying any more.

      As much as Nintendo may be making a profit by selling their underpowered hardware, this will certainly put a damper on the enthusiasm of 3rd party developers to support the console if they can't get the sales they would on the burgeoning 360. I don't know if this means doom for Nintendo at all, but it certainly can't be what they want. There's a lot of money to be made in licensing fees, and they'd love to have a cut of that.

  42. Re:Talk about pessimism... by tc · · Score: 1

    Sony's launch prices for their two versions were $499 and $599.

    Now, after the "price drop" the prices for their two versions are...$499 and $599.

    Sure, the harddrives are bigger between then and now, but other than that not much is different (oh, except it's SW instead of HW backward compatibility, which is a downgrade whichever way you slice it).

  43. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Pluhveso · · Score: 1

    Not sure your point is very well founded. I would've paid more for my PS3. I love it and every feature it has, it was worth every penny.

  44. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Retric · · Score: 4, Informative

    As someone that bought a PS3 and a 360, I think the PS3 is a much better system.

    1) I have a 1080p screen and at that resolution the PS3's graphics are much better.
    2) If you play online games the PS3 is much cheaper over several years.
    3) Cross platform games are better on the PS3.
    4) PS3 games have much more to work with aka a HDD, more processing power etc.
    5) Blue-Ray
    6) Up scaling DVD's
    7) It plays enough PS2 games that I don't need a PS2 but I still need the Xbox for a lot of old games.
    8) It upgrades the graphics on old PS2 games. (So it's better than just backwards compatible.)
    9) The PS3 has a longer lifespan. (Xbox 1 came out a year after PS2 but the 360 came out a year before the PS3. People are still buying more PS2's than 360's.)

    Granted as working adult I find the difference in price meaningless.

  45. Someone one Mod parent up by grapeape · · Score: 1

    You hit the nail square on the head with that one. Sony's arrogance has cost them and their aim was way off for an ever expanding market. In my house we own a Wii and Ps2 and a 360, none of the kids have even mentioned a ps3 other than my son who asked why it was expensive. Gamers are getting older, the Atari generation has grown up. Nintendo has it right on the game and price side but is lacking on the online side, though there is time to catch up on that.

  46. ivan256: fair and balanced? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    He praises Sony in every article about the PS3, and bashes Nintendo in every article about Nintendo.

    This has been going on for years. It's very strange behaviour.

    1. Re:ivan256: fair and balanced? by ivan256 · · Score: 1

      Who's "He"? Me? Show me a post where I've bashed Nintendo. Go ahead, try to find one.

    2. Re:ivan256: fair and balanced? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      lol, slashdot's crippled search function prohibits anyone from mining your dreck.

      You've bashed Nintendo and pimped Sony repeatedly... please stop lying.

    3. Re:ivan256: fair and balanced? by ivan256 · · Score: 1

      Last response to what is clearly a Trolling AC...

      I *don't* Nintendo bash. Sure, I've criticized them in the past for failing to meet demand with the Wii, but I hardly consider that "bashing". I've said my fair share of negative things about Sony too. Probably more than I've said about Nintendo.

      Just use Google if Slashdot's search doesn't help you. It'll take you back years. Try something like "ivan256 Nintendo site:slashdot.org". You'll find plenty of negative commentary about Microsoft (deserved, I think, but some might call it bashing), and about analysts and reviewers and journalists, sure. The only bad thing you'll see me saying about Nintendo, though, is that they should have been able to get Wiis in stock by now.

    4. Re:ivan256: fair and balanced? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ivan256, you can call people names and insult them all you like. I followed your advice. I see plenty of bashing of Nintendo DS.

      It seems you are a bald-faced liar. I won't be responding to you, either. IOW, you can't fire me because I quit.

  47. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Tuidjy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    As far as I am concerned, Sony's greatest screw up was the root kit they included on some of their CDs. I had to remove it from my parents' PC, and I decided that I will avoid buying anything with their brand. I own a PS2, and my stereo is a Sony, but I have not spend a dime on their products in a long, long time. Once Virtua Fighter stopped being an exclusive, I knew I was going to be able to stick to my "boycott".

    --
    No good deed goes unpunished...
  48. Anything negative about something you like = FUD? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Words have meanings.

  49. My experience exactly by cbreaker · · Score: 2

    The PS3 is a damned cool machine. That's what I've been telling people since I got it. It's been a fun machine to own, it works great, there's nary a glitch to be found anywhere. Sony has continuously improved the capabilities of the system with each update, and Home should add a whole new dimension to online play when it's released.

    Nobody will be disappointed with the PS3 if they actually purchased one. The only people you really hear complaining about it are the owners of the Xbox 360; I guess they don't want the competition.

    --
    - It's not the Macs I hate. It's Digg users. -
    1. Re:My experience exactly by twistedsymphony · · Score: 1

      Based on these comments it would lend me to believe that Sony's biggest folley is not actually reaching people, not actually letting people get up close and personal with the experience they're actually offering. Because if the console is as solid as you, and other PS3 owners are saying then Sony is doing a very VERY poor job of getting that message across.

      Owing a 360 and owing a Wii and having played the PS3 a number of times at a friends house I must be on the outside looking in because I simply haven't got the same impression of the machine as you're describing. There are a number of things Sony could do that would get me to go out to the store tomorrow to buy one but I've yet to see any compelling reason to do so. If there really is a good reason, or a few good reason to get one then Sony has failed in making me see that as a customer.

      I bought a PS1 and a PS2 when I started seeing stuff offered on the platform that I wanted to play... I haven't see that yet with the PS3 so in the mean time I'm in no rush to buy one because who knows how far the price will drop before it even offers what I'm looking for.

    2. Re:My experience exactly by Afrosheen · · Score: 1

      I think they just don't want a constant reminder that they got shafted on a lower spec machine (no hd, no wifi, no memory card readers, no hdmi, no hd-dvd/br drive, the list goes on) that happens to be 99% more reliable. As some tool said in a break down a few posts up, you really do get what you pay for.

    3. Re:My experience exactly by cbreaker · · Score: 1

      Well, you've already spent the money on the Xbox 360, and it IS a comparable system to the PS3. I think the PS3 has more muster in the power department, and it has quite a few more extras and cool stuff, but solely based on games they're similar. So, why WOULD you buy a PS3? There's no huge compelling reason for you at this point. (likewise, there's not big compelling reason for me to purchase an Xbox 360.)

      But, only about 10 million people have purchased Xbox 360's. That leaves so many more consumers that haven't purchased one, that may be in the market for a game console system. For you, you might be happy with your previous purchase, but for other people, we'll see. (I also think that eventually, both the Xbox 360 and PS3 will retake all the market share Nintendo might have gained due to the Wii, because it's a very limited platform.)

      I agree fully with you that Sony hasn't done a great job marketing this thing. I mean, it's a game system, but it's also a bunch more then that, and I've never once seen an advertisement showing it to be anything other than a better PS2. It's really curious why corporations sometimes make mistakes like this that, to the consumer, are very obvious.

      --
      - It's not the Macs I hate. It's Digg users. -
  50. Nintendo? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just out of curiousity.. what kind of evil stuff has Nintendo on it's list?

    1. Re:Nintendo? by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's all old stuff. You can read most of it in Game Over if you're inclined.

      Basically, Nintendo was extremely strong-armed with third party developers during the NES days. You could only publish so many games a year(hence Contra being released as an ULTRA title), and you couldn't publish for other platforms like the Master system. They tried, unsuccessfully to crack down on unlicensed titles via their lockout chip, which was cloned by tengen(among others) and lost the resulting court case. That's also the source for the Nintendo seal of quality(all it really meant then was that a developer had paid the licensing fees, followed the rules, and the cart had a 10NES lockout chip).

      They kept this up(being controlling in regards to third parties) to a certain extent until Yamauchi handed the reins over to Igawa.

      Additionally, they strong-armed retailers, and to some extent manipulated the software market by having a hard lock on cartridge production.

      Also, their Nintendo Authorized Repair Center thing(the US NES had a tendency to break because of the way it loaded, putting stress on the contacts) was a little bit of a scam.

      Oh, and censored the original Mortal Kombat for the SNES, before the ESRB came into existance. I think that about covers it all.

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    2. Re:Nintendo? by plague3106 · · Score: 1

      Don't forget the price fixing. I remember being a kid seeing games just before the SNES came out and they STILL where the same price as they were when released. Of course being a kid I thought this was normal, until I read an article about it and got a $20 check from Nintendo.

    3. Re:Nintendo? by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1

      Oh, right, they strong-armed the retail and wholesale channels to keep prices at whatever level they wanted to. You don't need to do that anymore though, since you can contractually set minimum pricing due to a recent SCOTUS decision.

      Weren't they even more devious though, and it was something like $20 in Nintendo cash?

      This is like playing a game of, "hey, remember the 80s?"

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    4. Re:Nintendo? by Afrosheen · · Score: 1

      Actually this is more like the rosy-eyed glasses you wear when you think of an ex-girlfriend until you remember the time she decapitated your pet goldfish, rolled your car off a cliff, then announced that she was pregnant.

    5. Re:Nintendo? by trdrstv · · Score: 1

      Actually this is more like the rosy-eyed glasses you wear when you think of an ex-girlfriend until you remember the time she decapitated your pet goldfish, rolled your car off a cliff, then announced that she was pregnant.

      Ahhhhhhhh the good old days.... :-)

    6. Re:Nintendo? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They also tried to make the claim that emulators were illegal and started shutting emulation websites down. I'm not talking just ROM distribution, they claimed that the emulators themselves were illegal. This was around the time that the N64 emulators Project64 and UltraHLE were released.

      They are a fanatically possessive and controlling company.

  51. Price drop makes it worse for non US buyers by GreatDrok · · Score: 1

    I keep seeing the PS3 and keep feeling it is vastly overpriced. At the moment in NZ we are expected to pay $1199 for a PS3 despite the high value of the $Kiwi. At current exchange rates that would make a standard 60GB PS3 $935 US. I know we always get the sh***y end of the stick but nearly double the price for the same piece of hardware is way beyond a joke. I'm sure the price difference is similar in the EU too. Of course, the price of all the other consoles are equally crazy. With the $Kiwi at its highest level ever we seriously need to be seeing some exchange rate price cuts rather than importers taking the piss like this and that goes for all consoles.

    --
    "I have the attention span of a strobe lit goldfish, please get to the point quickly!"
    1. Re:Price drop makes it worse for non US buyers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In Norway, they want 6000 NOK for it... which is approximately 1050 USD.

      Not only did they show that they didn't care about Europe, when they released here half a year after the rest of the world (unlike e.g. 360), they had removed hardware emulation and and put the prices through the ceiling.... charging a 10 to 1 NOK/USD ration, when e.g. Apple does less than 8 to 1 (to account for VAT and translation).

      Sony doesn't care about Europe, Europe doesn't care about Sony. Good riddance.

    2. Re:Price drop makes it worse for non US buyers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      eBay?

    3. Re:Price drop makes it worse for non US buyers by MemoryDragon · · Score: 1

      Actually the problem in Europe is that we simply seem to buy that stuff no matter how much sony f**** us in the a****. The PS3 did not do too well here, after the initial rush it is sitting like stones on the shelves, but after what Sony did here, releasing it half a year later with a 900$ pricetag and then even removing hardware emulation to cut production costs they didnt even deserve the initial rush in the UK and 2-3 other countries!

    4. Re:Price drop makes it worse for non US buyers by Bryan+Ischo · · Score: 1

      I wonder if Sony sees the USA as its primary market, where they expect they need to sell large volumes, so they lower the price in the USA to an unsustainable level but make up for it in other regions of the world where they overcharge? I am beginning to form a theory after living here in NZ for six months and seeing how things are priced here, that things might be so cheap in the USA because companies are selling products there at a loss in order to compete in what they consider to be the most important market, and having to, like I said, make their product more expensive elsewhere to make up for it.

      It's the only reason that I could find to account for the fact that, as an example, NZ Air charges less to USA customers flying a round trip starting in the USA, than for a flight on the exact same dates but starting instead from NZ. The exact same number of miles are flown, from the same airports, just in opposite directions. And the tickets originating in the USA are much cheaper. It makes no sense at all, unless I assume that NZ Air just wants to try to sell to a USA market where price competition is higher so they have no choice but to sell at a lower price there, but make up for it by selling at a higher price here.

      If there is another theory on the reason behind this, I'd love to hear it.

    5. Re:Price drop makes it worse for non US buyers by andr0meda · · Score: 1

      The Ps3 is currently running in the shops for 599 euro, still overpriced compared to the 499 it was going at in the US before the price cut. If you can, try to find someone in the US to ship you a box as gift. I've heard of a few shops doing this, and it'll save you quite some taxes :)

      So far I've haven't seen shops in EU dropping 100 euro's from the price_tags, and I'm a little worried that the price-drops won't even reach consumers, unless the shops first burn through their stock of overpriced boxes.. how does that biz work?

      --
      With great power comes great electricity bills.
    6. Re:Price drop makes it worse for non US buyers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As another Kiwi, I've also noted problems with pricing - but there are a few caveats.
      You should check whether the price will include sales tax in the USA - sometimes they give the price without sales tax, and most states add it on at the register. So it would be equivalent in many cases to seeing "excluding GST".

      Also, some stores only sell their stock at a standard markup on their cost to buy it. So we may start seeing price drops in a few months time (around Christmas) as the old stock clears and they start selling new stock they got cheaper because of our current high dollar.

      (Well, fingers crossed on that last one anyway!)

    7. Re:Price drop makes it worse for non US buyers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If there is another theory on the reason behind this, I'd love to hear it.


      Start with these.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_and_demand
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_discrimination
      IMHO it's better with calculus, but for that you'd have to take it at a university.
  52. Multiplatform games could do the PS3 in for good. by Maul · · Score: 1

    From what I see so far, it seems that the PS3 has two potential killer apps that could "save" it. Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy 13 are the only two games that come to mind that make me even remotely think, "Maybe I'd want to pick a PS3 up because I want to play these games."

    MGS4 going multiplatform would be yet another big blow to the system, and it seems at least somewhat likely this will happen.

    FF13 going multiplatform is less likely from what I understand, but it would certainly suck for the PS3 if it happened.

    --

    "You spoony bard!" -Tellah

  53. Alleviate concerns over scarcity? What? by Yvan256 · · Score: 1

    The release of the latest version of Metal Gear Solid series is expected to help lure hard-core gamers to the PS3 and alleviate concerns over scarcity of strong PS3 titles.
    Oh yeah. Because we all know, of course, that:

    x PS3 titles = scarcity of strong PS3 titles
    x+1 PS3 titles = alleviate concerns over scarcity of strong PS3 titles

    Not to mention that MGS are not exactly games that appeal to everyone.

  54. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by ivan256 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    And then you try to play the racism card in a desperate attempt to grab the moral high ground. That's pathetic.


    Hey, buddy, you're the one who used the term fanboi, and I brought it up because it disgusts me, and because it's only ever used by people who are swinging low.

    I'm not going to continue a back-and-forth with you over who put what words in who's mouth, but as I check out from this thread I urge you to go back and find where I ever accused you of saying anything other than "fuck" and "fanboi". You are the one who decided I said something I had not.
  55. Skewing the numbers by jchenx · · Score: 1
    First of all, I wanted to point out that the PS3's high sales rank in Amazon is a new thing. Previous to the price drop, it ranked #28. You can read more about it at Joystiq: http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/10/ps3-price-drop-d rives-amazon-sales/

    Look at the sales rate on that graph. If your statement were entirely true, then as soon as more supply became available, the Xbox 360 would have seen a large spike in sales, but the sales trend continues at the same pace until the Christmas season when you see the sharp increase. I imagine that Sony will experience something like this with the PS3 and then fall back to normal, as did the Xbox 360.
    Your belief that there should have been a "large spike in sales" is flawed. It depends on how the supply situation was corrected. If MS just shipped in a huge boatload of 360s all of a sudden, then yes, I would agree that ideally there'd be a sharp increase. However, that's not how it's done. Rather, supply gradually increased (coupled with demand slowly decreasing). At some point, supply does meet demand, but it's not clear exactly when this happened. (Anecdotal evidence points to this happening around March of last year)

    So in short, that sales chart does "short change" the 360 and the Wii.

    In any case, I think the whole "well so-and-so console is performing as good as console Y did in its lifecycle" is not nearly as important as many seem to think. It's an interesting statistic, but ultimately, consoles aren't competing against each other's history. They're competing against what else is on shelves now. It's actually damned easy to skew statistics and find something that "looks good" for whatever console you happen to be a fanboy for, but at the end of the day, it's going to be the actual sales units and current sales growth that's important.

    Right now, the 360 still has a nice unit lead over the Wii and PS3 (thanks to its head start, of course). But the Wii is beating the pants off both, in terms of sales growth (and it's still supply limited). Unfortunately, there's not much in the way of good news for the PS3, other than employing shady statistic techniques (blah blah compared to other console lifecycles, etc).

    --
    -- jchenx
    1. Re:Skewing the numbers by dakameleon · · Score: 1

      Ok, let's take your suggestion then - don't align the launches, which should play out what is happening currently. The result looks like this.

      Now what does that say? The PS3, despite its price disadvantage, is maintaining approximate parity with the X360 - the gap isn't widening or narrowing particularly. The Wii is kicking some serious butt. And the PS3 definitely has upward momentum at the moment, given the price drop.

      If you do the same thing for the previous generation, you get this. What's interesting to note there is that neither GameCube nor Xbox closed the gap at any point to the PS2, which had the first-mover advantage (actually DreamCast, RIP, did but let's not talk about that sad end). Which suggests that this round will play out very differently.

      --
      Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
    2. Re:Skewing the numbers by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      The price cut is also a new thing. The fact that people have responded so positively to the price cut in such a short time could suggest an increase in sales and a spike in the rate of sales, which would be good news for Sony. Only time will tell how much of an impact this will have, but right now it's impossible to either affirm this as a major turnabout for Sony or dismiss it as a quick jump in sales.

      My assumption clearly states that as long as the demand outpaces the supply, any new consoles introduced to the market will be immediately purchased (read stories about how Wii's are still flying off shelves as an example). However, it's been known that there have been Xbox 360's on store shelves in the wild now for some time. I think that by early summer you could easily walk into a store and pick one up. The fact that there were there extra consoles available for puchase that weren't, suggests that the Xbox 360 reached a point of saturation in the market. If it hadn't, there wouldn't have been consoles on store shelves. The pace of the sales has been fairly similar with the exception of the holiday season when purchases spiked and have since returned to a similar rate before the holidays. We can't ever know for a certainty that if Microsoft hadn't had supply issues, that their sales would have been greater. Even assuming that they were, the long run results would still likely be the same.

      I think that if you use your method of comparison, it makes Sony look even better. Then you can point out that they're compeating with an established compititor that has similar graphical capabilities, a superior online implementation, a larger library of games, and costs only two-thirds as much. The fact that the PS3 can compete with that while trying to ramp up support is a small miracle. It makes an even stronger case that Sony isn't in the trouble that everyone seems to be suggesting they are.

      If you look at the current sales growth, you'll see that globally, the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are roughly even currently, and have similarities in their launches.

    3. Re:Skewing the numbers by jchenx · · Score: 1

      Ok, let's take your suggestion then - don't align the launches, which should play out what is happening currently. The result looks like this.

      Now what does that say? The PS3, despite its price disadvantage, is maintaining approximate parity with the X360 - the gap isn't widening or narrowing particularly. The Wii is kicking some serious butt. And the PS3 definitely has upward momentum at the moment, given the price drop.
      I don't get your point. Isn't maintaining approximate parity with the 360 a bad thing? The PS3 has to narrow the gap, not maintain it. If anything, your graph shows that Sony is in deep trouble, as it's been half a year and the gap remains huge. Whereas the Wii is doing exactly what it needs to: catch up in a big way.

      Also, it's way to early to analyze the price drop. Of course it's going to have upwards momentum. That's a no brainer. The big question is going to be how long it lasts. IMHO, dropping the price in July seems really dumb. It's a slow sales month. If anything, a price drop would make sense closer to Fall or Winter. Wouldn't Sony see their 10-20% increase in sales during a period where more consoles are sold? By the time Fall rolls around, a lot of the price-drop buzz will be long gone.
      --
      -- jchenx
    4. Re:Skewing the numbers by dakameleon · · Score: 1

      You are correct - the PS3 does need to catch up, and the Wii is doing so - but what's the easiest differentiator? The Wii is half the price, and that's after the PS3 price drop.

      My point is that it is maintaining parity despite the price disadvantage, which suggests that sales for PS3 are no worse than for X360. Sony isn't in the greatest position, sure, but keeping parity with number 2 in terms of sales growth isn't altogether too bad. In the face of complaints such as lack of compelling content (i.e. games), keeping up looks alright.

      Dropping the price in a slow sales month doesn't hurt sales figures at all; indeed, it will pick up sales when the expectation would be for sales to plateau.

      It'll be interesting to revisit this in a couple of weeks.

      --
      Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
  56. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Just adding some counterpoints for interests sake (disclaimer: I have both a 360 and PS3):

    1) This is only true IF you have a large TV or you sit closer than optimal viewing distance. The difference between 720p and 1080p is very hard to spot on anything less than 40" (unless you sit too close - at least 1.5-2x the size of the television is the distance away you ought to be). The difference between quality of different TV brands is much more a concern - a high quality tv at 720p can definately look better than a POS at 1080p (I'm looking at YOU, Hitachi!).

    2) Very true, but as a working adult you must admit that $60 a year is a pittance, and for many people it's worth it for the seamless online service that xbox live provides. I much prefer the 360's online functionality to that of my PS3, free or not.

    3) Actually most comparisons I've seen put them on equal footing graphics wise. Only oblivion comes to mind as having a hands down superior version on the PS3, but it did come out 10 months later or so on the PS3 than on the 360, so I would expect (demand?) as much.

    4) True. Lets just hope developers learn to take advantage. Superior hardware doesnt always mean success.

    5) Very true. The PS3 is a very cheap Blu-Ray player, and bluray movies look awesome. I doubt the HD movie market will be anything other than a niche market for the next few years, but for those of us early adopters the PS3 is a good choice for a bluray player, at least until standalones come down in price. Compared to modern standalone DVD players the PS2 sucks horribly, and I suspect the same will be true of the PS3's bluray capability by the time Bluray catches on. In the mean time however, it works.

    6) Bah. PS3 upscaled dvds look better than non-upscaled dvds, but my $60 panasonic dvd player (also with hdmi output) does a much better job and has many more options. Maybe sony can update the upscaling software some more and it will be on par with standalone players, but I won't hold my breath.

    7) All of my xbox games work on my 360, and all of my PS2 games (except Guitar Hero 1/2, because of the controller) work on my PS3. Guess I'm just lucky. There never was a huge number of must-play xbox exclusives - are there any that the 360 won't handle?

    8) I like this a lot actually. It's like playing Playstation 1 games with epsxe on a computer. Of course the older games I choose to play again I would be playing anyway with or without sharper textures, but it's a nice bonus. Keep in mind the 360 also updates the graphics of emulated xbox games.

    9) This is pure guessing. The PS2 certainly had a long lifespan, but the success of the PS2 (so far) has not translated into similar success for the PS3. One would hope with it's superior hardware that it would last longer, but as you pointed out the xbox (which had better hardware than the ps2) launched a year after the ps2 (as the ps3 lauched a year after the 360) and it didnt have a superior lifespan.

  57. Re:Price Drop != Cheaper PS3 by AvitarX · · Score: 1

    Is it possible for the primary method of purchase to be ebay?

    Even if 100% of consoles are sold on ebay, it is still only half.

    --
    Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
  58. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Doomstalk · · Score: 2, Interesting

    1) I have a 1080p screen and at that resolution the PS3's graphics are much better.

    Define "much better". That term is pretty ambiguous as given, especially considering that both consoles support 1080p.

    2) If you play online games the PS3 is much cheaper over several years.

    This is somewhat true, but I wouldn't consider Sony's service to be comparable. Xbox Live is, for now, just a better experience and worth the money.

    3) Cross platform games are better on the PS3.

    Again, you're way too ambiguous. How are they better? Do they have better graphics? Do the controls feel better? From what I've seen of comparisons, the Xbox 360 has actually come out ahead in terms of image quality with games like Armored Core 4. And, D-pad aside, I don't see how anyone can call the SIXAXIS a better controller than the 360's. The analog sticks have about as much tension as a narcoleptic on muscle relaxants, the analog triggers feel like mush and have no travel, and the controller itself has no heft.

    4) PS3 games have much more to work with aka a HDD, more processing power etc.

    The HDD statement is true, but the comment about processing power is disingenuous. They're both running at comparable clock speeds using a similar architecture. The major difference is that the PS3 has its power distributed over more cores, which can be as much of a liability as an advantage-- thread management becomes more difficult; and because some of the cores aren't general purpose, you can't necessarily take advantage of all the CPU cycles available to you. Then there's the RAM architectures: the PS3 and the 360 have the same amount of RAM, but on the PS3 CPU and GPU memory segregated; whereas on the 360 they use a shared pool. This has a couple of potential advantages: the developer has the ability to allocate RAM in a manner that best suits their game, and the CPU can directly affect texture memory for things like procedural generation.

    6) Up scaling DVD's

    The 360 does this when connected via VGA or HDMI.

    9) The PS3 has a longer lifespan.

    That's a mighty nice crystal ball you have there, sir. Do you read palms too?

  59. don't forget Gran Turismo 5 by Pap22 · · Score: 1

    GT2 was the reason I sold my N64 and bought a PS1!

  60. More Expensive HW, Not Cheaper by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The embedded PS2 chip in the original PS3s was one of the most glaring signs that Sony had rushed the PS3 to market before it was ready. The several firmware upgrades in the 7-8 months since its release (up to 1.82 or so now) are more signs that Sony's tech is catching up to its marketing rollout.

    The PS3 HW was always planned to offer PS2 support in SW emulation, not the chip. But they didn't finish the SW until the EU rollout, when they could finally drop the chip that was faster to design in than was emulation.

    So what has happened is that Sony is now dropping its PS3 price right as it's dropping the more expensive HW kluge. That alone doesn't raise any realistic doubts. If anything, it shows how skillful is Sony in mitigating its project management and marketing risks with alternate designs. Because users won't even notice the difference. All they'll notice is dropping prices and increased functions.

    But what I want to see is Sony actually change 2 basic PS3 limits that hold back Linux on it. First, Sony must offer a model with RAM expandable beyond the 256-500MB hardwired into current models. Without more RAM, the fast Cell rips through all the data in 2ms, then can rely on all its IO to get only enough data to keep the Cell about 2-5% busy.

    The other change Sony should make is to open the Hypervisor to allow SW running on the Cell to call at least the 2D graphics functions on the RSX videochip. Otherwise, all video must be computed on the Cell. PCs all put all that graphics/video computation/rendering on the VGA coprocessor.

    If not, people will have to port Linux X drivers to the Cell SPEs. That could happen anyway, for even more interesting video processing than that built into the RSX. Once PS3 has video codecs ported to SPEs or RSX, MythTV will become a killer app, with a USB TV decoder feeding it, and a DLNA server for archive.

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    make install -not war

    1. Re:More Expensive HW, Not Cheaper by mrshowtime · · Score: 1

      Sony's biggest faux pas has been the choice of the Blu-Ray drive over more ram and the choice to use non-unified ram. 256mb just does not cut it today. If Sony would have had a standard dvd-rom drive and a gig of ram, the difference would have been evident between the 360 and the PS3. As it stands right now, and for the future, the PS3 is just as good as if not slightly "worse" than the 360.

      --
      "Jeremy, you need to get to an internet cafe and cut and paste some appropriate sentiments about me from the world wide
    2. Re:More Expensive HW, Not Cheaper by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 1

      Why does Sony have to choose between Blu-Ray and a SIMM slot?

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      make install -not war

    3. Re:More Expensive HW, Not Cheaper by wally40 · · Score: 1

      Ok, I find it funny that you say the cells are only being used 2-5%. Yet you think Sony should have them get access the the Hypervisor to use the videochip and not the cell processors. Just thinking about it, if you are playing a game that is 2D, it would not have much of a memory footprint, logically. Having it be processed on the Cell vs the RSX chip would not make the graphics any better. They would be processed no matter what chip is used. It would just have an extra step then to transfer the processing from the Cell to the Hypervisor.

      Computers put the video processing to the GPU because most of the time, its a large game (bigger than 2D) that is taking all the CPU and to get the best results, needs to have help.

      Now I will say that I am an Xbox fanboy, but I can still see the good in the PS3. I think where they went a little wrong was in the games. They have not had any games that have been worth saying, "Those games are on the PS3, I want it!!!". Well, buy the hardware, then what, no great games yet. They only really focused on the hardware, which I have to admit is great. But the problem with that is the hardware is only a paperweight if there is nothing running on it. The other thing, yea it has BluRay, but when was the last time anyone went and bought something worth $500 to only play movies. Nice additional feature, but not worth that alone.

      Any PS fanboy that is saying the PS3 is the best out there is only trying to justify there fanboyism. It has the hardware to compete, but like I said, without the games/software, it is an expensive paperweight.

    4. Re:More Expensive HW, Not Cheaper by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 1

      The PS3 IO limits the data rate to 2-5% of the Cell's capacity to process it, whether or not you think that's funny. Games programming doesn't suffer as much, because it works on the same data over and over: turn head left, right, left, right, spin opponent, spin, turn head left...

      Getting access to the RSX would just mean using the graphics processing power that is already available, instead of spending time reprogramming it on the SPEs. And the reason I said 2D, is because I'm not really interested in games. I'm interested in Linux, which doesn't need the 3D. But it does need the 2D, which won't compete with Sony's licensed 3D games that Sony wants no competition for.

      If PS3 had more RAM, it would be an excellent Linux server. If it had RSX 2D, it would be an excellent Linux workstation. With both, it would be an excellent media hub. The games it can play in GameOS mode are interesting to me only because it sells enough PS3s to make them cheap.

      You might have a disclaimer from your Xbox preference, but your strawman arguments, projected unilateral issues and invocation of fanboys reads like any other fanboy competition. I'm not interested in playing that game.

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      make install -not war

    5. Re:More Expensive HW, Not Cheaper by wally40 · · Score: 1
      Sorry, I don't think that when Sony was designing the PS3 they were thinking, hmmm... I wonder how we can run Linux on this. I tried keeping my fanboy of the Xbox to myself and keep my post fair. I do think the hardware is great. If you buy a PS3 to run Linux on it, even if it had all the things you wish, that is what old scrapped pc's are for. Linux fans always claim that it doesn't need that much power to run, well, don't waste your money then on a POWERFUL CONSOLE.

      You might have a disclaimer from your Linux preference, but your strawman arguments, projected unilateral issues and invocation of fanboy reads like any other fanboy competition. I'M NOT INTERESTED IN RUNNING LINUX ON A CONSOLE.

    6. Re:More Expensive HW, Not Cheaper by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 1

      Except that Sony launched the PS3 with Linux support (YDL), so you're just wrong.

      That's enough free clues for you. See ya on the Xbox. Don't hold your breath.

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      make install -not war

    7. Re:More Expensive HW, Not Cheaper by wally40 · · Score: 1

      Cause like I said, not interested in running linux on a console. Why is it that linux fans always have to find what they can run there God aweful OS on and then tell everyone why its so cool to do so? Don't worry, never planned on watching for you in the first place.

  61. Sony Competition Necessary by dahwang · · Score: 1

    If the PS3 does fail, (which I highly doubt), then it's not just bad for Sony, but for the gaming industry. In a capitalistic world economy, the more competition, the better. If the PS3, Wii, and XBox360 all do well, then the winners are the consumers.

    When Nintendo refused to switch to a CD based game format, Sony took up the initiative and the PS1 became one of the most successful platforms. When Nintendo released the Gamecube, it pushed forth with an innovative controller as well as the idea of "party" games which is the most fun with 4 controllers. The Xbox followed suit and the PS2 released an adapter, but Gamecube's games were still unmatched. Now all current platforms support at least 4 simultaneous players.

    Xbox implemented internet gaming and interaction and now Nintendo and Sony are still trying to catch up. This market requires more competition because it breeds advancement and innovation. I'm kind of excited to see what the PS3 has to offer, but the price is still prohibitive for me to experience firsthand.

    So in summary. Stop wishing for the demise of the PS3. It'll hurt you more than it'll hurt Sony.

    1. Re:Sony Competition Necessary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "So in summary. Stop wishing for the demise of the PS3. It'll hurt you more than it'll hurt Sony."

      A $600 soon to be $500 with $70 dollar games with a limited software library isn't exactly helping me much right now either. Moving on, I feel if Sony gets a better marketing dept. and play their cards right, they have a chance to recover in the future and take the gaming market by storm with the ps3. It's all up to them though.

      For me, I have only a wii and that's all I'm planning on having. I'm not a hardcore gamer but I do have my moments though. I'm not interesting in the best graphics or the biggest explosions or paying $50+ for a game 'cause its a big game title(eh halo 3) let alone having my console be my computer/home entertainment system(that's why I have a computer for). I just want a gaming console with some excellent gameplay and the wii provides that for me. Truth be told I despise both microsoft and sony right now so its hard for me to even consider buying their systems. That can change in the future.

      As for now I'm content with what I have....

    2. Re:Sony Competition Necessary by Khaed · · Score: 1

      I disagree. Not with the part about competition being good, but that the PS3 failing will hurt consumers. No moreso than the Gamecube and N64 doing badly hurt consumers.

      Sony has held the number one spot since the Playstation came out. By your argument, seeing Vista fail would be bad for consumers. Seeing Sony lose exclusivity and their #1 spot is NOT going to hurt consumers. It's going to level the playing field a bit more.

      Nintendo went from the top dog to losing to Sony with the N64, and they came around with the Gamecube -- it didn't do as well as it should have because of the lost developer support. But then came along the Wii. Sometimes companies have to royally screw up before they come up with something good. Sony's mistake this generation is that they didn't really do anything. They just sort of made this really powerful machine and expected to float on their #1 spot. Maybe if they're having to fight to regain their place, they'll come out with something interesting and new.

      As it is, the Playstation 3 isn't interesting. It's just powerful.

      And, Sega failed miserably, and it didn't hurt the gaming industry much at all. There were still awesome games on the Super Nintendo, it didn't cost some ridiculous price, and neither did the games. Nintendo has dominated the handheld market, and the Gameboy has always had really interesting, addictive, and cheap games. The DS is innovative and cheap. They continue to dominate without any real competition there, and the market isn't hurting for fun games. Sony's dominance during the PS1/PS2 generations didn't stop fun games from coming out for Nintendo's systems (granted, almost all of them were first party games).

      I don't think the PS3 will "fail." But I do think they're going to continue to get their butts handed to them. Their dominance is hopefully at an end, bringing us to a much more competitive market.

      On a more personal note, after the way Sony has behaved over the last few years, I'm happy to see them getting stuffed into a locker by Nintendo.

    3. Re:Sony Competition Necessary by dahwang · · Score: 1

      When Sega finally bit the bullet with the Dreamcast, there was already another competitor ready to take its place--the Playstation2. But the dreamcast still pushed the innovation a bit more and caused other game developers and platform developers to adjust to the limits that the Dreamcast pushed forward.

      I'm not saying that Sony shouldn't be a loser. I know that Sony's business tactics have been less than favorable, but you have to remember that Nintendo also behaved in the same way when they ruled the gaming market. I'm seeing now that Sony is experiencing the same thing as Nintendo did, except that its not the developeres turning against Sony, it's the consumers.

      The Super Nintendo, when released, had competition. Now the Gensis and Saturn failed miserably, but if the PS1 didn't challenge the N64, innovation in the gaming industry would not be where it is today.

      It's not that I want to the PS3 to win, but I don't want Sony to lose so badly that they'd pull out of the gaming industry. It would be a loss to all of us, since Sony is one of the foremost innovative developers in the gaming industry (along with Nintendo and Microsoft).

      I don't like Sony. I have a Wii. But i dont see how Sony abandoning it's gaming division would be a good thing for the industry.

    4. Re:Sony Competition Necessary by Khaed · · Score: 1

      It's not that I want to the PS3 to win, but I don't want Sony to lose so badly that they'd pull out of the gaming industry.

      I don't see this happening, simply because they know how much they can make and dominate. The PS1 and PS2 destroyed the competition. Even Sony's execs aren't so stupid to pull out when they lose one out of three rounds.

  62. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    >As someone that bought a PS3 and a 360, I think the PS3 is a much better system.
    I call "Shennanigans" Hydra-guy

    >1) I have a 1080p screen and at that resolution the PS3's graphics are much better.
    Funny, the 360 does 1080P too and they even give you an HD cable to do it. Plus every cross platform game with the debatable exception of Oblivion has better graphics on the 360. Plus every non-Sony-owned dev has admitted the GPU (that little thingy that does the graphic in a game console) on the 360 is significantly more powerful than the rush job Nvidia did for Sony. Are you sure you can even see the graphics on the PS3? You realize that the cable that came with your PS3 is a composite cable, right?
    >2) If you play online games the PS3 is much cheaper over several years.
    And you get what you pay for. Sorry, I'll take actually having online support in games like Virtua Fighter 5 and Tony Hawk and things like universal chat support and ingame notification over Sony's "free" offering. Seriously, what does Sony offer in its online service (not the game devs, Sony) that they could charge for? Plus, plan on replacing those now-obsolete rumbleless Sixaxis controllers at $50 a pop? Sony will make sure you do. Sony gotta eat.
    >3) Cross platform games are better on the PS3.
    Completely false. See any game review with the possible exception of Oblivion. Even then the devs (not some raving fanboy) admitted that the small improvements were due to eight extra months of dev time. Even then they had to kill anti-aliasing, HDR lighting, and downloadable content because of the inferior PS3 system.
    >4) PS3 games have much more to work with aka a HDD, more processing power etc.
    Except the devs can't really use it effectively due to a combo of Sony's bad OS design, the fragmentation problem (which devs can't fix- only Sony) and the fact that the HDD performance varies due to user upgrades to the point at which HDD throughput may be lower than the already-too-slow Blu-ray throughput.
    >5) Blue-Ray
    You mean Blew-ray? Their biggest seller AAA title has sold a grand total of ~70,000 copies. There have been a little more than a million total discs sold. Since, if you believe Sony's numbers, about five million PS3s have been sold, then the typical PS3 owner has bought ZERO discs. At best, only one in five (completely ignoring the standalone players sold for a year because consumers obviously did) PS3 owners buys movies. The format is, so far, a non-event. HD-DVD has about one tenth the number of players on the market but has also sold over a million discs. The biggest selling HD disc on either format is "Planet Earth" and the HD-DVD version outsold the Blu-ray version. If HD-DVD is dead, then Blu-ray dying of apathy.
    >6) Up scaling DVD's
    The 360 does this too. It also did it before the PS3 could. So does any $60 DVD player at Walmart and they don't stutter during movie playback if you leave the wifi on like the PS3. Most of them also play DiVX movies, unlike the PS3.
    >7) It plays enough PS2 games that I don't need a PS2 but I still need the Xbox for a lot of old games.
    Better hope you don't have to replace your PS3 with the new "improved" model or else you get stuck with software emulation just like the 360.
    >8) It upgrades the graphics on old PS2 games. (So it's better than just backwards compatible.)
    Complete BS. At least with the 360s BC (about sixty percent of my titles work), the games are natively rendered at HD (Ninja Gaiden Black actually looks sharper and has less aliasing than Sigma in BC mode) unlike the PS3 where they just upscale the whole framebuffer making them blurrier and in many cases unplayable (see Burnout). Pretty lame.
    >9) The PS3 has a longer lifespan. (Xbox 1 came out a year after PS2 but the 360 came out a year before the PS3. People are still buying more PS2's than 360's.)
    And people are buying twice the number of 360s as PS3s worldwide every month and six times the number of Wiis. PS2s got a boost because the BC

  63. 80GB version just a profit enhancement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Go look at current disk drive products, and you will find 40GB and 80GB drives have the same price (for example on newegg.com).
    Since the 80 GB version removes the PS2 EE chip, it will have inferior compatibility compared to the 60 GB version.
    So, the 80 GB version simply uses currently available parts to enhance their profit margin; the implication is that the 60 GB version would likely disappear since they can't buy 60 GB disks at reduced price to to 80 GB disks. Of course, when they stop selling the 60 GB version, the price of available boxes will be same as it ever was.

    No wonder Sony denied this was a price cut!

  64. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Doomstalk · · Score: 1

    Oh, I forgot to note that the Blu-Ray in the PS3 has a lower average throughput than the 360's DVD drive. This is enough of an issue that a lot of developers have the same data multiple times on one disc to improve read speeds. Even something as simple as taking advantage of higher storage capacity on the PS3 takes extra work for developers.

  65. Re:Price Drop != Cheaper PS3 by noidentity · · Score: 3, Insightful

    That's the thing, this $200 sweet spot apparently doesn't psychologically adjust itself to inflation. So you can't get away with arguing "Yeah, $500 seems like a lot, but if you adjust for inflation, it's like you're getting a console that costed $200 many years ago. We're sure our logic will overcome your psychology without difficulty!" Except that electronics goods are constantly getting cheaper, so we expect them to cost the same or less in the future, using whatever the current dollar is.

  66. Re:Talk about pessimism... by Detritus · · Score: 1

    The saying "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic" comes to mind. It's too little and too late.

    --
    Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
  67. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ok, it looks like they added a few to the list, but they are still missing Psychonauts, Prince of Persia 2/3, Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy, Gauntlet Dark legacy, and Jaws Unleached and non US games.

    http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/backwardcompatibil itygameslist.htm Note:

    1This list of titles that have passed hand certification for compatibility with Xbox 360 is provided for informational purposes only and is subject to change without notice. To ensure the highest quality gaming experience, in the event that an unforeseen technical issue is discovered after hand certification is completed, Microsoft® reserves the right to remove any game name from this list. Please check back often to see the most current list of games.

    2Currently the North American versions of these games are the only ones supported as backward compatible titles on Xbox 360.

    3The December 2005 update includes the Monk Zeng content from the limited edition of Jade Empire.

    4Offline version only; versions included with Xbox LIVE® Starter Kits or as a bundled game with other Xbox Live titles do not yet play on Xbox 360.

    5Currently the Japanese version of this game is not supported as a backwards compatible title on the Xbox 360.

  68. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Chris+Burke · · Score: 1

    Hey, buddy, you're the one who used the term fanboi, and I brought it up because it disgusts me, and because it's only ever used by people who are swinging low.

    No, it's used by a lot of people who simply aren't uptight asswipes desperately trying to score points.

    I urge you to go back and find where I ever accused you of saying anything other than "fuck" and "fanboi".

    Sure thing, and it'll be easy too. Your first post: "But you should swear about it, and turn it into a huge issue, and pretend that it's worse than the competition, etc... Go right ahead. It's what we expect from the Slashdot 360 Fanboy, Slashdot Games section."

    "Huge issue", "worse than the competition" -- i.e. FUD -- and "360 fanboy", everything I said you were calling me. Now shut up, idiot.

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  69. Sony made another poor choice. by kinglink · · Score: 1

    I'm not going to bash the system, almost everyone understands the problems of the PS3. However the price drop is putting Sony into a different problem, and it's worse.

    Sony has all but admited that they are removing the emotion engine from 60gb systems. The 80gb system have been confirmed not to have it. Instead they will be using software emulation (like the European systems) for backwards compatibility so anyone who wants a ps3 and the ability to play ps2 games are running out and picking up 60gb systems. They arn't buying games, they are getting 5 blu ray dvds free, and they are getting other tie ins (I got a second controller from circuit city). Assuming the system costs around 800 to make they still lose 300 on the system not counting the tie ins.

    This means they are at least 300 dollars behind for each system they are selling now, and if more people run out buying 60 gb systems for the backwards compatibility and wait for later games, that's more and more money in the hole. It's not unlikely for people to do this (the backwards compatibility on the 360 is horrendous, the european ps3 emulation is weak at best).

    So essentially you might see 1 million systems in a month sold but at the same time that's going to be somewhere around the neighborhood of 250 million dollars loss. I don't hear about many people running out and picking up 10 games with their systems either. And Sony's going to get a lot more desperate, methinks. They'll brag about their new numbers but I have a feeling they'll be scared once they realize how many games everyone is buying with their systems.

    Oh and here's a beauty. Licensing for Sony systems is only a handful of dollars per system so 300 dollars could mean anything from 10 first party game to 30 third party games. So it's not just 5 games. Plus used games gives them 0 dollars, Blu-ray might help a bit but I don't know of anyone going out and replacing their old collection with new movies, and the rest of the system makes it sound like the PS3 will be hurting even more than before.

    But personally I'm more interested in putting in my copy of Okami tonight for a little game session.

  70. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by mythras · · Score: 1

    You do realize that not only are they losing because of titles and lack of them, but they were losing almost $300 per console before the price drop. Now, they lose $300-$400 per console, and aren't making it up in terms of software licensing fees, because who wants to launch exclusives on the Titanic? If I were Konami and had tied my company's fortunes to the PS3, I'd be looking elsewhere fast also. The 360 is a solid gaming platform, and it's online component is solid. Wii, while many claim that it is going for the non-hardcore market, does have a healthy new market of people who are buying their first video game systems. What better way to get rid of some of the "gamers are evil" FUD that the media has put out, than to expose some of these new gamers (gamers in the most newbie aspect of the word, mind you) to solid, fun titles? Not saying the Wii will match 360 or PS3 in graphics, by any stretch. But it does have a large, growing audience and they are hungry for games. A company looking to recover costs and not building just another mini-games title for the Wii might make a buck or two.

  71. To be honest, to me the brand is tainted by dinther · · Score: 1

    I recently bought our first game console for the family. I would have been open to any brand but Sony appears to be a terrible technology bully forcing propriety solutions onto the market and then fleecing it's customers as long as they can. To me Sony as a publisher is one one the most active DRM fanatics whipping their customers into shape.

    Basically, Sony is not a brand that I associate with fun and entertainment but with litigation and bullying it is that simple. We are due for a new TV and sound system. Sony products will simply not be considered regardless of how good or cheap they are.

    I don't want to do business with Sony and I am hoping their problems are due to the fact that more people feel this way. I am hoping that people finally stand up to large brands and tell them to play nice or piss off.

    1. Re:To be honest, to me the brand is tainted by Is0m0rph · · Score: 1

      I feel exactly the same way. My wife still doesn't get it but I will never buy anything with Sony's name on it again. I don't care what it is either movies, music, consumer electronics, etc. 5+ years ago virtually everything I owned for electronics was Sony.

    2. Re:To be honest, to me the brand is tainted by grolschie · · Score: 1

      I recently bought our first game console for the family. I would have been open to any brand but Sony appears to be a terrible technology bully forcing propriety solutions onto the market and then fleecing it's customers as long as they can. To me Sony as a publisher is one one the most active DRM fanatics whipping their customers into shape.

      Basically, Sony is not a brand that I associate with fun and entertainment but with litigation and bullying it is that simple. We are due for a new TV and sound system. Sony products will simply not be considered regardless of how good or cheap they are.
      So from that logic, it's clear that you didn't buy the Microsoft console either. So what did you end up with? An Atari 2600? ;-)
    3. Re:To be honest, to me the brand is tainted by dinther · · Score: 1

      Nope, I bought a Nintendo Wii. But your sarcastic comment is not that far off the mark. It is getting increasingly difficult to find suppliers that treat their customers with respect and decency. Sometimes, and these days far too often, there is no choice and you have to buy from the "bad"
      guy either because competitors have been pushed out or because markets have been shaped in such a way that alternative goods can not be obtained in certain parts of the world.

      I am having that very fight now where I need a car part that costs here $350 while in the UK the same part inc shipping would cost $100 but of course the resellers in the UK are not allowed to ship to New Zealand.

      It is a stinking awful market out there where I am the muddy stressed cash cow being worked for all I'm worth.

    4. Re:To be honest, to me the brand is tainted by grolschie · · Score: 1

      Ah a fellow NZer. Yeah tell me about it. I find it's the same for music gear too. Many brands in the USA only sell to official distributors and don't allow US online stores to sell outside the USA. The result is that the NZ distributor with the monopoly marks up the prices to rediculous levels. Parallel importing which is now legal here, is almost impossible with some brands. :-/

    5. Re:To be honest, to me the brand is tainted by dinther · · Score: 1

      Cheers mate, Well, Ebay came to the rescue. I got my part for $33 instead of $350 dollars. Imagine that, 10 times more if you purchase that part locally! On some days this place really feels like a little island.

  72. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by cbreaker · · Score: 1

    Ohh hell no - I've had three upscaling DVD players and they've all done an absolutely shitty job of scaling DVD's compared to the PS3. The PS3, in my opinion, gives a great balance of crisp-ness without making things look plastic. It's very nice. The only time you'll find better if when you have a really expensive $1800 DVD player or a $2000+ scaler.

    --
    - It's not the Macs I hate. It's Digg users. -
  73. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by vux984 · · Score: 1

    1) I have a 1080p screen and at that resolution the PS3's graphics are much better.

    Really? By what measure?

    2) If you play online games the PS3 is much cheaper over several years.

    Yup. No question. As someone who doesn't play online games much, but likes to have the ability, XBL is a complete waste. I think XBL may be the better server (given it been around since xbox 1 and even the 360 has a 1 year head start, this is no surprise... for the amount I play, XBL isn't worth it.

    3) Cross platform games are better on the PS3.

    Really. Most reviews seem to be giving the nod to the 360.

    4) PS3 games have much more to work with aka a HDD, more processing power etc.

    Fair enough on the HD. But the cpu power is a non-starter. Most professional analysts conclude
    that the the PS3 can't realize most of its potential even in ideal circumstances, and that games are not remotely ideal circumstances. The PS3 is effectively crippled. The 360 has less theoretical power, but its able to use most of it, and its architecture is in line with the needs of games.

    5) Blue-Ray

    And I'm unconvinced yet that its worth the money. By the time that it IS worth the money, BR players will be more affordable and having it lumped in with your console is less of an issue.

    6) Up scaling DVD's

    Better off buying a decent upscaler, then ALL your devices benefit. Better still buying a TV with a good upscaler, and then you don't even need a separate upscaler. But ok.... its still a good feature. Then again the 360 can do this too.

    7) It plays enough PS2 games that I don't need a PS2 but I still need the Xbox for a lot of old games.

    I don't buy 600 consoles to play last generation games of the most successful console. I mean who doesn't already have a PS2? And if you want PS2 games, a PS2 is cheap. I mean, Wii backwards compatibility is kind of cool... lots of people don't have cubes, so buying a Wii really does open up a whole extra library.

    8) It upgrades the graphics on old PS2 games. (So it's better than just backwards compatible.)

    Its not upgrading the graphics, its just upscaling them. If you had a decent upscaler (either standalone or in your tv) this would be a non-issue.

    9) The PS3 has a longer lifespan. (Xbox 1 came out a year after PS2 but the 360 came out a year before the PS3. People are still buying more PS2's than 360's.)

    People are still buying more PS2's than PS3's too.

  74. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    So... you didn't say But you should swear about it, and turn it into a huge issue, and pretend that it's worse than the competition, etc... Go right ahead. It's what we expect from the Slashdot 360 Fanboy, er.... Slashdot Games section.?

    Newsflash: some people prefer flawless backwards compatibility over prettier pictures. You seem to be ignoring that. Sony themselves said the emulation isn't perfect. You may not have one of those games that isn't BC, but others might.

    Frankly, that alone was a dealbreaker for me on ever getting a PS3. I just don't like software emulation on a bulk scale. It's. Not. The. Same.

    So, yes, in my case, software BC IS a huge issue, and yes, I'm quite aware it's a personal feeling, but it's also my personal $500 that would get a PS3, so I think I'm entitled to my opinions on what is or isn't a huge issue about it.

  75. It is a MS vs Sony Battle. Nintendo isn't fighting by trdrstv · · Score: 1

    It's not this is a war between only the Xbox 360 and the PS3 - there is another console to consider.

    Actually it is just between Sony, and MS. They are fighting for second place.

  76. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by ivan256 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I wonder if you think that because you had the last word, you're right, when you're merely demonstrated both a lack of reading comprehension, and (assuming you really weren't making a "huge issue" when you started using such strong language) a lack of ability to convey what you mean in text? It seems to me that the line you pasted confirms what I said, not what you are asserting.

    Also, the term "fanboi" is used by two types of people: Those who wish to make derogatory comments about young Asian people who are overly passionate about something, and stupid idiots who think they're cool because they copied what somebody else said without actually understanding what it means. Given how adept you've proven yourself to be at deriving the meaning of text through context, I'm not surprised that you didn't realize it was a racist slur. But it is, and you should stop using it before it gets you into trouble.

  77. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by cbreaker · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't know about cross-platform games, but what that generally means right now is "Ports from the Xbox 360." Many developers will rework the game engine a little bit to make it run on the PS3 and release it. Games that actually had some work put into them, such as Oblivion, show that the PS3 is a better system then you make it out to be.

    More work to make the games work better on the system? Boo frickin' hoo. Game production ALWAYS gets more difficult as the years go on. Stop using that as an argument. It's not an impossible task to write PS3 titles properly; it's being done. I have no sympathy for developers that can't develop.

    About the memory thing, it should be noted that the CPU RAM is clocked at CPU speed. 3.2Ghz, no tricks.

    Only the Elite supports 1080p.

    Every single PS1/PS2 title I've tried from my friends' very large game collection have worked flawlessly. Out of the 10 titles I have for my Xbox, five gave me shit on the 360. Awesome.

    And don't give me shit about the PS3 controller. It's nearly perfect. Don't you think that Sony would have changed things around with it a little bit in the last decade if people didn't like it? And what, it's not HEAVY enough? Go dream up some new FUD and get back to us. (You don't even mention that the SIXAXIS in the SIXAXIS controller means it's motion sensitive, and it works well.)

    --
    - It's not the Macs I hate. It's Digg users. -
  78. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by DrXym · · Score: 1

    The XMB user interface is generally excellent and simple to use. It gets a bit hairy in some of the system settings but I think the UI of the PS3 and the sheer breadth of features it offers are second to none. I think the 360 does have a better online story, but so it should if you're paying $50 a year for it. Even the free PS3 experience is no different from what you find in PC land so it varies but some some games such as Resistance have superb online support - clans, ranked / unranked games etc. In some ways the PS3 may surpass the 360 for online since vendors are more able to play around with their own business models such as allowing mods or map packs.

  79. What Sony needs to do by Distan · · Score: 3, Funny

    If Sony doesn't want to fall into distant third in this round of the console wars, they need to get off their backside and take action to get this pig selling.

    The formula is simple:

    Nintendo has made a bold statement with a $250 console. Sony should "see and raise" Nintendo's position.

      - Sell the 80-GB console for $199.95 (The Wii killer)
      - Announce a 300-GB console with bundled DVR software and lifetime subscription to channel guide for $499 (The Tivo killer)
      - Announce free signing for any GPL Linux Distributions (The PC killer)

    Badda-bing, Nintendo is back to sucking hind teat.

    1. Re:What Sony needs to do by DrXym · · Score: 1
      Announce free signing for any GPL Linux Distributions (The PC killer)

      You can already run Linux on the PS3, without the dist being signed so there is no issue. You do require a bootstrap to get things going the first time but after that it's fine. Go nuts and produce a MythTV based dist.

      As for pricing the thing at $200, I suspect that losing $300 on each sale would be suicidal and severely piss off all of Sony's Blu Ray partners too. More likely they're just going to drop the price in increments (as they have begun to do), and put pressure on the 360 which is looking pretty vulnerable when the so-called "Elite" version does not have wi-fi or Blu Ray (or HD DVD) amongst other things.

    2. Re:What Sony needs to do by L33tminion · · Score: 1

      Maybe they should just pay people to take the systems! That would really move 'em off the shelves!

    3. Re:What Sony needs to do by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      "- Sell the 80-GB console for $199.95 (The Wii killer)"
      Not going to happen. Sony is already loosing money on each console.
      "- Announce a 300-GB console with bundled DVR software and lifetime subscription to channel guide for $499 (The Tivo killer)"
      Actually a good plan if they also put in a cable card slot. Even better let you store the files on your network and allow live streaming to your PSP. I doubt that they could do it for $499.
      "- Announce free signing for any GPL Linux Distributions (The PC killer)"
      You don't need to sign Linux. Along those lines I would say a port of OpenOffice included free with each PS3 might help move a few units. Offer it with a good browser, OpenOffice, Quicken, and a good email program and you may get some sales. Just don't make me reboot the bloody thing to use it. You could justify it as an extra PC to do home with.

      Frankly if Sony gave the PS3 away I doubt that it would kill the Wii. People that have never owned a console are buying Wiis because it is fun. Sort of like the way DSs are selling.

      Over all I have to say that selling a prodcut for a lot less then it costs you too make seems like a good way to go broke.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  80. Re:Software emulation as good as hardware? Yah rig by DrXym · · Score: 1
    Not according to Sony's own compatability list for the EU PS3. While many games work fine, there are also a significant number in the lowest-score "noticeable issues" category. Also note the caveats, like how you should skip optional FMV sequences and how you shouldn't use network modes due to graphical corruption.

    It should be pointed out that it's software assisted emulation since some of the PS2 hardware remains (the GS chip). However, the emulation is pretty good. Not as good as pure hardware emulation but it supports thousands of games and emulates most of them perfectly. I assume that when the US / Japanese regions get the software BC that it will be even more robust since it must support each region's most popular titles.

    My experience is that even titles tagged as having noticeable visual issues still work fairly well. For example in firmware 1.6, Resident Evil 4 had a few screwed up textures (on a washing line of clothes) but otherwise worked fine. Whatever the problem was, Sony fixed it and emulation is now perfect. Same for highly demanding games such as God of War II, Shadow of the Colossus etc. Also, I wouldn't take the current BC list as gospel since Sony take ages after a firmware update to make it current. Titles like God of War II are still not listed (as I write this) even though I know the emulation is flawless.

    Unless someone is hoping to play some obscure collection of titles, they really don't have too much to worry about the move to software BC. I expect that Sony will put up a BC list for the US soon enough so people will be able to check for themselves.

  81. Of course the wii should sell more... by shelterpaw · · Score: 1

    there's a much smaller entry fee and this goes beyond the console. I think a lot of people feel that you have to have an HD TV to really take advantage of the PS3. You don't need that with the Wii. Most of the people I know don't have HDTV's in their house. A few do, but the ones that do, don't have an HD-DVD or Blue-Ray player. People haven't really taken to the new technology. I think part of it is that most people are happy with their old TV's and there's not enough HD content to justify it. This all effects the PS3. It's a really expensive console that you really don't benefit from unless you have HD.

    I bought a PS3 for my nephews when it first came out. This the third console I've bought for them. They play there old ones more than the new one. They think it's cool, but they don't use any of the ooh aah features. These are 12 to 14 year old kids. They just don't care about all the extra's. The blue-ray has done nothing for them and they don't have an HDTV in their game room. I'm sure this is how a lot of kids are.

    If Blue-ray and HD-DVD were really popular and people were raving about how awesome it is, then it would make sense to buy a PS3 for that feature alone. However, no one I knows cares about HD content because there's just not enough and there's too much overhead to get a full setup. Kids certainly don't care. The ooh aah effect lasts about 2 seconds, then it's all about how cool the game is.

  82. 360 uses software emulation by pinkstuff · · Score: 1

    The XBox 360 uses software emulation that does NOT support all XBox games.

    The XBox 360 also seems to break alot

    I honestly don't see the appeal of an XBox 360. Yes, I have played one, I hired one out. Yes Gears of War was fun, at least it was until the machine broke down and started saying "Please insert this disk into an XBox 360"... I shit you not.

    1. Re:360 uses software emulation by DaveCBio · · Score: 1

      Maybe it doesn't appeal to you, but obviously you aren't part of the millions that it does appeal to and you can't deny it. What appeals to me is the current catalog of good titles, excellent online integration and titles coming in the near future. Backwards compatibility is on of those things people like to bitch and complain about, but in practice most don't use it.

    2. Re:360 uses software emulation by pinkstuff · · Score: 1

      "...but in practice most don't use it." - if that is the case then the drop of the Emotion engine and lowering of the price is definitely a good move.

    3. Re:360 uses software emulation by DaveCBio · · Score: 1

      For cost reduction, absolutely. For perception, not so much.

    4. Re:360 uses software emulation by Alexpkeaton1010 · · Score: 1

      "I honestly don't see the appeal of an XBox 360."

      Call me crazy, but the most important thing about a game console is playing games on it. The 360 launched early and built up a very solid catalog of games by the time PS3 and the Wii launched. If you are a hardcore gamer who buys 5+ games a year, the 360 is the only viable option right now (other than PC of course). Sure, the Wii is nice, but I have an HDTV, and I like western style games (FPSs, cRPGs, etc.), and the Wii and PS3 do not have that now or this Holiday season (but if I had kids I would definitely buy a Wii). The 360 has the best games now, and will have the best games for this Holiday season.

  83. *sigh* Here we go again... by Panzergheist · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you really don't understand the difference between the 360 upscaling 720p content to 1080p, and the PS3 natively supporting 1080p output then try the following:

    Take two pictures with a digital camera: One at 1MP, and another at 2MP. Copy the photo files to your PC and then note the resolutions. Now, use a photo editor to stretch the image of the first photo to the same resolution of the second. Notice a difference between the two? The first photo lacks the detail of the second because it never had the additional detail in the first place.

    So sure, 720p games scaled to 1080p will look good, but the art assets (textures, etc.) were not created for the higher resolution.

    As for the media drives, I prefer the quitness and constant throughput of the PS3's drive, thanks. Last night, for shits, I loaded up Gears of War (gamertag: Ilidd, if you want proof) again after having not played my 360 in several months. The DVD drive is just as obnoxiously loud as I remember it.

    I don't buy 360 versions of games anymore and I'm seriously playing with the idea of selling my 360 because the system is unreliable and noisy. Yes, I know the 3RRoD is warranted for 3 years now. I don't care. A console shouldn't break that quickly in the first place.

    No matter what happens to the PS3 at this point (win, lose, becomes another Dreamcast story) I've already recieved lots of enjoyment from it. Yes, it was expensive but it was worth every penny. I can honestly see that system physically lasting for 10+ years because of the build quality. I can't say the same for my 360 and I won't replace it when it breaks.

    I guess my whole point is that if gamers were to sit down with a PS3 and play all the games it has, I think they would really enjoy it. Every person I've had play mine loves the system and the games, except for one guy, who as much as I like the dude, is a Xbox fanboy in the worst way. Some people are that way and it's honestly their loss. I hate Microsoft's shoddy products, but I still gave both their systems a chance. I didn't like the direction Nintendo went with the Wii, but I bought one. I sold it because it was boring to me, but I still see why some people go crazy over it.

    Peace.

    1. Re:*sigh* Here we go again... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The 360 supports native 1080p games, Virtua Tennis is one example of a game that does native 1080p on the 360.

      The PS3 also supports native 1080p, but the vast majority of games for the system do not run at that resolution. Most games on the PS3 are upscaled, just as most games on the 360 are.

    2. Re:*sigh* Here we go again... by Jartan · · Score: 0

      So sure, 720p games scaled to 1080p will look good, but the art assets (textures, etc.) were not created for the higher resolution.


      Increasing the resolution internally requires more computing power. The reality is most consumers wont have 1080p so the games will be designed around 720p or 1080i because by doing so they can increase the visual complexity (i.e. make it look better).

      Think of it like a slider where on one end you have high resolution and the other hand you have "good looking".

      So the concept that any console is going to do real 1080p is a joke in the first place.
    3. Re:*sigh* Here we go again... by ivan256 · · Score: 1

      Except that rendering detailed scenes at 1080 lines of resolution (higher even) is something that the predecessors to the GPUs in this generation of consoles has been doing, and doing well, on PCs for almost 10 years. Both the 360 and the PS3 have the power to do both "high" (I don't consider 1080p to be "high resolution"... Look at some of the DualLink monitors out there!) resolution, and "good looking". Plus, as long as you don't make the additional visual complexity a necessity to complete the game, you can render it at full resolution, and the user's display will remove extra detail for you for free. So the concept really isn't a joke at all.

    4. Re:*sigh* Here we go again... by EmperorKagato · · Score: 1

      "A console shouldn't break that quickly in the first place."
      Have you ever owned a Playstation?
      --
      ----- You know you have ego issues when you register a domain in your name.
  84. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Chris+Burke · · Score: 1

    assuming you really weren't making a "huge issue" when you started using such strong language

    I explained exactly how big an issue it was: "I'm not saying the software emulation is crap, and if the games you want to play are well supported according to the compatability list then you should be good to go. I am saying that the switch from hardware compatability to software emulation has hurt backward compatability. That's not FUD, it's a fucking fact."

    What part of that did you not understand? Can you actually disagree with that in any substantive way, seeing as how it is very much true according to Sony themselves? Or are you just such a sheltered wimp that a single use of the word "fucking" sends you into a tizzy at "such strong language"? If that's the case, you should get off the internet because you aren't cut out for it.

    But at least you admitted that you actually said what you actually said. Your connection to reality is improving.

    It seems to me that the line you pasted confirms what I said, not what you are asserting.

    Yes, it confirms that you called me a fanboy, that you accused me of making a huge issue out of it, and of pretending that the competition was better. Because that's what it explicitly says: "360 Fanboy". Oh, and you also by extension called all of Slashdot 360 fanboys too using the famous "generalize one comment into representing slashdot's mythical group-think".

    I am sure it will be hilarious hearing you explain how what you wrote actually meant the opposite. But you're right, reading comprehension is difficult when the writer is an insane idiot. When there's no connection between your brain and your words, how could anyone possible tell what you meant?

    Also, the term "fanboi" is used by two types of people: Those who wish to make derogatory comments about young Asian people who are overly passionate about something, and stupid idiots who think they're cool because they copied what somebody else said without actually understanding what it means.

    It's also used by Asians who aren't uptight pricks and who have a sense of humor, often to describe themselves. I hang out with them a lot. I picked up a spelling affectation for a word as a result. You don't even hang out with enough Asians to justify your mock outrage or you'd have a clue. I do. I also have lots of black friends, so the word "nigger" isn't so offensive to me that I can't find Blazing Saddles or a Chris Rock routine hilarious, and you're as pathetic as a white boy telling Mel Brooks he's racist or that Chris shouldn't use that word. Sorry if my offhand use offended you, but you really, really need to lighten up. And more importantly, you need to stop fooling yourself into thinking that being uptight means you're mature. It doesn't. It means your are poorly adjusted. You need to grow up, and that means getting exposed to language you don't like and learning to cope with it.

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  85. Re:Software emulation as good as hardware? Yah rig by Anv*l · · Score: 0

    I've got a EU PS3, and really since the latest firmware release 1.82. The software compatibility seems pretty much flawless to me, I've played through all my 30 PS2 games now (yes the PS3 game shelf is pretty lacking, I've just got Oblivion and Motorstorm) and I haven't noticed any problem except some very minor graphical glitches, like missing shadows in god of war 2, otherwise it seems pretty much rocksolid to date. That was not the case with earlier firmwares of course, but right now it works good enough for me. It should also be noted that the "software emulation" in the EU isn't entirely emulated, it emulates the emotion engine yes, but it still got the GS (graphic synthesizer) chip inside.

  86. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by LKM · · Score: 1

    The PS3 has three good online games: Stardust, Calling all Cars and Rampage. The Wii has dozens. I own both, and right now, I'm putting a lot of time into Stardust, but all in all, the Wii's online offering is much, much better than the PS3's, even without any new games.

  87. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by SparkyFlooner · · Score: 1

    I'm sure you would've paid less for it, too.

  88. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why are you angry at Sony for something Sony/BMG did? You realize that Sony/BMG is owned by Bertelsmann as well, right? And that the BMG folks hold most of the higher positions in the company? I suppose now we should expect some sort of organized boycott of all Random House published books (Random House is a subsidiary of Bertelsmann).

  89. Focus, focus, focus ... by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 1

    ...while Nintendo is pretty much only in the gaming market.

    They might be, but what they get right is their focus. Although Nintendo hasn't always got things right, they are the only console maker that has been there from the beginning and it still here. Sony and Microsoft are new comers and the other companies who were there at the beginning are either gone or only developing software. While the PS3 has a lot of potential, which it might still fulfill, it is trying to be too much a jack of all trades and not really focusing - I would rather have a great gaming system that his half-assed at everything else, than not really knowing what it is.

    BTW There might be some of you who mention that Nintendo has also got non-gaming features in the Wii, but these are currently fairly basic and aren't what is getting the focus. Yes it has Opera, a weather channel and a news channel, but I feel that they aren't what are being used to sell the console, but instead are treated as after-thoughts, which get development focus after the game aspect is made a success.

    --
    Jumpstart the tartan drive.
    1. Re:Focus, focus, focus ... by Gravatron · · Score: 1

      Nintendo is just a gaming company? Ah, they make insane money from non gaming stuff, like movies, cardgames, TV shows, etc. Not to mention by farming out their own games to other developers to save costs. I don't think sony's been over promoting the ps3's non gaming functions. We see soe blu-ray movie playback, but most people don't know about the rest of the functions, usualy upgradability, etc. at its core, its still a game machine, as every peice of hardware in it is designed for that purpose. The blu-ray you can argue about, but people said the same thing about DVD in the ps2 back in the day. As for the wii functions? I've seen ads promting the photo/mii/weather, etc. Toss in the fact that most of their games thusfar have been lackluster, with only Zelda, a port, being a worthy buy. Everything else is party shoevelware thats forgotten, or saddled with bad controls. Mines been collecting dust since December and shows no signs of use anytime soon. Smash brothers looks nice, but i'd like more than one game to play on it for the rest of the year. Give me something thats not a sequal or a mascot game and we'll talk. Meanwhile, I look at sony and see a slew of new Ip's fromt heir core developement teams, like resistance, Heavenly sword, Drake, 8 days, lair, motorstorm, etc. Besides a few thri party games, alot of what they are making is original stuff that looks stellar. Even their few sequals look better than nintendos, like the new Rachet and Clank game. And yet people say nintendo are the original ones. This boggles the mind. Nintendo basically screws us over on all gameing functions, genres, usuability, features, online, and more, yet are reqarded with stellar sales and an unbashable company image. Even MS, hardware problems aside, is doing better in the games area than nintendo these days. Honestly, they should be in first place this gen, with sony behind, and nintendo dead in it's tracks.

    2. Re:Focus, focus, focus ... by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1
      What?

      and
      are your friends... they won't hurt you.

      None of those Sony games you mentioned are either original or stellar. Most of them are the same old thing with a new coat of paint. Lair is Rogue Squadron w/o the star wars license, and some arguably bad design decisions. Warhawk, I have no idea what genre it's even in anymore. Isn't it a BF2142 clone now? Resistance is the epitome of the cliche shooter. Heavenly Sword? God of War with a girl... it may be Genji-level bad or it could be good. Drake looks like shit. And most of these aren't even from their "core" development teams... Resistance/Drake aren't internal... Lair is Factor 5....

      The 360 is also full of this. They're both ramping up to have a lot of depth in certain genres, but not a lot of bredth across genres. The Wii currently has more quality RPG exclusives then either for example(although Eternal Sonata and Blue Dragon are coming out for the 360 soon, which will change that).

      Pretty much no matter what genre you're into, Nintendo has you covered, right now, or will have you covered by the end of the year(even odd stuff like myst-esque adventure games, and the old sim-city style sim). They have just about everything covered, and a bunch of whacky stuff that doesn't really fit anywhere. The settings / coat of paint for their first parties is in most cases familiar, but the core gameplay is good and in most cases different. Bitching about mascot games is bitching about the immaterial. Mario Galaxy wouldn't play any better if you swapped Mario with a "to the extreme!" anthropomorphic weasel and added a gun and teen-angst story in...

      Now, yea, not all of the games are good -> great... but complaining about genre coverage in a general sense just doesn't make sense... If you're into the genres the 360/PS3 have and are covering really well, then yea, it's disappointing... you can't satisfy a genre addiction on the Wii right now... but there's less missing from it's schedule than either of its competitors.

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    3. Re:Focus, focus, focus ... by Gravatron · · Score: 1
      Original game is an original game, so far as i'm concerned. People brush off sony's games for the ps3 despite the previews, reviews, etc, because its sony. Lair is not star wars. HS is not GoW. Heck, HS is pretty awesome production wise, and the gameplay sounds to play a whole lot more refined than Gows. Drake looks awesome, probabaly the first action adventure since TR 1 to catch my interest. Warhawk is a mixed back, but her, its a cheep downloadable online game. Ditto for Socom. Resistance is cliche, but what FPS isn't? At least its weapons and setting are fun.


      Wii has rpgs? How a few, but not really enough to make it worth while. Sony's got quite a few with folklore, FF, white knight, and others. those three again, look and sound great thusfar.

      Nintendo is lacking in games that actualy play worth a damn. I blame "gesture based controls" and lack of creative design. If its a port, it plays better on another system. If its original, its usually a rental at best. Again, all these months since launch and still nothing has proven worth the $50 cost. Everything seem to ether look bad, play bad, or have a bad design.

      Mascot games annoy me. ITs riding on the past and character recognition to sell a new idea, instead of creating new ip's for it. Sony has nearly always created a new ip when it gets into a new genre, nintendo rehashes a setting or character a hundred times. Imagine if a movie company did this. You'd see every film with the same actors playing the same characters in different settings. Woudl you stand for it then? Then why stand for it here? Core gameplay is usually pretty simplistic these days for nintendo, which brings up the concern that most of their first party wii games suffer from: no replayability or depth to the game. Everything is shovelware from them these days, with too few exceptions.

      I guess thats the core of my complaints, ninteno is just unoriginal, lacks in the games department, and hasn't produced anything worth owning thusfar. I will not settle for medeocracy in gaming from nintendo. They should be better than that, but sadly, it seems they aren't. Sony and MS may be average, but average is better than awful.

    4. Re:Focus, focus, focus ... by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1

      I'm going to guess that english isn't your first language...

      Those aren't original games. The window dressing is different, but that doesn't matter. I didn't even comment on their quality, apart from Drake, which looks fucking awful.

      Also, the only RPG out for the PS3 right now is Oblivion... FF won't hit til 2009, Folklore probably not until next year, and White Knight Story, god only knows... and Godfather and Madden play way better on the Wii than on the other systems...

      Ohhhh kkkkayyyy....

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    5. Re:Focus, focus, focus ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You talk a lot about what other consoles don't have, but not much about what the Wii does have.

      mention more of what the Wii has, and then everyone can pull a 'you', and claim they're all clones of other titles in that genre.

      Come on, it'll be fun.

    6. Re:Focus, focus, focus ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      magine if a movie company did this. You'd see every film with the same actors playing the same characters in different settings. But they do... How often do you see Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis, Robin Williams, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, etc. used over and over again? (Sure they may have different character names in each film, but essentially are playing the same role over and over?) Recognition sells, otherwise you'd see a lot more unknown actors getting a fair shake at lead movie roles.
    7. Re:Focus, focus, focus ... by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1

      Hmm? Oh, by those standards there's very little original content on the Wii either, and nothing truly original once you take in the entire history of gaming. There's a lot of novelty in regards to home consoles though, some from the control scheme, and some just because it either hasn't been done outside a niche title in a long time, or it's never been on a home console before. It's just fucking ridiculous to praise the stuff Sony puts out as original and then call Nintendo, who in some cases ORIGINATED the genre Sony is exploiting unoriginal simply because the SPRITES(not 2D so not sprites, but you get the idea) have changed. It's like the people that refused to give the time of day to, or play Windwaker, not because of the one glaring flaw it had with the Triforce hunt, not because they don't like the genre, but because it was cell-shaded.

      But sure, here we go!

      Content you could argue as original:
      Zack & Wiki - Myst style adventure game with pointer control. I can't recall one of these ever hitting a console before.
      Trauma Center - The board game Operation taken to an extreme. DS Remake.
      Wii Fit - There have been games with this general idea before, but not with the stressing of the fitness component for quite a while. This is the next Wii Sports and it's going to be fucking HUGE.
      Wii Sports - The control scheme made this utterly unique when it came out, short of some arcade games.
      Elebits - FPS centered entirely around a gravity gun. Not really completely new, but a bit novel.
      My Word Coach - Puzzle game... but... that's sorta not right... define this!
      Big Brain Academy - Puzzle game, but also a party game... with an odd concept. DS Remake.
      NiGHTS - It's a sequel, but the original didn't really fit anywhere, and it hasn't been seen since the Saturn.
      Dragon Quest Swords - There was a standalone like this (DQ Kenshen), and there have been some arcade games similar, but nothing really on a console.
      Super Paper Mario - Platformer RPG. That's a new twist on the RPG(although Zelda 2 did have RPG elements...), and the 2D/3D gameplay gimmick isn't something I can recall on a console before.

      And now,
      Genre Representation:
      FPS - Medal of Honor: Vanguard, Call of Duty 3, FarCry: Vengeance, Red Steel, Elebits, Metroid Prime 3(Aug 27)
      Light Gun Shooter - RE: Umbrella Chronicles(November), Ghost Squad(Q4)
      Platformer - Mario Galaxy(Nov 12), Dewy's Adventure (TBA), Ton of VC representation of the classics.
      Action - PoP Rival Swords, Spiderman, Tomb Raider Anniversary (Nov)
      Party Game - Wii Sports, Warioware, Mario Party 8, Rayman Raving Rabbids, Rayman Raving Rabbids 2(Fall)
      Action Adventure - LoZ: Twilight Princess
      Action RPG - Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
      RPG - Super Paper Mario
      Sandbox - Godfather: Blackhand Edition, Scarface
      Turn-Based Strategy - Fire Emblem (Nov 5)
      Fighter - Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Smash Bros Brawl(Nov 12)
      Stealth - Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell - Double Agent
      3rd Person Shooter - RE4
      Sports - Madden '07, Tiger Woods '07, etc. All of EAs '08 stuff is coming.
      Wrastling - WWE (November)
      Arcade Sports - The Bigs, Mario Strikers, Mario & Sonic @ the Olympics
      Arcade Racer - Excite Truck, Need for Speed, Sonic falls in here probably
      3D Shooter(flight) - Blazing Angels
      Shooter(Traditional) - Ton of VC stuff.
      Arcade Shooter - Heatseeker
      Adventure - Zack & Wiki (Oct)
      Music/Rhythm - Guitar Hero 3(Fall, although to be honest, we're all getting this for the PS2), Boogie(Nov), Dance Dance Revolution(TBA)
      Puzzle - Big Brain Academy, Puzzle Quest(Fall)
      Murder Simulator - Manhunt 2(eventually)

      I left off a bunch of stuff that will probably be shown at E3, has an announced release date not for this year, or I just plain forgot(and I left off things that aren't out as much as possible). There are very few genres not covered, and quite a few bits of crap in there, but the coverage is great. You're only really missing traditional JRPGs and Realistic Racers.

      You were right, that was fun.

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
  90. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Gravatron · · Score: 1

    What online offering? They have some of their backcatalog up via VC, but alots of thats games we played 20 years ago that are easy ports. The downside is you can't play these off a memory card, and you have to buy additional hardware in the form of a GCN or classic controller to play alot of them. Not to mention you can only have so many active channels, max of 50, which may make things hairy in the future. Toss in the total lack of any worthwhile online play of any sort, and i'd say Sony's got the leg up on them here.

  91. Boycott Random House! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have been reading some stuff about this rootkit fiasco, and a lot of people seemed to have missed an important detail. The perpetrator is Sony/BMG, which is 50/50 owned by Sony and Bertelsmann. Thus far Bertelsmann has gotten off scott-free. I suggest that we all boycott Random House published books to show those bastards that we won't take this crap! Who's with me?

    1. Re:Boycott Random House! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I actually haven't bought a Random House published book since Bertlesmann acquired Random House in '98. The company was basically an anti-semetic propoganda arm for the Nazis during WW2. If that didn't bother you about Bertlesmann, the root kit wouldn't.

      So not only did sony put out a rootkit, they teamed up with Nazis!

  92. Re:Price Drop != Cheaper PS3 by trdrstv · · Score: 1

    Is it possible for the primary method of purchase to be ebay?

    Even if 100% of consoles are sold on ebay, it is still only half.

    Interesting observation. The only way it could be the primary method is if Sony sold them through eBay as their primary / only outlet.

  93. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by MHolmesIV · · Score: 1

    Er... What?

    1) I have a 1080p screen and at that resolution the PS3's graphics are much better.
    Except that most PS3 games run at 720p anyway, irrespective of your screen resolution. But I'll give you this one.
    2) If you play online games the PS3 is much cheaper over several years.
    It would take 4 years of live service to equal the price of a PS3. So "much cheaper over several years" is misleading.
    3) Cross platform games are better on the PS3.
    This is the one that makes me laugh the most. Please. Sports games runnung at half the frame rate is better? Virtua Fighter 5 (and other games) without online play, where the other platform has them is better? You have an interesting definition of better.
    4) PS3 games have much more to work with aka a HDD, more processing power etc.
    But they have yet to actually show anything useful with it.
    5) Blue-Ray
    A valid observation, for the 2-5% of users who care about it. The other 95% still have to pay the premium.
    6) Up scaling DVD's
    How is this better? They both do this.
    7) It plays enough PS2 games that I don't need a PS2 but I still need the Xbox for a lot of old games.
    Sure, but at least the 360 now has enough games that you don't _need_ to play the old ones.
    8) It upgrades the graphics on old PS2 games. (So it's better than just backwards compatible.)
    Also something both consoles do, so where's the "better"?
    9) The PS3 has a longer lifespan. (Xbox 1 came out a year after PS2 but the 360 came out a year before the PS3. People are still buying more PS2's than 360's.)
    Making assumpttions based on previous models may not be all that accurate. Sure, Sony would love a 10 year life cycle for the PS3, but if it continues to flop, they may do something else.

  94. Kazumi Kitaue is right. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you build your own, you can have a decent gaming PC for $500. Hell even if you don't roll your own you can come in under $500. The cheapest processors offered by the big box makers will play the new games just fine IMO. Also, consoles don't come with LCD monitors, for $500 I can get a decent PC that does come with one. Nix the monitor to get the price down to $400, add a $100 video card and there you are. Yes its not bleeding edge, but it works great for me.

  95. Speaking of scaling by tgibbs · · Score: 1

    Has Sony rectified the problem of some games only being able to output in 720p and 480p, but not 1080i?

    1. Re:Speaking of scaling by SpeedyRich · · Score: 1, Informative

      Yes

      --
      ## NB: Comment here
    2. Re:Speaking of scaling by tgibbs · · Score: 1

      Are you sure? The last I heard, the PS was unable to scale the output of a number of games that run in 720p up to 1080i. This is a problem for TVs (most HD CRTs) that accept 1080i signals but not 720p. All other HD devices, including the XBox 360, support both 720p and 1080i monitors.

      Can you point me to a reference where the upgrade is announced?

  96. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by ivan256 · · Score: 1

    What part of that did I not understand? Are you listening to yourself?

    "Look at me everybody. Let's accuse somebody of doing exactly the same thing I'm doing right this instant!"

    Can you seriously think you're taking the high-ground by accusing me of failing to make an argument I wasn't making while at the same time accusing me of doing the same to you?

    You have yet to stop focusing on the fact that I thought you were flying off the handle to actually read the substance of my original content, which was that there aren't any PS3s using hardware emulation anymore; Something which I'm sure many people would agree is a perfectly reasonable, topical tangent to have taken at that point in the conversation. Instead you've decided that I disagree with you about the reduction in compatibility, rather than noticing that what I really disagreed with was how big a deal it was.

    I hope you found that as hilarious as you were hoping. I wish I could say that I found your misguided justifications in your last paragraph hilarious, but it was just sad, really. If you can't see the difference between using certain words in a humorous context and in the context in which they were originally intended as offensive, you're in for some hard times at some future point. It's funny when Mel Brooks or Chris Rock use the term "nigger" because they're saying it in jest or in satire. If they were saying it because they wanted to say something derogatory or mocking to/about a black man it would be different. You can use that term colloquially amongst your friends because they understand that you're being ironic. Can you really expect anybody to have believed that when you said "You're assuming such just shows how you think, fanboi.", especially after having used the "fanboy" spelling elsewhere in your comment that you meant it in an ironic, comic, or satirical sense.

  97. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Bryan+Ischo · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's been kind of fun reading this little personal flamefest between you two. Probably because you're both so pathetic that it makes me feel really good about myself.

  98. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    6) Up scaling DVD's
    How is this better? They both do this.


    lol. have you compared them side by side? no contest.

  99. Sony Pricing by dufachi · · Score: 1

    Sony overprices everything they sell like a Las Vegas call girl. It may look good on the outside, but on the inside it's a festering taint of disease and still costs more than two week's salary.

    --
    -Kinsey
    1. Re:Sony Pricing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More than two weeks salary? Sounds like someone should start searching for a different job...

  100. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by ivan256 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The thing about the Wii online catalog is that I own most of those games already for my Genesis, TurboGrafix16, SNES, etc, and I even already own re-releases for many of them in GameCube form that works just fine in my Wii. The PS3 has original and semi-original downloadable content that is actually pretty good. fl0w, GripShift, Stardust, GoPuzzle!, Super Rub-a-dub.... I can't remember the whole list off the top of my head.

    I'm sure that Nintendo will have some Wii original offerings in their store eventually, but right now they've got none.

  101. Re:Software emulation as good as hardware? Yah rig by prockcore · · Score: 3, Informative

    Unless someone is hoping to play some obscure collection of titles


    You mean like:
    FINAL FANTASY XII
    METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SUBSISTENCE
    GRANDTHEFT AUTO VICE CITY
    GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS
    GRAN TURISMO 4
    GOD OF WAR

    Just to name a few titles that are flagged with "Noticable Issues".
  102. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Chris+Burke · · Score: 1

    Can you seriously think you're taking the high-ground by accusing me of failing to make an argument I wasn't making while at the same time accusing me of doing the same to you?

    But you were. You explicitly called me a fanboy, said I was pretending the competition was better, and so on. You offer no justification for how those exact words which I can quote for you again if you want were anything other than what they appear. You can't because you'd look retarded doing so. "When I said 360 fanboy, I meant... uh... not a 360 fanboy".

    At least I can stand by what I wrote as meaning what I wrote, and you're only problem understanding me was that you can't handle profanity.

    You have yet to stop focusing on the fact that I thought you were flying off the handle to actually read the substance of my original content, which was that there aren't any PS3s using hardware emulation anymore...

    Yeah, strangely after being called a 360 fanboy for stating a simple fact I didn't care much about your opinion on whether sacrificing a degree of backward compatability was worth being able to upscale old games. Why would I start caring now?

    You can use that term colloquially amongst your friends because they understand that you're being ironic.

    If you think Chris Rock, or black people in general, only use the word "nigger" ironically, then you're just an idiot with no experience. They don't use it in the same way as the racists who coined the term, either. Those aren't the only two options. You see when you're in a group where nobody is racist against anybody in the group, you can use words in different ways without them being offensive, and without having to grandstand behind being "ironic". Hanging out with Asians who use "fanboi" interchangeably with "fanboy" leads to not being uptight about it. Sorry you aren't in the group, and sorry if my spelling error based on having hung out in that group offended you because you're so fragile.

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  103. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Chris+Burke · · Score: 1

    Glad to be of service. I feel better too after venting my spleen. But lets not either feel too good -- you're still posting on slashdot, and responding to a flamewar. ;)

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  104. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by dakameleon · · Score: 1

    I'd also suggest turning off the radio whenever a Sony BMG song comes on.

    --
    Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
  105. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by heinousjay · · Score: 1

    All you need is a majority of people to agree with you (and the sales numbers say they don't) and you've actually refuted the point.

    --
    Slashdot - where whining about luck is the new way to make the world you want.
  106. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by arkhan_jg · · Score: 1

    What pisses me off is they removed the hardware emulation from the EU version to cut costs, then made it nearly $100 more expensive after tax (current difference is $180, as no sign of the price cut in UK - $680 for the 60GB model before VAT). That's just a 'fuck you' from Sony to Europe. For the record, I don't own an Xbox360.

    --
    Remember kids, it's all fun and games until someone commits wholesale galactic genocide.
  107. Forza by Dorceon · · Score: 1

    Forza may not be identical to GT5, but it's aimed at the same market and is already available on cheaper hardware. The GT-style experience isn't exclusive to the PS3, even if GT itself is, and ultimately exclusive experiences are better system sellers than exclusive games.

    --
    What sound do people on rollercoasters make? Hint: it's not Xbox 360.
  108. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by flewp · · Score: 1

    What I don't understand is why it seems so many people here are willing to boycott Sony for their actions, but very few people here seem willing to boycott MS for theirs - especially given the normal hatred of MS around here. I'm not calling anyone hypocrites or anything like that, I'm seriously curious as to the reasons behind this. Can anyone shed any light or insight?

    --
    WWJD.... for a Klondike bar?
  109. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by dcam · · Score: 1

    What have they screwed up besides the unreasonably high price? I wouldn't want them to scrub the PS3 and start over, the replacement would just be MORE expensive.

    Where to begin...

    Hardware:
    - cell was a bad decision. Multi-threaded programming is an order of magnitude harder. Oversimplifying, the more cores, the harder it is. In addition the cell had poor yields (due to its complexity), which increased the cost. Much, much more could be said about this. The short version is that they picked a fantastic chip for the datacenter but was less than ideal for a console.
    - blu-ray was a bad decision. They assumed that history would repeat itself and that people would buy the thing for the Blu Ray (similar to the PS2). This further increased the price

    Marketing:
    - arrogance: "You will work yourself to death to own one"
    - general poor delivery/communications management

    Business:
    - the force feedback on controllers (not licensing etc)
    - loss of exclusive titles

    --
    meh
  110. Faulty analysis by jchenx · · Score: 1
    Hmm, to be honest, I don't know if you're just an anti-MS troll, or a secretive Sony plant. You can read my profile/journal and see where my biases lie, although I'm a gamer at heart and try to call them as I see them (even if it's not positive for MS).

    That said, I guess I'll take the bait and respond again to your confusing analysis ...

    My assumption clearly states that as long as the demand outpaces the supply, any new consoles introduced to the market will be immediately purchased (read stories about how Wii's are still flying off shelves as an example).
    True. As long as demand outpaces supply, I think it's safe to assume that shelves will generally be empty.

    However, it's been known that there have been Xbox 360's on store shelves in the wild now for some time. I think that by early summer you could easily walk into a store and pick one up.
    Well, I think you mean early summer in 2006, since the console launched in Fall 2005. Actually, I think it was a bit earlier than that. I believe anecdotally, the shortage ended around March, a few months after ship. But yes, definitely in early summer, you could walk into a store and pick one up.

    The fact that there were there extra consoles available for puchase that weren't, suggests that the Xbox 360 reached a point of saturation in the market. If it hadn't, there wouldn't have been consoles on store shelves.
    This is where I disagree. What do you mean by "saturation"? Surely you don't mean market saturation, because what you described isn't the definition of saturation. Certainly there are many households that don't have a video game console, let alone a "next-gen" one, let alone a 360. MS is not getting sales growth via population growth or stealing market-share from someone else. The market for next-gen consoles is certainly not saturated by any means.

    If the 360 truly were market saturated, then that doesn't explain why it continued to sell the way it has for the next year (along with a pretty healthy bump last holiday season).

    The pace of the sales has been fairly similar with the exception of the holiday season when purchases spiked and have since returned to a similar rate before the holidays. We can't ever know for a certainty that if Microsoft hadn't had supply issues, that their sales would have been greater. Even assuming that they were, the long run results would still likely be the same.
    I agree that we can't "ever know for certainty". I would argue that sales would be greater, and you are free to argue otherwise.

    However, I would say that in some of your previous posts, you actually assume you "know for certainty" and are masquerading around as if it's fact. I'm calling you out on that. You can't conveniently leave out the fact that there were shortages around the 360 launch timeframe, just because it wrecks a hole in your "well, the PS3 is doing as well as the 360 did at its launch!" theory.

    Dude, either you're just another Sony fanboy that's spinning the numbers just to make your "beloved platform" look good (and doing a pretty bad job at it), or you're somehow affiliated with Sony and not being truthful about it. Own up, please.

    Even as someone who works at MS, I will happily admit that while the 360 is doing fine in the US and Europe, it's absolutely being trounced in Japan. And the Wii is, very quickly, catching up to it. I'm not going to fudge numbers or try to spin statistics otherwise. Why are you trying to do it for the PS3, though, is beyond me.
    --
    -- jchenx
    1. Re:Faulty analysis by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >Dude, either you're just another Sony fanboy that's spinning the numbers just to make your "beloved platform" look good
      >(and doing a pretty bad job at it), or you're somehow affiliated with Sony and not being truthful about it. Own up, please.

      You had me until you became petulant.

    2. Re:Faulty analysis by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      I don't know what people think I'm a troll or some kind of Sony shill. I really have no love for either specific company, but as I pointed out, I feel that Sony is catching too much crap. As I pointed out in my initial post, their early sales trend follows closely to the Xbox 360 and that you can't really call the Xbox 360 a huge success and the PS3 a collosal flop in the same breath. It just doesn't make sense to me to say that.

      Someone made a post earlier pointing out that this comparison was unfair because the 360 had supply problems that limited early sales. I simply pointed out that by the time people could easily walk into a store and see Xbox 360's on store shelves to buy them, they weren't doing so at any rate faster than what they were doing when there was a shortage. I was more or less suggesting that they'd reached a saturation in the rate that they could sell the consoles. If they hadn't, you would see an increase in their sales rate, which we haven't except around the holiday season, which is normal for many products. Otherwise the rate of sales hasn't changed much at all and probably won't until the holiday seasons or a killer app for the system is released that results in increased sales.

      Similarly, the PS3 reached a similar state at its old price, but now that they've dropped the price, it's possible that their rate of sales will increase.

      What I fail to see is why you have some problem admitting to the fact that the PS3 is selling just as well as the Xbox 360 did at launch. I don't own either of these consoles and don't plan on owning either of them any time soon for various reasons. I do own a Wii, but am mostly waiting for new games to come out for it. I owned each console from the previous generation (Dreamcast included) and will eventually own all of the consoles from this generation.

      My view is that the PS3 is doing just fine and that everyone has spent so much time decrying it as a failure that they're actually starting to believe it. Look at the numbers and see for yourself that the PS3 is on track globally to sell the same number of units in the same time frame that the Xbox 360 has done. If you don't like my analysis that's your own business, but you can't look at those numbers and suggest that the PS3 is somehow doing worse. If you want to do that, point out the game library or lack of online functionality. Use something that might actually be valid.

  111. Not Considering by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Most of your posts do not take into account how business contracts are negotiated in asia. Most manufacturers demand A five percent reduction in cost annually. This is supposed to drive innovation and prevent muda(waste).

  112. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Hal_Porter · · Score: 1

    Yeah, but he's probably flaming ironically because he spends time hanging out with Asians who do that all the time. You and me just aren't in the group, so we don't understand this.

    You know the great thing about flamewars? The longer they go on the more chance someone who seemed initially fairly sane if a bit obsessive will say something that's so easy to parody it almost feels unfair to do so.

    There's a site called fandomwank in fact that exploits this - they pick out some angry and unintentionally funny comment from deep in a flame thread for people to laugh at. My favourite was someone who posted a long rant about how he thinks of himself as a dragon. He tried to justify it with lots of stuff about otherkin, totem animals in Native American culture and so on. Needless to say spiteful people then trolled the hell out of him. In the midst of this he posted the immortal words "Fuck you, I'm a dragon".

    Come to think of it, before the internet, Private Eye magazine had a column called Pseud's Corner which exploited the same effect in interviews.

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  113. Erroneous on so many levels I'm still lol-ing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow...first of all there is NO WAY that's an official statement from Konami, even if they aren't on the dev team for MGS Konami DAMN well knows that MGS is an Action-Adventure game and NOT a fighting game. Second of all, Hideo Kojima has announced on numerous occasions that he's making MGS4 FOR THE PS3 ONLY. Not only because he wants to develop the titles for the most powerful hardware out there, but he also needs the space of a dual-layer 50GB Blu-Ray disc which he CANNOT get on an HD-DVD w/ an Xbox 360 (much less a plain-old DVD for the Wii).

    Will the PS3-haters out there please stop bashing the console. MGS4 WILL NEVER HAPPEN ON ANY OTHER CONSOLE BESIDES THE PS3.

    Check sources next time. I cannot believe Slashdot allowed this trash to be posted w/o checking it

  114. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by angus_rg · · Score: 1

    Because with Microsoft you have a choice, and, as of yet, no one has found a MS developed trojan. You can always run linux, find a small company using something other then windows(hard to find, but they do exist), etc.

    If you want a hard copy of your music, love your album covers, you're kind of SOL.

  115. Another one bites the dust... by DiEx-15 · · Score: 1

    This illustrates the further problems of the Sony strategy for the PS3. Another "exclusive" is planning to go multi-platform. This is a kin to rats leaving a sinking ship.... Maybe when it does sink, Kas and the rest of them will see their almighty "giant enemy crabs"? This site says it all - http://lexluthorbeating.ytmnd.com/ Don't be afraid to sing along!

    _____

    "Since when did Bush become the Emperor, and who's the Jar Jar Binks we need to hang? Oh forget it... Let's just hang Jar Jar anyways..."

  116. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Khaed · · Score: 1

    The best part about it is finding out that "fanboi" is a racial slur. I honest to god had NO idea. I thought it was just an irritating spelling corruption like "sk8r boi." No mention of it on Wikipedia, or anything.

  117. No disadvantage??! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Then how come Final Fantasy 12 doesn't work on the PS3?

    In fact how come from my stack of PS2 games the only one I could get working at all was KONG and even then it had major glitches at some point?

    That's pretty major disadvantage to me, I don't really want to buy a very expensive blu-ray player, I want a games console that can play all the games on it i'd want it to.

  118. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by LKM · · Score: 1

    What online offering?

    How about over 100 of the best games released during the last 20 years?

    They have some of their backcatalog up via VC, but alots of thats games we played 20 years ago that are easy ports.

    They aren't ports, they are the original games, emulated. What difference does it make how hard it was to release them? The Wii has over 100 games, the PS3 has about a dozen.

    The downside is you can't play these off a memory card,

    Yeah, that sucks. Also, you only have a limited number of chanel slots you can fill.

    and you have to buy additional hardware in the form of a GCN or classic controller to play alot of them.

    GCN controllers cost like five bucks, and you want them anyway to play GCN games.

    Toss in the total lack of any worthwhile online play of any sort, and i'd say Sony's got the leg up on them here.

    The total lack of any worthwhile online play? I must have been playing Mario Strikers online in my dreams, then.

  119. Shoddy Ports by pizzach · · Score: 1

    I don't know how well the 2 year argument holds. According to a previous post, the PS3 is following the sales trends of the GameCube. If that is true, in due time it will be getting the shoddy ports just like the GameCube did. The kind that make it look like a piece of shit no matter how powerful it is.

    --
    Once you start despising the jerks, you become one.
  120. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by LKM · · Score: 1

    I'm sure that Nintendo will have some Wii original offerings in their store eventually, but right now they've got none.

    They will appear in 2008, but it's true, as of now, they don't have any original games (unless you count "Everybody Votes" :-).

  121. Re:Software emulation as good as hardware? Yah rig by DrXym · · Score: 1
    Noticeable issues to Sony does not mean they are unplayable or necessarily that distracting to the player. For example the only "noticeable" issue I saw in God of War was a flame effect in the title screen looked slightly blocky. Otherwise it plays just fine. GTA: SA plays perfectly as far as I can see. I can't say for the others since I don't have them but so far my experience is that for titles that are flagged, the issues are minor texture things and not a big deal. Furthermore Sony is fixing them with firmware updates.

    People making a mountain out of a molehill. It trounces 360 BC, and it's just fine for the vast majority of existing PS2 owners.

  122. Re:Software emulation as good as hardware? Yah rig by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    nobody is saying it's worse than the 360's compatibility, only that hardware emulation works better than software emulation; yet you fools are defending it with statements like "it works fine except [example of it not working as well as hardware emulation]". why even dispute this? EU got shafted in this respect and that's that. some people are bitter about it (not me, i stopped buying sony products well before the ps3 even had a price announced)

  123. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    fanboi motherfucking retard fanboi troll fanboi fuckstick

  124. Re:Software emulation as good as hardware? Yah rig by DrXym · · Score: 1

    "[We] fools" as you put it are simply pointing out that the BC is perfectly acceptable. How do we know this? BECAUSE "WE FOOLS" HAVE ACTUALLY USED IT. You haven't and yet you feel qualified to proclaim that the EU got shafted or similar. The EU may have gotten shafted for the price of the console, but the BC really is not an issue.

  125. Somebody alert Alan Turing by LKM · · Score: 1

    software can't get the same level of compatability as the actual hardware on board.

    What a fascinating discovery. Somebody alert Alan Turing!

  126. Wii: More games than PS3 by LKM · · Score: 1

    Compare the library of the PS3 to what the Wii has for a fair comparison -- PS3 has far more games.

    What? Gamerankings has 44 PS3 titles with at least 5 reviews, but 69 Wii titles with at least 5 reviews. My local game stores confirm this. The PS3 has half a shelf of games, the Wii has a full shelf.


    Online games is similar. The Wii has over 100 games, the PS3 has a few dozen at most.

  127. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Your ignorance is almost blinding.

    1. A 360 with wifi/rechargable kits for controllers/live sub costs more.
    2. Drop the 'durr hd-dvd = porn = win' shit. Seriously. You know you can get porn on the internet now?
    3. Currently, there aren't as many AAA titles as the 360, but then, when the 360 was this old, there weren't that many either.
    4. Hack Job? The sixaxis was patented long before the Wii even had a name.
    5. None of the cells has all 8 cores functional. They were never designed to. This is not news.
    etc.

    That's where your reasons decended into copy/pasted FUD from 360 fanboy sites. You say you have plenty more reasons, but if any were better than '9) Focusing on graphics means worse game play (usually)', then I'm sure you would have used them instead of this drivel.

    I know you want to protect your purchase, and all that shit, but damn. You are trying too hard. I could build a better list of the PS3's downsides (and the 360's, as I own both), and I like it. You are just frightened for some reason I can't even imagine. The PS3 will not kill the 360, and the 360 will not kill the PS3. They need each other, or the consumers are going to get shit on.

    Learn from your errors here.

  128. inflation by LKM · · Score: 1

    Inflation doesn't count for technology. Tech becomes cheaper with time, not more expensive. The pricing sweet spot is 200 US$, and so far, none of the manufacturers have cracked it. I guess Nintendo will be the first to go below 200 US$ - as soon as they manage to ramp up production enough to meet demand.

  129. DVD == Good Enough by LKM · · Score: 1

    I'm not saying a 1080p movie isn't impressive looking. I'm saying that at some point I forget to notice how 'crisp' it looks and start paying attention to the events unfolding in the movie.

    Precisely. As far as quality goes, a movie is either good enough, or not good enough. If it's good enough, you stop noticing the quality after a while. DVDs are good enough.

    I'd even say that VHS was good enough in most cases. DVD didn't win becuase the quality was better, but because you don't have to rewind them, and because the quality doesn't deteriorate each time you watch it.

    I own a PS3, and the only Blu-Ray movie I own is Casino Royale. I got that for free with the console. Blu-Ray is neat, but I'm not going to pay twice as much for a movie I can't rip to my PSP.

  130. Re:Metal Gear by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You bought all that shit, and now can't afford a console?

    You're a partial fanboy.

    But also a partial retard.

    Maybe you should ebay your MGS artbooks and comics. They must be worth millions.

  131. It's all about the right games at the right price. by master_p · · Score: 1

    Right now the cheapest and best entertainment comes from the Wii. Two console generations ago, the cheapest and best entertainment came from PS1. Nintendo got the message, and that's why they are so successful.

  132. Usual ZONK FUD.. by Mark+Gillespie · · Score: 0

    Unfortunatly, the dumb Americans here can't see they are being manipulated by Microsoft FUD.

    As a European PS3 owner, I can catagorically state, PS2 software emultaion is nothing to be afraid of, it works VERY well, and is only marginally less than hardware compatabiliy (92% vs 97%).

    Stories about lesser PS3's about to hit the market are nonsense. If anything, I suspect the 80GB models may hit with a 65nm Cell CPU...

  133. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by Dal+Platinum · · Score: 1

    Same here, I thought it was just an age based thing. ie. fanboy = person, fanboi = child. I never used the 'fanboi' variant anyway, because it looks retarded.

    It's rare, but slashdot has taught me something today.

  134. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Drylnn · · Score: 1

    Wow... MS was one of the most evil companies for a while in snuffing out Netscape - pressing company powers so badly that they get hit by antitrust.... and people forget. MS fights it so long in court that they last until the Bush admin, which wimps out on pursuing it (some states keep pursuing it).... and people forget.

    Sony puts a rootkit on, later removes it (granted, not of their own immediate volition)... and people threaten lifetime bans for something arguably of less weight than the things MS did.

    I'm not saying those people who boycott Sony are wrong, but those who act like MS hasn't been the more "evil" company need to take a longer look.

  135. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by angus_rg · · Score: 1

    Ah yes. Microsoft is so evil for taking advantage of the system. Who is to blame for the woman who got millions in a lawsuit against McDonalds because she intelligently burned herself with hot coffee, the woman, or the system? Did she deserve it, no. Is she an idiot, yes. Is she evil for what she did? Not by the law's standards.

    Every monitary transaction is providing something at someone elses expense in some way shape or form. Can these fools be blamed for trying to take advantage of the system? That is the American dream. Not to say its right, or your opinion isn't valid, but as long as the court systems agree, all's fair. If you have a problem, that's what your congressman/elections are for.

    The problem with Sony is that they opened up a whole new avenue for hackers to break into system, rather then report the bug that allowed them to hid from AV software. Granted, I know there is the whole MS insecure code debate, but the two are apples and oranges.

  136. No Scandinavian pricecuts by anduz · · Score: 1

    The ps3 won't have pricecuts in Scandinavia because the distributer doesn't feel a need since they don't consider the competition to be as strong as it is in America.

  137. Re:Price Drop != Cheaper PS3 by siphoncolder · · Score: 1

    So, what you're saying is...

    INVISIBLE PRICE DROP

    --
    i'm amazed that i survived - an airbag saved my life.
  138. Re:It's all about the right games at the right pri by Alexpkeaton1010 · · Score: 1

    Best for people under 12 or over 50.

  139. Sales comparison NOW, not versus history by jchenx · · Score: 1

    What I fail to see is why you have some problem admitting to the fact that the PS3 is selling just as well as the Xbox 360 did at launch.
    I think we have a miscommunication problem. My point was that even if the PS3 were selling just as well as the Xbox 360 did at launch, that's moot.

    My view is that the PS3 is doing just fine and that everyone has spent so much time decrying it as a failure that they're actually starting to believe it. Look at the numbers and see for yourself that the PS3 is on track globally to sell the same number of units in the same time frame that the Xbox 360 has done. If you don't like my analysis that's your own business, but you can't look at those numbers and suggest that the PS3 is somehow doing worse.
    The PS3 numbers are doing fine, if you compare them against the 360 in its point of the lifespan (your quote in bold). But if you compare them heads up, it's not doing very well at all. That's what the vast majority of people are focused on, because at the end of the day, that's what matters.

    Even though it may not "be fair" that the 360 got a head-start over the PS3, the fact of the matter is that it did. It's the same advantage the PS2 had over the original Xbox. Heck, even though the Wii released a year after the 360, we're already seeing that it's going to catch up pretty darn quickly. It's becoming fairly evident that right now, the PS3 isn't doing fine.

    IMHO if I were a Sony exec, I wouldn't be thinking that the platform is in good shape. They need to take action to be more competitive. I think it's fine to admit that, as long as you have a plan on righting that ship.
    --
    -- jchenx
    1. Re:Sales comparison NOW, not versus history by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      I've simply presented one way of looking at it and why I think it's valid.

      I think it's somewhat unfair that Sony should magically be able to catch up to Microsoft despite the year lead. Assuming that Sony had a better launch and sold out much like the Wii, people would probably spin things the other way and say that Microsoft is doomed because Sony is set to outpace them. If the sales trends continue, they'll be about even, the only difference is that Sony would be about a year behind Microsoft. If we were both running a race and I had an hour head start over you it doesn't necessarily make the most sense to compare our heads up relationship so early on in the race. If you're running only as fast as I am, I'll only finish the race an hour ahead of you, but if you're running at a different speed, the end results can change significantly. This early on it makes far more sense to compare the rate.

      With E3 and all the new games previewed or mentioned, I think that some change is inevitable. I can't really say for sure exactly what that change is, but I'll just continue to moniter the sales results and draw my own conclusions.

      The only problem is that 'doing fine' isn't 'doing great' which is where Sony wants to be right now. Dropping the console price could very well be a start to getting there, but they need more than just that. I made my original post because of the general amount of FUD that's being slung in Sony's direction. Even if the PS3 continues on a lackluster course, Sony won't be out of the console business anytime soon.

    2. Re:Sales comparison NOW, not versus history by jchenx · · Score: 1

      I think it's somewhat unfair that Sony should magically be able to catch up to Microsoft despite the year lead.
      As I said before, it doesn't matter what's "fair" or "unfair". Were you complaining about Sony's year lead with the PS3, over the Xbox and GameCube? And again, even though the 360 had a year lead over the Wii, we see that Nintendo looks like they'll be able to catch up easily.

      Assuming that Sony had a better launch and sold out much like the Wii, people would probably spin things the other way and say that Microsoft is doomed because Sony is set to outpace them. If the sales trends continue, they'll be about even, the only difference is that Sony would be about a year behind Microsoft. If we were both running a race and I had an hour head start over you it doesn't necessarily make the most sense to compare our heads up relationship so early on in the race. If you're running only as fast as I am, I'll only finish the race an hour ahead of you, but if you're running at a different speed, the end results can change significantly. This early on it makes far more sense to compare the rate.
      Alright, I'll agree with you there. So, here is the weekly sales rate of all the next-gen consoles, with the console launches aligned: http://vgchartz.com/hwcomps.php?cons1=Wii&reg1=All &cons2=PS3&reg2=All&cons3=X360&reg3=All&align=1&we ekly=1

      According to that graph, the Wii is beating the pants off both the PS3 and 360. The 360, however, is also beating the PS3 by a not-insignificant margin, and has been for several months now.

      Even if the PS3 continues on a lackluster course, Sony won't be out of the console business anytime soon.
      Oh, I think we all agree there. They're definitely in it for the long haul. Anyone claiming that "Sony is teh d00med" shouldn't be taken seriously. They've had more than enough success with the PS2 and arguably with the PSP that they will certainly be around for the PS4 and probably beyond.
      --
      -- jchenx
    3. Re:Sales comparison NOW, not versus history by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      "As I said before, it doesn't matter what's "fair" or "unfair". Were you complaining about Sony's year lead with the PS3, over the Xbox and GameCube? And again, even though the 360 had a year lead over the Wii, we see that Nintendo looks like they'll be able to catch up easily."

      What happened last generation really isn't relevant to this discussion and I haven't brought it up. I never said the year head start was unfair, only that the PS3 is selling the same number of units globaly as the Xbox 360 thus far.

      "According to that graph, the Wii is beating the pants off both the PS3 and 360. The 360, however, is also beating the PS3 by a not-insignificant margin, and has been for several months now."

      A margin which hasn't changed, thus the whole bit about the same pace. If that margin were growing wider then your argumetns would be a lot more credible, but since it isn't you can't say that the PS3 will do better or worse for a certainty. It's mostly just baseless speculation.

  140. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Littleman_TAMU · · Score: 1

    "Only the Elite supports 1080p." Actually, all 360s have supported 1080p since a software update in late 2006. The Elite is the only one with HDMI, but you can get 1080p over component. I've done it. You should probably get your facts straight before you go accusing others of FUD. You should also probably stop presenting it as a fact that the PS3 controller is "perfect", give me a break, it's a matter of opinion. For the record, I own neither a 360 or a PS3, but I did borrow a friend's 360 for a bit to test the HD-DVD drive and I decided I'd rather wait for the standalone players to drop in price a bit instead.

  141. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by cbreaker · · Score: 1

    Ohh you proved me wrong - there's at least five TV's out there that can take 1080p over component.. It's not FUD. Almost no devices accept 1080p over component, never mind the fact that most TV's don't even take it over HDMI.

    This is a message board, and I offer my opinions. I believe the size and shape of the Playstation controller to be near perfect for a general purpose controller - almost anyone can use it, big or small, it doesn't cramp your fingers too bad if you play over extended periods (although, like any controller it can depend on the game) it's not too heavy and it's sturdy as hell. I never hear anyone complain about the PS controller style unless they're a YAMB (Yet Another Microsoft Bitch) trying to start shit.

    If you think I'm "presenting as fact" something that obviously COULDN'T be (the idea, by it's very nature, is an opinion even if it were to be shared by 100% of people you polled) then I don't know what to say except perhaps that you might grow up a little bit.

    --
    - It's not the Macs I hate. It's Digg users. -
  142. Fighting game?? by bastardblaster · · Score: 1

    Credibility is seriously in doubt when Metal Gear Solid is referred to as a "Fighting game"

  143. Re:The models with the chip are using software emu by rtechie · · Score: 1

    Also, the term "fanboi" is used by two types of people: Those who wish to make derogatory comments about young Asian people who are overly passionate about something, Which is exactly the context in which the term is used to describe WHITE people(or black people, or whatever). And it is inherently derogatory term. "Fanboi" is simply an alternate spelling of "fanboy". To many the term implies youth (like a child as opposed to a teenager) so is considered slightly more derogatory. Period. It is not a racist slur.

  144. Re:Foot, meet Mr. Shotgun by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Granted as working adult I find the difference in price meaningless. You're probably the kind of asshole that pays five grand for a fucking TV set. Some people have better things to spend their money on.
  145. Re:Software emulation as good as hardware? Yah rig by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you continue to make a fool of yourself. it's very simple, "does the game play exactly as it would on ps2 hardware?" if the answer is no than it's not as good as hardware compatibility. now fucking shut up and go play your gaystation

  146. What's wrong with being honest with the numbers? by jchenx · · Score: 1

    A margin which hasn't changed, thus the whole bit about the same pace. If that margin were growing wider then your argumetns would be a lot more credible, but since it isn't you can't say that the PS3 will do better or worse for a certainty. It's mostly just baseless speculation.
    Sure, the margin hasn't changed. But the margin right now is BAD for the PS3. That's my whole point. It's behind in both current sales, and also compared to the Wii and 360 during its respective launches.

    What's wrong with saying, "The PS3 is behind right now, and it will need to improve sales in the future, in order to catch up to the 360 and Wii"? I think that's a very respectable and truthful statement. It's by no means "OMG PS3 IS D00MED", just an honest look at the sales situation today.

    What I think is dishonest is saying that the PS3 is doing well now. It is certainly not where Sony wants sales to be right now. One reason why so many gamers and tech junkies have so much hate for Sony is because, in the past, they tended to spin and lie all the time. Remember the whole, "There are lots of PS3 shortages right now" claim earlier this year, when it was obviously clear there wasn't any? (Penny-Arcade famously called them out on this)
    --
    -- jchenx