@AFCC
Thats not true, we also like games about balled space Marines.
Seriously though, such close-mindedness ain't cool, and spewing comments like that certainly doesn't make you sound intelligent. You could make the same remark about any country by the way, doesn't make it anymore true.
Hes right, power isn't going to be the biggest deciding factor for most people. If it was then just about every console generation should have went in the opposite direction. Power is nice when you have it but games and price will come first, even if the Xbox was stronger would the extra $100 be worth it?
The raw power itself is might as well be meaningless anyway, what matters most is public perception. All that matters is that people think something is more powerful, it doesn't matter if it actually is.
@thedevilsjester Thats definitely a big part of it. The reason its practically the other way around in Japan is because thats exactly what they want, elsewhere its mostly the people buying them specifically to play the games they get that play them at home. Like @Hydeks said people are switching to mobile, games like tetris are no longer console sellers. So handhelds will probably sell more like the GBA or PSP did.
The funny thing is how playing a handheld in public is sorta seen as 'weird' yet sitting there with your nose in your phone is perfectly 'normal' in today's society.
I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the PSP sales are replacements and that sort of thing. Its whole PSN library is available, its affordable, and memory is more reasonable though, so who knows.
Glad I stumbled across this, I have barely enough money for a PS1 classic thats been sitting on my account doing nothing. Been saving it for just this sort of occasion.
Definitely getting Retro City Rampage and Tokyo jungle.
@JaxonH Thats exactly how it is, the funny thing is most people don't actually want both. Most people who would opt for the multiplats first wouldn't buy games like Freedom Wars or MH3U anyway. The opposite is much more likely. Big IP like Mario and Zelda are the only ones they'd care about.
The only thing these consoles "fail" at is not out-selling their predecessors. No way but up is the name of the game unfortunately.
@JaxonH For us its all about support, the rest boils down to executives that have no idea how this industry works. Maybe if all you play are giant AAA blockbusters you'll have a problem, since thats where the "has no games" argument comes from, but the only reason the likes of the Wii U and Vita are "failed" consoles is they don't rake in money. They still have lots to improve of course, but they're by no means bad. A lot of the big companies could learn a thing or two from guys like Chris McQuinn.
@JaxonH I'm pretty sure "yosp" ShuYoshida gave it away that he was trolling just as much as brand promoting. Being a second offense probably helped. It was the competition after all, not just a random website.
I wonder if it wasn't Shu Yoshida if they would have caught onto it as quickly, the president of Sony World-wide studios isn't exactly anonymous.
For me it'd be Ni No Kuni. The game's art style is great as it is, making it crisper, smoother, and fixing the AI is all it really needs. Giving it another chance to shine wouldn't hurt either, nor would another excuse to play it again.
I think the Vita TV has a market outside Japan, but they need to get the Vita going first. No sense in rolling out a new version going "look, we have another" when people have hardly grasped the original.
They should try to make a new Vita model that allows you to dock it, hook it up to a TV, and grab a controller like the PSP Go. That would even work better in Japan since they would sorta be selling them both a handheld and a console in one.
Eh, I forgot about the reputation system. It should be fine as long as they don't do what Microsoft is doing with theirs. Its probably all but impossible to avoid false down votes/flags with any system like that, unless you give false accusations a penalty too.
I actually if I could come up with something good. I've been using this username for everything game related which isn't exactly helping.
I actually did get laughed at once for having "zombie" in my name, on RDR's online. It was funny though cause I just so happened to pick Seth at the time, which coincidentally they were betting I'd have picked. I actually picked him cause hes so short and, well, its Seth.XD
Yea, I don't like this cultural tax break for the most part. A lot of employees will probably be from the UK so being able to qualify that way is nice and shouldn't be hard due to modern staff sizes, but I hope we don't see publishers pushing for more UK influences just to qualify. Unfortunately, that 25% is a pretty nice incentive to do so.
I voted for the Elder Scrolls, but really any good first-person RPG would work great. Horror would also be a great genre for VR, imagine playing a classic Resident Evil or Silent Hill with it.
Seems interesting but I'm still skeptical about the price and comfort. I know this thing is supposed to work with glasses but I don't really buy that it works perfectly with every size and style without feeling awkward no matter who is wearing it, especially if you try to wear headphones with it. That kind of comfort won't come cheap either.
@get2sammyb Yea, thats what I'm thinking too. This is the 3rd installment, not counting DLC, so hes probably just ready to do something new. I wonder if this means Sucker Punch is far from done with Infamous then.
@JaxonH Thats the thing about these payed online services, the way they've all but convinced people they NEED to charge now. I'm not knocking either purely as a service, but generally such upkeep is done at the company's expense, not the consumer's. If your not making enough to cover costs theres a problem with your business. This is the only industry I know of that acts like the consumers are directly responsible for their well being. Whenever theres a problem its always our end thats the root of it.
As for the big 3's livelihood, I doubt they'll ever truly vanish. They'll probably streamline things and shrink to fit the market but as long as gaming is a profitable business they won't let things go.
@Squiggle55 Yea, thats always gonna be a problem. Unfortunately, most of the venom spewed isn't really about that. I've seen plenty of perfectly reasonable discussions.
@JaxonH Your not alone there. For me though a lot of what i play are RPGs and other (potentially) long games, so I don't go through games very quick. I'm almost 70hrs in Ni No Kuni, at that rate I'd probably finish 1 or 2 PS+ games, so I might as well just buy 'em outright.
@JaxonH
Gamers these days certainly have a more than healthy appreciation for sales and the like thats for sure. I care about this stuff as much as the next guy, after all nobody wants their console to be the next Virtual Boy, but its just become another source of ammo for fanboy wars.
It used to be a GOOD thing when your buddy had a different console than you, it meant a whole different system for you to play. This is also the only industry I know of where people argue over this stuff. You don't see people arguing over which car brand sells the most, or which restaurant does the most business now do you?
I'd say theres nothing wrong with being a "big niche" device, in fact if handled well it'd just be further proof you don't need to be the biggest fish to be successful.
There are plenty of people who will buy a console for just one particular game or series, even if they don't really like the hardware itself much. If Sony can be the go-to company for such games they can make up for being niche with the sum of the collective fanbases.
@Unca_Lz Tell me about it. At least back then many of us actually WERE kids, so fans getting a little er...overzealous had a slightly different tone. The "that game/console/ect. is kiddie" and similar arguments were also somewhat more appropriate since most kids go through that stage.
I like Sakurai's stance on 'em, too bad more people don't realize that not even the people responsible for their beloved hobby behave in such a manner, but rather the opposite.
@Gemuarto I'm sure they are, after all its not like once they're sold out there won't be anymore PS4s. You get together with a bunch of like-minded people and basically have yourselves a little launch party. Its probably even funner in Japan since just about everyone has a handheld of some kind so you can sit and play together.
@Itach
Not sure if it was official or not but from my understanding its because they'd have to do such a major overhaul of the game to do a remake of a game like FFVII. I'd be really expensive and being such so critically acclaimed the expectations for it would be near impossible. Just imagine the outrage if they screwed up, or worse if fans learned the hard way its not as good as they remember.
@feelthesarcasm He probably would have gotten into more trouble if he kept his mouth shut and Sony noticed whats wrong with the picture.
Anyway, this wouldn't be grounds for banning. He certainly shouldn't be allowed to keep them but banning him for exploiting a glitch would do more harm than good. Hes a first time PS+ member so rewarding him with a few months or so of free PS+ could turn him into another loyal customer, that would be worth far more to Sony than banning him.
I'd say hes absolutely right about the problems PS Now will face. He might not be right about whether or not it'll succeed but then we really don't know much better either.
The way i see it the two biggest selling points for this are legacy content and not having to buy dedicated hardware. I'm sure there are plenty of people who wouldn't normally invest in the hardware just to play one or two games they find interesting, thats a lot of potential customers for a service like this. The only problem is how many casual players would buy a gamepad just for streaming service?
@JaxonH You'd probably be just as well off waiting anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if they re-released the game as a complete set later on, like every other MGS game. There could even be some sort of enhanced version too for all we know.
They make games that are very enjoyable to replay, I'll give them that, but you need more than just time trials to justify charging $30-$40 for a 2hr game. Theres probably plenty more we don't know but I'll probably wait and see if they release the two together.
It probably will be just for PSN versions of the games but I'm hoping they at least sell the emulator as an add-on, if not just make it standard feature. I'm fine buying Digital but there will always be games that won't make it to PSN, so having both as an option wouldn't hurt. Even then, Sony's cross-compatibility is a big perk in and of itself.
@JaxonH I'm pretty sure the PS4 can read them to some extent. For that trade-up program to work the way it does it has to be able to identify what game it is. Its not the format thats the problem, its the coding.
Unfortunately, I don't see a cost effective solution short of a PS3 emulator, assuming the PS4 can run one.
@RaymanFan2
Your right, and I absolutely agree, people need to stop taking Pachter's analyses so personally.
He looks at things from a business perspective and makes these calls based on where things are currently headed, but what he says in these interviews isn't the same as what he tells clients either.
People take his analyses seriously because they are a reflection of whats happening, it doesn't matter who they're intended for. Pachter himself even points out what could cause things to change, so why shouldn't anyone else?
Also, in case you haven't exactly noticed, playing devils advocate for Pachter isn't exactly safe.
I'm sure a lot of it is marketing. I don't think I've even heard of their Xperia line outside of the Xperia Play, much less seen one for sale anywhere.
Sony also tends to overprice themselves compared to the competition. Whether or not its due to also trying to out tech them I don't know, but whatever the reason they seem to have a knack for pricing themselves out of most peoples' price range.
I have a feeling that the sort of attitude that caused the PS3's launch price is the cause though, not just the arrogance but the overambitious amount of tech and features crammed into into it. A premium device deserves a premium price, but most people don't want that. What they do want is 'good enough' and easy to use, perceived value is whats important to most people.
@rjejr Tell me about it. Up here we pay about 9¢ on the dollar, which ends up being almost a dollar for every $10 spent. So those gift cards don't actually pay for the games, and you rarely see them priced with that in mind.
I agree that PS3 Minecraft selling so well is impressive by the way. Especially when you consider how far ahead the PC version is (both time and update wise), and its availability on tablets.
@rjejr As far as I know its not up, the only digital code I've seen for Minecraft on there was for the PC version, and that was once a few months back or so. Its not up for the Xbox 360 version either though. You could buy a digital PSN code that just gets sent to your e-mail if you want to transfer the funds, but it won't do much good due to taxes and the lowest valued card being $10.
@Cloud7794 Thats gotta be it. This really isn't the sort of game where the publisher would go "well, we'd better lower the rating so we can sell a few more copies", which is a good thing in my book.
I can't stand it when games get censored for the sake of selling a few more copies, to people that normally wouldn't be able to buy the original no less. This is an actual GOOD reason to sensor games.
I really think the memory card prices are raising the price of admission too high and thats whats deterring people from buying a Vita. Thats the main thing for me anyway. By the time you get the handheld and a decent size memory card your already reaching home console prices, obviously you can't fit a Wii U or PS3 in your pocket but its exceeding what most people deem a handheld to be worth.
Me personally, I'm fine finding a balance between digital and physical games, but I would need a 16gb card minimum upgrading from my PSP. I'm wondering if the Vita TV might help turn the tide with its lower initial price making up for the expensive memory.
$7.99 sounds about right to me, for a strictly digital only service. I believe Gamefly charges $14.99 for their service but then they also ship out physical copies of games, which usually cost more than movies do as well.
Rentals better be relatively cheap though otherwise theres no point in offering both.
@Voltaris They certainly could do that, but then why would they want to limit themselves to only those that subscribe to PS Now rather than have them plus the PS4 install base as potential customers?
I'm really curious about how this will affect the PS4's install base, I wanna see how its install base compares to the PS Now subscription numbers. That'll tell us how many people are opting to not buy a console vs those who wouldn't normally buy one.
Definitely agree, I'd be fine with the modern setting as apart of the overall story, in the sense that your adventure isn't entirely real, but I don't like being reminded that my character is really just sitting inside a machine. Especially with ACIII, modern-day man taking part in the American revolution is enough of a story as is.
I'd say they could definitely stand to have more sales, maybe not quite to the extreme Steam does, but certainly more often and varied. Offer a mix of not-so-old games and forgotten gems and try to hit as many price points as possible, not just impulse prices. They don't need to match Steam, they just need to make sure people feel like they're getting great deals.
I don't see dedicated gaming devices disappearing, not for a long, long time anyway. I think there might be a much broader market with console quality experiences on mobile platforms (not necessarily 'next-gen' quality though), something we're already seeing, but for dedicated devices to disappear you'd have to convince consumers they're not up to snuff anymore. Consoles are also becoming less dedicated so thats something to consider as well
They could keep certain content exclusive to PS4, wether its permanent or not doesn't really matter. Like how some TV programs are exclusive to certain channels or services. People that are interested in a few select games but don't want to buy a console to play them might be more willing to sign up for GaiKai.
All it really boils down to is a mine is better than yours argument. People like "knowing" they have the best of the best, both for monetary/value reasons and self-image reseasons. Nobody likes feeling like they've made a bad choice, and they certainly don't want other people knowing it. Bragging, elitism, it all makes you feel better about yourself and your decisions
I always pick the platform that has and will likely get the most games I'll like. If a few of those games aren't the best versions then oh well, so be it, the other games more than make up for it. If I also happen to have the platfom with the best version I'll get that one then.
Yea, I'm not buying it. No retailer in their right mind cares about what you buy, they just want to make the sale. If anything Sony probably worked something out with them to upsell the Vita/PS4 combo as much as possible but they certainly won't do anything to stand in the customer's way if they want something else. Annoy your customers and they'll just take their business elsewhere.
The way I see it as long as its mentally, if not physically engaging, its a game. Wether your in it for the gameplay or the story is another matter entirely. Some people only care about gameplay while others only want the story, and everything in-between. Theres no right or wrong reason to play.
The problem comes when companies are too afraid to make something new or different because "it doesn't sell". There are simply too many factors as to why that is, everything from price to the lack of a middle ground.
@get2sammyb Yep, the classic coin-op. I think the reason that has carried on so long is because nobody has figured out a better way to handle penalties and failure in games. A lot of the time that penalty is death, so you'd have to restart in most cases.
I'm actually glad this is coming out. Lost my TOS save to a corrupt card and to play the sequel I'd have to replace my nunchuck and sensorbar. Those wireless ones eat through batteries like nobody's business.
@ShogunRok Both games were made for SD systems so thats probably the main reason for it, neither game really needs much else. Dawn of the New World will need a bit more work though since they have to rework the controls.
Its kinda funny, but I didn't actually buy my PSone. My cousin wanted to borrow our N64, which also happened to be from her, so we swapped consoles. Unfortunately, someone stole it so she just let us keep the PSone. Didn't miss the N64 too much though, and the PSone is probably the console that got me into RPGs.
Don't have one anymore but I do have a my PS2 still. I also eventually replaced the N64 and a few missing games, so it all came back full circle in the end.
@Malouff Well, the idea is that the other players already have the game. This just shows that you can still play with other Vita owners. The best comparison there is for this is the Gamecube's GBA player.
Another way to look at this is I've seen upscale boxes for the PSP go for around $80 by themselves, so the Vita TV's price isn't that bad for what it does.
I'd say it has a lot of potential since it covers quite a few niches all on its own. It fills that budget-console gap under the PS3 and can get even cheaper down the road, works as Sony's own media box, and even a make-shift PS4. The list goes on and on.
I certainly hope this makes it outside Japan, seems kinda weird that it wouldn't. I love my handhelds but this thing is just too good to ignore.
@Lelouch Yep, that pretty much sums it up. Sadly, Nintendo isn't much of a threat in the home console market anywhere right now. Its kinda funny though, between the two of them they pretty much have Japan's gaming needs completely covered.
@get2sammyb That could just be because their normal blu-rays, but it is interesting that the PS4 can detect what game it is at all.
They could use it in some way to bridge that gap between consoles though. Allowing people to play games they own free would be a stretch but they could allow people to "upgrade" their PS3 games for a small fee, like Nintendo is doing with transfering Virtual Console games from the Wii to Wii U.
Beats double-dipping for a full priced game at least.
@MadchesterManc MH3 was kind of a re-boot of the series, just about everything was new and its that one game in the series that even the fanbase is divided on (too easy, not enough content, ect.). Definitely give MHFU a shot though, especially on the Vita.
Anyway, the team that makes the main series games isn't the one in charge of frontier, thats probably why they can make it on the Vita. Nintendo probably only has a contract for the main series.
This might be good for those already playing the MMO but I don't see it saving the Vita with MH4 out. This would be good for the west though since we haven't gotten any version of it, and the Vita TV would work well with it.
Comments 303
Re: Heartless Americans Thought Tokyo Jungle Was Woof
@AFCC
Thats not true, we also like games about balled space Marines.
Seriously though, such close-mindedness ain't cool, and spewing comments like that certainly doesn't make you sound intelligent. You could make the same remark about any country by the way, doesn't make it anymore true.
Re: PS4's Power Advantage Over Xbox One Is Irrelevant, Says Pachter
Hes right, power isn't going to be the biggest deciding factor for most people. If it was then just about every console generation should have went in the opposite direction. Power is nice when you have it but games and price will come first, even if the Xbox was stronger would the extra $100 be worth it?
The raw power itself is might as well be meaningless anyway, what matters most is public perception. All that matters is that people think something is more powerful, it doesn't matter if it actually is.
Re: So, the PSP Almost Matched the Vita's Sales in USA Last Month
@thedevilsjester
Thats definitely a big part of it. The reason its practically the other way around in Japan is because thats exactly what they want, elsewhere its mostly the people buying them specifically to play the games they get that play them at home. Like @Hydeks said people are switching to mobile, games like tetris are no longer console sellers. So handhelds will probably sell more like the GBA or PSP did.
The funny thing is how playing a handheld in public is sorta seen as 'weird' yet sitting there with your nose in your phone is perfectly 'normal' in today's society.
I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the PSP sales are replacements and that sort of thing. Its whole PSN library is available, its affordable, and memory is more reasonable though, so who knows.
Re: You Can Buy These PlayStation Games for Less Than a Dollar
Glad I stumbled across this, I have barely enough money for a PS1 classic thats been sitting on my account doing nothing. Been saving it for just this sort of occasion.
Definitely getting Retro City Rampage and Tokyo jungle.
Re: Drinkbox: People Don't Understand the Purchasing Power of PS Vita Owners
@JaxonH
Thats exactly how it is, the funny thing is most people don't actually want both. Most people who would opt for the multiplats first wouldn't buy games like Freedom Wars or MH3U anyway. The opposite is much more likely. Big IP like Mario and Zelda are the only ones they'd care about.
The only thing these consoles "fail" at is not out-selling their predecessors. No way but up is the name of the game unfortunately.
Re: Drinkbox: People Don't Understand the Purchasing Power of PS Vita Owners
@JaxonH
For us its all about support, the rest boils down to executives that have no idea how this industry works. Maybe if all you play are giant AAA blockbusters you'll have a problem, since thats where the "has no games" argument comes from, but the only reason the likes of the Wii U and Vita are "failed" consoles is they don't rake in money. They still have lots to improve of course, but they're by no means bad. A lot of the big companies could learn a thing or two from guys like Chris McQuinn.
Re: Sony's Shuhei Yoshida Has Been Banned from Nintendo MiiVerse Twice
@JaxonH
I'm pretty sure "yosp" ShuYoshida gave it away that he was trolling just as much as brand promoting. Being a second offense probably helped. It was the competition after all, not just a random website.
I wonder if it wasn't Shu Yoshida if they would have caught onto it as quickly, the president of Sony World-wide studios isn't exactly anonymous.
Re: Feature: 12 PS3 Hits We'd Like to See Remastered for PS4
For me it'd be Ni No Kuni. The game's art style is great as it is, making it crisper, smoother, and fixing the AI is all it really needs. Giving it another chance to shine wouldn't hurt either, nor would another excuse to play it again.
Or better yet, how about that sequel?
Re: Battlefield 4's Megalodon Easter Egg Makes a Massive Splash
Thats pretty cool, Imagine what that thing must be like up close.
Re: Talking Point: Has Sony's Dithering Turned Off PS Vita TV's Chances?
I think the Vita TV has a market outside Japan, but they need to get the Vita going first. No sense in rolling out a new version going "look, we have another" when people have hardly grasped the original.
They should try to make a new Vita model that allows you to dock it, hook it up to a TV, and grab a controller like the PSP Go. That would even work better in Japan since they would sorta be selling them both a handheld and a console in one.
Re: Would You Like to Change Your PSN Username?
Eh, I forgot about the reputation system. It should be fine as long as they don't do what Microsoft is doing with theirs. Its probably all but impossible to avoid false down votes/flags with any system like that, unless you give false accusations a penalty too.
Re: Would You Like to Change Your PSN Username?
I actually if I could come up with something good. I've been using this username for everything game related which isn't exactly helping.
I actually did get laughed at once for having "zombie" in my name, on RDR's online. It was funny though cause I just so happened to pick Seth at the time, which coincidentally they were betting I'd have picked. I actually picked him cause hes so short and, well, its Seth.XD
Re: You Should Expect to See More British Developed Games in the Future
Yea, I don't like this cultural tax break for the most part. A lot of employees will probably be from the UK so being able to qualify that way is nice and shouldn't be hard due to modern staff sizes, but I hope we don't see publishers pushing for more UK influences just to qualify. Unfortunately, that 25% is a pretty nice incentive to do so.
Re: Feature: 11 Games We Want to Play with PS4's Virtual Reality Headset
I voted for the Elder Scrolls, but really any good first-person RPG would work great. Horror would also be a great genre for VR, imagine playing a classic Resident Evil or Silent Hill with it.
Re: PS4's Virtual Reality Headset Project Morpheus Officially Unveiled
Seems interesting but I'm still skeptical about the price and comfort. I know this thing is supposed to work with glasses but I don't really buy that it works perfectly with every size and style without feeling awkward no matter who is wearing it, especially if you try to wear headphones with it. That kind of comfort won't come cheap either.
Re: The Lead Designer of inFAMOUS: Second Son Has Left Sucker Punch
@get2sammyb
Yea, thats what I'm thinking too. This is the 3rd installment, not counting DLC, so hes probably just ready to do something new. I wonder if this means Sucker Punch is far from done with Infamous then.
Re: PS4 Sales Slip Behind Pace Set by Nintendo Wii U in Japan
@JaxonH
Thats the thing about these payed online services, the way they've all but convinced people they NEED to charge now. I'm not knocking either purely as a service, but generally such upkeep is done at the company's expense, not the consumer's. If your not making enough to cover costs theres a problem with your business. This is the only industry I know of that acts like the consumers are directly responsible for their well being. Whenever theres a problem its always our end thats the root of it.
As for the big 3's livelihood, I doubt they'll ever truly vanish. They'll probably streamline things and shrink to fit the market but as long as gaming is a profitable business they won't let things go.
Re: PS4 Sales Slip Behind Pace Set by Nintendo Wii U in Japan
@Squiggle55
Yea, thats always gonna be a problem. Unfortunately, most of the venom spewed isn't really about that. I've seen plenty of perfectly reasonable discussions.
@JaxonH
Your not alone there. For me though a lot of what i play are RPGs and other (potentially) long games, so I don't go through games very quick. I'm almost 70hrs in Ni No Kuni, at that rate I'd probably finish 1 or 2 PS+ games, so I might as well just buy 'em outright.
Re: PS4 Sales Slip Behind Pace Set by Nintendo Wii U in Japan
@JaxonH
Gamers these days certainly have a more than healthy appreciation for sales and the like thats for sure. I care about this stuff as much as the next guy, after all nobody wants their console to be the next Virtual Boy, but its just become another source of ammo for fanboy wars.
It used to be a GOOD thing when your buddy had a different console than you, it meant a whole different system for you to play. This is also the only industry I know of where people argue over this stuff. You don't see people arguing over which car brand sells the most, or which restaurant does the most business now do you?
Re: Sony: PlayStation Vita Is Proving to Be a Big Niche Device
I'd say theres nothing wrong with being a "big niche" device, in fact if handled well it'd just be further proof you don't need to be the biggest fish to be successful.
There are plenty of people who will buy a console for just one particular game or series, even if they don't really like the hardware itself much. If Sony can be the go-to company for such games they can make up for being niche with the sum of the collective fanbases.
Re: Super Smash Bros. Director Stunned by PS4's Visual Prowess
@Unca_Lz
Tell me about it. At least back then many of us actually WERE kids, so fans getting a little er...overzealous had a slightly different tone. The "that game/console/ect. is kiddie" and similar arguments were also somewhat more appropriate since most kids go through that stage.
I like Sakurai's stance on 'em, too bad more people don't realize that not even the people responsible for their beloved hobby behave in such a manner, but rather the opposite.
Re: These Japanese Fans Have Been Waiting for Three Days to Get a PS4
@Gemuarto
I'm sure they are, after all its not like once they're sold out there won't be anymore PS4s. You get together with a bunch of like-minded people and basically have yourselves a little launch party. Its probably even funner in Japan since just about everyone has a handheld of some kind so you can sit and play together.
Re: Square Enix Will Only Remake Final Fantasy XII if We Shout
@Itach
Not sure if it was official or not but from my understanding its because they'd have to do such a major overhaul of the game to do a remake of a game like FFVII. I'd be really expensive and being such so critically acclaimed the expectations for it would be near impossible. Just imagine the outrage if they screwed up, or worse if fans learned the hard way its not as good as they remember.
Re: Weirdness: This PS4 Owner Managed to Get a 21 Year PS Plus Subscription for Free
@feelthesarcasm
He probably would have gotten into more trouble if he kept his mouth shut and Sony noticed whats wrong with the picture.
Anyway, this wouldn't be grounds for banning. He certainly shouldn't be allowed to keep them but banning him for exploiting a glitch would do more harm than good. Hes a first time PS+ member so rewarding him with a few months or so of free PS+ could turn him into another loyal customer, that would be worth far more to Sony than banning him.
Re: Pachter: PlayStation Now Doesn't Have a Prayer of Maintaining Subscribers
I'd say hes absolutely right about the problems PS Now will face. He might not be right about whether or not it'll succeed but then we really don't know much better either.
The way i see it the two biggest selling points for this are legacy content and not having to buy dedicated hardware. I'm sure there are plenty of people who wouldn't normally invest in the hardware just to play one or two games they find interesting, thats a lot of potential customers for a service like this. The only problem is how many casual players would buy a gamepad just for streaming service?
Re: Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes Looks Best on PS4, Says Kojima
@JaxonH
You'd probably be just as well off waiting anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if they re-released the game as a complete set later on, like every other MGS game. There could even be some sort of enhanced version too for all we know.
Re: Hideo Kojima Wants You to Play Ground Zeroes Over and Over Again
They make games that are very enjoyable to replay, I'll give them that, but you need more than just time trials to justify charging $30-$40 for a 2hr game. Theres probably plenty more we don't know but I'll probably wait and see if they release the two together.
Re: Want Backward Compatibility on PS4? You May Get Better
It probably will be just for PSN versions of the games but I'm hoping they at least sell the emulator as an add-on, if not just make it standard feature. I'm fine buying Digital but there will always be games that won't make it to PSN, so having both as an option wouldn't hurt. Even then, Sony's cross-compatibility is a big perk in and of itself.
@JaxonH
I'm pretty sure the PS4 can read them to some extent. For that trade-up program to work the way it does it has to be able to identify what game it is. Its not the format thats the problem, its the coding.
Unfortunately, I don't see a cost effective solution short of a PS3 emulator, assuming the PS4 can run one.
Re: Talking Point: Is the Vita Really Dying a 'Slow, Painful Death'?
@RaymanFan2
Your right, and I absolutely agree, people need to stop taking Pachter's analyses so personally.
He looks at things from a business perspective and makes these calls based on where things are currently headed, but what he says in these interviews isn't the same as what he tells clients either.
People take his analyses seriously because they are a reflection of whats happening, it doesn't matter who they're intended for. Pachter himself even points out what could cause things to change, so why shouldn't anyone else?
Also, in case you haven't exactly noticed, playing devils advocate for Pachter isn't exactly safe.
Re: Investment Firm Encourages You to Steer Clear of Sony's Stock
I'm sure a lot of it is marketing. I don't think I've even heard of their Xperia line outside of the Xperia Play, much less seen one for sale anywhere.
Sony also tends to overprice themselves compared to the competition. Whether or not its due to also trying to out tech them I don't know, but whatever the reason they seem to have a knack for pricing themselves out of most peoples' price range.
I have a feeling that the sort of attitude that caused the PS3's launch price is the cause though, not just the arrogance but the overambitious amount of tech and features crammed into into it. A premium device deserves a premium price, but most people don't want that. What they do want is 'good enough' and easy to use, perceived value is whats important to most people.
Re: Minecraft: PS3 Edition Moves Past One Million Sales in One Month
@rjejr
Tell me about it. Up here we pay about 9¢ on the dollar, which ends up being almost a dollar for every $10 spent. So those gift cards don't actually pay for the games, and you rarely see them priced with that in mind.
I agree that PS3 Minecraft selling so well is impressive by the way. Especially when you consider how far ahead the PC version is (both time and update wise), and its availability on tablets.
Re: Minecraft: PS3 Edition Moves Past One Million Sales in One Month
@rjejr
As far as I know its not up, the only digital code I've seen for Minecraft on there was for the PC version, and that was once a few months back or so. Its not up for the Xbox 360 version either though. You could buy a digital PSN code that just gets sent to your e-mail if you want to transfer the funds, but it won't do much good due to taxes and the lowest valued card being $10.
Re: PS Vita Title Monster Monpiece Will Be Slightly Less Raunchy in the West
@Cloud7794
Thats gotta be it. This really isn't the sort of game where the publisher would go "well, we'd better lower the rating so we can sell a few more copies", which is a good thing in my book.
I can't stand it when games get censored for the sake of selling a few more copies, to people that normally wouldn't be able to buy the original no less. This is an actual GOOD reason to sensor games.
Re: Soapbox: Sony Is Depriving Players of the Optimal PS Vita Experience
I really think the memory card prices are raising the price of admission too high and thats whats deterring people from buying a Vita. Thats the main thing for me anyway. By the time you get the handheld and a decent size memory card your already reaching home console prices, obviously you can't fit a Wii U or PS3 in your pocket but its exceeding what most people deem a handheld to be worth.
Me personally, I'm fine finding a balance between digital and physical games, but I would need a 16gb card minimum upgrading from my PSP. I'm wondering if the Vita TV might help turn the tide with its lower initial price making up for the expensive memory.
Re: Poll: How Much Would You Pay for PlayStation Now?
$7.99 sounds about right to me, for a strictly digital only service. I believe Gamefly charges $14.99 for their service but then they also ship out physical copies of games, which usually cost more than movies do as well.
Rentals better be relatively cheap though otherwise theres no point in offering both.
Re: PlayStation Now Streams Software to Multiple Screens This Summer
@Voltaris
They certainly could do that, but then why would they want to limit themselves to only those that subscribe to PS Now rather than have them plus the PS4 install base as potential customers?
I'm really curious about how this will affect the PS4's install base, I wanna see how its install base compares to the PS Now subscription numbers. That'll tell us how many people are opting to not buy a console vs those who wouldn't normally buy one.
Re: Soapbox: Assassin's Creed's Modern Day Component Is Holding the Series Back
Definitely agree, I'd be fine with the modern setting as apart of the overall story, in the sense that your adventure isn't entirely real, but I don't like being reminded that my character is really just sitting inside a machine. Especially with ACIII, modern-day man taking part in the American revolution is enough of a story as is.
Re: Talking Point: Should Sony Mirror Steam's Discount Strategy for PSN?
I'd say they could definitely stand to have more sales, maybe not quite to the extreme Steam does, but certainly more often and varied. Offer a mix of not-so-old games and forgotten gems and try to hit as many price points as possible, not just impulse prices. They don't need to match Steam, they just need to make sure people feel like they're getting great deals.
Re: Talking Point: PS4 Proves That Consoles Are Alive and Kicking
I don't see dedicated gaming devices disappearing, not for a long, long time anyway. I think there might be a much broader market with console quality experiences on mobile platforms (not necessarily 'next-gen' quality though), something we're already seeing, but for dedicated devices to disappear you'd have to convince consumers they're not up to snuff anymore. Consoles are also becoming less dedicated so thats something to consider as well
Re: Will PlayStation Expand to Non-Gaming Devices? Yes, It's a Certainty
They could keep certain content exclusive to PS4, wether its permanent or not doesn't really matter. Like how some TV programs are exclusive to certain channels or services. People that are interested in a few select games but don't want to buy a console to play them might be more willing to sign up for GaiKai.
Re: Talking Point: How Much Do Format Face-Offs Really Matter?
All it really boils down to is a mine is better than yours argument. People like "knowing" they have the best of the best, both for monetary/value reasons and self-image reseasons. Nobody likes feeling like they've made a bad choice, and they certainly don't want other people knowing it. Bragging, elitism, it all makes you feel better about yourself and your decisions
I always pick the platform that has and will likely get the most games I'll like. If a few of those games aren't the best versions then oh well, so be it, the other games more than make up for it. If I also happen to have the platfom with the best version I'll get that one then.
Re: Rumour: Is Sony Trying to Lure Wii U Buyers Towards PS4 and Vita?
Yea, I'm not buying it. No retailer in their right mind cares about what you buy, they just want to make the sale. If anything Sony probably worked something out with them to upsell the Vita/PS4 combo as much as possible but they certainly won't do anything to stand in the customer's way if they want something else. Annoy your customers and they'll just take their business elsewhere.
Re: Talking Point: How Much Game Does a Video Game Need?
The way I see it as long as its mentally, if not physically engaging, its a game. Wether your in it for the gameplay or the story is another matter entirely. Some people only care about gameplay while others only want the story, and everything in-between. Theres no right or wrong reason to play.
The problem comes when companies are too afraid to make something new or different because "it doesn't sell". There are simply too many factors as to why that is, everything from price to the lack of a middle ground.
@get2sammyb
Yep, the classic coin-op. I think the reason that has carried on so long is because nobody has figured out a better way to handle penalties and failure in games. A lot of the time that penalty is death, so you'd have to restart in most cases.
Re: Tales of Symphonia Chronicles Brawls Online with First Translated Trailer
I'm actually glad this is coming out. Lost my TOS save to a corrupt card and to play the sequel I'd have to replace my nunchuck and sensorbar. Those wireless ones eat through batteries like nobody's business.
@ShogunRok
Both games were made for SD systems so thats probably the main reason for it, neither game really needs much else. Dawn of the New World will need a bit more work though since they have to rework the controls.
Re: Feature: Celebrating the 18th Anniversary of the PSone
Its kinda funny, but I didn't actually buy my PSone. My cousin wanted to borrow our N64, which also happened to be from her, so we swapped consoles. Unfortunately, someone stole it so she just let us keep the PSone. Didn't miss the N64 too much though, and the PSone is probably the console that got me into RPGs.
Don't have one anymore but I do have a my PS2 still. I also eventually replaced the N64 and a few missing games, so it all came back full circle in the end.
Re: TGS 2013: Soul Sacrifice Delta Casts a Spell on PS Vita TV
@Malouff
Well, the idea is that the other players already have the game. This just shows that you can still play with other Vita owners. The best comparison there is for this is the Gamecube's GBA player.
Another way to look at this is I've seen upscale boxes for the PSP go for around $80 by themselves, so the Vita TV's price isn't that bad for what it does.
Re: Talking Point: Are You in Tune with Sony's Multifunctional PS Vita TV?
I'd say it has a lot of potential since it covers quite a few niches all on its own. It fills that budget-console gap under the PS3 and can get even cheaper down the road, works as Sony's own media box, and even a make-shift PS4. The list goes on and on.
I certainly hope this makes it outside Japan, seems kinda weird that it wouldn't. I love my handhelds but this thing is just too good to ignore.
Re: TGS 2013: Western Publishers Are More Prepared for PS4, Says Sony
@Lelouch
Yep, that pretty much sums it up. Sadly, Nintendo isn't much of a threat in the home console market anywhere right now. Its kinda funny though, between the two of them they pretty much have Japan's gaming needs completely covered.
Re: You'll Need Your PS3 Discs to Play Discounted PS4 Upgrades
@get2sammyb
That could just be because their normal blu-rays, but it is interesting that the PS4 can detect what game it is at all.
They could use it in some way to bridge that gap between consoles though. Allowing people to play games they own free would be a stretch but they could allow people to "upgrade" their PS3 games for a small fee, like Nintendo is doing with transfering Virtual Console games from the Wii to Wii U.
Beats double-dipping for a full priced game at least.
Re: TGS 2013: Monster Hunter Frontier G Explores Vita in 2014
@MadchesterManc
MH3 was kind of a re-boot of the series, just about everything was new and its that one game in the series that even the fanbase is divided on (too easy, not enough content, ect.). Definitely give MHFU a shot though, especially on the Vita.
Anyway, the team that makes the main series games isn't the one in charge of frontier, thats probably why they can make it on the Vita. Nintendo probably only has a contract for the main series.
This might be good for those already playing the MMO but I don't see it saving the Vita with MH4 out. This would be good for the west though since we haven't gotten any version of it, and the Vita TV would work well with it.