AI is, right at this moment, a tool. Same as synth sequencers, Autotune and so on. It’s only as good as the prompts. In and of itself, AI isn’t the autonomous, scary thing people make out. Down the line, it could be but not right now or for a few years yet.
I get this now. Microsoft see a disconnect between hardware and software/services. So in their hardware strategy, Nintendo covers entry, PlayStation middle and Xbox premium. All of them share GamePass, PSPlus and Nintendo online. That pyramid of consoles would infer that MS is top tier quality and hope they become top earner..
From a business strategy point of view, this is clearly an attempt at re-educating players to pay for games, without admitting the system wasn’t working for developers, and, obviously, to get more money out of players that insist on day one releases. The trouble is, over the years, by boasting about day one releases, Microsoft has encouraged a large amount of entitlement in their player base and it’s coming back to bite them. You can see that, when people complain about studio lay-offs, yet demand free games.
I can totally see why the PS5 version isn't there at launch. It’s basically “why wait for it to appear on PS5, when for only $$$ per month, you can get it on day one on Game Pass, along with x amount of games”. I don't mind waiting though. I had a Series X and never got my moneys worth out of it. What has surprised me is that they don't seem to be releasing Forza Motorsport for PS5. I know it wasn’t a great game at launch, I didn't enjoy it much, but I read it’s improved a lot since then. I also know the dev team was laid off but, the game exists, they’ve announced additional events, it’s not a massive amount of work to be ported over, and the money they’d raise from PS5 sales could well pay for maintenance, make a tidy sum and give the title a second chance.
I’ve thought for ages that Sony knew this kind of thing was going to happen, which is why they haven’t bothered developing older games for Xbox. I’ll bet on PS6, we’ll see Sony pleasing the EU and also having different stores to draw from.
When you think a cinema ticket can be £20+ for a 90min movie and considering you generally get way more than 8 hours of use from an £80 game, it's a good deal. Obviously it all depends on how much you get out of the game. Unsurprisingly though, game prices have gone up because wages and other costs have gone up, but people complain if a game is too short, don't want to pay more (if anything at all), whilst at the same time being outraged when studios are shut down. The money for game development has to come from somewhere.
I haven't bought a physical game for around 10 years. Can't even think what that might've been. Maybe GTA5..? I have got PS1, PS2, PS3, Xbox and Gamecube games packed away somewhere though. I don't actually have a working device that plays any form of disc anymore either.
It doesn't surprise me that physical is falling away. It's like the old Betamax/VHS war. VHS won that because of availability of titles and digital downloads provide that availability. Or, to put it another way, laziness always wins. You don't have to get off the sofa and change discs, the sales are often better than you'd ever get in a store.
Going forward, I think the interesting thing is what Sony will do on PS6, regarding allowing other stores on the PlayStation. I can see that becoming a big issue as Xbox continues its “this is an Xbox” campaign and leaked screenshots showing Steam on their PC app. It’s also connected to the wider issue of complaints about Apple not allowing Epic’s store on iOS. Will Switch 2 natively run COD or will it be GamePass cloud gaming?
Watched the Bethesda gameplay vid and you can tell the biggest question the developers had was “how do we make this different to Tomb Raider and Uncharted”. I loved the Dishonored games, with its third person style but watching the footage of this one, the flips between first and third person kind of takes you out of the action. Some of the graphics are really good. I’ll see what the reviews are like.
Thing is, the way journalism and social media works now, is that it’s a running battle. Anything they say is scrutinised and it’s distracting for the teams making the games. Games (and tv, movies etc) are often ruined by becoming compromised, changing plans in development to responding to social media being outraged at the slightest thing. If people want them to get with making good games, then the devs should be allowed to get on with it, rather than provide a running dialog to help games sites provide clickbait articles.
@Slippship LOL! The thing I use least is Word! I’m a software project analyst, so it’s all BI Tools, code, macros, process maps, finance and “collaboration tools” (hate that phrase).. I just want to sit on the couch and play games on my big tv with no fuss, not sit at a desk.
To me, PC’s are just faff. You spend half your life playing with settings and worrying if a game is compatible with your setup. I prefer consoles because you switch it on and you set it up once. It’s quicker and easier to get into the game. Because I use a Windows laptop and Mac for work, the last thing I want to do is faff about in my own time.
Comments 15
Re: Generative AI Won't Be Creating the Next GTA, Says Take-Two Boss
AI is, right at this moment, a tool. Same as synth sequencers, Autotune and so on. It’s only as good as the prompts. In and of itself, AI isn’t the autonomous, scary thing people make out. Down the line, it could be but not right now or for a few years yet.
Re: 'We Want to Be Everywhere, on Every Platform': Microsoft CEO Once Again Commits to PS5
I get this now. Microsoft see a disconnect between hardware and software/services. So in their hardware strategy, Nintendo covers entry, PlayStation middle and Xbox premium. All of them share GamePass, PSPlus and Nintendo online. That pyramid of consoles would infer that MS is top tier quality and hope they become top earner..
Re: PlayStation Gear Merch Store Closing Down, Sale Live Now
To be fair, a lot of it - or similar - is available in Tesco or Sainsburys and at much cheaper prices too..
Re: PS Plus Looks Better Than Ever After New Xbox Game Pass Price Rises
From a business strategy point of view, this is clearly an attempt at re-educating players to pay for games, without admitting the system wasn’t working for developers, and, obviously, to get more money out of players that insist on day one releases. The trouble is, over the years, by boasting about day one releases, Microsoft has encouraged a large amount of entitlement in their player base and it’s coming back to bite them. You can see that, when people complain about studio lay-offs, yet demand free games.
Re: Forza Horizon 6 Announced, But Not on PS5 at Launch
I can totally see why the PS5 version isn't there at launch. It’s basically “why wait for it to appear on PS5, when for only $$$ per month, you can get it on day one on Game Pass, along with x amount of games”. I don't mind waiting though. I had a Series X and never got my moneys worth out of it. What has surprised me is that they don't seem to be releasing Forza Motorsport for PS5. I know it wasn’t a great game at launch, I didn't enjoy it much, but I read it’s improved a lot since then. I also know the dev team was laid off but, the game exists, they’ve announced additional events, it’s not a massive amount of work to be ported over, and the money they’d raise from PS5 sales could well pay for maintenance, make a tidy sum and give the title a second chance.
Re: You Can Now Launch First-Party PlayStation Games Through the Xbox PC App
I’ve thought for ages that Sony knew this kind of thing was going to happen, which is why they haven’t bothered developing older games for Xbox. I’ll bet on PS6, we’ll see Sony pleasing the EU and also having different stores to draw from.
Re: Beloved Ex-PlayStation Boss Believes $70, $80 Games Are a Steal
When you think a cinema ticket can be £20+ for a 90min movie and considering you generally get way more than 8 hours of use from an £80 game, it's a good deal. Obviously it all depends on how much you get out of the game. Unsurprisingly though, game prices have gone up because wages and other costs have gone up, but people complain if a game is too short, don't want to pay more (if anything at all), whilst at the same time being outraged when studios are shut down. The money for game development has to come from somewhere.
Re: Physical Game Sales See Dramatic Drop-Off in UK as Console Market Struggles
I haven't bought a physical game for around 10 years. Can't even think what that might've been. Maybe GTA5..? I have got PS1, PS2, PS3, Xbox and Gamecube games packed away somewhere though. I don't actually have a working device that plays any form of disc anymore either.
It doesn't surprise me that physical is falling away. It's like the old Betamax/VHS war. VHS won that because of availability of titles and digital downloads provide that availability. Or, to put it another way, laziness always wins. You don't have to get off the sofa and change discs, the sales are often better than you'd ever get in a store.
Re: Xbox Is Absolutely Dominating PS5's Pre-Order Charts
Going forward, I think the interesting thing is what Sony will do on PS6, regarding allowing other stores on the PlayStation. I can see that becoming a big issue as Xbox continues its “this is an Xbox” campaign and leaked screenshots showing Steam on their PC app. It’s also connected to the wider issue of complaints about Apple not allowing Epic’s store on iOS. Will Switch 2 natively run COD or will it be GamePass cloud gaming?
Re: Indiana Jones Looks Like an Adventure Worth Waiting for on PS5
Watched the Bethesda gameplay vid and you can tell the biggest question the developers had was “how do we make this different to Tomb Raider and Uncharted”. I loved the Dishonored games, with its third person style but watching the footage of this one, the flips between first and third person kind of takes you out of the action. Some of the graphics are really good. I’ll see what the reviews are like.
Re: Xbox's Legendary Strategy Series Seemingly Set to Invade PS5
BITD, Age of Empires II was released by Microsoft on PS2.
Re: Sony Adopting 'Show Don't Tell' Strategy with PS5
Thing is, the way journalism and social media works now, is that it’s a running battle. Anything they say is scrutinised and it’s distracting for the teams making the games. Games (and tv, movies etc) are often ruined by becoming compromised, changing plans in development to responding to social media being outraged at the slightest thing. If people want them to get with making good games, then the devs should be allowed to get on with it, rather than provide a running dialog to help games sites provide clickbait articles.
Re: Like It or Not, This Is Why PS5 Pro Doesn't Have a Disc Drive
Had my PS5 since launch day and I don’t even know if the drive works. I’ve never used it, so I’m not bothered that my Pro won’t have one.
Re: Sony Boss Says 'PCs Are Difficult to Set Up', Firm Will Focus on PS5
@Slippship LOL! The thing I use least is Word! I’m a software project analyst, so it’s all BI Tools, code, macros, process maps, finance and “collaboration tools” (hate that phrase).. I just want to sit on the couch and play games on my big tv with no fuss, not sit at a desk.
Re: Sony Boss Says 'PCs Are Difficult to Set Up', Firm Will Focus on PS5
To me, PC’s are just faff. You spend half your life playing with settings and worrying if a game is compatible with your setup. I prefer consoles because you switch it on and you set it up once. It’s quicker and easier to get into the game. Because I use a Windows laptop and Mac for work, the last thing I want to do is faff about in my own time.