Sony's PS3 showing up late to Spring Training?

by Blake Snow { Jan 26th 2007 at 6:45PM }

Either developers are still having difficulty coding on Sony's Cell processor, or publishers are still taking the easy (perhaps less risky) road using 360 game builds already in production to make PS3 ports. Nevertheless, IGN slams the current PS3 version of MLB 2K7 saying the 360 edition is both better looking and includes better gameplay than its counterpart. From the preview: "The 360 version simply looks better. The colors pop. The animations, at this point, run smoother. So much for spending $600." IGN continues by saying, "One thing about location and gameplay that's missing on the PS3 ... is the ability to feel the location of your pitches through the rumble. Obviously, there is no rumble on the PS3 controller, so how are you supposed to hide your location from the batter by using the rumble to know when you're out of the strike zone?"

[Thanks, Jason]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Brandon Paddock @ Jan 26th 2007 6:55PM

Why all the excuses?

"Either developers are still having difficulty coding on Sony's Cell processor, or publishers are still taking the easy (perhaps less risky) road using 360 game builds already in production to make PS3 ports. "

How hard is it to acknowledge that after all of Sony's hype, the PS3 is simply less powerful than the Xbox 360?

I'M SHOCKED! @ Jan 26th 2007 6:55PM

It wouldn't be a day that ends in "y" without Blake Snow and his awesome "Did you hear the PS3 sucks?" posts...

Number One @ Jan 26th 2007 6:57PM

"Either developers are still having difficulty coding on Sony's Cell processor, or publishers are still taking the easy (perhaps less risky) road using 360 game builds already in production to make PS3 ports."

What the hell kind of fairytale imaginary world where the cost of making games isnt precisely monitored do people live in? Of course they're simply porting...

Number One @ Jan 26th 2007 6:59PM

Guys, put your ps3 hatred aside for one second to realise that its not the machine that sucks its the efforts put into the game that are less than stellar... this whole website reeks of fanboyism.. makes me wonder why I come here of all places for news.

Mr Khan @ Jan 26th 2007 7:03PM

Well, my guess is that the point of the post, and of IGN's rant, is that while the 360 is easier to code for, games shall be built from the ground up on 360, then ported to PS3, which will in turn result in the games being worse for PS3, which will again in turn result in them deciding to code the game from the ground up for 360

Catch-22's are fun

Sizer @ Jan 26th 2007 7:03PM

> makes me wonder why I come here of all places for news.

I'm guessing because it makes your back teeth swim to think that someone, somewhere, may be saying something critical of Sony and THE GREAT WHITE KNIGHT NUMBER ONE won't be there to make sure justice is done.

Sir Josh @ Jan 26th 2007 7:04PM

omg lolz @ da ps3

Miniboss @ Jan 26th 2007 7:04PM

@ 4.

"Guys, put your ps3 hatred aside for one second to realise that its not the machine that sucks its the efforts put into the game that are less than stellar... this whole website reeks of fanboyism.. makes me wonder why I come here of all places for news."

Ah yes, let's blame the developers, because you know they don't do anything. They're just being lazy, nevermind the fact that they probably work well over 80 hours a week and released a game for two different systems at the same time.

But that's okay, let's just assume it's the developers fault. It couldn't possibly be Sony. They couldn't possibly have not delivered on their promise of power. Developers should be willing to rewrite their game from the ground up for minimal gains for all systems.

Jas @ Jan 26th 2007 7:05PM

"IE: I can't believe I've spent over $700 on this piece of shit console. Screw you guys (I'm an idiot)!!!"

Arturo @ Jan 26th 2007 7:05PM

the constant fanboy complaints make me laugh so hard. people cry about the complaints yet continue to visit after they say, "why do i even come here, its just fanboys". they act like the whining will magically make it end, lol.

Game Artist @ Jan 26th 2007 7:07PM

The ps3 has worse tools, and less optimized middleware, and it shows. I dont think its a comment on the ps3 being less powerful. But it doesnt have the year of polish the 360 does. Come next christmas Im sure sony will be getting closer.

Virtua Fanboy @ Jan 26th 2007 7:12PM

I'm sorry but the PS3 is a MORE powerful system than 360.

Don't get excited Playstation fanboys
If the PS3 is the number 100.
The Xbox 360 is the number 99.
The Wii is...who cares, lol.

It's 1st generation games VS. 2nd generation games and it going to be like this for the most part of this console cycle. Get over it.
END OF STORY. DONE AND IN STONE. PERIOD. Get over it.

And you all know what? That's ok, we got TWO GREAT systems to argue about and play games on so who cares? LOL

Plenty Here! @ Jan 26th 2007 7:12PM

it's quite elementary people, SONY OVER HYPES and UNDER DELIVERS, i'm still waiting to "hack into the matrix" with a PS2 or have PIXAR graphics w/ it as well, and what about 4D! on a lighter note, it's simply put, Sony tried to kill about 8 birds w/ one stone, first they make a processor that WASN'T DESIGNED FOR GAMES, but their own HD TVs, read here, and don't bash till you read this...
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/617/617951p1.html

Virtua Fanboy @ Jan 26th 2007 7:15PM

@ #8: Miniboss

Good post man. That's what else I was going to say but I hate makeing long novel like posts. Give that man a star! LOL

blamecanada @ Jan 26th 2007 7:19PM

There are roughly 10mil 360's out there. There are roughly 1-2 mil PS3s out there. 2007 is looking to be an amazing gaming year for the 360, while Sony's AAA title remains last-gen. One by one PS exclusives are moving to the Xbox the same reason they moved to the PS back in the day. PS was better for devs during the PSone days. When the Xbox showed up MS started doing what they do, and they built a nice platform for devs to work on. Thats why the Xbox survived long enough to make this generation. Now that Microsoft has the head start AND the better platform to develop for, the only possible reason to go to the PS3 is for a superior looking game, although I won't say that for certain until I see some more convincing PS3 footage. As it stands GOW is the best looking console game I've seen (thats gears.... not god).

Plenty Here! @ Jan 26th 2007 7:19PM

"The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels, I think It's really clear that Sony lost track of what customers and what developers wanted,"
-GABE NEWELL

Jas @ Jan 26th 2007 7:22PM

My other favorite comment, "YOU JUST WAIT!!! Soon, developers will tap into the awesomeness that is the PS3!!! YOU'LL SEE!!"

All the while, learning curves are constant for each, if not quicker for the 'easier' 360. This fact, PS3 fanboys can't seem to comprehend. So as we expect that PS3 games get better over the next year or two, so goes the 360 -- it's games get even a bigger lead in graphics/gameplay, etc.

daddycool @ Jan 26th 2007 7:33PM

So how many more of these will it take before the Sony fans stop saying "Just you wait until the true unmeasurable power off the mighty cell processor is finally unleashed!!

And just start saying "We have Final Fantasy 13 and no one else can have it"

Plenty Here! @ Jan 26th 2007 7:42PM

wouldn't surprise me if FF XIII gets delayed a year, and gets PORTED to 360, can't wait for Dragon Question on DS!

Metalmurphy @ Jan 26th 2007 7:52PM

FFXIII = White Engine = Fully optimized for the PS3. Chances of going for the 360. almost zero.

And yes the 360 is SOOOO much powerfull. Thats why it can't even do everything Ageia Physix has to offer when the PS3 can, thats why Havok 4.5 runs 5 to 10 times better on the PS3, thats why GT HD looks miles ahead anything the 360 has to offer, and its only a demo... this within 2 months of the console release...

you guys need to wake up.

The fact that bad ports from the 360 version turn out a "little" worst doesn't mean anything. THEY'RE PORTS!

SNEAKN @ Jan 26th 2007 7:55PM

Wowo so man haters...how many of u idiots actually have a PS3 since u know so much about it. I bet most of u live in the basment losers can't even affor the thing and thats why ur whining so much.

I seem to remember in the first 2-3 months of the 360 when all u heard were complaints about disc's being burnt up and the system overheating. get a life and stop crying about something u cant afford

Vince @ Jan 26th 2007 7:56PM

"Obviously, there is no rumble on the PS3 controller, so how are you supposed to hide your location from the batter by using the rumble to know when you're out of the strike zone?"

Well I thought for hours about this huge flaw and could only come up with the bizarre concept of an on screen indication.

Hardcore @ Jan 26th 2007 8:07PM

Fucking fanboys you'd think they were religious fanatics. Here's a clue....IT'S A FUCKING VIDEO GAME SYSTEM. How are people seriously FANS of COMPANIES? Do you collect the Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo trading cards and wear their jerseys? Should I start selling company trading cards, do you collect their stats? Walmart and Victoria's Secret would totally kick the crap out of Yahoo/McDonald's!!!!1111

marvin69 @ Jan 26th 2007 8:14PM

#22 "Well I thought for hours about this huge flaw and could only come up with the bizarre concept of an on screen indication."

I think the point was if you were playing someone sitting right next to you.

NoHitHair @ Jan 26th 2007 8:19PM

Wow, all of the Sony fanboys came out of the woodwork just for this article. I haven't seen so many back to back comments spinning support for the PS3 since Sony's "damage control" team.

With your inability to ever acknowledge the obvious you would all make excellent spokespeople.

Don't get me wrong - I would also be terribly upset if I found out I tore up $600. That's a lot of money.

www.blog.myspace.com/nohithair

OTAM @ Jan 26th 2007 8:20PM

makes me wonder why I come here of all places for news.

Posted at 6:59PM on Jan 26th 2007 by Number One

I wonder why too considering this is a blog website and not a news website.

Strike Man @ Jan 26th 2007 8:25PM

"Well I thought for hours about this huge flaw and could only come up with the bizarre concept of an on screen indication."

Fantastic solution! When I come over to your place to play some 2K7 baseball, at least I know I'll have a decent batting average.

dice13 @ Jan 26th 2007 8:30PM

@ #4

"Guys, put your ps3 hatred aside for one second to realise that its not the machine that sucks its the efforts put into the game that are less than stellar... this whole website reeks of fanboyism.. makes me wonder why I come here of all places for news."

Right, because it was the developers that removed the rumble feature from the PS3 to add the Sixaxis. Can't wait for Gran Turismo with no rumble...
dumbfuck...

Elrando @ Jan 26th 2007 8:36PM

20. Fanboys have their own distintive musk, and yours is so powerfull I can smell it across the interent.

afrostu @ Jan 26th 2007 8:40PM

Watch all the ps3 haters comin out to do what they do best-spread more FUD saying "teh PS3 is teh dead, lollerz lolz 360 is teh aws0m3!!!!!one!!shift+1!!!

seriously guys, the system has been out for TWO MONTHS- get a grip. Wasnt it at the 360 launch when EA released Madden 06- that game was probably the worst madden to date with less features and glitchy gameplay. The PS3 will be just fine, the devs obviously were not at their best, its not the machines fault.

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Jan 26th 2007 8:51PM

@ #20

The PS3 has been in development much longer than the 360. Sony should have had dev kits out to developers much sooner than the 360. If I remember correctly everyone complained that the 360 launch games were not that good because Final dev kits were release 3 months before launch.

Hamza @ Jan 26th 2007 8:56PM

"Ah yes, let's blame the developers."

Uh why not? Have you even played MLB 2k6? That game was the buggiest piece of shit I've ever played complete with regularly scheduled freezes, commentary glitches, and players going the wrong way when you controlled them.

I think it's very plausible to put some doubt on the developers.

But yea, I love how the fanboys here are already calling a PS3 a failure after only 3 months. Apparently noone told these idiots that console cycles are usually 5 years, and that this little slump is more than likely going to be completely irrelevant to Sony's success in the near future. And to top it off, it's not like these slumps are even new. Time and time again, new major consoles take a while to catch on, and when they do, they do great in the following years. I pity the person who gambles against this trend. (and don't give me that Dreamcast bullshit, it's such a horrible and wrong analogy when you consider the size of Sony and it's influence).

Metalmurphy @ Jan 26th 2007 8:57PM

@ #31

Yeah... you got proof for your claims?

Draco @ Jan 26th 2007 9:01PM

"Well I thought for hours about this huge flaw and could only come up with the bizarre concept of an on screen indication."

Has anyone actually thought "gee golly, why don't I let the sixaxis tilt to where I want the pitch to go?"

by golly, I think we have something here, lets use the system for what it was designed for (albeit only shortly before being release)

Hamza @ Jan 26th 2007 9:09PM

I personally think Sony will succumb to demand and create a rumble-controller sometime in mid-07. I'm sure lots of developers are starting to bitch at Sony already. And we've already seen that Sony is very fickle to controller appearance demand; after all, they did scrap their boomerang for the old-school controller after months of bitching.

SlyTheBoss @ Jan 26th 2007 9:15PM

#20. Metalmurphy sais: "thats why Havok 4.5 runs 5 to 10 times better on the PS3"

You're trying to turn what they said to fit your need. They said it was 5 and 10 times faster than Havok 4.0 for a typical game scene on the PS3. Not 5 to 10 times better on the PS3 LOL

rdj75 @ Jan 26th 2007 9:19PM

We can take this and run with it in so many different directions. 360 fanboys are going to say one thing and ps3 fanboys will say something else. Me personally am not going to blame the developers, not quite. Yes, there are alot of 360's out there so naturally they will use 360 assets and then port to the playstation 3 to, of course, cut costs but lets look back several years ago.

The ps2 had well over a year headstart when compared to the original xbox. As soon as the xbox came out they were showing games that were pretty impressive compared to the ps2. As for multiplatform titles, just about all of them where based on ps2 assets and then ported to other consoles. Now eventhough there were many ports of ps2 titles to the xbox, did the xbox version look better or worse? In just about every case the xbox version always looked better so why can't it be this way in this current generation of games.

The Game @ Jan 26th 2007 9:38PM

@37

Because the Xbox 360 is more powerful. The PS3 is not made for gaming, the cell is not for gaming, and blu-ray is a trojan for sony that actually increased the unit's price. The 360 was built for gaming, 3 procesors, 512 ram, PS3 only has 256, DVD is a better format for this gen, elder scrolls fits on one dvd(that is a massive game), thats clever coding. So, in the 360 is more powerful for what it is meant to do.

Bangin Gin and Juice @ Jan 26th 2007 9:45PM

I even read that the AI on Assasin's Creed and on Resident Evil 5, will be better on the 360 because of dedicated procesors (i really forgot how to spell that) The PS3 cannot handle that kind of AI.

It has been a Sony tactic for years to confuse the conumer about its products. When the PS2 was coming out, people where hyping the emotion engine and how powerful it was, and then when the xbox came out, sony claimed the PS2 to be twice as powerful.

Dont be fooled twice by Sony, you know how that saying goes fool me once........

h0mi @ Jan 26th 2007 9:57PM

Doesn't the rumble controller (or lackthereof) on the ps3 affect compatibility? A friend of mine bought a ps3 but the (several different) ps2 games he bought seemed to demand the rumble controller & failed to work otherwise on the ps3 which is why he returned it.

Serge @ Jan 26th 2007 10:01PM

rdj75
ur right, Head start is what pulls the most developers and thats why ps2 had more games than any other console. And MS is doing exactly the same thing tho this time with head start and more powerful console. I cant wait to see unreal 3 engine on ps3, then we shall see who and what, all unreal 3 engine games were delayed for ps3. eat that.. and all of u, ps3 fanboys who probably regret buying ps3, can stfu for now and wait for ports and delays... if u already waited 1 year, its not a big deal to wait another 2 years, while u pay the most price as well. wait, while others already enjoy.

Biofreak @ Jan 26th 2007 10:05PM

test :)

Maurice M @ Jan 26th 2007 10:08PM

The comments in this thread make my gaming soul weep...

noid_80 @ Jan 26th 2007 10:10PM

Developers will only port the games because its cheaper. Why double your development costs. Say the games budget is 4 million for one console, say it costs an extra 100000 to port it to the ps3. 100000 dollars is cheaper then having to redevelop for the ps3. EA said that thats what they were doing. Radical is doing the same thing. the only games you will see a difference are 1st party and sony doesnt have that many out there. Sory to say it but sonys going to be like the dreamcast it will never die but it just wont do that well.

bmac @ Jan 26th 2007 10:28PM

"I even read that the AI on Assasin's Creed and on Resident Evil 5, will be better on the 360 because of dedicated procesors (i really forgot how to spell that) The PS3 cannot handle that kind of AI."
Huh, I read that too. Then I read where Ubisoft came out and said, nope.
"While the method for distributing AI load is different on each platform, the AI code itself is the same. Players will experience the exact same crowd results on PS3 and Xbox360," Ubisoft explained.

I'd believe more of the negative press surrounding sony if so much of it wasn't second hand, I'd heard from a friend who read it on the intraweb... too bad most people never actually look into the stories, they just read what they already think they know, and it just reinforces what they believe. I think that 90% of what's going on with Sony right now could be defined as truthiness, and that's on both sides of these arguments.

Christian @ Jan 26th 2007 10:30PM

I think the whole deal that everyone has missed is that it has never really been about the best graphics, but the best game play and best game library.

Sure, it's true that graphics add immense amounts to the whole game experience; however, Sony's propaganda has apparently worked out of their favor.

You see, the PS2 won the last console generation hands-down with having sold over 100 million consoles. Expectations weren't that high for games, in terms of graphics, yet because the game play was great, in addition to the massive gaming library, Sony was very successful.

Microsoft's Xbox was graphically superior, and, while receiving great success as a first entry into the console market, it had no where near the profit of the PS2.

Graphics did not win the last generation, and they won't win this one.

It is unfortunate that Sony has made this generation of consoles all about graphics. Part of the reason so many developers jumped onto the PS2 was because it was less costly to develop for because not as many artists and engineers were needed to focus on the graphics (also, after about 2 years of the PS2 being on the market easier programming tools were available for others to use, thus also reducing these costs).

Now, Sony expects everything to look far greater than they ever did for the PS2. The transition for Xbox developers to the Xbox360 was not half as steep as those who developed for the PS2 going to the PS3. Developers for the PS3 have also found such a difficult time programming for the Cell processor.

Don't get me wrong, it is an excellent processor; however, only used in the correct applications. Since the 7 Synergistic Processor Units (SPU’s) that the processor has are mainly dedicated to performing floating point operations, it will be best optimized for rendering complex physics and graphics or for streaming graphics (such as Blu-ray media). The job of the main core of the Cell processor is to primarily delegate the tasks that the CPU receives to the SPU's--which are mainly for calculating floating point operations.

Creating a game engine that utilizes this architecture can be rather difficult. Also, a CPU like this will not be good for all around tasks such as controlling AI (enemy's movements, actions, predictions). However, the Xbox360's 3 Core chip has 3 general purpose processors that may not be as fit for graphics, though they do have great floating point units, it is a better all around processor.

Furthermore, once one learns to utilize one of the core's on the Xbox360's CPU chip, then all three of the core's power can be unlocked. Granted applications such as multithreading and getting all of the cores to work efficiently together must also be mastered, but it is not near difficult as the PS3 where the entire chip must be greatly utilized in order to produce the same result.

The point is what Sony has done is that they have alienated themselves from some of their original supporters. Where great graphics used to not be as important to them, they now claim it as essential. This is in part due to Blu-ray since they want their entire system to shine graphically, thus giving it a great selling point for Blu-ray.

Furthermore, Sony has made it even harder for developers to program for the Cell processor on the PS3 than it was for the Emotion Engine on the PS2.

They have pushed potential customers away by producing such an expensive machine. The PS2 was extremely inexpensive, which is why they were able to push the price down so fast. It was optimized for games and not to be sold as a household entertainment unit (although it could play DVD's).

Lastly, Sony did not have much competition last generation for the PS2 until over a year after its release. The Dreamcast was quickly crushed by Sony’s lies that the PS2 would be able to look like a Pixar movie and only had the N64 to compete with it, which even then was a generation back. Sony essentially had over a year without any competition from the Gamecube or the Xbox.

Now, Sony has to make the PS3 compete with the Xbox360, which has had a year head start, and the Nintendo Wii, which has been competing against the PS3 nearly since it first came out. Sony and their exclusive developers no longer have the luxury that they did last generation of having an entire year to make sure that great games are produced in order to convince developers and consumers to stay with the PS3. The Xbox360 has proven to be a near graphic equal or better to the PS3. Due to the fact that even if developers figure out a way to produce better graphics for the PS3, it will not be significant enough to cause swing-consumers to purchase the PS3. As they are right now, both consoles are extremely graphically capable it will now be a test of which console has the better games.

In conclusion, Sony’s PS3 will continue to perform poorly as a console because it is more expensive for the consumer and developer; it currently has no unique games that the consumer could not find the equivalent via another console; it is rapidly losing developer and gamer support; and it has merely copied the innovations of the other current consoles and does not stand to be unique on it’s own.

When or if Sony remedies these problems, only then will it begin to become successful again as a gaming company. Until this happens it will have to rely on the fact that developers and gamers alike will be willing to purchase a PS3 Winter of 2007 or, more likely sometime in 2008, when unique games for the PS3 do come out. However, a proper assessment of this situation shows that it will most likely be too late for the company and for developer to suddenly pick-up support for the PS3.

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| Only time will tell. . . |
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MoonfirePewPEwPEw @ Jan 26th 2007 10:31PM

"FFXIII = White Engine = Fully optimized for the PS3. Chances of going for the 360. almost zero."

FF13 = White Engine = some fine tuning = 360 port if they want = Sony better be nice to Square.

Bangin Gin and Juice @ Jan 26th 2007 10:54PM

@45

"Creating a game engine that utilizes this architecture can be rather difficult. Also, a CPU like this will not be good for all around tasks such as controlling AI (enemy's movements, actions, predictions). However, the Xbox360's 3 Core chip has 3 general purpose processors that may not be as fit for graphics, though they do have great floating point units, it is a better all around processor."

Christian, thank you for that, great post, one of the best. Really proves allot of people wrong, and you know what ou are talking about too, unlike some people who base their facts on what the Sony says.

16. "The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels, I think It's really clear that Sony lost track of what customers and what developers wanted,"
-GABE NEWELL

This is a quote from the new Game Informer issue, I read that, great article. It's a good read, read it at gamestop next time you are there. Gabe is a developer from valve I think. Allot of devoloper are saying this.