People need to lay off the PSP. I love the DS, and I hated the idea of the PSP at first because I didn't want the GBA era of gaming to ever end, but any retro-hearted people out there need to start giving the PSP a serious look. Capcom, Konami, and Namco have really gone balls-to-the-wall for this system, and there are multiple great retro games and RPGSs to be had for the system that was previously chastized for being a bunch of PS2 ports. Plus, Loco Roco rocks, and you KNOW THIS, so don't even try to deny it.
Personally, I have a CS degree and do lots of programming on my own as a hobby. I LOVE the homebrew scene on various consoles, and being able to tinker and write my own apps. Sony's continued urge to lock out homebrew since they were unable to design a system that was piracy-proof has led to me being UNABLE TO PLAY new games that I purchased without giving up on the homebrew software that I've already developed on my own. You should have seen the look on my face when I first purchased Smackdown vs. RAW 2006 only to find out that it wouldn't run on my PSP without the upgrade, and the loss of functionality that comes with it.
Sony, you are welcome to do whatever you can to thwart piracy, I encourage it as it is a scourge on this industry thanks to all the degenerates out there, but when you treat your paying customers like common criminals, you take away their incentive to support you at all.
Microsoft's absurd levels of anti-piracy that have stood in the way of homebrew development on the XBox 360 have simply and surely killed any interest I would have had in the console, where the XBox was helmed by one of the strongest homebrew scenes in history, netting, among other things, the best Media Center application in creation, at any price. Ironically, the high-level of anti-piracy has essentially backfired, as the only exploitative system available for the 360 is the firmware exploit which will ONLY allow you to play pirated games, leaving homebrew, once again, out in the cold. I find that QUITE amusing, personally.
In summary, while I support anti-piracy efforts wholeheartedly, the fact that I'd need to turn to piracy and backup exploits just to get a game that I paid full price for running on the PSP that I paid full price for without breaking functionality that it had when I bought it is ludicrous.
This is how I saw things going for Sony. With such a high-end price, the PS3 seemed to be gunning for the high-priced entertainment-center/gaming enthusiast crowd. They will make a mint on those sales, and since I don't think anyone is particularly disgusted with the performance of the current generation, can still do quite well in the mainstream consumer market as long as they keep a decent stream of PS2 software coming, which is why the backward compatibility is SO significant here.
The current slim PS2 is a great piece of hardware, extremely affordable, with an absolutely astounding library of great quality software. Why we particularly NEED to move ahead is not terribly apparent, except for the console industry's pattern to continue to do more for the sake of doing more. By the time PS2 is obsolete enough to be no longer worth the development time, PS3 should be affordable enough for mainstream success, and in that time, Sony has already pulled in massive green from the enthusiast market who was willing to overpay.
Sony's key advantage here is that they don't terribly NEED to move onto the next generation with as many consoles as have been sold. Now, if they go ahead and push the PS3 hard enough that they transition essentially their entire development structure to the new console, then this whole argument is moot. But as far as I'm concerned, they'd be stupid to do that, the more PS2 development the better.
You guys got the adage wrong. It's "those who can't do, blog."
While I'd quickly denounce it as stupid, if there's money out there to be made, then there's a skill with value, which those who possess can teach. To me, the whole thing breaks down because it depends on people actually paying money (or watching on an ad-supported medium) to watch people play video games. But hey, if they can make watching a bunch of dudes playing poker an entertaining program, then GAME ON, I suppose.
Isn't that an absurd misnomer? On the original XBox live was a paid, premium service. Here, Silver comes with each console, so 60% would be the "connect rate," showing how many console owners have hooked up to the service, since every console comes with the Live Silver membership.
Since when did it become chic to use Final Fantasy as a vessel for homophobic garbage?
And this is SWEET, in my opinion, the PS1 had the second strongest library of any system in existence (Behind GBA and SNES), so making this library available to PSP owners adds a tremendous amount of value to the little wide-screened bundle of joy.
And it's EXCELLENT that SOTN is on there, after all, that's the greatest game to ever hit the system (and deserving of a spot in any top 10 list).
PS3: 2 down, 200+ still in the works
Aug 10th 2006 1:21PM (Joystiq)Gangs of London code leaked, Sony not amused
Aug 4th 2006 10:29AM (Joystiq)Sony, you are welcome to do whatever you can to thwart piracy, I encourage it as it is a scourge on this industry thanks to all the degenerates out there, but when you treat your paying customers like common criminals, you take away their incentive to support you at all.
Microsoft's absurd levels of anti-piracy that have stood in the way of homebrew development on the XBox 360 have simply and surely killed any interest I would have had in the console, where the XBox was helmed by one of the strongest homebrew scenes in history, netting, among other things, the best Media Center application in creation, at any price. Ironically, the high-level of anti-piracy has essentially backfired, as the only exploitative system available for the 360 is the firmware exploit which will ONLY allow you to play pirated games, leaving homebrew, once again, out in the cold. I find that QUITE amusing, personally.
In summary, while I support anti-piracy efforts wholeheartedly, the fact that I'd need to turn to piracy and backup exploits just to get a game that I paid full price for running on the PSP that I paid full price for without breaking functionality that it had when I bought it is ludicrous.
SNK to wait until 2009 to develop for PS3
Aug 3rd 2006 3:29PM (Joystiq)The current slim PS2 is a great piece of hardware, extremely affordable, with an absolutely astounding library of great quality software. Why we particularly NEED to move ahead is not terribly apparent, except for the console industry's pattern to continue to do more for the sake of doing more. By the time PS2 is obsolete enough to be no longer worth the development time, PS3 should be affordable enough for mainstream success, and in that time, Sony has already pulled in massive green from the enthusiast market who was willing to overpay.
Sony's key advantage here is that they don't terribly NEED to move onto the next generation with as many consoles as have been sold. Now, if they go ahead and push the PS3 hard enough that they transition essentially their entire development structure to the new console, then this whole argument is moot. But as far as I'm concerned, they'd be stupid to do that, the more PS2 development the better.
Are you ready for some Pokémon BROTHER!!
Jul 27th 2006 11:36AM (Joystiq)Don't tell me that James wouldn't LOVE a yellow and red feathered boa.
Suck at gaming? Get a tutor (seriously) [update 2]
Jul 27th 2006 11:33AM (Joystiq)While I'd quickly denounce it as stupid, if there's money out there to be made, then there's a skill with value, which those who possess can teach. To me, the whole thing breaks down because it depends on people actually paying money (or watching on an ad-supported medium) to watch people play video games. But hey, if they can make watching a bunch of dudes playing poker an entertaining program, then GAME ON, I suppose.
Microsoft lacks confidence in Japan, losing next-gen battle without competition
Jul 14th 2006 12:28PM (Joystiq)Xbox Live attach rate has grown 50 percent, from Xbox to Xbox 360; Live Anywhere the next step
Jul 13th 2006 3:04PM (Joystiq)CNET loathes Wii name change
Jul 12th 2006 3:05PM (Joystiq)"He's a collector"
Jul 12th 2006 2:09PM (Joystiq)Self-loathing gamers are funny.
Up to 7,000 PSOne-to-PSP titles by 2007, reports UK PSP Magazine
Jun 28th 2006 1:18PM (Joystiq)And this is SWEET, in my opinion, the PS1 had the second strongest library of any system in existence (Behind GBA and SNES), so making this library available to PSP owners adds a tremendous amount of value to the little wide-screened bundle of joy.
And it's EXCELLENT that SOTN is on there, after all, that's the greatest game to ever hit the system (and deserving of a spot in any top 10 list).