Sony suffers a minor setback/MS gains an arguably might-be-large-but-maybe-not win

[MRU]

Installing a full 9GB+ game on your HDD and still have to keep the disc in the tray.....sounds dumb.

Why? You have to do it with most PS3 games installed to HDD (other than PSN) and PC (excluding no-cd hacks).

It's not that unusual in all honesty is it, and judging by most games from *cough cough* sites, an average 360 game is about 5-6GB.

I imagine though when you install a game to HDD, you do not install the movie files, they can probably just be played from the DVD, hence installed games won't take up the full size anyway.




I'm quite impressed by the list of new things they are adding in their update though

Here is a look at some additional features you will find interesting:

Play from hard drive. Copy your games from the game disc and play directly from the hard drive. Not only will the drive not spin, but load times are quicker, as well. Of course, you will still need the disc in the tray to prove you own the game.

Access Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the Web. Browse and purchase Marketplace content whenever you want from Xbox.com and it downloads automatically to your console. Purchase that new map, television episode, the latest Xbox LIVE Arcade game or set up a movie to watch when you get home from work.

Dashboard built into the new Xbox Guide. For everyone who loves the blades interface, it’s not going away; they are now built directly in to the new Xbox guide. Every feature and option is available right from the guide. You can even access your full games library at all times. No matter where you are (in dash or in game), immediately call up your games played list and directly launch a game.

LIVE Party system. Create a party of up to eight friends, and stay with them from one game to another, or watch a Netflix movie together, or share a slideshow of your personal photos. It works with all Xbox 360 titles, not just upcoming games. LIVE Party allows up to eight people to chat in the dashboard, so you can meet up before playing.

Xbox LIVE Primetime. This whole new category of games is going to give you more reasons to get online with your friends. Games will support everything you’d expect, like Achievements and leader boards, but many of these games will include real prizes. You can invite your friends, and even set a reminder for an upcoming show. Each game is broadcast simultaneously, so everyone is answering the same questions. Many events will have a live host, calling the shots as they happen.

Avatars. Your online identity started as a Gamertag - it then grew into a personalized Gamercard. Now, it has evolved even further into avatars. You can express your style, check out new outfits and share this with the community. Avatars will also be integrated into Xbox LIVE Arcade games, LIVE Party, as well as retail games.

New display support. Because you asked for it, we are adding 16X10 over VGA or HDMI, and support for 1440x900 or 1680x1050.

Some nice new things there.

 

[0098386]

^ I didn't even read them features. I really like the sound of them.
1680x1050 would be native res for my monitor so that's a big w00t from me. Playing games from HDD would be nice. I find myself just running through VC and Wiiware games just because they're easily laid out on the menu. No getting up to change disc (hey I had a busy day ).

I've never understood this party thing. I remember when MSN had some test service where you could browse the internet with a friend. If I wanted to do something like that I'd just visit their house, same goes for a film. Watching a film "together" online just sounds... pants.

 

[2nyRiggz]

Why? You have to do it with most PS3 games installed to HDD (other than PSN) and PC (excluding no-cd hacks).

You're missing something MRU or maybe I am....the reason for the install is to not have the disk bay start up and to reduced noise...if its going to be the way you describe it by accessing the FMV from the disc then whats the point of following the same path people are complaining about?

Media and people are freaking out by all the installs on the PS3 and now the 360 follows the same path? whats the benefit....seeing as everyone says the PS3 loading times are not that improved.

Not mandatory is the only benefit I see...you still need the disc to play the game. I would of liked this feature if I didn't need to have the disc in the tray whiles I play it.



Bless

 

[MRU]

You're missing something MRU or maybe I am....the reason for the install is to not have the disk bay start up and to reduced noise...if its going to be the way you describe it by accessing the FMV from the disc then whats the point of following the same path people are complaining about?

Media and people are freaking out by all the installs on the PS3 and now the 360 follows the same path? whats the benefit....seeing as everyone says the PS3 loading times are not that improved.

Not mandatory is the only benefit I see...you still need the disc to play the game.


Bless

Yeah maybe your right I am missing somthing... Reading a little more it looks however as if it does indeed install EVERYTHING and just then plays back from the HDD.

Accroding to IGN, it merely checks the disc and then it doesn't spin.

But a few important details weren't mentioned at the show that trickled out later in the day instead. Chief among them was the announcement that, with the new Dashboard, 360 gamers will be able to install disc-based games to their hard drives and play from there, just like their arch-nemeses, PS3 gamers. The disc will have to stay in the tray, but the DVD drive will not spin, which should improve load times and keep the console running quieter and cooler.

And lets face it... they are hardly likely to allow you to install the game to your HDD and then never use the disc in the drive again, that's just asking for piracy isn't it.

As long as the disc drive remains inactive after the initial boot check of the game, then it's really the best they could do realistacly.

What's interesting is that they are allowing you to do this with ALL your games, not just the ones that support it like on the PS3 which is really good news for some. Plus to be honest I have a elite 120gb HDD and I still have over 100GB free on it, so if this update at least realistically makes me able to utilise that big HDD then I'm happy. As it stands - it's wasted space.

 

[GFLPraxis]

Microsoft's press conference was frustrating to me. They delivered, but there was nothing original.

"Hey guys! We're going to have 'avatars' that are exactly like Mii's, except you can buy clothes like Sony HOME, and guess what? It has a dashboard system that works like Sony's menu bar on the PS3, except it has CHANNELS like a Wii!"

Then they announced sequels and a singstar ripoff. Really nothing original, but there's a lot of content. Typical MS.

 

[evan g]

Besides, exclusivity on the whole sucks for the average gamer. The only real worry (which may be overblown) for PS3 owners is that they see less games for their console due to the loss of console-selling exclusives.

I think it's the exclusives that are killing the industry. That, and other game developers trying to make money. Exclusives make fanboys argue about which console is better, while the developers are busy counting the money made off of their last game.

And as for a major kick in the balls, I don't think it's Sony feeling the pain, but dedicated FF fans who own PS3's. The only reason why there are consoles to argue about is because industry titans like MS and Sony want a chunk of the money being made in the game business. Even though a game developer may make a game that he/she really enjoys, when it comes down to it, it's the paycheck that really matters.

MS, Sony, Nintendo, etc. have noticed that people like you and me make
REALLY good guinea pigs.​

 

[stainlessliquid]

Why are people acting like this was the only game the PS3 had going for it?

Sony seems to be the last company people think of when they think of first party games, but its Sony that has the highest ratings of any publisher around. Nobody is going to care about FF13 being multiplatform with LBP comes out and ICO 3 (whatever its going to be called) gets shown.

Sony may not have great third party exclusives besides one or 2 games anymore, but either does the 360. When it comes down to it all they really have as far as thirdparty exclusives go is MGS4 and GoW. The rest comes down to first party games, which really isnt even a contest.

 

[bluebomberman]

I think it's the exclusives that are killing the industry. That, and other game developers trying to make money. Exclusives make fanboys argue about which console is better, while the developers are busy counting the money made off of their last game.

And as for a major kick in the balls, I don't think it's Sony feeling the pain, but dedicated FF fans who own PS3's. The only reason why there are consoles to argue about is because industry titans like MS and Sony want a chunk of the money being made in the game business. Even though a game developer may make a game that he/she really enjoys, when it comes down to it, it's the paycheck that really matters.

MS, Sony, Nintendo, etc. have noticed that people like you and me make
REALLY good guinea pigs.​

Um...okay. I have no idea what you're arguing here. The problem is Microsoft and Sony are trying to make money? They're using us as guinea pigs?

My goodness, we're talking about video games, not pharmaceuticals. What does this have to do with FF XIII?

Why are people acting like this was the only game the PS3 had going for it?

Sony seems to be the last company people think of when they think of first party games, but its Sony that has the highest ratings of any publisher around. Nobody is going to care about FF13 being multiplatform with LBP comes out and ICO 3 (whatever its going to be called) gets shown.

Sony may not have great third party exclusives besides one or 2 games anymore, but either does the 360. When it comes down to it all they really have as far as thirdparty exclusives go is MGS4 and GoW. The rest comes down to first party games, which really isnt even a contest.

ICO and LittleBigPlanet likely won't sell consoles the way FF XIII surely would have.

I'm probably stating the obvious here: the idea behind exclusives is that

1. you collect a percentage cut of sales of the exclusive while your competitor gets none
2. more consoles sold by you and less by your competitor, thereby widening your base of users and the market for future sales
3. ego boost and intimidation

Which is why FF XIII going multiplatform is such big news. For many people, a new FF game wedded them to buying a PS3, either in the past or in the future. The people willing to do the same for ICO or LittleBigPlanet is probably much smaller. And for Sony, it's a humiliating tumble from dominance. They look like second fiddles now.

I don't see how you can discount first-party exclusives, since they have similar reasons for being. Halo sold lots of Xboxes, and Nintendo's stable of characters sold lots of Gamecubes and Wiis. Sony's relative weakness in first-party exclusives was made up for almost entirely by third-party exclusives like the GTA, MGS, and FF franchises.

We've already seen the effects of the PS3 falling behind: SKU confusion as Sony scrambled to stop the financial hemorrhaging, shoddy ports, games that are no better than the Xbox version despite supposedly greater horsepower under the hood, better exclusives overall for the Xbox, and more of PS3 exclusives going multiplatform. If it gets significantly worse, the PS3 might end up like the Gamecube or the Dreamcast.

 

[fiercetiger224]

We've already seen the effects of the PS3 falling behind: SKU confusion as Sony scrambled to stop the financial hemorrhaging, shoddy ports, games that are no better than the Xbox version despite supposedly greater horsepower under the hood, better exclusives overall for the Xbox, and more of PS3 exclusives going multiplatform. If it gets significantly worse, the PS3 might end up like the Gamecube or the Dreamcast.

This actually reminds me of the 16-bit console wars, where Sega and Nintendo all had multiplatform games. Yes, Square only made games for Nintendo back then, but they were one of the fews third-party companies back then that actually wanted to stay exclusive to one console. Pretty much comparing other third-party companies, like Konami and Capcom, they all had either multiplatform or exclusive games for each system, which is not any different from the approach that Square Enix has decided to take.

As for PS3 ending up like the Gamecube or Dreamcast, I think it'll be far from it. Gamecube maybe, but definitely not Dreamcast. Like I said before, Square Enix is now relying on its key franchise, Final Fantasy, to make them some money back. It's their cash cow, which means that it won't be as good as it should be now, since it's going multiplatform. I'm just curious as to when Dragon Quest will make its way to a next gen console...

Anyway, here's what everyone has to think about: AT LEAST Sony didn't LOSE Final Fantasy, they're just losing exclusivity. I don't know what you fanboys are complaining about. It just means that we all get to share the same game, albeit watered-down because it's not taking advantage of each consoles strengths.

I lost touch with Final Fantasy after X, so doesn't really matter if it's exclusive or not to me.

 

[mosx]

Why are people acting like this was the only game the PS3 had going for it?

Sony seems to be the last company people think of when they think of first party games, but its Sony that has the highest ratings of any publisher around. Nobody is going to care about FF13 being multiplatform with LBP comes out and ICO 3 (whatever its going to be called) gets shown.

Sony may not have great third party exclusives besides one or 2 games anymore, but either does the 360. When it comes down to it all they really have as far as thirdparty exclusives go is MGS4 and GoW. The rest comes down to first party games, which really isnt even a contest.

ICO? ICO was a commercial flop. ICO and Shadow have a small dedicated fan base, but they were commercial flops, selling very little. What Team ICO makes means nothing in the overall scheme of things.

LittleBigPlanet doesn't mean anything either.

Sony has nothing now as far as 3rd party exclusives goes. Its only a matter of time until MGS4 gets ported to the Xbox360. Why wouldn't it? The sales of the game on the PS3 did well at first but have since dropped significantly. Konami has to recover the cost somehow.

As far as first party goes.. What does Sony have? God of War? People make a big deal out of God of War, but it doesn't mean much either. The second God of War game was a flop compared to the first, and do people even know about the PSP game?

Gran Turismo? Gran Turismo 4 sold only a fraction of what the previous games did. Every self respecting car enthusiast is into Forza and other games now. We want real car damage, not bumper cars. And considering Sony has been unable to deliver on most, if not all, of their promises the last few years, nobody has any reason to believe that Gran Turismo 5 will be anything more than Bumper Cars 5.

The only card Sony has to play now would be Insomniac's games. But I hate to break it to you, they're an independent 3rd party developer. They already said in the past they will go where the money is. If they see the Xbox360 as a better platform to make more money (and Resistance and Ratchet on the PS3 haven't sold nearly as much as their PS2 and PS1 games have) they have absolutely no reason not to give Sony the finger and go to Microsoft. They won't be able to take Resistance or Ratchet with them, since Sony is the publisher and holds the rights. But Insomniac could jump ship at any point.

Final Fantasy 13 going to the PS3 isn't so much what is the big deal. The big deal is that this is one of the biggest developers out there making it clear that all developers have little to no faith in Sony and that the Xbox is the platform to be on for this generation.

 

[e²Studios]

Final Fantasy 13 going to the PS3 isn't so much what is the big deal. The big deal is that this is one of the biggest developers out there making it clear that all developers have little to no faith in Sony and that the Xbox is the platform to be on for this generation.

If that was the case then FFXII VS wouldn't be exclusive to the PS3, as well if that statement were true they would have just pulled out from Sony all together.

You sir are a troll, one that wouldn't dare look up facts as that would discredit pretty much your entire post (or any post you've ever made).

Do us all a favor and crawl back under the rock you came from.

 

[stainlessliquid]

There arent that many idiots that buy a console for just one game anymore, consoles cost too much to do stupid stuff like that. I was considering buying a 360 or PS3 for when GTA4 came out, but when I looked at the future and current games I found the PS3 much better since I could get GTA4, MGS4, and LBP this year alone where as the 360 had no other games I wanted that I didnt already have on the PC.

How does FF13 going multiplatform make the rest of the PS3's library any less valid? When a game is multiplatform it forces people to look at the rest of the games on each system. Games like LBP and the ICO game will definitely be on peoples minds, and anyone who is interested in FF13 will likely find those games a lot more enticing than the anti-FF known as GoW2 (which is currently MS's only offering in the near or distant future). Not to mention an awful lot of FF fans are also fans of MGS.

I don't see how you can discount first-party exclusives, since they have similar reasons for being. Halo sold lots of Xboxes, and Nintendo's stable of characters sold lots of Gamecubes and Wiis. Sony's relative weakness in first-party exclusives was made up for almost entirely by third-party exclusives like the GTA, MGS, and FF franchises.

That proves my point, people are completely ignorant to Sony first party games. The fact is that Sony publishes the highest rated games out of any company. Sony has a lot of first party exclusive games that are huge successes, but barely anybody realizes they are from Sony since Sony stupidly does nothing to promote the brand behind the games like everyone else does.

 

[killmoms]

Square hasn't made a decent FF game since FF6.

Yes, I said 6, not 7. Deal with it.

Also, Team ICO is brilliance, and as long as SCEI is willing to fund Fumito Ueda's games, I will buy them. I will buy a PS3 for whatever he's making for it. (So yes, small but dedicated fan base—ICO and Shadow of the Colossus are two of the greatest games ever made.)

 

[JackAxe]

Shhhh, you'll offend the younglings. FF7 is all they know, it was their first.

<]=)

 

[mosx]

If that was the case then FFXII VS wouldn't be exclusive to the PS3, as well if that statement were true they would have just pulled out from Sony all together.

You sir are a troll, one that wouldn't dare look up facts as that would discredit pretty much your entire post (or any post you've ever made).

Do us all a favor and crawl back under the rock you came from.

hahaha. I love these posts!

"OMG I CAN'T HANDLE WHAT YOU SAID! YOU'RE A TROLL GO AWAY!"



First of all, there has never been a good Final Fantasy spin-off. Ever play Dirge of Cerberus? Case closed. FFXIII VS is a spin-off, an action-RPG, and according to the wikipedia entry, completely unrelated to Final Fantasy XIII.

So its basically an action RPG set in the same world with completely different characters and milking off the Final Fantasy name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_Versus_XIII

The gameplay is described as a "realistic derivation of Kingdom Hearts with some 3rd person shooting". Just like the wikipedia article says, it sounds exactly like Dirge of Cerberus.

So why should we care about FFXIII VS? It plays like a game that was panned by critics and Square fanboys alike. It has absolutely nothing to do with Final Fantasy 13, except for the world it is set in. And its made by a game developer that has trashed their own reputation with nothing but bad game after bad game since the failure of the movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.

And my statement about developers having little to no faith in Sony is true.

Why are this generations games made with the Xbox360 in mind then ported to the PS3? Why are these games that were once exclusive to the PS platform now appearing on the Xbox?

Why are even some developers, like Insomniac, that are on Sony's payroll coming out and saying "they'll go wherever there is money to be made"?

Insomniac is pretty much all Sony has left these days and they've made it clear they'll up and leave if they feel their games would sell better on the Xbox360.

Games like LBP and the ICO game will definitely be on peoples minds,

Why do people even bother bringing up LittleBigPlanet? Seriously. This just proves that the Playstation3 is this generations Nintendo64. Everything good it has, and everything good the previous generation had, has gone to the competition and the fanboys are holding on to these games that will end up being second rate at best, but hyping them up to no end. It happened last year with Lair and Heavenly Sword. Its happening this year with LBP and ICO.

Why even bring up ICO? Sure it has a loyal fanbase, but the game was a commercial flop. The sales were terrible!

Not to mention an awful lot of FF fans are also fans of MGS.

Well, that makes sense.. considering each new FF game has sold worse than the last, and now each MGS game is selling worse than the last.

The fact is that Sony publishes the highest rated games out of any company. Sony has a lot of first party exclusive games that are huge successes, but barely anybody realizes they are from Sony since Sony stupidly does nothing to promote the brand behind the games like everyone else does.

Like what? God of War? God of War 2 was a commercial flop. The first one didn't sell as well as the hype for the series suggests, and people don't even know the PSP game exists.

Gran Turismo? Gran Turismo 4 was a commercial failure compared to the previous games, and all self respecting car enthusiasts have moved on to other games, like Forza.

Team ICO games? Their games, too, have been commercial failures outside of Japan.

Naughty Dogs games? They've been forgotten since nobody liked Jak 2.

The rest of "Sony's" games are developed by 3rd parties (like Insomniac). Sony just publishes them. But Insomniac has made it clear that they'll leave Sony if they feel they can do better on the Xbox360.

And with everyone else jumping ship and going to the Xbox, its only a matter of time before they do as well.

 

[P-Worm]

First of all, there has never been a good Final Fantasy spin-off.

I disagree. Not only do I consider Final Fantasy Tactics to be the best Final Fantasy, But I consider Final Fantasy Tactics to be one of the greatest games of all time.

P-Worm

 

[bluebomberman]

That proves my point, people are completely ignorant to Sony first party games. The fact is that Sony publishes the highest rated games out of any company. Sony has a lot of first party exclusive games that are huge successes, but barely anybody realizes they are from Sony since Sony stupidly does nothing to promote the brand behind the games like everyone else does.

If we're just talking about critical successes, then yeah, Sony's got a few of them, but of course that doesn't always mean sales. (ICO being the best example.) I generally find that most of Sony's exclusives are either in the "special, but sells 2 copies" camp or "expensive, boring eye candy that sells well." The God of War series might be the only clear stand out critical and commercial success. (This is especially true of more recent exclusives.) And nothing from Sony itself matched Halo's enormous market footprint.

(Rachet & Clank, meanwhile, is the Sony exclusive that sells well, plays well, but otherwise has no major presence in pop culture. Weird.)

Yeesh, now I'm interested to see if Sony can produce any sock-knocking stuff at E3 to regain some lost mojo. As much as I like watching LittleBigPlanet trailers, Sony needs more.

 

[michaelltd]

So does that make the Xbox 360 the console with just about every big name RPG? It's weird, we'd all be laughing if someone predicted that the 360 would be the place to go for JRPGs a few years ago.

When I first saw the announcement of Final Fantasy XIII coming to Xbox 360, I chuckled because I imagined at that moment Sony fanboys everywhere are probably downplaying the game and Anti-Sony fanboys suddenly believing that the game will be awesome.

 

[mosx]

I disagree. Not only do I consider Final Fantasy Tactics to be the best Final Fantasy, But I consider Final Fantasy Tactics to be one of the greatest games of all time.

Final Fantasy Tactics had nothing to do with Final Fantasy in terms of story or, especially, gameplay until Final Fantasy 12 rolled around.

It was just a game that milked off the success of FF7 by using the "Final Fantasy" name. Only with the arrival of FF12 did it finally have a link to the "true" "Final Fantasy universe" and only then did it become a true "spin-off".

Final Fantasy Tactics is a lot like a few other games, in that it has a small and loyal fanbase.

(Rachet & Clank, meanwhile, is the Sony exclusive that sells well, plays well, but otherwise has no major presence in pop culture. Weird.)

And its developed by an independent 3rd party studio that has made it clear that they'll dump Sony if its in their best interest

When I first saw the announcement of Final Fantasy XIII coming to Xbox 360, I chuckled because I imagined at that moment Sony fanboys everywhere are probably downplaying the game and Anti-Sony fanboys suddenly believing that the game will be awesome.

Thats pretty much how its gone down.

The only true "triple A" title that Sony has left is MGS4. And its sales are indicating that it hasn't and won't live up to the hype.

The Playstation3 is the Nintendo64/GameCube of this generation.

 

[stainlessliquid]

If we're just talking about critical successes, then yeah, Sony's got a few of them, but of course that doesn't always mean sales. (ICO being the best example.) I generally find that most of Sony's exclusives are either in the "special, but sells 2 copies" camp or "expensive, boring eye candy that sells well." The God of War series might be the only clear stand out critical and commercial success. (This is especially true of more recent exclusives.) And nothing from Sony itself matched Halo's enormous market footprint.

(Rachet & Clank, meanwhile, is the Sony exclusive that sells well, plays well, but otherwise has no major presence in pop culture. Weird.)

Yeesh, now I'm interested to see if Sony can produce any sock-knocking stuff at E3 to regain some lost mojo. As much as I like watching LittleBigPlanet trailers, Sony needs more.

Critical success is all that matters to a consumer. Do I care how much money Sony or Microsoft make? No, how does that help me? I care who makes the better games. I dont understand why people compare companies as if they have stock in them, last generation was the worst with the whole "Nintendo is the best because they make money from gamecube sales rather than lose money" crowd but this year is bad too. High sales doesnt make a game good, Halo is proof of that, a mediocre game with insane sales thanks to an insane marketing campaign which likely costed more than the actual development.

I would rather get the best games rather than worry about the best selling games.

 

[michaelltd]

Thats pretty much how its gone down.

So you're saying that you suddenly believe that Final Fantasy XIII is awesome because its now coming to the console you worship?

I would rather get the best games rather than worry about the best selling games.

Agreed!

 

[mosx]

So you're saying that you suddenly believe that Final Fantasy XIII is awesome because its now coming to the console you worship?

Haha no

The last truly good Final Fantasy game was 8. 9 was okay, but not as good as 8. FF6 was the peak of the series. FF7 was good, but highly overrated by just about everyone who played it as their first Final Fantasy game.

High sales doesnt make a game good, Halo is proof of that, a mediocre game with insane sales thanks to an insane marketing campaign which likely costed more than the actual development.

I would rather get the best games rather than worry about the best selling games.

I love how people use the "sales don't mean anything!" argument until one of their beloved games sells good.

I remember back in the day, Nintendo fans would point to the sales of Mario 64 and Zelda: OoT as proof that they were good games, then say that PS games selling good didn't mean they were good games.

The only time this argument applies and is legitimate is when discussing Nintendo games. When a game sells millions on a Nintendo platform, chances are it was the first half decent game released in the last 6-8 months and the owners of that system are dying for a new game to play, so they all run out and buy it. Look at Zelda: OoT back on the N64 as a perfect example. The last major release before it was Yoshi's Island. Prior to that it was Goldeneye.

On the Wii you had Super Mario Galaxy and then nothing until Mario Kart.

Anyway, on Sony and Microsoft consoles, sales DO, in fact, dictate quality. Halo sold millions and Halo 2 sold millions because they were fantastic games. Grand Theft Auto 4, GTA3, SA, VC, all sold millions upon millions because they were fantastic games.

ICO didn't sell well because, lets face, it wasn't that great of a game. Yes I played it.

Gran Turismo 4 didn't sell anywhere near as good as GT3 because it was both a disappointment and people had moved on to the Xbox and Forza, with Forza 2 on the horizon for the (then) upcoming Xbox360.

Metal Gear Solid 3 didn't even sell half as much as MGS2 because people realized what a snooze fest MGS is and didn't want to be bothered with it, much the same way that MGS4 is falling on the charts as we speak.

So yes, unless we're discussing Nintendo, game sales are directly proportional to the quality of the game.

 

[Ozz.Man]

Glad I own all the consoles so I have choice. I was actually thinking to get rid of my 360 but on second thought

 

[0098386]

Shhhh, you'll offend the younglings. FF7 is all they know, it was their first.

<]=)

Because nothing is simple for me FF7 was the most recent FF game I played
I think 3 was my first, on the DS. I didn't care for the series until then.

Edit: Nono! I had Dawn of Souls on GBA first!

 

[MRU]

ICO and LittleBigPlanet likely won't sell consoles the way FF XIII surely would have.

Exactly!! Games that get universal criticial acclaim, push the envelope and are a big development risk... and yet often make very little impact on the retail market.

Hell you only have to look at the games that are similar and how they sold.

LBP will probably hit retail at the same time as Fifa 09, Madden 09, Yet another EA or other sequel 09, and will likely have sales figures that pale in comparison, unless..... Sony spend $$$$$ marketing and even then such an original IP is still a risky proposition in the console market.

I imagine as bad as LBP will sell (i'll be buying it) the same will happen to Viva Pinata : Trouble in Paradise on the 360, and they both share similarities gameplay wise and both out around the same time. These games are my favorites and they just do nothing at retail irrespective of quality.



Final Fantasy series has been a stalwart in Sony's repository. It's a guaranteed seller and has a very loyal following worldwide. M$ have securing the game on it's platform is a good move for them even if it isn't an exclusive, and to be honest it's hardly a surprise given the fact that they have been signing up all the major JRPG's lately.

Microsoft are re-associating it's brand name with the JRPG field, which whilst making little impact this generation (in Japan anyway) - the fact that they will have associated those key franchises to their platform - means that 'next gen' will likely do better.

They are thinking about tommorow, not today. And that's a wise forward thinking decision.

ICO didn't sell well because, lets face, it wasn't that great of a game. Yes I played it.

looking at the box doesn't constitute playing ICO was a breathtaking game on so many levels.

However... judging by your comments on HALO - it is clear the game was not aimed at your demographic and it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that your ripping on it and prefer to hold something like HALO2 up as this shiny beacon of gaming.

The only true "triple A" title that Sony has left is MGS4. And its sales are indicating that it hasn't and won't live up to the hype.

Again in your ignorance, you are assuming sales figures and gaming quality are related. They are not.