I have a Wii and there was a time when I did admire the vision of Nintendo. Yes the Wii prints money but for gamers such as myself they have not come close to the vision they brought last generation. Seeing where you want to go is one thing, getting there is another.
A control scheme does not a vision fulfill.
While Nintendo has made gaming more accessible to persons that were previously not gamers, they have done little else to appeal to the core gamers that were here prior (in the gaming community) and not Nintendo followers. Be careful to look at that last statement. Not Nintendo followers. I am not discussing the Mario Legion.
It is hard to say my view is skewed if it happens to be correct. If I am a certain type of gamer that prefers a more open development approach, more gamer freedom, next gen medium, a user selectable HDD, the exclusives that I like, and a technology that evolves then how am I brainwashed?
People often use that word - fanboy - but if they cast that definition against cold hard fact then it is interesting to see if the definition remains intact.
Just so you are aware there is a vast chasm that exists between a machine that people beat to death to eek out a few more horse power versus a machine that continues to expand exponentially as developers learn it's somewhat difficult yet much more capable architecture.
When I have been a victim of MS 4 times with the 360 (on my 5th) and all but one person on my friends list has experienced the same fate how am I not supposed to take that into the equation?
Game development (in which I have been involved on several occasions) is like an iceberg. What you see or hear above the surface belies the issue below. When I hear Bizarre, Rockstar, Id, etc discussing a disk medium that retards the game experience how am I not supposed to shake my head knowing the issue is huge by the time it leaks to the press?
When I see a console clearly demonstrated to be inferior to another how am I not supposed to think that inferior console is shafting gamers that want the penultimate experience? When I see resources squandered because of payoffs how am I not supposed to view inferior hardware and it's money tossing backer as a problem?
Another note for you, I was a Xbox backer last gen because that was the superior platform.
I am much more matter of fact about that power equation. Now look at this gen. When a machine is a year back in the US and a year and a half behind in Europe yet has handily shown itself to be able to surpass it's competition in graphics, in audio, in storage, in online player numbers then it is hard to say it's only a 'little' more powerful.
When the lesser capable console had the lions share of the attention yet can't match the late comer that has frankly been the whipping boy of the press then how can any person that is a gamer at heart not take a side for the superior possibility. Not for company worship, but for pushing the limits.
For the console against the odds that has shown itself easily to be the technical superior of the three, what could it do if it was pushed to the forefront? Look what we have seen so far in the likes of Killzone 2, Uncharted, MGS4, and others. Look at smaller matters like direct Youtube uploads and usermods in UT3. How much better would GTA IV have been if dedicated to the PS3? We will find out as Rockstar are crafting a huge sandbox for just Sony that isn't bound by last gen storage limitations.
Most titles that are produced are multiplatform. And as long as the devs insist on making both versions practically the same on both platforms then questions of technical superiority will always fluster the unobservant. I personally am not fooled by such and realize that much of this is done not to alienate the 360 fanbase. So the PS3 fanbase gets the shaft as this is seen as the least harmful of the two approaches. I don't know why because last gen the differences with the versions were paid little mind.
Cracks are beginning to show and I am sure that MS just wants this gen to end as soon as is financially feasible. Companies like Id who are likely sitting on the next mass market game engine will make dual disk lower grade 360 versions commonplace. This is because of the way in which the Rage engine functions.
Nintendo receives no free pass from me when they are delivering titles on the Wii that are inferior to Gamecube titles I still have. The fact that I and many other look at the Wii as a glorified Gamecube says Nintendo still isn't reaching the core gamer I spoke about above. I have the Wii, two controllers, legacy controller, Gamecube controller, and Balance Board. But other than the occasional Gamecube title I hardly turn it on.
Myself and people like me are precisely one of the groups Nintendo needs to make a greater effort to court. I am looking forward to The Conduit but it is not enough. Sales worldwide are beginning to flag and Nintendo has to act now to expand into the core audience lest they drop from game console to fad status.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Monday, December 15, 2008
The PS3 does NOT need a price cut.
We have all read it. We have read it everywhere. Or at least somewhere stating how the PS3 is behind. I am sure the Microsoft Staff at Kotaku throw a party every time they see one of those articles. Or when they write one which is often. And for proof these great soothsayers all offer up undeniable evidence in the form of the November 2008 NPD figures. For the US only. Are they correct in their assumption? In a word, no. Not in the least.
These sites are all predicating the doom of the PS3 on one sales territory and one month. It is ridiculous to hear yet quite likely these all too numerous calls of PS3 doom are the product of an intentional orchestrated design to damn the PS3. Quite frankly I think the Federal Trade Commission should investigate Microsoft as to their possible involvement. Really, who else has motive except the console manufacturer that is currently in last place in sales. What? Last place?
That's right, last place. Amazing how my blog, that is really for myself and a few people I know happens to be one of the only outlets willing to trip up all these Wall Street analysts with nothing more than the facts I can count on the fingers of one hand.
Yes the PS3 is in last place in sales in November. But once you look at the year over all and add in one other geographic sales area, Japan, suddenly the PS3 is in second place for yearly sales to date. Logic can be frustrating to those with a plan based on a house of lies. I am sure that if the truth were to escape, there are 360 fans that would be hurling themselves off the roof. I would not care for that but I would really like to see Eric Krangel and the staff of Kotaku take a header. The gaming community would be better for their absence.
With the combined sales of the US and Japan putting the PS3 in second place by just over 30,000 consoles, should the price be cut? Again, no. The main persons crowing for a price cut are the uninformered, the cheap, and those interested in Sony losing money. But what about Europe you say? Other than some spurts in the UK, the PS3 is soundly winning in Europe. The only place sweating that territory is Microsoft.
The real issue is that no major outlets seem to want to mention this. Just look at that Gamasutra article. One would think that a site dedicated to the game community at large would have a better more well rounded world view. No, instead it has the one view that allows Microsoft to continue to push it's facade onto the gullible public.
We can only act where we can and hope at least one major news organization will sooner or later decide to publish the complete facts on just why the PS3 is doing just fine.
These sites are all predicating the doom of the PS3 on one sales territory and one month. It is ridiculous to hear yet quite likely these all too numerous calls of PS3 doom are the product of an intentional orchestrated design to damn the PS3. Quite frankly I think the Federal Trade Commission should investigate Microsoft as to their possible involvement. Really, who else has motive except the console manufacturer that is currently in last place in sales. What? Last place?
That's right, last place. Amazing how my blog, that is really for myself and a few people I know happens to be one of the only outlets willing to trip up all these Wall Street analysts with nothing more than the facts I can count on the fingers of one hand.
Yes the PS3 is in last place in sales in November. But once you look at the year over all and add in one other geographic sales area, Japan, suddenly the PS3 is in second place for yearly sales to date. Logic can be frustrating to those with a plan based on a house of lies. I am sure that if the truth were to escape, there are 360 fans that would be hurling themselves off the roof. I would not care for that but I would really like to see Eric Krangel and the staff of Kotaku take a header. The gaming community would be better for their absence.
With the combined sales of the US and Japan putting the PS3 in second place by just over 30,000 consoles, should the price be cut? Again, no. The main persons crowing for a price cut are the uninformered, the cheap, and those interested in Sony losing money. But what about Europe you say? Other than some spurts in the UK, the PS3 is soundly winning in Europe. The only place sweating that territory is Microsoft.
The real issue is that no major outlets seem to want to mention this. Just look at that Gamasutra article. One would think that a site dedicated to the game community at large would have a better more well rounded world view. No, instead it has the one view that allows Microsoft to continue to push it's facade onto the gullible public.
We can only act where we can and hope at least one major news organization will sooner or later decide to publish the complete facts on just why the PS3 is doing just fine.
Washington Post responds to CNN's BS article
The Washington Post picked up an article by PC World writer Matt Peckham. He calls into question the findings published in the utterly moronic smear piece carried by CNN. You can see Washington Post write up here.
Matt has a great deal to say about the innacuracies in the CNN article. There are two things however that seem to be ignored. First there is the issue upon which Matt only lightly touches.
He states, "What's more, look at PS3 and Xbox 360 units sold in total worldwide, and Sony pretty much throughout 2008 has actually been playing catchup."
While that is true he avoids stating the facts outright in a more blatant manner. Facts the rest of the community that has fallen victim to the MS BS machine desperately need to hear. The PS3 is outselling the 360 worldwide. Why journalists are so ready to spout the Microsoft line of crap yet refuse to call a spade a spade and put the truth on the scoreboard is beyond me.
Just today Gamasutra delivered an article and discussed PS3 sales. My hopes for a larger view than the general US Centric picture were quickly dashed. You can see that here. Once again the report only deals in US sales where MS is painted in a much better light, and despite the article's objective tone, the PS3 is cast in doubt.
"Some of the biggest lies are told in silence" is a quote from my childhood. I can attach no other description to the Gamasutra article than the word 'deception'. Although I do not believe it is was intentional to mislead the public on the reality of sales, the result is the same. The US centric examination by Gamasutra hardly paints the picture in which game and console sales exist - which is the world wide theater.
Until a respected publication has the balls and decency to print the hardcore truth then Sony, the PS3, and any other Sony product will suffer when uninformed lowlifes such as Eric Krangel have the time to attack.
The second thing Matt does not discuss is the wave of PS3 attacks. Although he addresses the CNN article, the numerous anti-PS3 and anti-Sony attacks recently boggle the mind. As much as I hate to sound like Oliver Stone, one can't help but wonder if there isn't a concerted effort with a disinformation plan at work, all designed to engineer the lowest possible PS3 sales. The ultimate loser? The consumer.
Matt has a great deal to say about the innacuracies in the CNN article. There are two things however that seem to be ignored. First there is the issue upon which Matt only lightly touches.
He states, "What's more, look at PS3 and Xbox 360 units sold in total worldwide, and Sony pretty much throughout 2008 has actually been playing catchup."
While that is true he avoids stating the facts outright in a more blatant manner. Facts the rest of the community that has fallen victim to the MS BS machine desperately need to hear. The PS3 is outselling the 360 worldwide. Why journalists are so ready to spout the Microsoft line of crap yet refuse to call a spade a spade and put the truth on the scoreboard is beyond me.
Just today Gamasutra delivered an article and discussed PS3 sales. My hopes for a larger view than the general US Centric picture were quickly dashed. You can see that here. Once again the report only deals in US sales where MS is painted in a much better light, and despite the article's objective tone, the PS3 is cast in doubt.
"Some of the biggest lies are told in silence" is a quote from my childhood. I can attach no other description to the Gamasutra article than the word 'deception'. Although I do not believe it is was intentional to mislead the public on the reality of sales, the result is the same. The US centric examination by Gamasutra hardly paints the picture in which game and console sales exist - which is the world wide theater.
Until a respected publication has the balls and decency to print the hardcore truth then Sony, the PS3, and any other Sony product will suffer when uninformed lowlifes such as Eric Krangel have the time to attack.
The second thing Matt does not discuss is the wave of PS3 attacks. Although he addresses the CNN article, the numerous anti-PS3 and anti-Sony attacks recently boggle the mind. As much as I hate to sound like Oliver Stone, one can't help but wonder if there isn't a concerted effort with a disinformation plan at work, all designed to engineer the lowest possible PS3 sales. The ultimate loser? The consumer.
HD Uncharted: Among Thieves
Here is the Spike VGA trailer premier for Uncharted: Among Thieves.
That is in engine as well. Additionally there are hi res shots available for the game here. Remarkable hardly does justice o some incredible screens. Doubtless there will be attacks by 360 fans as they try to find every imaginable way to make claims of airbrushing or what have you. All one need do is go back and look at that trailer, or better yet, play the first game and you will readily admit that is indeed the game. Of course damning without playing is the trademark and refuge of the scared 360 acolyte...
That is in engine as well. Additionally there are hi res shots available for the game here. Remarkable hardly does justice o some incredible screens. Doubtless there will be attacks by 360 fans as they try to find every imaginable way to make claims of airbrushing or what have you. All one need do is go back and look at that trailer, or better yet, play the first game and you will readily admit that is indeed the game. Of course damning without playing is the trademark and refuge of the scared 360 acolyte...
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Eric Krangel, professional idiot
CNN Money recently carried an article that compared the PS3 to the Titanic. While it wasn't from a CNN staff writer it was nevertheless published by CNN which amounts to their endorsement of the writer and his (skewed) view.
He makes 3 invalid points in the article and I will take each of those erred ideas to task and rip this clown a much needed new ass.
First he notes that the PS3 is the most expensive console on the market costing $150 - $200 more than it's rival. I see that Eric is one of these short sighted immediate gratification consumers that fails to look at cumulative costs over time. Wait, isn't this moron a market analyst where future trends, long term costs, and performance over time must be considered? If I were stupid enough to invest on his advice I would be leaving said investment right now like a rat from a sinking ship.
Maybe a direct tone will wake up this dunce.
Eric, do you not realize that the 360 online play costs a standard $49 a year? How long are you planning on owning your cheap 360? And please forgo the tired argument that online play with a 360 is unneeded. That is as old and as useless as the "HDD isn't required" cop out espoused by 360 apologists. Please do not attempt to bring up the idea that you can find LIVE fees cheaper by searching out deals or I will have to bring up the fact you can get a PS3 for $249 by getting a free Sony Visa.
Add to that the fact the 360 controllers do not ship with a recharge kit and suddenly this quoted cost difference is effectively vaporized and is as non-existent as your common sense.
Then Eric, you spout that no one seems to care about hi-def DVD sales. Just say Bluray pinhead. Let's be exact. It is THE hi-def format whether you want to begrudging;y admit it or not. There is little doubt you sit in your closet at night with your dusty and very small collection of HD DVDs and rock back and forth in a trance mumbling about revenge.
You might also want to tell Warner Brothers that the 25-30% of The Dark Knight sales that occurred on opening day of that movie's DVD sales which were in fact Bluray editions actually do not exist in the real world. You might also want to look at some hard sales figures for players.
The fact you do not believe there is a distinguishable difference between Bluray and DVD on screens smaller than 50 inches only serves to show how you are desperately willing to say anything to paint Sony in a bad light. Such remarks would be laughable were they not so dangerous. This point really needs no further discussion as such a comment can be simply translated as saying that 640x480 in a PC game is no better than 1920x1080. Really?
Your 3rd and equally useless point is that the PS3 possesses no must have titles. You might want to trip on over to G4TV Xplay and ask them about the big winner in their awards this year. One game in particular walked away with 4 awards and it wasn't Gears of War 2. Stating that titles like MGS4, Little Big Planet, Resistance 2, Uncharted, etc etc are not must haves clearly reveals that you are a biased jerkwater with an ax to grind against Sony.
All one has to do is look at your recent writings:
360 fanboy
In less than two days you have scribbled (you do not warrant the word authored) 3 articles attacking Sony. With so many other issues out there in the gaming community and the financial world in general I would say it is fairly clear that your opinion has no place in reporting where readers are expecting to find a balanced view of reality.
There is also this that I will borrow from the good people at thatvideogameblog.com.
Specifically this post in the comments by jonondaspot.
"From a poster at N4G (with corrected grammar):
Last year Sony sold 8.83 mil PS3 ‘Worldwide’,2.56 mil in US,6.27 mil in ‘Rest of the world’
Last year MS sold 7.3 mil 360 ‘worldwide’,4.62 mil in US,2.68 mil in ‘Rest of the world’
See the difference? 6.27 Vs 2.68.That’s why PS3 outsold 360 last year
Also for 2008 :
Q4 FY2007= 2.33
Q1 FY2007= 0.71[][][]Q1 FY2008 =1.56 <—–850,000 increase ‘Worldwide’ Q2 FY2007= 1.31[][][]Q2 FY2008 =2.43 <—–1,1120,000 increase ‘Worldwide’ Q3 FY2007= 4.9 [][][]Q3 FY2008 =??? So if Sony sells as many console as last year(4.9 mil) in Q3 FY2008(this holiday season),the total sales for this year will be 2.33+1.56+2.43+4.9=11.22 mil and add this with the 10.5 mil consoles that were sold as of 31 Dec 2007,the total number of PS3 will be more than 22 mil in 2 years. Hell even if Sony sells less PS3s this holiday than what it sold last holiday(say 1 mil),they can easily hit 10mil mark for the most expensive console ever,MS has yet to sell this many console in a year." In a mere few moments an average reader managed to do more research than your last 10 articles. He should be collecting the paycheck which you are stealing from your employers. It should be noted that in your narrow minded view you didn't bother to consider the PS3 totals for Japan and the US outpace the 360 totals for 2008. Add Europe where the PS3 handily wins over the 360 and you should have written that Titanic article about the dying days of the 360. A little research would do wonders for the truth even if it debunks your intentionally misleading ramblings.
The only remaining question is, Just how much does Microsoft pay you?
I encourage everyone to go to this link.
Take the time to tell CNN Money that you will no longer visit their site if they insist on publishing such biased and deceptive tripe.
He makes 3 invalid points in the article and I will take each of those erred ideas to task and rip this clown a much needed new ass.
First he notes that the PS3 is the most expensive console on the market costing $150 - $200 more than it's rival. I see that Eric is one of these short sighted immediate gratification consumers that fails to look at cumulative costs over time. Wait, isn't this moron a market analyst where future trends, long term costs, and performance over time must be considered? If I were stupid enough to invest on his advice I would be leaving said investment right now like a rat from a sinking ship.
Maybe a direct tone will wake up this dunce.
Eric, do you not realize that the 360 online play costs a standard $49 a year? How long are you planning on owning your cheap 360? And please forgo the tired argument that online play with a 360 is unneeded. That is as old and as useless as the "HDD isn't required" cop out espoused by 360 apologists. Please do not attempt to bring up the idea that you can find LIVE fees cheaper by searching out deals or I will have to bring up the fact you can get a PS3 for $249 by getting a free Sony Visa.
Add to that the fact the 360 controllers do not ship with a recharge kit and suddenly this quoted cost difference is effectively vaporized and is as non-existent as your common sense.
Then Eric, you spout that no one seems to care about hi-def DVD sales. Just say Bluray pinhead. Let's be exact. It is THE hi-def format whether you want to begrudging;y admit it or not. There is little doubt you sit in your closet at night with your dusty and very small collection of HD DVDs and rock back and forth in a trance mumbling about revenge.
You might also want to tell Warner Brothers that the 25-30% of The Dark Knight sales that occurred on opening day of that movie's DVD sales which were in fact Bluray editions actually do not exist in the real world. You might also want to look at some hard sales figures for players.
The fact you do not believe there is a distinguishable difference between Bluray and DVD on screens smaller than 50 inches only serves to show how you are desperately willing to say anything to paint Sony in a bad light. Such remarks would be laughable were they not so dangerous. This point really needs no further discussion as such a comment can be simply translated as saying that 640x480 in a PC game is no better than 1920x1080. Really?
Your 3rd and equally useless point is that the PS3 possesses no must have titles. You might want to trip on over to G4TV Xplay and ask them about the big winner in their awards this year. One game in particular walked away with 4 awards and it wasn't Gears of War 2. Stating that titles like MGS4, Little Big Planet, Resistance 2, Uncharted, etc etc are not must haves clearly reveals that you are a biased jerkwater with an ax to grind against Sony.
All one has to do is look at your recent writings:
360 fanboy
In less than two days you have scribbled (you do not warrant the word authored) 3 articles attacking Sony. With so many other issues out there in the gaming community and the financial world in general I would say it is fairly clear that your opinion has no place in reporting where readers are expecting to find a balanced view of reality.
There is also this that I will borrow from the good people at thatvideogameblog.com.
Specifically this post in the comments by jonondaspot.
"From a poster at N4G (with corrected grammar):
Last year Sony sold 8.83 mil PS3 ‘Worldwide’,2.56 mil in US,6.27 mil in ‘Rest of the world’
Last year MS sold 7.3 mil 360 ‘worldwide’,4.62 mil in US,2.68 mil in ‘Rest of the world’
See the difference? 6.27 Vs 2.68.That’s why PS3 outsold 360 last year
Also for 2008 :
Q4 FY2007= 2.33
Q1 FY2007= 0.71[][][]Q1 FY2008 =1.56 <—–850,000 increase ‘Worldwide’ Q2 FY2007= 1.31[][][]Q2 FY2008 =2.43 <—–1,1120,000 increase ‘Worldwide’ Q3 FY2007= 4.9 [][][]Q3 FY2008 =??? So if Sony sells as many console as last year(4.9 mil) in Q3 FY2008(this holiday season),the total sales for this year will be 2.33+1.56+2.43+4.9=11.22 mil and add this with the 10.5 mil consoles that were sold as of 31 Dec 2007,the total number of PS3 will be more than 22 mil in 2 years. Hell even if Sony sells less PS3s this holiday than what it sold last holiday(say 1 mil),they can easily hit 10mil mark for the most expensive console ever,MS has yet to sell this many console in a year." In a mere few moments an average reader managed to do more research than your last 10 articles. He should be collecting the paycheck which you are stealing from your employers. It should be noted that in your narrow minded view you didn't bother to consider the PS3 totals for Japan and the US outpace the 360 totals for 2008. Add Europe where the PS3 handily wins over the 360 and you should have written that Titanic article about the dying days of the 360. A little research would do wonders for the truth even if it debunks your intentionally misleading ramblings.
The only remaining question is, Just how much does Microsoft pay you?
I encourage everyone to go to this link.
Take the time to tell CNN Money that you will no longer visit their site if they insist on publishing such biased and deceptive tripe.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The confederacy of dunces
I have been following the events over at metacritic.com and I am dumbfounded. There has been a plethora of attacks on Little Big Planet and Resistance 2 by what are obviously 360 fans attempting to drive down the user scores of those respective games. Talk about rabid stupidity. I have never witnessed a more insecure group of idiots in my entire life and I have not had a short life thus far either.
The fact that the Admins and Staff of metatcritic have taken no action and made no public acknowledgment of this issue is equally as reprehensible. They are damning their site yet they are too oblivious to notice. Either that or such actions are occurring with their silent approval. Either way what is happening is damning that site. It isn't as if they will be missed. Not when they have allowed such actions to go unchecked. Goodbye metacritic, you won't be missed...
The fact that the Admins and Staff of metatcritic have taken no action and made no public acknowledgment of this issue is equally as reprehensible. They are damning their site yet they are too oblivious to notice. Either that or such actions are occurring with their silent approval. Either way what is happening is damning that site. It isn't as if they will be missed. Not when they have allowed such actions to go unchecked. Goodbye metacritic, you won't be missed...
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