Ben's Week In Review: December 27
Ah, the holidays. They come around so fast and they're gone even faster. :( Oh well, here's looking forward to an even better 2010!
Exclusivity still matters
While neither Sony or Microsoft seem to be overtly pursuing huge exclusives, in that they're continually approaching developers to create system-selling software...I almost think they should. Microsoft has been known to do this more in the past, but the idea of keeping a big title on only one console seems counterproductive from most every angle. This is a little frustrating from a gamer standpoint, too, just because exclusive titles tend to be the best games available for that particular platform. But look what a huge exclusive can do concerning hardware sales: FFXIII has caused PS3 sales in Japan to go through the roof and although FF is always big over there, we must also consider that FFXIII is not available for the Xbox 360 in that region. When the game launches here March, you can bet you won't see the same drastic PS3 sales spike. Sales may increase, of course, but nothing like a 216% surge.
This is why I'd like to think we'll see more PS3 exclusives in the future. The user base is to the point now where developers can still turn a healthy profit (plenty of potential consumers) and besides, they may wish to harness the power of the PS3. Uncharted 2 is a good example of something that must be on Sony's console and still manages to be a big success. As big as it would've been if it was multiplatform? Maybe not. But it might not be considered the best game of 2009, either, and PS3 sales would not have benefited as much. So yeah, if FFXIII has remained exclusive, Sony would be in a better position come March. That's all I'm saying.
I'm not sold on digital media
I'm just not. I'm not even sold on the supposed added convenience. I know you don't have to drive down to the store, I know you don't have to worry about a damaged disc, and I know you don't have to worry about losing said disc. But so what? I don't particularly like the idea of a game that stands at the mercy of a hard drive crash, and I constantly have to back everything up if I wish to keep my "collection" intact. At first, I just despised the idea of having my entire collection reduced to little electronic files on a screen - horrifying for a collector; the box art and being able to hold that disc in your hands is part of the collecting experience - but now I just dislike the entire idea. I certainly don't mind the concept of DLC and I also don't mind if some downloadable games are available. In all honestly, I'm satisfied with the way things are now. But it seems the inevitable shift will gain more momentum in 2010, and I'm a little worried that it all might happen before I'm ready.
I don't want to have to transfer a million tons of data every time I get a new console, even if that only means removing a hard drive. I'm not even sure how that's easier. Yes, it means we free up space in our homes but what does that really do to the gaming process? It doesn't speed anything up, unless you're talking about the 10 seconds saved by not having to insert a disc. Look, I don't care how stable it all is; anything can happen to that digital data. But my games are in cases and doin' just fine, thank you very much.
Personal gaming update
Well, as you may already know, I got Resident Evil 5, Halo 3: ODST and Left 4 Dead 2 for Christmas so I'm good to go. However, you may find it humorous when I say I'm going to finish another play-through of Suikoden before I start on any of them. Thing is, I'm only about four or five hours from the end and I just want my 108 Stars of Destiny...as usual, it's an ongoing JRPG sickness that tends to kick in during the down times. But what should I play first when I'm done? I'm thinking Halo 3: ODST just because I think it's the shortest of the three and I can blow through it in a day or two. Then again, it annoys me that I've missed RE5 for this long...and I have to say, I've heard awesome things about L4D2. See the decisions I'm so often faced with? ;)
I'm still considering getting Bayonetta in a few weeks. It seems clear now that I need the 360 version and while I really love the game's style, I keep thinking it will turn into a chore. As in, more work then entertainment. But we'll see. It's not like I don't have anything else to play. ;)
12/26/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (77 posts)
Snaaaake
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 10:15:05 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:19:02 PM
jerocarson
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 2:35:26 AM
geovanwitdakick
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 10:23:57 PM
Reply
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:18:32 AM
Riku994
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 9:23:42 AM
fatelementality
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 10:43:13 PM
Reply
Last edited by fatelementality on 12/26/2009 10:45:42 PM
SubjectiveTruth
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:03:39 PM
So, it seems that the average, or slightly above or below average, consumer is screwed. As far as this concerns me, I have been pissed off about this my entire life. Your problem is uncommon, which makes you part of a minority and the fact that minorities get ass-f*cked every second of every day is a part of life. So how can we stop this problem?
The only way that we are going to get Sony to make any sort of change for these kind of things is to get a large group of people to take action. By taking action, I mean that ideally, we have to find a way to cost them money. I can't think of any way to do that, but it would be nice to have some editorials written on the fact that, while most of us are not currently a part of said minorities, we may one day find ourselves screaming at a Sony phone operator. This might just get some people to come together and start brainstorming. COME ON, LETS FIGHT FOR THE LITTLE GUY. WE-ARE-DAVID!
lol.
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:20:13 PM
Alienange
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:25:41 PM
fatelementality
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:02:41 AM
Last edited by fatelementality on 12/27/2009 12:07:04 AM
Alienange
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:14:04 AM
MyWorstNightmar
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:14:16 AM
johnld
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 1:21:55 AM
fatelementality
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 5:04:42 AM
BikerSaint
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 10:56:58 PM
Reply
On DL, I second(or third, in this thread) those emotions.
As a collector I foresee this being the death of all psychical media in the not too distant future. And believe me when I say it's a hell of a lot closer to happening than most think it is!!!!
FYI, there's already proof of that in my area.
It's already made a dire consequence on my 1 & only local used CD/DVD music & video store.
My beloved CD Exchange is closing up shop for good next month & the owner blames it on the creation of downloads, and the downturn in business when both, the Ipod, & Netflix came into being.
He stated that now, this generation is just staying home & DL'ing everything off the net instead of buying new, or trading in, physical media CD's & DVD's for others.
Look around your own locale, because he's not the only CD/DVD store that's closing up shop(if some haven't already shuttered their shops).
And now, because my store's closing, it's about to put a huge 95% crimp on getting any more used CD/DVD music & movies for my collections.
Just like the mighty oak that gets chain-sawed down, "all in the name of progress", the very same thing is slowly happening to the gamer nation too.
So beware, because one day in the future all discs & physical media itself, will go same the way as the dodo bird....."EXTINCT"!
Sooooo.........one day in the future you want to take your grandchildren to see what games on a disc looked like way back in the 2000 to 2015 era, you'll have to be in real tight with one of the few & rare, private collectors still alive.....
.....or find out what the visiting hours are at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:21:32 AM
to_far_apart
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 1:12:54 AM
oldmike
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:09:06 PM
Reply
ps I hate down loads why 3 things
1 if you get a bad game you cant resell
2 as some games are over 20 GB how big a harddrive do you need
3 i love my over 600 DVDs100 blu-rays and 30 PS3 games
Last edited by oldmike on 12/26/2009 11:15:23 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:23:40 PM
Aftab
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:07:15 AM
BikerSaint
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:14:36 PM
Reply
Sorry to hear it,
that "really bites the big one"!!!!!
See, this is just more proof for me, that going DL only is a very, very, bad idea!!!!
Especially because some of these moneymakers are only seeing the future of DL as $$$$ signs right now, and that the $$$$ is blinding them to the fact that they can't, won't, or don't, foresee the future consequences in the big picture of things.
Instead, they should've been totally focused on combating "Murphy's Law" & then have all contingencies for correcting the problem, along with all restoration processes for it already in place first.
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:25:15 PM
to_far_apart
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:23:01 PM
Reply
As for the game selection you have going on during your break Ben, that's one pretty awesome predicament to be in. I've played all of them, i advise knocking down ODST first, you won't miss much =P haha Resident Evil was awesome, and LFD2 did surprise me a lot, a bunch of fun. Well whatever route you take, just kick some a**! haha I understand how you feel, RPGs are just that ;)
Well don't spend to much time around here, go take down the covenant and kick some zombie a**! haha
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:27:39 PM
BikerSaint
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:39:55 PM
to_far_apart
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 1:11:15 AM
Alienange
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:39:10 PM
Reply
As for digital downloads, they certainly have their place. There is a market for DLC and it is coming into it's own. Saying that DLC will replace physical media altogether though, is just foolishness. DLC is an option, not the new standard.
Aftab
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:00:06 AM
Alienange
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:06:09 AM
Aftab
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:11:59 AM
Jawknee
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 5:35:13 PM
MyWorstNightmar
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:48:03 PM
Reply
LimitedVertigo, please chime in on this and explain the benefits to this as you seem to be the PSXextreme champion for this movement. And please don't say because it saves shelf space. I have heard that one, and I just don't buy it. Games do not take up that much room. I have heard the argument that it is cheaper to have Digital versions of games. I will gladly pay a wee bit more for physical.
My sister in law just got a Wii for christmas. I loaned her 5 games to play. If these were in Digital form, I can't loan out anything. I can't take a game over to a friends house. I wish I could have bought Mushroom Wars and Pixel Junk Shooter on BluRay so I could loan them out to friends or take them with me to friends houses so we could play them.
Any added benefits for Digital form, would seem to be trumped by all the benefits of Physical.
Alienange
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:01:38 AM
Highlander
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 3:08:36 AM
HeXeN
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 11:55:09 PM
Reply
www
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 6:17:07 PM
BikerSaint
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:02:18 AM
Reply
Mark my words in the future....they will try for DL only!
A couple scheming company's have already proved to be greedy bastards by stealing chapters from their game just so they can DL free cash from you.
So what's there to stop the chosen few, because if they're that unscrupulous, do you really think they'd even care what internet speed you might or might not have?
They're only in it to do a DL "hit & run" on your wallet
Mark my words....
Alienange
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:09:46 AM
And for that to happen, publishers would all have to settle on a time frame to make the big switch. You think they'll try for that and just hope everyone goes for it? I don't see that happening.
MyWorstNightmar
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:10:56 AM
Often I will read your post, then realize, damn, he is responding to someone elses post, then I gotta figure out what post you are replying to. I might have to stop reading your comments, but I see that devil dog, and... I... must... read...
Last edited by MyWorstNightmar on 12/27/2009 12:18:11 AM
Alienange
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:15:04 AM
Highlander
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 3:07:21 AM
@Alienage,
Who knows what the next Wii will have, perhaps a 16 or 32GB flash storage module. Wii games are smaller than PS3/360 games anyway, there are less graphical and audio assets to take up the space. Either way, the Wii not having a local HDD isn't an issue once everything moves up to the cloud anyway.
Alienange
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 3:50:54 PM
___________
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 1:29:08 AM
Reply
biggest disappointment since the beginning of time.
though i should of expected that, every series has gone down the sh*tter as of late.
especially with horror games.
now their either torture porn like SAW or crappy action games like resident evil 5 or fear 2.
FEAR completley blew me away, a brilliant game, i was so excited for fear 2 and o boy was i disappointed.
i cant think of one series that was on the ps1 that is now on the ps3 that i still like.
not one.
i guess insomniac and ND had a reason for ditching spyro and crash bandicoot after all.
ive had more fun playing pandemonium, oddworld ,point blank, doom, quake 2 and so on.
than playing every ps3 game this year.
BikerSaint
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 1:54:18 AM
Reply
I don't know what's wrong, I see the wide gap in posts too, & I alway hit the reply button(if & whenever it's still there to hit)unless I'm speaking to the masses instead of the individual.
And even then, the site seems to stick some of my replies way down far from my original intended spot.
I'm not tech savy so don't really know for sure, but I've come away with the assumption it's because if someone else replie to that same post'er, the site seems to throw their replies in between ours, which widens the gap of my reply even more so.
And if a bunch of people reply, my reply tends to wind up somewhere out there between East Jabbip & Lower Mongolia.
Also if the reply button has been already been used once by someone, it then disappears for good.
Now, with that said, there has been a few time I wanted to reply to a certain individual but couldn't put it right where I wanted too because their reply button was missing altogether. So then the only option I see then is to go down down to whoever has the closest "reply" button to my intended receiver, & reply from there. I don't likeit that way, but that's the only way I've been able to do it in those "missing reply button" circumstances.
Oh, another thought just occurred to me....
I'm a super-slow 2-finger keyboard-plucker, so maybe between the time I actually hit the reply button, get done finishing my post, & then hit the "submit" button, 53,498 other people have already got their posts in ahead of mine???????
So other than an amphetamine fix or a Evelyn Woods speed typing course, if anyone's got a better solution for me, please chime away,
I'm all ears.......I mean eyes.
Fane1024
Monday, December 28, 2009 @ 6:15:11 PM
BikerSaint
Monday, December 28, 2009 @ 6:45:54 PM
I'm not sure what you mean by streaming, but is that like Cloud is going to be, or like that other gaming service, "OnLive" was supposed to be???
I signed up long ago to be a OnLive beta tester, & even though I didn't really like the sound of it, I did so just to see what all this new tech stuff was supposed to be about.
But OnLive seems to have gone the same way as the Dodo bird, cause I've never heard another thing about it since it was first announced.
Guess I'll have to go Google it to see if & where OnLive still stands today.
BikerSaint
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 1:58:27 AM
Reply
Alienange
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 3:47:14 PM
BikerSaint
Monday, December 28, 2009 @ 7:26:41 PM
Thanks for replying back
Yeah it's weird & it's driving me Nucking Futs, if ya know what I mean.
For me, the reply button is acting almost the same way as the edit button is, but it seems if the reply button is used once(BY ANYBODY) then it's also gone for me too.
BTW, even this very reply back to you had to be done from someone else's button below your post, just cause your "Reply" button was also missing for me.
And just to re-check things, I just skimmed down this whole thread and 3/4ths of people's reply buttons are missing now(which of most I haven't even made any replies to at all), but I did see that it's only missing on people that have had their button already hit for a reply(by anyone).
So it seems that the button's doing the same this as the edit button, & disappearing after it's 1st usage.
Not being tech or site savvy, I don't know how my browser would have anything to do with the problem, but it's been happening with both, Windows I was using earlier, & the Mozilla I'm now using. I would think the problem lies somewhere within this site's make up & coding????
Maybe one of the administrators could check into this because it is very frustrating for both me, and some of the other readers trying to figure out what back-posts I'm even replying to???
WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 2:14:36 AM
Reply
www
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 6:34:34 AM
Alienange
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 3:52:13 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 5:04:47 PM
BikerSaint
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 7:55:23 PM
I_defenestrate
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 2:29:40 AM
Reply
Highlander
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 3:03:54 AM
Reply
Regarding digital distribution, I like the convenience on the PSP because with the digital versions of the games I can take as many games with me, as the memory stick will hold. No more carrying discs or being restricted to one or two games. I'm not sold on digital distribution for 'full' games on PS3 though. And I would like for the digital distribution be accompanied by something physical, even if it's just a thin folder with box art and a card with a download code on it inside.
I think that the whole digital thing is going to move up to the cloud anyway, so in future you won't have to worry about moving everything from console to console, it will be provided through the network. However that requires better broadband and lots of online storage space, which will take time and money to make happen. So, I think games on discs are safe for this generation at least.
I'm having a lot of fun with Sodium One, I had intended to play some Uncharted 2 online this weekend to take advantage of the extra $$, but Sodium has managed to grab me. I've probably spend $10 between all the crap I bought in Home and the price of the 'game' itself. But for $10 I've had hours of actually quite good arcade shooter fun. It's a little old school in some ways, but a fun game for sure. Definitely worth a look, especially as you can play the first five levels for free.
www
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 6:39:30 AM
Highlander
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 12:15:17 PM
The console makers would have to either buy lots of bandwidth from companies who already have physical network capacity in all areas, or they'd have to buy into a wireless solution sch as the 3G cell technology. But since 3G isn't universal, they'd have to include other technologies.
I think that it would be too hard to come up with a single universal solution at this point because there is too much infrastructure to build around the world for a single console maker to take on the challenge. The investment on the PS3 was massive, but that would be a drop in the bucket compared to trying to set up a global ISP.
Last edited by Highlander on 12/27/2009 12:16:14 PM
just2skillf00l
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 3:24:14 AM
Reply
Last edited by just2skillf00l on 12/27/2009 3:29:56 AM
www
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 6:51:04 AM
Reply
As for the digital vs physical, am tired, they could do whatever, its not like we could STOP'em or could we? If am not able to have enough speed to download 50GB+ game in a day then I guess I might have to say bye-bye to my hobby. And when they ask I'd say 'The games industry is dead! It suffered the same fate, like movies and music, it was killed by downloads and piracy.' *Raises eyebrows*
Last edited by www on 12/27/2009 6:52:06 AM
Snaaaake
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 9:21:05 AM
Reply
Only exclusive franchise like MGS, GOW and GT.
Look at KZ2 and UC2, both are great games but hardly move the PS3 sale.
And when FFXIII comes, the sale of PS3 just skyrocketed, same goes for GT5 which I expect to do the same.
Next it's digital media and it will be the downfall of video game if it were to be the main media.
There's many reason on no to digital media, but one of the reason is that you can't display your game collection, imagine, you got 50 games and all of them are in your HDD.
Your room only got a console and nothing else.
Paolo Kutaragi
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 10:01:44 AM
Reply
outcelgeist
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 11:25:44 AM
Reply
outcelgeist
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 4:10:29 PM
After V came out it was like they were kicking things back into high gear. I'm going crazy cause not a word has been said about VI.
I get anxious just thinking about a Suikoden VI on the PS3.
Oh god, trophies...
WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 5:06:17 PM
dante_zero
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 5:50:41 PM
Reply
takes. over. to be honest. i think it okay at the moment. if it aint broke dont fix it.
by the way ben. you know you wanna scratch that RE5 itch before the gold edition comes ou. besides with the second christmas release schedule. best ot get that done now while you can.
MysteriousMagus
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 8:34:08 PM
Reply
Do you know how hard is to download stuff?
Making sure that you won't get capped to a misery...?
I always liked physical better.
Even if I download something I always make a buckup of it on a disk and a cover in a case. I did that with my steam games. Which I didn't have on physical form.
Same with my PS2. I came from a third world country so piracy is the only way to buy games.
I am now supporting the PS3 buying games. However, for now I just buy exclusives since I rather play multiplatforms the way it's meant to be, on a PC.
Snaaaake
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 8:44:09 PM
Banky A
Sunday, December 27, 2009 @ 10:03:34 PM

Final Fantasy XIII









WorldEndsWithMe
Reply
Saturday, December 26, 2009 @ 10:03:35 PM
I think you should go with your plan, blow through the short experiences first, you'll thank yourself later when you don't feel rushed.
L4D2 is neat but don't go looking for anything better than top-notch Wii graphics.
Exclusivity will matter again when FFVXIII releases, but for now we are mostly (aside from first party goodness) stuck with sub-par multiplats. What I'd like to see this year is more PS3 lead platform titles.