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Analysis: Sony Press Conference
Behind the family bonding, healthy options and wide-eyed optimism, Microsoft’s E3 conference was dastardly. As in Dick Dastardly. It got out in front, thought about where its rivals might be heading, and started laying traps. Nintendo likes to think it’s in a completely separate race, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not competing in the biggest one with Wii MotionPlus, which suddenly looks a whole lot bigger next to no controller at all. Next through the checkpoint: Sony. We know it has the horsepower to make it a close-run thing, but has it got the bearing?
If trap number one was Microsoft’s crowd-pleasing lack of slides and sales figures, it was neatly avoided. 2,000 PS2 titles, 24 million PSN accounts, 364 upcoming games – and that was more or less that. A good start, then, made even better by the arrival of tremendous footage from Uncharted 2. As expected, if there’s one thing Naughty Dog does better than a heart-stopping, wisecracking action game, it’s the sequel to one. The icing on the cake: the multiplayer beta starts tonight. Next came MAG, the 256-player online shooter, which continues to make the number seem awesome while never overwhelming. With the announcement of a lilac-coloured PSP drawing a cheer, the shills in the audience seemed a mite less subtle than the competition’s.
With MC duties left largely to the affable SCEA president Jack Tretton, there was a candid, often sheepish tone that’s haunted Sony since that 2006 conference. It works, though, even if its early candour – “Given the industry’s ability to keep secrets,” he chuckled, “I was worried there’d be nothing to show” – risks accusations of frailty. The reference was to PSP Go, the UMD-less handheld crushed to less than half the size of PSP 3000, leaked to the press earlier in the week. With controls slid beneath a dominating screen, it’s a pretty host for its upcoming features: Media Go (a content sharing system already unveiled for mobile phones), SensMe (another pre-existing app for dynamic playlists), and the arrival of Sony’s expanding video delivery service. US$249 is an agreeable number for launch, though another – the 16gb for storing music, movies and games – just doesn’t sound enough.
Go! is not, stressed SCE chairman Kaz Hirai, any kind of replacement for existing PSPs. From now on, every game on the handheld will arrive via UMD and download, ensuring content parity between the platforms. There’s no difference in power, either, as Polyphony Digital boss Kazunouri Yamauchi explained. The feature-rich, massively overdue Gran Turismo PSP is the proof, he declared, though it was hard to concentrate while his translator, in a quite extraordinary display, feverishly scribbled his own autocue in a notepad. Now that’s realtime.
There was no sneaking on to stage from Hideo Kojima today, who had more to say about Metal Gear Solid: Peace Maker, a PSP exclusive, than about yesterday’s MGS: Rising. And what a strange pair of announcements he’s made so far. Pending further disclosures, it seems that while 360 will continue Raiden’s story, carrying on from MGS2: Sons Of Liberty, PSP will take us back to the origins of Outer Heaven in a companion to MGS: Portable Ops. The latter is “the true sequel”, said Kojima, which more or less confirms a more experimental game on Xbox. What do the platform holders think about this? Let’s just say that what began as Microsoft’s trap now looks more like Kojima’s, and he’ll be laughing all the way to the bank.
Sandwiched in between the big games were two things of note. First was a telling abundance of thirdparty content missing from Microsoft’s show. Coming a day after a conference that was all about what the other guys don’t have, here was one that gave much of its time to multiplatform show reels and Assassin’s Creed II, which isn’t even a timed exclusive. It’s a bit like doing your opponents’ job for them, especially when the follow-up is a full-length trailer for Final Fantasy XIII. The shock announcement of Final Fantasy XIV Online saw to that, however, even if its boast of exclusivity came with those all-too-familiar words: “when it launches”.
Second was the widely expected motion controller. Resembling a letter “i” with its simple stick and glowing orb, this prototype wireless device made some audacious claims. “An experience much closer to real life than anything you’ve ever seen,” we were told, the entire audience breathing the words: “since yesterday”. Don’t scoff, though: as it took on tasks from weapon-wielding to painting and object manipulation, often with help from a second identical stick, this unnamed device at least appeared to live up to its other claim: ‘sub-millimetre accuracy’. More convincing than MotionPlus and with a feeling of imminence Natal lacked, it was a fun, promising display.
But here’s the thing. Why was it stuck in the midst of Assassin’s Creed II, LittleBigPlanet (900,000 user-created levels and counting), and ModNation Racers, a cute yet powerful racing construction set from United Front Games? Why not at the end, looking towards the future? Rescheduling? Fear of Steven Spielberg and Microsoft’s little black strip? Or is it just not up there with the actual closers: Fumito Ueda’s The Last Guardian (formerly Trico, shown here in a familiar but updated trailer), the incomparably glossy but still unreleased Gran Turismo 5, and God Of War III (bigger, bloodier, and that’s seemingly it). Whatever the reason, a pattern had formed.
For Sony and Microsoft, E3 2009 was the mirror of 2005, a year remembered solely for the fantastical debuts of Killzone 2 and MotorStorm. Here it was Natal that brought the video, the promises, and the aura of magic, while Sony kept it real. At times it was a messy one for PlayStation, and heaven knows why one of its biggest announcements, the exclusive 70s spy thriller Agent by Rockstar North, received such a casual, almost dismissive nod. Yes, it avoided most of Microsoft’s traps, but when it came to the PR offensive, the roles were truly reversed.
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First thing I thought when I saw Sony's motion control: KING'S FIELD. It would be pretty nice to see From Software redo all the games in one package for the new controller. Stick the entire world of Verdite onto a Blu-Ray disc and let you play each of the 4 games in order (and perhaps travel back to them as a different character). Hell, give US gamers Moonlight Sword and a level editor and I'll be dancing in the streets (before settling into my cave for a few months building levels).
As a PS owner since 1997, I'm a firm believer in Sony's 10-year strategy simply because THEY decide what they want to do, rather than let analysts and non-constructive critics rail against the overall plan's strengths. I have to say, however, I was initially against the PSP GO! (hell, i LIKE my physical media!). But now that the Slim is secure in its place (Sony's not DEMANDING you shell out for a Go! - good!), I'll be adding to the 100+ games I currently own without worrying I have an "obsolete" handheld .
People seem to confuse the PSP as a "portable PlayStation" when they complain about a "lack of software" and the single analog stick, but they're missing a few basic points of the handheld. The games are absolutely there, folks - pick a genre (Action, Platform, RPG, Racing, Fighting, Sports, Puzzle) and it's not hard to find something to like. Is everything an "A" title? No. Nevertheless, more open-mindedness can lead to quite a few surprises as you explore the library's depths.
I don't understand MS bigging up the usage of facebook and twitter on the xbox at all. I mean, they do know that both other consoles have web browsers, don't they? (don't they??)
True, very true. The only difference though between the three is that with the 360 both twitter and facebook will be integrated right into the hardware so it'll blend right in with your current friend's list. Because of the 360's community aspect, connectivity and simplicity are appreciated. Both my 360 friends list and MSN messenger friends list seamlessly integrate into one friends list. Now with facebook, your facebook friends will integrate right into your current friends list.
The integration isn't to make it easier to use. It's because MS is trying to pretend the Xbox isn't a PC and this is just them extending their monopoly and trying to control every aspect of information technology. So there is no browser and no real keyboard and mouse and probably won't ever be one unless Sony and Nintendo did something that would really force them to bring those items on and risk more action against them from the EU and potentially the US.
So actually Facebook & Twitter integration is only good if you're willing to ignore the fact you can't use the rest of the web on the 360 and to be honest, MS would probably like to keep it that way as a lack of a browser also means you only look at the content they want you to look at.
The official reason why they don't include a browser is for security which makes it even more remarkable that the 360 was the first (and I think only) console to be remotely hacked.
Good point Toad, my buddy and I have been talking about the web browser thing and I think it'd be something super easy for MS in integrate but choose not to. I think it has to do with their business partners partly. And as you said it, you can only access what they want you to. But lucky for me, what is offered (movies, TV shows, Netflix, etc.) is (almost) all I can ask for. I wouldn't mind email and live TV (you can already to that on 360 through your pc, but I want live TV integrated directly in the box so I can cancel my super expensive cable.
Yep, it's the ease of access as well as the integration with Live (being able to share pics, achiements, etc. from Live back and forth with Facebook/Twitter). There is a very good reason you never hear either Nintendo or Sony talk about adoption rates/usage of their browsers. I would be shocked if more than 10% of their user base has even tried the browsers on the respective systems let alone uses them regularly.
Handhelds: Aren't Sony overstretching themselves with the whole PSP Go thing? We hear continued reports that the PSP isn't the most popular of handhelds (even though by far the most powerful) yet Sony choose to burden themselves with another?
Motion capture devices: Is it's me or are Sony trying a little to be all things to all people? This mentality has got to Microsoft a little too, with their pet mo-cap project. If you have the desire to jump around in front of a camera, I am sure that there are some people that will find that extremely attractive no doubt.
But just because there technology is popular on one system, doesn't mean it's going to be popular on another.
Arguable Sony, nor Microsoft will ever be make up the ground lost to Nintendo's Wii and Wii-Mote and should be concentrating more on further innovation than petty competition. There are other aspects of the PS3 and the Xbox360 for that matter, that we users would be more than happy they tinkered with before the introduction of weird and wonderful gadgetry to change the way we play.
Actually, it seems to me that Sony and Microsoft are attempting to pull Nintendo into their battle...thing...or whatever you want to call it. After all, the Wii clearly lacks the power the PS3 and 360 both have, but has been outpacing them in sales according to reports and that might be a little embarrassing to them. Kinda makes sense to me that a year or so later they attempt to copy what made Nintendo successful and lure them into this battle they have going on.
Just my take on the whole thing.
The playstation has always tried to be all things to all people. If you think back to the PS2, karaoke, DDR, and peripheral games started there. Devil May Cry, God of War, and Killzone also originated on that system. The playstation has always ridden the fence. That's why the systems sell so much.
I think that the Sony conference was pretty good, B+. The synergy of the PS3 & PSP remote play introduced with the PSPGo!'s line up is very impressive. LBP, Motorstorm, SoulCalibur, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, and Gran Tourismo 5 make the system look very promising. If the Zune HD only plays XBLA games, I may lean toward a PSP-3000. I may even get a 2000 if I can find it.
I thought it was a pretty weak E3 for Sony and they needed to do a lot more to change the dynamics to invigorate the struggling PS3. No price drop (as I speculated previously - probably a TGS announcement), no PS3 slim. The glowy motion wands were downright embarrassing, too much time was spent on PSP (giving the impression of desperation by practially giving away the SDK's) and the fact that the new PSP is $250 shows that Sony still hasn't learned from the mistakes of PS3 regarding price points.
I got the distinct impression that Tretton felt obligated to talk about HOME even though he knew it was an abject failure and waste of millions of dollars and several years of effort. Sony continues to plug an outdated Second Life clone while MS keeps several generations ahead in the online space with the apps people are actually using, and want, today (netflix, facebook, twitter).
Uncharted 2, Last Guardian and God of War 3 all looked great, but only one is coming out this year. Curious ommisions were Heavy Rain, The Agency and the DC MMO they spent so much time on last E3. Gran Turismo wins the vapour ware award this generation with (if I'm not mistaken) it's third consecutive E3 appearance - still without a release date. Forza will probably have it's fourth game out in the time it takes Polyphony to make one outdated game.
Unfortunately for Sony, one of the high points of their presentation was the Assassin's Creed demo and that's multiplatform. The Final Fantasy online-only announcement sounded like a charity concession from Square Enix for going multiplatform with the release people actually want.
They will not announce a PS3 price drop or PS3 slim until they can get the current inventory out of the way. It would be a stupid business decision to make such an announcement and have people hold off purchases until it is released. Just a note: the internet is not the world. Many people seem to think that those of us who visit gaming forums and gaming sites are the average casual consumer. We are not.
While the PSP may have no chances in taking down Nintendo in the handheld market, I am sure it is a profitable market for Sony. Performing a soft relaunch of the system is something that is needed. One of the problems regarding the PSP was that PS2 sequels were being ported and created for the platform. Developers were treating it as if it was a portable PS2. Sony met with the developers last year and asked them to stop making big games for the system and make bite size titles that a person can play for 15 minutes and then move on. Of course selling software is a challenge. One thing that Koller mentioned, that Tretton did not was that some titles will be digital only. Maybe big releases to discourage piracy, I can't really say. What I can say is that I love the new direction of the PSP. I love the new titles coming for it and I hope to enjoy the platform once again. Drop the big $30 games and give us small, fun, addictive $5-$10 titles. Their recent price drop on the PSP kits should definitely encourage more to the platform. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that.
Now, as for the PSP2, I am disappointed by the price. $200 seemed like a good price to me but apparently not to Sony. I also feel they missed out on some features. Touch screen would have been nice for those that want to use the multimedia features, instead you need to constantly open and close the device to play/stop or migrate around the xmb and that is a turn-off for me. Lack of 802.11g wifi is a disappointment as well. Not an issue for many but one for me. Utilizing a smaller screen also loses points for me on the device. As much as I like the sleak look when the system is closed, I don't think I can go to a smaller screen. I also would have loved to see some type of cellular broadband type service to really make it my PSP on the Go. I am never around a wifi connection (whether not existing at all or being a private connection) so getting the content for me has to be a planned event.
You are comparing apps to a 3d social environment. Home has significantly improved since its public release in Dec. There are lots of areas and awesome interactive areas at that. Going into the Presentation Podium and watching the streamed conference, and other trailers, etc., and discussing games with everyone who actually own the system is very cool to *me*. May not be to you, but then you and I are not the center of the universe so our opinions don't matter. What does matter is that the service is getting better. I enjoy it and I certainly send my feedback to the community managers.
It's great that the 360 is getting Facebook and Twitter but guess what? If you open the PS3 browser, right on the homepage is a Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and many other links. So FB and Twitter hitting the 360 is nothing big to me because it could be accomplished if they gave the system a browser. Netflix is very nice as well, I like using it on my 360 and can't wait for the new update, unfortunately I will no longer be paying for gold when it does. What about Hulu? I enjoy streaming Hulu videos to my PS3, thanks again to the web browser. I guess if Hulu integration is provided on the 360 people will say the PS3 is doomed again, not realizing it already supports the web integrations the 360 is providing through its browser sans Netflix.
Yes, Uncharted 2 is coming out this year as well as Ratchet, as well as MAG, as well as Heavy Rain, as well as White Knight Chronicles. Not to mention the multiplatform titles such as Assassins Creed 2, Modern Warfare 2, and other PSN and PSP releases. Microsoft did show Alan Wake, Halo Reach which are 2010. Crackdown 2, Forza 3, and L4D which are 2009. Both showed 2010 items. Microsoft actually revealed more of their lineup this year as compared with last. As always Sony provides a quick look at what just released, whats will release and gets you ready for their next year of titles. So last year at E3 we saw what they will release this year and beyond. I very much like that way of doing things but thats just me. I do not disagree with you regarding GT5.
I am sorry if AC2 was a highlight for you and that you feel Uncharted 2 did nothing for you as well as the God of War live demo. As for Square, they always release 3 titles, one mainline and two side stories. While FFXIII is multiplatform. FFXIII-Versus and FFXIV are exclusive to PS3. I really don't care as long as everyone plays a great game.
Sorry for making this so long.
Thanks for the thoughtful response, tirminyl. I want to emphasize that I never said Uncharted 2 and God of War did nothing for me - on the contrary, I said they looked great. Actually, Uncharted remains my favorite PS3 game, to date (although i suspect inFamous will replace it as my favorite - I'm about 6 hours in, so far, and loving it).
I agree completely about the wisdom of digital, bite-sized games for the PSP. The problem is that they should have had all of this when the PSP first launched as it is almost impossible to change perceptions so deep into a product's life cycle. The reason iPod was so successful is because of the iTunes store - not the iPod itself. Sony's obsession with creating new hard media formats is what prevented them from offering an online store at launch for PSP which, ironically, contributed to the high piracy rates on the device.
Yes, both PS3 and Wii have web browsers but they are not elegant and hardly anyone uses them. In less than 3 months MS had 1 million people using the Netflix feature and there's a very good reason for that - it is so convenient and easy to use. Facebook and Twitter should enjoy similar success on 360 because the interface will be designed for a console (not a webpage designed for mouse/keyboard) and they will have the added bonus of integrating with Live accounts (achievements, gamer pics, inviting friends to a game from Twitter if they're not signed onto Live, etc.).
We'll just have to disagree on HOME. I tried it again two weeks ago and while it did have far more content I found absolutely none of it compelling and wondered why I was wasting time again walking and/or waiting for yet another load screen to see a trailer I can stream on Live literally instantly. There was also not a single person using a mic in the roughly 90 minutes I tried it out, but plenty of people line dancing - I guess some people are into that, but I'm not one of them. :)
I've been using Facebook and Twitter for ever on my PS3 as it doesn't need crappy applications to bring the services to it as it has a fully functional web browser. That also applies to BBC iPlayer and Youtube.
Those crappy apps are precisely what the average consumer wants and needs though, ArronC07. Most people don't even know you can do those things on PS3 and even if they knew wouldn't jump through the hoops necessary to get them (navigating the browser on PS3 is cumbersome and unintuitive). On 360 you literally push 2 buttons to watch a movie from Netflix. That's why devices like iPod are so successful and what is needed for mainstream acceptance.
That's odd because I just open the browser, press select and highlight the web url I want and hey presto I'm in Facebook.
And your trophies automatically load onto your facebook page? And the page (text/pics) is arranged attractively and intuitively for your big screen tv and you can then navigate to the links you want easily? You forget, ArronC07, I've had a PS3 since right after launch (and a Wii at launch) and neither browser is intuitive enough for the mainstream.
What you just described is more complicated than most consumers are willing to do. They want to click the A button (or X on PS3) and have the screen filled with what they want to access without trying to remember how to zoom in and navigate to a particular link within a page. Trust me, if PS3 had a million or more people visiting Hulu, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Sony would be shouting this news from the rooftops. You're over-estimating how much effort the average consumer is willing to do and the importance of an attractive interface.
My point is I have been getting access to Facebook for ages now on my PS3, the X-BOX is playing catch up but somehow the faithful are holding this up as something progressive. It's not, it's just Microsoft playing catch up- again.
Also how patronising to suggest that the general public (or lets be honest here its us, the hardcore gamer in this instance- because the general public have chosen the Wii over both the 360 and the PS3) can't remember how to zoom into a page and like that isn't something that's a good feature. You're underestimating people.
This is all irrelevant -- it's fucking facebook and twitter. Does anyone care? I didn't get to watch Microsoft's conference, but if I was there I would've burst out laughing that they're touting access to these two web sites as a feature of their console.
Clicking a "Internet Browser" icon is clumsy and unintuitive? Please try harder.
No - navigating it once it launches is.
Let me guess... the Xbox presentation was amazing right?
From what I can gather, most people (including myself) were pleased with the Sony presentation. I'm so sorry Sony has offended you along the way. I hope one day you'll be able to get over it.
Uncharted 2, GOW 3, Trico and that new PSP...lovely stuff.
I think sony had a tremendous showing and just pipped MS this year. The big games they presented looked stunning and all add up as reasons to invest in the machine, The Last Guardian in paticular looks out of this world and will probably be reason alone to own a ps3.
The only thing im slightly gutted about as a gamer is that none of that good stuff is scheduled for any time this year? while bungie have reported that odst is pretty much finished, it will be interesting to see if that game can move 360's on its own leading up to the holidays without any sort of 2009 sony AAA level response.
Also of great interest will be sonys strategy on the presumed price cut which I personally think will make most sense to reveal sometime before christmas.
I think Edge is right about the puzzling lack of pride sony showed in an exclusive rockstar game, a 70's spy thriller from the devs of gta4? where do I preorder this piece of software right this second.
Its a delightful time to be an unbiased, brand ignorant, game driven player.
The Last Guardian is my personal star of the entire show.
Sony has come along way since their disaster in 2006.
I think the motion control rip off of the wii is pretty shameless, though.
And I still couldn't care less about the PSP.
but overall the conference was at least on par with MS', if not outright better.
Edit: Confirmed...It is 2 year old technology in the PSP Go. With the new iPod Touch prices at $229 & a full 612 MHz + OMAP3 quality graphics + the Pandora OMAP3 platform purchased; I'm out.
I want to bitch about the 'GO, seemingly, not having upgraded specs, but who am I kidding? I'll still be the first in line to get one. So I'd better shut up.
Sony's must get its motion device included with the Playstation going forward..somehow. Maybe offer a discount to owners who've already purchased a PS3. This is the new defacto standard for motion games - "I only knocked it because everyone on this site seems to be a Sony-Superfan, & I like being a "Shit-disturber" - Cheers Mates