By Edge Staff
October 9, 2008
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On this showing, Sony’s greatest vitality is in the PSN and PSP spheres, although third- party developers are contributing
Sony is putting in a comprehensive, broad-ranging performance at its Tokyo Game Show booth, with PS3, PSP and PSN represented in significance-appropriate degrees – but at the cost of any PS2 software presence, the format apparently having been consigned to history as far as first-party support is concerned.
The all-white décor of Sony’s booth marks a change from previous years’ all-black schemes, and there’s a definite freshness about many of the titles on show here.
Gomibako (literally, ‘Rubbish bin’) is one of SCEI’s intriguing new PSN games, a trash disposal take on any number of falling blocks puzzle games, but with bonus points for clever rubbish placement and combo chains for incineration tricks, which can be pulled off by the strategic dropping of cigarettes.
SCEA’s Flower and Q Entertainment’s Lumines Supernova are looking predictably accomplished, and Supernova highlights the superiority of the Dual Shock 3’s d-pad after so many missed drops in the Xbox Live version. Of more interest, though, is Keita Takahashi’s neon-on-black Noby Noby Boy, which is also destined for the PlayStation Network and looks reassuringly offbeat.
In the PSP corner, a hat-trick of noteworthy PSP sequels are playable on PSP-3000 hardware: Patapon 2 and LocoRoco 2 look like offering more of the same, which is what we all want anyway; ditto the sequel to last year’s 8-bit-styled Yuusha no Kuse ni Namaiki da, which will launch in Japan on the same day as the PSP-3000 (October 16) and will be available in a cheaper downloadable format, as well as on UMD.
Third-party PSP offerings on Sony’s booth include The 3rd Birthday, a gothic Square Enix game with character design by Tetsuya Nomura that looks like a blend of Parasite Eve and Tarantino’s Kill Bill; and a PSP version of Namco Bandai’s The Idolm@ster, which will inevitably sell millions in Japan.
On the PS3 front, Western titles are being given the strongest promotion here, with Resistance 2, Motorstorm 2 and LittleBigPlanet taking up plenty of floor space. PlayStation Home, too, is being promoted as something that Japanese consumers should take note of – Sony clearly isn’t shying away from shouting about wares born in foreign lands.
Meanwhile, Sony’s Japanese wing brings to the event a horribly clichéd DMC rip-off in Demon’s Souls, and an update to Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (ominously suffixed with Spec III – lord knows how many more increments GTSP will have to travel through before the Prologue thing is dropped).
On this showing, Sony’s greatest vitality is in the PSN and PSP spheres, although third- party developers such as Square Enix, Capcom (with the solid-looking PS3 port of Street Fighter IV) and Sega (Yakuza 3) are contributing their titles to reinforce the PS3 area of Sony’s booth. The PlayStation Hall – essentially an open theatre – is looping new footage of Final Fantasy XIII (confirmed as being “For PlayStation 3 ONLY”, in a local sense) and its Versus spin-off, the latter of which features the most impressive computer-animated leather gloves and boots we’ve ever seen.
Gyak,
You really play all those old games? No, you're right (sorta) in regards to the life span. But I think it really more of an xbox 1 problem than anything. The xbox 1 admittedly didn't have very many good games, it really didn't. It had about 5-10 gems, and those games were so far superior to all the rest that with the exception of a handful of games, there wasn't much reason to go back to xbox 1 games. Of course, this is my opinion any way. As long as I could play halo, riddick, kotor on my 360 I was happy (of course those all didn't make it to the BC list, but oh well).
I think it'll be a different story with the 360 though as it already has as many if not more triple a titles than the xbox 1 did in its entire life span.
And not trying to argue, but I think the 360 will have a 5-6 year life span, historically the average number of years. I'm not too worried about it.
I play Castlevania SotN on occasion (xbla), that's an oldie. Donkey Kong Country on my Wii (ok, I played it once). But those are DD, not BC so to speak.
Ozz,
I'm assuming you play those oldies on your Wii? Or PC emulators?
Close, but no cigar, Nicky. I have 2 NESs, 3 Zappers, 2 Power Gloves, 3 NES Advantages, 2 NES Maxs, a R.O.B., a Power Pad, a 4-Score, a Satellite and 408 cartridges. Going for all 754 of them. See? I used the word "addiction" for a reason. I also have the first 62 issues of "Nintendo Power" (all the ones that have NES games or NES info in them). To answer everyone's question, yes, I do need help. No, I haven't seeked out any yet.
Damn...that's crazy. No virtual boy??? Any Nintendo fanatic should have one of those beasts.
I still love playing burnout 2 point of impact on the 360. The crash mode is still the best.
Does any one actually ever play their old games (Bleak, I know you do)? I never touch xbox 1 games. I understand maybe in the first year of a new console's life cycle, but I hardly have enough time for new games let alone old ones. Am I alone when it comes to never playing BC games?
I do actually. I play my favourites from time to time.
Burnout 3: Takedown (PS2), Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (PS2), Gradius V (PS2), ICO (PS2), Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (PS2), Okami (PS2), Resident Evil 4 (PS2), Rez (PS2), Shadow of the Colossus (PS2), Ikaruga (DC), Homeworld (PC), MDK (PC), Morrowind (PC), Outcast (PC), Sacrifice (PC), Thief (PC), Radiant Silvergun (Saturn - emulated) - just to name a few, off the top of my head.
(Now I see why some people don't give a crap about the 360's presumable life span.)
EDIT: didn't want to start arguing about the 360 really, sorry about that. I just found it interesting (your comment about not playing oldies).
Personally, I play current gen games vs. previous generations of games about 70% vs. 30%. But, i am an admitted NES addict so i'm probably not a good representation of the "average" gamer.
I think the PS3 and PSP are rather underated, there are some really good games on both systems, and I think - hardware wise the price is justified.
The only thing stopping me from buying a PS3 is the lack of backwards compatability.
I recall reading somewhere that it was specifically removed from the PS3's on sale in europe / australia but not in the other regions. Whyyyyy???? >:(
Backwards compatability (BC) was completely removed in all regions for 1 reason, to save costs. The Emotion Engine within the original batch of PS3 enabled direct PS2 playback. However, this engine was costly for Sony and was another reason, in addition to blu-ray, for the excessive price of the PS3. All 40gb & 80gb versions of the PS3 exclude PS2 BC (maybe the special MGS4 bundle enables software-emulative playback).
Furthemore, with a PS3 only playing PS1 & PS3 games, which sofware do you think gamers are more likely to buy? Wait for it....that's right, PS3 games. This then enables Sony to recooperate marginal profit from games that are lost on each PS3 sold. It's all just cost accounting.
I, too, want a PS3 with backward compatability. Later this generation, I'll will search for one on ebay or at a local pawn shop w/PS2 BC. Then, I'll upgrade the hard-disc drive and start playing. Until then, I'll just wait for the PSP to drop in price.
The supposed reason for this removal is simply to boost sales of the PS3 software - this is what Sony literally stated - and that's why I think it's so ridiculous. Some people might never touch their older games again - but it's a loss for those that would've liked to. The machine still does play PS1 games - and they look slightly better. I recently replayed a part of Vagrant Story, for old times sake, and it ran without problems.
@Bleak Corner: Actually, they said it was to boost PS3 AND PS2 game sales. I think the continued strength of the PS2 surprised them.
I'm glad I got my BC PS3 before they phased it out though, I still play a few old PS2 games now and then.
Bleak Corner + Bluemanrule , thanks for the info!
I think I might splash out on a PSP and give the PS3 another year, and hope things might change.....
I have seen some used 60gb PS3's on Amazon, but they were charging £500+ for them which is a little bit too steep .....