Poll: Sony Pulls Out of the Console Race

[Tanis]

"Microsoft being the only hardcore console company would be..."

REALLY?
'Hardcore'
REALLY?

 

[GoaThief]

I'm struggling to understand why so many see Sony as a kind of paragon, especially considering recent history let alone the older stuff. There's no real reason (aside from monetary) why gamers cannot enjoy all three of the main consoles this generation, no problem with having a favourite of course but they're only missing out on some quality exclusives by limiting themselves whilst spouting myopic claptrap.

 

[AgentCooper]

Nintendo and Microsoft did not invent half the things you give them credit for.... just saying.

While I don't doubt that motion controls existed somewhere before Nintendo, they took it to a new level and put on something that could appeal to the mass market. Obviously they didn't invent the idea, but they brought it to a level never seen before. Sony, on the other hand, basically just took what Nintendo did, changed it enough to not infringe on copyright, then sold their own version of it. Heck, at least when Microsoft jumped on that bandwagon, they did it with a completely different take on the idea of motion controls.

And while I'm aware that many games had their own built-in achievement system before the 360, Microsoft brought it to another level and made it into a system where achievements from across multiple games could be pooled into a single whole. Granted that some developers have better ideas of what to do with this system than others do (I've seen games where, literally, all 1000 points can be earned by just beating the game), but it's an interesting new system, and I don't doubt that they're working on how to expand upon it for the next console. Sony, meanwhile, basically just took the achievement system, changed it to trophies, and called it a day.

In other words, there's a difference between innovation and invention. Likewise, there's a fine line between innovating on something, and just plain copying it. Microsoft and Nintendo have both been innovating ideas in ways that expand the gaming medium, Sony mostly just copies them to try and keep up. This needs to change if Sony plans to stay in the race.

Really? Really?

Considering Sony was a big backer for Blu-ray and took a gamble that really paid off for them in end.

The Move and the trophy system aside. Sony needs to change very little in terms of the gaming division. They need to cut off or restructure the other markets and inner workings if Sony as a whole can function. The game part of Sony is fine... the other parts need a hard look at.

 

[AwesomeNinjaPowers]

Microsoft being the only console giant other than Ninetendo? I don't see anything changing except they'll be more crap coming out on the Xbox or what ever the next onesgoing to be called

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

I would like to think that MS wouldn't do something bad with its power once it had the monopoly, but history would tell me otherwise.

My friends and I were discussing this and I said exactly that. I think that is the general concensus.

 

[rob_simple]

I don't understand why this debate always brings up discussion of monopolies. Monopolies are only a real threat with products or services that are necessities. A single airline would be a problem for people who need to travel regularly for work; a single car manufacturer would be a disaster for people who need to drive on a daily basis.

Video games are luxury products --i.e. you don't need them-- and manufacturers know that if they push the price up for no good reason then people will stop buying them. The company would then have to either push prices even higher to attempt to break even on what few units they did sell or bring the product price back down.

As far as Sony dropping out I'd be disappointed purely because I like the controller better than the 360.

 

[LilithSlave]

"Microsoft being the only hardcore console company would be..."

REALLY?
'Hardcore'
REALLY?

I don't know about you, but The Legends of Zelda: Skyward Sword is pretty much my favourite Bejeweled clone. I always go to it when I'm tired of playing Solitaire.

Snicker.

Spoiler

I think that "hardcore" gamer should be a term reserved only for people who enjoy both video games and hardcore techno...

.. or hardcore punk.

 

[F'Angus]

Well since the PS3 is the most powerful console of the moment then Xbox being the next powerful console wouldn't change anything. The PS3 can keep going for years, whereas the Xbox really could do with a blu-ray update.

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

Really? Really?

Considering Sony was a big backer for Blu-ray and took a gamble that really paid off for them in end.

The Move and the trophy system aside. Sony needs to change very little in terms of the gaming division. They need to cut off or restructure the other markets and inner workings if Sony as a whole can function. The game part of Sony is fine... the other parts need a hard look at.

A "big backer"? Sony basically IS Bluray. They took no more of a gamble on Bluray than Nintendo does on the next Zelda title. Maybe you haven't been paying attention, but that's about ALL Sony's done in the past decade or so: Put-out some alternate file storage media that THEY own and hope that it catches-on so that they can collect royalties on people buying blank copies, or buying rights to product blank copies.

So that's it? That's the ONLY thing you can credit Sony with doing for the gaming world since joining it? And they didn't even really do that for gaming, having a gaming platform to tie it to just made for another way they could push the format. So in other words, Sony hasn't done anything to specifically help the gaming world, but has rather used the gaming world as a way to push their own agenda. Nice.

Nintendo and Microsoft did not invent half the things you give them credit for.... just saying.

*Also Snipped*

*Snip*

Yes, I'm aware Microsoft has done more than JUST the achievement system, I was simply replying based on the "give them credit for" part, since the only things that I specifically mentioned in my post was the achievements and motion controls.

 

[itsmeyouidiot]

"Microsoft being the only hardcore console company would be..."

BEGIN RANT

Um, sorry, but the last time I checked, the Wii U was looking to have a lot of "hardcore" (though I myself find the whole casual/hardcore divide complete bullshit) appeal, too.

Hell, it's already been confirmed to have Darksiders 2, Ninja Gaiden 3, a new Assasin's Creed, and more. Friend codes will be replaced with individual user accounts (finally!), and the online features will include paid DLC, user communication, and possibly even retail downloads. There's even a rumor that it will be twice as powerful as the 360.

So, yeah, I wouldn't count Nintendo out of the "hardcore" for the 8th Generation of consoles.

Hell, I'm speculating the Wii U won't be quite as popular with the casual crowd as the Wii was, forcing Nintendo to fall back on their previously established fanbase like with the Gamecube.

END RANT

Anyway, I don't think Sony is going to be out. Unlike Sega with the Saturn/Dreamcast, Sony's generally been fairly successful with their home consoles, if not the PSP (we'll see about the PS Vita soon enough.)

Part of the reason Sega dropped out of consoles after the Dreamcast is that the Saturn was such a spectacular failure. When I was a kid, everyone knew about the Playstation and Nintendo 64, but nobody had even heard of the Sega Saturn.

 

[Tahaneira]

I voted bad, but not because I dislike Microsoft or Xbox. I voted bad because then Xbox would be all alone. Nintendo is off in its own little gaming world, and despite the occasional spat of attempted "hardcore" games seems to show little interest in directly competing. Xbox would have its own little corner of the market all to itself, and that never leads to good things.

Though I wouldn't mind a few less PS3-exclusive titles.

 

[Flight]

Frankly, I'm not quite sure. While I have a 360, I also own a PS2, along with a Wii. I suppose it would depend on the consoles being released, regardless of Sony potentially dropping out; they all have their good and bad points. However, I think each company does better with a competitor; it encourages them to push harder and do a better job. Therefore, I'll lean towards "bad".

 

[Necrofudge]

Nothing like a monopoly to spice up the games market
I doubt Sony will pull out of the console market though. They'll at least stick around long enough for the PS4, which should buy enough time for some third party to come in and give more competition, or at maybe have Nintendo attempt a non-motion control system.

 

[AgentCooper]

Really? Really?

Considering Sony was a big backer for Blu-ray and took a gamble that really paid off for them in end.

The Move and the trophy system aside. Sony needs to change very little in terms of the gaming division. They need to cut off or restructure the other markets and inner workings if Sony as a whole can function. The game part of Sony is fine... the other parts need a hard look at.

A "big backer"? Sony basically IS Bluray. They took no more of a gamble on Bluray than Nintendo does on the next Zelda title. Maybe you haven't been paying attention, but that's about ALL Sony's done in the past decade or so: Put-out some alternate file storage media that THEY own and hope that it catches-on so that they can collect royalties on people buying blank copies, or buying rights to product blank copies.

So that's it? That's the ONLY thing you can credit Sony with doing for the gaming world since joining it? And they didn't even really do that for gaming, having a gaming platform to tie it to just made for another way they could push the format. So in other words, Sony hasn't done anything to specifically help the gaming world, but has rather used the gaming world as a way to push their own agenda. Nice.

Nintendo and Microsoft did not invent half the things you give them credit for.... just saying.

*Also Snipped*

*Snip*

Yes, I'm aware Microsoft has done more than JUST the achievement system, I was simply replying based on the "give them credit for" part, since the only things that I specifically mentioned in my post was the achievements and motion controls.

Thank you so much for putting words in my mouth. Blu-ray was a HUGE gamble and HD-DVD could of been the choice for the HD format wars. Considering Microsoft took a interest into HD-DVD with the add on movie player for the 360. It could of have been really bad for Sony if the format would have failed.

How about Sony knowing they lost exclusives to the competition and funded and bought out other developers to crank out AAA exclusive titles?

How about being pioneers in the Rhythm and Music Games genre?

Or how about not charging for the PSN network?

Sony has done a lot for the gaming world regardless if you like Sony or not.

 

[Jakub324]

It wouldn't bother me too much. It would end the flamewar, but I'd like the option to change if the rumours of Microsoft's plan to completely dick us over prove true.

 

[brainslurper]

Wait, microsoft is considered hardcore now? When did this happen?

 

[Kiriona]

Wait, microsoft is considered hardcore now? When did this happen?

The meaning of 'hardcore' has become a wee bit skewed over these past years...

 

[Windcaler]

Lack of competition in any market is a bad thing, its just that simple.

Honestly Im at the point where Im seriously considering not buying the next console generation because after doing some soul searching I can not really say with certainty that console exclusives in this generation were worth it. So Im highly considering just sticking to my PC and saying screw you to any developers that dont want to release their games for PC or dont want to do reasonable PC releases

 

[Jailbird408]

Playstation Vita.
Wait, fuck, that invokes mod wrath.
What I meant to say is that Sony cannot be completely out of the console race this genration, because their Playstation Vita is a console. A stupid console, but a console nonetheless.
And it has Katamari and Lumines games. Squee...!