The Official "Console War" and Video Game Thread

[heman4myson]

Just read this on Yahoo

Sony has lost over $3 billion on the PS3
Mario and Master Chief seen hi-fiving.

Think you paid too much for your Playstation 3? Don't expect any sympathy from Sony.

In the company's fiscal 2008 annual report, Sony revealed that they've now lost roughly $3.3 billion (that's billion with a B) on the Playstation 3 since its launch. That breaks down to $2.16 billion in 2007, followed by a notably smaller but equally daunting $1.16 billion loss in 2008.

The reason? Pricing the console below its production cost. That's right - that hefty $599 you paid for the PS3 back when it first launched was significantly cheaper than the cost of producing it in the first place, and while the retail price has come down some, the losses keep piling up.

Investors have reason to sweat. In a statement, Sony claimed "the large-scale investment required during the development and introductory period of a new gaming platform may not be fully recovered." They went on to note that they've invested a great deal of money into R&D for the console, a sum they might not be able to recoup if the PS3 "fails to achieve such favorable market penetration."

Sony fanboys should take heart, however. Losing money on hardware is relatively common in the video game biz, as companies routinely lower prices to sell more units and thus stimulate software sales. Sony's game division saw a 26% sales spike last quarter, a trend they expect will continue on the strength of strong exclusives like the recently released Metal Gear Solid 4 and the upcoming sequel Resistance 2.

But will it be enough?

Well if Sony would get off thier butts and get some games for this thing, maybe it wouldn't be as huge of a loss. And they knew going into this that they would go under alot in the first years.

Also it is so annoying to see that we have only a few games tht are "must haves". They are working on a weather program now for it wow thanks Sony, I mean I don't want any games to play, since I can now check the weather, I mean I have the internet, TV, and my own eyes to check that. How about taking those resources and get them working on the 2.4 patch or even Home, you know things we want.

They need to do as Microsoft has done and fork over some cash for a few exclusives. Come on I am tired of ports, Metal gear is the only game that uses Blu-Ray that I know of. Also stop charging me for blu-ray prices when the game would fit on a DVD.

[hemanrep]

Also stop charging me for blu-ray prices when the game would fit on a DVD.

....but 360 games cost $60 and they are on DVDs.

That's the cost of HD gaming, not Blu-Ray in specific. I'm actually surprised Sony didn't up the price now that I think about it.

[Skullface]

I'm actually surprised Sony didn't up the price now that I think about it.

GYAH! Don't give them any ideas! They might do that to try and recoup the $3.3 billion they lost....

[hemanrep]

GYAH! Don't give them any ideas! They might do that to try and recoup the $3.3 billion they lost....

I know Sony lost money on the PS2 the first two or three years it was out, but I highly doubt Sony will recoup that 3.3 billion back (in the PS3 era). I read a story in my local newspaper about Stringer saying they probably won't make that money back this gen. I'd have to agree. With rumors of a 360 price drop a week before E3...it's going to make a long road even longer.

[Raining Light]

I agree.
There are ads circling with the 20g 360 at 299.99 now.
And the rumor that Panasonic and other companies are gonna start making 360s

[D-Day V1]

I agree.
There are ads circling with the 20g 360 at 299.99 now.
And the rumor that Panasonic and other companies are gonna start making 360s

Where did u see/hear that

[Raining Light]

All rumor for now--both from talkingaboutgames.com

price cut?
http://talkingaboutgames.com/content/view/1475/1/



or the other?

http://talkingaboutgames.com/content/view/1453/1/

[markatisu]

I think a price cut will most 360's a bit but it wont make any monumental difference right now imho. The 360 sells for less price then the Wii in a lot of the EU as well as Japan so its not necessarily price that keeps it stagnant as of late in sales (compared to the other systems, sales are still great and game sales are amazing for 360)

Now if their holiday lineup is solid combined with a price cut, that could get them a boost to keep the lead over the PS3 whose next "it" game wont be till at least September with Little Big Planet or Killzone 2

[Raining Light]

I think the price wont do much until those big games come
Fable 2
Fallout 3
Gears 2
and some others. IT could help people decide on which console but otherwise I dont see it making a big impact.

As for other companies making 360s. Guess it could make them even cheaper. But the only thing I can think of, is that it frees up people to work on the next console, and/or xbox live stuff, etc etc.

[PJMania]

A price cut could have a large impact IF they finally get the RRoD problem under control. I still know a lot of people who are getting them with newer systems, and I know even more people that won't buy one until the RRoD problem is dealt with no matter how much of a price cut there is (and by dealt with I mean fixed, not just a warranty extension).

[markatisu]

A price cut could have a large impact IF they finally get the RRoD problem under control. I still know a lot of people who are getting them with newer systems, and I know even more people that won't buy one until the RRoD problem is dealt with no matter how much of a price cut there is (and by dealt with I mean fixed, not just a warranty extension).

My brother and I are both ones who refuse to buy one till the RROD is under control 100%, we own Wii's, PSP's, DS',PS3's,PS2's, and the previous Xbox but there is no way we want the headache of the RROD.

[PJMania]

My brother and I are both ones who refuse to buy one till the RROD is under control 100%, we own Wii's, PSP's, DS',PS3's,PS2's, and the previous Xbox but there is no way we want the headache of the RROD.

Exactly. That's what will hold me back from ever getting one. I know the problem is a lot better than it has been in the past, but that's not saying a whole lot. I got into an argument with someone about it who believe that they had fixed the problem by extending the warranty, but what he couldn't grasp was that I don't want to have to deal with the hassle of boxing up a faulty console, sending it to Microsoft, and waiting 10 days for a new one to arrive that may or may not be faulty as well.

[Raining Light]

Blizzard announces Diablo III
no release date yet.
For PC and Mac(for now, be nice to see it on consoles, but not sure if it would be ported well).

Videos look good. I never played a Diablo game so Im guessing its and RPG?

[Wheelor]

Can somebody post the 80 Gb Ps3's BC list here for me? Thanks in advance!!

[Skullface]

WiiWare/VC update:

WII-KLY UPDATE: ONE WIIWARE GAME AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

June 30, 2008

You want fireworks? Look no further than the Wii™ Shop Channel, where vibrant bursts of classic gaming action and fresh WiiWare™ content will help fill your living room with a flurry of ooohs and ahhhs. Puzzle-game mavens can enjoy a wild new addition to the WiiWare library, while the Virtual Console™ brings a truly classic fighting game to the fore. For an added holiday-week blast, fans of the WiiWare hit FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: My Life as a King™ can enhance the action with new Add-On Content.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

WiiWare

Magnetica™ Twist (Nintendo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone-Comic Mischief, 1,000 Wii Points): The classic puzzle game Magnetica is now available on WiiWare , putting its own unique "twist" on the puzzle-game experience. You're surrounded by marbles, marching slowly but surely down a track. Use a launcher (piloted by a Mii™ of your choice) to shoot marbles with matching colors and wipe them out before they reach the end of the track. Control couldn't be simpler, as all you need to do is twist the Wii Remote™ controller to aim and press the A button to shoot. And the game play remains as addictive and deep as you've come to expect in Nintendo's puzzle games, with five varied play modes, advanced mechanics such as the ability to lob marbles, and a never-ending supply of combos. This definitely isn't your typical game of marbles.

Virtual Console

FATAL FURY 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen-Animated Blood, Violence, 900 Wii Points): Released in 1992 by SNK, FATAL FURY 2 is the second installment in the renowned fighting-game series. In addition to Terry, Andy and Joe, who appeared in the original game, another five distinctive fighters gather from around the world to compete for the championship title. Also newly added are stage-specific hazards and the ability to perform desperation attacks when a character's strength is low. These particularly deadly techniques create the chance for a come-from-behind victory achieved with a single strike. Moreover, the innovative two-line battle, which proved popular in the previous version, also has been radically enhanced. Pressing the weak-attack and strong-attack buttons simultaneously enables players to move their fighters to another line themselves, or to launch an attack that pushes opponents back to another line. This game mechanic, unique to this title in the series, allows the player to take advantage of the depth of the screen and create even more exciting bouts. Can you prove yourself the king of fighters again?

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

PS3 firmware 2.40 coming this Wednesday.....

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/885/885209p1.html

[wolf-manj]

Blizzard announces Diablo III
no release date yet.
For PC and Mac(for now, be nice to see it on consoles, but not sure if it would be ported well).

Videos look good. I never played a Diablo game so Im guessing its and RPG?

they call it an action rpg. Don't worry you dont have to play the previous games to know whats going on. Go to www.blizzard.com/diablo3 and then to world and read deckard cain's journal. It goes through events of the first 2 games and even has all the cinematics for part 2. You dont even have to read, you can get deckard to recite each page for you.

[Raining Light]

I wont be playing it unless its on consoles.
I dont really like PC gaming, plus my computer is like 7 years old.
I can barely watch a video let alone play anything.

[markatisu]

Videos look good. I never played a Diablo game so Im guessing its and RPG?

If you want to play something similar on a console check out Marvel Ultimate Alliance, its on par with how I feel the Diablo games play (of course Diablo I and II are much deeper but the jist of the gameplay is the same)

God of War is very similar as well in how it deals with enemies except God of War utilizes the QTE functions to defeat big enemies and bosses

[Raining Light]

I played MUA, its-ok.
I dont really like the way MUA goes about level design.

[VaderLives]

Actually a MUCH closer parallel to Diablo on a non-PC system are the two Lord of the Rings games for Game Boy Advance. They essentially play exactly like the Diablo games just not point and click. Those game are GREAT! They blow the ****ty console versions away BY FAR.


Now I REALLY need to get a new computer.

[Skullface]

First Castlevania game announced for Wii! But it's a........fighter?????

http://wii.ign.com/articles/885/885501p1.html

All I can say is "What the ....?"

[VaderLives]

Well that's...different. I'll be getting it the day it comes out, of course, but still...ok... Could be really cool if done right...

[PJMania]

First Castlevania game announced for Wii! But it's a........fighter?????

http://wii.ign.com/articles/885/885501p1.html

All I can say is "What the ....?"

It could be an interesting pick up once it's released, but I think they should really be trying to perfect the transition to 3D. The N64 Castlevania games were complete failures, the PS2 titles were a pretty nice attempt, but were still lacking, and now this is the generation they need to perfect 3D Castlevania. Putting out a fighting game doesn't really make any progress on that front.

[VaderLives]

I actually LOVED Catlevania 64 (in fact my second favorite), and HATED Curse of Darkness. Haven't played Lament of Innocence yet. But I agree, they need to make a true Castlevania game for the Wii. This sounds like it could be fun, though.

[PJMania]

I actually LOVED Catlevania 64 (in fact my second favorite), and HATED Curse of Darkness. Haven't played Lament of Innocence yet. But I agree, they need to make a true Castlevania game for the Wii. This sounds like it could be fun, though.

I loved Curse of Darkness except for the fact that the level designs were kind of weak. Everything looked the same.

The main reason I hated the N64 games is because the soundtrack wasn't anywhere near what you would expect in a Castlevania game.

If you didn't like Curse of Darkness, you probably won't like Lament of Innocence, as, aside from the story of the game, it's extremely similar to Curse of Darkness.