20 replies to this topic

[Axe99]

According to the latest (international) issue of Game Informer, both major platform holders are expected to hold stand-alone press conferences to announce their next-generation consoles at some stage in March, around the time of the GDC (March 25-29). Things are definitely heating up on the new hardware front (see our feature article from earlier this week), and with the report suggesting that Sony would be pushing hard to not be the last out of the gate this time around, there's more than half a chance both consoles will be out in the wilds before the end of this year.  Exciting times!

Source: http://www.videogame...c_in_march.html

[GraphicX]

almost sounds like they could be rushing them out.  result could be like many games we get where you need a ton of updates to make them work properly & end up hating them.

[Axe99]

GraphicX, on 14 January 2013 - 10:50 PM, said:

almost sounds like they could be rushing them out.  result could be like many games we get where you need a ton of updates to make them work properly & end up hating them.

It's deffo a risk - launch games are always rushed, to a degree, no way around it, although Sony have a reasonable track record with launch-window exclusives (Resistance and Motorstorm were the two big early PS3 games, and they were both very good, and launched well).  I read about how Sony Bend put together Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and what they achieved in the time they had was insane.  Hopefully the recent release of the Vita will have them in the zone.

[GraphicX]

i'm not worried about the launch titles being buggy, but the actual system itself.  if they rush the console & it has issues at launch it could well & truly kill it.

[straussy240]

like all things sony will release a fat version then the slim versions right?!

[Jykel]

GraphicX, on 14 January 2013 - 11:03 PM, said:

i'm not worried about the launch titles being buggy, but the actual system itself.  if they rush the console & it has issues at launch it could well & truly kill it.

Companies releasing buggy consoles *cough*red-ring*cough* . . never    My fear as well Graph.  I have been lucky and had only one ps3 to date, but went through 3 360 red-ringers before calling it a day with xbox.

[Axe99]

GraphicX, on 14 January 2013 - 11:03 PM, said:

i'm not worried about the launch titles being buggy, but the actual system itself.  if they rush the console & it has issues at launch it could well & truly kill it.

I'll deffo be cautious with the next-gen launch Xbox.  Sony have a pretty good track record with Playstations though - the launch versions tend to wear out after a few years of heavy use (3-4 for me for PS3 and PS2), but I usually give 'em a flogging - I find my PC's tend to wear out at a similar speed (usually for far less use ).  The Vita I got at launch is rock-solid after almost a year (touch wood!)

Of course, either of them could screw it up, but Sony have a much better record and far more experience at launching quality hardware.

[Saintsy]

If sony does go through and makes it so you cant play Pre owned games, im either going to Xbox or building a PC.
I know they tried with Ps3 and failed, but they seem dead set focused on making it happen this time around.

[Axe99]

Saintsy, on 15 January 2013 - 12:18 AM, said:

If sony does go through and makes it so you cant play Pre owned games, im either going to Xbox or building a PC.
I know they tried with Ps3 and failed, but they seem dead set focused on making it happen this time around.

I wouldn't read too much into that patent - Sony patents stuff all the time (they recently patented ankle-attachments for Move, so you could wear a move on each limb - I'd put good money on that never coming to market, lol).  I also highly doubt that it will happen unless all consoles do it at once - would be crazy otherwise. And someone from Sony came out saying it was off the cards.  I didn't pay too much attention to the debate, as it all sounded like people getting all excited over a random patent to me, although I could easily be wrong.

On the by, going to PC won't help you unless you plan to pirate.  The used market on PC died off over a decade ago .

[straussy240]

Restricting pre-owned games is annoying. For old games that I never got around playing I do not want to be paying prices near its RRP when it first came out.

Then again you can find games that are oldish (> 1 year) on oz gameshop for $ 20 - 30 sometimes that are brand new

[Okeefeiscrazy]

Axe99, on 15 January 2013 - 12:24 AM, said:

I wouldn't read too much into that patent - Sony patents stuff all the time (they recently patented ankle-attachments for Move, so you could wear a move on each limb - I'd put good money on that never coming to market, lol).  I also highly doubt that it will happen unless all consoles do it at once - would be crazy otherwise. And someone from Sony came out saying it was off the cards.  I didn't pay too much attention to the debate, as it all sounded like people getting all excited over a random patent to me, although I could easily be wrong.

On the by, going to PC won't help you unless you plan to pirate.  The used market on PC died off over a decade ago .

Who needs used game prices when there are steam sales.

[straussy240]

Okeefeiscrazy, on 15 January 2013 - 01:29 AM, said:

Who needs used game prices when there are steam sales.

Damn right - God I wish SEN/PSN whatever did these awesome sales.

Sales for PS+ members is not really worth it imo when you have to pay $80 (whatever it is sorry I don't know the exact figure) in the first place

[Axe99]

straussy240, on 15 January 2013 - 03:20 AM, said:

Damn right - God I wish SEN/PSN whatever did these awesome sales.

Sales for PS+ members is not really worth it imo when you have to pay $80 (whatever it is sorry I don't know the exact figure) in the first place

While they're not as frequent, the PSN often has sale prices that aren't too far off Steams.  They're not as consistently as good, or as frequent, but they're out there.  And while PS+ isn't worth it for the sales alone, you do get a fair bit else with the $70 .

[straussy240]

Still the fact you need to pay upfront for the sales is what makes steams sales a lot better. Plus steam more frequently put bundled games with DLC on sale

[GasClown]

I'm not rushing out to get a new system until there is something worth playing on it.

[Jykel]

GasClown, on 15 January 2013 - 04:30 AM, said:

I'm not rushing out to get a new system until there is something worth playing on it.

Knowing Sony, they will continue to support the PS3 well into the next-gens life, so no rush.  Knowing MS, they will abandon the 360 on their next-gen release date

[Axe99]

straussy240, on 15 January 2013 - 04:24 AM, said:

Still the fact you need to pay upfront for the sales is what makes steams sales a lot better. Plus steam more frequently put bundled games with DLC on sale

Aye, no question Steam sales still have the edge, but the gap is closing at a reasonable pace, and non PS+ subscribers still get a pretty good set of deals - they're just not quite as good as PS+ subscribers get.

@ Jyks - I sincerely hope (and think) MS might support the 360 for a tiny bit longer this time.  Wouldn't want to put money on it though....

[Outlaw213]

It might feel like they rushing it but honestly new hardware is long overdue. Digital game prices do need to come down, they should be cheaper than retail anyway - games on SEN still too expensive (new releases) atleast in NZ, SEN New release games are atleast $20 to $30 more than retail which doesnt make any sense, they're digital! They should be cheaper than retail. There are some cheaper stuff though.

PS+ has gotten alot better in the last year, lots of good content. I'm sure Sony will try and compete with Steam in next gen, especially if DIGITAL is their MAIN focus.

Next-gen hardware also need a good set of launch titles, Battlefield 4, Uncharted 4, Killzone 4, Infamous 3, Next CoD? (lol so many sequels) Maybe The Last Guardian will be next gen too.

[Axe99]

Ouch - sounds like NZ retail (or SCENZ) is screwing people over - the last time I've looked, the digital prices in Aus have generally matched retail at launch (at least Retail in Canberra and EB/JB online), and I remember Ghost Recon:Future Soldier was $10 or $15 cheaper with a PS+ discount than it was in the store.  Just having a quick gander now, and DMC is $89.95 on SEN, $88 in EB and $79 in JB Hi-Fi, Ni No Kuni (pre-order) is $89 on SEN, $88 in EB and $84 in JB.  So it looks like SEN's matching EB (which I suspect is RRP based) and that JB's the place to shop!  Agree that the SEN is likely to improve - Sony's clearly been pushing digital hard (think of how far the store has come) and is a good way ahead of XBL when it comes to digital games, and the more digital they get, the more comparisons with Steam will put them under pressure .

Totally agree about a good set of launch titles as well - I wouldn't be surprised if most 'big games' are sequels to current IP - the increasing costs of development are pushing full-budget games more and more that way .

[spectre51]

The only problem with digital pricing is that neither Microsoft nor Sony have a direct competitor that sell digital games/DLC, steam has several direct competitors (Amazon, GMG, Gamersgate, multiple cd-key sellers and others) and while steams service/catalogue is still unrivalled in my mind their prices, especially on new releases thanks to the AUS tax aren't anymore.

and yeah if you want a local copy JB is generally the go to place.