We got PSN back online, yay!
Although it sounds like a broken record this point, Sony really was gaining some momentum and it felt like "the year of the Playstation" was finally upon us. Sales were up. The exclusive line was as strong as ever. And then those pesky hackers had to come along and ruin everything. Sony's E3 press conference will be a big indication of their image going forward and, if they want to regain their speed, it has to start at E3.
PSN - As much as Kaz and the gang would love to put the crash behind them, the PSN debacle must be addressed. Luckily, Sony has just the man for the job. Kevin Butler was a big hit last year with his rant on motion gaming and my gut tells me that this is where he will make his impact. Rather than making a big joke of it, I wouldn't be surprised to see the man himself come on stage and give a humorous but sincere apology that PSN is not only back, but will be bigger and better than ever. The network has dragged behind XBOX Live in almost every way since its incarnation, missing features such as cross game chat, better online performance, etc. Rumor has it though that, with the rebuilding of the network after the hack, such features were given room to be implemented. While this is all speculation, of course, it would be just what Sony needs to move on and put the PR nightmare behind them. If they actually handle it this way though, only time will tell.
NGP - Sony's portable is sure to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, focal point of Sony's press conference. Although the PSP sought to be the portable system for hardcore gamers, the DS trounced it with less impressive specs but a more diverse lineup. Down, but not out, Sony is ready for round 2 and revealed the NGP.
From a cursory glance, it's easy to see that this thing is a beast of a machine. Housing dual analog sticks(FINALLY), a larger screen, faster processor, better graphics, 3G network support, and a back touch panel, this piece of hardware made nerds everywhere cream their pants at its sight. But what about the price? Odds are that e3 will be the spot for the big reveal on what this thing will cost. Sony has said that they had a competitive price in mind all along, but we all know that Sony's idea for a competitive price and the average consumer's are two very different things. If I had to guess, with the 3DS going for $250, my guess is somewhere in the $300-$400 range, which might be too expensive for most.
But in the end, regardless of muscles and price, it comes down to substance. It needs good games. Sony has seemingly gotten that squared away, with big names like Uncharted, Call of Duty, LittleBigPlanet, and Resistance all among the first batch to come out. The hardcore for the hardcore. The inclusion of the big name first person shooters intrigues me the most on the list. Call of Duty sells like crack because people love playing online. If the NGP can replicate that experience on the go...now that would be a selling point.
PS3 Lineup - Before the PSN hack, 2011 was looking to be the "Year of the Playstation" for one reason and one reason alone: the games. Aside from the dozens of AAA multi-platform games set to come out this year like Batman:Arkam City, Rage, Skyrim, Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3, etc. Sony had set themselves up with even more quality to just ice that cake of goodness up. Infamous 2, Uncharted 3, Twisted Metal, Resistance 3, and a slew of others will all make an appearance in some way on stage, showing off what is in store for PS3 owners. 2011 is surely the strongest year the PS3 has had to date and Sony is sure to point that out.
From a cursory glance, it's easy to see that this thing is a beast of a machine. Housing dual analog sticks(FINALLY), a larger screen, faster processor, better graphics, 3G network support, and a back touch panel, this piece of hardware made nerds everywhere cream their pants at its sight. But what about the price? Odds are that e3 will be the spot for the big reveal on what this thing will cost. Sony has said that they had a competitive price in mind all along, but we all know that Sony's idea for a competitive price and the average consumer's are two very different things. If I had to guess, with the 3DS going for $250, my guess is somewhere in the $300-$400 range, which might be too expensive for most.
But in the end, regardless of muscles and price, it comes down to substance. It needs good games. Sony has seemingly gotten that squared away, with big names like Uncharted, Call of Duty, LittleBigPlanet, and Resistance all among the first batch to come out. The hardcore for the hardcore. The inclusion of the big name first person shooters intrigues me the most on the list. Call of Duty sells like crack because people love playing online. If the NGP can replicate that experience on the go...now that would be a selling point.
PS3 Lineup - Before the PSN hack, 2011 was looking to be the "Year of the Playstation" for one reason and one reason alone: the games. Aside from the dozens of AAA multi-platform games set to come out this year like Batman:Arkam City, Rage, Skyrim, Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3, etc. Sony had set themselves up with even more quality to just ice that cake of goodness up. Infamous 2, Uncharted 3, Twisted Metal, Resistance 3, and a slew of others will all make an appearance in some way on stage, showing off what is in store for PS3 owners. 2011 is surely the strongest year the PS3 has had to date and Sony is sure to point that out.
My wonder is what happens in 2012. The Last Guardian will hopefully show its face around then, but what does Sony have in store long term in terms of exclusives? My guess is there will be at least 1 big reveal. The next God of War could certainly make an appearance, or possibly an new IP from a big name. Over the past few months, Cliffy B, Gears of War creator, has changed his tune about the console, now being quoted to praise the PS3 as a "great console." Will he pull a Gabe Newell and announce something from Epic for Sony? It certainly would be interesting.
No comments:
Post a Comment