Archive for August, 2009

Here’s a list of (arguably) the most anticipated multiplatform games for later this year:

• Guitar Hero + Band Hero Sequels
• Rock Band Beatles + Guitar Hero Van Halen
• DJ Hero
• Tony Hawk: Ride
• Modern Warfare 2
• Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
• Assassin’s Creed 2
• Brutal Legend
• Borderlands
• Alpha Protocol
• Tekken 6
• Dragon Age Origins
• Need For Speed Shift + Blur

I know that almost every one of the above has a passionate niche audience. Modern Warfare 2 is already guaranteed to be a top seller, and I see Brutal Legend and Assassin’s Creed 2 top many wish lists. But personally, nothing on that list looks exciting or interesting, and I suspect that this perspective is not at all uncommon.

Please don’t let me offend anyone, tastes are subjective and all that, but it’s striking to me that this year’s multiplatform releases are so bland. Throughout this decade, the music genre seemed to be growing more exciting and innovative every year, until it stalled in 2008, and now, it seems as stale as it could possibly be.

Contrast this, with PSS exclusive releases. Uncharted 2 and Gran Turismo 5 both look like epic, boundary-pushing releases that I couldn’t be more excited for. The new Ratchet game (Crack in Time) looks absolutely amazing. Both Demon Souls and EyePet are new IPs that I’m dying to try. PixelJunk Shooter looks to be very promising. And the updates to LittleBigPlanet and Home look amazing.

I don’t think it’s just because they are Sony/PS3 products either. There are plenty of big PS3 titles I didn’t like at all, and even looking outside the PS3 most of the most exciting games (from my perspective) are exclusive to other platforms (the MMO and mini-browser-game titles and Starcraft 2 on PC, Mario Galaxy 2 on Wii, several DS titles, a couple on PSP, GTA Episodes and Forza 3 looks great on 360, etc).

There are a few upcoming multiplaform titles I’m excited about: Red Dead Redemption definitely tops my list and Bioshock 2 looks great. But overall, I’m surprised at how much of the great games coming out are platform exclusives, and particularly, PS3 exclusives.

Would you agree? Are most of the best games of the time exclusive to one platform?

In reading gaming sites for the last few years, I’m used to two things: a journalistic hive mind that that has a pro-Microsoft and anti-Sony sentiment and a comments section that routinely devolves into very typical arguments between PS3 fans and Xbox fans.

This interview with Xbox executive Aaron Greenberg is interesting for two things:

• Joystiq was rather bluntly critical of Xbox’s pricing, particularly related to WiFi and hard drive upgrades. This isn’t news to any PS3 fan, but it’s a shock compared to the norm of carefully orchestrated interviews and pro-Microsoft sentiment. One good quote from Joystiq
  

  The thing is, if I go and buy a USB adapter for an old laptop, it’s $9.99. But then if I go and buy Microsoft’s version it’s $99.99 so there seems to be a pretty serious price disparity going on. Consumers aren’t dumb and they see this one on the shelf that’s $9.99 and here’s this other USB adapter that’s right next to it that has Xbox branding on it and it’s 10 times the cost, that’s a little difficult to rectify. And I think – especially with the $300 Slim coming with not only a Blu-ray player but built-in WiFi – I think a lot of people expected Microsoft to include that in this new SKU. To be honest, I’m surprised that it’s not at least being lowered.

• There is almost no arguing in the comments. Instead, it’s filled by people who are believably long-time Xbox fans who are pointing out how much better the PS3 is and how the Microsoft exec’s responses are obviously manipulative PR nonsense that makes it worse.

I’m so used to Microsoft execs having the magic touch. Microsoft charges $50/year for online features that everyone else gives away for free, and as long as they have a smooth talking executive on stage or in a few orchestrated interveiews, they have a huge fan base that isn’t merely sympathetic, but ecstatic to pay it. They have ridiculous price gouging for a base feature like WiFi, and they have a fan base who ardently defends it, claiming that plenty of people can use wired access (come on, realistically, I’d estimate 15% or so have convenient wired access to their gaming area). Microsoft can offer a Netflix service that is a terrible deal next to Roku (free WiFi and only requires base Netflix subscription) or Internet enabled HDTV sets or regular laptops, yet they have the majority of the media claiming this is the best thing ever. They have a mostly derivative copy-cat games lineup that is miles behind what Sony offers, and the media loves it.

What’s surprsing is that seems to be changing. The PS3 has been consistently putting out a larger quantity of higher quality innovative games, their hardware is the same base price with many more features, it’s smaller, lighter, quieter, and more reliable. And the general sentiment is definitely starting to change…