PS3: Too soon to buy?

[Puck]

Excusing for the moment the fact that it does- mental MotorStorm refuseniks aside, there's FFXIII, MGS4 and Ico Team's next pile of awesome- I've never seen the worry over exclusives. While it's true many big PS3 titles I'm after are on 360, every 360 game I want bar Halo 3 is coming out on PS3. I'm not over concerned about missing out.

But, y'know, that's just me. I can see a current 360 owner having difficulty justifying a PS3 at all.

Hopefully find out about Motorstorm in a few months, but great as it sounds, the lack of online multi-player rules out killer-app status for me. Last I heard DMC4 has been confirmed for simultaneous release on PS3, 360 and PC and FFXIII is sooooo far away I can't bank on it's exclusivity come release.

You're right, (reliability issues aside) about the difficulty a 360 owner has in justifying a PS3 purchase, especially with Gears of War, Crackdown, Halo 3, Bioshock and Critical Mass as console exclusives and GTA IV, Assassins Creed and VF5 appearing on both.

MGS4, (for the moment) and Grand Turismo, seem the only sure things for PS3. I'd like to be playing different titles on my consoles rather than deciding which console to get GTAIV etc for when I eventually acquire a PS/Wii, so here's hoping.

EDIT: Sorry, for some reason I read your initial mention of MGS4 as DMC4. Oops

[ras el hanout]

I don't think the 360 is harming PS3 sales that much as it's not like the 360 is selling loads more than the Xbox did, and the Xbox didn't harm PS2 sales. And I don't think that many people are the least bit bothered about the seemingly small difference in graphics between the 360 and PS3. As long as the graphics are pretty sweet they should be happy.

The Wii probably is harming its sales, I think you guys underestimate how much kids like the Wii, the kids who wouldn't touch a GC because it wasn't coolz. And the PS3 price is obviously the biggest fuck up.

[Graham S]

besides.. my PS3 was only £245 quid delivered from Canada. ( 20 gig one )

Are they still available at that price? I might get one. I don't have a 360, an HDTV (or even a widescreen telly: do games still supoort 4:3?) and I'm not bothered about the games yet. But SD 60Hz output, quiet, reliable, US PS1 and PS2 support all seem quite appealing.

The biggest draw would be that it would make me into some crazy forum contrarian, flying in the face of all the received wisdom of the 360's fellow travellers. I'd be rllmuk's Christopher Hitchens.

Now with Halo 3 getting online co op for up to four players

On the other hand... Is this news confimed? That sounds fun.

[Blue Screen Error]

Hopefully find out about Motorstorm in a few months, but great as it sounds, the lack of online multi-player rules out killer-app status for me.

The japanese version is the only one without online play.

The EU/US both have it.

and as the game is region free anyone can import it.....

[The Liberal Elite]

Looking at the forum threads, the first PS3 thread I can find is 'The thread for PS3 owners' on page 2. It's near the bottom. Apart from MotorStorm and Resistance at launch, there is absolutely nothing to make me switch on my PS2. Infact the only reason I've used it is to play some PS2 games. I

MHO this is the lamest launch period for a console ever. It makes Nintendo look like EA. I'm not Sony bashing, I want good games to play on my PS3 but I wonder whether they should have waited a year to make the system a complelling purchase. It's a software wasteland out there...

I don't understand. Surely, people who post on here would, more than anyone else, have some idea of what games are coming out in the next few months. given that, why are you complaining about a lack of software for a console that noone forced you to buy when you could have worked that out anyway?

[Puck]

The japanese version is the only one without online play.

The EU/US both have it.

I did not know this. Ok, grudging, killer app status awarded.

[Scribblor]

I did not know this. Ok, grudging, killer app status awarded.

For Motorstorm?? Crashing was fun for about half an hour and after that it was just a very pretty, but remarkably staid, racer. At least in the three hours I played on it. After that, I felt I'd given it enough of a chance and turned it off (I should point out that I don't own a PS3 - I was playing on someone else's console). Fun but nothing special - certainly not a killer app.

Having said that though, I can't think of a killer app on the 360 either. There's a bunch of good games which in total make it worth buying the console, but no single game worth the price of a 360.

I know I'll end up buying a PS3, but certainly not in the next few months (barring at least £100 price cut). It's a good piece of hardware, but that alone doesn't make it worth buying. Until there's at good few games I really want to play (and can't get for the 360, or which are significantly better on PS3) I just can't justify the expense.

[JPickford (retired mod)]

I did not know this. Ok, grudging, killer app status awarded.

Nothing is a "killer app" if the machine isn't selling.

[Cosmic_Guru]

Having said that though, I can't think of a killer app on the 360 either. There's a bunch of good games which in total make it worth buying the console, but no single game worth the price of a 360.

Maybe not a single game but Oblivion, Crackdown and Dead Rising make up a very fine trilogy of free roaming non-linear* experiences all of whcih come highly recommended, with TDU being a similar experience albeit unfinished. Then there is the intensity of Gears.

I appreciate Dead Rising is highly structured along a time line but this does not stop you from choosing different activities or approaches every time you start a new game

[ukdazs]

For Motorstorm?? Crashing was fun for about half an hour and after that it was just a very pretty, but remarkably staid, racer. At least in the three hours I played on it. After that, I felt I'd given it enough of a chance and turned it off (I should point out that I don't own a PS3 - I was playing on someone else's console). Fun but nothing special - certainly not a killer app.

Did that include any online races? That's where Motorstorm really comes into it's own. In truth though, I prefer Resistance. The online exprerience has been far better.

It all feels a bit like the PS2 launch to me. Like someone said earlier, it's the price you pay to be an early adopter. Clearly, when Go! Sudoku is your most played game, all is not well with the software catalogue, but it's the wrong time of year to expect AAA titles to be popping up left right and centre. It's a really nice bit of kit and with the right software support it'll do just fine, I just think it might take a while.

Porn on my TV never gets old though.

[Puck]

For Motorstorm?? Crashing was fun for about half an hour and after that it was just a very pretty, but remarkably staid, racer. At least in the three hours I played on it. After that, I felt I'd given it enough of a chance and turned it off (I should point out that I don't own a PS3 - I was playing on someone else's console). Fun but nothing special - certainly not a killer app.

OK. I'll take it back until I've had a chance to try it myself, although any time I've used the term "killer app", I guess I should have preceded or followed it with either, IMO, or supposed.

Crackdown: True 360 killer app.

IMO

[Spacehost]

For Motorstorm?? Crashing was fun for about half an hour and after that it was just a very pretty, but remarkably staid, racer. At least in the three hours I played on it. After that, I felt I'd given it enough of a chance and turned it off (I should point out that I don't own a PS3 - I was playing on someone else's console). Fun but nothing special - certainly not a killer app.

Having said that though, I can't think of a killer app on the 360 either. There's a bunch of good games which in total make it worth buying the console, but no single game worth the price of a 360.

I know I'll end up buying a PS3, but certainly not in the next few months (barring at least £100 price cut). It's a good piece of hardware, but that alone doesn't make it worth buying. Until there's at good few games I really want to play (and can't get for the 360, or which are significantly better on PS3) I just can't justify the expense.

You might be surprised with MotorStorm- I was unconvinced at first, but a few hours with it and something magic happens. It's blindingly good online. When it's not crashing to the XMB every five minutes or losing my BlueTooth headset connection and disconnecting my pad...

I agree about the price, I paid £350 for mine (new off eBay) but wouldn't go higher. Shoulda launched with the 20GB unit at £300!

[mackemansj1]

You might be surprised with MotorStorm- I was unconvinced at first, but a few hours with it and something magic happens. It's blindingly good online. When it's not crashing to the XMB every five minutes or losing my BlueTooth headset connection and disconnecting my pad...

I agree about the price, I paid £350 for mine (new off eBay) but wouldn't go higher. Shoulda launched with the 20GB unit at £300!

Its a pretty souless racer, get left behide online and if catch up is off its game over and you do the race around yourself. Also seems there is cheaters online i think this might be patched not sure but its average at best once you get past the ohhh it looks nice part.

[Spartan]

Having said that though, I can't think of a killer app on the 360 either. There's a bunch of good games which in total make it worth buying the console, but no single game worth the price of a 360.

Its crackdown

For all of Gear of Wars prettiness, its just another third person shooter (and a bloody good one at that). Crackdown though is something you just can't find anywhere else. A true sandbox box game where you can really do almost anything.

[Scribblor]

Maybe not a single game but Oblivion, Crackdown and Dead Rising make up a very fine trilogy of free roaming non-linear* experiences all of whcih come highly recommended, with TDU being a similar experience albeit unfinished. Then there is the intensity of Gears.

I appreciate Dead Rising is highly structured along a time line but this does not stop you from choosing different activities or approaches every time you start a new game

Dead Rising bored me shitless, and I haven't played Oblivion. TDU is good, and Gears was fun first time through but (for me) doesn't warrant replaying. My most played games on the 360 (and the ones that make me glad I've got the console) are Crackdown, Viva Pinata, EDF 2017 and Fight Night Round 3. That last one amazes me, since I'm really not interested in fighting games in general. Like I said, there's nothing on the console that I consider utterly brilliant, but there are enough good games to make it a worthwhile purchase.

You might be surprised with MotorStorm- I was unconvinced at first, but a few hours with it and something magic happens. It's blindingly good online. When it's not crashing to the XMB every five minutes or losing my BlueTooth headset connection and disconnecting my pad...

I only played offline, but I have to say you're not exactly convincing me about online there.... Though I'd have thought those problems wouldn't have been limited to online? I didn't have any of those problems when I played it, admittedly, so perhaps I'm wrong.

EDIT: Spartan, I like Crackdown a lot, but wouldn't consider it a killer app as I understand the term (a game that would almost be worth buying the console for, even if it was the only game out on that platform). Of course, going by that definition, I can't see that there'd ever be a killer app for something costing more than about £100.

[Gigga]

Its crackdown

For all of Gear of Wars prettiness, its just another third person shooter (and a bloody good one at that). Crackdown though is something you just can't find anywhere else. A true sandbox box game where you can really do almost anything.

But, theres no structure to crackdown, which makes it dull.

I can't be bothered wandering round looking for ANOTHER flashing orange blob, killing another huge swarm of enemies, finding the boss and shooting at him and then DOING IT ALL OVER AGAIN..

I want missions, I want cut scenes and I want some semblance of progression, and no, agility orbs do not cut it.. collecting things in random places to get better is bollocks, its one step up the rung from playing WoW and having your numbers increase the more stuff you kill, its utterly utterly pointless.

The only thing making crackdown a killer app is the Halo 3 Beta, there were 12 pre-owned copies on the shelves in GAME a week or two after crackdown came out, and they have only started selling recently.

<disclaimer> This poster was not angry at the time of posting </disclaimer>

[Uzi]

But, theres no structure to crackdown, which makes it dull.

I can't be bothered wandering round looking for ANOTHER flashing orange blob, killing another huge swarm of enemies, finding the boss and shooting at him and then DOING IT ALL OVER AGAIN..

I want missions, I want cut scenes and I want some semblance of progression, and no, agility orbs do not cut it.. collecting things in random places to get better is bollocks, its one step up the rung from playing WoW and having your numbers increase the more stuff you kill, its utterly utterly pointless.

The only thing making crackdown a killer app is the Halo 3 Beta, there were 12 pre-owned copies on the shelves in GAME a week or two after crackdown came out, and they have only started selling recently.

<disclaimer> This poster was not angry at the time of posting </disclaimer>

Crackdown is not a killer app, but its a lot of fun.

I mean a game has to be doing something very very right where just collecting green circles becomes a heap of fun.

I wouldnt want it to be like GTA, it complements it by being a different type of game with its simplicity and freedom.

[Spacehost]

Its a pretty souless racer, get left behide online and if catch up is off its game over and you do the race around yourself. Also seems there is cheaters online i think this might be patched not sure but its average at best once you get past the ohhh it looks nice part.

Have to agree to differ I think, but being in last does ruin a race.

I only played offline, but I have to say you're not exactly convincing me about online there.... Though I'd have thought those problems wouldn't have been limited to online? I didn't have any of those problems when I played it, admittedly, so perhaps I'm wrong.

It's buggy netcode, never had issues offline. Works fine usually, but you have a bad session now and then and have to reboot the PS3.

[Puck]

But, theres no structure to crackdown, which makes it dull.

Do you get bored in real life unless someone is constantly suggesting things to do?

[Gigga]

Crackdown is not a killer app, but its a lot of fun.

I mean a game has to be doing something very very right where just collecting green circles becomes a heap of fun.

I wouldnt want it to be like GTA, it complements it by being a different type of game with its simplicity and freedom.

I think I would find it a lot simpler if it told me what to do and where to go instead of dropping me into nowhere and telling me to work it out myself.

The problem is that its great to mess about with, but it feels incredibly limited as a game because in order to progress you have to seek out stupid little blobs, and until you have you havn't got a hope in hell of getting past the huge swarms of enemies which are easy to kill, but when theres 20 of them shooting at you your fucked.

Its irritating, because I want to like it, but linking the finding of random objects to game progression is a bad idea, I absolutely hate chore gaming.

[Beertiger]

But, theres no structure to crackdown, which makes it dull.

Someone has forgotten what it's like to just play and have fun. Reach out and touch your inner child.

[Gigga]

Do you get bored in real life unless someone is constantly suggesting things to do?

In real life I know what to do, there are many options available to me, and I end up sitting on my arse chatting shit on the internet most of the time, so yes, maybe I do.

The reason I find crackdown boring is that I don't feel like I am getting anywhere, it feels like im just going to keep repeating the same sequence, except the more blobs I find the harder it will be etc.. I want missions, not a scrolling shooter transposed into a 3D world.

Do children like collecting shit? cus I never ever ever have, its a chore, where is the fun?

I love to just play, I spend a lot of time on GTA shooting random shit and ignoring the missions, and I will admit that thats great fun on crackdown, but it doesnt feel like theres anything more, on GTA I am progressing and I am fucking about in the meantime, crackdown feels limited to just that fucking about, and that makes the fucking about less fun.

[Uzi]

I think I would find it a lot simpler if it told me what to do and where to go instead of dropping me into nowhere and telling me to work it out myself.

The problem is that its great to mess about with, but it feels incredibly limited as a game because in order to progress you have to seek out stupid little blobs, and until you have you havn't got a hope in hell of getting past the huge swarms of enemies which are easy to kill, but when theres 20 of them shooting at you your fucked.

Its irritating, because I want to like it, but linking the finding of random objects to game progression is a bad idea, I absolutely hate chore gaming.

Oof, if anything its not chore gaming. You usually find where you need to go while exploring and jumping around, which I thought was the point of a sandbox game? Then you have to work out how to take down one person surrounded by lots of enemies in a dangerous area. I've never had so much fun working out routes or just running in going mad, it allows both avenues, to get to a target.

I love what crackdown has done for gaming, I hope its refined and followed.

For the more objective stuff, GTAIV is out later, but lets face it, most of GTA is go to A->B, if you like being told where to go and having some direction, fair enough.

[Gigga]

Oof, if anything its not chore gaming. You usually find where you need to go while exploring and jumping around, which I thought was the point of a sandbox game? Then you have to work out how to take down one person surrounded by lots of enemies in a dangerous area. I've never had so much fun working out routes or just running in going mad, it allows both avenues, to get to a target.

I love what crackdown has done for gaming, I hope its refined and followed.

For the more objective stuff, GTAIV is out later, but lets face it, most of GTA is go to A->B, if you like being told where to go and having some direction, fair enough.

I just want missions and plot progression, instead of wandering round collecting orbs.

[Puck]

In real life I know what to do, there are many options available to me, and I end up sitting on my arse chatting shit on the internet most of the time, so yes, maybe I do.

The reason I find crackdown boring is that I don't feel like I am getting anywhere, it feels like im just going to keep repeating the same sequence, except the more blobs I find the harder it will be etc.. I want missions, not a scrolling shooter transposed into a 3D world.

My reply was flippant; my posting needs structure.

I appreciate your points about collecting random orbs - I feel the same about Mario, but Crackdown has structure; it's the first 360 game to hang it's sense of accomplishment and acheivement on working at and obtaining the Acheivements. Some are a chore, some are facile, but overall it works very well.

If you didn't get an initial feeling of joy the first time your strength or agility went up, then perhaps this game is not for you, but I find it refreshing that Crackdown admits so honestly, through it's structure, that it is a game, and not a substitute for a book or a film.

[womblingfree]

This week I saw Spiderman 3, Cooking Mama, and Bust-a-Move in my quick look and there's loads more already out.

The future of videogames?

Where's my chess set?

Someone has forgotten what it's like to just play and have fun. Reach out and touch your inner child.

We could go back to reading Noddy books too, but I'd rather not.

[Looper]

I just want missions and plot progression, instead of wandering round collecting orbs.

Crackdown is probably the last game you should be playing then.

[Uzi]

I just want missions and plot progression, instead of wandering round collecting orbs.

Its not just collecting orbs though. Its collecting a means to develop your character, other than mashing a button on a gym sequence, and its also a challenge in itself. Look, theres a green orb on that tower, how the FUCK do I get up there? Thats the fun of crackdown, imagine walking past big ben, seeing something shimmering and humming to you and finding a way to the top. That is fucking fun. More so than getting a cut scene of a swearing sicilian and being told to drop a bomb off somewhere or something.

Its an entirely different game dressed up in the same clothes, but youre trying to play it like GTA ,or expecting it to be like it.

Insert "you're doing it wrong" JPEG

[Uzi]

We could go back to reading Noddy books too, but I'd rather not.

"You're doing it wrong" again.

Jesus, I need to mass post that.

[Gigga]

My reply was flippant; my posting needs structure.

I appreciate your points about collecting random orbs - I feel the same about Mario, but Crackdown has structure; it's the first 360 game to hang it's sense of accomplishment and acheivement on working at and obtaining the Acheivements. Some are a chore, some are facile, but overall it works very well.

If you didn't get an initial feeling of joy the first time your strength or agility went up, then perhaps this game is not for you, but I find it refreshing that Crackdown admits so honestly, through it's structure, that it is a game, and not a substitute for a book or a film.

Anything that is a chore, isn't fun, if I wanted a chore I would do the washing up and assign myself points for each plate I clean.

My strength or ability isn't going up, because I don't want to go looking for orbs, I want to kill the bosses, it agitates me that I have killed two bosses already and nothing has progressed, leaving me little choice but to ditch the game or go round collecting orbs.

Its not just collecting orbs though. Its collecting a means to develop your character, other than mashing a button on a gym sequence, and its also a challenge in itself. Look, theres a green orb on that tower, how the FUCK do I get up there? Thats the fun of crackdown, imagine walking past big ben, seeing something shimmering and humming to you and finding a way to the top. That is fucking fun. More so than getting a cut scene of a swearing sicilian and being told to drop a bomb off somewhere or something.

Its an entirely different game dressed up in the same clothes, but youre trying to play it like GTA ,or expecting it to be like it.

Insert "you're doing it wrong" JPEG

I didn't buy it as a GTA game, I bought it for the beta, if I see a shimmering green orb on a big rock and I don't know how to get to it I just ignore it, because its a fucking orb and has nothing to do with the game, or it shouldn't, but it does because apparently a small minority of people enjoy torturing themselves and being forced to collect stuff to get "better".

I'm not the only one who feels this way, pretty much everyone who has played it at mine has loved running round shooting stuff then got bored.