Is PS2 online gaming really so bad?

[Billy Brown]

Shouldn't that be

it's ok as long as you don't WANT TO PAY for Live.

It was more this response that I was referring to.

I see your point, but I think that people who shell out for a broadband adapter for the PS2 would expect something akin to the service that Microsoft currently offer. I don't doubt that a whole bunch of people on rllmuk have sampled the PS2 online experience, and yet we don't see much spoken about it around here. To me, that speaks volumes.

On a seperate note, Sony don't seem to be advertising the online side of things over here too much. If they have faith in their online system, they need to let the masses know about it.

[xiphoid]

If they have faith in their online system, they need to let the masses know about it.

I don't think the 'masses' give a toss about online gaming... I would also contend, and have, that they are more than happy not to belong to a 'community' of gamers.

[Billy Brown]

I don't think the 'masses' give a toss about online gaming... I would also contend, and have, that they are more than happy not to belong to a 'community' of gamers.

I agree, but how are they going to change their minds without being shown what fun online gaming can be? I doubt very much that Sony decided to launch an online stategy without wanting to get as many people as possible playing it.

[Nick Laslett]

Of course it's Xbox live centric, that's the whole point of the thread. The fact that there isn't one for PS2 handles points to the fact that relatively few people on here use their PS2 for online gaming.

Billy Brown,

Have I upset you?

Because you seem to be going after my posts like a Yorkshire terrier.

Hitcher said that no Gamertags for PS2 users have been posted to the Sticky in this forum. He said this because he wanted to use this fact to backup his argument that few people use the PS2 for online gaming.

My reply was that I didn't post my PS2 Handle because the sticky looked to be XBL centric. Perhaps other PS2 online users are also avoiding this part of the forum because of it's XBL centric nature?

You now "slam" me for thinking that the sticky is XBL centric. It was Hitcher who complained about the lack of Central Station Handles posted to the sticky. As he is responsible for the sticky I guess he is the correct judge of whether the sticky is XBL centric or not, in his prior post he appeared to indicate that it was inclusive and not XBL centric.

I have already suggested that we have a sticky for Central Station handles or perhaps it can be made clear that the sticky is not just for XBL. I'm happy with both outcomes.

[xiphoid]

I agree, but how are they going to change their minds without being shown what fun online gaming can be? I doubt very much that Sony decided to launch an online stategy without wanting to get as many people as possible playing it.

Are they as convinced as pundits are that online is the biggest market available? I'm certainly not. It is 'a' market, not 'the' market and I think it is very easy to lose sight of the fact, that many people are simply disinterested in playing games online - even once they have tried.

XBL is a community much like the 'clans' you see for games like planetside and WW2 online - it is excluding to a certain extent and often supercillious.

I highlighted the quote section, merely as a pointer to my general thoughts. Online gmaing is great for YOU. THis doesn't mean we are all 'into' it.

[Nick Laslett]

I agree with Xiphoid and Billy Brown, that the mass market in the UK are not interested in online gaming.

Stuart Campbell and Biffo have both written articles where they express there disinterest with online gaming and their view that it will not catch on with the mainstream.

[Billy Brown]

Billy Brown,

Have I upset you?

Not in the slightest – sorry if it seems I'm attacking you. I was just trying to give my opinions as to why the PS2 online set-up seems to be largely ignored by people here. I certainly didn't mean to offend.

As for the sticky, it's a thread for Xbox Live gamertags. If there was enough interest in getting PS2 handles together, I'm sure there would be a second sticky for exactly that. That's all I was saying.

[Sng]

Yeah, if there were demand for a PS2 thread, they'd be one.

As for online gaming not appealing to the masses... not yet, but that's mainly due to the slow broadband rollout.

If console online gaming for the next set of consoles is as easy (or easier) as it is on Xbox, then I can see it appealing to more and more. It's only a matter of time before online gaming appeals to just about all gamers.

[Billy Brown]

I highlighted the quote section, merely as a pointer to my general thoughts. Online gmaing is great for YOU. THis doesn't mean we are all 'into' it.

I see what you're saying. At the moment, only a minute fraction of my playing time is spent online, as there is more than enough for me with standalone games. Saying that, I still enjoy going online too, as more of a social thing than anything.

I completely agree that, at the moment, the vast majority of gamers aren't interested in going online. But do you think that Microsoft / Sony set up their online systems without thinking that they could do a lot to change that? It seems highly unlikely that they would put so much effort into Central Station / Live if they thought that it was going to be used by so few people.

[Beertiger]

I've got PS2 online and it's pretty pants. SOCOM is fun if limited, haven't played the second.

It just feels so cheap and pants compared to the xbox system.

The fact that i use my SOCOM headset on my PC for team speak and not on the PS2 should speak volumes about the service.

Sony need to sort out there system sharpish. Do they have a tournament system for the games yet? Like the Top Spin one going on at the moment?

It's things like this that push xbox live over the top.

If EA do similar things then i'll take it back.

[nohsa]

I will buy it for amplitude alone but I still haven't got broadband. ;

[kaisu]

They have events, But i'm pretty sure they're organised by Central station and they don't happen to often.

Socom 2 has dedicated tooms set up for clan matches as well.Clans are the only way you're ever gonna get the type of teamwork that is used in xbox live games.

[xiphoid]

Sony need to sort out there system sharpish. Do they have a tournament system for the games yet? Like the Top Spin one going on at the moment?

I'm going to give Sony some credit here and suggest they are 'wasting' less money now, courting gamers to the online experience, who already are happy to pay for the added experience. I see no 'need' to sort anything out. There is no top spin tournament, becuase it is not a market they are pursuing.

lans are the only way you're ever gonna get the type of teamwork that is used in xbox live games.

Here an overly optamistic view - perhaps Sony will come up with a system that is less reliant on developing online relationships - a system therefore that will appeal far more to the general gaming and non gaming online public.

[Beertiger]

you not play many online games then?

once you go Live you don't go back. you'll miss those features when they're gone.

[kaisu]

you not play many online games then?

once you go Live you don't go back. you'll miss those features when they're gone.

Not necessarily true.While i love live i really starting to get into Socom, the community that Live has isn't there but it's still very enjoyable.And i'm not missing the Live features at all now, Although at first it was a bit strange.

Here an overly optamistic view - perhaps Sony will come up with a system that is less reliant on developing online relationships - a system therefore that will appeal far more to the general gaming and non gaming online public

I doubt that'll happen, At the minute they're heavily promoting the teamwork aspect of Socom 2.And the headset's not just for singleplayer.

[xiphoid]

you not play many online games then?

once you go Live you don't go back. you'll miss those features when they're gone.

I play FFXI - and that is so far beside the point I am failing to see the relevance. I actually expressly say that I believe the majority - huge majority - are not interested in playing games in the way current online 'systems' such as live, provide them.

I have actually played Live, but not extensively. It didn't compel me to get the service - but it is quite possibly not aimed at me - the idea of playing a racing game without my opponent suffering right beside me, is alien and when I did, it was unwelcome. The very thought of playing such games as Pro Evo Soccer online, seems to defeat how I learnt to enjoy playing these games... but as I say, I am not the target audience perhaps.

I doubt that'll happen, At the minute they're heavily promoting the teamwork aspect of Socom 2.And the headset's not just for singleplayer.

We are really talking about the infrastructre as opposed to what sort of gaming suits any particular game.

[Hitcher]

I'm sorry if I gave you the idea that the Gamertag list was for all online gaming but it clearly states underneath that it's for Xbox Live.

[Systemshock]

I think Sony have looked at all the options this gen and stand a real chance of doing things even better next time. The SquareEnix on-line supoport for FFXI is unbelievable and Sony can leanr from that.

Their problem with on-line PS2 gaming in the UK (and the whole of Europe probably) has been the slowness of broadband taking off and much lower levels of cable networks as an alternative option.

[Nick Laslett]

Well, after all the debating yesterday. I went online last night and played SSX3 for an hour.

I lost every race I entered. But I did get close enough to some players.

There were a lot of people around last night and in the hour I was there and I saw about 50 different user IDs. It seemed like a lot to me.

[kaisu]

play socom 2

[Jack]

The out of the box online gaming that the Dreamcast gave you is still the most effective implementation of the concept. (But this was only narrowband)

[pedant] No it wasn't, there was a Broadband Adapter available. Having said that, it was bloody hard to get a hold of.

[jeff mills gran]

I think the BB adaptor is £29.99, the same as a 12 month Live sub...

waaaaaaay off the mark..

the ps2 bb adaptor is only £16. still, its fairly useless for me.. as the only network game i've got is xiii, and that has a maximum of around 12 players online at peek times.. attempt to get a online game at around 11pm monday-thursday and you'll find that no-one else is on..shite.

[Nimmel]

but it is quite possibly not aimed at me - the idea of playing a racing game without my opponent suffering right beside me, is alien and when I did, it was unwelcome.

Initially I felt the same but on Live at least you can hear them suffer, I have literally been in tears of laughter due to some of the antics in PGR2.

However I think a lot of the appeal of Live for me is "knowing" the people I play with, due to this Forum, Live would be exactly 50% less fun if I wasn't a member of a community such as this. It must be pretty daunting for first timers.

I haven't bothered with the PS2 online as I perceive it to be a second rate service (free or not) and as such I would rather spend what little time I do get to play online on Live.

[Graham S]

I reckon I'll get a broadband adapter for Burnout 3.

[decider]

I will buy it for amplitude alone but I still haven't got broadband. ;

Wow, that'll boost the European Amplitude user base to a total of 5. Sadly I'm not joking.

I'm in the PS2 beta service and I have to say I'm really not impressed with the service or the range of games they have us testing. The fact that some games are limited to your territory only makes some of the less popular games (i.e. Amplitude) absolutely barren. In fact, I think there are only around 350 people on the rankings.

[footle]

However I think a lot of the appeal of Live for me is "knowing" the people I play with, due to this Forum, Live would be exactly 50% less fun if I wasn't a member of a community such as this. It must be pretty daunting for first timers.

Yes.

Arranging something like a GR:IT game would be utterly hopeless.