Year of PS3 final push- 360 outsells PS3 in Japan for Sept

[Kestastrophe]

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE49218520081003

360-53,000
PS3-33,000

[Sho Nuff]

WHO IS DRIVING?
OH MY GOD BEAR IS DRIVING

[duckman2000]

Crazy, but honestly, what incentive is there for Japanese gamers to bother with a PS3 at this point? Virtual safari? I know Sony has stuff coming, but they have obviously given themselves way too much time there. Two years in, and what do they have to show for it?

[duckman2000]

Well, that White Knight game had better be one amazing JRPG. Not that I care; Sony has exceeded expectations for someone with my taste in games, but had my interest in games been more in tune with Japanese tastes, I'd probably loathe the system quite a bit.

[Smooth Groove]

That's for the whole month?  If so, why do companies even care about the Jap market anymore?

[Van Cruncheon]

Well, that White Knight game had better be one amazing JRPG. Not that I care; Sony has exceeded expectations for someone with my taste in games, but had my interest in games been more in tune with Japanese tastes, I'd probably loathe the system quite a bit.

generic, sub-pc grade fps titles?

[duckman2000]

Well, that White Knight game had better be one amazing JRPG. Not that I care; Sony has exceeded expectations for someone with my taste in games, but had my interest in games been more in tune with Japanese tastes, I'd probably loathe the system quite a bit.

generic, sub-pc grade fps titles?

"PC grade" means nothing these days, unfortunately. The only decidedly "PC grade" FPS of recent years is Crysis. Just about everything else falls into either low-grade console standards or buggy ambition, which fail to out-feature and out-run even Sony's first FPS of the generation. The second FPS of that series seemingly outdoes just about everything. But yes, even that first attempt would have exceeded my expectations of Sony after last generation. If they get Killzone 2 together properly, then they are officially better at Xbox than Microsoft is.

[Smooth Groove]

Resistance is about as run of the mill as a shooter can get.  The amount of features isn't important when the core game just isn't that good. 

[duckman2000]

Resistance is about as run of the mill as a shooter can get.  The amount of features isn't important when the core game just isn't that good. 

The core game was as "good" as anything else, with a higher player and feature count than most. Even if it never amounted to greatness it was more than anyone should have realistically expected out of Sony. And now they are certainly treating it like a sequel by adding a shit ton to it, which is more than can be said for most. Maybe it says something about how stale the genre is these days, I don't know. But you know as well as I do that "PC grade FPS" means nothing these days. If it did mean something, I'd still be wanking publicly about this superior platform.

[cool breeze]

Don't forget STALKER Clear Sky.
 
And I expect WKS to be on the level or Infinite Undiscovery.  PS3 has completely failed to capture the rpg market.  In the future there is only one exclusive RPG worth getting for the system and that is Versus XIII.  Every other j-rpg, including arguably the biggest with FFXIII, are on the 360.

Resistance is about as run of the mill as a shooter can get.  The amount of features isn't important when the core game just isn't that good.  

The core game was solid in Resistance.  It wasn't amazing or anything, but a solid shooter + great sounding features is something to get excited for.  Look at Sven coop and it's shitty shooting mechanics, but it was still loads of fun.  Or even look at Bioshock.  The actual shooting elements weren't that good, but it was all the other aspects that made it enjoyable.

Killzone 2 is another case entirely and until I play it I won't hate or love on it.  Killzone 1 on PS2 was borderline unplayable, but Killzone Liberation was great.  I don't really know if they can make a proper FPS game, and despite how good it can look, if It doesn't play well then shit/bin it.

and just to make it clear, the main thing I'm talking about there with Resistance is about Resistance 2.  Resistance 1 didn't really have any great features and was simply an enjoyable shooter.  Resistance 2 seems like it will be awesome.

[duckman2000]

Killzone 2 is another case entirely and until I play it I won't hate or love on it.  Killzone 1 on PS2 was borderline unplayable, but Killzone Liberation was great.  I don't really know if they can make a proper FPS game, and despite how good it can look, if It doesn't play well then shit/bin it.

Yep. It seems like it will be good, and I love what they seem to be doing with MP (going well above and beyond the norm), but at this point it's an unknown, with Guerrilla's track record keeping things in check. That's why I want into that beta, so that I can decided if it's worth keeping an eye on.

As for Versus XIII, is there any reason to think that it will remain "exclusive?"

and just to make it clear, the main thing I'm talking about there with Resistance is about Resistance 2.  Resistance 1 didn't really have any great features and was simply an enjoyable shooter.  Resistance 2 seems like it will be awesome.

I don't know, it launched with a perfectly functional 40-player online component, complete with matchmaking as well as server browsing features, and custom ranked games. That alone put it a notch above the rest for me. That the custom game system eventually became its downfall, that's a different matter. Resistance 2 goes well beyond any of that, but as a standalone product, Resistance was nowhere near as "safe" as its reputation suggests. It's nothing I would call great, but then the standards of the genre aren't exactly reaching for the heavens. It sometimes feels like people point at imaginary games when they talk about this golden FPS standard.

[duckman2000]

What I don't get, and maybe you jbores can explain this to me, is why it takes such a bloody long time for these RPGs to come out. I understand that there's plenty of content to be created for these games, but given how much there is that seems to be basically recycled from one game to the next, it'd seem to me as if they would have RPG creation down, and be capable of spitting games out faster.

As for having games fill the void from games going multi, that's just pitiful. Obviously, fanboy rivalry plays a big part here, but given the reactions among Stards, you'd almost think that the game had become exclusive to the 360.

[Smooth Groove]

Resistance is about as run of the mill as a shooter can get.  The amount of features isn't important when the core game just isn't that good. 

The core game was as "good" as anything else, with a higher player and feature count than most. Even if it never amounted to greatness it was more than anyone should have realistically expected out of Sony. And now they are certainly treating it like a sequel by adding a shit ton to it, which is more than can be said for most. Maybe it says something about how stale the genre is these days, I don't know. But you know as well as I do that "PC grade FPS" means nothing these days. If it did mean something, I'd still be wanking publicly about this superior platform.

I think by sub-PC grade, Prole also meant that the PS3 runs multi-platform shooters considerably worse than a gaming PC.  Some PC ports are barely playable on the PS3 such as Quake Wars and Fear.  Both of these games are superior to Resistance and it's a shame that PS3 only gamers can only play such limited versions of them. 

I don't get what you say about Resistance now.  Didn't you say before that the 1st game didn't come close to being great because Insomniac played it too safely?  Also, the lowered expectations of Sony leading to higher success, smells of Palinesque Republicanism. 

The core game was solid in Resistance.  It wasn't amazing or anything, but a solid shooter + great sounding features is something to get excited for.  Look at Sven coop and it's shitty shooting mechanics, but it was still loads of fun.  Or even look at Bioshock.  The actual shooting elements weren't that good, but it was all the other aspects that made it enjoyable.

The stuff you're talking about Bioshock isn't features.  Shooting mechanics are part of the core design.  I'll admit that Bioshock's gunplay wasn't the greatest but that really wasn't what the game was focused on.  PC shooters have always been loaded with features, especially since there're so many mods around.  Sfans are just jumping on the features bandwagon because that's mostly what Resistance has going for it. 

Killzone 2 is another case entirely and until I play it I won't hate or love on it.  Killzone 1 on PS2 was borderline unplayable, but Killzone Liberation was great.  I don't really know if they can make a proper FPS game, and despite how good it can look, if It doesn't play well then shit/bin it.

and just to make it clear, the main thing I'm talking about there with Resistance is about Resistance 2.  Resistance 1 didn't really have any great features and was simply an enjoyable shooter.  Resistance 2 seems like it will be awesome.

I was very interested in Killzone 2 but everything I've seen so far makes it look like a Futuremark benchmark that you can actually play. 

[Smooth Groove]

Sfags were disowning MGS4 too, mostly by jumping on the Uncharted bandwagon, until it seems like there won't be a 360 version after all.  The way MGS4 is designed though, with the multiple installations, a 360 version still seems extremely possible. 

[duckman2000]

I don't get what you say about Resistance now.  Didn't you say before that the 1st game didn't come close to being great because Insomniac played it too safely?  Also, the lowered expectations of Sony leading to higher success, smells of Palinesque Republicanism. 

The SP was ridiculously safe, considering Insomniac's legacy. Deadlocked was a much more explosive game; better enemy designs, more destructive weapons, and so forth. I think the game could have been great had Insomniac not been so conservative, and it seems like they have gotten a clue in time for Resistance 2. That said, the game was in parts still more creative than your common FPS, and the MP was more polished and feature complete than even the supposed upper crust of FPS so far this generation.

As for F.E.A.R. and Quake Wars, I've never played the first on PS3, and I hated everything about the second one even on PC, but yeah... judging by the demo, it was a pretty miserable port. Not sure what that has to do with Sony meeting or not meeting expectations, though.

Speaking of Killzone, one of the things that attributed to the shittiness of the first game was that Guerrilla tried to add too much to the game, which they as game designers just plain didn't seem capable of doing. It was a shitty, shitty game, but it was by no means a tech demo.

Sfans are just jumping on the features bandwagon because that's mostly what Resistance has going for it.

Well, some of us were pleased with Resistance 1 because it was designed like a PC game.

[Smooth Groove]

As for F.E.A.R. and Quake Wars, I've never played the first on PS3, and I hated everything about the second one even on PC, but yeah... judging by the demo, it was a pretty miserable port. Not sure what that has to do with Sony meeting or not meeting expectations, though.

What don't you like about Quake Wars?  I liked how the game forces you to play as a team unlike most fast paced shooters.   Also, I mentioned those two games to explain the sub-PC comment not the lowered expectations. 

Speaking of Killzone, one of the things that attributed to the shittiness of the first game was that Guerrilla tried to add too much to the game, which they as game designers just plain didn't seem capable of doing. It was a shitty, shitty game, but it was by no means a tech demo.

I'm worried that Killzone 2 might just play like a tech demo because everything looks so stiff.  The enemies move like bots with low difficulty AI and most of the exciting stuff going on, just happens in the background.  The game still has plenty of time before release but they've got a lot to work on. 

[Smooth Groove]

I liked the jeep in Resistance but the tank levels were worthless. 

[cool breeze]

I don't know, it launched with a perfectly functional 40-player online component, complete with matchmaking as well as server browsing features, and custom ranked games. That alone put it a notch above the rest for me. That the custom game system eventually became its downfall, that's a different matter. Resistance 2 goes well beyond any of that, but as a standalone product, Resistance was nowhere near as "safe" as its reputation suggests. It's nothing I would call great, but then the standards of the genre aren't exactly reaching for the heavens. It sometimes feels like people point at imaginary games when they talk about this golden FPS standard.

I can agree with that.

The stuff you're talking about Bioshock isn't features.  Shooting mechanics are part of the core design.  I'll admit that Bioshock's gunplay wasn't the greatest but that really wasn't what the game was focused on.  PC shooters have always been loaded with features, especially since there're so many mods around.  Sfans are just jumping on the features bandwagon because that's mostly what Resistance has going for it.    

True about the Bioshock stuff, but I think the features in Resistance 2 are things that get me excited.  The co-op is the part I am most exited about a someone who has spent hours and hours playing Sven coop years ago (I'm also excited about L4D since it seems to be in the same spirit).  The competitive multiplayer also seems great and is taking cues from Battlefield 2's squad system.  I would actually say that single player is the thing I'm least excited about for this game.

And the vehicle sections in Resistance weren't very good, but guess what? Insomniac agrees so there are none in Resistance 2.  Sfans no longer have to pretend to like them!

[duckman2000]

see , Resistance didn't feel like a pc game to me at all.

it felt like Halo with great boss fights, worse vehicle sections and much much worse AI.
I mean, sfags were going crazy about the vehicle sections in the game... yet they hated Halo? 

Well, I for one hated the vehicle sections in Resistance (I thought the vehicle stuff in Deadlocked was much better), I thought they were poor attempts at being Halo. But then I also love plenty of things about Halo and have no problem saying that, so I'm not exactly the go to person for that. Still, I consider the MP of Resistance to be far superior to that of any Halo game, superior community features or not. In fact, I despise the ridiculously tightly controlled, slow to match, "abide by our choice or don't play" design of Halo online, as it feels, to me, like everything wrong about online gaming on consoles. I realize though that I'm in the minority in preferring the Resistance set-up, but one feels like an open PC design, the other like a strictly limited console design.

[cool breeze]

The aspect of Reistance that felt like a PC shooter to me was it's speed.  Halo and most other console shooters are incredibly slow moving, but the Resistance multiplayer is just a notch below Quake/UT types of craziness.

[duckman2000]

All of that said, it nearly disgusts me to see the stard squad acting as experts on FPS online gaming. They got Resistance, played that for two years and now act as if they actually know jack shit about how things should be. They are also notoriously aggressive about changes to their beloved Resistance format, to the point of blank ignorance of flaws in the design of the game.

[AdmiralViscen]

Well you guys got me downloading the RFoM demo. I borrowed the full game from my friend once and put ti down quickly.

Is the demo multi?

[duckman2000]

Well you guys got me downloading the RFoM demo. I borrowed the full game from my friend once and put ti down quickly.

Is the demo multi?

Nope. The demo isn't very good. Not saying it's not a good representation of the game, but it's only SP.

Speaking of which, has anyone ever invited BobtheFork here? He's like the most reasonable Resistance wunderkind there is.

[Bocsius]

In a thread about the lack of sales in Japan, people are arguing about Resistance.

Thus explaining the lack of sales in Japan.

[duckman2000]

In a thread about the lack of sales in Japan, people are arguing about Resistance.

Thus explaining the lack of sales in Japan.

Well, yeah.

[y2kev]

The demo is trashhhhhhhh oh god. The beginning of Resistance is not very good. I think it ramps up around Cheddar Gorge.

Resistance is not as good as Halo, no. I do expect Resistance 2 to be at least as good as Halo 2 or I'm not going to get excited for Insomniac shooters anymore. Halo 2 is not good imo.

[AdmiralViscen]

 

[Tabasco]

Since this is a sales thread . . . I was taking a gander at the release list for Nov, and it looks like there's no room for Res2 in any month's NPD.  When it fails to chart in the top 10, the tears will flow.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

and Insom will announce their plans to go multi-platform.  then xfags will pretend to be happy about another Rare-level developer coming on board

[close]

[duckman2000]

I doubt Resistance 2 will come anywhere near the sales numbers of Gears, but it will sell. It's the sequel to a pretty damned popular launch game, from a good developer, and it's of the right type to sell.

[y2kev]

What else is it competing against in November? October is the big month. It should chart in November because GH4 is October. It's going to be 40% of the chart, possibly 50% if there is a DS tie-in.

[Smooth Groove]

R2 should do well.  It has been hyped all year and there aren't many PS3 exclusives going against it. 

[Tabasco]

Lots of Wii shit will sell in Nov.  WiiFit, WiiMusic.  WiiPlay.  All that crap.  As someone said ins some other thread, adults buy games when they want, kids get games as presents.  Doesn't RB 2 come out for PS3 and Wii in Nov? 

I expect Gears2, Bond, Mirror's Edge, and Cod5 on XBOX to beat R2.  And not all those will chart.  I don't think there's many PS3 only gamers, and the people who own both will wait to play it.  I doubt R2 will sell 300k it's first month.

edit for kevy     i know rb2 for wii is nov.  cod5 for 360 mp beta this month.

[y2kev]

rb2 is this month for ps3. i dunno about wii.


i'm still kind of uncertain about cod5. i think cod4 was such a huge smash because of the beta. there's been comparatively little buzz for cod5 but I'm not sure if that's just in the hardcore circles or in general.

[cool breeze]

What else is it competing against in November? October is the big month. It should chart in November because GH4 is October. It's going to be 40% of the chart, possibly 50% if there is a DS tie-in.

In terms of just shooters, there is Quantum of Solace coming out on the same day as it on 360 and PS3 (the game actually looks decent, like a CoD4 meets a non-shitty PDZ), then Gears 2 that comes out 3 days after, then CoD5 that comes out a week after that, and then finally Left 4 Dead a week after that.

Other big games in the month are Mirror's Edge on the 11th (same day as CoD5), Valkyria on the 11th, and Banjo on the 14th.  Fallout 3 coming out on all capable platforms a week before R2 is also pretty big.  All in all both this and next month will make me poor.

And I didn't even include the few portable games and import games.   Also December 2nd Prince of Persia is coming out with Persona 4 a week after that.

uh, and Wii has Animal Crossing and Wii Speak that month.

[y2kev]

What else is it competing against in November? October is the big month. It should chart in November because GH4 is October. It's going to be 40% of the chart, possibly 50% if there is a DS tie-in.

In terms of just shooters, there is Quantum of Solace coming out on the same day as it on 360 and PS3 (the game actually looks decent, like a CoD4 meets a non-shitty PDZ), then Gears 2 that comes out 3 days after, then CoD5 that comes out a week after that, and then finally Left 4 Dead a week after that.

Other big games in the month are Mirror's Edge on the 11th (same day as CoD5), Valkyria on the 11th, and Banjo on the 14th.  Fallout 3 coming out on all capable platforms a week before R2 is also pretty big.  All in all both this and next month will make me poor.

And I didn't even include the few portable games and import games.   Also December 2nd Prince of Persia is coming out with Persona 4 a week after that.

COD5- will be a hit, not sure what size
Quantum of Solace-- I feel like there is no hype for this game, but it looks not bad. Hit.
Gears 2- Quantum hit
Left 4 Dead- Bomba. If not bomba than 0 legs on console.
Mirror's Edge- I'll be risky and say bomba
Valkyria- Epic bomba
Banjo- Bomba
Persona 4- Bomba
Portable games- they never chart unless they are games not targeted to pirates

So I would predict the October charts to exclude LBP but the November charts to actually include R2. But I am probably off.

[duckman2000]

Yeah, it will. Not least in Europe, of course.

[WrikaWrek]

Rolling thunder bitches

[Tabasco]

that's for steam i'm sure.  i love valve, but l4d is just coming at a bad time.  not sure when i'll get a chance to play with 4 friends over xbl

[Grecco]

What else is it competing against in November? October is the big month. It should chart in November because GH4 is October. It's going to be 40% of the chart, possibly 50% if there is a DS tie-in.

In terms of just shooters, there is Quantum of Solace coming out on the same day as it on 360 and PS3 (the game actually looks decent, like a CoD4 meets a non-shitty PDZ), then Gears 2 that comes out 3 days after, then CoD5 that comes out a week after that, and then finally Left 4 Dead a week after that.

Other big games in the month are Mirror's Edge on the 11th (same day as CoD5), Valkyria on the 11th, and Banjo on the 14th.  Fallout 3 coming out on all capable platforms a week before R2 is also pretty big.  All in all both this and next month will make me poor.

And I didn't even include the few portable games and import games.   Also December 2nd Prince of Persia is coming out with Persona 4 a week after that.

COD5- will be a hit, not sure what size
Quantum of Solace-- I feel like there is no hype for this game, but it looks not bad. Hit.
Gears 2- Quantum hit
Left 4 Dead- Bomba. If not bomba than 0 legs on console.
Mirror's Edge- I'll be risky and say bomba
Valkyria- Epic bomba
Banjo- Bomba
Persona 4- Bomba
Portable games- they never chart unless they are games not targeted to pirates

So I would predict the October charts to exclude LBP but the November charts to actually include R2. But I am probably off.

Mirrors Edge ,L4 Dead, and Quantum will all be hits. Agree with the rest.

[Cormacaroni]

Back on track: Japanese folks are not buying the PS3 because they pick up Famitsu every week and see stuff about Dragon Quest on DS, Monster Hunter on PSP/Wii and FF and a bazillion J-rpgs on 360. They're not used to having to make choices beyond "Buy the Nintendo console or the one with all the other games". Ennui has set in, I fear. Rather than make the wrong choice, I think many of them are just skipping this gen, or waiting for the tail end of it.

[y2kev]

40% more preorders than Orange Box doesn't mean a ton given the long-term performance of the game on console. I'm just not totally sure about L4D on console.

Mirror's Edge could be this year's Assassin's Creed but I don't think the marketing is there.

[originalz]

Back on track: Japanese folks are not buying the PS3 because they pick up Famitsu every week and see stuff about Dragon Quest on DS, Monster Hunter on PSP/Wii and FF and a bazillion J-rpgs on 360. They're not used to having to make choices beyond "Buy the Nintendo console or the one with all the other games". Ennui has set in, I fear. Rather than make the wrong choice, I think many of them are just skipping this gen, or waiting for the tail end of it.

From what I can tell, PS3 and 360 are seen as systems for otaku and rich kids, whereas Wii is the more appealing gaming experience.  They were too expensive, and there are very few "Japanese" games (although the 360 is trying really hard to break that stereotype).  There's so much licensed crap and quirky games for the Wii that they look at the two shelves, see all the Japanese-focused titles on the Wii, and it's a no-brainer why it's selling so much better.  Sony more or less abandoned Japan to focus their titles and marketing towards the West, which makes sense since that's where the battleground is.  By doing so tho, they more or less gave up the market for Nintendo (and allowing Microsoft to have an easier time getting Japanese support).

[Kestastrophe]

40% more preorders than Orange Box doesn't mean a ton given the long-term performance of the game on console. I'm just not totally sure about L4D on console.

I am not sure either. I've heard Shawn Elliott say that the 360 port is completely competent, but I think the lack of steady support of the orange box on 360 will hurt it.

[cool breeze]

I think Mirror's Edge will bomb big time, especially considering that EA isn't nearly as good at marketing as Ubisoft is.  There is a good chance that it will get the nerds riled up and become the Portal of this year, but I still don't know if that will happen either.

[y2kev]

Asscrud had literally years and years of marketing. Mirror's Edge jumped onto people's radars at the European PS show earlier this year and still has no "public face."

[demi]

Resistance is about as run of the mill as a shooter can get.  The amount of features isn't important when the core game just isn't that good. 

The core game was as "good" as anything else

Nope, bye

Prey > Resistance

[Kestastrophe]

Nope, bye

Prey > Resistance

Ouch

[ananus]

Sony more or less abandoned Japan to focus their titles and marketing towards the West, which makes sense since that's where the battleground is.

how does that make sense? instead of the ps3 being the system with action games and jrpgs, it became the system with subpar shooters and racers. instead of catering to the bigger part of their ps2 userbase, they went for the distinguished mentally-challenged fellows and rabid fanboys with home and uncharted. even if the ps3 wasn't going to be huge in japan, it could at least sell like the psp if it had more games.

imo, the only thing sony has done right in regards to their games this gen was to keep mgs4 and ffxiiiversus exclusives.

also, by not focusing on japan, they left it open for microsoft to gain more support there, as you said it yourself. it was probably their biggest mistake this gen after 599 us dollars.