Working Title 07.26.06: Welcome to Next Gen - The Playstation 3

Posted by Jordan Williams on 07.26.2006

Sony is running at 2-0(depending on who you ask) do they have what it takes to go 3-0? And SIX-HUNDRED DOLLARS!?

Yo, It's Jordan. As promised, this is Working Title. I figured there was no better way to kick off the Games Zone than to do an overview of the Next Gen, and, as promised, here is the next issue.


This issue is going to be all about Sony's Playstation 3. Seeing as I don't care much for hardware specs, you aren't going to hear me go on and on about the graphical power (unless it's warranted) or what format it uses. You are going to hear me talk about the games, the look, and what to expect.

While I try to keep these articles fairly unbiased, I find it next to impossible, so you will be forced to deal with some of my bias. It's MY column, damn it. My column, my opinions.



Introduction

With the PS1 and the PS2 asserting their dominance over the game market for almost a full decade, it's pretty much a no-brainer that the PS3 has a lot to live up to. Sony already promised it to be the best game console since sliced bread (and we all remember how great a game console "sliced bread" was). Wait, what? Sony says it ISN'T a game console? Then what the hell is it? ...A Media Hub? What the hell is a Media Hub?


Media Hub?

Sony has been often criticized for its dead-set attempts to vary itself from the competition. With the PS2 we saw the DVD player, and now with the PS3, we are seeing the Blu-Ray. Right now, if you say Blu-Ray to Joe Average, he'll look at you like you are an idiot, but Sony hopes that this will change in a few years. Along with that, Sony boasts a pretty impressive hunk of hardware, including a pretty big HD and that snazzy Blu-Ray. But does it all really matter in the long run? Of course it does if you want a Media Hub!

Sony plans to take the idea of the game console and throw it out the window. They don't want to be JUST your game console. They want to be your game console, your internet modem, and your home entertainment center. They want to be it all. Now, you might be wondering what the hell justifies them, of all people, to want to be a Media Hub. Well, funny you should ask that, because my next point...

SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS!?

I am fairly positive that was the first thing out of a ton of Sony fans' mouths after they watched E3. That's right, if you want a premium PS3 model, you will have to shell out $600. One car payment. One month of rent. 600 things off the Taco Bell Dollar Menu.

So, why the ginormous price leap, Sony? Well, let's look at some of the stuff here. We are getting a GIANT-assed HD, Blu-Ray ability, and a ton of other stuff that some will argue we don't really need. Basically, we are getting about $1500 bucks of equipment for only $600. But you see, the problem is...it's a video game console. As much as Sony wants to get away from the fact, the main reason ANYONE will buy the Playstation is to play games, first and foremost.

But, to all the whiners, if you don't want to plunk down your girlfriend for a PS3, why don't you just bite the bullet and get the core model? That seems to be all the rage today. Who needs that extra HD space. It's not like you are going to fill it up anyway...well, if you DO manage to fill it up, I have a nice friend called Sunlight you need to meet.

Now, what has become a really hot topic this generation is the aspect of controllers. Now, now, I know I should really be saving this for when I discuss the Nintendo Wii, but not many people know the legacy of the PS3 Controller.

Before E3, when the PS3 was shown, it had this lovely little diddy of the controller so lovably called the Battarang.



Then at this year's E3, we ended up seeing this.





Does that controller look familiar to you? It should. It's virtually the same controller they have had for the last two generations. However, there are some serious changes. This controller, while it looks sharply like the DualShock, won't bear that name or that namesake. This controller now features tilt functionality that will be implemented in some of the games, but, at the cost of this, the PS3 controllers will no longer rumble.

Some fans are not happy about this.

Sony fans think this is just a cheap way to cash in on the buzz around the Nintendo Wii and the 'Wiimote'.

Nintendo fans think this is another case of Big Bad Sony stealing something else from Nintendo.

I see it as a little bit from column A and a little bit from column B.

Did Sony originally intend to have tilt functionality in its controller? I personally have no idea. I do think they loved the Battarang, though. But with OBVIOUS bad to good reactions they received, they went for a style everyone knows and loves.

Now, onto the loss of the rumble feature. Fans seem to not care much, but fans of FPS's are in a complete uproar. I think the loss of rumble was a very dumb move, but it definitely won't make or break the console. The tilt functionality won't, either. Sony really better push this thing or at least use it so it doesn't look like a cheap dig at trying to capitalize on Nintendo. Otherwise, they'd have lost rumble for nothing.


Games, the Lifeblood of the Media Hub


Yes, first and foremost, the PS3 will be a GAMING console. It might be able to toast an English Muffin PERFECTLY or babysit your little sister, but it will still play games. What games will it play? I don't have a definitive list, but just popping some off the top of my head, we have:

Final Fantasy XII and XIII
Assassin's Creed
Grand Theft Auto (after Xbox 360, of course)
Metal Gear Solid: Guns of the Patriots
Tekken 6
The Lord of the Rings: The White Council
Unreal Tournament 2007
Genji 2 (MASSIVE DAMAGE!!)


I am sure there's a Madden game I left out, but this is just to get a gist of what kind of games are going to be coming to the PS3. Now, unlike the console, the games aren't really going to break your wallet (or lack thereof after purchasing the PS3). With the games being projected at around 50-60 USD, you should be able to afford to pick up a couple of the better titles.

The games look to be more original, something Sony never really had a problem with. As you can see, flagship franchises of the console will be returning with the two latest installments of Final Fantasy and the very possible final installment of Metal Gear Solid (watch the trailer). Now, we all know one of the big things Sony has always held over the market is their sheer QUANTITY of titles. The PS2, in its prime, used to ship at least 20 to 30 different games every month. All signs point to that being the same case with the PS3, and with the hardware and third party development backing it up, the quality shouldn't suffer due to the quantity.


Will it stay on the throne?


Like I said before, it might be highly disputed, but in the eyes of common gamers, the Playstation is king. It has been in that throne almost long enough to carve in an ass groove. The question is, will the PS3 hold the spot this time, or is it finally time to move on?

Now, remember, I am trying not to be biased here, but this is my column, thus, my opinion. I think the PS3 is going to take a bit of a hit with that price tag, but Sony is a smart company. Video games aren't their main source of income (name an electronic, they make it). They will get smart; they'll probably drop that price and crank out some more titles to bring people in. Game-wise, I think the PS3 has a strong showing so far, but it can only go so far with sequels and final installments.

Microsoft and Nintendo (the latter especially) have come ready for war this time. Sony isn't going to have the cakewalk it had last time in cementing itself as the top dog. With both consoles selling at a cheaper price and both of them having their own games and attractions, Sony is going to have to pull something big out of its bag of tricks. The Xbox360 has its wonderfully developed online play and functionality. Wii will have the new style of play, which alone will create a lot of buzz. Sony right now hasn't offered up anything really "new" to the scene outside of its willingness NOT to be considered a console.

The PS3 doesn't want to end up like the PSP: all power but nothing to show for it, and hopefully they won't. The PS3 has all the makings to become a third-time champ, but it's all with how they manage their games, developers, and the other aspirations of the console.


And that's the end of THAT chapter


Well, one down, two to go. Next week we will look at the white giant that is the Xbox 360. Seeing as I don't know much about Microsoft's little baby, I might have someone help me out. Remember, this is my column, and it's my opinions. If you don't like something, gladly tell me about it. Drop me a line and I might even start a reader mail section. Who knows?

Until next time, this is Jordan, wishing this column had a real name.