B3yond the Report 01.20.09

Posted by Derek Robbins on 01.20.2009

Mass Effect coming to PS3 in 2009? Uncharted 2 a Stealth game? A new FF XIII character? All of that and more this week on B3yond the Report.

Hello and welcome to B3yond the Report! As always, this is your host Derek Robbins. Let's get this thing started!



A Mass Effect

Mass Effect was one of the X-Box 360 (and PC's) most under-rated gaming experiences. While it got a lot of mainstream flack for certain scenes in the game, I never really noticed many critics giving it the praise some gamers felt it deserved. Still, when people listed quality X-Box 360 exclusives, Mass Effect was always on the list. It should do you well to know that, like Bioshock and Eternal Sonata before it, Mass Effect is most likely heading towards the Playstation 3.

So why would Mass Effect make a debut on the PS3 so late anyhow? By now, you would assume most anyone who has wanted to play it has found a way to. Well, according to a source from within EA (in a story with Second Story Gamer), the plan is to release the Mass Effect Trilogy multi-platform as opposed to just on the X-Box 360. EA's reasoning for this is solely centered around the "economic outlook". So, they just wish to maximize profits. I hope this doesn't mean a hurried PS3 port, but whatever. At least we're getting it this time. Usually the differences in these sorts of games are negligible.

The same source also told the site that Mass Effect's release in 2009 was probably going to be around the middle of the year. I'm expecting a budget price for the title though. It would be awfully weird to ask full price for it when the game is getting released on both PC and the X-Box 360 at $20.00 with a bonus disk full of neat little goodies for you to peruse. Apparently it includes a documentary, game trailers, music, design galleries and Bring Down the Sky (the DLC pack). So, for those of you who haven't experienced the game yet, that's a pretty good deal for you there.

I really hope that's the package that we get on the Playstation 3. It's hard to say no to a new game on a platform at such a bargain price, especially when other new games will cost you $60. I sincerely doubt they'll start the price so low since it will be Mass Effect's debut on the Playstation 3, but I think it will be a real treat to Sony fans who have waited to play the game. I mean, not everyone has top-of-the-line computers! I'm a lucky one!

All of this, for the two non-Playstation consoles, is set to go down in February. If you're looking for the PS3 announcement, apparently it's all going to be revealed at the GDC in March. Until then, this is strictly a rumor. That said, this is a rumor to get excited about. When an exclusive this good goes multi-platform, it's certainly worthy of an elongated look. Let's just hope come March this little nugget of information gets bumped up from rumor to hard fact.

Until then, you'll just have to get your alien sex elsewhere.

Source: Second Story Gamer



Uncharted 2 is not a stealth game

Recently, it was revealed that Uncharted 2 was going to have stealth elements. This didn't really come as a shock to me, you know, because the original Uncharted was a cornucopia of playstyles as it was. Is adding a new one to the mix really that surprising? Still, it did catch other people off guard. There were some asking: "Golly, Uncharted 2 isn't going to be a stealth game, is it?"

Fear not! Nathan Drake, according to director Bruce Straley, will not be going shirtless and fighting a man who keeps shouting "BRRRRROTHER" at him on top of a Metal Gear:


Action-stealth is meant to simply flesh out our enemy AI - we're not suddenly creating a stealth game as we've seen misinterpreted.

We don't want to introduce the frustration of being forced to move at the game's (presumably slower) pace by replaying and replaying a set-up due to failing a stealth-heavy situation.

We feel that providing the option of action-stealth improves upon the pacing by allowing the player the choice to get more invested in the set-ups and get to know more about the environments than a straight gunfight would allow. It also allows us to embed more narrative and story into the game play.


I felt that one of the strengths of the original uncharted was its cinematic feel. At times, it felt like I was really in control of a movie. I think the "action-stealth" play could be an interesting addition. If done right, you can have some very pulse-pounding moments worthy of such an experience. I'm also pretty glad that they're not just taking the Uncharted 1 playstyle and porting it over to the sequel. I mean, I'm sure it won't play much differently, but at least they're doing something different right?

Also, I noticed his use of the word "option". This pretty much leads me to believe one of two things. Either there will be different paths that Nathan can take, which would be cool but is certainly more than I could ask for, or you can simply Rambo all situations. It seems that they want to take the game in kind of a new direction, but they also don't want to alienate fans by forcing them to do stuff. That's smart business. It shuts up losers like me by adding something new to the package and it also shows the fans of the series that they want to keep them there! How nice.

Whatever the case, it goes without saying that Uncharted 2 is one of my most hyped games for 2009. I think Naughty Dog gets better in their franchises as they continue – I don't care what anybody says, Jak III was great – so if that trend continues I expect the second Uncharted to blow the first out of the water. Yay! Fuck yeah Nathan Drake.

Source: CVG



Final Fantasy XIII news

The past few weeks I've had stories about FF XIII, and surprise, surprise…this week I have MORE news. So, yeah, if you haven't heard by now it has been made official: Final Fantasy XIII will be coming out in 2009…in Japan. Everywhere else, you can expect to be playing as Lightning come 2010. As much as it might suck that we have to wait until 2010 to play it, at least we can be sure that the game will get an excellent localization much like FF XII did.

There's also been a new character revealed unto the masses. The new character is named Sazh Kalzroy. He fights at a distance using guns and he also has a cute chocobo chick that lives in his afro. That's right, IN HIS AFRO. We now officially have the best Final Fantasy character of all time. Move over Vivi, step aside Terra, there's a new best Final Fantasy character and he has a fucking CHOCOBO IN HIS AFRO. SHIT!

Apparently, the character is going to be in your party for FF XIII's demo that's packaged along with the FF VII: AC Complete BLU ray movie. He's also supposed to be in your starting party, so if you were worried about Square blowing their load and revealing end-game information way too early, like Konami, nothing to fret over. Sazh seems to be a pretty good counter to Lightning. While Lightning appears to be a "cold" character, Sazh looks to be pretty warm and happy. The scans for the piece in Shonen Jump even says so! Sazh also appears to have a thing for Lightning, but I suppose that is really none of my business.

Speaking of the Advent Children Complete package, apparently there is another thing that could come with it. For those interested in paying a couple hundred more dollars, you can totally get a brand new Playstation 3 with your purchase of AC: Complete. It's not just any PS3, it's Final Fantasy VII themed! Alriiiiight, that's about enough of this, Square. We now have a FF VII theme PS3, we have Sephiroth Sackboys, and you had that one tech demo for FF VII. For God's sake, quit cock teasing your fan-base and just reveal that the Final Fantasy VII demo is being made. Really, imagine how electrified Square fanboys would be after that news? I've been critical of the seventh Final Fantasy at times, but damn, I sure would like to play it again with new graphics and voice acting. Just, you know, keep Aeris dead.

Obviously, Square still intends to keep FF XIII's demo exclusive to Japan, but there's nobody saying that you can't import it. After all, the Playstation 3 is conveniently region free. Of course, good luck understanding the thing. Square seems adamant about releasing this game with Advent Children Complete, so until that receives an American release – which I doubt it will, we rarely get these crazy Final Fantasy remixed titles (such as FF X International), let alone a movie – that's the only way we have access to the game. Such a shame.

FF XIII will be hitting our shores in 2010. Hopefully the good long wait will be worth it. From all appearances, we could have one of the best Final Fantasies in a long time at our hands. I cannot wait.

Source: finalfantasy-xiii.net



Your Weekly PSN Update

Well, let's see what Sony has for us this week, eh? I hope it's good…

• Downloadable games:
o Magic Ball (US$ 9.99)
o GTI Club+ (US$ 4.99)
• Add-on game content:
o Brain Challenge Expansion Pack (US$ 4.99)
 8 new minigames
 2 multiplayer games
 Creativity mode
 Special Kid Test and Senior Test modes
• Disgaea content
o Makai Kingdom Main Character Package (both Pram and Zetta (US$ 3.99)
 Pram only (US$ 1.99)
 Zetta only (US$ 1.99)
• Guitar Hero World Tour
o Country Track Pack (US$ 5.49)
 "Hillbilly Deluxe" by Brooks & Dunn (US$ 1.99)
 "Me and My Gang" by Rascal Flatts (US$ 1.99)
 "Ticks" by Brad Paisley (US$ 1.99)
o Travis Barker Track Pack (US$ 5.49)
 "Low (Travis Barker Remix)" by Flo Rida (Feat. T-Pain) (US$ 1.99)
 "Lycanthrope" by +44 (US$ 1.99)
 "What's My Age Again" by Blink 182 (US$ 1.99)
• Rock Band
o Roy Orbison Pack (US$ 9.99)
 "You Got It" (US$ 1.99)
 "Ooby Dooby" (US$ 1.99)
 "Oh, Pretty Woman" (US$ 1.99)
 "Mean Woman Blues" (US$ 1.99)
 "In Dreams" (US$ 1.99)
 "Claudette" (US$ 1.99)
o Lenny Kravitz Pack (US$ 6.99)
 "Mr. Cab Driver" (US$ 1.99)
 "Let Love Rule" (US$ 1.99)
 "Freedom Train" (US$ 1.99)
 "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (US$ 1.99)
o "Megasus" by Megasus (US$ 0.99)
o "Entangled" by Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives (US$ 0.99
• Shaun White Snowboarding Mile High Pack - Target Edition (US$ 9.99)
• Shaun White Snowboarding Mile High Pack - Regular Edition (US$ 9.99)
• Shaun White Snowboarding The Freebie Pack - Target Edition (free)
• Shaun White Snowboarding The Freebie Pack - Regular Edition (free)
• Game demos (free)
o Skate 2
o GTI Club+
• Game videos (free)
o PULSE 1/15 - 209MB (HD), 358MB (1080)
o Mahjong Tales Trailer
o Tekken 6 PSN Announcement Trailer January 2009
o Magic Ball Trailer
o Mafia II: Holiday Confession
o FIFA 09 - PSN Exclusive Inside FIWC 2009
o Cuboid trailer
o Buzz! Quitz TV
o PSN Movie Download machine spot
• Movie and Blu-ray Disc trailers (free)
o Why I Love Month Python
o Pineapple Express
o The Wackness
o The House Bunny
• PS3 Themes
o Disgaea Pram Theme (free)
o Savage Moon Theme (US$ 0.99)
• PS3 Wallpaper (free)
o Pineapple Express
o Tom Clancy's Endwar
o Savage Moon
For the PSP
• PULSE 1/15 Edition (free)
• Buzz! Master Quiz game demo (free)
• Ultimate Ghost 'N Goblins (downloadable game) US$ 19.99


The downloadable games this week are very interesting. Magic Ball looks to be a new version of BreakOut. It appears to offer relatively short bursts of fun and while I won't be paying $9.99 for the privilege of playing this game, I actually don't think it would be a waste of money if you decided to. It looks fun. The other game is something I would like to see more of. GTI Club was a game released by Konami in 1996 and GTI+ is a remake of sorts with enhancements such as new graphics and online play. I'd LOVE to see more classic games get that kind of treatment for PSN. Would be very nice.

The DLC this week is kind of…well, I don't like it. If you don't have Big Brain Academy or Brain Age, I suppose Brain Challenge is going to be your bag. I'm not sure the $4.99 DLC is worth it, but I imagine if you went ahead and bought the game, there really is no reason to avoid it. It doesn't appear to add a lot to the whole package, but maybe the idea of a creativity mode seems really appealing to you?

The other DLC this week appears to be more of the same. Disgaea DLC is still churning out – I still have no idea why it took them so long to come out with it in the first place – and it still sucks. I'm sorry, I'm not going to pay money to play as a character from the past Disgaea. As much as I love Rozalyn, it really doesn't add anything new to the story or gameplay. It's a purely aesthetic thing and if it's not something I can work towards in the actual game, I'm really not at all interested. The music DLC is the same as it has always been. It's there if you want it.

I looked up information on the Shaun White DLC, and maybe it's because I don't play the game, but that doesn't really seem like much content. A bunch of clothes, three competitions and five sidequests? Maybe someone who owns the game can tell me if this is big or not. It doesn't seem that way to me. When in doubt, ask whether you would rather own this DLC or Megaman 9 (since they both cost $9.99). If you say Megaman 9, just go buy that, or err…don't buy anything at all. That's an option too.

Gotta love that GTI Club+ also got a demo this week. It's as if they want me to pay the ludicrously low asking price to play their game! …Well, I just might! Also, I'm sure the Skate 2 demo will please most anyone who is eagerly anticipating the release of the sequel. So, yeah, so far the Downloadable games and Demos seem like fairly good sections, I wonder how the themes will fair?

Glad to see the Disgaea theme for free. I have no idea what the Savage Moon theme is, but I doubt I'll be purchasing it. Then again, I can't even be assed to purchase beautiful Megaman 9 themes, so maybe I am just a cheap bastard. Still, I prefer to support free themes. Valkyria Chronicles has been my theme since that one was unveiled to us. The wallpapers are also nice this time. I guess if you're really hard up and want a Savage Moon in your background, just get the wallpaper for free? Eh. Can't complain I guess.

The PSP game is the most recent Ghost n Goblins game. I didn't play it because I rarely play my PSP, but reading up on it, it seemed fairly interesting so you may want to give it a shot if you loved the series.

So, since we throw out the video section (just use gametrailers or youtube or something to see most of what they have), I'd have to say that this week the PSN update was pretty good. It was, at the very least, better than a lot of the shit we got at the end of last year. I'm glad to see a strong effort from Sony right out of the gate.



B3yond the Tabloids

There is a pretty wide-spread belief that Final Fantasy XIII will do the DLC tango. The idea behind this is the fact that Square released five items of DLC for The Last Remnant in December, and that game doesn't have near the hype that FF XIII does. Honestly, DLC shouldn't surprise anyone. Almost every game out there has it. With any luck, the DLC we get in America will allow us to receive some features Japan gets when they undoubtedly release their international version. I love all the optional bosses the series has, so…here's hoping.

It kind of sucks that Killzone 2 won't be having a collector's edition, eh? After all, most big games these days do. I know I have my ten slapped down on a collector's edition of Street Fighter IV. Well, there are still things of collector's value out there. A press-kit for Killzone 2 recently sold on eBay for a total of US $589 (£ 400). In order to avoid the whole inability to sell the game due to a violation of ToS – it's technically preview software – the seller used the "SELL NOW" option. So any of you with press kits of the game and happen to need a few extra dollars, after all journalists make decidedly little scratch, this might be the way to go.

Exectuive Producer Hunter Smith speaks highly of EA's upcoming Godfather 2. He says that the combat experience in the game is the best in all the genre. Yeah, I'm not exactly going to believe the game's executive producer, but there ya go. He also went on to say: It's a very intuitive experience. To go hand-to-hand we moved from having to lock on to everybody just to interact with them and then stick mashing to right and left controls so you really feel that you're tied into your avatar in terms of your right and left hands. We also added combos because we have the right and left experience. Well, I hope it's as fun as you say.

Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic recently tried out a song of his in Rock Band and…failed miserably. I know about Rock Band, because Nirvana has some songs on it. I had never tried the game before, so I gave it a go. I worked through the menu and found the song "In Bloom". I picked up the little guitar-shaped controller and hit the stage. I knew the bass line to the song, of course, but I couldn't quite master this new, different way of playing it. The game reminded me of Space Invaders. I tried to hit the notes cascading down the screen, but could barely keep up. He goes on to say that he approves of the experience though. SEE!? Some people realize it's just a game. Also, he realizes that this helps people actually buy music considering most everyone I know just downloads illegally anyhow.

Free Radical is no more, which makes the leaked footage of Starwars Battlefront 3 all the more depressing. Apparently, they were planning on adding a little twist to the game as there are some screenshots of a sith lord Obi Wan roaming around. That would be really cool and interesting. Word is that Pandemic Studios will be getting the rights to the game and that Battlefront 3 will be coming out. Sadly, I'm kind of wishing I got the one that Free Radical was developing.

Grand Theft Auto V will not be coming out this year and was just a silly rumor. Seriously, wouldn't that be depressing? Two current-gen GTAs while FF XIII has yet to receive one? Such a shame. I don't think the next GTA is going to be GTA V anyhow. I think they'll go and release a game like San Andreas next. Hopefully it will be as delightfully wacky as that game was.

Nobody knows if Yakuza 3 is coming out in any area outside of Japan. I have this to say: It damn well better!

The Resident Evil 5 collector's edition is set to cost $89.99. This would be ten dollars more than the asking price for SF IV's edition if you're keeping track at home. The game includes a Tricell messenger bag, a Chris Redfield figurine, a Kijuju necklace, a BSAA patch, and a steel book which contains the instruction manual, the game disk, and the bonus disk. Seems like a pretty good deal for the hardcore RE fan. I hope that RE 5 meets my loft expectations at the very least. I positively loved 4.

A new study shows that gamers do not play games for the love of violence. Well, some do, but that's not always the case. Apparently the challenge level is the main reason people come to the arena. That's good to hear!

The gaming industry is being hurt by the recession. Don't get me wrong, it's still growing…but not by as much. Sales grew 9% in August, declined 7% in September, and grew 7% in October and 8% in November. Apparently one out of every four dollars people set aside for entertainment go towards games. I wonder where the other dollars go? Hm.

For anyone worried about load times on SF IV, Capcom said it's no issue. The game loads perfectly on both the 360 and PS3. Apparently, it runs "especially perfectly" if you elect for the install option on the PS3. When asked whether the install was mandatory, the answer "it's optional" was given. This is kind of a sigh of relief to some. A lot of people really don't want to waste their hard-drive space. I do though. Fuck yeah lightning quick SF IV.

For those waiting for the Resident Evil 5 demo, it's coming to PSN on February 5th. A lot of people have created Japanese accounts in order to play these games ahead of time, so it'll be nice for those of us who didn't take that extra step.



B3yond the Cinema



This is the Battlefront 3 footage.



Here's some FEAR 2 demo gameplay to soothe your jangled nerves.



Your weekly dose of Street Fighter IV. This week it's a montage of EX moves. Oh God, I can't wait for this game. RESERVE IT NOW, WOULD YA?



Well lookie there, a Skate 2 trailer.



Spoiler alert: This video is from White Knight Chronicles and it features a battle with a boss. So if you are worried about spoiling the game before you get to play it, be wary. It looks kind of interesting though.

The One Man Water Cooler



Think of the last time that you saw video games covered in the mainstream media. Do you remember it? Most likely, it was something that was lacking in truth or was something totally damning the industry. Let's face it, the public as a whole does not get our hobby. This doesn't baffle me, I don't really expect people who never played a game in their life to totally understand it, but…I do think things should change.

For those of you who didn't know, I got my start at this site as a sports reporter. I covered NFL games on a weekly basis. I enjoy the NFL so I write about it. Sports journalism and video game journalism have a lot in common though. They are not technically needed in the grand scheme of things, but they are things that make life easier. When you have a rough day at work, you may think to yourself: "Well, at least I can watch the game tonight." You may also think: "Oh lord, I can't wait to see what sort of crazy scheme Tidus has got going this time!" They are not necessarily needed, but they help keep us sane.

Yes, when the world is collapsing around us, when things are at their worst, we will always have games to turn to. No matter who spits in our face, no matter what friends turn on us, no matter the cause of the world on the outside, we will always have an electronic friend that we can face and tell our problems. No, video games are not a healthy way to vent your anger. I would suggest that you killing people in GTA because you're angry probably isn't the healthiest thing in the world, but if you're looking for an escape, the game industry is perfect. What better way to forget your world than absorb yourself in another?

Obviously though, the way sports and games are covered are completely different. It used to be that Sports were considered the toy-department of journalism. You know, it's that one thing you're missing in a store but you just throw it there to have it all. Now it seems like sports journalism is a pretty integral part of our culture. We view sports as a necessity, something that helps us escape life. I hate to bring up this moment, but do you remember the tragedy of September 11th? For a lot of people, the first baseball game after that at Shea stadium was the kind of release that they needed. When Mike Piazza hit that homerun, I felt chills.

The thing is though, that's pretty much EXACTLY what I said about gaming. You want to know what the first thing I did when I got home from school that day? (I lived on an airforce academy at the time, so it was a bit scary. The base was sent into threat-con delta and nobody was allowed on or off of it without heavy surveillance) I played Final Fantasy Tactics. I did not want to think about the rest of the world, I wanted an escape, something so I wouldn't have to think about the travesties of this world.

The deal is, the same can be said for most other forms of entertainment. Books, movies, board games…all can be seen as an escape. The thing is, these forms of media rarely receive the verbal lashing that video gaming does. Why don't things like Child Play get more press coverage? Why do only the really negative stories get publicized? Why isn't this a legitimate form of industry? After all, there are congressmen out there who actually think that video games can't communicate ideas. That's insane!

I'm not foolish enough to suggest networks change drastically. I'm not saying hire a video game journalist and put out a video game show for the public to watch. That'd be different. What I am suggesting is that you hire maybe someone who is younger, someone who is privy to the world of gaming and maybe knows more about it than you do. Having a variety of opinions can only help your organization. Like if you look at baseball coverage, what makes for a more compelling watch? Four Red Sox fans yucking it up, or people from different team backgrounds discussing things evenly? Unless you live in New England, you probably prefer the former option.

What I would like is maybe, MAYBE one story a month that depicts gaming in a positive light. It would also have to appear on cable television since we all know print is being killed off. I want to show people who may be ignorant to gaming that it's not just a mindless activity, it's a legitimate field of entertainment that people can enjoy. It's something that Dads can play with their sons, it's something that warring brothers can play to settle their disputes, it's something worthy of a more positive light.

So enough with "video game" murders. Enough with over-the-hill politicians brandying about an agenda over a medium that they have never experienced. I want to see some fair coverage in gaming from somewhere outside our own medium, dammit!

Just, uh, don't pay attention to G4. Unless it's the Sess.



B3yond the Mailbag!



Steve307 dishes out Qore advice:

The December issue of Qore is free. You should check that out before wasting your money on other issues.

And it's really too bad that Rock Revolution sucks so hard, and the songs are all covers, because the songs choices own both RB and GH. Pantera? yes please.

Hah, I guess I forgot about that. I guess I'll try it out now. So now I can hate it with a reason, yay!

Also, regarding covers, am I the only person out there who sometimes prefers the covers to the original? Call me crazy, but a lot of the covers in Elite Beat Agents I found way better than their original versions. Jumping Jack Flash, for instance, I found vastly superior to the original track. Perhaps I'm weird. You also seem to enjoy Pantera a lot. I, err, hope it happens for you!

Rod Oracheski has a problem with PS3 controllers I don't really have:

The biggest problem with the PS3 controller, besides my objection to sticking with the same side-by-side analog stick build, is that the trigger buttons...well they aren't triggers. The way they curve, plus the material they're made of, leads to fingers slipping off - not good design.

There's an add-on piece you can stick onto the triggers to 'fix' it, but that's something they should address in a future revision of the controller.

Honestly, a lot of people seem to have your problem. I guess I hold my controller weird because my fingers never slide off of the two triggers. My brother says that I apparently have my index fingers pointed directly at the buttons (as opposed to covering them up), but I haven't noticed it. Whatever. Since this is a big problem for most people, I agree. Sony should address this issue.

Also, why don't you like the side-by-side analogue sticks? I actually find them quite comfortable. Honestly, I thought the Dualshock 2 was one of the best controllers of all time, so when the PS3 design was revealed to be pretty much the Dualshock 2 but wireless, I was happy. Damn those trigger buttons for ruining a good thing. DAMN THEM TO HELL.

Dude also tells me about December Qore:

I don't have issue with the DS3. Do you remember the boomerang mockup we had before the system was released? I've never had an issue with the R2 trigger not registering, but I don't usually play fighting games either.

And yes, the 360 is in the lead. And yes, it will be in the lead with the 3rd generation XBox comes out, and just like the PS2 did, when the PS3 sticks to its guns, and is out for some 9 or 10 years, and has sold 120 million systems, and Sony is still producing games for it, people will know for sure that they bought the right system.
If Microsoft does what they did last time, they will drop support of the 360 as soon as the "720" comes out and you'll have to start all over, buying all new everything, because backwards compatibility isn't cool.

I know that Sony dropped B/C from their system too, but that is why I bought the 20 gig, expanded its hard drive, and it sits out on my entertainment system, while my 360 and Wii hide in the closet until I need them. It has good games, and it is the superior system.

XBox is ok, but I don't like the controller, it feels bulky and the analog sticks don't feel right to me. I also can't stand the idea of paying money to play online multiplayer. I hate online multiplayer, except in the case of MMORPGs. In that case, I tolerate it simply because I must.

Oh and try the December Qore. It was free, and is exactly what you can expect from Qore every month. Oh and from what I've read, the controls on DC Universe are supposed to be more of a tap the button beat-em-up style. Don't know if that is true, but if it is, the PS3 control might be better than a keyboard.

Good column, I enjoyed it. Have a nice one.

Thanks for the compliment, and yeah, I remember the batarang controller. It was god awful, and honestly I would hope that they were never very serious about unleashing that thing to the public. Otherwise, I'd have to seriously question the minds at Sony.

Regarding the X-Box, I don't think that the next one will be called the 720. I know it's just a nickname people give, but…I think they'll look elsewhere. I know there will be a new one of those (along with a new Nintendo system) before the next Sony system, but that's what I kind of enjoy. I don't really know how much better graphics can get from where we are now, so does Sony really need to rush a PS4 out of the gate. Nah. I'm content with sticking to this system for several years. I really don't think this gen was THAT much better looking than the last one, but then again I am like legally blind

My PS3 is not backwards compatible so I have my PS2 connected at all times. Lately I have been re-playing Viewtiful Joe (which I originally owned on the Gamecube, but I lost it so I re-purchased it on the PS2) so it has to stay up at all times. Also, considering I loathe the PS3 trigger buttons, my preferred controller for SF A 3 is the PS2 controller. So that's where I play my PS 1 fighters.

Also, I like the 360 controller. It's a big improvement over the original X-Box controllers. Really, I hope that the next X-Box takes the Sony strategy of not really changing their controllers at all. I figure the Wii 2 or whatever will change like Nintendo always does. I just hope that the new Wii is more powerful. I'd love to say I am not a graphics guy, but when you look at Dead Rising Wii…wouldn't it be great if it could hold as many zombies as the X-Box version did? Sorry, the game is just not the same with like twenty zombies on the screen.
FDuk200K returns for a second straight week:

Thanks for the question feature Derek. I fully believe Sony could come back from this, but they need to start looking at themselves and not other companies. Like I said, a sales spike would happen if the console price was cut, but then Sony would need to ensure that the spike lead into higher sales. They didnt do this with MGS4 & allowed the hype and interest to die away. The mirror example would be the N64 when Ocarina of Time was released. Suddenly there was huge interest in the system & then nothing for 6 months. Great column though.

This is more a reply to Dude.

The only problem I see from that stratergy is will Sony be able to afford to keep the PS3 around for 9 or 10 years. At this moment, they've sold less than 20 million. They're in a position they're not used to, they're coming from behind. The press release is a perfect example of that as it shows they dont know how to handle it. The PS3 IS the superior system, but its still being outsold by the Wii & beaten by the X-Box. Better machine doesnt mean better results. The Nintendo 64 was a 64bit system which was crushed by the PS1. The Wii, while inferior to the PS3 on most levels, is crushing the superior system.

Onto your argument about the console lasting 10 years. Right now Sony are losing money & having to cut jobs. At the rate they're going they wont be able to afford the console at its price, will have to cut it & then make losses on the console for a time, all the while hoping that the console sales stay strong & don't drop again. The problem is, if they keep it around for 10 years, when Nintendo and Microsoft release new consoles, in the average comsumer mind, that would make the PS3 seem old and stale. Plus, in 10 years, will developers still want to develope games for it? Little Big Planet is a hugly innovite title but hardly anyone is playing it because its on the console with the least sales. When people hear news about a new console they want in on it. Heck, even news channels report on new consoles releases these days. If Sony keep the PS3 around for 10 years, when its hardly setting the world on fire in its first 5, how can it compete against hype and interest when Microsoft and Nintendo release new consoles. Its an easy market tool. Microsoft and Nintendo can just label the PS3 as old and inferior. It might not be, but to the averge consumer, if there is a console thats been out for 10 years with no news of a succesor and a console thats juuuuuuuust coming out, people will look at that and say "I want the brand new one." Before you deny that, it does happen. Otherwise the NES, PS1 and original Gameboy would still be on sale. Loyal Sony supports would stick with the PS3, but based on sales figures there just isnt enough loyal Sony support out there right now.

A very easy lead to this would be to cut the price coinciding with the release of Killzone 2, or better yet release a Killzone 2 bundle at a reduced price, less than what PS3s currently cost. It is a pretty nice reduction, and in the average consumers eyes, they'd probably see it as a very good deal.

The reason the Wii is crushing the PS3 is because it appeals to more people. I think a nice comparative example would be the Dreamcast. That system was releasing fantastic game after fantastic game while the PS2 was kind of just floundering there. That system was grand, but due to a lack of faith in Sega, the system kind of collapsed. Hell, after the failure of the Saturn, I had a feeling it would collapse as well. I would really hate for the same thing to happen to Sony.

I also totally see where you're coming from when you say the 10 year strategy won't work. Most people will just assume whatever the next systems are will be more powerful. That's the obvious train of thought. Even if the PS3 out-powers the next Nintendo system, it will be the inferior one in the public's mind because it is the old one. I know when I was younger, I always assumed the next system would be way more powerful than the first. I mean, I was totally right, but I figure that line of logic is still there.

At the same time, perhaps the PS3 will be cheaper than those next consoles by then, and people looking for a value will hop on the PS3 bandwagon. Just look at the PS2. That thing STILL continues to sell and it has been dead for a year now, outside of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise. I think if the PS3 were to shift its focus a little bit and appease to value gamers at the time the competition upgrades, they'll be able to make the PS3 last in the long term.

I think they may see it like you do in the end. We'll have to wait and see.

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