My Lesson in Buying a Console System

[Highbury]

I have a console, but only use it for games that are just not available on the PC. Which basically means EA Sports games lol. Of those I really only play the NHL games, which is why my Xbox is usually referred to as my hockey box.

[danlisa]

Originally Posted by Wolfehunter

Sure your right. If you don't want updates or patch fixes for games. If you don't connect it to the net it act like the old PS2 system. Newer games will require PSN accounts. Has nothing to do with multiplayer. Thats there new policies changes that came out a year or two ago.. When does sony plan to enforce this? I have no idea. its just written there for now.

I know exactly what you're referencing. I have all the revisions of the Terms of Service for the Playstation Network (PSN) and the Terms and Conditions for the Firmware Updates released so far for the PS3....Long story but I was pi$$ed at them for removing my Linux option....anyway.....

The parts they amended in both T&Cs was to do with trend data collection for all existing and future PSN accounts. Much the same as Google do in Chrome, M$ in IE etc.......basically, like it or not, if you have a PS3 + PSN account Sony can collect any data (not private) they like without prior permission. They also added the fixed requirement that some/future digital content (obtained from the PS Store) may require the owner to be signed in to even start the game. Heck, I have 2 of these games already. Not signed in = no play, but again if you're PS3 is not online you can't get this content anyway.

However, there has never been (or will there be in this generation) the forced requirement to create a PSN account and to have the PS3 connected to the internet as a requirement for any future disc based games. Perhaps the PS4 but not this time around.

Which games does your brother think he is being forced to create an account for?

[CaptHawkeye]

Originally Posted by stabiz

Consoles are silly. That might change at some point, but right now there is no reason to own one.

Says you right? Look, we can sit here on this forum and butt-hurt all we want about the industry shifting to business-convenient console development. That's not going to stop reality from...well...being reality. Millions of people own consoles because, *gasp*, it turns out Joe Average does not actually care about random hardware specs and CPU clocks. He wants to play an instant gratification game with his bros online. Who can blame him either? I'll be damned if games like Gears of War, Warhawk, Bad Company, and even Halo aren't fun. Simple as they are.

PC users will sit around complaining that the industry is ignoring them. Frankly, it's probably good that's happening. Mainstream developers have shown they have little interest in developing for a market prone to insecure sale, critical of slow progress in development, and constantly eager for more and more developer support for little more reason than nostalgia. Most PC games released over the past 3 years have basically been developed for consoles and just ported to the PC. PC gamers are not a priority for mainstream developers, yet their continued precense in the market continues to stifle indie development. (Not that indie developers are perfect either.)

Consoles are just a really attractive market for developer and consumer alike. That's the reality of having a simple, robust, versatile technology that anyone can afford.

Developers are gamers, but they're businessmen first. In order to run a business, they have to go where the revenue is. Without it they'll be unable to develop at all.

We. Are. Not. That. Revenue. Sorry guys, that's all their is to it.

[Wolfehunter]

Originally Posted by danlisa

I know exactly what you're referencing. I have all the revisions of the Terms of Service for the Playstation Network (PSN) and the Terms and Conditions for the Firmware Updates released so far for the PS3....Long story but I was pi$$ed at them for removing my Linux option....anyway.....

The parts they amended in both T&Cs was to do with trend data collection for all existing and future PSN accounts. Much the same as Google do in Chrome, M$ in IE etc.......basically, like it or not, if you have a PS3 + PSN account Sony can collect any data (not private) they like without prior permission. They also added the fixed requirement that some/future digital content (obtained from the PS Store) may require the owner to be signed in to even start the game. Heck, I have 2 of these games already. Not signed in = no play, but again if you're PS3 is not online you can't get this content anyway.

However, there has never been (or will there be in this generation) the forced requirement to create a PSN account and to have the PS3 connected to the internet as a requirement for any future disc based games. Perhaps the PS4 but not this time around.

Which games does your brother think he is being forced to create an account for?

He doesn't care. He's not even going there. Regardless of the possible future changes. He has enough games for his PS2 to last him many years.. And then borrow my PC games on top..

He's not a hardcore gamer like me. He doesn't burn through games like I do.

[Wolfehunter]

Originally Posted by CaptHawkeye

Says you right? Look, we can sit here on this forum and butt-hurt all we want about the industry shifting to business-convenient console development. That's not going to stop reality from...well...being reality. Millions of people own consoles because, *gasp*, it turns out Joe Average does not actually care about random hardware specs and CPU clocks. He wants to play an instant gratification game with his bros online. Who can blame him either? I'll be damned if games like Gears of War, Warhawk, Bad Company, and even Halo aren't fun. Simple as they are.

PC users will sit around complaining that the industry is ignoring them. Frankly, it's probably good that's happening. Mainstream developers have shown they have little interest in developing for a market prone to insecure sale, critical of slow progress in development, and constantly eager for more and more developer support for little more reason than nostalgia. Most PC games released over the past 3 years have basically been developed for consoles and just ported to the PC. PC gamers are not a priority for mainstream developers, yet their continued precense in the market continues to stifle indie development. (Not that indie developers are perfect either.)

Consoles are just a really attractive market for developer and consumer alike. That's the reality of having a simple, robust, versatile technology that anyone can afford.

Developers are gamers, but they're businessmen first. In order to run a business, they have to go where the revenue is. Without it they'll be unable to develop at all.

We. Are. Not. That. Revenue. Sorry guys, that's all their is to it.

Most hard core PC gamers want the big names to leave the PC market. New names will come and bring new games. PC games have always been the underdog's in the entrainment world. Been like that since its start. Old Dev's leave and new blood comes in. Sure we may not have the amazing graphics like the console "cough cough" But hey your right to most people buy consoles. Makes me happy consoles are for them anyhow... I'm a PC gamer forever.. Let them get there money's. Sure..

So EA, Ubisoft, THQ, Stardock, etc.. good riddance.

[CaptHawkeye]

That's what i'm saying. Big name developers have clearly shown they have no interest in developing for the PC market. So let em' leave. Otherwise they're just going to keep treating the market like an ignored bastard child they can make a little money off of every now and then.

Unfortunately, that leaves the market to crazy indie developers. Indie developers are nice in that they have little in the way of market obligations, they they're more free to develop in whatever direction they want.

The problem they're also usually ignorant of good gameplay design, are massively paranoid about pirates, have scant resources etc.

As always it comes down to choosing your poison.

[Lionclaw]

Getting a new power supply thingy for the Xbox 360 didn't help, it's a hardware problem in the console it seems.

And the Xbox online support for getting a repair request has an error in it... Yay, Micro&%¤*!

3 Red rings.. Still have 1 year on the warranty. I've had it for a bit over 2 years, not really impressive reliability.


My PS2 is at least 5 years old and still runs perfectly.
Heck, my Nintendo 64 is over 10 years old and it still works.

[HunterICX]

Originally Posted by Lionclaw

Heck, my Nintendo 64 is over 10 years old and it still works.

indeed mine does too, just too bad the gamepad's joystick doesn't last that long thought

it still works but it's a bit worn out.

HunterICX

[Lionclaw]

Still have the original gamepad that came with the N64.

Fired up Golden Eye, oh man... Haven't played for, perhaps 5+ years. Talk about losing skills. I suck now!