BACK TO THE INDEX.
-By DMG Ice Staff-
-Posted May 26th, 2005-
-Oo! Hate!-
Philip's take on Sony at E3 2005: Sony had a lot of talk and no walk whatsoever. Nintendo didn't show us what their system could do, but neither did Sony. Instead, Sony showed us FF7's opening running in "real time" along with a bunch of pre-rendered shots and videos. Alright, FF7! Oh.. kay. Don't worry, that doesn't sound too bad, it was done similar to Advent Children. My guess is that it is a bit like the FF8 demo they did for the PS2, it's how the processor would do if it was running on the PS2's main CPU inside of a computer with limitless memory bandwidth, etc. It is EXACTLY like the Project Reality shots and videos that Nintendo had for the N64, or Arcade Killer Instinct. It is something you could do with the processor if it was in a completely different setting than what you will get. In other words, Sony is talk and no walk. Which is why the system was under glass, and not touchable. They also would not let people even touch the controller. The controller is absolutely crap and the system is huge on hype. Loads of hype. The Killzone video shown was relatively glitchy, but supposedly running on something close to the systems actual capabilities. Considering the memory bandwidth on the system, the jerkiness and glitchy graphics are about right. Expect games on the PS3 to look like the Killzone demo. Except with less frames and less objects on screen to keep the system from gagging. It is not essential for me to get a PS3, but I own a PS2 and I owned a PS1. Since the PS3 is backwards compatible and I do love me some Square games, I'll eventually pick up a PS3. I am just saying that I think it's a waste of time and money to camp out for it, and that it is really more raw hype than power. I can not wait to try out the system in playable form next E3, though.
After E3, information came out that confirmed that the PS3 demos were not running on a PS3, but on a PC with similar (read: BETTER) specifications. Nice one, Sony.
The system design is pretty questionable to me, I hope it come with table leg attachments, because that maybe the only way it fits in my room. The PS3 is larger than the current Xbox system. I think that it is this way because Ken Kutaragi, and Howard Stringer both have a very tiny penis? Hey, Sony fans will dig it though, especially if that controller has a rumble feature.
As for the PSP?
I held off on getting one because it was rather expensive and it was either E3 or a PSP. I was also fairly unsure about the device as there was not a lot of games out or coming out for it that I wanted. So, I went into E3 with the hopes that I would see some killer PSP games that would make me want to buy the system. As it turns out, E3 went a long way in convincing me that it really is a waste of money and I will not be buying one anytime soon.
The game I liked the most was Popolocrois. And even that is a port of an old Saturn game. It could have easily been done on the DS or the GBA. I could not read all of the extensive Japanese text, but I know a fun RPG when I see one! I tried a large amount of PSP games, I thought Infected was only "eh." I crashed Virtua Tennis twice, but from what I played.. I can tell you that it does not live up to the Dreamcast version. It also gets its ass handed to it by Mario Tennis Advance. Coded Arms, and Jax were limp at best (Jax) and boringly placcid at worst (Coded Arms). Pac-Man World and Death Jr. were decent, but not worth buying a system for. I must apologize in advance, because I know some of the people working on Death Jr. What do I think of Death Jr.? Death Jr. is the best 3D platformer on the PSP; but if it were on the PS2, it would be bargain bin fodder for under $14.95 the day it came out. There, I said it. Metal Gear Acid 2 is cell shaded this time around and looks a little better for it. It is not anywhere near being on my list of must buys though.
A lot of new UMD videos were announced for the PSP at E3, and the motion detection pak for Mercury was not shown or even on the floor. That is useless. Were any new attachments shown for the PSP? Aside from third party CASES, bases, and headphones? No. None at all. No cell phone, no UMD burner, no camera, no NOTHING. The best part is the release lists for the PSP for the end of the year. The GIZMONDO has almost as many games coming out in the USA by the end of this year as the PSP does. Considering that the Gizmondo is considered by the unenlightened masses as being the spiritual successor to the Game.Com, this is nothing short of PATHETIC on Sony's part. There are at least a few grade A titles coming out for the PSP by Spring 2006 though! Expect next E3 to be all about the PS3, with the big news being GT4 Mobile. GT4 Mobile being a watered down version of GT4 with 10 new cars to offset missing half the cars from the PS2 game. I think people are slowly seeing through you, Sony. Careful! Heh.
Maybe it is a little harsh.. but when Sony has a tiny part of their booth devoted to sitting in a hanging chair to play games that are 30% to 40% done that crash half the time, and are boring the rest of the time.. that does not look good, when sitting there.. I can look across the floor to see Super Mario Bros. 5, ONLINE MARIO KART, and several dozens of great AAA titles like Castlevania and Viewtiful Joe. Sorry, Sony.. the PSP is dead in the water right now. Glub glub.
Adam Pearson shares some thoughts on Sony at E3: In your Sony article above, you mention the hanging chairs in Sonys booth. I noticed most of the games in there were ones that had been out since near launch. Coded Arms, Burnout rehash, Virtua Tennis et al were running on standup booths. I know I saw Twisted Metal Black running in the chair booth, or something like that. That's even more pathetic then putting crappy unreleased stuff, in my opinion.
Article by Philip Wesley
Property of DMG Ice, dmgice.com, and the original author as expressed in the by-line.