Yet another PS3 argument dies

The arguments leveled against Sony's PlayStation 3 when it first launched in late 2006 were both numerous and legitimate. Lack of software - a common refrain at the start of every new generation - led the charge, but the price tag concern wasn't too far behind.

Then, not much later, we started to see the unfortunate trend of piss-poor 360-to-PS3 ports. The reason for this was simple: developers weren't used to the PS3's complex new architecture and in stark contrast, they had a firm grasp of the year-old Xbox 360. Therefore, we end up with inferior PS3 versions of games like The Orange Box and F.E.A.R., among others. It wasn't long before this caught on and the mainstream buying public would issue two arguments- 1. the PS3 has no games (which we've already laid to rest), and 2. the PS3 version is always worse than the 360 version. Yep, it's time to drop the hammer on that latter argument, too, because it hasn't been true for most of 2008 and won't be true ever again in the future. In fact, many third-party developers are using the PS3 as the lead platform in the software production process, and if they're not, they're at least developing a project simultaneously for the PS3 and 360. We see examples of this at every turn, and for the biggest multi-platform releases of 2008, it's clear that things have changed.

Grand Theft Auto IV was basically identical on both the PS3 and 360 (don't listen to the Xbots who say the PS3 version is inferior; we've seen and played both and it's not true), and the same goes for games like Devil May Cry 4, Soul Calibur IV, Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero: World Tour, Call of Duty: World at War, Fallout 3, Mirror's Edge, Need for Speed Undercover, Far Cry 2, etc. There may be small differences in certain cases, but they're hardly the significant - and sometimes crippling - differences from the past, and sometimes, the PS3 version is actually better. And as time goes on, developers will become more and more comfortable with the PS3 hardware, and it's quite likely that the 360 versions of games will begin to bow to the PS3 versions. At the very least, the PS3 exclusives will kick the crap out of the 360 exclusives...well, it's a guarantee for 2009, at least. Now, there may be a few lingering instances of the PS3 version of a multiplat failing to pass muster - I'm sure everyone can list an example or two in the second half of 2008 - but the point is that it's most certainly dying out, if it's not entirely dead already.

So while there are still arguments against the PS3, as there are for any console, this one particular argument is now on its deathbed, if it hasn't flatlined already. PS3 versions of multiplatform games are almost never significantly inferior anymore, and that's that. You can still complain about the price, the debatable lacking in PlayStation Home, or whatever, but "PS3 has no games" and "PS3 versions of multiplats are always worse" are two statements that are, as of now, 100% false.

lets just lay to rest the fact that the ps3 sucks

cherryghost wrote:lets just lay to rest the fact that the ps3 sucks

Amen

Ps3 is much more reliable, bigger and better and there is alot more exclusive games coming out in 2009!!!!! + we got home!!!!!!!

home is terrible! name for me 5 decent ps3 exclusives out this year

long live the 360/pc gaming

How is Home terrible?? hav u ever played it?? likelyhood of you lying in ur reply is quite large!!I want proof!!
1) LittleBigPlanet
2) Haze
3) MotorStorm .
4)Uncharted 2
5) Resistance 2
6)Killzone 2
7) God of War 3
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
9) Final Fantasy XIII
10). Gran Turismo 5

Now you name me 10 decent Xbox 360 exclusives!!!

Halo 3
Gears Of War
Gears Of War 2
Fable 2
Geo Wars Evolved 2
Braid
Castle Crashers
Blue Dragon
Hexic HD
Bejewled 2

(Final Fantasy XIII is not a PS3 Exclusive....It is also coming out on Xbox)
(Unless it was "Versus XIII")

I no what i would rather play!!! Them games aren't that good !!

Only good games in that list that i would be annoyed at not having are GOW and Halo3!!!

the day i pay a euro for virtual furniture confirms to me that the gaming scene on that particular format is truly aiming for casual worthlessness....


oh wait!

The PS3 has NEVER sucked. It was expensive yes the day it arrived, even more so if you were a spastic fool buying one from a person on eBay for more than your soul is worth.

But I never base my assessment of a product just on it's price.
The day you had it in your possession you had a fine Blueray player. Of course a gamer buys a game console for games.

Myself, I would have bought the PS3 for the Blueray player, and assumed the games would show up eventually.

The only place the PS3 has failed is in it being a profitable item for Sony. Frankly I couldn't care less for Sony's fortunes eh. I've seen their DRM shenanigans. They know how to make a good machine, they just suck at making a profit on their good machines.

But that's not our problem is it?

Not being a console player, I can't speak of their game's line up. Well I know that SOMEONE really screwed up with Civilization Revolution on the PS3. The internet play was as pooched as it gets. I lost interest in the official forums a long while back. So I have no idea if they fixed that debacle, or if the game simply died as an online option.

The Wall Street Journal examines Sony's position in the home console market.

Some choice cuts;

U.S. sales of the PS3 fell 19% last month from a year earlier, while sales doubled for the Wii console and rose 8% for the Xbox 360, according to research firm NPD. Analysts say they expect PS3 sales for this month to be flat or lower than last year, while sales for its rivals are likely to rise.

If Sony doesn't close the gap with its rivals, it could risk making the PS3 an afterthought to game publishers, who focus most of their resources on the machines with the most users.

Part of Sony's strategy hinged on selling the PS3 as a relatively inexpensive Blu-ray player. But prices of Blu-ray players have fallen so sharply recently -- new players are available for less than $200 -- that it's possible to buy a Blu-ray player and an Xbox 360 for less than a PS3.

Console makers hope to eventually recoup development investment with game sales and production cost reductions. Sony is still losing money on every PS3 it sells at $399, so a price cut could push the games division back into the red, analysts say.

Last month, four of the five best-selling U.S. games were exclusive to either the Wii or Xbox 360, according to NPD. Sony's best-selling game during the month was an action shooter game, Call of Duty: World at War from Activision Blizzard Inc. But twice as many people bought the Xbox 360 version.

Battered by the WSJ? Ouch.