150°

When did Sony learn to stop being evil?

It wasn’t so long ago that Sony was known as the bad guy of the video game world. It’s quite a feat when one of the chief players in a games space is Microsoft, and yet Sony’s gaming team earned it the nickname “the Evil Empire.” Years of anti-consumer moves – from removing features across platforms to security breaches to forcing proprietary formats – will do that.

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theglobeandmail.com
Godmars2904010d ago

How? How were they ever "evil?"

They took crap for selling an $800 console at $600 and taking away Other OS because of open declarations of piracy, not having rumble on htier controllers for a while because of how stupidly they handled a lawsuit, and have never been forgiven for any of it - until recently? - but they have never been "evil."

iGAM3R-VIII4010d ago

Agreed, I just want to know WHY this man is saying this. Though I did donate $100 to research on his mind and his childhood, maybe he hit is head

NeverEnding19894010d ago (Edited 4010d ago )

Answer: Financial difficulties.

When a company loses so much money, the shareholders oust the CEO and other management and the company is forced into taking a different direction. SONY is far from being out of the woods yet though, so I wouldn't say they are no longer "evil", using the authors logic.

Soldierone4010d ago

It's the CEO's job to keep the company running smoothly. If that isn't happening, he gets fired. And firing a guy thats putting millions of dollars in his pocket isn't that evil....

If any of the peons at the minimum wage jobs don't do their jobs, they get replaced. Why shouldn't that work for the CEO?

miyamoto4010d ago (Edited 4010d ago )

The author is living in an alternate make believe reality. LOL!
He's got things exactly in the opposite .

As a Canadian outfit, globe and mail is notorious anti-Sony and pro-xbox since day one anyway. no surprise there.
its a shame for us Canucks.

MaxXAttaxX4009d ago

That's not what "evil" means.

Personally, they've been better gaming-wise to me than any other company this gen.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4009d ago
showtimefolks4010d ago

NeverEnding1989

sony has done a lot right when it comes to PlayStation brand and their movies department. Their TV market is what cost them for a long time

under Kaz things have been better, when you loose so many billions and are in red for that long than it takes some time for you to come out of it. So give it some time

I know i will be disliked for saying this, but in last 15 years sony is the only gaming company which has actually gone after core market and succeeded. Their have taken big risks with new IP's that no other publisher would even touch

nintendo has been making the same games again and again and again and again yet they don't get any bad reputation but when MS makes another Gears,halo or forza its a bad thing

gaming media is in deep double standard, one company is the gaming darling and no amount of mario games can be enough but another is hated on for making too many sequels

Its hard to please everyone and i am glad wii-u is left behind again in last gen when ps4 and next xbox comes out, nintendo has always left a lot on the table specs wise to add a Gimmick now its catching up to them

Salooh4010d ago (Edited 4010d ago )

Never felt sony as an evil company. It making great effort on gaming but don't forget that it's just a company like the others only care about money. All of them do bad things but if you ask me which one is better i would say sony..

14th agree :)

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/...

showtimefolks4010d ago

14FEB-R

Well said goal of every company is to make money but Sony while I hope makes a lot of money will deliver games to us the core gamers

Games like SLY or Ratchet and Clank are called Risky IP's yet we have seen Sony fund the development

Than you look at ICO,SOTC and now in long development the last guardian and these are extremely risky projects

When heavy rain launched it was IMO quite risky but I along with many more loved it and now we are getting a more polished 2nd game from QD in beyond 2 souls which I might add is coming 7th year into a console cycle as a new IP launching in Fall which is usually reserved for big games.(I see B2S doing really well)

Advertisement has been sonys biggest issue this gen and now they have hired the EX good and MS advertisement firm who advertised 1st Gears so here is hope that Sony will actually invest money into advertisement

Uncharted 3 had great advertisement campaign and it showed sales wise

But my earlier point was if we are gonna hold Sony and MS to evil or special standards than someone in media should speak up on Nintendo and thei long history of doing the same games and HAVE NEVER GOTTEN 3PARTY SUPPRT SINCE SNES AND THAT WAS A LONG LONG TIME AGO

Root4010d ago (Edited 4010d ago )

I think they've been nitpicked to death this entire gen...because of the media. Microsoft and Nintendo in the past can get away with murder half the time but if Sony did one little thing it was straight to the doom and gloom articles.

I'll admit at the start of this gen with the PS3 they were big headed but recently from 2009 on wards they've turned themselves around to be, in my opinion, the number one games company out of the big three....and I mean that in terms of giving core gamers what they want, even despite their little financial problems they've never once abandoned their roots to go after the casual audience who have more money...

They've been hated on so much this gen but the funny thing is they are the only ones left who are still in touch with core gamers.

Ducky4010d ago

I don't know man.
Remember those PS3 ads? That baby they had was definitely evil.

RandomDude6554010d ago

They were never evil, except to the rabid asshole 360 fanboys circa 2006.

scofios4010d ago

If Sony is Evil i wonder wat Microsoft, activision and EA are ?

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4009d ago
Ken224010d ago (Edited 4010d ago )

Evil da fark??Sony is the only company thats pushing boundaries with games.Even this late in a Gen.

Someon give this man some help pronto.

Not to mention they gave all PS users free games and a free month trial after being hacked.They didnt have to but they went out of there way to do it after being haacked.

BattleAxe4010d ago

Sony, Steam & Nintendo = Good

Microsoft = Bad

Yodagamer4010d ago

Seems about right, microsoft always has that stupid policy this gen where devs must launch on the same day and have the same features. It holds back games or delays games so devs can get it running on xbox. While i understand microsoft's point of view it's a pain for everyone else.

kneon4010d ago

Microsoft isn't evil, sure they charge you for stuff that is free everywhere else but that's their customers fault. If they weren't dumb enough to pay it then they couldn't get away with charging for it.

hellvaguy4010d ago

MS donates about 10 times more to charities. Pretty they cannot be accused of being bad. Greedy, ok maybe. Not your console of choice, I get that. But not evil, come on really? Same with Sony (except for the charity part), these are not evil companies.

ceballos77mx4010d ago

This big companies donate all that money to get tax breaks not because of the goodness of their hearts.

But my respects to bill gates and all he has done for the education of our kids.

hellvaguy4010d ago (Edited 4010d ago )

Tax breaks are never 100% of what you contribute (more like 10-20%). Was a nice try to discount charitable efforts, but if you don't even know that, then you never done taxes, in which case you really need to get a job.

tiffac0084009d ago

MS was actually known as the "Evil Empire" once. Especially when they spearheaded the campaign against "Linux". I think there were other reasons but I just can't remember. Its all in the past though.

jeffgoldwin4009d ago (Edited 4009d ago )

@tiff

Of course you don't remember why, you've been brainwashed by sony fanatics.

There's no evil empire, this isn't star wars. MS gotta bad rep several years back for doing what Apple is doing now with all the patent law suits. That's probably the "evil" propoganda your thinking of.

tiffac0084008d ago (Edited 4008d ago )

@jeffgoldwin

I think your too young to remember. You may want learn a little bit of history concerning the days when MS, Apple and Linux battled over the OS market and my memory regarding MS campaign against Linux is not a myth either. The other reasons are the ones I cannot remember because its been that long.

And you know why there was a Star Wars reference? Because back then the majority that followed the news from the Computer Industry are people who are known as Geeks and Nerds. They named MS that.

Heck, if Google is not your friend then Bing it. I am sure you will find references to what I am saying here.

Sony had nothing to do with this history of the Computer industry. You may want to try again with that spin.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4008d ago
RandomGamer4010d ago

huh when has Sony been nicknamed the Evil Empire?.

landog4010d ago (Edited 4010d ago )

for me;

STEAM/Valve
GOG/CD Project
Greenmangaming
Gamersgate
origin
uplay store
Sony
Microsoft
Nintendo

in that order

from coolest to stingiest

majiebeast4010d ago (Edited 4010d ago )

The fact that you placed Origin(On par with Pando media) and Uplay(1 big piece of garbage that loses your cloud saves and makes you replay 10 hours of Assasins Creed 2) above Sony,MS and Nintendo is the biggest joke ever.

landog4010d ago

ive gotten games or $1 from uplay, origin constantly sends me coupons for games for $5, half of my steam library was $7 or less (over 250 games)

nintendo store is a joke with pricing, ms is almost as bad, and sony has GREAT deals, i mean it, i actually really like the psn store......but, they just cannot compete digitally with the big dogs like steam etc...

BeZdaBest4010d ago

im sorry but origin an microsoft should be on the bottom of that list... because they are ones who charge you for things that already there..

if that aint stingee idk what is

M-M4010d ago (Edited 4010d ago )

For me;

Everyone on N4G
landog

In that order.

From coolest to stingiest.

trenso14009d ago

how origin and Uplay are high than sony and nintendo on your list, makes me wonder

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4009d ago
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280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

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techraptor.net
ChasterMies14d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken14d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga14d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken14d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6414d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long14d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197214d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic14d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 14d ago
DivineHand12514d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91314d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer14d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit14d ago (Edited 14d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91313d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit13d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 13d ago
Christopher14d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6913d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit13d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal14d ago (Edited 14d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher14d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken14d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197214d ago (Edited 14d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic14d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2314d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218314d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder14d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts14d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

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80°

Sony May Soon Let You Decide How Much NPCs Talk In Games

Sony has patented to add multiple dialogue modes to let players switch between how many conversations with NPCs they want in the game.

blackblades20d ago

Sony is like the only ones outta the 3 that has atuff like like this pop up changing thing in ways.

just_looken20d ago

Sony in the past has always been first at bat with new ideas/tech but in the end never fully use it or just toss it away.

blackblades20d ago

I think they did use some but yeah most usually never happened but at least they thought about it. Sony seeks things like this and other, Nintendo seek different ways of playing going by there different controler designs and console designs.

just_looken20d ago (Edited 20d ago )

some of the other stuff sony want's/owns never used
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://www.eurogamer.net/s...
https://metro.co.uk/2023/03...
https://decrypt.co/114754/s...

monitor/adjust game difficultly as you play
https://www.techradar.com/g...

Sony nfts
https://www.theblock.co/pos...

Pay ai to play the game for you
https://thebusinessofesport...

Oh all the above last 12 months

I just imagine a evil scientist with test subjects when it comes down to sony recent patent reports.

Kaii20d ago

Will we get dialogue options that won't spoil puzzles in a matter of seconds? :p

280°

Judge rules in PlayStation's favour in $500m patent infringement lawsuit

Genuine Enabling Technology was seeking damages, claiming the tech allowing PlayStation consoles and controllers to communicate infringes its rights.

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
S2Killinit22d ago

Big victory for Sony. And a long time coming.

DarXyde22d ago (Edited 22d ago )

Crazy to think the savings from this lawsuit allows them to develop one AAA game.

Make it Bloodborne 2, please and thank you.

22d ago
Profchaos22d ago

Sounds like patent trolling they tried the same thing against Nintendo with the same pattern.

Motion and control input traversing over higher and lower frequencies seperate from each other allowing the controller to do both

Pyrofire9522d ago

Patents suck. Most of them are complete garbage.

Knightofelemia22d ago

So to recoup the money Genuine is going to take on Nintendo or Microsoft next. I hate patent lawyers they are some of the worst bottom feeders out there.

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