SOE Sell PlanetSide 2 By Calling its Audience "Console Peasants"

Around 53m20s into this year's PlanetSide 2 keynote you'll hear creative director Matthew Higby really sell the upcoming console version of the shooter. After mentioning some of the PC fixes that have come from work on the PS4 version he adds this:

[Corpser]

Come on it's a joke

[MrSwankSinatra]

Just because it's a joke doesn't mean that it's acceptable. A man of business does not insult his consumers. Though as per usual since it's Sony it's okay though? I'll wait for imminent disagree's and the moronic responses of how it was "Just a Joke" and that i'm "Sensitive" or i'm a "Troll" etc. You can't have opinion against Sony otherwise you're a "hater" or "fanboy."

When Phil Fish said all Japanese games sucked as a joke, everyone tore him a new ass****, this guy says a joke of poor taste "Oh man it was just joke." I've starting to notice just how one sided people are around here.

[Paprika]

Take away the "its just a joke" its offensive. You wouldn't say "we are developing this new mmorpg for all the fat PC elitists out there... of course, you're not really fat... just a joke"... lol

[Not-A-Cat]

It's just a joke but it can be offensive to some degree and they are telling it to their own audience in which the game was first playable in pc, Phil Fish on the other side is a douchebag that insulted a whole genre of games.

[Spotie]

Pretty sure Fish was just being an ass. He's kinda known for that, so that seems the more likely interpretation of his words.

On the other hand, is SOE known for insulting people? No? Is Sony, in general, known for cracking jokes? Yes?

Then which one seems more likely?

Of course, anything is possible. Sony could have just randomly decided to insult prospective buyers for no real reason.

It's also possible that Kotaku is being its typical self and stirring shit up. Cuz that's one of the things they do. I mean, when did we start taking their articles seriously again?

[gootimes]

I think he is trying to bring back SonyToo, albeit with a bad comparison.

[r2oB]

I always hear/read people saying that gaming should be lead by fellow gamers and not business men (industry leaders that are gamers at the core), then when you have someone make a comment as a gamer to a gamer (an obvious joke about a gaming related term), people complain that he is not acting like a businessman. Which is it? Do you want people to feed you lies and PR nonsense, or do you want people to relate to you on a similar level you would relate to friends (I.e. Making a joke that you would make in the company of your friends).

[Dee_91]

@MrSwankSinatra
Me believing youre just a sensitive person that can't take a joke has nothing to do with Sony... I didn't even know SOE was Sony before you even said that...

[StockpileTom]

You know, if you stopped after the first two sentences I would have gone with Agree/Well Said. It is the rest of your comment that turns it into Disagree/Trolling.

If you feel that way don't sink to their level, don't even acknowledge them.

[ShinMaster]

That "it's ok because it's Sony" argument is getting old. Stop assuming. Unless you haven't noticed "it's ok because it's Microsoft or Nintendo" is also true, depending in which side you lean towards.

PC master race and console presents started as a joke by Yahtzee. Unfortunately some PC fanboys actually use it seriously.
Do I think he should have said it? No.
But I can't judge because I don't know his intentions or the full context of what and how he said it.

[AndrewLB]

Sounds like someone touched a nerve with this one. lol. The hypersensitivity in today's culture is really getting out of control. People have lost their ability to look at themselves with a measure of humility and acknowledge they're not the flawless human being their mother told them they were all those years growing up. God forbid one of these man-babies going to a stand-up comedy show by someone like Bob Saget (yes... the funniest home videos guy) who has a habit of completely eviserating people in the audience! They'd probably have a complete mental breakdown and go postal.

People really need to get over themselves and quit with the knee-jerk manufactured outrage.

(I'm not directing this at any one person, just people in general.)

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Its still an implied joke though.

[LackTrue4K]

Just for fun/joke, they should make this game free for PlayStation 4 users.....hahaha

[mixelon]

.. Planetside 2 is free.

[rodelthegreat]

Planetside 2 is a free game and it is worth every penny imo.

[spacedelete]

were does he say its a joke ? did he actually apologize ? or are you just assuming just like a typical fanboy ?

[BABI-PANGPANG]

So you always add 'this was a joke, please don't get mad' after you made one? If everyone would just stop being so heavy-hearted the world would be a much more peaceful place.. with butterflies, candy and stuff.

[Baka-akaB]

how about you look at the context , and the console demo ? does it look to you as something they'd waste their time working upon for "console peasants" ?

[user5669510]

its only a joke when sony says it. its not a joke when pc gamers say it right. lol ps fanboys, more of their spinning.

i know its a joke and i also know a lot of pc gamers use it as a joke. funny how that works huh

[ShinMaster]

It probably wasn't ok for him to say it and I don't know the full context.
But the difference is, even though the master race and console peasants remark started as a joke, many PC fanboys use it seriously and their intentions are clear. When Yahtzee said it, it was funny. When it's used in a reference it can also be funny. However there are fanboys out there who are hostile and also people with usernames like yours who aren't trying to be funny.

[rainslacker]

Pandering to the audience is probably a better term than joke. Sony is pretty good at that.

"Know your audience" is a pretty important thing when it comes to public speaking.

I'm sure the people there found it amusing, and I'm sure they know that Sony doesn't think of console owners as peasants...thus it's a joke to pander to the crowd.

Not sure why others are having such a hard time accepting that.

[Reaper29r]

@Deadpool the game ran like crap on PC at first because of CPU bottlenecks, it wasn't optimized for multi core processors and instead sucked power out of a single core. So a guy running say an i5 at a lower clock speed would get worse performance than a guy running a higher clocked dual core. The lead engineer for Planetside 2 admitted this himself (look it up) and they started videos called Operation Make Faster Game. I'm getting this on PS4 as well so I can enjoy with my console friends, but don't expect the PS4 version to run at ULTRA 1080p at 60FPS, that's marketing BS. Med-high I can def believe but not Ultra. I'm just being real here because if you've never played it at that setting on PC you won't know any better lol. I have an i5 4670k with a GTX 770 in my rig and I don't maintain a locked 60 frames at those settings. More like low 50s and even 40's during big fights. Still it's an awesome game. And I liked MAG so if you liked that you guys will love this. MAG doesn't even come close in graphics, map size, player count, weapon options, vehicles and aircraft, player customization etc.. really fun game.

[sinspirit]

They said it themselves. It is max settings and 1080p/60fps on PS4. There is no spinning or marketing about it.

[sinspirit]

Since some people want to disagree without any proof of why what I said is wrong...

http://www.gamepur.com/news...

I MIGHT be wrong about the framerate, and I was mistaken only on that detail. But, regardless it is confirmed to run at ultra graphics settings at 1080p and be a smooth framerate, and that was a while ago.

I just wish they brought games like this to Vita, obviously PS2 itself is a bit too much. Though, I would love Warhawk and MAG on Vita. It's supposed to be a handheld meant to have home console quality games but they strayed too far from that idea and there is little focus on proper RPG's which is something handhelds really strive off of. I really hope they use their current momentum or make it even more accessible for developers to deliver games to instead of letting it dwindle.

[Reaper29r]

Sinspirit we will see. No one here is denying of what the devs said that's why I said it's marketing, where do you think I got it from. Whether they can do it is whats being discussed. The people agreeing with me are the ones that understand that developers will tell you what you want to hear (watch dogs, colonial marines anyone? ) and have probably played the game on PC. Which it sounds like you haven't. Yes the game is free, but you will spend sick sums of money on this game before you even realize how much you've been spending. I myself put $230 in it before I realized it and cut myself off. And that was only on cosmetic items and 1 faction unique weapon. You should see how much some others spend. One guy in my outfit (EXE) has spent over $800. The devs know this, they know there is a large install base on the ps4 so they will tell you what you want to hear to get you all hyped up, specially because they know most of you have never touched the PC version. For all you know that's what it looks like on Ultra. And my proof to my arguemnt is that I've been playing that game since release (StormWolf29r if you want to look my soldier up) with several upgrades, and the fact that my PC still can't pull it off like they claim the ps4 can. And even though mine is not great, it's still miles ahead of the PS4. If the PS4 can pull off a multi platoon bio dome battle at 1080p and stay at 30 frames or above at ULTRA, I'll eat this post lol. You can keep believing in optimization magic sauce if you want (keep in mind it's basically a PC unlike last gen). Look man its still going to look good on PS4 and it's an awesome machine, I love mine, but it's not a super computer. I hope they can pull it off I really do, but I'll stick to my realistic expectations until i have my hands on it myself.

[sinspirit]

Where in there statements could you possible see spinning or marketing? It's simple statements by a credible source that is part of a credible mega corporation.

Why are you going on about spending money on a F2P game?

Where do you get the impression that the console being more PC like affects the amount of optimization they can do? Even if it were exactly like a PC it would still have a lot more potential in those parts than their PC counterparts. I don't know why people keep denying this with PS4 when a PS3, comparable to a 6800GT, pulls off games like God of War and The Last of Us. Not only do these results exist but even John Carmack basically said that the PS4 GPU has twice the potential of its PC counterpart. Of course it takes time to reach that potential. Don't even deny the graphics evolution of Uncharted 1 and 3.

Right.. It sounds like I haven't played this game based on what?

You're sitting here saying that a console, compared to a HD 7850, is not comparable to a GTX 770, while John Carmack already said what many devs and hardware engineers agree with, that you essentially get twice the potential out of parts on a console platform. With optimization it is clear it is going to be quite close to a 770. And, according to what they said, and they are credible, the game is already about that close.

But, you can go on and rant or try and argue against a credible developers word and try and play make believe with doubt. Launch games were already comparable to PS2 in graphics. Your PC specs are not a representation as not only are PC's not optimized in general, but some games skim optimization on PC and leave it up to the users hardware performance.

[jimjam3442]

well, we kind of are console peasants.

*RUNS FOR BOMB SHELTER.

[DVS-Zev]

Kotaku is like the TMZ of gaming news.
Absolute bottom feeders.

[Big_Game_Hunters]

... Its not like they are making this up.

[Ezz2013]

do you understand what a Joke mean ?!
Do you think Sony will just Bash the gamers who buy their consoles/games?!

kotaku is just being kotaku

[LOL_WUT]

wouldn't surprise me Sony took some action over this guys actions ;)

[Big_Game_Hunters]

@jack straw thanks for the personal attack.
joke or not the crowd didn't sound happy.
if i'm not mistaken SOE is mostly a PC dev right?!?

[gootimes]

It was a play on the PC elitist thing, they know that on these forums there is a sense of that. They know that people think PC gamers have an elitist mentality and say stuff like that all the time. You honestly think they would seriously call their own fan base names? They were making fun of the "war" between the fan bases. I will admit he is taking a risk though, because many people wont understand that.

[whybag]

They are making up a "story" by trying to sow controversy over a joke. It's like the national news over Obama's "art history major" line, people need to grow up.

[rainslacker]

No, but they are taking it out of context. That can be even more damaging than making stuff up.

Does anyone here really think Sony thinks so low of it's console supporters? It makes them a lot more money than their PC supporters, and I'm sure they appreciate that.

[tee_bag242]

Geez relex mate. Don't shoot the messenger.

[Majin-vegeta]

http://memecrunch.com/meme/...

As a console player.I am deeply offended that Kotaku would go out of their way to make something out of nothing when all it was was a joke.IDC what they call me just give me my PS2 on PS4 already!!

[shinrock]

What does kotaku have to do with what a dev said? unless kotaku lied about what they said. Im not a pc gamer so I just don't see the humor in it.

[imt558]

Kotaku, it's a joke!

[Ocsta]

"News posts like this are what force companies and their spokesmen to talk in lawyer doublespeak. Ever get frustrated at seeing interviews where the interviewee seems to have been taken over by the borg? Or wont answer any questions straight. Drawing attention to the moments when they act like human beings is why."

Well said. We want suits to look and speak like freaking human beings yet we jump down their throats at the drop of a hat. I'm so sick of company "robot talk" it's not even funny.

[Rimeskeem]

If being a peasent gives me amazing games from amazing studios that allow me to go into fantasies I never dreamed of. I'm ok with that.

[chaosx]

Everyone grab you pitchforks and Torches, lets run this guy out of town !

[HanzoHattori]

A pathetic attempt to make a whole lot of nothing into something.

[kingvendrick]

Console peasant and PROUD.

[amnalehu]

The irony is that the console peasants will be running Planetside 2 at or near ULTRA PC settings. Most Steam users have something on par with an XB1 or PS4 from a hardware standpoint. If Wii U games were somehow able to be emulated, it is doubtful that most Steam users would be able to play them on their rigs. Don't take my word for it. Visit the Steam Survey site and feel free to disagree with fact.
http://store.steampowered.c...

[Peekayboo]

I have a PC that was built in 2007 with better specs, It looks like console peasants on pre built PC's to me or people on steam at work.

[Seafort]

This is just fanboy baiting by kotaku and you all fell for it :)

[DanteVFenris666]

I know right, it's obviously click bait. I don't care either way I'm not interested in planet side 2, but I really interested in there zombie game h1z1

[Doritos_Pope]

Firstly, it was a joke.
Secondly, was that "article" what we term journalism these days?

[MAULxx]

I don't care about his comment nor do I care about MMOs or so called Free to play games. The less I see of them as a console player the better. I personally don't like constantly tossing out money while chasing dangling carrots. I like complete, packaged games at a set price.
Keep those money well games over on PC & tablets where they belong.

[DanteVFenris666]

Your loss, mmos tend to always be superior thanksr to constant updates thanks to the money. It is well worth it to spend money in an mmo with the genre you like because they will always dish out far superior games.

[joeorc]

Gawd, it is called "irony"

"the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
"“Don't go overboard with the gratitude,” he rejoined with heavy irony"

Many times people will say, ol the PC will run rough shot over a console, what Sony was pointing out that when you make a game such as this its going to run like it will on PC , because most do not have such powerful gaming rigs so getting the Console version will be whats ironic that will be able to run just as well as many PC's that people may have unless they had dumped a good amount of money onto the PC's GPU.

It was a ironic take on how Gamers view Gaming between PC and Consoles.

Yes PC will always trump Consoles, but on the same token on average many Pc's are not upgraded by many consumers to make gaming rig's.

Most Consumers the majority what ever hardware that came with it is what they keep, hell many consumers use PC's mainly for work and fast web games and use consoles for Gaming.

So unless they crack open the case that is if its a desk top its going to be roughly the same level hell with performance on the ps4 , over the un altered PC specs that the consumer started with.

Not to say the PC cannot be upgraded to pass the new console's , its just that many Consumer's do not, mainly because they do not know how its like many with no mechanical experience to repair a car, they open the hood and do not know how to repair it.

[GamingTruth]

pc doesnt look to be 'trumpin' either ps4 or xbox one now only in multiplats where its up in the air if the developers are actually even trying to make an effort to get the most out of ps4 and xbox one even if they are their not using all the tech in the systems anyway

AND pc wont be trumping anything if sony and microsoft take off the gauntlets and make the platform they really can not worried about cost

[WeAreLegion]

Complain all you want. You're still giving them hits. That's the only reason they put up articles like this.

Have you seen the author's backtracking? So ridiculous.

[Adolph Fitler]

Who cares if they call us retarded console peasants, & who cares if they are joking, or completely serious.....I want the game for my PS4, & PS4 ONLY...That is the only thing I care about from developers...I am not interested in there futile attempts to get attention, & focus on there product...
My only interest in them, is my dream that the put the time, money & effort into my PS4 version of the game, to make it look, run & feel as close to higher spec pc versions..

The only way they will gain my attention for any more time than the few minutes this comment took, is to deliver a highly impressive looking, ultra smooth playing, awesomely fun, virtually lag free online experience, & just a game that exudes highly impressive all round production values.

I truly don't expect the developers of these games to be PR experts, that are not only ultra talented in coding, designing, & being intelligent enough to deliver cracking games, wherever they fit into that genius....BUT, also to be funnier than Eddie Murphy in there creation & delivery of comedy... I don't care whether they verbally insult me, & say, "all the console peasant, mentally unhinged weirdo's, won't be leaving Grandma's basement for years, as they'll be too busy playing PS2, that they purchased by selling there highly collectable toy star wars plastic dolls".
I mean, really... Who gives a rats arse about a developers opinion, or comedic prowess, when they are in the throws of delivering us a potentially EPIC experience for our PS4, etc, etc....

The honest to goodness truth is, that a little game called Destiny, has eclipsed ALL other close to release, imminent FPS releases..in fact, many will have Destiny down as there ONLY planned game purchase for the next few months (until other big, heavy hitters arrive to mix up the flavours).. So, somehow, SOE have to gain some focus & excitement for there impending F2P MMO shooter....as it would be embarrassing & sh1tty if they released some truly awesome, epic game, that the public largely ignored or weren't even aware of, & they said game, suffered a horrible death, with empty servers, thanks to nobody even bothering with aid game, even though it is FREE (many F2P & just great playing online games have suffered this fate in the past). So, the only thing WE, THE GAMERS need to worry about, is this games quality, & playability/support, as a great game is useless without a community AT ALL, or barely, BECAUSE, every follower is playing Destiny & COD19 or BF4.5. Destiny looks awesome, & plays like a dream, from my Beta experience, BUT, I can support PS2 also, if it delivers, if it doesn't also fall into the P2W trappings, & also if it delivers awesome extra worthy content to d/l, BUT the price is just TOO ridiculous to justify.. This is a huge factor to me, as there are games on my PS4 & probably PS3 & 360 & IF I had a XBOne, I'm sure i'd find the exact same sh1te, that have packs you can d/l, that have prices attached to them, that go up to $200au... WTF??? I paid $199au for the last PS3 I purchased, & it included 2 or 3 games with it. So, to have to pay $200 for a game, AND A NON-EXISTANT, NON-PHYSICAL, NON-RESELLABLE, NON-SHAREABLE, bunch of content stored on my hdd, or the cloud, is a no, no, & out of the motherhumping question BIGTIME, if you ask me. No game should cost $200, physical, digital, virtual reality,... NOT unless it's a GOT's game, & included is a 1:1 scale, collectable Peter Dinklage action figure.

[DanteVFenris666]

Destiny looks like a piece of shit. The new lord of the rings game though that looks awsome. Destiny just looks like a bunch of things that have already been done before put into one game, but with a lot of important pieces missing. The destiny beta told me it had promise, but maybe wait for a sequel for a purchase.

In terms of fps farcry looks a lot better. Destiny just didn't feel good, same old. Farcry 4 looks fimiliar to farcry 3, but farcry 3 did a lot right and a little wrong in my opinion. Farcry 4 is just adding onto the craziness like elephants!!!!

So yes there are more then destiny, destiny looks and plays mediocre. And I played the beta through.

[Maxor]

Giant wall of text for the lose.

[G_V_Black]

When I reference PC elitists or the "master race," it is done without a hint of disdain. This is so not a big deal.

[CuddlyREDRUM]

I guess someone forgot part of their job is PR.

[Sketchy_Galore]

SOE have made the greatest mistake anybody can make it today's world, assuming your reader will take your words in context and attempt to understand your intent rather than picking through your words for something to get you in trouble like a goddamn McCarthy era fingerpointer. What a world of pathetic snivelling rats we live in these days.