whoelse of PlayStation LifeStyle wrote:
"Today worldwide, Sony finally released 'Life with PlayStation' to PS3 owners. So after playing around with it, what are our intital impressions?
First off, 'LWP' is very well designed and it is easy to use: You can navigate the globe with your two analogue sticks. For an inital release, it's a decent program that you could spend endless hours playing with. However it's far from perfect. Right now it is fairly basic in functionality and features."
A letter posted by TheRealSOCOM.com staff requesting Kazuo Hirai to remember the older generations of gamers.
Nice, well written. Lets hope Kaz can bring back some franchises that really flourished on the PS2. SOCOM, Ratchet & Clank and Sly Cooper were his big ticket franchises. SOCOM needs to return to its roots though for sure. Where can I send Kaz some mail myself?
There are three R&C games on the PS3 and they are all excellent. A new Sly Cooper is about to release and we already got two SOCOM games on PS3.
Just because SOCOM isn't as good as it used to be....this letter isn't warranted.
Oh and let me also ad that Sony gave us a lot of hardcore games this gen including new IP's such as Uncharted trilogy, MotorStorm trilogy, LBP 1 and 2, Heavy Rain, Heavenly Sword, Demon's Souls, Resistance trilogy, inFamous 1 and 2, Killzone 2 & 3 and I could go on....but I hope you get my point.
EDIT: Love the disagrees yet no explanation why.
You want a response...alright. "And. HERE. WE. GO."
The SOCOM series was the first online console shooter in the history of gaming. SOCOM 1 and SOCOM 2 put the PS2 on the map as an online console and was in its day the "Duty" of today. Everyone played these games: Wu Tang Clan, Tiger Woods, Kevin Garnett, Mark Zuckerberg (not really a celeb but still), Barry Bonds, the list goes on.
No game today has the sense of community that SOCOM had, strangers became friends in real life thanks to that game. That game had the simplest of gameplay that made it amazing. There were no dumbass kill streaks or shit that made the game unbalanced. It was just you and your gun and if you sucked and didn't work together, you got your ass kicked....HARD. It's the only game where if you didn't have a mic, you got your ass kicked. It's the game where if you shot your teammate, you actually killed him.
No game today has the sense of teamwork that SOCOM had. We've watched our franchise be treated like garbage by SONY for the past 6 years. I've never seen a company try to accidentally kill off a franchise like this. SONY would be smart to listen to the community. Many of the SOCOM fans have moved to the 360 because they gave up on SONY and SOCOM. If they make a SOCOM HD or return to a SOCOM 2 blue print, it would sell games, headsets, and consoles for SONY.
*You prob wonder why I always cap SOCOM, it's because I respect the hell out of it to put it like Socom"*
@ Ares84hu
"Just because SOCOM isn't as good as it used to be....this letter isn't warranted."
This is a clear sign that you are a serious noob. There's the explanation that you've been waiting for.....nuff said. Socom might not have meant that much to you, but it was the reason I decided to buy a PS3 in the first place, expecting that they would carry on with the series in a positive way.
Instead all we got was a Socom game that kind of resembled the old Socom games, and another one that resembled Call of Duty in 3rd person view with a character that looked like Nathan Drake, which had none of the game modes that made the game great in the past.
Having said that, I'm glad I bought my PS3 three months after launch, and I'm lucky that I got to play a ton of great games. Make no mistake about it though, Socom is what made the PS2 great, because it added the online component that the PS2 needed. With the exception of a few real gems like Red Faction, Resident Evil and BLACK, Socom, MGS 2 & 3, SoTC, GoW, Tony Hawk, Tiger Woods, GTA and Gran Turismo were the other series that drove the PS2, everything else was filler.
This letter is just.....well no words really.
Just a SOCOM fan crying over SOCOM not being as good as he want's it to be and trying to cover this up by saying that Sony should focus on it's hardcore fanbase who are "lifelong supporters". Yet only talks about SOCOM nothing else.
He also asks Sony to create new IP's and makes it sound like Sony doesn't do that nor does Sony create memorable titles ever since SOCOM.
This guy is a joke.
Yeah! How dare a fan send a nice letter that he wishes for his favorite brand to improve!!!
God I swear he's more Sony fan than you are.
#1 You don't know anything about me.
#2 I don't have a problem with anyone who want's their beloved franchise to make a return at all.
What I have a problem with is the way he made it sound like. Like SOCOM was the only title on PS2 that's worth mentioning and SOCOM carried the PS2 and made it to be what it was. Also that all hardcore fans are SOCOm players. That's just total BS.
He also went on saying that Sony should create new IP's....like they don't do that. I don't disagree that they should but to make it sound like they didn't is a bit outrageous to me. Also, Kaz Hirai is now Sony CEO and has other things to do than Playstation. His letter should have been directed to Zipper Interactive.
@McNoob. Yes it is justified to talk about how SOCOM became much less than what it was but this letter makes it sound like SOCOM is the only game that matter and read what I wrote above too. I explained it already.
He didn't say the didn't made new ips specifically!
"But why does Sony need a business model that REPLACES their lifelong consumer base? Why can’t Sony & PlayStation create NEW games that achieve this?"
He means instead of altering old franchises to appeal to the mainstream masses (cod fans) why they don't create new ips that specifically aimed at them.
And that's bloody true with a lot of major gaming developers.
dark-hollow
You can't just pick and choose from the letter. It has to be read in it's whole entirety.
Here are a few examples of what I'm talking about:
".....SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs. This used to be Sony’s flagship exclusive...."
Really?? When was that?
"....I challenge Sony to be the company it’s lifelong consumers grew to love....."
They are....aren't they???
"..... I challenge Sony to cater to both groups with all new IPs,...."
They don't???? I was under the impression that they do a hell of a good job giving us hardcore players lot's of exclusives and giving casuals lot of games as well at the same time.
"......I challenge Sony to take the first step towards pleasing their longtime fanbase by bringing the original formula of the first two SOCOMs back from the dead. ...."
But they do try to please everyone. Look at the list of games they brought back like R&C, God of War, Killzone, Sly Cooper, Yakuza, Twisted Metal, Gran Turismo, MGS....and old favorites that went multiplat are still on the PS like Tekken, Final Fantasy, DMC.
I mean, really???? What else do you want??
I don't see it as crying. He's wholly justified in mentioning how the SOCOM series has drastically deviated since the original installments. Not only that, but the community has been slapped in the face in terms of feedback and involvement, as evidenced by SOCOM 4.
I can't think of another fanbase that has been disregarded as much as SOCOM's.
Thanks for the feedback. I talked about a lot more than just SOCOM if you go back and re-read the article. SOCOM represents those gaming franchises that have survived more than one generation of gaming. Some are currently locked in a tug-of-war between original formulas vs a new generation of gamers with different tastes. Franchises do evolve as technology progresses and will change to a certain extent, but at what costs? How many shooters out there have really added/removed game features just because COD is breaking records in sales? How many action/adventure titles have added more cinematics and cut scenes because Uncharted/Heavy Rain is so popular? The list goes on and on. It's seems as though a lot of companies out there are copying other successful titles at the expense of its own gameplay. Games are becoming watered down and/or similar to other titles simply because the focus is too profit driven. Very few are comfortable providing a niche/average product focused on a very specific experience. Some of the games you listed in other posts have had some of the same problems that the SOCOM franchise has had.
I'm aware that Sony releases "new IPs" all the time. My point with that part of the letter was to say that new IPs are a good place to experiment with new trends. Also, not all genres need to all have a similar set of features. In my opinion it would be better to create a new IP that tries a bunch of new features, rather than take a longstanding franchise and strip it of its staples in order to transform itself into something current.
It's no surprise to me that remakes, collections, trilogies, and ports are gaining a lot of popularity. Who can resist good 'ol gameplay? I'm not a change hater, I just think if it ain't broke, then don't "fix" it to try to juice some extra bucks out of it. SOCOM is a great example, but it is far from being alone when it comes to this topic.
And just an FYI, in 2002 SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs was the first PLayStation game ever to use the network adapter. SOCOM introduced the internet to PlayStation gamers. Google it.
You see, this what you said right here makes more sense and shows how true of a gamer you are than your "open letter".
Unfortunately in your letter all you talk about really is SOCOM. If you show me where you are talking about or mentioning any other game than I take back what I said.
You see, I feel the same way about Tomb Raider. It was a great franchise on PS1 than on PS2 it started going down the drain and it still is (we will see if the new one revives it) and it turned into the wrong direction from what it was. But one thing we all have to understand. Games/franchises need to evolve and try to cater to more and more people because a video game developer studio is a business and they are here to make money and as much of it as possible. If there is a new invention that brakes the bank than other obviously will try to imitate that. Look back at the PS1 era...how many Crash Bandicoot copycats were there? Tons. Look at how many COD rippoff are there now...too much to mention. But that's just because people want to make money and sadly not everyone can be original so they have to ride on others success.
Having said that I think still Sony does the best job out of all the gaming companies. Nintendo just keeps on remaking the same old games a million times and MS has very, very few games for hardcore players and now their main focus is Kinect which we all know isn't for us real gamers.
So I understand that you are upset about SOCOM, but that's all what it is I find in your letter. As I said, it would be better directed at Zipper than to Sony.
"The frustrations that the SOCOM Community feels is the epitome of a much larger issue in the gaming industry that more than just this fanbase is facing. We are seeing all types of franchises (Tomb Raider) throughout the industry morph into mainstream products developed to cast a much wider net regarding their consumers."
And Sony acquired Zipper Interactive in 2006. They own all the rights to the SOCOM franchise and make the decision on any future installments. Trust me, our fanbase has been very vocal with Zipper for years. That approach has already been attempted.
I was a huge socom fan in the day and was really excited when it hit the ps3. I bought confrontation day 1, and I quickly seen that something was terribly wrong. All socom fans want is the tried and true socom formula with next gen graphics, not a Call of Duty ripoff. The game is greatly missed.
I have not found a game on the PS3 that comes close to giving me the amazing gameplay of the PS2 SOCOMS. Please bring the classic style socom back with all its options and in all its glory.
100% agree with this. Here's my submission: http://www.youtube.com/watc...
#SOCOMUNITE
- Leeoc91
Okay gamers, ready to venture back into the enigma known as Playstation Home? Of course we are... per words I've had from the author, you'll have to wait for the Death Threat by stabbing scenario he got himself into. But Part 2 is just as good!
Is still think they should charge a boatload for the footwear. I mean common, someone's wife is gonna buy those orange striped shoes for a pretty penny!
It's been so long since ive used it. No joke if I had friends to use it with I would. I could go in and meet people but I don't want to take the time for that. But with all the updates I'll consider it
you guys should go back and try it again. There is alot of content and games to play now. Plus loading is not an issue anymore. Sure there are a lot of guys trying to pick up girls but seriously what public get together doesn't. Guys are horny period! At least i am (although I don't waste my time in home trying to pick up a chick who most likely is Like Dellis say a dude).
Why bother man, Home is doing just fine without the naysayers. The last thing Home needs is a bunch of die hard sceptics going on there for 5mins and then ripping it to shreds again in future Home related article comments.
They'll go back to talking the same smack as before yet feel even more justified because they've been on there "recently"
exactly! ps home went from what? 200k users to was it 18 million users? in a few years?
let them bash ps home all they want. sure the loading is pretty long (30 seconds to a few minutes). but the kick i get out of it sometimes is well rewarding.
im one of thoe people who harrass others, male and female alike. but not in any perverted way. i mean c'mon... its hilarious how some people react and takes things so personally xD
some of the loners out there in ps home are wanting attention so i give it to them kkk
but than that's how i make friends there.
let's face it, if ur just a boring dude with nothing to do. and u go to ps home and stand there for 5 minutes. no one gives a crap about u. and u log off and say
"oh home is boring"
nah... ps home isnt boring. "U" are boring. its like going on msn messenger with a empty friends list.
I know what you are saying but just trying to help out gamers here. I personally do not spend alot of time on Home but can see that there is a lot to like. Of course there are flaws too but that goes with everything. I do go on from time to time just because it doesn't cost me anything and there is really a ton of stuff to do. It is a viable social network and good medium for creative things with alot of potential. What they did with Killzone 3 shows it.
They need to keep it about game launching.
Thats what i thought it would be about!
Meeting gamers that play your games, but it's so long and ackward to game launch so whats the point.
What else do you think it should be about? Okay game launches, cool and yes. But what else? Our writer is making this a 6 part series since he says there so much to report on whithin it now. Tons!! Also do you think people i.e. youngsters should be policed. I'd say if they're PSN I.D. is under 16 they should be under a squelch system for comments. Can you cuss on there or is that already handled?
you can indeed cuss on there but people can report you.
They have a small word sensor system that don't really do much.
But i think when Sony originally released home to the public they intended on mixing the gaming community together through the network to disguss games and launch games from there.
Now it's just virtual relationships and kids bickering.
The video game industry is seeing many interesting changes, not the least of which is the era of downloadable content (DLC). DLC means different things to different people. For some, it means increasing the value of a game. The game becomes longer, more maps, race tracks, and weapons are added. Even new modes of gameplay (such as co-op) are introduced.
To others, DLC means...
Most DLC add-ons these days are just retooled campaign maps for MP or over-priced song packs.
I'd like to see some REAL new content and better value.
Every now and then we see something worth buying. Most of the time its just maps or small reworked parts of the game. They may even recode something and call it new. Sadly, if its entertainment... people will always pay.
I usually only buy extra maps. Occasionally I will buy some extra single player content but for me it's mostly MP.
They are releasing MP maps that are already on the disc just adding new modes to them and call them map packs. It's a joke. What EA did with NFS ($2.99/car) was a shame. Capcom with Resident Evil 5 MP mode that was laready on the disc and had to pay $5 to unlock it.
God damn it this isn't DLC!!! This is a scam that should be regulated somehow because they are trying to cheat money out of us and not giving us the whole game on purpose.
There are only three companies I respect when it comes to DLC. One is Craterion for Burnout Paradise DLC. Second is Treyarch for their amazing MP maps and zombie mode maps DLC's. Last but not least, Bethesda for Oblivion and Fallout DLC's.
Companies like Capcom and most companies under EA suck balls when it comes to DLC.
Oh and....capcom charges $4 for 3-4 costumes in Street Fighter 4 and Super Street Fighter 4. GTFO Capcom with this stupid shit. We used to earn different costumes by beating the game not by paying for them.
not sure how you can complain about free "map packs." sure its the same maps with different modes, but its not like they're charging you for it. unless you bought it used, and well, thats a whole different argument. The Vietnam expansion will be "true" DLC.
...they aren't map packs.
It's just a scam to keep people quiet and just so they can say, hey we released a new map pack every month.
It's the same old maps with different modes. That is not how DLC should be even if it's free.
Those maps should be available from day 1 in every mode.
Show me another shooter that did this. There isn't one.
That is why DLC has become "DisabLed Contents".
As long there are enough gamers who will buy DLC for any price to keep playing, game publishers will continue to disable/remove contents from the retail disc and sell them later. Gamers may complain the DLC prices but plenty still buy them.
How often do gamers ask how much of the original contents are disabled/removed to be sold later when they buy the new games? How much will be the total cost of all the game contents? Too many gamers today can't wait to play the game immediately and rather complain having to pay for the DLC later.
Wait for several months before buying any games today is the only safe way to tell. By waiting, you can tell the amount of contents available to play on the disc and amount of DLCs are coming out and the DLC prices.
That is what I do now. I don't buy new games immediately.
Yeah, the VIP packs were already on the disc, but they were free if you bought the game new. Of course, the BC2 map packs sucked, but that's a different topic.
On the other hand, some news are not specific enough. It looks like sometimes they stream random crap off of Google News. I was at London and I am seeing Japan news and not London news.
Well i am not complaining, as I won't see myself use it that much.
But however, I give them the props for the relaxing music, it is very well design for morning coffee break.
The Fonts on the actual news webpage need to add R3 enlarge like browser, hard to read from sofa, Kotaku wasn't lying :(