Game on for Sony in Xbox's backyard

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Three years into the great console war ? the battle for billions of entertainment dollars spent on video gaming ? Sony's PlayStation 3 lags far behind Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's quirky Wii.

Chances of a Sony turnaround seem less likely than ever, given the weak economy and the PS3's relatively huge price tag ? at $400, its entry-level price is double that of the Xbox.

But if it's going to happen, if the gaming goliath is to regain its footing, it may do so with help from a bunch of engineers in Seattle, many of whom left Microsoft to build their games in studios not far from Xbox headquarters.

It takes more than a few studios to change the game, so to speak, and Sony develops games around the world. But it has high hopes for potential blockbusters to emerge in coming months from the studios in Redmond and Bellevue it has acquired or partnered with in recent years.

"The bottom line is we go where the talent is, and it just so happens that a couple of our big ones are coming out of the Seattle area in the upcoming months," said Scott Rohde, San Diego-based vice president of studios at Sony Computer Entertainment America.

These game shops have kept a relatively low profile even as the Seattle area's reputation as a world hub for game development has grown.

It's a different story in the gaming world, however, where previews of their upcoming titles have won critical acclaim. The excitement comes in part because the studios are creating entirely new games, pushing the technical capabilities of the platform and introducing characters and stories that may become tomorrow's movies and comiSummer action title title

The lineup begins with "inFamous" from Sucker Punch Productions in Bellevue. The game, going on sale May 26, revolves around Cole, a messenger in a gritty metropolis who develops superpowers after a huge explosion. Cole can use electricity like a weapon, shooting bolts of energy from his hands as he battles criminals who overrun the quarantined city.

It's an "open world" game, meaning players freely roam throughout the crime-infested city, the same model used by the hit "Grand Theft Auto" series.

Coming in the fall is "MAG" ? short for "massive action game" ? from Zipper Interactive, a Sony-owned studio in Redmond. The military-themed shooting game is played online, with realistic mercenary battles involving up to 256 players at once.

Zipper's 150 employees include ex-Microsoft talent, but the company was started by Boeing veteran Brian Soderberg, who previously built simulators for the military, and Jim Bosler, whose background includes time at Egghead Software, an early software retailer that had stores across the country.

Then in 2010, the Bellevue studio of Sony's online entertainment group is scheduled to release "The Agency," a spy-themed online game that can be played on either a PS3 or a PC. Players assume the identity of a globe-trotting spy and ally themselves with operatives, who continue working on missions even when a player takes a break from the game.

Preview beta versions of "MAG" and "The Agency" could be available sooner. Sony plans to highlight all three, and provide more details, in early June during the industry's leading trade show, the Electronic Entertainment Big bets on innovationinnovation

Spending tens of millions on these new entertainment franchises is "a completely gutsy move on Sony's part," said Chris Zimmerman, who left Microsoft with three friends in 1997 to start Sucker Punch, whose 60 employees make games exclusively for Sony.

"The easiest thing to do is just turn the crank, create another version of whatever you did last, until people stop buying it," he explained during a funky Capitol Hill cocktail party thrown last week to showcase "inFamous."

"Sony's been really brave in saying that's not enough ... we don't just want to do the same games over and over again; we want to do some new stuff, and we're willing to invest to do it," he said. "It really is cool ? a lot of that has come out of Seattle."

Call it irony or karmic retribution, but this comes as Microsoft has whittled down the once-formidable in-house game studio that it built first to advance PC gaming and then to launch its Xbox business. (A Microsoft spokesman noted the company had a strong lineup the past two years, and said announcements of new games are being held until E3.)

Outsourcing game development has helped the Xbox business finally become profitable, but it gives Sony bragging rights and competitive advantages ? theoretically.

Microsoft still has a big lead over Sony. In the U.S., Xbox has outsold the PS3 2-to-1. Through March, according to NPD research, it sold 15 million 360s, compared with 7.5 million PS3s (Nintendo's Wii, at 19.6 million, leads both). Globally, 21 million PS3s and 28 million Xbox 360s have been sold, according tHard-core hitsHard-core hits

One reason for the gap is that Microsoft won over 13- to 24-year-old hard-core gamers with the Xbox and a couple of blockbuster shooting franchises made exclusively for it: "Halo" and "Gears of War." Microsoft also built a superior online network ? Xbox Live ? on which Xbox owners spend an average of eight hours a week playing mostly raucous action games.

The Sony games coming out of Seattle are aimed directly at this demographic, and they're likely to be hits.

But they won't be enough for Sony to retake its lead of the console business, according to Michael Pachter, research director at Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles.

"They're not getting it back by launching games that are three years after 'Gears of War' and 'Halo' ? it's late," he said.

Pachter thinks Sony should be focusing on the other console maker with offices in Redmond ? Nintendo.

"Right now Sony needs to figure out how to get Wii owners to buy a PS3, and Wii owners aren't waiting for hard-core shooters or 'Grand Theft Auto'-type games as an excuseSpinoff potential

Spinoff potential

Even if the new Sony games fail to budge the PS3 out of third place, there are other ways they may influence popular culture.

Sucker Punch's "inFamous," in particular, seems likely to end up as a movie.

"I wouldn't say there's a deal, but I wouldn't say those conversations haven't at least gotten somewhere," said Brian Fleming, another Sucker Punch co-founder.

Technology developed by the local studios also will contribute to future games. Both Sucker Punch and Zipper built new game platforms, or engines, that can be used as the foundation for new titles. The network architecture that Zipper built to support "MAG" is also likely to help Sony develop other massive-scale online games, while "The Agency" team is figuring out how to bridge online play between PCs and the PS3.

"We're lucky we can continue to do these big titles," Soderberg said, adding that Sony's backing "gives us the luxury to continue to dream up new ideas and now and then take a risk and come up with something new and exciting."

Matt Wilson, a former Microsoft game developer heading Sony Online Entertainment's 100-person Bellevue studio, said the platform wars are mostly a distraction.

"First and foremost it's the game ? our goal is to make a great game,"' he said. "That's all we should be worried about."

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/micr...deogame260.html

I await people flaming the title and not reading the article.

Anyway, sets up MAG for a fall 09 release, and confirms The Agency will be cross-platform for PC/PS3.

The last few months of the year are going to be a cluster**** if Uncharted/MAG/Heavy Rain/GoW3 and the rumoured GT5 make an appearance. GoW3 has to be March 2010 or I'm poor.

On a related note, this faction i:pMAG reminds me of Stalker :p

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f357/DuckRacer31/3409709023_df6049b789_b.jpg' alt='3409709023_df6049b789_b.jpg'>

[Sethos]

Well, at least they are being optimistic :laugh:

[Icarus ^i^]

Well, at least they are being optimistic :laugh:

Yeah, hilarious isn't it?

Anyway, looking forward to the upcoming ones this year. Looking at the release list, I see 10-15 games I want to pick up, plus some on PSN.

[Minifig]

:sleep: .

All a war does is lead to causalities of innocents.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Read the article, still think their blowing smoke and still waiting for that blockbuster AAA title that doesn't disappoint.

The article also brings something to light even more..

Outsourcing game development has helped the Xbox business finally become profitable, but it gives Sony bragging rights and competitive advantages — theoretically.

The key word, but the proof is in the pudding. It's no use having theoretical power in your console which can't be tapped. It's no good having more studios to boast about when the games still flop. All this theory has landed them in 3rd place, that's how useful it's been. Moan and bitch about exclusives all you want, but Microsoft hit the nail on the head with software and will continue to do so.

Also, an inFamous movie? No thanks :x The last thing Hollywood needs is more p***-poor game adaptions.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Read the article, still think their blowing smoke and still waiting for that blockbuster AAA title that doesn't disappoint.

The article also brings something to light even more..

The key word, but the proof is in the pudding. It's no use having theoretical power in your console which can't be tapped. It's no good having more studios to boast about when the games still flop. All this theory has landed them in 3rd place, that's how useful it's been. Moan and bitch about exclusives all you want, but Microsoft hit the nail on the head with software and will continue to do so.

Also, an inFamous movie? No thanks :x The last thing Hollywood needs is more p***-poor game adaptions.

Who's blowing smoke but? It's just a Seattle news paper talking about games made in Seattle coming out soon. The title is just a tongue in cheek reference to ex-staff and studio locations.

And there have been AAA titles released on the PS3 to critical acclaim already, we're not still waiting for a blockbuster that doesn't disappoint. Maybe they all disappoint you, but if we start playing that game I can just say "Microsoft are still waiting for a AAA 360 Blockbuster that doesn't disappoint" at which point I'll be bombarded with games/metacritic/sales figures/etc. Both consoles have had blockbusters.

There is one indisputable advantage to not outsourcing, and that is 100% exclusive games - Absolutely no chance for the game to be ported at a later date to ANY platform, unless you (Sony) give the go ahead as you own it. None of these upcoming exclusives even have a chance to come to the PC, where as some 360 exclusives do hit the PC, MS wanting that though to support GFWL.

A secondary advantage is devs closely sharing your proprietary tech, and not using multiplatform engines, but exclusive engines made just for your console. Working exclusively on a platform if you're a talented dev team usually means you'll squeeze everything out of it, you don't have any secondary hardware to worry about compatibility with/lowest common denominators. And no one is saying the PS3 can't be squeezed, KZ2 is a fantastic technical achievement for a console, and Uncharted 2/Heavy Rain/GoW3 look to be following up on it.

I do agree with you on inFamous though, no more ****ing game -> movie adaptations please.... Don't care how good the game is to play, game scripts generally do not translate well into a movie or an untalented movie director butchers a game script.

[bob_c_b]

1. Agreed, no more game --> movie stuff please.

2. No matter how you slice it the PS3 has a great line up this year and we aren't waiting on AAA titles any longer, they are here.

3. The persistent negativity from a couple fo you is getting old.

[NoLiMiT06]

You know I would love to get a PS3 because there are some great games for the console, but I just can't justify spending $400 for the barebones system. When a price from happens then sure I will grab one...

[bob_c_b]

You know I would love to get a PS3 because there are some great games for the console, but I just can't justify spending $400 for the barebones system. When a price from happens then sure I will grab one...

I'm not sure I'd call any model of the PS3 barebones, but I think eveyrone agrees a price cut needs to happen ASAP.

[+Mystic MVC]

You know I would love to get a PS3 because there are some great games for the console, but I just can't justify spending $400 for the barebones system. When a price from happens then sure I will grab one...

They will drop it by E3 for sure.

[BajiRav]

Who's blowing smoke but? It's just a Seattle news paper talking about games made in Seattle coming out soon. The title is just a tongue in cheek reference to ex-staff and studio locations.

And there have been AAA titles released on the PS3 to critical acclaim already, we're not still waiting for a blockbuster that doesn't disappoint. Maybe they all disappoint you, but if we start playing that game I can just say "Microsoft are still waiting for a AAA 360 Blockbuster that doesn't disappoint" at which point I'll be bombarded with games/metacritic/sales figures/etc. Both consoles have had blockbusters.

There is one indisputable advantage to not outsourcing, and that is 100% exclusive games - Absolutely no chance for the game to be ported at a later date to ANY platform, unless you (Sony) give the go ahead as you own it. None of these upcoming exclusives even have a chance to come to the PC, where as some 360 exclusives do hit the PC, MS wanting that though to support GFWL.

A secondary advantage is devs closely sharing your proprietary tech, and not using multiplatform engines, but exclusive engines made just for your console. Working exclusively on a platform if you're a talented dev team usually means you'll squeeze everything out of it, you don't have any secondary hardware to worry about compatibility with/lowest common denominators. And no one is saying the PS3 can't be squeezed, KZ2 is a fantastic technical achievement for a console, and Uncharted 2/Heavy Rain/GoW3 look to be following up on it.

I do agree with you on inFamous though, no more ****ing game -> movie adaptations please.... Don't care how good the game is to play, game scripts generally do not translate well into a movie or an untalented movie director butchers a game script.

May be I don't follow PS3 much and really don't want to get into another argument but I probably missed the PS3 games (exclusives) that sold millions overnight or in a forthnight. I would call them a blockbuster not games that barely sold any (figuratively).

[Sethos]

May be I don't follow PS3 much and really don't want to get into another argument but I probably missed the PS3 games (exclusives) that sold millions overnight or in a forthnight. I would call them a blockbuster not games that barely sold any (figuratively).

Yeah, Blockbluster hits are selected by the players, not the developers or the gaming press. Money and hype isn't everything ...

[bob_c_b]

Yeah, Blockbluster hits are selected by the players, not the developers or the gaming press. Money and hype isn't everything ...

Great games do not always equal huge hits, doesn't mena they aren't great games.

[Sethos]

Great games do not always equal huge hits, doesn't mena they aren't great games.

A Blockbuster hit is based on popularity and sales, a game can still be great and have low sales, just means it isn't 'Blockbuster'.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

1. Agreed, no more game --> movie stuff please.

2. No matter how you slice it the PS3 has a great line up this year and we aren't waiting on AAA titles any longer, they are here.

3. The persistent negativity from a couple fo you is getting old.

Yeah I agree with this.

May be I don't follow PS3 much and really don't want to get into another argument but I probably missed the PS3 games (exclusives) that sold millions overnight or in a forthnight. I would call them a blockbuster not games that barely sold any (figuratively).

Not everything sells as well as those titles, and in fact most games don't full stop.

The only title Sony have ever had selling those sorts of numbers, ever, has been GT. In fact it's the best selling game out of the lot I believe. GT worldwide sales are over 50 million.

If we were to measure everything against Halo nothing would be a "blockbuster".

MGS4 has been the best seller this gen for Sony, I think it's gone over 4 million. LBP has surpassed 2 million now.

Some software titles on the PS3 that are critically acclaimed have sales figures not that impressive, but hey, I'm a gamer not a stock broker, a good game is a good game to me.

Valkyria Chronicles is one of my fav games this generation and I doubt it's even hit 500k.

[bob_c_b]

Yeah I agree with this.

Not everything sells as well as those titles, and in fact most games don't full stop.

Exactly, and we can even look to last generation where some great games were overlooked. ICO didn't sell well at all, but I know a lot of "gamers" who love, regardless of how well it sold. For me the other PS3 exclusive that flopped but I love was Mark of Kri, which sold less than ICO. A good game is a good game regardless of sales, but of course you expect interivews with marketing execs and financial people to toss around words like "blockbuster".

I'm not one to pretend the PS3 does't have shortcomings, but Sony is working pretty hard to address them and releasing some pretty solid software along the way, I see no reason to be negative.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Nobody said the games are bad, we said they fall short of the hype Sony create. Of course there is good games which don't sell many copies. They can't be considered blockbusters when they don't create a profit, especially when some of them cost 10's of millions to create. Ratings mean jack and don't decide the winners and losers. It all comes down to money just like anything else. Something that can't be swayed positively or negatively by one person whose motives are never fully known. Just look at scandals like Kane & Lynch in 2007, you think those are one offs? Please..

[Skulltrail]

Now 256 people in one game is TOO F*CKING much... (N)

I understand what they are trying to get, a more realistic warzone, but DAMN, 256 people in one room will be hell to maintain and perfect. Lag will be a b*tch, hackers will make it agonizingly stupid and the concept itself sounds a bit off. If there will be respawn it will be hell seeing dozens of enemies spawn in front of--or near--you, and if its like COD4's Search and Destroy, it will be a very long wait until all 256 people die...

The only thing I see worth looking at is the size of the maps. They are going to have to be literally miles long... and one 'nade can probably kill 20 people! (assuming there will be crowded buildings) :D

[Icarus ^i^]

This is getting real old...

[Ricardo Gil]

The last few months of the year are going to be a cluster**** if Uncharted/MAG/Heavy Rain/GoW3 and the rumoured GT5 make an appearance. GoW3 has to be March 2010 or I'm poor.

And that's just from one platform (although I'll only be looking at Uncharted and maybe heavy rain if the story's any good...), every year it gets worse.

I'm still missing so many games from these last 2 years, not having the time to play them all sucks.

[rednekcowboy]

While it's generally frowned upon, I think the biggest reason for Sony lagging behind MS is that there is no way available yet to hack the PS3 to play backup games.

The 360 can do this with a simple firmware MOD, which allows people to dl and play burnt games. It opens up the market, increases sales, and brings many users to that console. The more people that buy the console, the cheaper it becomes.

If Sony wants to get back in the market, they will have to "leak" a way to do this for the PS3. wink wink.

I personally don't own a 360, I have a PS3 and love it, but that's only because it's what I'm used to. I've been with Sony since the beginning. However, making an "unhackable" system is bad for business. If the PS3 suddenly has a way to play burnt games you would see people everywhere rushing out to buy it. That's just the simple truth.

[The Teej]

While it's generally frowned upon, I think the biggest reason for Sony lagging behind MS is that there is no way available yet to hack the PS3 to play backup games.

The 360 can do this with a simple firmware MOD, which allows people to dl and play burnt games. It opens up the market, increases sales, and brings many users to that console. The more people that buy the console, the cheaper it becomes.

If Sony wants to get back in the market, they will have to "leak" a way to do this for the PS3. wink wink.

I personally don't own a 360, I have a PS3 and love it, but that's only because it's what I'm used to. I've been with Sony since the beginning. However, making an "unhackable" system is bad for business. If the PS3 suddenly has a way to play burnt games you would see people everywhere rushing out to buy it. That's just the simple truth.

While that's a method of increasing sales, at the moment, Sony simply can't afford to have a drop in software sales, their console isn't profitable by itself. It simply isn't a wise business practice to do this at the moment (well, not that it ever is, but it's doubly bad currently).

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

While it's generally frowned upon, I think the biggest reason for Sony lagging behind MS is that there is no way available yet to hack the PS3 to play backup games.

The 360 can do this with a simple firmware MOD, which allows people to dl and play burnt games. It opens up the market, increases sales, and brings many users to that console. The more people that buy the console, the cheaper it becomes.

If Sony wants to get back in the market, they will have to "leak" a way to do this for the PS3. wink wink.

I personally don't own a 360, I have a PS3 and love it, but that's only because it's what I'm used to. I've been with Sony since the beginning. However, making an "unhackable" system is bad for business. If the PS3 suddenly has a way to play burnt games you would see people everywhere rushing out to buy it. That's just the simple truth.

The 360 has a really good attachment rate though, if the PS3 can get the price down and start gaining a bigger install base not being able to pirate could have the opposite affect.

As in it forces people to buy the good games as they have no other option.

Piracy can only be helpful for hardware, not software, and these companies make most of their money off software, not the hardware.

Then even if you could pirate right now, we have no idea what Blu Ray is like to try make 1:1, it's costly, and if your PS3 gets banned you need to put down another ?250-300 to play online again:pp

[ahhell]

Now 256 people in one game is TOO F*CKING much... (N)

I understand what they are trying to get, a more realistic warzone, but DAMN, 256 people in one room will be hell to maintain and perfect. Lag will be a b*tch, hackers will make it agonizingly stupid and the concept itself sounds a bit off. If there will be respawn it will be hell seeing dozens of enemies spawn in front of--or near--you, and if its like COD4's Search and Destroy, it will be a very long wait until all 256 people die...

The only thing I see worth looking at is the size of the maps. They are going to have to be literally miles long... and one 'nade can probably kill 20 people! (assuming there will be crowded buildings) :D

This.

[bob_c_b]

Nobody said the games are bad, we said they fall short of the hype Sony create. Of course there is good games which don't sell many copies. They can't be considered blockbusters when they don't create a profit, especially when some of them cost 10's of millions to create. Ratings mean jack and don't decide the winners and losers. It all comes down to money just like anything else. Something that can't be swayed positively or negatively by one person whose motives are never fully known. Just look at scandals like Kane & Lynch in 2007, you think those are one offs? Please..

While there is no doubt that money is changing hands for some review scores in the industry, and I have lameneted for years that the "gaming press" is a joke, I don't think that means that every interivew with every gaming exec is a cover story for corruption and paid for reviews. Sometimes good games just don't sell well, and sometimes silly reshashes and bad sequels become blockbuster hits. I'd say ill informed or oblivious gamers are a bigger part of the issue than the occaissional review payola, be it a reviewer who is a little too excited for a new game and scores it too high (Resistance 2, Gears of War 2) or someone taking cash in it's many forms (K&L being the example everyone knows and can be proven, I think we all probably can think of on review of another that must have been paid for).