I just want to start by saying that your stated bias against Sony is really showing at this point. Me? I don't care who has the best games on their console as long as they are available for me to play. There is no need to hate, mang. It's all about the games.
Ashrem Bayle said:
Multiplatform release is a non-issue for this discussion. As long as there are sales on the 360, it is good for the 360. It doesn't matter if there are also sales on the PC, or the Commador 64. Yes, some of those will also be on the PS3, but you can get them on the 360 long before you can get them on the PS3, and that means a lot.
It matters a great bit. You cannot discount games that are not exclusive to a console. It makes all the difference and the only difference. The people who already own a console will buy games for it - bottom line. However, many people need a reason to own a console and exclusive games are that singular defining difference. So saying multiplatform release is a non-issue is a terrible arguement when we are essentially talking about the popularity of one system versus another.
Ashrem Bayle said:
The developers claim that Dead Rising, Gears of War, Rainbow Six, Mass Effect, & Splinter Cell will all be out this year. Are they sometimes wrong? Sure. But they all look very likely.
Arnwyn said:
Nonsense - that's quite a stretch. In any case, you understand incorrectly: at least Jade Empire 2 and KotOR 3 are unannounced.
Ashrem Bayle said:
Confirmed by developers in both cases.
Neither are confirmed at all, although I wish they were as both franchises deserve to be continued. Bottom line is that Bioware is fully concentrating on Mass Effect (woot!) so unless Obsidian is already developing one of them we won't have the pleasure for at least 3 years.
Arnwyn said:
No, those are just quick and easy examples. Simply look at all the PS1/PS2 franchises for more examples.
Ashrem Bayle said:
So when I mention 360 franchises, I hear "not announced yet", but I'm told to look at existing PS2 franchises to behold the glory of the future PS3?
You can see it that way, if you like. I can not speak for
Arnwyn but the Xbox doesn't have the history of the Playstation in terms of established popular franchises. We can assume all we want that we will get a JE2& KotOR3, and I hope we do, they are not coming anytime soon or even in development as opposed to other franchises (Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, etc).
The point remains that Sony has more 3rd party games announced that are in development, especially from Japanese devs. MS has some awesome 3rd party titles as well, but in lower quantity - and I'm talking about the proven quality titles, not the chaff.
Ashrem Bayle said:
Not exactly. Release day means a lot (to stock holders), and if a console can't survive while hemorrhaging money, it won't last a "couple of years". Just ask Sega...
Stock holders don't matter and don't compare Sega to Sony. Sega just came off a dismall period of failures with their consoles and were already in the hole. Sony is nowhere close to being in that position.
Sony will have to seriously undersell to be a large concern to the money interests of the company. Their videogame division will still be pulling in money from the PSP & PS2. The PS2 has more games coming out this year that are appealing to me than the 360 (GoW2 & FFXII). And I'm not in the minority there. The point is that unless you are a FPS or maybe driving game fan there is no reason to get a 360. A system needs to suck in the entire gaming population if it wants to rule supreme. Quality game selection is lacking in the 360, which I believe will happen withe PS3 as well in their comparitive launch period. The one exception is that the PS3 will play all the PS1/2 games & HD movies (with the BR player) while the 360 has a considerably smaller selection if we are just talking about the first year of a console's life.
And, if the PS3 bombs, it bombs. That is bad news for gamers! Competition is vital to any industry, especially a huge one like the gaming industry.
