Sony gets a hug as PS3 prepares to battle Halo 3

E-Gear's Steve Smith writes:
"I have been rough on Sony this past year, what with its limp PS3 launch and fading PSP support. But I have to say that the nurturer in me gets a bit defensive of the beleaguered giant as I see Microsoft's Halo 3 behemoth prepared to suck all the air out of the video gaming arena for weeks to come.

In fact, Sony has been improving both its weak platforms in recent months, and it deserves a little hug of consumer recognition. The PS3 firmware is getting updated about once a month, and the improvements are noticeable."

[MK_Red]

Sony definitly deserves a hug. Right now there are 3 PS3 exclusives and 2 of them are really great (Warhawk and Heavenly Sword). Lair is alos cool IMO.
But I don't think Sony is showing enough attention to PSP.

[thereapersson]

They just announced the camera and GPS support in Europe (will eventually make its way over here) and are releasing the redesign in about a week and a half with the bundles.

What they really need to do is put more PSone titles on the PSN so I can play them on my PSP! I got my friend to buy a PSP after I showed him that I can play Castlevania SOTN on my PSP, among other games.

[MK_Red]

I said that because of games. I agree with your points but what about games?
Aside from God of War: CoO there is no PSP game for 2008 that interests me. Where is Lumines 3? Daxter 2? Devil May Cry PSP? Loco Roco 2? GT PSP?
Where are the games?

[thereapersson]

Yeah, there isn't a ton of BIG franchises coming out soon (or announced right now as far as I know), but the PSP still has a really decent backlog of games that I have yet to play. There are many titles that people simply overlook.

Although, a few upcoming games that I am excited about are Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow, Wipeout Pulse, the new SOCOM game and more. IGN has some good coverage of upcoming PSP games... you should check it out.

http://psp.ign.com/

[nasim]

HS and WOWHAWK are just too much for x360 with cartoon HALO 3.

BTW people NG2 has been revealed but it looks exactly the same as Sigma .

HS has killed any hype for NG2

[Skynetone]

ps3 has warhawk,cod,Rfom,motorS,burnou t

360 has halo,cod,gow,bio,pgr4,burnout, Ace combat

ill give the edge to the 360 this christmas

[Barreldragon00]

Theirs Heavenly Sword, Rachet and Clank, Haze, UT3 (timed), Uncharted Drakes fortune.

also for 360 Mass effect should be their to.

EDIT: uxo22

Yes they are all coming out before christmas.
Theirs even more games like Folklore, Eye of Jugment (this is the game I'm most interested in) and Time Crisis 4 but these aren't big titles like the ones he's talking about.
And then the big titles for the PS3 all come out next year.

About the PSP thing I don't know bro i don't have a PSP. But i think the PSP just downloads the games to the memory stick so the PS3 wouldn't have to be on.

[uxo22]

Are all of those titles suppose to be out before Christmas? I believe he said this Christmas. Also, when playing PSone games on your PSP, does the PS3 need to be on? If so, can someone be playing the PS3 while someone else is playing a PSone game on the PSP? Just curious?

[risk]

he should add (timed) next to ace combat...even thou its not THAT big...

[Violater]

"Okay, hug time is over.

Where the hell is my Metal Gear Solid 4? "

+1

[MK_Red]

Agreed. That comment deserves a hog.

+2

[Maddens Raiders]

and the KILLZONE II beta. ¡Son candentes roja!

[tplarkin7]

Remember the original MGS4 trailer that ended with "2008" and then "2007"? Oops!

Maybe in 2009?

[Naruto]

Warhawk and HS are cool
also I disagree with the PSP thing

[GaMr-]

(My Title is a Remix to Chamillionaires (Riding Dirty) I made it just for Steve Smith)

Love the Sony Bashing in Disguise... cookies to the Troll who wrote this article(Steve). Infact before dropping to his knees and polishing Master Chiefs and Microsofts Knobs as well as he did. He should see what infinity Ward has cooking. COD 4 is gunna steal someones thunder badly and guess what.... Its gunna be amazing on both consoles.....lol

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I do agree that COD4 will be amazing. But Halo 3 is coming out far enough in advance of COD4 for it to really steal any thunder from Halo 3.

[brianpk80]

The article is very insulting to Sony. Saying you have a "nurturing" instinct is for Sony very maternal and makes it sounds like Sony is a wounded bird that needs love and attention, cause it can't fly on its own.

[damnwrx]

Sony does well on it's own, don't need his sh!t.

[Lightning Mr Bubbles]

I'm eager to get started, just how bad will the carnage be?

[r1000]

fading PSP support.... WTF

I stopped reading right there.... It amazes me how misinformed people "IN" the "INDUSTRY" are....

[VirusE]

Uhh maybe you missed the memo or something. Last time I check the psp wasn't doing so well. I don’t think it is that they are misinformed I think it’s that you are being too biased to see the truth. It is a great system yes but there has been a severe lack of games of late. Look at how many games come out a month for the DS. What is the newest UMD you bought? Yeah thought so.

[thereapersson]

Doesn't mean they are all good games. The only problem is it's harder to sift through the crap because you have so much to choose from on the DS.

[VirusE]

What you are saying about the DS is 100% correct but it is also coming out with way more quality games along side the filler. Every psp owner i know uses it as a web browser, music player or movie player. Like i said it is a great system but it just needs more great games more often.

[gololo]

great games like FFVII CC and GOW for PSP!!!

[kewlkat007]

because everybody heard about "HOMEBREW" and Free ISO games.

Hey I have Dark Alex on mine...Plus I have a DS. I still have not seen a PSP game thats really worth it. Maybe the new Castlevania game. The DS is more intuitive, the PSP is really a PS 1.9 on the Go..and really defeats the purpose, especially when DEV are not giving it it's own library of games.

This is where Sony lost it's focus for the PSP. Well the UMD debacle doesn't help either. Look at how many DS's that are sold and you'll see why DEV go where the money can be made.

On another note Sony will be aight...

[DrunKao]

thereapersson - "Just because there is a crapflood of DS titles
Doesn't mean they are all good games. The only problem is it's harder to sift through the crap because you have so much to choose from on the DS.
A"

Is that suppose to be a bad thing? The same can be said for the PS2. The more successful the platform the more shovelware you have, but it also means you'll have more gems as well. Tell me, if the PS3 ends up with the least amount of games you'll be happy because it means you don't have to search hard for the very good games? That would be some horrible reasoning.

[The Karate Kid]

This is just the begining. By the end of the year playstation 3 will be hitting its stride. Lets take a quick look at some hot subjects.

Playstation Home
Firmware 2.0
Newly Announced Rumble Controller
$399.99 Bundle with Spiderman 3 packed In

Warhawk
Lair
Heavenly Sword
Ratchet & Clank
Socom Confrontation
Gran Turismo Prolouge
Haze
Unreal Tournament 3
Wipeout 1080 HD (***PSN***)
Pain (***PSN***)
Uncharted Drakes Fortune

Playstation 3 will have a fantastic holiday season!

[BackDoorMoi]

Wait for it...it just that. More disapointments to come. Buy a 360

[Barreldragon00]

In stead of having your game on launch day but nothing to play it on.

Seriously dude stop trolling you just making yourself look like an idiot. I'm not trying to bash the 360 just trying to shut up a stupid fanboy like you.

[leon76]

"More and more deffective Xbox360 to be repaired
Wait for it...it just that. More disapointments to come. Buy a PS3"

[Hugh Hefner]

"Oh, come here, don't cry... everything will be okay after Halo 3... it will sell nothing but a few millions here and there... no biggie... just wait till 2008"...

[The Karate Kid]

PSP Has Over 25 Million Console Sales Worldwide. That is successful. Within the next 2 years there will be over 50 million units sold. As we get closer to mid and late 2008 you will see another $50.00 Price drop.

[Clinton514]

PSP support is surprisingly strong and sales are going well too. To think the industry will stop for one game is absurd. Life goes on and the industry moves with it.

[sleekblackroadster]

i still think sony will hit a stride eventually and leave 360 in the dust.. but its understandable that this will take time.. in the future i see huge ps3 games that utilize not only cell power but also the blu ray disks huge size.. and harddrives will be usefull as well (which microsoft won't be able to use since the 'core' owners don't have hd's and they won't single them out and say "you can't play this game core ppl" at least so they say)

but in the mean time they don't have that much to offer gamers until the true first generation ps3 games roll out throughout 2008.. so this holiday it will be a 360 purchase for me.. so i can play games like mass effect and bioshock and halo plus copies of the non exclusives like ass creed and cod4 that i would have gotten for ps3 if i was going to pick one up this year and not even bother with a 360. a wii is a must for me cause i have been waiting for a new mario 64 successor forever and metroid looks worth a play through.

well this way i'll have both and that's what i've always done in the past.. since snes and genesis.. then ps1, saturn and n64.. then ps2 and xbox and gamecube and now wii, 360 and eventually ps3.

[sleekblackroadster]

that one is still in my entertainment center.. sadly it will have to be put in the closet when the 360 elite takes its place. :(

[Descendant]

I disagree about the games of 2008 part. I haven't bought a PSP yet, but now I will get one by next year just to play Crisis Core. Not to mention the Star Ocean remakes. I for one have never played the first Star Ocean, and I am pretty excited for that considering they are getting better presentation and voice-overs.

[lonestarmt]

well psp is getting lots of love just not love americans like. There are tons of rpgs coming, two star ocean remakes, FF crisis core, FF tatics remake, diseaga remake/redux. It already has metal gear portable obs, joane de arc, loco roco. Not to mention it will be even more important with home coming out.

[gololo]

Hey...I just got a PSP and I think is the best time to get one...especially with FFVII CC coming out soon :) LONG LIVE FFVII (and whatever is related to it), what about God of War for PSP???. So, PSP doesnt have lack of support, this another strongly (and perhaps wrong) opinions against PS3.

[lonestarmt]

IF you combine the sales of ps2, ps3, and psp, and that even psp is out selling the 360 in Japan. Sony is doing ok. Once the price goes down, all those ps2 owners will upgrade. After a year a two and people get tired of the wii, they will either buy a ps3 and 360.

It just sad that games like heavenly sword and uncharted might get overlooked because of halo 2.5... :(

[BloodySinner]

<sarcasm>Yes, let's combine the sales of all three items against one.</sarcasm>

[VirusE]

Anyone who calls it halo 2.5 obviously didnt play much halo 2. The pic on the top is halo 2 and the pic on the bottom is halo3. It's a rather large difference if you ask me.

[cartman313]

I know the top pic is in game. But the bottom one?

[PStriple703]

Can't last forever....

[iNcRiMiNaTi]

thats y bungie included 4-player online co-op campaign and forge

[nobizlikesnowbiz]

It's like we should take pity on them and spend our cash on their products.

[SDS Overfiend]

No one felt pity on the dreacast so fuk sony. Its their fault all this happen for undermining their own fanb...customers.

[PimpHandHappy]

hmmmmm

i geuss so

sure

[IRONMAN_X57]

just like halo 2 wa supposed to destroy ps2, not happening, PS3 will win very soon, it has the edge for the holdiays to

[BloodySinner]

It was meant to kill the PS2, you say? If that's the case, it sure as hell made an impact.

[leon76]

What Impact????????

[achira]

i think the psp is a awesome console. ppl who say it has no good games, should check their brain. there a so many rpgs, and everyone can find games which fit his taste. for example the last rpgs i played were dragooons daria and jan darc, and both are really good games. the ds has a lot of crap games, but only some decent games. and my psp can play all ps1 games, all nes games, all snes games, all sega games, and so on, this is awesome! and what can you play with the ds ? nintendogs, lol. by the way i have a ds.

[QuackPot]

but by Christmas it's impact on xbox 360 sales would have started to wane.

After Halo, there's nothing else that Microsoft has that could result in massive increase in console sales. A great game like Bioshock hasn't done it nor will Mass Effect, Alan Wake or even GeoW 2.

Sony just needs to sit out the next three months and allow the Halo hype to die down then they will have the market with LBP, GT5, FF, MGS & Killzone....and others.

[ApocalypseShadow]

only eggheads(haters) think sony is not doing well.or need "hugs."

let's take a look into the portable past:

nec turbo express(awsome)-failed against nintendo
sega game gear(awsome)-failed against nintendo
sega nomad(awsome portable genesis)-failed against nintendo
neo geo pocket(awsome)-failed against nintendo
game.com(not awsome)-failed against nintendo
ngage(not awsome)failed against nintendo
nintendo's own virtual boy(not awsome)-failed against nintendo

nintendo controls or has controlled 99% of the portable market.now look at sony:

25 plus million psp sales.in a nintendo controlled market of GBA and DS.that would be considered a success.and UMD does what it was intended to do:work for psp.no UMD players were ever made or was going to be made.only works for psp.but fanboys say UMD failed.how can it fail when it's used for psp?are DS chips used for anything else?are GBA carts used for anything else?no they are not.

games for psp coming out:ff vii,pursuit force 2,god of war,loco roco,castlevania,coded arms,syphon filter,star wars battlefront,.....you know what?just look at the list:
http://psp.ign.com/index/re...

and people ask "where's GT portable?" it' called remote play.you will be able to play GT5 on psp.and upcoming games from ps3 on psp.can you do that with any other system?heeeeeellllllsssss no!can you do pictures,music,movies and tv(euro psp) through remote play on anything else?heeeeeelllllllsssss no!

as for ps3,its got the games coming that will sell the system.and i don't have to list those.we already know some of them.sony does not need any hugs.people will buy the system regardless.but fanboys or haters who went soft still think sony can't sell their own products.

the fear of "threepeat" of 100 million systems sold grows day by day.but not from sony fans.fans know sony will do fine.

..........................mag lev super train.................

[DJ]

+ 1 Bubblez

[Relientk77]

that amazing post by u just PWNED the 360 and Halo 3

:)

[shodown19]

Yeah. Out of all those handhelds that has went against Nintendo, you can say that the PSP is the most successful one. No it will never trump Nintendo, but Sony does have a solid 2nd-3rd place on greatest handhelds of all time only losing out to DS, Game Boy

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

Man the wait is almost over. I have a feeling that once 2008 begins Sony will start doing good.

[gunnerforlife]

ur mgs4 will be coming in a couple of months so save up:D:P

[witchking]

So let me get this straight. We're still waiting for some AAA PS3 games, though HS and Warhawk are right up there. And because MSFT has Halo 3, we're gonna ... hug... our PS3s? Because there isn't anything to play on them?

[TheFatOne]

@VirusE That was a pretty stupid comparison. This is why, the second pic wasn't gameplay. You have to do gameplay vs. gameplay if not what's the point.

[Relientk77]

I really hope Halo 3 doesnt steal too much thunder

cuz PS3 has SOOOO MANY good games to look forward to this season

Unreal Tourny 3
Haze
Ratchet and Clank 5
Eye of Judgement
Guitar Hero 3
Rock Band
Uncharted: Drakes Fortune
Heavenly Sword
Dirt
Blacksite: Area 51
Folklore
Assassin's Creed
Call of Duty 4
Army of Two
Kane and Lynch: Dead Men
Time Crisis 4

[Says you]

Game as Halo 2 infact they should be calling it Halo 3.2 considering the animation and the blood are still the same the only difference is the graphics and new weapons and vehicles and matches of course after Halo 3 is out there wont be any hitters for the XBox 360 fans to brag about considering all they talk about is Halo 3 this and Halo 3 that Bungie wont have any thing else that is going to be a hit as Halo 3 and plus any game company can make a colorful game as Halo 3 and sell alot since alot of people seem to like a teletubbies game mix with Barney and Friends.

[DJ]

to FPS titles on the 360. October onwards is Sony’s ballgame, and they’re obviously not going to pass up the chance to hit Microsoft where it hurts. GDC, E3, and Leipzig were slaughters, and Sony hasn’t even revealed half of their cards. Two of my friends have 360s, and I don’t think either one is getting Halo 3. Halo 2 seems to be enough, and Call of Duty seems a lot more exciting to them since Infinity Ward does such a bang-up job and was ballsy enough to ditch the World War II theme that their series was built upon.

Halo 3 WILL sell millions of copies and will obviously get its share of perfect scores from reviewers, but I have feeling that it’ll be the first Halo title to get its share of harsh reviews as well. Sony has too many great titles coming out throughout 2007 and 2008 to be worried about what Microsoft is doing; in fact, it probably won’t be long before journalists start attacking Microsoft as it starts to fall further and further behind in regards to both technology and services.

[ALMIGHTYPS3]

NAYSAYERS WERE(ARE)SAYING THE PS3 IS DEAD IN THE WATER(LOL),IT DOES IN FACT HAVE A VERY BRIGHT AND EXCITING FUTURE.

VIVA LA PS3!!!!!!

[crippler666]

IMO Sony need to do nothing. They just need to wait around 2-3 weeks, by then the Halo 3 rush will have peaked. I know people will disagree with that, but there are very few games that continue to sell that strongly after launch (so 300-600k week 1 and working its way down from there slowly). I believe Halo 3 will still be in the top 10 at Christmas.

Sony have many strong games this fall, some of them fall into the usual catagory of FPS, but some are not. These are the games that will make the difference.

Whilst I do not see the PS3 beating the 360 this holiday season, I think Sony will hold its own.

[Trick Nolte]

to combat Halo 3. AS far as I see it, all Sony has to do is survive Microsofts' perfect Storm for the remainder of this year and then get busy in 08. Halo3 is gonna kick some serious ass though the remainder of 2007. Atleast the worse will be over for Sony as far as 360 Blockbuster games go. Sony really need to set a staedy price for the PS3 and stop messing around in the 500 and 600 dollar price tags. They seriously need to get competive in PRICE and in CONTENT. ASAP!

[TheMART]

They can prepare what they want.

But Sony/PS3 will loose with only Warhawk Good to great, but still no AAA average review rating. About 8 to 8.5 average, and Heavenly Sword, just ok to good with average ratings of 7 to 8 and some high, some low reviews compared to AAA's like Bioshock, Halo 3 and Mass Effect.

This is an uphill battle they simply can't win. Hugging is fine, but sounds a bit sad if you ask me. Loosers need to be hugged, winners kick ars. So it'll be... Expect major slaughter in sales these months, 360 will double the PS3 sales again like earlier this year!

[The Dark Knight]

Halo 3 will butt rape ps3

[zonetrooper5]

The PSP is crap though, its overpriced over here in the UK and has alot of poor games. I would not go as far as saying that MS has nothing for 2008, MS will have a few surpises for sure.

[TheMART]

Well I have to agree and disagree with you on the same time.

People will be shocked from me what I am gonna say over this, but its really how I feel about these products:

PS2, soon it'll have the shopadviced price of 99 Euro. That console, together with games like God of War 1&2 and some other games is even for one game worth it.

PSP, split feelings. For 169 Euro for the slim edition is ok if you look at what it can do (especially modded for homebrew) and if you're not only buying it for games.

When I focus on the games: agreed, up till now there hasn't been much where one would buy a PSP for. BUT when I see a special build God of War game will be released soon (quality outstanding for a handheld, a really PS2 portable game) and some other games, the ability to watch movies and all those other cool features like GPS or TV add-on... Then yeah I think the PSP is worth its money.

The PS3 is another story. At least for a long time it's not worth investing in it. The three promissed AAA games aren't AAA. Lair sucks big fat donkey balls, Heavenly Sword is allright, but just for some graphics fun (God of War II on the PS2 kills that game) and Warhawk is good to great with 8 to 8.5 average review but also no AAA and certainly you won't spend 600 Euro on it. Uncharted may become AAA. The only AAA exclusive then this year untill MGS4 probably. All combined: just don't buy a PS3 untill next year summer/winter (when more games are out that are great) and the price is to a reasonable normal level of 299 to 399 Euro.

Best advice? A PS2 for 99 Euro, a 360 Premium for 349 Euro and choose for a 1.) white PSP slim (fits with the 360 really nice :P) or 2.)a Wii if you like GOOD motion controlling. You'll spend about the same as one PS3 (with buying HD cables, a BT headset etc...).

Simple: pay about the same, have at least TRIPLE the fun!

[neogeo]

next month

[TheMART]

You're a funny guy

1. Next month = October. Uncharted releases in November.
2. Halo 3 is the biggest franchise in gaming business together with the Mario and Zelda's, most anticipated game of this year.
3. 12 Million 360 owners, 4 to 5 mln. PS3 owners. Halo 3 will be bought by the majority of the 360 users, Uncharted is an unknown franchise, a new IP and not everyone will be into the game
4. The PS3 is still overpriced. Even if Uncharted hits AAA. One AAA game on a 600 Euro system (and Oblivion as the multiplatform AAA, but that's getting old no system seller this Christmas anymore) isn't enough. Compared to a 349 Euro 360 Premium, the PS3 is still as much as floating dead in the water.

[CRIMS0N_W0LF]

I'll give a hug to sony. I support MAC, Linux, Sony and Nintendo. M$ are just $$$$$$$$$$$ company. Even their OSs is full of bugs and loopholes.

[OmegaKulu]

can't really see ps3 doing much till next year.
however, i wonder if halo3 will boost 360 sells as much as people think. most people that i know who want halo3 already have a 360, and i think that apply to a large chunk of the 10+ mil of 360 sells out there.
We'll see in a few weeks ^^"

[Trick Nolte]

Yup. Its hasnt been the best year for Sony but I'll admit getting a PS3, Heavenly Sword and Drake:Uncharted late in the year will make for a happy holiday season for a alot of gamers.

@NeoGeo- Halo3 is about to rape the rest of 2007 bud. Halo isnt my cup of tea but logic is.