880°

Worst Decisions in Gaming This Generation

Jesse Sanchez writes: "In the history of video games and the surrounding industry, there have been hundreds of thousands of mistakes made. We’ve covered the biggest mistakes of all time in the past, but what are the worst decisions and choices made by game companies during this generation of gaming hardware in particular. Fans of certain systems may choose to turn a blind eye to issues their console of choice may face, but there’s no denying that the decisions on this list have directly impacted sales and in some cases, the way we view a company in general."

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gofanboy.com
vgn245117d ago

Layoff Philly Phil. He's gone now. Well at Atari, so pretty much gone. Sony recovery in full effect!

TOO PAWNED5117d ago

He decided to leave Sony not the other way around. He did amazing things for Playstation. As president of WWS he was guy that made calls for supporting Uncharted, LBP, Motorstorm, Resistance,Heavenly Sword, Infamous, Heavy Rain etc and thats only for this gen. Also lets not forget he pushed 8 days and Getaway and new guy Yoshueida decided to put them on hold and who knows what else about which we dont know.
If rumors are true he was disappointed that SCEJ didnt push more online, because of that PS3 suffered in begining and still has reputation as inferior system when it comes to online. Even if he had no personality, i am said he left sony.
Having Japanese guy running WWS is making me nervous. Even if Phil left Sony some 2 years ago, we still play franchises to which he gave thumbs up to go in production and Japanese guy has been cutting on western core games since he came in power. Lets hope that it doesnt hurt Sony in long run.

rockleex5117d ago

Letting Ken Kuturagi resign from Sony.

I honestly fear for the hardware of the PS4. Sure, Sony will still be great at providing us with entertainment.

But after being spoiled by the PS3's hardware this generation... I don't think I can ever go back to mediocre technology.

:(

zootang5117d ago (Edited 5117d ago )

Set up a joint company called Cellius Sony holds 51% Namco bandai holds 49%

Ken that is

zootang5117d ago

@too pawned

Probably dead is not dead. Maybe they have been working on something for a couple of years which we might get to see at E3

RememberThe3575116d ago

Apparently he has started teaching at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

barom5116d ago (Edited 5116d ago )

Getaway wasn't even in production. The Getaway though, was pretty far along but come on, if you've seen the leaked footage you'll agree that apart from the potentially best cover system out there, it did not carry much else. Also, let's not forget that the technology can still be used so we probably will see it in some shape or form.

Also for those not believing in Shuhei Yoshida, he has worked with Playstation and Sony probably just as long as Phil. While I agree Phil did a great job with the Buzz, Eyetoy, Motorstorm, LBP and etc, I feel this is the first time the Playstation department is finally playing cards together. They're finally sharing and co-operating on the technology and in general the department feels a lot more unified globally. Additionally, I believe Yoshida helped bring out the Team ICO games, so don't count his contributions out so easily.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5116d ago
I_LOVE_MYSELF5117d ago

Rushing the 360 was a bad decision ethically. But from a business standpoint they took a lot of ground from Sony, so really it was a good decision for MS. The PS3 launch was a bad decision and costed Sony a lot. Good thing they have redeemed themselves.

garos825117d ago

i dont think it was a good idea business wise either.
i mean if they waited even just for 6 months to try and improve the hardware to avoid rrod then i really believe xbox could have "won" the hd race this gen with flying colours. its reliability issues have put off many people that i know to actually purchase it

commodore645116d ago (Edited 5116d ago )

That's a good point, garos82.
It's entirely possible that the 360 could have stolen even more ps3 customers had it not been for the well known fear of rrod.
The question is, how do we quantify the lost sales due to the rrod?

In the end, releasing the 360 early, was a business gamble. That gamble cost $1bn in repairs and undoubtedly some lost sales.

Still, the decision has kept the ps3 in third place and the 360 is deemed a success by most reasonable people.
(ok, well not the trolls on n4g hehe)

Nathan Drake25117d ago

ps3 launch price-600$ worst decision for sony

mrv3215117d ago

Well that $600 PS3 played a huge part in the success of blu-ray and thus a big HD move, it sold Sony millions of TV's and imagine the royalties from the BLU-RAY players and sales.

vgn245117d ago

The PS3 is a game machine, not a tool to move blu ray and now apparently Bravia 3D TVs this summer. The price was high, but it's not now. However, I'm very annoyed by Sony's plan to move other technology using the PS3 instead of focusing on games.

Pennywise5117d ago

TrapperDan,

You cannot be serious about Sony not focusing on games. Really? I think they are focusing on games more than MS and Nintendo. They help make DVD mainstream and now bluray. I don't see anyone complaining about the PS2's role in getting DVD players into 150million house holds. The PS3 being a HD console has pushed HDTV's since release... I don't get your gripe.

sikbeta5117d ago (Edited 5117d ago )

@TrapperDan

That's What Sony do, They use Playstation to Push their own products, CD with Playstation, DVD with PS2 and Now BR-Discs with PS3, that's not bad, not bad at all when you Know Sony Push and Support PLaystation to Succeed in order to continue selling loads of more products, it's a WIN+WIN Situation...

rockleex5117d ago (Edited 5117d ago )

Is that why Sony's purchasing more and more First Party studios while Microsoft is letting go of more and more developers?

Glasscocked5117d ago

@mrv321

Read the article, it seems like you are exactly the type of person the author was thinking about when he wrote about people who try to defend the launch price.

Homicide5117d ago Show
GamerSciz5116d ago

Erm if I recall correctly pushing Blu-ray is pushing games considering PS3 games are on blu-ray discs. However for MS to push HD DVD and confirming that no games will be made on them was kind of dumb and also cost them the format war. That's just my opinion of course.

Venatus-Deus5116d ago

Yeah, I really pissed that MF:J & Killzone 3 will be in 3D... /s

The ps3 IS more than just a games console. That’s a good thing btw

Anon19745115d ago

No dualshock at launch for the PS3 was a legal matter although Sony should have said as much. That wasn't a bad decision, that was unfortunate timing.

The Wii's lack of decent online hasn't hurt them one bit.

The PS3's launch price was fair considering what the console offered. Those that argue it was too much for a games console forget, it was never just another games console. And it's the 3rd fasted selling console in history. Again, see a calculated risk that paid off, not a mistake.

And Microsoft and Sony forgetting about casuals? Says who? The 360 and the PS3 had plenty of games that cater to casuals, but they didn't focus only on casuals. The PS3 was always meant to be a high end system while the PS2 was still available. No one complains that Sony should be marketing their high end TV's to the budget tv market. And the 360, how well do casual games sell on the 360? Not very. That, to me, looks like each company knew it's market and went for it, just like Nintendo did.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 5115d ago
Viper75117d ago

This is hard question to give a honest answer. The gaming could be a lot different if Sony would have launched a cheaper unit. However cheaper unit would have ment.
- lack of Blu-ray or cell
- later launch ( and use some extra time to improve production(cheaper manufacturing))

However its still hard to tell whether the choice was good as there's still plenty of time for Ps4. Not to mention Ps4 may take advantage on the things that sony used for Ps3 like Cell, Blu-ray and Playstation network.

But then again with cheaper competitive system Sony might have had crushed the competition with waves of Ps2 users wanting to upgrade their system.
However as for as gamers, I think the current situation is pretty close to best chase scenario. The competition is bigger than ever, which has really forced both Sony and Microsoft really fight for gamers.

Glasscocked5117d ago

Absolutely agree with Nathan Drake2, if the PS3 were $399 or lower at launch they would have mopped the floor with MS. Especially with the problems MS has had with reliability. They have been fighting the negativity the initial price point has had since the moment it was announced.

FiftyFourPointTwo5117d ago

Worst Decision in Gaming This Generation:

Not buying a PS3. :-)

The Wood5117d ago (Edited 5117d ago )

i clicked agree

and she took off her glasses and smiled at me

FiftyFourPointTwo5117d ago

LOL! Nice timing. I just changed my avatar haha.

rockleex5117d ago

Imagine what a "bubble" can do. @_@

JATOSIN5116d ago

THe worst decision in gaming is being a fanboy. Why can't we get along and understand each person has their own likes and dislikes. And just to let you know I own all three Consoles and enjoy each one for different reasons.

Leio5116d ago

Its no decision ..It just come naturally :)

IcarusOne5116d ago

I understand if you're a fanboy and don't know it. But to choose to be one makes you doubly ignorant.

Bubble Jatosin.

unrealgamer585117d ago

"The PS3 is a game machine, not a tool to move blu ray and now apparently Bravia 3D TVs this summer."

You have to realise that sony Is not just a game company, There a business.

Sony's strategy Is to add functionality to there hardware ( Remote play etc.) To compliment the different hardware and to push you Into buying It

BeaArthur5117d ago

What do you know, gofanboy can put together something of decent quality. Pretty solid list. I actually agree with everything on it.

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70°

The Games Industry Needs A Stronger Games Media

The move away from written coverage of games is a problem for journalists and for the games industry.

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thegamer.com
lodossrage4d ago

What we need is a more honest games media. I'm sorry but if you're an outlet in bed with a publisher or getting goodies to attend preview/ review events then you can't be trusted to be objective. Very similar to the need for getting money out of politics.

ApocalypseShadow3d ago

Basically this. We've seen how the game media turned for the worse after the acceptance of advertising dollars during the 360 era from one particular company. How many websites were willing to sell out for Mountain Dew and Doritos. Accepting $800 Halo Swag bags and expensive Windows laptops to do blogging.

Video sites like game trailers that was willing to lie about PS3 graphics and sometimes, still had the wrong controller image at the bottom on the video. And, turned off comments it deleted them to keep the truth from being told.

That same company twisted certain gamers to a new level of fanboyism. This website was full of them when I arrived. Lying through their noses again and again. Then, that very company started lying or withholding information that showed the truth. That their competitors were selling more worldwide and had better graphics overall. But the damage to the media and a certain group of gamers was done. And, continues to this day. Even after hearing the truth that that company they serve is very destructive to the industry, developers and gamers.

lodossrage3d ago

Yeah, and one of that company's former executives OPENLY admitted that. And before anyone says I'm lying:

https://metro.co.uk/2022/07...

Also, yeah plenty of people that are here now don't remember when this place was a haven for xbox. You have people like "The Mart at Xbox Kings" push all sorts of propoganda on a daily. But people seem to want to forget stuff like that...

Skuletor3d ago

The whole Gamespot/Kane & Lynch thing is one of the best examples and that was 16 years ago.

lodossrage3d ago

Yeah, but with people and their short memories, I'm sure a good portion here forgot all about that

anast4d ago

Most game journalists are pariahs and low level marketing drones. They got too greedy and cannibalized their respect and trust. Something they learned not to do in their journalism schools. This is why we might as well watch gameplay critics on You Tube. Don't get me wrong, I love reading, but for every genuine article there is a thousand game journalist trying to gloss over monetization schemes so they can sell the game to gamers in order to get free games to do their jobs. It gets old. Even this piece doesn't address the problem.

UltimateOwnage3d ago

We need better media in all aspects of society, period. Everything from the gaming press, to MSM is all fueled by clickbait headlines, half truths and buzzword topics that don't give much meat or meaning for the reader to benefit from.

lodossrage3d ago

Agreed.

I can't even add anything to that .

660°

It's time to admit that Microsoft was right about the Xbox Series S — here's why

8K UUHD with path tracing at 5000 FPS is great, but what if you only have $300?

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windowscentral.com
darthv72202d ago

So the BG3 guys found an optimization for all other platforms by way of the little engine that could... interesting.

1Victor201d ago

Read the article headline and think “this sound like a Microsoft own site “ click on it read windowscentral and almost spayed my boss with water 🤣
Now about the article I’m not going to read it🤷🏿

Eonjay201d ago

"[...]but what if you only have $300?"

Apparently you would have to keep saving money. LOL no seriously. The console they show for this article cost $350. The irony...

darthv72201d ago

I didnt know you could spay using water. That's such a common procedure so maybe they can now?

But why your boss though?

Cacabunga201d ago

A mid-mid-gen upgrade will never be called a new gen console, no matter how you put it or how many excuses you try to make up.
In this case why bother cause they could have started with XSX, which was out only 1 or 2 years..

We need proper experiences worthy of new gen of consoles. XSS is a laughable attempt..

CrashMania201d ago

Jez Cordon is a big Microsoft shill and winowscentral is super MS biased.

Babadook7201d ago

“this sound like a Microsoft own site “

Bwahaha. This.

Binarycode200d ago

I bet that's what you say too all the guys.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 200d ago
SICKINDIVIDUAL200d ago

Y'all can add Lords of the fallen to the list of titles that PS5 outperforms series x.

Babadook7200d ago (Edited 200d ago )

Yup. Way too much advanced asset management for the Xbox to handle with that one.

crazyCoconuts202d ago

The typical "it's holding us back" argument aside, from a sales perspective, the S is selling way more than the X (wasn't it like 75% of total?), so you could make the case that if it wasn't for the S, Xbox would have like 25% of the sales they have now...

sagapo201d ago

Not necessarily. If the S wasn’t there, maybe the X would have sold more units as there was no option?
In the end it’s anybody’s guess with the “if’s” and “but’s” imo.

BillyCrystals201d ago

Crazy that they're only around 5 million Series Xs out there compared to PS5's 40 million.

StarkR3ality201d ago

Xbox has shown they couldn't give a shit about hardware, which is a shame and one of the reasons I feel like if you own a PC there is 0 point in having an Xbox. They want game pass on everyone's phone, PC, TV, fridge, you name it. They are a software company first and foremost.

Eventually the end goal will be game pass on Playstation and they can sack off consoles altogether, whether Sony would be up for that, highly doubt it, but that's their end game in my opinion.

tay8701200d ago (Edited 200d ago )

Yah highly doubt playstation would ever allow that. It's like Mcdonalds allowing their big macs to be sold at burger king. Kind of like their intent to buy nintendo, nice thought but never going to happen.

LifesChoice200d ago (Edited 200d ago )

Exactly why i didn't get a series console, it was time for a new pc i just needed a reason to bite the bullet. Im always putting off buying a new pc and just upgrade and upgrade but it was time and GPU came with gamepass so win win i guess. I was going to get a series x but ps5 seemed like a better option when i considered my pc.
I seriously doubt we will see gamepass on PS5. Things have been getting crazy lately so its not a definite but i just cant compute Sony going along with the idea.

StarkR3ality200d ago (Edited 200d ago )

I personally think CoD is the start.. they'll buy up IP to back Sony into a corner and give them no choice. Want Call of duty and Elder scrolls on your platform? Along side Halo, gears Forza and all the other shit tonne of IP we own? Brill, we will leave the console business, but you put game pass on Playstation like you've done with EA play.

Makes perfect business sense to me. I wouldn't want that to happen, I'd rather they focus on making games that compete with Sony, but Phil already said they will never outsell Sony, similar to how they'll never outsell Apple when it comes to hardware. They'll go down the windows route and get all of their software on any available platform. Steam Deck, playstation, switch 2, whatever.

Mark my words that shits coming.

shadowT202d ago

they may should stop selling the Xbox Series X then

GamerRN201d ago

Nothing wrong with giving people options...

Crows90200d ago

From now on then that's what I'll see it as...just an option.

In other words ..all mainline PS5 consoles are much more powerful than the mainline Xbox series console...

So yet again PlayStation holds the most powerful console and gamer share.

GamerRN200d ago

Wait, how does that make PS5 more powerful than Series X? Please explain that logic?

I have both systems, but that makes zero sense

attilayavuzer200d ago

@GamerRN

No point trying to reason with fanboy logic. By extension, they're implying that the Switch was the most powerful console last gen.

maniacmayhem201d ago

This is what happens when you have people jumping the gun for some quick doom and gloom headlines. Not to mention getting opinions from devs that were possibly frustrated that they would have to do some extra tinkering for the S. And to an extent, rightly so. But the optimization and trades are there to make a game play on the S. It's a budget console and it should be treated as such.

But I have to laugh at the rest of the crowd who actually told people that the S was holding back this gen and pretended to be shocked that the S wouldn't have the bells and whistles that the X or PS5 would.

It's almost as if they were reaching, hard.

Angyobangyo201d ago

You're reaching hard thinking the S isn't holding this gen back.

Sephiroushin201d ago

S is holding back this gen period

attilayavuzer200d ago

Then why aren't Sony exclusives doing anything notable this gen?

Sephiroushin200d ago

@attilayavuzer
they look a lot better while having a weaker console than the X, that alone should tell you everything

IRetrouk201d ago (Edited 201d ago )

Did you forget the original pr blurbs for the s? What about the original announce video that ms then privated after launch? You know ms over promised on the s and it has caused problems, too many devs have claimed it for it to be a lie.

https://youtu.be/u6ftY7t8bJ...

"This means that the xbox series s delivers the same next gen experiance and features as series x, just at a reduced resolution"

InUrFoxHole201d ago

All you need is a handful of games to do that for the statement to be true. It's like sony putting 8k on their box.

Charlieboy333201d ago

@Hole "All you need is a handful of games to do that for the statement to be true". Bullshit....it should ve EVERY game because that's what was promised.

IRetrouk201d ago

Seriously fox? How many times have we seen the series s version with more than just a resolution cut? Almost every single release has way more than that done to it.

Isn't 8k printed on the xbox chip and it's box? hasn't had a single 8k piece of content though has it? So it's more like that, no 🤔

anast201d ago

The S means there will never be a current gen. game built specifically for the SX. Most devs and publishers don't have the talent to optimize like BG3.

BTW, I only game at 30,000 fps...This article is a stupid take. The only thing good about the S is that it kept MSXbox way below 2nd place.

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100°

2023 Has Been The Best Year For Games In Two Decades

We already know 2023 has been a banger year for video games, but we now have the stats to back it up.

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thegamer.com
phoenixwing211d ago

author could have mentioned final fantasy 16 but instead mentions hi fi rush as a below 90 game that's decent. although i agree with the main sentiment that the industry is volatile and there are a lot of layoffs. The author of this article only talks about recent events when it suits him or her.

shinoff2183211d ago

Completely disagree. Tbh the best game of the year comes out tomorrow. Star ocean 2 remake, to this day one of the best jrpg, and the best space rpg

isarai210d ago (Edited 210d ago )

Nah, 2007-2008 was legendary, but it's been a pretty good year. I'm hoping for good announcements too at the VGAs

ChasterMies210d ago

There is a generation of low paid game “journalists” that weren’t cognizant of the gaming industry in 2007-2008.

H9210d ago

2017 is unbeatable in my opinion

Guitardr85210d ago

I promise I'm not TRYING to.be contrarion with this comment bit I bought FF16 and couldn't finish it. To me the story seemed boring compared to classic FFs and seemed as though it was more interested in being a game of thrones clone than a true final fantasy. Just my opinion.

phoenixwing210d ago

Would you say the same thing about ff12?

Flewid638210d ago

Interesting. I've played/tried every FF and its the only one since 7 with a good story to me, mainly because its finally devoid of any weaby cheesy dialogue.

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