CVG Home / PlayStation / News Posted on Wednesday 29th Jun 2011 at 9:43 AM UTC New PlayStation boss talks PS3 exclusives, PS4

Andrew House on how PS3 allows Valve to reach new gamers

The newly-promoted CEO of PlayStation worldwide, Andrew House, has given CVG his thoughts on why studios should bring content to PS3 - and why we'll be waiting a long time yet for its successor.

Sony announced this morning that Sony Computer Entertainment Europe bossHouse had been promoted into his new role at Sony Computer Entertainment International.He replaces Kaz Hirai, who takes the role of global president.The changes will take effect on September 1.
Speaking to CVG earlier this month, House discussed why we're seeing traditional PC developers flocking to PlayStation - including Valve and Dust 514 beta studio CCP.
"The two things that I'm hearing [from PC devs] are that, one, as the size of the [Ps3] audience grows, clearly there's potential there in the console space to reach new users... and, secondly, I think it's a testament to the overall power of the device, and the fact that it's capable of delivering the same experience - or an even better experience - but on a big screen TV in a console environment."
On the future of PlayStation consoles, House told us that he "still characterised this as the early period" for PS3, and noted that Sony had "only really just begun to explore what the potential is for 3D".
Check out our video interviews below. Meet the new boss. A bit beardier than the old boss.

E3 2011: SCE boss Andrew House on the PS3... de ComputerAndVideoGames

 Read more at : http://www.computerandvideogames.com
 

What to Expect From the Next Generation of Game Consoles

Here's what we're anticipating in the next Xbox and PlayStation gaming consoles.

 Nintendo already unveiled its next-generation game console, the Wii U, earlier this year. But what about Microsoft and Sony? We asked PCWorld's four biggest gaming geeks to make predictions on what the next Xbox and PlayStation systems will look like.

Hardware Specs: Smarter and Speedier

Jason Cross (laptops editor): The sort of hardware we can expect in next-gen consoles will be very much determined by their release date. As the years roll on, silicon manufacturing processes become finer, which results in more transistors in a given area. That means cheaper, lower-power chips (or, conversely, more performance within the same area, power, and cost).

The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 originally came to market with CPUs and GPUs created in 90-nanometer manufacturing processes. If the next-gen systems ship in 2012, their chips will come from relatively cost-effective 32nm manufacturing; that means about eight times the computing power and cache in the same-size chip. Should the systems arrive late in 2013, there’s a chance that the chip makers will use a 22nm process, delivering 16 times the transistors per square millimeter as in the original Xbox 360 or PS3 chips. Of course, the Xbox 360 and PS3 had issues with cost and reliability at launch, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see both Microsoft and Sony back off a little on the size and power draw of the chips in their next systems.

So what does all this mean? It’s easy to speculate about exact CPU architectures and the like, but that's mostly irrelevant if you’re not a developer. Expect an honest fourfold increase in CPU performance from the new machines. The graphics will probably be eight times as powerful, if not more. Compared with current consoles, which use graphics chips essentially meant for DirectX 9-level graphics, the next consoles will utilize chips that meet the spec for DirectX 11.1. The key benefits, beyond fancier shaders and such, will be that the graphics chips will be flexible enough for a lot of general computation jobs. You can expect many of the next-gen console game engines to compute physics, AI, and even things like audio DSP on the graphics core.

Memory is always a tough issue. You can never have enough, but it’s difficult to sell a game system for $399--and drop the price rapidly--when you load it up with RAM. I can’t imagine either Microsoft or Sony being so stingy that they wouldn’t put 2GB of RAM in the box, but we should really hope for 4GB or more. Over the life span of a system, it would make a major difference in what game developers can create.

The real question will be the mass-storage medium. Whether game makers distribute their titles only as downloads or in physical form in stores, players will still have plenty of stuff to download--other games, themes, add-on packs and downloadable content, avatar clothing items, and more. It would be great for consoles to ship with solid-state drives. If developers could rely on caching their game data to a really fast solid-state drive, the I/O throughput would be so much higher that it would change the way games are made. But with downloadable games, demos, and content growing larger, I’m not sure the cost of SSDs will be low enough. A large standard hard drive will probably have to suffice, but with any luck we’ll see some sort of flash-cache optimized hybrid product.

Game Distribution: Discs or No Discs?

Patrick Miller (how-to editor): The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 introduced the console gaming world to large-scale digital distribution. Although you can complain all you like about having to download patches or being nickel-and-dimed for DLC (I certainly do), Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network have given gamers everywhere a chance to play games that wouldn't cut it on a retail shelf, such as offerings from independent developers, older big-budget games that don't show up in stores anymore, and remakes of classics that probably wouldn't happen if the publishers needed to pay for packaging and production. And since we're all PC gamers here, we're fervently hoping that the next generation of consoles takes a page out of Steam's book and goes for a download-only distribution model.

  Read more at : http://www.pcworld.com

Perry: Gaikai should be added to current generation of Sony consoles and PlayStation 4

 

"You can't just make the same console as last time. You have to build something that's revolutionary."

Cloud gaming tech Gaikai should be added to the current generation of Sony consoles and PlayStation 4, David Perry has told Eurogamer.

Perry, who has just sold Gaikai to Sony for $380 million, now works for the console maker, and he intends to have as much influence on the PS4 as possible.

"It's a given it should go across the current and next-generation hardware," Perry said in an interview at the Develop conference in Brighton.

"But it's a case of, we have to let them decide what they want to do. I don't want to put words in their mouth.

"We've been experimenting with every single platform. Set top boxes, TVs, mobile devices, tablets, everything. Will it work on consoles? The answer is: absolutely. We've done tests. It definitely works."

Sony is rumoured to be preparing to launch PS4 in late 2013, with an announcement pegged for some time next year. Now Perry is on board, he is uniquely placed to play a crucial role in the development of the hardware.

"I'm going to get to see a console launch from the inside," he said. "I'm excited about that. I've never done that before."

The PlayStation 4 is "very important", Perry said. "There's so much happening right now in the industry. The consoles, if done right, become the anchor. But they need to embrace all the changes in technologies that have been happening, and business models.

They have to evolve. You can't just make the same console as last time. You have to build something that's revolutionary. That's what I will be pushing towards.

"They have to evolve. You can't just make the same console as last time. You have to build something that's revolutionary. That's what I will be pushing towards."

Perry stressed that he will as best he can push Sony to make PS4 a game machine first and foremost - despite the current trend for consoles to feature more and more non-gaming applications.

"I'm certainly going to remind them what I feel about PlayStation. What I feel about PlayStation is, when I'm thinking of buying a game - I don't know how they've done it but the branding has somehow got me there - if I'm trying to find where the best version is, I just automatically go, well that would be the PlayStation version, right? I don't know, the branding worked on me.

"The amount of energy and money and branding and whatever they've done to get me there, don't lose that. That's so valuable. Don't lose that. Let's double down on that."

But what influence will Perry have on the major decision makers within Sony?

"The thing that's great with Sony is we're not way down the stack in some little sub sub sub of a sub sub company. PlayStation is insanely important to Sony and we're dealing with the top people in Sony for gaming.

"We'll be heard. It doesn't mean they're going to do what I say. Don't get me wrong. But I can at least be heard and I hope they like what I've got to say."

With the ink still fresh on the contract between Gaikai and Sony Computer Entertainment, Perry is yet to discuss in detail how the gargantuan Japanese company intends to make use of its fancy new tech. In fact, after he's done with the Develop conference this week, Perry will work on a presentation he will then deliver to the top gaming executives at Sony detailing his ideas for Gaikai.

"Now the deal is done, only now are we going to start having those conversations on what Sony wants to do. What is their strategy? It's their company now so they have to decide what exactly they want to do. There are a lot of pieces to Sony. It's a big company. There is consumer electronics, DVD players and TVs. All of them can be impacted by this.

"So there are going to be a lot of discussions and a lot of meetings."

Reports suggest Sony will use Gaikai to power backwards compatibility on PS3, enabling access to the huge back catalogue of PSone and PS2 games through streaming.

Perry was unable to confirm details, but he did say he was excited about the impact of Gaikai on PlayStation. "I've been saying for quite some time now, how people plan their days around moving data around, like, I'm going to start five games downloading and I'll come back tomorrow.

"It's a really big boon for gamers because they'll be able to play pretty much everything that comes out with no effort."

Given issues with latency and image quality associated with cloud gaming, one concern is that Gaikai will, in its current form, be unable to truly offer a PlayStation-level experience.

Perry rejected this suggestion. "Can the games look ridiculously awesome? No question about it," he insisted. "To do it really really well, you need to stay on the track we were on, and our track was to make special hardware, like working with Nvidia and people like that."

 Read more at : http://www.eurogamer.net

Next generation Xbox, PlayStation rumor roundup

The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3

(Credit: Microsoft/Sony) (CBS News) Questions are arising about what the next generation of video games will look like. Will Microsoft release an Xbox 720 or "Durango"? Is Sony really calling the next PlayStation "Orbis"? What will come first: the Xbox or the PlayStation?
Microsoft had a jump on the competition in 2005 by releasing the Xbox 360 a year before the PlayStation 3. This time around, rumors are circulating that Sony will pull the trigger first by launching the next PlayStation before the Xbox.
Forbes cites a report by VG247 that the next PlayStation will be released in 2013, ahead of the next Xbox. Source close to the matter say top publishers and developers are already aware of the next console and are already working on games, according to VG247.
Full coverage of Microsoft at Tech Talk
Pictures: Video games of Shigeru Miyamoto
"Sony [believes] they have the jump on Microsoft this time," the source told VG247. "You should be watching the timing of next year's E3 keynotes, and who's going to go first."
There could be some truth in that statement. A recent report by AllThingsD cited Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw in saying that they are focused on the Xbox 360.
Microsoft confirms no new Xbox "anytime soon"
Xbox "720" rumors circulate, say hello to Blue-ray, Kinect 2
"While we appreciate all the interest in our long-range plans for the future, we can confirm that there will be no talk of new Xbox hardware at [the Electronic Entertainment Expo] or anytime soon," Microsoft's spokesperson Frank Shaw told AllThingsD. "For us, 2012 is all about Xbox 360."

Read more at :  http://www.cbsnews.com

Next-gen Xbox, PlayStation capabilities tipped by new games at E3 [video]

Microsoft and Sony did not debut their next-generation gaming consoles at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles last week, but two publishers teased upcoming titles that seemed destined for the future gaming systems. Given that neither company has announced their upcoming consoles, Ubisoft and Lucas Arts did not admit that their titles, Watch Dogs and Star Wars 1313, were indeed headed for next-generation consoles; according to The Guardian, both companies claimed the games were operating on “high-end PCs.” Both titles, nonetheless, may give us a glimpse of what’s coming in Microsoft and Sony’s upcoming consoles.

Ubisoft’s upcoming Watch Dogs game is set in Chicago and centers on the player’s ability to hack into various electronic systems, either to obtain, control or destroy information. Based on what Ubisoft displayed, the next generation of consoles could allow developers to create ultra-realistic cities, which can be populated by hundreds of AI-controlled characters that are able to interact with players.

LucasArts also demoed its Star Wars 1313 game, and while it is still in an early stage of development, the game featured stunning high-quality, photo-realistic graphics. The development team used advanced motion capture technology to create computer-generated characters that looked more human than those found in today’s top titles. “The next generation of platforms should banish that wooden, robotic, dead-eyed ambience that games characters routinely possess at the moment,” The Guardian’s Steve Boxer noted.

Based on these two games, whose trailers follow below, it is clear that the next generation of gaming consoles will push the boundaries of not just the look and feel of gaming, but of storytelling as well.

  Read more at : http://www.bgr.com

Market Ready For Next-Gen Consoles, Says 2K Games Boss

 

2K Games boss believes the market is now ready for the next-generation of consoles to arrive.

When asked by GI.biz what Sony’s PlayStation 3 successor, as well as the next Xbox will mean for the publisher, Christoph Hartmann stated:

I think the market is ready to take console gaming to the next level. It is the longest cycle we’ve had and it is harder and harder to launch new IPs. Consumers are very used to the big franchises, but we need innovation in terms of content to really drive things.
As for us getting ready for what is coming one day, we really do not have any concrete plans. It is pretty much the same like always. It’s the same for Wii U – we are awaiting new things and want to try out new things, but we are cautious about where we put our efforts and then will really get behind it.

2K Games’ line-up includes Irrational Games’ BioShock Infinite, which launches on February 26th next year, as well as Borderlands 2, with the sequel releasing on September 18th in North America and 21st in Europe.

 Read more at : http://www.playstationlifestyle.net

PS4 allegedly in development since August 2010

 

Sony's next-gen PlayStation 4 console has supposedly been in development since August of 2010, according to the onlineCV of an ex-SCEA R&D director.

Spotted by VideoGamer, theLinkedIn profile of Attilla Vass claims he began working on the graphics library and security of the "Next Generation PlayStation" from August 2010 to April 2012.

Before you claim it's referring to the PlayStation Vita, Vass lists his work on Sony's handheld separately, suggesting that the "Next Generation PlayStation" listing is referring to the PS4.

"In 1998 I started as the first engineer in the Playstation US R&D," Vass' profile reads.  "I worked on graphics ( COLLADA, PSGL ) and a lot of network related technologies ( advertising, telemetry, PVRs ) for the Playstation2-x, PSP, Vita and Next Generation platforms. Platform security was occupying most of my time at the last years... "

The PS4 has been rumored to be in development for a while now, though Sony has refused to officially acknowledge the development of a next-gen console. The company has continued to deny rumors and express their commitment to the PS3 and recently released PlayStation Vita, though SCE chief executive Andrew House recently told MCV that Sony won't talk about a new console until they feel they've made a "significant leap" from the current generation of tech.

Meanwhile, rumors continue to swirl around the next-gen PlayStation. In March, it was rumored that the PS4 has been codenamed "Orbis" and that there are plans to release the new system in late 2013. Whether or not that's true or not remains to be seen, but sources do seem confident that the PS4 will arrive before the next Xbox system.

 Read more at : http://www.gamezone.com

PS4 Controllers - Looking Towards the Future

By now, we've all seen a lot of the concepts out there for the Playstation 4 and the controllers that we may or may not be getting with it. Some of the concepts for these newfangled controllers look great and others look...interesting to say the least. The best of the bunch tend to keep with the Dual Shock configuration that has proven so successful that other companies have imitated the design for their consoles, while some of the more far out designs almost eschew the design altogether for something more gimmicky. To get the discussion going, let's take a look at some of the designs of the PS3 controllers on the market nowadays and what it may mean for the future controllers of the PS4.

It's All About the Ergo

Arguably the biggest consideration when designing a game controller is the ergonomics of the thing. In other words: How does it fit in your hand? Those of us that have sat down and played our PS3s for hours on end have a good appreciation for an ergonomically sound controller. Even with the best, most comfortable controller you can find for your hand, after hours of play many gamers will find that their hand has a particular ache that nothing will shake. Sometimes it lasts for days. I've even known some gamers that had to have hand surgery back in the days of the first Nintendo console and those not-so-ergonomic rectangular controllers.

And not to mention the callouses.

The Dual Shock controller effectively addressed many of these issues, wrapped in a very sleek design that allowed for more intuitive gameplay in games that required more and more input from the gamer using the controller. Of course, there was room for improvement, something that many third party manufacturers (and Sony) took advantage of. We've seen the removal of the rumble feature (for other reasons, but it did make for a lighter controller), longer grips, more strategically placed buttons, tilt detection, and various other features.

For future controllers for the PS4, look for more of the same as far as the shape goes. Motion games aside, it seems like Sony really hit upon something with the controllers of today. They fit the hand(s) great, have the buttons in the right places, and overall have been wildly successful.

Other Bells and Whistles

Beyond ergonomics, there are plenty of other factors to consider. When it comes to current controllers, we've seen all kinds of little added features, including raised sticks for increased shooter accuracy, controllers with rumble technology, controllers with fans for sweaty hands, smaller controllers for those with smaller hands, among others.

But what does all this mean for future controllers?

First, you have to figure that third party manufacturers are going to continue to do what they've always done, taking into account what the core PS4 controller will look like. I'd say that they longer grips look like they are here to stay. They provide for nice thumb rests and take pressure off the wrists a bit as well. Beyond that, it's hard to say. Third party manufacturers, of course, will use as much in-house technology as they can, so don't expect a whole lot of innovation in the first generation of Playstation 4 controllers.

As far as the other features, look for them to remain in third party territory. I've never had a problem with overly sweaty hands and I've never heard anyone else really complain about it either. PS3 controllers are already pretty small (comfortably so), so smaller controllers will probably remain in that realm as well - though my wife will definitely be picking one up, naturally.

Some things to look forward to that could actually work? How about LCD touch screens?

Just Say No to Gimmicks

I, for one, am hoping that Sony stays away from the gimmicks. We all remember the "boomerang" design of the initial PS3 controllers that never saw the light of day due to poor reception and some of us would like to see their return. Sony claimed that they were just a concept never meant to be distributed, and many hope they stay that way.

Some of the concepts put out there feature such controllers for the PS4, but I'm a little leery of such designs. If they can make the boomerangs work when it comes down to brass tacks, then by all means I say go for it. Without that, however, we're just looking at another gimmick. We've seen enough of those.

What type of controller would you like to see for the PS4?

 Read more at : http://www.ps4playstation4.com

7 games that need PlayStation 4 now

  1 Uncharted 4

There just isn’t enough room on PS3 for Drake anymore. He’s reached a glass – or riveted metal – ceiling.  Naughty Dog pushed the console to the limit with each installment and the uber-cinematic Uncharted 3 simply left now where to go. There’s no way a follow up won’t be on a superior machine. Of course another adventure starring Nate and co would work on PS3, but the constant evolution of the series has been to take player experience to greater heights and hit dangerous levels of heart-stopping action – electrocardiograph anyone? Moments of Uncharted 3 had us letting go of the analogue stick assuming a cut-scene had started, only to find Drake stopping in his tracks and waiting for our next move. If this isn’t promising for what’s in store next then I’ll eat my fashionably filthy half tucked-in top.

 

2 LittleBigPlanet 3

When Media Molecule handed over the pint-sized Sackboy in 2008, they also gifted us with an entire world of creative, if mostly squishy, joy. As well as those devilishly perfect pre-made levels, there was an endless supply of online talent as well as whatever personalised platforming genius you could come up with. LittleBigPlanet 2 improved upon it’s predecessor and expanded the creation tools even more but the time has come to wonder what’s next. LittleBigPlanet on PS4 could open the door to a previously unavailable development kit for gamers. Rather than just glorified platforming levels and kart racers, LBP 3 on PS4 could take away that pesky back wall and let us build Minecraft-style in a 3D world. Could Sackboy be the perfect third, or even (whisper it) first person person action hero?

 

 3 God of War 4

Scale has never really been a problem for Kratos. From battling the Titan Kronos by ripping off his fingernails one by one – oooyah –  to taking down the chariot of Apollo with a giant cannon, the raging God of War makes the Hulk look like a mere green eyed monster. Sure, we’ve got God of War Ascension but that’s specifically not ’4′ and feels like its plateauing in terms of size and ambition. The freedom that PS4 would give Kratos’ story to expand is almost too QTE inducing to think about. We need those jaw-dropping I-can’t-believe-what-I’m seeing moments and next gen is the way forward. Ancient environments and gore would be even more beautiful and gratuitous as Kratos rewrites mythical history in bloody strokes. Higher definition spatter? Count us in.

 

 4 Killzone 4

The universe might be at war but we’ve never really had the sense of scale that Killzone truly deserves. Interplanetary has so far just meant Helghan, even with the different environments in Killzone 3. An upgrade to a beefier console is exactly what we need to truly experience the scope of the Killzone universe and see what we are fighting for. A grander scale, bigger and more variable environments could combine with even more spectacular weaponry to create the next installment that we deserve. With confirmation that Guerilla have ‘more ideas’ for the series, it makes sense for the upgrade to the next generation and even more sense as a possible day one title. Sony’s iconic FPS would make a killer addition to a launch line up like the one in our dreams. Y’know, alongside that HD Vib Ribbon you’ve all been thinking about – don’t deny it!

 5 Gran Turismo 6

Let’s face it, chances are that a new generation will have arrived – and sold out multiple times – before Polyphony Digital manage to even think about marketing this behemoth of gaming inevitability.  The new additions with the upgrade to PS3 – improved physics, weather, damage appearing on those pristine cars – mean that the the step up once again to PS4 will focus on delivering an even more realistic driving experience. GT is no Burnout or Dirt, this will be the most accurate portrayal of hurtling round a track without suiting up  and taking a travel sickness tablet. More tracks, more cars and graphics smoother than Nathan Drake’s chat-up lines will send petrolheads into giddy excitement. Oh, and us.

 

 6 inFamous 3

Super powers need space and lots of it. Much like when Batman escaped the Asylum and stretched those wings, we need expansive open worlds to play in with our console superheroes and the upcoming generation of consoles can hand over the keys. The next outing of Cole McGrath – new star of PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale - needs to encompass more than just New Marais. Stretching those frankly electric powers, McGrath needs space to take on bigger enemies and career across entire cities. If we really want to feel like superheroes, the next generation can open up super powered horizons and let us play in real sandboxes. Mr McGrath should set the trend for PS4 and let us take on a whole new world of powers with the added bonus of being the good guy or the really really bad one.

 

 7 Metal Gear Solid 5

Well we know that Hideo Kojima is busying away with his mo-cap actors – see our thoughts on his recent and possibly Metal Gear Solid 5 related tweet pics - but as there has been no hint of a platform, it’s more than fair to say that this a strong possibility for a PS4 title. Rather than pushing the limitations of the PS3, a new console is probably like catnip to Kojima for the freedom it will offer his tech-filled dreams. Plus that new FOX engine of his does look more like the future than ‘now’. More gadgets, even better stealth and probably even more lengthy cut-scenes will lie in wait on the next generation. The most legendary game developer in PlayStation history returning to the ultimate franchise for an all new console experience with unknown limitations? Excitement is the wrong word for this level of sheer elation. Need. Now.

 Read more at : http://www.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk

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All The Latest Next Gen Gaming Roundup

It’s time again for a roundup of all the next-gen news and rumours, and this week has been a bit interesting with Nintendo defending the Wii U’s specs and a new rumour about PS4 being 10x more powerful than the PS3.
According to the spec sheet posted below, the PS4 will be a powerful machine. These specs are not feasible for a device releasing in 2012, but makes sense for 2014, which is when the next-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft are set to be released, after an unveiling in 2013.
In other news, 5th Cell founder Jermiah Slazcka, has mentioned that the PS3 and Xbox 360 aren’t powerful than the Wii U, and he has mentioned that he finds the rumours about Wii U being weaker really frustrating.
He said that the Wii U is “definitely more powerful than Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It’s kind of frustrating to see the rumours and speculation of people going back and forth saying it’s weaker or more powerful. It’s definitely more powerful.”
Microsoft has applied for a patent that would make the next-Xbox just like a PC, Eurogamer reports.
“A recent patent filing suggests that Microsoft’s next console is based on the idea that it can be scaled up – or down – over time, leading to speculation that the current notion of a console lifecycle could be replaced with rolling hardware upgrades.”
This is very interesting but it’s not likely that they will go ahead with that.

Read more at : http://gamingbolt.com
 
 Read more at : http://gamingbolt.com

Gamers Likely Won't Welcome Pricey Next-Gen Hardware

 

At this point in time, gamers seem less likely than ever before to shell out lots of bucks for anything related to the video game industry.
Maybe it's just this palpable sensation I get that everywhere I turn, I see people who are very much unwilling to spend too much...on anything. Not that that's a bad thing (I am a very practical and even frugal person) but when it comes to leisure activities, people in this country often spend a whole lot. In fact, more than they should.
But over the past few years, that trend seems to be reversing. I have gone so far as to call gamers a bunch of whiny spoiled brats and for the most part, I'm sticking to that unfortunate assessment. They don't want to pay for extra content (which, to some extent, I can understand), they don't think $60 is a fair price for a new game (and they're right, given inflation and the technology involved, it should by all rights be around $100), and the biggest issue surrounding new consoles is indeed price.
In recent generations, price was always a factor, of course. But I distinctly recall the shift from the PS1 to the PS2, and the primary topic of conversation centered squarely on the new machine's capabilities. The price was discussed as well, but to a far lesser extent. I knew of quite a few big gamers who really didn't care what the price was going to be. In my estimation, that's sort of what hardcore fans are...but this time around, I'm not sure any such freewheeling philosophies exist. Price is not only a concern, it appears to be by far the top priority and in fact, the determining factor. Completely illogical but true, I think.
The bottom line is that this generation has undoubtedly seen far more whining than any other generation in gaming's history. I will certainly concede that some of that whining was warranted, and I too have issues with how the industry is being run. But the spoiled brat syndrome is still running rampant and an expensive new piece of technology might go over like a lead balloon. Toss in games that are almost guaranteed to be more expensive than they are now, and you've got a full-fledged revolt on your hands. I'm not entirely sure why, as inflation is inflation, technology gets better, things get more expensive, etc. It isn't tough to comprehend.
But really, I'm sensing a very large community that isn't willing to pay much of anything for anything. Sometimes I think we're a tweak away from a bunch of people going, "Yeah, we should just be getting this stuff for free. Or maybe it can be government subsidized." They're definitely not eagerly waiting to dump a lot of cash on any new product, even if it is part of their favorite hobby. ...and that could be a serious problem in the near future.

  More information on the site: http://www.psxextreme.com