PS3 Fanboy

The PS3's first year has come to a close, and we wanted to ask our friends at various gaming outlets to tell us what they thought about Sony's debut performance in this new gaming generation. Obviously, the company has received a lot of flak, but can they turn it around? Read on in this PS3 Fanboy exclusive:

Siliconera
Sony took a step in the right direction by slashing the price of the Playstation 3 and introducing the 40 GB model. Sure, it doesn't play Playstation 2 games, but the cheaper model will get the PS3 into more homes and that makes it a more viable console for third party developers. Yes, the Playstation 3 needs more games, but more importantly it needs a unique experience that is only on the PS3. Easier said than done right? Perhaps, developers can look at the Playstation 3's underutilized features for inspiration like remote play, the MMC slot for importing media and the Playstation 3's internal web browser. I'm imagining an alternate reality hacking/detective game where players surf websites, carry their PSPs to get data from sham networks around the world and then create their own mysteries with the help of the MMC reader.
-- Spencer Yip


GameTrailers
Sony's sheer dominance in the prior generation of consoles seemed to pave the way for a clear run at the crown in this generation of gaming, but by not offering the complete online experience or game play innovations delivered by its prime competitors, Sony has taken a significant hit in the current console war. A revamped online presence, key PS3 exclusives and a clear approach to the system as game machine and not just an media centerpiece for high-income families will be essential for Sony to return to it's once dominant position of prominence.
-- Daniel Kayser


PS3 Fanboy
Writing on a site like PS3 Fanboy should be pretty indicative that I'm in love with Sony's new machine. However, it's undeniable that the first year of PS3 was a difficult one for Sony fans. Many complained about the lack of games, the lackluster online support, mediocre third party efforts, and the high price. Although I purchased a 60GB $599 PS3, I can't say that I'm disappointed at all, though. I love the HD era, and Sony's PS3 has been the system of choice for me. I don't want an ugly HD-DVD peripheral: I want movies built-in. I don't want an extra $99 wireless attachment: I want wi-fi built-in. Justifying the cost of a $599 machine was actually quite easy for me.

But things are changing. Going into year two, we see that every major problem that PS3 has had in its first year has been addressed. Seemingly, now is the real launch of the PS3. There are excellent games, such as Uncharted and Warhawk. Third party games are becoming better, even launching at the same time as Xbox 360 counterparts. The price is a non-issue: $399 is a bargain for a PS3, even without backwards compatibility. Finally, it's clear that Blu-ray is becoming the winner of the HD format war, and the PSN has held a number of great surprises, such as Super Stardust HD, fl0w, Everyday Shooter, and more. The first year was difficult, but it seems like Sony's finally on the right path to making PS3 everything it can, and should be.
-- Andrew Yoon


Destructoid
It's not as if Sony's PlayStation 3 "growing pains" are a secret; it would be incredibly easy to focus on what went wrong, and incur the wrath of fans all over the Internet. Instead, I think it's probably more worthwhile to focus on the glimmers of hope we're seeing in what they're doing right.

By all accounts, Sony are incredibly easy to work with in terms of their network structure, and you already see it paying off in things like Unreal Tournament 3's modifications. And while some could decry the current "lack of software," the things we are seeing coming out Sony's internal studios definitely show a commitment to the exclusive, unique gameplay experiences that ultimately made the PlayStation 2 such a success. Pushing in directions to offer the types of gameplay experiences and forging the consoles unique identity is what's going to make Sony successful with the PS3.
-- Nick Chester


UGO
I think Sony has gotten a bit of a raw deal from pretty much everyone who has anything to do with gaming: the gamers, the critics, the analysts, even the developers. The platform's limited software offering through much of the year was definitely a hindrance, but we're starting to see that corrected with holiday releases such as Folklore, Ratchet & Clank and Uncharted. To simply remain in the competition, Sony's going to have to help the devs overcome those pesky cross-platform development stumbling blocks. Until we start to regularly see comparable releases for both consoles, the PS3 will continue to struggle.

If 2008 is going to be the Year of Sony, we're going to have to see a lot more. Rumble support, and quickly. The public unveiling of Home. Successful launches of exclusives like Metal Gear and Final Fantasy. Even a surprise or two (or three or four). I still don't regret buying my PS3, but I've logged more time with it as a media player than as a gaming platform by a considerable margin. Is it wrong to expect more from the company that delivered us a way to play Grand Theft Auto III? I think not.
-- Adam Rosenberg


Xbox 360 Fanboy
So, the PS3 thus far: not terribly impressed. Granted, that's probably what you'd expect from the lead of Xbox 360 Fanboy, and I should probably add that I don't actually own a PS3, so I'm not the most informed person to ask. Still, I've been asked, so here we go. High definition media is a non-issue for me, so Blu-Ray doesn't matter, and so far it hasn't really been proven that Blu-Ray is necessary or even advantageous for game developers either. Sure, more space can be helpful, but the necessity is questionable. Then there's the price, which is competitive at last. Kudos to Sony for that. The next big issue, the only real issue, is games. In this area, Sony is finally starting to show some strength. In much the same vein as Wii, the real killer games are just starting to emerge. In other words, Sony doesn't have to sell potential anymore. Not only that, but it seems like 3rd party developers have eliminated the gap between cross-platform titles (see Call of Duty 4). With some real games and a new, competitive price point, Sony stands to make a decent comeback this holiday.

Let's face it. Even Sony fans have to admit that the company's PR has been a nightmare for what seems like ages now. I'm not sure what happened but it looks like things are finally headed in the right direction. We've got real games, commercials that actually feature the product being sold (gameplay footage in a commercial? Wha?!), and a price that won't scare Mom away. Now let's just hope Metal Gear delivers.
-- Richard Mitchell