Playstation 2 online disaster

[Smolek]

Trouble so far with Sony's online plan
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At Sony's annual pre-E3 press conference Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai, SCEA President and COO, unveiled the online plans for the PlayStation 2. Kaz said their online gaming system can be described as "democratic" and that their competitors online gaming licensing rules are "authoritarian." Kaz used these words because Sony offers what they call an "open system" in which game publishers provide their own servers and the online infrastructure. By contrast, Microsoft's philosophy is to assist publishers by managing the hosting, networking, security and billing so that developers can focus on creating the best game content. That's why Sony calls LIVE? an authoritarian system, but

The truth is ...

The first online game for the Sony's Playstation 2 continues to have problems. Square's Final Fantasy XI had its first major patch last weekend after a buggy launch. The PlayOnline servers were taken down for bug fixes and upgraded and the new patched version of the game required players to log on again. But this hasn't ended at all ... As our friends from Eurogamer reports:



However, although the patch seems to have fixed many issues, other problems continue to plague the ambitious online RPG. Most embarrassingly for Square - and indeed for Sony - is the revelation that the game is entirely incompatible with certain models of PS2. Some (unspecified) PS2 models allegedly refuse entirely to boot the game, instead displaying an error message and ceasing to function. Sony is thought to be aware of the problem, and players encountering it have been asked to notify the company, although it's not known what kind of fix is planned.

Perhaps even more damaging for the commercial success of the game, however, is the situation regarding the PS2 hard drive in Japan. FFXI requires a hard drive to be installed before you can play it, and it appears that poor sales of the game to date (compared with other titles in the Final Fantasy series) are almost entirely attributable to the massive shortages of hard drive stocks.

Most consumers are being forced to buy PS2 hard drives as part of an ISP service bundle rather than at retail, effectively squeezing out anyone who already has a broadband connection, and even those lucky enough to be allocated a drive are having to wait up to seven weeks for it to arrive. There are reports of gamers desperate to try the title having to ring around multiple ISPs on a regular basis until they find one who actually has a unit in stock (and is prepared to sell it).

Well those are the facts. Sony can say anything about LIVE? and the Xbox but the truth is that with a hard drive, ethernet port and slots for the Xbox Communicator built in to all controllers, Xbox was designed by Microsoft to facilitate online play right out of the box. And with Microsoft's know-how (270 million unique monthly users worldwide on the MSN® network of Internet services, and the No. 1 online PC gaming site with Zone.com), Who do you think will run better the LIVE? games? Xbox gamers don't want a FFXI launch experience. And you bet that with an "organized" system like LIVE? you won't have the headaches of a "chaotic" online gaming service.

Something you probably wont see with XBOX

 

[fatbaby]

Sony, like sega, should of included internet capabilities right out of the box and made sure there were a lot of internet titles already out.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Good stuff. You'd think Sony would beta test this stuff and catch it before the release. Guess not.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: fatbaby
Sony, like sega, should of included internet capabilities right out of the box and made sure there were a lot of internet titles already out.

I think they cared more about being first than internet capabilities, which has proved to be a good strategy in terms of selling, although I'm sure they are alienating a lot of online gamers right now though (oops I mean offline gamers)

 

[bonk102]

damn sony, i really did expect more

 

[mrCide]

yeah, xbox is so much better.. give me a god damned break.

i hate console fanboys. as if its some contest you get a prize for being the most dedicated to some silly company.

anyway

 

[Smolek]

XBOX was without a doubt the console to pick if you wanted to play online. Everything was included in the box. No addon's that total over 100. No "patches", no installing games to the hard drive (ms will not let a game be released that has to be installed). If anything Sony is trying to turn the ps2 into a computer (a sh!tty one at that) with its plans for AOL and Real partnerships.

 

[Ramsnake]

M$ Rulez and Ownz PS2...

i seriously wonder why PS2 has better titles...is it some kinda monopoly or arrangement with game manufacturers where microsoft doesnt get the best games? logic tells you that the faster console should sell well, but M$ seems to have screwed up on the games front and then i heard the stuff that games were easier to program for the XBOX than for the PS2...so how does PS2 get the edge. I'm pretty sure PS2 owns M$ in the market because of some kinda arrangement it has to gaming companies. Its not like PS2 had a great marketing campaign or anything....oh well.....XBOX rulez

 

[Smolek]

problem is Sony has the huge fanbase. Since they have 20 million users more then XBOX and Nintendo combined they use strong arm tactics to keep developers. For example when stores where first taking pre-orders for Gamecubes and XBOX's. Sony was basically ordering stores to only have a certain amount of promo material of each console or the store would end up with smaller fulfilments of products.

If they put a big exclusive on XBOX, Sony will get pissed and all but threaten the company. Companies would rather have more potential customers and thus the reason Sony gets the big name exclusives.

 

[kazeakuma]

Originally posted by: fatbaby
Sony, like sega, should of included internet capabilities right out of the box and made sure there were a lot of internet titles already out.

Umm Sega did. They had a 56k modem (33.6 in Europe) in the dreamcast which later could be swapped out for a NIC. Sega's problem was lack of online titles early up and the fact that the internet gaming 'boom' hadn't really started till almost the end of the Dreamcast's life.

Just thought I'd clear that up.

 

[Comp625]

Originally posted by: Ramsnake
M$ Rulez and Ownz PS2...

i seriously wonder why PS2 has better titles...is it some kinda monopoly or arrangement with game manufacturers where microsoft doesnt get the best games? logic tells you that the faster console should sell well, but M$ seems to have screwed up on the games front and then i heard the stuff that games were easier to program for the XBOX than for the PS2...so how does PS2 get the edge. I'm pretty sure PS2 owns M$ in the market because of some kinda arrangement it has to gaming companies. Its not like PS2 had a great marketing campaign or anything....oh well.....XBOX rulez

One must remember that the PS2 was released over a year before X-Box was released. The great PS2 titles didn't really appear until about 6 - 12 months after the console's release. Before the good PS2 titles were released, people were also questioning why PS2 had some crappy titles. X-box is currently at that stage where it is getting ready to bloom with many great titles. I personally predict that bloom will happen before or around the holiday season of 2002.

As for Sony having "an arrangement" with the game makers... it's because Sony's line of Playstation consoles (One and Two) are proven products. At the time, X-Box was still in the developing stages and many game makers were unsure of the X-Box's future. They felt the X-Box will walk the path of the Dreamcast (good hardware system but won't catch on). Unfortunately, many of the game makers were wrong. Thus we end up with ports, rushed/poorly made games and having to wait about a year after the X-Box's release for a large crop of good titles.

 

[Hoeboy]

hopefully everything will clear up b4 the US launch. japan always get their stuff early but they pay a price i guess

 

[d1abolic]

I wouldn't call this a disaster. No big deal, all of these problems will be cleared up in a matter of months (if not weeks).

 

[Cougar]

Dude, this is all a bunch of bologna. Sony in their infinite wisdom is incapable of screwing up. I'll bet it's not even Sony's fault. It's probably some Nintendo or Microsoft fanboy that is sabatoging Sony's efforts to get online. Sony is the best console maker ever. The gaming world was in a state of eternal limbo with absolutely no good games until Sony came out with the Playstation 1 and rescued us all from a life of sheer boredom. We should all be down on our hands and knees thanking Sony for all gaming goodness they have bestowed upon us.

All hail Sony for they are likened unto a god. Sony is our saviour. Sony will show us the one true light and all the non-believers shall perish.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: Cougar
Dude, this is all a bunch of bologna. Sony in their infinite wisdom is incapable of screwing up. I'll bet it's not even Sony's fault. It's probably some Nintendo or Microsoft fanboy that is sabatoging Sony's efforts to get online. Sony is the best console maker ever. The gaming world was in a state of eternal limbo with absolutely no good games until Sony came out with the Playstation 1 and rescued us all from a life of sheer boredom. We should all be down on our hands and knees thanking Sony for all gaming goodness they have bestowed upon us.

All hail Sony for they are likened unto a god. Sony is our saviour. Sony will show us the one true light and all the non-believers shall perish.

This makes you sound about as intelligent as someone who claims PS2 or XBox is perfect. Oh wait... You probably do claim that about the XBox! The Microsoft online gamingcentres aren't around yet either, so until they show they can do better I'd not whine too much about how hard Sony sucks. Microsoft has proven over and over again that they can't manage their own servers (goes a bit better if they don't run their own software on it), and with the online stability of Dungeon Siege I have yet to see if the online experiences of XBoxes are so much better.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Smolek
XBOX was without a doubt the console to pick if you wanted to play online. Everything was included in the box. No addon's that total over 100. No "patches", no installing games to the hard drive (ms will not let a game be released that has to be installed). If anything Sony is trying to turn the ps2 into a computer (a sh!tty one at that) with its plans for AOL and Real partnerships.

except for the fact that the xbox's online access will only work with a small percentage of US households, and even lower figures overseas.

 

[LH]

MS has had some online problems, but thats with the current infustructure, they just spent $1billion, so as far as the servers go, MS shouldnt have a problem. Now if developers release shoddy work(like Square did), whos to blame? Id say its Squares fault for all these problems(except the HDD being rare).

 

[Valinos]

I love all games and game systems, but Xbox is my favorite at the moment and will be my fave down the road with all the great games coming out and the online capabilities. I guess me being a PC gamer mostly makes me a bigger fan of the Xbox naturally. Personally I think the Gamecube is the weakest system, with practically nothing I want except for Metroid Prime. Nintendo's online plans are complete sh!t. I'd be willing to wager that this is Nintendo's last home console. Prepare to see a Nintendo vs Sega type war in 5 years or so with Xbox 2 vs PS3.

It is kinda sad to see two huge corporations like Sony and MS take over the console gaming market. Sure, Nintendo and Sega were ruthless, evil corporations but nowhere near on the evil-scale as Sony and MS.

 

[Cougar]

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1

This makes you sound about as intelligent as someone who claims PS2 or XBox is perfect. Oh wait... You probably do claim that about the XBox! The Microsoft online gamingcentres aren't around yet either, so until they show they can do better I'd not whine too much about how hard Sony sucks. Microsoft has proven over and over again that they can't manage their own servers (goes a bit better if they don't run their own software on it), and with the online stability of Dungeon Siege I have yet to see if the online experiences of XBoxes are so much better.

Really? I probably do claim that the Xbox is perfect? For real? No seriously, is that what I claim about the Xbox? Lemme run into the other room real quick.........nope, no Xbox there. Just a Gamecube and a Dreamcast. You'd be wise not to try and pigeonhole me as a MS, Nintendo, or Sega fanboy for you'll only make yourself look like a fool. I own 2 consoles and I'll get the other 2 if there are games on them that suit my interest. I'm in this for the games, nothing more, nothing less. I have no loyalties towards any company. Anyone that stands around pointing out another companies shortcomings just to make their saviour look better is retarded. It just so happens that Sony has millions and millions of people duped into believing they're the best and they'll completely ignore any problems with Sony equipment.

Every console has problems at launch and throughout its life and yet when these problems afflict Sony people just dismiss it with a "So what" type of comment. I bought my dreamcast at launch and there was a batch of bad games. My life didn't end when this happened and yet Sega was nearly crucified by both their followers and enemies. Sony had problems at launch and now they're having a problems with their online segment and yet people don't raise a stink about it because it's the PS2 and it was conceived by Sony. I can understand why they don't care because at least they don't suck as bad as Microsoft, right?

I must be silent now for I have said too much. I fear I may have angered the Sony gods and they will undoubtedly pour forth their unholy vengeance upon me. Beware the Sony, for they are all powerful and all knowing. They can peer into your innermost thoughts and see deep into your soul. There is no hiding from the Sony for it is more powerful than all other beings. What sacrifice can I offer to the Sony so that I may appease its anger? Shall I burn my dreamcast and gamecube and cover myself in their ashes? Shall I bury myself underground for 40 days and 40 nights and be resurrected a new man?

Prepare your souls for the Sony is coming.

 

[Jeffwo]

Prepare your souls for the Sony is coming.

Can't wait! Been waiting (patiently) for over 2 yrs. now, ever since I bought my first PS2.

Jeff

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: Cougar

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1

This makes you sound about as intelligent as someone who claims PS2 or XBox is perfect. Oh wait... You probably do claim that about the XBox! The Microsoft online gamingcentres aren't around yet either, so until they show they can do better I'd not whine too much about how hard Sony sucks. Microsoft has proven over and over again that they can't manage their own servers (goes a bit better if they don't run their own software on it), and with the online stability of Dungeon Siege I have yet to see if the online experiences of XBoxes are so much better.

Really? I probably do claim that the Xbox is perfect? For real? No seriously, is that what I claim about the Xbox? Lemme run into the other room real quick.........nope, no Xbox there. Just a Gamecube and a Dreamcast. You'd be wise not to try and pigeonhole me as a MS, Nintendo, or Sega fanboy for you'll only make yourself look like a fool. I own 2 consoles and I'll get the other 2 if there are games on them that suit my interest. I'm in this for the games, nothing more, nothing less. I have no loyalties towards any company. Anyone that stands around pointing out another companies shortcomings just to make their saviour look better is retarded. It just so happens that Sony has millions and millions of people duped into believing they're the best and they'll completely ignore any problems with Sony equipment.

Every console has problems at launch and throughout its life and yet when these problems afflict Sony people just dismiss it with a "So what" type of comment. I bought my dreamcast at launch and there was a batch of bad games. My life didn't end when this happened and yet Sega was nearly crucified by both their followers and enemies. Sony had problems at launch and now they're having a problems with their online segment and yet people don't raise a stink about it because it's the PS2 and it was conceived by Sony. I can understand why they don't care because at least they don't suck as bad as Microsoft, right?

I must be silent now for I have said too much. I fear I may have angered the Sony gods and they will undoubtedly pour forth their unholy vengeance upon me. Beware the Sony, for they are all powerful and all knowing. They can peer into your innermost thoughts and see deep into your soul. There is no hiding from the Sony for it is more powerful than all other beings. What sacrifice can I offer to the Sony so that I may appease its anger? Shall I burn my dreamcast and gamecube and cover myself in their ashes? Shall I bury myself underground for 40 days and 40 nights and be resurrected a new man?

Prepare your souls for the Sony is coming.

Ok, was just presuming you to be a !Sony fanboy cause of your remarks

X-Box had not proven itself either, have not seen any test results from them so far. X-Box is $50 more expensive than PS2 (I think?) and to play DVDs you still need to buy a remote control for about $25, so the $100 for changes to your PS2 is not as big as people make it out to be. Besides, for those who can't play online anyway it means they don't have to spend the extra cash, and in fact save $75.

P.S. I do not own any console, never have, and don't plan on getting one. Perfectly happy with my PC. The latest X-Box games cost 69.99 Euros here ($66.17), so it's a tiny bit too expensive to my taste.

 

[Valinos]

LOL, I like your attitude on the gaming consoles and especially Sony, Cougar. I notice the same thing. I think the gaming press just makes the problem worse.

People fail to see the MONUMENTAL defective rate of PS2's just because its Sony, for some reason. It is such blind loyalty. I have people that come into my work all the time saying their PS2's are broken, and then buy a brand new one. And then 9 months down the road they pay Sony to refurb their PS2 again. Its nuts.

Also, one thing that really gets me is the major bitching about the Xbox controller and the claims that it is the worst controller EVER made. Yawn. Again, it is the biased gaming press. They all say it has the worst controller, people read it, and then they agree. Personally, my vote for worst controller ever? The Jaguar's. I swear, I've never seen so much bitching about controllers in my life until the Xbox came around. I think people look for reasons to hate MS and the Xbox for.

I get people griping about Xbox and Gamecube having no games all the time. Ok, that's great...now rewind to October 2000. Hell, go back to June 2001. What did the PS2 have going for it? Onimusha and Tekken Tag Tournament! Those are the only two A+ titles for the system at the time and Onimusha is debateable considering it took me 4 hours to beat it the first time through.

Let's be serious here kids, stop the hate and the console trumpeting. Accept the fact that the system you own is not the best system. Don't be jealous of me because I own all three. Don't be jealous of Jimmy down the street because he owns a Gamecube and you own an Xbox. Don't hate.

 

[Valinos]

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1

Originally posted by: Cougar

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1

This makes you sound about as intelligent as someone who claims PS2 or XBox is perfect. Oh wait... You probably do claim that about the XBox! The Microsoft online gamingcentres aren't around yet either, so until they show they can do better I'd not whine too much about how hard Sony sucks. Microsoft has proven over and over again that they can't manage their own servers (goes a bit better if they don't run their own software on it), and with the online stability of Dungeon Siege I have yet to see if the online experiences of XBoxes are so much better.

Really? I probably do claim that the Xbox is perfect? For real? No seriously, is that what I claim about the Xbox? Lemme run into the other room real quick.........nope, no Xbox there. Just a Gamecube and a Dreamcast. You'd be wise not to try and pigeonhole me as a MS, Nintendo, or Sega fanboy for you'll only make yourself look like a fool. I own 2 consoles and I'll get the other 2 if there are games on them that suit my interest. I'm in this for the games, nothing more, nothing less. I have no loyalties towards any company. Anyone that stands around pointing out another companies shortcomings just to make their saviour look better is retarded. It just so happens that Sony has millions and millions of people duped into believing they're the best and they'll completely ignore any problems with Sony equipment.

Every console has problems at launch and throughout its life and yet when these problems afflict Sony people just dismiss it with a "So what" type of comment. I bought my dreamcast at launch and there was a batch of bad games. My life didn't end when this happened and yet Sega was nearly crucified by both their followers and enemies. Sony had problems at launch and now they're having a problems with their online segment and yet people don't raise a stink about it because it's the PS2 and it was conceived by Sony. I can understand why they don't care because at least they don't suck as bad as Microsoft, right?

I must be silent now for I have said too much. I fear I may have angered the Sony gods and they will undoubtedly pour forth their unholy vengeance upon me. Beware the Sony, for they are all powerful and all knowing. They can peer into your innermost thoughts and see deep into your soul. There is no hiding from the Sony for it is more powerful than all other beings. What sacrifice can I offer to the Sony so that I may appease its anger? Shall I burn my dreamcast and gamecube and cover myself in their ashes? Shall I bury myself underground for 40 days and 40 nights and be resurrected a new man?

Prepare your souls for the Sony is coming.

Ok, was just presuming you to be a !Sony fanboy cause of your remarks

X-Box had not proven itself either, have not seen any test results from them so far. X-Box is $50 more expensive than PS2 (I think?) and to play DVDs you still need to buy a remote control for about $25, so the $100 for changes to your PS2 is not as big as people make it out to be. Besides, for those who can't play online anyway it means they don't have to spend the extra cash, and in fact save $75.

P.S. I do not own any console, never have, and don't plan on getting one. Perfectly happy with my PC. The latest X-Box games cost 69.99 Euros here ($66.17), so it's a tiny bit too expensive to my taste.

Here in the U.S. the Xbox is the same price as the PS2 and comes with everything you need right out of the box except for DVD playback, which should cost you $29.99. Don't forget kids, that you need a PS2 memory card which is $24.99. Also, if you want four players, prepare to shell out another $29.99. Oh, and if you wanna be able to be more than 6 feet away and be able to use all the DVD features at the push of a button you need a PS2 DVD controller ($19.99). And still, if you want to play games more than 6 feet away you need some extension cables (roughly $6 each). Then if you want to play PS2 games online you need the ethernet adapter ($39.99) and possibly the HDD down the road (~$80).

I like the Xbox for those reasons alone...I didn't have to buy all that extra crap. I ended up spending more on my PS2 for an inferior piece of hardware. I do have to gripe that Xbox 1st party controllers cost $39.99 each, but I got two Madcatz for $29.99 and I bought an extra first party controller. Then a friend gave me another one

I do have to say, the GC is the least appealing with its throwback to the memory cards of yore (what's the deal with having a memory card that has 512kb of space?). Those Wavebirds are tight as hell though, I need to get a set of those.

 

[obiwaynekenobi]

well I guess this is the one area that the X box just about has everyone beat doesn't it?

 

[KennyTheGreat]

i stick with the comp now