DFC Report: Too close to call

[Dave Baumann]

There aren't any dedicated, standalone game servers out there as in the PC space. The dedicated servers are for matchmaking, leaderboards, friends, presence, etc.

Actually, there are dedicated servers within the Live framework, but they are held by the publishers - to name but two, Chromehounds has a dedicated server hosted by Sega and Test Drive Unlimited at Atari. I believe Final Fantasy also has one where the publisher charges an extra fee to use.

 

[Sethamin]

Actually, there are dedicated servers within the Live framework, but they are held by the publishers - to name but two, Chromehounds has a dedicated server hosted by Sega and Test Drive Unlimited at Atari. I believe Final Fantasy also has one where the publisher charges an extra fee to use.

I stand corrected. I had not known of any instances where LSP was being used for actual game servers, but in those three cases it makes sense, since they all have persistent online worlds. I must be a bit behind the times. Still, I think they're the exception, not the rule.

 

[blakjedi]

Dave-

In your role as technical marketing director at ATI how much insight does MS allow you into:

1-the overall capabilities of the X360 ( are there any "unknowns/soon to be exploiteds?")

2-the overall marketing and publishing of planned titles for x360?

I would think that in your role you would also have a broad ear towards developers needs vis-a-vis the GPU hardware where current documentation, SDK, or MS support would be lacking...

or I could just be all wrong. wouldnt be the first time of course.

 

[RobertR1]

The last thing I want from this generation is a clear winner. If the 360 and the PS3 split the market (I don't expect much out of nintendo after the novelty factor wears off) then what we'll get is intense competition forcing both sides to get as creative as possible. They'll also be competing on price and features, which inturn benefits us all.

At the end of the day, both consoles are quite close. MS clearly has the early lead and seem to be doing everything right. While Sony is fumbling around for now, they will respond as it's quite clear that the PS3 is a critical part of their business. They do however have a lot of catching up to do but with their dominant marketshare from the PS2, they can afford take a bit longer to get there.

The MS strategy is clearly to pull away the marketshare and they're doing great on that end. For the PS3, it needs to get its' Online functionality together and stop trying to be the "jack of all trades, master of none." They seem to be lost with wanting to branch out to all different arenas. Stick to the games and online play and add things along as it matures. I really hope they listen and get a bit more focused on what really matters.

 

[Arwin]

Here, this is what I was talking about, Microsoft's service not just being a benefit:

In fact, he was very positive on Sony's open attitude to networked content compared to the Xbox 360 - he commented of Microsoft's platform: "Unfortunately it's more of a closed platform," and even noted that Microsoft seems to be "quite negative toward user-created content" under certain circumstances Epic has encountered.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=10974

Note that he also indicates they are finding it hard work to support multi-core development, and Cell a bit more still, making matters a lot more expensive for developers. But then, he would say that, as he'd rather have all other developers buy UE3.

That said, I think Ubisoft's quote above, and even comments from Squenix at TGS, shows that, just as I have been writing/suggesting for a long time, most publishers and developers are more comfortable with Sony and Microsoft sharing the market. And like it or not, it is Microsoft that is needing the extra push at this point, for a large part because of the failure of Microsoft in Japan.

 

[Powderkeg]

I'm talking about greater growth. The industry can expand faster, there is a whole swathe of the populace that it just does not appeal to on any level, it is not because they don’t want it but it is because the industry has never seriously tried to cater for that market.

I disagree with that completely. The vast majority of people who are not interested in video gaming simply aren't interested, and nothing you can do will ever change their minds. It's not because they weren't given the right game, or the right controller, it's simply a matter of video gaming does not appeal to them at any level, for any reason.

How do you market a video game or system to a person who views such activities as disinteresting or a compelte waste of time anyways? Think a commercial showing a video game is going to change their minds? How about a controller that they will never pick up on their own initiative?

The best I can come up with is what the 360 and PS3 have done/are doing, which is include a bunch of non-gaming related functions into their system, and hope that these non-gamers find those functions appealing enough to buy the system, and then maybe they might actually find a game to play one day, but even that is a major long-shot.

Fact is, most people who are not interested in video gaming would not give "they don't cater to me" as a primary reason for their feelings.

 

[zed]

ppl are talking about the xbox1 being innovative!
correct me if im wrong, but basically the xbox1 was a pc
true no previous consoles were pcs, but to take a pc, label it as a console + call it innovation is a joke.

 

[Powderkeg]

I stand corrected. I had not known of any instances where LSP was being used for actual game servers, but in those three cases it makes sense, since they all have persistent online worlds. I must be a bit behind the times. Still, I think they're the exception, not the rule.

It's definitely the exception, but it's not limited to games with persistent online worlds. Far Cry Instincts: Predator also has a couple of dedicated servers run by the developer.

Other games in the past have had the option for a user to setup a dedicated server. Splinter Cell games have supported dedicated server options.

 

[Powderkeg]

ppl are talking about the xbox1 being innovative!
correct me if im wrong, but basically the xbox1 was a pc
true no previous consoles were pcs, but to take a pc, label it as a console + call it innovation is a joke.

Nintendo fans do it all of the time.

Analog stick, rumble features, 3D gaming, etc... All done on the PC first but considered innovative when Nintendo brought those ideas to the console world.

 

[patsu]

I will never understand why Sony did not bundle the new EyeToy with PS3. That is their biggest innovation in recent years. The number of non-gamers, female gamers and “lapsed” gamers that it has pulled in is amazing as an add-on for PS2 in Europe.

Well... I think we can understand why Sony doesn't bundle EyeToy with PS3. It's just that we keep hoping they do it . Please Sony ... may be just for launch ?

I disagree with that completely. The vast majority of people who are not interested in video gaming simply aren't interested, and nothing you can do will ever change their minds. It's not because they weren't given the right game, or the right controller, it's simply a matter of video gaming does not appeal to them at any level, for any reason.

How do you market a video game or system to a person who views such activities as disinteresting or a compelte waste of time anyways? Think a commercial showing a video game is going to change their minds? How about a controller that they will never pick up on their own initiative?

Never say never. I just had yet another non-gamer friend asked me about Wii yesterday. I don't even pay attention to Wii (but I like it)... It seems to have captured the imagination of some people out there. The current launch price may be a challenge to these people (We shall see). But as console price falls, I think they will come.

I believe together, Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 will dazzle the consumers this time with Wii "Hey, I can do that" controller, cool factor (Eye of Judgement, Motion sensing DS2), pretty graphics (Gears of Wars, Heavenly Sword), familiar arcade/casual/retro games (like PacMan, Donkey Kong, ...), music and movie download, etc. etc.

As for online games...
I believe super-low entry cost game like GT HD:Classic (Yes, the pay-for-car thing that regular gamers hate) will bring more of 'em in for some harmless fun... These may include the bored people who bought a console to play movies. The obstacles are actually "laying network cable in the living room/buying Wifi adaptor" and "paid subscription". Console manufacturers should just bundle some XBLA/PNP mini-games and pay-per-use games (like GT:HD Classic) out of the box to draw people online.

The vast majority of people who are not interested in video gaming simply aren't interested, and nothing you can do will ever change their minds.

Do it via familiar content like the retro/mini games that everyone knows... and also (unfortunately) movies. Blu-ray Live and iHD (HD DVD) disks can come in handy for these.

It will take time, but as long as the experiences is superb, there is a chance.

 

[avaya]

I disagree with that completely. The vast majority of people who are not interested in video gaming simply aren't interested, and nothing you can do will ever change their minds. It's not because they weren't given the right game, or the right controller, it's simply a matter of video gaming does not appeal to them at any level, for any reason.

How do you market a video game or system to a person who views such activities as disinteresting or a compelte waste of time anyways? Think a commercial showing a video game is going to change their minds? How about a controller that they will never pick up on their own initiative?

The best I can come up with is what the 360 and PS3 have done/are doing, which is include a bunch of non-gaming related functions into their system, and hope that these non-gamers find those functions appealing enough to buy the system, and then maybe they might actually find a game to play one day, but even that is a major long-shot.

Fact is, most people who are not interested in video gaming would not give "they don't cater to me" as a primary reason for their feelings.

Sometime ago I would have agreed with you but DS (Japan/EU) and EyeToy pretty much make this argument redundant. The number of female gamers playing games has increased thanks to EyeToy with it's games + Singstar/Buzz etc. DS has got the elderly playing. The industry is still focusing itself on such a narrow demographic, the times when games have seriously tried to appeal outside of that target group it has worked given a suitable price point.

DS in Japan is selling 150k/week. Reaching 500-600K peaks in non-holiday periods with the release of anticipated titles. This is much faster than any video game system has previously sold through, it makes the early PS2 numbers look pedestrian. It has only reached that stage because it was aimed from the start to target as many groups of people as possible. In Europe it is not as extreme but it is evident, DS sells (~400k/month) as much if not more than PS2 does.

There is a whole market out there that Sony and Microsoft can get. EyeToy and Nintendo have proven the point.