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The Daily Grind: Would you buy a console to play an MMO?
Imagine there's an MMO you really want to play (for some of you, this is going to take a lot of imagination, but pretend, for just this question, that you actually like playing the MMOs you play). Maybe the game is going to connect to an existing MMO in a novel way, or maybe it's that $300,000,000 ultimate sandbox you've been hoping for. This theoretical MMO is just perfect for you, and you need to play it like yesterday. Except that it's coming out on consoles, and only on consoles for the foreseeable future. And it's a console you don't already own. Nooooooooooo! I picked up a PS3 partly for this reason -- to play PS3-exclusive games like Journey. But an MMO? That would take a lot more doing; it'd have to be a truly compelling world that offers something I can't get anywhere else. Whether or not it's your thing, DUST 514 is asking just this question of gamers, but it wasn't the first and it surely won't be the last. So what about you? Would you buy a console just to play an MMO -- if not DUST, then some other game? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
PS2 horror classic Siren scares up a PSN launch on Tuesday
Classic PS2 horror game Siren is making a comeback on PSN this Tuesday, January 15. Ten years after its launch, Siren revisits the village of Hanuda and its occult natives to reclaim its title of "Japanese Modern Horror," as former executive producer Takafumi Fujisawa describes it.
SOE implementing dynamic XP in PlanetSide 2
PlanetSide Universe has the details on SOE creative director Matt Higby's latest information dump. Higby says plenty of changes are in store for this month's PlanetSide 2 patch, chief among them some significant tweaks to the game's experience system. In a nutshell, players who have more kills will be worth more XP, and newly spawned players "will be worth a fraction of the current kill reward." You'll also get partial XP for damaging vehicles even if they aren't ultimately destroyed. SOE will also be making server transfer tokens available in PS2's item shop, gifting each empire with a new SMG weapon, and adding player configurable colors and indicators to the game's minimap. That's not all, either, but you'll have to hit the source link below for the full list of changes.
PlayStation 2 is now discontinued worldwide, confirms Sony
Worldwide production of the PlayStation 2 is finally at a halt after almost 13 years. Sony confirmed to The Guardian that, following the recent news of it being discontinued in Japan, the best-selling home console ever is now no longer being manufactured.Sony boasts total software sales for the console of over 1.5 billion, in addition to more than 150 million PS2s sold. Rivals Nintendo and Sega barely shifted more than 30 million units of the GameCube and Dreamcast put together. It's unlikely we'll see a console dominate its generation so resoundingly ever again. Out of respect for the countless hours of gaming goodness it provided us, we at Joystiq are tearfully doffing our hats in memory of that little black box. That'll do, pig. That'll do.
One Shots: Worlds within worlds
When it comes to winter holidays, I'm always disappointed that they come so darn early in the season. We could really use all that cheer, celebrating, and lighting come, say, February after we've been wallowing in the cold and dark for months. No matter; what's done is done, and we have a giant snow globe as proof. Reader Trevor sent in the following picture from Guild Wars 2's Wintersday, as he took a photo of a world within the larger world and wrote, "Happened upon this giant snow globe amongst the flurry of gifts, giant flying colorful snowflakes, and Wintersday cheer. If you listen closely, you can hear my computer screaming in pain." Oh, we'll make more than your computer scream in pain before this column is done!
PlayStation 2 discontinued in Japan after almost 13 years of service
The very last shipment of PlayStation 2 units to Japanese retailers is out the door, and the prolific console is now discontinued in the country. As Famitsu reports, production of the venerable black box ceased today nearly 13 years after its launch on March 4, 2000.While the original PlayStation sits in and around the 100 million mark, the PS2 built upon that success to sell over 150 million units worldwide and dominate its generation. Its long life in Japan is a testament to it comfortably being the best-selling home console ever.
PlayStation 2 reaches retirement age, is discontinued in Japan
Sony's PlayStation 3 has been on the market so long you'd think that production of the relatively ancient PS2 stopped some time ago. Well, that wasn't true, but according to the Japanese PlayStation website, the PS2 has now officially been discontinued in the region. Japanese site Famitsu adds that shipments of the console have ended, so once the remaining stock has been depleted in Japan, there'll be no replenishment. It's a sad thought, but let's remember the good times -- the PS2's various iterations have been entertaining gamers for 12 years, and with over 150 million units purchased worldwide it's become the best selling console in history. We're not sure if the PS2 is still shipping to other regions, but its retirement in Japan is probably the beginning of the end globally, so we'd recommend you pick one up now if you intend to explore that extensive back catalogue one day. The PS2 era may be drawing to a close, but its legacy will live on and it can now rub controllers with the other greats in console heaven -- we still miss you, Dreamcast. Update: Wiping a tear from its eye, SCE offered us this statement: Due to PlayStation 2 now being over 12 years old, we have decided to stop future production of the console and focus on our newer and more popular platforms, PS3, PS Move and PS Vita. We are very proud of what we have achieved with PS2. Having sold over 150m units worldwide, PlayStation 2 remains the world's best selling console, but with sales understandably declining, we are shifting our priorities to reflect this.
MMO Blender: Mike's spaceflight of fancy
You know what I love? Space. Not real space, so much; real space is a vast expanse of horrors that generally confound and cripple the mind if considered too seriously. I'm talking about "space," as in the setting of some of our favorite movies, games, and cancelled television properties. The problem with space, of course, is that it is a setting and not a story. You can't prime an audience by simply shouting, "Space!" The space needs context. Is it "final frontier" space? Is it the space in which your screams go unheard? The greatest space tales have always used the deep black as a backdrop, not a subject. My perfect MMO would almost certainly take place in space, but the way in which the space is used is what makes it worth playing.
70% of DCUO's revenue on PlayStation 3, Smedley mum on PlanetSide 2 console port [Updated]
Would you believe that 70% of DC Universe Online's revenue comes from the PlayStation 3 version of the game? According to the UK version of the official PlayStation magazine, the superhero title and Sony Online Entertainment's Free Realms could possibly be joined on the PS3 by PlanetSide 2 in the future. When asked directly about the possibility of the new sci-fi MMOFPS showing up on a console, SOE president John Smedley offered an artful deflection. "What I'd say is -- SOE has proven that we can bring our games to the PS3, and it's fair to say that we've got some other stuff out there cooking. I can't tell you what platforms it's for, but we're really excited about it." [Update: We have corrected the 70% figure quoted directly from PlayStation magazine. According to SOE, Smedley intended to say that the percentage refers to DCUO's revenue, not SOE's revenue as a whole.]
PlanetSide 2 releases first update, promises tutorial and player input
Even though the best-laid plans are thrown out the window in the first moments of battle, PlanetSide 2's devs are forging ahead the best they can. The team released the first update for the game yesterday, adding horns to vehicles, allowing players to make multiple characters on a server, and inserting seven new weapons for all of the factions. That's only the tip of the update iceberg, according to SOE President John Smedley. Speaking with PC Gamer, Smedley said that the future development of the game will largely be guided by player input. "We've changed so much about the game based on player feedback," he said, "so we're definitely going to do the same thing with our six-month plans. Players are paying the bills, so as far as I'm concerned that puts them in the driver's seat." Smedley said that we'll be hearing more of PlanetSide 2's next stage come January. He did drop news of one important feature: a tutorial that should be hitting the game in February. Also, some clever players dug up an interesting secret: PlanetSide 2 will offer triple Station Cash points Friday, December 21st. Smedley confirmed this on Twitter. [Thanks to Steve for the tip!]
The Daily Grind: When was the last time a character creator didn't tick you off?
For me, it was PlanetSide 2. Admittedly, I usually prefer insanely robust character creation systems; give me five million options or go away, right? And yet even with all the options, those games with the very best character creation systems -- a moment of silence, please, for Star Wars Galaxies and City of Heroes -- were saddled with their own strange quirks, like crazy boob sliders, insufficient tools for making non-European characters, and an obvious disdain for aging or overweight or otherwise socially unacceptable toons. You can have 50 different mohawk styles, but if you want wrinkles, realistic breast physics, or a waist thicker than your wrist, then god help you. By limiting options to four heads per gender (only one apiece European) and by making sure my female character is believably muscled and armored, PlanetSide 2's character creator manages to secure an advantage over more robust systems. By going minimalist and choosing to leave out almost everything instead of only one or two things that make me question the designers' motives, SOE has effectively curtailed complaints. But is that worth it? When was the last time a character creator didn't offend you? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Smedley: Social network games not in SOE's future, PlanetSide 2 doing 'very well'
How successful is PlanetSide 2? "I can't give away revenue numbers, but it is doing an order of magnitude greater revenue daily than any of our other titles," SOE president John Smedley tells GamesIndustry.biz. "It is really doing very well." He also hints at SOE's future, which is not likely to include social games or Facebook titles. "I gotta tell you, I'm not a fan of the Facebook game. To me, they're monetization vehicles and not the kind of games I want to play or make. That's just me personally. So we'll stick to what we do best," he says.
PlanetSide 2 dares you to pick a side
If you haven't heard, there's this new game out that doesn't play friendly with itself. PlanetSide 2 is built around a three-faction PvP setup, and SOE is not going to let you sit on the sidelines. No, you must pick a side, play favorites, and learn to hate the opposing sides with a vengeance. To help you with that, the studio's released new faction videos that beckon you to join each respective side's team. After the jump you can check out the Terran Republic and Vanu Sovereignty videos, and then let us know if they have swayed you to their way of thinking. Or perhaps you've yet to pick up this free-to-play shooter? If so, it couldn't hurt to watch the following and see if it tugs on your interest!
GTA: San Andreas gets Dec. 12 PSN launch date from PS Hong Kong [update: confirmed!]
PlayStation Hong Kong offers another shred of evidence that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is indeed making its way to PS3, listing the game as a download with a release date of December 12. San Andreas was rated by the ESRB for PS3 this year, as was Vice City and Grand Theft Auto 3. GTA 3 launched on PSN as a PS2 classic in September.The Grand Theft Auto games are infiltrating a few new devices recently, topped off with Vice City's launch on iOS last week. Meanwhile, Grand Theft Auto 5 fans are scoping out yet another platform for that game's launch, with a petition to get it on PC.Update: The PlayStation Blog confirms San Andreas will be released on PSN as a PS2 Classic on December 11.
One Shots: Battlefield oasis
Even in the midst of bloody war, the resplendent may persist. Even though our MMOs are endless battlefields that have seen no end to death and corpse desecration, they also can be places of stunning sights. Reader Connor, fresh off a tour in PlanetSide 2, found that a particular location made him pause and reach for the screenshot button. "I saw this while maneuvering my Sunderer into position. Beauty on the battlefield!" Check out Connor's oasis as well as plenty of other gorgeous war-torn locales after the jump!
PlanetSide 2 state of the game talks infantry render fixes, six-month roadmap
SOE prez John Smedley has taken to the official PlanetSide 2 forums to deliver a brief state-of-the-game address. Actually, he took to the boards to do so last night, but we were asleep fragging it up on Esamir at the time so we missed it. In any event, Smedley mentions this weekend's double XP boost as well as the fact that "client crashes are down 95 percent." He says that PS2's stability is coming along nicely and that there's another patch coming next week which will address more bugs. It will also bring "big improvements" to the infantry render distance issue which has been ongoing since launch. There's also talk of the game's six-month plan, which SOE will reveal in January and which includes orbital strikes, vehicle transport, "and other fun things." Smedley also reiterates that players will have some say in PS2's roadmap. "It's not written in stone and you're going to have the opportunity to weigh in and have us change it based on your collective feedback," he writes.
The Firing Line: Banning aimbotters in the age of F2P
Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley made headlines this week when he smacked down hackers, aimbotters, and various PlanetSide 2 ne'er-do-wells via his Twitter feed. Aside from the comedy value inherent in the CEO of a major corporation engaging in a public joust with employment-challenged neckbeards, the incident resonates because it shines a spotlight on the herculean task facing SOE and any other developer that decides to enter the skill-based competitive gaming realm.
PlanetSide 2 players score a double XP weekend
Are you a bad enough dude to capture territory for your chosen faction in PlanetSide 2? Quite possibly. But a lot of players have had difficulty even logging into the game due to usual launch week issues. That hasn't stymied the game's popularity any, but if you were hoping to get some sort of compensation for your trouble, you're in luck. The team has announced via Twitter that players will get double the XP this weekend as a reward for sticking out server instability. But wait! You already have an experience boost applied, you don't want it to go to waste! Not to worry; it's also been confirmed that players with a 10% boost active will still benefit from both boosts at once, resulting in even faster gains. So whether you've been heavily impacted by the launch issues or not, you can take pride in leveling faster over the next couple of days.
Smedley slams aimbotters, teases new PlanetSide 2 weapons
SOE president John Smedley lit his Twitter account on fire last night with some pointed comments directed at PlanetSide 2 aimbotters. "Haruhi at artificialaiming.com was just banned. All three of his accounts. Goodbye you scumbag. Find a new hobby or get good at the game," Smedley wrote. "As they develop hacks we will break the hacks. We have time and great people. Trust that this is a top priority. Hackers will not win," he continued. Smedley also revealed that new weapons are coming to the sci-fi MMOFPS in short order, including anti-vehicle and anti-air variants.
Smedley clarifies PlanetSide 2's long-term plans: 'NPCs aren't on the table'
Yesterday a bunch of game news sites reported on PlanetSide 2's ambitious long-term plans as quoted from a lengthy post by SOE CEO John Smedley. It was pretty exciting stuff even though the information has been live on Smedley's blog since August of 2012. His treatise mentioned player-owned bases, harvestables, seamless bodies of water between continents (and water-based vehicles), dynamic weather, e-sports support, and NPCs. This last bit led to some hand-wringing by PS2's hardcore PvP faithful, so we reached out to Smedley in order to set the record straight and determine whether or not the features mentioned five months ago are still in the works. "A lot of it is still being considered," he said. "We are going to tell the community about our longer term plan and let them have a very big say in where we go." What about NPCs and PvE, though? "NPCs aren't on the table for a long time, if ever," Smedley told us.
