Ben-DutkaSony and Microsoft are attempting to appeal to about the same age group, but Sony fans will often say older, more mature gamers own the PS3. To back up their point, they will reference the PlayStation Network in comparison to Xbox Live; they'll say the latter has a far greater number of younger gamers and even kids. You will get this on the PSN, of course, but for the most part, you just run into more normal, relatively civil adults. At least, that's the claim.
But perhaps there's a better indicator of maturity for the PlayStation 3. Maybe a better way to gauge maturity is to check software sales numbers; what do people play most on that platform? In my opinion, the best indicator at this time is the success of Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain , which is now expected to exceed 2 million units sold . Originally, Sony wasn't overly confident and didn't predict anywhere near that number and while we can always attribute better sales to high review scores, this sales success does appear to be a solid sign of maturity. To prove it, there's one very specific question we should ask ourselves in regards to the competition: would it have sold as many copies as a 360 exclusive?
The difficulty in this is that the 360 doesn't really have anything like Heavy Rain but perhaps we can mention Alan Wake . I'm playing it right now and unsurprisingly, I really like it a lot; this is my cup of tea. I'm partial to anything when it's clear the designers put a ton of effort into the storyline, atmosphere and overall presentation. Above all else, I believe such factors are the "maturity indicators" of the industry. It may not be similar in regards to gameplay but in terms of targeted audience, I can certainly imagine Heavy Rain fans enjoying Alan Wake . …and yet, the sales numbers for the latter aren't where they should be. Developer Remedy said the game "has the legs" to push forward, but with only 145,000 copies in the first month , it wasn't looking good.
Granted, the game didn't score quite as high as Heavy Rain , but at about 84% (according to GameRankings), plus the information that it was relatively unique and more cerebral than most titles, one would hope it could've sold more. So, the reverse question would be, might Alan Wake have sold more as a PS3 exclusive? Would it indeed be true to say the PS3 audience is simply more mature on the average? Or, if not "older," perhaps just…more intelligent? Thing is, Quantic Dream is ecstatic and always says how happy they are with their partnership with Sony. If Remedy, or another developer, wanted to make something "cerebral," and they had a choice of platform, would they be better advised to make it for the PS3? The PS3 certainly has more potential to begin with, but that's not my question.
And I'm not answering the question either way. I honestly don't know. Remedy says their game is "a breath of fresh air" (and I agree, especially in regards to the Xbox 360 library) and aren't ruling out a sequel, which I definitely appreciate. So they're willing to stick with it. But Quantic Dream – and other innovative developers like thatgamecompany ( Flow , Flower , Journey ) – always seem to make one thing clear during interviews: they always say such-and-such project couldn't have been done without Sony's willingness to embrace fresh, creative ideas. So, here's the last question: is Sony willing to do this because they believe the PS3 has the most mature gaming audience of all three consoles?
Or, you could always introduce the hardcore/casual argument, but I'd rather not open up that can of worms.
there really isn't any thing that connects the games, both are different from the other. the only thing i can think of is both are pretty different from the norm thats on the systems it appears on
If Ben is to be believed, both games are cerebral and one needs to be able to appreciate an involved plot. In my opinion 360 has an audience that is pretty much into "See that? Go kill it" gaming. If you accept this premise (And you aught to based on the sales of software for 360) a game like Heavy Rain likely would have bombed on that console.
I can't even imagine my xbot having the patience to play HR.
It's Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg.
"I'll show them!"
*click*
*click*
*click*
….
Someone thought that doing that was a lot more fun than actually contributing an opinion. LOL
(Sorry about the double post)
Talking about Aaron Grreenberg, I haven't heard a lot of spin from that guy lately. I bet he's very scared of Kevin Butler. He is, after all, the VP of Sharpening Things. LOL
Last edited by ZettaiSeigi on 8/22/2010 1:40:27 AM
I love Heavy Rain. It's one of the best games this generation.
The one thing I think they could have improved on is the controls.
I loved the game so much I wanted my parents, my brother, my wife, my children to play this. It needed an easy setting that allowed you to play the game without having to deal with the "tank" controls.
I showed the game to my brother and his wife at the weekend, they were laughing at the graphics in the first few levels but when it got intense they started concentrating and started to "get it" later on.
They did then end up telling me "it's just like playing a movie".
Totally beautiful game but to pull in the "total casual" gamer they needed to make it more accessable.
That's odd, the graphics are incredible. I didn't think the controls were too tanklike. Not like resievil or anything, just hold R2 and walk in the direction you mean to go.
I think it's safe to say that Alan Wake would have sold at least twice as well on the PS3. I guess that's the price you pay – Microsoft shows up with a big suitcase full of cash and the developers eyes pop out of their head. But then once the game comes out, the normal revenue stream just isn't there because you made a unique game for people who only appreciate the mundane.
Just looking at some numbers: on the 360, if you add up the sales of Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, Forza 2, Forza 3 and Alan Wake, the total comes out to just barely more than the Modern Warfare 2 sales on that console.
Forza 3 only sold 73% as many copies as Forza 2, and Mass Effect 2 sold 84% as many as Mass Effect 1.
What's the third con… oh, right. Hahaha
Hmmm, maybe it's a sign of maturity that Heavy Rain sold more than Alan Wake, but more likely, it's a sign of marketing.
I was much more emotionally gripped by the preview videos of Heavy Rain than the ones for Alan Wake.
Not sure putting vids on the net qualifies as actual marketing. I sure didn't see a single TV or magazine or on-the-street advertisement.
There was virtually no marketing for Heavy Rain. None.
In the UK i saw quite a few adverts on tv for heavy rain, not sure about anywhere else, but there was a decent amount on tv in the UK.
Certainly not here.
Interesting. I thought that counted. I stand corrected.
I think its just one of those exclsuives you have to get…Trust me I know 8=D
I think there is a difference in maturity level between xbox and ps3 users. I think there are a lot of factors involved that separate the two groups. I do believe the ps3 attracts people who tend to be a little more mature.
This generation has me shifting my focus away from the gamer and looking at the maturity level of the developers instead. All my friends who own an xbox usually only buy fps's and say that's all they want. Software sales even show a higher percentage of fps purchases. I question whether or not some developers are smart enough to target the right crowd. An unusually high number of rpg's that hit the xbox is a good example.
SE certainly lost their mind. But I think MS pushed super hard to try to grab the RPG crowd when their console launched early in order to get ahead of PS3, especially since Xbox1 had no JRPGs and just a few WRPGs (Fable, Morrowind, Baldurs)
Ironically, it was a waste. Xboxers still only want FPS.
After years of stagnate sales, you'd think they would get the message. Where is the multiplat strategy here for the greedy? Greed is blinding and developers aren't making the connection that by the time their bribe money wears out, their fanbase has moved on.
I would have bought Alan Wake if it were a PS3 game (exclusive or not). It was my most anticipated game when it was announced and I was very disappointed that it became a 360 exclusive because I will _never_ own one.
(possible edit pending after I read all the comments) 🙂
Oops. Lost my edit button.
I do want to add that there are definitely plenty of douche-nozzles on PSN. I was playing Fat Princess the other day and on two separate occassions I encountered "people" who were spawn camping in their OWN TEAM'S base and using bombs to kill their team mates and to destroy the fortifications so that the other team could win. I called out one of these knobs and he said he was "just having fun". If your idea of fun is to ruin the fun of fifteen of your team mates, you are a truly immature person (and, frankly, a possible sociopath).
Fane,
Gotta agree. I've met a fair share of immature players online in all types of games. Mostly, however; I find these players cramping the COD experience and sometimes even Uncharted 2.
Exploiting glitches and flaws in the online system, planting traitors and frauds on opposing teams, can't help but love online gaming!
At 57, I've played game all the way up the generation chain, and I have to say that the PS3 has given me the most mature & diverse pleasures by utilzing games of every sort, out of all my consoles.
But I've also got to say that at 57, I don't always act my age either, so that's why I just bought the LittleBigPlanet GOTY edition tonight. After tax, I got LBP GOTY for only 99 cents out of pocket,
YAY SACKBOY, FTW!!!!
BTW, I don't care what you guys say about Gamestop cause man I love my closest local Gamestop register biscuits.
They just surprised me by saving me a PS2 Network adaptor start-up disc FREE that just got traded in with it's HDD Net adaptor hardware(I already had that), plus also a bunch of free game swag items too.
I find the whole 'maturity' discussion a bit ironic due to every time I've ever seen someone say anything positive about another system (not bashing the PS3, just positive about another) random insults start being thrown around.
I think it's simply that gaming actually has a history now, that history was paved with the experiences of a great many people starting more than 20 years ago.
As such, those people who originally paved the way as geeks, and gamers, have grown up and are older and are now interested in more than just your typical shooter/fighter.
It's natural, really. People age, and their tastes change/broaden over time.
I think your right on cue, Ben. My argument is this, if you bought a 360 this year (2010) instead of a PS3 then maybe your intelligence is sub par already… I say this only because of the obvious, the PS3 is not an upgraded PS2 like the 360 is to the Xbox.
Everyone calls the Xbox, PS3, and Wii the next Gen consoles but, only 1 is really next gen. The 360 is nothing more then an upgraded Xbox; more RAM and a better video card does not make a console 'next gen.' The Wii…well, we all know that the Wii is nothing more then an illusion of past games updated for big screen TVs.
So, yes, I question the intelligence of those who purchase other consoles because if you actually stopped and thought about it, the PS3 is the better choice and therefore makes you a smart shopper.