Sony Boss Talks Down Handheld 3D

[TheDukester]

Dear Sony,
I will say this one time:
3D GLASSES/GOGGLES/EYE WEAR SUCKS.

That is all.

But seriously, who wants to wear 3D glasses EVERY time they watch TV or play a game? That's just asinine

 

[Autofaux]

Wasn't Sony just talking about how they liked the 3DS a few days ago?
Didn't they blow a lot of money on supposed research with their last failed handheld variant?
"at present there are limitations", so there are no limitations if people wait a little longer?

I know it's good for a laugh, but these companies arn't helping themselves by bad-talking each other. It's more a reflection on themselves than on their intended target.

It's just to get us talking about it. It gets everyone discussing both it and the alternatives. Spurs word of mouth. Good news for Nintendo is also good news for the industry and thus is good news for Sony. It's actually quite tame, as opposed to Aaron Greenberg's "our shit stinks much better than theirs" comments.

 

[Kanodin0]

It's all a matter of strategy says I. Sony has a long running top-down strategy of going after early adopters who want and can afford the absolute bleeding edge of technology with things like blu-ray and now their 3d tv, with those products working their way down as they become more affordable.

Nintendo on the other hand starts with the downmarket and works it's way up. With that in mind they've made the 3DS to appeal to the lower end market, people who don't want bulky glasses and don't want a really high price point but who may still be interested in 3d. The tradeoff is that the technology isn't perfect yet, the reports we've heard so far all indicate that it requires you to view it at the right angle. This is why Sony could never make the 3DS because they will instead spend the extra time perfecting the product and then increase the price to pay for that development, knowing that their upmarket will happily invest in what they see as innovation.

 

[PhunkyPhazon]

Whatever mister Sony CEO, your employee said something quite different. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/101501-Sony-Pleased-By-Nintendo-3DS] And look, we were at this exact same point four years ago. You guys bashed Nintendo for their motion controls, and now look what you're making. We all know what both you and Microsoft will be releasing a few years from now.

 

[Snotnarok]

I know Sonys PSP isn't exactly crushing the DS with sales or whatever but the people barking there's no good games for the PSP leaves me confused because I have 20 for my PSP. None of them sports games before you're diving for that reply button to call me a moron.

Just because it's not walking around with well know big names like Zelda and Mario doesn't make the game bad. Hell a few Escapists know about Crimson Gem Saga and it being amazingly good fun.

 

[karloss01]

from what i heard at the E3 conference all what they did to make it 3D was add a shutter system in front of the screen. move a slide on the side, 3D, move it back, 2D. not interested at all with all this motion controls and 3D images, maybe if game quality was up then maybe i would give a s*** but most of it is just fitness games and party games.

 

[-Seraph-]

Eh, I'm not too keen on this whole 3d fad that's been going about, and I'm on the fence in regards to 3d handhelds. I just don't see what relevance it brings to games, and what makes it so special. It just seems like a waste unless you actually build games that utilize 3d as a relevant gameplay feature and not a gimmick...which most devs will most likely never do. I just need to see the 3DS in action if its gonna try and win me over.

I know Sonys PSP isn't exactly crushing the DS with sales or whatever but the people barking there's no good games for the PSP leaves me confused because I have 20 for my PSP. None of them sports games before you're diving for that reply button to call me a moron.

Just because it's not walking around with well know big names like Zelda and Mario doesn't make the game bad. Hell a few Escapists know about Crimson Gem Saga and it being amazingly good fun.

I have over 50 games, and still growing. It depresses me when people don't even bother LOOKING, and when something they do find interesting comes out, they start asking for a console port, bloody hypocrisy and the old PS3/Xbox bullshit all over again.

And Crimson Gem Saga is awesome, have you tried Hexyz Force yet? Has that same feeling but it's like 2 RPGs packed into one.

 

[Snotnarok]

Eh, I'm not too keen on this whole 3d fad that's been going about, and I'm on the fence in regards to 3d handhelds. I just don't see what relevance it brings to games, and what makes it so special. It just seems like a waste unless you actually build games that utilize 3d as a relevant gameplay feature and not a gimmick...which most devs will most likely never do. I just need to see the 3DS in action if its gonna try and win me over.

I know Sonys PSP isn't exactly crushing the DS with sales or whatever but the people barking there's no good games for the PSP leaves me confused because I have 20 for my PSP. None of them sports games before you're diving for that reply button to call me a moron.

Just because it's not walking around with well know big names like Zelda and Mario doesn't make the game bad. Hell a few Escapists know about Crimson Gem Saga and it being amazingly good fun.

I have over 50 games, and still growing. It depresses me when people don't even bother LOOKING, and when something they do find interesting comes out, they start asking for a console port, bloody hypocrisy and the old PS3/Xbox bullshit all over again.

And Crimson Gem Saga is awesome, have you tried Hexyz Force yet? Has that same feeling but it's like 2 RPGs packed into one.

I haven't even had the time to finish CGS yet haha. I'm not trying to take sides here I have a DS and all that fun stuff but it's so stupid when someone just says "it's got no games and it's crap" when there's plenty of good games. They're just not big named KNOWN titles, but they're really good fun.

It's the same BS with the GBA, no one knows about Summon Night, a ridiculously fun game with good laughs in it. THey just saw Zelda and went OOOOOOOH!!!!. Heck 2 Summon Nights and I've yet to hear another person mention it.

 

[Milo Windby]

so let me get this straight... first Sony is "Pleased" By Nintendo 3DS
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.203349-Sony-Pleased-By-Nintendo-3DS
and now they are talking down about it?

 

[John Funk]

how about this guys, it's a brand new idea....

HOW ABOUT MAKE SOME GOOD GAMES, SCREW 3-D AND ALL OF IT CRAP.

...How that for a new idea?

In all honesty, making true 3D might have more effects on gameplay than you realize. Think about how we've learned to judge jumping gaps in 3D platformers - now imagine that we can actually see the depth involved.

I know there's a lot of temptation to brush it off as a gimmick, but who's to say it won't actually change the experience?

 

[VirusHunter]

Eh, I'm not too keen on this whole 3d fad that's been going about, and I'm on the fence in regards to 3d handhelds. I just don't see what relevance it brings to games, and what makes it so special. It just seems like a waste unless you actually build games that utilize 3d as a relevant gameplay feature and not a gimmick...which most devs will most likely never do. I just need to see the 3DS in action if its gonna try and win me over.

I know Sonys PSP isn't exactly crushing the DS with sales or whatever but the people barking there's no good games for the PSP leaves me confused because I have 20 for my PSP. None of them sports games before you're diving for that reply button to call me a moron.

Just because it's not walking around with well know big names like Zelda and Mario doesn't make the game bad. Hell a few Escapists know about Crimson Gem Saga and it being amazingly good fun.

I have over 50 games, and still growing. It depresses me when people don't even bother LOOKING, and when something they do find interesting comes out, they start asking for a console port, bloody hypocrisy and the old PS3/Xbox bullshit all over again.

And Crimson Gem Saga is awesome, have you tried Hexyz Force yet? Has that same feeling but it's like 2 RPGs packed into one.

3D gaming may not be the way of the future, I admit. But to tell you the truth I could care less if the 3DS didn't have 3D functionality, I would still buy it. It's like if you buy an electric toothbrush, only to find out that it has two speed settings instead of one. It's a nice feature but you didn't really buy the toothbrush because it has two settings, you bought it because you needed to brush your teeth with something!
I'm buying the 3DS because of the game line-up. I want to play 3DS games. That's the only reason I should need.

And as for the part of "No good PSP games", it's not that there aren't any good ones, it's that there aren't as many good ones compared to the DS. The DS may have some big name titles that every owner buys but there are hundreds of little known third-party games that stand up on their own pretty well too.

And yes, I own a DS & PSP.

 

[Aura Guardian]

Eh, I'm not too keen on this whole 3d fad that's been going about, and I'm on the fence in regards to 3d handhelds. I just don't see what relevance it brings to games, and what makes it so special. It just seems like a waste unless you actually build games that utilize 3d as a relevant gameplay feature and not a gimmick...which most devs will most likely never do. I just need to see the 3DS in action if its gonna try and win me over.

I know Sonys PSP isn't exactly crushing the DS with sales or whatever but the people barking there's no good games for the PSP leaves me confused because I have 20 for my PSP. None of them sports games before you're diving for that reply button to call me a moron.

Just because it's not walking around with well know big names like Zelda and Mario doesn't make the game bad. Hell a few Escapists know about Crimson Gem Saga and it being amazingly good fun.

I have over 50 games, and still growing. It depresses me when people don't even bother LOOKING, and when something they do find interesting comes out, they start asking for a console port, bloody hypocrisy and the old PS3/Xbox bullshit all over again.

And Crimson Gem Saga is awesome, have you tried Hexyz Force yet? Has that same feeling but it's like 2 RPGs packed into one.

I cannot blame you two. But you know how I feel with the Wii bashing

 

[-Seraph-]

snip

I have nothing against the 3DS as a game system right now, my only issue with all this is just what purpose does the 3D even serve. Like I said before, why do we need 3D all of a sudden? I'd buy the system for the games and all, but the constant question of "why?" will keep lingering on in the back of my head when it comes to this 3D business. I just have an issue with electronics always cramming superfluous features into their design which serve very little purpose other than "just because we can", it's the same issue I have with cell phones these days.

Like I said earlier, if developers find a way to make 3d an integral part of the game play then more power to them, but sadly you know as well as i do that most devs just won't give a shit and won't bother exploring the potential behind what 3d COULD do as a gameplay aspect.

As for the PSP does not have as many good games compared to the DS, well that's debatable, subjective, and meant for an entirely different discussion thread.

I cannot blame you two. But you know how I feel with the Wii bashing

Truth be told I used to think the same way about the wii and having "no good games", then I actually started paying attention and *shock* it's got as many good games as every other damn system.

 

[mjc0961]

Naked-eye 3D may have limitations, but so does glasses 3D. Most notably, the damn glasses. Some of us (like myself) wear regular glasses constantly just to be able to see. Giving us these extra pair to wear that are not designed to go over the top of another pair is a pretty big limitation in my eyes. You're giving me the choice to watch in 2D like I always have, or watch in blurry as hell 3D. I'll take the 2D, thanks.

Also, I can't take Kaz Hirai seriously anyway. Every time I hear the man speak, all my brain does is repeat him saying "RIIIIIIIIIDE RACER!!!" over and over.

 

[Kanodin0]

snip

I have nothing against the 3DS as a game system right now, my only issue with all this is just what purpose does the 3D even serve. Like I said before, why do we need 3D all of a sudden? I'd buy the system for the games and all, but the constant question of "why?" will keep lingering on in the back of my head when it comes to this 3D business. I just have an issue with electronics always cramming superfluous features into their design which serve very little purpose other than "just because we can", it's the same issue I have with cell phones these days.

Like I said earlier, if developers find a way to make 3d an integral part of the game play then more power to them, but sadly you know as well as i do that most devs just won't give a shit and won't bother exploring the potential behind what 3d COULD do as a gameplay aspect.

Way I see it many innovations started out looking like gimmicks, the problem arises in figuring out which ones are the real deal and which aren't. I believe that's why Nintendo made sure to have such a strong starting lineup for the 3DS, and also why they made sure it was a diverse lineup as well. The lasers in Kid Icarus might make a believer outa some people, the Zombies in Resident evil might for others, the 3d camera brings that appeal to the mainstream and so on with the other titles. I was personally wowed by the idea of 3d puzzles in a Professor Layton game because of all the opportunities that offers. Point is though Nintendo is throwing a wide net to get people to believe that 3D will improve their experience.

 

[Silver Patriot]

Sony Computer Entertainment [http://www.scei.co.jp/index_e.html] CEO Kaz Hirai says the 3D technology at work in current handheld gaming devices suffers from too many limitations and that Sony is more interested in "getting it right" than simply being first.

They're totally alright with jumping on bandwagons though. Everyone and their mother in the gaming industry wants a piece of the motion controlled market.

It seems that most of the time, Sony and Microsoft are trying to smack talk Nintendo so that they seem cooler. It works as well as the PC vs Mac ads for me. Which is to say, not at all.

I'm don't think Microsoft really have ever smack talked Nintendo. They probably have more sense than to take on the mammoth that are the Nintendo IPs.

Personally I am inclined to agree with Microsoft, but all accounts say the 3DS is very impressive. Sony meanwhile shouldn't be allowed to talk. Glasses? They are not the future of 3D. A necessary step? Maybe, but not the future.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

It seems that most of the time, Sony and Microsoft are trying to smack talk Nintendo so that they seem cooler. It works as well as the PC vs Mac ads for me. Which is to say, not at all.

As a company, I don't think acting like a 6 year old boy helps your brand image.

Anyone else seeing "I'm a DS, and I'm a PSP" commercials in their head?

 

[Chaos Marine]

Kaz is like that crazy old cat lady you see in the arse end of some small towns. No one pays attention to them and if you do, more the fool you.

And I predict Sony will have a PSP GO3D or some such nonsense, parading themselves as the saving god of portable gaming when they're pretty much seen as a joke by everyone at this point. Excluding hardcore Sony fans who are about as blind to Sony's failings as Sony are.