Sony's PS3 strategy this Christmas is to 'go big on family-friendly titles'

[radgamer420]

It's an obvious dig at (an)other console(s). Most likely the 360 based on past posts I have read. I can't believe the competitiveness that some see between consoles.

I agree. Welcome to PSU. lol

[radgamer420]

Well put. First MS gets blamed for being a shooter only console in another thread and now they are only developing casual games. I really wish the people around here would make up their minds.

It changes according to whats convienent for their argument at the time. But basically it all boils down to the deluded belief that Sony can do no wrong and MS can do no right. lol

[davin_g]

Yup.
Games specifically targeted at short burst playing periods, hell farmville is entirely designed around you having sweet fanny adam to do for large periods.

As I said in another thread, family games is more about the tone of content than anything else.
Just because you would let 9 year old Johnny play it doesn't make it casual.

Sony focusing on shifting the tone of their content from the more extreme end to a more family orientated has nothing to do with casual gaming.

It's going to mean it might appeal to casual gamers, but that comes with opening you content to a wider range of people.

Agreed. This is not a focus on casual games like Bejeweled and Sudoku and Diner Dash...these are core games...focused at families, young teens, and children. That said these games are rated E for everyone....but are also fun for EVERYONE. No game is everyone's cup of tea....just as games like Skyrim and GTA don't appeal to me these games won't necessarily appeal to everyone.

I think this is purposely their focus as they will couple these family friendly games with a family friendly PRICED CONSOLE with the new slim release come Christmas. I think they will combat WIIHD with a cheaper console and game lineup of games that show off fun, friendly gaming that both parents remember (Sly/R&C) and kids will enjoy like popular nintendo knock offs (LBP Karting/PSABR). Also 3rd party games like LEGO LOTR and Epic Mickey2 will come to the PS3 and I wouldn't be surprised to see Sony partner with those games as well too. There is plenty of ways for Sony to sell to a whole new market they have largely ignored this gen.

I think Sony fully understands that the ADULT market is packed this holiday season and purposely held back their games til the spring when the competition will be less. I mean AAA titles like AC3,CODBO2, and RE6 and typically really solid titles like DMC, Hitman, MOH, and Far Cry 3 that doesn't leave much room for their titles....that is a brutal market one I imagine will see some games moved to Jan/Feb after gamers finish and trade in games. Heck that isn't even talking about games that are new that could be hits like Dishonored or others.

Sony is taking a page out of Microsofts book and letting 3rd party developers do the heavy lifting of taking care of their hardcore gamers that already have a console and will be picking up these popular titles. Remember they are sort of insuring they will get extra sales on these games with exclusive content like AC3 and Far Cry 3 and I am sure they will continue relationships with EA and others to market those hardcore games. They are focusing on these more family friendly games with their company to cover all bases. Then...come spring they have GOW3 and Last of Us and later Beyond to show off and sell in their own focus.

[radgamer420]

True Rare all they do (currently) are kinect games.

Like I said. So now how does that equate to "every" MS developer?

[Old Man Gamer]

I agree. Welcome to PSU. lol

Blind loyalty is never a good thing, no matter how much it is self-justified. I like my 360 and my PS3 but can't imagine why I would ever feel the need to try to justify my purchase.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Oh gee looks like my comment got some attention. You can all unbunch your panties, I was simply making the point that Sonys "casual" offerings for this holiday season doesn't consist of typical casual shovel-ware. This isn't just a Singstar game and some kind of Move dance/fitness game they are releasing for their holiday family experience, one is the marriage of LBP and karting (loving the beta), a Ratchet & Clank and Sly Cooper game, a SSB type IP brawler and an Okami HD remake. We could do a hell of a lot worse for a family experience focused holiday season than that. I'll be getting all the games I listed above. I'm looking forward just as much to R&C and Sly 4 just as I am Dishonored and Borderlands 2. So when I say "Sony knows how to make casual games that core gamers actually care about." I was referencing myself and others I have seen in this forum (and others) who have contributed in the threads of these games and are excited for them.

It's nice to know that I still get painted as a blind loyalist even despite making my stance and point of view on the console industry clear just recently. Sorry if my opinions offend after you paint them with my supposed fanboy persona, I will harbor no ill will to anyone who wishes to ignore my messages and alleviate yourselves of my unintelligent, blind raving mad Sony fanboy posts.

[Cuguy]

Oh gee looks like my comment got some attention. You can all unbunch your panties, I was simply making the point that Sonys "casual" offerings for this holiday season doesn't consist of typical casual shovel-ware. This isn't just a Singstar game and some kind of Move dance/fitness game they are releasing for their holiday family experience, one is the marriage of LBP and karting (loving the beta), a Ratchet & Clank and Sly Cooper game, a SSB type IP brawler and an Okami HD remake. We could do a hell of a lot worse for a family experience focused holiday season than that. I'll be getting all the games I listed above. I'm looking forward just as much to R&C and Sly 4 just as I am Dishonored and Borderlands 2. So when I say "Sony knows how to make casual games that core gamers actually care about." I was referencing myself and others I have seen in this forum (and others) who have contributed in the threads of these games and are excited for them.

It's nice to know that I still get painted as a blind loyalist even despite making my stance and point of view on the console industry clear just recently. Sorry if my opinions offend after you paint them with my supposed fanboy persona, I will harbor no ill will to anyone who wishes to ignore my messages and alleviate yourselves of my unintelligent, blind raving mad Sony fanboy posts.

then do your image on the forums a favor and stop making posts like that and then trying to be a victim when people call it out.

really, how else did you imagine that post going over unsubstantiated?

when you post like that, one simple statement with no backup info or reasoning, it can be a troll comment. I just genuinely (at first) wanted to know in your mind what made Sony's casual games somehow MORE casual, or better than the casual titles offered. Now I just don't care to hear it.

[AaronSOLDIER]

Oh gee looks like my comment got some attention. You can all unbunch your panties, I was simply making the point that Sonys "casual" offerings for this holiday season doesn't consist of typical casual shovel-ware. This isn't just a Singstar game and some kind of Move dance/fitness game they are releasing for their holiday family experience, one is the marriage of LBP and karting (loving the beta), a Ratchet & Clank and Sly Cooper game, a SSB type IP brawler and an Okami HD remake. We could do a hell of a lot worse for a family experience focused holiday season than that. I'll be getting all the games I listed above. I'm looking forward just as much to R&C and Sly 4 just as I am Dishonored and Borderlands 2. So when I say "Sony knows how to make casual games that core gamers actually care about." I was referencing myself and others I have seen in this forum (and others) who have contributed in the threads of these games and are excited for them.

It's nice to know that I still get painted as a blind loyalist even despite making my stance and point of view on the console industry clear just recently. Sorry if my opinions offend after you paint them with my supposed fanboy persona, I will harbor no ill will to anyone who wishes to ignore my messages and alleviate yourselves of my unintelligent, blind raving mad Sony fanboy posts.

You're wasting your time, and yeah my most hyped games this year are Sly 4 and LBP Karting for sure, they're not shovelware, if people actually bothered to play them they'd see that.

I find it quite odd, anyone who grew up playing video games must've played a platformer at least once (considering the 80s and 90s were dominated by them), and Mario, Sonic, Crash Bandicoot etc. were considered core games aimed at all ages, but nowadays they're casual trash just because they aren't rated T or M.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

then do your image on the forums a favor and stop making posts like that and then trying to be a victim when people call it out.

really, how else did you imagine that post going over unsubstantiated?

when you post like that, one simple statement with no backup info or reasoning, it can be a troll comment. I just genuinely (at first) wanted to know in your mind what made Sony's casual games somehow MORE casual, or better than the casual titles offered. Now I just don't care to hear it.

That's ok, you took the time to read my post so you have already heard it. Sorry for showing praise for Sony... in the PS3 section of a PS3 centric website. Shame on me.

[Old Man Gamer]

I find it quite odd, anyone who grew up playing video games must've played a platformer at least once (considering the 80s and 90s were dominated by them), and Mario, Sonic, Crash Bandicoot etc. were considered core games aimed at all ages, but nowadays they're casual trash just because they aren't rated T or M.

I love platformers. I think it's a genre that is being forgotten. Ratchet & Clank are awesome games and I wouldn't consider them casual games, even with the fast and loose definitions of the categories that games are being shoe-horned into.

My favorite is probably Banjo-Kazooie and I'd really like to see a new one.

Newsflash though, not every game produced by Sony is a winner as some will portray. I guess Sony is like Apple to some gamers . You can put an "i" in front of a pile of crap and Apple fanatics will buy it. I suppose that's my issue with this thread.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

I love platformers. I think it's a genre that is being forgotten. Ratchet & Clank are awesome games and I wouldn't consider them casual games, even with the fast and loose definitions of the categories that games are being shoe-horned into.

My favorite is probably Banjo-Kazooie and I'd really like to see a new one.

Newsflash though, not every game produced by Sony is a winner as some will portray. I guess Sony is like Apple to some gamers . You can put an "i" in front of a pile of crap and Apple fanatics will buy it. I suppose that's my issue with this thread.

I'm very glad that Sony is refreshing and reviving these games. Jak & Daxter, Sly and R&C collections are awesome and I'm looking forward to Sly4.

I think majority of people here are reasonably in touch with the critical and sales reception of Sony games so the illusion that all their games are winners is not held by many, myself included. All games have their audience though.

[mynd]

You're wasting your time, and yeah my most hyped games this year are Sly 4 and LBP Karting for sure, they're not shovelware, if people actually bothered to play them they'd see that.

I find it quite odd, anyone who grew up playing video games must've played a platformer at least once (considering the 80s and 90s were dominated by them), and Mario, Sonic, Crash Bandicoot etc. were considered core games aimed at all ages, but nowadays they're casual trash just because they aren't rated T or M.

Well, I played the mutha of core platformers back in the day...



The problem you don't realize is....


WE GREW UP.

Of course we all played those games back in the day..because we were kids...the video game market couldn't do mature back then at any rate.

But as we have grown older, and games have grown more sophisticated, you get more mature games that cater to us.

The video game market has grown up with us.

But its odd, I find the only people actually constantly refer to these games as casual, is you and ghost.

And also, who the hell has labeled them casual trash?

You're both running around protesting to much.

All your doing is running around shouting "these games are not casual trash"

I still have yet to find someone who said they were.

@ghost-The general consensus in the thread is that these are family games, not casual games, you should stop using the word casual. In fact if you had swapped family for casual, you would have had no one's knickers in a bunch.

"Sony knows how to make family games that core gamers actually care about"

See?

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Well, I played the mutha of core platformers back in the day...



The problem you don't realize is....


WE GREW UP.

Of course we all played those games back in the day..because we were kids...the video game market couldn't do mature back then at any rate.

But as we have grown older, and games have grown more sophisticated, you get more mature games that cater to us.

The video game market has grown up with us.

But its odd, I find the only people actually constantly refer to these games as casual, is you and ghost.

And also, who the hell has labeled them casual trash?

You're both running around protesting to much.

All your doing is running around shouting "these games are not casual trash"

I still have yet to find someone who said they were.

@ghost-The general consensus in the thread is that these are family games, not casual games, you should stop using the word casual. In fact if you had swapped family for casual, you would have had no one's knickers in a bunch.

"Sony knows how to make family games that core gamers actually care about"

See?

What differentiates family and casual? The content is appropriate for the whole family? Are family games titles with no age restriction on them? Or are they family games because you can play it with your family? You can play Borderlands 2 split screen, is that also a family game? Twisted Metal has 4 player splitscreen, another family title? Casual and family are fairly synonymous and don't even have any official definition. If people are going to get precious about my use of adjectives, allow me to restate my point of view:

I am of the opinion that Sony draws from it's vast catalog of content to create titles that appeal to the hobbyist/enthusiasts gamer and the family alike by combining icon PlayStation characters and franchises with popular game genres like karting, brawling and platforming as well as new installments of the series.

[mynd]

What differentiates family and casual?

Games? How long they ar esupposed ot be played.
People? How long they play games.

The content is appropriate for the whole family? Are family games titles with no age restriction on them? Or are they family games because you can play it with your family?

Err, that would be the same thing said multiple ways.

You can play Borderlands 2 split screen, is that also a family game? Twisted Metal has 4 player splitscreen, another family title?

Tone of the content, we've discussed this already and Borderlands is restricted 18 where I live.

Casual and family are fairly synonymous and don't even have any official definition. If people are going to get precious about my use of adjectives, allow me to restate my point of view:

No they arent synonymous at all.

I am of the opinion that Sony draws from it's vast catalog of content to create titles that appeal to the hobbyist/enthusiasts gamer and the family alike by combining icon PlayStation characters and franchises with popular game genres like karting, brawling and platforming as well as new installments of the series.

I'm of the same opinion.
Im also of the opinon that these are family games, not casual games.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Games? How long they ar esupposed ot be played.
People? How long they play games.

I fail to see how time playing a game has anything to do with the differentiation of casual and family. Seeing as their is no industry standard definition it's a completely subjective matter, and if time playing the game is your best explanation of the difference then then you've just demonstrated how subjective it all is.

[mynd]

I fail to see how time playing a game has anything to do with the differentiation of casual and family.

That because one can be the other.
There isn't a differentiation between them because one you are talking about who is allowed play it, the other you're talking about who will play it.
I might be allowed to be allowe dot play Dance Central, but I wont play it.
Arguing the difference between family and casual is like arguing the difference between a car and a vegetable.

Seeing as their is no industry standard definition it's a completely subjective matter,

I'm pretty sure the market research analysts are going to disagree with you.
As do the publishers. A game doesn't get green lit by anyone unless it has a target audience.

and if time playing the game is your best explanation of the difference then then you've just demonstrated how subjective it all is.

It's only subjective because you want to make it so.
Black being white isn't subjective because you say it is.

But you know, I give up, label E games casual then.
But I'm fucked if when I was playing Elite on my Amstrad when I was 14 I thought of myself as a casual gamer.
But clearly I was, clearly hardcore gaming didn't come around till the first M rated game.

[DeviousOne]

I would say "Casual" game would be a game that you can just pick up and play doesnt really require much skill to play like lets say angry birds?

Family games to me would be games like Wii Resort i have family over everyone wants to play that and its parents, my brother, teenage cousins. A game like angry birds my parents wouldnt play that game.

There is a fine line between the two but in alot of ways they both are similar. So you both have valid points

[Fon]

If they're going casual this holiday season then they should advertise the Playstation Move as well. A cheaper SKU and family friendly games will move a lot of consoles around.

[radgamer420]

then do your image on the forums a favor and stop making posts like that and then trying to be a victim when people call it out. really, how else did you imagine that post going over unsubstantiated? when you post like that, one simple statement with no backup info or reasoning, it can be a troll comment. I just genuinely (at first) wanted to know in your mind what made Sony's casual games somehow MORE casual, or better than the casual titles offered. Now I just don't care to hear it.

This. Pretty much the same thing that I was thinking.

[davin_g]

So after all the ranting I think it is safe to say Sony has a nice line-up of games....that are also family friendly and will have (if reports are correct on the super-slim) a heck of family friendly priced console as well. These are games that a mother and father can justify picking up with a new cheap console and introduce the kids to the PS3. I think as I stated earlier with these games, LEGO LOTR and Epic Mickey2 a great way to introduce new gamers and families to this console.

They have plenty of 3rd party support this holiday.....I mean the calendar is PACKED to the gills with quality titles for hardcore gamers...no reason for Sony to butt heads with those games this holiday....come March they can roll out their core games with GOW4, Last of US, and Beyond and really.....PS3 gamers win...they get follow ups to their favorite series (Sly/R&C) new ground breaking to their console genres (LBPKarting/PSABR). They also will have tons of 3rd party games like CODBO2, RE6, AC3, FC3, DMC, HITMAN, MOH, and so many other games and several to have exclusive DLC or parnterships with Sony why would we want those other games right now.

I think Sony has all the bases covered to have HUGE sales this holiday by focusing on what is lacking in the market (family) and price cuts to compete with Nintendos release and letting 3rd parties take care of the hardcore gaming...with an encore of epic proportions come March.

[DeviousOne]

If the Superslim PS3 is real and going to be release then Sony can def bring in more families with the blu ray ass a selling point and gaming for the family. Sony can be in for a huge Holiday season

[radgamer420]

So after all the ranting I think it is safe to say Sony has a nice line-up of games....that are also family friendly and will have (if reports are correct on the super-slim) a heck of family friendly priced console as well. These are games that a mother and father can justify picking up with a new cheap console and introduce the kids to the PS3. I think as I stated earlier with these games, LEGO LOTR and Epic Mickey2 a great way to introduce new gamers and families to this console. They have plenty of 3rd party support this holiday.....I mean the calendar is PACKED to the gills with quality titles for hardcore gamers...no reason for Sony to butt heads with those games this holiday....come March they can roll out their core games with GOW4, Last of US, and Beyond and really.....PS3 gamers win...they get follow ups to their favorite series (Sly/R&C) new ground breaking to their console genres (LBPKarting/PSABR). They also will have tons of 3rd party games like CODBO2, RE6, AC3, FC3, DMC, HITMAN, MOH, and so many other games and several to have exclusive DLC or parnterships with Sony why would we want those other games right now. I think Sony has all the bases covered to have HUGE sales this holiday by focusing on what is lacking in the market (family) and price cuts to compete with Nintendos release and letting 3rd parties take care of the hardcore gaming...with an encore of epic proportions come March.

Kind of funny how its all perfectly well and good when Sony provides first party family games while "letting 3rd party take care of the hardcore gaming" but when MS does the same thing theyre suddenly "abandoning the hardcore." The double standards around here are amusing. Ironically this xmas holiday Sony is bringing family/casual exclusives while MS is bringing core exclusives plus core 3rd party games for the hardcore gamers. So Sony xmas first party focus - family games and MS first party focus - hardcore games.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Kind of funny how its all perfectly well and good when Sony provides first party family games while "letting 3rd party take care of the hardcore gaming" but when MS does the same thing theyre suddenly "abandoning the hardcore." The double standards around here are amusing. Ironically this xmas holiday Sony is bringing family/casual exclusives plus core 3rd party games while MS is bringing core exclusives plus core 3rd party games for the hardcore gamers. So Sony xmas first party focus - family games and MS first party focus - hardcore games.

How's it funny? For Sony this is the exception, not the norm. They have been totally consistent in output for the last 5 years, and even in this family friendly holiday season are releasing some gems (Okami HD, new R&C and Sly game etc). Next year they get back to the usual MO with TLOU, Beyond, GoW:A etc. I hope you don't mind, I edited your post for accuracy, you seemed to have omitted that Sony is getting the same 3rd party content, making the differentiators this holiday season Halo and Forza (and kinect Fable).

However, let's not forget that Vita owners are getting exclusive Assassins Creed 3 and CoD games this xmas. Or does that not count?

[mynd]

How's it funny? For Sony this is the exception, not the norm. They have been totally consistent in output for the last 3 years, and even in this family friendly holiday season are releasing some gems (Okami HD, new R&C and Sly game etc). Next year they get back to the usual MO with TLOU, Beyond, GoW:A etc. I hope you don't mind, I edited your post for accuracy, you seemed to have omitted that Sony is getting the same 3rd party content, making the differentiators this holiday season Halo and Forza (and kinect Fable).

However, let's not forget that Vita owners are getting exclusive Assassins Creed 3 and CoD games this xmas. Or does that not count?

Fixed that for you.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Fixed that for you.

Plenty of games yearly since 2008...So 4.5 if we're being accurate. Anyway, splitting hairs.