Sony messes up again...big time.

[point5o]

The story (http://digitalbattle.com/2006/09/20/gran-turismo-hd-is-a-total-rip-off/) is several weeks old, but I'm just founding out about it today. Plus, there was no old thread about this either.

*jumps on the hate Sony bandwagon.

[bcool]

if the game was $10-20 then it would make some sense, but something tells me it's not. Forza looks pretty great. I think I'll stick with that as my racer.

[satori]

we need another sony sucks thread like we need a hole in the head. Isn't this over-kill?
OK, sony makes bad business decisions all the time, it's like Bush, how many ridiculous stories do I need to read about how bush is a useless twat before I get it... ok, he's a useless twat, stop hoggin the airwaves and tell us something we don't know.

[point5o]

if the game was $10-20 then it would make some sense, but something tells me it's not. Forza looks pretty great. I think I'll stick with that as my racer.

Would you pay $10-20 for the "premium" version? How much would you be willing to spend on the version with no cars and tracks?

we need another sony sucks thread like we need a hole in the head. Isn't this over-kill?
OK, sony makes bad business decisions all the time, it's like Bush, how many ridiculous stories do I need to read about how bush is a useless twat before I get it... ok, he's a useless twat, stop hoggin the airwaves and tell us something we don't know.

I didn't think Sony sucked until I read this, and there isn't a "Sony sucks" thread on these new forums. I could start one though.

[bcool]

Would you pay $10-20 for the "premium" version? How much would you be willing to spend on the version with no cars and tracks?

$10 for empty, $20 for the premium version. that way, you could buy, say, 10 tracks at an avg. of $3 and some cars and end up at $60. A big IF though. I bet the premium one will be $60.

[point5o]

$10 for empty, $20 for the premium version. that way, you could buy, say, 10 tracks at an avg. of $3 and some cars and end up at $60. A big IF though. I bet the premium one will be $60.

Think about how many cars and tracks are available in the current iteration of GT or Forza. The cars number in the hundreds.

[mormonrage]

I actually think this is a great idea and really shifts ore toward the model that's happening in the east where publishers give the game away for free, then charge micropayments for content.

In the case of Gran Turismo, I'd love it if I could pay $10 for what would more or less constitute the "shell" of the game, then populate it with only the cars and tracks I want. I'd probably end up buying my car in the game, if it's available, and a few others--because, honestly, who uses all 400 cars in Gran Turismo?

I'd essentially end up having the same experience I'd have with the fully-fleshed out, $60 version of a game, but for far less money.

[ariastar]

It's make more sense to have the empty game for, say, $50, but include so many cars and tracks you can download with the price and you can pay for additional. Kind of buying a game you can customize without having to pay more up front.

[point5o]

I actually think this is a great idea and really shifts ore toward the model that's happening in the east where publishers give the game away for free, then charge micropayments for content.

In the case of Gran Turismo, I'd love it if I could pay $10 for what would more or less constitute the "shell" of the game, then populate it with only the cars and tracks I want. I'd probably end up buying my car in the game, if it's available, and a few others--because, honestly, who uses all 400 cars in Gran Turismo?

I'd essentially end up having the same experience I'd have with the fully-fleshed out, $60 version of a game, but for far less money.

Alright, I'll take the "hardcore" gamer stance. Earning all the cars through actual gameplay is part of the experience and fun of GT type racing games: starting out with a shitty car, learning the game mechanics, and slowly working your way up to the cars you really want to drive. You have not lived until you've played a 100 lap endurance race. The "shell" and populate model is like people who buy MMO accounts with level maxed characters off the web. Sure you can play the game, but you don't know how to play the game.

[tarmanydyn]

I think it's a fairly good idea as well, but given the scope of how much content is in your average GT game, it seems daunting... to your wallet. But think realistically, have you ever gotten ALL the cars in any GT game? The argument of how much ALL the cars/tracks cost in total is moot, you can simply buy which cars/tracks. But for the enthusiasts who ARE willing to spend the time with the game to get all the cars, they'll probably be willing to spend money on it, time = money after all.

Another thing, a lot of people, myself including, are still very xenophobic towards microtransactions... this however, is the atom bomb of microtransactions, so it does make me a little nervous...

BUT, if you could transfer your previously bought cars over to future iterations of GT, then they are golden...

[point5o]

Another thing, a lot of people, myself including, are still very xenophobic towards microtransactions... this however, is the atom bomb of microtransactions, so it does make me a little nervous...


Plus, microtransactions haven't been as successful in The U.S. as Europe or Japan, so I don't know if that's going to work out for Sony, especially since they're focusing the launch of the PS3 in America(400,000 units vs. Japan's 100,000).

[briangilmore]

Would you pay $10-20 for the "premium" version? How much would you be willing to spend on the version with no cars and tracks?



I didn't think Sony sucked until I read this, and there isn't a "Sony sucks" thread on these new forums. I could start one though.


naw, I think this is an adequate sony sucks thread. hell we could always even change the title hehehe.

[satansmagichat]

But think realistically, have you ever gotten ALL the cars in any GT game?

I have 4 male roommates, all gamers, and never content until they 100% a game. There are 2 PS2s, 2 of them have memory cards with GT2 AT 98.2% (because that's the most you can make, a programming glitch) and GT3 and GT4 100%ed at least on one friends card. Anyways, that's not the point. The point its that you should have to EARN these things in games. THATS WHY THEY ARE GAMES! Games are SUPPOSED to be challenging! So, you have more money, you can get more cars? I remember I didn't have a lot of money as a kid, and knowing that I could get the Biggoron Sword in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time anyways, because I earned it, is what made that game so enjoyable (and I guess saving the princess).

Anyway, Sony is just missing the point.

[point5o]

I have 4 male roommates, all gamers, and never content until they 100% a game. There are 2 PS2s, 2 of them have memory cards with GT2 AT 98.2% (because that's the most you can make, a programming glitch) and GT3 and GT4 100%ed at least on one friends card. Anyways, that's not the point. The point its that you should have to EARN these things in games. THATS WHY THEY ARE GAMES! Games are SUPPOSED to be challenging! So, you have more money, you can get more cars? I remember I didn't have a lot of money as a kid, and knowing that I could get the Biggoron Sword in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time anyways, because I earned it, is what made that game so enjoyable (and I guess saving the princess).

Anyway, Sony is just missing the point.

*Shakespeare in Love

[vegasgeek]

This is not true. a complete and total rumor if there ever was one. I'm not a sony fanboy, but, they have said nothing about this and it isn't in more reputable sites. sony's already gonna take a hit just because of it price points. this is completly ludicrus.

[guano]

I saw this when it was new and disregarded it as those retards just thinking out loud about how they can make more money. The complete absurdity of the idea almost guarantees this will never happen.

I'm not sure you people fully understand what this would mean. The point isn't that it's stupid to buy the cars instead of earning them the old fashioned way. The GT games have traditionally been of incredible value with the largest selection of cars in any racing game... all for $50. If some one were to buy all the cars and tracks through microtransactions they would pay something like $600 to $900.

The real point is that it's a goddamn ripoff.

[mormonrage]

No it isn't. Just like tarmanydyn said--that value argument is moot to most. I've never realized or enjoyed that "incredible value." In fact, I'd get a much better value for my money by spending $30 total on the game with only the cars and tracks I want.

[guano]

No it isn't. Just like tarmanydyn said--that value argument is moot to most. I've never realized or enjoyed that "incredible value." In fact, I'd get a much better value for my money by spending $30 total on the game with only the cars and tracks I want.

From the prices I've seen them predict I bet you would not get what you wanted for thirty bucks. I do agree with you. I mean, everybody wants that. But these guys aren't offering us a cheaper option than just making a complete game.

[point5o]

This is not true. a complete and total rumor if there ever was one. I'm not a sony fanboy, but, they have said nothing about this and it isn't in more reputable sites. sony's already gonna take a hit just because of it price points. this is completly ludicrus.

This is not ludicrus. Though, this is ludicrous, and it's not a rumor.

The linked article doesn't have the full details which sucks. After reading the full details, I'm back to just being apathetic towards Sony.

The latest issue of Famitsu has an interview with Kazunori Yamauchi for the new Gran Turismo on PS3.

+ They'll release the new Gran Turismo called "Gran Turismo HD" (they use the same name as the E3 demo for the product name) for the PS3 soon. It's composed of 2 parts, Premium and Classic.

+ The proper GT5 is going to hit in 2008. GT HD is meant to grow the rich network service before GT5. The online modes in Classic are based on the 4 modes in GT4:Online beta (Quick Race/Tuned Race/Private Race/Time Attack) and several other modes are added. The online will be launched worldwide at the same time.

+ Gran Turismo HD: Premium is essentially a GT5 prologue that uses the full graphics power of the PS3. (Pictures show a 3D spectator crowd, very detailed car models with interiors.) The weather changes while racing. It comes with 2 courses (both original and new, city and nature) and 30 cars including new ones. You can buy additional 30 cars and 2 courses (real circuits) later online. This part is played in a casual arcade mode. It's a pure driving simulator and almost a tool as you don't get cars in in-game events, you just do whatever you want with cars and courses or buy new ones via online.

+ Gran Turismo HD: Classic is what adopts the GT:HD playable demo at E3 and meant to showcase the online aspect. A race is done with about 20 cars. Apparently this part starts with no cars or courses. You download a car for 50 - 100 yen (0.43 - 0.85$) and a course for 200 - 500 yen (1.71 - 4.26$). Over 750 cars and 50 tracks are available for purchase. Users can define race events freely and can hold online race events by themselves.

+ Not all cars and courses are available on the release date, they are added monthly. Some models may be a limited release for 1000 units. New playing modes and tuning parts may be available via download. It's still undecided if they allow trade among users in fear of real money trade.

[bcool]

This is not ludicrus. Though, this is ludicrous, and it's not a rumor.

The linked article doesn't have the full details which sucks. After reading the full details, I'm back to just being apathetic towards Sony.


am i to understand that a game named grand tourismo doesn't have a grand tourismo mode? so it's just time attack? other companies seem to do just fine releasing normal, full games with online working. whats the deal i wonder?

[point5o]

am i to understand that a game named grand tourismo doesn't have a grand tourismo mode? so it's just time attack? other companies seem to do just fine releasing normal, full games with online working. whats the deal i wonder?

You have to think of Gran Turismo HD(extended demo) as the EP to the LP that will be Gran Turismo 5(full game).

[tarmanydyn]

I have 4 male roommates, all gamers, and never content until they 100% a game. There are 2 PS2s, 2 of them have memory cards with GT2 AT 98.2% (because that's the most you can make, a programming glitch) and GT3 and GT4 100%ed at least on one friends card. Anyways, that's not the point. The point its that you should have to EARN these things in games. THATS WHY THEY ARE GAMES! Games are SUPPOSED to be challenging! So, you have more money, you can get more cars? I remember I didn't have a lot of money as a kid, and knowing that I could get the Biggoron Sword in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time anyways, because I earned it, is what made that game so enjoyable (and I guess saving the princess).

Anyway, Sony is just missing the point.

I agree, if they were smart, they probably should have made the option to both win and buy the cars, they're really shoving the whole microtransaction thing down our throats. But I could simply just buy enough cars and tracks to amount to 60 bucks, so I break even. Or since I don't support the idea of just only microtransactions, don't buy the game, drive the point home, to their wallets, not ours.

[satori]

don't buy the game, drive the point home, to their wallets, not ours.

couldn't agree more.

[toastmstrgeneral]

This would kill rentals and seriously piss off blockbuster.

[point5o]

This would kill rentals and seriously piss off blockbuster.

I'm all for that.

[guano]

This would kill rentals and seriously piss off blockbuster.

They could switch to digital distrabution and have people rent downloads. It'll be a while before that happens though.

[vegasgeek]

That'll never happen. and once again Microsoft wins. how come they can make direct ports with beefed up graphics and sony can't? i think we all know the answer...

[satori]

That'll never happen. and once again Microsoft wins. how come they can make direct ports with beefed up graphics and sony can't? i think we all know the answer...
you mean MS uses pixie dust right?

[buxomia]

I think Sony has just reached the point where they want to be monumentally horrible. Like, they've already come this far, they may as well just go for the special olympics gold.

[tarmanydyn]

I think Sony has just reached the point where they want to be monumentally horrible. Like, they've already come this far, they may as well just go for the special olympics gold.

The concept of microtransactions isn't bad, but people aren't doing them correctly imo. In this case Sony took it way too far, kinda like the people who don't know when to stop talking...

[vegasgeek]

if anything they're gonna have content downloads for games...just like the Xbox and the 360. But micro transactions will fail...because a game that is $60 becomes $80-$100. If sony thinks this is gonna work, they're wrong. they need to get off they're high horse. It's nice to know that a company like that gets desparate when things don't look so good.

[buxomia]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA100806.1R.Sony.1bdf26e.html

Yeah they're in trouble

[spikedtropicaldrink]

Hmmm if that is true it does seem a little excessive. I don't mind paying for an expansion pack as its adding to content of a current game. Extra tracks wouldn't be so bad if they were offered down the road, but to have to download the game before you can play would just be annoying. I think patches on computer games are bad enough, having it spread to the console where you can't just play right away would be silly.

[equal1]

we need another sony sucks thread like we need a hole in the head. Isn't this over-kill?
OK, sony makes bad business decisions all the time, it's like Bush, how many ridiculous stories do I need to read about how bush is a useless twat before I get it... ok, he's a useless twat, stop hoggin the airwaves and tell us something we don't know.

Ya, No $h!t I get tired of seeing thread about how Sony going down the to hell everyone know this let talk about something else