Destination PlayStation, the week that was.
Sunday, March 02 at 08:04 AM | Posted by: Joe, Sam's Club
Category: Gaming

We got back from Destination PlayStation in Scottsdale, AZ on Friday night. What a week. We met with all of the major publishers as well as Sony (both a major publisher and platform producer) and had some great meetings. They are all focused on making the gaming experience bigger and better for you. By now, you have already seen the announcements on the God of War PSP and the Metal Gear Solid 4 edition 80G PS3 with Dual Shock 3. Let me fill you in on some other news. 

Expect Packaging to matter – we spoke with quite a few folks about their publishing. It is time for our industry to mature and take more responsibility. Look at movies and music and some of the efforts they have undertaken. No need for heavy plastic packages that really are way overbuilt. We challenged quite a few suppliers on this front. We can, and must do better. 

Expect More Street Dated Releases – Here too, we have much to learn from our brethren in music and movies. You know that Tuesday is the day for big releases in movies and music. Even smaller releases are out on Tuesday. With some of the marketing and development costs we heard last week, there is no need to just ship date these titles. A street date serves as a call to action for the consumer. Hey, if I were spending $10 MILLION on just marketing a title, I would want a street date. Only one retailer does not want street dates, the other retailers want them. Seems that less than 30% of the industry is trying to have it their way. It just does not make sense to the industry or the consumers. 

Expect Differences on Platforms – It was a tough lesson for the industry to learn, but it looks like they got it. Members with Wii’s do not want ports of PS3 and 360 games. They want Wii specific games that utilize motion on their console of choice. 360 gamers expect a great on-line experience. PS3 gamers demand utilization of the Blu-Ray gaming experience. Give each of us a unique experience and let us decide. That adds development costs for certain, but it should also increase sales and make the experience richer. 

Expect More Downloadable Content – I have already written about Apple TV. Soon we should be able to get a similar experience via the PlayStation Network. Microsoft has already gotten some of the way there with Xbox Live. Warhawk was the first BIG downloadable that I recall. There will be more. Not just new maps, but full games, add ons and whatnot to make the experience immersive. For a few dollars more, it is like getting a new game, or it could be.  

Expect More Games for Females – Yes, you hear that right. Look at Imagine and the success there. Women are gaming too. It is no longer a boy’s club. The DS has paved the way and we should expect female gamers to embrace this and grow the audience. It is good for the industry. Who says a guy cannot play a game written for women? Women play Call of Duty too. If the game is fun and entertaining, why not? 

One side note, the absolute coolest title that I saw last week was Saint’s Row 2. I cannot say much about it, but the customization is amazing. GTA IV is also incredible, but it is clear that they no longer exclusively own the genre. Be looking for Saints Row 2 and be prepared for an experience you will enjoy. THQ really stepped it up in the new version, and while we only saw an Alpha (pre-Beta) version, it was something I know all gamers will enjoy. 

See you soon!
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11 Comments
 
 

When I think of "games for women" I think of those things that come in pink packages and look like they were designed for 8 year old girls. The industry should be ashamed of itself for subscribing to such a bizarre attitude towards women.

 
A. Rollo on 3/3/2008 at 2:34 AM
 
 
 
 

I've been hoping for street date announcements for years now.  Ship dates are nice, but just don't give a definitive date for when I can expect to walk into a store and buy a game right off the shelf.  No preordering, no calling ahead, no "well, it's not on the shelf yet".  If DVDs and CDs can pull of a unified release day, why not games?

 
MattG on 3/3/2008 at 10:35 AM
 
 
 
 

I assume Wal-Mart will have the God of War PSP bundle when it ships in June.

 
Rob on 3/3/2008 at 11:33 AM
 
 
 
 

I keep hearing there will be more games for women as the number of women gamers grows, but we aren't seeing much that women gamers actually like. As a previous commenter alluded to, women gamers aren't looking for fix-your-hair-and-develop-a-relationship games.

We're looking for entertainment, the same as any gamer. That's why we enjoy many of the mainstream games already. While many women gamers might go for more adventure games with less explicit gore (and without the stupid scanty costumes and helplessness and even rape that go with the usual female characters in games), game companies ignore this and refuse to tap the market. They can't seem to see anything between pink packaging for 8-year-olds (thanks A. Rollo) and gratuitous violence against throwaway female game characters.

It's one reason I hope we begin to see more women programmers and gamers on the production end. The game companies have had years to begin to develop games for intelligent adult women gamers and tap this untapped market, and they haven't done it--they don't have a clue.

So wherever it is you're hearing rumors about more games for women--I hope it's actual games for adult women, and I hope it's actually going to happen! I'm skeptical because we hear these rumors but never with a game name or a specific game company attached. We'll see. I absolutely love gaming and hope these companies start to grow an affinity for my money. I'm a consumer waiting to consume--what's the problem here? So far they don't seem to want my money much. They're programming for stereotypes, not for women gamers.

 
Lara on 3/3/2008 at