online gaming a consol seller ?

[dwelzy]

is online gaming gona sell as much consols as hyped .. or will it only appeal to hardcore gamers? :confused:
An interesting editorial was put forward on the topic , u can check that out here http://www.gametavern.net/news/EpFyVZAkEkDFvlHNdr.shtml
wat are your opinions :cool:

[DarkMaster]

i dont care who it appeals to, i'll be playing online and thats all i'm worried about.

[GameKinG]

No, I think he makes many valid points that are just major road blocks.

There arent a lot of people with broadband, and fewer of those who do have XBox.

Casual gamers arent this commited to the market enough to pay for this, and more over, buy the system for that purpose.

[D-realJos]

Hey GameKing, that editorial was for you! The other day you put a gun to my head demanding something. I had to comply. :(

Seriously, I hope people post their opinions. For some, this is a real touchy subject. I'll come back and see how it's doing.

BTW, Thanks Dwelzy! I meant to link the boards to the editorial, but it kinda slipped my mind. It was on my to do list. ;)

[GameKinG]

Heh...so I did...and yes, a I realize that you did it, because of what I said...
:rambo:

[TheGame]

I couldn't read past the first paragraph in that article... I never seen any posts anywhere concerning Nintendo "needing" online games to sell consoles... or any posts anywhere saying that Xbox live will push console sales.

So, in that light, I couldn't read it. If somthing boithers me too early in any editorial I can't read it.

My opinion of online games:

Will it push console sales? No

Because this generation is just the start. Many people haven't experienced it yet, so many can't be hooked to it yet. But the key word is: yet.

Will it have a big effect on game/console sales in the future? Yes.

Online gaming will have a big effect on Next gen console sales.

Once you play a game online, it's like a drug. Once you experience real human AI, playing the CPU just isn't as fun anymore. Everybody who has an online game this generation will look for online gaming as a nessicary feature next generation. Next generation, the number of broadband users will double, and the internet will be in way more homes.... thus making more potiental online gamers. Plus the age group of core users will get a little older. (that couldn't hurt ;))

Thius generation, it isn't a must... but as time passes, it will be a must. Let Ps2 and Xbox have one great exclusive MMORPG, it's all over. They make a sequal for Xbox 2 and Ps3... what do you expect those users to buy then?

But due to the fact that it is new it can't push consoles. But like a good game, it will keep consumers sticking to the same system. This generation it's time for the consoles to push online play... next generation online play will be part of what pushes the console.

Ps2 pushes online play, that's why it will sucseed. Dreamcast used online play as part of the system's core marketing, and it failed. That's proof that onliine gaming won't push these systems. But next gen, that's a whole different story.

[GameKinG]

They simply cant market it enough right now...whether its because people dont have broadband or arent very serious about larger commitments for consoles.

[gekko]

I disagree. I think it can sell consoles. Look at Xbox Live. Does it kick ass? Yes. Would I recommend that you guys buy an Xbox and go online? Yes.

I don't think online gaming will sell many PS2s or Gamecubes, but the possibility for selling Xbox units is quite high. That holds especially true for the months to come. Xbox Live really has no competition from the other systems. Will that sell systems? Maybe not millions, but will it sell systems? I'd have to say, yes.

Where is the competition being provided by Gamecube? PSO? Ok, great game. Quite possibly the best online game out right now, and the best to be out this year. But the fact is it's costly, and even though in the future online gaming will be a lot more fee based than you guys want, right now people want to experience online gaming and get hooked, not work more to pay the bills. PS2 is also providing crap for competition. A few sports games, but Xbox Live is easily pushing the voice communication feature there. And SOCOM, although great and addicting, is being overrun by cheaters, and it's far from the ideal online experience. Get a SOCOM player on Ghost Recon, they'll be hooked.

On the other hand, we have people looking to get an Xbox (and rightfully so, due to the good lineup). What is Xbox Live offering? MotoGP, easily one of the best racing games on Xbox (only competition is RalliSport). NFL Fever 2003, NFL 2K3, NBA 2K3, and NHL 2K3 for the sports fans. MechAssault, just scored a 9.2 from IGN. Unreal Championship, probably the most anticipated Live title. Ghost Recon, easily fill the SOCOM void. And even offline games like Toe Jam & Earl III have downloadable content. Splinter Cell is also prepared for it. All out by the end of this month, mind you.

Once someone gets hooked on online gaming, they are hooked, end of story. If Xbox Live charged me $25 a month to play, I would pay it willingly. Xbox Live won't sell great numbers of systems, but it will push consoles. Xbox Live can easily be the deciding factor getting people to buy a new Xbox. You got the christmas season coming up, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of people buying a new Xbox and Xbox Live. It would almost be foolish not to.

[GameKinG]

Id have to say, that though LIVE probably deserves to do better, Playstation Online really has a better chance.

With its already large fanbase, and it covering more internet users (i.e. not broadband exclusive), I dont think people will care to pay for broadband just for XBox Live.

[gekko]

But PS2 isn't really allowing everyone to play. SOCOM is BB-only, many other games have a lower number of users who can play if they're on 56K.

Not everyone has broadband, but it doesn't matter. The majority of gamers who would be interested in online gaming to begin with, have broadband. Even if Xbox Live came on Xbox, it was free, and there were games avaliable to anyone with any connection, online gaming wouldn't catch on for a lot of people.

PS2 has more systems sold, but not all of them will be going online. Hell, I was online for SOCOM, I doubt I'll be online with PS2 again until RE Online comes out. There are 25,000 people who are subscribed to Xbox Live, and it's not even out in stores yet. That's a lot of people who have broadband, and who paid the initial fee for Xbox Live.

After putting in countless hours with SOCOM and PS2, and putting in countless hours in MotoGP and Xbox Live, I can assure you, hands down, that PS2 doesn't stand a chance. The service just doesn't live up, and I don't see PS2 users getting as much out of it.

Right now MS is pushing Xbox Live like crazy. Xbox Live has FPS, both strategic and all out deathmatch, it has sports games, it has Mech games, it has racing games, and it has a future of MS pushing for better service. Xbox Live is giving players what they want, and that's exactly why it'll do better. PS2 can have the larger userbase, but Xbox has the better plan, and the better games.

In comparison, PS2's online service, even with SOCOM, the only game with voice support and designed for online play, it sucks in comparison. And I can't imagine how incredibly boring a football game would be without voice chat. Wait, yes I can. I played Bond once and his mic wasn't working. I just about fell asleep.

[TheGame]

Originally posted by gekko
Once someone gets hooked on online gaming, they are hooked, end of story.

Thank you... this is basically what I was trying to say.

"Once you play a game online, it's like a drug. Once you experience real human AI, playing the CPU just isn't as fun anymore. Everybody who has an online game this generation will look for online gaming as a nessicary feature next generation."

I forgot to say one thing though:

If a person plays online games through Ps2, online gaming is most definently a selling point of other consoles. Same goes for Xbox and GCN.

This is why Nintendo's strategy sucks ass... they ONLY have one great game online! What happens when GCN/PSO fans start hungering for more online action? They will go running to Sony... and even more likely, Xbox (due to the fact PSO is coming out for Xbox too).

As far as Ps2 vs Xbox online... well, put it like this, the day I get broadband is the day I go out and get an Xbox.

It's not that Ps2 online is so bad (I've played the 56k THPS4 and NBA Live 2003 online with very little lag, Madden and NBA 2k3 are all lagged up though)... it's just that hardcore online gaming is MUCH better through Xbox live.

I just got a taste of online gaming with DC... that was enough to insure I go online with every future console purchase.

[Dyne]

Originally posted by TheGame
This is why Nintendo's strategy sucks ass... they ONLY have one great game online! What happens when GCN/PSO fans start hungering for more online action? They will go running to Sony... and even more likely, Xbox (due to the fact PSO is coming out for Xbox too).

You know my intentions exactly. With Xbox Live, I'll be playing BB with every body, will have voice support, and will have the same game except better features.

And PSO is also coming to the PC, so that is definitely something to worry about--it's five times cheaper than what you pay for Gamecube online.

[TheGame]

Originally posted by Dyne
You know my intentions exactly. With Xbox Live, I'll be playing BB with every body, will have voice support, and will have the same game except better features.

Yep, and voice support at a time was underrated... but I bet those US guys who have Cubes right now wish they had voice support. Xbox for online gaming is the king right now...

[D-realJos]

Ha, you know, so far, you guys are living examples of what I've been saying. We are hardcore gamers, as involved as you can get. We've been anticipating console online gaming, and we'll surely have some fun. I never stated otherwise.

However, many of us apparently can't see past our excitement enough to realize that the mainstream will be required to make this have the effect we are envisioning.

Quite frankly, if you think that selling any number consoles among hardcore gamers(who are the ones passionate about this, and eager to absorb it) is the sign of success, then I don't think you have much hope for online gaming to begin with.



[edited siginificant portion of post.]

[TheGame]

I dunno... it could be mostly just us hardcore gamers... but judging from examples I've seen (aka casual gamers and online gaming), I think Online gaming will be huge.

I don't know any person with a Ps2 and Maden who isn't online... and I know a BUNCH of people with Ps2s who have Madden :) (20+ if you are intersted)

Yes but like I said, this generation I doubt it will push consoles... no nobody who is sitting at home who barely plays games will buy a Ps2 for online gaming... but when they do buy an Xbox/Ps2, and get a nice taste of online gaming they will be hooked.

Is it hype that is making me say this? No, because there were enough games online in the past to pass judgement. Look at Dreamcast! Now, before DC, my opinion of online gaming would have been much different.... I had little/no interest.

But that lack of interest only lasted til Sega gave the free Seganet trials... I got a taste of it, hooked even sense.

Online gaming will get bigger and bigger, and once you fall into online games, there is no turning back. Online gaming is just a new way of solidifying buyers. There is now a Microsoft community online, mixed with casual and hardcore gamers... just like there is a Sony Community online.

Next generation, all those guys will flock to the best online console... so online play will be a big feature each console should concentrate on, if not the biggest feature.