On the other hand, if Microsoft went ahead and took away features on it's consoles, there couldn't possibly be enough people lining up to tell the company to go screw itself. Imagine if Microsoft removed the ability to install games to the hard drive or removed a component of Xbox Live with a single update that had zero exclamation -- people would fly the hell off the handle -- but thankfully, I have a feeling MS wouldn't ever go to such lengths. Ultimately, it was a futile move on the part of Sony as a jailbreak has already been implemented by several member of the modding community. This once again proves that it's truly a waste of time to try and stop nerds from figuring something out. In the meantime, I sure as hell hope the Air Force didn't accept their system update.
2. A Half-Assed War on Piracy: I can understand touting blu-ray and the Playstation network as the next great thing to come to gaming from Sony. However, pushing the blu-ray format isn't necessarily just because of the improved video quality, but because ripping those discs in nigh impossible for the average consumer and that is what Sony was going for. The same goes for the PSP GO as any and all content for that handheld comes from the PSN, which at the cost of $250 and the ability to render the UMDs that PSP owners had been collected for years, useless, it's proven to be more of a flop than anything else. I can understand battling piracy and support it in all forms, however, when your greatest defense is the reliance on the idea that a majority of your users might be ignorant of how to commit the piracy, in one form or another, this is blatantly asinine regardless of your point of view. While I'm not saying that Sony should adopt the awesome DRM that Ubisoft has, which requires a constant internet connection or you lose access to content that you were so kind as to purchase legally, they need to take a step back and develop a subtle appreciation for putting a bit of creativity behind their efforts to halt the efforts of pirates that don't involve removing features from their consoles.
1. Following Instead of Leading: My biggest complaint perhaps is that every arm of Sony worldwide has consistently screamed from the mountaintops about the 'Ten Year Plan' that the company has for it's console. To give you an idea, the Soviet Union utilized multiple five-year plans and in all fairness, it took a fair few decades for the regime to come crashing down with the Berlin Wall. While I'm happy to see that Sony is producing numerous excellent first and third party titles, I'm consistently disheartened by their moves in regards to hardware, accessories and the PSN. Slimming the PS3 was a step in the right direction and I've been aesthetically pleased with what I've seen. However, the removal of backwards compatibility as I previously mentioned, still doesn't make up for the loss and nothing is great without substance. This wouldn't be such a huge issue if Microsoft didn't give users the ability to play at least some Xbox titles on the system, albeit single player only and Nintendo allows for access to Gamecube titles with packed in hardware. In this one and single instance, Sony, it isn't a good idea to be an individual. It's usually a great idea to give the people what they want.
Admittedly, I'm still more sold on Natal than Move -- not because I want to be a dick, but because Move looks like something lifted off Nintendo except the interface is a lot sexier. Right down to the controllers, which look a bit like a Wii Remote and a Nunchuck. But, as with everything I'll have to wait and see how it actually performs in person. But it still perpetuates the feeling that Nintendo's motion controls took off and everyone needed to jump on the money wagon -- Microsoft included. But if you think about it, development of motion controls for every single console could theoretically appease all the fanboys. Oddly enough, the more I think about it the more it strikes me as a Da Vinci Code kind of conspiracy -- or it's just capitalism at it's finest. Either way, I can hope that Sony moves me enough to sell me on it. Finally, the PSN doesn't lack originality as much as it utterly disregards functionality. If they're guilty of anything, it's of copying Nintendo in that their website is completely fucking useless when it comes to accomplishing anything. Yes, you can add points if you want, but the MS website is staggering in it's functionality. I wish I was kidding, but on the MS site I can check my achievements, download demos, add-ons and even full goddamn games to my system during my lunch hour at work. Why the hell can't I do that with my account on the Playstation Network site?
Conclusion: Ultimately, I still profess wholeheartedly that Sony is groping in the dark like a teenager on prom night. All they know is push games out, but other than that, it seems like that ten year plan isn't as full as it should be. I want Sony to continue to be around and sincerely wish I could find a reason to support them outside of playing review titles on a relative's PS3, but until they pull their head out of their metaphorical asses, I can't envision walking into a store and picking a console up. I would say that Sony should just take a year off and examine their business model regarding the system and their stance worldwide, because the gap between the community and the corporation grows with each passing day (creating 'Tester' should make that extremely apparent). So, at the end of the day, I'm still more that happy to clutch my PS2 and launch PSP because I know they work the way I want them to and that Sony can't connect to either of those systems to alter them unless I make the effort to allow them to do so. So, what do you think? Why haven't you picked up a Playstation 3? Why do you love your Xbox 360 so very much? If you own a PS3 and want to try to sell a forum full of 360 owners on it, now is certainly your chance. Hit up our forums to discuss this article, but while doing that (click here), keep your eye on PlanetXbox360.com for all the latest features, reviews and Xbox 360 news.
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