6 things MS and Nintendo should take from Sony

[boffo]

Six Things Microsoft and Nintendo Should Steal from Sony | Second Story Gamer

1. Build a Future-Proof Console

For some reason, people have been ragging on Sony for making such a technologically advanced console. They say that because it’s so advanced, Sony can’t make the PS3 cost competitive with the Xbox 360 and Wii and that is the reason they are losing this race so far. However, those people fail to see that Sony isn’t in this race for the short term; they’re aiming for a ten-year cycle and, by then, the PS3 will be affordable and not as dated as its competitors.
2. Make a Less Restricted Downloadable Game Market

At first glance, it looked like Microsoft and Nintendo were ruling the downloadable markets with XBLA and Virtual console. However, when the dust settled, it was obvious that both companies have failed to capitalize on that downloadable market as much as Sony has. Sony’s PSN is the least restricted downloadable game market other than the PC, which has led to huge, innovative games such as Flower that would be impossible to make on the Xbox 360 (because of Microsoft’s restrictions) or the Wii (because of the console’s storage issues).

3. Make Rechargeable Batteries the Standard

As you probably know, Sony’s controllers are the only controllers of this generation that have built in rechargeable batteries. It’s amazing to think that in this era where we are surrounded by crisp, high-definition video and 7.1 Dolby Digital sound that we sometimes have to put that all on hold to scrounge from the remote replacement batteries. Sure both the Xbox 360 and the Wii have rechargeable battery packs available for sale, but that’s just it: consumers shouldn’t have to buy something that should have been built-in in the first place.
4. Implement Blu-ray

Another one of Sony’s controversial decisions that seems to have worked out was their decision to put a Blu-ray drive into the PlayStation 3. Obviously that was a good idea because a major chunk of the PS3’s sales have come from avid movie watchers who are looking for the best and one of the cheapest Blu-ray players, the PS3. Although it is probably impossible for Microsoft or Nintendo to implement Blu-ray into their current generation consoles, it is something they should do next generation.
5. Make a More Media Friendly Console

Without a doubt, the PlayStation 3 is the best multi-media console. Not only does it play games and Blu-rays, but the PS3 also is compatible with a huge selection of video formats. The Xbox 360 may play very nicely with Windows Media Center, but it lacks the huge variety of video formats that the PS3 has and the Wii… well the Wii can’t even play DVDs so it loses horribly in this category
6. Put a Hard Drive in Every Console

Buy a PlayStation 3 and you will have a 40 GB plus hard drive. That’s it, no questions asked. Standardized hard drives open up huge possibilities for developers, who can use that hard drive space in their development, something they can’t do on the 360 (because of its splintered user base) or the Wii (because of its lack of a hard drive).

1. Build a Future-Proof Console
how is ps3 future proof? 10 year plan? dont make me laugh

2. Make a Less Restricted Downloadable Game Market
write a less retarded article

3. Make Rechargeable Batteries the Standard
or just buy rechargable batteries

4. Implement Blu-ray
dont

5. Make a More Media Friendly Console
or buy a computer

6. Put a Hard Drive in Every Console
why

[Ark]

i think they should make the rechargeable batteries removable....constant charging can wear it down...other than that its a pretty good list...

[boffo]

Originally Posted by Leonidas

1. Build a Future-Proof Console
how is ps3 future proof? 10 year plan? dont make me laugh

2. Make a Less Restricted Downloadable Game Market
write a less retarded article

3. Make Rechargeable Batteries the Standard
or just buy rechargable batteries

4. Implement Blu-ray
dont

5. Make a More Media Friendly Console
or buy a computer

6. Put a Hard Drive in Every Console
why

As always, you add so little actual insight and 0 knowledge to a discussion.

1. Build a Future-Proof Console
This is really only a factor if they go well beyond the usual 5 year period between consoles. They have left lot's of room for growth with the PS3 but it's all moot if they release the PS4 within the next 3 years. There's no doubt the console will hang around for 10 years since the PS1 did, and the PS2 is nearly there as well however the PS3 is in a better position to delay their next gen than either of the 1st two were.
2. Make a Less Restricted Downloadable Game Market
They have done well with this. Often times you hear about these restrictions that MS has put on their system (most often with Unreal Tournament 3, because it wouldn't support modded levels like the PS3 version did) and the lack of storage on the Wii really prevents them from doing much with downloadable content. Meanwhile the PSN features a wide range of different games from full Blu-Ray releases like Burnout and Warhawk, to user created content in LittleBigPlanet and Echochrome and a bunch of original games as well.

3. Make Rechargeable Batteries the Standard
Really just a personal preference thing if it matters or not but it is more convenient than having to remove and replace batteries. And you can easily charge and play at the same time, so a charged battery should be ready in the controller at all times. Nice to not have to think about it.

4. Implement Blu-ray
I don't really think this is all that neccessary. Nintendo didn't even implement DVD with the Wii. Sony did it so it'd give them an advantage in the war with HD DVD, but a this gen gets older we'll probably start to see it being more useful with games as well (part of the future proof thing). I see MS including Blu-Ray with their next Xbox as long as they continue their current effort to try and replace the Playstation. Nintendo I doubt will have any reason to even think about adding Blu-Ray.

5. Make a More Media Friendly Console
I do love my PS3 as a media center. A computer is all well and good, but listening to music, watching movies, and streaming hockey games off the internet is much better with a surround sound sytem and 42" TV attached, instead of a 19" computer monitor with built in speakers. Once again this is really just a personal preference thing if it really matters to you or not, but my PS3 is on a lot more because of it.

6. Put a Hard Drive in Every Console
Except when it leads to mandatory game installs just because they can this is a great feature and one benefit of the PS3 that few people seem to question. You hear occasional reports of 360 games being held back a bit because not everyone has a hard drive, and it seems the most common negative about the Wii is people complaining about it's lack of storage. Although in the Wii's case it's more about the problems with no place to put downloads as opposed to a negative effect on game performance.

[E6600]

The PS3 this gen is kinda like the original XBox but more successful.
If anything Nintendo are the only ones who got the hardware/software combo right.

[Spindel]

Unlike the other two lists this one is just to retarded to even respond to on most points.

[boffo]

In this list I'd include allowing generic peripherals to be used. While MS charges huge markup on a new hard drive you can use any 2.5" SATA drive in the PS3. Any USB keyboard and mouse will work as well as Bluetooth ones. I even believe some USB web cams will work with it as well. It makes things a lot easier and usually much cheaper when it's done this way.

[Shpeshal Ed]

I agree with all of it except the future proof bullshit and the rechargeable battery one.

Future proof? It almost looks like the console won't SEE a future.

[Romanc]

No console is truly future proof. Upgradability helps, though.