Comments 3,820

Re: Vince Zampella Defends PS5 Pro Price, Says 'It's Actually Not That Bad'

thefourfoldroot1

@Blaze215
That’s nowhere near equivalent. I’ve been out of the PC game for a while, but even I can see that. Now, if you were to consider online a “must have” (I don’t) and presume you wouldn’t play many plus games, then added the cost of this up for the lifetime of a console and added this to the console price, then and only then could you say a PC could be equivalent value. If you had the money to spend all at once.
But it’s really a moot argument as PCs and consoles are fundamentally different user cases for most console gamers.

Re: Vince Zampella Defends PS5 Pro Price, Says 'It's Actually Not That Bad'

thefourfoldroot1

@NEStalgia
No, I’m not missing the point. Discretionary income has fallen because costs have increased to make and distribute everything and thus they have to be sold at a higher price. People’s incomes didn’t immediately fall leading to less spare cash, rather prices immediately went up for everything that we buy. You are acting like Sony, MS etc are immune to this. When they have to pay more for materials, more for manufacturing, more for wages, more for shipping, of course they have to increase prices. And if a product becomes too expensive to sell well (we will see with this, but Sony obviously feel it’s worth releasing) then it simply won’t be made and the money that would have been spent on it would be funnelled elsewhere were there would be a bigger return on investment.

This is an enthusiast product that isn’t going to ever be the biggest selling model. They have to price it to make a profit as there are a vanishingly small number of new customers this brings. If this wasn’t available the same customer would almost certainly buy the base model. PlayStation makes money on software.

Re: Vince Zampella Defends PS5 Pro Price, Says 'It's Actually Not That Bad'

thefourfoldroot1

@torquex
Sure, I’m one of them honestly, but this at a lower price is likely just not profitable, and thus not possible. Sony are a business. No point being pissed about that when it’s why these things even exist at all.

This product is for a niche of a niche. Hell, I’m a person who very much enjoys, and feels I get good value out of, my PSVR2 and Portal, and I’m not getting one as I don’t feel the cost is worth it.

Not everything is for us. Things we might have bought before the economy went to crap and our disposable income dropped, like an upgrade to an already current gen console, we won’t anymore. That’s life. My take home pay has dropped by £300 a month just over this year, and everything from my rent to heating and food has risen, I’m feeling it, but costs have similarly gone up for businesses so they have to raise their prices or cancel products (like we’ve seen with many games, which leads to layoffs etc). Even if I’m not getting it I’m happy this exists for those who feel it’s worthwhile for them.

Re: Vince Zampella Defends PS5 Pro Price, Says 'It's Actually Not That Bad'

thefourfoldroot1

@NEStalgia
Why would you compare it to the cost 4 years ago. The cost to make it has obviously risen. A better comparison is surely to the costs now, plus the cost of the objective improvement of the bigger hardrive. If you align with current market prices (series X with 2tb, I don’t think there is such a PS5 model yet) that is $600. This pro is $100 more for the improvements. I think that’s fair, just a bit rich for my blood considering I have a perfectly good PS5 already and the majority of games I like don’t push it at all.

People should stop aligning the price with what they think is fair, and start understanding what is the actual required cost for this thing to even exist for the few people who want it.

Re: Vince Zampella Defends PS5 Pro Price, Says 'It's Actually Not That Bad'

thefourfoldroot1

Reading some of the comments. My god!
The cost of labour, shipping, and raw materials has risen alarmingly. Inflation is through the roof in every western economy. That’s why everything has risen in price.

In a world where rents, food, energy, the real essentials in life, have risen alarmingly, I would be embarrassed to complain this much about an enthusiast edition of a luxury gaming device.

I understand that people are disappointed that they are priced out, or they feel the benefits are not aligned with the costs or whatever, I won’t be getting it basically for this reason, but It’s like people have no concept of what’s going on around them and feel entitled for everything to remain the same for them. A little perspective people.

And yes, if the economy doesn’t recover and people’s wages rise, then yes, we will all be feeling it in the wallet when the PS6 releases.

Re: PS5's Astro Bot the USA's Second Best-Selling Game in Its First Week

thefourfoldroot1

@dskatter
I wouldn’t even consider spending that on a Pro when it offers no new gameplay experiences, just better res and ray tracing…

To spend half that on PSVR2 however (when on sale) is a no brainer. Completely new gameplay experiences, a full new roster of hundreds of games, it’s just so joyful. Anyone bored of the same old pancakes should definitely try it.Makes a lot more sense than PS5, and then a PC or Xbox.

Re: PS5's Astro Bot the USA's Second Best-Selling Game in Its First Week

thefourfoldroot1

@GymratAmarillo
Yes, I freely admit I got caught by the hype. Which I never do. But Rescue Mission was the best platformer of all time, I was excited. Even knowing we lost depth (I know this is now essentially for me with platformers), scale, being present with the game all around you…even knowing this I thought it would be great. Instead it is merely very very good. I now know how much better VR is in a like for like comparison and I won’t make the same mistake.

Re: PS5's Astro Bot the USA's Second Best-Selling Game in Its First Week

thefourfoldroot1

@GymratAmarillo
Elitism? How is it elitism? I just said it’s a second rate version of the old game. Which is objectively correct. The same way my eyesight would be second rate if I gouged an eye out and lost all depth perception. I’m not looking to argue about something so obvious.

I appreciate the game. The devs excuse for not making a better version alongside it is just pitiful though.

Re: C-Smash VRS New Dimension Demo Lets You Sample PSVR2 Hit in Pancake Mode on PS5

thefourfoldroot1

@get2sammyb
Fair, but lots of games I enjoyed in pancake mode in the past I really can’t now due to getting used to being in my games. Astro Bot is a case in point unfortunately, I keep trying to love it, and can see how I would have enjoyed it massively in the past, but there is always a big bit missing. Same with Resident Evil. Same with Gran Turismo. Can only think it will be the same with this.

Re: Lack of Competition from Xbox Partly Why PS5 Pro Is $700, Says Analyst

thefourfoldroot1

$700 for a 2tb PS5 Pro!!!? This is the worst value for money console since…erm…since the 2tb Series X at $600 with no upgrades.

Seriously, couldn’t believe that, but the reaction to this is ridiculous. Everything is more expensive to make, thus more expensive to buy. Everything!

I’ll not be getting it that’s for sure, but that’s because few games will make enough use of it before PS6

Re: Did You Know PlayStation Almost Had a Different Name?

thefourfoldroot1

To be honest, it always struck me as strange that they marketed this to young adults back in the 90s (trying to move away from a market that was seen as mainly children, who relied on parents for occasional gifts, to grown ups with their own income), yet they called it something associated mainly with children - “play”. It seemed a bit disjointed to me at the time, and I guess this shows that it was.

Of course Powerstation is a stupid and confusing name and we are all glad this didn’t happen.

Re: Sony Increases PS5 Controller Prices in US, Europe, and More

thefourfoldroot1

And the crazy thing is it’s still the best deal out of the top 3! Sure Xbox pads are very slightly cheaper, but not by much considering they have no battery, touchpad, motion controls, haptics etc. and the joycons!? Don’t even get me started on those!

Still, I cring when one drops on the floor. Those trigger springs snap so easily. One hard fall and they can go. I’ve already broken one by having it slip off the couch.

Re: PS5 Pro Showcase Set for Tomorrow, Hosted by Mark Cerny

thefourfoldroot1

We already have two PS5s, so this is going to be a hard sell. Especially as very few games will make use of it, if history is anything to go by.

The only thing that would convince me is the fantasy of a “turn this game into VR mode”, using the additional power and the PSVR2 FR. That won’t happen though, obviously.

Re: Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown Review (PS5) - Flawless Driving Stalled by Technical Issues and a Lacking Hong Kong

thefourfoldroot1

Sounds like a very frustrating game to play with all the technical issues. And things not saving is the worst possible bug in any game. Live service also means they are focusing on aspects of a game that won’t exist long term, and seasons creates that fear of missing out that, essentially, is just about strong arming you to play the game when you might not have the time or inclination.

All in all that’s a no from me, which is a shame as we really lack this type of driving experience.

Re: Soapbox: Astro's Playroom PS5 Did Live Service and You Didn't Even Notice

thefourfoldroot1

I unlocked them 30 minutes before starting Astro Bot as they provided extra bots in the game. I did not participate in the live service element and waited for them to all be available. If they would have been a live service that timed out, I honestly don’t know whether I would have just ignored them entirely or begrudgingly got them due to their being extremely quick.

Re: Astro Bot (PS5) - One of the Greatest PlayStation Platformers of All Time

thefourfoldroot1

Got this on preorder and can’t wait. Can’t be 10 without VR though.

Edit: yes, I can confirm now having played it, a platformer without 3D depth is just inferior to VR platformers. Not to mention not having the sense of scale and wraparound play. Just not as accurate, fun, or engrossing.

8/10. Which is the max a pancake platformer can get for me.

Significantly inferior to the wonderous Astro Bot Rescue Mission. At this point I’d just settle for a PSVR2 remaster.