2007 wasn't super-kind to the PS3, but then again, was 2006? The console has been troubled since E3 2006, but fortunately, at the halfway point of 2007, things suddenly turned around. I've huffed and puffed about Home, but as I mentioned in the Most Wanted Games of '08 feature last week, I'm resigned to wait as long as it takes to create a stable system.
Push More Innovative and Original Titles Through the PlayStation Store. I love the initiatives that Microsoft is establishing with XNA; I'm very jazzed for GDC this year and what indie devs have cooked up since last March at Moscone. On the other hand, I've played a lot more of flOw, Super Stardust HD and Everyday Shooter than quite a bit of Xbox Live Arcade content. Sony has quietly been putting out some quality downloadable games rather than bombarding the market with whatever sticks to a wall. I hope to see SCEA release more brilliant games from independent and creative minds this year.
Multiplayer Betas. Use Them. The Warhawk beta last summer proved that people will pretty much shank each other to participate in a free online stress test, plus it gave multi-system owners something else to play after hours of getting teabagged by Spartans on that other beta. It also proved to have four or five times the gatecrashers expected, thanks to game sharing. If you let gamers form up preliminary clans and explore the terrain in a beta, we can hope that it pays off in the final product. SOCOM: Confrontation, Killzone 2 or Resistance 2 betas would build a groundswell of promotion for those games prior to release.
A Killzone 2 beta would rock your world. Don't front.
Iron Out the SingStar Kinks. It's not even out Stateside, but I'm hearing from the UK that SingStar PS3's downloadable content is paltry at best since its December launch. The game might not attract hardcore gamers, but music titles are here to stay. This is a unique franchise that Sony's got locked down, and if the business model isn't tight enough to at least outstrip Guitar Hero III Stateside (note: Rock Band's DLC model leaves everyone in the dust right now), it's another wasted opportunity. Besides, I love Rock Band, but SingStar has way better karaoke.
Enhance Remote Play. Remember what I just said about awesome PlayStation Store games? Let me play all of them on my PSP. I'm planning to cut my teeth on PixelJunkMonsters right now, actually...
Launch-era PS2 Games in the PS Store. Hey, Microsoft's doing it with Xbox Originals right now. It's probably not easy to get a dual-layer DVD formatted for digital distribution, but PS2 games launched on CDs. I'd love to see some of the better early launch titles get a revival in the PlayStation Store, the same way that we're seeing PS One classics now.
Speaking of the PlayStation Store, one new feature of State of the Station that you can expect from here on out is a wrap-up of our favorite downloadable games and content on PlayStation Network. Rather than give out scores, we're simply going to break down our top picks. I'll be tallying up a sizable list of recommendations for my next edition, once I've had time to play some of the latest content popping up. What would you like to see happen across the PlayStation platforms in 2008? No, crawling up and dying is not an option, fervent Xbots. See you in two weeks!
State of the Station is written by Sterling McGarvey, who's very happy that the new wave of PS3 games have an Awards system. Got something to say to him? Let him know here! Also, if you're interested in joining GameSpy's Folding@home efforts, join Group 64100.
