PS3 Launch: SPOnG's Vox PoPS3
Just what does your average Japanese gamer think while standing, soggy and cold waiting for a this year's model? SPOnG finds out...
Reaction to the launch of the PlayStation 3 from its home crowd is going to be telling when, finally, next March, poor Euros like SPOnG and SPOnG readers get to queue at midnight on the streets of Wakefield, Woking, Warzaw and Wuppertal. So, SPOnG went into the throng and gauged opinion:
First we spoke to Kawashima-san, a Shinjuku resident, for some interesting comments about the PS3 and he effortlessly obliged while jigging around to the trance music that was coming from his phone.
SPOnG:: Why is this special?
Kawashima-san: “Yeah, this is the first place in the whole world. We’re getting the PS3 before America, before Europe. It’s great. We’ve been here for every console launch. It’s always something great, isn’t it?”
SPOnG:: So which PS3 game are you waiting for?
“They should make a trance game! Yeah, I’d really like something with dancing and trance and lights. Something like Rez, but which uses the PS3’s power.”
SPOnG:: And how long have you been dancing here?
“Since 8am. I came yesterday [Thursday] as well, but there was nothing. Now it’s going to start. I can’t wait. Rave!”
We ended up playing Mario Kart DS against Tetsuya Harie, the student (aka ‘no. 65’) who was sat next to us in The Queue, and between winning Grand Prix we stopped for a quick chat.
SPOnG:: Why are you getting a PS3, then?
“Usually, I wait for a while after consoles launch. I’m not really a maniac, but my friend convinced me that this was worthwhile. So here I am.”
SPOnG:: Which of the PS3 launch games do you want?
“I’ll probably just get Ridge Racer. And after that, I’m really looking forward to the new Metal Gear Solid. I’ve played Metal Gear since the first MSX game and it’s been really cool to see it develop into such an amazingly cinematic game.”
SPOnG: How about the development of PlayStation hardware – do you like the PS3’s design?
“Well, it seems similar to the PS2 in many ways, but I’m not overly concerned by its design. The most important things for me are its Blu-Ray playback and games.”
Koji Takashi, another student we beat at Mario Kart DS while waiting for 7am, already had his HD setup in preparation for the PS3’s arrival.
“I’ve got a brand new Sharp Aquos,” he boasted, “and the PS3 should look great on it. I love getting new things; that’s why I’m here.”
SPOnG:: We know what you mean. So, games?
“Yeah, I’m getting Ridge Racer 7. Then Minna no Golf – the Sega golf game (launch title Sega Golf Club) doesn’t look good at all. After that, it would have to be Metal Gear Solid 4.”
SPOnG:: So, other than it being new, what are your reasons for getting a PS3?
“It’s really all about HD and online, I think. With online games, I have quite a lot of experience on the PC and PS2. But lately, I’ve stopped playing Final Fantasy XI Online because it takes too much time. I prefer quick online games – Winning Eleven and other sports games, and racing games. So I’m looking forward to those sorts of game, starting with Ridge Racer 7. If I have one complaint, it’s just that I wish the PS3 could have had a TV recording function…”
SPOnG:: And you don’t mind queuing through the night for the PS3, even without a recording option?
“It’s not fun, is it? But it’s definitely worth it for a PlayStation3. I was here for the PS2 launch, as well, and that was much worse. It was a cheaper system and in greater supply, so everyone came out for it. It seems a bit different this time round.”
First we spoke to Kawashima-san, a Shinjuku resident, for some interesting comments about the PS3 and he effortlessly obliged while jigging around to the trance music that was coming from his phone.
SPOnG:: Why is this special?
Kawashima-san: “Yeah, this is the first place in the whole world. We’re getting the PS3 before America, before Europe. It’s great. We’ve been here for every console launch. It’s always something great, isn’t it?”
SPOnG:: So which PS3 game are you waiting for?
“They should make a trance game! Yeah, I’d really like something with dancing and trance and lights. Something like Rez, but which uses the PS3’s power.”
SPOnG:: And how long have you been dancing here?
“Since 8am. I came yesterday [Thursday] as well, but there was nothing. Now it’s going to start. I can’t wait. Rave!”
We ended up playing Mario Kart DS against Tetsuya Harie, the student (aka ‘no. 65’) who was sat next to us in The Queue, and between winning Grand Prix we stopped for a quick chat.
SPOnG:: Why are you getting a PS3, then?
“Usually, I wait for a while after consoles launch. I’m not really a maniac, but my friend convinced me that this was worthwhile. So here I am.”
SPOnG:: Which of the PS3 launch games do you want?
“I’ll probably just get Ridge Racer. And after that, I’m really looking forward to the new Metal Gear Solid. I’ve played Metal Gear since the first MSX game and it’s been really cool to see it develop into such an amazingly cinematic game.”
SPOnG: How about the development of PlayStation hardware – do you like the PS3’s design?
“Well, it seems similar to the PS2 in many ways, but I’m not overly concerned by its design. The most important things for me are its Blu-Ray playback and games.”
Koji Takashi, another student we beat at Mario Kart DS while waiting for 7am, already had his HD setup in preparation for the PS3’s arrival.
“I’ve got a brand new Sharp Aquos,” he boasted, “and the PS3 should look great on it. I love getting new things; that’s why I’m here.”
SPOnG:: We know what you mean. So, games?
“Yeah, I’m getting Ridge Racer 7. Then Minna no Golf – the Sega golf game (launch title Sega Golf Club) doesn’t look good at all. After that, it would have to be Metal Gear Solid 4.”
SPOnG:: So, other than it being new, what are your reasons for getting a PS3?
“It’s really all about HD and online, I think. With online games, I have quite a lot of experience on the PC and PS2. But lately, I’ve stopped playing Final Fantasy XI Online because it takes too much time. I prefer quick online games – Winning Eleven and other sports games, and racing games. So I’m looking forward to those sorts of game, starting with Ridge Racer 7. If I have one complaint, it’s just that I wish the PS3 could have had a TV recording function…”
SPOnG:: And you don’t mind queuing through the night for the PS3, even without a recording option?
“It’s not fun, is it? But it’s definitely worth it for a PlayStation3. I was here for the PS2 launch, as well, and that was much worse. It was a cheaper system and in greater supply, so everyone came out for it. It seems a bit different this time round.”
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
darksaiyanprince33 14 Nov 2006 19:32
1/1
THATS TIGHT!