And the laziest port ever goes to... ...

Yes, you are, the reason games were designed with the ps2 in mind is because the ps2 has sold well, and more people own a ps2 than xbox and gamecube, so therefore more ps2 versions of the game would have been sold.

By the way, every EA game ever made has not been less than it could have been because it was designed with the ps2 in mind, but because EA recycle the same game formula over and over again.

They also design primarily for the PS2 because it's the lowest common denomiter (I know that's spelt wrong, I know it). If it wasn't so popular most developers would probably ignore it, like they do GC.

Yeah. It was slow and bad. The second one was good though. Then 3 was bad, and 4 was reasonable.. but lacked two player mode. EXCEPT for on the Super Game Boy. It was funny. The game had a pallete, some interesting borders, and when I called up Midway to ask about the lack of mention of SGB support in the credits, they were like: "What? It has SGB support?" "Yeah and the FMV messes up in the SGB." "Really?" "Do you guys even pay your playtest group?" And then they hung up.

Although Deception and Deadly Alliance for GBA are the best portable ones currently. Hopefully the MK 1 & 2 included in the upcoming Midway game for the PSP will be accurate.

do you just disregard the post i was reffering to? first off i was joking.. secondly... i wasnt actually complianign about it i was usuing it as an example as to why DOC's complaing was unfound, even though that was mostley ment as a joke too im sure. also... we are talkign about the entire span of the consoles life... not just right now.. int he begnign the lead that sony had was not as great as it is today and it was partly due to being out a year before the other two.



for the most part i agree... i have no love loss for EA... however soem of there games are goo dand coudl have used some modification... tricky and burnout initially spring to mind... burnout being a property they bought i realize but still their product none the less.
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To be fair, it's impossible to say. Think 'butterfly effect'.

The videogame landscape would be totally different today, if $ony hadn't decided to enter a serious contender to the market in the 90's. A lot of the franchises you've highlighted (GTA/ T. Hawks) are a reaction to the massive popularity of the PS brand.

Who knows what would've happened to video-gaming if $ony hadn't entered: Would Sega still be in the home console market? And M$ only wanted a slice of the market once $ony made it as big as it's become. I certainly never heard serious rumours of their interest when it was dominated by Ninty and Sega...

It's a thinker!!11

If Sony had never released the PS:

Well, Sega's Saturn would have lived a lot longer, so no Dreamcast - or any of the frankly amazing games that were made for it. Nintendo's N64 would still have come out, so all that would be left intact. Rare would still be working for Nintendo, as it's highly likely gaming would have stayed a quiet pursuit and as such not tempted MS to enter the arena.

Racing games would have stayed to be like Sega Rally, as there would have been no GT. So, no Forza, but still Ridge Racer. Tekken would never have become as popular as it has, so Virtua Fighter would not have deviated from the formula to become the amazing game it is now. Grand Theft Auto III would still have been what it was. After all, they were already making it for the PC at the time. They just held it back for the PS2 after being approached by Sony to make it exclusive. Thing is, it would never have been as successful... so no VC or SA.

EA would still be making all the sports games they are. Hey, they made it to the Saturn, so... But without a PS, a lot of franchises nobody blinks at now would never have happened. Burnout may never have happened, for instance. Final Fantasy would be a totally different beast.

Without the PlayStation, gaming would be a lot different. Heck, even all that is just guesswork. I'm not sure I'd enjoy gaming as much if I couldn't bemoan the death of the Dreamcast, and PSO, Powerstone, Shenmue et al with it. If the Saturn had been successful, 2D would still be a popular format...

This is very touchy subject but there has been many times I almost wish Sony had never entered the market, this isn't Sony bashing. It's just I remember when gaming was special and if you found a fellow gamer they didn't ask if you'd played the latest FIFA/NHL game, as thought it's the best/only game in the world. Yes, it used to be more geeky and people never used to understand it and class it as just for kids (not much has changed with this!), however in my opinion games were better then, more fun, with less corporate bullshit and that's what I miss.

Now the majority of the general gaming public haven't even heard of Ico, Beyond Good & Evil, Animal Crossing, to name but a few. I'd also be surprised if any of them even remember the Dreamcast or are aware there was a SNES and Mega Drive.
I know that have been many good games as a a result of the PlayStation, it's just how many other good games never saw the light of day because of it!

I guess what I'm saying is gaming used to be special and I miss it. I know Sony have done many good and bad things for the industry, it's just I'm not sure the good out way the bad.

This isn't meant as a dig at the industry or Sony, just my view.

I'm certain that with no Sony, Microsoft would still have attempted a Games Console. They have always been interested in capturing the gamer market. Usually for the PC, but it's true. They may have tried it differently, but they still would have tried it at some stage.

After reading through those things, I have to say... those would be the main reasons why I wish that Sony never entered the console business.

Imagine if FF7 had never happened! The Final Fantasy series would be closer to games like 5, and 6 right now. This will be controversial, but I can live without Cloud ever existing. I consider 4 through 6 to be the apex titles in the series. To me, 7 was the beginning of a long period of suck in the FF series.

As for 2D gaming still being popular? Part of the reason I have thrown so much support behind the GBA and the Nintendo DS is that 2D gaming is good. Thankfully, it looks like a lot of upcoming PSP games will be 2D but with "3D" graphics. While they are all ports and not original games for the most part.. it's nice to see 2D in some form on that brick.

Imagine of the Saturn had continued to live longer...

wouldn't that mean NIGHTS 2?

That alone would be worth the non-existence of Sony. I think I would miss games like Kingdom Hearts, and I think Resident Evil would have ended up being a Saturn title if the Playstation didn't exist. I think games would have evolved in graphics at a much slower pace if Sony had not existed. Which would have been fine with me, as graphics are an over-emphasized thing.

I dunno.. what bug do I have to step on in the past to ruin Sony's future? hehehe I think it may be worth it if it means no Crash Bandicoot, and no Spyro. Where do I sign up?

I don't think that this is the case. Microsoft did very little to forward the cause of the PC as a games machine.

And until Sony creatd the mainstream games audience (or at least revived it fromt he long-dead) it wasn't really a market worthy of much consideration.

I disagree.

Well argued, sir.