Midway says they're not the only ones "concerned" over PS3

by Nick Doerr { Aug 2nd 2007 at 2:00PM }

As if Sony needed any other publisher's concern, Midway spoke out the other day about the up-take (or up-doc, if you want some tomfoolery) of the PS3. Midway's CEO David Zucker did the talking, but his words strike home and we're concerned about the same things he is: we want the good PS3 titles to sell very well. He's also concerned about console sales, feeling the price cut will deliver a nice, temporary boost to sales, but it might not be enough.

If you're wondering why Midway is so concerned, it's because for once, they're not trying to sell a Mortal Kombat title. They've got the special edition of Stranglehold and Unreal Tournament 3 coming out over the next few months and those are pretty important titles to get sales for. Midway wonders if another price cut will come in the future, if it's enough, and if their big titles will make a splash on the PS3, or bellyflop. Everybody knows that getting a pink belly is not a very fun way to start your day at the lake.

Tags: davidzucker, midway, stranglehold, unrealtournament3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ToyAnvil @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:21PM

well if they are concerned they better make sure then that these titles dont get downrezzed for those of us with 1080i TVs otherwise I will wait until next year and get UTIII on the 360 where I know I can experience it in HD

Tru-blue @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:22PM

Ah, patience is a virtue. I do strongly believe. Many companies are worried about this and that for the PS3's future. Since being release in the states, the PS3 hasn't even reached its 1 yr yet.

Like many have stated, the games being released this holiday season is only the start of what 2008 will bring forth, and that's the steam that the PS3 will be picking up full force.

drdre74 @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:29PM

well I know I will be picking up stranglehold. cant beat that a game and a movie on one disc. just wish it didn't get pushed back. I wanted something to play until heavenly sword hits.

ouj @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:30PM

I bet the sales of the Mortal Kombat game they released for the Wii weren't too hot either.

doug @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:38PM

ill buy both for hardboiled in HD and of course ut3 is just going to be fun

FrankBilboWinkerToups @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:40PM

Midway is probably doing some back door PR negotiation crap and carping on Sony will get Microsoft to hand them over a nice money hat. I haven't bought a Midway game for years.

ITA_Mafia_Boy @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:58PM

Ok ... here comes a lesson of PR 101 ... don't make negavie statements BEFORE your games get released for a console .. make NEGATIVE statements AFTER and IF you have negative figures on the sale report of your so beloved highliy anticipated titles !!!!
As of now PS3 has an install base of almost 5 millions units .. FIVEMILLIONS .. can someone please tell me where is the negativity ? .. Dear David Zucker if the games that you are releasing for our belowed system are really that good we will show you all our love by buying them .. if they are crap .. well is not our fault and you should blame the developers and the game/production designer. Of one thing I am sure the fact that u can import custom made maps in PS3 is "kick ass" new and just that should sell the tytle.

Peace

gullum @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:10PM

@ITA_Mafia_Boy

I agree. If a good game comes out, the sales will definitely reflect it. I mean if Resistance can be a million seller, the EVERY other PS3 game has the same potential. Some devs just won't ever realize that potential.

Parker @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:11PM

Perhaps if you would extend every resource to make sure your games are going to blow us away instead of wasting time casting doubt over the PS3,then maybe, just maybe your games would actually sell well. Stop blaming the console and make sure your games are completely up to par. If you make a spectacular game it will sell incredibly well. If you make garbage your sales will be garbage regardless.

slick @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:14PM

I am f-ing sick and tired of these peopel and there issue with teh price, sure I can pay 349.99 and get a piece of shit that i will most like likely have to replace, and if i want to watch hd movies i have to spend 179.99 for a add on, but i dont I paid 599.99 for the system and never thought twice abount it, This is a company that have NEVER dissapointed us but now oh sony is loosing, sony needs, this f all these company, sony was there for them to put all of them on the map nowe when sony needs the its f sony, i gonna go for teh green, that's all its about with teh people... I am a prowed owner of a ps3, and i will be a PS fanatic for ever............

shase @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:21PM

the problem is not whether the game is good or not, it is how many people available for purchase. If there are 1 million ps3s sold, no matter how good resistance is, not everyone will buy it since they are not FPSers. If there are 4 million units sold more resistance will be sold due to more FPSers introduced. So it is part of the game being good but it is also dependent on the audience who are holding a PS3. If all the audience are RPG fanboys then even if GOW or Halo3 comes to ps3 not many copies will be sold.

Of course making your game quality as best as it can be will help bring some "wow" factors and some "unsure" gamers will probably buy it. Midway and other companies can't think negative like "oh man, only 5 million units sold, lets just make it a crappy port and hope we make some profit" once they don't make much they say "we made a PS3 game for you ungrateful gamers yet you guys arent gobling it up."

ck @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:28PM

Why are people so concerned about PS3 sales? It's keeping up with the 360 for the same period that the 360 had no competition:

http://vgchartz.com/hwcomps.php?cons1=Wii®1=All&cons2=PS3®2=All&cons3=X360®3=All&align=1

Joe @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:38PM

Well I can say I have my eye on Stranglehold for Hardboiled. So I plan on getting that game. Plus with mods on the PS3 version I also think that is great. So if the game turns out great I will have to pick up that game also.

Andy @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:52PM

The only Midway game I'm picking up is Area 51. That game looks great.

Dungwader @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:34PM

Quite the conundrum huh? Better games will equal better console sales and better console sales will appease the makers of the games. I actually feel the PS3 has done a decent job in sells considering its price point and the lack of truly killer games. Midway needs to have faith in their games as much as they hint/poke/demand that they think Sony needs to loose more money per unit by selling it at another price cut. Create the truly killer apps and they will make money. Create mediocre games, derivative games, and rehashes and they may have a reason to worry. The developers have just as much ability to push units as Sony does.

shase @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:34PM

The only midway game i am picking up is Shadow Hearts 4 when it comes out

never$$hort @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:38PM

I think they need to worry about the 360's future not the Ps3's. Here's why:

Report: Xbox 360 in danger of becoming distant third:
http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=126688

Sony reports fewer losses than Microsoft:
http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=125488

Xbox division posts $1.9B loss over last year:
http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=123948

Feature: Six Reasons The Xbox 360 Is in Trouble:
http://gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox360/games/features/124008.shtml

This shit is seriously getting annoying... PS3 just had a slow start like ALL PREVIOUS Sony systems, it will pick up AS ALWAYS. The media just hates Sony, you never see all the articles that I posted above about the MASSIVE TROUBLE 360 is widespread all over the net...ITS BS!!

David Costin @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:33PM

I paid the money for the PS3 ... this shouldn't be Mr. Zuckers concern.

Mr. Zucker should however be concerned that I'm now more conscious, picking and choosing which games I'm dumping $60 on, again and again. Because of the increased cost of the games, I am no longer paying and playing blindly.

Mr. Zucker might also enjoy hearing me say, I can't tell you the last Midway title I played or purchased. It seems he should be focusing his concentration on creating good games.

CJ @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:38PM

@

Resistance only sold what it did because the lack of games out for the PS3. Thats all. They had to buy something to play on the damn thing other than a movie.

@

Say all you want about the 360. It doesnt appear in trouble to me. They do have the lead over Sony. They also have the games with more on the way. And Halo 3 hasnt even been out yet which you know will break records. There have been plenty of negative press for the 360, but the bottom line is, few people care. Especially if they own one of know friends who do. There are some system selling games on the 360 that people have had a blast playing. Live will blow nearly anything else away when it comes to online gaming in the console world, along with down loadable content like movies and such. The Arcade sells games like hot cakes. They are addressing the Ring of Death issue - offered the 3 year warranty and will begin now to keep that fix the faulty units for good.
There is also the 65nm chip coming out soon that will help the system. A price drop is coming as well.
So you saying the 360 is in trouble doesnt mean much. Those articles mean very little as well. The 360 is in millions of peoples homes and growing. Wait until the holidays and it will have grown even more.
I had a PS3 and was not happy with it. Im not into spending 30 bux for Blue Ray movies and I am dissatisfied with the games out and even the ones coming out soon. You want to talk about a console being in trouble, it could only be the PS3 for right now. Sure they are starting to straighten out a little but they still have a long way to go.
Just because, for whatever reason, you are trying to be die hard loyalists to Sony, doesnt mean you cant admit the problems Sony is facing. Im no loyalist to any one but I have been very happy with my 360. And sure it has broke on me, but I paid nothing to get it fixed and it was back to me in less than 10 days. I like the system and games I play that much that it doesnt matter to me that much. As long as they are going to fix the issue for good is all that matters. Either way, they will always have the games that many people want to play. And once again, the multiplayer is a blast and is really just superior to what Sony has and will have for a while.

CJ @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:39PM

EDIT forgot to add the names...

@ gollum

@ never$$hort

never$$hort @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:55PM

@CJ:

Thats the problem with you 360fanboys... You choose to ignore all the negative news regarding the xbox360 until it bites you in the ass. We as Ps3 owners are overly aware of the negative news surounding the PS3 and are prepared to face it if necessary(which we wont). And Halo 2.5 (oooppps, I mean Halo3) wil NOT be a system seller. People that are waiting for Halo 2.5 already have the system and are doing exactly that, WAITING, just like us for games. Soooo many of my friends that have the 360 complain about the same thing that you sling at us PS3 owners, they say there are NO GOOD GAMES ON 360!!! So STFU and play your defective, overheating, disc-scratching, out-for-repairs, losing-HD-format-supporting BS system, and I'll continue to love and enjoy my PS3/media hub...

never$$hort @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:58PM

@CJ: "So you saying the 360 is in trouble doesnt mean much. Those articles mean very little as well."

-and how come every single negative article that regards to Sony or PS3 is to be taken seriously but any negative article mentioning 360 is suppossed to be disregarded as meh??? Thats what pisses me off the most, you guys are the biggest hypocrites...

never$$hort @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:32PM

And here is just one more way M$ continues to rape thier customers:

Source: Future Xbox 360 games to require hard drive:
http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=127148

-Thanks but no thanks, They used up the whole DVD9 with God of War... what makes you think they don't need more space??? MS made a bad gamble because they did not compensate for the smallish DVD9 with a LARGER hard drive... but since their HDD is so small and the 120GB is a $180 rip off... I cannot condone MS ripping off their customers.... they will force all of you to pay exorbant amounts for HDD space, when you get your 360 out of the box, you only have 13GB free!!! So after a few downloads and god forbid if you download movies.... there ain't much space left for streaming game data to the HDD in uncompressed format.... so eventually all you guys will have to fork out $179.99 for 120 GB hdd... when you can buy a brand new 2.5" SATA hdd 120 from newegg.com for $79.99. Microsoft marks up their drive MORE than $100 because they buy them in bulk!!! They don't pay consumer rates... they pay much cheaper business rate prices. Microsoft fans you are getting fu*ked so bad it should be a crime. Lets do the math... Microsoft charges you $1.50 per GB when Newegg.com charges you $0.67 per GB. So microsoft charges you loyal customers 2.24 times the decent customer rate while smiling in your faces... how you hold your loyalties to them I will never know.

CJ @ Aug 2nd 2007 8:04PM

Wow you sure are getting quite defensive. The realization that the PS3 will not reign supreme finally getting to you? Or is it the fact that developers are finding it out too? Or is it that you just dont have many games to play?
I WILL keep playing my 360 and Ill enjoy every minute of it. And you keep using your PS3 for whatever it is you use it for.
Halo 3 not 2.5 WILL be a system seller. Just like it has in the original and the sequel. I could care less how many systems it sells. I just enjoy playing the games. And Halo 3 will be compareable to Halo 2 in that it will be one of the most played games ever. Dont be jealous.
I think the negatives about Sony and the PS3 are really slowing it down. The fact that they needed a price cut so early should tell you that alone. I dont deny problems with the 360 but so far it still has sold and people still play it, a lot.
I dont get your God Of War comment. That never came out for Xbox. So I dont get your point. If I end up needing to discs for a game then so be it. Its not hard to get up once to switch discs. And so far there have been no issues with disc space so really for the moment it doesnt concern me. As far as the HDD goes, I really dont need that much space on it. I dont plan on downloading a bunch of shit on there and keeping it on there. Others might but not me. If I need to get more space then I will or others will. But in reality most people dont use all the space.

never$$hort @ Aug 2nd 2007 8:35PM

@CJ:

At least I know how to argue and bring up multiple points but also give sources to back up my statements. You on the other hand say the same used up millions of times ol' 360 arguments, its like M$ gives 360fanboys a textbook or something with every purchase on how to flame the competition(PS3)...Here's you: We have games blah blah blah, Halo 3 blah blah blah, Don't need a large HDD blah blah blah, Live is much better blah blah blah, Ps3 is too expensive blah blah blah, Sony forces blu ray upon us blah blah blah... Did I miss any other argument you have??? Come up with some NEW VALID arguments with sources and I will consider listening to your response.

GL @ Aug 2nd 2007 10:51PM

CJ,

Wow! Just wow! I've never seen so much denial since Peter Moore said, "Hey! Things break!"

Let me explain something to you. Here's what Midway is really saying...I'll translate it for everyone...

Midway wants a bigger install base so they can put out run-of-the-mill games. This is how large developers like Midway make money. They put out average games (EA anyone) and sell those average games to tens of millions of casual gamers that don't know any better.

Midway is basically saying, "Hurry up Sony, increase you install base so we can concentrate on putting out average games, that take little cost overhead, and we can sell to the lowest common denominator."

"Without a larger install base, we'll be forced to actually make a great games, with fast framerates, full of features, and robust on-line."

"But why do all that when they can just work less, and put out crappy games to tens of million PS3 owners? Hurry up, so we can get back to sucking!"

So, do you understand now?

Oh, and the PS3 will reign supreme again. What? Did you think the 360 got its lead because it was competing with the PS3? Ha! The 360 had a FULL YEAR WITHOUT ANY NEXTGEN COMPETITION! HELLO!

Each day the PS3 gets stronger :) and the 360 get the red rings. :(

never$$hort @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:36PM

Amen GL... I was hoping someone would hop on here and back me up against this 360troll... Ignorance is bliss they say and its pretty safe to say that CJ is ignorant.