Industry flamebait: the PS3 is a 3DO
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Oct 1st 2007 at 2:30PM }
David Cole of DFC Intelligence notes: "The PS3 has all kinds of software support, billions of dollars in backing, a well known brand name, they are able to do marketing and it sold more units in its first few days on the market than the 3DO did in the 3 years or so it was on the market. PS3DO sounds cute and catchy, but as an actual basis for comparison it is pretty useless."
Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities also agrees: "It's a pretty stupid (and unfair) comparison," he said. "3DO was a new platform, no brand ID, not compatible with legacy software, and with no first or third party support. The PS3 has a great brand, a loyal customer base, is generally backward compatible, has a ton of third party support, and an ever-increasing number of good first party titles. I hope the industry veteran was kidding. If he was serious, he's a fool."
A fool, indeed. To see what the creator of 3DO has to say, check out GameDaily's complete feature.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jas @ Oct 1st 2007 2:51PM
On some levels it's a pretty fair comparison. Fanboy expectations and Sony hyperbole vs. reality ring true.
Sales are not up to expectations.
Quantity and quality of games are not up to expectations.
Priced too expensive in the marketplace.
Being beaten by it's competitors.
Yeah, sounds like the 3D0 to me -- which BTW I bought when it was released.
chip5541 @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:12AM
I would consider it more in line with Amiga than 3DO.
Jldowning @ Oct 1st 2007 3:01PM
At some point, Nearly EVERY Console gamer WILL own a PS3. The only question is... how long will it take each person to adapt?
Popfrogs @ Oct 1st 2007 3:15PM
3: The real question is, how many RRoDs does it take for people on that side of the fence to cross over? Stories of 4 or 5 returns, at a 4-6 week delay, for many people are not unusual.
And before any of you "I own every console and this hasn't happened to me" people chime in, I know. You probably spread your gaming across 2 or 3 consoles. I would imagine the multiple deaths & returns are from people that only own or play the faulty one.
Everyone says "too high", "no games", but that's about it. Next year as Sony continues to refine and repackage the PS3, it will pass the cost savings on. Also the AAA games are due to hit next year with some AA and maybe one AAA game this holiday season.
I feel like a retard for buying my PS3 at launch but each passing month makes me feel better.
coplice @ Oct 1st 2007 3:21PM
i remember paying my ps2 $500 and lacked games in its early days... isnt the ps2 the most succesful console ever?
T-P-M @ Oct 1st 2007 3:24PM
What's the bet the "anonymous respectable industry veteran" works for M$?
TORO @ Oct 1st 2007 3:33PM
Honestly, RRoD won't keep me from playing teh Hal0z...I love this game! I've replaced my 360 twice, will worth the wait cause it hasn't crapped in 8 months...issue solved :)
And I agree, this guy is a fool...but PS3 is drastically falling behind. Some people should be fired!
Konchu @ Oct 1st 2007 3:35PM
@coplice What region was that it launched at around 299 here in the US if i remember right. Placement is different this round as the cube and xbox came out later so it did have that advantage. Not sure what it going to happen this gen I think the PS3 is going to do alright I guess Im a bit like Peter Moore I would like to see a 33% split across the board it keeps all three in check and tring to beat the other and thus keeps us in great games and systems. This holiday season in going to be great for PS3 I personally cant wait for Ratchet and Clank.
OrganicShadow @ Oct 1st 2007 3:40PM
@1: You could pretty much slap all of those generalizations onto any console that finished last/third in all of the past console "races".
Genesis
N64
Dreamcast(technically)
Gamecube
I think people concentrate on the biggest similarities and not on the reasons that the things actually failed to begin with. Had the company behind 3DO had the cash to absorb loss they could have priced it lower, they could have paid companies to make games, they could have done a lot of things- but they weren't Sony/M$/N. Same reason Phantom is having such a hard time(among other reasons...).
Sora57 @ Oct 1st 2007 3:56PM
@popfrogs
I only own PS3, and have had it for many months, playing hours each night. Has worked flawlessly. Same with everyone I know, although several friends own XBOX 360s and Wii as well. They have had the red ring of death on the XBOX, but the PS3s have been rock solid. Like I said, I only have the PS3 console right now, so your theory doesn't hold for me.
coplice @ Oct 1st 2007 3:56PM
@8
canada, where everything is more expensive, but still less than europe... ps3 is still more expensive here than in USA and our dollar is worth as much as US dollar =.=
i remember clearly helping him buy his ps2 1 year after release for $400 CND, so i think it really was $500 at release and more probably $400 USD than 300.. anyway... it was expensive compared to gaycube
ratchet and guitar hero this month! woot
Egster @ Oct 1st 2007 3:58PM
About the so called lack of games.Which console that has been out for a year will have the games catalogue of the PS3 come november/december this year when it celebrates it's one year anniversary?
And an anonymous veteran, why isn't he man enough make a statement like this in public. Or is this one of those made up stories to put the PS3 in a bad spotlight. Probably the latter.
coplice @ Oct 1st 2007 3:59PM
"i remember clearly helping him buy his ps2 1 year after release "
by "him" i meant a friend...
hovan316 @ Oct 1st 2007 4:34PM
PS2 was released for 499.99US and 599.99Can 7 years ago.
Ps3 is now at 549.99$ CAN and 499.99$ US.
In 7 years my little kidos, we have something called inflation. Everything is more expensive in life.
So to call the PS3 expensive, and to say it lacks games is just being a 360 fanboy or being cheap.
Xbox 360 lacked games the 1st year and it was 549.99CAN when it was released.
So please, just shut-up people and if you can't afford this great system called the PS3, sit tight in your corners and wait for the next price drop as it will happen soon. History repeats itself...Ps2 was the champ and was expensive at release, PS3 will do the same thing. Relax and chill for now...
Ghaleon @ Oct 1st 2007 4:51PM
I've compared the 3DO and Playstation 3 since Sony's machine was announced at its price point. This is Sony's fault: they've marketed it THEMSELVES as a multimedia machine, which is exactly what 3DO did.
Blu-Ray + "We don't need the PC," hahaha.
The Dreamcast had the best one-year-run of any system ever (it was only around for 2), check your history guys. But it's true most systems take a year to get started. The prob is this holiday the Playstation 3 doesn't really have any mainstream hype games that will make people pay more for the system over a Wii or 360.
EDGE @ Oct 1st 2007 4:55PM
@15
"The prob is this holiday the Playstation 3 doesn't really have any mainstream hype games..."
err Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank ?
jae29one @ Oct 1st 2007 4:59PM
Im sick and tired of fools like this one who hate on Sony and the PS3.. Same BS when the PS2 came out.. What even more fustrating is that these are the same @hole who jump back on the band wagon when everyone else is sweating Sony and the PS3.. Bunch of Fu**ing lemmings..
got'emall @ Oct 1st 2007 6:13PM
I just bought a ps3 this last weekend to complete my next gen console trilogy . Let me say this , the ps3 is a very impressive piece of equipment. Extremely quite compared to the 360, lots of media features. I absolutly love it can't wait till some of the AAA games come out this year. I can easily see this becoming my favorite system soon. I got halo3 last week and was very dissapointed in the graphics, gameplay is good but Gears of war puts it to shame graphically and it came out nearly a year ago.
qwerter @ Oct 1st 2007 5:49PM
@16 YESS UNCHARTED MAN THAT GAMES LOOKS GOOD WHENS IT COMIN OUT?
Shattercross @ Oct 1st 2007 5:45PM
Honestly, I don't see the point of comparisons- history doesn't switch stuff around and repeat itself exactly the same way every time. Anything can happen, tomorrow Microsoft's assembly plant can catch fire, 3 months from now Bungie could defect to Sony out of frickin' no where,next week Nintendo could announce that the Wii's actually made from meteors found from space, anything can happen- no comparison can predict the future.
otarumx @ Oct 1st 2007 5:51PM
Comparing the PS3 to the 3DO is like comparing the 360 to the Dreamcast. The same generalizations could be made. The Dremcast was very popular and had a lot of great games, it had one of the most successful launches and the shaky fanbase of the Saturn. Well, it still failed because it lacked the support of big games like FF, DQ and MGS. If we are going to play the comparison game first we have to look at history in all angles and not just in the fanboy point of view.
jae29one @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:14AM
@18 the only lames who say this are the broke one's like you who dont have one.. I have no complaints about my PS3.. Why? B/C Im not one of these spoiled turds who understands how the industry works and does not set super high expectation of expecting a $hit load of games at launch.. I watch my movies in HD, play my games at full 1080p not 720p upscaled to 1080 like the WetSox 360, I media stream with it and I play all my PS1 and PS2 game without a problem.. Plus some of my PS1 game I take on the go with my PSP.. Soon once this damn country steps up its boardband network I'll be able to watch live TV or recorded TV from where ever the hell I want.. Walkman!!! Please.. The high price excuse is getting worn out as well.. Its a "Blu ray player" its going to cost money cause it a new technology.. Where was the uproar when flat panel TV's hit the market for like 4, $5000 a pop.. There was none and people accepted this b/c that was the reality at the time.. Which is what going on now with the PS3.. Of course as time passes and cost of production is lowered and more in in people homes the price will drop.. And it doesnt have to be just PS3's.. Blu ray players in general.. Go buy a stand alone Blu ray players and tell me which is a better deal..That or a PS3???
CirrusLogic @ Oct 1st 2007 5:55PM
If M$hit pays very well, as usual, they can win this console war... for this year. Next one PS3 has a huge amount of titles. Even in this holiday period (xmas) great titles come out. It's only the beginning, PS3 real power hasn't been revealed yet.
NinKenDo @ Oct 1st 2007 5:55PM
@ hovan316
The PS2 was released for $299US when it came out in Sep. of 2000. I know because I preordered one and the initial price was going to be $399 but came down to $299 before it released. So your $499 figure is just a bit off.
Michael C. Sherrin @ Oct 1st 2007 7:35PM
I don't know how exact this comparison is. The Playstation 3 follows one of the most successful consoles ever, so the pedigree is going to give it a longer life span than say a new entry would get. Plus, it has a huge game development team to make sure a stream of exclusives do make it to store shelves. So fingers crossed, things will only get better...cause they can't really get much worse.
********
Michael C. Sherrin
http://www.prodigeek.com/
Absenthe @ Oct 1st 2007 7:02PM
When did panasonic and other companys make a new multi tasking core chip? i think its a childish stab at an amazing system. I ve had many systems from Sega MS too
N64, a friend has both X360 and PS3 after spending a afternoon playing them both, looking at games soon to be out, and due too the amount of red ring systems my G/F's brother's systems had
(7 so far in 10 months), its easy. Sony won.
PS3DO ALL THE WAY BABY!
John @ Oct 1st 2007 9:18PM
From the "creator of 3DO's comment," it sounds like he made the original 3DO for a different reason than the ps3, so why all the tech? That's the only way I can figure out his response, otherwise he appears to be a person who doesn't really play games. It was pretty cheesy that he started out naming his brand and how great their games are, getting a free advert in there, but didn't that feel kinda weird? I mean, if you are really saying that ps3 is not going to compete, because people want to play videogames on their phones-- that's ludicrous. What I hear him saying is that he discovered that there was an unexpectedly large and formerly latent but increasingly interested and growing buyer base for games developed for portable devices. And that somehow, with all it's tech, the 3do was designed for the same audience?
The 3do had an impressive chipset for it's time, especially considering a weird 12Mhz an ARM60 32-bit RISC CPU, said to be the equivelent of 25Mhz Motorola 68030. But the Amiga 500 was available for less, had only slightly less power, and a ton of games and homebrew.
I looked this up, because I got confused and thought that 3do used an Amiga chipset. Turns out, that was Commodore's CDTV and AmigaCD32.
But what Cole and Pachter say is true: there is no valid comparison, here.
The people in offices referring to PS3 as PS3DO are just haters.
To be a hater, you have to be ignorant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3DO_Interactive_Multiplayer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3do
if you question some people's loyalty to the 3DO:
http://fz1-3do.blog.co.uk/
John @ Oct 1st 2007 9:35PM
Otarumx, history tells us that the Dreamcast failed not because of lack of big games, but because of the arrival of the Playstation.
Better brand recognition by far (Sony had been making excellent TVs and stereos for us since the 70's); better price, better marketing, higher availability, and more visibility-- a company with so many connections, that even at a similar price, would have still been a stiff competition.
Which brings us to where we are now.
Because MS is no Sega, so we have these giants, duelling it out, these massive machines, storming against each other, and from them down rains manna, and we scurry to pick up all the goodies. And in the background, a swarm of light birds, like origami, and as harmless, until they nit and pick and bite at the two collosii, weakening them both to points of distress, all the while unmolested, never bitten, never touched.
The birds are winning.
The colossii are now almost equally matched.
Will they kill each other, leaving only birds?
Of course not. They'll shake hands and give each other a bro-hug.
That's why this generation of 'console-fighting' is so different from anything before, and why comparisons to things like 3do border on eyes wide shut.
John @ Oct 1st 2007 10:03PM
Eddie, I think you mis-typed the address in your browser.
I'm pretty sure you wanted to go here:
http://xbox.joystiq.com/
Steven @ Oct 1st 2007 10:51PM
Peter Moore...is that you??
I agree with #17.
Most of the 360 fanboys of today owned a PS2 when it ruled the roost. Sony lost the early 'next gen' battle (Microsoft had a year lead) which is really paying off for the 360. The 360 launch and mid-year had mainly ported not so next gen titles.
Now the developers have had time with the 360. The games are improving. The Madden football game comes to mind. It was rated better on the 360. The fanboys who purchased the last two Madden's on the 360 forgot how crappy they were! it should have improved!
Bioshock and Halo 3 released well over a year into the 360's life. Again, the 360 getting out a year before the PS3 paid off for MS.
Sony didn't have a stripped PS3 like MS did with the core. Microsoft made another pay off move by not including a HD optical drive on the 360.
It seems some gamers don't mind purchasing add-ons (the 360's wi-fi, hard drive, etc) but complained about the expensive PS3 sku's offered.
mccomber @ Oct 1st 2007 11:00PM
I don't give a damn when anyone has something like this to say when they won't stand behind their words.
Dave @ Oct 1st 2007 11:53PM
Alright, enough with the RRoD's already. How long was it into the 360 life cycle before they appeared? Nearly two years? How long has PS3 been out? Less than a year.
I'm not biased for either side. In fact I own both consoles. A PS3, along with a 360 elite, and premium. I can tell you this much though. I have hell of alot more to play on my 360's than I do on my PS3. And the multiplayer on a PS3? Where is it? Has anyone logged onto R6 Vegas other than me since it's been out?
I also own a 3D0, and I can say, I am certainly seeing the similarities at the moment.
Jldowning @ Oct 2nd 2007 5:56AM
@ Dave
Actually the RROD come around before the first year was up.
Don't shy away from the fact that the PS3 has been publicly tested in some of the harshest conditions you could think of. The PS3 Passed with Flying colors. The same can not be said about the 360.
The 360 IS a poorly made console, rushed to the market with more then one design flaw. (The lack of HDD's in every system, the Disk scratching problem, and the RROD) Then Backed by a Pocket book to buy up ever exclusive and Studio it can.
The fact is, if the 360 never came around, Sony would have all those 360 exclusive titles, they would all look and run better. There would be no crappy ports from the 360. And the PS3 would be well along its way to reaching its potential, not being held back by multiplatform games only taking up 9 gigs of the BRD, not taking advantage of the Hard Drive, and not using the Two Teraflops of power the PS3 offers.
Well informed Fanboy rant /off
Neo Senku @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:36AM
here is the thing though, we gamers never asked for nor wanted a blu-ray player we asked for a gamming system, plain and simple. people also do have other things to buy, and if you live in a tax heavy state like maryland, that makes it even more costly. i can deal with a 400$ ps3 and im sure alot that dont have one by now can to, but the fact is that it cost alot and it being too expensive at the moment is a valid reason to complain or not have brought one. i bet alot of the ps2 fans got them after some price drops. now while i dont agree with #18 comments i just felt the need to express my opinion on the topic of price.
Burnt Meatloaf @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:57AM
There key differences:
1) 3DO was a new console. Sony has been making Playstations for a while and has built a brand name. The brand name will help Sony given their high cost.
2) 3DO was licensed to manufacturers, and sold under their own brands. Only Sony distributes the PS3. Vertical integration helps reduce costs faster.
3) The 3DO was built like a PC (hardware standards) but ran game software, sort of like the Amiga. Hell, the 3DO was made by ex-Amiga people, and was designed with expansion in mind. The PS3 is a game machine that only pretends to be a PC, but is most definitely designed like a game console. The 3DO had more waste in its design -- the PS3 uses more of its hardware for the price that you pay.
4) Sony doesn't have s**t 1-st party software. Many 3DO titles were, frankly, quite terrible.
Burnt Meatloaf @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:59AM
There key differences:
1) 3DO was a new console. Sony has been making Playstations for a while and has built a brand name. The brand name will help Sony given their high cost.
2) 3DO was licensed to manufacturers, and sold under their own brands. Only Sony distributes the PS3. Vertical integration helps reduce costs faster.
3) The 3DO was built like a PC (hardware standards) but ran game software, sort of like the Amiga. Hell, the 3DO was made by ex-Amiga people, and was designed with expansion in mind. The PS3 is a game machine that only pretends to be a PC, but is most definitely designed like a game console. The 3DO had more waste in its design -- the PS3 uses more of its hardware for the price that you pay.
4) Sony doesn't have s**t 1-st party software. Many 3DO titles were, frankly, quite terrible.
(Apologies if this double posts)
jae29one @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:52AM
@35.. Actually here's the real thing.. As a gamer we want the best graphic, best FPS, lighting, movement no lag and all that good stuff right? Well guess what.. That very soon will not be able to be done on a DVD format. That is what I love about Sony.. These guys know what their doing.. Unlike M$ who Im willing to bet my car that they will come out with another console in the next 2yrs b/c of the lack of the new format.. The PS3 is not here for now.. Its here for the next 8 to 10 yrs..
Dave @ Oct 2nd 2007 9:30AM
I really don't think Next-gen video formats will play too strong of a role in this generation of consoles, but I could be wrong. Just as games have done in the past, if the game doesn't fit correctly onto one disc - you create more.
Truth of the matter is Xbox 360 (Despite its flaws) is delivering right NOW, and that's what gamers want. We are not too concerned that our console won't reach it's potential for another five years (See article post a number of weeks ago on this page). By that time one console or another will have such a strong hold of the market and a lead that the full potential of the other will not matter.
For the time being, my PS3 is really just a sleek and sexy black machine that serves as a media-streaming device in my living room.
Jay @ Oct 2nd 2007 9:41AM
I remember paying a fortune for my PS2 on launch, then waiting months for a good number of decent games. Now remind me, how many PS2s have been sold so far? I do believe that independent research suggests that 90% of gamers in the US either own a PS2 or have owned one in the past.
And didn't the PS2 have disappointing early sales?
As for the Wii, I''m sure Sony are as worried about the Wii as Aston Martin are worried by the Fiat Panda.
snupher @ Oct 2nd 2007 12:55PM
I am sorry, but when you have to defend yourself against being compared to a DOA 32-bit system, something is horribly, horribly wrong. I hope 2008 is going to be an upswinging year for Sony. Mainly, because if it isn't, I think their system is more like the 3DO than they realize...
komrad @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:20PM
Who is this industry veteran that has balls the size of an old raisin?
bamf @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:39PM
No,I don't see the comparison. The 3DO was over by now, the PS3 is getting stronger and this year leading into next spring with huge killer apps (360 has nothing to counter them) we will see how strong the PS3 really is when sales figures are not that far behind the 360. I think by the end of 2008, there will be more PS3 owners than 360 owners. How can you put up with the failings of the hardware. If any product broke on me twice that would be the last I would own. But people by a 3rd 360. Maybe they just want to keep the numbers up? Just look at 360 sales figures in the last few months and it probably give you an indication off how many 360's broke.