MMO titles to become 'selling points' for PS3

by Nick Doerr { May 12th 2008 at 11:00PM }

We feel like we've heard this spiel before -- MMO's were promised to come onto the PS3 because, let's face it, the thing is practically a computer. What's different this time around is that Sony no longer is saying that MMO's will be something to look forward to, but their forward strategy is to focus on them as key selling points.

Sony Online Entertainment honcho John Smedley said this in an interview with the Seattle Times: "MMOs are going to be a real strong selling point for the PS3 long term - there's going to be some great ones on the PS3." He goes on to blab a little bit about The Agency, which we know only bare bones about, but is supposedly going to be a real shining star and pave the way for other MMO's to get onto the PS3. We'll find out soon enough, right?

[Via CVG]

Tags: agency, john-smedley, soe, sony-online-entertainment, the-agency

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

kevin @ May 12th 2008 11:08PM

what about home?
and yay mmos whatever that is !...

jahd5000 @ May 12th 2008 11:49PM

MMO= Massive Multiplayer Online

or something like that

hlf year till Home btw :S

adolson @ May 13th 2008 12:24AM

Are you kidding? You don't know what MMO means?

xrich @ May 13th 2008 1:00AM

i cant see mmos selling many ps3s when there are no mmos on the ps3...

as for the future, i doubt many people are excited about 'the agency'...it looks like a very mediocre shooter...if you really want a system selling mmo, make diablo 3...

kawzi @ May 13th 2008 1:03AM

mmo titles or title? i only know about one that is the agency

Consolcwby @ May 13th 2008 2:56AM

Well, as you know, there's The Agency - but the other MMO titles are a DC comics universe title, an unnamed Square-Enix title, and an unnamed title from NCSoft. This might not seem like much, but the DC title is pretty much confirmed, and NCSoft has stated they were bringing somthing to the PS3 only a few months ago (could it be Guildwars?... who knows). The thing is, the list keeps growing.

Nrk @ May 13th 2008 1:13AM

Imagine GTA as a MMO, where you can do missions and all that together.
now that would be awesome

Syn @ May 13th 2008 6:25AM

You mean APB? And if it's sold to Rockstar, will become GTA Online.

VanDan @ May 13th 2008 1:24AM

If it mean paying a monthly fee to play them they can keep them...
If it free after buying the game then that a different story..

hai2u @ May 13th 2008 1:39AM

Blizzard needs to release WoW2 for PS3 whenever that comes out. That would move some systems for sure. Sony would be smart to pull a MS and pay Blizz to port it for something like that.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ May 13th 2008 2:38AM

yea that would certainly move consoles. especially if they updated the graphics in the PS3 version or added something extra to it to make it more appealing buyers.

we have spoken Sony. now go out there and make it happen so we can up this install base. larger install base=better support.

leiwei @ May 13th 2008 3:10AM

No no no. Not WoW. Too many spells/shortcuts/addons to fiddle with. You have to think a WoW2 PC port to PS3 will require kb/mouse but lack of addons or customization would be drab. Installing Linux/Wine to emulate a "WoW2 PC" would be just too much trouble especially when there aren't any drivers for the gpu in the PS3.

Now instead of WoW, what about Diablo 3? That'd be a kicker.

Consolcwby @ May 13th 2008 2:59AM

Well, with The Agency, SOE looks like it's going to take the Buy-the-game-play-for-free-microtransaction-you-to-death route. So, there you have it! =/

Fraser JK @ May 13th 2008 3:25AM

I'd love it if Guild Wars 2 or something comes to the PS3!

Christian @ May 13th 2008 5:36AM

I wondered for a while if a WoW port wouldn't have been a incredibly clever move for Sony, but then I figured it might actually be a kiss of death. If WoW got people hooked like the PC version have you could see WoW cannibalizing all games sales on the console. I can't help but think that at least part of the current game selling problems on the PC is related to WoW sucking away the time for so many PC gamers.

koehler83 @ May 13th 2008 6:04AM

They should put LOTRO on PS3.. it would really help both the game and the platform.

Square Enix should also step up and release a PS3 port of FFXI. Its old.. but it wouldnt require SPUs so there's really no excuse.

And if Sony wants MMOs to be a selling point for the PS3.. they'd better get some!

rastansaga @ May 13th 2008 6:18AM

keep hearing about how game X, or Home, or MMO's will be the "killer" feature for the PS3, but zzzzzz.... it never happens. i got a PS3 that's been sitting idle for almost a year now, waiting for something interesting to run on it.

Syn @ May 13th 2008 6:38AM

You bought the system. That's all that matters. Your desire to use it, is your own choice. Unlike you, many others use their PS3s, and more so not just for gaming. 360 is a gaming system, PS3 is a gaming system, but with everything added to it. I use remote play a lot, I stream movies and music a lot(Yes the 360 can do this, but can it stream to a portable device?), I'd rather not pay a network fee(And if PSN did cost $$$, I can't see it improving anything. If I ask someone who owns a 360, why PSN is so bad to them, this is the answer... "PSN is so bad compared to Live." Okkkk? "It lags" I've never lagged. "Live is so much better" because...? I still have no idea how LIVE is better... I asked an employee at EB and he said... "because he could private chat while playing a game"... SWEET, sign me up... actually no. Nothing like waking up and puking all over ps3fanboy.

So if there are any LIVE users, please... explain yourselves. What makes LIVE so much better then PSN?

ihatebioshock @ May 13th 2008 6:46AM

Can't stand MMOs. Don't have that amount of free time in my life to 'live' in a virtual world.

Just give us decent games of all genres FFS.

Riseer @ May 13th 2008 7:03AM

Ps3 would be a great platform for a mmo the only problem is, getting hit up with monthly fees or mircotrans.I use to play Eqoa yea was a mild game but the controls worked well.Really think it was a bad idea to put a mmo on a system with no hd and limited hardware ''glares at ps2''. With ps3 alotta things they couldn't do on ps2 they can now with ps3.Fact is if you don't like mmo's thats fine but their are some of us who can balance life with a mmo. I work 40-50 hour weeks and still have time to play. Ps34lyfe

meh @ May 13th 2008 8:36AM

The idea that Sony want anything to do with MMO games is delusional on their behalf. The online aspect of the PS3 is a joke. No in-game messaging, Home delayed, unstable service (where do people get this 'lag free gaming' idea from?).

Kodros @ May 13th 2008 12:00PM

Why is it delusional? They have the know how and the resources to make it happen since they already have a ton of MMOs. They pulled it off with EQOA on the PS2.

What does Home and In-Game messaging have to do with Sony making an MMO? Not having those two components doesn't affect the MMO at all.

As for network stability, it's as good as any. Some games lag more (yeah, I'm looking at you UT3) but the blame is put directly on Epic and their netcode, not PSN.