We can look forward to more discussion of this nature in the future as to the PS3's situation. Not to say people haven't mistakenly written on the PS3 time and time again, but considering things are arguably now worse than ever for Sony, threads like this are perfect examples of people trying to reassure themselves that there is some unoted value by which the PS3 can still be the best without being the Winner. Still is that so bad, why all the hate of the Sony community? Why all the contempt? Shouldn't they be allowed to revel in thier choice of gaming the same everyone else is?
The Fandom and issues of respect concerning the gaming comunity
Like it or not, the Sony Fandom is not looked upon fondly by much of the gaming community this generation. The reasons and thoughts vary, but here are a few to help try and contextualize these times.
No matter how people try to dodge the point the PS3 carries with it many compromising values that dog its progress. Six-Axis, non-standardized Dualshock 3, astronomical expense thanks to Blu-Ray, removal of backwards compatibility, the underwhelming nature of the PS-Eye and HOME, Mandatory game instalations, near impossible to program for hardware, patches and patches galore... The console itself is the embodiment of one mistake after another (not to say the Wii and 360 aren't the same in their own respects) and the refusal of many in the Sony fandom to acknowledge or own up to these facts keeps the fandom from being respected or taken seriously leading to much of the drama on the forums. Wii gamers have owned up to the lack of games, graphics, support and the limitations of motion controls. 360 gamers have owned up to RROD, lack of exclusives and a bottlenecking trend in game genres. Both fandoms are basically beyond kidding themselves (no matter how trollish they may still behave) but in contrast we still see the more vocal part of the PS3 fandom acting like desperate car salesmen trying to spin every fact and nuance of the generation to their favor. PS3 fans couldn't go on enough about how Six-Axis was going to be superior to the Wii remote. PS3 fans couldn't denounce rumble as being last gen fast enough when it was announced the PS3 controller wouldn't have it. PS3 fans couldn't wait to rejoice when they heard rumble was coming back! PS3 fans couldn't go on enough about how the PS-Eye was going to revolutionize gaming. PS3 fans couldn't go on enough about how MGS4, LBP and HOME were going to save the console and bring the PS3 into its own element this generation. PS3 fans still go on about how great and essential Blu-Ray is to gaming... And as far as games go, if its being made by Sony or a PS3 exclusive (no matter what the hell the game is), you better believe that its going to be hyped senselessly and every little news item regarding it will get its own thread. Case in point: Killzone 2.
And by God no victory is too small for some in the Sony fandom in the week to week developments in sales: "Awesome! The PS3 version of this multiplat based-on-a-kids-movie game no one cares about is selling the best!", "woah! this PSP game jumped back up to 46th place on the chart! Go Sony"... "The PS3 is up in sales by 5k this week (even though its still over 200k beneath the 360), great week for Sony!"... "They released a new color PSP in Japan and sales have skyrocketed! Sure we know its only selling to people who already own a PSP but who cares! PSP domination FTW!" Its this constant spinning that just conveys the image of desperation that breeds contempt in the eyes of onlookers.
Perhaps when it comes down to it, its contempt many hold for a community who has fallen so far yet still insists on being treated as they were when the PS2 was king. A community that many saw as constantly shitting upon the MS and Ninty crowd last generation and all up to the PS3's launch now fallen so far only to demand they still be treated with the respect and fairness they were never known for alloting. After all, there is nothing more contemptuous than denial.
Software
Games seem to be the hottest point of contention now this generation, graphics and console power have all but become moot as bragging rights goes to those with the games, so why is the PS3's game library such a source of contempt from outsiders?
The Games of the PS3 are apparently not succeeding as hoped for whatever the reason. Time and time again we've listened to the fandom overhype upcoming games as the saviors of the PS3, LAIR, Heavenly Sword, Ratchet and Clank, Motorstorm, Uncharted, MGS4, HAZE, Motorstorm 2, Resistance 2, LBP, HOME, etc. And each time each has underperformed or failed to bring about the boost in hardware sales that was anticipated. For whatever reason, people just aren't buying PS3 games in a manner relative to the size of its instalation base (or at least what we can assert as being the rule from looking at the competition). In a generation where HD gaming (especially PS3 specific gaming) is so expensive, selling a million or two copies isn't enough and that is the standard we must look at when assessing the sales of any game. Breaking the million copies sold mark doesn't mean this generation what it did last gen.
Finally the PS3 has reached a point where no one can honestly say there are no games for it, but the problem now seems to be getting the gaming community to care about those games. More and more the PS3 seems to be slipping into the same market we find PC gaming already in. In otherwords, High end market games of niche appeal that sell relatively poorly in comparison to their installation base. The PS3 has sold itself as a luxury item and that appears to be how it's being used.
Game Reviews
What is wrong with Game Reviews? Well this generation more than ever, thanks largely due to the precarious situation of the three consoles, its being more and more relied upon as an equalizer, but why is this a source of contempt, especially for the Sony community?
Metacritic scores and Reviewers being used in discussion has always been a sign of trouble for that argument this generation, never before has the review system been so inconsistant and disconnected from game sales or the percieved gaming community's opinions. This ever growing disconnect has given us a peak into the transparent politics behind the scenes where reviewing sources are either pressured by financial ties or contracts with developers/publishers (Publisher stipulated contracts regarding what range of scores are premitted in granted privilage of early reviews) or placate to an assumed mainstream audience (Hardcore Gamers) in trying to frame or contextualize the review. In the end most reviewers (at least many the larger ones) are playing by the politics of the industry, framing their biases based on either what they think the current trends are, where trends are headed or what they think the gamers want to hear. There is no agency that moderates or regulates reviews or any qualifications to being a reviewer, anyone can do the job and even then few play any said game for more than a couple of hours before writing a rushed judgment on its contents to meet the deadline.
Agree or Disagree, but the fact stands, if your argument comes down to defaulting on Game Reviews as a last ditch defense of your console or game of choice then there is something you're trying to compensate for and everyone knows it. In the end, console and game sales are what is what is looked at, not game reviews or metacritic scores. Game Reviews serve only two utilities: 1. Helping clueless gamers get an idea of whether a game is good or not making them a useful and exploitable tool of the industry and 2. Giving elitists a means to indulge in one last qualitative value by which to measure games or consoles.
