What trophies do better than achievements ...

It took a while to have an achievement system implemented on the PS3, called trophies.

Obviously the Sony people didn't immediately realize the power and scope of XB360 achievements system, however they certainly did a great job with Trophies.
In the end I actually think that Trophies do a much better job than achievement for 2 main reasons:

1) Trophies deliver more (visual) satisfaction than achievements.
When you look at your trophies lists and all the bronze, silver, gold and platinum cups the satisfaction delivered by platinum-ing a game and by looking at all those neat cups is certainly visually but also intrinsically more appealing and satisfactory than looking at some more sterile points count.

Of course that's the same concept but visually and conceptually speaking the little trophy cups certainly do a better job that the icon+points system of the XB360-Obviously everyone will have their own opinion, preference and whatever but still no one can deny that the platinum cup is a quite fulfilling piece of graphic!

2) The second reason is perhaps more of a personal preference rather than something that can be considered an objective statement of facts and it's about the visual organization: trophies are more clear and cleanly listed and therefore it's easier to go through them, check etc., they're better arranged visually.

When you unlock an achievement this goes at the very top of your achievements list, to show the latest achievement you got.
On the other hand trophies always keeps their place in the trophies list, the list is always the same and it's therefore easier to check which trophies you got, you missed and so on since they are usually listed to match the game/story path/development.
This means that if you are missing some trophy at the beginning of your list you actually missed something at the beginning of the game and so on.
Easier to check, easier to see when you missed things etc..

And of course once you complete a game you have that lovely platinum cup on top of everything else.


The truth is every gamers will probably prefer the system s/he is most accustomed to.I got my PS3 much before my XB360 so I'm more used to it and, generally speaking, I like the PS3 crossbar much more (perhaps even because I was so accustomed to it through my psp) and always found the XB360 layout/graphic less stylish and a bit more childish although I really LOVE having my custom avatar!

So if you mostly use your XB360 you're more used and care more about achievements, PS3 users on the other hand will likely prefer trophies and so on, still I think the trophy implementation is really spot on although it took a while to have it ;).

Enjoy your gaming!
Ivy

Are PS3 users doomed to lose their data sooner or later?

In the end it's, unfortunately very likely.

Truth be told the new generation of consoles introduced something new about data protection: users are actually unable to save/store (some of) their data to not lose it.

While PS3 users (but the scenery is probably more or less the same for XBOX360 users) CAN save SOME of their game data and perform full backups etc. the truth is NOT all data is saved.

All the data linked to your own console can at one time only be in one place: your console.
What does it mean? Basically that if your console dies you just LOSE that data, that's plain and simple.

What data is that? Well copyrighted material, such as movies, some account data and some game saves that developers/publishers decided to not make back-upable.
And unfortunately it's not just a couple of games that do this, just to mention a few big names: Killzone 2, Resident Evil 5, Assassin's Creed II, Heavy Rain.

While some developers decide to ALLOW us (thanks!) to put OUR gamesaves (the time WE spent playing a game) in a safe place to make sure we'll have access to them should anything happen to your console; other decide not to.
Why it is so I don't really know, after all game saves are linked to 1 account (with a few exceptions) and I honestly believe every game developers can have programmers so smart to not allow for gamesaves to be transferred between accounts and thus exploited by users other than the one that actually played the game.


Let's face it, both XBOX360 and Playstation 3 can fail, can broke down and die unexpectedly. And whenever this happens it means for you that your console-bound data is lost for good.
Is that really so? Yes and this is why:

1- First of all SONY will not repair your broken console.
However some shops DO offer PS3 repairs but you have to be lucky that:
A- you actually live in a place where this service is offered (which isn't everywhere) ,
B- that your broken PS3 CAN actually be repaired which leads to
C- that is not either the motherboard or the HD that fails, in fact if either of the two broke you've just lost your data (obviously you lose your data if your HD fails but you also lose your data if your motherboard fails because the PS3 data is actually connected to your PS3 motherboard, should you replace your motherboard it's just like if you have a brand new PS3 and you'll be required to format your (probably perfectly functional) HD with all your data inside).

2- Because PS3 are not very likely to live forever. The fail ratio of the first XBOX360 was outstanding, however PS3 has shown is not as rock solid as many thought in the beginning.
Of course it's a brilliant piece of technology but still has its own issues and ring of death and can easily die without any "advance notice".

3- Even though update 3.15 introduced the (long overdue) ability to simply move your data from one console to another you actually need 2 working consoles to do so!


But of course you can be lucky and:
A- have a PS3 that lives forever or at least as long as you
B- switch to a new system and move your data there (and then keep being lucky with your new console).


Personally I really think this system is not going to work both Microsoft and SONY are presenting their machines as entertainment system but how many people are really going to invest their time in something that can fail them and lose their data?
XBOX360 and PS3 are not reliable as complete entertainment systems.

Are you going to make purchases of things such as songs/movies etc. on a machine that can fail you anytime rather than use other methods that are fail proof (and with fail proof I mean that they allow you to back up ALL your data into other storage media).

Unfortunately some things MUST be accepted by players... you're not going to play Killzone 2 or Heavy Rain into anything that is not a PS3 and you're not going to be able to save your data (remember this kind if data simply exist in 1 only copy at a time) but honestly this really detracts from an experience that should be just fun... having a subtle anxiety of losing all your game progress.

On the other hand this is not a smart move for developers. If they bound their games data to one console, how are people that lose their data to purchase additional content, for example?
Certainly this is makes for just a percentage of their potential buyers (those that wanted to purchase content and lost their data and don't want to just restart from the beginning) but still it's there and it's probably going to be pissed off by the fact.


On the other hand again (which makes for 3 freaky hands) I don't feel this is really very respectful on the part of developers (and maybe sooner or later it will end up not being lawful either, just wait for an attorney that want some floodlight on his/herself).
In the end being able to back-up our own progress, the time we spent playing a game, preserving the chance to going back and play that chapter again or maybe completing our trophies and thing like that should simply be a fundamental right granted to any player!

Ivy

It's 2010!

Well, January it's almost over but the year has actually just started and as far as games are concerned it's started with a bang!

Next week I'm putting my hands on Mass Effect 2 which is only the first of many amazing games I'm eagerly awaiting.

Actually I started the year with 2 2009 games: Ratchet & Clank: a Crack in Time and Assassin's Creed II.
I'm actually done already with Ratchet & Clank, I only have to do the second walk-through to get my last gold and then my first 2010 platinum!
Assassin's Creed I've just started and totally loving it.
I liked the first one too but this is heaps and bounds better. Many more things to do and much more variety overall, not to mention the setting which is really awesome!
Oh, from 2009 I'm also playing Braid, finally also on PSN and and the final chapters of Tales of Monkey Island on the pc.


As for my "gonna-play" list of 2010 (in no particular order):
- Darksiders: my b-friend is playing it and it's pretty cool!
- Mass Effect 2 (!!!) - can't wait!
- Heavy Rain (!!!) - can't wait again!
- God of War III
- Splinter Cell conviction
- Dante's Inferno
- Fable 3
- Alan Wake (I can finally plug my 360 again :P, yeah ME2 it's a PC one for me!)
- Bioshock 2 (I actually didn't play the first but I'm curious about this one)
- King's Bounty Armored Princess (the first chapter was addictive but also quite difficult, I hope I won't spend too many hours on this one)
- APB: customization looks great, I'm very curious about this one!
- The Last Guardian: wow!
- Starcraft 2: if it actually gets released! Lol, as they promised
- Mod Nation racer: looks great from the Beta but they must improve framerate, if they do it will certainly be a lot of fun!
- The Agent: looks intriguing, I'm not sold yet but will definitely keep an eye on it!
- ... and certainly many other that will be released, certainly some great PSN/XBLA and some awesome PC games (as was last year).

And so... we have some amazing PS3 exclusives this year: Heavy Rain (actually my most anticipated game together with Mass Effect), GOW 3, the Last Guardian and Mod Nation racers (among the others), Gran Turismo 5 will see the light too!
But also some Xbox360 exclusives that will make me plug my Elite again :P: Alan Wake, Fable 3 and Splinter Cell conviction.
And the PC will be quite a playing platform too with: Mass Effect 2 (Oh yeah!), APB, Amored Princess and Starcraft 2!

2009 was an incredible year for gamers but 2010 will probably surpass it: whatever you've got, a PS3, a PC and/or a Xbox360 there's plenty of fun ahead!

Enjoy!
Ivy

Dear Santa... this Christmas I want some girlie game for my PS3

Dear VG-Santa,
this year I was a very good chick gamer.
I have played many games both on my PS3 and on the PC (I will also give a go at Shadow Complex on my Elite, I promise).
I have almost platinum-ed Red Faction: Guerrilla (and you do know it took a lot of devotion) and I also helped other fellow players get some nasty sub-trophies.

I also wrote some nice articles on this blog, you know, and have got any nice special edition for all games I bought this year!

Since I've been so good I would like to ask you a nice present for this Christmas and it is not just for me but for all the chick gamers out there (and maybe some boy too).
Please, remind Sony and MS how the Wii built its great success (i.e.: Wii Fit) and bring us some sport/training/dance game on the PS3 and XBOX as well.

I've got a playstation eye already, now please bring me a crazy coloured mat (wireless, please) and a personal trainer stuffed into a BluRay (only the trainer, the mat must be physical) :).
After all, the PS3 "only does everything" so it can also do only one more thing too (becoming a sort of gym that is), right?

Oh, pretty please, for the dance game I want custom tracks to be the main option. I
'm not much a fan of disco or pop music but I can certainly Dance if off with Jamiroquai or Fat Boy Slim, you know (I've lost past my teenage years ;)).

Oh, and while you're there reminding Sony (especially) and MS they have a girlie fan base, just thrown in there the idea of some lovely pink pads (not asking for a whole PS3 slim yet) and keyboard/accessories etc..


ps.: I'd also really like to know when project Natal will be released since it seems the perfect tool for what I want :). I already know it's not going to be this Christmas though so I'll keep the request for the next occasion (you also do some Easter overtime?)

Thank-you
Ivy

Little Big Planet gadgets coming to UK/Europe(?!) in October!

We read a big deal about Little Big Planet sackboy based gadget at the beginning of the year and actually there was huge demand for anything sackboy based since Little big Planet is one of Playstation greatest exclusive (and a must-play for any gamer) and an innovative and awesome title featuring awesome graphic and very cute character. And honestly some LBP gadgets are long overdue.
While I understand MM (we make games it's their motto) and Sony are more into making games and hardware the LBP brand could probably be a huge success in the toy market and definitely not just appeal gamers (it's also a great chance for successful cross-promotion).

The first Little big Planet gadgets were previewed back in February:
playstation blog announcement

Then they hinted that there would be some cool merchandise VERY soon just after San Diego's Comic-Con (July 2009)
playstation blog post

... and then, while I was checking some stuff on Play.com today I found out that the first official Little Big Planet sackboy gadgets will be available in UK (and presumably the rest of Europe!?) no later than by the end of October.

Play.com in fact is already listing them for purchase and will ship them starting from the 26th Oct.: LBP gadgets on Play.com. Beware though, Play.com will only ship gadgets to UK addresses :(.

Otherwise you can go the DIY way if you can knit or crochet (or have some beloved one that can) and, honestly, one can really get some awesome results!
Check what people have come up with:
Article on Media Molecule's site
Maggie Wang's sackboys
and find a pattern here (but it isn't the best result I've seen) for free:
free sackboy pattern.

or just buy some handmade ones through etsy (lots of talented artisans/artists there:
sackboys on Etsy
(this is a great looking pattern!): Best sackboy pattern.

PS3: your HD is linked to ONE PS3 so remember to make full back-ups!

Truth be told I never thought about doing PS3 back-ups for a couple of reasons:
1st: I think the PS3 is a brilliant and solid piece of hardware
2nd and most important: I've got my 250GB hard disk installed so in case I'll just mount it on a new machine...

I discovered just too late that no other PS3 will read my hard disk unless I format it (that means all my data will be erased).
As for some data the PS3 hard disk is linked to only 1 PS3 and will not work on any other PS3.

So, basically, if your PS3 breaks for any reason even though you have all your precious saves and data on your hard disk it will be useless because you cannot read/transfer them on any other machine.
At least... that's what I've experienced.

What I'm basically suggesting is: do your bi-weekly or monthly full back-ups (using the PS3 back up utility) to make sure you won't loose your stuff!
The full back-up will take quite a while (1 - 2 hours so plan it for when you won't be using your PS3 for gaming :)).
Check here for instructions: http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/backuputility.html

You will not lose trophies information in any case since they are linked to your account outside your PS3 (but remember to syncro them every once in a while, if you care).

Happy gaming!
Ivy

Why a serious gamer MUST own a PS3

Well, the very reason is simple: because many PS3 exclusives, true PS3 exclusives, are never going to show up on any other systems, be them an XBOX360 or a PC.

And are these exclusives worth the purchase of a system? Sure thing for someone that is serious about gaming (and let's face it, a PS3 is not expensive for what is offers, how much did you pay your last PC video card or you cell phone? But that's another article...).

So let's put speculation apart and check out the list (newest first). I'm no listing ALL exclusives but "only" the ones that make it worth buying a PS3 and are most impressive:

Wipeout HD (+ Fury)
InFamous
Killzone 2
Resistance 2
Metal Gear Solid 4
Valkyria Chronicles
Little Big Planet
Flower (PSN a unique poetry made game)
Grand Turismo Prologue (GT5)
the PixelJunk series (PSN)
Warhawk
Ratchet and Clank
Uncharted

and not to forget the forthcoming:
Fat Princess (sooon!)
Heavy Rain
Uncharted 2
The Last Guardian
Ratchet and Clank
God of War III
EyePet

Worth it?
I definitely think so and for a complete list (I, for one, also loved the atmospheres of Folklore) check this complete list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS3_exclusives
A serious gamer really cannot miss this goodies!!!

Let's GAME!
Ivy