How important is Killzone 2 to the PS3? – As much as Halo to Xbox?
We’ve already explored whether Killzone 2 can possibly live up to the inordinate amount of hype attached to it, but now comes the bigger question: Will Killzone 2 be a true system-seller for the PS3? The Wii has Wii Sports, the Xbox has Halo, and the PS3 has what?
The idea of system sellers, games which can prompt people to buy a console purely to play them, has been around for as long as the industry itself. And to this day, these special games are of the utmost importance to determine whether a system will live or die.
In the current generation, the Wii has its system seller in Wii Sports, a game which is bundled with the console. This one game is what most people who buy a Wii aspire to play. They see the adverts of people playing fake tennis or baseball and want in. So they buy the console in order to do just that.
The Xbox 360 also has a system seller in the shape of the Halo series. It’s the one Microsoft exclusive that every non-Xbox owning gamer wants on their system, and many have bought an Xbox purely to play it. Microsoft pumps millions into the advertising campaign for the games knowing it’ll be worth it to shift consoles.
Which just leaves the Playstation 3. The Sony console has loads of brilliant games which a lot of people would say are must-plays. But not one of them is really a system seller. The two games closest to receiving the accolade are Metal Gear Solid 4 and LittleBigPlanet. But the former is too closed to people who haven’t played the rest of the games, and the latter is just too kooky for some.
The release of Killzone 2 is just around the corner, and there is intense speculation as to whether this game will change the trend and become the PS3’s first true console-shifter. If it doesn’t succeed then there is God Of War III and Gran Turismo 5 due later but who knows when they’ll arrive.
I personally don’t think Killzone 2 will be a system-seller. It’s looking like a fantastic game which is going to show off the power of the PS3 and make Xbox 360 owners jealous for a few weeks, but that doesn’t equate to a game which will influence people’s purchasing decisions.
I think we’ll have to wait until Gran Turismo 5 is released for a PS3 system-seller to be on the market. But by that time, a hell of a lot of people will have already made their choice and shelled out their hard-earned cash on it. Which is why a system needs to launch with system-sellers rather than wait three long years for one to come along. Damn Kazunori Yamauchi and his perfectionism!
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39 Responses to “How important is Killzone 2 to the PS3? – As much as Halo to Xbox?”
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January 24th, 2009
it is very important… I wouldnt say its not the MOST important game for the PS3… MOST important in forms of bragging rights… I think I said this before that the PS3 has a number of exclusive games that it relies upon… so its not just ONE game that defines the PS3… its a number of them…
also I dont know whether Sony itself knows how important it is to them… I hate to repeat myself but… WHERE THE ADS AT BITCH!!!
January 24th, 2009
At first i was going to blurt out “of course not no” then i thought about what you said about MGS4 and LBP, the obvious answer to PS3 system sellers, and it does look like Killzone could be the one to really sell systems. Here’s hoping it doesn’t turn into the next Haze, thought i doubt that..
January 24th, 2009
BOURNE!!! GET YOUR ASS ONLINE AND LET ME KICK IT IN COD WaW… bitch…
get your mic too… I got a PS3 COD problem I gotta talk about…
January 24th, 2009
I just watched the leaked intro to KZ2…wow.
Brian Cox has surely got to win some kind of an award for his voice over acting in that game.
I think KZ2 could help sell a few consoles.
January 24th, 2009
done with their blood their land or whatever crappy level…
problem was… after finishing the first level… I played through a little of the second level and then turned it off… the next day I download the new firmware update… and then that night… when I pressed continue game… it loaded up to 75% and then showed an error… then it loaded the second level in normal difficulty… so I had to start over with veteran mode and finish it through level 3…
now I just pick mission select instead of pressing continue game… has this happened to you??
also many times I lose connection in SF2… and at the end of a level in multiplayer… it says error server times out… is it my connection or the PSN?? specially since I leech off of someone for my wireless connection *winky smiley face*
January 24th, 2009
You got it all wrong. As much as Halo is a system seller the truth is that the star is Master Cheif. Wii sports is not a system seller as it comes with every console. Mario is the system seller. It’s not so much the physical game it’s the maskot that becomes a Brand in it’s self.
January 24th, 2009
“since I leech off of someone for my wireless connection”
Dude, you can go to prison for that.
January 24th, 2009
Killzone doesn’t seem to have a figure head so it may fizzel to nothing. It will be a great game but that is it. I thought Crash Bandacote was the Playstation maskot. Anyways It’s just like Gears, it’s maskot is Marcus Pheonix and he will be associated with Gears for the rest of the series along with Dom and Coldtrain. They are unforgettable figures.
January 24th, 2009
crash bandicoot hasnt come up with a decent game since jak and daxter and ratchet and clank came out…
but thanks for trying to talk out of your ass CAD… it really brought new points into the conversation..
seriously lock down?? really??
January 24th, 2009
‘It’s the one Microsoft exclusive that every non-Xbox owning gamer wants on their system, and many have bought an Xbox purely to play it.’
Simply not true. Before I owned a 360 I didn’t want Halo, after I purchased a 360 I didn’t want to own Halo, i still do not want to own or play halo. Ever.
CAD – Dom sucked. The Cole Train was awesome tho! Marcus, so so, typical main char. I feel the same way about Master Chief actually. Wheres the damn charisma, or something?
January 24th, 2009
DWH, you’re using someone elses wireless? Lol you’re off to the clank sunshine.
January 24th, 2009
SW… actually I think Halo is a big push for the xbox… THE icon for xbox just like MArio is for Nintendo… he has just been hyped up by everyone… and since he doesnt star in a kart game… he is worth the money…
He’s not supposed to have charisma… its like Gordon Freeman… the story is told through him.. and they expect you to feel like him and put you on his shoes… thats my layman explanation anyways… thats why we never see his face…
whereas with other games… the story is told to you from THAT charactors point of view… so when Kratos kills athena and Aeris… they dont expect you to empathise with him.. they expect you to just experience the story…
take it from me SW… buy Halo 3… just keep the headset on mute and you will have a ball… plus if you get it… that means me you and harry can play togather and try to get that vidmaster achievement…
Im just waiting for Sony to pay me for my fanboyism so I can buy a 360 with it…
also the story of Halo isnt as bad as you may think… its quite good for an action game…
January 24th, 2009
wait WHAT!!! dude… tell me more… whats this about using someone else’s wireless??
I DIDNT KNOW!!! then again… it is a big apartment complex… seriously??? thats illegal??
January 24th, 2009
Who’s wireless is it?
If it’s a business network they probably won’t care…some business’s leave their wireless open.
If it’s a neighbour then they can press charges if they find out someone is leeching.
Though if it’s an unsecured network in the first place they probably won’t have a clue that someone is leeching.
January 24th, 2009
Plus, if the network is named something like “NETGEAR” or “Belkin54g” then it’s a pretty safe bet that your neighbours are clueless.
January 24th, 2009
ok its called DlinkVWR…
all the others are either named after people… one is called “suck it you hacker”
its the only unsecure line… all the others are password protected… also its a multi story apartment complex… and I use it for the PS3… so am I safe or not??
also when I use it on my laptop its takes a little tweaking to get it to work… it wont get online at first… you have to go through troubleshooting… this may explain the PSN connection problem… I seriously hope its the leeching and not the PSN
January 24th, 2009
DWH it sounds like a legit router tbh, i think you’re ok. It sounds like a free wireless hotspot, but i’d ask around just to make sure. If its not got a password then i guess (if its a residential router) they’re asking to get hacked and taken advantage of, but yes if you use other peoples wireless routers you can be in a lot of trouble.
January 24th, 2009
That ain’t a free hotspot, but you should be ok. Network named after router + Unsecured network = clueless people.
Stop being such a cheap skate anyway, get your own router.
January 24th, 2009
well.. I did see this one router that was compatible with the 360… but Im holding off till I get verizon fios… Im gonna kick your ass at 20 megabits per second bitches…
hahahahahahahah
wait is there like a law or something?? like piracy?? or is it one of the ten commandments??
January 24th, 2009
Killzone 2 is getting me excited regardless of whether it is a system seller or not.
DWH you cheap bastard, get your own. And some Trophies too.
Not far off getting a Gold on Wipeout HD. Getting a gold or silver on Wipeout is almost as exciting for me as getting a Platinum on another game.
January 24th, 2009
Halo graphics are horrible. I still don’t get it. It’s good game at best. Period
January 24th, 2009
Halo graphics are horrible. I still don’t get it. It’s a good game at best. Period
January 24th, 2009
Oh yeah and for the record, Wii Sports is mind numbingly boring. I actually couldn’t believe it. At least Mario and Resident Evil 4 is still fun.
January 24th, 2009
Superdynamite,
I agree, Halo’s graphics are “horrible” compared to Halo 3 and “It’s a good game”.
January 24th, 2009
I think VC is the Wii system seller.
January 24th, 2009
System seller for Ps3 is Blu-ray always has been and will be till the next Xbox comes out. However, Ps3 does have some really great games, Ps3 just needs a mascot really. I could imagine the Helghast being the mascot for Ps3. Killzone 2 won’t have coop
so the competitive better be damn good.
January 24th, 2009
Okay, Wii Fit is probably more of a system seller, but if I did buy one it would be for VC (especially if they came out with achievements/trophies for the games).
January 24th, 2009
KZ2 could be a system seller….if advertised correctly
January 24th, 2009
I think you hit the nail on the head phranctoast. I think a lot of games could be (regardless of console), given the correct advertising.
January 24th, 2009
On the PS blog it says…
“Thanks everyone for the positive reception! I can confirm that we definitely have Trophies in the title.
And I can also say that you will be seeing Killzone 2 ads everywhere very soon. Our Marketing guys have been working their tail off.”
Let’s hope the latter is true.
January 24th, 2009
They are working on some off the wall crazy tv adverts, to give everyone a mind fuck.
January 24th, 2009
they need to like cause some shit and get on fox news or something…
lets start spreading rumor that you can have sex with a dog in Killzone 2… and theres like porn and hookers in the game…
THAT is the best form of advertising… thats what made manhunt famous…
I used to think Halo 3s graphics was mediocre… till I played it on HD… then it was BLOOM CITY!!!
normally I see most game related adverts on comedy central… usually showing near the daily show and the colbert report… I see nothing of killzone…
January 24th, 2009
kotaku.com/5138592/fear-2-trailer-employs-beaten+to+death-joke-bewbs
this is what I call good advertising…
ON E PLATINUM FOR MEEE PREEEZE!!
January 24th, 2009
Yeh, Platinum service for me too please.
January 24th, 2009
Killzone will be lucky to sell over 3m. It certainly won’t come close to Halo 3 which is on the verge of 9m
January 25th, 2009
yeah because halo’s a fucking nerd magnet u hear me CON
January 25th, 2009
i would never buy a Wii just to play the Wii Sports, its just a free game that comes with the console. Its more like a demo for the Wii. Dont make it sound like Wii’s success is because of Wii Sports.
January 25th, 2009
Well if that’s the case Kevo, it looks like the nerds have spoken!
January 26th, 2009
Part of Halo’s success is the fact that it had a continuing story. The third entry to the series picked up where the cliff hanger of part 2 left off and wrapped up the story. I personally think that the game, story, and characters are massively over rated. The game is mediocre at best, but it had a strong fan base, and received perfect reviews from every reviewer.
Kill Zone will be great and may help to sell a few consoles but I don’t think it will be helping PS3s to sell like hot cakes. The exclusive game I’m most proud of at the moment is MGS4.