Today I came across an article on IGN that made me sit back and re-read a few times to completely grasp the information that was being portrayed to the general public. Now first up, this isn’t something that’s being written to cause a flame war or to put blame on IGN’s Editorial Staff or even state that someone is wrong. It’s merely my thoughts on how information was stated to the general public, and how my interpretation of this information says to me that what has been said is, for lack of a better word, wrong. Or at least wrongfully described.
As a little backstory, I have been a Halo Fanboi since the dawn of time, I own every Collectors Edition that game released, along with three of the Limited Edition consoles (1x Xbox and 2x Xbox 360) and have spent god knows how many hours in that game. Having said that, I’m also a HUGE fan of Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) and have played a LOT of PlanetSide 2 (I think I number near 2-300 hours now?), so I’d like to think I come into this with at least a little knowledge of both games and how both games work (but no, I won’t pretend to be an expert in either).
That being said, the comments provided from SOE’s president John Smedley to IGN I believe to be wrong:
[quotes]We believe that PlanetSide 2 is going to be the massively multiplayer Halo for PlayStation 4,” Smedley told IGN. “So we want to bring a completely new kind of gameplay to a completely new audience.[/quotes]
My biggest issue with this statement is that calling PlanetSide 2 the ‘massively multiplayer Halo for the PlayStation 4’ isn’t right. PlanetSide 2 is a great game, a HUGE game and is already a massively multiplayer FPS in its own right on the PC. That same format is being taken across to the PlayStation 4 system and PS4 users will get to have a shot at an amazing pure online FPS. But drawing the comparison to Halo? That’s where I believe this statement is wrong, the only similarities I see between the two is that they’re both FPS and that they’re both set in a futuristic setting and that, is where the similarities stop.
To delve into it a little further, you have Halo. A game in which is set around (for the most part) a group of ‘super soldiers’ created for the sole reason of the UNSC’s defence, whether internal (Insurrectionists) or external (Covenant/Flood). You then have the Multiplayer aspect which is essentially the typical flow of most online FPS, depending on the game type you play is depending on the game experience you get. Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, Big Team Battle etc. They all have different play styles and you don’t ‘have’ to play a certain one if you do not want. Then you have PlanetSide 2, a story revolving around 3 factions (New Conglomerate, Terran Republic and Vanu Sovereignty) all vying for control of Continents for their respective factions. All in a pure online setting full of thousands of players. The similarities between the two games are isolated to both being an FPS and both being a futuristic shooter.
Both are amazingly fun games in their own right, but I would not classify them as similar enough to label PlanetSide 2 the ‘massively multiplayer Halo for the PlayStation 4.’ What it is, is a massively multiplayer online shooter for the PlayStation 4 with an already well defined story and player base on the PC, what it isn’t is a Halo equivalent. If PlanetSide 2 were to be compared to anything, I would seriously consider comparing it to Titanfall, but even then the scale of PlanetSide 2 in comparison to already existing FPS games on the console is not even close to the same thing.
I highly appreciate SOE wanting to aim to attract an Xbox audience to garner further interest for PlanetSide 2 on a different console, but if you’re going to do so, don’t tell Halo players that the games are the same. It’s not going to work that way. And I am sorry IGN, but PlanetSide 2 isn’t a game involving territorial control wrapped in a Halo-esque sci-fi skin at all. You got half of that statement correct, the other half isn’t even remotely close.
Regardless of the above, if you’re getting a PlayStation 4 you would be silly to miss out on the opportunity to play PlanetSide 2 as a Free to Play game, it’s an amazing game that can be a hell of a lot of fun if you have a great group of friends to play with. Just don’t tell me it’s the PlayStation 4 equivalent of Halo. K?
6 Comments
Rdot89
Nov 14, 2013 12:19 pmFirst of all, I feel you’re taking the comment waaaay too seriously, which is understandable considering your involvement and dedication to both series’.
It’s clear to me that Smedley’s comment is more or less said with a PR/marketing agenda behind it, designed to garner gamers attention through familiar game titles and attractive key words. The reason IGN posted the quote is probably more to do with the fact that this was the direct response provided by Smedley and SOE more than it was them stating incorrect information.
Regardless of that, I think that there is merit to what Smedley is saying, however I will note that I have NOT played Planetside 2; so I’d be willing to correct my opinions if need be…
Basically, I believe the “watercooler” moments that made Halo multiplayer so good is what Smedley and co. are referring to rather than the actual gameplay mechanics built within each respective series. My mates and I can still discuss some of the classic and zany scenarios that played out while we fought it out in the Blood Gultch over a 24hr LAN session more than that time I knifed a dude in Cod or BF. It’s that level of zaniness and immersion that Halo and – if im right in thinking this from what I’ve read – Planetside brings to the multiplayer aspect that SOE wants to parley in their messaging, rather than the current trend set of realistic military action we see all around us in current a-level multiplayer shooters nowadays.
And to be fair, I think he has a point. I can’t think of a single title on PS3 at the time of writing this that evokes the same nostalgia or commentary in my mind like Halo does. Sure Cod and BF have moments where you think “wow, that was an awesome fight” (more likely from the latter than the former)… Maybe Dust 514 has something similar but I’m yet to get into a decent match that evokes these feelings. And on the PS4’s launch? I doubt Killzone will be able to provide that.
Overall, I feel your dedication to both Halo and Planetside has either jarred your ability to read through the lines of what is said in the quote, or your experience in both titles has made you reflect differently on what has been said when compared to how someone like myself may read Smedley’s words. Regardless, your opinion is still valid in many ways, and hopefully with my limited understanding of Planetside; mine is too… I’d love to hear your response.
Cheers,
Korthcore
Nov 15, 2013 7:14 pmHi! I can almost guarantee I was taking it way too seriously 😛 And I definitely agree, it would have been said with pure PR/Marketing in mind, which is by no means a bad thing at all!
I tend to read into things a lot more than I should, but I guess that’s because I expect information to be portrayed exactly how it is instead of a quote in passing that can mean multiple different things. If that makes sense haha.
I think that’s what they are aiming for, the watercooler stuff you mentioned. But at the same time, those exact type of moments you describe (I have SO many from Halo 1 -> 4 with all of my friends in LAN’s or online) you don’t really see the same in Planetside 2. I mean you can have some awesome moments and the like with friends, but at the same time it’s always felt ‘different’ with me. But I think you’re right, that’s the type of ‘message’ they want to convey. I just personally don’t believe the wording they used was the correct way to do so haha.
And agreed, none of the PS3 Titles that I’ve seen / played have that same ‘feel’ to them, the type of thing you know you’ll talk about years down the line. And whilst Killzone is definitely a fun game, it never invoked those same feelings of awe that I reflect on as I did with Halo.
I’d say it’d be the latter, because I’ve dabbled into both titles I read the line differently than yourself (or many others), but also most likely as I initially stated about information being portrayed direct instead of alluring to something as well.
But definitely! Anyones opinion is always valid 🙂 Thanks a bunch for replying! 🙂
Rdot89
Nov 14, 2013 12:19 pmFirst of all, I feel you’re taking the comment waaaay too seriously, which is understandable considering your involvement and dedication to both series’.
It’s clear to me that Smedley’s comment is more or less said with a PR/marketing agenda behind it, designed to garner gamers attention through familiar game titles and attractive key words. The reason IGN posted the quote is probably more to do with the fact that this was the direct response provided by Smedley and SOE more than it was them stating incorrect information.
Regardless of that, I think that there is merit to what Smedley is saying, however I will note that I have NOT played Planetside 2; so I’d be willing to correct my opinions if need be…
Basically, I believe the “watercooler” moments that made Halo multiplayer so good is what Smedley and co. are referring to rather than the actual gameplay mechanics built within each respective series. My mates and I can still discuss some of the classic and zany scenarios that played out while we fought it out in the Blood Gultch over a 24hr LAN session more than that time I knifed a dude in Cod or BF. It’s that level of zaniness and immersion that Halo and – if im right in thinking this from what I’ve read – Planetside brings to the multiplayer aspect that SOE wants to parley in their messaging, rather than the current trend set of realistic military action we see all around us in current a-level multiplayer shooters nowadays.
And to be fair, I think he has a point. I can’t think of a single title on PS3 at the time of writing this that evokes the same nostalgia or commentary in my mind like Halo does. Sure Cod and BF have moments where you think “wow, that was an awesome fight” (more likely from the latter than the former)… Maybe Dust 514 has something similar but I’m yet to get into a decent match that evokes these feelings. And on the PS4’s launch? I doubt Killzone will be able to provide that.
Overall, I feel your dedication to both Halo and Planetside has either jarred your ability to read through the lines of what is said in the quote, or your experience in both titles has made you reflect differently on what has been said when compared to how someone like myself may read Smedley’s words. Regardless, your opinion is still valid in many ways, and hopefully with my limited understanding of Planetside; mine is too… I’d love to hear your response.
Cheers,
Korthcore
Nov 15, 2013 7:14 pmHi! I can almost guarantee I was taking it way too seriously 😛 And I definitely agree, it would have been said with pure PR/Marketing in mind, which is by no means a bad thing at all!
I tend to read into things a lot more than I should, but I guess that’s because I expect information to be portrayed exactly how it is instead of a quote in passing that can mean multiple different things. If that makes sense haha.
I think that’s what they are aiming for, the watercooler stuff you mentioned. But at the same time, those exact type of moments you describe (I have SO many from Halo 1 -> 4 with all of my friends in LAN’s or online) you don’t really see the same in Planetside 2. I mean you can have some awesome moments and the like with friends, but at the same time it’s always felt ‘different’ with me. But I think you’re right, that’s the type of ‘message’ they want to convey. I just personally don’t believe the wording they used was the correct way to do so haha.
And agreed, none of the PS3 Titles that I’ve seen / played have that same ‘feel’ to them, the type of thing you know you’ll talk about years down the line. And whilst Killzone is definitely a fun game, it never invoked those same feelings of awe that I reflect on as I did with Halo.
I’d say it’d be the latter, because I’ve dabbled into both titles I read the line differently than yourself (or many others), but also most likely as I initially stated about information being portrayed direct instead of alluring to something as well.
But definitely! Anyones opinion is always valid 🙂 Thanks a bunch for replying! 🙂
John 'Genryu'
Nov 19, 2014 11:15 pmI know I’m necroing this thread but, If you think that Smedley’s comments were inaccurate, you should see what one of the community managers – RadarX – has recently said about Australia – that it’s not worth doing promotions, events or advertising to Planetside 2 Players in Australia (or the EU come to that). SOE have driven this game into the ground and the game is plagued with issues which won’t be resolved in time for the launch on PS4.
John 'Genryu'
Nov 19, 2014 11:15 pmI know I’m necroing this thread but, If you think that Smedley’s comments were inaccurate, you should see what one of the community managers – RadarX – has recently said about Australia – that it’s not worth doing promotions, events or advertising to Planetside 2 Players in Australia (or the EU come to that). SOE have driven this game into the ground and the game is plagued with issues which won’t be resolved in time for the launch on PS4.