Voodoo Extreme spotted a message from Verant's PlanetSide Producer that was posted on the official PlanetSide boards.

"There are no plans for a PlayStation 2 version of PlanetSide or any other console. Although the minimum system specifications are still being determined, the PS-2 simply wouldn't be able to handle PlanetSide technically. PlanetSide's game design and technical design are entirely PC-oriented, and the PS-2 has a very different architecture. In summary, at this point in time, PlanetSide is PC-only, and very likely to stay that way."

This is a complete change of plans for Verant. In discussing Verant's upcoming lineup several months ago, we were told by Verant that Planetside was slated to be both a PC and a PS2 game. Verant was not at all uncertain about this. Obviously, plans change, but we wonder if this isn't due to the much talked about difficulties in developing for the PS2 and Sony perhaps backing off from pushing Internet-capable games for the PS2?

We wonder what this means for Star Wars Online? That game has all the earmarks of being a "killer app" than can sell systems, so a PS2 version would certainly be desireable, but just look at the burden such a game puts on a PS2 owner. A PS2 owner would likely have to purchase some kind of a modem, would have to purchase some kind of a storage device so that the game could be patched, and would have to purchase a keyboard for communicating. Console owners typically don't buy a lot of peripherals. We have to wonder if Verant's line of multiplayer games are a bad fit for the PS2.

What do you think? Will we see Verant games on the PS2? Will they be successful? Comment here.

I see patching as a killer issue that make MMOGs a poor fit for consoles. All the games require patching over time, if only to add new content. A MMOG that didn't provide patches would rapidly lose popularity to MMOGs that did.

I also wonder if the console demographic would be interested in paying the $10 a month for a typical online game.

Not that I want them to, I just wondered, why aren't they going with the xb0x?

Yeah, patching is of immense importance. How is Phantasy Star Online handling that? Do players download patches every time they play?

World War, why isn't Verant going with Xbox? Sony owns Verant now. That should answer your question.

I don't know, Mark. I think we could see this as a potential move by developers to abandon console systems altogether- in favor of the PC. In fact, in a few years console systems may not even be competitive for games. E-mail only, I bet.

;-)
Scott

Heh -- console games are just glorified versions of Pong anyway! Harumph!

I think the consoles are in no way shape or form are going to be able to pull off the on-line persistent worlds like the PC can. And this is where gaming is heading! Patching is a major issue and is the console crowd going to want to pay 10 dollar monthly charges when the majority of console players are predominately 14-24 years of age? Plus the amount of typing you have to do to inneract with players is going to be a drawback for the console crowd. Also, Sony screwed up big time by not putting a hard drive on there machines and I feel in time this is going to hurt them. :-)

Yeah, if you need a hard drive for a MMORPG game, then they're not going to fly for the PS2. People just resist buying these add-ons for consoles.