image via finalfansite.com
Now that Sony has been releasing more and more PSone Classics on the Playstation Network, word of mouth is getting around, and they are starting to sell significant units. Final Fantasy 7 alone has been in the top 10 most downloaded games on the network since it’s release at E3 2009.
But what has been interesting is the fact that when classics like these are put out on the network, usually Sony tries to keep it’s first party PSN titles on alternating weeks. Perhaps this can help us gamers understand why some games while rated by the ESRB website don’t get released until much much later, even with the developer not knowing when the game will be released (as is the case with Vagrant Story that was announced to be coming to the network in December of last year, but as of yet has not been released).
This makes good business sense seeing as many new unheard of games can’t compete with the nostalgia factor of older “legendary” games like the Final Fantasy series.
Since the increase of PSone Classics I myself have been buying more and more of them and using that as the mainstay of my PSP, while new PSP games usually don’t interest me as much as the older more established classics.
If this phenomenon is becoming widespread (and you gamers reading this should help me out with this) it’s an interesting thought, and is probably a good thing for the games industry seeing as something really new and interesting has to catch our eye instead of just the same old recycled sequel you see every year, because truly great iconic experiences can be found in these games for a fraction of the price.
Image via Neoseeker.com
For those of you who have a Japanese account, every month their top ten games list is filled with PSone Classics. Is this leading to a new type of literacy to do with games? Pushing games to keep innovating, perhaps becoming art?
Leave a comment if you’re one of those who are spending more time on PSone Classics than new releases. Before I started this website my time was being eaten up by these games, (and still are now, I myself am trying to get through FF7 at the moment). Also write in the comments whether or not playing through these classics either again or for the first time, makes you expect more from new 60 dollar releases.