I’ve been moaning about this for ages and now I’ve found someone who agrees with me. Check out this posst from the awesome PS3dynamicthemes.co.uk I could summarise and rewrite everything they’ve put here but I strongly recommend you take the time to have a quick read.
Dynamic Themes were supposed to be this big thing that made the last PS3 update worthwhile. Now whilst I do love my Sackboy running around, there is little else to choose from. There’s a couple of rubbish freebies, but the others cost cash money. The US PlayStation Store offers a preview on it’s dynamic themes (Okay they’re only pictures, but at least you get an idea) whereas the UK store makes you cross your fingers and buy, it’s not good enough and it’s not fair.
While I’m raging on about the differences between the US Store and the UK store – where the hell are the Star Trek themes from the US store (While I’m at it where’s the AFRIKA theme)? I’m no trekkie (In fact I’m pretty sure I’m a Jedi according to the census data) but the screens look cool and not quite as girly as Sackboy plodding along. Okay I’m willing to concede that there are some things in the UK store that aren’t in the US but I’m only worried about me right now.
I banged on the other week about collectors editions and pointed out that Heavy Rain had the right idea by bundling the theme in with the limited edition. These developers should be fighting for our loyalty, they should want us using their themes. Madden (Yes Madden again) should be offering us the theme of our favourite team, FIFA should be doing the same, any car racing game should come with a number of options.
They’ve got to get to grips with this, it’s the perfect environment to be hitting a key demographic with advertising message for beer, music, film and just about anything else you can slap a price tag on and sell.
Seriously EA Sports, I need a Miami Dolphins dynamic theme this summer. Bundle it in as part of my pre-order package and you’ve got yourself an early sale.
I personally dont get the point of buying tons of themes… i tend to put my PS3 on, then play a game, or watch a movie. Its rare that im ever on the front screen for > 30 seconds…
I guess it would be pretty sweet if those 30 seconds were more entertaining though… i just dont want to have to pay for it
I hear what you’re saying, but imagine everyone took the same approach to ringtones. “I dont want to listen to my ringtone, I just want to answer the phone. Anyway why would I want it to play a song, it’ll just vanish into the background noise”. But ringtones are big business as are mobile phone wallpapers.
I agree we shouldn’t have to pay – but video game publishers, music companies, film producers, Coke, Budweiser, Nike…these guys should all be looking at the potential to reach their target audience in an engaging way. Yes it’ll cost £10k or so to develop an awesome theme, but thats just one less TV ad in the middle of a re-run of Top Gear….which no one see’s anyway cos we’ve all got Sky+
Good point, there must be plenty of people to buy them or they wouldn’t make them.
Without going to off topic or just ranting, it is starting to become a trend with larger publishers that they seem to release ANYTHING that will make money, and rush the games out so they can bombard us with lots of DLC and other rubbish. I think the games are starting to suffer because its no longer about making a great game, its about some company being able to maximize its profits… but thats the way of all industries I guess
I will save my *Day 1 DLC* rant for another topic
I wish that I never experimented with guitar hero – I really should be investing more time with the wife and kids but it is just too much fun.
I’ve been a devoted supporter of this website for some time and never really provided nearly anything back, I am hoping to improve that later on with increased discussion.Thanks for another new inclusion towards the site.
Hey thats my topic!
Nice to see that someone agree’s, but I’m interested in what you would summerize and rewrite.
Please bare in mind, I’m a wagon driver, not a writer, in fact I’m not even a wagon driver – I’m unemployed.
I do try though.
But it IS good that others agree, I’ve recently submitted the idea to the new BLOG SHARE, and it’s not even been approved. Is that because they’re busy? I hope so.
This really is good, my son really loves star wars lego and continually annoying me regarding it – your site has solved a number of my questions. Time for additional searching!
Loved your post, why rewrite it when someone else has already said it all so well.
If you ever want to contribute to us feel free to send some stuff over.
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