Sony Addresses PS3 Price, Emphasis On Marketing New Games
See Full ImageMost anyone who sits down to examines Sony's current position will come up with two glaring negatives that affect consumers: the PlayStation 3 may be considered too expensive, and Sony just doesn't market their products correctly. Well, Sony Computer Entertainment UK boss Ray Maguire recently spoke about both topics in a GamesIndustry.biz interview.
Although consumers can nab a Xbox 360 Pro this holiday season for $299, they'd still have to spring for the extra $100 to get the PS3 for $399. Even though 2008 was a great year for Sony's machine - especially in terms of software, which we'll get to in a minute - the economy isn't exactly flourishing right now. But in response to the question that asks if the console is "just too expensive," Maguire responded in this way:
"It's a possibility, it's always a possibility. Alternatively it could be that people think that if they go for a lower-spec machine, that by the time they add in another hard drive, and this and that, they'll end up with something which still doesn't play Blu-ray movies.
So if you're doing some detailed cost analysis as a consumer - which of course, they don't, they buy emotively - then the answer is that the PS3 turns out to be good value. Obviously everyone wants to see products cheaper, and cheaper, and cheaper, and that is the pressure that always comes from the consumer level."
In regards to marketing the machine, everyone is well aware of Sony's shortcomings in this area. But the good news, thanks to the healthy lineup, is that Sony can now focus on the games rather than the system's functionality. It's not about what it will do anymore; it's about what it has already done, and we got some amazing benchmark titles this year. So when asked how they will "market the PS3 at the moment," Maguire clearly said Sony wants to focus on the games.
"It's a really difficult question, that one, because when we first started - because all the functionality was radical - we talked about that functionality. And in doing that, maybe we weren't strong enough on the games side of it. Now, with the strength of the games we've got coming out, this Christmas we're definitely about the games. From our own first party, and also third party, there's a feast of games for PS3 this year."
Software sells hardware, plain and simple. So it seems Sony will take this tact in the near future when it comes to advertising the PS3, and we figure that's the best thing to do. Far too many clueless ones out there still make idiotic statements like "the PS3 has no games!" and this ignorance only survives because they don't have the truth thrust in their faces. Well, Sony...thrust away.
12/16/2008 Ben Dutka
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Comments (158 posts)
VinTheDean
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:07:50 AM
That is so true. I've a several posts of people buying another 360 after the price cut becuase their first one keeps dying. They buy the arcade model and move the hard drive from their old one to the new one.
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Shatterday
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:33:03 AM
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englishgolfer
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:09:54 PM
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VinTheDean
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:06:10 AM
Reply
If they would sell more, everyone would stop bringing up the price issue.
Also, the PS3 is only two years old compared to the XBox 360 which is three years old. It's too early in the PS3's lifecycle to drop the price again. It has already dropped the price $200 in two years.
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Deleted User
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:07:52 AM
Reply
I like the PS3. But im speaking from a realist point of view. AT the end of day for less then 250 you can have a Wii or 360 and do just what its ment to do. Play games.
0 up, 4 down
Arvis
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 12:50:13 PM
-Arvis
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Tim Speed24
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 1:19:07 PM
What is the point of buying a HD game system if you don't have a HDTV. If you want to watch Blu-ray movies you have to have PS3.
1 up, 0 down
King James
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 5:03:59 PM
And right, thanx timster...Blu-Ray.
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Deleted User
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 9:17:17 PM
Or watch movies from netflix..Not EVERYONE is obsessed with bluray. Which is ALL I hear about from you guys.
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Jed
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:12:21 PM
I think a lot of people that arent tech savvy are intimidated by the ps3. They just want to play games, and they think the ps3 is going to be more like a computer.
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King James
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 12:26:34 PM
We'll not talking just talking about Blu-Ray movies. I think u trying to be funny. It's like u're trying to justify clinching to old formats.
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BIG_E
Thursday, December 18, 2008 @ 2:05:59 PM
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Zorigo
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:27:42 AM
Reply
1 up, 1 down
Jove
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 12:27:25 PM
Last edited by Jove on 12/16/2008 12:28:02 PM
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noshownogo
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:29:33 AM
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BikerSaint
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:50:44 AM
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And they still need to do a much better job of advertising too.
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Sentinel
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:56:30 AM
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Sony has completely blown the marketing and pricing of this product. They gambled on Blu-Ray with, at this point, highly dubious results. Their install base is about 13 million compared to 360's 25 million plus.
This battle is pretty much all but over with the final death blows being the painful loss of traditional exclusives. Couple that with the enormously painful development process Sony saddled developers with and you've got a potent combination for failure.
Sony put together some nice hardware this time around, but that just isn't enough to push systems. People need compelling software and features with major value-adds like Netflix in the NXE.
Sentinel
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 12:24:03 PM
I smell Xbot who makes baseless claims, so before you decide to make another post, you may want to leave to save face.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 12/16/2008 12:25:39 PM
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Jove
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 12:31:59 PM
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Arvis
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 12:53:38 PM
-Arvis
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Tim Speed24
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 1:21:41 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:15:01 PM
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SHADOW [Moderator]
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:50:35 PM
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Tim Speed24
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:19:22 PM
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ec0li
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 4:11:25 PM
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Deleted User
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 9:19:20 PM
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Alienange
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 9:54:53 PM
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Jed
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:16:13 PM
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rezenu
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 12:06:53 PM
Reply
It's unfortunate that parents will not see the value of something. They would rather get things for cheap rather than realizing that cheap things have more of a chance breaking than expensive things.
Cheap doesn't always mean better.
Last edited by rezenu on 12/16/2008 12:09:02 PM
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Deleted User
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 12:17:07 PM
1 up, 6 down
Jove
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 12:36:46 PM
love the ps3 tho so dont hate on me.
ps the ps3s also got good games i know
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Phoelix
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 1:00:11 PM
Sony needs to acknowledge that a whole lot of people don't recognize the Playstation brand as much as they do. They will adjust the price accordingly if they want to compete for the rest of the people who haven't invested in a console yet.
Their whole strategy of making and selling a superior product technologically is, to be blunt (and in my opinion), a Japanese ideal. It's working in Japan, but not in America (we don't have those kinds of standards).
The second paragraph applies to American consumers.
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Joe_III
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 12:39:59 PM
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"So if you're doing some detailed cost analysis as a consumer - which of course, they don't, they buy emotively - then the answer is that the PS3 turns out to be good value."
Yes, the PS3 is a better piece of hardware. But, no, consumers aren't buying it. Especially during the holidays. Xmas shopping and black friday deals are not meant to appeal to the cerebral shopper, and not many things that sell well do.
Take the iPhone for example. The first iPhone did maybe about a third of what a good smartphone did and did it poorly. And yet, shiny plastic paired with apple hype and it sold incredibly well.
Sony needs to get this kind of momentum to get anywhere.
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karneli lll
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 12:40:57 PM
Reply
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Wage SLAVES
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 4:28:22 PM
Last edited by Wage SLAVES on 12/16/2008 4:28:31 PM
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Arvis
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 1:05:01 PM
Reply
This morning, when I got to work, one of the women I work with was asking me about the Xbox 360. She said that her husband asked for a PS3 for Christmas, but they couldn't afford one, so she was going to get him a 360 instead.
I told her that the PS3, overall, is a much better product but that both systems had a ton of great games so he should be ok with it unless there was a specific PS3 game he was interested in. She was literally a click or two away from buying the 360 when another guy in the office mentioned that there was a store nearby where you could get a PS3 rent-to-own. $150 down, $30/wk starting two months after purchase. So she went with the PS3 instead.
Now, never has it been more clear to me that Sony needs to drop the price. They have the software, now they needed to finish off the deal. How many people have gone through the process of wanting a PS3 but "settling" for a 360? Even if they dropped it to $350, it would be a more competitive price. This is end-all-be-all of selling more consoles as far as I am concerned.
-Arvis
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Deleted User
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 8:57:14 PM
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Arvis
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 1:32:06 PM
The woman in question already specified to me that she and her family wanted the PS3. They simply couldn't afford it. She was asking me if the 360 would be "good enough" as a Christmas gift for her husband and I told her yes it probably would be unless there was a specific PS3 exclusive he was looking forward to.
-Arvis
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pillz81
Saturday, December 20, 2008 @ 7:37:19 PM
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HOODGE
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 1:09:14 PM
Reply
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Tim Speed24
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:21:30 PM
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Deleted User
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 9:01:03 PM
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Banky A
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 12:42:48 AM
I don't think he said anything about the Xbox 360 and Wii being lame without BluRay xD
o_O
Last edited by Banky A on 12/17/2008 12:57:35 AM
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jerocarson
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 1:19:53 PM
Reply
so sony has definitely no problem with the pricing of the ps3. PS3 has already won them a crown, and very soon well the economic crises are over, sales will grow steady.
and indeed software sell games, the current trend of the wii will die off soon.
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Shatterday
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:19:19 PM
Last edited by Shatterday on 12/16/2008 3:19:32 PM
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Alienange
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 10:10:41 PM
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Joe_III
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 1:26:05 PM
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If not for the PS3, Blu-Ray would be dead right now. The biggest initial sales for blu-ray players came from the PS3...before blu-ray players got as cheap/cheaper than a PS3.
Kind of amusing. They both propped each other up, but right now the cost is too much for either of them to get very popular in this economy.
Last edited by Joe_III on 12/16/2008 1:27:15 PM
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MetalHead09
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:29:41 PM
2 up, 0 down
Shatterday
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:19:45 PM
1 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 9:02:59 PM
The PS3 might have been $100+ cheaper at launch without the Blu-ray, but only because of the diode shortage. With production in full force, a BRD no longer costs $100+ more than a DVDD, which is why standalone Blu-ray players are down to $200 (from $600-1000).
At this point, without the Blu-ray drive, the PS3 would cost more or less what it does.
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Sentinel
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 1:27:09 PM
Reply
Your totally farcical claims that games on the PS3 are "easily on par" with the 360 is just nonsense. The sales figures don't support that and neither do the reviews. The PS3 has yet to get a true system seller with the closest being first party titles like Resistance and LittleBIGPlanet. Those are really solid titles, but not quite up to system selling standards.
Regarding Blu-Ray, I stand by my statement. It was a huge risk with incredibly dubious results. There is absolutely nothing at this point that says Blu-Ray will see any considerable adoption. It still has to overcome the "good enough" factor of standard DVD and the exploding VOD industry. It's entirely possible Blu-Ray will be all but overlooked in favor of digital distribution with offline media taking a backseat. It won't go away because offline media has intrinsic value, but certainly it could get pushed into a corner.
I'll leave your flamebaiting Xbot comments alone. You honestly have no clue what game systems I own and use.
Sentinel
Last edited by Sentinel on 12/16/2008 1:31:06 PM
1 up, 8 down
Arvis
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 1:49:37 PM
"I correctly pointed out the article inaccuracies." -- Did you? I see that you stated "The article is inaccurate" and then stated a bunch of opinions. If you pointed to any inaccuracies, could you make it clearer for those of us that DON'T live in your personal fairy-tale land where your opinions are fact?
"The PS3 has yet to get a true system seller..." -- What, in your small-minded opinion, constitutes a "system seller?" Is it all about review scores and sales numbers?
--
According to GameRankings.com:
Fable 11 - 89%
Gears 2 - 94%
LittleBigPlanet - 95%
Metal Gear Solid 4 - 93%
--
When faced with irrefutable statistics, your claim that PS3 exclusives are not "easily on par" with 360 exclusives makes you look like an idiot. Take off the Microsoft eye-patch and at least pretend like you have a functioning brain.
As for your standpoint on Blu-Ray, you clearly are naive and/or have an agenda. HD movie adoption is increasing at a faster rate than did DVD adoption. All the statistics are pointing to solid growth and staying power. Maybe if you had a genuine interest in the industry as opposed to blindly rooting for your favorite team, you would know all of this.
I hope you consider buying a home in The Real World someday soon and move out of Fanboy Fairytale Land. It's not a very good neighborhood.
-Arvis
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Dystopia
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:46:55 PM
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Wage SLAVES
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 4:34:54 PM
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Arvis
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 1:34:41 PM
I already apologized for getting personal. I was a bit too mean, and I feel bad. I wasn't having a particularly good day yesterday.
-Arvis
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AntDC
Thursday, December 18, 2008 @ 12:46:33 AM
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Enfildate
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:07:03 PM
Reply
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Phoelix
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:15:01 PM
We're not making a good name for ourselves by participating in the flame war, even if the other side is spewing (mostly) nonsense.
That's the number one rule of a pissing contest: the man who wins is the one who doesn't compete.
2 up, 1 down
Phoelix
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:41:00 PM
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Wage SLAVES
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 4:36:23 PM
3 up, 0 down
FallenClyro
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 3:47:45 AM
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ps92117
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:10:58 PM
Reply
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MetalHead09
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:34:37 PM
0 up, 1 down
Shatterday
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:24:31 PM
Suck it.
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Wage SLAVES
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 4:38:17 PM
3 up, 1 down
karneli lll
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 5:26:57 PM
0 up, 1 down
Jed
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:26:39 PM
And Joshua is cool, he gives this website a fresh viewpoint and backs up his arguments with facts, not insults.
He also understands grammar, which you seem to have trouble grasping.
Last edited by Jed on 12/16/2008 11:32:22 PM
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HOODGE
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:16:59 PM
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Naga
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:23:36 PM
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It's a games machine that's how Sony should go. Like C'mon can't Sony Release an 20GB PS3 Again or maybe 40GB or give the consumer a effing choice of which one to choose.
Sonys marketing is different towards 360s pathetic trailer of prince of persia with an Only on Xbox 360 priced at £199 or something
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Tim Speed24
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:31:09 PM
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HOODGE
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:53:26 PM
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xnonsuchx
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:54:19 PM
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I even bought a used PS3 instead of a more expensive newer one, but that was also because I wanted the coveted 60GB model w/ PS2-compatibility. I kinda saw my purchase, after recently getting an HDTV, as buying a (upgradeable) Blu-Ray and media player that also played HD games. Of course, a lot of people complain about the cost of BD videos...one moronic reviewer on Yahoo! seemed to think $5-10 was the STANDARD price for DVDs, saying BDs were 4-5x the price. Comparing NEW titles (and if you shop around), BDs are only about $5 more than a $18-25 new DVD, which isn't unreasonable. I DO agree, however, that in many cases, the benefit of BD is questionable (e.g. do I really need to see STEP BROTHERS in HD? TRANSFORMERS, yeah, but not very 'cinematic' titles.).
If Sony is selling 'enough' at the current price w/o losing too much, so be it. The fact that the Xbox 360 Arcade (useless alone, according to all my Xbox-owning friends) is $199 certainly has a psychological effect, but that's because a lot of people don't seem to realize how limited that option is.
Also, not that Sony gives me a warm, glowing feeling inside, but knowing just how dubious M$ is in their business dealings (and general competence), I don't care much for them at all. The 360 is certainly a good machine (esp. compared to the original Xbox) and I have no problem with others liking theirs, but unless someone GAVE me one AND games for it, I won't be using one if I had to give any of my money to M$.
We need another player...where's SEGA's Dreamcast 2??? Panasonic 4DO??? Atari 10400??? ColecoVision HD??? Intellivision HD??? :-)
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BikerSaint
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 4:05:46 PM
Yeah, I'd like to see them back too, and along with the updated version of their game
"Icebreaker", which I still play on the old Panasonic system.
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Shatterday
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 2:54:51 PM
Reply
I personally don't think that blu ray movies are that big of a selling point. What they should focus on are the gaming aspects of Blu Ray. It can hold more data, better graphics! It is way more durable than regular forms of media, scratch resistant! It's like additional insurance for your games. When you go to sell all your old games to Gamestop you won't be turned away as often for them not working because you found most of them behind/under your entertainment center. Sound from Blu Ray discs is also much much better than traditional media.
Let Blu Ray movies market themselves and just focus on what Blu Ray does for you as a GAMER, not a home theatre enthusiast.
The Cell Processor used to be all over the internet, now no one seems to give a shit. It's an extremely powerful piece of technology. These chips have been used in the most powerful supercomputers to date! Folding at Home is using the Playstation 3's power to analyze proteins and cure diseases.
You get peripherals included with the PS3 that you need to buy separate with XBOX or you might not be able to get at all! Built in Wi-Fi and Blu Ray player! (it might seem like that debates my previous point, but it doesn't)
By now, this should all be common knowledge, but I can gurantee that if you saw someone walking out of a Target with an Xbox and told them this, they'd stop and be like "Wow... no shit?"
I don't mean the last statement to sound like I'm a fanboy I'm just using it to describe a gerneral lack of technological knowledge in the average shoppers purchases. I work at a Target. It doesn't make me an expert, but I have seen it first hand.
Last edited by Shatterday on 12/16/2008 2:58:32 PM
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SHADOW [Moderator]
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:02:41 PM
Reply
The PS3 is better harware (quality and power wise) then the 360 with the exception of their video card and (arguably) blu ray.
Blu ray is a strength in that it has better capacity and is they only viable technology for HD movies. but is a weakness in the high price point and read speeds.
Microsoft has much better marketing in that at the end of every commercial they can flash that $199 graphic. That is all the marketing they need to do. A picture is worth a thousand words but a picture with a cheap price on it is worth even more.
And we talk so often that this is not a fanboy site, but we are intollerant of others making valid points against the ps3. we should do better at practicing what we preach.
1 up, 0 down
FallenClyro
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 3:52:38 AM
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pillz81
Saturday, December 20, 2008 @ 8:00:52 PM
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Sentinel
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:12:00 PM
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Regarding software system sellers, I think Dystopia makes a great point that certain games for him/her, personally, were system sellers. I say right on and keep enjoying the games. That being said, system seller is an industry term - arguably Sony coined it. It's widely recognized that certain titles have traditionally pushed consoles with their sales. That hasn't happened on any broad level with the PS3 - that's just a fact. No one in the industry, including Sony, is claiming otherwise. Again, I will state, for the record, Resistance, LBP, and some other titles have been really strong for the PS3. Mentioning cross-platform titles, especially former Sony exclusives, does nothing to bolster your case. The undeniable loss of exclusives to the 360 has hurt Sony this round. That's just a fact.
Dystopia, thanks for the civil tone. I really do not believe that the PS3 sucks. In fact, in my first post I even acknowledged that I think it is great hardware. It was a shame to see the launch totally mishandled by Sony. Even they admit they fumbled. I think it's a good platform with some of the worst marketing the console industry has ever seen.
Sentinel
0 up, 2 down
Jed
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:45:45 PM
Nobody can deny that MGS4 was a system seller.
Resistance 2 LBP and others haev been rated just as well as the 360's best.
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MadPowerBomber
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 12:27:21 AM
Sometimes it boils down to pure laziness and not the software and it doesn't help that employees of specific video game stores are also constantly lying and berating specific systems that don't match their system of preference.
In all honesty, I've yet to see someone in any sort of media make that argument known. That GameStop and it's oh-so-wonderful employees are constantly talking consumers OUT of buying a PS3 based on dated and often misinformed arguments. I've also yet to over-hear anyone warn a consumer about the RRoD and still very high failure rate of the 360 when asking questions about which console to buy.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:19:24 PM
Reply
Everyone else can continue to rip you up, and I won't stop them. So, you can leave of your own accord or I'll make you leave. We want civility and intelligent debates, but ignorance disguised as "civil talk" is still ignorance. Don't think I don't know why you signed up...and don't think I'll let it continue.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 12/16/2008 3:23:12 PM
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Jed
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:46:42 PM
I actually did laugh when I read that.
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Sentinel
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:38:18 PM
Reply
This has been a disappointing first experience on some levels, but some of your community members like Dystopia made some really nice points in civil tones.
I hope, regardless of personal choice, you enjoy your game system as much as I enjoy mine.
Sentinel
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Wage SLAVES
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 4:45:18 PM
Everyone who wants to have sympathy for him should read his previous posts...
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Deleted User
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 8:34:28 AM
FF reminds us all in every post that this is a PS3 site. Thank you I must not of known.
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LCF
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:41:58 PM
Reply
1.EA did not support it.
2.No DVD drive.
Now dont get me wrong I absolutely loved the Dreamcast and was a great gaming system and had some unique titles.but the lack of support from EA.Which at the time had their finger in everyones pudding.Then the lack of a DVD drive.
Which was in high demand for consoles to be a central hub for the entertainment center.
Now the xbox came with a DVD drive.But there was alot of things wrong with the xbox,like it being to big and the DVD software was not compatible with most of the newer DVDs being released at the time.
With the PS2 It came with a DVD player though it had some compatible issues with the newer DVDs but not as bad as the xbox.I remember IGN had a list for both systems which showed which was compatible for what movie released on DVD.
The gamecube,well I still have my cube but that system has always been in limbo.
So here we are today.And the only system to continue this central hub design is Sony.The X360 has a very crappy DVD playback system in it,where as the PS3 has a high rated DVD playback and still to this date is the best Blu-ray player on the market.Able to upgrade the PS3 harddrive with no problems finding the upgrade(any 3.5 SATA will work).Even if microsoft supported Toshiba it still would not compete the PS3.I'm sorry but there is a major differance between HDMI and component.Lossless video is unsurpassed as is the lossless audio that is carried though the HDMI.
This is why digital dist. wont win over DVD and Blu-ray.Broadband providers areow placing dwnloading caps per month.I've heard it low as 30gigs a month in some places.Next is the quality of the picture and the sound,it's all compressed and will always no matter how much you improve the compression software it will always be lossy for both the video and audio.
Yea yea Netflix blah blah you have to pay for xboxlive and Netflix in addition you need to download their software onto the 360 harddrive.The X360 is not a system you want to use to show off your theater system,I use the PS3 for that.
We are in the worst economic crisis the world has ever seen.this is why the PS3 ishurting in sales.The tech involved in the PS3 is not cheap.The PS3 is designed to move gaming/home theater forward.Unlike the other consoles on the market.
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bearbobby
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:54:24 PM
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Arvis
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:58:35 PM
Reply
I apologize if I was too personal. Obviously, I know nothing about you as a person. I only know what you show me, and what I was shown was yet another individual who was deliberately spreading misinformation on the internet. I assume you have fun lying to yourself and others about the quality of the Playstation 3's library of games and the popularity of the Blu-Ray media format. I have just as much fun correcting these lies. For example, this one: "It's widely recognized that certain titles have traditionally pushed consoles with their sales. That hasn't happened on any broad level with the PS3 - that's just a fact."
The PS3 outsold the 360 every month for the first half of 2008 calendar. That's just a fact. Are we to assume that it wasn't the PS3s games that caused this phenomenon? Perhaps it was the adoption of Blu-Ray movies? Oh wait, no, you claim that those are failing as well...
Anyways, I'm done with this conversation. I didn't mean to personally offend you as an individual, I meant only to rebut a silly paragraph of text I found on a silly webpage. In other words... if you have a milkshake... and I have a straw... I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!
-Arvis
Last edited by Arvis on 12/16/2008 4:00:27 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 3:59:11 PM
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Sentinel
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 4:10:28 PM
Reply
Thanks for the apology on the personal attacks. I don't think I'm lying at all about the PS3 library of games. I've acknowledged some really good and fun games. I even personally enjoyed them, which was how I formed the opinion. I think it's true to say whomever bought any particular console system did so because of the games. When I say system sellers, I'm talking about titles that drive console sales like FFVII did, or Halo for that matter. I don't think one of those has happened yet on the PS3 - maybe in 09 /shrug. You're right to point out some of the strong sales for the first part of the year. Microsoft responded with a price cut and the ball is in Sony's court. They haven't responded yet.
Regarding Blu-Ray, I never claimed it was failing. I simply stated it has a dubious future at this time. That is true with the figures and facts available right now up to and including the ones showing that Blu-Ray is starting to finally pick up a little in sales. As I also originally stated, Blu-Ray, as does all offline media, still has some really great vlue and purpose. It is entirely possible it will take a backseat to digital distribution.
Again, thanks for the apology on the personal attacks.
Sentinel
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Shatterday
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 4:33:45 PM
I think I have a different view about digital distribution. Can't you distribute digital media that is HD? If I'm correct, then would both the 360 and the PS3 be able to play this HD digital media?
I have to apologize for the response for other members of this site. You have your opinions and I've always thought that we need more debate that isn't filled with personal attacks. That said, I think that I disagree with a few of your comments.
"Your totally farcical claims that games on the PS3 are 'easily on par' with the 360 is just nonsense"
I think that there have been some ports to the PS3 that were of a lower quality but I also think that of late the scales have balanced if not tipped due to the RAPID advancement of the quality of software being put out on the PS3, both exclusive and not.
"This battle is pretty much all but over with the final death blows being the painful loss of traditional exclusives."
Both Microsoft and Sony still have plenty of exclusives. The transfer of exclusive to multi-plat is a loss, but it's not like their making any of them 360 exclusives so you can't count that as losing sales. Plenty of people who own both a 360 and a PS3 would prefer to purchase games like Final Fantasy XIII on the Playstation due to the 360 needing multiple discs to carry the software. But even with that, there are those who will purchase it for the 360 for their own reasons.
I personally see that both companies have made their fair share of bad decisions, with Sony's weighing in more and being noticeable in their sales.
Please continue to post on PSXE, you seem like an intelligent guy.
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Deleted User
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 9:08:14 PM
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HOODGE
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 4:23:32 PM
Reply
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Deleted User
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 9:13:41 PM
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MadPowerBomber
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 12:42:09 AM
I don't like FPS games, I couldn't care less about any non-Final Fantasy RPG game, and I really don't like the look and feel of most American developed games which is what predominates the 360 market. Most American dev teams focus too much on the miniscule details in environments and let the details that matter to me (i.e. facial animation and the like) slide out the door. I'm picky. I want my fighting games and 3D animation that matches 2D sprite based animation. Heh.
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Arvis
Thursday, December 18, 2008 @ 1:50:33 PM
-Arvis
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HOODGE
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 4:36:13 PM
Reply
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ArnoldK PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 4:48:09 PM
Reply
I still think that Sony's advances in Europe, Japan, and other regions (Australia, etc.) will eventually propel the PS3 over the X360. Remember, the PlayStation 3 came out 18 months after the X360 in Europe, and yet outsold it within 6-8 months or so. The distance Sony has over the X360 in Japan will help negate whatever distance MS has put over Sony here in the US, same applies to Europe.
The bigger picture is that the PS3 is outselling the Xbox 360 in other regions, and by margins considerable enough that it's actually closing the gap. Yes, American performance could fair a lot better, but with the worst economic recession in recent American history, we're simply far less likely to spend more on a product.
And personally, I think a $200 X360 arcade is an appealing purchase. I don't play games online very often at all, so I won't need XBL. I'll just want the system for its games. And if I need a hard drive, I'll cop a used one off of eBay for a few bucks. I'd wager that most people who buy an X360 over the PS3 feel the same...they just want a videogame system for **videogames**, not Xbox Live, or Blu-Ray, or a million other features that both the PS3 and X360 have.
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Wage SLAVES
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 5:40:19 PM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 5:01:27 PM
Reply
You're on thin ice.
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Deleted User [Administrator]
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 11:02:19 AM
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King James
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 5:16:48 PM
Reply
Sentinel,
I got 5 rebuttals for everything you have and will say:
Blu-Ray
SUPERIOR 1st and 3rd party exclusives
Better reliability
Free and Equal (if not better) Online Gameplay
2009 Line-up
And Big-Up to Arvis, for putting the Xbot in his place.
Last edited by King James on 12/16/2008 5:17:41 PM
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ArnoldK PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 5:24:07 PM
Reply
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Sentinel
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 5:32:22 PM
It simply hasn't had time to see if it will reach that legendary FFVII type status for moving systems. It very well could do it though.
Sentinel
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Joe_III
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 5:44:57 PM
However, those don't show up on sales...
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Jed
Friday, December 19, 2008 @ 1:30:30 AM
You say the ps3 has no system sellers, then you contadict yourself and say that it doubled console sales during its release month.
I dont think you are that dumb.
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Sentinel
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 5:27:40 PM
Reply
Yes, I believe both the PS3 and 360 stand to gain greatly from digital distribution. Xbox has taken the lead with their Netflix feature, but with Home finally going live Sony will be in a position to start competing. Competition in the digital distribution market, especially beyond consoles, is pretty critical for everyone in my opinion. Seeing massive distribution via TiVO, Roku, and other set top boxes will be great for us all because it ensures the prices of delivering that content will be lower. That's a big win for everyone in my book. It's also important to note some third party apps like PlayOn Media server which is bringing streaming to both 360 and PS3.
Regarding your point about weak ports, I actually think both consoles are pretty guilty of this. First year Xbox 360 games were, in my opinion, pretty weak. Naturally, there were some great standouts. I think that is pretty accurate for PS3's first round as well. And, I definitely agree the coming lineup looks considerably better. It's not here yet, so in my opinion the scales haven't balanced, but they certainly could next year.
To be honest, despite having loved some exclusives in the past, I'm really not in favor of them. I think it's best for all gamers to have the titles be multi-platform. Ideally, we should all be choosing from the same stock of games with each selecting our hardware platform of choice. It would be insanely cool and fun to be able to co-mingle PS3 and 360 titles - imagine the awesome grudge matches.
Your point on FFXIII is well received. I can completely understand the desire for a single disc. This is definitely one of those times where installing to the drive on the Xbox will be the way to go. This is exactly why I like multi-platform games. Now, hardware choices become increasingly relevant.
Hi Hoodge. Yes, I own playstation products and games as well as enjoy them. Heck, I still remember the very first time I played WipeOut on PS1. I'm sorry if my differing opinions have disrupted any happy playstation owners. I wouldn't want to convince anyone they weren't having a good time. I say more power to anyone enjoying their consoles and games of choice. That being said, it is obvious I enjoy debating the marketing, the games, the technology, and the topic in general. I'm passionate about it and I think that comes across pretty clearly in my posts possibly even to my detriment at times.
Hoodge, I do not honestly have specific figures memorized for MGS4. Off the top of my head, it's somewhere north of a million copies so far. More importantly, for Sony, it looks like it nearly doubled console sales for that month. I haven't found any data indicating that held steady, but usually that kind of thing does hold for a while until the game achieves saturation. I think you're right that it sold quite a few PS3s. In another 6 months, we'll know if MGS4 is really the first PS3 system seller (I'm talking about putting it in the same neighborhood as FFVII, Halo, Gears, etc).
Sentinel
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karneli lll
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 5:53:18 PM
Last edited by karneli lll on 12/16/2008 5:55:29 PM
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Fane1024
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 9:12:09 PM
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Sentinel
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 6:06:33 PM
Reply
Sentinel
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karneli lll
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 7:00:41 PM
Last edited by karneli lll on 12/16/2008 7:04:28 PM
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ArnoldK PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 7:05:40 PM
Reply
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Sentinel
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 10:02:45 PM
Do you mean globally or certain markets? Recent sales figures in America show the Xbox outselling the PS3, but I think it's a different story in places like Europe and Australia. I absolutely agree those are both meaningful and important markets. It's possible that the recent upturn in sales in those markets could trumpet a resounding come back for the PS3, but I don't think it is likely.
Sentinel
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Deleted User
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 8:39:19 AM
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Fane1024
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 9:18:48 PM
The price drop will temporarily change those numbers, but will not affect the overall trend.
Plus, if the PS3 ever starts selling well in Japan (e.g., after the release date of FFXIII is announced), the PS3 will probably begin to dominate.
Still, Microsoft have done a good job delaying the inevitable.
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yzzlthtz
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 7:22:08 PM
Reply
Microsoft and Nintendo have swindled this generation of gaming. I really hope people come around.
Last edited by yzzlthtz on 12/16/2008 7:32:30 PM
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Jed
Friday, December 19, 2008 @ 1:33:56 AM
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yzzlthtz
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 7:35:19 PM
Reply
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Sentinel
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 10:12:53 PM
Sentinel
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FallenClyro
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 4:01:33 AM
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dveisalive
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 7:37:24 PM
Reply
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BikerSaint
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 8:07:16 PM
Reply
Me thinks you could stop stuttering so much!
(Oh, never mind, I see one of the mod just caught & deleted his serious case of hiccups).
Last edited by BikerSaint on 12/16/2008 8:11:12 PM
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BikerSaint
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 9:01:15 PM
Reply
I know this is off-topic, but I don't know where else to put it.
I signed up at the forums a few days agao, did my profile & all that, but it still won't let me post.
So maybe you can figure out either, what's wrong with the forum, or what I might be doing wrong because everytime I've tried, I keep getting this messege below.......
BikerSaint, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 12:33:07 AM
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Jed
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:57:24 PM
Reply
I really think sony is taking a stop in the right direction with the commercial that they started showing on monday night. The one about the ps3 being a video watching machine as well as a video game machine.
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cadpig
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 1:20:07 AM
Reply
"The ps3 is at a good price right now, but consumers can't see it."
If the consumers can't see it, then it's not a good price.
When i watch tv and see game commercials. All i see is this game is available for the Xbox 360 , Playstation 3 What am i going to think when i go to the store and see one console costing so more than the other one... playing the same game.
Bluray isn't at mass market levels yet.
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FallenClyro
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 4:03:40 AM
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daus26
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 8:28:58 PM
"The ps3 is at a good price right now, but consumers can't see it."
If the consumers can't see it, then it's not a good price.
____________________
Not true. Consumers don't see a product by how good a price is.
If you say xbox is at a good price, then the consumer certainly don't see the problems xbox has - RRod, scratching DVDs, online fees, wi-fi adapter,dvds itself, and basically its short lifespan.
With a lot of people saying xbox 720 or watever coming soon, does that make the 360 worth the buy?
As for the ps3, it is worth every dollar, but the consumer just doesnt know that. I have many people asking me on what the ps3 is capable of and almost all say, "really?"
Last edited by daus26 on 12/17/2008 8:31:38 PM
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Banky A
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 1:29:47 AM
Reply
But now I come out with a lot of new information I didn't know so much about. Thanks guys xD
And I have absolutely nothing else to say that hasn't already been said or needs to be, LOLZ
:P
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cegmp
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 9:46:36 AM
Reply
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Sentinel
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 10:43:50 AM
In my opinion, the PS3 marketing in America has been very weak. As others have pointed out, it really just comes down to price now. I guess if you aren't going to change the price then why bother with spending advertising dollars. Good platform, good hardware, and a good slate of games coming next year are all great reasons to buy. At this point, I'm not sure there is any potential buyer in America who doesn't already know about the PS3.
Sentinel
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pillz81
Saturday, December 20, 2008 @ 8:47:14 PM
Advertising.
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King James
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 12:23:16 PM
Reply
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Sentinel
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 1:18:41 PM
Sentinel
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BikerSaint
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 3:38:07 PM
Reply
Again off-topic, but just wanted to say "THANKS", to both, you & Dan's, help in fixing the forum problem I had.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 6:59:27 PM
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PeacekeeperJedi
Thursday, December 18, 2008 @ 9:59:41 PM
Reply
wiser to those in charge to lower the prices of
the games? I mean, dang. It's just about to
come down to buying a game, or paying the electric. How about droping the price of the
games by about half? Then, we the consumer can
buy multiple game!
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bamf
Saturday, December 20, 2008 @ 6:58:47 PM
Reply
Looking at the Wii, I don't know if I can believe that software can sell hardware. The Wii has nothing yet due to its cheap price, sells like it'll save your life if you buy one. Since the price cut for 360 this has helped 360 sales. NPD numbers for November show that the 360 more than doubled the sales over the PS3. Is that down to software or price? The Wii killed them with just over 2 million sold, down to price again would you say?
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Shatterday
Reply
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ 11:04:31 AM
Last edited by Shatterday on 12/16/2008 11:06:35 AM