Software Still The #1 Console Pusher
We are well aware of the year. We know it's not 1993. Back then, video game consoles played video games and nothing else. But now, over 15 years later, our game systems are full-fledged home entertainment units, capable of delivering everything from movies to music to picture and video content. Hence, there are plenty of factors to consider when evaluating sales charts in this new generation.
Price, for example, is always a driving force behind sales numbers, especially in an ailing economy. And if the price of your chosen system is a little higher than you might want, reliability quickly becomes another consideration. There are many things to think about, but in the end, the determining factor always remains the same: software. While there may be a few people out there who bought the PlayStation 3 for it's Blu-Ray capabilities, most everyone who forks over the cash to pick up a games consoles wants to play games. Everyone loves to dissect those sales charts, but for whatever reason, the question of software is often lost in the shuffle. Do you want an answer as to why a certain platform sold better at a certain time of year? Sure, you could look at a recent price drop or something like that, but instead, just simplify things and remember that at its core, this industry is still all about the games.
Grand Theft Auto IV releases and sales of both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 increase while Wii sales level off (a lull for them). Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots launches and PS3 sales go through the roof, easily topping both the 360 and Wii for a time. Earlier in 2008, the PSP enjoys the releases of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII and God of War: Chains of Olympus, and lo and behold, sales increase, ultimately allowing the handheld to become the best-selling platform in Japan for the first 6 months of 2008. Gears of War 2 releases in November, causing holiday sales of the 360 to spike. PS3 sales didn't really spike due to LittleBigPlanet, Resistance 2 and PlayStation Home, but then again, Sony's advertising for such games was downright awful. If the consumers aren't aware of the games, it's tough to sell the system. They're pushing LBP pretty hard now, though, and Home will continue to be a selling point as it grows.
Killzone 2 will cause PS3 sales to rise. So will Gran Turismo 5 and God of War III. Heavy Rain and Infamous may have some impact, too, which is why we consider 2009 to be a winning year for the PS3. Sony's machine should also get a price drop at some point in 2009, but really...so what? Who cares if it dropped to $199 if it didn't have any games to play? Who's even considering the PS3 as a Blu-Ray player alone? Who wants the 360 for Netflix and the new Xbox Live Experience? No, look: if there's a GTAIV, sales go up. If there's a MGS4, sales go up. If there's a Gears 2, sales go up. There are other factors to consider and price is always important, but games are still - thank God - the #1 console pusher in this industry. Can't get any simpler than that.
12/30/2008 Ben Dutka
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Comments (66 posts)
Phoelix
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 @ 11:16:10 PM
Wouldn't you think that the video/music playback was relatively simple to add on? All Sony had to do was put in a simple music player and video program.
I'm not sure how much that would affect the price, but it'd be interesting to see if Sony would actually back off their "home entertainment center" jargon and just sell a games system.
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 12:00:33 AM
Phoelix
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 4:30:22 PM
And I wonder just how much Sony saves per console by dropping backwards compatibility. I think that was an egg-headed move on their part that has probably put off plenty of PS2 owners from upgrading: "But what about all my PS2 games...? Am I just supposed to throw them away at a Gamestop trade-in?"
Spartan 117
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 @ 10:42:00 PM
Reply
MetalHead09
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 @ 11:04:24 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 12:01:29 AM
somethingrandom
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:31:07 AM
Wage SLAVES
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 4:59:04 AM
So...ah-ahem watch for yourself the coming Sony domination...or is that what is reflecting off your visor, Spartan?
Last edited by Wage SLAVES on 12/31/2008 5:01:22 AM
Aftab
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 5:14:32 PM
King James
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 @ 10:48:13 PM
Reply
bigrailer19
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 @ 11:13:03 PM
Reply
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 12/30/2008 11:17:22 PM
bigrailer19
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 @ 11:22:42 PM
Reply
Phoelix
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 4:35:35 PM
I guess I just really hate when people who have little or no knowledge of the game world but still try to write news articles pertaining to games. That's about the same as Ben and Arnold trying to cover news about pharmaceutical R&D. It's not their area of expertise, so they should leave it to the actual experts.
Aftab
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 5:42:43 AM
Deleted User
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:27:36 AM
Reply
Aftab
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 5:40:40 AM
karneli lll
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 6:11:30 AM
Could the US govt be hindering Sony's attempts? maybe trying to prevent a situation like the one in the car industry?
Qubex
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 6:23:23 AM
karneli lll
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 6:47:49 AM
Xanavi23
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 8:08:42 AM
ps92117
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:23:34 PM
Deleted User
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:37:51 PM
Deleted User
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:53:41 PM
Xanavi23
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 4:34:13 PM
PS: Im canadian N00b ;)
Last edited by Xanavi23 on 12/31/2008 4:34:29 PM
Aftab
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 5:20:04 PM
Deleted User
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 5:41:08 PM
Depends on the model and the year.
And X
The specs were shown b4 Sony made the contract. Thats how business works. Nividai made parts for the original xbox but now they make parts for Sony.
IBM also helped with the Gamecube, Xbox, 360, Wii, PS3.
To many factors come into play to call any system "Japanese" or "American". Tho I still support Microsoft, IBM, and Apple because they are headquartered here.
karneli lll
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 7:14:48 PM
SHADOW [Moderator]
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 8:37:07 PM
MS apparently put together a box that was cheap and worked, but didn't invest enough time or effort to make it relable over the long haul (or even short haul, sometimes).
Last edited by SHADOW on 1/1/2009 6:10:40 AM
Shatterday
Friday, January 02, 2009 @ 8:24:26 AM
Japanese business models emphasize quality products, it's key to their operations.
American businesses don't have that same virtue and it shows. *cough* GM *cough* bailout *cough* arrogant retards *cough*
*dies*
ps
Go read any review of any japanese car/product and compare it to anything made in America, reviews are generally way better.
Just because parts are made by the same company, doesn't mean that they use the exact same processes for everything. Specifics are negotiated.
Xanavi23
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 8:07:22 AM
SHADOW [Moderator]
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 8:33:42 PM
Xanavi23
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 8:06:13 AM
Reply
Its not that the game sucks but i thought it was that there wasn't nearly enough advertising on the main networks or sport networks or others. You guys proved it. Buyers won't buy a game they don't know about...its not too late for Sony to push sales harder..its still early in the shelf life and the game is great especially since players seldom prefer a pure tactical game over an FPS like this which isn't totally extreme as it still demands tactical play at its best.
Sony can fix this issue, whether they will or not, is their choice.
karneli lll
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 9:49:29 AM
Xanavi23
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 4:37:57 PM
I remember when Gears 1 came out, they had an amazing hitting commercial where the main guy was shaking off locusts, gets away from them and then leaps into some sort of Locust Arachnid Queen nest, thinking...I'm F***ed.
All the while some great instrumental classical music was playing.
seems sony could learn a thing or 2 from M$ advertising group and they're not even as good as they could be.
Dammit, Killzone 2 better get a REAL FreaKing AWESOME commercial.
Last edited by Xanavi23 on 12/31/2008 4:39:05 PM
FLYING_APE
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 8:13:29 AM
Reply
King James
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 12:08:44 PM
shadowpal2
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 10:46:49 AM
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God of War III will already sell PS3s. Killzone 2 - I'm not too sure. Gran Turismo 5 - yep that will sell PS3s and so will FFXIII and FF Versus XIII.
But if it wants to be selling more than the competition Sony needs to have contracts of exclusivity with 3rd party developers. Sure their 1st party developers are GOLD but IMO can never reach skills of Kojima, Nomura, and etc. SO CREATE SOME CONTRACTS!!!! Instead of taking losses from bad sales, why not make an investment that will end up as a profit???
C'mon Sony. THAT'S WHAT MADE THE PS2 successful didn't it? I mean not the fact that Sony made contracts of exclusivity with 3rd party developers but the fact that there was such a large library of games for the PS2 from 3rd party developers.
Qubex
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 12:53:06 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 1:19:02 PM
Reply
Spartan 117
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:15:59 PM
Reply
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:46:39 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:48:27 PM
Deleted User
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:51:24 PM
ps92117
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 2:41:29 PM
Reply
Last edited by ps92117 on 12/31/2008 2:43:28 PM
coldbore
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 3:26:20 PM
Reply
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 4:16:06 PM
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 12/31/2008 4:16:25 PM
bamf
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 7:37:54 PM
King James
Friday, January 02, 2009 @ 1:09:53 AM
@bamf
You shouldn't wish such evil on your friends like that. No matter how easy it is? lol.
Anybody playing a 360/PS3 on a SDTV and is content with it, doesn't need ur guidance. Its his eyes. Ppl like that have don't think like you. U say "true 1080p gaming", he says "Uh...good-looking picture?" or "It all looks the same to me."
Last edited by King James on 1/2/2009 1:38:14 AM
moose88
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 4:26:10 PM
Reply
Why don't the English make game consoles?
Because it's hard to make electronics leak oil.
I have always bought a console/upgraded a PC to play games. I had the PSXs (Resident Evil), I switched to XBOX (for Buffy ... sry!), the 360 because it was first out and GeOW was pretty cool. Then it RRODed on me.
Now the PS3 is King. The best part? I missed Uncharted and R:FoM and all the cool stuff last year. I have a huge back catalogue to get through before KZ2 replaces the wife and kids for a week (at least).
Man, 2009 is gonna be big.
Deleted User
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 5:42:01 PM
SHADOW [Moderator]
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 6:15:40 AM
bamf
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 7:31:39 PM
Reply
I bet in Japan the PS3 didn't do to well? I don't think the PS3 is expensive for people anymore and they would pay the price. Its just that there's a cheaper option out there and a consumer will way up the prices of how many more games they could get for a price of a PS3.
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 12:11:54 AM
Reply
Deleted User [Administrator]
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 12:30:00 AM
SHADOW [Moderator]
Thursday, January 01, 2009 @ 6:13:18 AM
NetheRealm
Sunday, January 04, 2009 @ 12:17:22 AM
Reply
Last edited by NetheRealm on 1/4/2009 12:23:54 AM

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots









WorldEndsWithMe
Reply
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 @ 10:41:22 PM