Kaz Hirai Interview on Profitability + New 'Greatest Hits June 16th

[dereksworl]

Sony's Kaz Hirai has been talking about the company's PlayStation business in a new interview, saying that the firm needs to "quickly bring [it to] a break-even level and later to profitability", partly by rolling out the PlayStation Network across multiple devices.

In an interview with the Kyodo News service on the Japan Today website, Hirai, who is president of Sony Computer Entertainment and runs Sony's Game and Networked Products & Services Group, noted that one of his "major missions" was to change the division's profitability.

Both "cost-cutting efforts and expansion of its network services" were cited in the article, as it appears Sony is trying to position the PlayStation Network as a digital service for movies, games, and other content that can be used on many of its devices.

In the article, Hirai noted that Sony "is considering expanding its online gaming service PlayStation Network to its mainstay products other than PlayStation 3 game console like televisions and digital cameras."

He concluded in his comments to Kyodo News: "We need a strategy where buying a hardware is not the endpoint but instead a starting point that can offer new experiences to our customers."

MGS4, Devil May Cry 4 Among New PS3 'Greatest Hits'

Sony Computer Entertainment America is adding six new PlayStation 3 games to its lower-priced "Greatest Hits" line of catalog titles.

The new Greatest Hits are Army of Two, Battlefield: Bad Company, Devil May Cry 4, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction.

Greatest Hits titles all retail for $29.99; this is the second wave of PS3 titles to receive the designation. According to Sony, games become "Greatest Hits" when they reach a "significant sales threshold."

"We’re looking forward to making this group of best sellers even more accessible to consumers, while we continue to deliver more value to the overall PS3 platform." says SCEA product marketing VP Scott Steinberg.

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[fsavoie]

I was expecting uncharted to be in the greatest hit

[Drew664]

Originally Posted by fsavoie

I was expecting uncharted to be in the greatest hit

It should be, but apparently it's still soaking up money with a $60 price tag.

[dereksworl]

I'll most likely pick up Ratchet N Clank finally. I wonder why MGS4 is going to GH's so soon? Maybe they are about to announce a new MGS game after all.....

[Steelmaker]

Based on this interview, I don't see a price cut happening any time soon.

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by dereksworl

I'll most likely pick up Ratchet N Clank finally. I wonder why MGS4 is going to GH's so soon? Maybe they are about to announce a new MGS game after all.....

Is there have been ever a MGS game greatest hit? I don't recall. MGS4 is sold 40$ in my local wallmart since 2 or 3 month...

[Rike255]

Originally Posted by fsavoie

I was expecting uncharted to be in the greatest hit

Not with Uncharted 2 coming around the corner. They'll likely see a pretty substantial spike in the first game's sales around the time of Uncharted 2's release. I'd probably try and keep it at full (or at least higher) price until then too.

[Mr.White]

The only difference between the regular release and the greatest hits game is the red label on the top and the cheaper price,right? I've noticed on site like Ebay some people will say the game is "not a greatest hits version",is there people that dont like the GH games and only collect the first run games that are not GH??? Is the GH version worth less to a serious game collector???

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by Mr.White

The only difference between the regular release and the greatest hits game is the red label on the top and the cheaper price,right? I've noticed on site like Ebay some people will say the game is "not a greatest hits version",is there people that dont like the GH games and only collect the first run games that are not GH??? Is the GH version worth less to a serious game collector???

For collectors, the GH edition case just looks ugly...

[AikonEnt]

Ratchet and Uncharted have both been available on Platinum (UK's version of greatest hits I would assume) for quite a while. Both currently available for £14.99 on play.com.

[Shin-Ra]

Originally Posted by dereksworl

I wonder why MGS4 is going to GH's so soon? Maybe they are about to announce a new MGS game after all.....

Soon? It's nearly been out a year.

Uncharted's part of the 160GB PS3 Pack so making it greatest hits would devalue that.

[AikonEnt]

Just checked, MGS4 is also available here on Platinum at £17.99, but is also part of a 2 for £25 offer. Too much yellow on the Platinum cases for my liking