Anaylst: LBP & Resistance 2 won't pull in casual gamers like X360 Price Cut Will

[xtop]

http://www.qj.net/Divnich-LittleBigP.../49/aid/124664

Analyst Jesse Divnich gives another two cents to the holiday predictions pile.

Like last time, he predicts doom and gloom for the PlayStation 3 this Christmas season, saying that as great as Resistance 2 and LittleBigPlanet are, they just can't beat the appeal of a cheap Xbox 360.


We could begin to see a considerable amount of potential PS3 owners, who may be waiting for a PS3 price cut, to choose the Xbox 360 over the PS3.

While we have no doubts that titles like Resistance 2 and LittleBigPlanet will drive the core gaming market to purchase a PS3, we do, however, have doubts that either title will lure in casual and mainstream gamers.

The $399 price point is simply too steep to entice the casual and mainstream markets, regardless of how great Resistance 2 and LittleBigPlanet may be.


Moreover, Divnich believes that the Gears of War 2 Xbox 360 SKU will be Microsoft's spearhead for the holidays.

Both predictions aren't all that surprising. Considering what the release of the original Gears of War and Halo 3 did for Xbox 360 sales, Gears of War 2 may very well pull off the same. And if the current sales boost of the 360 in Japan is any indication of how well a price cut does for the console, the PS3 may be in deep doodoo very soon.

Still, considering how much of a success the LittleBigPlanet Beta is, I'm inclined to disagree with Divnich when he says that the game will fail to lure in casual gamers.

i'd have to say he'll be wrong about this.

[Proteus]

He will be VERY wrong.

Gears2 doesn't bring anything new to the table.

R2 and LBP are all about new (mostly LBP).

The pricecut had little, if anything, to do with the 360 gaining slightly in Japan. That was about 99.9999% related to at least three exclusive jRPG titles and nothing more.

I just REALLY hope Sony doesn't fubar this and not have enough hardware available. They are already starting the 'may not be enough to stock retail shelves' mantra and it's very concerning. If it's a marketing ploy, it's a stupid one. Urgency only works once and that time has passed... too bad the Wii got it.

[Luis_A51]

Wheres Max? He'd have some insightful things to say right about now.

But also, lets not forget "Analyst" is basically the new term for "know-nothing-know-it-all-with-a-blog" or other such "journalists". Everyone knows the best way to be a "good" analyst is to spew as much doom/gloom as you can.

[tacoreed]

Although I would never buy a 360. I tend to agree with this. The way the economy is in the U.S. right now, only the elite will be forking out the cash for a PS3 this holiday season.

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by tacoreed

Although I would never buy a 360. I tend to agree with this. The way the economy is in the U.S. right now, only the elite will be forking out the cash for a PS3 this holiday season.

The Xbox360 Elite is the same price as a PS3 and offers _far less_.

Comparing apples to apples, the PS3 is far and away a MUCH better value.

Do not underestimate the power of Bluray in the marketplace going into this holidays season. On my block alone I have over seven neighbors who are buying a PS3 this holiday for Bluray... games are secondary. In the 'non-core' world the message that PS3 is the single best future proof BD player (and cheapest) is getting out _big time_ and the games and other features are icing on the cake.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by Luis_A51

Wheres Max? He'd have some insightful things to say right about now.

But also, lets not forget "Analyst" is basically the new term for "know-nothing-know-it-all-with-a-blog" or other such "journalists". Everyone knows the best way to be a "good" analyst is to spew as much doom/gloom as you can.

pretty much, even the unbiased article pretty says he's gonna be wrong

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by Luis_A51

But also, lets not forget "Analyst" is basically the new term for "know-nothing-know-it-all-with-a-blog" or other such "journalists". Everyone knows the best way to be a "good" analyst is to spew as much doom/gloom as you can.

Most of these 'Analysts' are actually paid consultants that are hired for the exact purpose of putting negative news into the mainstream through channels people 'trust' and in ways that sound 'official' or 'legitimate'.

They don't just flat out say something... they ease into it and sugarcoat it but the message is still there.

It's a pretty unethical form of marketing; however, Microsoft has been doing it online for years now. If it's not regulated, it's a go! The term 'shill' comes to mind to put it in a historical perspective. There were tons of them during the HDDVD fiasco. Luckily, in that 'war' the more ethical of the two formats still prevailed.

[jkwest]

well...concidering Max has stated that he "thinks" that the PS3 will get a pricedrop between now and the holiday shopping period, then this article is null....pure and simple...

[Monkey]

I definitely think the $399 price point is still a big obstacle for a lot of people.

It would be great to see a $299 sku by November but I doubt it. That said I'm glad Sony doesn't have an incomplete sku to get a lower price point than $399.

[Luis_A51]

Originally Posted by jkwest

well...concidering Max has stated that he "thinks" that the PS3 will get a pricedrop between now and the holiday shopping period, then this article is null....pure and simple...

Im pretty sure Max has stated that he believes Sony will NOT introduce a pricecut until about March.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by Luis_A51

Im pretty sure Max has stated that he believes Sony will NOT introduce a pricecut until about March.

yeah i thought max had said the same. we're getting bundles instead of price cuts

[jkwest]

I must have read something wrong...oh well...not like I'm gonna go out and buy a third PS3...

[Copywriter]

What?

LittleBigPlanet won't appeal to CASUAL gamers, but Gears of War 2 will?

Um, okay.

I could see comparing Gears to Resistance, but many casual gamers aren't really "war" fans and will gravitate toward LBP and similar games.

Please continue to pay premium pricing for a system that plays DVDs---as long as the sun didn't hit the DVD wrong, because it won't play. This is equivalent to paying top dollar for a cartridge-based system (hi there Nintendo).

Now where did I put my $179 HD DVD player add-on . . .

[SkillzthatKillz]

idk i think a lot of peoples common opinion is that the ps3 is the best system (because of all the hype leading up to its release) and the fact that this is the first holiday season without HD-DVD is a HUGE selling point for the ps3...not to mention only idiots buy the arcade model of the 360

[Terjyn]

My money is on the proposition that the Wii will continue to pull in "casual gamers", the PS3 and 360 will be competing for the more hardcore crowd, and the more hardcore crowd realizes that the cheap 360 is like buying a car without any windows, but with special window attachments that you can buy later for the low low price of half the cost of the car...

Even 360 fans will tell you that the Arcade is a ripoff.

[aphex]

A pricecut on the ps3 wouldn't hurt, but I doubt the 360's price cut means anything.

ps3 having a blu-ray player > price cut

This Christmas we're gonna see a ton of blurays and bluray players sell.

This is what's going to rock for the PS3. (along with badass games)

[LarryMoeCurly]

Anybody else getting sick and tired of the PS3 being compared to the cheapest 360 version.


400 bucks not bad considering you are getting wireless,a hard drive, free online gaming and a blu ray player. Microsofts console is still having the RROD and DVD drive scratching discs three years latter. I guess the article forgot to mention that.

[Luis_A51]

I agree, why do these analysts assume the Arcade is comparable to the ps3? Im pretty sure a fair amount of consumers are smart enough to realize an 80gig hard drive and BD playback (among other things) help explain the extra $200, not to mention RROD.

The arcade is meant to compete with the Wii, end of story. And as far as casual gamers are concerned, the Wii beats the 360 hands down.

I know I know, its a paid shill who wrote the article.... ill calm down....

[Monkey]

Originally Posted by LarryMoeCurly

Anybody else getting sick and tired of the PS3 being compared to the cheapest 360 version.


400 bucks not bad considering you are getting wireless,a hard drive, free online gaming and a blu ray player. Microsofts console is still having the RROD and DVD drive scratching discs three years latter. I guess the article forgot to mention that.

It's an idiotic comparison to compare a completed system (PS3) versus a gimped 360... but that is what MS was going for, talking points and of course the fact that it helps sell peripherals ($99 20GB HDD to make it a complete system).. Good for MS's bottome line.

[silversnake]

And if the current sales boost of the 360 in Japan is any indication of how well a price cut does for the console, the PS3 may be in deep doodoo very soon.

Any analyst that uses the word doodoo in an article to prove a point loses all credibility for me.