SCEA: “We’ve captured the hardcore” with PS3, will push for casual later this year

[xtop]

http://www.vg247.com/2009/04/20/scea...ter-this-year/

Sony has told VG247 that it’s “captured the hardcore” with PS3, and while it will serve that central user with titles such as Heavy Rain and God of War III later this year, it plans on pushing further into the casual space with the console.

“There’s certainly a line-up of very strong family-friendly titles that we’re looking at for PS3 in our continuing effort to appeal to that casual consumer,” said SCEA hardware marketing boss John Koller, speaking at GDC.

“We’ve captured the hardcore. The install base we have now tells us that the hardcore’s purchased. We’re moving on now to continue to support them with a tremendous line-up of games, but also look at softer brands that maybe we had with PS2 franchises we’re bringing over to PS3, or new IP.”

Koller told us to look to the past for hints to PS3’s future.

“Think of some of the latter-half PS2 franchises,” he said.

E3’s not that far away, is it?

hmm

[AikonEnt]

Which (reading between the lines) means they're going to reduce the price to appeal to more people.

[Darkhawk9587]

I'm glad that they've captured the hardcore as I am probably in that category. However, that is not to say that this is a bad thing. I think they started to capture the casual gamer with LBP, which I also enjoy. So long as they make casual games of high quality, as well as cut the price of PS3 a bit, I think Sony will do quite well.

[jkwest]

EyePet, anyone?

[Shin-Ra]

Originally Posted by jkwest

EyePet, anyone?

+ PlayFactory, SingStar, Buzz!, Free Realms and more probably.

[Blu Titan]

I am all for capturing the rest...whatever that means. However, the hardcore base wants some REAL RPGs.

[browinie]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

+ PlayFactory, SingStar, Buzz!, Free Realms and more probably.

What is PlayFactory?

Edit: nevermind, PS Eye games.

[ngkf7]

Please bring me something I can use my PS3 Eye for.

[Nerdkiller likes BD]

Sony has always done a good job of keeping the balance between the casual and hardcore gamer. Games like Buzz and Singstar helped reel in the casual audience back in the PS2 era while still keeping the hardcore happy with DMC, GoW I and II, as well as providing games that both audiences would be happy with (Ratchet and Clank) Microsoft too has been doing this reciently with Lips and that movies game, I forget the name of it. Nintendo has just been pushing for the casual audience a little too much. The hardcore games are just few and far between each other. Still, I'm lookiing forward to the release of The Conduit soon.

[alphapyro]

Originally Posted by ngkf7

Please bring me something I can use my PS3 Eye for.

YES PLEASE.

I'm bored with my 2 eye games... I want more!


My cam only gets used for the rare video chat with family

[Matt S]

Sony needs to get their focus. If they've captured the 'hardcore' then why did Killzone 2 sell only a million games if there are 21 million PS3s out there in the world?

They need to work on the PSN store. They need to release stuff same time as MS.

they have a great console, but I hate to see them having no clue what to do with it.

why the frak would they cater their $400 system to the casual? Its not like casual gamers are gonna pay that kinda of money

[TheTenth]

1) either they do a big price drop (= 250$ as it's the Wii pricing)
or
2) they release a PS2 like console with a gimmick at 150 $

[DonRSD]

sounds good

[raskal66]

I don't see the price dropping soon since Sony prices the PS3 below their cost to make it. Last I had heard, Sony actually loses $50 for every PS3 sold, but by expanding on the family and casual games as well as toting the Blu-Ray capability Sony is looking to increase marketshare.

I'd love if it did go down in price, cuz then I could buy a 160 GB one and put my current one in my bedroom for BD all through the house, but I just don't see Sony dropping the price until they find a way of getting rid of the red ink already on each PS3 sale.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by TheTenth

1) either they do a big price drop (= 250$ as it's the Wii pricing)
or
2) they release a PS2 like console with a gimmick at 150 $

i find that very unlikely

[LifeOfAPirate13]

Wait....It actually took them this long to realize they have captured the hardcore fans?!?! I mean when people still support your system for a year and you give them no games (The launch of the PS3) yet they are still buying software for the system then obviously you got the hardcore market...This just seems retarded to me I dunno maybe cause I worked at Gamestop for so long a during the launch of many counsels but I mean come on this is nothing new...

[Shin-Ra]

Originally Posted by LifeOfAPirate13

Wait....It actually took them this long to realize they have captured the hardcore fans?!?! I mean when people still support your system for a year and you give them no games (The launch of the PS3) yet they are still buying software for the system then obviously you got the hardcore market...This just seems retarded to me I dunno maybe cause I worked at Gamestop for so long a during the launch of many counsels but I mean come on this is nothing new...

Missing the point, they didn't just say we've captured hardcore fans.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by Matt S

Sony needs to get their focus. If they've captured the 'hardcore' then why did Killzone 2 sell only a million games if there are 21 million PS3s out there in the world?

Since when was selling a million copies bad? maby they didn't sell alot more because the fan base was not that big to begin with. and the main reason i think is because sony didn't market the game that much. ether way a million sold is very good.

They need to work on the PSN store. They need to release stuff same time as MS.

The PS store is fine, i would love to see improvments, but its fine they way it is. do you even remember how it use to be? stop seeing the negative and look at the positive.

Sony doesn't need to do anything that MS does, they're doing just fine doing what they do. does the ps3 look like an xbox to you? no its a ps3 so expect ps3 things from it. the xbox is $199 you can go pick it up since it seems you like the way they do things.

they have a great console, but I hate to see them having no clue what to do with it.

Yeah the company thats been in the industry for 13 years, dominated 2 generations in a row, only company to sell over 100 million consoles twice, and is currently selling well with a console thats priced at 4 and $500. yep they have no clue what they're doing.

why the frak would they cater their $400 system to the casual? Its not like casual gamers are gonna pay that kinda of money

Obviously its not going to be $400. sony knows about the casual gaming market. im sorry but nintendo didn't start this causual thing, sony did with the ps1 and ps2. hence them selling 100 million systems which the wii has yet to do.

[Jorge Cordeiro]

yeah yeah what about my g con 3 ? common sony give me..lets say...point blank HD !!!! pleaseeeeeeee

[TauRus]

Originally Posted by saprano

Since when was selling a million copies bad? maby they didn't sell alot more because the fan base was not that big to begin with. and the main reason i think is because sony didn't market the game that much. ether way a million sold is very good.

The PS store is fine, i would love to see improvments, but its fine they way it is. do you even remember how it use to be? stop seeing the negative and look at the positive.

Sony doesn't need to do anything that MS does, they're doing just fine doing what they do. does the ps3 look like an xbox to you? no its a ps3 so expect ps3 things from it. the xbox is $199 you can go pick it up since it seems you like the way they do things.

Yeah the company thats been in the industry for 13 years, dominated 2 generations in a row, only company to sell over 100 million consoles twice, and is currently selling well with a console thats priced at 4 and $500. yep they have no clue what they're doing.

Obviously its not going to be $400. sony knows about the casual gaming market. im sorry but nintendo didn't start this causual thing, sony did with the ps1 and ps2. hence them selling 100 million systems which the wii has yet to do.

Well said, Saprano, well said!