What is your opinion of the way Sony has handled the marketing of the PS3??

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Well frankly I don't think Sony, MS, or Nintendo should have to pony up when it comes to 3rd party development. I think it's great that 3rd party titles come to as many gamers as possible, regardless of which console you own. However I do have a problem with all of the paid exclusive content that 360 owners have been getting. That's not fair to the gamer and in the end, that's who you're hurting. I think companies should consider that before taking the "quick buck" and isolating such a large number of gamers.

And your stance is precisely why Sony is in 3rd place after being the runaway #1 console maker the past two gens.

And was it unfair when Sony had FF, MGS, DQ, DMC, AC, VF, Tekken blah blah blah as exclusive or timed???

I agree that in a perfect world all 3 consoles should at least get the 3rd party titles but it isn't economically sound to NOT make your console worthwhile. Every bought exclusive is another bullet point as to why a potential buyer would choose your console.

And considering the PS3 has the smallest user base and generally the smallest software sales on multi plats I would say its not a big deal, especially since MS is turning Sony exclusives into multi-plats, which is precisely what you are calling for...

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by Volume11

Most sources point to Sony simply not wanting to pony up at all and MS swooping in OR developers realizing that games cost substantially more this gen than last to produce and they are selling less on the PS3....

"Ponying up the cash" is exactly why Microsoft is losing. They may claim stronger sales, but financially they're out billions of dollars. And there's actually several games that sold better on PS3, like Devil May Cry 4, and if I'm not mistaken, GTA4 sold a lil better on PS3 after it made its way through Japan. Games are sold around the world, not just in the US.

Originally Posted by Volume11

Square themselves cited this as a reason for going multi-platform with FFXIII on the 360 and sending DQ to the Wii and DS exclusively.

They can't publicly acknowledge the MS payoff; they have to use a cover story. The sales difference of an exclusive release of 13 vs the planned multi-sys release would be minimal. Square may not have cited it, but the real reason was a circa 80 million dollar payoff. Of which Microsoft can expect to get maybe 12 million back on.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by Volume11

but I don't think I have read one single article or report that claims MS maliciously outbid Sony on its PS1/PS2 exclusives like GTA (timed), FF, DMC, AC, VF and so on...The only articles I can come up with are ones stating that Sony, as early as the the late PS2 days, got real high on themselves and simply didn't think they needed to pony up to maintain their runaway 1st place gaming status.

You really are good at selectively perusing the internet aren't you? Quite clearly you see exactly what you want to see and nothing more.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by Volume11

And your stance is precisely why Sony is in 3rd place after being the runaway #1 console maker the past two gens.

And was it unfair when Sony had FF, MGS, DQ, DMC, AC, VF, Tekken blah blah blah as exclusive or timed???

Oh bull$&%! The reason Sony is in 3rd is primarily 2 reasons. a.) The year head start the 360 had and b.) It's the most expensive console on the market. Honestly, anyone who doesn't recognize this is blind.

And yes it was very unfortunate that Xbox and Gamecube owners did not get to enjoy those titles. It wouldn't have hurt my feelings in the least if they went to those other platforms.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Oh bull$&%! The reason Sony is in 3rd is primarily 2 reasons. a.) The year head start the 360 had and b.) It's the most expensive console on the market. Honestly, anyone who doesn't recognize this is blind.

And yes it was very unfortunate that Xbox and Gamecube owners did not get to enjoy those titles. It wouldn't have hurt my feelings in the least if they went to those other platforms.

I think having those games listed as still exclusive would have given PS3 about an extra 3m in sales until now, but the perception would be completely different. Right now it looks like the PS3 is getting beaten to the punch by Xbox on all fronts except Blu-ray. If Sony had held on to those franchises, there wouldn't have been issue like that, and the "no games" argument would never have got any momentum.

This is going to change though, on the hardware front, I think SCE mentioned something about listening to the users about better hardware at CES...

[Proteus]

The only reason the 360 is ahead right now is it's one year head start. Anyone who thinks differently is fooling themselves. Seriously.

Looking at _real_ year over year numbers the PS3 consistently outperforms the 360 on sales by about 10% per year. Considering an even start that would put the PS3 at least 10% over the 360 and this doesn't even take into consideration the perception changes that would have been in place.

No, the greatest mistake Sony made was not getting it together in time to release with the 360 and go head to head since day one. Though likely impossible, it would have made this a lot easier discussion to have in favor of the PS3.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Proteus

The only reason the 360 is ahead right now is it's one year head start. Anyone who thinks differently is fooling themselves. Seriously.

Looking at _real_ year over year numbers the PS3 consistently outperforms the 360 on sales by about 10% per year. Considering an even start that would put the PS3 at least 10% over the 360 and this doesn't even take into consideration the perception changes that would have been in place.

No, the greatest mistake Sony made was not getting it together in time to release with the 360 and go head to head since day one. Though likely impossible, it would have made this a lot easier discussion to have in favor of the PS3.

This. Mofo'ing this!

People are comparing the PS3s second full year (2008) to the X360s third full year. In terms of console sales, years 3 and 4 have always been the peak (mostly 3) while 1-2 is growth, 5-7 is decline and 8-10 is death. The gaming press and mainstream media have been comparing peak 360 sales to PS3 sales in growth phase.

Next year it will be a different story, with a price cut in Q2/3 and hardware revisions in Q4 I believe PS3 can sell 13-17m in the calendar year and 15-18m in Sony's FYE March 31st 2010. While MS have already stated themselves that they expect 360 sales to be the same or worse.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

This. Mofo'ing this!

People are comparing the PS3s second full year (2008) to the X360s third full year. In terms of console sales, years 3 and 4 have always been the peak (mostly 3) while 1-2 is growth, 5-7 is decline and 8-10 is death. The gaming press and mainstream media have been comparing peak 360 sales to PS3 sales in growth phase.

Next year it will be a different story, with a price cut in Q2/3 and hardware revisions in Q4 I believe PS3 can sell 13-17m in the calendar year and 15-18m in Sony's FYE March 31st 2010. While MS have already stated themselves that they expect 360 sales to be the same or worse.

Doesn't that mean hardware sales comparisions are fundamentally flawed then? Shouldn't they compare current PS3 sales to LAST YEARS 360 sales?

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Doesn't that mean hardware sales comparisions are fundamentally flawed then? Shouldn't they compare current PS3 sales to LAST YEARS 360 sales?

Well, yes.

Gaming media won't do that as it would mean they can't be negative about the PS3.

[hardcorefrokid]

They need to do way more product placement. I've seen tons of movies where the Xbox 360 was mentioned or seen. I've seen only a few movies where the PS3 was mentioned.

[saprano]

Max what does sony think about all this ps3 hate in the media? do they just sit back and laugh and say *you just wait and see*

[saprano]

Originally Posted by hardcorefrokid

They need to do way more product placement. I've seen tons of movies where the Xbox 360 was mentioned or seen. I've seen only a few movies where the PS3 was mentioned.

MS has that $500,000 deal with viacom, thats why you see 360 ads EVERYWHERE!

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by saprano

Max what does sony think about all this ps3 hate in the media? do they just sit back and laugh and say *you just wait and see*

Doesn't bother them. I think everyone at SCE is so focussed on making the PS3 the best device they possibly can, once they do this the media whining will stop and they know it.

Some sites do bring up legitimate concerns, but when it comes down to it, even the harshest critics have been silenced by the games and we are barely into year 3 for the damn thing...

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by saprano

MS has that $500,000 deal with viacom, thats why you see 360 ads EVERYWHERE!

You mean $500m!

[dk3dknight]

Originally Posted by Proteus

The only reason the 360 is ahead right now is it's one year head start. Anyone who thinks differently is fooling themselves. Seriously.

When I first read that I thought you said this..

"Anyone who thinks differently is folding themselves.."

In reference to folding@home which is actually a nice pun if you think about it.
Anyway cheers.

[Volume11]

I'm not even sure where to respond. I could do without the name calling and personal attacks, though. I love my PS3 and I sold my 360 last summer because I was sick of the RROD. Im not knocking the machine at all, I love it.

But, I forgot what site I was on...thank you all for reminding me.

I would encourage more absurd excuses and revisionist history lessons on Sony as they are quite entertaining.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

You mean $500m!

Yea thats right my mistake.

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Doesn't bother them. I think everyone at SCE is so focussed on making the PS3 the best device they possibly can, once they do this the media whining will stop and they know it.

Some sites do bring up legitimate concerns, but when it comes down to it, even the harshest critics have been silenced by the games and we are barely into year 3 for the damn thing...

It should bother them. The fact it doesn't and that you are defending them is really the problem here because the system is great and some of the newer games are definite must buys.

Unfortunately, no one outside of the hardcore gaming crowd knows this...

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Volume11

It should bother them. The fact it doesn't and that you are defending them is really the problem here because the system is great and some of the newer games are definite must buys.

Unfortunately, no one outside of the hardcore gaming crowd knows this...

Hence the step up in advertising for 2009 titles. The purse strings are pretty tight right now at SCE, they are battling hard to post a profit for FYE 31/3/09, but they also want to promote their awesome games.

You have to rise above it, there is no other way. Let the games speak for themselves. Games sell more by word of mouth than by advertising in the long term anyway. Look at Uncharted, it has shipped over 1.5m copies WW (I can't give you the accurate figures, but arne from ND just at least 1.5m shipped) even though it got of to a pretty dismal start. When all is said and done, Uncharted and LittleBigPlanet will probably sell over 3m copies which is pretty amazing for a new IP these days. On the 360 side there was Gears of War, which sold by word of mouth, I know I bought it because a mate told me it was the best thing since sliced bread...

[saprano]

How much advertising are they going to do though? R2 and LBP didn't get that much IMO. killzone2 deserves it. and please tell them to show gameplay, i really dont care for t video shirts.