Interview with David Reeves - President and CEO of SCEE

[Shin-Ra]

MCV INTERVIEW: David Reeves

Definitely worth reading the whole interview but here's the juice:

A million sales each of its three consoles across PAL territories in December has put SCEE in a very good mood. Here, president David Reeves tells Lisa Foster all about a successful Christmas and his optimism for the year ahead...

And how do you feel PS3 is doing in terms of ‘catching up’ with your rivals who launched earlier?

We don’t often mention competition but I will give you some interesting data. In terms of installed base in some of our major markets, such as France, Spain, Germany, Italy, plus some distributor territories in smaller markets like Switzerland, our current cumulative installed base is now higher than that of Xbox 360.

It has not quite yet reached that in the UK. But the team here expect to overtake installed base of Xbox 360 across PAL territories in late summer. I would say before, but that is when we think we will overtake Xbox 360.

It’s worth mentioning that last week we outsold Xbox 360 in PAL territories by a ratio of 3:1.

Looking forward, how do you feel about the performance of PS3 and PSP through 2008?

I’m going to use the analogy that it is rather like a plane coming in to a runway and you can just about seeing the landing lights. That’s where we were before Christmas.

But now we can see those landing lights – and they are the big titles, such as Gran Turismo, GTA, Metal Gear Solid, Pro Evo, FIFA and Little Big Planet. These are the building blocks of our strategy for 2008.

We will also bring out the TV tuner which we will be rolling out into five major markets at the end of April.

In terms of Gran Turismo we still don’t have a date but I think that Yamauchi-San said it will come out by end of fiscal year, which is the end of March. That’s what I’m planning on at the moment. And PS3 Home is still on track for the spring.

With PSP our plan is to have more dedicated PSP games. We’re also going to be bringing out Skype, plus Go Messenger and Go Explore in March and April. And we’re tying up with Sky in the UK for the video download service in the summer.

PlayTV end of April, GT5 Prologue end of March.

[msetten]

We don’t often mention competition but I will give you some interesting data. In terms of installed base in some of our major markets, such as France, Spain, Germany, Italy, plus some distributor territories in smaller markets like Switzerland, our current cumulative installed base is now higher than that of Xbox 360.

It has not quite yet reached that in the UK. But the team here expect to overtake installed base of Xbox 360 across PAL territories in late summer. I would say before, but that is when we think we will overtake Xbox 360.

That is great news of course. So now I hope they are going to treat us Europeans better with the Playstation Store releases. At the moment, we get demos, games and game packs weeks after the US or Japan (if we get them at all). E.g. we still have to get PAIN and High Velocity Bowling.

[bambam1901]

FWIW, Gamestop is taking pre-orders for GT5:P releasing 3/19 for $39.99.

[Shin-Ra]

Originally Posted by msetten

That is great news of course. So now I hope they are going to treat us Europeans better with the Playstation Store releases. At the moment, we get demos, games and game packs weeks after the US or Japan (if we get them at all). E.g. we still have to get PAIN and High Velocity Bowling.

Fortunately the paid-PSN stuff I've really wanted (flOw, Super Stardust HD, Warhawk and PixelJunk MONSTERS) hasn't been delayed too much or at all for Euro release.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by bambam1901

FWIW, Gamestop is taking pre-orders for GT5:P releasing 3/19 for $39.99.

Honestly, I haven't decided if I'm going to spring for Prologue or not. I already have GT: HD and the Prologue demo. I may just wait it out until the full Gran Turismo 5 is launched late this year (hopefully).

[owa]

Originally Posted by bambam1901

FWIW, Gamestop is taking pre-orders for GT5:P releasing 3/19 for $39.99.

So does that mean it's a for sure thing that it'll be released in the US (i.e. from what I've read, I didn't think the US usually got the Prologue)?

[dereksworl]

So the PS2 is still leading the pack? Its like the little engine that could. Nobody can stop it.

[Shin-Ra]

Originally Posted by dereksworl

So the PS2 is still leading the pack? Its like the little engine that could. Nobody can stop it.

And they've yet to release the new model which should spike sales somewhat.

[dereksworl]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

And they've yet to release the new model which should spike sales somewhat.

Jeez. lol. If they make that thing any smaller it's gonna be a PSP!

[ezcobar411]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

And they've yet to release the new model which should spike sales somewhat.

The PS2 has reached a level of success I doubt any other console will ever reach. I'm holding out hope that the PS3 does though. I love the PS3, it has far more potential and now that it appears that the masses are becoming aware of it, it could be done.

[Blu-Generation]

Originally Posted by ezcobar411

The PS2 has reached a level of success I doubt any other console will ever reach. I'm holding out hope that the PS3 does though. I love the PS3, it has far more potential and now that it appears that the masses are becoming aware of it, it could be done.

That's what we all said with Blu-ray back then, but most say it wont happen and some call us "Losers".

Now look what happen? A Blu future indeed.

It WILL beat DVD. It will.

While in the gaming side, PS3 will prevail as well.

[saprano]

wow that just show's you how much the u.k love's the ps3, they sold 1 million in december compared to 800,00 in the us. ether way its good news for sony, its fuuny to cause xbot fanboys were saying ps3 is dead just because the sold 800,000 in the us and xbox sold 1.26 million, compleatly ignoring world wide sale's wich is waht matter's most anyway.