CNN has re-posted in full an article by Allyinsider writer Eric Krangel called “Sony’s PS3 A Sinking Ship: Sales Plummet“. He puts in completely laymens terms (and in list form because the internet loves lists), the reason why the PS3 is not doing well and gives the most obvious answer as to how Sony can fix this problem:
1. It’s the most expensive console on the market, $150 – $200 more than its rivals. Even if you believe the video game industry is “recession-proof” (it isn’t), a tanking economy makes consumers more price-conscious.
2. The PS3’s big bonus is its ability to double as a Blu-Ray player. Too bad no one seems to care about hi-def DVDs. The differences between Blu-Ray and DVD are hard to see on a TV less than 50″.
3. The PS3 just doesn’t have any must-have titles exclusive to the console. “LittleBigPlanet” has generated decent buzz but isn’t a game-changer, and neither is Sony’s new virtual world “Home.”
There’s really only one option left for Sony to remain in the game: deep price cuts, and not just for people with good credit.
In a complete opposite of my usual forte of being a Wii lover (with the 360 as my mistress), I can’t help but defend Sony a little.
1. About the price, I can say that it does include things like built in wifi, a 160GB hard drive, and of course the free online play. Plus I can’t deny though it is huge as hell, it looks so sleek.
2. The writer here makes a claim that the differences between Blu-Ray and DVD are hard to see on a tv less than 50″ is crazy. I only have a 19″ HD set and easily can tell if something is in high def or not. I think the point should have been that Blu-Ray is not necessary to enjoy hi-def movies, with Netflix streaming HD on not only the Xbox 360, but stand-alone players as well. However, I’m here to defend, not to help this guy make points.. so onto..
3. The exclusive title list isn’t as small as people would like to believe (even myself). We all can easily name off Metal Gear, Resistance, and LittleBigPlanet as the only Sony exclusives. However, if you dig a little deeper you’ll find the Buzz! Quiz series, Everybody’s Golf, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, SingStar, and a little underrated gem called Valkyria Chronicles. These are just games that came out this past year, go back to 2007 there are more, and then of course the future is looking good as well (Killzone, Fat Princess).
Sure, I was really reaching to try and defend Sony (I mean.. reeeeally reaching), but in the end I will completely agree with the fix the PS3 needs to turn all the fanboys frowns upside down is a price cut. Even if it was just down to $299, I would seriously reckon about entertaining the idea of thinking about considering buying a Playstation 3 (unless the Time Crisis series becomes multiplatform). So while lagging out in third place this console race, remember, it is only because of the price of the system, nothing more.
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Ive had a PS3 since last Christmas and enjoyed the hell out of it with MSG4, Little Big Planet, Batman Lego, Condemned, UnCharted, Ratchet and Clank plus a few others. I AGREE that a price cut would definitely sell more PS3 BUT I put the blame directly on the game developers who just don’t want to really utilize PS3’s resources. In a way its all good because it means PS3 will be around much longer.
“In a way its all good because it means PS3 will be around much longer.”
I hope so. Competition is needed in the hi-def gaming department, I love my 360, but I would fear if Microsoft had a monopoly on next gen.
Don’t worry about the Times article, they are losing readers for a reason and that is because they no longer do journalism on news, they place there opinions as facts and it is a shame.
I can’t believe there are some retards out there who still claim PS3 has no exclusives compared to the 360, if anything it’s the other way around now.
In 2008 the PS3 had FAR more top – qulity exclusives released for it’s console than the Wii OR the Xbox 360 and considering how Microsoft seem to have no games announced for 2009, i only see things getting worse for the competition.
Next year Sony has an amazing line – up of heavy hitters including:
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Killzone 2
Gran Turismo 5
White Knight Chronicles
Heavy Rain
Demon Soul’s
God Of War 3
While the 360 has……Halo Wars and Ninja Blade???
I completely agree about the fact that the only thing holding the PS3 back is it’s price, what some idiots don’t realise is that if the 360 cost £299.99 not a single person on the planet would buy one, because it doesn’t have any decent games that warrant that kind of a price tag. Microsoft are basically FORCED to sell the thing cheap just to get it off store shelves. Considering the PS3’s price tag, it’s sold extremely well and that’s a credit to the top quality 1st party studios that Sony has making games for them (Naughty Dog, Insomniac and Polyphony Digital wipe the floor with any other developers out there). The PS3 has the games to warrant it’s price tag but not everyone can afford it no matter how good the games are, which is why sony NEED a price cut in 2009.
If/when that happens, i wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if the PS3 dominated the 360 as badly as the PS2 dominated the original Xbox (Remember Microsoft fanboys, the 360 was being destroyed in sales before the September price – cut, again proving my earlier theory that Microsoft doesn’t have the quality of games to warrant a high price tag).
Good points. Also, just to get the Xbox up to the same spec as the PS3 with extras (WiFi etc.), they cost nearly the same amount. While I admit not all people want all these things, if the Xbox was the same price as the PS3, it would be ruined.
PS3 PWNS ALL
1. Sony needs to drop the price on the PS3.
2. Sony needs to drop the price on all BluRay players.
3. Sony needs to drop an extra 100 million on BluRay advertisements.
4. Sony needs to drop its “the PS3 is a multimedia entertainment system” mentality.
5. Sony needs to drop…
6. Sony needs to drop…
7. Sony needs to drop…