Gaming Signal: Sony PS3 - mistakes in marketing?

Sony PS3 - mistakes in marketing?

At E3 last week Sony unveiled more details on the PS3, including pricing. So the big question is - have they made a mistake? The price is undeniably high - pack out a PS3 with the new Madden NFL 07 and you're looking at $600 out the door with tax. Yikes! With that kind of money I could have a new PC ready to run all kinds of things a PS3 can't.

And what seems worse to me, the 'entry level' model (if you can call it that) lacks 40GB of hard disk space, HDMI output (so long decent 1080p), and WiFi support. It also lacks memory flash card slots for SD, CF, and Sony's goofy MemoryStick (which surprises me, because you'd think they try all they can to push that format.) All those things can be upgraded, but still - Sony clearly expects to sell as few of the 'base' models as Microsoft does of its Core System. [Note: Early rumors that the base model wouldn't support the wireless controller proved to be false.]

Now, I can't say I am a marketing genius, but there were rumblings after last year's E3 and the X360 pricing was released and the core and premium systems revealed. I am somewhat of a PS2 fanboy, and alot of this stuff seems to be part of the "bash Sony" bandwagon. I will wait and see how it pans out and honestly Sony is banking on the Blueray drive to be the big selling point for this platform much like the DVD was in the PS2.

Right now the PS3 is looking shakey but the guys over at Worthplaying have an excellent editorial up about the situation and ask the question "What would life be like without Sony?" It is an excellent question one that I think makes this article worth a read.

Posted by Tim on Monday May 15, 2006 at 9:10 PM

So I am NOT a Sony fan right now but I will try to be fair here. I probably will not buy one on or near release day. I'm just not jazzed about this system like I was for the 360. I got a bad taste in my mouth from Sony on a lot of fronts, especially DRM, however, I was very unimpressed with all the 360 bashing Sony did when MS released their little gem. I realize that they are in business to "one up" each other but I think Sony took it a little to far back then and now that the PS3 is a little closer to reality they are basically doing all the same mistakes that Sony said MS was doing during their launch, but worse.

MS took some flack on their development boxes, but from where I sit, its obvious that the Sony PS3 dev box (which is actually a PC!) is in far worse shape than MS's was. Yet Sony isn't taking as much flack for it.

Maybe I'm just bitter about Sony but I have to say I'm truly disheartened about Sony as a corporation. They have lost their capacity to function as an industry leader, and are pulling an "HP" in the sense that they claim innovation, but really they are just an "also ran" and are only mimicking other true innovators like Nintendo.

Bah! I need to stop. I'm just jumping on the pile against Sony.
I would like to see Sony succeed but not like this. Sony is darksided.

Posted by Trent on Tuesday May 16, 2006 at 9:07 AM

I don't wish Sony off the planet or out of the console business - far from it! I love competition for all the low-cost innovation it brings.

But my question still stands - has Sony made a serious blunder this time around and are we seeing the rise of Microsoft or the return of Nintendo as the dominant platform for the next 3 years? I know inflation has an impact here, but I'm still surprised at the overall cost increases these consoles have gone through, especially with games and as a percentage of the average household income. And couple with that the fact that games aren't really a mainstream entertainment device and I'm doubly floored.

Somebody (GamingSteve?) recently mentioned the fact that nearly everybody you know has watched a movie in a theatre, gone to a play, watched TV, or used the Internet. But you know lots of people who have never played a console video game - and that's pretty telling. Only Nintendo seems to be trying to crack that nut, what with the DS and Nintendogs and Brain Age as well as the upcoming Wii and it's unique controller.

Overall, I think Microsoft has done a lot of things very right with its XBOX 360 and one thing wrong (the core system' is a total joke.) Nintendo has a terrible name, but otherwise seem on track to try to create a 'family gaming console' niche that nobody else is in - one that I personally see me being a part of . And Sony has decided to go pretty hard core - with a high price tag, questionable features (BlueRay? Limited-motion controller?), and fantastic technology. Seems to me this is almost flip-flopping the way the PS2 and XBOX were.

One area that we can't really compare the consoles on yet is on their online capability. Microsoft's LiveAnywhere is clearly a fanastic way of doing things, but we can't compare it to unknowns from Sony and Nintendo (although Nintendo are off on the right foot with the DS capability while Sony so far has done almost nothing with PSP's online capability.)

Personally I'm curious and rather agnostic - I dislike all consoles equally today .

Posted by Scott on Tuesday May 16, 2006 at 5:19 PM

Well to answer your question directly, Yes, Sony has blundered tremendously.

I offer this as the latest proof:

http://gearlog.com/blogs/gearlog/archive/2006/05/16/11622.aspx

http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=12699

Posted by Trent on Wednesday May 17, 2006 at 9:34 AM

Well, I will also point out that both of the heavy hitters in the console business (MS and Sony) have been pushing this HD thing and while I apprecaite it. There is a major misconception about the penetration rate of that technology. I would dare say that it is not as high and given that the optimal experience for both of those platforms reside in that technology - they are also pushing the envelope. Which brings us back to Nintendo and the fact that the Wii is really not doing that same thing. I mean the Wii will do HD, but it is not a real requirement for the system to be seen in all its glory.

In the final analysis, the success of any of these platforms will not be seen this year. The success or failure will depend on so many factors not withstanding is the cost of the platform. I also know that when the PS2 launched it was not considered in expensive in any way shape or form. Sony is pushing the envelope since it is hoping that the cost of its components will drop like a stone and they will garner penetration based on the fact its a new Playstation and it has a Blue-Ray drive. I will be waiting on my next generation purchase to see the first cost reductions of the X360, but will most likely buy a Wii at launch.

I like just about any game so I am not that concerned about platform or console. I am happy to currently have all 3 consoles, and I look forward to what is coming...

Posted by Tim on Wednesday May 17, 2006 at 9:38 AM

I don't understand how a blog entry by some unknown source about a VIAO event and a laptop has anything to do with the PS3. If you want to say 'I hate Sony and here is why' that's OK, but that isn't the point of this discussion.

I agree with Tim that we won't know the outcome until 2007. But that doesn't mean I don't like thinking about it now .

I just looked, and there are only 57 games available for it including the ones from XBOX Live Arcade, and most them are mediocre at best. It's not as if the 360 is a world-beater yet - but it seems poised to be in the best shape to be the top console over the PS3.

Posted by Scott on Wednesday May 17, 2006 at 1:12 PM

Wow, proof again that you have to be very direct in what you use a link for to prove a point. Although you have a very valid point there Scott, it is not what I was trying to point out.

My attempt with THAT link was to point out that (whether true or not) on the fiasco with the VIAO event, the laptops should not have been accessable for "fiddling" by the attendees, and Sony would not be having to defend yet another potential "chop at the knees" regarding its new Blu-Ray technology. On a side note, it turns out the link was accurate but in a different way. There were two VIAO laptops put side by side to compare blue-ray against regular DVD's. The Blue-ray DVD case was accidentally put closer to the VAIO with the NON-Blu-Ray (regular old DVD) disk in it and in a really unfortunate twist, the two VIAO's were mistaken as both using Blue-Ray because no-one could tell the difference in the resolutions.

I would also like to point out that your misinterpretation of my link only covered one of the links.

What say you on the reality of a poor dev kit that Sony apparently takes no flack for when MS apparently had a stellar (in comparison) Dev kit to Sony's? You completetely dodged the validity of that link as "on point" to your discussion. Perhaps you threw the baby out with the bath water?

I don't know Scott, you asked for my commentary then your response is kind of berating? I don't really mind being written off as a Sony hater, but you are trying to police opinion in an open forum? Good luck. Also, in the same light, it could be read that you just defended Sony from my opinion? Can I call you a Sony fanboi? I wouldn't really, but you get the point right? I was just trying to participate, and feel a little stepped on for it.

I don't "hate" Sony. I don't trust them. But then again, I don't even trust HP.

Sorry you thought I was off point, but I still stick to my guns and I think I was VERY on point.

Posted by Trent on Wednesday May 17, 2006 at 2:21 PM

I guess my problem is that dev units are just that dev units. I don't care what they are running to build thier code on and we all know demos are never perfect. They are almost always smoke and mirrors at trade shows and I have done enough of them to realize that. Sure there was a big conspiracy regarding the drives and the images shown, but how much of that is real versus the simple fact that anytime Sony (or any company for that matter) stumbles that there is a whole group of folks standing there going "See I told you they suck".

Btw, human nature at this point is to root for the underdog and hate the big guy, and right now Sony is seen as the big guy with the other players as the underdogs. I don't care if you call me a Sony fanboy, but I play three different consoles at home and I also have a Mac and a PC. I play on all of those and for me its the games that matter not the platform I play them on. Personally, I am quite happy that GRAW, Oblivion, and Blazing Angels are out on multiple platforms since I have saved money in just being able to play them on my PC.

I will also think we will see different things as this year continues and that will be when I think things will be a bit more obvious as to what will be what.

Posted by Tim on Wednesday May 17, 2006 at 3:54 PM

Man, I am Mr. Misunderstood today, I think I'll stop posting for a while after this as I seem to have to write a "War and Peace" novel just to get a small point across to anyone. My fault, not yours.

I don't really care about the dev units either. My only point was that Sony + fanboys really blasted MS for their dev unit. I remember tons of gaming sites flogging MS about it and Sonys is far worse and there is very little news about it and its THQ (a Dev.) doing the complaining.

The topic was "Sony PS3 - mistakes in marketing?" and I did my best to partake in the commentary. I promise I wont do it again. I'll go back to quippy little jokes as reply. Those seem to go over better, and defending them is far easier.

Not trying to be a party pooper, but damn this felt like work just explaining my position.

Posted by Trent on Wednesday May 17, 2006 at 4:37 PM

Hey, I'm not trying to police anything! I was hoping to foster a targetted discussion and as far as I can tell we're doing that.

Trent, I didn't comment myself on the dev kit link because I thought it spoke for itself - another potential example of issues with Sony's PS3. I'm sorry you feel stepped on - that wasn't my intent. But it was pretty hard to understand what you meant by dropping in 2 links with no commentary. That's the kind of thing I expect from Pete!

I don't remember Sony blasting Microsoft for the dev kit issues but all that would do is say that Sony is crass - but nothing about the marketing or product positioning of the PS3.

Personally I'm convinced we're seeing Sony stumble on the PS3. They have the market lead now, but this time around they are probably going to play second-best to potentially none other than 'family friendly non-hard core gamer' Nintendo. But as Tim said, we'll have to wait a year to find out.

Posted by Scott on Wednesday May 17, 2006 at 5:49 PM

Look guys, sorry for all this yesterday. The world aligned itself against me late yesterday, and then I tried to relax a little by posting on the board here and my situation got the best of me. I don'y know what set me off in this post but the waaaaambulance came by later last night and gave me a mangina-ectomy and I'm better today.

Sorry if I pissed you off, especially you Scooty. xxooxx

Posted by Trent on Thursday May 18, 2006 at 9:09 AM

Wow, I need to read this blog more often to catch you guys beating the crap out of each other.

I don't think I can afford $600 out the chute for a PS3 myself, and so will wait until they drop the price a couple hundred dollars, and there are more titles to choose from. I certainly don't need blue-ray, so that's not a selling point for me. I'm a Sony fanboy, but after seeing the presentations from all of the companies at E3, I think maybe XBox 360 will have a game or two on it by November that I actually want to play (and that won't be ported to the PC in 3 months), and by that time the 360 will cost maybe half what the Sony box will sell for.

I do know for sure that I'm out on the Wii.

Posted by Kevin on Thursday May 18, 2006 at 9:39 AM