Can Sony Convince Developers and Consumers of the PS3's Dominance?

Cygnus · 09-23-2006, 10:52 PM

This question comes from a reputable site from a game development and biz site. Some interesting responses... Your thoughts? Click on the link for the entire article.

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20.../qotw_01.shtml
Gamasutra's latest Question of the Week asked our esteemed audience of game industry professionals, educators and students to relay their thoughts on how Sony can turn around its arguably troubled PlayStation 3 launch and turn the six hundred dollar monster into a must-have product. Specifically, the question we asked was as follows:

Q: Given Sony's recent issues with PlayStation 3 supply/launch dates and overall negative publicity for the company, what does Sony need to do to convince developers and the public that the PS3 will be the dominant next-gen console? (Responses could include comments on developer support, pricing, network/online capabilities, PR, and any other pertinent factors.)

All that Sony needs to do is stop acting so arrogant. People can forgive any number of faults if the company generally acts responsible for their mistakes. When the PSP came out and people complained about the square buttons getting stuck and not being as responsive as the other buttons, Sony said "There may be people that complain about its usability, but that's something which users and game software developers will have to adapt to." We have to adapt to their broken button... Comedic at best. When everyone said the price of the PS3 was rather high, Sony told everyone that "people will buy it no matter what." What do they say about PCs? "The PlayStation 3 is a computer. We do not need the PC."

To top it all off Sony said no to a Blu-Ray, HD-DVD compromise. Now they are in the very uncomfortable situation of a VHS vs. BetaMax competition. Blu-Ray would appear to be the BetaMax in this because a blue laser is just flat out better than a red laser, but the cost on the blu-ray players is extreme starting at $1000.00. How can they ship the PS3 with Blu-Ray technology for $600.00? It would seem that they'll be taking the biggest loss per unit and still be the most expensive game system on the market. So with all these factors, what can Sony do to convince everyone that they're going to be the dominant console in the years to come? Stop being so damn negative. When you insult your customers, your competitors and everyone else to make your products seem better, it's a clear indication that there is something very wrong with your product. Their arrogance has got everyone riled up, and there's a lot of people who want them to fail as a result. Microsoft (the former Borg) have become the underdog that everyone is rooting for, and it's Sony's fault. How do you like them Apples, Sony?
Dave Fried, The Collective

Although I don't agree with it, I can certainly tell where Sony's arrogance comes from. Metal Gear Solid 4, Final Fantasy XIII and other exclusives that have been known to move hardware. People have shown that they were willing to buy PS1s and PS2s for previous games in the aformentioned franchises; Sony has no reason to believe this won't be true for the PS3.
Anonymous

Playstation 1 was the dominant console of its generation, as was the Playstation 2. Twelve months after the launch of PS3 few will care about the troubles Sony are facing right now.
Milner Nick, Aspen Technology

I really don't understand why Sony's rushing out the PS3 so quickly. The initial user base is going to be very small and it doesn't look like it's going to expand quickly. With such a low number of units given the hype, I forcast most PS3 related profits coming from scalpers rather than Sony itself. I recall that the Xbox360 was percieved as "rare" and a pain to obtain even after Microsoft got the units flowing steadily from factory to store. It seems like the PS3 wishes to experience this problem tenfold, the way they're handling things.
Anonymous

Jimmy Smith · 09-23-2006, 11:54 PM

If being the best system on the market isn't enough to dominate I pity the consumer population.

Type A · 09-24-2006, 12:45 AM

I always thought the Xbox was an under-developed platform, it was the first HD console on the market, and yet only a hand full of games were ever produced in HD.

Regardless of arrogance or poor management choices, I will be in line for a PS3. I love my home theater too much to deprive it of ANY HD joy, and I would never knock a company that produces content for said system. So often we forget why we are here, its not about who said what, or what happens when...for a HDTV purist, its a matter of what can I feed my system next, because THATS what its all about to me!

junehhan · 09-24-2006, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Smith

If being the best system on the market isn't enough to dominate I pity the consumer population.

Not everyone can afford the price tag that is associated with such stuff. It's for the same reason why people have to drive a Ford Exploror instead of a Lincoln Navigator, or buy a Toyota Camry instead of a Lexus ES350. Sony is in a pickle because hardcore HDTV enthusiasts will be more interested in picking up a stand alone playback unit instead of a gamer console to use as a playback device. I don't know why just because some people can afford to buy $600 consoles, they assume everyone else can too. Maybe they can with the right priorities, but that delves into what is important in their personal lives.

Cygnus · 09-24-2006, 07:37 PM

You are obviously drunk from the PS3 kool-aid... Don't believe the hype

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Smith

If being the best system on the market isn't enough to dominate I pity the consumer population.

Jimmy Smith · 09-24-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cygnus

You are obviously drunk from the PS3 kool-aid... Don't believe the hype

The Playstation 3 is the most powerful console this generation. Even though graphicly the differences over the Xbox 360 are very small but they are there and it is several times better then Nintendos stupid little console thats rightfully named after piss. Off course Blu-Ray is the Playstation 3s source of power. Blu-Ray gives it both the cheapest high definition disc player on the market and the ability to make the biggest games thanks to devolopers using all that extra space as Insomniac will.

Type A · 09-24-2006, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Smith

The Playstation 3 is the most powerful console this generation. Even though graphicly the differences over the Xbox 360 are very small but they are there

Im sorry, whats your point? I've got five words for you: It's all about THE GAMES.

Jimmy Smith · 09-24-2006, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Type A

Im sorry, whats your point? I've got five words for you: It's all about THE GAMES.

Yeah its called Resistance Fall of Man. A game that looks more fun then anything on the Xbox 360 or the Pii.

Type A · 09-25-2006, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Smith

Yeah its called Resistance Fall of Man. A game that looks more fun then anything on the Xbox 360 or the Pii.

Quoted from the "Wii" thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Smith

All three consoles have great games

Yup, youre a talker, unfortunately, most of it is bullshit

Cygnus · 09-25-2006, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Smith

The Playstation 3 is the most powerful console this generation.

If only game devs agreed with you... Nearly every developer agrees that Cell may be slightly more powerful than 360's proc, but 360 has the better graphics card, more system RAM, and is far easier to develop on. And games depend more on video card than processor... XNA is another benefit 360 has over PS3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Smith

Off course Blu-Ray is the Playstation 3s source of power.

Blur-ray has nothing to do with power. Its storage...

Regarding Resistance, it looks nice. But from the clips I saw, it is just another FPS. Nothing really amazing about it to me from a gameplay perspective.

junehhan · 09-25-2006, 03:32 PM

Jimmy, you can do a search as there were several articles that were released several months ago. Basically, an IBM engineer commented on the cell chip in the PS3, and verified that it's only 14-16% more powerful than the X360's cpu even when a program is optimized for the complex nature of that chip. The biggest issue is that nearly every game is limited by the GPU, and not the CPU. The custom unit in the X360 is pretty much even with the nVidia in the PS3. The X360 however has greater flexibility because while both consoles with have a total of 512mb of memory between the system and GPU, the X360's memory is unified and shared. It also doesn't hurt that the X360 is supposed to be much easier to develop games for, due to the complex nature of the cell in the PS3.

Jimmy Smith · 09-25-2006, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junehhan

Jimmy, you can do a search as there were several articles that were released several months ago. Basically, an IBM engineer commented on the cell chip in the PS3, and verified that it's only 14-16% more powerful than the X360's cpu even when a program is optimized for the complex nature of that chip. The biggest issue is that nearly every game is limited by the GPU, and not the CPU. The custom unit in the X360 is pretty much even with the nVidia in the PS3. The X360 however has greater flexibility because while both consoles with have a total of 512mb of memory between the system and GPU, the X360's memory is unified and shared. It also doesn't hurt that the X360 is supposed to be much easier to develop games for, due to the complex nature of the cell in the PS3.

Maybe but the Playstation 3 is more powerful. Even if the difference is very small Playstation 3 is a more powerful system if that power is used properly. I believe both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are perfect fine system and both are capable of truely amazing games. Its Nintendos console that I dislike and only Nintendos console. I just think the Playstation 3 has a higher price value due to its Blu-Ray drive. With Resistance Fall of Man using 12 gigs of compressed level data I just can't wait to see how games use all that extra storage.

Cygnus · 09-25-2006, 05:13 PM

Get ready for excruitiatingly(sp?) long load times because BR is half the speed of DVD9. Additionally, you may see higher priced games as well since it takes more resources for "12 gigs of compressed level data"... While sony may be willing to cover the cost to hype BR, the majority of 3rd parties won't. The majority of times it will be used for HD cutscenes...

Jimmy Smith · 09-25-2006, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cygnus

Get ready for excruitiatingly(sp?) long load times because BR is half the speed of DVD9. Additionally, you may see higher priced games as well since it takes more resources for "12 gigs of compressed level data"... While sony may be willing to cover the cost to hype BR, the majority of 3rd parties won't. The majority of times it will be used for HD cutscenes...

Im willing to pay alittle more for a game with 12 gigs of compressed level data. A game that size do you even need another game.

Cygnus · 09-25-2006, 11:42 PM

Yes, if the game is repetitive with no innovation. Graphics are important but if it sux...who cares? Besides, over time, nearly any game gets a little boring...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Smith

Im willing to pay alittle more for a game with 12 gigs of compressed level data. A game that size do you even need another game.

09-23-2006, 10:52 PM	#1
Cygnus The Bringer of Balance Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,834	Can Sony Convince Developers and Consumers of the PS3's Dominance? This question comes from a reputable site from a game development and biz site. Some interesting responses... Your thoughts? Click on the link for the entire article. http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20.../qotw_01.shtml Gamasutra's latest Question of the Week asked our esteemed audience of game industry professionals, educators and students to relay their thoughts on how Sony can turn around its arguably troubled PlayStation 3 launch and turn the six hundred dollar monster into a must-have product. Specifically, the question we asked was as follows: Q: Given Sony's recent issues with PlayStation 3 supply/launch dates and overall negative publicity for the company, what does Sony need to do to convince developers and the public that the PS3 will be the dominant next-gen console? (Responses could include comments on developer support, pricing, network/online capabilities, PR, and any other pertinent factors.) All that Sony needs to do is stop acting so arrogant. People can forgive any number of faults if the company generally acts responsible for their mistakes. When the PSP came out and people complained about the square buttons getting stuck and not being as responsive as the other buttons, Sony said "There may be people that complain about its usability, but that's something which users and game software developers will have to adapt to." We have to adapt to their broken button... Comedic at best. When everyone said the price of the PS3 was rather high, Sony told everyone that "people will buy it no matter what." What do they say about PCs? "The PlayStation 3 is a computer. We do not need the PC." To top it all off Sony said no to a Blu-Ray, HD-DVD compromise. Now they are in the very uncomfortable situation of a VHS vs. BetaMax competition. Blu-Ray would appear to be the BetaMax in this because a blue laser is just flat out better than a red laser, but the cost on the blu-ray players is extreme starting at $1000.00. How can they ship the PS3 with Blu-Ray technology for $600.00? It would seem that they'll be taking the biggest loss per unit and still be the most expensive game system on the market. So with all these factors, what can Sony do to convince everyone that they're going to be the dominant console in the years to come? Stop being so damn negative. When you insult your customers, your competitors and everyone else to make your products seem better, it's a clear indication that there is something very wrong with your product. Their arrogance has got everyone riled up, and there's a lot of people who want them to fail as a result. Microsoft (the former Borg) have become the underdog that everyone is rooting for, and it's Sony's fault. How do you like them Apples, Sony? Dave Fried, The Collective Although I don't agree with it, I can certainly tell where Sony's arrogance comes from. Metal Gear Solid 4, Final Fantasy XIII and other exclusives that have been known to move hardware. People have shown that they were willing to buy PS1s and PS2s for previous games in the aformentioned franchises; Sony has no reason to believe this won't be true for the PS3. Anonymous Playstation 1 was the dominant console of its generation, as was the Playstation 2. Twelve months after the launch of PS3 few will care about the troubles Sony are facing right now. Milner Nick, Aspen Technology I really don't understand why Sony's rushing out the PS3 so quickly. The initial user base is going to be very small and it doesn't look like it's going to expand quickly. With such a low number of units given the hype, I forcast most PS3 related profits coming from scalpers rather than Sony itself. I recall that the Xbox360 was percieved as "rare" and a pain to obtain even after Microsoft got the units flowing steadily from factory to store. It seems like the PS3 wishes to experience this problem tenfold, the way they're handling things. Anonymous __________________ Toshiba 57H81 Kenwood VR-616 Comcast DCT6412 III XBox 360 GamerTag Sec0nd2N0n3

09-24-2006, 12:45 AM	#3
Type A 1080 Optical Supporter Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Panama City, Fl Age: 38 Posts: 2,724	I always thought the Xbox was an under-developed platform, it was the first HD console on the market, and yet only a hand full of games were ever produced in HD. Regardless of arrogance or poor management choices, I will be in line for a PS3. I love my home theater too much to deprive it of ANY HD joy, and I would never knock a company that produces content for said system. So often we forget why we are here, its not about who said what, or what happens when...for a HDTV purist, its a matter of what can I feed my system next, because THATS what its all about to me! __________________ Mitsubishi HC3000U HD projector Dual Optoma 106" screens Harman Kardon AVR-7000 receiver Bose 901 VI, 301 IV, VCS 10 Bose AM-6 Series III Sony STR-DG600 receiver JVC GR-HD1 HD camcorder Xbox 360 Pro / PS3 40 Gig HD DVD 0 / Blu Ray 15 Games 18 / Games 2 Gateway 901x HTPC (modified) Sling Box Pro w/HD Connect Cable Dish 211 receiver w/Absolute HD pack HP Pavilion dv-6000 laptop (HTPC2GO) Link-Theater Gallery - 100,000+ views Link-55 Restoration Updated 6/21/08 Last edited by Type A; 09-24-2006 at 12:47 AM.

09-25-2006, 05:13 PM	#13
Cygnus The Bringer of Balance Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,834	Get ready for excruitiatingly(sp?) long load times because BR is half the speed of DVD9. Additionally, you may see higher priced games as well since it takes more resources for "12 gigs of compressed level data"... While sony may be willing to cover the cost to hype BR, the majority of 3rd parties won't. The majority of times it will be used for HD cutscenes... __________________ Toshiba 57H81 Kenwood VR-616 Comcast DCT6412 III XBox 360 GamerTag Sec0nd2N0n3

09-23-2006, 11:54 PM	#2
Jimmy Smith 50>30 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,998	If being the best system on the market isn't enough to dominate I pity the consumer population.

09-25-2006, 03:32 PM	#11
junehhan High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Aug 2006 Age: 29 Posts: 5,663	Jimmy, you can do a search as there were several articles that were released several months ago. Basically, an IBM engineer commented on the cell chip in the PS3, and verified that it's only 14-16% more powerful than the X360's cpu even when a program is optimized for the complex nature of that chip. The biggest issue is that nearly every game is limited by the GPU, and not the CPU. The custom unit in the X360 is pretty much even with the nVidia in the PS3. The X360 however has greater flexibility because while both consoles with have a total of 512mb of memory between the system and GPU, the X360's memory is unified and shared. It also doesn't hurt that the X360 is supposed to be much easier to develop games for, due to the complex nature of the cell in the PS3.