Comments on: What is Sony? http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/ A veteran's view on marketing games Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:07:25 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Kratos Rage http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Kratos Rage Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:23:45 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/#comment-24 Great post. I have to say, I too felt that DS would trump Sony's PSP when both where paraded at E3 for the first time. The touch screen and stylus, mic, wifi local and online play, the DS seemed more thought out in what Nintendo wanted it to do. All those options of play for creating fun games went into my head, resulting in a big picture of some cool games. Unfortunately, many others were too blinded by the shiny PSP screen and tech to see this possibility of DS going TKO on it. Good proof that its not about tech, just well put together and fun games. Sony need to recover from their Betamax days. Agreed they done well with PS1 and PS2, but its always dangerous easy for a king to get too big an ego, underestimate the competition, and not learn from their mistakes. I worried when PS2 tried to sell itself on the fact it could play films DVDs, which wasn't so bad for most early dvd adopters. However, when I saw Sony trying this same trick with PS3, I knew their game and wasn't happy about it. The price is still too high and they've forgotten this is a games industry, not a film one (which happily takes care of its own bed, never plugging games positively in return). I know I won't be buying until that huge price gets reasonable. I hope Sony enjoy the taste of humble pie, we all get a slice sometime or another. Great post. I have to say, I too felt that DS would trump Sony’s PSP when both where paraded at E3 for the first time. The touch screen and stylus, mic, wifi local and online play, the DS seemed more thought out in what Nintendo wanted it to do. All those options of play for creating fun games went into my head, resulting in a big picture of some cool games.

Unfortunately, many others were too blinded by the shiny PSP screen and tech to see this possibility of DS going TKO on it. Good proof that its not about tech, just well put together and fun games.

Sony need to recover from their Betamax days. Agreed they done well with PS1 and PS2, but its always dangerous easy for a king to get too big an ego, underestimate the competition, and not learn from their mistakes.

I worried when PS2 tried to sell itself on the fact it could play films DVDs, which wasn’t so bad for most early dvd adopters. However, when I saw Sony trying this same trick with PS3, I knew their game and wasn’t happy about it. The price is still too high and they’ve forgotten this is a games industry, not a film one (which happily takes care of its own bed, never plugging games positively in return). I know I won’t be buying until that huge price gets reasonable.

I hope Sony enjoy the taste of humble pie, we all get a slice sometime or another.

]]> By: Syaf http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Syaf Fri, 17 Aug 2007 03:25:58 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/#comment-18 I agree with Sony's obsession but then again, it does make theirs unique, and the brand stays everywhere their boxes go. I think it's not just about making money, although in a marketing/business point of view it should be, but how far has other companies brought this industry and the electronic industry as a whole forward like Sony? Would DVDs be like it is today if it wasn't for them? Would HD be recognized this early if it wasn't for them? The other companies might be selling more but they are not moving forward as fast as Sony. You gotta say there is an advantage to their hunger for boxes. I agree with Sony’s obsession but then again, it does make theirs unique, and the brand stays everywhere their boxes go.

I think it’s not just about making money, although in a marketing/business point of view it should be, but how far has other companies brought this industry and the electronic industry as a whole forward like Sony? Would DVDs be like it is today if it wasn’t for them? Would HD be recognized this early if it wasn’t for them?

The other companies might be selling more but they are not moving forward as fast as Sony. You gotta say there is an advantage to their hunger for boxes.

]]> By: Evan http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Evan Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:39:08 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/#comment-15 I agree with a lot of your points. Certainly, Sony could have created a cheaper console by using more off-the-shelf components, as Microsoft did with the Xbox 360. Of course, the flip side is that Sony's manufacturing bent certainly shows in the quality of the PS3. It could be argued that the PS3 is, indeed, an appreciably better console than the 360 from a hardware perspective. In fact, the surprise to me is how relatively poorly constructed the 360 is, given that Microsoft took a much simpler hardware route than Sony. Oh well, it will be interesting to see how Sony reacts to the lessons it is learning now. I agree with a lot of your points. Certainly, Sony could have created a cheaper console by using more off-the-shelf components, as Microsoft did with the Xbox 360. Of course, the flip side is that Sony’s manufacturing bent certainly shows in the quality of the PS3. It could be argued that the PS3 is, indeed, an appreciably better console than the 360 from a hardware perspective. In fact, the surprise to me is how relatively poorly constructed the 360 is, given that Microsoft took a much simpler hardware route than Sony. Oh well, it will be interesting to see how Sony reacts to the lessons it is learning now.

]]> By: Brent http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Brent Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:33:24 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/#comment-12 Before the Playstation 3, I think as far as consoles were concerned Sony's efforts to push there own standard on consumers was largely successful. Nintendo followed a pretty similar path as well I believe (between their refusal to go CD based for the N64 and their different CD format for the Gamecube to prevent more piracy). Sony has definitely appeared to roll the dice each console generation with formats, but up until the PSP and PS3 it seemed to pay off so I understand the cocky attitude they must have felt until now. As for other branches of the Sony war machine I have complete tunnel vision. Very interesting blog. Before the Playstation 3, I think as far as consoles were concerned Sony’s efforts to push there own standard on consumers was largely successful. Nintendo followed a pretty similar path as well I believe (between their refusal to go CD based for the N64 and their different CD format for the Gamecube to prevent more piracy). Sony has definitely appeared to roll the dice each console generation with formats, but up until the PSP and PS3 it seemed to pay off so I understand the cocky attitude they must have felt until now. As for other branches of the Sony war machine I have complete tunnel vision. Very interesting blog.

]]> By: G http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/comment-page-1/#comment-11 G Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:27:01 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/#comment-11 EA did not support the Wii when it launched. They have actually called themselves out on this. That's why they have had to scramble themselves and creating sub-par games such as "Boogie." Good idea I suppose, but seems very rushed EA did not support the Wii when it launched. They have actually called themselves out on this. That’s why they have had to scramble themselves and creating sub-par games such as “Boogie.” Good idea I suppose, but seems very rushed

]]> By: max http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/comment-page-1/#comment-5 max Mon, 13 Aug 2007 23:14:04 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/#comment-5 AVCHD, sorry! AVCHD, sorry!

]]> By: max http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/comment-page-1/#comment-4 max Mon, 13 Aug 2007 23:13:32 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/08/13/what-is-sony/#comment-4 I think I mostly agree - the strange format obsession stretches farther, of course, to the woeful Memory Stick, to AVHCD, etc. I had the same argument with dev guys, urging them to develop for the DS ('no, it's a kids' toy) and, later, for the Wii, both summarily dismissed as not good business sense. Now we see publisher/ developers scrabbling madly to make up for lost time and get their games on Wii....while, all along, smarter outfits like EA or Ubisoft actually just supported it from the start. I think I mostly agree – the strange format obsession stretches farther, of course, to the woeful Memory Stick, to AVHCD, etc.
I had the same argument with dev guys, urging them to develop for the DS (’no, it’s a kids’ toy) and, later, for the Wii, both summarily dismissed as not good business sense. Now we see publisher/ developers scrabbling madly to make up for lost time and get their games on Wii….while, all along, smarter outfits like EA or Ubisoft actually just supported it from the start.

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