Yesterday, we discussed how The Washington Times launched a scathing attack upon Sony's mismanagement of the PlayStation 3. Apparently, that publication is not the only outlet to notice, as Sony is coming under fire from all angles right now.
First of all, one analyst has declared that Sony ought to be "worried" about the PS3, claiming that some "very hard decisions" will need to be made in the New Year and stating that the value difference between the PS3 and Xbox 360 is now "out of whack." Home truths have come to light, and I'm not making a joke about Sony's worthless pet project.
Compared to financial writer Eric Krangel, however, the analyst reactions are a practical compliment. Calling the PlayStation 3 both a "sinking ship" and a "flop", Krangel believes that the black box o' Blu-ray is dying on store shelves. His words are even plastered on CNN's financial page -- probably something Sony could have done without. Oh, and apparently the PSP's performance "stinks" as well ... but we kind of knew that.
Is it fair to call the PS3 a sinking ship? That might be a little too harsh. The PlayStation 3 is not licked yet, but with pundits and press battering it for mainstream audiences, not just the gamer press, this is terrible for the system's public image. While the Wii continues to entrap families worldwide and the Xbox 360 more or less holds its ground, the PS3 is earning the reputation of this generation's big failure. Whether strictly true or not, this is the message being delivered to hardcore and casual gamer alike.
As Krangel himself concludes: "Tell yourself the PS3 has superior graphics if it makes you feel better, but a $400 console with a mediocre game library simply cannot compete against an Xbox 360 priced at $200 in this economy."
Harsh, but it's perhaps something Sony needs to learn.
Contest:
9:57 AM on 12.13.2008
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No way in hell. They make (and loose) millions.
A comparable 360 is more expensive, but when I got mine I didn't need a wireless router, my house had ethernet connections. Didn't need HD movies either, I play games on my console. PS3 is great value, but if you don't want the things it offers with no alternative...people aren't going to buy it, not for that price.
anyways. I think 360 is a sinking ship, since MS is soon going to announce Xbox 720 or something, PS3 is here to stay in many years to come, and in that time, many new game franchises has been born. God of War and such didn't come to PS2 until it had been out for 4 years. I believe in Harve... I believe in Sony. (It is anyways a really good multimedia machine.)
But I have noticed in many, many podcasts recently it's become cool to hate the PS3 again.
Yeah, but Japan has disliked Xbox since it's first incarnation which was a MASSIVE flop in Japan. They're still on the fence about the 360 even though it has a decent Japanese game library this time around. Microsoft just blew it when it came to getting Japanese developers on board.
I think the 360 will continue to be a success in the US due to it's price point, game library and online content. In Asia, the sales will probably continue to rise, but overall Sony and Nintendo still own Asia's gaming markets.
It's not fair to call EITHER a flop right now.
Up to this point the only thing Average Joe thinks to justify his choice is BluRay, "the hidden power of the PS3" along an Obama like "promise of a better future". For me Mr. Hardcore gamer Nothxbai I have Wii60 and not planning to upgrade my awesome DVD movie collection anytime soon.
So yeah. I think PS3 = fail @ more than 2 years since launch and I hope it gets better in the sake of healthy competition.
Heck, even the games that have the same name -- and should be the same games-- are different (due to the disparage in power compared to the other two). Nobody's giving them any slack about that, and Nintendo is #1.
I call Bullshit.
Sony has done nothing to prevent this image from perpetuating. It cannot be denied that the PS3 has been poorly managed from day one. Sony had a great system and pissed it away with terrible mismanagement.
One of the avatar-less people told me to "at least fake looking at it from two sides" but what is the other side? That Sony has actually done a GREAT job with the PS3? That's not another side, that's a lie.
As for now I do have more gaming time on the 360 (playing a few games) than the PS3 (only playing LBP) and my Wii is collecting more dust Rosie O'Donnells box.
Actually, since the price cut. 360 has been outselling the PS3 in most European countries
Hell I still really enjoy playing Warhawk.
Most of the 360 games are available for the PC or PS3.. and I just don't care as much about its few exclusives (or the few titles that work better on the 360) than the PS3's (Valkyria Chronicles, Metal Gear Solid 4, FF13 will still be better and earlier than the 360, FF13 VS.).
MARKET YOUR FUCKING CONSOLE PROPERLY.
Seriously, Sony. Enough with these retarded 'artistic' ads. Is it really that hard to think of a good marketing campaign? Show off what the system can do! Blu-ray, DVD, music, photos, GAMES...
In short: They should have focused on the games from day one, not the hardware. That would change a lot I think.
But what will happen when Xbox 720 comes out? Will people buy the Ps3, or jump on the new wagon with few games and such? That time is undeniably coming, but will MS increase their lead, or will they lose a lot of people to Sony?
And of course, the next big issue is price. It's the same story everytime, "I'd buy it.... if it was $300". What Sony really needs to get in their minds is that gaming is for the masses, not for the privileged few. And they fucked it up by filling it with all these unnecessary features and technology.
Yes, the 360 is more expensive if you add all those features it is missing compared to the PS3. But the fine thing about that is that they can choose what they want. Ps3 can't really remove anything. All the games use the Blu-Ray drive, and many games need a hdd to play. So there isn't much Sony can remove to cut the price. They already removed the card readers, backwards compatibility, 2 usb ports. The only thing they can remove now is the wireless adapter, and that is just stupid. The PS3 is cheap when you actually look at what you are getting, the question is: Do YOU need it?
I love, and want the multimedia capabilities the ps3 is offering, so I am very pleased with the PS3 at the moment, but I can see many gamers don't.
But, the PS3 promised a 10 year lifetime, and if I know Sony right, they are keeping that promise, unlike 360 which is soon to be replaced. I just think it's sad that the good guy (PS3, from a PS3 fanboy perspective) is loosing this fight. They promise 10 year support, they make NEW games, not just kicking the old franchises, they make the online free, they give us optional Home, and much more. I think it's sad that someone which such good motives are losing on it.
But is it still a good system? Very much so. I own a PS3, and have constant access to a 360 and I much prefer my PS3. I like the interface more (we won't mention Home), many games are multiplatform and the ones that aren't I can do without because friends own them (think about it. Most 360 exclusives are big multiplayer draws-Gears of War, Halo, Left 4 Dead-whereas many noteworthy PS3 exclusives are single player based-Uncharted, MGS4, God of War, Heavy Rain, etc) and free online is certainly a big help (all those people harping on how cheap the 360 is don't mention that it requires you to drop another 50 bucks right out of the box to even use most of its features). Not to mention, I'd much rather play with the PSN's far more mature base (I haven't been called the N word once!).
In the end, both are great consoles. I just wish Sony would do something so that more people would know what a great console it is.
And whoever keeps saying that the PS3 library is weak, how so?
I thought they only produced an affordable Blu-Ray player that could also play games.
PS3 outsold 360 for 10 months this year, with a cost of $100 more and no praise. xD
People tend to forget the only reason 360 is outselling the big black box is price(only after the cut xbox took the lead again). PS3 is making itself more appealing by the day thanks to BR, gradual improvement in graphics and its huge 1st party games. At this point the 360 can only rely on further price cuts.
Although nothing is certain, look at the wii. Crappy system, craptastic games...
But MS deserves a freaking medal. They changed the media's "we hate MS" stereotype. They passed it out to sony. (even with the RROD) xD
MS+1
Finally someone gets it. Even though the 360 dropped their price I can bet you they're losing their pants on that one. Esp. with an impending class action lawsuit headed their way. And I swear if I hear this damn mediocre game libray one more freakin time I'm going to puke. I willing to be no one can even name me 5 exclusives (not named Halo and Gears of war) worth playing on the 360.
It seems like people are looking at the state of the PS3 a year ago, and applying it to the PS3's current state, which is wrong.
The Sony fanboys in the comments are pretty funny, I'll give them that. You keep on fighting the good fight. Sony is the best thing since sliced bread and don't let anybody tell you otherwise.
With all the fun I've been having and gaves I've been buying (and playing), I would never have guessed the ps3 is such a terrible system.
The issue is that Sony doesn't know how to push the damn thing. I see ads for games every day that I know are on the ps3, only to see the xbox 360 logo at the end of the ad. And sure as sunshine, the lil voice over telling me its now $199.
Why doesn't Sony stand up for itself ? Lower its prices, hold on to thos so called exclusives ? Its almost as if they put the system out there and forgot about it. Expecting it to just ...outsell everything else on name alone. And everyone knows thats not how it works, and it is why it is indeed in last place. Its not a flop. but it wasnt what ps2 was and I dont think it ever will be with seeing how Sonys attitude has been toward thier own product.