160°

Sunday Flashback: What was Sony thinking?

VGR: Seriously, this was the marketing campaign for the last Playstation. Thank you Sony for fueling my nightmares...

Read Full Story >>
vgrevolution.com
Nitrowolf24012d ago (Edited 4012d ago )

lol for some reason I really liked these commercials, but I do admit that they probably didn't do much for them as they had hoped.

Good thing they went with the Kevin Butler Idea later on.

The one that did creep me out: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

I did like when they decided to focus on the games with commercial http://www.youtube.com/watc...

All the butler ones are great though: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

ceed9114012d ago

Welp, never saw that one before - that girl is terrifying, as are the comments on the video.

iGAM3R-VIII4012d ago (Edited 4012d ago )

lol maybe sony used some marketing people on meth :P

RioKing4011d ago (Edited 4011d ago )

Dido, I personally liked these commercials. Although I can definitely see how not everyone would...

PopRocks3594012d ago

Yeah these commercials were pretty damn trippy. Oh well. They could have been more like the PSP squirrels commercial. And besides, we eventually wound up getting Kevin Butler ads and those were hilarious.

kreate4012d ago

I thought those were fake parody commercials when I first saw them lol

Even the japanese ps3 commercials were freaky.

Best PlayStation ads I saw so far was the korean ones.

Oh sony ... maybe the whole time the problem was ur marketing team.

Later though, sony make dot believe was a pretty good ad. But again, thats not a PlayStation ad.

The all stars one was pretty good with all the PlayStation characters coming out, although the ad was interesting, it wasnot geared toward the general public.

Just do what Microsoft does for marketing. Copy exactly what they do.

Hicken4012d ago

Spend far more on marketing than their games?

Pass.

Sony could use better marketing, but they don't need to go THAT far.

kreate4012d ago

Ey man.. the sales gotta be there ;)

nukeitall4012d ago

@Why o why:

"Cant play sales."

A product won't exist too long if it doesn't sell....

Why o why4012d ago

Obviously businesses cant survive without sales

Its almost like you'd prefer sony spend their money on marketing less games better than them spending more of their money on game creation and less on marketing.

Got pads in my hand not calculators. Their bottom lines aren't my primary concern. They pay none of my bills. Im in this for me. Games please.

Outside_ofthe_Box4012d ago

***"Their bottom lines aren't my primary concern. They pay none of my bills. Im in this for me. Games please."***

Quote of the f***ing century...

nukeitall4011d ago

@Why o why:

"Its almost like you'd prefer sony spend their money on marketing less games better than them spending more of their money on game creation and less on marketing."

No, I prefer Sony focusing on surviving, because I want them to succeed. That means a nice balance between marketing and creation.

Now, I don't think Sony lacks marketing at all though.

"Got pads in my hand not calculators. Their bottom lines aren't my primary concern. They pay none of my bills. Im in this for me. Games please."

I'm in this for me too, which means I want these companies to succeed so I can continue to get awesome experiences and please don't make it just about games. I don't just play games, but watch movies, listen to music and do a host of other things too.

Include all of that!

I'm just not so narrow sighted that I want any company to focus on a niche group and then die. They need to expand and as long as they provide me with what I want, I'm happy.

Why o why4011d ago (Edited 4011d ago )

Cause Sony really look like they're in trouble for you to care more about their marketing expenditure over their game creation.

The reason why some are pissed at ms and their change in focus is because they've taken less care of segment you call niche. .. what a terrible apologistic view of things.

Nowhere did I state that x or y group shouldn't be catered to, or that them staying in business isn't important but I buy a product for my benefit primarily not theirs; be it their survival or profits.

Games please, bring enough good ones for all of your customers with good balance and you'll survive. Sony is testament to that. 3 new ips this year... played with pads mate. I'll leave the calculations for the investors and shareholder types..

kreate4011d ago

but sony makes good games already.
they got the gaming department covered.

the reason why their stuff dont sell as they wanted it to is becuz they semi-fail at marketing.

so by this logic, shouldnt sony spend more money on marketing?

i remember in 2006-2008, all i saw on american television was xbox ad after xbox ad after xbox ad. so everyone went out and bought a xbox.

even multi-platform games showed the xbox logo and at the end of the commercial, it said to 'jump into xbox live for the world of entertainment' when the game is also available on ps3

solidjun54011d ago

"No, I prefer Sony focusing on surviving, because I want them to succeed. That means a nice balance between marketing and creation. "

Based on your comment history, what you've just said is a complete and utter lie.

Why o why4011d ago

solidjun5

ha, true, but I didn't mind trying to explain why its still about gaming for me... I've never purchased a console to save a console maker because I'm not a shareholder or management within the company. I'm an end user, a customer. Same as I was when I purchased an import dreamcast or my amiga or whatever.

kreate

If you mean copy ms marketing tactics then I hear ya 100 but money isn't unlimited and there's a trade off with ms's meth, be it forced or simple choice.

They spent less on game internal development of the type of titles they used to. If they could market like they do and produce and nurture studios like sony, it would be the absolute best model and worth emulating. In reality its not, so, if I had to chose a model that benefits my hobby\past time\ addiction the best I'd go for one that yielded the most substance.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 4011d ago
AkatsukiPain4012d ago (Edited 4012d ago )

I agree some of the commercials had a question mark in my head like wtf was that? I dont think these commercials were the problem though, it was that sony didnt do enough advertising at the time.

Great thing is they learned from alot of their passed mistakes and been doing a very good job of turning all those things around. Kaz has done a phenomenal job and it looks like it will only get better from here on out.

Also that 30 minute beyond two souls gameplay looks freakin fan-effing-tastic. It will definitely be a must buy day 1 title for me.

Shinra Tensei

Soldierone4012d ago

I think if properly funded, these commercials would have done what they were supposed to do.

They were supposed to be trippy and make you go "wth was that?!" But there wasn't enough of them. I remember literally watching TV more just to wait for one to come on, and never seeing them at all.I saw it maybe once before they went in a different direction.

Show all comments (30)
280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

Read Full Story >>
techraptor.net
ChasterMies18d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken18d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga18d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken18d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6418d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long18d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197218d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic18d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 18d ago
DivineHand12518d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91318d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer18d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit18d ago (Edited 18d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91318d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit17d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 17d ago
Christopher18d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6918d ago (Edited 18d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit17d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal18d ago (Edited 18d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher18d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken18d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197218d ago (Edited 18d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic18d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2318d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218318d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder18d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts18d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

Show all comments (43)
80°

Sony May Soon Let You Decide How Much NPCs Talk In Games

Sony has patented to add multiple dialogue modes to let players switch between how many conversations with NPCs they want in the game.

blackblades24d ago

Sony is like the only ones outta the 3 that has atuff like like this pop up changing thing in ways.

just_looken24d ago

Sony in the past has always been first at bat with new ideas/tech but in the end never fully use it or just toss it away.

blackblades24d ago

I think they did use some but yeah most usually never happened but at least they thought about it. Sony seeks things like this and other, Nintendo seek different ways of playing going by there different controler designs and console designs.

just_looken24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

some of the other stuff sony want's/owns never used
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://www.eurogamer.net/s...
https://metro.co.uk/2023/03...
https://decrypt.co/114754/s...

monitor/adjust game difficultly as you play
https://www.techradar.com/g...

Sony nfts
https://www.theblock.co/pos...

Pay ai to play the game for you
https://thebusinessofesport...

Oh all the above last 12 months

I just imagine a evil scientist with test subjects when it comes down to sony recent patent reports.

Kaii24d ago

Will we get dialogue options that won't spoil puzzles in a matter of seconds? :p

280°

Judge rules in PlayStation's favour in $500m patent infringement lawsuit

Genuine Enabling Technology was seeking damages, claiming the tech allowing PlayStation consoles and controllers to communicate infringes its rights.

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
S2Killinit26d ago

Big victory for Sony. And a long time coming.

DarXyde26d ago (Edited 26d ago )

Crazy to think the savings from this lawsuit allows them to develop one AAA game.

Make it Bloodborne 2, please and thank you.

26d ago
Profchaos26d ago

Sounds like patent trolling they tried the same thing against Nintendo with the same pattern.

Motion and control input traversing over higher and lower frequencies seperate from each other allowing the controller to do both

Pyrofire9526d ago

Patents suck. Most of them are complete garbage.

Knightofelemia26d ago

So to recoup the money Genuine is going to take on Nintendo or Microsoft next. I hate patent lawyers they are some of the worst bottom feeders out there.

Show all comments (13)