170°

Sony on Project Morpheus: Price has to be 'Right from Day One'

VRFocus- With the Project Morpheus virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD) still in its prototype stage, creator Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) isn't really ready to talk about price points for the consumer version of the kit. That said, the updated version of the device, shown at the 2015 Game Developers Conference (GDC) this week, is said to be 'near final' in terms of design. Add to that the looming 2016 release and SCE notes that the price for Project Morpheus will have to be 'right from day one' to help the kit succeed.

Eonjay3337d ago

What do you think is the 'right price'?

IGiveHugs2NakedWomen3337d ago

Sony will get it down to $199, even if they have to start selling it at a loss, the real profits will come from software sales, the same way profits are rolling in from the PS4.

Death3337d ago

@Hugs,

The only confirmed game that supports Morpheus right now is Project Cars and Morpheus isn't required to play it. We are about a year from Morpheus launch and there is no software announced for the device to offset a loss yet. If the games made available work without the device, no money will be made to make up for the losses. Sony will need to sell Morpheus for a profit from day one unless it is sold as a separate platform all together. The closest thing we have today to compare it to is the Rift which sells for $349. I would imagine the Morpheus launch is being postponed to allow pricing to come down before release as well as time to create content. Best case I would say we are looking at $249 and maybe $299 with a game.

Rimeskeem3337d ago

I agree with this.

If thy price it like that it will make others lower their price. This will help VR get off its feet.

Dfooster3337d ago

I think they will launch this with no mans sky VR edition for $250. Just a gut feeling

IGiveHugs2NakedWomen3337d ago (Edited 3337d ago )

@Death

It's not just Project Cars
http://www.wareable.com/pro...

Among The Sleep
The Assembly
The Castle
Cult County
Eve Valkyrie
Five Nights At Freddy's
Jurassic Encounter
Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes
London Heist
Magic Controller
Project Cars
Q.U.B.E
Street Luge
Surgeon Simulator
Thief
The Toybox
War Thunder

Cupid_Viper_33337d ago (Edited 3337d ago )

I've been waiting for this bad boy ever since Sony first announced its first HMD, the HMZ-T1. I had mine preordered and paid $980 after taxes and all, that was 4 years ago I think.

The newer portable version, the HMZ-T3 is still selling at a premium on Sony's website, but i believe thats because they dont have much competition in that department, and nobody is matching the quality offered by the HMZ-T3. But I think having been making HMDs for 4-5 years now has yielded many benefits for Sony. First, it has allowed Sony to have, in my opinion, the most comfortable and best looking design out there when it comes to VRs. Secondly and most beneficial, they've had years of feedbacks from actual customers. Meaning that they've heard all sorts of complaints ranging from comfortability, to eyestrain over extended longterm use (years), and also pricing.

Meaning that using their real market data, they have a competitive edge when it comes how to properly price such a device for mass market adoption. Also, they can get the manufacturing parts for much cheaper than Valve and Oculus can, given that they've been making HMDs for some 4 years now.

Also, Having used the HMZ-T1 for some 4 years now, you don't necessarily need the games to be tailor made for VR to get an immersive experience. Of course a game tailor made for VR is leaps and bounds more immersive than the former. I play GT5- and GT6 on it, and KZ3, KZ Shawdow Fall, BF4, and Trine 2 in 3d on it. And it is by far a better experience then simply playing it on your TV.

I'm expecting a $150 stand alone, and $229 bundled with the move and camera plus a digital voucher for No Man's Sky.

DLConspiracy3337d ago (Edited 3337d ago )

Its a peripheral much like a controller. So they are going to have to price it to make money on it. Its not like a system. Sure there will be games for it but unless Sony is going to make tons of 1st party games then it will be hard to payback that money. Especially having to cover the devs too. I am sure they will make games. Perhaps that's what the wait is for. They might be getting 1st party devs to make games for it at launch.

Personally $300 seems to be the sweet spot. If its over that. Its too much.

Charybdis3337d ago (Edited 3337d ago )

With or without camera and with or without the move controller. Hope they will have a decent bundle ranging from 200-300.
edit: hope they will also throw in a free game of some kind

Death3337d ago

@hugs,

I have seen nothing confirmed by Sony as far as games go. We have a couple lists going around of games/tech demos that are currently out on other platforms and some upcoming games that are compatible with Morpheus, but don't require Morpheus. Is this all we are to expect of VR is playing existing console games made for the TV on a head mounted display?

I'm not trying to downplay Morpheus, but so far I've been underwhelmed with the entire VR movement. If games are not made specifically for a VR unit, what's the point?

I guess we will see at e3 in June which is when the actual games will be announced.

TWB3337d ago

200€ would be the most I would be willing to pay for such a thing unless it really impresses me (if I get to try it at some store)

To me, 150€ would be very tempting but not sure how realistic that price point would be.

nveenio3337d ago

I would love to see this at $399 or less. The lower the better. I just don't want to pay $499. And I definitely don't want to pay more than that. $299 would be a day-one purchase. $199 would be a gift from the gods.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 3337d ago
MegaRay3337d ago

$400? I dont think our and Sony's 'right price' are the same.

Personaly, I think the right price is $150 or $200 with two VR gamer

himdeel3337d ago

$150-$250 not a penny more.

lelo2play3337d ago (Edited 3337d ago )

Right price for me would be 100-150€. More then that, NO thanks.

prodg523337d ago

I think it'll be around $250 without the camera. Sony will probably throw in a move controller or 2 free and just eat the cost of that to keep the price down.

camel_toad3337d ago (Edited 3337d ago )

It being a peripheral I just cant see them selling enough of them if it's priced over $150-175. When you start getting to $200 and higher youre getting too close to the price of a new console.

Gamers would pay $200 or more but they cant make a living off gamers alone.

3-4-53337d ago (Edited 3337d ago )

$200 & included 2-3 games.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 3337d ago
garos823337d ago

I agree. Pricing will be extremely important for adoption rate.

Releasing in 2016 might give them time to reduce production costs so heres hoping

Jaqen_Hghar3337d ago

Kaz at the next E3
"FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE US DOLLARZ! *awkward pause*
Just kidding! $299!"

ashen1223337d ago

Haha genius that would be hilarious.

199$ is the perfect price imo, I already have the pseye and move controllers

Jaqen_Hghar3337d ago

$199 for just the headset. $299 for PSMove controllers and Camera included

A man already has the camera and wants to play with the DS4 on this thing (it's an option as they've shown) so he would get the $200 model.

WCxAlchemist3337d ago

Just give the price on it already instead " The price has got 2b rite from day one"..No smack Einstien jus say the price

TFJWM3337d ago

They can't know the cost of production till they finalize the hardware...

WCxAlchemist3337d ago (Edited 3337d ago )

Well think they should stop talking bout price till they actually have one to announce

Show all comments (54)
110°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg8h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos7h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola3h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

Show all comments (6)
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
ChasterMies20d 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_looken20d ago

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

Cacabunga20d ago

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

just_looken20d 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-6420d 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_Long20d 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.

Einhander197220d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic20d 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 20d ago
DivineHand12520d 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.

Joe91320d 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_Observer20d 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.

S2Killinit20d ago (Edited 20d 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.

Joe91319d 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.

S2Killinit19d 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 19d ago
Christopher20d 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.

CrimsonWing6919d ago (Edited 19d 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.

S2Killinit19d 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_Mal20d ago (Edited 20d 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.

Christopher20d 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_looken20d 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

Einhander197220d ago (Edited 20d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic20d 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.

romulus2320d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218320d 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.

S2Killinit19d ago (Edited 19d 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.

mastershredder20d 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.

crazyCoconuts20d 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.

blackblades26d ago

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

just_looken26d 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.

blackblades26d 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_looken26d ago (Edited 26d 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.

Kaii26d ago

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