Keeping The PS3 Afloat - Sony's Only Option

Opinion: For almost fifty years, Sony has been synonymous with prominence. Whenever people went to the store looking for a shiny new gadget, one of the first products they looked at was from Sony.

But in recent years, Sony's strong branding and overall control over the consumer electronics industry has dwindled. And while it still performs well compared to its competition, Sony is not the guaranteed winner that it was in years past.

[Violater]

WAAAARRRRHHAAAAAAAWK!!

[AngryHippo]

i just purchased warhawk but i can't connect to any games....it says the server is full....but it isn't. The message pops up for every server i try and connect to even the ones that have one person. Any suggestions....please help, im dying to play this game.

[XxZxX]

i had the same problem during beta. It turn out to be my firewall. I forgot which port it is but after open it up. It's good to go. Try put your PS3 in DMZ first. If it works then you know your router firewall is blocking it.

[tplarkin7]

Warhawk is to PS3 as MechAssault is to Xbox 1 (at best). MechAssault was a great multi-player game for Xbox owners, but it wasn't a system seller.

[Bigmac573]

The PS3 games are only getting better as time goes on.

[actionjackson]

but this author is centering everything on the Playstation, which is completely the wrong way to characterize Sony. Sony is the Apple of the mass market. Sony products aren't limited to the PS3, BR, or Viao notebooks. Last I checked, they are one of the mass market leaders in TVs, car audio, home entertainment, movies, etc. Yes, the whole world knows you pay a premium for Sony products, but like Apple, you get quality and cutting edge technology. People need to stop this Sony bashing, because without Sony's competition with the industry, we would be years behind the technology we have now.

Second, this author doesn't take into account that the PS2 is still selling more than the x360, which is a huge chunk of the market. Once the PS2 sales start to fall, the only direction the PS3 goes is up. This is actually a great move on behalf of Sony. They will always make money even if the PS3 has "started slow" (which I don't believe at all - I think the PS3 is doing great considering the gigantic advances in technology it is utilizing). The mass market is fairly ignorant and they don't understand the technical things in the PS3, but when "High-Def" becomes the major player for the masses, guess who will be sitting there waiting to push their HD console. Most people don't even know what Blu-Ray is and it's winning. Just wait until they figure out what the PS3 can offer . . .

[Foliage]

Wow actionjackson, you nailed it. Well done.

[SofaKingReetodded]

I stopped reading the idiotic article when he said "bluray is in dire straits"... if that's so does that mean that HD-DVD is deader than dead?

sounds like an xbot trying not to sound like an xbot to me.

[risk]

lulz @ above. well said.

[drtysouf21]

Sony has shown with the PS1 and PS2 what they are capable of. It took several years for people to look at Sony as Console Leader yet it takes 9 months to say they aren't or that they are failing. Why are people so short sighted these days? This console war is far from over but people act like it was over the day the PS3 was released. This war has just begun. For its high price and slow start of top notch game releases it still has managed to sell decent. So what happens when the price goes down and the top notch games come out? Price and Games are the only deterrent and both have partially been fixed.

[SofaKingReetodded]

this just goes to show you how vile, unsporting and generally weasel like xbots and their minions are. They get a tiny lead because they rushed the console out a year earlier and ever since the PS3 came out it's been one big chorus of idiots proclaiming it's doom.

two things:

You NEVER!!!!! compete with japanese electronics

YOU NEVER EVER!!! compete with the best Japanese electronics company and that is you know who....Sony.

You can bet money that there are hidden suprises in the PS3's hardware that they haven't even let out of the bag just yet.

[soccerluv]

Are you Japanese?

[Irving]

Sony and Playstation brand isn't in as dire state as the article pictures. Remember 360's sales in July/Aug'06 were lackluster as well with crappy ports. Give it six more months, I'm sure they can pull it back together.

[pilotpistolpete]

Yeah, ps3 aint going nowhere.

"Sony is not the guaranteed winner that it was in years past."

I beleive both ps1 and ps2 were supposed to loose according to sites like this. Now both are over 100 million.

Don Reisinger, do you really get paid to say stuff like this? Man, re-evaluate the worth of your job.

[Rooftrellen]

One big reason that I see that the PS3 is likely to fail is from a site...this one. It seems PS3 fanboys love to say the 360 will fail, and if you look at 360 and PS3 sales worldwide, they're following much of the same trend. The PS3 is to the PAL regions as the 360 is to NA. It seems if the 360 is failing, the PS3 has the same fate comming in one year, with neither being strong in Japan, and each having their strong area.

That being said, I don't buy it at all. Sony gambled much more, because if bluray falls so does the PS3, but so long as there are still come movies for it, even if not exclusivly, it's a card they can play.

[witchking]

We're still in the early stages of this war. All the players have their pros and cons, but frankly I think Sony has to like where they are. Not love it, mind you, but at least like it.

Let's review.

1. The Wii. Yes, the Wii is selling faster than they can make them. HOWEVER, in 2009 all the TVs in the US have to accept a digital signal, and the Wii is not an HD device. So are the Wii games going to look like ass on your shiny new widescreen HDTV? Nintendo souped up a Gamecube, threw their motion waggling thing on there, and targeted casual gamers and grannies... and it worked!! Great for them. Wonderful. They'll see 75m of the things in 3 years... and then what? They're gonna need a Wii2 that has graphics juice in it sooner rather than later. I just see the Wii as being the stop-gap for Nintendo.

2. The 360. In terms of high tech gaming, it has the lead. But not as big a lead as it should have had considered 1, it's lower price and 2, it's superior (at this point anyway) software lineup. If I'm MSFT, I'm a little nervous right now. The RROD issue has caused a backlash in their reputation, regardless of the 3-year warranty. The 360's customizability means that it will be around longer than the original Xbox, and it's early install base success means that more publishers are going to support it. I see the 360 eventually being more successful than the original Xbox, but at the end of the day they're going to be behind Nintendo.

3. That leaves the PS3. A sharp machine. It does great things. Blu-Ray may not win but it has a good portion of the market share. The software is coming (Warhawk & Heavenly Sword, at least, appear to be above most of the fray; jury is still out on Lair). But there's other stuff coming, and more importantly, this stuff is using the motion controller. So there's a little Wii to it, but it has the graphics. The Cell processor might be difficult to program to, but Sony fully expects the PS3 to be selling in 9 years (even if a PS4 is out by then). Let's not overlook that the PS2 is still outselling the 360 in most weeks, even a year after the PS3 was released.

So what does this all mean? To me, PS3 has started slowly, but don't forget the Tortoise and the Hare. The Wii is the hare; out fast, but they're gonna peter out, mostly because at some point people are going to need a stronger Wii to support HD. Not sure where the 360 sits in this proverb... a hare-toise? Sort of in-between... and that might be exactly where they wind up when all the numbers are finally tallied... in 2017.

[Ugly American]

A DIGITAL signal does not equal an HD signal. Trust me. I have digital cable, and it looks like crap, unless I turn it to the HD channels. This move to digital signals will not affect the Wii.

[mistertwoturbo]

"its software range is so woefully limited that it's unable to compete with the Xbox 360."

yeah let's compare the software lineup to a system that's been out for two years, vs the PS3 which is out for one year.

it just takes time. this is just one of those annoying "oh sony is going to fail" BS articles again. the PS3 is probably well into the 5 million user fanbase world wide. Now think about it, 5 million? Sure doesn't sound like much. but 5 million considering the system costs $500-$600 with "no games." is a pretty damn good achievement. just think about when the games do come, and it already started with warhawk. there will be plenty of F'in games to play and 2008 is when the PS3 will triumph over the 360 sales with MGS4, GT5, Killzone 2, Final Fantasy XIII, Wardevil, and many many more that aren't even listed yet.

[ReBurn]

If you go to the store today and compare 360 software with PS3 software, the 360 leaves the PS3 in the dust. All people can talk about is what's coming. I am simply whelmed. I have a single game for my PS3 and I am just jonesing for Heavenly Sword so I can have two.

[Chriswsm]

I agree that people are rather quick to judge the PS3. This kind of negativity is human nature.

The PS3 is here to stay in my opinion. There seems plenty to look forward to if we are patient and ignore the biased comments of non PS3 users.

[Ugly American]

So ignore the comments of biased non-PS3 owners and listen to the comments of biased PS3 owners? What kind of sense does that make?

[Anything but Cute]

PS3 is in big huge trouble.

[pilotpistolpete]

Of course they are in trouble if you personally decided not to support them anymore. I mean, without you, the ps3 is dead.

[MarioFromTexas]

When is the 360 going to out sell any other console. 360 has been out 2 years and hasn't manage to outsell the PS2. I guess when xbox 720 then the sell will be pretty even with the PS2 and then the PS3 will be outselling the xbox 720. When is M$ going to catch up? That's why you don't abondan your hardware like M$ did with xbox1. The more you sell the bigger the fanbase. Sony didn't abandon the PS1 they continue to support it and it paid off in the long run. Look at PS2 and the same thing is going to happen with the PS3. PS3 is future proof, do you know why blu ray, the ps3 fills a full screen at 1080p and there isn't going to be any other TV with higher resolution than 1080p for at least 10years. Xbox 720 can release in 3 to 4 years and developers probably start to max the PS3 so why would they want to go learn another console when they just manage to fill a full 1080p screen. The reason 360 and PS3 were release is because the market call for it, 1080p HDtv, blu ray. It's going to be a long time before the market calls for a new console, because HDTV are new and it's going to be a long time before the market even feels up to 60 percent, like 10 years. I should get paid for this

[Gamer13]

Its too early to say that the ps3 will fail, give both consoles 3 to 5 years then see which console will dominating - then we will now which console is failing.

[BlazinEurasian]

That article hugely oversimplifies a complicated company. Read ActionJackson's (2.1) post. He will enlighten you.
As soon as Lair, HS, KZ2, and MGS4 are out developers will be already designing new games to take advantage of the PS3. Developers, aren't out solely to make money, they want to make quality games. Quality games lead to money, and its been(being) established they can make quality games on the PS3.

When Sony gets its price down to 3-4 hundred the consoles will absolutely fly.

[ApocalypseShadow]

and it will get better as time goes on and the price drops.until then sony:

has movies to fall back on.

they have ps1/ps2 games to fall back on.

psp and ps2 sales to fall back on.

they have a larger base of loyal customers to fall back on.

they innovate more and allow more innovation than the other 2 companies combined.and have more developers than the other two combined.

loco roco
eye of judgement
trials of topoq
eyetoy camera and games on ps2
ico
shadow of collosus
parappa the rappa
echocrome
flow
little big planet
singstar
intelligent cube

games like these would never get a chance on 360.wii perhaps.but nintendo relies too much on themselves and doesn't really support other companies who innovate.which is why you always see nintendo drop off when it comes to consoles.third parties find that nintendo gamers buy nintendo games.and you ALWAYS have to wait for a nintendo game.

name one console nintendo sold over 100 million with?yep that's right.ZERO.and microsoft likes to abandon it's fanbase.and come out with too many configurations of the same product because they didn't think ahead.

sony will do just fine.it hasn't even been a year.TGS should be very surprising.

.........................mag lev super train................

[DJ]

Sony’s sales increased 60% in July, August looks to be even bigger, they’re dominating the 360 in worldwide sales…but they’re somehow doomed? Talk about a laugh riot.

*Official Warhawk Addict.

[rsebes]

Yes, Official Warhawk addict as well, must ... go.. now... and play...

[tplarkin7]

The article concluded that Sony must drop the price. But, Sony can't drop the price for a very simple reason. They lose too much money on each console sold. Dropping the price is not an option.

[Lumbo]

Sure it is an option, cause they can and do cross finance the PS3 with the PS2 sales. The question is more like : do they WANT to lower the price. Which is a decision they make on theire sales stats, and as we don't know what projected sales they planned or expected we can not guess if they feel they need another drop.

If they come to the conclusion that they need another drop to buff up sales they will do just that. If they are happy with the numbers as they are, they won't.

[Zor]

ACTUALLY, did you know that sony makes all of the things that goes in the production line? They own all the factories that make the parts for PS3, at any time they want they can drop the price, and once they see production start to drop in price, they can shift it anywhere they want, unlike MS who has other companies make their hardware, so if they drop the price, they suffer ALOT more then Sony would

[tplarkin7]

...but I do know that analysts say that Sony loses 200-300 dollars on each console. That means they lose 200,000,000 for every million consoles sold. They sold about 5,000,000 consoles, so Sony lost 1 billion dollars. So, as the PS3 gets cheaper to make, Sony will be hesitant to drop the price. If Sony drops the price too early, the rate of loss will remain the same. This can't happen to any business. They can't lose money though the entire console cycle.

[khellendros1]

It's amazing how everyone keeps saying that the PS3 is in trouble. Yes the 360 has the market lead or aleast until a week ago(Wii took over), and yet MS has lost 18 BILLION since the first XBOX. They have not made any money on any system. Who's in bigger trouble?

[ReBurn]

Isn't it amazing that the Wii has finally become a "next gen" system now that it has sold more than the 360?

[witchking]

... MSFT could afford to blow $18b.

[BaMYouRDeaD]

YES! Someone understands! Sony, all you have to do is get the PS3 to an affordable price point! You can increase the value of it, but unless people can afford it, it's no use!

[Bloodmask]

Sony just got too greedy this time around. By incorporating Bluray in the PS3. They are banking everything on the PS3. Sony was so confident that their loyal fanbase would buy PS3 they just pass off the added cost of Bluray onto them.

Face it, the PS3 would have been fine without Bluray. Even David Jaffe said it was a mistake. When you make rediculous claims like."We can sell 5 million PS3s without any games.". Does it make you feel good to support this?? It is more of an insult to consumers intelligence if you ask me. The funniest thing about it is that Sony was right.

It should be painfully obvious what is more important to Sony. With the PS3 being delayed almost a year bc of Bluray. And with a kiosk of Bluray movies on display next to PS3s. Sony shouldn't have tried to win a console war and a format war with PS3. A video games console is no place for a format war. Not to mention Sony has alienated their whole "core" gaming audience by pricing the PS3 too high(again bc of Bluray).

Why take all of these risks?? Because Sony has more to gain off of Bluray than the PS3. That is why they banked everything on it. I would be willing to bet Sony could care less if the PS3 comes in last this console generation as long as Bluray is the victor over HDDVD.

[SofaKingReetodded]

and riding the train wreck into a big sign that says "33+% failure rate"??

tool

[MarioFromTexas]

You are supporting a console with the highest rate of failure in the history of electronic. You support a company that nickel and dime you for feature that should be free or included. I think I'll support quality over quanity any day off the week

[sak500]

@mario. You're talking about quality of console or quality of games on a ocnsole. I would rather have quality games on my console with a 3 year warranty then a quality console which sits in a corner and collects dust. If BD loses format war then sony is even bigger trouble and if they reduce ps3's price they would be losing even more money. So what the fu(k did you pay $600 for? games console or a BD player? Right now it neither.

[Genki]

Companies make outlandish statements like that ALL the time. Anyone with a shred of common sense knows these things aren't to be taken literally, as the very individuals who say these things know good and well what they're doing.

Who's more foolish may I ask? Someone who intentionally makes a dumb statement, or the one who believes it? You decide.

I'll just keep this short, b/c by now most of us know that you're full of it, but BD at launch only costed 125 USD oof the reported 850+. Regardless of whether there was Blu-Ray or not, this thing most likely would have been above $500. By now, I'm sure you MUST have heard that production costs have been cut pretty dramatically, and the blue laser diode problems are but a thing of the past.

Sony isn't the only company that stands to benefit from BD, and if you think that, it's just as laughable as you taking every single PR statement to heart. Price will drop and consumers will buy, it's that simple. Videogames aren't losing anyt popularity, I think the Wii is evidence enough of that. If you think price point and BD will hinder the PS3 forever(as if they are anyway), you're sorely mistaken.

[crippler666]

I actually agree to an extent, Sony does not have the money to develop another console so soon after releasing the PS3. But they don't really need to, sales have improved and now selling reasonably well and finally the games are starting to be released.

Too many people are jumping on the "PS3 is a failure" band wagon, how many of these people will put their hands up is Sony succede next year?
Why are they judging the console on year 1? We all know the Wii has done well, but hasn't every console ever been a failure when compared to the Wii?

IMO if Sony keep the price at $499 when the 60gig is sold out, with the games that are coming out and the promise of next years line up, it will make the PS3 a worthwhile investment.

[kiko89]

just outta curiosity. why would sony need money to develop another console so soon. the hardware should last. the 360 on the other hand, well i dont wanna get into that. not dissing you but was wondering why u pointed that out.

[crippler666]

The hardware will last, the point I was making was, that to scrap the PS3 is not a viable option financialy, not that they are going to do that.

[cmrbe]

Latest financial data suggests that they are doing fine. As for PS3 it hasn't done spectacular but it is still ok. If it was selling below 10k a week with good games in NA then Sony should be worried. It is still early days. Only 25 Million people have bought next gen if you count the Wii. That leaves another estimated 100 million or more people to switch to next gen so whoever gets the most out of this 100mil plus will win which i believe PS3 will because

1. PS2 which account for most of the 100mill plus gamers will want to play exclusive first party sequels to established Sony franchise such as SOCOM,GOW Sing Star,ICO etc not including big 3rd parties exclusive.
2. Playstation 3 was bulit with tech that would last at least 10years max and knowing Sony they will support it as long as they can just like PS1 and PS2.
3. Sony game library caters for a wide range people and tastes that has been established from previous generation.

[PimpHandHappy]

Look it up! Your 360 lost 100-150bucks a system when they launched! Look on wikipedia(cant spell)and you will see your point is silly! MS said so themselfs!!!

yea thats right!

software is important! Yea it is and the 360 has this on there side right now! If you really want to hype software then thats all good! Gears as we all know came out a year into the 360 life cycle and the PS3 has given us Warhawk within 10months! And HS and Fall of Man and Motostorm!

If u like online war then NO GAME can match what Warhawk does! NOT A ONE

If you like Dirt you will love MotoStorm!

The way that this article is worded you would think Sony is going to go under and stop surporting the game systems! I think thats why your getting so many 360ppl...Sorry MS but Sony will be ur daddy in 08!

BTW did i say Warhawk

Warhawk
Warhawk
Warhawk

ok im going to get some taco bell and get back on Warhawk

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

It's kinda hard to keep somthing "afloat" when it's full of holes and sinking faster then the PS3. Oh wait I'm thinking of the future when people are compairing the PS3 to the 3DO, Dreamcast and Sega CD/32bit.

[PimpHandHappy]

explain what u consider a hole?

ADD ON:the guy under me here!

Ummm if u mean worlwide sales in the same amount of time the 360 has had on the market till this moment sure i would bet on 10million! With games like Socom MGS and GT5 along with a few other game names you have all heard to many times here, sure they can reach 10mil by next Christmas! I know u said summer but thats not fair! Lets give the PS3 the same amount of time the 360 has till this piont and we will see!

If the PS3 GTAIV somehow looks and runs better then the 360 i can asure you the PS3 will dominate 08 and have well over 30mil b4 the system is replaced in 7-10 years!

peace

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

HAHA HEHE couldn't resist

Tell me somthing do you think the PS3 will reach 10 millon by next summer and are you willing to bet on it?

[Bowzabub]

Sorry to break it to you, but you have to understand the industry is run fiscally... as in fiscal year.... hmmm, and why do you think R* pushed the day back? to match the fiscal year. Talk to me after april 14th...lol. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ***For those that disagree, count yourself fanboys fo either side...its common knowledge. And yes i "would " take that bet if i was Phil.BTW as far as NO PS3 games? I play over 80 games on my PS3, how many games do each of you have all together.and yes i will know some will have more but that is not the point. NO GAMES?? And as far as that goes,more $ during tax season than X-mas.. Bad choice Halo3

[Bowzabub]

TAX TIME is when the sells go up.

[sheng long]

I love how the dude compares warhawk to mechassault. LOL. keep wishing fanboy. Too bad anyone who's played this game knows you don't know what you're talking about.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Are you just mad because he compared it to an Xbox game?

[PimpHandHappy]

I played Mechassault and for u to say they are even close to the same game is just plain stupid!

not calling u stupid just the words u use!

Thats like saying Bio Shock is like the Darkness! Both have creepy stuff and are FPS

When u fly at full speed in Warhawk and come to a stop on a dime do you see any blur? No u dont

I can see cleary across a huge amounts of land and space and i can fly at full speed with no lag with no framerate drops! smooth as a babies AZZ

This game is the best online war game ever for me! Never has the mix of air ground and foot looked so good and played so smooth!

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

and yes it does have similar gameplay to Mechassault not a clone you "dote" but similar.

[SSCOOLCHEA]

I want to thank you for having something smart to say. Everybody else is worry about sony except for the people at sony. If the ps2 is still selling like hot cakes why would you abandon it. I didnt get my ps3 till I finish some of the ps2 games. God of war 2 was the last game I played. If the people writing was so good at strategizing they should be the one calling the shots...

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

Sony is an all electronic brand company, either way you look at it they are making money from somewhere, or else they wouldn't be able to do the things that they are doing.

They already lose money for their PS3's so I doubt they want to lower the price more.

[Bits-N-Kibbles]

I think people cant get any f#cking ideas out so they follow along nd right the same old same old. I am personally getting tired of people writing about sony or whoever saying that they know what is going on or what will happen in the future. I say let it be and buy what you want and what makes you happy and laugh like a little girl whether it is killing someone with a hugh explosion or giggling with loco roco.

[Bits-N-Kibbles]

I think people cant get any f#cking ideas out so they follow along nd right the same old same old. I am personally getting tired of people writing about sony or whoever saying that they know what is going on or what will happen in the future. I say let it be and buy what you want and what makes you happy and laugh like a little girl whether it is killing someone with a hugh explosion or giggling with loco roco.

[vidoardes]

This guy is renown for beign anti-capitalist and for being more importantly, anti-sony. This is not the first, and sure isn't the last article he will write against Sony. He has a habit of making up stories and conspiracy theories to generate interest in his blogs, and quite frankly it's pathetic.

The PS3 is not in half as much trouble as everyone at Microsoft would have us belive, Sony are always in it for the long haul (hardware wise). The problems might start arising when MS release a new console 3 years down the line and abandon the current 360 owners, because like sheep the tech-head gaming fantics will follow the latest hardware. It's a shame, but it's bound to happen (you only have to look at the life cycle of the original XBox). Although it will probably alienate alot of 360 owners, I can guarentee alot will jump for the new hardware (especially if it plays 360 games) and Sony's hand will be forced.

[snoop_dizzle]

sonys fine. They are big enough to take a hit if anything happens with the PS3 though i don't think it will happen.

The only thing i dislike that is sony is their sound systems(i have a sony 5.1 receiver with 3 sony speakers, and a sony subwoofer(the other two are athenas) and speakers. Im not one to invest in a 3000 dollar hometheater system since i am in college.

Aside from that i like their products.