Sony, On the Ropes?

Sometimes it's hard to believe how the once and mighty have fallen.  How a powerful system slayer of the Playstation brand could garnish so much criticism.  Originally released in 1994 the PSX (PLAYSTATION) took the world by storm.  It offered an alternative to the cartridge based gaming format and showed the world SONY as a leader of new technologies.  (Sounds familiar...blu-ray) The idea of having a game console that could play music cd's as well seems trivial by today's standards, but it was new in 1994.  Gamersdigart won't do a history on Sony that has already been done so well here.

As successful as the Playstation 1 was the PS2 was even better.  Like it's younger console brethren the PS2 included technology as a key selling point.  Including dvd playback right out the box was amazing.  It was a huge system at first. but like the original Playstation...the PS2 was released again in a slimmer package.

Competitors at that time were Microsoft with the Xbox, and they came in second with 24 million, and Game Cube with 21.74 million and the classic Dreamcast with 10.6 million.  This generation actually turned out to be the death of Sega as Console maker.

Flash forward to today and the State of Sony is not what it used to be.  It is easy to see how Sony underestimated their opponent's approach. They didn't expect Microsoft to get so many exclusives, and they didn't expect to lose the 3rd party exclusives they held so dear to heart.  But now Sony has help.  Towards the end of the cycle of the PS2 Sony established their own real icon: Kratos 

With Kratos leading the charge Sony also brings Nariko(Heavenly Sword), Nathan Drake (Uncharted), Nathan Hale (Resistance), and Cole MacGrath (Infamous) to the table as First party members.  Then added to that bunch are the sack boys and girls in all shapes and sizes (Little Big Planet).

[socomnick]

Not on the ropes, its on its back , with MS on top of it on a full mount landing vicious elbows onto its tiny fragile head.

[cmrbe]

Fantasies.

[ape007]

ps3 price cut\slim+sony's 2 biggest multimillion sellers GRAN TURISMO 5+ gow 3

sony has rockstar north's agent,we know how much impact R* north can make and don't forget that 360 started a year before the ps3,even a year and half in europe and wayyy overpriced,yet it maneged to sell 24 M to datem,sony's brand name is still strong,GT5 will be a bomb

[cmrbe]

Sony is finding it tougher this gen with a resurgent Nin and a better MS thats a given but saying Sony is on the ropes is just dam stupid.

How is it that Sony is on the ropes if the PS3 is selling at a faster rate than the x360 at double the price?.

You people are crazy to use Sony's 130 million installbase as some kind of disadvantage. News flash, Sony didn't sell 130 million PS2 in less than 3 years like the PS3 is at the moment. It certianly did't with a price point of 400-600.

FYI Sony really dosen't have an icon. Kartos certianly isn't. Unlike Nin and MS no one game defines the PS brand never has never will be as the PS fnabase is extremely diverse. PS has big games like GT, GOW, Jak, SOCOM etc etc but none of them are the one and only franchsie that defines the PS like you have with Halo for xbox and Mario for Nin.

[lh_swe]

But one thing is true Sony wont settle for third place (even though they aren't from a pure sales perspective), but in seemingly everyones eyes they, are and this is why they are picking up the pace, bringing their A game (no pun intended).
I think MS is starting to boast the same c***iness for the 360 that Sony had for the PS3 and considering the circumstances I don't think they should, Sony has brought some awe inspiring exclusive this year and hopefully the hits will keep on coming with games like Uncharted 2, GT5, Demon Souls etc. However MS hasn't brought anything but Halo Wars to the table this year and lets face it RTSs belong on the PC for now (new motion tech, might open up this possibility), and with a rumored price cut and new ps3 model MS might have a tough time this holiday, since so many are on the brink of buying a PS3 and need that final push and I promise that would be it.

[dreno360]

I agree Sony is dropping hits...but they need software sales to back them up. Uncharted needs to kill this holiday season..Modern Warfare 2 will have to have respectable numbers compared to the 360 conterpart...Halo ODST may not be as good as uncharted 2 but who will argue that uncharted 2 will sell more? I won't be that foolish...3rd place right now for Sony is ok they just need to bring great games and gamers will come. The fact that 360s are still dying by RROD or e72 and still crush in sales proves gamers care about games.

dreno360 from gamersdigart.com

[Jinxstar]

The ONLY thing sony needs to do is lower the price. I think the price it is right now is extremely reasonable but people can't see the value because of marketing(Or lack there of) and because people are happy with smaller investments over time as opposed to one big investment all at once. If sony takes out Wi Fi or even the modem completely they will be able to lower the price. If they put Sixaxis instead of DS3's in the box they can lower the price. If they do a ton of stuff then later charge for add on's like the rest of the market they will be fine. That is the idea of the Slim I think but who knows...

[lh_swe]

The fact of the matter is that the PS3 has an amazing library more than capable of standing up to 360 exclusives, and it only seems to be getting better and first and foremost diverse, which is something the 360 sorely lacks.
This is not to say the 360 has bad games because I still spend a lot of time on my 360, and loving it but lately I have spent more and more time on my PS3, and yes it's because of the games.

Be a gamer and not a hater.

[dreno360]

well the price change isn't going to happen anytime soon...the games are there...Sony has come along way since the 2006 launch. Sony needs to hit the streets and give people experiences the 360 can't match to get the gamers excited. MGS 4 is an example of this. I have all three consoles with the 360 getting the most attention followed by my PS3 and then my wii. I play the 360 with my friends on live, the PS3 mostly for Solo games, and the wii with my wife and kids.

~like the gamer not a hater line

[Etseix]

well, i just say i know alot of people who says *ill buy a ps3 until it drops price*

aqnd i dont think these people i know (around 20) are the only ones in the world, so here u go Sony, drop the price for these silly people that dont want to waste money lol

ill have a ps3 and happy with it, (i bought it back at 550 dlls) ..with tax obviously

[dreno360]

Sony is very stubborn about their price right now...400.00 usd for an 80 gb is not too expensive and I see their point. The problem is the 360 is offering a better deal at the moment.

[mastiffchild]

Sony will be fine. I'd much rather be stuck in a gaing world minus either MS OR Ninty than one without Sony who, despite the current misleading sales position(I mean it's selling at the same rate as the 360 as the gap is the same as at launch), I feel are doing more for the kind of gamer I am and lots of us here are as well.

The way they allow their first and second parties time and resources without pushing games out too early is commendable and without that attitude I doubt the hungry beast that is MS wuld be pushing their devs as hard to compete. I still don't like the way the 360 was pushed, knowingly faulty, out the door by MS so us gamers could fund the third party deals so they got the jump on Sony and Ninty this gen. That it worked so well for them is great business nous but does make me scared what they'll(and probably both the others too!)make us swallow next time and withuoy the Wii destroying everyone in sales terms and Sony pushing them on quality I think we'd have seen more of the same sly practise than we have already.

Not that I hate my 360(otr really MS themselves)I play my 360 plenty and enjoy it but doubt that Sony won't make a big move at some point and if they were screwed I think the game world would be a much sadder place-esp for more "core" gamers.

[dreno360]

If you stack the games available on PS3 vs either system...quality vs quality the PS3 has some real winners. From Metal Gear Solid IV to Resistance 1 & 2, Lair, Heavenly Sword, Infamous, LBP, Ratchet & Clank, and Uncharted...wow those are some killer titles only available on PS3. I love my PS3 and I only buy games that are exclusive to the PS3 for it.

My 360 is great for 'hanging' with the boys' nights. Gears 2, Left 4 Dead, Halo 3 etc. For my wii as stated before, strictly family...wii sports, wii sports resorts with motion plus, mario galaxy, and smash bros.

The great thing about being a gamer, is you are not limited to one system. You can have your preferences, but some people act like Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo are paying them to play games, but in reality it is the other way round! We are paying them...

[potenquatro]

The article fails before you can even prove a point. How good could the opinion of somebody that doesn't know their console history be.

Before PS1, there was the SEGA-CD, PCengine-CD and FamiconCD-drive. You could listen to music CD's on them too. The SEGA-CD could play GD's, had internal harddrive and you could "rip" stuff on it aswell. After SEGA-CD, the CD-i, Jaguar CD and 3DO also had CD formats. The 3DO and CD-i could also play KODAK photo CD's and movie CD's. Something the PS1 couldn't do. The SEGA SATURN also arrived months before PS1 and also used CD format. The SATURN even let you play online, had web browser and internal hdd.

Playing movies on a console is nothing new. Movie CD's came in many formats(including 12 inch CD's called LASER DISCS. Yes you read right. They were 12 inches big). In the late 90's DVD format took off universaly, and made it posible for the tech to get cheaper. But the PS2 didn't do anything new either.

SNES was the best selling 16-bit console. FamiconCD only came out in Japan, so the majority of people didn't know about gaming with CD's. That majority switched to Playstation after SNES, hence why alot of things Sony has done is "new and amazing" to them. Because they don't know anything else.

Sony doesn't have it as good as before, but it's not about to die. The PS1 was a huge succes because it yielded great results with little effort. That succes rolled over to the next gen and thus the succes of the PS2. Even with all the PS2's succes, it was a chore to work with. Alot of people new that devs were wanting to work with easier hardware, but the dead and "not money makin" Dreamcast and the revenews from the PS2 were just too much.

MS and Nintendo also new this, and they specifically made their consoles easy to work with. Sony underestimated the devs need for friendlier hardware, and overestimated brand name. So much so, that they decided to delay PS3 just for BD, thinking it wont matter. Well guess what. Keeping devs happy matters. Overspeculating what your worth matters. Lieing to your base matters. Sony will and is learning. They're not going anywhere. Nintendo went through something similar and now they're back. This industry isn't going anywhere and niether is the Playstation.

Consoles are projects that involve many many companies. this includes hardware manufacturesrs, distributers and software developers. Sony's mistake was done in the board room. Just like Nintendo did in the 90's. Sony started thinking(with reason), "hey...All theese companies need me more then I need them. They are feeding off MY console(idea or intellectual propperty)". And started doing concessions that fit Sony's agenda waaaaaayyyy more then their partners agenda. Well, the result was a console that litterally only Sony understands.

Aparently when Mr. Ken got fired or quit, Sony went downhill. Seeing as the Playstatinon is his baby, I doubt the PS3 is what he really wanted it to be. Hence why he quit or got fired. Clasic case of the artist vs the business. But they're not going bankrupt. They will be back. Like someone said. Dealing with a resurgant Nintendo and a game MS is not easy. As soon as they can figure out what the hell they want it'll be OK.

I know i'll loose all my bubbles for this so what the heck, I'll just say it(and open a new account lol). The PS3 will just survive this gen. But that's all they need. then come back strong with one of the most thought out consoles ever. It will be high tech, inovative and easy to work with. I will be called the Playstaion 4.

[lh_swe]

The PS3 has a better attach rate OVERALL, despite having such a hefty price tag. You don't think the eventual price drop will be the deciding factor for many to finally get the PS3? What about the exclusives? The 360 has some great exclusives as I have said before but this holiday and next is a PS3 owners wet dream.

The main point is that many people are on the verge of buying the PS3, I know 5 people who are waiting just for this and the funny thing is those people are avid 360 fanboy's.

Btw couldn't be asked to read that essay lenght rant you wrote, sorry.

[b777conehead]

i disagree with you. the more complicated the system the better. look what first party exclusive look like on the ps3. the devs want easy platforms because there lazy and cheap.but the first party devs have made the ps3 sing because it is technologically advanced

[dreno360]

You won't loose you bubbles...I am not trying to prove a point it's all opinion based so fail?...I guess that is a popular term on this site. You mentioned all these consoles that failed.(they all failed, everyone one you listed) I was focusing on the major ones...really the big three we have left.

The PS3 is a great system but has stumbled thus far. The 360 is a horrible hardware machine with all the system failures, yet people support it. The wii is a glorified gamecube wrapped up in new clothes with motion control...I am not a professional journalist...never claimed to be. Just a gamer such as yourself. With thoughts such as yourself...that is why this is in the blog section not the news section.

"I will be called the Playstation 4???" your comment failed. -sorry had to say it :)

[potenquatro]

When you claim a console is the first at something. How are we to asume "it's opinion". Not all the consoles I listed failed. If they failed that's not even the point. So now a console has to be financially succesful to claim first at something?? The point is you, like many many many many people happen to be a source of misinformation. I know I'm prolly sounding like the biggest a$$ in the world. But facts are facts.

If I come off like an a$$hole I understand why you would be defensive. But since your a gamer just like myself. Why are you writing blogs?? I don't do that at all. Fact is wether is through blogs, comments, or convo over cofee, your not properly informed and want to make statements. All I did was suply propper info. I did post opinions(like your thoughts on 360 and Wii), and you are welcomed to say they fail or they suck all you want.

Like I said. How good could the opinion of somebody that doesn't know their console history be?? Now you say your talking about the major consoles. But what makes it a "major console"? the fact that you've played them?? PCEngine was a succes everywhere but U.S.A., just like the PS3. Are you going to say that PS3 was never a "major console" aswell?? LOL. At $700 in 1993, the 3DO, the only console at the time to have SuperStreetFighter2Turbo and the best RoadRash and SewerShark, was considered in some ways like the first xbox, a sales succes. I t made Pnasonic a legitimate player that people respected. I knew many people that had it, and I ended up bying a MAGNAVOX(cheaper) version of it at K'mart. A sequel to the 3DO was developed called the M2. It was sold to another company(EA I think) and never came to fruition.(on purpose I think)

Look kid. I not only said what I felt(know) was some clear mistakes in the logic, I even took the time to explain it. And all you can do is defend your mistakes?? And then you keep misinforming by saying every console I listed failed?? Fail is a popular new term on this site?

You're acting like a misinformed internet entity spreading misinformation. If you care at all about this hobby of ours. Pls pls pls stop spreading misinformation. A kid reads this crap and starts repeating it, now we got two people spreading wrong info. Think before you write, speak and act, and it will be a better place for all.

- "It will be called the Playstation 4???" your comment failed. -sorry had to say it :)"- What do you want Sony to call it. The Sony *Pii*??

You said -"The true test is combining fun games with great graphics which is very hard to do, but Sony in past has been able to pull this off with less technology so what is holding them back from doing this again?"- Don't you know?? That "less technology" you talk about, is dev friendly. Like you said "it's very hard to do" and on top of that on a overly complicated system.

[lh_swe]

And no its not only because I bought it fist and its reliable, it's because as a wholistic entity the PS3 is a freaking godsend, sure it may have had issues and yes Home isn't fun. For the money that I dish out on Live I am frankly disappointed in it not beating PSN by a mile, I mean I paid a s***load for this service and what does it offer me that blows PSN out of the water?
So what some multiplatform games look minutely better on the 360, I frankly don't give a s***, achievements v trophies...hmmm one's a little better because it was implemented from the start and has almost every game covered.
But do those minute differences set a console apart, did you buy a console because one thing is a little better on the other console and completely ignore the games, the apps and the overall value for you dollar? I think not.