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Squilliam on 08 May 2009
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Lord N said:
Squilliam said:
Lord N said:
Squilliam said:
S.T.A.G.E. said:
Squilliam said:

 


If you look at the games Sony has released thus far, say for the PS2 you can see that really they haven't got a clue as to how to make a game which appeals to a lot of people at once. On a console of over 100 million, the sheer lack of huge selling games is a testament to how badly they have done thus far in making or finding these games. Their performance this generation leaves me wondering if beyond the hardcore gamer they actually know how to make a game which appeals to a lot of people at once. Granted, Microsoft is only a little better here except they make up for it with their wallet.

 

 

 

 

Look at Nintendos games as they approach 100M. They have more great selling games its just that. But most of the really top selling software on the PS2 was third party, this coming from a company which has 'a bigger 1st party than Microsoft/Nintendo combined'.

I only said marginally better for Microsoft. They seem to know how to win key demographics such as shooter fans with Gears, Halo, Bioshock timed exclusivity and the free exclusive Left 4 Dead which is on track to selling 4M units. Microsoft got for free what a massive development effort on the PS3 couldn't deliver if you compare either RFOM 2 or KZ2 to Left 4 Dead. Also wasn't Oblivion timed exclusivity a kick in the pants for Sony at a time when they desperately needed games?

 

What part of this is not getting through to you? Look at the sales figures for yourself. Games like Nintendogs, New Super Mario Brothers, Mario Kart DS, Pokemon Diamond & Pearl, Super Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, etc. will have only sold to 10-20% of the DS and Wii userbases when it's all said and done. Granted, Sony's first party titles aren't as well-known or as popular as Nintendo's, but that's just stating the obvious, nothing more.

Again, it's not about key demographics, it's about all of them, and Microsoft just doesn't know how to appeal to all of them. If it did, then it wouldn't have let a year's lead evaporate in ten months, and it would be further ahead of the PS3. Instead, the Wii has left them far behind in the dust, and they've only expanded their lead on the PS3 by about 3 million units since the latter's launch.

 

 

If Nintendo can make games which sell to 5-15% of its userbase, than Sony struggles to sell games to more than 5% at a time.

Microsoft could have acted to cut the price at any point they wanted to, they didn't even when people were screaming at them to cut the price in 2008. As it turned out, they were right to do things as they did because they were able to not only reverse the losses to the PS3 but extend their lead over the holiday quarter. Strategically they played well that year and the lead continues to increase. By the time we move into the next holiday quarter they should have extended their lead by another 1M consoles or so and then its really down to who wants it more.

During the year Others sells 10% more than Americas on average roughly and during the holiday quarters it reverses and Americas sell 10% more than Others. So immediately Microsoft has an advantage, especially as the Arcade units become popular during that time and Sony cannot hope to touch that price point. So considering that price point becomes even more important and the balance of sales shifts to Americas during the holiday season Microsoft has an advantage over Sony automatically. If you want proof look at the 2007/2008 comparison charts for weekly numbers, Microsoft sold roughly equal to Sony and their price cut but once the holidays were over Sony took a substantial lead. Its doubtful that even if Sony cuts the price $299, so long as Microsoft makes a cut as well they can take the holiday quarters.

 



Tease.