logic56 said:
MessiaH said:
I agree that commercializing your brand characters/mascots can help but only if done right. I think a couple people have listed examples of commercialization through cartoons, etc that just did not work. But if pulled off right, yes, you have a point. It works.
Another issue is the fact that Nintendo's main mascot is, has been, and always will be Mario. Same goes for Microsoft, it has, is and probably will always be Master Chief. Sony on the other hand seems to switch it up from one generation to another. The PSOne era had Crash Bandicoot, PS2 had Jak (or Kraots late in the PS2's life), and the PS3 now has Nathan Drake. Because Sony keeps pushing new IPs on its consumer base every year (which is a GREAT thing for its loyal consumers who get to experience new games/stories/etc every generation), it ends up hurting Sony because they do not have this main-stay character that everyone can relate to at a mass level.
Also, another issue why their exclusives don't sell as well as Microsofts (I am comparing these 2 as their customer base is far more similar than Nintendo's) is because Microsoft drops about 3 - 4 exclusives per year, whereas Sony drops anywhere from 6 - 10 exclusives every year stretching their customer's wallets thin. Not everyone can purchase every exclusive so customers have to make the decision as to where their dollars will go. Microsoft customers don't have to do that, they can probably afford all 3 or 4 exclusives, and so their selling numbers are greater than that of Sony's.
I love Sony's strategy only because it suits my taste, I enjoy new experiences, I enjoy adult games, and I don't need a mascot like Mario to keep me coming back. Which is why I love Sony's platform. I find that I have more choices. But at the same time, I wouldn't want it to affect Sony's entertainment division and have them close it down if they don't see it as being profitable sometime in the future. It really is in Sony's hands to get things right. They have Sony pictures to release movies for some of their strongest characters, they just need to know how to have synergy between the different divisions. How they can use the strengths of their different parts to create a collective push forward. Right now, their different divisions do not work well together, and I believe that is a problem they recognize and are trying to fix. Whether they succeed or not is something we will have to wait and see. |
I tip my hat to you sir, very well said
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I return your tip-o-the-hat with a Dark Souls 'Proper Bow' gesture!
