Wii helps PS3?

[Bodhesatva]

Borkachev said:

I largely agree with this post, and I think it's both well argued and worded. I do have a few points to make, however. While I think you're absolutely right that there are millions of Sony fans still unsure if they want to continue on the Playstation bandwagon or not, I think it's unfair to state (or imply) that the full 100 million remaining buyers would fall into this category. I would suspect a healthy portion -- at least half -- buy whatever their friends seem to be playing, whatever has the most games available, or whatever has some random non-marquee title they want (tied to simply having more games. Example: I'd bet Guitar Hero sold more PS2s than any Sony-branded franchise besides Gran Turismo).

This is true. I'm not necessarily saying everyone who bought a PS2 last generation is a die-hard Sony fan - just that the fact that they did so makes them much more likely to buy a PS3 this generation. For instance, most of those PS2 owners might have bought in because their friends were doing it, because they wanted to play Guitar Hero, or for any of the reasons you mentioned. But once they were owners, they also probably went out and bought games like God of War and Metal Gear Solid 3 - games they might not have bought a PS2 for, but since they already had one and they'd heard good things, they snatched them up. And now Sony's got them. Not through any great brand loyalty, but simply because these people will want to follow the series they enjoy into the next generation. Honestly, Gran Turismo probably isn't any better than Forza or Project Gotham Racing, and MGS might not be better than Syphon Filter - but people are going to stick with those series anyway because they've enjoyed them first-hand. They don't have to go out on a limb and take some reviewer's word for it - they already know they're good. And that simple effect, "familiarity," is in my opinion more important to a console's success than all the innovation, pricing advantages, and good marketing in the world. Within limits, of course. There's a price people won't go beyond even for the comfort of familiarity, and I think $600 is pretty much dead on.

And I agree with this, too. Just want to emphasize: wasn't implying there weren't a good deal of people who are loyal to Sony (or are simply familiar with Sony, which you described perfectly and, I suspect, is a more plentiful lot than that which we commonly refer to as "fanboys").