rocketpig on 26 March 2008
They'll still make money on every Blu-Ray disc sold, whether it's to a ps3 owner or not.
Also, if ps3 sales hold up as standalone player prices drop, then we'll know that all system bought from that point on will be bought with the intention to purchase games.
And it's not like multiplatform titles have been selling horribly on the ps3 compared to the 360, given the current install base disparity.
About point #6, are you'll saying that they'll buy a standlaone unit in addition to their ps3, or to replace their ps3?
Also, if ps3 sales hold up as standalone player prices drop, then we'll know that all system bought from that point on will be bought with the intention to purchase games.
And it's not like multiplatform titles have been selling horribly on the ps3 compared to the 360, given the current install base disparity.
About point #6, are you'll saying that they'll buy a standlaone unit in addition to their ps3, or to replace their ps3?
Yes, they'll make money on every BD disc sold. The thing is that they're not selling very well. Sony also makes a boatload more on each PS3 game than it does each BD movie that is printed.
Absolutely. I didn't bring up console sales numbers because it's not really relevant to the point I was making.
Install base attachment rates are a finicky thing. As the install base grows, the attach rate drops. It's hard to say whether the PS3 is over or under performing compared to the Wii/360 in this regard because its userbase is smaller and therefore more concentrated.
Either way, it doesn't matter. If they buy a standalone unit, it doesn't matter much what they do with the PS3. Unless they're also buying games for the system, Sony either lost a shitload of money on the sale (which, at launch, will never be recouped from movie sales alone) or they will break even.
From the position of the PS3, now that the format war is won, people only buying the system as a BD player is a bad thing. The system makes its real money from games and if people aren't buying those in high enough numbers, the Playstation brand as a whole loses while the Blu-ray division reaps the rewards. This is compounded even more by the fact that other systems like the 360 also generate revenue in other ways (XBL Gold, movie/TV rentals, etc).
I'm not saying that Sony is in any real trouble but the Playstation division could really end up taking it in the shorts over this whole Blu-ray thing.
Or check out my new webcomic: http://selfcentent.com/
