Steve 3.2 said:
Good analysis. A couple of points to add:
Nintendo - They've always focused on costs and profitability. They don't have other divisions to fall back on to make up for losses in their gaming division. They also don't have an objective beyond great games and software for their machines.
Microsoft - They got into the industry because they saw Sony as a threat to their core business (Windows). They believe the next great platform battle will be in the living room and are looking to dominate this space as well. They recently did something similar by launching the Zune after their PlaysForSure plans to improve third party support against Apple failed. As long as the Xbox 360 causes Sony to lose market share (which at this point is a given), then the 360 has done what it needed to do. Of course that doesn't mean that they won't try to make even more money from it.
Sony - They've often focused on pushing their own proprietary formats and standards. Of course there is a lot of money to be made in licensing these technologies, but Sony has often been at the losing end of any of these battles -- VHS vs. Betamax, Memory Stick vs. SD, and I have no clue what the UMD thought it was going up against. They used the PS3 to push the Blu-ray agenda, and so far the system is one of the few saving graces for the format. Without the PS3, HD DVD would probably be in the lead in the high def. player space. But the major problem in that this 'war' is really a small battle right now. Most consumers don't care. And with a lack of games and hype, the PS3 remains in third place. So while they may eventually win the high def. player battle, Sony may lose the even more lucrative video game business. |
Memory stick is kiking sd's ass. Umd noone is buying them cuz of the mistake of 2gb+ memory sticks. When did nintendo ever make a stupid game? wow never thought of that. You guys judge the nexgenwar like if you lost already in the begiining. It will change dont worry.
