John Kodera: “PS4 Is Entering The Final Stages Of It’s Life-Cycle.”

[KBG29]

VGPolyglot said:

KBG29 said:

It comes down to people buying crap products, because they watch commercials, or listen to others instead of doing their own research, and thinking about their own needs. As I said, it happens well beyond electronics and consoles. 

My biggest thing with the launch PS3, was the amount of people that bought Wii, 360, and a Blu-ray player, and complained about all the money they spent, and the dissappointment in the products. I know it is just the couple 100 people I knew at the time, but you can only here people say how they bought this Wii that the kids never touch anymore, the 360 that ended up broke, and the Blu-ray player that doesn't support movies, before you just can't stop shaking your head. It is especially irritating when people come and ask what would give me this list these features? You say well such, and such device does all of that. Then they turn around and buy a different device, and then ask what device should I get for this feature since the thing I bought doesn't have it. Then you say, well this device would be the best and the cheapest. Then they go buy a more expensive, and less cabaple device, and the cycle continues over and over. People always buying things that don't do what they want, then complaining well I spent this much and this POS still won't do what I want.

As for the PS Phone thing, I know it is not a hot idea here, and hell based on what I was just saying, it probably would end up being the same situation. However, I constantly here people saying how awesome it would be if they could play X multiplayer game on the go. I know personally, I would also like to play X Multiplayer game or X Single Player game on the go, and the best solution would be a Phone that is always connected for the online gaming, and also shares the library of games I have already bought on my console, while also sharing the same online network and and user profile. I just listen to what people say they want, and either offer products that alredy deliver that, or give ideas for products that could deliver that. But, as I said above, even if the product exsists, and I show people it checks all of their wants and needs, it still doesn't translate into people actually buying it.

You know people that bought a specific combination of a Wii, Xbox 360 and Blu-Ray player but not a PS3? I don't know anyone like that. As for gaming on the go, I think tablets, cell phones, laptops and the 3DS/Switch have that market cornered, I don't know if Sony could really get anywhere especially seeing what happened with the Vita.

Most people I know had that combonation last gen. I think it is a Washington State thing, because it is not as common with people I meet on business travel, but, nearly anyone I meet in Washington has or had the combonation. 

I still think a sustainable number of people would buy into a device that they could play all of their PS4/PS5 games on the go, including online multiplayer anywhere with a mobile connection. The PS Vita basically lost suppport within the first year, with only the oddball 1st party title arriving through year 3 when all support was dropped.

A connected mobile device, that actually has game support, app support, and a constant internet connection through cellular, would be a massively different beast than the Vita. Had Sony had the bandwidth to make seperate games for the Vita, released a 4G model with mobile communication, and supported it with apps, I believe it would have been a very different story. If they do a shared architecture between a PS Phone and PS5, where they can make the game for both in the same way they are doing with PS4 and PS4 Pro, then they would have the bandwidth to support it. 

I think it offers a huge oppertuntiy for increased user engagement, and potential for an uptick in the userbase. With shared Architecture, shared OS, shared Games, shared apps, and shared network between PS Phone and PS5, it would be a lot smaller investment than a wole new platform like the Vita. The goal of business is to keep on growing, and this is an easy way to attempt that. I think they should try, and if they can't do it with a shared assests, and a seamless experience between home and mobile, then it would be time to drop it, and look at other ways to expand the business. To date, they have not made a good effort at it, and it would be a waste not to at least make an attempt.