By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
HylianSwordsman on 23 July 2019
Edit Thread
JRPGfan said:

I've been saying the same thing as the OP for along time.

MS see's themselves as a service provider. Their hardware + software, is there to sell you into their services. Dont care about selling hardware or software anymore, just want to lock people into subscriptions. Probably want to do away with hardware, and get you locked into streaming.

Nintendo see's themselves as a game dev. Their hardware is there to run their own games, and they potentially see other game devs as competition.
(ei. they dont want too much 3rd party support, okay with smaller indies being there though (they arnt real competition to nintendo own stuff)).

Sony see's themselves as a (hardware) platform provider, they want to sell you their hardware, and profit off of the cuts of selling games on their platform. The more good games, the better. So basically everyone is welcome, 3rd party games ect. They have the "classic traditional" viewpoint.

I also agree with the OP that they have very differnt visions, of what the console does, and where it goes in the future.

JRPGfan said:
HylianSwordsman said:

I'd like to remind everybody that the way I'm speaking of all this isn't just in the objective facts about each companies products, but also in the subjective way that they sell their offerings, their brand, their vision for their products and services and their brands as a whole. Yes, that means a certain amount of actual investment in powerful technology or lots of new IPs or new services, but the path they get there by is based on a philosophy that centers around one of the three categories being the focus by which they sell the rest.

Sony makes software and services, but they sell them by selling the console, and their software and services crush the competition only when their hardware's momentum is at its peak, because the entire strategy is centered on getting that hardware investment and just building the software development ecosystem around it. You all take this for granted, because it's so straightforward, but I'd argue that while this affects all three to some degree, Sony organizes their whole strategy around it, does it better than anyone, and you see it in their results.

Microsoft makes software and hardware, but they're just trying to get you to buy their service. Like I said before, why else would any hardware company even consider selling their service on another console? It's mad, mad I tell you! Unless the service is the entire point. They have some of the best hardware, but they also have lower end hardware, and are developing no-hardware options. The hardware isn't the point for them, it's getting you to buy their services that is the point. Software is a necessary evil so that you have something to do on the service. Hardware...might not even be necessary, actually, so they make hardware for people that want it, but if they could get by without it, they would.

Nintendo makes hardware and has services too, but as Reggie, kicker of ass and taker of names says, they're about making games. It's completely fair to say that people buy Nintendo consoles to play Nintendo games, because let's face it, they do. Nintendo would love for everything to be on their console, so they too make an effort to get indies there, but the important part for them is the quality of the software. It's been this way for them since the beginning, reviving an industry when people lost faith in the hardware due to bad software with fucking Super Mario Bros. Then again with the Nintendo seal of quality, immersing their brand as best they could in the idea that if software is on Nintendo, it's good software (*when its theirs). Hardware changes are at the whim of the (*their own) software, advancements don't come unless Nintendo sees how it affects the (*their own) software. And services? What does that have to do with software? Until Nintendo sees how it enhances gameplay possibilities, their services will never get much focus, and they're just starting to see now.  (*their own, means they dont do hardware for the demands of others (3rd party), like Sony would do, Sony will litterly design a console that conforms to demands from 3rd party developers) (nintendo ONLY considers themselves, when they design "their" hardware)

I agree with this alot.

I'd say in terms of the software theres clear differnces between the 3 as well.
There visions in what is great software is differnt too.

Nintendo loves platforming, family friendly games, exploration, simplistic/cartoony graphics, fun messing around > story telling.


Sony loves adventure, singleplayer, pulling your heartstrings, for them a good game is like a good movie, it provokes emotions through story telling.


Xbox loves shooters, completitive online multiplayer, GaaS, their big on gore (which is why that no smokeing in Gears 5, comes off as odd)

Regarding the part I bolded/underlined/italicized in the first post, this is a really good point. I take back what I said, and wholly endorse your strikethroughs and bolded parts in your response to my post. Your points on how Sony designs their hardware vs how Nintendo does really drives my point home.

Nintendo was actually notorious during their first few gens for being a terrible company for 3rd parties to work with and difficult to publish on, they were so controlling because they felt like the kings of the industry and liked having control over the software on their system. 5th gen was the first time they really felt the burn of their own hubris, thanks to Sony's strong competition. Gamecube's failure taught them a lot, and they cut out some of their controlling nature around software. But yeah, back before indies were a thing, they were pretty terrible to work with, and you're probably right that this was due to them seeing everyone else as competitors. But it's not like they were trying to keep good games off of their system (come on, the SNES had plenty of great 3rd party games, including timeless classics like Chrono Trigger), they were just super controlling over them, because they wanted absolute control over Nintendo's software brand. Even now, it's not like they let up all that much, mostly just on indies. Like you said, they're not going to let third party publishers have any say in the hardware. Even basic shit like making a console compatible with Unreal Engine 4 only came once they decided they liked UE4 enough to make Yoshi on it, one of their own games.

Last edited by HylianSwordsman - on 23 July 2019