Who buys a console based primarily on release time of shared PSN/XBL/WiiWare content?
I guess this move is targetted to those who already own PS3 and 360. But even then it's only relevant for multiplat content that has a discreet use (i.e. it's not dependant on a previous game / app purchase). So for multiplat DLC relating to games already owned the timing of release is pretty meaningless. Most people only buy a game for one or other console, and that's the console you'll be buying DLC for.
So that pretty much limits the XBL connection to Sony's decision to PSN/XBL full games, and game demos. Wanting a slightly bigger share of the muliplat simultaneous release PSN/XBL games possibly makes it worth making the switch. But possibly more significant is the timing of the availability of game demos. I imagine that for many games you are statistically more likely to buy a game for the system on which you played the demo, if you only downloaded the demo for one system of course. Hence releasing a demo first means that company is more likely to get multi-console owning gamers to download the demo for their system and hence they will maximise their share of multiplat sales.
The theory certainly worked for B:BC2 pre-orders in America, but the overall sales differential between PS3 and 360 indicates that B:BC2 on PS3 will have a smaller % of LTD sales than MW2 on PS3, when MW2 was promoted far more for the 360.
Perhaps the business case for moving to Tuesdays has less (but not nothing) to do with what MS and Ninty do and more to do with drivers that are internal to Sony.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
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