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Forums - Gaming - How do Sony and Microsoft avoid PS360?

I really don't think there is much they can do at this point besides embrace multi-platform, form good relationships with third parties to get the occasional exclusive, and to ramp up their first party divisions in order to get more de facto exclusives.

Extra abilities like Blu-Ray, media capabilities, XBL, PSN, and things such as that can do a good job of differentiating consoles as well.



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RedArmia i would really like to tell me why you think there is a more diverse line-up on the PS3. Where are the casual games? Mini-games? JRPGs (only a couple of them coming out for at least a year)?



 

1st and 2nd party exclusives will be the difference, that's why I got both.

GT 5, Gears 2, MGS 4, NG II, Resistance 2, etc. will define each console.

MS letting Bioware and Bizarre go is pretty strange in this 'few exclusives' atmosphere.



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dudes


so no one thinks I had a point with my post?

That this actually is a good thing for Microsoft..?
That getting the PlayStation brand interchangable with their Xbox brand is actually a huge victory from them, seeing what the PlayStation identity was and what they were associated with?

''Hadouken!''


It's a terrible thing for Sony and Microsoft, though: it means that only half the profit/revenue goes to each.


and that's what I don't believe,
the half of the revenue going to Microsoft is a huge stap for them!
that means that they have come on equal terms with the mighty PlayStation,
what more could they have wished for when they entered the scene..

very good for Microsoft indeed..

''Hadouken!''

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I see ur point Ajax,

u are right.

but if u focus on this gen only (and forget the sony domination last-gen) then both Sony and MS are damaging each other while the Wii is leading alone in term of hardware sales AND MOST IMPORTANT in term of net profits !!



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Bodhesatva said:

That's the situation Sony/Microsoft are in, but in a much less severe manner. Because there isn't much to distinguish the 360 from the PS3 in terms of game selection, marketing or demographic focus, it basically ends up with this situation:

1) Consumers can choose whichever console they want
2) Developers can develop 1 game for both platforms because the interests/tastes of both platforms is very similar
3) Microsoft and Sony have to split the revenue and profit from royalties basically down the middle

Number 1 and number 2 are good, number 3 definitely isn't. 


Oh, I completely agree, Bodhesatva. I've been saying for months now that there's essentially no difference between the 360 and PS3 in the eyes of the average consumer. It's nice to see that almost everyone in this thread agrees with your point. ckmlb unintentionally shows this as well, by listing games like Resistance 2, Gears of War 2, and so on. I'd bet that your non-serious gamer can't tell much of a difference between them, and would be just as happy with either one. Same with Forza/Gran Turismo, Mass Effect/Final Fantasy, and so on. That may sound like heresy to the core fans of each series, but for your average non-gamer there's not much differentiation. You can be happy with either platform, especially since they have something like 80% of the same software library. And the two consoles will end up with largely similar lifetime sales as well at the end of the generation.

This is why I've referred to the 360/PS3 "war" as the biggest non-event in gaming history. Not many people seem to agree with that one though. I guess pointless arguing is more fun.

I have no idea what Microsoft and Sony do to create differentiate between their brands. My best suggestion would be to create new, innovative games that show gamers novel experiences they've never seen before. Instead, we're getting a ton of high-budget sequels to existing franchises... Anyway, Ajax correctly points out that a stalemate indirectly benefits Microsoft more than Sony, if only because the PS2 was so strong and the XBox so weak.



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End of 2008 totals: Wii 42m, 360 24m, PS3 18.5m (made Jan. 4, 2008)

The only answer is to play up the other systems faults, and score exclusive games.



I don't need your console war.
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor.
You're power hungry, spinnin' stories, and bein' graphics whores.
I don't need your console war.

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Ajax said:


dudes


so no one thinks I had a point with my post?

That this actually is a good thing for Microsoft..?
That getting the PlayStation brand interchangable with their Xbox brand is actually a huge victory from them, seeing what the PlayStation identity was and what they were associated with?


I agree.  I expected them to keep that distinction and stay as the "hardcore" machine when the PS4 comes out with more use of motion and other sorts of controls to try and out innovate Nintendo... but with the X-mote they might also jump into the casual faire with Nintendo next gen.

Hard to say. 

 



That's a very good question, which I'm sure Sony and Microsoft are trying to solve every day.

I also think that the 360 and PS3 will never have a big enough difference in their userbases to justify many exclusive games. That leaves the first party line-up and "moneybagged" third parties as the differentiating factor (besides price and the other non-gaming issues).

That's why we're seeing Microsoft and Sony bleeding insane amounts of money with price cuts, bundling of big games and moneybags given to other developers. The only reason why Microsoft and Sony are continuing the fight is that they are huge companies with big pockets, otherwise at least one of them would have given up already.

 



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