By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Sales - The Crux of Sony's Strategy Problem

NJ5 on 18 October 2007

@Sqrl:

I believe you're right, the biggest problem is that the PS3 just WASN'T designed to be a competitive machine. It doesn't allow Sony to compete as they'd wish.

I think the root of the problem is on the PS2. The PS2 was also a very uncharacteristic architecture which developers disliked, and it succeeded. Sony didn't realize that this time the playing field would be different, so they churned out an analogous console, the PS3 (again, an uncharacteristic architecture which developers dislike). The result is what we're seeing now!

 



My Mario Kart Wii friend code: 2707-1866-0957

Around the Network
SlorgNet on 18 October 2007

Doom, gloom, all I ever hear around here.

Folks, the PS3 has sold 5 million units. That's astounding, considering the hefty original price point, lack of HDTVs, and lack of BluRay titles.

Sony's marketing strategy has been to go after the early adopters. That's why they haven't rolled out a mass market campaign. You don't advertise a Mercedes like it was a Corolla. Now that the $399/399EUR models are here, though, you can expect a much more broad-based campaign.

Sony listened to customers and offered what they said they wanted - a cheaper model with rumble and without backwards compatibility. If you want the compatibility, it's there in the 80GB model.

As for promises about features - that's called PR and advertising. Microsoft and Nintendo are no better and no worse on this score. Do you believe every ad you see? If so, I've got this bridge to sell you, right here in Brooklyn...



SlorgNet on 18 October 2007

Doom, gloom, all I ever hear around here.

Folks, the PS3 has sold 5 million units. That's astounding, considering the hefty original price point, lack of HDTVs, and lack of BluRay titles.

Sony's marketing strategy has been to go after the early adopters. That's why they haven't rolled out a mass market campaign. You don't advertise a Mercedes like it was a Corolla. Now that the $399/399EUR models are here, though, you can expect a much more broad-based campaign.

Sony listened to customers and offered what they said they wanted - a cheaper model with rumble and without backwards compatibility. If you want the compatibility, it's there in the 80GB model.

As for promises about features - that's called PR and advertising. Microsoft and Nintendo are no better and no worse on this score. Do you believe every ad you see? If so, I've got this bridge to sell you, right here in Brooklyn...



cool48 on 18 October 2007
FishyJoe said:

First they say the 20gb version isn't selling because consumers want a fully featured PS3.

The solution? Make a a stripped down PS3.

Does not compute.


 EXACTLY, i still think it's an awesome system though.



Sqrl on 18 October 2007

Actually I will take my conclusion a step further and say that the architecture is actually quite ideal for the sorts of scientific endeavors that we have heard about. For a research team the PS3 represents a powerful computer that facilitates the sort of workload breakups that are common in this sort of research. The result is that workloads can be prioritized and a workload designated to have a higher probability of interesting results can be processed more quickly.

As for price, looking at the normal cost to purchase time on a supercomputer, the PS3 is actually a cheaper alternative when you factor in the need to schedule time on a supercomputer and the need to pay a fee for every such use. Where the alternative is a one time purchase price and constant uninterrupted accessibility.

Just to avoid any backlash, I am not suggesting that the PS3 be relegated exclusively to such tasks, only that the price point and performance of the unit is more in line with this sort of work and that there is a disparity in its intended purpose and practical purpose.
To Each Man, Responsibility
Around the Network
HappySqurriel on 18 October 2007
SlorgNet said:
Doom, gloom, all I ever hear around here.

Folks, the PS3 has sold 5 million units. That's astounding, considering the hefty original price point, lack of HDTVs, and lack of BluRay titles.

Sony's marketing strategy has been to go after the early adopters. That's why they haven't rolled out a mass market campaign. You don't advertise a Mercedes like it was a Corolla. Now that the $399/399EUR models are here, though, you can expect a much more broad-based campaign.

Sony listened to customers and offered what they said they wanted - a cheaper model with rumble and without backwards compatibility. If you want the compatibility, it's there in the 80GB model.

As for promises about features - that's called PR and advertising. Microsoft and Nintendo are no better and no worse on this score. Do you believe every ad you see? If so, I've got this bridge to sell you, right here in Brooklyn...

I honestly don't think that Sony's heart grew three sizes and they suddenly decided to give all us Whos in Whoville our 'Playstation' back ...

Right now Sony is not responding to their consumers, they're responding to the publishers and developers who are unhappy with the rate of sales of the PS3 and their PS3 games, and they're responding to the movie studios who backed Blu-Ray because of Sony's promise of ending the format war before it began by selling 10 Million PS3 systems in 2006.

If Sony was responding to their customers after E3 2006 they would have heard the outrage from PS2 fans that could be summarized as "Why would I spend $600 on a Blu-Ray player when I don't own an HDTV?"



smallflyingtaco on 18 October 2007
Sqrl said:
Actually I will take my conclusion a step further and say that the architecture is actually quite ideal for the sorts of scientific endeavors that we have heard about. For a research team the PS3 represents a powerful computer that facilitates the sort of workload breakups that are common in this sort of research. The result is that workloads can be prioritized and a workload designated to have a higher probability of interesting results can be processed more quickly.

As for price, looking at the normal cost to purchase time on a supercomputer, the PS3 is actually a cheaper alternative when you factor in the need to schedule time on a supercomputer and the need to pay a fee for every such use. Where the alternative is a one time purchase price and constant uninterrupted accessibility.

Just to avoid any backlash, I am not suggesting that the PS3 be relegated exclusively to such tasks, only that the price point and performance of the unit is more in line with this sort of work and that there is a disparity in its intended purpose and practical purpose.

 This is not true for all scientific applications.  There are problems that are more about memory than processing power or cases where breaking your problem down to fit within a PS3s memory constraints would increase your processing requirements beyond the advantage you get from your PS3.  Outside those constraints your right, the PS3 is a great deal but if Sony is lossing money on the hardware or making a subpar profit on them then they do not want to sell their ultracheap workstations to people who will never buy software for them because they are becoming part of clusters.



Proud member of the Sonic Support Squad

XCosMarX on 18 October 2007

I think that ps3 got a bit confident seeing how the ps2 sold so well, that they underestimate the other companies.



madskillz on 18 October 2007
fkusumot said:
madskillz said:
Sony's main problem is their long-term memory. They should quit living in the past. And analysts are worse because they talk of Sony's successes with the PS1 and PS2 and assume the PS3 will win in the end. That is not the case this time. Unfortunately, Sony's tactic of 'Take what we give you because you'll buy it anyhow' is not working as expected. What I find laughable is - how Sony is going in circles with the PS3. They initially had the 20gb model that was stripped down - and took it off life support almost immediately. Then, the 60gb wasn't moving as fast as they liked and they axed it. Now, the 80gb without hardware emulation is here but at a high price point - hence why they *added* the 40gb crippled. And what's really sad? The 20gb has more features! Correct me if I am wrong but ...

The Wii has showed two things that can't be overlooked - that gameplay, not graphics (as always known) sells consoles - and that price DOES matter. The 360 proved that, like the PS2, reability doesn't matter if the system has awesome games. Gamers are forgiving if they have something to look forward to - but lack of games? Look out.

Right now, Sony is trying to find a winning formula and will do anything, even drop *core values* (Phi Harrison, May 2006) to make a quick buck. What will they get in the end? A lot of folks will be even more likely to avoid them in the next gen fight. Don't think folks aren't still peeved by the disk read drama.

Oh yeah - gamers have long memories. And pissing them off with hollow promises will only hurt them in the long run.

You should be a writer! That little tropus about the 20GB -> 60GB -> 80GB -> 40GB was very nice.


LOL ... I AM a journalist! I have been writing for years, work at a real newspaper - http://www.abqtrib.com/qt3ch and recently launched a video game review site - http://www.dukecitygamerz.com (It's under MAJOR construction) On the ABQ Trib site, I write under Willie Jefferson on the main site and Mount F.U.G. on the Q-T3CH blog. Check it out and thanks a million for the props ... I am still lol on that ...



madskillz on 18 October 2007
johnlucas said:
cansan said:
For me, all this scrambling by sony is just making me wait. It looks like the price drops are frequent, why should I buy now? Additionally, I want rumble, so if I buy now, I will be forced to buy the Dual Shock 3 later and eat the cost of that. All this makes it just so easy to put off buying a PS3.

The turning point for me: a not-gimped 300 euro PS3 (with dualshock 3) and GT5.

Proof in parcel why every decision Sony makes has long-reaching compounding consequences.

This has never happened before in videogaming where models keep getting changed left and right. All it does is make people more cautious before purchasing.

John Lucas


Actually, John Lucas, what all this shuffling is doing is making customers even more confused. Mark my words - this story will be all over digg.com

Holiday 2008 - shoppers, mostly middle-aged women, will run to their local retail store - desperately searching for a Wii (ROTFL) and find nada. They will ask an associate what's the popular video game - and they will say 'Wii, ma'am.' And she'll say 'Apparently.' He/she will tell her the 360s are great - Halo 3, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Beautiful Kalamari - but she's see PLAYSTATION.

"Thanks!" she say, snagging the discount $399 version, since her son has a Playstation at the house. And it plays all sorts of games, and he has a Playstation she bought a couple years ago.

Imagine the joy and emotions that will hit when she realizes her son's PS2 games can't play on their new console.

You have to keep things simple for customers. If you don't - confusion can rush in ... shoot, I even had to refund folks' money that barrel past the 'This iPOD is broken and SOLD FOR PARTS' and they are like 'I'm sorry! I didn't see that message?!' Clowns ... but regardless, I refund their money, sans 15 percent restocking fee

Bottom line - LEARN TO READ!