microsoft taking on sony..?

[Jjangthekid]

hey just found an article on cnn considering the price drops of ps2, xbox and gc..

from what i read, sony sold over 71.3 million ps2 while xbox was 13.7 million..this probably start a flame war but imo i dont think microsoft has what it takes to compete with sony..

[L.S.D]

hey just found an article on cnn considering the price drops of ps2, xbox and gc..

from what i read, sony sold over 71.3 million ps2 while xbox was 13.7 million..this probably start a flame war but imo  i dont think microsoft has what it takes to compete with sony..

The reason for that statistic:

1. Sony has a very good headstart.

2. Sony has a good reputation from PS

3. Everyone thought old Bill is going to come out with Window Console.

[Wizard]

That "very good head start" was almost a year. A year. You don't know how much of an advatage that puts you at.

[Daeval]

Having worked for a video game retailer, my idea on all this has changed a bit... I used to believe it was great games that made a popular system, but that's unfortunately not the case...

 

There are hardcore gamers, like many of us, probably, who know what emulation is and are familiar with PC games and already comfortable with network play, etc. Then there is everyone else. Believe it or not, the latter is the larger market.

 

Microsoft has done the best job of tapping into this larger share, and it was apparent from their customer base. The system has better graphics than the PS2 (on most 3D titles) which gives it that "first-glance" edge, they've done a reasonable job of taking the percieved "mystery" out of online play for the average person, and the Hard Drive softens the deal for people who wouldn't already expect to need a ($25) memory card. From a gamer's standpoint, maybe the control-pads are as large as my VCR, maybe the exclusive titles aren't so great, and maybe us PC gamers are insulted to have to pay so much for the online play we expect for free.

 

But guess what? Joe Usual just wants to play Madden on his Hi-Def. He doesn't relish the feel of a Dual-Shock like a worn-in pair of sneakers. He doesn't look forward to reading the "awesome 93-hour story" in the next RPG epic. And he's just happy if he doesn't have to talk to "those geeks" in tech support more than once before he can start talking trash on his new Live! headset.

 

 

So who will come out on top in the next age of the "console wars?" Who knows, really. I'd personally like to see Sony come out on top, but if they ignore the market that M$ has such a hold on, we may see some scary stuff. If they can capture the "everyman" like M$ has, while retaining the hardcore fanbase, they should continue to do just fine.

 

As for Nintendo... Well, they're doing a little better after the Christmas season (when they rocked so hard they forced a pricedrop from the others), but I think they need to re-think things a little as well. Their good titles are great, but they have a much smaller list overall and a lot of it is just as mediocre as the competitions'. Their huge brand-name is a blessing and a curse as they try to break into the mass-market. Everyone loves Nintendo, but it's easy for some to say they don't want "kids stuff" laying around their living room.

 

P.S. Wow this got long.. sorry!

[L.S.D]

Having worked for a video game retailer, my idea on all this has changed a bit...  I used to believe it was great games that made a popular system, but that's unfortunately not the case... 

 

There are hardcore gamers, like many of us, probably, who know what emulation is and are familiar with PC games and already comfortable with network play, etc.  Then there is everyone else.  Believe it or not, the latter is the larger market. 

 

Microsoft has done the best job of tapping into this larger share, and it was apparent from their customer base.  The system has better graphics than the PS2 (on most 3D titles) which gives it that "first-glance" edge, they've done a reasonable job of taking the percieved "mystery" out of online play for the average person, and the Hard Drive softens the deal for people who wouldn't already expect to need a ($25) memory card.  From a gamer's standpoint, maybe the control-pads are as large as my VCR, maybe the exclusive titles aren't so great, and maybe us PC gamers are insulted to have to pay so much for the online play we expect for free. 

 

But guess what?  Joe Usual just wants to play Madden on his Hi-Def.  He doesn't relish the feel of a Dual-Shock like a worn-in pair of sneakers.  He doesn't look forward to reading the "awesome 93-hour story" in the next RPG epic.  And he's just happy if he doesn't have to talk to "those geeks" in tech support more than once before he can start talking trash on his new Live! headset.

 

 

So who will come out on top in the next age of the "console wars?"  Who knows, really.  I'd personally like to see Sony come out on top, but if they ignore the market that M$ has such a hold on, we may see some scary stuff.  If they can capture the "everyman" like M$ has, while retaining the hardcore fanbase, they should continue to do just fine. 

 

As for Nintendo... Well, they're doing a little better after the Christmas season (when they rocked so hard they forced a pricedrop from the others), but I think they need to re-think things a little as well.  Their good titles are great, but they have a much smaller list overall and a lot of it is just as mediocre as the competitions'.  Their huge brand-name is a blessing and a curse as they try to break into the mass-market.  Everyone loves Nintendo, but it's easy for some to say they don't want "kids stuff" laying around their living room.

 

P.S.  Wow this got long.. sorry! 

Whoa, nice point there, Daeval.

But i can only assume that your opinion is based on American market only.

From there, we might see these situation:

 

1. Sony captures Japan market

2. M$ captures US market.

3. Both of them has some shares in the rest of the world.

4. Nintendo a little here and there

[Daeval]

Whoa, nice point there, Daeval.

But i can only assume that your opinion is based on American market only.

From there, we might see these situation:

 

1. Sony captures Japan market

2. M$ captures US market.

3. Both of them has some shares in the rest of the world.

4. Nintendo a little here and there

Good point, I was obviously tunnel-visioned on the American market here. I'm curious (but too lazy to google ) as to what share of Japan's market is held by Nintendo vs. Sony. Also, what the heck is the European market like and much pull does it have?

 

I don't have any first-hand experience in Japan, but as a market they seem a little more comfortable with the things M$ is currently "making easier" on the American public, which negates Bill's advantage somewhat. At least stateside, M$ doesn't project the sort of "family" (in terms of community dependence, rather than "rated G") atmosphere I (sort of blindly) relate to acceptance and success in Japan. They've definately got the SUV attitude here and I'm curious how well that works overseas, or if they're trying to maintain it there.

[L.S.D]

Whoa, nice point there, Daeval.

But i can only assume that your opinion is based on American market only.

From there, we might see these situation:

 

1. Sony captures Japan market

2. M$ captures US market.

3. Both of them has some shares in the rest of the world.

4. Nintendo a little here and there

Good point, I was obviously tunnel-visioned on the American market here. I'm curious (but too lazy to google ) as to what share of Japan's market is held by Nintendo vs. Sony. Also, what the heck is the European market like and much pull does it have?

 

I don't have any first-hand experience in Japan, but as a market they seem a little more comfortable with the things M$ is currently "making easier" on the American public, which negates Bill's advantage somewhat. At least stateside, M$ doesn't project the sort of "family" (in terms of community dependence, rather than "rated G") atmosphere I (sort of blindly) relate to acceptance and success in Japan. They've definately got the SUV attitude here and I'm curious how well that works overseas, or if they're trying to maintain it there.

Well, from what I know, Nintendo do has a sizeable following at Japan, but as you said, most of the games are really kiddy stuff. So most of their following are kids, with a few adults here and there. The support for Sony is really strong in Japan, mainly due to a few big companies supporting them (Square-Enix, Capcom and others) Japanese gamers are also very fickle. If they are used to 110 hrs RPG from SquareEnix, they will expect their sequel would be about the same too

I think you can get the actual figure from Magic Box

 

EDIT: And Sony do know how to promote their stuff. THeir advertisment is always top-of-the-world. I know, since I am working in Sony

Edited July 22, 2004 by L.S.D

[Daeval]

EDIT: And Sony do know how to promote their stuff. THeir advertisment is always top-of-the-world. I know, since I am working in Sony

They do, but It's more than just "promotion" per se. It's the image that M$ has that makes the Xbox seem like more than just a "video game system" to non-gamers in their target market. Sony just doesn't have this working to their advantage right now. From my experience, XBox sells under the "home theatre" category almost as much as it does to the "video game system" people. The PS2 just isn't viewed the same way.

 

It's mostly features (PS2 users have to buy and install Network Adapters and Hard Drives. The A/V qualities are not nearly as played-up, etc) but it's also the way they advertise. M$ definately has the "get the guys together for a beer and a game" hook down in their marketing. Sony still caters primarily to "gamers."

 

Sony does have a potential advantage in that people are used to having Sony written all over the various Audio/Video devices that populate their living room, rather than just on the loading screen of the computer that crashes all the time. However, they have yet to really use the "Your DVD player's big brother" angle to hit the mainstream. Nevermind that "PSX" thing as it's primarily a DVR-type box, which is kind of a niche market in itself (for now).

[L.S.D]

EDIT: And Sony do know how to promote their stuff. THeir advertisment is always top-of-the-world. I know, since I am working in Sony

They do, but It's more than just "promotion" per se. It's the image that M$ has that makes the Xbox seem like more than just a "video game system" to non-gamers in their target market. Sony just doesn't have this working to their advantage right now. From my experience, XBox sells under the "home theatre" category almost as much as it does to the "video game system" people. The PS2 just isn't viewed the same way.

 

It's mostly features (PS2 users have to buy and install Network Adapters and Hard Drives. The A/V qualities are not nearly as played-up, etc) but it's also the way they advertise. M$ definately has the "get the guys together for a beer and a game" hook down in their marketing. Sony still caters primarily to "gamers."

 

Sony does have a potential advantage in that people are used to having Sony written all over the various Audio/Video devices that populate their living room, rather than just on the loading screen of the computer that crashes all the time. However, they have yet to really use the "Your DVD player's big brother" angle to hit the mainstream. Nevermind that "PSX" thing as it's primarily a DVR-type box, which is kind of a niche market in itself (for now).

PSX flop big time. Sony has stopped all production for this model.

It is going to be in limited qty.

Although I might say the way M$ advertise XBOX at US do work wonder there,

the same cannot be said at world market. This kind of concept do not work in Asia,

especially Japan. And Sony brand name is quite strong.

And people is scared that M$ might monopoly another industry after capturing the PC market. (They forget that Sony is doing the same thing )

[Wizard]

Everyone loves Nintendo, but it's easy for some to say they don't want "kids stuff" laying around their living room.

Compared to everything else. Nintendo's "kiddy stuff" really kicks ass. It's just advertised as something like that because of all the "E" games. Has anyone looked at the Metal Gear? The Resident Evil? That other game thats violent?

 

And if Ignition Entertainment (SNKP's Euro distributer) releases Metal Slug or anyother game on Gamecube, SNK U.S.A. might port them over, FOR THE GAMECUBE. EAT THAT M$!

[random guy]

Japanese Console Hardware Chart

From: Jul 4 - 11, 2004

System                  Sales this week / Total this year

GameBoy Advance SP  31,569 / 1,460,961

PlayStation 2              27,054 / 1,441,276

GameCube            5,544  / 402,619

GameBoy Advance    1,785 / 158,630

Xbox                            302  / 21,963

PSone                        253 / 12,184

Swan Crystal              146 /  6,073

 

The PSOne nearly sold as many units as the xbox in japan that week.

[L.S.D]

Japanese Console Hardware Chart

From: Jul 4 - 11, 2004

System                     Sales this week / Total this year

GameBoy Advance SP  31,569 / 1,460,961

PlayStation 2                 27,054 / 1,441,276

GameCube               5,544  / 402,619

GameBoy Advance    1,785 / 158,630

Xbox                            302  / 21,963

PSone                           253 / 12,184

Swan Crystal                 146 /  6,073

 

The PSOne nearly sold as many units as the xbox in japan that week.

Whoa, Xbox sold as much as PS1??!??

I wonder how M$ going to capture Japan market?

They must have been targeting US market only when they are boasting

[lancerx]

Everyone loves Nintendo, but it's easy for some to say they don't want "kids stuff" laying around their living room.

Compared to everything else. Nintendo's "kiddy stuff" really kicks ass. It's just advertised as something like that because of all the "E" games. Has anyone looked at the Metal Gear? The Resident Evil? That other game thats violent?

 

And if Ignition Entertainment (SNKP's Euro distributer) releases Metal Slug or anyother game on Gamecube, SNK U.S.A. might port them over, FOR THE GAMECUBE. EAT THAT M$!

I really love Nint. the Gc is a great system with great games, people won't give it a try cause they think is directed only for kids, that's not true, i think their mistake is not full filling everybody needs as sony and MS does, their marketing sucks they should improve in this area and for the next gen. release a GREAT system.

[darkmage479]

It's mostly features (PS2 users have to buy and install Network Adapters and Hard Drives. The A/V qualities are not nearly as played-up, etc) but it's also the way they advertise. M$ definately has the "get the guys together for a beer and a game" hook down in their marketing. Sony still caters primarily to "gamers."

 

L.S.D you said it yourself - that's the primary reason why Micro$oft is struggling. It's much easier for Sony to feed a well-established addiction than for Microsoft to turn people into junkies from scratch. Remeber, consistent software sales (not hardware) from repeat buyers makes these companies profitable.

[Wizard]

The main reason the Xbox didn't sell well in Japan was because it was big, about the size of Japan it self. No doubt about it. The president of Xbox's Japanese Division said so him self.