PlayStation boss: Sony rules in consoles. Say what?
If there's one word that often fits Sony, it's "hubris." Sony Computer Entertainment America President and CEO Kaz Hirai likes to talk big, but I'm a little worried about what world the head honcho is living in.
Kaz Hirai
(Credit: SCEA)Kaz declared in the February issue of Official Playstation Magazine --in the same article he says the Xbox 360 "lacks longevity"--that he believes Sony is the "official industry leader" in the gaming console market. How does he reach this conclusion? After all, the PS3 is in third place, according to data from research firm The NPD Group.
"This is not meant in terms of numbers." Oh, well then. "Or who's got the biggest install base." Um, Kaz? "Or who's selling most in any particular week or month." Aren't those the indicators people look to when considering leadership?
"But I'd like to think that we continue official leadership in this industry," Kaz said. And I'd like to think I'm next up on the Amy Adams crush list, but that doesn't necessarily make it so.
He's got no kind words for Nintendo's Wii, either, basically dismissing it as a non-competitor. But Kaz, whether or not you like it, you're in a three-horse race. The Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 are all good consoles that go in very different directions. And we're all for rattling sabers. Both of those are good things for technology and for gamers; not only do they force the console makers to constantly one-up each other, but they give the users far more choice.
But that old adage is true: Actions speak louder than words. When you overtake Microsoft in sales, Sony, I'll start listening. In the meantime, feel free to preach to your choir.
With more than 15 years experience testing hardware (and being obsessed with it), Crave freelance writer Matt Hickey can tell the good gadgets from the great. He also has a keen eye for future technology trends. Matt has blogged for publications including TechCrunch, CrunchGear, and most recently, Gizmodo. E-mail Matt. 
Playstations II and III - plenty.
Xbox 360 - plenty.
Nintendo Wii - "We've got 60 on order and get two or three a week." Which they sell in 5 minutes flat! Leaving no Wii's.
Wii is the leader! When you can't keep a two year old product in stock because of limited supply and high demand - that's the leader!
Each console has a targeted market and play - as an owner of all three systems I can say that the PS3 is by far the superior system in aesthetics, features, game play (online) and function. I cannot tell you how many time I hear xBox friends complaining that they have to send their paper weights back for service.
Microsoft plunges inferior hardware and software programming (I am a Software Eng.) down the proverbial toilet pipe to the consumer and (unfortunately) makes up for this with its hype marketing, word of mouth tactics and budget(esque) prices that produce sale numbers that keep them in the running.
The Wii is a 'Snap Bracelet' trend to save an faltering business model - not a keystone to build an empire on.
*Insert Debian between lobes; smile!
One retailer at a giving point in time on a given day is not an indication of a systems health in sales. These systems are sold world wide and all three companies have International divisions. All that matters to these companies is how much money they are making and how many years out of a system they can get.
Sales figures don't mean anything compared to actual consoles alive and in use. And installed base is not a scientific number.
You've got 3 different consoles for 3 different types of people. Why does everyone have to pick just one?
Wii's are sold out in every store across the globe. Sure you can find a few here and there but its not like what you guys want to claim..I mean do any of you even stop to think about what you are saying... One minutes its Wii demand is artificial they are faking demand.. The next you claim that Wii's are on every street corner stacked up 100 high just to try to say it isnt number 1...
They are also seriously *deluded* if they think declaring themselves "official" anything means anything anywhere.
What's that old line: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and confirm it?"
A console that just had two back-to-back months of year-to-year declines in sales *at the peak selling time of the year* is hardly leading anything except, maybe, a retreat from the mass market.
This stopped being funny and moved into pathetic; to think people's livelihoods depend on idiots like that...
WAKE UP SONY!!!
That's not semantics if one includes the PS2, so . . .
Is Sony the leader when one looks at PS2 and PS3 combined? This gets back to the issue of longevity, that fewer gamers are using older MS or Nintendo products and that PS2 machines still contribute greatly to Sony's position in the industry, particularly in terms of an installed base.
In other news, XP may be the leader when it comes to installed operating systems.
The difference here may be that PS2 owners are still purchasing software in significant numbers.
If you compare the Arcade Edition to the Playstation 3 that is like comparing the stripped down $18,000 economy edition of the Jetta to the $25,000 luxury edition of a similar car.
#1 price - at the time the Wii was by far the lowest (although xbox360 arcade is now)
#2 games - for my family Nintendo rules in family friendly software and has enough 'hardcore' titles to keep me happy
#3 innovation - I detest the old console controller for 90% of games. The Wii has been a huge innovator with their new controller.
#4 Online play. Wii has online that I don't have to pay for.
Sony lost out on every category that I was looking for. PS2 was a good system, but Sony really blundered badly with the PS3. Perhaps they need to rethink their strategy because they are getting Dominated in this generation of consoles. They kind of remind me of EDO or Sega.
Also with the Elite you get triple the storage of the ps3 that costs $399 and you can dl some HD movies off xbox live which is cheaper than buying the Blu-ray so value for money wise they lie about the same with maybe the Xbox a bit further in front because of the choice of games.
I own both an XBOX 360 Elite and a PS3. The Elite came with a bigger hard drive, an XBOX Live headset, an HDMI cable, component cables, an ethernet cable, a controller, Netflix integration, original XBOX game backward-compatibility, and 2 very respectable games (Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Forza 2). My PS3 came with a bluray player (main reason I even bought it), a controller, a laughably short charge and play cable for the controller, and no joke, a/v cables. No HDMI or component cables for an HD gaming system/bluray player? Seriously?
You're right about the XBOX Arcade Edition though. It is stripped down. However, that economy edition of the Jetta as you put it will still get you to the party. My 11 year old cousin bought the Arcade version because he has very little money. He was able to add on a bigger hard drive and other features as he could afford it.
I really like their Alpha DSLR line, but that is mainly because they took over Minolta, my favored SLR camera from the film era. Sony puttered around with their DSLR's for a few years, but they are finally releasing some innovative DSLR's and accessories.
However, their video games - I would never buy one of them. When the PS1 was out, I made the choice of the Sega Saturn. Lost out on that choice. When the PS2 was out, I was strictly a PC gamer. With the PS3 out, I chose the Xbox 360. Price and available games were a huge factor, and the 360 has more of the type of games that I like to play.
Yeah, you're right- and Microsoft only produces game consoles.
Microsoft is stretched even further than Sony. The difference is that Microsoft is making money hand over fist, while Sony has been purging money.
People who complain it costs too much should look at the companies manufacturing cost. To make a PS3 costs Sony $480. It is a superior quality machine with free network access. Hands down the better console of all three. Not even going to go into playstation's commitment to their devices, b/c history speaks for itself. Go buy your Sega Saturns...i mean xbox 360's haha
It's a good platform for games and it's also an all in one. This wasn't "instead". The 360 is playing catch up in the "all in one" dept. Both do good at games. That said Sony's interface for using the "all in one" parts is horrid. The 360 may have a better interface for the less things it can do. Tha'ts not really an improvment.
The Wii maybe dominating based on a perceived supply demand model that is being self-throttled by the business developing the console, but once the luster of "oh, we can't get one because the Wii is sold out" (i.e. business limits supply) people will stop paying attention and move to better core featured systems. The Wii is the Apple Pippin of the late 2000's - Yes I pulled the Apple Pippin out.
The PS3 is built with the intention of being a lasting system - they may not be beating up xBox right now, but as MS tries to play catch up PS3 is still selling a far superior system on components. The price tag is an investment in higher-end hardware that is less restricted by limits and can deliver superior gaming experiences in the future - allowing more avenues of product development for game / system developers.
http://kotaku.com/5117096/playstation-3-still-selling-at-a-loss-but-a-much-smaller-loss
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/16/sony-losing-mad-loot-on-each-ps3/
Sony's intention is to build and deliver a system for you to grow with - unlike xbox (and MS mantra); hastily develop, quickly build, release, roll back to previous version, offer refund, take off shelf.
As far as the PS3 costing $480 that just shows how desperate Sony is right now, they have not yet taken the time to refine manufacturing processes to lower the cost but i also believe that they have yet to make a single dollar off the actual console.
Nintendo on the other hand is making a killing at roughly $100 profit off each console, sure they don't hit the same gaming market but Nintendo's business plan works and they have ensured that they are here for the long run.
P.s i have ps3 i love it i am happy ,i dont care how much sony earnes on every console and i dont care what the otherconsoles do,when i wont be happy with my ps3 then i change into the better console period.and again spend more time with friends outside in society rather than in compiuter or whichever console you own.dont take it personly.i never comment.i just replay comments
Sony is still selling PS2s, but more importantly has a very large installed base (I still have a PS2 with FireWire, which I believe was the first model). It is possible that these droves of PS2 users are still buying PS2 accessories and games.
Though if you only compare the current generation of consoles, they are dead last in terms of sales. In terms of quality, I think they are a great choice if you want fantastic graphics and also need a BluRay player, and can afford one.
Now, when are the 360 fans going to actually step into the realm of reality? The 360 fans only argument is that the PS3 is too expensive. The PS3 80GB is available for $399.00, which is $100 more than the XBOX 360 currently available; however, your PS3 includes a bigger HD, Blu-Ray player, and WiFi. The HD player alone for the XBOX is $100 and the Wifi will set you back another $50.00 minimum, so who is getting the better deal again? Now if those things don't matter to you then by all means spend the $150 and get the arcade version XBOX and you truly stayed within your means, but if the all-around system is what you are looking for think before you speak because that $399.00 PS3 price tag ain't quite as bad you think.
Yes, I'll agree that the accessories are overpriced. "The HD player alone for the XBOX is $100?" Did you honestly just mention an HD player? When will YOU step into the realm of reality buddy? Everyone knows that Microsoft wasn't serious about HD-DVD in the first place, they just temporarily supported HD-DVD to delay Blu-ray's format win. The HD-DVD doesn't cost $150, it's costs like $50 because it's discontinued.
And what the hell's an HD player? It's either HD-DVD, which nobody cares about (including Microsoft), and there's Blu-ray, which the 360 does not have. So technically, there's no price for an "HD player," seeing as there is none!
The PS3 is definitely a better value, but most consumers just want something that can play games, and don't want to pay more for something that they don't really need, especially with the economy and all.
Example:
"Hey Jim, I just got a new Toyota Corolla."
"You idiot! For only 50% more of the cost, you could've had a Camry, with a more powerful engine, better handling, and more features!"
"Yeah, but I just want a good car. I don't nee-"
"Idiot!" *walks away*
what the hell are you talking about? The majority of wii owners I know are late 20's and early 30's. But, now, even their parents are buying them. Do you think 13 year olds give a crahp about wii fit? Who's buying all of those, then?
It'd be much easier to pidgenhole the Xbox crowd into an age bracket than wii, or even ps3.
As for the article, Kaz must be living in the past in his glory days of the PS2. They just made a bad move with the PS3 and they're suffering for it.
Complete c|net nonsense. In a different time the person who wrote this article would have been fired.
All Sony is saying is in the long run... two or three years down the road; in the end the Playstation 3 will do better than the XBox 360. And they are right. The Japanese plan 10 years ahead. Microsoft will be releasing the Xbox replacement next year. Sony and Nintendo will be lowering the prices on their units.
Hey c|net why don't you ever have articles about how Microsoft counts replacement XBox units as sales? And that an estimated 4 million XBox 360 units were never really sold from retailers but are replacement units from previous models red rings of death.
MS Investors--nope. They'd rather see MS sell the 360 at a profit, than a 720 at a loss.
MS Management--nope. They want to keep investors happy. MS will time their next console to come out 1 year before PS4, and will be happy to generate a profit in the medium term. The biggest watch-out will be if Wii HD becomes a reality, in which case a 360 motion-control unit might emerge.
Developors--nope. I keep seeing earnings releases from developers who are struggling financially to make a profit this generation. Sure, there are the mega-hits, but average selling games don't always turn a profit.
Mass market consumers--nope. A lot of people still haven't bought into current generation HD units and spent money on the Wii instead. I believe a lot of those people will buy a 360 or PS3--but the price still isn't at a mass adoption level (although the arcade version is close).
Early adopters--finally, yes. This group can't wait to get their hands on something new and will always push for sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, no one else is ready to jump with you. Be patient!
I don't think it's pricing so much as support. They have pulled so many features from the new models that, should my 60GB break, I might not replace it with a new one. Third party developers are typically releasing bonus content for XBOX 360 (Fallout being a HUGE example-2 full add-on expansions planned). Between Sony stripping the thing and all the best bonus content going to 360, I might bow out of console gaming altogether.
The only reason I haven't bought a 360 is that I don't want to put down so much money for a console that self-destructs in 18 months or less.
- by tek-ed January 23, 2009 9:40 AM PST
- Hmm...I have both the Wii and the Xbox. I see no reason to even look at the Sony PS3 (or any other Sony branded item for that matter, ever since they <Sony> decided that destroying personal computers with their badly written root-kit was a good corporate citizen thing to do)
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- by mirimiri77 January 24, 2009 8:48 PM PST
- as for the record the Wii is the one that looks cartoony and childish console its a reality .period
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (77 Comments)And I think he is wrong to dismiss the Wii. It is doing everything that the other consoles do and is some cases better!
If the Sony chief thinks that the Playstation is better, then he needs to tell us *HOW* it's better. Instead of comparison charts that list stats and facts, tell it from a gamer standpoint!
And speaking of gaming...isn't this the whole reason to have a gaming platform? Honestly, I find the games for the PS3 to be lacking and boring. The game styles for this platform seem cartoony and with child-like themes. Plus, the lack of a haptic controller severly limits the playability of most games.
I love the Wii and how you interact with the applications. I have no gripes for the Wii. I love my xbox, but only for the games. The console is ugly and extremly noisy. And I have to replace it every 8 months or so due to the red-ring of death. (lucky it's covered by warrantee) ..but I love the games. The games for the Xbox360 seem more "grown-up"! Xbox gets it. Gaming isn't just for kids...in fact a recent (don't have the page, but a quick google search will verify this) study has shown that the gaming platforms are dominated by the 22-34 age range of young male adults! And the haptic controller. This is a great controller...
Ed
web/gadget guru