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Can Sony Take 2009? – An Analysis

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Date posted
November 19, 2008 at 10:36 am
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Featured, PlayStation 3
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I am sure we all remember around this time last year when the whole world was saying that 2008 would be Sonys year and the Playstation 3 would take it by a landslide. however I think it is fair to say that this has not been the case. Many thought that Metal Gear Solid 4 alone would be enough for Sony to excel and take the number one spot, and surely enough they did beat Xbox 360 throughout the first half of the year on the NPD numbers. However Microsoft always proves the power of their business by exceeding over the competition. So lets ask ourselves, Will 2009 really be Sonys year?

The Games

With Killzone 2, God of war 3, and Yakuza 3 announced for 2009 speculation has already begun that Sony are taking the right steps for ensure the win. However it has now been proven that it is not always 1st party exclusive games that sell consoles, sometimes it is simply an already established franchise moving to another console that sways buyers. With Tekken 6 and Final Fantasy 13 being announced for 360 this may gain some new customers on the 360 side instead.

The Strategy

Rumor has it that Sony is planning a price drop in early 09 that should ensure the rate of Playstation 3 purchases increase, another needed strategy is to add the backward compatibility software to all Playstation 3’s because this is a big factor new customers take into consideration when thinking of buying a new console. Seeing as most people previously had Playstation 2’s they want to know they can play their PS2 library on the new system, but Sony is not giving people that kind of security currently and they do not seem to be opening up about their future plans with backward compatibility.

Also if Sony wishes to be on top they need to step up with their marketing. Notice how Microsoft hardly ever talks about anything they have planned for the next year? all their success is based on how powerful their marketing is and until Sony realises this and gets on the ball then they will fall behind. It’s like all Microsoft has to do is release a few commercials, gain marketing deals for certain games, and have their console being played on various shows and sitcoms to be the most popular format. The fact is that Microsoft are a tough beast to compete with and Sony underestimated them due to the fact they beat them last generation.
Still Waiting

Today NXE has been released for the Xbox 360 and still no Home, even with the rumors of Sony waiting for NXE to come out so they could drop Home on the same day. Delays are a big part of Sony’s problem and they can not continue in 2009, they have to learn not to announce dates they cannot stick to. Home really does need to come out sometime soon also if they have any plans on taking a lead in 2009.

In conclusion I think Sony releasing their line up is not enough to say they are taking 2009, Microsoft hardly every talk about their line up for the next year and it has always been this way. Sony need to rethink their strategy if they really are serious about beating the competition in 2009. They have a couple smash hit games announced for 09, plus games like Little Big Planet, Resistance 2 and Socom 3 might just keep people on their Playstations well into 09 with updated content. Lets just hope 2009 wont be another 2008 repeat where everyone seems so sure Sony will take the lead, only to be proved wrong. It is a bad look for Sony, and any more negative press is a danger to them.

Written By Gary A Swaby

Deeper than the words embedded in somebody's wedding ring

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  • SmittyJ
    Tikyle......

    You are actually quite wrong.
    If you check out some of the profits devs are posting than you would see that the PS3 has actually done better than the 360 in terms of profit.
    EA, Ubisoft, and a couple others (cant remember who,but the article was up on n4g) all reported a higher percentage of profit coming from the PS3 and sony in general.
    Also devs are now starting to figure out how to develop better on the PS3, with a lot of games actually being developed on the PS3 first.

    My point is that developers aren't doing that bad with the PS3, they're making money on it and they're starting to produce better games.
  • Tikyle
    Console sales don't really mean shit if the games don't sell. Sony sold all these consoles this year yet their 2nd biggest title of the year LBP couldn't crack 1M worldwide in a month.

    Developers are seeing this trend and 3 things are starting to happen:

    1. DEVS shy away from PS3 and make MS or Wii exclusives.
    2. DEVS who were loyal to Sony add MS to the list to ensure sales match cost.
    3. DEVS neglect the Sony version of the game because the MS version is going to sell about 2:1.

    Point being Sony sold 1M more units WW this year yet except for sure fire hits MGS4 and GTA IV Sony has struggled to sell big numbers on software.
  • JB19848
    The 360 is losing WW by over a million units YTD. And due to the price drop in America its leading the PS3 YTD in that region by about 10k.
  • MN
    Unfortunately PS3 is still very expensive.($400 and $500)In fact i think they are the most expensive gaming console to date after 2 years being on market.

    I know lots of my friends(even with 360s)that are waiting to get a PS3 as soon as the price drops.

    So when PS3 drops to 299 and it still sells close to 199 XBOX then I would say that Sony will have a big problem on their hands,,,,but as of now Sony has outsold X360 this year(08) world wide by 1.2 million units even though it costs twice as much.

    if sony drops to 299 and still sells within 1 million of 360 world wide then they have a big problem on their hands.

    As soon as PS2 is out of production(2009 to 2010)Sony will have trade in deals (trade in PS2 and get $50-$100 off of PS3 type of deals).This strategy can boost the PS3 sales greatly.
  • ChrisWanker
    I unfortunately see Sony in a downward spiral. Lackluster sales of over-hyped-must-have games is only the beginning. Imagine the loss of money from the advertising alone!

    Nonetheless... Yes, I am one of those contributing to the lackluster sales. Especially for LBP. I don't care how fun/exciting it is, it's a platform game. I grew tired of platform games after their heyday in the late 80s.

    And, MGS4 is a must have in my opinion! Despite the fact that I knew I wasn't going to care for the cliché-Japanese storytelling and suspense. Thus I borrowed it from my friend... Once again contributing to the lackluster sales.
  • RJ you are an idiot

    This article is an analysis of what Sony need to change to take the win in 2009, no where have i said that Kilzone GOW and Yakuza is what is going to make them win. I simply said that this is what fanboys and media are going of off, but i then explained how those games are not enough. Its all behind their strategy and marketing.

    Do not try to argue with me if you dont even understand the purpose of the article.
  • .
    rj...

    im pretty sure that all of those titles are confirmed for 2009, and even if they dont have a specific launch date, most of those are forecasted for early/mid 2009. kz2 is dated for feb09.

    and your analysis of the ps3 library this year humors me. other than socom, your claims to each of those games are subjective and invalid. boring? mediocre? i think gears2 is boring and mediocre, but that doesnt make it truth, or even popular opinion. all of those games, sans socom, are critically acclaimed.

    secondly your claim that sony pushes all of their games back may be true, but its true for the whole industry. EVERYONE in the industry, even your precious xbox, releases ideal deadlines that most of the time they cannot meet. thats just how the industry works, its not a conspiracy.

    finally, there not not JUST 3 exclusives coming to ps3 next year. heavy rain and infamous are just to name a few exclusives that look to blow the industry out of the water. HOWEVER, the article is taking a look at if those exclusives will be enough. if halo4, gears3, and fable3 were all dated to come out next year, people would definitely NOT be saying, "only 3 exclusives? you think xbox will dominate with ONLY those games?" because, frankly, it probably would. but kz2, gow2, and yakuza3 all look to be EXCELLENT games, with quality that BLOWS anything this generation has out of the water. so YES, those 3 exclusives do have the potential to raise ps3 up, not to mention all the other excellent games coming next year.

    but that isnt sonys problem. although i think that those games will do well, i dont think they are going to push consoles like halo and gears did, unless sony gets out of this negative marketing umbrella they are in, drops the price of the ps3, and gets so freaking commercials out. i like sony, am still pulling for them, but i dont like their business model.
  • Shmick
    RJ=fanboy
    PS does bring out quality games and they dont rush games like Microsoft does, PS3 console is a much better console in everythig i.e. network, graphics, reliability and the fact that its network now is better than 360's which you have to pay for and wait till you get connected again. I could keep going on about the faults of the 360 but there is too many to list, ok Sony has faults as well but they are reducing and more people these days are looking forward to new games for the Playstation.

    Maybe RJ you should do your history.
  • RJ
    Maybe you should do your history.

    What makes consoles sell.... The Exclusives.

    You listed 3 exclusives as your opening argument, with one of them not even confirmed for 2009 you just pulled it out of your ass.

    Do you actually think a price drop is gonna make the PS3 win?

    They are losing money on every single PS3 the money is in the games, the only thing you can prob predict is after 2009 that sony will not manufacture a PS4.
  • "As for the writer of the article, do you honestly think by listing Killzone 2, Yakuza 3 and even suggesting that God of War 3 will come out (where every single dam game on the PS3 has been delayed) will give PS3 the crown on 2009."

    is that what I said RJ? NO

    try reading the article before you comment.
  • RJ
    DJ... Are you alright there?

    Sony won in quality of games????

    Every single game released has had problems, every single game.

    Socom you can't even play online.

    Little Big Planet is boring

    Resistance 2 is mediocre

    Metal Gear Solid 4 is just an interactive movie

    Every other game is cross platform with only Burnout being the only game that looks better on PS3 compared to 360.
    My PS3 is covered in dust, its a hunk of junk.

    As for the writer of the article, do you honestly think by listing Killzone 2, Yakuza 3 and even suggesting that God of War 3 will come out (where every single dam game on the PS3 has been delayed) will give PS3 the crown on 2009.

    3 Games in a whole year... Whats wrong with you???
  • mike
    Frankly, who cares...

    However, if the pissing match needs to continue, let's not forget that "Sony" even if we just restrict to gaming, makes much more than the ps3...the ps2 is still selling well, the psp is in great demand. So all told, I bet the Sony brand is doing better than the Microsoft gaming brand now and will continue to do better.
  • Xbot
    Fail.

    PS3 @ 400/500 is selling millions more world wide then what the xbox 360 was selling at the same price tag and with no competition at the time.
  • DJ
    Interesting article and I pretty much agree with you from a market perspective. I think Sony definitly won 2008 in terms of quality games. I think they lost in terms of marketing, word of mouth, and general hype.

    MS runs an excellent hype machine. Most people don't even think of the PS3 as the console for sports games but with MLB: The Show, Hot Shots Golf and now equal multi-platform games from EA it's definitly where the sports games are.
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