Sony Says They've Won a Battle, Not the War

[Reeve]

Sony might lose in the long term if the Playstation 4 is not supported by games that sell.

 

[wulfy42]

*SNIP*

I strongly suggest they initially sell games at $60 as well, even if they do have to boost the price on them later (and possible even on some at launch). Having most games sell for $60 would be good enough for now. If they really wanted to THRASH xbox though, they could offer a lower price for digital versions of games (downloaded through the network and not purchased with a disc/manual etc). Pass the savings directly on to the customer there...and yet again they would be putting another nail into the Xbox Coffin.
*SNIP*

I see no reason the PS4 games can't be atleast the same as XBone if not cheaper, the reason PS4 was so much more was the cell processor, the issue isn't there for the PS4 since it uses the same AMD x86 processor that PC's and XBone use.

Actually there is a reason why PS4 games could be more expensive...and perhaps even should.

The Xbox One games are going to be sold primarily as digital copies, no case, manual, shipping, cut to the seller or cost to make the disk etc.

All those costs add up.....probably taking at least $10 out of the total profit for the game.

Now the PS4 can also sell digital copies, and probably will, and it could sell them for less as well. The Xbox one though has already said it'll be selling it's digital copies at $60 (full price basically). Unless Sony raises the full price for new games over $60....that is an advantage. You get more for your money....although Sony also makes less per game sale.

If you sell a digital copy for $60....and a physical copy for $60....the digital copy makes you more money. Both initially due to not having to make a disc/ship it etc, and long term due to no resale as a used copy etc (meaning likelyhood of another sale for you).

The way to ensure people don't trade in games and buy digital copies? Sell digital copies for less.

 

[Th37thTrump3t]

Executives talking with his grown up head on? And he's from Sony? Is the world going to end now? Coz I want to finish the last of us first.

Hold on, let me make a call.

[sub]Hey, Satan? Yeah it's me. Hail the size of SUVs you say? Damn. Ight, peace.[/sub]

Yeah. Hell definitely froze over. Time to grab the tin foil hats and hide out in the underground bunker.

 

[theApoc]

Snip

Why would you say MS WON last Generation. By all reasoning Nintendo Dominated the previous console generation. MS and Sony were just fighting for second place in terms of sales.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but doesn't it become quite different if we measure game sales in addition to console sales? I used to work at GameStop and all of our numbers showed that the attach rate for Wii was VASTLY lower than for Xbox360 or PS3. Sony and Microsoft gets licensing money for every game sold, right? That would change the rankings by quite a bit, I think.

In addition, I would say that XBOX Live has to count as well. There is a reason XBOX ONE is content focused, and that most likely stems from their analysis of what people do on XBOX Live. Saying a company "won" simply because of how many units they sold is disingenuous. What was the most profitable, there is no data that suggest PS3 or Wii were as profitable as XBOX over their lifetimes. At least none that I can find.

 

[theApoc]

You are right about one thing though. Microsoft is nuerting fanboys. Their own. Everything they have said so far has gotten both regular consumers and the more dedicated gamers to look at the X1 and turn away from everything it offers.

I would very much doubt that a regular consumer who owns a 360, is going to switch to a PS4. They might not immediately adopt the next generation, but there is no reason for someone who uses LIVE on their current XBOX to switch.

 

[JokerboyJordan]

XBOX Live and the multimedia experience created by MS has no equal in current technology.

Except a Smart TV and a PS4.
Which is what most gamers would go for/prefer over the Xbox with it's DRM.

Hell, if you're the kind to not have a cable subscription and you don't care about Kinect, a PC fills your needs just as well, and I'm saying this as a 360 fanboy.

Microsoft have alienated me with their terrible decisions and PR, and as such I will not buy the X1 out of principle.

 

[Quiotu]

Sony has a history of retroactively removing features used as selling points from their consoles so their words are cheap.
It is advisable not to trust a single thing they say.
We'll see what they will actually do.

I'm glad someone else sees this. Sony has done horrible things in the past but right now due to M$ utter dickshittery people are hailing Sony as some kind of saviors.

Sony are all about the bottom line, just like everyone else, the only major difference is that right now they are acting a whole lot smarter than M$. Currently i have a PS4 preordered but i'm not going to forget for one minute the shit Sony have pulled in the past

I keep hearing this, and I'm not sure where this 'savior' talk is coming from. People like Sony more because they're pandering to both the developer and the gamer equally, rather than pandering to the publisher or the CEO. I don't see anyone calling Sony a savior, just people who are choosing a different company now because one seems to get it more than the other. It was the reverse last generation, so I don't think people are giving Sony their first-born anytime soon. It's merely a change in momentum, and what Sony and Microsoft do in the future will decide if the momentum shift is long term or not.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

Snip

Why would you say MS WON last Generation. By all reasoning Nintendo Dominated the previous console generation. MS and Sony were just fighting for second place in terms of sales.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but doesn't it become quite different if we measure game sales in addition to console sales? I used to work at GameStop and all of our numbers showed that the attach rate for Wii was VASTLY lower than for Xbox360 or PS3. Sony and Microsoft gets licensing money for every game sold, right? That would change the rankings by quite a bit, I think.

From what I've heard, the Wii actually had the highest amount of games sold, even if the attach rate was low. I definitely know there are 103 Wii games that sold over 1 Million copies, which is quite an impressive feet.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

You are right about one thing though. Microsoft is nuerting fanboys. Their own. Everything they have said so far has gotten both regular consumers and the more dedicated gamers to look at the X1 and turn away from everything it offers.

I would very much doubt that a regular consumer who owns a 360, is going to switch to a PS4. They might not immediately adopt the next generation, but there is no reason for someone who uses LIVE on their current XBOX to switch.

To a regular, none-gamer the consoles are equal, except that the PS4 is cheaper. I believe that a lot of none-gaming media has reported on the Xbox One's restrictions on used games and lending, too.

This would certainly seem to suggest where the consensus lies: http://www.futuregamingnews.com/report-ps4-completely-outselling-xbox-one-winning-181-in-amazon-poll-and-over-201-in-ign-poll/

But we should remember that the Wii U did very well in pre-orders and look at it now. We'll see how things go when both systems are on the market.

I don't know what multimedia features the Xbox One offers that all of my other devices don't. The ability to plug into a cable box? Damn, what a shame. I guess I'll just use the cable box that I'd have to own anyway.

All of it's streaming services are available elsewhere, including on the PS4 and PC. Both of which can also play blu-ray films.

 

[RicoADF]

*SNIP*

I strongly suggest they initially sell games at $60 as well, even if they do have to boost the price on them later (and possible even on some at launch). Having most games sell for $60 would be good enough for now. If they really wanted to THRASH xbox though, they could offer a lower price for digital versions of games (downloaded through the network and not purchased with a disc/manual etc). Pass the savings directly on to the customer there...and yet again they would be putting another nail into the Xbox Coffin.
*SNIP*

I see no reason the PS4 games can't be atleast the same as XBone if not cheaper, the reason PS4 was so much more was the cell processor, the issue isn't there for the PS4 since it uses the same AMD x86 processor that PC's and XBone use.

Actually there is a reason why PS4 games could be more expensive...and perhaps even should.

The Xbox One games are going to be sold primarily as digital copies, no case, manual, shipping, cut to the seller or cost to make the disk etc.

All those costs add up.....probably taking at least $10 out of the total profit for the game.

Now the PS4 can also sell digital copies, and probably will, and it could sell them for less as well. The Xbox one though has already said it'll be selling it's digital copies at $60 (full price basically). Unless Sony raises the full price for new games over $60....that is an advantage. You get more for your money....although Sony also makes less per game sale.

If you sell a digital copy for $60....and a physical copy for $60....the digital copy makes you more money. Both initially due to not having to make a disc/ship it etc, and long term due to no resale as a used copy etc (meaning likelyhood of another sale for you).

The way to ensure people don't trade in games and buy digital copies? Sell digital copies for less.

Except thar XBone games are being sold as disks, the digital side is drm, with a download feature. So manufacturing and shipping is still an issue for the physical copies.

 

[theApoc]

To a regular, none-gamer the consoles are equal, except that the PS4 is cheaper. I believe that a lot of none-gaming media has reported on the Xbox One's restrictions on used games and lending, too.

This would certainly seem to suggest where the consensus lies: http://www.futuregamingnews.com/report-ps4-completely-outselling-xbox-one-winning-181-in-amazon-poll-and-over-201-in-ign-poll/

But we should remember that the Wii U did very well in pre-orders and look at it now. We'll see how things go when both systems are on the market.

I don't know what multimedia features the Xbox One offers that all of my other devices don't. The ability to plug into a cable box? Damn, what a shame. I guess I'll just use the cable box that I'd have to own anyway.

All of it's streaming services are available elsewhere, including on the PS4 and PC. Both of which can also play blu-ray films.

The difference in price is minimal, $400 is still $400, and anyone with a 360 will see the price difference as being the addition of Kinect a separate piece of hardware, which from what I have seen is vastly improved over generation 1. So having both consoles cost the same($400) and kinect cost $100 is not a far stretch. Again, it will slow adoption rates initially but there is no reason for someone to pick PS4 if they have a 360 now.

And for the record, out of the box XBOX one has NO restrictions on used games. None, not a single one. They are allowing publishers to control their content, nothing more. I have read about limitations on digital games, but, um, consoles already have that. Nothing indicates that they have any control over a physical copy of a game.

Edit: Just read some more on this. MS is in fact selling digital copies on the disc, using it as a license key. So essentially they are adopting the same policy as PC games/software. You buy the license not the content. As I think I stated earlier, the only problem with this model is the cost. If they are moving in a more digital direction and thus cutting a large chunk out of their costs to market/ship a game, that savings needs to come to the consumer. Ultimately I think the convenience will out pace the inability to by used gamed. And honestly, what exactly is "used" anyway. I just bought dark souls at gamestop, a NEW unopened original copy was $19.99, used $17.99. I think there is a misconception of how cheap used games actually are. MS has also talked about a game lending service in the future. Yeah, sorry I am just not seeing how anything they are doing is THAT big of a deal. A month after launch COD is going to cost the same whether it is shrink wrapped or not.

Interface and ecosystem. That is what live offers that other solutions do not, and IMO, people who are used to it, are not going to switch or bother with alternatives, especially considering they can just swap devices and still have all of their history, friends, etc...

 

[wulfy42]

*SNIP*

I strongly suggest they initially sell games at $60 as well, even if they do have to boost the price on them later (and possible even on some at launch). Having most games sell for $60 would be good enough for now. If they really wanted to THRASH xbox though, they could offer a lower price for digital versions of games (downloaded through the network and not purchased with a disc/manual etc). Pass the savings directly on to the customer there...and yet again they would be putting another nail into the Xbox Coffin.
*SNIP*

I see no reason the PS4 games can't be atleast the same as XBone if not cheaper, the reason PS4 was so much more was the cell processor, the issue isn't there for the PS4 since it uses the same AMD x86 processor that PC's and XBone use.

Actually there is a reason why PS4 games could be more expensive...and perhaps even should.

The Xbox One games are going to be sold primarily as digital copies, no case, manual, shipping, cut to the seller or cost to make the disk etc.

All those costs add up.....probably taking at least $10 out of the total profit for the game.

Now the PS4 can also sell digital copies, and probably will, and it could sell them for less as well. The Xbox one though has already said it'll be selling it's digital copies at $60 (full price basically). Unless Sony raises the full price for new games over $60....that is an advantage. You get more for your money....although Sony also makes less per game sale.

If you sell a digital copy for $60....and a physical copy for $60....the digital copy makes you more money. Both initially due to not having to make a disc/ship it etc, and long term due to no resale as a used copy etc (meaning likelyhood of another sale for you).

The way to ensure people don't trade in games and buy digital copies? Sell digital copies for less.

Except thar XBone games are being sold as disks, the digital side is drm, with a download feature. So manufacturing and shipping is still an issue for the physical copies.

Even now you can buy digital copies of games. If you have DRM that says the game has to be logged online anyway.....why wouldn't you buy a digital copy? The physical copy is pretty much worthless at this point...especially with such large hard drives.

The fact that Xbox One is still going to sell physical copies as it's primary source of getting games while forcing everyone to be online to play them....is even stupider. Yes, have physical copies be available for those with slow connections etc......but the primary way to sell games should be digital...and should be cheaper.

Both Microsoft and Sony should be doing that. If Sony thinks of it first.....well, that could be another advantage they have.