PS3 Price Cut Demanded by Ubisoft

[Kamalot]

Computer and Videogames is reporting of an interview with Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, in which he states that Sony must drop the price of the PS3 (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=164237) console in order to spur sales. Without a price drop, Mr. Guillemot believes the PS3 will be unable to achieve the success of the PS1 and PS2. Despite Yves' statement that the PS3 requires a price drop, Ubisoft has a PS3-exclusive title planned but didn't provide details.
"They have to decrease the price quite significantly" Guillemot said at the recent Reuters Global Technology, Media and Telecoms Summit in New York.

It's a bit of no-brainer that lowering the cost of PS3 would make it more appealing to consumers, but we're still too waiting on the real killer games that'll make Sony's console a must-have. However, perhaps we'll see such in the 34 titles due to release for the machine in the coming year.No matter what Ubisoft has planned for the PS3, I'm sure they want substantial market penetration so the install base is big enough to make a profit off of the exclusive. A lower price point is great for developers, as it speeds adoption rate of the console. A larger install base means developers can put more resources on a PS3 project.

[bean19]

This isn't surprising. The high price is what is keeping people from buying the system. We've read it a thousand times now.

[Kamalot]

This isn't surprising. The high price is what is keeping people from buying the system. We've read it a thousand times now.
Yes, but we don't usually read it from developers.

What this shows is concern from 3rd party developers/publishers, the very same group that caused the PS1 and PS2 to thrive. Things aren't all rosy when 3rd parties start to look elsewhere to make profits. Look what happened to the GameCube or Dreamcast without strong 3rd party support.

Yes, PS3 expensive, for consumers AND developers/publishers. Sony should realize that and, as Yves says, "decrease the price quite significantly".

Edit: Here is the Reuters original article (http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyid=2007-05-17T001303Z_01_N16338747_RTRUKOC_0_US-SUMMIT-UBISOFT.xml&src=nl_ustechnology).

[TheFlyingOrc]

Oh, Kamalot - what DONT you know about console success? ;)

[Johan]

Yes, but we don't usually read it from developers.

Not publicly, perhaps.

But can you honestly think of a developer who would say, instead: "Don't lower the price."???

He's stating the obvious!

[Gorvi]

This much is obvious. If they want the sales, they need to drop the price to $450. Hell, fund that by putting a hell of a lot more of the PS1 back catalog up for download, those things are hard to resist for $6, and the profit margin must be pretty damn nice. Either way, they need to do it.

EDIT : I'd call the word "demand" in the title a bit of an overstatement.

[TheFlyingOrc]

This much is obvious. If they want the sales, they need to drop the price to $450. Hell, fund that by putting a hell of a lot more of the PS1 back catalog up for download, those things are hard to resist for $6, and the profit margin must be pretty damn nice. Either way, they need to do it.
Except it's probably advantageous for them to do it incrementally, as Nintendo is doing with the virtual console.

At least, that would be my guess.

[agentgray]

I don't believe any thing from Kammy unless I see a pretty chart. :D

[Xerxes]

Ubisoft has a PS3-exclusive title planned but didn't provide details
Lies Lies and more Lies...

[Dr.Finger]

We all know that Sony has to drop the price, but for a publisher, much less one of the largest, to articulate it to the press is big.

[Rook34]

I'm suprised EA has been quiet in all this. Not too long ago, they were telling Sony to sell more PSP's or else..

[Gorvi]

Except it's probably advantageous for them to do it incrementally, as Nintendo is doing with the virtual console.

At least, that would be my guess.
Oh, no, you're definately right on that, I'm just saying they need to find some way to lower the price, and an added revenue stream is needed.

[51|RandoM]

Don't expect a price drop until after they judge the impact of a few more big titles. I especially don't expect the ps3 to drop in price significantly until after the ps2 starts lagging. The last thing they want to do is cannibalize sales from their profitable platform with sales on their unprofitable platform, imho.

[Kamalot]

I don't believe any thing from Kammy unless I see a pretty chart. :D

Well, then here you go!

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:YodK0HXNTJESCM:http://www.dundas.com/Products/Chart/RS/Why/images/ChartRSWhyLrg.png

"The game play has to be the key factor. With very high-end machines, we tend to forget"

[TheFlyingOrc]

Oh, no, you're definately right on that, I'm just saying they need to find some way to lower the price, and an added revenue stream is needed.

I understand. Sony has an objective here - to make money during the life of the PS3. They do not need to make money now, only over the course of 5-6 years. Therefore, it would be most advantageous for them to sell the PS1 games incrementally, instead of less in a short burst. I'm sure Sony desperately wants a revenue stream to make their console competitively priced, but I doubt you just stumbled upon it.

[TheDancinMan]

This is a definite surprise, to hear this coming from a developer. But, then again, it is very understandable and not surprising in the aspects mentioned already. They want their product to sell, so why bother making it for a console that doesn't?

[Karmakin]

The PS3 isn't going to be the cashcow for publishers that the PS1/PS2 was. A price drop would help, but that's not going to happen. Sony believes they can do it alone. Best of luck to them.

[Xerxes]

Sony needs to drop the price is still a win for them. Lowered PS3 prices will bring them the out right victory in their quest for having the new major medium by the balls I think. Gorvi's $450 sounds about right too. Also get to peddling old games online. Start mimicking MS even more and get movie downloads going. Do something, even if it's take a bigger loss. The win would be like the original Xbox. Not by any means a victory industry wide, but I think it still counts as a personal victory to MS. They got they foot in the door with crappy games and power, and walked out with some dignity in the end.

[Kamalot]

This just in:

Gamasutra is reporting that PS3 sales have fallen below 10,000 (http://www.gametab.com/news/909402/) in Japan for the first time.

Sony needs two things. They need AAA games and a price drop, hand in hand, and FAST.

[Elo]

I hope they drop the price soon, I don't see what else is going to make microsoft drop the 360 down to a figure I'd look at paying for it.

[CaptStu]

I hope they drop the price soon, I don't see what else is going to make microsoft drop the 360 down to a figure I'd look at paying for it.

You're right. MS has no need to do anything with the price until Sony shows their hand.

[Philonious]

I imagine that they'll drop the price for their first anniversary... They'll be plenty of games available by then and it could lead to a solid holiday season. I understand their desire to keep the price up since they lose on every console, but in the end market penetration is the best way to make up their loses. In other news, I just said "penetration". heh.

[Yeti2005]

This just in:

Gamasutra is reporting that PS3 sales have fallen below 10,000 (http://www.gametab.com/news/909402/) in Japan for the first time.

Sony needs two things. They need AAA games and a price drop, hand in hand, and FAST.

Have you seen the PS3 NPD numbers for April? 82,000. That's a drop of 50K from last month.

Sony needs to release more quality games and drop the price pronto.

[Karmakin]

That's old news Kamalot, a week or two ago.

Edit:The problem is that they don't need a solid holiday season if it's going to retake the same position they had with the PS1/PS2.

They need every system they have to sell out and for the other two systems sales to drop substantially.

[Philonious]

You're right. MS has no need to do anything with the price until Sony shows their hand.

That's not exactly true, if MS loses too much ground to Nintendo developers will start targeting most of their releases for the Wii... The everyone drowns under a glut of gimmicky and ill thought out games (this isn't to say the Wii can't have good games, just that not every game is ideally suited to the control scheme.) Microsoft has won yet, and their lead is nothing unsurmountable.

[bean19]

We all know that Sony has to drop the price, but for a publisher, much less one of the largest, to articulate it to the press is big.


I think we've seen this "statement" in bigger ways with so many companies who had PS3 exclusives turning them into multi-platform games, and thus the PS3's poor sales have been an obvious (to me) concern for third-party developers for a long time now.

However, saying it outright to the media is a pretty big deal. I'm sorry if my reply made it seem like I thought this was unimportant. I merely think that it is not a surprising statement.

[Kamalot]

That's old news Kamalot, a week or two ago.
Seeing how the Reuters article (http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyid=2007-05-17T001303Z_01_N16338747_RTRUKOC_0_US-SUMMIT-UBISOFT.xml&src=nl_ustechnology) was just posted on the 16th in the evening, that makes the news less than 2 days old. The Gamasutra news that PS3 sales have fallen below 10,000 (http://www.gametab.com/news/909402/) was just posted today.

If you have advanced information of these events, please feel free to submit them as news stories (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=2). EvilAvatar is only as good as the stories people submit.

[Johan]

No D00M!!! in this thread yet?

How about a Howard Dean?

Byaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrgh!

[Karmakin]

Er..Sorry Kamalot. For some reason I thought that last weeks Media Create numbers were below 10k, but they wern't.

I think I'm losing my mind.

[Johan]

I think I'm losing my mind.

It's really not all that difficult to forget which week had bad sales for the PS3...

there have been a lot of those weeks! ;)

[Karmakin]

That is true. It's easy to mix them up :)

[JCtheMC]

I can't believe this hasn't been stated here before, but;

OMG PS3 IS TEH DOOMED!!!1!!eleven!!!

[TheFlyingOrc]

I can't believe this hasn't been stated here before, but;

OMG PS3 IS TEH DOOMED!!!1!!eleven!!!

You must be new here.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/theflyingorc/DrDoomChap.gif

[Pinkus777]

Seeing how the Reuters article (http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyid=2007-05-17T001303Z_01_N16338747_RTRUKOC_0_US-SUMMIT-UBISOFT.xml&src=nl_ustechnology) was just posted on the 16th in the evening, that makes the news less than 2 days old. The Gamasutra news that PS3 sales have fallen below 10,000 (http://www.gametab.com/news/909402/) was just posted today.

If you have advanced information of these events, please feel free to submit them as news stories (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=2). EvilAvatar is only as good as the stories people submit.The price for PS3 was cut significantly at launch in Japan. The price of the PS3 in Japan is not only lower than anyplace else, it is good deal lower already and still they are not buying. Nintendo owns Japan now, Sony is an after thought.

[Trazzlo the Magnificant]

The price for PS3 was cut significantly at launch in Japan. The price of the PS3 in Japan is not only lower than anyplace else, it is good deal lower already and still they are not buying. Nintendo owns Japan now, Sony is an after thought.
Yeah, isn't Japan the only country left that can by the 20GB model? And as I recall it is heavily discounted there, to about $400US. Yet, it isn't selling.

Maybe Sony wants to keep the price high to reduce losses in the short term, in hopes that some "must have" title pops up soon that makes the price irrelevant. The problem I see is that the hard core PS3 gamers already own their systems, so they now have to hit a new target audience of more casual gamers. One game might not be enough for that.

And losing another $150 for each of those 1.2 million units sitting in warehouses has got to be part of the equation as well. When do they decide they really need to move inventory, compared to showing a bigger hit than they already do?

It might be smart to hold off until fall for a price drop, and hope that content does sell the current systems. New systems should be cheaper to manufacture.

[DaXIthR]

What's really striking to me about news like this is that developers, publishers, media...everyone is saying this stuff because they want the PS3 to excel even though Sony has done nothing to encourage that kind of support.

I don't recall the losers in previous generations getting called out like that.

This is incredible to me. CEOs and Studio heads weren't going to the media calling out console manufacturers telling them how to fix their business so the third parties can put their software on those consoles. But they're doing it for Sony.

MS never got that treatment for the Xbox. Nintendo never got it for the GC, or even for the GB for the 2 years before Pokemon came out. Sega never got it for the Saturn or the Dreamcast. All those systems were just left to die by those who didn't put anything on them...

[jpublic]

Isn't the 10k mark what convinced Sega to drop the Dreamcast? IIRC, they announced the abandonment of the DC shortly after their numbers fell below that mark.

(Of course, the rampant-and-stupidly-easy piracy probably didn't help.)

[Johan]

That's a helluva interesting observation, DaXIthR!

[TheFlyingOrc]

What's really striking to me about news like this is that developers, publishers, media...everyone is saying this stuff because they want the PS3 to excel even though Sony has done nothing to encourage that kind of support.

I don't recall the losers in previous generations getting called out like that.

This is incredible to me. CEOs and Studio heads weren't going to the media calling out console manufacturers telling them how to fix their business so the third parties can put their software on those consoles. But they're doing it for Sony.

MS never got that treatment for the Xbox. Nintendo never got it for the GC, or even for the GB for the 2 years before Pokemon came out. Sega never got it for the Saturn or the Dreamcast. All those systems were just left to die by those who didn't put anything on them...
Sony is the first company to really make them money. When your magic money machine quit working, wouldn't you call the manufacturer?

[51|RandoM]

Have you seen the PS3 NPD numbers for April? 82,000. That's a drop of 50K from last month.


5 week vs. 4 week. Still was a drop, but not as large as you're presenting.

:)

[TheFlyingOrc]

5 week vs. 4 week. Still was a drop, but not as large as you're presenting.

:)
They count it after a certain number of weeks, not by days in the month?

[Taiso]

I'd demand a price drop if I had any intention of purchasing a PS3 any time soon. But there is NOTHING for that system I want right now. MGS 4 and FF XIII are the only titles that interest me at all, and if those go non exclusive, then I'll say it right here;

SONY IS TEH D00M3D!!!1!!!!!11!!!!!one!!!1!!won!!!!!!!1!!!!!uno !!!1!!!ichi!!11!!

So it's a good thing Sony doesn't count on me for their profits.

The PS3's hype was predicated on their desire to dissuade people from purchasing the 360. 'DON'T BUY THE 360 BECAUSE IT CAN'T DO EVERYTHING THAT OUR PS3 WILL BE ABLE TO DO!!!' Why do you think Sony was one of the first companies to state they weren't doing E3 anymore? Because every time they tried to hype their product, they tried to do so at the expense of the competitor. Sony basically dug a deep hole for themselves by promising so much functionality and power out of the PS3. Of COURSE the thing was going to cost a fuckton...how could it NOT, based on all the shit they were cramming into it? That's when the infamous 'serious gamers will get a second job to buy a PS3' comments started flying out of Kutaragi's mouth. Hard to believe anyone could fucking understand him with his foot in his mouth.

Then, when it came time for Soiny to put their money where their mouths were, the PS3 not only cost too much money for the average consumer to purchase, but there weren't enough of them at launch to sustain the hype to begin with. The mediocre game selection didn't help, either. I understand that launch titles are generally underwhelming but if I can see it, I'm positive Sony sure as fuck can see it too.

So now Sony is in a strange place that theyre not used to being in. I fully believe that developers will figure out what is underneath the hood of the PS3 and get it to perform at peak capacity. But this is all dependant on consumer interest. Why should developers learn the hardware if no ones going to buy the games? Ubisoft understands this, obviously.

[Apex]

Yes, but we don't usually read it from developers.

What this shows is concern from 3rd party developers/publishers, the very same group that caused the PS1 and PS2 to thrive. Things aren't all rosy when 3rd parties start to look elsewhere to make profits. Look what happened to the GameCube or Dreamcast without strong 3rd party support.

Yes, PS3 expensive, for consumers AND developers/publishers. Sony should realize that and, as Yves says, "decrease the price quite significantly".

Edit: Here is the Reuters original article (http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyid=2007-05-17T001303Z_01_N16338747_RTRUKOC_0_US-SUMMIT-UBISOFT.xml&src=nl_ustechnology).

Well you might not read them saying it, but if your in the industry or talk to developers, you hear it all the time. The only reason the company I work for is making PS3 games is because they've been offered deals to do it, when they're really going after Wii, 360 and xboxlive stuff.

[Karmakin]

DaXIthr: What publishers want, is they want the 100+ million installed base, to be the cashcow for them, and to make their publishing decisions easy.

And for some reason they believe only Sony can deliver this.

By this time next year (actually, the day after Black Friday this year), the realization will be that if you want the returns, you best be focusing on either the 360 or the Wii, depending if you really need the graphical power or not. In Japan, it'll probably be cut and dry. If you need the power, it's on the Wii. If not, it's on the DS.

[Xerxes]

You must be new here.

Not totally...
http://www.popmatters.com/images/news_art/e/enter-movie-300-2-os.jpg

[DeejayKnight]

DaXIthr: What publishers want, is they want the 100+ million installed base, to be the cashcow for them, and to make their publishing decisions easy.

And for some reason they believe only Sony can deliver this.

By this time next year (actually, the day after Black Friday this year), the realization will be that if you want the returns, you best be focusing on either the 360 or the Wii, depending if you really need the graphical power or not. In Japan, it'll probably be cut and dry. If you need the power, it's on the Wii. If not, it's on the DS.

I think that final bit all depends on whether Sony can drop the price of the PS3 to $450 by Thanksgiving.

I don't expect it. Hell, I wouldn't even consider it if I were Sony, but that would spice the battle a bit - and probably boost their sales massively.

[Xerxes]

I don't expect it. Hell, I wouldn't even consider it if I were Sony, but that would spice the battle a bit - and probably boost their sales massively.
I'm for Sony dropping prices but they can't when a price war. MS is sitting on the edge of a drop and that will only help Microsoft. MS can easily knock a hundred off each system. Have the Core at Wii prices.

[TheFlyingOrc]

I'm for Sony dropping prices but they can't when a price war. MS is sitting on the edge of a drop and that will only help Microsoft. MS can easily knock a hundred off each system. Have the Core at Wii prices.

Which is funny, since Nintendo probably cannot really drop the price on their system - not because they couldn't afford it, but rather because they couldn't satisfy demand at a lower price.

[karak]

Anyone quoting possibilities and future needs to realize that all things are built in small pieces and the PS3 is failing right now. There is NO potential if no one is there to witness it or has moved on. Even if they cut down to the same price as the 360 they HAVE to show amazing games NOW. The other systems are steamrolling it. I have one and I do occasionally play it but I am not going to fool myself that they aren't getting skull humped. As anyone who even has the smallest contact in the industry knows, this kind of thing has been going on since day 1.

[DaXIthR]

That's a helluva interesting observation, DaXIthR!

Thanks!

DaXIthr: What publishers want, is they want the 100+ million installed base, to be the cashcow for them, and to make their publishing decisions easy.

And for some reason they believe only Sony can deliver this.

That's unfortunate. They are creating a situation where Sony can get away with anything, effectively either forcing our hand as consumers because only Sony gets all the 3rd party love, or making us abandon out hobby because we don't like how it works.

If Sony can't get its system to sell, third parties making it their mission to ensure it does so seems against the will of the consumer.

Nintendo dominated with the NES, held an advantage with the SNES. Nintendo has proven they have a global presence in the industry, and has a huge number of hardcore fans in every territory. By your logic, it seems the N64 was a bigger mistake than the PS3.

I find that difficult to swallow. Which brings me to my next point.

Sony is the first company to really make them money. When your magic money machine quit working, wouldn't you call the manufacturer?

The money is always there. It's fair to say there isn't a crash imminent. Every developer in the world stopped trying to make a decent game for a year, we still have a fair share of multi-platinum sellers.

I believe the problem is the developer's perception of Nintendo systems as machines for Nintendo software. They are afraid of Nintendo becoming dominant again for that reason. MS simply isn't global because they have no penetration in the Far East.

Having to choose between Sony being absolutely dominant, or Nintendo being dominant, I think most third parties would vote for Sony. This news piece shows a sense of desperation, though. Sony is failing; the writing's on the wall. Despite the developers' best wishes for Sony, Sony is still undermining themselves.

If MS gets a Sony exclusive, it's big. If Nintendo steals one, it's huge.

[oldjadedgamer]

Don't expect a price drop until after they judge the impact of a few more big titles. I especially don't expect the ps3 to drop in price significantly until after the ps2 starts lagging. The last thing they want to do is cannibalize sales from their profitable platform with sales on their unprofitable platform, imho.

There has already been a huge shift in PS2 hardware and software sales in Japan. They have been falling month by month pretty heavily since the PS3 and Wii were announced.

Does that mean Japan is getting a price drop soon?

[Trazzlo the Magnificant]

There has already been a huge shift in PS2 hardware and software sales in Japan. They have been falling month by month pretty heavily since the PS3 and Wii were announced.

Does that mean Japan is getting a price drop soon?
Not only that, but PS3 prices are lowest in Japan since they still have a discounted 20GB SKU, yet sales are dismal for a home territory.

What is interesting is that might prove the point that price isn't the issue. Maybe it really is entirely lack of content, but maybe there are other reasons people aren't picking them up outside of price & content.

If Sony did drop the price, it's hard to put it back up. Maybe they should just put it on sale for a month (offer $100 off coupons or some such thing) to find out.

[GodFather]

I personally am glad to see Sony struggling like they are. The arrogance they have shown to the consumer and thinking we will pay those high prices because we "must have" a PS3 is something nice to see..

bottom line..money talks.

increased prices on consoles, etc is something we the consumer dont need. Theres things in life we get raped paying because its a necessity(gas, price of college, etc) A console is something people can tell the company FU...I dont have to pay those prices and wont until you become more competitve.

[Karmakin]

Having to choose between Sony being absolutely dominant, or Nintendo being dominant, I think most third parties would vote for Sony. This news piece shows a sense of desperation, though. Sony is failing; the writing's on the wall. Despite the developers' best wishes for Sony, Sony is still undermining themselves.

I think you're right on that.

I think a lot of developers are terrified about the concept of even trying to compete with Miyamoto and Co. So they outsource the development to smaller companies and settle for picking up the scraps, but the thing is, it is probable that by the end of the year, the Wii will be the market leader worldwide, and it already is in Japan, leaving out the PS2.

The other option is various developers deciding to forgoe the next-gen race and stick with the PS2 for development. Especially in Japan, this would not shock me.

[Gott]

Oh, no, you're definately right on that, I'm just saying they need to find some way to lower the price, and an added revenue stream is needed.

G-Man...you're right about the added revenue they need...They're banking on Home to be that revenue stream. They want to milk the PS3 owners that are online for all that they're worth by selling them tiny pixelated furniture and lamps. I hope it blows up in their face...

For the record...Home will be a let-down. So it will fit in nicely with the PS3 :)

The spirit of Krazy Ken will haunt Sony for generations...

[karak]

isn't home going to only be 64 people as well?

[*Legion*]

Don't expect a price drop until after they judge the impact of a few more big titles. I especially don't expect the ps3 to drop in price significantly until after the ps2 starts lagging. The last thing they want to do is cannibalize sales from their profitable platform with sales on their unprofitable platform, imho.

That's a very short-sighted business plan. Sony needs the PS3 to succeed for their long-term viability in the gaming market. Enjoying a few more bucks on PS2 sales now at the expense of their entire future in the market space is pretty damn stupid. If gamers continue to flock to the 360 and the Wii, Sony is going to have a hard time maintaining any sort of position of strength if the PS3 fails to get going very soon.

Look at what the N64 did to Nintendo's position in the market. They've had to fight tooth and nail since and only now are back in the sort of position they were before the N64 (after the successful Super NES).

A few more PS2 sales just aren't worth it. That's more money now and a whole lot less money later.

[Trazzlo the Magnificant]

If Sony did wait until fall to drop their prices, they also will be doing so at the same time MS might drop the 360 price. If they combine Halo marketing with a 360 price drop, 65nm technology, and maybe some other cost savings, anything Sony does will appear to simply keep the status quo. ie. AMD/ATI's new boards include sound with graphics, they might do that on the 360 as well, so MS takes out the existing sound electronics.

I think MS isn't pushing sales as much right now, but rather getting all their ducks in a row for the early fall, with Halo leading the way. It's not just Halo Sony has to be worried about, its all the things that happen simultaneously.

[DaXIthR]

I think you're right on that.

I think a lot of developers are terrified about the concept of even trying to compete with Miyamoto and Co. So they outsource the development to smaller companies and settle for picking up the scraps, but the thing is, it is probable that by the end of the year, the Wii will be the market leader worldwide, and it already is in Japan, leaving out the PS2.

The other option is various developers deciding to forgoe the next-gen race and stick with the PS2 for development. Especially in Japan, this would not shock me.

Agreed. I also want to add Nintendo's done close to a 180 since Iwata's taken over. For developers to treat this Nintendo like the one under Yamauchi would be unfair.

Nintendo would show a lot of favor towards third parties than they had in the past. I think Nintendo could be the Sony from 1998 to 2003. At the very least, developers should be happy Nintendo isn't trying to make a set-top box or a movie player.

[BlackPete]

I think a lot of developers are terrified about the concept of even trying to compete with Miyamoto and Co. So they outsource the development to smaller companies and settle for picking up the scraps, but the thing is, it is probable that by the end of the year, the Wii will be the market leader worldwide, and it already is in Japan, leaving out the PS2.

It's not just fear of old Shiggy, it's also a fear of Nintendo itself. Lots of people still remember what a bunch of complete and utter dickbags Nintendo can get when they dominate the market -- higher licensing fees, retarded certification requirements (turn blood into sweat or else!), etc.

This is why I desperately pray that NONE of the three consoles can get a clear victory this generation (even if the Wii is looking like it's headed in that direction right now).

[Trazzlo the Magnificant]

Agreed. I also want to add Nintendo's done close to a 180 since Iwata's taken over. For developers to treat this Nintendo like the one under Yamauchi would be unfair.
I agree with this as well, Nintendo's current management seems to be cookin'. They are actively trying to set their own path, own market, own style, and managed to be financially successful right out of the gate. Not just moderately successful, but also setting a new record for the company.

It take a lot of work, careful thinking and planning, and courage to pull that off. Sony used to do that, but they lack the management to do it now. Someday they might again, but it takes time to grow the system and the products.

[Kamalot]

It take a lot of work, careful thinking and planning, and courage to pull that off. Sony used to do that, but they lack the management to do it now. Someday they might again, but it takes time to grow the system and the products.
Sony also needs a huge corporate culture shift. Much of the organization has been built on secrecy, back-room deals and compartmentalized fiefdoms all vying for power. That kind of corporate culture isn't easy to change. You end up creating a bunch of people that are suspicious, sneaky and devious.

[JCtheMC]

You must be new here.



I've lurked long enough to make a plant to get someone to whip out the infamous Dr.

Thanks :)

[BlackPete]

Sony also needs a huge corporate culture shift. Much of the organization has been built on secrecy, back-room deals and compartmentalized fiefdoms all vying for power. That kind of corporate culture isn't easy to change. You end up creating a bunch of people that are suspicious, sneaky and devious.

Kinda like Nintendo?

[Anenome]

By this time next year (actually, the day after Black Friday this year), the realization will be that if you want the returns, you best be focusing on either the 360 or the Wii, depending if you really need the graphical power or not. In Japan, it'll probably be cut and dry. If you need the power, it's on the Wii. If not, it's on the DS.

For us Nintendo-fanboys, all of this is extremely gratifying. The people I feel sorry for are the ones who gave Gamecube a shot and were hurt for it, but had they done the same with Wii would be rolling in the dough right now. I'm glad that developer attention is turning towards Wii, this is such sweet satisfaction to see the PS3 fall flat on its face SO BADLY, and EVEN in Japan! It's like... GOD HATES PS3.

There is however one developer who earned my ire... Factor 5. These turncoats shoulda made Rogue Squadron for Wii! That would be an absolutely amazing game, it was even back when Gamecube was released. Graphically it's incredible, and the game is tons of fun. But, Factor 5 this generation ditched Wii, dissed Wii, and now is making LAIR for PS3, exclusive no less! The fools! Let them eat crow now, and choke on sordid retail sales charts. Because Lair is little more than a Rogue Squadron rip-off/redress, as Penny-Arcade (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/05/18) recently pointed out.

In the meantime, I'm Wii60 all the way. I am looking forward to Mass Effect, Too Human, and Smash Bros. this winter. That's the paramour of this year's games. What about Halo3 you ask? Sounds great, I'll pick it up I'm sure. But I'll pass on most of the online pvp. I prefer co-op.

One good point one of the Japa-dev's made was that many Japa-developers will likely make game for the 360 to export to the US and European market, and that these may trickle back into Japan. For instance, as much as we all lke Metal Gear, it's considered a very Western game in Japan, and the Japanese don't like it that much. It would be completely foolish for Konami to release it on PS3 at this point, absent a few tons of cash dumped on their door by Sony. But, with Sony bleeding cash, that's not gonna happen. Which is why all their exclusive are being lost. So, whatcha wanna bet that Final Fantasy gets ported to either Wii or 360 in a heartbeat? You know they're already using the Unreal engine for the next Final Fantasy. Which, as we know actually works better on 360 hardware than PS3 hardware. If you're Square/Enix... what would you do? Stick with Sony, despite knowing that if you stay exclusive you harm yourself and future sales for the next 5 years... or? That's right. Count on it. It'll happen.

[DaXIthR]

There is however one developer who earned my ire... Factor 5. These turncoats shoulda made Rogue Squadron for Wii! That would be an absolutely amazing game, it was even back when Gamecube was released. Graphically it's incredible, and the game is tons of fun. But, Factor 5 this generation ditched Wii, dissed Wii, and now is making LAIR for PS3, exclusive no less! The fools! Let them eat crow now, and choke on sordid retail sales charts. Because Lair is little more than a Rogue Squadron rip-off/redress, as Penny-Arcade (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/05/18) recently pointed out.

I disagree with you on this, though I'll say Penny-Arcade hit the nail on the head.

Factor 5 has effectively been working on the same game since the middle of the N64 life cycle - that's a decade now. It almost reminds me of Silicon Knights.

I was amazed with the graphics F5 produced on the N64 and GC, but cannot same the about Lair. Great water effects, but that's about it.

F5 have always been more concerned with graphics and sound than they ever were with gameplay. I realized that after the first Rogue Leader for GC. I saw how beautiful it was, and how polished everything seemed; everything but user interface ranging from in-game menus to control.