Sony: PS3 has competitive advantage over Xbox 360, and you’re paying for potential
By Dave Parrack
What made you choose your console over the other options? Pricing, games, heritage, fanboyism? Or was it perhaps the potential the machine has? Sony’s plumping for the last option.
The PS3 is currently the highest priced games console on the market, excluding of course those high-end gaming PCs that do much more besides gaming. But that’s okay according to Sony as you’re “paying for potential”. What’s more, the Playstation 3 apparently has a significant competitive advantage over the Xbox 360. Not surprisingly, all these claims come from a marketing man.
Scott Steinberg is the Sony Computer Entertainment of America product marketing Vice president, or the PS3 tub thumper to give him his more accurate and much shorter title. He has recently spoken to Gamasutra about the Playstation 3, that fabled 10 year lifecycle plan for the console, and a whole host of other subjects to boot.
Talking about the ten year plan for the PS3, Seinberg reiterated earlier claims by Sony CEO Howard Stringer that although “the price of the PS3 is high, you’re paying for potential.” He claims the PS3 is currently being future-proofed to enable it to compete at the highest level for years to come.
Part of this future-proofing was the inclusion of the Blu-ray drive right from the off. Looking at the situation as it stands now, it does indeed seem as though Sony were very forward-thinking on the matter, but let’s not forget that it was a huge gamble to include Blu-ray as standard. It meant the manufacturing costs of the PS3 were immediately sky-high, and is probably holding back price cuts even now. And if HD DVD had become the industry standard instead of Blu-ray, the PS3 would have been screwed.
As it is though, the gamble paid off and Steinberg thinks that the Blu-ray format gives the PS3 a significant competitive advantage over its rivals, the Xbox 360 and Wii, saying “Blu-ray is bigger, and Blu-ray games are going to be the biggest games in the industry.”
As good as the technology is however, Sony is still struggling to entice gamers from parting with their hard-earned cash. Steinberg believes that the comfort brands that PS2 owners have grown to love will be one of the biggest influences on them upgrading. Although new intellectual properties such as LittleBigPlanet and Resistance are also going to prove worthy.
Those comfort brands are great messages to PS2 owners looking for games and brands they’re familiar with but are upgraded for the new tech.
Steinberg is a marketing man, so all of this can be taken with a pinch of salt and a healthy dose of scepticism. But he has at least confirmed that Sony are invested in the PS3 for the long-haul, with that 10 year plan seeming to be an unshakeable strategy. It worked for the PS2, so I suppose it could work again.
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August 14th, 2008
i wish they’d stop with this crap, no-one takes notice and its cringe worth. Not just Sony either but other gaming companies blow their own trumpet and it doesn’t do anything.
August 14th, 2008
i go where the games are.
http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/report-pc-xbox-360-dominate-game-development/
August 14th, 2008
kevin plz go suck ur dick some where else
August 14th, 2008
ur a fucking troll i hope u get raped by pedobear
kevin
August 14th, 2008
Pay for potential all you want because potential doesnt cut it. What if the potential is never reached, then what did you spend big bucks for. Sony has a history of promises and not delivering on them so just stop with the potential crap and give people the real deal Now. How is Bluray better when it only reads at 2X the speed. I suspect that in time it will only get better. So what happens then to all the Slow bluray drives that are stuck at 2X speed. Bluray is good for movies but for games it doesn’t cut it. That is why more Developers are making games on the 360 more then any other console because they see the potential that already exist in the 360. So far there are 2 games that developers said cannot be done on the PS3. Tell one game on PS3 that says it cannot be done on the 360 besides it not fitting on 1 disk because of DVD9. There are none. Looks like the PS3 just ran out of potential.
August 14th, 2008
This just in: burnout paradise will be fully downloadable from the PSN this fall.
Seems like that potential has manifested into reality
August 14th, 2008
CAD, what 2 games did “they” say couldn’t be done on ps3?
August 14th, 2008
I don’t know how that can happen. What happens to the retail market? If I owned one of these retail chain I would just stop selling the PS3 because it has the potential to take away sales. 360 already does it but at least they respect retail. They only put the arcade and the old xbox games on the console for download. Retailers should pull the plug on PS3 now if this is going to be Sony’s practice.
August 14th, 2008
well by christmas well know.
why major titles for PS3 and Home.
he who laughs last laughs the longest.
August 14th, 2008
well by christmas well know.
why major titles for PS3 and Home.
he who laughs last laughs the longest.
August 14th, 2008
Sk8man
How is downloading a game from PSN Potential? Even the Wii can do that.
August 14th, 2008
epic fail CAD, you make no sense at all
August 14th, 2008
soz double post
August 14th, 2008
Enos88
Yes you can laugh in 10 years when it finally reaches it’s so called potential.
August 14th, 2008
ok CAD you explain better then you have already why the PS3 dusn’t have potential.
August 14th, 2008
full games CAD? really, you’re telling me that the wii has full retail current gen games available for download? geez, i better take back SSBB because I guess I can download it onto my wii hard drive that doesn’t exsist
August 14th, 2008
well CAD at least i wont have to by a hole new system and add-ons agen in 10 years.
August 14th, 2008
by the way CAD I like how you say potential doesn’t cut it and then go on to talk up the potential of the 360. That makes sooo much sense
August 14th, 2008
physical media is better than Digital downloads as for example the standard house insurance will not cover downloads.
August 14th, 2008
sk8man
You must be a true idiot. What makes you think that the Wii cannot download full retail games if it already has the ability to download older arcade games. They can do it anytime but I think as a console maker you have to respect retail. Sony already did it with 2 games. I call that a slap in the face to retailers. That is why I said they should stop selling the PS3 because it takes away their business.
August 14th, 2008
sk8man
up high.
August 14th, 2008
CAD burnout is a full retail BIG game not summating form the dark ally of tome for the C64
August 14th, 2008
Enos88
Your another Idiot as well Haa. on the 360 they keep a record of my downloads. I can delete anytime I want. Anything I have already purchase I can redownload anytime I choose. So what is the need for house insurance?
August 14th, 2008
The number 2 Microsoft cocksuckers of all time:
1. kev
2. CAD
August 14th, 2008
Enos88
What is your point? All I’m saying is if they can do it with the Older games then common sence tells me that they can do it to whatever they want.
August 14th, 2008
CAD what whens when it gets stolen or broken along with all the other things in you home. digital music and moves you gan say good by.
August 14th, 2008
CAD, now you’re resorting to name calling?
You’re missing the point and I asked you a question.
Grow up then come back.
August 14th, 2008
SEGA
Thank you very much. I like a partner that actually give feedback. Not a bitch like Sony who just lays there in their back and gives nothing in return. Dame Sony doesn’t even get your dick wet. You dry dick Sony Mother Fuckers.
August 14th, 2008
enos88
Buy a 360 and learn something. That is why it is attached to my gamer tag. I can go anywhere to any 360 log in and download anything that I have already purchased and play it with that friend on their 360. So ust in case your not thinking ahead, let me help you. That means that they can steal my 360 because I can git another one and redownload everything.
August 14th, 2008
Interesting view, but not to realistic in my opinion. Sony does have the advantage in more advanced hardware we all know this, but what really drives the market is software. It’s a tough call to tell consumers that “you’re paying for potential.” As, for the fabled 10 year life cycle, I can only tell from the companies time frame or history of support on there last projects. PS2 is still supported so I can only assume PS3 will have the same stamina.
August 14th, 2008
CAD well i though about it buy then i said no. bot a PS3 and im very happy playing games. im happy there going to be a future for the PS3. your just going to have to replace the 360 for the 720. many is everything and if all i want to do is play games and not have to by this and replace that and not having to listen to 5 year old scream down a head set because they got shot down.
August 14th, 2008
ok CAD why did you by a xbox 360?
August 14th, 2008
sk8man
Go back and read what I said because I said the Potential that already exist in the 360. Not potential to come (PS3)
August 14th, 2008
You really are a nob CAD, you can do the same with PS3.
August 14th, 2008
i thought i was just me shouting in the dark rhino.
August 14th, 2008
open your eyes
I think the only reason the PS2 still exist is because it’s helping the PS3 to stay alive as the PS3 has a balooning loss on it’s hands that is in the Billions. I don’t remember that happening with the PS1. If they stopped selling the PS2 when the PS3 came out, at $700 people would have bought a Wii or a 360 and PS3 would be dead.
August 14th, 2008
all sonys consoles are soled at lose then if so much damned whay kill a grate brand
August 14th, 2008
Rhino
I’m not a nob, you boy Enos88 is. I don’t have a PS3 so I told it to him from my perspective. I already suspected that is was the same on the PS3.
August 14th, 2008
Every console in history has stoped it’s previous line to have people shift to the new system. Sony can’t afford that by pricing the PS3 way above what a console should be sold for.
August 14th, 2008
CAD i think what your saying is you cant aford a PS3. is that why you barate them?
August 14th, 2008
OK Kiddies class is over. Time for some gaming. See you tomorrow.
August 14th, 2008
CAD, Sk8man asked you a question, the least you can do is give him an answer. You’ve made this bold claim that “2 games that developers said cannot be done on the PS3″ (those are your words). You’re big on talk but when put to the sword you duck and run.
August 14th, 2008
Enos88
Dude I drive a BMW does that say enough?
August 14th, 2008
hahahah CAD im disappointed.
August 14th, 2008
you a cock (top gear ask them it true)
hahah but youll be buying a audi
August 14th, 2008
CAD, wtf does driving a BMW have to with gaming or you’re opinions??? Seriously dude that is the lamest excuse for a comback i’ve read yet.
Now how about answering Sk8man’s question?
August 14th, 2008
@ CAD “SEGA
Thank you very much. I like a partner that actually give feedback. Not a bitch like Sony who just lays there in their back and gives nothing in return. Dame Sony doesn’t even get your dick wet. You dry dick Sony Mother Fuckers.”
-That just sounded totally gay dude. You just proved to everyone that you seriously suck Microsoft’s shaft
rolf lol ha ha ha.
But back to the point, Microsoft sucks so much fucken suck, it FUCKS! It fucken sucks so much COCK
August 14th, 2008
@ CAD “SEGA
Thank you very much. I like a partner that actually give feedback. Not a bitch like Sony who just lays there in their back and gives nothing in return. Dame Sony doesn’t even get your dick wet. You dry dick Sony Mother Fuckers.”
-That just sounded totally gay dude. You just proved to everyone that you seriously suck Microsoft’s shaft
rolf lol ha ha ha.
But back to the point, Microsoft sucks so much fucken suck, it FUCKS! It fucken sucks so much COCK sucker mother fucker BULL FUCK THAT!!!!
August 14th, 2008
Rhino i dont thick he will. BMW sez it all.
argent to the end
August 14th, 2008
£10 to sega.
August 14th, 2008
But just to show you how inhumanely atrocious this shitload of FUCK is, Microsoft won’t even show the hidden costs of it’s junk……..What an ASSload of FUCK!!!
August 14th, 2008
Rhino
He said I can’t afford a PS3 so I gave him something to think about. Those 2 games are splinter cell because they said the PS3 cannot handel a Complex AI. So that tells me 360 games are more challenging. The second is Red Alert 3. That I might me wrong about because the engine was not designed to work with the PS3. That does not mean that it cannot happen. But at least there i still 1 game that is impossibel on the PS3
August 14th, 2008
anyway back to the point. having played games since the days of the BBC micro PS3 has and is using its potential and i feel it will continue till sony run out of ideas.
August 14th, 2008
Dear dear CAD, there is this little thing on the net called Google. I’m not sure if you’ve heard about it, but when you type in “Splinter Cell PS3″, there are plenty of web site with information about it. Nice try nob. As for Red Alert, EA have already said it’s to hard for them to convert it. It’s not that they can’t they just don’t want to. If you haven’t heard of Google before maybe you can go for a drive in you BMW and get a gaming magazine that will tell you all about these things.
August 14th, 2008
oh CADS back. red alert 3 was shelved as EA as they are lazy. and the engine is written for 360 and pc if they ported it to ps3 it would end in tears. but if they didit the other way round PS3 to 360 and you’d get a grate game (burnout paradise PS3 then Xbox)
August 14th, 2008
CAD
By the way, sticking a BMW badge on a gogo mobile does not make it a BMW
August 14th, 2008
on a side note what BMW do you drive?
August 14th, 2008
crashed and burned CAD
August 14th, 2008
CAD…..you got shut down soo many times…..but yet you keep saying nonsense that makes me laugh even more….why dont you actually buy a ps3?……i guarantee you will like the ps3 (maybe not alot, bc you stand for 360)…..and you will slap yourself in the face a bunch of times when you relize all the things that the ps3 can do that you said it couldnt do…..and dont say its expensive, its cheaper than the 360….so put a sock in it….and experience something b4 you talk shit about it…….and if kev was a M$ cock sucker, he would 2nd, you would be 1st CAD…
August 14th, 2008
Lol welcome back Matt. Yeah I totally agree with you dude. I own 20 PS3 games and only 4 Xbox 360 games….enough said.
CAD, kev, Gary Busey, and Harry Sachz are the most gawd awful annoying xbots I have ever seen in my entire life!!! I honestly think that they work for Microsoft or something.
Either that or they are being paid to go on websites and start jelquing Microsoft’s chode everywhere.
August 14th, 2008
where can we check the latest npd figures? (too lazy too google it) i read sth about it in ign already. wii and ds still on top 2 hardware sales and wii & ds games got around 5 (or 6/7? can’t remember) games in the top10 software sales. but i haven’t read about the more interesting xbox 360 vs ps3 hardware sales.
dave p, mike f, where are your blogs? =p
August 14th, 2008
Wow we all know PLAYSTATION 3 is more powerful than Xbox 360 and way better common sense. Xbox cost more than the PS3 with all the hidden prices.
August 14th, 2008
here here. got from ign. xbox 360 page.
1. Nintendo DS: 608,427
2. Wii: 555,012
3. PlayStation 3: 224,900
4. PlayStation Portable: 221,651
5. Xbox 360: 204,752
6. PlayStation 2: 155,510
August 14th, 2008
Hey Dickhead…I mean, the Future of Sega. I cant remember any time when I’ve posted anything remotely fanboy-ish. I’m usually just commenting on your extremely retarded posts - which are hilarious to read by the way. Not because you are funny in any way, hell you’re a complete fucking moron, but because you feel the need to pepper you posts with expletives constantly, instilling in everyone here the idiot you are. Not only that, It makes those actually trying to justify the PS3 as a good thing with sensible criticism and fact, look bad purely because of association.
August 14th, 2008
Wow man, get it off your chest!
August 15th, 2008
@ Harry Sachz…..Do you have a life man??? Go outside and ride on a pink pony or something. Stop spreading your lies in these posts. The 360 IS NOT where the games are at!
And your analogy of “potential” is clearly retarded. So therefore I’m going to throw out my Pokeball and summon Pikachu to throw a Thunderwave at you
-Pikachu shocks the Sachz-…….K.O.!!! Lol.
Ok Harry, I end this fanboy war with Xbox 360 fans only if you can name 12 good things about PS3 and Sony WITHOUT naming ANY NEGATIVE things about it. And I will do likewise. Deal??
@GaryBusey: Hey stupid….SHUT UP!!! I’d rather fuck a cactus and shove a pillow up my ass than to be arguing with you right now!!! So FUCK AWAY!!!!!!!
August 15th, 2008
ivan - ANY good anyone thought of the ps3 is easily gone due to your insane ramblings. The fact i don’t want to be associated with people like you is one of the reasons i don’t buy one.
worse fanboys in the history of gaming..
August 15th, 2008
Downloading games on PSN is stupid. Don’t let the 80gig Hardrive fool ya. Every game has at least a 2 gig install before you can even play, that means 10 games already takes up 20 gigs.
Don’t forget about the other downloadable content either like movies, game videos, arcade games etc…
By the time PS3 has a decent library you will need alot more space then what you are given.
August 15th, 2008
HEY DAVEP - how about this article? i’d love to read your “analysis” of why the 360 has just outsold the ps3 in JAPAN…
http://www.videogamer.com/news/15-08-2008-9107.html
never saw that coming to be honest….
August 15th, 2008
silly sony, people don’t pay for “potential” they pay for performance.
prolly why they’re in last place. terrible marketting theory… simply terrible…
August 15th, 2008
tgrass21, not every game has an install, also, seeing as how I can use any 2.5 hard drive in the ps3 it’s easy to upgrade, and cheap too. Better than the extremely limited space of the 360 hard drive.
kev, you want Dave to write an article on how the 360 outsold the ps3 in Japan for one week? Are you aware that the ps3 eclipsed the lifetime sales of the 360 in Japan in it’s first week?
August 15th, 2008
@ Kev Yea that makes sense that why people are still pouring money into Microsoft because there Performance has been unmatched. You know
All I want to see is some 360 Fanboy come out and explain to me why the 360 is the best choice out there with out cutting corners by saying your opinion. I want FACTS.
August 15th, 2008
Howard Stringer is Ken K. in disguise!
He must be to say such a jackass thing.
It would be like the MS gaming divison guys coming out and being like ‘hey that $2-300 is just insurance incase you get the RROD!!! Love us!! kthxbye!’
Ok, so not exactly the same, but stupid any way you slice it.
August 15th, 2008
SW and Kev,
Agreed. I’m ok with seeing my PS3 as an investment that will have future dividends. But I don’t like chalking up the high price to some nebulous, undefined “potential.” I love what I’ve gotten from the system so far, and the future looks bright. But if the PS3 can do better, show me. Don’t just say it.
-Arvis
August 15th, 2008
Yea I got to agree with you there Arvis. Not saying I am dissatisfied with my purchase but I am getting a little frustrated with the carrot dangling in front of me. I also have to say that cutting out the PS2 BC is kind of a downer for any one in the future. I’m just glad I got mine with.
August 15th, 2008
Arvis-
Agreed, show us! My perspective though, if it ends up living up to Sony’s “potential” statement that’s just a bonus to me. So far it has pretty much lived up to my expectations.
October 6th, 2008
cad,kev its now 2008 so to let u know 360 has no more potential and the reason 360 its looking better is because ps3 version.u said u will go where games r 360 is the wrong way 85%of MS s__KKKSSSS and u know that u got 1thing right potential isnt everything but XBOX LIVE either before u and your boy KEV come out that way get facts 360 is good but HARWARE / GRAPHICS is not better than PS3 look it up yeah 1 last thing check the list