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11 Replies Last post: Sep 20, 2007 4:06 PM by motley

MW Forums

12,220 posts since
Aug 2, 2004

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Sep 20, 2007 3:50 AM

Sony to expand PS2 business, offers no PS3 price cut

Sony promised a new PlayStation 3 controller and expansion of its PlayStation 2 business, but not an anticipated price cut. more

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Ale3andros

30 posts since
Aug 2, 2007

1. Sep 20, 2007 7:26 AM

in response to: MW Forums

Re: Sony to expand PS2 business, offers no PS3 price cut

It seems that Sony, this time around, might lose the boat on the PS3. I guess this is the fate of all empires (remember ATARI, SEGA, Nintendo all dominating the market at some point?).

Another major problem are the exclusive titles. Game development costs so much that most companies are doing multi platform releases (Devil May Cry anyone?) And the Blu-Ray gamble hasnt paid so far and it is uncertain if it will pay at all. Sometimes arrogance does not pay, and it seems like Sony was way too arrogant this time around.

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chewygoat

175 posts since
Sep 2, 2004

2. Sep 20, 2007 8:01 AM

in response to: Ale3andros

Re: Sony to expand PS2 business, offers no PS3 pri

I'm happy to see that they are going to expand the PS2 business. I just got my first PS2 several months ago, primarily for Dance Dance Revolution games and equivalents, but I'm delving into other stuff now, and have no plans to "upgrade" to a PS3 any time soon, if ever. Aside from the price, I don't have an HDTV and for another, there isn't even a new DDR game coming out for the PS3. The only new DDR games are coming out for PS2, Xbox 360 and Wii. I'm not sure, but I don't even think the DDR games and dance pads work with the PS3, so I'd still need a PS2. At least in the DDR department, the PS3 is a major bust.

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motley

42 posts since
Apr 19, 2005

3. Sep 20, 2007 8:07 AM

in response to: chewygoat

Re: Sony to expand PS2 business, offers no PS3 pri

Can't use the DDR game pad or the guitars for Guitar Hero on the PS3. We hardly use the PS3, it's mainly our high def movie player!!!

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George76

167 posts since
Dec 22, 2006

4. Sep 20, 2007 8:36 AM

in response to: Ale3andros

Re: Sony to expand PS2 business, offers no PS3 price cut

Quote:<hr />
It seems that Sony, this time around, might lose the boat on the PS3. I guess this is the fate of all empires (remember ATARI, SEGA, Nintendo all dominating the market at some point?).

Another major problem are the exclusive titles. Game development costs so much that most companies are doing multi platform releases (Devil May Cry anyone?) And the Blu-Ray gamble hasnt paid so far and it is uncertain if it will pay at all. Sometimes arrogance does not pay, and it seems like Sony was way too arrogant this time around.

<hr />

I don't remember Sega ever dominating the market. They came close to tying Nintendo with the Sega Genesis, but after that it was downhill into console oblivion. Regardless, your point is well taken.

As for the issue with exclusive titles, MS has the deep pockets to buy more big games than Sony (Halo, Gears of War, now Ninja Gaiden 2, etc.). Along with the deep pockets to buy exclusive content and exclusive windows for multi-platform games. Along with all of Sony's exclusive games getting poor reviews, whether entirely fair or not (like Lair, which I personally enjoy and find easier to control than all the reviews would have you believe).

I will have to disagree with the comment that the Blu-Ray gamble hasn't paid off. I bought my PS3 primarily for Blu-Ray playback and a game machine second. It seems from comments on various forums that many others did the same thing. I also rip my CD's on it, and use it as a media player like the AppleTV. And unlike the AppleTV, I can do other things while it plays my ripped AAC files, such as browse the internet or view photos. And if I want it to just play music, it will put a nice visualizer on the screen unlike the AppleTV's dull album information only view. It also supports more video formats than the AppleTV. (Yes, I'm not a big fan of the AppleTV). Unfortunately, as a Mac owner, there's no particularly elegant way of streaming media to it.

To me, playing games is just a bonus feature of the PS3. But it seems like Sony is competing against itself by keeping the PS2 alive. Since game makers already know how to easily create PS2 games, many can (and are) stick to it and ignore the PS3. So the PS3 can't get past its hurdle of lacking compelling game content.

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donikatz

77 posts since
Sep 9, 2004

5. Sep 20, 2007 9:45 AM

in response to: George76

Re: Sony to expand PS2 business, offers no PS3 pri

"I don't remember Sega ever dominating the market."

When Nintendo was delayed releasing SNES, Sega Genesis was the best system and hottest seller. SNES likely outsold Genesis eventually, but there was a brief period when Sega did dominate the market.

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jedi228

417 posts since
Oct 16, 2004

6. Sep 20, 2007 11:04 AM

in response to: MW Forums

Re: Sony to expand PS2 business, offers no PS3 pri

Quote:<hr />
I bought my PS3 primarily for Blu-Ray playback and a game machine second. It seems from comments on various forums that many others did the same thing.

<hr />

I don't doubt that this is true for you, but you guys are in the minority. The people who just want an affordable game machine greatly outnumber the people who wanted Blu-ray and got the game machine for free. It's pretty simple to understand--the number of people who can afford a $300 box outnumber the people who can afford a $600 box.

The whole reason PS3 has been selling badly is because of Blu-ray. The PS3 pulled Blu-ray up and Blu-ray pulled PS3 down.

Quote:<hr />
And the Blu-Ray gamble hasnt paid so far and it is uncertain if it will pay at all. Sometimes arrogance does not pay, and it seems like Sony was way too arrogant this time around.

<hr />

Actually Sony was arrogant on the PS2 launch (with complicated SDK and shoddy developer relations). The PS2 still sold well. Sony has done a slightly better job this time courting developers, but they can't overcome the price of Blu-Ray. It's a shame that the PS3 team has gotten a bad rap, when they have actually done very well this time. They simply didn't have a choice and had to include Blu-Ray because of pressure from above. This isn't arrogance, it is coercion.

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NeoX

462 posts since
Aug 27, 2004

7. Sep 20, 2007 11:57 AM

in response to: motley

Re: Sony to expand PS2 business, offers no PS3 pri

Quote:<hr />
Can't use the DDR game pad or the guitars for Guitar Hero on the PS3. We hardly use the PS3, it's mainly our high def movie player!!!

<hr />

The have an adapter that they sell at target and pretty much everywhere the ps3 is sold. It allows you to hook up any PS2 controller to the PS3 including the dance pad and Guitar. It sells for about $15.

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Ponceno

153 posts since
Apr 21, 2006

8. Sep 20, 2007 1:10 PM

in response to: jedi228

Re: Sony to expand PS2 business, offers no PS3 pri

Quote:<hr />

Quote:<hr />
I bought my PS3 primarily for Blu-Ray playback and a game machine second. It seems from comments on various forums that many others did the same thing.

<hr />

I don't doubt that this is true for you, but you guys are in the minority. The people who just want an affordable game machine greatly outnumber the people who wanted Blu-ray and got the game machine for free. It's pretty simple to understand--the number of people who can afford a $300 box outnumber the people who can afford a $600 box.

The whole reason PS3 has been selling badly is because of Blu-ray. The PS3 pulled Blu-ray up and Blu-ray pulled PS3 down.

<hr />

Remember that the PS3 is the less expensive Blu-ray player in the market. So it a smart buy as a blu-ray player + you get a PS2 & PS3 as a bonus.

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jedi228

417 posts since
Oct 16, 2004

9. Sep 20, 2007 1:49 PM

in response to: Ponceno

Re: Sony to expand PS2 business, offers no PS3 pri

Quote:<hr />
Remember that the PS3 is the less expensive Blu-ray player in the market. So it a smart buy as a blu-ray player + you get a PS2 & PS3 as a bonus.

<hr />

I happen to think that the Blu-Ray is a great technology and a great deal. The game machine is a great technology. Together they are an even better deal. But nothing really matters if the machine is outside my price range.

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Ponceno

153 posts since
Apr 21, 2006

10. Sep 20, 2007 2:27 PM

in response to: jedi228

Re: Sony to expand PS2 business, offers no PS3 pri

Quote:<hr />

Quote:<hr />
Remember that the PS3 is the less expensive Blu-ray player in the market. So it a smart buy as a blu-ray player + you get a PS2 & PS3 as a bonus.

<hr />

I happen to think that the Blu-Ray is a great technology and a great deal. The game machine is a great technology. Together they are an even better deal. But nothing really matters if the machine is outside my price range.

<hr />

Considering all that you get on a PS3 is a still. Remember that last year iSupply estimate it price close to $900. But I wait until this summer price drop to get the PS3 with 6 free movies + Remote control.

But they are rumors of a 40 GB PS3 for $399 for Christmas.

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motley

42 posts since
Apr 19, 2005

11. Sep 20, 2007 4:06 PM

in response to: NeoX

Re: Sony to expand PS2 business, offers no PS3 pri

Quote:<hr />
Quote:<hr />
Can't use the DDR game pad or the guitars for Guitar Hero on the PS3. We hardly use the PS3, it's mainly our high def movie player!!!

<hr />

The have an adapter that they sell at target and pretty much everywhere the ps3 is sold. It allows you to hook up any PS2 controller to the PS3 including the dance pad and Guitar. It sells for about $15.

<hr />

Thanks for the heads up. The last time I checked, a month or so after getting my PS3, these adapters existed but stated that they wouldn't work for the dance pad or the guitar.... only the old PS2 controllers.

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