Exactly.
Cost has pushed them squarely into this market.
This combined with the lack of software that people that can afford a $400 box would buy gives us the situation PS3 is in today.
Almost 3 Years And PS3's First Party Still Does Not Have A Killer App?
- Thread starter TEXAN*
- Start date
Exactly.
Cost has pushed them squarely into this market.
This combined with the lack of software that people that can afford a $400 box would buy gives us the situation PS3 is in today.
Gah... look at a longer time period too... in general aggregated and normalized numbers instead of fluctuating monthly numbers. If the audience is less impulsive, they will take longer to buy. There are more users on 360, naturally the absolute numbers will be more.
I wouldn't say lack of software. One of their big problems was they launched too many within the same timeframe last holiday. That would divide unit game sales too. Look at the numbers in more ways and overall longer horizon, and then tease out the behaviour. Not believe in a dynamics and then find explanations to fit the numbers in.
I wouldn't say lack of software. One of their big problems was they launched too many within the same timeframe last holiday. That would divide unit game sales too. Look at the numbers in more ways and overall longer horizon, and then tease out the behaviour. Not believe in a dynamics and then find explanations to fit the numbers in.
I think you hit the nail on the head.
PS3 gamers are older by default (college kids and younger can't afford a $400+ box and neither can kids just out of college) and thus they have less time to game, possibly less interest, and Sony made an effort to bring in people to buy ps3 due to BR capabilities in hopes to turn some nongamers into gamers ...
On the other hand, xbox gamers fill this older demographic also and due to the lower entry price, also fill the college kid demographic and younger.
"Lack of software ... that they would buy"
Sorry I worded that poorly, what I meant was lack of a killer app to move $400 boxes.
Or rather most first party software were not seductive enough to the user base (They'd buy proportionally equal software eventually, statistically speaking). Note that the OP talks only about first party games, but you're trying to generalize the numbers to all games.
That's not what you said. You said that PS3 owners are less hardcore and the numbers don't agree with you. Sony has never had giant sellers, outside of GT5. Even GoW2, on potentially the most successful console ever didn't manage to match Halo numbers. Well, unless we exclude the casual games that SCEE introduced but that the other regions were too inept to follow through with -- but those worked because they were attached to inexpensive consoles.
Except that in proportion, the attach-rate is about the same. So what are you talking about?
I'm not talking Halo numbers. I'm talking about selling even a million in the first month.
But back to Halo numbers ... from what I recall, GTA back when it was an exclusive did VERY well and did in fact move systems... close to Halo numbers if I'm not mistaken.
A timed exclusive, but sure. Yeah, certainly -- you don't get to be the most successful console ever without selling some games in huge amounts. But those aren't Sony games. Konami always sold millions with MGS and WE. DMC sold millions. RE sold millions. Madden sold millions. All of those were system sellers. All but one of those are multiplat this gen (well, MGS is too, now with Rising -- though again, in all fairness, only DMC was PS exclusive) . Sony sold a lot of Gran Turismo, they did great on Singstar and Buzz! God of War did do the sort of numbers you mention -- hell, it sold nearly 1 million first month NPD on the PSP, and this in March.
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I've been looking but it seems there is missing npd data from 2006, but here's what I've got:
Oblivion sold 1.7 mil by April 10th, less than a month on the market.
GRAW sold a million
Dead Rising sold a million
Gears sold well over a million
These were all back when the xb360 was less than a year old and the userbase was roughly half the size of ps3's current size.
Oblivion sold 1.7 mil by April 10th, less than a month on the market.
GRAW sold a million
Dead Rising sold a million
Gears sold well over a million
These were all back when the xb360 was less than a year old and the userbase was roughly half the size of ps3's current size.
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I do get the concern about great games with huge production costs aren't selling as "great" as they are expected to. To be honest, I don't see the problem with the games themselves, but perhaps of the unique situation Sony are finding themselves in: Weak yen, expensive manufacturing costs, slow economy and perhaps some unfortunate negative mindshare that is picking up on them.
The games however are great. Uncharted 1 and surely part 2 will be massive. KillZone2 is massive. WipEout HD, another franchise synominous with the PlayStation brand is great. LittleBigPlanet, massive. In fact, LBP might be the greatest of them all, considering how it should be appealing to young/old, male/female.
To be frank, Sony might be in the biggest slump, but I on the other hand am enjoying the games and the experience more than ever. I once thought gaming couldn't get much better back in the PS2 days as with time, you tend to grow out of some games as you get older. I thought that happened when the PS3 launched, but considering how much I devote my time to gaming, it's just great!
The games however are great. Uncharted 1 and surely part 2 will be massive. KillZone2 is massive. WipEout HD, another franchise synominous with the PlayStation brand is great. LittleBigPlanet, massive. In fact, LBP might be the greatest of them all, considering how it should be appealing to young/old, male/female.
To be frank, Sony might be in the biggest slump, but I on the other hand am enjoying the games and the experience more than ever. I once thought gaming couldn't get much better back in the PS2 days as with time, you tend to grow out of some games as you get older. I thought that happened when the PS3 launched, but considering how much I devote my time to gaming, it's just great!
Different scenario, there were only 1 nextgen console then. Those were the hardcore gamers. And the games are well... hardcore (right on the mark for their familiar taste and experience). And economy was different then. In general, MS's effort is more focused on gaining share. They target the core gamers squarely. Then they try to move to other gamers (with Natal). For now, not-so-hardcore games may not sell on 360 as well.
In general, the PS3 first party game library was more "experimental" since Sony execs wanted to push the boundary to help expand the market (according to their interviews). Sony adopts a different approach. It tries to introduce variety early (even though it launched one year later). It's broader and hence more diluted. In essence, they try to take all the $400 people from across the spectrum first. Then they move down to say $300-350. These guys seem to be numbers driven this gen.
That's just my casual observation. Nothing serious. Please take it with a huge grain of salt. I don't have the numbers to analyze too.
That's the concern IMO.
The games have not only had good press, marketing and reviews, but the user reviews largely mirror the same sentiment: that these are indeed great games!
Resistance 2 was cool, KZ2 was amazing looking, Drake was not only beautiful, it was unique and fun.
So why the slump in sales?
Why aren't these games pushing hardware?
Or more importantly, what will it take to move hardware?
This is an awesome strategy to have, but it assumes a mass market price.
The smart thing to do is scoop up the Hardcore gamers that care enough about games to fork over $400-600 for a console. Then when cost reductions allow a mass market price, drop the mass market games (LBP etc)
I think Sony would have been smarter to hold off on R&C and LBP and games of that ilk until the price was at least under the $300 mark.
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You just have to look at these boards, there is a universal negativity against the PS3 and it´s games. I have a good friend that also has a PS3 (and a 360), he considers the gaming Library for the PS3 pure shit, there is nothing but Blu-Ray that makes his PS3 glow.
We are talking about LBP, GT5
, Wipeout, Uncharted, Killzone 2, MGS4, Ratchet & Clank, Motorstorm, Infamous and the many PSN games that are High Quality like Super Stardust, Everyday Shooter, Warhawk, flOw and flower.Free stuff like Home (that now has content to warrant it´s excistance) Picture Gallery (very impressive) and the Playstation Life "screensaver/music player", Vidzone, build in browser with youtube support and PSN with lots of free stuff including hot bikini chicks from Hongkong and it´s own gaming preview with Pulse.
This besides being the most versatile and power full Home Entertainment center for everything HiDef and SD.
In my book the PS3 doesn´t have one killer app, it got several with more coming. It just doesn´t have the word of mouth, and the price to back it up.
They've found themselves in the exact same position as SEGA did with both the Saturn & Dreamcast.
Great title after great title, but nobody was listening.
Silent_Buddha
Legend
I don't quite think so...
The only really consistent negativity about PS3 is based on price.
You mostly see negativity about the game quality when certain fanboys try to shove in your face PS3 is a bajillion times better and all X360 games are poo. In which case the natural reaction of many X360 owners is to go on the defensive and claim all PS3 games are poo. I see this is real life and in comment threads on other sites all the time. Likewise with X360 fanboys provoking PS3 owners.
And to a comment from the beginning of the thread. NPD does NOT track sales of bundled games.
And to more recent comments. Yes, on a purely numbers based view, the PS3 is generally tracking sales in the US along install base.
However, there are a few concerns.
1. It doesn't seem to track as well once you get past the initial 2-3 months.
2. Due to the size of the X360 install base, attach rates will be steadily decreasing at a faster rate than a console with a smaller rate. It was seen on PS1, PS2, and is now being witnessed on X360. Attach rates should be better than the ratio of install base for PS3 due to this. However, that isn't happening. PS3 attach rates are showing attach rates of a larger install base, but only the sellthrough numbers of a small install base.
Titles with significant legs on the PS3 are few and far between. And when talking about exclusives, the situation gets even worse. There's currently only 2 titles on the PS3 that were released more than 2 months ago that are still selling 20k units or more. The oldest of those only goes back to February of this year.
A killer app could be defined in many ways. A system mover, a game that sells significantly more than other hit titles, a game that becomes synonymous with a system, a game that continues to sell well over an extended period of time...
And something new I think needs to be taken into consideration with regards to this to reflect the changing console landscape. Games that continue to sell DLC one or more years after its release.
So here's the thing. When one says PS1, it's easy to come up with names that are synonymous with the system. FF7, Tomb Raider, MGS, GT, etc...
with PS2, it's also easy. ICO (while not a blockbuster bringing up PS2 will often bring up comments regarding ICO), God of War, Ratchet and Clank, etc...
Now if I go up to some random bloke on the street and say oi, have you seen the cool games on PS3, what titles would they immediately connect to the system? Resistance 1 probably. Other than that. Not much. And that's a problem. It's easy for the hardcore consoler's to pull up a list of awesome games, and most of those games deserve the recognition.
But the general public, not so much. Especially once the advertising blitz dies down. Killzone 2 for example.
That's where I think PS3 is failing with regards to having a killer App.
Regards,
SB
The only really consistent negativity about PS3 is based on price.
You mostly see negativity about the game quality when certain fanboys try to shove in your face PS3 is a bajillion times better and all X360 games are poo. In which case the natural reaction of many X360 owners is to go on the defensive and claim all PS3 games are poo. I see this is real life and in comment threads on other sites all the time. Likewise with X360 fanboys provoking PS3 owners.
And to a comment from the beginning of the thread. NPD does NOT track sales of bundled games.
And to more recent comments. Yes, on a purely numbers based view, the PS3 is generally tracking sales in the US along install base.
However, there are a few concerns.
1. It doesn't seem to track as well once you get past the initial 2-3 months.
2. Due to the size of the X360 install base, attach rates will be steadily decreasing at a faster rate than a console with a smaller rate. It was seen on PS1, PS2, and is now being witnessed on X360. Attach rates should be better than the ratio of install base for PS3 due to this. However, that isn't happening. PS3 attach rates are showing attach rates of a larger install base, but only the sellthrough numbers of a small install base.
Titles with significant legs on the PS3 are few and far between. And when talking about exclusives, the situation gets even worse. There's currently only 2 titles on the PS3 that were released more than 2 months ago that are still selling 20k units or more. The oldest of those only goes back to February of this year.
A killer app could be defined in many ways. A system mover, a game that sells significantly more than other hit titles, a game that becomes synonymous with a system, a game that continues to sell well over an extended period of time...
And something new I think needs to be taken into consideration with regards to this to reflect the changing console landscape. Games that continue to sell DLC one or more years after its release.
So here's the thing. When one says PS1, it's easy to come up with names that are synonymous with the system. FF7, Tomb Raider, MGS, GT, etc...
with PS2, it's also easy. ICO (while not a blockbuster bringing up PS2 will often bring up comments regarding ICO), God of War, Ratchet and Clank, etc...
Now if I go up to some random bloke on the street and say oi, have you seen the cool games on PS3, what titles would they immediately connect to the system? Resistance 1 probably. Other than that. Not much. And that's a problem. It's easy for the hardcore consoler's to pull up a list of awesome games, and most of those games deserve the recognition.
But the general public, not so much. Especially once the advertising blitz dies down. Killzone 2 for example.
That's where I think PS3 is failing with regards to having a killer App.
Regards,
SB
What defines a killer ap? sales or quality?
Resistance? Just resistance? I think you are overreacting here
Resistance? Just resistance? I think you are overreacting here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_application
A killer application (commonly shortened to killer app), in the jargon of computer programmers and video gamers, has been used to refer to any computer program that is so necessary or desirable that it proves the core value of some larger technology, such as computer hardware like a gaming console, operating system or other software. A killer app can substantially increase sales of the platform that it runs on.
The term has also been applied to computer and video games that cause consumers to buy a particular video game console or gaming hardware. An example of a killer application is Star Raiders, released in 1979 on cartridge for the Atari 8-bit computer. Another "killer app", Space Invaders, was released a year later on the successful Atari 2600 platform. The VCS became a sell-out over Christmas. The Game Boy saw Tetris, and the Nintendo 64 saw much success with the releases of Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Wii Sports, a free compilation 5-in-1 sports title bundled alongside every Wii console is also a killer app that helped to sell the console outside Japan, demonstrate the motion control functions of its innovative controller and break sales records since the console's debut. The Halo series for the Xbox is also considered a "killer app."
Killer app has also been used for products that do not lead to sales of platforms or analogous bases. Twitter was called a killer app for users already on the Internet[3] while Settlers of Catan was described as the killer app of designer board games.[4
