Of the ~ 650K people willing to pay $400 for a game console, only a third decided to go for the Xbox.
nicely put
I do realize that on first sight the boost in PS3 sales is mostly an effect of MGS4's release - but at this point in its life cycle (close to halfway point) a console should be selling a lot better then the Xbox360 does. It has a huge games library and a very promising future with a lot of AAA franchises migrating to the platform. It has amazing multimedia features with the Live Marketplace already, and the Netflix stuff should make it look even better. It should be a very appealing purchase, and yet its sales basically stagnate.
I think that the product somewhat suffers from bad reputation especially in Europe.
And as Brand Sony is clearly stronger on this market then...
Microsoft will never get near even the half of PS2's marketshare if they don't start to move units seriously, especially not if they allow Sony to get their stuff together and start releasing high quality exclusive titles. MS is lucky that GT5 is still beyond the horizon, that game's going to be a monster of a system seller particularly in Europe. It's hard to judge the potential of titles like Resistance/Motorstorm 2 and even KZ2, but 2009 is actually really looking like a strong year for the PS3.
Agreed too, Sony has clearly managed to regain momemtum, they even managed to sell an outstanding number of Haze copies in regard to title quality.
Confidence in the brand is still strong, lot of people are waiting lower price to buy a "nextgen".
By it's brand strengh and its attitude in regard to upcoming games sony manages to keep ps2 owners focus on the ps3 without considering too much what competition offers.
They have a really strong 2009 line up, in this reagrd MS is not culprit to have advert the titles coming for this fall but have to good glimpse at what is coming next during the remaining 2008 gaming event.
Between with almost announced Too human failure (supposed to be a three part game) may be encountering a hole in their calendar?
The answer is just as obvious as it has been for many months now, Microsoft should drop the price on the Premium unit. I wonder how long it'll take.
Yes it's time but I feel like it's not the whole story.
Ms is at a crossing, they have an heathy enough user base to be profitable.
They are now an undisputable actor of this market.
the machine is reaching more or less its mid life and I feel like it's still not clear for them after which market they are running after.
I guess it's time for a reality check:
Sony has managed to overcome a disastrous launch.
hardware problem has hurt 360 reputation
the Wii is in its own league.
So far they have been succesful on the hardcore gamers segement and while competing on this segment with Sony I would dare to say that they have did better so far.
That their main strengh.
At some point they have to admit which goal are achievable and play theirs strenghts.
I belivee in Sony comments, a lot of gamers are still waiting, the incredible succes of the Wii must not hide this.
It's more and more liely that this gen will be long for both Sony and Ms.
So can they beat Nintendo at its game it's clear that they can't.
Can they beat Sony at its game?
I don't think so a draw is a more likely scenario (and not a given).
But they can make money and add strenght to their brand.
Social/party gaming push is fine but it won't make the 360 into a Wii.
there are in good situation to end on parity with Sony, which is a in my book great achievement for them and their future on the market.
It's time to assume this state and move to a more coherent offer.
They need the jasper, viral campaign proving its reliability would not hurt.
RroD wether is still a huge issue or not is still present in mindshare.
They need to clean it (as much as they can).
It's time for them to forget about the arcade pack, I see a lot of reason here:
for me it has not made its proof
theirs offers would be more "readable" for the costumer
Game would benefit from it.
the market has evolved patchs more than once needed.
And what should be the most significant advantage for them, they can make a lot more money on the other SKU. And while their making money they are also adding strengh to their brand. Ms can't afford the live to not be significant to any of its costumers.
Then come games:
Ms IMHO need one more "top level" studio, wether they buy it or have a "special relation with it they need it.
Exclusives are THE big differentiating factors for gamers, nothing new here.
Especially as editor have realised that their hurting themselves more than anything else when they provide "better" games on the 360. The advantage of the 360 is diminishing on this front.
So MS need to focus and it must mostly translate into games.
They have FFXIII now...
So the exclusive war must begins!!