Simple question

[TheChefO]

In the last 10 years, without counting handhelds of course, Nintendo's userbase is around 4 times smaller than Sony's. I don't think it's fair to count SNES or the NES because they hardly affects how people are buying today.

But something had to happen from one generation to the next for them to not have the same userbase they did in the nes/snes days right? I mean, they didn't dissappear did they?

Seriously the point of calling on past generation success to ensure future generation sucess has proven questionable. The only one to repeat has been Sony and they have not followed the same guidelines to success that brought them from #1 on ps1 to #1 on ps2. The undefeated master is coming down with alzheimers I'm afraid.

 

[DUALDISASTER]

But something had to happen from one generation to the next for them to not have the same userbase they did in the nes/snes days right? I mean, they didn't dissappear did they?

Seriously the point of calling on past generation success to ensure future generation sucess has proven questionable. The only one to repeat has been Sony and they have not followed the same guidelines to success that brought them from #1 on ps1 to #1 on ps2. The undefeated master is coming down with alzheimers I'm afraid.

They grew up. But seriously, Nintendo 64 had so many flaws that people didn't want, like say...not enough games or very high priced games that the economy conldn't support at the time. All and all they didn't leave, Sony created a new fanbase with it's cool new system that drew some Nintendo fans. Ofcourse this is just my belief...

 

[TheChefO]

They grew up. But seriously, Nintendo 64 had so many flaws that people didn't want, like say...not enough games or very high priced games that the economy conldn't support at the time. All and all they didn't leave, Sony created a new fanbase with it's cool new system that drew some Nintendo fans. Ofcourse this is just my belief...

hmm ... so you say they migrated? ....And this migration was based on Nintendo making mistakes...interesting.

 

[London Geezer]

hmm ... so you say they migrated? ....And this migration was based on Nintendo making mistakes...interesting.

Of course, what's with the maliciousness? Of course Sony could make mistakes and become the next "nintendo", but you seem to be sitting there just waiting for it to happen.

One thing is for sure, the fact that Sony did so many things right with the PS1 certainly didn't help the N64. And at the moment i don't see anyone in the field doing things so right to remind me of Sony in 1995 (not even Sony themselves!). In fact, you can only look at history so much, as nowadays the roles are very mixed.

 

[TheChefO]

One thing is for sure, the fact that Sony did so many things right with the PS1 certainly didn't help the N64. And at the moment i don't see anyone in the field doing things so right to remind me of Sony in 1995 (not even Sony themselves!). In fact, you can only look at history so much, as nowadays the roles are very mixed.

Agreed 100%. Which is why I think the market will be split fairly close to 33% even across the board and not as one dimensional as it was in the psx days.

While I think Sony is screwing up big time I don't think there is a clear enough leader to completely de-thrown them this gen.

 

[London Geezer]

Another thing is for sure, MS should take the opportunity Sony are giving them and do all they can to become the "next Sony". Not that i'd like that to happen, but in business terms, that's really what they should do and at the moment are not doing (mainly software-wise).

We'll see what happens.

 

[TheChefO]

Another thing is for sure, MS should take the opportunity Sony are giving them and do all they can to become the "next Sony". Not that i'd like that to happen, but in business terms, that's really what they should do and at the moment are not doing (mainly software-wise).

We'll see what happens.

Agreed - they should be taking advantage, but you can't force great games. If you don't have the games a price drop could do wonders, but I think overall they'll do very well for themselves this Fall.

On a side note, why would you not want to see them become the "next Sony"?

 

[DUALDISASTER]

I think Sony simply has too much on their plate. They seem so distracted, and it's maybe because of the ps3. Psp gets little to no attention and i don't know why. Acturally almost everything sony has made has little adverts and are left daggling in the breeze. Anyway i see three main mistakes with the Ps3: 1.Sony starts development of games to late for launch and result in medicore games, 2. Price, and 3.which i hope and most likely won't happen, lack of adverts. None of those problems are too much of a detriment and can be changed if need be.

 

[TheChefO]

None of those problems are too much of a detriment and can be changed if need be.

I think you've got some reading to do

1) Sony can't make the launch library include the fan favorites now because they don't have the time needed to do them justice before launch.

2) Sony can't reduce the price because they are already bleeding at these prices and are not financially able to withstand a significant price drop anytime soon.

3) Sony can and probably will advertise the ps3 very smartly. They have one of (if not) the best marketing departments in the consumer electronics space. The question is "how do they market it?".

 

[London Geezer]

Agreed - they should be taking advantage, but you can't force great games. If you don't have the games a price drop could do wonders, but I think overall they'll do very well for themselves this Fall.

On a side note, why would you not want to see them become the "next Sony"?

Because MS has the tendency to monopolize markets, which might be ok in the Windows world, but i would NEVER want that in the console market.

I think Sony simply has too much on their plate. They seem so distracted, and it's maybe because of the ps3. Psp gets little to no attention and i don't know why. Acturally almost everything sony has made has little adverts and are left daggling in the breeze. Anyway i see three main mistakes with the Ps3: 1.Sony starts development of games to late for launch and result in medicore games, 2. Price, and 3.which i hope and most likely won't happen, lack of adverts. None of those problems are too much of a detriment and can be changed if need be.

I'm seeing LOADS of adverts for the Bravia LCD HDTVs, and less of anything else they do. They seem to be back to the top in the TV business, which is good.

 

[TheChefO]

Because MS has the tendency to monopolize markets, which might be ok in the Windows world, but i would NEVER want that in the console market.




I'm seeing LOADS of adverts for the Bravia LCD HDTVs, and less of anything else they do. They seem to be back to the top in the TV business, which is good.

We've been living in monopoly-land in the console space for 10 years!

 

[London Geezer]

We've been living in monopoly-land in the console space for 10 years!

No, we really haven't. :smile:

 

[TheChefO]

No, we really haven't. :smile:

ok, linux

 

[Shifty Geezer]

ok, linux

This is going way off topic, and I'll only post once, but you're comparing a 60-70% console space share with a 90+% OS and office applications share. If you don't like Sony's consoles, you can buy an MS or Nintendo console that's just as effective at it's job. If you don't like running an MS OS and applications, tough! There's been very little real alternative, and still isn't much. The Mac is about the only comparable offering that's been around since '95, and the pricing made that far too exclusive. And when you consider the dodgy-dealings MS did in part to get that monopoly, it's not a fair comparison to Sony's success with PlayStation which was creating a good product for the time and marketting it effectively. Personally I would take two different monopolies in two sectors than one company monopolizing both PCs and consoles. Wouldn't you? I would also prefer someone to take an approach to shake up the computing space once again and give some strong competition to the MS monopoly there. If the success of PlayStation enables Sony to take a bash at that, I'm glad they've dominated as much as they have. If MS trounce Sony this gen, that's far less likely to happen.

 

[TheChefO]

This is going way off topic, and I'll only post once, but you're comparing a 60-70% console space share with a 90+% OS and office applications share. If you don't like Sony's consoles, you can buy an MS or Nintendo console that's just as effective at it's job. If you don't like running an MS OS and applications, tough! There's been very little real alternative, and still isn't much. The Mac is about the only comparable offering that's been around since '95, and the pricing made that far too exclusive. And when you consider the dodgy-dealings MS did in part to get that monopoly, it's not a fair comparison to Sony's success with PlayStation which was creating a good product for the time and marketting it effectively. Personally I would take two different monopolies in two sectors than one company monopolizing both PCs and consoles. Wouldn't you? I would also prefer someone to take an approach to shake up the computing space once again and give some strong competition to the MS monopoly there. If the success of PlayStation enables Sony to take a bash at that, I'm glad they've dominated as much as they have. If MS trounce Sony this gen, that's far less likely to happen.

Agreed off topic - I apologize to all

In response to your post though Shifty I agree,

monopoly = bad

While I see your point WRT Windows in the pc space. Id say the same argument you made in the console space can be made in the pc space. You can get a $500 Mac and perform most of the functions of a windows pc. In the console space you can get a N box or an M box and have most of the functionality of Playstation.

Are they equal though? Honestly Playstation in the current market space if not a "monopoly" is very very close. I look forward to this monopoly coming to an end just as much as you do in the pc space. Quite honestly as I've posted before I wish Sony luck in challenging MS in the pc space for it will help to balance that market just as I wish MS/Nintendo luck in balancing the console space.

If there is a need to continue this discussion we can open another thread titled Monopoly some such and continue it there as you've said, this is way off topic.