Sony cuts back on PSP manufacturing predictions

[jvd]

Hey now, before you mentioned that retailers wouldn't worry about carrying another SKU for the Hybrid DVD/HD-DVD disc. You even mentioned _5_ SKUs for Evil Dead. Are you now reversing your stance on this argument?

Not at all. Its a diffrent arguement . Dvd is established. Each evil dead sku has sold over 250k copies one of them is at a million .

For the hybrid dvd/hd-dvd discs there is no need to carry the standard dvd disc if priced the same . Having a umd packed in and selling it higher wont fly. Because what would a person with out a umd player do with a umd esp if having to pay more


A best buy wont stock hitched dvd , hitched umd and hitched umd + dvd .

GOing foward a bestbuy wont stock . Hitched dvd , hitched bluray , hitched hd-dvd , hitched umd , hitched dvd + umd .

They simply don't have the space

 

[Sis]

Given that the studios currently purposefully hold off on "special edition" versions of a DVD for several weeks/months in order to double-up on sales, I find it VERY hard to believe that any studio would combine a DVD and UMD in the same package.

Oh I agree that studios would certainly want to charge consumers as many times as possible for the same content. My proposal was only an idea for Sony to give the format a shot in the arm so to speak.

Yeah, I was responding to a poster who was responding to you, so I missed your original point. It is a compelling idea for Sony--I'd buy a few...

.Sis

 

[Ty]

Not at all. Its a diffrent arguement . Dvd is established. Each evil dead sku has sold over 250k copies one of them is at a million .

Wow, each SKU has sold that many? Sheesh. Got a link?

For the hybrid dvd/hd-dvd discs there is no need to carry the standard dvd disc if priced the same .

That wasn't the original argument. The original argument WAS for 3 different SKUs, Full Frame DVD-Only, Wide Screen, DVD-Only, and HD-DVD hybrid (presumably Wide Screen).

Sure, if you can replace a SKU (in your example, the Widescreen DVD) then it certainly makes it easier for retailers to carry it and I see no problem with them replacing the WS-DVD with the WS-Hybrid.

Having a umd packed in and selling it higher wont fly. Because what would a person with out a umd player do with a umd esp if having to pay more

Depends on how much it is, doesn't it?

People who are willing to pay more for the Limited Edition of DVD releases might be willing to pay a few more bucks if it contained the UMD version.

Looking in this thread alone illustrates that it is at least worth looking at. Dave expressed some interest as does Mckmass & Sis.

A best buy wont stock hitched dvd , hitched umd and hitched umd + dvd .

GOing foward a bestbuy wont stock . Hitched dvd , hitched bluray , hitched hd-dvd , hitched umd , hitched dvd + umd .

They simply don't have the space

Which is why they won't be carrying the HD-DVD version.

All kidding aside, I agree that retailers probably wouldn't be happy but it still would be a nice pack in for Limited Edition versions. Online places like Amazon & Bestbuy.com probably will have less of an issue.

 

[jvd]

Wow, each SKU has sold that many? Sheesh. Got a link?

No , want my issue of scifi magazine that has it ? Its april 2003 i believe that has those numbers . Its in my closet . I can mail it if u want it ?

That wasn't the original argument. The original argument WAS for 3 different SKUs, Full Frame DVD-Only, Wide Screen, DVD-Only, and HD-DVD hybrid (presumably Wide Screen).

And ? The 3 would still sell. full frame dvd , wide screen would both sell they are dvds and have oh a few hundred million installed base ? Hd-dvd hybrid will play in that few hundred million installed base and the new hd-dvd players


A umd movie will play in a 1 million unistalled base in the usa currently ? 2 million ?

Depends on how much it is, doesn't it?

Mabye. But is it enough to warrent the store keeping it on the shelf ?

I can buy a hybrid hd-dvd and still watch the movie in my standard player if they ran out of the normal dvd versions .

If they run out of the normal dvds i will have ot pay extra for a umd i may not be able to use . Which for the marjoity of dvd players will hold true .

Which is why they won't be carrying the HD-DVD version.

Sure . Why carry the hd-dvd version that can also doubled as the wide screen dvd ?

All kidding aside, I agree that retailers probably wouldn't be happy but it still would be a nice pack in for Limited Edition versions. Online places like Amazon & Bestbuy.com probably will have less of an issue.

They most likely would but in a retail store its not going to happen .

 

[Shifty Geezer]

GI.biz has two updates to the basis and discussion of this thread...
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=9731

Sony Computer Entertainment has moved to correct erroneous reports from earlier this week which stated that UMD movies have just topped 100,000 sales in total - revealing that in fact, two individual titles have broken this barrier.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=9730

Speaking to GI.biz this morning, however, a representative told us there "never was" a figure higher than 12 million mentioned, dismissing the Nikkei BP report all together.

This article says targets were always 12 million and not 18 million as Nikkei reported. Which kinda makes this thread moot

 

[PatrickL]

If you take that at face value

 

[Shifty Geezer]

With claims and countre claims, which do you believe? Why believe in say Nikkei and not Sony (except obvious PR)? The only word of PSP figures being reduced comes from a suggestion that they were aiming for 18 million without any evidence, whereas the fiscal report for Sony showed 12 million from the beginning.

Again, reports are sufficiently ambiguous for any conclusions to be made! Oh, what a strange merry-go-round world of PR and FUD we inhabit!

 

[Kolgar]

Indeed. Those who seek evidence of PSP's failing will cling to that 18 million number. Again, I ask them to provide a link in which Sony actually stated that number...

It just isn't there.

 

[PatrickL]

Financial report is from April, intial target was around Q3 2004. I bet than in April Sony knew already if they were to miss their planned target. I don't see any evidence that the website was wrong. I rather see a PR guy downplaying that by using the time scale.

 

[mckmas8808]

PatrickL please stop hating Sony and their PSP. Its people like you that ruining the everyday discussion with videogames. We all know that Sony stated 12 million months ago, yet just because Nikkei states this wierd 18 million out of no where you go and believe them instead.

And you are also saying that if someone were to print something wrong they company (i.e. Sony) is not allowed to clear their name and correct the sitiuation without it being called PR. So that means anybody can print anything about big companies like a Sony, MS, Dell, Apple, etc. saying anything and get away with it. And if the company tries to correct them we should automattically call it PR and saying that they are wrong.

 

[PatrickL]

Lol. Guy I hate none of them i own exactly zero console or handled, I play only mmorpg on my pc
I just pointed out that what the Sony PR guy said was not in contradiction with what the website said, just a PR carefully worded.
If to you that is "hating" a company, you are way too sensitive for that world

 

[Ty]

Financial report is from April, intial target was around Q3 2004. I bet than in April Sony knew already if they were to miss their planned target. I don't see any evidence that the website was wrong. I rather see a PR guy downplaying that by using the time scale.

Except that might constitute fraud to their shareholders, no? If you tell your shareholders A but then move your target to B and claim it was the target all along then I'd think you'd have a class action lawsuit on your hands.

 

[mckmas8808]

Except that might constitute fraud to their shareholders, no? If you tell your shareholders A but then move your target to B and claim it was the target all along then I'd think you'd have a class action lawsuit on your hands.

Exactly. If someone like myself were to invest money and said to myself "wow Sony should be a nice choice because they are entering into a new market (i.e. handhelds) and have a projection thats the same as Nintendo's. With Nintendo being the world leader in handhelds this could be a huge thing for Sony and may raise their stock."

Sony wouldn't say they look to ship 12 million units, then say 18 million to the stockholders and press(which again to date I have never seen), and then to just bring it back down to 12 million for fun and games.

Provide me with the 18 million unit quote please. Thank you.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

To be fair, no-one's saying Sony gave a 18 million figure to shareholders. The article says

Nikkei BP says companies providing Sony with components for the portable had been told early in 2005 to expect orders for about 18 million units. However, during a meeting with its suppliers, Sony revealed its plan to manufacture 12 million machines.

Could well be Sony gave an 18 million estimate to suppliers, then re-evaluated to a 12 million figure for it's official accounts and told the suppliers to cut back. If the suppliers comment is true, it adds credibilty to the idea that Sony is cutting back on production. However, I'd dare say that's REALLY stupid as they haven't even launched in the EU yet! Why cut back if they can't even cater for the existing markets!

 

[mckmas8808]

Thank you for pointing that out Shifty. Maybe the 12 million units is what they expect to sell in EU, Japan, and NA. Regardless I think they still should ship more being that a shortage is possible in Europe. Even looking at it that why does hurt Sony or the PSP. I think people took this Nikkei report competley the wrong way.

You gotta blame the internet sites for that. They should have explained it better to the people.

 

[PC-Engine]

Why cut back if they can't even cater for the existing markets!

PSP sitting on shelves not moving in the US that's why...

If they can't cater for existing markets then that means they're always on the brink of selling out everywhere which isn't really the case at all, quite the opposite actually.

 

[Sis]

Is this a good summary for this thread? Sony downgrades estimates from "wildly successful" to "just crazy successful"

Even if Sony overestimated their initial success, isn't 12 million still pretty damn good?

.Sis

 

[PC-Engine]

Is this a good summary for this thread? Sony downgrades estimates from "wildly successful" to "just crazy successful"

Even if Sony overestimated their initial success, isn't 12 million still pretty damn good?

.Sis

Sure if they can reach that number.

 

[mckmas8808]

Just remember Nintendo has a 12 million unit goal figure too. It's funny that both of these companies has the same goal.

 

[PC-Engine]

Just remember Nintendo has a 12 million unit goal figure too. It's funny that both of these companies has the same goal.

Yes and Nintendo is already halfway there...