Has Sony messed up too much for them to overcome?

[boffo]

Figured I might as well get a Sony discussion/debate thread going as well.

Looking at any sales numbers shows that Sony has taken a significant downturn following the relative domination that the PS2 provided. The question is will this be the beginning of the end for the Playstation brand or will it remain alive and strong well into the future? A series of things have caused a major slowdown in the adoption of the PS3. The price, promises made by Sony that haven't been kept, delays, a similar console available in the 360. Many things both from Sony and externally has conspired to keep the PS3 down so far.

However things have improved this year over last year. Sales still lag well behind the Wii and are similar to those of the 360, but they have seen a massive increase over what was sold in 2007. The majority of gaming sites have listed the PS3's game releases of 2008 as the best from the 3 consoles. Blu-Ray has defeated HDDVD leaving it uncontested in an effort to supplant DVD.

So, do you see Sony going the way of Sega, having a brief down period like Nintendo did with the N64 and Gamecube, or turning things around quickly and remaining as a big name in gaming?

[codenamelenny]

One of the problems with the PS3 is the price. It's a lot more than a 360 and you can play relatively the same games with it.
Sony needs to distinguish themselves from the 360. This doesn't even mean they have to get more exclusives, they just need better advertising for what they already have. They should also bring back PS2 BC.

[E6600]

I wouldn't have imagined it, not in a million years, that Sony will somehow turn the most admired brand name (PS2), into one of the most hated (PS3). If it weren't for the X360s RRoDs, the PS3 would have been in a much worse condition.
My PS2 is the only last gen that isn't collecting dust, I love mine so much, and there is always new games out for it, even now.
Whether Sony can recover or not this gen, tough to say, but next gen I think if they plan it correctly they will recover and maybe even come on top.
The PS4 needs to be not too overpriced, and launched with plenty of good titles.
Sony wont go the way of Sega simply because Sony is a big company, and there aren't too many consoles, if Sony drops we'll only have two consoles next gen. Things will be bad for Sony if the economy doesn't recover and a company with deep wallets decides to get into the video game market.

[Ark]

i think whats keeping sony going is their first party line-up if they can at least nab a few 3rd party exclusives and lower the prices it may just boost up sales...

as for games being delayed and what not...
i'd say that its still hard to develop games for the PS3 due to its blu-ray format and what-not, most developers are still trying to adapt to it..etc. although for some it just takes hard work, take resistance...when the first one came out it was great (not the greatest but great) and then it only took 'em almost 2 years to make the sequel and it was just as damn good...

still in the long run, whether sony is still in 3rd place or not...it doesn't seem like they'll go the way of the dreamcast...but either hang in their 'till the next gen, or make it out on top(or the middle)

[Mr.bomb]

Originally Posted by boffo

Figured I might as well get a Sony discussion/debate thread going as well.

Looking at any sales numbers shows that Sony has taken a significant downturn following the relative domination that the PS2 provided. The question is will this be the beginning of the end for the Playstation brand or will it remain alive and strong well into the future? A series of things have caused a major slowdown in the adoption of the PS3. The price, promises made by Sony that haven't been kept, delays, a similar console available in the 360. Many things both from Sony and externally has conspired to keep the PS3 down so far.

However things have improved this year over last year. Sales still lag well behind the Wii and are similar to those of the 360, but they have seen a massive increase over what was sold in 2007. The majority of gaming sites have listed the PS3's game releases of 2008 as the best from the 3 consoles. Blu-Ray has defeated HDDVD leaving it uncontested in an effort to supplant DVD.

So, do you see Sony going the way of Sega, having a brief down period like Nintendo did with the N64 and Gamecube, or turning things around quickly and remaining as a big name in gaming?

First read the bold. Then realize that sony MAKES MORE than consoles therfore it would almost be Impossible to head in segas direction.

[boffo]

Originally Posted by Mr.bomb

First read the bold. Then realize that sony MAKES MORE than consoles therfore it would almost be Impossible to head in segas direction.

As a gaming site we are really only focused on the gaming portion of the Sony empire here. So any comparisons to Sega would be in regards to pulling out of the console race. Oh and Sega also makes more than just consoles as they still make games.

[E6600]

Well.. Here's an interesting graph:



PS3 Sags in Battle Again Xbox 360, Wii - WSJ.com

[boffo]

Good to see the game division improving each year since the PS3 launch. I think the PS3 will still stand a chance if Sony isn't too quick in releasing a PS4. They keep saying that the PS3 is the most future proof console so letting it run for 7 or 8 years before bringing out it's successor and then letting it ride off into the sunset for 2 or 3 years would be a very good idea.

Especially with the economy as it is now a traditional 5 year gap between consoles might not make sense seeing that most consoles don't start making money until the 3rd or even 4th year.

[E6600]

Originally Posted by boffo

Good to see the game division improving each year since the PS3 launch. I think the PS3 will still stand a chance if Sony isn't too quick in releasing a PS4. They keep saying that the PS3 is the most future proof console so letting it run for 7 or 8 years before bringing out it's successor and then letting it ride off into the sunset for 2 or 3 years would be a very good idea.

Especially with the economy as it is now a traditional 5 year gap between consoles might not make sense seeing that most consoles don't start making money until the 3rd or even 4th year.

I agree with you that the PS3 is the most future-proof of all current console, but this wont be stopping the competition bringing their newer consoles that'll suddenly make the PS3 look old.
Nintendo especially wont have a problem bringing a console tomorrow, the Wii was profitable from day one and so was the Game Cube. The X360 has been profitable for the last 3 quarters but the brand was bleeding money since the days of the original XBox.

[Mr.bomb]

That does not directly Matter. All Microsoft has to do is make one more system. Without the flaws of the 360. And but some family games on it.

the Wii was profitable from day one and so was the Game Cube. The X360 has been profitable for the last 3 quarters but the brand was bleeding money since the days of the original XBox.

The gamecube actually lost Nintedo Money. I think nintendo Will lose the Plugin cONSOLE MARKET IF THEY JUST STAND STILL and let M and Sony Keep imprving there techs.