Welcome to Tokyo! I'm sitting in the TGS Forum conference room where the atmosphere is ELECTRIC. Or at least HUMID. And I am SLEEPY.
TGS: Sony conference
Kaz Hirai on the future of PlayStation.
Earlier today. Kaz Hirai, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, delivered his Tokyo Game Show keynote address. What follows is the archive of our Live Text coverage of the speech, taking in all the key announcements. Be sure to check the Eurogamer frontpage for our condensed report.
Our live coverage of this event has finished
Coverage
Kaz Hirai will be on stage in about 10 minutes or so, and I've got my translation headset on.
Hurrah, an English voice in my ear! Tremendous.
There's a man up on the stage. It's not Kaz. People aren't all sat down. PANDEMONIUM.
It's not really pandemonium. But the room is basically full now and we seem to just be waiting on the last few stragglers. They're playing music in my ear to keep me happy. Sadly not "Viva Forever" by Spice Girls, which they played on my flight for no reason.
They keep raising and lowering the lights, and there's a laptop on my right where someone's on Facebook. Now people are wondering around again. Is this interesting? Probably not.
They haven't announced a price cut yet. I mean, the conference hasn't started, but you can still write that on your blog now if you want to go to bed.
It begins.
It's too loud. There's a CESA logo and dancing leprechauns and rainbows.
Kazuo Hirai takes to the stage. He comes out to the middle and bows and everyone claps. He's doing his speech in Japanese, as you may have realised, so our quotes are from the official translation.
GRAPH. PlayStation Platform Growth. 1994 - 2006 - over 250 million hardware units (PSone/2/3/P) worldwide.
He's talking about how he wants to make further advancements and contributions to the entertainment industry.
"Since I took up my current position, I've been telling my people that we need to go back to basics at SCE."
"I think with PS3 we took a very important first step" in moving PlayStation forward.
He's going to talk about PS2 first. Sorry about the slow pace - it's all a bit rambly.
Graph of PS2 hardware sales in its eight years. He's listing the worldwide prices and showing a graph going up to about 130m, demonstrating how the PS2 outpaced PSone and continues to sell strongly.
He'll target emerging markets with PS2 going forward, in addition to US/Europe/Japan. He says it's much easier to create PS2 games these days, too.
PSP's turn. He's talking about the million-sellers. Midnight Club 3 Dub Edition, GTA Liberty City Stories and Monster Hunter Freedom 2, which is "big in Japan".
Showing pics of the PSP Lite & Slim. They're out today in Japan you know. They cost 19800 yen. The Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII version launched last week, you may remember.
I saw one in Akihabara yesterday for twice the RRP. They made 77,777 units - clever clogses.
He's talking about the US bundles with Daxter and Star Wars Battlefront. No sign of Chewbacca, sadly.
As well as having games of course, PSP has USB peripherals like camera and GPS, which have been out in Japan for some time. The 1 SEG Tuner for the new PSP is another option.
We're told to expect lots more variety in services for PSP. We saw some of this in Germany of course, with the Go! range of products - Messenger, Cam, Explore and video downloads.
He's clearly a big fan of the PSP multimedia action, and continues to pay tribute to things like the big screen, the MP3 playback and so on and so forth.
Sony needs to expand in this direction more, says Kaz. He's talking about PSP Remote Play now - the thing that hooks PSP in to PS3.
He's going to show us what it's all about, he says. He's invited the director of product planning up to demonstrate Remote Play.
Kaz has disappeared into the corner, probably to have a drink and read our Live Text. Hi Kaz. The Remote Play demo is being done on PSP Slim - looks like the silver one.
He's using the video output on the PSP Slim to hook it up to a massive TV. So, we have a PS3 image on the big screen and then the PSP on a 40" LCD down below. Ah, excess.
Actually, I believe I've got that the wrong way round. The PSP seems to be on the big screen and the PS3 is at the bottom. Silly me. He's using the PSP to turn on the PS3 remotely.
That's pretty clever isn't it? Further updates will add more functionality, he says. He's browsing through the PS3 using the PSP, and he's fired up the Mainichi somethingorother content. The one with the odd cat. It will be possible to play games and enjoy music and photos etc. on the PS3 hard disk through your PSP.
The point seems to be that if you're away from home at a hotel or something you can log into your PS3 back home using the PSP and enjoy whatever's on there. But then we pretty much knew all that.
He's now turning the PS3 off remotely. And he's yielding the stage to Kaz Hirai again.
Kaz is a big fan of Remote Play, you know. He likes how you can use the PSP as a controller or an additional screen for what's being shown "so you can have a more real experience".
He's just said something about the "voice recognition function of the PSP", but presumably that's through the camera peripheral or something. Translation was indistinct.
An example of why it's ace - friends will be able to join your ongoing PS3 golf game using PSP Remote Play and spectate.
He's also pointed out how you can transfer progress in a PS3 game to the PSP to continue playing it on the road - similar to the way OutRun 2006 PS2 and PSP interacted.
In future, the host PS3 will allow PSP owners to play as different players in a football game while others spectate, judging by the graph on the screen. Seems to be hypothetical rather than specific for now, mind.
Right then - PS3.
Taking us all the way back to launch with another graph. It's between 5 and 6 million units worldwide as of end of August, judging by that. Toward the 5m end.
Sony will be aiming to further enrich the software line-up, he says, and he hopes PS3 will become the core home entertainment system for enjoying digital content.
He's referring back to the titles shown at E3 as some of the 40 titles being demoed on the show floor at Sony's booth. He's going to show us some of them now. Trailers.
LittleBigPlanet, Final Fantasy XIII, Lair, Aqua...
Uncharted, some platformer with a mouse (Ratatouille), DMC4, LocoRoco PS3 Cocorecho thing, PixelJunk Racers...
Eye of Judgement, Pirates of the Caribbean, some anime thing, SEGA Rally, HORSE RACING, Call of Duty 4, NBA 08, more anime...
Spider-Man 3, train driving, Oblivion, Go! Sports Ski, GRAW2 (?), something about flowers, Tony Hawk, Harry Potter, Turok, Guitar Hero, Heavenly Sword...
FIFA - SLOW DOWN SONY - Killzone 2, echochrome (gosh it looks fun), Transformers, Time Crisis 4, possibly Last Remnant...
WarHawk, Bladestorm (possibly), Final Fantasy XIII Versus, GT5 Prologue, Afrika!
Afrika! YES!
Ratchet & Clank, some samurai game (Yakuza 3?), Gundam, and I'm sure I missed a couple there. "Play Beyond." None of the trailers were all that revelatory. Or decipherable. Mostly CG. NOT MAKING THAT MISTAKE AGAIN.
He reckons these titles will drive lots of sales of the hardware.
Kaz wants to clear issues for developers working on PS3, and says Sony will assist on marketing too. He wants a "much closer relationship" with partners, and offers the Crisis Core PSP Slim Square Enix collaboration as an example of that in action already.
Some of these collaborative endeavours are going on behind the scenes already, he says, largely in terms of development assistance courtesy of Sony Worldwide Studios. Sony is trying to listen to opinions of developers whose games are already out, he says.
Periodical dev meetings of the advisory board will help with that, he says, and Sony is also implementing "various plans to improve development efficiencies".
One thing Sony will do is share the SN Systems tool chain, having acquired the company a while back.
Sony will be strengthening first party title development, he says. Worldwide Studios is critical to that, with its sharing of assets and know-how.
He's also trying to gather talents from outside SCE, he says. He's just announced the Evolution Studios acquisition - Evolution handled MotorStorm, obviously.
(You can read more about that deal on the frontpage now.)
He's showing an Evolution and BigBig trailer. It's highlighting their successes, including WRC titles like Rally Evolved and of course MotorStorm, which sold more than 1 million worldwide.
Pursuit Force is a BigBig title of course, BigBig being an Evolution - and consequently now a Sony - satellite.
The third thing SCE has to do is reduce costs, says Kaz. Further shrinkage of semiconductors etc.
Cost of hardware drop will come at some point. "We will be doing this for the PS3 hardware as well." He says Sony is listening to the voices of its customers in order to utilise their feedback in creation of new products.
He says he wants to show us the fruit of such an endeavour.
DualShock 3.
He says that feedback drove them to do this. The pic on screen looks exactly the same as the Sixaxis, but it says DualShock 3 on it, obviously. He calls Sixaxis "an extension of your arms" but "users had requested we resurrect the vibration function".
Originally they thought it would be very difficult to have tilt and rumble. "We have been able to overcome this difficulty."
"We have not made any changes to its outward appearance and design, but it does have vibration." Japan: Nov 2007, US/Europe: Spring 2008.
Actual date and price will be announced "at a later date".
We'll be able to see and experience DualShock 3 on the show floor today. It's used by the likes of MGS4, Devil May Cry 4, Echochrome, Toy Home, Ratchet & Clank and Uncharted.
Nine titles support it at TGS.
G1 Jockey is also among them. Nay! Yes.
Metal Gear Online supports DualShock 3 as well, he says. Crikey, he's just flashed up an absolutely vast list of titles set to support it.
Could barely take it in. Now we're moving on to the PlayStation Network. More than 2.7 million accounts so far.
"We are quite happy having so many users joining us," he says. One exciting announcement to make here, he says. GT5 Prologue disc and network distribution will be on 13th December in Japan.
He's coming back to the thing with the cat that the Japanese seem to enjoy getting their news from using PS Network. New bits for that are being lined up by the sound of it.
PlayStation Home. Ooh, nice icon. Like a house with a bit hanging off the bottom.
He's just talking about it, not showing it - or going into it or anything. It was originally scheduled for this year, he says, but it's been delayed - it's due in spring next year instead "so we can truly meet the needs and feedback of the users".
He's going to show something called "Dress" - "Everybody's Fashion Entertainment", which appears to be part of Home.
Now he's going to talk about the PlayStation Store. He reckons it's "exploding". 30 PS3 titles, 300 add-on items, 100 game archives and 90 demo movies on the Japanese store.
(The Dress thingy is on the show floor, apparently, with a movie too.)
Anyway, the Store. We're going to be able to access it using the PC as of today.
PSPs with USB can connect via PC. Looks like it's through a web browser.
I just sneezed quite loudly, which seems to have thrown Kaz off his pace. Well, not really.
Lastly, he'd like to talk about PS3. He thinks it's comparable to a supercomputer, as we're seeing in the Folding@home stuff. Stanford University's capacity has exceeded 1 terraflops, or something. I don't understand.
He's still talking about Folding. "Unbelievable computing power" in PS3 will "support us as a backbone" for games, films and music, he says.
He's telling us it'll be worth going to Sony's booth at the show. And I think he's wrapping up.
Sony is a "unique" company that is going "back to basics" to try and keep pushing PlayStation forward, says Kaz.
And he's off. I wonder if he'll do a Q&A.
Yep.
They're going to set up for this now and it will take a little while. I'll stick around and hopefully something interesting will come out of it. Last year, you may remember, it was this bit that saw the Japanese PS3 price get cut pre-launch.
So I wouldn't wander off. Well, I literally would, because my bottom hurts a bit.
Remember that UK Resistance pic of Kutaragi? It's that man and Hirai now. Come on Gary, get your camera out.
The first question from the moderator was something like "why are you so lovely?" Kaz laughs. "Go and do all the things I just said in my speech," is basically what he says.
He's been asked if he's used the DualShock 3. "I've checked it, and I enjoyed the feel." Brilliant.
The moderator says he would like to play with DualShock 3. "I was wondering what will be the future direction for games."
"Larger and larger content" was the translated answer, followed by something about echochrome, which seems to be the opposite of that. So goodness knows. Ah, "it doesn't have to be a full HD envrionment to enjoy that game," he points out. But I have no idea what point he is making because the translation woman is butchering his response.
"With racing games, you want to be able to see how the other vehicles are behaving as opposed to the vehicle you are controlling." I don't know either.
I think he's pointing out that future games will have more stuff on screen.
Something about what are the games on the booth and how they relate to PS3. Something about "high level of reality." "I am sure you will be able to enjoy the power of PlayStation," says Kaz.
The moderator asks about units sold. "We have gone beyond [5m] to some extent, but again we're going to try many things..."
Lots of games, lots of marketing strategies. "Moving toward to the end of December, we're going to become a lot more active so we can truly expand the [something] units."
11m is the target for the end of the year, apparently, which he says he's pointed out before.
Is he confident of hitting the number? He's answering it by saying he's got lots of interesting software, and that Worldwide Studios is ace.
So yes, he has confidence. Kind of.
He's referring to the PS3 price surprise announcement last year. "No surprise in this regard this year."
"Price is a very important aspect, but at the same time the urgent matter is to what extent we can further enrich the software titles."
He says "there is [a] possibility" for a price cut in the future.
Now he's asking Kaz about Wii. Is it a new partner, he asks. "We belong to the same industry and I think we seem to be aiming to different targets...I think we are really good competitors."
Asked whether Home is a game. "I like to call it an interactive game." What? They've switched back to word-mangling translation woman now. She's struggling. Not that it's easy. God - I could barely find TGS and I had a Japanese man with me.
Asked about business model for Home. "We have had a lot of discussion." Obviously Home is non-traditional, so he expects "many different types of business model".
In-game advertising, or "something that can reflect the real world", would be an example of that.
"The more I think about it, I think there are a multitude of business chances - not just from ourselves, but from our partners as well." Non-game companies will have the doors opened to them too, he says.
Asked if the delay is down to tech problems. No, says Kaz, it's because Sony wants this to be a worldwide service...and to have functionality suitable for people in different regions.
He thinks it can be satisfactory to all kinds of users when it launches, and that that's why they delayed it. "We want to make sure we have a full range of services."
Question: "How is this different to Second Life?"
Well, Second Life is on PC and...nope, she's waffling for him again. I don't really know what he's saying. If I were him, I'd say "well, Second Life is a load of boring cack".
He wants to make it a controlled environment, a managed environment, instead of a lawless environment, so that's one thing. Comfort and security.
Last question - go for the jugular, moderator man!
He's asking about group computing. "How are you going to go forward?" Paxman would be proud.
Kaz says if he had an hour and a half to talk about PS3 he could fill the time. No comment?
He's saying about back to basics again, but he sees PS3 as a versatile game machine and Blu-ray player with power and potential enough to rival a supercomputer.
Fundamentally though, it's a game machine, he says, and then "all sorts of directions" are available for expansion.
And it's all over by the look of it. Round of applause, bows etc. And everyone's breaking up, and I'm going off to get a drink. Good night, Eurogamers. Thanks for all the fish.
Latest comments
Bow Chicka Bow Wow
Take your own words of wisdom matey
Face it, 360 (and PS3) is a big fat 'meh' for consumers.
Did you mean none gamers with that?(because otherwise Id strongly disagree) maybe it would be a harder sell to them and yeah Wii is marketed from that very angle(its a smart idea, Nintendo made some big changes these past few years, I noticed with the DS but Wii is an even bigger change and it looks like theyve pulled it off so far). This misses my point completely though, they are also buying less games, and as I said alot of traditional gamers are finding less of the types of games they want there too. Nothing is certain yet, I care less about sales now though, theres loads of million sellers on 360 - that makes it a safe bet for both publishers and gamers like myself who will be buying based on whats offered and whats to come(the games, the hardware*power/performance wise* and the online, growing dev support and the attractive exclusive list).
Lov3: You know I wouldnt have minded you quoting that if there wasnt a silly typo in there. No point in editing my original post now though :/
Take a big bite of my opinonion! Don't try and dissect it though, it'll just make you cry.
Conference sucked, no UK price drop. Does kaz even know how much it costs here?
eye doctor, please!
Only because MS did a pre-TGS session. Which, while not very impressive, was more impressive than the Sony one. Only bit of interesting news IMO is the ability to turn the PS3 on by network connection. Will definitely get a PSP now (and upgrade my PS3 HDD).
It's all in what you want to see...
Face it, 360 (and PS3) is a big fat 'meh' for consumers. Right now it sells poorly and that's without much competition from the side of PS3. It will never be in a better position than it has been the last two years. By the end of 2008, there will be more Wii's than 360s and PS3s combined.
Many have said that X360 had a 1 year head start.
Well, it's really going on 3 years now...2005, 2006, 2007 and I'm still waiting to buy a PS3 with games to play.
I'm so glad I bought my 360 in Feb 2006 while I'm waiting (and i've never had rrod either)
I don't care who wins the console war because by the time the PS3 gets rolling in 2009....i'll be tired of my 360 by then
I'll never buy a Wii...still hate the name...don't like the direction Ninty went and it's for fat girls, fat kids, grandmas with a side order of Mario/Zelda/Samus fans.
GT5 might but FF13 will certainly not (at least in the West). For PS3 to be a success it needs to reach out to a broad demographic, like the Wii does. Singstar PS3 and the PS3 version of Buzz or the likes of LittleBigPlanet will determine the fate of PS3.
The only thing MGS4 or FF13 can hope to achieve is convincing some 360 owners to get a PS3 as well. Hardly a recipe for success...
Makes sense, he is differentiating Home from MGS4, which will of course be a non-interactive game (or 'film', as we call it in Europe)
...
But has GT Prologue been determined as free or not yet? Because a swift download from the Jap store is in order if it's a freebee, and sod the Euro wait.
I also think Vandrius was kind of complementing me with that bitter comment, although may not have realized it.
Then he lurks, quietly stalking the web for a Sony-based thread to open up so he can pounce with pre-written junk and a slash of claws!
Like a Tiger! Rawr!
How can you type all of that at this time?
With lots of typos and errors as usual
Where is FF7 ?!
Where are some new games?!
What the hell was that conference?!
TOTAL FAILURE....
How can you type all of that at this time?
All the big hitters are next year though.
Hope there plenty of new gameplay footage at the show which will hopefully even be on PSN. Not holding out for demos though.
I will watch some of the Sony conference but whats all this about 2008?(Im not seeing anything thats going to increase sales or change my mind about getting one... MGS3 and... MGS3, great 1 game, Drake seems a bit overated already from the gameplay Ive seen... a prettier Tomb Raider without the puzzles?) Have you seen the 360 lineup? Its already looking stronger IMO and they have been concentrating on this year which is one of the best for any console to date Ive seen.
Well thats my take 2007 - 2008 is looking 360 all the way for exclusive must haves and all the 3rd party games which are still running better on 360.
I think 360 will end up with America and Europe over PS3 but dont forget Australia and the other parts of Asia MS release the consoles in, it all adds up when your counting full region sales. I also think either Wii is going to dominate hardware sales or fall hard when people get bored of waiting for the serious games or this promised innovation... I think MS will do much better now the RROD is starting to clear up(shut it Bob, somethings not right about you lol) and they might be able to continue to dominate in software sales(except for DS but I think that should be seperate).
Enough with sales predictions anyway, you can predict all kind of craziness pretending you know what everyone else wants or doesnt want but a look at this thread should tell you >you dont. IMO atleast: MS should have the best christmas sales... 1st choice 360, 2nd might be Wii later on in the generation but they will have to sort the games out(Mario games may be AAA but what if you dont "get" them and minigames are fun but I could only see myself buying one game like that which would cover the need for that type... SSBM? great fun was had on the GC but thats one game)
we don't even have a third of that in the UK...
cough lawsuit overcome
Here: http://www.jp.playstation.com/store/
Aye, that's it. Nintendo are winning the current gen sales race by controlling supply, not because it appeals to far more people than the HDTV-obsessed other consoles do
Many of us here are multi-plat owners, but still the arguments rages that one console will pwned the other. Pointless.
X360 is the console to own for hardcore gamer at this point of time, that is the given opinion by many others, but its weakness is that its not that appealing for in other words 'non-hardcore gamers'. So be it.
I weakened and bought PS3 after orginially saying that I will wait out until price reduction for it unmissable exclusives. Hell, I ll kill myself if I miss any of platform exclusives but PS3 is still a good console in its own right, what most people have issue with is Sony's hype and attitude.
The languages coming from Sony from last year and now few months post launch is quite different and all the better for it. They can be so many 'rumble is past gen', 'True HD starts when we say it start' for us to swallow whatever the marketing/lawsuit reasons.
Not going to be staying up but still looking forward to reading the summary when getting breakfast and hoping for exciting news to excite us.
And Der Tolle Emille, stop rabbiting on.
Well if we're talking about "casual" games the PS2 had/has loads. Singstar, Guitar Hero, Buzz, Eyetoy, etc...
Plus, don't forget XBLA isn't shabby either.
@ George Roper
Love is blind mate.
I am more talking about diversity like in how the games are made and for which audience they are made. The 360 covers golf as well as tennis as a genre but they are clearly made for a certain audience. The approach of the games is completely different (comparing Wii Sports tennis and Virtua Tennis) and I am not only talking about the controls here. Both games are Tennis games but aiming for a completely different experience. It's those special light hearted, pick up and play type of games that have more chance attracting people who are not interested in games than the games on the 360 for example. Just look at Wii stands around expos and how many people are there, all age groups, male and female. Nintendo targets people who want to pick up a game, play for half an hour and be done with it. Nintendo targets people that usually won't go near a console with their Brain Training franchise and it works because it's far away from the 'traditional' game. Wii Fit will also target people who have no idea about games or consoles. And, like it or not, Nintendo's consoles are a lot more children friendly than the 360.
I really can't describe it any better but the 360 really is made for the 'hardcore'. It has little to no appeal for casual gamers - except for the movie tie ins I cannot think of any game that might be appealing for kids.
This is the diversity I am talking about. You shouldn't look purely at the genres because the 360 does have a lot of genres covered. You should look at how the games are made though as you can then clearly see who the target audience is.
Hes been to peru and japan doing photography from a helicopter seems like the new game will be all about mountain racing.
Just have to wait and see.
Shit what did I just say.
Refining it right down, the 360 covers all the variety that the other consoles do. It seems to me that it doesn't have the correct *style*, given your examples. That's very different to it not checking all the variety boxes.
I mean, it really does look like you're saying the 360 doesn't have Nintendo or Sony icons, thus doesnt have variety. But maybe im reading you wrong.
They wont.
It's not a problem for a gamer who is happy with it - like I said, it's more of an economical problem for Microsoft, if anything. I really don't mean it as a negative thing, it's just an observation.
Thats going to happen in the very near future.
The 360 also has a bit of an awareness problem in continental Europe. It's selling well in the US and the UK, but not really much elsewhere.
"It doesn't lack diversity either.
Not for you, no. Because you're at the core of its target audience. That's not what Emil is saying though. Yes, the 360 has a great lineup for male "hardcore" (in lack of a better word) gamers in a certain age group - but not much else. Which is why it has trouble expanding beyond that market. Their attempts to do that - mainly Viva Pinata - pretty much bombed, sales-wise - probably because one game isn't enough.
That's absolutely not any dissing of the 360 or its software library, it's more an economical problem for Microsoft than one for already happy 360 owners"
Still can't see what this 'diversity' is that you're talking about, though? Define 'diversity' for me.
No I didn't. I'm just repeating what I have gread on gamesindustry.biz and other informed news pages.
George Roper:
Well, imo, you couldn't be more wrong. Where M$ have it right is that they're creating GAMES for GAMERS. That's where the 360 is shining. It's a games console and it does its job amazingly well.
It doesn't lack diversity either. To imply that diversity = a gimmicky controller method, that most games end up having shoehorned into them, is so completely wrong I don't know where to begin.
I didn't mean that it's a bad thing that the 360 doesn't target more gamers. I am very happy with the 360 games so far and I am really looking forward to PGR4 and Mass Effect.
I was more commenting on the installed base of 10million consoles. Microsoft sure did a great job with the 360 - it certainly had and still has rough competition entering the games console market (even more with the original xbox). I was aiming at the fact that while 10 million units certainly is a great number but console sales alone is not everything: It's about market share. The 10 million units sold simply doesn't look very impressive compared to other consoles. It's pretty much on par with the original xbox which is another sign for me that MS simply can't reach more players than their current audience.
In no way did I mean to belittle MS or the 360 and god forbid sound like a PS3 or Wii fanboy. After all I own a 360 and I really don't care how much it sells as long as I get to play the games on it that I want.
The point is though that the 10 million units sold is a weak argument. What the 10 million really mean is that MS has managed to not do worse than they did with the xbox and nothing more. It's nowhere near PS2 sales (never will be) and it certainly isn't enough to compete with the Wii and by the end of 2008 it just might be not enough anymore to be second looking at market share. Right now I'd say the 360 is doing fine - much better than many expected. I just don't see anything that will keep the 360 in the race in 2008. Eventually it will stall at 12, 13 mill or so (wild guess, could be totally off) but as onyxbox summed up well: "by the end of this year 360 will have blown it's load before ps3 has even finished with the foreplay."
Not for you, no. Because you're at the core of its target audience. That's not what Emil is saying though. Yes, the 360 has a great lineup for male "hardcore" (in lack of a better word) gamers in a certain age group - but not much else. Which is why it has trouble expanding beyond that market. Their attempts to do that - mainly Viva Pinata - pretty much bombed, sales-wise - probably because one game isn't enough.
That's absolutely not any dissing of the 360 or its software library, it's more an economical problem for Microsoft than one for already happy 360 owners.
I think a lot of what you say makes sense. As much as I love the 360's games I think looking at it objectivley by the end of this year 360 will have blown it's load before ps3 has even finished with the foreplay.
I'm sorry, did you even fucking see the sales figures for last month?
"The 360 is at its peak or close to it. Sales are slowing down and let's face it - the line up looks very promising but I really don't see it expanding its audience. There isn't anything coming out that isn't already available in one form or another on the console. Halo 3 and Mass Effect (new IP) will probably be a system seller but mostly all of the other games cover genres that are already covered on the 360. Even new IP won't do much good.
Looking at the PS3 and the Wii there's lots to come which will definetly attract new customers or at least gamers who have held back buying a PS3/Wii so far. Home is about to launch and on paper it looks like something that could sell consoles. Singstar (if not already available, I really don't know) is a strong franchise and so will be Final Fantasy. The Wii will sell loads again when Wii Fit will be released. I also think that Super Mario Galaxy as well as Super Smash Brothers will make Wii consoles fly off the shelf.
The 360 however has pretty much played all of its cards. Bioshock is out, Halo 3 will be out next week, Blue Dragon is already out and most of the other franchises to be released simply don't look like games that will attract many more gamers. I don't doubt that Mass Effect or Ninja Gaiden 2 will be great games or sell very well but people who really want those games probably already own a 360.
The console is lacking diversity in its lineup - the 360 already has made its point so to say, it has a clear image and that simply won't change anymore."
Well, imo, you couldn't be more wrong. Where M$ have it right is that they're creating GAMES for GAMERS. That's where the 360 is shining. It's a games console and it does its job amazingly well.
It doesn't lack diversity either. To imply that diversity = a gimmicky controller method, that most games end up having shoehorned into them, is so completely wrong I don't know where to begin.
Whereas Microsoft have successfully pulled a Sony by doing their own PS2 launch.
Looking at the PS3 and the Wii there's lots to come which will definetly attract new customers or at least gamers who have held back buying a PS3/Wii so far. Home is about to launch and on paper it looks like something that could sell consoles. Singstar (if not already available, I really don't know) is a strong franchise and so will be Final Fantasy. The Wii will sell loads again when Wii Fit will be released. I also think that Super Mario Galaxy as well as Super Smash Brothers will make Wii consoles fly off the shelf.
The 360 however has pretty much played all of its cards. Bioshock is out, Halo 3 will be out next week, Blue Dragon is already out and most of the other franchises to be released simply don't look like games that will attract many more gamers. I don't doubt that Mass Effect or Ninja Gaiden 2 will be great games or sell very well but people who really want those games probably already own a 360.
The console is lacking diversity in its lineup - the 360 already has made its point so to say, it has a clear image and that simply won't change anymore.
">IF the 360 wasn't already in place in 10 million+ homes
That's not many for 2 years..
The ps3 has been out in europe for just over 6 months (by my reconning) - and it's sold over 4 million + already! "
And, y'see, you're seeing 'only' 10 million+ consoles as a failure. Which, and let's be straight here, in terms of revenue off *game* sales, is not true. As you will see with Halo 3.
If only 1/4 of those 360 owners bought Halo 3, how much profit can you imagine there will be, based on 2.5 million sales? And thats a conservative estimate, i'd imagine.
Also, Halo 3 isnt going to sell because of advertising. It's going to be huge because, like it or not, it has a good heritage. It's the Halo1/2 players who will be bolstering the success of this title, not new gamers.
If you're only accounting for the time it's been out in europe, then account for sales in europe only as well... which is less than 2 million in 6 months. It optimistically extrapolates to about 8 million in 2 years, and that is not much either.
That's not many for 2 years..
The ps3 has been out in europe for just over 6 months (by my reconning) - and it's sold over 4 million + already!
Sure, mate. Sure. Because that's why it's gonna kick every other 'next gen' game sales figure into a cocked hat, come next week, isn't it? Because it's a boring game. "
Of course the fact microsoft are spending billions and billions on marketing has nothing to do with that.
it'd sell shit loads even if msoft put a literal shit in a box.
(not saying it will be shite.. i have no way of knowing.. going by halo 2 though...)
"This could be the turning point in the next gen war,ps3 has all its big guns loaded and ready to fire in 2008.
The 360 is dead in the water in japan,sales are slowing down in europe its only fortress america now for the 360."
Ooookk.
IF the 360 wasn't already in place in 10 million+ homes and IF the 360 didn't have an impressive, existing, back catalogue of games and IF the 360 didn't have one HELL of a line-up in coming months, you may be right.
Possibly.
As it stands, what a crock of shit, LOL.
""/waits for comment from somebody who bought Halo 3 today in Argos that they check out this conference after playing Halo 3 tonight."
They're probably bored of it already... "
Sure, mate. Sure. Because that's why it's gonna kick every other 'next gen' game sales figure into a cocked hat, come next week, isn't it? Because it's a boring game.
Haha, you really can't stand the fact that the 360 rules the roost, can you.
Hmm, this shouldn't take long then
The 360 is dead in the water in japan,sales are slowing down in europe its only fortress america now for the 360.
They're probably bored of it already...
/prays Fumito Ueda shows his game
As Kaz slowly bleeds to death, his second-in-command will read an official declaration of surrender to the superior Nintendo forces.
"You're in command now, *Admiral* Iwata"
(Well, I have a 360, but I don't play it)
Very good!!! :0)
+1
No need for that. They still sell the PS2 you know...
I hope they announce something LittleBigPlanet-like. Please no well known franchises in a HD update. I know that's not what the media is waiting for but it will pay off in the end.
Get your sleep and find out in the morning instead.
Sorry! I did it for Microsoft as an automatic abbreviation then thought I'd get accused of being a Sony fanboy (which couldn't be further from the truth) so I put in $ for them as well.... thank god I didn't have Nintendo in otherwise I'd have no idea how I could accuse them of being associated to making money (someting we should apparently hate companies for... oh the irony)!?!?!?
Now, you've pointed it out, my original post has irritated me! I'm going to have to edit!!! :/
Having said all that, I doubt there's much MS can do to convince Japanese gamers who seem stuck in their ways (JRPs and and appalling mini-game rubbish seems to dominate the market*). I think that MS would struggle even if they landed Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest exclusives TBH....
*not that our charts are much better. But at least we embrace Japenese games whereas they completely ignore western titles unless they are put through under a Japanese publishing brand!!!
Edit=Less annoying!!!