Sony needs to learn from Microsoft's marketing for PS3

Cwalat - 397 days 20 hours ago

agreed, Sony knows the gaming business well better than MS,
they know that now is not the time to spend on things that make little difference anyways.

that's not to say they have abbandoned marketing, you can still find coolest ads out there by Sony, just look at their latest lineup for the holidays... those ads alone are somethings MS wont top.

Agree(5) | Disagree(5) | Report

WANNA GET HIGH - 397 days 17 hours ago

I totally agree with this article.The amount of times i see 360 add on T.V is amazing, and they market multiplat games as if its exlusive to there system over here in london.I hope sony wakes up next year so big titles like KILLZONE2,GOD OF WAR3..E.T.C not suffer how LBP,R2..E.T.C ALL suffered.

Agree(3) | Disagree(4) | Report

N2NOther - 397 days 16 hours ago

Sony knows the video game business better than MS? In terms of longevity, I'd agree, but not a single one of their games have outsold Halo 3, or Gears of War and when all is said and done, Gears 2...Not to mention GTAIV (which I'm sure everyone associates, or used to associate, the series with the PS brand) and Call of Duty 4 and W@W have outsold heir PS3 counterparts. That's because apparently MS knows how to market a game better than Sony. Which is shame because they did a great job with Metal Gear Solid 4.

Agree(2) | Disagree(4) | Report

PoSTedUP - 397 days 13 hours ago

MS has alot less to worrie about having only one console on the market so they should be marketing their products well. sony had a ton of game franchises so its fan base is spread out and chopped up into sections whereas MS had halo... halo built the xbox and gears was the next best thing to get if not, better. xbox1 had roughly 30m fans previous generation which mostly revolved around halo, sony had 120m all spread out into different category's of different games, ill admit that MS markets well but the ps3 has only 16m user base as of now and most of its top franchises arent even out and the people who bought the games last generation dont even own a ps3 yet ya know.

*leaves 4 work*

Agree(4) | Disagree(2) | Report

RussDeBuss - 397 days 11 hours ago

Chris Moyles on the Radio1 breakfast show this morning was talking about RROD and how he was on his 5th 360.

He has ratings of about 8 million listeners.

I bet M$ were loving that particular piece of free publicity 1 month b4 xmas

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) | Report

mikeslemonade - 397 days 10 hours ago

So Microsoft currently has way better marketing, more exclusives, cheaper systems, and better online, but only got a 6 million unit lead. PS3 has got this far with minimal marketing and I think they are smart for saving money and then marketing the PS3 when it actually hits $300. You can market a $400-$500 system to people but no one is going to buy it unless they are know about the PS3. Look at Microsoft when they had a $400 system they market the system so much but they didn't sell enough for it to be worth the marketing.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report

season007 - 397 days 8 hours ago

Say you put 1million in ads and it doesn't generate 1 million profit AT LEAST, then what's the point?

Marketing aren't FREE
Sony have been in the business for quite some time, and they spend their money on marketing when it is needed for the best effect possible...

Do you guys even know how much does it cost to put an ads in between PRIME TIME shows like Heroes?
Selling more doesn't always mean more profit man..

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) | Report

PoSTedUP - 397 days 21 hours ago

word yo. dudes be talking like they know whats best. i wish they just shut up.

Agree(5) | Disagree(3) | Report

ultimolu - 397 days 16 hours ago

Although I think they need to advertise more, you have a point. Sony is a well known company. Microsoft are only known for their computer software and not their system. That's why the marketing is even more important to them.

Agree(3) | Disagree(1) | Report

Saigon - 397 days 15 hours ago

this is something I have been saying for a while...most to all of sony's successful games are word of mouth...ala GTA3 was not a stellar success in the beginning when it first came out on the ps2...and then wham...all of a sudden it was an instant success and that was due to word of mouth...

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report

Viper7 - 397 days 17 hours ago

Dunno but atleast in Finland sony seems to do pretty well with Littlebigplanet commercials. Nothing major but definetly more than many games get overall.

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) | Report

mint royale - 397 days 16 hours ago

it has being outselling the ps3 europe WIDE and especially in the UK.

Agree(4) | Disagree(2) | Report

Jenzo - 397 days 17 hours ago

Innovative? As in copying achievements and calling them trophies? Or as in using a more than 10 year old controller design? As in funding big budget titles like Resistance 1 & 2 and Killzone 1 & 2 just because MS has had success with fps games? If it wasn't for the Xbox the PS3 and the Wii probably wouldn't have had online gaming out of the box.

Agree(3) | Disagree(9) | Report

butterfinger - 397 days 17 hours ago

If it wasn't for the PS1, the XBOX would probably never have existed. See what I did there? Way to take the bait. Defend your favorite console to the end! I agree with lelik, though. I have loved just about every PS3 exclusive, and I am much happier with Sony dumping their money into the games instead of advertising. And Jenzo, if it wasn't for games the were Sony exclusives originally, the 360 and PS3 would be a lot closer right now.

Agree(5) | Disagree(2) | Report

Mr Bun - 397 days 16 hours ago

That is about one of the weakest arguments I have heard (with exception to everything that pp says)

Agree(5) | Disagree(2) | Report

ultimolu - 397 days 16 hours ago

What a weak argument Jenzo.

Without Nintendo, there wouldn't be a Sony, and without Sony., Microsoft wouldn't have entered the gaming industry. Sony was a worthy opponent to go up against because they won two generations of gaming.

You wanna talk about innovation? How about Microsoft and those ridiculous Mii avatars?

I don't know what Sony did to you but your hatred is disturbing.

EDIT: "@ultimolu - I don't have anything against Sony, I just can't stand hypocrites like yourself and lelik. I don't deny that Avatars is a blatant theft from Nintendos Miis, that wasn't the topic. I just answered lelik because his comment is retarded. Both Sony and Microsoft and Nintendo borrow and steal ideas from each other. Sony is no more or no less innovative than Microsoft or Nintendo. That's the point I'm trying to get through."

Um...if you truly, and I mean truly meant that, you would have mentioned it in your other comment. I'm sorry but I don't recall any ripping off going on. You need to do some research before you throw around that term.

Hypocrites? You should try looking into a mirror Jenzo. I don't see how you can call anyone hypocritical when you're the very definition of the word you just used.

EDIT2: You just keep digging yourself into a bigger hole. I don't need to cheat to have a say on this site. I earned them because I've had a different outlook on things.

Agree(6) | Disagree(1) | Report

Jenzo - 397 days 16 hours ago

"And Jenzo, if it wasn't for games the were Sony exclusives originally, the 360 and PS3 would be a lot closer right now."

You mean further apart? They are pretty close right now. What games would that be? The games that have been driving sales for MS have not been Sony IPs but their own IPs like Halo, Gears of War and Fable. The only game I can think of that matters is GTA IV.

Here's what Sony had to say about that:

"I don't think the battle would be any different with or without Grand Theft Auto... I don't think it (losing Grand Theft Auto would) hurts us. No, I really don't."
- Jack Tretton, Sony Computer Entertainment America president and CEO

Good marketing.

@ultimolu/juuken - I don't have anything against Sony, I just can't stand hypocrites like yourself and lelik. I don't deny that Avatars is a blatant theft from Nintendos Miis, that wasn't the topic. I just answered lelik because his comment is retarded. Both Sony and Microsoft and Nintendo borrow and steal ideas from each other. Sony is no more or no less innovative than Microsoft or Nintendo. That's the point I'm trying to get through.

PS. How does the bubble trick work?

Agree(3) | Disagree(5) | Report

butterfinger - 397 days 16 hours ago

over who is more innovative Jenzo? Why don't you take a look at the basics on your 360 controller and compare that to the basics on a Playstation controller. Hmm... 2 joysticks, 2 bumpers, 2 triggers, a d-pad, and 4 face buttons... lol. Oh, look, Microsoft uses DVD's for their games. Who was the first to introduce that? I will thank Microsoft for bringing online gaming to consoles (it's been on PC for years), and making my PS3 have a built in HDD. Other than that, Microsoft hasn't done much in terms of innovation.

Edit: "The only game I can think of that matters is GTA IV." - That was a joke, right? If you don't think the FF13 theft matters, then you must be ignoring reality. The FF13 deal that MS made has already affected PS3 sales with at least 2 people I know. One person was going to get a PS3 just for FF13, but saw the 360 was cheaper, and the other already owns a 360 and was going to get a PS3 just for FF13, but not anymore. Also, if Jack Tretton says something that doesn't mean it is true. Corporate cronies like Tretton will say anything to keep investors happy. At the end of the day, everyone knows the loss of the GTA franchise was a huge hit to the PS3.

Agree(6) | Disagree(1) | Report

Jenzo - 397 days 16 hours ago

"Do you really want to get into a battle...over who is more innovative Jenzo?"

Nope. I don't, as I stated: "Both Sony and Microsoft and Nintendo borrow and steal ideas from each other. Sony is no more or no less innovative than Microsoft or Nintendo."

"Why don't you take a look at the basics on your 360 controller and compare that to the basics on a Playstation controller."

Why don't you take a look at a Dreamcast controller instead, the 360 is much more similar to that. Button layout? Sony took that from the SNES controller. This is silly. As I stated, all of the companies borrow from each other.

"Oh, look, Microsoft uses DVD's for their games. Who was the first to introduce that?"

So you are also saying Sony stole the idea of the Playstation 1 from Amiga, or Sega and their Sega CD? The Commodore Amiga CDTV was released in March of 1991 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wik... ) which was a full 3 years and 9 months ahead of the Sony Playstation ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wik... ) which was released in December of 1994.

"If you don't think the FF13 theft matters, then you must be ignoring reality."

As MGS4 showed with it's sales I don't think FF13 will make any considerable differance in shipped consoles for MS favor. The biggest Playstation exclusives this gen have sold about half as much as the biggest Microsoft exclusives. It's funny you call it theft. A less fanboyish person would call it a logic business decision. They need ROI on their games and since the 360 has a bigger install base and higher software attach ratio they would be losing tons of potential buyers by keeping it exclusive to the PS3..

Agree(2) | Disagree(6) | Report

N2NOther - 397 days 16 hours ago

I'm fairly certain that no Final Fantasy has sold as many copies as a GTA game on PS2 and it certainly won't in this generation.

Agree(3) | Disagree(2) | Report

butterfinger - 397 days 15 hours ago

I own both consoles, and I've only been on my 360 as of late which I love so you can squash that now. You edited in your little bit about all companies borrowing and stealing, but it is clear that MS has been the least innovative out of the big 3 when it comes to gaming. As far as the controllers go, I didn't say look at the layout, I said look at the basics and named examples. The 360 has 4 face buttons, 2 joysticks (thanks PSX), 2 bumpers, and 2 triggers... which controller does that sound the most like? Ah, yes, the original dual shock controller. Honestly why would you want to compare the 360's controller to the Dreamcast's? I guess you didn't own a Dreamcast, because in terms of size and comfort, the controllers are totally different. lol. Also, I asked who was the first to introduce games on DVD, and you came back with a totally different argument totally avoiding the question. It is clear with your more neutralized statements that you are trying to back out of this argument, but it would've been easier if you had just said so instead of coming off like a moron. BTW, since when did logical business decisions become %100 ethical or not shady? Microsoft has been known for YEARS for their shady practices, and it is no shocker that they have brought that to their gaming division. They are a cutthroat company that cares less about their consumers than any other company. FF13 may not sell as well as a GTA game, but there is no doubt that MS paid for SE to break their exclusive deal with Sony in order to block a ton of sales going Sony's way.

Agree(4) | Disagree(2) | Report

Tarasque - 397 days 10 hours ago

Wow Butterfinger, i love reading you replys brings me much joy. It is all about business and money as you say MS is concerned about, well that is what keeps companies in business to make a profit. And if SE can make twice the profit by releasing a game on both platforms then it would be stupid to do otherwise. And do you really think the ps3 would be what it is today if it wasn't for MS, i mean really so they deserve alot more credit than what you think. I am not going to get into the whole achievements, online capabilities, meaning chat and gaming and downloadable content and a online store and friends list with party system and acrcade classic that are co-op, in game music and Hardrive and HD and so on and so forth. We will just leave sleeping dogs lie Mk'a.

Agree(0) | Disagree(1) | Report

butterfinger - 397 days 9 hours ago

You sadly missed the point or chose not to read all of the other replies. Sony was attacked by Jenzo for their alleged lack of innovation, I never said MS wasn't innovative at all, they're just the least innovative of the three. If it wasn't for the massive success that was the PSX, Microsoft wouldn't even be in gaming today. You can say if it wasn't for Nintendo, Sony wouldn't have a console either, but that doesn't change the fact that Sony paved the way for Microsoft. Microsoft should have great software, they are a software company, but it's clear that they don't know much about the hardware, and it IS well-known that MS is most likely the worst of the big three in terms of customer support and reliability. Just about every accessory for the 360 is overpriced, and that is another fact.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report

N2NOther - 396 days 23 hours ago

2 disagrees with a factual statement about Final Fantasy? Look up the numbers...GTA has outsold it every time since III. And currently with the game selling well over 10 million, I doubt FFXIII will sell that many.

MS paid to break the exclusive deal? Maybe, I wasn't there so I don't know, but I'm sure the fact that more people own a 360 and has a higher attach rate than PS3 had a bit to do with it as well.

Me? I don't care because I'm getting it for PS3 but I think it's great that 360 owners get a chance to experience FFXIII.

Every accessory overpriced? You mean like the Keypad that came out for PS3 that cost as much as the controller? The same thing MS is charging 30 for WITH a headset?

My point is that they all charge too much for something.

Agree(0) | Disagree(1) | Report

butterfinger - 396 days 14 hours ago

Yes they all over charge for SOMEthing. MS overcharges for EVERYTHING. Would you like a new HDD? XBOX=$169.99 for 120GB PS3=$80.00 for 250GB Wireless adapter? XBOX=$88.88 PS3=included Online gaming? XBOX=$7.99/month PS3=Free Wireless controller? XBOX=$49.99 PS3=Included Play and charge kit? XBOX=$29.99 PS3=included I guess we can't talk about the 360's HD DVD add-on anymore, can we? By the time you buy all the stuff for the 360 that is included with the PS3, you've already spent the same amount of money or more! I love my 360, but the facts are the facts, you can spin them anyway you want. Unfortunately for you, you could only point to a keypad that most people probably won't buy anyway. Actually out of my 9 friends that have 360's, only one has that keypad lol.

I wasn't comparing GTA to FFXIII, so I don't know why you would come out with that. I was simply stating that the loss of both of those exclusives hurt Sony tremendously, WHICH IT DID. I don't care what a PR guy like Jack Tretton says. PS3 exclusive=Sony-only money/Multiplatform=MS and Sony money... that seems like a pretty clear misfortune for Sony and the PS3.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report

Foxgod - 397 days 17 hours ago

depends on how you look from it, besides the RROD and scratching, MS also delivered a console that can show graphics on par with the ps3, its can also be produced a lot cheaper, and it is more effecient to develope for then the ps3 is.

Agree(3) | Disagree(2) | Report

Mr Bun - 397 days 17 hours ago

See: Uncharted/Heavenly Sword/GT/MGS4...and you will see that the graphics on the 360 are not on par with the PS3

Can't argue with the "cheaper" part.

Agree(2) | Disagree(2) | Report

Foxgod - 397 days 17 hours ago

i have seen them, they do not look better or stand out in anyway, why do you think 360 games win so many awards.

Anyhow, fable2, GeoW2, Mass effect etch look as good as ps3 exclusives, the awards and nominees they receive are the proof.

Agree(4) | Disagree(4) | Report

Jenzo - 397 days 17 hours ago

Let's see what game that wins most "Graphics of the year" awards. My bet is on Gears of War 2 because it looks better than any of the games you mentioned.

Agree(3) | Disagree(5) | Report

Mr Bun - 397 days 17 hours ago

That is funny, because I have played Gears 2 and although it is a good game, the graphics don't compare...but I can say that as I have actually seen all the games mentioned...How about you?

Looks like you just got caught with your pants down...very appropriate avatar btw!

@Foxgod

You must be joking...I was just making fun of the graphics in Mass Effect...The faces are horrible, lol! I can't speak for Fable as I haven't seen that...so I will chalk that one up to "possible but highly unlikely"

Agree(3) | Disagree(2) | Report

N2NOther - 397 days 16 hours ago

I've played all the games you mentioned and the only one that stands out as "BETTER" is MGS4. The other games are great looking but no better than Gears 2 and mind you, I think Gears are solid games that are overrated in the gameplay department but they look amazing.

Agree(3) | Disagree(0) | Report

Action Bastard - 397 days 16 hours ago

I'm with Mr Bun on this one. PS3 exclusives look worlds better than 360 exclusives. I have a 360 and Fable II and while it is pretty (very pretty IMO), MGS, Uncharted, GT:P (as well as others) just flat out look better.

Agree(3) | Disagree(1) | Report

Jenzo - 397 days 16 hours ago

If you are as certain as you say, why not wait and see what games will get the awards?

I've played MGS4 and Drake's Fortune. IMO Drake's is still the best looking PS3 game.

@Action Bastard - Fable II is no looker. My personal choices for best graphics nominees would be: Gears of War 2, MGS4, Drake's Fortune, Dead Space, Banjo Kazooie N&B(laugh all you want. Check out the water effects and the sharp textures and you'll know what I mean) and LittleBigPlanet. FarCry 2 might as well be a nominee.

There are probably more but those were the ones that came to mind right now. I left out Fallout 3 since I think the character models look cheap and it has too many glitches. The environments are pretty impressive though.

Agree(1) | Disagree(5) | Report

Mr Bun - 397 days 15 hours ago

Yeah, you're right...maybe I will wait to see how the awards turn out to form my opinion like you apparently do. I guess you enjoy your games based solely on Metacritic scores as well

Agree(3) | Disagree(0) | Report

Foxgod - 397 days 14 hours ago

if the game awards will be anything like the past 2 ones, then we know that the 360 still has the best looking exclusives, just like the past two years.

Agree(2) | Disagree(3) | Report

elorm9 - 397 days 10 hours ago

"if the game awards will be anything like the past 2 ones, then we know that the 360 still has the best looking exclusives, just like the PAST TWO YEARS."

If so, what about the future? Surely, GeoW2 may take the graphics of the year award THIS YEAR. But that's probably gonna be the last time a 360 game will ever win it. With games like KZ2 and GoW3 (by the sounds of it from Jaffe) coming next year, there's no chance that such a thing could happen again. The same goes for future games on the platforms.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report

PirateThom - 397 days 17 hours ago

Microsoft pioneered online services my ass.

Every single thing on Live has been on PC for years, all Microsoft did was unify it. Hardly pioneering, hardly innovation.

Even Avatars, as you mention, are just "improved" Miis.

Microsoft are not innovators, they never have been, they take existing ideas and attempt to improve on them, but they certainly don't pioneer. It's too risky from Microsoft's business perspective.

Agree(4) | Disagree(1) | Report

butterfinger - 397 days 17 hours ago

You may be right about MS not stealing exclusives, but you used a horrible example. GTAIV could easily be considered a stolen exclusive when you take into account the $50 million that M$ paid for 2 exclusive episodes of DLC that they advertised before the disc even came out. We were then told that we would see the DLC in the Fall, this Winter, and now in February?! The DLC was obviously just a ploy to get people to buy the 360 version. 360 games sell better at the moment due to a larger install base and it doesn't take a genius to see that. Also, I'm curious as to where you got that $84 million/month from. Does every single live user pay $5.99 a month? I know that I pay $3.85/month when you divide up my 12+1 gold membership. Are you saying that over %90 of XBOX360 owners are stupid and don't know the best price to pay for XBOXLive?

Agree(0) | Disagree(1) | Report

morganfell - 397 days 15 hours ago

Gamespy, the people behind the PS3 online software did more to pioneer online than MS.

Agree(3) | Disagree(2) | Report

Milo Garret - 397 days 15 hours ago

"Microsoft are not innovators, they never have been, they take existing ideas and attempt to improve on them, but they certainly don't pioneer. It's too risky from Microsoft's business perspective."

MS are innovators, on an absolutely massive scale. What you are saying is laughable to anyone with any sort of insight into the electronics industry. Seriously, don't say that in front of properly educated people, you'd just embarrass yourself.

Also, avatars were not invented by nintendo... duh?

Agree(1) | Disagree(2) | Report

ravinshield - 397 days 11 hours ago

damb right FONY does

Agree(1) | Disagree(2) | Report

morganfell - 397 days 15 hours ago

Do you know anything about Steve Jobs and Apple? No? You need the diaper pal. Billy made his dollar on what he stole. XNE is just the latest round. Vista? Another Apple attempt. Live? Gamespy.

Agree(2) | Disagree(1) | Report

die_fiend - 397 days 16 hours ago

What? Who isn't waiting? Sony can campaign all they want, I'm not spunkin £300 on a console that has less good games than a 360...Y would I? What would they market? That it's a blu-ray player? Great...

Agree(2) | Disagree(2) | Report

morganfell - 397 days 15 hours ago

Sony is doing precisely that. They are unleashing a major campaign in early December.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report

Mr Bun - 397 days 15 hours ago

"microsofts, aimed for dumb people"

The last 5 words in your comment are probably the truest.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) | Report

Magic_The_Celt - 397 days 15 hours ago

^ Ya rly, its the sad truth man but these adverts draw in the dumb sh*ts and mothers in society. Sony get on board lol

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) | Report

Milo Garret - 397 days 15 hours ago

Harware too? Seems kinda of to me...

Agree(0) | Disagree(1) | Report

vega75 - 397 days 9 hours ago

what exclusive did MS steel. oh are you talking about FF13. last time i check sony didn't have a exclusive deal with SE for FF13. so how was it stolen. and do you have a link as to MS bribing everyone. no you don't. just talking out your @ss just like the sonyfanturd you are.

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) | Report