250°

Has Sony failed to Maximize the Playstation Brand?

In 1995, Sony (NYSE: SNE ) gave birth to a brand that became one of the strongest and most resilient around the world - PlayStation.

jujubee884079d ago (Edited 4079d ago )

As do others I know, so Sony succeeded w/ me and my immediate surrounding crowd.

jujubee884079d ago

"Playstation". Way to rush things you dork. =_=

ShugaCane4079d ago

I was about to say something mean, then I realized you were replying to yourself lol. Anyway, I as far as I'm concerned I don't know anybody disappointed with their Sony platforms either.

iGAM3R-VIII4078d ago (Edited 4078d ago )

Agreed, there is nothing wrong with the PS4, in fact I think that this will be the best console I have ever seen. All of the features are amazing and the controller is good too. It's just another MS person trying to depict the lives of potential PS4 buyers. Also I am sure the PS2 was the best selling console so I don't get how it was a disappointing PS brand, one of the best and if not it IS the best.

Derekvinyard134078d ago

Lmao it says edited but its still not fixed lol to funny

guitarded774078d ago

Give him a break, he's only been an n4g user for 2 years. :D

shoddy4078d ago

Man you guys should just chill out about typo.

Quit whining

Aceman184078d ago (Edited 4078d ago )

i'm gonna no they didn't fail, why because their still in the hardware business side of the industry unlike some other big name companies who use to make hardware.

they also have studios that make games so how exactly did they fail to maximize on the brand.

AngelicIceDiamond4078d ago

I will say what Sony is doing is elevating, buts its elevating Sony and Sony brand. That share feature is innovative but its to be expected and a long way from what PlayStation 3 offerd social wise.

The games that we know of, are what the fans want Killzone, infamous, something from Media molecule. They'll announce more at E3 I'm even expecting something exclusive from this brand new studio http://www.ign.com/articles...
Sony's brand is doing fine they're growing as we speak and hopefully the PS4 can get the "Sony brand" in the right direction.

Saigon4078d ago

After reading the article, I am left dumb-founded because the author never got to his point. The only think he pointed out is that Sony 'handheld' devices somewhat failed, depending on how you look at. This coming from NASDAQ should have been more informed to the reality of everything going on in the gaming world. The article sounded more like a piece I can grab from a run of the mill website. There was no mention of the success of the console base of every PS console, just the handheld division. I guess my problem is that i didn't see the point of this article.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4078d ago
ShugaCane4079d ago

The only wrong step from Sony was the PSPGo. Other than that, the Playstation brand has always surpassed any quality standard.

GribbleGrunger4079d ago

I can see you have agrees, and I can see why ... but I feel as if the PSPGo was Sony testing the idea of an online only handheld. This information was then used for their TRUE next gen handheld, the Vita.

Not a failure; more a test.

Granpire4079d ago

Why couldn't the test support regular memory sticks? Why did the PS Store have to be missing so many games?

It wasn't a stable environment for a test. In a world where every Vita game is released digitally, that would be a reliable test.

rezzah4078d ago (Edited 4078d ago )

Then you could say the test was a failure.

Edit:

A test is meant to pass or fail.

If you don't see the test as a failure, then in what ways is it a pass?

GribbleGrunger4078d ago (Edited 4078d ago )

they wanted to see whether people would go online or not. They got their data. The test was successful. It accomplished what it set out to do.

Reverent4078d ago

"A test is meant to pass or fail."

That's exactly why it worked. A test can either pass, or fail. Either way, you get your results.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4078d ago
puamdefokejpn4078d ago

Well pspGo is still quality.-- and it is still supported,.. Like any psp,.. Problem was the price,..as it usually is

ALLWRONG4078d ago

Sony went from a 125 million PS2 install base to 70 million PS3. Nintendo and MS took the rest of the PS2 market share, but somehow you guys call it a success. An Olympic runner who gets the gold one year then comes back to lose isn't successful. They still have yet to surpass the 360, that's why Sony only says "maybe" and "possibly" and not confirmed.

jivah4077d ago

You do know that the majority of ps2 sales were made under the 200 mark right....the ps3 is not there yet.. aaaannd ps2 is basically at 150 not 125

Bumpmapping4079d ago

Selling a console for 600$ coming in second place speaks volumes of brand strength.

lashes2ashes4079d ago

I agree. But by selling for that much the "brand" took a big hit. Sony have been doing a lot the last couple of years to make up for it. Right now Sony has been caring about its fans more than Microsoft in my opinion.

Good_Guy_Jamal4079d ago

Losing billions and eating up all prior profits to do so is a major fail. Also, you speak as if its still at $600. In fact they had to drop the price repeatedly and redesign the console twice to achieve that. They also lost the most market share in all regions after DOMINATING completely in the previous generations.
So I'd say yes, brand has been failed somewhat.

CGI-Quality4078d ago (Edited 4078d ago )

We can always count on you to be supportive of Sony /s. And the question wasn't regarding a passing or "failing" brand.

OT: I'd say they haven't reached its 100% potential, but the brand is still, arguably, the strongest in gaming. To have cleared the hurdles they entered this gen with was no easy feat, but based on the Feb 20 presentation, Sony has learned a lot from the 2006 days. The future of the brand is exciting!

Eyeco4078d ago (Edited 4078d ago )

Wow only the Playsation brand can sell almost 80 million consoles worldwide in 6 years and still be considered a failure/ failing

That alone says so much more about the success/power of the brand than the failure/weakness of it.

Lvl_up_gamer4078d ago (Edited 4078d ago )

2nd behind MS you mean.

The PS3 is still currently in 3rd place. Unless you are referring to a 3rd parties own admittance (IDC) that their calculations are only "estimates" and that they are NOT Sony's own numbers....also since when does "shipped" trump Sold at retail?

Are Sony fanboys still trying to believe shipped numbers hold any relevance?

Sony's PS3 has had more price drops then the 360 as well. Let's not ignore that right now the only sku sony is manufacturing is the super slim which is nothing more then a bare bones shell of it's once glorious self back when it was $600. Meanwhile the 360 has actually had features added with their new slim.

The 360 is also the only console that is $100 over priced being an 8 year old console with 10 year old tech.

Gimmemorebubblez4078d ago (Edited 4078d ago )

@Troll
Yes believe it or not I trust the IDC more than VGchartz.
Your such a hypocrite... blahbady.....blahbdy........ blah

"The PS3 is still currently in 3rd place. Unless you are referring to a 3rd parties own admittance (IDC) that their calculations are only "estimates" and that they are NOT Sony's own numbers....also since when does "shipped" trump Sold at retail?"

Now please enlighten me on where you got the Xbox 360's sales numbers......VGchartz.......se e what I mean?

And guess what it doesnt end there!
"sony is manufacturing is the super slim which is nothing more then a bare bones shell of it's once glorious self back when it was $600."
Then you say:
"Meanwhile the 360 has actually had features added with their new slim."
Then you say:
"The 360 is also the only console that is $100 over priced being an 8 year old console with 10 year old tech."-WTF

CGI-Quality4078d ago (Edited 4078d ago )

Even with those price drops (which is only one more than the 360 had, if you've been keeping up), the PS3 is STILL more expensive, yet outsells the 360 on weekly basis. Now how will you spin that? Oops, never mind, you can't, the bubbles have failed you. ;)

Jaqen_Hghar4078d ago

a console has had more price drops because it was twice as expensive to start out with...and still outsold 360 every year other than 08 that they were both on the market.

greenpowerz4078d ago (Edited 4078d ago )

I agree...

That report was BS to get hits(and the only trackers that say this). No one in the industry believes it. Hell Sony doesn't believe it. This is why they won't release numbers proving it.

Sony knows about the rumors created by the report so at their PS4 reveal Sony gave some half A$$ fuzzy implication that PS3 could be ahead "probably ahead" so they can imply and avoid a complete lie(this time)

If PS3 was ahead there would be major media communication from Sony to media, hoping investors and Devs were paying attention. There is a reason there are no hard facts/numbers to pin against MSFT's, with Sony investors knowing PS3 numbers that can't be spun by law.

There is no way in hell PS3 caught the 360 when MSFT sold 5 million 360's last holiday in NA alone when PS3 was 3 to 4 million behind. Last holiday in NA the 2nd place console didn't even sell half of what the 360 did.

Believing that report is a fool's wishful thinking pipe dream.

MSFT could have destroyed Sony if they wanted to with real/proper price drops more often but they need the revenue to take the massive hit with the 720's advanced hardware and demand is still high enough for the 360/MSFT to do so.

LOL a rabid foaming at the mouth N4G goer personally attacking you for having a different opinion and facts he doesn't want to hear calling you the troll LMAO!

A COMPANY FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL FOR A DECADE with a competitor, FINALLY PAST THEM IN SALES and they say "PROBABLY PAST THE 360" WITH NO NUMBERS TO PROVE IT, what idiot would believe PS3 is in 2nd place?

BlueTemplar4078d ago

@greenpowerz
"LOL a rabid foaming at the mouth N4G goer personally attacking you for having a different opinion and facts he doesn't want to hear calling you the troll LMAO!"

**ALERT** **ALERT** IRONY LEVELS REACHING CRITICAL MASS ABANDON SHIP ABANDON SHIP **ALERT** **ALERT**

BlueTemplar4078d ago

@greenpowerz

"There is no way in hell PS3 caught the 360 when MSFT sold 5 million 360's last holiday in NA alone when PS3 was 3 to 4 million behind. Last holiday in NA the 2nd place console didn't even sell half of what the 360 did."

I don't know if you're aware of this, and I know you're a bit simple so I'll explain this in simple terms. You see, theres this place just outside of the US that we like to call "The Rest of the World". It's quite a big place, with I don't know, six BILLION people in it? So yes, yes it is quite conceivable that a product might sell less in the US (even by several million), but still sell better overall. Because, you know - global economics and all that.

Hope that cleared things up for you somewhat. If you need a simpler explanation just let me know.

rainslacker4077d ago (Edited 4077d ago )

This article is nasdaq.com, which means that it's probably geared towards investors. In this case, yes shipped trumps sold at retail. If the article were talking about a retail store then sold at retail would be relevant.

Also, point of fact...all companies report shipped numbers, because they are the only ones that matter to them. Retail also isn't going to order several million extra just to store them. They're meant to sell, so the actual sold through number is negligible in the grand scheme of things, particularly since we're talking 70+ million units.

Little known fact...retailers are very good at knowing what they need to order, and what will sell. The big ones have complex algorithms and huge amounts of market research to know within a small margin of error what is necessary to keep in stock in order to SELL TO THE CONSUMER.

The rest of your comment I'll ignore because you obviously only pick the numbers that support your argument. There are a lot of conflicting reports on who's sold how many, but generally they seem to indicate that PS3 is about equal or only slightly behind Xbox, but is still selling faster overall.

@green

Sony reports their numbers after the end of their fiscal year, which is less than a week away. They are required to because they are a publicly traded company, and shareholders want to know. Expect some time in April for official numbers to be released.

So, for the sake of argument, lets say Sony announces their numbers and they are indeed now ahead. Are you going to come in here and say you were wrong? I doubt it since all you do is spin at every opportunity to put down Sony. Why even bother?

I used to think you were just a troll, but you've been doing this for years, and I actually think you believe the crap you spew.

Clarence4076d ago

@ level up gamer
The 360 had several price drops
November 22, 2005
Launch of Xbox 360 Premium (20 GB) – $399.99
Launch of Xbox 360 Core – $299.99

April 29, 2007
Launch Xbox 360 Elite (120 GB) – $479.99

August 6, 2007
Price cut on Xbox 360 Premium (20 GB) – $349.99
Price cut on Xbox 360 Core – $279.99
Price cut on Xbox 360 Elite – $449.99

October 27, 2007
Launch of Xbox 360 Arcade – $279.99
Discontinuation of Xbox 360 Core

July 13, 2008
Discontinuation of Xbox 360 (20 GB) (price cut to $299.99 for remaining stock)

August 1, 2008
Launch of Xbox 360 Premium (60 GB) – $349.99

September 5, 2008
Price cut on Xbox 360 Elite – $399.99
Price cut on Xbox 360 (60 GB) – $299.99
Price cut on Xbox 360 Arcade – $199.99

August 28, 2009
Discontinuation of Xbox 360 (60 GB) (price cut to $249.99 for remaining stock)
Price cut on Xbox 360 Elite – $299.99

June 19, 2010
Launch of Xbox 360 S 250 GB – $299.99
Discontinuation of Xbox 360 Elite (price cut to $249.99 for remaining stock)
Discontinuation of Xbox 360 Arcade (price cut to $149.99 for remaining stock)

August 3, 2010
Launch of Xbox 360 S 4 GB – $199.99

Nice try but your lying.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4076d ago
Rageanitus4078d ago

Yah, they had a tough round this time around. But Knowing Sony they will support it for another 3 years.

You never know it might actually become number 1 in terms of sales volume near the end of its live cycle.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4076d ago
Knightofelemia4078d ago (Edited 4078d ago )

Building reliable machines a great solid product. A great solid line of titles. Adding Blu-Ray to a machine was a great gamble that paid off. Sony has done great fixing their past mistakes with the PS3 launch now its a solid platform. I still do not have a Vita can't comment on that I thought the PSP was great I still play mine. I thought the PSP go was differant its not my cup of tea. The PSN is great still has some little issues hopefully Sony will fix those issues with the PS4. As far as the PS4 is concerned I already have my name down for one so my EB games will let me know when it enters in their computer I am there. Sony and the Playstation brand can only get stronger from here. Especially since now you can get games from the PSN store from a Sony Xperia cell phone. And Sony's customer service through there 1-800 number is some of the best service I had they are very freindly and very helpful I am happy with the Playstation brand. Only thing I can really say is Sony needs to advertise titles and the PS3, the Vita and its titles a little more.

NateCole4078d ago

PS is primarily a console gaming brand. Until Gakai is fully utilize i don't see how Sony can maximize it further outside of console space.

In Console space. Sony has done most of what it can in maximizing the PS brand.

Sony has

* Legitimize Gaming as a serious form of entertainment
* Fist company to sell 100 million consoles
* Fist company to sell 100 million consoles back to back and are on their way to a 3 peat.

I am not sure what more Sony can do.

MasterCornholio4078d ago (Edited 4078d ago )

All they have to do is focus on the core and price the Pß4 right and I believe that they will do extremely well. Sony can focus on the core while Nintendo and Microsoft can fight over the casuals.

Motorola RAZR i

Show all comments (52)
150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers28d ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken28d ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g28d ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing28d ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H928d ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola28d ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn66928d ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle28d ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

Show all comments (14)
130°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg29d ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos29d ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion29d ago (Edited 29d ago )

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola29d ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

Show all comments (8)
280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

Read Full Story >>
techraptor.net
ChasterMies49d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken49d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga49d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken49d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6449d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long49d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197249d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic49d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 49d ago
DivineHand12549d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91349d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer49d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit49d ago (Edited 49d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91348d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit48d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 48d ago
Christopher49d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6948d ago (Edited 48d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit48d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal49d ago (Edited 49d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher49d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken49d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197249d ago (Edited 49d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic49d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2349d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218349d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit48d ago (Edited 48d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder49d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts49d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

Show all comments (43)