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Sony admits more can be done to highlight PS3 value message

PS3Fanboy writes: If you read this blog, chances are you're already familiar with Sony's "10 year mantra." PS3 is an incredible piece of tech with a lot of value built into the system. However, does your average Walmart shopper know about the things PS3 can offer? Probably not. With the $200 price difference between the cheapest Xbox 360 and PS3, Sony understands that it must do a better job at marketing its message. Julie Han, Sony corporate communications, told Gamasutra that "there's a lot we can do on the marketing front," especially about features, like PS3's video store, and its connectivity with PSP. Are these things that are spoken about beyond hardcore gaming circles? Unlikely.
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Ozzyb - contributor
Published: 469 days ago | Article | PlayStation 3
 
 

Showing: 1 - 35 of 35 Comments
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Jamie Foxx - 469 days ago
1 - GLAD TO SEE
because i new sony were slack in advertising when i read that some people who have a ps3 didnt even know it could play bluray movies. i had to laugh
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whoelse - 468 days 21 hours ago
1.1 -
Yes they definetly need to market the value, potential and PSP connectivity more. There are millions of PS2 owners out there who may be more persuaded to by a PS3 if they know their portable gaming console and home console can work together.
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Palodios - 468 days 21 hours ago
1.2 -
I feel like the real problem is that Sony has confused the hell out of consumers with all the various models, and the absolutely worst part is not a single one is better than the 60 gb that they started with. People want backwards compatibility, and whenever they release a new BC model, it sells like crazy, and Sony doesn't seem to notice. How much money does SOFTWARE emulation cost anyway? Its not like they're paying for the EE chip anymore, I don't get why they can't just include it with all models.

They need to make models more cost effective, and stop making harddrives bigger on the cheapest model, or forcing consumers to pay for stuff they don't want. The casual consumer doesn't give a damn about a bigger harddrive, or three blu-ray titles that they may or not watch so why force them to get a huge one when they can just replace it if they really want it?

A $300-350 40 gb ps3 with software ps2 emulation would shift a lot of consoles. Sure, Sony is already taking a big loss on the Vaio laptops, but during a holiday season a pricecut is justified by the tons of games they'll sell.
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TheExodus - 468 days 20 hours ago
1.3 -
@Palodios: Sony has noticed because they stated in the article that the 80GB SKU outsold the 40GB SKU last Christmas by 22 percent. My guess is that Sony knows that BC is extremely important, especially to the 100 million PS2 owners who haven't begun their migration yet.
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Cajun Chicken - 468 days 20 hours ago
1.4 -
I'd be honest, Sony need to get out a model like the EU 60gb with limited PS2 emulation again.
I'd say, its personally better than the so called 'emulation' that MS spoon feeds with only chosen XBOX software emulation. Many more of my PS2 collection work on the PS3 than my XBOX games on the 360 only the R&C PS2 series don't work on my PS3 as of yet...and I've noticed Sony is still secretly updating performance of BC in firmware updates as I do quick tests as soon as I update my firmware...for example, about 2 firmwares ago, Jak2, 3 and X started working perfectly all of a sudden.

The fact MS have dropped out the 'BC race' is something Sony could steal again. I know many people that want MY PS3...or at least the BC features and the virtual memory cards for PSone AND PS2.
I'm afraid, they probably don't want a PS3 unless a sequel of a franchise is released aka (GoW3) or BC is put back in, playing PSone games isn't good enough and Sony don't release enough on the PSN anyway, besides...who still owns a big collection of PSone games in pristing condition these days?
There must be a way Sony can get BC back into peoples PS3s, some kind of USB device, full software emulation a boot up disc or something.
I do feel sorry for people in the EU who missed out on the chance of the 60gb model.
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mikeslemonade - 468 days 14 hours ago
1.5 -
Free online is something they need to say and also say the right way. Don't just say the PSN network is free of charge. Not everyone knows what a PSN network is. Say that playing games online is free where as the competitor they make you pay online to play games.
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kwicksandz - 468 days 11 hours ago
1.6 - Several basic things to improve value
Include HD cables in the box
include BT headset in EVERY bundle. no talking in R:FOM and warhawk is lame!
Longer controller charge cable

get on it sony.
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kittoo - 469 days ago
2 - True
More and better marketing needs to be done for PSP and PS3. Both are incredible pieces of tech but many people dont know about things they offer.
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Immortal Kaim - 469 days ago
3 -
I definitely think that this is a problem with the lacklustre Sony advertising I have witnessed so far. The PS3 is certainly the pinnacle of technology in console gaming as well as a host of other options, that's pretty much a given, but if people (as in the average consumer) are unaware of its capabilities, its like a dog without teeth.

Come on Sony, start spreading the msg.
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clintos59 - 469 days ago
4 - They also had a lackluster MGS4 advertising....
If they would have advertised the hell out of MGS4, I think we would have seen a new record breaking sales. MGS4 still did very well in sales but im sure if they advertised it like MS did with halo 3, we all know MGS4 would have sold way more then it did now. Anyways despite MGS4 sales, MGS4 FTW. :)
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neela - 468 days 22 hours ago
4.1 -
Not Sony`s job to advertise MGS4, its the publisher aka Konami.
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Sitdown - 468 days 21 hours ago
4.2 - @Neela..
I disagree with that....especially since the push was to make MGS 4 a system seller. Do you think it was Sony's idea, or Konami's idea to create the bundle?
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neela - 468 days 18 hours ago
4.3 -
So you want Sony to throw a free add campaign for every game published on their systems ? Hell, why dont every company start add campaigns for others products. If Konami and Sony make a deal, then its fine. But it dosen`t make sense to have a campaign for a product thats not yours, and the only benefit you get is a few more HW sales. Then its better to use that money on a PS3 add, and not a MGS4 add.
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Ozzyb - 468 days 18 hours ago
4.4 - I agree...
that MGS4 bundle should have been everywhere. On billboards, on milk cartons, on TV (not just MGS4).. seriously, everywhere! I think they are starting to catch on though, especially with LBP, and yes I think Sony has a big part in it, not just Media Molecule.
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neela - 468 days 18 hours ago
4.5 - Ozzyb
Damn, who do you think is the publisher for LBP ?!? Sony (SCEE). Dont get confused with publisher and developer. Two different thing.
Developer : Makes the game
Publisher : Prints it, ship it and is responsable for add campaigns.
So why people are blaming Sony for bad MGS campaign is beyond me.
(MGS4 is published by Konami Digital Entertainment)
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ruiner4482 - 468 days 18 hours ago
4.6 -
If Sony wants these games to hit the mainstream in a big way then yes they should be responsible for part of the marketing. If Sony would have had ads all over the place ala Halo 3 they would have had sold many more consoles.
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Ozzyb - 468 days 13 hours ago
4.7 -
Well there ya go.. learn something new every day. Didn't know Sony was publishing it.
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Karum - 468 days 23 hours ago
5 -
Hopefully they go through with a better marketing strategy now. I mean anyone who isn't a fanboy knows the PS3 is great value for money considering the features of the console, they just need to get the message out there a bit better. If for no other reason than to create more competition resulting in better games and services for all of us, regardless of which platform you support and love.
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alakazzam - 468 days 23 hours ago
6 -
sony really need to show of what the ps3 offers, its exclusives, its online and its overall value. i think far more people would buy a ps3 if they knew that they didn't have to buy any addons for wifi, wireless controllers etc all things the ps3 has as standard.
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Cajun Chicken - 468 days 23 hours ago
7 - Go Sony, go.
Show the consumers the way forward for true value.
No bloody circuses; mind.

Stop mainly using your supporters as forced viral advertisers to defend against fanboys, as much as I stand up and defend the console against the masses its time to be serious.
Pull out the big guns, this is it.
YOU need to TELL people the REAL facts in sensible, user friendly adverts. The time is NOW.
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Ozzyb - 468 days 18 hours ago
7.1 -
You got me kinda psyched... Bubbles ~ lol
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Raoh - 468 days 22 hours ago
8 -
yeah what ever company they hired for advertisement owes them. or should be fired..

didnt they fire the ad agency that made those play beyond blood tearing baby commercials? are they still in contract?

they also need to start advertising their first party games.

go basic..

during network tv show nights a commercial with the family sitting down to watch a new blu ray movie.

teenager in the basement doing laundry connecting to his ps3 via psp.

couldl of kids playing games showing off the sixaxis.

etc etc etc
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cpuchess - 468 days 22 hours ago
9 -
I am old video gamer, I used to have what was at the time the best computer. The Commodore Amiga which had graphics far superior to any machine out there. However, Commodore almost never advertised, you never saw commercials on TV until just before they went out of business.
I have both the 360 and the PS3 and while I like the 360's controllers better, the PS3 is a far better machine. Sony definitely needs to promote itself better and not repeat the same mistake Commodore did.
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kalistyles - 468 days 22 hours ago
10 -
Well I for one working at Best Buy I like to give an extensive demo on the PS3 so the consumer knows what they are getting from the system itself. Most of the consumers know they are getting a gaming system and a Blu Ray player, but I like to show them they're getting a web browser, picture viewer, music player. I also show them it has wifi capabilities and all the way down to having 6 way video chat with the eye toy to letting them know they can also purchase games, or movies on PSN for their needs. I do wish Sony would show the consumer the benefits and overall package your getting with the PS3.
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TheExodus - 468 days 22 hours ago
11 -
I don't know that Sony has to spend millions in advertising to convince gamers that PS3 is the better value, because sales figures seem to indicate that gamers already know that. Time will tell what the impact of 360's latest round of price cuts is, but I do know that I never buy something just because it's cheap & I don't think I'm unusual in that respect. Seems to me these analysts are assuming that consumers will buy anything provided that it's cheap enough, whereas I believe consumers will buy what they want at a price they determine to be fair. Problem for MS is that I don't believe there's a lot of demand for 360 at this point.
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AAACE5 - 468 days 21 hours ago
12 -
Fact of the matter is... People remember watching the Ps2 price decline. And they remember the longer they wait, the cheaper it will get. So sony really needs to make people feel like they "MUST BUY IT NOW!" in order for them to generate the sales they want! Same goes for the 360... but the recent price drop to $200 might possibly make people think that!
13 thenickel | 468 days 21 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
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BoneMagnus - 468 days 21 hours ago
14 - MGS4 bundle a FANTASTIC value...
I've had it for about a month now - it is my main DVD player - switched Netflix membership to Blu-Ray, and the games are amazing - MGS4, Resist, and Uncharted.

The machine itself is sexy and sleek - it just looks and feels like a high end piece of tech.

I love my 360, and am not taking anything away from it - I still play my 360 a ton and have Gears 2, Fable 2 and Fallout 3 reserved for it,

but I have to hand it to Sony - the PS3 has that certain intangible cool factor.
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hot_gamer_girl_1 - 468 days 20 hours ago
15 - lets advertise!!
I agree with the majority when saying advertising is a major aspect in advising consumers on what the PS3 has to offer..

I agree with you kitto on that one

Mr.Jamie Foxx I have to say im one of the ones that have not had my fill on all of the offerings of PS3, as I didnt know it could play bluray movies
thanks for the info
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trovon - 468 days 20 hours ago
16 - Sony would be okay.....
If they defined what the systems main purpose is. Xbox360 tried this same tactic of being the center of the living room, but it doesn't work. The average consumer doesn't want a gaming machine to be the media center of the living room. People still think that video game consoles should be just that, and nothing more. But, when Sony gets to that magical price point of $199, they will sell like crazy. Also, from a marketing standpoint, they have too many sku's for the regular consumer to be able to decide between them.
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PimpHandStrong - 468 days 20 hours ago
17 - yea tell the truth
im shocked i dont hear more about the PSP>PS3 conectivty

im not a handheld guy but that alone has me looking at getting a PSP! If i could download my BR movies and take one on the go its a sure buy! They do that and im in

They should hype the fact that you can use the browser and download stiff to your PS3! They should talk about all the free stuff!

but really Sony doesnt do much talking on the TV ads. They find a good song and show you what it does! Works.....

anyway

Oct 14 cant come soon enough
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Some_One_Plays - 468 days 20 hours ago
18 - The one thing that Sony needs...
I know a lot of people who think the PlayStation 3 can't have downloadable games so they went to the XBOX 360. The things that people believe will always baffle me until I die. There are other times people think once you buy the PlayStation 3 as your upgraded DVD player you can't play SD (Standard Definition) DVDs anymore.

Some Ideas for Sony:

Official Sony PS3 Home Video Trailer HTML: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Playstation 3 Commercial Play B3yond Pixel HTML: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Playstation 3 Commercial Play B3yond HTML: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

PS3 "control" info (PLAY B3YOND) HTML: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Of course everything will have to be reduced to at least one minute, but the style of the presentation (Play Beyond) they use for everything. They especially need one for online where most people are uneducated about, and use the game M.A.G. (Massive Action Game). Better adverts can result in better sales, it's what movie theatres rely so heavily on. Plus would be a perfect place for Sony to advertise their video store. For Sony's sake I say start with movie theatres so they can remain the same lenghts.
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alakazzam - 468 days 19 hours ago
18.1 -
those adverts are kwl but they still need ones to show off exclusives and PSN.
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Ozzyb - 468 days 14 hours ago
18.2 -
Yea, I agree. Someone probably starts a rumor and every fifteen-year-old kid in the country thinks that the PS3 has *less* features than Halo Player 2.. I mean Xbox 360.

Off topic: Gears of War I understand.. that game REALLY impressed me when it first came out. I will NEVER understand the obsession with HALO, that poor excuse for a first-person-shooter.
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level 360 - 468 days 18 hours ago
19 -
I really feel bad that Sony will not be releasing their 160GB and instead just the half of it *80GB over here in Australia... what a bummer another value lost.
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