Is it possible the games don't matter anymore for PS3 to succeed?

Mike Bantick
Monday, 25 June 2007 17:31

Opinion and Analysis

According to nexgenwars.com the Xbox 360 is enjoying an 11.17 million sales base with the Wii gaining everyday on 8.1 million.  Meanwhile 3.48 million PS3's have gone home - with perhaps a large percentage bought for Blu-ray capabilities rather than as a gaming machine.

And here is the key.  Last week Ken Kutaragi, the father of the PlayStation stepped down as chairman of Sony.  This does not represent a complete changing of the guard at the electronic giant, with focus on the PS3 as the flag-ship of the company not altering.  But it does give them a chance to pause for a fresh riposte at the entertainment space.

A price cut will help, but perhaps, as Alex pointed out in his article, it is time to forget promising of great things to come (especially un-proven gaming IP's) and look at the power of the box as it stands today. 

The PS3 can bring a lot of home technology needs together into an integrated  black box.  Internet connectivity, media cards, Blu-ray, music, PSP interactivity, Linux sand-box and so on.

Perhaps less unfulfilled promises and a greater emphasis on down-to-earth capabilities, with a whiff of the future capabilities should be a focus of Sony marketing.  This will help shift units today, because I believe there are currently three broad market types for the PS3 at the moment. 

1) Those that buy no matter what - unfortunately these (don't like the term fan-boys) folks have already got their PS3, no market there.
2) The patient ones either saving up, or waiting for the inevitable price drop - this market will not change, and is already set.  Judging by the popularity of stories about a PS3 price drop, this could be sizable.
3) Finally, the unknown masses of people just not aware of the PlayStation 3's current capabilities, surely there potential here, just one viral and/or mainstream campaign.

I hate to say it, but until some of the promise comes to fruition, perhaps the PS3 should worm out of the gaming sphere, until the pledge of the next golden age arrives, according to Stringer March 2008.