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Editorial: Sony Didn't Intend PS3 To Succeed As A Console

December 13, 2008 in Blog comments 27

An article that explains that Sony didn't need the PS3 for anything other than pushing the Blu-ray format forward, and that even if the PS3 fails Sony will still profit from Blu-ray.

Even if the PS3 is Sony's last console Sony still wins. Whether the PS3 turns a profit or tanks, Sony still wins. For those of who you don't know what I'm talking about, simply understand that Sony, as an electronic giant, simply needs to survive the economic ebb to reap the benefits of what the PlayStation 3 established for the company. That establishment happens to be the Blu-ray format.
vortis via cinemablend.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Dec 15, 2008

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  • 0
    Red 9 Dec 13, 08
    Somehow I really doubt Sony said that in full seriousness.

    Even so, the PS3 is doing exceptionally well. So I suppose in this perspective, it's just a plus.
  • 0
    Arikardo Dec 13, 08
    You have to admit, it is pretty clever of them. They know damn well that blu-ray is the way forward and they invested into it before anybody else. With the huge success of the PS3 and its games being on blu-ray more than likely the next Xbox console will feature a blu-ray drive and Sony profits from every blu-ray sold so, congratulations on using your head Sony!
    • 0
      Final Blade Dec 14, 08
      It's more then just invested in it, they had a part in developing the Disc format. Even so, this is highly exaggerated.

      PS3 will be successful. Will it win the console war? Maybe and Maybe not, but the console at the end of the day will still gain 10s of millions and basically have fantastic games.
    • 0
      McClubbin Dec 14, 08
      While you do have admire their intelligence, imagine if in some alternate reality the HD DVD format had won. The PS3 would have bombed horribly and all your praises would probably turn into curses. It's amazing how one little event could possibly change so much.
  • 0
    Capn Droid Dec 13, 08
    Oh, bullshit. If it weren't intended to succeed as a console, why advertise it as such?
    • 0
      Seeker X Dec 14, 08
      Doing otherwise would be plain stupid for business.
    • 0
      PacoDG Dec 14, 08
      I have seen commercials for the PS3 advertising The Dark Knight movie, Sony knows why people buy their console. Metal Gear and Blu-Ray.
      • 0
        NathanFido Dec 14, 08
        Don't forget GT 5. Even if it's not right now I bet a tonne of people will buy a PS3 for GT 5. I will be.
  • 0
    Absolute Dec 14, 08
    More and more the word editorial is becoming synonymous with bullshit
    • 5
      dmf_dynasty Dec 14, 08
      Or it could mean 'opinion,' as in it's allowed to be different than yours.
      • 0
        Jeterocks Dec 14, 08
        If I could give you infinite thumbs up sir...I would. Well said DMF.
  • 0
    Dramon Knight Dec 14, 08
    If that works it's a pretty smart move, but otherwise the PS4 wasn't their greatest idea yet.
    • 0
      Red 9 Dec 14, 08
      PS4 isn't even close to being out, though...
  • 0
    Koloth Dec 14, 08
    Haven't I basically been telling you guys this for years anyway? Sony was concerned with Blu-ray first and the PS3 second. Now that Blu-ray has won they actually become concerned with how the PS3 itself is progressing.

    The plan made perfect sense to me from the start. Win the format war make major bucks. And the PS3 was the sacrificial lamb to the electronic gods.
    • 0
      Final Blade Dec 14, 08
      Yea but I highly doubt Sony didn't intend PS3 to succeed. The reason why they won is due to making it standard on PS3, and making games Blu-ray mandatory. Without both of those key components the format would have failed. Believe it or not, Sony NEEDED the PS3 to succeed in order to win the format war. This just seems highly exaggerated and twisting Sony words and reasons.

      But ultimately yes you have said this before and I agreed with you. But I don't agree with this editorial.
      • 0
        Koloth Dec 14, 08
        I think they were more interested in leveraging the PS3s name recognition more than planning for it to succeed. They expected people to buy the PS3 on brand loyalty. And while many did most still couldn't get over the price.

        No one would build a product and plan for it to fail. But the PS3s success is secondary to Blu-ray. Even if the PS3 could muster up another 120 million units sold it still couldn't come close to making them as much money as Blu-ray will. I doubt they will abandon the PS brand and I'm sure they want it to succeed. But it isn't overly important.
        • 0
          Final Blade Dec 15, 08
          Yea but the whole point is, this article is exaggerated. If PS3 didn't succeed in gaining millions then ultimately the format would have failed, thus both would fall. The point is, right now Blu-ray is successful is cause PS3 IS successful. You can't have one product being successful and then other fail. It doesn't work like that, especially the fact PS3's was the main catalyst in Blu-ray winning. 6 million blu-ray drives sold thanks to PS3, 100's of Blu-ray movies and games. Literally made the format win. While Sony did want the format to win, they also needed the gaming console to help alot to make it happen.
        • 0
          Koloth Dec 15, 08
          Don't get me wrong, all the doom an gloom about the PS3 is definitely over exagerrated. Still I think the gist of the article is correct. Sony didn't care if the PS3 succeeded "as a gaming console". They definitely cared that is succeeded as a venue to push their new video format. PS3's greatest strength is a strong brand name. Lots of people are brand loyalist. They will only buy a certain brand of TV or milk or peanut butter.

          I buy the same type of bread every other week. I don't care for any other type of bread. I don't care if there are cheaper breads that taste exactly the same. I don't care if my brand of bread goes up 20 cents or drops a nickle. I ALWAYS buy the same loaf of bread.

          Consoles can and are very much the same way. Many people will buy a Nintendo simply because they always buy Nintendos. I bought a N64 because of brand loaylty. Seriously, that was the only reason I bought an N64 rather than a Playstation in the 90s was because I always had a Nintendo. And then I found out the N64 had a terrible game library and nothing to offer me for the next 2 years so I said to hell with this and traded it in for a PS1 and FF7. But I literally had to break myself of my own brand loayalty to do it. And that is what I mean by Sony leveraging the PS3 to push the format.

          The close to 20 million PS3 owners that bought one primarily got it on brand loyalty. I would say at least half. The rest got it because of a particular set of games or features that they wanted. But most got it because they simply couldn't see themselves buying anything else.
  • 0
    The Omega Dec 14, 08
    Of course they didn't intend for it to succeed as a gaming console alone, it's not wise to spend $500-600 on a console. That's why it was created and marketed to be an entertainment system with various features, like the Blu-Ray player.
  • 0
    Linkerd101 Dec 14, 08
    Obviusly, they didnt intend for it to be a console because It would have a High Variety of games, like the PS2 and PSX
    • 0
      Dramon Knight Dec 14, 08
      True, actually. I've noticed that, but of course at the same time they could just be running out of ideas.
  • 0
    Gillies2006 Dec 14, 08
    I applaud that editorial.
  • 0
    BlackLabel Dec 14, 08
    I like this outlook i mean if Blu-Ray succeeds which it has then Sony has the platform to make some killer money. Microsoft would literally have to make a new disc format to stop Sony from taking a cut of the profits from every Xbox 720 sold if it came with a Blu-Ray drive, i think the Playstation 4 is where Sony will compete they will release a turbo charged Playstation 3 for $299 which will still be most likely more powerful than most consoles out there and most likely cheaper, they will win all their fans back and dominate. Seems like a good plan to me.
    • 0
      Slumpy monkey Dec 15, 08
      No MS wouldn't have to come up with a new disk at all.

      Sony was not the only company to create the blue-ray, It was a joint effort by ALOT of companies, the whole list is around 100. Sony is just really pushing the format, but they are not the be all and end all of Blue-ray, MS could go to any manufacturer and get blue-ray drives from them.
      • 0
        Koloth Dec 15, 08
        While this is true Sony was pushing the format because they have the biggest stake in its success. They stand to make millions on the success of the format. Despite their collabrative partners. Of course their partners stand to make millions as well.
  • 1
    Apathy Dec 15, 08
    i think the PS3 is doing fine and son will definitely profit from Blu-Ray.
  • 0
    Linkerd101 Dec 15, 08
    GO NINTENDO! YOURE CAPABLE OF MAKING A BLU-RAY CHARGED CONSOLE!
    Theyre capable of it. They just dont try

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