The "confident but not arrogant" SCEE head David Reeves talks PS3's future in Europe, as he also says Nintendo is actually encroaching on Sony's casual market. Next-Gen's interview from Leipzig.
In a modern game industry where Nintendo is gladly assuming much of the credit surrounding the rise of the casual game consumer, Reeves said Sony's "actually the one that broadened the market" even before the Wii and DS were introduced.
"We started EyeToy at the end of 2002, then we did SingStar in 2004 and Buzz in 2005," he said.
He has a point. SingStar and Buzz in particular worked wonders in expanding the videogame market, specifically in Europe.
But he's not taking total credit on Sony's behalf for the expansion of the games market beyond the core gamer. "...We're very happy Nintendo broadened the market to where we have never gone. But Sony is going places where EA and Microsoft have never been. We're very happy about [market expansion]. It keeps growth of the industry going up and up and up instead of just recycling gamers."
Speaking of expansion, one way to expand a console's installed base is to offer up a price cut. Sony cut the price of the 60GB PS3 in the US in July, but SCEE is waiting to pull the price cut lever.
"We're not announcing anything at Leipzig about price cuts. We're very happy with the situation we've got with starter packs. [The starter pack] has been on the market for three weeks and we've got a 60 percent increase on a sell-through basis. We're very happy with that."
"If [a price cut is] what they want to do in the US, fine... But we don't need to do it in Europe." Reeves said that for Europe, it's simply too early for a price cut on PS3. And besides, he said, Europeans like bundles. "Had we gone down in price in July, that's three months after we launched PS3. It'd be kind of like saying, 'hey, we failed.' But we didn't. We've been selling through much more than we ever thought we would be, even in Germany.
"If [a price cut is] what they want to do in the US, fine... But we don't need to do it in Europe."
Reeves said that European responses to bundled goods are quite different from the US. While US consumers can appreciate a good value, they'd rather see an all-out price cut on a game console.
"In Europe, it's not like the US. We do a lot of bundles with both third and first party software. ... It really does work in most European countries."
Reeves said the European retail trade also likes bundles. "It keeps their cash registers up at the top."
True i think ,the PS3 looks like it really will become a great buy.....some of the things they announced this week were great,HOME is looking exciting,i am really glad i bought my PS3
Reeves said the European retail trade also likes bundles. "It keeps their cash registers up at the top."
So that's a big 'screw you' to the customer then! I don't know what it is with Sony, everytime some PR tosspot comes out and say's this kinda crap it makes my blood boil. JUST GIVE ME SOME GAMES DAMNIT!!
This whole PR thing is getting tiring now We just need to see less talk and more action for gaming. I'm talking price cuts on hardware, reliability issues sorted (Microsoft I'm looking at you), more variety on the game shelves.
Less concentration on this console being the central entertainment hub stuff and more on games.
what a load of tosh! the bottom line is that sony are gutted nintendo are doing so well. period.
i want all 3 consols to succeed though as competition is good and i've always had a sony consol in my line up. the ps3 will come but only when they have some great games (i want). bioshock friday 360...just out to pick up my copy.
I think M$ need to do something similar to Home, I really like that whole concept...and it means the Messenger add-on for the controller might actually be of some use (since I don't use MSN!)...it sounds like a great way to meet new players and chat when you're not in a game.
PS3 doesn't have enough titles to persuade me yet...but maybe end of next year that will change.
The Wii is a great party console, and that is why it's selling despite it's lack of software...you really can't say that about either the PS3 or 360 at the moment...perhaps Rock Band will change that.
So they've now realised that bitching about Nintendo was a bad thing because, let's face it, the sales figures do the talking on Nintendo's side. To replace the fact that they can't bitch about their biggest rival, they bitch about Microsoft (still) and EA (who I thought actually produced great selling games for their console - bad move) and proceed to kick Europeans in the balls with regards to what we get as a continent compared to other continents, and all this right in our back yard? I see the Sony PR machine is still churning out the same bulls**t.
Reeves said Sony's "actually the one that broadened the market" even before the Wii and DS were introduced.
if you're gonna be that petty...
Nintendo effectively created PlayStation. They hired Sony to make them a disc console, and then ditched them for another company to make the N64. Sony's prototype became the PlayStation. So think about that, Mr. Reeves.
Nintendo effectively created PlayStation. They hired Sony to make them a disc console, and then ditched them for another company to make the N64. Sony's prototype became the PlayStation. So think about that, Mr. Reeves.
That is not entirely how it was. I think Sony played a major role in the creation of the hardware addition for the Super Nintendo. Then when the plans were scrapped went on to develop their own hardware. I am sure if Nintendo had designed any of it there would of been some legal ramifications.
The console also outsold the N64 and to its credit brought games to a larger market.
I believe Sony also played a strong role in bringing less exclusive games like SingStar, Buzz and the EyeToy series to the PS2.
I am sure Nintendo would have noticed the reaction from non-gamers and thought about this when bringing out the Wii and the DS.
To be honest it is not the type of game I like. I am a bit sad to see Nintendo not creating 'proper' games anymore as they did it better than anyone. But I will wait and see what happens with the Wii. Right now it is in limbo softwarewise.
I prefer bundles than price cuts!!!!! coz now ill get a ps3,2 sixaxis pads and 2 games 4 425 quid!! wat a bargin!! if sony did do a price cut. i reckon it would cost more 2 get the same without a bundle!?... soooo... bundles yeeee!!! .think about it!! .
I prefer bundles than price cuts!!!!! coz now ill get a ps3,2 sixaxis pads and 2 games 4 425 quid!! wat a bargin!! if sony did do a price cut. i reckon it would cost more 2 get the same without a bundle!?... soooo... bundles yeeee!!! .think about it!! .
What?! The problem with bundles is that while they may be alright value overall, they pack your product with useless s**te you might not want. Didn't want one (or both) of them games? Tough s**t. Didn't want that second controller? Tough s**t. And how can you say it's good value when PS3 in the US costs $500 (about Ł250)? You don't seem to be making too much of a saving now, eh?
Having said that, this is the best bundle ever. I'm very tempted.
True i think ,the PS3 looks like it really will become a great buy.....some of the things they announced this week were great,HOME is looking exciting,i am really glad i bought my PS3
can i say that about the Wii and the 360?
360 definetly...the Wii...no,not yet anyway
Well bad news for you, Home is crap!!!! bugged boring and nothing to do, its a heap of s**te just a copy of Second Life, sorta reminds me of a trip to the shopping centre near me. Remember its free and get you get what you pay for. Of course sony are happy Nintendo Expanded the market because they can copy everything Nintendo did right and then claim oh we had this in development for years. Everyone is going on about home but want to see into the future look at the state of SOE(Sony Online) games now.
True i think ,the PS3 looks like it really will become a great buy.....some of the things they announced this week were great,HOME is looking exciting,i am really glad i bought my PS3
If Sony want to talk about who expanded the casual gamer market, why concentrate on just this generation and the last? What about the Gamecube's Donkey Konga drums or Samba de Amigo on the Dreamcast? Before the PS1 (which first broadened the market for Sony), the Sega Megadrive's arcade-style games appealed to a lot of people. And before that you could say that the very first computer 'broadened the market'.
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We just need to see less talk and more action for gaming. I'm talking price cuts on hardware, reliability issues sorted (Microsoft I'm looking at you), more variety on the game shelves.
.think about it!! 
