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Sony Takes on iPhone's Growing Mobile Gaming Popularity in New Ad
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See I think having console-like games on a handheld isn't a bad thing, it's actually a good thing. The only problem is
most 'gamers' in america play games at home and since console are more power then handhelds, a handheld with last gen graphics that might be a bit more convenient to use isn't very appealing.
only read page one of this thread, but in my opinion sony are making a mistake. the psp is a great device, but they are trying to do what microsoft did with the xbox when the wii was at its peak, and it didn't really work. they are completely different devices that offer completely different experiences. the psp is a proper hand held gaming device, the iphone is just a phone that people are using for casual games to burn 15 minutes or so. no one is going to carry 2 devices for that unless it offers something pretty unique or good casual game. the DS does both those things, which is why it still does well.
just noticed this:
i think the point here is that the iphone doesn't have any better games, in fact most of it's games are junk after little more than 2 hours, the thing is it's more convenient with pricing that reflects quality. the problem is that although the PSP has better games it doesn't have any with real selling power like mario and zelda on the DS, and that's ignoring their other exclusives that are easy to pick up and play.
just noticed this:
i think the point here is that the iphone doesn't have any better games, in fact most of it's games are junk after little more than 2 hours, the thing is it's more convenient with pricing that reflects quality. the problem is that although the PSP has better games it doesn't have any with real selling power like mario and zelda on the DS, and that's ignoring their other exclusives that are easy to pick up and play.
I've got 3 PSPs (one a Japanese model with a firmware hack). Barely touch them anymore. The 2nd has the Compact Flash and extended battery attachments which significantly increase the size.
Once the PSP slim came out with no UMD and didn't have the ability to transfer existing UMDs (the disc based media they use) that was it for me.
Nice hardware aside from the storage. Game support was poor before the PSP slim. Sony blows it again.
Sure if I am going on a mountain retreat for a week I would pack my PSP; but I've got my iPhone with me every day everywhere I go.
Once the PSP slim came out with no UMD and didn't have the ability to transfer existing UMDs (the disc based media they use) that was it for me.
Nice hardware aside from the storage. Game support was poor before the PSP slim. Sony blows it again.
Sure if I am going on a mountain retreat for a week I would pack my PSP; but I've got my iPhone with me every day everywhere I go.
I think iPhone games are fun to play from time to time, and the same applies to all portable gaming. For gaming that lasts more than 1 minute, I prefer computer games on my, uh, computer... (well some would call those "PC games" but then what do you call that on a Mac?).
Actually only "big boyz" have room in their "big pantz" to fit a PSP...and some twinkies....and some Redbull.....and some more twinkies.
This is actually a good add for the demographic they are trying to reach....12 year olds who probably wouldn't have an iPhone 4 anyway.
Steve
really? that game quality for little device can't compete with full version game in PC or mac or console. you can't play mass effect 2, transformers war of cybertron, modern warfare 2, metro 2033, and so on. even I have iphone 3Gs, I don't play games. they are not fun at all comparing to full version. that's why I always carry my laptop (either macbook pro or sony F series).
Any source for that? According to finance.yahoo.com, Sony has a book value of about $33bn, about $9bn in cash and $14bn debt; Apple has a book value of about $45bn. Sony has less than 50% more revenue, but net income of $255 million vs Apple's $12.24 billion - about 2% of Apple's net income.
I have many Sony products and have great fondness for them
I even plan to get a PS3 in near future. But this ad looks self-defeating
to me. The guy with the iPhone looks educated, kinda nice, Starbucks eco-friendly type, well-groomed, OK a bit boring, but the loud-mouthed obnoxious kid with the PSP is not a good counterpoint, and it looks to me what appears to be the advertiser's desperate appeal to, well, the loud-mouthed obnoxious demographics.
I even plan to get a PS3 in near future. But this ad looks self-defeating
to me. The guy with the iPhone looks educated, kinda nice, Starbucks eco-friendly type, well-groomed, OK a bit boring, but the loud-mouthed obnoxious kid with the PSP is not a good counterpoint, and it looks to me what appears to be the advertiser's desperate appeal to, well, the loud-mouthed obnoxious demographics.
9.99? is cheap?
Seriously the kid says "9.99 sucka!" but I don't think 9.99 for a game is cheap. On the iphone you can buy a game for 1$ and spend hours on it. Also this kid is trying to be cool but he's really just annoying. It just shows what market Sony is aiming at. Stupid kids who are trying to be cool and will think that 9.99 is a great price because Sony said so.
Seriously the kid says "9.99 sucka!" but I don't think 9.99 for a game is cheap. On the iphone you can buy a game for 1$ and spend hours on it. Also this kid is trying to be cool but he's really just annoying. It just shows what market Sony is aiming at. Stupid kids who are trying to be cool and will think that 9.99 is a great price because Sony said so.
Shame on you, Sony
Is it just me, or is this commercial lathered in stereotypes? I feel like I'm watching an episode of Amos & Andy. I could care less about the PSP vs iPhone debate (honestly, is there one?), but Sony has really screwed up with this ad. Every word out of the bus kid's mouth was a 'dis' or a 'dat' or a 'sucka'. It's just not funny and I think it's a poor portrayal of the African American community, which does not fit into the mold Sony has tried to present to us. Come back with a more intelligent commercial and maybe we'll listen. That was worse than the 'Mac vs PC' ads.
Is it just me, or is this commercial lathered in stereotypes? I feel like I'm watching an episode of Amos & Andy. I could care less about the PSP vs iPhone debate (honestly, is there one?), but Sony has really screwed up with this ad. Every word out of the bus kid's mouth was a 'dis' or a 'dat' or a 'sucka'. It's just not funny and I think it's a poor portrayal of the African American community, which does not fit into the mold Sony has tried to present to us. Come back with a more intelligent commercial and maybe we'll listen. That was worse than the 'Mac vs PC' ads.
Ya you are right, the kid is pretty stereotypical but what to do you expect? If he was saying "What it do?" then most people wouldn't be able to understand him.
Is Sony's fight against the iPhone or the DS or both? Sony can't wage a handheld war in the same way it wages a console war. Having the best graphics in a handheld is not what's going to make or break sales. Look at the original Gameboy versus the Sega GameGear! Nintendo has successfully yanked key customers from Sony's wish list. Anyone under the age of 17 and over the age of 25 would *likely* prefer to play a DS. It has fun, mindless games like Zelda and Mario, which have the Nintendo stamp of quality and the DS offers older folks with the ability to play brain age games and the like. I'm 25 and have a DS playing all my NES/SNES/Gameboy games on an R4 card (yes, I know emulation works well on the PSP also). My parents are in their mid-sixties and play the DS (and, incidentally, a load of iPhone/iPad games). What does Sony have here, exactly? Why try and market a product that's already sung its swan song? Start announcing a new product that beats the 3DS at its own game and you might have a chance. Somehow, though, I doubt it. Maybe an iPhone killer? Um...have you seen the state of the Android marketplace? It's like sewer diving in order to find a hidden gem. I'll get an Android phone when I prefer eating **** to food.
I think I stated that they were for the financial year ending in 2009 (March). I might have used the data from here:
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/08q4_sony.pdf
Sony uses US GAAP.
This one is for Apple Inc:
https://www.apple.com/investor/
I can't remember now which one I used, as Apple and Sony might not be subject to the same period in terms of the financial year. I might have used data from 2009. If not, then 2008. Check the company report, the asset figures are usually in the middle, page 50-60 or so. Also, I might have used the FN, but accessing the page requires subscription. They have the World Market and the FT 500 annual reports. One of these tablets had the info on revenue.
Alternatively, Wikipedia has some data, although people tend to wrongly edit quarterly data as annual revenue figure.
Anyway, you are looking at cash flow and are using the fact that despite the larger annual turnover, Sony might have made a modest loss or a minimal profit (I can't remember now). Actually, I already made my point about the importance of larger revenue and having a more balanced portfolio, which Sony has, by contrast to Apple's lower turnover and currently higher profitability.
Good advert, a lot of attitude, energy and cool. Will appeal to the portable gaming crowd.
iPhone gaming isn't going to kill anything until it gets some decent controls. What Sony are doing, is they're tapping into the new casual phone gamer crowd that Apple created and trying to bring them over. 9.99 is a wicked price for a proper game to me and new gamers, or reconverts might actually take a glance at the PSP if the price is right.
The problem is - do you really want to carry around more than one device? Not sure I do.
iPhone gaming isn't going to kill anything until it gets some decent controls. What Sony are doing, is they're tapping into the new casual phone gamer crowd that Apple created and trying to bring them over. 9.99 is a wicked price for a proper game to me and new gamers, or reconverts might actually take a glance at the PSP if the price is right.
The problem is - do you really want to carry around more than one device? Not sure I do.
*raises hand*
Although not for walking around. I use mine when in waiting rooms, on buses/trains, airports, waiting at the cinema whilst the adverts roll... you get the idea.
No no no. The PSP isn't losing sales, it's just not selling as well as other devices. I wish people would get this into their heads. Infact this weeks PSP sales were up 11% over last weeks http://www.vgchartz.com/home.php. This is a system that is in more homes than the Xbox and PS3.
Even if what you said was true, what about the DS? The DS is also a large handheld system with an even worse online store (higher chance of carrying around more cartridges). Yet its set to become the best selling games machine ever. Not just this generation, since gaming began. Would that be true if people wanted to carry around just 1 device? Maybe you're projecting your usage, and the few of this forum, onto the world.
I'm not an american but I do play my DS and PSP at home. It's all about the software. Nowhere else can you get exclusive titles like Pokemon, MGS PW, Dissidia, Monster Hunter Freedom and the 2 best Castlevania titles available.
Last gen graphics? I've not seen a single full game on the App store capable of PeaceWalker or MHF Unite's graphics and capabilities.
The best I've seen (Chaos Rings) looks like Crisis Core, released 3 years ago on the PSP.
Why is an annoying kid who deserves a slap telling an adult his iPhone is for kids and that his old portable Playstation2 is for adults?