Sony Takes on iPhone's Growing Mobile Gaming Popularity in New Ad

[2Shae]

Well where I live, if you are a male and have an iphone, you're very likely to be a homosexual

Wondering where you live then...Alaska maybe?
Just about every one here in The Netherlands either has a iPhone or a Blackberry.


BTW, I thought it was a terrible tv ad. It shows Sony's fear, the bad way of using product insecurity, and the stereotype "Black kid" is just wrong in my opinion.
If I ever wanted to buy a PSP (who actually still buy these single function, big clucky devices anyway :S) I wouldn't buy it anymore because of this ad.

And NOT because I'm an Apple fan. My Marketing brain just shakes no to this weak attempt of advertising.

 

[qckslvrsiete]

Maybe you should go back and have a look at the numbers. There have been more than 130 million DS units sold worldwide since launch. That is significantly more than the total number of iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches combined. The only system I know of that has sold more than the DS is the PS2, and the DS is awfully close to surpassing that system as well.

With the Wii and DS, Nintendo is being taken seriously. Very seriously. It does not mean that your gaming community is taking them seriously (for example a more hardcore gaming audience) but Nintendo is still a major player in the gaming market.

+1 to this.

Anyone who says any variant of "I don't know what the facts are but I can tell you from my experience that this is how it is" basically loses all credibility...

 

[beg_ne]

Why did Sony hire Beetlejuice for their commercial??

 

[OldGit]

Seriously?

http://www.eamobile.com/iphone-games

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tony-hawks-pro-skater-2/id365383577?mt=8

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/crash-bandicoot-nitro-kart-3d/id285005463?mt=8

Just a couple of examples. I have a hard time calling EA and Activision bedroom companies, maybe your definition is different than mine. Just for fun I will throw in a couple of old ID games. Also interesting that ID chose to Demo their latest game on iPhone and not the PSP....

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/crash-bandicoot-nitro-kart-3d/id285005463?mt=8

My point was that Apple need to own these companies. But should do before someone else does. I have no idea who owns EA and Activision but I'm fairly sure Apple does not.
My bet is that google goes on a spending spree to soak up the limited supply of top notch game producers.

 

[MisterK]

Not bad, Sony

I don't mind these commercials. They're in good fun and the truth is that a lot of games are better on a PSP, so they're playing that up. Maybe the hardware isn't as fast or the screen isn't as good, but some games are just better when you have a machine that's specifically made for games. Street Fighter is better when you have a control pad and buttons, rather than swiping and tapping on-screen buttons. First person shooters might look better on the iPhone, but they play far better on a system with an analog stick and a firing button that you can feel.

Game creators have had to become very creative when it comes to iPhone controls (the same way they had to become creative about controls when the Wii came out), but most of the games that we grew up with work better non-touch screen. We found this out with the Wii, too. There's only so many games that involve swinging something, so the Wii ended up getting a lot of gimmicky movement games.. like shaking the controller for things that made more sense for just a button press.

Ultimately, I wouldn't want to carry another device around, but I admit that I am making concessions when it comes to gaming on an all-in-one device.

 

[3583582]

My point was that Apple need to own these companies. But should do before someone else does. I have no idea who owns EA and Activision but I'm fairly sure Apple does not.
My bet is that google goes on a spending spree to soak up the limited supply of top notch game producers.

Nobody is going to buy EA or Activision anytime soon. And honestly, there is no top notch game producers that are going to be sold to Google. Not going to happen. Just look at the console market. How many top notch companies is owned by Nintendo, Microsoft or Sony? Very, very few..

 

[wreckshop]

How long you in for? Don't drop the soap

lol. people incarcerated arent allowed to have cellphones.. you did know that right?

Wondering where you live then...Alaska maybe?
Just about every one here in The Netherlands either has a iPhone or a Blackberry.

FYI I live in San Francisco. apple stuff is extremely popular with gay men because its very stylish. This is not an attack on gay people... I know lots of gay folks, and they all own iphones!

 

[sdodd91]

The problem with the PSP is it's trying too hard to be a console, and not a handheld. The GameBoy and DS know what they are, and they offer a handheld experience, which is good. The iPhone is the same, it know's it's a portable device and offers simple, addictive games that fit that. The PSP tries to be a console, and the end result is awkward controls and empty gameplay.

 

[E.Lizardo]

Buy some content Apple!! You need to compete here. Content is king (as they say). You can't just rely on bedroom gaming companies, you need some high end polish to compete.

Maybe they could get um...Sega or Electronic Arts...ya think?

 

[E.Lizardo]

Where in the ad does it say iPhone? From what I could tell it was simply a comparison of iPod Touch vs. PSP.

That changes nothing.On either side.

 

[Poochi]

I had a few problems with several of the responses in this thread, so I thought I thought I'd make a few points.
The PSP is over 5 years old. It took iPhone four iterations to become a serious contender in the portable gaming market, and it still lacks in some very important areas like draw distance, fill rate, and poor textures. The PSP had accomplished portable gaming before anyone knew what an iPhone was, and it has only gotten better by leaps and bounds without a fundamental change in the PSPs internals.
While having many different media options on your iPhone is great, it isn't detrimental to the success of a dedicated gaming platform. As technology grows, there is obviously a great market in utilizing as many media functions in one device as possible, but as evident by the DS, there is still a market for dedicated portable gaming devices. The main gripe with the devices is their size, but this again goes back to the point that they are more than half a decade old. It is evident that portable devices will be more portable than ever in the next generation with the release of the PSP Go and iPhone 4. Lets not forget that the PSP was the one of the smallest, best connected, media devices at its release. And while everything wasn't perfect, it sold better than any other Nintendo competitor since the beginning of portable gaming.
Lastly, there are plenty of games that received low-average review scores that are still incrementally more in depth and fulfilling than many of the highest rated iPhone games. In fact, PSP has the highest percentage of good/excellent games in its total library than any other portable handheld. the PSPs game library is a perfect example of quality over quantity. From Burnout and Twisted Metal, to Resistance, Dissidea, Little Big Planet and Crisis Core, to SOCOM, God of War, and Metal Gear Solid series, the PSP has made a mark in portable gaming history, and I imagine the next iteration will most definitely achieve (and quite possibly exceed) the same reputation.
FPSs have come a long way since the release of the original PSP, and I think these games alone (with dual analog sticks) will lift the PSP2 well beyond the iPhone gaming market.

I am a gamer since NES days (and old school PC without a hard disk drive )

And in all fairness, I am more into iPhone/iPad gaming than PC/Wii/PS3/NDS/PSP - yes I have all of them - mostly due to that I no longer have the time and energy to game "hardcore". I am more inclined to play casual and easy going games than any "games" that make me feel like I am taking work home.

The ad is a flop for Sony. They forgot it's the "iPhone 'Big Boy'" demographics who are more likely to have the purchasing power. Market it to kids, fine, but at the end of the day it's the parents that make the purchase decision. Chances are, parents will be more inclined to pass down an old iPhone/iPad/iTouch loaded with games that they have already bought under their iTunes account than to spend extra money on PSP+over-priced "hardcore" games.

Oh and by the way, as a teen carry an iPhone/iTouch is more "cool" than someone carrying a clamshell phone + PSP.

PSP won't get you girls but iPhone might - and you have someone to text to I guess Sony is really marketing PSP to pre-puberty kids.

 

[Compile 'em all]

My point was that Apple need to own these companies. But should do before someone else does. I have no idea who owns EA and Activision but I'm fairly sure Apple does not.
My bet is that google goes on a spending spree to soak up the limited supply of top notch game producers.

Apple needs to own EA and Activision?

 

[pooryou]

lol. people incarcerated arent allowed to have cellphones.. you did know that right?

Don't really care actually. Got you pretty good though.

FYI I live in San Francisco. apple stuff is extremely popular with gay men because its very stylish. This is not an attack on gay people... I know lots of gay folks, and they all own iphones!

Well I am in the same area and you are wrong, there is nothing about the iPhone that is specific to gay men. Everyone has one.

 

[DoctorOwl]

I have to say, I really like the advertisement. I watched it 3 times. Of course I'm Australian, so seeing Americans talk smack is a rare and entertaining event for us.

But I reckon if they brought the advertisement to Australian TV, they'd make our own version, which would kind of suck.

I guess in one way, we like to be entertained by (and sometimes imitate!) American culture. And then on the other hand when we hear an American voice in an advertisement on our TV we're like, "What is this crap?"

Anyway, yay for the internet.

 

[3583582]

Where in the ad does it say iPhone? From what I could tell it was simply a comparison of iPod Touch vs. PSP.

Well, good luck texting or calling with your iPod Touch..

 

[iMaconApple]

i use to have a psp..i used it for games/music/skype/movies/web but on wifi...when i got my 3GS i never played with it ever again now i have a iphone...just sold my 1 year sitting dusty psp slim last month to help for the iphone 4 ....now i have everything in one pocket..

that AD was lame...9.99$ wow you can get like 10 games for 99. and there good games... and them UMD CDs there like 30$.....

sorry sony im a big boy now

 

[pooryou]

My point was that Apple need to own these companies. But should do before someone else does. I have no idea who owns EA and Activision but I'm fairly sure Apple does not.
My bet is that google goes on a spending spree to soak up the limited supply of top notch game producers.

Apple is not trying to compete in the game space, whatsoever. Devs are though, and Apple gives them a platform to be able to do that. Along with every other type of App category.

That's what so hilarious about this, Apple are eating Sony's lunch without even trying.

Apple has no reason to own game publishers.

 

[pooryou]

Well, good luck texting or calling with your iPod Touch..

Actually you can over Wi-Fi with apps. Just sayin'

 

[MSlaw]

yeah...

They need to hold off until the andriod PSP comes out.

 

[Mister Snitch]

Sony is just doomed to fail here. You can't do much besides play games on their handhelds, whereas an iPhone or iPod Touch can do a vast range of things, including of course make phone calls. Given the choice, the only reason to buy a Sony device would be some compelling game that would run only on that platform. And the days of that sort of thing are pretty much over. Besides, if a colossal game is going to come out on one platform, it's NOT going to be Sony's.

 

[Eidorian]

Too many hours in Steam games...too many.

 

[Usernames Suck]

They need to hold off until the andriod PSP comes out.

But If they made an android psp, what would they do with the dual controls of the psp? Nobody I know would want those on their phone.

 

[wreckshop]

Don't really care actually. Got you pretty good though.

lol yes you did.

Well I am in the same area and you are wrong, there is nothing about the iPhone that is specific to gay men. Everyone has one.

The same area or in the city itself? I live in the city, and while yes iphones are popuar in general, iphones are super popular with gay guys.

I just asked my gay friend why he likes his iphone and he said "because its cute like me" and I LOLd

 

[acslater017]

Where in the ad does it say iPhone? From what I could tell it was simply a comparison of iPod Touch vs. PSP.

In terms of games, yes, all of them run on iOS. But he did pick up the phone call on the device, so it was probably an iPhone.

Appears to be a black iPhone 3G/S

 

[0098386]

The problem with the PSP is it's trying too hard to be a console, and not a handheld. The GameBoy and DS know what they are, and they offer a handheld experience, which is good. The iPhone is the same, it know's it's a portable device and offers simple, addictive games that fit that. The PSP tries to be a console, and the end result is awkward controls and empty gameplay.

Nope, that was a valid statement for the PSP in 2005. All the latest games are specially designed for handheld use (save anywhere, short missions), heck just use the power switch and put it into sleep mode if you need to stop playing for a moment.
The PSP is also better equipped for those short, bursts of games and not the DS... or rather the PSP is better for it. The PSN store has a few categories of titles (Minis: iPhone style minigames. PS1: Playstation 1 games. PSN: Commercial quality small games. PSP: Full sized, full fat games). I've got loads of small games that fill the gap. DSiware has nothing of value and it's rarely updated, which is a shame considering the size and quality of some regular cart-based DS games. Sony are terrible with the PSN but Nintendo is worse with both their DSi and Wiiware libraries.