Michael Ephraim
Managing directors of Sony Computer Entertainment in Australia (and New Zealand) - they're like buses; don't see one for months, and then they come in pairs - or at least quotes from them do. Michael Ephraim is the managing director in question. Not only is he happy to welcome Microsoft to the Blu-ray fold (see this story), he is also telling Aussie gamers how long the PS2 has left.
Ephraim spoke to Fairfax Media's The Age website where he apparently gives the PS2 a year of life.
He then upped the rumour potential of a new PSP with the following:
Speaking to Rupert Murdoch's The Australian newspaper today (well, tomorrow actually, as the story is dated 19th February) Ephraim says:
So, where does that leave the hardcore? Out in the cold? Or sunning itself down on the beach? Ephraim again:
Back at The Age, he opines on how PlayTV will affect the need for increased hard disk space. In the course of this speech, he also pours cold water over the recurrent news hullabaloos regarding new SKUs, putting the additional storage requirements in the hands of retailers.
One thing he couldn't pass on to retail, however, was the fact that Sony (in Australia and NZ at least) was not making enough cash from software. This lead to a price hike for first-party games in Late in 2007; and here's why:
Of course, you can't get a good executive off the paper without having him take some time to assess the opposition - in a friendly, open market kind of a way. So...
Versus Xbox 360:
So, there you have it, the 'lower install base' (fewer PS3s sold) doesn't impact. Take that!
And on the Nintendo DS:
Nice... so, the DS is aimed at youngsters then. Maybe someone might have told that flame-haired Sydney-sider, Nicole Urban, sorry, Kidman-Urban (Kurbman?).
We'll have more from Mike in about a year's time...
Sources:
The Australian
The Age Online
Ephraim spoke to Fairfax Media's The Age website where he apparently gives the PS2 a year of life.
"We still are going to support PS2 hardware for the full year, we still have a number that is rather bullish, we're not backing off on hardware and we think the software tail will be very strong."
He then upped the rumour potential of a new PSP with the following:
"PSP, there are plans and strategies being discussed and put into place, but that will depend a lot on the interoperability with PS3 message, we think that is a compelling thing."
Speaking to Rupert Murdoch's The Australian newspaper today (well, tomorrow actually, as the story is dated 19th February) Ephraim says:
"Devices such as the PS3 will break out of the games environment and move into the living room as a hub for digital entertainment.
"Social gaming, which brings in non-traditional gamers such as women and more varied age groups, started on the PS2 with titles such as Singstar and Buzz. It has now has opened up the market to a segment that would never have played games before."
"Social gaming, which brings in non-traditional gamers such as women and more varied age groups, started on the PS2 with titles such as Singstar and Buzz. It has now has opened up the market to a segment that would never have played games before."
So, where does that leave the hardcore? Out in the cold? Or sunning itself down on the beach? Ephraim again:
"Traditional and online gamers are still important, but social gaming could make games the leading entertainment format, even ahead of movies, music and DVDs, over the next three or four years."
Back at The Age, he opines on how PlayTV will affect the need for increased hard disk space. In the course of this speech, he also pours cold water over the recurrent news hullabaloos regarding new SKUs, putting the additional storage requirements in the hands of retailers.
"The hard drive issue, we've done it so you can upgrade the hard drive. It's non-proprietary, and you do have external hard drives. So whether we deliver that or whether retailers start offering them... With PlayTV, yes you will need more storage, and retailers will probably accommodate those needs for consumers. As we all know, the price of hard drive space is coming down. If we do it, fine, but if we don't do it, the consumer will still have choice."
One thing he couldn't pass on to retail, however, was the fact that Sony (in Australia and NZ at least) was not making enough cash from software. This lead to a price hike for first-party games in Late in 2007; and here's why:
"About six months into the year we realised we needed to increase our revenue on software to be honest. We're still in line with third parties, and it was just a business decision regarding profitability."
Of course, you can't get a good executive off the paper without having him take some time to assess the opposition - in a friendly, open market kind of a way. So...
Versus Xbox 360:
"...the lower install base (of the PS3) hasn't really impacted sales. PS3 software has outperformed the Xbox when you look at third party product based on install base."
So, there you have it, the 'lower install base' (fewer PS3s sold) doesn't impact. Take that!
And on the Nintendo DS:
"The DS has done an admirable job with a million units, half a million last year, I see that tending to keep going. I don't want to say they are in a market of their own, but it's a younger gaming handheld device. I'm adverse at this time of year to make too many predictions."
Nice... so, the DS is aimed at youngsters then. Maybe someone might have told that flame-haired Sydney-sider, Nicole Urban, sorry, Kidman-Urban (Kurbman?).
We'll have more from Mike in about a year's time...
Sources:
The Australian
The Age Online
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Comments
realvictory 18 Feb 2008 21:37
1/1
Saying "it's aimed at a younger audience" is not an insult - in fact, it makes no difference.
In fact, it's aimed at people who are bored of conventional games - but it's the games themselves that are aimed at certain audiences, not the hardware. So it doesn't have dedicated avi/mp3 support - that doesn't make you a kid!
Personally, I think they should have said something more hardcore, like "We're cool, you're not! Excluding power supplies and replacement units, we've sold more metres cubed of hardware! HD-DVD has crumpled under us, and you'll be next!"
In fact, it's aimed at people who are bored of conventional games - but it's the games themselves that are aimed at certain audiences, not the hardware. So it doesn't have dedicated avi/mp3 support - that doesn't make you a kid!
Personally, I think they should have said something more hardcore, like "We're cool, you're not! Excluding power supplies and replacement units, we've sold more metres cubed of hardware! HD-DVD has crumpled under us, and you'll be next!"