Sony CEO: PlayStation 3 was 'On Life Support'

But GTA IV will make things better

Posted by Staff
Sony CEO: PlayStation 3 was 'On Life Support'
As Nintendo's Wii dominates the console landscape (sorry, 'Ecosystem') and the Xbox 360 appears to take the Lion's share of the GTA IV fallout (pun intended), Sony's Welsh CEO, Sir Howard Stringer admits that PlayStation 3 is still in need of help.

Speaking at the recent D: All Things Digital conference, Stringer is reported as telling executive producer, Walt Mossberg:

"It was on life-support for a while"–but (he) says it’s in good shape now, adding that Grand Theft Auto IV and some other games that are in the pipeline that make good use of the PS3’s processing power will really give it a boost soon."


Away from PS3, and Stringer also responded to Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer's recent contention that the reason Vista is so bloody awful... whoops, not significantly meeting its challenges going forward 24/7 out of the box, was because PC makers (including Sony) were loading what were called 'craplets' on their PCs. Would Stringer cease the Craplets?

"“I have to determine whether the joy of craplets is worth preserving.”


responded the jolly knight. So, PS3 was indeed on its deathbed. Has it been saved yet? Answers to the Forum please, eh readers.

Source: D6
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Comments

Joji 29 May 2008 17:49
1/7
PS3 is a good piece of kit, no doubt. Thing is the true problems are in Sony's dumb business decisions, decisions that would have had them booted from The Apprentice tv show, ages ago.

If they want my custom, all they'd have to do is restore PS2 BC and drop the price to £250. Then I'd invest in the PS3 dream more, in a heartbeat.

Sony, you should also look to taking a tip out of MS's book, and give the PS3 headset away with all PS3s. Such improvements would surely improve PS3's fortunes and get more gamers online.
config 29 May 2008 20:17
2/7
Balmer wrote:
I have to determine whether the joy of craplets is worth preserving.

One word, Balmer, "Facebook"

I can't frigging stand 99% of the craplets on there, but I know many of my friends love 'em and think they're what makes it worth bothering with.
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Sarmad 30 May 2008 00:00
3/7
I would agree with MS CEO about the craplets, but I think there is also craplets inside Vista itself that need to be fixed/removed. It's also worth mentioning that Sony's Vaio laptops contains less craplets than other brands. I'm pretty glad with my Vista powered Vaio.
p 30 May 2008 11:16
4/7
So I guess, as a business model, the £400 plus strating price is out the window. Atleast I got mine for £110 at X-mas due to a Bluray promotion when you bought one of their TVs. Not that they made much noise about it at the time.
max 30 May 2008 14:14
5/7
I got my 60gig about a year ago and I still think it still rivals the 360 even though it dosent have very many games out right now but it will get the boost it needs on June 12 when MetalGear Solid 4 hits the market
Daz 30 May 2008 14:17
6/7
Joji wrote:
PS3 is a good piece of kit, no doubt. Thing is the true problems are in Sony's dumb business decisions, decisions that would have had them booted from The Apprentice tv show, ages ago.

If they want my custom, all they'd have to do is restore PS2 BC and drop the price to £250. Then I'd invest in the PS3 dream more, in a heartbeat.

Sony, you should also look to taking a tip out of MS's book, and give the PS3 headset away with all PS3s. Such improvements would surely improve PS3's fortunes and get more gamers online.


They could, but any Bluetooth headset works and I don't think there is a PS3 headset, and the PS2 BC is crap anyway you may as well just keep your PS2 or buy one if you don't already own one
Major 31 May 2008 04:47
7/7
PS2 is still selling strong, with new games on the 360 and ps3 even making their way onto its list of new releases as well, which is pretty damn impressive.

PS3 may have been on life support but I don't think it was in actual danger of dying, ever. Its price tag scared people away and m$'s tactic of rushing out a cheap "next-gen" system and making it look cheaper (live fees and less features make that false) worked very well.

Sony is in the best position atm, no question. With blu-ray still starting to stock up on shelves, and sonys LONG lifespans for its consoles, the PS3 is still in it's launch, with many ps2 owners still waiting to upgrade. It wont be too much longer and the ps3 will be competing with the next xbox, the low disc sizes are going to make the 360 upgrade or just release a new system sooner rather than later. Heck there is a good chance the ps2 will outlast even the 360 at this rate.

We own 2 PS3 systems now, a 40g and 80g motorstorm one. The BC doesn't really matter on either, though playing san andreas and bully on the 80g looked pretty good with upscaling. The only thing I think sony should have done better is add a headset like mentioned. The price isn't that big a deal, especially when the system will almost certainly last 2 times as long as either one of the others if not longer.
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