Interviews// Sony Europe Boss David Reeves
I see this more as kind of like a tsunami...
David Reeves: I think that there are so many good games for PS2 out there – whether they’re back-catalogue or new – that a lot of people think, at the moment, with the price where it is with PS3, even though we have a good bundle coming out, that they’re going to stick with the PS2, because they still enjoy the games, don’t have a high-definition TV and don’t necessarily want to play Blu-rays yet. But it will come.
When will it happen? I think in a country like Switzerland, it will happen next year – they are the really early adopters – along with Iceland and Sweden. They are the ones who are at the front of the envelope.
The U.K. is in the next pack behind, along with Benelux and to some extent Spain. I think you’ll get the crossover only when the big games out there – the Metal Gear Solids, the Final Fantasies and some of the ones that we’re doing in-house.
SPOnG: You’ve spoken about how the PS3 will begin to prevail over its rivals in March 08 – do you think the PS3 will be a major contender this Christmas?
David Reeves: I think each peak is crucial to maximise what you can do, but I don’t think this Christmas is necessarily the most critical one – I think that’s going to be Christmas 08.
I see this more as kind of like a tsunami – it starts small and gathers speed, and eventually, after four or five years, it will start to take you over. At least, that’s the way we’ve mapped it out. We’re not necessarily trying to take a scatter-gun approach with all the top titles just before Christmas.
Again, it’s like reducing the price in summer – we don’t believe it works to put six or seven of our own games out, because consumers don’t have enough money to buy them all. And the trade doesn’t quite know where to put all the top titles.
So, what you’re going to see is that we might put some of our jewels out in February, March, May and right through the year. We call them 'Pillar Titles'. I think, probably, that third parties will try to put their pillar titles out before Christmas, because that’s where they get the best sales. But we have a slightly different approach.
SPOnG: There’s also a generally different approach with the PS3 – the move away from paying for exclusives in favour of first-party titles. Do you feel that approach is working with the PS3?
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Comments
DoctorDee 19 Jul 2007 14:03
1/7
Asda comes out of hiding once a year. Claims that it will dominate the computer games market - gets an MCV cover and then goes away again without doing anything.
realvictory 20 Jul 2007 01:35
2/7
He makes it sound planned and under control, but that is irrelevant - what is relevant is what people actually think. Whether there's a reason or not for something, if it looks bad, then it's a problem.
Making a bundle and not putting the price down isn't intrinsically going to make more people buy a PS3 - because the point was, it was too expensive in the first place. You get more in a box now, but it's still the same price. In some shops, you get any game included for £399. Why would anyone want a bundle, which is inferior to what you can already get?
The Wii was too expensive, but it was within a range that was affordable. The XBox 360 has had an advantage since the PS3 launch, as now it's not the most expensive games console.
If everyone wanted Blu-ray, then people might see extra value, but if they don't care, it's unnecessary extra cost. Speaking of which, my opinion is that, although people "want" a PS3, they don't want one enough - they need a significant reason to get one - a reason to pay £400 for what's basically a toy. People (well, not all people) who buy these things aren't as stupid as they are made out to be - it's a better deal now, but if I could afford it and/or if I wanted one enough, I would have bought a PS3 already. To me, at least, the new price doesn't seem much different.
Making a bundle and not putting the price down isn't intrinsically going to make more people buy a PS3 - because the point was, it was too expensive in the first place. You get more in a box now, but it's still the same price. In some shops, you get any game included for £399. Why would anyone want a bundle, which is inferior to what you can already get?
The Wii was too expensive, but it was within a range that was affordable. The XBox 360 has had an advantage since the PS3 launch, as now it's not the most expensive games console.
If everyone wanted Blu-ray, then people might see extra value, but if they don't care, it's unnecessary extra cost. Speaking of which, my opinion is that, although people "want" a PS3, they don't want one enough - they need a significant reason to get one - a reason to pay £400 for what's basically a toy. People (well, not all people) who buy these things aren't as stupid as they are made out to be - it's a better deal now, but if I could afford it and/or if I wanted one enough, I would have bought a PS3 already. To me, at least, the new price doesn't seem much different.
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DoctorDee 20 Jul 2007 08:55
3/7
realvictory wrote:
Making a bundle and not putting the price down isn't intrinsically going to make more people buy a PS3 - because the point was, it was too expensive in the first place. You get more in a box now, but it's still the same price. In some shops, you get any game included for £399. Why would anyone want a bundle, which is inferior to what you can already get?
I have to disagree. The bundle gives you an additional controller - and two good games. That is a real saving - very few people would buy a PS3 without a game, and most people would choose one of the games included in the pack. The fact is, you can walk out of the shop with the console, something to play on it and the means to play with your brother/pals and you will have spent less money. There's no way that is not a saving. Since the bundle has the same rrp as the console previously had, shops will discount the bundle exactly like they discounted the console - so you'll see it for £399 either immediately, or soon after launch.
While it may not appeal to you, it will appeal to some people. That is likely to increase sales - not necessarily greatly - but then the console is selling as well as PS1 and PS2 did, and we all know what they went on to achieve.
hollywooda 20 Jul 2007 16:27
4/7
"they’re going to stick with the PS2, because they still enjoy the games, don’t have a high-definition TV and don’t necessarily want to play Blu-rays"
Thankyou!.... see Sony thats why the PS2 is successful!... its a games console!?!?... 1st!....with games....you see?..no?...
Thankyou!.... see Sony thats why the PS2 is successful!... its a games console!?!?... 1st!....with games....you see?..no?...
deleted 21 Jul 2007 18:45
5/7
come on there is no price drop, and the deal is crap,
hmv currently offer,
a PS3, Any 2 Games, An Extra Sixaxis, HDMI Cable, Any 2 Blu ray Moviesand a voucher book with £100.00 discounts for ----------- £425.00 err isnt that what sony is giving us minus the bluray discs and hdmi, yes it is so if hmv can do that and is either making or breaking profit, then sony can do better, they should of given us that pack for £350 and ps3s would fly off the self even 399.99 would change then mentality thats its over £400.00 quid, and it could compete with the elite?
hmv currently offer,
a PS3, Any 2 Games, An Extra Sixaxis, HDMI Cable, Any 2 Blu ray Moviesand a voucher book with £100.00 discounts for ----------- £425.00 err isnt that what sony is giving us minus the bluray discs and hdmi, yes it is so if hmv can do that and is either making or breaking profit, then sony can do better, they should of given us that pack for £350 and ps3s would fly off the self even 399.99 would change then mentality thats its over £400.00 quid, and it could compete with the elite?
tyrion 24 Jul 2007 07:34
6/7
haritori wrote:
a PS3, Any 2 Games, An Extra Sixaxis, HDMI Cable, Any 2 Blu ray Moviesand a voucher book with £100.00 discounts for ----------- £425.00 err isnt that what sony is giving us minus the bluray discs and hdmi, yes it is so if hmv can do that and is either making or breaking profit
HMV are not making a profit on that bundle. What they are doing is driving business and encouraging repeat business with the vouchers. They are banking on making back their losses on the PS3 offer with the increase in profit on the repeat business.
DoctorDee 24 Jul 2007 10:53
7/7
haritori wrote:
come on there is no price drop, and the deal is crap,
The deal is not crap. As for no price drop, it is important for Sony, for pride, honour or whatever not to drop the price right now. Bu they have delvered a far more appealing package for the same price... it's NOT a price drop, but it IS a value increase. You can argue all day about how it isn't... but you'll be wrong all day long.
even 399.99 would change then mentality thats its over £400.00 quid, and it could compete with the elite?
But the fact is, retail were selling the stanf alone PS3 for £399 - they'll sell the bundle for £399.
So you'll get exactly what you are asking for.