The Sony Doom 'n Gloom thread

[jp]

First off:
TOKYO — Sales in Japan of Microsoft Corp's Xbox 360 video game console have exceeded those of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc's PlayStation 3 for the first time on a weekly basis, a survey shows. According to the survey conducted by research firm Media Create Co, Xbox 360 sales came to 17,673 units in the week to Saturday, against 17,434 units for PS3.

Xbox 360 overtook PS3 as the second best-selling video game machine in Japan, Media Create said. Nintendo's Wii stayed the best-selling machine. The Xbox 360 machine performed strongly partly because Microsoft on Nov 1 cut its price by up to 5,000 yen. In the preceding week, Xbox 360 sales totaled only 3,718 units. Meanwhile, PS3 slumped due to a lack of blockbuster game software titles.


It isn't much, but it does show the 360 is gaining momentum in the east. Also, the 360 has passed the 500,000 mark in Japan, which is something the original Xbox never did. And all this before Lost Odyssey came out. Ha!

And now:
"Sony has cancelled any further research into cell , cancelling 45nm
and other projects.

Basically, IBM and Toshiba can do what they like, but sony is no longer able to bankroll it's portion of the partnership.

All 100 or so employees have been moved to their CCD (camcorder)
business."

Mm... 'sall I got for now. Feel free to add as you please. :)

[ShinobiWan1]

And it's big and ugly!

[squall_vb]

Geez, how the mighty have fallen...

[lordsnarf]

Back to your hole vile demon.
Now is time for Sega to make it's triumphant return to the hardware market!

As fun as it is to watch Sony stumble, I would like to see them get their shit together and find their footing in this generation. Competition is always a healthy thing in this industry.

[jp]

Back to your hole vile demon.
Now is time for Sega to make it's triumphant return to the hardware market!

As fun as it is to watch Sony stumble, I would like to see them get their shit together and find their footing in this generation. Competition is always a healthy thing in this industry.

While I doubt we'll ever see Sega return... there's always...

























... NEC... :sneaking:

[Frogacuda]

More than just sony stumbling, I'm glad to hear the 360 is picking up steam in Japan. I wonder what the game that finally did it was. It will be great to see Japanese developers finally feel more secure about embracing the 360.

I know they still have a long way to go and all, but it sounds like they're getting over the hump and crossing Sony more than Sony's sales actually declining (though they've never been very good).

Interesting about Sony apparently pulling back on their R&D. With rumors of MS doing the same, I wonder if we aren't getting closer to a third party standard.

[squall_vb]

Back to your hole vile demon.
Now is time for Sega to make it's triumphant return to the hardware market!

As fun as it is to watch Sony stumble, I would like to see them get their shit together and find their footing in this generation. Competition is always a healthy thing in this industry.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. When their quasi-exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4 drops, along with a few others, that will give them a healthy boost. In terms of worldwide sales, they'll probably end up in grabbing the #2 spot. And even if they don't, you can be sure this isn't their last stand in the console market. Microsoft and Nintendo aren't the only ones with deep pockets.

The only thing I can see screwing up my prediction is if the 360 gets a more quality JRPGs released over there. If that happens, all bets are off.
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[post updated]

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More than just sony stumbling, I'm glad to hear the 360 is picking up steam in Japan. I wonder what the game that finally did it was. It will be great to see Japanese developers finally feel more secure about embracing the 360.

I know they still have a long way to go and all, but it sounds like they're getting over the hump and crossing Sony more than Sony's sales actually declining (though they've never been very good).

Interesting about Sony apparently pulling back on their R&D. With rumors of MS doing the same, I wonder if we aren't getting closer to a third party standard.

From what I read on IGN a while back, Blue Dragon is their top-selling game over there. That might have changed since, but that was the story as of a few months ago.

[DarthArcturus]

I don't even think about the ps3 when thinking about upcoming games. Only Wii, ds, and 360 :)

[squall_vb]

I don't even think about the ps3 when thinking about upcoming games. Only Wii, ds, and 360 :)

You're in good company, man.

And by good company, I mean me.

[Frogacuda]

Yeah, but Blue Dragon came out a long ass time ago, there, and things are just now picking up? I'm thinking Halo 3 helped (actually sold well in Japan, believe it or not) but there must be something else we're missing.

[squall_vb]

Yeah, but Blue Dragon came out a long ass time ago, there, and things are just now picking up? I'm thinking Halo 3 helped (actually sold well in Japan, believe it or not) but there must be something else we're missing.

Ace Combat 6, perhaps? I know that one's pretty big over there.

[jp]

Ace Combat 6 and there was a price cut. Sometime in December there will be a Lost Odyssey LE package and MS is going to start packing Viva Pinata in with the 360.


I don't see how its possible for Sony to be #2 though. I mean, I imagine in Japan they might be (if the PS3 isn't but a memory 2-3 years from now when FFXIII finally comes out), but in the west? Shiiiit, they are making no progress, and I don't see that changing. Not unless MS just drops the ball big time.

[Frogacuda]

I predict it'll be a longer than usual race, though, so you never know. I don't see it happening either, but if this gen goes another 5 years, well... a lot can happen in 5 years.

[squall_vb]

Ace Combat 6 and there was a price cut. Sometime in December there will be a Lost Odyssey LE package and MS is going to start packing Viva Pinata in with the 360.


I don't see how its possible for Sony to be #2 though. I mean, I imagine in Japan they might be (if the PS3 isn't but a memory 2-3 years from now when FFXIII finally comes out), but in the west? Shiiiit, they are making no progress, and I don't see that changing. Not unless MS just drops the ball big time.

I'm a Seahawks fan. I'm used to things not going my way. That's why I always qualify my comments with a "however...".

I'm not beholden to any game company. Be it Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft, Infinium, whatever... I like good games, regardless of where I play them. That being said, I don't think this is Sony's swan song. Sure, Microsoft has some nice things up their sleeve, and it will further their cause. But we all know that console wars are won and lost in Japan by the JRPG count. If you have them, you're golden. If not, you're sunk. I just don't see Microsoft making huge gains on that front, and it could be their undoing.

[jp]

Well, what JRPGs have been announced for the PS3? Now, what JRPGs have been announced for the PS3 that are exclusive?

360 has Mistwalker and Infinite Undiscovery. Which, all things considered, is pretty big for them.

I dunno, personally, I think Lost Odyssey is really going to help out the 360 in Japan, and Infinite Undiscovery is just going to push that further. And aside from FFXIII (which is a long ways away), I'm not seeing many exclusive JRPGs on the PS3.

[squall_vb]

Well, what JRPGs have been announced for the PS3? Now, what JRPGs have been announced for the PS3 that are exclusive?

360 has Mistwalker and Infinite Undiscovery. Which, all things considered, is pretty big for them.

I dunno, personally, I think Lost Odyssey is really going to help out the 360 in Japan, and Infinite Undiscovery is just going to push that further. And aside from FFXIII (which is a long ways away), I'm not seeing many exclusive JRPGs on the PS3.

A good point, to be sure. I just worry that a lot of things will start "materializing" on the PS3 next year, and I see Atlus and Namco as the prime culprits.

I had high hopes for Mistwalker, but what have they given us so far? A so-so RPG... and nothing else.

Of course, on the other side of the coin, the PS3 has jack shit. Like I said, I worry that will change.

Oh, and just like MSG4, FFXIII will only be quasi-exclusive. Bet on it.

Like I said, things look pretty spiffy for the 360's situation at the moment. That fact that Nintendo and Squeenix have rekindled their old love affair doesn't help matters any for Sony. I just worry about some sort of dark horse intrusion.

[Frogacuda]

Infinite Undiscovery looks great, but I don't see it being the kind of draw that Persona 4, Star Ocean 4, or FFXIII will be.

[Specineff]

Suck Fony.

[jp]

Infinite Undiscovery looks great, but I don't see it being the kind of draw that Persona 4, Star Ocean 4, or FFXIII will be.

Have these been announced?

[squall_vb]

http://kotaku.com/gaming/games-festa/konami-curious-if-japan-wants-the-ps3-321361.php

The blood of Sony... so delicious... nom nom nom...

[Ammadeau]

Have these been announced?
I think he meant SMT4 rather than Persona, which has been announced along with the rest. Persona is likely though anyway. Atlus R&D1 doesn't seem to cotton to the 360.

[Luminous]

Funny, Sony sent me a survey about the PS3 (I registered for the underground about 6 years ago) asking me if I own it and why not if I don't.

I told them I had no interest in it, and it's only appealing feature was it is the cheapest Blu-Ray player on the market. Unfortunately the format war is keeping me from buying a dedicated HD player. :D


Every time I get tempted to buy the 40GB (not that I have the money for it), I just tell myself "why?" I would rather buy another 360 then get a PS3.

[Spike]

More than just sony stumbling, I'm glad to hear the 360 is picking up steam in Japan. I wonder what the game that finally did it was. It will be great to see Japanese developers finally feel more secure about embracing the 360.

Ace Combat 6 was the 2nd top selling game for the week, right behind Mario Galaxy. On top of that, Halo 3 was the top selling game of the week when it released.




Funny, Sony sent me a survey about the PS3 (I registered for the underground about 6 years ago) asking me if I own it and why not if I don't.

I told them I had no interest in it, and it's only appealing feature was it is the cheapest Blu-Ray player on the market. Unfortunately the format war is keeping me from buying a dedicated HD player. :D


Every time I get tempted to buy the 40GB (not that I have the money for it), I just tell myself "why?" I would rather buy another 360 then get a PS3.


I got the same survey and I answered that there wasn't enough exclusive games that warrant purchasing the system over the 360 or Wii. Also, the cost is still too high and I don't care for HD movie playback.

[Frogacuda]

I think he meant SMT4 rather than Persona, which has been announced along with the rest. Persona is likely though anyway. Atlus R&D1 doesn't seem to cotton to the 360.

P4 was announced.