Sony preparing Largest Ever Hardware Campaign brand push with the 40gb PS3

SCEA Preps "Largest Ever" Hardware Campaign

link

"With those technology messages now firmly embedded, we wanted to move beyond the power message with a more high-energy, entertainment driven focus for the PS3. The games are here, the price point is now $399 and we wanted to make the news loud and clear.

"And so, beyond the brilliant HD games that the PS3 delivers, you'll also see a big focus behind the PS3's Blu-ray movie capability and, for the first time, you'll see a major focus behind the PlayStation Network and the exclusive gaming content available on the PlayStation Store, as well as breakthrough services like Home."

More info at the link :) Looks like they are going all guns blazing. Right move.

competition = gaming heaven

I was under the impressionHome was a while away from completion, but I haven't logged in in a while (I am a beta tester) so maybe something changed.

Below is a link to two new Sony ads. They are cool in that they show off gameplay footage, which makes them the exception to the rule of modern videogame ads (including recent PS3 commercials).

http://blog.us.playstation.com/

What's most encouraging about the ads is the absence of Lair (Warhawk, another game released in that timeframe, is shown, as are Heavenly Sword, Ratchet and Clank, Home, GT Prologue and Uncharted). Its a shame Sony chose to release broken garbage like Lair onto the PS3 (such an action strikes me as self-defeating for anyone, especially a first party) but at least they recognize their mistake.

Well I can't say that I'm at all interested in the Blu-ray movie capabilities I am certainly interested in the exclusive gaming content for PSN and seeing how this whole Home thing turns out like with it's features and functionality especially in regards to how the games will make use of it.Archangel3371

Thing is, whether we like it or not, the Blu-Ray is as much part of the system as the games.

It is backwards compatible with PS1 games, but not PS2 games.rragnaar

WTH? You'd think it would have been the opposite. What a mess this gen is, hardware-wise. Can't we just have one sku with one price that does everything we need it to? You know, like last gen?

[QUOTE="rragnaar"]It is backwards compatible with PS1 games, but not PS2 games.EdgecrusherAza

WTH? You'd think it would have been the opposite. What a mess this gen is, hardware-wise. Can't we just have one sku with one price that does everything we need it to? You know, like last gen?

They need to hammer home the $399 more than just a splash at the end.

They should totally have Ratchet look up and see that the sky has 399 stars, and then jump on his hovercraft that goes 399 miles an hour before jumping off and fighting 399 enemies.

They need to hammer that home. I don't think Ratchet will sell systems, but $399 will. And I think it's a bad idea to push the Blu-ray aspect of the system, because all it does is reinforce in people's minds that they need a hi-def TV for this system, and that's what Sony should be avoiding right now.

$399 and games. $399 and games. $399 and games.

EDIT: I also think pushing Home and PSN are bad moves as well. A lot of people aren't even going to hook the box up to the internet. Take the 360 (a system that is synonymous with online gaming and as such should have the highest penetration of the two) for example -- they have like 12 million consoles sold, but less than half of them even go on Xbox Live. Spending money advertising to half of anything is a poor move, especially because even those who ARE online may have no interest in Home and may not buy downloadable content. Sony needs to ditch the idea of going after technophiles (Blu-ray) and online users and go after the mass market. $399 isn't a mass-market price yet, but a lot of fence-sitters could come off the fence at $399 if they're sold properly.

It's a tough sell at $399. They are still well out of range on the mainstream family's gift list. The people who are more affluent will go for the 360. The system is still too immature right now: blue-ray, the library and HOME are things that will make casual gamer bob shrug his shoulders. The 360 has the hardcore locked up with it's sterling lineup this year(emphasis on this year)...so they really are trying to carve a niche that isn't there.

While I think 2008 will be a better year for the console, they'd have to execute everything exactly right...MGS4 missing the first half of the year is a bad start.

The biggest beneficiary to all of this of course is the Wii, they are winning by default simply by doing nothing imbecelic, unlike the other two.

I'm still waiting for the games, I want games that don't need a 2 -4 gig install either and then run slowly still. JUST GIVE ME SOME MORE GAMES... SONY? HELLLOOOOO???

Man what an echo.

I agree, it is smart for them to do this.hammer_of_thor_

yes, glad sony isn't taking it lying down.

I'm still waiting for the games, I want games that don't need a 2 -4 gig install either and then run slowly still. JUST GIVE ME SOME MORE GAMES... SONY? HELLLOOOOO???

Man what an echo.

_Bear

It's funny you mention this because I was just clearing out some old demos today and noticed my 60 gigs are now down to 38, and a good portion of that are multi-gig installs for games. I never even paid much attention to this before as I only have a few games, but I could see it becoming a pain down the line as I buy more games for the system.

Is it just to speed up load times or what?

They need to hammer home the $399 more than just a splash at the end.

They should totally have Ratchet look up and see that the sky has 399 stars, and then jump on his hovercraft that goes 399 miles an hour before jumping off and fighting 399 enemies.

They need to hammer that home. I don't think Ratchet will sell systems, but $399 will. And I think it's a bad idea to push the Blu-ray aspect of the system, because all it does is reinforce in people's minds that they need a hi-def TV for this system, and that's what Sony should be avoiding right now.

$399 and games. $399 and games. $399 and games.

EDIT: I also think pushing Home and PSN are bad moves as well. A lot of people aren't even going to hook the box up to the internet. Take the 360 (a system that is synonymous with online gaming and as such should have the highest penetration of the two) for example -- they have like 12 million consoles sold, but less than half of them even go on Xbox Live. Spending money advertising to half of anything is a poor move, especially because even those who ARE online may have no interest in Home and may not buy downloadable content. Sony needs to ditch the idea of going after technophiles (Blu-ray) and online users and go after the mass market. $399 isn't a mass-market price yet, but a lot of fence-sitters could come off the fence at $399 if they're sold properly.

Shame-usBlackley

$399 sounds great compared to $599 .... but not so much compared to the entry price of it's closest competitors (Wii $249, X360 $279). It's part of the unwinnable problem the PS3 has this gen: it started too expensive. So even when it gets cheaper, it's STILL so much more than its competitors that have all the momentum that it probably won't have the effect it should.

And people can go on and on about all that PS3 offers out of the box (and it IS nice), I just don't see how all of that comes into play when people are just going to buy a new gaming system. A relatively small percentage of people have HDTV's and broadband, so such 'advantages' will only matter to a small percentage of consumers.

But the ads are nice (then again, I liked the launch ads too) and should help some, but popular opinion is stronger and Sony is not going to win that battle this holiday.

NOTE: I believe XBL has over 7 million subscribers worldwide, which is near 60% of all 360 owners. That's good.

[QUOTE="_Bear"]

I'm still waiting for the games, I want games that don't need a 2 -4 gig install either and then run slowly still. JUST GIVE ME SOME MORE GAMES... SONY? HELLLOOOOO???

Man what an echo.

Shame-usBlackley

It's funny you mention this because I was just clearing out some old demos today and noticed my 60 gigs are now down to 38, and a good portion of that are multi-gig installs for games. I never even paid much attention to this before as I only have a few games, but I could see it becoming a pain down the line as I buy more games for the system.

Is it just to speed up load times or what?

Supposedly though one could never tell after a 4 gig install on Ninja Gaiden that game chokes more than old lady Smokey. And don't get me started on Heavenly Sword and awfully long load times despite a 2 gig install mandatory. I will say R&C has a very small install and loads very quickly so again its about laziness on optimization.

PS its the only real problem I'm having with my 20 gig hardware wise. I still think its software problem, if Sony allows game makers to use this so called load saving cache with no limit and the games still perform sub pare, they the game makers need to be held accountable 360 games have no installs unless its a full game or demo of XBLMP.

Supposedly though one could never tell after a 4 gig install on Ninja Gaiden that game chokes more than old lady Smokey. And don't get me started on Heavenly Sword and awfully long load times despite a 2 gig install mandatory. I will say R&C has a very small install and loads very quickly so again its about laziness on optimization.

_Bear

Darth_Tigris

Actually, HDTVs are spreading like wild fire, 80% of all tv purchases are hdtvs and many gamers of next gen consoles own HDTVs.

Sony should've just stuck with what they've been doing. Who needs ads with gameplay footage when you can have ads with a creepy laughing baby?

In all seriousness, this holiday season won't be too great for the PS3 because the games are lacking, but if they can convince consumers to pick one up this holidays just based on it's great value, it will give them a little more time to attract gamers with a robust gaming library.

Ratchet loads up fine for me. The only weird thing about loading in that game, that I've noticed, is that it kind of bogs down as the system loads the weapons in the shop/upgrades menu. But actual gameplay is smooth as R&C PS2.EdgecrusherAza

yeah he didn't say it didn't (Bear that is)

[QUOTE="Darth_Tigris"] F1Lengend

Actually, HDTVs are spreading like wild fire, 80% of all tv purchases are hdtvs and many gamers of next gen consoles own HDTVs.

especially now that you can pick up a good HDTV for 500 to 1000 dollars.

*No Backwards Compatability, so hang onto your PS2

Well, I don't suppose its a HUGE loss, but still a significant irritant. $399 is an improvement, but its still a rat race between which hardware offers a better selection of titles now, and which one has a comparable list still on the way out, and that will be a backbreaker for Sony this holiday season.

[QUOTE="F1Lengend"]

[QUOTE="Darth_Tigris"] HiResDes

Actually, HDTVs are spreading like wild fire, 80% of all tv purchases are hdtvs and many gamers of next gen consoles own HDTVs.

especially now that you can pick up a good HDTV for 500 to 1000 dollars.

Actually I never said that HDTV's aren't selling. Manufacturer's barely make any SDTV's anymore. But just because they are selling doesn't mean that a large number of households HAVE them. There is like some 276 million people in the US with probably close to the same number of TV's out there in homes. HDTV's would obviously be a small number of that.

And the fact that the FCC (or whoever) pushed back the rollover to full digital signals AGAIN to 2012 (it was 2007 at first, then pushed to 2009) is clearly based on the adoption rate of HDTV in the majority of households.

And, to truly bring it home, most of the friends of mine that bought a 360 don't have an HDTV (or at least didn't when they bought). I love HD and broadband, but they are still in a small number of homes relatively speaking.

NOTE: I believe XBL has over 7 million subscribers worldwide, which is near 60% of all 360 owners. That's good.Darth_Tigris

What is the breakdown between gold and silver?

[QUOTE="_Bear"]

I'm still waiting for the games, I want games that don't need a 2 -4 gig install either and then run slowly still. JUST GIVE ME SOME MORE GAMES... SONY? HELLLOOOOO???

Man what an echo.

Shame-usBlackley

It's funny you mention this because I was just clearing out some old demos today and noticed my 60 gigs are now down to 38, and a good portion of that are multi-gig installs for games. I never even paid much attention to this before as I only have a few games, but I could see it becoming a pain down the line as I buy more games for the system.

Is it just to speed up load times or what?

If I'm not mistaken, due to hardware vs. software GB measurements and room set aside by Sony that the user can't access, the 60 GB hard drive has about... 44 GB available to the user, I believe? So your hard drive isn't down as far as it seems like.