Big mouth strikes again
Sony’s recent release of the PlayStation 3 has been somewhat dampened by reports of poor sales and low turnouts. Even if the truth turns out to be completely different it poses a problem for Sony and raises questions about what it is the world is looking for in next-generation videogaming.
Sony’s presence in the high street and on the television appears to run counter to their claims that this console is something new, something amazing. The in-store presence is made up of lacklustre black boxes with an overly techy message – something clearly designed to aim straight for the early adopter (not a bad idea in itself given the exceptionaly high price point). If it were Sony launching into an empty field this would be the sensible message. The TV ads are typically off-the-wall – again, designed for the style-conscious out there. It all smacks of two things: 1) a closed club to which the general public is just not invited and 2) the same approach Sony took for mark 1 and 2 of the PlayStation brand. And it may have even worked again if it weren’t for the fact that gaming has grown up. Not just with the mass-market Nintendo Wii and it’s images of ordinary people holding on to their Wii-motes for dear life but also through the XBox 360 and it’s PC style gaming for the home user. Gaming has moved on in other ways also. Technology is becoming more veiled, shy of the throbbing beat of its Harley Davidson heart. Graphics are amazing all around and new advances, whilst applauded and even celebrated, are less of a pull (I venture to suggest) than in previous years.
As befits any wise old person, it’s experience that counts these days and Wii (with its unique take on control methods) and 360 (with its online connectivity and downloadable content) have beaten the PS3 to the spot by the fire. Sure, the PS3 is bigger but it’s not always a good thing when a fat lad sits in front of the telly.
