File Under: hahaha, oh wow! book: "Why Did the PS3 Fail?" ranked 11 on amazon japan

[Apossum]

Stolen from GAF, EvilAvatar, etc. etc.

http://zepy.momotato.com/2007/09/09/book-on-the-failure-of-the-ps3-released/


The PS3 had been perceived as a failure by most fans but the mass media have often avoided that topic. But now, the newly released book “Why did the PS3 fail?” by Tane Kiyoshi directly labels the PS3 as a failure and attempts to analyze the factors which led to this current situation.

The author Tane Kiyoshi is an editor for the subculture + gaming magazine Continue and originally stated that the PS3 would succeed.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4883806812

[daroga]

That's a tad premature, isn't it?

[Apossum]

That's a tad premature, isn't it?


just a little. I'm thinking something was lost in translation of the title. Any fluent japanese speakers here?

[help1]

Anyone who says that anything has won this early in the game is retarded.

[looploop]

just a little. I'm thinking something was lost in translation of the title. Any fluent japanese speakers here?
Nothing's been lost. :lol: That's exactly what it says.
It's so cheap I'm a little tempted to order it myself...

[Apossum]

Anyone who says that anything has won this early in the game is retarded.


or if someone were to just analyze what info they have to work with and not take potential into account, they would be dead on to judge the PS3 as a failure.

Doesn't seem like the best practice, but his book is selling. Selling more than it probably would have after the fact. Controversial statements tend to attract a lot of attention if they hit the mark-- not so dumb that they can immediately be written off, but dumb enough to be highly questionable.

[Rozz]

If it's in a book then its gotta be true!

[Maklershed]

Has the PS3 been out a year yet?

[Dr Mario Kart]

The guy must know his historical precedents. I'd like to know what his definition of failure is and how he fits all the unprecedented stuff that has happened this generation into the paradigm.

[help1]

If it's in a book then its gotta be true!

Same rule for Wikipedia!

[cochesecochese]

Dudes is buggin out. Hilarious.

Cheapy, don't sleep. Cop this while you still can.

[mykevermin]

I'm thinking something was lost in translation of the title.

It's as straightforward as can be.

And it may be premature, and it may be incorrect, but if it moves books for the author, what the hell does he care?

[The Mana Knight]

PS3 is doing all right (tripled 360 there), but nothing great so far (will get better when they get more appealing games to them).

At PS2 launch, the reasons PS2 sold freaking well initially were:
-Switching from VHS to DVD was huge in Japan (DVD players were very expensive in Japan), and PS2 was the cheaper option. Blu-ray is winning the next-gen format in Japan, but the next gen disc sales are extremely bad in Japan.
-PS1 was continuing to increase in sales due to big releases, so many who may have gotten a PS1, went with a PS2 instead. PS2 lacked big releases that may have pushed people towards a PS3 over a PS2.
-The PS1 still had future releases (when PS2 came out) of FFIX, Dragon Quest VII, and a few others. Those who may have wanted a PS1 to play those games, may have went with a PS2.

Basically, it all came done to full BC with PS1 and a DVD player, which is why many bought a PS2 early in Japan. However, after a year or two since PS2 was released, the Japanese market saw a huge decline where new installments in popular series either bombed or did way worse than the previous installment (except Musou), and it looked like the Japanese market was dying. The DS coming in and appealing to a whole different market, brought gaming back to Japan to the mass market.

The price seems odd, because Japanese can get a 20GB PS3 for $425 (they still sell them there), while the PS2 launched for around $370 (you needed a memory card to play DVDs, or something like that).

The problem with the PS3 console itself is being too big for many Japanese (they love tiny electronics. Some hate the 360 there because its power brick is too big). Japanese don't care about network capabilities (Only 13% of the people in Japan or something have taken their PS3 online, and online gaming just isn't popular in Japan). Realistic graphics just isn't a big thing in Japan (Anime styled games tend to do well). Lastly, it just didn't have their appealing games for quite a while (even 360 had more and MS can't sell it there). Their only big sellers have been Gundam Musou and Everybody's Golf 5. The PS3 lineup in Japan has been getting better over the summer, but before that, the only appealing games were Gundam (both of them) and VF5. It's pretty sad when Dengeki PS (who has been heavily anime themed games over the years) is mostly advertising Lair, Heavenly Sword, Resistance, etc. (games Japanese have no interests in, although Resistance has done very well in Japan, selling over 100k).

[apokalipze2]

^^^^^Sony Defense Force to the rescue:lol:

[Vanigan]

Uh Apokalipze2, what was a sarcastic joke right?

Anyway, for the most part we all already know why Sony didn't, and in many ways still isn't doing well after release.

But to say it's a complete failure is getting way ahead of yourself. They've got some good games coming out towards the end of the year, and they've got a lot of titles for 2008 lined up. Now that they have the launch done and well over, they're focusing on adding features and most importantly getting a good lineup for 2008-09.

They should come out with a book detailing all the experiences user's 360 hardware failures while they're at it.

[Maklershed]

Uh Apokalipze2, what was a sarcastic joke right?

Anyway, for the most part we all already know why Sony didn't, and in many ways still isn't doing well after release.

But to say it's a complete failure is getting way ahead of yourself. They've got some good games coming out towards the end of the year, and they've got a lot of titles for 2008 lined up. Now that they have the launch done and well over, they're focusing on adding features and most importantly getting a good lineup for 2008-09.

They should come out with a book detailing all the experiences user's 360 hardware failures while they're at it.

What does 360s hardware failures have to do with a book about Sony?

[Achilles]

lol the author's a troll

[trq]

or if someone were to just analyze what info they have to work with and not take potential into account, they would be dead on to judge the PS3 as a failure.

Doesn't seem like the best practice, but his book is selling.

Oh, I don't know -- I'm not saying I agree with the book title, but basing success or failure on "potential" sounds like a highly dubious prospect, too. This industry is littered with products that had potential.

A lot of stuff

You know, those are all pretty good points. Not entirely relevant to the topic, but valid and balanced nonetheless, and the obligatory "ZOMG RRoD" line didn't come from you. Good show.

[Dezuria]

The whole 'next-gen' gaming scene is a failure so far.

[Mechafenris]

The whole 'next-gen' gaming scene is a failure so far.

I'd liken this series of consoles to "gen 1.5" rather than a full version ahead.. It's evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, and until they tap the resources of both consoles, we're not going to see much in the way of "ooooh's" and "aaaah's" from the nachos and beer crowd...

Maybe I'm oversimplifying as well, but I think you've got a valid point... this "next gen" stuff is increasingly humdrum, with a few notable exceptions (from all involved, not just sony...)

[Apossum]

The whole 'next-gen' gaming scene is a failure so far.


Good point. my favorite "next gen" games are retro games, upgraded titles (Tekken online), smaller downloadable games (XBLA, PSN) and remakes (Ninja Gaiden), besides Oblivion and Bioshock.

[camoor]

The whole 'next-gen' gaming scene is a failure so far.

The Wii is a big success. I'm going on record to say the Wii is next gen!

[Thomas96]

The fact that a book about the failure of the PS3 being ranked 11 on amazon shows that people are interested in PS3 in Japan... the main issue is that its probably too expensive for them as well.

[bmulligan]

I'm an HDTV owner and I'd love Blue Ray discs that take advantage of HD, but I just can't justify spending $30 on a move when DVD's are half that for new releases, and 1/4 of that in a few months after release.

Frankly, the jump from VHS to DVD was enormous. THe jump from DVD to HD isn't as great. And the jump to DVD quality didn't require new televisions to enjoy it. HD means nothing to the 78% of households that don't yet have HD. Sony is banking on an empty theatre - there just isn't yet enough market to sustain the jump. In 5 years maybe it will be different.

Just like regular TV, some movies and entertainment were made for HD, most aren't and don't require it to be great looking and enjoyable. I don't need to spend $30 to see the pock marks on Matt Damon's face in Bourne Supremacy.

[Dr Mario Kart]

Hell, given the stats, HD means nothing to an awful lot of folks that HAVE HD