Sony shifts from hardware to software?

[Galactus]

Friday 1-Dec-2006 10:43 AM According to one analyst, Kutaragi's recent move could be the first sign of Sony doing a Sega

With the news of Sony taking yet another hit by way of the recent canning of GT HD, one analyst seems to think that this is the end of Sony as a hardware manufacturer.

"The appointment of Hirai could be the start of a shift from hardware to software," Nomura Securities' Yuta Sakurai told the FT. Putting all his eggs in one basket he went on to say, "I cannot now imagine a PlayStation 4."

Brave words indeed but he says the shift of power at the top is that Kaz Hirai's new global portfolio puts a predominantly software-focused manager in charge of the company.

Don't underestimate the power of the PlayStation people...

 

[Avalanche]

Software is a weak point of Sony, whilst the console had always been their strength, at least off the back of the PS1/2. I can't see them going software only. At least not until after PS4 where it to happen.

 

[WhatsHisFace]

Sony couldn't survive as a software company.

 

[Ice-man]

sonys not going anyware, this analyst is basing his info on the first 2 weeks that the ps3 has been out. people should just give it time.

 

[Fran]

Sony is not making a PS4.

They are becoming the next Sega...

 

[Timstuff]

sonys not going anyware, this analyst is basing his info on the first 2 weeks that the ps3 has been out. people should just give it time.

Quoted for truth.

Sony is a hardware company. If Playstation bombs, there's no reason for them to have an active role in the game industry. Fortunately, I doubt that it's going to bomb.

The hardware wars ended when the PS2 sold 100 million units. I forsee Sony being on top for a pretty long while.

 

[Fran]

Sony didn't even ship the 400,000 promised.. they only shipped 200,000 at launch.

 

[Benstamania]

Anything is possible in the video game world. To pass this off as BS is foolish.

 

[Dr.Doom]

Isn't everybody sold out of the PS3. How could they have weak sales numbers?

 

[Timstuff]

If there's one thing I know about analists, it's that they're often full of BS.

PS3 is selling as fast as Sony can make them. Once Sony's ability to supply catches up with the demand, it's going to be smooth sailing all the way to next November, when the big guns start rolling out.

 

[kytrigger]

This is what weak sales numbers look like. Regardless of selling out, this is a perfect example of weak numbers in action!

http://nexgenwars.com/

No it isn't. Once again, the reason Sony has lower numbers is because their supply has been low. Saying that they are weak numbers regardless of selling out is ludicrous.

 

[Timstuff]

If 100 people want a PS3 and Sony can only make 20, then is Nintendo more successful if they sell all 50 of their Wiis when there are 60 people who want them? Logic would indicate that once Sony makes 100 PS3s, they're going to outsell Nintendo.

 

[hippie_hunter]

This is what weak sales numbers look like. Regardless of selling out, this is a perfect example of weak numbers in action!

http://nexgenwars.com/

That's because of production problems, not demand problems. If the Playstation 3 made more, the number would be higher.

Now if there were still some after the launch, then you'd have problems.

 

[Avalanche]

To echo what everyone else has said, Sony will continue to sell out PS3's all year. There isn't a demand problem.

 

[Halcohol]

To echo what everyone else has said, Sony will continue to sell out PS3's all year. There isn't a demand problem.

Yeah, but Sony's TVs and DVD players are some of the best in the market. Their software sells well (simply because it's on the PS3) but isn't spectacular.

 

[kytrigger]

Yeah, but Sony's TVs and DVD players are some of the best in the market. Their software sells well (simply because it's on the PS3) but isn't spectacular.

Which is even more reason why this analyst is wrong. Why would Sony give up their much better hardware station and focus on their weaker software line alone?

 

[Fran]

To echo what everyone else has said, Sony will continue to sell out PS3's all year. There isn't a demand problem.

Well, while I somewhat agree, if Sony doesn't ship enough PS3's by Christmas, then those people left out will just go to Microsoft or Nintendo for their Xmas gifts.

 

[WhatsHisFace]

Wow, the Wii had a LARGE burst in a short period of time.

Must have had a huge restock.

 

[imdaly]

Wow, the Wii had a LARGE burst in a short period of time.

Must have had a huge restock.

Thay launched in Japan yesterday

 

[hippie_hunter]

I'd like to rephrase weak.. actually, no I wouldn't. Weak sales numbers means they're not selling ALOT. They're not, regardless of selling out, the numbers are still pitifully low if they expect to catch up with MS in the near future.

That's what I mean by weak sales numbers, not they they're not getting out into circulation but the amount of them sold right now is horrible.

That's because Sony has f**ked up their launch way worse than Microsoft f**ked theirs up.

 

[hippie_hunter]

That's what you get for using Blu-Ray and Cell, all in one sitting.

No it's not that, it's that they should have prepared more. Blu-ray and Cell are considered to be essential points of the Playstation 3. They should have prepared their factories better for a near dual launch in Japan and North America, they shouldn't have promised such a high number of Playstation 3s, etc.

 

[Timstuff]

They should've used a processor and a memory format that was actually tested and proven to have as little kinks as possible before they promised any number of consoles or a set date. Once again, lol Cell and Blu-Ray.

So you're basically saying they should have used off the shelf parts like MS did. Sorry, but as frustrated as I am about not having a PS3, I'd rather wait a few weeks than have an inferior product. Basically, you're saying Sony should have just offered a repackaged Xbox 360. Well I don't know about you, but when a system launches a year later than the competition, I expect it to have some signifigant new features.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

So you're basically saying they should have used off the shelf parts like MS did. Sorry, but as frustrated as I am about not having a PS3, I'd rather wait a few weeks than have an inferior product. Basically, you're saying Sony should have just offered a repackaged Xbox 360. Well I don't know about you, but when a system launches a year later than the competition, I expect it to have some signifigant new features.

Guess you went with the X-Box last gen because that was the more powerful system, not better in the games department, but definitely better hardware.

One thing about the Playstation launch that should be mentioned also is how many of the people were waiting in line to make a profit rather than actually wanting to buy the system compared to the number of people who waited in line for a Wii to actually have a Wii rather than quickly turn on profit on eBay.

Finally, the talk about Sony shifting from hardware to software has to be BS because Sony doesn't have a good software division. Sega had a great software division, that was always their strongest point. Probably 95% or more of the great software on Playstations were from 3rd Parties.