Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaKing
In fact I might have some PS consoles around somewhere. The boys used to use them to play games with. But I think I only have the first one still. Maybe the second? Will that one play Blu-Ray?
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Probably not:
The PS1 owed its success to its use of CD-ROM as a game distribution mechanism. They had a larger code capacity and sold for less than the competing Nintendo's cartridges. It could also play audio CDs.
The PS2 owed its (japanese) success to its use of DVDs. It could play movie disks and since japanese import restrictions of the time effectively banned chinese-made (read: cheap) DVD players it was simply cheaper to buy a PS2 than a DVD player.
The PS3 followed up the tradition by building its value proposition off its BD-ROM drive. In fact, its UK launch featured advertising billing it as the "PS3 Blu-ray player. It also plays games." (Yes, much laughter ensued at their competitors.) For a couple of years the PS3 was actually the best performing BD-player money could buy (until the OPPO came out) but unfortunately for Sony those were the years when BD-ROMs weren't selling at all. Serious home theater use of the PS3 was hampered, though, by its lack of infrared Remote Control capability (which the DVD-based XBOX *did* feature). The issue is moot now as you can buy equivalent-quality BD players for less than US$100.
A point to consider: they are a *very* competitive company.
Their problems stem from their choice of battles to fight and the tactics they use. Like selling gaming devices where the most prominent feature *isn't* gaming capability...
As I said, entire books can be written on Sony's... er, idiosyncratic, management...
