Topic: Japanese devs react tepidly to post-E3 PS3

[capamerica]

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"Tepid reaction" is a phrase we have used before, in describing the Wii-naming and the Japanese Xbox 360 launch. Now it seems appropriate to add to that list Japanese PS3 developers in a post-E3 world.

A survey released in the latest issue of of Japan's Ge-Maga magazine, which IGN purports to be the oldest videogame magazine in Japan, revealed that many Japanese developers are unhappy with the current state of the PS3 for a variety of reasons. A quick summary:

- 90.29% of those surveyed disagreed with the PS3's price point.
- 56.31% disagree with the multiple SKUs.
- 55.82% think the console will not sell with its current announced lineup (what about Riiiiidge Raaaacer?).
- While 48.54% are unphased, 32.52% of those survey were less confident with the PS3 after its E3 showing.
- 62.13% feel the PS3 won't reach its goal of 6 million units sold by March 2007.

In each case, the number of unsure responses were less that five percent (except for E3 impressions, with 15.5% giving no impressions). While the price point and multipe SKU reactions may not phase Sony, the other opinions should scare them. If developers feel that the PlayStation 3 user base will not be large enough to support their titles, they might consider more multiplatform titles (Sony doesn't care) or abandoning PS3 development altogether.

Knowing the Japanese audience cares little for the Xbox 360, will developers flock to the Wii?  Aside from its rabid fan base, Sony is going to have a hard time convincing detractors and unsure consumers to spend $600 on a console at $60 to $100 per game.

-Joystiq

[JonLeung]

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Aside from its rabid fan base, Sony is going to have a hard time convincing detractors and unsure consumers to spend $600 on a console at $60 to $100 per game.

It seems to me that Sony doesn't really have true fans.  Fans of the PlayStation(s) just like the variety of games, or certain genres or series that appear on them.  They may just be fans of GTA, Final Fantasy, and Metal Gear (Solid), even if iterations of those games eventually end up on the Xboxes and PC.  They don't like the PlayStation just because it's Sony, they just like it because of its games, and most of its best ones are third-party developed games that may not have an obligation to be forever exclusive.

Take away the big-name games and the PS3 will be totally sunk.  I don't see FF XIII and MGS 4 making a jump, those will definitely be on the PS3, and even if they get ported they would still be considered PS3 games.  But if there are any more MGS games after that, if a "main" FF came out on the Xbox 360 or Wii, then the PS3 would definitely be toast.

It's the games that affect purchases, and a casual gamer isn't going to care what a developer thinks until a developer's discontent actually means less or no games.