Killzone 2 Cannot Save The Playstation 3

[HD Halo X]

It's not something new nor is it something surprising at this point in time: The Playstation 3 isn't a console for games to truly shine on. Without trying to stir up a pot of refried beans in the gaming community, I want to stimulate the discussion of an interesting point: Can PS3 users seriously rely on one game to keep their console of choice in the running?

The short answer? No. (of course, the short answer is almost always succeeded by the lengthy verbose explanation, which just negates the purpose of even identifying a short answer to begin with. Hit the jump for it!)

When the Playstation 3 was still in its infancy, it was met with great scrutiny and negative criticism. Everywhere, the reaction basically told the same story: "the Playstation 3 has no games", "The Playstation 3 is just a cheap blu-ray player", "the Playstation 3 is way too expensive", and so on. However, with time, the console naturally evolved. Regular system updates added features that fans have clamored for, more and more games are being developed and released for the system, it is no longer the cheapest blu-ray player in the market, and the console's numerous price drops and SKU revisions negates the high price point (even if only minimally).



However, even with all of these things going in Sony's favor, the Playstation 3 has still failed to do one thing: prove itself as a gaming console. I'm not sure if any of you pay attention to sales chart (if you're reading this, you most probably do anyway), but more often than not, Multiplatform games almost always chart on the Top 10 most sold list (via NPD) every month, while PS3 exclusive AAA blockbusters fail to even break the top 10. One of Sony's biggest games this past holiday season, Resistance 2, was only able to capture number 10 selling just a mere 700,000 copies. The long hyped LittleBIGPlanet, which everyone was going crazy over, wasn't even able to sustain its hype longer than a month not to mention not even pulling in impressive sales with 600K sold. And we all know how long it took for Konami to actually start profiting off of what was considered widely by the industry the best game of 2008, Metal Gear Solid 4, which only just recently surpassed one million.


The question, then, is what game can prove me and many others wrong? A lot of you might venture to reach for Killzone 2, but there's a slight problem with that. Marketing makes or breaks a game, period. I don't care if your game looks like complete shit, if it had a great marketing campaign, it will do better than decent sales and will entice developers to do it over and over and over again. One game Sony did actually do some decent marketing for recently is LittleBIGPlanet, but they didn't stretch beyond the threshold. They marketed heavily to the European and Japanese crowd, as well as to every PS3 owner on the internet, but there is still a very huge untapped market of gamer that will never ever see a single Sony ad: the casuals. Those guys who goto Best Buy with no idea about what each console does and they just want to play the latest version of Madden and 2K9 on their HDTV, they're not being reached. One thing Microsoft does well in their campaigns is to market the games that are on their system in a way that will appeal to everyone, while at the same time letting those of us who already follow the games through and through know that playing a multiplatform game on their console is the definitive experience.


When Gears of War 2 released, I witnessed ads for it in EVERYTHING I watched. Football, UFC, Wrestling, hell even on Adult Swim. It was difficult for me to watch a particular channel for some time and not see a Gears of War 2 commercial or a Rock Band 2 for Xbox 360 commercial. On the other hand, it was very difficult for me to watch any particular channel and see just one commercial for an exclusive Playstation 3 game. The Sony commercials are out there, sure. It shows the PS3 in a very brief glimpse of all it can do and shows glimpses of games that came out years ago all the way to games that'll be coming out soon. The problem, though, is that the lack of focus for a particular product will ultimately misinform the buyer. The Playstation 3 itself is well advertised, as is the PSP. But when it comes to advertising for specific games of the platforms, it's a little bit on the dry side. Show me what your console can do. Show me what I can TRULY experience if I buy this console. If I'm seeing a barely visible 3 second clip of a game on the surface of a wall, as opposed to a montage of dedicated gameplay clips focused on a specific game, I'm going to be more inclined to go buy that game. Imagine, then, if you can repeat that process for each game that you wish to see succeed, and stay adamant and broad-scoped with your ventures, then the power of effective marketing will become truly clear.


It is for the reasons above that I believe 1 lone game cannot save a console. Killzone 2 alone cannot save the Playstation 3. It is well known that the Playstation 3 actually has alot more first party exclusive games available, and that their selection probably exceeds that of Microsoft's selection in terms of not only quantity but quality. However, you cannot simply sell your system and expect the software sales to follow. It was once easy to skimp out on marketing: Your console had a substantial lead over the competition that pretty much made the success of any game (sadly, but true) a reality. But in a time of recession and in a time where games are more expensive than ever to develop, cockiness won't lead you anywhere except straight into the ground. Thus, the answer to my original question, Killzone 2, nor ANY game alone, CANNOT save the Playstation 3.

http://www.analoghype.com/features/e...playstation-3/


I do think one game can save a system (Halo and the xbox) but Killzone can not do that.

[RedRedSuit]

It doesn't need saving anymore than Xbox 360 does. They both lose money, and they both sell about 9-10 million per year worldwide.

[michealo]

i wouldn't say any one game can "save" a system.

[ivan872007]

i wouldn't say any one game can "save" a system.

considering halo did not save the original xbox, I think you are right.

[HuskerGuy]

While I don't think the PS3 needs saving I do agree with this part of the article.

When Gears of War 2 released, I witnessed ads for it in EVERYTHING I watched. Football, UFC, Wrestling, hell even on Adult Swim. It was difficult for me to watch a particular channel for some time and not see a Gears of War 2 commercial or a Rock Band 2 for Xbox 360 commercial. On the other hand, it was very difficult for me to watch any particular channel and see just one commercial for an exclusive Playstation 3 game. The Sony commercials are out there, sure. It shows the PS3 in a very brief glimpse of all it can do and shows glimpses of games that came out years ago all the way to games that'll be coming out soon. The problem, though, is that the lack of focus for a particular product will ultimately misinform the buyer. The Playstation 3 itself is well advertised, as is the PSP. But when it comes to advertising for specific games of the platforms, it's a little bit on the dry side. Show me what your console can do. Show me what I can TRULY experience if I buy this console. If I'm seeing a barely visible 3 second clip of a game on the surface of a wall, as opposed to a montage of dedicated gameplay clips focused on a specific game, I'm going to be more inclined to go buy that game. Imagine, then, if you can repeat that process for each game that you wish to see succeed, and stay adamant and broad-scoped with your ventures, then the power of effective marketing will become truly clear.

It would be nice to see an all out marketing blitz for at least one Sony exclusive.

[twonunpackmule]

considering halo did not save the original xbox, I think you are right.

It did...in a small way. It was able to give the Xbox a legitimate chance, and pave the way for the 360. It could have done a whole lot worse. It saved it from a fate similar to the Dreamcast (), Atari Jaguar, Sega Saturn, or the Phantom (HAHAHA!).

[maley]

PS3 doesn't need saving.

Also, the only game that I would say could turn the tide would be FFVII, no other game has the following or the immediate hype that this one has.

[ivan872007]

PS3 doesn't need saving.

Also, the only game that I would say could turn the tide would be FFVII, no other game has the following or the immediate hype that this one has.

and sony needs to get on that! seriously they need to pay for a fucking remake!

[Master X]

considering halo did not save the original xbox, I think you are right.

But IMO without Halo the xbox wouldnt have done good at all. It was its flagship title. Halo 2 sold 2.4 million copies in the first 24 hours. Halo is xbox.

While I don't think the PS3 needs saving I do agree with this part of the article.

It would be nice to see an all out marketing blitz for at least one Sony exclusive.

Yeah if there spending so much on a game to help the PS3 why not market it better.

[dork]

considering halo did not save the original xbox, I think you are right.

um yeah, halo didn't have to save the "original xbox" it gave them a stepping stone to the best system avaibale

There is a reason microsoft is having great sales numbers and sony is having a loss for the first time in 14 years. Because they focused on media and not games

[RedRedSuit]

There is a reason microsoft is having great sales numbers

If by great sales numbers you mean 3% better sales than last year despite a big-ass price cut to $199 *and* if by great sales numbers you mean a profit that's half what it was last year, then you're right.

[ivan872007]

um yeah, halo didn't have to save the "original xbox" it gave them a stepping stone to the best system avaibale

There is a reason microsoft is having great sales numbers and sony is having a loss for the first time in 14 years. Because they focused on media and not games

both the 360 and ps3 are selling about the same worldwide. that 100,000 consoles sold more this year than last in the US for the 360 weren't because of halo.

[chaz_uk]

um yeah, halo didn't have to save the "original xbox" it gave them a stepping stone to the best system avaibale

There is a reason microsoft is having great sales numbers and sony is having a loss for the first time in 14 years. Because they focused on media and not games

Has the 360 covered all XBOX losses then?

[maley]

But IMO without Halo the xbox wouldnt have done good at all. It was its flagship title. Halo 2 sold 2.4 million copies in the first 24 hours. Halo is xbox.


Yeah if there spending so much on a game to help the PS3 why not market it better.

I agree. Without Halo, Xbox was going nowhere.

and sony needs to get on that! seriously they need to pay for a fucking remake!

I really don't know why either Sony or MSFT, hell even Nintendo hasn't done this. Fund the project, use crystal tools (Sony/MSFT) and remake the game. IV - VI are going to the DS, but Sony or MSFT would love to have VII on a console. The sales would be insane. FFVII remains the highest selling console RPG to this day, I just don't see why someone @ Sony hasn't handed SE a blank check for it.

[ivan872007]

I agree. Without Halo, Xbox was going nowhere.



I really don't know why either Sony or MSFT, hell even Nintendo hasn't done this. Fund the project, use crystal tools (Sony/MSFT) and remake the game. IV - VI are going to the DS, but Sony or MSFT would love to have VII on a console. The sales would be insane. FFVII remains the highest selling console RPG to this day, I just don't see why someone @ Sony hasn't handed SE a blank check for it.

well sony has an excuse. they don't pay for exclusives remember.lol as for MS well I don't know maybe they spent all the money set aside for square on making 13 multiplatform. If it goes to the wii, I am not buying that shit. well okay maybe I would.