Publishers happy with updates to Xbox 360 and PS3 – but criticise Sony and Microsoft for ‘one-upmanship’
Publishers have applauded new Xbox 360 and PS3 console SKUs – but criticised Sony and Microsoft for indulging in ‘one-upmanship’.
Third-party publishers have generally reacted well to Sony’s announcement of an 80GB and 160GB PS3 – as well of news of Microsoft’s 60GB 360 – in our MCV Forum this week.
Capcom marketing boss Michael Pattison said: “Apple has made several tweaks to their iPod system since its launch in 2001 driven by technological development, market forces and the needs of our consumers, and gaming first parties are no different.”
Gamecock MD Graeme Struthers added: “Changes in hardware offerings are pretty common in all other consumer manufacturing industries as each company seeks to gain a competitive advantage. Both seem very good at getting their message out to the consumer and each of them are driving hardware sales. As a software publisher I think that’s just peachy.”
However, Codemasters chief executive officer Rod Cousens accused Microsoft and Nintendo of ‘one-upmanship’.
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He said: “It is ongoing one-upmanship between competitive hardware vendors and while it can be argued that it is the consumer who wins, this is at risk of creating confusion with too many SKUs and price points.”
Comments
Greed
I already own 2 360s 1 with a 20gb harddrive & 1 with a 120gb harddrive, I also own the PS3 with the 60gb harddrive B/C I seriously feel let down by both companys as it just seems that I have to pay for them both to get it right. I have been gaming for 25years+ & I am in a situation of what next, progress can be good but if you already own the older machines this really feels very harsh for being one of the people who paid the extra for less, now it seems. I wish both companys would take their heads out of their a**** & make the machine the correct way 1st time round other wise why are we all paying to use a console when we could go with the ever changing PC. I do believe the point of the console was a standard machine that didnt really change, maybe towards the end of its life but not with in a few months or a year of it being on sale.
Re: Greed
@Who cares:
If you own a 60GB PS3, then you've got the best PS3 available. The 80/160GB models might have more storage space, but they lack the PS2 backwards compatibility, memory card readers and have two fewer USB ports. You may have paid more than the £299 you can now get a PS3 80GB for, but you got more features for your money.
As for "one-upmanship", how naive is Rod Cousens? In any competitive industry from cars to mobile phones manufacturers will revise their product line-up and specifications to make sure they stay competitive with their rivals. Asking consumers to pay a bit more for a "better" model is hardly going to confuse them, and most people understand that the phone/TV/iPod/car you buy today will be superseded by something better and (probably) cheaper in a year or two. C'est la vie.
With the exception of the PS2 backwards compatibility issue (which unusually favours those early adopters) any working console bought at any stage of this generation's lifespan is still good for the purpose you bought it for. And most retailers are good enough to advise customers properly about the key difference between a 360 Arcade and 360 Pro, so there really shouldn't be any cause for confusion.
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