Sony: Wii Didn't Bring Gaming Into the Mainstream, PS2 Did

[mikecoulter]

Of course the PS2 brought gaming to the masses. Everyone had a PS2! And now, people who don't have a Wii have a PS2 instead.

Go PS2... Even though I prefer my Gamecube now...

Cause the Wiis a disappointment?

No, because the PS2 only really has lightweight, "casual" games released on it these days. Much like a majority of the games on the Nintendo Wii At what point of my post did I call the Wii a dissapointment?

Whoa whoa whoa, im just asking if thats why you preferred the Cube. Calm down. I understand what you mean now. jeez.

I didn't mean to sound angry, haha, sorry. I just got a Gamecube because it's cheap, I think it's games are better and it's a cube.

 

[Pimppeter2]

I kind of agree with him. Ps2 might have got more people to game, but it did not crack into mainstream like the wii did. People buy a wii and play it like once a month. Its like furniture to those people.

 

[DRADIS C0ntact]

I agree with Sony on this one. The Wii is an undeniably popular console, of course. The PS2 though, was both incredibly popular and it has lasting appeal. Developers are still supporting it deep into the next console generation. When has that ever happened before? I don't think the Wii has that kind of lasting appeal. The Wii is more of an overnight sensation. Quick to the spotlight, but quick to fall away as well.

 

[SomeGuyNamedKy]

I wonder if this is all Sony thinks about all day, they could be thinking of new IPs or firmware improvements but I guess last generation is more important than what"s going on right now. Not saying that they're wrong, but it's just weird that they would rather talk about last generation then focus on this one.

 

[shadowstriker86]

Poor stupid sony, they dont realize that it was the arcades that brought it into the mainstream

 

[scotth266]

Snip.

I was using Asteroids under the idea that "bringing gaming to the mainstream" meant "bringing gaming to people who didn't make games": aka actually monetizing video gaming.

That's not what was being talked about.

What happened to "it's all about how you define mainstream"?

My definition of bringing gaming to the mainstream is the device which first introduced gaming to the general public by monetizing it: aka arcade cabinets.

 

[AceDiamond]

I was going to put a wall-of-text post in here but really, what else needs to be said. Kaz Hirai is his usual arrogant self and apparently certain people here think installing invasive spyware on your computer is good business practice. So basically, the same old song and dance from Camp Sony. The news article might as well have been "In other news, Sony pretends they saved the gaming industry for the 3000th time" for all of their bluster.

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

I'm not sure, Sony seems to claim they did a lot of things before Nintendo, they also seem to say they are changing the gamign world....I'm not so sure on that one.

 

[Weaver]

It's not the fact that Sony is saying something good about themselves, it's the fact that they are being completely pretentious and arrogant about it, there's a huge difference.

And to be honest... the Nintendo DS did more to bring gaming to the masses then both the Wii and PS2 combined... But who gives a crap? It's a ridiculous claim whether it comes out of Sony's ass or Nintendo's ass..

And other companies don't do the same? Granted, I will give you that Sony does make it seem like they do it more often, but people just overreact to everything they say nowadays.

They could have just said the play station 3. Other companies don't wank their own ego like that. Other companies don't come out with press statements like this saying "Nuh-uh we did it FIRST! Nintendo is a mean liar! Wahhhhh!". Lets not mention other companies don't put fucking rootkits onto their audio CDs and expect no one to notice. Then react with general surprise when they find out it's illegal.

They're detached from reality.

Other companies? What other companies? Are you really going to sit there with a straight face and say that other companies don't do [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/90352-Microsoft-Rep-Slams-PS3-and-Killzone-2] this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.117913] crap? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5z0Ia5jDt4]

Ah... it's one thing to put up sales figures and point out that you're ahead... it's another thing entirely to make a completely pretentious claim that honestly has no concrete evidence, nor do I agree with it.

Other companies? What other companies? Are you really going to sit there with a straight face and say that other companies don't do [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/90352-Microsoft-Rep-Slams-PS3-and-Killzone-2] this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.117913] crap? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5z0Ia5jDt4]

However, at least Microsoft slammed Sony AFTER NDP figures were released, and Nintendo's claim was extrapolated from their install base statistics, that they feel with the amount of consoles they have installed they could outsell Halo. This wasn't an "in your FACE!!!!!" act from them. Sony's statements that "we're the best gaming platform in the universe ever" and "we did it first" has no merit, statistics, evidence or actual point to the claims besides "pay attention to us!".

I still don't see other record labels installing rootkits on people's machines.

Okay you two, go take a buisness course and then come back, because ALL BUISNESS AND ALL ADVERTISING IS INHERANTLY BAD fuck you learn that in the first lesson of advertising!

This is my rule, you don't complain about a buisness if you don't understand buisness. You either flunked or just don't get it.

Marketing teaches quite the opposite, not that I would ever enter into such an unholy sect of business.

 

[JediMB]

The NES made video games mainstream.

And then the PS1.

And probably some other format from before the video game crash.

...

Yeah, today's mainstream/casual is tomorrow's hardcore. Today's hardcore is yesterday's mainstream/casual. It's a gradual process, and it might just happen again in a few years, and even more people will be playing video games.

I sure as hell wasn't much of a gamer when I picked up the NES controller and played Super Mario Bros for the first time.

 

[Jumplion]

I was going to put a wall-of-text post in here but really, what else needs to be said. Kaz Hirai is his usual arrogant self and apparently certain people here think installing invasive spyware on your computer is good business practice. So basically, the same old song and dance from Camp Sony. The news article might as well have been "In other news, Sony pretends they saved the gaming industry for the 3000th time" for all of their bluster.

So, 150 million units sold, and they have no leeway in this? I mean, really, put away your bias of Sony and think about what he's saying. The Ps2 definitely shattered a barrier somewhere, 150 million units all over the world (and I do mean all over the world) is nothing to scoff and, and they have as much bragging rights in the console area as Nintendo does with their DS in the handheld area.

And don't think I'm not taking my bias out of it, I do think that the PS2 broke a barrier between "mainstream" and just "gamers", but I do think the Wii capitalized it much more, "casual" gaming and "abandoning the 'hardcore'" notwithstanding.

 

[Daedalus1942]

Well duh, Sony brought gaming in to nearly every household, but the Wii has managed to get casual gamers (i use the term loosely to describe people who don't play games religiously, and only play them to kill time) to start playing more.
Also Nintendo were the first ones to completely alienate their loyal fanbase of 20 or more years and just whore themselves off for $$.

 

[WolfmanNougat]

Well obviously the PS2 broke into the mainstream before the Wii, considering that the Revolution as it was originally known had at least another three or four years before being announced.
But then, surely the N64 broke into the mainstream before the PS2 for the exact same reason?

Of course, who even gives a shit who did it first, right?

 

[Simalacrum]

well, it is true that the PS2 first brought the concept of DVD to the mass market... maybe that counts too?

 

[Ninja_X]

I think he is right about the PS2 was more mainstream before thw Wii, but not the first console to do so.

Absolutely true, this.

Heck, the PS2 is STILL more mainstream than the Wii.

 

[TheGreatGonzo26]

I thought Arcades brought gaming into mainstream.

And then Atari brought it into the household. That's what I always figured.

 

[Ghost8585]

Does anyone else notice how completely isolated and almost brainwashed most Sony representatives are? I don't think I've seen a press release or statement from them in the last 5 years that didn't leave me with a quizzical look on my face.

Like in their video for the PS3 slim and price cut, they mentioned something like "And now the Play Station 3, the greatest gaming platform on earth, is available for just $300." Is whacking off your ego really necessary?

Wow. A company representative is saying good things about their company! Who knew something like that happened!

Brainwashed Shmainwashed, what are they going to say "The 3rd place console is now getting a cheaper and smaller version of it!" Yup, that'll go well.

Lol thank you. Like I said before, people in here would do well to take a business class. This is that EVERY company, on EVERY industry does. If you want I will explain further, but hey take it however you want. That said, I have to disagree. At best, Sony put gaming a in a more socially acceptable light, while Nintendo brought the 'socially acceptable' to gaming.

Like this person said:

It's not the fact that Sony is saying something good about themselves, it's the fact that they are being completely pretentious and arrogant about it, there's a huge difference.

If anyone here needs to take a business class, it's Sony--they seem to have this business model:

Phase 1: Say good things about Sony
Phase 2: ?
Phase 3: Profit

Where "?" is 'say good things in a way that get people to actually buy your product, not in a way that makes them agree with what you are saying, but come to think of you as completely pretentious and arrogant in a way that turns them off from buying your product'.

Interpret it as you want, but every company does this in every industry. You're simply screening it against your preconceived problem with Sony. And don't even pretend that MS doesn't bash the competition while trying to make themselves look good. Here's a great example:

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22833
(Microsoft's Greenberg: 'PS3 Business' Is 'Hemorrhaging At Retail')

Gee, no that's not arrogant at all >_>

 

[JediMB]

Also Nintendo were the first ones to completely alienate their loyal fanbase of 20 or more years and just whore themselves off for $$.

What loyal fanbase?

The 25 million people who stopped buying Nintendo consoles between getting the SNES and not getting the Gamecube, or the people who complain irrationally about Nintendo not making any games for them even though they develop just as many (or more) games from their core franchises as they have at any point in the last 10-15 years?