SCE Australia boss talks 40GB PS3
by Chris Powell 
{ Oct 9th 2007 at 1:00PM }
Ephraim also continued Sony's recent tactic of downplaying the significance of the lack of backward compatibility, he also said that at this point, the PS3 and the Wii should no longer be compared to each other. "Nintendo Wii should be compared with PlayStation 2 for the functionality, the experience, and the demographic it appeals to. Consumers in that space will compare between a PS2 and a Wii, not a Wii and a PS3 – they're just completely different animals," he said.
This isn't the first time Sony's said one of its products isn't in direct competition with Nintendo's, but it'd be interesting to see if it'd be singing the same tune if the sales numbers were reversed.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt B @ Oct 9th 2007 1:16PM
He is right about that. The only thing the wii and PS3 share is a launch date. But they always seam to be compared when sales data comes around.
Jakob @ Oct 9th 2007 1:35PM
I have a PS3 and I like my choice. I have no wish for either of the other 2 consoles, but that is besides the point. Please Sony, stop being so bloody arrogant. Of course the PS3 will be compared with the Wii - Sony just have to make sure that people will see the value of the PS3 - this is were Sony could do a much better job in the PR-department.
And now my personal rant about the Wii: If you take away the controller and replace it with any other controller, from whichever console you please, what are you left with? An overclocked Gamecube - is that worth 199$?
barrist @ Oct 9th 2007 1:44PM
I have both the wii and ps3, and i haven't played the wii for months. Didn't even enjoy Metroid that much. Mario Galaxy should bring a bit of enjoyment, but seriously, the thing gets old. Not to mention it absolutely looks like ass on my HDTV.
Good for nintendo that they're succeeding, but it's novelty has run out for me.
tk00 @ Oct 9th 2007 1:48PM
Nice tactic. when someone is whipping your ass, claim you aren't actually trying to beat them.
comtar @ Oct 9th 2007 4:00PM
I disagree partially with this... Now I own a PS3 and a Wii, I also plan on owning an X-box 360 soon as the smaller processor models are available.
But... The PS3 and the Wii have similar features, with having online communities, photo sharing, e-mail messaging, friends lists, varied levels of motion sensing, downloadable content and games. Why some are better then others on either side, they are very similar, the main difference in my opinion is the graphics.
So with that, just because the graphics are so dramatically different to me doesn't justify the comment that it's an entirely different animal.
My only problem with the PS3 is it seems like it's not ready for Prime Time. They seem to be constantly changing around the hardware to lower the price instead of take the loss and make the money from the games, it would have been smarter to make a "Dream System" model, then a stripped down model like Gamecube had.
It never came out in Japan, but there was an Elite Model Gamecube, with a LCD faceplate and could play DVD movies and had a DVD remote, had some cool LED controller ports. This is what Sony should have done, have a $600 God System, and a $300 standard gaming system. And Home should have been available and ready at system launch, but it seems like they are still trying to figure out what the system should or should not include... should we have rumble? Should we not? Should we have BC? Should we not? Should we have photo slot ports? Should we not? It doesn't feel finalized.
I love my PS3, but when I look at the games I want to play on it. I realise that they are all coming out in 2008 and pretty much I have a nice $600 footwarmer in my room that's curing cancer. Other then that... I'm having alot of fun on Metroid Prime 3 and Bioshock on my PC. But I know next year, I'm gonna be having a blast with MGS4 and DMC4.
comtar @ Oct 9th 2007 4:07PM
*correction*
About the Elite Model Gamecube
It only came out in Japan.....
I said it didn't come out in Japan, I meant it didn't come out in America... oops.
PT Cruiser @ Oct 9th 2007 4:11PM
This guy is completely dilusional
Bear @ Oct 9th 2007 4:57PM
going by the picture, Id say he just told the kids there is no BC in their new toy
Popfrogs @ Oct 9th 2007 4:58PM
@5: They're really not in the same space. The Wii only plays games and the majority of them are emulated. It can't even play movies and the online functionality barely even exists.
The PS3 and X360, on the other hand, are multimedia powerhouses that let you access various kinds of media, play games, put on slideshows straight from your camera's memory card, etc. Both have online play in most games. Both cost alot more and deliver true HD graphics with incredible 5.1 or 7.1 sound. Both (well one with the help of an addon) allow you to watch HD movies in the latest formats.
The Wii isn't even in the same space as either one of these consoles. Microsoft and Sony don't feel compelled to bother chasing that market, because their consoles are loss leaders and they make up the difference in (overpriced) peripherals and software sales. The Wii in itself, being last-gen tech, makes a profit on each unit sold, similar to the DS. Nintendo makes most of the must-have software in-house, so that's a double win for them.
Maybe now you can see a little more clearly that neither Sony nor Microsoft chose to play on such a low playing field. They're delivering the future, not the past.
comtar @ Oct 9th 2007 5:16PM
One more thing I noticed...
"Nintendo Wii should be compared with PlayStation 2 for the functionality, the experience, and the demographic it appeals to."
So... The PS3 is NOT appealing to the same Demographic it was before with the PS2? I mean that's what he is saying... If the PS2 and the Wii have the same experience in gaming, and is appealing to the same Demographic, then what Demographic is the PS3 appealing too? Obviously not the same Demographic the PS2 was, or else the PS3 would probably be selling as well as the Wii would be.
Sean @ Oct 9th 2007 5:36PM
Isn't this the same guy who said that the Wii is more fun than the PS3?
Flame @ Oct 9th 2007 6:40PM
The photo's caption:
"Hey look, kids! I just unlocked Hot Coffee. Thank your pop for the 60GB PS3 later."
kingrottenboy @ Oct 10th 2007 1:39AM
future not the past.
you may hold your allegiances dear to your heart but Nintendo is pumeling Sony and Microsoft. you think Nintendo cares about next gen graphics when they are shoveling money into thier bank accounts, you think a dude who gets his girlfriend to play with his wii cares? as opposed to the sony fanboys who play thier ps3 alone. think about it.
Consolcwby @ Oct 10th 2007 2:33AM
This is typical of PR rants, and should be viewed thusly: "We will only talk about Nintendo on our terms. They are our competitor and a challenge to our brand, so we are not inclined to include them in our talks to the press regarding the PS3. Regarding the PS2 is a different matter we would be happy to discuss."
It's the same tactic used by politicians when asked a question they do not like, they either say: "That is not the question. I believe the real question is..." or "That is a very good question, and one we are fully prepared to answer. It is similar to another question I was asked not too long ago. That question was..." In PLAIN English: "I don't want to answer your question. I'd rather talk about..." You get the idea.
PR = Political Rhetoric (or as we used to say in PoliSci: Diplopmacy, the press, and you. =D
JaseH @ Oct 10th 2007 12:33PM
I don't get why people start saying Sony contradicted their beliefs from their past qoutes...
You're acting like there is NO Playstation 3 available, which utilizes it's B/C...
All Sony has done, was create a solution, for those who care no more for B/C yet want a cheaper alternative to the console. You want B/C so much? Get the 60 or 80GB.
Want none?... 40GB is for you.
There is choice now. That's all. It's not liek the concept is extinct ya know. Psht.