Is Sony the Apple of Gaming?
by Nick Doerr 
{ Mar 24th 2008 at 11:30PM }
It seems more and more often this year, press and publicity are acting kindly towards Sony and the PlayStation 3. In a recent opinion piece about the current generation of gaming hardware, BusinessWeek writer Matt Vella posed an interesting question: is Sony the Apple of gaming? He breaks down each console with their respective strengths and concludes Sony's console is the "Media Master".He said the PS3 has "a facility with media that translates into sleek user interfaces more polished than either Microsoft's or Nintendo's. Both [Apple and Sony] have also had a propensity for tenaciously backing media formats with mixed results, most recently AAC and Blu-ray successfully." He goes on to say that Microsoft and Nintendo also have Apple-like strengths, citing them as the "Ecosystem Expert" and "Disruptive Innovator", respectively. What do you guys think? Is this even an appropriate comparison to make?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kspraydad @ Mar 24th 2008 11:35PM
I've always thought Nintendo was following Apple's approach.
Personally don't like the products from either company.
Morbo @ Mar 25th 2008 12:15AM
Thanks for visiting PS3Fanboy?
Morbo @ Mar 25th 2008 12:17AM
oops, read your comment wrong... and botched my punctuation ... ignore.
Kspraydad @ Mar 25th 2008 12:17AM
Morbo...you seem confused by my comment. I personally don't like Apple or Nintendo products. Is that clearer?
Lars @ Mar 31st 2008 1:43PM
I agree that Nintendo and Apple are similar, though I think Apple is a lot worse. Apple is a horrible, morally devoid company that likes to pretend they are innovators and whose business practices often harm the consumer and stifle competition.
Lou @ Mar 24th 2008 11:44PM
Apple prints money
So does Nintendo
Therefore Nintendo = apple of the gaming industry
but yeah, it's not really a good comparison
at the moment, anything apple puts out is gold, there is no negativity surrounding it
Anything sony puts out is usually met with skepticism
Alex Glukhov @ Mar 24th 2008 11:45PM
I fail to see the comparisons, aside from both company's putting out expensive but forever-lasting products. Both companies also have first party support which blows Microsoft / Nintendo / XBL / Windows first party apps and games out of the water.
Mein Bratwurst @ Mar 24th 2008 11:46PM
They both also make very sexy machines.
Mein Bratwurst @ Mar 25th 2008 1:29AM
Aww, poor troll, trying so hard to get attention. Would you prefer me to call them sleek? The only thing that is full of fail here is your lame attempt at a flame. It's like a Failboat ready to set sail for fail.
Mein Bratwurst @ Mar 25th 2008 1:58AM
Ha, his troll post got deleted. Good job, loser. Nice to see some moderation.
Mike Jenkins @ Mar 24th 2008 11:48PM
What are they smoking?
He said the PS3 has "a facility with media that translates into sleek user interfaces more polished than either Microsoft's or Nintendo's."
The PS3 doesn't have any media interface aside from a clunky menu and annoying buttons that overlay the screen when viewing media. Apple's FrontRow is garbage and nothing can compare to the beauty and usability of Vista's Media Center, which extends to the Xbox 360 simply. The day my PS3 supports some sort of Media Center interface-including letting me view recorded TV shows-is the day I'll use it for media purposes. Otherwise I'm sticking to my 360 thankyouverymuch.
Ed @ Mar 24th 2008 11:52PM
Why are you even here?
Mike Jenkins @ Mar 24th 2008 11:59PM
Because i get my PS3 news from here, but I think it's funny how they write everything so subjectively and take any little article that casts the PS3 in a positive light and uses it to make it seem like the PS3 is God's gift to gamers, when most of the posts on Joystiq, X3F and Wii Fanboy are much more objective, and they often point out the negatives in their own consoles.
Ed @ Mar 25th 2008 12:07AM
Funny, I see you pointing out a lot of non-existing negatives of the PS3. I personally like the XMB and as I remember, it's won a design award or two. It's not by any means "clunky." In fact, the Windows Media Center that you adore so much is simply the same thing turned sideways. As far as recorded tv shows, your 360 can't record them either. In the case of viewing recordings made on other hardware, the PS3 is just as capable if not more than the 360. I await your Microsoft-slanted response.
Kspraydad @ Mar 25th 2008 12:12AM
Hi Mike...
I don't have a 360 and have never even looked at one.
However, I believe what this article MIGHT be mentioning is that OUT OF THE BOX the PS3 is a superior media machine and its menus, for many people, are sexy and simple.
What you have brought to the table is extending the xbox with functions that are not built in but rather built upon having a PC too. If we want to do that I'm sure I could find a media extender just as pretty as WMC and run it under Linux on a PS3.
Mike Jenkins @ Mar 25th 2008 12:18AM
Please, tell me how exactly I can view the hundreds of shows I have recorded on my PC on my PS3? The XMB isn't bad, it's the way you access the files and media controls that bothers me. I don't like waiting for all of the folders to load and then having to scroll through all of them to listen to my music files and such. I'd much rather have everything there already and be able to search through them and organize them as I see fit. Since the days of the PS2 I've hated the way you have to bring up the boxy overlay and figure out which icon you want to use when controlling movies, I prefer the way the 360 brings up a small bar across the bottom giving you access to the common functions like play/pause, fast forward, etc. And Media Center has been around longer than the XMB in either its PSP or PS3 form.
Microdot @ Mar 25th 2008 12:21AM
vista media center????
thats a joke, right?
if not... your credibility on the matter is exactly: squat.
vista media center, as well as windows mce are two horrid gui's , with overly complex natures that leave the majority of users scratching their heads. the xmb, as well as apples gui's, are simple to use, and still provide the advanced features and settings the tweakers want, without clogging down the ui to a point of stupidity.
find a new hobby. please. electronics and computers obviously arent your strong points. might i suggest needlepoint. it might be more your speed.
Van Faulk @ Mar 25th 2008 12:21AM
A fucking MEN.
I'm so glad someone is calling this site on its near slavish devotion to sony's infallibility. I own a ps3, I own a psp, but it is just god damned ridiculous that the people running this site are so biased as to go out of their way to spin things in a positive light.
Of course having fans as fanatical as that does make sony a bit like apple.
If you ever want to play some RFOM or Haze when it comes out, my PSN is abastus.
Mike Jenkins @ Mar 25th 2008 12:27AM
@Kspraydad...
Thanks for bringing a logical argument to the table, what I meant by my comment is that from the quote it made it seem as if the media functionality of the PS3, i.e. playing movies and music, have better interfaces than the 360 or Wii. What I was referring to was not the XMB, which has little to do with actually controlling movies and music, but rather the clunky overlay that you have to bring up to control videos and music. From my experience, playing media on the 360 is a much easier experience than on the PS3, and I don't even know how the article can compare to the Wii since it's not even meant for media playback.
Ed @ Mar 25th 2008 12:28AM
Wow, wrong again. Windows Media Center debuted in October 2004. The XMB Debuted in 2003 in Sony's PSX (the DVR/Game Console) and has since been in used in their Consoles as well as high-end TVs and Sony Ericsson phones. In addition, you don't have to bring up the media controls to pause/FF/RW/stop etc., as these can be controlled with the controller or the BD Remote.
Ed @ Mar 25th 2008 12:35AM
I'll let you speak for yourself.
Mike Jenkins said...
"Man I forgot just how ignorant and childish PS3 fanboys are."
Mike Jenkins said...
"Apple's FrontRow is garbage and nothing can compare to the beauty and usability of Vista's Media Center"
Mike Jenkins @ Mar 25th 2008 12:42AM
Wow Ed, you can use Wikipedia. Except you didn't look around enough, because the first version of Media Center was available in 2002.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP_Media_Center_Edition
Windows XP Media Center Edition (codename "Freestyle", Jan 2002) was the first showing and based directly on Windows XP Professional. This was only available from Tier 1 computer manufacturers (HP, Dell, Sony, Zitech, et al).
Abastus @ Mar 25th 2008 12:43AM
AMEN.
It's about time someone called ps3f on this crap. I own all the playstations, but this site is one of the most unprofessionally biased I've ever seen. I can make up my own mind about news, thank you very much, I don't need to have someone so fanatically loyal to sony that their very self worth seems to be tied to its alleged superiority as a platform to tell me what to think.
You know what? My psn is abastus (like my name) if you ever want to play RFOM or haze, that's how you can find me.
Ed @ Mar 25th 2008 12:52AM
My mistake. However, the version released at that time was not feature complete, lacking the more polished interface of vista's WMC and the Media Center Extenders from the 2005 release (such as the 360.)
Abastus @ Mar 25th 2008 12:57AM
Amen.
It's about time someone called this site on their unprofessional attitude. I've never seen a reputable mainstream stiet with so much overt bias. Readers can make up their own minds, they don't need to be told what to think by someone so fanatically devoted to sony that their self worth is tied to the performance of a machine...which seem to be the only people who work here.
If you ever wanna play rfom, my psn is abastus.
Hala Madrid!!! SSBB Code:3866-7729-0830 @ Mar 25th 2008 1:29AM
Thank you Mike
I just voted you up for this comment
@Kspraydad
"I don't have a 360 and have never even looked at one"
Are you fucking blind? you cover your eyes when you go to a video game store so you don't have to look at the Xbox's?
C'mon dude
@ED
Relax dude is just a console is not like Sony pays you everytime you say something good about the PS3
C'mon n00b
Davedrastic @ Mar 25th 2008 1:37AM
errr, i may be missing the point, but can't you watch divx (which can include recorded tv shows amongst other things) on the PS3 - and if you really need a how, then either from the hard drive, or through a storage device connected through one of the USB ports.
Lars @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:43PM
"And Media Center has been around longer than the XMB in either its PSP or PS3 form."
Maybe so, but XMB was around before that, on the PSX.
I do agree that the overlay (accessed by pressing triangle) could be a lot better. But I almost never use that thing since the button mapping was brilliantly done on PS3. It was a bit clunky on the PS2 though. And anyways, I don't really want any overlay taking up valuable screen space. If I actually used the stuff on the overlay more than once in a blue moon then I'd buy a remote.
And I don't get your beef about not being able to access media that resides on a server. You can.
Mein Bratwurst @ Mar 24th 2008 11:53PM
k thanks for telling us.
Solid_Snake @ Mar 24th 2008 11:56PM
i sense xbox fanboy.. if you think your 360 is more media orientated than the PS3, then you sir, are on crack. The PS3 is a gaming system that was built to be a media center which streams seamlessly from other media centers, computers, laptops. You can stream into your PSP also; one of the best things about HOME if everything goes according to plan is that you can see videos of other people streamed from one PS3 to another.. i hope this comes to fruition.. so Mike, why dont you just shut up, and go to your other forum with your 1999 sytled 369.. if it was so futuristic and media centered, why is the "720" being tossed around already?§
Mike Jenkins @ Mar 25th 2008 12:05AM
I didn't say that it doesn't stream from computers, just that it doesn't have a very user-friendly interface to it. The only thing it does that the 360 doesn't is stream to a PSP, but it's kind of pointless since you'd need to be on a Wi-Fi connection to use it and most places you'd want your media, in a car for example, don't have Wi-Fi connections. That's what my iPod is for after all. My PS3 doesn't stream recorded TV shows, and I can't rent movies from it, so I don't see how it's any better than the 360.
Who said anything about style or being "futuristic" anyway? Seems like desperate bashing to me.
Mein Bratwurst @ Mar 25th 2008 12:14AM
@ Mike
It doesn't have a very user friendly interface? I actually find XMB to be extremely simple. If you're having trouble navigating through XMB it makes me wonder how you navigated your way here to PS3FB.com
Dahk @ Mar 25th 2008 12:22AM
@ Mike. I'll see your arguments there. I'll try not to proclaim my fanboyism (even though I am), but I'll give a good shot at being objective anyway.
Your biggest point was really recording TV shows. It's already been done and integrated in Europe with PlayTV. Your PS3 (preferably with a larger harddrive) can now act as a PVR. In Japan, 1seg tuner allows your PSP to turn into a mobile TV. Both have great interfaces and great usability. Unfortunately, the North America, with its darn infrastructure problems is unable to support such connectivity. So it is unlikely that your Sony products will turn into a streaming machine, for a little while anyway.
Your next biggest argument was the Media Centre argument. I fully agree that Microsoft definitely has a business angle and strategy in terms of supporting such services, because obviously they own Vista and the 360. Its definitely much more integrated and streamlined for the user, and not much I can argue. However, the argument here is that Sony's user interfaces (within each product itself) is more polished with the XMB, which I prefer over every other console. They also have the Blu-Ray media format fully backing them up, and like the article said, it has mixed results.
I believe your point with the Media Centre is actually supported by this article, because in the article it states that Microsoft has the better "Ecosystem" with the "most well-developed media (bold) service (slash bold)". Emphasis added by me. So really, with each product itself, Sony is great for media functionality, while Microsoft has the interconnectivity of all devices for a streamlined "ecosystem".
Really I think this article's fully bull, cuz he's just finding things to be "similar to Apple" - which is what I wrote down there.
Dahk @ Mar 25th 2008 12:09AM
I find this article kind of bull. I like some of their ideas, but other ones are just finding different ways to argue their point - like "tenaciously backing media formats with mixed results". What the eff.
That's like picking any sorta well-reputed company and comparing their different aspects to Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft to them.
Dahk @ Mar 25th 2008 12:25AM
Lol I wrote up a Google one on the next page, just for the heck of it =D.
Just sayin' you can compare these three to many other companies other than Google.
Fiddlesworth @ Mar 25th 2008 12:12AM
* He said the PS3 has "a facility with media that translates into sleek user interfaces more polished than either Microsoft's or Nintendo's." *
Yes, finally some recognition! The XMB is so much more stylish looking, quick and responsive to navigate, customisable through themes and feature packed compared to the competition. Spot on that man.
Mein Bratwurst @ Mar 25th 2008 12:16AM
Woops, this was meant as a reply to Mr. 360fanboy there...
Solid_Snake @ Mar 25th 2008 12:22AM
yea, and you cant watch any blueray movies on the 360 which will be the only thing available in stores in a little bit. Renting? Im not so lazy that I can't go to a store. You say that the PS3 doesnt do anything a computer can't do, well what about the 360? If im not mistaken, cant you rent movies on your computer (Netflix)? Which, in case you hadn't heard, most signs are pointing at Netflix delivering movies via streaming to your PS3. Considering Netflix was one of the first to declare going Blueray, I dont doubt that they have a deal with Sony.
Also, my comment about "futuristic" wasnt based on anything you said, it was aimed at how I mentioned the 360 doesnt have a shelf life as long as the PS3, and that there is word on the "720" being tossed.. I guess, other than being a mindless moron, you are illeterate as well
Dahk @ Mar 25th 2008 12:24AM
I'll do one right now: Google.
Nintendo takes the simple interfaces that Google's products are well known for, from Gmail to Google Maps to Picasa.
Sony takes the multi-connectivity and integration of devices that Google's products are well known for, integrating PSP and PS3 connectivity, GPS, PSEye/Camera for PSP, Sony Ericsson phones, Skype etc. While Google's great for integrating Gmail and Google Maps into everything from regular cellphones to BlackBerrys, and integrating even Facebook into BlackBerrys.
Microsoft seems to love to pick competitions, with the acqusition intent from Yahoo, they wanna pick a fight with Google. With their Xboxes, they delved into a brand new (for them) and saturated market. Similar to Google, who launched Gmail into a saturated webmail market, and Google Maps which ate away at Mapquest.
Obviously, you can be nitpicky at the details, but I'm just saying it's not that difficult to compare small aspects of each company.
2Perfect @ Mar 25th 2008 12:27AM
It's a little dodgy to say that. (Here I'm just gonna stick with Xbox, PS3, and Wii rather than the companies themselves, as well as the OSes rather than the companies)
If we compare it in terms of the actual product, I'd say PS3 is more like Linux. Lets you do whatever you want for the most part with your system, they provide great functionality, and often provide updates, but not many people have it, and there's not as much software for it (gotta admit there's more games out for X360, but I'd say mostly because of the 1 year head start). Wii would be more like Mac as they're more about the "fun" (IMO kid stuff) aspect rather than the serious gaming. Windows would be the Xbox for a reason I can't think of right now :P
If we compare them in terms of reception, Xbox, although it's Microsoft's would probably be closer to Mac IMO. There are some that actually like it for their own reasons, but a lot just like it because "everyone" has it (in the Mac's case, "everyone" is switching to it). I can see what people might like about the 360 or Mac, but I just HATE the people who like either just because everyone else does. PS3 would probably again be like Linux, as people like it for what's in it, although not very many people use it. And the Wii wont really fall into any category. A lot of my friends bought it only because it was the cheapest, not really any good reason. And none of the OSes are well received only because of being cheap.
Mike Jenkins @ Mar 25th 2008 12:33AM
I see your pint and I agree for the most part, but I don't think the 360 is popular because "everyone has it", I think that's more the Wii. Many people have a Wii who rarely play it, and don't own many games for it. The attach rate for the console tends to prove that, and even my aunt has Wii just because she thought Wii Sports was fun. It's the only game she has for it. I think the 360 is more for the average gamer because of it's price point, it's games library and it's online community. It's more the PS2 of this generation, with the most games and some of the best games too, and the PS3 is more the Xbox of this generation, since it has more powerful hardware and some great exclusives (MGS4=Halo, GT5=PGR) but not much else.
Mein Bratwurst @ Mar 25th 2008 12:38AM
Exactly.. over the past 2 or so years, it has become the "in" thing to bash Playstation. Fanboy A. gets a 360 and tells Follower A. that PS3 is garbage and to get a 360. Follower A. then tells Follower B. to do the same... etc.
Ed @ Mar 25th 2008 12:33AM
I'll let you speak for yourself.
Mike Jenkins said...
"Man I forgot just how ignorant and childish PS3 fanboys are."
Mike Jenkins said...
"Apple's FrontRow is garbage and nothing can compare to the beauty and usability of Vista's Media Center"
Ed @ Mar 25th 2008 12:34AM
oops, that was meant to be a reply.
Mike Jenkins @ Mar 25th 2008 12:35AM
I fail to see how that is ignorant or childish. Do a Google search and you'll see that lots of people agree that Vista Media Center is a much better experience than FrontRow, and that all of the 3rd-party apps that try to be like Vista Media Center don't measure up.
Ed @ Mar 25th 2008 12:40AM
I agree, Vista's Media Center is overall a good interface. The way you so brashly put it is what makes your comment immature. In addition, the two products are marketed towards different audiences. MCE is more feature filled and advanced, but its interface can be daunting for mere beginners. FrontRow is More targeted at those people, easily getting their media in front of them and playing it.
momegao @ Mar 25th 2008 5:13PM
I think more in the past, and look very similar to the present approach of each company: Nintendo: Focused on the casual gamers market. A lot of people can buy a lot of hardware, but barely buy a game in their whole lifetime of a console. Most of their audience is Japanese. Sony: Has both hardcore and casual gamers market approach. Have variate of games from different genres (action/adventures, rpg, arcade racing, simulators (in general), sports, mini-games, etc). Their audience is on all the countries. Microsoft: More orientated to hardcore gamers, with casual gamers approach using the live arcade medium. Most of games are FPS, with little support on other genres like action/adventures and rpg's. Most of their audience in the US, but very little on Japan. Usually Sony Consoles take-off after a year or more on the market. This generation is very interesting, and we have been seeing already how everything is turning to be very positive for sony and the PS3
Yishai08 @ Mar 25th 2008 12:50AM
Well Wii has the intuitive interface down but Sony has the processing power and Media hub thing down. I think if you combined both companies and made every game available via DLC instead of disc, that would be the Apple Platform. Every game would probably work on a mac and in some cases an Iphone or Ipod and your console would cost you 1000 bucks.
Actually, I kind of think that Sony is the Samsung of gaming. Or maybe, just maybe, the Sony of gaming.
Jason Axelrod @ Mar 25th 2008 1:18AM
I dont agree with this guy's comments at all...
Apple makes POOR products, but manages to sell them at extremely high prices by somehow creating an "IT" factor. If any company is like Apple, it would be Nintendo... Nintendo, makes poor, extremely inferior and overpriced products, but manages to catch the public into believing they are the future... much like Apple.
Sony on the other hand, makes quality products, but no one buys because people like "underdogs"; and in the last generation, Sony was the Goliath, and Nintendo was the underdog. If Sony is like any company, I would say they are like Microsoft. The Microsoft ZUNE is far superior to the iPod, but because of the Goliath stature of the company, no one cares.
SixStringAddict @ Mar 25th 2008 1:38AM
Wow, i can't seem to find one thing i agree with in that post. Well for the most part Sony makes quality product (i think the main exception would be the hardware problems many people had with the ps2's).
And Zune a FAR superior product then the ipod? Ok..