Although PlayStation 3 is still third in worldwide sales, behind the Xbox 360 by about 5-million units, the PS3 community services now have as many online gamers as Xbox 360 says Sony. Sony posted on their blog saying, “with 14 million active accounts and 273 million pieces of content downloaded, we know that you’re thirsting for this digital entertainment.”
Although US sales of the 360 are killing the PS3, the community membership does give gamers a reason to get online with the PS3. Nobody wants to buy into a console that has very few active online games or an easy way to find friends (*cough* Wii). Having 14-million users helps them bridge the sales gap by building gamer confidence. Social networking is the new term; gamers want to socialize with each other online and with their consoles.
Microsoft recently announced their 14-million subscriber base and continue to update folks when they hit big milestones. The main difference, LIVE is a subscription system — those 14-million gamers are also paying for the service (we’re not sure if silver memberships count in that figure) and this means income for Microsoft while Sony does their service for free.
Although Microsoft is making money on their service, no doubt Sony will bypass their total membership because it has no cost barriers to play. The biggest cost barrier to get on Sony’s network is the PS3 itself and many gamers hold out for price drops which aren’t coming anytime soon (so says Sony). However, building a larger community on a free network allows Sony to siphon gamers to buy downloadable content, games, music, movies and all the goodies that go with these services.
It seems a better idea to triple your audience with a free service knowing a large amount of “hardcore gamers” attach themselves to the easy to buy content on said service. So, is it better to make US $50.00 a year on half the population or give triple that population an opportunity to spend more money on content?
“Thanks to all of you, PS3’s momentum is stronger than ever. There are nearly 17 million PS3 systems around the world, and in the United States, PS3 hardware sales are up nearly 100 percent from where we were at this time last year. Software sales have tripled from a year ago. Yes, we’re proud about everything we’ve accomplished, and we’re even more psyched about where we’re going with our holiday software lineup” (playstation.com)
Eventually gamers may have access to Sony’s Home project, which could raise the community figures and give Xbox 360 something less to brag about. Although, we’re sure Sony would rather be boasting “number one” console again, at least they’ve finally got a win on their side because 14-million users is only the beginning for them.
Plus, it’s hard to argue free.
Sony’s done it, they’ve announced a wireless keyboard adapter to plug onto the stock PlayStation 3 controller. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of this, Microsoft pushed out a keyboard for their Xbox 360 controller last year to provide faster chat abilities and, overall, smooth the interface when needing to type.
Wow Paul really let loose with that last episode. I agree with him that I’m tired of the whole Gamergate drama.
I am hesitant to get into the whole SJW issue since it’s a sensitive topic. Suffice to say that they generally are a oversensitive, zealous and fanatical crusaders looking for a fight where there is none or “Making a mountain out of a mole hill”.
A good example that doesn’t relate to Gamergate is the recent landing of a satellite on a comet by Dr. Matt Taylor. Not only did he mange the amazing task of getting the satellite to hit it’s target but we have amazing scientific data from that satellite. The next best thing to finding actual life forms, we found molecules, building blocks of life. We could be able to soon prove that life exists out in space, but what do we focus on? His fucking shirt. He’s wearing a shirt, with women (not naked) on it, made by his female friend as a birthday present, and he wore it to show his appreciation. Instead he was bullied into thinking that his shirt was a bigger grievous sin then his history making accomplishment.
So way to go SJW you’ve claimed another victory and shown why Alien life shouldn’t visit our planet.
@QotW; I’m not sure when the first digital purchase I made was. Probably going to go with the Wii and buying old NES games on it. Then Minecraft, PSn games, Xbox and Steam/GoG on computer. It started as a trickle and turned into a landslide of just getting Digital only. I love not having to worry about physical media getting damaged or lost.