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Why Are First-Party Sony Video Games Unpopular?

March 17, 2009 by
Otter  
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Gran Turismo  |  Casual Games
Sony has produced some of the most popular video game systems of all time. In addition, they have the biggest first-party development core in the industry compared to Microsoft and Nintendo. While the Playstation brand is
 widely known, Sony's published and developed video games are a different story.

Aside from Gran Turismo and God of War, these titles have failed to capture the attention of the mass market. This is quite a dilemma for Sony since Microsoft and Nintendo is constantly selling millions of copies of their games. So why aren't Sony video games popular? Let's take a look at several factors.

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No matter how good a Sony game is, it wouldn't sell itself without help to get the word out. Sony has been long criticized by not effectively advertising their video games, especially recently with the PSP and Playstation 3. This usually comes in two forms: the lack of commercials and the commercials failing to represent the end product. Therefore, a typical Sony game has a hard time reaching mass appeal.

Reliance on Third-Party

Sony did not always have the biggest first-party development core in the industry. They have to assemble them from the ground up. So during the early days of the Playstation and Playstation 2, they needed to rely on third-party publishers and developers. As a result, non-Sony games like Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid managed to define the Playstation brand. Games made and published by Sony had to take a back seat until recently with the PSP and Playstation 3.

Brand Identity

Nintendo is famous for their casual and family-friendly games. Microsoft is known for their mature-rated titles and online service. Sony falls somewhere in-between the two. If anything, they may have too much variety, from family-friendly titles (Ratchet & Clank) to matured-rated titles (God of War). The problem lies in the fact that Sony does not have the same popularity with the family-friendly and mature audiences as Nintendo and Microsoft respectably does. Therefore, Sony has an identity crisis with their brand of video games.

Lack of Legacy

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Otter
Written by Otter
Otter is a free lance writer currently residing in San Francisco. He loves to play and talk video games.  -  Full profile
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Takeaways
  • No matter how good a Sony game is, it wouldn't sell itself without help to get the word out.
  • Games made and published by Sony had to take a back seat until recently.
  • Sony has an identity crisis with their brand of video games.
 
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the main reason is cause a large percentage of the people who bought a ps3 was because it was the cheapest blu-ray player at the time, meanwhile the percentage of people who bought the xbox and wii was 100% gamers, this is why games sell sooo much better on these 2 systems as opposed to the ps3
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Posted on 03/23/2009 at 12:03:24 PM

Brand identity - not a good point at all. Having variety is not a bad thing, you seem to depict it as a bad thing.
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Posted on 03/23/2009 at 4:03:16 AM

this makes no sense... bad writing
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Posted on 03/23/2009 at 12:03:57 AM

i would rather have new IP's anyday over a new mario,zelda or halo game
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Posted on 03/23/2009 at 12:03:01 AM

sony games sell plentyful. MGS4 ring any bells thats over 4M at the moment after being out for what 8 months. KZ2 is close to 1M and its only been out for 3 weeks. they may not sell as well as the highly over rated halo 3, but the ps3 has only been out for 2 years its still early and to expensive to see how well its going to sell. look at the ps2 has been out for how long 6 years? and its still selling 120-160K per month in the US.
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Posted on 03/22/2009 at 11:03:27 PM

To me it seems sonys games don't sell millions of copies individually because they have so many games to choose from. Xbox has only Halo, Banjo-Kazooie, and Gears of war as their main exclusive games. Now I bet the sales of all the sony exclusive games together would beat the sales of all xbox exclusive games, even if xbox games have the higher number per game sold.
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Posted on 03/22/2009 at 7:03:02 PM

this has to be the strangest analysis I've ever read. You're saying Sony are failing because their first party games aren't aimed at kids, like Nintendo games, and aren't aimed solely at hard core gamers, like MS's first party games. In other words Sony have a broad appeal. Is that why Nintendo has Resident Evil on the Wii, and MS have Viva Pinata on the 360? Having a broad range of titles is what every console manufacturer wants. In terms of Sony's first party titles, they have an abundance of IPs. First of all, Sony's first party titles include WipeOut, which has been on the PSone, PS2,PSP, and PS3 (granted Psygnosis were independent before being bought by Sony and becoming Sony Liverpool). This game has mass appeal even today. Killzone can be found on the PS2, PSP, and PS3 (GG are a Sony studio). Ico was originally developed for the PSone, but was shifted over to the PS2. Shadow of the Colossus for the PS2 followed. And, Sony are now working on another spiritual, as opposed to actua
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Posted on 03/22/2009 at 6:03:46 PM

that's right! PS3, the system for liberals! Generally the people with the most logic, the most reasoning and individualism. Sony gives so much to it's developers for new ideas that are fresh or intuitive. Personally I think having Sony as a boss would be awesome! If you don't believe me about the originality look up the game called Linger in Shadows on the PSN or online. It's outstanding and absolutely original.
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Posted on 03/22/2009 at 3:03:10 PM

They're not unpopular at all. Sony could improve their advertising but I don't see how they're unpopular...unless you think the USA equals the world because it isn't.
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Posted on 03/22/2009 at 1:03:13 PM

and to the lack of legacy part, what legacy does microsoft and nintendo have
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Posted on 03/22/2009 at 1:03:40 PM

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