The Money Making Game #2: The PlayStation Phone

Posted on November 10, 2010 by Chris Morris

We certainly have no problem getting caught up in the fun of playing games, but the people who create them have their pocketbooks to worry about, too. In this column, finance expert and GameSpy contributor Chris Morris guides you through the tricky corridors the gaming industry’s financial side, touching on big-time business decisions and how they matter to the common gamer.

While the Internet has been buzzing about leaked images and details of what seems to be a prototype PlayStation Phone from Sony Ericsson, the debate has generally circled around whether the leaks were real or faked. The question no one seems to be asking is: Is this a good idea in the first place?

Just for the sake of argument, let’s assume Sony is, in fact, working on a PlayStation Phone. The company, after all, hasn’t done much to quell the rumors, with CFO Masato Kato stirring the embers during a quarterly results conference call earlier this month when he said “The PSP … was more concentrated I’d say [at the] core gaming segment rather than the light game, but now we are addressing that market as well.”

Opinion: Despite Flaws, Kinect May Be Just The Thing For Microsoft

Posted on November 5, 2010 by Chris Morris

[Gamasutra’s Chris Morris looks at the factors that will dictate Kinect’s market prospects at launch and down the line, opining that Microsoft’s holiday season looks secured — but that it “might have screwed some of its partners in the process.”]

Two months ago, when Sony’s PlayStation Move hit shelves, I wondered whether Sony had lost its mind. The device, I mentioned, wasn’t intuitive and had some alarming aesthetic issues – a combination that could hurt its chances with the mainstream audience.

Now Kinect has arrived – and while it has just as many problems as Move, it seems poised to thoroughly trounce its competitor this holiday season.

Microsoft’s ‘Kinect’ Bet Looks to Be Paying Off

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Chris Morris

Microsoft rolled the dice when it decided to get into the video game motion control market. Nintendo, with the Wii, had certainly proven that there was an audience interested in a more intuitive controller, but with over 71 million of the consoles sold worldwide, the potential for market saturation was strong.

As the company rolls out Kinect on Thursday, early signs are showing that the gamble was a wise one.

Going through the motions: Kinect vs. Move vs Wii

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Chris Morris

Nintendo pioneered the motion gaming movement with the Wii. In September, Sony tried to better the experience with Move. And on Nov. 4, Microsoft will begin selling Kinect, which does away with controllers altogether. That’s when the battle will really kick into overdrive.

As holiday shoppers prepare their lists this year, they’ll be subjected to marketing blitzes and in-store kiosks for all three technologies, each hoping to separate people from their money. It’s the new front line for gaming companies and no one wants to be left behind.

Trying to decide which, if any, of these motion gaming experiences is right for you? We’ve broken down the pros and cons of each to make it easier.

How Critical Is This Holiday for Nintendo?

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Chris Morris

Two years ago, Nintendo could do no wrong. The Wii was at the height of its retail domination and competitors were scrambling for second place.

Today it’s a much different story and the looming holiday season could be a crucial one that determines the strength – and perhaps the future – of the company’s core console business.

Sony: 1 million Move units shipped in North America in first month

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Chris Morris

Critics might have sniped at Sony for not releasing Move sales figures in conjunction with last week’s NPD data, but the company is fighting back.

John Koller, head of marketing for Sony’s PlayStation division, says the company shipped 1 million Move units to North American retailers in the peripheral’s the first 30 days. And while the company isn’t releasing hard sales numbers, Koller says it’s quite happy with the reception.

The great video game sales mystery

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Chris Morris

If you want to know how much money your favorite movie earned at the box office, it’s pretty easy to find out — just look at USA Today or head online. Curious about how well a music CD sold? Billboard or Nielsen’s SoundScan service will let you know.

If you want to know how your favorite video game has sold, though, you’re essentially out of luck.

Netflix instant streaming hits PS3 next week

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Chris Morris

Up until now, PlayStation 3 owners who wanted to stream a film through Netflix’s “Watch Instantly” feature had to manually insert a disc into their devices. As of Oct. 18, they won’t have to bother anymore.

Next week, a system update will make instant Netflix streaming a native application on the game console – putting it in parity with the Xbox 360, which had exclusivity on dashboard streaming until now.

Video game industry loses some transparency

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Chris Morris

The NPD Group, which is the chief reporting agency for video game sales, is making some changes in the way it releases data – changes that will obscure insight into how the industry at large is faring.

Starting this week with the September sales numbers, the organization says it will no longer release any hardware sales information and will cease offering specific sales data for the industry’s top selling titles.

As new motion controls arrive, will the Wii become obsolete?

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Chris Morris

For the past four years, Nintendo has the market to itself when it comes to motion control gaming. That’s finally coming to an end – and it has some people wondering about how the company will fare moving forward.

In mid-September, Sony launched PlayStation Move, a motion sensor that mimics – and, in some ways, improves upon – the Wii remote. Come November, Microsoft will join the fight with Kinect, a camera-based system that eliminates the need for controllers altogether.

Chris Morris: Journalist

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