I just don't like this new gen of consoles... I feel like if I were to get one, it'd be the PS4 - but that's a half hearted decision based on choosing the lesser (granted, significantly lesser) of two evils.
Microsoft lost as soon as they considered an oddly EA approach to DRM. Sony, I feel, has lost sight of what matters by charging people access to a network that costs them virtually nothing* to maintain.
*I'm aware there are costs involved, and over the course of a year, those costs can be rather staggering - but here's the thing: Even with this whole "PlayStation Plus" thing, you still see advertisements, content developers still strike contracts to bring new media to your attention, and money is constantly changing hands. Not to mention that with each purchase of DLC, money finds it's way back to Sony -- and neither the pie nor Sony's slice of it will be shrinking any time soon, mark my words on that. The money generated between Targeted Demographic Adverts, DLC purchases, Game Purchases, Contracting Fees, Exposure Fees, etc -- all total to significantly more the cost of network such as the PSN: Which when you strip it to it's core, is essentially a large file-market network (such as steam - which, mind you, has sales FAR MORE OFTEN and has never felt the need to charge anyone anything).
Many people are saying that charging for multiplayer will allow the to release the PS4 itself cheaper than they normally would: To which, I shake my head in vigorous disagreement. It's because of quality engineering and the lowering costs of technology and mass production that they can sell at the price they are -- do you actually believe a company such as Sony -- who has a history of slapping the word "Vaio" on INFERIOR laptops and selling them for twice the cost of their superior competitors -- would EVER sell a system at a loss, hoping to make up for it with monthly subscription dues? That's bad business - especially given the success rate people have had in using custom firmwares and networks on devices such as the Xbox, 360, PS3, and iPhone: And don't think that Sony isn't worried about the 'small percentage of the market that would jailbreak their device and privatize their file-market' because they are HUGELY CONCERNED about just that. Sony has been supports of DRM policies and even legal action such as SOPA and PIPA.
Sony wouldn't do anything at a loss -- no publicly traded organization would, because it's board of directors would never allow it. It's bad business. At the time of sale to the retailer, Sony has made enough money to cover the costs of manufacturing and all associated costs, as well as make a reasonable profit. Atop that, the manufacturer profits on this transaction as well, having purchased the unit for $XX cheaper than the $399 they are contractually obligated to sell it at.
The same is true of the PSN. The people who profit from having their content on the PSN, are paying percentages of that back into the PSN. The people who advertise there are paying flat rate contractual fees. At the end of the day -- all of this money: The content developer's money, Sony's money -- ALL COMES FROM ME AND YOU. We, the gamers, are ALREADY PAYING FOR MULTIPLAYER with every DLC purchase, Game purchase, Console Purchase, Licensed Accessory Purchase, etc, etc, etc...
We all need to realize that Sony is not some near-bankrupt company who's only doing this as a means of covering an expense they otherwise couldn't manage: There is basically no longer a question of expense - it's a turn-key money making system. The new puzzle, for which they've settled on a solution, is how to increase profits from it even moreso.
It's the same reason the Console is 399 - no matter what form of currency you're using. Some people are going to end up paying WAY MORE for this console than others, just because of the system of currency they use.Statistics: Posted by James — Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:41 pm
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