Sony's PS3 strategy this Christmas is to 'go big on family-friendly titles'

[Blacksite]

Firm says "this is a neglected genre" on the console

Speaking in the latest issue of Game Informer (via Gaming Everything), Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida said the firm is relying on third parties to deliver the "big core games" for its home console this holiday season, following the releases of first party efforts Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale in September and October respectively.

"We'd love to have multi-million sellers for the holiday. But each title needs time to develop, especially new IP like The Last of Us," the executive said. "God of War has always come out in March, so that's a natural time to aim at.

"Our strategy for Christmas is to go big on family-friendly titles. This is a neglected genre for the PlayStation 3, but as it matures, I think it's really important to have these games on the platform. I think we have a great lineup this holiday to complement third parties' big core games."

Yoshida's comments are interesting when placed alongside those made last month by Sony's head of digital games, who criticised Microsoft and Nintendo for neglecting core gamers at E3. "Some of our competitors, seemingly, are losing the plot, forgetting what built this industry," Jack Buser said. "It was the gamer... We are for the gamer first and foremost. Everything we do at PlayStation, we ask ourselves first, 'What's right for the gamer?'"

With the likes of The Last of Us, Beyond: Two Souls and God of War: Ascension, we'd have to agree that Sony has some exciting PS3 games in the works. It's just a shame we won't get to play any of those titles until next year.

Sony's likely to reveal some of its Christmas release plans during its Gamescom conference on August 14, but according to reports we won't be getting the first official news on the much-rumoured PS3 Super Slim.

via CVG.

[DeviousOne]

I was just reading about this on another site but it mentioned they are doing it to combat the Wii U

[ONQ]

I thought this was known since last year?

[radgamer420]

Yeah Sony just doesn't have any worthwhile exclusives until next year sometime unless youre a little kid.

[TDbank24]

Sony always goes big during the holidays whether it be core experiences or family fun. This year will be no different.

Instead of the 12 days of Christmas you might as well call it the 12 days of Sony. They're the company that keeps on giving.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

I'll be getting Sly 4, PSABR and LBP Karting this year. May be family focused but these games still rock me.

[AaronSOLDIER]

Sly 4 has me super hyped, anyone who played those games is probably gonna get it, best platformer since Crash Bandicoot IMO.

Will be getting LBP KArting too at some point, Beta totally surprised me, its great fun.

Glad Sony are kinda going back to their roots a little bit buy bring all these platformers like the old PS1/2 days.

[mickice]

If that super cheap sku is real SONY is in a great position.

[DeviousOne]

If that super cheap sku is real SONY is in a great position.

Oh yea they can steal alot of nintendos thunder with a move like that!

[AaronSOLDIER]

Man imagine if they made a blue Sly 4 limited edition super slim? Day One for sure! Never gonna happen though, they don't even do it for Uncharted/GoW, best they'll do is a blue Sly 4 DualShock, in that case, Day One for sure! Never gonna happen though, they don't even do it for Uncharted/GoW, best they'll do is a limited edition Sly 4, in that case, Day One for sure! None of the above will ever happen though.

Just give me Sly 4 then.

[DeviousOne]

Sly 4 it is!!!...o wait im not sony =( lol

[AaronSOLDIER]

Would be even more hyped if they were using the original cartoon graphics

[Ghost-Rhayne]

I'm glad Sony are able to make family/casual games that aren't shit. Seriously, PSABR, LBP Karting and Sly 4 is Sony catering for the casuals?

"That's how it's done."

I wish they'd release Okami HD on BR. Sony need to market that game as it is easily in line with their family friendly focus.

[DeviousOne]

I think sony is the most "hardcore" cause some kinect titles make my wii blush LOL

[Soldier 95B]

Gone casual.

[radgamer420]

Gone casual.

Agreed. Sony has finally given in and is going after the casual market this xmas holiday. And I think the reason Sony has their core games like TLOU not coming out till 2013 is because they dont want to have to go up against Halo 4 and COD this holiday season.

[Old Man Gamer]

I think sony is the most "hardcore" cause some kinect titles make my wii blush LOL

I'm really looking forward to the WiiU. I love Nintendo's IP's and they always do their core IP's right. The Wii is underpowered but I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts that they'll be awesome on the U.

As far as casual games go, there is no need to look any further than Nintendo.

[DeviousOne]

I'm really looking forward to the WiiU. I love Nintendo's IP's and they always do their core IP's right. The Wii is underpowered but I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts that they'll be awesome on the U.

As far as casual games go, there is no need to look any further than Nintendo.

I def share your view on the wii U also i enjoy nintendo's IPs. Wii U will be interesting to me looking forward to it.

[StevenW]

You can't really blame them. They're shifting PS3s before the PS4 comes along. At this point they might as well get as many people as possible on board. We've still got the core games

[mynd]

I'm glad Sony are able to make family/casual games that aren't shit. Seriously, PSABR, LBP Karting and Sly 4 is Sony catering for the casuals?
[CENTER][B]



I wish they'd release Okami HD on BR. Sony need to market that game as it is easily in line with their family friendly focus.

Err, no, they catering to the family.
Family does not equal casual.

I thought this was known since last year?

Seems only a few of us ever actually read articles.

[AaronSOLDIER]

Gone casual.

I guess the PS1 and PS2 were casual consoles too then. Still, so long as they don't throw every developer into the casual basket like MS, I'll be happy.

[radgamer420]

I guess the PS1 and PS2 were casual consoles too then. Still, so long as they don't throw every developer into the casual basket like MS, I'll be happy.

Every developer? So Halo , Gears, and Forza are all casual games now? lol Then I guess Killzone, GT5 and Starhawk are all casual games too. I've only seen one MS developer get "thrown into the casual basket" and thats Rare. A far cry from "every" developer.

[DeviousOne]

Every developer? So Halo , Gears, and Forza are all casual games now? lol Then I guess Killzone, GT5 and Starhawk are all casual games too. I've only seen one MS developer get "thrown into the casual basket" and thats Rare. A far cry from "every" developer.

True Rare all they do (currently) are kinect games.

[mynd]

I guess the PS1 and PS2 were casual consoles too then. Still, so long as they don't throw every developer into the casual basket like MS, I'll be happy.

I think his point is that this was the label thown at MS.
The fact that family orientated titles are infact not casual titles, its just that most of them dont appeal to the hardcore.

A lot of people instantly labelled family kinect games as casual simply because it didnt appeal to them.

Fruit Ninja Kinect? Sure that is a casual game. (a lot of frigign fun too).
Kinect Disney, nope thats a family game.

The porblem Sony has is, they are working in a crowded space, between the Wii, and MS, its going to be hard to break into this market, and even with the titles they have announced, they are really only aiming at the PSP owning 10-13 year olds.

My 2 daughters both play Dance Central, Kinect Disney and Viva Piniata (and now Minecraft but thats a different story).
I dont really see anythign in Sonys line up that is going to steal any of that sort of thunder outside of wonderbook.

True Rare all they do (currently) are kinect games.

And even thats not really correct, they have done 1 Kinect game and helped out on another.
But Rares output has been awefull 1 title in about 4 years is not fantastic.

[Old Man Gamer]

Every developer? So Halo , Gears, and Forza are all casual games now? lol Then I guess Killzone, GT5 and Starhawk are all casual games too. I've only seen one MS developer get "thrown into the casual basket" and thats Rare. A far cry from "every" developer.

Well put.

First MS gets blamed for being a shooter only console in another thread and now they are only developing casual games.

I really wish the people around here would make up their minds.