IGN: ""How Sony Won Gamescom Before It Even Started"

[TGO]

This article was actually written by a member of the Xbox team at IGN

How Sony Won Gamescom Before It Even Started …and why it makes Microsoft’s absence so muchworse.

Microsoft should be afraid of Sony. Before the PlayStation publisher’s pre-Gamescom press conference this week,Sony’s foreseeable software future seemed weak. The PlayStation Vita seemed only to have a handful of promising titles for the remainder of 2012 – LittleBigPlanet PS Vita,PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, aCall of Duty game we knew next to nothing about, aPersona 4 remake, and a poorly timed Assassin’s Creed tie-in were the PlayStation brand’s best and brightest. But after displaying a strong lineup of exclusive games on both PlayStation platforms, a brilliant new business strategy, and confidence in risky game ideas, Sony’s future couldn’t look better than it does now.

Gamescom will be Sony’s show. This is bad news for Microsoft, who didn’t even bother to show up.

Sony’s Cross Buy announcement undoubtedly earned it agreat deal of gamer goodwill. Buying Battle Royale, the new Ratchet & Clank, and Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time on PS3 scores you afree Vita copy. This is an incredible move for Sony. These are three of its most popular and promising titles, and you can play them anywhere, any time, for one price. Cross Buy puts PlayStation fans ahead of the curve, and rewards them for purchasing PS3 games they were likely to buy anyway. It looks amazing on the back of the box,it’s something people will tell their friends about, and it makes a Vita worth owning for every single PlayStation fan. That’s just smart marketing.

Until Dawn, Rain, and Puppeteer all represent something astounding about Sony’s initiative toward supporting innovative ideas. Following Papo & Yo, Journey, and many other clever concepts, this trio of games look unlike almost anything you’ve played. Each of them certainly has aniche appeal, but Sony’s willing to risk a limited audience if it means puttingexclusive, original games on its platforms. Add in the casual mentions of Beyond: Two Souls and The Last of Us during the conference, and you’re looking at a large stack of Sony-only goods. Oh,and let’s not forget MediaMolecule’s cute and creative Tear Away, either.

For the first time since I bought it, Iwant to play my Vita. A quirky indie game like Sound Shapes reassures me that more great stuff is on the way, and Sony really came out of the corner throwing haymakers. I want Black Ops Declassified because it looks like atrue Call of Duty game. Killzone Mercenary is the Sony sequel I want most on the platform I’m aching to play.

Before I came to Gamescom, I played my Xbox more than any other platform. That changes the moment I get back to my living room. All of a sudden, the future of gaming in my life is dominated by a platform I traditionally ignored for my Xbox 360. The level of imagination and accessibility in these original, exclusive games is so much more interesting to me than another Halo game. Make no mistake: I’m thrilled about Halo 4, but it’s the one and only Xbox exclusive I plan to play this fall; the only other two exclusives I can think of in the next few months are Gears of War: Judgment and Fable: The Journey – of those, I only have faith and interest in the former.
Microsoft missed a great opportunity at Gamescom to tell the world about why it should care about Xbox 360, Xbox Live, the fall update, and how it all connects to Windows 8. More importantly, maybe, just maybe, it could have given us a game worth thinking about, investing in emotionally, or getting excited to play with on Surface, Windows Phone, Windows Live, or any other gaming platform it may have on the way. I love my Xbox 360 -- I just want as much a reason to play it as I now have for my PlayStation devices.

Gamescom belongs to Sony, as does my heart. This is a brilliant sign of things to come, and it was all done before the show had even begun.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/...t-even-started

Btw I do not agree with this article, and I'll leave my opinion until Ive fully read it
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[davin_g]

Its a little over the top, because those games he mentioned are HUGE games for Microsoft and the lineup of AAA 3rd party blockbusters are mostly shooters that sell far and away better on the 360. I agree...time and time again PS3/Sony puts out great innovative games but not a single one of those is an almighty system seller the way a Halo is. Like he said they are niche titles....no matter how much I personally love them they aren't going to suddenly change the current gen market this late in the game. Sony did win by default....and they did come out swinging with some great games but how long will it take to see those..almost a year??? Sony is still a long ways off from delivering those experiences....but....you can't deny Sony brings the games! This is why I own Sony products...they always take care of me.

The only thing that could suddenly change the current gen market this late in the game is that Super-slim PS3 at $149 and getting 3rd party devs to follow suit and support crossplay and release with free vita versions or at least heavily discounted versions. That would shift a lot of Vitas and would shift software sales for 3rd party games that have normally sold more on the 360 possibly to the PS3.

I will say it wasn't a bad article....a little sensationalized but hey...hard to support Microsoft when Sony drops some great games and features and Microsoft isn't even at the party.

[Sub-stance1]

I'm glad sony had a great show. Maybe this will give the Vita the spark it needs. As for MS, they really have no reason to be concerned about anything sony does in the handheld market. They have a huge upcoming holiday and a possible next gen reveal for next year.

[TGO]

Its a little over the top, because those games he mentioned are HUGE games for Microsoft and the lineup of AAA 3rd party blockbusters are mostly shooters that sell far and away better on the 360. I agree...time and time again PS3/Sony puts out great innovative games but not a single one of those is an almighty system seller the way a Halo is. Like he said they are niche titles....no matter how much I personally love them they aren't going to suddenly change the current gen market this late in the game. Sony did win by default....and they did come out swinging with some great games but how long will it take to see those..almost a year??? Sony is still a long ways off from delivering those experiences....but....you can't deny Sony brings the games! This is why I own Sony products...they always take care of me.

The only thing that could suddenly change the current gen market this late in the game is that Super-slim PS3 at $149 and getting 3rd party devs to follow suit and support crossplay and release with free vita versions or at least heavily discounted versions. That would shift a lot of Vitas and would shift software sales for 3rd party games that have normally sold more on the 360 possibly to the PS3.

I will say it wasn't a bad article....a little sensationalized but hey...hard to support Microsoft when Sony drops some great games and features and Microsoft isn't even at the party.

I think you save me typing anything, I agree

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[F34R]

It's his fault, the writer, for not enjoying the PS3 for the content it has had for the past gazillion years.

[TGO]

It's his fault, the writer, for not enjoying the PS3 for the content it has had for the past gazillion years.

Makes you think don't it, better late then never I guess

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[mickice]

If you want unique different games you really need a PS3. SONY has a far wider variety of games.

[radgamer420]

I'm glad sony had a great show. Maybe this will give the Vita the spark it needs. As for MS, they really have no reason to be concerned about anything sony does in the handheld market. They have a huge upcoming holiday and a possible next gen reveal for next year.

I agree. For me the only exclusives I'll be buying this year are both on the 360. PS3 has nothing thats exclusive this year that interests me. Now of course Vita has some games that I'll be getting. But as far as PS3 goes PS All Stars and LBP Kart Racing doesn't interest me at all. Especially with Halo 4 and Forza Horizon coming. However next year TLOU, GOW Acension and Beyond are definitely games that I will buy day one. Also I applaud Sony for the Vita announcements as well as crossplay which gives you the Vita version of those games for free if you buy it on PS3.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Gamescom blew E3 out of the water. They really brought their A game and checked all the boxes. I'm still high from the announcement of the free Vita versions of Sly, LBPK and PSABR I'll be getting. They have built up a lot of momentum since E3 and I can't wait to see how they do at TGS.

[Kauldron]

What's new? Sony has always provided the widest variety of games. Niche or Mass market.

It took him this long to figure out that he's been playing the same thing over and over?

[three3-times]

Meh....i though it was another poor showing,

I gave my vita to my son, so all the vita love was nothing to me and apart from cross over, it was nothing special.

the new games, aside from rain, can suck out too.

[mynd]

Considering Micrsoft doesnt "play" in the Vita space, you really have to limit any thing SOny does or doesnmt do at Gamescom to the PS3 when talking about "vs Microsoft".
From my understanding we got:

A delay for Sly
An announcement of characters for PASBR everybody knew comig was coming.
Some PSN games, some I might point out mostly Japanses games, with no announce dates.

Uhh, what did I miss?

It was a very good showing for the Vita, but uh why should MS give a crap about that?

[Old Man Gamer]

I agree. For me the only exclusives I'll be buying this year are both on the 360. PS3 has nothing thats exclusive this year that interests me. Now of course Vita has some games that I'll be getting. But as far as PS3 goes PS All Stars and LBP Kart Racing doesn't interest me at all. Especially with Halo 4 and Forza Horizon coming. However next year TLOU, GOW Acension and Beyond are definitely games that I will buy day one. Also I applaud Sony for the Vita announcements as well as crossplay which gives you the Vita version of those games for free if you buy it on PS3.

Agreed. Sony has these little niche exclusives that I have no interest in at all. What bothers me the most is that they seem to be going after the kiddie market with a lot of this stuff.

As for exclusives, there isn't an exclusive on either console this year that has be excited. In fact, every game on my radar this year was/is third party.

[AaronSOLDIER]

It was above average but more games is always good (duh).

[TGO]

Considering Micrsoft doesnt "play" in the Vita space, you really have to limit any thing SOny does or doesnmt do at Gamescom to the PS3 when talking about "vs Microsoft".
From my understanding we got:

A delay for Sly
An announcement of characters for PASBR everybody knew comig was coming.
Some PSN games, some I might point out mostly Japanses games, with no announce dates.

Uhh, what did I miss?

It was a very good showing for the Vita, but uh why should MS give a crap about that?

I think its more of a "as a company" thing?
I mean gamescon isn't a handheld event, its a games event & despite what you & me know, by not showing their sending one impression, can you guess what that is?

[Ghost-Rhayne]

It was a very good showing for the Vita, but uh why should MS give a crap about that?

They shouldn't I guess. Sony was just demonstrating their course of action...Creating amazing value for their customers via PS+ and Cross Buy and creating more new IPs.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

I think its more of a "as company" thing?
I mean gamescon isn't a handheld event, its a games event & despite what you & me know, by not showing their sending one impression, can you guess what that is?

Wir haben gar nichts neu zu zeigen.

[TGO]

Wir haben gar nichts neu zu zeigen.

Indeed

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[Ghost-Rhayne]

It's Ok though, both companies have different priorities and plans leading up to the next gen. MS is gearing up for the next generation while Sony wants to carry the torch right to the end...I think it just highlights the reality of what Sony said when they said that PS3 would have a minimum 10 year life cycle. It is slowly becoming the new PS2 but is technically capable enough to be A LOT more relevant in the next gen than PS2 managed to be. When you look at all these collections (GoW, inFamous, R&C etc), PS+ with its dozen free games, free online...paired with the eventual price reduction of Vita and the fact that most Sony games will be giving away their Vita counterpart for free...They are positioning the PS3 very well for the cheaper entry point gaming device next gen that will probably only have Wii U as competition.

[mynd]

I think its more of a "as a company" thing?
I mean gamescon isn't a handheld event, its a games event & despite what you & me know, by not showing their sending one impression, can you guess what that is?

They dont give a fuck abot the German market?
Pretty much thats about all you can take away from it.
I equate what Sony did for the PS3 at Gamescom as to what MS did with their "Spring showcase"

I mean MS announced a bunch of XBLA games and Forza Horizons.
Actually, that maybe more than Sony announced come to think of it.

It probably goes to how compltely "out of sync" these companies are in terms of release time tables.
MS aims for Sept-Dec releases, Sony announce for next year sometime.

And the opposite was true this year,while Sony was releasing Star Hawk , MS was announcing stuff.

Actually come to think of it, Sony titles this year have been thin on single player.

[AaronSOLDIER]

360 is banned in Germany that's why.

[mynd]

360 is banned in Germany that's why.

Correction: They can't give a fuck about the German market.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Correction: They can't give a fuck about the German market.

Really? And the Austrian market? Xbox completely took over one of our central subway exchange points last year. I'm talking full wall posters all over, 360 Kinect game adds playing on all the screens and several Kinect set ups for people to try. This was HUGE and lasted about a week. They also have reps in Saturn (big electronics franchise). Why can#t they give a fuck? because of the ban or something else?

[mynd]

Really? And the Austrian market? Xbox completely took over one of our central subway exchange points. I'm talking full wall posters all over, 360 Kinect game adds playing on all the screens and several Kinect set ups for people to try. This was HUGE and lasted about a week. They also have reps in Saturn (big electronics franchise).

Well if they are banned in Germany, how could they see sinking money into a game event as viable?
MS will get more traction running Halo 4 ads in those same subways, than they will running anything at Gamescom.

They will sell what they need to sell when they need to.

BTW, speaking of marketing, let me ask you this, given the poor showing from Sony this year in exclusives, what exclusive would you have held back to be released for the holidays this year?

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Well if they are banned in Germany, how could they see sinking money into a game event as viable?
MS will get more traction running Halo 4 ads in those same subways, than they will running anything at Gamescom.

They will sell what they need to sell when they need to.

BTW, speaking of marketing, let me ask you this, given the poor showing from Sony this year in exclusives, what exclusive would you have held back to be released for the holidays this year?

Ok, thought that's what you meant.

Ummm, probably Starhawk. This year hasn't been particularly eventful exclusive blockbuster wise, but when you look at next years line up, it's understandable. There are some serious BIG hitters coming. Still, this year has offered something for everyone. Makes me wonder what Sony has up their sleeve for xmas 13 seeing as the big three are slated for an Q1 release (or there abouts).