Despite launching a year after Xbox 360, PS3 has significantly closed the global installed base. Sony as a company, has a history in hardware, unlike Microsoft. However, the dynamics of the games business are changing, and networks are becoming more important. Neil Young, ngmoco founder, believes Microsoft's ultimately in a better position for the future.
Speaking to IndustryGamers, Young discussed the impact of digital distribution, cloud technology and more on the traditional games platform holders.
"In the hardware world, I think Sony’s massively out of position. I think they’re in trouble. I think Microsoft’s in much better shape," Young asserted.
"They understand cloud computing; the Xbox Live service is a world-class service, and they’ve got a foothold in mobile, albeit a tenuous one. I think they’re in better shape," he continued, adding, "I think Nintendo always has the benefit of its franchises, but I don’t think it ends up being a really rich ecosystem for third parties."
The once standard five-year console cycle has been completely thrown off course, and exactly where the future lies in games hardware is a big question mark right now. We'll be curious to see if we all end up ultimately owning various set-top boxes as the world moves to games as services rather than boxed product.
23 Comments
March 18, 2011
I'm confused, what is Microsoft's foothold in mobile? Win7 phones? Zune?
March 18, 2011
I believe he's referring to windows phone.
March 18, 2011
Foothold? Is he serious?
An how in the world can he say that Sony is "massively out of position"? You mean like Nintendo was when the Gamecube was nearing the end of its cycle right just before they released the garbage non seller called Wii?
This guy has no common sense just like Peter Vesterbacka who said consoles are "dying". Goodness can we stop quoting this morons please...
You can quote me :-)
March 18, 2011
@WhoDat? I respect the fact that you're not afraid to tell it like it is. Preach on Brother!
I feel like Sony is perfectly positioned, if anything they're ahead of the curve at this point. Just because they haven't shown us all their cards yet, doesn't mean they're not holding a straight flush. People who have an interest in M$ trying to sell their propaganda doesn't scare me.
March 18, 2011
So how does sony embracing android fit into this? Does it need to create it's own ecosystem when its hopping on the back of a wildly popular one? Also, Sony seems to be more liberally with their online service look at all the MMO's, Steam, free-to-play, Home, and embracing user-created content with Little Big Planet and Infamous. The only thing missing is quality and a strong unified service.
March 18, 2011
What complete tosh. Sony is an entertainment company, not just a hardware company, they are in a very stong position when it comes too distributing content threw the cloud. Owning Games, Music, Movies & TV studio's sees to that.
March 18, 2011
Does Neil Young do anything aside from talk to the press?
ngmoco sounds like all sizzle and no steak.
March 18, 2011
The more this Neil Young opens his mouth the more he sounds stupid, i don't actually believe he has any idea what he's going on about. One of the guiding principles for Sony going forward is cloud computing. The Xperia Play (with Android) and the NGP both have the Playstation Suite and will also have cloud game save features as will the PS3, the prospect of online cloud games with cloud game saves where you can play your game from one platform to the next to the next just by connecting to PS Suite is fantastically innovative and requires a company open the 3rd party participation..something Microsoft hate.
How can Windows Phone 7 be considered to have a foothold in the mobile market at 5 months old over Sony's Xperia Play running Android that's been around for 3 years and has over 30% of the world market share on smartphones.
Complete arsehole
March 18, 2011
Just one more thing kids, and then I'll be on my way. Sony already has cloud game saves online starting over a week ago for PSN+. I'm starting to get the feeling that I might be the only person in the world who is aware of this.
March 18, 2011
@Chris, I just signed up for it. It's cool and much needed. +1
Neil Young and Frank Gibeau are quoted so much on this website that one should be excused for thinking that Industry Gamers is a bit of a free marketing platform for the current and former EA boyz, facts be damned.
March 18, 2011
@Chris. PS+ is worth it unlike XBL which you pay 60$!?! for the privilege just to play online.
yay
The cloud saves thing is just another chip in the PS+ corner. Al with FREE games and opportunities to have access to betas like SOCOM which will be allowed soon...
March 19, 2011
What's the matter 360 fangirls? No games to play?
March 19, 2011
endless people said nintendo was finished at the end of the gamecube, everyone predicted the ps3 to be the best console, etc. etc. honestly though I think the TC has no clue what hes talking about and needs to get out of the box hes living in. Xbox doesnt sell well in europe or japan, infact the 360 is only successfull in North america.
March 19, 2011
Not too much on the 360 you can't marginalize it's success just to make the PS3 look good. They are all great consoles.
March 19, 2011
@WhoDat, Chris Johnson
ps3 fanboyism much?? why is there so much fanboyism nowadays i use to love playstations until xbox pulled out the 360 now i have no pull to go back to ps3? most of my friends that have one dont play it cause theres nothing there, all the better shooters are on 360? and the rest are cross platform, and i love the oh you have to pay for xbox live haha yea cause it works pretty much all i hear from people is aother problem with psn, though trivial such as games not working at all oline haha, fanboys have to realise that sony made a bit of an f up on the ps3 and were out played by xbox getting out first, they have better infrastructure down for xbl and are becoming the mainstream while ps is being pushed to the side sony have to make a big move, but i dont see it ur dealing with microsoft !! they know their shit theyve bein pushing competitors out of the market since they started i dont see sony winning this no matter what the fanboys say
March 19, 2011
i think this illustraits the gaming industry, though i dont agree with the wii hate that fucking thing
http://img.chan4chan.com/img/2009-10-14/c837e301ecbd225de3aa8c15f7317b2b.jpg
March 19, 2011
@Padraig Lalor
Xbox 360 fanboy much?
Your obviously such a blinkered Xbox COD player that the wealth of quality PS3 exclusives has just past you by.
Fanboys of consoles should all be shot and disposed off to leave us fanboys of gaming to get on with appreciating all the consoles for what they offer.
March 19, 2011
@ Mark Procter,
ok please list all the quality games im missing out on, note i am much more into online gaming than campaign, and no i am not a blinkered cod xbox fanboy, i already stated im a playstation convert i never even owed an original xbox favoring the ps2 because it had a much better list of games, given im a huge final fantasy fan aswell, but im sorry the console specific games list for playstation now i feel is inferior, why shud i pay so much to play mgs? i went over to a mates and did that?? killzone. . . not my cup of tea, people like it but i prefer shooters like halo fast paced and skill orientated (reach excluded obviously)
the psn. . . oh lord its free yes but as the saying goes u get what you pay for, browsing internet on the ps ok cool i thought when i saw it first but its slow pedantic just use a laptop? like im sorry but do you have to be an "xbox fanboy" just because u realize that ps3 is not in a good place??
microsoft did the smart thing the xbox 360 can be very cheap or very expensive the console can be chopped and changed, the playstation doesn have that luxury its either expensive or more expensive and the one huge thing it had cross compatability!!?? why give it then take it away??
like im first to complain and moan about alot of the shit that microsoft do with the 360 and xbl especially the bullshit xbl labs scam but they are the better of two evils and the way microsoft have set themselves up itll take a big push from sony to retake the lead, to be honest i think anything short of a new console before microsoft and playstation cud be forever second
March 20, 2011
I'm not part of the 'Sony protection group' but while I was reading this I was thinking, HEY SONY has been talking cloud for awhile now. Not delivering until very recently but talking about it usually means your doing software development. I cant say Microsoft hates third party though since they do have the most third party software which is why people get on them. PC, xbox wise not sure if someone was talking about windows phone. I thought windows phone started off selling good for a upstart but had less than 1% of the market so How is windows phone so hot?
@LOL Xbox360 has way more games than the PS3 or WII to play, And more AAA games. It does not have blu-ray but it has games for days you should buy one your missing out.
@Whodat hey man I was online trying to decide if I should buy the P+ but I'm not sure what I will get since playing online is free(which is only reason I buy xboxlive, sadly ironic). It seems like Sony for a change is not good at letting me know what the benefits are. I read where you get two games a month,is that true and what kind? PS1? PS2? PS3? Any good RPG's (yeah I'm a turn based JRPG whore). I also read "on a board" that the PSN pay service has their own servers for the paying customers making it as good as the xbox gold service any info on that? true ? if so have you tried it. This question is for anyone that has P+
There is MUCH EA hate on this board, I'm one of them! I will remember conniving business practices.
Wow usually this site is NOT full of fanboyism, More balanced. I love Killzone3 even if it is a copy of gears of war. I will play all of both series, because who ever copied who copied a good thing. I hope gears of war is 3d too because I'm loving the 3d on it even though it does have lots of ghosting on one of the best Samsung 3d TV's (this is the first thing I have seen with Ghosting on this tv)
Halo3 is awesome, that game has always been about game play even when it came out with the best graphics for xbox1 now it has top graphics again, wow!
Grand tourismo is still awesome! Guess what there is not platform with all the top games on it! NONE stop being inflexible. Anyone that has one console is missing out. I'm missing out because I dont have the wii yet. But at least I have 360 and ps3 and realize I get strong points from both of the over the other.
March 21, 2011
How did this turn into one big ass fanboy argument?
March 22, 2011
Of the series I though /kill zone 3 had the most heart and played the best thus far. But like a nlot of Sony exlcusives I think they need to spend more money on advertisement. It may be too late in this cycle for Killzone to achieve the name recognition of the say a God of War but I don't feel like Sony spend enough ad dollars to even enlighten new gamers. In terms of the online functions the fact remains that the Xbox has innovated the space in terms of console and Sony has only followed suit. anyone who owns both sytems know that.
The playstation + was a nice idea and all but it seems a bit flat to me.
March 23, 2011
Thanks for the info Darkside! I appreciate it.
April 22, 2011
How is it that a flash in the pan game like angry birds and its owner are even allowed into a venue like this if the full extent of this game owners imagination is shooting birds at pigs ! Take the millions you have made off the 1 hit wonder and enjoy life but leave real gaming to the professional's ! What a moronic statement in Gameinformer !