Ben-DutkaSony is known for locating and promoting great talent in the video game industry, even in the face of financial loss.
During his panel at Gamelab in Barcelona (as cited by DualShockers ), Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida spoke about his company's commitment to giving motivated, highly creative developers a chance to shine.
He said that when all is said and done, "its the people" who create these amazing experiences, and it's the team that makes the technical and artistic breakthroughs. Does it always result in a money-maker for Sony? No. In fact, it often doesn't:
"It’s a hit-driven business. We look at our financial results of the titles, and probably three or four out of ten make money, and maybe one or two make all the money to cover the cost of the others titles. So we have to be able to maintain that hit ratio at a certain level to be able to continue in the business, so we always try to find out and support and help grow the talent. That’s the most important work that I believe myself and some of my management team at worldwide studios are doing."
After reading that, I've only got one question: Is it the same with Microsoft? Are they also willing to lose money on six or seven out of every ten titles released, just to promote that creativity and innovation? Well, based on the selection of games we've seen over the years from both manufacturers, I think I can answer that question easily enough…
I just want the good old days where games weren't made for the masses but niche markets.
I agree. I miss the days of gaming where developers were making games they would love to play. Then again, their struggle is the cost of development now a days. If their game(s) even slightly struggle *POOF! * They're the name is the next headline regarding a company closing it's doors.
Personally, I'm very happy with Sonys decision to support the brilliant minds developing these games. Imagine what would be reality today if these developers weren't supported by Sony. Crazy to think about what it takes to make games today. While we all know Sony is in the bbusiness for money, I feel like their ideology is like talking to an extremely rich guy who still has a personality. Still understands how much of a struggle (or seemingly impossible) it is to make it on your own while yielding the same impact you wanted to achieve.
Yes, Microsoft does this, too. Their means a bit different. They start the process by smothering the competition and swallowing it whole when their whole world crashes down on them. It's the not so humane way of building partnerships…
… Or was it the niches that were the masses back then? 🙂
Yeah, back in the day hardcore gamers were the masses and now it seems casual gamers who buy consoles for GTA and COD are the masses.
Microsofts idea of innovation is bring back old, dead, long forgotten IPs and revive them to see the sales not do so well. Then, they kill them as they sleep.
Resistance did well for the first two games and bombed with the third. Not really sure why though. Other than that game everything Sony releases does alright in its own rights. Sometimes I wonder what things would be like if game developers weren't being paid so much so game costs would go down and it would be all about whose more creative and who can make the newest thing.
I've accepted those days are long gone and that mainstream is pleased first and foremost, and then the old timeys who played games back before they were cool. I just miss the days where a game released every other day, and had something to show for it. Its literally all the same crap now and Sony seems to be the only ones who dare to keep things fresh and interesting. They are the only ones who play with black magic and give everyone something to look at while everyone else plays it safe and makes sure whatever they release is a success before they even decide on it.
Sony has my respect, and the respect of tons of developers because they dare to be different. They WANT to give us, the consumers, new and interesting things while moving back and forth from casual to hardcore gaming. Sony knows their fans very well and they have never stopped supporting us, just as we haven't to them. Its great being entangled with a company whose nothing but a money making organization that puts our desires first and foremost before the giant wads of cash the big wigs get. The kind of greed where a multi billionaire doesn't give his kids any of it when he passes away.
Microsoft is all about making money. They see their fanbase as nothing more than moronic and sheepable people who follow trends above all else. They are exactly right on that part.
Also, the Vita's demand has risen and the reason they aren't anywhere is because none has been made. I gave up linking stuff to the site but basically the Vita's have disappeared because everyone bought what was made. Talk about ironic no?
Long post, so I'm sorry.
Good article and so true of the Sony I know. The most rewarding work is always promoting the art and helping it develop. You can't do that without some failures. MS doesn't accept failure and overproduced on successes, that's why they never grow but end up destroying things.
Just started playing Tearaway – it didn't set the sales charts on fire, but it is _brilliant_ – apparently it's not very long (six or so hours I've read), but it's the most magical, creative game I think I've ever played. While it may not have made money, I have no doubt that many who played it will be much more likely to stay on PlayStation platforms going forward, as it's the kind of game that literally no-one else out there makes.
tearaway is awesome. every vita own needs to play it
Good Sony. Now make with the Motorstorm and WipEout games on PS4.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 7/5/2014 7:39:33 PM
PS3 in the HOUSE!
our Sony brand DVD – Bluray player was malfunctioning so the wife approved getting our old broken PS3 repaired for $85.
Finally… at long last. Together again!
EDIT: leave it to faulty, crappy built Sony products to save the day!
EDIT2: Freak'n digital. This is exactly why you go physical when you can. That way you don't have a crap ton of old games to re-download. Those go-green energy enviromentalists will go nuts now that I have gigs and gigs of data to download.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 7/5/2014 7:50:40 PM
That Sony actually follows this business model/philosophy shows in the kinds of games that are produced by the company and its subsidiaries. I mean, there are the big-budget sales-chasers, like Uncharted, Killzone, Gran Turismo, inFamous (to a lesser extent), but they also produce plenty of less high profile games, like Puppeteer, DriveClub (although that's being positioned as a major game), LittleBigPlanet, Journey, etc. Some of those bets pay off unexpectedly.
It's a good thing that we have Sony (and Ubisoft)…
so thats why you shut down some of the best studios in the industry…………?
this is exactly what is ripping $ony apart!
they spend where they should be cutting, and cut where they should be spending.
they seriously need a big f*cking reality check to slap their priorities in strike!