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Maguire: Sony must work harder on marketing PS3-PSP functionality

Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) UK boss Ray Maguire has said that Sony must work harder on promoting the cross-platform functionality between its home console, the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and the PlayStation Portable (PSP). When the PS3 was first launched, more emphasis was put on the functionality between the two devices than now, as the focus has moved more towards the game line-up than PS3 features in order to boost sales.

"When we first started - because all the functionality [on the PS3] was radical - we talked about that functionality," he told GamesIndustry.biz last month. "And in doing that, maybe we weren't strong enough on the games side of it. Now, with the strength of the games we've got coming out, this Christmas we're definitely about the games. From our own first party, and also third party, there's a feast of games for PS3 this year."



He continued: "At the same time though, because we've been out for a couple of years now, people are starting to understand and discover the functionality of things like PlayTV, and that's created the desire for people to upgrade to larger hard disk sizes. I just recently put a 320GB drive in mine. I think people are starting to come to grips with that, but what's probably lesser known is the relationship between PS3 and PSP and the Remote Play functionality."

Written by: James Delahunty @ 12 Nov 2008 4:22

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• 12 comments

• redux79

  I think it's well understood that the ps3 is a very versatile machine. The people who intend on using this console for things other than gaming are already doing so and have been for a long time. I'm thinking back to a thread last summer in which someone managed to upgrade their hard drive to 1.5 terabytes for blu-ray rips (3 500 gig externals if I remember correctly).
  
  The fact remains that games sell gaming consoles, the myriad of things that the ps3 can do is a big plus for people that plan on doing so. At the same time the average person that buys a gaming console plans on playing GAMES. Just when it seems that sony is pushing game development more than blu-ray morons like this Maguire guy are trying to steer the console back in the wrong direction.

  12.11.2008 08:40 #1

• fgamer

  What they need to do is work on getting an interesting game library going to at least try and migrate the PS2 owners that are holding back. But clearly they're still confused as to what's priority and what's not. Also I don't think there's many people out there that are unaware of the PS3 - PSP functionality.

  12.11.2008 10:16 #2

• emugamer

  Originally posted by fgamer: What they need to do is work on getting an interesting game library going to at least try and migrate the PS2 owners that are holding back. But clearly they're still confused as to what's priority and what's not. Also I don't think there's many people out there that are unaware of the PS3 - PSP functionality.I totally agree. Being aware of the functionality between the two and actually owning both to utilize that funtionality are two different things. It doesn't help that they had a later start than Microsoft, but I think they are getting up to speed now. Unfortunately, forum threads are still filled with people claiming that the PS3 has no games at all.

  12.11.2008 12:05 #3

• kikzm33z

  If Sony kept B/C then the PS3 sales would be higher. Problem with next gen gaming consoles are FPS. Far too much FPS. I beg for Sony to get some more RPGs/TPS. I only have COD4 for an FPS and I'm sick of it.
  Is this post even relevant?

  12.11.2008 12:06 #4

• NexGen76

  Originally posted by fgamer: What they need to do is work on getting an interesting game library going to at least try and migrate the PS2 owners that are holding back. But clearly they're still confused as to what's priority and what's not. Also I don't think there's many people out there that are unaware of the PS3 - PSP functionality.
  
  Very true,Sony should focus more on Marketing because every game i see on TV that's a multi-console game you always see Microsoft & a very little Sony PS3 logo that's not going to work if there trying to sell more systems & games.But i think they are heading in the right direction when it comes to games Sony has focus more on there 1st party studios than 2 or 3 & stayed away from buying exclusives which is a major plus.Games like LBP,R2, & Kill Zone are ist party games & Sony don't have to worry about getting into bidding wars with Microsoft.

  12.11.2008 12:08 #5

• DXR88

  If Sony gets RPG Games going im all for it, as it goes now there rpg dev teams are jumping boats. hell 2 of the major ones already have deal with 360. Namco commonly known for its Tales series and Sqenix\Tri-Ace commonly known for Star-Ocean franchise. hopefully Level5 can help the PS3 retain its glory as a gaming console hell maybe Dark Cloud 3 would be in order for the task.

  12.11.2008 22:19 #6

• TSRSteve

  Originally posted by kikzm33z: If Sony kept B/C then the PS3 sales would be higher. Problem with next gen gaming consoles are FPS. Far too much FPS. I beg for Sony to get some more RPGs/TPS. I only have COD4 for an FPS and I'm sick of it.
  Is this post even relevant?You're not alone. I've had it up to here with fps games. I've been waiting for Killzone 2 since I first bought my console a month after release. Now I don't even care or want to play it, it's just another freaking fps. I've been in the KZ2 beta for a few weeks now and I think I've been on twice. Enough is enough.
  
  As far as the psp connectivity goes, it's just a novelty. The times I've tried using it, it worked horribly. Not even worth messing with. Remote play blows. Don't get me wrong because I love my PS3 but I'd say it's used for about 30% gaming. But now since Fallout 3 is out that'll probably go up a lot, even though it's a fps of sorts.
  
  Just my two cents.

  13.11.2008 16:16 #7

• kikzm33z

  Originally posted by TSRSteve: Originally posted by kikzm33z: If Sony kept B/C then the PS3 sales would be higher. Problem with next gen gaming consoles are FPS. Far too much FPS. I beg for Sony to get some more RPGs/TPS. I only have COD4 for an FPS and I'm sick of it.
  Is this post even relevant?You're not alone. I've had it up to here with fps games. I've been waiting for Killzone 2 since I first bought my console a month after release. Now I don't even care or want to play it, it's just another freaking fps. I've been in the KZ2 beta for a few weeks now and I think I've been on twice. Enough is enough.
  
  As far as the psp connectivity goes, it's just a novelty. The times I've tried using it, it worked horribly. Not even worth messing with. Remote play blows. Don't get me wrong because I love my PS3 but I'd say it's used for about 30% gaming. But now since Fallout 3 is out that'll probably go up a lot, even though it's a fps of sorts.
  
  Just my two cents.Remote play is pretty useless, unless your PSP has no memory so you can just play very laggy music from your PS3 if you're at a Wi-Fi enabled place. From what I've seen, only Motorstorm : Pacific Rift and MGS4 is worth getting as a PS3 exclusive. Any other older exclusives I won't buy because they're pretty short. So I want TPS and RPGs. RPGs the most. I played Fable 2 on 360 and.. OMG :|
  

  
  

  14.11.2008 12:13 #8

• canuckerz

  Originally posted by kikzm33z: If Sony kept B/C then the PS3 sales would be higher. Problem with next gen gaming consoles are FPS. Far too much FPS. I beg for Sony to get some more RPGs/TPS. I only have COD4 for an FPS and I'm sick of it.
  Is this post even relevant?I agree with you that sales would be higher but I don't think that B/C in the end really makes a diffrence after people buy the console; sure its nice to have but how many of us actually end up using it more than on a rare occasion?
  
  And FPS's, bah they're just becomming more and more bland and they are having worse and worse campain mode. There are only a handfull of fps's out/comming out these days with a story mode that dosent feel like a cheap arcade game.
  
  COD5 for example, its a good game but the single player has degraded from COD4 even though it is really just COD4 reskinned with ww2 guns. Sure online is deacent (with the exception of hit detection) but if I wanted a online only game I'd expect to pay the same price as other online only games, like socom confrontation ($40) and warhawk ($30).

  14.11.2008 17:29 #9

• BobH29

  I have both PSP and PS3 and have had for a while. What i haven't done is ever use the Remote Play function, purely as I've never had any need. I mostly use the PSP on my lunch break, so can't hook it up to the net.
  
  Don't get me wrong, I think it is a good function if you have use for it, and is an impressive feat of tech. It just seems to be a solution looking for a problem.
  
  The PS3 is all about being a "living room media centre" over a simple one use games console, so Remote Play fits into this philosophy, but I think Sony is better off pushing the Games, PlayTV (PVR functionality) and Music / Bluray player aspects of the system.

  15.11.2008 12:28 #10

• DXR88

  No they need to focus on games alone, thats there problem there trying to advert to every thing but its game playing capability's.

  15.11.2008 12:44 #11

• Gnawnivek

  The PSP and PS3 relationship probably going to get popular when PSP's Resistance: Retribution comes out... There's an infection mode you can try using your PSP with the PS3. Also, Resistance 2 rocks!

  18.11.2008 12:43 #12