You are right, the intentions are different. Sony gave free movies to promote non-gaming functionality, while MS gives a free game to promote gaming functionality.Those are intended to say "hey this new gaming devices also plays movies on new media that Sony has invested shot loads of money into" rather than being an actual pack in. Plus CR wasn't in the box...
It's not odd, it's awesome
Seems kind of butthurt to me about Microsoft giving away FIFA14, hope people don't follow his sentiment
You're paying the console price. When the "promotion" ends. You'll be paying the same price. So they're free.
Packins increase the price. PS3 = $399, PS3+GAME = $420, not free, discounted.
They're not giving away the full version of Drive Club.
GC: Are you considering offering a direct equivalent or response to the FIFA 14 deal?
JR: No.
GC: You’re not tempted to go and make a deal with some other game?
JR: Why should we do that? Our problem is gonna be matching supply to demand. It’s perfectly rational when a platform holder, or indeed a publisher, runs a pre-order campaign to engage in promotional behaviour to dial it up if you feel it’s not where you need it to be. That’s a rational thing for any businessman to do. We’re perfectly happy with where our pre-order are.
Our problem… we’ve actually had to turn off the day one pre-orders and now we’re onto day two. So why would we go out and add something? Giving away stuff on day one of a new platform launch, in my mind it’s kind of odd.
I don't know, I tend to go with the second theory, but then they're just assuming the game will be a flop. I still think they should allow it the dignity of bombaing by itself.
Also does anyone else find it funny he's talking about how odd it is to give stuff away on day one, and yet PS+ is going to be giving away stuff on day one? Although I guess technically you still have to buy into a subscription so that doesn't really count.
It's not a subtext, Amir0x, when it's so unambiguously stated!
As others have said, PS+ "freebies" have been available for years, are not tied to pre orders, and you have to pay extra for them.
Wii U version... WHHHHAAAT?According to his comment its only a timed exclusive. So it'll be coming to the XOne eventually and even the WiiU...
I don't think so I think it's a little smart and sinister, Driveclub on PS+ isn't the full game, it's a stripped down version where you can upgrade to the full game at a discounted price, PS + edition essentially becomes a f2p title where you can buy cars in inincriments if you choose.
The closest model to describe this is like an even more generous version of what MS are doing with Killer Instinct.
No WiiU version... That's what my sad face was for.Wii U version... WHHHHAAAT?
For real?
ot: I understand why he would say something like that though it makes him looks a bit cocky.
Not really. If anything the journalist was a bit antagonistic with some of his questions(ie. Controller and launch lineup questions), so I thought Jim's reaction and overall attitude were understandable.Sounds like return of cocky Sony. No big deal, though. It doesn't really affect anything, but he's clearly feeling pretty good.
Ah, okay.No WiiU version... That's what my sad face was for.
Man he sounds confident as fuck about their pre-order numbers.
This is so calculating:
In my mind I'm reading the subtext like "Why would we need to do such a desperate thing? Our pre-orders our fine. Shit like the FIFA deal is for the failures."
Also does anyone else find it funny he's talking about how odd it is to give stuff away on day one, and yet PS+ is going to be giving away stuff on day one? Although I guess technically you still have to buy into a subscription so that doesn't really count.
I see it as not much difference when Sony went all out following the hacking fiasco. MS is trying to curry favour with potentially scorned customers. The FIFA pack-in is a smart move.
I think you're joking but I'm not quite sure...Sony should have gave me free games day one on vita. That thing was so over priced compared to 3ds.
Man he sounds confident as fuck about their pre-order numbers.
This is so calculating:
In my mind I'm reading the subtext like "Why would we need to do such a desperate thing? Our pre-orders our fine. Shit like the FIFA deal is for the failures."
Also does anyone else find it funny he's talking about how odd it is to give stuff away on day one, and yet PS+ is going to be giving away stuff on day one? Although I guess technically you still have to buy into a subscription so that doesn't really count.
Haha came to post this.'Giving away stuff on day one its kind of odd.
Unless it's to a Gamestop manager
'Giving away stuff on day one its kind of odd.
Unless it's to a Gamestop manager
You can't sell more than all of your consoles.
GC: Okay, but I would say… and in fact it’s not even me saying it because I get lots of letters from readers and it’s often in the form: ‘I really want to get a PS4, I’m not happy with the way Microsoft have been carrying on, but I just don’t like the DualShock controller’. That to them is the sticking point. And that combined with the exclusive games so far announced is what I’d say are the PS4’s biggest problems at the moment. And I know you’re going to say the controller is improved but it’s the basic layout that people seem to be unhappy with.
JR: Well, it has definitely improved.
GC: It is better, I agree. But it’s the position of the analogue sticks. Luckily I have dainty feminine hands but for those that don’t they’re just poorly placed. I imagine someone at Sony thought they had to keep them there because it’s an iconic piece of design, but I just wonder if you regret that now.
JR: No, no. We don’t regret it.
The FIFA pack-in only matters in EU, which has never been strong for MS and doesn't matter anywhere else. With the price difference, PS4 owners can still buy FIFA and it'll be cheaper than X1.
Love how everyone kinda misses the point of the comment. Although guess that's par for the course for message boards. Really enjoyed the interview though.
I see it as not much difference when Sony went all out following the hacking fiasco. MS is trying to curry favour with potentially scorned customers. The FIFA pack-in is a smart move.
I think you're joking but I'm not quite sure...
So Sony is anti-bundles?
GC: But take something like a static screen, an inventory screen for example. There is currently no way to tell they’re running on a new console, not in terms of resolution or number of colours or anything like that. And that’s never been the case before. Do you not see that as a problem in selling it to the mainstream in particular?
GC: Well, I’m saying I personally am glad you’re doing it. But if I was a businessman maybe I would be telling you to stop wasting your time with these arthouse games that you can’t advertise.
JR: Well, I am and I’m not. [laughs] I guess one way to answer it is to look back at the PS3 and to look at the games that came from Thatgamecompany: flOw, Flower, and Journey. And, you know, they started off as classic indie developers. And I would argue to anybody that those games are platform enhancing. They’ve certainly repaid whatever financial investment we made in them, those boxes are ticked.
But I would argue that those games have achieved breakout, and have really worked and worked well to improve the credibility and overall attractiveness of the PS3 platform. Indeed to the extent that we’re sticking them on a Blu-ray disc and selling them in the stores.
Not all of those other indie games is going to achieve that, and some will just go to establishing a critical mass of credible indie games. But you will get breakout with one or two, and they will do that.
Sony is anti giving things away when they think they have enough pre orders and interest and intent to sell out anyway.
If you are the pretty girl at a ball you don't need to flash your norks to get a dance.
In a way though, it must be perilous working at MS's in their gaming division right now.
You talk shop and set up the console, then get farmed out to Zynga (Don Mattrick).
Open your mouth on twitter, get fired (Adam Orth).
Talk shop trying to promote bad policy by saying "Flip a switch", then watch reversal and look like a Major Twat (Larry Hryb)
After everything thats happened, I reckon half of MS's staff are cowering under desks, the other half are lined up outside the toilet with a sewage plant in their underwear
Pretty interesting and humorous interview all in all, eventhough some of the humor stemmed from the interviewer's rather myopic comments.