Support NeoGAF

[SerTapTap]

I don't think they completely understood it, which is why they lost them within 3-4 years and couldn't recapture them with the Wii U.

... which is why Sony might be concerned about understanding their new base now too.

Fundamental difference here IMO. The "never owned a console before" audience of the Wii was far more unstable than the "willing to jump ship" audience PS4 seems to have snatched from Xbox 360, plus all the 'all the console" and standard Sony purchasers.

I'm not too surprised myself. For third parties it's easily the most capable machine, and there's always enough third parties + scraps from platform first parties to make A console worth it for a lot of people, and Sony happens to have pretty solid first party too.

 

[Neuromancer]

On a serious note, good hardware at a good price and a clear and consistent gamer focused approach.

 

[Disaster Nebraska]

I do recall a similar reaction from Nintendo when the Wii exploded in popularity.

Both Sony (with PS4) and Nintendo (with Wii) prepared with a similar philosophy. They simply wanted to make the best gaming console possible. Nintendo (correctly) identified a large, ignored market of eager gamers who just wanted to jump in and play without having to learn a complicated control scheme. Sony (correctly) identified that gamers just want the best place to play a ton of games and (correctly) indentified the growing role of Indies in the console space.

Nitnendo reaped the profits of their foresight. I expect Sony to do the same.

 

[NateDrake]

What I wanted to say was: lotsa people who weren't into gaming are buying one because of the hype. How else would you explain the people who hadn't owned a console before getting a PS4?

Is there any evidence to suggest this is happening? Anecdotally, I've seen a lot of Xbox 360 owners jumping to PS4 instead of Xbox One. Not so much people who never owned a console before buying a PS4.

 

[Dunlop]

Nintendo is drunk at the wheel
MS is recovering from falling on it's face

I like my PS4 but they had a lot of help from the competition lol

 

[Kouriozan]

The power of the hype.
And the numerous 180 of Microsoft didn't inspire confidence of the gamers, maybe?

 

[BadHand]

Shuhei Yoshida: Well, yeah. I don't know. As soon as we see a great sales number, our instinct tells us we should be concerned about future sales, right? Are we exhausting all the core gamers? If we sell this number of units, there are no more consumers we can sell to. That's a really terrifying prospect.

I hope this doesn't mean they are gonna go all wonderbook on us again and try to appeal to a wider audience.

 

[coolasj19]

If there are people who never bought a Wii or any of the 7th Gen consoles, who the fuck are they? Where they playing on their tablets before then? If so, what compelled them to pick up a PS4? Who are these mystery people and what do they want? It can't be just games...
EDIT:

And some people never purchased any last-gen hardware: PS3, or Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii. So where did they come from?

 

[RedAssedApe]

no wonder he has no idea whats going on. sleeping through meetings too i bet

 

[Toki767]

I took that to mean that if they new why it was selling, they'd be able to replicate the success in Japan as well.

 

[SerTapTap]

Is there any evidence to suggest this is happening? Anecdotally, I've seen a lot of Xbox 360 owners jumping to PS4 instead of Xbox One. Not so much people who never owned a console before buying a PS4.

Be interested to see numbers on that. I know they said 50% of PS4 owners didn't have a PS3, but I figured it was mostly either people who were 360 last gen or people who skipped a gen

I took that to mean that if they new why it was selling, they'd be able to replicate the success in Japan as well.

Knowing why it's selling rest of world isn't very relevant to why it's not selling in Japan.

 

[Steroyd]

A bit of a "playing dumb" comment

Not really, if you don't understand why your product is selling, the userbase could just go poof overnight if you change something unwittingly, just ask Nintendo.

 

[Raist]

I think the bit they mostly don't get is the (apparently significant) number of people who didn't own a console last gen and bought a PS4 this time around.

edit:

Posted on June 13, 2014, Stew Shearer
31 Percent of PS4 Players Migrated From Other Consoles

As much as 31 percent of current PS4 owners didn’t own a PS3.

That, at least, is the claim of Scott Rohde, senior VP of product development at Sony’s Worldwide Studios. Rohde, citing data collected by the industry tracking firm Nielsen, told an interviewer that sales are showing a migration of gamers from the Xbox 360 and Wii to the PS4.

“31 per cent of PS4 owners did not own a PS3, but they did own either an Xbox 360 or Wii,” said Rohde. “Now, those are some pretty amazing numbers. And that’s why, again, I think we’re doing things like bringing The Last of Us to PS4, because there’s a huge percentage of those people who never got to play it and that’s a shame.”

In addition to gamers moving over from the Xbox 360 and Wii, the data apparent also shows an influx of gamers who skipped the last console generation altogether.

“17 per cent of PS4 owners did not own a last-gen console,” said Rohde. “That in itself is a pretty shocking number.”

http://www.gamefront.com/31-percent-of-ps4-players-owned-wiixbox-360s-last-gen/

 

[redcrayon]

Seems reasonable enough. Asking questions about what happened when you're in the lead is just as important as when you're behind. Certainly more sensible than patting yourself on the back and saying 'it's because we're awesome!'.

 

[BakedYams]

They played it smart and aren't making any outrageous remarks. Playing the neutral/quiet game is smart in the beginning of the competition with how Microsoft kinda screwed up with its messaging. Microsoft has certainly recovered elegantly but those ripples were the foundation to some success on Sony's end.

 

[omonimo]

Did you read the whole interview, specifically the questions he was asked ?

It was pretty obvious ( and discussed in the last threads about this interview) that he was being flippant with Eurogamer.

I suspect you are right. The question of eurogamer it's quite stupid. Not deserve a serious response.

 

[Tookay]

Fundamental difference here IMO. The "never owned a console before" audience of the Wii was far more unstable than the "willing to jump ship" audience PS4 seems to have snatched from Xbox 360, plus all the 'all the console" and standard Sony purchasers.

I'm not too surprised myself. For third parties it's easily the most capable machine, and there's always enough third parties + scraps from platform first parties to make A console worth it for a lot of people, and Sony happens to have pretty solid first party too.

Oh I agree, it's partially a different situation.

But the Wii->Wii U transition demonstrates the importance in understanding your audience, because that will help you retain and cater to them, both for the PS4 and for the future.

 

[licktheenvelope]

I'm not so sure why either. It's certainly not the games. The Wii U had a better launch line-up.

I guess it could be that they made such a big deal about the No-DRM thing and the good press created a lot of hype, and the media was all on their side.

Nintendo and Microsoft both started with hilariously inept marketing. Even the names of their consoles are a testament to bad marketing.

 

[TheOMan]

I'm curious.

Did Nintendo why the Wii was selling so well back in the day?

Considering the Wii U, I'd say no.

If Sony truly doesn't know why the PS4 is selling so well, I can see why they'd be very concerned. They want to make sure not to mess up a good thing, but how can you do that if you don't know how it became so good? Also, I'm sure they want to make this a repeatable process for the PS5, PS6, PS7 etc. Impossible to do if you don't know the recipe.

 

[Steel]

If there are people who never bought a Wii or any of the 7th Gen consoles, who the fuck are they? Where they playing on their tablets before then? If so, what compelled them to pick up a PS4? Who are these mystery people and what do they want? It can't be just games...

Think you're misinterpreting what he's saying(Or I might be), what he was saying is that a lot of their customers didn't own a PS3 before getting the PS4. Which means converts from either the Xbox or a nintendo system.

 

[Exploratory]

Microsoft dun fucked it up.
Nintendo is...Nintendo.

Its that simple really.

 

[-tetsuo-]

I'm not sure either

 

[CurlySaysX]

GTA5 will give it a massive boost during christmas.

 

[Northeastmonk]

You can do more by creating an experience like "PT" and having players experience the whole thing again. It's a much easier experience to relive that way. Especially considering how so many people bought the console for that exact reason.

I know a group of PC guys and they aren't console players (not really) and they bag on it. I leave their presence and it's like night and day. You can finally get excited about video games again. I think a lot of it comes from wanting to experience it all over again. Some people bag on consoles or video games period. I think the consoles do a wonderful job at keeping things up to date.

 

[Cse]

1. More powerful hardware. To many gamers, this matters.
2. Listened to the consumer. Didn't attempt to enforce any radical policies or sweeping paradigm changes.
3. Initially came in at $100 less than the primary competitor.
4. Exclusive software from respected and recognized first party studios.

All of the aforementioned factors conflated into a singular surge of positivity and relentless excitement for the system.

The surge of launch units sold within the first few months also created a 5th factor - the friend effect. Your friend purchased a PS4, and now you're ready to purchase a next gen system, which will most likely be the same system your friend owns. With every purchase, the magnitude of this effect becomes amplified.

 

[SerTapTap]

Oh I agree, it's partially a different situation.

But the Wii->Wii U transition demonstrates the importance in understanding your audience, because that will help you retain and cater to them, both for the PS4 and for the future.

I'm not sure knowing your audience would have helped in the Wii -> Wii U situation. Nintendo could not have feasibly sold consoles to people satisfied with phone games, and Nintendo could not feasibly spin up an iPhone competitor.

 

[licktheenvelope]

Considering the Wii U, I'd say no.

If Sony truly doesn't know why the PS4 is selling so well, I can see why they'd be very concerned. They want to make sure not to mess up a good thing, but how can you do that if you don't know how it became so good? Also, I'm sure they want to make this a repeatable process for the PS5, PS6, PS7 etc. Impossible to do if you don't know the recipe.

Easy = do what gamers (and devs) ask for. *nod*

Not even hard.

 

[Vestax]

Shuhei Yoshida: I'm asking marketing people to tell us why. They've been to people who already purchased, and some of the early data was amazing in terms of the number of people who didn't used to own PS3 have already purchased PS4. So we are getting lots of new customers coming into PlayStation. And some people never purchased any last-gen hardware: PS3, or Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii. So where did they come from?

Microsoft did an excellent job on causing for the Xbox brand to almost commit suicide. My friends and I, all gamed on the X360, and with the XB1 revealed they were pissed at MS, and jumped ship. I'm sure a lot of those PS4 sales are former X360 owners who were pissed at MS.

I'm not sure why people who never owned a Wii, PS360 would suddenly want to buy a PS4. That's puzzling.

Overall, Sony did a great job with the PS4 as well. Fair price and great hardware.

 

[Canis lupus]

Is there any evidence to suggest this is happening?

Yes, it's in the article, Shu says a lot of their customers never owned a console.

 

[Mr.Mike]

GTA5 will give it a massive boost during christmas.

I don't know how much of a boost we can expect a game that's already been released to give to console sales.

 

[coolasj19]

Think you're misinterpreting what he's saying(Or I might be), what he was saying is that a lot of their customers didn't own a PS3 before getting the PS4. Which means converts from either the Xbox or a nintendo system.

And some people never purchased any last-gen hardware: PS3, or Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii. So where did they come from?

Who are they and what do they want?! >=|

 

[Auto_aim1]

Sony seems to have lost a lot of confidence after the early PS3 debacle. Hey guys, we haven't forgotten about the PS2. All we wanted was a decently priced machine that just plays games and you delivered that.

 

[Tookay]

I do recall a similar reaction from Nintendo when the Wii exploded in popularity.

Both Sony (with PS4) and Nintendo (with Wii) prepared with a similar philosophy. They simply wanted to make the best gaming console possible. Nintendo (correctly) identified a large, ignored market of eager gamers who just wanted to jump in and play without having to learn a complicated control scheme. Sony (correctly) identified that gamers just want the best place to play a ton of games and (correctly) indentified the growing role of Indies in the console space.

Nitnendo reaped the profits of their foresight. I expect Sony to do the same.

I don't think they reacted like this. They might not have completely understood their audience in the end, but their plan from the start was to disrupt the market and create a blue ocean, etc. etc.

 

[Protag]

Hmmm that Phantom Pain, Type-0 HD, XV, AND KH III.

Four reasons to get a PSQuad

 

[AmFreak]

Simple - they were the only ones that actually showed up

 

[PhineBuyM3]

Because the competition sucks?

Lol, I immediately looked at the avatar and almost died.

 

[StoopKid]

GTA5 will give it a massive boost during christmas.

Gta 5 will probably sell more ps4s then mario kart did for wii u.

Well atleast in the us and Europe.

 

[licktheenvelope]

1. More powerful hardware. To many gamers, this matters.
2. Listened to the consumer. Didn't attempt to enforce any radical policies or sweeping paradigm changes.
3. Initially came in at $100 less than the primary competitor.
4. Exclusive software from respected and recognized first party studios.

All of the aforementioned factors conflated into a singular surge of positivity and relentless excitement for the system.

The surge of launch units sold within the first few months also created a 5th factor - the friend effect. Your friend purchased a PS4, and now you're ready to purchase a next gen system, which will most likely be the same system your friend owns. With every purchase, the magnitude of this effect becomes amplified.

And it's shocking to me that MS didn't see this coming by not targetting gamers.

 

[PHOENIXZERO]

Because the last generation went on way longer than it should have and a lot of people were eager for new hardware. With around 160M PS3s and XB360s sold there was a sizable install base/potential customers, many of which owned only one of the two and MS completely screwed the pooch with the XBO leading to a lot of XB360 only owners to jump ship. It's really no secret and Sony knows that seeing as they just put out TLoU onto the console to attract many of those who didn't play it on last generation because of not owning a PS3.

 

[DSN2K]

besides PS4 being a good platform the major points are Microsoft royally screwed up and Nintendo have been Nintendo as always.

Sony didn't need to say anything, Microsoft handed them year 1 on a platter.

 

[Mononoke]

Seven years without a new console + one of the cheaper launch prices ever for really good hardware had something to do with it.

Yep, my thoughts exactly.

 

[BPoole]

Well, MS completely dropped the ball handling the XB1 causing the internet to shit talk MS and praise Sony, Nintendo isn't even a competitor, the PS4 is the strongest current gen console (and was $100 cheaper than it's main competitor), console gamers were starved for new hardware.

Factor all these together, and you have a lot of people who bought the PS4 as their first current gen console. All those people have friends that may games at various capacities, and they are going to buy what their friends bought. It's almost a snowball effect.

 

[Steel]

Who are they and what do they want?! >=|

Oh. You know, I wonder how the hell he figured that one out.

 

[bigbaldwolf86]

I know why it's selling well

Sony fucking nailed it

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

PS4 is simply the go to system if you want to play next gen video games. They nailed it on all fronts: price, power,games and marketing.

Whats more interesting is why people who never had a wii ps360 would buy a PS4.

 

[Draper]

Cheap, powerful, hardware and the support of many devs due to its accessibility. Also, Microsoft's anti-consumer bullshit made Sony look like a saint by comparison.

 

[TheXfactor]

PS4 is selling as much as Wii LTD.



What I wanted to say was: lotsa people who weren't into gaming are buying one because of the hype. How else would you explain the people who hadn't owned a console before getting a PS4?

just liked the 3ds was selling better than the ds

Im not saying It wont sell well but the wiis first two years were something of miracles, it sold over 400k in july npd of 2007, and it had lines and sell outs in july. JULY, the system came out like 7 or 8 months before and it was still selling out and continued to sellout till the end of 2008 in a lot of places! The PS4 in comparison sold 185k for its first july npd and i could walk into to any store and grab one. the ps4's sales are very top heavy and a lot of it had to do with availability for launch.

and the iphone, i feel like i shouldn't even have to describe that hype.

 

[Occam]

Best new hardware, good price, great future outlook, region free, no trying to screw us like the competition did.

What other explanation do you need?

 

[Sword Of Doom]

Frankly, I'm shocked it has sold 10 million units with such a dearth of appealing software.

I want one, but not until there are 3-4 retail games I'd buy

It launched with COD, NBA2K, BF4 and FIFA. That's all some people need believe it or not

 

[Quotient]

i think this quote is important:

I'm asking marketing people to tell us why. They've been to people who already purchased, and some of the early data was amazing in terms of the number of people who didn't used to own PS3 have already purchased PS4. So we are getting lots of new customers coming into PlayStation. And some people never purchased any last-gen hardware: PS3, or Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii. So where did they come from?

Those who never purchased a console last-gen are now buying a PS4. This has surprised Sony and also surprising to me. The PS4 is less of a media machine than the PS3, so they must not be buying it for that functionality, they must be buying for the games - but why now?