Thu, Sep 25, 2008 | 13:00 BST
Yoshida: PS3′s lack of fortunes in Japan is “mainly a software thing”
Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida has told VG247 that PS3 hasn’t yet seen explosive fortunes in Japan because the right software hasn’t yet been released for the machine.
“It’s mostly a software thing,” he said. “Price is important, but relative to the the value consumers perceive. There are lots of consumers, game fans in Japan, that are waiting to spend their money.
“What’s happening is that lack of support from the Japanese publishers – not necessarily from intentions but from development capabilities.”
Yoshida had previously said that Japanese publishers were struggling to keep up with the West in terms of games creation this generation thanks to a variety of factors such as team-size and an increase in graphical priority with current consoles.
The exec was speaking at Games Convention in Germany.
9 comments
#1
Blerk
25/09/08, 1:07 pm
Of course it is! So why don’t they do something about it?
And I think he’ll find they’re not “waiting” to spend their money – they’re already spending it on Nintendo stuff.
Why are we just getting these reports now, by the way?
#2
patlike
25/09/08, 1:09 pm
Commonly known as “maintaining traffic levels in lean times”
#3
patlike
25/09/08, 1:10 pm
Also, I’m really not sure of the wisdom of dropping huge interviews in one go. It’s a waste.
#4
juuken
25/09/08, 1:51 pm
Blerk, they’re going to do something about it, trust me.
#5
pjmaybe
25/09/08, 1:54 pm
I wonder how You-know-what will fare over there. Somehow, with the Japanese obsession with sticker booths I think it’s going to sell like hot dumplings.
#6
Blerk
25/09/08, 1:59 pm
@juuken: Well, we’ve been waiting for two years now for them to ‘do something about it’ and they don’t appear to be showing any signs of getting off their fat arses yet. It’s all very well begrudging a lack of software when you’re not actually producing much yourself. Sony’s PS3 output has been hugely skewed towards the West.
#7
Tonka
25/09/08, 2:22 pm
If there was any truth to this then the 360 wouldn’t be in third place over there.
Rubbish, bullshit and lies.
/spits on floor
#8
DrDamn
25/09/08, 2:53 pm
@Tonka
It can be a reason why the PS3 isn’t doing so well without the same rule being applied to the 360. There are other reasons for the 360 not doing well over there.
This bloke seems far too clued up and knowledgeable. His time at Sony must be numbered.
#9
No_PUDding
25/09/08, 4:39 pm
He seems cool.
My pitchfork is ready, becuase with the Playstation it’s all a waiting game. But I think TGs will kick start Japanese support. They can see Microsoft’s relative ‘success’ with it.
I bloody well hope so anyway.
I’d prefer avoid a couple or one megaton and have tons of little ton-lets at TGS.