Activision May Stop Supporting PS3

[ray]

I have never been a fan of Sony products outside of their original earbud headphones (which I still purchase regularly). The proprietary nature of many of their electronics was the reason I didn't want to pay a premium for their products.

This would be a blow of enormous proportions if it happens. It's bad enough Sony already lost exclusivity to the Final Fantasy franchise.

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/200906...ivision_sony_2

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -
Activision Blizzard Chief Executive Bobby Kotick said in a published report on Friday it may stop making video games for Sony's PlayStation 3, the No. 3 console in the United States, due to high costs and poor sales.

In an interview with the Times of London, Kotick complained that the PS3's $399 price tag is too high, and said the game publisher might stop supporting the console.

Kotick was quoted as saying: "I'm getting concerned about Sony; the PlayStation 3 is losing a bit of momentum and they don't make it easy for me to support the platform. It's expensive to develop for the console, and the Wii and the Xbox are just selling better."

Kotick said in 2010 and 2011, Activision "might want to consider if we support the console -- and the PSP too."

Activision, the largest U.S. game publisher, did not respond to requests seeking additional comment.

The most popular console, Nintendo's Wii, costs $250, while the cheapest version of Microsoft's Xbox goes for $200.

Roughly 290,000 units of the Wii were sold in the United States in May, according to research group NPD, versus 175,000 for the Xbox and 131,000 for the PS3.

Complaints from game publishers about the cost of consoles are nothing new, but Kotick's statements were particularly pointed.

"It's a little shot across the bow .... Was there a message there to Sony? Quite possibly," said MKM Partners analysts Eric Handler.

"It is more difficult to develop for the PS3 and it costs a little more .... The PS3 install base isn't what they thought it would be and the machine is too expensive."

In an emailed statement, Sony Computer Entertainment America said "we enjoy healthy business relationships with and greatly value our publishing partners and are working closely with them to deliver the best entertainment experience."

(Reporting by Gabriel Madway; Editing by Richard Chang)

[gwilks98]

as a ps3 fan, I have to say sony effed up big time. I'm pissed I can't play ps2 games. The game prices for old games really hasn't come down at all. I have yet to play one "must have" game that would blow me away. Any browser sucks without flash. The MP3 abilities are severely lacking.
It seems like the only way to have fun is to play MMO games, which I don't do.

It's just overall lacking what addicts me to consoles.

[Thesifer]

I like my PS3, but they could do better. The PS2 was awesome. Overall so far the PS3 is meh. They have the ability in the hardware for some cool things to be done. But it needs to be utilized. Even if it requires Sony making some in-house games like Nintendo does to support their console.

[Jcranmer]

I only have played a handful of games on my PS3. I use mine almost exclusively as a media center.

[Devhux]

Too expensive, and lack of any killer games (in my opinion) are what has turned me off from the PS3.

[ramazank2]

I love bomberman ultra on the PSN store, and its only $9.99.

[Jah Rulez]

Gwilks,

What can't you play PS2 games?

[Thesifer]

Gwilks,

What can't you play PS2 games?

On the PS3, It depends on the model if it's backward compatible or not.

[Jah Rulez]

My bad, I forgot that they changed the "formula" of the PS3. I have original 60GB launch one.

Played Grand Theft Auto (PS1) the other day. Funny playing GTAIV and vs. the top view version.

But I agree, there are some interesting buys in the PSN Store. Although I stuck a 320GB HD in it and use it mostly as a media center also.

[attgig]

i wish mlb the show was available on other consoles. that's the only game i would want to play on a sony platform... of course sony creates the game, and that's it.