The fact that we’re even talking about E3 in July rather than in May illustrates one of the many changes to the annual gaming blowout. This year’s expo was more exclusive than ever and a big departure from the E3 events of years past. That meant fewer throbbing lights and screaming gamers, and even fewer non-industry insiders in attendance. But that doesn’t mean we’re not looking out for you. In fact, we gave 50 Gamer Advisory Panel members the opportunity to attend the SCEA E3 Press Event on July 11. Better still, we have two G.A.P. members, Trina Schwimmer and Colin Bennett, on the inside attending further E3 events. They’re reporting back with all the eagle-eyed observations and candor you need to get the gamer’s-eye view.
So check out their posts to get a glimpse of what’s going on this year at E3:
I’m an Older GenYer (1980) and an avid Playstation Hardware owner since day one many years ago. Well, now that I’m doing the adult thing and have a wife and son taking up most of my home life, how will the new games for the PS3 help me incorporate them into my electronic world? There’s no need to market and advertise to me SCEA, you had me at Tekken 1; it’s my wife you must convience or somehow get her to enjoy electronic entertainment. I don’t live with my mother, I have a high level corporate job, I’ve fought in a war as an officer, I’m going for my PhD in Business, I’m married with a child and one on the way, and yet I’m still a gamer…so how does my family benifit from that? Maybe I’m explaining things the wrong way so a little help would be great. Maybe the new PSP will have more kids movies available for my son or perhaps cosmotology tips and continuing education for my wife to watch while at work. Please help me find some way to incorporate my family and my gaming side to live in harmony!:)
ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Colin looks exactly like me!!! Except 20 years older.
Nice editorial GAP members!
I really enjoyed Sony’s E3 Press Conference. You guys really impressed me and I can’t wait until all the PS3 games and the new PSP.
I could care less about this blog post…the topic at hand that Sony needs to address and start a pro-PR campaign is the crap that happend today.
Wanna fix things???
Just say this “AT this time the 60g will be 500…the 80g will be 600..as 60 dwindle there will be a price cut again ($50?) and a cut for 80”
BAM..Sony back on top were kings again..product moves.
*Yawn* Somebody wake me up when there’s actually something important posted here.
“But that doesn’t mean we’re not looking out for you.”
Yes, finally some demos from the E3 event just like the folks across the fence with their Microsoft products.
“In fact, we gave 50 Gamer Advisory Panel members the opportunity to attend the SCEA E3 Press Event on July 11”
….umm…thank you ?
Where are the demos? E3 comes and you promise great content to download at the store and all we get are videos?
Where is the Heavenly Sword demo that was supposed to be coming ‘soon’ and The Darkness demo that was announced 3 weeks ago?
Someone pulled the E-break on the E3 power house ride we were on today…
Seriously Sony, so many people are gonna be disappointed about the discontinuation of the 60gb, with the end of the 20gb, consumers only had the choice of the 60gb (which is good as is), why cause even more confusion and frustration?
Releasing the 80gb wont justify getting a ps3, the whole point from the beginning was for consumers just to get a hand on a least one of those pricey machines, it didn’t even matter how much it could store
This is pointless news that no one cares about. We demand explanation on the 60GB discontinuation and REAL price cuts.
No offense, but you talk a lot of PR crap. How about addressing the REAL issues? Like if you guys actually give a RATS a ss about what we say.
Listening and Hearing are TWO different things.
What do you mean by “Working on getting demos”? Is that the same as “Working on getting in game XMB access”? or “Working on Update 2.0??
JAPAN ALREADY HAS WALLPAPERS…WHERE ARE NA’S? AND ALSO WHY THE HELL IS THERE STILL NO IN-GAME XMB. I’m glad you people get burned in the media, you deserve it with your sh!t service. Amen.
Darkking go play your boring Halo games, the new one didn’t create any buzz at all HAHAHA xD
Trolls should be banned from the blog.
Anyway PlayStation HOME has surprisingly good graphics…I mean the spaces and characters themselves are pretty well done.
Is it just me or is that Japanese dojo awesome? =D
I want gears of war on the playstation.
That guy at Loyalty marketing sure has his work cut out for him, considering all the people that are ready to lynch Sony for this scam called a “price drop”.
Sony is the new Sega.
If Microsoft announces a price drop before Christmas, you guys are screwed!
Alot of *angry* people (like me) will be switching over to Xbox and simply waiting for MGS 4 to be released.
After all, I’ll always have my PS2.
I was so in love with this E3… You guys shot it out of the park… You were, by far, the best showing. I was excited for the new PSP (video output is awesome), I was excited for Killzone, I was excited for Echochrome… The PS3 was selling out everywhere in the US and Canada due ENTIRELY to the price cut, and I was finally not going to be supporting a failing system… I wasn’t going to be supporting this gen’s gamecube, and I was very pleased with that…
And then the 60 gig phase out…
Here’s the deal… Once the 60 gigs sell out, that’s only, at most, a 5.5 million sold… That’s not nearly the install base the 360 has… Not even near what it had at the end of last year. People, having had the PS3 at 500 bucks, are NOT going to be buy it at 600 again… The bundle is not attractive to anyone with a brain, particularly when the EE is taken out.
Sony… This announcement is making it so I hate every single console company out there… I already hated Microsoft, E3 this year made me hate Nintendo, and this announcement is making me hate you guys. I hate the PC gaming world with a passion (part of why I hate Microsoft) So what does that leave me? I’m going to be a game designer… I would like to go to work for a company I like… I really wanted to get a job with Team Ico or even directly for Japan Team or London Team. There won’t be anything left if Sony treats the gaming public like crap like this… Do you hear me Sony? With my love for Sony gone, there is NOTHING LEFT in the gaming world for me…
I know there are others like me… There’s good reason we were Sony fanboys… It may have started with Final Fantasy 7 and Metal Gear Solid, but in the PS2 days, it became the great stuff you put out of your own studios… It became the great, well supported system that pushed DVD into dominance over VHS. It became everything we’re still expecting of the PS3 to do similarly… This price drop then removal of said drop are a slap in the face to those of us early adopters who supported you to get you off the ground with PS3… Those of us who want a large install base so we get great third party exclusives and get more games…
Please fix this, Sony
I OWN A PS3 and I THINK the service sucks. If I could have all the PS3 games combined with a free x-box live, I would be one happy guy.
“Sony… This announcement is making it so I hate every single console company out there… I already hated Microsoft, E3 this year made me hate Nintendo, and this announcement is making me hate you guys. I hate the PC gaming world with a passion (part of why I hate Microsoft) So what does that leave me? I’m going to be a game designer… I would like to go to work for a company I like… I really wanted to get a job with Team Ico or even directly for Japan Team or London Team. There won’t be anything left if Sony treats the gaming public like crap like this… Do you hear me Sony? With my love for Sony gone, there is NOTHING LEFT in the gaming world for me…
I know there are others like me… There’s good reason we were Sony fanboys… It may have started with Final Fantasy 7 and Metal Gear Solid, but in the PS2 days, it became the great stuff you put out of your own studios… It became the great, well supported system that pushed DVD into dominance over VHS. It became everything we’re still expecting of the PS3 to do similarly… This price drop then removal of said drop are a slap in the face to those of us early adopters who supported you to get you off the ground with PS3… Those of us who want a large install base so we get great third party exclusives and get more games… ”
Exactly how I feel, he isn’t the only one!
We know you are being pressured by the stockholders etc to keep the price high, but guess what? We too invested into your console, we too are a part of the Sony family as you said so yourself. Do NOT spit in the faces of those who support you the most. Have confidence in the great console you created and drop the price FOR REAL!
I am really happy that you seem to be catching up with Microsoft and releasing more and better content for us on the Playstation Store. However, I was dissappointed that we didn’t recieve a single demo while Microsoft managed to release at least three.
I did enjoy the videos, they were great, and there are at least eight (8!!) games I am looking forward to and buying THIS YEAR. Yes, that’s really amazing going from really no interesting titles to an army of awesome games.
“Get That E3 Feeling” would be easier if we had some demos to try out what people are experiencing at E3. I’d actually want to play something on my PS3 for a change instead of just watching trailers ;)
Remember when Marie Antoinette said “Let them eat cake!” ? Remember what happened to her Jack?
That is what is going to happen to Sony (metaphorically) in the gaming world if Sony continues to piss on Sony fans.
i really love that i own a ps3 and the future for it looks great! but i would really like to see some demos on psn from E3 sure Heavenly Sword is coming as a demo, but maybe Killzone2 and a beta for little big planet?
No one CARES about 2 GAP members. We care about PS3! Sony, where are the demos and actual price drops?
Sony needs to market little big planet the same way nintendo did for pokemon. Toys, a series and of course the game. I believe Little big planet can become or will become Sony’s killerapp for casual games.
An Emptier, featureless tomorrow on the PSN.
I expect nothing from Sony’s Firmware Updates anymore. I’ve been too disappointed already to be honest at the time frame these features are coming out. Recently, Eric Lempel, the Director of PSN Operations, gave an interview to GameTrailers (GT) where he answered if In-Game XMB (full considering: friends, photos, music, game, users, and settings with the clear exception of video) would be in a game after the home button would be pressed by answering “It’s Definitely Possible. And again, it’s something we’re working on.” The fact that it’s definitely possible doesn’t ALLEVIATE my unintelligible faith in them. Either you know it’s coming or you don’t. Saying it’s definitely possible is akin to saying it’s probable but we don’t know for sure. It seemed like a really iffy answer. Adding to all of this especially was when he said “some of the features are really minor.” Some of these things were demanded along side DVD Upscaling since day one. And yet, to this day, our wishful PSN prayers of that magical but unreal “2.00” or any happiness in the thought of the features to arrive on the console were furtively chasmed with the faux pas “We’re listening to the consumers, and all of those features are being worked on,” or “They are definitely coming or we will have those.” 9 months to date and the only fruition of these answers have been in the form of Japan receiving one most popularly demanded feature: Wallpapers. Whereas, North America or any other region gets nothing but false hope and rumor after rumor from a dying flower or another man with the mistaken identity of a sad Leah rosebud. Bottom line: strong companies confident in their online strategy and performance don’t do these things. They don’t have to. What kind of a message does this type of behavior send to the online community and, more importantly, your customers? Weakness. All of this and more can be nothing that represents a positive signal for a better, brighter tomorrow.
-An Angry Sony Supporter (Michael L.), more angry at Eric Lempel.
P.S. Mr.Lempel if you read this, I demand you give a more detailed and a less vacuous answer for an already otiose online “Playstation Network” service than ” It’s definitely possible, and it’s something we’re working on. These features are minor in some cases.”
Eric Lempel is incompetent just like Reeves and other Sony higher ups.
There are a lot of fanboys demanding a lot of things here. The thing is that these “fanatic” fanboys are small in numbers but loud as hell. The LARGE majority of people who will buy PS3 in the future don’t care about all this. They buy when there’s content that appeals to them, and when the price is right for them.
They don’t have a clue what EE is or DVD upscaling or forced 24 fps Blu-ray playback or in-game XMB etc. etc. etc.
If that’s in there great but 90% will not be demanding those features. So while nice to have, and more importantly they’re shutting up the “fanatic” fanboys, they’re not very important for the success of the PS3.
What’s important is content and price. Content and price. Content and price.
So Sony, use you’re resources where they are needed the most and don’t listen to all the whining cry-babys that seem to be the loudest on these forums.
Again, I’m very happy about my PS3 after this E3.
Great work, keep it up!
@Darkendless (75)
People like you do Sony and PS3 more harm than good.
Maybe you should consider getting an X360 so you can whine to MS about how it breaks all the time, or a Nintendo Wii so you can use some of that energy of yours on the Wimote playing Wii Sports.
Just a thought.
People like YOU do Sony and PS3 more harm than good. You refuse to accept any of its faults or any faults with Sony’s business plan. Well, if it has no faults then why is it currently losing exclusives and being destroyed in sales?
@Darkendless (76)
I never said it has no faults. It’s not being destroyed in sales either. After the price-cut the PS3 is selling very good, and even before the price-cut sales were not as bad as you’re implying. In Europe without a price-cut and a massive price of approx. 900US$ for a basic PS3 it’s selling better than the X360 with the exception of the UK, but in total in EU about the same as X360.
I’m saying that to the masses that are going to buy PS3 it’s about content and price.
I realize that, but have you seen the PS3 sales in the US (the single largest market)? 360 is consistently outselling the PS3 2:1 and that is even before it has dropped in price.
Yes, but that’s probably the reason for the price-cut in the US, and according to many web sites the PS3 sales have picked up massively after the price-cut haven’t they. So, if they can keep that momentum it’s great, and by the time a cheaper to manufacture 80GB PS3 arrives sometime later this year, you’ll still have the 60GB PS3 untill maybe november/december for 499US$. When stocks are out of 60GB PS3’s then the 80GB may drop to the same price point of 499US$ sometime in november/december or maybe even cheaper if Sony really want to murder the competition in the holiday season. (ofc they won’t/can’t tell you now that the price for the 60GB is now 499 and btw. the 80GB will be 499 in november).
So all the people who think they need EE can buy it now. Most people don’t know what it is and when they buy the 80GB PS3 for 499US$ sometime later this year they won’t give a flying f… if it has EE or not, they don’t know what it is, they want Singstar to work and God of War and Final Fantasy.. etc. and they work fine already. By the time the 80GB is released the already short list of games that have issues will be even shorter.
Yes, it would definitely be great if the 80GB will remain at $499 US, but that is exactly what I’m worried about.
I think it’s what they’re hinting at. They’ve said that an 80GB HD is just a couple of cents more expensive and taking out the EE makes the 80GB even cheaper to manufacture. They sell out all the stock on the 60GB wich is more expensive to manufacture due to the EE, and they make the 80GB 499US$. Anything else would be rather mysterious.
But, I agree that Sony made a mess around the price-cut announcement and the new 80GB version.
And, like I said it would not be very smart if Sony would tell that come november the 80GB will also be 499US$, then many would wait for that one and the 60GB wouldn’t sell out as quickly.
As for the poster who said 90% don’t know is a pure idiot. They’ll know it soon enough when they can’t access music, or messages, or photos for a wallpaper, etc.
They will know, like I did…and the 4500 PEOPLE in the PETITION do.
I tried to send this via the ‘contact us’ but it was too long (!!!)
it’s really frustrating as a fan, that sony can do so much right and have it all undone via their staff not being able lto get their story straight… and then once again have SCEA pr wade in with damage control that makes things worse.
I just wish sony didn’t ruin E3 for themselves… what is the BBC reporting on today? Not the great games line up and technical achievement… no, the whole price issue, and that’s a real shame… and saddening in the face of Sony having done somuch right.
There’s two other big issues though – i work in marketing, and i really don’t get what you guys are actually trying to do:
The problem most people have with the PS3 right now is price – you guys know this, i’m sure. So it’s really confusing for the consumer to be releasing a new SKU with more storage, and still at a premium price, when the storage is already ample for most peoples needs – you are fixing a problem you never had. More storage isn’t really adding value yet – especially as there’s very little content on the PSN that requires a lot of space.
The other thing i don’t get, is how given that you’ve known when E3 was going to be for well, forever, that you found it impossible to schedule a few demos for the PSN – thats a real let down for most consumers. I do fully understand that this requires time and effort, and that your teams are already stretched trying to get games out this year – but the amount of value some decent demos would have added for the customer this E3, at a time when the PS3 has been under serious media attack, would likely have been worth many millions of above the line marketing dollars and PR spend. It feels like a missed chance to make a difference for the customer.
You only have to read just a couple of pages of majornelsons blog to see the reams of content MS have managed to deliver on Live. So far the PSN has had a few first party and couple of hridparty trailers… Now, there are going to be reasons for this… sure. But look at it from the consumers point of view:
“Hey, how come there’s all this third party content up on Xbox Live – most of those games are coming to PS3, but there’s not even a trailer for the same titles on the PSN”
It sends two messages in my eyes – 1: Microsoft is able to deliver better access to the games i want. 2: Sony is failing to associate itself with very big titles coming out soon.
The final thing – and this is really something which i don’t get… Why is it so hard for you to put the same content you release to the Media on the PSN?
Why after gamersday, were there MP4 videos on the official US PS site of Heavenly Sword and Uncharted… that took weeks to appear on the PSN but you had it in 720p, in the correct format for the PS3 on your own website. Crazy. It makes it seem like people at sony just don’t talk to each other. Did no one say ‘hey, we have these MP4 vids on the site, and everyones talking about gamersday, let’s capitalise on that, and get the damn things on the PSN Asap’
???
Likewise at E3 – the killzone trailer was availible all over the web nearly a full day before you deemed the PSN worthy of it… as was most of the other content.
This may be old-fashioned marketing theory… but i’d also been taught that you reward your best customers and stakeholders first.
In this case, i’d say that people who actually bought a PS3 (even though we are a rarity), and actually signed up to your online service – are your keenest customers and advocates – yet we seem to come way, way, down the pecking order.
I don’t expect you to reply to this, and i’m sure my thoughts aren;t different to a lot of the comments you receive on the blog every day. I just want to let you know that the lack of integrated coms on the behalf of sony is really damaging your brand with the Playstation – there’s not a message board in the world thats not full of people saying exactly this, and more.
Take care.
Cheers
Dear Sony,
I went to the Playstation.com website and checked out the video entitled “Casual Gaming”. I was wondering if its possible to get Kirstin Reilly on Playstation.blog and do a few posts. She’s a SUPER CUTIE !! She can easily convince me to buy a 2nd PS3 for $599 and that’s not including the extra 20 gigs and the Motorstorm game :-)
Thank you for your time
Dear Sony
Give me some demos please.
Thank you
Demos demos demos!
It is interesting the PS3 has been number 1 on amazon sales for the last 3 days, and I do not see news about this on game websites, like I saw with the Wii over the last two months, bias news reporting? I think so!!!
It is interesting the PS3 has been number 1 on amazon sales for the last 3 days, and I do not see news about this on game websites.
Well said CitizenInsane27 (post 30), everyone wants a discount but they have no idea at what cost? Think about it people. A PS3 at $399 is ludicrous!!! Sony would have to shut down shop in a few months at that rate. I can see a $500 or $550 price drop of the bundle. Dropping the price that low would also tell consumers that the tech in the PS3 is equivalent to a red ring of death console. Sony is already taking a big hit on every console sold. Instead of complaining for a price drop. As Sony hardcore fans. We should be helping sony with promoting this machine. Convince friends and family by word of mouth. Don’t you guys get it? I really don’t think sony can afford such a tremendous price drop this early in the game. Developers wants Sony to drop the price right? It’s because they know how much people enjoy the PlayStation brand. Also, the lost that sony will incur wont affect them. How would this super price cut lost would affect the company? Believe me, it’s definitely not a good look! Sony have to stick with one SKU and grind it out until they are loaded with software proving the systems true power. Show third party developers that only the PS3 can do certain things. That’s the first stepping stone! Until sony can prove this…developers will be in limbo.
Nobody is noticing the positive things about sony at this point. It took Xbox 360 a full year to get a game like Gears of War. Sony is already delivering that kind of quality right out the gate. example….Rachet, Uncharted, Warkhawk, Heavenly Sword etc. Can you guys imagine what will the 2nd generation games will look like? OMG!
Stop complaining about the 60GB PS3. Circuit City is giving one free controller. Sony’s also including five BluRay movies. It’s a freaking good deal, go out there and buy the damn thing. So what if they have a 80GB SKU? Now the people have a choice…and having a choice is always good. It’s not like your 60GB wont be able to do what the 80GB does correct? The majority of you guys that complaining here on the blog are more likely to buy any PS3 SKU and upgrade the HDD anyways. That’s a fact!!!
Sorry for such a long post. But take a look at my thoughts. Let me know whasssup!
E3 was fantastic for Sony this year, largely because Nintendo and Microsoft’s conferences were pretty bad!
MGSIV, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword, Infamous, Echocrome, GT5, Haze, UT3…. very nice Sony! Much, much, much better than last year’s E3.
Now gamers have been left with a sour taste though due to the “60GB being discontinued” announcement, as we were all hoping the PS3 would be $499 this holiday season so it would have a good chance to compete against Halo 3.
I’m hoping Sony will drop the price of the 80GB to $499 as soon as the 60GB is sold out, and I can understand why you wouldn’t comment on that right now, but it would be very disappointing if it didn’t happen.
@ Ghostm
You’re being too positive. If Sony continue to ridiculously price the PS3 then it’s going to be the Dreamcast 2.
The major problem with the PS3 is the price. If Sony fixes it up (quickly) they can dominate this console war.
Simple as that. There is no “ifs” and “buts”. The PS3 needs to be cheaper.
I believe all these issues will be corrected once PShome is release. Demos, trailors and other stuff will be done on the regular. It feels like sony is focusing on creating a unified network with home in order to get into gear. Try to be patient people.
Sony wouldn’t have these problems if they had (Virtua Fighter 5, WarkHawk, Resistance, Ninja Gaiden and Motor Storm) on the PS3’s release date. These 5 titles would’ve held off hardcore gamers and the media at bay during those 8 months.
PSN should’ve been fully apporational at the gate if you ask me.
@18 They are from the Netherlands ;-)
Hi, I’m also waiting for the release date for Home (looks great).
I haven’t heard anything from Quantic Dream and the exclusive (Heavy rain?) Could you please tell us more?
I wish I could go. But I am a GAP member that lives on the East Coast, dang.
I just finished watching some vids about the exects…Peter Moore reminds me of a rat/snitch! A Schemer… lol Some sort of fake hustler.
E3 Blew my mind. Great job guys!
Fire Reeves !!!!!!!! Or shut him the hellup please !!! He wasnt loved as a child.