Sony Boss Not That Concerned About Platform Pricing
by Alex Co, posted on 06 April 2011 / 2,169 Views
PlayStation boss, Jack Tretton shares his philosophy on platform pricing and why he thinks the PlayStation 3 is just hitting its stride.
Speaking to Fast Company, Tretton compared the purchase of console or handheld to that of a gadget such as an iPhone or iPod.
"I think when you're buying a platform, when you're buying technology, you're hopefully buying a device you're going to enjoy for many, many years." Tretton further added that "People are used to spending several hundreds of dollars to get a portable device. I think in the long run, when you look at that total investment in a platform, the amount of money you spend on the hardware is a relatively small percentage of the total investment."
Tretton added that "It's not to say the price of the platform isn't a consideration, but I don't think price makes or kills a platform,” speaking about console pricing in general and not pertaining to a specific platform. He also remarked that something lousy and very expensive is not going to be successful and that something that might be considered pricey will ultimately find its audience if there’s enough value to be had there.
He also said that he thinks the PS3 is “just hitting its stride.” For people with good memories, the Sony boss also shared the same sentiment three years ago. Although now he thinks the implementation of 3D technology and the Move motion controller will be something Sony will benefit from for years to come.
Tretton ended by saying that they’ve seen steady growth in the last four years and this is something they’re expecting to continue well into the next fiscal year.
While some might see Tretton’s statements as more of Sony tooting their own horn, he does have a point. People will pay top price for gadgets and consoles that they think are worth it. The big question here is: will the NGP be worth it if it releases at a high price? Is this a hint from the Sony boss that it will?
