PS4 TV Series thoughts
I get it. Compete, compete, compete. Each company needs to mimic what the other does. More or less. And here is one where Sony maybe should have opted for less.
My reason is the Xbox One and its focus on media and entertainment.
It makes sense for Microsoft to build up a library of media exclusives for Xbox One owners to justify its argument that the console is not just a gaming device. You spent an extra $100, and part of that reason may have been the HDMI pass through and functionality like One Guide. Content like this helps validate that decision.
The PS4 on the other hand was never really touted as an entertainment system. Yes, it can play videos from the store and has Netflix and the likes. But do too did the PS3. Heck the Wii had Netflix. So did the Xbox 360. None of those had exclusive video content. And PS4 was always advertised as strictly a gaming console.
So, doing this now, validates a function of the console that is arguably better executed on your competitions hardware. In other words, it is equivalent to admitting your competition has the better device. I'm not saying Sony actually thinks that. But the problem is simple. Add anything to something you sell on which there is an equivalent for the competition and the argument shifts from whether or not the feature is useful (healthy debate) to whether or not you or your competition execute is better (healthy if you're the superior system).
In other words, this move will force people to compare the PS4 to the Xbox One not just as a gaming console (where Sony generally wins out on mind share) but also as a media console (where Microsoft generally wins out on mind share). When the PS4 was purely about gaming, there was little reason for consumers to think or even care about how the Xbox One excelled in media.
The more Sony allows the focus to shift to media however, the more those little features of the Xbox One become more relevant to those thinking about a PS4.
And, as always, I need to circle back to the risk vs. reward aspect of it. Whether or not an exclusive video series will do anything positive for either ecosystem is a totally untested theory. It worked for Netflix, but they are not a console, and they do not provide solely such content. The provide a wealth of content, of which in house content is by far the minority. There is no guarantee that this will be a success even on the Xbox One where entertainment and media were advertised focus points for the system.
For Sony to take such a untested risk on delivering media content to a device that they always argued was for designed primarily for gamers just seems nuts. The effects are already being felt. This article speaks about both consoles trying to show themselves to not just be about gaming. In the past, no one would have bothered to say the PS4 was actively trying to do this. Now they have leveled the playing field, which isn't in their best interest. The article also does a good job pointing out other reasons why this venture is a risk.
Honestly, I think Sony's pilot project has more appeal than a Halo series does. But I think this also creates more issues than it resolves. As the article points out, having a series that has nothing to do with games forces the argument on why you should force users to buy a console to access it. The same could be argued about the Halo series, but arguably, most people interested will own an Xbox 360 or Xbox One and played the games.
While I thinking gaming related series have limited appeal. I think it is the right way to go. Start with something less controversial to have as a console exclusive. When the library gets big enough and starts gaining traction, then you start introducing more mainstream titles. While only the mainstream titles will draw the attention of "outsiders", it will be harder for them to complain if there is a library of other content already on the platform. Even if they have no plans to watch it.
Again, I think this will just draw unwanted negative PR to the PS4. People who want to watch the series but aren't gamers and don't own a PS4 could be substantial, especially relative to those who want to watch a Halo series but don't own an Xbox (360 or One). In the same way the performance debate can affect Xbox sales even though the average user likely wouldn't care. Even if the Powers series debate is more or less irrelevant, if it generates too much bad press for the PS4, it could eventually affect the platform as a whole.
Sony's best bet would be an attack like the one they did against Microsoft's proposed DRM for the Xbox One. Appeal to gamers, and in a roundabout way insult the hell out of Microsoft's plans to release exclusive video content. Retaliate by either killing off your own plans for Powers, or by making your content available to everyone. They don't even need to get a single viewer of the TV show to win. By once again making Microsoft looking to be bullies, doing something console owners don't want, you can hurt them seriously.
By making the exact same move, but with something they will likely execute better on, you stab yourself in the foot.
Lets be honest. Neither series is likely to be a driving force in getting sales on either console. It is a starting point. And unfortunately, in this infant stage, they are moves that in the short term, at their best, will have no impact and at worst will hurt the ecosystem. If the series are good, they can lay a foundation that today will have no positive impact (in the future, they might lead to a huge library and thus a compelling argument one way or the other). If the series are bad however, they serve as a point of ridicule.
I know that was a long rant, and probably redundant at points. Bottom line is the following:
Microsoft needs to take the gamble to help justify their claim that their console is for more than just gaming. And also, to help differentiate from the PS4.
Sony needs to either sabotage the effort, or avoid it, and make the point that people should just want the superior gaming console.
My reason is the Xbox One and its focus on media and entertainment.
It makes sense for Microsoft to build up a library of media exclusives for Xbox One owners to justify its argument that the console is not just a gaming device. You spent an extra $100, and part of that reason may have been the HDMI pass through and functionality like One Guide. Content like this helps validate that decision.
The PS4 on the other hand was never really touted as an entertainment system. Yes, it can play videos from the store and has Netflix and the likes. But do too did the PS3. Heck the Wii had Netflix. So did the Xbox 360. None of those had exclusive video content. And PS4 was always advertised as strictly a gaming console.
So, doing this now, validates a function of the console that is arguably better executed on your competitions hardware. In other words, it is equivalent to admitting your competition has the better device. I'm not saying Sony actually thinks that. But the problem is simple. Add anything to something you sell on which there is an equivalent for the competition and the argument shifts from whether or not the feature is useful (healthy debate) to whether or not you or your competition execute is better (healthy if you're the superior system).
In other words, this move will force people to compare the PS4 to the Xbox One not just as a gaming console (where Sony generally wins out on mind share) but also as a media console (where Microsoft generally wins out on mind share). When the PS4 was purely about gaming, there was little reason for consumers to think or even care about how the Xbox One excelled in media.
The more Sony allows the focus to shift to media however, the more those little features of the Xbox One become more relevant to those thinking about a PS4.
And, as always, I need to circle back to the risk vs. reward aspect of it. Whether or not an exclusive video series will do anything positive for either ecosystem is a totally untested theory. It worked for Netflix, but they are not a console, and they do not provide solely such content. The provide a wealth of content, of which in house content is by far the minority. There is no guarantee that this will be a success even on the Xbox One where entertainment and media were advertised focus points for the system.
For Sony to take such a untested risk on delivering media content to a device that they always argued was for designed primarily for gamers just seems nuts. The effects are already being felt. This article speaks about both consoles trying to show themselves to not just be about gaming. In the past, no one would have bothered to say the PS4 was actively trying to do this. Now they have leveled the playing field, which isn't in their best interest. The article also does a good job pointing out other reasons why this venture is a risk.
Honestly, I think Sony's pilot project has more appeal than a Halo series does. But I think this also creates more issues than it resolves. As the article points out, having a series that has nothing to do with games forces the argument on why you should force users to buy a console to access it. The same could be argued about the Halo series, but arguably, most people interested will own an Xbox 360 or Xbox One and played the games.
While I thinking gaming related series have limited appeal. I think it is the right way to go. Start with something less controversial to have as a console exclusive. When the library gets big enough and starts gaining traction, then you start introducing more mainstream titles. While only the mainstream titles will draw the attention of "outsiders", it will be harder for them to complain if there is a library of other content already on the platform. Even if they have no plans to watch it.
Again, I think this will just draw unwanted negative PR to the PS4. People who want to watch the series but aren't gamers and don't own a PS4 could be substantial, especially relative to those who want to watch a Halo series but don't own an Xbox (360 or One). In the same way the performance debate can affect Xbox sales even though the average user likely wouldn't care. Even if the Powers series debate is more or less irrelevant, if it generates too much bad press for the PS4, it could eventually affect the platform as a whole.
Sony's best bet would be an attack like the one they did against Microsoft's proposed DRM for the Xbox One. Appeal to gamers, and in a roundabout way insult the hell out of Microsoft's plans to release exclusive video content. Retaliate by either killing off your own plans for Powers, or by making your content available to everyone. They don't even need to get a single viewer of the TV show to win. By once again making Microsoft looking to be bullies, doing something console owners don't want, you can hurt them seriously.
By making the exact same move, but with something they will likely execute better on, you stab yourself in the foot.
Lets be honest. Neither series is likely to be a driving force in getting sales on either console. It is a starting point. And unfortunately, in this infant stage, they are moves that in the short term, at their best, will have no impact and at worst will hurt the ecosystem. If the series are good, they can lay a foundation that today will have no positive impact (in the future, they might lead to a huge library and thus a compelling argument one way or the other). If the series are bad however, they serve as a point of ridicule.
I know that was a long rant, and probably redundant at points. Bottom line is the following:
Microsoft needs to take the gamble to help justify their claim that their console is for more than just gaming. And also, to help differentiate from the PS4.
Sony needs to either sabotage the effort, or avoid it, and make the point that people should just want the superior gaming console.
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