Retail needed for next generation of consoles - Sony

by Gaetano Prestia Featured 8 Comments 19 Votes 1085 Views 09/07/2012 Back to News

Retail is important for the success of future console hardware, according to Sony Computer Entertainment UK boss, Fergal Gara.

Sony recently acquired online streaming service Gaikai, but that doesn’t stem its support for retail stores that sell physical media, even in light of almost 300 speciality stores closing in the UK alone.

“Coming down off that 2008 peak has been a steep ride for many and has involved fallout on many levels, not least of all retail.

“So what we’re seeing is not really a surprise, a bit of a readjustment if you like and it isn’t just happening to the specialists on the High Street. There is a bit of a reappraisal around space and the commitment from other retailers.”

Mr Gara believes that retailers need to “maintain their interest in servicing the [retail] space”, as platform holders will once again look to service their market with new hardware and software.

Source: MCV

By Gaetano Prestia - Bio

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Kudos: 10,360

punk

I think retail gaming is important even in the face of digital distribution and all the pluses that come with it but It's up to a smart 'mother' to figure out a way to monetize this going forward while still providing an outlet that consumers can walk in, browse and eventually buy. I know I don't mind doing that. The competition in retail has tightened up but I hardly think its a dead end. It might be the way of the future but I don't know why people are so encased with online only. Surely, having both options would be a great choice for consumers?

Cutting out an established core group of people wouldn't be as smart as some people make it out to be. It might work for smaller developers with less capital but it's still a good way to distribute games. But I guess that also comes down to whether publishers are going to screw the retail sector and find ways to limit the games that people purchase with whatever fandangle reason they concoct up.

that's my view and generally its been the same when issues like this talk about retail and digital. In short, they can co-exist easily.

09/07/2012

Kudos: 1,608

Rusty12

I hope Sony makes a really good console next GEN because I'm getting tired of Microsoft and think it's time for a change.

Don't like it how they make forced changes to the dashboard all the time and all this Kinect Focused crap has really annoyed me this GEN.

C'mon Sony I used to own a PS1 and am willing to go back to you if you can make a good console.

09/07/2012

Brisbane

Kudos: 4,949

gammaray13

Rusty12 said: I hope Sony makes a really good console next GEN because I'm getting tired of Microsoft and think it's time for a change.
Don't like it how they make forced changes to the dashboard all the time and all this Kinect Focused crap has really annoyed me this GEN.
C'mon Sony I used to own a PS1 and am willing to go back to you if you can make a good console.

man the PS3 Craps all over the X-Box 360

09/07/2012

Booker : Elizabeth why do you still have a dress on ? : Elizabeth : cos i have a tear in my stockings

Kudos: 3,399

Carterr

removing retail would just cut out a very large chunk of casual(ish) gamers.

10/07/2012

Perth unna || i pleh eckbok

Kudos: 4,783

Viperz

gammaray13 said:
Rusty12 said: I hope Sony makes a really good console next GEN because I'm getting tired of Microsoft and think it's time for a change.
Don't like it how they make forced changes to the dashboard all the time and all this Kinect Focused crap has really annoyed me this GEN.
C'mon Sony I used to own a PS1 and am willing to go back to you if you can make a good console.

man the PS3 Craps all over the X-Box 360

The only thing that PS3 is better in is Blu-Ray. It dosn't affect a game like CoD because they make the same game and put it on the console they don't make 2 games one for ps3 and one for xbox.

Carterr said: removing retail would just cut out a very large chunk of casual(ish) gamers.

And this will end up choking the market because thats how most of us started as casual gamers before getting more serious.

10/07/2012

"Got it memorized?"

Kudos: 92,495

GreenThumb

@Viperz CoD isn't the best example ;) Since Activision and Microsoft are in bed together (time exclusives for DLC etc.)

Anyways, @Gammaray13 i seriously thought, That by now MMGN would atleast have moved far away from the fanboy-ish ness that happened during the younger times of the MySites. However, Whilst it seems the rest of us have matured in the last few years, I do feel a slight bit of sadness and remorse towards you. I do hope that one day soon you will also mature and be able to join us in other mature conversations and topics. I really do look forward to hearing your opinions and views expressed in a more mature manner sometime in the future.

10/07/2012

I have AIDS (Artifical Intelligence Defense System)

Kudos: 10,518

LMA0

Rusty12 said: I hope Sony makes a really good console next GEN because I'm getting tired of Microsoft and think it's time for a change.
Don't like it how they make forced changes to the dashboard all the time and all this Kinect Focused crap has really annoyed me this GEN.
C'mon Sony I used to own a PS1 and am willing to go back to you if you can make a good console.

XBOX 360 in the beginning was great for core gaming, it was for gamers but now there slipping to casual media gaming. PS3 hasn't much changed there still focus on core gaming, they tried to target the casuals by PS Move but yeah we know what happen there.

10/07/2012

Outer West Sydney aka The Ghetto

Kudos: 1,608

Rusty12

Well it's to late to go to PS3 now, to much trouble selling all my xbox gear, and getting a PS3, so I will wait till next gen and hopefully SONY makes the better console.

I'm not a fanboy of any company and I will buy whichever one sounds best to me.

I've owned a Super nintendo, a Playstation 1, a Dreamcast, PS2, XBOX, Wii and now a 360.

I hope Sony Makes the better console easily next gen so it makes it easy for me to chose them :).

The Wii U definitely doesn't interest me so it's either going to be a PS4 or XBOX 720. Or if they do that Digital crap instead of real games I will not chose any.

10/07/2012

Brisbane