Unfettered Blather

It seems like a lot of people are angry that Sony is trying to copy the Wii controller, and not being the least bit subtle about it. I’m not sure what people expect them to do, just ignore it? Rumor has it that Microsoft is also working on a prototype for something similar.

If Nintendo has a good idea, it would be foolish to just let them have it. Especially if there is nothing stopping the competition. Granted, neither Sony nor Microsoft can just blatantly copy the design, nor do I really want them to anyway. Regardless, that is the nature of business, you change or you die. I don’t think Sony or Microsoft are going anywhere so I expect them to follow Nintendo on this one.

The great thing here is that they are going to be following Nintendo for a change. It’s been the other way around for awhile, and I have been hoping that Nintendo would become a contender again so that the three-way competition could continue. It’s good for the market and good for consumers. Sony, on the other hand, has bigger problems than a controller.

In all honesty, I think they dual SKU price point is the biggest threat to Sony’s future. The “expensive” X-Box 360 is still $100 less than the “cheap” Playstation 3. That is assuming Microsoft doesn’t drop the price by the time Sony hits the market. Then again, if Sony really is going to release their system at $500 and $600, why would Microsoft care to lower their price? As it is, Nintendo can release the Wii for $300 and nobody will bat an eyelash.

Also, between the blatant rip-off of Nintendo’s idea and the outrageous price, Sony has finally taken the heat off of Nintendo’s marketing fiasco. The gaming press and public could have continued bashing Nintendo for at least another week, but Sony was so kind to have the brunt shifted to them.

If nothing else, Sony has convinced me that the Playstation 3 will be the last of the next-gen consoles I purchase. I make pretty good money and even I am going to have to wait until their premium system drops a couple hundred before I would even consider picking it up. Maybe the hardcore Japanese gamer market will pay that much for a PS3, but Americans don’t have any xenophobic inhibitions stopping them from just purchasing the X-Box 360.

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