Random Gaming Thoughts

[Exhuminator]

From what I have read, this has been the business model for video game consoles for some time.

That's why I thought it was strange when pepharytheworm said that Sony functioned at a loss for many years with the PS1 and PS2. That is not at all what I have read from other sources. Now I'm not saying he's outright wrong, but I'm not going to believe his account without cited facts either.

[Sarge]

Well, the question is whether Sony as a whole operated at a loss, or just the video game division. They've had all sorts of issues company-wide, but the gaming segment has been a little more stable... although there were some really lean years for the PS3.

[Exhuminator]

the question is whether Sony as a whole operated at a loss, or just the video game division

Well pepharytheworm said:

In other words they ate the cost and the Playstation brand functioned at a loss for many years.

It seemed pepharytheworm's implication was Sony's gaming division was operating at a loss, given that's the subject he was discussing. If that's not what pepharytheworm meant, then perhaps he'll come back and explain his stance more clearly for us.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Here is Sony's 1998 Annual Report:

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financi ... y_1998.pdf

Based on this document, it appears that its video game division was incredibly successful. While revenues do not equal profit, it appears that Sony's video game division was the most successful component of its consumer electronics business. Revenues from that division went from non-existent in 1994 to the largest source of revenue for the company (i.e., beating out movies, music, etc.) by 1998.

[Exhuminator]

Based on this document, it appears that its video game division was incredibly successful.

That's more in line with what I'd read before, that the PS1 and PS2 eras were highly lucrative for Sony. I also read that it wasn't until the PS3 era that they started having difficulties in that division. Which is why I thought what pepharytheworm said seemed off.

[Erik_Twice]

I just saw someone call Warren Spector a "one-hit wonder".

[Ack]

I just saw someone call Warren Spector a "one-hit wonder".

Hahaha, what idiot said that?

[Erik_Twice]

I just saw someone call Warren Spector a "one-hit wonder".

Hahaha, what idiot said that?

Someone from Neogaf. And it's not even the worst thing on the thread, people are arguing that fucking' Shenmue was also a one-hit wonder and that Id didn't make a good game after Doom.

You know, one of the things I have wanted to do for a long time is to add technical readouts to my reviews, listing age of release, designer and all that stuff. And I had two competing patterns, one cleaner one that just listed the name and another that listed the name and then a famous game they have made.

I think I'm going to try to do the latter

[Ack]

I think you should.

Also, that's terrible. Some folks at NeoGAF need to learn more about video games.

[Erik_Twice]

I'll try to see if I can find a way to display a text box that doesn't look awful and report back.