Sony Computer Entertainment Europe chief Andrew House just isn’t connecting with Microsoft’s new motion sensor technology.
In a recent interview with MCV, House said the Microsoft Kinect was going to have a difficult time selling games with its current marketing scheme.
"Consumers have understood Move is something that could impact a wide range of games," House said. "This is opposed to what I think may dog the competition to a degree, which is basing it solidly around just a family experience – and one that is harder to adapt into traditional game genres."
In other words, House is criticizing Microsoft for putting out a new motion sensor IP that is limited by design. Referencing Sony’s learnedness from when they "pioneered camera-based gaming" via the EyeToy, House warned that Microsoft "can only sustain a certain amount of momentum" when trying to sell on the product only. It’s the content that makes the system, he said.
"We learnt from that experience that there are limitations around a camera-only solution," he said. "It does work well and lend itself to certain genres, but you do tend to hit a bit of a brick wall when trying to support it with the broadest range of content available. That’s not the sort of problem we have with the Move."
House went on to defend the PlayStation Move’s alleged silent marketing campaign as opposed to Microsoft’s horn-blaring, multi-million push for the Kinect. Again, he said it’s the taste of the meat that will get it out the store, not how you sell it.
"I don’t think [the Move’s marketing campaign] was quieter," he said. "We know a marketing push is important around a launch window, but what will really drive adoption of new technology is going to be great content."
[MCV]
