Why the PS3 won’t go extinct any time soon

The dawn of a new generation of consoles always comes with a wave of excitement – yet only to be met with an equal undertow of nostalgia. This generation in particular saw so many innovations and breakthroughs in the gaming medium with titles such as Heavy Rain, The Last of Us, and the Mass Effect series among countless others. It also lasted quite longer than most console life spans, and can competently last a couple of years more. Still, a step forward is probably necessary as new technologies and opportunities arise, opening a door on a whole heap of potential for this once obscure medium.

Doomsayers and the type may claim that the book is closed on current gen consoles, but I aim to prove them wrong. I will be talking mainly about the PS3, as it’s the console I own and currently I’m not entirely inclined to feign any kind of affection towards the Xbox 360. I know, this is the Sony fanboy in me talking, but fear not: This article is unbiased (more or less).

The PS3 doesn’t exactly rank as the number one smoothest console launch in Sony’s history. It suffered from increasingly disappointing sales in its early years, since the Wii and Xbox 360 had beaten it to the market, among other reasons, and the company suffered severe losses. The PSP Go and PS Vita didn't do much to help in later years, although the latter did fare better than the former in the market. It was only until recent years that Sony was finally cut some slack. A major reason for that I reckon is the fantastic line up of exclusives the system found launched every year. From Uncharted, to Metal Gear Solid 4 and The Last of Us, people everywhere were realizing that the PS3’s list of exclusives was growing staggeringly bigger and better by the year, and I suppose this did help push up the system’s sales.

Now, with the PS4’s release just around the corner, will the PS3 be saying farewell? I believe not. A few days ago, Grand Theft Auto V was released. The game made $800 million on its first day. Browse through Facebook or Twitter and you’ll find out GTA V has sort of taken over the world. Employees are staying home and students are skipping school just to play the game. This isn't unusual for a GTA game, as the series has always been immensely popular with hardcore and casual gamers alike. This game alone will add 12 to 18 months to the PS3’s lifespan - if not more.

Another factor to take into consideration is that the PS4 isn’t leaps and bounds ahead of the PS3 as the PS3 was with the PS2 in 2007. Many of the features PS4 possesses are present in the current gen system, such as an online network and HD graphics. Of course, the newer console will improve upon most aspects of its predecessor, but it just isn’t as big an advance as the previous upgrade in 2007.

There are still numerous eagerly-awaited titles in store for us this year, such as Beyond: Two Souls, Batman: Arkham Origins, Gran Turismo 6, and others in the coming year. It is certain production on PS3 games will continue well into PS4’s early years, with production ceasing eventually. A positive thing to note is that it is rumored you will be able to play PS3 titles on the PS4. That will motivate studios to keep working on PS3 titles, and most consumers would play them on the PS3 if they hadn't upgraded yet, which will also prolong the system’s product life cycle.

One more thing to note is that the console’s price has dropped drastically, and the presence of the relatively cheap Super Slim version will mean those of us with shallower pockets will opt for the older console over the new.

So there you have it. PS3 has still got plenty of fight in her, and it will sit in our living rooms for years to come. It has certainly been an eventful console generation, and one that will remain in our memories for a long, long time.

What do you think? Is the PS3 going to live to fight another day, or will it be gone with the wind with the arrival of the new titans of the gaming medium?

Why the iPhone is going into self-destruct mode

A while ago, Apple announced its newest installment in the iPhone series. Scratch that. Installments with an S. Yes. For the first time since the release of the iPhone, Apple is releasing two versions of the iPhone – 5S and 5C. While an annual addition to the company’s flagship product line is as sure as Winter, they broke the habit with the release of 2 new iPhones. This might be the most fatal of Apple’s mistakes in recent times.

The reason why Apple sells so many of their revolutionary mobile phones every year is because of the social status and the certain glow that comes with an iPhone. The handheld has seen countless worthy competitors, among them Samsung, HTC, and others. Yet, I believe one thing has kept it above the competition, and the thing Apple discarded this year with its announcement. The bottom line is: iPhone is a LUXURY product. To many, it feels overpriced. It certainly does feel so. Every year, Apple adds a few minor features and slaps a new name on their phone, dubbing these new features as innovation and such. Up the camera from 5 Megapixels to 8 Megapixels. Add flash capability to photo and video capture, when other phone companies have had them first installed in their phones generations ago. And recently, one of their “ground-breaking” new features is burst shooting mode. Basically, you shoot several pictures in quick succession. Again, several companies such as Samsung have had that feature implemented previously.

The reason why the iPhone’s “luxury product” status is backfiring on Apple this year is because they took a very risky decision: releasing a cheaper less-capable iPhone – the 5C. This colorful and plasticky new device will not exactly steal the spotlight from the prime 5S, but it will certainly devastate the iPhone’s image as a highly prestigious product. Allow me to give an example. Let’s take the German car company Porshe. The Porshe brand is universally equated with quality and prestige. All of their cars are highly priced yet this itself elevates it over its competitors in term of brand image and reputation. Owning a Porshe is mostly complemented with deep pockets and an air of superiority. Now, imagine if Porshe were to release cheaper versions of their cars to the public. Porshes would certainly be a more occurring sight on the road, and what was a high-profile brand is now as standard as a soap brand.

Releasing the 5C might provide a burst of revenue, yet it will severely hurt the company in the long run. A couple of months from its release date the iPhone will become an even more common sight, and opting for the higher-priced 5S won’t exactly provide you with the luxury of owning THE iPhone of the year, as there’s now two of the suckers on the market, and someone who’s paid relatively less than you can still claim the prestige of holding an iPhone in their hand.

Luxury and prestige when it comes to marketing are very tricky concepts. They can certainly help the product image and sales, something Apple has been benefiting from for years, yet one wrong decision and they backfire horrendously. Only time will tell how Apple’s fortune shall turn.

Oh… On a side note, I own an iPhone 4S. 

What do you think? Is this another effort by Apple to prolong its product life cycle, or is this a genuine upgrade on the iPhone 5? Let me know in the comments below.