With E3 ending just a few days ago, the gaming world began to set its eyes towards the future. For three action packed days, the industry's version of the Super Bowl succeeded in grabbing global attention. And we couldn't be more excited. We drooled at the first official trailer for Halo 4 our jaws dropped when we received a sneak peek of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2and we cried for hours when E3 ended. Well, that last part was probably just me. E3 gave the big three video game giants a chance to show what the future had in store. But, one particular company had a little more to prove. Sony posted a 5.6 billion dollar loss and left PS3 fanboys/fangirls worrying about the state of their beloved black box. Lets face it, Sony is at a crossroads. And with the next gen consoles right around the corner, the next two years will be crucial for the once-feared company. But what caused the huge hole in Mr. Hirais wallet? These five reasons could shed a light on what needs to be done to make sure the big three doesnt become the big two.
1. Blu-Ray vs. DVD
When Sony PS3 spread the news that their next-gen console would include a Blu-ray player it sent shockwaves throughout the video game industry. This console would provide high definition gaming as well as the best visual experience possible. At this time, the battle between Blu-Ray and DVDs had been raging for a few years and each format was having trouble exuding its dominance over the other. Movie collectors refused to re-purchase their favorite movies just for more eye candy.. Plus, the "extra" experience didn't come cheap. The first batch of lackluster Blu-ray movies released cost ten dollars more than the standard DVD. Movie lovers scoffed at the price hike and stuck with the cheaper alternative. Do you really want to pay an extra ten dollars to watch the Kevin James/Will Smith dance scene in Hitch in complete Blu-ray HD glory? I didn't think so. So, this left Sony stuck in the middle. Nowadays, the tide has turned towards the Blu-Ray, but its slow acceptance into movie collections everywhere and its bigger price tag have hindered Sony. Producing the PS3 had proven to be more costly than expected. Click "next" below to read the next part...