EXP Podcast #10: The Art of Being Sony

Post recording note: We chose this story and recorded the podcast before we heard some unfortunate news.  It truly speaks to our economy's sad state of affairs when talented people who produce thoughtful, entertaining writing are let go.  Ben, we hope to see you on the other side of tunnel soon!

This week, we flirt with the fires of console fanboyism to talk about the state of the Playstation 3.  We were inspired by Ben Fritz's opinion piece in which he contemplated whether the PS3 had an "artsy" image that was hurting its sales.  We range from a discussion on the console's physical appearance to its popular perception and corporate philosophy.  "Artsy" is a vague term to be sure, so everything we say is definitely open for discussion, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts as well.  Check out the show notes for the article that spurred the discussion, along with a bonus link to a window into the weird and wacky world that is Kaz Hirai's mind!

Some discussion starters:

-Do you get some kind of  "vibe" from specific gaming platforms?  If so, how does this affect your playing habits?
-How big of a role does marketing play when it comes to game sales? 
-To what forces do you attribute Sony's reversal of fortune in the console market?

To listen to the podcast:
- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the stand-alone feed.
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking the title. Or, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format.
- Subscribe to this podcast and EXP's written content with the RSS link on the right.

Show Notes:

-Run time: 27 min 53 sec
-Ben Fritz's article: "Is Sony too artsy for its own good?"
-Some Kaz Hirai gems
-Music provided by Brad SucksPost recording note: We chose this story and recorded the podcast before we heard some unfortunate news.  It truly speaks to our economy's sad state of affairs when talented people who produce thoughtful, entertaining writing are let go.  Ben, we hope to see you on the other side of tunnel soon!

This week, we flirt with the fires of console fanboyism to talk about the state of the Playstation 3.  We were inspired by Ben Fritz's opinion piece in which he contemplated whether the PS3 had an "artsy" image that was hurting its sales.  We range from a discussion on the console's physical appearance to its popular perception and corporate philosophy.  "Artsy" is a vague term to be sure, so everything we say is definitely open for discussion, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts as well.  Check out the show notes for the article that spurred the discussion, along with a bonus link to a window into the weird and wacky world that is Kaz Hirai's mind!

Some discussion starters:

-Do you get some kind of  "vibe" from specific gaming platforms?  If so, how does this affect your playing habits?
-How big of a role does marketing play when it comes to game sales? 
-To what forces do you attribute Sony's reversal of fortune in the console market?

To listen to the podcast:
- Subscribe to the EXP Podcast via iTunes here. Additionally, here is the stand-alone feed.
- Listen to the podcast in your browser by left-clicking the title. Or, right-click and select "save as link" to download the show in MP3 format.
- Subscribe to this podcast and EXP's written content with the RSS link on the right.

Show Notes:

-Run time: 27 min 53 sec
-Ben Fritz's article: "Is Sony too artsy for its own good?"
-Some Kaz Hirai gems
-Music provided by Brad Sucks