Sony PlayStation & PSP: Buh Bye!

I didn't think it would happen, but it looks like Sony has just lost itself a very loyal video game customer. My 10 year-old, fifth-grader son has decided to stop being a PlayStation guy and join up with the Dark Side - Microsoft.

It's shame really, because gadget geek junior has grown up on the Sony PlayStation line. The PS One was our first video game console, and then we quickly moved up to our current PS2 that had the additional benefit of online gaming. To make things complete, last year he ditched his Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP for the Sony PSP.

He has always been a strong Sony advocate and anxiously awaited the arrival of the PS3. At first he was adamant that the PS3 would be a much better gaming system than Microsoft's XBOX 360. Unfortunately, he has been waiting and waiting and waiting, and the ardor has cooled significantly.

And then the seachange occured. The XBOX 360's first platform defining game was released: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. My son is a big fan of the Lord of the Rings movies and has always wanted a first-person, hack and slash swordplay video game. The game has gotten great reviews and it looks like millions of other gamers feel the same way as he does.

So he made up his mind, gave up on Sony and the PS3, and is saving up for a XBOX 360. Since he doesn't have enough money, and I'll only kick in a nominal amount, we're going to sell off some of his things on eBay, like his PlayStation 2 games and eventually the console as well.

And when he fully realized how much he'll need for the 360 (at least $500+ for console, accessories and games), he decided to sell his Sony PSP as well. This won't be a big loss for him because he rarely plays it. In fact he is more interested in his sister's Nintendo DS than the PSP, because there is not enough compelling content and good gameplay to keep him occupied.

There's a lesson to be learned here. Brand loyalty will only take you so far, and you continually have to deliver the goods to succeed. Maybe one day my son will come back to the Sony fold, but for now they've lost a very loyal customer. A customer whose spending power will surely grow as he soon enters his teen years. Wow, now I feel old....

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