One of the PlayStation 2 classics -- Shadow of the Colossus -- was recently released in India at a very attractive price. Are there plans to bring in more of these classic PlayStation 2 games, which we may have missed out on in the past?
We are looking at the back-catalogue, but we don't want to crowd the market. If there are other classic games from our catalogue, we will definitely bring them in. As other publishers are also getting interested in local publication, we are realising the potential of bringing in older classics that were never released here. EA has already done it. If Activision comes in, we will also look at their catalogue.
In connection with releasing first party classics, there are two things we consider. Firstly, we need to see if we still have the rights for the distribution of that game.
Secondly, the games may be classic when they were released, but in terms of quality of the game and the advancements since then, we don't want to bring in a game that has been outdated. These are the things we consider. But if there is something we have missed out, it would be great if we get feedback from you.
I will definitely send you a list.
That will be a great market input for us.
Is there any progress on the launch of the PlayStation Network in India? Now that Home has been delayed till 2009, will we have to wait that long for PSN too?
Firstly, the PlayStation Network and PlayStation Store are not dependent on Home. Based on the level of penetration of the PlayStation 3, as well as broadband penetration, a fresh list of PlayStation Store proposals for five to eight new countries has been submitted. There is a prioritisation process that takes place and India is on that list. India has a certain level of priority for rolling out the PlayStation Store. Based on future potential and strategic importance of the country, we are trying to fast-forward the implementation of the PlayStation Network and PlayStation Store.
Do you have a target date for the launch of the PlayStation Network and PlayStation Store in India?
No, there is no target date. What is submitted is to be evaluated for this fiscal year. So I can't say if it will happen before Diwali or just after Diwali.
So can we expect an Indian PlayStation Store in this calendar year?
Rather this fiscal year, because none of the countries have heard anything about it yet.
The last time we spoke, you said you were very happy with the way all three PlayStation consoles were selling. How has the performance been since then? Can you share some figures with us?
If anything, the performance has improved. Just to give you an estimate without getting into specific numbers, if you look at the last three months, we have sold upwards of 11,000 consoles in each of the months.
Is this across all there consoles?
Yes, all three combined. Whatever constraints are there are from a logistical point of view, because we estimate that we have lost another 6,000 to 7,000 units in sales. Software numbers have also shown a very good increase. I think by the end of the next month, looking at a four-month period, we are looking at a three or four-fold growth from this time last year.
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