The Escapist reports that Sony cares more about profit than topping their competitor Microsoft. Little Big Planet 2, Uncharted 3, and the latest Twisted Metal game are all meant to steer Sony toward greater profit this year. Not to say Microsoft flies under Sony's radar--they noted the competition, but said getting ahead of them would be a nice addition. And with a four percent drop in sales last month, Sony has every reason to seek more profit with their games and PlayStation 3.

This news should not come as a surprise. Sony is a company and the mission of almost any for-profit company is to make, well, a profit. But many gamers want to make video games more than just about earning money and having fun. And I agree with that notion. I try to do it all the time in my articles. Bitmob stands as a great example. The community tries to give a different perspective on video games. Look at the Bitmob Community Awards winners--they're all well-written articles with appealing topics.

I skimmed comments on the article and two caught my eye. Little Duck said, "It's stuff like this which is why I think the people who run play station don't have souls. They're not passionate about the industry they're in. They just seem to want to turn profit." And further down the forum, Squilookle wrote, "It's funny because if they weren't so focused on making bank, they probably could edge ahead of Microsoft." 

While working in the video games industry seems glamorous and a great honor as if they were starving artists who cared more about the integrity of art, let's not forget that these men and women are trying to make a living. They wake up in the morning and go to the studio to collect a check. That check goes to bills, taxes, groceries, and raising children, even paying their way through college so they can live a productive life. And don't forget that if Sony doesn't make money, they will probably close their doors. Then hundreds if not thousands of people lose their jobs.

I'm sure video games developers think about seeing games as more than having fun and making money; they can be of greater value to people (I'm trying so hard not to say something about video games being art. The debate seems to have died thanks to the Smithsonian Institute). But let's not forget making games is their job, just like collecting garbage, being a cashier, and fixing computers.

I'm not saying the majority of gamers think badly of Sony making a profit, or any company for that matter: the discussion in The Escapist comments were intelligent and focused on Sony's marketing strategy to draw in sells. I do think articles like these should generate a friendly reminder that people in the video games industry are just like the rest of us.

That intelligent discussion brought up a good question: If Sony makes a profit doesn't that mean they'll get ahead of Microsoft? In other words, can you really separate profit from competition, and if so, what does it mean to be competitive?