Sony CEO claims PS3 matching PS2 sales momentum
By Dave Parrack
Most analysts are in agreement that the Sony PS3 hasn’t sold anywhere near the expected quantities up to now. Howard Stringer, Sony’s CEO disagrees however, and claims that the sales momentum is matching that which the Playstation 2 experienced in it’s early days.
Stringer gave an email interview to The Hollywood Reporter, and as well as talking up the Blu-ray DVD format, he also spoke about the state of the console war, and where the PS3 finds itself (in a definite third place) so far.
He said:
“The momentum shift and the energy behind PS3 in time for Christmas is extremely fortuitous. It was planned by the PlayStation group, but I think this momentum now — particularly the number of games coming out, including our own as well as third-party — is the same as it was with PlayStation 2.”
“It takes time to build a new format, and the PS3 is not behind the curve compared to PlayStation 2 in terms of momentum. The amount of bandwidth and the processing power of Cell give game manufacturers a lot more work to do to use this system to its full benefit — and it’s taken awhile to do it. The same was true of PlayStation 2.”
While it’s perfectly true that Sony’s new marketing and pricing strategy has seen a rise in sales, especially in Japan, there’s really little evidence so far to suggest this momentum will carry on.
Unfortunately there’s little in the way of sales figures and data to compare the PS2 and PS3 at this same stage of their release, so we have to take Stringer’s word for it to a certain extent.
I think sales will improve, especially when the new big budget, big name games start arriving, but until then Stringer is doing nothing more than talking up his company’s console, more out of hope than reality.
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November 22nd, 2007
“Most analysts are in agreement that the Sony PS3 hasn’t sold anywhere near the expected quantities up to now.”
The reason for that is simply that Metal Gear Solid4, Gran Turismo 5 and Final Fantasy 13 were all due to be released this year. They are all games that sell systems by the million.
Even without them however the PS3 has sold as many units in its first year as the 360 did even though the PS3 was only launched in the EU 7 months ago. If it was out in the EU from November last year the PS3 would have definitely sold a lot more than the 360s first year.
If you want to know why the PS3 is going to sell increasingly well just look at the exclusive games due next year:
Metal Gear Solid 4
Gran Turismo 5
Final Fantasy 13
Tekken 6
LittleBigPlanet
Killzone 2
L.A. Noire
The Agency
Coded Arms: Assault
Eight Days
FIA World Touring Car Championship
The Getaway 3
Ni-Oh
Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier
Heavy Rain
Infamous
White Knight Chronicles
Haze
November 22nd, 2007
If Halo 3 and Gears of War hadn’t been released on the 360 yet it wouldn’t have sold anywhere near as much as it has. If they were due to be released next year however you would obviously see 2008 as looking very big for the 360.
That’s what the situation is with the PS3 only on a far bigger scale because Final Fantasy and Metal Gear are both usually far bigger sellers than Gears of War and Gran Turismo sells millions more units per episode than Halo.
BTW Jak and Daxter didn’t belong in that list so pls ignore it
November 22nd, 2007
ATTENTION ALL PS3 OWNERS: I am calling for a Boycott of the game “The Orange Box”.
The game will run at a pathetic 30 frames per second. Valve team dumped the PS3 development off on an internal EA development team so Valve could focus on the Xbox360 version. Gabe Newell hates the PS3. He’s been killing the Sony console all year in the media. They obviously don’t care about the PS3 and the quality of the product that they give PS3 owners.
I can’t put all the blame on Valve. EA needs to take some of the heat for this as well. They gave us a disgusting excuse for a game in Madden 08. Another 30fps disaster.
All PS3 owners need to unite on this. If we don’t, it will never end. Gabe Newell needs to get hit in the pockets. Boycott “The Orange Box”! Do NOT buy anything that Gabe Newell is a part of. He is cheating his art and he is cheating PS3 owners. Let’s show Gabe Newell, Valve & EA that we do matter. We are the only reason that game companies exist. If we stop buying crap, they will stop making crap.
Don’t give your money to people that don’t care about you! Boycott The Orange Box!
Thanks, Superdynamite
November 23rd, 2007
Agreed, buy Uncharted instead, a great game from a team who actually put effort in
November 23rd, 2007
agreed…fuck orange box and Newell
November 23rd, 2007
agreed…fuck orange box and Newell
and yes Uncharted is possibly the best game I have ever played