Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo respond - Did the PS3 beat the Wii?
By Dave Parrack
The official NPD sales figures for the US gaming industry were finally released yesterday, and they showed the Wii massively beating the Xbox 360 and PS3, while the Xbox just pipped the PS3 to second place in the home console battle. All three companies have now responded to the sales data, and all spin it to their own advantages.
All companies do a bit of spin-doctoring now and then, massaging figures, or using statistics to prove something not immediately obvious, but game console manufacturers are amongst the worst offenders.
And so it has proved in the aftermath of the NPD sales figures being released, with Fragland reporting how Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft have all responded to the data in the only way they know how - by talking themselves up while ignoring the competition.
Nintendo went first, and quite rightly gave itself a pat on the back for another job well done. In fact I think the company could have gloated a bit more than it did. Maybe after so many months of continuous winning, they have run out of snide remarks.
Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing said:
“Nintendo systems represented 58 percent of all video game hardware sold in March in the United States. We expect our momentum to continue with big upcoming game launches like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit.”
That translates as taking the win for granted, and then talking up the future.
Then it was Microsoft’s turn, with its press release stating:
“Consumers continue to make the ultimate vote for Xbox 360 as the console of choice by investing $9.4 billion to date this lifecycle in the Xbox 360 experience, far outpacing that of other game consoles.”
“Going into March, some key U.S. retailers were still experiencing the trickle down effect of Xbox 360 console shortages. By the end of March, supply issues had improved and we expect retailers to be fully stocked with Xbox 360 consoles in time for the “Grand Theft Auto IV” launch. According to NPD, 262,000 Xbox 360 consoles sold in March, reclaiming the #2 position in the next-gen console category.”
Microsoft’s strategy seems to be of looking at the current generation console war as a whole, rather than on a month to month basis. Don’t forget that the Xbox 360 is still the best selling console to date, although it looks set to be overtaken by the Wii very soon.
As for this month, blame console shortages, yeah, that’ll do it. And talk up Grand Theft Auto IV too, seeing as Microsoft thinks that the Xbox 360 already owns that particular launch.
And last but not least, Sony had its say on the latest figures, and oh boy, was Jack Tretton working overtime to put a positive spin on it all. In fact, anyone would think the PS3 had actually beaten the Wii in terms of sales last month.
“Our sales momentum continues to defy what is traditionally a sluggish sales month. PS3 continued the strong momentum with a year-over-year sales growth of over 98%. It is proof that, in these economically challenging times, consumers recognize the long-term value of our platforms and the tremendous heritage of our brand in delivering the best entertainment experience.”
“PSP expanded the portable market with more than 297,011 in hardware sales this month, driven by the monster releases of the two best-selling handheld games in March, God of War: Chains of Olympus and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. This further proves the trend that 2008 is the year for PlayStation.”
He talks about momentum even though it seems the PS3 has lost what momentum it had been building since Christmas. And then taking a leaf out of Microsoft’s book, he talks up the overall sales, pointing to year on year figures.
That last line, citing 2008 as “the year for the Playstation” is classic though. I think anyone looking at the figures with an unbiased mind would agree that 2008 is clearly Nintendo’s year, by a country mile.
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Tips N4G
April 18th, 2008
I would agree that the first half of 2008 is Nintendo’s year. But we’ve got eight more months, and it’s not like Sony and Microsoft are hurting for sales. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
-Arvis
April 18th, 2008
there is a world outside the u.s.a so get worldwide numbers not just american numbers then tell us which console sold most. plus this year is the year of playstation not by hardware sales but for excellent exclusives which are better than anything nintendo and m$ have got this year
April 18th, 2008
so to paraphrase; nintendo = stats comparing to the competition, ms = stats comparing to the competition, sony = stats comparing themselves to themselves. Can sony get any more pathetic?
April 18th, 2008
can kev get anymore pathetic? I mean he’s already too lazy to think for himself, let alone write is full name down.
April 18th, 2008
Gerry - don’t hate me because the ps3 is getting hammered by the competition. it’s funny you have to use my quotes, then call me lazy… begone troll. Face it; the victory of bluray is not selling the ps3 like the hotcakes sony promised. look, i know it’s painful, but try not to lash out. thanks little guy.
April 18th, 2008
Does anybody really care about the Wii? It’s just a novelty not a real next gen console. It lacks so much compared to the others that you gotta be an idiot to fall for it’s control system only. The games are much better on the 360 and the PS3. I only see the Wii for children and really even if you want to buy it it should be your 2nd console not your first. You robing yourself of features by doing that.
April 18th, 2008
The Wii will be the best selling dust collector.
April 18th, 2008
The Wii version of Guitar Hero 3 has outsold the 360 version and has remained among the top selling games for several months, Mario Galaxy has sold well over three million in the US alone, and Super Smash Bros singlehanded sold more than all PS3 software combined for the month of March. Prey tell, if Wii is such a dust-collector then who is buying all the software?
Furthermore, exactly how many children are looking forward to Wii Fit?
April 18th, 2008
idk, CAD…the wii is hitting mainstream far more aggresively than ms and sony. Heck there are even news stories of wii’s being bought for retirement homes and even hospitals to be used as therapy. the wii has done what ms and sony couldn’t; get the geriatric gamer involved.
April 18th, 2008
So you got yourself a wii then Kev eh……
That is just a joke fella
April 19th, 2008
http://www.vgchartz.com/
As seen here not only is Wii the leader in World & Japan, but also in other countries that don’t really matter enough not to be labeled other.
Just so close to dominating everything.
April 19th, 2008
Hey Kevin,
Sure the Wii is winning, but the demographic that it caters for is not my cup of tea most hardcore gamers unconsciously ignore the wii, due to it offering many party games, that seem to be intended for kids, sure theres resident evil, metroid and such, but i still think nintendo is nothing but cheap thrills. A wii is essentially a “toy” it does not do online right, has awful graphics and has interesting controls, its like comparing a tamagotchi, to the sega game gear, of course the tamagotchi will rape the game gear in sales, but there not really in the same market. Motion controls are not new. The Motion sensing does not really bring anything new to traditional games, like zelda and i quickly grew tired and bored of the wii catalogue. the wii is not helping the games industry just nintendo, they sell an overpriced console with no price cuts, sell mini games for the price of full retail blockbuster games, they milk mario and zelda to death, and other stupid characters to death. I cant explain it, but i just dislike the wii, theres too much wrong with it for me to consider it being better than ps3 or even an xbox360, the wii is a step backwards in the gaming industry. Nintendo is too conservative, despite them being perceived as innovative and creative. They just know how to make money, I mean come on nintendogs wtf! with chiwawa edition and bull terrier edition. I cant stand nintendo
April 20th, 2008
Lans, you are completely right, you can’t explain it. Your disdain for Nintendo is causing you to fail to string together a coherent sentence let alone point.
Sure, Nintendo milks its franchises, unlike the makers of Call of Duty 4, Metal Gear 4, Grand Theft Auto 4, Final Fantasy 13, Gran Turismo 5, Soul Calibur 4, Resident Evil 5. Yep, no rehashing going on there. And sure, the company who’s flagship title is a fitness game is the epitome of conservativeness. In fact, could not think of a safer bet.
April 20th, 2008
Nintendo is conservative in technological advances with console hardware while being innovative in game design and control.
I bought the XBox 360, got a RROD after 2 years of gaming, sat depressed for awhile contemplating gaming without achievements, then went to Fry’s and then bought a PS2 slim. It took two weeks to get my 360 back at no charge, but I haven’t played it since (besides a little bit of Ikaruga).
While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last month or so playing Chrono Trigger, GrimGrimoire, and Odin Sphere, I’ve come to the realization after 25 years of gaming that every console helps the gaming industry progress, even if was a failure.
Over the years I’ve owned an Odyssey 2, SMS, Genesis, Sega CD, GameGear, Saturn, Nintendo 64, GBC, Jaguar, Dreamcast, GBA, DS, PSP, XBox, PS, PS2, and XBox 360; and I’ve had a blast with them all, even if only for a few games.
I look forward to getting a PS3 when the hard drive capacity increases and PS2 backwards compatibility is put back into a lower priced redesign. I also look forward to getting a Wii after Fit comes out and they are widely available again online at MSRP sans bundles (I do realize that may be awhile:).
I guess my point is, each of the consoles currently being sold is superior in its own unique ways. If gamers can quit putting other consoles down and start being more open minded and grateful for what each one contributes, they might have more fun while giving more feedback in the community about each consoles weaknesses and strengths.
April 21st, 2008
Oh Please!! Sony has more new ip’s than nintendo could ever dream off, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword, Lair, Resistance, Warhawk (based on ps1 game but completely different, Theres Heavy Rain, Echochrome, Killzone is just a sequel, theres so many more original ip’s with substance i dont want cooking mama, or barbie goes to work.
Wii is just a big vacuum it does not grow the games industry only nintendo’s wallet
April 21st, 2008
Wii Fit? is that some sort of revelation, news to me!
Seems like nintendo is throwing every gimmick they can think of and you guys are such stupid mainstram mtv gamers you pay out ur arses for it. Everything that you see now from nintendo has been done before, its just that its the first time its been this widely accepted and succesful. Do some research, the motion control thing, and even wii fit, has been attempted before just not succesfully
April 21st, 2008
I think it’s hilarious that some people out there are Wii-bashing and moaning about how it’s a gimmick, not next-gen, unoriginal, etc…
The fact is, Nintendo brought out a console without any fancy new technology or hype and they made gaming fun again. If you genuinely dislike some of the games or the concept of the Wii, that’s fine but don’t be such a cry baby simply because it’s doing well…
April 21st, 2008
Lans you are completely right… I support you a hundred and ten percent… WHO ARE NINTENDO TO MAKE CONSOLES!! THEY SUCK!!!
JUST BECAUSE NINTENDO MADE CONSOLES and GAMES before either Sony and Microsoft doesnt mean they make good consoles… THEY SUCK!!!
It is cheap and over-priced… ITS GOT STUPID GAMES that dont have people cutting each other in half… or nudity.. or mini sex games… HOW DARE THEY!!!
They dont even have a decent shooter which lasts for 5 hours and has a lot of hype and is a big let down in the end…
HOW DARE THEY MAKE MONEY when Microsoft pledged 1 Billion to fix the faulty 360s and Sony hasnt even “broken-even” on their Ps3s…
Yes Nintendo creates a HUGE vaccum by realeasing a console that is cheaper than others…
However… the main problem.. is a lack of good thrid party games… and some of the thrid party games have shoddy controls… other than that… ITS A STUPIUD NOVELTY ITEM THAT WILL NEVER SELL EVEN A UNIT!!!
As I said before… even if Wii becomes out of style and stops selling RIGHT NOW!! Nintendo has made enough profit to release another new console in a coupla months and still make profits…
I am in no way a Wii fanboy… but I how can I not love something that has changed the way we play games… they are called GAMES so they should emphasise on GAMEplay….
Enough with graphics… we dont need to classify a generation for its graphics.. that was for the PS2 and Xbox generation… I want to play more games that are fun to play… that are entertaining….
*sigh* if only the Wii had better third party games…
April 21st, 2008
DarkWhiteHair,
The Wii has changed the way Wii owners play games, but even some of their biggest games (Smash Brothers, Super Paper Mario, Fire Emblem) don’t bother with the motion controls. Whether or not the Wii has changed anything for the better is a matter of opinion. But millions of 360 and PS3 owners will tell you they prefer their traditional controls to the Wiimote Waggle.
Personally, my least favorite thing about the Wii is not the low-tech visuals or campy party games, but the motion controls themselves. I love gaming for the sake of gaming, and have never wanted or needed the gaming experience to turn into something “easier” or “more intuitive.” In my opinion, the Virtual Console (which reminds us all what true gaming is about) is one of the big “rights” that Nintendo accomplished with the Wii.
-Arvis
April 23rd, 2008
As usual, ignorance, stupidity, and blind bias are the loudest voices in the room. Perhaps because they need to be heard the most to make themselves feel better.
The mentally challenged will reduce the Wii (no I don’t own one, but plan for it in the future) to Cooking Mama or Barbie whatever while totally ignoring what it does right with it’s good games, let alone the Virtual Console. The VC has many quality games I would rather be playing now than both the other “next gen” consoles combined.
And why do people somehow think that just because something has been done before that it can’t be done better in the future? I’m thankful these unintelligent few do not have any significance beyond blindingly consuming whatever crap (like the previously mentioned Lair) their one company spoon feeds them.
I’m sure the PS3 and XBox 360 will at least near their predecessors (PS and XB) in success, while coming down in price and getting more good games. In the meantime, their is still plenty of fun to be had with the PS2, PSP, DS, and other “older” consoles, without paying $250 for the Wii (if you can find one at that price).
No matter how much you may wish that the next gen console you bought will come close to Wii sales, it is not likely to happen soon, so please don’t be bitter about it and start trashing a console just because it is more popular than yours and you cannot see the good in it.