NPD Recap: Sony purposely holding back PS3 stock?
By Mike Ferro
The NPD numbers are out with the Wii in the lead, PS3 second and the Xbox 360 dead last. It is time for the fanboys to engage in mortal combat on the message boards throughout the web. There is also clear indication that Sony is holding back the PS3 stock. All after the jump!
NPD Recap:
Lets take a quick look at the NPD hardware numbers. July was an excellent month for the video game sector with a 28% increase in video game sales, definitely proving that this market is recession proof. Along with the software increase hardware stabilized a bit more with the following sales figures:
1) Nintendo DS - 608.4k units
2) Wii - 555k units
3) PS3 - 224.9k units
4) PSP - 221.7k units
5) Xbox 360 - 204.8k units
6) PS2 - 155.5k units
The clear winner of all hardware is the DS, but the winner of the home console war is the Wii shifting 555k units, followed by the PS3 shifting 224.9k and the Xbox 360 last with 204.8k units.
Sony holding back PS3 stock?
I like to follow along in hardware sales trend in various retailers continually throughout the month and I have noticed something very odd going on with the PS3, well more specifically to do with the Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundle. The MGS4 PS3 seems to sell out instantly as soon as it gets restocked, and this cycle has been going on for the past two to three months.
There is clear evidence that stock is not meeting demand since June 11th around the time the MGS4 PS3 bundle launched here in the US. Various retailers Best Buy, Walmart and Amazon have been reported to be sold out constantly throughout the past three months.
One site I like to use is Punch Jump, to track trends of hardware sales, and it seems Marcus Lai writer for Punch Jump has also noticed the same trend with the MGS4 PS3 as well.
Lets look at a brief timeline of the PS3 stock constraint:
(To simplify the timeline, we are only tracking Amazon and leaving out other retailers such as Bestbuy and Walmart which are also available on Punch Jump.)
June 11th - MGS4 PS3 instant sell-out at retail
June 16th - MGS4 PS3 reach No. 1 after restock
June 28th - MGS4 PS3 sales shoot up after restock
July 24th - MGS4 PS3 sales up after restock, (reach No.1 by 8/5)
Aug 11th - MGS4 PS3 sold out at Amazon
Aug 19th - MGS4 PS3 set to restock at Amazon
Clearly anybody can see there has been a huge demand for the MGS4 PS3 bundle since June and we are still seeing this in mid August. The question is what is exactly going on here? Lets look at the facts:
- According to Konami MGS4 Sold(shipped) approximately 4 million units so far.
- Close to one million PS3 MGS4 bundles have been sold to date.
- The MGS4 PS3 bundle still sells out to date.
This can only mean there is a huge pent up demand for the PS3 from those sitting on the fence and haven’t purchased a PS3, waiting for the MGS4 PS3 bundle. The next question is why isn’t Sony shipping enough units to satisfy demand?
The answer could possibly be found with what Nintendo has been speculated of doing with the Wii. Sony could be holding back MGS4 PS3 stock in order to keep interest spread out as long as possible giving them monthly victories throughout the year instead of an all at once one month lump victory.
Microsoft: This is only the beginning
Now just because the PS3 is doing well don’t count out Microsoft. Many failed analyst predicted Microsoft would shift over 300k units in July due to the price drop. I knew this was a flawed prediction to start with, when considering the price drop did not happen till the last week of the month.
I believe the Xbox 360 price drop will move consoles, actually a great deal of them, but you won’t see it in July. It makes sense August would be where you see the full effect of the price drop.
July was an interesting month but I suspect August will be the boiling point.
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August 14th, 2008
Nice article Sony definitely knows what they doing. I hope you right about Sony holding back on the MGS4 Bundle i want another 80GB PLAYSTAION 3. PSP and PS3 has been doing great all year long. Xbox 360 is closer to dying every single month.
August 15th, 2008
the xbox price drop is overhyped and failed microsoft expectations.
just like in UK.
remember that microsoft drop like $200 dollars the xbox 360 in UK at the beginning of the year.
and yet the sales quickly return to the average prior the price-drop.
i think just anybody want an xbox 360 anymore.
sony dont drop the price of the ps3 for the same reason nintendo dont drop the price of the wii.
nintendo cant full demand at this price.
sony would not met demand if they drop their price, now, without a price drop they face some shortages.
August 15th, 2008
Wow PS3 are outselling XBOX by 10%. I’ve only got one word for that BLOODBATH!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 15th, 2008
The XBox price drop in Europe did jackshit, I wouldn’t be suprised if the US pricedrop did little either.
The fact is the 360 is history, anyone that wanted one, has already got one. The PS3 is winning 360 owners left right and centre, thanks to it’s better catalog of games, and annoyed RROD owners.
August 15th, 2008
The XBox price drop in Europe did jackshit, I wouldn’t be suprised if the US pricedrop did little either.
The fact is the 360 is history, anyone that wanted one, has already got one. The PS3 is winning 360 owners left right and centre, thanks to it’s better catalog of games, and annoyed RROD owners.
August 15th, 2008
wow..more ps3 fanboy fodder.. nice one mike…
“holding back stock”? where did you pull that one from? oh yeah..your “analysis”…lmao…
priceless…
i’ve seen mgs4 bundles here sitting on the shelves of Gamestops and Walmarts. it’s hilarious watching you use your own personal observations of a nationwide “trend”….
congrats, i think you took the ps3 fanboy crown from DaveP on this one, Mike…
August 15th, 2008
Kev i’m shocked and disappointed by your lack of communistic microsoft approach/response to these comments. I was expecting real venom and fanboyism in your response but what you said was…. weak and watered down. I have come to expect much more of you Kev you’re slipping mate.
Anyways i cant see how Sony are holding back stock. Good to see that its in high demand.
August 15th, 2008
I thought the article was balanced, but a little flawed. Some observations…
Sony should be very nervous that their biggest title this year gets them just a 20K advantage over 360 sales in NA.
Developers should be nervous about PS3’s falling software attach rate due to 30% of PS3’s being bought as BD players.
For those saying that 360 is dead, keep dreaming your silly dream. MS has a longer list of solid exclusives coming out this year, and the redesigned 360’s are due to hit the market. A $199 Arcade version 360 this Christmas will surely bring a $299 pro version.
In this economy, price is everything. 80% of PS2’s 120 million+ sales came AFTER the console dropped to under $200. MS hasen’t been aggressive with price cuts because of the RRoD nightmare, but that’s about to change.
Nobody is going away. Not Sony, not MS, not Ninty. You Sony fanboys should stop dreaming your sick dreams. They just don’t make any sense.
August 15th, 2008
I thought the article was balanced, but a little flawed. Some observations…
Sony should be very nervous that their biggest title this year gets them just a 20K advantage over 360 sales in NA.
Developers should be nervous about PS3’s falling software attach rate due to 30% of PS3’s being bought as BD players.
For those saying that 360 is dead, keep dreaming your silly dream. MS has a longer list of solid exclusives coming out this year, and the redesigned 360’s are due to hit the market. A $199 Arcade version 360 this Christmas will surely bring a $299 pro version.
In this economy, price is everything. 80% of PS2’s 120 million+ sales came AFTER the console dropped to under $200. MS hasen’t been aggressive with price cuts because of the RRoD nightmare, but that’s about to change.
Nobody is going away. Not Sony, not MS, not Ninty. You Sony fanboys should stop dreaming your sick dreams. They just don’t make any sense.
August 15th, 2008
MGS probably was the ps3’s biggest exclusive, but when Sony have so many big exclusives lined up, thats not really saying much. I think LBP will be a big seller but they have to advertise it otherwise the majority of people wont even know about it.
Other than that MS need to do somethin other than cut the price, it’s already cheaper than the ps3 but still, throught 2008 the ps3 has outsold the 360 on a monthly basis, so while i agree price does play a role in consumer decisions there are other deciding factors.
The good news for MS is that the 360 actually outsold the ps3 in japan, which offsets this loss slightly.
August 15th, 2008
*throughout
August 15th, 2008
I do not think Sony is withholding stock but being wise. To “marry” the unit to a game means that there is a sopecific market for the set. It is those who want a PS3 and MGS4. And this is valuable only while both are desireable. If suddenly the must have first title is LBP then the bundle is not that valuable any more. Hope that makes sense.
August 15th, 2008
kev stfu and suck cow balls
August 15th, 2008
ps3 been out selling 360 throughout 2008? yes maybe, but not by much, the 360 is over a year older and is still keeping up to the new boy ps3.
The only time the ps3 is truly kicking the 360 is when it sells 100k more a month consistently. ATM the ps3 is outselling by what 20k? majority of that is from Japan, and the last bit is due to Europe.
and if my maths are correct if the 360 can keep up with the ps3 and make only a small loss in sales, it would still take ps3 300 weeks or 6.25 years to catch the 360.
I’ve been watching the sales and atm the ps3 has been standing about 6 million behind 360, and back when the 360 reached the 10 mill, guess what ps3 was a 4 mill, hey a 6 million gap?? ok.. maybe its 5.5 million or something now but still the gap catch up in very SMALL for a year younger fresher console.
I know this is like a average and months with special games will change, but this is same for 360 it will be getting some top class games, Rpgs which Sony has ROYALLY lacked so far.
Sigh i wish the Sony fans would think before they say suck it Microsoft. BTW i own both launch consoles, no RROD and the full ps3 package 60gb. I love both i’m neutral to both and i can see this but you idiots CANT. SO STFU grow up kids, the 360 has gained a bigger market, the ps3 will catch up but the gap between the 2 honestly wont be anywhere like the ps2/xbox days. SO CRY SOME MORE
August 15th, 2008
Oops i meant 100k a week not a month i do apologise
August 15th, 2008
I think everyone the the gaming universe knows about LBP, so no worries there. LBP will be fun, but IMO it wont be the huge console mover Sony thinks it will be.
PS3 sales got a huge boost when HD-DVD went away, and that boost in sales continues. PS3 was/is the cheapest BD player that wont become obsolete when BD 2.0 arrives. That’s why the ps3 BD remote is always just under PS3 in the Amazon best seller list.
MS has exceeded Xbox sales at a much higher price, something Sony can’t say about PS2/ps3 sales. MS is making money on 360, while ps3 continues to wipe out ps2/psp profits and generate huge losses.
360 has more titles scheduled for realse this year (over 100) than ps3 (80). Fable 2, Gears 2, infinite undiscovery (hate the name), Banjo-kazooie, and even Viva Pinata will move consoles this holiday season. Banjo and Viva could move a ton of those $199 arcade consoles.
Anyone who says 360 is dead is being very silly indeed.
August 15th, 2008
Ben, NPD are US figures only… if you include Europe and Japan PS3 has been outselling the Xbox 360 by a larger margin than 20k.
Everytime Gamestop gets these MGS4 PS3 bundles they sell out in my area, that may not be the case but I can see how Amazon might be more repersentative on a national level.
MGS4 sold about 4 million, I think all the existing PS3 owners that want the game purchased it, now it’s time for the non-PS3 owners such as PS2 and Xbox 360 owners to jump on the MGS4 PS3 bundle to get a PS3.
August 15th, 2008
Ha Well I have to agree that the Xbox 360 is defiantly not dead there are still plenty of suckers out there willing to give a lot of money to MS. AS for the Fanboys of the PS3 please do us all a favor and do not become as pathetic as the xbox 360 fan boys. And ronhoward buddy you need to get your nose out of MS’s A$$. I seriously doubt your competence in how the gaming industry looses or makes money. Especially huge companies like SONY and Microsoft. So really stop your campaigning for Microsoft unless you are getting paid to do so.
August 15th, 2008
Ha Well I have to agree that the Xbox 360 is defiantly not dead there are still plenty of suckers out there willing to give a lot of money to MS. AS for the Fanboys of the PS3 please do us all a favor and do not become as pathetic as the xbox 360 fan boys. And ronhoward buddy you need to get your nose out of MS’s A$$. I seriously doubt your competence in how the gaming industry looses or makes money. Especially huge companies like SONY and Microsoft. So really stop your campaigning for Microsoft unless you are getting paid to do so..
August 15th, 2008
This may have been mentioned, I didn’t read past the 3rd post, but Sony announced a while ago that there would only be 70 or 80 thousand MGS4 bundles…didn’t they? If so, that would explain why they would hold back on a limited edition bundle; this shouldn’t be confused with “Sony purposely holding back PS3 stock”. If this is the case, Sony ‘gone done screwed themselves’ with their gross under estimation of the bundle’s popularity.
**Stop fanboyism; hang yourself**
August 15th, 2008
I’m just posting what each have come out and commented on July NDP Stats
Nintendo
The brief statement mentioned the hardware sales figures for DS and Wii, noting a 49 per cent market share for Wii in terms of living-room consoles, and a 73 per cent market share for the DS for handhelds.
The statement also noted the five titles that made the NPD software top ten for July: Wii Fit, Guitar Hero: On Tour, Wii Play, Mario Kart Wii and Rock Band.
“Great hardware goes hand-in-hand with great software,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive VP of sales and marketing. “Various types of games for the Nintendo systems are represented in the top 10, demonstrating how we continue to break down the barriers between veteran and new players.”
Sony
A rather longer statement began by trumpeting the “momentum” for the PS3, with 1.8 million units sold in the US in 2008 - a 99 per cent growth year-on-year.
Additionally PS3 software showed a 206 per cent growth level for the year to-date, and SCEA promised over 140 Blu-ray titles by the end of the fiscal year.
The PlayStation Network now has over 10 million registered accounts, with over 200 million pieces of content downloaded worldwide.
The PSP sales were spurred on to 16 per cent growth over the first six months of 2007 by the God of War: Chains of Olympus promotion.
More than 42.5 million PS2s have now been sold in North America across the console’s lifetime.
The PlayStation brand has now yielded more than USD 3.3 billion in the year to-date; July hardware sales hit USD 609 million in July - 22 per cent growth; July software sale hit USD 184 million - 28 per cent growth.
“Our year-to-date sales growth of 99 per cent for the PS3 reaffirms that consumers are indeed embracing PS3 as their entertainment hub-of-choice with its feature-rich offerings like Blu-ray and our recently announced video delivery service,” said Jack Tretton, president and CEO of SCEA. “With an unmatched software line-up that includes LittleBigPlanet, SOCOM: Confrontation, Resistance 2 and MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, and the anticipated launch of our new 80GB PS3 model, we’re confident in a strong second half of the year and look forward to quickly addressing any inventory shortages due to the transition.”
Microsoft
Microsoft’s reaction began by hailing a strong E3 showing, and noting a profitable year with USD 2.1 billion “in growth” for the Entertainment and Devices Division.
Since launch consumers have spent over USD 10.4 billion on the Xbox 360 in the US, giving the platform a 49 per cent market share.
Xbox 360 titles accounted for USD 129 million - 34 per cent share - in software sales for July.
Third party revenue generated by the Xbox 360 platform was USD 121 million - 42 per cent of the market.
Xbox 360 now has an attach rate of 7.9, which Microsoft stated as the highest attach rate in history for any console at this point in its life cycle.
The statement closed with a look ahead to the rest of the year, including the Netflix deal in the US and a games library of over 1000 titles, including Lips, You’re in the Movies, and Gears of War 2.
August 15th, 2008
So what is intresting about this is Nintendo has 49% Market share and Microsoft has 49% market share in the US. So, that leaves Sony with 2% market share. What a joke.
August 15th, 2008
So are the xbots that said it was going to be a 360 bloodbath going to come here and eat pie?
……………………………………
I thought not.
Disclaimer for this post! I don’t care what sells, I own all 3!
August 15th, 2008
ronhoward-I usually respect how you approach your posts, however:
“MS has exceeded Xbox sales at a much higher price, something Sony can’t say about PS2/ps3 sale”
That’s like comparing apples to oranges. A shitload of apples to a few oranges. I agree the 360 is far from dead. But to back it up with, well the PS3 hasn’t sold 120 million consoles to beat its older brother who has been around for what 8 or 9 years is stupid. How long was the Xbox around for?
August 15th, 2008
wylie - it’s a fair comparison since sony touted “120 million loyal ps2 users”. the ps3 SHOULD be outselling the ps2 by a HUGE margin at this point in the lifecycle. why, you ask? because the ps2 didn’t have “120 million loyals ps1 owners” to draw off of.
the ps3 should be outselling all competition by a huge margin, but there it is. LAST place….
not good any way you spin it….
August 15th, 2008
Mario Party 8 got close to doubling the sales of MGS4. If that isn’t a sign PS3 is in bad shape I don’t know what is.
August 15th, 2008
lol Kev, the ps3 should be outselling the ps2 just because you, or possibly microsoft, say its so? Nah i don’t think so. Just because the ps2 sold well doesn’t indicate that the ps3 should. Before with the ps2 there was only one main alternative (xbox) and now there are 2 major rivals to share the customers.
August 15th, 2008
I would think the Xbox 360 should be doing much better in the states anyway mainly because the original Xbox was definitely superior in terms of hardware (not so much with the Xbox 360) it really took a 360 in that department. and the 360 being out a year ahead of the competition it had plenty of time to develop its roots with an online service. I think SONY has don e a great job in getting its PS3 up and running and weeding through all the Media BS the Fanboy BS the huge hype with the Wii and the Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD issue. I think the PS3 has proven it’s worth. And bye the way bourne there were 3 alternatives to the PS2 PC. GC or Xbox. the same as there are today.
August 15th, 2008
I would think the Xbox 360 should be doing much better in the states anyway mainly because the original Xbox was definitely superior in terms of hardware, not so much with the Xbox 360 vs PS3 today it really took a 360 in that department. and the 360 being out a year ahead of the competition it had plenty of time to develop its roots with an online service. I think SONY has don e a great job in getting its PS3 up and running and weeding through all the Media BS the Fanboy BS the huge hype with the Wii and the Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD issue. I think the PS3 has proven it’s worth. And bye the way bourne there were 3 alternatives to the PS2 PC. GC or Xbox. the same as there are today.
August 15th, 2008
crap sorry about that people thought i stopped the first post
August 15th, 2008
PS3 still sucks. I am happy that all the idiots are buying a PS3 because it seems to attract idiots. I would hate to go online and have to deal with pure idots with no mics. Thank God PS3 only accounts for 2% market share in NA
August 15th, 2008
Pachter is a hack.
-Arvis
August 15th, 2008
Kev- how many times can you possibly come back with that post. I think you have used it atleast 50 times already! I know not your words but Sony’s right. Now your theory would work and all, but the PS2 is still in production, and games are still being made for it. So don’t you think that would have some effect on how fast PS3 would pick up on those consumers? Some of those people have only had their PS2’s for a couple of years. Granted I don’t see the PS3 getting close to that many in sales. This is a different time and different industry. But to bring this up time and time again is pathetic. Besides unlike MS, Sony believes in long life cycles!
August 15th, 2008
Oh yea CAD that is the Best comment I have read all day. You are definitely the poster boy for the Xbox360 fan base.
August 15th, 2008
I just realised that all this time I’d been spelling his nam incorrectly!
I feel I must correct myself.
Mr Pachter is %95 incorrect! He is a hack
I don’t really think he is, I just don’t think that analysts can understand the gaming industry for the life of them. (Not saying I can,or anything!)
August 15th, 2008
@ SW no offense but unless you feel Confident that you can understand the gaming industry then you posting comments criticizing some one else’s opinion about the gaming industry. It kind-of ruins your creditability
August 15th, 2008
Wylie
Really now, Sony Believes in long life cycles I think not. The PS2 is helping the PS3 stay alive. Didn’t they cut off PS1 when PS2 came out. That is because the PS2 did incure heavy development cost and stayed true to it’s roots which is games. Now they overpriced the PS3 and without the PS2 helping to soften the blow of the PS3 huge production cost, it would have been dead already. That is why they gave PS2 support in the begining of the PS3’s life cycle and then doubbled back and took it away because they couldn’t stop the production of the PS2 it would have been a financial disaster if the PS3 was all by it’s self. It is really stupid that I cannot buy the PS3 and have backwards compatibably with PS2 games.
August 15th, 2008
MindSucker,
Don’t hold that post against CAD, he’s having a rough go in another article currently. CAD can actually be quite reasonable sometimes.
Hey, where is winner these days? I miss that guy, he was the funniest guy on Blorge.
-Arvis
August 15th, 2008
Arvis
Thank you very much. I can be reasonable but yes I got bombarded yesterday and I have no sympathy at the moment.
August 15th, 2008
Sorry Cad, I must agree and disagree. Yes, the PS2 is helping the PS3 out financially, however, the sales of the PS2 are enough where I don’t think Sony would have dropped it anyway. If they did, it would be a marketing plan to try and get those people to move on to the PS3.
Also as far as I know the 80gb is still backwards compatible, it just doesn’t have the hardware in it like my 60gb does. No the 80gb isn’t perfect for backwards compatibility, but neither is the 360!
August 15th, 2008
wylie - the only thing funnier than watching you try to comprehend branding, customerbase and sales strategy is watching you fall for sony’s “10 year lifecycle” b.s….
if they didn’t have the ps2 to slow the losses of the ps3, sony would be in bankruptcy right about now.
sony had a point about bragging about their userbase, as it SHOULD equate to a higher degree of sales for the ps3. and yet, it didn’t happen…. and why? due to the pricing.
and why is the price so high? bluray and “teh cell”…
both were huge mistakes. the evidence is in front of you, but you opt to believe sony’s pr or “potential”.
people don’t buy on potential, tehy buy on performance, which the ps3 has failed to live up to…
August 15th, 2008
Kev,
I wouldn’t be so harsh on the PS3. realistically it’s a great system with a great add on value of a hi-def player no one can deny that.
It has great games now, great enough for Xbox 360 owners to get a PS3 this year.
It’s just economics supply and demand, unless your a ravaging fanboy if there is a great game like MGS4 and you have a few hundred to burn then whats to stop you from getting it?
I own all the systems, I’ve had Xbox 360 since day 1 but I ended up getting the PS3 after playing Uncharted. Loved it, it’s like Gears of War mixed with Tomb Raider two great games.
Of course after that I got Ratchet, then MGS4 and of course UT3 (big Unreal fan).
I can really see more and more 360 owners getting a PS3, it’s pretty much inevetable since a good deal of games are different or unique to both systems. Looking forward to Resistance 2 and Gears 2 and Killzone 2.
Those who don’t have either of the systems will be missing out on some great games.
August 15th, 2008
Kev- Sony would be bankrupt right now? Come on, not even you could believe that.
“It should equate to a higher degree of sales for the PS3. and yet, it didn’t happen”
Maybe it hasn’t happened yet, maybe it won’t, too hard to tell this early. Like I said I don’t think it will happen with the other systems selling so well. I do think Sony will right the ship however.
“and why is the price so high? bluray and “teh cell”…
both were huge mistakes. the evidence is in front of you, but you opt to believe sony’s pr or “potential”.
I would just like to thank Sony for this huge mistake. I wish they would make more, due to the fact I like the huge mistakes Kev tells me they made. Although I am happy with my purchase I hope they made the mistake of selling it as potential, because if it reaches that potential I will chalk up another huge mistake for Sony!
August 15th, 2008
Cad- Did you realize that the PS1 was in production for 11 years? Did you realize that Sony announced the plan for the PS2 10 year lifecycle back in March of 2004? That’s before they realized how many billions the PS3 could cost them. So where is your proof that Sony doesn’t believe in long lifecycles. You must be confusing them with MS! Don’t be Kev, don’t take your opinion and call it fact.
August 15th, 2008
So totals for complete company sales per electronic gaming devices:
Nintendo 1,163,400 units
Sony 602,100 units
Microsoft 204,800 units
That’s close to 2 million gaming devices sold in the month of July.
That’s Impressive.
August 15th, 2008
wylie - sony knew from the outset what the ps3 would cost them.. the thing was in design for years. do you think they just changed fab lines from dvd to bluray overnight? think again. it took a long time to make it happen as components had to be fully replaced, versus a simple upgrade of hd dvd lines…
heck, even stringer publicly stated he wished they would have worked WITH hd dvd. bluray is a thorn in their side. with d/l movies on the near horizon, it looks to eat a lot into the monies hoped to be recouped from bluray..
sony made mistakes. deal with it. want proof? from faaaar first place to faaar last place in only a year….
oh…and they’ve lost more in a year than ms did in 4 years….
August 15th, 2008
brad - there were articles posted stating ps3 owners are more likely to own more than a ps3, which is not good for sony’s plan.
also developers are making more games for the 360 than the ps3, thus shooting your theory full of holes…
August 15th, 2008
Kev- So now Sony new they would lose billions in a year and a half from their release and selling a PS2 at $120 would keep them from going bankrupt. I think I could eat nothing but pine cones and nuts for three days and take a crap and still would come out looking smarter than that statement. FACT the Ps1 was in production for 11 years, so why wouldn’t the PS2 be planned for that? FACT Sony plans on the PS2 to have a 10 year life cycle and is almost there. FACT Sony has already said PS3, ten years. So where are your facts saying that Sony doesn’t believe in long life cycles. Why don’t you just start saving up for the Nextbox and quit with your dribble!
August 15th, 2008
Kev,
Bluray was not a mistake, if you ask me. Expensive maybe, but worth it for the advantages. I know 360 fans like to yell “OMG BLU RAY 2X SPEED!” but Bluray 2x is not the same as DVD 2x. It’s much faster, look it up.
Now, as for “teh cell”, I’ll buy that it might pan out to be a mistake, but it’s too early to tell. Some developers have struggled, but I look at Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank, and MGS4 and I think that perhaps the CBE is what makes visuals like those possible. At the end of this gen we’ll have our answer.
-Arvis
August 15th, 2008
@Wylie
“Did you realize that the PS1 was in production for 11 years? Did you realize that Sony announced the plan for the PS2 10 year lifecycle back in March of 2004?”
Interesting, would you happen to know the data on the other system life cycles? Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo Gamecube? If not it’s ok, just kind of curious.
Thanks
August 15th, 2008
Kev,
what you said actually prove my point. Don’t you think if PS3 owners are more likely to own another console such as Wii and Xbox 360 doesn’t that mean just as many Xbox 360 owners own a PS3? duh makes sense right?
August 15th, 2008
Openyoureyes- not sure if that was sarcasm or not but the Xbox I believe was nixed in 2006, and as far as I know the Gamecube was still in production in 2007, not sure if they have stopped or not. Either way, I was debating Kev and Cad on how they think Sony doesn’t believe in long life cycles.
August 15th, 2008
BRad,
*laughs* I was just thinking the same thing. Because there are more 360 owners than PS3 owners in the States, simple mathematics would dictate that there would be more 360-only owners than PS3-only owners.
It’s almost as silly as releasing a study that says “More 360 owners in Japan own other consoles.”
-Arvis
August 15th, 2008
brad - no, it does not mean 360 owners are as likely to own a ps3 as well…. read and weep.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10013324-52.html
duh….lol…
arvis - the gpu takes care of graphics with very little help from “teh cell” due to the latency issues of having to go back to the cpu.
it’s a networking architecture, in lines with sony’s plan to have home appliances networked to each other. it was not designed for gaming… this is why developers are choosing to work on pc and 360 architectures way more than choosing to work on the ps3’s….
i can’t get to the individual sites, due to firewalls at work, but here’s the google results. much to read.
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&um=1&tab=wn&nolr=1&q=70%25+developers+working+360+pc+games
August 15th, 2008
@Mindsucker
The funny thing is, I was actually going to post in brackets that I DO NOT understand the buying habits etc of consumers in the gaming industry (well except my own of course!)!!
I just didn’t think anyone would bother taking my post THAT serious as to come back at me with it.
Thank you for noticing tho!
August 15th, 2008
@Wylie
No, I apologize if it sounded sarcastic. I was just wondering about life cycles of the last gen systems. Thanks
August 15th, 2008
kev are you aware that the cell’s original purpose was as a GPU?
check youtube for a video of IBM demoing the cell rendering a player controlled fly over of Mt St Helen’s in real time.
August 15th, 2008
wow, bennie is a rash little dick. Doesn’t understand a thing and proves it when he posts.
Wylie, I wasn’t talking about lifetime sales. I thought that was obvious. Let me break it down for you.
Almost 3 years into it’s life, Xbox 360 has outsold Xbox 3 YEARS INTO IT’S LIFE, even though it still costs more than the original did at launch.
Almost 2 years in to it’s life, PS3 is WAY, WAY behind PS2 sales 2 YEARS INTO IT’S LIFE, partly because it still costs more than the original did at launch.
Can anyone else see that Sony’s expensive Trojan Horse approach to PS3 has already made them lose the dominance they once enjoyed? Can anyone else see that Sony’s expensive Trojan Horse approach to PS3 has already cost them the unwavering developer support they had with PS2?
Once the price wars start, Sony is in big trouble. The ‘higher price = less sales = lower base = less developer support’ spiral will hurt them badly.
August 15th, 2008
uhh ron xbox sold some 64 million, little math lesson for ya: 20 million does equal more than 64 million
August 15th, 2008
kev,
Wow, dude you still don’t get it, lol…
You understand If lots of PS3 owners have Xbox 360s… that kinda means the exact same number of Xbox 360 owners have PS3s?
I’ve read that article, they are talking about percentage, I am talking about number wise it’s a an equivelent exchange.
Percentage wise since Xbox 360 ownerbase is 5 million more, there are more potential people who don’t have a PS3.
What I was saying before was for example if 4 out of the 5 million US PS3 owners have an Xbox 360, that means 4 million of the 10 million Xbox 360 owners have a PS3, right?
But that also means 1 million left PS3 owners don’t have a Xbox 360, and that means 6 million Xbox 360 owners don’t have a PS3.
Now I am speakin statiscially and economically there is a higher number(6 million) of “opportuniy cost” within the Xbox 360 user base to buy a PS3 then the lower number(1 million) “opportunity cost” from the PS3 fanbase.
Since PS3 base is near saturation with multiple Xbox 360 ownership, and lower total base than Xbox 360 fanbase by half in the US that means there is a higher ceiling for Xbox 360 owners to buy a PS3 in the near future.
I don’t know how else to explain it… basically, just think that 90% of Xbox 360 owners are not fanboys like yourself and willing to get a PS3 to play games like MGS4, Uncharted, Resistance, etc..
All of my friends are hardcore gamers they had Xbox 360 first like me, and later purchased the PS3.
I still have tons of friends waiting stubbornly to get the MGS4 PS3 bundle because of the value, DS3+MGS4+PS3 for regular price.
August 17th, 2008
uhh sk8man xbox sold some 24 million, little math lesson for ya: 24 million does equal more than 64 million.
I like when they make it easy.
uhh sk8man, what does lifetime (corrected numbers) sales have to do with what I said?
August 17th, 2008
are you really that dumb ron, that post has got be the dumbest thing I’ve ever read
August 18th, 2008
brad - it’s hilarious watching you spin numbers just to TRY to make the ps3 look better than it is. IF it was doing good you wouldn’t have to work so hard to convince us…