Price Cut Leads To PS3, PSP Sales Boost 154
Klaidas writes "The BBC reports that sales of Sony's PlayStation 3 console in the US rose by 21% in June, though the machine still trails the Wii and Xbox 360. NPD numbers show 98,500 PS3s were sold, compared to 198,400 Xbox 360s (up 28%) and 381,800 Wiis (up 13%). Sony said that the $100 price cut to the 60GB PS3 led to a 135% sales rise over the last two weeks, though independent confirmation of that jump is not yet available. 'Nintendo's DS handheld sold 561,900 units , while Sony's PSP, which has been boosted by an April price cut, sold 230,100 units, NPD reported. Software sales in the US are 31% higher than the same time last year, the market research showed, buoyed by new consoles from all three firms.'"
Misleading headline (Score:5, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Honestly, I wouldn't believe anything I heard from Sony. If it were a sunny day and Sony told me the sky were blue, I'd probably still look up to be sure. For all we know, what they really meant was that they shipped 135% more PS3s into the retail channel in anticipation for increased sales.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
As for VGCharts and your comment of "looks like more than a 135% increase to me"...2 points:
1) The numbers posted now are different than what you posted, so it would seem that these stats are in flux.
2) Back in Jan/Feb, sales of the PS3 were up in
Re: (Score:2)
However, I need point out that there are more than just rumors at play. Jan and Feb includes leftover buyers from Xmas time and spring is just soft in general.
Even as of mid December, the supply issues were pretty much over. Everywhere I looked, listened, and read, people were well aware that all they had to do was walk into a store and grab their PS3, so I don't think that really had a whole lot to do with it. However, its impossible to draw any valid conclusions...all we can do is speculate, so its kind of pointless debating this part of it. Too many factors influencing things simultaneously.
I find it hard to believe the Wii experienced exactly the same historical trends as every other console in history purely because of supply issues.
Well, since even now, 9 months later, no Wiis sit on the shelves for
Not Misleading, it's an Optimistic Headline... (Score:2)
"PS3 Still out sold by GBA" and it would also be true. It simply depends on the spin you want to put on your article. I don't know why GBA numbers were excluded from the parent article since the "Last gen PS2" was also included... Here are some more numbers...
DS - 56
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Let's see here. We have:
1. Actual numbers of sales.
2. A computed increase in sales.
3. An analysis from the company who sells the product.
It all adds up to an increase in sales due to the PS3 price drop. Something which I comp
Re: (Score:2)
Not when the actual number of sales and computed increase in sales you cite are from June, before the price cut. The only supporting evidence is Sony's claim (not that I disbelieve them).
Re: (Score:2)
Oh look, the PS3 FINALLY DROPPED to 2nd spot since it becamse #1 after the price drop. Unless Amazon is really just in bed with Sony.
Re:Misleading headline (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
That site also conviently ignores that there were previous two seperate models. A true representation of sales prior to the price cut would also need to reflect the 20GB model, whereas sale
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
On a somewhat tangent note, NOA's VP was an idiot for saying that Wii shortages will continue until at least next year. I'm not sure if they will or not, but after that announcement I can just imagine that tons of scalpers all of a suddenly had dollar signs in their eyes. There tend to be Wii hoarders who can easily flip them for $100 profit
Poor Sony (Score:3, Interesting)
I bet no one out there regrets their Wii360 purchase instead of just a PS3.
Re: (Score:2)
My friend calls his combo the "Wii60." Has a nice ring to it.
Now all I wish is I could actually find a Wii...
Re: (Score:2)
The PS3 is almost a year old and still has very very few exclusive titles, with the majority of them being ports of 360 games and released up to a year later.
Add to that the price difference and people have many reasons to buy a 360 over a PS3.
I'll even hazard a guess that a
Re:Poor Sony (Score:4, Informative)
November = 11/12 month. July 7/12 month. That's about a 4 month difference before we see it's 1 year anniversary, or 1/3 (33.333%) of a year. You have a very loose definition of 'almost'.
According to this list [wikipedia.org], there are over 40 games slated to be released before their true 1 year mark. Over 11 of them exclusive. Of course, given the usual game development, some of this might be pushed back past November 2007.
The "Elite" [wikipedia.org] price of the 360 is pretty much on par with the 60-GB 'firesale' price at $479.99 compared to $499.99. Add on the option HD-DVD drive [wikipedia.org] at $199.99 [amazon.com] and now you're looking at a console that's MORE expensive than the PS3, which comes with Blu-ray. Though, you do get a bigger hard drive (120GB compared to 80GB)
Nah, the 360 is not a better price comparison than the PS3, given similar setups. It is better for consumers because of it's optional features, but that will also be a drawback for it's system. One cannot put a game on HD-DVD media for the 360 because they cannot guarentee everyone has an HD-DVD drive. Well, one could do it, but it could scorn consumers who might purchase it (and you know there are people who will) thinking it will work because it's a 360 game.
There are only 2 main reasons for get a 360 over a PS3. Game library (as you already mentioned) and online support. Both of these can be categorized into the 'maturity' of the console because it has been out longer.
While I'm a Nintendo supporter, my crystal ball does predict the PS3 to overtake both the Wii and 360 in 2 years. It's going to be a huge gap to make up from the Wii but I believe you'll start seeing games on the PS3 that will just blow people away and everyone will be wanting one. One top of that, in 2-years that 80GB model will probably be selling closer to $400, which will be much more affordable for everyone as the prices of Blu-Ray and computer chips drop at their usual rate. Such games won't be possible on the 360 without a HD-DVD requirement.
You'll see the PS3 become more popular with developers as the 'casual gamers' market that the Wii is very effectively targeting, is also a market that does not spend gobs of money on games or as often. 1 game for a casual gamer family will probably satisfy them for months, while a hobby gamer (like myself) will 'beat' a game in a week or two and will want to move onto something else. Of course, this will depend on the game. MMO's will probably take over the 360 and PS3 consoles with the availability of a hard drive.
At that point, since "everyone"(tm) will be picking up a PS3, there will be a resurgence of interest in it as if it was part of a 'new' generation of consoles. Like "current + .5 generation". And maybe in the next 2 years Sony can correct it's PR from it's other department mishaps.
In 2 years, those gamers who sprang for a Wii or 'Wii60' while have $400 to spend on a new console and they'll see a good healthy library of games to c
Re: (Score:2)
A gamer wants to play GAMES, not movies. In terms of that, the $400 360 and the 'fire-sale' PS3 are the ones to compare. (The cheapest 360 is crap without the hard drive, as you cannot download demos and saving is -much- less hassle with a hard drive than a memory card.) Yes, it's a nice bonus to be able to play Blu-ray, but that also assumes the person has an HDMI-capable TV as well. Otherwise, it's just a glorifie
Re: (Score:2)
The blu-ray player is cheaper than the stand-alones, the interface works well (only 1 complaint so far) and it can even stream from the network.
Its not the cheapest any more. Amazon [amazon.com] has a stand alone player for $459.98. Thats $40.01 cheaper than the 'fire sale'. Its on sale, and no clue how long the sale is going to last, but new players are coming out cheaper all the time.
Re: (Score:2)
You forgot timed exclusives UT3 and Haze, both of which look good to those who consider the Xbox a "FPS" machine and the PS a "RPG" machine. Add in HL2 and older games like RS:Vegas and Resistance and you have some pretty nice FPS games to compete with the 360's Halo (I'm not a fan myself). I think this generation you're going to see the lines blur more and more.
Also, the fact that Microsoft has publicly
Re:Poor Sony (Score:5, Interesting)
Well, the PS2 came out almost 7 years ago, and, at least as of May, was still outselling the PS3 and XBox360 put together each month. As the PS3 price comes down, it will be interesting to see if Sony can convert a substantial portion of the PS2 buyers into PS3 owners down the road. And while it's true that the PS3 has little exclusive content yet, I can't wait for the first virtual world-style game (Maybe a GTA?) that uses the Blu-Ray capacity to offer an order of magnitude richer world than you can get on anything else.
In other words, the game isn't over-- it's hardly begun.
Although I could have gone any of the 3 ways (the Wii seems fun but lacking in features, the 360 seems like it has a good online feature but lackluster specs, and the PS3 is expensive but featureful), I don't regret the PS3. Blu-Ray movies look awesome, the machine has horsepower out the wazoo, the LAN features just work-- it has everything I need for a long time. And it plays my PS2 games so I don't have to go out and buy hundreds of dollars in new games to have a little fun.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
So now I sit on my couch and look at my 6 hd-d
Re: (Score:2)
As for software emulation. It's actually pretty good. 70% - 80% with few show stopping glitches. the 360 does 30% and of those 30% there are still significant glitches.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
PS2= guitar hero machine (Score:2)
take a look at amazon's bestselling video games [amazon.com]. PS2 is #16 (and #17 for the black one) and Guitar Hero 80s is #3Guitar Hero 2 bundle is #19. (PS3 is #2 and 360 is #21)
Not to mention DS or Wii games hold 8 of the top 12 games. Casual gamers anyone? the first "gamer's game" is Halo 3 at #13 then RE4 (wii) at #20.
Re: (Score:2)
I bet this guy is regretting his decision [kotaku.com] just a little. And Microsoft views Rings of Red [kotaku.com] as a good thing for sales...so I guess if you do create a device that fails every 3-6 months then your shareholders will be happy because you generate repeat customers with little effort on your part. Way to go Microsoft!
Re: (Score:2)
DS (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Hey, quite a few of us dad's have them too!
I actually took my friend along to buy one yesterday and give some guidance on which games to pick up. He'd seen the new brain training game and played it for like 10 minutes and decided he had to own one.
Personally, I didn't even have to play it after I watched someone play the first brain training for 10 minutes before deciding I had to get one.
And no, for the trolls and fanboys... it's not all just brain training, but that's definitely one of the gateway drug
PSP was also due to Lumines hack (Score:2)
I got one with the thought that there was no downgrader in sight for the 3.51 firmware, which would most definitely be shipped on the new model. Mine came with 3.40, and I've upgraded it to 3.50 as part of the downgrade process, which is stalled until my friend who has a copy of Lumines remembers to bring it.
PROTIP: hay noobz you only need to use it once, no need to hog all the copies of Lumines out there!
I got mine at a Target store, but if you have an FYE in the area, you might want to check them out,
Because maybe they actually like Lumines? (Score:3, Insightful)
I got one with the thought that there was no downgrader in sight for the 3.51 firmware, which would most definitely be shipped on the new model. Mine came with 3.40
Is there a way for an individual customer to get a retail store to let him check the firmware version on a PSP before buying it?
PROTIP: hay noobz you only need to use it once, no need to hog all the copies of Lumines out there!
Ever considered that maybe they end up liking Lumines and don't want to try the GBA version [pineight.com] in an emulator?
Re: (Score:2)
Well, yes. Yes it has. (Score:2)
The only people this is news to are people so rabidly anti-Sony that they've convinced themselves that no one wants the PS3. Which is demonstrably false, since people continue to buy the PS3.
This might be news if it meant that the PS3 was now outselling the 360, but it doesn't.
If anything, I'm a 360 fanboy - I love me my Gears, my Dead Rising, and my Forza 2 - but it comes as no surprise to me that people are buying the PS3 (othe
June was a 5 week period, May was a 4 week period (Score:5, Insightful)
June is one of those 5 week periods.
If you take this into account, weekly PS3 sales were actually DOWN for June vs May, not up! This is the only valid way to measure sales for months that have a different number of weeks in them.
So in May, they sold 82,000/4 = 20500 PS3s per week.
In June, they sold 98,500/5 = 19,700 PS3s per week.
Sales didn't increase by 21% in June, they decreased by 4%!
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Forget the whole "month" thing. The section of the year that NPD calls "June" was a 5 week tracking period for NPD. The section of the year NPD calls "May" was a 4 week tracking period for NPD. That is NPD's own method for dividing up the year into weeks.
If you sell 82,000 things in 4 weeks, but during the next 5 weeks, you sell 98,500 things, when were sales better? Duri
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Not just dumb, extra-dumb. (Score:2)
So, before the price cut, sales were down about 3.5%.
This is being reported as a 21% gain due to the price cut.
Don't know if this is the right place... (Score:4, Insightful)
What is the facination with the Wii? Why is it doing so well? Price has something to do with it obviously, but after playing the Wii several times, I can't say I was that impressed with it. The lineup is fairly light, and it isn't long before the remote loses it's cool factor and frankly, in some games, can be down right annoying.
I found the whole experience fairly boring after just a couple of hours of total use. Yet, I know people who are obsessed with the thing.
So what am I missing about the Wii phenom? Is it primarily because it is easy for little kids to pickup? Or is it some party aspect that I've not had the priviledge of partaking in that has this console being some must have device?
Of course, I've not been terribly impressed with Nintendo consoles for years. I owned a 64 and think it was the biggest waste of money I've ever had. I currently own a DS almost strictly for FF and Puzzle Quest, and if I could get them in a different medium, I probably would (Puzzle Quest on a small screen is its own little version of torture, but the game is too damn fun not to play).
(For perspective I own a DS and a 360 currently for "consoles").
Re: (Score:2)
Single-player gaming on the Wii (Score:2)
For Solo play the Wii is ridiculously bad so far (Zelda being the exception).
It clearly is better suited for party gaming, but "ridiculously bad" is harsh. There are many good single-player games available: Zelda, Resi 4 (yeah, it's a port, but it's the best version of one of the best games of all time), Super Paper Mario, Mercury Meltdown, Trauma Center, Godfather (the Wii version is the only one worth owning), Elebits, Excite Truck (which is a lot better than most people claim), SSX, two great golf games, Scarface, and finally a good 3D Sonic.
As of now, I would recommend the Wi
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Full disclaimers: I have had a Wii since January and I also own a DS and a PS3, and the guy I live with has a 360 (that I get full access to). My favorite of those is by far my Nintendo DS, which is just a Chrono Trigger away from having everything (literally) which made the SNES great. In fact, I love the DS twice as much as any of the others, so I promise I am not all about graphics. I just expect grap
Re: (Score:2)
I disagree. I still think is has more to do with the Wii being the cheapest major games console of all time, when adjusted for inflation.
Id est, the most affordable major games console of all time. Don't underestimate the power of price when Mr Bluecollar stands at the game console wall at the local superstore.
Re: (Score:2)
Right now, single player is a drag but I need to get a couple Wavebirds and play some Gamecube games I haven't played in a while or at all. I loved Zelda and enjoyed Heatseeker. I've heard much fun about Mario Party and Rayman is a blast wit
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Imagine you're married, or engaged, right out of college. You want to play video games like The Good Ole' Days, but the wife is bitching about you blowing $700 (half the mortgage payment) on a PS3. Not only is a Wii cheaper, but she gets some benefit out of it too. Which do you buy? The constant nagging every time you play, or a happy housemate?
Re: (Score:2)
The Wii is viral. People who play with it actually look like they were having fun. It's easy for everyone to get into it. Take out a Wii at a party, and sooner or later everyone has his or her own Mii, and ad-hoc Tennis tournaments will start. Non-gamers love playing these games - at my place, Wii Play is actually one of the most played games, despite the fact that all "real" gamers seem to hate it.
I find it hilarious that a lot of gamers are still in denial about the Wii. Most people don't really care abou
Headline is incorrect...PS3 sales rate decreased! (Score:2)
So the week-per-week sales went down from 21,000 for the 4 weeks of May down to 20,000 for the 5 weeks of June + July.
It's the price stupid. (Score:2)
Let's see, a $400 console is outselling a $600 (now $500) console. And both of them are getting outsold by a $250 console....
Maybe the general public is a *little* concerned about how much things cost?
And, yes, I know it isn't as simple as price. But the Wii wouldn't be nearly as popular if it cost $600, even if it had Blu-ray and HD-DVD included.
The PSP (Score:2)
No PS3 games in the top 20 (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
An FPS which could have been done better on a PC, a graphical bump to a PS1/PS2 fighting game and an emulated version of a PS1 game.
You probably live on an oil well if that seems like a good bargain.
Moreover, all of Assassin's Creed, Bioshock, Crysis and UT3 are not exclusive, headed straight to PC, 360 and PS3, so placing them only in one category makes it seem a tad biased.
The game I'm most looking for which is a PS3 exclusive is actually a much more casual game called LittleBigPl
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I don't own a PS3 and probably will not but If he likes it and likes the games that is good for him.
It is kind of like the people that bash the Wii because it isn't as powerful as the PS3. I like my Wii and I like the games.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I think nobody can seriously claim that it's only a matter of getting used to the controls. Clearly, keyboard and mouse are superior to dual-analog gamepads for controlling FPS. Personally, I used to play a lot of FPS on PCs (starting from Wolfenstein, Doom and Marathon), but when
Re: (Score:2)
KB/M is *not* inherently better, they're just
Re: (Score:2)
I did, and do claim that KB/M is not inherently superior.
And I still don't believe you could possibly be serious.
KB/M is *not* inherently better,
Except that they are. Small movements are a lot easier using the mouse, and fast movements are not constrained by how far your stick moves. There's a reason auto-aim was invented for console FPS.
they're just easier to play at a reasonably competent level, dual-sticks takes a little more getting used to, which some people seem unwilling, or incapable of doing
See, you yourself admit that a person who is capable of using a mouse might incapable of learning dual stick controls. That alone makes one inherently superior over the other.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, you're sitting closer to a Computer screen than to a TV, but TVs are bigger than TV screens, which somewhat makes up for it. In my
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Because some people prefer to play on a couch than in front of their TV?
I spend all my day at work in front of a computer. The last thing i want to do when i get home is to "play" on a computer.
I want the living room. I want a console.
I could also argue that on a console, voice-chat is predominant, where on PC, people still "mostly" type their conversations over most games. This makes it hard to play team-based
Re: (Score:2)
2. I have nothing wrong about the gameplay mechanics, which are probably similar to previous iterations of the game and the new game doesn't add that much except graphics, some chars and online. Knowing enough about the VF mechanics, it uses frame perfect moves which online ruin the game.
3. I'm sure they are! But are they worth the current huge investment compared to older games? T
Re: (Score:2)
Then stick to older games. I mostly play PS2/1 games on my PS3. The advantage being that the PS3 upconverts and widescreens them so they don't look like crap on my high def TV. The PS3 makes the old games BETTER!
Re: (Score:2)
I totally agree.
I never figured out why people are masochistic enough to play anything without the beauty of widescreen, a large (32"+) screen and a hd signal. Oh wait... maybe its a personal preference?
Re: (Score:2)
Then again, there are also people that have a 61" TV. Also, some people like sitting on a couch.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: No nessessarily... (Score:2)
Not nessessarily, since this is his Personal list. For example, To date there is a single PS3 exclusive that interests me; "Lair". The others "MGS4, FFXIII, Home, etc..." just don't interest me. So he may simply be excluding the other biggies, since he won't be buying them anyway.
I am curious as to why he put Assassins Creed in the PS3 column rather than the 360 one though, Is there something exclusive to that version I just
Re: (Score:2)
There are so many titles in the near future that I'm interested in, there's just no way I'm going to be able to play them. After all the E3 news aggregated the info together my wallet was weeping. I've only got a Wii60 for now, and expecting to refresh my PC back to playability and probably a PS3 sometime next year after it releases enough games that
Re: (Score:2)
They're not independent. If any of the consoles does bad, game releases will suffer.
Re: (Score:2)
- if the Wii wins, we get more casual games and more quirky stuff like Elebits or Zack & Wiki
- if the 360 wins, we get more FPS and car racers
- if the PS3 wins, we probably get more JRPGs and car racers
Which is why I own a Wii and a PS3.
Re: DLC vs. Gamefly... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
- Echochrome
- Little Big Planet
Wii:
- Super Smash Bros
- Mario
- Wii Fit
- Mario Kart
- Maybe Metroid, waiting for reviews
- Boogie
- Zack & Wiki
360:
nada.
Multiplatforms:
- Simpsons Game
- Rock Band/Guitar Hero
Those are the ones that come to mind
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
On second thought, no, you are right. I am stupid for coming to slashdot and thinking I could have a civil discussion with folks and not be moderated as flamebai
Re: (Score:2)
You are, of course, entitled to your own opinion, but try to see it from where I'm coming from
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
You are indeed entitled to your own opinion, it just seems odd to have an opinion in which you write off that many promising games.. Not ripping in you because you "can't get behind some games", it just seems to be doing a major disservice to yourself to write some of those titles off, especially since you want to seem to be an "accross the boa
Re: (Score:2)
PS3 version vs other versions... (Score:2)
I am curious, you put Assassins Creed in the PS3 column rather than the 360 one. What gives the PS3 version an edge over it in your opinion? To my knowledge they should be the same game delivered th
Re: (Score:2)
What suits? (Score:2)
Reliability suits? They've agreed to fix all the failed units under warranty, pay back anybody who paid out of pocket for the repairs, and extend the warranty for those units to three years. What kind of suit could possibly exist after these concessions? Is somebody going to seriously try for a mental anguish grab or something?
Re: (Score:2)
360 sales are way down, 60%, according to MS' own figures.
Re: (Score:2)
Unless "reliability suits" means something other than what it seems to mean, "shareholder" suits are not "reliability suits". Besides, isn't Microsoft at a high point for the last calendar year, and didn't they revise their earnings upwards, even after including the billion dollar charge for dealing with the problems?
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
These two lawsuits are more applicable, both being for the "scratched disc" issue. However, these class action lawsuits will fail unless they get substantial numbers of claimants. From what I see here, so far there are... well, two claimants. Otherwise it's safe for the court to assume they might just be morons who thought they could move the 360 around while it was running.
We'll see how those
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)