PS3 Misses, Wii Hits

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2006-12-08 02:42pm

Sony missed its target by 50%+, giving the Wii twice the sales as Sony.

CNNMoney wrote:NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- You weren't imagining things. Finding a PlayStation 3 in November really was a Herculean task.

Sony (Charts) sold just 195,000 PS3 units in its first 13 days on shelves, according to analysts quoting preliminary numbers from The NPD Group, which tracks video game sales. That's well short of the 400,000 the company had projected. Nintendo's Wii console, another hot holiday item, sold 476,000 units - a more than 2-1 sales advantage.

Microsoft's (Charts) Xbox 360, fueled by the critically praised new title "Gears of War," sold 511,000 units, which John Taylor of Arcadia said puts it on track for 2006 sales of roughly 4 million.

The real surprise of the month was the strong sale of handheld and legacy systems. The Nintendo DS, which was one of last year's hottest items, continues to sell extremely well. November saw sales of 920,000 for the device (Taylor's estimate for the month was just 650,000.) The Game Boy Advance, meanwhile, continues to sell well, with another 639,000 units sold.

Sony saw the PlayStation 2 continue to sell well, moving 663,000 units. And 413,000 PSPs (PlayStation Portable) were sold in November.

The NPD Group declined to provide the information, citing errors in "historical data" (which is typically used to provide comparisons to previous months and years). November 2006 data is correct, however.

Taylor said both Sony and Nintendo are actively working to get additional units on retail shelves. Sony, he said, is shipping roughly 75,000-100,000 units to the U.S. each week. He expects there to be 600,000-800,00 PS3s available in the U.S. by year's end.

Nintendo's strategy is slightly different.

"Retailers were told by Nintendo that there would be three major waves of product," said Taylor. "The first wave was at launch, then there was one immediately thereafter, which was in Nintendo's warehouse, and a final wave is due the week before Christmas. ... Retailers who had ads planned throughout the holidays, we heard, would get supply as well, but those are rifle shots instead of waves."

Game sales were stronger than expected in November. A report from Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities quotes NPD software sales figures of $804 million. Of that, $363 million was spent on 'next generation' machines (which Pachter defines as the PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, DS and PSP).

Xbox 360 and DS sales led the charge.

Before the launch of the PS3 and Wii, many speculated Microsoft would benefit from the expected shortages. The theory went that consumers, frustrated by their inability to find a new Nintendo or Sony system, would pick up an Xbox 360 for loved ones.

Now, though, analysts aren't sure that is happening.

"The kicker for Microsoft is going to be the psychology of scarcity in a seasonal environment where people need to make a decision," he said. "It appears, based on these numbers, that they might be buying handheld systems instead."

Xisiqomelir · Post by **Xisiqomelir** » 2006-12-08 02:46pm

Nintendo pulled off the launch brilliantly (reasonable supply + good title lineup) and hopefully this will give them some momentum going into 2007.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2006-12-08 02:47pm

Who didn't see this particular coming

.

honestly Sony was shooting itself in the foot with both the absurd costs and shortages of product. While I understand the drive to have a product by Christmas season is an immense driving force for a product, it hurt Sony.

On another note, I do find it funny that the GBA has better sales then the PSP.

TheFeniX · Post by **TheFeniX** » 2006-12-08 02:49pm

I had figured this would happen. Taking third place is bad enough for Sony, but losing out to a system classified as "niche" really says something about how poorly the (mis)handled this generation.

Best Buy had it down (as did probably most retailers receiving PS3s or Wiis. When I went with my brother-in-law a few weeks ago to pick up a 360 for him, I noticed the stacks of 360's right up front. This was the day before the Wii launched. I could only imagine the number of people standing in Best Buy with $700+ in their hand with no PS3 in sight and all the Wiis sold off, looking at a huge stack of 360s just begging to be taken home.

Xisiqomelir · Post by **Xisiqomelir** » 2006-12-08 02:50pm

TheFeniX wrote:I had figured this would happen. Taking third place is bad enough for Sony, but losing out to a system classified as "niche" really says something about how poorly the (mis)handled this generation.

Are you talking about the Wii? The Wii is mass-market, not niche.

TheFeniX · Post by **TheFeniX** » 2006-12-08 03:07pm

Xisiqomelir wrote:
TheFeniX wrote:I had figured this would happen. Taking third place is bad enough for Sony, but losing out to a system classified as "niche" really says something about how poorly the (mis)handled this generation.
Are you talking about the Wii? The Wii is mass-market, not niche.

Granted, but the Wii isn't the "OMG it will replace your entire entertainment center" device like the PS3 or 360. It's a gaming console, not a hybrid DVD player, media center, Internet browser, DVR (in the loosest sense) that just happens to also play video games.

MS and Sony want their systems to literally be at the heart of the family. Nintendo is really saying "Fuck it, we like video games."

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2006-12-08 03:25pm

TheFeniX wrote:
Xisiqomelir wrote:
TheFeniX wrote:I had figured this would happen. Taking third place is bad enough for Sony, but losing out to a system classified as "niche" really says something about how poorly the (mis)handled this generation.
Are you talking about the Wii? The Wii is mass-market, not niche.
Granted, but the Wii isn't the "OMG it will replace your entire entertainment center" device like the PS3 or 360. It's a gaming console, not a hybrid DVD player, media center, Internet browser, DVR (in the loosest sense) that just happens to also play video games.

MS and Sony want their systems to literally be at the heart of the family. Nintendo is really saying "Fuck it, we like video games."

Oh please. By your idiot logic DVD players are "niche" products because they're "only" designed to play DVDs.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2006-12-08 03:34pm

TheFeniX wrote:Granted, but the Wii isn't the "OMG it will replace your entire entertainment center" device like the PS3 or 360. It's a gaming console, not a hybrid DVD player, media center, Internet browser, DVR (in the loosest sense) that just happens to also play video games.

MS and Sony want their systems to literally be at the heart of the family. Nintendo is really saying "Fuck it, we like video games."

Except, of course, the Wii is the one with the built in web browser and an interface worth a damn for it (full net access is still to come though), the Wii is the one that has news and weather channels accessable from power on, the Wii is the one that can appeal to everyone in the family....

Seriously, if Nintendo have hit the market they want, everyone else is going to look niche.

TheFeniX · Post by **TheFeniX** » 2006-12-08 03:55pm

General Zod wrote:Oh please. By your idiot logic DVD players are "niche" products because they're "only" designed to play DVDs.

If every other DVD player manufacturer was packaging their DVD players with DVRs, HDDs, media players, etc and you were the only company who made a straight DVD player, then, yes, it would be a "niche" you were trying to fill: people who only want to play DVDs and pay for just a DVD player.

The Wii does have other features besides just playing games, but they aren't going to the extent of PS3 and 360 to become one huge hybrid machine.

Vyraeth · Post by **Vyraeth** » 2006-12-08 03:59pm

Maybe a better way of looking at is pointing out how successful Wii's "game first" approach is winning out over the PS3.

Nintendo really put some effort into designing a new way to play videogames, and it appears to be doing well for them. Rather than marketing a bunch of expensive hardware, they're showcasing games in a new light and possibly expanding their audience that way.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2006-12-08 04:04pm

TheFeniX wrote:
General Zod wrote:Oh please. By your idiot logic DVD players are "niche" products because they're "only" designed to play DVDs.
If every other DVD player manufacturer was packaging their DVD players with DVRs, HDDs, media players, etc and you were the only company who made a straight DVD player, then, yes, it would be a "niche" you were trying to fill: people who only want to play DVDs and pay for just a DVD player.

The Wii does have other features besides just playing games, but they aren't going to the extent of PS3 and 360 to become one huge hybrid machine.

Nice moving the goalposts there. Let me rephrase for those lacking in reading comprehension. Niche products is not determined by how many or how few features it offers, or even how many people make the damned things. What determines whether something is a niche is whether it appeals to only a very specific group of people, or it has mass market appeal for users across several categories. The Wii appeals to several types of people, including those who aren't tech heads or hardcore gamers.

In contrast, the main groups you see buying the PS3 and XBox are gamers and technophiles. It's like Apple OSX vs. Linux. One has mass appeal because of its ease of use and newbie friendliness. The other may have a huge amount of flexibility and options in comparison but is only really appealing to technophiles, and thus a niche product.

Sam Or I · Post by **Sam Or I** » 2006-12-08 04:15pm

The problem with the new systems is the price. I mean at $400 you can purchase a low end computer which can do everything and more than the game machines.

Computers have become so cheap, and game machine prices have risen.

About $300 is as much as I can see myself putting money down on a game console. Maybe I am getting old.

Xisiqomelir · Post by **Xisiqomelir** » 2006-12-08 04:24pm

Sam Or I wrote:About $300 is as much as I can see myself putting money down on a game console. Maybe I am getting old.

So buy the $250 console?

Vyraeth · Post by **Vyraeth** » 2006-12-08 04:24pm

Sam Or I wrote:The problem with the new systems is the price. I mean at $400 you can purchase a low end computer which can do everything and more than the game machines.

You must have a really good computer parts supplier, or you're not really familair with the XBOX 360's capabilities.

Provided the 360 keeps up a good staple of fun titles to play, the money spent on their console is well worth it. The hardware you get for the price you pay is insane. Infact, Microsoft and Sony both take losses on hardware for every unit they sale, because they figure they'll make it back in games.

Obviously, it's not going to be able to compete with the latest computer hardware, I mean, just look at Nvidia's new videocard, the 8800 GTX, but that card is worth 600 bucks alone.

Sure, a low end computer may give you the capabiltiy to word process, run spreadsheets, and browse the net, but it's not going to be able to play games the way a 360 can.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2006-12-08 04:58pm

It seems like Wii is indeed getting better reviews as a console system. Sony, as usual, screws up what could have been a much better release, takes a bigger chunk out of everyone's wallet, and has too many bugs.

Nintendo forever, bitches!

Icehawk · Post by **Icehawk** » 2006-12-08 05:04pm

Provided the 360 keeps up a good staple of fun titles to play, the money spent on their console is well worth it. The hardware you get for the price you pay is insane. Infact, Microsoft and Sony both take losses on hardware for every unit they sale, because they figure they'll make it back in games.

Actually Microsoft now currently makes a small profit on each console shipped as their hardware and manufacturing costs have dropped significantly.

The Wii is a great console, a buddy of mine brought his over a few weeks ago and just playing Wii Sports was a blast. I'd easily pick one of them up over a PS3.

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2006-12-08 05:05pm

Superman wrote:and has too many bugs.

What bugs has the PS3 had? Other than not being backwardly compatible with a minority of titles I don't think I've heard of any. On the other hand I've heard of Wii's being bricked by firmware updates.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-12-08 05:09pm

Sharp-kun wrote:
Superman wrote:and has too many bugs.
What bugs has the PS3 had? Other than not being backwardly compatible with a minority of titles I don't think I've heard of any. On the other hand I've heard of Wii's being bricked by firmware updates.

You mean like the dozen of 'problems' with upscaling?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2006-12-08 05:16pm

Sharp-kun wrote:On the other hand I've heard of Wii's being bricked by firmware updates.

An incredibly small number, mind you.

Vyraeth · Post by **Vyraeth** » 2006-12-08 05:27pm

Icehawk wrote:Actually Microsoft now currently makes a small profit on each console shipped as their hardware and manufacturing costs have dropped significantly.

That's wild, missed that update. Now, if only Microsoft would be kind enough to pass the savings onto it's consumers and drop the price point for the 360.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2006-12-08 05:38pm

Sam Or I wrote:The problem with the new systems is the price. I mean at $400 you can purchase a low end computer which can do everything and more than the game machines.

Computers have become so cheap, and game machine prices have risen.

Until you buy a comparable graphics card. At which point you just matched the price of the console on one part. Hell, the Geforce 7800 GTX, the closest part to the PS3's graphics chip, cost the same as a whole PS3 at launch...

Xisiqomelir · Post by **Xisiqomelir** » 2006-12-08 05:39pm

Vyraeth wrote:
Icehawk wrote:Actually Microsoft now currently makes a small profit on each console shipped as their hardware and manufacturing costs have dropped significantly.
That's wild, missed that update. Now, if only Microsoft would be kind enough to pass the savings onto it's consumers and drop the price point for the 360.

They have US$4 billion in losses to recoup from O. Huegbox. You won't see a price cut until Sony does one.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2006-12-08 05:41pm

No, but they have started to pack in games in the boxes.

You won't see a price cut until the post christmas slump, but I'd expect on in time for Halo 3.

Post by **weemadando** » 2006-12-08 06:22pm

Interestingly I was at a bit of a casual gamer party last night and there was MUCH Wii playing to be had. Anyhow, at the end of the night the general consensus was that EVERYONE there wanted a Wii, and that's just from playing Wii Sports and Wii Play. People were just overwhelmingly impressed with how fun and simply the system is.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2006-12-08 06:41pm

And that's without Rayman. Rayman is fucking bonkers, and is one of those games which is impossible to play without a huge grin on your face.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

PS3 Misses, Wii Hits

PS3 Misses, Wii Hits

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