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wikipedia wrote:On the 23rd of March 2007, 3000 fans and journalists were expected at the promotional launch of the console in Paris, at midnight, organized by Sony near the Eiffel Tower.[125] Of the 3000 people expected, 500 attended the event, which was described as a "fiasco" by one newspaper.
I hear they're no longer stocking the 20GB PS3 as well.Praxis wrote:I was at Best Buy yesterday.
25 XBox 360's.
24 PS3's.
No Wii's.
Oh and it's apparently true. Best Buy is refusing to stock XBox 360 Core's; they only have Premiums.
The latest issue of Jason Kraft and Chris Kwak's 'Video Game Journal' for the Susquehanna Financial Group examines the software attach rate for the Xbox 360, and explores why such an “alarmingly high” rate may not bode well for Microsoft's next-generation console.
Specifically, the report cites the recently announced Xbox 360 attach rate of around five games per console sold as confirmed by Microsoft in October, a number that was up from the roughly four games per console attach rate announced by the company at the console's launch in 2005.
While traditionally a growth in attach rate is considered to be a positive, the report suggests that such an increase could mean that even though Xbox 360 software continues to enjoy brisk sales, the hardware itself has not seen similar increases in consumer demand. In fact, it concludes: “We believe the unusually high attach rate on the 360 is a sign of an increasingly unhealthy console growth rate, and should be worrisome to publishers and investors.”
The analysts further explain their hypothesis by offering that a significant portion of the Xbox 360 consoles currently in circulation were purchased by hard-core gamers, who, by definition, purchase a lot of games.
Because of this, even if the hardware installed base were to remain relatively unchanged over the next 18 months, the software attach rate would continue to climb. Thus, while the numbers would seem to indicate a healthy consumer trend for the Xbox 360, the report concludes that “its growth will be capped fairly quickly without an ever-expanding hardware installed base.”
The report further adds that the Xbox 360's high software attach rate is “a damning commentary on the limited hardware installed base, most of whom are hard-core gamers.” The analysts add that what is actually needed by Microsoft for its latest console, as well as by third party software publishers, is “quicker adoption of hardware and a rapidly growing installed base on which to sell progressively more game units,” rather than just more games sold per existing Xbox 360 owner.
In conclusion, the authors state, “If the Xbox 360 sports an attach rate of ten by holiday 2007, it will probably be because it has failed to gather critical momentum. What does it benefit publishers and investors if ten games are being purchased by a total audience of 10 million 360 owners? It doesn’t take effort to see that a console with an attach rate of 8 and an installed base of 50 million is superior to a console with an attach rate of 12 with an installed base of 20 mln."
The analysts also believe that a similar fate could await Sony and its recently launched PlayStation 3, adding: "We believe the PS3 could exhibit similar attach rate characteristics versus the 360. There is a chance the PS3 will have an even higher attach rate in its first year. Lest anyone conclude this is just the step-function trend of next-gen consoles, we caution that a high attach rate is likely a symptom of hardware shortages and a limited installed base. This is bad for publishers."
Heh, wow, I got my rumors mixed up.Spanky The Dolphin wrote:I hear they're no longer stocking the 20GB PS3 as well.Praxis wrote:I was at Best Buy yesterday.
25 XBox 360's.
24 PS3's.
No Wii's.
Oh and it's apparently true. Best Buy is refusing to stock XBox 360 Core's; they only have Premiums.
Sony Sam- There is a shortage of PS3's, their are no PS3's in stores, the Nintendo Officials are commiting suicide by the hundreds.Tranan wrote:And discshop has over 160 left in stock still. and its the third day. And I hawe to wait fora a wii. wonder if sony understand any of this?
MS shouldn't be getting that kind of attach rate yet, not if they want to dominate the marketshare like they so desperately want to. That's an attach rate expected closer to the third or fourth year of a cycle.Ace Pace wrote:Anyone know whats the attach rate(Games sold per console) for the three new consoles?
LinkNow that we know what the software and hardware sales are, what about the spending habits of the gamer? In other words, how many games does the average PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii owner game? The NPD Fungroup estimates that the tie-in ratio for both the PS3 and Wii are fairly close, actually. In January, the average PS3 owner owned 2.7 games, and the average Wii owner had 2.2 games. For February there was a notable increase, as the numbers shot up a point. Now, the average PS3 owner owns 3.4 games, and the average Wii owner has 3.6.
"While some detractors may consider the next generation cycle off to a poor start," said a representative from NPD, "we think that improving tie ratios indicate strong demand for the relatively light software lineup on the next gen consoles, and we believe that once a greater variety of compelling software is released later this year, demand for the new hardware will increase."
What's Guitar Hero 2 like anyway, I was considering getting a 360 for it until I heard this.Stark wrote:GH2 360 ftw
That's all well and good, but I've already got a Wii. I think I can forgo having extra downloadable content if it means I don't need to spend $600+ buying a X360.Vendetta wrote:As much as I like the Wii, the simple fact that the 360 version will have downloadable extra songs, with ongoing support adding more, is enough to make it the instant winner.
Sadly, it turns out I couldn't. Also, waiting ages for a version of unknown quality versus buying a version right now that lets me use the non-suck GH1 songs was an easy one for me. Also, it gave me great pleasure to go into the PS3-fellating EB and buy a 360 and laugh at their 'are you going ot be here at midnight for the launch' questions.atg wrote:That's all well and good, but I've already got a Wii. I think I can forgo having extra downloadable content if it means I don't need to spend $600+ buying a X360.
The bad news, I would think, is far more significant. The Wii has sold more than they have in Europe and is still impossible to find on shelves. That Sony would sell fewer units and yet have supply rotting in warehouses is a truly bad sign for them.DaveJB wrote:The good news for Sony: The PS3's UK launch sales were almost as much as the 360 and Wii's combined sales over the same period during their launches.
The bad news? They only shifted about two-thirds of the consoles they produced.
It's good to know that Nintendo isn't the only company that seriously screws people on peripherals.Stark wrote:However, USB wireless dongle = AU$150? Microsoft, in all seriousness, can GET FUCKED.
I wouldn't be surprised if they might cause long-term damage to it though. Anyway, if you're buying rechargeable AA batteries how hard is it to get a regarging unit at the same time?Stark wrote:However, Wii remotes don't have charge cables. That's... crazy. Nintendo says the nunchuck port can't handle recharge, but you can already buy recharger cradle things that apparently charge through it.
Wouldn't those charging units need a wire to the power outlet to be able to charge? A wire that would get in the way while swinging the Wii remote around? A wire that some moron would trip over while going beserk to a game and go LAWSUIT!!!11!! like those other morons throwing the remote through their TVs.Stark wrote:Because... 360 controllers can charge and be used at the same time? Like, shit, EVERYTHING? Laptops, mobiles, 360 controllers... but not Wii remotes. Because they couldn't be bothered designing the nunchuck port to handle it. Yay for Nintendo.