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PS3 Sales: Not Much To Whine About

So let me see if I can get this straight-

Everyone still has a bone to pick with Sony concerning sales of the PlayStation 3. Now, I would most certainly agree with the negative assessment if that assessment made even the least bit of sense, but it doesn't. As I've found that many people have the attention span of gnats and won't read "walls of text" (which are basically no more than paragraphs), I'll break this down as clearly as I can. And I'll use small words, so all the Xbox 360 fankids who keep laughing about the PS3 will be able to follow.

Point 1: The Xbox 360 had a one-year head-start and on top of which, there was zero competition for that one year. It was the only "next-gen" console available.

Point 2: The PS3 launched at a ridiculous $600 price point and remains the most expensive console out there. It's still the most expensive console and yet , in a freakin' recession , it has managed to keep pace with the 360.

Point 3: The PS3 kept pace with the 360 before the vast majority of the popular exclusives arrive; we haven't yet seen God of War III , Gran Turismo 5 , Uncharted 2: Among Thieves , MAG , The Last Guardian , and others; it has really only been MGS4 and Killzone 2 that have contributed heavily thus far.

Point 4: The PS3 kept pace with the 360 during a time when developers had yet to really grasp the complexity of the PS3's hardware, and multiplatform games were often inferior on Sony's machine.

Point 5: The PS3 kept pace with the 360 during a time when the PlayStation Network essentially started from nothing and had to build to catch Xbox Live. In 2007, the two services weren't even comparable on any level.

Now that we've established these points, let's remind you further: In 32 months, the PS3 has sold about 24.6 million units while the Xbox 360 sold about 30.2 million units in 44 months. Mathematically speaking, the PS3 has been the faster selling console. Granted, it may not be up to "Sony standards" after the domination of the PS2, but considering all the preceding factors, how can anyone whine about the sales figures? Furthermore, consider the future:

The PS3 will invariably fall in price. The Network has finally reached Live in my eyes (and in terms of certain exclusive downloadable software, has surpassed it, IMO). The recession should lessen pressure and this lessened pressure will coincide with the aforementioned price cut. The exclusives just about

avid gamer wants are coming for the PS3; not so much for the 360. Developers have long since come to terms with the PS3; many say its potential remains mostly untapped and multiplatform titles are now basically identical all the time. You could bring up the competing motion sensing technologies, but nobody has any idea how either will fare right now. …am I the

one that is willing to use logic and common sense when analyzing the sales figures?

P.S. Any 360 fans who want to toss up that sorry list of exclusives as if it has any shot of competing with the list for the PS3; don't bother. It'll just waste our time.

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JMO_INDY
JMO_INDY
14 years ago

haha i love this even more, oh X-Box, good job Sony.

wasim
wasim
14 years ago

in 2 years and 5 months MS sold 19.9m x360s

in 2 years and 5 months SONY sold 22.9m X360s

PS3 has been outpacing CHEAP DEFECTIVE BOX AKAA XBOXPLEASEFIXME by 3m units

last quarter MS sold 1.2m X360s at 150$ (minimum price)
SONY sold 1.1m PS3s.

Now imagine crap box 360's fate when PS3 reaches 299$

bamf
bamf
14 years ago

Both consoles release at the same time, both console release at the same price point. In say 3 years, which console would have the lead right now?
Considering how the PS3 has caught up to the 360 and is keeping pace with the it, when you look at the point that PS3 released one year after the 360 – and even later in Europe, and how the PS3 was way more expensive on launch. If both console had both been released at the same time with the same price tag, I'm sure PS3 would be far ahead in sales right now?

Danny007
Danny007
14 years ago

It is true that the PS3 will win in games for the future. Most games that I want that are coming to the Xbox that are big titles, are also going to be available on the PC.


Last edited by Danny007 on 7/31/2009 10:00:32 PM

Scarecrow
Scarecrow
14 years ago

Hehe

wasim
wasim
14 years ago

last quarter
PS3 sold 1.1m ..crap box 360 1.2m even when crap box is just 150$

as soon as PS3 drops to 299$ it is all over for x360 in console war

Jed
Jed
14 years ago

you said it. Not much I can add here.


Last edited by Jed on 7/31/2009 10:02:17 PM

Russell Burrows
Russell Burrows
14 years ago

@Ben I posted some more news in the forum

And right now! PS3 production costs are 70 percent lower! as per Sony CEO.

So sales are going to go up.
Price cuts are comeing.
PS3 Slims are inbound.

JMO_INDY
JMO_INDY
14 years ago

we know this already

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
14 years ago

poor russel.

ohmikkie
ohmikkie
14 years ago

Interesting points but we need to see the game sales compete with xbox sales. There has been very few multi-platform titles where the PS3 version has come close to xbox numbers. I think most owners of both consoles seem to get xbox versions rather than PS3. I personally do it the other way around.

sticklife
sticklife
14 years ago

That may be true but I think it may be because of just a couple of things live still does better. 1.everyone has voice and can chat across game (we'll have it soon I bet) 2.that party thing. But I really doubt we'll be without for long.


Last edited by sticklife on 8/1/2009 12:15:32 AM

Fane1024
Fane1024
14 years ago

I beg to differ. Aside from Activision games (which is why they got pissy), sales are usually close and frequently favor PS3. Of the top 20 multi-platform games, 8 have sold much worse (under 75%) on PS3, 4 have sold nearly as well, and 8 have sold better on PS3. COD and GH have all sold 60% or worse but they are the "worst" examples.

Overall, sales favor 360, but it's not a landslide.


Last edited by Fane1024 on 8/1/2009 3:18:03 AM

ohmikkie
ohmikkie
14 years ago

Accept you point Fane1024 (without verifying your figures). But in my experience I know more gamers (work and social) with xboxes (UK). The couple with both consoles use their PS3 blueray player; one of them is a mate.

I was around his house the other day (raving and demoing Prototye – xbox version). I was quite shocked he never heard of infamous. And in the year and half he's had the console has never downloaded a demo. All he's got for the PS3 is n amounts of versions of guitar hero.

His reason was nothing to do with xbox live multi-player facilities, but gamer points. That I can understand because it is exactly reason I buy ps3 versions. Generally my xbox games are exclusives to that console.

kratos17
kratos17
14 years ago

x-box is pathetic IMO
all there games are a bunch of shooters while the ps3 has all types that are entirely different

with games that separate themselves like
modnation racers to god of war 3

there is not one person in the world that wouldn't be interested in at least one of the ps3's exclusives

Mornelithe
Mornelithe
14 years ago

It's not only pathetic, it's irrelevant to gaming in general. A PC fulfills all the 360's needs, and many many more, as well as covering the multiplatform and MS exclusive market. PS3 has all of Sony's 1st party games, which are top notch. No need for a 360 at all, this day and age.

N a S a H
N a S a H
14 years ago

360 offers a far superior online service compared to PS3 with more patches, fixes, support and ESPECIALLY competitions for games.

You never see LAN events for COD4 on PS3. It's always 360.

XBL > PSN

PS3 > XBOX

Therefore, the 360 has a reason for being there. If it wasn't then PSN would still be sh** like it was in early 2007.

Anonymous
Anonymous
14 years ago

Again, the press and their pro-MS stance has brainwashed the minds of the fankids. They wonder why some people won't drink the Flavor-Aid. I just don't see any reason to get excited about the 360 any more.

Here's proof: some 360 fankid has been posting at "that other board I visit" multiple times over Fat Princess. The dork doesn't even own a PS3. That's how bored he is. He wants to play it and he can't and he's jealous.

You feel sorry for these 360 fankids. In my opinion, their entire life is spent buying games, playing games and perusing message boards and video game sites. No dating, no other hobbies and no social life other than when they log onto XBL. Wasted youth.

Fane1024
Fane1024
14 years ago

Hey, that's my life! (XBL not included)


Last edited by Fane1024 on 8/1/2009 3:23:38 AM

mackid1993
mackid1993
14 years ago

Heck Yeah!! Great article Ben. Those XBox fanboys may want some ice for that burn. Yessss!! Everyone come back to my place for some bluray and cheese doodles.

tes37
tes37
14 years ago

It's only a matter of time until Ben's points turn into a sobering reality for xboxers.

Scarecrow
Scarecrow
14 years ago

Hey hey guys look at this:

360, 30 millions sold
ps3, 25 millions sold

Gran Turismo 5 alone will shift some 5 million ps3s

ps3 catches up 🙂

Maggot666PL
Maggot666PL
14 years ago

And if the rumors (since none of it is "officially official") about 360's mortality rate were true – those sold console would be in fact ~25-27mil as well (I'm subtracting the ones repaired by MS, since many of them break early).

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

For an example of the kind of blinkered press coverage and fanboyism as journalism that I think Ben is annoyed about, have a look at this link….

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10299504-235.html

Squirreldriver
Squirreldriver
14 years ago

CNET obviously has some vendetta against Sony. I can't stand those morons, and avoid that site like the plague. It's just x-bot fanboys writing blogs they like to call "articles." A few weeks back they were calling for Sony to just give up the games division because they posted a drop in profits.

Scarecrow
Scarecrow
14 years ago

By the way Microsoft just threw a load of cash at Yahoo's face

And you all know what that means!

piratedrunk
piratedrunk
14 years ago

does it mean Square-enix has partnered with Yahoo? 😛

Jed
Jed
14 years ago

Oh god, I checked out your link and started to read some of the comments. I now have a headache and the room is spinning.

From now on whenever I see the idiots arguing about which console is better, I'm just gonna turn the computer off and go play my ps3.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

The sad thing is that this kind of article get's listed towards the top of Google's news feed if you search for PS3 because Cnet is supposedly reliable….

Banky A
Banky A
14 years ago

I hate that..

I want to strangle and torture DMAN3k (a member on cnet).
I serious, he is foolish..

Mornelithe
Mornelithe
14 years ago

Ben does the same kind of doomsday theory with the PC Market, so, he kind of deserves to be annoyed. If he wants to play hypocritical games such as this, well, he's bound to get it back every now and again.

Jawknee
Jawknee
14 years ago

IGN's daily fix reported on the sales drops of Sony and Nintendo too. So annoying. The 360 numbers have dipped too. No one reports it though.

Scarecrow
Scarecrow
14 years ago

@Jawknee,
IGN is crap

Has been since 2007 when they let go/fired their original Playstation editors/writers.


Last edited by Scarecrow on 8/1/2009 2:59:22 PM

mk ultra
mk ultra
14 years ago

The fact that the PS3 is technically selling faster should have been included in the numbered points. I think that says alot, especially since it cost more.

ThePearlJamer
ThePearlJamer
14 years ago

You wouldn't by chance be a Muse fan, would you…

or by MK Ultra do you mean the cancelled government mind control program

mk ultra
mk ultra
14 years ago

Cancelled government mind control program.

ThePearlJamer
ThePearlJamer
14 years ago

I was just watching the news and some dumb b*tch was like this just in, the games industry is continuing to show a steady decline of sales in hardware and software…meanwhile I'm thinking like this lady is f*cking stupid and doesn't know what she's talking about.

Jed
Jed
14 years ago

Actually the gaming industry has taken a hit this year.

Nobody ever seems to mention microsoft when the industry starts to decline, all they ever bring up is how the ps3 is so expensive and whatever else they want to rant about.

Victor321
Victor321
14 years ago

It won't be a waste of time because this site and its loyal community has fended off XBOX 360 fans (I'm not saying owners mainly because many bought a 360 because "their friends had it").

Pretty straight-forward if you ask me.

Jawknee
Jawknee
14 years ago

Bravo!!!!

Toxin
Toxin
14 years ago

PS3 is only 19 exclusives behind 360 according to the lists on Wikipedia. So yea PS3 is doing great.
Xbox 360-only games=173 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_exclusives
PS3-only games=154 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS3_exclusives

Games include XBL , PSN and unreleased games.


Last edited by Toxin on 8/1/2009 12:06:13 AM

Naga
Naga
14 years ago

Take the arcade games out then PS3 has more exclusives

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
14 years ago

::sigh:: I don't care…just keep giving me excellent reviews. I don't need to be reminded which device is shinier.


Last edited by LimitedVertigo on 8/1/2009 12:20:22 AM

556pineapple
556pineapple
14 years ago

I'm curious to see how much the gap will have closed once GOW III and GT5 are released.

wasim
wasim
14 years ago

PS3 will reach between 100m -150m at the end of this gen

as for x360 it wont reach 40m lifetime

as soon as ps3 hits 299$ it is all over for MS in console war

Alienange
Alienange
14 years ago

Those who don't know these facts are the ones out there arguing the points like there's some debate to be won. Facts are facts. You can't debate them. PS3 has a happy user base that continues to grow at an alarming rate. Instead of arguing they should be out getting a job to pay for a PS3 so they can come join the fun.

godsman
godsman
14 years ago

This is all true. PS3 is the faster selling console per unit of time. But…………. Microsoft is counting US sales only. US consider them the center of the world. The rest of the world dont matter to them.

a1_
a1_
14 years ago

xbox is alright but is nowhere near as good as the ps3. microsoft is terrible, they charge for everything like, wi-fi, hard drive, xbox live, the hd dvd player (when one was relevant for the 3 weeks it lasted before bluray completely put it out of buseiness)and the service isnt even that good, xbxo live is so far behind the PSN. its not even funny. there is no comparing the two, period.

Vivi_Gamer
Vivi_Gamer
14 years ago

If FF13 was an exclusive and released earlier, the situation would be completely different, gaurentee it. The reason the PS3 isnt leading at the moment is because Microsoft bought out most of the PS3 exclusives. I'm still furious of Tekken 6, its not an xbox game.

ohmikkie
ohmikkie
14 years ago

Yeah I'm the same about tekken 6 and was with devil may cry. I have both versions; but find ridiculous to play with xbox controller.

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