Ben-DutkaThe PlayStation 3 outperformed the competition in September, thanks to the long-awaited price cut and the introduction of the new PS3 Slim. But many have wondered if Sony could maintain this momentum…
Well, for PS3 fans, the answer should be obvious, especially with one of the generation's defining titles hitting in October, and only being available for Sony's console. In our minds, we figure something like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves alone should rocket the PS3 to another victory, but remember that the immensely popular Halo 3: ODST continues to have major pull. We'll have to wait for the official NPD numbers before we can say for certain, but GameStop seems to believe the PS3 had another big month: according to what executive vice president of merchandising and marketing for GameStop, Tony Bartel, told IndustryGamers , the aforementioned momentum hasn't broken stride:
"We continue to see the [price drop] giving strong momentum to PS3. Obviously we had a strong surge when they initially dropped the price, and there was a lot of excitement around that, but we still see PS3 sales as very strong through October as well."
When it comes to the hardware wars, everything ultimately comes down to price and available software that people want to play. In the minds of many, the PS3 led the pack in both areas ($299 for a PS3 is simply the best value, especially once you consider Blu-Ray and the free PSN, right?), and games like Uncharted 2 are just un-missable. But there's no denying the power of the Halo franchise and let's not forget that the 360 Elite enjoyed a price drop, too, so October's results should be intriguing.
OMG! I just noticed its November!
I just noticed it's 102 days left till Chinese New Year.
hahaha Snake 🙂
8ish weeks till christmas =O
OMG! I also realized after buying all these games I need to buy people gifts for Christmas!
Crazy right? This year it came after October, which caught everybody by surprise!
Ha! Keep up the good work Sony! Gamestop you sicken me.
ben: are you gonna post the results when gamestop puplishes them?
im really curious and i dont like having to dig around for myself…
Turning point numbers?
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 11/3/2009 10:11:13 PM
Ditto.
I have noticed that the PS3s are starting to be in limited supply now. Didn't the 250 GIG PS3 launch today?
I notice that they can't seem to keep a full supply on any of the shelves. I happen to drop by my local target and walmart frequently, and you rarely see the shelf fully stocked. Several times it has been empty.
Can't say the same for the 360, they're still selling, but it's clear the ps3 is more popular.
I have noticed a lot of guys walking out of Best Buy with a shiny new PS3 box in their hands, and a sh*t eating grin on their face. Always want to go up to them and ask what is the first game they are going to play?
@MyWorstNightmar
I went to Best Buy today and saw the same thing. A guy buying a PS3, controller, and a bunch of games. Best Buy has a stack of PS3s right by the cashier. I was buying the add on triggers for my DS3, it feels a whole lot better now. My fingers don't slip off anymore.
Not surprised. I've been thinking the introduction of the PS3 'Slim' and the accompanying "It Only Does Everything" campaign has been a kind of relaunch of the Playstation 3.
That whole "it only does everything" irritates me when I hear it.
Would backwards compatibility not fall under the umbrella of "it only does everything"?
There should be an asterisk after "it only does everything"*
Last edited by MyWorstNightmar on 11/4/2009 11:17:47 AM
it does everything for this generation. i think Sony chose to move forward with gaming, and as great as some as the ps2 era was they wanted to move forward. i also must say it makes manufacturing more expensive and they cant make us all happy. not too mention most people still own a ps2 along with the ps3 and sony probably has taken that into consideration as well.
point is in all honesty and my opinion Sony is trying to push the industry forward, and have done the right thing. There system does do everything this generation, it does do all the things we fathomed about 5 years ago.
i understand your concern i sold my ps2 when i got my ps3 cus it was a 60gb, but sadly i played that one to death and i had to get an 80gb, which is great but there is that random time i want to play some ps2 games and can not. i just think from a business point the ps3 is a industry pusher and relying on the past would be defeating what sony wants from the ps3. maybe not though.
Bigrailer, if that is the case, then the first PS3's wouldn't have had BC. I don't think it is out of line to ask the new PS3's to be able to do everything that previous PS3's do.
Taking features away truelly does move us backwards, not forwards.
Last edited by MyWorstNightmar on 11/5/2009 11:07:08 AM
At $299 it is a very good deal, some people just don't realise it.
I wonder where are the people who yelled THE PS3 IS TOO EXPENSIVE, CUT THE PRICE!!
they are too busy playing them to talk right now snaaaake LOL
Oh my, totally forgot bout that, my bad~~
Complaining about the lack of BC and claiming they won't buy a PS3 until Sony redresses the situation.
To which I say, you should've bought a launch unit if BC was so important to you. Oh, but then the PS3 was too expensive… riiiiiiiiigggggghhhhhttttttt.
Seriously, GameStop sells refurbished 20G and 60G BC PS3s for not much more than $300.
They're bleating on about BC and claiming they'd pay more for it….which as was just pointed out, they could have done at launch, but chose not to.
Hey, here's a bit of fun. Let's look at the example of an original Xbox owner who in, November 2005, saw the 360 coming out ahead of Sony as a win for MS. So our Xbox fan decides to jump on the chance and buys a launch model. They've been a gold XBL subscriber since the beginning, and just after it's 1st birthday, their 360 dies with the (at the time) not well known RROD. So they purchase a second 360 since they've got all the games and accessories, and besides, it was a brand new system, it was bound to have a few failures, right? After another year or so, they're well aware of the RROD, and that new 360 has failed twice and been repaired twice. Then after a bit more time passes, the Arcade system launches and so or example Xbox fan grabs one of those so they can just swap their HDD onto it if your primary system dies.
Let's add that up shall we, 2 Xbox360 Pro (not core) systems $798, 1 Arcade system $199, 4 years of XBL Gold $200. Total investment in playing games for one person, $1197, that's without including the cost of games, DLC, and any accessories purchased.
::wide eyed amazement::
What if they also invested in an HD-DVD drive for the 360 after believing the hype about that too? Another $199 down the drain.
Is it any wonder that people might consider the PS3 a bargain now?
Let's look at another 3 console scenario.
3 years ago, our Playstation fan invests in a 20 GB launch system, 18 months later they decide to pick up a second PS3, this time an 80GB with BC for their son, and finally our PS3 fan just bought a PS3 slim for their wife – the whole family are gamers, and now they can play together….None of the systems have failed, and three people now have a console to play with. Total investment – including free online gaming, $499 + $399 + $299 = $1197.
Hmm…the same price. Except of course our PS3 fan still has three working game consoles, and the whole family can share DLC and PSN games, they have three working consoles, they can share games and accessories, they might buy second copies of very popular games, they can play BluRay in every room in the house with a TV and they have three working consoles. Did I mention they have three working consoles for the same money as the hapless Xbox360 fan in the first scenario?
Now, the thing is, this isn't a particularly unrealistic example. No, perhaps there are not so many people with three PS3s, but there are people (lots) who've been through 3 or more Xbox 360s. The people claiming the PS3 was too expensive are quiet because they're on their second, third or fourth 360 and are broke after spending all that money on replacement X360s and XBL fees.
At $499 the PS3 is worth it's price. The highly praised electronics like the Iphone are profiting probably 50% more. The PS3 is selling at a lost, it's well worth every penny.
they actually found a way to manufacture the ps3 70% cheaper (Im pretty sure) right before the slim came out.
That is true, Naztycuts but they are still selling the PS3 at a loss.
Loss or not at selling the PS3, remember the PS3 ain't the only thing they're selling:
1)PSP and his brothers
2)PS2
3)PS3, PS2 and PSP game
4)Accessories and gadget
5)DLC
Back then I was like how can Sony afford all this loss but after some research I found out why.
Not to mentionn Sony ain't just video game, there's VAIO, Bravia, Sony Ericsson, Sony Pictures and Sony Music.
Well that's as far as I know.
I read somewhere that they were going to start turning a profit on each PS3 sale next year sometime.
@Naztycuts
I hope you realize that the two events are connected.
It is the "Slim" which is 70% less expensive to manufacture than the launch systems were.
im glad they cut the price and everything, but i would of kept the PS3 slim at the older price and brought down the phat models prices.
i mean look at the PSP go its freaking 150 bucks more than a 3000 and 50 bucks less than a ps3 for christs sake.
that way they could of made more money off it, they may of sold less slims at the beginning but so what?
a ps3 is a ps3 it does not matter which one a person buys.
"a ps3 is a ps3 it does not matter which one a person buys"
Your last statement is a decent enough explanation as to why they are priced the same.
maybe.
but they shouldn't be.
the slim would of sold heaps if they kept it say 50 bucks more than the old ones.
people have to have the latest no matter if its better or worse.
sadly im one of those 🙁
Sony needed an avalanche of momentum from the Slim, and at the $299.99 price point, they got it. If they would have priced it at $349.99 as you suggest they should have, they likely wouldn't have gotten the head of steam they are enjoying right now.
I think Sony got it right!
A $299 price is a better price point psychologically. At this point the price is as much about the psychology of the consumer as it is about the cost. Sony wants to sell consoles, and this is the way to do it.
A truly remarkable, outstandingly literate, loquacious reply though.
Last edited by TheHighlander on 11/5/2009 10:14:16 AM
Wow Highlander, coming from you, that is high praise indeed! Unless you were being sarcastic, then HOW DARE YOU!! =)
Indeed.
Your reply was a very good point about the price point, I think they got it right too. You were not the target of my…humor…
Last edited by TheHighlander on 11/5/2009 11:27:51 AM
the ps3 was worth the $1000 Aud i spent on it 2 years ago =D
$500 is worth it, to be able to say to my mates "you know that game on ps3….oh wait nevermind"
Show off! XD
Sony's on a roll! Imagine if they dropped GoW3 or GT5 this month. The competition wouldn't have a chance this season. Can't wait to see those numbers. I know the PS3 is gonna kill in Japan with FF13. And I know its killing in Eupore. But these American numbers are hard to call.
However, I've been going to stores a little more often than usual over the past month. And I have seen about 5 ppl walking out with brand-new PS3s. They all have that "I just won" look on their faces.
Didn't see any Wii's, though. I think I saw 1 Xbox getting sold, but that could've been a return.
Sony's on a roll! Imagine if they dropped GoW3 or GT5 this month. The competition wouldn't have a chance this season. Can't wait to see those numbers. I know the PS3 is gonna kill in Japan with FF13. And I know its killing in Eupore. But these American numbers are hard to call.
However, I've been going to stores a little more often than usual over the past month. And I have seen about 5 ppl walking out with brand-new PS3s. They all have that "I just won" look on their faces.
Didn't see any Wii's, though. I think I saw 1 Xbox getting sold, but that could've been a return.
That's the bomb baby.
GoW3 and GT5 this month?
Selling 5 million unit in 1 month isn't impossible.
King James the cash register stalker.
I will be disappointed if the xbox 360 outsells the playstation 3 this year because of the modern warfare 2 bundle.
PS3 doesn't have MW2 bundle?
No unfortunatly. Bet microsoft shuffed money into infinity ward's pocket for not including a playstation 3 bundle of the game.
Typical microsoft. Can't stand them.
Aww No! FREE PlayStation Network is also a big factor.
Wouldn't worry to much about that. MW2 will sell huge, but I doubt MW2 is much of a system seller. Microsoft can bundle that one all they want.
Last edited by MyWorstNightmar on 11/4/2009 11:26:20 AM
Here's something off topic.
I'm not sure whether Japanese developers have lost faith in the 360 consider most of the exclusive JRPG the 360 had didn't sell that well.
Is that why they're porting Star Ocean 4 to the PS3?
The developers in japan never had faith in that platform. Developing games for it was not an expression of faith, it was an expression of business decisions after wads of cash were spent by MS.
Star Ocean 4 on PS3 will massively outsell the 360 version, but no one will bat an eye-lid, because MS effectively funded the development by throwing money…ahem…timed exclusivity contracts at SquareEnix.
I don't wanna cause offence to 360 owners but, i HONESTLY just cannot understand why anyone would buy a 360 over ps3 today. The ps3 is an absolute dream machine.
Ive never once participated in childish console arguments but, to me, its clear MS is entirely motivated by greed and sony want to innovate and see what can happen with there absolutely incredible technology.
I just cant fathom it.
The only thing i can come up with is that MS use there money at any given moment to mislead the casual public.