Really, it is only a matter of time until the PS3 market explodes, what with HDDVD pretty much out of the HD wars.
It's actually smarter to pay for something that can play Blu-Ray and games as well as have free internet play. Just because the double-gen system is expensive and slow at reception doesn't mean it won't speed up come Christmas. The only reason it sold as slow as it did was because of customer uncertainty about the hd wars.
I agree with that point fully. I feel that someone buying a Wii doesn't necessarily preclude them from and HD console in the near future however. As Nintendo often claims, they're really in a market all their own in that sense which reaches people that HD gaming doesn't and that market is huge!
This leaves the PS3 eating dust for now, but I think the wall Microsoft faces in Asia-Pac and Europe is larger than that of the PS3 in North America. Just my perspective on the those particular charts in comparison.
I agree completely that it indicates slower sales in some territories, and doesn't signify growth- but the 360 is facing a harder time in global markets, where the PS3 is strong. I just suppose the PS3's sales curve is a long way from levelling off.
@zeromous, Actually a staggered release vs. simultaneous release does have an effect when analyzing the hardware sales of the PS3. If the PS3 has the same number of consoles out there as the PS2 did this far from its first release (going by what has been brought up in the last handful of comments), then that would mean that the PS3 is selling slower than the PS2 in some territories as the PS2 had had less time on the market in some territories since its first launch.
Remember to look at other graphs as well. Looking at PS2/XB/GC sales from launch, the PS2 was easily beating both consoles for first year sales.
In comparison, for PS3/360/Wii, the PS3 and 360 are tied, but the Wii is far out in the lead.
So, yes, the PS3 is selling at about the same rate. However, for the PS2 that meant selling the same as the other consoles...for the PS3 that means it's far behind the leader.
I feel that systems sold are systems sold. The only indicator in my opinion of a level off in sales of the PS3 will be due to direct competition from the Wii and 360. I'm not sure what difference a staggered release vs. simultaneous release would have on a system, but since all is launched now I see little overall effect. Sure, I could see a temporary impact, but at the end of the day, PS3 has sold as many as PS2, which absolutely no one (except for a quiet minority) was really expecting after Nov 2006's "launch".
What I find interesting is precisely that it has had no effect on the overall sales of the PS3. Software has been disappointing but conflicting with that, I really see Sony hitting its stride this year with some big releases and a drastically improved (from next to no) online presence.
Something you need to consider when doing PS2 vs PS3 : - PS2 release is staggered : March 2000 in Japan, Oct 2000 in US, and Europe after US (not sure when, but I think it is in 2001). - PS3 is released almost simultaneously in Japan & US (both released in Nov 06), with Europe a few month after Japan & US (March 2007, IIRC).
If PS3 truly keeping pace with PS2, it need to have higher LTD (than their current #), because of the simultaneous launch vs staggered launch. It is possible that PS3 might show the effect of simultaneous release in 2008 (by not able to keep up with PS2 sales rate).
I think you misunderstood me slightly...while I like the PS3 and I think it could sell more than 60 million, but I feel the market is too competitive for 120 million PS3s out there...but hey it could still happen!
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Really, it is only a matter of time until the PS3 market explodes, what with HDDVD pretty much out of the HD wars.
It's actually smarter to pay for something that can play Blu-Ray and games as well as have free internet play. Just because the double-gen system is expensive and slow at reception doesn't mean it won't speed up come Christmas. The only reason it sold as slow as it did was because of customer uncertainty about the hd wars.