CNN Money- PS3 A Sinking Ship

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/siliconalley/personal-tech/2008_12_sonys_ps3_a_sinking_ship_sales_plummet_sne.html

Sony's PS3 A Sinking Ship: Sales Plummet

Alone among the three major videogame consoles, sales of the PS3 are down about 19% from November 2007, according to the latest stats from the NPD Group. Sony was only able to sell 378,000 PS3s this November, compared to 466,000 last year.

And the problem for Sony isn't the recession, it's the PS3. Microsoft (MSFT) put up respectable numbers with its Xbox 360, selling 836,000 units vs 777,000 in November 2007. And Nintendo's (NTDOY) Wii continues to dominate the market, more than doubling sales from 981,000 to 2.04 million.
So why is the PS3 flopping so badly?

1. It's the most expensive console on the market, $150 - $200 more than its rivals. Even if you believe the video game industry is "recession-proof" (it isn't), a tanking economy makes consumers more price-conscious.
2. The PS3's big bonus is its ability to double as a Blu-Ray player. Too bad no one seems to care about hi-def DVDs. The differences between Blu-Ray and DVD are hard to see on a TV less than 50".
3. The PS3 just doesn't have any must-have titles exclusive to the console. "LittleBigPlanet" has generated decent buzz but isn't a game-changer, and neither is Sony's new virtual world "Home."

"Tell yourself the PS3 has superior graphics if it makes you feel better, but a $400 console with a mediocre game library simply cannot compete against an Xbox 360 priced at $200 in this economy."

It's sad to see Sony is such a poor position, I hope they come back from it. They do need that killer app that'll excite people like Halo or Gears. MGS4 seemed to be it, but sales dropped off and people seemed to stop caring.BioShockOwnz

[QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]It's sad to see Sony is such a poor position, I hope they come back from it. They do need that killer app that'll excite people like Halo or Gears. MGS4 seemed to be it, but sales dropped off and people seemed to stop caring.Animal-Mother

We'll see. I don't see KZ2 generating much buzz outside of the more hardcore gaming community.

[QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]It's sad to see Sony is such a poor position, I hope they come back from it. They do need that killer app that'll excite people like Halo or Gears. MGS4 seemed to be it, but sales dropped off and people seemed to stop caring.Animal-Mother

[QUOTE="Animal-Mother"][QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]It's sad to see Sony is such a poor position, I hope they come back from it. They do need that killer app that'll excite people like Halo or Gears. MGS4 seemed to be it, but sales dropped off and people seemed to stop caring.BioShockOwnz

We'll see. I don't see KZ2 generating much buzz outside of the more hardcore gaming community.

Who cares? I have a PS3, I hate the 360, and I really don't care what others think. I like my PS3, and I enjoy the exclusives that I have for the console. As long as I'm happy, that's all that matters. :P_Brennan_

Lol really lems are desperate. They're playing sales now LOL. It's not our fault that almost all of you exclusives of '08 flopped. PS3 won ' 08, don't be jealous lemmins and stop the damage control.knight-k

In this world, sales do matter. To deny such a truth would mean to be delusional.

[QUOTE="knight-k"]Lol really lems are desperate. They're playing sales now LOL. It's not our fault that almost all of you exclusives of '08 flopped. PS3 won ' 08, don't be jealous lemmins and stop the damage control.BioShockOwnz

In this world, sales do matter. To deny such a truth would to be delusional.

Lol really lems are desperate. They're playing sales now LOL. It's not our fault that almost all of you exclusives of '08 flopped. PS3 won ' 08, don't be jealous lemmins and stop the damage control.knight-k

[QUOTE="knight-k"]Lol really lems are desperate. They're playing sales now LOL. It's not our fault that almost all of you exclusives of '08 flopped. PS3 won ' 08, don't be jealous lemmins and stop the damage control.BioShockOwnz

In this world, sales do matter. To deny such a truth would mean to be delusional.

How do they matter to you as a gamer really now? what are the sheep playing this year?, the 120931238120971318 mil units sold? lulz...

I honestly think Killzone 2 will sell more than Resistance 2.dark-warmachine

it better cuz R2 flopped hard

I honestly think Killzone 2 will sell more than Resistance 2.dark-warmachine

The fact that Fable 2 outsold Resistance 2 by leaps and bounds in its first month speaks volumes. Fable is the kind of game you wouldn't expect to be such a huge success, just because it's more "niche" than a sci-fi FPS that has been hyped for a long time. I really think KZ2 will do better than R2, but it will still be down further on the top 10 for Feb.

[QUOTE="knight-k"]Lol really lems are desperate. They're playing sales now LOL. It's not our fault that almost all of you exclusives of '08 flopped. PS3 won ' 08, don't be jealous lemmins and stop the damage control.BioShockOwnz

In this world, sales do matter. To deny such a truth would mean to be delusional.

I honestly think Killzone 2 will sell more than Resistance 2.dark-warmachine

[QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]

[QUOTE="knight-k"]Lol really lems are desperate. They're playing sales now LOL. It's not our fault that almost all of you exclusives of '08 flopped. PS3 won ' 08, don't be jealous lemmins and stop the damage control.knight-k

In this world, sales do matter. To deny such a truth would mean to be delusional.

[QUOTE="_Brennan_"]Who cares? I have a PS3, I hate the 360, and I really don't care what others think. I like my PS3, and I enjoy the exclusives that I have for the console. As long as I'm happy, that's all that matters. :Ptoo_much_eslim

[QUOTE="knight-k"]Lol really lems are desperate. They're playing sales now LOL. It's not our fault that almost all of you exclusives of '08 flopped. PS3 won ' 08, don't be jealous lemmins and stop the damage control.Animal-Mother

[QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]

[QUOTE="knight-k"]Lol really lems are desperate. They're playing sales now LOL. It's not our fault that almost all of you exclusives of '08 flopped. PS3 won ' 08, don't be jealous lemmins and stop the damage control.Al3x_n90

In this world, sales do matter. To deny such a truth would mean to be delusional.

How do they matter to you as a gamer really now? what are the sheep playing this year?, the 120931238120971318 mil units sold? lulz...

Wii sales don't matter. They're not direct competition. It's underpowered and offers a different experience. The 360 and PS3 are the systems going head-to-head for your high definition gaming dollar. And 360 seems to have more developers behind them, and that gap will only widen as PS3 sales start to get worse, which is now happening. If Sony can't get their price down to a more mainstream level, and sales start to taper off, then developers looking to make a true current gen game are going to be attracted to the 360. Sales do matter, but the Wii is completely different and therefore doesn't have an effect on the other 2 consoles if a developer wants to create a true current gen gaming experience.

[QUOTE="knight-k"][QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]

In this world, sales do matter. To deny such a truth would mean to be delusional.

Animal-Mother

Hmmmm good point. But the ps3 has plenty good, or hopefully good titles coming out next year, so...

I hate how people keep bashing Blu-Ray and keep saying consumers don't care. Blu-Ray has slowly been gaining market share and 25-30% of Dark Knight sales were Blu-Ray, the highest penetration of the DVD market by blu-ray to date. Blu-Ray in Japan has taken 50% of the market share their and it will soon be the default format there. The only thing holding the PS3 back is the price and price alone. It has great tech, reliable hardware, software has vastly improved, it's just nobody wants to spend $400 on a videogame console, especially during these times when people can't even pay the mortgage to their houses.mmirza23

[QUOTE="too_much_eslim"][QUOTE="_Brennan_"]Who cares? I have a PS3, I hate the 360, and I really don't care what others think. I like my PS3, and I enjoy the exclusives that I have for the console. As long as I'm happy, that's all that matters. :P_Brennan_

Hating a piece of plastic with some hardware inside it seems pretty extreme, though, no offense.

[QUOTE="Al3x_n90"][QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]

In this world, sales do matter. To deny such a truth would mean to be delusional.

BioShockOwnz

How do they matter to you as a gamer really now? what are the sheep playing this year?, the 120931238120971318 mil units sold? lulz...

Wii sales don't matter. They're not direct competition. It's underpowered and offers a different experience. The 360 and PS3 are the systems going head-to-head for your high definition gaming dollar. And 360 seems to have more developers behind them, and that gap will only widen as PS3 sales start to get worse, which is now happening. If Sony can't get their price down to a more mainstream level, and sales start to taper off, then developers looking to make a true current gen game are going to be attracted to the 360. Sales do matter, but the Wii is completely different and therefore doesn't have an effect on the other 2 consoles if a developer wants to create a true current gen gaming experience.

What developers does MS have behind them that Sony doesn't have as well? All 3rd party games are going multi-platform, if anything Sony has more 1st party;/2nd party studios behind them

[QUOTE="knight-k"][QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]

In this world, sales do matter. To deny such a truth would mean to be delusional.

Animal-Mother

I think that sony still loses money on each PS3.

[QUOTE="Animal-Mother"][QUOTE="knight-k"] Sales matter, but good games are more important imo. Ow and PS3 sold more than 360 in 2008 (I think...).Al3x_n90

Hmmmm good point. But the ps3 has plenty good, or hopefully good titles coming out next year, so...

[QUOTE="too_much_eslim"][QUOTE="_Brennan_"]Who cares? I have a PS3, I hate the 360, and I really don't care what others think. I like my PS3, and I enjoy the exclusives that I have for the console. As long as I'm happy, that's all that matters. :P_Brennan_

[QUOTE="Animal-Mother"][QUOTE="knight-k"] Sales matter, but good games are more important imo. Ow and PS3 sold more than 360 in 2008 (I think...).Guybrush_3

I think that sony still loses money on each PS3.

[QUOTE="Al3x_n90"][QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]

In this world, sales do matter. To deny such a truth would mean to be delusional.

BioShockOwnz

How do they matter to you as a gamer really now? what are the sheep playing this year?, the 120931238120971318 mil units sold? lulz...

Wii sales don't matter. They're not direct competition. It's underpowered and offers a different experience. The 360 and PS3 are the systems going head-to-head for your high definition gaming dollar. And 360 seems to have more developers behind them, and that gap will only widen as PS3 sales start to get worse, which is now happening. If Sony can't get their price down to a more mainstream level, and sales start to taper off, then developers looking to make a true current gen game are going to be attracted to the 360. Sales do matter, but the Wii is completely different and therefore doesn't have an effect on the other 2 consoles if a developer wants to create a true current gen gaming experience.

Hmmm if you put it that way..anyway sony will surely drop the price next year to 350, maybe even 300 and then who knows...

So far the ps3 has won its first year in terms of games. It's onlu its second year...2 more to go, it has time to get price drops, 2 more years to go and 2008 was the start at least imo.As the 360 won 2007 the ps3 won 2008 :P

What developers does MS have behind them that Sony doesn't have as well? All 3rd party games are going multi-platform, if anything Sony has more 1st party;/2nd party studios behind them

mmirza23

Is that so? Then why am I getting a lot of niche Japanese titles on my 360, and really only a few on PS3?

[QUOTE="Animal-Mother"][QUOTE="knight-k"] Sales matter, but good games are more important imo. Ow and PS3 sold more than 360 in 2008 (I think...).Guybrush_3

I think that sony still loses money on each PS3.

Yeah they're losing fractionally on it maybe even breaking even, back in Jan 08 the PS3 cost $400 to make, not sure where it is now.

[QUOTE="mmirza23"]

What developers does MS have behind them that Sony doesn't have as well? All 3rd party games are going multi-platform, if anything Sony has more 1st party;/2nd party studios behind them

BioShockOwnz

Is that so? Then why am I getting a lot of niche Japanese titles on my 360, and really only a few on PS3?

Sony are morons, they've made the best console this gen ("IMO", obviously) but no-one's buying the damn thing. I hope things get worse for them, it'll teach them a lesson for the next generation.Floppy_Jim

by teaching them a leson you mean making them to creat a wii like console that's cheap and will sell by the millions?

What Sony really needs to do is put out its real system sellers GOW3 and the new Twisted Metal(nobody fanboys can deny they want these)

and i would actually prolly buy a PS3 for them and other games but GOW3 or Twisted Metal could push me over the edge

Sony are morons, they've made the best console this gen ("IMO", obviously) but no-one's buying the damn thing. I hope things get worse for them, it'll teach them a lesson for the next generation.Floppy_Jim

[QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"][QUOTE="mmirza23"]

What developers does MS have behind them that Sony doesn't have as well? All 3rd party games are going multi-platform, if anything Sony has more 1st party;/2nd party studios behind them

Animal-Mother

Is that so? Then why am I getting a lot of niche Japanese titles on my 360, and really only a few on PS3?

I think people need to be more honest about Sony. They desperately need to get that price down, badly.

What developers does MS have behind them that Sony doesn't have as well? All 3rd party games are going multi-platform, if anything Sony has more 1st party;/2nd party studios behind them

Is that so? Then why am I getting a lot of niche Japanese titles on my 360, and really only a few on PS3?

[QUOTE="Floppy_Jim"]Sony are morons, they've made the best console this gen ("IMO", obviously) but no-one's buying the damn thing. I hope things get worse for them, it'll teach them a lesson for the next generation.Al3x_n90

by teaching them a leson you mean making them to creat a wii like console that's cheap and will sell by the millions?

[QUOTE="Guybrush_3"][QUOTE="Animal-Mother"] Console sales generate money for sony, Sony has money to give to first, second, and thrid Party developers to produce games for there system. Low console sales means sony has no money to give to devs to create good games. So therefore loss of money =loss of goodgamesAnimal-Mother

I think that sony still loses money on each PS3.

yeah they have cut costs, but the console cost over $800 to make two years ago. they would have to have cut costs by over $400 a machine to turn a profit. Maybe $500 depending on how much they actually sell it to stores for. And I think in a different article it says that sony is still losing money.

[QUOTE="Animal-Mother"][QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]

Is that so? Then why am I getting a lot of niche Japanese titles on my 360, and really only a few on PS3?

BioShockOwnz

I think people need to be more honest about Sony. They desperately need to get that price down, badly.

They'll do it next year, they know that they have a huge fan base from their previous very succesful consoles, and they'll do it.They ain't that dumb...