Wii leads PS3/360 to slaughter

Robert Hallock 5 Jun, 2007 at 7:34am ET Article published in Tech

Comments

1. 
   5 Jun 2007 ~ 9:10am Sledgehammer70 It is intresting to see the PS3 increase their sales.. especially over the 360...
2. 
   5 Jun 2007 ~ 9:14pm jhenry I don't think MS is too worried... How long has the 360 been out so far? Most of the major sales have already take place, have they not? Right now they're just trickles from people who haven't got one yet or who upgraded to the 1337.
   
   Plus the price difference is quite large, I call apples and oranges.
3. 
   5 Jun 2007 ~ 9:19pm Linc I call Nintendo = win.
4. 
   5 Jun 2007 ~ 9:22pm Thrax

   jhenry wrote:

   I don't think MS is too worried... How long has the 360 been out so far? Most of the major sales have already take place, have they not? Right now they're just trickles from people who haven't got one yet or who upgraded to the 1337.
   
   Plus the price difference is quite large, I call apples and oranges.

   
   It's not apples and oranges. All of them are intended to compete in the same arena, marketed to console gamers.
5. 
   6 Jun 2007 ~ 1:58am Jengo I hope Nintendo can keep up the momentum like they have with DS and in the past with GBA.
6. 
   6 Jun 2007 ~ 2:21am jared

   Jengo wrote:

   I hope Nintendo can keep up the momentum like they have with DS and in the past with GBA.

   
   That's the truth. The DS literally steam rolled the PSP into the ground. The sales figures don't even compare.....
7. 
   6 Jun 2007 ~ 4:39am osaddict The thing that supprises me is the line up of games for the Wii is still quite weak.
   
   For one - I think its virtually a sin for there not to be a version of Mario Kart available @ launch or very soon after for a Nintendo console! - come on!
   
   Also (as I now know thru my nephew) there are no football games on the Wii (onk Wii strikers has come out - but it looks a far cry from Pro Evo or Fifa)
   
   I do think Sony are gonna have to do something pretty special PS3 wise if its gonna be as successful as the ps1 and 2... well here in the uk anyhow
8. 
   6 Jun 2007 ~ 3:10pm jhenry

   Thrax wrote:

   It's not apples and oranges. All of them are intended to compete in the same arena, marketed to console gamers.

   
   They compete in different segments in the overall arena. The 360 and PS3 are for the hardcore gamers who want the latest highest definition graphics and online multiplayer. From what I've seen (only have ps3 and 360), the Wii is more of "the people's console". By keeping it cheap and user friendly, they're targeting a more general audience.
9. 
   6 Jun 2007 ~ 3:35pm Sledgehammer70 Meh the PSP offers more for the above casual gamer... being able to surf the web, watch movies, and listen to music etc.. the PSP is gauged toward a bit older market.. the DS is being bough by kids from the age 5 on up... the PSP is more like 12 on up... it makes sense it is selling a ton more. Nintendo has hit its market on all fronts and is doing very well.
   
   The PS3 & 360 are competitors all the way the Wii is in a different class and is doing well there, no one can argue that, and I am happy for Nintendo for doing so well. But when you have hard core gamers they are not going to play the Wii for the sweet titles , they are going to play it in-between the next God of War and Gears of War...
   
   The Wii will never touch the high end gaming market, and it was never intented to do so either. The big thing will to wtach the PS3 and new titles coming for it and the 360. Witht he PS3 out selling the 360 finally it will be intresting to see how it all pans out.
   
   But in any case the PS3 is #3 with 360 being #2 and the Wii Pwning all at #1
10. 
    6 Jun 2007 ~ 6:43pm primesuspect The question becomes: Is the "high end gaming market" relevant to a company trying to turn a profit? Nintendo bet "no" and looks like they were right at least for the immediate future. I've always believed that the "high end" market is actually quite small. These numbers back that up.
11. 
    6 Jun 2007 ~ 6:50pm Sledgehammer70 Well kind of.. If 360 and PS3 represent High-ned market...
    
    3.6 Million PS3's & 10+ million 360's that is well over 13.6 Million consoles sold... thats a pretty huge market...
    
    The Wii is at about 7.6 million sold... which is a huge market on its own but it is not taking over the entire world.
    
    But than again I am almost willing to bed atleast 30% if not more of the PS3 and 360 owners also have a Wii in the home, making it a mixed market.
12. 
    6 Jun 2007 ~ 6:59pm primesuspect I wouldn't say at all that 100% of the buyers of PS3/360 are in the "high end gaming" market. After the Wii has been on sale as long as the 360 has, I'm betting the numbers will be way higher - that's because Nintendo played their cards right.
    
    I honestly believe that this battle isn't as much philosophical as it is economical. The Wii is $250. The 360 is more. That's the clincher for MANY people.
13. 
    6 Jun 2007 ~ 7:16pm Leonardo

    The Wii is $250. The 360 is more. That's the clincher for MANY people.

    Especially with parents who are buying the game console for their children. I helped my son purchase his XBox a few years ago. At the time I told him that they were expensive, and any future game consoles would be at his expense.
14. 
    6 Jun 2007 ~ 10:29pm Jengo sledge i agree somewhat. In your opinion what is high end gaming? Fancy graphics?
    
    While i agree there are no Super Serious games like Gears Of War for the wii, it is foolish to think that games with that sort of depth are not possible on the wii. We are barely seeing the initial stages of the wii's life cycle. There are really sweet games that are coming out for the wii. a very serious game for wii that is turning heads is the Wii Edition of Resident evil 4. To disregard such an awesome game as that is just foolish, it is one of the most anticipated games so far. Sure it came out in 05, but it will almost feel like a new experience on the wii. And i am pretty sure if that game sells well we can expect a lot better stuff from capcom in the future.
    
    I dont know which console is going to win the big race right now. Yes the wii was intended for a different audience, but saying that it wont work for the competitors audience as well is just foolish. Sure it doesnt have as fancy graphics, but it seems to me that there is at least 7.6 million and probably more who are starting to get fed up with just fancy graphics. Its time to change gaming, the whole updated graphics concept is great and all, but that is not all that matters.
    
    360, PS3 and wii weren't meant to compete in the same arena, but that doesnt mean that it cant happen.
15. 
    7 Jun 2007 ~ 12:07am Sledgehammer70 To me a hard core gamer needs more than a handful of elite titles to keep his thirst for gaming down... I understand that you don't have to have a huge TV or the top of the line console to be a hard core gamer, but most hard core gamers tend to follow the higher end items such as the 360 and the PS3... Also these systems also are known more for their competitive gaming, not saying the Wii can't be competitive... but the average joe isn't going to go down and buy the Wii because it has High-end cutting edge graphics, they are going to buy it because it is fun and offers a different style of gaming that the High-end market semi lacks... both the 360 and the PS3 are getting better with their lower end download offerings, but nothing can beat Wii tennis or Wii bowling... But I guarantee the Wii wont touch games like Gears of War or Rainbow 6 Vegas...
    
    I honestly believe in 2 years the PS3 will be at the 360's foot steps and the Wii will have out sold them both but no in combined numbers. But in the long run the types of high end gaming you see in today’s consoles and PC's will stay with just that... the 360, PS3 & PC. The Wii will always target the groups that have it.
    
    To note I think Graphics are not all a game needs either... I can tell you about 20 titles on the 360 that look great and lack content making the game just suck balls... some games have the content and Graphics and the games just look sick and provide that High-end look most gamers are looking for. Now some gamers can deal with the Wii graphics and be happy... me I can't do that, maybe cause I am a 3d Graphic artist and I am always looking to imporve the graphics to be life like... who knows, but i know tons of others just like me seeking that next game that puts out 1080P TV's to use...
    
    I also should note I agree with Prime that not everyone who owns a 360 or PS3 is a hard core gamer... you have fanboy's, people who buy it just to have it, and many other classes of people... But i do believe that over 50% are what i would call a dedicated gamer... and buys more than 4 game titles per year..
16. 
    7 Jun 2007 ~ 10:11am Sledgehammer70 To note: I guess I was being conservetive on my PS3 numbers, as a few other sources have popped up showing that over 5.5 million units have been sold world wide.
    
    WOW I was just thinking
    
    PS3
    5.5 Million x $600 = $3,300,000,000
    
    XBox 360
    10 Million x $500 = $5,000,000,000
    
    Wii
    7.6 Million x $250 = $1,900,000,000
    
    Total $10.2 Billion dollars, and that is just the consoles, add games sales and accessories to that, and your well over $25 Billion+
17. 
    7 Jun 2007 ~ 10:37am primesuspect Unfortunately, they're selling the PS3 at a loss right now, much like MS did. Finally MS is able to turn a profit over, and from what I've read the Wii is profitable out the door.
    
    5.5 million x $600 = $3,300,000,000 but it may have cost Sony as much as 4.4 billion to make those 5.5 million PS3s
18. 
    7 Jun 2007 ~ 10:44am Sledgehammer70 Of course, but just saying that’s a ton of cash.
    
    I wondering Sony has turned a profit at all with the PS3.. game sales are pretty strong with a few key titles but I don't see them dragging in 1 billion in game royalties just yet...
19. 
    7 Jun 2007 ~ 4:04pm Jengo sony right now is having record losses for their Playstation division of sony, so bad that Ken Kutaragi is retiring. Things for sony arent looking to great right now.
20. 
    7 Jun 2007 ~ 4:47pm RADA ...played all three...
    
    Wii is OK, "seemed" (only my personal opinion) geared toward a younger crowd. OK Graphics, Great price point, not sure about Game Titles
    
    Playstation - Great Graphics - So-so on titles, Abysmal on price.
    
    X-Box 360 - Very Good Graphics - Satisfying deversity of Game Titles, Price point up there...
    
    
    I own a 360, and I love it. It will not keep up with the next RADA Rig (Circa Spring 2008 - Wedding present from Fiance, she gave me the OK to build a new PC). But really enjoy playing it. A slew of gift cards after X-Mas made the price completely reasonable.
21. 
    7 Jun 2007 ~ 5:07pm Qeldroma My son wants a PS3. The agreement is that I'll help him with it only if it Folds as much as possible.
    
    We have the Wii and the concensus seems pretty much what's in this thread. It does bring back a lot of memories.
22. 
    7 Jun 2007 ~ 5:55pm Sledgehammer70 I am honestly considering to buy another PS3... the new titles coming over the next year are going to be pretty sweet, and the games are not even using the systems full potential... also it would be a great addition to my folding farm I think I will wait atleast 8 months if not longer
23. 
    8 Jun 2007 ~ 11:56pm CB For me it's partly about price, but it's also about what you want to use the machine for.
    
    If I want to play high-end games by myself, I will play them on the PC, if they don't get released for the PC, I go without them.
    
    I want my console to play games that are fun and easy to play when I have guests in my living room. Aside from my fanboy games (Mario, Zelda, FF), I never play a console game alone, it just doesn't occur to me. The few good multi-player games that the PS3 and XBOX offer are not the type of games that anyone can just pick-up and play. I want my wife and I to be able to invite another couple over for dinner, then after desert head into the living room to play a video game. You can't do that with Halo. Nintendo is where the easy to learn, simplistically fun games are at.
    
    As an analogy: If my guests were going to play a card game with me, I wouldn't ask them to play Magic:The Gathering, you have to be a real strategy-cardgamer to like that game. I would get out Uno or Fluxx.
    
    I'm not sure if this is something that effects sales, I might be the only one who feels this way.
24. 
    9 Jun 2007 ~ 12:04am Thrax The only reason consoles exists, to me, is to play a genre that's pretty lacking on the PC: In-depth RPGs.
25. 
    9 Jun 2007 ~ 12:18am Sledgehammer70 I agree to that, but i also feel FPS games lack on PC's I mean we have a handful of old titles we still love, but the consoles have so many more.
26. 
    9 Jun 2007 ~ 10:01am CB Perhaps, but for me: Controling a FPS game with anything other than a keyboard and mouse feels like one of the outer circles of hell.
27. 
    11 Jun 2007 ~ 1:01pm Sledgehammer70 Well it is good both consoles support mice and keyboards
28. 
    11 Jun 2007 ~ 1:27pm Cyclonite I've always been a console fan. It takes some getting used to, and there are just some FPS's that MUST be played on the PC.
    
    However, I had FEAR for the PC for a while and never made it past interval 2, because I got uncomfortable sitting at the PC staring at a 19" LCD with 2.1 sound. I grabbed FEAR for the XBox 360 on sale at Gamestop the other day. I'm part-way through interval 8. I'm playing on a 52" 1080i TV with 5.1 Dolby surround. I can turn the lights out and sit back from the screen. Get comfortable on my couch. It's much more enjoyable for me. That's my argument for console vs. PC, though I do have a decent gaming rig.
    
    As for Wii vs. 360/PS3: the Wii, to me, is a multiplayer console. I hardly power mine on when I'm alone, but it gets a lot of play when there are people over. Wii Sports and Wii Play in particular. On the other hand, I probably play the XBox 360 every day. LIVE is an amazing service, and it makes finding multiplayer games much nicer when I'm not feeling single player.
    
    I know I'm just joining in the endless debate. It's all a matter of opinion, but Nintendo did it right this time around to turn a profit.
29. 
    11 Jun 2007 ~ 3:00pm Sledgehammer70 If I need a TV experience with my PC gaming, i can always connect my XXXXX right up and play over my TV
    
    The joy of today’s tech will make console gaming drop even further behind.
30. 
    11 Jun 2007 ~ 3:46pm Cyclonite I hardly believe consoles are going to drop behind. It's still a considerable amount more for an equivalent gaming rig. They're going to stay right where they are. There's always going to be supporters in both camps.
31. 
    11 Jun 2007 ~ 4:12pm primesuspect Yeah I agree. I think you highly underestimate the power of mom and dad:
    
    $500 vs $1500 for video games.
    
    Even more perspective:
    
    #1 selling video game system ever: Nintendo DS - $130
32. 
    11 Jun 2007 ~ 4:20pm Sledgehammer70 No... I meant in tech advances...
33. 
    11 Jun 2007 ~ 4:35pm primesuspect Which are only important to a very small segment of the consumer public.
34. 
    11 Jun 2007 ~ 4:38pm Thrax They're important to everyone over time. It all trickles down.
35. 
    11 Jun 2007 ~ 4:41pm Sledgehammer70 For someone who likes being on the cuttiing edge it hard to overlook...
36. 
    11 Jun 2007 ~ 4:52pm Cyclonite That's not the discussion though. Those that want to be on the cutting edge are not in the majority.
37. 
    11 Jun 2007 ~ 5:36pm Sledgehammer70 If you take the size of the person they make up more than the majority
38. 
    11 Jun 2007 ~ 6:24pm Cyclonite Did Gigantor just threaten me?
39. 
    12 Jun 2007 ~ 2:06am Jengo