The reason: market perception. Analyst extraordinaire Michael Pachter gave his two cents, noting that Microsoft has "an image issue." Essentially, the 360, according to Pachter, is perceived as a console for hardcore gamers only, whereas the PS3 (and more specifically Sony) is perceived as family friendly. Aaron Greenberg, 360 product manager, naturally disagrees, noting that the Xbox 360 has more million-selling titles than either the Wii or PS3 and that the 360 has "the largest game lineup, and the most exclusive titles."
Another interesting point made by Pachter is that price is a huge factor in console sales. Interesting, because the Xbox 360 (we're fairly certain) will always have a price advantage over the PS3, and the low-end Xbox 360 (the Arcade) could easily meet the Wii's (current) $250 price point before 2008 is out. "Consumers just have this image that consoles cost $199 or less," said Pachter. Considering that the 360 will almost definitely hit $199 before the PS3, are there really that many people just waiting for the PS3 to get cheaper, all other consoles be damned? Guess we'll find out in four years or so.
Hit the "Source" link for the complete article.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
5-22-2008 @ 1:05PM
Harrison said...
Well, do you really think people will buy 360's when they can get an xbox 720 in 2010 or 2011? I would assume an early release of the next MS console would be a large factor in these numbers.
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5-23-2008 @ 12:17PM
Juice said...
Games usually drive console sales. What does Sony or Wii have on the Horizon? MGS4? Little Big Planet? XBOX has Gears2 and GTA4 DLC. And that's just in the near future. I dunno, I think the PS3 is a great console and all but I definitely don't see the sales being that big of a gap...
5-22-2008 @ 1:08PM
Nintendo is Fail said...
So by the time it gets outsold by more than 2:1 the next Xbox is going to be out?
But wow if these numbers are true then the Xbox 360 is going to get its ass kicked
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5-22-2008 @ 2:02PM
PerfectStrategy said...
The numbers aren't true, they are predictions.
Look at how many months Pachter has been wrong by predicting PS3 to outsell the 360.
We're 360 gamers, we LOVE proving analysts wrong and shaking up the previous playstation stranglehold on the industry.
And I think Xbox 360 will continue to make these analysts look foolish just like it has ever since it launched.
5-22-2008 @ 2:06PM
Neuromancer said...
This analyist has a horrible track record of being accurate in his predictions, Kotaku pegged him being right 2 out 8 times. You could train a chimp to answer yes/no questions and it'd be right more often than Pidgeon.
http://kotaku.com/358091/analyzing-the-analysts-episode-two
5-23-2008 @ 5:27AM
Boff said...
Or even train a pigeon?
5-22-2008 @ 1:09PM
Chester said...
who the hell is still buying xbox 360's in 2012?
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5-22-2008 @ 3:35PM
ogvor said...
The same people who bought PS2s in 2007/2008. That console was selling more than the PS3 for over a year. When the Xbox 360 is 150$, a lot more people will buy it than those who bought it for 300$-400$.
5-22-2008 @ 1:10PM
Enon777 said...
Aahhh yesssss, more fuel for the fanboy flame!!! Mmmuuuaaahhhahahahahaha!!!
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5-22-2008 @ 1:12PM
Dick said...
This analyst's assertion that PS3 is more family friendly than 360 holds no water. I see barely any family friendly titles on PS3 now or in the pipeline, save for the regurgitated movie-cum-video game.
Yet 360 has all of the same movie/video game tie in garbage, as well as the lego series', all the sports, viva pinata, etc...
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5-22-2008 @ 1:14PM
EmptyEnergy said...
Isn't the rumor the next M$ Console will be out by 2010?
Side note: the world ends 2012 according to the Mayan calendar.
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5-22-2008 @ 2:44PM
Munkcy said...
Xbox is going to sell more than PS3, and that's why the world is going to end in 2012. The last sign of the apocalypse is Microsoft winning a console war over Sony. I'm not quite sure how the Mayan's knew that though, but they probably played the Wii anyways.
5-22-2008 @ 1:14PM
victor360hd said...
post in the ps3 fanboy not here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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5-22-2008 @ 1:16PM
vanhelsingh said...
The thing is, a 360 owner would buy a PS3, but I doubt a PS3 owner would buy a 360.
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5-22-2008 @ 1:42PM
HEY!!!! said...
i agree
5-22-2008 @ 1:57PM
JimyD said...
I owned a PS3 and then bought an Xbox 360 when Microsoft had its free Halo 3 deal at the end of '07. I'm glad I did since I had a Blu-ray drive crap out on me and got tired of staring at a "Download Settings" screen for CoD4 multiplayer. I still enjoy using my fixed PS3 (MLB08: The Show, Warhawk, UT3 and Ratchet & Clank) but it's great to also have an Xbox 360 (Halo 3, CoD4, Gears of War, etc.). Bottom line - you get the best of both console worlds.
5-22-2008 @ 2:33PM
smallsbig said...
I had in this order ... FIRST a Wii ... Next a PS3 ... and Last an xbox 360
5-22-2008 @ 2:34PM
vanhelsingh said...
the only reason a PS3 owner would get a 360 would be to play exclusives such as GoW, Halo or Fable. Otherwise, there is nothing attractive about it.
5-22-2008 @ 3:11PM
elbaso said...
I think that people who have the scratch to buy two or even all three consoles are a small minority of the market.
I doubt you'll see many XBox306 & PS3 households. You're much more likely to see either of those two with a Wii, since they serve different niches.
5-22-2008 @ 1:17PM
andyg8180 said...
every anal-yst has been boasting big numbers for the ps3 since day 1... 2 years and counting... still waiting for one of those predictions to hold merit...
I think they are going over how the PS2 trends were and placing them on the PS3... now, if you look at it like that, it makes sense... but they fail to realize that the xbox 1 wasnt really a force to be reckoned with at that time...
Or they are speculating blu-ray players... as its sole purpose...
I hate anal-ysts... they suck... Who was it that quit about a week ago because his PS3 predictions kept getting squashed? lol
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