If the sales continue as they have been for Nintendo and their little white Wii, you’ll be looking at the top-dog for overall console says–best selling console ever. This would push Sony’s PlayStation 2 to the second spot of awesome console victories over the last seven generations of gaming hardware.
Before Sony fans unite to comment storm, remember, the PS2 had a lot of great games and continues to have games coming through for its console. People are still debating the life-span of the Wii product line, regardless to overall sales figures while the PS2 no doubt had a long live and still continues to have a long life, heck 30%+ of gamers still play the darn thing. Sony has been able to utilize the PS2 and its profitability to glide through the initial PS3 sales slump and get the momentum growing for their current generation console.
Yet, some folks are comparing the PlayStation 3 to the GameCube in terms of sales performance.
“During the first 26 month period, the PS3 sold 6.79 million units in the U.S., compared to 6.75 million GameCubes during its first 26 months. While the GameCube finished a distant third last generation, the console was profitable for Nintendo.” (Kotaku)
Before you get out your flame pens, this analogy wasn’t constructed by me, I’m merely the messenger. Again, to defend Sony (read: put on my flame retardant outfit) Sony’s console is slowly building momentum, depending on who’s statistics you read anyway, and their product will eventually become a profitable sale. The GameCube was profitable as well but boasted “dozens” of great games to play while the PS3 obviously is pushing to become the hardcore gamers console of choice with top tier graphics, blu-ray playback and a free online service. GameCube was really just a cube that played some games, a one-trick-poney as it where.
It still feels odd to say Nintendo is winning and Sony isn’t winning (I avoid the term losing to yet again to kill the flames) and… Microsoft?
Microsoft, in my opinion, is in the best possible situation. They’re not being targetted as the number one console and being critizised for holding such a position and they’re not dragging near the bottom to be poked fun at by the industry and bloggers around the world (mainly, the United States.) They’re stealthing by with good sales compared to the last generation console by “improving its fortunes.” The Xbox 360 “sells 18 percent faster than its predecessor, according to NPD figures, and even turned a profit, something the original Xbox never did” according to VentureBeat.
The PlayStation 3 has many years ahead of it and we’re sure plenty of gamers will eventually buy into the console because the technology within that black box is designed to last many years. Considering only 30% of the United States is rolling with an HD-TV it’s not surprising they’re not jumping at the opportunity to own a PlayStation 3. Why is the news all over the PlayStation 3 and talking trash about it? Sony was the console to beat when the PlayStation 2 reigned the industry, to see the console go from #1 to #3 in a single generation is shocking but not new; we saw Nintendo suffer the same fate when the PlayStation originally launched.
But, is the PS3 like the GameCube? There are too many factors to make that comparison, especially considering the growth in the game industry, the growth of storage and video technology and the general acceptance of video games. Hell, you can buy video games at convenience stores in the United States now, the industry isn’t the same as it was in 2001.
Please discuss…but don’t shoot the messenger. 🙂
@Call of Duty: Elite for Black Ops 2 will be free
What does that service bring anyway? Seriously, besides bragging rights? I get it when you get DLC for free or at a discount, due to being a member but still, the service itself … 😐
Then again, I’m the guy that is not sure whether to play or not free-mium games, so …
@Metro: Last Light dumping multiplayer
That’s not actually a bad thing. The strong point of the first Metro 2033 was the story, so I don’t see this as a disappointment. So sure, focus on what you do best. STALKER has multiplayer, but I never bothered with it.
To follow the off-topic, if a game has Co-Op and other MP modes, I would usually focus on Co-Op. And I’m not the only one: if you look at the server browser for the first Serious Sam games (First Encounter and Second Encounter) most servers with people in it are Co-Op. That’s gotta say something.
@Microsoft banning PEGI 18 apps from Windows 8 Store
Well, what can I say, they own the store so they can rule it as they want.
CroTeam’s pink scorpion: I like that sort of copy protection! Devs should do that more.
QOTW: I remember now! “Zombie Nation”.
The game has no zombies in it. You are a flying giant head, spitting … spit and eyeballs at your enemies. I liked the game, but the title … it just sets your expectations in the wrong direction.
*DING* You’ve got hate mail!
Dear Paul,
Stop asking for hate mail and then inflating your ego after Jonah tells you that the fans love you. Stop saying ‘I blame the parents’ when it doesn’t even fit the context. Don’t hate or love someone just because they like to play a certain game, it shows how biased you are. Finally, something for Jonah as well, stop interrupting somebody when you don’t agree with their point/opinion.
*DING*
In all seriousness, I didn’t have anything of value to comment this week.
@attempting hate mail
Dear Paul
You are annoying. I hope that when you are driving a car, you will crash into a schoolbus full of children and you will survive and they will all die in a horrible fire and that will haunt you for the rest of your life.
\hate mail
@Elite and Premium
Is it me or is COD trying to copy Battlefield because it’s subscription was more successful? I play Battlefield but never bought premium. That’s because I received one of it’s DLC as a pre-order bonus. That reduced the value of the package for me. Talk about catering for long time supporters.
@Kickstarter UK
I agree with Jordan. Never even knew it wasn’t available outside of US. In many ways it’s a good thing, because the UK government strangles all local creativity. They tax creators so much, that a large percentage of local stuff (like cartoons) are made abroad. Maybe removing the publisher will allow game developers to operate more easily.
@A single-player Metro
I hate it when they tack on multiplayer in otherwise good single-player games. Darkness is a great example. It’s usually bad unless they invest a lot of effort into it. Which takes manpower, time and money. Which makes single player worse off. They either have to balance well or concentrate on just one.
@Why do we even care. 99% of content on Windows 8 will be pirated anyway. I don’t think anyone will even know there is a store.
Microsoft should just integrate Piratebay into their core system. That and Steam.
@QOTW
Wish Metal Gear Solid: Revengance was already out. My spellcheck crashes every time I type that word. From the games I know, “Big Mutha Truckers: Truck Me Harder” comes to mind.
@Obsidian Project Eternity game:
Well Project Eternity has gotten over 4M and completed it’s Kickstarting funding. I am excited for this game, a call back to Isometric RPG games which I haven’t seen in a long time. I hope this not only helps Kickstarter become a more reputable option but also show that games other then FPS can not only make a profit but deserved to be made.
I really like one of the companions you’ll be getting a Cipher (Psychic) Detective, which seems very outside the norm of Wizard/Fighter/Thief/Cleric type classes.
Love the show keep up the good work guys.
@Metro: Last Light dumping multiplayer:
i hope they launch it as a free DLC if everything else fails on MP in “launchday”
@Microsoft banning PEGI 18 apps from Windows 8 Store:
if they dont like money, i can take some off their hands! and with the podcast kickstarter up and running, i know my 1st spending of this fictional huge sum of money i’ll soon have :3
no, but seriously, i can give this as a real ansewr to this issue: “they should not forbid steaks for everyone just because a baby can’t chew it” – mark twain
@QOTW:
Space Pirates and Zombies. i know, it is a good game and the name matches the gameplay, but it is still an awesome and weird name!
as of the time i am writing this feedback, it is monday and i was at college a few moments ago. i could not be drunk, but when i’m inhibriated by alcoholic beverages, i’ll give you guys a heads up
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/417021624/td-gaming-podcast