Sony's PS3 A Sinking Ship: Sales Plummet (SNE)

Lee Stewart · 12-12-2008, 10:37 AM

Sony's PS3 A Sinking Ship: Sales Plummet (SNE)

Quote:

Eric Krangel | December 12, 2008 9:21 AM
Sony's (SNE) PS3 is dying on the shelves.

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?

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.

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".

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."

There's really only one option left for Sony to remain in the game: deep price cuts, and not just for people with good credit. 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.

See Also:
Sony Cuts PS3 Prices By $150 -- If You Have Good Credit
October Game Sales: Nintendo Wii Kicking PS3 Butt
Sony Tries Virtual World Advertising On PS3: Unlike Second Life, It Might Even Work

http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/12/...es-plummet-sne

scsa · 12-12-2008, 10:41 AM

wow that is the most biased article ever made not you Lee the article maker.

Lee Stewart · 12-12-2008, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scsa

wow that is the most biased article ever made not you Lee the article maker.

Fixed it!

Quote:

wow that is the most biased article ever made not you Lee the thread maker.

Nikopol · 12-12-2008, 10:47 AM

love how they link to an article from May 15, 2008 to show how 'no one seems to care about hi-def DVDs'.

scsa · 12-12-2008, 10:47 AM

What Lee I said not you the article maker is the biased one.

**bruceames** · 12-12-2008, 10:53 AM

Well whatever the reason is, the fact is the PS3 is tanking. Really funny considering how many here feel it's the best value in CE.

Stew4HD · 12-12-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

Well whatever the reason is, the fact is the PS3 is tanking. Really funny considering how many here feel it's the best value in CE.

Indeed. I have never really liked the PS3.. it served its purpose, BD SAs are getting reasonable, my PS3 is in hibernation now.. finally!.. but that is just me

mobiushky · 12-12-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew4HD

Indeed. I have never really liked the PS3.. it served its purpose, BD SAs are getting reasonable, my PS3 is in hibernation now.. finally!.. but that is just me

And for counter point, I just purchased PS3 #2 for BD's.

At some point, I will probably get #3 so the kids have their own and will then have a completely integrated media system for the entire house.

Lee Stewart · 12-12-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikopol

love how they link to an article from May 15, 2008 to show how 'no one seems to care about hi-def DVDs'.

- it's not a press release.

It's a blog.

And like all blogs - it is written using facts known, to make a statement - usually a negative one - cause that's what people want when it comes to "news." WTH - that's all they see on the TV . . . in EITHER resolution (

) every single day of their life, when they watch the news.

Can you imagine HOW BAD the rating would be if all of a sudden the news did a "180."

Of course - we have to remember that I live in the USA and you live in Germany so Niko . . .

Things different over there in Germany as to what's in the news?

IMHO - the only thing that you could pick up to read or watch on TV that is 100% positive would be something to do with Seseame Street or Barney.

EDIT:

So Niko - you satisfied with the real facts of the blog - the sales numbers?

bmore · 12-12-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

- it's not a press release.

It's a blog.

And like all blogs - it is written using facts known, to make a statement - usually a negative one - cause that's what people want when it comes to "news."

Is that your excuse too? Or is there something deeper???

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

:So Niko - you satisfied with the real facts of the blog - the sales numbers?

Are you satisfied with not having any new HDM for the last few months?

Seems to be a more relevant question...becuase even with the PS3 selling less than the other 2 consoles...I still see a full docket of bluray releases...

Nikopol · 12-12-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

- it's not a press release.

It's a blog.

And like all blogs - it is written using facts known, to make a statement - usually a negative one - cause that's what people want when it comes to "news." WTH - that's all they see on the TV . . . in EITHER resolution (

) every single day of their life, when they watch the news.

Can you imagine HOW BAD the rating would be if all of a sudden the news did a "180."

Of course - we have to remember that I live in the USA and you live in Germany so Niko . . .

Things different over there in Germany as to what's in the news?

IMHO - the only thing that you could pick up to read or watch on TV that is 100% positive would be something to do with Seseame Street or Barney.

EDIT:

So Niko - you satisfied with the real facts of the blog - the sales numbers?

TBH i don't really get most of what you've just said.

PS3? Don't own one, don't want one. Since BD SALs are now available that work just fine and will "help the adoption of HD Media" going forward, as far as i am concerned the PS3 can be a "sinking ship".

Sorry

PS:

Die Sony, DIE!!! not just a phrase

scsa · 12-12-2008, 11:11 AM

The ps3 is not going anywhere Bruce It will be stronger next year just you wait and see this year was not really that many games that were coming out next year has Killzone 2 and a few other big hits that should make up for sony hopefully and probably will. Also the 360 had a price cut last month that is why the numbers went up a lot I mean it was 400 then they moved it to 200 now of course people will buy that for christmas at a time when the economy is so low I mean 400 is 200 hundred more so that is the difference between the 360 and the ps3 200 dollars this christmas.

**bruceames** · 12-12-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikopol

TBH i don't really get most of what you've just said.

PS3? Don't own one, don't want one. Since BD SALs are now available that work just fine and will "help the adoption of HD Media" going forward, as far as i am concerned the PS3 can be a "sinking ship".

Sorry

Good point, now that the PS3 'umbilical cord' has been severed, it appears that Blu-ray has survived. But will the PS3 survive, and if so, will Sony think the sacrifice is worth having their franchise be related to a distant 2nd place in HD gaming? (where gross sales are higher)

scsa · 12-12-2008, 11:22 AM

who cares about if its in first second or third as long as they get money and it has followers which it does I mean its just a damn number I mean they should know that Microsoft will never be in first and is just ahead of them anyway and they aren't in too much of a lead they can pull it off some time in the near future.

ack_bak · 12-12-2008, 11:24 AM

It is the price. The PS3 is $399-499. The Xbox is $199-399. The Wii is $249. That is a huge price gap.

We all know that people are watching their money closer than ever before. If Sony wants to really compete they need to drop the price to $249-299 ASAP. However, that won't be easy based on the Yen to Dollar conversion.

12-12-2008, 10:53 AM	#6
bruceames Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Rafael, CA Posts: 10,170	Well whatever the reason is, the fact is the PS3 is tanking. Really funny considering how many here feel it's the best value in CE. __________________ Blu-rays: 55 Latest purchases: John Adams, Gone With the Wind, Up, Rocky: The Undisputed Collection

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12-12-2008, 10:41 AM	#2
scsa High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,107	wow that is the most biased article ever made not you Lee the article maker.

12-12-2008, 10:47 AM	#4
Nikopol Uwe Boll's my hero Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Maelstrom Blu-rays: 14 Age: 4 Posts: 6,374	love how they link to an article from May 15, 2008 to show how 'no one seems to care about hi-def DVDs'.

12-12-2008, 11:11 AM	#12
scsa High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,107	The ps3 is not going anywhere Bruce It will be stronger next year just you wait and see this year was not really that many games that were coming out next year has Killzone 2 and a few other big hits that should make up for sony hopefully and probably will. Also the 360 had a price cut last month that is why the numbers went up a lot I mean it was 400 then they moved it to 200 now of course people will buy that for christmas at a time when the economy is so low I mean 400 is 200 hundred more so that is the difference between the 360 and the ps3 200 dollars this christmas.

12-12-2008, 11:22 AM	#14
scsa High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,107	who cares about if its in first second or third as long as they get money and it has followers which it does I mean its just a damn number I mean they should know that Microsoft will never be in first and is just ahead of them anyway and they aren't in too much of a lead they can pull it off some time in the near future.

12-12-2008, 11:24 AM	#15
ack_bak Hidef Junkie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,416	It is the price. The PS3 is $399-499. The Xbox is $199-399. The Wii is $249. That is a huge price gap. We all know that people are watching their money closer than ever before. If Sony wants to really compete they need to drop the price to $249-299 ASAP. However, that won't be easy based on the Yen to Dollar conversion.