Xbox 360 and PS3: Success or Failure?

[Hapimeses]

It's all about comparisons and expectations, really.

With that in mind, the PS3 failed big time. As a gamer, I love the machine, but look at what the PSX and PS2 achieved, then look to the PS3. 1st, 1st, then last. Sony screwed up the release and initial feature set big time, and have been playing catch-up ever since. Sure, it looks likely the console will probably come 2nd by the end of the generation -- eventually -- but that means next to nothing. Yes, one can't argue that 70 million consoles sold isn't impressive, and the machine is pretty profitable for Sony these days, but the PS3 is still not what Sony had hoped. Sony should be ruling the TV space today, and they are not. The PS3 failed.

I still love it, though.

By comparison, for all the 360 is in an almost identical position to the PS3 sales-wise, and, indeed, has arguably been selling more slowly than Sony's offering from the outset, it is in a considerably better position than many expected. Microsoft were nowhere last generation. Now the company is firmly 2nd in the home console market (2nd equal, perhaps, but second), and their console has taken the US market by storm. Further, Microsoft's subscription service, Live, for all it is objectively worth very little, has been widely accepted by its 360 user-base (but rejected by the PC user base long ago) and is raking in an absolute fortune (primarily because it costs MS comparatively little to maintain -- it's almost money for nothing). So, the console is profitable, has a lucrative subscription service, and has significant market penetration where previously there was none. Further, the console is well regarded, even though almost all the early models died after just a few years! That, to my eyes, makes the 360 ia significant success, but not a complete success.

The title of complete success probably falls on Nintendo's Wii. Perhaps. Though the Wii screwed up at the final hurdle.