I am sure that most of us are active members of the site and know how to use VGchartz collected data. In case some people do not this link is posted to take you to the flash tool that allows easy access to the data I am talking about in this post. You will need to use the drop down menus to change the consoles featured and align launch dates. Secondly forgive me if this has been brought up in the past as this is my first thread, but I personally wanted to get some air cleared up.
http://www.vgchartz.com/hwcomps.php?cons1=Wii®1=All&cons2=PS3®2=All&cons3=PS2®3=All&align=1
According to the data provided by the link above the PS3 at just under 40 weeks has outsold the PS2 during the same time period after launch. This means IMHO that the PS3 is not doing as badly as the media has suggested or that many people on this site have been so vocal about. That being said, it is reasonable to assume that the sales trend will continue and eventually outsell the PS2 in overall sales by the end of the systems lifecycle (this should be even easier to do with Jack Trenton claiming that said life cycle will be ten years). The recent price decrease will only aide in the overall total sales and will give the company a boost that gets their system into the hands of people who will buy the software (or Blu-ray). Furthermore if you were to align the launch dates of the 360 to the PS3 you wil see that the two consoles are neck in neck during the same timeframe. The PS3 has even outsold the 360 during certain weeks. (Probably the euro launch)
So I ask this question, Why is there so much talk of Sony's demise and the failure of the PS3?
The answer is not simple, and many factors have influenced the media's attack on Sony but the most persuasive is the gaming industries (like many other forms of business and entertainment) need to be so competative that each generation there has to be a clear cut loser. The runaway sucess of the Wii and the 360's one year headstart have influenced the media's idea that Sony is tanking. The data collected shows otherwise.
Because of the media's influence I think many of the users here have fed into the B.S. and have labled Sony the loser. Sony is not doing much to abate the onslaught by price cutting and I think the move only served to add fuel to the fire, although the sales will increase demand for 3rd party support.
Sony is selling extremely well to the audience they are targeting. That audience being gamers who have played videogames and probably owned at least two if not all three consoles last generation. The media has led us to believe that this is not the case.
(To add a disclaimer to this and to not be labled as part of the Sony camp. I must add that I own a Wii and do not own a PS3 or 360 and currently have no intention of buying either until the price drop is substantial enough for me to afford. Furthermore, I applaud Nintendo for their creativity and for growing the market.)
