I love linking to graphs and such, since between numbers and graphs any point can be "proven". So here goes:
PS2 vs PS3 vs GameCube in Japan sales from launch set to 58 weeks.
Numbers:
PS2: 4.25 million
PS3: 1.58 million
GameCube: 1.65 million
Conclusion: PS3 is only selling as well as the GameCube, though, after this point GC fell off, while PS3 is still selling strong, though not as strong as the PS2.
PS2 vs PS3 vs GameCube in America sales from launch set to 58 weeks.
Numbers:
PS2: 6.29 million
PS3: 3.35 million
GameCube: 3.61 million
Conclusion: PS3 is only selling as well as the GameCube, and if you increase the number of weeks (to say, 70), the GameCube increases at a steady rate, and the PS3 looks to follow that steady increase. Still not as strong as the PS2.
PS2 vs PS3 vs GameCube in Others sales from launch set to 58 weeks.
Numbers:
PS2: 6.43 million
PS3: 3.39 million
GameCube: 1.77 million
Conclusion: Much better sales than the GameCube! And the GameCube is dieing fast at this point, and the PS3 is really just starting. Not as good as the PS2 though. NOTE: Since the Hong Kong release of the PS3 is included in "OThers" data, but it was release with Japan, that's why the PS3 only sells 13,000 the first 18 weeks. If you move the PS3 line to start at the release it in Europe, it's always above the sales of the GC.
For comparison sake: Wii Sales in Japan, America, and Others, sales from launch set to 58 weeks.
Numbers:
Japan: 4.86 million
America: 8.45 million
Others: 6.28 million
Conclusion: Wii barely beats PS2 sales in Japan, beats PS2 sales in America, and nearly beats PS2 in Others. Whether it continues this trend remains to be seen. And please don't say "PS2 was supply constrained" because the Wii is too, and it sold 2 million more in America.
We could look at trends and argue about it forever.... AAA games, etc, but I think in the end, it's not much use. I, for one, have looked at sales of past consoles and current ones plenty, including first year sales, LTD sales, price points, etc, and it's simply not as easy as saying "Wii is selling as well as the PS2, so it should sell as much as the PS2 sold" and "PS3 is selling similarly to the GC, so it will be lucky to pass 25 million." It just doesn't work like that. Either way, it's all we have. I've laid out the "data" so read how you will.
