So how much does releasing a console first in a generation relate to sales?

[Michael-5]

cloud1161 said:

Releasing a console first in a generation seems, at least to me, a key factor in being the most successful console sales wise.  I know this is still way too premature, but just judging from the 20k drop in sales of the Vita while the 3DS remains relatively unchanged is saying something.  Likewise, I believe that the DS was out before PSP (not entirely sure) and it did not necessarily crush the PSP but it was a clear victor sales wise.  I think the Wii was the first of the current home console generation as well and it had a demanding lead for a while, but now it is severely dying down.  The PS2 was the first of that generation I know because both Microsoft and Nintendo stated that the PS2 was far inferior compared to their consoles and they felt no threat of the PS2 being released first, but the PS2 was the most successfull home console to date.  I can't remember the time's of any other releases.  I know there's the whole aligned launches argument and I usually agree that that is the only fair way to judge sales success, but it seems those released first have the best aligned first two or three years as well.  I am by no means saying that the console that sales the most is the best, it's just a speculation about numbers and release dates.  Please correct me if any of my relative release dates are off.

360 released a full year before the Wii and PS3.

DS released only months before PSP.

 

And yes, there is a trend, but releasing early isn't a garenteed win. The Sega Genesis released a year before the SNES and the 360 released before the Wii/PS3, and both lost to Nintendo.

 

However what's a more probably trend is the cheapest/weakest powered system gets the most sales. Wii beat PS360, DS beat PSP, PS2 beat GCN and XB, PS1 beat N64, and Gameboy crushed Gamegear and Atari. All the winners were graphically weak and started with lower price tags (although compeditors eventually lowered their price tag below the cost of the successful system, e.g. GCN was cheaper then PS2 end of life, and 360 is about as cheap as Wii now). So long as your not Sega, this rule has been absolute for Nintendo and Sony.