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

[Michael-5]

Jay520 said:

Michael-5 said:

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.

I'd say having a big price advantage is actually the bigger factor. It just happens to be dependent upon weaker hardware in most cases. If a company managed to get stronger hardware without effecting price, then I'm sure they wouldn't be hindered greatly.

Are people really debating over who started the console war.

Yup so we are in agreement.

However end of life price crashes don't count, it's the price the system sold for when it was new. Dreamcast and GCN both sold for $100 long, long before PS2 did and their sales never boomed. It's because they were trying to sell whatever they could in the end. Had their prices been so at launch....they may have outsold the PS2.