Do you think the huge HD console sales will hold after GTA4?

[DragonLord]

Shameless said:

Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 sales have shown a huge increase this week, particular in Europe, so the question is: do you think these sales will hold and for how long?

 

Personally, I don't think the HD consoles will see sustained demand like the Wii does. I think the sales will slowly drop off over the next couple of weeks and return to normal levels in about a month.

IMO we'll see another week or two of fairly elevated sales (but less than this week).  Especially in Europe with the GTAIV bundle.

However, I think the ps3 is going to stay at a higher sales rate than before for a few reasons other than GTAIV.

1.  MGS4 and its bundle will sell some more consoles and keep sales elevated somewhat until July. (and have already sold some consoles).  It's arrogant to think that MGS4 will ONLY sell consoles when and after its released.  It has been selling consoles since it was first announced and shown.  That's how console pushers truly work.  You can't look at its opening week and say that it only sold 50,000 consoles so it was a failure.  That's dumb thinking.  Console pushers SLIGHTLY raise console sales from their announcement on. 

I bought a ps3 for Final Fantasy XIII.  It's not going to be released for a long time, but it's still the reason I bought a ps3.  I just chose to get it now and enjoy it while I wait.  So if it only sells an extra 25,000 consoles when it launches, that doensn't mean those are the only people to buy a ps3 solely because of FFXIII.  Understand?

2.  Tax Returns, $600 Tax Credit, and Graduation Money are all starting to come out.  I'm a coach and some of my seniors are talking about buying a ps3/360 once they have their graduation money (Great way to plan for their future with the gifts!)

3.  Re-introduction of the 80GB model.  I think this will sell a lot of consoles in America.  A lot of people I know want backwards compatibility and the added features of the 80GB.

4.  Other good games on the horizon.  No matter how you argue it, the ps3 has only seen one major exclusive.  Gran Turismo 5: Prologue....and it's a "demo."  All other games, other than Ratchet & Clank (which doesn't appeal to many hardcore gamers) have been new UNPROVEN IP's (Resistance, Heavenly Sword, Lair, Uncharted, Warhawk, etc.)  That is about to change.  MGS4 will be the first AAA exclusive for the ps3.  It's the moment of truth for ps3 console pushers.  We'll finally find out if good software will sell well and push hardware.  The other games were simply appetizers...now it's time for the main course.

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Xbox 360 will have increased sales because of GTAIV until Mid-May---June or so....maybe a slight bump for NGII (but I don't see it as a major console pusher....it usually doesn't even sell that much software).  I expect a price cut to combat the ps3 over the summer.

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Wii----Continued DOMINANCE, duh.....