it has a chance but we wont know for sure yet because NA is a big part of the market

The games that sell in Europe are:

1. Hyped games (Assasin's Creed, Call of Duty, Nintendogs, Brain Training)
2. Sports / Racing games (and in particular EA games and PES)
3. Long Frachise games (Mario, Zelda, FF, MGS, etc)

All other games will struggle to get some attention in Europe, thus America and in particular US comes to the rescue. Thus, by far US is the most important market in the world. If PS3 doesn't get some attention there (I'm quite sure it will after MGS and FF), Sony is in some trouble.

No

Since America is the largest of the three major markets, its unlikely. The Japanese simply just don't buy enough to tip the scales in anyone's favor by a significant margin. And Europe is still Wii country.

To the first question I see neither obtaining dominance this holiday season. When I say dominance I am thinking sales by a meaningful margin something like a fifty thousand unit margin. Nothing below that is truly significant.

To the second question thats a strong No. Sony cannot win the console war without North America. That particular market it just too vital, and while it has bought the most PS3 consoles it is also the market where Sony is in the greatest jeopardy. They hold less then fifteen percent of the North American next gen market. That is with the Christmas crutch. Without the fat holiday wallets pricing will once again become a major consideration.

North America 19.61mil 51%
Others 12.32mil 32%
Japan 6.11mil 16%

From the above statistics you can see that the majority of the next gen gaming market is the North American market comprising more then half of the hardware sales. To win Sony must either provide serious competition to Microsoft in North America or have Microsoft crash in Europe. Right now neither or which seems likely, and Japan is next to nothing in the scheme of things.

Further more and this is critical Sony despite the recent decent sales is still on the knifes edge the price of a mediocre year. They are very close to insignificance. Were Nintendo, and Microsoft to maintain higher sales after the holiday rush for just a couple more months. They could push Sony below ten percent market share. Once there you start to see plummeting support at worst, or even outright stigma. Both can permanently cripple a console.

Sony absolutely needs North America to win against Microsoft not only for sheer volume, but to maintain support and survive the long haul. They are terribly close to the numbers Microsoft is putting out in Japan only in the much larger market. Microsoft holds nine percent of the market in Japan. Sony is holding a mere fifteen percent in North America a couple more months of solid thumping could be disastrous.

Sony really needs to do better, and do better sooner. Once price becomes a factor again those sales are going to slide down again.

The question is can Xbox win without japan

Onimusha12 said: Since America is the largest of the three major markets, its unlikely. The Japanese simply just don't buy enough to tip the scales in anyone's favor by a significant margin. And Europe is still Wii country.

 yeah how can the win with out the biggest market ??? 

No. The Xbox is to strong in America. Yes Sony can technically survive at least a short while without NA... How long though is another question.

of course it can't win without America. Its 50% of the market haha. YOu need to make leadway there at least. Just like the radical opposite you can't win with only America. Unless of course you have 100% dominance.

highwaystar101 said: The question is can Xbox win without japan

I think my post went to the heart of that matter. Japan accounts for a mere sixth of the console market. I think many posters place too much emphasis on Japan, and more specifically what is happening in Japan. That is somewhat like debating a presidential campaign, and saying that such a candidate cannot win the election without Wyomings electoral votes. While it is entirely possible if the race is very close. The reality is however a state like California is far more relevant to the discussion. Since that state represents more of the voting power. The North American market based on current numbers comprises over three times the console buying power that Japan does. The market is over three times larger, and thus three times more important in any analysis. Japan really is a afterthought especially in regards to these questions. Nintendo holds two thirds of that particular market, and it comprises thirty eight percent of their own console sales. That leaves a paltry thirty three percent for Microsoft and Sony to split. Sony accounting for twenty four percent, and Microsoft accounting for nine percent. Japan just isn't all that relevant to this question since it doesn't significantly effect the outcome. Not in the same way 360 sales seeing even a ten percent comparative increase over last years non holiday sales against Sony would in North America. A small change in North America has massive consequences.