Since when is $300 considered mass market for a console?

I fully expect the PS3 to hit $300/400 this year (assuming they keep the same models), around the holidays. But that's still $100/200 over the $200 sweet spot, which both the 360 Arcade and Wii are likely to hit this year.

Now, my question is this: When Pachter says "Wiidomination" is he referring simply to Nintendo leading the sales race, or to Wii's being more in demand that beer on SuperBowl Sunday? If it's the former, he's wrong, the later, he's likely right, though I don't know that the PS3 price drop will have anything to do with it.

Regardless, give the Wii another year of sales like this and it will clinch the lead for this generation.

I agree with Pachter. The PS3 probably won't ever surpass the Wii's LTD, but it will outsell it quite frequently in '09. And I expect the price drop to $299 to come in time for xmas '08. At that price it will be difficult to resist, even for a lot of non-gamers.

Weren't wiis selling on average, via ebay, for more than the price of the ps3 in america all through december?

Why would price change nintendos success?

I'm not exactly a Wii fan but it will be dominate until they stop putting out Mario games every 4-7 months. As long as they keep Mario going their domination could continue.

As for 360 I don't think it is as bleak as Patcher states. They have huge room on price, and they will start announcing the 2008 lineup around GDC probably. But, I think Microsoft are trying to keep their cards close to them this year so that they can counter each Sony move.

Sony, will improve. One thing for certain is the brand name and no matter whether it lacks content or not that will keep them in the game. MGS4, KZ2, LBP, etc. will only help.

I'd pick up a PS3 for $250. I'd pay $300 even if some of the anticipated games are really good.

even if the PS3 were to drop to $300 next year then by that time the Wii would have a userbase of at least 35 - 40m, even EA titles like Tiger Woods would have had 3 releases and would be pretty solid titles that would have their own following within the Wii owners. Wii ware would be well established and small devs would have found their feet and making some decent return, Nintendo would still be wowing the world with their own first party titles etc.

By this time the Wii will have it's own momentum and say for arguments sake it is only selling due to price right now - you can guarantee it wont be then.

The Wii will not get a price drop until they can a surplus of consoles that are not selling. With SSBB/MK/WiiFit coming out, this may not be until fall, if at all this year. They will not drop they price if they keep selling out at $250. Why would they?

Better software/Blu-ray victory/price drops will help PS3 sales vs the Xbox 360, but I highly doubt it will affect Wii momentum at all.

I predict Pachter will make incorrect predictions well into 2009.

I think the point is that Nintendo has far more scope to drop prices than Sony and they will do it if needed.

I always it find it fustrating that when either an analyst or fanboy try to predict the domination of a certain console due to price cuts they always asume that the other consoles arent getting a price cut.

Michael Pachter is a ANALyst!