| pokoko said: The fact is, the PS4 "won" a lot of categories initially, which allowed them to build a substantial amount of positive momentum. Microsoft, on the other hand, stumbled out of the blocks, giving them negative momentum. The combination of those two factors, plus the PS4 having an edge in other considerations such as price and performance, created an impression with the general public that the difference between the two consoles is greater than it really is. Remember, the average consumer tends to think in absolutes, and is easily swayed by such terms. "More powerful" might only be a difference of a few horsepower but the term itself stirs something in people that is hard to overcome. Many people aren't going to ask about the real-world difference, they're simply going to be content that one is "more powerful" than the other. The same can be said of "more popular", which is actually a factor a substantial number of consumers value greatly. |
Consumers don't think in absolutes; they BUY in absolutes! Remember they can't buy 60% of a PS4 and 40% of an XB1. For most people they have to choose one of the two. A seemingly small perceived advantage, all other things being equal, should result in near 100% sales for the one that's perceived better.
If you go to a shop and see a 10 pound bag of sugar and an 11 pound bag of sugar, both selling for $10, both the same perceived quality, the sales aren't going to be 11:10... they're going to be about 100:0 in favor of the 11 pound bag.
The answer to the question "How come the sales are so different when the experience is almost as good?" should be obvious. Being "almost as good" is not a reason to sell at all, unless it's cheaper.
To an average Joe who sees the same price, and is not attached to a particular brand or exclusive games, they will likely pick PS4 every time.
