...I was looking through the stats today, and came across an interesting one.

Its pretty well accepted that PSP software sales are "poor" - even though the hardware is selling well enough.

But... did you know that based on the same number of weeks on the market - the PSP has sold MORE software than the PS3 has?

The PS3 still has a significantly better attach rate though - as the PSP has sold through a lot more hardware than the PS3.

Anyway - the relevant numbers:

....

PS3 weeks since launch in Japan : 68 weeks

PS3 software sales since launch (Japan): 4,296,695

PS3 hardware sold since launch "" : 1,959,40

.

http://vgchartz.com/japweekly.php?date=38802&console=&maker=&disp=Japanese+Name&boxartz=1 

PSP stats after 68 weeks in Japan:

PSP software sales after 68 weeks (Japan): 4,520,639

PSP hardware sales after 68 weeks "" : 3,250,086

...

PSP hardware has sold approximately 50% faster than PS3 hardware - while software has sold 5%-7% faster (in the equiv. time period since launch).

PSP after 168 weeks in Japan:

 - hardware: 8,422,323

 - software: 15,188,560

.

If these figures are extrapolated to the PS3, over the next 100 weeks it will double its install base (likely to sell faster than this - at least it should?). And will sell another 8m of software units.

(for comparison, after 65 weeks the Wii has sold 17.5m software units - and the DS has sold around 21m after 68 weeks) 

Well it has only just sold more software. Given that the install base for the PSP was bigger after 68 weeks its hardly surprising. The PSP wasn't hit with pirating until later on in its life.

Also the PS3 should double its install base this year.

Why oh why do people constantly compare handhelds, and consoles?

Especially in Japan, where handhelds are much bigger than consoles.

Ugh.

Such comparisons will only become valid when Microsoft creates a poor selling handheld gaming solution.

Because the trends are real, and relevant.

The Wii is tracking remarkably close to the DS - and the PS3 (apart from selling less hardware) is tracking under the PSP. That's why.

If you still think this is irrelevant, answer this: do you think the PSP will end up as the "console version" of the PSP - hardware sort of ok, but poor software sales?  

 That's the key. The PSP is just as easy to pirate on as a PC now. If it weren't for that, an increase in software sales would probably increase quite a bit.

Ironic then, that PSP software sales jumped significantly in the last year? Its at launch that software just didn't sell.

And as for doubling its install base "this year" - this year has 10 months left, about 40 weeks. It has to average 50k/week, but is currently doing less than 20k/week.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the install base in Japan hit 3m by the end of '08. 

 The PS3 had sold about 1.7M by the end of 2007. By the end of 2008, I think it will be at about 3.5M. Thats what I meant by double, sorry for the confusion. I think this will go up if FFXIII hits this year, but I doubt it very much. 

 It is Shams what do you want =p?

*I give Uncharted a 8/10  I never played it but I watched it for a half hour OMG !!*

The Playstation 3 is dead in Japan. It's a miracle it moved as much software as the PSP did. It tells us that the attach rate is there, and there's potential for the PS3 to be a software moving platform. Sony simply needs to broaden the Playstation 3's Japanese user base. If Sony can successfully do that, then the PS3 will move software. The consoles attach rate shows us that the PS3 is in a different situation than the PSP.