As you may all know christmas is looming upon us with many great titles coming out for all consoles in the next months, consumer spending will go to the roof. What does christmas have in store for the ps3?

In my following thread I will be analysing both Christmas and the Q1 of 2009, to give you an idea what is in store for the ps3 in the next 6 months. I will also give my prediction on the console war that is raging between the Xbox 360 and Sony Ps3.

The christmas period will be extremely important for the ps3 and it's future, the ps3 must use this christmas to cut the gap with the Xbox 360. This holiday season will be the pinacle period in the console war, with the Xbox 360 being half the price in all regions, christmas will decide the faith of the console war!

This christmas the Sony ps3 has arguably the best gaming line up of all three consoles, these titles include:

• Resistance 2
• Motorstorm 2
• Littlebigplanet
• Socom confrontation
• White Knight Chronicles
• Naruto

As you see from the list there is a lot of diversity to meet the needs of the consumer. I expect these games to do really well and ignite the sales of the ps3. Sure to generate consumer spending and convince consumer playstation is their home to be!

Another reason why its the best time for consumers to purchase a ps3 is the platinum line up of games at affordable prices. With games such as Uncharted, Ratchet and clank and Resistance at bargain prices now is the time for consumers to make that choice, as 2008 has shown the ps3 is the consumer choice for HD gaming!

The game that I really feel could be a (monster) system seller is Littlebigplanet, the game has garnered so much hype and enthusiasm from journalists and gamers. If this game manages to deliver on its promise of creativity and manages to meet the high expectations. This game can really capture that casual market or people that enjoy playing casual games. Bringing in both new and potential consumers. 

The games that will have a specific in their region, for example games such as Fifa 09 and Pes 09. These games will have a huge effect in Europe, sparking new interest for the ps3. As history has shown football games peform better on the Sony playstation, similar scenario with Madded where the sales are favoured on the Xbox 360 and its american region.

Another game that could have a postive effect is White Knight Chronicles, this game could be a potential system seller. That will coincide nicely with the christmas spending in Japan.

The arrival of Home which is expected at the end of October, if Home manages to deliver on its promise and meet the expectation of gamers. Then this will only add more value to the ps3, and can potentially become a serious competitor/threat to Xbox live, with the service being free will only make consumer choice easier!

But the Sony ps3 is more than a gaming machine, it has the best blu ray player on the market. For those who want to take a break from gaming and enjoy high definition movies that option is available to the consumer. The movies that I feel can persuade consumers to make that purchase are movies such as:

• Iron man
• The Dark Knight
• Wall-E
• Indiana Jones
• Kungfu Panda

These are just a few examples but the Dark Knight release on blu ray will spark a huge interest for existing and new consumers. With the demand for HD continiously growing, Blu ray is the option!

In conclusion I expect the ps3 to cut the gap sufficiently this christmas, I expect this effect to continue to go into Q1 of 2009. With the release of Killzone 2 and Infamous sure to generate excitement and sales. And the blockbuster title Resident evil 5 that will spark sales in Japan, and I expect the japan market to steadily increase with christmas going into 2009, I expect the ps3 to overtake the Xbox 360 ww sales come Q2 of 2009, the momentum will continue!

If by any chance Sony cuts the price between now and the Q2 of 2009, sales will go to the roof. I really hope Sony cuts the price of the Ps3 so my good friend DJmeister can buy one, as he is one of many consumers waiting for the price cut!

Enjoy guys and Merry Chiristmas!!

I don't agree. :)

Not enough numbers to scoff at in my opinion. I was hoping to de-bunk any predictions you made.

As it is, this is basically a PR statement as if from Sony themselves (difference being you didn't give any percentages of how current sales are exceeding last years)

any raw figure predictions?

Hey Megaman.

I must admit, some of the titles coming out this holliday season make me want to give ps3 another go. But PS3 has a few more stairs to climb for me to even think of making it my primary console. Price however is not a factor for me...

@ Disolitude

I really think you should get the ps3 this christmas with great games such as R2, Litllebigplanet and Socom including existing titles such as uncharted, mgs4, ratchet and clank, gt5p and resistance!!

let's not forget blu ray films such as the dark knight most of the games i mentioned are very cheap!!

so much 3rd party support lol jk

but blu ray movies never really helped ps3 sales have they?

That's pretty bad analysis. No numbers and you don't even mention the current leader at all.

PS3 will be on the 3rd place (yes, there are actually 3 participants in this race) before the christmas time, and it will be on the 3rd place after the christmas time.

No offence or anything, but there's no point denying the truth.

I've bolded what I've already played/finished/gotten bored with. I don't like driving sims at all...

The thing is people list great games in all genres when making arguments for a system...they rarely consider that most people don't like all genres. Sure, they may like 2, 3 even 4 types of games...but you will never find an RPG guy that like FPS games and racing games and sports games and platformers...etc. To me a survival horror game rated at 7 on metacritic is much better system seller than a Final Fantasy 13 rated 10.

So with that in mind, games I would buy ps3 for are - R2 obviously, Killzone 2, Mortal Kombat 2 online, Wipeout HD, Super Street Fighter 2 HD (thanks to being able to use a saturn pad on ps3) and SF4...and thats it.   Rest are all multiplat games like project origin, RE5, Fallout 3...that will most likely be better on the 360 due to reasons ranging from freinds lists playing them to exclusive DLC and achievements.

Sadly xbox still has 3X as many exclusive games i play and plan to play in the future that appeal to me compared to ps3.

"I expect the ps3 to overtake the Xbox 360 ww sales come Q2 of 2009"

If hell suddenly freezes over in Q2 of 2009, then this prediction may happen. I, however, do not expect hell to suddenly freeze over. PS3 and 360 sales will be roughly equal through the holiday season. If one of the consoles has an advantage over the other, I imagine the 360 will have an infinitesimal advantage in WW sales.