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Forums - Sales Discussion - Why do people think the 360 is vulnerable in sales?

MikeB on 08 October 2008

Various reasons to doubt the long haul sales potential of the 360.

Three most important ones:

1) The 360 will pass the original XBox' install base (premature demise) this year. This in combination with the fact that only Fable 2 remains as a big XBox sequel coming to the 360, the rest are all already released.
2) The 360 sold significantly slower than the PS3 taking equal time frames, despite much lower entry pricing, having months to years of an additional head start in various regions.
3) Microsoft has a very bad reputation in general in most regions (maybe a little less in the UK and US). The 360 is considered to be unreliable faulty by many (RRoD and disc scratching). Microsoft's HD DVD support and sudden demise is viewed by some as a Microsoft defeat.

4) The PS3 is starting to demonstrate the worth of its technical abilities vs the 360, developers have truly started to take advantage of Blu-Ray disc and the Cell processor. 360 and multi-platform devs are starting drawn into making more and more technical sacrifices (no default harddrive, 6.8 GB DVD discs, the CPU/GPU are as good as maxed out with the upcoming games).
5) Playstation Home add features to the online gaming experience the 360 will not have and this for free. There are a lot of hidden costs to have a basic experience for many people.
6) HDMI 1.3 capable HDTVs and 7.1 audio setups are becoming more and more common.
7) For additional promoted services like video downloads (or recordings on the PS3) harddrive storage requirements are growing, while the PS3 is easily and cheaply upgraded, the 360 depends on a small selection of more costly and less capable custom options.
8) Blu-Ray movie sales have multiplied considerably this year compared to last year. The same is expected for next year with Christmas adding a lot of PS3s in people's homes this year. It's becoming more an more an all-in-one selling feature for the PS3 as HDTV penetration increases.
9) PlayTV, movie downloads and maybe even PS3 gaming on the go using a PSP, being able to schedule the PS3 with the PSP. The 360 is missing such connectivity and functionality.
10) The console isn't very kids friendly due to its reliability issues, it's not friendly towards audio/visual movie lovers, bad quality DVD playback / noisy hardware / no support for Blu-Ray movies / etc. The console mainly appeals to 3D world shooter fans, that's not to say the console only has 3D shooters, but the former is true. And exclusive high quality PS3 3D world shooters like Resistance 2 and Killzone 2 may well pull some of this potential user base towards the PS3 (a sort of gaming gerne the PS2 was relatively weak at, unlike the PS3).

Having said that I don't believe the 360 will have a bad sales year for 2008, but I expect the effects to show more and more in 2009.



Naughty Dog: "At Naughty Dog, we're pretty sure we should be able to see leaps between games on the PS3 that are even bigger than they were on the PS2."

PS3 vs 360 sales

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astrosmash on 08 October 2008
kowenicki said:

Makes no sense.  I read lots of posts (even today) saying that if the PS3 cuts by even $50 then the 360 would be slaughtered and could even die in the marketplace.

Its biased and unfounded nonsense.

The 360 is increasing sales year on year.

Jan to Oct 06      3.6m

Jan to Oct 07      4.1m

Jan to Oct 08      5.4mM

 

Most consoles peak in year three. Xbox 360 just had year three and if it follows historical trends it will have only weaker years ahead. The other two consoles just had year two, and if they follow historical trends will have even stronger years next year.

 

 

 

 



DTG on 08 October 2008

Those sales you pointed out are pathetic considering that the ps2 sold more than the 360's best year between Nov and Dec alone.



MorgZ on 08 October 2008
MikeB said:

Various reasons to doubt the long haul sales potential of the 360.

Three most important ones:

1) The 360 will pass the original XBox' install base (premature demise) this year. This in combination with the fact that only Fable 2 remains as a big XBox sequel coming to the 360, the rest are all already released.

one of the best features of the 360 has been new franchises: Gears of War, Mass Effect, Bioshock and its ability to get on board previous playstation exclusives.

2) The 360 sold significantly slower than the PS3 taking equal time frames, despite much lower entry pricing, having months to years of an additional head start in various regions.


3) Microsoft has a very bad reputation in general in most regions (maybe a little less in the UK and US). The 360 is considered to be unreliable faulty by many (RRoD and disc scratching). Microsoft's HD DVD support and sudden demise is viewed by some as a Microsoft defeat. no one can deny the damage of the faulty hardware. seems to have been resolved now but will leave long term mark.

4) The PS3 is starting to demonstrate the worth of its technical abilities vs the 360, developers have truly started to take advantage of Blu-Ray disc and the Cell processor. 360 and multi-platform devs are starting drawn into making more and more technical sacrifices (no default harddrive, 6.8 GB DVD discs, the CPU/GPU are as good as maxed out with the upcoming games).

i dont really agree here. The ps3 hasnt done anything incredible yet. Storage capacity is going to make developers life easier though.


5) Playstation Home add features to the online gaming experience the 360 will not have and this for free. There are a lot of hidden costs to have a basic experience for many people.

still not released.


6) HDMI 1.3 capable HDTVs and 7.1 audio setups are becoming more and more common.
7) For additional promoted services like video downloads (or recordings on the PS3) harddrive storage requirements are growing, while the PS3 is easily and cheaply upgraded, the 360 depends on a small selection of more costly and less capable custom options.

most gamers would agree the 360 should have had mandatory hd, price point though might become increasingly important as businesses tighten up and ensure profitability over market share.


8) Blu-Ray movie sales have multiplied considerably this year compared to last year. (they were rubbish last year so this is a mute point) The same is expected for next year with Christmas adding a lot of PS3s in people's homes this year. It's becoming more an more an all-in-one selling feature for the PS3 as HDTV penetration increases.
9) PlayTV, movie downloads and maybe even PS3 gaming on the go using a PSP, being able to schedule the PS3 with the PSP. The 360 is missing such connectivity and functionality.

 Agreed this looks neat.

10) The console isn't very kids friendly due to its reliability issues, it's not friendly towards audio/visual movie lovers, bad quality DVD playback / noisy hardware / no support for Blu-Ray movies / etc. The console mainly appeals to shooter fans, that's not to say the console only has shooters, but the former is true. And exclusive high quality PS3 shooters like Resistance 2 and Killzone 2 may well pull some of this potential user base towards the PS3 (a sort of gaming gerne the PS2 was relatively weak at, unlike the PS3).

The 360 is foremost a console and has a better and more rounded library than the ps3. Few people would disagree about the games library comparison. My personal belief is that the 360 xmas lineup is stronger this year as well but this is subjective.

Having said that I don't believe the 360 will have a bad sales year for 2008, but I expect the effects to show more and more in 2009. 2008 is probably the peak year for the 360 but it should have at least 2 more main stream years on the market and will have big releases in 2009 and 2010 with a potential successor ready for 2011 along with halo4. 

 

 

Rough cumulative sales for the 360:

2008: 25

2009: 32

2010: 37

2011: 40?

... final total: ~45m

 



Lord_Yggdrassil on 08 October 2008
MorgZ said:
MikeB said:

Various reasons to doubt the long haul sales potential of the 360.

Three most important ones:

1) The 360 will pass the original XBox' install base (premature demise) this year. This in combination with the fact that only Fable 2 remains as a big XBox sequel coming to the 360, the rest are all already released.

one of the best features of the 360 has been new franchises: Gears of War, Mass Effect, Bioshock and its ability to get on board previous playstation exclusives.

2) The 360 sold significantly slower than the PS3 taking equal time frames, despite much lower entry pricing, having months to years of an additional head start in various regions.


3) Microsoft has a very bad reputation in general in most regions (maybe a little less in the UK and US). The 360 is considered to be unreliable faulty by many (RRoD and disc scratching). Microsoft's HD DVD support and sudden demise is viewed by some as a Microsoft defeat. no one can deny the damage of the faulty hardware. seems to have been resolved now but will leave long term mark.

4) The PS3 is starting to demonstrate the worth of its technical abilities vs the 360, developers have truly started to take advantage of Blu-Ray disc and the Cell processor. 360 and multi-platform devs are starting drawn into making more and more technical sacrifices (no default harddrive, 6.8 GB DVD discs, the CPU/GPU are as good as maxed out with the upcoming games).

i dont really agree here. The ps3 hasnt done anything incredible yet. Storage capacity is going to make developers life easier though.


5) Playstation Home add features to the online gaming experience the 360 will not have and this for free. There are a lot of hidden costs to have a basic experience for many people.

still not released.


6) HDMI 1.3 capable HDTVs and 7.1 audio setups are becoming more and more common.
7) For additional promoted services like video downloads (or recordings on the PS3) harddrive storage requirements are growing, while the PS3 is easily and cheaply upgraded, the 360 depends on a small selection of more costly and less capable custom options.

most gamers would agree the 360 should have had mandatory hd, price point though might become increasingly important as businesses tighten up and ensure profitability over market share.


8) Blu-Ray movie sales have multiplied considerably this year compared to last year. (they were rubbish last year so this is a mute point) The same is expected for next year with Christmas adding a lot of PS3s in people's homes this year. It's becoming more an more an all-in-one selling feature for the PS3 as HDTV penetration increases.
9) PlayTV, movie downloads and maybe even PS3 gaming on the go using a PSP, being able to schedule the PS3 with the PSP. The 360 is missing such connectivity and functionality.

Agreed this looks neat.

10) The console isn't very kids friendly due to its reliability issues, it's not friendly towards audio/visual movie lovers, bad quality DVD playback / noisy hardware / no support for Blu-Ray movies / etc. The console mainly appeals to shooter fans, that's not to say the console only has shooters, but the former is true. And exclusive high quality PS3 shooters like Resistance 2 and Killzone 2 may well pull some of this potential user base towards the PS3 (a sort of gaming gerne the PS2 was relatively weak at, unlike the PS3).

The 360 is foremost a console and has a better and more rounded library than the ps3. Few people would disagree about the games library comparison. My personal belief is that the 360 xmas lineup is stronger this year as well but this is subjective.

Having said that I don't believe the 360 will have a bad sales year for 2008, but I expect the effects to show more and more in 2009. 2008 is probably the peak year for the 360 but it should have at least 2 more main stream years on the market and will have big releases in 2009 and 2010 with a potential successor ready for 2011 along with halo4.

 

 

Rough cumulative sales for the 360:

2008: 25

2009: 32

2010: 37

2011: 40?

... final total: ~45m

 

 

That's almost doubel Xbox1. MS would take that right now i think.

And 360 deserves to sell more. It's the best console on the market...and the cheapest lol. But you have to understand PS3 is also the cheapest blu-ray player...



---

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AlexeiYashin on 08 October 2008
Everstar said:
ultimate_123 said:
^ Will it ousell it so much that it'll take back the 1.5 million units?

 

Why not with the lower price and good games it shiuld be able to IMO.

 

 

Umm, PS3 is much more desirable to people than 360. That's why it sells equal or better at more than twice the price.

Three times the price in Europe...

 



Everstar on 08 October 2008
AlexeiYashin said:
Everstar said:
ultimate_123 said:
^ Will it ousell it so much that it'll take back the 1.5 million units?

 

Why not with the lower price and good games it shiuld be able to IMO.

 

 

Umm, PS3 is much more desirable to people than 360. That's why it sells equal or better at more than twice the price.

Three times the price in Europe...

 

Yess and that why it has a 6 million consle lead over the PS3...

 

Yes.... and thats why it



Proud Owner of  a Wii and Xbox 360 and a PS3(When I get the money)

Everstar on 08 October 2008
ultimate_123 said:
Everstar said:
ultimate_123 said:
^ Will it ousell it so much that it'll take back the 1.5 million units?

 

 Why not with the lower price and good games it shiuld be able to IMO.

 

 So you think what the PS3 has been able to do in 9 months is what the 360 will do in 3 months???

 

 

Um... Yeah its called Christmas lol



Proud Owner of  a Wii and Xbox 360 and a PS3(When I get the money)

Jo21 on 08 October 2008

demand for the ps3 is greater.

and at a bigger price ps3 have been outselling the ps3 worldwide by 1.5 millions the whole year.

even at a 200$ price difference the ps3 still giving a good fight.

360 is selling better but the ps3 had a bigger jump in sales.

so a small pricecut would give a bigger effect to the ps3 than the 360.



Everstar on 08 October 2008
Jo21 said:
demand for the ps3 is greater.

and at a bigger price ps3 have been outselling the ps3 worldwide by 1.5 millions the whole year.

even at a 200$ price difference the ps3 still giving a good fight.

360 is selling better but the ps3 had a bigger jump in sales.

so a small pricecut would give a bigger effect to the ps3 than the 360.

Are you kidding me? How can the demand for the PS3 be greater then the 360 if its selling less then 360. BTW the 360 has been having shortages in Japan FFs thats crazy. That just goes to show 360 is in higher demand...

 



Proud Owner of  a Wii and Xbox 360 and a PS3(When I get the money)