I don't jump on any bandwagon... I'd just on the Wii is doomed bandwagon the same as I would the PS3 is doomed bandwagon which is to say I won't and will never do that.  >_> You were saying between 5 and 7 million because of some software that isn't that big of a deal in Japan... it'll boost a few weeks of hardware much like I showed you Monster Hunter did for PSP but it didn't push 1 million consoles like you said it gave a boost of 60k which dropped until it was back to normal.

This didn't make sense the first time I heard it and it keeps not making sense. Retailers make most of their money with software and accessories, not with consoles themselves. And if I am a retailer and I want to maximize my profit, I want to maximize the sales of software and accessories.

Today in America, the worst market for PS3, the PS3 sells about 65% of the software of the 360, and 215% of the software of the PS2. The ratio between 360 and PS3 keeps going down, so that 65% is almost certainly going to grow. When next gen consoles come, the greatest part of market share each console will carve its way in initially, will be into their predecessors'. That is, most early buyers of the next xbox will be 360 owners, same with the PS line.

So, let's consider two options, or stages:

a) NextBox comes out, PS4 still not out: Wii,PS2, PS3, 360 and NextBox. Most sales of NextBox and its software carve into the 360 marketshare. To maximize profit it doesn't make sense to remove the PS3 even if it sells only 65% (most likely more) of the 360. By doing so you're entirely losing a big orthogonal software market to make space for two overlapping ones. To maximize profit, it's better to make space for the NextBox by reducing the 360 and cutting the PS2.

b) Both NextBox and PS4 are out: Wii, PS2(?), PS3, PS4, 360 and NextBox. The PS2 might be discontinued or it sells a small fraction of PS3's software, thus it can be removed. The sales of PS4 games and accessories mostly cut into the PS3 ones. To maximize sales: PS3 makes space for PS4 as PS2 did for PS3, 360 makes space for NextBox.

This is what a rational retailer would do, simply based on the software/accessories markets.

Plus there's the simple fact that most electronic goods retailers would receive pressure by Sony anyway to leave a fair space for their products, leveraging their weight as big suppliers of TVs, computers, and other electronic.

Every reasoning of "retailers will cut the PS3 if it is in third place" sounds only wishful thinking of someone too fixated with the "console wars", not rational. You're welcome to answer with a detailed rebuttal.

@Werekitten - I don't subscribe to the PS3 being at any risk anymore as it's more than sold enough to be sustainable now, but you must have seen some shrinkage of it's self shelf space in the last 6 months or so surely?

I think this is the crux of what many people are basing their thoughts on is that already retailers have started to act against the PS3 by no longer giving it the blockbuster marketing space it once owned. In my local game stores it's now even on shelf space for 360 and Wii and the PS3 is half to two thirds of them.

^I can't say I have been witness to such shrinkage, but that's because here in Italy the PS3 sells slightly more hardware and software than the 360. That said, I am sure that reducing its shelf space to two thirds of the other two consoles makes sense in America for many retailers, as I said it's selling about 65% of the 360's software.

It's the whole "it's last in the console war thus we'll forfeit a sure 20% of our home console profit to make space for the NextBox" idea that I have troubles finding appropriate for a rational retailer.

Really?  Let me quote myself from this very thread.

"I don't see how people think that the PS3 will make it to 10 years. Maybe this will put it into perspective.

The PS2 was a monster during its generation. It was the top selling console by far. Even with all of that momentum, the PS2 is having trouble making it to 10 years. Hardly anyone talks about it anymore, its shelf space is getting smaller and smaller, and it has very few big games coming out. To actually make it to 10 years old, it will have to continue to October 2010 in North America. The PS2 is already a hollow shell of its former self, what will it look like in another one and a half years?

How is a third place console, with much less momentum, going to make it 10 years?"

FOR GODS SAKE FINAL FANTASY IS SOOO OLD! It may sell pretty well in Japan but it's no where near the monster now as it was 10 years ago. I am sick of hearing about Final Fantasy! This game is going to sell pretty well but not stellar it has been talked about way too much by PS3 owners and ther overhyping, when it comes out it will be "well it's ok didnt realise how old the game had become"

       Monster Hunter Freedom Unite moved several million units in Japan and for longer than a one week period.  Freedom Unite which is still selling PSPs and Crisis Core were the big reasons PSP came back to life in Japan last year and pretty much beat both the DS and Wii in Japan last year until DSi was released and yet the PSP continues to sell far more consoles each week in Japan than does the Wii because of the Monster Hunter Freedom Unite effect.

     Also, I didn't see you agree to put your money where your mouth is on the topic, so I suggest you just step off.

     Final Fantasy is no older than Dragon Warrior, Zelda, or Mario, yet you people expect those games to sell millions on Wii.

Hey Skeeuk, it's nice to see you refuse bullcrap in such a strong fashion.

So, next time someone with a ps3 sig posts bullcrap from crappy blogs just to flame on the 360 and its owners can I expect your support?

ps3 sales are dropping a lot... If it can't hold a pace now, then why do you people think it will last till 2016?

@rattlesnake: Because those games actually do sell millions all the time? Mario is a lot bigger then final fantasy...

Once the nex xbox and nintendo console come out, the ps3 will be dead.