Sony Computer Entertainment Australia executive Michael Ephraim told Gamespot UK that the PlayStation 3 is closing the gap down under, having recently crossed 850,000 units sold. Ephraim believes the system is on track to sell 1 million units before the end of the year, while the Xbox 360 only recently sold 1 million units in both Australia and New Zealand. By contrast, the PSPgo has flown like a stone, selling only 20,000 to 25,000 units in region.
"We've done pretty well considering we launched in March 2007, about a year after the Xbox 360," said Ephraim. "We are clearly on track to break the 1 million mark before the end of this year."
The SCE Australia head also told the Associated Press that now was the time to put to bed the idea that gaming is just for kids. "Gaming has moved on, the choice of content has moved on and I think it is time Australia gets in step with the rest of the world and has an R rating classification," said Ephraim during an announcement yesterday.
"I think it is just giving people choice. You give people choice for movies, books, whatever. Why aren't you giving them choice for gaming,” stressed Ephraim. "The Government needs to move on, to stop thinking that gaming is for kids, gaming has grown up. Eight to 88 (year olds) play games now ... the average age of a gamer is something like 24 years old."
The Australian attorneys-general have been discussing the possibility of adding a new R18+ rating to handle mature content titles. Australia’s Federal Home Affairs group found in a poll that 98.2% of Australians favor the addition of the rating. The country’s lack of R18+ rating has long been a thorn in the side of the gaming industry.
