IndustryGamers - Informing the Games Industry

In the year 2010, why on earth do people still use an under-powered console such as the XBOX360. iPhone games are better.

Feel free to take your trolling elsewhere. We prefer high level discussion on IG.

Does this include all of the units from people that bought replacement 360s after RRODs that weren't covered by warranty? I'm willing to bet that the number is far closer with those removed from the count.

To be sincere James, I do not think it will pass the X360, not bashing the PS3, as I own both consoles, the thing is that by today market standards the top concerns are: 1- American and European market, this is where the core gamers are, Japanese market does not make the quantity of money that the other two do. Obviously MS have the lead in the main core western market. 2- Arcades are dead, we all want to play against each other, in my personal opinion, I don't actually care to pay $60.00 a year for the Xbox Live experience, this is the edge, at the moment, for the MS lead in the market. Again, both consoles have their own AAA and mediocre titles, but I'll give the edge to MS because of the online experience.

Peace.

David, we gotta remember also that the same thing happened in the earlier two console wars, the PS1 was a piece of trash when we talked about hardware, I recall to have bought around 4 of them, Jesus, who did not turned their PS1 upside down?

Ps2 had a lot of flaws too (hardware wise) I had to buy 2 of them.

Still, is a valid point and hopefully James will cover it.

Cheers!

@Rumandcoke (I prefer Jack and Coke, but anyway...) and David, you're right that the number of 360 consoles purchased is probably higher due to the systems breaking down and people buying replacements, but MS of course is never going to tell us how many are purchased again by same person. It's a very difficult statistic to ascertain.

PS3 sells decently in all major markets Xbox only sells well in 2. Kudos to Sony. Who didn't see this coming?

And the double-sale point is moot.

I bought 3 PS2's
2 Xboxes
I never had a problem with my Gamecube.

@ David the number of 360s NOT sold due to the RROD far outweighs the number of units sold because of it. The RROD has scared away a LOT of people from purchasing the Xbox 360.

You should also keep in mind that most people in fact DO NOT buy new 360s when they get RROD, they simply go for the free replacement from Microsoft.

It is however more logical to purchase a new PS3 once they YLOD since Sony charges anywhere from 150 to 200 dollars to repair/replace a PS3.

Since we know PS3 fat failure rates are FAR greater than Sony is letting on, I might argue that a substantial percentage of PS3 sales come from YLOD victims.

@ all: At least decent industry discussion forum, good job.

@ Jon: That is true, the quality of the consoles that Sega and Nintendo made/make were/are flawless.

What about the 1m consols microsoft banned. That would have caused significant duplication of sales.

For the record I only ever had 1 PS1, PS2 and PS3 and they have all been played heaps. The PS2 was played for 50+ per week for about 3-4 years straight (I had no life) and my PS3 is an original launch consol acquired at the midnight launch of the PS3. IMO Sony's AAA games are better than the 360 and it will surpass the 360 in sales with 18-24 months.

Sony is far, far farther behind in North America than anyone thinks.

Check the NPD sales which counts sales AT RETAIL (i.e. machines people have actually purchased, not RROD replacements, etc.)

From November 2006 to September 2010 the 360 has sold 18,944,289. The PS3 has sold 13,467,700, almost 5 and a half million units behind. That is only counting the months where the 360 and PS3 were sold head to head and doesn't even count the year or so that the 360 was on the market selling against the PS2 and Gamecube.

This year alone the 360 has outsold the PS3 3,209,089 to 2,343,500 in North America.

In the 47 months that the 360, PS3 and Wii have all been on sale together, the PS3 came in first place ONCE, September 2009 when the price was cut. Other than that the PS3 has placed 2nd 8 times and in 3rd place 38 times.

The 360 has kicked the Wii out of #1 8 times, placed 2nd 31 times and taken 3rd just 8 times.

In June, July, August and September the 360 not only outsold the PS3, it out sold the Wii as well.

@ jordanlund
There is more to the world than just North America (NA). We are talking world wide sales. MS probably beat Sony with the original xbox in NA because American's favour (this is not a typing error) local made over foreign made more than any other country (except maybe Japan which is not as big a market as NA)

i can say for sure that the yrod has little to no effect on ps3 sales because it hasn't happened to me or anyone i know and ive never heard of it until now. the ONLY thing that the xbox 360 has over the ps3 is a bigger game library otherwise the ps3 is a WAY better console

What is interesting to note is how this "second wave" of motion controllers will fuel sales.
Do you go traditional with the familiar feel of buttons and the wii-like controls? Or completely controller-less with gestures?

As for the whole Xbox live annual cost and free PSN debate, I find it kind of far from the point. Microsoft can offer a superior online service (better voice quality, quicker updates, lock down exclusive content for a small period etc..) simply because the overhead costs are covered or at least reduced thanks to the millions of subscribers.

Sony realizes that even if they are to outsell the Xbox, they need to find a way to actually make money and monetize their consoles beyond the traditional streams of accessories and controllers. Microsoft had this down from the start.

I own both consoles and love that I don't have to pay for PSN (for now) but I'd love to see how much revenue each company is making.

Sony just launched Playstation plus, which offers little added content and service in terms of actual costs to sony and instead generates a new revenue stream. Xbox live is mandatory to play online and thus, a larger set of installed users and a larger stream on income for Microsoft.

Nevertheless, the recent push by developers to develop more multiplatform game will result in twice the revenue they're used to, especially as MS and Sony even out their installed base.

The battle for the next 4 years will be who can attract the "casual" gamer and who can deliver the best content to the user.

Also, If Black Ops is a significant pointer, it notes the huge demographic and installed base gap in the North American market.

I believe it sold 59% on xbox 360 and then %41 spread between PC, PS3 and Wii.

Sony customers seem to have different tastes than Xbox ones?
Or is there someting better about the Xbox live service?
The fact that MS locks down exclusive map packs early?

Odd stuff.

I have to wonder how many PS3s were bought by people who thought they would be backwards compatible with PS2. I am one of the people who bought one for that reason, because my fam and I went through one PS2 and the one we have now barely works half the time. I figured if I bought a PS3 I could still play all my PS2 games and the two PS3 games I got and use my xbox for my xbox games. But then I find out its not backwards compatible, my xbox dies, and I realized I coulda spent the money on a new PS2 and a 360. Now all I have is a sketchy PS2 and a PS3 with two games that I've beaten too many times to play anymore.

Also this could be the reason for the sales of 360. A buddy of mine sold his PS3 and five games for a 360 and two.

And I'm not the only person like this. If you read many gamer forums you'll see that alot of people A) bought PS3s for the reason I did and B) have decided or are thinking about switching to 360. Just something to think about.