Sony has had a dismal start for it’s black beast, the Playstation 3. There’s nothing wrong with the system, the good games are starting to hit the shelves and Sony is doing it’s best to get it in homes for a reasonable price. With all the good comes a heavier evil. The press has slammed the PS3 since it’s launch for Blu-Ray inclusion, multiple SKU’s and high price. The negative printing press hasn’t run out of ink either. With the recent announcement that PS2 backward compatibility will be completely removed from the new 40gb SKU, fans are in an uproar. Shouldn’t they be happy that it’s finally come down to a reasonable $399 in it’s first year?!
With the 2007 Christmas season RIGHT around the corner, analysts are getting ready to predict the future of the big 3. Currently, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is the next gen leader with 11 million plus units sold worldwide. Nintendo’s Wii is right behind the 360 in sales, give or take a few hundred thousand. Sony’s PS3 is currently at 6 million units sold putting it in 3rd place. Instead of waiting for analysts to print their pretentious predictions, I’ll give you 5 reasons why Playstation will come in 3rd this Christmas season.
1. Bad Press
The constant flow of bad press is still flowing and I don’t see it stopping any time soon. It’s gonna take a mega hit like Metal Gear Solid 4 to make everyone forget about all the negative rants that have plagued the internet.
2. Lack of Killer Apps
Now even though I’m writing this, I beg to differ. I still think graphically, titles like Heavenly Sword and even Lair are killer apps. These games however, didn’t move the units or set the world on fire like Halo 3 did. Most of the heavily anticipated PS3 games don’t come out until next year…after the holidays.
3. The 360 & The Wii
People who didn’t get a Wii last year will be looking to buy one this year. That’s a guarantee. I’m one of them. Also, the good news surrounding Halo 3 will still have a resonating effect this Christmas. I can bet that the majority of all 360’s sold this Christmas will have a very high Halo 3 attach rate. The PS3 has a couple of great titles coming out this year with Uncharted: Drakes Fortune, Ratchet and Clank Future and bless it’s soul, Eye Of Judgement. I just don’t think it’s enough to compete.
4. Sony’s Marketing
Sony’s marketing needs some work. They really aren’t pushing their products like they should be. Heavenly Sword, Lair and Warhawk, their 3 big fall titles hardly got any marketing. Yeah, maybe a banner here and there on a website or two, but no great tv ads at all. They shoved Blu-Ray down our throats and for some reason refuse to shove the ads too! Remember that Gears Of War movie theater ad that was out last year? Nuff said.
5. The PS2
While PS2 sales have slowed down, they haven’t ceased. I think Sony’s biggest competition is themselves. If they dropped the PS2 to $99 like I’ve heard, then they will move several of those units this Christmas. I’m willing to bet that they’ll move more PS2’s off the shelves than PS3’s. It’s not a bad thing because the PS2 library is stronger than any game system available right now. Also, the $19.99 bargain bin is a beautiful one. God Of War can be had for that price or lower. It makes for a great Christmas bundle.
So there you have it. Sony has a lot of work to do and I don’t think this Christmas will be the year they shine. Once the must have titles come out next year and they gain some footing, we might see a comeback for the PS3. Just about everything everyone wanted to see this year has been pushed back to 2008, this includes Unreal Tournament 3. I think those guys over at Wii60 had it right. This is waiting.
My goodness man.
Articles like these are why folks are quick to trash this site.
Firstly. . .
“I’ll give you 10 reasons why Playstation will come in 3rd this Christmas season.”
10 reasons?
Where are the other five.
Learn to count asshat. Then learn to proof your articles!
Next. . .
Wii is currently the market leader, not Xbox360. Considering the system has been selling out, consistently since it’s launch; I suspect both Xbox360 and Playstation 3 are in danger this Christmas shopping season.
I’ll be so bold to call it for the Holiday season:
1. Wii
2. DS
3. PS2
4. Xbox360
5. PSP
You can rearrange the first two as you see fit, I’m confident one of Nintendo’s systems will be dominant this Christmas. The bottom three you can mix and match, I’d say it’s likely PSP/PS2 could swap places.
And next. . .
Lair commercial
Heavenly Sword commercial
Sony is advertising, just because you don’t watch enough television to catch it doesn’t mean you cannot go to Youtube to do some research.
It’s also hilarious that you go on to spew the following:
“I still think graphically, titles like Heavenly Sword and even Lair are killer apps. ”
So you admit pretty, shiny is more of an indication of quality than actual good game play. It’s nice that you’ve finally gotten that out of the way.
While I don’t believe the PS3 will fare that well this Christmas, there’s no doubt that as far as PS3 owners and buyers are concerned; Ratchet & Clank will sweep on the PS3. I’m guessing Uncharted may be close behind, or maybe Resistance will see a rise again for Christmas.
Seriously dude, sit down and do some leg work before you run off half cocked.
It would also be interesting if you’d spend less time whacking the PS3 like a pinata and cover the rampant Xbox360 hardware failures, or perhaps the software line-up going into 2008 which looks a bit anemic compared to PS3.
“I’ll give you 10 reasons why Playstation will come in 3rd this Christmas season.”
ummm you only listed 5….
Thanks for the heads up. It originally started off as 10 but didn’t make sense. I believe that the five listed are the main reasons. People are calling it an Xboxcentric fanboy article but I clearly listed that PS3 will have a comeback next year, Heavenly Sword and Lair are still graphically killer apps and that there’s nothing wrong with the system.
Did your brain Red Ring of Death on the whole math part?
Of course it’s Xbox-centric. Look at the author.
And again – pretty graphics, do not a good game make.
I have a question: Did anyone actually say the PS3 wouldn’t be in third for the Holiday? Seriously, I’d like to know who these people are so I can avoid them in the future. They are clearly insane.
Personally, I think Ratchet and Clank and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune will move more consoles than expected. From what I can see, people still want PS3’s, they just want reasons to spend the money as well. Eye of Judgement will do better than expected, but it won’t do all that well. All in all, these titles aren’t Halo 3 level hype…. but…. then again…. what game is?
I’m sorry but searching the net for Youtube videos isn’t the kind of marketing that’s gonna help Sony sell products. As far as the HS and Lair graphic comments, and I’ll restate what I wrote above, GRAPHICALLY they are killer apps. That means, the graphics in those two games are the type of graphics you would see in a killer app. Again, GRAPHICALLY they are killer apps. Get it?