Concerning the launch of the PlayStation 3 itself, which is targeted for a worldwide release in mid November, the executive revealed that Sony has not yet begun manufacturing of the next-generation console. However, he did note that “everything's pretty much on track.” and that “...we're internally really getting geared up to go to market with this beautiful console in three months' time, and at this point in time all signs are good to go.”
Digging deeper, and looking at specific quantities that the three separate territories of Japan, North America, and Europe/Australasia can expect to see at launch, Hirai spoke matter of factly, commenting that the company still anticipated shipping 2 million units worldwide by the close of 2006. He noted that while Sony has not come up with a firm allocation yet, he anticipates “less than 700,000 units per territory, per major territory between launch and the end of the year.”
MY THOUGHTS:
With only 2 million PS3's available worldwide until the end of the year, and only 700,000 in the United States, this looks like its going to be a problem for Sony. Nintendo just announced recently that they upped production of the Wii to 5.5 million consoles available to own by the end of the year.
So, in essence the Wii could outsell the Playstation 3 by almost 4 million consoles even if the PS3 sells out; the Wii would have to sell out itself to accomplish this as well. With the price and launch line-up being so much better for the Wii than PS3, I could see it happening and its not out of the question. Sony is getting itself behind early and it looks like Nintendo is going to take full advantage of this.
3 comments:
I think because of the fanbase sony will sell out but I also see the Wii doing the same. However Nintendo seems to be more on the ball when it comes to keeping consoles out there to buy. Look at the ds lite. It had shortages for about three weeks then Nintendo caught back up again. Sony seems to be like xbox when it comes to getting caught up from shortages. The take a little longer. If Nintendo can have consoles to buy while Sony is playing cathc up it will get them ahead. You also have to think that if the Wii has shortage problems at the same time as the ps3 some might just grab a 360 since they are so eay to get on the shelf now. If there is on thing Nintendo knows how to do it is console launches though. They have been at this for a while. The other thing to take into fact is Perlin Kaplin in a you tube video I seen said Nintendo was planning on a worldwide launch. That should be intersting to see how that pans out.
While a good chunk of Sony fanboys are loyal as any other gaming fanbase, they aren't stupid. Alot of Sony fanboys aren't too happy about the current price of the PS3, and do wish to kick Ken Kutaragi in the balls for some of the comments he made.
Sony has an up-hill battle and its all good for Nintendo, at least for this year. It is going to be very interesting to see just how crazy this holiday is for the Wii
Post a Comment