Photo: Seven PS3s NOT being sold
A unconfirmed photo of seven neatly stacked PS3s allegedly NOT being sold at Best Buy made the front page of Digg yesterday. Yes, so did some guy's nasty case of toe fungus, but the point is that whether justified or not, Sony is still having a difficult time doing anything right in the eyes of consumers, or at least the online crowd it would seem.
You've probably heard by now: Hearsay and outspoken reports suggest that the PS3 is no longer selling out despite its unusually low supply. Maybe, maybe not. We'll have to wait until some official numbers roll in and/or supply increases before determining if, in fact, Sony has a legitimate flaw in their business plan. But until then, what do you feel is the biggest reason for the PlayStation's 3 ongoing funk-o-thon? High price? No must-have games? Brand revolt?
[via Digg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Peter @ Dec 28th 2006 4:15AM
I was at my local Gamestop early today and there were signs up which read "PS3s in Stock!!".
I came back after dinner and the signs were still there. I know its soon after xmas, but still, I would have thought the systems would sell out rather quick when signs are posted.
Insomnia Bob @ Dec 28th 2006 4:18AM
This hardly counts as 'official' confirmation, but I recently went into my local game stop while doing my christmas shopping. This was perhaps a week before the big day, the 18th, I think.
Anyway, I see a sticker on the PS3 demo unit that says "We Have It!". Naturally, I scoffed at the lack of attention they had paid to the unit. I asked if they had any Wii's in, and got this reply:
Nope, but we've got the PS3.
Me: What? You're kidding me.
GS: Nope, we've got 4 in the back. Got em in a few days ago.
And this isn't some middle of nowhere game stop, this is a really busy location. While I'm sure the eventually DID 'sell out' of the PS3, the units arn't moving as fast as you might think. Certainly, not like the Wii, at least from my own experiences. I've been exercizing a lazy kind of attempt to get a Wii since they came out. This basically involves asking if stores have any, and NOT waiting in any lines or getting out of bed before noon.
I haven't seen any Wii's for sale, but on several occasions, I've had the opportunity to buy a PS3. I probably would have for ebay purposes if my bank account was ever above $400.
Marco C Jr @ Dec 28th 2006 4:19AM
It might be bold to say but I doubt its because of the games. Think about it, these are people who buy Madden and WWII game every year so I don't think they can tell a killer app from Superman game. Though obvious reason would be price right?
If this is nation wide then I'm kind of happy about it. Makes it easier for me to get one and PLAY IT (no ebay).
Borman @ Dec 28th 2006 4:21AM
I think its quite easy. People spent their money already.
Aex @ Dec 28th 2006 4:24AM
Broomfield Population: 38272 100.00%
The digg site says it's in Broomfield, Colorado. When some research is done, we find that Broomfield colorado is a bumpkin town with less than 50k people. Now if those 6 ps3s would have been shipped to where I live with a population of 1million, it would have sold out rather quickly.
BUT ZOMG!! 7 PS3 NOT SELLING OUT THE INSTANT THEY ARE STOCKED IN A SMALL TOWN! NEWS!
I'm not even plannin on getting a ps3 anytime soon but this shit is getting old. OK WE GET IT! YOU HATE SONY! Give it a rest.
Tamago @ Dec 28th 2006 4:25AM
I think i'm getting dumber coming here.
Contrary to popular belief good do not just dissappear the moment they come into existence at a bestbuy. Because there are consoles for sale does not somehow indicate units are not being sold. The initial rush is over. Christmas just finished. People have bills to pay.
syco @ Dec 28th 2006 4:30AM
If you think a town of over 50,000 is bumpkin then you fail to realize where the vast majority of people live. Most people live in suburbs and rural areas, because while the density is lower, there's more area. The last three towns I lived in before I moved to Seattle were population 1900, 9000, and 6000.
Most people live in towns with less than 10,000 people.
Skyler Jermyn @ Dec 28th 2006 4:32AM
Look, I'm a Nintendo fan, and even I was skeptical of all these reports of Ps3s not selling. But last week I was being rung up at Toys R Us and joked "And I'll take 2 PS3s." The joke was on me because they said they had 3 in the back, and they eagerly tried to unload one on me. Apparently, they had received 25 wiis and 8 PS3s that morning. They said that the Wii sold out within two hours, but still had 3 PS3s left by the time I got there....which was 7 at night.
And there you go, a little nugget of console wars sales information coming from New Jersey. Take it or leave it.
Auker @ Dec 28th 2006 4:38AM
I work at a Gamecrazy and we've had two 20 Gig PS3's for a week now. Last Friday, we got 6 60 gig PS3's and they sold out in an hour. It would appear that nobody likes the 20 gigs, but the 60's are selling quite fast. I'd imagine most early adoptors of a console this expensive would want to sell out the extra hundred for the "premium" edition.
Matt @ Dec 28th 2006 4:41AM
#5:
Your "omg ship them to my city of 1 million people" comment would hold more weight if the United States had more than a mere NINE cities with 1,000,000+ residents. QFT. THX. Wow, sad. :)
Aex @ Dec 28th 2006 4:42AM
So... because most people live in small towns... it doesn't make the town small? I fail to see your logic here syco. Maybe bumpkin was too strong a word for less than 50k people in a town, but when even the small "suburbs" and "rural" areas around my city have a population of 150k. I'm sure you can see where I'm coming from.
Where do you get the statement "Most" people live in towns with less than 10,000 people. Last I checked the most populated states had tons of people crammed together around a couple large cities. So, I'd very much like to see the proof behind the "facts" you are pulling out of your ass.
Matt @ Dec 28th 2006 4:43AM
I run an EB in a city of roughly 75,000 with an additional 50,000 or so within a 10 minute drive (one of the larger cities in the area, basically) and we've had two 60GB PS3's since December 21st now. To be honest, nobody's ever really ASKED about them (the PS3) at all compared to the Wii.
20-30 Wii calls per day > ~1 PS3 call per... few days.
waywatcher @ Dec 28th 2006 4:47AM
stories like this are getting so tired. In reality it is not even a story. Sony has done plenty wrong with the launch, pre launch and so on. Its been covered. Rehash and ZOMG playstations are not selling serves no purpose other than to meet a story quota. Give it a rest.
Dark-Pen @ Dec 28th 2006 4:50AM
i say lack of must-have games
Matt @ Dec 28th 2006 4:51AM
#11
Again, wow.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html = 9 cities with a seven figure plus population.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108676.html = a few hundred cities in all of the United States with more than 100,000 population.
Now if you consider there are a little over 300,000,000 people living in the United States, and roughly 75 of those 300 million are living in large rural areas, you have 225 million people who are living in what I would imagine are hundreds of thousands of small towns throughout the country.
The idea that the average town size is 10,000-25,000 isn't terrible crazy, at least to me. Perhaps I should "omg move out of the bumpkin city of 71,000 that is Appleton, Wisconsin" and move into a "real" city like New York, eh? Stop talking. Thanks.
jesus_bon_jovi @ Dec 28th 2006 4:53AM
I work at a Gamestop and when our store has received PS3s they sit there for atleast 2 days. People just dont seem to ask for them any more. We would get many calls for Wiis but after a while we just dont really get asked for PS3s. i dont know if its because people dont want them / cant afford them or just dont think they would be in stock. Also we are not allowed to make signs of the systems we have or dont have in stock or allowed to release any estimate of how many systems we have... some of that has to do with the amount of armed robberies that have been occurring in surrounding Gamestops.....
Rubang @ Dec 28th 2006 4:56AM
On Christmas Eve at 3 pm I went to a GameStop. It was packed. People were buying DS's by the dozen, PS2s, X-Box 360s, used Game Boy games, everything. Guy walks in with a PS3, Resistance, and a receipt. He says he's returning it. Everybody in the store, employees and customers, all start laughing. Everybody laughed but the guy returning the PS3. It was surreal. It was like a sitcom, and we were the laughtrack, and the joke was on Sony.
Chronos_777 @ Dec 28th 2006 5:01AM
Well, i live in Layton Utah with an Estimated population in July 2005: 61,782, according to http://www.city-data.com. We have two Gamestops, one Gamecrazy, Wal-mart and such. On Thursday December 21st, I stopped by my local Gamestop and did some Christmas shopping. It was close to closing time, and 4 people ended up lining up that night to sleep out to see if the store would get any Wiis the next morning. While talking with the employees of the store, they told me they had 3 60 GB PS3s in the back waiting to be sold. I haven't check since, but I would bet that they have sold by now. The only thing is, I really do believe that things are slowing down for the PS3 and that the analyst who said that PS3 shortages would continue until June, will be proven wrong (or I could be, only time will tell). I want a PS3, but I won't spend more $600 for it. I think that that price was a blunder on Sony's part, and I wonder if their third party support will keep them afloat.
crym fytr @ Dec 28th 2006 5:04AM
Adding to the ZOMGness, I saw a 60GB in Target and a 20GB in Wal-mart in Athens GA yesterday. This is what I would call a large college town, but the students likely have not returned from break, so what may seem like a lack of interest may only be a temporary lack of exposure.
On another note, my grandfather scored a 60GB bundle when he walked into Costco one morning and they had 7 of them. I told him to take it back since there was no way he could reap a whirlwind of profits now (he was intending to sell it on Craigslist) so he should just let somebody else get it.
Nathan @ Dec 28th 2006 5:16AM
Holy shit! I'M from Appleton, WI!
The PS3 fails at everything it does...except for one. Being Japanese...which is why it won't fail miserably. Because nobody in Japan owns a 360.
Aex @ Dec 28th 2006 5:20AM
Matt,
I was wrong and I mistated some of my crucial points. From looking at your numbers, my city isn't over 1,000,000. I was confused by the difference between a "City" and a "Metropolitan Area." When I would type in the "City" population, I would find a source for the "Area" population. This is completely my mistake.
Appleton, WI : Metropolitan Area of 200k Ranked 191
None of my previous points hold any value at all in this light. Broomfield county is listed in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area of 2.2m Ranked 22. Which even passes my Area by a small amount.
I guess everything we read on the internet must be true. The ps3 demand is gone. 7 ps3s sitting in a best buy is the end for Sony! Oh, lets not forget about the 2 at your store. Either way, this isn't news, and it is getting tiring.
It's not a secret that Sony botched the price point completely. I know I wouldn't buy one until the price drops, but I still find it hard to believe that the demand is gone or as low as everyone seems to be claiming it is. A picture of 7 ps3s sitting in a best buy is "OBVIOUS" proof that ps3s will stop selling completely until a price drop. I guess we'll see in a few months if all the fanboy's dreams have come true and Sony falls off the face of the Earth.
Amos @ Dec 28th 2006 5:29AM
Lol, sub 50,000 = bumpkin. Spoken like a true city ignorant. Open your eyes, that's a lot of people. A city, yes, city that size will have quite a few businesses and, usually, a steady flow of transactions. Sub 10,000 is getting smaller, likely not a game store in sight, but probably still a wal-mart that'd be sold out it's supply of Ps3s if it's popular.
I live in central IL. Bastions of city-esque places such as Champaign/Urbana, Decatur (uck), Springfield, etc. amid fields and ramtowns with less than a thousand. Get outside more. It'll do you some good.
Amos @ Dec 28th 2006 5:30AM
*fields and farmtowns
Chronos_777 @ Dec 28th 2006 5:41AM
Aex, where do you get the idea that anywhere in this article that it is saying "A picture of 7 ps3s sitting in a best buy is "OBVIOUS" proof that ps3s will stop selling completely until a price drop"? All Joystiq is doing is reporting on a picture that they found while brwosing the internet. There is nothing anti-sony in their writing, just pretty straight forward writing. I mean the writing is on the wall, the demand for the PS3 isn't as high as it is for the Wii.
judith @ Dec 28th 2006 5:41AM
Except that people aren't really making much money anymore off of selling them on Ebay, because no one really wants them anymore.
Scott @ Dec 28th 2006 5:42AM
All I know is that every Circuit City, Best Buy, EB, Target and Wal-Mart in the Upstate NY area is still sold out (I've checked and called). Must be a regional thing to some extent.
Dpfinch @ Dec 28th 2006 5:57AM
Buffalo N.Y. here and even my EB games has has PS3 for almost 2 weeks and i don't know how long they had them before that. They had 7 PS3 around 2 weeks ago and got another shippment in before they sold what they had. As of yesterday the man there said they are back up to 9 PS3 in stock and still ready to sell! Can they make it another week or more before they sell out or is the sell out thing over?
Chris Compton @ Dec 28th 2006 6:16AM
One thing is you will have certain places that keep them longer then others depending on the community so it is not ridiculous to think of this coming up so early. Personally I think this site bringing it up shows what exactly how immature it is. This site is obviously against Sony seeing as most of the articles praise the Wii and dis PS3. I have a PS3 and played the Wii extensively at this point and I will tell you this. The Wii in my opinion is seriously a gimmick I play it for about 10 min and I think this is a joke right and then I figured it out everyone likes it because it makes you look good at gaming. I mean it is seriously no effort to win at any mini game on the system and Zelda is just as easy. Now for the PS3 the sales could also be low because of all the bad press, but it has a very good line up in the future and it should be fine if they can get a price drop by end of next year. The 360 as much as it pains me at this moment is the best buy out there because of titles.
Deth @ Dec 28th 2006 6:25AM
I live in Albuquerque and at the Gamestop I frequent, they have a few in stock. They have had them for about a week now. Their stock of gamecube, gba, ds lite, ps2 and wii were sold out.
The big problem with the ps3 is cost and negative opinions of Sony. Everywhere I go, people rip on the ps3 and praise the wii.
Cheers!
rikitikitik @ Dec 28th 2006 6:26AM
Tell me, will these people complaining that this is old news do the same thing if it was the Wii experiencing the demand drought? Hmm?
lowallyn @ Dec 28th 2006 6:29AM
@insomnia bob
same thing happened to be almost didnt know how many ps3s there were but still no wiis T_T
Insomnia Bob @ Dec 28th 2006 6:43AM
No, #30, you'd have a whole different set of people complaining about how joystiq hates nintendo. :)
I, for one, am sick of people claiming joystiq, or any other news site, has an anti sony bias.
First, I DEFY you to find more 'objective' video game journalism. Most of the magazines are run by, or at the very least heavily influenced by the big 3. Sites like Joystiq enjoy a healthy amount of freedom. They don't have to worry about Sony pulling ad space if they make fun of kaz hirai.
Second, for those of you who rush to defend the PS3, I think you've overlooked a spot in your attempts to bulwark the position of your corporate masters: THE WHOLE GOD DAMN INTERNET.
You think the JS staff fantasizes about the next bit of anti-sony news, waiting with baited breath for the next little tidbit to post on the site? No. The fact is, there's been a LOT of bad Sony news lately. Don't shoot the messenger.
I really don't understand how you mouth-breathers feel you need to come to the rescue of a multi-national corporation. One that couldn't care less about you if you arn't buying their products. A company that has, since the PSP, put out CRAP after CRAP. The occasional redeeming title is no excuse for TWO over priced platforms, both of which try to shove a proprietary media format down your throat. Get over it.
Sony doesn't NEED your help (unless you can put together a nice "All i want for X-mas is a PSP rap". They'll pay you!)
thebes @ Dec 28th 2006 6:45AM
i live in southern california. Until this day, i am yet to see an available PS3. But if you want to hear something truly pathetic, i went to a big best buy and there were 100's of 360s available. They didnt even keep them behind cases, they were there on the open floor. i saw quite a few people leaving with PS2's... i guess the 360 is too expensive too.
ps. got my wii finally! and it rules!!
Dave @ Dec 28th 2006 6:46AM
I just cant wait to see Sony screw us (THE UK) when they launch the PS3 over here.
Hak Foo @ Dec 28th 2006 6:49AM
I would say that Joystiq reports more negative news on PS3 and more positive news on Wii because that is what the entire frickin world is doing! The Wii is on this amazingly popular run where everyone and their grandmother wants one. The PS3 has a game or two worth buying now and nothing in sight for a few months. It is expensive. And most news organizations and people attack it. Many gamers want one (many can't afford one) and a few videophiles on a budget are interested in them.
That being said I absolutely LOVE my Xbox 360 with its fabulous and varied games, great graphics and wonderful Live system.
I really enjoyed my Wii when I first got it and it is still a blast whenever my Wife and I have company. But I just haven't given it much time otherwise. Oh except for the "story" mode in Rayman which I loved and played through.
The PS3 is absolutely awesome. With so few games available I can't say it is better than the 360, but it offers stuff the 360 and Wii can't. Surfing the net from the couch on my 1080p TV is a blast. I hate having to go upstairs to check my email, now I don't have to. I really like the Sony store lineup. Lemmings is fun, Blast Factor (similar to geometry wars) is great, Gran Turismo HD looks great, Cash Guns Chaos is a blast. Resistance is a solid game. Motorstorm demo rocks. Blu-ray DVD's look great.
But I wouldn't have been able to afford the PS3 if I hadn't gotten two at launch and sold one, using the profits to keep the 2nd.
Relating to the article I would say a comination of price and game selection is holding the PS3 back. If the price was lower more people could justify the cash for the small selection of games. If there were more games more people would be willing to shell out the dough.
Just my two pennies...
mesocool @ Dec 28th 2006 7:02AM
Tamago the 'initial' rush was also over for wii and 360 and at least the 360 cant get unless your there within 3 hours of shippment rush lasted until June-July depending on what part of the country you lived
in. And guess what people had to pay bills with those systems also. See the is what niether here nor there reasoning. Before you put a reason forth make sure it does not apply to the 'others' also.
waywatcher stories like THIS have not been covered! This one is the END result of all the fake graphics lies and price that Sony has thrown itself into.
Indianapolis has PS3's availible at all the Gamestop/eb that are within a 20 minute drive of the high end side of town(except any new ones I may not know of). And the walmarts(even in the exspensive side of town) have them in the back. Because during the launch people where trying to boldly steal them! But the point is they are easy to find. Just sitting there! Except for the Wii, and some stores are still
selling quite a few 360's and ps2's
J.Goodwin @ Dec 28th 2006 7:26AM
Sony's official numbers are even more iffy than Microsoft's.
At least Microsoft only reports units as sold when they are a sale to Microsoft (when they are shipped from Microsoft's warehouse to the retailer, i.e. when the title to the goods leaves their posession).
Sony reports them sold as soon as they leave the factory (which is normally a few weeks in advance of when Microsoft reports units sold).
Angel @ Dec 28th 2006 7:35AM
I got a nice chunk of change and gift cards for Best Buy on Xmas and I planned on picking up a 20GB PS3 (mainly to use as a Blu-Ray player and occasionally a gaming machine since I'm very happy with the 360). I called Best Buy and they told me that they didn't have any Wiis, DS Lites, or PS3s. I still went in anyway and there was a big sign on the door stating they had Nintendo Wiis in stock and there was also four PS3s (no 20GBs) sitting on the floor.
I think there are a number of people who are assuming that they don't have them or are even calling like I did and being told the wrong info. I'm probably stopping by Best Buy again today to pick up a Blu-Ray movie and I'll be curious to see if they still have any units left.
Digriz @ Dec 28th 2006 7:37AM
I just sold my Nintendo Wii(just at retail) to someone that really wanted it.. The PS3 has MUCH more wow factor to me. I'm in a million+ city and no one here has the PS3. I just lucked into a shipment at EB of 2 - 60GB units the day after Christmas.
Oh and supporting a Wireless Keyboard and Mouse at 1080p will make a much better browser experience.... Oh and Linux support, also.
Gordon @ Dec 28th 2006 7:38AM
I saw something similar on Friday before Christmas. I was in the store strolling around when I hear "We have a limited number of PS3s in stock" over the speaker. I didn't see anyone trampling anyone to get to a sales person. Later that evening, I stopped in again. This time there was a sign over the demo kiosk "Yes we have PS3s in stock!"
The next morning I stopped in (Yes, I have issues. I like Best Buy :) ) and I heard one sales guy tell another that they had 23 in the afternoon, as of the morning they still had 5 and those were finally sold out by the following evening.
Not exactly SLOW sales but I wouldn't call that a blockbuster hit, either. Then again, come on, at $500 or $600 a pop, what family is going to drop the cash on that when they have gifts to buy for the kids?
Mr BoomStick XL @ Dec 28th 2006 7:40AM
Here's the REAL problem that's going on here, after the DieHard Gamers (Like Myself) and the Sony loyalest get their PS3's who left to buy it?? E-Bay had well over 15,000 of them for sale so the market crashed for sale of the PS3 on E-Bay and now the people will be lucky just to make their moeny back. How much of the markey is left that will spend $651.16 on a PS3 when they can have both a Wii and Xbox 360??
Look if you want to break it down by the numbers then check this out......let's say that the DieHard Gamers make up 25% and the Sony loyalest mke another 35% and this is a REAL strech here, that leaves you with 40% of the market not buying your system!! That's HUGE and Sony's in REAL trouble here!! When a Xbox 360 price drop hits and Nintedo starts coming out with games like they have with the Nintendo DS, Sony will be lucky to come in third this generation!!
Again I do support ALL 3 systems and I did import Motor Storm (Which Kicks Total A$$ by the way!!) but after those two games what does Sony really have coming out in the next 6-8 months??
J.Goodwin @ Dec 28th 2006 7:44AM
Broomfield is in Denver's suburbs. It's no more Bumpkin than Columbine was.
Jeff @ Dec 28th 2006 7:44AM
Couple things here.
First, you *still* can't get a PS3 anywhere in New York. Not that I've found, anyway.
Second, the only online store that seems to have them right now is Wal-Mart.
Third, but most importantly, I think many of you (including Joystiq) are fundamentally misunderstanding the manufacturer/retailer/customer relationship here. Manufacturers produce products, which retailers then put out for sale. The customer then walks into the store and buys them.
Now, if there are no products in the store to buy, the customer cannot buy the product. This is called a "shortage", and it's a *bad* thing whenever one happens. It is not "good business" when you can't keep enough of your product in stores to satisfy demand - by its nature, that means a lot of people are going home empty-handed.
Sony can't win with you guys. First, they don't have enough systems and it's a "botched launch". Then, when seven units are photographed "unsold" (as in, on a shelf in a store, where products are *supposed* to be before they are sold), that means their business plan is "failing".
So does that also mean that the business plans of every other company with products on the shelf at Best Buy is also failing? Because, you know, this is pretty much just the way that people buy stuff.
To sum up - no, you still can't buy PS3's in a lot of places. But even if you could, that would be *a good thing*, both for consumers and for Sony. I don't know where this idea came from that a shortage is supposed to last for the life of a console, but it's not the case. There shouldn't be shortages *at all*. There always are for a little while, but the length of time one lasts should be as short as possible, not as long as possible.
We all used to rejoice whenever shortages ended.
Hoffer @ Dec 28th 2006 7:53AM
It is partially lack of games and price. If the PS3 cost $300-400, people would be buying it to play just one game. People are obviously not willing to pay $500-600.
On a side note, I was at my family's Xmas Monday. My 15 year old cousin brings a videogame console every year. Two years it was the PS2 and the last 2 has been an Xbox. I was curious what his thoughts were on the next gen. He said Xbox 360 all the way. He said his friends all get together and do the system link Halo 2 thing. He said his buddies and himself are all buying a 360 when Halo 3 comes out.
unimental @ Dec 28th 2006 7:55AM
This isn't "news" per se, but it sure is discussion worthy. And since Joystiq is a blog, that seems quite appropriate. We're all gamers here, and the fact that a next-gen heavyweight is available on shelves a little over a month following release is definitely worth talking about. I'm personally shocked that this is happening. I've got four good gaming friends, and the current console tally for us is 5 360s, 2 Wiis, and zero PS3s. Two guys want Wiis but can't find them.
Sam @ Dec 28th 2006 8:00AM
I receantly saw PS3's on the shelf at a CostCo and a Sams club, and contrary to the post directly above mine, seeing a console that was supposedly this hot on the shelf is a major indicator of how Sony's marketing strategy has backfired (My non gamer parents and siblings all laugh when the PS3 picks up a rubix cube and explodes it in those dumb commercials; That's the way to build credibility) At the Xbox 360's launch (which had a ton more units shipped than the PS3) there were no consoles on shelves untill the following February. That means the frenzy on Sony's console has died down a good 2 months earlier than one would have expected. Kudos Sony, with Blu-Ray and UMD you've slowly but surely set yourselves up for another Betamax fiasco.
All said, I bought a PS3 on launch day, Ebayed it, and now I might buy another whenever a game worth my time comes out.
DrXym @ Dec 28th 2006 8:03AM
Think people.
These kinds of stories are utterly moronic. If I went into a supermarket and photographed a shelf of baked beans, would I have proof that they're "not selling"? If I went into a store and took a picture of a pile of Wiis, would that mean that they're not selling?
Utterly ludicrous on all levels.
Metalmurphy @ Dec 28th 2006 8:06AM
I find all these reports of the PS3 beeing doomed and not selling funny when Futureshop got a 1000 PS3s a few days ago and it sold out in a matter of hours. 1000! not 100, not 10.
vidGuy @ Dec 28th 2006 8:18AM
It may not mean much, but there's still about a dozen PS3s sitting on the shelfs in my town of 20,000, split between Walmart and GameStop.
Location, location, but if Sony can't sell to the gamers of a town in which the favorite past times are video games and alcohol, I don't know what's going on.
No PS3 for me until two things happen: 1) Priced under $300, and 2) 3 must have games. I don't buy a console on the strength of ONE game that MIGHT be exclusive.
Moogle @ Dec 28th 2006 8:21AM
Yay! I finally found some reasonable data!
http://www.allcountries.org/uscensus/32_number_and_population_of_metropolitan_areas.html
My problem with Matt's data is that not everyone can live in the city proper. Atlanta is an extreme example (very sprawled, and can't annex surrounding area), but it has a population of under 500,000 but 5,000,000 people live so close that they go to a mall in Atlanta to go shopping. (i.e. shipments of PS3s to there would have 10 times the audience that the straight population data suggests)
In fact the definition of 'metropolitan' is based on distance that allows a less than 1 day trip to the city.
So what that link up there says is that between 70% and 64% of US citizens can go shopping in a city of over 1 million people. (Also it's a bit old - 1998- so the percentage has probably gone up I'd guess)
(to help interpret the different percentages (difference is CSMA vs PSMA), go here: http://www.answers.com/topic/primary-metropolitan-statistical-area-pmsa )