BusinessWeek interviews Simon Jeffery, chief operating officer at Sega of America, about the console transition and gamers' plans to upgrade hardware. Jeffery offers insight into Sega's thought process; he expects the PS2 to continue to sell well for at least another year.Jeffery says that retailers have forced the GameCube and Xbox off shelves to make more room for the new hardware. However, he hasn't seen -- and doesn't anticipate -- the same fate for the PS2; the company will still release occasional PS2 games, although Jeffery says they'll be ports from the newest hardware.
Who's buying PS2s? Jeffery thinks they're secondary systems for PS3 and Xbox 360 owners, and the Wii may be competing directly with the PS2. But we wonder how many of those PS2 sales are by gamers who can't afford -- or find -- a PS3.
See also: PS2 to outsell newer consoles through next year?













(Page 1) Reader Comments
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people are buying ps2 because it is cheap and has the most games. if anything wii is poised to take the ps2's place as it eventually fades.
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The PS2 still has more games than all 3 next gen systems combined. Even the Wii really only has 2 good games (Zedla and Wii sports), 360 has a few (Dead Rising, Saints Row, Gears, etc) and PS3 has one (Resistance). So why buy an expensive new system with only afew good games when you can get a PS2 that has hundreds?
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I'm likely to get a PS2 in the next year. As an almost life-long PC gamer (got a SNES as a gift at six), I've found that every non-PC game that's gotten real critical hype is either emulable or available on the PS2 (Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Katamari Damacy, Okami, Final Fantasy XII, Devil May Cry, etc). For those like me, it is down to the PS2 and the Wii, with the former winning only because of its catalog and price.
I'd consider waiting for a PS3 price drop, but it's games are nothing special and it has inferior backward compatibility so far (says you). One reason I've stayed with PC gaming so long is the backward-compatibility-with-performance-upgrades factor.
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Nintendo's gamble isn't about gamers, it's about the kids once again.
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Me. My original died in fall 2005 and I figured I'd wait 6 months and just get a PS3 in March... A year later that $129 price tag and lackluster PS3($499+) lineup pushed me over the edge.
I've already picked up SotC, Katamari 2, Guitar Hero, Okami, Bully and FF XII.
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Nintendo's gamble isn't about gamers, it's about the kids once again."-Vince
I think Vince is right, I mean look at the kid games the DS has. The Wii is basically following in the footstep of the DS. Did you ever look at the DS sales? ITS HORRIBLE! Only a mere 21 million units in 2 years.
*scoff* Wii is going to fail.
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It really is just a gateway for the uninformed, we can tolerate them joining in, but they ain't gonna sit at my table giving it all that.
Don't let my mum become a gamer!
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Tell that the the average "current" gamer. Most gamers in the current generation I've talked with have expressed more interest about the Wii than any other current gen system. Just because it's revolutionary (yes, I said it) and appeals to all crowds doesn't mean it's "kiddie".
As for the PS2, I bought one myself this past year to take to school and haven't been disappointed. Graphics aren't outdated yet, wide selection of games, tested system, it's pretty much guaranteed.
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Wii is a gimmick. It was a cheap Christmas gift for people to buy this holiday. Got hyped by the media and more importantly, has been bought out by all the little nintendo fans out there.
Everyone is fooled if they think casuals are really excited about the Wii. It was launch, it was the holiday, it was a cheap price. Lets see Wii sales in 2007 as PS3 launches in Europe, as Xbox 360 and PS3 both release their blockbuster titles, and as the Wii launch hype dies.
Next year the PS3 and Xbox 360 will both be down in price and have far more games, far more 3rd party support, and as a result, pretty much dominate Wii in every manner.
Sorry Internet Nintendo fans, but your Nintendo Wiis only support.
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At this point I could buy a PS3 or an Xbox360. One of the few games I wanted for the original Xbox, Panzer Dragoon Orta, isn't backwards compatible, but I suspect that Konami will continue to port Silent Hill games on the Xbox so that gives it a few extra points. I can not think of a single PS3 games I want to play that won't be available for the 360, so...
However, chances are high that I won't even buy a 360 for a long time with all these other games I haven't play yet. But if I didn't have a PS2 I would definantly be getting one, since by now it's a pretty awesome deal.
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My "entertainment center" is constructed in a way that it no longer works for wired controllers...therefore my (third) PS2 is essentially dead to me.
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or u fuckin retarded or just a idiot... u can tell a lil fanboy.. in case u havent heard.. the ds is over the 30 million mark in 2 years and is said to be one of the fastest sellin vidoe game systems in the world... if u want to make fun of a system make fun of the piece of shit psp dat has sold UNDER 20 million u dumb ass.. and the wii lets not even talk about all the rpg's and good games they got comin out.. just u wait.. the future is wii60 baby... come over to the light.. lol
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I hear the backstreet boys sold a lot of records, are they your favorite band?
Honda Civics sell pretty well does that make then the best car?
You guys are crazy.
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That's a REALLY bad example.
10+ years between any major issues constitutes a "best" car to me.
If sales numbers are now your thing, then how about reports of replacements/class action lawsuits. In both cases Nintendo systems come out ahead.
(Personally I lucked out with my 360 and have had THREE PS2s die on me. The classaction suit didn't make any of it feel any better. My XBOX motherboard died and both of my PSPs have tons of dead pixels.
On the other hand, all seven of my nintendo systems are still working without a single problem.....just saying....)
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You said
How come the mark of a good console to Nintendo fan boys is always how many units they have sold?
I could say the same thing about Sony Fan boys
See PS2 Vs Gamecube discussions
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Thanks.
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I got a 360 at launch, and got the red ring of Death. MS shipped me a replacement console, we'll call it 360 #2. Then, when Oblivion came out, the damn thing would lock up whenever it wanted to. Got that one replaced, so now I have 360 #3. I have not paid to replace them, but if this one breaks in less than a year then its over for me and Microsoft. And I never said Nintendo is childish, but I do agree that they know where their main market is.All these companies want to build a foundation of gamers. Nintendo caters hard to young gamers, hoping that as they grow up they will continue to want nintendo systems. Most of us older gamers grew up on Nintendo, hence the constant sequels and long life of Mario, Link, Donkey Kong, and others. How many Wii owners are begging for a new Super Smash Bros to come out? Sony is the same way. My brother grew up with Sony consoles, and he says they have not let him down with the PS1 and PS2, so why quit on them now? He is smarter than I am by not reading all the fanboy hype or hate about the consoles, he just plays the games he likes. As for attracting adults to games, I applaud what Nintendo has been able to do. My only concern is that even though the non gamers are loving the Wii, will they play it on their own when gamers are not around, and will they buy games on their on. My friends dad has one of those 26 or whatever games in a joystick that hooks to the tv, and he loved it when got a while back. But now its in a closet somewhere collecting dust. But maybe Nintendo will be able to break thru and keep him gaming without me and my friend being there. We will see. Play what you like and stop bashing!
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#40: Since the demo units are trapped behind plexiglass the heat up in a way that no normal running of the unit should ever allow. Hence they get hotter than the unit ever will in the home.
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with that said, its sad that even demo kiosks are crashing. also, there arent millions of units in homes for us to know specifically the number of faulty units.
i am on my first xbox 360, november 16th,2005 and as are a number of people i know. everyone else who has bought their unit throughout 2006 hasnt had a problem either. so to be honest, i dunno where half of these stories come from because i have had a perfect experience with my console.
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Huh? By most measures, Honda Civics are one of the best cars. They're reliable, get great safety ratings, are made relatively well and offer great bang for the buck. They generally stack up extremely favorably when compared to Detroit, Toyota or VW's cheaper cars. Why pick on the Civic when you could more easily go after the New Beatle or the Chevy Cavalier? Or are you just picking on it b/c it's not a Ferrari. If I had the money, I'd buy a Civic over a Ferrari and use the Ferrari money for more important things. But that's just me.
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