Online retailer says PS3 is 'most pre-ordered console yet'

by Ludwig Kietzmann on Feb 16th 2007 9:00AM

According to a Gamesindustry.biz article, the UK's online retailer, Play.com, is currently taking six times more PlayStation 3 pre-orders than it did for the Xbox 360 and 15 times more than it did for the Nintendo Wii. The retailer offers a £524.99 console bundle that includes Motorstorm, Genji 2 and Resistance: Fall of Man. Sony adds that, "Woolworths, Amazon and Play, to name a few, are reporting record breaking pre-orders and an overwhelming demand for PS3."

Though this record pre-order pace is somewhat misleading when taking into account the stock shortages experienced by both the Wii and Xbox 360 -- being allocated more units obviously means you can accept more pre-orders -- the truly good news here is intended for consumers. With Sony promising one million PS3 units for the European launch and retailers accepting a greater number of pre-orders, gamers that want a system on day one (and can tolerate bundle deals) stand a good chance of avoiding the usual frustration that accompanies supply issues. Not to mention the fact that the added wait until March 23 has, at the very least, provided some consolation in the form a much better selection of launch titles.

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[Thanks, Keith.]

Source

Tags: Euro PS3, EuroPs3, PS3, PS3 launch, Ps3Launch

Reader Comments (53)

It is misleading. PS3 has had the most anticipation of any system to date (which led to some being jaded, realizing the pricetag and the x-mas shortage). No one really thought the Wii would be the invisible system that it has been at stores. It was hyped with 4 million actually being available, meaning no reason to pre-order. As for the 360? There really wasn't any huge hype around its release. It more or less appeared and became available.

I think the story makes sense, no surprises in it for me.

I don't know any people who want a PS3 let alone someone who has actually pre-ordered!

DANGER, DANGER, WILL ROBINSON Here come the fanboys!!
Hmmm, how long before the Sony-haters put their "creative" spin on this?

Island Life:

There you go. Look above you.

Srange then that it is still available at Play.com even now.

And Amazon
And Game
And Gamestation
And Argos
And Woolworths

(HMV and Virgin are yet to start their pre orders)

Good for sony! Maybe this will start making PS3 a real contender finally and they'll start ACTUALLY giving us a reason to buy it

@bootsielon

Yup, that's exactly what I mean. *Sigh* So much hate. Where's the love people, where...is...the love.

Launches are misleading. Most systems have successful launches and sell out whatever they offer. The really interesting thing will be to see how sales make pace after the system is readily avaiable in stores for purchase.

HMV and Virgin already start on pre-order for PS3 as I went Oxford Street and High Wycombe yesterday.

Lets see how many of these end up on Ebay.

A friend of mine has preordered 3 of the things, all for Ebay.

Pure speculation: what if the territories are split?

What if Wii dominates Japan, 360 dominates N. America, and PS3 dominates Europe?

What if? What kind of market would that create? Would exclusives be determined by regional niche? Would this settle into a pattern?

Again, absolutely *no* reason to believe this is how things are gonna play out, but it's fun to speculate.

iceatcs, really? Virgin never take pre-orders.

This is strange. Very strange. I bought ExciteBike and a couple of classic Mega Drive carts today and the Gamestation guy (mate of mine) said they haven't taken a single PS3 pre-order.

Whats also worth noting is that play.com have had been offering PS3 pre-orders for over a year.

Even funnier (for the PS3 preorder people), I placed my Play.com preorder on my Wii just 1 week after they started taking them. I didn't have the unit a month after launch and they said "it will take a couple of months".
So, regardless of anything, I really do wish people who have placed pre-orders all the luck in the world. You are going to need it if you expect to get a system before Summer.

If this is true, it's hilarious, because Play.com infamously overbooked pre-orders for the Xbox 360 and Wii. It took several months for them to actually fill all their 360 pre-orders and people are still waiting for Wiis from them. I thought they would've learned but if they've really taken fifteen times as many pre-orders as they did for the Wii, there are going to be tens of thousands of dissapointed people come the end of March.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

Same thing happened to me anyway, I went to Woolworth for preorder Wii but I was surprise that they told me that I am first person order in this store when that day was 4 days before launch day.

One shop means nothing. So it is all about national not compare on your local shops.

I dont understand why Sony is so popular here in the UK... is it something to do with it having the most dysfunctional families in the first world?

P.s. that last statistic is true according to BBC news 2 days aho

Its not blind sony hate (though I do hate sony), but its true to say that the anticipation for PS3 is higher than it *was* for Wii in the UK. Nobody knew what the wii was until it was here, and even then people were taken by suprise. The point being, now wii is becoming an established product, anticipation of the famous ps3 does not, by a long shot, mean that it will outsell wii. In fact, I thnk the cances of that happening are slim to none.

Would help that prediction tho if nintendo would get some in stores!

Like the artical said, it's hard to judge the figures because the Playstation will not have the supply problems the Wii and 360 had (after 4 months it better bloody not do). However, never underestimate the power of a brand name. For every PS3 basher on the internet there are 10 "Joe-six-packs" that are not really gamers. They know of Playsation. They can count to 3 (so 3 is better then 2) and they know they can play their bloody awful EA sports games on it. Same goes with kids. They have a Playstation 2. They like their PS2 can just about count to 3. Daddy will have a hard time telling a kid that the cheaper system is better (tho in the end, the price might mean "You get a Wii/360 or NOTHING") Success in this business isn't determined by gamers and fan-boys. It's determined by the great unwashed that know nothing of core processors or great games. Give Joe-f**k-wit the choice between Half-Life 2, Oblivion or Fifa '07 (replace with dumb American football title for the US), guess which one they will pick. THEY control the destiny of the industry.

Depressing, isn't it?

#7

"Yup, that's exactly what I mean. *Sigh* So much hate. Where's the love people, where...is...the love."

If you're expecting a barrage of people to use the word 'love' and 'Sony' in the same in the sentence, you're either new to this, or delusional.

Yeah I know Virgin don't have online ready yet but the stores. I have ask them the reasons but they told me not sure but could because of problem online stocking with 360 and other systems on their launch day.

One word.

Two syllables.

One capital letter, and note even at the front of the word.

...........eBay.............

not*

Christ, I need my coffee

Nah... We british ain't stupid enough doing on eBay because we will know going loss profit.
I mean UK is the highest price in the europe, who are we going to sell to?

hmm, this seems a lot like the us launch... how is that going?

This is VERY misleading if you look further into the details, however i do belive play.com's Ps3 "Bundle" is better value than it's wii or xbox360 "Bundle" equivilent. You get some top ps3 games and i think thier even throwing in the HD Cable.

So is this Ps3 bundle better six times more better value than the Xbox360 bundle? Who knows, but when you delay a console as much as thge ps3 has been delayed i guess you got to make up for it somehow.

Plus they have a honking big advert on thier site for the ps3, which i don't remeber seeing an xbox or wii version of that, however like the article says thats probably due to console rashioning due to the incrediable demand of the other consoles.

and it only took 3 comments for the word fanboy to creep into THIS article. anyone who uses that, n00b, and pwned should be shot.

I have a very hard time believing this is due to eBay. eBay prices for the PS3 tanked fast in N. America. Plus, as #19 pointed out, the European PS3 is already selling for much higher than the other markets.

If this is true (consider the source), why are Europeans bailing Sony out of a hole after the way they're treated? Even if I had originally planned one of these over-hyped and under-performing machines, having been placed on the 6 month waiting list YET AGAIN by Sony, I'd have told them to stick the console up their arse.

I guess some people just keep coming back for more... lapping it up like some kinda dumb animal.

When the PSP2 and PS4 come out Europe will be paying more and waiting longer AGAIN, and you fools will STILL be queuing up to buy.

No wonder Sony treats you with such contempt.

These things are sitting in dusty piles in US stores. Why would anybody lock in to pre-order a system that doesn't have a lot going for it currently? I guess people on the continent didn't learn much from the US PS3 launch. There's no need to camp out in sub freezing temps, risking gunshot or other bodily harm for the PS3, particularly at those prices! Just wait until some better games emerge and the inevitable price drops occur. You're not missing anything for now, really.

*shoots biggen, for using all 3*

I tried to preorder a ps3 to sell on ebay. By the time mine came in it wasnt worth anything, so I used the deposit to get a 360 game at gamestop.

Well, they've had more time to pre-order, right?

The problem is that consumers a lot stupider in the UK compared to the US. Americans see the price tag and say, why is it so expensive? British consumers see the PS3 and think, I have to much money on my hands, I think I'll get it.

Sony also has a much more respected brand image in the UK, since our media obviously didn't cover the US launch messup.

i'm glad at least you got the joke Crono ;D

Play have said it's only taking pre orders for the PS3's it's been allocated.

Wonder how much truth there is in that or if they'll come out saying "Sony cut our allocation" lol

Oh and I will get one just not sure when.

Give them enough time and the PS3 will be the most returned console as well.

~HotShotX

Brand loyalty goes a long way in the UK

All of my Nintendo bias aside, it always comes down to the games.

You can't forget is that Europe is getting a MUCH wider selection of games than other regions had to start with, and 6 months is plenty of time to iron any bugs the PS3 may-or-may-not have had.

Wow. cool.

It's due to the fact that they have more available than the Wii or 360 did. MS and Nintendo had release in US, Japan and Europe so there were not enough to go around.

Since the PS3 is not flying off shelves in the US or Japan right now, Sony is able to allocate a cool mil of the things.

Mmmmm, so let's think about this. Poor sales + 6 month later arrival = more consoles to pre-order. It's not f*cking rocket science people.

Nothing to see here, move along.

I'm American living in ht UK.I'll say one thing, they love their Sony over here. Everything is PS3 and Blu-Ray. They don't even mention HD-DVD when talking about next gen video. EVERYBODY is "waiting for the PS3". They'll pay for it too, they're used to getting reamed on price, it's like that for everthing. I don't know why, maybe it's because of Rockstar Games but these Brits love Sony and Playstation and they will have a WAY better launch in UK and Europe.

I pre-orderd my PS3 right after E3. When it got pushed back they called and offered me a Wii pre-order. I didn't take it. I might not take ny PS3 one either. IT depends on what games are out.

I'm not sure about this article at all. We at GAME have been taking orders for the past week or so, and at our store it has peaked at around the 70 mark... to put that into perspective, we took nearly 100 XBox 360 orders, and over 130 Wii orders...

would someone explain to me why the delay was a bad thing? they're getting a better tuned system, a better Blu-Ray pack-in, Singstar, and a lot more games... if they anything, they should have just delayed the entire launch.

Well one the Brittish launch has a great game going for it.

Resistance Fall of man deals with an unstoppable alien menace being well.. stopped by the British.

Even at the end of the game british commandos keep up with the "superhuman" American killing machine.

Nationalism can go a long way to selling a system.

Joystiq, when stating that these would be higher because of more availability of PS3 than 360 or Wii at launch, don't forget that the 360 launch was a disaster specifically because places took long preorder lists and didn't fulfill them until February.

In other words, 360 pre-order numbers probably were not crimped much by the supply issues, only the pre-order delivery rate.

It's sad to see the anti-PS3 crowd jump in here just to put in their two cents about how this means nothing. I'm tired of hearing Xbox 360 people act like the decision they made is the only smart one.

Please find the time to spend playing the console you have and like instead of going out of your way to crap on consoles you don't have and don't like.

Poisoned Al, your words ring true. My friend's boyfriend is a fucktard who blindly loves everything about Sony (I'm not saying I love or hate Sony, it's just that I'm aware of the pros and cons). He refuses to buy anything other than the PS3. He only plays Madden and any other sports title that has a mediocre score. He's too large a dumbass to grasp the challenges awaiting in a game like Prince of Persia, where you have to jump AND attack at the same time. He refuses to even look at a Wii because "it's for girls and fags." I'm not talking about some sixteen year-old, pimply-faced moron here. No, he's twenty-eight and sadly, he's the market.

Yes the Wii Pre-orders were less. Why? They were only up for like a day before Play took them down.

Its all spin

Yes the mainstream(dumb) consumers control everything.
I was talking to someone who just bought a PS3 and he didnt even know what blueray was, but he said he just bought it cause "Sony's the sh*t and Nintendo is for kids.

The circumstances are a bit iffy, but this is potentially good news for the PS3. As a few others have said, though, the real indicator of how the console will fare in Europe comes after the initial launch shipment.

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Online retailer says PS3 is 'most pre-ordered console yet'

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