USA Today calls out Sony: 'from top dog to underdog in record time'

by Ross Miller on Mar 20th 2007 4:44PM

USA Today, who purports to have the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, published a story today discussing Sony's fall from an almost monopolistic first place with the PlayStation 2 to less-than-stellar sales with the PlayStation 3.

Drawing from the February NPD figures, writer Mike Snider places Sony in third place with 127,000 in PS3 unit sales, behind home consoles Xbox 360 (228,000) and Nintendo Wii (335,000). This is in addition to anecdotal evidence that the PlayStation 3 is easily available in stores while the Wii is still hard to find. Total Wii sales in the U.S. are estimated to 1.9 million while Sony has 1.1 million.

Newsweek's N'Gai Croal chimes in on reasons for Sony's ranking, including price, software lineup and negative press. Of course, early runnings mean nothing long-term, and the PlayStation 3 could easily pick up steam following release of heavy-hitting games, PS Home and a possible price drop. Still, when you got one of the biggest newspapers giving less-than-complimentary status reports it can't be good for business.

Source

Tags: mainstream, mainstream media, MainstreamMedia, msm, nintendo, npd, PS2, PS3, sony, usa today, UsaToday, Wii

Reader Comments (82)

Perfect end of the day story, wow, what a bang up couple of days for sony...

Sensationalism. It's far too early to count sony out.

*Sony

1) you really had to correct yourself for not capitalizing Sony?

2) 138+ comments confirmed

talk about a bad week for sony, jesus

I don't know why I didn't see this coming.

The days before a European launch, some serious 360 news drops (exclusives jumping ship, New SKU). MS plays dirty!

OMF ANTI-SONY!!!!11one!

The writing's on the wall guys.

And the internet, and in magazines, and in newspapers and in...

Good point Dolla Dolla

I hope it works!

I wonder where all this negative press comes from? I absolutely love mine. It was worth the price. I have not tried all the games, but I love the ones I bought. I've only had it 2 weeks now.
Good thing I didn't listen to all the Sony bashing and made my own choice. A wise choice it was IMO.

only 800,000 less sales than the wii. Thats not to bad, since most people dont have hi def tvs yet. Give it a year, once the home hd market catches up, sonys numbers will grow as well.

I still haven't even seen a Wii box in real life.

@Matt B

It's good that you enjoy your console. If I was interested in Blu-ray, I'd have a PS3, too (20gb, and I'd trade in a PS2 to knock off another 100, especially for the less crippled version 98% BC).

I'm just on the fence right now, with a PSP in one hand, and a DS Lite in my back pocket.

The Joystiq summary is almost as long as the linked to article at USA Today.

The USA Today article is little more than a recap of the sales data.

Plus, they didn't report that %75 of the XBox sales were from red ring of death victims who didn't want to pay the $140 to get a used system after two weeks in transit.

I like to play games from all the consoles because there are fun titles on all of them.

The article doesn't count Sony out at all. It just points out that a console that outsold its two competitors last gen in the USA is being outsold this gen in the same region. It is called a role reversal.

The PS3 is doing fine, despite what I would call a gaming experience that lags considerably behind the 360. I really do think the PS3 is surviving mainly by its Playstation brand name. If the 360 had launched a year late, more expensive, barebones online, equal graphics, and far less console exclusives I don't think anyone would be buying it.

I sure as hell wouldn't be.

I am actually finally thinking about purchasing a PS3. What put me over the edge? It seems that every good new movie release is on Blu-Ray...it sucks, but it's true. I love hi-def movies, and the PS3 is a great machine. I Just Hate Sony.

Doesn't mean I can't enjoy their product, right?

Right?!?

You can't call Sony the underdog yet, that position is still held by Nintendo

lets say this generation resolves itself as i see it (Wii 50%, 360 35%, PS3 15%)

Then you can call them underdogs, but not until

This generation could honestly go in any direction, unlike the last one, where PS2 was almost guaranteed to win (basically, all 4 boxes last gen had the same capabilities, and the one with the most 3rd party support had to win)

I'm more interested in why they're saying MGS 4 is coming out in September and FFXIII is coming out in December.

@16

"Doesn't mean I can't enjoy their product, right?

Right?!?"

Yes, you can enjoy their product.

Just stay in the closet and don't come here unless you want to expose yourself to extreme pressure, fostering buyers remorse and other forms of self-hate. And dont let the spittle from the frothing-at-the-mouth Microsoft fanboys get on you: it's toxic.

Interesting, but how many PS3's were actually *available* for sale during that time period. Kinda hard to sell more units than you've produced right?

Oh, and stop with the Wii being hard to find crap. Maybe they were hard to find during launch, but that was a long time ago. They're sure available in every store I've been to, and I do *a lot* of shopping.

I don't get it, what's the point of this site exactly?

Man, this really isn't Sony's week.

lol @RD

Hey man, more power to ya. If Blu-ray is your choice, then the PS3 is a no-brainer. Cheapest and best player on the market. And it plays games, too!

I wouldn't call a bully down on his luck "an underdog".

Maybe if they met a teacher that really cared and that the bully began to change his life for the better by leaving the gang, dropping drugs, and studying harder, then who knows, we may have a story any teen drama would treasure!

"Oh, and stop with the Wii being hard to find crap. Maybe they were hard to find during launch, but that was a long time ago. They're sure available in every store I've been to, and I do *a lot* of shopping."

So if you supposedly see it, they must be sitting on shelves at every store across the country, right?

I have only seen them on shelves twice, once they were just loading them into the display case, and once there was only one in the case. I don't know about the latter, but I know the former when I went back to the vg section before leaving the store an hour later, there was none yet again.

Another week, another new Sony fanboy comes out of the woodwork to embarass other people who like Sony but don't feel the need to FUD up the comments section of every Joystiq post.

Looks at CW...

"Plus, they didn't report that %75 of the XBox sales were from red ring of death victims who didn't want to pay the $140 to get a used system after two weeks in transit."
-CW

I guess we know who the master of pulling facts out of their ass is.

So 75% of 360 sales. So if you round the total 360s sold to around 10mil, that means 2.5 million people bought a 360, and bought 3 new ones (on average). So assuming there are 2.5mil working 360s out there, please explain....

1.Gears of War passed 3mil sold a while ago. Why would 500,000+ people buy a second copy?
2. The awsome attachment rate. In october last year, the attach rate of games for the 360 was at 5. That means each of those 2.5mil people had an average of 20 games each.
3. So if your ps3 broke, you would pay sony another $600 for a new one to stick it to them, instead of just paying $100-$200 for your old one to be fixed? You are sure showing them. lol.
4. So every person who bought a xbox 360 spent an average of $1200 for just the console?

You are a retard. Never type anything again.

Aw, crap. How did that happen. I meant to confirm a different post. Frell.

@JodyAnthony, #4: Yes.

@Matt B, #9: It comes from a lot of things. I'd say it's primarily rooted in the price: most people aren't willing to pay $600 for a video game console, no matter how "advanced" the technology in it may be. Mix that in with a massive series of PR blunders, a widespread knowledge/belief that the Xbox 360 and PS3 are about the same hardware-wise, a somewhat bleak current game line-up, etc., and you have strong negative public sentiment.

@AirIntake, #11: I saw one at Target a few days ago, but I got mine on launch night.

@Jake, #15: I was referring to the "top dog to underdog" statement. The console race has barely even started. Yes, they're losing in sales right now, but it's premature to call them the "underdog." Sony's future may look bleak right now, but if they can be judged by their recent GDC keynote and other announcements/interviews (barring the whole backward compatibility fiasco), I'd say they're not going down without a fight.

This is turning out to be a great week for Microsoft's PR department. Joystiq hasn't even covered the news item about New Line snapping up the rights for a Gears of War movie. Perhaps we'll see that one instead of a Halo movie.

Why do you say "early runnings mean nothing long-term?" They mean a lot. Sony's early runnings lost them tons of exclusives, a lot of early adopters, and credibility. All of those things translate to sales later, sales that won't happen unless they take drastic measures to counteract their poor early performance.

@RD

I would honestly never buy a console to use as a dvd player, look at how many dvd drives broke on the PS2. Anytime you have an "all in one" device like a fax machine or a 6 disk cd player they tend to break a lot easier than a machine dedicated to performing one process.

I would honestly wait an buy a dedicated blu-ray or hd-dvd player.

Zamfir,

If you are seeing these Wiis why are you not buying tham and selling them on Ebay. I have seen PS3s on the shelves since Decemebr(I bought one on Dec 17th in the middle of the day on a Saturday in downtown San francisco they had 6 left). In January I was in DC they had them there in ready supply too. In early Febuaruary in NJ they had PS3s in Walmart on 38 in Mt Holly and Best Buy in Mt Laurel. All of these places did not have a single Wii in stock(was gonna get my brother one as a gift). As of yesterday they didn't have a Wii in Best Buy, Circut City, or Target(Daly City) in San Francsisco on a sunday. Sunday is the day hte shipments for the Wii come in. I already have oen I was looking for a 24 in monitor but I always check these things because I am curious how long this run can go before demand catches supply. It is sickening. The Wii is the fastest selling console not only in the US but Worldwide ever(up to this point of course).

If it wasnt for Sony's hopes to capitalize on the Blu-Ray they would have launched earlier and @ the same price ($399) as the 360.

I want a PS3 for games but not a Blu-Ray player for movies and I'm willing to spend $399.

The many exclusives like Devil May Cry 4 jumping ship to 360 is enough proof that discs themselves are not necessary--except for another Sony format war.

I'm gonna go play God of War 2 ($50) now on my $100 PS2.

Then maybe some Gears later or some Wario w/ the girlfriend. I could watch my crystal clear DVDs on my SD t.v. too.

@29

"So 75% of 360 sales. So if you round the total 360s sold to around 10mil, that means 2.5 million people bought a 360, and bought 3 new ones (on average). So assuming there are 2.5mil working 360s out there, please explain...."

Hey retard: it was a joke, and it was about the february sales numbers.

"You are a retard. Never type anything again."

Too late!

[stares blankly at GJM]

What can I say? It's been a great week for XBox fans!

@ #19
""Interesting, but how many PS3's were actually *available* for sale during that time period. Kinda hard to sell more units than you've produced right?""

This is still on Sony. They've made the PS3's specs and functionality so high that they're by no means easy to manufacture compared to 360 and Wiis. If you're having trouble making your product, then that also counts against your sales.

@27

I don't know. Their keynote didn't do as much for me as it did some people. PS Home doesn't look that fun or different than 2nd Life and LittleBigPlanet was just a trailer. It could turn out to be a solid game, but it isn't like it is going to be a game of the year candidate or anything. Just a AA title would be my guess. Maybe as good as Motorstorm and over a year away.

Personally, I expected the PS3 to have better graphics and better sales prior to launch. I also thought the games would be better/more plentiful than they are. I never expected them to be losing so many exclusives, either. It just seems like endless bad news with PS Home and LittleBigPlanet being the only positive notes. If the 360 had announced those same things instead, I doubt xbox owners would even really care. That is the sad state the PS3 is in. Ace Combat and DMC4 in a week, with Ace being a 360 exclusive now! Owie.

redspear, I can get a Wii at my local Wal-mart. Are they really selling on ebay? Sounds like easy money.

the real Steve

lol now that was funny.

"I would honestly never buy a console to use as a dvd player, look at how many dvd drives broke on the PS2. Anytime you have an "all in one" device like a fax machine or a 6 disk cd player they tend to break a lot easier than a machine dedicated to performing one process."

Exactly. I've been saying that for months. I own a 360 to play games. Why do PS3 fanboy's brag that they can watch Blu-Ray movies?? Way to overuse your disc drive fanboys!!

"Plus, they didn't report that %75 of the XBox sales were from red ring of death victims who didn't want to pay the $140 to get a used system after two weeks in transit."
-CW

No, 75% of sales goes to gamers that wanted to play games and not fork out money for a dvd player. I'm sure there are a lot of Playstation fans included in there that jumped ship. =)

"Hey retard: it was a joke, and it was about the february sales numbers."

The only joke is every post you make. Seriously, you are an embarassment to PlayStation owners like myself.

I think the high price tag is the biggest hurdle for Sony.

"What can I say? It's been a great week for XBox fans!"

I am a videogame fan. Every week is good for me.

It may be too premature to call Sony the underdog, but Sony is definitely not the top dog anymore.

@GJM

"The only joke is every post you make. Seriously, you are an embarassment to PlayStation owners like myself."

As long as I'm not an embarassment to my fellow XBox owners,
I guess it's mission accomplished then.

@Zamfir

The point of the blog is for bloggers to post information about video games, gathered from all forms of media. I thought that was pretty evident. I ask you... what exactly do you mean by "it"?

"Oh, and stop with the Wii being hard to find crap. Maybe they were hard to find during launch, but that was a long time ago. They're sure available in every store I've been to, and I do *a lot* of shopping."

Funny, because we still have lines outside of any major retailer that gets them in on Sunday mornings.

I *just* started seeing DS Lites available for more than a day a week. Wiis are still scarce as hell, and this is in a major metro area.

@ Jake,
Right. I agree exactly with your thinking.

@ Zamfir,
I don't know where you are, but here in Los Angeles, you still can't find Wii's on shelves.

I noticed at least 4 or 5 posts in this story that were repeated

The password system is going to pot (i've had many posts not go through at all today, and a few more simply e-mailed to me, despite properly entering the password)

PS3 = Netscape Browser

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USA Today calls out Sony: 'from top dog to underdog in record time'

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