Console Wars: One year later, begun they have

by Alexander Sliwinski on Nov 15th 2007 6:00PM

What a difference a year makes. As we move into the one year anniversary of the "console wars," Game Daily takes a quick look at the current state of affairs. No huge revelations, just a standard assessment of what's going on written by our own Mr. Orland. The basics are:

Wii: The Wii blitzed the last year and is selling at a phenomenal pace. The only thing really holding it back at this point is software. Publishers weren't ready for the Wii's success, which has translated into massive quantities of reheated waggle ports. If third-party publishers start putting more effort behind the console, it won't be a "fad" created by Nintendo supporting Nintendo games.
Xbox 360: The console with an extra year under its belt really delivered this past year with BioShock, Halo 3, Gears of War and others. A third-party publisher darling, the Xbox hasn't gotten a hold in Japan and has to continue bringing the solid titles as the Wii and PS3 finish their warm-up year.
PS3: It's gettin' there, it's gettin' there. Hype may have gotten the heir-apparent through the end of last year, but '07 was not kind to the console. Things are slowly turning around now with Ratchet & Clank, along with Drake's Fortune and Heavenly Sword, but Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy XIII are expected to get the ball really rolling next year.

A year into the console wars and the answer is that it's still anyone's game. A console is defined by its games, and it's still a little early to figure out the path of the two newest consoles. The Wii may pull out the third party support in '08 and publishers may finally get more comfortable designing games for the PS3. The Xbox 360 will continue to hold its own as long as it keeps having superstar type titles like BioShock and Gears of War. Year two of the console wars should begin showing the future much better.

Source

Tags: console-wars, consolewars, ps3, wii, Xbox-360, xbox360

Reader Comments (121)

I think the Wii will eventually fade because of the wasted potential from the 3rd parties.

The Wii will never be as prominent (to people who blog about videogames...) but it will never fade. Due to its price and novelty, everyone wants one. A lot of people are willing to buy a Wii just for Wii Sports and don't really care if they don't use it except for once a fortnight.

I don't care what type of software support Wii gets anyway. After Brawl comes out that's pretty much the only game I'm gunna play. Melee has lasted me 6 years, hopefully Brawl does too. My 360 holds me off on 3rd parties anyway. I only get Nintendo systems for their first party titles, which, IMO, more than make up for their typically sh*tty third party exclusives.

Really, the only one of these that couldn't have been called 100% at this point last year was the Wii's performance, most were betting on an emulation of the DS's performance, where it would only NOW just start to really tear up the market

The writing was on the wall for the PS3's performance thus far since E3 2006, and the 360's perforamance is consistent with what it had going at this time last year (high attach rate, steady sales, and a number of laudable titles)

sounds about right

in before fanboy war

All the 360 has to do is get a foothold in japan and it'll win the counsel war.

something that MS has been trying to do for how long again?....

Japan wont accept the 360 as much as the PS3 or Wii, its just not a "home" product

Unless the foreign product was able to show that it is X times better than its japanese competitors, the japanese simply wont buy it...

Oh! So you mean if the 360 overtakes everything in Japan it'll suddenly and inexplicably also be first in Europe/PAL regions too?

No, but people don't really care much for the old world.

Actually If you guys would do your research then you'll find that the 360 is ahead of the PS3 in Europe. And I didn't mean full total domination in Japan. What I meant was that it needs a "foot hold"!! See that word, Foothold, it means small opening in which a bases can be formed! Well, at least in the business sense.

@Noshino

iPods, Starbucks, foreign sports cars are all popular in Japan.

The Xbox 360 isn't popular in Japan because the Japanese are smart enough to spot a bad product, like the Xbox 360, when they see it. The Console X 360 is nothing but a generic, me-too console. Even the name "Xbox" is just a bad copy of the Playstation name. Microsoft is a mediocre company. Most American geeks are just too dumb to realize it.

@name

ummm what? I'm sorry but I can't believe you just said that with a straight face. Look I know your a sony fanboy and all, but that doesn't mean you have to be a complete tool about it. Seriously regardless of what you think about Micrsoft, the xbox and 360 has had a huge impact on gaming culture.

This entire article is just an invitation for a fanboy showdown. Or a fanboy cagematch. That'd be better.

With the addition of the DivX, and a way for rumble to finally be used by the PS3 users, we finally are getting to see the true potential for the system.

When the PS3 came out, I debated the choices between the consoles, and ultimately Nintendo didn't even figure into the equation.

PS3 all the way

360 had rumble from day 1

@gonk

And the PS3 had Blu-ray, free online play, wi-fi, diverse game developer support and broad appeal. 5 things the AssBox 360 will never have.

So, the Wii was launched to a raving market and instantly took the first place in sales.
The 360 trundles along as a PC replacement console.
The PS3 sits at the back.

Anything really changed since last year?

Yeah, Peter Moore left Microsoft.

If Peter Moore thought MS had a chance of dethroning Sony, he would have stayed. His leaving was proof that Sony now has the momentum to outsell the Xbox 360.

Hate to break this to you Sony haters, but when a product costing $500-$600 sells almost as much as a product costing $300 (Xbox 360 Core), that's a GOOD sign.

Xbox 360 1st year vs PS3 1st year sales: 5-10% higher
PS3 vs Xbox 360 Core price: 66-100% higher

Sony bashers are ALL idiots. Prove me wrong. I dare you.

All the people criticizing Sony are stupid.

The PS3 will easily outsell the Xbox 360.

Xbox 360's 1st year: 6 million.
Xbox 360's 2nd year: 7 million (only a 17% growth).
Wii's 1st year: 13 million.
PS3's 1st year 5.75 million.

The PS3's second year of sales at $399 will likely be much higher than the Xbox 360's second year (at least 10-15 million). Also, the PS3 will drop to $299 by late 2008 (possibly mid 2008). That means it's on track to surpassing the Xbox 360 by early 2009.

The PS3 will win because has a broader appeal than the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360's lack of Japanese and casual games is a major problem and its PC style games and subscription based online service are for hardcore gamers only.

Did you just say the PS3 will win whilst also posting the Wii sales that are 13 million compared to 5 million?

I hope that was a joke post name123.

So you are calling economic mobility stupid? Hey guys look what I have done! Sony keeps dropping the price so they will win! YAY!!!!!!!!! You assume Sony victory will be because Sony is the only one who will continue to drop prices while Microsoft and Nintendo will remain static on their marketing approach. When Sony drops their PS3 to $299 expect the Xbxo 360 arcade to drop to $199 and its premium to $249, and the Nintendo Wii down to $179. You are ignoring current trends in your little statement there buddy. Man you're dense.

@James

I said it will beat the Xbox 360. The Wii won't be on the market as long as the PS3 will be, so, yes, it's likely the PS3 will also beat the Wii in the long run.

@Pablo, consider this:
Wii vs PS3 sales: 126% higher
PS3 vs Wii price: 100%-140% higher

Wii vs Xbox 360 sales: 85% higher
Xbox 360 vs Wii price: 20% higher

The PS3 sales were slow because of the price.
The Xbox 360 sales were slow because of the product.

The Xbox 360 will absolutely end up in last this generation.

As a gamer, all I can say is "show me your games, and I'll see who'll win the console war". The PS3 has some pretty good games, but against the 360's at this stage of the race? Fat chance.

lol is name123 jack tretton in disguise?

can someone please ban this guy?

Apparently the truth DOES hurt:

1st year sales and prices:

Wii vs PS3 sales: 126% higher
PS3 vs Wii price: 100%-140% higher

Wii vs Xbox 360 sales: 85% higher
Xbox 360 vs Wii price: 20% higher

Xbox 360 vs PS3 sales: 5-10% higher
PS3 vs Xbox 360 price: 66-100% higher

Business basics, folks. The PS3 is far, far from failing. The PS3 is going to be an absolute monster.

I sure hope I don't get voted down. Can't any of you actually debate? Or are you all afraid of losing? I'm a genius. You should give it a shot. It'll be fun, I promise.

But it IS failing. It's a clear 3rd place in US and EU. The NDP isn't showing PS3 numbers surpassing or even close to 360 numbers.

To me something that's a dead 3rd place in a 3 runner race is something that is losing/failing and hasn't shown signs of even getting past one of them very slim.

Please don't feed the trolls.

This is why Kotaku wields the banhammer and Joystiq needs to.

@James

"Sony's PS3 sales in US more than double since price cut"

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/15/sonys-ps3-sales-in-us-more-than-double-since-price-cut/

Of course, this was all quickly dismissed as lies by the anti-Sony lynch mob.

If the PS3 only sold 5.75 million at $299 you guys would be right. But it was $499/$599. Big difference. If you think the PS3 is going to sell 5.75 million or less at $399 (or lower) you're a complete idiot.

Also, the most popular console being played right now is still the PS2. The vast majority of the PS1's and PS2's sales occurred after the 3rd year (FF7 didn't even come out until 3 years into the PS1's lifespan, God Of War at least 5 years into the PS2's). Building a large, diverse library takes time. Sony understands this better than anyone. Sony's long term approach is why they will win again.

Wow. You bitch that nobody can debate with you but it's probably because your arguments make no sense whatso-fucking-ever. First of all, using your numbers, the Wii is selling at 226% higher than the PS3, not 126%. Learn some basic math you dumb fuck. Secondly all of your arguments are conjecture. Finally maybe you need to take some business classes yourself since two major price drops in one year is, in the language of business, FAILING. You don't drop the price when you're ahead asshole.

@Jonny

Like I said, ALL SONY CRITICS ARE STUPID.

I said 126% higher.

13-5.75 = 7.25
7.25/5.75 = 126%

Sit down, your done. Next!

I think the main flaw in your argument was when you suggested the Wii won't be around as long as PS3. You're basically rehashing the old "Wii isn't competing with PS3 and Xbox 360" nonsense.

If the Wii continues to sell as well as it is, I doubt Nintendo will be in any rush to release a follow-up until it makes absolute financial sense to them... and as they already make a profit per system, I can't see that being any time soon.

For once, I feel like I am backing the right horse - after plumping for the Nintendo 64, Dreamcast and GameCube previously, I'm actually getting a steady flow of great games as a Wii60 owner.

And although recent news seems to suggest I am in a minority of 360 owners who know about it, XBLA has plenty of casual games. If they crack the marketing of the service to regular folk, those games will have an eager audience.

Dude, you're awesome. Thanks for debating my other points instead of just doing the math in a different way. Technically we were both right about that. Oh, and did you know that your and you're sound the same but mean completely different things?

"Sit down, your done. Next!"

No, YOU'RE done, bitch.

Here's my favorite part of this argument by name123:

"I'm a genius"

Wow.

Dude, you rock-out with your cock-out, for sure.

BTW name123, all you are doing is financial prediction, and no one here has a high opinion of a financial analyst (they're usually wrong).

On top of that, you come off as mean, arrogant, and a bit unstable. That is no way to have a good conversation here.

My suggestion to you is this:

1. Buy the console(s) you prefer
2. Play the games you like
3. Discuss the merits of fun games with other gamers
OR

STFU.

I know a year ago I was ready for the imminent PS3 eclipse, and rooting for the little guy, the Wii.

Now I find myself piling on the PS3, and figuring out what the hell happened to the little system that could that became the underperforming Nintendo we all know and hate. C'mon big N, you started somethin revolutionary, can't you keep from making the same mistakes you've made over and over again with the 64 and the GC?

And all while happily playing the biggest titles of this year on my 360, the system that won my respect ever since hating on the xbox for not being a gamecube.

What are babbling on about?

Wow, this is exactly what happened to me. Except, I now feel such sympathy for the poor PS3 I cheer every time they actually do something right

Ironic much?

I'm just saying, a year ago I was just trying to keep myself from rushing out and buying a PS3. I was expecting to have to defend the Wii against the other next gen, like I had to do with the N64 and the GC.

Now, Wii is the dominating force, but so empty software wise, just like the past two failed consoles from the big N. Sony's domination is just a bad joke from yers past, and the 360 can pretty much copyright next-gen.

It's just weird how things shake out over the course of a year.

And that's what I was babbling about on therefore such as and US americans in the Iraq

ummm what? What mistakes have Nintendo done this time? They've done everything right and it's doing good for them.

Horrible software support for their gaming system.

The SNES - N64 was the worst... from there it's been agonizing trying to defend Nintendo.

You weren't there, trying to defend the big N, its software meant for 6 year olds while everyone else was playing GTA... Now that I have a 360, the Wii had the potential to be a great gaming machine, but sorry, Big Mama Cook Off just doesn't cut it for me. If I wanted to experience a bad Japanese export, I'd go watch any anime ever made.

*Sigh*

This going to be brutal. Yet also probably funny. It's like dangling roadkill infront of foxes.

Didn't say it wasn't entertaining though.

Also: WII PWNS U ALL LULZ!!1!

The DS was also "just a fad."

Look at where it is now.

What we will be seeing is more "segregation" now in console gaming.

Before with undisputed successes, like the NES/SNES and PS1/PS2, they had a huge videogame library and was very balanced, with plenty of 1st and third party games, games from all genres, Japanese and Western games, etc.

But now, we'll be seeing plenty of shovelware, children-movies game adaptions and minigames on the Wii, lots of Western games, especially FPSs and PC ports on the 360, and mostly Japanese games, especially RPGs on the PS3.

Metal Gear Solid 2:Substance came out for both Xbox and PS2 here, but only for PS2 in Japan, no Xbox version released there.

We'll probably be (or should) see plenty of Japanese games for the PS3 and then for North America, 360 ports but not the other way around.

I wish Lucas allowed Gendy to make the entire trilogy as a cartoon and those terrible live action movies never saw the light of day... I friggin' hate Hayden, there's always Salvatores literary adaption though. As for the console war, if it wasn't for the RROD the PS3 would be on its last legs right now. With GoW, R6:V and LP Live had grown up rather nicely over the last year. With Halo 3 and Orange Box it exploded into a user base rivaling that of WoW. However '08 will probably be a heated war with PS3's cheaper SKU's and Sony finally bringing out it's big guns and getting some notable exclusive AAA's. The Wii isn't directly competing (for that 1337 demographic that actually blogs about this kinda crap for entertainment) and will probably keep selling like hotcakes for sometime to come, but by next winter I wouldn't be suprised if the Wii's sales had already peaked. Nintendo's already well into the black so i'm sure they couldn't care less about the 360 and PS3 at this point.

That's the thing of it, you see a lot of people say "I play my PS360 much more than my Wii" but they have it

By building itself to be "below" the other 2 consoles, it helped somewhat to cross lines that the GameCube couldn't

Some wise person said it a long time ago, whether more people go Wii60 or PSWii, Wii still wins

And then there's the Nintendo faithful, we're like crabgrass, we don't die, and are stubborn as the ends of the earth

SquareEnix now proved to give wii suport for at least 3 titles, and lets not forget what capcom is doing with zack and wiki, resident and monster hunter. the wii is on it's way for conquering the third party suport =3
i think that it will win

but Xbox360 will probably be a close second ... with most "hardcore gamers" with money adopting the wii360 idea.. with more gore titles like bioshock, halo and gears of wars

the ps3 ?
only if they drop the pice AND ff13 shows up to be the best game for GENERATIONS
i'm not talking about metal gear solid 4 because i'm 120% sure that it will be ported to 360 after some time

True, the hardcore titles are going to the Wii, but in Japan

It won't solve the problems the Wii has West of the Source of the Sun, since Western developers (not publishers, mind) seem to make Wii-bashing a sport in and of itself

Not to insult them, of course, its just a sign of where the hardcore support for Wii will come from through the end of its life

The article is the most unbiased console war post ever.

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Console Wars: One year later, begun they have

Reader Comments (121)

Posted: Nov 15th 2007 6:06PM ckrantzman said

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