PS3 outsold Wii in Japan last week
by Ross Miller 
{ Nov 16th 2007 at 10:20AM }
In its acceptance speech, Sony thanked the newly-released 40GB model and assured the attending audience that upon arrival the Four Horseman will no doubt hail the PS3 as their console of choice.
But wait! Perhaps we spoke to hastily about this being a sign of imminent apocalypse. The Xbox 360 has moved back to its normal slot, between the PS2 and Game Boy Micro. "Phew," you say as you wipe the sweat from your brow, "that was a close one." Those with an ever-vigilant and watchful eye should look out for the following scenario:
- PlayStation 3 beating Wii
- Xbox 360 beating PS3 (and therefore, by
chain ruletransitive property, the Wii as well) - Nintendo DS in any position other than first
[Image credit: roland]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Hirsbrunner @ Nov 16th 2007 10:23AM
REPENT!
CJC @ Nov 16th 2007 10:30AM
Screw that, I'm making up for lost time! Time to sin like there's no tomorrow (because there might not be.)
Seriously though, Sony has to take this as solid proof that the starting price for the PS3 was way too damn expensive.
upz @ Nov 16th 2007 11:26AM
I'm one of the few Sony supporters here (though seemingly more have been popping out of the woodwork lately), and it's tough not to rub it in everyone's faces, but I'll offer a level-headed response.
This is simply a short-term market reponse to price elasticity of demand. To sustain this, Sony will have to change the actual consumer perception of the console. In other words, we'll see sales dip again soon. If, after the release of the big third party exclusives, PS3 is still underperforming, Sony supporters like myself will finally be out of excuses.
borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Nov 16th 2007 1:37PM
Well said upz. Quite honestly, I'm not really concerned about 3rd place now. Of course, there will be more games in the lead consoles...but as long as the PS3 avoids a DC death I think there will be enough games to occupy my time.
Unless Nintendo trips and impales itself, I doubt the PS3 has a chance at anything but second place anyway. Even Microsoft has given up that illusion I'll wager.
Still, forward the black monolith!
Grog @ Nov 16th 2007 1:38PM
"If, after the release of the big third party exclusives, PS3 is still underperforming, Sony supporters like myself will finally be out of excuses."
How long is this going to be said? The "big third party exclusives" have included Resistance, Lair, Warhawk, Motorstorm, Heavenly Sword, etc. already. At what point do we say "Well, we thought of each of these exclusives would be The One That Made PS3 Relevant, but each has failed to do so"?
borland502 @ Nov 16th 2007 3:31PM
At what point do we say "Well, we thought of each of these exclusives would be The One That Made PS3 Relevant, but each has failed to do so"?
When the only two that have ever mattered get released: MSG4 and FFXIII. The others you mention were supposed to do more than they did, but none of them were games expected to reach Halo proportions.
The Final Fantasy series has been a catalyst of each Playstation console since the first. That doesn't mean that XIII is a definite win, or that it will kill 360/Wii sales, but the expectation is the same as Halo: A franchise that draws in almost all existing owners and captures a new segment while it's at it.
While MSG4 is big; FFXIII is much bigger. A flop in FF would definitely take the wind out of all but the most hard core SDF members. Because you see, while every R&C, Heavenly Sword, etc. is a hoped for blockbuster...the pair expected next year is the only one we KNOW is a system seller. So that is why optimism remains until success or failure of those two.
Dale @ Nov 16th 2007 2:59PM
There's not really much to rub in anyone's faces yet, upz:
http://vgchartz.com/hwlaunch.php?cons1=Wii®1=Japan&cons2=PS3®2=Japan&cons3=X360®3=Japan&weeks=156
upz @ Nov 16th 2007 3:21PM
"Third party," Grog. And by that I mean MGS4 and FFXIII. We all wanted to like Warhawk, Lair, Heavenly Sword, and many of us really do, but I think we can all admit that the true hard hitters, the Halos of the PS3, if you will, won't arrive until 2008.
Mr Khan @ Nov 16th 2007 3:55PM
@ upz
There is an even simpler explanation; Dynasty Warriors 6
It seems that in Japan, whoever gets the biggest release for the week wins the week, unless there are no big releases, then it follows the DS, PSP, Wii, PS3, PS2, 360 pattern
Geist @ Nov 16th 2007 9:06PM
WOAH WOAH WOAH upz. We don't tolerate that kind of logic out here! Now yer gonna have to get trollin' or just mosey along, we all know system-supporters are trolls. None of this level-headedness, that's for them crazy folk.
Questworld @ Nov 16th 2007 10:03PM
Nintendo fans have had it rubbed in their faces for years, so I can understand the feeling of vindication, no matter how short lived it might be. Just make sure you target the appropriate fanboys and jerk-offs. You rub in in the wrong faces, you'll spawn off more opposition because then they'll feel they've been wronged.
Zertoss @ Nov 16th 2007 10:27AM
One of the horsemen was quoted saying "Well there's my steed!"
Korova @ Nov 16th 2007 11:36AM
[+]
Braden Robinson @ Nov 16th 2007 10:27AM
The author confuses "chain rule" and "transitive property"
johnny g @ Nov 16th 2007 10:31AM
best comment ever
Tesley @ Nov 16th 2007 10:54AM
Yeah! i realized that something was odd!
a>b and b>c so a>c => transitive property not chain rule (calculus lol)
upz @ Nov 16th 2007 11:16AM
It reminds me of the time Blair Butler was reviewing comics on Attack of the Show and used "sycophant" to mean a person who enjoys violence and gore.
Ahh...I love it when I get to scream "I'm smarter than you!"
Ross Miller @ Nov 16th 2007 12:19PM
Oh dear lord, I have been shamed.
-1 for me.
ferrarimanf355 @ Nov 16th 2007 10:27AM
"But wait! Perhaps we spoke to hastily about this being a sign of imminent apocalypse. The Xbox 360 has moved back to its normal slot, between the PS2 and Game Boy Micro. "Phew," you say as you wipe the sweat from your brow, "that was a close one.""
What is this, bash-the-Xbox 360 day?
FrankTheCrank @ Nov 16th 2007 11:20AM
Have you been living in a closet without an internet connection? The 360 has been doing horribly in Japan, up until the release of ACE COMBAT 6. The pop it got is over and now it's back to the basement for 360 in Japan.
This whole thing with PS3 topping Wii will happen again, at least two more time in the next year. That's when MG$4 and FF get released.
d-pad @ Nov 16th 2007 11:26AM
"That's when MG$4 and FF get released."
Two more KICK ASS GAMES Frank can add to his collection.
Can I get a woot?
FrankTheCrank @ Nov 16th 2007 11:32AM
I'll give you two, keep the change bitch!
Woot! Woot!
FidliousWong @ Nov 16th 2007 10:28AM
Funny part? In one day, Dynasty Warrior 6 sold 188,000 copies on PS3. The 40GB, the main reason for this temporary victory, was only available for one day on these charts. I'm actually very curious what next week will be like....
Kassu @ Nov 16th 2007 10:30AM
It's just one week sales. Sony released a new model of their console. And thats pretty much it, I don't belive that they will maintain the sales growth after this, so it's pretty pointless to spend any amount of time on chatting about it.
FidliousWong @ Nov 16th 2007 10:38AM
Actually, it's mostly one DAY sales....
Kassu @ Nov 16th 2007 10:41AM
:D Tell that to the Gamespot crowd.
A flock of morons ringing about the "Start of the PS3's rise to power"
FrankTheCrank @ Nov 16th 2007 11:24AM
Wow, the 360 gets a years head start on everyone and you think it's dominance will last. The Wii has already surpassed it in one year and the PS3 is on track with 360 sales a year into it's release.
You guys really are smoking too much of that Halo stuff, eh?
Kassu @ Nov 16th 2007 11:26AM
Frank, i don't give a flying fuck about Halo.
deaftly @ Nov 16th 2007 11:32AM
Frankie, the 360 is still outselling the PS3 3 to 1, good try though
Korova @ Nov 16th 2007 11:40AM
I just got maself the 360 Premium bong and I am taking megahits of all the that kind bud.
One of those 360s in NOv. NPDs will be all MINE!
FrankTheCrank @ Nov 16th 2007 11:44AM
I'm not saying the 360 isn't good or anything. I would have bought one had not the RROD issue arose. Plus, I think it's still overpriced for being a 2005 DVD based game system. This thing should be $250 by now. And I'm talking premie, no core crap.
http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2007/10/19/ps3-sales-on-par-with-360-launches-aligned/
Slaziman @ Nov 16th 2007 12:01PM
God damn it Frank, you had to do it again. Oh it's DVD based, fuck now I can't have multilingual audio and CGI cutscenes, DAMN!
Show me a game that actually has better gameplay thanks to Blu-Ray... you do know that if it wasn't for Blu-Ray, the PS3 would've been out earlier, would've started at a lower price, and would be much closer to the 360 now, right?
Wow the PS3 sales are the same as the 360 a year ago? who gives a shit? You Sony fanboys need to stop living in the past with your "yeah but one year ago the 360..." bullshit arguments. Market conditions were different back then, you can't compare. And those arguments don't make a bit of difference!
And as a finisher, I agree the PS3 is better hardware for the money, but IT'S ABOUT THE SOFTWARE, and that includes the magnificent XBOX LIVE, which makes multiplatform games better on the Xbox 360. Thanks to it's bigger install base, chances are your friends will be playing on Xbox Live - another incentive to get multiplatform games on the 360 instead of on the PS3. And if we talk exclusives, it's obvious who is winning that in both quality and quantity.
But it's okay, go play your "kick-ass" Heavenly Sword with it's 79 MetaCritic score... kick-ass indeed.
Clack @ Nov 16th 2007 12:14PM
"I'm not saying the 360 isn't good or anything. I would have bought one had not the RROD issue arose. Plus, I think it's still overpriced for being a 2005 DVD based game system. This thing should be $250 by now. And I'm talking premie, no core crap."
Strangely enough, I agree with everything you said there.
Digi Smalls @ Nov 16th 2007 12:44PM
Frank,
WarHawk almost fits on a CD, not even a DVD. even a Dreamcast game held more.
Heavenly Sword you say? even with teh Blu-Rayz it was still just as short as DVD based Gears of War (only with more languages).
you didnt buy a 360 because you heard a minority of users get RROD (and are still covered), and you bought a PS3 because of bullet points on a spec sheet.
i'm curious, how much of an actual gamer are you?
.
Spiza @ Nov 16th 2007 1:00PM
@Slaziman
I hate xbox live. You pay for PTP and stupid achievements.
David @ Nov 16th 2007 1:33PM
Me too. I can't believe Microsoft somehow convinced me and thousands of others to PAY for the privilege of HOSTING games for other people!
Slaziman @ Nov 16th 2007 2:08PM
Don't forget enhanced matchmaking and slick painless interface. And I for one don't think achievements are stupid, hell Steam ripped it off for the Orange Box! Thanks Valve!
Geist @ Nov 16th 2007 9:09PM
Yeah, slaz, and Steam did it for free.
samfish @ Nov 16th 2007 10:39AM
Oh, if *ONLY* Sony could have a price cut and release a mega-tonne game EVERY week!
mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Nov 16th 2007 10:40AM
The great thing is, when you start at $600, you can!
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 16th 2007 11:27AM
Nice!
License to ill @ Nov 16th 2007 10:42AM
Damn is this APRIL 1st?
mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Nov 16th 2007 10:44AM
If it were April 1st I would be playing Brawl right now. Sigh.
SDF @ Nov 16th 2007 10:49AM
"The great thing is, when you start at $600, you can!"
Its even greater when you start at 400, offer free multiplayer on top of it, AND superb reliability, and a 7-8 year lifespan, AND blu-ray / HDMI, and no price-gouging for add-ons like hard disc / wifi
AND on top of it all, despite all the negative hype, the developers are beginning to show their choice:
UT3
Haze
Next Rockstar game
mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Nov 16th 2007 10:51AM
...
CaptNink @ Nov 16th 2007 11:05AM
The day just doesn't start until a fanboy spews out a list on Joystiq.
playwhutyalike (take my shoes off) @ Nov 16th 2007 11:12AM
Unless you get dust in it. Just effin' with ya.
I wonder if the recent advertising has had a change in thier sales. Has the white version been released in Japan yet? Would a color make all that amount of difference?
With the holiday season coming up it's going to be very interesting indeed.
FidliousWong @ Nov 16th 2007 11:16AM
About the dusty PS3... tell me this isn't consumer abuse and neglect.
http://consumerist.com/consumer/polls/is-this-playstation-3-too-dusty-to-be-repaired-under-warranty-322858.php
Especially considering the manual and precautions section specifically talk about keeping it in a dust free zone. And this guy claimed he cleaned the system before shipping...
mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Nov 16th 2007 11:21AM
I don't care a whiff about this PS3 dust story, but where exactly is a "dust free zone"?
playwhutyalike (take my shoes off) @ Nov 16th 2007 11:24AM
@Wong.
It was a joke. Hence, the "just effin' with ya" at the end of that statement.
Yeah, and I don't need to go to some website to find out this guy neglected his system considering that 1 PS3 failed out of the millions sold already for a dust issue.
Thanks Wong, for clearing that whole issue up for me, because I don't know the differce between ONE and ONE MILLION.