Microsoft's Shane Kim now sees the end to the console war as a new magic number: first system to 100 million units sold wins, he tells Wired. That's an increase of 90 million over the 10 million mark Microsoft used to promote as the bellwether of victory. Kim believes consumers are still deciding what system to choose and that this console generation is different from the others. (Yeah, it's the first time Microsoft actually has a chance.)
Kim explains that Sony won the last couple generations, but Nintendo is clearly in first place this time around; however, he wonders if Nintendo can keep that momentum going up to 100 million (at Nintendo's rate of supply, it could take decades). He even questions it there'll be a clear-cut winner this generation. Finally, Kim assures that the Microsoft hardware guys are still working on reducing the cost of Xbox 360, in order to hit that "mass market" price point.
Reader Comments (70)
Posted: May 21st 2008 1:01PM baby sea tuna said
Countdown to first (real) RRoD comment in 5...4...3...2...
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Posted: May 21st 2008 1:09PM (Unverified) said
sadly my PS3 hit the shitter on sunday, for some reason the hdmi output doesnt work anymore :(
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Posted: May 21st 2008 1:10PM (Unverified) said
Oh mah gawd, Microsawft onlah sell mawr 'cuz of teh Red Ringz!
But seriously, if Microsoft and Nintendo are making profit then don't they both win? I kind of agree on the "no clear-cut winner" idea.
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But seriously, if Microsoft and Nintendo are making profit then don't they both win? I kind of agree on the "no clear-cut winner" idea.
Posted: May 21st 2008 2:24PM (Unverified) said
@Ninjak yessirp :) , nah i love the games i have for my ps3 even though its not many and why the hell did i get voted up for my ps3 dying haha
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Posted: May 21st 2008 3:22PM (Unverified) said
Ninjakamster
You have a 360 now but that gamertag you're sporting is invalid. I tried to add you yesterday and it wasn't in the database. So, what say you now?
Reply
You have a 360 now but that gamertag you're sporting is invalid. I tried to add you yesterday and it wasn't in the database. So, what say you now?
Posted: May 21st 2008 6:59PM (Unverified) said
deaftly, my PS3 did the same thing and if you hold down the power button for around 5 second as you turn it on it will auto detect your output. This might fix it.
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Posted: May 21st 2008 1:04PM MarkHawk said
I kind of feel all gamers are winning this generation.
Sure there is shovel ware, typical shooters, glitchy games... it's not perfect but there is something for everyone and huge library for gamers. Best part is I am seeing updates to my Library every month now instead of just Nov-Feb.
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Sure there is shovel ware, typical shooters, glitchy games... it's not perfect but there is something for everyone and huge library for gamers. Best part is I am seeing updates to my Library every month now instead of just Nov-Feb.
Posted: May 21st 2008 1:06PM baby sea tuna said
Good point. I haven't not had something to play in like, 2 years.
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Posted: May 21st 2008 2:05PM Duke said
I agree. People want to fight about their chosen system being best, but those who get each of them, and/or the handhelds would realize that the competition has been great for us all. There is always a back-log of games to play. Its quite impressive. There is no loser.
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Posted: May 21st 2008 1:09PM FernandoRocker said
The DS has everything:
Good price, bright screens, touchscreen, great battery life, nice design, amazing sales (70 million worlwide), a lot of first party support, the biggest third party support (more than 360), it's now the RPG games system, unique games... full support from Square, Atlus, and a lot more RPG guys.
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Good price, bright screens, touchscreen, great battery life, nice design, amazing sales (70 million worlwide), a lot of first party support, the biggest third party support (more than 360), it's now the RPG games system, unique games... full support from Square, Atlus, and a lot more RPG guys.
Posted: May 21st 2008 1:11PM FernandoRocker said
The DS covers from the most casual games and games for women, to the most hardcore games.
That's the kind of support the Nintendo Wii needs.
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That's the kind of support the Nintendo Wii needs.
Posted: May 21st 2008 1:22PM (Unverified) said
Goes into
(DS is the best! DS is the best! DS is the best!) chant.
I sold my PSP, there just wasn't enough there at the time to keep me interested. Some favs I have are
Mario KartDS
New Supa Mario Brothas
Mario 64 DS
Sonic Rush
Bust a MoveDS
and still get to play a the GB Advance games I already had. I bring it to work sometimes to play on lunch since I get an hour and the ladies go gaga over New Super Mario Bros. :P
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(DS is the best! DS is the best! DS is the best!) chant.
I sold my PSP, there just wasn't enough there at the time to keep me interested. Some favs I have are
Mario KartDS
New Supa Mario Brothas
Mario 64 DS
Sonic Rush
Bust a MoveDS
and still get to play a the GB Advance games I already had. I bring it to work sometimes to play on lunch since I get an hour and the ladies go gaga over New Super Mario Bros. :P
Posted: May 21st 2008 1:24PM (Unverified) said
On that note, Microsoft will probably try and correct Shane Kim and issue another statement saying the first 'High Definition' console to 100 million wins.
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Posted: May 21st 2008 1:37PM Korova Pamplona said
DS is not a console. You dont need to attach it to anything. Its a portable.
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Posted: May 21st 2008 2:45PM (Unverified) said
Posted: May 22nd 2008 2:59AM ThornedVenom said
@Korova
The Nintendo DS is closed proprietary piece of hardware designed to play games: it is a console.
A portable console: it's just not a home console.
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The Nintendo DS is closed proprietary piece of hardware designed to play games: it is a console.
A portable console: it's just not a home console.
Posted: May 21st 2008 1:10PM LaughingTarget said
I win. Three kick-ass consoles, two solid handhelds, the trusty PC and more awesome games than I can even afford. Where's my first place trophy?
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Posted: May 21st 2008 1:13PM baby sea tuna said
Posted: May 21st 2008 1:17PM Offensive Bias said
I doubt there'd be a clear cut winner this generation. I think that this generation is also going to be dragged out a little longer than the last one because it seems like there are still a lot of great games on the horizon for at least the next year, if not into 2010 and neither company seems to be eager to push out another product.
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Posted: May 21st 2008 1:18PM (Unverified) said
I say first system to 100 great games wins!
In all seriousness, there seem to be a lot more multi-platform owners than in past generations. I don't think there is going to be any one winner. As long as great titles keep coming to the 360, and great titles START coming to the PS3, I'll be more than happy to support both.
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In all seriousness, there seem to be a lot more multi-platform owners than in past generations. I don't think there is going to be any one winner. As long as great titles keep coming to the 360, and great titles START coming to the PS3, I'll be more than happy to support both.
Posted: May 21st 2008 4:19PM (Unverified) said
I hope MS doesn't wait until they sell 100m before they make a new console because then gamers will all lose. Sony's 10 year console life span idea sucks. We need new machines every four to five years.
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Posted: May 21st 2008 4:45PM RKN said
Idiot, Sony will SUPPORT the PS3 for 10 years, not have that as their only console for 10 years.
Look at how they supported the PS1 for a while after the PS2 launched and with the PS2 when the PS3 launched.
Look in contrast at how Microsoft killed the original Xbox after the 360 launched.
You anti-Sony folks always twist the words the wrong way. Sheesh.
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Look at how they supported the PS1 for a while after the PS2 launched and with the PS2 when the PS3 launched.
Look in contrast at how Microsoft killed the original Xbox after the 360 launched.
You anti-Sony folks always twist the words the wrong way. Sheesh.
Posted: May 21st 2008 5:46PM (Unverified) said
You can call me an idiot all you want but Sony took 7 years between the ps2 and ps3. The thing still isn't making any money and won't reach the $250 price point for some time which is when consoles really start selling. I don't hate Sony but waiting 7 year between consoles sucks for the consumer because games begin to look like crap compared to their pc counterparts in ust a couple of years. Keep watching out for Sony though I hope the paychecks and stock options they are giving you are working for ya.
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Posted: May 21st 2008 1:28PM (Unverified) said
This has been one of the most fun generations of gaming for me and we're only in year 2 or 3 (depending on the console). Now if the wii could get 5 truly great new IPs that are meant for me and not my little sister in a year or so I might be enticed to actually keep one of the wii's I buy instead of selling it.
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Posted: May 21st 2008 2:00PM (Unverified) said
lol my god u just couldn't hold back could ya, kevingarnettscottypippen86
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Posted: May 21st 2008 2:03PM (Unverified) said
What I'm serious if they could pull it off I would consider keeping one. I know it's a massive if, since they don't like making new IPs, but I would seriously think about it.
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Posted: May 21st 2008 1:40PM (Unverified) said
so if the wii hits 100 million, but then the 360 and the ps3 also hit 100, the wii wins cause it got there first? this logic doesn't make sense. Sounds to me like if 3 hit 100 million, all 3 are winners and laughing all the way to the bank
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Posted: May 21st 2008 1:45PM (Unverified) said
this is exactly what i came into this comments section to post. the whole idea of a race is pretty silly. yes, the ps2 was "the winner" last time... because it sold waaaaaaaay more than the others. all 3 consoles can be winners if they sell well, make consumers happy, and make money for their creators.
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Posted: May 21st 2008 1:53PM BPMOmega XBL PSN Steam said
The question is: Will more than one system hit 100M?
Only two systems had done it before: PlayStation (102.49M) and PlayStation 2 (127M). The competition for each of those generations didn't even come close (Saturn: 17M, N64: 32.9M, GameCube: 21.74M, Xbox: 24M).
Can the market support more than one system to go that high? History hasn't shown it to be so. But, eh, who knows. Maybe things will be a bit different this time.
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Only two systems had done it before: PlayStation (102.49M) and PlayStation 2 (127M). The competition for each of those generations didn't even come close (Saturn: 17M, N64: 32.9M, GameCube: 21.74M, Xbox: 24M).
Can the market support more than one system to go that high? History hasn't shown it to be so. But, eh, who knows. Maybe things will be a bit different this time.
Posted: May 21st 2008 2:04PM Haggard said
The market does appear to be expanding though. The kids who are coming into game-playing age are obviously picking up consoles, but the adults who were into games when the Atari and NES were around are mostly still playing.
Games are constantly becoming more mainstream - besides, a lot of gamers own a Wii as well as a 'hardcore' console.
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Games are constantly becoming more mainstream - besides, a lot of gamers own a Wii as well as a 'hardcore' console.
Posted: May 21st 2008 1:43PM Korova Pamplona said
The first thing I thought when I saw the 100 mln figure was "PRICE CUT".
It sounds like Kim is laying the groundwork for $50 drop. At this point, MS needs to max game sales to keep that attach ratio up and giving gamers a fity will very likely mean an extra game sold. So, Christmas 08?
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It sounds like Kim is laying the groundwork for $50 drop. At this point, MS needs to max game sales to keep that attach ratio up and giving gamers a fity will very likely mean an extra game sold. So, Christmas 08?
Posted: May 21st 2008 1:56PM zero2dash said
I'm going to elaborate on the "we're (gamers) all winners" sentiment and say I think it's even better because this generation of consoles has introduced gaming to a whole lot of other people who would never have played games until now (with the Wii) and despite the fact that I may not (and others may not) get the most enjoyment out of it, that it opens the door for future gamers to buy more systems, new systems, more games, etc. and keeps the hobby we all know and love alive.
Despite what anyone thinks about the consoles they don't own or each respective company - we can all agree that we don't want another "videogames crash of 1983" on our hands that pretty much wiped out all of the console manufacturers and a lot of the game developers at the time.
/This ends my feelgood comment of the day./
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Despite what anyone thinks about the consoles they don't own or each respective company - we can all agree that we don't want another "videogames crash of 1983" on our hands that pretty much wiped out all of the console manufacturers and a lot of the game developers at the time.
/This ends my feelgood comment of the day./
Posted: May 21st 2008 2:00PM (Unverified) said
Considering that the PS2 broke 100 million before the next gen even began, its moronic to say 10 million = console win...its a marathon and based on the rapid growth of the industry, we may not know who wins until someone breaks 150 million units....or if Sony goes through w/ the 10 year plan, maybe 200-250 million...who knows??? alot of this is just speculation and guessing gamees.
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