Slow PS3 start was down to stock - Sony

By Robert Purchese Published 3 February, 2010

"Nothing but momentum" now, says Dille.

Sony bigwig Peter Dille has explained that the real reason for PS3's slow start was poor levels of stock; the pump was "primed".

"The shortcoming was getting a lot of people whipped up and having them wait in-line and then only having a very, very limited amount of hardware supply globally, which meant that we had a kind of start and stop effect with our launch, which is hard to recover from," Dille told IGN. "It was a speed bump that we had to overcome and we overcame it.

"There is nothing but momentum behind the PS3 at this point," he added. "We're off to the races."

It's not a question of "if" the PS3 will overtake Xbox 360, Dille went on to say, but "when".

"I mean, we've got 31 million [units sold] worldwide right now - they've got 39 million [units sold]. I don't even need to go out 10 years," he quipped.

"I'm not going to make any predictions for your interview today other than we'll pass them, but you look at where we are today and where they are today, and they had an opportunity to sprint as far ahead of us as possible when they had the head start.

"Well, we're breathing down their necks and they can see us in the rear-view mirror and it's not going to take too long to pass them."

Sales of Sony's PS3 overtook Xbox 360 on a monthly basis in the US following the release of the PS3 Slim. There, in the whole of 2009, Microsoft's console finished just 400,000 units ahead of Sony's machine.

In Japan, there's a gulf between PS3 and 360. Sony's console now goes toe-to-toe with Wii, while Xbox 360 sells around 5000 a week alongside the PS2. To date, the PS3 has sold over 4.5m units in Japan, while the 360 has managed over 1m.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (104) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Goodfella #1 2 years ago

    This might get nasty.

  • Zomoniac #2 2 years ago

    What a load of bollocks. PS3 might be doing well now, and with good reason, it's come a long way very quickly. But I remember launch well, everywhere had tons of stock, it was just about the only major console in recent times that you could walk into Game a week after release and be 100% certain of easily getting one. Now they have stuff worth bragging about perhaps they should focus on that instead of lying about events of years past?

  • Ducklord #3 2 years ago

    I hear a rumble in the distance...

  • bad09 #4 2 years ago

    "Sony bigwig Peter Dille has explained that the real reason for PS3's slow start was poor levels of stock"

    I'm gonna get negged to hell but...

    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahaha!

    Ah that's better.....

  • Malek86 #5 2 years ago

    I thought Sony's PR was getting better, and suddenly this guy comes and ruins everything.

  • patch #6 2 years ago

    It's a wonder cr*p like this keeps getting reported. Surely there's some way to filter out the usual PR rubbish Sony and MS come out with?

  • Psychotext #7 2 years ago

    Hahahahah... that's beyond classic. The only stock problem they had was not being able to get rid of them.

    Also: ""I mean, we've got 31 million [units sold] worldwide right now - they've got 39 million [units sold]. I don't even need to go out 10 years"

    Someone might want to tell him that they were only 6m behind when the PS3 launched. If those figures are to be believed (I think his PS3 number is out of date, too low) then the 360 has pulled an extra 2m on them since. That's the wrong direction.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 13:53

  • roz123 #8 2 years ago

    Being understocked didnt harm the wiis sales

  • jn2002dk #9 2 years ago

    I bought my ps3 2 days after launch and the stores had plenty in stock

    Honestly, it seems to me a lack of games and the high price was the reason for the poor start

  • Bealsy #10 2 years ago

    Is GT5 part of this momentum?

    Slowing like one of its pristinely modelled vehicles hitting a concrete wall. Only, unlike GT5 vehicles, it's damaged, written off and not expected to be fixed until Christmas

  • Beano #11 2 years ago

    "Slow PS3 start was down to stock"

    Utter BS.

  • Spydy #12 2 years ago

    Total BS from Sony PR. Awaits counter BS statement from MS.

  • KayJay #13 2 years ago

    "they can see us in the rear-view mirror"
    No GT5 rear view mirror jokes please... :-)

  • myiagros #14 2 years ago

    In the UK there wasn't much spare stock arround on day one, but it was pretty easy to get hold of one within a few days.

    In the US the stock levels were a bit dodgey for the first month, but have been pretty much fine ever since.

  • comissars_handgun #15 2 years ago

    Hahaha, I was working in Game when the PS3 launched and we had a pile of about 30 unsold PS3s for weeks after the launch. This was just a small branch as well. I guess he cant say the real reason for the lacklustre launch, the lack of good games at launch and a truly ludicrous price.

    Whereas with the Wii we got dozens of people calling to see if we had stock every day, and a shipment of 20 would be sold out in a couple of hours.

  • Shakey_Jake33 #16 2 years ago

    Sony really have done wonders with the PS3, transforming it from an underachiever that was lacking in key areas into a console that can compete head-on with the competition... but this guy is trying to rewrite history here.

    There is a reason why the recent revision of the PS3 isn't called the PS3 Slim - it's not supposed to be, that will come later. The revised console was a relaunch in every sense, right down to a fresh new logo and a completely new marketing effort.

  • laharl80 #17 2 years ago

    He should have mentioned the fact that the PS2 outsells the 360 (in japan) and that PS3 is ahead of the 360 in europe and asia.

  • M_of_the_sys #18 2 years ago

    Jumanji.

  • MiniAmin #19 2 years ago

    What's with this new trend of industry people fanning the fanboy flames?

    Anyway, PS3 was shite initially because it had no games and it cost £425. Now it has a wide array of excellent games and it carries a reasonable price: hence its (now) deserved success. Doesn't take a genius to figure it out...
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 14:02

  • Razzajazz #20 2 years ago

    Not only is this bullshit, but Penny Arcade proved it was bullshit! Jack Tretton offered money to anyone who could find a PS3 on store shelves, and they went out and found 6 or more:

    [link url=http://w ww.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/2/12/
    ]http://ww w.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/2...[/link]

    Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy now that things seemed to have turned around a bit for Sony, but this kind of clear bullshitting makes me furious!

  • bad09 #21 2 years ago

    @ Shakey_Jake33

    You might be right there on the PS3 "slim" just being a rebranding. Also worth a giggle, I read somewhere they are already planning "relaunching" the PSPgo. Sony - The launch is just the start..of the relaunch...... :)

  • BritishBlue1 #22 2 years ago

    To be honest, I don't think PS3 sales will ever surpass the 360 and I prefer it that way, keeps quality up and prices down. Sony may close the gap considerably but roughly 50/50 market share is better for gamers rather than the out-right console monopoly they had in the last 2 generations.

  • Beano #23 2 years ago

    The PSPgo doesn't need a relaunch or rebranding... just a price drop. No reason for the current price!!

  • beastmaster #24 2 years ago

    I know! I've got to believe!

  • onezeonx #25 2 years ago

    Fact is ps3 has a better future line up of games IMO.

    Minus point me if you want but simply true lol

  • darleysam #26 2 years ago

    No, Peter. The indisputable fact is that the recent price-drop and Slim release have boosted the PS3's sales, but until that point it was flagging badly and looking like a solid 3rd place candidate. That is not in any way due to a lack of stock and to suggest as much is beyond absurd. Add to that the fact that microsoft have been quietly regrouping for the past couple of years and anticipating their biggest year yet now in 2010 (as demonstrated by bringing back the 'X' festival to highlight the absurd wealth of games coming out on the 360 this year) and an E3 to come where they'll be showing off Natal, and it's nothing but arrogance to suggest this will be an easy ride.

  • Nazo #27 2 years ago

    They just can't help themselves can they?

    Do other industries have the same level of mud-slinging as gaming do? If I were to take up an interest in cars instead of games would I find the automotive press full of Ford execs slagging off Renault and so on?

    It's no wonder this industry isn't taken as seriously as other forms of entertainment when the big players are constantly mouthing off like stupid teenagers.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 14:13

  • darleysam #28 2 years ago

    onezeonx , it's not a fact if you have to qualify it with an 'IMO'.

    Fact is, gravity doesn't exist in my opinion.

  • ryandsimmons #29 2 years ago

    Personally I wouldn't have touched the PS3 with a barge pole even up to last year. It was only with the Slim with it's price drop (and Uncharted 2) that I was tempted to buy one.

    Now I love it and play it 50/50 with my 360, but that is now. At launch it was overprices tosh and Sony's PR is bullshit. They have done wonders in revamping the system and they could get great mileage out of "check out the new improved" stuff instead of coming out with blatant tosh like this.

  • onezeonx #30 2 years ago

    My opinion IS fact :D

  • IneptPercy #31 2 years ago

    Its almost certain, that the PS3 will overtake the 360 eventually due to the Sony loyalists.

    At first gamers bought the 360 mostly and some PS3s while the Sony loyalists bought the PS3 only.

    Now as time goes on the gamers who don't own a PS3 may buy one as certain games appear and prices drop, meanwhile the Sony loyalists will never buy a 360.

    Either way neither console will ever have a signficant lead over the other which to say Sony had a complete monoply last generation really shows how will Microsoft has done.

  • CyberClaw #32 2 years ago

    Lack of Stock? If only I had known, I could have made a loan, bought the hundreds upon hundreds of PS3s still left on every single gaming store here in Portugal, and sold them for a profit in Ebay.
    Or maybe they oversupplied Portugal and forgot the rest of Europe has gamers too?
    Or maybe this guy is talking out of his ass (checks job title) Sony Bigwig? Out of his ass, definitely =)
    PS3 is picking up momentum, but trying to smudge lies on our eyes to hide the incredible fail that it was the PS3 launch, it is just... I was gonna say wrong, but on a 2nd thought, it's just Sony. ;)

  • laharl80 #33 2 years ago

    @BritishBlue1
    The last 2 gens were the best in gaming history.So whats the problem with Sony recovering its market share?

  • BritishBlue1 #34 2 years ago

    @Nezo

    "They just can't help themselves can they?"

    Well the gaming media itself is to blame as well, constantly fanning the flames. They ask stupid questions so they get stupid answers.

  • muscleblade #35 2 years ago

    "Fact is ps3 has a better future line up of games IMO. "

    Compared to?

    Prediction:
    ME2 > Every PS3 exclusive 2010

    ME2, Bayonetta, Alan Wake, Halo Reach, Crackdown 2 is pretty impressive. Heavy rain and God of war3 will no doubt be very good.
    I will probably play them too if i find the time.


  • BritishBlue1 #36 2 years ago

    Prices and choice, Laharl, prices and choice.

    Could you imagine if the PS3 had launched as the only console out there? With the price tag it had? The UK launch price was £425; that's just fucking ridiculous, I enjoy my PS3 but I'm not willing to be bent over a table and shafted for it. Like it or not Microsoft has kept Sony on it's toes and vice versa.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 14:34

  • actionfitz #37 2 years ago

    "Sony bigwig Peter Dille has explained that the real reason for PS3's slow start was poor levels of stock"...

    ...and the massive launch Price, shortage of quality 'day one' software, lack of a cohesive online multiplayer service etc.

    fixed!
    Mind you, they got some things right. Not charging a fuck-load for necessary peripherals like wireless adapters and hard drives.
    If they had an online service that rivalled xbox live and kept it free... I'd name my 1st born Sony :)

  • Murton #38 2 years ago

    I think the issue here is that the claim has been published on Eurogamer, which as you might imagine is a European publication. Funnily enough Europe, having received the PS3 four months after Japan and America saw their launch come after the stock issue had been resolved.

    Now that we've completed today history lesson, something which should probably have been commented on in the article EG, we can move onto the man's prediction. Overtaking the 360, I'd agree that it probably is inevitable. Console wars have traditionally always been settled by the first party games and that regard Microsoft just can't keep up with Sony, which is why it spends so much money buying third party exclusives, and often making a loss when doing so.

  • laharl80 #39 2 years ago

    @MattDamon
    Personally i think the PS2 still has the best library of games.Most of the games you list could only have been done on PS because of the cd format.I loved sega and owned a nes and snes but sony raised the bar.I hope PS3 grows to have the depth of game choice its predecessors had and a big market share will make that happen.

  • Toothball #40 2 years ago

    Of course the PS3's problems were all stock related. None of the shops had any games for it after all.

  • darc #41 2 years ago

    I love my PS3 but Sony execs should just never talk. Ever. Just shut up and sell the things if you're so happy.

    First of all, no mention of the price cut = ongoing denial. You sold less before and are selling more now because your prices used to be f***ing maniacal. Not complicated.

    Second of all, did he *really* say this: "I don't even need to go out 10 years"??? That is a laugh riot. 10 years is like geologic time where consumer electronics are concerned. Microsoft will probably be selling an XBox 72000000 by then (and everyone will be pissed it isn't backwards compatible LOL.)

  • onezeonx #42 2 years ago

    Yay 360 fanboys out in force as usual on eurogamer

    YAWN

  • drumbaby #43 2 years ago

    He's right you know...PS3 will pass the Xbox 360, and soon. Whether this matters in the grand scheme of things is debatable, but that doesn't stop it being true.

  • GreyBeard #44 2 years ago

    Try reading the original interview on IGN before making a judgement.

    The stuff about "priming the pump" is in response to a particular question about Sony's biggest failure with the system; basically he's talking specifically about the initial launch rollout in 06/07 being fudged, not the entire time period leading up to the slim relaunch!

    [link url=http:/ /ps3.ign.com/articles/106/1065686p1.html
    ]http://ps 3.ign.com/articles/106/1065686p...[/link]

  • superted1974 #45 2 years ago

    It has all been said above but...

    What utter BS.

    I suppose he took a leaf out of Tony Blairs book and just decided to tell a big lie (it is only small lies that get you into trouble!)

    Edit for Greybeard - just read the link - he does still say exactly what EG summary says - slow sales on launch were due to product shortages! That is certainly BS for the UK and I never heard any roumer of worldwide shortages.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 14:58

  • stevethemeat #46 2 years ago

    Of course its bullshit, but he's hardly going to say "we cocked up the launch by overpricing and overhyping the product". Its just standard corporate soundbites.

    Credit to Sony though, they have done well in the last 6 months to make the PS3 a more attractive buy, i own both PS3 and 360 and i could not give a crap who finishes first, i'm just looking forward to the great games out on each platform this year.

  • king2001 #47 2 years ago

    "Well, we're breathing down their necks and they can see us in the rear-view mirror"

    Way to go mixing those metaphors DJ Alan Partridge.

    JURASSIC PARK.

  • SwedBear #48 2 years ago

    Murton: Umm, there never was a stock shortage in the US or Japan either so regardless if he is talking about Europe, US or Japan he's simply wrong. Getting a PS3 was never hard even at launch and the months/years after. In fact, has there ever been any problems getting a PS3?

  • frunk #49 2 years ago

    I think the early predictions that this comments field would erupt into a flame war are way off the mark.

    I think both PS and XBox loyalists are united in their disdain for corporate PR bollocks.

    From my recollections of my day 1 purchases of both consoles, the PS3 seemed a little more "available". I think it is true PS3 will eventually overhaul the 360 in sales... but the final balance will be far closer to 50/50 this gen than the last one where the Xbox struggled.

    MS may trumpet that as a victory - an increase in market share, but in reality it is what they should be doing.

    For us... its great. Videogames are best when the big contenders are fighting for our money.

    And to all those execs out there who want to provide "fanboy soundbites"... STFU

  • Dizzy #50 2 years ago

    Strange, according to him the gap is getting bigger and he is still happy?

    Anyway most people stopped caring about this anyway, the good games are rolling in for both consoles. They are both winners IMHO no matter who ends up first when the next gen starts.

    Fact is that if any Joe on the street buys a 360 or a Ps3 he will have fun and the competition has been good for all of us.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 15:32

  • SwedBear #51 2 years ago

    At this stage I think it is only the fanboys on either side that care about who sells more this month or that month and who is 1st, second and third in the race. All three consoles have matured and are selling well and in the end all three companies can be satisfied with what they done.

    Nintendo can be satisfied that they not only gained marketshare but dominate sales-wise this generation

    Microsoft can be satisfied that they no longer are miles behind Sony but instead now are considered equal to Sony and that they have a great online-service that so far is unbeaten this generation.

    Sony can be satisfied that after a rocky start they have managed to get the momentum for the PS3 going (and it is a good console).

    Yes, Sony has lost marketshare and Microsoft probably won't be able to hold the second place for ever but seriously - who really cares at this stage? The Xbox 360 is over 4 years old now and has sold very well. It most probably will sell well for several years more. Same with the PS3. Both have reached a critical mass and I'm pretty sure it no longer matters if either "wins" as we will get good support from games companies for both machines.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #52 2 years ago

    "Of course the PS3's problems were all stock related. None of the shops had any games for it after all."

    Brilliant. Plus-one karma for you!

  • shinesevens #53 2 years ago

    We are not stupid, we remember what happened and this kind of thing just makes me think Sony think we are all idiots.

    Guys you cocked up the launch, for reason we are all well aware of. You should have crushed the Xbox 360 based on what you achieved with the PS2.

    You are doing well now, focus on that and stop making stuff up.

  • TonyHarrison #54 2 years ago

    I think we can expect PR bods to twist the truth every once in a while, but a blatant lie like this is ridiculous. As has been said, Sony challenged people to find PS3 consoles on store shelves at launch, and people promptly did!

    There's a big loss of credibility there for the guy who said this, and for Sony as an unfortunate consequence as he is an employee.

  • GreyBeard #55 2 years ago

    How the PS3 launch was cocked up:

    [link url=htt p://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5319190.stm
    ]http://ne ws.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/53...[/link]

    Remember this article was from September 2006! PS3 launch was a clusterfuck!

  • emhaslam92 #56 2 years ago

    if they've got plenty of stock could they please replace my YLOD'd 60GB PS3 free of charge?

  • StooMonster #57 2 years ago

    Maybe he actually believes what he says? Perhaps that's what Sony staff actually think!

  • JediMasterMalik #58 2 years ago

    The slow start was down to price and he knows it.

  • superted1974 #59 2 years ago

    @frunk

    Xbox/PS3 50:50 but chuck in the Wii and it is more like 60:20:20

  • Douche #60 2 years ago

    @MattDamon

    Calm down fella - ain't that big a deal.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #61 2 years ago

    As silly as Dille's opener is, he's got a point - I think Sony will pass 360. It's taken a while, but Sony finally appears to have gotten its act together.

  • ryandsimmons #62 2 years ago

    @ Bertie

    I really hope it does overtake the 360. Then MS will start sweating and come up with some brilliance to regain first place. (Or second if you will.) Following that Sony will up their game to try to dominate again...

    It will ensure that neither company rests on it's laurels and promote innovation.

  • patchbox360 #63 2 years ago

    Meh.

    forget all the figures - unless you actually have stock in any of these companies.

  • Byzanite #64 2 years ago

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    Edit: sorry was just writing what my head was doing...
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 16:00

  • onyxbox #65 2 years ago

    Microsoft been spouting this sort of "we sold less because of shortages" crap for years, why do people get so exited Sony do it? (let me giuess because [insert company] lies and [inster other company] doesn't)

    What's more dissapointing is seeing fanboys lap it up as a positive or a negative depending on who said what against who?

    The way I see it:

    o MS and Sony are pretty even in terms of sales (especially when you consider how many 360's are borked or a 2nd backup system)
    o 360 sells more games because of the demographic using it
    o Both systems have enough exclusives that justify owning both

    So for me, buy both and stop it with all the fanboy bollocks. Put your energy into Mass Effect 2 and Demon Souls and have more fun!

    :-D

    p.s. Wii doesn't count :-P
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 16:03

  • ronuds #66 2 years ago

    The launch was a bit rough, but after a month that was cleared up. I don't think it even took a month. Those problems certainly didn't extend to the launch of the Slim, for cryin' out loud.

    Also, didn't the 360 only have a 7m unit lead after the 1st year? PS3's going backwards, sir!

  • HenryFitz #67 2 years ago

    This is the most commented-on article of the day, and a lot of ladies doth be protesting too much. If you want fewer fanboy-PR articles, comment less on the ones that are released, like this one.

  • Toadie48 #68 2 years ago

    why does sony come up with this bullshit? No one who is hardcore believes you Sony.
    Sony you fucked up because your system back then didn't have much good exclusives, your system cost too much, poorly advertised compared to Wii and Xbox and the bad rep u got from being arrogent @ E3 2006 I think.

  • muscleblade #69 2 years ago

    @onezeonx

    Only fanboy in this thread is you. Idiot.

    edit: And patchbox of course.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 16:18

  • RobTheBuilder #70 2 years ago

    Absobloodylutely Sony.

    The suggestion that a lack of games, a bigger lack of exclusive games, incredibly high price point, minimal quality jump over 360 (or none at all if you played ports), absence of rumble and public disinterest played any part in the slow start are completey insane.

    Sony. Get a better PR team for goodness sake.

  • Gao #71 2 years ago

    Poor Stock levels ... yeah they were too high!

  • Diomedes #72 2 years ago

    Being a bigwig he doesnt even have his facts straight.Sony announced more than 33 million sold two weeks ago ,if they were at only 31 million by 31 dec they would have only shipped 3.98 million for the last quarter when we kow they sold/shipped 3.8 for december alone.Tomorrow Sony will give the last quarters numbers and we will know better ,but considering MS has done 5.2 and that the PS3 has outsold it everywhere (and heavily in Japan and most UE) I think 6 million and 33 LTD is a given.

    He also didnt seem to know there isnt PS2 games in the PSN ....

  • drxym #73 2 years ago

    I think it's obvious, painfully obvious that the slow start was due to price, not stock. Once the price became more reasonable, so sales began to pick up. The PS3 is an awesome console and an awesome multimedia device and I bought one as soon as it appeared in Europe, but there is no denying that the price scared off a lot of people.

  • GreyBeard #74 2 years ago

    Seriously though, what's a better month to launch an expensive piece of hardware in, November (as planned and failed) or March when it actually occurred in the EU?

    Timing is crucial, and the problems with Blu-ray diodes did probably cost Sony a decent number of units in Europe.

  • icematt12 #75 2 years ago

    I'm more bothered about what the next consoles now, they must have people locked away somewhere. Interested as to when the successor of 360 and Wii will be released, expecting no PS4 for a few years yet.

  • parablax #76 2 years ago

    Hopefully next generation there will be only 1 copnsole specification to choose from. None of this PR BS, no missing out on exclusivity deals etc.

  • Collymilad #77 2 years ago

    Of course the PS3 will overtake the 360.

    I recently got a PS3 and it's a great console, but it's no better than the 360. Anyone with more than 2 brain cells knew the PS3 would outsell the 360 by the end of this gen.

    Not because it necessarily deserves to, but because it has a powerful brand name and a lot of people hate Microsoft. It's true.

    Remember when people used to say "Playing Nintendo" and it meant "a console" - then it changed to "Playing Playstation" - so when cluless people want to buy a console, they tend to go with Sony.
    Edited by 2 at 03/02/10 @ 17:23

  • IkariW #78 2 years ago

    Haha, welcome to the party Sony!!! only took you five years! Theres 'fashionably late' then there is PS3. ;)

    Five years to copy everything MS did right online with 360, yeah, well done.
    The fact I was playing a good HD driving game 5 years ago (PGR3) and GT5 STILL isn't out, is a bit of a joke isn't it?

    Don't get me wrong, I like Sony though, I like (Most) of their products, they are solid and well built. But this time they were playing catch up, for one main reason, they over estimated brand loyalty, and under estimated Online gaming, big time.

    But this generation has shown, it is possible for another console to 'Exist' quite comfortably in the Playstation world, you just change the world to an online one. MS weren't stupid, they laid a solid base down with Xbox one Live, then built on it.

    Who knows what the next generation will show us, personally, I don't think its that far away either. Could 2010 be the last big Christmas for 360? when will MS mention, show, their next console?

    By the time Sony reach the frontline in this particular war, it will have moved again! Personally, I hope they get it right quicker next time, the market would be a much poorer place with out them for sure.

    Ikari
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 17:24

  • Dizzy #79 2 years ago

    >Being a bigwig he doesnt even have his facts straight

    Luckily some random guy on an Internet forum knows better!
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 17:32

  • Spekingur #80 2 years ago

    Of course the sales of PS3 will overtake the X360... this will happen in the future. When the X720 is released.

  • photoboy #81 2 years ago

    Cmdr Zorg's got their number
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 17:42

  • Gaol #82 2 years ago

    I remember the PS3 launch well, ebay was awash with them and a few weeks after you could pick them up at retail price, which I did thanks to the nice 2$:£1 exchange rate at the time.

    Then I waited about 12 months for decent games to start turning up :p

  • frunk #83 2 years ago

    Seriously... since when did farticusmaximus start speaking sense in the comments...

    Its a world I am not familiar with, perhaps one where Sega will win the hardware race this gen!

  • gjgjg #84 2 years ago

    i bought one for unch 2, im happy with it but as long as xbox performance is better on dual releases and as long as they have good exclusives I will use it over the ps3 as my primary console... i think once the figues stabalise and as long as JP are wholely biased the ps3 will be ahead slightly, but i also think alot of people are in my situation and certainly wont discard their box or even use it less than the ps3. i know abuot 8 or 9 people with both consoles and only 2 prefer the ps3, and even those guys use it less than their xbox.

  • WayMucho #85 2 years ago

    As someone else said way back, Sony fans have a lot to thank the 360 for - imagine what the launch price would have been without the 360 already out there - the £425 was massively subsidised. Sony will hopefully learn that they can't shaft their loyal fans when they launch PS4.
    I was going to say that i'm glad that this gen has worked out much more evenly, but the ratios of Wii, 360 and PS3 are probably about the same as PS2, Xbox and Cube (in that order). I guess games sales are much more even this time round

  • coolbritannia #86 2 years ago

    More Sony Lies.

  • Ryze #87 2 years ago

    OK then.

    This guy's in charge of PSN as well as marketing, aparrently.

    Nuff said.

    They need to anglicise their US ads, as they're EXCELLENT:

    http://ww w.youtube.com/watch?v=pQrxfBOo_...
    Edited by 2 at 03/02/10 @ 20:06

  • GreyBeard #88 2 years ago

    He's NOT lying though!

    If you read the original article, he is asked this question:

    IGN: And what would you say is your biggest failure?

    To which this is his answer:

    Peter Dille: Well, it's not a failure in that it was fatal, but it's well-documented that we didn't have as smooth a launch as we would have liked to. I think we primed the pump with a lot of interest in the platform. People can point to the ads and whatnot. We talked about that. I think the shortcoming was getting a lot of people whipped up and having them wait in line and then only having a very, very limited amount of hardware supply globally, which meant that we had a kind of start and stop effect with our launch, which is hard to recover from. It was a speed bump that we had to overcome and we overcame it.

    His answer in short is just to say that they screwed up the long-planned simultaneous launch due to global supply shortages (of blue ray diodes).

    That's all. No history being rewritten. No "big lie" theory, its just what you get when you ask a marketing VP about his companies biggest failure - he picks something that should be a dead issue at this point.

    However thanks to everyone fixating on the "slow start" comment ***that exists only in this EG article*** people are under the impression that his comments were meant in a far more generalized sense than they were!

    Hilarious really.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 19:12

  • lockload #89 2 years ago

    Step one for sony must be to outsell the 360 worldwide #first#

    Like someone said when the ps3 launched the 360 was 6m ahead they are now 8m ahead

    This huy need to get out of his sony ivory tower a bit more and get real, lets not forget it takes a lot of businness sense to go from #1 to #3 in spectacular fahsion
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 19:14

  • ronuds #90 2 years ago

    @ Greybeard

    I think your interpretation of his comment is worse than EG's. You seem to have interjected a lot of words that were never said.

  • Ryze #91 2 years ago

    Another excellent US PS3 commercial:

    [link url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaVsmnpEtE0&feature=rel ated
    ]http://ww w.youtube.com/watch?v=kaVsmnpEt...[/link]

    Shame they aren't this good in the UK, and weren't this good at launch.

  • GreyBeard #92 2 years ago

    @ronuds

    I copied and pasted it from the original text on IGN.

    No changes, no alterations, no omissions and stuck it in boldface so there could be no doubt whatsoever what I was writing myself, and what I was referencing.

    No offense, but quite honestly what sort of response do you expect from a guy who is doubtless paid a shit ton of money to evangelize a product, to say what that products biggest failure is?

    His response is specifically about the screwed-up global launch, because that's the soft, safe, politically expedient, media trained answer to give!

  • Les #93 2 years ago

    "However thanks to everyone fixating on the "slow start" comment ***that exists only in this EG article*** people are under the impression that his comments were meant in a far more generalized sense than they were!"

    Just another case of people believing what they want to believe...

  • belziah #94 2 years ago

    Baddum Tish........

  • ronuds #95 2 years ago

    @ GreyBeard

    Oh, I agree that he's not going to say anything less. He's a talking head and I expect nothing else.

    However, I think that answer could be interpreted in a number of ways. He never says the issue was that Europe released after the US or Japan specifically...only that there were hardware shortages globally after launch. Which isn't really true anyway. As many have pointed out, people weren't having problems picking up a PS3 at launch. He said people were standing in line waiting for consoles that weren't there. Why would these people be waiting in line if the console hadn't launched yet?

    I understand what you're saying and I understand that may be what he's eluding to, but he doesn't specifically say it. Only that there were shortages at launch.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/10 @ 22:33

  • Deckard1 #96 2 years ago

    Early 2007

    media guy: So what factors do you think attribute to the PS3's slow start at launch

    sony exec: Well thats easy, I'm glad you asked. We're sold out.

    media guy: Your sold out? But I was was just in Game before and the shelves were full of them.

    sony exec: Ah no, thats quite an easy mistake to make. What you saw were boxes. Empty boxes. Sorry we're sold out.

    media guy: But across the road there is a gamestation, with a sign in the window saying PS3 in stock, and a man is walking out of the shop carrying a PS3.

    sony exec: No he isn't. We're sold out.

    media guy: He's right there. Excuse me sir, could we have a word....

    sony exec dives on the man, grabs his PS3 and throws it off the bridge.

    man: what the hell are you doing with my PS3!?!?!

    sony exec: that wasn't a PS3 sir, I'm afraid you've been tricked. We're sold out.

    man: What the hell are you talking about?! There's hundreds of them in there!!

    sony exec: No there isn't. What you saw were boxes sir. Empty boxes. Oh my god whats that behind you, it looks like a giant enemy crab!!!!

    sony exec turns and runs away down the street
    Edited by 1 at 04/02/10 @ 00:33

  • Closingracer #97 2 years ago

    Wow failure...this is probably one of the reason why i hate sony so much they are cocky to no end... I went into a story and walked out with a ps3 in my hand ...but is way to expensive and they had like a whole lot of them also.. I mean i do have a ps3 now a 80gig model but that is cause it is a great blueray player... but i truly love how they are lying right in front of my face

  • BonzoBanana #98 2 years ago

    A huge number of 360s have been replaced by users due to reliability problems so I doubt the amount of active users its that different between the two consoles. Although that said the 360 is primarily a games console where as the ps3 is a dual function game and blu-ray player. So I struggle to see how the 360 is ahead now in sales knowing that millions have disappeared from active use.

  • Spekingur #99 2 years ago

    @360_RROD: This is a bad thing?

  • Rubarack #100 2 years ago

    Tis for me, I got a 360 back in the day when the PS3 was a bit of a joke and these days I feel a bit stupid every time I have to pass up a PS3 exclusive or can't play a console exclusive online. For the vast majority of people though the fact you can get 360 games on the PC is only flamebait, they'd never buy a PC anyway.

  • ronuds #101 2 years ago

    Well, it's odd that people use the fact that some 360 exclusives are on PC as a negative talking point for MS. As if it's bad of them to try and bring the game to more platforms. If anything, it's an excellent opportunity for MS because they aren't limited to only the 360.

    You all laugh and say "haha, ms sucks" but you're still buying MS exclusives and they're the ones who are laughing - all the way to the bank - with YOUR money.

    Wouldn't it be nice of PS3 exclusives were on the PC, too? So that more people might get to play them?

  • zedzee #102 2 years ago

    So dropping the price to an (almost) decent level had NOTHING to do with the recent turn-around in the PS3's fortunes?

    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/sony-sold-6-5 m-ps3s-last-autumn
    ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/articles/sony-s...[/link]

    Let's not forget that the promised world-wide simultaneous release DIDN'T come to fruition, as EMEA was dropped from their launch plans (but of course, who else would they dare to treat like sh*t), so how come Sony was STILL short of units???

  • zedzee #103 2 years ago

    Surely the likes of Eurogamer have an obligation to tell the truth, despite the vendors lying through their teeth every time?

    I mean, shouldn't someone take this guy Dildo or whatever he's called, back in time and show him that the shelves of ALL stores were very much brimming full of PS3 units, up and down the country!

    And then point him, quite rightly, to the fact that their astronomically extortionate asking price (£425 in the UK) AND all the blogs/comments on the Internet at the time, to prove that it was Sony's arrogance that lead them to lose out to Microsoft all this time. Do they REALLY pay this guy THAT MUCH money to say SO MUCH cr*p?!

    Eurogamer should be challenging such statements with FACTS from industry commentators, chart compilers, meta-information and ACTUAL historical accounts.

    Oh sorry, I forgot, I was dreaming of a free press...!

  • zedzee #104 2 years ago

    @ Beano - (re: PSPgo needing a price drop):

    I know and I completely agree. But not only does the PSPgo need a price drop because it's too expensive but also because it's actually DESTROYED the slight resurgence seen in the PSP-UMD model.

    The extortionately high price of the go is killing the reputation of the entire platform altogether and not just by forcing the high price on would-be consumers but also the insistence on adopting DLC-only game purchasing, which not everyone seems to be happy with.

    Considering the 'hidden' costs of such purchases (for example, the M2 sticks that needs to hold the games), no way to xfer UMD games (has that utility that was promised been released yet...?) and the memory slot not being compatible with the previous models - it's a wonder they have managed to sell a SINGLE unit!!