Console Wars - the revenge

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Asher
Sounds like the shortage is genuine, specifically on the Elite and Pro models.

Best Buy's online store has been sold out on most occasions since November on the Xbox 360:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8301492&st=xbox+360&type=product&id=1172881999620

Circuit City is sold out as well:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Xbox-360-Elite-High-Definition-Gaming-and-Entertainment-System-882224390118/sem/rpsm/oid/177538/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

And amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/360-Elite-System-Console-120GB/dp/B000OYMSL6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1203033040&sr=1-2

Basically I can't find the Elite in stock anywhere.

On that metric the Wii shortage was/is also genuine.

[Asher]

The shortage is genuine, no one's argued otherwise.

Whether it's intentional or not is another matter.

[DrSpike]

Yes, in both cases.

[Asher]

Originally posted by asleepathewheel
call of duty is a machine, isn't it?

where is:

coming from?

I count 4:
cod4
rockband
guitar hero 3
burnout paradise

unless he is counting cod4 and gh3, since they're listed twice? I'm confused...

Good question. I wouldn't put it past them...

But I think they're using the top 10 console games, excluding PSP/DS.

[Asher]

Originally posted by DrSpike
Yes, in both cases.

I wouldn't think so for the 360 right now. Doesn't make much sense, they need to build the lead in pure numbers against the PS3 and not in mindshare.

As an NPD analyst said in an interview, it's not that unexpected for logistics to be screwy after record holiday seasons.

[UnOrthOdOx]

Especially since for whatever reason there wasn't the typical Post-holiday lull in sales this year. Across all systems.

Still funny that the Wii "shortage" has it selling more than anyone, while the xbox shortage dropped them to #3 for the month.

[snoopy369]

* In January, $297 million was spent on the Xbox 360 platform (hardware, software and accessories combined), compared to $244 million on Wii and $219 million on PS3. (U.S. NPD, January)
* $159 million was spent on Xbox 360 games alone in January compared to $131 million on Wii and $80 million for PS3. (U.S. NPD, January)

Aren't these numbers pretty impressive for the Wii, rather than for the X360, at least in terms of software? I thought X360 normally outsold Wii in games by much more than 25%.

[Asher]

Originally posted by UnOrthOdOx
Especially since for whatever reason there wasn't the typical Post-holiday lull in sales this year. Across all systems.

Still funny that the Wii "shortage" has it selling more than anyone, while the xbox shortage dropped them to #3 for the month.

The wii is cheaper, smaller, and far easier to make -- why is this funny?

[lord of the mark]

if you compare COD sales on PS3 to those on 360, compared to the installed base, its not doing to badly is it? Of course its in competition with more shooters on the 360. still from what ive read elsewhere PS3 software sales overall arent that terribly out of line with their installed base - bluray or no, its not the Wii. Its more that their installed base is still so small.

If they sell enough to people wanting blue ray, they would live have lower attach rates I guess.

[Kuciwalker]

If they sell enough to people wanting blue ray, they would live have lower attach rates I guess.

They don't care about lower attach rates in that scenario, because the person is buying Blu-ray movies instead, which also gives Sony a lot of money.

[asleepathewheel]

Originally posted by lord of the mark from what ive read elsewhere PS3 software sales overall arent that terribly out of line with their installed base - bluray or no, its not the Wii. Its more that their installed base is still so small.

I'm confused, do you think the ps3 has a better attach rate than the wii?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by asleepathewheel


I'm confused, do you think the ps3 has a better attach rate than the wii?

Oh wait, I do remember talk earlier of PS3s attach rate being as low as the Wii's. But that wasnt the impression Id gotten recently - perhaps I misread some things.

[Asher]

Think we found out why supply is short -- MS is basically retiring all current stock and launching a new SKU (or more) soon.

360 Arcade, Elite, Premium, and Pro discontinued on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Console-20GB-Drive/dp/B000UQAUWW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1203121066&sr=8-2

The Wifi adapter is also discontinued...

Looks like we'll get a new SKU or two are GDC.

Some speculation is the new SKU was to include HD DVD, but of course that's been scrapped at the last minute. Which explains why the old units have stopped being shipped (leading to shortages) with no replacements, they're re-tooling.

[asleepathewheel]

here's something interesting. link is down, but hopefully will be back later:

Blu ray Xbox 360 Planned By Microsoft
By David Richards | Monday | 18/02/2008
Rumours were circulating today that Microsoft is set to dump HD DVD and bring out a Blu ray Xbox 360 by as early as May 2008. The move will allow the Company to go head to head with the Sony PS3 gaming console which has been credited with being one of the main reasons that retailers have preferred Blu ray over Toshiba’s HD DVD.
Insiders at Microsoft in the USA have told SmartHouse that Microsoft have already configured a standalone Blu ray player that can be connected into an Xbox 360 and that subject to internal marketing and sales approvals the model could be on sale within 3 months.

The Company has also been working on a built in Blu ray player however insiders are claiming that Microsoft see the HD format battle moving online with consumers offered 1080p movie and content files as a download as opposed to having to buy a HD or Blu ray DVD.

Both Intel and Microsoft have been supporters of the HD DVD format that is set to be killed off this week.

http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Gaming/Console/J7L7H2R4

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by asleepathewheel
here's something interesting. link is down, but hopefully will be back later:

Blu ray Xbox 360 Planned By Microsoft
By David Richards | Monday | 18/02/2008
Rumours were circulating today that Microsoft is set to dump HD DVD and bring out a Blu ray Xbox 360 by as early as May 2008. The move will allow the Company to go head to head with the Sony PS3 gaming console which has been credited with being one of the main reasons that retailers have preferred Blu ray over Toshiba’s HD DVD.
Insiders at Microsoft in the USA have told SmartHouse that Microsoft have already configured a standalone Blu ray player that can be connected into an Xbox 360 and that subject to internal marketing and sales approvals the model could be on sale within 3 months.

The Company has also been working on a built in Blu ray player however insiders are claiming that Microsoft see the HD format battle moving online with consumers offered 1080p movie and content files as a download as opposed to having to buy a HD or Blu ray DVD.

Both Intel and Microsoft have been supporters of the HD DVD format that is set to be killed off this week.


http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Gaming/Console/J7L7H2R4

Bad for PS3, but good for Sony?