Personally, I love my 360 but I'll probably buy a PS3 in the fall in preparation for MGS4, FFXIII, Little Big Planet...oh, and Blu-Ray movies.

Fuzi Lojak

Also, who brags a "2:1 sales ratio?

pABSO

I believe the hardware shortage, and know three more people that have purchased a 360 in the last month. As far as I can see, the only reason PS3 is going to pick up steam is because of the Blu-Ray victory. Even so, I won't be buying one until it hits about 299$ - so probably not until next year.

I love my 360

merebito

DrunkRaba

Retry

A guy goes into the big box retailer looking for a game system.
Guy "Do you have any Wii's?"
Clerk " No we are sold out"
Guy "Do you have any Xbox 360's?"
Clerk "No sorry we are sold out."
Guy "What do you have?"
Clerk "We have PS3's!"
Guy "That's the Blu-Ray player right?"
Clerk "Yes but it also plays games."

elross66

batstimpy

cxmnky

Maybe you should give your 360 a hug or something... seems like you need to hold a loved one close at the moment. The word shortage makes you believe that there are not enough 360s out there to support the demand. However, personally, i have seen at least 5-10 stores that were all carrying a good amount of them as of late. Therefore, it's not a very large shortage, if that. It's not like someone (in NY at least) is saying, "dammit! i can't find a 360 anywhere!" They are here, and there's a bunch of them. I can't speak for the entire world, but NY seems just peachy.

@Scrapple:

You're an intelligent one aren't you? So because Kotaku posts a report showing ps3 outselling 360 it means that kotaku loves ps3 as of late? Apparently it shows that 360 p0ownszszszsoij-1800-97-Jenny the pS3 too? Wow, i never would have guessed it. You're a little bitter aren't you?

@cxmnky:

Yes, but no one is arguing there are more 360s out there. Everyone knows that already.

Mpalm.

cxmnky

Only PR guys and fanboys would go through all the effort of comparing the percentage of owners of one platform who buy a game over the percentage of owners who buy it for another. 100% of small number is still a small number. 50% of a huge number is something that can't be ignored.

cxmnky

Denytenamun

3DO,Turbo Graphixs 16 and Dreamcast were the only systems I ever got laughed at for owning. Which is funny because everyone seems to love the Dreamcast now. Little too late don't you think?

DemonBlood

kingme

PSN: Lp47

kgetz3

Scrapple

Yeah, take that MS biatches.

TheFaze

KEELr

"you're also a fanboy"

Meh. I just happen to think the Xbox and 360 are crap consoles. Sue me for having an opinion that isn't equally charitable to every gaming system in all of God's green goodness. I also believe that the 5200, 7800, Master System, N64, 3D0, Jaguar, and Virtual Boy were all garbage for a myriad of reasons.

On the other hand, I also own/have owned an NES, SNES, Genesis/Sega CD, Turboduo, Gameboy, Gameboy Color, all three iterations of Gameboy Advance, both iterations of the DS, LYNX, Game Gear, NeoGeo Pocket Color, Dreamcast, PlayStation 1, 2, and 3, Gamecube, and PSP.

Fancy that, huh? A gamer who doesn't think every outlet for my hobby is of equal worth...

I don't really know what else to say beyond stating that if this makes me or anyone else a fanboy...well it can only mean that anyone who feels you can't be a true gamer unless you love everything is an ignorant douche purse.

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

Amazing-Steve

Yeah, because the HD DVD camp have never resorted to such tactics........

DelSource

Amazing-Steve

PowerButton

OH OK I DIDNT KNOW YOU GUYS WERE GODS AND COULD SEE THE INVENTORIES OF EVERY STORE THAT CARRIES 360s

its a fact there is a shortage, shortage doesnt mean its fucking sold out everywhere dumbasses it just means theres less than needed and yes regionally there are shortages

after nearly doubling up on the ps3 in xmas I doubt it suddenly lost popularity

people that say shit like this are the reason we had G W BUSH for 2 terms, thanks for ruining our country fuckfaces

rodsky

mjn39

ortegar

coktoe

ortegar

elint6

That is what some of you guys sound like, lol. Honestly, I want PS3 to pick up, so that maybe competition will start to get MS on the ball when it comes to price cutting and more games.

cmonty06

Yeah, MS seems desperate. I'm sorry but my patience for MS has reached a point. They NEED to recall the XBox 360s and fix them properly.

RPGr

The UK is the 360's strongest and PS3's weakest European market.....

DelSource

Not really, if you consider the year head start Microsoft had without any competition. PS3 has sold more consoles in the same period of time than 360 sold unless i'm mistaken.

Mpalm.

The Shape

Again, which games are selling better on the 360 than the PS3? The former has an install base of nearly three times the latter in the US: how many cross-platform games are selling three times as many on the MS console than the Sony unit?

Simply put, for every 100k of sales for a PS3 version of COD4, Turok, Burnout: Paradise or DMC4 for example, the 360 version would have to sell 300k before it started "selling more" in real terms.

(I've been asking this question for a few days across various fora; as yet no-one can/will answer.)

DelSource

Walker

rebelphoenix

robochick

One minute someone says PS3 owners don't buy games, the next we're told good cross-platform games are more likely to sell well on the PS3......

DelSource

Well, also, you have to take into consideration that PS3 users don't have as a robust catalog of quality games as the 360, so of course they will buy the shit out of the good games.

WoodyNvincible

From what I can gather, DMC4 for example is selling only 50% more copies on the 360, not 300% more. If that is true, then is that what MS would call success? If so I should hate to see failure.

DelSource

screamingslave

Still, the PS3 is gaining steam for the first time since its launch over a year ago, MS need to pull some BIG exclusives out of the bag sharpish, or drop the price of the premium 360 to £200 ($400) and bin the cack arcade model which people only buy if there are no premiums in stock. Also, seeming as HDMI comes as standard now they should bin the elite as well. Too many SKU's confuse people - Sony are just as guilty of this.

The wii only has one SKU and is the most popular console of all three. Coincidence?

EdwinJ85

Of course they're making more money off the 360 than Nintendo with the Wii. It costs more. You know what they don't tell us is how much they're still losing from the production costs - which in turn would help explain, coincidence or not, the holiday "shortage". The Wii is giving Nintendo a higher net income because they're already making money off of each console that's sold. Also, the 360 games ARE going to sell more because they have a stricter review process for possible game concepts - that's why their library has more big games. Most of the Wii games are crapware. Besides a few good party games, I only have 2 or 3 good "hardcore" games for my Wii and I desperately want more.

If there's a company that truly can control their output it's Nintendo. Maybe MS as well, but Nintendo has been riding off of their shortage since the system came out and it's getting old hearing about it. Nintendo needs to speed up production, simply because they can, and get more systems out there.

holycaribou

dantemustdie

Of course, my PS3 is Folding@Home atm, and my Wii is probably getting used by my younger cousins. So technically I'm not playing any of them all that much these days. PSP and DS have my attention mostly, prolly due to the portability.

And for family games, don't people go to the Wii? I mean, my grandma plays the Wii and she's rather technophobic...

Shadowmist

sammyDAsammon

gozirah

Doesn't the PS2 tend to outsell the 360 in the US? (I can't check right now...) If that's true, then even if the 360 is in shortage right now, the PS3 managed to outsell the PS2 which can be used as a benchmark unless the PS2s sales slipped heavily.

fuchikoma

zanzibarlegend

I am looking forward to some of the exclusives on the PS3 as well as home, but something tells me that a year from now I'll still be mostly playing the 360. Yep, it's the hardcore gamer's choice at this point.

Atilla_the_Nun

ceptri

reptile168

BigBaybee_225

dalejrfanfreak

SilverStar95

bigmil87

So... You agree with me?

PapaBear434

I work at one of the busiest Best Buy's in Minnesota, and we have been out of Xbox 360s since December. Every shipment we get goes about as fast as our Wiis. The only console that stays is the PS3. The PS3 sells, but then again, what other choices are left on the shelfs?

Justcrim

orangeclover

UncleScrotar

wancell

The Shape

It's high demand from selling like crazy during the holidays, (and oh trust me, it sold), just hasn't caught up. The PS3s now are selling like fucking CUR-AAAZY, which is a good thing for Sony. It's tax return season, and I think that's what's helping the PS3's sales, (that's what a LOT of my customers have been telling me while purchasing their PS3s).

It's the fact that people have money, now, where it was nowhere to be had. Thus why the system sucked badly during the holiday season; no one had money, but people wanted the damn system.

Hell, I'm getting a freakin' PS3 with my tax return. The system was just ungodly expensive with, seriously, no justification for purchase, (lack of games or light at the end of the tunnel was nowhere to be seen for major exclusives).

What's been helping the PS3 right now, as well, is Blu-Ray, because believe it or not, a lot of people have been informing themselves and, yeah, they know Blu-Ray is winning... if not already flat out won.

January sucked for Microsoft, and currently so is February, (HEY I got a total of 6 Pros at my store this month so far... yeah that's not helping - granted they sold within a day, so yeah, demand is still there for 360s). I don't see why anyone is screaming "WIN FOREVER" for Sony. They have a LOT of road ahead of them to cover, and they are nowhere near their destination.

I'll tell you this, my customers have NOT been happy about finding about the discontinuation of the 80gig. I know Sony wants to kill confusion, but they keep causing it.

TheJinManCan

Invoking the proverbial "Sony Defense Force" at this point is like sending up a flair that screams out your own pathetic loyalties.

PapaBear434

PwnySlaystation

The Shape

woggerman

PSN: Lp47

Poltergeist13

josh924

B33

mossberg

The HD DVD drive is a peripheral, and is only used for viewing movies. It has nothing to do with the 360 as a gaming console. you don't have to buy the HD DVD drive to play games on the 360.

as I said before, if the 360 is in stock in your neighborhood, that's great, it's out of stock here...

As far as the internet sites that have them in stock, that's great. I'm sure that's where some of the sales came from. Most people wouldn't go online to shop for a console that they SHOULD be able to find in stores and take home that day, with a 30 day in-store warranty if they should happen to get a bricked console...

I posted these before, I'll post them again...

[img.photobucket.com]
[img.photobucket.com]
[img.photobucket.com]
[img.photobucket.com]
[img.photobucket.com]

That Best buy one, notice the "Not Available For Store Pickup" ... it didn't even give me the option to search with my zip code...

Nside

Witzbold

Witzbold

For us to assume the lower sales were all due to shortages, we'd have to assume they're in a worse position than Nintendo is for producing their respective consoles.

LittleBigPlaneteer

I'm A Gamer Type Guy!!

The Shape

josh924

S'how I got mine, at least 50$ of it....

PlayerX

MXs219

Speaking of which, it would not surprise me one bit if the Xbox 360 went back to outselling the PS3 for the month of February.

josh924

PSN: Lp47

zoesch

PSN: Lp47

So it looks like it's more of a distribution problem than a real widespread shortage (Like the Wii or PS2 shortages).

zoesch

The Shape

Sure. That's why it's as hard to find the 360 as it is to find a Wii.

Speaking from a slightly biased standpoint, I wouldn't plunk down 500$ for a 360 and some games just to have it blow up on me. I DO want to play Halo 3, but not that badly.

PlayerX

Lol no idea why I typed that. I meant to type "sales from one month" Wish I could edit my comment. Oh well. Im tired and have been sick the past two days. Apparently its showing.

NutManIV

cxmnky

PSN: Lp47

Or maybe this doesnt really matter since these are sales figures from one month? Probably the least important month of the year. Microsoft is happy. They outsold the PS3 by large amounts in the two most important retail months of the year. Anyone who thinks that sales from money actually mean something is likely aa fanboy. Remember that week when the 360 outsold the PS3 in Japan? Or in September when the 360 outsold the wii?

I think whats sadder is not Microsofts attempt to soften the blow, but the fact that Sony is actually trying to convince people that this is a big deal.

NutManIV

Ugh.. these comments are sooo 2007. But you're right. Anyone who didn't care about the PS3's multimedia functions, blu-ray or the games, but bought one because of the throat forcing thing is dumb.

gozirah

If it was only local B&M, you could say "well, then it's regional. There's a shortage where I am." So buy online. As long as you can get a system at regular retail price, there is no shortage. And most of the major online retailers have not just one, but every model of 360 in stock.

A shortage where every model of a system is easily attainable is not like any shortage I've ever seen.

badasscat

Evo

December NPDs:

Wii: 1,350,000
360: 1,260,000
PS3: 798,000

January NPDs:

Wii: 274,000
PS3: 269,000
360: 230,000

So everyone is willing to accept that MS is lying about shortages? They go from a relatively close second in December to Dead last in January, you think the 360 suddenly lost all of it's popularity?

I know for a FACT it's sold out here. That's what I know. My cousin was trying to buy one for his kid, and ended up getting the arcade and a HDD because that's all any of the stores around him within a 30 mile radius had... I can go online and punch in my zip code in any site's "store availability" search option, and they come up "out of stock" for the Pro and Elite models...

Nside

I find it funny.....

"Looking forward, Xbox 360 will continue to be the destination for the best games with powerhouse franchises such as "BioShock," "Call of Duty," "Guitar Hero," "Halo," "Madden," "Mass Effect," and coming in April, "Grand Theft Auto IV."

Well, Call of Duty is mulitplatform and is on the PS3. Along with Guitar Hero, Madden, and Grand Theft Auto. So out of the 8 franchises he has listed, 4 of them are on the PS3.

Microsoft's 1st party is in need of some good developers. Most of the time they talk about mulitplatform games on their console, like Call of Duty. But try to convince the public that you cannot play COD4 on the PS3. The reasoning is simple, they need to back 3rd party support as much as they can. That's all they have, they don't have any good "Franchises" they can fall back on. (halo is pretty well done.) They just don't have strong 1st party development! I think there hurting for games, and will not be able last this generation.

In other words, Sony and Nintendo have very strong 1st party development, and stong, time built franchises. (MGS, GOD OF WAR, MARIO etc.)

To win this console war your company will have to have a strong 1st party and then 3rd party support. But never should you rely on JUST 3rd party support.

With the xbox 360 relying on 3rd party support. Looking into the near future, Microsoft have not place themselves in a very good position. Sony's games will come out of development. Nintendo will keep pushing, with their "Casual" message.
Microsoft had their headstart and chance to shine, but now Sony's back FTW.
PS: I don't know why so many people lost fate in SONY's PS3. Sony has won 2 console wars (PS1 and PS2) and even with the slow start, Sony is gaining momentum and will use their industry expertises to win yet another console war.

Here's a way to look at it.----The "Console War" In story form. For thoughs who can't interpret the BIGGER PICTURE in console wars. (i tried my best)

Sony is the game industry KING (PS2) There this big, unstoppable monster. Then you have Nintendo who has been around long enough to know the war tactics and build up their army of loyal fans. You then have Microsoft "n00b" to these wars, the fiesty but unexperienced one.
You then put all 3 competitors into the ring. Or "Console War". Sony stands in the middle fighting off competition, but always to big to conquer. Sony underestimates Nintendo's new WII, which slowly tries to take down the big King (SONY). With all the new casuall customers Nintendo now has a bigger army and tries to flank the King's empire. But Microsoft goes and gets a head start trying to take over the other competitors. But as unexperinced as they are they don't leave them selves in a good position once SONY and Nintendo come in to play. The 2 wise companies (Nintendo and Sony) have been debating over war, living in their rich empires (success of PS2, and N64). For a while now, they've been brewing up hardware and buiding up arms (triple AAA titles, 1st party development). But now are ready for another war.
The big 2 join the war, but the 360 has gained some short-term popularity and nex-gen buzz. Which hits Sony like a brick wall. Sony then gets trampeld by the press and becomes clouded in a big, black cloud. Sony is now down, but not for long. With Sony's knowledge and experience it keeps its self foccussed and jumps back up again (GDC, price drop). With Microsoft's buzz and i guess fame (Gears of War, LIVE). They manage to continue through 2007 unscratched by the big KING (Sony). While all this Nex-gen war is going on, Nintendo and it's wise market expertise. Decides to target the casual market and try to avoid Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo's war tactic works but does not prove for a stable long term strategie. With Nintendo taking the lead and taking a different approach. Sony and Microsoft now square off 1 on 1. 2008 rolls around and Sony comesback, they gain momentum and momentum is not a good sign for Microsoft. They know they cannot withhold the big, KING Sony. There's no holding back Sony once they gain momentum. Once they start going not even Microsoft's finest archers (HALO) and Nintendo's plumbers (Mario) can bring down the King (Sony) and his bodygaurds (Snake, Kratos).

There's the CONSOLE WAR in fun battle/war story form.

Now do you see why Microsoft made their desperate immpression. Like i said before they can kick Sony while the PS3 is down, but once Sony gains momentum there is no holding the PS3 back.

PSN: Lp47

Samos42

1.) To compare the amount of money spent on Wii ($250 console) to the 360 ($300-400 console) is silly! When you do the math...I'm sure the gap is GREATLY shortened, if not surpassed.

2.) Once again...when the Wii's games are $30-50 while the 360's games are $60+...it is kind of silly. Once again...do the math, and i'm sure its closer than it seems.

3.) I like how they mention Guitar Hero, yet the PS2 sold the most copies, with the Wii coming in second...so what was the point of even mentioning it??

It's sad to see that these companies cannot just except they're falling behind. The first step to recovery is acceptance and admittance. They need to hit up FDA (Failure Denial Anonymous)

Oh...and that pic, wonderful *Ol' Gil is finally moving up in the world...oh that was my last good liver!)

I'm A Gamer Type Guy!!

mpmaley

i didn't misinturpret it. bottom line is PS3 attach-rate is way less than that of the 360, and even stellar PS3 games don't hit great #'s due to the small PS3 install-base. so Sony can dance their 'happy' dance all they want but til they start moving software, and coming out with decent games im guna continue using it as a Blu-Ray player and keep my 360 for games.

@RAZIEL3333 :

i too have all 3 but not a single PS3 game. just Blu-Ray movies.

Lanhoj

I myself, think Luke's a Sega CD fanboy. That might just be me though.

DemonBlood

littletad

PS3 FTW!

cb_32

Most people accuse Luke of the opposite, actually. Myself included, in the past. But in my time here at Kotaku, I have to say that Luke tends to tear up on anyone who happens to be deserving at the time.

So, get off your soap box. MS is having a bad month.

PapaBear434

At least I can play online with my friends for free on my PS3.

Susurrous

djricekcn

Almost every NPD report elicits articles about the companies response to these numbers. The only company we haven't read about yet is Nintendo.

LittleBigPlaneteer

TrettOff

I'm trying to ge a new X360 again since mine is starting to show death signs...but I don't want to spend 300 or more on it again =-X waiting for price drop i guess

djricekcn

DiscipleofJamzy

ceilingFANBOY

matizzy

I think that Sony has a lot more to do than just winning a single month.

Regarding the software info (which is immediately irrelevant, but in the long term is very meaningful) I think the big test will be who pushes DMC4 the most, and even more so, who pushes GTA4. If GTA4 sells 2:1 in favor of 360, then those are going to be very telling numbers.

Lackshmana

LeChuck

Whoops. Sorry. I had a whole different thought on your previous post.

remanance

djricekcn

Yes the 360 hardware shortage is still occurring. You have to know where to look. I almost tripped over two stacks of 360s at Best Buy today but luckily the pyramids were high enough they were in my field of vision.

Hatchetforce

JetPogi

comedy

ceilingFANBOY

I laughed then just like I laugh now and bought both SNES and Gen. I could never get anyone to fight for my 3DO cause though :(

DemonBlood

weasl

You can bet they always scream:
"I have all three consoles." as well. Even if they do, it still annoys me that it seems like they look down on single/dual console owners for not owning all three. Lol. Wait, am I talking to a 360 owner or a PS3 owner? (Or both) :P

remanance

LittleBigPlaneteer

GamingNinja

Gex

i really don't care i got all 3 systems and games i like for each i have no fanboy complaints here but it does seem rather scrambled together.

The Vampire Raziel

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

You're interpreting that wrong. Just because the PS3 outsold the 360 in one month does not mean there are more PS3 owners does it? Isn't it obvious that the 360 would sell more software? In no way does that indicate PS3 owners aren't buying games. In fact, PS3's attach rate for Call of Duty 4 is apparently on par, if not better than that for the 360.

LittleBigPlaneteer

@LittleBigPlaneteer: Hello LittleBigPlaneteer!

Saint Anima

ReyDEEEEZY

Not to mention they do have a powerful fan following and enjoyed what can only be described as insane success with Halo 3 and Gears of War since its release.

The article is pitiful but that does''nt change the fact that Microsoft have been handing Sony's ass to them since the consoles release and the second Sony gets a lead on them they do a little happy dance. Maybe they should spend less time celebrating and more time thinking about why it took them so long to get the lead and more importantly how they are going to maintain it.

Some have said Sony were smart putting Blu-Ray in the PS3 becuase Blu-Ray is clearly the HD winner but that seems a little odd since IMO the PS3 tanked in its first year becuase the Blu-Ray player forced an expensive technology down their fans throats and some felt a bitter taste as a result. I mean come on, some people dont even own HDTV's and asking people to spend 500 dollars on a console then another 500 on a new TV just to enjoy the technology that made the console so expensive in the first place, its almost insulting. Microsoft seem to have the right idea in the sense they are considering a Blu-Ray ADD-ON as in, if you want it you can have it as opposed to "we made this thing called Blu-Ray, we know you wanted a games console but I guess you'll have to pay for both" strategy that Sony took.

Any. Congrats to Sony and all that but dont let your gaurd down, there is a reason its taken this long to get ahead.

Sniper_Zegai

Or I'll buy something for my PS3! YOU HEAR ME!? MY PS3!

... on a side note please by UT3 so we can have more than 20 people on at peak hours...

ratba

And I hope you were joking.

@NIGHTSHIFT NURSE: NURSIER AND SHIFTIER:

Oh shoot! Don't say you don't like console "X"! That's just as evil as saying: "Merry Christmas"! /End sarcasm.

Seriously, I think those type of people who call people fanboys on impulse are actually just as bad as fanboys.

remanance

so they sold less consoles? they sold way more software.

so people are buy PS3's, but not PS3 games? whats that say? says they are buying a cheap Blu-Ray player and not games.

M$ is still sitting pretty on top of the PS3 and will continue to do so til people start buying PS3 games. there's a 7 game/accessory attach-rate to the 360, 3 to the PS3 and 2 for the Wii. so Microsoft has nothing to worry about for at least a while. even great games like Drake's Fortune don't break the million mark quick cuz there just aren't enough consoles out there. and games that are said to look better on the PS3 like CoD4 STILL get way outsold by their 360 version.

sure M$ moved less consoles, but they moved more software, so i really dont see how ppl think M$ is 'desperate'.

Lanhoj

Aw crap...I've been making an idiot out of myself! D:

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

Also I have a new name! (formerly went by "ssjmichael")

LittleBigPlaneteer

The install base is closer to 2 to 1 though isn't it?

LittleBigPlaneteer

It's a dumb fad though. :(

I was called an "X-bot" several times...and I've never even TOUCHED an Xbox! I mean, does it HAVE to be one opinion or else you are "teh" fanboy?

remanance

yes, that was an important factor *wink*

tamago007

4dSwissCheese

CockroachMan

It's a shame one can't simply say: "I don't like console X, Y, or Z" without everyone jumping down your throat...no matter how eloquently you phrase it.

It's a sad, sad day when "political correctness" manages to pervert gaming.

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

Also, I'm fairly certain a large number of PS3 purchases are for Blu-Ray players. My father bought one that will never in it's entire life ever play a video game, since it's a cheap Blu-Ray player that can be updated to spec 2.0. Now I know personal experience != statistical significance, but I can see this happening across the country now that Blu-Ray has won.

Also, anyone who is calling for MS to be "buried" by the end of the year needs to remove those fanboy goggles and actually think. Who knows what will happen, but a prediction based off one month at the beginning of the year is foolish at best, and makes you look stupid at worst.

Knight

adamonfire

comedy

TheIrishNinja

zanzibarlegend

I have to redact my earlier statement. I just talked to my buddy who sells cameras part time at Best Buy. He said that they are indeed sold out of PS3's, but that's because they haven't actually brought any new stock since late November. And, yes, the sales in January were way up. So, surprise, they sold out.

It's not like the sales are up THAT much, but they are up.

PapaBear434

zanzibarlegend