Weekly Tracker Next-Generation Consoles

Since the last reporting period, sentiment for the Wii has slightly cooled off and is receiving more competition from the Xbox 360. Discussion levels for the Wii are much higher giving it the edge over the Xbox 360 and the top spot this week. Availability has been an issue as consumers are finding it difficult to obtain a Wii. However, purchase intent is high which stems mostly from positive discussion about the Wii's innovative controller.

This week, sentiment for the Wii and Xbox 360 are similar but the Xbox 360 still trails the competition in discussion share resulting in a second place ranking. So far, Microsoft has managed to keep sentiments positive despite the hype surrounded by the Wii and PS3 launches. Online features, graphics, and game lineup represent the Xbox 360's most significant strengths. Microsoft may currently be benefiting from low availability of the Wii and PS3 as purchase intent increased 0.6 points from last week.

The PS3 is struggling to reverse negative perceptions of the console. In nearly every aspect, the console scores below the segment average. Discussion of the Cell Processor and graphics may be the key to changing consumer perceptions in the future as it currently represents its strengths. However, the PS3 has yet to convince consumers that the graphics are superior as sentiment scores still trail the Xbox 360 by 0.4 points - no improvement from last week.

[96impala]

the xbox360 is going to come out on top period, that's my prediction.

[Mattey]

I think 360 will come out on top fo sho, ya its a all around great system, i for one am pleased of my buy.

[Marriot VP]

Well the consoles launching should have kicked up the most dust period. However this is strange cause the PS3 hasn't spiked like the Wii did.

[kingboy]

wait till we start to see ps3`s lying on store shelves,then we gonna know which is which in sales

[Marriot VP]

yah than instead of people not buying it cause it's not there. They won't buy it because they can't afford it.

.

just messing with yah

[foghornlegahorn]

I own all three next gen systems. I am thrilled with the wii remote and have played a few games that brings back innovative, good entertainment. If game developers can keep new and interesting ways to use the controlers in wii games, then it doesn't matter about graphics,....somewhat. The xbox360, been out for awhile and there is plenty of games that I play and are very enjoyable, also a large number of games coming soon that I am highly anticipating. The PS3, so far has Resistance that I am playing, but other than that, there isn't much going on for that system. There are a few must haves coming to the system, but I really could have waited another year before purchasing. Blu-Ray disc it came with...was nothing that made me want to switch over my 300+ dvd catalog, or start buying exclusively Blu-ray discs. Maybe next year this time, we could actually compare all the consoles, but as of right now it's xbox360 with wii running a very close 2nd and PS3 bringing up the rear.

[NJ1307RSX]

Anyone who thinks the Wii is anywhere near as good as a PS3 or an Xbox 360 must be on some strong medication ;)

$250 for a rehashed Gamecube with a new controller... I'll Pass.

[richie007bond]

Sony are going to have to lower the price of the PS3 its the only way there going to sell more consoles its as simple as that,its just to DAM EXSPENSIVE.In the UK we are going to have to fork out ABOUT £550 for the ps3 and a game people thats about $900 USA its a lot of money,the ps3 in the UK HASNT GOT THAT SAME BUZZ NOW the price and blue ray are putting people off and the poor games are a nother factor,ive heard so many people say there not gonna get a ps3 because theres no decent games and the fact that it costs far to much to buy,i see sony struggle big time,the xbox 360 in the UK is flying off the shelves its selling like hot cakes,the wii is selling great to cause its so cheap and there are good games for it,The UK is wii360 baby

[BrotherSic]

Here in the UK it was annouced that the premium PS3 would be released at around £425 with no core pack available (still annoyed about teh core system). So i would be expecting it to be £450 - £470 with a game (motorstorm/resistance)

You are quoting Play.com but you do get 3 games in that bundle but still its lot more expensive than the 360 which has some great offers at the moment.

At blockbusters you get a Prem System, 2 wireless controller, 3 games chosen by them (i believe pro evo6 is one of them) and any game of your choice (gears) for £300! now thats a great deal!

[Anerythristic26]

The PS3 boys are hopping up and down because the PS3 sold 100'000 in Japan. They don't get it. The fact that the 360 is keeping pace with a $ 250.00 Nintendo console that is getting MONSTER media coverage is really , really impressive.

I think it was over for the PS3 the day it launched.

[NJ1307RSX]

The PS3 would outsell both the wii and xbox 360 if there were enough to meet demand ;)

[Anerythristic26]

I think your wrong , sorry. I think it's over for the PS3 as I stated. As I asked Videl the 360 is at around 9,000,000 the PS3 is at around 400,000 , with the Holiday shopping season wrapping up next week. How is the 360 in any trouble ?

[NJ1307RSX]

The xbox 360 is in any trouble now did I ;)

All I said is that you can be sure the PS3 would outsell both the 360 and wii if there were enough PS3's to go around.

Btw the xbox 360 has sold 8.3 million not 9 million as you stated.

And if you think it is over for the PS3 just when it came out 2 weeks ago you're a bigger ms fanboy than I originally thought ;-)

[Anerythristic26]

When your hedging your bets by a few hundred thousand you know you're in trouble. Listen, the Wii has even sold over triple what the PS3 has.

I checked TODAYS numbers at work not the after Thanksgiving numbers that everybody has been talking about . They have unofficially sold 8.9 million consoles. That is with incomplete numbers , we can account for about 80% of sales. Anyways you'll see if they release sales figures before Christmas , keep in mind they can't track most of the sales in real time , it has to go threw 3 middlemen before it gets to them , for all we know they could have hit 10 million.

All I'm saying is that you could be sure if there were plenty of PS3's on the market they still would not be outselling either the 360 or the Wii.

Remember there only opinions and guesses you and I are making. Every single one of them are worth about the same.

[Thugbot187]

Just as I said yesterday I saw PS3 sitting on the shelf.

[Marriot VP]

stop the presses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Close_Second]

First off, I purchased my Xbox 360 several weeks ago and I have loved every minute of it (well, almost every minute as Xbox Live in New Zealand lacks a lot of the content available in the US and the ping rates down this way bite!!!!). However, who can predict whether the PS3 or the 360 will hit the 50,000,000 mark first with regards to units sold to the consumer. I for one would not like to make such a prediction as its still way too early and to say the PS3 is already finished only one month after its launch is ridiculous.

For all the complaints and current issues people may have with the PS3 it’s still a fantastic piece of hardware. If Blu-Ray wins the HD format wars then its another feather in the cap for the PS3. The PS3 also has enough power under the hood to provide developers with ample opportunity for expressing themselves for years to come. The only real downside to the PS3 right now is the price point and the fact it’s a little light on games. However, we all know this won’t stay this way for long.

And to be honest, who cares how many consoles are sold, I just wish developers would stop making cross-platform games that fail to use the full potential of either PS3 or 360!

[Funky Town_TX]

The PS3 will beat the 360. Sony fans are loyal. The name of the console is what matters. Just get over it guys. The 360 will loose to the PS3. Does that stop me from playing my 360? No it does not. We should just be gaming and not debating over consoles and power.

The xbox was more powerfull than the PS2 and no one cared. Now Sony says it's about power and there fans will do whatever they say. This is the truth. M$ can't stop brand loyalty.

[Anerythristic26]

If any of what you just wrote is true then console gaming is dead. Really.
I personnaly know about 10 to 15 "loyal" PS fans that love thier 360's. This argument is poor , Sorry.
Also were you trying to make all PS fans look like mindless idiots , because you succeeded !?

[TheMART]

THe PS2 was out at least a year before the XBOX.

The PS2 had the drive from the PS1 owners.

The XBOX had the disadvantage of new into a strong competition market. It had no history.

The PS2 sold 10 million before the XBOX entered.

Now what does this remind you of?

Right. The XBOX 360 story this time around.

XBOX 360 has the history of the original XBOX now. The 360 was a year before the PS3 entered the market (in Europe still not, till spring 2007).

Furthermore, back then what really sold the PS2 was GTA. That's no more exclusive. 360 now has the strongest franchises around. Like Gears of War, Halo, Forza, Blue Dragon, Viva Piniata, Lost Planet, PGR, Bioshock etc. PS has less and less (Assassins Creed anyone?).

Online gaming: premium service is XBOX Live. PNP is a cheap rippoff.

Now there you go. Why the 360 will reach 10 million soon and be king this new gen!

[BoneMagnus]

then MS can stop brand loyalty for Sony. i'm not saying it WILL happen, but it certainly is a possibility.

Look at Honda and Toyota - they have usurped brand loyalty to GM - most people want the best product - regardless of name - (this is not the fashion industry.)

[power of Green]

Only hardcore Sony fans will bother on checking up on PS3 to buy, casual consumers dare not spend $600 bucks on a console that has nothing going for it(Wiimote & XBL appeals to the average consumer more than; more space on disc), these are trend casual consumers that are the bulk of any fanbase after all. Wii and 360 have already been established as the trendy thing to buy.

[96impala]

Sounds good when you say it in your head, but in reality the 360 is the shiznit and the ps3 can't really justify the $600 price tag when you can get better on the 360.

[TheMART]

kingboy - 8 Hours ago

"wait till we start to see ps3`s lying on store shelves,then we gonna know which is which in sales "

Why always wait according to you fanboys? First we waited untill spring 2006. Nothing came. Then we waited to these holidays. It comes only to Japan/USA. Europe: nothing. Then Sony only puts out 400k. Everyone is waiting.

Too bad BoyKing. It's about right here, right now. The 360 sells. Sony fanboys see Killzone CGI but then in realtime on the 360 at their friends places in Gears of War. They get tired of waiting, they buy 360's

That's the story. PS3 = the new Nintendo from 10 years ago. Place three for them. The supercharged gamecube place 2

edit/update: since last night when I looked @ the sales numbers, to this point in time:

360 sold 28.000 units
PS3 sold just under 4.000 units.

360 outsells the PS3 with a factor 7 each second, each minute, each hour, each day, each week, each month.

See that. 28.000 units of 360 in less then 10 hours. Already now, not even X-mas sales, 360 hits 60.000 units a day world wide easily. That'll crank up insanely around X-mas. With 60.000 a day it's already accounted around 1.2 million units for december without the cranked up X-mas sales.

I expect the sales for X-mas to do at least 600k extra on top of this 1.2 million regular sales. So 10 million will be reached

[jacen1000]

al li have to say is the wii is more attractive than any of the consoles and they have developed a better package this time round that will appeal to the masses the wii mote is simply outa this world and is what t he future will be like when it comes to controls just think all them units nintendo are shifting building up new gamers nintendo isent thinking of the console battle that is going on at the moment but thinking of the future and nintendo sales. building a powerfull console like the other 2 would have been the easy way out instead they said we will show u power and graphics isenty a fundimental need instead innovation is and a new way of gaming , i just bought a 360 2 weeks b4 wii release i been pc gaming for 4 years b4 hand out of them all i prefer the wii the 360 hasent been on since i got it,l and they shoulda gave free ear muffs with theat 360 cause the noise is rediculas cant hear fuk all from console noise my pc makes less racket,

[jacen1000]

all i have to say is the wii is more attractive than any of the consoles and they have developed a better package this time round that will appeal to the masses the wii mote is simply outa this world and is what the future will be like when it comes to controls just think all them units nintendo are shifting building up new gamers , nintendo isent thinking of the console battle that is going on at the moment but instead thinking of the future and nintendo sales, building a powerfull console like the other 2 would have been the easy way out instead they are showing that power and graphics isent a fundimental need instead innovation is and a new way of gaming i just bought a 360 2 weeks b4 wii release i been pc gaming for 4 years b4 hand out of them all i prefer the wii the 360 hasent been on since i got it,and they shoulda gave free ear muffs with that 360 cause the noise is rediculas cant hear fuk all from console noise my pc makes less racket, ---> WII THE FASTEST SELLING CONSOLE EVER CAN U CANT ARGUE WITH THAT

[richie007bond]

Like i said before the ps3 is to exspensive,only the hardcore will pay over the odds for the ps3 i can garentee the average comsumer will not fork out £500 for a console it just wont happen,the reason the ps2 sold so well because its cheap and there are plenty of decent games for it,from people like mums and dads grannys and grandpas bought the ps2 for their kids because of the price.This will not happen with the ps3,along with blue ray and hdtvs it confuses far to many people,sony will struggle this generation

[xfrgtr]

TheMART,bioshock is coming to ps3 too,2007 will be the year of the ps3;Sony has the best exclusives games like FF13,MGS4 and thousands more.The 360 reminds me of the megadrive with the sega cd(hddvd drive for the 360);piece of crap.The demand is extremely high for the ps3;2007 will be the beginning of the end for the 360

[HaKeRsCanRotINHEL]

is so loyal to us gamers in the UK that their going to delay the PS3 launch until September or beyond. Yeah, go Sony.

[ThomasDaGamer]

Oh great, now I'm going to get flamed just for having a completely obsene comment title like that. Anyway, I think we're forgetting the 1.8 million Wiis sold when it hasn't even been out for half a month in most places (heck, those in the UK have only had it for a week). If there's a 'console war' to be won, (which there probably isn't, as none of the companies will go bankrupt) then I'd say the Wii will be the winner.