Analysts: September PS3 sales 'dismal'

Reaction to NPD report finds industry watchers sullen about Sony's console; Halo 3 accused of cannibalizing sales.

"The most curious result was that all other games severely underperformed the prediction market's expectations, indicating that Halo 3 had a substantial negative effect on other major titles across the board," Jesse Divnich said. "Games that were especially impacted were the Xbox 360 games Stranglehold, BioShock, and Madden NFL 08."

[Bonsai1214]

september was a pretty dry month for ps3 sales. the anticipation of halo 3 would obviously overshadow anything positive for ps3. no arguments that september was bad.

however, i can't wait to see october sales though. the price cuts and high profile releases should buoy ps3 sales. heck, like 3 days after the price cut went official, sales jumped 700%...

[Dannagar]

PS3 sales will probably be poor in October as well (in North America). The Price drop for PS3 and the new 40 Gig system don't take effect until November 2nd. Meaning that those that are interested in PS3 will likely wait until November. So for PS3 fans, November is the Month to watch.

[Panthers]

I dont think dismal is the right word. It sold over 100k which is better than it was doing.

[ruibing]

If the PS3 has a sale increase in October for North America, it would be from the 80GB price drop and how they finally matched prices for Canada. It happened in the second half of the month, so I think them momentum will continue into November when the 40GB comes out. Great time to be a gamer.

[Razzy]

"The Price drop for PS3 and the new 40 Gig system don't take effect until November 2nd"

The price drop for the 80gb is effective immediately, not Nov 2nd. Nov 2nd is when the 40gb launches.

Also, in Canada Futurshop is selling the 60gb fo $479.99. 20 bucks less than the 80.

[PS3n360]

Halo 3 got less than 10 hours of my time. 7 hours for campaing and a few MP matches. I am so bored of it already and went back to gears of war cause it is simply a much better game. Its too bad that much better games got fallout from the halo hype machine. I hear it alot online in gears that people are dissappointed in halo 3.

[BLaZiN PRopHeT]

thats to bad you feel that ways but the millions of people that play the game will disagree

[Close_Second]

...I only played Halo 3 for about 10 hours or so. The multiplayer however was a superb example of how on-line console gaming should be however, it just is not my style of multiplayer gaming.

Gears of War - well, same for me I'm afraid. The on-line gaming aspect was not my cup of tea either and so I sold it after a couple of days.

The true king of on-line console gaming will be released when COD4 finally hits the shelves. It is in my opinion brilliant and it eclipses GOW and H3 multiplayer in terms of graphics and playability.

[jiggyjay]

You guys should play Heavenly Sword.. I heard it was really long!

[ActionBastard]

As long as Gears and the Halo 3 campaign were...

[ruibing]

He has a right to his opinion about the game jeez. I play RPGs mostly so I'm used to really long games. I played Halo 3 with my friends in co-op and beat it on a Friday night. It does have replay value so if you like it play it again and use different tactics and get the skulls.

[skitzoid]

Millions would disagree with xboxer while comparing Halo 3 to Gears? For me to say that is a slight exaggeration on your part would be a HUGE exaggeration on mine. My friends list went to full capacity from playing Gears on XBL and every person on my friends list I met online while playing Gears were ALL dying for Halo 3 to come out.

All of them claimed to be die hard Halo 2 fans and the biggest reason they bought a 360. When Halo 3 launched sure enough almost every single person on my friends list was playing it. After a couple days I noticed a friend or 2 that starting playing Gears again. Now, and I am being 100% honest with you here and I am only trying to give you an opinion from a Gears and Halo fan "myself", 33% of my friends list are playing Gears nearly every day again.

Lots of people I have talked to are disappointed with Halo 3. Their biggest complaints are not enough done to advance the gameplay and online features (oh and they actually and simply enough just prefer Gears now). Almost everyone I have on my friends list and new players I have met online while playing Halo 3, HATE matchmaking. Most of the time it just takes to freaking long to connect to another match.

Myself I am still playing Halo 3 (everyday) but I actually agree with xboxer in that I do like Gears a little more than Halo 3. I like the duck and cover feature, roadie running (overall speed of the game), the gore (there is nothing like popping off someone's head with a sniper shot or blasting them to bits with an explosive weapon while only leaving their feet behind ;-)), staying connected to one server as long as you choose to play and the "graphics" (which are still unmatched on any console).

The only thing that got on my nerves with Gears was glitching and host advantage.

I myself am already starting to get a little bored with Halo 3. I have played nearly 600 online matches. I don't find myself not counting the minutes until I can play it again and I never did. With Gears I would play every single minute I had available. If Gears kept track of match counts like Halo does, in the same time frame I probably volitive played 3000 matches by now.

I am 10x more excited over Gears of War 2 than the thought of another Halo (4) being made.

I have a feeling the longer Halo 3 is out the more you will hear opinions like mine. Gears did sell, what 5, 6 million copies? I am positive Halo 3 will pass those numbers but how many units will Gears 2 sell? But in the end they are on the same system so why complain at all? Best of both worlds on one console. There is room for both you know. Isn't there?

[PS3n360]

Your experience with friends list is the same as mine. Halo has always been great as local split screen multiplayer with friends at home drinking beer and I will still play it that way. The whole run gun die respawn over and over is repetetive and boring in my mind. I prefer smaller 4vs4 matches up close and personal like gears. Dying from a bullet fired from 2 miles away is lame. I can hold my own in Halo MP but I just dont care.

[marc 1975]

halo is a good game single player not so good but m.p. fantastic graphics do not matter they were good enough last gen

[Rooftrellen]

While my personal taste in games leads me away from Halo, it's good to see that not everyone on here with a 360 (at least I assume you have it since you're enjoying Halo 3) or PS3 thinks graphics are everything.

I've seen Halo 3, and, while I don't think the graphics stand up to some other games, and ignoring that some of the colors didn't seem to fit the situation (lots of bright happy colors), the game itself looked great, anyway.

Looking as realistic as possible is overrated!

[fenderputty]

Not only does it negativly impact sales of other consoles but, it negatively impacts sales of software on it's own console. This one game screws up everthing for a month or two. It will be interesting to see how things level out after a PS3 price drop and the initial sales frenzy of Halo 3's launch.

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

Kinda obvious it would have an effect on 360 softwares sales the most.

Most people buy one game or so a month. They have to choose btw the gaes then.

[Dashmoney101]

first time in my life that ive heard Halo's Multiplayer was bad. News to me. I mean ,its wierd that the MP is actually what its best known for. Wierd........huh welp i just saw a pig fly by

[BOSS]

I spent over 1 thousand dollars on this FONY machine Damn , Damn , Damn.

[mikeslemonade]

It's confirmed that Halo 3 is bad for the gaming industry. Since it was the only game that sold well developers will be forced to make similar games. Please don't support this monopoly that is Halo 3.

[Sez]

so we should support monolopies like MGS4,GT,R&C,FF right.

[Gina-get-u]

I don't see why people in the US would suddenly rush to buy either the 40gb or 80gb model. Sony hasn't a game yet with the same buzz level as Halo 3. Sure, the price on the 80gb model was lowered, but it's not as if that deal is going away. There will still be 80gb models next year, at the same or even lower price. And the 40gb sku is not that exciting at all. It is cheaper, but for a good reason. In the EU things are different, as the current sales spike is being fueled by a run on the last stocks of the 60 gb model. But the 40 gb model has not been very popular, and I don't see why buyers in the US would get any more excited over it than the Europeans.

Edit @Lightning:

Fair enough. I guess what I'm asking is, how does Sony plan to repeat in the US the same jump in sales that it achieved in Europe by announcing that the 60gb model was being phased out. That has the same effect as a clearance sale. The 80gb model is not being phased out, so what other incentive is there to buy it right now besides the $100 cut? At least the last time there was a PS3 price cut, the 20gb model was phased out, so Sony achieved a clearance sale effect. But what's going to do it this time?

[Lightning Mr Bubbles]

But it's gotta help. Simply put it's $399 and it's holiday shopping time. It's better than nothing.

Lets not compare US to Europe, over there projected numbers had PS3 outselling 360 last week. US is not Japan or Europe.

[Lightning Mr Bubbles]

It was bad for PS3. Sales were down just maybe it had something to do with everyone buying XBOX 360 instead.

Atleast Halo 3 isn't gonna launch again.

I hope that the new sku with Spider-man 3 attracks some buyers.

[Kuest]

and tired of you, Lightning!! STAY CONSISTENT.

Your confusing the hell out of me, you know that?- one thread, you're a fanboy... and then the next, you're a freaking scholar! What is going on?

Right now, I like the way you are- so don't go changing one me. I mean it, stay where you- HEY, don't you move, Lightning. Control your urges, and keep up the good posts. Good, good- now have some bubbles.

Edit: NOOO!!

You tricked me! Why did you edit your last statement, I gave you bubbles for it! Why you sneaky, inconsiderate...

[Lightning Mr Bubbles]

But I'm just being honest.

My only hope is that Halo 3 cools down a bit
And that the new $399 sku with Spider-man 3 gets some attention

That's all I can hope for. I honestly believe that the $399 price has to make a difference.

*It's $399
*it's holiday shopping time
*it comes with Spider-man 3 to let people know about Blu ray.

It's a very positive formula. If this doesn't help at all then it's pretty much over for PS3.

I think these last few months of the year are gonna be very indicative of what's gonna happen this console war.

Will PS3 show a little resistance towards the end or are the flood gates just gonna open?

[Kuest]

you BE honest... by posting like THAT. Excellent post, my friend. You have my respect- just don't switch on me (please!). I'm not saying love the 360! No, no- by all means hate it! Just don't treat threads like a kindergarten play pin- shouting and screaming with your pinky fingers in your ears.

Your not like that- I'm glad I gave you bubbles after all.

Edit: to POG

Can't you see Lightning and I are in the middle of something? Don't ruin the moment.

Just to let you know, I think you're right. Halo 3 will be a huge factor during the holidays. And so will Mass Effect.

[power of Green]

Be more worried about Mass Effect and Halo3 after the shopping season starts after Thanks Giving and the other Halo games and GOW 2 in the future.

[shodown19]

Mass Effect will be a pretty big game, but I dont see PS3 sales slowing down because of it. What put 360 over the top and PS3 down under this month wasnt the Halo 3 game itself, it was the advertising. Something Sony hasnt been too strong on. No matter where you looked, you seen something regarding Halo 3. Sony's advertising schemes are nowhere nearly as aggressive and if there's something that needs to be changed to get sales where they want, they need to match microsoft's advertising funds.

[mboojigga]

But advertising is not the issue here. Sure it might help a little but everyone is aware of the PS3. No way everyone is not aware of it but yet the PS2 is selling more than the PS3. Average individuals go in the store and look at the choice of games for the PS3 then they see the price of the PS2 and then the wall full of games they can get. They shot themselves in the foot. If someone wants the next-gen system, the 360 is the choice becuase they have the games. The PS3 doesn't need a new system with no backwards capability they need to quit talking sh*t and assist with the games. The writing has been on the wall. Less than a year and you have 2 price drops, discontinue a 20 gig unit, announce an 80gig to replace another discontinued unit(that still is available and on sale all over at the same price they just dropped the price of the 80gig with motorstorm at the same price.

GAMES GAMES GAMES. Need to arrive. I said it before and I will say it again. Thank god we didn't not wait for next gen to start with Sony. How is that online service for you all since it is still catching up to Live. I look forward to some games coming to the PS3 they just need to get here. Not going to worry about that 10 BS wait need to focus on the games and work on the online.

[Agent VX]

Spin, cut and jump around, no matter how much you type, try and reason, use abstract logic....."PS3 sales blow"

See folks, simple economics don't care for your thoughs, it's all on the bottom line. The PS3 is falling futher and futher behind the Wii and 360.

By the time, which I doubt will happen, that the PS3 catches up to the 360 and Wii, the whole generation of consoles will be outdated already.

Sorry folks, the PS3 is a huge failure, and even if things change drastically for Sony and the PS3, there is no chance, what so ever that it will ever catch the 360/Wii until at least 2010.

PS3 is just too expensive, and is too far behind for it to ever be like's it's little brother, the PS2.

[Douglasp]

Means more than anything. Xbox is already attracting the hardcore gamers. (Sony hardcores will never buy a xbox) Medium to casual players keep hearing how great xbox is, along with Bioschock, Halo3, now Half Life2. With Mass Effect coming in NOV. Word of mouth spreads and I see two things happening in America. The more and more people buy 360s' or wiis' the more PS3 wont never hit big. WHY? Because lets face it Hardcore gamers and sony addicts can sell to a certain amount of people. In order to even stay at the Level of PS2 was, which it attracted all ages group and hardcore to casual fans. PS3 needed to be a hit from the start to carry it's name like the PS2 did back in 2000 and 2001. This generation casual fans are siding with the WII, hardcore to medium end gamers are siding with the 360 and hardcore sony fans are staying with the PS3. Just look at overall sales.? Now lets be realistic here does anyone here think the casuals will start jumping to PS3 for 400? I don't think so. Because for them all they here right now is WOW WII is fun. 360 has so many games, and PS3 ohhh EH MEH. Just my opionion based on my office. No cusual person every brings up the PS3 other than it sucks. They bring up wii or what is that Halo thing xbox thing. I know women who never even grabbed a controller in thier life wants to buy the WII just to have it at home when her grandkids are visisting and she can have fun too. Another guy who has son who is 10 wants to buy 360 becuase at school he feels left out due to them having 360. In america things have changed.

[jackdoe]

Wow, we really need an analyst to tell us that PS3 sales were bad in September...

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Thats what happened to the Playstation brand, cant blame Halo 3 ether because the 360 has been outselling the PS3 all year.

Sorry Playstation it's just not your turn.

[marc 1975]

3 - i like it
halo is a good game, single player not so good, but m.p. fantastic! graphics do not matter they were good enough last gen thats what i ment lol