"PS3 is Dying" Says CNN

[Shawn Zipay]

CNN has just smacked the PlayStation 3 upside the head and started kicking it in its shins.

Sony's (SNE) PS3 is dying on the shelves.

Alone among the three major videogame consoles, sales of the PS3 are down about 19% from November 2007, according to the latest stats from the NPD Group. Sony was only able to sell 378,000 PS3s this November, compared to 466,000 last year.

And the problem for Sony isn't the recession, it's the PS3. Microsoft (MSFT) put up respectable numbers with its Xbox 360, selling 836,000 units vs 777,000 in November 2007. And Nintendo's (NTDOY) Wii continues to dominate the market, more than doubling sales from 981,000 to 2.04 million.

Eric Krangel, the article's author, lists a few reasons why Sony's PlayStation 3 is "a sinking ship."

1. It's the most expensive console on the market, $150 - $200 more than its rivals. Even if you believe the video game industry is "recession-proof" (it isn't), a tanking economy makes consumers more price-conscious.
2. The PS3's big bonus is its ability to double as a Blu-Ray player. Too bad no one seems to care about hi-def DVDs. The differences between Blu-Ray and DVD are hard to see on a TV less than 50".
3. The PS3 just doesn't have any must-have titles exclusive to the console. "LittleBigPlanet" has generated decent buzz but isn't a game-changer, and neither is Sony's new virtual world "Home."

The article is a rather brutal look at the state of the PlayStation 3. Are things are really bad as this author is making them out to be? Share your thoughts with a comment!

Source

[Obsidian Spire]

Re: "PS3 is Dying" Says CNN

I agree with the article. The PS3 has nothing that could not be done on an Xbox 360 except Sixaxis, but who cares about that? However, I still want one. I believe Sony can turn the PS3 around by releasing some major games such as God of War 3 and Final Fantasy exclusives (does not include 13 anymore. Boo hoo.). Beefing up its software lineup would do wonders.

[imported_Heady]

Re: "PS3 is Dying" Says CNN

I agree with the article. The PS3 has nothing that could not be done on an Xbox 360 except Sixaxis, but who cares about that? However, I still want one. I believe Sony can turn the PS3 around by releasing some major games such as God of War 3 and Final Fantasy exclusives (does not include 13 anymore. Boo hoo.). Beefing up its software lineup would do wonders.

I'm glad you're so knowledgeable. :thumbsup:


PS3 isn't made for lower income. It's Sony.

[MrKLM]

Re: "PS3 is Dying" Says CNN

The thing I see with the PS3 is that it lacks a community feel that is so strong with the 360. I think sony is trying to improve that by releasing home but that isnt going to cut it.

Many games are hard to play with friends easily because of the overly complicated system to join a friends game.

[imported_Heady]

Re: "PS3 is Dying" Says CNN

Many games are hard to play with friends easily because of the overly complicated system to join a friends game.

I feel the same way. I chat with my friends over the XMB messaging but I've only played together with a friend in Burnout Paradise. BP is really easy to get online and play with friends. I wish other games were as easy.

[Obsidian Spire]

Re: "PS3 is Dying" Says CNN

I'm glad you're so knowledgeable. :thumbsup:


PS3 isn't made for lower income. It's Sony.

I can't tell if this is an insult, seriously tricky sarcasm, or serious. What's up with the font changes though?

[MrKLM]

Re: "PS3 is Dying" Says CNN

I feel the same way. I chat with my friends over the XMB messaging but I've only played together with a friend in Burnout Paradise. BP is really easy to get online and play with friends. I wish other games were as easy.

I have played with friends on Socom and while they have a ingame system its just horrible they dont use the ps3 system but it still has problems.

BFBC was rather confusing too. I wish it could work like Xfire where you can click and join their server by selecting their name.

[Iwantcable]

Re: "PS3 is Dying" Says CNN

I think the 360 just has more ultra-hyped exclusives that the masses swarm to. There's really not much that Sony can do IMO.

[imported_Cryptik]

Re: "PS3 is Dying" Says CNN

They have always said the PS3 will be a long term console Xbox 360 wont be. PS3 has a blu-ray player that has Blu-ray disc's which can now hold up 500gb I have heard. Xbox will be left in the dust when companies want to expand on there games in the coming years games wont always be able to be stored on a DVD alone we will start seeing multiples DVD's so a game can be played on the Xbox and that will be its end. yeah Xbox has the community but when 3rd party devs want expand on there games Microsoft is gunna have to be throwing money at them left and right just to make sure they can have it on there console.

[*]The PS3's big bonus is its ability to double as a Blu-Ray player. Too bad no one seems to care about hi-def DVDs. The differences between Blu-Ray and DVD are hard to see on a TV less than 50".

http://www.psu.com/Blu-ray-sales-are...0005745-p0.php