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PS3 narrowing Japanese sales gap

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PS3 narrowing Japanese sales gap

Sony’s next-gen machine builds momentum and begins to catch Nintendo's Wii sales

Famitsu publisher Enterbrain has stated that whilst the Wii outsold PS3 by two-to-one throughout October in Japan, Sony’s machine has narrowed the gap enjoyed by its rival for the fourth month in succession, Reuters reports.

The Wii sold 110,415 units throughout the month, with PS3 selling 47,183. It’s a stark contrast to last June when Wii outsold PS3 by more than six-to-one.

Sony’s recent PS3 price cuts, coupled with its growing software catalogue and the recent release of a number of exclusive titles such as Ratchet & Clank and Heavenly Sword, are thought to be the basis of the machine’s recovery.

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Hmmm

posted by Alex Nov 02, 2007 at 3:59 pm
1
Alex

How do you take this to mean that the PS3 is catching up? For that to be true in any sense of the term, the PS3 would need to sell more than the Wii. It's not. It's simply not being outsold as badly.

I've seen this story in quite a few places today. The only thing it proves is that today is a slow news day.

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Re: Hmmm

posted by ChristopherM Nov 02, 2007 at 4:25 pm
2
ChristopherM

I agree with Alex. The gap between the installed bases of PS3 & Wii is still growing wider, so Sony is clearly not "narrowing the gap".

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Re: Hmmm

posted by EricJ Nov 02, 2007 at 4:29 pm
3
EricJ

They do this every time. The wii is still pulling ahead, but it's accelerating at a slower rate.

**** poor journalism.

That being said...maybe Nintendo will avoid being ****y if the PS3 starts to catch up for real eventually.

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Re: Hmmm

posted by Jo Nov 02, 2007 at 4:50 pm
4
Jo

Wel, it only took Sony and the Playstation to stop Nintendo/Sega being over-confident and then it only took Nintendo to stop Sony being over confident. Having said that, though, Sony still need some more humble pie...

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Re: Hmmm

posted by Rustybolts Nov 02, 2007 at 4:53 pm
5
Rustybolts

Also nintendo are unable to produce enough units to keep up with demand. So how many more units would be sold if demand was met?

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Re: Hmmm

posted by Reythor Nov 02, 2007 at 5:51 pm
6
Reythor

How much money do Sony lose each time they sell a PS3?

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Need the old magic back.

posted by Zed Zee Nov 03, 2007 at 9:27 am
7
Zed Zee

Sony need to reintroduce the multi-card reader, reinstate the 4 USB ports and backwards compatibility and sell the unit at around £300.

If they can do that, while continuing the run rate of exclusives, they'd have ALL their fan-base back in just a jiffy, spelling certain doom for Nintendo and Microsoft.

Simple as that.

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DualShock 3 should be bundled.

posted by Zed Zee Nov 03, 2007 at 9:28 am
8
Zed Zee

Oh, yes, I forgot. DualShock 3 should be bundled as standard with the above suggested model.

Come on, Sony. You KNOW SixAxis sucks!

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Re: DualShock 3 should be bundled.

posted by Orbilator Nov 03, 2007 at 12:00 pm
9
Orbilator

I am confused, were does it say that sony narrows the installed user base ? If all you 13 year olds went to school and learnt to read you would see the headline states

PS3 narrowing jap SALES!!!!!! gap.

and So it is acurate to state the PS3 is catching up with the monthly sales of wii.

I cant even begin to understand how some people thought that meant something else!!!!

I think a few people need to learn to read.

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Demand for Wii...

posted by Nick Nov 04, 2007 at 11:54 am
10
Nick

Nintendo can't keep up with demand for Wiis? There are only two countries in the world this still holds true. The U.S and U.K. They've been available in Japan for ages now, sales are on a bit of a recovery after sliding to yearly lows. But then PES+new PS3 come out soon enough, and PSP is now sustaining triple its normal rate with the Slim. Not a bad spot for Sony. Though DS still rules all.

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Re: Demand for Wii...

posted by rustybolts Nov 04, 2007 at 12:55 pm
11
rustybolts

Only 2 countries that this remains true eh? Just so happens 1 has 1 of the biggest populations on earth, and the uk is densely populated for its size

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Re: Demand for Wii...

posted by Oaf Nov 05, 2007 at 9:31 am
12
Oaf

I believe that the PS3 is a better console for gaming and if it's sales are finally catching up then thats definately good for gamers such as myself in online gameplay terms. You are all just player haters.

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Re: Demand for Wii...

posted by cool gamer Nov 05, 2007 at 9:32 am
13
cool gamer

i think that oaf is a ***, he is talkin out his bumhole

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Re: Demand for Wii...

posted by Nov 06, 2007 at 9:42 am
14

Its all well and good selling machines but isnt the profit in the software?

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Re: Demand for Wii...

posted by Bruce Everiss Nov 09, 2007 at 11:35 am
15
Bruce Everiss

Nintendo just cannot make enough Wiis to keep up with global demand and they continue to roll out system seller titles like Super Mario Galaxy and Wii fit, so their Japanese sales are supply constrained.
Sony, on the other hand, are taking the short term benefits from price reductions. There is still no good reason to buy a PS3 and there won't be till MGS next summer.

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