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Stringer: Wii is an “expensive niche game device”

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Stringer: Wii is an “expensive niche game device”

Sony CEO confident as analysts say there’s now more reason to buy a PS3 than a 360

With all sorts of verbal fisticuffs likely to erupt following the E3 presentations of the big three over the next few hours, Sony CEO Howard Stringer has attacked rival Nintendo’s Wii console as analysts predict big things for Sony’s machine in 2008.

Bloomberg quotes Stringer as telling attendees at the Allen & Co media conference that: "I've played a Nintendo Wii. I don't see it as a competitor. It's more of an expensive niche game device. We're selling a lot of PS3s now and it's still the best way to buy a Blu-ray player."

The bullish statement comes as analysts predict success for PS3 in the coming months. Signal Hill Capital Group’s Tood Greenwald is also quoted by Bloomberg as saying: "For the first time since the console launched, I really think there's more reason to buy a PS3 than the 360."

Wedbush Morgan's Michael pachter has also added fuel to the PS3 fire, claiming ahead of the release of US June sales figures that:
"We estimate sell-through of 750,000 Wii, 235,000 Xbox 360 and 375,000 PS3 consoles. Our console sell-through forecasts reflect our belief that supplies for Wii hardware were steady this month, and our belief that PS3 hardware sales grew in the month due to the release of PS3 exclusive MGS 4 and a special Wal-Mart promotion."

All eyes will be on Microsoft’s E3 conference scheduled for 18:30 tonight to see what the firm has in mind to slow down, and even reverse, the speed with which PS3 is catching 360’s global sales numbers.

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It depends what you like...

posted by theone Jul 14, 2008 at 3:54 pm
1
theone

to be totally honest, it depends wot sorta games ure into, if you like family games and dont care bout graphics go for a wii, if you want hardcore games go for a ps3. Sorry 360 fans but ther r to many probs with ure console :)

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Re: It depends what you like...

posted by Jimothy Jul 14, 2008 at 4:10 pm
2

@ theone

Your not biast are you? Sense my sarcasm? Get off of here. Christ sake. First step would be to be totally honest as you said you was going to be. So start again.

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Re: Re: It depends what you like...

posted by GameGears Jul 14, 2008 at 4:27 pm
3

As a games retailer, I can say that Microsoft really needs to work on its build quality. 3 Brand New consoles returned to us in the last week alone.

Wii returned since launch: 0
PS3 returned since launch: 0

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Re: Re: Re: It depends what you like...

posted by BrettStocks Jul 14, 2008 at 4:35 pm
4

GameGears.

I agree with you in some respects but on the PS3 side, we've only just noticed any significant upswing in sales so to compare the 360 and PS3 is slightly skewed, although it'd be hard to deny there is a significant problem with the 360's hardware.

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Re: Re: Re: Re: It depends what you like...

posted by Jul 14, 2008 at 7:42 pm
5

"to be totally honest, it depends wot sorta games ure into, if you like family games and dont care bout graphics go for a wii, if you want hardcore games go for a ps3. Sorry 360 fans but ther r to many probs with ure console :)"

Do they actually teach grammar at schools anymore?

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: It depends what you like...

posted by Burner Jul 14, 2008 at 8:46 pm
6
Burner

Games are bigger than Cinema AND Literacy...

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Wow, Pachter-itis is spreading.

posted by LeeC Jun 30, 2009 at 7:58 pm
7

"We're selling a lot of PS3s now and it's still the best way to buy a Blu-ray player."

Ah yes, the best way is to buy one that is more expensive than one with equivalent/better features... really? I guess we'll keep on working longer hours then eh? Or maybe we'll simply buy the less expensive version and enjoy more family time watching the films instead.

@theone, there are no problems with my 360 console, my PS3 however has crashed 3 times in 2 weeks. The only problem it has is getting hot, because it gets used... unlike my PS3 which just sits there flickering the WiFi light in some vain attempt to get me to turn it on.

With people like you on the Sony fanboy-wagon, you can see why their marketing works. I mean, "ther r to many probs with ure console "... is "are" really such a long word to type? I guess the power of one Cell just isn't enough.

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I have to argue with one part...

posted by MultiM Jul 03, 2009 at 12:59 pm
8
MultiM

The only thing I can say in response to the article has to do with the quote in the title.
How can this guy, as the CEO of the company that puts out one of the most expensive game systems ever (and admittedly, the most successful system over the $400 mark ever) say that anything by anyone else is expensive. I understand that it plays Blu-Ray, makes you breakfast, performs as a concubine, etc. I also understand he is trying to make the point that PS3 is 'more' than a game device. But you are still marketing the system as a game system. At it's core, it plays games. Without that, it would be an expensive Blu-Ray playing, web browsing device and not much else.
Trying to act like Nintendo doesn't dominate that space at this moment, with hardware half as expensive as his own, is like Microsoft saying Windows is easiest, least problematic OS there is.
Most people I know who own a PS3 (myself included) use it primarily as either a game machine, or a few have thrown Linux on it and use it as a PC. Either way, note the big features PS3 is trying to market primarily as the main use for their machine isn't what I would guess the majority of people actually use it for.
Pretending someone isn't your competition when they are beating you and then using them to show your dominance when you are beating them is ridiculous and hoping we go for it is insulting.

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