CNET: PS3 will win the console war
The state of the next-gen video game console
The Xbox 360 became the first next-gen console to sell 10 million units in the United States.
With the release Monday of Wii Fit, the exercise game that some video game analysts have predicted could become one of the best-selling titles of all time, it was Nintendo’s turn to dominate headlines related to the so-called next generation of consoles.
The “next-gen” era began in November 2005 when Microsoft launched its Xbox 360 and then really kicked into gear a year later when Sony and Nintendo pulled back the wraps on the PlayStation 3 and Wii, respectively.
Being big business–video game sales in the U.S. alone in 2007 were $9.5 billion–everyone has been wanting to declare the generation’s winners and losers since pretty much the first day all three consoles were on the market.
Doing so, of course, is a tricky proposition because console generations last for years, and sales ebb and flow according to a number of factors. But one thing that seems clear is that past success or failure is not a guarantee of future performance. And so while plenty of armchair quarterbacks have already written the results of the next-gen console wars, industry experts say the final results could turn current assumptions on their heads.
Here’s where we are today: Nintendo has shocked the world with its Wii, bringing millions of new mainstream gamers into the fold with its innovative motion-sensitive controller, low price, and fun, easy-to-use games. The Wii was presumed the generation’s sure third-place entry and now is seen as its winner.
Similarly, with the expected loyalty of more than 120 million PlayStation 2 owners, Sony’s PlayStation 3 was expected to be the next-gen winner, especially with a built-in Blu-ray player and incredible graphics courtesy of its Cell processor. Yet, the PS3 is generally seen as next-gen’s loser, due to high prices, the resulting lackluster sales, and the perception of a paucity of killer games for the platform.
The Xbox 360 was expected to be a solid runner-up, but instead, it hit 10 million U.S. units sold first, dominates the list of must-have titles, and has seen its online component, Xbox Live–with more than 12 million users–become the class of the genre.
It begins.
To quote Dave Chapelle.
“Noooothing funny about that.”
That seems kinda low for the 360. I dunno, I can’t think right. I’m still shocked about how low Haze scored.
I had so much faith in Free Radical to deliver an average fun game.
Thank God for MGS4.
that graphic just makes me laugh…
yeah right… xbox 360 wont sell anything after 2009 LOL
and check out the wii sales in 2012 !! long after the Wii2 arrives …
An unbiased remark by SDF?
Considering Cnet was one of the companies banking on games like Haze being wildly sucessful, I think not!
Nice try SDF…and by “nice try”, I mean better luck next time! And by “better luck next time” I mean, stop trying.
There’s alot of “what ifs” in that article, and they’re stretches at best, and stuff like “expected”.
Yeah, the industry “expected” the Cd-i to do well.
Haze: Runs at 576p, got an average review of 4.5
KillZone 2: Delayed ’til February 2009
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA
Another “It begins” quote? No fucking way.
http://i30.tinypic.com/2r6fjw8.gif
Remember kids, it was made by Insomniac.
So by Sonyboy logic it should have been a good game, because everything else they made was gold, but it isn’t. Keep that in mind the next time “Well PS3 is gonna be the best because the PS2 and PS1 were as well!”, rears it’s ugly head.
I’m confused didnt you say that the Wii was a last generation console?
Now your listing it as a current-gen one
Good point!
Sony Defense Farce fucks itself with it’s own logic once more!
This article is expecting the PS3 to be 300 dollars sometime next year. With how long it took to lower to 400, I doubt this will happen. 350, I could see, but not 300.
CNET isn’t looking at the cost of the system itself. As it’s been reported, each PS3 is costing Sony money due to the blue ray player, so it’s not economically feasable for it to lower in price too much.
Honestly, predicting sales figures that far ahead in the future, is similar to predicting the weather. The shorter distance in time, the more accurate you can be. The further, the less, until it’s worthless.
This is good information for Sony, but really it’s nothing you can bank on.
six1s – You make Erik seem likeable. Where you at Erik?
@Duck – Sony is actually breaking even with the PS3. And they have already been able to make the cell processor and something else even smaller. So it’s just a matter of when they decide to use the smaller parts.
DanteX – Yeah the Haze issue sucks, but you’re forgetting about a lil game called MGS4. And the Killzone 2 “delay” issue isn’t bad at all, why would Sony want to have Resistance, Socom and Killzone 2 out in the same period of time? That is the reason why Killzone is pushed until February, which is perfect.
It wont have any competition, and it will pick things up again for Sony at the beginning of 09.
Plus I’ll be too busy playing with my sackboy dressed in Killzone atire. Maybe you guys can play one of my levels.
“Sony Defense Farce fucks itself with it’s own logic once more!”
They don’t need logic, as the extreme power of the PS3 destroys any need for working logic. LOL. This site is hilarious.
I’m not here to be liked, I’m here to point and laugh when all of the fanboy claims about how 2008 was gonna be “PS3′s Year”, blow up in their faces! And to literraly piss on the proverbial parade.
Ah, another genius analysis by mass media. I seem to recall some 30 or so like analysists prediciting this gen outcomes and being completely wrong. Yeah, here it is: http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=14055
Let’s trust them again, aye, SDF?
I Wiip,
SDF is like that dumb kid who stick a fork in the socket, then gets shocked. After shaking their head and going, “That hurt!”, they pick up the fork and go looking for another socket.
Screw statistic, I want a Haze review
My impression of SDF’s review of Haze.
Graphics 10 – We’re fags!
Sound 10 – We’re fags!
Gameplay 10 – We’re STILL fags!
Final Thoughts – 10 Derka derka mohamed jihad derka derka, we’re fags!
@six1s – And you’re like the kid who never went out to play because he was too busy making fun of that kid.
@MiLeS – Completely agree. I wanna see one too.
Haze was never the make or break game in 2008 for the PS3. Would it have helped? Yes.
Did Grand Turismo push units in Europe? Yes. Did Grand Theft Auto 4 push PS3s? Yes. Did Blu-Ray win? Yes. Is the PS3 outselling the 360 in Europe and Japan? Yes. Is the 360 outselling the PS3 in North America. Nope. Okay, it beat it by 5k last month, but you can kiss that goodbye when MGS4 drops. Is MGS4 going to be even more awesome than we thought? Yes. Is it a 30 hour game? Yes. Is LBP still on track to be awesome? Yes. Is Resistance 2 on track to be 60-player/8 co-op awesome? Yes. Is Socom going to be as good or better than COD4? According to X-Play and a lot of Socom fans. Yes. Was delaying Killzone 2 a good decision? Yes. Will it get us PS3 owners hyped up right after the holiday season. Yes. Is 09 going to include God of War 3 and Final Fantasy 13 (TWO GAMES!!!). Yes. It’s good to be Sony.
@ Stickitupmyass
09′ might also include my balls in your mouth.
@stickemup
Is the 360 outselling the PS3? Yes. Is MGS 4 going to pust hardware? Yes, but for a month. LBP possibly OVERHYPED (much like most PS3 exclusives)? Yes. Is SOCOM be better than COD4? Fuck no. Was Delaying KZ2 a good decision? Maybe. GTA4 push 360 sales? Yes. Did PS3 owners pay for a expensive demo? Yes. Do alot of PS3 only users boast about there console? Yes (and to be fair 360 only owners do too but it seems PS3ers are worse but not you; you’re cool). Finally was Haze hyped up big time for the PS3? Most definitly yes.
This is my favorite SDF story of all time. Mostly because rather than making the PS3 look great rather SDF bolded the text that basically chewed the PS3 a new asshole.
To sum up the story: The PS3 was expected to win, but expectations can change.
@ColdYellow – I think you’re wrong on some of those but we’ll see my 360 friend.
MGS4 push hardware only one month? I dunno.
Read around about Socom, it looks very good. Remember Socom was doing what COD4 does way before COD4. Respect Socom for that.
Yes a demo, was it still a great racing game with the amount of cars and tracks “full” games have, yes.
GTA4 push more PS3s? I’m not going to lie, I haven’t really looked it up. But what I did read was that the split in software sales which was at around 60%-40% was a failure for MS because of those 6 million more consoles they have out. It should have been more like 75%-25%. Also the PS3 had a bundle for GTA4 which might have helped it.
Did Haze get hyped up? Yes.
Check this out ColdYellow.
http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/05/21/5-incredible-little-big-planet-details-including-how-enemies-work/
http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3167889&p=37
The first link especially. From the bottom of my heart, if your system was getting this, I would be the first to say “damn, their lucky”.
I know your argument is that it might not have lasting-appeal, and I respect that, but I think there is enough there to keep us occupied for quite a while.
Please check it out, you know I respect your opinion.
It’s going to be awesome to make levels and play 4 player co-op with my buddies. I think what’s going to make it so great is that some people’s levels are going to be so creative that even after playing it for a long time, you’re going to see people do new things you never even thought of. And if they keep releasing DLC, forget about it!
Prove me wrong Stick, prove to me that the SDF review won’t be some tripe shit like I posted.
Is there somewhere I can get the reasoning behind these numbers?
P.S. While I do think these numbers are ridiculous, I don’t see the PS3 overtaking the 360 as a far off thing in terms of possibility, I think it has to take more market share in the US in the next year, and in EU continentally and other countries besides in Japan (Japan is a PS3 given for a reason I’m not too sure about, mostlikely consumer loyalty). If Gears 2 will stagnate that growth remains to be seen; this will not be the greatest year for the Xbox, I’m not sure if I said this before but I believe 2009 will decide it, with huge titles coming out for both. If the PS3 can’t either put itself at a very close range of 360 in 09, then I think the 360 will become second only to the wii in terms of sales. I also don’t think delaying Killzone 2 was a good idea at all.
That was a long P.S. very sorry.
Yeah, but that’s what made it funny, the P.S. was a paragraph, and the actual message was one sentace.
That’s funny! It’s a subtle kind of humor the SDF could never hope to achieve.
@six1s – Dude, how can I do that? I’m not part of SDF. Relax…
@EscapeTheFate – I agree, 2009 will be more important than 2008. I really don’t see the 360 outselling the PS3 when all is said and done.
The PS3 is more future proof than the 360. If HD-DVD would have won the war, it would be a different story. It helps that they already have BluRay. I know some of you wont admit it, but if games on the 360 already use more than one disk (in it’s first generation), doesn’t that kinda mean that some games might be limited because of this?
I for one have felt that multi-platform games have been held down by the 360. I’m positive that most games would be able to look and run better if they were optimized for the PS3. But of course, money talks. They need to make both versions the same so they wont get any hatred from either sides of the war.
Kojima and Square have said that they chose to develop their future HUGE games (MGS4, FF13) on the PS3, because of it’s superiority in hardware. 50GB does give you more room to work with, and Kojima sure took advantage of that. Does that mean you need 50GB to make a great game? No, but it helps when you’re thinking of the future.
Sony has so many franchises that people love. MS really only has Halo and Gears (Fable is kinda blah) Feel free to tell me which other franchises they have. As more and more of Sony’s popular franchises make their next-gen appearance, I think more and more past Playstation owners hop on the PS3 ship.
I myself am very attached to Final Fantasy, Metal Gear, Ratchet, Gran Turismo, God of War and now Uncharted, Heavenly Sword, Patapon, LocoRocco (and mostly everything that comes from Insomniac, Naughty Dog, and Team ICO)
You might hate Sony, but they make great games for everyone.
P.S.
You don’t think delaying Killzone 2 was a good idea?
Would it be wise to have Resistance 2, Socom and Killzone 2 going up against each other in the same quarter? Nope.
It’s great to have a game to look foward to right after the holiday season, which is already going to have a bunch of third-party games as well.
“You might hate Sony, but they make great games for everyone.”
I agree. That is I agree as long as we count the PS2. The PS3, not so much.
I think you’re confusing Sony, with their second party devs.
And before y’all get TOO excited about Bioshock on PS3, remember…if you hype it as being “Superior” to the 360/PC versions, it’s going to fall short.
And SDF, if you even think about posting a retarded review about how great it is, don’t make me dig up your own review of the original version.
Oh and congrates on the port of a game that’s 3 months shy of a year old.
Wow… SDF posted an unbiased story… Now all you guys have to do is fix up the graphical work.
But six1s, Bioshock is going to be BETTER on the PS3. PS3 magazine says so!
Of course it’ll be better kermi! stop being such a muppet!
Sales again, gimmee a break! or gimmee some shares and I may become interested.
@OldJello
You’ve really tapped into your argumentative side, kudos. Though I disagree with you saying Ps3ers are worse than xboxers in terms of boasting and general fanboyism, this is a Ps3 site populated almost entirely by raving mad xboxers.
@Keri
I’m almost getting to like your comments, so wonderfully bitchy and to the point.
@Sixaxis
Leave them drugs alone.
How is Killzone 2 being delayed good?
If you delay it, and people do get more hyped the game doesnt seem as good, hype is a very bad thing.
I think that having more killer apps, if they do turn out to be will help the system as a whole, but yes software sales themselves will suffer. I mean, it’s holiday season. Unless the PS3 suffers from shortages during that time, I think It would be good to have a arsenal during the holiday, rather than waiting a month or two from then when people are trying to hold off a little bit after holiday spending. Granted, it’ll still sell, but will it make much of a difference? I see that the more games available for you system, especially during the holidays, the better. Essentially it’s saying, oh, but Halo 4 (just an example) will come out 4 months from now, while Gears 2 and Bioshock 2 (just another example) come out within the same month. Hell, I want more games available as fast as possible. That’s really the bottom line for me.
And yes, while Kojima did capitalize on the PS3′s blu-ray, he also took it for granted, doing things such as using the highest quality sound, which took up quite an unnecessary amount of space on the disk which could’ve been used better, I don’t think a lot of the things in MGS4 were compressed, and even kojima spoke about the limitations of the blu-ray in some weird metaphor, when I have more time to look it up I’ll link it. I really think that the PS3, beyond its bluray was overhyped and sensationalized about its power quite a bit by Sony, and there’s been a little bit of apprehension on my side at least at this moment about how much power the PS3 actually has. Most companies do this, but none so more than Sony, at least this time.
And if games truly need more space, all you really need to do is make it a multi-disc, if a game on PS3 happened to be ported to 360 or Wii. A lot of Final Fantasy games did it.
@EscapeTheFate – I don’t know if you know this or not, but I doubt Kojima spent too much space on just sound alone… The first reviewer of MGS4 said it took him 29+ hours to finish the game. It’s not like it’s a 7 hour game that filled up the disc.
Yes, Final Fantasy did it, two generations ago. That’s the point of next-generation, to break free of things like multi-disc games.
I know I hated them back, more discs to get scratched. One of the heads of psxxtreme.com couldn’t finish playing that RPG on the 360 (I can’t remember the name, it was just released a few months ago) because his last disc was scratched, so he had to get his friend to let him borrow his so he could finish it. He was in no way dissing the 360, he enjoyed the game, I’m just using it as an example of why multi-disc games suck.
Uncharted looked really good for being a first-generation game. Killzone 2 (even if you guys hate it already) looks spectacular. So does GTP. Is every PS3 game going to take advantage of the power the PS3 has? Nope. But it’s been expressed over and over, the power is there, they are barely tapping into it. Don’t forget how long it took developers to push the PS2 to it’s limits. If Killzone 2′s graphics are already a reality in the first/second generation, I can’t wait to see what games are going to look like in 3-4 years.
@six1s – You’re annoying.
P.S.
Kojima has also said that he’s included so much extra stuff in MGS4 that it will take people months/years to find everything.
Well whether someone scratches their disc or not is entirely…well, not….it could be relative, but you can just as well scratch a blu-ray, though it is harder to scratch one. Also, games such as PGR3 are just as graphically impressive as a first gen such as GTP, I’ve seen both, though natural environment on the side of the road in GTP are more realistic than in PGR3 and PGR3 has a more showy type of car model that may or may not be better to some people.
I also have not seen many outside of studio flaunting this fact about the PS3′s power, and that’s what annoys me, I really am not saying that to bag on the PS3, I simply…I want to see someone really say that and really mean it, someone outside of the people actually funded by Sony and/or employed by them. That’s one of the most annoying things to me in terms of Sonys attitude. They really have this greater-than-thou attitude which forces me to question a lot of what they say.
@Six1s
If you hate this site so bad why wre you constantly trolling it?
Don’t you belong on Joystiq with the other 360 zealots?
Talking shit about Bioshock because the PS3 is getting it now is pretty disingenious. You know that this means the PS3 will also get Bioshock 2 now don’t you?
Pull Microsofts dick out of your ass long enough to come up with an original thought you troll!
Why in the hell do you trolls even come to this site?
Go over to Joystiq with the rest of your kind!
@ Stickemup
As of typing all this, I have a much higher respect for you, and I retract the passive-aggressive comment about you.
PGR3 looks good, but it’s no GTP.
Microsoft has this monopolize-the-world attitude that I don’t like. With their inferior products that I just wont buy. How many M$ products/software are you guys fans of?
When did it become cool to defend Micro$oft?
@Escapethefate
Criterion (Burnout series) and Gearbox Studios (Brothers in Arms series) have stated that the similarities between the 360 and PS3 are very close to one another. Theres is things the PS3 does better and vice versa. If you wanna listen to the dev’s actaully say this then listen to these podcasts:
Crash FM #16 or 17 (criterion podcast)
Podcast Beyond (IGN Playstation Podcast) at the ending of march or the beginning of April the guys from Gearbox where being interviewed and it got me excited about there new Brothers in Arms game as well.
@escapethefate
I’d compare PGR4 to GT, I mean seriously this game has the most amazing weather ive ever seen, i mean, started one lap sunny, then it started raining, and when i got up to a high speed on a straight bit the rain drops started getting blown to the side of the windscreen and then they were blown down the side windows to the back.
I stared in awe at this then ploughed into a wall at 165MPH.
Iv’e no doubt that Grand Turismo will kick ass, Just because I chose to buy the 360 doesnt make me a fan boy, I enjoy games. Hell when the PS3 first came out I jumped at the chance when my friend with a PS3 rang me and asked
“will you help me finish Resistance?â€
I dashed over and we completed it, i then laughed at his face at how easy it was. But i love FPS’s so i probably found it easier than the acerage Joe.
My biggest gripe about Resistance would be the healthbar. its too old fashioned in a FPS, games like that should purely be the “screen gets darker as you dieâ€.
Good game though. Good console. they are both fine choices. The thing is with this generation is the console (power-wise) are just so evenly matched. They both have pros and cons, they work slighty differently so you can directly compare them both.
@Stickemup
Personally I like a Apple OS more than any fucking unstable Windows PC (especially Vista) but unfortunatly my wife uses window PCs at work and she’s more familiar with them than a apple os.
I happen to like the Xbox brand because it has more of a PC centric “feel” and more of the PC “type” games I like to play. If my computer wasn’t 8 years old then a PS3 it would be but since it is a 360 is cheaper and it happens to have the games I like to play on it as well.
So my question in turn of “When did it become cool to defend Micro$oft?” is this:
When did it become cool of $ony to overcharge and bullshit its core user base (you know the ppl who have been with them since the very beginning of the PS1 like me)?
Someone with a name like RROD2u, has no business calling anyone a troll. Instant fail, just add water.
Come on SDF, where the fuck is your Bioshock news?
I wish to rend your bungholes when you proclaim what a great game is, even though you said that it sucks!
Hey, anyone remember this gem? http://www.sonydefenseforce.com/?p=242
Stickemup,
Since when was it cool to martyr for $ony?
“Yet, the PS3 is generally seen as next-gen’s loser, due to high prices, the resulting lackluster sales, and the perception of a paucity of killer games for the platform.”
“LOGIC IS FOR NERDS!!” -Rainier Luftwaffe Wolfcastle
@EscapeTheFate – Thanks man. I can tell you’re like ColdYellow, fans of gaming, not just MS. I think SDF is hilarious, but I am a rational gamer. I know Sony has made mistakes with the PS3, but for my tastes, the PS3 is where it’s at. There is just no way I would ever miss out on my two favorite franchises (MGS and FF) and I also feel that the PS3 offers more variety with their first-party games.
@ColdYellow – You’re always so informed buddy. I’ve also heard that the PS3 can do things better in some areas, and the 360 does better in others. But I ask you this. Do you think Killzone 2 can be made on the 360?
http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/05/21/5-incredible-little-big-planet-details-including-how-enemies-work/
(I dunno if you saw this link up there, but if you didn’t, I really want you to check it out and give me your opinion)
@six1s – Update: You’re still annoying.
You know for a little bit recently I was almost considering buying a PS3. That was until today when I was out shopping and saw that prices of Blu-Ray players have seriously dropped. Saw one for $288. So, no reason for me to buy a PS3 now.
@stickemup
Actually it is in my opinion that KZ2 could happen on the 360 (this is a short answer if you want me to elaborate I can but it won’t be untill later; I gotta goto work.)
MGS4 native 720p resolution, 4GB install, 90 minute cutscenes?
http://flickr.com/photos/david-nano/2514284140/sizes/l/
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=189543
Lol, so it IS a very long movie with short gameplay segments!
So the reviews of Haze have been abysmal and now MGS4 has been shown to be a cut-scene shit fest. So ARE there any games left that were supposed to make this Sony’s year? Because I’m not seeing it.
Oh god….seriously, I like Metal Gear….but not 90 minute cutscenes. Seriously. SERIOUSLY. They’re pulling a Xenosaga. I’m just as interested in a story as anyone else, but…..SERIOUSLY. I don’t want to be tempted to skip it if I do end up getting a PS3 and miss something big in it. SERIOUSLY. This isn’t Xenosaga. SERIOUSLY. That. Is…….No.
pathetic article entirely made of fail. nice job dickwads.
oh yeah. maybe Gaystation 3 is living up to its name as a “movie player”. 90 minutes of cut scenes from MGS4? it’s a video game console you morons! haven’t Kojima Productions figured that out by now? i guess not.
I find it hard to expect that Sony won’t have come out with another console by 2012… Those projections mean nothing, and are merely based on numbers, not reality.
those of u who actually believe that there wil be 90 minute cutscenes r idiots. MGS has lenghty cutscenes, but it will never b 90 minutes long.
@ aayman
You obviously didn’t read the second article NeoOfTheSith linked to. There’s a 90 minute long cutscene.
Of course, PS3 fans should be used to waiting a long time to play, with the forced installation times.
Well if you actually looked at the graph. Sony is losing, by a lot.
Why the fuck in 2009 would it magically go up and go above all others.
actully the ps3 will win much faster than that, i wouldnt be surprised if the wii and 360 never sell another console or game, o wait i forgot they dont have any exclusives since the ps3 has them all so how could they sell games