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PS3 Breaks Records in UK Launch
Aided by racing titles MotorStorm and Formula One, the PlayStation 3 had the best UK console launch ever, according to Joystiq and MCVUK. This generation saw the Wii kick off with 105,000 units and the Xbox 360's sell through 70,000. The PSP still holds the record at 185,000 for a portable console, but I imagine Sony's pretty happy about this either way. "With plenty of consoles left in the 220,000 strong initial shipment, it would appear that a strong supply is the key to launch victory. Will sales remain brisk in the foreseeable future? We'll find out soon enough, but until then, expect some elaborately spun responses from Sony's competitors. Perhaps UK journalists ought to return those stacks of beer to Microsoft -- then again, alcohol already seems a likely explanation for steering the Xboat to the wrong continent."
Well, if they run out of UK PS3s, they can always recall some of the stock from the US, it's probably just a BIOS change to make it PAL. God knows we have plenty left over here :)
Every console launch ought to be a new record these days, or at least SOMEONE ought to set one every generation, because the number of gamers is increasing steadily.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Microsoft and Nintendo can spin this another way: Xbox 360 and Wii are the only next-gen consoles to completely sell out of their initial shipment!
Small potatoes make the steak look bigger.
To the surprise of no one, the Sony bashers talk about how the Wii and 360 might have sold more units in an alternate universe somewhere rather than admit that despite the high price, despite the lack of games, and despite the constant negative publicity that Sony's gotten for nearly a year now, the PS3 has still sold more units at launch than any other console in UK history, and a whole 60% more than the Wii. Perhaps they won't admit it because that would also be admitting that they've underestimated Sony's chances of success in this console war.
Rob
OH god I love this, don't you love the whiney Wii/360 people "but but our console didn't have enough so we sold out"
And, because I love pointing out this sort of thing, the 360 fanboys were the same ones who, during the PS3 launch, were saying "People aren't going to be able to find a PS3 so they'll buy a 360 instead!". Damned if you're in-stock, damned if you're out-of-stock.
(and no, I'm not anti-360. My PS3 has been folding while I've been playing Worms nonstop.)
Yup you read right, Xbox 360 shipped 300,000 to the PAL area and only sold 70,000 during Launch Weekend. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_launch The Wii? nobody knows. They have said they shipped 1.5 million worldwide during launch. And if US sold 600K and Japan sold 370K that still leaves 530units unaccounted for.. hmmm
(I have posted this on another thread too...)I must admit (I already have a 360 and a Wii) even a week ago I wouldn't have believed I'd be out on a cold UK night queuing up for one, and I am a total, complete and utter hypocrite (I have been less than enamoured of the PS£ previously on these very pages), but... After realising I could pony up most the cost by trading in a PS2 with 30 well played games (and keeping the good ones for back-compat), I could not resist its shiny allure - and god it is a shiny behemoth of a thing - and I think seriously well futureproofed. Previous posters have commented on the base cost of the 360 and I agree that the out of the box extras the PS3 has do outweigh the extra cost over the 360. Motorstorm is sublime, and having the 60 Gig HD out of the box to download game demos is great. Also, I never played online on the 360 simply because of the fee. Within half an hour I was playing other people on Motorstorm and I know everyone goes on about the XBOX live experience, seriously the PS3 network isn't like it's terrible. In fact I found it quite easy and pleasant to use - apart from the text input but all the systems suffer that. No the launch line up isn't great but I'm really looking forwards to littlebig planet and of course the titles will get better over the next year. There don't seem to be so many exclusives round so far this gen - the result? I seriously think I might can the 360 to recoup some more of my cash (finished Gears, but will miss Crackdown, great game). I'm not a Sony shill, far from it, but I'm trying to add some balance to the argument. As for the Wii? Well, that is in a class of its own. Zelda as usual is great, if only my wife and mother in law would stop kicking my ass at bowling...