Analysts: thanks to HD DVD's demise, PS3 will see 10% sales boost
by Nick Doerr 
{ Feb 19th 2008 at 8:00PM }
It's one thing when analysts guess the result from an action, but guessing the result from the result of an action with a vague percentage? We're sure there's a lot of market research and math involved, but if anyone's read Malcolm Gladwell's books, you know that too much information can make you even less accurate than normal.Anyway, the brunt of this article states that due to Toshiba's announcement and HD DVD's demise, sales of the PS3 will increase 10%. It makes sense -- it's one of the cheapest Blu-ray players that also does a ton of other stuff. They also say this announcement isn't going to affect the 360 at all. After all, it's a console that plays DVDs and games -- the HD DVD thing was just an add-on. So, if this all turns out to be true, we'll see a marked increase in PS3 sales over the next several months.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris Rah Osiris @ Feb 19th 2008 8:05PM
Funny how analysts are so pro PS3 these days
Jm @ Feb 19th 2008 8:18PM
it would be more strange that it wouldent
bs6268d @ Feb 19th 2008 8:34PM
Ps3 4 life
bs6268d
HybridDai @ Feb 19th 2008 8:55PM
Nick, you mean your first instinct after hearing the news about the death of HD-DVD wasn't, "Man, the PS3 is gonna boost in sales by 10% because of this" Maybe these analyst took the readings of Blink too seriously and claimed those findings to be the basis of their "research."
Nick Doerr @ Feb 19th 2008 11:57PM
Of course I thought that -- not the 10%, but a boost in sales. That's my point. Why would they need some complex analysis when they can thin-slice the information in front of them to such an obvious answer? All they did was tack a percentage to make it seem more official to me. Otherwise, any one of us could have made practically the same assumption.
Eric @ Feb 19th 2008 9:02PM
At this point, I would seriously consider a PlayStation 3, just to use as a Blu-Ray player.
If I could figure out which (if any) models play PlayStation 2 games, that'd be a bonus for me.
OAKside @ Feb 19th 2008 10:01PM
Exactly what I did just recently. Hard to finds deals, but a 20/60/80GB (BC) PS3 for ~$400 is a great deal now that Blu-ray is the confirmed successor to DVD. Play PS, PS2, PS3, Blu-ray, SACD ... can't be beat.
asdaylightdies7 @ Feb 19th 2008 9:04PM
Can someone enlighten me? Is it possible for Xbox 360 to get a Blu Ray add on? I keep hearing about it, but i don't think that could happen...Could it?!
Dave Comeau @ Feb 19th 2008 9:20PM
Yes, it's possible. Some Microsofties have acknowledged this possibility in interviews, suggesting that if owners want it, they'll produce it.
hiiro @ Feb 19th 2008 9:13PM
Maybe analysts are pro PS3 these days cause there's reason to be? There are objective reasons to praise the PS3 right now. Just because they weren't full of the blind optimism that most fanboys had during the last awful year the PS3 had doesn't say anything. It just means that they were realists.
dartmerc @ Feb 19th 2008 9:20PM
Sorry, I must have missed this awful year that people keep talking about. All I know is I purchased a PS3 and a bunch of great games, and as far as I can tell 10.5 Million other people did too.
The Sound @ Feb 19th 2008 9:32PM
They only became pro after it reached roughly 10 million units sold.
I mean, it wasn't supposed to laugh. Sony f*cked it up. Ps3 is teh suckage. Sony shouldn't be counted in this generation. M$ won. Wii would never catch on the mainstream market. HD-DVD.
So.... How many of those came true?
It's their way of eating crow, in a 'I'm so doing this because I knew it all along. All the cool kids were doing it!1!!1!.'
Or maybe their 360's RRoD'ed, like the one at the GDC in the XNA section.
The Sound @ Feb 19th 2008 9:33PM
I laughed when I realized I said 'laughed'.
Pardon my stupidity. It's supposed to be 'Last'.
*face to palms*
WaSSaBi @ Feb 19th 2008 9:44PM
there is no doubt that with the demise of HD-DVD, the value of the PS3 has greatly increased... there is no more risk that Blu ray will fail
OAKside @ Feb 19th 2008 10:06PM
Exactly, seems like common sense. Although predicting a 10% sales boost is another thing, but seems entirely possible. I don't think it's a matter of jumping on the PS3 bandwagon, it's just analysis.
Xiru @ Feb 20th 2008 2:18AM
It is already happening. For the week of February 16, 2008 the PS3 outsold both the Wii and 360 in America. A first time ever. Here are the sales for this week in the US:
PS3: 80,214
360: 79,204
Wii: 47,702
Source: VGChartz.com
As long as Nintendo can't figure out how to make more consoles, PS3 should be looking better and better in sales. Not to mention the 360 got destroyed in the UK this week. Oh and DMC4 sold more on the PS3 than the 360 this week in the US. This data is from before the HD-DVD announcement, so it should be even more next week. Such an exciting time to be a supporter of PS3 from day 1. The time has almost come when we can say "told you so" to everyone who said the PS3 was a failure.
Fraser JK @ Feb 20th 2008 5:57AM
Yeah the 360 won't slow down in Sales cuz they could make a Blu-Ray addon even. "Remember they said it's all about choice"!
So yeah 360 is a like the Great Wall of China, it aint gonna move, Sony's just gotta climb it, slowly!
Dahk @ Feb 20th 2008 9:09AM
Hey Nick,
Does Malcolm Gladwell write marketing/stats and analytic books? If so, which ones are good to read?
chris.westermann @ Feb 20th 2008 10:42AM
What Sony has to do now is promote the hell out of the idea that the PS3 is the best option for Blu-ray right now. Its still cheaper then most Blu-ray players, is currently the only future-proof Blu-ray players under $400 US, and you get a gaming console and media player in addition to an excellent DVD upconversion device. Anybody I know that is looking for Blu-ray player I am recommending a PS3.
Also, the Xbox360 has been slowing down in sales over the last few months. Even with a Blu-ray add-on, its still a more expensive choice for Blu-ray, and I doubt Microsoft will implement Profile 1.1 or 2.0 properly if at all. Your going to end up with a crippled and expensive Blu-ray option, but Xboy fans seem to love those qualities in a game console.