[quote name='The Mana Knight']Okay, I'm going to say things you all may not believe I'm saying. I posted this same thing at PSU (where I tend to not be so fanboyish, more so a little more critical of PS3).
I'll admit, I am getting a bit worried myself, although I honestly hope the big step up in advertising helps.
I remember last gen, for the most part, PS2 was the "cool" system to own. Yeah it lacked online, no multi-tap, and IMO was barely a step above PS2 (all it did was add a DVD player, improved the graphics, and had a slightly better controller) and it was insanely popular. At the beginning, Xbox was hated on, where people tried to find faults with Halo (Yes, this was true at one point). GC seemed to be a tad cool near launch, but quickly started to fade after RE remake came to it. Around the Holiday season in 2002 and outwards, it seemed like PS2 and Xbox were the cool consoles, while GC was not. Although people bash the GC a lot (I own one myself and although it wasn't my favorite console, I feel the console deserved more credit than people gave it). So with this generation, it seems like Wii and 360 are the cool consoles to own. Although PS3 might have sold out at launch, things were not exactly looking good because it seemed like the cool thing to do was to buy a PS3 just to Ebay it. And once the pricing came down on ebay and scalpers stopped buying them, it just seemed like the mass market didn't care about a PS3. I dunno if it was lack of advertising or something.
Although many have said themselves, with PS2 still selling well, it shows many have not upgraded and they are still possible PS3 owners (and with PS2 stuff still selling well early this year). Okay, I use to think the exact same thing myself, but I noticed something. I pretty much assumed Guitar Hero III on PS2 would outsell 360, Wii, and PS3 (well, maybe not 360, but at least Wii). Well, PS2 came in 3rd it seems (PS3 selling half of that). That doesn't even equal half of what the 360 version sold. And with Madden and other sports games this year, the 360 version really outsold the PS2 + PS3 version together (I think). And oh course PS2 sales have dropped a bit. Now, if these games were still selling insanely hot on PS2, I would assume people weren't upgrading, but since that doesn't seem to be the case, it seems like many people have upgraded, but just not to a PS3.
Without a doubt IMO, the PS3 is a pretty big upgrade compared to what PS2 was (IMO, bigger than 360 from Xbox and Wii from GC), but it seems to have made little difference. This may be a stupid assumption, but I kind of wonder if PS3 going to the classic black colored console has hurt a little, because the iPod white seems to be the "in color" for electronics (Some may bring up the Elite, but it seems to me the Premium still greatly outsells it). It worries me a little that PS3 doesn't even seem to exists to people (in NA especially). It seems like a Wii and 360 are the only consoles, along with PS2. Sony continues dropping the price and it still barely helps. I'm even getting worried that if PS3 was priced at $200-$300 with several great games, it would still have problems selling.
Please, understand that I'm not trying to say doom and gloom for PS3 (because I absolutely love mine and would love it to do well), the trend I'm seeing really doesn't look good (partially because PS3 is still to release good games and 3rd party games are looking just as good on PS3 now, or most I should say). Things could turn around because they certainly did for the original Xbox (to where it even outsold PS2 in the year 2004 in NA, but was still too far behind). Although, there's no denying this is having a tad effect on me and causing me to greatly consider a Wii (I was going to buy one anyway) and make that my main console (since it's doing well and I do like Japanese type games). At least it seems to be getting 2nd in Japan and most of Europe, so PS3 might still stay my favorite console overall.[/QUOTE]
I see your point and I have to agree with it. Sony was the cool system up until they announced the price at E3... and that immediately turned people off. But its up to Sony to change things around. and so far I'm pleased with what they're doing. Free online, lowered price skus, games. Sony still needs that game that makes people flock to the PS3. MGS4, God of War III, those are games that can bring some customers, and if you can get some customers to the system, then they'll stay because you got all the little extras that people can enjoy - Little Big Planet, Home, Free online, etc.
that lack of games, or no games argument should be thrown out the door, as of last month.