Quick, get down to your local turf accountants and put every single credit-crunched penny you have on yet another analyst's prediction.
* This one comes from David Cole, president of FDC Intelligence. Coley claims that the finishing order for this hardware gen will be:
1) Nintendo Wiii
2) Sony PlayStation 3
3) Microsoft Xbox 360
"For its recently ended fiscal year, Sony Corp reported that hardware unit sales of the PS2 were down by 7%", Cole told Home Media Magazine. “From our perspective we would say they were only down by 7%. This is amazing for a system that launched in 2000. The PS2 managed to outsell both the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2007."
He then proceed to get the word 'ironic' wrong in an almost Alanis Morissette way
**, “Ironically, a slowing economy can actually help the game industry,” Cole said. “Video games provide a high rate of entertainment return and high gas prices actually encourage people to stay home and play games. The latest DFC Intelligence forecasts predict that all three systems (360, Wii and PS3) will have a solid installed base."
No way! Three consoles that currently have a few million owners
will have
a solid install base. But Coley's not fence sitting, "Nevertheless, it looks like the Nintendo Wii will be the overall installed base leader. The Wii has enormous momentum and appeals to the broadest audience."
He then continues to outline why he's placing his faith in that running order.
"The sales performance of the PS3 has been less than stellar, but Sony has survived.
"The Xbox 360 was unable to take advantage of Sony’s struggles to build the type of large lead needed to maintain a long-term advantage. The PS3 survived the onslaught of AAA Xbox 360 titles that hit the market from late 2006 through 2007.
"
Halo 3 had great sales, but it did very little to enhance the Xbox 360’s overall position in the marketplace. The Xbox 360 is the system of choice for fans of high-action first-person shooter (FPS) games.
"However, for the 80 percent-plus of game consumers that do not play FPS games, the Xbox 360 is not the system of choice."
So, 20% of FPS playing gamers should choose the Xbox? What does that even mean? Prizes for the first person who can explain that to us in the Forum.
* Don't do that. Send it all to us.
** He meant counter-intuitively.
Source: Home Media Magazine