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PS3 Gets Blu-ray Bump in February Sales Figures on Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:47 am
XxJamesxX
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PS3 Gets Blu-ray Bump in February Sales Figures
third-place finish in monthly console sales may relate to reported
supply problems. The console maker plans to have its difficulties there
solved in time for the April release of "Grand Theft Auto 4" ("GTA IV").
However, don't look for Microsoft to extend its recent round of Xbox
360 price cuts in Europe to the U.S. before summer, Baker said.
"Microsoft's price drop in Europe should help them gain traction, as it was in preparation for the 'GTA IV' launch," he noted.
Although sales for Microsoft's Xbox 360 floundered a bit in
February, games for the platform dominated the software market.
Activision's "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" lead; coming in at the
No. 2 spot was Capcom's "Devil May Cry 4." "Lost Odyssey," "Turok" and
"Rock Band" were seventh, eighth and 10th, respectively.
PS3 Surge
The culmination of the high definition DVD format war, wherein HD DVD backer lost to Sony's Blu-ray format, was a component in the PS3's improved sales.
"Any spike is more likely due to the HD DVD/Blu-ray format war being
settled, so people that are interested in movie watching on the console
may have decided to go ahead with their purchase of the PS3. Based on
the volume this effect appears to be minimal," according to Baker.
For consumers Interested in purchasing a Blu-ray player, however,
the two-in-one attractiveness of the PS3's price could be a strong
incentive.
"The PS3 now costs just a little more than a standalone Blu-ray player. That makes it an outstanding value," O'Rourke told the E-Commerce Times.
Sony, however, will not be able to bank on Microsoft's supply issues
or its inclusion of the Blu-ray player to boost sales in the coming
months. With only one title available on the PS3 -- "Devil May Cry 4"
-- cracking the top 10 games list in February, Sony has some much
needed work to do to beef up its library of games for the PS3.
"[The PS3's sales in February] has little to do with the title
library, as Microsoft has a bigger library. Also, sales of the games
indicate only one game for the PS3 in the top 10," Baker noted.
"This will not give Sony any permanent advantage, and both [the Xbox
360 and PS3] should spike when "GTA IV" ships. Sony needs a hit title
for the PS3 that is exclusive and that is not on the horizon," he
added.
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