Can The PS3 Ever Match The PS2?
See Full ImageSony has announced that impressive 136 million worldwide sell-in statistic for the PlayStation 2, and it got us to wondering: will the PlayStation 3 ever match or surpass the immense success of its predecessor?
Depending on the source, Sony has currently sold about 22-24 million PS3 units worldwide and the system is about two and a half years into its lifespan. Obviously, we can't do a linear math equation 'cuz they don't sell the exact same number of units each year - far from it - but we can look down the road a ways, can't we? Thing is, Sony has several things going against them if they want the PS3 to live up to the lofty sales standards of the PS2: first, they weren't the first ones to the market this generation, and that has already had a negative impact. Second, the economy took a dive and the PS3 is still more expensive than the competition. Thirdly and lastly, it still seems as if the ignorant mainstream media wants to write articles that say, "Can such-and-such save the PS3?" But I think even the most ardent pessimists will agree that the console has made great strides in the past year, and it currently has a full head of steam as we roll through 2009.
A few of the amazing exclusive are already here and many more are on the way, and let's not forget about that ever-expanding Network. Obviously, what we need now is a price drop: we've already said that when it comes, it will eventually allow the PS3 to surprass the Xbox 360. And while we stick to that prediction, it doesn't necessarily mean that the PS3 will have sold 140 million units in less than 7 years time. In looking at the numbers realistically, perhaps it makes more sense to ask, "will any system ever match the PS2's success?" In retrospect, it just seemed as if everything went Sony's way during the PS2 era; they came out first, Microsoft and the Xbox wasn't very well liked, the GameCube didn't provide a huge amount of competition, and the economy was trucking right along. Now, after the price drop to $99, there's no knowing what the final tally will be. Hell, they may have sold 175 million units in 7 years time, and there seems to be no chance for any current-gen console to match that mark.
The bottom line is that the PS2 may have set sales records that could stand for a very long time. The PS3 is certainly on the rise and we still think it'll eventually top the 360, but to have the gaudy numbers of the PS2...? It just seems incredibly unlikely.
4/6/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (67 posts)
ironman505
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 9:04:57 AM
1 up, 0 down
Orvisman
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 9:24:43 AM
The PS2 has many great games; and accordingly, my PS2 collection is my largest, followed only by my PSX collection. I'm sure my PS3 collection will eventually dwarf my DC, Saturn, Xbox, GC, and N64 collections. Heck, it already dwarfs my 360 and Wii collections.
2 up, 1 down
Cpt_Geez
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 11:22:25 PM
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Ps3 is one of if not the best system ever made dont get it twisted.
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LegendaryWolfeh
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 11:24:59 PM
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HeXeN
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 11:28:43 PM
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ThugNificent101
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 11:28:56 PM
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i do believe that the PS3 will surpase the sales of the XBOX though
Last edited by ThugNificent101 on 4/6/2009 11:31:16 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 11:34:34 PM
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1.) While 360 will do just fine for certain titles, the truly epic processing power in PS3 plus the capacity of blu ray will be required to bring the real next gen software to bear. (Such as MAG)
2.) As Blu Ray picks up pace, the built in Blu Ray player will finally become the big selling point it was meant to be 2 years ago.
3.) The economy will certainly pick up in the next few years.
4.) More people than ever are into gaming now and when they can afford it, they will want the best. Even the Wii may get some credit for getting people into gaming that will move on to become "hardcore" gamers.
5.) If you look at Sony console history, the quality of games only gets better with the console's age, best software=sales driven up.
The potential is there, but yeah those numbers will be hard to duplicate nonetheless.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 4/6/2009 11:35:08 PM
5 up, 1 down
JasperLoons
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 12:12:44 AM
Anyway, the point is that I think the price blu-ray players will continue to drop faster than the price of the PS3, and many people will just buy a stand alone player instead.
And just to clarify, those people I mentioned aren't 360 fanboys or anything. They just aren't big gamers.
2 up, 3 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 12:33:02 AM
3 up, 0 down
JasperLoons
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 10:01:08 AM
And 2 thumbs down? Really? You people have a problem with a civilized, friendly debate?
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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 12:08:35 PM
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Scarecrow
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 11:45:35 PM
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That's just how it is. In the end if the ps3 can surpass the ps2 in terms of great games, the ps3 will end up beating the ps2.
FPSs don't help though...
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Midris7
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 8:57:12 AM
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hart_attack
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 10:35:08 AM
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coverton341
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 10:56:22 AM
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Tatsujin
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 12:01:22 AM
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Tatsujin
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 12:01:24 AM
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Highlander
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 12:01:54 AM
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Should Sony implement a major price cut this year, 16 million is possible in the current year. With more and more quality games coming, and another $50 cut off the price in a year or two, sustained sales of 16 million units a year are definitely possible. In fact if sales increase year on year and Sony does 16 million this year, 20 million the year after and then another 20 million the year after that, they would be on course to sell at least 100 million PS3s by the end of life of the system. Looking at the sales of PS3 units in the US, it's a fairly constant ramp up. Current sales evidence in Japan suggests sales are strengthening also.
The doom and gloom merchants need to sober up and look at the real picture. Everywhere you look right now articles quote PS3 unit sales at about 22 million, some say 21.5 million. The trouble is that those numbers were about right at the time of CES in early January, more than 10 weeks of sales ago. It really doesn't matter at this point how well (or not) the 360 or Wii sell, what matters is PS3 units. I'm not sure what the break even point is for Sony on PS3 but considering the small fortune my household has spent on games, controllers, eyetoys, and PSN content, they have surely made a profit from us. Time is on Sony's side, but they *have* to hold their course. HDTV is here to stay. 720p/1080i/1080p HDTV is *the* standard for the next 20 years of so. 3D is a gimmick, and will not become mainstream for at least a decade (if ever). So there will not be a real need for a different playback technology than what is already in PS3, and PS3 already does games at all three resolutions.
In other words, 10 years from now PS3 will be just as current as it is now for the majority of functions. Sony appears to be dragging their feet on a price cut, but another way to look at it is that they are preserving the value of the PS3 during the recession. As the economy improves and consumers start purchasing again, a cut price PS3 might seem like a steal...if you see what I mean.
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march6969
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 12:32:52 AM
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Last edited by march6969 on 4/7/2009 12:33:13 AM
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Orvisman
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 9:33:15 AM
The Saturn beat the PS1 to market. I think the N64 came out afterward.
The DC beat the PS2 to market, followed by the GameCube and Xbox.
The 360 beat the PS3 to market with the PS3 and Wii coming out at the same time.
The big difference this gen has been Nintendo releasing its console simultaneously with Sony's console... that didn't happen in the last two gens.
Anyway, who would give you a thumbs down just for pointing out a factual error?
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 10:18:17 AM
Sega had no chance of defending themselves against either Sony or MS in the long run. The PS2 was the first to market in the competition that matters.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 4/7/2009 10:19:48 AM
1 up, 1 down
Orvisman
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 1:11:40 PM
Besides, no matter how you twist it, you can't dispute the fact it was the first console out during the PS2 generation.
I find it odd, however, that during this gen many of those same PS2 customers didn't wait for the PS3, instead opting for the 360.
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MadKatBebop
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 1:02:52 AM
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Qubex
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 1:05:49 AM
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1] I think it will be difficult for the PS3 to surpass PS2 numbers. Not impossible but difficult. There are too many variables that will change the way games are played and delivered in the next 5 years
2] I agree generally, Blu-Ray has not had a huge effect on PS3 sales. It did at the start, but it has fallen off as Blu-Ray player prices have come down from their ridiculous highs 18-24 months ago... when the PS3 was superbly placed to take advantage of the price differentials...
3] The Wii will continue to sell well, and outstrip PS3 sales in most regions of the world
4] The Wii and Xbox360, will also continue to sell well (generally) due to the fact that they are crackable and people can load Home brew software. Read between the lines and you know what I mean... I do not see thins changing anytime soon
5] A possible new Xbox console; even though not imminent, will likely continue to bleed sales away from potential PS3 buyers, however, if Sony continue with a range of exciting exclusives, and the PS3 is cheaper than any new Xbox console that may be released, the PS3 will continue to attract old and new Xbox converts... but by how much, well the sales numbers will tell us when everything has shacken out
6] PS3 should expect a sales surge once the price is cut, as most agree here. The great exclusives line up will only help the console generally toward that goal. 16-20 million consoles per year would be a hard push... you would need hardware at $259 to make that a reality...
Conclusion... PS3 may beat the PS2, but from where I am standing, looking at the variables confronting it, the economic situation which continues to deteriorate... I find this hard to believe... not to mention the way gaming itself is changing with likes of Zeebo and OnLive being released...
Looks like a confusing and rather difficult picture overall for the PS3... what it has done in the past 2 years considering, has been remarkable... and I expect the hardware to stand the test of time for the next 2-3 years... after that it is anyones game...
Footnote: Must add; Sony is in a strong position generally with regards to I.P. Due to their Film, TV and Music assets they have a wealth of product to use and translate across to their PS3, PSP and PS2 platforms... this may give Sony the edge in the long run... basically, expect many more exclusives to come, and expect converts to be attracted by those exclusives... To some degree, Sony has the edge, it just needs to do things right... great exclusives, good marketing, community based HOME and an attractive price point...
Who agrees?
Q!
"i am home"
Last edited by Qubex on 4/7/2009 1:11:57 AM
3 up, 1 down
raztad
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 8:32:59 AM
It's not Blu-Ray wins then push PS3 sales, it's the other way around, PS3 push Blu-Ray sales then Blu-Ray wins. That was Sony strategy to win the HD war and it worked wonderfully.
IMO is a good thing people are buying the PS3 for THE GAMES, and thanks to Sony first and second party studies we are getting a LOT of them. Happy us :D.
Regarding the question? Yes it will. PS3 has the potential, the longevity, PS is a powerful brand. Sony knows it, and they are playing their cards very carefully. First off, make the PS3 profitable.
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twenty8nine
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 2:45:16 AM
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But look at another fact: maybe 360 will continue to be so plagued with major errors that hardcore gamers will start to switch to PS3.
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Ultimadream
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 2:59:22 AM
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but with that theres been many dissapointments, RE5,GTAIV, Silent Hill: Homecoming, Devil May Cry 4. I've sold more games than i currently own!
The PS2 certainly had better exclusives, In my opinion i still think the PS1's been the strongest, it brought out so many original titles, compair how many original titles the PS1 had released on the console compaired to the XBOX1 and you'll see why its such a landmark console.
3 up, 1 down
Daedusian
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 2:26:56 PM
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Mystearica
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 3:14:36 AM
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Many reasons... but primarily 2... 1- gigantic gaming library and 2- there weren't to many appealing competitors at that time
Dun get me wrong... the PS3 is AMAZING... but which system is selling best? The Wii - which really isn't a next gen console... either way I would LOVE to see the PS3 do well... but in all honestly it won't go hear the PS2
Last edited by Mystearica on 4/7/2009 3:15:44 AM
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Alienange
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 5:45:31 AM
The Wii's sales numbers come from a select few exclusives that everyone seems to love. That's all you need for console sales.
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xnonsuchx
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 5:31:31 AM
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I believe some of the other analysis that MS and Sony are unlikely to release anything new for another 3-5 years (except maybe re-designs of the existing consoles) because of most users not really wanting to be upgrading that often, but I think Nintendo might do something HD-capable (WiiHD, anyone?) within the next 3 years and the whole console market might depend on what happens with that.
It doesn't sound like Nintendo has any aspiration to be the pricey processing behemoth in the market, though, so they could be sorta their own market aside from MS/Sony, like the Wii is now.
Similarly, it depends on what happens w/ CPU development w/ IBM & Cell, Intel & Larabie, or some possible other party (including nVidia or AMD/ATI) over the next few years.
Anyway, back to the main question... People were hungry for something new when the the PS came out and the PS2 was a great extension to it, while the previous leaders, Sega & Nintendo, were kinda faltering...the latter was just able to hang on better. PS(1) and PS2 just kinda came around at the right time to succeed and I think the market would have to run into a similar 'staleness' for that success to happen again (and at the right price).
Maybe someone else needs to join the competition? A new Atari-SEGA joint venture...the Firebird Genesis 15600-256X!!! ;-)
Last edited by xnonsuchx on 4/7/2009 5:40:24 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 12:15:21 PM
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www
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 5:45:05 AM
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XBOX has been canned a long time ago,MS are catering for 360,giving it their all.
Basically i see Sony are scared if the PS2 is stopped,consumers migrating will go for the cheapest console on the market,that is Xbox 360.This the reason why i think we still see the PS2 around.
I had a friend say the same,that the PS2 is slowing the PS3,if Sony should hope PS3 sales should rise then they'd better stop PS2 production,so more people could migrate.But then again they're scared the new next-gen adopters will go for Xbox 360.
Last edited by www on 4/7/2009 5:52:43 AM
1 up, 1 down
Highlander
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 10:54:15 AM
PS3 has a 10 year life (at least) and is only 2 and a half years into that. PS2 has been going strong for 8-9 years now (depending on the market) which clearly demonstrates that a 10 year life is not foolish thinking. PS3 was probably a year or two earlier on the technology curve than the PS2 was when it released, Blu Ray adoption is ramping up. PS3 has a very secure future.
PS2 is not slowing the PS3, they sell to different consumers. PS2 costs $99.99, that's $300 less than PS3. Those are not the same markets or consumers.
Last edited by Highlander on 4/7/2009 10:56:01 AM
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Alienange
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 5:52:22 AM
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K ASH
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 6:21:44 AM
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ironman505
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 9:17:58 AM
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Ultimate_Balla
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 7:00:01 AM
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ironman505
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 9:14:54 AM
Last edited by ironman505 on 4/7/2009 9:15:24 AM
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NoSmokingBandit
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 7:27:32 AM
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To be fair, when the ps2 came out we probably thought it would have a hard time beating the awesome psx library. I dont think the ps3 will surpass the ps2 just because the ps2 made such a massive impact on the gaming world, but i think it will come close. Maybe not in quantity, but definitely quality.
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Ultimadream
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 7:37:59 AM
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Havoc
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 8:30:03 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 12:19:25 PM
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telly
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 9:05:46 AM
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ironman505
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 9:07:29 AM
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Last edited by ironman505 on 4/7/2009 9:09:15 AM
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ironman505
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 9:13:17 AM
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a new question: will any game systum ever compare to the sales and popularity of the nitendo 64?
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Orvisman
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 9:34:52 AM
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ironman505
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 9:24:16 AM
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wat makes my laugh is the fact that all the video game fans are goning for sony and microsoft. Nitendo is being left behind. they have have some crazy ideas like wii fit and wii itseif. they will have to make something REALLY crazy to catch my eye like graphics as good as ps3 and like, wireless guns so u aim at the tv. ther fallin behind.
Last edited by ironman505 on 4/7/2009 9:25:23 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 12:21:10 PM
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 4/7/2009 12:21:46 PM
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slayerkillemall
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 9:52:29 AM
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now about the price, you get what you pay for..
i have been playing games for 20 years,i still have most of the old school systems (nes,snes,ps1,ps2,gamecube,xbox,etc)
when it came down to buy the next one i did my research just like i would do as if buying a car,i looked at the pro and cons of each,and to be honest,i saw and still see the xbox 360 overpriced,not the ps3,can you really have/compare the 360 elite to the ps3 ?
i think not ...360 elite does not come close in hardware to justify the $400 price tag,they are the ones who need a price drop not ps3!
so after all my research i concluded that for my money the ps3 was the best system to buy,and thats what i have....in conclusion ps3 is at the right price....
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dveisalive
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 9:54:36 AM
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Last edited by dveisalive on 4/7/2009 9:54:53 AM
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phade2blaq
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 10:05:10 AM
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The PS3 for all its bells and whistles is a gaming console that Sony tries to market as anything but that and therein lies the problem !
The flash card reader, Super Audio Cd support and of course the blu ray drive are great features except I have those in my $1,700 PC so I never have any use for those features in a gaming console. Most people were not ready for high definition gaming and Sony force fed it down peoples throats. If you have a high def gaming console, why not include the hdmi cables that you need to experience the high def games and movies.
I can recall the 3DO machine which sold for near $700 when it debuted in the early 1990s and it didn't last long because the SNES and Genesis were the "must have" consoles and they were no where near as powerful as the 3DO but they had the games people wanted to play and game developers wanted to develop for.
Last edited by phade2blaq on 4/7/2009 10:08:11 AM
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slugga_status
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 10:33:51 AM
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Ultimadream I have to disagree with a previous post as GTAIV, Devil May Cry 4, and RE5 are quite far from disappointments. GTAIV was groundbreaking. If it was solely on the PS3 a lot more people would've purchased a PS3. Just think how many people bought PS2 around the hype of GTA 3 and the other interations of it. Devil May Cry was one of the best games that came out last year. RE5 was pretty good not great but good.
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coverton341
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 11:08:59 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 12:30:26 PM
I knew it was junk so I never bought one, but as an American I can tell you many of my constituents are advertising zombies and stubborn people. You have to beat them over the head with their broken xbox to get them to see the light. That's where all this fanboyism-loyalty is coming from I think.
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Highlander
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 12:40:07 PM
No, the Sony bashing to me is slightly xenophobic ranting from a slightly xenophobic media. Americans are a tolerant people, but often people react in a (to borrow a line from the south) "You ain't from 'round here are ya son?" manner. There is an almost automatic suspicion of anything that's not 'from here'.
In times of economic turnmoil, this sentiment sadly gets worse, not better.
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NoSmokingBandit
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 @ 2:47:13 PM
I buy stuff based on quality, not location.
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crawdaddy
Thursday, April 09, 2009 @ 3:14:57 PM
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SarahPalinMILF
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Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 11:19:24 PM