- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
The PS3 will be done in by several factors:
1) Price tag. At $499 (base model) or $599 (the real model), Sony will be hard-pressed to find a market outside of Asia. While I believe product loyalty will still allow sales to remain relatively high, I believe the price will be an ultimate problem.
2) Rockstar. Signing on with Microsoft has taken away a very key draw for Sony: Grand Theft Auto. Because the next major GTA release will be on both consoles, people will no longer have the excuse, "GTA is only on the PS3, so why should I get a 360?"
3) Halo 3. While unlikely to coincide with a PS3 release, it will cause major problems for Sony during the holiday season in 2007. Why? Microsoft will be savvy enough to lower the price of the 360 at the same time as the Halo 3 release. Think about it: people will be buying 360s simply to play Halo 3. Now that the 360 is cheaper, what use will there be in buying a PS3?
4) Exclusive titles. The PS3 has two exclusive game series that can push sales: Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy. While I find these games to be great, they are limited by their fanbase. That is to say, fewer people are really going to buy a PS3 simiply for MGS or FF, while people will definitely buy a 360 for Halo 3. Heck, people will buy a 360 for GTA just because the 360 is cheaper. You could argue that Gran Turismo is a draw, but its popularity has been waning since GT 3, and Forza is a serious challenger.
5) Wii. The Nintendo system will be marked by surprising sales numbers, mark my words. It has the type of innovation that might catch fire in Asia, and its price point is a lot more enticing.
The PS3 is turning into a luxury item now, in my eyes.