Console wars, What did the numbers go?

[MrPopo]

The PS2 also sold a lot because it was a dirt-cheap DVD player at the time. That segment of the populace didn't upgrade because Blu-Ray players dropped in price faster than the PS3 did by the time it was clear that Blu-Ray was the winner.

[mas]

The only reason people went to get a ps3 was just for the blue ray

Ahahaha!

Oh, you're serious?

Early on it was a big reason. It was (at least) common to see the PS3 recommended as a good Blu-Ray player on home theater boards and the like, even to people who would likely never play games on it. Hard to say what percentage of their overall sales were due to that, but it was far from unheard of. This would be mostly after the price came down some, but when an entry level player was still $200+.

That's why all my friends only wanted a ps3 early on. If I remember in 2001 or 2000 that's why everyone wanted a ps2 at first. Because it was a dvd player and back then dvd player's were expensive

[Pulsar_t]

In short, these numbers for the PS360 are a general indication of the install-base of console consumers, with the Wii being an exception because it was marketed as a "toy". I say general because these numbers include people who replaced their machines outside of warranty, so the base is definitely smaller, and you can't rely on XBL/PSN numbers to determine just how many are actively buying games for their machines. Attachment rates maybe someone can supply them?

[RCBH928]

Yes, when first ps3 came out many people picked it up as a cheap Bluray player but i don't know HOW many or did it actually affect the sales.

ps3 was expensive but it was the only ps1,ps2,ps3+bluray player !!

I find the argument that ps2 owners became Wii owners as a complete joke, I am sorry. I know no ps2 owner that became Wii owner because of the Wii games. This must be a first where Sony fans switch to Nintendo fans, given that both companies target different consumer base, ESPECIALLY with the Wii

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Yes, when first ps3 came out many people picked it up as a cheap Bluray player but i don't know HOW many or did it actually affect the sales.

ps3 was expensive but it was the only ps1,ps2,ps3+bluray player !!

I find the argument that ps2 owners became Wii owners as a complete joke, I am sorry. I know no ps2 owner that became Wii owner because of the Wii games. This must be a first where Sony fans switch to Nintendo fans, given that both companies target different consumer base, ESPECIALLY with the Wii

I knew quite a few people at school who switched from the PS2 to the Wii. Me thinks you don't understand how wide of an appeal the PS2 had. Just like the Wii, tons of casual gamers I knew owned a PS2.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

I had a PS2 and now I have a Wii. Well, I also have a PS3. Both are great game machines, but the Wii is marketed as a toy and I can see where you're going here. I think it's important to remember that there are too many factors to consider when interpreting the data - and where the numbers came from in the first place - to draw much of a conclusion other than that the Wii outsold the PS3 or 360. I mean, how are the scores counted? Are "special" purchases like warranty replacements included?

A lot of casual gamers just want Madden, Cabela, or whatever. PS2 had those and now Wii has them, so that's not unreasonable at all. The people who buy only a few games don't think about much besides the price of entry and that makes sense. There are other guys I know who are hardcore into casual games. Have you seen those lots on craigslist with someone selling his PS2 collection? 200+ games but entirely sports, hunting, shooting, and racing games and Ace Combat if you're lucky. The kind of guy who has every Need for Speed but never heard of Ridge Racer.

This kind of gamer, in my experience, is the most likely to just keep playing PS2 games or get a Wii. They're both the cheapest, most accessible consoles. They're the casual ones. That's good enough because the gameplay their is exactly the same on PS2 as on newer systems. Budget gamers and disillusioned retro fans are a minority.

I'd be perfectly happy with just a PS2 for the next decade - so many great games - so that's not a bad deal anyway

[Pulsar_t]

Besides the Wii can be easily modded, just like the PS2

[ZenErik]

It's not the drive on the older PS3 that is loud. It's the fan spinning at maximum speed because the system is always running hot. At least that was the case when I had an older PS3. It just got worse and worse the longer I had the console.

It annoyed me enough that I bought a separate Blu Ray player.

[Flake]

I find the argument that ps2 owners became Wii owners as a complete joke, I am sorry. I know no ps2 owner that became Wii owner because of the Wii games.

The problem with anecdotal evidence is the small sample size you are dealing with. When we are discussing the significance of numbers in the tens of millions, the habits of a person's circle of friends is statistically irrelevant.

The argument for PS2 fans turned Wii owners is this:

The PS2 outsold its competition by leaps and bounds. The Wii has similarly outsolde its competition by leaps and bounds.

Unless millions and millions of PS2 owners gave up gaming, then a large number of PS2 owners had to have chosen the Wii.

[ZenErik]

Almost everyone in my age group I know has/had a PS2 whether they use it or not. And almost all of them have a Wii as well. A large portion of these people are females that hardly use their consoles. I know I am generalizing, but a vast majority of my friends are female, and they have those consoles and rarely use them.

I try to get them gaming when they are over my place, of course.