The results for video game console sales for February are in:

• 335,000 Nintendo Wiis
• 228,000 Xbox 360s
• 127,000 Sony PlayStation 3s

This means that 48.5% of the new video game systems sold in February were Nintendo Wiis. That's a big ouch for Sony, whose high-tech new system appears to be struggling for consumer acceptance with Nintendo's less-tech, but more fun, Wii. Interestingly, Sony's PlayStation 2 sold 95,000 units because of its recently reduced price of $129. The strong sales there indicate that the PlayStation 3's launch price of more than $500 was prohibitvely high, and that PlayStation customers are happy to just buy the old system.

In some ways, the slow sales of the PlayStation 3 appear to be a flashback to the launch of the 3DO in 1993. While the unit was way ahead of its time technologically (it was among the first to offer CDs instead of cartridges), its high price point (among other factors) put it at a competitive disadvantage compared to simpler, less expensive systems like Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis.

Continue reading Wii leads the pack; PlayStation 3 lags

Wii leads the pack; PlayStation 3 lags originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.