# Is it too early to declare the PS3 a failure? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2007, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270 "2007-01-09T08:39:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/141 "2007-01-19T02:08:29Z")
[QUOTE=rjung] If the 360 doesn’t start making some serious numbers in Japan, I seriously doubt it. Even with the release of Japanese-friendly titles like _Blue Dragon,_ the 360 is still lagging seriously behind the Wii and the PS3. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but the original X-Box sold like crap in Japan and it still beat the GameCube in worldwide sales. ---
**Author:** ![Fredescu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/73ab20/32.png) [@Fredescu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fredescu)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/142 "2007-01-19T02:37:11Z")
[QUOTE=Asylum] Yeah, but the original X-Box sold like crap in Japan and it still beat the GameCube in worldwide sales. [/QUOTE] Just barely, and as far as I know we only have “shipped” numbers for Xbox as opposed to actual sold numbers for Gamecube. Probably not enough to account for a difference of a couple of million though. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/143 "2007-01-19T02:42:06Z")
[QUOTE=Asylum] I haven’t picked up a Wii yet (but I will Sunday morning), and I’ve only fiddled with it in some game stores, but are the twelve buttons really accessible the way a PS3’s thirteen are? It seems that if you’re using the Wiimote and Nunchuk at the same time there are some buttons that practically become inaccessible. [/QUOTE] I don’t know about the PS3, but I can tell you I have no trouble controlling the Wii. However, when I had an Xbox (original), it drove me nuts. What was it, shoulder buttons, two sticks, a D-pad, and like six buttons? I can do all sorts of cool stuff with a keyboard and mouse, I have no problem with the Wii, but if the PS3 controller is anything like the Xbox’s, I’m not even going to try. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/144 "2007-01-19T03:39:58Z")
The PS3 controller is very similar to the PS2 controller. The rumble motors were removed and replaced with motion sensors, and the L2 and R2 buttons were altered to have a trigger type motion. I don’t think either was an especially good idea, but if you liked the previous controller you’ll probably be OK with this one. Except for the desync problem, but that’s potentially fixable. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/145 "2007-01-19T21:10:32Z")
> [@Asylum](#): > > I haven’t picked up a Wii yet (but I will Sunday morning), and I’ve only fiddled with it in some game stores, but are the twelve buttons really accessible the way a PS3’s thirteen are? Not entirely; if you’re using both the remote and the nunchuk, the 1 & 2 buttons (on the bottom end of the remote) are a bit of a reach. On the other hand, doing a direct 1:1 mapping of other game controllers’ buttons to the Wii’s controls is pointless anyway. You can just as easily map some of the buttons to gestures and motions with the Wii, such as tilting the nunchuk controller left and right to strafe/turn, or swinging the remote up-and-down to do a slam attack. The whole point of the Wii is to get away from merely pressing buttons. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/146 "2007-01-23T12:51:47Z")
No. PS3 HAS failed. > **[Video Game News & Reviews | Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/gaming/)** > > Find in-depth news and hands-on reviews of the latest video games, video consoles and accessories. Why would sony even consider price reductions, unless it didn’t “take” with consumers? ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/147 "2007-01-23T13:44:20Z")
Uh… maybe I’m not reading that right, but Joystiq was interviewing the Sony head, and put forward the question of “When price reductions”, and Sony basically said “Nuh uh”. Sony is not considering price reductions. It can’t. R&D and manufacturing costs are simply too high. Now, a high price _may_ cause the PS3 to fail, especially if it’s still $600 Chrismas '07, but it’s not guaranteed. I’m still hoping, though. =^^= ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/148 "2007-01-23T14:35:15Z")
Can retailers return unsold PS3s to Sony, or do they take the bath on it? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/149 "2007-01-23T15:35:03Z")
I’ve been wanting to pick up a Wii, and they’re not much cheaper than the PS3 for some reason. With the PS3 you get some major high def horsepower and a Blu-Ray player. Of course the porn companies have gone with HD-DVD. The PS3 is going to need a killer game or two to save it, like the next Grand Theft Auto. ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/150 "2007-01-23T15:36:10Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] I’ve been wanting to pick up a Wii, and they’re not much cheaper than the PS3 for some reason. With the PS3 you get some major high def horsepower and a Blu-Ray player. Of course the porn companies have gone with HD-DVD. The PS3 is going to need a killer game or two to save it, like the next Grand Theft Auto. [/QUOTE] Huh? The Wii is half the price of a PS3. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/151 "2007-01-23T15:39:39Z")
[QUOTE=Asylum] Huh? The Wii is half the price of a PS3. [/QUOTE] It was supposed to be. It’s $638 and out of stock at Walmart: [Robot or human?](http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5303671) ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/152 "2007-01-23T16:06:50Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] It was supposed to be. It’s $638 and out of stock at Walmart: [Robot or human?](http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5303671) [/QUOTE] That’s for a bundle with 7 games. The system itself is $250. Don’t do it, by the way. Forced bundles with little or no savings suck. You should be able to find one by itself soon enough (I hope). ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/153 "2007-01-23T17:37:53Z")
[QUOTE=Meeko] No. PS3 HAS failed. > **[Gaming - Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/category/gaming/)** > > Find in-depth gaming news and hands-on reviews of the latest video games, video consoles, and accessories. Why would sony even consider price reductions, unless it didn’t “take” with consumers? [/QUOTE] So you consider the PS2 to have been a failure? ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/154 "2007-01-23T18:47:14Z")
[QUOTE=Tabby\_Cat] Uh.. maybe I’m not reading that right, but Joystiq was interviewing the Sony head, and put forward the question of “When price reductions”, and Sony basically said “Nuh uh”. Sony is not considering price reductions. It can’t. R&D and manufacturing costs are simply too high. [/QUOTE] Don’t forget Sony’s incredibly arrogant quote that “There will be no price reduction because the PS3 is not a videogame system but an appliance like a television or a microwave; everyone will want one, and if you want nice things, you have to pay for it.” ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/155 "2007-01-23T19:23:19Z")
Only Apple gets to do things like that. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/156 "2007-01-23T20:18:21Z")
[QUOTE=Jayrot] Only Apple gets to do things like that. [/QUOTE] but Apple has the advantage of the Jobsian “Reality Distortion Field” that makes the general public believe anything Jobs touches is perfect… luckilly, the longer you use Apple products, you kinda’ build up an immunity to the RDF, personally I see Jobs as just another empty suit, he’s a personable, likeable marketing drone, nothing more, he doesn’t actually get his hands dirty… now Woz, OTOH, Woz I respect… ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/157 "2007-01-23T21:46:24Z")
[QUOTE=MacTech] luckilly, the longer you use Apple products, you kinda’ build up an immunity to the RDF, personally I see Jobs as just another empty suit, he’s a personable, likeable marketing drone, nothing more, he doesn’t actually get his hands dirty… [/QUOTE] Really? From my observations of Mac users, I see it the other way around. The longer people use the products, the worse effect of the Jobsian RDF. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/158 "2007-01-23T21:58:56Z")
[QUOTE=cckerberos] So you consider the PS2 to have been a failure? [/QUOTE] I assume you mean to reference the price. When did the PS2 lower its price, some 500+ days after release? They didn’t talk about lowering the price after just 50+ days. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/159 "2007-01-23T22:07:00Z")
[QUOTE=Asylum] Huh? The Wii is half the price of a PS3. [/QUOTE] Only in magical MSRP land. In the real world, the prices aren’t that different. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270/160 "2007-01-23T22:17:33Z")
[QUOTE=iamthewalrus(:3=] Only in magical MSRP land. In the real world, the prices aren’t that different. [/QUOTE] Eh. About 3 weeks ago I had an urge to go to the local Wal-mart. Since these urges are rare (first time, actually!) I decided to give in and look for a Wii. I bought one, not sure if it was for keeping or scalping. Later that day I checked Ebay, found they were selling for $100 over MSRP and decided to see if one of the remaining 5 was available after work. It was, so I got a second one. I kept one and put it on Ebay. It went for $80 over MSRP. So, supply is finally catching up to demand. Still, though, $330 is QUITÈ different from $600. -Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-declare-the-ps3-a-failure/387270.md?page=9)