A report from the Yankee Group, a Boston-based research firm, has the PS3 “winning” the console war by 2011 with a total of 30 million units sold, followed by the 360 with 27 million units and the Wii trailing with 11 million units. Boo hoo. Looks like we lost the console war, fellow Infendo readers, I think we should close up the blog and start saving our $800 buy-in for the PS3.
But wait, what’s this? The Yankee Group you say? My my. Here’s the portion of the post where I reveal what I do for a living outside of Infendo. I am an IT journalist. I write about things like computer software and Linux and Windows, and the Yankee Group is a company very well-known in tech circles. Very well known for being a shill for Microsoft. They love sponsored research, which basically means the research was bought and paid for by a vendor like Microsoft to point out all the bad things about the competition, like Linux. My boss, an industry veteran for the better part of the last 20 years, told me on the first day of work three years ago to avoid using quotes from the Yankee Group because some analysts there had an axe to grind.
So, I have some questions for Yankee Group:
- Is this research sponsored by any vendor, including Nintendo, MS, or Sony?
- How were you able to generate numbers on a system, the Wii, that has not had a release date or price confirmed by Nintendo?
- How was the data generated? Was it solely based upon last-gen hardware and software sales?
- The data says fewer consoles will be sold in next-gen because of higher console price — yet Nintendo has confirmed Wii will sell for less than $250, much less than both the basic and premium consoles of Sony and MS. Is there a logic error here?
- The report cites data regarding price cuts from MS, yet neglects to mention that the Wii could sell for $250 or below. How is this not also “pricing pressure” that could cut into these purely hypothetical PS3 sales over the next 5 years?
- The data supports a rise in in-game advertising, yet MS titles such as Fight Night have extensive advertising and still remain at typical $60 Xbox360 price levels. How does this help the end user (gamer)?
- Did ya go to E3 this year? Did ja?
This research reeks, and until the Wii has a confirmed price and all consoles have been at market for one year, you should all ignore these silly page view whore headlines as the unscientific, unproven, kneejerk research that they are. /rant
Well said sir.
Based on what the Yank' report says, apparently the overall market will seemingly shrink by 2011…..*sneezes bullsh*t*….These market analyst groups tend to be financial witchdoctors anyway. These are the same kind of people who tried to convince us all to buy beta cassettes and satellite phones. If the Nintendo DS is any indication, I think the Wii is in a position to hit the 10 million unit mark in 2 to 3 years easy. And the Wii is definitely slated to out-perform the Cube judging by first and third party enthusiasm. So within the five year cycle there's no reason why the Wii wont hit 25 million or more on its own. That analysis doesn't seem to check the broad spectrum either, i.e. needing to look at returning customers and new customers (which has been the key to Nintendo single handedly reviving the Japanese gaming market). To hell with Wall Street. Just give me my Wii already…..can't sleep at night just thinking about it…..and when I do sleep I dream about that sexy blue light……can't take it anymore…
Very nice Rant Jack!I agree completely. I would be willing to bet $$$ that MS funded this study. Notice how they comment that there will be fewer consoles sold this gen than last because of higher pricing, but for some reason, they show MS as the only company that will actually sell MORE consoles this gen than last, even though xbox360 pricing is higher as well? Their results don't even support their own theories. Its comical even.Also, if this wasnt a funded study, I doubt this company would have the balls to so completely contradict the predictions of Nintendo themselves. I mean, Nintendo has a vested interest in setting the bar at a lofty but attainable number. They have stated something like 6 milling consoles by march 07 I think? And yet this group is saying 11 million by 2011? What!?!If nintendos projections are THAT far off, for instance if they are only at 2 million by March 07 (which would put them on track for 11 million by 2011) their stock will plummet!Nintendo has to set attainable goals, otherwise, they will be seen as underperforming which is a very bad place to be.
Jack, is it just me, or do you have a bone to pick with, "the Yankee Group"? Save this so you can rub it in their faces when they end up completely and totally wrong.
Nicely put. What a complete stupid prediction.-Fank
Good write-up. Their worldwide sales figures are ridiculous for one; and if the Gamecube can sell 20 million worldwide, the Wii will easily surpass that. The Xbox 360 likely wont sell a whole lot more than they did this gen, they have an established user-base now, but I don't see them doing anything new to grow it, however they will likely gain a few people who bought a PS2 this gen. That 30 million for the PS3 will depend on how many people buy it solely for its name, and whether a few AAA titles alone are enough to sell it.
lol I mean LOOOOOOL