EA: Whoever Takes Europe Wins Console War

Gerhard Florin, Electronic Arts's international publishing head has said that the biggest fight for gamers will be in Europe and that, "Whoever wins the hardware war in Europe, most likely will be the overall winner" in relation to the 360, PS3 and Wii.

Speaking at the Reuters Technology, Media and Telecoms summit he also said that technology had already done so much for the industry that it was now turning its attention to improving the quality of story telling and bringing more emotion into gaming. He hopes that the time will come when technology has evolved so much that they will be able to focus purely on gameplay rather than realism.

He also talked about how mobile phones will be important in driving revenues across the industry especially with new casual customers but that they still have technological hurdles to overcome.

[Counter_ACT]

The PS3's European record breaking launch should pay off then. :D

[calderra]

An 80+% dropoff in sales after the first week and quickly falling to third in overall sales doesn't look so good, though.

[jaydesi]

they need to start releasing games the same time and jap and US releases, instead of us waiting 1-2 yrs for a top release.

[Deadlyhifi]

With all due respect to PS3's record breaking launch it hasn't done much since!

I don't know anyone that has one at all. I know people that have Wii's and 360's and people that have both. In no way am I being biased, I'm not at school age so I dunno what the kids are getting!! Just telling it as I see it. I think the 360 has definatley done better than the original xbox and the Wii has shocked everyone! The PS3 is just too expensive and at the moment doesn't have much going for it.

[Odion]

I don't get it, how does winning 30% of the gaming community win you the war? NA accounts for almost 50% of all gamers

[Phlapp]

Where are those numbers from?

[shikwan]

These stories are REALLY getting old & BORING!!

FACT: MS came out first, has the sales lead (over Sony), has more games, has a more robust online service and a lower price tag.

FACT: Sony is selling the PS3 as a cheap BluRay player when in fact it IS an expensive Game Console.

PREDICTIONS: Sony will take the lead ________.
A. This X-mas
B. In 2008
C. If they do well in Europe
D. Never
E. When they lower the price.

These 'prediction' stories are just lame & hopeful attempts at qwelling the losers...er...users who put their money into PS3.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

These are just flame bait storys it should reach 30 or more comments.

[alsef07]

Ps3 and cheap dont mix

[m000b1]

shikwan shut it you gimmic poster. Stop trying to follow in the marts footsteps hes funny to watch your not. Kthxbai noob.

Europe will be controlled by either Nintendo or Sony. The 360 hasnt really taken off here.

[Deadlyhifi]

Are you even in Europe? I'm in the UK and I know loads of people that have them. I think your comment is really a waste of time. You have no facts or figures... noo evidence.

[m000b1]

i could easily get facts and figures. Yes i live in the UK and i work in Gamestation. The 360 is not popular over here.

[tonsoffun]

Come on man, of the three new consoles on sale here in britain, I would say it is the 360 that has sold the most, with the Wii close on its heels.

now just because your gamestation may not be selling many 360's it does not entirely relfect the gaming community in the UK as a whole.

Do you have the GAME, Independant and the supermarket figures for 360 sales?

If you don't you cannot possibly comment on the sales figures.

[m000b1]

dude its sold like 3 million in europe.

[Phlapp]

"i could easily get facts and figures."

Go on then!

[Deadlyhifi]

IF you do work in gamestation and IF Xbox has sold 3 millions consoles how many have the rest sold? 3 Million sold over here out of a total of 10 millions sold so far seems pretty good to me seeing as North America is pretty big. 30% in fact of all XBOX 360 consoles sold according to you were bought here. That isn't bad reading for the UK and Europe if you ask me. And working for Gamestation I dont think you can have an opinion on the rest of Europe.

[Black Republican]

i do not agree with
i do not beleive just one place will decide he outcome of this gen winner

lets say nintendo like now
has usa, canada, japan and all of those area
and ps3 or x360 has europe that means ps3/x360 will win????

no.

[TheMART]

First off, for Europe, Sony always seem to be kind to USA/Jap and not Europe. They delay everything here and they let Europe pay the most. The PS3 a half year later almost etc.

MS on the other hand almost does simultanously releases in as well as hardware as games. Seen the effort they put into Europe, that should please possible buyers here.

On the other hand, what's the most important:

IS THE OVERALL NUMBER OF GAMES SOLD & ATTACH RATE

Gears of War sold over 4 million
Resistance sold just 600k

Both the best sellers of both formats. The 360 furthermore has at least 14 games that sold over a million with some of them even sold over 2 million copies.

That pays the gamedevelopers, not the hardware that's sold. Sony take notice and learn

[PS360WII]

then the DS is killing any and all. Even the 360 in Europe and US.

but I know it's a 'handheld' and it's a 'console' but it's still hardware and software.

[tonsoffun]

"MS on the other hand almost does simultaneously releases in as well as hardware as games. Seen the effort they put into Europe, that should please possible buyers here. "

Thats funny as the original xbox was released on the 15 nov 2001 in the US and in 14 March 2002 - not exactly simultaneously eh?

Also I don't seem to recall an official euro date for the release of the elite over here either, you know the rape time SKU?

All console companies stiff the euro market, it is just in thier way of thinking, but I do agree that whomever 'wins' the race her will 'win' the race overall - why? Because Ms has no hope of taking Japan, which leaves both sony and the ps3 the ability to become a outright winner in Japan. Now as it is seriously likely the the 360 wil lead in sales in the US as after all, it is primarily designed for them, it leave the 3rd out of the 3 markets up in the air.

But to be perfectly fair all the 'winning' talk is idiocy. I personally do not want any one format to win outright, it is just a bad idea for the gamer - competition breeds innovation.

Look at the Game boy for instance, the format stagnated in monochrome glory for years only to recieve very little in the way of improvements with the release of the colour, it has taken the release of the PSP to get Ninty to pull the finger ouf of thier arses and produce an innovative product, which by all accounts is spanking EVERYTHING on the market at this time

[Phlapp]

"Seen the effort they put into Europe, that should please possible buyers here.

Why haven't we got Aegis Wing then?

[PS360WII]

I thought to win the so called war you need to win on all fronts... or am I just making stuff up now?

[tonsoffun]

I see where you are coming from, but to be fair 2 out of 3 regions in my mind constitutes a win.

Not that I want any one console to dominate entirely.

[Bathyj]

I've actually been saying this the last couple of weeks.

With the combined sales of USA/Japan being roughly equal this year for both PS3 and X360, Europe might very well be the decider.

Those thinking only USA matters because its the biggest market are missing the point. The decider in a vote can be ONE person.

[Xi]

april american numbers(note that the 360 has outsold the ps3 almost every month after launch)
xbox 174k
ps3 82k
japan april numbers
xbox roughly 12k (3k a week times 4)
ps3 roughly 48k (12k a week times 4)

xbox 186k
ps3 130k

[Bathyj]

http://www.vgchartz.com/new...

1st Quarter Hardware Sales

PS3:
USA 468,243
Japan 365,399
Total = 833,642

X360:
USA 708,599
Japan 82,173
Total = 790,772

Giving PS3 the slight edge for the Quarter. Add in your numbers which are for April and I will take you for your word are accurate and Xbox has the slight edge, though still remarkably close for the 2 regions.

Now all thats left is who sold the most consoles of the 2 parties we're discussing, in Europe this year? Since PS3 sold about a million in one week and Xbox hasn't sold a million this year in US and Japan combined as of up the April, I'm GUESSING PS3 sold more. I dont have any real numbers for Europe but anyway, my original point remains valid, so please dont act like I either can't count or I am making things up.

[Pika-pie]

Nobody mentions the Wii..

If taking Europe does mean winning the 'war' then the bookies have my money on the Wii.
We are 6months from launch and it is still a struggle to find stores which have stock. Places are selling out within hours of being restocked.

If install base is all people are bothered about then the Wii is the way to go.

[bung tickler]

the thing is the wii will be up against a wall soon, its not a next gen machine. the horsepower just isnt there. the reason its selling so good is cuz its more of a status thing now for some reason, its new and different... but once that newness wears of it will be nothing more than a "remember the wii? that WAS fun"

[tonsoffun]

You are saying that it is a fad, but even if it is just a fad, ninty will be laughing all the way to the bank - it is the only console that it profitable out of the box.

I can seriously see it becoming a console that comes out at parties only, and to be fair that is no bad thing, if they release the hardcore stuff for the hardcore fans, than I'll be happy and if they continue to release the party/easily accesible stuff, then my partner will be happy. Either way I still think it will continue to see loads for a the rest of this year.

[sumfood4u]

Opinion's will always be opinions!

[Razzy]

Drop the PS3's MuthaF***ing price!!

[BIGBAER]

The April NPD consoles sales are very grim for Sony's PS3 which sold only 82,000 units (six months after launch) while the Xbox 360 (pre- Xbox 306 Elite launch) sold 174,000 units for the month.

The 360 outsold the PS3 in excess of a 2 to 1 ratio. It will be interesting to see what effect the Elite's launch has on the 360's sales figures for May.

Combined with the PS3's plunge in Japan, could good, sustained sales, in Europe make up the difference? Assuming of course that European PS3 sales hold steady, or, will Europe see the same steep drop in PS3 sales as evidenced in North America and Japan?

[Sly]

Which do you think is more in involved in the gaming world

America or Europe

This will be your answer in which country the winner of the console war would be decided.

[Robotz Rule]

One continent doesn't decide the outcome winner,the WORLD DOES!!!!!