Sony claims that the Nintendo Wii is nothing more than an 'impulse buy'

zekrahminator · Feb 1, 2007

Once again, it's that time of year. The post-holiday lull in market activity where everyone is either waiting for the "next big thing" or watching for the market's next move. According to The New York Times, the gaming market is very easy to see. Xbox360 is in the lead, Wii's are selling like hotcakes, and PS3 sales are steady but slow. Sony had a very interesting comment in regards to the current console war. The senior director of corporate communication in Sony Corporate Entertainment America:

Wii could be considered an impulse buy more than anything else.

It should be noted that Sony's President of Worldwide Studios Phil Harrison said something very similar about the Nintendo DS...18 months ago.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

newtekie1 · Feb 1, 2007

Sony doesn't want their console to be an impulse buy, they wan't people to sit and examine all the consoles feature by feature and see that the PS3 offers the most for the money. The problem is that people aren't doing that, they are seeing the Wii's extremely low price and buying it without thinking twice, that is an impulse buy. It is the same idea behind all those 99 cent items they have lined up at the checkouts. Others are seeing the Xbox360's established library of good games and going with that. The PS3 has nothing going for it in the eyes of a lot of consumers.

zekrahminator · Feb 1, 2007

Can't argue with that Newtekie1, maybe I should just edit that last line out saying how Sony ought to want their console to be an impulse buy. It is just an analyst's opinion anyways. And news is supposed to be neutral/letting people make their own minds. Yeah, I'll go edit it out.

Jimmy 2004 · Feb 1, 2007

I planned to buy a PS3, but when the development was getting so delayed and the UK wasn't getting it for ages ect. I just thought What the hell. All of them play games. All of them are fun. Why not go for something that's cheap and has been released?

Perhaps more people would impulse buy PS3s if they were actually launched in Europe.

WarEagleAU · Feb 1, 2007

Agreed, it can be an impulse buy. But the fact of the matter is, the Wii is the cheapest of the 3 next gen consoles. Its fun, entertaining and really gets you involved. Nintendo has been in the pond for a very long time. Sony cant get mad because they over priced their machine (and yes, Im a big SONY PS3 Fanboy, but I also am a fan of value and bang for buck!) and people arent believing it to be worth the 600 bucks. I mean, the Wii is sooooo much fun. Sony, which is probably the most feature laden and most processors and ****, is too expensive right now. I bet, if they cut the price, it would sell like hotcakes as well. Good going Nintendo for making a console thats about fun and entertainment!

bretts31344 · Feb 1, 2007

Sony could mark down prices to sell more, but Microsoft wouldn't be too far behind slashing prices on Xbox 360, especially since it is cheaper to produce after one year. We all know how fast technology improves in six months, and Xbox 360 has been out for over a year now.

lemonadesoda · Feb 1, 2007

"Impulse purchase" is not a negative statement! In fact, if you are a marketing manager... that's what you try to do to!

So SONY is complementing Nintendo on bringing out a product, and marketing it SO effectively, that people dont think, they just buy. Just like the iPod.

Congrats to Nintendo!

(And another PR gaff by SONY... their PR people should be fired)

Random Murderer · Feb 1, 2007

impulse buy?
****, sony has gone plain delusional...

i camped out 16 hours in -5c weather to get mine...

DaJMasta · Feb 1, 2007

Maybe they said it because it's the only console remotely close to the amount of money a normal person could drop on an impulse buy.

Just because it's impossible to impulse-buy a PS3 doesn't mean all Wii owners did.

InfDamarvel · Feb 1, 2007

If the Wii was a Impluse buy on my part I would have one already. I am waiting for other colors and a price cut. (Which is around the same time more games will be out)

But when it comes to the PS3 Im not waiting at all, Im just not buying one. I plan on buying a new PC over a damn PS3. Ps3/360/Wii will be my gaming machines.

PVTCaboose1337 · Feb 1, 2007

Wii is kinda an impulse buy. It is so cool... But I really don't agree.

Benpi · Feb 2, 2007

newtekie1 said:
they wan't people to sit and examine all the consoles feature by feature and see that the PS3 offers the most for the money.

PS3 may offer the most hardware features for the money, but since it's inferior in the online Department compared to the 360, and won't have as many killer games as the Wii, IMO, the PS3 is the impulse buy - unless you think it's worth spending $720 so you can play FF13 and MGS.

lemonadesoda · Feb 2, 2007

"Wii Impulse" anyone? The name of a new controller perhaps?

overcast · Feb 2, 2007

I don't know, I love Nintendo. Have had every single console they've ever made. Was five years old when I get the NES. But the Wii has absolutely nothing for games right now, and I'm not buying one till they do.

C.Ash · Feb 2, 2007

Impulse buyers are good for companies, but they arent very smart.

jocksteeluk · Feb 2, 2007

id say the Ipod is an impulse buy, the Nintendo Wii is a statement from the consumer .

Namslas90 · Feb 2, 2007

Yeah, the "impulse" was to not buy a PS3. Sony realy messed up with this one.

Wile E · Feb 2, 2007

Namslas90 said:
Yeah, the "impulse" was to not buy a PS3. Sony realy messed up with this one.

The sad part of that is that the hardware itself is plenty capable, but they priced it out of the market. I would've considered maybe $450 for the top model, but $600 is just too much of a stretch. The lack of available titles isn't really a concern for me, as all new consoles launch with only a small number of titles, and the bugs can be fixed through firmware updates, but I just can't justify the $600. They're shooting themselves in the foot with this one.

error_f0rce · Feb 2, 2007

jocksteeluk said:
id say the Ipod is an impulse buy, the Nintendo Wii is a statement from the consumer .

Interesting statement... how do you figure? Please explain.

newtekie1 · Feb 2, 2007

I'd say it is a statement from the consumer saying they like to buy things on impulse. :laugh:

If anything is a statement from the consumer it is the Xbox360 selling so well this holiday season. But then again I don't think they had to make the statement that they want a console that is fun, has a nice selection of games, and is halfway affordable. They made that same statement with the PS2 this holiday season too.

Dippyskoodlez · Feb 2, 2007

DaJMasta said:
Maybe they said it because it's the only console remotely close to the amount of money a normal person could drop on an impulse buy.

Just because it's impossible to impulse-buy a PS3 doesn't mean all Wii owners did.

Selling = good.

Ps3 is not selling.

Not selling = bad.

So, who's wrong here? :roll:

Jimmy 2004 · Feb 2, 2007

I think if the PS3 came out on time then things might be different - before more details became known about the Wii, it was just seen as another GameCube - it would probably be cheaper and less powerful but essentially the same. At that point a lot more consumers would be tempted by the PS3 and 360 because they would be the best. But when people realised the Wii was different, that gave a new incentive to buy it - so whilst the 360 and PS3 are in more direct competition, the Wii appeals to a slighlty different range of people, so gets sales from those.

newtekie1 · Feb 2, 2007

Dippyskoodlez said:
Sony's just making excuses to make up for their idiocy in management.

I would like to hear more on your argument, specifically on how the company that had the best selling console this holiday season equals "idiocy in management".

Random Murderer · Feb 2, 2007

newtekie1 said:
I would like to hear more on your argument, specifically on how the company that had the best selling console this holiday season equals "idiocy in management".

best selling? :wtf:

i think youre misinformed.
Holiday season 2006:
DS* - 1,600,000
PS2 - 1,400,000
360 - 1,100,000
PSP - 953,200
GBA* -- 850,700
Wii - 604,200
PS3 - 490,700

^The numbers on the right are how many units were sold.

*All incarnations of the product line (i.e. DS Lite, GBA SP).

newtekie1 · Feb 2, 2007

Random Murderer said:
best selling? i think youre misinformed.
Holiday season 2006:
DS* - 1,600,000
PS2 - 1,400,000
360 - 1,100,00
PSP - 953,200
GBA* -- 850,700
Wii - 604,200
PS3 - 490,700

^The numbers on the right are how many units were sold.

*All incarnations of the product line (i.e. DS Lite, GBA SP).

You just confirmed exactly what I said, how am I misinformed? Sony had the best selling console this holiday season. Handhelds != Consoles.

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Sony claims that the Nintendo Wii is nothing more than an 'impulse buy'

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