as PS3 is to PS2...seriously duplicating the ps2's success would be very difficult...as nintendo will have a difficult time trying to follow up the wii....

I kinda hate how some people become become fanboys simply because they can't afford to support both systems or because they had the older version of a system. So they blindly ignore, and refuse to acknowledge the success of the other systems simply because they don't have one. Idiotic...

Was the Nintendo Gamecube a failure back in the day? If you said "yes", then you're being hypocritical.

I dont recall ps3 being last place since launch. It has been constantly outselling xbox360.

You guys must be forgetting xbox 360 infamous year headstart

If Sony doesn't pass the Wii let alone the 360 then yeah, Sony will likely see the PS3 as a failure since they went from first twice in a row right down to last place.

Well this article has got a large amount of reports, which obviously hasn't gone down well with some people i.e. Greeneagle, xbox360_fan who are desperately trying to prove to the world that the PlayStation 3 is a terrible console.

Although, you know what they say, children will be children. :D

I don't even think sony consder it a failure when they said in their own words ps3 slim demand was way beyond what we predicted, it's the reasons for all the shortages guys, now add the fact that ps3 has been otuselling the 360 for most of the year, to be honest the only console which is a failure is the 360 which brought the largest failing console ever to the world, that console should have been taken off the market like what was threatened but instead they took a nice paycheck just to keep it on the market.
I am going to laugh so hard when GT5 helps ps3 sell so many units certain fans will be wanting to shut their eyes and wish it was 2006 again when x30 only existed without ps3 being around.

I dont think it was a failure. But I do think they made a SERIOUS MISTAKE by selling it and making it so damn expensive in the first place.

When it first came out more people bought PS3's to resell it on ebay than those who bought it to play games. But then again Sony marketed it as an all you can do system and NOT A GAME SYSTEM. Infact they went out of their way to make sure that the media didnt call it a gaming system.

Also at 500 + bucks it was just too much for the MASSES to buy. I think THIS IS THE SINGLE REASON ALONE that Nintendo done so well in the first place. I believe had Sony come out at 399 or lower that Nintendo wouldnt even be heard of now. Just look how much it is selling now at 299!

Sony made a HUGE MISTAKE with that large price in the beginning and the PS3 will NEVER sell as much as the PS2 did in 10 years time.

If the PS4 comes out at anything more than 350 the same thing will happen again. Look it costs alot of money to make a new machine so Sony has to make a system that will last for 10 years. They have to let the power of the graphics leak out a little better as time increases so the system wont max out too early.

Oh well. I think the ps3 has done well enough. But it could have done a whole lot better.

End of Line.

One thing I do know: posts like this are a failure. Sony has secured the HD disc market pretty much because of the PS3, and the PS3 is alot more futureproof than the xbox or wii.

I love N4G! The place where human stupidity congregates! ...and sometimes gaming news. But mostly stupidity. <3

Couldn't have said it better, Lombax. A bubble for "Well said".

Learn Maths or just have some common sense, I have said this a million times and still people dont get it into their heads. The PS3 is selling faster than the 360 in the same timeline, if I were to release a console 1 year before my competitor and after 4 years of competition I start blabbing that I win even though I have been on the market for 5 years and my competitor has been for 4 doesnt mean that I have won! If the same cycle is considered then I am behind so I cant say that I have the advantage, get this in ur heads!

Maybe sony does maybe not
in my eyes its 1 because im not 11 anymore to play mario on the wii
and xbox doesnt have sth. that cought my interest

ps3 helped blu-ray win the format war, ps3 will help promote 3dtv's, the ps3 is in 35million+ homes. how can you say thats a failure?

Its been almost 4yrs the PS3 is still in 3rd place and playing catch up nuff said nothing to see here

The PS3 may not be as strong as the PS2 but it's not a failure.

If it is, Sony won't say it now until the mid life of the next gen PS console.

that the person who wrote this article as a failure. You know investment money talks bullsh*t walks ; ) keep it real LoL

I don't see anymore "Doomed" articles so i think its not a failure.

PS3 "doomed" articles are so 2006

i think they would have scrapped it like MS did with the original xbox

I don't get it. This article has already gone past 80 replies, why? Why do so many get sucked into this flamebait tactic where they need to post in response and some are downright fanboy replies.

It's a vicious circle, an article is made for hits and when the hits come in droves another just like it is on the way to repeat this cycle.

Yes it's true Sony has not done nearly as well this generation as far as the gaming sector (marketshare, profits, 3rd party influence) but they did one thing they set out to do and that was make blu-ray a success.

If they considered it a failure, I think they would've given up by now.

Exhibit A - Microsoft drops Xbox after over 25mil sold.

but PS3 is in 4th

PS2 is still on shelfs being sold unlike gamecubes and Xbox....

So Sony is in 1st and 4th

and people criticize Hip Hop Gamer for having outlandish headlines

Everybody brings the 360 in this conversation. To me the main thing is that the PS2 had over 100 milions installed base. And not the majority of them went out and got a PS3. That, to me, is the important factor in this story. Why they did'nt get a PS3. They sure aren't playing only there PS2 anymore. They must have bought a "next-gen" console by now. The PS3 is not a failure but if we have a bit of honesty left. I, for one, didn't see the PS3 still in 3rd place so long after it's release. Not with all the PS2 intalled base.

And let's not put the blame on the economy, because everyone here seems to have full-hd tv to run there games in 1080p. So plaese find something else for a reason.

No,it's not a failure. But I'm sure that Sony expected a lot more from the PS3 in terms of sales.

As much as i don't like sony and there whole we think we the best even though we getting owned by everybody else attitude i don't think Sony failed... 36 million consoles is pretty good considering the ps3 is at 299 with way higher tech then a ps2... Comparing the ps2 with the ps3 is like comparing apple and oranges. The ps3 might end up 3rd but it did show a good fight during its mid life... or they could end up 2nd( no way they beating the wii)

Does MS consider rrod a failure. These articles reminds me of the old n4g back in 2007.

this is what happens when you allow 12 years old on the computer. Too bad n4g feeds on these kind of article.

lmfao...why do these nonsense articles keep showing up?!

If I look at it from a business perspective, and I meet my projected earnings or exceed it in my projected time period (be it 5 years or 10 years), it would be a success, not a failure.

guessing.

i doubt they will think of whether PS3 was a success or a failure until it ends its 10 year life cycle.

keep playing guessing games until then ;)

The same crap ...fail the PS3..fail the Bluray..fail the PSP...fail the 3D ...really?? ...They need to stop letting 7 year old's wright articles...
how about we all play ..i don't know games..instead of fail this and that...

For a "failed" console, Sony sure are adding a ton of new features, investing a lot in first-party games, and coming up with fantastic advertising campaigns. Oh and they're making money on every PS3 sold now.

Yeah, they should just throw in the towel...

what these idiots dont get is that the ps3 isint going anywhere..... you think the ps2 sold that much in its first 5 years? no its because it outlasted EVERYTHING and still contines to outsale xbox 360 in gobal sales some months of the year.... the ps3 will still be relevant in 5+ years as far as the xbox? or the wii? i dont think so... microsoft cannot survive with non stop halos and gears games... americas gotta wake up sooner or later..people sware xbox 360 is the best thing since sliced bread.... head and shoulders over ps3 and wii... and the only game they play is halo 2, and or 3... or MW2.. which is funny

For people who prefer a cheap console.

Not that they'd ever say it out loud but come on, they went from 1st place with the PS2 to dead last with the PS3. They thought their whole install base from the PS2 would get PS3's eventually. Something that, years later, hasn't occured.

Well then that would make the 360 a failure because the PS3 managed to reach 35 mill faster than the 360. Not only that the 360 high failure rate makes it failure right? People want simple advertising, I for one enjoyed the first TV ads that Sony ran for the PS3. Its thinking thats how advance the PS3 is. Sony knows this but people like the simple things. I have never felt that the PS3 is a failure. Yes expensive but hell they could have charged more, but the didn't they sold the PS3 at a lost. Thats confidence. How much money has M$ pumped into RROD warranty, billions now the new 360 still damages the disc.

Need to spend money to make money :P

Nope. PS3 has already begun recouping its losses for Sony. The games on offer are some of the best to ever grace the industry, and Sony are pushing the boundaries and successfully enthusing gamers, just like they did last gen. The only difference is that they are less successful this gen.

i do as it's nothing like he ps1 or 2, and it's not even a real game system.

"sorry
but PS3 is in 4th

PS2 is still on shelfs being sold unlike gamecubes and Xbox....

So Sony is in 1st and 4th"

ummm.....what? (scratches head)

A bad launch stunted the growth of what I consider to be the best console I've ever owned. It's not a failure, and Sony knows that.

''Why do people feel as if they need to defend Sony?''

reason #1 is because they are retarded and thus why they are called fanboys

reason #2 is because they are lifeless, bored and have nothing to play

reason #3 is because they bought an overpriced console that has barely 50% of the game library available on the better, cheaper console, is in 3rd place, 3rd party devs dont care about it, is making its owner broke, rightfully almost never gets any kind of praise from media.......so they created their own little cave here on N4G where they try to justify and make each other feel better about their miserable purchase

reason #4 is because they are retarded

There are still more of these articles. Why don't people just man up and except that both consoles have good games. Be a gamer.

for a system that costs more than its competitors....sony is doing an exceptional job...its not a failure...otherwise we wouldnt be getting one AAA title after another from the house of sony

I dont think Sony consider it a a failure They came a long way since the system launch and now 35 Million PS3 sold Plus there making money off the PS3 now They are doing far better then xbox and Gamecube last Gen which both was a Failure But now There releasing AAA Games and is Picking up sales. yeah the price which was high in the begining due to Blu ray in the system but it was worth the $600

2008 - 15 million!
2009 - 8 million!
2010 - 4.5 million!

In 2012 this will be over!
And offcourse once again, Sony will be king in the endustry!

Sony start this race 1 year after and a 600 dollars prise tag whitch dosent support piracy!

If theres a company who consider their console as a failure, that will be Microsoft!

Not Sony!

No platrform, that means PC too,
Cant beat PS3 this gen!

Its the winner allready!!!

Metal Gear Solid 4,
Killzone 2,
Uncharted 1/2,
Heav Rain,
Gran Turismo,
God of War,
Little Big Planet 1/2,
Infamous,
Whight Knight Chronicles,
Rachet & Clanc series,
Resistance,
Yakuza,
Motorstorm,
Deamons Souls,
Warhawk,
Valkiria,
Final Fantasy Versus 13...

The list goes on!

Playstation Plus,
3D,
MOVE,
Internet browser,
HOME,
Free Online etc...

What a beast!!!

Sony may not consider the PS3 a failure despite their set backs and losses. It very well could be a calculated loss. For all we know Sony could be right on schedule for their long term goals. They took a risk by not sacrificing everything to make a quick buck. Let's face it Microsoft and Nintendo have sacrificed practically everything to get where they are. Their integrity, their fanbase, their quality, their innovation, their variety, even their respect.Microsoft practically bulldozed it's way in and has no respect for any other company while mocking them and constantly predicting their faliure. Nintendo hides in a corner afraid to innovate and do something new in fear that no one will like they anymore and when they do innovate, they barely intergrate it into their games and do almost nothing with it. Sony although they have their faults seem to be the only one trying anymore.

M$ is kinda like this.

Built a plane.

Your on it and it's flying well, storm up ahead. Rides the first part, but humidity is rising, all of a sudden, fail - engine is on fire. Put it out and the other 3 are still going. Then bang they all go, all on fire.

Captain M$ comes over the radio.

People we have a problem, please grab your parachute.

Some people get off the plane. It's going down./

As one passanger is going down, he says to one of his friends.

At least the parachute works:) Thanks M$.

Oops it's got holes, must be a refurb. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ask fooooooor anooootherrrr oneeeeee, too late /Splat.

Some chutes open and they are fine, but you never can tell.

This story was written by an M$ survivor.

No free online,
No 3d,
Kinect fail,
E3 2010 lost,
No internet browser,
No quality exclusives,
RROD Error,
N74 Error,
No feature proof etc...

What a butthurt lol!
They only got this type of stupid articles to survive.

LMAO :)

STILL IN LAST PLACE

70% MARKET SHARE TO 23% IN ONE GENERATION

MASSIVE FAILURE CONFIRMED

Oh my god this thread delivers. Some of you people are insane.

The trolls used to be the funniest part of N4G, now it's the crazy fanboys.

Happy 4th of July!

When i buy something, i dont want to have to send it in to get fixed repaired or replaced EVER!!!!!!!!

Besides the exclusive games being great on the ps3 now, I think the reason why the ps3 had such a rough start in the beginning is mainly because sony wanted to push blue-ray and in the process put most of their resources(including some of their video game branch resources) into pushing the blue-ray format. Sony knew at the time that the playstation brand was popular in the entertainment industry and also one of their top money making branches of their company. So from previous experience with the huge success of the ps1 appealing to a wider audience by making video gaming more affordable, and ps2 doing the same but also making the dvd format widespread. It was at that moment in time they took a gamble based on previous experience with the success of the ps1 and ps2 by introducing and pushing the blue-ray format with the ps3 like they did with the dvd format with the ps2. The reward was big but that gamble cost them, they eventually set out what they planned to do with the ps3 by using the playstation brand to push the blue-ray format ultimately winning the format war. A lot of people might think that sony lost a ton cash on the ps3 but they are mistaken so to speak. Yes they lost money on each console made but they gained it all back and more by winning the format war with blue-ray also not to mention that they probably received tax breaks due to company loss(if any) of money due to ps3, and now that blue-ray is getting more popular they are just raking in the cash just on the licensing fees and royalties alone. So while their gaming/console division suffered for a few years because of sony pushing blue-ray it paid off and more up the road, and this is in bad economic times. Why do you think the ps3 has a lot more features than a gaming console needs, because sony intended it as an economical entertainment center to appeal to a wider audience than just the gaming community. And it is still to this day one of the cheapest blue-ray players and/or most economical high end entertainment centers that money can buy. This theory also explains why that after sony won the format war that the exclusive games started getting better and in increased quantity after sony won the format war, this in turn caused sony to shift more of it's business resources from blue-ray back into their gaming division branch since money was coming in from blue-ray, it also explains why sony has a lot of cash to buy up a bunch of game developers thus owning the biggest amount of first party developer's out of the other 2 competitors(microsoft and nintendo).

For anyone who has a PS3 that no longer plays Blu-Ray, do not worry. Your PS3 is not broken. All you have to do is open up the Blu Ray drive and clean the lens with contact lens cleaner. Works like a charm.

... would it still be on the market?

Don't open up the ps3 if you have that problem, just get a high quality lens cleaner.

Comes on a disc. add cleaner to the cloth and it cleans, da daaaaah

Of course it is a failure for the company PS division who
were number 1 for 10 years in a row with PS1/PS2.

They however are happy Blu-ray won even if it hurt the PS3 success but it didn't kill it.

A failure from the standpoint that it didn't do as well as Sony's previous two consoles. In this aspect it has failed. Going from dominating the market to being last is not something Sony is proud of I'm sure.

This is not saying the PS3 is bad or put's out bad games. People just see the title of the article and flip out a bit and it's not necessary.

Does anyone think Sony wouldn't prefer to be number one still? They are putting out some good games now, but let's face it, 360 owners were much happier the first couple years they had their console, same can't be said for PS3 owners, and I'm one of the ones that paid $600 and really had little to show for it for years.

The original marketing campaign was horrendous to say the least, remember the baby commercials? You didn't even realize it was a commercial for a Playstation 3. They have started correcting this by using Kevin Butler to appeal to the more lowbrow consumers and it's working.

I also think Sony is spending a bit too much time focusing on 3-D, when it's not viable for the majority or even close to it. However I think it's a nice console and while the console itself doesn't fail, I can see how people or Sony would consider it a failure from the point's I listed earlier.

What's with people and their fanboy based articles these days. It really is pathetic.

you guys are missing the point SONY must consider PS3 a failure because the ps2 by this time sales were like 62millions vs 35millions of the PS3 so yes is not what they expected to be but is not a failure. Sony is learning that they are not alone anymore and they have to admit that the market is split and there is not way to going back as it were in PS2 era at least no in this.generation

I bought and own all 3 with my own money and I ENJOY all three..instead of fighting why not just go and play some games???

This guy wrote the entire article under the assumption that Sony is one living, breathing human being that doesn't like to have its feelings hurt. That's not how it works.

Look, Sony is a money-making organization, governed by many people. If the games division turns a nice profit in the end, then good for them. Companies are constantly pursuing growth in their respective markets too - stakeholders in the company will look at how big the market has expanded since the days of PS2 and they'll want Sony to get a bigger piece of the action. Execs are not sobbing over 2006 market share, 2009 NPD numbers, or being in "third place." They're selling a lot of systems. They want more, and they'll compete for those spots.

Also, it's one of three big console producers trying to find out how to work through a global recession, and an even worse jobs crisis in the US. Their solution, like Microsoft, was to bring motion control into the picture and keep their console the way it is. Sony's also trying to take a bigger bite out of the rich, some of which have grown richer over the past couple years, by introducing 3D TV's and games that promote the TV's. Nintendo, seeing that casuals stop spending money on games when the chips are down, have moved back into the core gamers' wheelhouse, thinking game sales will be up by creating lean, retro-styled, tightly-controlled games like Kirby's Epic Yarn and the new DKC.

What happened when Toyota had a problem with that uncontrollable acceleration? Did the headquarters building shed giant car-shaped tears? No. The company moved on. Sony moved on from its shaky PS3 launch, and they're doing fine. Instead of $First Born Child, PS3 is now $299. Instead of weird Trainspotting-esque baby ads, they have Kevin Butler. Did the games division conquer the world with the PS3? No. But they're still alive. They didn't pull a Sega or anything.

"If Sony does not eclipse the 12.5 million consoles sold in 2009 will we be hearing about the PS4 at E3 2011."

Dude. There's a lot more to releasing a console than just dwindling sales of another console. There's the whole making the console thing, creating long-term business partnerships on the new one with developers and retailers, letting those developers start making games for it before the initial announcement... PS2's still sell, yet here's the PS3, and PS3's, due to the amount of time the tech has had, are now cheaper to produce and turning a profit, so it's in their best interest to still sell PS3's for a while. If they're releasing a new console, it's because it's time to do it, not because they're not selling enough of the old one.

That's not saying we won't hear about a PS4, or that sales won't decline. It's just that they're not exclusively linked.

what kind of news is this?

As long as they're still around and making great games and continuing to move gaming forward I'm happy. Sony was probably disappointed in the beginning of the PS3 life cycle. But now that it's making a profit, things can only go up from here. Oh, gotta love how some folks are living in the future, saying stuff like 'the PS3 has been losing money for several years now'. Oh snap, it's 2013 already?!

Thats why Sony is buying more devs and green lighting alot more PS3 projects way more than they did with the PS1 and PS2.

Oh Wait.

WTF THEY KEEP POSTING THE SAME crappy articles like this on here? PS3 been selling very very well and will sale more from months to come. STOP TALKING B.S. NONSENSE. I'm getting sick and tired of these kind of articles.

3rd place. 5 billion in losses so far. Only Just started selling at a profit. Greatest and highest rated exclusive games but none that sell like the lower rated competition.
Sony put in alot of time, money and effort into the ps3 and its varied and impressive list of exclusive, but they do not make nearly as much money as the competition.
It may be premature to call it a failure, but the ps3 is certainly not a success right now, all things considered.

1 OF THE FASTEST SELLING CONSOLE OUT OF THE 3 WITH THE HIGHEST PRICE POINT GREAT LINE UP OF SOFTWARE PAST AND PRESENT. WON THE HD FORMAT WAR WITH BLU-RAY, FIRST SYSTEM WITH 3D SUPPORT, MASTERED THE MOTION CONTROLLER WITH ITS 1 ON 1 ACCURACY, AND CREATED 2 NEW GAME GENRE'S WITH (LBP,MNR,& HEAVY RAIN). SURE THATS A FAILURE. LOL DUMBA$$

im going to be honest if people dont believe me thats on them. i am an owner of the wii, 360, and ps3. out of the 3 consoles the wii has not broken down on me and i have owned it since launch. my 360 has broken down on me once and got it repaired for free thats including the shipping and i have had my 360 for 3 yrs. my ps3(the 80 gig model) has broken down on me twice and i have had it for a while i think the same time as the 360 not sure and for the ps3 i have had to pay for the repairs twice. in your face fanboys.

now come all the disagrees or people calling me a liar.

Why would they consider it a failure? Need we remember the Blu-ray vs HD DVD war not too long ago? Had Sony decided not to include a Blu-ray player in the PS3 OR had the 360 decided to include an HD-DVD on the actual 360 that war might have shaped up a little differently. The PS3 on it's own won that format war for Blu-ray and that in itself is enough for Sony to consider the PS3 a success.

I wish you people would read the article. It clearly explains from a business point of view what denotes a failure to sony and any company in their present position vs. their past dominant position. I believe articles like this fly over many heads on this site anyway.

Looks at name of the user who submitted this story LOL epic fail of a troll.

The first Playstation Dominated.

Last Gen:
PS2: 143 million sold
Xbox: 24 million sold
Gamecube: 22 million sold

AND NOW WE HAVE...

Wii: 70 million sold
Xbox 360: 40 million sold
ps3: 35 million sold

Now even the sony fanboys with their limited brain power can figure out which 2 companies made huge strides forward and which company made one huge step backwards. One of the smartest articles I seen on this site.

It looks like the PS3 will go in the history books as worst selling console made by Sony. But that doesn't mean it's a bad gaming console, It has some very nice games just like the Xbox 360 and Wii. :)

Despite what their PR division would have you believe, Sony must certainly see the PS3 as a relative failure. From a business point of view, the only point of view that matters to them, they went from a position of near complete dominance in the market to having to fight hard just to keep itself out of last place in sales. The people at Sony could not care less about the landscape of gaming from a creative standpoint, they are paid to look at the numbers and adjust accordingly, and there is no business entity on this planet that would see such a substantial loss in market share as anything less than a failure. They would not be doing their jobs if they considered the PS3 a success in light of just how disproportionately dominant the PS2 was.

I would go as far as to say they would consider the PS3 a relative failure even if it edges out all other systems in sales by the end of this generation, as they still would have lost huge amounts of market share compared to that of the PSX and PS2.

Sony has a history of this kind of thing, they do something well then rest on their arrogance as the rest of the industry passes them by. Their Walkman brand was once the end all of portable music players, with most people at the time calling any mobile music player a "Walkman" regardless of brand. Everyone knows how Sony handled that, as Apple's iPod not only was the better product by far, its name also became more recognizable than the Walkman, with many people now referring to any mp3 player as an "iPod". At the dawn of high definition TV, Sony was top dog by all accounts, with little by way of competition. These days, though, the Bravia line consistantly rates lower to offerings from Samsung and Panasonic, and often costs hundreds of dollars more. They have lost substantial market share in the TV business, their bread and butter, when they had completely dominated that market not a few years before. Sony has a history of underestimating their competition, and overestimating their brand loyalty in the face of superior products and a constantly changing market.

We, the gamers, get fed the "10 year life cycle" schtick, when it has nothing to do with us. Sony could not go to its shareholders and explain that they were going to have to gamble on the PS3, a machine that would not make money for years, while killing off the cash cow that the PS2 was/is. The "10 year life cycle" was Sony telling its shareholders not to worry, that they would support the cash cow for as long as the PS3 hemorrhaged money. This way the shareholders wouldn't jump ship and send Sony's stock plummeting. Not that Sony wanted to kill off the most profitable console in history, they have made more money off of Playstation 2 products than they have off PS3 products for the entire four years the PS3 has been on the market. We are insane if we believe that Sony doesn't think that is a failure, though I'm sure that they'll paint it as a success when the PS3 is still making money as the PS4 hemorrhages cash by the bucketload.

I'm a gamer of both systems and love the 360 & PS3 the same, but I purchase the Sony exclusives as well as the 360 exclusives and any any multi platforms games on the 360. But both have been very succesful if you ask me and without both to push each one us gamers would loose out. And talking about the 3D coming on the PS3 can't see buying another TV as I made the change last year and hell I can't stand watching a movie with those damn glassess for 3 hours what would I do playing a game for 6 hours as MW 2 or any other shooter.

...the deal with Microsoft fixing your RROD for free if it's not your fault is much more attractive than paying $150+ to fix a YLOD that's not your fault. I've gone through 2 PS3s and one 360. Considering that both the YLOD and the RROD is inevitable given a certain amount of playing, I would say Sony should either make a system similar to Microsoft's or lower the price to get the PS3 repaired.