Sony: PS3 living up to PS2 success

Thursday 22nd November 2007 - 11:00

Sony CEO bullish about platform progress, Microsoft gives free games away and Warriors of the Lost Empire PSP screens

We do so love an optimist (except if his name is McClaren), so when news reached us of Howard Stringer's recent proclamation of the PS3's success we just had to smile. The CEO of the Sony Corporation believes the sales pattern of the PS3 matches the early performance of its predecessor, the PS2. This comes as news to most people who see the Wii dominate the console landscape followed swiftly by the impressive sales performance of the Xbox 360. But as far as Mr Stringer is concerned the PS3 sales are right on track.

"The PS3 is not behind the curve compared to PS2 in terms of momentum," Stringer told US publication The Hollywood Reporter in an interview about his firm's Blu-Ray platform. "The momentum shift and the energy behind PS3 in time for Christmas is extremely fortuitous. It was planned by the PlayStation group, but I think this momentum now - particularly the number of games coming out, including our own as well as third-party - is the same as it was with PS2."

We admire that kind of up-beat spin, especially as in the UK at least Nintendo can't keep enough Wii consoles on the shelves and Microsoft is experiencing record breaking sales of the Xbox 360, supported by an impressive platform-exclusive line-up. We wish the PS3 good luck, it's going to need it this Xmas!

Meanwhile, news reaches us that Microsoft is launching a game giveaway initiative. The company has announced it would reward Xbox 36 console owners and one of their chosen friends with a selection of Xbox Live Arcade titles for free when they too buy an Xbox 360 and go online.

To take advantage of this offer, all Xbox 360 owners have to do is persuade a friend to purchase an Xbox 360 console - which shouldn't be too hard considering a strong line-up that includes Halo 3, Project Gotham Racing 4 and Mass Effect.

Participants simply fill out the on-screen form then send off as instructed to both receive ten Xbox Live Arcade titles, including Every Extend Extra Extreme, Sonic The Hedgehog, Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting, Bomberman Live, Marble Blast Ultra, Spyglass Boardgames, 3D Mini Golf Adventures, Small Arms, Assault Heroes and Zuma Deluxe. Not bad for free!