Many people have stated that the current dismal PS3 sales are due to a very poor job on the part of Sony...to which I'd totally agree. Other (who I think are also correct) would say that since the PS3 and Nintendo Wii launched on the same date, much of the PS3's thunder was stolen by the beloved white system.

So here's my "what if" question:

If Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii had launched on the same date...how would things be different?

I have to go for the Wii, just because it seems to be a phenomenon that's sweeping every country. I do think it would have reduced the popularity of the 360, but I would still bet that they would pick up a sizable number of sales during this generation. Also remember that the 360 is hard to move in Japan, which is a big market area. MS would have to make up this deficit in North America and Europe, where the Wii is also very popular.

Remember that the more a console sales, the more it will continue to sale, due to developers making more games and familiarity of the system from friends, etc. This means that a console needs to sell a set amount right off to "get the snowball rolling". It is possible that the Wii and 360's similar launch dates could neuter the 360's launch popularity, thereby exponentially reducing their sales. I do think that the 360's and Wii's market are different enough that both systems could have a (relatively) successful launch and go on to be a money maker for each company. I also think comparing the PS3 to the others is unfair, mainly because most people seem to look at the PS3 and pass it by, which at their price point, I think would happen even if they had no competition. The fact that the 360 can offer a similar gaming experience and better online experience for at least $200 less than a PS3 hurts Sony even more. Just like the PSP, the PS3 seems destined to be a better movie player than video game system.

Wii would have won, but I honestly don't think it would have crippled the 360. How long did it take the 360 to sell 6 million? The Wii did it in about 4 months.

The only way it'd have hurt the 360 is for the select group of people that wanted both a wii and a 360 but couldn't afford both. That number probably isn't significant when comparing it to the millions sold.

Well, here's the thing.

The Wii sold well this holiday season, because of it's broader range appeal. It appealed to all new crowds, and people who couldn't get it this Xmas, are still looking to get one. It's appeal is helping it sell really quickly, but expect that to die down eventually. It will do well in the long run, maybe even have the most sales, but mark my word, the sales rate will soon slow.

As for the Xbox 360, had it launched next to the Wii, it would have done better than the PS3. Reason being? Simply, it's more affordable. By any logic, more people would be springing for a $400 system over a $600 system, and you can still see that today, as the Xbox 360 is outselling the PS3 almost 3:1 in April. There, it's because of games. Saying that it was the Xbox 360s launch lineup, it wouldn't be doing as well (without GoW, Crackdown and such a lineup coming this year), but it would still do better because of price.

Just my $0.02,
sc7

I think they would be similar.

I must say the same as Cloud. Despite the Wii being the console of lowest cost, the Xbox 360 has just a large of a fanbase as Nintendo. I know my logic is flawed, it's just my opinion.

are we taking into account the launch titles would be the same? if so, it would be close but the wii would win because its cheaper. the 360 wouldve done better than the ps3

i think the wii would've trashed the 360, and believe it or not i'm slightly inclined the ps3 would've doon the same. if you really think about it one of the biggest hits on the ps3 is that most of its games came out on the 360 already and, combined with the higher price pointof the ps3 people seem to leen towards the 360 now. but what if they both came out at the same time? it would be the other way around. the 360's biggest game at launch was call of duty 2, which would've been cross-platform, so the ps3 would've had it at the same time, but there would've been resistance as well, and with the added blu-ray drive before the format war ever really even started that might've had mixed results, but it would still be a big factor none-the-less. plus the ps3 won't blow up and burn your house to the ground like both Xboxes have been known to do, and sony was the better name last generation. and btw, there is no real backing to saying the ps3's online is lesser than the 360's. $60 a year for online is rediculous, especially when Msoft can't even spend the extra $5 per console for wi-fi and i don't see any 40-player games on the 360, either.

on the psp part-the psp might've been great if it weren't for the lack of a 2nd nubby stick.

I think by the sheer hype of the Wii alone it would've outsold the 360. Motion-sensing, Miis, and Twilight Princess had everyone giddy in the pants at even the mention of Nintendo.

I think the Wii would have outsold the 360 because of that, what joker said, and the fact that Nintendo had one of their big titles up for launch as well "what appeared" to be promising games that still sold well because of the hype in the beginning.