Video Game Console Wars: Why Sony's Market Share is Going Downhill

Years ago, when the first Playstation console came out, it was a big deal. The first full-length game was a fuzzy, mute, lovable bandicoot named Crash. Being the first console to utilize 32-bit graphics, it quickly was a hit, and Nintendo's Super Nintendo suddenly seemed old and outdated.

How times have changed.

Today, the buzz factor among teenagers revolves more around Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii. The 360 has anticipation at an extreme level, as gamers worldwide wait breathlessly for the arrival of Halo 3, already satisfying their want by purchasing a similar shooter called Gears of War. Meanwhile, the Wii has continued to play to people's curiosity, with the "wand" remote and "nunchuck" attachment giving kids and adults a new form of entertainment. With big names such as Madden, SSX, Zelda currently out, Nintendo has assured itself a decent piece of the video game industry.

Sony's Playstation 3, however, can be called a bust. In the months leading up to its release, much of the talk compared every aspect of the PS3 to the 360, from games to be released to the actual release dates of the consoles themselves. Microsoft scored early, getting its 360 console out almost a year earlier, and although worldwide shortages hurt sales, demand remained high and it has since remained near the top of kids' wish lists. The PS3 became almost an afterthought, especially after the Wii's release took the media by storm. Finally, when Sony did manage to cobble together 600,000 consoles or so, rarely did a store sell out, bringing questions to Sony's future in the video game market

Several factors have contributed to the decline of Sony. The Playstation 3 was far too late in coming, giving the competition a chance for the early jump and win over many families where kids have to choose one console. The price also drastically reduced demand; Microsoft managed their high-definition 360 to be about a hundred dollars less than the PS3, and the Wii's price at $299 looked like a bargain. Furthermore, the opening lineup of Sony's was not impressive at all, with their "signature" game being Crackdown, a game with no previous history or fans. And though the game itself was drew mostly positive reviews, games were more inclined to buy the hit Gears for the 360.

The future is equally as grim for Sony is the console war. Even with Madden: 08 and the raved-about Lair set to debut in stores within the next few weeks, attention has already shifted to the September release of the widely anticipated Halo 3. Sony does not seem to have a plan to take back what they gained with in the last round of this war with it's popular Playstation 2, and while they attempt to cut their losses Microsoft and Nintendo are both flying high with critics and consumers.

The three-way console war has been trimmed to two.