PS3 goes on sale in Japan
Sony today released the PS3 to thousands of queuing fans in Japan. People started getting in line yesterday and by 7.00am local time today they were being turned away before the shops were even open!
There were only 100,000 units available in Japan at launch and as you might expect they have completely sold out. When the console launches in the US next Friday there will be 400,000 units ready to be snapped up.
As you probably know by now, we in Europe will have to wait until March next year to get our hands on a PS3, by which time Sony says it will have shipped 6 million of the next generation consoles worldwide.
In contrast, Microsoft, who launched their Xbox 360 a year ago, have already sold 6 million units and expect that figure to be around the 10 million mark by the end of this year.
Nintendo's Wii enters the fray in the US on November 19th just two days after the PS3, followed in Japan on December 2nd and then Europe on December 8th.
The next generation console war has begun. It will be fascinating to see how the 3 machines fair in the coming months once supply and demand reach a balance and the initial rush subsides.
Is the Nintendo going to get trampled under foot in the stampede for the PS3 and can the PS3 catch up with the 360 after it's year long lead?
Only time will tell. We'll keep you posted.
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