Playstation Meeting later tonight/early tomorrow (PS3 info almost guaranteed)

This isn't exactly what you meant I think, but if I understood things correctly, the PS3 might not be taxed in Europe (or at least not as heavily) if it is seen as a computer instead of a "luxury item" (like a game console). This might be why they're pushing a HDD with Linux for the PS3, among other things...well, (a small) part of the reason anyway.

So in way, people in Europe might want to have a box with "Playstation" on it to be their PC since it might end up being a little cheaper that way.
(again, I know that wasn't you point, just a small factoid I thought was interesting).

 

Depends on your definition of being positive to Sony products I guess. The UK usually has good tracking, and Sony titles tend to dominate the charts maybe a bit more than average, with probably the Xbox and the 360 a little behind (though the occasional great DS game will rank high in the charts from time to time). Other countries in Europe tend to be more supportive of platforms like the DS (think Spain and France), or even the PC (thinking countries like Germany and Sweden). If I had to guess, I'd probably say Europe is a bit like the US market, only MS isn't quite as strong there (but not at Japan levels either).

Going by the shipment numbers on the PS site though, Europe falls between Japan (the least) and NA (the most) in hardware and software shipments (in fact, I think the US is where the PS2 has its biggest lead in sales, believe it or not). This was still the same for the PS1 hardware, although the Europe and NA numbers were a little closer (like 40M and 40M for hardware, compared to about 41M and 38M for the PS2). The software is a bit different though, with about 372M PS1 games shipped to US to 303M in Europe versus 460M PS2 titles shipped to the US to 349M in Europe.

Granted, that doesn't say much, but you could probably say every region is "pro-Sony" so to speak...except maybe Antarctica. Perhaps if there were better numbers for Europe, this would be easier to find out, but it is a bit of a challenge to figure out what trends Europe as a whole follow, at least for me anyway. I heard a while back that a worldwide tracking system might be set up in the next few years; if that is true, maybe that will make things easier to understand.

And of course Europeans are loving the news, as well as those in Australia, Korea, and wherever else Sony's planning to launch the PS3 before Thanksgiving (forgot them all). I don't really approve of the move (much like the 360 launch, I don't think Sony will have enough units to spread throughout the world), but then again, I'm not in one of those regions. Well, at least there won't be any allotment issues this time around (IOW, no 100K PS3s sitting on store shelves in X while Y is sold out of them).

 

Eh...I'm bored, so I'm going to post random sales charts from multiple regions that are somewhat recent:

Spain:

US (February NPD BTW)

UK

Code:

-  1   FIFA STREET 2                            ELECTRONIC ARTS 
1  2   BLACK                                    ELECTRONIC ARTS 
-  3   THE SIMS 2: OPEN FOR BUSINESS            ELECTRONIC ARTS
2  4   TOCA RACE DRIVER 3                       CODEMASTERS 
-  5   LOTR: THE BATTLE FOR MIDDLE-EARTH II     ELECTRONIC ARTS 
3  6   NEED FOR SPEED: MOST WANTED              ELECTRONIC ARTS 
6  7   FIFA 06                                  ELECTRONIC ARTS 
7  8   THE SIMS 2                               ELECTRONIC ARTS 
8  9   PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 5                   KONAMI 
5  10  STAR WARS: EMPIRE AT WAR                 LUCASARTS 
9  11  CHICKEN LITTLE                           VISTA GAMES 
12 12  RUGBY 06                                 ELECTRONIC ARTS 
4  13  SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS                   SONY COMPUTER ENT. 
14 14  CALL OF DUTY 2                           ACTIVISION 
11 15  KING KONG: OFFICIAL GAME OF THE MOVIE    UBISOFT 
-  16  WORLD SERIES OF POKER                    ACTIVISION 
17 17  GRAND THEFT AUTO: LIBERTY CITY STORIES   TAKE 2 
-  18  DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: STORMREACH    ATARI 
13 19  LEGO STAR WARS PLATINUM                  TT GAMES
16 20  STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT II                LUCASARTS 
10 21  TORINO 2006 49GAMES                      TAKE 2 
21 22  SONIC HEROES                             SEGA 
-  23  MIDWAY ARCADE TREASURES: EXTENDED PLAY   MIDWAY 
23 24  PROJECT GOTHAM RACING 3                  MICROSOFT 
19 25  THE SIMPSONS: HIT & RUN                  UNIVERSAL GAMES 
20 26  WWE SMACKDOWN! VS RAW 2006               THQ 
30 27  RUGBY CHALLENGE 2006 S                   UBISOFT 
15 28  MARC ECKO'S GETTING UP: UNDER PRESSURE   ATARI 
26 29  TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 06                  ELECTRONIC ARTS 
28 30  SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG                      SEGA 
29 31  GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS            TAKE 2 
31 32  DEAD OR ALIVE 4                          MICROSOFT 
-  33  SONIC AND KNUCKLES                       EMPIRE INTERACTIVE 
33 34  FOOTBALL MANAGER 2006                    SEGA 
35 35  BUZZ! THE MUSIC QUIZ                     SONY COMPUTER ENT. 
40 36  GUN NEVERSOFT                            ACTIVISION 
24 37  THE INCREDIBLES BEENOX                   THQ 
34 38  PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 4                   KONAMI 
37 39  PERFECT DARK ZERO                        MICROSOFT 
38 40  CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY        TAKE 2

Top 20 of Europe:

Japan:

Code:

1	PS2	Monster Hunter 2 (Dos)	Capcom	463,501 	463,501 
2	PS2	Sengoku Musou 2	Koei	301,044 	301,044 
3	DS	Motto Nou wo Kitaeru Otona no DS Training	Nintendo	253,982 	1,338,839 
4	DS	Eigo ga Nigate na Otona no DS Training	Nintendo	247,308 	479,078 
5	DS	Oideyo Doubutsu no Mori	Nintendo	235,547 	1,975,015 
6	DS	Nou wo Kitaeru Otona no DS Training	Nintendo	138,338 	1,638,180 
7	PSP	Monster Hunter Portable	Capcom	125,285 	486,667 
8	PS2	Genso Suikoden V	Konami	122,426 	122,426 
9	PS2	Shin Onimusha Dawn of Dreams	Capcom	119,736 	308,644 
10	PS2	Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII	Square Enix	105,713 	471,208 
11	PS2	Tourist Trophy	SCE	97,532 	97,532 
12	PS2	Disgaea 2	Atlus	97,456 	97,456 
13	DS	Mario Kart DS	Nintendo	72,252 	1,132,140 
14	PS2	Nobunaga no Yabou: Kakushin	Koei	70,998 	70,998 
15	PS2	Siren 2	SCE	69,999 	69,999 
16	DS	Eyeshield 21 MAX DEVILPOWER	Nintendo	66,738 	66,738 
17	PS2	World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 Bonus Pack	Konami	63,392 	84,852 
18	PSP	Initial D Street Stage	Sega	51,742 	51,742 
19	PS2	Bleach: Hanatareshi Yabou	SCE	49,265 	49,265 
20	DS	Yawaraka Atamajuku	Nintendo	42,222 	1,181,858 
21	GC	Super Mario Strikers	Nintendo	40,362 	134,863 
22	DS	Machigai Museum	Namco	35,132 	35,132 
23	DS	Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi Omisetchi	Bandai	32,830 	1,002,576 
24	PS2	CLANNAD	Interchannel	31,723 	31,723 
25	PS2	Ar Tonelico	Banpresto	31,527 	88,477 
26	PS2	Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition	Capcom	29,449 	29,449 
27	DS	nintendogs (Shiba + Dach + Chihuahua)	Nintendo	28,356 	1,141,394 
28	PS2	Exciting Pro Wrestling 7 SMACKDOWN vs. RAW	Yukes	28,071 	28,071 
29	DS	Mario & Luigi RPG 2	Nintendo	27,799 	341,375 
30	DS	Dare Demo Asobi Taizen	Nintendo	27,576 	439,016 
31	DS	BLEACH DS	Sega	27,235 	62,133 
32	DS	Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon: Ao no Kyuujotai	Pokemon	25,179 	689,706 
33	GBA	Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon: Akai no Kyuujotai	Pokemon	23,219 	668,449 
34	GBA	Yugioh Duel Monsters EX 2006	Konami	22,186 	22,186 
35	GBA	Rockman EXE 6 Graygar / Fatlzer	Capcom	22,143 	549,976 
36	PS2	Kingdom Hearts II	Square Enix	20,954 	1,096,679 
37	GBA	Famicom Mini: Super Mario Brothers	Nintendo	19,500 	1,119,833 
38	PSP	TALKMAN	SCE	19,173 	97,511 
39	PSP	Nouryoku Trainer Portable	Sega	17,709 	262,554 
40	PS2	Daito Pachislot Simulator Osu! Banchou	Daito	17,295 	229,077 
41	PS2	NARUTO: Narutimate Hero 3	Bandai	17,266 	331,514 
42	PS2	Siren (PlayStation 2 The Best)	SCE	16,060 	30,658 
43	GBA	Pokemon Emerald	Pokemon	14,628 	1,708,037 
44	PSP	Monster Kingdom Duel Summoner	SCE	14,451 	14,451 
45	PS2	Gun Parade Orchestra	SCE	13,966 	60,032 
46	PS2	Ryu ga Gotoku	Sega	13,592 	339,193 
47	PSP	Gradius Portable	Konami	13,076 	13,076 
48	GBA	MOTHER 1 + 2 (Value Selection)	Nintendo	12,807 	12,807 
49	PS2	Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (Ultimate Hits)	Square Enix	12,640 	154,511 
50	GC	Baten Kaitos II	Nintendo	12,348 	12,348 
51	PSP	Minna no GOLF Portable (PSP The Best)	SCE	12,248 	107,238 
52	PS2	Sengoku BASARA (Capkore)	Capcom	12,238 	12,238 
53	PSP	Nakahara no Hasha	Namco	12,141 	12,141 
54	PS2	Tales of the Abyss	Namco	12,126 	550,062 
55	DS	Slime Morimori Dragon Quest 2	Square Enix	11,925 	263,012 
56	DS	Super Mario 64 DS	Nintendo	11,877 	868,288 
57	DS	Sawaru Made in Wario	Nintendo	11,672 	913,092 
58	DS	Biohazard Deadly Silence	Capcom	11,512 	38,491 
59	GBA	Final Fantasy IV Advance	Square Enix	11,425 	201,881 
60	PSP	Genso Suikoden I + II	Konami	10,945 	10,945 
61	DS	Dragon Ball Z Bukuu Ressen	Bandai	10,923 	236,380 
62	PS2	Jissen Pachislot: Aladdin 2 Evolution	Sega	10,875 	106,185 
63	GC	Mario Party 7	Nintendo	10,866 	422,364 
64	PS2	biohazard 4	Capcom	10,704 	436,921 
65	DS	Mushiking: Greatest Champion e no Michi DS	Sega	10,524 	153,642 
66	PS2	Momotarou Dentetsu 15	Hudson	10,300 	240,435 
67	PSP	Power Smash NEW GENERATION	Sega	10,268 	19,769 
68	PS2	Simple 2000 Series Vol. 95 The Zombie vs. Kyuukyuusha	D3 Publisher	9,609 	9,609 
69	PS2	Battlefield 2: Modern Combat	EA	9,599 	19,437 
70	PS2	Minna no Golf 4 (PlayStation 2 The Best)	SCE	9,395 	74,093 
71	PS2	Samurai Spirits Tenkaichi	SNK Playmore	9,375 	29,714 
72	PS2	Last Escort	D3 Publisher	9,206 	18,978 
73	PS2	Derby Uma wo Tsukurou! 5	Sega	9,123 	32,041 
74	PS2	Kingdom Hearts (Ultimate Hits)	Square Enix	9,095 	106,391 
75	PS2	Final Fantasy X (Ultimate Hits)	Square Enix	9,081 	71,719 
76	GBA	Pokemon Fire Red & Leaf Green	Pokemon	9,041 	2,608,882 
77	PS2	Star Wars Battle Front II	EA	9,016 	23,548 
78	DS	Jump Superstars	Nintendo	8,593 	519,124 
79	DS	Pokemon Trozei	Pokemon	8,532 	271,451 
80	PSP	Geki Sengoku Musou	Koei	8,479 	99,736 
81	PSP	Super Robot Taisen MX Portable	Banpresto	8,473 	82,355 
82	DS	Harvest Moon: Corobockle Station for Girls	Marvelous Interactive	8,450 	69,806 
83	PSP	Tales of Eternia (PSP The Best)	Namco	8,386 	44,103 
84	DS	Choco Inu no Omise Patyshe and Sweets Shop Game	TDK Core	8,077 	8,077 
85	PS2	Otometeki Koi Kakumei Love Revo	Interchannel	7,941 	29,545 
86	GC	Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen! 4	Tomy	7,874 	294,201 
87	PS2	Rogue Galaxy	SCE	7,688 	350,490 
88	PS2	Dance Dance Revolution Strike	Konami	7,498 	7,498 
89	GBA	Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan Advance	Namco	7,390 	7,390 
90	PS2	Warship Gunner 2	Koei	7,390 	7,390 
91	PS2	Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 12 Ketteiban	Konami	7,320 	109,776 
92	PSP	Namco Museum Vol. 2	Namco	7,164 	7,164 
93	PS2	Full House Kiss 2	Capcom	7,147 	7,147 
94	PS2	Need for Speed Most Wanted	EA	7,088 	68,680 
95	DS	Power Pro Kun Pocket 8	Konami	7,083 	98,807 
96	PSP	World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 Ubiquitous Evolution	Konami	7,007 	233,276 
97	PS2	Pachinko Pachislot Series Vol. 2	D3 Publisher	7,003 	26,085 
98	PS2	Nobunaga no Yabou: Tenka Sousei	Koei	6,751 	24,303 
99	PSP	Kinnikuman Muscle Generations	Bandai	6,677 	6,677 
100	PSP	Boku no Watashi no Katamari	Namco	6,548 	71,830

That was mostly for the European/Sony relationship I was talking about earlier, but I guess it could be used for the Japanese discussion going on too.

I imagine the Japanese care less about graphics, although I think the lack of success in Japan for the Xbox/Xbox 360 and PSP mostly have to do with games that just don't appeal to them. So yeah, the best selling 360 games are a WWII FPS, a boxing game, a NFL game....and I think you see where this is going; to make matters worse, I think the MS marketing team kept using the term "HD" and "high-definition" in Japan, despite the fact that they call it "high-vision" (or something like that) over there.

Kind of similar thing for the PSP. The best selling game so far has been GTA:LCS by far, with Madden and a few other games selling well here in the US. Monster Hunter Portable has been a nice hit in Japan as you can see in the charts, but that's really more or less all it has going for it recently. Really, the PSP has a very Xbox/western heavy lineup going right now, not exactly like its older brothers, the PS1 and PS2. I suppose if and when games like Tekken PSP, GTortable, Final Fantasy: Crisis Core, Devil May Cry: Portable, etc., it might do a little better...assuming those games aren't vaporware. Perhaps the PS1 downloads will help as well. Either way, it will tough to duplicate the numbers the DS has put up in Japan. So many hits in such a small time for that machine.

 

Some more industry reactions:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146022.html

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2497&Itemid=2

http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/15/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/

Also, assuming you guys are up to it, I'd like to see some discussion about some of the things that got overshadowed by the launch news, such as:

The new PSP features (PS1 downloads, video and voice over IP, flash support, GPS support, eyetoy support, etc.)

The PSP core pack coming to the US for $199 ($199 PSP versus $149 DS Lite later in the year?)

The PS3 online plan which seems to mirror XBL (voice/video chat, messaging, friend lists, game uploads/downloads, microtransactions, achievements, etc.) and apparently online play will be free. (will XBL become free, or at least become cheaper?)

PS3 games being only on Blu-ray. (big shocker for me, but there has been little talk about it)

The required/included 60 GB HDD (with Linux installed) for the PS3 that developers should have in mind when developing games (another shocker to me). Wonder if the HDD and the forced BR discs will make it more difficult to port games to the 360 and/or other systems.

What you will do when the PS3 brings you the power of 4 dimensions instead of 3.

To be honest, I cared much less about the launch details than most of the things I mentioned above (mostly the PS3 BR discs, the online details, the HDD issue, and PS1 games for the PSP).

edit: Hehe...
http://1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3148802 (about FFXII)

Zelda and FFXII in November, along with the Revolution and the PS3.