Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Jack Tretton, in a talk to MSNBC talks about how the Playstation 3 launch was the let down to lead to the current position of the Playstation 3. One reason Jack goes into of many states that such reason for this was they was not able to ship more units because of the blue laser diode shortage which then went onto effect the Europe release of the console which was delayed because of it.

Tretton believes that the PS3 would be in a better position today if Sony had simply been able to ship more units. As you may recall, however, a blue laser diode shortage at the time put a damper on the launch (and led to the European launch being postponed).

"I don't think there's any question that there were missteps, but I don't think anybody is being honest with you if they say that the first year of any platform goes perfectly according to plan. I think the biggest miss for us was the launch, in that we had easily a million consumers in North America alone that wanted to get their hands on a PlayStation 3 ... and we had roughly 200,000 units to take advantage of that demand. ... I think that that was probably the biggest disappointment for the first year," Tretton admitted.

He added, "The reason why we don't end up on window ledges, where other people might not have the perspective, is we've been through this many, many times, and we're the only company that's gone out and had 10-year product lifecycles and sold over 100 million units — and we haven't done it once, we've done it twice. ... What we're trying to do here is ... refocus the game industry towards high-definition gaming, a real state-of-the-art, future-proof machine for the next decade. ... I think if you have that long-term perspective, while I fully admit we'd like to have sold more units, it's hardly cause for panic."

Interestingly, regarding his competitor Microsoft, Tretton said that they launched the Xbox 360 a year ahead of the traditional console cycle not so much to get a head start but because "they'd taken the Xbox as far as it could go, and so if they wanted to remain in the business, they had to go back to the drawing board."
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  • 1
    Red 9 Dec 3, 07
    Well, he is right; the launch of the console was terrible. Not only did they not have (and still don't have) many exclusives, but as he said, there were shortages.

    Launch could have been miles better.
  • 1
    Bale Fire Dec 3, 07
    Launches for all three consoles were disappointing if you ask me. The PS3 lacked exclusives, the Wii was and still is short on stock and the 360 was released late in many countries
    • 0
      Seeker X Dec 3, 07
      It's not the delay that was the problem, it's the severe hardware issue that got many people when they got their Launch console.
    • 0
      Red 9 Dec 3, 07
      Except one of those three came out a year before all, and between it and the PS3, it is easier to make games for.
  • -1
    Storm Dec 3, 07
    Yeah, if anything they should have delayed the launch another few months or so to get some higher numbers.

    Seeker, what hardware issue are you talking about? Never heard of it.
    • 1
      Dio Dec 3, 07
      I'm pretty sure he's talking about the 360 launch hardware problems, not PS3.
    • -4
      Final Blade Dec 3, 07
      Yeah thats rich, Storm. Its bad enough that we had to wait a full year to get a PS3 and waiting an extra few months would be better. Nope sorry. What they should have done is made sure before launch is that they had enough Blue laser diodes, ultimately while it was a bad launch they had no other choice but to launch it with its limited supply.

      Do you know how much more the fans would have been pissed if they delayed the launch even a few weeks let alone few months. As the saying goes pick your poison and there move while risky was the better option.
  • 0
    Silent Storm Dec 3, 07
    quote
    Tretton said that they launched the Xbox 360 a year ahead of the traditional console cycle not so much to get a head start but because "they'd taken the Xbox as far as it could go, and so if they wanted to remain in the business, they had to go back to the drawing board."
    I guess no CEO statement is complete without an attack on their rival...
    • -4
      Final Blade Dec 3, 07
      But he's right. Think about it, if the xbox360 came out the same time as the PS3, which console do you think would have been doing better. And considering the heavy hitters of the PS3 in 08 you would have to think oh no its last gen all over again!. While i didn't like how they rushed the console out before the PS3( which led to hardware issues), it was the better choice. Just like i stated before pick your poison, and this one while risky was the better option.

      However the Wii was lucky, that one they had massive sales in the 6 months of its release and the shortage of supply later on didn't really affect them.
      • 0
        Supernouva Dec 3, 07
        You douchebag, the 360 would've still done better (totally unbiased opinion). Why, well if were going by what happened when the PS3 launched last year, the 360 would be majorly outselling the PS3 for two reasons: One, the 360 is cheaper, and therefore the greater number of consumers would go for that, and two, the PS3 had shortages, which means limited quantities, which means even if Sony sold all of its consoles with the first shipment, the 360 would still outsell it. I'm basing this off how the PS3 did last year when it launched.

        The Wii was not lucky, why do you keep passing the Wii's sales off as some lucky break on Nintendo? Quit making bullshit statements about how one consoles success is just luck because the one you favor isn't doing too well.
        • -1
          Final Blade Dec 4, 07
          Once again you don't get my post, for once stop jumping down my post. What im saying is if the PS3 and 360 both came the same time who would have done better. Now yes the 360 would have some advantage but not from the game department as much as it has now. I mean 360 didn't actually have alot of games in its first 6 months, and with the sales currently going up for the PS3, and now getting into the 08 year where its Sony's big year do you think the 360 would have the massive sales over the PS3 then. Probably not thats what im saying. And lets say there second year the 360's had the hardware problems it did this year do you think sales would have gone up or dropped for 360? And if so than that would have been the Coup De' Grace to the 360.

          Im looking at it as what has happened in the first year for both and so on, i don't see the 360 doing better in that aspect. But since this is basically theory and a taking both first year and so on. This has nothing to do with me liking the PS3 in fact i do like it but im gearing up to get a 360, i know i have said this 4 times already and yet im branded with that lovely word.....sigh
          You need to chill and stop attacking me seriously.

          As for the Wii yes they are lucky, why cause one the PS3 had price problems and limited shipments and the 360 had hardware problems that led the the Wii gain uncontrollable sales rise, and when they did have the shortages in the systems, since both the PS3 and 360 has some problems it wouldn't have effected them. Im not saying the Wii isn't a good console im just saying where they landed was actually very lucky, and being in the right place at the right time. The PS3 sales would have been probably higher if they didn't have those hardware problems with the blue diodes and then the price. And i bet the 360 would have still retain it top spot if it didn't have the RRoD issues that let people away from the console due to its lack of reliability during those times.
        • 1
          LordMaChao Dec 4, 07
          How are you surprised you're branded with the ultimate fanboy title, finalblade? Stop saying you're going to get a 360. You've been saying it FOREVER. It isn't going to happen. Even if it did, it doesn't justify the mindless pro-PS3 BS you produce day in and day out.

          You're insane. You're annoying. You're the DEFINITION, to the TEE of a fanboy. Why do you deny it? Here's my suggestion to you: stop saying you'll get a 360 like it somehow exempts you from criticism. If I walk up to a black dude and say 'God, lemme tell you something, white people are great, amirite? Black people just kind of suck. But don't worry, I'm not a racist, I'm planning on getting a black buddy soon. So yeah, bye!' I’ll look like an racist regardless of some half hearted attempt at justification.
  • 1
    Shadow2k5 Dec 4, 07
    I agree with his points except he's he's forgetting about the huge price tag which was one of the reasons launch was a disappointment.
  • -1
    Bale Fire Dec 4, 07
    I think all of FinalBlade's points are valid. Even with a lower price tag the 360 would definitely be on a more even footing

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