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Demand for Sony Move game controllers outstrips supply
SAN FRANCISCO |
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sony said on Thursday it sold 1 million units of its Move motion-based video game controller in its first month on the American market, and that demand was outstripping supply.
Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment of America, said the company does not expect to have enough supply on hand until February 2011.
"We had to go back and increase production twice, we're absolutely maxed out right now," Tretton said.
Sony launched Move, which is used with its PlayStation 3 video game console, on September 19 in the U.S. with its camera priced at $39.99 and its motion controller wand at $49.99.
Move is available at more than 30,000 retail outlets in the Americas. Sony said previously that it has sold better than 1.5 million Move units in Europe. It just launched in Japan.
Microsoft will start selling its Kinect motion-based gaming platform on November 4, for use on the Xbox 360 console. Kinect will cost $150 and does not require a separate handheld controller.
Microsoft expects to sell 3 million Kinect units this year.
Game publishers are gauging the demand for motion sensor technology before investing heavily to develop motion games for Sony and Microsoft, analysts say.
Tretton said there are 24 games available for Sony Move, with a total of 40 expected by the end of march.
(Reporting by Gabriel Madway, editing by Dave Zimmerman)
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Could you imagine if Nintendo ever claimed Wii controller shipments as Wii sales. Nintendo has probably shipped between 150-200 million Wii controllers in North America. Sony could even be including Move navigation controllers as part of this shipment number. Imagine if Nintendo told us how many Wii controllers and nunchuks they’ve sold since launch.
The NPD says that Sony only sold only 300,000 Move starter kits and PS3 bundles in the month of September. The Move starter kit includes the Playstation Eye which gives a more realistic number of how many households have purchased Move.
I’ve never seen so little fanfare for a big expensive videogame release. It’s got tepid reviews, lukewarm word of mouth, and a striking similarity to the Nintendo Wii, which most people already own.
I think this is all artificial. Shortages make products seem hot and desirable. Like the company can’t keep up with the overwhelming demand. I just don’t see that much demand for a fine tuned Wii.
Maybe I’m wrong, but in my unscientific survey of five local videogame retailers, all of them had a full supply of Move controllers, and it would be logical for Sony’ to drum up the bandwagon in the few weeks remaining before the Xbox Kinect drops. That’s all I’m saying.
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