2008 's Console sales-Nintendo rules, Microsoft wins, Sony tries-

2008 console sales were quite predictable .

As we already know Nintendo's Wii remains the runaway leader in the market, with more than 45 million units sold .

Microsoft sold 28 million units worldwide of its Xbox 360 video game console through the end of 2008, expanding the Xbox's lead over rival Sony's  PlayStation 3 console in worldwide unit sales, the company said on Monday.

Xbox 360 product management director Aaron Greenberg said 2008 "was our biggest year ever in Xbox history" despite a sluggish global economy that's battered retailers this past holiday season.

Rising unemployment and tighter credit have dented consumers' purchasing power and most retailers have posted dismal sales results in recent months.

Despite problems by some publishers, the video game industry overall has bucked the trend as market researcher NPD said video games sales rose 10 percent and totaled $2.91 billion in November, proving consumers were still spending on video games at the beginning of the holiday season despite the sour economy.    

Microsoft said global unit sales of the Xbox 360, which was launched about a year before the PS3, outpaced its rival by over 8 million units at the close of 2008.

Online consumer spending on Microsoft's Xbox Live online service increased 84 percent year-over-year and members of the Xbox Live community rose to over 17 million members at the end of 2008, the company said. Consumers have spent over $1 billion on Microsoft's Xbox Live online service since its launch for the 360 in 2005, according to Microsoft.

Greenberg noted "the $199 price point (of the Xbox 360) was really critical to our success this holiday." Microsoft cut the price of its entry-level console in September to $199, or $50 below Nintendo Co Ltd's Wii console.

PlayStation 3  could not  compete with the other current generation consoles though .

higher-priced PlayStation 3 struggled during the holiday season. But the growth seen by Nintendo and the Xbox 360 also seem to confirm the theory that video games, overall, are well-positioned to weather the global economic turmoil.

" We've had a solid holiday season and have delivered consistent growth throughout this year. 2008 was a pivotal year for PlayStation with the best software line up in the industry, a dramatic expansion of PlayStation Network including the launches of the video delivery service and the beta of the PlayStation Home, as well as extended hardware offerings with the PSP 3000 and Uncharted 160GB PS3 bundle. Early internal data points to an increase of more than 130 percent of PS3 hardware sales for the holiday season (since Black Friday) and we're also seeing a growth of nearly 40 percent in total PS3 hardware sales for the calendar year. We remain confident this momentum will continue into the new year." Said Ian Jackson, VP of Sales, Sony Computer Entertainment .

2008 console sales were quite predictable .

As we already know Nintendo's Wii remains the runaway leader in the market, with more than 45 million units sold .

Microsoft sold 28 million units worldwide of its Xbox 360 video game console through the end of 2008, expanding the Xbox's lead over rival Sony's  PlayStation 3 console in worldwide unit sales, the company said on Monday.

Xbox 360 product management director Aaron Greenberg said 2008 "was our biggest year ever in Xbox history" despite a sluggish global economy that's battered retailers this past holiday season.

Rising unemployment and tighter credit have dented consumers' purchasing power and most retailers have posted dismal sales results in recent months.

Despite problems by some publishers, the video game industry overall has bucked the trend as market researcher NPD said video games sales rose 10 percent and totaled $2.91 billion in November, proving consumers were still spending on video games at the beginning of the holiday season despite the sour economy.    

Microsoft said global unit sales of the Xbox 360, which was launched about a year before the PS3, outpaced its rival by over 8 million units at the close of 2008.

Online consumer spending on Microsoft's Xbox Live online service increased 84 percent year-over-year and members of the Xbox Live community rose to over 17 million members at the end of 2008, the company said. Consumers have spent over $1 billion on Microsoft's Xbox Live online service since its launch for the 360 in 2005, according to Microsoft.

Greenberg noted "the $199 price point (of the Xbox 360) was really critical to our success this holiday." Microsoft cut the price of its entry-level console in September to $199, or $50 below Nintendo Co Ltd's Wii console.

PlayStation 3  could not  compete with the other current generation consoles though .

higher-priced PlayStation 3 struggled during the holiday season. But the growth seen by Nintendo and the Xbox 360 also seem to confirm the theory that video games, overall, are well-positioned to weather the global economic turmoil.

" We've had a solid holiday season and have delivered consistent growth throughout this year. 2008 was a pivotal year for PlayStation with the best software line up in the industry, a dramatic expansion of PlayStation Network including the launches of the video delivery service and the beta of the PlayStation Home, as well as extended hardware offerings with the PSP 3000 and Uncharted 160GB PS3 bundle. Early internal data points to an increase of more than 130 percent of PS3 hardware sales for the holiday season (since Black Friday) and we're also seeing a growth of nearly 40 percent in total PS3 hardware sales for the calendar year. We remain confident this momentum will continue into the new year." Said Ian Jackson, VP of Sales, Sony Computer Entertainment .

it was a good year overall. The PS3 is still doing well, I know my this may not be true, but I think the PS3 had a better first 2 years wordlwide than the 360 did, and it outsold the 360 for the majority of the year. 

Nintendo have become a Japanese Juggernaut. I want to see the benefit of these huge profits within in the software they make in these coming years.

How can you put Nintendo rules and MS wins?

Its clear that Wii just pwned everybody including MS. Hell you add up PS3 360 and PSP and it wouldn't compare to the DS and Wii. Nintendo just made everybody their bitch including all the "hardcore" gamers out there.

^ Nintendo is the ruler of video gaming kingdom :D !!!!!  it is not important whether you like Nintendo or not  , it keeps ruling the land regardless  !