Sony says Wii is an “impulse buy”

As if Microsoft‘s downplay of the Wii wasn’t enough, Sony spokesman Dave Karraker claimed that the Wii and the PS3 don’t exist “in the same category.” Perhaps he was speaking about “the same class.” Anyway, he regards the Wii console as an “impulse buy.” To quote his exact statement, he said, “Wii could be considered an impulse buy more than anything else.”

What does he mean by that? Well, to put it lightly, he is saying that people aren’t choosing between the PS3 and the Wii, it’s just that people decided to buy a Wii, regardless of having an option to buy the PS3. It’s not a direct competitor to the PS3, despite Wii’s success and some people’s positive outlook on the Wii.

Karraker then downplayed most of an investigation into the demand for the PS3 and the Wii, pushing out the facts that Sony continues to sell out the 100,000 PS3s it ships each week, despite noticing a sales subside over the holidays. Sony claimed that the higher demand for Wii was actually due to its lower supply.

Nintendo VP Perrin Kaplan “bristled” at the claim, stating, “ThatÂ’s absolutely inaccurate.” She maintained that Wii shipments were going out in at least equal numbers with the PS3.

Via GameTab

As if Microsoft‘s downplay of the Wii wasn’t enough, Sony spokesman Dave Karraker claimed that the Wii and the PS3 don’t exist “in the same category.” Perhaps he was speaking about “the same class.” Anyway, he regards the Wii console as an “impulse buy.” To quote his exact statement, he said, “Wii could be considered an impulse buy more than anything else.”

What does he mean by that? Well, to put it lightly, he is saying that people aren’t choosing between the PS3 and the Wii, it’s just that people decided to buy a Wii, regardless of having an option to buy the PS3. It’s not a direct competitor to the PS3, despite Wii’s success and some people’s positive outlook on the Wii.

Karraker then downplayed most of an investigation into the demand for the PS3 and the Wii, pushing out the facts that Sony continues to sell out the 100,000 PS3s it ships each week, despite noticing a sales subside over the holidays. Sony claimed that the higher demand for Wii was actually due to its lower supply.

Nintendo VP Perrin Kaplan “bristled” at the claim, stating, “ThatÂ’s absolutely inaccurate.” She maintained that Wii shipments were going out in at least equal numbers with the PS3.

Via GameTab