A European View (Score 1)

Over here in EuroLand the Gamecube and Xbox wont be released until March at the earliest, so there is only one game in town. According to news reports the "must have" Christmas Present for all the kids is the PS2. Having braved the hoards of shoppers last weekend I can testify to the queues out the door (literally) in the biggest game store in the city, and every third parent had a PS2 in their hand.

What does this mean? Well, for one when the XBox and GC finally get released it will be an uphill battle for them to get the space under the Television. I dont see the same parents getting another console for their kids next year, so it will be really interesting to see how Nintendo and Microsoft market their new toys. Remember N64 and more spectacularly the Dreamcast failed miserably after PS One getting the jump on them, I figure without the Pokemon/Mario/Zelda brands the X Box will be gone over here by Summer 2003. Personally I'll have a GC to go with my PS2, just as I have a N64 to go with my PS. Nothing against the Dreamcast but it had nothing to tempt me, and I already believe the same of the XBox.

In the US, the just released consoles will be selling just because they are new. In 4 months time the PS2 will be outselling them. Nintendo will put up a better showing in Japan but will always be number two. I'll bet you a pound (whilst we still have them) to a penny that in two years time XBox production will shut down.