Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo Get Ready to Rumble at Xmas

The $30 billion video game industry’s own war of the titans reboots this week with the U.S. launch on Friday of Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 3 and Sunday’s debut of Nintendo Co. Ltd.’s Wii.

"It’s a significantly more competitive market this time," said Yankee Group video game analyst Michael Goodman, adding that many parents are not brand loyal and will not let Christmas pass without a console for the gamer on their list.

Initial supplies of the PS3 are expected to quickly evaporate and Goodman and others expect Microsoft Corp. and its 1-year-old Xbox 360 to be the main beneficiary of the resulting spillover in demand.

Reuters - Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo get ready to rumble

Over one third of technology enthusiasts – readers of X-bit labs – said they would like to get a game console for Christmas. Just a little more of the polled audience would like to receive something PC-related, which once again proves the increasing popularity of the gaming machines even among the tech audiences that used to be skeptic about the consoles.

X-bit labs - Game Console Most Desired Christmas Gift for Tech Enthusiasts