Data unearthed by Gamasutra has revealed that Sony’s PlayStation 3 has accumulated a greater tie ratio than that of the Nintendo Wii in North American territories.
For those unaware, the term tie ratio refers to the number of different software available per format, with PS3 having jumped to approximately 6.5, while the Wii stands firm at 6.2.
The reason for this you ask? Simple – PS3 went through a rough patch as of late during the second half of 2008, experiencing five months of lower year-on-year sales, while the Wii continued to sell like hot cakes.
As a result, Sony’s black box failed to attract as many new punters as Nintendo’s machine, though existing consumers still forked out for software, hence the machine’s higher tie ratio. As noted by NPD analyst Anita Frazier, ‘exceptionally’ high hardware sales combined with equally strong software uptake can stunt or even drop a machine’s tie ratio – which is exactly what happend with Nintendo’s format.
Still, Xbox 360 takes the overall crown, with a tie ratio of 7.5.