PS3, Wii get all the buzz, but Xbox could have the happiest holidays; Microsoft's early start, smart marketing give it the edge in console war.(News)

Advertising Age, October, 2006 by BULIK, BETH SNYDER

Byline: BETH SNYDER BULIK

bbulik@crain.com

Sony and nintendo begin selling their highly anticipated video-game consoles within days of each other-Nov. 17 and Nov. 19, respectively. But when the dust settles after the initial buyer stampede, it could be a third contender-Microsoft-that comes out on top.

With a one-year head start, Microsoft's Xbox 360 console will be in plentiful supply, while Sony PlayStation and Nintendo Wii get mired in gotta-have-it fever. Sony's continuing manufacturing delays have pushed the number of PlayStation 3 consoles at launch to just 400,000 in North America, with 1 million total targeted for year's end-not nearly enough to satisfy demand, according to industry watchers.

Nintendo will have more units;...

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