PlayStation 3 capitalized on Xbox 360 and Wii shortages in January. Will its success be short-lived, or will it continue after its competitors reappear on store shelves? Matt Matthews breaks down the numbers.

 

Console and software sales were an exciting spectator sport in 2007. All year long Sony's PlayStation 3 played the underdog to Nintendo's Wii which appeared to succeed effortlessly. The Xbox 360, with its extra year on the competition, received a wave of third generation software and set sales records when Halo 3 hit in late September.

On the software front, the lead was Activision's to lose, having successfully released Guitar Hero II on the Xbox 360 in early 2007 and then pulling off the huge launch of the sequel, Guitar Hero III, on four different platforms. For the time being the competition, Rock Band, was held at bay.

Last Thursday, on 14 February 2008, the NPD Group released its first results for the new year. How did supposed shortages affect console sales? Will the PlayStation 3 really benefit from the death of HD-DVD? And is that Rock Band in the top 10? Judging from the surprising slate of numbers, 2008 could deliver more of the drama we enjoyed in 2007.