Sony rep pimps up Aus PS3 sales..

..but fails to realise context.

Maybe this Sony Australia representative didn't get the memo about not talking about sales numbers to the press. It would be unusual for a console manufacturer to play down their sales numbers, so lets assume that 20k consoles were indeed sold (or shipped.. or whatever) during the launch weekend in Australia. To put this in perspective, the 360 sold just over 30k during it's 4-day launch period and the Wii bested them all with over 32k. Even the PSP manage 27k.

Maybe the excuse will be the same as given to GI.biz by Sony UK boss Ray Maguire. That's right America, did you realise the reason the PS3 isn't doing so well across the pond is because of us Brits?

The truth of the matter is that we've stopped the supply to the US because we're making PS3s for our launch. The reason sales are low is because I've just put in loads of product to the UK in order to have the largest launch of a console in UK history.

And there was me thinking it was just because people weren't buying them. I'm sure the 'truth' will be different next week though. Although 20k isn't too shoddy considering many have been predicting total doom and gloom. Let's hope for Sony's sake that they are close to the mark with their guess, we'll find out later in the week when the official figures drop.

It's also good to see that even the mainstream press reads UK:Resistance.

Update: Meanwhile early reports appear to show that the launch in the UK was in fact a huge success. And on that note I'm off to the pub!