The recently launched PlayStation 3 and Wii game consoles remain popular on Internet auction sites, but the price they are fetching is falling as launch-related hype dies down. Sony PlayStation 3 Interest in the consoles peaked in the days approaching and immediately following the Nov. 17 launch of Sony’s PlayStation 3 and the Nov. 19 launch of Nintendo’s Wii. Prior to the launches, sites like eBay supported a brisk trade in reservations for the consoles. Immediately following the release, a large number of people rushed to put their newly acquired machines up for sale in the hope of doubling or tripling their money.The number of people trying to make a buck—or a yen—on the PlayStation 3 was so high that it was reflected in sales of software for the console. In Japan, more consoles were sold than software titles, according to market estimates from Enterbrain, while in the United States, leading retailer GameStop said an average of 1.5 games was sold with each PlayStation 3, versus three games with each Wii.EBay saw sales of 14,675 PlayStation 3 consoles between the Nov. 17 launch and last Friday at an average price of US$1,186, according to eBay Marketplace Research. Between Oct. 17 and last Friday, a total of 28,233 PlayStation 3 consoles have been sold on eBay at an average of $1,370. The PlayStation 3 is available in two versions, one costing around US$499 and the other costing about $599. Nintendo Wii Wii sales trends on eBay have reflected the greater availability of the console at launch. Sales between Oct. 17 and last Friday totaled 29,451 consoles, but the great majority of those, some 26,708 consoles, were sold after the launch. The average price over the entire period was $428, but this dropped to $413 in the post-launch period, said eBay Marketplace Research. The Wii’s suggested retail is about $250.On Monday, PlayStation 3 consoles in their last five minutes of auction were listed on eBay at prices between $650 and $910. Some ambitious sellers had listed consoles at prices around $1,500, but they had fetched no bids. Prices of Wiis in the last five minutes of their auction period varied between $320 and $510.On Japan’s Yahoo Auctions site, there were fewer PlayStation 3 consoles available than a week earlier. Only three items had bidding due to close within an hour, and they were all listed at about 75,000 yen (US$647).-Martyn Williams, IDG News Service (Tokyo Bureau)Related Links: Experts: Nintendo Could Beat Sony in Console War Console War: Sony PS3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 Nintendo Wii On Sale in U.S., Canada Hands On With Sony PlayStation 3 88K Sony PlayStation 3 Consoles Sold in JapanCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content feature 5G ready or 5G really? Industry CIOs face hard truths about private 5G Some enterprises are building private 5G networks for their industrial environments, only to find they have to initially settle for 4G service. So what is private 5G ready for, and what can it really do? By Peter Sayer Jun 06, 2023 8 mins CIO Network Appliances Network Switches opinion 5 tips for startup partnership success Corporate venture investments provide IT leaders with new engines for IT innovation, broader networks for emerging opportunities, fuel for in-house transformation, and improved career prospects — if done right. By Isaac Sacolick Jun 06, 2023 8 mins Startups Digital Transformation IT Strategy feature 14 organizations that support LGBTQ+ tech workers Offering networking, mentorship, and career development opportunities, these 14 professional orgs foster community for LGBTQ+ workers in an industry that isn’t always welcoming. By Sarah K. White Jun 06, 2023 9 mins Diversity and Inclusion brandpost ChatGPT and Your Organisation: How to Monitor Usage and Be More Aware of Security Risks By Hayley Salyer Jun 05, 2023 7 mins Chatbots Artificial Intelligence Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe