As we reported on Tuesday, Microsoft has sold 3 million Kinect units since the product’s global launch in November. In response, Sony disseminated a press release yesterday stating that PlayStation Move has sold 4.1 million units since its launch in September.

Today Sony has sought to clarify that figure, saying it meant “shipped” rather than “sold”. Units shipped mean they’ve been bought by retailers to sell on to their customers whereas sales mean they’ve been purchased by the consumer.

A Sony spokesperson told website Joystiq, “While we don’t disclose our exact sell-through number, the key is that our retailers continue to ask for more Move units and are taking every unit we can supply them with based on their sales.”

 

Both Sony and Microsoft have said that due to high demand there are supply shortages for their new controllers, PlayStation Move and Xbox 360 Kinect.

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter disagrees, suggesting that both companies are attempting to incite panic among consumers in order to drive up sales.

Speaking with IncGamers, Pachter said, “I think both companies would very much like for consumers to believe that their devices are highly sought after and difficult to obtain. That usually works to spur demand.

 

Ollie the Octopus has flipped all eight birds at gaming industry analysts and predicted that PlayStation Move will outsell Microsoft Kinect over the holiday season.

In what will one day become an embarrassing footnote in history books, demand for soothsaying octopi is skyrocketing, and Ollie clearly knows how to play us rubes for a free lunch.

Ollie learned his trade under the tutelage of renowned psychic Paul the Octopus, who correctly predicted all the outcomes of Germany’s matches in the FIFA World Cup. The two were cousins and former tank-mates.

 

New Zealand retailers are reporting to Gameplanet that they do not have enough PlayStation Move units to meet consumer demand.

That sounds very promising for Sony’s foray into motion control but Mighty Ape’s Simon Barton explains that, “It’s not due to massive demand, it’s due to small quantities of stock.

“The demand is nothing like a big game title.”