In advance of an expected monthly NPD report on new retail video game sales, Microsoft has revealed its Xbox 360 sold 535,000 units in February, making it the top-selling console in the U.S. for the second straight month.
The result is up 27 percent from the system's performance in February 2010 and is the largest monthly sales number the system has posted in a month outside of October, November or December, the company said.
Strong hardware sales fed into $475 million in total spending on Xbox products, including software and accessories, for the month. Despite this, only four of the month's top ten selling games were available on the Xbox 360: Call of Duty: Black Ops, Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, Bulletstorm and NBA 2K11.
Video game players finally bought enough games in February to push the monthly sales numbers above year-ago figures, with February sales coming in 3 percent above a year ago.
Total sales of game hardware, PC games, console games, and portables rose 3 percent to $1.36 billion from $1.33 billion a year ago, according to market researcher NPD. The report is encouraging since many months have been negative compared to year ago numbers.
Software sales (console and portable games sold in stores) were still weak in the month, with sales down 5 percent to $601.4 million from $633.6 million a year ago. Hardware sales, on the other hand, were healthy. And accessory sales were up thanks to sales of Microsoft’s Kinect motion-sensing system
Overall, video games as a whole were down 6 percent in 2010. But the game industry has many growing niches, including social network games, mobile games, browser-based online games, used games, game rentals, and free-to-play games on a variety of platforms.
NPD said U.S. retail game hardware sales were up 10 percent to $466.9 million from $426.4 million a year ago. Game software sales also fell 5 percent in January. Accessories were up 22 percent to $256.9 million from $210.0 million a year earlier, largely because of sales of Microsoft’s Kinect motion-sensing accessory for the Xbox 360, as well as Sony’s PlayStation Move wand-like controller.
The No. 1 title on all platforms was once again Call of Duty Black Ops, the hot-selling combat game from Activision Blizzard which debuted in November. Black Ops was also No. 1 in January, continuing a long streak.
No. 2 was Capcom’s Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, for the Xbox 360 and PS 3. Ubisoft’s Just Dance 2 for the Wii was No. 3, showing that music games aren’t dead but the trend is moving from faux guitar games to dance games. Take-Two Interactive’s NBA 2K11 was No. 4, and Electronic Arts’ Dead Space 2 was No. 5.
One of the new games that sold well, but not spectacularly, was Sony’s Killzone 3, pictured above. It came in at No. 8. Bulletstorm, also from EA, debuted this month at No. 7.
Sales of video game hardware in February propelled industry sales to a surprising improvement over last year, according to The NPD Group's monthly sales data.
Most analysts expected a decline in sales of games and console systems. Software sales did fall 5% below sales in February 2010 -- still a slightly better performance than expected. But all the three console systems saw increased sales.
"Within the video games industry, the console segment of the market was up 12% in dollar sales across hardware, software, accessories, and game cards while the portable segment of the market declined versus February 2010 by 27%," says NPD's Anita Frazier. "We are looking for the portable segment of the market to rebound beginning later this month when the highly anticipated 3DS launches in the U.S. on March 27th. Seven days of sales will be included when we release our March sales results on April 14th."
And Call of Duty: Black Ops became the best-selling game in history, topping Wii Play, Frazier says.
"The best-selling hardware system of the month was the Xbox 360 which had its biggest non-holiday (November/December) sales month ever, surpassing September 2007 when Halo 3 launched.," Frazier says. "The 250 GB system bundled with the Kinect sensor was one of the drivers of the increase in average selling price among console hardware."
All three console systems realized a unit sales increase over last February and a unit sales increase over January 2011, NPD says.
Breaking down the console growth, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 up about 25% in sales (dollar value) and the Wii up 15%, compared to last year, says Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter.
Total industry sales rose 3% to $1.36 billion, compared to $1.33 billion in February 2010. Sales of video game hardware rose 10% ($467 million vs. $426 million), while software dropped ($601 million vs. $634 million). Video game accessories continued to rise, thanks to Microsoft's Kinect and Sony's PlayStation Move products ($257 million vs. $210 million).
"The big surprise to me is that hardware ticked up," Pachter says. "Maybe the recession really is over. People don't buy software because there is money burning a hole in their pocket. But they actually would buy hardware. Most recent jobs data show a slight uptick in jobs. Maybe consumer confidence is coming back. ... It has to be either that there's a change in NPD methodology or it is a reasonable signal that consumer confidence is back."
While Sony was reluctant to hand out the hardware data, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter passed along the NPD data for the PS3 console: it sold 403,000 units for the month of February. That's up 12% year-over-year but it's still not as good as Xbox 360's 535,000 (27% bump) or Wii's 454,000 (14% rise). Additionally, the PlayStation Move continues to be outsold by Kinect it would seem.
"Under one-fifth of PS3 sales included bundles with Sony’s Move controller, suggesting another modest month (we have chosen not to subscribe to peripheral data). Over 2/3 of Xbox 360 sales included bundles with Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral, as Xbox 360 Kinect console bundles again outsold PS3 Move console bundles by over 5:1," commented Pachter. "We note that the top selling Kinect software titles easily outsold their Move counterparts."
Pachter also reiterated that price cuts are likely forthcoming but that for now 360 and Kinect have the momentum.
"We expect demand for the Xbox 360 to remain stronger than the other consoles due to the popularity of Kinect. We expect Wii and PS3 hardware sales to continue to decline (despite February’s up month for both) in the first part of 2011," he said. "Without further price cuts, we expect hardware sales to be down in 2011, and we think that the console manufacturers will position cuts around the E3 Expo in early June."
why is Killzone 3 so low? ???
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=26412763&postcount=86 (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=26412763&postcount=86)
:rofl
QuoteThe fanboys moved on.
"wait for Killzone 4. No one expected Killzone 3 to sell (except for Xbots so the could act all surprised when it didn't sell to their "expectations" lol). It's only really a map pack so no one cared. A lot of people are waiting for the NGP version as well"
... how did i do, Sfugs?
Wii Tops 35 Million in Sales as Multiple Games Hit Major Milestones
Nintendo’s Wii™ console has crossed the 35 million sales mark in the United States, according to the NPD Group. More than 454,000 Wii consoles sold in February to put Wii across the 35 million mark faster than any other console in U.S. history.
February proved to be a notable month for Nintendo software as well. Not only was Just Dance 2 from Ubisoft the No. 1 best-selling game of the month with more than 554,000 sold, but four Nintendo games reached new sales milestones. Donkey Kong Country™ Returns for the Wii console, which launched in November 2010, crossed the 2 million mark in February, while New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii, which launched in November 2009, just crossed the 8 million sales mark.
On the portable side, the Pokémon™ SoulSilver Version game for the Nintendo DS™ family of systems launched in March 2010 and crossed the 2 million sales mark in February, while the New Super Mario Bros. game, which launched in May 2006, just passed 9 million in sales. These milestones further demonstrate the “evergreen” nature of games that play on Nintendo systems.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=26412763&postcount=86 (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=26412763&postcount=86):lol :lol :lol :lol :lol
:rofl
February proved to be a notable month for Nintendo software as well. Not only was Just Dance 2 from Ubisoft the No. 1 best-selling game of the month with more than 554,000 sold, but four Nintendo games reached new sales milestones. Donkey Kong Country™ Returns for the Wii console, which launched in November 2010, crossed the 2 million mark in February, while New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii, which launched in November 2009, just crossed the 8 million sales mark.
Weird generation. The consoles that have the worst games seem to sell the best. First it was the Wii, not it's the x360.
Weird generation. The consoles that have the worst games seem to sell the best. First it was the Wii, not it's the x360.
Even the Wii has had better games than the X360 during the last couple of months.
And Killzone fucking sucks. But it's still better than any Kinect game. Don't understand how grown men can play that shit.
Even the Wii has had better games than the X360 during the last couple of months.
And Killzone fucking sucks. But it's still better than any Kinect game. Don't understand how grown men can play that shit.
Even the Wii has had better games than the X360 during the last couple of months.
And Killzone fucking sucks. But it's still better than any Kinect game. Don't understand how grown men can play that shit.
I love how whenever the 360 kills it on sales the argument automatically deflects to this.
Even the Wii has had better games than the X360 during the last couple of months.
And Killzone fucking sucks. But it's still better than any Kinect game. Don't understand how grown men can play that shit.
I love how whenever the 360 kills it on sales the argument automatically deflects to this.
What argument? That the X360 has been sucking ass in the last few months?
Who cares that it sells well. The Wii sold even more at one time. I don't think any of us were rooting then.
How many times are you going to quote me?
Even the Wii has had better games than the X360 during the last couple of months.
And Killzone fucking sucks. But it's still better than any Kinect game. Don't understand how grown men can play that shit.
I love how whenever the 360 kills it on sales the argument automatically deflects to this.
What argument? That the X360 has been sucking ass in the last few months?
Who cares that it sells well. The Wii sold even more at one time. I don't think any of us were rooting then.
I don't "root" one one or the other. This is a sales thread. When I talk games. I talk games. When I talk sales I talk sales. Sales is about making and putting out what the masses want. And the sales either reflect that or they don't. I don't bemoan that casual games sell or that certain consoles sell more or less than others. I do like fucking with people who are very invested in their console of choice "winning".
So you like to fuck yourself?
Marvel vs Capcom 3 -- 790.2K
Bulletstorm -- 285.6K
Killzone 3 -- 279.9K
Marvel vs Capcom 3 -- 790.2K
Killzone 3 -- 279.9K
I *am* rather enjoying watching the Xfags turn into the Nfags of a few years ago and watching the Nfags thrash around trying to use the same arguments that were used against them. Most of all I enjoy the Sfag tears though. I don't think that will ever change.
Marvel vs Capcom 3 -- 790.2K
Bulletstorm -- 285.6K
Killzone 3 -- 279.9K
QuoteMarvel vs Capcom 3 -- 790.2K
Bulletstorm -- 285.6K
Killzone 3 -- 279.9K
That's pretty good for Bulletstorm, I think. I totally expected it to bomb horribly.
QuoteMarvel vs Capcom 3 -- 790.2K
Bulletstorm -- 285.6K
Killzone 3 -- 279.9K
QuoteMarvel vs Capcom 3 -- 790.2K
Bulletstorm -- 285.6K
Killzone 3 -- 279.9K
That's pretty good for Bulletstorm, I think. I totally expected it to bomb horribly.
Weren't the European numbers similarly disappointing?
How does MvC3 numbers compare to SFIV's?
446k copies on the 360 and 403k copies on the PS3
Even the Wii has had better games than the X360 during the last couple of months.
And Killzone fucking sucks. But it's still better than any Kinect game. Don't understand how grown men can play that shit.
I love how whenever the 360 kills it on sales the argument automatically deflects to this.
What argument? That the X360 has been sucking ass in the last few months?
Who cares that it sells well. The Wii sold even more at one time. I don't think any of us were rooting then.
I don't "root" one one or the other. This is a sales thread. When I talk games. I talk games. When I talk sales I talk sales. Sales is about making and putting out what the masses want. And the sales either reflect that or they don't. I don't bemoan that casual games sell or that certain consoles sell more or less than others. I do like fucking with people who are very invested in their console of choice "winning".
So you like to fuck yourself?
And that post was meant for DCharlie. Wasn't talking to you.
Yeah, Mortal Kombat always sells really well. The numbers hardcore fighting enthusiasts high five and tearfully hug each other for Street Fighter reaching are reached fairly effortlessly by any MK game. I doubt it's going to be any different this time.
NPD’s February numbers illustrate continued growth of the entire PlayStation 3 ecosystem, including increases in hardware, software and peripheral sales. PlayStation’s exclusive titles, combined with stereoscopic 3D and precision motion controlled gaming, continue to resonate with consumers, and we look forward to furthering the momentum with MotorStorm Apocalypse and SOCOM 4 next month.
-- Patrick Seybold, Sr. Director of Corporate Communications at SCEA
Street Fighter IV* (360) 446K
Street Fighter IV* (PS3) 403K
the better game wins.
Don't understand how grown men can play that shit.
How did Tactics Ogre do? :( GOTY :(
How did Tactics Ogre do? :( GOTY :(
shut the fuck up already
shut the fuck up already
:lol u mad.
MvC3 is a disappointment. Hopefully since it sold well, Capcom will work to make it better.
Throw in that this by extension means that the Wii also shat on the PS3 too - given the game line ups are pretty much identical save for worse graphics, LBP2 (other than Bebpo who cares?) and Killzone 3 (which you say fucking sucks)
Sounds like more wah wah to me
This is what happens when you name yourself after your favorite console's ranking.
Man, when did the NPD start being so good?
Man, when did the NPD start being so good?
Wait till next month when Crysis 2 tanks.
Man, when did the NPD start being so good?
Wait till next month when Crysis 2 tanks.
And Nintendo Dogs and Cats 3DS tops the list
I mean right under Pokemon :poop
Killzone 3 is the best sellign exclusive that month how ist hat a bad thing?
just cause 2 isnt exclusive its coming on other systems
Killzone 3 is the best sellign exclusive that month how ist hat a bad thing?
Below is the latest, best-selling list of video games in the U.S. to date as provided by NPD:
1. Call of Duty: Black Ops
2. Wii Play W/ Remote
3. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
4. Guitar Hero III Legends Of Rock
5. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
6. Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
7. Mario Kart w/ Wheel
8. New Super Mario Bros
9. Wii Fit
10. Call Of Duty: World At War
Note: NPD has only begun tracking video games sales since the late 90s. NPD does not track digital game sales.
1. Activision
2. Nintendo W/ Remote
3. Activision
4. Activision
5. Take 2
6. Activision
7. Nintendo w/ Wheel
8. Nintendo
9. Nintendo
10. Activision
BAN MAGUS
How did Tactics Ogre do? :( GOTY :(
probably 100,000 seeding and 10x more leeching
While Sony was reluctant to hand out the hardware data, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter passed along the NPD data for the PS3 console: it sold 403,000 units for the month of February. That's up 12% year-over-year but it's still not as good as Xbox 360's 535,000 (27% bump) or Wii's 454,000 (14% rise). Additionally, the PlayStation Move continues to be outsold by Kinect it would seem.
"Under one-fifth of PS3 sales included bundles with Sony’s Move controller, suggesting another modest month (we have chosen not to subscribe to peripheral data). Over 2/3 of Xbox 360 sales included bundles with Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral, as Xbox 360 Kinect console bundles again outsold PS3 Move console bundles by over 5:1," commented Pachter. "We note that the top selling Kinect software titles easily outsold their Move counterparts."
Pachter also reiterated that price cuts are likely forthcoming but that for now 360 and Kinect have the momentum.
"We expect demand for the Xbox 360 to remain stronger than the other consoles due to the popularity of Kinect. We expect Wii and PS3 hardware sales to continue to decline (despite February’s up month for both) in the first part of 2011," he said. "Without further price cuts, we expect hardware sales to be down in 2011, and we think that the console manufacturers will position cuts around the E3 Expo in early June."
Pachter strikes againQuoteWhile Sony was reluctant to hand out the hardware data, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter passed along the NPD data for the PS3 console: it sold 403,000 units for the month of February. That's up 12% year-over-year but it's still not as good as Xbox 360's 535,000 (27% bump) or Wii's 454,000 (14% rise). Additionally, the PlayStation Move continues to be outsold by Kinect it would seem.
"Under one-fifth of PS3 sales included bundles with Sony’s Move controller, suggesting another modest month (we have chosen not to subscribe to peripheral data). Over 2/3 of Xbox 360 sales included bundles with Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral, as Xbox 360 Kinect console bundles again outsold PS3 Move console bundles by over 5:1," commented Pachter. "We note that the top selling Kinect software titles easily outsold their Move counterparts."
Pachter also reiterated that price cuts are likely forthcoming but that for now 360 and Kinect have the momentum.
"We expect demand for the Xbox 360 to remain stronger than the other consoles due to the popularity of Kinect. We expect Wii and PS3 hardware sales to continue to decline (despite February’s up month for both) in the first part of 2011," he said. "Without further price cuts, we expect hardware sales to be down in 2011, and we think that the console manufacturers will position cuts around the E3 Expo in early June."
http://www.industrygamers.com/news/kinect-bundles-outsold-ps3-move-bundles-51-in-february/ (http://www.industrygamers.com/news/kinect-bundles-outsold-ps3-move-bundles-51-in-february/)
But according to NPD nobody even bothered with any of those games. The average PS3 user is absolutely oblivious to first party efforts.
As much shit as people give to Microsoft exclusives, does Sony have a franchise that sells as much as Gears or Halo?
As much shit as people give to Microsoft exclusives, does Sony have a franchise that sells as much as Gears or Halo?
As much shit as people give to Microsoft exclusives, does Sony have a franchise that sells as much as Gears or Halo?
wow way to miss the point xbots. Ig uess a game cant be good unless it sells 1 million copies fucking idiots
xbots spinning shit whoduve thunk it ::) ::) ::) ::)
wow way to miss the point xbots. Ig uess a game cant be good unless it sells 1 million copies fucking idiots
xbots spinning shit whoduve thunk it ::) ::) ::) ::)
[/img]http://i.min.us/imi2nY.jpg[/img]
:rofl
take that xbots
desert picture is pure gold :lol
*will ignore all of those games except infamous 2, last guardian, and uncharted 3*
But according to NPD nobody even bothered with any of those games. The average PS3 user is absolutely oblivious to first party efforts.
yeah, true
dunno what they can do to overcome that kind of apathy
:rofl Sfags still thinking exclusives mean anything when multiplatform games are the best quality and best selling on 360.
Ergo, Multiplat may as well be exclusive to 360.
Problem?
:rofl Sfags still thinking exclusives mean anything when multiplatform games are the best quality and best selling on 360.
Ergo, Multiplat may as well be exclusive to 360.
Problem?
xbots using backwards logic whudve thunkit ::) ::) ::)
i havent bought a console game in forever the last one i bought was You Dont Know Jack/Marvel vs capcom3 for 360 otherwise i buy pc gamez. the last exclusive i bought was prob the kinect which i sold a week later
Damn, I'm more loyal to the Sony brand than you are *shudder*
For all the shit that Methodis talks, he's still a true gamer. Even he realizes that PS3 exclusives aren't worth buying.
For all the shit that Methodis talks, he's still a true gamer. Even he realizes that PS3 exclusives aren't worth buying.
Twisted Metal and Uncharted 3 are the only PS3 games I'll buy in 2011.
xbots have to rely on sales numbers because they dont have ANY games to play that are exclusive :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol
(http://i.imgur.com/Jd6Lg.gif)
For all the shit that Methodis talks, he's still a true gamer. Even he realizes that PS3 exclusives aren't worth buying.
"(insert creative medium) has become too derivative and fresh, original ideas are shunted."
Now apply that to pretty much every generation ever.
(http://i.min.us/imi2nY.jpg)
:rofl
take that xbots
desert picture is pure gold :lol
All NES games were completely original? Please.
You guys are starting to sound like GAF members.
This is the generation where originality is flourishing because of the indie uprising, and you're still complaining.
What game on the NES was the same as another that wasnt a sequel to a game?
All NES games were completely original? Please.
You guys are starting to sound like GAF members.
This is the generation where originality is flourishing because of the indie uprising, and you're still complaining.
I never said all were, rather most were. What game is out now that is like Adventure of Lolo? Each game on the NES was fairly original. What game on the NES was the same as another that wasnt a sequel to a game?
All NES games were completely original? Please.
You guys are starting to sound like GAF members.
This is the generation where originality is flourishing because of the indie uprising, and you're still complaining.
I never said all were, rather most were. What game is out now that is like Adventure of Lolo? Each game on the NES was fairly original. What game on the NES was the same as another that wasnt a sequel to a game?
While Sony was reluctant to hand out the hardware data, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter passed along the NPD data for the PS3 console: it sold 403,000 units for the month of February. That's up 12% year-over-year but it's still not as good as Xbox 360's 535,000 (27% bump) or Wii's 454,000 (14% rise). Additionally, the PlayStation Move continues to be outsold by Kinect it would seem.
"Under one-fifth of PS3 sales included bundles with Sony’s Move controller, suggesting another modest month (we have chosen not to subscribe to peripheral data). Over 2/3 of Xbox 360 sales included bundles with Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral, as Xbox 360 Kinect console bundles again outsold PS3 Move console bundles by over 5:1," commented Pachter. "We note that the top selling Kinect software titles easily outsold their Move counterparts."
Pachter also reiterated that price cuts are likely forthcoming but that for now 360 and Kinect have the momentum.
"We expect demand for the Xbox 360 to remain stronger than the other consoles due to the popularity of Kinect. We expect Wii and PS3 hardware sales to continue to decline (despite February’s up month for both) in the first part of 2011," he said. "Without further price cuts, we expect hardware sales to be down in 2011, and we think that the console manufacturers will position cuts around the E3 Expo in early June."
That image is biased. They conveniently forgot to include the biggest blockbuster 360 exclusive of the year: Gun Loco.It's also funny to include Killzone as a positive reinforcement. By most accounts, playing KZ is the equivalent of being hit in the nose with a rolled up newspaper.
Wedbush Numbers:
Call of Duty: Black Ops - 775,000
Dead Space 2 - ~311,880 (Down 31% from first month was the statement)
Zumba Fitness - 301,000
Mario Sports Mix - 200,000
Dragon Quest VI - 50,000
de Blob 2 - Much less than 75,000
uDraw - About the same as it sold in January
22 games sold over 100,000 copies (Up from 20 last year).
Kinect bundles outsold Move bundles 5:1 again.
All NES games were completely original? Please.
You guys are starting to sound like GAF members.
This is the generation where originality is flourishing because of the indie uprising, and you're still complaining.
I never said all were, rather most were. What game is out now that is like Adventure of Lolo? Each game on the NES was fairly original. What game on the NES was the same as another that wasnt a sequel to a game?
I think if anything has been made obvious this gen is that the unbiased platform agnostic barely exists anymore.Actually it feels more like the opposite. Fanbois will always be fanbois, but for most of us rational console gamers, each console has enough on its own to merit being a fan of it. I like the PS3 for a specific set of reasons, and I like the Xbox 360 for a completely different set of reasons. They don't actually compete with each other anymore.
please elaborate.
Dude. There were shitloads of clones and unoriginal games on the nes, and snes and all throughout gaming history.QuoteYou are mis-remembering history and adding in nostalgia.
If there is less diversity in the major big time big budget titles of today that is because they are so big budget and they cost so much to make compared to the past that publishers get conservative and only greenlight titles that have mainstream appeal which is generally the titles that are already selling because its much easier to copy what is popular than create the next popular thing. That being said there is a very vibrant indie/small dev scene that flourishes on XBLA/I-devices/PSN/PC, etc.
When people make blanket complaints that there isn't a lot of diversity in the market what that tells me is that they aren't really actively looking for that diversity or that they are poor. (Or too dumb to figure out how to pirate games)
please elaborate.
All the games i played on the NES were quite different form each other. Many games i found to be inspired despite being cheap. Like robo warrior for example.
Adventures of Lolo
Even games like Battle of Olympus was unique in its own way.
There's quite a number of great and creative indies but for every "SpaceChem" or "Knytt Stories", there's a million Bejeweled clones or twinstick shooters. But I think what Damian is talking about, and something that is unarguable, is that the creativity in big-budget HD console games is at an all-time low. While in the NES/SNES/PS1 and even the PS2 days, you'd have big-budget (for their time) games that would try something different.
And yeah we need a new Adventures of Lolo-esque game :(
posting two titles isn't much of an elaboration.
i don't know what's worse, the fact that you're being extremely selective from the 800 or so titles released on the nes or you're using exceptions to prove a point... which is just wrong.
Under pressure stats body says it's working on a new digital chart, but have we heard it all before?
Following recent criticism from publisher EA, NPD has once again pledged to introduce digital sales numbers into its monthly US video games sales data.
"We are expanding the number of digital retailers we have relationships with in order to develop a digital POS (point of sale) service," NPD analyst Anita Frazier told Games Industry.
"The goal is to provide our clients with a total POS games tracking service that incorporates the growing digital channel as well as the currently predominant physical format, and to deliver this at the same frequency as we currently do for new physical retail sales (monthly).
"It will become increasingly challenging for the financial community to create proper valuations of companies in the absence of an objective third-party source covering the entire market, and it will be harder for companies to manage their businesses and resources without visibility into all forms of distribution."
Last year EA claimed that digital has grown to such an extent that it now accounts for 40 per cent of overall industry sales – a number that NPD itself corroborates.
The implications of this is that UK and US chart data, which since 2008 has painted a picture of steady decline for the video games industry, is no longer representative of the continued growth that many believe continues to propel the sector forward.
This resulted in a strongly worded attack from EA earlier in the week where the publisher claimed that "using NPD data for video game sales is like measuring music sales and ignoring something called iTunes – we see NPD's data as a misrepresentation of the entire industry".
However, we should't get too excited about these new promises from NPD. As long ago as 2009 NPD was talking up the impending arrival of a digital chart.
It's a similar story on this side of the Atlantic. As far back as 2007 Chart-Track was discussing the need to digital sales numbers.
It looked as if it were about to become a reality in 2009 though come 2011 trade body UKIE is still calling in vein for the crucial support needed from partners such as Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network and Steam if such data is ever to become a possibility.
QuoteUnder pressure stats body says it's working on a new digital chart, but have we heard it all before?
"The goal is to provide our clients with a total POS games tracking service that incorporates the growing digital channel as well as the currently predominant physical format, and to deliver this at the same frequency as we currently do for new physical retail sales (monthly).
Gametrailers' Invisible Walls podcast had some new numbers, again
1. Wii Just Dance 2 554,552
2. PS3 Marvel vs Capcom 3 398,284
3. 360 Marvel vs Capcom 3 391,913
4. 360 Call of Duty: Black Ops 390,729
5. PS3 Call of Duty: Black Ops 288,674
6. PS3 Killzone 3 279,824
7. 360 Bulletstorm 233,365
8. Wii Zumba Fitness: Join the party 226,685
9. Wii Michael Jackson The Experience 226,378
10. 360 NBA 2k11 224,800
11. Wii Mario Sports Mix 199,965
12. 360 Dance Central 183,920
13. 360 Dead Space 2 179,675
14. PS3 NBA 2k11 159,278
1. Wii Just Dance 2 554,552
2. PS3 Marvel vs Capcom 3 398,284
3. 360 Marvel vs Capcom 3 391,913
4. 360 Call of Duty: Black Ops 390,729
5. PS3 Call of Duty: Black Ops 288,674
6. PS3 Killzone 3 279,824
7. 360 Bulletstorm 233,365
8. Wii Zumba Fitness: Join the party 226,685
9. Wii Michael Jackson The Experience 226,378
10. 360 NBA 2k11 224,800
11. Wii Mario Sports Mix 199,965
12. 360 Dance Central 183,920
13. 360 Dead Space 2 179,675
14. PS3 NBA 2k11 159,278
looks like PS3 owners don't care about Bulletstorm :/
I would have sworn that the Zumba game would have been bigger on 360 because of Kinect.
I would have sworn that the Zumba game would have been bigger on 360 because of Kinect.It's MAJESCO. I'm stunned it did THAT well.
I would have sworn that the Zumba game would have been bigger on 360 because of Kinect.
Install base.
People complaining about the lack of originality in games aren't paying enough attention to the handheld sector, particularly the iPhone and (I assume) Android platforms. Original gameplay with good production values are plentiful. Oddly, the biggest "fail" moments for those platforms are when they try to emulate a traditional controller instead of embracing the control methods inherent to the hardware (touch, tilt, etc.).
Speaking of which, when will NPD start including game sales from the various App Stores? It's getting to be like music; tracking CD sales is not going to give anything like a realistic picture.
People complaining about the lack of originality in games aren't paying enough attention to the handheld sector, particularly the iPhone and (I assume) Android platforms. Original gameplay with good production values are plentiful. Oddly, the biggest "fail" moments for those platforms are when they try to emulate a traditional controller instead of embracing the control methods inherent to the hardware (touch, tilt, etc.).
Speaking of which, when will NPD start including game sales from the various App Stores? It's getting to be like music; tracking CD sales is not going to give anything like a realistic picture.
People complaining about the lack of originality in games aren't paying enough attention to the handheld sector, particularly the iPhone and (I assume) Android platforms. Original gameplay with good production values are plentiful. Oddly, the biggest "fail" moments for those platforms are when they try to emulate a traditional controller instead of embracing the control methods inherent to the hardware (touch, tilt, etc.).
Speaking of which, when will NPD start including game sales from the various App Stores? It's getting to be like music; tracking CD sales is not going to give anything like a realistic picture.
When they start paying for it.
Why would MS give Xbox Live data for free to NPD?
NPD sells their data.
People complaining about the lack of originality in games aren't paying enough attention to the handheld sector, particularly the iPhone and (I assume) Android platforms. Original gameplay with good production values are plentiful. Oddly, the biggest "fail" moments for those platforms are when they try to emulate a traditional controller instead of embracing the control methods inherent to the hardware (touch, tilt, etc.).
Speaking of which, when will NPD start including game sales from the various App Stores? It's getting to be like music; tracking CD sales is not going to give anything like a realistic picture.
What games are innovative on the iPhone platforms? People love to say how innovative and awesome cellphone games are, but the examples they usually point to me are either copycats of Flash games or console/handheld style games with gimped controls.
(http://oi52.tinypic.com/bk08l.jpg)
People complaining about the lack of originality in games aren't paying enough attention to the handheld sector, particularly the iPhone and (I assume) Android platforms. Original gameplay with good production values are plentiful. Oddly, the biggest "fail" moments for those platforms are when they try to emulate a traditional controller instead of embracing the control methods inherent to the hardware (touch, tilt, etc.).
Speaking of which, when will NPD start including game sales from the various App Stores? It's getting to be like music; tracking CD sales is not going to give anything like a realistic picture.
When they start paying for it.
Why would MS give Xbox Live data for free to NPD?
NPD sells their data.
Why would Microsoft/Sony give up their data even if they were paid for it? There's no reason for them to do so, it's not like there's competition in the retail space on consoles. They're running closed systems with unique content, there's no need to aggregate it for a service provider like there is a retailer.
So what are the hardcore games that are unique on the ipod?