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It looks like the Sony Fanboys are all happy ...
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3166939
Microsoft attempted to lighten the blow earlier today, but all the preemptive defense in the world can't change the cold, hard numbers: for the second month in a row, Sony's PlayStation 3 has outsold the Xbox 360 by a marginal amount. While the gap between those two competitors has shrunk from January, the NPD numbers for February reveal that Nintendo has recovered from a slow previous month with some very impressive hardware sales. Let's take a look.
February 2008 Hardware Sales
* Nintendo DS -- 587,600
* Wii -- 432,000
* PlayStation 2 -- 351,800
* PlayStation 3 -- 280,800
* Xbox 360 -- 254,600
* PlayStation Portable -- 243,000
January 2008 Hardware Sales
* Wii -- 274,000
* PlayStation 3 -- 269,000
* PlayStation 2 -- 264,000
* Nintendo DS -- 251,000
* PlayStation Portable -- 230,000
* Xbox 360 -- 230,000
Over on software, Call of Duty 4 has taken its fourth month in a row as the best-selling game. Other long-standing repeat performances this month include Guitar Hero III and Wii Play. Capcom's Devil May Cry 4 grabbed both the second and fourth positions -- perhaps the beefed-up PS3 sales the last few months are now showing in software, as the PS3 version of DMC4 got close to the same numbers as the 360 SKU. Lost Odyssey and Turok also made strong debuts, hopefully ensuring more from those franchises in the future. Here's the data:
February 2008 Software Sales
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360) -- 296,200
2. Devil May Cry 4 (Xbox 360) -- 295,200
3. Wii Play (Wii) -- 289,700
4. Devil May Cry 4 (PlayStation 3) -- 233,500
5. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Wii) -- 222,900
6. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Nintendo DS) -- 205,600
7. Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360) -- 203,600
8. Turok (Xbox 360) -- 197,700
9. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PlayStation 2) -- 183,800
10. Rock Band (Xbox 360) -- 161,800
January 2008 Software Sales
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360) -- 330,900
2. Wii Play w/ Remote (Wii) -- 298,100
3. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Wii) -- 239,600
4. Rock Band (Xbox 360) -- 183,800
5. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360) -- 182,700
6. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) -- 172,000
7. Burnout Paradise (Xbox 360) -- 144,100
8. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PlayStation 3) -- 140,000
9. Mario Party DS (Nintendo DS) -- 138,500
10. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Nintendo DS) -- 133,000
http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/npd-game-industry-sales-hit-133-billion-in-february-/?biz=
GameDaily BIZ has received the February video game sales data from The NPD Group and software sales were even higher than analysts had predicted. Total software sales came to $668.7 million, up 47 percent, while hardware sales grew 19 percent to $480 million. Accessories also grew 36 percent, totaling $185.3 million. Overall, total industry sales increased 34 percent to $1.33 billion.
In terms of hardware, it was once again pure Nintendo domination. The DS sold a whopping 587.6K units while the Wii sold 432K units. The Xbox 360, which Microsoft said would likely trail the PS3 because of supply constraints, sold 254.6K units. The PS3 sold 280.8K units. Surprisingly, the old PS2 put up very respectable numbers with 351.8K units. Finally, the PSP also fared decently with another 243.1K units sold.
"So far this year the growth volume has surprised me a bit especially considering the state of the economy right now." - Anita Frazier, NPD
On the software side, Activision's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare continues to show its long legs, securing the top spot with more than 296,000 copies sold. Capcom's Devil May Cry 4 (on Xbox 360) was hot on its heels with 295.2K units sold. The Xbox 360 version of the game outsold the PS3 version by more than 60,000 units. Nintendo's Wii Play was also once again near the top, showing that packaging a Wii remote controller with some mini-games is a winning combination.
Here's the top 10 (ranked by units) as provided by NPD:
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Xbox 360 Activision 296.2K*
2. Devil May Cry 4 - Xbox 360 Capcom 295.2K*
3. Wii Play w/remote - Wii Nintendo 289.7K
4. Devil May Cry 4 - PS3 Capcom 233.5K*
5. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock - Wii Activision 222.9K*
6. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - DS Sega of America 205.6K
7. Lost Odyssey - Xbox 360 Microsoft 203.6K
8. Turok - Xbox 360 Touchstone 197.7K
9. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock - PS2 Activision 183.8K*
10. Rock Band - Xbox 360 MTV Games/EA 161.8K
* Includes Collector's, Limited, Legendary, Bundles (Guitars) Editions
Next page: In-depth commentary from NPD analyst Anita Frazier
BIZ: The PS2 hardware sales figure is surprisingly high to me. It's the system that never dies. What are your thoughts on PS2 sales and how long this aging system can keep this up?
Anita Frazier: Yes, while I continue to expect strong PS2 sales for some time, the number surprised me as well. I think a number of things - price, promotional activity, and strong "mass-friendly" titles like Guitar Hero and Rock Band to name a few - are contributing to the robust sales of PS2 hardware. I've said for awhile that I see the PS2 continuing to be a strong foundation for the video games market, and my opinion is only strengthened by these latest figures. In fact, PS2 hardware, software & accessories sales accounted for nearly 14% of total dollar sales this month.
BIZ: What kind of growth are you seeing from Rock Band? It's in the top 10 but Guitar Hero is still ahead.
AF: I don't see why there has to be a race between Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Both games are generating terrific sales, and players are enjoying the experiences that both of them provide. What is more interesting to me is that in what many are now deeming a recession, that games with such a premium price point are thriving. It's certainly a testament to the experience that both of these games deliver.
BIZ: Judging by the large growth in software vs. the growth in hardware this month, 2008 will really been driven by software, right?
AF: Yes, while hardware sales are still closely followed, at this point in the console lifecycle the focus once again returns to the heart of this industry - the games. There are some big games yet to drive sales in the first half of the year so I think we'll see more and more attention paid to games and how they affect the entire games ecosystem.
BIZ: Any big surprises for you in February or trends you want to point out?
AF: At the end of 2007 I expected 2008 to again be a record-breaking year for the video games industry, but with more modest growth than what was realized in 2007. So far this year the growth volume has surprised me a bit especially considering the state of the economy right now.
http://www.dailytech.com/PlayStation+3+Outsells+Xbox+360+for+Second+Month+in+a+Row/article11094.htm
Microsoft falls behind of console sales race due to supply shortages
To no ones surprise, Nintendo once against stood at the top of the latest monthly console sales figures with both its portable and home console.
According to NPD Group retail sales data, the Nintendo DS sold 587,600 units, and the Wii sold 432,000 both making up first and second place, respectively. Both Nintendo systems combined account for 47.6 percent of all hardware sold throughout February.
Our momentum has not let up since the holidays and we expect it to continue throughout the year, said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing. We have the industry's strongest lineup of games for everyone from core to casual gamers.
Sony took third and fourth spots, but surprisingly it is their oldest current product that is leading the way. The PlayStation 2 sold a surprising 351,800, while the PlayStation 3 sold 280,800. This marks the second month in a row that the PlayStation 3 has outsold the Xbox 360.
Consumers are recognizing the tremendous value of PS3 and we believe that Blu-ray becoming the high-def format of choice was the tipping point for many consumers, said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. With monster titles like Gran Turismo 5 Prologue and Grand Theft Auto IV launching in April and Metal Gear Solid 4 in June, we're demonstrating this is the year for PS3.
Microsoft once again finds itself below its competitors, selling 254,600 Xbox 360 consoles. Just as it did for Januarys sales figures, Microsoft forewarned of lower-than-expected numbers due to shortages. We definitely expect we will trail in February as a result of our supply constraints, Aaron Greenberg, Xbox product manager, said to Reuters. By April, we will be in a very healthy inventory situation.
The Sony PSP sat in last with 243,000 units sold, though March sales might see a boost with the release of highly anticipated titles God of War: Chains of Olympus and Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3166939
Microsoft attempted to lighten the blow earlier today, but all the preemptive defense in the world can't change the cold, hard numbers: for the second month in a row, Sony's PlayStation 3 has outsold the Xbox 360 by a marginal amount. While the gap between those two competitors has shrunk from January, the NPD numbers for February reveal that Nintendo has recovered from a slow previous month with some very impressive hardware sales. Let's take a look.
February 2008 Hardware Sales
* Nintendo DS -- 587,600
* Wii -- 432,000
* PlayStation 2 -- 351,800
* PlayStation 3 -- 280,800
* Xbox 360 -- 254,600
* PlayStation Portable -- 243,000
January 2008 Hardware Sales
* Wii -- 274,000
* PlayStation 3 -- 269,000
* PlayStation 2 -- 264,000
* Nintendo DS -- 251,000
* PlayStation Portable -- 230,000
* Xbox 360 -- 230,000
Over on software, Call of Duty 4 has taken its fourth month in a row as the best-selling game. Other long-standing repeat performances this month include Guitar Hero III and Wii Play. Capcom's Devil May Cry 4 grabbed both the second and fourth positions -- perhaps the beefed-up PS3 sales the last few months are now showing in software, as the PS3 version of DMC4 got close to the same numbers as the 360 SKU. Lost Odyssey and Turok also made strong debuts, hopefully ensuring more from those franchises in the future. Here's the data:
February 2008 Software Sales
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360) -- 296,200
2. Devil May Cry 4 (Xbox 360) -- 295,200
3. Wii Play (Wii) -- 289,700
4. Devil May Cry 4 (PlayStation 3) -- 233,500
5. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Wii) -- 222,900
6. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Nintendo DS) -- 205,600
7. Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360) -- 203,600
8. Turok (Xbox 360) -- 197,700
9. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PlayStation 2) -- 183,800
10. Rock Band (Xbox 360) -- 161,800
January 2008 Software Sales
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360) -- 330,900
2. Wii Play w/ Remote (Wii) -- 298,100
3. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Wii) -- 239,600
4. Rock Band (Xbox 360) -- 183,800
5. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360) -- 182,700
6. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) -- 172,000
7. Burnout Paradise (Xbox 360) -- 144,100
8. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PlayStation 3) -- 140,000
9. Mario Party DS (Nintendo DS) -- 138,500
10. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Nintendo DS) -- 133,000
http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/npd-game-industry-sales-hit-133-billion-in-february-/?biz=
GameDaily BIZ has received the February video game sales data from The NPD Group and software sales were even higher than analysts had predicted. Total software sales came to $668.7 million, up 47 percent, while hardware sales grew 19 percent to $480 million. Accessories also grew 36 percent, totaling $185.3 million. Overall, total industry sales increased 34 percent to $1.33 billion.
In terms of hardware, it was once again pure Nintendo domination. The DS sold a whopping 587.6K units while the Wii sold 432K units. The Xbox 360, which Microsoft said would likely trail the PS3 because of supply constraints, sold 254.6K units. The PS3 sold 280.8K units. Surprisingly, the old PS2 put up very respectable numbers with 351.8K units. Finally, the PSP also fared decently with another 243.1K units sold.
"So far this year the growth volume has surprised me a bit especially considering the state of the economy right now." - Anita Frazier, NPD
On the software side, Activision's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare continues to show its long legs, securing the top spot with more than 296,000 copies sold. Capcom's Devil May Cry 4 (on Xbox 360) was hot on its heels with 295.2K units sold. The Xbox 360 version of the game outsold the PS3 version by more than 60,000 units. Nintendo's Wii Play was also once again near the top, showing that packaging a Wii remote controller with some mini-games is a winning combination.
Here's the top 10 (ranked by units) as provided by NPD:
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Xbox 360 Activision 296.2K*
2. Devil May Cry 4 - Xbox 360 Capcom 295.2K*
3. Wii Play w/remote - Wii Nintendo 289.7K
4. Devil May Cry 4 - PS3 Capcom 233.5K*
5. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock - Wii Activision 222.9K*
6. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - DS Sega of America 205.6K
7. Lost Odyssey - Xbox 360 Microsoft 203.6K
8. Turok - Xbox 360 Touchstone 197.7K
9. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock - PS2 Activision 183.8K*
10. Rock Band - Xbox 360 MTV Games/EA 161.8K
* Includes Collector's, Limited, Legendary, Bundles (Guitars) Editions
Next page: In-depth commentary from NPD analyst Anita Frazier
BIZ: The PS2 hardware sales figure is surprisingly high to me. It's the system that never dies. What are your thoughts on PS2 sales and how long this aging system can keep this up?
Anita Frazier: Yes, while I continue to expect strong PS2 sales for some time, the number surprised me as well. I think a number of things - price, promotional activity, and strong "mass-friendly" titles like Guitar Hero and Rock Band to name a few - are contributing to the robust sales of PS2 hardware. I've said for awhile that I see the PS2 continuing to be a strong foundation for the video games market, and my opinion is only strengthened by these latest figures. In fact, PS2 hardware, software & accessories sales accounted for nearly 14% of total dollar sales this month.
BIZ: What kind of growth are you seeing from Rock Band? It's in the top 10 but Guitar Hero is still ahead.
AF: I don't see why there has to be a race between Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Both games are generating terrific sales, and players are enjoying the experiences that both of them provide. What is more interesting to me is that in what many are now deeming a recession, that games with such a premium price point are thriving. It's certainly a testament to the experience that both of these games deliver.
BIZ: Judging by the large growth in software vs. the growth in hardware this month, 2008 will really been driven by software, right?
AF: Yes, while hardware sales are still closely followed, at this point in the console lifecycle the focus once again returns to the heart of this industry - the games. There are some big games yet to drive sales in the first half of the year so I think we'll see more and more attention paid to games and how they affect the entire games ecosystem.
BIZ: Any big surprises for you in February or trends you want to point out?
AF: At the end of 2007 I expected 2008 to again be a record-breaking year for the video games industry, but with more modest growth than what was realized in 2007. So far this year the growth volume has surprised me a bit especially considering the state of the economy right now.
http://www.dailytech.com/PlayStation+3+Outsells+Xbox+360+for+Second+Month+in+a+Row/article11094.htm
Microsoft falls behind of console sales race due to supply shortages
To no ones surprise, Nintendo once against stood at the top of the latest monthly console sales figures with both its portable and home console.
According to NPD Group retail sales data, the Nintendo DS sold 587,600 units, and the Wii sold 432,000 both making up first and second place, respectively. Both Nintendo systems combined account for 47.6 percent of all hardware sold throughout February.
Our momentum has not let up since the holidays and we expect it to continue throughout the year, said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing. We have the industry's strongest lineup of games for everyone from core to casual gamers.
Sony took third and fourth spots, but surprisingly it is their oldest current product that is leading the way. The PlayStation 2 sold a surprising 351,800, while the PlayStation 3 sold 280,800. This marks the second month in a row that the PlayStation 3 has outsold the Xbox 360.
Consumers are recognizing the tremendous value of PS3 and we believe that Blu-ray becoming the high-def format of choice was the tipping point for many consumers, said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. With monster titles like Gran Turismo 5 Prologue and Grand Theft Auto IV launching in April and Metal Gear Solid 4 in June, we're demonstrating this is the year for PS3.
Microsoft once again finds itself below its competitors, selling 254,600 Xbox 360 consoles. Just as it did for Januarys sales figures, Microsoft forewarned of lower-than-expected numbers due to shortages. We definitely expect we will trail in February as a result of our supply constraints, Aaron Greenberg, Xbox product manager, said to Reuters. By April, we will be in a very healthy inventory situation.
The Sony PSP sat in last with 243,000 units sold, though March sales might see a boost with the release of highly anticipated titles God of War: Chains of Olympus and Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core.
