September NPD: $1.27b in sales [Archive]

MalReynolds

10-16-2008, 05:59 PM

but no Halo 3 :)

Under most circumstances, this month's NPD sales figures would be quite impressive, with total sales of $1.27 billion. However, last September's $1.35 billion had one looming trump card -- namely, Halo 3's launch. Year-to-date hardware sales were $497.98 million (down nine percent) and software $616.09m (down six percent). Thanks largely to the price drop (we suspect, at least), Xbox 360 had the highest increase in sales, up 78%. It took 3rd place, splitting up Nintendo's two and Sony's three consoles.

For software, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed dominated with 3 of the top 10 spots, totaling 1.16 million in unit sales -- the Xbox 360 version accounted for 52% of sales, followed by PlayStation 3 at 28%. Wii Fit also had impressive figures with 518K. Here are this month's NPD hardware sales figures:

- Wii: 687K 453K (51.66%)
- DS: 536.8K 518.3K (3.57%)
- Xbox 360: 347.2K 195.2K (77.87%)
- PSP: 238.1K 253K (-5.90%)
- PS3: 232.4K 185.4K (25.35%)
- PS2: 173.5K 144.1K (20.4%)

Top ten in software sales after the break.

1. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Xbox 360 – 610K
2. Wii Fit w/ Balance Board - Wii – 518K
3. Rock Band 2 - Xbox 360 – 363K
4. Mario Kart w/ wheel - Wii – 353K
5. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - PS3 – 325K
6. Mercenaries 2: World in Flames - Xbox 360 – 297K
7. Wii Play w/ remote - Wii – 243K
8. Madden NFL 09 - Xbox 360 – 224K
9. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Wii – 223K
10. Madden NFL 09 - PS2 – 158K

via Joystiq

quidmonkey

10-16-2008, 06:10 PM

Go Wii Play!

KingGorilla

10-16-2008, 06:18 PM

Wasn't Spore the top game for the month?

quidmonkey

10-16-2008, 06:20 PM

Wasn't Spore the top game for the month?

Yes, in that other, "Magical" world.

MalReynolds

10-16-2008, 06:21 PM

this is consoles not PC

J3DI

10-16-2008, 06:53 PM

Wasn't Spore the top game for the month?

When it releases on consoles then we'll talk about how much it sold. Until then, just let it go... let it go...

Karak

10-16-2008, 06:53 PM

this is consoles not PC

:)
Anyway.
Concerning consoles. Some good numbers all around. I am surprised that the 360 isn't even higher with a price drop. We will see how long those high numbers last or maybe even go up some.

Iron Past

10-16-2008, 08:30 PM

PS3 software sales... ouch. But I don't know the rest of the data, so maybe it's not as bad as it seems. I'm interested if the PS3 or X360 will be any closer to the Wii console numbers come November. Can't stop that thing.

Johan

10-16-2008, 09:36 PM

I wonder how much of that 1.27 billion was borrowed...

Disgustipated

10-16-2008, 11:06 PM

PS3 got owned by the 360, just like I and others predicted when the price cuts were announced. Can we get the Sony apologists that said it'd be a short-lived victory in here next month as well?

violent

10-16-2008, 11:10 PM

PS3 got owned by the 360, just like I and others predicted when the price cuts were announced. Can we get the Sony apologists that said it'd be a short-lived victory in here next month as well?

You won an argument against idiots.

bean

10-17-2008, 12:25 AM

Go Wii Play!
I wish they would either take the pack-in games off the top-10 or extend the top 10 to be long enough for us to do it ourselves and still know what the true top 10 are. At least half of the Wii Play games end up in waste bins.

Disgustipated

10-17-2008, 01:31 AM

You won an argument against idiots.

WybfNzaXtIM

Fuck you.

Urizen

10-17-2008, 01:55 AM

Go Wii Play!

True dat. Also, Mario Kart Wii is fucking machine. When did it come out? April? 6 months in the Top 10? Where's GTA4? Did even COD4 get six months?

Wasn't Spore the top game for the month?

No, sir. At 406K units, Spore would have been third on the list. Another PC title, something called Warhammer: I Dunno sold 285K units, to my recollection. GameSpot's NPD story has the details on them.

I wish they would either take the pack-in games off the top-10 or extend the top 10 to be long enough for us to do it ourselves....

I wish I was little bit taller,
I wish I was a baller
I wish I had a girl who looked good
I would call her
I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
and a '64 Impala

violent

10-17-2008, 02:14 AM

Fuck you.

Video is broken. The shit I had to do to find out exactly what video it was. Needless to say, it was worth the trip.

Orca

10-17-2008, 02:22 AM

Spore would have been third, with Warhammer Online at eighth - if PC titles were counted.

Disgustipated

10-17-2008, 02:36 AM

Video is broken. The shit I had to do to find out exactly what video it was. Needless to say, it was worth the trip.

Fuck. But yeah, it's pretty awesome.

Gorvi

10-17-2008, 06:24 AM

I actually thought the 360 numbers would be higher. Hell, it's now the cheapest console on the market.

Commissar Rob

10-17-2008, 06:29 AM

I wonder how much of that 1.27 billion was borrowed...Only about 1.269 of it...

Visa - it's everywhere you shouldn't be. ;)

jeffbax

10-17-2008, 06:32 AM

PS3 software sales... ouch.

They're up 130%... which is hardly a bad increase. Sony's doing the hardware sales to themselves though, although you'd think at half the price 360 would be doing a bit better than it is comparatively.

Shit, the Wii is STILL crushing everyone and now is more than the 360 :confused:

EternalGamer

10-17-2008, 07:18 AM

1. Star Wars Force Unleashed

2. Wii Fit

Monthly NPD: Proving that gamers and non-gamers a like will spend money on mediocre products. You just have to have mediocre products that appeal to their demographic.

Telefrog

10-17-2008, 07:56 AM

They're up 130%... which is hardly a bad increase. Sony's doing the hardware sales to themselves though, although you'd think at half the price 360 would be doing a bit better than it is comparatively.

Shit, the Wii is STILL crushing everyone and now is more than the 360 :confused:

At this point, the Wii has popular momentum. Everyone wants one if they don't have one. It's the culturally "cool" thing to have.

Before the Nintendo fanboys jump my shit, being the "popular" choice isn't a bad thing, nor is it a judgment of the product's quality. Sheesh!

quidmonkey

10-17-2008, 08:39 AM

True dat. Also, Mario Kart Wii is fucking machine. When did it come out? April? 6 months in the Top 10? Where's GTA4? Did even COD4 get six months?

Game of the decade can't compete with plumber on wheels. There's no surer sign that our current system is broken.

CoD4 stayed on top for quite a while. I believe it did indeed get 6, if not 7 months.

I wish they would either take the pack-in games off the top-10 or extend the top 10 to be long enough for us to do it ourselves and still know what the true top 10 are. At least half of the Wii Play games end up in waste bins.

You might as well remove that entire list there. Force Unleashed is no more than Star Wars with a game packed-in. And there will be more Madden 09s and Force Unleashed in the bargain bin than Wii Play within a year.

Go Wii Play!

Iron Past

10-17-2008, 09:01 AM

They're up 130%... which is hardly a bad increase. Sony's doing the hardware sales to themselves though, although you'd think at half the price 360 would be doing a bit better than it is comparatively.

Shit, the Wii is STILL crushing everyone and now is more than the 360 :confused:

No, no, I meant comparatively to the other consoles. But like I said, I only see the top ten, so the rest may be more even. Personally, I thought the 360 would do better as well, but I believe the big surge will come in November (maybe some in October).

Telefrog

10-17-2008, 11:34 AM

By the way, for anyone that's interested, here are the total NPD hardware numbers LTD for the three consoles:

Wii: 12,548,000
360: 11,242,000
PS3: 5,494,000

The PS3 needs a price drop.

Iron Past

10-17-2008, 11:47 AM

By the way, for anyone that's interested, here are the total NPD hardware numbers LTD for the three consoles:

Wii: 12,548,000
360: 11,242,000
PS3: 5,494,000

The PS3 needs a price drop.

What's LTD?

Gorvi

10-17-2008, 12:13 PM

What's LTD?
Life To Date.

And yes, yes they do need a price drop.

OldJadedGamer

10-17-2008, 12:54 PM

Life To Date.

And yes, yes they do need a price drop.

I paid $220 for mine and thought I got a steal but after messing around with it for a while, I do think it's over priced at $399 but think it would be perfect at $299.

Gorvi

10-17-2008, 01:05 PM

I paid $220 for mine and thought I got a steal but after messing around with it for a while, I do think it's over priced at $399 but think it would be perfect at $299.
Yeah, this late in the game there's no reason they should still have their lowest price SKU at $399. It just doesn't make sense if you actually want to sell consoles, especially when you can buy two 360 arcade units for the price of one PS3.

bean

10-17-2008, 02:44 PM

You might as well remove that entire list there. Force Unleashed is no more than Star Wars with a game packed-in. And there will be more Madden 09s and Force Unleashed in the bargain bin than Wii Play within a year.
Are you making a sarcastic joke where you don't mean any of this? I didn't get it, if so. Having a game with a valuable IP like Star Wars doesn't make it a pack-in. People didn't buy a controller and get Star Wars: Force Unleashed for free. If they did, then I would want it off after the first month of release too.

The only reason you'll never see Wii Play in value bins is that people don't buy Wii Play. . . they buy controllers that have it packed in. We trashed 2 of them at my Mom's house (had 3 and you CAN'T trade them in because there are too many of them and no one buys them). Our gaming club has an old game bin that people bring in games they will never play again or that they got free (two buyers from Hasting's started the bin) and the bottom of the box is littered with them. I haven't counted but it looks like 20-30, so some of the club members obviously put multiple copies in as there are only about 25-30 members.

I'm not saying the NPD shouldn't report them, but I'd be curious to find out what was really #10 on the list but got pushed off by this pack-in.

TheFlyingOrc

10-17-2008, 02:47 PM

Yeah, this late in the game there's no reason they should still have their lowest price SKU at $399. It just doesn't make sense if you actually want to sell consoles, especially when you can buy two 360 arcade units for the price of one PS3.

Given that we were generally outraged at the $399 price back in 2005 on the 360, I'd agree.

Funny thought - the 360 may have actually made the PS3's high price more palatable to consumers. Imagine how outrageous the PS3's price would be if it was only competing with the Wii, and they highest price any previous console had ever been was $299!

rvieira

10-17-2008, 03:05 PM

And yes, yes they do need a price drop.
After de LBP Muslim fiasco the only thing that can save October numbers is a price drop, November is already lost because o Gears of War 2.
After the stellar reviews of LBP October would be perfect for Sony, they will sell some full priced consoles and then drop the price for holidays, but now things will not be good on October and I don’t think that LBP has the legs to go against gears 2.

OldJadedGamer

10-17-2008, 03:18 PM

I'm not saying the NPD shouldn't report them, but I'd be curious to find out what was really #10 on the list but got pushed off by this pack-in.

This applies to all games that are packed in with hardware upto and including the new Socom.

Purple Santa

10-17-2008, 06:29 PM

After de LBP Muslim fiasco the only thing that can save October numbers is a price drop, November is already lost because o Gears of War 2.
After the stellar reviews of LBP October would be perfect for Sony, they will sell some full priced consoles and then drop the price for holidays, but now things will not be good on October and I don’t think that LBP has the legs to go against gears 2.

Well I disagree with your crystal ball. Since that is what you are basing your guesses on...i'll pull mine out and state some stuff off the top of my head. Sony isn't going to be dropping the price for the PS3 for the holidays. I think if they wanted to do that they would of done it by now. They have had numerous chances to match MS price drops but are choosing not to. Their strategy doesn't seem to be the market leader in the console game...they seem to have a broader plan. Whether that is a good plan or not...that can be debated. As for LBP not having legs and going up against Gears of War...LBP is a more "casual" game, being a platformer with "cute" characters...Sony is hoping and planned this game to have a long shelf life. Unlike some of the hot titles of this year which often sell their millions in the first 2-3 months, LBP is suppose to have a long tail...like a Mario game...I think LBP is an attempt to sell the console to a less hardcore market. Again, whether this strategy works with a console that is the highest on the market...remains to be seen. So says my crystal ball :p

rvieira

10-17-2008, 06:38 PM

Well I disagree with your crystal ball. Since that is what you are basing your guesses on...

Don't you think crystal balls are funny ? :D

Johan

10-17-2008, 07:11 PM

Don't you think crystal balls are funny ? :D

Blue balls are funnier.

Iron Past

10-17-2008, 07:30 PM

Blue balls are funnier.

Blue balls are not funny. Not at all.

;)

rvieira

10-17-2008, 08:08 PM

Blue balls are funnier.

Witch kind? for lymphogranuloma venereum or for Erotic Sexual Denial ?

Johan

10-17-2008, 08:11 PM

Witch kind? for lymphogranuloma venereum or for Erotic Sexual Denial ?

Either one. I don't have either. The former would be especially nasty to have.

KingGorilla

10-17-2008, 10:32 PM

Monthly NPD: Proving that gamers and non-gamers a like will spend money on mediocre products. You just have to have mediocre products that appeal to their demographic.

I know Wii Fit is flying off of shelves, but has anyone noticed copies of Star Wars languishing on shelves. It is a strange trend I have noticed with many top selling titles in recent years.

Rune_74

10-19-2008, 10:37 AM

Its really sad how good the wii is doing, I have one and I can only think of a couple decent games for it. I can't even get my 8 year old son to play it more then the 360.

Variable Gear

10-19-2008, 11:53 AM

Its really sad how good the wii is doing, I have one and I can only think of a couple decent games for it. I can't even get my 8 year old son to play it more then the 360.
Whatever. :rolleyes:

OldJadedGamer

10-19-2008, 12:24 PM

Its really sad how good the wii is doing, I have one and I can only think of a couple decent games for it. I can't even get my 8 year old son to play it more then the 360.

As long as developers don't take resources from making HD games, I couldn't care less how well the Wii sells. This situation really only sucks for people who wanted to play Nintendo owned franchises this year.

Rune_74

10-19-2008, 01:07 PM

Its funny when the best comeback you can get from a fan of the wii is whatever...if I'm so wrong what am I doing wrong with the wii? I guess I should dust it soon....

Johan

10-19-2008, 01:11 PM

As long as developers don't take resources from making HD games, I couldn't care less how well the Wii sells. This situation really only sucks for people who wanted to play Nintendo owned franchises this year.

You know what? This is the mother-freaking truth. Really...the Wii isn't the end of gaming for the hardcore. Not at all. There are far more AAA HD games than most of us can even afford or find time to play. Gaming right now is great.

Ondo

10-19-2008, 01:12 PM

The only reason you'll never see Wii Play in value bins is that people don't buy Wii Play. . . they buy controllers that have it packed in.
I'm curious how many people do this, because it makes no sense to me. Nintendo does sell controllers without Wii Play for $10 cheaper.

I'm not saying the NPD shouldn't report them, but I'd be curious to find out what was really #10 on the list but got pushed off by this pack-in.
Madden NFL 09 for the PS3 was #11, according to this article (http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3820/npd_behind_the_numbers_september_.php) at Gamasutra that has analysis and more details.

Variable Gear

10-19-2008, 01:15 PM

Its funny when the best comeback you can get from a fan of the wii is whatever...if I'm so wrong what am I doing wrong with the wii? I guess I should dust it soon....
What Wii games do you own?

Rune_74

10-19-2008, 01:21 PM

Zelda, supermario galaxy, my sims, wii sports of course, wii play(junk), mario party 8, rayman and happy feet.

Yep, thats it...haven't seen anything else worth picking up at all.

Some of those games were cheap 10 dollar games and the kids wanted them.

Variable Gear

10-19-2008, 01:40 PM

Yep, thats it...haven't seen anything else worth picking up at all.
Well then you haven't been looking very well. Boom Blox, Zack & Wiki, No More Heroes and Super Smash Bros. Brawl are all worth purchasing.
I'm curious how many people do this, because it makes no sense to me. Nintendo does sell controllers without Wii Play for $10 cheaper.
It made more sense when Wii Play was first released. Around my area, I couldn't find any Wii Remotes, but there were stacks of Wii Play at every retailer. That's how I got my second Wii Remote.

KingGorilla

10-19-2008, 01:47 PM

As long as developers don't take resources from making HD games, I couldn't care less how well the Wii sells. This situation really only sucks for people who wanted to play Nintendo owned franchises this year.

At this point, after the N64, if you are still buying from Nintendo, it is your own fault for being a dumbass expecting them to cater to the fans. Get some mouthwash, get rid of that taint we call nostalgia, and come to grips that Nintendo does not make games for people who play games, never have. Hmmm, Fable 3 on Wii2?

Variable Gear

10-19-2008, 01:52 PM

At this point, after the N64, if you are still buying from Nintendo, it is your own fault for being a dumbass expecting them to cater to the fans. Get some mouthwash, get rid of that taint we call nostalgia, and come to grips that Nintendo does not make games for people who play games, never have. Hmmm, Fable 3 on Wii2?
Uninformed trolls, such as yourself, seem to forget Super Mario Galaxy.

Also, Microsoft owns Lionhead.

Rune_74

10-19-2008, 04:32 PM

Super mario galaxy is just ok....

Variable Gear

10-19-2008, 07:17 PM

Super mario galaxy is just ok....
I disagree. Super Mario Galaxy is the best platformer I've seen in years.

quidmonkey

10-20-2008, 08:24 AM

Super mario galaxy is just ok....

You shut your face.

Telefrog

10-20-2008, 08:47 AM

I can't even get my 8 year old son to play it more then the 360.

I have two kids, 8 and 10, that play only two games for it. Smash Bros and Wii Sports. That's it. They won't touch any of the other games we bought for them on the Wii, even the games they specifically asked for. Galaxy, Karts, Metroid, Zelda, Zack & Wiki, Boom Blox - none of them get any play.

They would much rather play the 360.

I think a lot of that may be the graphical difference between the two systems. Being children, they can't put aside their prejudice for newer, prettier games over gameplay.

Deunnero

10-20-2008, 09:00 AM

I have two kids, 8 and 10, that play only two games for it. Smash Bros and Wii Sports. That's it. They won't touch any of the other games we bought for them on the Wii, even the games they specifically asked for. Galaxy, Karts, Metroid, Zelda, Zack & Wiki, Boom Blox - none of them get any play.

They would much rather play the 360.

I think a lot of that may be the graphical difference between the two systems. Being children, they can't put aside their prejudice for newer, prettier games over gameplay.

My 3-year old son also prefers the 360, he's hooked on Feeding Frenzy. :p

Iron Past

10-20-2008, 09:17 AM

After really thinking about it, I've decided the reason I've barely turned my Wii on over the last year is not because I don't like the style of games it has, or hate motion control, or whatever, it's because I can't stand the Wii Remote (and add-ons). That thing is seriously uncomfortable for me. Plus, you have to sit in a certain position for many games which I don't like. I use the Classic Controller when I can, but it kind of defeats the purpose of the Wii and that isn't designed too ergonomically either.

Gorvi

10-20-2008, 09:29 AM

I disagree. Super Mario Galaxy is the best platformer I've seen in years.
Mario Galaxy was good, better than Sunshine, but it was still no Mario 64. The lack of camera control and the relatively linear levels bugged me. Still a very fun game, though.

quidmonkey

10-20-2008, 09:36 AM

Mario Galaxy was good, better than Sunshine, but it was still no Mario 64. The lack of camera control and the relatively linear levels bugged me. Still a very fun game, though.

Mario 64 - worst camera, check; same level system, check; but still greater than Galaxy! :p

You know I wanna dredge up that camera argument again.

Gorvi

10-20-2008, 09:55 AM

Mario 64 - worst camera, check; same level system, check; but still greater than Galaxy! :p

You know I wanna dredge up that camera argument again.
Maybe it's just nostalgia for me. Hell, I loved Mario 64 even on the DS. :)

quidmonkey

10-20-2008, 10:01 AM

Maybe it's just nostalgia for me. Hell, I loved Mario 64 even on the DS. :)

Here's (http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/13/wii-software-stats-update-october-edition-of-smash-bros-domination/) an interesting breakdown of who's playing what on Wii. You'll notice, no Galaxy.

Talon

10-20-2008, 12:55 PM

I'm a fan of price drops in general. I actually grabbed an Arcade unit for school, and I'll be taking advantage of this $30 for 20 GB HDD/3 Months Live deal.

On a side note, the NPDs for this Holiday season simply has to be down over last year's in general, but it should be Wii 360 PS3 in that order. I don't know if anyone was really expecting otherwise. Now the margins could be up for debate.