These numbers are released on Wednesday nights, and ever since Griffin took over posting them from Luddy, they have gone up on Sunday nights. So that is four years of tradition of them posting something that is only ever as good as the author can make it (which Jordan does a great job of keeping the Japanese Sales Charts entertaining).
I don't see the need for a Thursday or Friday post of these sales charts when they would get buried in an hour by actual gaming news. Weekends are slow, that is why the web comics and sales charts go up like clockwork.
If you don't like how Joystiq does their business, then go to Media Create on your own, and get the numbers for your personal enjoyment. Better yet, you can even start a website where you post the numbers in what you believe to be a timely fashion. Then wait for some jackass to come along and tell you how you are doing your job wrong.
These numbers are released on Wednesday nights, and ever since Griffin took over posting them from Luddy, they have gone up on Sunday nights. So that is four years of tradition of them posting something that is only ever as good as the author can make it (which Jordan does a great job of keeping the Japanese Sales Charts entertaining).
I don't see the need for a Thursday or Friday post of these sales charts when they would get buried in an hour by actual gaming news. Weekends are slow, that is why the web comics and sales charts go up like clockwork.
If you don't like how Joystiq does their business, then go to Media Create on your own, and get the numbers for your personal enjoyment. Better yet, you can even start a website where you post the numbers in what you believe to be a timely fashion. Then wait for some jackass to come along and tell you how you are doing your job wrong.
I guess you've never played an Assassin's Creed or Dead Rising game. Both are prime examples of what this generation of hardware made possible in the advancements of crowd technology. None of that was possible on the PS2, GC, Xbox.
As far as next generation consoles you can look at current PC tech. DX11, advanced texture streaming, better caching, etc. New hardware always brings improvements, whether you see it or not.
I have my PC hooked up to a TV, so I rarely use my consoles for anything besides playing games. As far as gaming goes, Microsoft offers the best online experience on consoles. Xbox Live, while overpriced by $30, does a fantastic job of making you feel like you are playing in a crowded room.
The community aspect is great, and being able to jump into just about any internet enabled game and have a pretty good experience is key. While PSN has vastly improved (and Plus is amazing), I still don't think it is quite up there with Live. Jumping online and chatting with friends while playing whatever game requires me to use Skype on my PC -- not exactly user friendly.
Hopefully Sony keeps PSN free moving forward. If they decide to start a pay wall next generation, they will need to step their game up in a big way.
It's not easy and there isn't one better because most people have at least a baseline set of ethics that prevents them from lying to everyone on a daily basis. Tracking numbers in Japan and the UK is relatively simple, the land masses are small and the population is not that large.
When you expand to everywhere else, the number of people, and the area to cover expands exponentially. Even NPD, which is probably the most well regarded consumer trend group, isn't that accurate. Too many stores keep their numbers hidden to make any worldwide number reliable.
So, is there a worldwide tracking service better than VGchartz? Probably somewhere. Is there one worse? Nope. Because you can't get any worse than fabrication.
You're right on all points. I just wonder how many of the people that got into gaming through Angry Birds play anything besides that and three other phone games.
You're probably right about it being on toasters, as well. I mean, it is on WebOS.
If NPD is going to be so cagey about their numbers, then why would they bother making any public statements at all? Grouping up used sales with rentals, digital games, and DLC seems like they are trying to box up the numbers in a pretty package.
NPD tracks digital sales, but unless I am mistaken, they still don't have access to Steam sales. So they are either skipping the largest PC digital market, or they are guessing.
Either way, I wouldn't put too much stock in these NPD numbers until they are broken out a little better.
Japanese hardware sales, March 19 - 25: April Fools' Day edition
Apr 2nd 2012 3:40AM (Joystiq)These numbers are released on Wednesday nights, and ever since Griffin took over posting them from Luddy, they have gone up on Sunday nights. So that is four years of tradition of them posting something that is only ever as good as the author can make it (which Jordan does a great job of keeping the Japanese Sales Charts entertaining).
I don't see the need for a Thursday or Friday post of these sales charts when they would get buried in an hour by actual gaming news. Weekends are slow, that is why the web comics and sales charts go up like clockwork.
If you don't like how Joystiq does their business, then go to Media Create on your own, and get the numbers for your personal enjoyment. Better yet, you can even start a website where you post the numbers in what you believe to be a timely fashion. Then wait for some jackass to come along and tell you how you are doing your job wrong.
Japanese hardware sales, March 19 - 25: April Fools' Day edition
Apr 2nd 2012 3:31AM (Joystiq)These numbers are released on Wednesday nights, and ever since Griffin took over posting them from Luddy, they have gone up on Sunday nights. So that is four years of tradition of them posting something that is only ever as good as the author can make it (which Jordan does a great job of keeping the Japanese Sales Charts entertaining).
I don't see the need for a Thursday or Friday post of these sales charts when they would get buried in an hour by actual gaming news. Weekends are slow, that is why the web comics and sales charts go up like clockwork.
If you don't like how Joystiq does their business, then go to Media Create on your own, and get the numbers for your personal enjoyment. Better yet, you can even start a website where you post the numbers in what you believe to be a timely fashion. Then wait for some jackass to come along and tell you how you are doing your job wrong.
Japanese hardware sales, March 19 - 25: April Fools' Day edition
Apr 1st 2012 11:50PM (Joystiq)Right guys?!
Guys?
Current gen consoles 'can't cope' with traditional Total War
Mar 31st 2012 5:04AM (Joystiq)I guess you've never played an Assassin's Creed or Dead Rising game. Both are prime examples of what this generation of hardware made possible in the advancements of crowd technology. None of that was possible on the PS2, GC, Xbox.
As far as next generation consoles you can look at current PC tech. DX11, advanced texture streaming, better caching, etc. New hardware always brings improvements, whether you see it or not.
Xbox 360 used more for video and music apps than for gaming
Mar 27th 2012 6:58PM (Joystiq)I have my PC hooked up to a TV, so I rarely use my consoles for anything besides playing games. As far as gaming goes, Microsoft offers the best online experience on consoles. Xbox Live, while overpriced by $30, does a fantastic job of making you feel like you are playing in a crowded room.
The community aspect is great, and being able to jump into just about any internet enabled game and have a pretty good experience is key. While PSN has vastly improved (and Plus is amazing), I still don't think it is quite up there with Live. Jumping online and chatting with friends while playing whatever game requires me to use Skype on my PC -- not exactly user friendly.
Hopefully Sony keeps PSN free moving forward. If they decide to start a pay wall next generation, they will need to step their game up in a big way.
Xbox 360 used more for video and music apps than for gaming
Mar 27th 2012 6:11PM (Joystiq)Japanese hardware sales, March 12 - 18: Mad Men edition
Mar 26th 2012 7:18AM (Joystiq)It's not easy and there isn't one better because most people have at least a baseline set of ethics that prevents them from lying to everyone on a daily basis. Tracking numbers in Japan and the UK is relatively simple, the land masses are small and the population is not that large.
When you expand to everywhere else, the number of people, and the area to cover expands exponentially. Even NPD, which is probably the most well regarded consumer trend group, isn't that accurate. Too many stores keep their numbers hidden to make any worldwide number reliable.
So, is there a worldwide tracking service better than VGchartz? Probably somewhere. Is there one worse? Nope. Because you can't get any worse than fabrication.
Angry Birds Space marketing crafts a giant weapon on the Space Needle
Mar 22nd 2012 2:44PM (Joystiq)You're right on all points. I just wonder how many of the people that got into gaming through Angry Birds play anything besides that and three other phone games.
You're probably right about it being on toasters, as well. I mean, it is on WebOS.
Angry Birds Space marketing crafts a giant weapon on the Space Needle
Mar 22nd 2012 2:33PM (Joystiq)NPD: $3.3 billion spent outside of new boxed games across regions in Q4 2011
Mar 22nd 2012 9:23AM (Joystiq)NPD tracks digital sales, but unless I am mistaken, they still don't have access to Steam sales. So they are either skipping the largest PC digital market, or they are guessing.
Either way, I wouldn't put too much stock in these NPD numbers until they are broken out a little better.