Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[April NPD: Injustice: Gods Among Us reigns supreme]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/april-npd-injustice-gods-among-us-reigns-supreme/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/april-npd-injustice-gods-among-us-reigns-supreme/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/april-npd-injustice-gods-among-us-reigns-supreme/#comments Another hot, fresh loaf of financial data has been pulled out of The NPD Group's analytical oven, and its buttery goodness contains sales information for the four week period between April 4 and May 7, 2013. During that time, the physical retail sector of the games industry was down 25 percent when compared with its performance over the same four weeks in 2012, pulling in a grand total of $495.2 million. It's worth noting, however, that this figure does not include the sale of PC games.

Hardware sales brought in $109.5 million, a 42 percent decrease from the $187.8 million seen last year, with the Xbox 360 once again enjoying the highest sales with 130,000 units moved. Meanwhile, the brief reprieve from year-over-year decline seen by the Accessories segment last month was short lived, as in April it by dropped 19 percent to a total of $131.4 million.

Software sales (including PC games) topped out at $267.8 million, with NetherRealm Studios' Injustice: Gods Among Us taking top honors as the best-selling game for the period, the first time a fighting game has finished in first since 2011's Mortal Kombat. Dead Island: Riptide and BioShock Infinite rounded out the podium in spots two and three respectively - meanwhile MMO/Syfy series Defiance debuted in fifth. As always, scope the full list after the break.

Continue reading April NPD: Injustice: Gods Among Us reigns supreme

JoystiqApril NPD: Injustice: Gods Among Us reigns supreme originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20133dsapril-npdbioshock-infinitedead-island-riptidefinancialinjustice-gods-among-usmicrosoftnintendoNPDpcplaystationps3saleswiiwii-uxboxThu, 16 May 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: More people spending more time gaming online]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/npd-more-people-spending-more-time-gaming-online/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/npd-more-people-spending-more-time-gaming-online/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/npd-more-people-spending-more-time-gaming-online/#comments
It may sound like a foregone conclusion, but the NPD Group has proven (with maths) that more people are spending more time playing video games online, at least compared to last year. The study, titled "Online Gaming 2013," poled 8,867 folks above the age of two and found that 72 percent of game-playing individuals played online - a five percent increase over 2012.

The average amount of time spent gaming online per week also increased by six percent, though the NPD Group did not disclose a specific figure for that statistic. PCs had the largest majority of online users at 68 percent - meanwhile, mobile online gaming saw a year-over-year increase of 12 percent.

The NPD Group did not list any reasons for the overall year-over-year increase in online gaming, but we're going to go out on a limb and guess that, by and large, it's because the world is mostly a terrible place full of awful people that should be avoided at all costs. Either that, or Steam sales.

Continue reading NPD: More people spending more time gaming online

JoystiqNPD: More people spending more time gaming online originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 May 2013 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>multiplayerNPDnpd-grouponlinestatisticsThu, 02 May 2013 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst: BioShock Infinite sold 878K in US during March]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/analyst-bioshock-infinite-ascends-to-878-000-us-sales-in-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/analyst-bioshock-infinite-ascends-to-878-000-us-sales-in-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/analyst-bioshock-infinite-ascends-to-878-000-us-sales-in-march/#comments Cowen & Company analyst Doug Creutz estimates that BioShock Infinite moved 878,000 copies in the US last month. This figure comes from an analyst note sent out to investors as reported by GameSpot; we've contacted the NPD to confirm firsthand.

BioShock Infinite was the top-selling game in the US for March, besting Tomb Raider and Gears of War: Judgment for top honors. Compared to March 2012, last month's physical retail game sales were ten percent weaker, while hardware pulled in 32 percent less revenue.

JoystiqAnalyst: BioShock Infinite sold 878K in US during March originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshock-infinitecowen-and-companymicrosoftnpdpcplaystationps3xboxFri, 19 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[March NPD: BioShock Infinite rises to the top, Tomb Raider in second]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/march-npd-bioshock-infinite-rises-to-the-top-tomb-raider-in-se/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/march-npd-bioshock-infinite-rises-to-the-top-tomb-raider-in-se/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/march-npd-bioshock-infinite-rises-to-the-top-tomb-raider-in-se/#comments The sales-tracking data hounds at NPD have released their figures for March 2013, which collectively place hardware sales down, physical software sales slightly up, and BioShock Infinite at the top of the best-selling pile.

The physical retail sales sector of the U.S. video game industry pulled in 10 percent less coin than it did during the same five-week period in 2012, amassing a total of $992.5 million between March 3 and April 6, 2013. Hardware sales took the biggest hit out of the three monitored retail sub-categories, bringing in a total of $221.6 million, a 32 percent year-over-year decrease. Microsoft's Xbox 360 claimed its 27th month as the best-selling console in America, selling 261,000 units, down 13.5 percent from last month.

Meanwhile, overall physical software sales (console, portable and PC games) outperformed March 2012 by two percent: $602.4 million in 2013, as compared with last a total of $592.2 million in sales last March.

BioShock Infinite took an immediate victory over the rest of the period's release calendar, with Tomb Raider and Gears of War: Judgment rounding out the podium lineup. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon placed sixth overall; we learned yesterday it has sold 415,000 units. Though that figure's retail-to-digital ratio remains undefined, the "vast majority" of sales took place at retail, according to Nintendo's Scott Moffit.

As always, jump on through for the top 10 best-selling games of March, 2013.

Continue reading March NPD: BioShock Infinite rises to the top, Tomb Raider in second

JoystiqMarch NPD: BioShock Infinite rises to the top, Tomb Raider in second originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsfinancialsmarch-2013March-NPDmicrosoftnintendoNPDNPD-marchpcplaystationps3pspsalessales-figuressonywiiwii-uxboxThu, 18 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo: 30% of Fire Emblem sales on eShop, Luigi does better at retail]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/nintendo-30-of-fire-emblem-sales-on-eshop-luigi-does-better-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/nintendo-30-of-fire-emblem-sales-on-eshop-luigi-does-better-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/nintendo-30-of-fire-emblem-sales-on-eshop-luigi-does-better-a/#comments
Nintendo's executive vice president of sales and marketing, Scott Moffit, revealed during a Nintendo event in San Francisco that Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon has sold 415,000 copies in the US, while 3DS RPG Fire Emblem: Awakening has sold 240,000. This data will be reflected in tomorrow's NPD report.

According to Moffit, "the vast majority" of Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon sales have come through retail. More than a third of Fire Emblem's sales (80,000) have been through the eShop, with over half of those individuals coming back to purchase a map pack. Moffitt says nine more map packs are planned for Fire Emblem: Awakening, with three of those nine due later this month.

JoystiqNintendo: 30% of Fire Emblem sales on eShop, Luigi does better at retail originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsfire-emblem-awakeningluigis-mansion-dark-moonnintendonpdsalesscott-moffittWed, 17 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst: Gears of War: Judgment, God of War: Ascension weak in March]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/analyst-gears-of-war-judgment-god-of-war-ascension-weak-in-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/analyst-gears-of-war-judgment-god-of-war-ascension-weak-in-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/analyst-gears-of-war-judgment-god-of-war-ascension-weak-in-m/#comments Analyst firm Cowen & Company estimates high-profile March launches God of War: Ascension and Gears of War: Judgment both sold far less than their predecessors. The firm projects (via GI.biz) that Ascension sold 360,000 in the US during March and Judgment moved 425,000, down from first-month sales of 1.1 million for God of War 3 and over three million in Gears of War 3's first week of availability.

A much better March for Tomb Raider and BioShock Infinite is predicted. The Crystal Dynamics reboot has amassed 696,000 sales in the US over March, while the firm says BioShock Infinite is near 665,000 in just 10 days.

Cowen & Company predicts NPD data for March will show a decline in software and hardware spend compared to last year, though the firm is hopeful the launches of StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm and SimCity will help contribute to a substantial increase in PC game sales.

JoystiqAnalyst: Gears of War: Judgment, God of War: Ascension weak in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystcowen-and-companygod-of-war-ascensionmicrosoftnpdpcplaystationps3salesxboxTue, 16 Apr 2013 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Digital game sales growing year-over-year 33 percent]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/npd-digital-game-sales-growing-year-over-year-33-percent/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/npd-digital-game-sales-growing-year-over-year-33-percent/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/npd-digital-game-sales-growing-year-over-year-33-percent/#comments Digital games and downloadable content sales are growing at a rate of 33 percent year over year in the US and Europe, according to data presented by NPD, iResearch and Digi-Capital analysts at GDC. The speakers at the digital games sales talk noted that sales in China are expected to grow over 10 percent every year for the next three years.

According to GamesIndustry International, NPD analyst Liam Callahan told attendees that digital game content sales in 2012 reached $5.9 billion in the United States. Sales in the UK reached $1.7 billion, followed by Germany with $1.4 billion and France with $1 billion. Callahan also said that digital content composes 40 percent of the United States' total spend on games, an increase from 28 percent in 2010.

NPD estimated that 48 percent ($7.1 billion) of the $14.8 billion spent on games in the US in 2012 came from purchases on brand new games at retail. The other 51 percent was from digital games and downloadable content ($2.22 billion), mobile game sales ($2.11 billion), used game sales ($1.59 billion), subscriptions ($1.05 billion), social network gaming ($544 million) and rentals ($198 million). The NPD also reported a drop in used game sales from 2011 by 17.1 percent.

JoystiqNPD: Digital game sales growing year-over-year 33 percent originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-distributionDLCGDCGDC-2013liam-callahannpdnpd-groupsalessubscriptionsused-gamesSat, 30 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Dead Space 3 sold 605K in February]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/npd-dead-space-3-sold-605-000-copies-in-february/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/npd-dead-space-3-sold-605-000-copies-in-february/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/npd-dead-space-3-sold-605-000-copies-in-february/#comments Dead Space 3's chart-topping debut in February amounts to 605,000 copies, the NPD told GameSpot, proving that February was a relatively slow month for video games in the US overall.

Launch sales for the first Dead Space in the US came in at around 500,000. EA said Dead Space 2 approximately doubled that launch performance two years later - but regions were not specified for that, so it's hard to compare US performance.

In any case, at 605K, that puts Dead Space 3 ahead of 1, and still part of a series of games that just don't seem to be massive hits at launch. A rumor from earlier this month, which EA denied, suggested that a proposed sequel was no longer in development.

JoystiqNPD: Dead Space 3 sold 605K in February originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-space-3microsoftnpdpcplaystationps3xboxFri, 15 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fire Emblem Awakening posts 180K first month sales, 63K downloads]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/fire-emblem-awakening-posts-180k-first-month-sales-63k-download/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/fire-emblem-awakening-posts-180k-first-month-sales-63k-download/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/fire-emblem-awakening-posts-180k-first-month-sales-63k-download/#comments Fire Emblem Awakening shifted 180,000 units across its debut month at North American retail, Nintendo of America tells us. In a statement sent to Joystiq, the company said the tactical 3DS RPG enjoyed best ever first month sales in the franchise's nearly 23-year history. No doubt that was helped by a strong eShop uptake of 63,000 units, which comes in at 35 percent of total sales.

Considering the series' last entry, Shadow Dragon, sold just over 250,000 units in North America to date, Awakening's sales bump over here is impressive, much as we thought the game was in our review. We awarded Awakening four and a half stars, deeming it "the best soap opera since CBS canceled Guiding Light," which is certainly saying something.

JoystiqFire Emblem Awakening posts 180K first month sales, 63K downloads originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsfire-emblem-awakeningIntelligent-Systemsnintendonpdred-entertainmentFri, 15 Mar 2013 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[February NPD: Dead Space 3 on top, Aliens: Colonial Marines in sixth]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/february-npd-dead-space-3-on-top-aliens-colonial-marines-in-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/february-npd-dead-space-3-on-top-aliens-colonial-marines-in-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/february-npd-dead-space-3-on-top-aliens-colonial-marines-in-s/#comments February NPD Dead Space 3 is No 1, Aliens Colonial Marines is No 6Dead Space 3 outsold Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 in February to snag the No. 1 spot, throwing the latter to No. 2, according to the NPD's US sales data. Following those, in descending order, are Crysis 3, NBA 2K13, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and the critically lambasted Aliens: Colonial Marines. Check out the full list at the very bottom of all these figures.

Total physical video game sales in February, including software, hardware and accessories, totaled $810 million, down 25 percent from February 2012. The NPD estimates used games and rental sales hit $90 million, while digital transactions made $319 million, bringing total sales for the month to $1.2 billion.

All consoles saw increased sales from January to February, with the Wii U up 40 percent and Vita up 30 percent. Xbox 360 sold 302,000 units in February and topped US hardware sales for the 26th month in a row, Microsoft made sure to point out.

Continue reading February NPD: Dead Space 3 on top, Aliens: Colonial Marines in sixth

JoystiqFebruary NPD: Dead Space 3 on top, Aliens: Colonial Marines in sixth originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsfebruary-npdmacmicrosoftnintendonpdpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsonyvitawiiwii-uxboxThu, 14 Mar 2013 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 sold 281K units in January]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/281k-xbox-360-units-sold-in-january/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/281k-xbox-360-units-sold-in-january/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/281k-xbox-360-units-sold-in-january/#comments At least 281,000 people became the brand new owners of an Xbox 360 during the month of January, Microsoft has announced. This feat, as we mentioned yesterday, marks January as the twenty-fifth consecutive month in which the 360 has been the best-selling console in the United States, as well as its eighteenth month as the best-selling piece of gaming hardware in general.

When asked for comment, our Xbox sat there and whirled its disc drive at us, because it's an Xbox, and we don't know what we were expecting.

JoystiqXbox 360 sold 281K units in January originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>january-2013january-npdmicrosoftnpdsalesxboxFri, 15 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Wii U slumps to January NA sales of 'well under' 100K]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/report-wii-u-slumps-to-january-na-sales-of-well-under-100k/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/report-wii-u-slumps-to-january-na-sales-of-well-under-100k/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/report-wii-u-slumps-to-january-na-sales-of-well-under-100k/#comments Report Wii U slumps to January US sales of fewer than 59KThe Wii U reportedly crashed to January sales in North America of "well under" 100,000, marking a desperate drop for the recently launched console. Gamasutra, who spoke to someone with access to NPD data, estimates the figure is between 45,000 and 59,000 units. That's despite NPD including an extra week of sales in January for calculation purposes.

As Gamasutra notes, if its estimate is accurate, the Wii U's January sales in North America were fewer than any month on record for the PS3 or Xbox 360. PS3 sales fell to 82K in both April and May 2007, but, after being launched in November 2006, its January 2007 performance saw it shift 244,000 units at twice the cost of the Wii U's cheapest bundle.

In its recent financial report, Nintendo slashed projections for the Wii U, expecting the console to ship 4 million by the end of March instead of the initially estimated 5.5 million. Despite its flagging performance, Nintendo definitively ruled out the Wii U getting a price cut anytime soon.

JoystiqReport: Wii U slumps to January NA sales of 'well under' 100K originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nintendonpdwii-uFri, 15 Feb 2013 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[January NPD: Black Ops 2 tops, DmC: Devil May Cry debuts in sixth place]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/january-npd-black-ops-2-in-the-high-chair-dmc-devil-may-cry-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/january-npd-black-ops-2-in-the-high-chair-dmc-devil-may-cry-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/january-npd-black-ops-2-in-the-high-chair-dmc-devil-may-cry-d/#comments
Black Ops 2, Far Cry 3 and Just Dance 4 were January's best-selling games, according to NPD sales data, with Capcom's rebooted DmC: Devil May Cry sliding in at sixth place. As per usual, the full list of the month's top 10 best-selling games can be found after the break.

During the five-week period running from December 30, 2012, through February 2, 2013, the combined might of the video game sales industry's physical retail channels earned a total of $834.7 million, a nine percent year-over-year increase as compared with January 2011's performance. This is the first time the industry has reported an annualized overall increase in sales in at least twelve months.

2013's "January" is five weeks, as opposed to the traditional four, for calculation purposes. The NPD Group makes this adjustment once every six or seven years to combat data drift in its reporting, much in the same way our calendar system implements a Leap Day to correct for discrepancies between the number of days in the year, and the length of Earth's orbit.

Therefore, January's year-over-year increase is actually the direct result of the extended recording period. If January's overall results are "corrected" for the additional time, the industry's physical retail performance is actually down by 13 percent, rather than up by nine. Regardless, hardware sales in general were responsible for $205 million of the period's total invoice, up four percent since last year without corrections and down 17 percent with.

Once again, the Xbox 360 was the best-selling piece of overall hardware, as it has been for the last 18 months. January was also the console's twenty-fifth month as the leading console.

Accessories sales saw the largest development in sales, increasing by 30 percent pre-corrections and four percent post - $256.6 million in January of this year versus $198.1 million last year. Meanwhile, Software sales saw the smallest pre-correction annualized jump with $373.1 million for the period, which is just one percent above the segment's earnings in 2011. After corrections, that difference drops to a 19 percent year-over-year loss.

Continue reading January NPD: Black Ops 2 tops, DmC: Devil May Cry debuts in sixth place

JoystiqJanuary NPD: Black Ops 2 tops, DmC: Devil May Cry debuts in sixth place originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsjanuary-2013january-npdmicrosoftnintendoNPDpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsonyvitawiiwii-uxboxThu, 14 Feb 2013 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft: Xbox 360 at 76M sold worldwide, Kinect at 24M]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/microsoft-xbox-360-at-76m-sold-worldwide-kinect-at-24m/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/microsoft-xbox-360-at-76m-sold-worldwide-kinect-at-24m/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/microsoft-xbox-360-at-76m-sold-worldwide-kinect-at-24m/#comments Microsoft has sent out a chest-thumping press release, boasting about new milestones for the Xbox 360, Kinect and Xbox Live. As of now, 76 million Xbox 360 consoles have been purchased worldwide, with a total of 24 million Kinects flailing their way into homes around the globe.

The hardware numbers are bolstered by 46 million subscribers on Xbox Live. Microsoft says this new figure represents a 15 percent increase in year-over-year subscribers - both free memberships and premium Gold subscribers are accounted here.

In a missive over on Microsoft's website, newly appointed President of Entertainment and Digital Media Nancy Tellem says the company is looking to launch 40 new custom Xbox interactive entertainment apps for 2013. It's quite a sign of the times if we're not counting games as "entertainment apps."

JoystiqMicrosoft: Xbox 360 at 76M sold worldwide, Kinect at 24M originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectmicrosoftnancy-tellemnpdsalesxboxyusuf-mehdiMon, 11 Feb 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two life-to-date sales 529K in US]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/epic-mickey-2-sales-at-529-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/epic-mickey-2-sales-at-529-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/epic-mickey-2-sales-at-529-in-us/#comments

Disney's multiplatform Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two sold 529,000 units over November and December of 2012 in the United States, according to new data provided by the NPD group. Joystiq was also informed that sales of Epic Mickey 2, plus Nintendo 3DS title Disney Epic Mickey: The Power of Illusion, across North America reached 695,000 units over the same period. An unconfirmed report previously pegged Epic Mickey 2's sales at 270,000 copies.

Disney Epic Mickey developer Junction Point Studios was closed today, with the House of Mouse noting it was due to an ongoing effort to address fast-evolving gaming platforms and the marketplace.

Junction Point was the last studio standing of Disney's previous attempt to break into the triple-A "core" market, with many studios lost along the way, including the critically acclaimed Pure and Split/Second developer Black Rock Studios. Disney has readjusted its sights and is now developing Disney Infinity.

JoystiqDisney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two life-to-date sales 529K in US originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneyDisney-Interactivedsepic-mickey-2junction-pointjunction-point-studioslayoffsmicrosoftnintendonpdplaystationps3wiiwii-uxboxTue, 29 Jan 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Epic Mickey 2 sold 270K copies in North America last year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/report-epic-mickey-2-sold-270k-copies-in-north-america-last-yea/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/report-epic-mickey-2-sold-270k-copies-in-north-america-last-yea/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/report-epic-mickey-2-sold-270k-copies-in-north-america-last-yea/#comments Report Epic Mickey 2 sold 270k copies in North America by end of 2012Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two reportedly sold 270,000 copies in North America by the end of last year, around a million fewer than its Wii-only predecessor in roughly the same amount of time post-release. That's according to the LA Times, which reports it learned the figure from a person with access to recent NPD data.

Epic Mickey, released in November 2010, reportedly sold 1.3 million copies by the close of that year. If accurate, Epic Mickey 2's sales represent a commercial plummet for the series, despite the sequel coming to PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U last year in addition to the Wii, not to mention the 700 or so people who worked on the game.

In a recent interview, Epic Mickey creator Warren Spector showed plenty of interest in continuing his series, saying "there are plenty of stories still to tell about Wasteland and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse." Going by these figures, Disney might not share his enthusiasm.

Update: New information provided places Epic Mickey 2 sales at 529,000 copies in US since November 2012 launch.

JoystiqReport: Epic Mickey 2 sold 270K copies in North America last year originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneyepic-mickey-2junction-point-studiosmicrosoftnintendonpdnpd-decembernpd-december-2012playstationps3wiiwii-uxboxWed, 16 Jan 2013 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[December NPD: 2012 sales hit $13.26 billion, Black Ops 2 leads the pack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/december-npd-2012-sales-hit-13-26-billion-black-ops-2-leads-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/december-npd-2012-sales-hit-13-26-billion-black-ops-2-leads-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/december-npd-2012-sales-hit-13-26-billion-black-ops-2-leads-t/#comments During a period that encompassed both post-Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping and the Christmas season (November 25 through December 29), the physical retail sector of the video games industry pulled in $3.2 billion, bringing the total dollar amount spent in 2012 up to $13.26 billion, which is just a little less than half of one Scrooge McDuck money vault. Both December and the year as a whole were down 22 percent from their respective 2011 counterparts, according to NPD data, with December 2011 earning $4.10 billion and all of 2011 pulling down a smooth $16.99 billion.

Hardware sales specifically amount to 20 percent less in 2012 than in 2011, reporting $1.07 billion for the period and $4.04 billion for the year as a whole. Most of the decline this December, however, was seen in non-HD system sales, according to NPD analyst Liam Callahan. Hardware bundles that included software sold 37 percent more than they did last December, with sales of stand-alone hardware SKUs dropping 37 percent to balance the scales.

The Xbox 360 once again held the top spot in overall hardware sales in December, with 1.4 million units sold according to Major Nelson. Meanwhile, the Wii U experienced its inaugural holiday shopping season this period. It sold fewer units that the original Wii did during its launch in December of 2006, but earned comparatively three percent more moolah than the Wii for the month. The Wii U's most expensive SKU costs $350, compared to the Wii's single $250 model.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 topped off physical retail software sales in both December and 2012 as a whole, which totaled $1.54 billion for the month and $2.67 billion for the year, down 26 and 23 percent from 2011, respectively. Surprisingly, Far Cry 3 accomplished the second-most successful December launch NPD has recorded since it started monitoring sales in 1995, earning it the number six slot on the list of December's top 10 best-selling games. The list of 2012's 10 best-selling games can also be found after the break, in all of its "comprised entirely of sequels" glory.

Continue reading December NPD: 2012 sales hit $13.26 billion, Black Ops 2 leads the pack

JoystiqDecember NPD: 2012 sales hit $13.26 billion, Black Ops 2 leads the pack originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdecemberdecember-2012dsfinancesmicrosoftnintendoNPDnpd-2012npd-decembernpd-december-2012pcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsalessonyvitawiiwii-uxboxThu, 10 Jan 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD counts 39M game consoles in US homes going into 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/npd-counts-39m-game-consoles-in-us-homes-going-into-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/npd-counts-39m-game-consoles-in-us-homes-going-into-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/npd-counts-39m-game-consoles-in-us-homes-going-into-2013/#comments The NPD counts 39 million game consoles in US homes going into 2013The NPD's latest report says there are 400 million Internet-connected devices in American homes these days, 39 million of which are video game consoles.

The majority of connected devices (about 184 million) are still plain ol' desktop and laptop computers, and smartphones are in second place with about 133 million devices. Video game consoles come in third, right above tablets (31.8 million) and connected HDTVs (16 million), which means there's a significant number of game-oriented devices out there plugged into the Internet.

The NPD says it expects these devices to start connecting to each other more in 2013, with smartphones and tablets doing more sharing to larger television screens. Video game consoles serve plenty of functions outside of pure gaming already, including video streaming, networking, and Internet browsing. NPD's report says that if smartphones and tablets can provide those services in a combination that appeals to customers, those categories will continue to grow this year, possibly even leaving dedicated game consoles behind.

JoystiqNPD counts 39M game consoles in US homes going into 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013computersconnectedinternetmicrosoftnpdplaystationps3reportsmartphonessurveytablettabletsvideo-game-consolesxboxThu, 03 Jan 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Black Ops 2 sold 7.5 million in US during November]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/npd-black-ops-2-sold-7-5-million-in-us-during-november/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/npd-black-ops-2-sold-7-5-million-in-us-during-november/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/npd-black-ops-2-sold-7-5-million-in-us-during-november/#comments Analyst Black Ops 2 sales a 'cause for concern,' downgrades ActivisionZooming in on yesterday's NPD data for November, it turns out Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 sold 7.5 million copies in the United States. The retail tracking service also told Gamespot that second-place entry Halo 4 sold 3.2 million units, while runner-up Assassin's Creed 3 moved 2.9 million copies.

NPD's data tracked Black Ops 2 sales from launch on November 13 until November 24. The game would go on, according to Activision, to reach sales of $1 billion four days later.

JoystiqNPD: Black Ops 2 sold 7.5 million in US during November originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-3call-of-duty-black-ops-2halo-4microsoftnintendoNPDpcplaystationps3saleswii-uxboxFri, 07 Dec 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii U sold 425K units in US after 7 days of availability]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/wii-u-sold-425-000-units-in-us-in-november/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/wii-u-sold-425-000-units-in-us-in-november/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/wii-u-sold-425-000-units-in-us-in-november/#comments According to NPD data sent by Nintendo, the Wii U sold over 425,000 units in its debut month - or, at least, the seven days of it counted toward NPD's November sales period (the Nov. 18 launch through Nov. 24). Nintendo points out that the debut is almost as promising as the 475,000 units of the original Wii sold during its own first week.

Nintendo provided sales numbers for only one Wii U game: New Super Mario Bros. U sold over 273,000 units in that period.

Continue reading Wii U sold 425K units in US after 7 days of availability

JoystiqWii U sold 425K units in US after 7 days of availability originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>new-super-mario-bros-unintendonpdsaleswii-uThu, 06 Dec 2012 19:21:00 EST<![CDATA[November NPD: Black Ops 2 reigns in Black Friday month, Halo 4 follows]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/november-npd-continued-year-over-year-decline-black-ops-2-sell/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/november-npd-continued-year-over-year-decline-black-ops-2-sell/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/november-npd-continued-year-over-year-decline-black-ops-2-sell/#comments November was yet another month in which the physical retail video game industry brought in less cash than it did in 2011. Specifically, total sales for the month were down 11 percent: $2.55 billion this year, as compared with $2.87 billion during the same period last year. It's worth noting, however, that what the NPD Group considers "November" is actually October 28 through November 24, which means that sales from the Sunday and Monday following Black Friday did not contribute.

When broken down into individual figures for hardware, software and accessories, the song remains much the same as it has been all year. Hardware sales pulled down $838.9 million dollars this November, which is 13 percent less than the $962.2 million from last year.

As has become the routine, Microsoft holds top honors as far as console sales are concerned, with consumers purchasing 1.26 million Xbox 360s over the course of November and 750,000 during Black Friday week alone. Meanwhile, Nintendo's Wii U sold 450,000 units during the seven days it was available on NPD's watch, with Wii sales trailing slightly behind at 420,000 units. 3DS sales piled up to 540,000 units, while 370,000 DS handhelds of varying type were also sold in November.

The accessories segment has broken its streak as the only portion of the physical retail industry to perform better than its 2011 self, reporting a grand total of $280.9 million in sales for last month, which is a year-over-year decrease of eight percent. Despite the drop, Skylanders figure sales were up 250 percent.

Software sales mirrored the overall industry's percentage drop, taking an 11 percent dive down to just $1.46 billion dollars, as opposed to the $1.65 billion it earned last year. Unsurprisingly, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Halo 4 and Assassin's Creed 3 lead the charge on the list of November's top 10 best-selling games, which as always can be found after the break.

Continue reading November NPD: Black Ops 2 reigns in Black Friday month, Halo 4 follows

JoystiqNovember NPD: Black Ops 2 reigns in Black Friday month, Halo 4 follows originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsblack-fridayblack-friday-2012microsoftnintendonovember-NPDNPDpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3salevitawii-uxboxThu, 06 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Dishonored sold 460K in October, XCOM hit 114K]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/npd-dishonored-sold-460k-in-october-xcom-hit-114k/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/npd-dishonored-sold-460k-in-october-xcom-hit-114k/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/npd-dishonored-sold-460k-in-october-xcom-hit-114k/#comments October had two scrappy underdogs in Dishonored and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The meticulous murder-em-up sold 460,200 units, according to the NPD, while the XCOM revamp from Firaxis sold 114,000 units.

Dishonored and XCOM: Enemy Unknown launched on October 9 for Xbox 360, PS3, PC and through digital distribution, and later shared shelf space with big hitters like Assassin's Creed 3, NBA 2K13, Forza Horizon and NBA Baller Beats (kidding).

The NPD only chronicles boxed retail sales in North America, so we don't have a full picture of the sales performance of either Dishonored or XCOM: Enemy Unknown. We already followed up with 2K for XCOM specifics, but the publisher told us it does not "comment on sales figures."

JoystiqNPD: Dishonored sold 460K in October, XCOM hit 114K originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesarkane-studiosbethesdadishonoredfiraxis-gamesmicrosoftnpdpcplaystationps3take-twoxboxxcom-enemy-unknownThu, 08 Nov 2012 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[October NPD: Downward trend continues, NBA 2K13 dunks at the top]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/october-npd-downward-trend-continues-nba-2k13-dunks-to-the-top/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/october-npd-downward-trend-continues-nba-2k13-dunks-to-the-top/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/october-npd-downward-trend-continues-nba-2k13-dunks-to-the-top/#comments Based on the NPD's purview, the physical sales sector of the video game industry continued its downward year-over-year trend as October came and went, raking in $755.5 million for the period ending on October 27, as compared with the straight-up $1 billion the industry earned during the same period in 2011.

Despite the 25 percent difference, however, momentum is building towards the holiday buying season, according to NPD Group analyst Liam Callahan: "While we saw declines in hardware unit sales across all platforms year-over-year, when looking at average sales per week versus September, several consoles realized higher sales: The 360, PS3, NDS and 3DS. This is a sign of increasing momentum as we move into the holiday season."

Hardware sales themselves accounted for $187.3 million of October's overall figure, a 37 percent decrease over October 2011's $295.9 million. As usual, the Xbox 360 was the top-selling hardware platform and claimed more than 40 percent of the market, according to Major Nelson.

Accessories continue to be the only field of growth in the physical channel, pulling down a five percent increase in October 2012 over October 2011 ($135.6 million and $129.6, respectively). As has been the case in months past, Skylanders toys and digital currency giftcards are primarily responsible for this segment's prosperity.

Portable software sales were up 37 percent in comparison with last October thanks to the release of Pokémon Black & White 2, though the rest of the segment failed to best the curve and was down overall by 25 percent. October 2011's software figure of $576.8 million was bolstered by the release of both Battlefield 3 and Batman: Arkham City; since comparable heavy-hitters were missing from this October's release schedule, software sales total at $432.6 million.

October's top 10 best-selling games are lead by NBA 2K13, which "outsold last year's 2K12 by over 60 percent in both dollars and units," according to Callahan. As per usual, the full list can be found after the break.

Continue reading October NPD: Downward trend continues, NBA 2K13 dunks at the top

JoystiqOctober NPD: Downward trend continues, NBA 2K13 dunks at the top originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsfiguresfinancialsmacmicrosoftnintendoNPDnpd-groupoctober-npdpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3vitawiixboxThu, 08 Nov 2012 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst: Borderlands 2 sold 1.4 million in US [Update: NPD confirms]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/analyst-borderlands-2-sold-1-4-million-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/analyst-borderlands-2-sold-1-4-million-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/analyst-borderlands-2-sold-1-4-million-in-us/#comments Even though Borderlands 2 bested sales of the first game by 234%, it wasn't able to sell more copies than Madden NFL 13 in September. According to Macquarie Capital analyst Ben Schachter, 1.4 million physical copies of Borderlands 2 were sold in the US at retail since its launch - we've reached out to the NPD for exact September sales. Update: NPD has confirmed with Joystiq that Borderlands 2 sold 1.4 million copies at retail in September.

That figure doesn't take into account copies of Borderlands 2 sold digitally, via Steam on PC or as part of the Day 1 initiative on the PlayStation Network. GI.biz says Schachter forecasted a total of three million in sales during the last three months of this year, accounting for the aforementioned digital distribution channels.

Borderlands 2 recently released its new character class - the Mechromancer - and will get the first of four DLC content packages on October 16. 'Captain Scarlett and her Pirate's Booty' will be available across all platforms for $9.99 and free to owners of the Borderlands 2 content Season Pass.

JoystiqAnalyst: Borderlands 2 sold 1.4 million in US [Update: NPD confirms] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>borderlands-2gearboxmicrosoftnpdpcplaystationps3take-twoxboxFri, 12 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Hardware sales up, Borderlands 2 beats 1's sales by 234%]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/npd-hardware-sales-up-borderlands-2-beats-1s-sales-by-234/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/npd-hardware-sales-up-borderlands-2-beats-1s-sales-by-234/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/npd-hardware-sales-up-borderlands-2-beats-1s-sales-by-234/#comments NPD Hardware sales up, Borderlands 2 beats 1's sales by 234%, Madden takes top spotAccording to the latest report from NPD, sales of the DS, 3DS, PS3, Vita and Xbox 360 are up on an "average sales per week" basis compared with August, suggesting momentum heading into the holiday season. The Wii U "has the potential to reinvigorate retail sales of hardware" when it drops on November 18 in the US, NPD analyst Liam Callahan says.

Madden NFL 13 was the top-selling game in September, with an 11 percent increase in its debut month than Madden NFL 12 saw last year. Borderlands 2 takes second, exceeding 2009's Borderlands first-month sales by 234 percent. September software sales at retail are down 13 percent year-over-year; September 2011 saw major games such as Gears of War 3 and Dead Island. September sales are up 67 percent from August's light haul. PC sales are up 12 percent year-on-year.

Nintendo 3DS software is up 89 percent year-over-year, spurred by 3DS XL hardware sales and Super Mario Bros. 2, which sold 295,000 units in its second month. However, combined 3DS and DS software sales are down 18 percent. As Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter says, "That's not a good trend."

For Microsoft, Xbox 360 sold 270,000 units in September and remains the top-selling current-generation console, with 49 percent of the market, Major Nelson tweets.

EA has five of the top 10 games for September, all of which are listed in order below:

Continue reading NPD: Hardware sales up, Borderlands 2 beats 1's sales by 234%

JoystiqNPD: Hardware sales up, Borderlands 2 beats 1's sales by 234% originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsmicrosoftnintendonpdpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3september-npdvitawiiwii-uxboxThu, 11 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Sleeping Dogs sold 172K across PS3 and Xbox 360 in August]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/10/npd-sleeping-dogs-sold-172k-across-ps3-and-xbox-360-in-august/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/10/npd-sleeping-dogs-sold-172k-across-ps3-and-xbox-360-in-august/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/10/npd-sleeping-dogs-sold-172k-across-ps3-and-xbox-360-in-august/#comments Darksiders 2 managed to come out on top in August NPD-tracked sales, selling 247,000 copies across PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, whereas Sleeping Dogs sold 172,000 across PS3 and Xbox 360, an NPD rep confirmed with Joystiq.

PC sales for Sleeping Dogs were omitted from the report because it was only available as a download - no boxed retail version for the PC is available in the US.

JoystiqNPD: Sleeping Dogs sold 172K across PS3 and Xbox 360 in August originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftnpdpcplaystationps3sleeping-dogsxboxMon, 10 Sep 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Darksiders 2 sold 247K copies in August]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/npd-darksiders-2-sold-247k-copies-in-august/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/npd-darksiders-2-sold-247k-copies-in-august/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/npd-darksiders-2-sold-247k-copies-in-august/#comments Darksiders 2 brought Death to top of the NPD charts for the month of August, having launched on August 14 in North America. In close to two weeks - the cut-off for NPD's August period was August 25 - the Vigil Games sequel managed to move 247,000 copies at retail, GI.biz reports. This figure doesn't account for international sales or Steam, and is perhaps a muted victory in a month that saw software sales go down year-over-year.

A lot is riding on Darksiders 2, the first major release under newly appointed THQ president Jason Rubin. It's undoubtedly setting the tone for his THQ, which he hopes will get back to prosperity by focusing on games with the highest potential for success. This move has seen THQ drop Guillermo Del Toro's Insane and roll Saints Row 3's Dominatrix DLC into a full sequel.

JoystiqNPD: Darksiders 2 sold 247K copies in August originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>darksiders-2microsoftnintendonpdpcplaystationps3thqvigil-gameswii-uxboxFri, 07 Sep 2012 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[August NPD: Software sales stabilize somewhat, Darksiders 2 takes first place [Update: Nintendo chimes in]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/august-npd-software-sales-somewhat-stabilize-darksiders-2-take/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/august-npd-software-sales-somewhat-stabilize-darksiders-2-take/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/august-npd-software-sales-somewhat-stabilize-darksiders-2-take/#comments Despite the fact that hardware and software sales in the physical channel are still down when compared to August in 2011, market stabilization in the software sector (along with promising signs from the first week of 3DS XL sales) helps to reassure that 2012's ever-downward spiral may not be eternal.

Hardware sales for August 2012 were down 39 percent, bringing in $150.6 million versus the $248.8 million accrued during the same period in 2011. The Xbox 360 sold 190,000 units and was again the top selling platform of the month, according to Major Nelson, though the 3DS and PS3 both showed increases over July 2011, despite the month being down as a whole. Only one week of 3DS XL sales were recorded, but in that week enough units were sold to account for 44 percent of all 3DS sales in August.

The accessories segment continued its trend of having the smallest percentage amount of year-over-year loss at $127.3 million for the period, which is down seven percent from August 2011's $137 million. Points cards and other physical means of buying online currency continue to drive this segment, according to NPD Group industry analyst Anita Frazier.

As far as software is concerned, August 2012's performance was down nine percent - $237.7 million as compared to $261.8 million during the same period last year. When only looking at software for "high definition platforms," however, the year-over-year difference is only one percent. This signifies market stabilization, says Frazier, but August's sales were worse than they could have been had the months prior not been so devoid of new releases.

Darksiders 2 was the best-selling game during the period, followed by New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. As always, August's complete list of the top 10 games can be found after the break.

Nintendo Update: 3DS hardware sales were up 36 percent over July, while 3DS software sales were up 68 percent, Nintendo has said. New Super Mario Bros. 2 sold more than 240,000 copies, making it the best-selling individual SKU for the month of August. Meanwhile, Kingdom Hearts 3D sold over 180,000 copies.

Continue reading August NPD: Software sales stabilize somewhat, Darksiders 2 takes first place [Update: Nintendo chimes in]

JoystiqAugust NPD: Software sales stabilize somewhat, Darksiders 2 takes first place [Update: Nintendo chimes in] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsaugust-2012August-NPDmicrosoftnintendoNPDpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3vitawiixboxThu, 06 Sep 2012 19:06:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Number of US mobile gamers surpasses core, totals down]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/npd-number-of-us-mobile-gamers-surpasses-core-totals-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/npd-number-of-us-mobile-gamers-surpasses-core-totals-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/npd-number-of-us-mobile-gamers-surpasses-core-totals-down/#comments NPD Number of US mobile gamers surpasses core, totals downThere are 211.5 million people playing games in the United States, a loss of 12 million players (5 percent) from 2011's numbers, the NPD reports. Not all of the gaming categories lost players, however: Mobile gamers rose 9 percentage points to take 22 percent, and digital gamers gained 4 percentage points to 16 percent. This makes mobile gamers the largest audience segment, surpassing core gamers, which held the top spot in 2011.

The remaining categories - core, family and kid, light PC, and avid PC gamers - lost 17.4 million people this year. This is a "slight decline," the NPD says.

"Given the long lifecycles of the current consoles and the increasing installed base of smartphones and tablets, it's not surprising to see a slight decline in the core gamer segment," Anita Frazier, industry analyst for the NPD, says. "It's the revenue contribution of the core gamer segment that continues to outpace all other segments, and remains vital to the future of the industry."

People buying games spent an average of $48 on physical copies and $16 on digital games from June to August. Core gamers spent the most on physical games, at $65. Almost 14 percent of all gamers purchased microtransactions or additional game content in the past three months, up from 11 percent in the same period in 2011; 27 percent of core gamers and 23 percent of digital gamers purchased in-game content.

Continue reading NPD: Number of US mobile gamers surpasses core, totals down

JoystiqNPD: Number of US mobile gamers surpasses core, totals down originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsgamersmicrosoftmobilenintendonpdpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3the-npd-groupvitawiixboxThu, 06 Sep 2012 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[July NPD: Downward year over year trend continues, NCAA Football 13 tops sales [Update: Microsoft responds]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/09/july-npd-downward-year-over-year-trend-continues-ncaa-football/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/09/july-npd-downward-year-over-year-trend-continues-ncaa-football/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/09/july-npd-downward-year-over-year-trend-continues-ncaa-football/#comments This year's long and storied history of an ever-declining physical sales channel in the gaming industry continued during the month of July, as overall sales performance in the non-digital spectrum brought down 20 percent fewer dollars than in 2011 - $548.4 million in July of 2012 versus $686.3 million during the same period last year.

As far as hardware sales are concerned, the 3DS was the only hardware to see an increase in sales year over year, according to NPD analyst Anita Frazier. In fact, the 3DS and DS were also the only two products to see a sales increase over June 2012. In total, hardware sales added up to $150.7 million, down 32 percent from July 2011's $221.4 million.

Accessories, on the other hand, continued the upward year-over-year trend seen last month, with the increase again attributed to virtual currency cards and Skylanders figures. The sector's eight percent increase over July 2011 amounts to $136.9 million.

Physical software sales suffered a 23 percent decline over July 2011, $260.7 million as opposed to $338.5 million, respectively. NCAA Football 13 leads the pack of July's ten best selling games, followed by last month's champion Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, as well as The Amazing Spider-Man. As per usual, the full list can be found after the break.

Update: Microsoft's response has also been added beyond the veil.

Continue reading July NPD: Downward year over year trend continues, NCAA Football 13 tops sales [Update: Microsoft responds]

JoystiqJuly NPD: Downward year over year trend continues, NCAA Football 13 tops sales [Update: Microsoft responds] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsJuly-NPDmicrosoftnintendoNPDpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsonyvitawiixboxThu, 09 Aug 2012 19:13:00 EST<![CDATA[June NPD: Lego Batman 2 on top, hardware and software sales still down year over year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/june-npd-lego-batman-2-on-top-hardware-and-software-sales-stil/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/june-npd-lego-batman-2-on-top-hardware-and-software-sales-stil/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/june-npd-lego-batman-2-on-top-hardware-and-software-sales-stil/#comments This year's overall downward trend in software and hardware sales continued through June, according to the latest set of data released by the NPD Group. The whole industry (hardware, physical software and accessories sales) brought in $699.8 million, 29 percent less dough than the $989.5 million earned in June of 2011.

Year over year, hardware sales were down a staggering 45 percent -- $201.3 million in 2012 versus $364.9 million in 2011. That being said, all platforms (except the PS2 and PSP) saw increased sales over May due to Father's Day and high-school/college graduation gift shopping, although the "Dads and Grads" effect was less potent than it was in 2011, according to the NPD Group's Anita Frazier.

Conversely, accessories were up year over year, if just barely, due mostly to sales of points cards (XBLA points, Steam Wallet cards, etc), which is indicative of a trend towards digital gaming spurred on by a lack of new titles at retail, says Frazier. The segment pulled down four percent more in 2012 ($169.8 million) than in 2011 ($163.00 million). Physical software sales, totaling up at $328.7 million for the month, contributed 29 percent fewer funds to June's totals than they did last year, when software equaled $461.6 million.

As far as specific software is concerned, a list of the 10 best-selling games in June is tucked away after the break, as per usual. List topper Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes sold 450,000 units across all consoles in June, which the NPD Group attributes to an increased amount of Batman mind-share in the public consciousness due to the impending release of The Dark Knight Rises. Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and Diablo 3 came in second and third for the month, with the rest of the list being a mish-mash of the surprising (Pokemon Conquest? Batman: Arkham City?!) and predictable mainstay entries like Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3.

Continue reading June NPD: Lego Batman 2 on top, hardware and software sales still down year over year

JoystiqJune NPD: Lego Batman 2 on top, hardware and software sales still down year over year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsmicrosoftnintendonpdNPD-Junepcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3vitawiixboxThu, 12 Jul 2012 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[3DS has sold over 5 million in US to date]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/3ds-has-sold-over-5-million-in-us-to-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/3ds-has-sold-over-5-million-in-us-to-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/3ds-has-sold-over-5-million-in-us-to-date/#comments 3DS hits 5 million units soldThe 3DS has surpassed five million units sold in the United States, Nintendo announced today. Contributing to that new milestone: over 155,000 3DS systems were sold in the US in the month of June, according to NPD data cited by Nintendo.

In addition, Nintendo moved "more than 150,000 units of the Nintendo DS family and nearly 95,000 Wii consoles." In terms of 3DS software, Nintendo revealed new life-to-date totals for three million-sellers: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (over 1 million), Super Mario 3D Land (2.1 million), and Mario Kart 7 (1.75 million). If there's a conclusion that can be drawn from this, it's that not enough people bought Kid Icarus Uprising.

Continue reading 3DS has sold over 5 million in US to date

Joystiq3DS has sold over 5 million in US to date originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsmario-kart-7nintendonpdsalessuper-mario-3d-landthe-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3dThu, 12 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gibeau says EA mostly ignores NPD reports; NPD knows 'for a fact' major publishers use them]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/gibeau-says-ea-mostly-ignores-npd-reports-npd-knows-for-a-fact/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/gibeau-says-ea-mostly-ignores-npd-reports-npd-knows-for-a-fact/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/gibeau-says-ea-mostly-ignores-npd-reports-npd-knows-for-a-fact/#comments EA's Frank Gibeau NPDs are 'irrelevant' for not tracking digital salesLast year EA went on record calling the NPD's sales reports "a misrepresentation of the entire industry," and this year EA Labels president Frank Gibeau is taking that sentiment one step further, saying EA largely ignores NPD reports.

"An occasional bad report from NPD, which measures a sliver of what's actually happening in gaming, gives people an erroneous impression," Gibeau tells Games Industry International. "My point is it's an irrelevant measure on the industry. It's totally irrelevant. We don't even really look at it internally anymore."

NPD reports track retail games sales from stores such as GameStop and Wal-Mart, but don't provide a comparable breakdown of digital sales. In Q4 2012, EA saw digital sales generate $419 million, while packaged goods made more than double that, with $949 million.

David McQuillan, president of NPD Games, is "surprised" by Gibeau's comments for a few reasons, provided in a statement to Joystiq. The first: "While we will not comment on the specifics on our long-standing relationship with EA, we can say with confidence that we have daily dealings with all of our major publisher clients. And we know for a fact they're using the data."

The second reason McQuillan cites is the continued prevalence of physical sales, making up 56 percent of industry sales in 2011. "The current games industry is still largely rooted in retail and any industry player involved with AAA content simply can't take their eye away from the retail environment," he writes.

NPD Group's David Riley adds, "We do cover digital. Granted, it's not near the level of granularity that we provide via physical point of sale, but physical POS is still huge and needs to be taken seriously. In my opinion, you do a disservice to our industry when you dismiss the value of retail sales research."

EA's Digital sales are growing rapidly, Gibeau says, and EA is focused on riding that streaming, cloud-based, downloadable wave into the future, with or without NPD sales reports.

"We're going to be a 100 percent digital company, period," he says. "It's going to be there some day. It's inevitable."

JoystiqGibeau says EA mostly ignores NPD reports; NPD knows 'for a fact' major publishers use them originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clouddigitaldigital-distributionmacmicrosoftmobilenintendonpdnpd-grouppcplaystationps3salesstreamingwiixboxMon, 02 Jul 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD estimates $3.40B in game sales in Q1 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/npd-estimates-3-40b-in-game-sales-in-q1-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/npd-estimates-3-40b-in-game-sales-in-q1-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/npd-estimates-3-40b-in-game-sales-in-q1-2012/#comments Market research firm NPD Group has released a handful of details about the video game industry's most recent spending habits, showing a sharp decline. Compared to last year's Q1 2011 estimation of $5.9 billion, total consumer spend in the first quarter of 2012 was down to $3.40 billion. With rapidly declining sales, things may continue to get worse before they recover.

The 'Q1 2012 Games Market Dynamics: U.S.' report reveals that while spend on new physical software was on the decline versus last year - with Q1 2012 achieving an estimated $1.5 billion spent on new video and PC game software tracked by the NPD Group - total spend on other forms of physical software, such as used games and rentals, only saw a minimal drop.

"The declines in the physical market for new physical software are well documented," NPD analyst Anita Frazier said, noting that "broader view of the industry" showed other forms of physical spend, specifically the used game and rental market, "declined by just five percent and digital format content sales grew by 10 percent as compared to Q1 2011." The one-two punch of used games and rentals reached an estimated $525 million in Q1 2012, the report says.

"While the growth in digital format sales does not yet offset the declines in physical format sales, clearly the changes occurring within the industry are reflected in the trends we are seeing in the research," Frazier added.

Continue reading NPD estimates $3.40B in game sales in Q1 2012

JoystiqNPD estimates $3.40B in game sales in Q1 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsAnita-FraziermicrosoftnintendoNPDNPD-Grouppcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3sales-datavitawiixboxMon, 02 Jul 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Diablo 3 sold a million at retail, Max Payne 3 and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier both sold 400,000]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/npd-diablo-3-sold-a-million-at-retail-max-payne-3-and-ghost-re/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/npd-diablo-3-sold-a-million-at-retail-max-payne-3-and-ghost-re/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/npd-diablo-3-sold-a-million-at-retail-max-payne-3-and-ghost-re/#comments It's a pretty steep drop from top dog to second fiddle in NPD's May tally, apparently. According to a report from Gamasutra, Diablo 3 managed to sell one million physical copies at US retail - a fraction of the 3.5 million in physical and digital sales earned in the first 24 hours.

Coming in second and third in May respectively, Max Payne 3 and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier each sold just over 400,000 units.

JoystiqNPD: Diablo 3 sold a million at retail, Max Payne 3 and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier both sold 400,000 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Diablo-3ghost-recon-future-soldiermax-payne-3microsoftnpdpcplaystationps3rockstarubisoftxboxFri, 15 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[May NPD reactions: 160K 360s sold, Sony sees 'strong results' from PS3 exclusives [Update: Now with Nintendo statement]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/may-npd-reactions-160-thousand-360s-sold-sony-sees-strong-res/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/may-npd-reactions-160-thousand-360s-sold-sony-sees-strong-res/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/may-npd-reactions-160-thousand-360s-sold-sony-sees-strong-res/#comments May NPD reactions 160k 360s sold totaling 45 percent of US market share, Sony sees 'strong results' from Starkhawk, MLB12 The Show
The Xbox 360 sold 160,000 units during the month of May, which represents "a 45 percent share of current-generation console sales" in the United States, according to Microsoft's statement based on NPD data. This makes May the fifteenth consecutive month in which the 360 claimed ownership over 40 (or more) percent of stateside console sales, and the seventeenth month in which Xbox 360 is the best-selling console in the US, according to a statement at The Official Microsoft Blog.

When looking at all Xbox 360-related hardware, software and accessories sales for May, the nation spent $209 million on the platform; more than the combined amount spent on "the other two current-generation consoles" over the same period. Save for Diablo 3, nine of the ten best-selling titles during May were available for Microsoft's baby, which probably had something to do with it.

Those same nine games were also available on Sony's PlayStation 3, though the Japanese hardware giant has refrained from releasing specific hardware sales information for the period. It did say, however, that PS3-exclusive titles like Starhawk and MLB 12: The Show "again posted strong results," though what "strong" means in numerical terms is anyone's guess. Neither title was featured on NPD's combined platform top ten sales list for the month of May. Sony's complete statement can be found after the break.

Update: Nintendo has weighed in with a statement of its own, announcing that the company sold "more than 285,000 units of portable and console hardware" during May. Nintendo's 3DS was the only console that didn't suffer a year-over-year sales decline for the period, according to NPD analyst Anita Frazier.

Continue reading May NPD reactions: 160K 360s sold, Sony sees 'strong results' from PS3 exclusives [Update: Now with Nintendo statement]

JoystiqMay NPD reactions: 160K 360s sold, Sony sees 'strong results' from PS3 exclusives [Update: Now with Nintendo statement] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdskinectmay-npdmicrosoftmovenintendoNPDplaystationps3wiixboxThu, 14 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[May NPD: Diablo 3 on top, all hardware (except 3DS) down]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/may-npd-diablo-3-on-top-all-hardware-except-3ds-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/may-npd-diablo-3-on-top-all-hardware-except-3ds-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/may-npd-diablo-3-on-top-all-hardware-except-3ds-down/#comments Surprising no one based on initial sale numbers provided by Activision Blizzard, Diablo 3 managed to best all comers to establish dominance in the month of May. Blizzard's latest is the first time a PC-only title has graced the top spot on NPD's "new physical retail only" list since July 2010, when StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty launched.

Hardware sales are down compared to May 2011. Every console save for the 3DS - which saw a 17% spike in sales compared to last year - saw a decline year-over-year. Hardware saw a 39% drop, bringing in $138.9 million compared to $228.8 million in 2011. According to Microsoft, the Xbox 360 "remains the top-selling console of 2012," with 160,000 units sold.

Software sales of new physical media (see: discs you cram into your GameBox) saw less of a drop, and are down 16%, accounting for $335.2 million in sales for the month of May. This is mainly attributed to less software launches this year compared to 2011, though the performance of Diablo 3 definitely helped to soften that blow. Also, for the first time, all of this sales data includes Walmart now.

Hit the break for the full list of May's top software titles, which include a few surprises. For one, Modern Warfare 3 is not in the top three. How's that for a surprise?

Continue reading May NPD: Diablo 3 on top, all hardware (except 3DS) down

JoystiqMay NPD: Diablo 3 on top, all hardware (except 3DS) down originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsDiablo-3dskinectmicrosoftmovenintendonpdnpd-monthlypcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsonyvitawiixboxThu, 14 Jun 2012 18:55:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD monthly reports integrate Walmart data starting next month]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/npd-monthly-reports-integrate-walmart-data-starting-next-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/npd-monthly-reports-integrate-walmart-data-starting-next-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/npd-monthly-reports-integrate-walmart-data-starting-next-month/#comments Every month, the NPD Group releases a report on the previous month's US sales in the game industry, both consoles and software. While that monthly report is already "projected to 100% of the market," according to NPD Group's David Riley, next month, it'll get bolstered by the nation's largest retailer: Walmart. Despite being revealed this past February, the past several months of NPD reports haven't included Walmart's numbers.

"Our enhanced retail coverage, including the addition of several new retailers, begins with May data released on Thursday, June 14," Riley told me in an email yesterday. While he couldn't supply a list of all of the retailers involved, he told me, "Yes, it does include Walmart."

With any luck, the addition of Walmart to NPD's stable of retailers reporting - which already includes America's largest game retailer, GameStop - will help to thwart claims of NPD being a "very poor indicator of the industry's performance." Then again, between the lack of digital sales accounted for in NPD's monthly report and the urge of publishers to spin poor sales numbers, those complaints likely won't stop anytime soon.

JoystiqNPD monthly reports integrate Walmart data starting next month originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdavid-rileydsmicrosoftnintendonpdnpd-groupplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsonythe-npd-groupvitawal-martwalmartwiiwii-uxboxThu, 24 May 2012 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[April NPD: Prototype 2 tops charts, industry-wide sales down 32 percent year-over-year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/april-npd-prototype-2-tops-charts-industry-wide-sales-down-32/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/april-npd-prototype-2-tops-charts-industry-wide-sales-down-32/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/april-npd-prototype-2-tops-charts-industry-wide-sales-down-32/#comments The results for April are in, and things are looking a little rough out there in consumer video-game electronics land. As a whole, the gaming industry (which for our purposes includes all hardware, software and accessories sales between April 1 and April 28, 2012) brought in $630.4 million, a 32 percent decrease over the same period last year, where its various machinations resulted in collective sales of $930.9 million.

Breaking the industry down into its three major components, hardware sales accounted for $189.7 million (down 32 percent year over year), while software sales contributed $292.1 million to the cause - a 42 percent decrease year over year. Accessories, on the other hand, posted a 1 percent increase year-over-year at $148.6 million in 2012, as compared with $147.8 million in 2011.

The average amount of money spent on hardware increased year-over-year, however, due in part to the 360 Star Wars Kinect Bundle, according to NPD analyst Anita Frazier. Generally though, the period's lackluster performance is due to the month's release schedule: "Last April, the top seven titles outsold the top-selling title this year, and, simply stated, there were notably fewer new market introductions. I think it's a simple as that because when we see compelling content come into the market, the games are still selling as well as ever - we just saw a lot less this April as compared to last."

The list of April's top 10 best-selling titles can be found after the break as per usual, with newcomers Prototype 2 and Kinect Star Wars leading the charge ahead of Modern Warfare 3, Mario Party 9 and Mass Effect 3.

Update: According to Microsoft's Major Nelson, the Xbox 360 sold 236K units during April.

Continue reading April NPD: Prototype 2 tops charts, industry-wide sales down 32 percent year-over-year

JoystiqApril NPD: Prototype 2 tops charts, industry-wide sales down 32 percent year-over-year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 May 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>April-NPDkinectkinect-star-warsmicrosoftnintendoNPDNPD-Aprilpcplaystationplaystation-vitaprototype-2ps3pspsonyvitawiixboxThu, 10 May 2012 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: 40% of Free-to-play players have bought something]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/npd-40-of-free-to-play-players-have-bought-something/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/npd-40-of-free-to-play-players-have-bought-something/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/npd-40-of-free-to-play-players-have-bought-something/#comments A hefty chunk of free-to-play or "freemium" gamers have spent real dinero on their hobby of choice, according to a new report from the NPD Group. An online survey conducted by the group determined that four out of ten free-to-play gamers have made an in-game payment of some kind. Males are more likely to make such purchases, though females are more likely to have played free-to-play titles.

The report contains a few other interesting tidbits. For one, those who make an in-game payment tend to do so within the first month of playing, and those who try free-to-play titles tend to keep playing them, with 84 percent continuing to play after first trying them. Among those who abandon free-to-play titles, men aged 13 to 34 are most likely, while women in general are more likely to stay.

Perhaps the most interesting (horrifying?) statistic: data for the survey was gathered from 6,416 respondents aged two and older. Please, keep your two-year-olds away from the smurfberries.

Continue reading NPD: 40% of Free-to-play players have bought something

JoystiqNPD: 40% of Free-to-play players have bought something originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidfree-to-playfreemiumiosipadiphonemacmobilenpdpcMon, 23 Apr 2012 12:15:00 EST