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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![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<![CDATA[NPD: Binary Domain sold 20K in March]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/npd-binary-domain-sold-20-000-in-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/npd-binary-domain-sold-20-000-in-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/npd-binary-domain-sold-20-000-in-march/#comments Following its launch on February 28, it seems Binary Domain didn't have a very good March. According to data Joystiq received from the NPD, Sega's sci-fi shooter only sold 20,000 copies during the month. Compare that to the 1.3 million physical copies sold of the other big sci-fi game of March, Mass Effect 3.

Of course, Binary Domain had a lot going against it. For one, it's called Binary Domain. There was little-to-no marketing, whereas Mass Effect 3 ads were everywhere and everything you bought came with DLC. In the sci-fi wars of March, 2012, Mass Effect 3 emerged victorious.

As the last big boxed product from Sega, this disappointing performance likely contributed to Sega's decision to drastically alter its publishing strategy and issue substantial layoffs worldwide at the end of March.

JoystiqNPD: Binary Domain sold 20K in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>binary-domainmass-effect-3microsoftnpdplaystationps3salessegaxboxFri, 13 Apr 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mass Effect 3 sales in US hit 1.3 million during launch month]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/mass-effect-3-sales-in-us-hit-1-3-million-during-launch-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/mass-effect-3-sales-in-us-hit-1-3-million-during-launch-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/mass-effect-3-sales-in-us-hit-1-3-million-during-launch-month/#comments Total Mass Effect 3 sales for its launch month of March were 1.3 million units across Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, the NPD informed Joystiq. The number covers purely new physical retail sales, so no digitally distributed product on PC or PS3 is tallied.

Although the NPD doesn't publicly share sales breakdowns by platform, Microsoft executive Aaron Greenberg did share that Xbox 360 sales for the space opera were 943K units for the month.

Mass Effect 2 had over a half-million sales on Xbox 360 during its debut month, with another quarter million the following month. We've contacted Electronic Arts for further clarification on Mass Effect 3 sales data.

Update: "We think the monthly NPD reports are a very poor indicator of the industry's performance given the proportion of digital sales - including digital downloads via Origin, DLC, mobile and social games and much more - that are not captured in their reports," John Reseburg of EA's corporate communications told Joystiq. "Taking these reports as an accurate snapshot of the industry today is a dangerous assumption."

JoystiqMass Effect 3 sales in US hit 1.3 million during launch month originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-montrealEAea-biowareElectronic-Artsmass-effect-3microsoftNPDpcplaystationps3xboxFri, 13 Apr 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Kid Icarus Uprising sold 140K units in March, Resident Evil Revelations sold 122K]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/npd-kid-icarus-uprising-sold-140k-units-in-march-resident-evil/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/npd-kid-icarus-uprising-sold-140k-units-in-march-resident-evil/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/npd-kid-icarus-uprising-sold-140k-units-in-march-resident-evil/#comments ImageThe NPD has informed Joystiq that Kid Icarus: Uprising sold approximately 140,000 copies in the US in March. Last night, analyst Anita Frazier reported that "In a list of the top 10 SKU's for the month (as opposed to top titles as listed here), 3DS Kid Icarus: Uprising would have been among the top selling individual SKU's for the month of March." In other words, Kid Icarus was one of the ten best-selling games on a single platform.

It's not a Mario-level sales explosion or anything, but certainly not bad for a 3DS debut, and not bad for eight days of sales. By the way, Kid Icarus: Uprising is wonderful.

Meanwhile, February release Resident Evil: Revelations sold around 122,000 in March, the NPD told us. All we know about its February performance is that it was somewhere in the top 25 games.

Update: We're asking the NPD for clarification regarding the Revelations sales numbers, as questions have arisen as to the possibility that it could be life-to-date rather than March. We'll update accordingly when we hear back.

JoystiqNPD: Kid Icarus Uprising sold 140K units in March, Resident Evil Revelations sold 122K originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dskid-icarus-uprisingnintendonpdresident-evil-revelationssalesFri, 13 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[March NPD: Mass Effect 3 tops sales, year-over-year decline continues]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/march-npd-mass-effect-3-tops-sales-year-over-year-decline-cont/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/march-npd-mass-effect-3-tops-sales-year-over-year-decline-cont/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/march-npd-mass-effect-3-tops-sales-year-over-year-decline-cont/#comments The sales figures for March have arrived, and despite several major, AAA releases, software and hardware sales were still down compared to March of 2011, continuing the year-over-year declines seen in both January and February.

Total industry sales during March brought in $1.10 billion, 25 percent less than the same period in 2011. Breaking that total down further, hardware sales accounted for $323.5 million (down 35 percent) while non-PC software sales contributed $553.1 million (down 25 percent) and accessories chipped in $222.5 million (down eight percent).

March marked the Xbox 360's thirteenth consecutive month of accounting for over 40 percent of total console sales, selling 371,000 units. It was also the console's fifteenth month as best selling console, and eighth month as best selling overall hardware platform.

Predictably, Mass Effect 3 topped sales charts for the period, selling twice as well as Mass Effect 2 did during its January launch in 2010. [Update: It sold 943K on Xbox 360 alone, according to Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg.] BioWare's podium-finish was accompanied by two comparatively less expected releases, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City and MLB 12: The Show. As per usual, head on past the break for the list of March's top ten best selling titles.

Continue reading March NPD: Mass Effect 3 tops sales, year-over-year decline continues

JoystiqMarch NPD: Mass Effect 3 tops sales, year-over-year decline continues originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsmarch-2012march-NPDmicrosoftnintendoNPDpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsales-figuressonyvitawiixboxThu, 12 Apr 2012 18:37:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: $3.3 billion spent outside of new boxed games across regions in Q4 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/npd-3-3-billion-spent-outside-of-new-boxed-games-across-region/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/npd-3-3-billion-spent-outside-of-new-boxed-games-across-region/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/npd-3-3-billion-spent-outside-of-new-boxed-games-across-region/#comments Still in its infancy of tracking and reporting games that aren't new and from a box, the NPD reported sales for the US and key European markets reached $3.33 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct. - Dec.). The number covers "used games, game rentals, subscriptions, digital full-game downloads, social network games, downloadable content and mobile games." To be extra clear, that means "everything besides new physical copies of games sold in retail stores."

The breakdown of the overall $3.33 billion has the States with a $2.04 billion spend, and the UK, Germany, and France forking over a combined total of $1.29 billion. Despite troubles at retail, UK consumers still dropped $508 million in the region, while Germany and France saw sales of $461 million and $320 million (respectively).

NPD usually reports monthly, strictly on US game sales. "Now that we've established our Europe based service covering the UK, France, and Germany, we can begin working directly with clients to help them dissect at deeper levels how the unique market drivers specific to each country can help them understand the increasingly global nature of the games industry," said NPD Euro analyst Sam Naji.

It's still hard to contextualize the data since the (publicly shared) tracking of digital spend is still so new. We do know that in 2011 the total spend in the States was around $16.6 billion, with new boxed games at retail reaching $9.3 billion.

[Image credit: Digital Storm via Shutterstock]

Continue reading NPD: $3.3 billion spent outside of new boxed games across regions in Q4 2011

JoystiqNPD: $3.3 billion spent outside of new boxed games across regions in Q4 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-distributionmacmicrosoftmobilenintendoNPDpcplaystationps3Q4wiixboxThu, 22 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD's top 25 includes at least eight 3DS games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/npds-top-25-includes-at-least-eight-3ds-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/npds-top-25-includes-at-least-eight-3ds-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/npds-top-25-includes-at-least-eight-3ds-games/#comments No 3DS games sold enough in the US to place in the top ten last month, according to NPD data. But 3DS sales were happening just under the surface, with many 3DS games making it into the (undisclosed) top 25 games of February.

The NPD told Joystiq that "some examples" of the 3DS titles that made the list include Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure, Mario Kart 7, Super Mario 3D Land, FIFA Soccer, Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars, Lego Pirates of the Caribbean, Resident Evil: Revelations, and Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games -- the last two on that list being February releases.

That's ... a significant portion of the top 25. It's also evidence of a reasonably engaged 3DS install base, and therefore stiff competition for the PS Vita, which came out in February. The Vita's Uncharted: Golden Abyss placed somewhere in the top 20 (at least in retail; Vita games also have digital sales not charted by NPD).

JoystiqNPD's top 25 includes at least eight 3DS games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsfifa-soccerlego-pirates-of-the-caribbean-the-video-gamelego-star-wars-3-the-clone-warsmario-kart-7nintendonpdresident-evil-revelationssalesskylanders-spyros-adventuresuper-mario-3d-landFri, 09 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning sold 330,000 in the US last month]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-sold-330-000-in-the-us-last-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-sold-330-000-in-the-us-last-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-sold-330-000-in-the-us-last-month/#comments It was a little surprising to see Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning sitting pretty at number four in the NPD software sales charts for February, an impressive feat for a brand new IP. But what does the number translate to in actual sales? NPD tells Joystiq that Reckoning sold a total of 330,000 copies in the US across Xbox, PS3 and PC last month.

It's not a bad number, especially for a new IP, though it isn't quite a blockbuster either. Of course, the figure doesn't include sales in other regions (or even all of North America, for that matter), so we'll have to wait on word from EA to see how Reckoning fared overall.

JoystiqKingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning sold 330,000 in the US last month originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artskingdoms-of-amalur-reckoningmicrosoftnpdplaystationps3xboxFri, 09 Mar 2012 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[February NPD: Hardware sales up over January, everything down year over year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/february-npd-hardware-sales-up-over-january-everything-down-ye/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/february-npd-hardware-sales-up-over-january-everything-down-ye/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/february-npd-hardware-sales-up-over-january-everything-down-ye/#comments The numbers for February are in, and while hardware performance was better than it was in January, both hardware and software sales are seeing significant declines when compared to figures from February 2011.

With hardware and software combined, total new video-game sales rang up at $1.06 billion for last month; a 20 percent decline from the $1.33 billion spent during the same period last year. Breaking that total down, hardware sales accounted for $381.4 million of all moneys spent in February, down 18 percent year over year, while software sales accounted for $464.4 million (down 23 percent year over year) and accessories sales brought in $215.2 million, down 16 percent year over year.

Despite those year over year declines, hardware sales increased 62 percent over January, Vita sales notwithstanding. Factoring in Sony's new handheld boosts that figure all the way up to 87 percent.

On the software front, the Vita's best-selling launch title was Uncharted: Golden Abyss, earning a spot among the month's top 20 overall best-selling titles. The top ten best-selling titles for February can be found after the break, with Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning being the only new IP to make the list.

Continue reading February NPD: Hardware sales up over January, everything down year over year

JoystiqFebruary NPD: Hardware sales up over January, everything down year over year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsFebruary-2012hardwaremicrosoftnintendoNPDpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsalessoftwaresonytop-10video-game-salesvitawiixboxThu, 08 Mar 2012 19:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo in February: Mario Galaxy passes 5 million, Wii and 3DS move more than 200K each [Update: corrected]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/nintendo-in-february-mario-galaxy-2-passes-5-million-wii-and-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/nintendo-in-february-mario-galaxy-2-passes-5-million-wii-and-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/nintendo-in-february-mario-galaxy-2-passes-5-million-wii-and-3/#comments With February's NPD numbers upon us, Nintendo's Super Mario Galaxy 2 has joined a prestigious club. The portly plumber's Wii title has now crossed the 5 million sales mark. Nintendo notes that the Wii has now amassed nine titles that have passed 5 million in sales, which it says is "nearly twice as many 5-million sellers as competing current-generation consoles combined." The company added that Just Dance 3 is quickly approaching the 5 million mark, with 4.61 million copies sold to date.

On the handheld front, two other Mario titles, Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land, both moved more than 100,000 units. In addition, Nintendo notes that Pokemon Black and White have surpassed 4 million units in combined sales.

In hardware, Nintendo sold 228,000 Wii consoles, 262,000 3DS units and 135,000 DS units.

Update: It's actually Super Mario Galaxy, the first one, that just hit this sales milestone.

Continue reading Nintendo in February: Mario Galaxy passes 5 million, Wii and 3DS move more than 200K each [Update: corrected]

JoystiqNintendo in February: Mario Galaxy passes 5 million, Wii and 3DS move more than 200K each [Update: corrected] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdshardwarenintendonpdsalessoftwarewiiThu, 08 Mar 2012 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft sold 426,000 Xbox 360s in February, 14th month in top console spot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/microsoft-sold-426-000-xbox-360s-in-february-14th-month-in-top/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/microsoft-sold-426-000-xbox-360s-in-february-14th-month-in-top/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/microsoft-sold-426-000-xbox-360s-in-february-14th-month-in-top/#comments Ahead of the NPD officially revealing its February numbers, Microsoft is already tooting its own horn. The console manufacturer claims to have sold 426,000 consoles in February, more than any other console. That makes for 14 consecutive months with the Xbox 360 maintaining the top sales position among consoles. Microsoft also notes that the console has maintained more than a 40 percent market share in the current generation of consoles for 12 straight months.

Additionally, consumer spending on hardware, software and accessories bested other consoles as well, totaling $383 million. According to Joystiq's resident financial analyst, the figure is "a lot." We'll have complete NPD numbers shortly.

Continue reading Microsoft sold 426,000 Xbox 360s in February, 14th month in top console spot

JoystiqMicrosoft sold 426,000 Xbox 360s in February, 14th month in top console spot originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessorieshardwarekinectmicrosoftnpdsalessoftwarexboxThu, 08 Mar 2012 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[January NPD: Sales down without big launches, Skylanders a hit for accessories]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/january-npd-sales-down-without-big-launches-skylanders-a-hit-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/january-npd-sales-down-without-big-launches-skylanders-a-hit-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/january-npd-sales-down-without-big-launches-skylanders-a-hit-f/#comments Both hardware and software video game sales were down by a great deal in January, according to the latest report from NPD. Both categories dropped 38% year over year in the US, and video games sales in total dropped from $1.14 billion in January of 2011 to $750 million this past month. NPD's Liam Callahan attributes the drops to a lack of new launches: Last January, Microsoft's Kinect propped up hardware sales, and Dead Space 2, LittleBigPlanet 2, and DC Universe Online did the same for software, but there weren't equivalent launches in the market this year.

The full list of the top ten titles is after the break. Just Dance 3 held down the number two spot, again landing in front of the very popular Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Zumba Fitness 2 also made it into the top ten, but Activision's Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure is likely the most important game for January.

In addition to landing on the list at 8th, Skylanders is seeing huge sales in the accessories category, making up 22% of total accessory sales overall. The game's single character pack was also the best selling accessory during the month of January, and these numbers should bode well for the series and its future iterations.

Finally, despite that big drop in hardware sales, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg points out that the Xbox 360 has remained the highest-selling console on the market, selling 270,000 units with a 49% market share.

Continue reading January NPD: Sales down without big launches, Skylanders a hit for accessories

JoystiqJanuary NPD: Sales down without big launches, Skylanders a hit for accessories originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwarejanuary-2012microsoftnpdplaystationps3salesskylanders-spyros-adventuresoftwaretop-10video-game-salesxboxThu, 09 Feb 2012 18:51:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Xbox 360 earns $6.7 billion in 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/npd-xbox-360-earns-6-7-billion-in-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/npd-xbox-360-earns-6-7-billion-in-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/npd-xbox-360-earns-6-7-billion-in-2011/#comments
The game industry's December 2011 may have been down from the same month last year, but it hasn't brought down spirits at Microsoft. The Redmond-based Xbox 360 manufacturer capped off 2011 by having the number one console for twelve straight months, NPD data reveals.

In December, Microsoft sold more than 1.7 million consoles (déjà vu, anyone?) without brand-new hardware to help push it over the top like last year. Gamers spent $1.5 billion at retail on the Xbox 360 alone during December, and overall Microsoft's share of that $16 billion pie in 2011 came to $6.7 billion -- $2.1 billion on consoles, $4.6 billion on games and accessories.

During its annual (and, this year, final) CES sojourn, Microsoft revealed there are 66 million Xbox 360 consoles out in the world today. Based on the 2011 figures from the NPD, we'd say a lot of them are here in North America. But when will this month-to-month momentum slow down and make way for the impending next generation? Probably around the time we invent robots for boxing.

JoystiqNPD: Xbox 360 earns $6.7 billion in 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011kinectmicrosoftnpdnpd-2011xboxThu, 12 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD 2011: Sales across industry between $16.3 and $16.6 billion, Ubi tops software sales list]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/npd-2011-sales-across-industry-between-16-3-and-16-6-billion/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/npd-2011-sales-across-industry-between-16-3-and-16-6-billion/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/npd-2011-sales-across-industry-between-16-3-and-16-6-billion/#comments Assassination and dancing has proven to be a lucrative mix, as Just Dance 2 and 3 and Assassin's Creed: Revelations helped Ubisoft to lead this year's best seller's list with three entries. That's according to the NPD Group, which also estimates the video game industry's profits, comprising "new physical video and PC games, used games, game rentals, subscriptions, digital full-game downloads, social network games, downloadable content, and mobile games," reached sales of somewhere between $16.3 and $16.6 billion in 2011.

Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 took top honors (it's kind of a big deal), while Just Dance 3 and Skyrim occupied the second and third spots, respectively. NPD also says that, despite sales growth in the digital sector yet again, physical copies offered at retail outlets still accounted for the majority of sales coming in at $9.3 billion, "an 8 percent decline over the $10.1 billion in 2010."

That decline was "partially" offset by increases in digital, mobile, and used game sales, which NPD expects to be a focus moving into 2012. "Our overall estimate of the market continues to point toward the increased imperative for deeper visibility into digital distribution than is available today, not only in the U.S. but globally," said NPD prez David McQuillan. Our waning shelf space agrees.

Continue reading NPD 2011: Sales across industry between $16.3 and $16.6 billion, Ubi tops software sales list

JoystiqNPD 2011: Sales across industry between $16.3 and $16.6 billion, Ubi tops software sales list originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsactivisionandroidassassins-creed-revelationscall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3david-mcquillandsiosipadiphonejust-dance-2just-dance-3kinectmacmicrosoftmobilemodern-warfare-3movenintendonpdnpd-2011npd-grouppcplaystationps3pspskyrimsonyubisoftwiixboxThu, 12 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[December NPD: MW3, Just Dance 3 and Skyrim lead an overall down month]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/december-npd-mw3-just-dance-3-and-skyrim-lead-an-overall-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/december-npd-mw3-just-dance-3-and-skyrim-lead-an-overall-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/december-npd-mw3-just-dance-3-and-skyrim-lead-an-overall-down/#comments The industry as a whole still managed to bang out $3.99 billion in combined new sales of hardware, physical software and accessories between November 27 and December 31, 2011. This is, however, a 21 percent drop year-over-year, as the industry pulled down a combined $5.07 billion during the same period in 2010.

"Overall industry results are not entirely surprising given that we are on the back end of the current console lifecycle, combined with the continued digital evolution of gaming," said Anita Frazier, an analyst with The NPD Group. "Core gamers continue to be engaged and spend on established franchises across both the digital and physical format using multiple devices for different gaming occasions."

A smooth $2.04 billion of that $3.99 billion total was caused entirely by new physical software sales, a dash for the cash that continues to be lead by Modern Warfare 3. The pseudo-medieval allure of November's second place podium finisher, Skyrim, was not enough to keep its throne for a second term; the Dovahkiin has been usurped by Ubisoft's compulsory neon-dancing simulator, Just Dance 3.

Comparatively, Skyrim got off easy: Uncharted 3, Saints Row: The Third and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, are all absent from December's Top-10 list, just weeks after their respective releases. Skyward Sword wasn't Nintendo's only horse in this race, however, as Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land closed out December in fourth and ninth place, respectively. Overall, Nintendo, Ubisoft and Electronic Arts claimed more Top-10 real estate than their competitors, each publishing two of the month's best selling titles.

Continue reading December NPD: MW3, Just Dance 3 and Skyrim lead an overall down month

JoystiqDecember NPD: MW3, Just Dance 3 and Skyrim lead an overall down month originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3just-dance-3microsoftnintendoNPDNPD-monthlypcplaystationps3pspskyrimsonywiixboxThu, 12 Jan 2012 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[November NPD: A new record, with Xbox 360 joined by MW3 and Skyrim on top (Update 2: Sony PR added)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/november-npd-a-new-record-with-xbox-360-joined-by-mw3-and-skyr/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/november-npd-a-new-record-with-xbox-360-joined-by-mw3-and-skyr/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/november-npd-a-new-record-with-xbox-360-joined-by-mw3-and-skyr/#comments (Update: Microsoft Chief of Interactive Entertainment Aaron Greenberg has released Xbox 360 sales via Twitter, which are included below.)

It's a little good, a little bad with this year's November 2011 NPD results. While "unit sales grew for console hardware, as well as console, portable, and PC software," NPD analyst Anita Frazier warns that "a decline in average retail price in all categories" besides portable hardware resulted in dollar sales that were flat compared to last November. That said, November 2011 "marks the best November on record for sales of new physical content," besting the previous record holder, November 2008.

Unsurprisingly, the Xbox 360 was the top selling piece of gear for the month and Frazier notes that the "gap between 360 sales and sales of the next best selling platform was the largest we've seen since December 2008 when the Nintendo DS was the top selling system." Microsoft Chief of Interactive Entertainment Aaron Greenberg later added via Twitter that the Xbox 360 sold 1.7 million consoles during the month of November, up 23% year over year. For the month, Nintendo announced it sold more than 860,000 Wii systems, more than 795,000 Nintendo 3DS systems and more than 350,000 Nintendo DS systems.

Meanwhile, Sony declined to provide specific sales numbers for the PS3. According to Sony PR chief Patrick Seybold, "PlayStation 3 is off to a phenomenal start to the holiday season, recording the best ever Black Friday sales period in the console's five-year history. According to the November NPD report the PS3 saw a 70% increase in hardware and a 30% increase in software year-over-year." The PS3 sold 530,000 units last year, which would situate PS3 sales for November 2011 in the neighborhood of 901,000 units.

In the software arena, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 took its perch at the top of the charts, besting Black Ops "by about 7%," while Skyrim managed "a five-fold increase over Oblivion's first month sales" coming in just a half-million units short of matching its predecessor's lifetime sales. Other newcomers include single SKU exclusives like Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception in seventh place and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword in ninth.

[Image source: onrpg.net]

Continue reading November NPD: A new record, with Xbox 360 joined by MW3 and Skyrim on top (Update 2: Sony PR added)

JoystiqNovember NPD: A new record, with Xbox 360 joined by MW3 and Skyrim on top (Update 2: Sony PR added) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dsmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3nintendonpdnpd-monthlyplaystationps3pspskyrimsonythe-elder-scrolls-v-skyrimwiixboxFri, 09 Dec 2011 17:57:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Sales of dancing games up 326% over last year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/npd-sales-of-dancing-games-up-326-over-last-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/npd-sales-of-dancing-games-up-326-over-last-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/npd-sales-of-dancing-games-up-326-over-last-year/#comments In the US, dancing game sales are up 326% percent year over year, the NPD told the LA Times. That's for the 12-month period ending October 31. Compare that with overall game sales, which rose 3%.

Of course, at the end of October last year, Just Dance 2 had only started selling. Since then, it's been doing very well for itself, and has been followed by several spinoffs, including Just Dance Kids (and its sequel!), Michael Jackson: The Experience, The Black Eyed Peas Experience, Just Dance 2 Summer Party, and, of course, Just Dance 3.

Too damn many Just Dance games can't claim all the credit for the growth in dancing-machine sales. Dance Central is at somewhere over 2.5 million units, and it's been followed by a sequel; Zumba Fitness has been a phenomenon, and Sony's Everybody Dance is also available.

Update: corrected Dance Central sales figures.

JoystiqNPD: Sales of dancing games up 326% over last year originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dance-centraldancingeverybody-dancejust-dance-2just-dance-3kinectmicrosoftmovemusicnintendonpdplaystationps3saleswiixboxTue, 29 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo: 3DS likely to outperform DS's first-year sales in US]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/nintendo-3ds-likely-to-outperform-dss-first-year-sales-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/nintendo-3ds-likely-to-outperform-dss-first-year-sales-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/nintendo-3ds-likely-to-outperform-dss-first-year-sales-in-us/#comments Apparently 3DS sales aren't so bad. Or, more accurately, 3DS sales are not great, but DS sales were also pretty bad at first. It's all relative. The company said today that the 3DS is "poised" to sell more 3DS systems in its first year than the DS did. The 3DS system is over 1.65 million units sold in the US, and the DS sold 2.37 million in its first year, "with approximately 50 percent of those sales occurring in the holiday time frame."

It's worth remembering that the DS was pretty bad in that first year, and didn't become a sales sensation until early 2006 with the introduction of the DS Lite. So that's not the most impressive milestone. In fact, we would hope a 3DS with both a (good!) Mario game and Mario Kart will be able to outsell a system that had neither.

Nintendo reported "more than 250,000" 3DS systems sold in the US in October, along with "nearly 180,000" DS units and "nearly 250,000" Wiis. Of course, all those numbers, along with every other game system's sales numbers, will go up significantly in the next two months. We'll have more NPD information this evening.

Continue reading Nintendo: 3DS likely to outperform DS's first-year sales in US

JoystiqNintendo: 3DS likely to outperform DS's first-year sales in US originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsnintendonpdsalesFri, 11 Nov 2011 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[October NPD: 3DS rising, a good month for games with 'Bat' in the title (Update: BF3, Batman, RAGE numbers)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/october-npd-3ds-rising-a-good-month-for-games-with-bat-in-th/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/october-npd-3ds-rising-a-good-month-for-games-with-bat-in-th/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/october-npd-3ds-rising-a-good-month-for-games-with-bat-in-th/#comments Microsoft claims another month on top for the Xbox 360, with 393,000 units sold for the NPD's October sales period, 20% up year over year and, in the words of MS Chief of Staff for Interactive Entertainment Business Aaron Greenberg, the system's "biggest October ever." Following up is ... the 3DS, randomly bouncing back two months after its price drop, with "over 250,000" sold, according to Nintendo.

Try to look shocked when we tell you that Battlefield 3 topped the software chart. The top six games on NPD's sales chart are all October releases, with Batman: Arkham City, NBA 2K12, Rage, Just Dance 3, and -- believe it or not -- super-hardcore, unfriendly RPG Dark Souls all placing. Find the full top ten after the break.

Continue reading October NPD: 3DS rising, a good month for games with 'Bat' in the title (Update: BF3, Batman, RAGE numbers)

JoystiqOctober NPD: 3DS rising, a good month for games with 'Bat' in the title (Update: BF3, Batman, RAGE numbers) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsbatman-arkham-citybattlefield-3dsmicrosoftnintendonpdnpd-monthlyplaystationps3pspsalessonywiixboxFri, 11 Nov 2011 18:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft reveals 15M copies sold of Black Ops (that's right)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/ubisoft-reveals-15m-copies-sold-of-black-ops-thats-right/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/ubisoft-reveals-15m-copies-sold-of-black-ops-thats-right/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/ubisoft-reveals-15m-copies-sold-of-black-ops-thats-right/#comments On this Call of Duty day, we look back at the success of Black Ops, a game so outrageously popular that its sales figures show up in other companies' earnings reports. Really!

In an investor presentation today, Ubisoft posted the top ten games in the US from January of 2010 through September of 2011, according to NPD data. And that's how we learned that Call of Duty: Black Ops sold 14,983,459 units in the US through September.

Of course, the point Ubisoft was trying to make was that Just Dance 2 was the second-best selling game in the US (at 5,245,480 copies), but we found that the second-most interesting number on the list.

JoystiqUbisoft reveals 15M copies sold of Black Ops (that's right) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsdsmicrosoftnintendonpdplaystationps3salesubisoftwiixboxTue, 08 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[September NPD: Madden, Gears, Dead Island are hits (Updated with Nintendo hardware numbers!)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/september-npd-madden-gears-dead-island-are-hits/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/september-npd-madden-gears-dead-island-are-hits/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/september-npd-madden-gears-dead-island-are-hits/#comments It should come as no surprise that Madden NFL 12 beat everything else in NPD's software chart for the month of September, unless you're really not into sports games and forgot it came out. Second place is also pretty expected, with the massive rollout of Gears of War 3 massively rolling into people's homes. Third place, however, is a bit more interesting -- Dead Island, from semi-obscure publisher Deep Silver, outsold almost everything else based on the strength of that trailer and the word "zombies." Find the top ten after the break.

In hardware, Microsoft reported Xbox 360 takes the top hardware spot once again, touting 438,000 units sold in the month. Nintendo reports sales of 360,000 3DS units in the five week September reporting period, as well as 240,000 Wiis and 145,000 DS systems. Sony has not released official sales numbers for the PS3 or PSP.

In larger trends, total industry sales are down 6 percent year over year, with a mere $1.16 billion changing hands in September.

Continue reading September NPD: Madden, Gears, Dead Island are hits (Updated with Nintendo hardware numbers!)

JoystiqSeptember NPD: Madden, Gears, Dead Island are hits (Updated with Nintendo hardware numbers!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdead-islanddsgears-of-war-3madden-nfl-12microsoftnintendonpdnpd-monthlypcplaystationps3wiixboxThu, 13 Oct 2011 20:25:00 EST<![CDATA[DS has sold over 50 million units in US to date]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/ds-has-sold-over-50-million-units-in-us-to-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/ds-has-sold-over-50-million-units-in-us-to-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/ds-has-sold-over-50-million-units-in-us-to-date/#comments The Nintendo DS and its variants have crossed a neat little milestone: 50 million units sold in the US, according to NPD numbers passed along by Nintendo. Seven years after launch, and seven months after the release of its successor, people are still buying the thing.

Nintendo also had some relatively good news to share about the 3DS: it moved over 260,000 units in September, bringing the post-price-drop total to 450,000 in the US. And pretty much all of those buyers also picked up The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, as it has surpassed half a million units sold in the US.

JoystiqDS has sold over 50 million units in US to date originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsnintendonpdsalesthe-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-timeThu, 13 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[3DS sales up 260 percent after price cut]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/3ds-sales-up-260-percent-after-price-cut/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/3ds-sales-up-260-percent-after-price-cut/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/3ds-sales-up-260-percent-after-price-cut/#comments

We mentioned yesterday that, according to the NPD, the 3DS had sold 185,000 units between its August 12 price cut and month's end. But here's a little added perspective: Nintendo says that number is a 260 percent increase over the comparable time period in July. That means that between July 12 and 30 (the end of NPD's "July" sales period), just around 71,150 3DS systems left store shelves.

Now, it's not a perfect comparison obviously, just but just to give you some idea of how bad that actually is, here are a few other Julys and 2/3 of their total DS sales for the month.

  • July 2010 - 226K
  • July 2009 - 355K
  • July 2008 - 401K
  • July 2007 - 267K
185,000 is still a good bit lower than the 226,000 DS units Nintendo sold in 2/3 of August 2010, but at least things are moving in the right direction.

Joystiq3DS sales up 260 percent after price cut originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsnintendonpdsalesFri, 09 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[August NPD: Annual sales drop again, Deus Ex augments the top spot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/august-npd-annual-sales-drop-again-deus-ex-augments-the-top-sp/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/august-npd-annual-sales-drop-again-deus-ex-augments-the-top-sp/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/august-npd-annual-sales-drop-again-deus-ex-augments-the-top-sp/#comments We're starting to see a trend develop -- a super, super disheartening trend. According to the NPD group, total sales in the U.S. gaming industry dropped 23 percent year-over-year during the month of August; almost exactly the same amount sales declined in July. NPD's Anita Frazier explained, "the bulk of the decline can be attributed to the shift of the annual Madden release from August to September." (The NPD actually counts August 30 as part of September, which seems pretty zany.)

Gaming hardware saw an increase in sales over July, largely fueled by the price cuts endured by the 3DS and PlayStation 3. According to a memo sent out by Nintendo following the NPD report, the 3DS discount moved 185,000 consoles from August 12 through the end of the month. This wave managed to increase dollar and unit sales of handheld hardware to a year-over-year increase over August 2010, which bucks the downward trend followed by the rest of the industry. Hooray for discrete electronics!

Surprisingly, the top-selling game for August was Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which was only on store shelves for five days during the NPD's tracking window. The group doesn't expect the augmented title to rollover its reign into September, instead expecting Madden to reign supreme. Check out August's Top 10 software performers after the jump!

Continue reading August NPD: Annual sales drop again, Deus Ex augments the top spot

JoystiqAugust NPD: Annual sales drop again, Deus Ex augments the top spot originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsaugustaugust-2011deus-ex-human-revolutiondsmicrosoftnintendonpdnpd-groupnpd-monthlyplaystationprice-cutps3pspsonywiixboxThu, 08 Sep 2011 19:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Just Dance 2 just broke 5 million copies sold in the US]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/just-dance-2-just-broke-5-million-copies-sold-in-the-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/just-dance-2-just-broke-5-million-copies-sold-in-the-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/just-dance-2-just-broke-5-million-copies-sold-in-the-us/#comments Just Dance 2 money party Like some B celebrity reality show contestant, Just Dance 2 continues to tromp all over the competition. Nintendo has announced that Ubisoft's dance-along has sold more than five million copies on the Wii in the United States, making it one of only eight games to do so on the platform.

It also marks the only third party title to break five million on Wii - every other five-million-seller was published by Nintendo, namely Wii Play, Wii Fit, Wii Fit Plus, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Wii Sports Resort. Also, when it comes to titles that have crossed the five million mark, Nintendo trumpets that the Wii is home to "twice as many as competing current-generation consoles combined."

Nintendo claims the title sold 120,000 units in July, making it the third best-selling individual Wii SKU, though it remains the fifth best-selling title overall, according to NPD. Assuming Just Dance 2 keeps up with our celebrity dancing show analogy, we're sure it will eventually win us all over with its plucky charm.

Continue reading Just Dance 2 just broke 5 million copies sold in the US

JoystiqJust Dance 2 just broke 5 million copies sold in the US originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessjust-dance-2nintendonpdsalesubisoftwiiThu, 11 Aug 2011 21:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox's David Dennis on July NPDs, Kinect growth, and the 'new dash']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/xboxs-david-dennis-on-july-npds-kinect-growth-and-the-new-da/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/xboxs-david-dennis-on-july-npds-kinect-growth-and-the-new-da/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/xboxs-david-dennis-on-july-npds-kinect-growth-and-the-new-da/#comments In July 2010, on the back of the newly redesigned Xbox 360 and shelf-clearing sales on the old model, Microsoft enjoyed one of its strongest months of non-holiday console sales ever. So while the Xbox 360 managed to best its console counterparts this July, it was also "the first month that the Xbox 360 saw a year-over-year decline since December 2009." That fact doesn't bother Microsoft product manager David Dennis, who told Joystiq, "If you actually jump back two years and look at what the typical run-rate is in the middle of the summer, it's pretty close. We're actually a little above where it was."

Considering the first Xbox console only enjoyed a four-year lifespan before the Xbox 360 arrived on the scene, Microsoft doesn't have a lot of institutional knowledge to rest on when it comes to maintaining a vibrant platform late in a console's lifecycle. But six years in, and the Xbox 360 has managed to reinvent itself thanks to Kinect. "Console transitions are expensive," Dennis said. "They're expensive for platform companies like ourselves and they're expensive for the third parties that have to learn new programming languages and learn new architectures."

Continue reading Xbox's David Dennis on July NPDs, Kinect growth, and the 'new dash'

JoystiqXbox's David Dennis on July NPDs, Kinect growth, and the 'new dash' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>David-Dennisfruit-ninja-kinectKinectmicrosoftnew-dashnew-new-xbox-experiencennxenpdxboxThu, 11 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Catherine sold 78K copies in July]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/npd-catherine-sold-78k-copies-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/npd-catherine-sold-78k-copies-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/npd-catherine-sold-78k-copies-in-july/#comments No, the cake isn't quite a lie, but it did omit a key slice of information. Last week, Atlus trumpeted strong first-week sales for its eccentric puzzle game, Catherine, via a celebratory cake: "200,000 sold in the first week," it exclaimed. Try: 200,000 sold-in the first week (meaning shipped).

Following today's NPD report of video game sales in North America, you may have been curious as to why Catherine didn't appear among July's top ten best sellers. The lowest-ranked game, Mortal Kombat, had sold 85K units by month's end. Catherine came in below that, selling 78K copies in its first six days (still making it Atlus' biggest launch yet).

Another weird, well-received Japanese game, Shadows of the Damned, sold 14K during its second month -- proving that there will be no cake in hell.

JoystiqNPD: Catherine sold 78K copies in July originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atluscatherinemicrosoftnpdplaystationps3puzzlesalesxboxThu, 11 Aug 2011 19:50:00 EST<![CDATA[July NPD: Sales down 26%, NCAA Football leads software]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/july-npd-sales-down-29-ncaa-football-leads-software/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/july-npd-sales-down-29-ncaa-football-leads-software/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/july-npd-sales-down-29-ncaa-football-leads-software/#comments Ouch! Overall video game industry sales are down 26% in North America for July, year over year, with a 29% dip in console hardware sales mostly to blame. New retail software sales saw a less severe 17% drop, while accessories saw only an 8% drop. Unsurprisingly, on the hardware front, "the platforms that contributed a greater portion of new physical retail dollar sales as compared to last year were the Xbox 360 and the PS3," says NPD's Anita Frazier. She also adds that July 2011 is the industry's "lowest month since October 2006." We'll say it again: Ouch!

As has become the norm, Microsoft trumpeted its performance in an email claiming a "45% share of the overall current-generation console market." Six years into the Xbox 360's lifecycle, the console managed to move 277,000 units "maintaining the number-one console spot in the U.S. for 2011." Frazier notes that, while the Xbox 360 may have had the strongest numbers of the three consoles, July "was the first month that the Xbox 360 saw a year-over-year decline since December 2009." Of course, last July saw a strong sales spike "driven by the introduction of the Kinect-ready slim form factor SKU," Frazier reminds us.

On the software front, July 2011 only saw "17 new releases [...] compared to 29 last July." With NCAA Football 12 taking the top sales spot, reflecting a "15% increase in unit sales versus NCAA 11 in July 2010," Frazier postulates that this year's Madden delay might have prompted football fans to pick up EA's earlier offering. Find the full top ten list after the break.

Continue reading July NPD: Sales down 26%, NCAA Football leads software

JoystiqJuly NPD: Sales down 26%, NCAA Football leads software originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsmicrosoftncaa-football-12nintendonpdnpd-monthlyplaystationps3pspsonywiixboxThu, 11 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD launching Euro sales tracking service, focusing on digital for a 'global perspective']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/npd-launching-euro-sales-tracking-service-focusing-on-digital-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/npd-launching-euro-sales-tracking-service-focusing-on-digital-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/npd-launching-euro-sales-tracking-service-focusing-on-digital-f/#comments On Monday, NPD announced it was partnering with EEDAR to extend its retail research reports to the digital domain. Today, having braved the great digital divide, the New York-based company announced it was ready to brave another, less digital divide: the Atlantic Ocean. Beginning with Q4 2011 sales, NPD will offer a version of its "Games Industry: Total Consumer Spend" service that tracks "consumer spending for games content" across Europe's "largest video game markets," meaning UK, France, and Germany.

While companies like Chart-Track already provide retail insight in the UK, NPD says its "service in Europe will focus on measuring channels that are not currently tracked in Europe - namely those occurring outside of new physical retail sales." Why look at digital in Europe? We bet NPD industry analyst Anita Frazier has a great answer for that. "The new digital distribution channels in video games are not country specific," Frazier told a press release. "They are global in nature, which is why NPD is taking its proven, proprietary methodology, developed over a number of years, and applying it to a global perspective."

JoystiqNPD launching Euro sales tracking service, focusing on digital for a 'global perspective' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsEuropefrancegermanymicrosoftnintendonpdplaystationps3pspsonyukwiixboxThu, 11 Aug 2011 03:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD teaming with EEDAR to track digital sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/npd-teaming-with-eedar-to-track-digital-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/npd-teaming-with-eedar-to-track-digital-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/npd-teaming-with-eedar-to-track-digital-sales/#comments NPD and EEDAR sittin' in a tree... Game industry analysis firms NPD and EEDAR have announced a new partnership "aimed at improving the measurement and analysis of the evolving video game industry." Specifically, it appears that EEDAR will help NPD round out its coverage of downloadable game sales.

Together, the two firms hope to create a "total market tracking service for interactive entertainment," providing a broad picture of both physical and digital sales data. As part of this strategy, EEDAR's GamePulse service will immediately begin incorporating NPD's point-of-sale data.

Traditionally, NPD has only reported physical sales of games in North America, though the group has been attempting to expand its coverage of downloadable sales in recent years. Given EEDAR's expertise in the field, it seems to be a good partnership for both firms. It's worth pointing out, however, that Steam, undoubtedly one of the largest digital distribution platforms, does not share its sales numbers. In other words, getting a truly accurate picture of the downloadable landscape could be difficult.

Continue reading NPD teaming with EEDAR to track digital sales

JoystiqNPD teaming with EEDAR to track digital sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dseedarmicrosoftmobilenintendonpdpcplaystationps3pspsonywiixboxMon, 08 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wal-Mart now sharing data on game sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/wal-mart-now-sharing-data-on-game-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/wal-mart-now-sharing-data-on-game-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/wal-mart-now-sharing-data-on-game-sales/#comments People always ask us "Joystiq, how does Wal-Mart keep prices so low?" The answer? Secrets. No, it's true, the more secrets a corporation keeps, the less it has to charge for goods and services. It would take us a while to explain, so we'll sum it up in two words: "market tectonics."

However, it seems Wal-Mart will have to find something new to be hush-hush about, as it has just decided to lift a decade-long ban on sharing sales data, according to AdAge.

This, of course, opens the door to fleshing out NPD with sales number from what might be the largest game retailer (we can't say for sure because, well, it doesn't share data). Even if it's not the biggest, Wal-Mart's numbers are sure to provide a more complete picture of what video games are really selling.

So, let us be the first to welcome our new market overlord, "Anything with 'Cabela's' in the title." Long may he reign.

JoystiqWal-Mart now sharing data on game sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>npdsaleswal-martFri, 22 Jul 2011 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Just Dance 2 is the #1 third-party seller on Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/just-dance-2-is-the-1-third-party-seller-on-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/just-dance-2-is-the-1-third-party-seller-on-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/just-dance-2-is-the-1-third-party-seller-on-wii/#comments The Wii is typically not the best place for non-Nintendo games, but one has managed to come out ahead, with its publisher announcing that it's now the best-selling third-party game on Wii. It's not No More Heroes, or Boom Blox, or even Billy the Wizard.

...okay, we all know what it is: Just Dance 2. Ubisoft announced that it was not only the best-selling third-party Wii game of June, according to NPD records, but also the best-selling third party Wii game in the US since its October debut (not that there's been much competition since October 2010). And it's the best-selling third-party Wii game in the US, ever.

The franchise (including both Just Dance games and Just Dance Kids) has shipped over 14 million copies worldwide. Ubisoft is celebrating the success by bundling all the Just Dance 2 DLC as a standalone game, Just Dance 2 Summer Party, coming out on July 19.

Continue reading Just Dance 2 is the #1 third-party seller on Wii

JoystiqJust Dance 2 is the #1 third-party seller on Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>just-dance-2nintendonpdsalesubisoftwiiFri, 15 Jul 2011 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Zelda sold well in June, Child of Eden and Shadows of the Damned did not]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/zelda-sold-well-in-june-child-of-eden-and-shadows-of-the-damned/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/zelda-sold-well-in-june-child-of-eden-and-shadows-of-the-damned/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/zelda-sold-well-in-june-child-of-eden-and-shadows-of-the-damned/#comments Three major Japanese-developed games came out in North America in June: one of which performed really well, the other two ... not so much. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D showed up at #5 on the software top ten chart yesterday. Nintendo subsequently announced that it sold "more than 283,000 units," making it the second best-selling game on a single platform, right behind Infamous 2. It's the first 3DS exclusive to chart on the top ten.

Meanwhile, two games weirder than Zelda attracted far more exclusive audiences. Child of Eden, the NPD told Joystiq, sold approximately 34,000 units in its debut month, ranking at number 83. At the same time, Shadows of the Damned managed to sell 24,000 copies, combined, on PS3 and Xbox 360. Damn.

JoystiqZelda sold well in June, Child of Eden and Shadows of the Damned did not originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dschild-of-edendseagrasshopper-manufacturemicrosoftnintendonpdplaystationps3q-entertainmentsalesshadows-of-the-damnedubisoftxboxFri, 15 Jul 2011 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[June NPD: Duke Nukem Forever is #2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/june-npd-duke-nukem-forever-is-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/june-npd-duke-nukem-forever-is-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/june-npd-duke-nukem-forever-is-2/#comments Yes, it's true. A startling (and vaguely insulting) number of American consumers ignored our review and purchased Duke Nukem Forever, rocketing it to the #2 position on the NPD sales charts for the month of June. Perhaps they just didn't want to ask for refunds on those 14-year-old pre-orders. The Duke occupies a position on the charts just under its equally retro (in a different way) Take-Two contemporary, L.A. Noire.

Also notable on the sales charts is the debut of another time-lost title, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. At #5, it is the first 3DS exclusive to chart in the NPD top ten. Find the top ten best-selling games listed after the break.

It's definitely a triumphant month for the past, as total game sales were down from $1.15 billion in June of 2010 to $1.03 billion in June of this year. Once again, however, Microsoft is happy, declaring its Xbox 360 the only console in the US to show year-over-year growth. The Xbox was the top-selling console with 507,000 units which Microsoft claims is "nearly twice as many units as other current-generation platforms" this month.

Continue reading June NPD: Duke Nukem Forever is #2

JoystiqJune NPD: Duke Nukem Forever is #2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsduke-nukem-foreverla-noiremicrosoftnintendonpdnpd-monthlypcplaystationps3salesthe-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-timethe-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3dwiixboxThu, 14 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony: more than 1.5 million have played the Uncharted 3 beta]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/sony-more-than-1-5-million-have-played-the-uncharted-3-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/sony-more-than-1-5-million-have-played-the-uncharted-3-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/sony-more-than-1-5-million-have-played-the-uncharted-3-beta/#comments Sony lucked its way into one of the most effective methods of enticing users back to the PSN after all that unpleasantness. By offering PlayStation Plus access to all, the once-exclusive Uncharted 3 beta became open to anyone willing to accept their Welcome Back packages, and according to Sony, over "1.5 million unique players" have tried the beta out. The company announced this in its response to tonight's NPD sales data (which is forthcoming).

It should come as no surprise that unrestricted access to a free, early chunk of one of the PS3's biggest holiday titles would turn out to be popular.

Continue reading Sony: more than 1.5 million have played the Uncharted 3 beta

JoystiqSony: more than 1.5 million have played the Uncharted 3 beta originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betanpdplaystationps3psnuncharted-3uncharted-3-drakes-deceptionThu, 14 Jul 2011 18:05:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD estimates $5.9B in game sales in first quarter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/npd-estimates-5-9b-in-game-sales-in-first-quarter/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/npd-estimates-5-9b-in-game-sales-in-first-quarter/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/npd-estimates-5-9b-in-game-sales-in-first-quarter/#comments Market research firm NPD estimates that consumers spent $5.9 billion on video games in the first quarter of 2011, a 1.5 percent increase from the same period of last year. That doesn't mean everything is unicorns and rainbows, since the comparison is to 2010, the second consecutive year to see declines in consumer spending. The "glass half full" perspective would be that it seems like things aren't immediately worse.

NPD analyst Anita Frazier notes that the new physical retail channel (translation: new games that come in a box) still makes up a majority of industry sales, as the market research firm tries to get a good grip on digital sales data. The company estimates the total spent on "used games, game rentals, subscriptions, digital full-game downloads, social network games, downloadable content, and mobile games" to be $1.85 billion during the first quarter.

Continue reading NPD estimates $5.9B in game sales in first quarter

JoystiqNPD estimates $5.9B in game sales in first quarter originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftnintendoNPDpcplaystationps3Q1-2011sales-datawiixboxMon, 11 Jul 2011 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: 360 selling twice as many online-capable games as PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/npd-360-selling-twice-as-many-online-capable-games-as-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/npd-360-selling-twice-as-many-online-capable-games-as-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/npd-360-selling-twice-as-many-online-capable-games-as-ps3/#comments The NPD Group has released a set of charts highlighting sales in various video game categories over the last few years. Of particular interest is a graph representing online-capable sales between 2006 and 2010. The Xbox 360 leads in the category, with online-capable game sales consistently doubling that of PlayStation 3 since 2008. The Wii reached roughly half of the PS3's online-capable sales in 2008, though that number declined through 2010.

When it comes to points cards used to purchase games and downloadable content online, the Xbox 360 trounces the competition with sales growing steadily every year. Sales of Sony's PSN cards seem to be on the rise, however, while Wii Point card sales have remained relatively flat.

Head over to Gamasutra for more chart-related goodness, including snapshots of 3D game sales and motion control sales.

JoystiqNPD: 360 selling twice as many online-capable games as PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftnintendoNintendo-WiFi-Connectionnpdplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnwiixboxxbox-liveTue, 28 Jun 2011 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD report: 'Digital gamers' encroaching on 'Core gamer' turf]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/npd-report-digital-gamers-encroaching-on-core-gamer-turf/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/npd-report-digital-gamers-encroaching-on-core-gamer-turf/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/npd-report-digital-gamers-encroaching-on-core-gamer-turf/#commentsAccording to a new report from NPD, digital gaming (i.e. "not retail" gaming) is on the rise, with "digital gamers" gaining headway against "core gamers" in two categories. Specifically, digital gamers spend sixteen hours gaming per week, as compared to the eighteen hours spent by the core. Digital gamers actually purchase more games, pulling in 5.9 games over the last three months, while their core brethren brought home 5.4 in the same period. Meanwhile, both groups are actually hefty acquirers of downloadable games, with downloadable titles accounting for more than a third of overall game purchases.

The question, then, is what exactly separates the two demographics? After all, it looks like they share fairly similar habits, according to the numbers. We turned to NPD's David Riley, who explained that core gamers as defined by NPD are "very engaged across all systems, especially consoles" and have "higher use of Xbox 360 and PS3 than all other segments." When it comes to digital purchases, core gamers are more likely to buy add-on content than full games.

Digital gamers, on the other hand, "are engaged in a variety of gaming, from PC to mobile, console to portable, online and offline." They also have the "highest number of digital games acquired" and particularly enjoy the immediacy of downloadable purchases.

Still, it's clear that there's some crossover between demographics, something that seems to be recognized by NPD itself. Citing the growth of mobile and tablet gaming, NPD's Anita Frazier notes, "what a game is and what it means to be a gamer is evolving, reflecting the rapid nature of change within the industry."

Continue reading NPD report: 'Digital gamers' encroaching on 'Core gamer' turf

JoystiqNPD report: 'Digital gamers' encroaching on 'Core gamer' turf originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>core-gamerdigital-distributiondlcdsmacmicrosoftmobilenintendonpdpcplaystationps3pspsonywiixboxMon, 27 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST