Gaming Industry 2006 Record Year

[Arwin]

According to an NPD report, 2006 already beat 2005 in the first 9 months, and 2006 is looking to be a record year, with September 2006 beating September 2005 with a considerable maring - 777 million dollars worth of games were sold during that month alone, versus 563 in September 2005.

Hardware sales too were surging during September, with a 71% increase during September 2006 compared to September 2005. The DS contributed to that figure significantly, with 400.000 handhelds sold.

Note that this is taken from a Dutch regular news site, but they are generally reliable.

Source: nu.nl (http://www.nu.nl/news/849178/55/Game-industrie_stevent_af_op_recordjaar.html)

 

[StefanS]

Nintendo claims the increase is mainly from DS sales...

Through September's end, the U.S. industry overall shows revenue growth of 11 percent when compared with the same period in 2005. Nearly all of the growth comes from the portable DS -- without it, the industry would report a mere 1.6 percent growth over the past nine months. DS hardware and software units posted a robust gain of 203 percent when compared to the same period in 2005. The news is the same globally: Nintendo recently announced estimated full-year shipments for DS hardware will grow to 20 million units from 17 million units worldwide, while estimated DS software shipments increased to 82 million units from 75 million.
...
The NPD numbers also indicate that during September, Nintendo DS lifetime U.S. sales surpassed more than 6.2 million units. That total includes more than 1.4 million units of the new Nintendo DS Lite systems, which launched just 16 weeks ago on June 11. It's important to note these numbers represent Nintendo DS systems actually purchased by customers, not ones shipped only to stores.

"During a home console generation upgrade, consumer interest in existing consoles tends to drop as anticipation for new consoles increases. Hand-held game hardware and software revenues have kept the industry afloat," says Billy Pidgeon, Program Manager, Consumer Markets: Gaming at IDC. "Hand-held gaming has spurred real industry growth, and Nintendo's longstanding leadership in this space continues to drive this market."
...

Nintendo press release @PGC

 

[inefficient]

Looking at vgacharts now: http://www.vgcharts.org/usayearlysum.php

I'm thinking the fact 360 games cost $10 more than XB games also had something to do with this "1.6 percent growth".

Though it is interesting that the 360 has still not sold more units than the Xbox1 did in 2005. Though I am sure in the 2.5 months left this year they will make up that deficit plus change.

According to their records Xbox360 has not been able to outperform Xbox1 cumulative sales numbers in the same period from launch. Same for the N64 - though admitably that was a cheaper console. It has at least outperformed the GC, the DC, and surprisingly, the PS1 comparitively.

 

[22psi]

Just wait until 2007

 

[London Geezer]

According to their records Xbox360 has not been able to outperform Xbox1 cumulative sales numbers in the same period from launch. Same for the N64 - though admitably that was a cheaper console. It has at least outperformed the GC, the DC, and surprisingly, the PS1 comparitively.

Interesting. Shows that PS1 had a slow start, but when it picked up, it picked up big time! And it shows that it might just happen again with any new console with a slow or bumpy start, as long as he right effort and investment is made to promote it and make sure it has the right games.

By the way, i LOVE that site. It shows that PS1 sold more than 3 million units in December 98. 3M in one month!! and 2 and a half million in december of 97 and 99!! 8 million units in 3 months worth of sales... Sure it's Xmas but bloody hell!

 

[Arwin]

Looking at vgacharts now: http://www.vgcharts.org/usayearlysum.php

I'm thinking the fact 360 games cost $10 more than XB games also had something to do with this "1.6 percent growth".

Though it is interesting that the 360 has still not sold more units than the Xbox1 did in 2005. Though I am sure in the 2.5 months left this year they will make up that deficit plus change.

According to their records Xbox360 has not been able to outperform Xbox1 cumulative sales numbers in the same period from launch. Same for the N64 - though admitably that was a cheaper console. It has at least outperformed the GC, the DC, and surprisingly, the PS1 comparitively.

That's a healthy number of 360 sales right there, more even than DS sales ... ! However, I do wonder if that includes Arcade Live games? Because if so, that kind of lowers the average price per unit ...

 

[a688]

Looking at vgacharts now: http://www.vgcharts.org/usayearlysum.php

I'm thinking the fact 360 games cost $10 more than XB games also had something to do with this "1.6 percent growth".

Though it is interesting that the 360 has still not sold more units than the Xbox1 did in 2005. Though I am sure in the 2.5 months left this year they will make up that deficit plus change.

According to their records Xbox360 has not been able to outperform Xbox1 cumulative sales numbers in the same period from launch. Same for the N64 - though admitably that was a cheaper console. It has at least outperformed the GC, the DC, and surprisingly, the PS1 comparitively.

Whats with the x359 and x361 in the software totals for 2006.

 

[Corwin_B]

Though it is interesting that the 360 has still not sold more units than the Xbox1 did in 2005. Though I am sure in the 2.5 months left this year they will make up that deficit plus change.

Actually, the 360 sold more in its first full year (each month so far) than the XBox 1, but is still held back by the unbelievably bad launch. Also, in its first year the XBox had a big price drop IIRC, while the 360 is still sold at launch price.

 

[Powderkeg]

Actually, the 360 sold more in its first full year (each month so far) than the XBox 1, but is still held back by the unbelievably bad launch. Also, in its first year the XBox had a big price drop IIRC, while the 360 is still sold at launch price.

That is correct. MS dropped the price of the Xbox in May of 2002, slightly less than 7 months after launch. The 360 is still selling at launch price.

And let's not forget that the majority of 360's sold have been sold at the $400 price point, not $300 (Or less)



And outside of the Christmas shopping season where the 360 was extremely supply limited, the 360 has outsold the original Xbox figures every month of each systems first year. Sometimes by well over 100,000 units per month.