Halo 2 sells ___ million first day

[London Geezer]

Does it matter?

I'm curious, because if it does include them it isn't that huge, given that Warcraft 3 set a record a few years back with 4.5million pre-orders. Incidentally, apparently that's more sales than all titles in the first two months of the XBOX and Gamecube's release. Not sure what the North American figures are like though, and no doubt WC3 was much bigger in Asia (especially Korea) than Halo.

Fair enough, but remember that curiosity killed the fat cat... or something like that...

 

[Inane_Dork]

Says who?
I never believe the sales numbers from any company.

Then it really doesn't matter who said it, does it?

 

[Lazy8s]

Fodder:

Including pre-orders?

It represents the amount bought by customers on the first day, so anyone with a pre-order that picked up their copy on Nov 9 was included. Anyone that hadn't picked it up yet, wasn't counted.

 

[jarrod]

It is Microsoft's estimate. They have exact numbers on shipments and poll their retailers throughout the day. That's how any of these figures are ever obtained initially, and independent tracking firm, the NPD Group, then samples their channels to try to provide verification later.

Actually, only Microsoft has to estimate based off polling. Nintendo and Sony both subscribe to the SiRAS program, which tracks point of purchase units sales electronically. Sega used the service too when they were in hardware and SiRAS is actually owned by Nintendo I believe (it was setup in the 1980s specifically to track NES sales initially).

I'm pretty sure Microsoft's numbers are more accuate that NPD's numbers can get. IIRC there is one major store that NPD leaves out and that is Walmart. I don't know if this is still the case but if it is then all the figures of games can be upped by around 20% give or take. If they do include Walmart now then NPD is more accurate. But it still wouldn't be as accurate as each console manufacturer that can track the number of games sold by a variety of methods. One of those methods is by the SKU.

NPD estimates Wal-Mart figures (TRU as well irrc) and adds them in the total.

 

[Deepak]

the-Magicbox.com reports that According to CNN H2 sold more than GTA:SA on first day.

 

[London Geezer]

the-Magicbox.com reports that According to CNN H2 sold more than GTA:SA on first day.

What does that mean?

-Halo2 sold more on the first day than GTASA throughout its all life?
-Halo2 sold more on the first day than GTASA sold on its first day?
-Halo2 sold more in total than GTASA sold on its first day? (don't think it's this one)

 

[Deepak]

the-Magicbox.com reports that According to CNN H2 sold more than GTA:SA on first day.

What does that mean?

-Halo2 sold more on the first day than GTASA throughout its all life?
-Halo2 sold more on the first day than GTASA sold on its first day?
-Halo2 sold more in total than GTASA sold on its first day? (don't think it's this one)

What does your inner self tell you?

 

[Akumajou]

the-Magicbox.com reports that According to CNN H2 sold more than GTA:SA on first day.

What does that mean?

-Halo2 sold more on the first day than GTASA throughout its all life?
-Halo2 sold more on the first day than GTASA sold on its first day?
-Halo2 sold more in total than GTASA sold on its first day? (don't think it's this one)

Hey london-boy, read it and weep:

http://money.cnn.com/2004/11/11/technology/halosales/

24 hour sales of Xbox title exceed what GTA earned in its first six days.
November 11, 2004: 5:40 PM EST
By Chris Morris, CNN/Money staff writer

Straight from the source CNN Money reported this on TV on Saturday and Sunday after the numbers were tallied up.

Halo 2 completly pimp smacked GTASA 24 times according to CNN.

All I can say is that Rockstar games must be feeling very stupid for signing that exclusivity agreement, a big no, major financial mistake that they decided to ignore the XBox.

I bet if they never signed that blunder of a contract with Sony they would have topped Halo2's sales on both consoles combined, nevermind PC since it doesn't count.

That reminds of when Eidos signed that contract with Sony to keep Tomb Raider and Lara Croft tied to PSX for several years. They could have seriously taken Lara Croft and Tomb Raider to the real next level on Dreamcast and generated a major profit.

 

[Inane_Dork]

Hey london-boy, read it and weep:

http://money.cnn.com/2004/11/11/technology/halosales/

Yeah, L-B. Sucks to be you.
You're such a disappointment to me.

 

[Jov]

I bet if they never signed that blunder of a contract with Sony they would have topped Halo2's sales on both consoles combined, nevermind PC since it doesn't count.

I highly doubt it would improved GTA:SA sales figure if released on the Xbox at the same time. Xbox gamers would not forsake or lose sleep over anything else other than H2. Some might pick up GTA:SA down the track, thus does not improve the instant sales figures.

 

[Deepak]

I bet if they never signed that blunder of a contract with Sony they would have topped Halo2's sales on both consoles combined, nevermind PC since it doesn't count.

I highly doubt it would improved GTA:SA sales figure if released on the Xbox at the same time. Xbox gamers would not forsake or lose sleep over anything else other than H2. Some might pick up GTA:SA down the track, thus does not improve the instant sales figures.

And imgine how much H2 would have sold had it been released on PS2/GC/PC?

 

[rabidrabbit]

I think Halo 2 was hyped for mainstream gamers a lot more than GTA:SA.
The publisher really didn't arrange any launch parties for SA, as they did for Halo2.
...and we all know that hype sells, be it games or consoles, hyping it up does increase the initial sales numbers (that Matrix "game" anyone ).
I'm not saying Halo2 isn't a good game and not deserving those sales, because it is and it does.
But the initial sales numbers do not really mean much... to anyone expect funbois.

And I agree with Deepak, when a game is exclusive to one console for a limited period of time, versus being exclusive to one console forever, I'm sure no-one would be as dumb as to say Rockstar is more stupid in signing their (limited) exclusivity agreement than Bungie with their agreement.
Because I'm sure both of them know just well what they are doing

How much did GTA:VC and GTA 3 sell on xbox? Do you really think GTA:SA would really have sold that well on xbox if it had been released at the same time as Halo2?

GTA:SA is a "M" rated game, that does have an effect on the sales numbers too as "mature" gamers aren't that hasty to buy the game immediately when it releases. That might sound silly but it is true

Edit: ..... "PSX" and Dreamcast didn't even exist at the same time, Dreamcast was dead long before PSX was launched :?

 

[PC-Engine]

Doesn't MS own Bungie? Why would they have to sign an exclusivity agreement?

 

[rabidrabbit]

Bungie signed their "exclusivity agreement" when they sold to MS
Really, in light of what was argued here, it makes no difference.

Edit: Ok, it can be argued whether it makes sense at all to release "exclusive" games, be they limited or total, when the market is multiformat.
But somehow I refuse to believe these companies are so dumb and gullible as to not study the situation

There really is two scenarios:
If Rockstar had released GTA:VC for PS2 and xbox at the same time, they would have lost the "exclusivity money" they got from Sony, but would have initially gained some from GTA:VC xbox sales, and Sony would have not benefitted as much.

As Rockstar released GTA:VC for Sony as limited exclusive deal, they got the big PS2 sales money + Sony exclusivity deal money (which compensates for the money they did not get from the games xbox initial sales), plus they will eventually get the money from PC and xbox GTA:VC sales too!

...now which one of those deals would I make if I was Rockstar..... should not be very difficult decision, I would be dumb not to go for the latter

 

[Phil]

All I can say is that Rockstar games must be feeling very stupid for signing that exclusivity agreement, a big no, major financial mistake that they decided to ignore the XBox.

I bet they would feel very stupid after both their previous games sold more together than the entire Xbox market is made of. I'd be quite suprised if GTA:SA doesn't outsell HALO2 eventually. Actually, GTA3 alone sold nearly as much as there are Xbox users on this planet. Go figure...

And btw:

Still, Microsoft's (Research) massive marketing campaign, estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars, created an aura of excitement that prompted gamers to respond.

While HALO2 is without doubt more special than the X'd iteration of a well known franchise, I have yet got to see any major campaign by Rockstar.

 

[Qroach]

you guys need to stop assuming you know what's going on with Rockstar and MS and how the game industry work on occasion.

Rockstar did NOT get paid for the exclusivity time. Rockstar simply uses the exclusivity time as leverage for getting what they want form SONY with other games. If sony doesn't do what they want, they threaten to not make GTA games exclusive to the PS2 first. Sony would not pay for the exclusivity any longer and in fact 100% HATES Rockstar for threatening to do this all the time.

MS certainly hasn't spent more money on halo 2 advertising compared to the first Halo. The Ads have run far less frquently then the first halo. However they did have movie theater advertising which also helps. In fact I can recall still seeing the original halo ad running close to a year after the game had first arrived.

 

[Phil]

MS certainly hasn't spent more money on halo 2 advertising compared to the first Halo. The Ads have run far less frquently then the first halo. However they did have movie theater advertising which also helps. In fact I can recall still seeing the original halo ad running close to a year after the game had first arrived.

Out of curiousity, how would you know that they "certainly" didn't spend as much money on advertising as Halo? I find that quite dubious - in europe at least (Germany/Switzerland), it's quite obvious that Microsoft has gone through an amazing effort in promoting Halo2. I would be very surprised if the very same promotion isn't done on a worldwide basis and the above CNN article does seem to support that.

 

[rabidrabbit]

you guys need to stop assuming you know what's going on with Rockstar and MS and how the game industry work on occasion.

Rockstar did NOT get paid for the exclusivity time. Rockstar simply uses the exclusivity time as leverage for getting what they want form SONY with other games. If sony doesn't do what they want, they threaten to not make GTA games exclusive to the PS2 first. Sony would not pay for the exclusivity any longer and in fact 100% HATES Rockstar for threatening to do this all the time.

MS certainly hasn't spent more money on halo 2 advertising compared to the first Halo. The Ads have run far less frquently then the first halo. However they did have movie theater advertising which also helps. In fact I can recall still seeing the original halo ad running close to a year after the game had first arrived.

Oh really? Still, there is a signed agreement between Sony and Rockstar conserning GTA:SA exclusivity, isn't there. Whether they directly got "paid" for it, or agreed on Sony putting marketing money on future Rockstar games.... does it make any difference really?
It's not like Rockstar are threatening Sony: "if you don't make the PS3 pink and furry with penis shaped controllers, we're not making any GTA games for you anymore"

you make it sound like serious bullying, when in fact it probably is just everyday business negotiations.
Just because you heard some Rockstar workers talking about the deal (gossiping would perhaps describe it well enough) in an elevator, doesn't mean what you heard is the true side of the story

You might claim you're "in the know" and others are just "assuming", but in the end it's how you view it.
.
.
.
How much did MS put on Halo ad campaign, o thou in the know?

 

[Gerry]

While HALO2 is without doubt more special than the X'd iteration of a well known franchise, I have yet got to see any major campaign by Rockstar.

Judging by the number of TV commercials for GTA:SA in the UK, I'd Rockstar have spent a fortune on promoting the game.

Not that I'd expect anything less tbh.

 

[Phil]

Gerry, I wasn't refering solely to tv commercials. I was especially refering to MS Halo2 promotion by having up to 30 game boots with Halo2 and LAN play in big electronic stores overhere.