NPD May 2005

[randycat99]

Wow, sounds like only good things can be generalized for the "XBox owner". S'gotta be true then!

Has it already been discussed somewhere that scooby is chap, or does anybody else pick up on this?

 

[Geeforcer]

So let's see. Xbox is out of production, and for all intends and purposes dead. It still moves more then twice the hardware then GC for God knows how many months in a row, and to make it even worse, #1 game on Xbox by itself earned more then GC Top-20 *combined*. Other then that (and the fact that this bloodletting will only get worse in the 16 months until revolution shows up), Nintendo's home console unit is doing a bang-up job. Right, PC-Engine?

 

[BlueTsunami]

So let's see. Xbox is out of production, and for all intends and purposes dead. It still moves more then twice the hardware then GC for God knows how many months in a row, and to make it even worse, #1 game on Xbox by itself earned more then GC Top-20 *combined*. Other then that (and the fact that this bloodletting will only get worse in the 16 months until revolution shows up), Nintendo's home console unit is doing a bang-up job. Right, PC-Engine?

Hes gonna get-cha!!!!

 

[Fafalada]

I think it has more to do with the fact that XBOX owners buy twice as many games/system compared to PS2 owners.

Right, which of course explains in great detail why PS2 has a noticeably higher tie-ratio then XBox.

Just as the fact that 2005 so far is PS2s best selling year ever(by a good margin too), is undeniable evidence of the obvious trend of how PS2 sales are slowing down.

or does anybody else pick up on this

Was he given language lessons? :?
Wait nevermind, I actually read the post beyond first two sentences, you're probably right.

 

[Sis]

I think it has more to do with the fact that XBOX owners buy twice as many games/system compared to PS2 owners.

Right, which of course explains in great detail why PS2 has a noticeably higher tie-ratio then XBox.

Do you have links to this info? I've always heard rumblings that Xbox had much better tie-ratio than PS2. Finding true numbers on this has proven difficult/impossible tho. I will accept that it may be "insider info" naturally.

Just as the fact that 2005 so far is PS2s best selling year ever(by a good margin too), is undeniable evidence of the obvious trend of how PS2 sales are slowing down.

And aren't the PS2 console units actually making a profit? If the Xbox 360 can actually chop the legs off of the current generation, then it could kill the expected long term profitability of the PS2 end-game.

Or not.

.Sis

 

[Farid]

I think it has more to do with the fact that XBOX owners buy twice as many games/system compared to PS2 owners.

Wrong, tie-in ratios are better on the PS2.

 

[randycat99]

or does anybody else pick up on this

Was he given language lessons? :?
Wait nevermind, I actually read the post beyond first two sentences, you're probably right.

It's the "thinking process" that just reeks of chap, eh?

 

[SanGreal]

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/548/548547p1.html

Microsoft also leads the industry in what's called an "attach rate," a term to describe how many units of software are sold relative to the number of hardware units sold. Microsoft's "attach rate" is 7.2 (and 7.9 with bundled games), which is "the highest cumulative attach rate of any console after more than two years in the market." Gotta love those stats.

 

[Farid]

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/548/548547p1.html

Microsoft also leads the industry in what's called an "attach rate," a term to describe how many units of software are sold relative to the number of hardware units sold. Microsoft's "attach rate" is 7.2 (and 7.9 with bundled games), which is "the highest cumulative attach rate of any console after more than two years in the market." Gotta love those stats.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0PJQ/is_19_2/ai_n6227094#

Software/hardware Tie ratio (life to date - Aug. 2004)
PS2: 8.6
Xbox: 7.1
GameCube: 6.7

 

[Sis]

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/548/548547p1.html

Microsoft also leads the industry in what's called an "attach rate," a term to describe how many units of software are sold relative to the number of hardware units sold. Microsoft's "attach rate" is 7.2 (and 7.9 with bundled games), which is "the highest cumulative attach rate of any console after more than two years in the market." Gotta love those stats.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0PJQ/is_19_2/ai_n6227094#

Software/hardware Tie ratio (life to date - Aug. 2004)
PS2: 8.6
Xbox: 7.1
GameCube: 6.7

From the article, this is according to Sony, based on NPD info. So, MS says that they have the highest at 7.2, but they preface that with "highest cumulative". What's the cumulative part mean? And how would Sony's 8.6 not be cumulative? I'm confused. And to make matters worse, NPD seems to be cracking down on sites that are re-publishing sales figures. From Shrine of Data:

- Please delete all the NPD data which got from this site.
- Please stop shape near making the copy site using the data of this site or it being had.


Thank you for your cooperation.

This site received the following warning.

It has come to our attention that you have unlawfully published NPD's video games sales data (the "NPD Data") on your website (www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~hokora/index.html). Please understand that this data is proprietary and confidential to NPD and if for the exclusive use of our paying clients in accordance with our license terms, which prohibit publication in any manner without NPD's prior written consent. In addition, we have no record that you are even a client of NPD.

.Sis

 

[Oda]

I worked in two video game retail shops for just under 3 years, starting just prior to the launches of the Xbox and Cube (one of the shops was in downtown Toronto). Don't flame me for this, but this is what I perceived in both shops in terms of sales for Xbox software.

Xbox owners buy and trade-in far more mediocre software than the other two systems combined. The only reason my owners and I could account for this is the lack of continous bonafide hits the system receives. (I'm not saying the system doesn't have its share of quality games however).

The unexpected hype for titles like Brute Force, Sudeki, Blinx, etc. we equated to this fact. These are second-rate titles from second-rate developers, and we could never understand why so much hype was building for them. If they were PS2 titles, I guarantee you'd barely hear a word about 'em prior to release.

The fact that Xbox tie-in rates aren't relative to the install base difference between it and the PS2 (ie. it's higher) doesn't surprise me in the least. In my perception, Xbox owners are starved for software.

 

[PC-Engine]

So let's see. Xbox is out of production, and for all intends and purposes dead. It still moves more then twice the hardware then GC for God knows how many months in a row, and to make it even worse, #1 game on Xbox by itself earned more then GC Top-20 *combined*. Other then that (and the fact that this bloodletting will only get worse in the 16 months until revolution shows up), Nintendo's home console unit is doing a bang-up job. Right, PC-Engine?

Well if money is the reason you're in business then yeah GCN is doing fine, but feel free to rationalize why selling more Xbox units will actually make you more money even though you're losing buttloads on each unit sold even though it's been 4 years now. I'd rather sell 100 GCNs and make $5 profit on each one sold than sell 200 Xboxs and lose $50 on each one sold.

Please say you disagree with a straight face.

PS. As a matter of fact merely knowing that Xbox will be out of production will get a lot of people to get an Xbox who otherwise would wait for it to drop to $100 not to mention the announcement that Xbox 360 may not be 100% BC.

 

[jvd]

Oda

Look at the latest issue of game informer . Ps2 has 20 games that got 9 or higher from 2004/2005 . The xbox has 14 and the gamecube has 9.

The ps2 has 2 games that got a 10 , xbox has 1 , gamecube has 1


So its not really a lack of tripple a tittles . Its just that some people will buy things on the day they come out even with out reviews

 

[mckmas8808]

If the Xbox 360 can actually chop the legs off of the current generation, then it could kill the expected long term profitability of the PS2 end-game.

Or not.

Yeah I'm going for Or not. Look at the sales of some PSone games this past month.

PS CRASH BANDICOOT 2 $22,449 1,717
PS CRASH BASH $27,567 2,097
PS CRASH TEAM RACING $35,588 2,701
PS FINAL FANTASY TACTICS $28,455 2,034
PS FINAL FANTASY VII $76,219 5,314
PS GRAN TURISMO 2 $17,475 2,262
PS SPYRO DRAGON 2: RAGE $15,363 2,021
PS SPYRO THE DRAGON $12,732 1,896
PS SPYRO: YEAR OF DRAGON $21,009 1,683
PS SYPHON FILTER $8,952 3,067
PS TWISTED METAL 3 $8,262 3,686
PS FINAL FANTASY ANTHLGY $26,940 1,395
PS FINAL FANTASY CHRNCLS $21,937 1,125
PS FINAL FANTASY IX $25,290 1,440
PS FINAL FANTASY VIII $27,259 1,506
PS DRAGONBALL GT FINAL $31,018 2,103
PS SPONGEBOB SUPERSPONGE $25,883 2,583

And like I posted earlier

Platform Revenue Units
PS2 $107,365,138 3,191,609
XBX $72,783,403 1,966,807
GBA $62,908,435 2,252,460
PSP $26,798,460 621,350
GCN $23,287,849 851,545
NDS $6,762,351 202,788
PS $863,365 78,241
GBC $78,604 3,880
NGA $41,692 2,234
N64 $1,940 749
DC $1,225 626
GBOY $32 6

I think it's impressive that the PSone game software sold 78,000 units. Just look at the N64 with its weak 749 software units sold. And the Dreamcast that came out this gen has only 626 software units sold.

Its obvious that the PLAYSTATION brand is in full event. And scooby the only reason that the PSone can sell games to good is because of the high number of installed base that it has. I think the PS2 hardware and software sells will be fine regardless of how good the X360 is.

 

[Tap In]

it's amazing how many people buy the older generation stuff for gaming.


I mean, I'm poised to run around the corner to my Game Crazy on a moment's notice, run the stop sign at the corner, power slide into a parking spot, leave the car running and climb over old ladies and children just to get my hands on my PRE-ordered Next gen system and games while other people are just now saying, "hey, let's check out this Playstation (1) thingy we have heard so much about".

 

[Lazy8s]

Xbox has had the higher attach rate for respective time of their lifespans. The overall PS2 rate is ahead simply because it's been on the market longer to sell software.

 

[eDoshin]

it's amazing how many people buy the older generation stuff for gaming.


I mean, I'm poised to run around the corner to my Game Crazy on a moment's notice, run the stop sign at the corner, power slide into a parking spot, leave the car running and climb over old ladies and children just to get my hands on my PRE-ordered Next gen system and games while other people are just now saying, "hey, let's check out this Playstation (1) thingy we have heard so much about".

I don't think I would be wrong to say that gaming is not a priority for the vast majority of people. So called "hardcore" gamers would deride this segment as "casuals", but the fact is, they drive the industry because gaming cannot survive on the small segment of the population who's lives seem to revolve around gaming. I enjoy gaming immensely, but have never bought a console within the first year of its introduction except for PSP. When I was younger, I lacked the cash, as I get older, my priorities have changed.

 

[Sis]

And like I posted earlier

Platform Revenue Units
PS2 $107,365,138 3,191,609
XBX $72,783,403 1,966,807
GBA $62,908,435 2,252,460
PSP $26,798,460 621,350
GCN $23,287,849 851,545
NDS $6,762,351 202,788
PS $863,365 78,241
GBC $78,604 3,880
NGA $41,692 2,234
N64 $1,940 749
DC $1,225 626
GBOY $32 6

I think it's impressive that the PSone game software sold 78,000 units.

But the PS is generating only $860,000, since the games are sold much less per unit. Also, one wouldn't expect the PS2 games sale through to fall from 3.1 million down to 78,000 overnight, but the point would be that the Xbox 360 could unnaturally hurry that along.

The way the Xbox 360 hurries that along is by forcing Sony to release their next gen before they'd like. Personally, I think Sony is absolutely crazy for releasing the PS3 next year, given the incredible sales of both games and PS2 console units. PS2 is crying out to be milked a lot longer, from a business perspective.

But I suspect that MS is forcing their hand.

.Sis

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Speaking of attach rates, with attach rates as low as 8 titles per unit, how do these companies make money?!

Money made per console = Profit on Hardware+License fees from games.
License fee is about $10 a game.

Profit = $80 + profit on hardware.

Profit on hardware is often a loss, and only slight when a profit. Consider an initial release, with a loss on nest-gen hardware at say $75, in that hardware's life it'll make the console company at best $5!

 

[Sis]

Xbox has had the higher attach rate for respective time of their lifespans. The overall PS2 rate is ahead simply because it's been on the market longer to sell software.

Really? This would seem to imply that console units sold are frozen.

.Sis