Console Makers Respond to NPD March Sales Data
Microsoft's Xbox 360 broke the PlayStation 3's two-month winning streak for the #2 spot in hardware sales, moving 262,000 consoles in March. Microsoft again suggested that shortages played a hand in the total numbers for the month.
"Going into March, some key U.S. retailers were still experiencing the trickle down effect of Xbox 360 console shortages," a Microsoft representative said. "By the end of March, supply issues had improved and we expect retailers to be fully stocked with Xbox 360 consoles in time for the Grand Theft Auto IV launch."
The company went on to tout a 7.5 software attach rate for the Xbox 360 in March, describing the data as "a record for any game console".
In its response to the data, hardware manufacturer Sony noted that the 257,100 PlayStation 3s sold in March represent a 98% year-over-year growth in sales, while 1.9M software units sold marked a 139% increase over March of last year.
"It is proof that, in these economically challenging times, consumers recognize the long-term value of our platforms and the tremendous heritage of our brand in delivering the best entertainment experience," said Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Jack Tretton.
Tretton added that the PSP's third place finish with 297,000 units sold in March and the releases of Ready at Dawn's God of War: Chains of Olympus and Square Enix's Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII "further proves the trend that 2008 is the year for PlayStation."
Nintendo boasted more than 1.4M units in total hardware sales, moving 721,000 units of its Wii console and 698,000 units of the portable Nintendo DS.
"Nintendo systems represented 58 percent of all video game hardware sold in March in the United States,” Nintendo of America sales VP Cammie Dunaway. "We expect our momentum to continue with big upcoming game launches like Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit."
The company noted that the portable Nintendo DS has now sold more than 19M units in the United States alone since it launched in November, 2004.
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dawurz
replySony has its work cut out for them. In its second generation product, MS is "bringing it" in terms of competing with Sony. Sony made a colossal tactical blunder when they ceded a four year head start to Microsoft in developing the Playstation Network. Sony's network IS free, but compared to XBL's whopping $4.19 a month and vastly superior functionality, you get what you paid for.
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They also promised an online component with the PS2 but then that disappeared.
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Honestly I think Xbox Live is awful. I never use it. I only keep it to check out MP modes in game for research purposes.
I don't like to play on Xbox Live because the players on Xbox are really annoying and hostile. I didn't play for almost a year and then when I finally got COD4 the first lobby I joined guess what, some 11 year old kid was singing and some 17 year old kid was calling people faggots and niggers.
I know there is a mute button but you know what? I pay MS money each month to use their service and what do they do for me? Nothing. They should do something about policing the community or provide a better way for the community to police itself. If I was not in game development I would speak with my dollars and cancel my account. I play other online games and it is not a problem. Rarely a problem with TF2 on PC. And who else do I pay a monthly fee for online play? Blizzard for WoW. And they police that for the most part. While it seems like a similar community the threat of GM ban or suspension or even a bad reputation from the community is real enough for it to be less of a problem. Clearly a Mic is not shoved in front everyones face for WoW but the point is that I am paying a monthly fee and I feel like to some degree Blizzard GMs/Devs try and respond to what the community wants. With Xbox Live, i get what I get.
And a get a bad experience.-
This is why there are friends lists. play with them only. Or play with other shack community members.
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how is this localized to XBL? Rarely a problem with TF2 on PC? maybe if you only play on shack servers, but playing CS on PC is one of the first horrible kiddie communitites I remember online
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I always hate it when PS3 promoters talk about the Sony service being free. It's free... because it basically isn't really a 'service' at all. They basically supply an Ethernet port with connectivity to the Internet... all the actual services are up to the game developers. A lot of times developers (especially Japanese) decide not to include voice chat in a game... and that totally kills the multiplayer (especially co-op) experience! On the 360 a buddy and I can chat at the dashboard... load up Rainbow Six... then switch to Live Arcade Gauntlet... then play some Doom... and keep chatting the whole time. That is worth a lot to me. And I'm sure developers appreciate not having to put all the extra work in.
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Yeah I wish there was more to read up about this. It seems MS owns & maintains, by and large, most (all?) of the XBL infrastructure, where Sony leaves it to the devs as you mentioned - is this true in every case? So say with COD4 on the PS3, who owns & maintains the servers....Activision, Sony, Infinity Ward?
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I agree. Xbox Live is a significant advantage. In fact, it's Microsoft's crown jewel. Live is the one thing that Microsoft can carry over to any platform they chose to support, not just the next Xbox. If they ever do get Live integrated into PC games it becomes even deadlier. Right now, Games for Windows Live is shit but if it becomes more like Steam then look out. Sony and even Nintendo should be very scared of that.
In the meantime, Live's ease of use is enjoyed not just by players but by developers. The devs like it because it brings standards to the voice and networking code. This means you don't have as much chaos like you do in PC land. You don't need separate programs like teamspeak or xfire. All those features are seamlessly integrated into Live. Don't laugh about the tech side of it. There are significant cost advantages to be had and game publishers like cost advantages. The comparable chaos that is the Playstation Network is a liability to them at this point because it adds cost that the game makers have to swallow.
Case in point. You need to have three IDs to sign in/play Metal Gear Solid Online. That is a fantastic example as to why Live is better than PSN. This is console land. Simplicity and ease of use reign supreme. Nobody has time to dick around with configuration settings, drivers, or multiple accounts. Things need to just work once I power on and put my game disc in the tray.
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