How the NPD figures were spun |
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Yeah, we basically agree with Brian Crecente that when you look at the NPD figures from a certain point of view, it is safe to say that all three of them won last holiday season. Of course, that's something you wouldn't hear from each of the three console makers. It's expected that each will declare themselves a big winner last holiday season 1UP has a feature detailing how each company spun the NPD figures to make itself look really, really good.Nintendo focused on the combined numbers that their units sold. In their press release titled "Nintendo Records Best Holiday Selling Season in U.S. Video Game History" they champion the cumulative sales that their GBA, Wii, and DS did. And they rightfully should; as that photoshop-spoof said: "Look! It prints money." Of course, one has to question the inclusion of the GBA figures. But still, with Nintendo, it was all about numbers.
Sony on the other hand focused on revenue. Moreover due to the dominant sales of the DS and the GBA, their press release included a few bits of dexterous wordplay. This allowed for the insertion of terms like "top-selling home system" to describe the old-but-still-kicking (and more importantly, still dominant) PS2. They point out that the sell-through during the first two months of the PS3 was higher than either of its predecessors. They also said that they sold slightly more PS3 units (687k) last holiday season compared to the Xbox 360's holiday season (634k). 1UP also notes that Sony seems to be having more success manufacturing and shipping hardware now, than Microsoft did during the 2005 holiday season.
On to Microsoft. Since they don't have the luxury of multiple products (something that Nintendo and Sony enjoys) their press release focuses on the here and now. Here's a nice bit of wording on their press release:
Consumers have cast their votes and Xbox 360 was the best-selling next-generation console of the 2006 holiday season in the United States, outselling the PlayStation 3 and Wii combined in December and outselling all next-generation consoles in November and December. The Xbox 360 garnered a 51% market share in the United States for December 2006.
Observing spin is so rewarding sometimes. It keeps your mind of the troubles that each console maker faces. For example, Microsoft is forced to rely on just the sales figures of the 360, while Sony and Nintendo have aged consoles and handhelds that still sell. Sony on the other hand is saying that its shipped one million but NPD reports figures put it at a little below 700k. If the 1M statement is to hold, there has to a bulk of units that are still in-transit and not counted. Nintendo faces a similar problem. They promised four million units by the end of 2006, and yet NPD reports that under 1.1 million units sold. No wonder they retracted that 4M statement.
Worried that the PR people are bs-ing you? Pah. Don't bother. Take it positively. Just keep in mind that it is their job to make the company that they're working for look good. They do this on pain of termination. Sure, it may get insane sometimes, but ignore the pain. You'll just ruin your day that way. Think of it as silly, silly entertainment.
Via 1up
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Comments [refresh]
Nintendo promised 2 Mio sold to retailers in North America and retailers sold 1.1 Mio to customers according to NPD. How many units were actually sold to NA retailers is unknown. When they promised 4 Mio it was for worldwide sales (again, to retailers) and they actually reached 3.2 Mio.
In other words: While it is evident that Nintendo did not quite reach their targets, you exaggerated the problem. You confused North American and worldwide numbers and you blurred the distinction between Nintendo's sales and retailers' sales, which is kind of embarrassing.