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[Kinitari]

Wii - Store got a whole bunch this week, roughly 40 total in 3 shipments, sold them all pretty quickly, although the people who bought them didn't seem as enthused as the usual crowd, they were more like "Yeah, great, FINALLY, ****ing Nintendo". But still, plenty of happy kids.

- Not much was sold other than SSBB, roughly 150 copies (sold out) with 88 more on the way, why such a random number? I unno. Oh, and we sold bullies.


360 - Sold out of Pro's, selling pretty darn good, month to date on Pro's + Elites (no one has bought any Arcades...) is 38. Leaning mostly on Pros.

- Software sales go something like Army of Two > Lost > CoD4 > Assorted

Ps3 - Selling about the same as the 360, give or take a console, getting a lot of buyers who want it as a game player, in fact we actually have a few sitting over in our Home Theater department - they sell good there too.

- Bright side is, I'm seeing a lot of "Well, I mean I am buying this expensive machine, might as well spend some extra and buy a game or two" which is usually followed by a Tiger Woods 08 purchase.


DS/PSP - Still selling like hot cakes, we're actually starting to get a lot more UMD's in... which is kind of weird, in the last 3 months we went from having something like... 2 dozen titles to choose from to something like 50-60 titles to choose from. Good I guess, as a lot of them are priced at 11.99. DSs are going fast, people still love the black more than anything else, no one is buying Professor Layton I guess. Bratz Super Babyz is moving though! Exciting stuff.


More info on request!

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Which is quite in the opposite of what Sony does. Sony advertised Ratchet and Uncharted for a good 45-60 days after it launched with consistent advertising. They even supported both games with bundles - and it has clearly helped both franchises since they've shipped 1mil+ despite the bad start in NPDs.

It's just a difference in philosophy. Remember how the Zune was advertised? It was fuckin everywhere, then it stopped. Some companies do things differently.

 

[King_Slender]

Wii - Store got a whole bunch this week, roughly 40 total in 3 shipments, sold them all pretty quickly, although the people who bought them didn't seem as enthused as the usual crowd, they were more like "Yeah, great, FINALLY, ****ing Nintendo". But still, plenty of happy kids.
!

Watch yourself :lol

 

[BishopLamont]

Thank god Nintendo went with 1 SKU (no gamecube jokes please :lol ), all those SKU rumors for the 360 and PS3, I think is impacting sales.

 

[BLaZiN PRopHeT]

How is Lo selling? im hoping itll sell between 100-150k in march

 

[B-Rad Lascelle]

How is Lo selling? im hoping itll sell between 100-150k in march

That may be optimistic. Most retailer reports seem to indicate their LO restocks aren't moving off the shelves. Doesn't seem like a title that will pick up sales from casuals after its launch, so I expect it'll have a quick drop off. Made a nice splash in its launch month, though.

 

[Kagari]

How is Lo selling? im hoping itll sell between 100-150k in march

Sales seem to have died down into nothingness. IE, haven't sold a copy in 2 weeks now.

 

[Beer Monkey]

As for why demand is "apparently" dropping, I think it's fair to contend that the X360 may have hit a "wall" for hardcore adopters at the $279-349 barrier. The gamers they've got (9+ million) are still splurging on software like nobody's business, but the "jump in" crowd may have been tapped at the current price point.

I'm surprised that it took as long as it did, and honestly they really should have cut the price before now. Consider that the majority of Xbox 1 sales were at $179 and $149. Before this generation I'd have never expected them to go for ~2 years of pricing their main SKU at $399 and another half a year at $349. Increased demand and support has allowed them to do it, but they've kind of gone nuts on shooting for profitably over market penetration lately. If they resisted price cuts last gen like this gen, Gamecube would have literally buried them.

 

[smurfx]

my younger cousin bought a wii today at target finally so that is another +1 for nintendo. it was also my first time playing the wii and now i want to buy one. smash brothers online and wii bowling and baseball is really fun.

 

[blitz64]

my younger cousin bought a wii today at target finally so that is another +1 for nintendo. it was also my first time playing the wii and now i want to buy one. smash brothers online and wii bowling and baseball is really fun.

I think your reaction is really typical. Many of my friends wanted to buy one after playing wii sports at my house last year. Now some of them want to buy it for smash bros.

 

[unomas]

I'm surprised that it took as long as it did, and honestly they really should have cut the price before now. Consider that the majority of Xbox 1 sales were at $179 and $149. Before this generation I'd have never expected them to go for ~2 years of pricing their main SKU at $399 and another half a year at $349. Increased demand and support has allowed them to do it, but they've kind of gone nuts on shooting for profitably over market penetration lately. If they resisted price cuts last gen like this gen, Gamecube would have literally buried them.

I guess they got sick of losing money, and if they thought they were in a position to drop the price and still turn a profit I'm sure they would. At this point though sales are still good, 250k for Feb isn't bad at all but obviously with a lower price sales would improve. If Sony continues to outsell them I'm sure they'll cut the price and hopefully by $100 for each SKU instead of this $20 or $50 crap. I guess we'll find out shortly.

 

[SapientWolf]

I think your reaction is really typical. Many of my friends wanted to buy one after playing wii sports at my house last year. Now some of them want to buy it for smash bros.

I am having serious problems trying get the people who enjoy Wii Sports to move on to games like Mario Galaxy and Smash Brothers. The cycle seems to go Wii Sports -> Wii Play -> boredom and I don't know how to break it. Maybe Raving Rabbids, Wario Ware, or Mario Party offer a smoother transition.

 

[AlteredBeast]

Really though. 250k for February is pretty good, just PS3 was a little better. At this rate, even taking out the sure-to-be-phenomenal April and November/December, the console is going to sell more than the PS3's entire LTD up to this point in America. That is perspective right there. Factoring in the inevitable price drop of April and then deals around the holidays, I think the 360 is still in for an amazing 2008.

 

[Kevtones]

Game Crazy

Wii: Fuckton of brawl, probably sold 250+ by now. HOTD2+3 has yet to sell a copy. We got 9 Wiis this week, sold 9 (our waiting list is still at 60 or so)

PS3: No systems sold, Army of Two is doing well.

Xbox 360: 3 systems I believe, all Pro's (we tell people not to buy Arcade units). Army of Two is doing VERY well and Frontlines has had surprising legs.

PSP: Patapon has been selling surprisingly well (probably 7-8 copies) and God of War has too. We rarely sell PSP software btw.

DS: Ring of Fates is doing well, and we probably sold another 10 systems this week.

 

[Hairyiguana]

Revealing weekly musings on GAF.

Spoiler

I just had enough. I've moved up to the second lowest tier of the game industry anyway: tester

Let the fella's know up top to tighten up the graphics on level 3.

 

[RBH]

HOTD2+3 has yet to sell a copy.

 

[ComputerNerd]

I am having serious problems trying get the people who enjoy Wii Sports to move on to games like Mario Galaxy and Smash Brothers. The cycle seems to go Wii Sports -> Wii Play -> boredom and I don't know how to break it. Maybe Raving Rabbids, Wario Ware, or Mario Party offer a smoother transition.

I think the problem is you're trying to make people like the games you like. It doesn't work that way.

Just probe them for what they like, and offer games like that. If all they care for is Wii Sports, offer Mario and Sonic and Carnival Games. If they want to experiment with different genres, they'll let you know, or pursue it themselves.

 

[Somnia]

Don't worry it sold 4 copies at my store so all is well! :lol

 

[AniHawk]

Well it was my last day at Gamestop yesterday. It was marked by gusts of wind over 50 mph, a hailstorm, lightning, and a power outage that lasted for about an hour and fifteen minutes.

Not like anyone cares, but it was apparently a small tornado that hit the store that caused all this. I thought it was. All the signs were there, but I wasn't sure until a friend verified it later.

Don't get many of those in SoCal.

 

[Rolf NB]

Really though. 250k for February is pretty good, just PS3 was a little better. At this rate, even taking out the sure-to-be-phenomenal April and November/December, the console is going to sell more than the PS3's entire LTD up to this point in America.

So will the PS3 itself.

That is perspective right there.

Yeah, sure.

 

[Plinko]

DS/PSP - Still selling like hot cakes, we're actually starting to get a lot more UMD's in... which is kind of weird, in the last 3 months we went from having something like... 2 dozen titles to choose from to something like 50-60 titles to choose from. Good I guess, as a lot of them are priced at 11.99. DSs are going fast, people still love the black more than anything else, no one is buying Professor Layton I guess. Bratz Super Babyz is moving though! Exciting stuff.


More info on request!

Damn it.

 

[thefro]

I did some install work at 3 Best Buys in suburbia Indianapolis early last week:

- Smash completely wiped out (a couple of the stores had empty Smash displays with just a strategy guide or two left). All the Wiis had the Smash Brothers game on demo.

- 360s available at all stores

- Saw a bunch of Halo 3 Legendary Editions discounted to about $80 at a couple stores.

- Guitar Hero 3 in overstocked supply, except the Wii Edition (which I've only seen at Wal-Mart).

- Rock Band continuing to sell real well

 

[_Alkaline_]

Smash is going to be a complete monster come NPD time.

 

[Hammer24]

Thx for sharing guys, always a nice read.

 

[Gamecocks625]

Smash is going to be a complete monster come NPD time.

Indeed. This is my first Smash game, and I see what the fuss is about. Could it reach 2-3 million in March or is that crazy? It should net at least a million, though.

 

[Shiggy]

How does Smash compare to Mario Galaxy and Halo 3?

 

[TheKingsCrown]

Indeed. This is my first Smash game, and I see what the fuss is about. Could it reach 2-3 million in March or is that crazy? It should net at least a million, though.

I would estimate first day it prob sold 800k - 1 million; who knows for the rest of the month, I wouldn't think more than 2 million though.

 

[kottila]

How does Smash compare to Mario Galaxy and Halo 3?

In between

 

[hoos30]

I am having serious problems trying get the people who enjoy Wii Sports to move on to games like Mario Galaxy and Smash Brothers. The cycle seems to go Wii Sports -> Wii Play -> boredom and I don't know how to break it. Maybe Raving Rabbids, Wario Ware, or Mario Party offer a smoother transition.

It's possible that they may never break out of it. My two non-gamer, Wii owning friends play Wii Sports and only Wii Sports. They've dabbled in Madden, Tiger Woods and one of the baseball games, but Wii Sports is the only game that gets any love.

A lot has to do with the Mii thing, I think. The whole family family has a Mii that they've really personalized. If a game doesn't have Miis, they are not interested. This might be the dark side of the Blue Ocean.

 

[Oni Jazar]

Go Patapon!

 

[kbear]

Really though. 250k for February is pretty good, just PS3 was a little better. At this rate, even taking out the sure-to-be-phenomenal April and November/December, the console is going to sell more than the PS3's entire LTD up to this point in America. That is perspective right there. Factoring in the inevitable price drop of April and then deals around the holidays, I think the 360 is still in for an amazing 2008.

I don't think you understand. PS3 has made a permanent turnaround, imo. Media coverage is a good gauge of this. Back when things were awful, there was a seemingly non-stop, 24/7 barrage of negative press for the PS3 -- even some mainstream reports on its 'failure'. Now, it's completely different. The negative press is no more. Looking at it further..

- the price is there
- the games are there
- the future line-up is peerless (best in 2008, by far)
- the hardware is reliable
- Blu-ray won

The perception has totally changed. PS3 will continue to outsell the 360 for the entirety of the year, imo. Microsoft might win a few months, but overall PS3 > 360 in NA sales this year and going forward.

 

[knitoe]

The perception has totally changed. PS3 will continue to outsell the 360 for the entirety of the year, imo. Microsoft might win a few months, but overall PS3 > 360 in NA sales this year and going forward.

PS3 barely beat out X360 with somewhat shortages in Jan and Feb. If Microsoft reduces the price by $50-$100 and making price difference increase $100-150, X360 won't outsell the PS3 again?

 

[LiquidMetal14]

PS3 barely beat out X360 with somewhat shortages in Jan and Feb. If Microsoft reduces the price by $50-$100 and making price difference increase $100-150, X360 won't outsell the PS3 again?

Let's not put words in others mouths. We all know a lower price benefits anyone. I think the games will speak for themselves and finally move more hardware for the PS3 at least.

 

[Ryu1999]

PS3 barely beat out X360 with somewhat shortages in Jan and Feb. If Microsoft reduces the price by $50-$100 and making price difference increase $100-150, X360 won't outsell the PS3 again?

funny that I'll be using an argument used by the other side but:

"When Microsoft drops the price, then so will Sony and we're back to square 1"

 

[gkryhewy]

PS3 will continue to outsell the 360 for the entirety of the year, imo. Microsoft might win a few months, but overall PS3 > 360 in NA sales this year and going forward.

I think you're out of your mind.

Price drop.

Price drop?

Price drop.

But we'll see. The games are already there, plus, GTA. Not to say that PS3 won't continue to track ahead of what it did last year, though.

funny that I'll be using an argument used by the other side but:

"When Microsoft drops the price, then so will Sony and we're back to square 1"

This is a good point, but I think MS is much more able to get to $200-250 than is Sony. It bears remembering in this context that they've essentially sold through everything they've shipped at current price levels.

 

[Kinitari]

Something else to consider, a lot of people are coming into my store asking me for copies of GTA4 and GT5 and are slightly taken aback (and plenty are in disbelief) when I tell them that neither are released yet. I guess plenty of people don't really pay as much attention to the changing release dates of games as some of us.

That also led me to the thought - I think the perception of GTA4 as an 360 game as well, really isn't there. Maybe it's just that 360 gamers are more informed, but pretty much every single person who has asked me about GTA4 is asking about the PS3 version, so I have a feeling it's going to pull a DMC4 - in that it's going to maybe match the sales of the 360 version (Or my guess, beat it by a tiny margarin), which is crazy considering the install base. Well... the more I think about it, the more that actually sounds like it may not happen... while DMC4 did do this, it also wasn't a game that probably didn't appeal TOO much to the 360 audience. GTA4 seems like the 360 bread and butter. Dunno, I guess it could swing either way.

Also - those in the Toronto area who want a Wii, Best Buy's should have them in stock like... now. And as far as I understand, we can sell them whenever we please (ie. we don't have to hold them for a flyer).

 

[thefro]

This is a good point, but I think MS is much more able to get to $200-250 than is Sony. It bears remembering in this context that they've essentially sold through everything they've shipped at current price levels.

That's really important, because when we go into a recession both the 360/PS3 are in real trouble.

The dollar tanking will probably hamper further price cuts for all the consoles. Obviously $400 = less yen for Sony/Nintendo, but also will buy less overseas overseas parts/labor for Microsoft.

 

[bafflewaffle]

I would expect MS to bundle GTA4 with 360's. It seems like that should be a better strategy than price cutting.

I would expect MS to offer a new GTA themed "special edition" 360 SKU in an ugly color for $50 more than regular retail. :lol (game not included)

 

[Beer Monkey]

pretty much every single person who has asked me about GTA4 is asking about the PS3 version, so I have a feeling it's going to pull a DMC4 - in that it's going to maybe match the sales of the 360 version (Or my guess, beat it by a tiny margarin

You butter be wrong or Michael Pachter's going to be a sad puppy.

 

[Kagari]

Something else to consider, a lot of people are coming into my store asking me for copies of GTA4 and GT5 and are slightly taken aback (and plenty are in disbelief) when I tell them that neither are released yet. I guess plenty of people don't really pay as much attention to the changing release dates of games as some of us.

That also led me to the thought - I think the perception of GTA4 as an 360 game as well, really isn't there. Maybe it's just that 360 gamers are more informed, but pretty much every single person who has asked me about GTA4 is asking about the PS3 version, so I have a feeling it's going to pull a DMC4 - in that it's going to maybe match the sales of the 360 version (Or my guess, beat it by a tiny margarin), which is crazy considering the install base. Well... the more I think about it, the more that actually sounds like it may not happen... while DMC4 did do this, it also wasn't a game that probably didn't appeal TOO much to the 360 audience. GTA4 seems like the 360 bread and butter. Dunno, I guess it could swing either way.

Also - those in the Toronto area who want a Wii, Best Buy's should have them in stock like... now. And as far as I understand, we can sell them whenever we please (ie. we don't have to hold them for a flyer).

I've actually been seeing the same thing :X People ask if it's on PS2 and then see the signage and say,"Oh, for PS3, huh."

 

[gtj1092]

Something else to consider, a lot of people are coming into my store asking me for copies of GTA4 and GT5 and are slightly taken aback (and plenty are in disbelief) when I tell them that neither are released yet. I guess plenty of people don't really pay as much attention to the changing release dates of games as some of us.

That also led me to the thought - I think the perception of GTA4 as an 360 game as well, really isn't there. Maybe it's just that 360 gamers are more informed, but pretty much every single person who has asked me about GTA4 is asking about the PS3 version, so I have a feeling it's going to pull a DMC4 - in that it's going to maybe match the sales of the 360 version (Or my guess, beat it by a tiny margarin), which is crazy considering the install base. Well... the more I think about it, the more that actually sounds like it may not happen... while DMC4 did do this, it also wasn't a game that probably didn't appeal TOO much to the 360 audience. GTA4 seems like the 360 bread and butter. Dunno, I guess it could swing either way.

Also - those in the Toronto area who want a Wii, Best Buy's should have them in stock like... now. And as far as I understand, we can sell them whenever we please (ie. we don't have to hold them for a flyer).

Watch what u say because you'll be jumped on by the "MS will own GTA4" crowd and the "there is no such thing as brand association" mob.

 

[Arde5643]

Watch what u say because you'll be jumped on by the "MS will own GTA4" crowd and the "there is no such thing as brand association" mob.

Are you by any chance part of that anti-mob mob?

Besides you, I don't think anyone else has made that association.

 

[Kinitari]

Watch what u say because you'll be jumped on by the "MS will own GTA4" crowd and the "there is no such thing as brand association" mob.

=p I'm not doubting that Microsoft is smart enough to realize that they are going to have to work twice as hard as Sony to get the idea across that 'Hey! It's available on the 360 too, WITH extra content!' - I'm just curious as to how effectively this message will be broadcasted.

Oh and fun little tidbit of info, customer came in the store earlier today when I was at work, and told me that the Ps3 40gb's we had in stock were outdated - as the software on them is full of bugs, and a newer more sturdier version of the 40gb is now out and available AND packaged in with "that new baseball game" I am assuming he meant MLB 08 The Show. Oh, and that this old model is 350 dollars, and the new one is 400. When I told him I wasn't sure such a bundle existed, he was very vocal about my... misinformation ("You're wrong! You're WRONG") - so yeah... new 40gb bundle am confirmed?

 

[gtj1092]

Are you by any chance part of that anti-mob mob?

Besides you, I don't think anyone else has made that association.

Yeah I guess I could be apart of an anti-mob mob, I like that title. And you must not of been in any GTA4 threads or sales in general if you havent heard the people claiming that people dont associate GTA and the PS brand.

 

[gtj1092]

=p I'm not doubting that Microsoft is smart enough to realize that they are going to have to work twice as hard as Sony to get the idea across that 'Hey! It's available on the 360 too, WITH extra content!' - I'm just curious as to how effectively this message will be broadcasted.

Oh and fun little tidbit of info, customer came in the store earlier today when I was at work, and told me that the Ps3 40gb's we had in stock were outdated - as the software on them is full of bugs, and a newer more sturdier version of the 40gb is now out and available AND packaged in with "that new baseball game" I am assuming he meant MLB 08 The Show. Oh, and that this old model is 350 dollars, and the new one is 400. When I told him I wasn't sure such a bundle existed, he was very vocal about my... misinformation ("You're wrong! You're WRONG") - so yeah... new 40gb bundle am confirmed?

:lol :lol :lol :lol

 

[gkryhewy]

Yeah I guess I could be apart of an anti-mob mob, I like that title. And you must not of been in any GTA4 threads or sales in general if you havent heard the people claiming that people dont associate GTA and the PS brand.

MS is going to market the hell out of it. Wasn't the $50 Million DLC commitment for marketing?

Also, those people are right to an extent. DMC is a PS-centric franchise far more than is GTA. DMC has not only historically led on playstation, but is also a japanophile sort of game (art style, genre, etc.).

GTA, on the other hand, is very western. Further, 360 is beginning to take on the PS2 role in North America, where any quality game can sell (see Lost Odyssey). I expect that on a per-user basis GTA4 will do better on PS3, but I'd say this would be largely due to the smaller user-base = more hardcore factor. I also wouldn't be shocked if it goes absolutely nuts on the 360 a la COD4, as it has a hell of a lot going for it.

 

[tanod]

Oh and fun little tidbit of info, customer came in the store earlier today when I was at work, and told me that the Ps3 40gb's we had in stock were outdated - as the software on them is full of bugs, and a newer more sturdier version of the 40gb is now out and available AND packaged in with "that new baseball game" I am assuming he meant MLB 08 The Show. Oh, and that this old model is 350 dollars, and the new one is 400. When I told him I wasn't sure such a bundle existed, he was very vocal about my... misinformation ("You're wrong! You're WRONG") - so yeah... new 40gb bundle am confirmed?

:lol

 

[Elios83]

Also, those people are right to an extent. DMC is a PS-centric franchise far more than is GTA. DMC has not only historically led on playstation, but is also a japanophile sort of game (art style, genre, etc.).

Not even close.
GTA is the best selling third party PS2 game.
A single GTA episode on PS2 has sold as much as all the Devil May Cry series combined :lol :lol :lol

 

[gkryhewy]

Not even close.
GTA is the best selling third party PS2 game.
A single GTA episode on PS2 has sold as much as all the Devil May Cry series combined :lol :lol :lol

You completely misunderstood my point, genius, which was about style and genre. Maybe it's too abstract.

 

[Elios83]

You completely misunderstood my point, genius, which was about style and genre.

Honestly I don't think you have a point at all here
GTA is far more a PS franchise than DMC is if we look at the success of the two series on the same platform.
How much has the GTA series sold on PS2? More than 40 million units with 3 games?
That should be enough to make people consider it as a PS franchise, I guess :lol