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April 2013 NPD Sales Results [Up3: Xbox 360 Top Platform, NSMBU LTD, Lego 3DS, Luigi]

I think it is hard to sell consoles when everyone knows that new consoles are coming end of the year. Also, price points are too high for what people are buying hardware wise.
 
Do you guys remember that glorious five minutes in the January NPD thread when it was confirmed that the Wii U sold 250k units? And then it turned out that it wouldn't even have reached that total through April?

I didn't see that. Someone please link to the moment of joy and agony
 

Margalis

Banned
People keep saying it's HW fatigue, I think it's more likely software fatigue. Just like people got sick of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, except it looks like every genre has been Guitar Hero'ed

If this is the case the industry is fucked because most publishers are doubling down on the strategy of creating only blockbuster titles in a very narrow genre range.

Warm Machine said:
I think it is hard to sell consoles when everyone knows that new consoles are coming end of the year. Also, price points are too high for what people are buying hardware wise.

At this point you have to figure the hardware market is approaching saturation. But the software sales are worrying. These consoles have install bases of like 80 million and the top sellers are selling 800k.
 

Miles X

Member
I think it is hard to sell consoles when everyone knows that new consoles are coming end of the year. Also, price points are too high for what people are buying hardware wise.

This isn't it. Completely different demographics buying consoles now vs the ones coming later this year.
 
Grats to Netherreal Studios. To be honest when the game was announced, I thought it had no chance at all at selling.

On console/software sales: I'm glad they are so low and consumers finally are responding against high prices. The Wii U is pretty much a dead console, nothing can save it now. 3DS XL needs a price drop in time for Pokemon X/Y. PS3/360 need to sell for $150 at the least.
 

A Human Becoming

More than a Member
I imagine Microsoft isn't disheartened by sales. They're making a profit off the 360 and certainly the Kinect. Ensuring a strong performance for Xbox Infinity is their priority. It's Sony and Nintendo that should be sweating: Vita, Wii U and 3DS are underperforming.
 

Soriku

Junior Member
Price drops needed all around. And 3DS SW prices really need to be dropped. I still think its SW for the latter half of the year will really help it.
 

Duxxy3

Member
Anybody have the numbers for the amount of PS2's were sold at $249, $199 and $149?

I think there's still a another 20 million PS3/360 that could sell for under $200, probably another 10 million for under $150.
 
If this is the case the industry is fucked because most publishers are doubling down on the strategy of creating only blockbuster titles in a very narrow genre range.

I just don't see HW fatigue as the explanation the huge drop in software sales. With all the existing 360 and PS3 in circulation, there should be a huge game buying consumer base. That they aren't buying the new releases tells me they don't see these new games as offering them any new experiences.
 
Why shouldn't handhelds count? Hardware is hardware otherwise Microsoft should only claim "highest selling console"
Microsoft doesn't have a handheld platform. The markets they mainly sell in are progressively abandoning dedicated handhelds.

And it doesn't matter, they had the highest selling platform anyway.
 

Jinfash

needs 2 extra inches
Haha, I misread the OP and thought or a second that the 360's 130k represented 44% of all HW units sold in April. I almost had an aneurism trying to imagine sales of the other systems.
 

Pie and Beans

Look for me on the local news, I'll be the guy arrested for trying to burn down a Nintendo exec's house.
That is known cream! Now for some UNKNOWN!!

perhaps not in Pie riddles plz..
 

UberTag

Member
3DS < 360
Clearly NOA needs to release some more colors.
Now that Iwata's running the place and not a puppet this should be an easy fix, right?
Or is Iwata now just a puppet too?
(
Referring to grown men with executive titles and defined roles as puppets is pretty stupid, IMO. All of these men have some degree of ownership and influence here.
)
 

Elios83

Member
Terrible month but honestly the US market is becoming unpredictable.
One month gaming industry seems doomed, next month it rebounds. Still PS4 and Xbox next are really needed at this point.
 

ascii42

Member
Anybody have the numbers for the amount of PS2's were sold at $249, $199 and $149?

I think there's still a another 20 million PS3/360 that could sell for under $200, probably another 10 million for under $150.

PS2 launched at $299 and dropped to $199 after a year and a half. From an article I found from that time, Sony had shipped around 30 million at that point. So...for under both $249 and $199: probably in the neighborhood of 130 million. PS2 dropped to $149 some time in 2004. So likely more than half of all sales occurred after that price point.
 

GAMERG0D

Member
Well that confirms my theory that the 3DS is also in need of a price drop.

$129 or bust in the west.
There are a lot of games coming out for it like SMT IV, Mario & Luigi, Yoshi's Island, and LTTP 2. However Pokemon is what will really drive sales, every kid and their mother will buy Pokemon.
 

Gartooth

Member
Well that confirms my theory that the 3DS is also in need of a price drop.

$129 or bust in the west.

Not when Pokemon is right around the corner. Nintendo's probably banking on that saving the system. Many of my friends who don't own a 3DS are already groaning because they know once Gen 6 comes out they won't be able to resist the temptation and will probably be buying one.
 

Miles X

Member
So despite drastic price cut and games, some people here still think Nintendo can revive WiiU (in America and Europe at least)

It'll need a miracle. If the 3DS is struggling after their efforts I can't imagine how the WiiU is going to fare against actual competition.
 
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