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[Pug]

http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18665


Theres no actual link to PR but.....

 

[Code_Link]

The source is trustworthy.

 

[Ghost]

Shipped maybe, sold would be crazy.

 

[mumu]

Worldwide?

 

[Papi]

5 million, hey? That's okay. I guess. I'd be impressed with 5 zillion but not 5 million.
*pats Microsoft and Bungie on the back*
Try harder next time, guys.

 

[Midas]

Yeah, it's worldwide according to the guy who posted at B3D. They're also braging about Xbox Live numbers.

 

[thorns]

Of course it's not shipped, it's sold. It sold almost 2,5 million un NA on first day alone.

 

[DCX]

Impressive.

DCX

 

[Blimblim]

Here is the full press release in french (sorry)

HALO 2 FRANCHIT LA BARRE DES CINQ MILLIONS D'EXEMPLAIRES VENDUS DANS LE MONDE

Les ventes de la licence Halo dépassent les onze millions d'exemplaires dans le monde





Paris, le 2 décembre 2004 – Véritable phénomène mondial, Halo 2 s'est vendu à plus de cinq millions d'exemplaires dans le monde, depuis son lancement le 10 novembre dernier. La licence Halo a quand à elle, dépassée les 11 millions d'exemplaires, tous titres confondus : Halo Combat Evolved pour Xbox et Windows et Halo 2 sur Xbox. C’est une « Success-story » sans précédent dans l’histoire de la Xbox et événement majeur dans le domaine des loisirs numériques !

Les joueurs ont également été très présent sur le Xbox® Live™ pour poursuivre leurs expériences de jeu, puisqu’ à ce jour, la communauté mondiale Xbox® Live™ a en effet battu un record de connexions avec plus de 28 millions d'heures de jeu sur Halo 2.

Sur plus d’un million d'abonnés que compte le Xbox Live dans le monde, Halo 2 en a déjà attiré plus de 900 000, avec une moyenne de plus de 90 minutes en ligne par session de jeu.

Au delà du phénomène Halo 2, la Xbox offre aux joueurs de tous âges de nombreux titres pour s’amuser ou se détendre. Ainsi, "Fable", le jeu de rôle et d'aventure des studios Lionhead et Microsoft Game, a déjà conquis plus d’un million de joueurs dans le monde, en seulement deux mois de commercialisation.

« Notre catalogue de fin d'année va sans nul doute combler toute la famille et sera très apprécié des joueurs Xbox », a déclaré Michel Cassius, Directeur Marketing EMEA de la plate-forme Xbox « Grâce à notre console Xbox, aujourd'hui disponible au prix moyen estimé de €149* en France, il n'y a jamais eu de moment plus opportun pour devenir un joueur Xbox ».

And yes, they say sold, not shipped.
Ho BTW they also mention that Fable sold more than 1 million worldwide.

 

[op_ivy]

The average XBL session is 91 min

how much of that is waiting for a game to connect though?[/troll]

 

[thorns]

How much Halo 1 sold worldwide?

 

[Pimpwerx]

That would mean 1/3 of the userbase bought the game within a month. Either that's a shipped number, or the bottom's gonna totally drop out of the sell-through in the coming months. Seriously, not even VC sold that quickly IIRC, and it had a much larger userbase to sell to. Color me extremely impressed if true. That's Mario-class sell-through. PEACE.

 

[sonycowboy]

5 million in less than 1 month?

10 million is looking more than a little conservative at this point.

Other numbers:
-------------------------------
1) Fable over 1 million
2) Xbox Live added another 900k "Unique" users.
(not sure what this means, another 900k Live accounts? That would put it at ~2.5 million Live accounts, right?)

 

[PhatSaqs]

5 million in less than 1 month?

10 million is looking more than a little conservative at this point.

Other numbers:
-------------------------------
1) Fable over 1 million
2) Xbox Live added another 900k "Unique" users.
(not sure what this means, another 900k Live accounts? That would put it at ~2.5 million Live accounts, right?)

Dont forget the 2 month free cards

 

[DCX]

how much of that is waiting for a game to connect though?[/troll]

:lol

2004 Troll of the Year Award presented by IGN/Opa-Age

DCX

 

[PhatSaqs]

Full PR from http://www.majornelson.com/blog/blog.html

Holiday Shoppers Flock to Retailers for Everything Xbox
Global Phenomenon “Halo 2” Surpasses 5M Units in Sales Worldwide,
Supercharging the Xbox Live Community and Xbox Console Sales


Kicking off the start of the frenzied holiday shopping season, retailers welcomed hordes of Xbox consumers over Thanksgiving weekend. Gamers flocked to purchase the Xbox video game system, Xbox Live subscriptions and Xbox games, not the least of which was the blockbuster Halo 2.

Transcending borders, Xbox gamers around the globe also continued to devour copies of Halo 2, which has now sold more than 5 million copies worldwide since its launch on November 9. In fact, the Halo franchise has exceeded the 11 million unit mark, with cumulative sales from Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 and Halo for Windows.

Xbox consoles are proving to be hot purchase items at retailers this holiday. Console sales in the United States increased nearly 50% percent in sales this week, when compared to Thanksgiving week last year. Holiday shoppers continue to recognize the unrivaled entertainment experience and incredible value of the Xbox game console.

“Xbox and Halo 2 are on most consumers’ must-have lists this holiday season,” said Robert McKenzie, Vice President of Merchandising at Gamestop. “Popularity for both the Xbox console and its number one title Halo 2 is an early indication that Xbox will enjoy a stellar holiday season.”

The Xbox Live community has logged a record-setting 28 million hours playing Halo 2, which is more than any other Xbox Live game in the two-year history of the global service.

The instant action and immersive gameplay in Halo 2 propelled gamers to play online
for an average of 91 minutes per session, approximately the same length as a major
motion picture. Out of a universe of more than one million Xbox Live members,
Halo 2 on Xbox Live has already attracted more than 900,000 unique users.

In addition to the Halo 2 phenomenon, Xbox is satiating the entertainment appetites of adults and children, all ages and personalities. “Fable,” the ground-breaking Xbox role-playing adventure game from Lionhead Studios and Microsoft Game Studios has reached new heights, racking sales of more than one million units worldwide in only two months since its availability at retail. Other great games for the entire family include the Platinum Hits series, with seven new offerings at a tremendous value of $19.99, including Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3 from Ubisoft and NFL Street from EA.

Xbox is also reaching new consumers with the launch of Xbox Live Arcade on November 4, introducing a new social experience for gamers of every level with popular retro classics and broad appeal games like “Dig Dug”, “Bejeweled”, and the fully Xbox Live-enabled “Fuzzee Fever” directly to Xbox over the Xbox Live service.

In North America, holiday shoppers can purchase the Xbox console, two full premium sports games (“NCAA Football 2005” from EA Sports and “Top Spin” by Microsoft Game Studios) and a two-month trial subscription to Xbox Live™ for just $149.99.

“This year’s holiday offer provides something for everyone in the family and is a great value for Xbox consumers,” said Mitch Koch, vice president, worldwide retail sales and marketing for Microsoft’s home & entertainment division. “With the combined value of the Xbox console and two great games, the retail offer opens the door for new and old customers alike.”

 

[ManaByte]

What has GTA: SA sold?

 

[sonycowboy]

What has GTA: SA sold?

The initial shipment of 4.5 million was essentially an instant sellout and projections are for over 9 million to have already been shipped WW.

 

[MrparisSM]

Those numbers are fucking Insane. 5 million worldwide in a MONTH?? Those are some nice number for GTA:SA aswell, hopefully it will come to Xbox sooner than later, cause I'm dying to try it out, just don't have a PS2. :-(

 

[SaitoH]

5 million is an insane number for a single month.

Kudos to Microsof/Bungie.

 

[Odysseus]

Xbox consoles are proving to be hot purchase items at retailers this holiday. Console sales in the United States increased nearly 50% percent in sales this week, when compared to Thanksgiving week last year. Holiday shoppers continue to recognize the unrivaled entertainment experience and incredible value of the Xbox game console.

I'm bumping my Xbox prediction for November to ~800K from 650K.

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

Shipped maybe, sold would be crazy.

I received the PR too (in italian), and it says sold.

 

[MrparisSM]

I'm bumping my Xbox prediction for November to ~800K from 650K.

Could you imagine how well a Halo 2.5 would sell for Xenon at launch??? A updated Halo 2 with graphics that look better than the cutscenes?? Make it happen Microsoft!

 

[johnjohnson]

OMFG! Unbelievable. But the PR (the german one ) clearly says sold, not shipped. That's absolutely awesome!

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

That would mean 1/3 of the userbase bought the game within a month. Either that's a shipped number, or the bottom's gonna totally drop out of the sell-through in the coming months.

Maybe not all the 5M copies were sold to pre-existing users: chances are that installed base grew consequently. I don't know if hardware numbers are already know for the month of November, but I'd assume that Halo 2 has been a graet system seller. And if this is true, it will continue to sell Xboxes for some time.

 

[mumu]

Could you imagine how well a Halo 2.5 would sell for Xenon at launch??? A updated Halo 2 with graphics that look better than the cutscenes?? Make it happen Microsoft!

What? Ports? Rehashes? On XBOX2? Burn!!!

 

[sonycowboy]

OMFG! Unbelievable. But the PR (the german one ) clearly says sold, not shipped. That's absolutely awesome!

You do know that shipped = sold as far as publishers are concerned, right? It's impossible to know the sold numbers in the US as NPD isn't released until next Thursday.

If there was a better way to determine it, you should tell all the investment bankers that rely on that data. They'd really, really like to know.

 

[MrparisSM]

Maybe not all the 5M copies were sold to pre-existing users: chances are that installed base grew consequently. I don't know if hardware numbers are already know for the month of November, but I'd assume that Halo 2 has been a graet system seller. And if this is true, it will continue to sell Xboxes for some time.

Very true, I was at Midnight Madness for this game, and I don't even "own" the first Halo!

 

[johnjohnson]

You do know that shipped = sold as far as publishers are concerned, right?

Yes I know. Even if this sounds much like damage control to me! And it's very strange, because normally Microsoft uses the term "shipped" in their PR, but this time (as it was two days after release) they used the term "sold".

I think that nobody knows exactly what's right and what's not.

It's impossible to know the sold numbers in the US as NPD isn't released until next Thursday.

If there was a better way to determine it, you should tell all the investment bankers that rely on that data. They'd really, really like to know.

I think that it shouldn't be completely impossible to collect sales data for only one title. Every big retailer has a central management system where they keep track of the sales. And for a title as important as halo 2 maybe the retailers made an exception. But this is only speculation. I don't know nothing about that. We'll see next Thursday what NPD has to say.

 

[Kon Tiki]

How much has <the game I think is the best> sold? My flock must not be defeated! Arm your credit cards, head to EB and Charge! Charge! Charge!

 

[Wulfer]

Now who were the people saying Halo 2 wouldn't make 3-4 million by Christmas? I'm starting to think they'll make 6-8 million by the end of the year.

 

[duderon]

Now who were the people saying Halo 2 wouldn't make 3-4 million by Christmas? I'm starting to think they'll make 6-8 million by the end of the year.

I was one, but i won't eat my crow until the Dec NPD comes out

 

[sonycowboy]

I was one, but i won't eat my crow until the Dec NPD comes out

Are you expecting negative sales in December? :lol

It's almost guaranteed to be over 3 million just in November.

 

[IgeL]

Fable over 1 million is old, old news. "Following the success of Black and White, Lionhead's second game Fable so far sold over 1.2 million copies. Lionhead currently has a further four products under development with two more games scheduled for release next year. " From the Lionhead Venture Capital press release.

Pretty good numbers for Halo 2, though. Can't wait for November NPD.

 

[SHOCKIE]

I was one, but i won't eat my crow until the Dec NPD comes out

NPD only accounts for 60% of the gaming market...

 

[sonycowboy]

NPD only accounts for 60% of the gaming market...

No. They get numbers from retailers that represent 60% of the market, but they have tremendous amount of historical and market research to extrapolate a 100% number.

Not perfect, but it's the best we got.

 

[MrparisSM]

GOTFY!!

 

[Subitai]

No. They get numbers from retailers that represent 60% of the market, but they have tremendous amount of historical and market research to extrapolate a 100% number.

Not perfect, but it's the best we got.

I trust them. Thurs. can't come fast enough.

Do you have last year's Nov. numbers? They were really bad for MS I know, but I'm interested anyway.

 

[AniHawk]

Holiday shoppers continue to recognize the unrivaled entertainment experience and incredible value of the Xbox game console because stores are usually out of Playstation 2 consoles.

Wonder why they put that in there.

 

[duderon]

Are you expecting negative sales in December? :lol

It's almost guaranteed to be over 3 million just in November.

Yeah, if it makes it over 3 million in November then i won't have to wait.

I really don't care that i'm wrong in this respect, Halo 2 is a great game and deserves to sell. In fact i'm going to contribute to that tally soon and pick up an Xboxen myself, so yeah, so much for my shitty prediction :lol

 

[Timedog]

Could you imagine how well a Halo 2.5 would sell for Xenon at launch??? A updated Halo 2 with graphics that look better than the cutscenes?? Make it happen Microsoft!

And go up against Perfect Dark, and delay a Halo 3?

THANKS, BUT NO THANKS.

 

[Prine]

Fan-fucking-tastic.

Awesome sales for Fable

And Halo 2? Eh, i knew it would sell phenomenely. Not surprised

Edit: Nice sales for Xbox console too, we were told today at my store that we're having some trouble getting more in, its on the shortage list along with PS2. This is UK btw

 

[Prine]

Surprised no one said this

Just another chapter of: 2004 Year of the Xbox

 

[shpankey]

IMO Game of the Year is a battle between Metal Gear Solid 3 and Halo 2. Gonna be a close fricken fight too!

Congrats to Bungie, this is sooooo deserved! I love how Bungie and Blizzard polish and balance their games. All games from them are so fricken awesome.

 

[MrparisSM]

IMO Game of the Year is a battle between Metal Gear Solid 3 and Halo 2. Gonna be a close fricken fight too!

Congrats to Bungie, this is sooooo deserved! I love how Bungie and Blizzard polish and balance their games. All games from them are so fricken awesome.

Yeah I have much respect for Blizzard. Would be awesome to get Wow on the Xbox or on Xenon or something. That is the only Genre I find lacking on Xbox Live.

 

[cvxfreak]

Damn, very impressive indeed.

 

[Moegames]

how much of that is waiting for a game to connect though?[/troll]

Probally shorter time then it takes Nintendo to rls a gamecube online game :lol