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[too much eslim]

360 laptop deal started May 22nd. Should have seen some impact last month. The card deals I say gave it a much bigger jump.

yeah, plus school doesn't start for most people. so i don't see the correlation.

 

[FrankT]

I agree the card deals were great. I picked up a new 360 from the amazon +100 bucks deal, and those deals were all over - amazon, newegg, wal mart, target, etc.

Yup they were killer and have seen some extension into July already. Price drop is coming.

 

[guina]

The 360 was on track to sell 350-400k this month even with no deals. The deals + the free 360 on laptop purchase probably gave it a 100-150k bump this month. And btw 400k in june would already be great.

Good numbers for Infamous 2, almost match the first 40 days of the first Infamous.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

A jump of this size without any traceable cause would be very anomalous indeed. NPD numbers tend to follow a pretty steady curve until something disrupts them.

It's true, I'm just more inclined to think that it's a variety of factors coming together at just the right time. A few people have commented that they think the 360 is just the best positioned console in the marketplace right now, and I think that's true too. Combining that positioning with good promos like the laptop and gift-card stuff and it does make a lot of sense that it's seeing such impressive growth.

 

[outunderthestars]

I edited my post, but yeah if it was during the fall sure. But this ran when people were out of school. Didnt you also need a valid college ID with this? You cant get one of those months before school starts.

I would have expected this to have an impact in August.

It goes through September 3rd, so the sale should have some effect most of the summer.

Webstores accepted .edu email addresses, which most students are given upon acceptance now days. Apparently birck & mortar retailers just needed to see someone 16-19 with the purchaser...

From Microsoft:

" Limited time offer valid in the U.S. on eligible products only thru 11:59 p.m. PT on 9/10/2011, or while supplies last. Only available for students age 16-19 and/or with a valid .EDU email address. Eligible students will be given a promo code when .EDU email address is confirmed and / or their age, 16-19, is confirmed, which must be entered at checkout to receive the discount."

I've been following it only because I need a new laptop and want to jump on this deal.

 

[too much eslim]

A jump of this size without any traceable cause would be somewhat anomalous. NPD numbers tend to follow a pretty steady curve until something disrupts them.

I mean, what else was moving 360s this month that wasn't last month?

But theses deals started in may, and it didn't have a huge impact on last month npd. so why now?

 

[apana]

Kinect is being pushed heavily. I know my Dad showed interest in 360 Kinect bundle at Costco and he hates videogames.

 

[lunchwithyuzo]

But you needed a student ID which freshman dont get till they start school.

That's only in store. Online you only need an .edu email, so you can be a teacher, faculty, alumni or whatever. I still have access to my school email and I graduated 5 years ago.

 

[samus4ever]

But you needed a student ID which freshman dont get till they start school.

I got a student id before school started when I was a freshman. Most schools make you go to a mandatory orientation in June.

 

[apana]

Is Cars 2 a kart racer?

 

[Huff]

But you needed a student ID which freshman dont get till they start school.

Lot of kids freshman start summer at the bigger universities. And even the ones starting on fall may have already had their orientation and gotten IDs.

Who knows how strict the sellers were about that kind of stuff either.

 

[AranhaHunter]

360 laptop deal started May 22nd. Should have seen some impact last month. The card deals I say gave it a much bigger jump.

It probably did have some impact last month, we just don't know how big. This is the first full month, so the impact is clearer, I think it's pretty obvious it was a major reason why the 360 sold so much this month.

I kinda wish I was looking for a new laptop, I would definitely get a qualifying model just for Gears and L4D franchise. I still have and use my .edu email which would qualify me I think.

 

[The Technomancer]

But theses deals started in may, and it didn't have a huge impact on last month npd. so why now?

8 days vs 31?

 

[SlipperySlope]

What's the highest selling Kinect game?

 

[Jadedx]

What's the highest selling Kinect game?

kinect sports

 

[Nirolak]

What's the highest selling Kinect game?

I think it's still Kinect Sports followed by Dance Central.

 

[AppleMIX]

Apparently Alice sold alright

Which makes me very happy.

 

[Saint Gregory]

There were a ton of great 360 deals last month. I bought a third system last month that's still sitting in its box because Amazon ran a $100 cash back on the 4GB Kinect bundle.

 

[FrankT]

It probably did have some impact last month, but this is the first full month. I think it's pretty obvious it had an impact. I kinda wish I was looking for a new laptop, I would definitely get a qualifying model just for Gears and L4D franchise. I still have and use my .edu email which would qualify me I think.

It probably did have some impact but there is no question in my mind what really provided the jump and that is $100 gift cards, which if is the case then a real price should see some serious numbers.

Well there's no question in my mind what really provided the jump was the laptop deal

Nope. Doesn't really matter though because if they do price drop that SKU by $100 we will know then for sure.

There were a ton of great 360 deals last month. I bought a third system last month that's still sitting in its box because Amazon ran a $100 cash back on the 4GB Kinect bundle.

Amazon alone had pretty much sold out of these for a few days in June during the promotion.

They have been doing gift card deals all year, 50 sometimes, 100 others but the gift cards really shouldn't have had much of an effect compared to previous months this year.

Yea here and there. June was nothing but deals all month long and just about every retailer. Testing the waters.

 

[AranhaHunter]

What's the highest selling Kinect game?

Does Kinect Adventures count?

It probably did have some impact but there is no question in my mind what really provided the jump and that is $100 gift cards.

Well, there's no question in my mind what really provided the jump was the laptop deal

 

[Nirolak]

Apparently Alice sold alright

Which makes me very happy.

Notably these also don't include Steam sales, where it was sitting surprisingly high on the chart for a very long time.

 

[soundscream]

That's only in store. Online you only need an .edu email, so you can be a teacher, faculty, alumni or whatever. I still have access to my school email and I graduated 5 years ago.

I was referring to the incoming students who are a group who would be buying new laptops in mass. Still the amount of students/teachers/alumni buying a $700+ laptop to get a free $200 360 is not going to be a huge amount of the sales for the month.

 

[AceBandage]

Notably these also don't include Steam sales, where it was sitting surprisingly high on the chart for a very long time.

Could you imagine if NPD started including Steam sales, especially during the Summer Sale?
That would completely screw up the top ten.

 

[too much eslim]

8 days vs 31?

yes and aren't most college students broke. unless a new laptop is needed no one is going to spend $700 just to get a 360.

 

[larvi]

But theses deals started in may, and it didn't have a huge impact on last month npd. so why now?

I don't think it was very well advertised or promoted early on. I bought mine on 5/23 and there wasn't a lot of information out there on how it the program worked at that time other than some Microsoft blog.

 

[AppleMIX]

Notably these also don't include Steam sales, where it was sitting surprisingly high on the chart for a very long time.

I think word of mouth helped that game a lot.

 

[rosjos44]

Did we ever think Nintendo would use Sony level spin in their PR? Nintendo DS family. HAHA

Well the Nintendo DS systems are all the same except in size so its not the same level as Sony combining different systems into one "Family"


380k for Nintendo DS which sold what over 45 million in the US? is more impressive than Xbox360's which relied heavily on there free 360 with laptop deal thats been going on.

 

[chubigans]

I was referring to the incoming students who are a group who would be buying new laptops in mass. Still the amount of students/teachers/alumni buying a $700+ laptop to get a free $200 360 is not going to be a huge amount of the sales for the month.

I saw a ton of commercials for the promotion though, all with the main 360 mascots and everything.

Probably at least a 50k bump.

 

[bigtroyjon]

It probably did have some impact but there is no question in my mind what really provided the jump and that is $100 gift cards, which if is the case then a real price should see some serious numbers.



Nope. Doesn't really matter though because if they do price drop that SKU by $100 we will know then for sure.

They have been doing gift card deals all year, 50 sometimes, 100 others but the gift cards really shouldn't have had much of an effect compared to previous months this year.

 

[Fjordson]

Sad that shitty Duke beat out inFamous, but I can't say I'm shocked.

Happy for 360 and L.A. Noire.

 

[The Technomancer]

Could you imagine if NPD started including Steam sales, especially during the Summer Sale?
That would completely screw up the top ten.

1.)Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines (PC)
2.)Terraria (PC)
3.)...

 

[Dr. Malik]

I was referring to the incoming students who are a group who would be buying new laptops in mass. Still the amount of students/teachers/alumni buying a $700+ laptop to get a free $200 360 is not going to be a huge amount of the sales for the month.

People can be just buying laptops and not care for the 360, just say 'oh well thats a nice bonus' or get the 360 and sell it making their purchase cheaper

 

[Nirolak]

I think word of mouth helped that game a lot.

One other interesting thing about Alice is that the first one actually did sell 1.5 million copies over time on PC, so it was quite the franchise at one point.

Could you imagine if NPD started including Steam sales, especially during the Summer Sale?
That would completely screw up the top ten.

That'd be really fascinating to see.

1.)Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines (PC)
2.)Terraria (PC)
3.)...

Terraria did do 432,000 units its first two months (200,000 of which were the first week), so that would definitely be able to chart. This was all prior to the sale to boot.

 

[RPGamer92]

Sad that shitty Duke beat out inFamous, but I can't say I'm shocked.

Happy for 360 and L.A. Noire.

In terms of single SKUs, inFamous is top.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

Could you imagine if NPD started including Steam sales, especially during the Summer Sale?
That would completely screw up the top ten.

I now desperately want this to happen.

"The number one selling game for June 2011 was... released a decade ago. Huh."

1.)Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines (PC)
2.)Terraria (PC)
3.)...

No chance, it was like $13 dude. Total rip-off.

 

[Tom Penny]

I knew I was correct about Kinect being the future of gaming.

 

[mujun]

And yet that's easier for a lot of people to accept than the suggestion that people might just like the 360. We live in strange times, friend.

Yep. I don't see how anyone can be surprised by the success of either the 360 or the PS3, they are both amazing consoles. I'm not going to speak on the Wii, don't own one nor do I really keep up with the state of the system.

 

[soundscream]

I got a student id before school started when I was a freshman. Most schools make you go to a mandatory orientation in June.

I went to a big school and most of the students were from out of state or not near the university the majority of us went through orientation the last week of August.

 

[TurtleSnatcher]

Notably these also don't include Steam sales, where it was sitting surprisingly high on the chart for a very long time.

Yet never peaked past 800 users online :\


EDIT: And currently not in the top 100 games played online atm for Steam.

 

[AranhaHunter]

Nope. Doesn't really matter though because if they do price drop that SKU by $100 we will know then for sure.

My opinion is not gonna change just because you're saying 'nope'.

Regardless I don't think MS needs to drop the SKU at all, let alone by half (on the cheapest SKU). As I said earlier in the thread, I believe a U$200 360 will outsell a U$200 PS3.

 

[walking fiend]

steam annual revenue is around 3 billion if I am not wrong, if we (safely) assume it managed a 400$ million last month, that would amount to 10 million 40$ games. And we know it was sale, so games being much lower than that.

am I correct?

 

[outunderthestars]

No matter how MS got half a million 360's into homes last month it is still damn impressive.

 

[bigtroyjon]

steam annual revenue is around 3 billion if I am not wrong, if we (safely) assume it managed a 400$ million last month, that would amount to 10 million 40$ games. And we know it was sale, so games being much lower than that.

am I correct?

3 billion a year is less than 300 million a month.

 

[AranhaHunter]

steam annual revenue is around 3 billion if I am not wrong, if we (safely) assume it managed a 400$ million last month, that would amount to 10 million 40$ games. And we know it was sale, so games being much lower than that.

am I correct?

Where did you hear/read that?

No matter how MS got half a million 360's into homes last month it is still damn impressive.

Indeed.

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

People can be just buying laptops and not care for the 360, just say 'oh well thats a nice bonus' or get the 360 and sell it making their purchase cheaper

Seriously, why would an American college student want to play CoD or Madden or NBA2k? Most of those 360s are probably used to prop up beer pong tables.

 

[pseudocaesar]

I knew I was correct about Kinect being the future of gaming.

But it isnt, so you're not.

 

[The Technomancer]

3 billion a year is less than 300 million a month.

Yes, but last month was one of the huge massive sales.

 

[SafeinSound]

But it isnt, so you're not.

Yeah, I don't know about it being "the future of gaming," but it certainly is the future of Xbox...unfortunately.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

3 billion a year is less than 300 million a month.

His maths reeks of voodoo but I think it's fair to assume that the summer sales month is their biggest.

 

[The Praiseworthy]

Infamous 2 did just like what I thought it will do .