XBox 360 Fake Sales Figures

[1UPGamer]

Ok was just reading this over at MCV:

Microsoft has claimed to MCV that its next-gen console installed base is a million units ahead of Sony in Europe.

Sony announced it had sold 10m units in the PAL territory at Gamescom two weeks ago – just days after Microsoft had revealed a 9m installed base figure for the Xbox 360 in Europe to MCV.

“We’re confident we are actually around a million units ahead," Xbox Europe boss Chris Lewis contested.

“We count installed base differently to them,” he added.

And i'm just curious at what the hell he means by we count installed base different to Sony. Surely this looks like a blatant tit for tat PR announcement ?

Full article here:
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/35663/360-...-PS3-in-Europe

Zee

[Primeval]

All estimation probably, and they got it wrong so they look like idiots.

[fanpages]

"“We count the number of units in the hands of consumers..."

This means they count actual retail sales from point of sale transactions (over the counter, or by mail order), not orders taken from retailers (where the actual products may be sat in warehouses, or in retail store stock rooms, or on display in-store; not in the hands of a physical customer.

However, I bet neither Company offsets sales figures with returns & exchanges (via warranty claims or otherwise).

Another statistic you may read to quantify market share is the number of online accounts (with Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network).

Neither Company takes into account that an individual may have multiple accounts; they count each unique account as a unique customer.

Not that sales figures matter on their own in any respect. This is only part of the equation.

You could count the number of satisfied customers due to gaming experience (online, or offline) by surveying those with a specific console as to whether they would buy it again at half the price, the same price, double the price, or not at all.

Or, the average revenue generated per customer based on initial hardware outlay costs & running costs in terms of perpetual memberships for usage, accessories and, of course, game sales.

A factor worthy of note though is the amount of time the Xbox 360 console has been on sale prior to the PS3 console being available, and the number of actual consoles a typical user has owned. If their previous console of choice has failed, and they are covered by a warranty policy, they may wait for a replacement and/or opt to purchase another console with the intention of keeping or re-selling the exchanged item once it arrives.

Personally I don’t care which manufacturer has sold the most products.

I rate a console on the games & gaming experience it offers me.

Whether it is white, green, black, “phat”, “slim”, made by one organisation, or made by another, or any other factor is unimportant if I do not gain any joy from usage.

Some people have an Xbox 360 & are happy with their purchase.
Some people have a PS3 & wish they did not.
Some people have a Wii console & do not care if the visual display is not in High Definition.
Some people have all three consoles & just enjoy playing games.

The sooner the manufacturers work out that the only people who care how many of each console are sold is only important to them then they can devote their time to working on what matters most.

The customers. The games. The end.

.Unless you think differently…

BFN,

fp.

[1UPGamer]

Wow great post FP, would you mind if I converted your piece into an article and posted it on the main site under your name. I think you've made some fantastic points there.

[fanpages]

Originally Posted by 1UPGamer

Wow great post FP, would you mind if I converted your piece into an article and posted it on the main site under your name. I think you've made some fantastic points there.

I almost typed on the end something similar to "I should convert this to a Blog entry"

No, I don't mind... however, as you have probably guessed, I have plenty more to say on the matter.

But if you wait for me to write anything that represents a Blog entry you'll find I've gone off on another rant when somebody raises a subject I feel strongly about.

I did write something with more points in a post at HotUKDeals.com last year (in response to a fanboy argument about which console was best).

I'll see if I can find what I wrote & post it here for you to use too (if you wish).

I think I've also typed something in the past about sales figures in terms of the actual dates the consoles were on sale from (in various regions).

You know what I'm like... always something to say...

BFN,

fp.

[fanpages]

Found my posts that immediately came to mind (but not the one about the dates of console availability; but it doesn't matter for what you wanted to say, I don't think)...

First from 27 October 2008:
---
PS. To show a balanced unbiased view...

I think the trouble with the PlayStation 3 compared to the Microsoft & Nintendo consoles is it..

a) …has only just (by September this year) been made available in all countries
b) …has too many variations for a new customer to comprehend
c) …has far too many first/third person shooter titles, or racing titles, or shooter/racing titles
d) …is portrayed as a device for adults, with very few titles for children, or for families
e) …is hampered by a poor reception due to relative high pricing, delayed &/or cancelled releases, and the loss of support for backward compatibility
f) …is in competition with the previous generation (PS2) console that is still in production & is continuing to enjoy good quality titles
g) …is all of the above

Regardless of the target audience of the entire demographic range of the population, the Wii is marketed as a games console. There is only one option to consider. Hence, there is only one decision to make. Job done. It is not presented as a media centre, a DVD movie player, a photo viewer, a freeview video recorder, a video-on-demand hub, or a staging area for portable gaming. You could also argue that it is marketed. Period.

The Nintendo console is priced to sell on the strength of the fact it just plays games, not only titles designed for the Wii, but also the legacy titles for the GameCube. The GameCube controllers and memory cards also continue to function without modification or additional expense.

Nintendo also have a very strong brand associated with a highly successful handheld gaming history, as well as in-game characters that are recognised worldwide.

Sony has Sackboy.

The Xbox 360 also has an established audience from the prior generation, but carries the name of a manufacturer associated with mass-market family-oriented software (that is, allegedly, easy to use).

Not everybody has experience of a Sony Walkman, VCR or DVD player, Laptop, or a HD-TV. Everybody has, or knows somebody who has, a Microsoft operating system. The Xbox 360 has easy to understand products; for example, “the one for playing on your own”, or “the one for playing online”, and “the Limited Edition one to promote the latest Halo game”.

Sony has the first (“how much?”) one, the second one (with extra controller, and two games), the third one (with a smaller capacity, the extra controller, and some different games), the fourth one (with a larger on-board drive, a different controller, and different games), and before the fourth one was out, the fifth one (with an even larger hard drive, the new controller, and a different game selection). And that’s just in the UK.

Not every customer wants to buy a future-proof machine that can do everything today, tomorrow, and whatever may be available in the next 5 to 10 years. Sometimes just a machine that can be unwrapped on Christmas morning, plugged in, and played with (without having to download the latest firmware, or sign-up to an online monthly subscription) is what the consumer wants.
Is it really that hard to produce a games console that just plays games?

That said, I will maintain my 30+ years of gaming by continuing to buy Sony consoles for as long as they continue to do what they do & do it as well, if not better, than their competitors. I do this by choice, not by loyalty.

I also have a Wii console, but rarely switch it on. The titles on Microsoft consoles have never appealed to me, so I have no need for these products.

PS. My thoughts on downloadable content for all three consoles for your further consideration…

“Virtually Physical”
[ http://www.1upgamers.com/virtually-physical/ ]

BFN,

fp.
(1upGamers Forums Moderator)
---


Second later the same day:
---
Yes, "LittleBigPlanet" looks like something a 3 year old will play.

"Halo 3" looks like something a 3 year old designed.

And so the pointless bickering continues...


Go to eBay, sell your unwanted PS3 console. That's up to you.

But don't try to put anybody else off because there is nothing on the platform that you personally want to play.

There are plenty of happy Xbox 360 owners.
There are plenty of happy PS3 owners.
There are plenty of happy Xbox 360 & PS3 owners.

Some of these people have a Wii, a DS Lite, a PSP, a Pandora, and/or a GP2X.
Some probably even still play on GameBoy, GameBoy Color, GameBoy Advance, GameBoy Advance SP, or even Game & Watch machines.

There's room for all of these consoles & more.

Home video games consoles are about gaming.

And so may it continue.

BFN,

fp.
---

[1UPGamer]

Great stuff, once I get round to posting my article on Donkey Kong I'll start pulling together some posts under your name from the various big posts you've done in the past. Will start with these.

As always i've always respected your critique and viewpoint so I'll be compiling those posts very soon. Makes life easier for me in terms of publishing good content when I have your super fact filled opininated posts.

Great stuff.

[Primeval]

FP is the god of posting big informative posts.

[fanpages]

Originally Posted by Primeval

FP is the god of posting big informative posts.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

(But thanks all the same)

BFN,

fp.