Video game hardware, software sales mostly flat in Sept.

While some might applaud the new batch of sales numbers for the month of Sept., they show that the sector, like many others in the world during this still shaky financial times, is feeling the bite just like everyone else. It is hard to imagine what hardware numbers might look like if Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft hadn’t slashed the prices on their respective home console systems. Even with those price cuts, NPD data for the month showed a meager 1 percent gain over the same period a year ago, with total videogame related sales in the U.S. of around $1.28. Again, if not for cuts, it would have been more downward trending for the sector. Still it’s hard to ignore that compared to August, sales were up considerably in Sept.

On the hardware front, the one relevant console that did not get a price cut, the DS (which includes the DSi and DS Lite), was at the top of the heap moving over half a million units in the month. The good news for Sony - if there really is any in a month that was mostly flat - is that it managed to beat out the Wii and Xbox 360 in the month with 491,000 units. The Wii was close by with almost 463,000 units and the Xbox 360 managed to move nearly 353,000 units. The PSP moved right around 190,000 units in Sept., - which we assume includes both the old model and the new PSP go. Finally, the PS2 managed to move 146,000 units.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hardware sales for August 2009

While the PS3 and Xbox 360 are saw an uptick in hardware for the month of August in North America, Nintendo’s platforms continued to be at the top of the pack. The Nintendo Ds (DSi included) moved over half a million units in August, followed by its more expensive sibling moving a little over half of that in the month. The Xbox 360 beat out the PS3 in August but not by much (215K compared to 210K, respectively) and sales for Sony’s platform were up a staggering 300 percent according to NPD.

What will be interesting is the numbers for September. Will sales of the PS3 continue to climb? Will the Wii ever get knocked down below second place? Will Microsoft’s price cut strategy employed in August be enough to stop any momentum Sony has with the PS3? We’ll have to wait and see but these price cuts have certainly changed the dynamic for Sony. It’s hard to understand why it didn’t cut prices sooner.

August 2009 Hardware Sales:

Nintendo DS - 552.9K units

Wii - 277.4K units

Xbox 360 - 215.4K units

PlayStation 3 - 210.0K units

PSP - 140.3K units

PlayStation 2 - 105.9K units

God of War Collection for PS3 announced

Sony Computer Entertainment America is bringing the old God of War games to the PlayStation 3 with the God of War Collection. Scheduled for release this holiday season, God of War Collection promises enhanced versions of both God of War and God of War II on a single Blu-ray Disc at full 1280 x 720 resolution.

Originally developed for the PlayStation 2, the game have been remastered with anti-aliased graphics running at 60 frames per second for a smooth gameplay experience on the PS3 system. This new Blu-ray Disc compilation will also bring PlayStation Network (PSN) trophy support to the franchise for the first time for both games. God of War Collection will retail for $39.99 MSRP.

You can learn more about this compilation pack at www.us.playstation.com.

The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest dated

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today confirmed that The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest will launch in Spring 2010 on Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2 and PSP. The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest, according to WBIE, is the first videogame offering an authentic The Lord of the Rings gameplay experience designed for all ages to enjoy. We shall see, WBIE.

In The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest, players assume the role of Aragorn as he tackles his greatest quests from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Wielding a sword, shield, bow and spear, fans will have to battle enemies, lead armies and journey through Middle-earth. The game also offers two-player co-op gameplay featuring Gandalf as a playable character for those too overly enamored with the famous white wizard.

The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest is being developed for Wii by Headstrong Games and for Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2 and PSP by TT Fusion.

Sony gives Kunimasa Suzuki a promotion

Sony Computer Entertainment has appointed Kunimasa Suzuki to Representative Director, Deputy President of SCEI effective July 1, 2009, in addition to his current role as SVP, Deputy President, Networked Products & Services Group, Sony Corporation . Suzuki will report to Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, SCEI, and EVP and President, NPSG, Sony, and assist him in managing the day-to-day operations of the PlayStation business overall. He will specifically be tasked with strategy and product planning, with both divisions reporting directly to him.

Suzuki joined Sony in 1984. From April 2008 to March 2009, he served as the EVP Sony Electronics in the United States. In April 2009, Suzuki assumed the position of Deputy President, NPSG, and is now working in tandem with Kazuo Hirai in formulating strategies and business direction as well as executing various key initiatives.

Blu-Ray not being adopted by consumers, says survey

A recent poll by Harris Interactive reveals that, while Blu-Ray may have been proclaimed the winner last year in the high definition format wars, it’s not being adopted by rank and file consumers. Meanwhile, High Definition television sets are being embraced by Americans across the line. According to the data, nearly half of American households are now using high definition televisions, but only 11 percent own a HD enabled media device and only 7 percent own a Blu-Ray player.

The price of Blu-Ray players isn’t helping matters any: the number of Blu-Ray owners is likely to remain flat due of price and competition from other High Definition technologies. The purchase of both HD players are up ever so slightly from 2008 - 3 percent for Blu-ray and 5 percent for HD players. Perhaps Microsoft gave up a little too soon when it discontinued its HD hard drive add-on for Xbox 360? Blu-Ray also is facing some stiff competition from high definition content on cable, satellite, and the internet.

Read the rest of this entry »

Prototype tops GameFly’s most popular list

Online game rental company GameFly has released its lists of the most popular games for the week ending June 8, 2009, revealing that many of the games announced last week at E3 are getting a decent amount of buzz. The GameFly Top 10 List reflects gamers’ choice from more than 6,000 titles for the Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and PSP consoles. It obviously doesn’t represent games that players are renting, but what “they want to play.” These lists are purely anecdotal, because we don’t know how the information is gathered from users. The most popular across all platforms can be found below:

Most Popular Games Cross-Platform:

1 Prototype PS3, Xbox 360 Action Adventure Activision
2 Red Faction: Guerilla PS3, Xbox 360 Shooter THQ
3 Infamous PS3 Action Adventure Sony Computer Entertainment
4 Ghostbusters PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PS2 Action Adventure Atari
5 UFC 2009 Undisputed PS3, Xbox 360 Fighting THQ
6 X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Uncaged Edition PS3, Xbox 360 Action Adventure Activision
7 Modern Warfare 2 PS3, Xbox 360, DS Shooter Activision
8 Left 4 Dead 2 Xbox 360 Shooter Electronic Arts
9 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP Games, PS2 Sports Electronic Arts
10 Assassin’s Creed 2 PS3, Xbox 360, DS Action Adventure Ubisoft

For platform, genre and ratings specific lists, hit the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »