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 »

Batman: Arkham Asylum tops UK charts

For the second consecutive week, Batman: Arkham Asylum has managed to stay on top of the charts in the United Kingdom, fending off a challenge from Wii Sports Resort and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare on the All Formats Chart - according to retail sales data from ChartTrack for the week ending Sept. 5, 2009. Despite holding on for dear life, Batman’s latest adventure is not the big winner for the week - Call of duty 4 is. The PS3 version is apparently selling like hotcakes thanks to the low price of the PS3 Slim, which is also selling very well.. Full chart after the break.

Read the rest of this entry »

PS3 Slim selling well in the UK, Japan

According to Famitsu, the new PS3 Slim’s design and pricepoint are a hit with Japanese gamers, who have bought over a 150,000 units in Japan in the first three days of launch last Friday. Meanwhile in the UK, ChartTrack reports

Earlier today, Chart-Track confirmed with VG247 that PS3 sales in the United Kingdom were up a whopping 1,000 percent.

If Sony can keep up this momentum in Europe and Japan and here in North America, then we might just have a contentious fight on our hands for second place in this generation’s cycle of consoles. Of course, as an example, the Xbox 360 saw some modest gains in the UK as well in that same week.

We’ll see how both systems did later this week when NPD Group releases numbers for North America.

Xbox 360 Elite, Pro price cuts finally official

As predicted, Microsoft officially announced what has been rumored for months: the price of an Xbox 360 Elite console will drop by $100, to a $299.99 estimated retail price in the United States. The Xbox 360 Pro will now be priced at $249.99 (ERP), reflecting a price reduction of $50, while supplies last - because there are no future plans to continue with this model going forward. Finally the Arcade SKU will be priced at $199.99 (ERP). Microsoft also emphasized that the “Xbox 360 you buy today” will work with Project Natal, its controller-free gaming solution..

“With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s already time to start looking for entertainment and gifts that everyone will enjoy,” said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of strategy and business development for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. “If you’re looking for deep experiences that don’t require deep pockets, now is the time to purchase an Xbox 360. We’ve got the best games, a vast library of TV shows and movies, new music experiences, more ways to connect friends and family, and so much more on the horizon including ‘Project Natal’ — no controller required.”

Of course Shane Kim might have wanted to say something like “Hey Sony, is that my finger in your eye?” or “the PS3 Slim and price cut won’t save you” because this move is obviously an attempt to dampen any momentum Sony might have gotten with cutting the price of the PS3 and the Slim SKU.

Microsoft to make Xbox 360 retail announcement tomorrow?

According to MCVUK, Microsoft is set to make an official announcement on discontinuing the mid-range Pro Xbox 360 line, and price cuts for the Elite and Pro systems. Of course, with all the gossip, speculation and evidence in the form of Target, Wal-Mart and other flyers dating a sale on August 30, Does Microsoft really have a choice? I mean, sure the company could just be quiet but it would look even sillier than it does now.
This is officially the second worst kept secret of 2009 - right behind the PSP Go.

These product adjustments come ahead of the official launch of Sony’s PS3 Slim console on Tuesday, September 2 – a move that, Microsoft hopes, will take away any momentum Sony could have gained by cutting the price of its PS3 and revealing a new slimmer SKU.