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[Aquamarine]

They'd have estimates based on discussions with retail channels. If the gap was big enough it would mitigate for any error margin in estimates so they could announce something. But more like.y they'd wait for initial figures from NPD

When do customers get NPD data vs official NPD press release?

After market close.

There needs to be a lag so people can prepare PR statements.

Or, alternatively, a few days later.

How would MS know exact Sony numbers and vice versa? Wouldn't that render NPD useless if it was that easy?

It is impossible for Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo to have the precision that NPD offers.

NPD is for retail trends and to see how competitors are doing. Internal tracking is performed when companies want to make decisions based on their sales performances.

 

[1st Course]

Lack of PR + reports that this year's black friday wasn't too hot make me think neither consoles (PS4/XB1) did that well this month. I have a feeling numbers might down from last year even.

 

[mangasus90]

That can only mean one thing. Nintendo won.

Go! Go! WiiU =D.

 

[Aquamarine]

Lack of PR + reports that this year's black friday wasn't too hot make me think neither consoles (PS4/XB1) did that well this month. I have a feeling numbers might down from last year even.

It's funny because Chartz was absolutely bonkers this month with their Xbox One salez number (1439K XB1, 1057K PS4).

Xbox One coming out a solid 600K below Chartz will be lovely.

 

[SwiftDeath]

It's funny because Chartz was absolutely bonkers this month in their Xbox One salez number (1439K XB1, 1057K PS4).

Xbox One coming out a solid 600K below Chartz will be lovely.

But but Aqua they are good enough estimates without real numbers to use!

Sadly people never learn, or perhaps there is always someone new to take their place?

 

[Mpl90]

But but Aqua they are good enough estimates without real numbers to use!

Sadly people never learn, or perhaps there is always someone new to take their place?

Lack of at least the minimal amount of numbers from NPD (monthly hardware and top 10 software sales) actually helps VGC being so considered, IMHO.

Still, there would always be people going there, new people that don't know about VGC‘s complete lack of reliability.

 

[slavesnyder]

You can achieve market penetration while still selling less than your competitor. As we have seen last-gen, consoles can peacefully co-exist with healthy ecosystems.

And, just because the PS4 may be "winning" doesn't mean that Microsoft is at a disadvantage in terms of third-party relations. The PS3 did just fine with third-parties despite selling less than the Xbox 360 for years and years. The only "traction" that the Xbox One would get from beating the PS4 for one month is the reactions to the PR statement. It wouldn't make a difference in Xbox One adoption.

PS3 had the advantage to be at least strong in huge parts of the world and thanks to that catch up WW. Xbox doesn't have this. All they have is US, maybe UK and that's nearly it. If they do not win there they not only never catch up but fall behind by huge amount.

I believe this really makes a difference for studios in deciding if it's worth to go the extra mile to produce for Xbox especially when some games that are not in the line of Halo, Gears or Forza flop on this platform, if some games are more for european or asian market, if some games are artsy-fartsy.

It's okay that you say they do not care about the PS4-Sales and only want to reach their sales targets. if they are doing this by bundling stuff and lowering price like crazy, only to get their sales numbers for the cost of losing a lot of money - fine.

but there is a lot of psychology in economy, especially in such an emotional branch like gaming (that is already about winning/losing...). so even if Spencer says he doesn't care about winning - these are sour grapes. they and their PR machine need this win so much. and they will get it.
we will see what comes after that.

 

[Makareu]

But but Aqua they are good enough estimates without real numbers to use!

Sadly people never learn, or perhaps there is always someone new to take their place?

I think slowly but surely their reputation is tanking. Maybe it has already posted before but there is an article on a popular french website calling VGC a sham, plain and simple.

 

[jryi]

The PS3 did just fine with third-parties despite selling less than the Xbox 360 for years and years.

Wasn't the only year when PS3 sold less than Xbox 360 the year when PS3 wasn't out yet? After that, on yearly level, it was selling better, right?

 

[AuRoN89]

Wasn't the only year when PS3 sold less than Xbox 360 the year when PS3 wasn't out yet? After that, on yearly level, it was selling better, right?

it always sold better only in europe and (of course) japan. in USA it sold better from the last 2 years.

 

[El-Pistolero]

If MS don't win Nov, then they're just not ever gonna win any month! I'm a PS4 owner, and even I gotta admit they (Microsoft) had the best deals. They had the best exclusive titles (PS4 exclusives so far has been a massive disappointment, with The Last of Us Remaster being the only exception). MS really put on an impressive offensive in Nov, while Sony just stayed the course. I'm hoping MS won Nov, to put some fire under Sony's ass, but there is a chance it may not happen.

So you are expecting Sony to start funding some new games once MS wins November in the US? Or will they push a couple of release dates back as a desperate reaction? As if losing a month sales is going to make them review their whole strategies...
And, no, PS4 exclusives have not been a massive disappointment. Not Resogun, not DriveClub, not Infamous SS...

 

[jryi]

it always sold better only in europe and (of course) japan. in USA it sold better from the last 2 years.

Losing US but winning the world is a satisfactory outcome. And third parties don't really care that much, where the install base resides as long as it exists. Of course PS3 had the handicap of having worse versions of multiplatforms, so in that sense sales parity was not good enough for Sony.

 

[El-Pistolero]

it always sold better only in europe and (of course) japan. in USA it sold better from the last 2 years.

It almost never sold better in the US (Well, maybe for a couple of months...but that's about it).

 

[spwolf]

But but Aqua they are good enough estimates without real numbers to use!

Sadly people never learn, or perhaps there is always someone new to take their place?

Blah, they will autocorrect when Npd comes and "nobody" will notice.

 

[AuRoN89]

It almost never sold better in the US (Well, maybe for a couple of months...but that's about it).

search the 2013 and 2014 numbers then, i could be wrong but i'm pretty sure i'm right.

 

[FranXico]

It's funny because Chartz was absolutely bonkers this month with their Xbox One salez number (1439K XB1, 1057K PS4).

Xbox One coming out a solid 600K below Chartz will be lovely.

Where do Chartz get their numbers from?

 

[John Bender]

Where do Chartz get their numbers from?

Their butt

 

[Menome]

Where do Chartz get their numbers from?

I think I'd get banned for simply posting a photo of someone's backside.

 

[Aquamarine]

Where do Chartz get their numbers from?

A very small sampling of retailers (think Pachter-levels of sampling), skewed user polls, and extrapolating from historical trends (using faulty old data).

Unfortunately, there are countless cases where VG Chartz estimates, even of old data, are materially different (aka. 200K+ minimum) from NPD data.

Contrary to popular belief, old VG Chartz data is NOT reliable.

 

[Duxxy3]

So you are expecting Sony to start funding some new games once MS wins November in the US? Or will they push a couple of release dates back as a desperate reaction? As if losing a month sales is going to make them review their whole strategies...
And, no, PS4 exclusives have not been a massive disappointment. Not Resogun, not DriveClub, not Infamous SS...

Even if the U.S. went entirely towards Microsoft again, I don't think Sony would overreach to regain it. It's a huge market, but as long as Sony carries the home market and Europe they will be doing great. They're not losing hundreds on every console sold, and PlayStation plus subscriptions are enormously profitable (and ever increasing).

Microsoft will do just about anything to keep the U.S. market. Going toe to toe with a competitor that determined is not worth it when your own parent company is in financial trouble. Not if matching that competitor would bring down your entire division.

 

[Daviii]

Today is the D day of gaming. Should Sony win this month, it's all over.

I wish MS wins just to put some pressure on Sony anyway, but if they don't manage to win with the CRAZY deals they've got... That'd tell a lot.

 

[geordiemp]

It's funny because Chartz was absolutely bonkers this month with their Xbox One salez number (1439K XB1, 1057K PS4).

Xbox One coming out a solid 600K below Chartz will be lovely.

You enjoy watching them burn ? LOL

 

[Xando]

It's funny because Chartz was absolutely bonkers this month with their Xbox One salez number (1439K XB1, 1057K PS4).

Xbox One coming out a solid 600K below Chartz will be lovely.

600k from the Xbox chartz number would be almost exactly my prediction so i'd be happy with it

 

[AuRoN89]

Where do Chartz get their numbers from?

 

[pLow7]

Today is the D day of gaming. Should Sony win this month, it's all over.

I'm sorry but what is Over ? You are giving this too much weight. The "Race" is already over, not in any Way MS is able to catch Sony. They're selling the XBOX at Half Price, if that's what is needed to catch them, then i can't see them doing any Profit out of it.

The End is clear. Sony will be Nr.1 this Generation, while XBOX will stay at a comfortable second Spot.

 

[Syntsui]

People expect Sony to win this month? Don't we already have confirmation from retailers that Xbone sold more, or was it from UK?

 

[Oddduck]

It'll be interesting to see how November's Wii U numbers compare to last year's numbers.

 

[Xando]

@Aqua

Do you think Sony will announce new WW LTD numbers if they get beaten to counter MS PR?

 

[Aquamarine]

Here's a completely random example of historical Chartz inaccuracy.

The Xbox 360 version of Borderlands 2 was released in the September 2012 NPD reporting period. It had 2 NPD weeks of tracking (the week ending on the 22nd, and the week ending on the 29th).

According to VG Chartz, the 360 version of Borderlands 2 sold 774,956 copies in its opening month.

According to NPD, the 360 version of Borderlands 2 sold 1.08 million copies in its opening month.

That's a difference of 305K that VG Chartz is off by, and that's NOT including the inaccuracies of the PS3 SKU.


A 305K error margin for ONE SKU in ONE month (when we're talking about 775K vs. 1.08 million) is pretty goddamn significant.

 

[Conduit]

@Aqua

Do you think Sony will announce new WW LTD numbers if they get beaten to counter MS PR?

Well, S. Layden already said something @ PSX.

 

[Xando]

Well, S. Layden already said something @ PSX.

He announced numbers? Or do you mean him saying PS4 is the bestselling console of all time?

 

[Conduit]

He announced numbers? Or do you mean him saying PS4 is the bestselling console of all time?

"Fastest selling console of all time" - that's he said.

Is his statement for US only or WW, i don't know.

 

[stryke]

He announced numbers? Or do you mean him saying PS4 is the bestselling console of all time?

He said the latter but the 14 million figure in the opening montage is interesting.

 

[Conduit]

He said the latter but the 14 million figure in the opening montage is interesting.

Yeah! I saw that. Probably WW then.

 

[jryi]

He said the latter but the 14 million figure in the opening montage is interesting.

Yeah, but they never referred to it in any way. Has any news outlet asked Sony about that number? They were being too coy.

 

[Cereal Enthusiast]

He said the latter but the 14 million figure in the opening montage is interesting.

This montage was made probably before black friday. I'm sure they are far ahead 14 million.

 

[Xando]

He said the latter but the 14 million figure in the opening montage is interesting.

Yeah just watched it on YT. It goes to 14.1 million and then stops. Have they talked about it anywhere else?

 

[DenogginizerOS]

Will the limited edition 20th anniversary PS4s count towards NPD?

 

[Aquamarine]

Will the limited edition 20th anniversary PS4s count towards NPD?

There were only 12,300 of those PS4 consoles manufactured.

They were meant as a special, one-time promo...they weren't sold-in to USA retail at all.


As a result, they don't belong on an NPD chart. NPD's purpose is to track the USA retail market.

 

[AngryNapkin]

There were only 12,300 of those PS4 consoles manufactured.

They were meant as a special, one-time promo...they weren't sold-in to USA retail at all.


As a result, they don't belong on an NPD chart. NPD's purpose is to track the USA retail market.

Even if it was 12,300 is not significant to matter either way. If Sony wanted to win Nov-Dec without question they only had to release that model (minus X2O etchings & number scheme without the camera, etc.)

I'm sure Xbox One wins November, and tbh it shouldn't matter to Sony. They have already won the generation in WW sales. I just want them to keep turning a profit and making great strides to keep them healthy.

 

[stryke]

Yeah, but they never referred to it in any way. Has any news outlet asked Sony about that number? They were being too coy.

Who knows, and the nature of the number isn't clear either - are they sell through or shipped? To what date?

 

[Trust me. I'm a PhD]

Who knows, and the nature of the number isn't clear either - are they sell through or shipped? To what date?

It was for a hype video. I would not read too much into it without a statement to go with it.

 

[iJudged]

All I know they both sold a fuckton, Nov and Dec combined sales will hit 5 mill+

 

[shinra-bansho]

All I know they both sold a fuckton, Nov and Dec combined sales will hit 5 mill+

sadronpaul.jpeg

 

[Dinjooh]

My predictions so far, hope i'm not too late

[WIU]

[XB1]

 

[cackhyena]

My predictions so far, hope i'm not too late

[WIU]

[XB1]

lol

 

[Opus Angelorum]

Going to be carnage later, whatever the outcome.

 

[Nightengale]

Going to be carnage later, whatever the outcome.

 

[Xando]

Going to be carnage later, whatever the outcome.

Highly entertaining though

 

[user_nat]

search the 2013 and 2014 numbers then, i could be wrong but i'm pretty sure i'm right.

Fairly certain the 360 topped the home consoles every month of 2013 pre next-gen. It has also been ahead of the PS3 each month I've seen this year. But they are both low enough that it is like 10k differences.