Topic: NPD Sales Data for September

[NWR_pap64]

Overall game sales have gone up thanks to price cuts and anticipated releases.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20173

 The NPD Group has released their September sales data, showing a promising rise in sales thanks to price cuts and the release of several highly-anticipated games. Despite this positive movement, sales remained low with only a 1% rise (from $1.27 million to $1.28 million) in overall sales. This sales rise was mostly seen in software, with sales rising five percent to $649.32 million. When compared last September's numbers, hardware sales fell six percent to $472.78 million.    

The Nintendo DS was the top hardware seller for September, moving 524,200 units. The PlayStation 3 was the top-selling console for the month of September at 491,800 units, thanks to both the release of a new slim console and a price drop. The Wii came third with 462,800 units sold. All consoles saw a significant rise in sales thanks to their recent price cuts, with PlayStation 3 benefitting the most with double the sales of the previous month.    

On the software sales side, Nintendo grabbed three of the top 10 slots. Halo 3: ODST was the best seller for September at 1.5 million, with Wii Sports Resort coming in at number two with 442,900 copies sold. At number four was Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story with 258,000 units sold. Even though the Xbox 360 version of The Beatles: Rock Band was the best selling version, the Wii version arrived at number 10 with 208,600 copies sold.    

Hardware Sales:  
Nintendo DS: 524,200  
PlayStation 3: 491,800  
Wii: 462,800  
Xbox 360: 352,600  
PlayStation Portable: 190,400  
PlayStation 2: 146,000    

 1. Halo 3: ODST (Bungie, Microsoft), Xbox 360 - 1.52 million
 2.Wii Sports Resort  w/MotionPlus (Nintendo), Wii - 442,900
 3.Madden NFL 10  (EA Tiburon), Xbox 360 - 289,600
 4.Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (Alphadream, Nintendo), NDS - 258,100
 5.The Beatles: Rock Band (Harmonix, MTV Games/EA), Xbox 360 - 254,000
 6.Madden NFL 10  (EA Tiburon), PS3 - 246,500
 7.Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 - Fusion Vicarious Visions, Activision), Xbox 360 - 236,000
 8.Batman: Arkham Asylum (Rocksteady, Eidos/Square Enix), PS3 - 212,500
 9.Guitar Hero V(Neversoft, Activision), Xbox 360 - 210,800
 10.The Beatles: Rock Band (Harmonix, MTV Games/EA), Wii - 208,600

[Mop it up]

The PS3 getting a larger boost than the Wii due to its price cut makes sense. Several people were just waiting for a price cut before getting a PS3, but not so much for the Wii. The Wii price cut will help more with keeping Wii sales from becoming stagnant that giving them a significant boost.

[broodwars]

Well, a lot of what's going on with these NPD numbers for the console sales is that the PS3 is just enjoying a really good software period right now along with its price cut, whereas the Wii is not.  We'll obviously see the Wii retake the #1 spot when New Super Mario Bros. Wii comes out, and if that game has the legs its predecessor had I wouldn't be surprised if that alone was enough to keep it there for a while.

[ShyGuy]

ODST sold more than I thought.

[BranDonk Kong]

To be fair, these are September numbers, and Nintendo didn't drop the Wii's price until September 27th. Having said that, I don't think the price drop will affect the Wii nearly as much as the the PS3's price drop.

[UncleBob]

So... With better software and a better (and earlier) price drop and a redesign on the hardware, the PS3 only managed to outsell the Wii by about 6%?  Combined with the fact that so many people already own Wiis - and don't own PS3s?

You can have this win, Sony.

PS: The DS outsold the PS3 by a larger percentage (7%) without a price drop.  In fact, it basically had a price increase.  And everyone already has three DS's.  (I do, at least...)

[D_Average]

Wow.  Never thought I'd see the PS3 outsell the Wii, but as others said, not too many people were waiting on a Wii price drop. 

[NWR_pap64]

So... With better software and a better (and earlier) price drop and a redesign on the hardware, the PS3 only managed to outsell the Wii by about 6%?  Combined with the fact that so many people already own Wiis - and don't own PS3s?

You can have this win, Sony.

PS: The DS outsold the PS3 by a larger percentage (7%) without a price drop.  In fact, it basically had a price increase.  And everyone already has three DS's.  (I do, at least...)

Oh, it's a win they and the fanboys will run to the ground, no matter if the win was by 1 percent or a 100 percent.

[ShyGuy]

Oh, it's a win they and the fanboys will run to the ground, no matter if the win was by 1 percent or a 100 percent.

Lindy must be ecstatic.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Wow.  Never thought I'd see the PS3 outsell the Wii, but as others said, not too many people were waiting on a Wii price drop. 

And how do we know that? That's right we won't until the October numbers are released. Personally I'm ecstatic, with that many more new blu-ray (that happens to play games as a bonus) owners out there the blu-ray movie market will expand.

[Stratos]

When do we normally get the NPD Top 10 for specific consoles or is that typically leaked at random? I want to see what the Wii's Top 10 games are.

PS3 is looking mighty tempting right now as I was on the edge before.

[BlackNMild2k1]

When do we normally get the NPD Top 10 for specific consoles or is that typically leaked at random? I want to see what the Wii's Top 10 games are.

PS3 is looking mighty tempting right now as I was on the edge before.

Then you are hovering around the wrong thread buddy.

[Stratos]

I haven't seen them come up in the main sales thread either. I thought I might get an answer here since different people view each of the threads and it came to my mind as I read this article.

[BlackNMild2k1]

It's not officially released as far as I know, so you wouldn't see it posted here.

[Pale]

It is amazing that the numbers were so close given the price drop, redesign, and release of one of the most well reviewed single player _core_ games in years on PS3.

However, the fact that it did bump just goes to show that the 360 should be a bit scared.  The PlayStation brand isn't as dead as Microsoft execs would like to believe.  All it takes is a bit more of an installed base, more and more 360 exclusives will come to PS3 as well, and then the small things like the Blu Ray player will start making a difference to a lot of potential buyers.

Edit: Er... wait... I guess Uncharted came out in October didn't it.. meh, point is still valid I think.

[NWR_insanolord]

This is the best month (or at least the best non-holiday month) the PS3 is ever going to see and they only barely beat Nintendo, and since Sony's losing money on each PS3 they sell and only managed one game in the top 10 I don't know if you could even call it a victory. As someone who just bought one it's not a good thing for me that the thing is a huge failure but I can't say Sony doesn't deserve it.

Also, I think people may be underestimating the impact of the Wii price drop; when I was buying my PS3 I asked the guy behind the counter at Toys "R" Us if the price drop had had any impact and he said there was a significant increase in Wii sales since it happened.

[UncleBob]

For what it's worth, in the time from starting from the PS3 drop until now, we've sold more Wii's than we have 360's and PS3's combined.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Well PS3 had a whole month of price drop and this NPD only covered about 6 days of Wiis price drop.

If Nintendo had dropped the price just 4 days earlier, do you think it would have made a difference?

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

The Nintendo Difference

[GoldenPhoenix]

It is amazing that the numbers were so close given the price drop, redesign, and release of one of the most well reviewed single player _core_ games in years on PS3.

However, the fact that it did bump just goes to show that the 360 should be a bit scared.  The PlayStation brand isn't as dead as Microsoft execs would like to believe.  All it takes is a bit more of an installed base, more and more 360 exclusives will come to PS3 as well, and then the small things like the Blu Ray player will start making a difference to a lot of potential buyers.

Edit: Er... wait... I guess Uncharted came out in October didn't it.. meh, point is still valid I think.

Wasn't there a similar spike in sales when 360s were dropped in price? It seems as if these spikes have a tendency to be temporary. You have a whole group of people waiting for a price drop who buy it when it drops, then it settles down again.

[Jonnyboy117]

I think Wii will probably be back on top in October, but it would have been anyway if none of these price drops had happened.

That's to take nothing away from PS3's success. The redesign and price cut were a huge deal, and one of those units sold belongs to me. It's obvious why PS3 would benefit more from the shifting -- its price change was double that of Wii's, and it includes hardware upgrades including a larger hard drive. Moreover, PS3 has more untapped customers to reach, whereas Wii's customer base is more saturated (though obviously not completely saturated).

[BlackNMild2k1]

I think Nintendo has begun to sell Wiis to Wiis.
It's the only logical answer.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Once Blackula Wii rises following the ritual mass SACRIFICE of american turkeys, existing Wii owners will pickup new Blackula Wiis just to be fashionable, just like the DS situation.

All the insecure people who don't have the current French Vanilla Wii will also go for it.

[EasyCure]

Once Blackula Wii rises following the ritual mass SACRIFICE of american turkeys, existing Wii owners will pickup new Blackula Wiis just to be fashionable, just like the DS situation.

All the insecure people who don't have the current French Vanilla Wii will also go for it.

A DS for every person in the household, and a Wii for every television in the same househould. Makes sense.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Sounds like a campaign slogan.