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Despite economy, gaming execs 'cautiously optimistic' about holiday sales
The gift of gaming may prove to be stronger than the current economic woes that plague the United States. Gaming executives spoke during the recent BMO Capital Markets conference, with even Nintendo's own Reggie Fils-Aime tossing his two cents into the mix, with each stating that they were generally optimistic about this holiday season."If I look at this from an industry perspective I think cautiously optimistic is quite appropriate," Fils-Aime told Reuters. "If I look at it from a Nintendo perspective, I would say very optimistic." With Wii Fit, as well as the popularity of the Wii itself, we'd say Nintendo has nothing to worry about. But, with the way things are, third-party publishers could have a tough time selling their Wii titles this holiday. What do you all think?
Wii most popular platform for Guitar Hero: World Tour [update]
Update: RMC was kind enough to shoot us an email to notify that MTV has since updated their story as their figures were inaccurate. Turns out, the Xbox 360 version of the game won out. Bummer. Wii owners love their Guitar Hero, as it's revealed that Guitar Hero: World Tour, the latest and greatest in the franchise, sold more on Wii than any other system. With the recent NPD numbers, MTV Multiplayer also secured exact sales figures for Activision's latest title. Across all platforms, Guitar Hero: World Tour sold 534,000 copies. Of those, 183,000 were for the Wii. We know a lot of you were excited for World Tour up until release. Did you pick it up? Enjoy it, or found it isn't all it was cracked up to be?%Gallery-23491%[Via Go Nintendo]
October NPD: People still going crazy over Wii
You know what? To be honest, we kind of wish the NPD numbers weren't so predictable each month. We crave some excitement in our lives. We're not saying we want the Wii and DS to give up their top spots or anything, but some kind of change in the usual rigmarole would be nice. Oh well, maybe next month ...- Wii: 803K 116K (16.89%)- DS: 491K 45.8K (-8.53%)- Xbox 360: 371K 23.8K (6.85%)- PSP: 193K 45.1K (-18.94%)- PS3: 190K 42.4K (-18.24%)- PS2: 136K 37.5K (-21.61%)
Nintendo sold 10.4 million Wiis in Europe so far this year
Sure, it may not be the 34.55 million shipped that the company has done in the U.S., but selling 10.4 million Wiis in Europe is no small feat. That's just so far this year, as well, and with a busy holiday season coming up, Nintendo is hoping many more will snag some of their products from store shelves. Gaming is becoming quite the popular activity in the UK, as well as other parts of Europe, so it's no surprise to see that folks are hopping on the Wii bandwagon. It's affordable and fun, after all. [Via gamesindustry.biz]
Guitar Hero World Tour band kit might be hard to find this holiday
If you were thinking of hunting down a very expensive gift for that special someone this holiday season, the Guitar Hero: World Tour full band kit might not be the best option. During a conference call yesterday, Activision CEO Robert Kotick commented that the full kit has been "virtually sold out across the channel." He also admitted that his company might not be able to meet demand this holiday season.So, if you're a mom that had exceptional children throughout this year, you might want to phone Santa and have him snatch one up as soon as possible. There's a good chance you won't see them on store shelves for a little while.%Gallery-23491%[Via Joystiq]
Guitar Hero winning in 2008
Whatever happened to yo-yos, jax, and those wooden paddles with a rubber ball attached? It seems kids are entertaining themselves with this Guitar Hero thing these days, as Activision reported yesterday that their franchise had topped software charts for the first nine months of this year.With Guitar Hero: On Tour doing so well on the DS, as well as Guitar Hero III selling on the Wii like gangbusters, the Nintendo consoles have pushed their fair share of Guitar Hero onto the public. With the release of World Tour late last month, as well as On Tour Decades releasing later this month, it looks like this is going to be a great year for Activision.%Gallery-23491%
Report: Gaming to reign supreme in the UK
When it comes to the UK, we really only know one person. So we've just assumed for the longest time that gaming was the bee's knees in the country. Turns out that folks living there have enjoyed other forms of entertainment for a long time. They're all starting to come around now, thankfully.According to a report conducted by Verdict Research, gaming is poised to be the top form of entertainment there for the first time ever this year. The projections for sales figures show the games industry earning 4.64 billion pounds, compared to the 4.46 billion pounds the music and video industry is expected to generate. We wonder how much of that is thanks to the Wii?So, UK readers, does this surprise you? Is gaming a big thing with your inner circle, or has gaming only recently become the activity of choice? How much of your own cash do you think is in that 4.64 billion pound figure?
EA posts profits loss, cuts jobs
It's no secret that EA has their hands in some interesting projects coming down the pipe. Skate It, Rock Band 2, and that horror game we're waiting for are just a few that immediately come to mind. Whether these will be a big success for the company or not, we will have to wait and see (well, you can pretty much guess the second game in that brief list will make them a bunch of cash).They could use some success, though. The company is apparently at a loss for profits, as they're down during Q2 of this year, forcing the company to cut some jobs. Around 500 to 600 across all functions and locations, to be exact, as the company posted a loss of $310 million during Q2."Considering the slowdown at retail we've seen in October, we are cautious in the short term," said John Riccitiello. "Longer term, we are very bullish on the game sector overall and on EA in particular."%Gallery-22799%
DS shipments surpass Game Boy Advance
The DS has been quite the success for Nintendo since it released. So successful, in fact, that shipments for the handheld worldwide have bested that of Nintendo's Game Boy Advance, as the DS has shipped 84.33 million units by the end of September 2008 (GBA lifetime shipments come in at 81.36 million units). Impressive, sure, but there's still higher places the handheld can climb on Mt. Awesome Accomplishments. While besting the GBA record is noteworthy, the record still goes to the original Game Boy, which has done 118.69 million units. This figure includes the Game Boy Color, as well.
Nintendo sales up 36% in Q2, lifetime Wii shipments at 34.55 million
No, it's not deja vu, it's another Nintendo is making billions of dollars news post!Nintendo, as you can imagine, had quite the Q2 this year with overall profits up 36%, thanks to great sales numbers for both the DS and Wii. Despite the economic woes of the United States, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata is confident that they will have no effect on the games manufacturer's business. "I think it is safe to say strong game demand is intact despite all this talk about the financial crisis."Nintendo wasn't afraid to dish out some exact figures, too. Lifetime Wii shipments are at 34.55 million units and 229.85 million software units worldwide. Also, shipments of Wii Fit are at 8.7 million units worldwide.%Gallery-4745%[Via Joystiq]
Guitar Hero: World Tour a hit on Wii
A lot of Wii owners have been anxiously awaiting Guitar Hero: World Tour, as the title is doing well on the Wii. According to UBS analyst Ben Schachter, the full band kit bundle is selling on the Wii and Xbox 360, as he states the bundles were "near sell-outs." Also, Schachter says the game on its own isn't really selling. Where does this data come from? Apparently, UBS checked with over 20 retail chains like Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and GameStop, gathering first day sales data to come to its conclusions. Of course, we won't have the full data for North American sales until October's NPD figures release.So, did you pick up the game? Full band kit bundle or just the guitar bundle? Let us know!%Gallery-23491%
Reggie: 3 in 10 stores will have Wii Fit this holiday season, Wii console production up
Reggie recently sat down with the LA Times to discuss the Wii and the upcoming holiday shopping season. He says that about 3 in 10 stores will be carrying the Wii Fit bundle. For those of you still trying to track down the fitness package, those aren't the best odds.As for production of Wii consoles, Reggie says that Nintendo is churning out 2.4 million units a month. Compared to 1.6 million last year, Nintendo is really trying their best to satisfy the demand consumers have for the console. Whether they actually will or not, we'll just have to wait and see.%Gallery-4745%[Via Joystiq]
DS boosts Ubisoft sales by 37% in Q2
Ubisoft loves the DS. The system has aided them in accumulating mucho cash money during Q2 of the 2008-09 fiscal year. The company made €175 million (US $220.24 million), beating the previous year by a whopping 37%. With some big titles releasing during this time, such as Soul Calibur IV in Europe and Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, It's no wonder they made so much. What's surprising, though, is that 39% of that total €175 million came from the DS, thanks to titles such as Imagine Teacher, My Secret World and PlayZone Sports Party. This is up from last year, where the company only made 23% of its profits from Nintendo's handheld.%Gallery-23943%[Via Joystiq]Source [PDF]
Strong Yen could see lack of Wii bargains this holiday season in U.S.
Analysts think that due to the continuing decline of the U.S. dollar and the 13-year high for the Japanese Yen, you won't be seeing too many hot deals on Nintendo's Wii this holiday season. With the Yen being so high, it drives up the cost of Japanese goods for U.S. retailers. And, seeing as how the U.S. economy has been in such bad shape all year, merchants have discounted their goods to offset that fall to a point where they can't afford to lower prices to attract customers any more.Wii Fit, one of the items analysts see as being a must-have this season, could be most affected. With the profit margin on it so small (same goes for the Wii console itself), retailers can't afford to cut prices. One positive thing to come out of this, however, is that the Euro has been on a decline, as well. This means that Nintendo should be shipping more to the U.S., whereas in the past, Nintendo focused on Europe first.%Gallery-23454%
Wii Music not so much of a joke in Japan
People like to poke fun, but if the Japanese are any indication, Wii Music is going to be serious business. The title debuted at the top spot in Japan this week, selling 92,000 copies. And 50,000 of those copies flew off the shelves on the game's first day at retail! But, doing well in Japan doesn't necessarily mean it'll do well in other territories. What do you think?%Gallery-27713%[Via Joystiq] Looking for more on Wii Music? You can catch an E3 trailer here, read about our time with the game here, and learn how to play the Famicom, banjo, steel drum, handbell, trumpet, timpani, acoustic bass, shamisen, harmonica, cello, harpsichord, cheerleader, saxophone, sitar, cowbell, electric bass, drums, dog, accordion, taiko, clarinet, conga, electric guitar, harp, flute, marching drum, violin, piano, guitar, and marimba.
September NPD: Another month of Nintendo dominance
Does it ever get old? Nintendo lead the month of September's sales in North America, continuing their reign over all. Not only have they won the hardware race, but several Wii titles found their way into the top software listings. You all know the drill.September's hardware sales according to the NPD:- Wii: 687K 453K (51.66%)- DS: 536.8K 518.3K (3.57%)- Xbox 360: 347.2K 195.2K (77.87%)- PSP: 238.1K 253K (-5.90%)- PS3: 232.4K 185.4K (25.35%) - PS2: 173.5K 144.1K (20.4%)Head past the break for the software breakdown.
Top 5: Nintendo's Biggest Surprises
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Nintendo_s_5_Biggest_Surprises_Throughout_History'; This week's press conference from Nintendo was like Reggie himself coming to your door, clutching a bouquet of awesome announcements, and saying "I'm sorry about E3." Indeed, I can't help but think that just one of the awesome titles announced in the past week could have prevented much of the animosity hurled at Nintendo following their ho-hum presentation at the summer exhibition. But then again, Nintendo has always been one to surprise us. They've made good moves and bad, interesting decisions coupled with utterly clueless assumptions, and made us wonder what the hell they were thinking while amazing us with what they're capable of. Here's the Top 5 biggest surprises unleashed by the Big N. NEXT >> #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } The Top 5 is a weekly feature that provides us with a forum to share our opinions on various aspects of the video game culture, and provides you with a forum to tell us how wrong we are. To further voice your opinions, submit a vote in the Wii Fanboy Poll, and take part in the daily discussions of Wii Warm Up.
Rumor: Apple has sold over 10 million iPhones
An effort by members of The Mac Observer's Apple Finance Board to track numbers of iPhones sold has led two analysts writing for AppleInsider to believe that Apple has already met its goal of selling 10 million iPhones in 2008.TMO's Apple Finance Board has been tracking International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers for new iPhone 3Gs since late June when shipments first began. This spreadsheet shows the estimated number of iPhone 3Gs produced and shipped, with the latest figures for the period ending 10/5/08 at 9,190,680. Conservatively estimating that 1.5 million iPhone 3Gs are either still in inventory, were destroyed, returned, or otherwise unsold, the remaining number of about 7.7 million 3Gs added to the known 2.42 million iPhones that had been sold prior to this time puts total sales of all models of iPhones past 10 million.While we have to wait until the next Apple financial call on October 21st to hear whether this estimate is accurate, this is a fascinating analysis that might help a battered Apple weather the current financial storm.
Xbox 360 tops PS3 in Japan, again
According to weekly sales figures from Media Create in Japan, Microsoft has beat Sony on its home turf for the second week in a row. Reduced to nearly half of its console sales last week Microsoft was still able to inch out the PlayStation 3 in the Land of the Rising Sun. Of course, Nintendo's DS and Wii one-two-combo remained at the top with Sony's PSP landing comfortably in third. Sales figures, according to Media Create for last week look like this: Nintendo DS - 61,242 Wii - 29,921 PSP - 28,674 Xbox 360 - 13,777 PlayStation 3 - 8,156 PlayStation 2 - 7,720 On the software side, the Xbox 360 exclusive Infinite Undiscovery fell to #13 in its second-ish week of release with timed-exclusive Tales of Vesperia down to #28. Along with the two recently released titles the Xbox 360 received a price drop that is assumed to be a huge factor in the figures. Or Japanese gamers now love the Xbox. Yeah, that has to be it.
The Force Unleashed sells 1.5 million copies in its first week
It looks like we should've taken those book sales as an indication of how hungry Star Wars fans were for something new. The latest game to bear the Star Wars name, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, has managed to sell a whopping 1.5 million copies in its first 5 days on shelves. The Force is strong with ... uh, yeah. Sorry.Darrell Rodriguez, president of LucasArts, didn't expect such high numbers, apparently. "We're blown away by the response to the game." So, how many of you picked up the game? Did it blow you away or have you found it to be sub-par? Gallery: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Wii)
