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Nintendo Claims No.2 Spot, PS2 Sales Down Year-On-Year
jkcity writes "In an interview with Nintendo's Perrin Kaplan on IGN Cube, she claims: 'We basically won 2003 [in the U.S.] and moved ourselves to the number two spot, and Microsoft's Xbox to number three', also noting: 'Year-on-year we were up 68.5% [in December] based on units sold. We sold about 1.1 million GameCubes in December... For the whole year we were up 35%. Our competitors were both in the negative.' But an analyst quoted in an [overly harsh?] BBC News story is less impressed, suggesting the console 'did not do as well as I would have expected'." Elsewhere, a Reuters story notes that PlayStation 2 sales in the U.S. "fell 27 percent to 2.94 million units in November and December from four million units a year earlier", but the console still seems to be outselling the GameCube's increased Xmas volume.
In addition to the dirt cheap price of the gamecube, third parties are really starting to come around and produce the same titles as for the Xbox and PS2. For me, that was the biggest annonyance of the first year the gamecube was released.
Of course, what statistics are you basing your opinion on? The salesmen at EB who try to sell you a warranty and tell you how many are returned? Or the ranting posted on the Internet? Unless you have some hard numbers and can show that, per 1,000 machines, more are defective than the Xbox or Gamecube, you're just spreading FUD.
these kinds of press releases are primarily for stockholders, analysts, and 3rd party developers. even though fanboys may love to use this crap for their pissing contests, it isn't aimed at them.
of course, analysts don't really care about market share won by severely cutting prices. particularly if the increased market share doesn't result in significantly increased software sales. (which is yet to be seen despite the quantity of GC's sold)
The interesting part though is how console installed base correlation to total software sales tapers off more quickly than hardware sales.
Every ps2 game released should outsell every GC or xbox title 5 to 1 at least due the sheer size of the installed base. but the monthly numbers haven't shown that to be a trend over the last two years. Just as the monthly numbers haven't shown a significant increase in GC game sales due their new, larger, installed base. It just seems the new price is pulling in people who are only buying 1 or 2 of the already existing superhits (prime, wind waker, sunshine).
and so long as console makers lose money on each box - analysts by and large won't care about installed base. they only follow 3rd party developer movement and software sales. (nintendo may have been making money on each GC at $200, but it's extremely doubtful they still did at $150, let alone $100).
so the question is: are third party developers going to throw more titles toward nintendo now that they have a larger installed base? and, will the lower price actually result in significant software sales growth?
If not, then this article only tries to put up a rosy picture for the shareholders, though it'll have no real effect on the existing trends. ( sony > ms > nintendo )
// "Can't clowns and pirates just -try- to get along?"
"Does it want to be in the handheld, the kiddie market or compete more externally in the wider market?"
first and foremost, this part of the article is totally ridiculous. A console can be many many things. In fact, Nintendo has had the opportunity of a lucrative handheld market, while also being a console business. Why do you have to cater to one and only one market? Obviously you don't. I think if anything there are two things that Nintendo is doing wrong. The first is their image, people DO still think of the gamecube as primarily for kids. I do, but I also own the Mature titles. So perhaps their image needs to be dealt with. The other thing is with their lack of cheaper titles. I can play $15 greatest hits PS2 titles and $20 PS2 GH games. While it usually costs around $25-$30 for a GH equivalent on the gamecube. Who cares if the GC is cheaper, the games are often more expensive when it comes to older titles. Perhaps Nintendo should consider making more of their titles around the $20-$25 mark.
Also in the market, it talks about how the PS2 had a year's headstart over Microsoft and Nintendo. However, the first year the PS2 was out, lots of gamers were dissappointed with the lack of titles. I think having a headstart doesn't necessarily give a company an advantage. Nintendo and Microsoft have some great titles, but yes, I am aware that the PS2 has a huge selection of titles (but is that due to them being Sony, or having a headstart, and could you say the same if we were talking about Nintendo or Microsoft?).
I do agree however that Nintendo should not be underestimated. They don't have the resource of Sony or Microsoft, but they do have experience. I think that they will be around for along time.
The only other problem I have, is that at this point I see no reason for Nintendo to make a next gen console. The GC still has alot of potential left in it, and it seems absurd to make gamers buy a new console, and new games for it. Also, it might be good to see what Sony, and Microsoft come out with so they can top those consoles. All the while, continuing to increase the number of the titles for the GC. On the otherhand, it makes perfect sense that the PS2 be phased out to the PS3 since the PS2 is seeing its age.
In any case, don't count Nintendo out just because they don't have the buy power of Sony and Microsoft. Money doesn't bring success, talent does.
Statistics about sales are all well and good, but sometimes they don't paint a realistic picture. I got a 'cube for X-mas with no memory card, so I attempted to find one.
My first stop was my local Walmart. Despite the large volume of games for PS2 and X-Box, the gamecube shelf was completely bare, not a single game was left. Needless to say, they didn't have any memory cards.
I went to my local mall and visited every store that carried the cube and found similar situations. I finally stopped at EB Games who had 3rd party cards (the Nintendo brand was sold out).
If anyone asks why weren't 'cube sales weren't higher in my area, it's pretty simple. No one had any left. I suspect other people in other areas may have similar stories, but at this point, Nintendo beat the sales predictions of every retail chain to the point of clearing their inventory. And that's a good season.
-- Political fascism requires a Fuhrer.