July NPD US Hardware/Software Sales

[Dr Mario Kart]

NPD Coverage: July 6 - August 2 (4 weeks)

NDS: 608k (152k per week)
WII: 555k (138.75k per week)
PS3: 225k (56.25k per week)
PSP: 222k (55.5k per week)
360: 205k (51.25 per week)
PS2: 155k (38.75 per week)

Top 10 Software:

360 NCAA FOOTBALL 09 ELECTRONIC ARTS JULY 2008 397.6K
WII FIT W/ BALANCE BOARD NINTENDO OF AMERICA MAY 2008 369.6K
NDS GUITAR HERO: ON TOUR ACTIVISION JUNE 2008 309.7K
WII PLAY W/ REMOTE NINTENDO OF AMERICA FEB 2007 284K
PS3 NCAA FOOTBALL 09 ELECTRONIC ARTS JULY 2008 242.5K
360 SOUL CALIBUR IV NAMCO BANDAI GAMES OF AMERICA JULY 2008 218.9K
WII MARIO KART W/ WHEEL NINTENDO OF AMERICA APRIL 2008 174.5K
WII ROCK BAND SPECIAL ED BUNDLE MTV GAMES/ELECTRONIC ARTS JUNE 2008 165.8K
PS3 SOUL CALIBUR IV NAMCO BANDAI GAMES OF AMERICA JULY 2008 155.8K
360 SID MEIER'S CIVILIZATION REVOLUTION TAKE 2 INT. CORP. JULY 2008 147.6K

For comparison, June's Hardware numbers (5 weeks):
NDS: 783,000 (156.6k per week)
WII: 666,700 (133.3k per week)
PS3: 405,500 (81.1k per week)
PSP: 337,400 (67.48k per week)
360: 219,800 (43.96k per week)
PS2: 188,800 (37.76k per week)
_________
Notes:

MGS4 dropped out of the top 10
Minimal influence of 360 price drop
PS3 bump due to MGS4 is gone.

Year to Date in US:

DS 3.795 mil
PSP 1.704 mil
360 1.546 mil
PS3 1.833 mil
Wii 4.038 mil

LTD in US:

DS 21.385 mil
PSP 12.216 mil
360 10.67 mil
PS3 5.081 mil
Wii 11.407 mil

[freakyzeeky]

This surprised me a bit, since I thought the 360 price drop would have easily beaten PS3 sales for the month. It seems it is not the case this time. ;)

[akilshohen]

Soul Calibur did good, seeing as how it was only out about 1-3 days on the calendar. I wonder how will August look. Am I not looking right or is NCAA not in there at all for Wii? Madden will be an interesting look in September
EDIT: NVM about the SC4 part, still did good for only 5 days.

[EXStrike]

Price drop did nothing. Wow.

[Dr Mario Kart]

The EA sports franchises havent been strong on Nintendo consoles since the SNES days. The fans really like their graphics and their online.

[Friend of Sonic]

I'm also shocked the price drop didn't help.
This is certaintly an interesting turn for the 360. It should have an excellent holiday, though.
And, man, Nintendo is still shitting on everybody.

[The Mana Knight]

I think PS3 sales would have been higher if it wasn't the somewhat shortage in the U.S. (due to making room for the 80GB SKU w/ DS3). Some may think I'm lying, but stores like Target, sometimes Wal-Mart, Meijer, and so on in my area have been sold out of PS3 consoles for a while (only sometimes get in the MGS4 PS3, if they get it in). Best Buy and Wal-Mart use to have tons, and now they have like 2 left. Fry's (very huge Electronics store) in Indy use to have several PS3 consoles (so many you'd be tripping over them), yet when I go there now, they have two or nothing. I have no problems finding any 360 SKU.

[Kendal]

I think PS3 sales would have been higher if it wasn't the somewhat shortage in the U.S. (due to making room for the 80GB SKU w/ DS3). Some may think I'm lying, but stores like Target, sometimes Wal-Mart, Meijer, and so on in my area have been sold out of PS3 consoles for a while (only sometimes get in the MGS4 PS3, if they get it in). Best Buy and Wal-Mart use to have tons, and now they have like 2 left. Fry's (very huge Electronics store) in Indy use to have several PS3 consoles (so many you'd be tripping over them), yet when I go there now, they have two or nothing. I have no problems finding any 360 SKU.

Come to Michigan.

[Dr Mario Kart]

There were isolated pockets of PS3 shortages, but overall I dont think it was significant.

[jlarlee]

Nice to see Civ Rev crack that list

[Jest]

It still surprises me that the PS2 can still sell over 100k units a month.

[007]

I have to agree that the PS3 shortages were scattered at best, and it definitely was taken care of by these current numbers.

I think the problem with the 360 is that we're finally beginning to reach the saturation point. If you haven't picked up one by now, you're more likely to not, even with the price drop. I think we're in that PS2 phase, where it's just going to keep doing solid, if not spectacular, numbers every month.

I'm curious to see what happens this fall, with both Fable and Gears 2 coming out.

[The Mana Knight]

There were isolated pockets of PS3 shortages, but overall I dont think it was significant.That's what I meant, but it was still kind of present. I mean before, I'd go to Best Buy and see PS3 consoles everywhere, and I mean everywhere (like around March/April of this year). Glasses cases at Target, Wal-Mart, I'd see PS3 consoles filling it up. Now when I go, it's like I see like two (I've seen the MGS4 bundle more than a 40GB). It's not like stores don't have room for the PS3, since I see the case empty. But that's just from my observations (I cannot tell the stock at a store like Circuit City).

I do think what has hurt 360 the most is having 4 SKUS at most retailers, which really confuses the casual people (once Sony mostly stuck to one PS3 SKU, they actually performed a lot better, earlier this year).

[rodeojones903]

PS3's are really hard to find in my area right now too. A buddy of mine has been looking for a 40gig but gave up and is just waiting for the new 80. We never have any instock at the BB I work at. We really need them badly because they are easy to attack to HDTVs with the $100 off HD advantage.

[Monsta Mack]

360 did 20k less then the PS3??? No wonder they are dropping again in Sept, horrible numbers.

[Dr Mario Kart]

I think the problem with the 360 is that we're finally beginning to reach the saturation point. If you haven't picked up one by now, you're more likely to not, even with the price drop. I think we're in that PS2 phase, where it's just going to keep doing solid, if not spectacular, numbers every month.

I'm curious to see what happens this fall, with both Fable and Gears 2 coming out.
Market Saturation is always relative to price points. The two bottom 360 SKUs are still at or just below the maximum launch price of previous (successful) home consoles. That is not acceptable nearly 3 years out from launch. They had nearly 2 years of Pro sales @ $399 before they dropped it right before Halo 3. I'm sure if the PS3 had 10M sold in the US they would be struggling at $300 also.

[torifile]

Is there a reason this thread isn't more popular? I always love reading the discussion in these threads.

[Zerostatic]

I remember a year or two ago when people would laugh at me when I said the PS3 was going to have a significantly higher installed base then the 360. The Cheapest PS3 is still an expensive $400 dollars and the PS3 is outselling the 360 in all 3 world-wide regions! With Blu-Ray as the official HD format winner, the price to manufacture the PS3 is going to drop like a rock as this gen moves on. As a former 360 owner who got treated like crap by Microsoft I have to say that I am kinda happy that the 360 is faltering. That might sound real fanboyish, but company's listen to their wallets and you can be sure that if the 360 isn't the huge success that many were predicting a year or two ago, that Microsoft will make sure that their hardware is more reliable the next time around and perhaps they'll consider making Live free.


As for the Wii, I'm happy for Nintendo. I don't want them to go the way of Sega. Though the focus on the Wii doesn't appear to be us hardcore gamers, I don't care. I'm happy that they're growing the market and I'm happy that they decided to innovate this generation as opposed to giving us just another HD system like the 360 and PS3. I have a Wii and while it won't be my main platform, I'll keep it and happily play my Nintendo first party games as well as the occasional quality 3rd party game and perhaps a few Virtual Console games here and there.

[Jest]

We'll see what happens when 360 hits $199. I'd buy one.

Its pretty amazing that the DS sold so well. It sold more than all three Sony products combined. Does this include ALL regions of just NA?

[DarkSageRK]

Microsoft wins Japan. Game over.

http://kotaku.com/5037173/xbox-360-is-huge-in-japan-this-week

Edit: I was kidding, kids. Tch, thicker than blood aren't ya?

[Jest]

Microsoft wins Japan. Game over.

http://kotaku.com/5037173/xbox-360-is-huge-in-japan-this-week


Didn't we all see this coming though. It was just a matter of time til all the RPGs in development came out. In Japan Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Tales, and pretty much anything S-E actually, sells consoles.

[happy]

Didn't we all see this coming though. It was just a matter of time til all the RPGs in development came out. In Japan Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Tales, and pretty much anything S-E actually, sells consoles.

The real surprise about Japan is that the DS beat the PSP again. Perhaps now everyone has a PSP so decided it's time for a third DS.

[mykevermin]

Microsoft wins Japan. Game over.

http://kotaku.com/5037173/xbox-360-is-huge-in-japan-this-week

Vesperia sold 125% better than Blue Dragon did its first week, and while it was a great week for the 360, the system still isn't close to breaking 1 million over there. You may see a slight effect of Vesperia this week, and then nothing (other than really really cheap copies of Vesperia).

EDIT: Also, it's interesting to see that there appears to be a narrowing of the typical 2:1/3:1 sales ratio favoring the 360 version of multiplatform software over the PS3 version. NCAA and SCIV both sold 1.6:1 and 1.4:1, respectively.

As for the Wii, it's clear that if you're Nintendo, you're selling strong. If you aren't, it's a total crapshoot: why Rock Band sells well (as did GHIII), but not, say, Madden, is beyond me. It's not as if the Wii Rock Band isn't totally lacking in features compared to other versions, much the same way, say, Wii Madden does each year.

DMK, your defense (since I know it's coming)...

[Dr Mario Kart]

The 360 thing in Japan is an aberration, like it was when Ace Combat 6 came out. Thousands of 360's are going back to the shop used next week.

The DS has been behind for the last 5-6 months or so with the dual force of the PSP Slim/Monster Hunter. Also, the DS has never had a price drop in Japan. With the Lite, the price went UP. Now that both of those forces have subsided, the king returns.

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/2919/mc7consolesyoy2weekly89bw1.png (http://imageshack.us)
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/2919/mc7consolesyoy2weekly89bw1.91f81f469f.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=168&i=mc7consolesyoy2weekly89bw1.png)

[Thomas96]

Sony's done well all year, and their games lineup for the second half of this year is going to be even stronger than the first half. I know Sony is hell bent on not price dropping, but what I think they should do to at least try to counter act MS' price drop is come out with a Little Big Planet Bundle... 399.99 Honestly, for the holidays, there needs to be a PS3 Holiday Bundle with a free game and or controller. That Forza and Marvel UA bundle was sweet. I'd like to see Sony give some incentives during the holidays, rather than just sit back.

[seanr1221]

Seeing those Rock Band numbers for the Wii makes me a sad panda.

[botticus]

As for the Wii, it's clear that if you're Nintendo, you're selling strong. If you aren't, it's a total crapshoot: why Rock Band sells well (as did GHIII), but not, say, Madden, is beyond me. It's not as if the Wii Rock Band isn't totally lacking in features compared to other versions, much the same way, say, Wii Madden does each year.
Different genres?

Traditional sport sims clearly don't have much of a market on the Wii, and the All-Play rebranding doesn't seem to have had an effect, unless we see a lot of under the radar sales growth as apparently occured with Madden 08.

[dmaul1114]

Yeah, Rock Band and GHIII sell well as they are games that appeal to casual gamers and non-gamers (always a hit a parties) which is the Wii's main market.

Madden isn't very non-gamer friendly.

[Dr Mario Kart]

Madden is the definition of casual gaming, using the old definition, to only game occasionally.

If you knew someone who only bought 2 games a year, there was a very high chance that one or both was an EA Sports franchise. The other one probably the Sims.

[dmaul1114]

Madden fits the old definition of casual gaming. But notice that I specifically said it wasn't very "non-gamer" friendly. Controls are very complicated, AI is tough etc. It's not a pick up and play sports game like the tecmo bowls, early maddens etc. of the 8 bit and 16 bit generations that anyone could play.

Besides, the casual gamers who only play madden don't give a shit about the Wii, they have a 360 or PS3 to play the best looking versions of the 2 or 3 sports games they buy a year.

[Snake2715]

360 did 20k less then the PS3??? No wonder they are dropping again in Sept, horrible numbers.

Is it though? This is the dry time for consoles normally... its just that the Wii is still unstoppable in comparison.

What are the 2nd and 3rd years for the Xbox and PS2 during July and August?

[mykevermin]

I think the fact that people tend to throw Madden into the "casual gaming" category really makes me scratch my head as to why its sales aren't randomly distributed amongst the consoles.

If that's the case, why wouldn't it sell on the "casual gamer"-friendliest console out there?

It deviates from the "dummy consumers buy Madden just because" explanation, and seems to show a "people look at each version's options, what their friends own, and then buy" explanation instead.

[Dr Mario Kart]

PS2 XBOX GC
Jul-2002 440k 160k 140k
Aug-2002 450k 130k 130k

Jul-2003 310k 140k 130k
Aug-2003 290k 150k 100k

Jul-2004 310k 200k 90k
Aug-2004 210k 220k 110kPardon the formatting.

Madden fans like their graphics and most recently, their online. I dont see what the big confusion is about. Casual gamers arent just one homogeneous voting block.

[dmaul1114]

I think the fact that people tend to throw Madden into the "casual gaming" category really makes me scratch my head as to why its sales aren't randomly distributed amongst the consoles.

If that's the case, why wouldn't it sell on the "casual gamer"-friendliest console out there?

It deviates from the "dummy consumers buy Madden just because" explanation, and seems to show a "people look at each version's options, what their friends own, and then buy" explanation instead.


It's that madden isn't really a casual game. It's complex sports sim. It's played by sports gamers would be a better label.

It just gets called a casual gamer by nerds who don't like seeing frat boys etc. infringe on their nerdy hobby. Thus they hate sports games and refer to them as casual games to some how differentiate their "hardcore" gaming self from those who just play sports games.

A casual gamer is somone that just plays stuff like Wii Sports, Bejeweled etc. Games that anyone can pick up and play in minutes. Not stuff like madden that takes hours to learn the controls etc. if you've never played one before.

[Dr Mario Kart]

Casual games were here first. Gaming WAS casual gaming. Simple Arcade style titles were all pick up and play. Pac-Man, Pong, Asteroids, etc.

Just sayin'

[dmaul1114]

What's that got to do with anything? Point is that Madden doesn't fit the mold of casual games new or old. It's a very complex game with a steep learning curve--especially for a non-gamer or someone that hasn't played games in a decade-->the type of people buying up shit like Wii Fit.

So I'm not surprised that Madden doesn't sell well on the Wii. It's too complex for that set, and it's core fanbase is going to own a PS3 or 360 as they want the best looking versions, online play with their buddies etc. Plus many have just been raised in the Playstation generation and keep buying out of brand loyalty.

If you're point is that going back to casual games is a good thing in your opinion, then fine. We all know you're adverse to progress. But that point has nothing to do with the current discussion as we're not talking about the merits of casual games. Just whether or not Madden fits the current definition of casual games.

And it clearly doesn't. Someone who buys Madden and a couple other sports games and dumps 100s of hours into them isn't a casual gamer anymore than people that buy a couple online FPS games and dump hundreds of hours into them. Casual gamers are people who just occasionaly play stuff like Bejeweled, Wii Fit etc. Only playing a few games in one genre doesn't make you a causal gamer. It just makes you a gamer with limited tastes.

[willardhaven]

Simple games do not necessarily negate progress, often they symbolize it.

[Dr Mario Kart]

Unless your definition of casual gaming (which is quite frankly, fictional) only started with the Wii, you're really going to have to explain the differential Madden success across all consoles prior to Wii.

Edit: That was poorly phrased. You're going to have to explain differential success regardless.

[botticus]

What do we call someone plays Wii Fit for hundreds of hours?

Now that I look back, I don't even know why we brought up Madden - Myke threw me off. We'll see what happens with the All-Play branding of the Wii version in 4 weeks... NCAA was pretty well doomed considering there hasn't been an iteration on a Nintendo console since 2005. I don't think Sparty was going to make up for that. I don't really expect the Wii Madden to do any big numbers particularly relative to the HD games, but it has a chance to do respectably.

[Dr Mario Kart]

Looking back through a whole bunch of flaky archaic posts, I think myke's account of "people look at each version's options, what their friends own, and then buy" seems to be it.

Back before online multiplayer, the feature set or technical details seemed to hold more water, going from Genesis to PS1 at least. Now its about online multiplayer, which is where the 360 is king.

Maybe Madden fans are graphics whores? ;)

Hey, look what I found:

1. Genesis vs. SNES - Madden better on Genesis
2. Playstation vs. N64 - The first year on N64 Madden didn't even have the NFL license, PS FTW
3. Dreamcast vs. PS2 - No Madden on Dreamcast. RIP buddy.
4. PS2 versus X-Box - The first couple of years Maddne was PS2 only and it look like the X-Box was going the way of the Dreamcast. Overall, the game was still a PS2 port.

[Snake2715]

PS2 XBOX GC
Jul-2002 440k 160k 140k
Aug-2002 450k 130k 130k

Jul-2003 310k 140k 130k
Aug-2003 290k 150k 100k

Jul-2004 310k 200k 90k
Aug-2004 210k 220k 110kPardon the formatting.

Madden fans like their graphics and most recently, their online. I dont see what the big confusion is about. Casual gamers arent just one homogeneous voting block.

So we have increased in month over month sales (thats good).

Wii 555
Ps3 225
360 205

2002 was ~ 3.5/1 for PS2 vs others....
2008 is ~ 2.5/1 for Wii vs others....

Its a close race this time around really.

[mykevermin]

What do we call someone plays Wii Fit for hundreds of hours?

Now that I look back, I don't even know why we brought up Madden - Myke threw me off. We'll see what happens with the All-Play branding of the Wii version in 4 weeks... NCAA was pretty well doomed considering there hasn't been an iteration on a Nintendo console since 2005. I don't think Sparty was going to make up for that. I don't really expect the Wii Madden to do any big numbers particularly relative to the HD games, but it has a chance to do respectably.

Regarding your first question, someone who doesn't care for real yoga. WiiFit is cute and all, and the balance board has potential, but I'm waiting for a REAL yoga/workout program to implement the system. It could happen. In the meantime, doing warrior pose five times for 30 seconds each while taking 1.5 minutes to select my next option ain't doing much for my cardio.

Though the Wii is, IMO, a "gateway drug" of sorts. My wife did a bit of gaming, but now she's doing Wii Fit, playing Lego Star Wars from time to time, and is deep into the first Phoenix Wright (good thing we have two DS systems, or else we'd fight over that as I finish FFIV!).

But, that's way off topic, and doesn't help resolve the "I'm right, you're wrong" mentality people have in trying to capture a solid definition of "casual gamers."

[Snake2715]

What's that got to do with anything? Point is that Madden doesn't fit the mold of casual games new or old. It's a very complex game with a steep learning curve--especially for a non-gamer or someone that hasn't played games in a decade-->the type of people buying up shit like Wii Fit.



let me give you another scenario... I don't really watch football, I don't really watch any conventional sports. I cant even understand how people can sit through a game of golf or baseball, talk about anti exciting.

I will watch NBA playoffs, and the superbowl games... I don't always watch them but they are exciting to me, due to what is on the line.

I will not typically buy sports games as they just don't interest me, can I get past the "steep" learning curve, yes, no problem. Do I like the game, not enough to buy it. Would I buy a Tecmo Bowl possibly.

Its casual in the sense that the stereotypical person that buys it, normally will buy just those types of games year in and year out.. they are hardcore about that Genre but apparently not "open minded" for other games. I think that is were the accusations about being "casual" comes from.. from the gamers that play multi genres and thus are hardcore, or at least more so.

Should they come out with a quality sports game in the types of sports I play and follow, then yes I would be all over it.

[jjgames]

NCAA 09 for Wii didn't make the top 10. Do you think Madden 09 will? I'm hoping it will so we can see the difference between all 3 versions. Plus Madden 09 looks so much better than NCAA 09 was.

[Dr Mario Kart]

Theres no reason to expect a different spread between NCAA and Madden. Get into a different genre and there might be a chance. Strangely enough, vgcharts(I know, blech) has Tiger Woods 07 roughly even between Wii and 360 through 59 weeks, with 360 taking a slight lead afterward before they stopped tracking (their tracking being somewhat fictional)

[GizmoGC]

Just like I thought - PS3 dropped.

Shocked the 360 cut didn't help 360 more, but they still had a 360 for a cheaper price so who knows.

[mykevermin]

Just like I thought - PS3 dropped.

Shocked the 360 cut didn't help 360 more, but they still had a 360 for a cheaper price so who knows.

:rofl: I'm glad to see you're still you.

The PS3 dropped marginally from the "MGS4" bump it had in June, which is expected.

Meanwhile the 360 dropped marginally despite a $50 price cut, which was not expected - as your post shows.

You're fuckin' adorable. Just sayin'.

[Dr Mario Kart]

Maybe they know that the cut is not a real cut but a SKU shuffle.

Alternatively, maybe the RRoD really IS fixed and people arent buying replacements anymore :)

[mykevermin]

Maybe they know that the cut is not a real cut but a SKU shuffle.

Alternatively, maybe the RRoD really IS fixed and people arent buying replacements anymore :)

1) maybe, but I doubt it. That assumes people outside of those deeply involved in the gaming scene "get" the SKUs. Most (anecdotal) claims are to the contrary.

2) Maybe. I just got a new-ish refurb for my 4th system, so I sure as hell hope so. But maybe not: MS' response to the RROD has been great (Aside from fixing it), so who's buying replacements when everyone's console is warrantied through November of this year (at the earliest)?

[007]

1) That assumes people outside of those deeply involved in the gaming scene "get" the SKUs. Most (anecdotal) claims are to the contrary.

2) MS' response to the RROD has been great (Aside from fixing it), so who's buying replacements when everyone's console is warrantied through November of this year (at the earliest)?


The top line answers the question posed by the bottom line. People not involved in the gaming scene are confused by the SKUs, and it's THOSE people who are buying replacements, since the warranty, though publicized, isn't hugely known unless you're into the gaming scene. Kid's 360 breaks, parents don't know, kid screams, parent buys new 360. Simple.

... then, of course, there are the sad people who keep buying each new iteration in the hopes that it cures the RRoD. :lol:

Neither are obviously huge numbers, but just felt like pointing it out.

[Dr Mario Kart]

I think even general consumers are wary of the 360 build's reputation. Even if you fix the problem, that doesnt necessarily translate into everything being all better.

Being ~$300 into year 3 is also a problem, but once again, fixing it doesnt necessarily regain you lost momentum.

[mykevermin]

touche.

[benjamouth]

I'm not convinced that 360 price cut is a "real" price cut in that I don't think it was as well publicised as some other console drops. It was more a drop in price to clear out a few systems, as opposed to a "Hey look everyone, now our console is much cheaper" kind of drop.

But I'm sure that comment just makes me look like another "xbot" :roll:

Seems like if you take away the spike for a major release, the numbers are pretty close for the PS3 and 360.

Edit - Nice to see the PSP selling strongly.

[dmaul1114]

Unless your definition of casual gaming (which is quite frankly, fictional) only started with the Wii, you're really going to have to explain the differential Madden success across all consoles prior to Wii.

Edit: That was poorly phrased. You're going to have to explain differential success regardless.

You more or less nailed it on your later post. It's what they're friends are playing, what looks the best, what brand they're more loyal too.

SNES vs. Genesis was a tougher one, sports games just did better on it--probably a case of playing what your friends do. Sports games just were more popular among genesis owners it seems. They did tend to look better.

PSX vs. N64. Sports games mostly sucked on the N64. Looked much better on the PSX, and graphics are HUGELY important in sports sims. The more realistic, the better for a sports sim.

PS2 vs. XBOX/GC. PS2 dominated last gen, and Madden fans were much more likely to buy it as they largely had PS1s rather than N64s the prior generation--so brand loyalty factored into.

This gen you have people sticking with Sony, but the later launch and higher price probably drove some Madden fans to the 360. The Wii isn't a factor for them as again graphics are important, online play is starting to factor in more, and they've just never been Nintendo people.


What do we call someone plays Wii Fit for hundreds of hours?


I wouldn't call them a casual gamer either. A casual gamer is someone who is barely into games. Just plays every now and then, and gaming isn't a major hobby for them. Any one dumping 100s of hours into gaming is a gamer. It's level of interest in/time devoted to gaming that defines whether one is a casual gamer or not IMO, not what type of games someone plays.

These labels are silly to begin with, but I just get annoyed when people label someone who does a lot of gaming in a genre they don't like as a casual gamer like they are somehow inferior to them since they have narrow gaming interests. Arguing over who is more of a gamer is essentially arguing who is a bigger nerd so there are no winners in that debate.



Now that I look back, I don't even know why we brought up Madden - Myke threw me off. We'll see what happens with the All-Play branding of the Wii version in 4 weeks... NCAA was pretty well doomed considering there hasn't been an iteration on a Nintendo console since 2005. I don't think Sparty was going to make up for that. I don't really expect the Wii Madden to do any big numbers particularly relative to the HD games, but it has a chance to do respectably.

If Madden with All Play sells better, it will be selling to fans of Wii Sports and other simple games, not to Madden fans. So it still doesn't get at the Madden fans=casual gamers argument.

Its casual in the sense that the stereotypical person that buys it, normally will buy just those types of games year in and year out.. they are hardcore about that Genre but apparently not "open minded" for other games. I think that is were the accusations about being "casual" comes from.. from the gamers that play multi genres and thus are hardcore, or at least more so.



See I just disagree with that. You don't label someone a casual gamer if they are "hardcore" into one genre and play it a ton. They just have lmiited tastes.

It's just an attempt to label someone as a lesser gamer for not being as "hardcore" as you are (not directed at you but at others who do this) for not liking all the random Japanese games you do etc. And again, there are no winners in debates of who's more "hardcore."

[dallow]

:rofl: I'm glad to see you're still you.

The PS3 dropped marginally from the "MGS4" bump it had in June, which is expected.

Meanwhile the 360 dropped marginally despite a $50 price cut, which was not expected - as your post shows.

You're fuckin' adorable. Just sayin'.:lol:

I bought a 360 this month.
Doing my duty to defeat that rising star PS3 for next month's numbers.

[Rozz]

Yeah, Rock Band and GHIII sell well as they are games that appeal to casual gamers and non-gamers (always a hit a parties) which is the Wii's main market.

Madden isn't very non-gamer friendly.

I disagree, I know people that ONLY play Madden and nothing else (maybe NCAA).

And Dr. Mario Kart, Madden was NEVER Playstation 2 only. As soon as the Xbox launched, Madden 2002 was right there with it.

[dmaul1114]

I disagree, I know people that ONLY play Madden and nothing else (maybe NCAA).


Still, if they play Madden for 100's of hours they're different than a true casual gamer who just plays stuff like bejeweled or Wii Fit every once in a while.

They just have very limited tastes.

If they're buying madden and playing it a little bit for a month and then not touching it until buying next years version, then yes they're a casual gamer and the exeption to the rule.

But my main point is that the controls are still to complicated for the soccer moms playing Wii Fit, and that even those you know who only buy madden probably aren't buying it on the Wii.