December NPD US Hardware/Software Sales

Dr Mario Kart

Dr Mario Kart

CAGiversary!
Feedback
6 (100%)
Hardware December 2010 (Year over year change)
NDS - 2.5 M (-24%)
Wii - 2.36 M (-38%)
360 - 1.86 M (+42%) [best ever sales by 420k units]
PS3 - 1.21 M (-11%)

December 2010 Top 10 Games (New Physical Retail only; across all platforms incl. PC)

01. Call of Duty: Black Ops** (360, PS3, Wii, NDS, PC) - ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
02. Just Dance 2 (Wii) - UBISOFT [Top single SKU]
03. World of Warcraft: Cataclysm** (PC) - ACTIVISION BLIZZARD - 1.5m
04. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood** (360, PS3) - UBISOFT
05. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii) - NINTENDO
06. Disney Epic Mickey** (Wii) - DISNEY INTERACTIVE - 1.32m
07. Madden NFL 11 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP) - EA
08. Michael Jackson The Experience** (Wii, NDS, PSP) - UBISOFT
09. NBA 2K11 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2, PC) - TAKE 2
10. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (360, PS3, Wii, PC) - EAS - 906.4k

Other:
Gran Turismo 5 (PS3) - 560.5K

Annual 2010 Top 10 Games

01. Call of Duty: Black Ops** (360, PS3, Wii, PC, NDS) - ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
02. Madden NFL 11 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP) - EA
03. Halo: Reach** (360) - MICROSOFT
04. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) - NINTENDO
05. Red Dead Redemption (360, PS3) - TAKE 2
06. Wii Fit Plus** (Wii) - NINTENDO
07. Just Dance 2 (Wii) - UBISOFT
08. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2** (360, PS3, PC) - ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
09. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood** (360, PS3) - UBISOFT
10. NBA 2K11 (360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, PC) - TAKE 2

**(includes CE, GOTY editions, bundles, etc. but not those bundled with hardware)

Hardware Calendar Year 2010:
NDS - 8.56 million
WII - 7.07 million
360 - 6.76 million
PS3 - 4.33 million

NPD Press Release:
PORT WASHINGTON, NY, January 13, 2011 – According to leading market research company, The NPD Group, the preliminary estimate* for total consumer spend on gaming content via all monetization methods, including new physical video and PC games, used games, game rentals, subscriptions, digital full-game downloads, social network games, downloadable content, and mobile game apps, is between $15.4 to $15.6 billion. This total consumer spend on games content in 2010 represent sales that are flat to down by as much as 1 percent when compared to 2009.

Based on this estimate, spending on new physical content at retail continues to account for the majority of the total consumer spend on games content. U.S. retail sales of new physical video game content, which includes portable, console and PC game software, generated revenues of $10.1 billion, a 5 percent decline over the $10.6 billion generated in 2009.

Bright spots came from PC games new physical retail software, which was up 3 percent in 2010, as well as increases in the consumer spend on used games sales, full-game digital downloads and downloadable content, mobile gaming apps, and social network gaming, which offset declines in console and portable new physical game sales, rentals, and subscriptions.

“December 2010 represented one of the strongest monthly performances the industry has ever had at retail. It was a robust finish to a year marked by innovation and engaging millions of consumers through a multitude of delivery models,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, the trade group that represents U.S. computer and video game publishers. “Computer and video games led all other entertainment options as we responded to consumers’ demands for creative content on every platform from consoles to smart phones to handheld game devices. I look forward to a strong 2011 with a great pipeline of titles, many of which will be unveiled at the global center of video games—the E3 Expo.”

“The dynamics of games content purchasing changed dramatically in 2010 with options ranging from the physical product to digital downloads on connected devices as well as in-store digital kiosks,” said Anita Frazier, industry analyst, The NPD Group. “The increasing number of ways to acquire the content has allowed the industry to maintain total consumer spend on content as compared to 2009, and we should expect 2011 to be a growth year in the games industry as the consumer demand for gaming continues to evolve.”

NPD's Anita Frasier:
Overall

"We estimate that the total consumer spend on games content to be between $15.4B and $15.6B for 2010, which is about flat to last year. This year, declines in portable and console game sales were offset by new physical PC game sales, which increased by 3%, and increases in the consumer spend occuring via digital download, mobile gaming apps, social network games, and used games. We will issue our final analysis of the total consumer spend on the industry in March when we release our 2010 edition of the Games Industry Total Consumer Spend report."

"Sales of new physical video game hardware, software & accessories ended 2010 at $18.6B, a 6% decrease from 2009. If we include PC game sales, which enjoyed an increase of 3% versus '09, sales hit $19.3B, down 5% from '09. Aside from PC games, accessory sales were up over 13% due to an increase in the average retail price of accessory items of 20%. "

"Among new physical video game sales in December 2010, the Wii and the 360 platforms generated the greatest dollar sales of all platforms, at 32% and 31% of dollar sales respectively, across all categories including hardware, software and accessories."

Hardware

"In 2010, the Xbox 360 platform was the only system to enjoy a year-over-year increase in unit sales over 2009. December 2010 is the best month ever for Xbox 360 hardware sales."

"For the month of December, the Nintendo DS was the best-selling hardware system, achieving an install base of over 47 million units sold in the U.S., which now surpasses that of the PS2."

Software

"The best-selling game for the month, and for the year, was Call of Duty: Black Ops. Year-to-date it has sold more than 12 million units across all platforms, which is more than twice as many as the second best-selling title of the year, Madden NFL '11. This might lead some to think the industry is becoming more hit-driven with sales more concentrated among the top titles, but in fact, sales of the top 10 titles this year represented about the same percentage of total unit sales as they did last year."

"The top five games of the year are Call of Duty: Black Ops, Madden NFL '11, Halo: Reach, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Red Dead Redemption."

"On an SKU basis, games that are in the top 10 for the month that aren't reflected in our title-level best-selling list include Kinect Sports from Microsoft, UDraw Studio with UDraw Tablet from THQ, and Dance Central from Microsoft. Outside of Black Ops and Assassin’s Creed, the top list on both a SKU and title level basis reflects an array of content that is appealing outside the core audience for gaming that you might expect to sell well during the holiday timeframe."

"PC game dollar sales were up 62% in December led by sales of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm expansion pack. For 2010 new physical PC game sales, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty and World of Warcraft: Cataclysm are the best-selling games, representing 14% of total pc game unit sales for the year."

"Among the top 10 titles for the month, two are third-party Wii games including Just Dance 2 from Ubisoft, which was the best-selling game for the month at the SKU level, and Epic Mickey from Disney."

Accessories

"December 2010 is the biggest month for accessories sales in history, due to a hefty increase in the average retail price driven by specialty controllers.

"The Kinect was the best-selling accessory item for the second month in a row, following its release in early November."

"For both the month of December and for the whole year, Point & Subscription cards grew the most in unit volume vs. 2009. This is a retail reflection of the growing importance of digitally delivered gaming content."

US Hardware Benchmarks:

PS2 - 25,720,000 (50 months) (Nov 2004)
PS2 - 30,932,000 (62 months) (Nov 2005)

Xbox - 14,064,000 (50 months) (Dec 2005)
Xbox - 14,354,000 (62 months) (Dec 2006)

GCN - 10,720,000 (50 months) (Dec 2005)
GCN - 11,460,000 (62 months) (Dec 2006)

PS3 - 15,458,700 (50 months) (Dec 2010)
Wii - 34,204,700 (50 months) (Dec 2010)
360 - 18,469,000 (50 months) (Dec 2009)
360 - 25,393,190 (62 months) (Dec 2010)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hm, 360 might pass the Wii next year, not in overall, but for the year...maybe.

Call of Duty will rule the year next year, haha.
 
I bought a 360 in December. Of course I had to because my old 360 red ringed.

I wonder what % of 360 sales come from exisiting 360 owners who need to replace their bricked consoles?

I'm now on my third 360 and I'm sure I'm not alone.
 
[quote name='blueshinra']Just Dance 2 beating Cataclysm is pretty epic. Wonder what the numbers were on the former?[/QUOTE]
The only problem with these numbers is that NPD doesn't include downloaded purchases or online ordering...
 
[quote name='Vader582']The only problem with these numbers is that NPD doesn't include downloaded purchases or online ordering...[/QUOTE]
Ahh, forgot about that. I bet Cataclysm would've taken the first or second spot if that was the case.
 
[quote name='blueshinra']Ahh, forgot about that. I bet Cataclysm would've taken the first or second spot if that was the case.[/QUOTE]
That's what I was thinking too.
 
[quote name='Puffa469']I bought a 360 in December. Of course I had to because my old 360 red ringed.

I wonder what % of 360 sales come from exisiting 360 owners who need to replace their bricked consoles?

I'm now on my third 360 and I'm sure I'm not alone.[/QUOTE]

I bought one in January as my original, pre-falcon model finally kicked the bucket on New Year's Eve.
 
Wow, good sales on Donkey Kong and Epic Mickey. Also insane that 2.36 millions Wiis is a 38 percent drop.

Is VGChartz accurate? - I noticed EA Sports Active 2 didn't chart in November or December, they're saying about 500,000 total sales across 3 platforms since November 16th. No wonder it dropped 40 dollars 2 weeks after launch.
 
[quote name='diddy310']Is VGChartz accurate? - I noticed EA Sports Active 2 didn't chart in November or December, they're saying about 500,000 total sales across 3 platforms since November 16th. No wonder it dropped 40 dollars 2 weeks after launch.[/QUOTE]

It is hit and miss. Sometimes they are close, sometimes they aren't. It's about as useful as a watch that will sometimes tell you the correct time.
 
Pretty incredible you had to sell 900K copies just to make the top 10 last month, most games are lucky to do that in their lifetime.
 
Well that should stop the PS3 fanboy arguments that the PS3 would catch the 360 by the end of this long generation. Still nearly 10 million behind, and got outsold by over 2 million units in 2010.

I also don't why anyone would get angry over a game like BLOPS selling well. It's a good game. I don't get angry about stuff I don't care for like Nintendo games, casual games, etc. selling well. Still plenty of stuff coming out in genres I like to play.
 
[quote name='HaLLuZiNaTiOnZ']The fact BLOPS is in the annual top 10 sellers angers me like you would not believe.[/QUOTE]

Call of Duty will be the best seller for awhile, you'd be living under a rock to not see it months in advance.

[quote name='dmaul1114']Well that should stop the PS3 fanboy arguments that the PS3 would catch the 360 by the end of this long generation. Still nearly 10 million behind, and got outsold by over 2 million units in 2010.

I also don't why anyone would get angry over a game like BLOPS selling well. It's a good game. I don't get angry about stuff I don't care for like Nintendo games, casual games, etc. selling well. Still plenty of stuff coming out in genres I like to play.[/QUOTE]

The PS3 actually out sold the 360 by a couole hundred K this year worldwide, remeber the NPD only accounts for America's sales, and doesn't even account for Wal-mart.
 
True. Though since I don't enjoy hardly any Japanese developed games, I don't really care about sales outside of US and Europe. I mainly only play FPS and WRPGs these days.

Honestly, I don't care much about console sales in general, other than to laugh at fanboys who do care and argue over them. :D I just buy which every console has the most games in the genres I play. Couldn't care less which company's console that is.
 
PS3 barely beat WW but the 360 still has Kinect - which has been selling crazily and will most likely be a huge system seller for the next years to come (before the 720 is out) look at how many damn Kinects were sold! Combined with the 360 S, MS almost beat the Wii in America last year which is quite a feat when you consider the Wii dominance.

As much as I don't care for motion control gaming (or lack of controlers at all) it has given the 360 quite a boost - and there will be some gems with it eventually (For me Steel Battalian when It's out.)
 
[quote name='dmaul1114']True. Though since I don't enjoy hardly any Japanese developed games, I don't really care about sales outside of US and Europe. I mainly only play FPS and WRPGs these days.

Honestly, I don't care much about console sales in general, other than to laugh at fanboys who do care and argue over them. :D I just buy which every console has the most games in the genres I play. Couldn't care less which company's console that is.[/QUOTE]

Demon's Souls?
 
Yeah I've tried to get DMaul to give Tales of Vesperia, Lost Odyssey, and maybe Eternal Sonata a try on 360 to no avail. :)

That is probably the 2nd biggest trend of this generation (reliance on DLC and patches is first) the decline of the Japanese games outside of Nintendo. Capcom to me is the only one really trying to innovate although some of them (RE 5) aren't quite as good as before and some (Dead Rising) I just don't care for. Definately revived the fighting game scene (SF IV, MvC 3.)
 
[quote name='MSUHitman']That is probably the 2nd biggest trend of this generation (reliance on DLC and patches is first) the decline of the Japanese games outside of Nintendo.[/QUOTE]
Well, they're all on handhelds these days...
 
That is probably the 2nd biggest trend of this generation (reliance on DLC and patches is first) the decline of the Japanese games outside of Nintendo.
Click to expand...

Yea, Western companies are taking over. We're getting the uncensored stuff, and all the special editions we used to fawn over and dream of that the Japanese always got.

It's sad, as people in their late 20s-30s grew up basically with Japanese games.

It's almost all I play (JRPGs and shooters)

Although I do play a fair amount of pinball which is American.
 
Well, I grew up on Japanese games. I only had Nintendo console up until the N64/PSX era when I got a PSX late in the generation. Then after that I had all three and mainly played the PS2 last gen.

This gen I started with a Wii, but got sick of it after Zelda, Metroid Prime 3 and Mario Galaxy as I didn't dig the motion controls nor care for other Nintendo franchises like Mario Kart or Smash Brothers. So I grabbed a DS and played a lot on that.

Finally got a 360 in Oct 2007 and that rejuvinated my interest in gaming quite a bit as I realized I was just burnt out on genre's like platformers and JRPGs that I'd played all my life and had more fun with FPS and the occasional WRPG.

But I'm sure I'll get burnt out on those eventually and need to find other genres to play to keep my interest in gaming alive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top