Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony tout NPD numbers

Update: This story has been changed to reflect the email from Sony touting its PlayStation 3 March performance.

With the release today of its March video game industry sales report, NPD has provided fodder for just about anyone who wants to read the numbers the way they want. Or trumpet them.

For example, in an e-mail from Nintendo, I learned that, according to NPD, "In March, Nintendo again defined industry momentum in both home and portable video game sales."

In other words, Nintendo's sales of 720,000 Wiis topped console sales. And Nintendo also dug around in NPD's report and discovered that it could also tout that it had the best-selling game, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which sold 2.7 million copies in the month.

At the same time, Microsoft weighed in with its own celebratory e-mail, which begins by stating that, according to NPD, "Consumers continue to make the ultimate vote for Xbox 360 as the console of choice."

Its rationale: That consumers have spent more on Xboxes, $9.4 billion for its entire lifecycle, than on "other game consoles."

So, we've got Nintendo saying it "defined industry momentum" and Microsoft arguing that gamers cast the "ultimate vote" for it.

And this is proof positive, of course, that numbers can be manipulated any way one wants.

Unless you're Sony, that is. I didn't see an e-mail or a press release about the PlayStation 3's March performance, either in my inbox or on the official PlayStation Web site. And the way I read the numbers, there's good reason for that: The PS3 was only the fifth-best-selling console in March--after the Wii, Nintendo's DS, Sony's PlayStation Portable, and the Xbox 360. In fact, the PS3 only barely outsold Sony's PlayStation 2.

I think it's very clear that all these companies are going to posture and fluff their tail feathers and try to elbow each other out of the way--month after month into perpetuity. And because NPD--the leader in gathering industry sales numbers--and others put out so many different metrics, there's always something for everybody to brag about. Well, almost always.

Update: I got an email from Sony after this story was published trumpeting the PlayStation 3's 98 percent sales growth from the same period a year earlier.

[ibeetle]

PS3 5th best?

So the Playstation 3 is only the 5th best? Looks like bloggers also
like to manipulate the numbers.

A. When did the DS become a console. Isn't it a hand held?

B. Who cares. Sony is number 1 and number 2. First, every one
seems to be forgetting that Sony makes the PSP, the Playstation 2
and Playstation3. Not just the Playstation 3. When you combine the
sales of the 3 systems that Sony manufactures they have out sold
every Wii, DS and XBox 360 ever made. That makes them number
1. They are also number 2 in world sales of so called next gen
systems. Only in the U.S. is the XBox 360 outselling the PS3.

[metman787]

Fanboy much?

Seriously why are you defending Sony and the PS3 so hard and
your argument of the PS3 outselling the 360 everywhere but the
US is not only false but completely ridiculous. The US is by far
the biggest consumers of video games and in that category the
PS3 is getting spanked by the Wii and 360. I am a big video
game consumer myself and I own a 360 and Wii. The wii is for
the party games and the 360 is for my serious gaming. I dont
have a PS3 because what benefit do I have for getting one
besides blu-ray which is way overhyped by you sony fanboys.

Approach video games with more of an open mind and realize
that your amazing Playstation days will be coming to an end.
The PS1 and PS2 rocked but the PS3 is complete rubbish and the
only thing to look forward to is MGS4.

Sorry for my long reply and rant. Thank you

[jbowk]

Re: PS3 5TH BEST?

Again it just depends how you interpret the numbers? If you want to combine products then why not do a tally of how many games are sold per console and go from there. Then would that define who's #1? It really wouldnt be accurate. Sounds like just another fanboy rant to me. Then sony had to email some editors at CNET for damage control to mention they had a 98 percent sales growth. I bet part of that had something to do with Toshiba canceling HD-DVD early this year.

[mediocrates--2008]

PS3 5th best?

Looks like blog commenters also like to spin the numbers.

[volterwd]

Why would you combine the PS2 numbers?

You cant include a previous gen console which has been out for 8 years and compare it to the new generation consoles that are out... thats absurd and shows the depths at which you are reaching to make the news sound good.

[mattumanu]

PSP outsells xbox360?

Shouldn't have let that slip. That means that Sony is outselling Microsoft by quite a bit...

Man this is dumb. Why can't everyone just play games, kill each other and raise hell like we used to instead of trying to trumpet our favorite as the best?

[this1!]

thank you

I thought I was the only sensible person on this planet, and now we are two.

[zyberwoof]

Incompatibility

The console that is the most popular gets the most support from other companies and offers you more people to play with. Since the consoles are incompatible with each other, it benefits you to own the console(s) that is/are doing the best.

By arguing which is the best, people are essentially trying to gain more support for their system.

This goes for Windows vs OSX vs Linux, ATI vs nVidia, Red vs Blue. The better one does, the better it gets.

Well, except for the last one. I just think Red vs Blue is hilarious.

[knowles2]

I see a concept forming here.

I see a game concept forming, game where take sides of PS3 or Xbox 360 or Nintendo and you win by who can manipulate the figures the most.

or even better game where you get to kill a the other team by using any weapon at your disposal, OF cause weapons strictly limited parts of each team machine.

[BCF1968]

PS3 outsold XBOX 360

get your facts straight CNet

[brandonh33]

What?

Please Cnet, take this article off the web. It is a well known fact by several organizations that the ps3 has outsold the 360 for EVERY month in 2008 including march. All you have to do is go to vgchartz.com to see that the ps3 has outsold the 360 for a very long period of time by a significant margin. Again, take this article off Cnet, because to sum it up, its just a big lie. I am not going to put up with this utter crap if the writers are just going to fill the site with complete lies in order to favor one object or subject over another. Where is the article about the ps3 outselling the 360 by a larger and larger percentage every month for the past four months? Once the writer found his mistake he just put up that the ps3 had a large increase of sales from last year. How about you guys share the FACTS with us or even just acknowledge that the ps3 has outsold the 360.

[Don Key]

Are you 12 years old?

NPD is the standard for reporting gaming sales. Sony themselves use them as a source. Who's numbers are you going to believe? A website that only fanboys use or the data that Sony themselves use?

In Sony's own press release, they acknowledge that they were outsold by the 360 this month.

Seriously, grow up.

[brandonh33]

I read your posts

After going over the other comments I have realized that I need to take some action! All joking aside, You guys need to get your facts strait. As I said in my last post the ps3 has outsold the 360 EVERY MONTH of 2008. The only area in the world where the ps3 is not substantially beating the 360 in sales would be the United states, where sales have been even for both consoles, untill more recently where the ps3 has been putting up better numbers slowly but steadily in the US. Now I could rant on and on about things like how the blade interface on the 360 is inferior to the xmb, but that wouldnt be a fact, that would be my opinion. I could go on and on about my opinions but in the end they dont mean anything because they are just that, opinions. I urge someone to please tell me where the 360 has an advantage using FACTS and not your personal opinions. In fact, I challenge you! Please, I want someone to tell me why I am Oh so wrong. Please tell me why the ps3 is struggling. Please tell me ANYTHING negative using FACTS about the ps3.

Source of info:vgchartz.com

[plasticman08]

To answer your question.....

The one true advantage that the Xbox 360 has over the PS3 is perfect timing. It had a one year head start to establish a solid customer base and the advantage of not being released against THE NINTENDO WII. The PS3's weakness is that it is too great a system with high price points (1080p television and Dolby surround sound not included). Sony focused on the system this time and not the game exclusivity that made it a household staple with PS2. Now Xbox 360 has the playstation library and Halo, Gears of War, and the list goes on.
Wii has its innovation and interesting peripherals that draws in a market of buyers that previously never picked up a controller. While its graphics are Gamecube 2.1, Nintendo doesn't care and neither does its customer base.
Microsoft has discovered that with an extensive library of good games, it doesn't need to match up with what the PS3 has under its hood. Keep its current customer base happy (i.e. fixing the red rings of death for free and extending its warranty on all 360's) and making a great online service even better.
Sony has the best hardware of the three, but this doesn't always guarantee success. Timing is everything in this industry and Sony is learning what Sega found out the hard way. Anyone up for a game on my Dreamcast or Sega Nomad.