It would be an anxious holiday season this year. Retail outlets wishfully waited for customers to behave more as consumers Pac-Manning all the toys and trinkets they could handle. The recession in economics mirrored the regression in temperatures as the season of winter overtook the fall. Quiet panic was like air itself seen in the cold breaths of the buyers who guarded their pocketbooks in the name of greater priorities as well as the shopkeepers whose future relied on the opening of those same pocketbooks. To have or not to have a commercial holiday, that is the question.
Well, the answer for the videogame sector is for the most part “To Have” as we see by December’s numbers from The National Purchase Diary Group, Incorporated. The WiiDS Phenomenon showed itself in magnificent form on both the hardware and software charts. But don’t let Nintendo’s extraordinary success make you forget about the achievements of the XBox 360. Microsoft’s green machine continues to play sure and steady tortoise to Nintendo’s hares furthering its status as a solid and reliable platform. But the holidays were bittersweet for Sony. All 3 of their machines were down in sales in comparison to the last December and only one surpassed the million-mark in this commercial free-for-all. Maybe it’s time to rethink that saying about the videogame biz being recession-proof. Quit shaking your presents! It’s time to unwrap NPD’s December estimates for the U.S. of A!
Nintendo’s DS wisely followed the Star of Bethlehem amassing an AMAZING 3,040,000 in sales of gold, frankincense, and myrrh colored compacts in Christmas’ December. In Thanksgiving’s November, the third pillar sold 1,570,000 dual screeners unbelievably DOUBLING its output! This mind-psychedelizing number breaks the all-time record of highest number of consoles sold in a month’s time besting the PlayStation 2’s 2,700,000 figure from December 2002. This figure, of course, doubles as best-selling console in the holiday season. Obviously, DS is consistently beating its own records for highest-selling handheld console ever in every conceivable category. What Wii cannot, DS can. The Phenomenon makes sure each member of that duo maximizes its potential and cost-conscious customers certainly made sure to include the two in its priorities. No doubt whatsoever that this is Nintendo’s generation. Wow.
Nintendo’s Wii faithfully completed the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa with an AWE-STRIKING 2,150,000 supplies of great demand sold in the last month of the Gregorian year. In the last month before this last month, Wii sold 2,040,000 eclectic electric blues curiously only showing a very slight increase. Hard to believe this late into the game but Nintendo still cannot make enough Wii units for the hungry market. Over 2 years in the marketplace and through 3 holiday seasons, Wiis remain like hunted Easter eggs hiding in parceled out stock in stores across the country. Nevertheless, the production is besting or at the very least matching the output of the PlayStation 2, the world’s best-selling console, in its heyday. It has certainly surpassed last December’s 1,350,000 in Wii sales. The easily apparent demand shows that with the proper stock, Wii can easily break the PS2’s records. At this point, the only thing stopping Wii is the Wii itself. Whoa!
Microsoft’s XBox 360 lit Hillel’s candles dutifully for the 8 days of Hanukkah with an impressive 1,440,000 NXE-geners sold for Latin’s tenth month. In Latin’s ninth month, the elite professional arcader sold 836,000 ecstasy boxes showing a good increase for the holy days. Microsoft appears to have finally vanquished its foe for control of the high-resolution, big budget production market. The tech battle between Microsoft and Sony at last seems to be over and now Microsoft prepares itself to infiltrate the wide-open but largely unexplored marketplace Nintendo is enjoying. The face-offs of 2009 decide concretely who controls the future of the videogame industry. Weee!
Sony’s PlayStation Portable observed the winter solstice sabbat in the covens with a Yule-sized feast of 1,020,000 Skype-accessing systems sold in the time of Saturnalia. In the time of Martinmas, the PSP sold 421,000 mystic silvers displaying a TRIPLING of output! The holidays were pretty good to the PSP and of the 3 PlayStations it has consistently performed the best in this current generation. But this December’s total is 40,000 less than last December’s. It’s a negligible number on the surface but it points to the overall decline of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. Couple that with a declining global economy and the best of the PlayStations shines in a much grimmer light. Rival DS once again clears off the shelf restarting the hungry demand/starving supply situation while PSPs are plentiful in the showcases. That’s not a bad thing at all really but it shows that things can only stay level or decline for the 4 year old system from here on out. Let’s hope for a level future. Whoo!
Sony’s PlayStation 3 aired the grievances in the presence of the Festivus Pole with 726,000 Home-buoys sold in the month containing World AIDS Day. In the month containing Black Friday, the PS-Triple sold 378,000 Cell structures showing virtually a doubling in sales. The PS3 once again did not break through the million barrier in the season where money flows freest. And with 71,600 decline in sales between this December and the last (at 797,600), it is definite that the PS3’s best days are behind them. Sony’s going to spend all of 2009 contemplating their future in this difficult gaming business. And despite their gaming division being the foremost reason for their modern success, don’t be surprised if the Tokyo-based company throws in the towel for the world of games. Without improvement as the dawn of a worldwide economic depression begins to horizon, Sony will have no choice but to opt out. A grand restructuring is on its way for the giant electronics corp. Whew!
Sony’s PlayStation 2 suffered the melancholy of the holiday blues selling 410,000 Dreamcast killers in the month featuring Human Rights Day. In the month featuring All Souls’ Day, Kutaragi’s kraftwork sold 206,000 slim liners showing a doubling increase. This time last year the PS2 was competitive with the XBox 360 making 1,100,000 in PS2 sales to the 360’s 1,260,000 in sales. Age has caught up to the soon-to-be 9 year old system now and there’s no doubt that a price cut of the under $100 variety will give the system one last good run for 2009. The question is will Sony take this advice or instead hang on to the $129.99 price tag in a bizarre strategy to bring in money? There’s no telling with the Sony execs these days but the economic climate will surely influence some minds. Wha?
Overall, the U.S. videogame industry presented an obscene $5.29 billion (five?!) in total sales for December, a mind-stunning 9% chimney climb up from last December’s amazing totals breaking another all-time record. Some trivia for you: This December total exceeds the entire sales for the year 1997 (at $5.1 billion)! OK. Of this over 5 billion dollar figure, total hardware sales mistletoed up only 2% to $1.88 billion while total software sales angeled up the tree 15% to $2.75 billion. Meanwhile, total accessory sales lit candles up 8% to $662 million (only million this time). Riches, what riches! Woo-hoo!
As the fireplace cools down for 2008, records were once again smashed, shattered (or whatever violent verb you’d like to use) with the U.S. videogame industry collecting WOW $21.33 billion in total sales this year, a 19% north poling up from an unbeatable 2007! From this 21 billion dollar-plus figure, annual hardware sales Obama’d up 11% to $7.81 billion while annual software sales Michael Phelps’d up 26% to $10.96 billion. In the meantime, annual accessory sales leaped up 14% to $2.57 billion. Wah-hah-hah-hah!
Oh, the percentages from the above paragraph refer to year-to-year comparisons between 2008 and 2007 while the percentages from the one before that refer to year-to-year comparisons between December 2008 and December 2007. Almost forgot to tell you. Whoops!
Each and every year since the 7th generation of videogame consoles started, the revenues of the industry have greatly outdone themselves. The growth is eye-opening but simple numbers can’t tell the full story. All companies aren’t reaping the wealth of the windfalls and many of their studios are shrinking or going out of business. In fact, without the works of Nintendo, the industry would have been declining right now. It has been confirmed that Nintendo has accounted for 99% of ALL industry growth in the U.S.!! The entire industry is Nintendo! There has to be a change in thinking on how business is done as 2009 begins to take shape. Though videogames have given happy holidays to the retailers, these things are important to keep in mind in the face of these amazing accomplishments. Wisdom.
Game sales for December left surprises under some folks’ trees, coals in other folks’ stockings. Nintendo made out like a bandit with 6 placements out of the Top 10. Some you could expect; some that will throw you for a loop (I’d rather let you find out for yourself). Microsoft had some star representation on this with 3 entries while the PS3 only had 1 entry (but hey at least they made the list). Before we review the big picture, let’s look over the top hardware and top ten software lists for the month of December. Word.
NPD’s Top Hardware Sales in December
Nintendo DS – 3,040,000
Nintendo Wii – 2,150,000
Microsoft XBox 360 – 1,440,000
Sony PlayStation Portable – 1,020,000
Sony PlayStation 3 – 726,000
Sony PlayStation 2 – 410,000
NPD’s Top Ten Software in December
01. Wii Play (Wii) – 1,460,000
02. Call of Duty: World at War (X360) – 1,330,000
03. Wii Fit (Wii) – 999,000
04. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) – 979,000
05. Guitar Hero: World Tour (Wii) – 850,000
06. Gears of War 2 (X360) – 745,000
07. Left 4 Dead (X360) – 629,000
08. Mario Kart DS (DS) – 540,000
09. Call of Duty: World at War (PS3) – 533,000
10. Animal Crossing: City Folk (Wii) – 497,000
While the Top 10 list was sobering, an even more fascinating story rests within the full telling of the Top 20. Just look at the gifts that keep on giving below. To be safe, sit down first.
NPD’s Top Twenty Software in December
11. Wii Music (Wii)
12. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
13. Personal Trainer: Cooking (DS)
14. Fallout 3 (X360)
15. Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force (DS)
16. Link’s Crossbow Training (Wii)
17. Guitar Hero: World Tour (PS2)
18. Madden NFL 09 (X360)
19. Call of Duty: World Tour (Wii)
20. Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip (Wii)
And now here are the totals for the entire year of 2008. The consoles’ progress on the hardware charts is as clear as day. On the year’s Top 10 software count Nintendo has 5 spots, Microsoft 3, and Sony has 2. There’s no doubt that 2008 was an unforgettable year in more ways than one.
NPD’s Top Hardware Sales in 2008
Nintendo Wii – 10,151,000
Nintendo DS – 9,951,000
Microsoft XBox 360 – 4,735,000
Sony PlayStation Portable – 3,829,600
Sony PlayStation 3 – 3,544,900
Sony PlayStation 2 – 2,502,300
NPD’s Top Ten Software Sales in 2008
01. Wii Play (Wii) – 5,280,000
02. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) – 5,000,000
03. Wii Fit (Wii) – 4,530,000
04. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) – 4,170,000
05. Grand Theft Auto IV (X360) – 3,290,000
06. Call of Duty: World at War (PS3) – 2,750,000
07. Gears of War 2 (X360) – 2,310,000
08. Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3) – 1,890,000
09. Madden NFL 09 (X360) – 1,870,000
10. Mario Kart DS (DS) – 1,650,000
