NPD Results for April 2009 - Wiidiculous

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Thu May 14, 2009 7:47 pm

Source NeoGaf

NPD Sales Results for April 2009 #1
Data care of NPD Group

PlayStation 2 172K
PlayStation 3 127K
PSP 116K
Xbox 360 175K
Wii 340K
Nintendo DS 1.04M

FIT W/ BALANCE BOARD Wii 471K
POKEMON PLATINUM VERSION NDS 433K
MARIO KART W/ WHEEL Wii 210K
PLAY W/ REMOTE Wii 170K
THE GODFATHER II 360 155K
RESIDENT EVIL 5* 360 122K
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS NDS 119K
MARIO KART DS NDS 112K
GUITAR HERO AEROSMITH* 360 110K
THE GODFATHER II PS3 91K

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

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Dollar Sales Figures

Code:

Apr-08 Apr-09 CHG YTD Apr 08 YTD Apr 09 CHG Video Games $1.24 Billion $1.03 Billion -17% $5.48 Billion $5.28 Billion -4% VG Hardware $426.94 Million $391.63 Million -8% $1.84 Billion $1.83 Billion -1% VG Software $660.10 Million $510.74 Million -23% $2.90 Billion $2.72 Billion -6% VG Accessories $152.51 Million $129.45 Million -15% $741.43 Million $734.02 Million -1%

Analysis from NPD's Anita Frazier:

Originally Posted by Anita Frazier:
While April sales might appear soft on the surface, it's important to remember that April is being compared against a month (April 2008) that realized nearly 50 percent growth over April 2007. This year's performance still represents the second-best performance for the industry in the month of April, besting April 2007, which is the previous second-place holder, by 26 percent.

Given how strong the growth was in the industry last year, there are still some months ahead where year-over-year comparisons may be difficult, but May should be an easier comparison than the last two months have been.

Despite being compared against last year, when several big title releases drove both software sales and hardware acquisition, April 2009 was down only 5 percent on a unit sales basis, with the remainder of dollar sales decline coming from reduced average selling prices. Easter fell in April this year which undoubtedly helped cushion the decline.

While the continued difficult economic environment is a factor to consider, our monthly Consumer Spending Indicator study still shows that video games is the category that consumers tell us they're least likely to cut their spending on in coming months.

The big story for the month is the performance of portable game hardware sales as propelled by the release of Nintendo's DSi. The NDS platform accounted for 31 percent of total industry unit sales this month across all categories.

Also notable is the performance of the PS2 which is now at the budget-friendly price point of $99. Compared to March 2009, the PS2 sales rate almost doubled when comparing the two months on a same-week basis. This is a testament to the impact a price reduction can have on hardware acquisition, with price being only second to compelling new content as a catalyst for hardware sales.

Overall weakness in hardware sales other than the DS and PS2 platforms is likely to capture a lot of attention this month, particularly year-over-year decline of Wii sales. It is important to remember that last April, Wii hardware sales were fueled by two huge new titles: Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart. Taking that into account, Wii unit sales are still very strong and only followed the DS this month in terms dollar and unit sales contribution to total industry sales.

April would have been a great month to release a big new game because there weren't a lot of high profile new releases. In fact, you can see that the top 10 list for the month includes many games we've seen on the list for months, if not years.

The number of new releases this month is fairly comparable to what was introduced last April, but GTA IV (on both PS3 and the 360) sold nearly 1 million more units last April than the entire top 10 list did this year. April 2008 also featured the release of Mario Kart for Wii, which has remained a top-selling game for this past year, and is on this month's top 10 list as well. This really illustrates the impact of comparing against a month when there were several new blockbuster titles new to the market.

Comparisons in May will still be closely watched since this marks the anniversary of the release of Wii Fit. It's going to be interesting to watch how the heavily-promoted EA Sports Active performs as it literally "kicks it up a notch" in terms of bringing fitness "play" to the console games market.

Other new releases to watch in May include Terminator Salvation, Patapon 2, Fallout 3, InFAMOUS, and UFC Undisputed among others. May sales will include titles released through May 30th.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Thu May 14, 2009 7:48 pm

They were just killing everyone in hardware. Now their games are up at the top of the charts.

Poor little PS3, I did my part with a +1 sale for the May NPD.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu May 14, 2009 7:56 pm

Damn the PS2 outsold the PS3.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu May 14, 2009 9:52 pm

Rodster wrote:Damn the PS2 outsold the PS3.

first thing I noticed

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Thu May 14, 2009 10:05 pm

fsquid wrote:
Rodster wrote:Damn the PS2 outsold the PS3.
first thing I noticed

Bizarre. I don't really want a ps3, but I sure as hell don't need a ps2 taking up space in the entertainment center.

Gamecocks625 · Post by **Gamecocks625** » Thu May 14, 2009 10:34 pm

bd, speaking of neogaf, are you ever going to head back over there? The sports scene there isn't the same without ya.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Thu May 14, 2009 11:00 pm

PS2s are tiny now, greggsand.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri May 15, 2009 12:19 am

Gamecocks625 wrote:bd, speaking of neogaf, are you ever going to head back over there? The sports scene there isn't the same without ya.

Well I got myself perma banned. I did a scat collage as an expression of my opinion toward the moderating, the obnoxious Wii owners and 95% of the giblet heads in the OT. So, does not look likely.

When I go out, I never do so lightly.

P.S. You could do me a favor and throw out a I TOLD YOU SO to the Wii fanboys. I hit the nail on the head with NCAA not making a repeat.

Or at least PM that Lobster dude.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Fri May 15, 2009 2:03 am

Feanor wrote:PS2s are tiny now, greggsand.

I assume it'll still take up an AV port somewhere. That real estate these days is more costly than 'shelf space'.

Murph · Post by **Murph** » Fri May 15, 2009 8:02 am

PS3 is never gonna gain any ground without a price cut.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Fri May 15, 2009 10:34 am

GUITAR HERO AEROSMITH* 360 110K

Seriously?

Milk that franchise baby, milk it!

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri May 15, 2009 11:08 am

Danimal wrote:
GUITAR HERO AEROSMITH* 360 110K
Seriously?

Milk that franchise baby, milk it!

Most of those were sold at $10. It did not sell as well as expected.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Fri May 15, 2009 12:11 pm

I'm sure they were Cryin

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Fri May 15, 2009 12:23 pm

Danimal wrote:I'm sure they were Cryin

Safe to say most of those copies will end up, Toys in the Attic.

Gamecocks625 · Post by **Gamecocks625** » Sun May 17, 2009 9:40 pm

bdoughty wrote:
Gamecocks625 wrote:bd, speaking of neogaf, are you ever going to head back over there? The sports scene there isn't the same without ya.
Well I got myself perma banned. I did a scat collage as an expression of my opinion toward the moderating, the obnoxious Wii owners and 95% of the giblet heads in the OT. So, does not look likely.

When I go out, I never do so lightly.

P.S. You could do me a favor and throw out a I TOLD YOU SO to the Wii fanboys. I hit the nail on the head with NCAA not making a repeat.

Or at least PM that Lobster dude.

done deal

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon May 18, 2009 8:19 am

For those wanting or expecting a PS3 price cut read this !

PS3 ‘manufacturing’ costs within 10% of retail price

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/34302/PS3-man ... tail-price

"The cost of manufacturing a PS3 is currently around ten per cent higher than the system’s retail price.

That was the claim made by Sony's CFO Nobuyuki Oneda, who – according to news site Andriasang – compared manufacturing to retail costs during the company’s earnings report last week."