Quote:Soul Calibur II has hit the number one spot on the UK software charts with the GameCube as the preferred console. Like in the US, the GameCube version of SC II has outsold the versions for other consoles in the UK too!
The GameCube sales account for 38 percent of last week's sales of the game. The PS2 and Xbox versions account for respectively 34 and 28 percent.
According to various sources, Soul Calibur II has also boosted the GameCube hardware sales 118 percent.
All in all this is very good news for Nintendo. Just imagine what all the other AAA titles released later this year can do for Nintendo.
Quote:October 01, 2003 - The NPD group has today released annual figures showing sales data between January and August 2003. While the release is complicated, a compressed and summarised version is displayed below:
January - August 2003 compared to January - August 2002
* 3.4 percent decline in dollar volume overall.
* 8.4 percent increase in total unit volume overall.
* Console and portable hardware sales down 5.1 percent in unit volume and 18.5 percent in dollar volume.
* Console and portable accessory sales down 2.0 percent in both unit and dollar volume.
* console and portable software sales showed increases in units as well as dollars, 14 and 5.7 percent, respectively.
* Action [games] and Family Entertainment have shown the biggest unit growths, 33 percent each.
* More than 50 percent of software is selling under $40 price points across all console platforms: Over 270 new releases in 2003 are selling under $40 price points.
* More value through console bundles.
The next set of figures on today's release regards attach rates - the amount of games owned per person, per console, averaged:
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Systems Tie Ratio Tie Ratio
(Jan-Aug. 2002) (Jan-Aug. 2003)
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Gamecube 4.6 5.7
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Xbox 4.8 5.8
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PlayStation 2 6.1 7.1
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GBA 2.9 3.3
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As you can see there, the Xbox narowly holds second place over the GameCube, with the Playstation II way out in front.
Their release also included information on the gaming habits of the American nation:
Based on a recent NPD Cross-Platform Ownership Study, more than half of respondents surveyed are playing games with online features, another factor that bodes well for the upcoming holiday season. The survey also cited the average number of hours each respondent who owns a video game system spent playing each system per week, regardless of how many systems they own. The average Xbox player spends 8.1 hours a week, the average PlayStation 2 player spends 7.9 hours a week and the average Gamecube player spends 7.1 hours a week. The hours spent per system were even higher among kids, teens and young adults.
"Based on NPD point of sale trends and our recent Cross-Platform Ownership study, price may also be a major purchasing driver for this upcoming holiday season, especially among the mass market audience," said Ow. The study revealed less than 30 percent of the respondents felt price was a factor towards purchasing a console system in the past 18 months. "As hardware price points continue to fall, we expect 'price' to be more prevalent as a purchasing motivator among the mass market audience who are more value and price-conscious than the core gaming market."
The final portion of today's release dealt with the best selling games between January and August (inclusive) this year:
Top 10 Best Selling Video Game Titles, Ranked By Total U.S. Units January 2003 - August 2003
1) Madden NFL 2004 - PlayStation 2 - Electronic Arts
2) Pokemon Ruby - Game Boy Advance - Nintendo
3) Zelda: The Wind Waker - GameCube - Nintendo
4) Pokemon Sapphire - Game Boy Advance - Nintendo
5) Enter The Matrix - PlayStation 2 - Atari
6) Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - PlayStation 2 - Take-Two Interactive
7) The Getaway - PlayStation 2 - Sony Computer Entertainment America
8) NBA Street Vol. 2 - PlayStation 2 - Electronic Arts
9) The Sims - PlayStation 2 - Electronic Arts
10) NCAA Football 2004 - PlayStation 2 - Electronic Arts
It's interesting to note that there are no Xbox games there. The Playstation II fills 7 of the positions, the GameBoy Advance 2, and the GameCube, 1.
-- Andrew Burnes
Wow, I don't believe it. Zelda was the third best-selling game from January to August of this year! Very surprising. The other numbers... not so surprising.
I would much rather skip enterprise and go straight to Stargate SG-1 , Ok the FX are budgeted but hell way better stories.
No annoying ship just jump in and jump out.
Quote:This fall Nintendo of America is asking gamers of all ages in a new ad campaign "who are you?" The ads showcase a wide range of personalities and characters. More than $50 million will be invested in launching the "who are you?" campaign, part of a total marketing push of $100 million through the end of the year. The "who are you?" idea will be introduced nationwide through cinema advertisements, print ads, billboards in major cities, transit ads, and more. Nintendo has set up a website for it here.
"Nintendo permanently established video games as a key element of popular culture, and 'who are you?' embodies the emotional connection players have with their favorite games and characters," says George Harrison, senior vice president, marketing and corporate communications, Nintendo of America Inc. "This campaign celebrates what makes Nintendo unique – the fact that we offer the widest range of personalities through which you can unleash your other self ... your game self."
"This is not about changing who we are," says Harrison. "Nintendo has been and always will be about making great video games for all ages. This campaign simply enables us to speak with one unified voice." The advertising applies to both both the GameCube and GBA.
Nintendo says that a cinematic commercial is one of the most ambitious commercials ever produced by them (usually their ads are subpar), featuring more than 500 extras and filmed in Asia. The ad pays homage to Nintendo's heritage. The 60-second spot will run on nearly 10,000 screens in movie theaters across the United States beginning Oct. 30, prior to movies ranging from The Matrix Revolutions to The Cat in the Hat in order to reach a diverse group of video game players. In addition, 30- and 15-second versions of the commercial will be used on television in October to promote Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, one of the most anticipated new games for Game Boy Advance.
Quote:Resident Evil 4, Capcom's newest entry in its long line of survival horror games, will be the most realistic game to date. Take Leon S. Kennedy into the depths of the Umbrella Corporation's main headquarters, past hoardes of familiar and some not-so-familiar enemies, into the terror which awaits. You will need to not only fight your enemies but also yourself as you come to grips with the reality set before you as you try to uncover the mysteries surrounding the Umbrella Corporation.
I watched this at school [we have cable internet] and RE4 looks VERY awesome. The graphics are just mind-blowing. Wait...if you're reading this that means you aren't downloading the trailer! What's wrong with you?! Hurry and download it!!
Quote:After a long hiatus from the entertainment industry of which he is an early architect, Brian Fargo has returned with a new company, and a renewed passion for producing games. InXile entertainment's first game is based off of Fargo's successful PC classic The Bard's Tale, and will satisfy cult-like fans who have petitioned and pleaded for a sequel for well over a decade.
InXile is striving to be the benchmark standard for next generation publishers, modeling their production and financing after Hollywood production companies like Miramax and New Line Cinema. The CEO of inXile entertainment, Brain Fargo, says that "After a nice break from the industry I'm recharged and anxious to make great games again." He believes their success will lie in an intensive pre-production development philosophy, and only developing on a limited number of AAA titles at a time.
The original Bard's Tale was released for the Apple II way back in 1985, and its fantasy world won over the hearts of millions of RPG gamers worldwide. To resurrect the success and style of the original Bard's Tale, the development team will combine RPG gameplay with brilliant graphics and motion picture inspired story and dialogue. inXile entertainment will be steering away from the clichés of the RPG genre, infusing intelligent humor for a unique gaming experience. More information is available at the company's website, and in the meantime here is some eye candy from the game.
I think I have the original Bard's Tale around here somewhere...
System of a Down-Chop Suey, Aerials
Metallica-Unforgiven II (a spectacular song, with similarities to Zep's STH)
Puddle of Mudd-Blurry, Drift and Die
Korn-Make Me Bad, Freak on a Leash
Rage Against the Machine-Calm Like a Bomb
Nelly Furtado-On The Radio
Green Day-Waiting, Good Riddance
Sam Roberts-Brother Down
Coldplay-Clocks
finger eleven-Thousand Mile Wish
