Xbox v. X360: Software Sales (Part 2) - News
by VGChartz Staff , posted on 07 April 2008 / 914 Views
Xbox v. X360 Part 2 Tom Clancy: Ghost Recon | 1.70 | ||||
| Tom Clancy: Ghost Recon 2 | 1.29 | ||||
| Tom Clancy: Rainbow Six 3 | 1.58 | ||||
| Xbox Average | 1.52 | ||||
| Tom Clancy: GR Advanced War Fighter | 2.13 | ||||
| Tom Clancy: GR Advanced War Fighter 2 | 1.32 | ||||
| Tom Clancy: Vegas | 2.10 | ||||
| 360 Average | 1.85 | ||||
| Difference | 0.33 | more on 360 | |||
Analysis-The Tom Clancy franchise has fared extremely well on both the Xbox 360 and Xbox. I believe it is one of the franchises that feeds off of the Halo affect, and it is considered a solid purchase by most shooter fans. If I would have added in Splinter Cell for the Xbox in the analysis; the Tom Clancy franchise for the 360 and Xbox would doing about the same, but none of the Tom Clancy games for the 360 are really a fare comparison to SC. The trend of Tom Clancy games doing great on Microsoft consoles appears to be continuing with Vegas 2 enjoying great success. However, Vegas 2 may not sell as well as the Vegas 1 because the PS3 version appears to be getting a better % this time around (but the 360 version will still do much better than PS3 version). As far as the future goes for Tom Clancy games; I do not see any reason the success will not continue as long as UBI maintains the quality of the games.
***| Dead or Alive 3 | 1.63 | |||
| Dead or Alive 4 | 1.01 | |||
| Difference | 0.62 | more on Xbox |
Analysis- There are quite a few similarities between these games- they both were launch titles, they both share a similar fighting systems, and they both focus on nice “graphics”. So if they are so similar why did 3 sell 620,000 more copies than 4? I feel the main reason for this has little to do with the games themselves, but more about when they were released. When DOA3 came out it was really the first fighting game to feature realistic “graphics” (you know what I mean), and therefore was much more hyped. By the time that DOA4 out there were much better fighters on the market with nice “graphics” (like SC2 and 3). DOA4 still enjoyed solid sales, and 1 million is nothing to laugh at… but DOA4 lacked “groundbreaking” feeling that DOA3 brought with it. I think when DOA5 is released it will sell better than 4 because there will be a much larger and more diverse user base to sell to.
***| NFS: Underground | 1.64 | ||||
| NFS: Underground 2 | 2.05 | ||||
| NFS: Most Wanted | 1.06 | ||||
| NFS: Hot Pursuit 2 | 0.69 | ||||
| Xbox Average | 1.36 | ||||
| NFS: ProStreet | 1.21 | ||||
| NFS: Carbon | 1.28 | ||||
| NFS: Most Wanted | 1.37 | ||||
| 360 Average | 1.29 | ||||
| Difference | 0.07 | more on Xbox | |||
Analysis- I have compared the NFS franchise on every console in my software sales articles, and the 360 is the only console where NFS sales are even close (would be less close if HP2 was not skewing the average for Xbox). I still feel that the NFS franchise either needs to make some big changes, or it will fade into obscurity. I really have no explanation as to why NFS is not falling as much on the 360, except maybe they are better games, but I have no evidence of that.
**Conclusion- So, as you can see from the comparisons that I made between the X360 and the Xbox most franchises are doing much better on the X360. I think much of this is due to the fact that the original Xbox was considered more of a second console, but in contrast to that most gamers who purchase a 360 don’t feel the need to get another console (unless they go Wii360, but Wii games don’t really compete with the sales of 360 games… with the exception of a few… like GHIII). However, referring back to 6th generation gaming- It was impossible for a person to be a true gamer and not own a PS2. I also believe that the 360 has done a good job of grabbing the traditional North American gamer (Madden/ GTA boys). This has led to the improving sales of Madden, Halo, and the maintenance of the NFS series (as opposed to the decline elsewhere). After seeing this data I am changing my view about GTA 4… I used to take the stance that people would view it a Sony franchise, and thus it would outsell the 360 version by maybe 10%. I think the combination of cost (279 v. 399) and the X360’s ability to grab traditional casuals will lead the 360 version of GTA 4 to out sell the PS3 version by 10-20%. Microsoft should be fairly happy with the way the 360 has preformed. It will pass the original Xbox in every category (3rd Party sales, HW sales, 1st Party sales, net profit) by its 3 year mark (or at least by the end of 08). Also, the 360 has turned a profit as of late, and I believe that trend will continue do to falling HW component cost.
Link to part 1- http://vgchartz.com/news/news.php?id=988
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Hey 360 owns cause it pitched to men and men make money and they play with there sons and even a few moms like halo. Lol x box has the rich people not the others. Who ever said that wii owners were richer was inexperienced in surveying.
In the near future the 360 will have way more sales for GTA4, just because of userbase and lower price point for casuals.
@TWRoO
I was referring more to GTA 4's 08 sales, I am not going to predict beyond there.
I have never owned a PS2.... just because I can't afford two systems doesn't mean I am not a gamer.
Also regarding GTA4 you will be correct about the 360 version in America, it will sell more than the PS3 version for sure but in Europe the first week sales might be a close call (only due to userbase) and the PS3 version will have better legs.
I think worldwide the two versions may end their life relatively close to each other in sales... the PS3being my bet for victor.
I agree with the PS2 comment, BigJon. I owned a PS2 but before that had only done PC gaming since the ColecoVision (yikes, I'm old...).
The PS2 library was immense and very compelling, particularly for a WRPG fan. The lion share of the people I've met who believe that the PS2 wasn't a must have system for gaming last gen are the PC gamers... people willing to regularly shell out lots of dough to keep their PC current enough to play the newer games. I finally got out of that race (well, my wife finally got tired of me spending so much money on upgrades every other year) and got a PS2 so I would have something that would play current software for a reasonable price. I never regretted the decision, and have now moved on to 360 and Wii as my primary gaming platforms (except for RTS games... those really need a mouse and keyboard). The PS2 games still get some use, but only rarely now that the 360 library has grown so much.
I am going to have to agree with bigjon on the PS2 comment. I may not have called you the gamer status of those that did not have a PS2, but it defined gaming as much as the nes did back in the day.
Nice write-up. I agree that GTA4 on the X360 will likely outsell the PS3 version.
For you guys that did not get the PS2 comment-
How could you be a true gamer and not had a PS2? It had such a huge market share and it had so many quality exclusives. The only reason a person would not have had a PS2 is because of money(even though PS2 had huge selection of cheap games), or you are a HUGE anti-sony fanboy.
Apollo says:
the thing is, the Xbox had 28 million owners, the 360 has around 19.5 million (VG charts cut 1.5million off its real figure 6 months ago).
Only 24 million Xbox units were manufactured, why did VGC cut off 1.5 million off it's total? The last production count we got was 18 million at the end of January, 19.5 million sales is impossible.
"and were only two and a half years into the 360's life. there's much more to come from Microsoft."
Obviously, it'll be weird to see what happens, it might be business as usual until 2009 when the premium hits $199, then it might explode, it'd be interesting to see whether they slog it out or cut to next gen in 2010.
"The 360 is sw king in the biggest software market - America."
Yep, its very important, not just in America though, because 360's attach rate is global, it also sells a high number of games per system in virtually every territory.
"If the 360 can continue making a profit during the rest of its life span - even if it does not break even all the way through - then I think there will be more than enough there to keep the shareholders onboard and to give the 720 a go"
Keep an eye on Live, the subscriptions will drive their profits through the roof, if Xbox 360 never breaks even, it will ensure one thing - Xbox 3 will never drive their Entertainment division into a loss.
@apollo
lol!
good software sales for MS machine. A little better than xbox1 and the hard still selling very good
Very much agree to the conclusion. Very refreshing and thought-out view (in contrast to a lot of Sony-centric people on this site). Well done and thanks for the write-up!
I think this perhaps the most balanced of the 3 because the xbox and 360 target fairly similar markets and are fairly close in sales (certainly when compared to the ps2 v ps3 comparison!)
The 360 is sw king in the biggest software market - America. That has to count for something. If the 360 can continue making a profit during the rest of its life span - even if it does not break even all the way through - then I think there will be more than enough there to keep the shareholders onboard and to give the 720 a go. They will also have taken note of the continued ps2 sales and expect to maintain 360 sales for longer rather than dropping it like the first xbox.
the thing is, the Xbox had 28 million owners, the 360 has around 19.5 million (VG charts cut 1.5million off its real figure 6 months ago).
and were only two and a half years into the 360's life. there's much more to come from Microsoft.
Good job bigjon.
Great work on all three write ups!
nice analyses. my only problem is rainbow six and ghost recon should have been separate. completely different games. other than that, great.
the point being on true gamer is the exclusives and games the PS2 offered to not have one when it was is the best selling console ever! I mean you could get one today and play tons of quality games with its huge library!
besides a pc gamer is good with shooters, mouse and keyboard! platformers and figting games rpg's are better on a console! not mmorpgs thats the pc's domain!
I can see anybody playing games somewhere can call themselves a true gamer! I mean I got all the systems this gen and last gen and built pc's and own tons of pc games too.
so I could say Iam a gamer a guy with one system and three games total are games his passion????
I dont know its a general statement ya all shouldnt be so offended I dont think John was trying to be offensive!
GHIII isn't an exception, it doesn't compete with the 360 title ... Yeah, I took the shot.
As for true gamers that didn't buy PS2s ... I had the GC, GBA, PC, access to Halo, and a backlog of PS1 games. Suck it.
STARCRAFT AND DIABLO II ATE MY LIFE.
if you have missed out on the ps2 games then you have missed out on the largest part of the last gen
"It was impossible for a person to be a true gamer and not own a PS2"
You could have been a true gamer and just had a PC during that time. Or, maybe you had system X and someone else in your household had a PS2. I could go on and on.
Overall, I love your articles but I think some bias came out with that line.
However, referring back to 6th generation gaming- It was impossible for a person to be a true gamer and not own a PS2
I think that statement is just wrong. I understand what you want to say but you said in an inappropriate way.
nice analysis. Interesting thought on madden too... I'll have to agree with you on GTA as well.... heck, I agree with all your conclusions. Nice job.
Good analysis, i agree with your conclusion as well.
