NPD have now released their August sales figures for the US, and they show hardware sales down, but software sales remaining very high. With the Wii once again dominating hardware sales, and the Xbox 360 beating the PS3 by a small margin, how do Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo view the results?

Mike posted the full NPD sales data for August yesterday, and it’s as interesting a read as usual. But it’s now the day after the big reveal, and as usual, we get to hear from the big three about how they feel they did. As is de rigeur, they all focus on the positives while completely ignoring the downsides.

Sony Responds

Sony had a relatively bad month, with all three of its consoles failing to shift in the numbers it would have hoped for. So as usual, Sony resorted to the tried and tested strategy of blinding us gamers with figures. The percentages and year-on-year growth patterns are cranked out yet again.

The total number of sales across all three platforms, PS3, PS2, and PSP are focussed on, rather than the disappointing individual performances. Soulcalibur IV also gets a special mention due to the 38% attach rate on the PS3 being higher than the attach rate on the Xbox 360. A small and petty victory, it must be said.

Jack Tretton, President of SCEA concludes by claiming the sales figures for August shows “that consumers are indeed recognizing the long-term value that PS3 offers as both a gaming and home entertainment device.” Yeah, if you say so Jack.

Microsoft Responds

The Xbox 360 did indeed beat the PS3 this month, but because it was by such a tiny margin, Microsoft chooses not to talk the victory up too much. Instead, it chooses to talk about last week’s price cuts across the range (again), and again claim victory in the software department.

The “Xbox 360 owns sports” apparently. This is due to the success of two EA games on the platform this month, with a million copies of Madden NFL 09 being sold, and 56,000 copies of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 flying off the shelves in just five days.

Xbox 360 now has the highest software attach rate of any console ever (probably), with a round 8.0 games sold per console. This is indeed very high, and proves that Xbox gamers are either the most loose with their cash or just get bored easily.

Nintendo Responds

Last, and definitely least is Nintendo’s response. The problem for Nintendo is finding things to talk about without just declaring “Sony and Microsoft, we pwned you once again!”

There’s almost an edge of boredom in the statement when declaring that the “Nintendo DS™ and Wii™ again topped the hardware sales charts for August.” There are now almost 22 million Nintendo DS owners in the US, and 12 million Wii owners with it. Impressive figures indeed.

Nintendo’s statement is by far the shortest, which just goes to show how modest a winner the company is. When you’re kicking butt to the levels Nintendo is managing, why bother shouting from the rooftops?

More fun next month…

Related:

Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony respond to October NPD

Xbox 360 price cut coming August 8, Nintendo doesn’t care

August 8, 2007: Microsoft will make announcement (about Xbox 360?)

Wal-Mart: $349 for an Xbox 360?

Slimmer, cooler, better Sony PS3 destined for August

Entry was posted on Friday, September 12th, 2008 at 10:56 am under Microsoft, Nintendo, Opinion, PS3, PlayStation 3, Sales Figures, Sony, Wii, Xbox 360.

Read more entries by Dave Parrack.
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