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NPD April 2013: Injustice On Top, New Game Sales Down 25% From April 2012

May 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment

It's that time again. The April 2013 NPD report is now available, with Warner Brothers and NetherRealm Studios sitting atop the list of best selling titles. Sales continue on a downward trend, with significant losses over last April.

Microsoft's Xbox is on top in the United States for the 21st consecutive month, selling 130,000 units according to the Redmond, Washington-based company. Spending on the platform across hardware, software, and accessories was $ 208 million, down from last month, which was almost double that.

Total retail spending, according to the NPD Group was $ 495.2 million (compared to $ 630 million in the same period last year). Hardware sales represented $ 109.5 million ($ 187.8 million in 2012), and console, handheld, and PC software is on the decline again at $ 267.8 million ($ 307.2 million in 2012). Skylanders Giants and Call of Duty: Black Ops II continue to hang tough in the top ten. Last month's victor, Bioshock Infinite, slips to third, with Dead Island Riptide taking the silver medal in between it and top dog Injustice: Gods Among Us. New releases had a stronger month than last April, and this month marks the first time since Mortal Kombat's release in 2011 that a fighting game is on top.

Nintendo should be pleased with Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon in the same place as last month and the appearance of Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins for 3DS sitting in the ninth spot. Nintendo reports that its first=party 3DS software sales are up 52% over last April, which is the second month in a row of huge gains.

Here are the best selling games of April 2013:

  1. Injustice: Gods Among Us (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U)
  2. Dead Island: Riptide (360, PS3, PC)
  3. Bioshock Infinite (360, PS3, PC)
  4. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (360, PS3, PC, Wii U)
  5. Defiance (360, PS3, PC)
  6. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)
  7. NBA 2k13 (360, PS3, Wii, Wii U, PSP, PC)
  8. Skylanders Giants (Wii, 360, PS3, 3DS, Wii U)
  9. Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins (3DS)
  10. MLB 13: The Show (PS3, Vita)

In comparison to the decline in video game spending, overall retail spending is up across most of the country according to the federal government.

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Sony posts $458M fiscal 2012 net profit, forecasts 5M portable sales in fiscal 2013

May 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Sony had a net income for fiscal 2012 (ending March 31 2013) of ¥43 billion, which converts to $ 458 million. It’s the first time the company’s posted annual net profit since 2008. A far better situation than the company’s $ 456.7 million loss last year.

As the company predicted following several cost-cutting measures across the previous year – including the sales of major buildings in Tokyo and New York, as well as thousands of layoffs Sony posted an operating profit for the fiscal year, which came in at ¥230.1 billion ($ 2.45 billion).

Sony shifted 3.4 million PS3 and PS2 units across the last quarter, while the Vita and PSP came in at 1.3 million. Sony’s fiscal year figures were in line with projections made last quarter, with the home consoles at 16.5 million and the portables at 7 million.

However, the portables’ figures compare unfavorably with the company’s initial estimate for the year, which was 16 million. Sony is being much more cautious for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014, predicting only 5 million units in what’s approximately the Vita’s second year at retail. PS3 figures are estimated at 10 million, while Sony chose not to include PS4 projections.

The PlayStation division saw 12.2 percent year-on-year decline in sales, coming in at ¥707.1 billion ($ 7.52 billion). Operating income saw a much sharper drop, down 94.1 percent to ¥1.7 billion, or $ 18 million. Sony put the declines down to decreased hardware sales, as well as the “strategic price reduction” for the Vita in Japan earlier this year.

One area where growth is predicted is software, even without including the PS4. Sony projects an increase from the 266 million units sold in fiscal 2012 to 319 million (including digital units).

JoystiqSony posts $ 458M fiscal 2012 net profit, forecasts 5M portable sales in fiscal 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 May 2013 06:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canada Awards Its Favorite Video Games Of 2012

April 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Last night, the fourth annual Canadian Video Game Awards were held Vancouver, British Columbia. Below you will find the list of what Canada considers to be the best games of the year. Far Cry 3 was the big winner taking home Game of the Year, Best New Character (Vaas), The Fan's Choice Award, Best Animation, Best Game Design, and Best Visual Arts. It turns out Canadian's really like to romp around tropical islands fighting insane people and tigers.

You can check out the full list of winners and nominees below, or by heading to the Canadian Video Game Awards official website.

Game of the Year
WINNER: Far Cry 3
Assassin’s Creed III
Far Cry 3
Mark of the Ninja
Mass Effect 3
Papo & Yo

Future Shop Fans’ Choice Award
WINNER: Far Cry 3
Assassin’s Creed III
Batman Arkham City Armored Edition
Far Cry 3
Mark of the Ninja
Mass Effect 3
Papo & Yo
Prototype 2
Sleeping Dogs
Sound Shapes
Waveform

Best Console Game
WINNER: Mass Effect 3
Assassin’s Creed III
Far Cry 3
FIFA Soccer 13
Mass Effect 3
Sleeping Dogs

Best Downloadable Game
WINNER: Mark of the Ninja
Incredipede
Mark of the Ninja
MechWarrior Online
Shank 2
Waveform

Best Game on the Go
WINNER: Sound Shapes
Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition
My Singing Monsters
Shellrazer
Sound Shapes
The Bard’s Tale

Best Social / Casual Game
WINNER: The Secret World
i saw her standing there
Jurassic Park Builder
Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
Rubber Tacos
The Secret World

Best Animation
WINNER: Far Cry 3
Far Cry 3
Mark of the Ninja
Prototype 2
Shank 2
Sleeping Dogs

Best Audio
WINNER: Assassin’s Creed III
Assassin’s Creed III
Incredipede
Mark of the Ninja
My Singing Monsters
Sound Shapes

Best Game Design
WINNER: Far Cry 3
Assassin’s Creed III
Far Cry 3
Mark of the Ninja
Mass Effect 3
Sound Shapes

Best Game Innovation
WINNER: Sound Shapes
Far Cry 3
Mark of the Ninja
Papo & Yo
Sound Shapes
Waveform

Best Indie Game
WINNER: Mark of the Ninja
Mark of the Ninja
Papo & Yo
Shank 2
Sound Shapes
Waveform

Best New Character
WINNER: Far Cry 3
Far Cry 3 – Vaas
Nun Attack – The Nun Squad!
Papo & Yo – Quico
Prototype 2 – James Heller
Sleeping Dogs – Wei Shen

Best Original Music
WINNER: Mass Effect 3
Assassin’s Creed III – Main Theme Song
Mass Effect 3 – Leaving Earth
Papo & Yo – Liberation
Sleeping Dogs – Sleeping Dogs Score
Sounds Shapes – Cities

Best Technology
WINNER: Assassin’s Creed III
Assassin’s Creed III
Mark of the Ninja
MechWarrior Online
Prototype 2
SSX

Best Visual Arts
WINNER: Far Cry 3
Assassin’s Creed III
Far Cry 3
Incredipede
Mark of the Ninja
Mass Effect 3

Best Writing
WINNER: Mass Effect 3
Assassin’s Creed III
Far Cry 3
Mark of the Ninja
Mass Effect 3
Sleeping Dogs

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Xbox Delivered 18 Billion Hours Of Entertainment In 2012

February 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Sorry, Microsoft. I left my Xbox 360 on idle for at least 50 hours in 2012. Please revise your numbers to account for my food breaks and unexpected naps. Regardless of how each user spends their time on their Xbox 360 or Xbox, 18 billion hours of entertainment is an impressive number, growing over 10 percent since 2011. Microsoft's data also shows that the average user spent over 87 hours on their Xbox 360 or Xbox, another 10 percent gain since 2011.

Here are some other fun facts that Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's senior vice president, released regarding Xbox 360 and Xbox usage in 2011:

  • Since July, the Xbox Live community burned 200 million calories using Kinect workout programs and games
  • Family content viewing on Xbox Video grew over 400 percent
  • The Hunger Games broke the record for biggest opening day on Xbox Video
  • According to Experian Simmons Spring 2012 Media survey, 38 percent of Xbox Live players are female
  • Experian data also shows that 54 percent of the community has at least one child in the household
  • Entertainment app usage grew 57 percent year over year
  • 24 million Kinect sensors have been sold worldwide
  • The Xbox Live community now boasts 46 million subscribers, a 15 percent YOY growth
  • Xbox 360 has been the number one selling console for 24 consecutive months in the U.S.
  • 76 million consoles have been sold worldwide

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Xbox Live Arcade sales in 2012: All you need to know

February 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Halfbrick’s Ryan Langley takes an extensive look at Xbox Live Arcade sales during 2012, breaking the figures down into separate publishers, developers and promotions. …


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Activision Announces Impressive 2012 Sales Numbers

February 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment

 

Activision Blizzard released its 2012 calendar year financials today, and defied the slumping game market with impressive sales numbers.

CEO Bobby Kotick said, “We are very pleased to report that Activision Blizzard delivered the best performance in its history. With better-than-expected net revenues, record operating margins and record earnings, and over $ 1.3 billion in operating cash flow, we continue to set the industry success bar. I would like to thank our incredibly talented employees around the world for their passion, drive and creativity, which continues to fuel our success.”

When you look at the numbers, his words were well warranted. Net revenue for the company was $ 4.86 billion, up from $ 4.76 billion in 2011. The company also saw growth in digital sales, which tallied $ 1.6 billion and represented 32 percent of the company's total net sales.

This success was driven, not surprisingly, by the company's roster of mega-franchises. Its Call of Duty and Skylanders lines were the year's first and third best-selling franchises, and Call of Duty: Black Ops II was the year's best-selling game in dollars generated.

By the end of 2012, the Skylanders games (Skylanders Spyro's Adventure and Skylanders Giants) and toy line had accounted for over $ 1 billion in lifetime sales, with more than 100 million Skylanders toy figures sold worldwide.

Blizzard also delivered big numbers, with Diablo III checking in as the best-selling retail PC game (12 million units sold) and the Warcraft expansion Mists of Pandaria grabbing the number three slot on the top ten PC games of 2012 list. World of Warcraft, though down from its peak, still maintains over 9.6 millions monthly subscribers.

In the forward-looking portion of the statement, Activision confirmed that the Black Ops II DLC map pack Revolution (a timed Xbox 360 exclusive) will be released for other platforms in the first quarter of 2013, and that the StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm expansion will launch on March 12.

Source: Activision Blizzard

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Zynga Posts $209 Million Loss In 2012

February 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Zynga lost $ 209 million dollars during its first year as a publicly traded company, but it is doing better than Wall Street analysts predicted.

Gamasutra is reporting that in 2012, Zynga lost money and 6 million people from its user base. That still leaves the company with over 50 million daily users, and the mobile and Facebook game developer's stock prices have gone up six percent.

Zynga has been plagued with problems recently including losing its chief game designer and a number of layoffs and game closures, so maybe a smaller than predicted loss is good news for the company.

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A Cumulative $14.8 Billion Spent On Video Games In 2012

February 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The NPD group is reporting that last year $ 14.8 billion was spent on video games. That includes new, rentals, and used games, as well as digital content.

According to the report, $ 7.09 billion were spent on new physical video and PC game, $ 1.79 billion on used and rental games, and $ 5.92 billion on digital content which covers full game and add-on content downloads, subscriptions, mobile games and social network games.

This is overall down from 2011, where $ 16.34 billion were spent on video games. You can check out a comparison chart below which looks at 2011 and 2012. All the numbers below are in billions.

2011 2012
Total physical (new, used, rental)   $ 11.25 $ 8.88 -21%
Digital $ 5.09 $ 5.92 16%
Total $ 16.34 $ 14.80 -9%

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Zynga ends 2012 with a $209 million loss, but beats expectations

February 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Zynga lost $ 209 million in its first year as a publicly traded company, but investors are happy: its revenues during the last quarter managed to beat Wall Street expectations. …


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The numbers are in: Here’s what Americans spent on games in 2012

February 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The $ 14.8 billion spent on software in 2012 was a 9 percent decline from 2011, but the difference is more than explained by a rough year for physical, retail games. Digital sales are doing just fine. …


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