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"After nearly seven months at retail, Microsoft's Xbox console has finally muscled its way into the number two spot in the UK, boasting a larger installed user base than GameCube.
Despite releasing almost two months ahead of GameCube, Xbox had a slow start in the UK and Europe, with brand loyalty allowing Nintendo's console to hit the ground running.
But with the vital Christmas period approaching, Xbox has confounded expectations by pulling well clear of GameCube in weekly sales, while edging past Nintendo's machine in the all-important yearly totals.
UK figures for the week ending November 2, compiled by ChartTrack, show Xbox shifting an impressive 10,371 units, marking a rise of 42 percent on the previous week's sales, with GameCube tailing on 6,657 units - an increase of 15 percent.
The cumulative totals for 2002 make even more interesting reading, with GameCube on 230,876 since launch, and Microsoft just ahead on 233,503. But on the back of a successful new Xbox bundle, this trend seems unlikely to change, with the gap expected to widen in the run up to Christmas.
Microsoft is understandably delighted by the results, a spokesperson telling us: "We are really pleased with the positive momentum we have going into the Christmas period and are delighted that more and more gamers are experiencing the superior gaming offered by Xbox."
But this will make sobering reading for Nintendo, now faced with a much bleaker Christmas than it surely would have anticipated.
Super Mario Sunshine, despite big early sales, has simply not shifted GC units in the numbers Nintendo anticipated. Furthermore, it's no secret in development circles that bringing a title exclusively onto GameCube is a less profitable exercise that it is for PS2 and Xbox.
How Nintendo will respond to the new figures is unclear. A spokesperson for the company was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.
The ChartTrack figures as a whole, however, represent a positive overall sales rise in the run up to Christmas, with PS2 in an unassailable position, shifting a massive 39,719 units last week, up 35 percent, and GBA clearing 13,693 units - a weekly increase of 26 percent.
The fight for second place is well and truly on and Xbox is winning. We'll keep you updated on all developments."
Cool heh?
"After nearly seven months at retail, Microsoft's Xbox console has finally muscled its way into the number two spot in the UK, boasting a larger installed user base than GameCube.
Despite releasing almost two months ahead of GameCube, Xbox had a slow start in the UK and Europe, with brand loyalty allowing Nintendo's console to hit the ground running.
But with the vital Christmas period approaching, Xbox has confounded expectations by pulling well clear of GameCube in weekly sales, while edging past Nintendo's machine in the all-important yearly totals.
UK figures for the week ending November 2, compiled by ChartTrack, show Xbox shifting an impressive 10,371 units, marking a rise of 42 percent on the previous week's sales, with GameCube tailing on 6,657 units - an increase of 15 percent.
The cumulative totals for 2002 make even more interesting reading, with GameCube on 230,876 since launch, and Microsoft just ahead on 233,503. But on the back of a successful new Xbox bundle, this trend seems unlikely to change, with the gap expected to widen in the run up to Christmas.
Microsoft is understandably delighted by the results, a spokesperson telling us: "We are really pleased with the positive momentum we have going into the Christmas period and are delighted that more and more gamers are experiencing the superior gaming offered by Xbox."
But this will make sobering reading for Nintendo, now faced with a much bleaker Christmas than it surely would have anticipated.
Super Mario Sunshine, despite big early sales, has simply not shifted GC units in the numbers Nintendo anticipated. Furthermore, it's no secret in development circles that bringing a title exclusively onto GameCube is a less profitable exercise that it is for PS2 and Xbox.
How Nintendo will respond to the new figures is unclear. A spokesperson for the company was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.
The ChartTrack figures as a whole, however, represent a positive overall sales rise in the run up to Christmas, with PS2 in an unassailable position, shifting a massive 39,719 units last week, up 35 percent, and GBA clearing 13,693 units - a weekly increase of 26 percent.
The fight for second place is well and truly on and Xbox is winning. We'll keep you updated on all developments."
Cool heh?
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Pfft.
*Ignores er-nos pathetic post*
Stop moaning about Xbox doing well in the UK, Just get on with it Jeez. No need to cry because Gamecube is a selling a little less than expected.
*Ignores er-nos pathetic post*
Stop moaning about Xbox doing well in the UK, Just get on with it Jeez. No need to cry because Gamecube is a selling a little less than expected.
Second place?
Worldwide its not. The Gamecube is nicely selling more than the XBox on a weekly and worldwide statistic.
The only reason that the XBox is selling is because Microsoft have lowered the price to a stupidly pathetic value in which they lose more and more money per console sold.
I will tell you all something though. Nintendo have WON the console war for this year.
HOW? THey have made the most money.
Worldwide its not. The Gamecube is nicely selling more than the XBox on a weekly and worldwide statistic.
The only reason that the XBox is selling is because Microsoft have lowered the price to a stupidly pathetic value in which they lose more and more money per console sold.
I will tell you all something though. Nintendo have WON the console war for this year.
HOW? THey have made the most money.
I totally agree on that one Sav.
And now Halo 2 will be very anticipated, all Halo fans will be wanting this game!
And now Halo 2 will be very anticipated, all Halo fans will be wanting this game!
Strafex - most companies hype up a game, as far as the end product was concerned it was a case of word spreading how good it was. Mario had buyers just on the mere mention of its name because of the past games.
Not everyone buys mags to see the hype whereas they'll more than likely know the name Mario - even my family who don't give a toss about games know names like Mario because its such an old game series and its a name thats always been associated with gaming - just like the name Sonic.
But the thing is, nowadays, Mario doesn't appeal to everyone as the audiance is wider and their tastes are catered for. So Mario sold bucket loads on its release, but once the fan contingent bought their copies, sales slowed right down because most people who were interested in the game bought it on release. With Halo on the other hand - it did well initially because the people that heard the hype and were looking forward to it bought it. But from here the word spread and it gradually got its reputation as the game every X-Box owner had to have.
Mario had a fanbase waiting for it - Halo had to rely on advertising and word spreading.
Now that Halo has established itself in the gaming world, it'll be interesting to see how Halo 2 sales go. I'm sure there will be an explosion of sales on its release similar to what we saw with Mario Sunshine.
Not everyone buys mags to see the hype whereas they'll more than likely know the name Mario - even my family who don't give a toss about games know names like Mario because its such an old game series and its a name thats always been associated with gaming - just like the name Sonic.
But the thing is, nowadays, Mario doesn't appeal to everyone as the audiance is wider and their tastes are catered for. So Mario sold bucket loads on its release, but once the fan contingent bought their copies, sales slowed right down because most people who were interested in the game bought it on release. With Halo on the other hand - it did well initially because the people that heard the hype and were looking forward to it bought it. But from here the word spread and it gradually got its reputation as the game every X-Box owner had to have.
Mario had a fanbase waiting for it - Halo had to rely on advertising and word spreading.
Now that Halo has established itself in the gaming world, it'll be interesting to see how Halo 2 sales go. I'm sure there will be an explosion of sales on its release similar to what we saw with Mario Sunshine.
Savatt78 wrote:
> Thing is with Halo - it had to build a reputation from word of mouth -
> basically like the X-Box overall.
Hmm...
I'd hardly call blitz hype campaigning of both heavy advertising to the public and serious showing off in front ALL the Games media "word of mouth".
Edge was so impressed, they virtually became an Xbox advert!
They hyped up Halo far more than anyone hyped up Mario.
MS showed footage of an FPS with great graphics, impressive battles, boasted about a 16 player mode, and caused a great deal of excitement.
That's more or less as powerful as the reputation of Mario's previous games, especially as Nintendo refused to hype Mario Sunshine up, AND people ignore it based on Mario's "kiddie" image.
> Thing is with Halo - it had to build a reputation from word of mouth -
> basically like the X-Box overall.
Hmm...
I'd hardly call blitz hype campaigning of both heavy advertising to the public and serious showing off in front ALL the Games media "word of mouth".
Edge was so impressed, they virtually became an Xbox advert!
They hyped up Halo far more than anyone hyped up Mario.
MS showed footage of an FPS with great graphics, impressive battles, boasted about a 16 player mode, and caused a great deal of excitement.
That's more or less as powerful as the reputation of Mario's previous games, especially as Nintendo refused to hype Mario Sunshine up, AND people ignore it based on Mario's "kiddie" image.
Thing is with Halo - it had to build a reputation from word of mouth - basically like the X-Box overall. Mario Sunshine had guaranteed sales straight away because of the past games. There were plenty of hardcore Ninty fans waiting to grab Mario Sunshine before footage was even shown - lets face it, you lot would buy a bag of rhino shat if it has Mario's face on it. ;-)
But now that those buyers have bought their copy, the sales have slowed right down.
But now that those buyers have bought their copy, the sales have slowed right down.
Strafex makes a good point. I'm not saying extreme advertising, price drops, games bundles, etc is a bad thing - it's just after all that, MS are only beating Nintendo in Europe (is it Europe, or just the UK?) and the US slightly. Imagine if Nintendo got their act together.
At the moment, all they have used is their fanbase and word of mouth.
At the moment, all they have used is their fanbase and word of mouth.
Strafex wrote:
> Even I'm planning to get one some time...
It'd be best to get one soon, the Sega/Xbox deal is a limited offer.
> Even I'm planning to get one some time...
It'd be best to get one soon, the Sega/Xbox deal is a limited offer.
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