Sony just sent me over an e-mail to let me know that the PlayStation 2 (greatest console of all time) is still the system to beat. Here are the official NPD numbers from the month of March:
-- PS2 won the month selling 280,000 units, beating Wii (259,000) and Xbox 360 (199,000)
-- PS3 was the only next-generation console to see a gain in March. Wii down 22%. Xbox 360 down 12%
The SCEA official statement:
According to NPD data, March 2007 showed a 24% increase in retail dollars generated year-over-year for the PlayStation brand in North America with total sales of $447 million, due in part to the addition of the PS3 platform as well as the strong launch performance of God of War II for PS2 at retail. While PS3 saw a month-over-month increase of 2% with sales of 129,638 units, we continued to find ourselves supply constrained in March due primarily to the shift in manufacturing focus to the PS3 PAL version to support the launch of the system in Europe.
PSP also witnessed gains in March, up 2% over February with sales of 179,796 units. The price of the PSP Core system was dropped from $199 to $169 in early April, which has received very positive retailer and consumer response. PS2 continued to be a strong performer in March, with unit sales of 279,866. On the software front, we were pleased to see sales increases from February for both the PSP and PS2. PS2 software showed a 29% increase with the launch of God of War II and PSP software demonstrated a 13% jump.
The PS2 is like the Nintendo DS of consoles. People just can't stop buying them.
[UPDATE: Nintendo's response to the same numbers:
Nintendo once again claimed the top two spots among the best-selling new
video game systems in America in March, according to independent sales data gathered by the NPD Group. Despite widespread shortages for both systems,
more than half a million buyers snapped up the portable Nintendo DS(TM), and Wii(TM) was once again the top-selling new home video game console.
With the first quarter of 2007 now completed, Wii has already notched over
a million systems sold in America this year, while the DS now stands just shy
of 1.25 million for the same period. Wii remains the fastest-selling new
console in more than a decade, based on NPD sell-through information over the first five months of availability.]
Contest:
7:19 PM on 04.19.2007
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Has a last gen system ever out sold it's next gen counterpart to this degree before?
I know it didn't happen with the X-box, the N64, or the Master System. But did it happen for the NES or the PS1?
I hope to God that wasn't copied and pasted from an official statement from Nintendo.
See you in May for the next set of figures? Im sure you won't be the Destructoid member posting them...
Summa, you are the Fox News of Gaming.
Sorry, but it has to be said, "This is Lying"
But then, the PS2 would almost certainly come in second behind it. It's good to see the PS2 is still the system to beat. Sony can't even beat itself with the PS3.
But when it really comes down to it the PC has the gaming library over anyone and any console there is. You obviously haven't even begun to imagine how many PC games there are out there...
The 3rd party support for the PS2 makes it a must have system for everyone intersted in video games. With out it, how can you know what Katamari Damacy, Shadow of the Collosus, Metal Gear Solid 3, and countless others have done for gaming as a medium?
Brad: I've got a PS2, PS3, PSP, GameCube, 360, DS and PC. Does that mean I'm hardcore? I think it means I'm a dork.
Chuma: NPD sales figures are for NA only. European numbers don't influence it.
And PS3 vs. 360? Seriously, its PS2 vs. the Wii. Crazy.
Yikes.
Thankyou
Fun Fact: The GBA is still outselling the PS Triple.
FULL LIST of March US System Sales
DS: 508,000 units sold
PS2: 280,000 units sold
Wii: 259,000 units sold
Xbox 360: 199,000 units sold
PSP: 180,000 units sold
Game Boy Advance: 148,000 units sold
PS3: 130,000 units sold
The PSP is selling better than the PS3.
Even better, the PS2 and the PSP COMBINED can't match the DS.
Hate Nintendo all you want, Summa, they're still kicking Sony's ass overall right now. Does it hurt?
they cant meet demand.
I know they're sold out around where I live.
I don't think the ps2 will ever die...
Sony should make a PS2 with Wii-rip off controls, and watch their profits triple.
Aye, I failed to register that pesky NPD bit. Can I blame a heavy night of drinking and poker before internets? However, I'm sticking by my Fox News comparison :)
Satorious beat me to Madden 08 - I still laugh every time I see that Madden Nation show. The gamers play on 360, but all the multi-millionaire athletes play on PS2, except for Joey Porter, who plays on the old Xbox.
Guitar Hero 3 will also bump it, even if it goes head-to-head with Rock Band, especially if the PS2 version also has online play (no reason why it shouldn't).