@deathbunny: HOLY SHIT! nobody remembers M.A.S.K.! I used to have almost as many of them as I had original Transformers and He-Man! They were pretty badass!

AverageJoes

I agree with Pachter when he says that the main reason Microsoft is hyping GTAIV's DLC is to convert 360 silver members into gold members. There will be millions of copies sold for 360 and if Microsoft can capture a portion of these users they will make a ton of money from the $60 Live membership.

PaulHunter

Seriously? Nintendo gets Serpentor, Sony gets a Transformer, and MS gets some Hanna barbara cel?

Couldn't you have at least picked skeletor or mum-ra? I mean, there's classic villainy *out* there, for the plucking. I'd have settled for whoever the M.A.S.K. badguy was...

deathbunny

The attach rate is believable. The console's been out a shitload longer and i can understand people haven't boguht as many ps3 games. They're freakin expensive an there's cheaper 360 games out than there is ps3 games and a little bit more. Not neccessarily quality ones but there is more to pick from in the budget range

NessD12

Next month should be very interesting to watch.

splines

"Xbox 360 is also the only place you can earn GTA IV Achievements and increase your gamerscore"

I don't know why, but I found that weird.

But damn, that attach rate is nasty!

GordieHoweHatTrick

Blah, blah, blah

neoraul20

360 FTW

ultraViolence

Only 5k units...

Makidian

Something deep within me is saying that on Apirl 27 that GameStop, Walmart, and Target will have 360 SKUs stacked up to the ceiling. I think MS not only manufactured the shortage to make sure they blow up the retail scene when GTA4 drops but they may have also wanted to dry up the RROD systems to make sure they hit their warranty limit later this year.

The only thing I don't like about the MS strategy is that they have no GTA4 bundle which feels silly. Maybe that's the trade off T2 make with Sony since MS has an exclusive DLC agreement (yes...which they paid foe -_-).

okenny :)

@Luke Plunkett:

"The parts not dealing with said shortages and attach rates read less like a post-coital NPD cigarette and more like an advertisement for GTAIV, with the company crossing their hearts and hoping to die that not only will they have plenty of consoles out to retailers for the game, but that the promise of XBL multiplayer and DLC will help them shift a bucketload of 360s in April. Which is all well and good, but we're talking about March's NPDs here, Microsoft, not April's. Keep on topic, please."

C'mon, Luke, Sony did the exact same thing but even more so as they went even PAST GTA IV. Don't do this.

DARTH_TIGRIS

@AverageJoes:

The Wii fits into a slightly different category. Games that are a little more...

Well, there's no way I can say without sounding condescending. So, why not just say they are the "next gen systems."

PapaBear434

software still sells far better on he 360 and has almost dbl the attach-rate, NICE!

that said, they seemed to be grasping at straws this month hanging onto GTA IV. YES it will sell ALOT and YES it will sell better by far on the 360 due to the upcomming DLC, but cmon, atleast mention some other games comming out.

seems like both camps are running low on exclusives lately so now it will really come down to who has the better machine and better online-play.

Lanhoj

Aren't these statements (often a rote read for most gamers) aimed at stockholders? In that case, I understand everything that MS, Sony and Nintendo said in response to the '100% ACCURATE AND COMPREHENSIVE' NPD numbers ...

DARTH_TIGRIS

@AverageJoes: Quote: According to NPD, 262,000 Xbox 360 consoles sold in March, reclaiming the #2 position in the next-gen console category.

How is that ignoring the Wii? They stated themselves that they were second in sales.

jayntampa

Haha. I love how it's always, 'Seems pleased,' for each company.

Rarely will one admit they're displeased with their product/company/progress.

Prime examples - Uwe Boll, Hitler, Bush Jr.

sir_carrot

The attach rate numbers may be boring, but I can promise you developers and publishers are paying attention.

jayntampa

Rainbow Brite? Yay!

Maldron

+ Watch video

MoeB

Anybody else think it's funny how they pretend the Wii doesn't exist?

How are they the "Industry Leaders"?

They do lead in one all important category: FUD, FUD, FUD!

AverageJoes

That is a High attach rate...

starscream1101

@Maldron:

Is that what the picture's from? I knew I recognized it from somewhere. *drifts off into childhood memories*

Anyway. I love how no one is mentioning the Wii and how badly it is beating them.

EmeraldDragon

You guys fooled by the attach rates really don't understand the numbers.

jsf49

@okenny :):
While a bundle would have been nice, I really expect a reasonable price drop for the 360 a day or so before GTA 4 releases. The 360 is way over priced right now. 249 for a premium would be about right.

gogators88

Sorry for double post - but is anyone else having issues with posting tonight?

TheManator

@deathbunny: I believe this is Rainbow Brite...Murky Dismal to be exact, and the company that made the cartoon was produced by DiC. A little trivia too, Murky's voice was none other than Peter Cullen. Go figure, eh.

TheManator

Kotaku is drawing their own villains now, I knew it...

Xiedo

No way you're bringing Murky Dismal into this. Why would you bring Murky Dismal into this?

TheTimelyHoward

It's Murky!

VeritasVierge

@deathbunny: @AverageJoes:

+ Watch video

Perhaps my most favorite cartoon intro, right next to the Thundercats.

DragonSphere

@jsf49: Please enlighten us oh wise one?!

Katorok

Does it count if they include arcade games from the arcade bundle in their attach rate? they don't make any thing clear but throw around numbers to confusing the normal people [then again why are normal people reading this :P] but then again this is microsoft throwing numbers around as always. i'm surprise they didn't decide to throw in accessories and peripherals in there. they must have saved that backup for later .

sUKi

Sorry for the doubleposting. I hate Kotaku's posting system.

jsf49

@Katorok: Additionally, it should be expected that the rate of games sold per console ought to go up faster as the console ages. The reason why is because there are more budget games as the console grows older (price of any specific game falls over time). Given its good attach rate already, when the PS3 reaches 27 months old, its attach rate will most likely be higher than 7.0. The big reason for this is because, unlike the 360 and the Wii (notice that, despite having the lower priced games and being out for about the same length of time, the Wii trails the PS3), the PS3 has not been hacked. PS3 owners *have* to buy their games. Some 360 owners and Wii owners pirate them and buy no games at all, which hurts the attach rates for their respective consoles.

jsf49

The rate of games sold per console should go up faster as the console ages. The reason why is because there are more budget games as the console grows older. Given its good attach rate already, when the PS3 reaches 27 months old, its attach rate will most likely be higher than 7.0. The big reason for this is because, unlike the 360 and the Wii (notice that, despite having the lower priced games and being out for about the same length of time, the Wii trails the PS3), the PS3 has not been hacked. PS3 owners *have* to buy their games. Some 360 owners and Wii owners pirate them and buy no games at all, which hurts the attach rates for their respective consoles.

jsf49

@jsf49: Ahh, I see..

Hmm.. Now I need to find info regarding all three consoles and their attach rate by their twelfth month.. Anyone know where I can find this?

Katorok

@Katorok: The 7.0 figure is across a total 27 months. What about the others? They aren't based on the same lengths. It's like saying I sold 10 apples in two years while you sold 5 apples in one year...who's the better salesman?

jsf49

Xbox LIVE now delivers 4,800 hours of TV and movie entertainment including family favorites like "Hannah Montana," "Lost," and "Superman III."

It's nice to see that critically despised 1983 superhero sequels co-starring Richard Pryor are getting represented in this day and age.

marmidukestank

@AverageJoes: "Anybody else think it's funny how they pretend the Wii doesn't exist?"

Or how they don't mention Japan. Looking at the actual numbers, the 360 outsold the PS3 by 5000 units:

1. Wii - 721,000
2. Nintendo DS - 698,000
3. PSP - 297,000
4. Xbox 360 - 262,000
5. PlayStation 3 - 257,000
6. PlayStation 2 - 216,000

Not only is the 360 being outsold by 3 other machines, at least 1 representing each of Microsoft's competitors, but they are neither number one in unit sales or the industry leader. In fact, if one wants to tally market share in the game industry it would go Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft.

One thing is certain, Microsoft does have the attention of the core gamer. Being a gamer since 1983 I consider myself one of these core gamers and the only thing about core gamers that never fails to disappoint: THEY BUY MORE THAN ONE PLATFORM.

I'll admit the attach-rate is pretty impressive, though when one has a strong first party line-up, 3rd party favor (better and more robust versions of multi-platform titles) and are willing to throw money around to secure exclusive content (GTA4 DLC, for example) they should be in that place. That's not to poop on them because they've done an excellent job there.

However as I said I consider myself a core gamer, I don't own a 360. And I don't own one because I don't want to worry about hardware complications or their shitty DRM system. I've heard way too many horror stories. If they fixed those two concerns I'd probably jump aboard.

Alright I've ranted enough, lates.

Replica23

"Half of online gamers prefer the Xbox 360 over other current-generation gaming consoles."

Only half? I wouldn't brag much about that considering Nintendo's online "service".

RaepGoblin

@DragonSphere: MASK was so dope. Use to have the helicopter & semi truck when I was a kid. The MASK semi truck was simply the most bad ass toy ever made.

Nexus6

@jsf49: The 360 had an attach rate of 4 at launch which rose to 5 a year later. The PS3's attach rate is only hitting 3.5 now, so I don't think it's correct to assume the PS3 will be in the same position as the 360 when it hits 27 months.

Also, the console buyer demographic usually becomes more casual as the system drops in price. So really the attach rate should be levelling off, but instead it's still going up, which suggests MS is not breaking out of the hardcore market to the more casual gamer (we all know what the casual gamer buys now)! Which means software sales on the 360 will probably be the strongest of all 3 systems this generation, but that MS run the risk of running out of steam on the hardware when the hardcore gamers dry up. Which is probably why Rare are working on the Wii-mote rip-off...

photoboy

pretty much what i expected them to say

Jax25

@okenny :): What are you serious.
[kotaku.com]
In this discussion it clearly stats that both Sony and MS will have bundles!

TheTime

WTF is wrong with this posting system now? Why can't this place get some real blog or forum software?

jsf49

@photoboy: I don't know where you're pulling your figures from (though I have a guess), but 4 plus 5 does not equal 7 (as stated in the press release), my friend. Also why did you put the PS3 at 3.5 when the *Microsoft* press release says 3.8 right on it? Are we reading the same thing?

jsf49

I think microsoft is calling the Wii "last gen", in some ways one can agree.

I notice they say current gen a bit in there, and I think that may be their underhanded little way of getting down on the Wii.

DarthTauri

As much as people seem to get hung up on hardware sales and all that, all evidence points to the fact that 360 owners buy more games. Really that should be the number we pay more attention to than console NPD numbers. It is those sales that are most beneficial to the gaming economy and the growth of the industry.

M.A.S.

Being a 360 fanboy, why the hell did we get Murky? Nintendo gets Serpentor, Sony gets friggen Galvatron and we get Murky??
Dude....SKELETOR, MUMRA...hell Cy-Kill even!

maniacmayhem

Well if you "got it flaunt it". Seriously Luke, why the ps3 love and ms hate?

littletad

Maybe the PS3 attach rate is lower because some people buy a PS3 just to watch Blu-Ray movies (as it's the best Blu-Ray movie player around...)

Harteex

@jsf49: Why would you add together the attach rate at launch with the rate 12 months later to come up with today's attach rate? If I sell 50M games and 10M consoles the attach rate is 5 games per console. As for the source, this Gamasutra article puts it at 4 at launch and 5 a year later. Was that where you thought I was pulling the figures from then?

As for saying 3.5, I must have hit the 5 instead of the 8 key (new keyboard).

photoboy

@AverageJoes: i think its because the 360 is making the most money out of the three, 20 mill sold at good price and lots of peripherals and games sold too as well and 10mill live users means a load off cash

SwindleUK

I hear the PS3 version of GTA4 will be the best one.

I still have not been answered this question. Do 360 sales figures account for the returns? If they do not these figures could very easily be off by 30%-50%. This may also be influencing the attach rate.

Honestly an attach rate of 7 isn't anything to scoff at. The system has been out twice as long as PS3 and Wii, and so far PS3's attach rate is projecting very well.

D.Vader

@photoboy: I add them up because that is what Microsoft is doing. Read the bloody press release. e.g., "...with more than 7.0 games sold per console...after 27 months on the market." It says 7.0 games sold per console (in Europe; U.S. figure is given as 7.5) after 27 months. How can it be any clearer than that? By the way, I think I will take Microsoft's word over yours and Gamasutra's. Sounds crazy, sure, but I seriously doubt Microsoft would underestimate its own numbers, which would mean you and Gamasutra are wrong.

jsf49

@jsf49: Microsoft are not adding up their attach rate at launch (4) and their attach rate one year later (5) to come up with their current attach rate (7.5). Attach rate is total software divided by total hardware, there is no addition involved.

For example in the US they are dividing total software sold ~86M by total consoles sold ~11.5M which comes to 7.5 i.e. their current attach rate. Why are you unable to grasp how attach rates are calculated or did you just not read my post and assume I was saying the current attach rate is between 4 and 5 when that's not what I said at all?

photoboy

@photoboy: C'mon, do I have to explain math to you, kid?

Total sales/total consoles sold = attach rate, right?

Total sales per console across 27 months is going to be higher than total sales per console across 15 months, EVEN IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME CONSOLE IN BOTH SCENARIOS. Do you get it yet?

Just for yucks and giggles, here's something else...in a New York Times article today, Michael Pachter offers his estimates of the *annual* attach rates for the three consoles.

Wii - 3.7
360 - 4.7
PS3 - 4.6

[www.nytimes.com]

Feel free to forward that to Gamasutra.

jsf49

why do you always give the 360 crap pics???????????? WHO THE HELL IS THAT GUY ANYWAY???????????????

freespeech