Analyst Reveals October Hardware Unit Sales, iPod Touch 'Cannibalizing' Handhelds?

Analysts describe October retail as a "mixed bag," with software outperforming expectations to 6 percent growth -- but a severe 26 percent hardware revenue plunge weighing on the results overall. Now more details on individual title and console performance is emerging from analysts, who've received new numbers from the NPD Group.

According to Wedbush's Michael Pachter, it was the contraction in handheld unit sales, down 34 percent, that helped created a significant drain on the hardware market, although unit sales of Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii were together down 25 percent year over year.

"We believe the iPod Touch is cannibalizing dedicated game handheld hardware sales, and expect weakness in handhelds to persist until the 2011 introduction of the Nintendo 3DS," suggests Pachter.

[himdeel]

...of choice because it fits in my pocket and has just a little bit of everything I need on it. However I'd qualify my statement by saying I got my Touch for free. I haven't purchased a handheld since the first Gameboy Color :) the clear purple plastic one :)

[Stealth20k]

but it has shitty games

[Raendom]

It has good games. Final Fantasy I & II, Resident Evil, Grand Theft Auto, Need For Speed, etc.

It's not QUITE at PSP/DS standard, but it's getting there.

[Stealth20k]

no its not. All the games you listed are ports of games that we get.

igames are a speck of sand in the desert thats called ds/psp opia

[himdeel]

...I don't have time for games that don't involve televisions. So my Touch is a nice distraction on a lunch break or a quick game before bed. Not for serious gaming although I'd argue there are a couple of really fun games.

This what I have on my Touch:

Angry Birds
Bonsai Blast
CW-Gunner
CW2
Golden Axe
S.K.O.B. 2
Streets of Rage
Zenonia
Chaos Rings
Street Fighter 4
MGSTouch
Resident Evil 4
Spider-Man
UnblockmeFree

That's my Touch gaming :)

[siyrobbo]

peggle and tetris are all i need when im taking a dump, (and 6 squares of paper)

[Xtremist]

"25% decreased sales" is pretty reasonable considering that current-gen consoles are already on the 6th year of their life-cycle and as a result less and less people will buy them from now on.

[MeatPopsicle]

6th? Huh?

This gen is only 4 years old. And in Europe the PS3 has only been out for 3.5 years.

The PS2 sold more than 110 million consoles after its 4th year on the market. The PS3 will do the same when it drops to 200 dollars and another six to seven years of sales.

[Fishy Fingers]

PS2 actually peaked in it's 4th year. Although even its "slow" years would easily compete with current PS3/360. This gen hasnt been so favourable to one console other than perhaps the Wii.

[MinskyM]

LOL @ Fishy Fingers

What retarded fantasy world are you posting from?

The PS3 is the third fastest selling console in history.

It's already at 42+ million while still at the launch price of the PS2, 300 dollars. It's been on the market for only 4 years in the US an Japan and 3 and a half in Europe.

The PS3 is on track to sell 15 million consoles for Sony's current fiscal year while still at 300 dollars.

The console has around seven more years on the market for sales. It will easily hit 130-150 million worldwide by the end of its life. It's going to be selling 20-25 million a year once it hits 200 dollars.

42 million + six to seven years of sales in the 20-25 million range decreasing over the years down to 15, 10, 5 million a year.

The PS3 is on the exact same track the PS2 brought it 150 million worldwide sales.

[Fishy Fingers]

Fanboy RAGE! Dude, you should use the caps lock, makes you seem even more serious.

I dont see whats wrong with my comment, the PS2 sales peaked in its 4th year and then slowly decreased, it's generally the same for every console, just usually with smaller numbers.

I'm not sure why your raging about the PS3, I didnt make any comment regarding it's future sales or what it's lifetime install base would/will be. I'd need your ability to gaze into the future for that.

[kaveti6616]

minsky, there's this thing called the economy, and it's not doing so well, buddy. The PS3 may have had the third fastest launch or whatever, but that was in 06. It's 2010 now, the economy is really bad, and therefore neither the ps3 or the 360, or even the Wii are going to do ps2 numbers.

[MeatPopsicle]

"I dont see whats wrong with my comment, the PS2 sales peaked in its 4th year and then slowly decreased, it's generally the same for every console, just usually with smaller numbers. "

Oh god...

Talk about silly fanboyism. To go on to sell 110 million more consoles after its 4the as having 'peaked'. Just LOL...

The PS2 sold more consoles after it 'peaked' than Microsoft has in their entire 8 years in the console market - including the millions and millions of duplicate RRoD 360 consoles sold.

[MeatPopsicle]

"and therefore neither the ps3 or the 360, or even the Wii are going to do ps2 numbers."

Boggle.

You actually don't realize the PS3 is on track to sell PS2 lifetime sales numbers...

[Fishy Fingers]

By "peaked" I meant most units moved in one year, hence me comparing its "slow" years to current sales.

And now your going on about the 360 and RROD, yet it's me coming out with the "fanboyism"? Are you confused?

You seem to have misconstrued what I've said, and gone on the defensive, when there is nothing to defend.

[Jack Meahoffer]

That's why Sony fanboys are the worst. You are known to be a fair commentor on NG4 yet you make a statement that doesn't overtly worship master Sony you get nerd raged and disagreed to hell.

There is no way the PS3 could ever reach PS2 numbers. This generation is close to over and it's still struggling to over take new comer MS. Blind brand loyalty can only paint over so much of reality before the light starts coming through.

[FlatulentGhost]

>There is no way the PS3 could ever reach PS2 numbers. This generation is close to over and it's still struggling to over take new comer MS. Blind brand loyalty can only paint over so much of reality before the light starts coming through.

LOL LOL LOL!

42 million PS3s sold already, six to seven more years of sales and the PS3 hasn't even hit 200 dollars yet - the price where the PS2 exploded to 20-25 million consoles a year.

God I love it! Nothing better than getting to watch humiliated biitter Xbox fanboy tears over the next six years.

[Paradise Lost]

People actually listen to Patcher?

[gamingdroid]

Yup, that is how he makes his money.

Believe it or not, people pay him crapload of money to do this. Surely some people must see some value in it!

[emitsu97]

That's like saying Honda is biting into Ferrari sales.

[garrod]

lol win

[etownone]

Ever since I started gaming with my iTouch, I completely stopped using my PsP and DS.
But I think it has to do because of 3 other important factors.

1. Very easy to conceal
2. Surf the web ... (I'm using it rt now)
3. The APP store .... with tons of other stuff to keep me interested and busy

[NextGen24Gamer]

As Microsoft announced yesterday, Xbox 360 unit sales were the lone grower -- Microsoft's console saw a 30 percent boost to 325,000, and was the top-selling non-handheld console. Fable III, Halo Reach and continuing momentum from August's slimlined hardware launch are continuing to drive demand for the Xbox 360

[joeorc]

is it really Cannibalizing handhelds?

In my opinion yes it is.

please also

Note: Sharp manufacturers the glasses-free 3D display for the 3DS

what's this New 3D Smart phone's launch line up for Game's?

It’s going to have games like Resident Evil: Degeneration, Mobile Powerful Pro Baseball 3D, Mega-Man, a rhythm game called Taiko no Tatsujin, SILPHEED Alternative, Ghost ‘n Goblins: Gold Knights and Reikai Denwa, horror game by trade and horror game by inclination.

http://www.androidcentral.c...