PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable continue to dominate Irish games charts

PlayStation Portable alone still frequently outranks Xbox & 360 in percentage sales  

A GamesToaster.com / BlurredKeys.com examination of the Chart-Track Irish Software charts, which tracks retail sales of computer games in Ireland, has found that Sony’s PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable continue to massively dominate the Irish multi-format charts, with Microsoft’s Xbox and Xbox 360 combined rarely amounting to over 25% of multi-format games.

Our study of the charts ranges from the start of 2006 to the week ending July 15.

When the combined percentages of the Xbox consoles reach higher percentages the games are usually at the lower end of the charts. Frequently the percentage of the two combined is lower then or around 10%.

When the high profile Xbox 360 game Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was released in March, Microsoft reported that the game “has topped the all-formats sales charts in key European countries”. Ireland was not one of those countries. Even with the support of 43% from PC sales, the Take 2 game entered the chart at number three, slowly dropping, then in its fourth week nose-diving to sixteenth place.

Only three Xbox/360 exclusives made it into the top 20. This is somewhat but not fully explained by a higher number released on Xbox and PC combined, without giving away the title of 'console exclusive'.

The three exclusive games were Dead or Alive 4 on Xbox 360, in at number seven, and out after a second week at number 12; the Outfit also on 360 in at 17th, not to be seen again; and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter. GRAW was release on the 360 the first week, at number three, in its second week also on Xbox at number five (Xb360 96%/Xbox 4%), and the third week at 10 (360 93%/Xbox 7%). After the third week, it lost the exclusive as it was released on other formats.

There were few other Xbox games to break between the 50-100% marks, often only when pitted against the PC. On Xbox 360, Call of Duty 2 ranged from around 60-80%, Oblivion from 35-60%, Fight Night Round 3 entered the chart at 17th with 53%, recently Pray entered at six with 71%, and LOTR: The Battle for Middle-Earth II got a healthy 81%. Middle-Earth II however only entered at 15th place after it was on the top 20 as a PC-exclusive for three weeks early in the year.

As sales are measured at the point and time of purchase, the charts can be seen as the most reliable measure of how different games formats are competing. The value of game sales cannot be underestimated as console manufactures depend on royalties of third party games, and selling first and second party games. Most game consoles are sold at a loss, with the makers recouping cost with games and peripheral sales.

In isolation the charts for the week ending July 15 record Pro Evolution Soccer 5 with 76%/PS2, and 19%/PSP; FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 with 66%/PS2, and 19%/PSP; Over the Hedge 76%/PS2; Tomb Raider: Legend with 48%/PS2, and 38%/PSP; Hitman: Blood Money with 77%/PS2.

PC and Nintendo formats makeup even smaller percentages then the Xbox brands, practically leaving the charts a two-brand race. Few Nintendo titles punch above this trend, the exclusivity of Nintendo games sometimes makes the brand move visually apparent, games such as New Super Mario Bros, Dr Kawashima's Brain Training, Mario Kart Ds, and Animal Crossing: Wild World. Nintendo, however, are often bypassed when it comes to multi-format games.

We previously reported that in the Christmas charts, when it comes to multi-format games, Xbox rarely received much more then 10% of sales of any one game, and never above 20%. We quoted the Sony line that after Japan; Ireland has the highest PS and PS2 ownership per head of population. We added that PlayStation looks to be the game brand burned into the Irish mind and culture – this still looks to be the case.

The Xbox 360 looks to have so far failed to gain a substantial head start on the Sony PlayStation 3. Sony maintaining their market share in Ireland will most likely depend on a continued support of the PlayStation 2, in the form of the game releases, well into the life of the PS3.

It’s worth noting that prices for the PlayStation 3 in the Republic and Northern Ireland have still to be officially announced, the higher rumoured pricing puts the Ireland at around 30 euro above the 599 “euro” announced price. "We would never say we cannot fail", Niall O'Hanrahan, MD SCE Ireland, told the Irish Times in July, "We have a marketing challenge from now until launch. This is not a done deal”.

According to Chart-Track.co.uk the data for the Irish games charts comes from Argos, Currys, Dixons, Game, Golden Discs, Heartbeat City, Heatons, HMV, PC World, Play.com, Roxy Tower Records, Virgin, Zhivago, a number of independent retailers, and Tesco, and Xtra-vision were added in July 2005. There is a notable absence of the Irish branches of GameStop, and the online retailer CDWow.ie. Chart-Track own and compile the Irish Software Charts, they also compile the UK games charts, and the Irish music charts.

Chart-Track kindly provides the Top 20 Irish games charts to Games Toaster; the chart is published weekly on the site’s side panel. An archive and individual charts are also available on Chart-Track’s website. What percentage each format sells is not normally published. At a cost Chart-Track also provide in-depth analysis of game sales.