BKK2 on 23 August 2008
Voltron Lives: NPD, Chart-Track and Enterbrain Join Forces to Produce Monthly Global Sales Data
N'Gai Croal
Earlier today, the Port Washington, NY-based NPD Group, which tracks sales data for the videogame industry and other sectors, issued a press release about a new service that it would be offering along with its counterparts in the U.K. and Japan. Titled the "Top Global Markets Report," the three companies state that it will be "the first report to integrate point-of-sale (POS) data for video game software sales in the world’s largest games markets," specifically the United States (NPD), the U.K. (Chart-Track) and Japan (Enterbrain). To clarify some details in the announcement, we dashed off some questions to NPD toys and videogames analyst Anita Frazier and corporate marketing director David Riley. Here's what they wrote back:
How did this collaboration among The NPD Group, Gfk Chart-Track Ltd and Enterbrain come about? Who approached who first?
David Riley: The foundation for this was built back in 2004 when we met with Enterbrain at E3. NPD's relationship with Enterbrain grew from there. We've had long-standing relationships and various business partnerships with both GfK and Chart-Track, so it only made sense to form this alliance.
Will the Top Global Markets Report be issued in North America simultaneously with the monthly NPD videogame reports ? If not, how soon afterwards can we expect the global report?
Anita Frazier: This is a top global markets report, not a comprehensive global tracker. The report will be issued to subscribing clients. The Global Markets database won't be available simultaneously with the standard U.S. database. It will be released a few days after but we don't have a set schedule at this time.
Which parts of the report will be made available to media and the public? Can we expect to receive both hardware and software data?
Frazier: The details of what all three companies will agree to release publicly are still being worked out. This is mostly a product designed for clients to help them with their business intelligence efforts. While it would be great to release some combined data publicly, that is not the reason this new product is being offered.
Chart-Track releases data on a weekly basis, while NPD does so monthly. Why doesn't NPD release weekly reports? Was this the reason that the joint reports will be issued monthly?
Frazier: We have always released our data monthly per our agreements with retail partners.
Was this something your clients were asking you for? How do you see them making use of this data?
Anita: Clients that subscribe must also subscribe to the individual services of the three participating entities. The combined products will help make business intelligence analysis easier for our mutual clients.
How close is The NPD Group to signing deals with data researchers in other PAL countries and other territories?
Frazier: The nature of future business collaborations is proprietary and confidential.
How does this service compare to what's offered by, say, VGChartz?
Riley: No comment
N'Gai Croal
Earlier today, the Port Washington, NY-based NPD Group, which tracks sales data for the videogame industry and other sectors, issued a press release about a new service that it would be offering along with its counterparts in the U.K. and Japan. Titled the "Top Global Markets Report," the three companies state that it will be "the first report to integrate point-of-sale (POS) data for video game software sales in the world’s largest games markets," specifically the United States (NPD), the U.K. (Chart-Track) and Japan (Enterbrain). To clarify some details in the announcement, we dashed off some questions to NPD toys and videogames analyst Anita Frazier and corporate marketing director David Riley. Here's what they wrote back:
How did this collaboration among The NPD Group, Gfk Chart-Track Ltd and Enterbrain come about? Who approached who first?
David Riley: The foundation for this was built back in 2004 when we met with Enterbrain at E3. NPD's relationship with Enterbrain grew from there. We've had long-standing relationships and various business partnerships with both GfK and Chart-Track, so it only made sense to form this alliance.
Will the Top Global Markets Report be issued in North America simultaneously with the monthly NPD videogame reports ? If not, how soon afterwards can we expect the global report?
Anita Frazier: This is a top global markets report, not a comprehensive global tracker. The report will be issued to subscribing clients. The Global Markets database won't be available simultaneously with the standard U.S. database. It will be released a few days after but we don't have a set schedule at this time.
Which parts of the report will be made available to media and the public? Can we expect to receive both hardware and software data?
Frazier: The details of what all three companies will agree to release publicly are still being worked out. This is mostly a product designed for clients to help them with their business intelligence efforts. While it would be great to release some combined data publicly, that is not the reason this new product is being offered.
Chart-Track releases data on a weekly basis, while NPD does so monthly. Why doesn't NPD release weekly reports? Was this the reason that the joint reports will be issued monthly?
Frazier: We have always released our data monthly per our agreements with retail partners.
Was this something your clients were asking you for? How do you see them making use of this data?
Anita: Clients that subscribe must also subscribe to the individual services of the three participating entities. The combined products will help make business intelligence analysis easier for our mutual clients.
How close is The NPD Group to signing deals with data researchers in other PAL countries and other territories?
Frazier: The nature of future business collaborations is proprietary and confidential.
How does this service compare to what's offered by, say, VGChartz?
Riley: No comment
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lol @ final question.
