Demotruk said:
Isn't he paid by a brokerage firm to analyze the companies? He analyzes the market using data from companies like NPD, I'd be surprised if third parties gave him access to their internal figures, as what he does is not supposed to be for their benefit. |
CG: Over the years, what sort of success rate have you enjoyed with your predictions regarding the games industry?
MP: The only “predictions” I make that matter are predicting the earnings of the companies I cover. In order to do so, I have to make reasonable guesses about sales, and software sales are driven by console sales. I “predict” a number of different things, but none except earnings matter, and I’m very good at predicting earnings. I have finished as a five star analyst in the Starmine rankings (top 15%, I think) all but one year this decade, and have finished first twice, so I’m doing just fine.
That's from an interview with him (http://www.criticalgamer.co.uk/2009/12/17/michael-pachter-interview/), where I think it's safe to assume the 'companies I cover' refers to various third parties. He's made previous estimates at developement costs, and as the leading video game 'analysist' it's safe to assume he knows his figures.
I'm not trying to suggest Wii games don't cost less then HD or anything. Just that someone in the position of pachter undoubtedly has these figures avaliable to them, and no doubt knows alot more about how they add up then anyone on here.