But look in the transcript to investors how the EA guy uses the word "sold through" (page 2):
"Q4 fiscal '10 highlights. In our packaged goods business. EA was the number one publisher in North America and Europe for the quarter reflecting a four-point share gain year-over-year. We were also number one for the fiscal year with four titles in the top 20 in both North America and Europe.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2. We sold through 3 million packaged and digital units in the quarter for Europe and North America combined. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 launched with the Metacritic grading of 89. And to date, we have sold through to over 4 million units of Battlefield: Bad Company 2.
Mass Effect 2 sold through over 1.6 million package and digital units in the quarter for Europe and North America combined and launched with the Metacritic rating of 96 on the Xbox 360.
Dante's Inferno sold through almost 1 million units in the quarter for Europe and North America combined, more than any other new intellectual property during the quarter. And the sequel title, ARMY OF TWO: THE 40th DAY sold through over 1 million units worldwide in the quarter."
(page 2)
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Notice he uses the words "sold through". Shipped or tracked?
Then later on (page 7-8):
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"Shawn Milne - Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
(...) but just back to the quarter, did you -- you said Battlefield's sell-through, 3 million units. What was the 5 million? Is that shipments live to date or is launched to date?
Eric Brown (EA)
Yes, the 5 million units, which we noted on the press release, was as of yesterday or so. The total units sold into the channel.
John Riccitiello
Including Digital.
Eric Brown (EA)
Including Digital units, PC.
Shawn Milne - Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
So for the quarter, could you give us the exact shipments for the quarter.
Eric Brown (EA)
3 million in sell-through in the quarter."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/204598-electronic-arts-q4-2010-earnings-call-transcript?page=1
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Notice here again the word "sell-through" when the investor clearly asked for shipments.
So did Bad Company 2 ship 3 million copies in the quarter, or it was actual 3 million copies sold to gamers?
