Before a mod locks this. Wait. While there have been threads stating that DS has passed PS2, there hasnt been a single thread arguing against said numbers with cold, hard facts along with how the credibility of this sites numbers will be greatly hurt if when VGChartz is proved once again to be wrong on this matter. This is not a thread to debate which console is number 1. This is not a thread where people come in and hate on the other fanbase or either console. This is not a thread to argue which console is number 1. This is a thread to debate the PS2 numbers being presented as fact, along with the article being presented as fact, and how this is harmful for the credibility of VGChartz.
As many of you are aware, VGChartz recently stated in an article that the DS had passed the PS2 in units sold. This "news" has been widely spread over the Internet, being reported by several other sites and posted on other forums/blogs. Its pretty big for VGChartz that so many other sites have used the numbers here.
Now. The problem is this - The numbers are wrong. VGChartz just put out an article saying something that is wrong. Let me explain myself before you just say "No Carl, fuck you!".
VGChartz are currently showing the following numbers.
Cool, right? Wrong. Those PS2 numbers? 153.68 Million units. Something funny about those numbers and Ill tell you what it is. In November 2011, Sony had shipped 153.7 Million PlayStation 2 consoles. If VGChartz numbers are true it must mean that the PlayStation 2 hasn't yet sold out that shipment. Sony wouldnt have shipped any more units.
What really happened after that? Shock, horror. Sony shipped more units! As of March 2012, the PS2 had shifted 155.1 Million units Worldwide.
It gets worse. In the April-July Quarter of 2012, the PS2 shipped an additional 1 to 1.1 Million units. How can we know this? From Sonys own statements. Sony said the PS3 and PS2 shipped a combined 2.8 Million for the Quarter. We also know that PS3 was down YoY in said Quarter (It shipped 1.8 Million in the same 2011 Q). That leaves a minimum of 1 Million PS2s shipped in the Quarter, taking the total PS2 shipments to a minimum of 156.1 Million units Worldwide. More will have been shipped since, and considering that Sony shipped 1.6-1.7 Million units in Q1/Q2, its safe to say that the PS2 will have steadily gone by the 157 Million mark.
We will stick with 156.1 Million shipments. Its the only real number that we can fairly use. So yeah. Using this number, VGChartz are actively saying that there are ~2.4 Million PlayStation 2 units in ships, in stores or in warehouses.
"But... But you're on VGChartz! How can you discredit the numbers you use on a daily basis!?"
Here is where a lot of people mis-understand VGChartz. The numbers here are never to be taken as fact. They are estimations. They can be close, they can be far away, but they are straight up estimations.
http://www.vgchartz.com/article/82746/editorial-why-it-is-so-easy-to-blame-vgchartz/ - From Brett himself. Read it if you havent already.
"Ever since the formation of VGChartz, we have faced the same difficult scenario. Every piece of data we report is an estimate. It will always be higher or lower than the actual figure and there will always be some for which the figure is favourable and some for which the figure is not."
"However, even with the greatest of diligence, our data is still just an estimate so whenever quoting a figure from VGChartz it should be listed as an estimate".
That article came up after Aaron Greenberg "LOLd" at VGChartz numbers. It went quite well in upping the credibility of VGChartz in the eyes of people who normally say the site is pure silly made up numbers. People finally started to understand that VGChartz numbers aren't to be taken as fact and they were indeed actually pretty good for estimations.
Now, I fear the credibility of the site could be taking a turn for the worse. Its quite clear as posted above that the VGChartz numbers for PS2 are wrong. When Sony confirm the next milestone, 160 Million (Its clearly going to hit that number next Year)... What will it say for VGChartz numbers? Site credibility will take a pretty big hit after pushing out that article. The many people who VGC finally got to accept the numbers for what they are will start to ask questions. They will be laughed at again. Hell, users on this site will start to wonder about the credibility of the numbers.
It would be really nice to hear from someone on the sales team. William. Brett. Whoever else is on the team. Why are you obviously undertracking the PS2? Why are you pushing out an article that is quite clearly wrong? Do you no longer care for the sites credibility now that people are seemingly starting to accept the numbers for what they are?
Its really strange how such an obvious problem with the numbers isnt being addressed.
tldr - The numbers shown on VGChartz are quite clearly wrong. They make no sense. When these numbers are being pushed out as factual in an article, it can be seriously detrimental to the credibility of VGChartz.
If this gets locked, then so be it. Was worth writing down either way.
