Xbox 360 reaches 10 million U.S. sales before Wii or PS3

[blykmik]

bluesinG said:

blykmik said:

LordTheNightKnight said:
Okay, we know they spin the numbers, but you just spun the numbers at the end. Two spins don't make a truth.

Microsoft may not be in the dominant position, but they are doing better than they would have been.

How did I spin numbers?

 

I just used the vgchartz America console totals. MS has 70% - 30% advantage of the consoles in the US, and they're touting the fact that they are selling 60% over 40% of GTAIV sales.

Isn't that just fact? Correct me where I'm wrong.

"Spinning" doesn't mean lying, it means introducing a frame of reference that suggests a particularly positive or negative interpretation of a set of facts. You spun the GTA numbers by introducing a frame of reference (LTD installed base) that makes them look bad for Microsoft. Here's a different--and equally valid--frame of reference that makes the GTA numbers look VERY good for Microsoft:

Last generation, 91% of all GTA sales were for the PS2 (42.86 million), and only 9% of GTA sales were for the XBox (4.15 million). So far this generation, 57% of sales for GTA IV have been for the XBox360 (4.37 million), and only 43% have been for the PS3 (3.29 million). Microsoft's current-generation GTA marketshare is 633% of its last-generation GTA marketshare.

See what I did there? I didn't lie, I spun.

I understand your point, but to your logic I can then claim that even your definition of spin is "spin". There are always different frames of reference when people look at facts. Who determines which is the correct frame of reference that is not "spin"? So everything ever said is spin... and we'd be going in circles for a long time. ;)

I'd be more inclined to call something spin when it CHANGES the frames of reference to compare the same things using DIFFERENT criteria for each.

For instance, Microsoft saying they beat the Wii to 10 million sales in the US. Yes, that it is a fact. But they are talking about the "speed" at which they hit 10 million, yet they are using different time frames to judge that speed. 2.5 year time frame for the 360 and a 1.5 year time frame for the Wii. That is incongruent to start. That is using DIFFERENT criteria to judge sales speed.

That is true spin.

With regards to Microsoft's press releases about GTAIV selling better on the 360, I used the same frame of reference for both (LTD installed base). Microsoft again ignores the idea of judging from an even playing field and touts the raw numbers. In your definition, both Microsoft's statement of selling better on the 360 and my calibration against install bases are both spin. You're entitled to that...

...but what do you really believe is real? What is true? With a 2.5 to 1 console advantage in the Americas, all things being equal, shouldn't the GTAIV sales ratio be 2.5 to 1 also? Were you one that believed PlayStation brand loyalty meant something here? Did you believe the episodic content was going to give the 360 the boost?

Why is the sales ratio only at 1.67 to 1? I guess it's just gotta get spun one way or the other. But I would imagine that people not invested at all in this "war", when given all the facts, would have a very simple time making their judgments about those numbers.

...as for you last generation sales comparisons, yes... Nice spin. You compared first-run exclusive release sales on a monster install base, to aged re-releases on platform with a paltry install base. You couldn't get the "frames of reference" any different there.