shio said:
the sales could still be counted, since having PC games available on DD services is still considered distribution. Either way, the digital sales could also be counted on the MMORPG section: " Revenue Recognition. We recognize revenue from the sale of our products upon the transfer of title and risk of loss to our customers, and once any performance obligations have been completed. Certain products are sold to customers with a street date (the earliest date these products may be sold by retailers). For these products we recognize revenue on the later of the street date or the sale date. Revenue from product sales is recognized after deducting the estimated allowance for returns and price protection. Some of our software products provide limited online features at no additional cost to the consumer. Generally, we consider such features to be incidental to the overall product offering and an inconsequential deliverable. Accordingly, we recognize revenue related to products containing these limited online features upon the transfer of title and risk of loss to our customer. In instances where online features or additional functionality is considered more than an inconsequential separate deliverable in addition to the software product, we take this into account when applying our revenue recognition policy. This evaluation is performed for each software product together with any online transactions, such as electronic downloads of titles with product add-ons when it is released. In instances where the online service is considered more than an inconsequential separate deliverable in addition to the software product, we account for the sale as a "bundled" sale, or multiple element arrangement, in which we sell both the software product and the online service for one combined price. Vendor specific objective evidence for the fair value of the online service does not exist as we do not separately offer or charge for the online service. Therefore, when the online service is determined to be more than an inconsequential deliverable, we recognize the revenue from sales of such software products ratably over the estimated online service period, beginning the month after shipment of the software product. Costs of sales (excluding intangible asset amortization classified as costs of sales) related to such products are also deferred and recognized with the related revenues, including manufacturing costs, software royalties and amortization and intellectual property licenses. We consider the World of Warcraft boxed product including expansion packs and other ancillary revenues as a single deliverable with the total arrangement consideration combined and recognized ratably as revenue over the estimated product life beginning upon activation of the software and delivery of the services. Revenues attributed to the sale of World of Warcraft boxed software and related expansion packs are classified as product sales and revenues attributable to subscription and other ancillary services are classified as subscription, licensing and other revenues. Determining whether the online service for a particular game constitutes more than an inconsequential deliverable is subjective and requires management's judgment. Determining the estimated service period over which to recognize the related revenue and costs of sales is also subjective and involves management's judgment." http://investor.activision.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1047469-09-2015
What links? If you're talking about when Activision announced COD4 sold 10 and 13 millions, that doesn't mean they didn't count only the same markets as when they reported the 7 million figure. Infact, they initially even reported the 7 millions as "Worldwide sales": "While Activision claims to have sold 7 million worldwide, the publisher later clarified its statement, saying that its figure only encompasses North America, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Benelux. No Asian countries were included in the tally. However, the oversight isn't likely to cost COD4 the 2007 software crown, as the PS3 and 360 versions of the game have been one of the few non-Nintendo platform titles to crack the Japanese top-30 sales charts on a consistent basis."
1 millions what? We are talking about only 7 markets (no Russia, eastern countries, scandinavian countries, etc...), with no PC digital sales (and by now the digital distribution market should be above the retail market) and no opportunity to show the well-known "PC leeeeeeegs" that PC games have, an example: Starcraft 1 sold 1.5 millions in it's first year, and is now above 11 millions. Here's an awesome idea: Let's see how much COD4 sold on Xbox 360 and PS3 until December 31, 2007 in the markets below:
Add them all up, then subtract it from the 7 millions. If COD4 PC is above 1 million, then it's a huge success for PC. |
In another thread you said that NPD reported 900k for CoD4 in 07 and 08 (combined! pretty much 450k each year). This game won't have any sales in Japan, especially on PC. So we need 9.1 million sales in Europe. According to the press release from Activision, this is not the case.
Activision made a revenue of 90 million USD in 08 on the PC (Xbox360 = 430 million USD.) I do not know exactly how many games Activision released on the PC in 08, but I know this includes CoD WaW as well. Probably a couple of other games, too. So CoD4 + CoD WaW + other titles like Starcraft, Warcraft etc. = 90 mio revenue. This is just not enough revenue for one of those games being a 10 mio seller. (and this includes everything! Every market, every way of distribution).
Just admit, you were wrong. You have no source and no facts at all. PC gaming is way smaller than console gaming (Except MMOs and RTS and maybe some titles like The Sims).
Imagine not having GamePass on your console...
