http://blogs.popzara.com/index.php/item/968

Hmm. With all the hubbub and rah-rah about the current generation of videogame machines, it seems that some important information got lost in the mix. Apologies from us for not noticing it sooner but it looks like Microsoft's XBox 360 has surpassed the Atari Video Computer System AKA the Atari VCS (Atari 2600 to its closest friends) as the Best-Selling American-Made Home Console of All Time! What? The 360 outnumbered the 2600?

Hard to believe but those numerals are true...at least by the figures we've uncovered.

Let's figure our how many times 2600 goes into 360 next...

According to the 2004 Video Game Price Guide, a paperback history and reference for historical game systems, the Atari VCS sold over 30 million units worldwide. Well, in Microsoft's 3rd quarter report for their 2009 fiscal year (ending June 30, 2009), the company announced that it had shipped 30.2 million XBox 360 systems to market worldwide since its November 2005 debut. That announcement of their 3rd quarter results (ending March 31, 2009) came the following April through a TeamXBox.com report.

However, how much OVER 30 million did the Atari VCS sell? It could be anywhere from 30,000,001 to 30,999,999. Since it wasn't specified exactly how much the Atari VCS sold, the extra 200 thousand on the XBox 360's 30 million would be in dispute. Plus, the ancient Atari sales are long accounted for while it takes a little time between shipping to retailers/warehouses and selling to customers' homes from the store shelves. But it wouldn't take too long for the inevitable to take place with a currently selling system.

In Microsoft's 4th quarter report to end their 2009 fiscal year, the company announced that it had shipped 1.2 million XBox 360s to world markets in that 3-month April through June phase. Add 1.2 million to 30.2 million and you get 31.4 million systems shipped for sale as of June 30, 2009. Well, Microsoft has recently made public its 2009 fiscal year results. And now it's official...

The Xbox 360 has outsold the Atari VCS making it the best-selling American-made home console in history.

The videogame industry which was born in America through Nolan Bushnell's Atari and Ralph Baer's Odyssey sees America-based company Microsoft achieve a milestone in an industry ruled by Japan since the emergence of Nintendo in 1985. The 1st viable American console-making competitor since Atari bests a founding father's historic achievements.

It has not been told region by region how much Atari sold in each territory. How many of that 'over 30 million' was sold in the United States and North America vs. sold in South America or Australia or Europe or Africa or Asia? If the bulk of that 30 million was sold in the U.S., then Microsoft has a way to go claim the title of "Best-selling American-made home console in the U.S." And to achieve the simple title of "Best-selling home console in U.S." it would have to contend with the Japanese-made Nintendo Entertainment System, Sony PlayStation, and Sony PlayStation 2.

Nintendo's historical factoids tell of an estimated 34 million NESs sold in the American continents, the bulk of that most likely coming from the U.S. By the last year it was stocked in stores, the original Sony PlayStation officially sold 40.78 million in the vast region known collectively as North America (with the U.S. once again making up the bulk of that number). And its record-breaking successor, the PlayStation 2, officially sold 50 million in North America as announced in January of this year. The NPD Group clarifies these figures further with its estimates totalling over 43 million sold solely in the U.S.

As of July 27, 2009, VGChartz.com's weekly updated total shows 17.82 million (17,821,823 to be precise) XBox 360s sold in the American continents. While the NPD Group's accumulated totals show under 15.48 million in the U.S. all alone (15,477,100 is actual lifetime estimate). That's a long way from 30-50 million and chances are Nintendo's Wii will reach this number faster (VGChartz.com's current American continent estimate 23.91 million; NPD's U.S. estimate 20.57 million).

Nevertheless, this is an under-celebrated milestone for the XBox 360. So under-celebrated that it makes you wonder why Microsoft themselves haven't brought attention to this statistic. Another interesting statistic is the best-selling game for each console, with estimates putting the original (and much-maligned) port of the popular Pac-Man for the 2600 with an estimated 7 million copies, while the Xbox 360's chart-topper (unsurprisingly) remains Halo 3 with an estimated 9.9 million.

Thanks to VGChartz, with extra quarters to BusinessWeek.com and TeamXBox.com.

It's a good thing to see an American company get to those numbers. However, it's a little sad that it has taken this long to get to this point again, after years of Japanese dominance.

Wow, if only microsoft could put this in commercials... I can see it now..

"Buy the most successful American console in the history of videogames, now at 180$. Buy american, and buy cheaper."

Wasn't Sega also an American born company? Started in Hawaii as Standard Games.

This point again?  Nothing has changed... the Japanese are still dominating.  We just now have an American company that's sold a decent enough amount of consoles to outsell another console.

sega = japanese born in america. technically, but not really.

Ya.. but in the 50's the went corporate and made the switch to (Service Games = SEGA) and with that became a Japan Company...

No, actually that's NOT the point.  If you had read the headline, you would know that the point is only that the 360 has now outsold the Atari 2600, which used to hold the crown for the highest selling American made console.  That honor now belongs to the Xbox 360.  Plain and simple.  It has nothing to do with your allegiance to Japanese console makers.  Chill out.

Learn to read.  You just re-iterated the same comment I made.

Chill out. I didn't insinuate Microsoft was dominating. They are at least a very serious competitor, and that had not been the case for a long time.