that's usually what it takes shadow

@DirtyP: Exactly as the Prof said, you were implying that MS would know how much was sold to consumers (before you used the Wal Mart example which is a retailer not a end point consumer), and they don't any more than Sony or Nintendo do. They are only concerned with how many are sold to the retailers because then it is off their hands. While I have at times wondered about the accuracy of VG numbers they are usually very very close which makes sense because that is what they track. MS was talking about sold to retailers aka shipped I can promise you. My undergrad is in marketing and I had to study the supply chain long enough (too long IMO lol) to know that Microsoft (nor Sony nor Nintendo) has almost no idea what is actually sold to consumers other than the numbers they get from NPD, VG, medicrate, etc. There IS a reason why companies exist that track sales to end point consumers fyi.

MS is making talks about high numbers to try and bring down some of Sony's momentum is all. Sony will come out with some crazy shipped to retailer number and say "total sold" too. It is almost November people, of course they are shipping crazy amounts to retailers right now. When I worked at Sam's Club this is the time we started filling the risers with holiday quantities for goodness sakes.

M$ profits look alot better now after the report of their competitor came out today.

Nah. There's the original Xbox losses and RROD to put a damper on the MS win. I myself love profit, regardless how I get it.

^^^ The upfront cost to break into a market like this is captial intensive, so M$ made some investments, and they are paying off now, and will into the future. In Business...you want to be heading in the direction that M$ is heading, unlike some others...

Folks want to hate on MS's success. Just think about all of it for a minute. MS wants to get into video games - takes a plunge and gets thumped by the reigning champ. Goes back to the drawing board and figures out a way to create a device and delivery system to dethrone - or seriously slow down last gen's victor. Even with the RROD, they have accomplished that task. Could Sony bounce back and eventually beat MS? Of course - but to be firmly in second place, the top HD console with a 7M lead AND making profit is noteworthy.

Sony fans won't admit or even acknowledge the 360's success, but others will.

Liars.

Fix'd.

I agree they've been successful, money/sales wise. But I don't agree that it makes them a better company.

Where in my posts have I called MS a *better company?* I gave props to MS for turning a loss into a victory.

I think you are reading way too much into my post. Both Sony and MS - and Nintendo - and any other big corporation is in business for THEM, not YOU or ME.

While I do enjoy gaming on the 360, don't get it twisted - I am a gamer, not a fanboy of any system. Good games, that's what I'm all about.