Even if VGC adjusted their numbers to 10 million 360's sold, I would still believe them over any other source.

Call me a fanboy.

This thread should of ended like 150 post ago.

Going to repost this again as it appears some people missed it.

The discrepancy between VGC's reported figure and Microsoft's sold to retailer figure are the nature of the beast and not due to any intentional number fudging on the part of the site.

Here are a few key facts to consider.

1. VGC can only estimate actual sales due simply to the impossibility of tracking every single sale across the globe. The methodology is similar to that of NPD, Chart-Track/GfK, Media Create and Famitsu. Poll a portion of the retail market and extrapolate.

2. Coverage. Microsoft sells the X360 to some markets that VGC does not cover.

3. Retail channel stuffing. In 2006, 2008 and so it appears this year as well, MS pushes out as many units as possible. Even more than consumer end retail can sustain.

4. Distributors. This is an industry segment not many consider. Technically, the big 3 don't sell directly to retailers but instead to distribution companies that then sell to retail. This is why MS can ship out more product that retail is willing to buy and stock and the largest reason for big discrepancies such as this.

@DaBuddahN
I am amenable to that. Always nice to meet a calmer voice on the forum willing to see a middle ground. More so if they can take a step back when I cross the line, as we all do on occasion.

@Viper1
I agree with all of that. The question is what affected the sales this time. Under-tracking, retail stuffing, or retailers over estimating demand are the 3 most likely causes. Asking which one is the most likely is fair. Asking it in an overly aggressive way not so much, but it is a fair question at the heart.

Talk about gang rape.. Halo Reach you must be sore after this mob come down on you, I do agree with you though completely Maybe not quite 1.4 million but a good 800k. The numbers since the PS Slim release just don't add up in my mind. Call it a hunch if you will.

@Viper1

I agree with most of what you said except get off the channel stuffing stuff. Retailers in the economy of the last 2 years would give MS the collective middle finger if MS tried to stuff the channel. Stuffing the channel requires retailers to purchase. Also for the real big retailers they dont purchase from distributors.

We have to wait and see the final numbers for Japan and NA for the period that matches what MS said and then any adjustments. VGChartz isnt off by 1.4 million. Although someone said something interesting that I have noticed as well. VGChartz never seems to release Japan numbers until after Famitsu/MC release numbers.

If its coming from the boss himself you know its gotta be true. thank Mr. ioi err... or brett?

Good enough for me. Was it channel stuffing or just normal left over?

I wonder why these people are allowed to make threads...

fail!