Home Media Magazine - September 30 - October 6, 2007 - (Page 8)

NEWS BRIEFS www.homemediamagazine.com Halo 3 Games Expected To Top $47 Billion in 2009 By John Gaudiosi with a lower price than PS3. But starting in the second G A M E S The Wii and the PlayStation 3 will come out half of 2008, the PS3 will catch up fast, so Cole said the ahead of the Xbox 360, according to a new report from pressure is on Microsoft to build its lead now. video game market research firm DFC Intelligence. When it comes to the battle between Sony and MiThe report, “Worldwide Market Forecasts for the Video crosoft, which seems to be a separate, high-end battle Game and Interactive Entertainment Industry,” looked for the living room than the mass-market Wii; Cole at three different scenarios for the future of next-gener- doesn’t see HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc playing a role in ation consoles and raised the forecast for the Wii and the the ultimate victor. PS3 and lowered the forecast for the Xbox 360. “We don’t think Blu-ray will have much of a say on the The Xbox 360 will need to build a potential success of the PS3,” Cole strong base outside North America to «WE DON’T THINK BLU-RAY said. “Once again with this generaavoid being in a fairly distant third WILL HAVE MUCH OF A SAY tion, we think consumers will still place, according to David Cole, presievaluate game systems based on how ON THE POTENTIAL dent of DFC Intelligence. well they do their core function of playSUCCESS OF THE PS3» DFC forecasts that the Wii will be the DAVID COLE, PRESIDENT, DFC ing games.” strongest system through at least The anticipated release of Sony’s 2008. However, the PS3 could start coming on strong online entertainment offerings for PS3 and PSP, which in 2009. will include music, TV shows and movies, may have an “We could have a situation where the Wii sells more impact on the ultimate success of Sony’s next-generahardware units, but by 2012 the PS3 is generating more tion system. software revenue,” Cole said. “The Xbox 360 system has “Historically, Sony’s game systems have been successbeen stuck in a no-man’s land. The Wii has mass-mar- ful because they offer a wide variety of content for all tastes ket buzz and excitement, and the PS3, in theory, offers and age ranges,” Cole said. “Music and video offerings are more power. Many consumers are sitting on the fence a small part of the overall mix, but combined with big and/or buying a Wii system to wait and see how the Xbox high-end games, low cost, digitally distributed games, a 360 and PS3 play out. Microsoft needs to get those con- 3-D virtual world, etc., these factors all can help make the sumers to make the jump now and buy an Xbox 360, PS3 start to look like a more compelling offering.” before the PS3 becomes more competitive.” There looks to be no end in sight for Wii, especially Cole said it’s imperative for the Xbox 360 to do well with Nintendo increasing the amount of hardware at rethis holiday and next holiday if the system wants to re- tail this holiday. More consumers are buying multiple main competitive with the Wii and eventually the PS3. game systems, so that should be a great opportunity for In addition to the Halo 3 launch, Microsoft also has the Nintendo, even among those who also will want an Xbox clear advantage with Xbox 360’s software library, and 360 and/or PS3. I ‘HALO 3’ TROUNCES SALES RECORDS Microsoft’s Halo 3, exclusive to Xbox 360, lived up to the company’s claims, pulling in an estimated $170 million during its first 24 hours, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The record beats Spider-Man 3’s opening-weekend theatrical earnings ($151 million), as well as first-day book sales of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. Midnight Sept. 25, 10,000 stores opened to sell the game. A Microsoft spokesperson said more than 1 million Xbox 360 Live users went online Sept. 25 to play the game, making it the most active day in the service’s history. “Halo 3 has become a pop-culture phenomenon,” said Microsoft Game Studios VP Shane Kim. “Not only is Halo 3 setting sales records, it’s also redefining entertainment.” But blogs are already claiming that special packaging on the $70 Halo 3 limited edition is scratching game discs. Microsoft quickly responded on its Xbox Web site that the problem wouldn’t prevent consumers from playing the game, but offered details on a free mail-in exchange through the end of December. — Billy Gil I SONY INCLUDES MOVIES ON PSP MEMORY STICKS Sony is including four movies on a launcher DVD as part of two versions of its memory stick entertainment packs for its PlayStation Portable (PSP) system. Both the 2GB and 4GB memory stick packs will include a DVD with the Sony Pictures Entertainment movies Click, Ghost Rider, RV and Stomp the Yard. When loaded into a personal computer, the DVD can transfer the films to the memory sticks via a provided unlock code. The films are optimized for playback on the PlayStation 3 at 720 x 480 resolution as well as for the PSP. The 2GB version, the MS-A4GD, is available now at $55, while the 4GB version, the MS-A4GD, will be available in November for around $90. — Billy Gil MERCHANDISING ‘Halo’ Effect Hits Retail Best Buy Knocked Up Universal SRP $29.98, $39.98 Target $16.99 $22.99 two-disc set Wal-Mart $15.87 $19.96 w/Accepted $22.96 two-disc set Circuit City $14.99 $22.99 two-disc set w/coasters Amazon.com $15.99 $19.99 two-disc set $15.99 $22.99 two-disc set w/deck of cards Next Paramount SRP $29.99 $19.99 $19.99 $19.96 $17.99 Plus Snake Eyes for $3.99 $17.99 Bug Lionsgate SRP $28.98 $19.99 $32.99 w/scratch-and-sniff card for “Get a Real Job” episode $16.99 $32.99 w/exclusive lenticular cover and poster $19.96 $17.99 $19.99 My Name Is Earl: Season 2 Fox; SRP $49.98 $38.64 $32.99 $32.49 By John Latchem ven with a good mix of DVD titles in the new-release slate last week, the big-box retailers focused most of their promotional efforts toward Microsoft’s new Halo 3 video game for Xbox 360. Huge displays touted such tie-ins as Halothemed Xbox consoles and controllers, figurines, and even Mountain Dew in special Halo packaging. On the downside, stacks of the deluxe edition of the game were piling up at customer service desks, returned because the discs were scratched. On the DVD side of things, the Wal-Mart in Santa Ana, Calif., took out its TV DVD section and most of its TV DVD inventory; a clerk wasn’t sure exactly why, or whether this was a trend for the chain or isolated to this one store. Other Southern California Wal-Marts still displayed TV DVDs prominently, and calls to several Wal-Mart stores around the country found they did as well. E 8 Home Media Magazine September 30–October 6, 2007 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://Amazon.com

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Contents News Commentary TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced

Home Media Magazine - September 30 - October 6, 2007

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