Apple IIe (an underdog in its later years for sure)
Bally/Astrocade (will more than likely make a return in 2011)
CD-i (Philips) (new console for 2011, that will be borrowed from a friend).
Dreamcast (this will be there for sure for the first time)
Jaguar (first time in the UC area)
Odyssey2 (a given for the most part)
Philips G7400 (another given)
Pippin (another borrowed system, more than likely making a one-time visit for 2011)
Vectrex (probably will return again in ’11)

Quake will return again too, but I’m not sure in what form, the original OS 9 version or something a bit more modern. This is something I’ve been working on for a bit, but since last week is on hold. At the least I will run and OS 9 Quake LAN for 2011.

There are other systems I may bring. Plus as said, the above list may change. As I always do, I will make official announcements from now up to the actual show. Till then…

So far, 2011 may have the UC area showing off a decent amount of system it has never shown before, and I think that is a good thing!

Plus, in other news, there is a bit of secret work being done on a possible expansion unit for the Odyssey2. Yes, my old favorite underdog system may get a boost for the first time in a long time, in regards to the hardware side of things. I don’t know how this will pan out, but I hope it gets finalized and released before next years show. That would be nice!

It will be interesting to see if the 360 can hold it’s new position, which I think is partly due to a set of popular games that have come out for the 360 and PS3 in recent months. Plus they did introduce a new model of the 360 as well (but until I hear better stories about that ring of death – I will not buy a 360 – just my two-bits).

NPD figures for June 2010 are:
Hardware:

• NDS/DSi = 510,700 units sold! (+33% from prior month)
• 360 = 451,700 (+132%)
• Wii = 442,500 (+32%)
• PS3 = 304,800 (+97%)
• PSP = 121,000 (+105%)

Software (top games for June 2010):

• Red Dead Redemption – 360 = 582,600 units sold
• Super Mario Galaxy 2 – Wii = 548,400
• Red Dead Redemption – PS3 = 380,300
• New Super Mario Bros. – Wii 200,900
• Just Dance – Wii 174,800
• Wii Fit Plus – Wii
• Toy Story 3 – DS
• UFC Undisputed 2010 – 360
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 – Wii
• UFC Undisputed 2010 – PS3

For a change, the Wii took most of the top software sales spots for June, the opposite of the hardware sales (it always seems to work that way). While Red Dead took 1st and 3rd, the Wii took 2nd, 4th-6th, and 9th place. Super Mario Galaxy 2 was in 2nd place, and I expect it to stay near the top for a while. I still find it a little humorous that New Super Mario Bros. just won’t drop in sales, moving back up to 4th place for June. I was rather surprised by Just Dance for the Wii moving back up into 5th place. How this game moved back up is a mystery, unless it is on sale in advance of the upcoming Just Dance 2? Wii Fit Plus follows in sales, along with Toy Story 3 for the DS, which is not a direct Nintendo game (for a change). The rest, well, they are what they are.

See you next month for the July figures…

There is not a bit of doubt in regards to the top two selling gaming systems, which I personally don’t have any issue with (not like some friends I know). Even with their so-called slowing down of sales, Nintendo still dominates the hardware charts. The 360 and PS3 were rather close in sales for May, but the 360 stayed in 3rd place. The PSP was rock bottom again, as I still wonder why they haven’t dropped or replaced this yet with the PSP2. As for the PS2, which NPD no longer tracks, I have no idea if it is still being made. I would guess yes, but how long until it is $19.99, which is when I’ll buy it (kidding of course).

NPD figures for May 2010 are:
Hardware:

• NDS/DSi = 383,700 units sold! (-15% from prior month)
• Wii = 334,800 (+20%)
• 360 = 194,600 (+05%)
• PS3 = 154,500 (-15%)
• PSP = 59,400 (-10%)

Software (top games for May 2010):

• Red Dead Redemption – 360 = 945,900 units sold
• Red Dead Redemption – PS3 = 567,100
• Super Mario Galaxy 2 – Wii = 563,900
• UFC Undisputed 2010 – 360 = 221,100
• UFC Undisputed 2010 – PS3 = 192,300
• Wii Fit Plus – Wii
• New Super Mario Bros. – Wii
• Alan Wake – 360
• Pokemon Soulsilver – DS
• Skate 3 – 360

As is the case with software sales, the 360 and PS3 top the charts like they do so often. I think this is partly due to their being just too many games for the Wii, but that in just my opinion. Seem like Red Dead Redemption is (was) a hit for May, 2010. The lastest UFC game did rather well also in May, on the 360 and PS3 again. In between their is Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy 2, which I expect to do well for a few months (there are enough Mario fans out their to keep it going). Wii Fit Plus stayed in the top ten again, even though America is still too fat (including myself to some extent). New Super Mario Bros. proves my Mario opinion point, as it is still a top ten game. I won’t deny that I have no idea what Alan Wake is (and honestly I don’t really care – sorry). Nice to see a DS game in the list, but does it have to be a Pokemon game (not that they are bad, just something else for a change). Bottom is Skate 3, which I never got into when it was just Skate (not my cup of tea – which I don’t like either).

See you later this month for the June figures…

Have a great Summer!

It comes as no surprise that the Nintendo DS and Wii were the top two selling gaming systems for April. However, from what I have seen on the Web, Nintendo is slowly starting to lose sales. Guess it might be time for the Wii 2! Other than that, the 360 stays in 3rd place, followed by the PS3 with the PSP rock bottom once again (rumors that a PSP 2 are in the works are probably true). The PS2 sales dropped enough that the NPD did not post their sales figure for April. Guess the PS2 may be in its final days.

NPD figures for April 2010 are:
Hardware:

• NDS/DSi = 440,800 units sold! (-63% from prior month)
• Wii = 277,200 (-50%)
• 360 = 185,400 (-55%)
• PS3 = 180,800 (-58%)
• PSP = 65,500 (-55%)

Software (top games for April 2010):

• Splinter Cell: Conviction – 360 = 486,100 units sold
• Pokemon Soulsilver – DS = 242,900
• New Super Mario Bros. – Wii = 200,300
• Pokemon Heartgold – DS = 192,600
• God of War III – PS3 = 180,300
• Wii Sports Resort – Wii = ?
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2 – 360 = ?
• Wii Fit Plus – Wii = ?
• Just Dance – Wii = ?
• Super Street Fighter IV – PS3 = ?

Found it a bit odd that the NPD did list figures for the last 5 games in the top ten list? Other than that, figures for April are not that high, but that is actually normal for April. It is usually the slowest month of the year. The big hit for April was Splinter Cell for the 360, followed by the Pokemon twins and the still well selling New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii. I was a bit surprised to see Sports Resort climb back into the top ten. The rest is what it is with the Just Dance for the Wii making 9th place, a game that is selling very well with younger girls (as far as I know).

At this exact time though, I need to get back to studying for the next big test at school, so any iMac work in on hold. Still nice to get the drives (thanks Matt). That is one more step out of the way.

Oh, and I got another bezel for the slot load iMacs, which I plan to put into the Dalmation iMac that got shattered late last year. Hope to get that unit back together for the ’11 show!

iMac Bezel – New (older) Hard Drives

Since I don’t have February figures (and I’m not getting them), I won’t show any growth or decline in sales from the prior month.
As has been the case for some time now, the Nintendo DS took top spot, followed by its big brother Wii. The 360 was in 3rd, followed closely this time by the PS3, and the PSP and PS2 are bottom as almost always. I personally love the DS in the top spot, but still wish they’d break it down to DS and DSi sales. I would guess the DSi is doing more, but I really don’t know.

NPD figures for March 2010 are:
Hardware:

• NDS/DSi = 700,800 units sold! (no +/- % figures from prior month)
• Wii = 557,500
• 360 = 338,400
• PS3 = 313,900
• PSP = 119,900
• PS2 = 118.300

Software (top games for March 2010):

• God of War III – PS3 = 1,100,000 units sold
• Pokemon Soulsilver – DS = 1,02,000
• Final Fantasy XIII – PS3 = 828,200
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2 – 360 = 825,500
• Pokemon Heartgold – DS = 761,200
• Final Fantasy XIII – 360 = 493,900
• New Super Mario Bros. – Wii = 457,400
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2 – PS3 = 451,200
• Wii Fit Plus – Wii = 429,600
• MLB 20: The Show – PS3 = 349,200

Interesting game sales, as this is the first time I can remember the PS3 taking four of the top ten spots, including #1! Of course, good old Pokemon took two spots, as this game always sells (nothing against it, just don’t care for it myself). The 360 only had two top ten spots, along with the the Wii (which did not have any new games in the top list). Very good mixture this month, as I like to see most of the systems make the top ten (with the exception of the PSP – which I can’t remember ever making the top ten in game sales!).