360 Add-on attach rate: 3.4% (NPD)

[Skitals]

Gamasutra has an article on the November NDP console figures. Apart from the usual (PS3 in last place after NDS, Wii, 360, PSP, and PS2), they had an interesting tidbit on the Xbox 360 add-on:

Said Frazier, "We get asked a lot about the performance of the 360 HD-DVD add-on. Life-to-date sales of this accessory are 269K units in the U.S., representing a 3.4% attach rate to the 360 install base."

I've heard estimates on these boards that 20%-50% of PS3 users use the console a BRD player. With a definitive number for the 360 attach rate, its hard to image the PS3 rate is anywhere that high. If anything, it just goes to show gamers just aren't that interested in HDM. When the 360 AO came out, it was hands down the cheapest entry point into HDM for millions of 360 owners.

link

[TheHeadFL]

You should specify in the thread title that this attach rate is related to all 360 owners, not the much-discussed movie attach rate.

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by TheHeadFL

You should specify in the thread title that this attach rate is related to all 360 owners, not the much-discussed movie attach rate.

I'd say that's obvious.

3.4% of 360 owners own the Add-on? Wow, I guess they took the Microsoft guy's word to heart when they said that if Blu-Ray wins they'll release a Blu-ray add-on for the 360 huh?

Logan

[kowhite]

I think it would be unwise to pretend the buy-in rate of the add-on somehow speaks to the attach rate of the PS3. Very different situations that don't necessarily translate. Heck, I know I was a 360 owner first...and skipped the add-on and went to Blu-Ray.

[Geonosis]

Not too surprised, Microsoft has said this all along. They didn't want to risk alienating or disenfranchising gamers with forced components that would increase costs. So it's optional. Besides it's still the #1 selling game assc and still has outsold all BD standalones. However yeah such a marginal number, imagine if 10 or 20% of 360 owners jumped on board. I think they would but the price is still too high. It should be $99.

[vooswing]

Originally Posted by Skitals

I've heard estimates on these boards that 20%-50% of PS3 users use the console a BRD player. With a definitive number for the 360 attach rate, its hard to image the PS3 rate is anywhere that high. If anything, it just goes to show gamers just aren't that interested in HDM. When the 360 AO came out, it was hands down the cheapest entry point into HDM for millions of 360 owners.

I think the main differences is since the Blu-ray drive is included in the PS3so there is no added expense to watch movies, also many PS3's have been bought mainly for Blu-ray.

If only 3.4% of PS3's were being used for movies that would mean that
Assuming there are 3 million PS3's in America...

At 3.4%
750,000 HD DVD players vs 352,000 Blu-ray players
(102,000 PS3's + 250,000 standalones)

For the 2:1 movie sales ratio Blu-ray users would have to buy 4-5 times as many movies as HD DVD owners on average.

At 20%
750,000 HD DVD players vs 850,000 Blu-ray players
(600,000 PS3's + 250,000 standalones)

For the 2:1 movie sales ratio Blu-ray users would have to buy a little over 1.7 times as many movies as HD DVD owners on average.

At 40%
750,000 HD DVD players vs 1,450,000 Blu-ray players
(1,200,000 PS3's + 250,000 standalones)

For the 2:1 movie sales ratio Blu-ray users and HD DVD owners buy an equal amount of disks on average.

None of us actually know the percentage but we are going off the assumption that owners of both formats will have similar buying habits to get our percentages.

[Sus Ano]

Originally Posted by Skitals

Gamasutra has an article on the November NDP console figures. Apart from the usual (PS3 in last place after NDS, Wii, 360, PSP, and PS2), they had an interesting tidbit on the Xbox 360 add-on:

Said Frazier, "We get asked a lot about the performance of the 360 HD-DVD add-on. Life-to-date sales of this accessory are 269K units in the U.S., representing a 3.4% attach rate to the 360 install base."

I always suspected the VAST majority of add-on's had been purchased in the US (given thats where 65 or 70% of Xbox 360s were sold). Nice to have it confirmed though.

[casper77]

Originally Posted by Skitals

Gamasutra has an article on the November NDP console figures. Apart from the usual (PS3 in last place after NDS, Wii, 360, PSP, and PS2), they had an interesting tidbit on the Xbox 360 add-on:

Said Frazier, "We get asked a lot about the performance of the 360 HD-DVD add-on. Life-to-date sales of this accessory are 269K units in the U.S., representing a 3.4% attach rate to the 360 install base."

I've heard estimates on these boards that 20%-50% of PS3 users use the console a BRD player. With a definitive number for the 360 attach rate, its hard to image the PS3 rate is anywhere that high. If anything, it just goes to show gamers just aren't that interested in HDM. When the 360 AO came out, it was hands down the cheapest entry point into HDM for millions of 360 owners.

link

One thing people have to realize is that the people who purchase the HD DVD add on is just for that to WATCH movies on HD DVD using their xbox360, unlike the PS3.

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by casper77

One thing people have to realize is that the people who purchase the HD DVD add on is just for that to WATCH movies on HD DVD using their xbox360, unlike the PS3.

That's an incredible defense.

So if only people with Blu-Ray stand alones are buying Blu-Ray movies, then that means that the Blu-Ray attach rate is simply kicking the ever god loving snot out of the HD-DVD attach rate.

Can't have it both ways chum, either some of them are being used for Blu-Ray movie playback, or they're not, pick one and stick with it.

Logan

[Geonosis]

Originally Posted by casper77

One thing people have to realize is that the people who purchase the HD DVD add on is just for that to WATCH movies on HD DVD using their xbox360, unlike the PS3.

Precisely. The HD DVD add-on serves only one purpose, for HD DVD movie playback.

Originally Posted by jadedeath

Can't have it both ways chum, either some of them are being used for Blu-Ray movie playback, or they're not, pick one and stick with it.

Where did he say anything of the sort? I didn't see him indicate no PS3 are used for movies.

[wentwj]

Theres not a whole lot of point to posting this again... but just wanted to reiterate the point many intelligent people have already made. Many people looking to enter the HDM market, and even if they already own a 360, will not necessarily buy the add-on.

I had the XB360, and was looking to get into an HDM format. After spending several weeks debating pros and cons, I decided to spring for the PS3. Blu-Ray was technically a better format, and I knew I wanted a PS3 eventually anyway, so it didn't make sense to get an add-on when I knew I was going to get a device that could fill that need (HDM playback).

The fact is that people that have a PS3 CAN play Blu-Rays, so if they have an HD-TV they can use it. I'm sure there's a LOT of PS3 owners who casually buy Blu-Rays at a rather small pace, however these numbers add up, especially for day and date releases. As HD in general picks up steam, these PS3 owners may increase their buying habits as they transition from DVD to HDM.

[duckydan]

I think the attach rate for the 360addon is so low because it is more expensive than a stand alone in many cases and is inferior. I had the stand alone and in comparison to the HD-A1 (I now have the A2) it was weak. The sound volume was low (even after the update) and the picture was nowhere near as clear (though I only had component 360 and not an elite)

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by duckydan

The sound volume was low (even after the update) and the picture was nowhere near as clear (though I only had component 360 and not an elite)

That is something I'm curious about. What percentage of the Xbox 360s sold in the US have an HDMI output?

[martinstraka8282]

I just don't get why gamers wouldnt be interested in HD... Games and movies in HD are night and day compared to SD, and I for one will never go back.

[Skitals]

Originally Posted by duckydan

I think the attach rate for the 360addon is so low because it is more expensive than a stand alone in many cases and is inferior. I had the stand alone and in comparison to the HD-A1 (I now have the A2) it was weak. The sound volume was low (even after the update) and the picture was nowhere near as clear (though I only had component 360 and not an elite)

I have an 360 Add-on as well as an hd-a1, and the picture quality is identical (360 via component, a1 via hdmi). After the sound update, audio is also identical via optical.