2. Table of Contents
The following is the table of contents for OpenMic GameVoice, with over one hundred individual charts and
analyses examining social media conversations about consoles, major publishers, genres, released and an-
nounced games, retailers and other industry insights.
This document contains a limited selection of the social media insights found in the complete report.
I. Introduction............................................................................................................................ X
II. Console, Publisher, and Genre Insights ................................................................................ X
A. Console Discussion and Sentiment Ranking .................................................................... X
B. Publisher / Developer Rankings ........................................................................................ X
C. Game Genre Rankings ..................................................................................................... X
D. Genre Discussion Theme Rankings ................................................................................. X
E. Site Volume Rankings ....................................................................................................... X
III. Upcoming Game Insights ...................................................................................................... X
A. Game Discussion Rankings ................................................................................................ X
B. Intent to Buy Discussion Rankings ...................................................................................... X
C. Upcoming Games: Discussion Themes, Sentiment, Influencers......................................... X
1. Microsoft Xbox 360 ........................................................................................................... X
2. Sony PlayStation 3............................................................................................................ X
3. Sony PSP.......................................................................................................................... X
4. Nintendo Wii...................................................................................................................... X
5. Nintendo DS...................................................................................................................... X
IV. Released Game Insights ....................................................................................................... X
A. Game Discussion Rankings ................................................................................................ X
B. Intent to Buy Discussion Rankings ...................................................................................... X
C. Released Games: Discussion Themes, Sentiment, Influencers.......................................... X
1. Microsoft Xbox 360 ........................................................................................................... X
2. Sony PlayStation 3............................................................................................................ X
3. Sony PSP.......................................................................................................................... X
4. Nintendo Wii...................................................................................................................... X
5. Nintendo DS...................................................................................................................... X
V. Retail Insights ........................................................................................................................ X
A. Retailer Rankings.............................................................................................................. X
B. Genre by Retailer Rankings .............................................................................................. X
VI. Conclusions and Recommendations ..................................................................................... X
VII. Notes and Resources ............................................................................................................ X
Copyright 2010: Overtone, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited. Information is based on analysis of publically avail-
able social media data. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. Overtone and OpenMic GameVoice are trademarks of
Overtone, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. To obtain additional information or purchase the entire report,
please visit www.gamevoicereport.com
3. Introduction
OpenMic GameVoice™ is the first monthly video game industry report for marketers, producers, designers
and retail category managers to analyze millions of consumer conversations from popular social media video
game communities.
GameVoice is created using Overtone’s OpenMic, an advanced listening system that applies artificial intelli-
gence and text analytics to automatically "read" online comments and distill actionable insights. GameVoice
provides in-depth analyses of millions of consumer comments from over 30 of the most popular social media
video game communities.
GameVoice extracts discussion topic rankings, meaningful themes and sentiment for specific game titles,
genres, publishers and platforms. Analyses and commentary by Overtone’s market research professionals
interpret these metrics when appropriate, and representative comments are included to illustrate consumer
sentiment.
GameVoice was compiled and launched in the first quarter of 2010 by a team of experienced market research
professionals. To complete this report, the team:
1. Performed an exhaustive social media source audit to identify the major online communities, message
boards, blogs, review sites, and discussion forums where consumers write about video game products
and related industry developments. A complete list of source data is included in Table 1.
2. Defined categories for content analysis to include major consoles/platforms, publishers, genres, and
individual games, as well as thematic topics such as sentiment, intent to buy, and product attributes
(e.g., graphics, cost, audio, etc.). A complete list of analytical categories is included in Table 2.
3. Mapped defined source site data to the OpenMic listening system using publicly available feeds and
services (e.g., RSS, Boardreader, Google, etc.), and configured the machine-learning text analytics
engine to automatically evaluate and score every consumer-generated comment. Classification accu-
racy was audited and tuned to exceed 80%.
4. Processed millions of comments in the month of February, with each verbatim record evaluated for
sentiment and scored across 100 different attributes. OpenMic’s advanced business intelligence capa-
bilities were used to create reports, export graphics, analyze meaning and draft conclusions based on
how gamers express themselves.
All volume numbers listed in this report signify individual comments.
The enclosed findings represent just a small sample of the breadth of insight data available in the complete
GameVoice report. For more information please contact gamevoice@overtone.com or call 415.814.0480.
Copyright 2010 3 Overtone, Inc.
4. Table 1: Source Sites (Master Level Domain)
Source Name URL
1UP Message Boards http://www.1up.com/
Absolute Playstation http://www.absolute-playstation.com/
Atari http://www.ataricommunity.com/
Capcom http://www.capcom-unity.com/
Destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/
DS Ultimate http://dsultimate.net/
EA http://forum.ea.com/
ESPN Message Board http://boards.espn.go.com/
GameSpot http://www.gamespot.com/
GamesRadar http://www.gamesradar.com/
GameTrailers.com http://forums.gametrailers.com/
IGN Boards http://boards.ign.com/
Konami http://www.konami.com/
LucasArts Game Discussion http://forums.lucasarts.com/
NFL Boards http://www.footballsfuture.com/
Nintendo DS Play http://www.ds-play.com/
Nintendo Fan Forum http://www.nintendofanforum.com/
Penny Arcade Forums http://forums.penny-arcade.com/
Platinum Games http://forums.platinumgames.com/
Playstation 3 Chat http://www.ps3chat.com/
PlayStation Network http://boardsus.playstation.com/
PreGameLobby http://www.pregamelobby.com/
PSP-Forum.com http://www.psp-forum.com/
Sega of America http://forums.sega.com/
Sony PSP Forum - Topix http://www.topix.com/
Super Cheats Forums http://forums.supercheats.com/
Team Xbox http://forum.teamxbox.com
www.xboxforums.net http://www.xboxforums.net/
Xbox 360: Discussions in eBay http://discussions-neighborhoods.ebay.com/
Xbox Addict Asylum http://www.xboxaddict.com/
Xbox.com http://forums.xbox.com/
Xbox-Scene Online Web Community http://forums.xbox-scene.com/
Copyright 2010 4 Overtone, Inc.
5. Table 2: Analytical Dimensions
Category Group Category Category Group Category
Sentiment Negative Tone Publishers Activision
Positive Tone Capcom
Disney Interactive Studios
Discussion Themes Audio Electronic Arts
Bugs Konami
Cost LucasArts
DLC Majesco
Graphics Microsoft Game Studios
Intent to Buy MTV Games
Intent to Rent Namco Bandai
Online Experience Nintendo
Replayability Sega
Storyline Sony Computer Entertainment
Warranty Square Enix
Take-Two Interactive
Game Titles >100 Released Games THQ
>50 Future Releases Ubisoft
Warner Bros. Interactive
Platforms Nintendo DS
Retail Amazon
Nintendo Wii
PlayStation 3 Best Buy
Blockbuster
PSP
eBay
Xbox 360
GameFly
Genres GameStop / EB Games
Action/Adventure
Netflix
Education
Target
Fighting
Toys R Us
Music
Walmart
Other
Platformer
Racing
RPG
Shooter
Simulation
Sports
Strategy
Copyright 2010 5 Overtone, Inc.
6. Platform Insights
Microsoft Xbox 360 Publishers
February 2010
Platform Volume: 445,069
E
A leads in Xbox-related conversation with discussion topics driven by the commercial success of the Mass
Effect 2 and Dragon Age Origins releases, both developed by EA subsidiary Bioware. The second most dis-
cussed publisher is Microsoft Game Studios, with the majority of chatter centered on the studio’s ability and
strategy to deliver exclusive titles to the platform. Conversations reflect sentiment that Microsoft should de-
velop more exclusives to compete with other platforms in terms of game quality and console market share.
Microsoft Xbox 360 Publishers with Sentiment
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000
Electronic Arts 5,008
Microsoft Game Studios 3,542
Capcom 2,618
Activision 1,682
Sega 1,661 Negative
Ubisoft 680 Neutral
Square Enix 298 Positive
THQ 241
Take‐Two Interactive 126
Konami 90
LucasArts 89
Namco Bandai 73
Warner Bros. Interactive 11
Representative Comments:
“Dragon Age and ME2 will help them though, Bioware has turned out to be a smart acquisition for them.”
1UP Message Boards, 2/11
“With games such as Halo: reach, Alan Wake, Splinter Cell: Conviction, and Fable3, you can see that the Xbox360
lineup is far more stronger in 2010 compared to last year.”
Sega Forums , 2/14
“They need exclusives to convince people to buy their console.”
GameTrailers.com, 2/20
“The Xbox 360 needs more true exclusives under its belt.”
GameTrailers.com Forums 2/12
“My guess is that the 360s sales are on the decline, and Microsoft wants more exclusives for their console”
IGN Boards, 2/15
Copyright 2010 6 Overtone, Inc.
7. Platform Insights
Microsoft Xbox 360 Genres
February 2010
Platform Volume: 445,069
The top Xbox 360 game genres discussed in February are RPGs, followed by various Action, Shooter, and
Adventure titles. The late January launch of the much anticipated Mass Effect 2 release drives considerable
conversation volume, with many discussions debating whether it should be considered an RPG or First Per-
son Shooter release. Other popular titles affecting genre discussion ranking include Call of Duty, Bayonetta,
Halo and Gears of War.
Microsoft Xbox 360 Genres
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 20,000
RPG 19,329
Shooter 14,148
Action/Adventure 10,107
Fighting 1,864
Music 796
Strategy 367
Racing 317
Sports 279
Platformer 158
Daily Category Volume
1,600
1,400 RPG
1,200 Shooter
Action/Adventure
1,000
Fighting
800
Music
600
Strategy
400
Racing
200 Sports
0 Platformer
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Copyright 2010 7 Overtone, Inc.
8. Platform Insights
Microsoft Xbox 360 Themes by Genre
February 2010
Platform Volume: 445,069
Storyline and graphics-related topics lead social media conversation volume across the most popular game
genres. Role Playing Game (RPG) discussions in particular have a heavy storyline component coupled with
replayability, as might be expected from titles where plotlines and configuration options drive the experience.
Shooter games have a greater percentage of downloadable content (DLC) discussions as driven by
Bioshock, Call of Duty, Crysis and other franchise offerings.
Role Playing Game (RPG) Themes Shooter Game Themes
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 0 500 1,000 1,500
Storyline 2,334 Storyline 1,300
Graphics 586 Graphics 1,026
DLC 456 Cost 498
Cost 437 DLC 370
Replayability 225 Intent to Buy 216
Intent to Buy 209 Online Experience 174
Online Experience 100 Replayability 163
Bugs 97 Audio 93
Audio 70 Bugs 70
Warranty 13 Warranty 19
Action/Adventure Game Themes Fighting Game Themes
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 0 50 100 150
Storyline 971 Storyline 133
Graphics 311 DLC 104
Cost 273 Cost 91
DLC 237 Intent to Buy 48
Intent to Buy 161 Online Experience 38
Audio 101 Graphics 30
Replayability 80 Audio 17
Online Experience 77 Replayability 11
Bugs 59 Bugs 2
Warranty 13
Representative Comments:
“Mass Effect 2: The deeper-than-ever character interaction. At the end I really liked all my squad members. You actually
feel involved with the entire story of the game instead of going along for the ride.”
GameSpot Forums, 2/22
“Mass Effect wins in Story and everything related (atmosphere, characters etc), soundtrack and graphics.”
GameSpot Forums, 2/4
“Mass Effect has a move developed story, characters and replay value.”
GameTrailers.com Forums, 2/4
“Mind you Mass Effect does deliver some interesting gameplay and the graphics are quite good, but I'm mostly in it for
the story. Which was phenomenal for me.”
IGN Boards, 2/14
Copyright 2010 8 Overtone, Inc.
9. Game Insights
Microsoft Xbox 360 Released Games
February 2010
Platform Volume: 445,069
Mass Effect 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 garner more comments than any other released game,
each with nearly four times as many comments as the next released game. The February release of Aliens
vs. Predator comes in third, followed by Bayonetta and Bioshock 2. In terms of Intent to Buy, Call of Duty:
Modern Warfare 2 leads Mass Effect 2 while Pure and Assassin’s Creed II rank relatively high on the list.
Microsoft Xbox 360 Released Games
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000
Mass Effect 2 8,093
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 7,893
Aliens vs. Predator 2,162
Bayonetta 1,829
BioShock 2 1,670
Dragon Age: Origins 1,233
Pure 1,031
Dante's Inferno 980
Halo 3: ODST 950
Assassin's Creed II 795
Borderlands 732
Darksiders 713
Left 4 Dead 2 409
Forza Motorsport 3 396
Madden NFL 10 215
Rock Band 2 140
FIFA Soccer 10 100
Dark Void 90
Need for Speed: Shift 64
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City 63
Microsoft Xbox 360 Intent to Buy Released Games
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 111
Mass Effect 2 103
Aliens vs. Predator 33
Pure 31
Bayonetta 28
Assassin's Creed II 23
Dragon Age: Origins 22
BioShock 2 22
Dante's Inferno 19
Borderlands 17
Copyright 2010 9 Overtone, Inc.
10. Microsoft Xbox 360 Released Games
Mass Effect 2 (Released 1/26/10)
February 2010
Game Volume: 8,093
Much of the discussion about Mass Effect 2 revolves around the storyline, which has a slightly positive senti-
ment. There are numerous comparisons to the original Mass Effect, which is often said to have a better story-
line than the second game, and speculation about the upcoming third game in the trilogy. Graphics are an-
other common theme and also lean positive.
Game and Category Sentiment Index Top Influencers
0 20 40 60
Game Volume Sentiment Index
Mass Effect 2 8,093 .01 powersp 49
clank3000 44
Category Volume Sentiment Index
Online Experience 43 .07 S4NDM4N 42
Intent to Buy 103 .03 SYST3MSH0CK 38
DLC 235 .03
Robbie922004 34
Cost 223 .02
Graphics 262 .02
Storyline 1,186 .02
Bugs 48 .01 Representative Comments:
Replayability 132 -.01
Warranty 5 -.01
“It's not the gameplay itself that gives
Audio 23 -.04
ME2 such high scores and huge sales.
It's the presentation and story. Just like
Mass Effect 2 Category Volume a movie.”
GameTrailers.com Forums, 2/12
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400
“When i play a game i wanna feel like
Storyline 1,186 some epic victor, like a huge part of the
game. I just felt so underwhelmed by
Graphics 262 ME2 Especially because the first one
was sooo good. I liked all the side
DLC 235
quests and the loyalty missions but
Cost 223 none of them felt like they had anything
to do with the main storyline.”
Replayability 132 IGN Boards, 2/25
Intent to Buy 103 “Mass Effect 2 is a far better game
than Mass Effect 1. The only parts I
Bugs 48 found worse were the main plot, which
Online Experience 43 was lacking and had a few holes in it”
GameSpot Forums, 2/8
Audio 23
“I liked Mass Effect 2 as an experi-
Warranty 5 ence. However, it's story was beyond
disappointing considering the brilliant
Daily Category Volume set up from the first game. I HOPE
200 Mass Effect 3 has a little more depth to
150
it.”
IGN Boards, 2/27
100
“damn! mass effect 2 looks like a
50
movie! i could almost confuse it for pre-
0 rendered graphics!”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 GameTrailers.com Forums, 2/11
Copyright 2010 10 Overtone, Inc.
11. Microsoft Xbox 360 Released Games
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Released 11/10/09)
February 2010
Game Volume: 7,893
Discussions about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 center around the storyline, graphics and online experi-
ence. Some players lament that the single-player portion of the game is too short, and recurring issues with
the multiplayer include the balance maps, spawning, camping, kill-streaks and lack of support. 15% of all
COD:MW2 comments in February also mention Battlefield: Bad Company 2.
Game and Category Sentiment Index Top Influencers
0 20 40 60 80 100
Game Volume Sentiment Index
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 7,893 .01 Runj312 84
ninjaxams 55
Category Volume Sentiment Index
Online Experience 202 .05 dsa88 43
Audio 56 .05 guner1337 43
Intent to Buy 111 .05
EstabonT 42
Storyline 372 .04
Graphics 325 .02
DLC 85 .01
Warranty 15 .0 Representative Comments:
Cost 179 .0
Replayability 71 .0
“If Infinity ward could just fix all of the
Bugs 78 -.01
exploits like spawn camping, MW2
would be awesome. But as it stands
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Category Volume right now I am enjoying battlefield
online more only because it seems to
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
be a much more balanced and fair
online experience.”
Storyline 372 IGN Boards, 2/20
Graphics 325 “The first few hours playing MW2 are
really great until you found out:
Online Experience 202
− The single player is too short
Cost 179 − No Dedicated Servers or any other
support.
Intent to Buy 111 − Only a few multiplayer maps which
DLC 85 aren't that great.
− There is no tactic whatsoever only
Bugs 78 fragging like Unreal Tournament.
MW2 is still a fun game though i still
Replayability 71 play it but it could've been so much
Audio 56 More”
IGN Boards, 2/11
Warranty 15
“Call of Duty will never reach the
Daily Category Volume heights of MW2 again. everyone has
60 seen through the shiny graphics and
50 big explosions the story was unbelieva-
40 bly shallow and hardly made any
30 sense at all and the multiplayer is filled
20 with glitches and incredibly cheap
10 ways to kill people.”
0
IGN Boards, 2/11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Copyright 2010 11 Overtone, Inc.
12. Game Insights
Microsoft Xbox 360 Upcoming Games
February 2010
Platform Volume: 445,069
Of all the Xbox 360 games with planned release dates in March 2010 or later, Battlefield: Bad Company 2,
with a March 2nd release, is the most talked about game. Final Fantasy XIII is second, with a release date of
March 9th, followed by Halo: Reach which comes out later in the year. The top two games rank the same in
terms of Intent to Buy, with May release Alan Wake edging out Halo: Reach as the third place game.
Microsoft Xbox 360 Upcoming Games
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 4,894
Final Fantasy XIII 2,963
Halo: Reach 1,734
Alan Wake 1,723
Super Street Fighter IV 1,273
Fable III 575
Red Dead Redemption 493
Metro 2033 442
Crysis 2 348
Splinter Cell: Conviction 296
Lost Planet 2 285
Fallout: New Vegas 264
Just Cause 2 178
Crackdown 2 168
Mafia II 114
Dead Rising 2 105
Resonance of Fate 83
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands 45
Microsoft Xbox 360 Intent to Buy Upcoming Games
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 104
Final Fantasy XIII 46
Alan Wake 34
Super Street Fighter IV 29
Halo: Reach 23
Lost Planet 2 16
Metro 2033 11
Fable III 10
Crysis 2 7
Red Dead Redemption 7
Copyright 2010 12 Overtone, Inc.
13. Microsoft Xbox 360 Upcoming Games
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
February 2010
Game Volume: 4,894
In the month before the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 launch, the sentiment skews positive and the most dis-
cussed topic is the graphics. Potential buyers were able to play the demo and many express their intent to
buy the full game on the March 2nd release date. There are comparisons to the original Bad Company game,
and a full 24% of comments mention both Bad Company 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, likely due to
the fact that both games have a multiplayer element.
Game and Category Sentiment Index Top Influencers
0 20 40 60 80
Game Volume Sentiment Index
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 4,894 .01 megaihi 58
TheDreadLord 47
Category Volume Sentiment Index
Online Experience 52 .09 usaokay 35
Bugs 35 .09 Deadeye Rifler 22
Storyline 132 .06
Lt R Sharpe 21
Intent to Buy 104 .04
Graphics 165 .03
Audio 37 .03
Replayability 13 .03 Representative Comments:
DLC 67 .03
Warranty 3 .01
“ATM I'm super excited for Bad Com-
Cost 87 .01
pany 2 because it is changing the
wrong of BC1 by optimizing the engine,
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Category Volume creating a thrilling 10 hour single
player, and creating a true multiplayer
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
battlefield experience (other than the
limited number of players).”
Graphics 165 GameTrailers.com Forums, 2/15
Storyline 132 “BF:BC2 is just plain fun, gameplay
over graphics, remember this”
Intent to Buy 104 GameSpot Forums, 2/2
Cost 87 “With MW2 the only thing that stands
out to me are the Character models
DLC 67 and the guns. But with BC2 they just
really worked on everything to make it
Online Experience 52 top notch. I mean the little details you
see such as snow blowing across the
Audio 37 road. If you get close up to a character
you can see the threading of the
Bugs 35 clothes and expressions on their faces.
BC2 just has so many little details
Replayability 13 and that is why I think the graphics are
superior to MW2.”
Daily Category Volume
EA Forums, 2/21
20
15
“I personally love both franchises and
will be at gamestop midnight tomorrow
10
to get it but whats with the cod haters,
5 its a fun game too.”
0
EA Forums, 2/28
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Copyright 2010 13 Overtone, Inc.
14. Microsoft Xbox 360 Upcoming Games
Final Fantasy XIII
February 2010
Game Volume: 2,963
Final Fantasy XIII, which releases in the US on March 9th, has spawned the most debate about the game’s
storyline. Gamers identify the Japanese RPG’s storyline as linear and movie-like. They also debate the value
of the $60 game given the fact that it doesn’t have an online component. Another common theme is the
graphics, with many comments comparing and contrasting the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game.
Game and Category Sentiment Index Top Influencers
0 50 100 150
Game Volume Sentiment Index
Final Fantasy XIII 2,963 .0 hakanakumono 102
ShadowLegend 42
Category Volume Sentiment Index
Online Experience 4 .1 zarshack 32
Graphics 97 .02 LonerWolf 23
Storyline 340 .01
‐Animespara‐ 23
Audio 32 .01
Intent to Buy 46 .01
Cost 114 .0
Replayability 26 .0 Representative Comments:
Bugs 8 .0
DLC 70 -.01
“I've been playing JRPGs and Final
Fantasy for a long time and there's just
something about FFX that made the
Final Fantasy XIII Category Volume series feel more linear than it was.
FFXIII seems like it takes it the next
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
extreme. It's becoming less of a game
but more of a interactive movie.”
Storyline 340 GameSpot Forums, 2/5
Cost 114 “No way I am dropping down $60 on a
linear inferior Jap RPG.”
Graphics 97 IGN Boards, 2/20
DLC 70 “It is Singelplayer only game, so not
worth 60$. Im waiting till it drops to 30.”
Intent to Buy 46 GameTrailers.com Forums, 2/17
“The 360 having some graphical differ-
Audio 32
ences, (all cosmetic, not gameplay-
Replayability 26
related) does not mean they're buying
a bad game.”
Bugs 8 Sega Forums, 2/19
“FFXIII developers would be able to
Online Experience 4 make HD towns but sadly they didnt
thanks to Xbo 360 and its crappy HD-
Daily Category Volume
30
DVD”
25
IGN Boards, 2/21
20
15
10
5
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Copyright 2010 14 Overtone, Inc.
15. Retail Insights
Microsoft Xbox 360 Top Retailers
February 2010
Platform Volume: 445,069
Specialist retailer Gamestop leads in conversation volume as driven by their special trade-in promotions and
midnight launch events for new titles. Amazon followed closely, largely driven by special cash promotions.
Finally, Ebay transactions figure prominently in discussions based on the large number of transactions re-
ported for used and modified consoles.
Xbox 360 Retailers
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800
GameStop 1,710
Amazon 654
eBay 525
Best Buy 347
Walmart 233
Blockbuster 204
GameFly 198
Netflix 139
Toys R Us 29
Target 1
Representative Comments:
“My local gamestop is having a midnight launch so im getting my copy monday night cant wait!”
EA Forums, 2/28
“Madden 2010 Hmm, I'll probably get this in a few months after a price drop or get it used. But the $20 from Amazon is
so tempting!”
NFL Forums, 2/16
“When I sold my PS3 I had multiple replies within 10 minutes. And I got a lot more than the hundred bucks I would have
gotten from Gamestop.”
GameTrailers Forums, 2/27
Copyright 2010 15 Overtone, Inc.