The sales numbers I posted are much more timely and relevant than PC DATA numbers. In particular, PC DATA numbers count only domestic sales...and, a good portion of SBYT's biz is in Europe! Further, note that the "dud" Star Trek only made it to #3 on that list right off the bat, and then dropped like a rock. On the other hand, X-Com started out as #2, and is still there. Keep in mind that those top spots on the sales chart represent a lot of unit sales. The key is staying in one of the top 5 or so spots.
By the way, speaking of unit sales...I read a Robertson Stephens report a few weeks back. Basically, they gave an "EPS per X units of software sold." Guess which company added a high EPS in this respect? SBYT.
...what this means is since X-COM is maintaining a good spot on the list, many units are selling. This, in turn, adds a lot to the top and bottom lines for SBYT. Don't dismiss the position among the top few spots on that list -- they represent a lot of software sales compared to those spots lower on the list.
So, I see no reason to disregard those sales numbers, since they also correlate well with the positive product reviews I have seen for the product. Why would you wait until the third week in August for the PC Data numbers, when they don't represent SBYT's market...and when they come out, they only represent two weeks of sales of the new product?
Finally, note that the new X-Com product differs in two other key respects from the recent Star Trek product:
1) Star Trek was a licensed title, On the other hand, X-Com was developed in-house. This of course means higher margins for SBYT on the new X-Com product. So, we have large unit volumes, time higher margins.
2) Star Trek got bad reviews. On the other hand, X-Com got excellent reviews.
Dan
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You said:
Your(sp.) link may not be that big of a deal. Note that STG was number on that list at one time and it is a dog of a seller. Wait until the July PC DATA comes out to see how well this is selling. |
