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Thread: How accurate are VG Chartz numbers?

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    Default How accurate are VG Chartz numbers?

    I stumbled across a website yesterday called VG Chartz. I'm usually the last one to know about something on the internet, so I'm sure many of youse guys are already aware of its existence.

    How reliable and accurate are the numbers it's reporting? I mean, there are groups of individuals who get paid handsomely to furnish this kind of data every month. It seems odd that a website would be publishing accurate data for nothing but ad revenue and a cut of sales linked to their site through Amazon.

    There's also the issue of the 'Z' at the end of the URL. That immediately rings alarm bells.

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    Kirby (Level 13) j_factor's Avatar
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    As long as you're talking about current stuff, they're okay. They report NPD figures as well anyway, so it doesn't really matter how accurate their own numbers are. Just don't try using their database for anything pre-2005ish, because the numbers are wonky.
    Quote Originally Posted by TheShawn
    Please highlight what a douche I am.

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    Quote Originally Posted by j_factor View Post
    As long as you're talking about current stuff, they're okay. They report NPD figures as well anyway, so it doesn't really matter how accurate their own numbers are. Just don't try using their database for anything pre-2005ish, because the numbers are wonky.
    Very good, thank you sir.

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    I've been looking for a good website for sales for a long time and it's the best I've been able to find, however, when you realize that WAL-MART doesn't release sales records at all, you wonder how accurate the NPD or anybody else is.

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    It's a pretty good site for cataloging your collection also.

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    They're not to be trusted. Check this piece out: http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2008/06/...s_and.php#more
    I don't want you to hate me, I want you to want to hate me - GamersUniteMagazine.com

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    How much is it to "subscribe" to NPD again? I remember someone here quoted something ridiculous...like >$1000 a month.
    "One of the ways I gauge a DS game is by recharges. "...Tycho (Penny Arcade)

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    Quote Originally Posted by RCM View Post
    They're not to be trusted. Check this piece out: http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2008/06/...s_and.php#more
    Excellent: thanks for the heads up RCM!

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    Quote Originally Posted by G-Boobie View Post
    Excellent: thanks for the heads up RCM!

    No problem, and for the record it's not just the piece I linked to that colored my opinion. Several folks in the industry, including my colleagues, have zero respect for VG Chartz and their so-called methods. Hell, I believe NeoGaf actually censors "VGChartz.com."
    I don't want you to hate me, I want you to want to hate me - GamersUniteMagazine.com

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    Default hmmm...

    This is about the only source of FREELY available data. Some of the older (but not too old) should be accurate, since they apparrently retroactive repair some of their data to go along with NPD and other reports.

    It's what it is. I would not cite it as a source.

    Also, while Walmart may not report its sales I think they often know how many units were shipped to Walmart...

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    I make it a rule to not trust anything that comes from a source with a "z" at the end of it's name where an "s" should be.

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