SCEE Clarifies PS3 Install Base Maths

Yesterday we reported that there was some confusion regarding exactly how sales figures for install bases of Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Specifically we reported that Chris Lewis (Microsoft's vice president Interactive Entertainment Business for Europe, the Middle East and Africa - EMEA) had stated that Xbox 360 was one million units ahead in EMEA, and he had also referred to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's (SCEE) method of calculating its own install base.

"We count installed base differently to (SCEE). We count the number of units in the hands of consumers."

We said we'd asked SCEE exactly how it did calculate its sales - and which territories it covered. A spokesman for the company has now responded as follows:

"We calculate our install base by 'sell through' and have done for the last four years I believe", we asked for a little additional clarification...

"We classify 'sell through' as the number of units consumers have actually purchased from retail. 'Sell in' is the number of units we've sold to retail."

So, as far as we can see, Chris Lewis might be slightly off-beam in his assertion. We await any further clarification from Microsoft EMEA.

By the way, for your records... here are the countries covered by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe: