Topic: Official Sales Thread

[KDR_11k]

Well, Metroid is a Nintendo product...

The whole "Japan only buys Japanese products" crap is getting old and not one bit truer, non-Japanese companies just don't know the Japanese market as well as the native ones which is why Apple can succeed while e.g. MS fails, Apple did what the market wanted, MS didn't. Random "quirkyness" doesn't make a game successful there.

If you want my guess it'll sell only to the hardcore who have absorbed all the hype for so long, the mainstream will shrug it off. Didn't the same thing happen to Boom blox? The hardcore loved it and thought it had mainstream appeal but it didn't work out?

[Deguello]

And it is a Sony (read: Japanese) product, which guarantees that the Japanese market won't completely ignore it.

I certainly hope this bullshit argument has not just reared its ugly head here.  You know, the "Japanese people ignore Western products" spiel.  There are so many counterarguments to the contrary, the two most prominent of which include CocaCola and iPod.

[Chozo Ghost]

Why does there have to be new games to spur consumers into buying a system? I never really understood why they wouldn't buy a system based on games that have already been released, or are scheduled for release in the future...

[Chozo Ghost]

The whole "Japan only buys Japanese products" crap is getting old and not one bit truer, non-Japanese companies just don't know the Japanese market as well as the native ones which is why Apple can succeed while e.g. MS fails, Apple did what the market wanted, MS didn't. Random "quirkyness" doesn't make a game successful there.

Well, you're right, but keep in mind Apple products are pretty much just the hardware. Every young person in every country loves a shiny little colorful piece of technology that plays their favorite music. The music itself, however, that's the really difficult thing...

I'm sure from a hardware perspective the Japanese don't have much to complain about as far as MS stuff is concerned (well, aside from it being gigantic and prone to failure), but the software that runs on that hardware is the thing... that software generally doesn't appeal to their cultural tastes. A large percentage of the Xbox library is FPS and other shoot em ups, and that's never really been popular over there for some reason. That's why Metroid doesn't do well there, and that's why MS doesn't do well there either.

If MS starts focusing more on RPGs and dating simulators then their success in Japan is assured.

[NWR_Lindy]

I was referring to the Japanese almost completely ignoring the 360 up to this point.  The Japanese do not ignore Western products, they only ignore Western Microsoft products aside from Ace Combat 6 and a couple of other choice titles.

[Deguello]

I was referring to the Japanese almost completely ignoring the 360 up to this point.  The Japanese do not ignore Western products, they only ignore Western Microsoft products aside from Ace Combat 6 and a couple of other choice titles.

Well maybe the 360 deserves to have been ignored.  I mean all they made for almost two generations were western-ish games and direct PC ports.  You could call it something... abandonment if you will.  And every attempt to get their core market up to now has basically been a failure because, to them, it felt as if each time they were being pandered to.  Sort of like metal band label releasing a rap album every 5 years.

And each time the game sells about 100,000, a few people buy 360's for the sole purpose of the game, and then trade it in, just like what happened with MGS4 and Ninja Gaiden on the original Xbox.  And each time it costs MS more than the real value of the product because they basically subsidize the game's losses on the front end.  You may wonder where the downside is, but it's quite apparent when the majority market is denied a chance to play a game because MS is keeping it anchored on a system that's going nowhere, and the developer loses relevancy and exposure to the largest marketbase.

Also, I believe Namco made Ace Combat 6.

[KDR_11k]

I'm sure from a hardware perspective the Japanese don't have much to complain about as far as MS stuff is concerned (well, aside from it being gigantic and prone to failure), but the software that runs on that hardware is the thing... that software generally doesn't appeal to their cultural tastes. A large percentage of the Xbox library is FPS and other shoot em ups, and that's never really been popular over there for some reason. That's why Metroid doesn't do well there, and that's why MS doesn't do well there either.

If MS starts focusing more on RPGs and dating simulators then their success in Japan is assured.

The 360 seems to have the most jRPGs of the three home consoles, also there's that Idolmaster game that seems to be quite popular.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

I'd argue "popular" would be on the order of Brain Training and New Super Mario Bros.

360-Jaypan is just niche^2 popularity, probably not enough to be considered "cult" if the system is frequently traded in after playing the one game that interested customers for the calendar year.

[SixthAngel]

I'm sure from a hardware perspective the Japanese don't have much to complain about as far as MS stuff is concerned (well, aside from it being gigantic and prone to failure), but the software that runs on that hardware is the thing... that software generally doesn't appeal to their cultural tastes.

Are you being sarcastic?  You just listed the worst problems the hardware could possibly have and then said its not the problem.  Just the failure rate alone is enough to justify the 360 bombing anywhere and then you also talk about how its huge in a country where space is a premium.  The 360 has big problems everywhere.

A large percentage of the Xbox library is FPS and other shoot em ups, and that's never really been popular over there for some reason. That's why Metroid doesn't do well there, and that's why MS doesn't do well there either.

If MS starts focusing more on RPGs and dating simulators then their success in Japan is assured.

RPGs and dating sims will not win over the market, just the hardcore "nerds" that have been buying the current rpgs.  Japan buys a lot more things than the stereotype we read on the internet.  Besides regular people can get their rpg or dating sim (I don't realy know if these are that popular) fix on the DS or even still on the ps2.  They don't care about getting the next typicial by the book jrpg in HD.

[KDR_11k]

you also talk about how its huge in a country where space is a premium.

AFAIK the PS3 is larger so it doesn't matter that much.

[oohhboy]

If you have ever lived in Japan outside of a hotel room space IS a premium. It is one of many issues that the 360 has. The failure rate would have been considered an insult.

For Sony, in Japan size might have been an issue, it really boils down to a general failure on their part in understanding any part of the market. Over priced, **** PR messages, lack of direction other than Blue-Ray. The same dangling of killer games that plagued the N64, but the 64 delivered, abet far too late.

[SixthAngel]

you also talk about how its huge in a country where space is a premium.

AFAIK the PS3 is larger so it doesn't matter that much.

You are like a kid who gets caught doing something bad and then says "Joey did it too."  It doesn't matter who else does it, especially when the Wii is still there competing, kicking ass, and doing these things right.

[NWR_Lindy]

The PS3 is larger than the 360, actually.  It's a little longer.

The problem the 360 has in Japan is its games, pure and simple.  Look at the games that own Japan: Wii Anything, Brain Training, Dragon Quest, Monster Hunter.  The 360 doesn't have any games like that to hang its hat on, and they aren't coming either.

There's certainly a Japanese audience for Western FPSes and RPGs (Oblivion did fairly well in Japan, if I recall), but it's not a massive one.  You'll get your sales spikes for 360-exclusive fan favorites (Ninja Gaiden 2, Ace Combat 6, Blue Dragon, Infinite Undiscovery), but aside from that there isn't much to appeal to the mainstream Japanese audience, as I see it.

[KDR_11k]

You are like a kid who gets caught doing something bad and then says "Joey did it too."  It doesn't matter who else does it, especially when the Wii is still there competing, kicking ass, and doing these things right.

I'm pointing at evidence. The 360 is doing much worse than the PS3 while the PS3 is even larger so blaming it on the size can't be right and the Japanese company had no qualms about upping the size even more. I doubt console size is a big issue anyway considering you store them under the TV.

[Flames_of_chaos]

Media Create Sales: 09/22 - 09/28

1. [PS2] Super Robot Taisen Z (Namco Bandai) 366,493 / NEW
2. [NDS] Pokemon Platinum (Pokemon Co.) 195,479 / 1,474,000
3. [NDS] Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Nintendo) 65,257 / 852,000
4. [NDS] World Destruction: Michibi Kareshi Ishi (SEGA) 55,938 / NEW
5. [PS2] Kinnikuman Muscle Grand Prix Max 2 Tokumori (Namco Bandai) 35,240 / NEW
6. [NDS] Dragon Ball: Origins (Namco Bandai) 29,879 / 102,000
7. [PS3] Cross Edge (Compile Heart) 22,386 / NEW
8. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) 21,261 / 2,684,000
9. [PS3] Aquanaut's Holiday: Kakusareta Kiroku (SCEI) 17,646 / NEW
10. [WII] Disaster: Day of Crisis (Nintendo) 14,310 / NEW

11. [NDS] Daigasso! Band Brothers DX (Nintendo)
12. [PSP] Mana Khemia Portable (Gust)
13. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
14. [PS3] Trusty Bell (Namco Bandai)
15. [NDS] Quiz Magic Academy (Konami)
16. [NDS] Knights in the Nightmare (Sting)
17. [PSP] Hitman Reborn (Marvelous)
18. [PSP] Shinobido PSP (Spike)
19. [WII] Soul Eater: Montone Princess (Square Enix)
20. [NDS] Intuition! (Rocket)
21. [WII] Wii Sports (Nintendo)
22. [PS2] Haruka Nogizaka's Secret: Cosplay Has Started (ASCII Media Works)
23. [WII] One Piece Unlimited Cruise: Episode 1 (Namco Bandai)
24. [PS2] J-League Winning Eleven 2008 Club Championship (Konami)
25. [NDS] Dragon Quest V (Square Enix)
26. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2 G (SEGA)
27. [NDS] Taiko Drum Master 2: The Seven Island Adventure (Namco Bandai)
28. [NDS] Mario Kart DS (Nintendo)
29. [WII] Sim City Creator (Electronic Arts)
30. [NDS] Inazuma Eleven (Level 5)

31. [NDS] Fire Emblem: New Shadow Dragons and the Blade of Light (Nintendo)
32. [NDS] New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
33. [NDS] U-Can Pen Ji Training DS (SEGA)
34. [NDS] Animal Crossing: Wild World (Nintendo)
35. [NDS] Beautiful Letter Training DS (Nintendo)
36. [360] Infinite Undiscovery (Square Enix)
37. [PSP] Phantasy Star Portable (SEGA)
38. [PS3] Afrika (SCEI)
39. [WII] Wii Play (Nintendo)
40. [360] Tales of Vesperia (Namco Bandai)
41. [WII] Bomberman Party Edition (Hudson)
42. [PSP] Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu Portable 3 (Konami)
43. [NDS] Kumatanchi (Bear girl) (Dimple Entertainment)
44. [PS2] Hokuoki: Shinsengumi Kitan (Idea Factory)
45. [WII] Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo)
46. [PS2] Sugar + Spice! Anoko no Suteki na Nanimokamo (Everything as lovely as this) (Alchemist)
47. [NDS] Kanji Brain 2 + Dictionary (IE Institute)
48. [PS2] True Fortune (Enterbrain)
49. [NDS] Brain Training 2 (Nintendo)
50. [NDS] Observation Training (Nintendo)

NDS - 21
WII - 10
PS2 - 7
PSP - 6
PS3 - 4
360 - 2

DS Lite 57,847
Wii 26,314
PSP 25,671
Xbox 360 11,291
PS2 9,848
PS3 8,275

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Disaster fights for relevance!

[BeautifulShy]

Yeah Pro I hope Disaster sells well. I have a question. For the past few months the Wii hardware sales has been declining.Why?

[Flames_of_chaos]

Lack of a big hit, the 2 biggest games were Wii Fit and Mario Kart Wii. Once Wii Music will come out it will shoot up again.

[UltimatePartyBear]

It must be time for Wii Lite (followed by Wiii).

[Bill Aurion]

September NPD

Wii - 687K units
DS - 536.8K units
360 - 347.2K units
PS3 - 232.4K units
PSP - 238.1K units
PS2 - 173.5K

1. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Xbox 360 ā€“ LucasArts ā€“ 610K
2. Wii Fit w/ Balance Board - Wii ā€“ Nintendo ā€“ 518K
3. Rock Band 2 - Xbox 360 ā€“ MTV Games/EA ā€“ 363K
4. Mario Kart w/ wheel - Wii ā€“ Nintendo ā€“ 353K
5. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - PS3 ā€“ LucasArts ā€“ 325K
6. Mercenaries 2: World in Flames - Xbox 360 ā€“ EA ā€“ 297K
7. Wii Play w/ remote - Wii ā€“ Nintendo ā€“ 243K
8. Madden NFL 09 - Xbox 360 ā€“ EA ā€“ 224K
9. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Wii ā€“ LucasArts ā€“ 223K
10. Madden NFL 09 - PS2 ā€“ EA ā€“ 158K

[BeautifulShy]

Great hardware sales for Nintendo in the States. They keep on kicking butt in the states.

[Bill Aurion]

Also of mention is that the 360 received a price cut last month...Not much good that did it...

[BeautifulShy]

Yeah that is pretty sad.It is like whenever the PS3 and 360 get a price cut or a major game the Wii outsells that system or game.
The people have spoken.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Also of mention is that the 360 received a price cut last month...Not much good that did it...

THat is because Wii is the true next generation system and people aren't fooled by price drops of last generation systems!

[Luigi Dude]

This gif from Neo GAF says it all.