Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on December 21, 2004, 09:00:07 AM
Last-Minute Nintendo DS Shipments Help Last-Minute Shoppers
1 Million Systems Already in Consumers Hands in North America
As the countdown to Christmas continues, procrastinating shoppers will benefit from new shipments of Nintendo DS(TM). Nintendo continues to supply stores with the dual-screened Nintendo DS, which features a touch screen, voice recognition and wireless capabilities. This week's shipments also will benefit people who want to spend the gift cards they received for the holidays.
Nintendo DS topped every major gift list this year, and was described by The Wall Street Journal as "this year's must-buy item." Nintendo's shipments will help meet this demand, even as eager holiday shoppers have snapped up 1 million Nintendo DS systems in North America in a month. Before the end of the year, Nintendo will have shipped 1.4 million Nintendo DS systems to North America alone.
Post by: Pale on December 21, 2004, 10:08:04 AM
I really think what we are seeing is the whole "It's the next gameboy" mentality even though Nintendo tried to avoid this. I think the unit would have been all the more popular if Nintendo didn't have this mentality.
Honestly though, kids see me playing my DS and beg to try out THEIR games on it.... Thats just nonsensical, but the truth.
Post by: Ledgehammerous on December 21, 2004, 10:29:42 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on December 21, 2004, 10:30:16 AM
Post by: KnowsNothing on December 21, 2004, 01:21:00 PM
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on December 21, 2004, 06:57:35 PM
Post by: Djunknown on December 21, 2004, 07:52:56 PM
Quote
1 Million Systems Already in Consumers Hands in North America
That's one million gamer's they're going to have to satiate between now and the PSP. If all they have as killer apps is Yoshi's Touch and Go and the next Wario Ware in between those months, its almost like pulling a 'Cube after the holiday rush in 01-02. No offense to said titles, but I don't see them as killer AAA titles that everyone and their mama's going to brag about. Though I'll glady eat those words if I'm wrong.
Post by: couchmonkey on December 22, 2004, 04:15:23 AM
As for the early lineup for next year...seriously, when has a system released at Christmas ever had a good selection of games in the following year? I'm not sure about Dreamcast, but I know that N64, GameCube, PS2 and Xbox all faced several months of weak releases in the new year after their launch. And two first-party games from Nintendo in the first quarter is actually good for Nintendo, even on systems that have been around for a couple of years. It's the third parties that need to catch up (which is fair enough considering they've only had about a year to work on the system).
Yoshi's Touch and Go and Wario Ware don't scream "Blockbuster!", but what I've seen of them so far suggests that they make more interesting use of the DS' capabilities than most of the games available now. My only fear is that Yoshi will be rushed, I'm looking forward to that one.
Edit: I saw a ton of DS's when I was shopping on Monday night, now I know where they came from! I wonder if Nintendo will sell all of these before Christmas? There seemed to be a lot left on the shelves.
Post by: Ian Sane on December 22, 2004, 06:24:56 AM
That's true but usually it doesn't matter that much because there are some great launch games. The DS launch lineup is REALLY weak especially if you don't want to buy Super Mario 64 again. The Cube was pretty much killed off from the get-go by a post-Christmas drought and it had four launch period first party games. The DS has ONE first party game and it's not even a new game. Of course the DS already is off to a better start in terms of sales so it may be okay because of the "new Gameboy" appeal. Plus even if Yoshi and Wario don't sound like major killer apps they still are games being released which is better than the Cube which had literally no worthwhile games for six months.
Still regardless of anything the DS needs a killer app before the PSP has one. The DS is selling on hype and fan loyality right now. The N64 initially had a lead on the PSX because of hype and fan loyalty and in the end it lost big time because of the games. So this head start the DS has could mean squat if the PSP gets some major system seller and the DS still just has a few Mario themed gimmick games.
Post by: KnowsNothing on December 22, 2004, 08:44:27 AM
Wow, all of those games are pretty much just the same games that are on other consoles. But they're all going to be cool because of all the DS's new features =o (Four Swords is absolutley PERFECT for the DS. It's like they built the system around that game =p)
Post by: vudu on December 22, 2004, 09:01:54 AM
QuoteActually, Mario Kart DS is scheduled to be released in May, and a new original Mario Bros game for February. Linky.
Originally posted by: KnowsNothing
Unfortunatley, big games like Animal Crossing DS, Four Swords DS, FF: CC DS, Advance Wars DS, Mario Kart DS, and the new Super Mario Bros game won't be out for a while =\
I assume those are Japanese dates, but hopefully the American dates won't be too far behind.
Post by: Ian Sane on December 22, 2004, 09:03:35 AM
You're right. Rather ironic considering the DS is supposed to be all about innovation and "new types of gaming".
I hope Nintendo doesn't take the same approach with the Revolution. Sequelmania didn't do sh!t for the Cube sales (if anything it HURT Cube sales) and the Revolution will never go anywhere if it's just more of the same franchises. Hell I don't think these will help the DS either if the PSP gets some hot new original game (though the announced lineup so far doesn't suggest that happening too soon). Sequels are all fine and good but brand new games, or franchise games that are so different they pretty much are new (GTA3), are always the system sellers. Sequels sell well with the existing userbase but fail to attract newcombers.
Post by: Ages on December 22, 2004, 01:20:40 PM
Post by: Avinash_Tyagi on December 23, 2004, 08:08:04 AM
