Post by: Bloodworth on January 05, 2006, 09:30:41 PM
Thursday, Nintendo posted an official apology on their corporate website in Japan, regarding the lack of available units in stock. Due to demand exceeding Nintendo's forecasts, DS systems have sold out across Japan. Nintendo is shipping units by air to get them in stores more quickly, but does not expect retail stock to be back to normal until the end of January.
The DS has sold over five million units in Japan. Recent sales have been fueled by holiday shopping and big-selling titles, including Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, a Brain Training sequel, and even Tamagotchi DS.
Post by: couchmonkey on January 06, 2006, 04:12:20 AM
Post by: cubist on January 06, 2006, 04:38:40 AM
Post by: Knoxxville on January 06, 2006, 05:25:03 AM
Post by: Michael8983 on January 06, 2006, 05:38:59 AM
More than anything I think the DS will give consumers confidence in Nintendo again.
When the PSP came out people just assumed it would cream the DS because they simply think Sony will always have the upper-hand over Nintendo. But the way things are headed by the time the PS3 is released the DS is going to be the clear winner over the PSP. People will be forced to acknowledge that Nintendo actually beat Sony at something and can be a real contendor.
Post by: Ian Sane on January 06, 2006, 06:31:54 AM
This is what I'm scared of and I hope Nintendo doesn't have the same idea. I'm happy the DS is selling so well but I'm concerned Nintendo will think they can use the same strategy on the DS for the Rev. They can't. The DS "strategy" isn't actually all that sound. Until a few months ago the DS library was one of the worst I've ever seen for any system made by a major player (ie: N-Gage, 3DO, etc. are excluded because they were never taken seriously). The DS has sold incredibly well because it's seen as the next Gameboy, despite Nintendo's bizarre attempts to distance the DS from that brand. The DS is like the PS2. It had a weak launch and a huge drought of virtually nothing but it was the followup to the market leader and the competition didn't put up a good enough fight against it so it continued to dominate.
The Rev doesn't have that luxury. It can't launch with a horrible lineup and then have a bunch of nothing for six to eight months afterwards and expect to be taken seriously at all.
I'm still iffy about this whole non-gamers thing too. The plan seems to be doing quite well in Japan but in North America Nintendogs is the only non-game success story. The other big DS titles (Mario Kart, Advance Wars, Castlevania, Animal Crossing) don't make much use of the DS features and are quite traditional. If the DS was the GB Next and was exactly the same except with only one screen, no touchscreen and no mic those games would have turned out pretty much the same as they are now. I don't think Nintendo has sold the touchscreen as anything essential yet. The Rev is too different and relies too much on the controller design to succeed without the remote being established as essential for gaming.
Congratulations to Nintendo for selling so many DS's. But the same "strategy" will not work for the Rev without some major revisions.
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on January 06, 2006, 07:25:06 AM
Post by: JonLeung on January 06, 2006, 07:53:33 AM
At the very least, the sales numbers won't be as far apart percentage-wise as it is with the PS2 and GCN.
The thing is, I still don't hear the DS mentioned in casual conversation whenever gaming comes up. Just now in the kitchen at work two women were talking about their son and husband and their games. It was very, very brief, but the PS3, PSP, and Xbox 360 were each mentioned about once and nothing from Nintendo was mentioned at all. Makes you wonder if it's really just the hardcore gamers buying the DS, and not so much the non-gamers or casual gamers that Nintendo is saying they're supposedly courting. And as it was a son/husband thing, it still seems to be a male thing. I don't expect older women to be gamers themselves, particularly DS ones, as it's still too soon for that, but if the DS is creaming the PSP, why isn't proportionately mentioned?
PS2 sales > GCN sales... PS2 is mentioned all the time.
PSP sales < DS sales... PSP is mentioned all the time.
It's not a fair picture. I wouldn't care but if Nintendo wants the non-gamer they've got to get this out there.
Congrats to Nintendo, though, the DS deserves the good sales.
Post by: KnowsNothing on January 06, 2006, 08:39:22 AM
Doomed.
Post by: Plugabugz on January 06, 2006, 08:45:04 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: TheYoungerPlumber
Saying this is always difficult, but I agree with Ian. This is a sign that the Revolution really could work, but only if Nintendo is aggressive.
That's right to a point, but for a change the DS is outselling the PSP.
Concerning the DS, great, but, wouldn't it make more sense for Nintendo to then focus on Europe moreso?
On the Tube (London Underground), or DLR, I see only people playing PSP's, very rarely anything else.
If they managed to increase their userbase by 10% in europe that would push the total userbase to 15 milllion people.
The Revolution strategy is appropriate, but only if they do whatever they have done before to have make them successful, plus what they need to do to ensure they garner attention.
"Infinity + 1" should be what they're thinking.
Post by: animecyberrat on January 06, 2006, 08:48:31 AM
Its like movies, therees people into fantasy and sci fi and theres people into romantic comedies and theres peopel who onlyw anct either drama reality based stuff or documentaries. Nintendogs falls under documentary and is for thopse kidns of people, mario kart is more like the teeny comedy that aduls can enjoy but arent likely to seek it out, Castlevania is the horror flick every body wants to see. Gamers and movie watchers are very similar and if you look back at ALL video game jistory tehre have been COUNTLESS games that if put on the DS all of a sudden will be label Non games.
I hate the word non game its such bullshit it makes me sick. If it was the so called non gamers buying the DS how come those Poker games and Soliotare and Tetris havent sold millions of copies yet? people who dont play video games play card games and tetris, thats a fact of life ask anybody. A Gamer will sit down and play an action game or platform game but a sports nut who isnt a gamer will still pick up Madden Football, a video game based ona real game yet some peole dismiss psorts game as video game altogether. Every person is different, I ama hard core gamer, i practicaly live for video games, Nintendogs still appeals to me and so doesa electroplankton but so far nothing has sold me on Animal Crossing yet.
When my parents buy a DS and other adults who casualy play games with me when they see one they like, thast when teh so called non gamer strategy will be working, right now its just Nintendo maintaining a hold they have had for fifteen years, and counting.
I honestly cant beleive how many peole will eat up anythign a Nintendo PR rep spits out, especaily hwo people take AReggie and makje him into some sort of rock star, its so wierd its scary. Nintendo has been talking about reaching out to nongamers like its the key to this treasure nobody else can figureout how to tap into, except more casual gamers have been atracted to Playstation 2 than GC because it offers more variety of games for peopel to chose from, only hard core gamers who just play video games even consider a game cube or kids or Nintenod fans. The DS success only transaltre into more money for Nintendo to use to market the rev but not nescasarily equals gsarunteed success for the unit. BUT I am happy to see Nintendo finnaly beat SOny at something.
Sorry for the rant I just had somethings to say that needed said, Also Ians right on, the DS had its slow period where Sony coulud have easily over taken it but they came out with the games at just the right time. Sony will be hard pressed to catch up now but I wouldnt count them out just yet. Not in regards to PS3 anyways.
Post by: Ian Sane on January 06, 2006, 09:25:23 AM
I've noticed that too. I got a DS about a month ago for Mario Kart. I mention "DS" to anyone and, aside from serious gamers, they have no idea at all what I'm talking about. Then I tell them it's like the newest Gameboy and they get a better idea of what I'm talking about. Everyone knows the PSP, though I have never seen anyone with one ever.
There's no doubt that non-gamers are buying the DS in Japan. Stuff like Brain Training is selling huge. Remember this whole thread is about how Nintendo is sold out in Japan. But I agree in that non-gamers in North America don't really know what a DS is. When I say that the DS' success is largely based on the popularity of the Gameboy I'm specifically talking about in North America. In Japan the non-gamer strategy is working pretty well, which makes sense since Nintendo was looking pretty much entirely at the Japanese market when they came up with the strategy in the first place.
I guess that raises a question. If this non-gamer strategy works really well in Japan and works for the Rev in Japan will that help the Rev in North America? North America is where the real money is but the better third parties are typically from Japan and Nintendo typically has better American support than Japanese.
Post by: NWR_Lindy on January 06, 2006, 09:49:24 AM
And while I'm on the subject, I've recently seen several PSP commercials on TV but haven't seen a DS commercial for months. I don't watch TV a lot, but the fact that I've seen PSP commercials even with my limited viewing time shows you how much more effective Sony is at reaching an older (late 20's, early 30's) audience. And now they have those crazy "cartoon squirrels watching the PSP" commercials that stick in your head, and that big flap over their "graffiti" ad campaign has given them even more publicity. Sony's marketing is amazing.
The reason those women know PS2 and XBox360 is not only because their husbands have one, but also because they've seen ads for it somewhere. There's something out there that makes it more than "something my husband plays".
Revolution competing with PS3? That's pretty far-fetched. The PS3 will have millions of pre-orders within a week of them announcing the launch date and price, while the Revolution will have to build up their installed base from the hardcore fans up. Rev will unfold similar to the DS...it'll take at least a year for developers and gamers to really "get" the system, and then we'll start seeing incredible games for it along with people willing to buy those games. It'll be interesting to see where Revolution is at in January 2007, after it's 2nd Christmas.
Post by: Famicom on January 06, 2006, 11:15:05 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Silks
In the US it comes down to marketing. I still think that Nintendo has piss-poor marketing. I recently saw King Kong in the theater (awesome flick BTW), and guess what played before the movie? A preview for the PSP. Aside from Zelda: Wind Waker, I've NEVER seen Nintendo do a movie preview like that for any of their products.
Yes, but besides the PSP ad Sony has done, have you seen Sony do any other in-theater adverts for their gaming? I'm not a big movie-goer, but I haven't.
Quote
Originally posted by: Silks
And while I'm on the subject, I've recently seen several PSP commercials on TV but haven't seen a DS commercial for months. I don't watch TV a lot, but the fact that I've seen PSP commercials even with my limited viewing time shows you how much more effective Sony is at reaching an older (late 20's, early 30's) audience. And now they have those crazy "cartoon squirrels watching the PSP" commercials that stick in your head, and that big flap over their "graffiti" ad campaign has given them even more publicity. Sony's marketing is amazing.
Interesting. I wouldn't consider myself a avid tv person but I've seen the MKDS commercials several times, and I have no idea what you're talking about with crazy cartoon squirrels.
Only PSP commerical I've seen of late is the one with the people tossing it around, trying to "play" music videos and stuff, and everyone I've spoken to thinks that commerical is pretty ridiculous.However I'm not knocking the effectiveness of Sony's advertising, as they really do have a better knack at raising awareness of their products over Nintendo, and it's something that Nintendo still needs to improve on. Maybe not so much the content as the frequency, time and programming it should air around.
Post by: stevey on January 06, 2006, 01:17:11 PM
Post by: cubist on January 06, 2006, 02:04:59 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: JonLeung
The thing is, I still don't hear the DS mentioned in casual conversation whenever gaming comes up. Just now in the kitchen at work two women were talking about their son and husband and their games. It was very, very brief, but the PS3, PSP, and Xbox 360 were each mentioned about once and nothing from Nintendo was mentioned at all. Makes you wonder if it's really just the hardcore gamers buying the DS, and not so much the non-gamers or casual gamers that Nintendo is saying they're supposedly courting. And as it was a son/husband thing, it still seems to be a male thing. I don't expect older women to be gamers themselves, particularly DS ones, as it's still too soon for that, but if the DS is creaming the PSP, why isn't proportionately mentioned?
Yeah, I agree with both JonLeung and Ian for this one. However, I've seen more of the PSP in public than Nintendo DS, which is why the sales are shocking to me. Of course, I live in Southern California...the mainstream gamer capital of the world.
Just today, I was talking to some mainstream gamer co-workers and the first thing they mention about the next generation is the PS3 and the XBOX 360. I mentioned the Revolution and I got a response of - "Is that for the XBOX 360 or the PS3." The notion that the Rev can duplicate Nintendo DS success will all go back to Nintendo spending some money on marketing AND putting together a marketing strategy that will create some buzz. How? Using the media. I mean, the controller received some love from TIME magazine for crying out loud. Use that and build upon it. Hell, get the non-gamer media people a shot at the new controller and make sure to impress their non-gaming asses.
Uhmmm...what's my point again?
Off topic, wouldn't it be nice if Nintendo paid the PlanetGamecube forum members for their marketing instead? We've done a better job on the grassroots front than they've done the past 2 generations.
Post by: Djunknown on January 06, 2006, 07:00:00 PM
Quote
Off topic, wouldn't it be nice if Nintendo paid the PlanetGamecube forum members for their marketing instead? We've done a better job on the grassroots front than they've done the past 2 generations.
Why do that when we're already doing that for free?
DS a huge sucess in Japan? I should certainly hope so, that's been the focus at NCL thus far.
I wonder if the Japanese press has the "Nintendo-is-teh-d0omed" mentality that the Western press does?
Post by: Infernal Monkey on January 06, 2006, 07:11:00 PM
Post by: Mario on January 06, 2006, 07:17:44 PM
DS + GBA sales in the US = DS + GBA sales in Japan.
Countries like the US are just taking a longer time to adjust to this "crazy new system". The DS explosion in America will probably have to wait til Pokemon, or perhaps Brain Training.
Quote
"North America is where the real money is"
So the real money is in the terroritory DS has made the least money in, righto.
I was hoping this "DS had no games at launch" BS would stop, but oh well. Especially in a Japanese thread, DS launched with Super Mario 64, Wario Ware, Polarium and Band Brothers there. I can't think of a better launch lineup than that.
Post by: Infernal Monkey on January 06, 2006, 07:20:56 PM
Post by: IceCold on January 06, 2006, 08:13:14 PM
Whoa there silks.. if you recall, for the DS launch, there was a massive theatre advertising push.. and I actually really liked the commercials - they still stand as the best Nintendo ads I've seen in the past year. The DS launch advertising, come to think of it, wasn't too shabby at all, which helped it launch so strongly.
I agree, though, that many of Nintendo's commercials are laughably forced. I haven't seen some of the newer US ones on TV, since I live in Canada and we have the "Too Much Fun" ad campaign (pretty good actually), but that Nintendogs one was just awful.
And BTW, I went to King Kong too, and the first two ads I saw were for the Wi-Fi connection; the ninja one and the NASCAR one.
Also, I have to disagree with you about King Kong
. I found that in the movie, something they could have covered in 5 or 10 minutes took half an hour, and it didn't really have much substance. Not worth my money..
Post by: Mario on January 06, 2006, 08:24:26 PM
Post by: Infernal Monkey on January 06, 2006, 08:54:30 PM
Post by: animecyberrat on January 07, 2006, 05:56:57 PM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on January 07, 2006, 07:18:49 PM
Post by: Infernal Monkey on January 07, 2006, 07:43:28 PM
Quote
am I the only person who liked the Nintendogs ads...
Dear animecyberrat,
Yes
Sincerely,
Earth
