Nintendo the big winner on Japanese charts

Such domination won't be recreated outside of Japan, but with it becoming increasingly apparent Nintendo have the Japanese console market wrapped up, they really need to take a closer look at North America, and more importantly, Europe. They've said numerous times they want to boost Western sales of 3DS, and I'm sure Pokemon in October will help, but more needs to be done and sooner, because I expect before long, they'll be looking to boost Western sales of the Wii U.

Posted:5 months ago

@ Daniel Definitely, but software is always the #1 issue for selling any system. People like to credit the 3DS's current improved performance on the price drop, but historically price drops are an extremely temporary boost, and the long term gains by them (even large ones) are rarely more than 10% increased sales.

What really helped the 3DS was Mario, Zelda, Mario Kart, Resident Evil, Kid Icarus, Monster Hunter (in Japan), etc. etc. Software sells hardware, and that has always been the case.

This is of course the Wii U's current issue as well. While it has a good launch lineup for a console, the headlining game is New Super Mario Bros. U. That is the best NSMB game, but it's also the FOURTH NSMB game, which is a tough sell to new buyers. More unique and rare software will be a much bigger draw for the platform, and if they can get something like a Metroid, Zelda, or 3D Mario out in the next 10 months and a pre-Christmas $50 price drop they'll be cooking for the 2013 holidays, even against a new Microsoft platform (you won't see a new PlayStation until 2014 I bet).

Posted:5 months ago

And in other news: "Sky still blue, shocker". :)

Posted:5 months ago

You are correct Paul. This is just as normal as Microsoft dominating the US hardware and software sales, although most of those software sales are third party games also available on other platforms.

Posted:5 months ago

Vita = Virtual Boy

Posted:5 months ago

People have short memories. Two years ago the 3ds was struggling and the psp ruled Japan. I'm not sure what triggered it but the big franchises have either dropped Sony platforms or no longer the franchises they used to be...gt mobile being an example.

These figures don't make any sense to me. Hardware sales increasing after Christmas? Psv at 33k is a huge figure given no releases. Was there a big sale on or something?

Posted:5 months ago

Michael, Japan celebrates New Years like most of the west celebrate Christmas. So the last week of the year is often their biggest.

Posted:5 months ago

Michael the PSP never ruled anything it was always consistently a DS on top throughout the years.

Posted:5 months ago

Farhang, the PSP did have a year in Japan on top recently.

Posted:5 months ago

Nicholas, I think you are absolutely right: software sells systems.

But I do think Nintendo's rigid pricing, particularly in Europe, needs to change. Nintendo haven't done enough to acknowledge how far perceptions of value have changed, and charging £30 to £40 for every handheld retail release is out of touch. I'm not saying they need to cut the maximum price they charge for software, but they do need to bring in some flexibility, as they seemed keen to do in 2006, when titles like Brain Training appeared new for £15 or £20. That kind of flexible approach will help Nintendo to shift more software on 3DS, so long as they have a continued, consistent release schedule, which is more important than anything else.

Posted:5 months ago