Japan is going to be THE determining factor of the console wars

I think people seem to overlook the japanese gaming market when considering the system wars... think about this.

Without the Nintendo DS' popularity in Japan, quite franquely it would still be a neck and neck race between the DS and PSP.  In reality, the numbers on the sales charts for the U.S. and Europe are very close between the DS and PSP, with the DS only having a slight edge over the PSP on a monthly basis. (I think the DS sold around 40k more in the month of January than the PSP) However, since the DS is so popular in Japan, Nintendo has a pretty strong lead over the PSP.... the DS has 15 million units sold in Japan alone, with only 6 million units of the PSP sold in Japan.

Point is, chances are history is bound to repeat.  In fact, it already is proving itself to repeat.  Wii has been around the #2 spot on the Japanese charts since its release... with the PS3 somewhat close behind and the 360.... well.... I don't think I need to tell you where the 360 stands on the japanese charts.  In fact, Japan unfortunately makes it very difficult for Microsoft to win the console war this time around.  Microsoft supporters can boast all they want about the 360 having sold 10 million in the first year, but that means nothing if the console has no competition.  Don't expect those numbers to increase now that both Nintendo and Sony are in the arena and ready to battle it out.  This console war is going to be much closer than anyone realizes, with the real battle lying in Japan.

So, what do you think?  How significant do you think Japan is in the scheme of things for gaming?

Japan is going to be THE determining factor of the console warsREVOLUTIONfreak

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I think people seem to overlook the japanese gaming market when considering the system wars... think about this.

Without the Nintendo DS' popularity in Japan, quite franquely it would still be a neck and neck race between the DS and PSP.  In reality, the numbers on the sales charts for the U.S. and Europe are very close between the DS and PSP, with the DS only having a slight edge over the PSP on a monthly basis. (I think the DS sold around 40k more in the month of January than the PSP) However, since the DS is so popular in Japan, Nintendo has a pretty strong lead over the PSP.... the DS has 15 million units sold in Japan alone, with only 6 million units of the PSP sold in Japan.

Point is, chances are history is bound to repeat.  In fact, it already is proving itself to repeat.  Wii has been around the #2 spot on the Japanese charts since its release... with the PS3 somewhat close behind and the 360.... well.... I don't think I need to tell you where the 360 stands on the japanese charts.  In fact, Japan unfortunately makes it very difficult for Microsoft to win the console war this time around.  Microsoft supporters can boast all they want about the 360 having sold 10 million in the first year, but that means nothing if the console has no competition.  Don't expect those numbers to increase now that both Nintendo and Sony are in the arena and ready to battle it out.  This console war is going to be much closer than anyone realizes, with the real battle lying in Japan.

So, what do you think?  How significant do you think Japan is in the scheme of things for gaming?

REVOLUTIONfreak

Japan is far less important in the global gaming market as it used to be. It 'was' the japanese developers that everyone used to look to when it came to pushing the limits of a system and pushing ideas of innovation. That is no longer the case. Western game developers have outshone the Eastern devs for quite a while now. Keiji Inafune has admitted to that recently...and is doing his part to try to change that for Capcom with new IP's (fresh ideas).

 Japanese developers have become far to comfortable (lazy) to be considered a fundamental force in determining anything..let alone the outcome of the console wars.

The xbox took the #2 position last gen w/o much japan consumer help.

This 360 took the #1 position this gen w/o much japanese consumer help..

i'm just not following the belief japan is as important as the japanese gaming execs would have us believe...

The xbox took the #2 position last gen w/o much japan consumer help.

This 360 took the #1 position this gen w/o much japanese consumer help..

i'm just not following the belief japan is as important as the japanese gaming execs would have us believe...

tango90101

(...)Don't expect those numbers to increase now that both Nintendo and Sony are in the arena and ready to battle it out.  This console war is going to be much closer than anyone realizes, with the real battle lying in Japan.(...)REVOLUTIONfreak

actualy, PS2 sold more in Europe, than in NAmerica and last is Japan (cuz its the smallest market)

so the Euro PS3 launch is gonna give a big bost, 30+Launch title are no joke, and you are right, X360 is not going to sell as well this year cuz it got competition, and wii? well the wiimote is not going to be the new thing for ever, and nintendo cant relesase a wiisports every month... the hardware of the wii is getting obsolet much faster than a normal console, so it will get lucky if ti last 3 years not the normal 5/6 of the consoles.

that means:

1. PlayStation 3
2. Xbox 360
3. Wii

"The firm believes that the PS3 will ultimately carry the largest market share, with 75 million PS3s sold worldwide by 2010." - GAMESPOT

"The company predicts that more than 120 million PS3s will be sold through 2012, compared to 60 million Xbox 360s and 23 million Nintendo Wiis. North America will account for more than 50 percent of all console sales over this period." - ITWIRE

"Dublin-based Research and Markets claims that the latest version of Sony's games console will rack up 71 million sales, with the Xbox 360 selling around 40 million and the Wii coming third with around 31 million." - ITNEWS

The xbox took the #2 position last gen w/o much japan consumer help.

This 360 took the #1 position this gen w/o much japanese consumer help..

i'm just not following the belief japan is as important as the japanese gaming execs would have us believe...

tango90101

The xbox took the #2 position last gen w/o much japan consumer help.

This 360 took the #1 position this gen w/o much japanese consumer help..

i'm just not following the belief japan is as important as the japanese gaming execs would have us believe...

tango90101

[QUOTE="tango90101"]

The xbox took the #2 position last gen w/o much japan consumer help.

This 360 took the #1 position this gen w/o much japanese consumer help..

i'm just not following the belief japan is as important as the japanese gaming execs would have us believe...

Ultimas_Blade

The xbox took the #2 position last gen w/o much japan consumer help.

This 360 took the #1 position this gen w/o much japanese consumer help..

i'm just not following the belief japan is as important as the japanese gaming execs would have us believe...

tango90101

My thoughts are here.

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=25403142

[QUOTE="REVOLUTIONfreak"]

Japan is going to be THE determining factor of the console warsBuff-McBlumpkin

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Japan is important because whoever gets Japan gets the support of Japanese developers and that matters not only in Japan but the rest of the world. Companies like Square Enix, Namco, and Konami will support the winner in their homeland and there games greatly effect the System Wars at worldwide scale.
Master_Hermes

Try telling that to the 360 guys, they hate any country in which 360 doesn't sell well

I think people seem to overlook the japanese gaming market when considering the system wars... think about this.

Without the Nintendo DS' popularity in Japan, quite franquely it would still be a neck and neck race between the DS and PSP.  In reality, the numbers on the sales charts for the U.S. and Europe are very close between the DS and PSP, with the DS only having a slight edge over the PSP on a monthly basis. (I think the DS sold around 40k more in the month of January than the PSP) However, since the DS is so popular in Japan, Nintendo has a pretty strong lead over the PSP.... the DS has 15 million units sold in Japan alone, with only 6 million units of the PSP sold in Japan.

Point is, chances are history is bound to repeat.  In fact, it already is proving itself to repeat.  Wii has been around the #2 spot on the Japanese charts since its release... with the PS3 somewhat close behind and the 360.... well.... I don't think I need to tell you where the 360 stands on the japanese charts.  In fact, Japan unfortunately makes it very difficult for Microsoft to win the console war this time around.  Microsoft supporters can boast all they want about the 360 having sold 10 million in the first year, but that means nothing if the console has no competition.  Don't expect those numbers to increase now that both Nintendo and Sony are in the arena and ready to battle it out.  This console war is going to be much closer than anyone realizes, with the real battle lying in Japan.

So, what do you think?  How significant do you think Japan is in the scheme of things for gaming?

REVOLUTIONfreak

Your points are extremely valid and I tend to agree wholeheartedly with everything you said there.  I mean people are definitely overlooking the fact that 360 had no competition for the first year in Japan and failed to put up any type of fight in Japan.  I mean there are tons of people over there and they are buying video game systems just look at the NDS like you said

I think people seem to overlook the japanese gaming market when considering the system wars... think about this.

Without the Nintendo DS' popularity in Japan, quite franquely it would still be a neck and neck race between the DS and PSP.  In reality, the numbers on the sales charts for the U.S. and Europe are very close between the DS and PSP, with the DS only having a slight edge over the PSP on a monthly basis. (I think the DS sold around 40k more in the month of January than the PSP) However, since the DS is so popular in Japan, Nintendo has a pretty strong lead over the PSP.... the DS has 15 million units sold in Japan alone, with only 6 million units of the PSP sold in Japan.

Point is, chances are history is bound to repeat.  In fact, it already is proving itself to repeat.  Wii has been around the #2 spot on the Japanese charts since its release... with the PS3 somewhat close behind and the 360.... well.... I don't think I need to tell you where the 360 stands on the japanese charts.  In fact, Japan unfortunately makes it very difficult for Microsoft to win the console war this time around.  Microsoft supporters can boast all they want about the 360 having sold 10 million in the first year, but that means nothing if the console has no competition.  Don't expect those numbers to increase now that both Nintendo and Sony are in the arena and ready to battle it out.  This console war is going to be much closer than anyone realizes, with the real battle lying in Japan.

So, what do you think?  How significant do you think Japan is in the scheme of things for gaming?

REVOLUTIONfreak

I'll agree with you under one condition--that you tell me what franquely means.

Sorry,

Japanese buy Japanese Onry!

This is already over.  Xbox360 is the winner. The Japanese market no longer matters.

I'm sorry but Japan has gone mobile and consoles like PS3 and Xbox 360 matter little there, thus making them not important to the world wide console war.  Look at the numbers sold there.  Japan sells 200K+ DS lites (which have been available for over a year) and only 20k PS3's in the same time frame.  Also, note that one of Japans biggest franchises, Dragon Quest, went to the DS.  This should tell you something.

This is already over.  Xbox360 is the winner. The Japanese market no longer matters.

CarlosPontinas

The markets which are overlooked are Europe and Australia not Japan. 

Imagine if I posted a topic which said 'Europe is going to be THE determining factor of the console wars" what would people say.

Sure Japan is important but since Gamespot is based in North America I think the winner of any console wars is going to be the one which is strongest in North America and that's a console which isn't doing as well as it should in Japan at the moment. 

If you've got Japanese support, you get quirky rhythm games and JRPGs.

If you don't, you still get everything else.

That's pretty much all it amounts to, sales-wise Japan isn't really that big of a factor despite it being the third largest gaming market.

It is convenient to have rhythm games and JRPGs though.

NA has grown to rival Japan's importance. However, without Japan, you just can't win. It's like having two-thirds of a cake. Sure, you'll be able to eat some nice cake, but you won't be able to eat a whole cake. The only ones who would agree otherwise are lemmings.kiruyama

I'm sorry but Japan has gone mobile and consoles like PS3 and Xbox 360 matter little there, thus making them not important to the world wide console war.  Look at the numbers sold there.  Japan sells 200K+ DS lites (which have been available for over a year) and only 20k PS3's in the same time frame.  Also, note that one of Japans biggest franchises, Dragon Quest, went to the DS.  This should tell you something.

Data77

I like how System Wars treats Europe as though it's a single country.

:?

Not that Japan doesn't matter but I think the EU is going to be the make or break for Sony. Last gen Sony were all conquering there, but due to the price, the delay and constant screwing over the Europeans I think it might be alot closer this time around. Wii looks to be dominant in Japan, the 360 in the US is still outselling the PS3, but Europe has tradionally been "sonyland". The EU, especailly after taking in alot of new countries, is a vast market and if Sony struggles to make big waves there the PS3 will be in huge trouble.blue_hazy_basic

Sony will struggle in Europe in 2007. The PS3 will be coming out next month with poor competitive prices compared to Japan and America. A limited release to begin with and also with no e-motion chip built in, we will get software emulation for PS2/PS games. I can see Sony fans buying imported PS3's from either America or Japan because the console will be seen as better quality.

To be a true winner in any console wars race you need to win all three races.

I like how System Wars treats Europe as though it's a single country.

:?

CelineDion

Microsoft will dominate japan like it did last gen.Shadow_Elite192

How?

[QUOTE="kiruyama"]NA has grown to rival Japan's importance. However, without Japan, you just can't win. It's like having two-thirds of a cake. Sure, you'll be able to eat some nice cake, but you won't be able to eat a whole cake. The only ones who would agree otherwise are lemmings.yuna707

[QUOTE="Data77"]

I'm sorry but Japan has gone mobile and consoles like PS3 and Xbox 360 matter little there, thus making them not important to the world wide console war.  Look at the numbers sold there.  Japan sells 200K+ DS lites (which have been available for over a year) and only 20k PS3's in the same time frame.  Also, note that one of Japans biggest franchises, Dragon Quest, went to the DS.  This should tell you something.

REVOLUTIONfreak

NA has grown to rival Japan's importance. However, without Japan, you just can't win. It's like having two-thirds of a cake. Sure, you'll be able to eat some nice cake, but you won't be able to eat a whole cake. The only ones who would agree otherwise are lemmings.kiruyama

No sir....NA FAR eclipses Japan in terms of video game sales.  Japan's market is almost exactly half that of the US...and that's not including Canada.