DS does huge December in Japan

  • By Staff, GameSpot
  • Posted Jan 20, 2006 5:09 pm PT

Famitsu report says more than a quarter of the country's 5.6 million DS owners picked up their system last month.

The Nintendo DS was flying off Japanese shelves during the year-end shopping season in Japan, so much so that the company started the new year by issuing a formal apology on its Japanese-language Web site. Exactly how well the system sold is starting to become clear, as the latest issue of Famitsu reports that the double-screen handheld sold 1.5 million units last month. That means more than a quarter of the 5.6 million systems sold in Japan since the system's 2004 launch came during December alone.

Famitsu didn't report December figures for the PSP, although Dengeki Online is reporting that figure to be a lot lower. Between October 31 and January 15, the site reports that Sony's widescreen handheld sold 972 thousand units during that period. By comparison, the DS sold 2.33 million units during the same period.

Despite Nintendo's efforts to increase DS supplies at retail, supplies of the system are still tight. Some secondhand shops are starting to sell the DS for over 30,000 yen ($260), or double its suggested retail price, while recent online auctions have seen the system fetching around 20,000 yen ($174).

230 Comments

  • Alunanite

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 1:55 pm PT

    LinconSixEcho

    The PSP outsold the DS in the US this year because of its launch. If you include the DS launch in 2004 (November/December), then the DS outsold the PSP by 1 million. The DS is leading the PSP in installed base, and has for the past several months outsold the PSP in each and every territory except Korea.

  • reoazngga559

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 1:25 pm PT

    i play ma DS 24/7. Ive put hundreds of hours into all of ma ds games each. Ive come to realize that DS is not near full potential yet. Its like nintendo can blow all the competition out at any time they want. Us DS gamers enjoy our DS games so much even with the games we have. But there hasnt even been A game that uses the DS to its max potential yet. (mario kart is closest) I think that when Metriod Prime Hunters come out all competition is blown out the Window. DS's extremely high sales may make it seem like it is at full potential but its still the begining. The best move psp can make right now is dramaticly dropping their prices. But not even that would help because 06 IS YEAR OF THE DS! I think metriod prime will have just as much impact on the DS as halo did on xbox.

  • icebergstorm

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 10:42 am PT

    hey ad1x2 & mhder thanx for the posts dudes !
    I still think GC has a better processor power (in terms of Graphic & Sound).
    Of course, PS2 has produced gazillion games compared to GC, having said that GC has got some very high profile games, specially Zelda and RE4, too bad Capcom made RE4 not GC exclusive, but for any consolation the GC version is much better compared to the PS2 version (PS2 just got extra character, Ada Wong, extra weapon & widescreen mode). Well anyway, DS has a really good, fun and innovative games, I would recommend Project XY/XX (a.k.a. Project Rub in Europe) to anyone who wants to really discover what is FUN & the awesome use of stylus,microphone (can even blow up the microphone!!wowee) !! and soon the sequel will come out (I think it's called "Rub Rabbits" If I'm not mistaken) but, yes DS!! is a really Good and FUN system (and games!) and I hope Nintendo will always rules the Handheld Market (well it'll be a super bonus, IF they can dominate the "console" market too with REVOLUTION!!.
    I will definitely get the revolution, solely for ZELDA only!! as I have got all the zelda games from nes,snes,n64,gb,gbc,gba(sp),gc(&soon for DS & RV!!) Woo Hoo!! I'm sure all the billion zelda fans out there will do the same, right zelda fans ??? =)=)=) VIVA ZELDA FOREVER!! Peace Out!!

  • LE-FISH

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 8:00 am PT

    See, DS just concentrates more on the gameplay and games. Having extra features for the PSP doesnt mean it is better, like UMD etc.

    Nintendo just are more committed in making games and creating new fresh ideas. I think the Revolution will top the best sales due to the fact of Nintendo's passion in creating 1st party games and that a great new way of playing games, the revo controller which Nintendo say still has secrets yey :-)

  • ewjim

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:22 am PT

    Some secondhand shops are starting to sell the DS for over 30,000 yen ($260), or double its suggested retail price, while recent online auctions have seen the system fetching around 20,000 yen ($174). ---- Who is STUPID anough to by at 260$ when there is same, even new system at 174$?!???
    Well, PSP just lack good games... who will by this system when there is almost only (in Russia) racing-games...

  • LinconSixEcho

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 10:49 pm PT

    I couldn't agree with you more raystc. A very articulate and well formed post. Bravo.

  • raystc

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 7:13 pm PT

    To quote kqlyn "If both systems were at $130 I guarantee you that the PSP would eat the DS alive. Fact!"

    To quote mhder "How can a speculation be a fact? If they were the same price, I think a lot of PSP owners would also buy the DS. DS owners didn't choose the DS based on the price, they chose it based on the games and features. Would someone who really wanted a PSP instead buy a DS because it is cheaper and that is all they can afford? Unlikely"

    The latter post has a point. Marketshare and sales of a product are driven by what the product offers consumers. These two systems are completely different products, each with their own pros and cons. However, even if kqln's scenario were to take place it's highly improbable due to the fact that the PSP hardware is far more expensive than the DS's and bringing down its price would just hurt Sony even more. They are losing wads of cash per system already, a price drop is highly unlikely in the future.

    Still, more shocking is Sony's strategy. Yes, flashy screens and elegant design can make a difference, but they don't make a good entertaintment experience. Innovation and creativity were the roots of this industry, then again Sony is a rookie compared to Nintendo's timeframe in the market.
    Let's all hope this proves an already obvious fact; the only way for the video game market to grow and mature, minus the violence and gore already there, is to bring the masses what they want...A truly engaging and unique experience!

  • LinconSixEcho

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 7:04 pm PT

    BTW, The Wall Stret Journal also states these facts as well. The issue was two days ago.
    Please don;t dictate to me about reading the facts. If you are anything of a civilized person then you can debate without throwing out truly petty attempts at insulting.

  • LinconSixEcho

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 6:55 pm PT

    Ok, here is just ONE of the links that reports the PSP outsells the DS in North America. You can't argue the evidence that is truly unbiased.
    Thank you and remember, I own a DS as well so I am truly not a fanyboy.

    http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/19/psp-outsells-the-nintendo-ds-in-the-us-by-1-million/

  • thestergin

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 6:10 pm PT

    (Hear MC Hammers "Cant Touch This!' in the back round)

  • gachugu

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 5:36 pm PT

    LinconSixEcho i think you got a little mixed up there, DS sales are up compared to the PSP north america and all other countries. plus if Sony doesn't come up with game to swoop people off there feet, there losses in income will just keep rolling in. plus the PSP doesn't have much room for improvement in the future, what are going to do for there next gen version. enhance the graphics, put more movie features, slap a $400 price tag.
    lets face it a more expensive and extensive products doesn't mean it will sell more. its giving a amerced experience with a cheap price. lets take the 360 for example, every other console sold more in the holidays then the 360, even though it has better graphics and so on. know also taking into consideration of the shortages, but even still if they had more units, they wouldn't compare to the other consoles as whole.
    read the facts.

  • r9tgokunks

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 2:03 pm PT

    Wow

  • LinconSixEcho

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 1:39 pm PT

    I own the DS and feel that the system is rather limited. A lot of it games don't incorporate the touch screen cause developers have said they don't know what to use it for. Plus, it's more expensive to make cart games compared to cd based.
    I enjoy the PSP for all of itz functions and know it can only get better. As I posted above, PSP out sells the DS in north America. Read the business section from time to time fanboys.

  • curedawg

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 12:31 pm PT

    oh dear sony....didnt see that one coming......ds an "irrelevance"......oh dear

  • MWRHC

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 11:59 am PT

    DS is way better than the psp. Nintendo owns the handheld market.

  • Mullinator

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 9:58 am PT

    Just remember though that first of all this isn't the first time Sony tried the portable gaming market. Also remember that Sony is in fact being embarrassed by this. I mean just because they are trying to take on the industry king doesn't mean they shouldn't have been able to take control. They did it with the PS1 for crying out loud.

    So yes I suspect Sony isn't doing nearly as well as they thought they would.

  • Ontario21

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 9:34 am PT

    Hey Sony enters the hand held market for the 1st time and sells almost half as many PSP's (0.972 million) as the DS (2.33 million) Between October 31 and January 15, I would say thats a great start for Sony.

  • LinconSixEcho

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 9:31 am PT

    In the business section of the recent Wal Stret Journal, there was an article that stated that the PSP is outselling the DS in North America though the GBA are holding the market strong at 64%.
    Point being, in Japan there is a total different market where the UMD movies for the PSP aren't selling well but in America the UMDs sell 3 to 1 over the games. We are more into the Ipod, mobile movie player and game market.
    So when the fanboys start bashing Sony, they are not looking at the entire picture.
    And that is sad.

  • trd_matrix000

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 9:19 am PT

    Wow that is crazy! go nintendo! DS scared me at launch...Then 6 months later I was sad i ever doubted Nintendo. GF loves it , and I would rather get new gamers than try to impress the current ones for 5 minutes like the PSP does. 1 Thing that is for sure is you always remember your first, and you usually develop a loyalty to you first. Nintendo, Apple, and Toyota all have me to the GRAVE!! hahaha i love being a mindless drone, but yeah.. We need some serious Kick @$$ Online games...

  • ghsacidman

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 9:05 am PT

    I think this will happen with Revolution and PS3. Everyone is going to expect PS3 to be the "big" next gen consule.... But it'll be so expensive, and so focused on multimedia stuff that Nintendo out of no where will walk away with the consule wars. Just like DS's underdog DEFEAT of PSP. Viva La Nintendo.

  • Seraphim_24

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 7:07 am PT

    Glad to see that innovation and art can still win out over the corporate manufactured garbage that Sony's been shovel-feeding us for years...

  • bioniccommando1

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 6:36 am PT

    Im not surprised it's a great little system!! Anybody hear anything more about the next Gameboy? The Big N says that the DS isn't the successor to the GBA. Just makes me wonder what the successor would be like.

  • Ericvon71

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 6:18 am PT

    It basically comes down to preference, both portables are good in there own right, neither one is better than the other, both have things that are good about them, just enjoy them.

  • edmorleysmith

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 4:50 am PT

    ds is good. girlfriend loves it so keeps it. Im personally sticking with my gamegear

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 4:17 am PT

    woot... way to go N!

  • mhder

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 3:45 am PT

    hey iceberg storm - just get your friend to read a multiplatform game review - say for RezEvil4. The reviews will most often indicate that the PS2 version load times are longer and the images aren't as crisp.

  • dcgames

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 9:06 pm PT

    Hell, I can't find one even now. So I settled for a new GBA with brighter screen, muhahahahaa......

  • GBA456

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 9:00 pm PT

    $260 for a Nintendo DS? LOL
    Thats insane. Their selling it for more than the PSP.

  • gamboy131

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 8:48 pm PT

    Nintendo and Sony are both doing a great job with there systems, I like them both the same, accept what I like about the DS is that it aims torward gaming and not all that other stuff that is not needed, It's also good that sony fitted that much technology and entertainment in that one device, to me that's amazing on both of there behalves.

  • ad1x2

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 7:19 pm PT

    icebergstorm
    I'm really happy for Nintendo but can anyone let me know if there is any website pointing out that GC is better than PS2 in terms of processor power (graphic & sound)? My friend always get really aggravated whenever i say that Gamecube has a better graphic and sound than PS2 (not to mention loading time but someone mentioned here that the RE4 for GC is better than RE4 for PS2. Can anyone point out any proof for this please? thanks people! --- Here's one place that talks about the differences between the consoles without actually crunching numbers about the CPU, polygons per second, etc. http://nintendo.about.com/od/editorials/a/systemcompare.htm

  • BigB0ii

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 6:56 pm PT

    According to Mercury News Research, in 2005 Sony's PSP outsold the Nintendo DS by 1.2 million units in North America. According to the statistics, 2.43 million Nintendo DSs were sold in North America versus 3.63 million PSPs.

    PsP is better in my books............
    funny how it didnt post this on gamespot.........
    link... http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/D27174DA-98D2-46D4-AD1B-A532FB93694E.htm

  • sakamatana5

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 6:20 pm PT

    PSP is good but nintendo is always best at handheld games.

    Thats how its been.

    But i dont get these sony haters they all blow like the wind.

    Nintendo still sucks at consoles though.(lmfao)

    I have a DS and my bro hs a PSP.

    PSP just needs better games.

    But Nintendo always rules the handheld world.

  • icebergstorm

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 5:51 pm PT

    I'm really happy for Nintendo but can anyone let me know if there is any website pointing out that GC is better than PS2 in terms of processor power (graphic & sound)? My friend always get really aggravated whenever i say that Gamecube has a better graphic and sound than PS2 (not to mention loading time but someone mentioned here that the RE4 for GC is better than RE4 for PS2. Can anyone point out any proof for this please? thanks people!

  • dochua1985

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 5:24 pm PT

    People don`t argue anymore. I see both systems are different and unique. It just like two different girls. One with good figure and one with kawaii looks. So different people have different taste. Blahhh

  • -Blacksocks-

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 4:12 pm PT

    poor sony...

  • beat2004

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 3:55 pm PT

    I do find it funny when I used to hear Sony fanboys saying that graphics doesn't matter, it's the games. The PS2 was inferior to GC and Xbox's hardware, but the games is what made it sell so well.

    Now I hear them say that the PSP's graphics are the best which means the DS sucks because of the PSP's hardware being superior. Although, due to the DS's great games, it sold well.

    I know that doesn't mean that everyone that owns a PSP says that, but there are people who say that.

  • ulrikz

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 3:53 pm PT

    Geez, why is everyone bashing Sony? And they are blaming them on the bad games? Heh, it's not like Sony is producing them, companies are

    And since when was 900.000 units sold compared to 2,9 million something bad considering Nintendo has dominated the handheld market since they started, and this is a new console and Sony has no ground on the handheld console market before. It's a pretty amazing achievment, and if it wasn't for Sony, I doubt Nintendos consoles would be so cheap. You know, competition between companies makes us consumers happy

    And stop bashing and protecting systems already, go play the games for them instead of taking sides and all.

  • joeamis

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 3:39 pm PT

    Santana4064 why are you laughing? I have not taken any side towards Sony or Nintendo. I know it all comes down to games, and I agree DS has the edge there. I've been a supporter of Nintendo for 20 years, Sony for 10, and MS for .2.

  • Ansset

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 3:19 pm PT

    The cost of the console has to be at a magic price

  • FlashFirer

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 2:59 pm PT

    I'm laughing SOOOO hard. Nintendo is going to blow on the next gen.
    Sony still has to learn that more buttons and more technology mean almost nothing if compared to fun! Vila la Revolution.

    P.S.: You know, Sony, I don't think that people who have PSPs use the internet very much. We've got COMPUTERS, you know. COM-PU-TERS.
    And don't forget i-Pods!

  • Jxy

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 2:45 pm PT

    Sony ran the PSP into the ground last year. Sure, in the US we have countless morons who'll buy games like SOCOM and GTA, but over in Japan they avoided that garbage and were left with few options on the system. The DS absolutely destroyed the PSP in terms of games and it paid off. I've got both systems and the DS is definitely deserving of these sales.

  • GodzillaX8

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 2:41 pm PT

    STOP BASHING SONY. I am sick of everyone taking sides for consoles. I own 22 consoles, including both DS and PSP, and honestly, I think there's about an equal number of games worth owning for each, since I only have 3 games for PSP (and 5 video UMDs), and I only have one game for DS, and only plan on purchasing 3 more games in the next several months for my DS, I'd say they're about equal. The argument that there's no good games can be made for either system depending on your taste in games, so it's really kind of pointless to go on some web site and brag to strangers about how much you like your DS or how much you like your PSP. But anyway, on topic, I am glad the DS is succeeding, because if it failed, Square would scrap their plans to make Children of Mana and their port of Final Fantasy III.

  • darksolgasp

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 2:38 pm PT

    I agree with you too ROCKINGFOOL. the only thing I cry about my ds is that they posponed metroid prime hunters till march (too much time, I'm going crazy) and that I haven't played Mario kart over Wi-Fi. I just love my ds. I don't hate psp, but I don't like it. Yo quiero un revolution, si no, quiero un ps3. jajajajajajajajaja I someone understands this than please post a message.

  • andrewtyen

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 2:32 pm PT

    that's right sony

  • ROCKINGFOOL

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 1:47 pm PT

    ok i love nintendo more than sony they are more into games sony are more into money any one agrees with me

  • gamingfreak47

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 1:41 pm PT

    BOOM HEAD SHOT TO SONY!

  • Sanderbo

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 11:59 am PT

    long live the DS!

  • santana4064

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 11:26 am PT

    lol Joeamis, basically it all comes down to how fun are the games and DS has a good amount of GREAT games in Japan. PSP has way better quality but no cool games.

  • santana4064

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 11:20 am PT

    currently DS has way better games than psp

  • joeamis

    Posted Jan 22, 2006 10:52 am PT

    Alunanite I was merely responding to someones request, I visited GI online, saw those figures in the most recent news column and posted them. I'm not trying to claim anything, that is why I later gave a link to a site that has the sales data for all time. I know the DS is leading in Japan and the U.S. Go to that site if you want and search for the official figures.

    No offense but please don't make comparisons to expensive race cars vs mainstream toyotas in reference to DS and PSP. A cheap Ferrari would be $150,000, a cheap Corolla would be $15,000. Most Ferrari's are quite more expensive. Unless the PSP cost at least 10 times the DS, it is not a good analogy. Ferrari's are not meant for the general public.

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