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DS owns Japan in March

  • By Dan Tochen, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 6, 2006 1:27 pm PT

Nintendo moved more DS Lites across the Pacific last month than PS2s and PSPs combined.

Based on Enterbrain's March sales figures for the Japanese market, Japan's Mainichi newspaper reports that Nintendo sold 380,000 DS Lites during the month and 180,000 original DS handhelds. Both versions of Nintendo's portable system have been plagued by shortages--presumably the company would have done even better if its assembly lines had kept up with the strong demand.

Sony tied up second place for the month, selling 150,000 PlayStation Portables and 140,000 PlayStation 2s--strong results for a console that hit the market six years ago.

Mainichi did not report on Xbox 360 sales for the month. It's widely accepted that the console is having trouble gaining a foothold, and some retail sources claim that less than 50,000 have sold so far this year.

Nintendo's strong performance lifted total hardware spending to 15.3 billion yen ($130 million), an increase of almost 50 percent over the total from March 2005.

The DS took a strong lead in software sales: DS games claimed six of the top 10 spots. In its fifth month on the market, Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS) showed off its longevity by capturing second place and cracking 2 million units. Square Enix's Final Fantasy XII (PlayStation 2) also sold more than 2 million copies in its first month on the market.

Total software sales for the month came to a whopping 38.1 billion yen ($323.7 million)--almost double the sales from March 2005. Japanese game sales have been steadily slipping for the last few years, so these strong results will be welcome news for that country's developers and publishers.

128 Comments

  • EnterSandman

    Posted Apr 10, 2006 6:47 pm GMT

    Oh my... Japan just got owned by teh DS...

  • tr00pa_26

    Posted Apr 9, 2006 2:29 pm GMT

    cool man i wonder where all that money goes to
    oohh what the hell we'll never noe

  • GBA456

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 9:51 pm GMT

    I cant wait to get my Nintendo DS

  • mastertony88

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 10:16 am GMT

    American gaming companies rule!

  • mastertony88

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 10:14 am GMT

    At least someone is kicking sony's a** in the gaming market. But I still think microsoft will come back from the dead and beat up on the nintendo and sony like the b****es they are.

  • sugreev2001

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 7:18 am GMT

    Go Ninti Go

  • mics07

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 1:07 am GMT

    I don't blame you, MadonnaProject, on your last paragraph...at least Nintendo can still rebound through the handheld market...

  • MadonnaProject

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 11:27 pm GMT

    No worries man, and you didnt "hurt" me at all....

    Actually thats why i deleted my post, i read it back and i sounded very angry. Anyhow the admin has done what i came here to do. I am not angry i am just frustrated at the SHEER mediocrity and stupidity of some people on here. Weeping just because a console has ONE stupid title confirmed? SERIOUSLY?

    Also what INFURIATES me is the fact that when the ps2 was popular there was an ENTIRE generation, it seemed, running towards games like GTA. And the worst of the matter is it was mostly due to all the hype generated by whoever they hget their information from. Now all of a sudden this new nintendo console is the attention child and darling of the media and everyone is rushing towards it as if its the best thing since sliced bread. OH WAIT. some have even considered making a religion out of it so maybe its the best thing since whatever their religion may be.

    But the fact remains THIS VERY THING is the reminiscent of whats been happening with nintendo through the years. When the n64 was coming out, it was so incredibly h6yped and the gameboy color was selling so vastly people made it out as if one house in japan owned one truckload of the thing. When the gamecube was coming out veryone was BUZZING about it, and lo and behold it went the same way n64 did. Down the hole. I know most might argue over this statement but we all know they werent successes. No one console with barely 15 games worth owning is. The same is happening with the revolution. The ds is selling in droves because of its novelty. And the worst part is nintendo is following the same old trend of painting itself into its own little niche corner.Already many developers are reluctant to program for the filthy thing. I know some are positive, but when a console launghes, it should have ALMOST ALL of the developers on board experimenting with their consoles, some hit, and ome miss. and then the rest of the industry capitalises on the HITS. I believe thats whats happening with the 260 right now. But with nintendo barely 10% of the developers have climbed on board and people are still assumin its going to be a success? DOESNT ANYONE EVER LEARN FROM PAST MISTAKES? or maybe this generation is too young, (or stupid) to remember that THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE N64 AND THE GAMECUBE. Overhype, low promotion/information by the company = high sales for the handheld, and eventual fizzling out of all interest from the main console.

    Besides if you remember then nintendo is not exactly to be labelled the saviour of the console industry. They only had two hit consoles, and this was at a time when they nad NO or VERY LITTLE competition. Their subsequent consoles have been utter disappointments except for some rare cases. Nes had mostly groundbreakers, the SNES had quite some groundbreakers. N64 barely had 5 good games. The gamecube had NO groundbreakers, except for one and 2 if youre being lineant then consider metroid prime (mario sunshine, wind waker, eternal darkness all have their counterparts for other consoles, and resident evil was not necessarily a gamecube game). The revolution is going to do the same i fear.

    And what makes me even more furious are the little kiddies who are running around singing praises for the revolution dont even have any uidea of what theyre talking about. I mean look at how lacking in substance their arguments are "holding back tears of joy", "nintendo religion". I mean what the FUDGE? at least when i say i am yearning for metroid prime 3 i back it up by saying its one fo the most unique and atmospheric games out there which dont fall into the same old fps category of break through the door and shoot to kill genre.

  • thepeter

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 10:26 pm GMT

    the prophecy has been fulfilled... mih..mah....muaahaahaaahaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....

  • mics07

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 6:44 pm GMT

    whatever dude, some people care more on what's new rather than being this being more powerful. i mean, i don't play happy happy kiddie games. i'm just saying that not all nintendo supporters are kiddie. we're all just saying that we're happy that the ds is hetting the recognition it deserves in Japan. and as you might not know, i'm not american. and that if you're here to flame me or other people just because we're happy that nintendo has a fighting chance of survival, mind you, they were the reason for video games' existence until now, then so be it. but then, this is for commenting on the article "DS owns Japan in March", so you're in the wrong place dude...I didn't mean to hurt you. sorry man.

  • MadonnaProject

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 4:59 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • thechosenone827

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 3:39 pm GMT

    That is cool news, the DS is a great system.

  • Imavnas

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 1:19 pm GMT

    meimnobody:

    1) Youve got bloody guts to be calling someone you dont know a dear kid. Especially considering the english ive been using is far superior to your ability to use the english language, thereby putting to logical reasoning that you might very well be a "kid"

    2) No I havent bothered to go to a train station in Japan seeing as I live in the States. And I know very well the extreme mess that is college dorms, but thats the problem of the people living in the dorms and not Sony's. If your not smart enough to understand that an electronic device shouldn't be in a precarious position then you shouldnt be complaining about the your equipment getting damaged in the first place. And lack of space is no excuse to place a PS2 on top of a shelf instead of on bottom. How about placing the books taking up the shelf space your PS2 needs on the floor intead of the PS2 on the floor? If you dont like it then dont complain your PS2 got busted when a 1k page hardcover textbook falls 4 feet right smack on your PS2.

    3) The defective square button was a problem with launch (its not a problem now) as the PSP launch was plagued with problems in Japan. When it released in the states though, just as they explained, the amount of complains regarding defective buttons was minimal to none. The only rampant problem I kept hearing the PSP still had was with the dead pixels in its LCD screen, and considering this was Sony's FIRST EVER foray into the handheld market, and that the PSP is a multi-purpose gadget unlike Nintendo's first foray; the Gameboy, id consider it an astounding success. Their ability to penetrate, even minimally, a monopolized market to the point where Nintendo actually has compeition would be considered a success even by Nintendo's standards.

    4) Little kids arent buying the DS in droves, their parents are. Visit your nearest Best Buy, EB Games, Walmart, and ask how many DS's they have sold to kids age 12 and under; you'll either get "alot" or " well we didnt sell it to the kids but to their parents". Indeed the DS is bought by consumers of all ages, but a good deal of its games appeal vastly to the young'uns, and thus, a good deal of the DS' user base are young children. Thats not to say the games cant be appreciated by consumers of other ages, as thats what Nintendo games are widely known for, universal appeal.

    5) The improvements to the DS still arent major, wether they were based on reader reviews or not. If they needed to change the stylus they could offer a bigger or different one as an accessory, just like they sell extra stylus' seperately now. Brightness and size difference are being changed because people bought the original and nitpicked about those things to begin with, and those very consumers are willing to rebuy for those excruciatingly minor changes. Is that re-purchase worth the improvements? Definately not, hence why Nintendo continues to remake, because its consumers buy them without considering the costs.

    6) Capcom ported over RE4 because it just wasnt selling as well enough as it should have on the Gamecube. Even with the amount of Gamecube consoles that RE4 moved, it still didnt add up considering how incredible the game was. They saw the PS2 as an opportunity to truly cash in on the franchise. Im sure the creator wasnt complaining either.

    7) Your xbox link leads to an article thats not only biased but probably false. Not only is it a subjective article hosted on a site thats CLEARLY in favor of the PS2's rival system, but even its source is unreachable, and the very article is poorly worded.

    8 ) Finally, the link to the Console test doesnt change the fact that your PS2 isnt supposed to undergo that kind of treatment. When the very manufacturer includes warnings about what NOT to do with the electronic device and the consumer wishes to ignore them, its no longer the problem of the manufacturer. The disc read error is about the only widespread problem that can be truly attributed to be Sony's fault. The rest falls on either the laurels of the consumer, or on sheer bad luck. (As an example, a friend bought a 360 that came with a defective controller; now HOW often does a new video game console release with defective controller? Not very often; he just managed to get his hands on the one that was plastic injected while there was dirt in the mold casing. You can chalk it up to bad luck, bad karma, or whatever it is you believe in.)

  • meimnobody

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 11:54 am GMT

    Little kids aren't buying the DS in droves. Most kids didn't buy the gameboy to play tetris.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVRJtqPRZhQ&search=console%20test

    Capcom ported it. They overrode the creator's plans to have Resident Evil 4 be a Nintendo exclusive.

    The improvements to the DS where based on customer reviews. Bother to read the interview they made the stylus longer to accomadate old people.

    Also dear kid a lot of people are waiting for the lite. They are holding off buying a DS also a lot of people don't want to wait for the lite in order to play the DS games.

    Bother to go into a train station Japan. Most people you see playing the DS are adults including the elderly. Also a lot of people are now seeing adults with the DS in the states.

    Go to a college dorm sometime. Things fall off the shelves onto game consoles all the times. People step on them. There is a thing called lack of space most people still play with their consoles on the floor. Often people trip on the controller cords and this will damage a PS2.

    http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psp/games/news/42228.shtml Hilarious that numerous US users say the same thing occurs. Sony at first said there was no problem.

    Lets also bring up the dead pixel issue which sony said wasn't their problem.

    http://www.xbox1.com/article-expand.asp?i=127

  • SMACC_07

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 11:38 am GMT

    Go Nintendo DS!!!! - ''touching is good'' eh?
    I need some DS Lite here!!!

  • Imavnas

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 10:33 am GMT

    meimnobody:

    You surely jest right? Ive dropped my PSP about ten times, 3 without the gel soft case and nothing has happened to it. Maybe your getting the unfortunate side effect of dropping it on a sharp object, or a pool of acid or something completely exagerrated. Ive seen plenty of DS's with severely scratched out screens (not including the ones they demo with at eb stores for example), or with pieces of broken casing, etc etc.

    Its true, Nintendos products can be looked upon as indestructible, but thats just a testament to who their making the products for, kids. Half the DS owners that exist are little kids. Every time I see someone with a DS its a kid getting off a schoolbus or when im riding the train I see 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders with them. Not saying Adults dont buy them, as thats Nintendos plan, to cater to a wide range of audiences, but thats the real reason they make their systems so tough, as they understand half their consumers are the parents of young children who will be using them.

    Now with that aside, your statements about the PS2 being an electronoic device that breaks far too easily are just as unfounded as the example I gave in my last post. Your just like the idiots who did X things that the PS2 manual itself explains NOT to do, and your blaming Sony for YOUR lack of common sense. Since WHEN do you DROP school books or otherwise ONTO your PS2?!! What kind of fool puts their expensive electronic device in such a position where books will be falling like rain?!; Its OBVIOUSLY not supposed to be there ::nerve twitch:: AGAIN, read the manual (and stop comparing a PS2 to a handheld, A PS2 is NOT supposed to be portable!! Unlike the only console ever to come with a handle attached, the Gamecube).

    Indeed Sony has had problems with disc read errors and the such, but such problems arise when a system actually has the capability to play the entire library of its predecessor, something that Nintendo has yet to do, ( the revolution will be the first console system of theirs to do it ). As I explained before I own 3 PS2's and Ive never had a problem with any of them. If it does happen to come with a problem (thats life) you simply return it to the store you bought it and explain to them why it doesnt work. As long as its not X stupid reason, youll get a replacement as long as they have units in the store (and you have your receipt, X fools apparrently havent gotten it through their heads that proof of purchase is generally required). If they dont have any, some stores will give you the option of a refund, others will tell you to keep the receipt, give them your #, and theyll call you when they get them in (depends on the service at said electronics store).

    FInally:
    "The creator of the Resident Evil series said people that buy Sony products were fools because Sony knows they can rip people off by forcing them to buy the same product over and over again."

    If this is even true (sounds like hogwash to me considering they ported Resident Evil 4 from Gamecube to PS2 after the fact) apparrently he forgot that Nintendo continually re-releases their handhelds with few actual improvements (honestly people, the DS lites improvements are truly small, and if you feel a need to buy it for said improvements then that just proves the original didnt satify you completely to begin with), just to have millions purchase them without even giving the purchase a fleeting thought. A testament to what used to be Nintendos monopoly on the handheld gaming market.

  • harry2k5

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 9:50 am GMT

    I Agreed with the heading......NINTENDO OWNS!!!!! JAPAN period.

  • ROCKINGFOOL

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 8:20 am GMT

    m$ needs powerfull rpg to dominate japanes market like final fantasy and dragone quest those two games can change the market just like when ps1 dominate the market with fina fantasy7 and dragon quest7

  • faridmon

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 8:07 am GMT

    i hope it could be more populer in UK, PSP is what everyone is talking about in my school, by the way i enjoying the DS with ton of games.

  • kkuanloung

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 7:07 am GMT

    wow.. a gamecube can witstand a slegehammer on the side and still work 'perfectly'?? amazing "titanium gamecube, glass PS2" console world we have here.. nex time.. use something a little less exaggerated..

  • timts

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 6:04 am GMT

    hoho, brain "games", well, let them keep playing retro stuff, see how many decades that would be.

  • mics07

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 5:58 am GMT

    i'd like to see the psp or a ps2 survive a direct sledgehammer hit...or any other console for that matter...

  • cofn42

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 5:50 am GMT

    I think the funniest part is Sony has sold more PS2's, a six year old console, in 1 month, than Xbox 360 sold all year. Poor poor MS, that just has to hurt.

  • meimnobody

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 5:37 am GMT

    Imvanas the PSP cannot survive even a survive a drop of a foot. Let see tons of dead pixel units. Most of the first run DSs are still there.

    You have to pay a lot to repair the disc read error on the PS2 or any error for that matter. Sony is even settling a lawsuit over defective PS2s in which PS2 owners can get a 20 dollar game or some other reward. Do a google search. It looks to possibly cost Sony a bundle.

    Things happen a portable is meant to be portable. Electronics can fall on the floor, stepped on, things fall on them. A console shouldn't break if a book falls on it. The PS2 is shoddly designed.

    Guess you forgot the DS lite enginner who stated "For a portable console, you can't afford to neglect durability. Rather than having our users pay several thousand yen to fix the console if they drop it, we'd rather that they be able to spend that money on buying games instead. "

    Sony deliberty makes their products with a high failure rate.

    The creator of the Resident Evil series said people that buy Sony products were fools because Sony knows they can rip people off by forcing them to buy the same product over and over again. The ps2 and psp are shoddily designed it's called planned obscelance. You may the damn things to break after the warranty is over. Kiddo electronics used to last for decades no matter what you did to it. But a Sony tv breaks after a few years. Same with every device they had. Nintendo can make their hardware withstand things that a PS2 will go to pieces over. You can slap a PS2 console and it will stop working. Hit a gamecube with a sledgehammer on the side and it will still work perfectly.

  • NFunspoiler

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 4:51 am GMT

    DS PWNS the PSP in Japan.

    I feel sorry for the X360. I hope it will sell at least 2 Million in Japan in it's lifetime.

    ANd, i want a PS2. I feel like im missing out. Gamecube can't settle my gaming urges.

  • mics07

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 4:30 am GMT

    Why did you delete your posts MadonnaProject?

  • mics07

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 4:29 am GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • MadonnaProject

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 2:36 am GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • MadonnaProject

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 2:30 am GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • mics07

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:50 am GMT

    MaddonaProject - "seriously, eat almonds, theyre good brain food. for thoseof you who have brains."

    Not all of us are that stupid to say "wow ds is a success, give up MS". Besides, more people today care more on innovation than the same old same old...I mean, yeah sure, it's cool playing a portable blow it up game (GTA:LCS) or a cool platformer (Daxter), but then can you meet other people online if you blow their character to smithereens? Will they say "Hey! You blew me up! What's your name???" I don't think so. And please inform me of this "the psp might not be incredible but its beginning to shine" nonsense...Only GTA:LCS is the PSP's fighting force...(no offense)And wasn't it the PSP's propriety UMD format that's losing its shine? I mean, just buy a dvd of the movie for god's sake...You could've used the battery-draining movie to play games...And if nobody's noticed, almost 75% of games on the PSP are all poorly-made ports of PS2 games...So what's the point? At least only a few of the DS' games are ports...since I don't think any current gen console has a touch screen. And no offense again, but the PSP's not exactly pocket friendly is it? Not that the original DS isn't, but it's more manageable. And that's why the DS Lite was invented...And prove me wrong when I say that the DS is not a "silly little piece of junk".

    BTW, i eat almonds...do you? I don't think you've been eating YOUR almonds...or at least you're not aware of how you type and how you had errors with "seriously, eat almonds, theyre good brain food. for thoseof you who have brains". (1 no space and 1 missing apostrophe)

    As Kwiksilva said, GO DS!

  • KiLLer_ba

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:43 am GMT

    Come to the U.S so you could dominate even more

  • Kwiksilva

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 10:41 pm GMT

    GO DS

  • MadonnaProject

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 9:55 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • lord_lad

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 9:54 pm GMT

    Anybody can say anything about Nintendo's console quality.

    But when it comes to Handheld, Nintendo is not only king, it is the god...

    Almost every nintendo handheld (virtual boy notwithstanding) dominates the world

  • Imavnas

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 9:50 pm GMT

    "Imavnas that just shows that Sony and Microsoft consoles are poorly designed.....You must live in a world where people don't live in their houses they don't play with things. They put the things in plastic containers never to be opened." ( I truncated ur post)

    Thats utter nonsense. Poorly designed because they cant withstand a 3 story fall?! Sure things happen but this is an electronic device not a mechanics tool. Furniture is meant to be used physically; as in u put physical things on it, i.e. your arse, or that particular electronic device. An electronic device thats made to sit in a home isnt meant to be thrown around, abused, or otherwise tortured, as the very instruction manual for the device details the consequences if said things happen. And comparing the Original Gameboy to the PSP is codswallop. Theres a decades difference in utility. Besides, were talking about home electronic devices. If I were to move a piece of furniture with my PS2 on it id move the PS2 first and put it somewhere where its not liable to get crushed or otherwise damaged. Then you put it back when your done moving said furniture. If you dont have the sense to read instruction manuals (or if you disregard them entirely) and this sorta thing happens to you, then perhaps you shouldnt be buying anything electronic to begin with.

  • ujinyumeno

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 9:25 pm GMT

    Maquis_UK.... Yes.. I finally got your name right hahahaha.. I will be more careful next time...

  • fxmldr999

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 9:05 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • meimnobody

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 8:54 pm GMT

    Imavnas that just shows that Sony and Microsoft consoles are poorly designed.

    You can drop a gamecube from 30 feet and it will still work. A ps2 will break.

    Sorry but things happen. Hardware is meant to be tough. People live in their houses. People want furniture stuff that doesn't break from ordinary use.

    Nintendo stuff that is ten years old still works. You can drop a gameboy in salt water clean it out and it works. A psp goes to pieces if you drop it from a table.

    Stuff gets pushed off furniture all the time. You must live in a world where people don't live in their houses they don't play with things. They put the things in plastic containers never to be opened.

  • NeokVash19

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 8:12 pm GMT

    come on, it's true that nintendo is totally kicking butt with the ds and I congratulate them for their success, truly amazing. wow I can't believe that microsoft has only been able to sell 50k during this year.....boooo!!!
    lol funny,

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 8:06 pm GMT

    ie Not Marquis... its Maquis. oh well never mind

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 8:04 pm GMT

    grrr... if you're gonna use my line, ujinyumeno, at least credit my name correctly. yeesh! ; )

  • Imavnas

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 7:58 pm GMT

    "Yeah and I would agree. I would bet 33%+ of the PS2 sold were to people who were replacing a broken PS2. "

    That would be 33.3+ million PS2's. Be realistic will ya? The system wouldnt have sold like hotcakes if a third of every PS2 bought had a problem grave enough to be worth replacing. At a a serious extreme, I say 10 million, but even then, thats a preposterous amount of replaced consoles. As an example, The Eb games near my home gets a PS2 that needs to be "supposedly" replaced about every 2 months. Turns out half the time, the owner did something incredibly stupid, like put it where an animal can reach it, or leave it where sunlight hits it directly at a certain time of day, or (a very common occurrence) leave the PS2 on something thats hot (a crt tv tends to get hot), and then leave the PS2 on as well for hours because they "went out". They come back with spazzy PS2's because they dont know what it means to own a piece of electronic equipment. Then they go online and talk BS about how their PS2 got screwed because X lie and X lie. Then a good deal of people believe said lie, and it spreads like a plague. Multiply that idiot by a good million idiots, and you have a good deal of phony PS2 sucks claims.

    EDIT: this also applies to the 360 as well.

  • mics07

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 7:50 pm GMT

    We all know that Nintendo will (at least for now) never be beaten in the handheld gaming part of video games...It has the experience and the fun factor the PSP is missing...Sure, the PSP can play movies, and music, and as well as other home-brewed games, but then again, can you take care of cute little virtual puppies without using an analog "pad"? Can the PSP help you actually develop your brain like playing Brain Age? I don't think so...Sony needs to step up to plate and use another idea besides raw power and multimedia capabilities...It's called "innovation"...can't say much on the part of Microsoft though...they have a good console (Xbox 360) on their hands...It's just that they're marketing it to a place that doesn't like it...and instead starves gamers to death in America...I dunno if that's sheer stupidity or sheer marketing genius...(in the sense that the demand for the 360 is so strong it will actually sell big in America)

  • DarkKefka

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 7:38 pm GMT

    No big surprise, we already know that Japan loves Nintendo and Sony.

  • typo

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 7:25 pm GMT

    wow-wee!

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 7:22 pm GMT

    does it now, well I'll eat some

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 7:19 pm GMT

    Yeah and I would agree. I would bet 33%+ of the PS2 sold were to people who were replacing a broken PS2.

  • mhder

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 7:19 pm GMT

    MS is heading in the right direction with square enix games and a naruto game. But it is still an unproven system in the eyes of japanese gamers. There has to be a consistent release of big name titles that appeal to the Japanese. Rumble Roses made the top 50 in sales which is encouraging for them but that's not going to cause a huge spike in system sales. Japan will look at the Xbox360 through the eyes of the original Xbox: not many games, not many games that appeal to Japanese gamers, and several system problems couples with bad responses to them. They have serious hurdles to overcome and that's why one or two good games isn't enough especially with the PS2 still going strong, the PS3 and Rev just around the corner, and also with the DS craze and to a lesser extent, the PSP's popularity. Remember in Japan, calling a competitor's system kiddy isn't going to make millions of insecure 13 year olds come running to buy your system.

  • ebonyflame

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 7:17 pm GMT

    MiKaNoH, I think you are wrong. I agree with you that the PSP has potential buts main fault lies in the fact that unlike its competition, the DS and GBA, it focuses to much on existing franchises on its home based relative. The reason the GBA and DS have been so successful is because of all the megatons of original, not related to home systems, software available on them. Nobody really wants to buy a portable DVD player that plays prorietary DVD's that are less feature packed than a regular DVD. Not to mention I cannot put my UMD's into a PS2 unit to watch on the big screen, what a rip off. For what I could spend on a PSP for one unit and a game I could buy a portable DVD player and several movies that I could watch on the go and at home on my television. Secondly, why do I want to play ports of old PS and PS2 games on my portable system. I want to play bite sized games on a portable not content rich scaled down versions of successful home games. If Sony wants that damn machine to do better, they need to first releasea software atch for the PS2 that enables it to not only play DVD movies but also PSP movies. And lastly they need to encourage the game developers to make short original content for the machine that is highly replayable like most GBA and DS games are. Nobody really wants to play Metal Gear Solid on the go. That is more of a stay at home and play on PS2 kinda thing.

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 7:17 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

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