[Frillen]

PSP is kicking ass recently in all territories. Much deserved. PS3 performs better but still falls short of expectations. Wii and DS numbers are good. Xbox720 to skip Japan confirmed.

Pitty that people buy it for other things than gaming though.

[PuppetMaster]

Goooo Kenzan!

[donny2112]

why ? only because wii-fit is outsellin ssbb ?

Well, it used to be that some were hoping SSBB would surpass Wii Fit. Now, that's not going to happen, and it's indicative of the overall slowing of SSBB's sales.

Doubt it. It'll pick up again, soon.

Why?

[schuelma]

Disappointing PS3 numbers and surprisingly low Wii hardware as well.

[Culex]

Disappointing PS3 numbers and surprisingly low Wii hardware as well.

It's actually tracking nearly identicaly, week for week from last year.

[botticus]

It's actually tracking nearly identicaly, week for week from last year.

Close enough. Panther predicted an MC number of 52k this week based on that analysis. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out considering it was supply-constrained last year.

[batbeg]

Disaster could be a game for the Golden Week as it's planned for Europe on May 30th.

Nintendo denied that date.

[schuelma]

Close enough. Panther predicted an MC number of 52k this week based on that analysis. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out considering it was supply-constrained last year.

Yeah I think that's a big deal in any year to year analysis- for much of 07, the Wii was just selling what it could ship. I don't believe there are any such problems right now.

[Shiggy]

Nintendo denied that date.

They say it's speculation. Nevertheless, May 30th is no palceholder date; the current placeholder date is June 16th. In addition, May 30th is a Friday.

[JoshuaJSlone]

Flower, Sun and Rain DS. Hmm. Does anyone know what the PS2 version sold?

Famitsu has its first week as 5,884 and it never charted again.

[ziran]

Poor increase for PS3 sales, as expected really. This is what I see happening from here on out for the system, as is typical in Japan. People have been, and are, buying the system for future titles, as happened with GC. I expect similar bumps around upcoming major releases, followed by an eventual return to the 10-15K level, or less. Yakuza 3 seems to be in line with most PS3 releases, and looks like it will sell significantly less than previous versions even with a budget release.

Wii Fit and Wii Sports are easily the two most significant titles this gen thus far. Continued amazing sales for both! SSBB has passed (or is about to) the GC version, and should sell over 2 million, bettering the N64 version. Nintendo's sequels are often performing better than their GC counterparts, which is impressive given the state of the Japanese market, but is no doubt installed base related.

Most impressive is Nintendo's timing for releases, it's been excellent, and momentum should carry on to MKWii and Golden Week, but yet again, PS3's holiday line-up is looking abysmal. Obviously many Japanese consumers no longer want what Sony and its 3rd parties are selling, generally speaking, but there's still a sense of Sony just giving up on both PS3 and PSP in terms of sw. From the obvious and huge decline of the kind of gaming that made the PS1 and PS2 so popular, that was happening last gen, to what happened with DS and now Wii, Sony's reaction time is very slow, and will likely cause them huge problems going forward. They really need to get their head out of their ass if they want to have any chance next time round in Japan.


Edit-
Family Ski continues to sells nicely, it could end up over 150K, maybe even make it to 200K, and ww pass 500K. Jumping on the Wii Balance board so early was a good move...

[JoshuaJSlone]

Yakuza 3 seems to be in line with most PS3 releases, and looks like it will sell significantly less than previous versions even with a budget release.

I don't know. Yakuza 3's first week comes between Yakuza's (130K) and Yakuza 2's (282K). Both games (and their budget releases) had nice legs, though, so it's way early to tell how 3's final total will compare.

[Dascu]

They say it's speculation. Nevertheless, May 30th is no palceholder date; the current placeholder date is June 16th. In addition, May 30th is a Friday.

It's also my birthday. So it has to be true.

[Grecco]

Yeah I think that's a big deal in any year to year analysis- for much of 07, the Wii was just selling what it could ship. I don't believe there are any such problems right now.

I suspect we might see smaller numbers for the Wii anyways since shipments will head off to USA this month.

[schuelma]

I suspect we might see smaller numbers for the Wii anyways since shipments will head off to USA this month.

Given that Wii has settled to 50-60K a week, I think Japan will still have plenty.

[ziran]

I don't know. Yakuza 3's first week comes between Yakuza's (130K) and Yakuza 2's (282K). Both games (and their budget releases) had nice legs, though, so it's way early to tell how 3's final total will compare.

Maybe, but I believe PS3's installed base will be the problem for its legs.

I think the very good sales of the PS2 version were because of its installed base, the game was new and it hit a chord with a big audience. Being an expected sequel and appearing on PS3 I don't see enough long term interest in the title to bring it up to the sales of previous versions.

[tanod]

So what's the next "wait for" PS3 game?

FF13?

It's a big problem when the 360 has more and better RPGs than the PS3. It's pretty damn ridiculous considering the RPG selection that was available on PS2.

[Hcoregamer00]

FF13? It's a big problem when the 360 has more and better RPGs than the PS3. It's pretty damn ridiculous considering the RPG selection that was available on PS2.

Yeah, Valkyria Chronicles looks like a great game, but since it is not a traditional RPG, they pretty much killed a lot of potential sales.

[ethelred]

Very, very nice numbers for Soma Bringer.

Also nice: Etrian Odyssey 2 has now in its third week hit the lifetime sales of the original game. Anything from this point on is gravy.

It's a big problem when the 360 has more and better RPGs than the PS3. It's pretty damn ridiculous considering the RPG selection that was available on PS2.

The PS3 is not the PS2, and it never will be. Maybe at some point it'll scrape its way above "marginal failure," but that's about the height of its ambitions.

[DayShallCome]

Hey, no one asked before time...here we go. DSL　45000 PSP　66000 Wii　51000 PS3　21000 PS2　8800 360　2500

Excess stock to NA for Brawl? For the GAFers in Japan, how's the stock situation looking?

[titiklabingapat]

I thought the PS3 numbers were pretty good. It almost doubled up.

[HK-47]

Excess stock to NA for Brawl? For the GAFers in Japan, how's the stock situation looking?

There is no shortage

[Segata Sanshiro]

Excess stock to NA for Brawl? For the GAFers in Japan, how's the stock situation looking?

I would describe the situation here as "quite plentiful".

[Luckyman]

Wii Fit and Wii Sports are easily the two most significant titles this gen thus far. Continued amazing sales for both! Sony's reaction time is very slow, and will likely cause them huge problems going forward. They really need to get their head out of their ass if they want to have any chance next time round in Japan.

Sony please do not take your head out of your ass. :D

Japanese 3rd parties are already shifting focus to West. It´s great.

[tanod]

The PS3 is not the PS2, and it never will be. Maybe at some point it'll scrape its way above "marginal failure," but that's about the height of its ambitions.

I didn't say it would be. I'm just underscoring the disappointment.

[Metal Gear?!]

Pitty that people buy it for other things than gaming though.

Why is that a pity? The PSP is actually rather good for things other than gaming.

[Segata Sanshiro]

Why is that a pity? The PSP is actually rather good for things other than gaming.

Pity for those of us that bought it for the games, because the system is going to get left high and dry pretty damn soon.

[DayShallCome]

I would describe the situation here as "quite plentiful".

Good to know - makes me wonder why more stock wasn't diverted in January when NA had a big shortage.

[sphinx]

Excess stock to NA for Brawl? For the GAFers in Japan, how's the stock situation looking?

it's just a slow week with the same trend we've been watching for the last 5 or 6 weeks. Next week the Wii is up again then back down and so forth.

I actually expected better numbers for Smash, I know it will do well but I thought it would be in line with sports/play/fit but judging by the caliber of its legs, that won't happen at all.
I do think the US will get crazy for smash. I was in a gamestop shop 2 days ago... they had like 500 copies of SSBB, just crazy but I think Japan is reacting conservative to smash.. it won't come near any DS multimillion selling franchise, for instance.

I was hopin for better EO2 legs as well, I know it's already better than the first one but I can't help to think "damn" when I see 9000 units this week.

[Hcoregamer00]

Why is that a pity? The PSP is actually rather good for things other than gaming.

Exactly, the damn thing is a good media device.

Why are people so shocked when people actually use it when Sony marketed it as a media device, not as a game console.

[RJT]

It's good to see PES Wii hanging in there. Not amazing, but at least it means people weren't shocked at the controls, and we can expect new versions.

[Lightning]

Sony please do not take your head out of your ass. :D Japanese 3rd parties are already shifting focus to West. It´s great.

Sony don't have their heads in their ass. Sony are totally focusing on the west as well. Just take a look at Sony's gaming lineup and see how it's exclusively western centric and rightfully so.

[Byakuya769]

Sony please do not take your head out of your ass. :D Japanese 3rd parties are already shifting focus to West. It´s great.

Shooters with large eyed protagonist confirmed???

[Phife Dawg]

Hey, no one asked before time...here we go. PS3　21000 1.PS3 Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan!　178000 2.PS2 Gundam Musou Special　55000 (204000) 10.WII Minna no Joushiki Ryoku TV　14000

Thanks. I didn't expect a huge bump or anything but those PS3 numbers are pathetic to say the least. New colour, bundle, big game and barely making 20k. RGGK does OK but I honestly expected it to be more successful than DMC4, I thought it was a bigger draw. I hope for Sega that this has better legs than most PS3 titles.

I don't know. Yakuza 3's first week comes between Yakuza's (130K) and Yakuza 2's (282K). Both games (and their budget releases) had nice legs, though, so it's way early to tell how 3's final total will compare.

That's true, but there haven't been too many PS3 games with good legs thus far. Maybe HSG, which is a game with a much broader appeal. Also judging by the hardware sales RGGK didn't spark a lot of new interest. I hope it gets good word of mouth and a bit of legs.

Sony don't have their heads in their ass. Sony are totally focusing on the west as well. Just take a look at Sony's gaming lineup and see how it's exclusively western centric and rightfully so.

Well the best thing would be software that is equally appealing to western and eastern tastes. But that's easier said then done and SCEJ haven't been successful at that in the PS2 era. Though there's always GT to fall back to.

[AnimeTheme]

Disappointing PS3 numbers and surprisingly low Wii hardware as well.

The whole Japanese home console industry seems to be in troubles, especially for those third parties which still rely on the Japanese market mostly. Neither Wii nor PS3 looks good for them. Fortunately they still have the portables...

[ivysaur12]

Soma Bringer's staying strong.

[NintendosBooger]

Exactly, the damn thing is a good media device. Why are people so shocked when people actually use it when Sony marketed it as a media device, not as a game console.

Maybe because the PSP is primarily a gaming device?

[Hcoregamer00]

Maybe because the PSP is primarily a gaming device?

That wasn't marketed as such.

It was marketed as a mutimedia device.

[Magicpaint]

Nice numbers for Soma Bringer. I was hoping it wouldn't drop off after the first week, so good to see it stay around. Hopefully it hits 100k.

[Pureauthor]

Well, when you boil it down, it seems to follow the economic strategy that most other primarily gaming systems establish, instead of media devices like MP3s, namely - the money is made on the software, not the hardware.

[Hcoregamer00]

Nice numbers for Soma Bringer. I was hoping it wouldn't drop off after the first week, so good to see it stay around. Hopefully it hits 100k.

How does this compare to other Monolithsoft games like Baiten Kaitos and Xenosaga?

[Magicpaint]

How does this compare to other Monolithsoft games like Baiten Kaitos and Xenosaga?

Well it's certainly doing better than the Baten kaitos games (iirc BKO didn't hit 50k), but it's not quite Xenosaga level right now.

[NintendosBooger]

That wasn't marketed as such. It was marketed as a mutimedia device.

No, it's marketed as a gaming device, with multimedia features to supplement it. I don't know about you, but all the PSP ads and commercials I've seen showcased games exclusively --- not movies, songs, etc.

[Hcoregamer00]

No, it's marketed as a gaming device, with multimedia features to supplement it. I don't know about you, but all the PSP ads and commercials I've seen showcased games exclusively --- not movies and songs.

Thankfully now they are focusing more on games, but the PSP traditionally touted its mutimedia features. Just look at those old PSP brochures at the PSP Kiosks at best buy.

[Jokeropia]

The whole Japanese home console industry seems to be in troubles, especially for those third parties which still rely on the Japanese market mostly. Neither Wii nor PS3 looks good for them. Fortunately they still have the DS...

Fixed. Which third parties that "rely on the Japanese market mostly" are doing well on the PSP?

[slaughterking]

How does this compare to other Monolithsoft games like Baiten Kaitos and Xenosaga?

Baten Kaitos LTD: 64,422
Batan Kaitos: Origins LTD: 44,297

It can't compete with Xenosaga, though.

[Hcoregamer00]

Baten Kaitos LTD: 64,422 Batan Kaitos: Origins LTD: 44,297 It can't compete with Xenosaga, though.

Okay, so it isn't a miserable failure, and is in the middle in terms of sales.

[ivysaur12]

Baten Kaitos LTD: 64,422 Batan Kaitos: Origins LTD: 44,297 It can't compete with Xenosaga, though.

I'm listening to Daft Punk right now and your avatar is rhythm with the music.

And yeah, they weren't complete failures, especially given BKO being sold while the Gamecube was dead in Japan.

[ethelred]

Well it's certainly doing better than the Baten kaitos games (iirc BK didn't hit 50k), but it's not quite Xenosaga level right now.

BK1 just barely cracked 100k; BK2 was mired in the 40s. Compared to those, definitely a promising start for Soma. As to Xenosaga, well... SB has already blown away Xenosaga DS and, hey, Episode 3 only did 150k -- keep hope alive!

[AnimeTheme]

Fixed. Which third parties that "rely on the Japanese market mostly" are doing well on the PSP?

Bandai (a big game company though still rely more on the Japanese market than outside) has been doing good lately on PSP, especially with those Anime games. Their recent financial report shows that the sw sales on PSP has exceeded their expectation, while the performance on NDS was surprisingly underperforming.

I know some people keep on bashing PSP's sw performance no matter what, but it is a fact that PSP sw is doing better and better since PSP Slim launch, especially in some specific game genres.