[waicol]

Yes, and capcom were smart enough to release it one week after MK7, that will help alot to bump MH sales on a yet little userbase. We can say alot of many bad things about Capcom, but they just made a clever move and it'll wipe the floor with 3rd parties excuses about releasing in similar time frame than Nintendo games and poor sales.

[charlequin]

While they have been rather tame, Didn't they also make some sort of MH spinoff on the 360. Making an individual game from a series on 4 out of 5 current game systems seems a bit whorish.

Sure, if you just go "hurr durr 1 2 3 4" and don't actually look at any of the specific circumstances. "Monster Hunter" on 360 is a MMO with a monthly fee -- it's actually a PC game and only even got a console port because Microsoft cut them a sweetheart deal on their usually brutal MMO rules, and the goal on announcement (although I don't know if they pulled this off) was to do cross-platform play between the two. PS3 could've just gotten an uprezzed Tri port, but they didn't give it anything until they had an opportunity to make an adjunct release whose only purpose was to provide (again) cross-platform play with the "real" game, MH3P.

(I'm not even going to dignify whatever iOS garbage they threw out with an individual rebuttal.)

The point is, anyone in Japan who's a fan of the series can identify the platforms that have gotten actual MH games -- PSP and (to a drastically lesser extent) Wii. And anyone who looks at the platform strategy can identify the primary selling point of the series -- i.e. multiplayer co-op with friends -- and see how, in a country without a strong history of online gaming, a scattershot multiplatform strategy cuts directly into that. Those 5m numbers on MH3P are a direct result of cultivating a single platform where people can rely on playing each iterative game, and releasing on a single sytem so you're guaranteed to have all your friends be compatible. That's worked great for them so far and there's no indication they'll change that just because "lawl Capcom loves to port stuff!!!!!!!"

Personally, I don't know that 3DS is really a better choice for the platform for this series than Vita (although I'm sure dev costs were a huge factor) but what is important is building up a single reliable platform and keeping the audience there coming back again and again. The two announced titles on 3DS suggest that Capcom's already made up their mind which platform they'll be pushing this time around, and while I would agree that they'll change that plan if their first effort massively underperforms, I think it's still relatively doubtful it will.

[nextgeneration]

This is going to be a great week! Mario Kart edition of Media Create on Wednesday, followed by November NPD on Thursday. Bring it on! :D

[charlequin]

with close to 5m sales of MH3rdP i'm going to go out on a limb and say that people who like playing Monster Hunter already own a PSP.

This is kind of the cliche never-move-forward argument though. Why should anyone have made any next-gen games ever? The PS2 was the best selling home console of all time! We should still be looking at God of War 5 and Gran Turismo 7 on PS2 because think of the iterative savings!!!

They've got to move on sometime. Being the first company to release a compelling third-party exclusive for a new platform can pay huge dividends, so whichever new-generation handheld they picked it behooves them to release something within the first year and start cementing a brand. If they weren't doing it on 3DS now, they'd be saving it to do on Vita six months from now. Either way, MH3PG on PSP would be God of War 2-level foolishness.

[Fantastical]

This is going to be a great week! Mario Kart edition of Media Create on Wednesday, followed by November NPD on Thursday. Bring it on! :D

And my last final is on Thursday! Yay! :P

[DCharlie]

This is kind of the cliche never-move-forward argument though. Why should anyone have made any next-gen games ever? The PS2 was the best selling home console of all time! We should still be looking at God of War 5 and Gran Turismo 7 on PS2 because think of the iterative savings!!! They've got to move on sometime. Being the first company to release a compelling third-party exclusive for a new platform can pay huge dividends, so whichever new-generation handheld they picked it behooves them to release something within the first year and start cementing a brand. If they weren't doing it on 3DS now, they'd be saving it to do on Vita six months from now. Either way, MH3PG on PSP would be God of War 2-level foolishness.

this is where we disagree - i agree that they need to face forward but the PSP user base is there and willing -still- and the 3DS has -yet- to cement itself (it's picking up, but it's not so far ahead that it's The Sure Thing. Capcom strategy is right but i feel they chose the wrong machine (then again, i said that about MH3rdP so... my history isn't great here!).

PSP 3rdG with a Vita HD lazyport gives those who don't want to move over the chance to play, plus the a clear upgrade path. Show the HD version and the minor advantages, show that MH4 is going there and you have the safety net of a huge hungry userbase. Of course, i'm not naive enough to see that maybe the fanbase just wouldn't shift from PSP without that shove so it could backfire. Then again, so might the 3DS move.

PSP MH3PG wouldn't matter - same way i don't think 3G on 3DS matters either. The move, if it happens, for the fans will come with MH4. The only thing different is the sales and the possible deal that Capcom / Nintendo struck up.

I'm already set for MH4 regardless - we've enough 3DS's in the house to start our own team, but for MH3G i can see me buying it on saturday, having the wife laugh her head off at me and call me a mongbert, me play it for a bit and like it but ultimately not bite into it like with MH3rdP. Then i'll shed bitter fanboy hate tears the second it sells 800.001 units then slowly get used to MH4 on 3DS.

Or something.

[cvxfreak]

(then again, i said that about MH3rdP so... my history isn't great here!).

Wow!

[DCharlie]

Wow!

haha i had it in my head after seeing Lost Planet 2 (and it's seemingly nodding motion towards MH multi) that they simply HAD to be thinking about throwing the next Monster Hunter under the new Framework and the thought of slicing up monsters in lush environments with monsters that looked THAT good just got me hot under the collar (after MH1, MH2, MHP, MHP2 etc all looking not too far removed)

So when they announced "WOOO PSP AGAIN!" my reaction was "OH FFS!"

Still, i came to love it and i'm sure i'll come to love MH4 (i'll most likely -like- MH3G but with the usual people i play it with not buying it then it's likely to be a very lonely Monster Hunt if i buy it)

yet - i still find myself harbouring desires of a MH game that looks like Dragons Dogma. As if the LP2 burning wasn't enough to teach me a lesson, i go back to that dream like a moth smacking it's head repeatedly against a red hot lightbulb.

[Erethian]

this is where we disagree - i agree that they need to face forward but the PSP user base is there and willing -still- and the 3DS has -yet- to cement itself (it's picking up, but it's not so far ahead that it's The Sure Thing. Capcom strategy is right but i feel they chose the wrong machine (then again, i said that about MH3rdP so... my history isn't great here!).

You also run into the danger of setting yourself up to fail by not committing to a platform early on and establishing awareness of your IPs. Capcom seems more willing than most publishers to take the risk and try and get in ahead of the pack; their success with Dead Rising and Lost Planet on the 360 are a good example of that.

[DCharlie]

You also run into the danger of setting yourself up to fail by not committing to a platform early on and establishing awareness of your IPs. Capcom seems more willing than most publishers to take the risk and try and get in ahead of the pack; their success with Dead Rising and Lost Planet on the 360 are a good example of that.

true - though this is an established game series with an established userbase. I agree it has to move somewhere at some point, and this all may come down to "school kids need an affordable platform, PSV will not be that platform, 3DS will be. PSP is dead next year..."

HOWEVER, if MH3G does tank - it's going to be interesting to see what they do next.

[Takao]

true - though this is an established game series with an established userbase. I agree it has to move somewhere at some point, and this all may come down to "school kids need an affordable platform, PSV will not be that platform, 3DS will be. PSP is dead next year..." HOWEVER, if MH3G does tank - it's going to be interesting to see what they do next.

School kids? I always thought MH's main demographic was teens, which is part of the reason it gelled so well with PSP (as Sony platforms tend to have a lot of owners in the age range).

[neo2046]

Famitsu:
Mario Kart 7 1st week = 451,932 , 3DS this week = 216,350


『マリオカート7』初週販売本数は45.2万本――ニンテンドー3DS向けソフトで最高の出足に
http://www.famitsu.com/news/201112/06006603.html

[DCharlie]

With school kids i cover high school. Just saw some adverts at the demo stations for
Mh3g and , yup, all based around girls dressed up taking 3DS's into class rooms an having people play in groups.

They know their market - but again, it goes back to whether 3G is different enough to cause datflock.

[slaughterking]

First week sales and corresponding hardware sales for other Mario Kart games:

Mario Kart SC - 261,797 (GBA Hardware: 95,618)
Mario Kart DD - 179,230 (GCN Hardware: 20,587)
Mario Kart DS - 224,411 (DS Hardware: 295,701)
Mario Kart Wii - 608,147 (Wii Hardware: 50,155)

Mario Kart 7 - 451,932 (3DS Hardware: 216,350)

[Jackano]

Famitsu: Mario Kart 7 1st week = 451,932 , 3DS this week = 216,350 『マリオカート7』初週販売本数は45.2万本――ニンテンドー3DS向けソフトで最高の出足に http://www.famitsu.com/news/201112/06006603.html

So 2nd best week ever for the 3DS in Japan. 3rd strike after the price drop and Mario 3D. And there is still MonHun to go!

This is a little crazy, but if we look at the sales since the Gamecube era, I think we can definitely say that globally, the Kart series has surpassed the Mario main series.
The spin-off who outrank the parent series, do we have another examples in the video game or even movie industry?

[DCharlie]

Also i notice theres a guide book out already - nearly bought to see what new monsters are in there but... Yeah. The beginner books usually only show the early details.

I also note in Yodo at least that a lot of the MH goods have migrated to the Nintendo floor. CAPCOM are really doing this? Smells like suicide ;)

The spin-off who outrank the parent series, do we have another examples in the video game or even movie industry?

.... Monster hunter portable?

[Erethian]

For comparison: Mario Kart SC - 261,797 Mario Kart DD - 179,230 Mario Kart DS - 224,411 Mario Kart Wii - 608,147 Mario Kart 7 - 451,932

And so far as hardware goes, DS did 155,494 for the corresponding week in 2005.

Edit: Saw your edit with the HW numbers. For thsoe wondering, Mario Kart DS launched on the 8th of December 2005.

[Jackano]

.... Monster hunter portable?

Ahah absolutely indeed ^^"

[Nuclear Muffin]

Famitsu: Mario Kart 7 1st week = 451,932 , 3DS this week = 216,350 『マリオカート7』初週販売本数は45.2万本――ニンテンドー3DS向けソフトで最高の出足に http://www.famitsu.com/news/201112/06006603.html

Hah! I was practically spot on with Mario Kart, but HOLY SHIT @ the 3DS hardware!

That's just nuts! And they still have Monster Hunter 3G and the rest of the Xmas holiday season to go!

[Erethian]

Ahah absolutely indeed ^^"

Persona is a candidate, albeit on a much smaller scale.

[Celine]

Pleased with both numbers.

So 2nd best week ever for the 3DS in Japan. 3rd strike after the price drop and Mario 3D. And there is still MonHun to go! This is a little crazy, but if we look at the sales since the Gamecube era, I think we can definitely say that globally, the Kart series has surpassed the Mario main series. The spin-off who outrank the parent series, do we have another examples in the video game or even movie industry?

Personally I regard 2D Mario and 3D Mario as two separated series cause the gameplay is fundamentally different but also I don't consider Mario Kart a spin-off.
The original SNES game created its own new genre while using characters from the mushroom kingdom for marketing purpose.

[marc^o^]

Famitsu: Mario Kart 7 1st week = 451,932 , 3DS this week = 216,350 『マリオカート7』初週販売本数は45.2万本――ニンテンドー3DS向けソフトで最高の出足に http://www.famitsu.com/news/201112/06006603.html

I think 3DS jut beat the previous record established by DS Lite at week 48.

[Izayoi]

Holy shit, dem numbers.

I think 3DS jut beat the previous record established by DS Lite at week 48.

What record?

Where are my comparative charts and graphs?!

[watershed]

Nintendo means business. Will be interesting to see the full chart. Man, what is going to happen next week?!

[Gianni Merryman]

Mario kart 7 pretty much as anticipated - and will catch Mario 3D Land up in a couple of weeks or so - to be honest I was expecting it to give a much bigger boost in hardware sales though, something more like 400k-600k, now I'm looking forward to next week.

[Gianni Merryman]

Man, what is going to happen next week?!

Monster hunter 3G, and the week after that PSVita.

Speaking of which, when is Inazuma eleven being released on 3DS again?

[AdventureRacing]

Mario kart 7 pretty much as anticipated - and will catch Mario 3D Land up in a couple of weeks or so - to be honest I was expecting it to give a much bigger boost in hardware sales though, something more like 400k-600k, now I'm looking forward to next week.

400-600K? That would have been insane!

[marc^o^]

Mario kart 7 pretty much as anticipated - and will catch Mario 3D Land up in a couple of weeks or so - to be honest I was expecting it to give a much bigger boost in hardware sales though, something more like 400k-600k, now I'm looking forward to next week.

There are now 450K japanese who are showing Mario Kart to their friends: hardware sales will follow, this game is VIRAL.

[stilgar]

So 2nd best week ever for the 3DS in Japan. 3rd strike after the price drop and Mario 3D. And there is still MonHun to go! This is a little crazy, but if we look at the sales since the Gamecube era, I think we can definitely say that globally, the Kart series has surpassed the Mario main series. The spin-off who outrank the parent series, do we have another examples in the video game or even movie industry?

Mario Bros. surpassing Donkey Kong :p

[Erethian]

400-600K? That would have been insane!

We aren't in the busiest sales weeks of the year yet, so yes, it would have been insane to predict that.

[ULTROS!]

Nintendo means business. Will be interesting to see the full chart. Man, what is going to happen next week?!

Monster Hunter 3G, after that FFXIII-2 and Vita.

[Jonnyram]

Good hardware sales for 3DS this week. MK7 did as expected on the existing userbase. Will be interesting to see its legs. It should sell 200k+ a week over the holidays.

[Gianni Merryman]

400-600K? That would have been insane!

NDS did much better than 400k in December with Brain age and the lot rocking the charts as I can recall, I was just assuming Mario kart 7 being released in December should accordingly have resulted in bigger sales, it was a safe bet in my understanding.

[enishi]

Monster hunter 3G, and the week after that PSVita. Speaking of which, when is Inazuma eleven being released on 3DS again?

Inazuma Eleven Go - 15th Dec, 2 days before Vita

[watershed]

I'm really curious about what will happen after the vita comes out. I imagine its going to have a monster opening. Will 3ds sales see a big decline the same week? Can the Vita sustain what I'm assuming will be big numbers out the gate? I think Sony are smart to launch when they are, straight into the holiday buying frenzy. Will be fun to watch.

[cw_sasuke]

NDS did much better than 400k in December with Brain age and the lot rocking the charts as I can recall, I was just assuming Mario kart 7 being released in December should accordingly have resulted in bigger sales, it was a safe bet in my understanding.

Beginning of December and the end of December arent quite the same. And DS December 05 isnt the norm at all, especially since this time there are other significant releases (Vita,FFX-2) to crash the party.

[Nirolak]

So 2nd best week ever for the 3DS in Japan. 3rd strike after the price drop and Mario 3D. And there is still MonHun to go! This is a little crazy, but if we look at the sales since the Gamecube era, I think we can definitely say that globally, the Kart series has surpassed the Mario main series. The spin-off who outrank the parent series, do we have another examples in the video game or even movie industry?

Outside of the already mentioned Monster Hunter, both World of Warcraft and Starsiege: Tribes come to mind.

On the Japanese front, how does Phantasy Star Portable do relative to the old Phantasy Star titles?

[Gianni Merryman]

Beginning of December and the end of December arent quite the same.

Right, in fact should 3DS keep selling no more than 200k throughout December, what with Mario kart 7, MH3G, Inazuma Eleven and SM3DLand, it would be a pretty disappointing outcome as far as I'm concerned.

[cw_sasuke]

Right, in fact should 3DS keep selling no more than 200k throughout December, what with Mario kart 7, MH3G, Inazuma Eleven and SM3DLand, would be a pretty disappointing outcome as far as I'm concerned.

I dont see how or why this would happen....

[marc^o^]

Right, in fact should 3DS keep selling no more than 200k throughout December, what with Mario kart 7, MH3G, Inazuma Eleven and SM3DLand, would be a pretty disappointing outcome as far as I'm concerned.

Previous record set by DS Lite at week 48 was 176K in 2006. PSP managed to sell 325K in 2010 at week 48, with the release of... MH3 (which sold 1.95M).
Next week should be interesting.

[Gianni Merryman]

I dont see how or why this would happen....

In fact that was merely a hypothetical worst possibly scenario, I can't see it happening either of course.

[donkey show]

Nice stuff for MK7! Not surprised considering how much of a monster the series is in general. According to the chartz, Gundam Extreme VS sold over 300,000. It'll be nice to get finalized numbers soon, but not bad at all. =)

[mclem]

But now on Android with GREE support! Totally (not very) different! However, it still is an example of whoring out MH everywhere...

Whoring out a *brand* and whoring out a *game* are two *very* different things.

[cvxfreak]

MK7 did as expected, but hardware really surprised. I thought it would do around 150K this week.

[Busaiku]

Outside of the already mentioned Monster Hunter, both World of Warcraft and Starsiege: Tribes come to mind. On the Japanese front, how does Phantasy Star Portable do relative to the old Phantasy Star titles?

Mega Man Battle Network sold more than the traditional games ever did.

[Gianni Merryman]

Attach rate of MH3G should be pretty interesting, I'm expecting it to give 3DS a robust boost hardware-sales wise, let's wait and see.

On the other hand Mario kart 7 will keep selling well with pretty long legs, I would not be surprised if it hit 1 million mark by the end of the year.

[cw_sasuke]

Attach rate of MH3G should be pretty interesting, I'm expecting it to give 3DS a robust boost hardware-sales wise, let's wait and see. On the other hand Mario kart 7 will keep selling well with pretty long legs, I would not be surprised if it hit 1 million mark by the end of the year.

Million is a given for MK7 - even 3D Land will probably hit a million before the year ends.

[Kenka]

Where are Chris and mpl90 ?
Comparative charts please !


edit:



OK, 3DS wins hands up.

[watershed]

Where are Chris and mpl90 ? Comparative charts please !

This seems to be an early report. I thought we usually don't get numbers till wed or thurs?

[Gianni Merryman]

Million is a given for MK7 - even 3D Land will probably hit a million before the year ends.

Yes, I quite agree with you, for that matter I'm expecting MH3G to hit 1 million mark as well by the end of the year, but I am trying to keep my predictions a little conservative on purpose.