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[Dash Kappei]

The big difference is the 3DS didn't have a strong direct competitor when it came to market. It's not unexpected that vita would sell less in its opening week than the 3DS which had a worse launch lineup but no portable outside of phones/itouches to compete with.

On a somewhat related note, I wish people would quit it with the whole "deserves to sell better than the 3DS" nonsense. 3DS is a good handheld with good games. It'll also almost always outsell the Vita for as long as both are on store shelves. Get over it.

The 3DS had as much competions as you can get.
It had the DS. And DS + PSP in Japan.
That is so true that Nintendo slashed the price of the 3DS while maintining the same prices for DSi/XL to render, especially the former, irrelevant.

 

[guek]

$199 Holiday bundle.

Man, I think vita is going to get its ass handed to it this holiday. There'll most certainly be a 2d mario as well as animal crossing on shelves, a MK7 bundle, and whatever else nintendo is going to show at E3. The DS line has always been a very popular holiday item, in part because it's marketing towards the younger demographic presents it like is a toy (unlike many on this board, I don't see that as a negative whatsoever).

The sooner Sony can start packing in a memory card, the better. We also need to start seeing the vita show up in tv sitcoms and given away on Ellen and whatnot. Get justin bieber to fondle one in front of a camera or something.

 

[Einbroch]

I got my 3G Vita with a 8GB memory card for $251.

So, yes, you can get the entire system for $251 without doing any trade ins.

 

[EYEL1NER]

Funny, nobody's used a particular word in this thread. Any clue?

I guess that makes it a good result.

Could you be talking about.....

 

[Skiesofwonder]

If he's not prepared to spring for a wifi model + memory card, he won't fork out the $$$ for a 3G bundle.

That's partially because of the spin Sony played on these numbers by grouping the Western launch with Asia numbers.

When NPD day comes up and if PSVita is reported at 250k or lower (which is likely imo) then you'll see some people saying it.

 

[Hayeya]

NOOOOTTTTTTT DOOMMMMMMED ? But Why ?

Meanwhile at Capcom's headquarters, Green light is given for Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Vita Edition released number 5221123 for easy cash in

 

[Akia]

No, I'm not. Please, the Vita came out in Japan TEN weeks ago. Therefore, it has been on sale for ten weeks. Please tell me how I am wrong.

So you went from saying "You can't count weeks!" to "The Vita was on sale for 10 weeks in Japan!".

That's great news. I am happy that you're thinking reasonably now.

To repeat my earlier post:

I find the total LTD sales of 1.2M disappointing for a product that was on the market for 11.5 weeks in total

10 weeks of sales in Japan
1 week of early pre-order sales in NA
Half a week of sales across NA/Latin America/EU/Singapore

 

[ScreenSplitter]

Are we really fighting over the Vita and 3DS? Still? Isn't it better really that, instead of one massively trumping the other, they both do really well?

Even though owning solely a 3DS, I am really glad to see the Vita doing well. Anything that stops the influx of Facebook games and £0.99 farming sims.

We're on the same team here guys.

 

[guek]

The 3DS had as much competions as you can get.
It had the DS. And DS + PSP in Japan.
That is so true that Nintendo slashed the price of the 3DS while maintining the same prices for DSi/XL to render, especially the former, irrelevant.

iirc, didn't sales of the DS plummet after 3DS hit? In any case, it didn't have a next gen portable to compete with.

 

[Para bailar La Bomba]

When press releases say specifically sold to consumers, it's sold to consumers.

It makes zero sense for a manufacturer/distributor to disclose retail numbers. Their shipment numbers are their sales numbers. Period. Best Buys Vita sales don't appear in SCEA's P&L.

 

[SmokyDave]

We're on the same team here guys.

Ugh.

 

[ScreenSplitter]

Ugh.

Like it or not, we are. Handhelds with buttons. May they never die.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

The original Japanese press release states quite clearly that it is sold to customer numbers.

http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/120228.pdf

Since when do western retailers supply and relay "sold to customers" information to Sony? My understanding is that this has never been a practice of retailers, ever...and that sales figures from MS/Sony/Nintendo reflect the units sold into retail. Perhaps its different in Japan, but I thought I was pretty clear on Western practices.

 

[Kusagari]

If they shipped 1.2 mill that's not impressive at all. If they sold 1.2 mill it is.

 

[Huff]

So you went from saying "You can't count weeks!" to "The Vita was on sale for 10 weeks in Japan!".

I am happy that you're thinking reasonably now.

To repeat my earlier post:

I find the total LTD sales of 1.2M disappointing for a product that was on the market for 11.5 weeks in total

10 weeks of sales in Japan
1 week of early pre-order sales in NA
Half a week of sales across NA/Latin America/EU/Singapore

It's still a weird view to take. Because it hasn't been on the market worldwide for 11.5 weeks.

 

[guek]

I got my 3G Vita with a 8GB memory card for $251.

So, yes, you can get the entire system for $251 without doing any trade ins.

This is not a relevant point because 99% of consumers will be unable to procure a similar deal.

 

[btkadams]

It makes zero sense for a manufacturer/distributor to disclose retail numbers. Their shipment numbers are their sales numbers. Period. Best Buys Vita sales don't appear in SCEA's P&L.

why? isn't this what walmart does with npd?

 

[Psychotext]

Anyone know what the PSP managed to do in the first 10 weeks in Japan? I see a lot of comparisons, but I don't recall seeing that one.

 

[Sky Chief]

So you went from saying "You can't count weeks!" to "The Vita was on sale for 10 weeks in Japan!".

I am happy that you're thinking reasonably now.

To repeat my earlier post:

I find the total LTD sales of 1.2M disappointing for a product that was on the market for 11.5 weeks in total

10 weeks of sales in Japan
1 week of early pre-order sales in NA
Half a week of sales across NA/Latin America/EU/Singapore

Dude, I have always been thinking reasonably and you still are not. It has not been on sale for 11.5 weeks! It went on sale 10 weeks ago, therefore it has been on sale for ten weeks.

By your logic the Xbox 360 has been on sale for 15 years (5 years in NA, 5 years in JP, and 5 years in Europe). You cannot add weeks across regions, that makes absolutely no sense.

 

[Fixed1979]

So you went from saying "You can't count weeks!" to "The Vita was on sale for 10 weeks in Japan!".

I am happy that you're thinking reasonably now.

To repeat my earlier post:

I find the total LTD sales of 1.2M disappointing for a product that was on the market for 11.5 weeks in total

10 weeks of sales in Japan
1 week of early pre-order sales in NA
Half a week of sales across NA/Latin America/EU/Singapore

Considering its' 1.5 weeks of worldwide sales which includes a 1 week limited release plus 10 weeks of Japan only sales, a LTD of 1.2M is not that disappointing. You can certainly spin it the other way though with the right math...

 

[ghibli99]

I guess those are good numbers? That aside, I hate corp-speak press releases. Wish companies would, you know, actually inject some life/fun into their announcements instead of only catering to investors.

 

[Jeff-DSA]

Wow, I would think that 1.2 million would be a disappointment.

I'm one of those buyers. I even have a First Edition Bundle. These numbers seem low to me and give me reason to worry. I want this thing to do really well so that we can get lots of good games for it, but 10 weeks in Japan and a launch week in Europe/PAL and North America should add up to more than 1.2 million, ESPECIALLY if that's Sony's shipped = sold way of counting.

Also, 2 million seems low for games sold to me. 10 weeks on the shelf in Japan and two region launches should generate more software sold. That's not a good attach rate for a system that supposedly had a great launch lineup. I did my part. I have 6 games purchased (including the Little Deviants pack in, but Sony is probably counting that as a sale).

It's too early to call doom and gloom, but that's not a good start and Sony is spinning it really hard to make it look good.

 

[test_account]

So you went from saying "You can't count weeks!" to "The Vita was on sale for 10 weeks in Japan!".

That's great news. I am happy that you're thinking reasonably now.

To repeat my earlier post:

I find the total LTD sales of 1.2M disappointing for a product that was on the market for 11.5 weeks in total

10 weeks of sales in Japan
1 week of early pre-order sales in NA
Half a week of sales across NA/Latin America/EU/Singapore

You cant overlap weeks like that. In that case, the 3DS has been out for nearly 3 years (1 year in Japan + ~2 years in EU/US) These Vita numbers are for 71 days (about 10 weeks).

EDIT: Already mentioned.

 

[Einbroch]

This is not a relevant point because 99% of consumers will be unable to procure a similar deal.

Uh. What? You still totally can. Lockerz still has the Vita for $251.

 

[Elios83]

That means 300k sold in US and Europe each in the first week. Tie ratio is also looking good although it of course includes software in a wide price range.
The launch was successful, now they need to work hard to make the product a long term success.
I still think that we're going to see 199$ Wifi units later this year with 249$ bundles (memory+first party game).

 

[giancarlo123x]

Great job, I think word of mouth will help this sell a lot. I cant wait to pick up my own. I had fun playing Ninja Gaiden at my friends place yesterday.

 

[fernoca]

It makes zero sense for a manufacturer/distributor to disclose retail numbers. Their shipment numbers are their sales numbers. Period. Best Buys Vita sales don't appear in SCEA's P&L.

There's always that confusion. Some months ago someone mentioned that Sony 's shipped numbers, while they use it as "sold to customers", because this the numbers that left their HQ or something and went to stores.

So, for Sony those are sold to customers (the customers been the retailers) while it's technically "shipped" to others; as in not sold to actual people.

Remember that during that discussion it was mentioned that only Nintendo and Microsoft actually have that..."thing" to track direct sales to customers (by serial number, purchase date, store, etc.) ; forgot the name.

 

[Wario64]

 

[gkryhewy]

Why does the title say "exceeds expectations" now? It's shillish.

They never previously stated what their WW expectations through Feb 26 were, so of course they're going to say they exceeded them.

 

[Kusagari]

Anyone who says 1.2 mil sold, if it is sold, is bad is talking out of their ass. 300k each in the U.S. and Europe its first week is better than anyone predicted.

 

[TheNatural]

To quote Riggs in Lethal Wepon, "that's thin Rog, real thin."

And in response I guess some here's middle name is thin. With sony's PR book cooking I can see why.

578,812 sold in Japan as of last week. So that leaves 600,000 plus in US and Europle combined ... and that's ... good? Also don't even know if that's shipped or sold, Sony's PR train has muddied the waters well.

NPD will shed more light, but in the launch is always the apex popularity of a system outside of the holidays, and this is pretty damn weak.

 

[Duxxy3]

600k spread over taiwn, south korea, singapore, europe and north america...

and that's good???

 

[zroid]

http://i.imgur.com/sMjTN.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

Solid.

 

[Osaka15]

That is awful news . It probably means there will not be a price drop for awhile.........might as well get one in the summer then

 

[Kazerei]

I'm glad the western launches were relatively successful. Hopefully western devs will start paying attention to handhelds now...

 

[btkadams]

i really doubt the number is shipped. wouldn't the amount shipped be more than 1.2 million at this point? sony had over 500000 at the japan launch, correct?

 

[Para bailar La Bomba]

why? isn't this what walmart does with npd?

Because stock is not sold on consignment. It doesnt get sent back. NPD is comparing retailers with other retailers.

 

[guek]

Uh. What? You still totally can. Lockerz still has the Vita for $251.

The point is the majority of consumers don't know that and wont get it at that deal. For all intents and purposes, saying the 3G model 8GB card is $251 is disengenuous

 

[Akia]

It's still a weird view to take. Because it hasn't been on the market worldwide for 11.5 weeks.

It puts the numbers in perspective for me.

Something is very wrong with the Vita's performance in Japan. The 1.2M LTD number should be much higher given that it includes 10 weeks of sales from Japan.

 

[SmokyDave]

Like it or not, we are. Handhelds with buttons. May they never die.

I'm fucking hardcore so skilled gaming on a touchscreen ain't no thing to me. I understand that the more 'casual' gamers out there will continue to require legacy devices though.

Spoiler

I'm fucking with you.

Spoiler

Kinda. Smartphone games rock too.

 

[lunchwithyuzo]

Vita had a bigger/better launch, but some are also seriously underselling the 3DS lineup. Game launch lineups for JP/NA/EU, includes every day one title in any of them;

Nintendo 3DS
Asphalt 3D (Ubisoft)
Bust-A-Move Universe (Square Enix)
Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D (Ubisoft)
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
Madden NFL Football (EA Sports)
Nintendogs + Cats (Nintendo)
PilotWings Resort (Nintendo)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D (Konami)
Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracles (Level 5)
Rayman 3D (Ubisoft)
Samurai Warriors Chronicles (Koei)
Steel Diver (Nintendo)
Super Monkey Ball 3D (Sega)
Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition (Capcom)
The Sims 3 (EA Games)
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars (Ubisoft)
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 3D (Ubisoft)

PS Vita
Army Corps of Hell (Square Enix)
Asphalt Injection (Ubisoft)
Ben 10: Galactic Racing (D3 Publisher)
Blazblue Continuum Shift Extend (Arc System Works)
Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention (N1 Soft)
Dream Club Zero Portable (D3 Publisher)
Dungeon Hunter: Alliance (Ubisoft)
Dynasty Warriors Next (Koei)
F1 2011 (Codemasters)
FIFA Soccer (EA Sports)
Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational (SCE)
Little Deviants (SCE)
Lord of Apocalypse (Square Enix)
Lumines: Electronic Symphony (Ubisoft)
Mahjong Fight Club: Shinsei Zenkoku Taisen Ban (Konami)
Michael Jackson: The Experience HD (Ubisoft)
ModNation Racers: Road Trip (SCE)
Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus (Tecmo)
Rayman Origins (Ubisoft)
Reality Fighters (SCE)
Ridge Racer (Namco)
Shin Kamaitachi no Yoru: 11 Ninme no Suspect (Chunsoft)
Shinobido 2: Way of the Ninja (Acquire)
Touch my Katamari (Namco)
Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 (Capcom)
Uncharted: Golden Abyss (SCE)
Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition (Sega)
Wipeout 2048 (SCE)

 

[TheNatural]

Last year's February NPD for reference:


On the hardware department, Microsoft has revealed that the Xbox 360 was the best selling console for the month, moving 535,000 units, a 27 percent increase compared to the same month last year. Nintendo also revealed that the Wii sold 454,000 units. PS3 403,000.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

600k spread over taiwn, south korea, singapore, europe and north america...

and that's good???

I let GAF's spin-doctors decide. In these threads, you always know how to separate the die-hard fans from the apathetic from the haters.

 

[Skilletor]

Like it or not, we are. Handhelds with buttons. May they never die.

Oh. Dammit. I thought I liked games. I didn't know my purchases had an agenda aside from getting more games.

Awesome, list wars!

lol.

 

[DangerousDave]

I find the total LTD sales of 1.2M disappointing for a product that was on the market for 11.5 weeks in total

10 weeks of sales in Japan
1 week of early pre-order sales in NA
Half a week of sales across NA/Latin America/EU/Singapore

As many other said, you cannot ADD weeks of regions. If it was a worldwide release, 1 week ago, you'll say that it was 3 weeks? 1 week of sales in Japan, 1 week of sales in NA, 1 week of sales in EU?

Can't you see the flaw logic of adding weeks through regions?

 

[dreamer3kx]

Is it just me or does it seem like people want this device to fail, why would you want that, this thing has the potential to produce some really awesome stuff.

 

[Takamura-San]

Is it just me or does it seem like people want this device to fail, why would you want that, this thing has the potential to produce some really awesome stuff.

Some people just like to see the world burn.

 

[Anasui Kishibe]

oh boy

Imma steer clear from this thread. I'll just say that it's not that impressive, to me, expecially if we consider that launch weeks are typically the strongest in many months

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Last year's February NPD for reference:


On the hardware department, Microsoft has revealed that the Xbox 360 was the best selling console for the month, moving 535,000 units, a 27 percent increase compared to the same month last year. Nintendo also revealed that the Wii sold 454,000 units. PS3 403,000.

Not sure what can be gleamed from this information? Last February, consoles each moved 400k+ units in North America. Systems that have been out for several years now.

What are we supposed to use this as a reference for when discussion NA figures which we don't have for a newly-launched system?

Is it just me or does it seem like people want this device to fail, why would you want that, this thing has the potential to produce some really awesome stuff.

Such has always been the case. And some people wear rose-colored glasses and spin everything as positive when it's really not.

Ingesting PR as though it is red meat is rarely a good thing.

 

[Jeff-DSA]

Is it just me or does it seem like people want this device to fail, why would you want that, this thing has the potential to produce some really awesome stuff.

Some people are shortsighted and dumb. You'll never get around that.

I've probably logged 50 hours on my Vita already, but I do find these numbers lower than I'd hoped for. I think Sony is stretching to put a happy face on.