Well, it is. The fact that an handheld device is not successful doesn't mean Japan is not an handheld-focused market. DS and PSP sold more than 50 mln units last gen; 3DS is succeeding in being a valid DS successor, Vita is not.
yes, but the question is: DS + PSP sold more or less 50 millions of hendhelds. but that was last generation. I'd like to understand if we can assume that this gen will be once again hendheld-centric as it was or not.
It's obvious that 3DS will not sell 50 millions alone during this gen. Of course, there could be a general decline of the videogame market, but I'd like to understand: the Vita issues could mean that Japan will embrace a different share between hendheld and home console during this gen?
DS + PSP was 50 millions.
Wii + PS3 + 360 is about 24 more or less.
Let's imagine a general decline of the videogame market, so let's assume that this gen we will end with more or less 60 millions of consoles sold.
Will they still balanced so heavily on the portable side of things? Or the PS4 + Wii U % will be higher, due to Vita's issues?
Does this really need to be discussed in great detail? I mean, PSP was essentially a success because of Monster Hunter. Nintendo saw that, worked out a deal with Capcom, and shut Sony out. Without Monster Hunter, PSP was a pretty niche piece of hardware, and that's what Vita is too. Vita will carve out a market for itself, but it will be smaller than PSP and magnitudes smaller than 3DS, unless the next big thing comes along.
I don't think that MH was the only and unique element of the PSP success in Japan. That console debuted very well, than slowed until MH but was still not so behind the Wii in its best years, so it was at least a good console. Then, it became a successfull console with more or less 20 millions pieces sold in Japan.
My general question is: is Japan really hendheld-centric, or was just the PSP that was better suited for Japanese tastes compared to the Wii (after the Wii's successfull 2006-2009 years) that determined the high % of portable gaming? So, could a stronger Japanes-studied home console change the % between the portable and the home market in Japan compared to tha last gen?