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Media Create Sales: Week 21, 2017 (May 22 - May 28)

goldage

Banned
Didn't appear in the top 50 of launch week so was less than 2769 copies (according to famitsu top 50)
[NSW] Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence with Power-Up Kit (Koei Tecmo) {2017.03.03} - 2,050 / NEW

thats nobunaga, romance of the three kindoms launched on march 30th and didn't chart but i think someone had dengeki sales for it, not sure if its for nobunaga or rotk though

Wait when did they say that?
Vita confirmed better for third parties, reign to continue for another 5 years.#Vitameanslife
i saw it on wikipedia, not sure how accurate it is though but it does make sense
 

Eolz

Member
If you're only able to produce 27K Switches a week indefinitely, at some point you've effectively consigned your platform to poor sales.

Like imagine still being at this point in December. You'd be vastly below expected results.

I don't know how supply works with hardware manufacturing, but I guess they have to schedule with the factories/etc in advance? So basically for the next month, the production slots were already allocated, and thus forced to wait for the next time?
That sounds like a bad spot, especially with that news about having to fight against Apple and some other big brands.

edit: wow, forgot to refresh the page, lots of other posts/replies since.
 

schuelma

Wastes hours checking old Famitsu software data, but that's why we love him.
I'm becoming somewhat of a broken record, but if we assume any sort of competency on Nintendo's part they have to be preparing for a significant uptick in stock starting in mid-July.
 

Fisico

Member
I don't think the games bombed because they were cross-platform. There wasn't demand for them, either because they were unappealing or niche to begin with, not marketed properly, or bad products.

That's not what I implied either
I litterally stopped my thinking/writing halfway through because I was writing on my phone and losing internet connection
 

Principate

Saint Titanfall
In a slightly unrelated not ARMS has entered the 100 sellers for the year on Amazon.com at 94 (which I'd think is pretty good pre-order wise for a new ip 2 weeks before launch), whereas very weirdly Tekken 7 still hasn't. I have a sneaking suspicion it may underperform in the US and do alright in the Europe and not so well in Japan with PC picking up some of the slack. Will be very interesting to see how it does.
 
About ARMS, I'm a little less optimistic after the Testpunch than I was earlier this year regarding its sales potential in Japan. I see it doing very well for a fighting game, but it's not as casual-friendly as Mario Kart, Smash Bros. and Splatoon, so I'd be pleasantly surprised if it did much more than 500k LTD.
 
About ARMS, I'm a little less optimistic after the Testpunch than I was earlier this year regarding its sales potential in Japan. I see it doing very well for a fighting game, but it's not as casual-friendly as Mario Kart, Smash Bros. and Splatoon, so I'd be pleasantly surprised if it did much more than 500k LTD.

Heh its a lot more casual friendly especially with the fact that I have seen a kid play this game and still have fun.

Its a lot more accessible than people are giving it credit for especially seeing the last invitational tournament with kids playing. Having motion controls is what makes it accessible to casual audience. Plus there are features in party mode where if a player dominates in a lobby his health will decrease to make it easier for other players.

Plus the extra modes are good for casual players.
 
I'm becoming somewhat of a broken record, but if we assume any sort of competency on Nintendo's part they have to be preparing for a significant uptick in stock starting in mid-July.

Had there not been the article stating that nintendo simply can't increase production much hecause many facturers like apple, sony, samsung etc. are fighting for some rare components at the moment?
 
Heh its a lot more casual friendly especially with the fact that I have seen a kid play this game and still have fun.

Its a lot more accessible than people are giving it credit for especially seeing the last invitational tournament with kids playing. Having motion controls is what makes it accessible to casual audience. Plus there are features in party mode where if a player dominates in a lobby his health will decrease to make it easier for other players.

Plus the extra modes are good for casual players.

"A lot more casual friendly" than Mario Kart, Smash and Splatoon?

As for the extra modes and features, they're extras and features, not the core game.
 

Datschge

Member
It makes you wonder whether Nintendo didn't expect this thing to blow up like it did, so they thought the 2-3m available in March would cover the sales through until the likes of Splatoon 2 arrive in Summer?

Nintendo ordered a specific amount of machines to be manufactured for launch with a specific monthly amount thereafter just to supplement the 3m over the months if necessary, and then they had big runs scheduled for Splatoon 2 and the following weeks, and their typical big Holiday period amounting to a manufacturing schedule of 10m units between launch and end of March 2018.

I'd like to imagine that Nintendo and the manufacturers have agreed upon additional units being made now outside of their original order, but maybe scheduling conflicts or supply constraints re: screen, memory are slowing things down.
It would be really interesting to know what are the typical times needed for production and shipment. The time needed is that
- for gathering the required electronic parts (which may or may not have shortages as well, only when everything's available one can proceed)
- assembling and packaging the product (until the maximum processing capacity of the factory is reached, increasing that capacity is the biggest cost and we assume this is what Nintendo refers to when they increase production)
- and finally the shipment itself (which is usually actual shipment over sea, so allocations for different regions need to be done weeks in advance).

At least for shipment we can look for an indication like at https://cargofromchina.com/sea-freight/#tablepress-8
Japan: 3 days
Europe: >=25 days
USA & Canada (West): 20 days
USA & Canada (East): 30 days

So while for Japan increased production arrives pretty much instantly, all other regions need to consider potential demand at least 3 weeks into the future. Allocating all this should be a pretty fun meta management game.
 
"A lot more casual friendly" than Mario Kart, Smash and Splatoon?

As for the extra modes and features, they're extras and features, not the core game.

I would say on par because like I said there was an invitational tournament just with kids and they were playing it really well. There was also a really young kid who was doing extremely well.

Just like those games ARMS is casual friendly in that anyone can play it but it also has enough depth. The motion control imo is what makes it casual friendly because it makes it really fun to play it that way.

Plus unlike fighters it does not have complicated inputs.
 

Principate

Saint Titanfall
"A lot more casual friendly" than Mario Kart, Smash and Splatoon?

As for the extra modes and features, they're extras and features, not the core game.

I mean the "core game" for smash is free for all with items for casuals. Casuals in general don't care about the the core game as much as those extra/features. People aren't buying smash or MK/injustice mainly based on the core game (though it has to be reasonably good) the characters, single players extra modes extra are are why they sell a good few million more than the rest of the games in the genre.

Question is if the package is appealing to consumers.In arms case with no IP to rely on the strength of the characters appeal and marketed gameplay will most probably have a greater effect, but core game doesn't appear to be what sells fighters anymore to mainstream audiences unless it's paticularly strong.
 

schuelma

Wastes hours checking old Famitsu software data, but that's why we love him.
Had there not been the article stating that nintendo simply can't increase production much hecause many facturers like apple, sony, samsung etc. are fighting for some rare components at the moment?

Not exactly- the context was more Nintendo is aiming for 20M but might struggle for components to reach that incredibly high goal.

They should have a lot more supply on the way.
 

Aters

Member
I mean the "core game" for smash is free for all with items for casuals. Casuals in general don't care about the the core game as much as those extra/features. People aren't buying smash or MK/injustice mainly based on the core game (though it has to be reasonably good) the characters, single players extra modes extra are are why they sell a good few million more than the rest of the games in the genre.

Question is if the package is appealing to consumers.In arms case with no IP to rely on the strength of the characters appeal and marketed gameplay will most probably have a greater effect, but core game doesn't appear to be what sells fighters anymore to mainstream audiences unless it's paticularly strong.

Do you have evidence for that? Personally most of the Smash players I know don't give a crap about Nintendo characters. They just want to play Smash.
 

Datschge

Member
Do you have evidence for that? Personally most of the Smash players I know don't give a crap about Nintendo characters. They just want to play Smash.
Are you maintaining that Smash would sell the same with all Nintendo characters removed?
 
I mean the "core game" for smash is free for all with items for casuals. Casuals in general don't care about the the core game as much as those extra/features. People aren't buying smash or MK/injustice mainly based on the core game (though it has to be reasonably good) the characters, single players extra modes extra are are why they sell a good few million more than the rest of the games in the genre.

Question is if the package is appealing to consumers.In arms case with no IP to rely on the strength of the characters appeal and marketed gameplay will most probably have a greater effect, but core game doesn't appear to be what sells fighters anymore to mainstream audiences unless it's paticularly strong.

It's mainly the items that make Smash so casual friendly though, just like Mario Kart. People buy those games for the main gameplay mode. ARMS has just a few items. I don't think people will buy the game for Volleyball, Hoops or Skillshot. The most promising thing about the game IMO is the 4-player battles. The one-on-one I think is not going to have the same reach as 8/12-player MK, 4-player Smash or 8-player Splatoon. There's nothing you can do in a one-on-one ARMS fight except punch your way to victory or lose. In Splatoon, if you suck at shooting, you can ink the floor. In MK and Smash, if you suck at regular racing and fighting, there are numerous items to help you out and make you feel strong.

ARMS is more casual-friendly than most fighting games as it has no combos to memorize and has good motion controls, but if you're not good at punching, I don't think you will have fun at all. You'll just get beat up the whole time.
 

Aters

Member
Smash is nothing without Nintendo characters, though. The whole appeal is the roster.

For me it's the only fighting game I can at least play a bit, just like Mario Kart is the only racing game I can ever play. I think people underestimate how accessibility affects the popularity of the game. Splatoon has no Nintendo character either and it's doing well.
 

zeromcd73

Member
https://twitter.com/tks_skmt3
DBcGs9-UAAAKs47.jpg
DBcGs7eUwAAae1m.jpg

People lining up outside Bic Camera today to get a lottery ticket for a chance to purchase a Nintendo Switch; of which the store had 10 greys and 27 Neons.
 

Vinnk

Member
"A lot more casual friendly" than Mario Kart, Smash and Splatoon?

Mario Kart is the most casual friendly I won't even try to contest this. But ARMS is way more casual friendly than Splatoon. My 4-year old can "play" ARMS but cannot plat Splatoon at all. My wife instantly understood ARMS "you punch and they punch right?" but refuses to even try Splatoon due to how complicated it looks.
 

jnWake

Member
Smash is nothing without Nintendo characters, though. The whole appeal is the roster.

That's not true. Smash is significantly more succesful than any other crossover fighting game (or crossover game) out there, and that's because of the gameplay.
 
Mario Kart is the most casual friendly I won't even try to contest this. But ARMS is way more casual friendly than Splatoon. My 4-year old can "play" ARMS but cannot plat Splatoon at all. My wife instantly understood ARMS "you punch and they punch right?" but refuses to even try Splatoon due to how complicated it looks.

Have they tried the roller? Because painting the ground with a roller to win is about as accessible as competitive games get in my opinion. My wife is basically your average Japanese casual gamer - into Animal Crossing, Kirby, Mario Kart, Splatoon, Puyo Puyo Tetris, Taiko no tatsujin etc. - and Splatoon is the competitive game she's best at, and she only uses the roller. I'll see how she reacts to ARMS once the full game is out, but I don't see her getting hooked. 500k would still be a good result, I think, I just don't see it reaching as wide an audience as MK, Splatoon and Smash.
 

hiska-kun

Member
One friend of mine went to Bic Camera in Yurakucho for Switch's lottery and he said they had 84 consoles (70 Neons and 14 Gray). There were more than 800 participants.
 

Ōkami

Member
From some blogs I've also read on a larger than ususal restocking today.

Also, and don't put much into this, plenty of stories of people getting tired of waiting for the system to become available and importing it from Hong Kong.
 
https://twitter.com/tks_skmt3


People lining up outside Bic Camera today to get a lottery ticket for a chance to purchase a Nintendo Switch; of which the store had 10 greys and 27 Neons.

One friend of mine went to Bic Camera in Yurakucho for Switch's lottery and he said they had 84 consoles (70 Neons and 14 Gray). There were more than 800 participants.

So I guess we know what the more popular color is in Japan.
 
That's not true. Smash is significantly more succesful than any other crossover fighting game (or crossover game) out there, and that's because of the gameplay.

Look, I'm not saying the gameplay of Smash doesn't contribute to its popularity at all. It has fantastic and accessible gameplay. But not acknowledging the role its roster plays in its success is just crazy to me.

No other crossover game has characters with the same widespread appeal as Nintendo's characters in Smash. That's like saying since Playstarion All-Stars didn't perform amazingly, that must mean the cast isn't what makes such a game a hit. But in fact it's the opposite, as PSABR didn't have nearly as many iconic and easily recognizable characters as Smash.

Granted, that game didn't have amazing gameplay either, so it was hurting in both regards, but still.
 

Chris1964

Sales-Age Genius
Ōkami;239105628 said:
Also, and don't put much into this, plenty of stories of people getting tired of waiting for the system to become available and importing it from Hong Kong.
Aren't Hong Kong stores importing their Switch systems from Japan?
 

Fredrik

Member
https://twitter.com/tks_skmt3


People lining up outside Bic Camera today to get a lottery ticket for a chance to purchase a Nintendo Switch; of which the store had 10 greys and 27 Neons.
This is crazy, it was months since the console launched and people are still lining up to buy it o_O

It's in stock at most online stores in Sweden according to prisjakt so the demand seems to have dropped here at least.
 

Principate

Saint Titanfall
That's not true. Smash is significantly more succesful than any other crossover fighting game (or crossover game) out there, and that's because of the gameplay.

You do realise smash is not the only cross over fighting game with that gameplay, there's been many others over the years, most famous being Jump super/ultimate stars (which included all main characters from shounen jumps biggest franchise as well as others like PSBAR. The gameplay has been copied many many times and smash is the only one that's trully been internationally successful and long lived. Smash is the progenitor but if nintendo stopped maing smash but replaced the game completely with orignal characters do you think it'd sell as well.
 

jnWake

Member
Look, I'm not saying the gameplay of Smash doesn't contribute to its popularity at all. It has fantastic and accessible gameplay. But not acknowledging the role its roster plays in its success is just crazy to me.

No other crossover game has characters with the same widespread appeal as Nintendo's characters in Smash. That's like saying since Playstarion All-Stars didn't perform amazingly, that must mean the cast isn't what makes such a game a hit. But in fact it's the opposite, as PSABR didn't have nearly as many iconic and easily recognizable characters as Smash.

Granted, that game didn't have amazing gameplay either, so it was hurting in both regards, but still.
You literally said "the roster is the whole appeal", which is why I quoted you. Denying the influence of the roster would be silly.
 

Aters

Member
Look, I'm not saying the gameplay of Smash doesn't contribute to its popularity at all. It has fantastic and accessible gameplay. But not acknowledging the role its roster plays in its success is just crazy to me.

No other crossover game has characters with the same widespread appeal as Nintendo's characters in Smash. That's like saying since Playstarion All-Stars didn't perform amazingly, that must mean the cast isn't what makes such a game a hit. But in fact it's the opposite, as PSABR didn't have nearly as many iconic and easily recognizable characters as Smash.

Granted, that game didn't have amazing gameplay either, so it was hurting in both regards, but still.

A fighting game where you can play as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman just came out, let's see how it will sell compared to Smash. We can also look forward to the performance of the new MvC.
 

KtSlime

Member
A fighting game where you can play as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman just came out, let's see how it will sell compared to Smash. We can also look forward to the performance of the new MvC.
Japan prefers Marvel superheroes.
 
Smash is nothing without Nintendo characters, though. The whole appeal is the roster.
lol no.

Of course, having the best characters of all fime helps it a great deal, and probably a ton of its sales is because of that. But to say its "nothing" without Nintendo character's is absurd. The gameplay is top notch, and theres pretty much no competition in what I call the "Smash Genre". Theres like, one pixel based game in the genre on pc that seems kinda good (note: I've never played it. Just remember it.) but theres hardly any more, and what there is mostly have bad gameplay.

I can certainly say if someone made an indie crossover game with much less popular characters like Shovel Knight, Quote, and even if it was very niche characters like Madotsuki or all original characters, that if the gameplay was top notch, and played pretty much exactly like Smash (with different movesets of course) it would sell atleast a million copies WW even if it was all original characters as long as the gameplay is good. There is a great want of more Smash games but noone is really filling it.
 

Cerium

Member
lol no.

Of course, having the best characters of all fime helps it a great deal, and probably a ton of its sales is because of that. But to say its "nothing" without Nintendo character's is absurd. The gameplay is top notch, and theres pretty much no competition in what I call the "Smash Genre". Theres like, one pixel based game in the genre on pc that seems kinda good (note: I've never played it. Just remember it.) but theres hardly any more, and what there is mostly have bad gameplay.

I can certainly say if someone made an indie crossover game with much less popular characters like Shovel Knight, Quote, and even if it was very niche characters like Madotsuki or all original characters, that if the gameplay was top notch, and played pretty much exactly like Smash (with different movesets of course) it would sell atleast a million copies WW even if it was all original characters as long as the gameplay is good. There is a great want of more Smash games but noone is really filling it.

It's not that easy to do it right and it needs to be packed with content no matter what the roster looks like. Not many companies can afford that kind of investment and the failures of those who have attempted before are enough to frighten them off. Also Kamiya will say mean things about your clone on twitter.
 
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