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3DS breaks 10 million sold in Japan after 98 weeks

Aostia

El Capitan Todd
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?
 

Sandfox

Member
So if you are Nintendo, are these numbers going to satisfy you?

Will Nintendo become so region-reliant that they eventually ignore the rest of the world and only concentrate on Japan?

Yes to the first question and no to the second.
 

Chris1964

Sales-Age Genius
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.

No, you don't get get. Monster Hunter was the only reason for PSP revival in Japan. Without it history would be different.
 

Bruno MB

Member
Amazing performance.

3DS will easily end up its run selling over 25 million units. Though due to the lack of expanded audience games, NDS will always be out of its reach.
 

Aostia

El Capitan Todd
No, you don't get get. Monster Hunter was the only reason for PSP revival in Japan. Without it history would be different.

I know that MH was the reason of the PSP revival, but I don't remember PSP doing as bad as the Vita now before that spin.
Btw, the main focus of my question remains: will this gen be as handheld-centric as tha last one, or the Vita's issues could let us imagine a more balanced market between home and portable, dropping the idea that Japan loves portables just because they are portable, and embracing the idea that Japan loved DS and PSP, and now 3DS, because the products are better suited for their tastes in terms of lineups (allowing Wiiu and PS4 to gain a better market share over 3DS and Vita, compared to the last gen)?
 

Mpl90

Two copies sold? That's not a bomb guys, stop trolling!!!
it's still not doing well at all in europe, and it's just doing okay in north america.

Actually, right now it's probably doing better in Europe than in US: up to October year number were higher than last year, and in Europe the XL gave a higher boost than the cut in 2011, while this didn't happen in US.
 

Card Boy

Banned
I really think that this post should be properly discussed to understand if Japan is really handheld-centric or not, and why Vita wasn't still embraced by that market (it's just a matter of time? or what?)

They can't embrace a device that has no games.
 

Mpl90

Two copies sold? That's not a bomb guys, stop trolling!!!
What's more surprising is that 3DS actually saw a big improvement compared to last year in the last two weeks, especially in week 52 ( 2011 - 197k ; 2012 - 270k). Can we start saying that Animal Crossing is bringing many new customers to the platform?
 

Aostia

El Capitan Todd
What's more surprising is that 3DS actually saw a big improvement compared to last year in the last two weeks, especially in week 52 ( 2011 - 197k ; 2012 - 270k). Can we start saying that Animal Crossing is bringing many new customers to the platform?

Following Iwata's recent quote, could be the 19-24 YO female segment he discussed.
 

Garou

Member
No, you don't get get. Monster Hunter was the only reason for PSP revival in Japan. Without it history would be different.

Actually that is not true, there was/is also the very handy feature by using it in combination with the PS3 Torne, so people can without any hassle record TV and take it on the go with them.
 
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?

Well I have heard one reason portables have become so big in Japan is because a lot of people will be in one house but with only one TV they have to share. This is where the Wii U comes in and becomes a huge success.

Oh and way to go 3DS! Glad to see it become the most popular system in Japan. Can't wait for Monster Hunter 4, Shin Megami Tensei 4, New Zelda, Super Smash Bros 4 and Pocket Monsters Gen VI.
 

Chris1964

Sales-Age Genius
Actually that is not true, there was/is also the very handy feature by using it in combination with the PS3 Torne, so people can without any hassle record TV and take it on the go with them.

What Torne has to do with PSP success in Japan? The thing released less than 2 years ago.
 

zroid

Banned
The main reason behind my 3DS purchase right there.

But there's also Soul Hackers and a few other titles that seem promising this year, especially for JRPG fans.

thankfully you can actually count on Atlus to release their games in the West, unlike a certain unnamed English Dragon Quest and Bravely Default ignoring publisher
 

Yoshi

Headmaster of Console Warrior Jugendstrafanstalt
What I think is an interesting question is, whether 3DS will be able to capture both a big part of the audience of PSP and NDS, if they are even disjunct. If this is the case, the 3DS might be able to eclipse the DS despite having a slower start, if it can live for a longer period of time. If PSP's and DS' audience have a big overlap though (or the PSP audience minus the DS audience is really small), one sold 3DS might well just replace one sold DS and one sold PSP - which could well lead to a smaller hardware-number overall this time.
 

Aostia

El Capitan Todd
This year, 3DS will have in Japan:
-Dragon Quest VII
-Monster Hunter 4
-Friend Collection (sequel of a 3.5mln units DS game)
-maybe mainline Pokémon

so, this is now official.

-Dragon Quest VII FEBRUARY
-Monster Hunter 4 SUMMER
-Friend Collection (sequel of a 3.5mln units DS game) UNKNOWN PERIOD
-mainline Pokémon OCTOBER

could it bit this year-to-date total?
 

Celine

Member
so, this is now official.

-Dragon Quest VII FEBRUARY
-Monster Hunter 4 SPRING
-Friend Collection (sequel of a 3.5mln units DS game) UNKNOWN PERIOD
-maybe mainline Pokémon OCTOBER

could it bit this year-to-date total?
Maybe?
 
Maybe?

image.php

This is Nintendo could be delayed
 

Despera

Banned
thankfully you can actually count on Atlus to release their games in the West, unlike a certain unnamed English Dragon Quest and Bravely Default ignoring publisher
Bravely Default will make it stateside, of that I'm sure.

Well... kinda
 

18-Volt

Member
Winning in Japan for Nintendo is so easy:

"Hey fellow publisher, would you make a 3DS version of your best selling franchise?"

"Well of course, Nintendo! We love you, you're the best around!"

But in the west it's not that easy:

"Hey fellow publisher, would you make a 3DS version of your best selling franchise?"

"Get the hell away from me you stinkin kid! You're graphix sux! What's with the colors anyway, are you six or something? I've got some serious shit to do, leave me alone!"
 

BY2K

Membero Americo
And a new full 3D Pokemon gen is coming for the 3DS.

This is just the beginning, people.
 

redcrayon

Member
You're right, my mistake :(

I always forget Atlus has no presence in the EU

No biggie, I've always thought it strange considering they aren't exactly a tiny publisher any more.

I'm just a bit disgruntled over the lack of Etrian Odyssey IV in the EU. Maybe Ghostlight or Rising Star will pick it up later this year...
 
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