NPD Sales Results for October 2014 [Up3: All of Nintendo's 3DS million sellers]

Coulomb_Barrier said:
The point is SO doesn't have European sales to save it like Insomniacs PS3 titles, and I'd dispute SO isn't doing bad in PAL territories just on the evidence of XBO's flatlining sales in the region.
Click to expand...

If you want to talk about PAL sales, we can do it in the PAL threads. We don't have numbers, but based on rankings, it's not doing badly. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that SO will probably ship over a million when it's all said and done, bundles included.
 
mo60 said:
I thought the Wii beat the PS3 in Europe?
Click to expand...

I think so, there's a tendency to assume Europe=the rest of the world outside of US/Japan and it's kind of weird

also regarding PS360, the main point is that they are extremely close, not about the PS3's extremely slim margin currently
 
I've said this before but my issue with a "handheld that plugs into the TV," is that I feel like that the platform would either have to be less powerful than the Wii U (which would lead to games feeling like a downgrade compared to the Wii U, which the platform would hypothetically be replacing), or the portable version would have huge battery life problems.
 
Glass Joe said:
That 68k for Wii U isn't just last month's number +47%, is it? Because Wii U hardware is simply up 47 percent for the entire year (as I interpret the statement). That would mean this particular month could be much higher or lower.
Click to expand...

Last month's # + 47% would be way too good in a shorter month (aka like 140K). The calculations are done correctly.
 
Glass Joe said:
Uh, what about last gen? The gen before (PS2/Xbox/Cube) I would have said the same thing but Wii/360/PS3 all did rather well.
Click to expand...

The PS2/Xbox/GC gen was propelled by a massive influx of new gamers and investments. Microsoft entering the industry and throwing around billions was a massive boon for console gaming, plus all the new consumers to sell to. That positive outlook is what purred those companies to go all out last generation. Conditions aren't going to be as rosy this time around, no corporation wants to touch dedicated gaming hardware these days and the consumer-base isn't going to match that of last generation.
 
Nirolak said:
Are they making any money off of the Wii U, especially compared to how its limiting their software sales?

Serious question.

I understand the reluctance to drop an arm that was once profitable, but if it doesn't work anymore it's about as useful as Walkman is to Sony right now.

The handheld is clearly working though, at least as best as it can. That could change at some point, but currently speaking.
Click to expand...

Nintendo dropping home console hardware is as much a work of fantasy dreaming as it is for them to publish games for Playstation

I think we would need that new QOL arm to get cut off first before those guys wake up and see that their home console business is really this piss poor mess

they seem to be doubling down on WiiU support
 
Wedge7 said:
Not surprised about SO at all. Felt like it had no real hype anywhere besides GAF, but then again, The evil within was a huge shock, so who knows.

I still bought the white SO bundle, but that was purely for the aesthetics of the system. Will probably sell the digital copy for cheap.
Click to expand...

I never felt it had hype here, the largest thread or one of the largest was about the game being 900p or it was "too slow"

I'm glad I bought it, I think its great.
 
Mass Effect said:
I can't help but feel like this would be a bad idea. It's tantamount to jumping on a sinking ship and could completely backfire on them. Then what would they do?
Click to expand...
Their portable market is by far their most profitable sector. Additionally, it seems that portable devices in general are the way gaming and multimedia as a whole are going. I think the Wii U's successor will have the console be the tablet itself, with a cheaper Chromecast like device to play on the TV. That device might also be hooked up to a 3DS successor as well. Essentially it could act like a tablet device with buttons and a stick instead of some game controller with a screen.
 
I thought they had an MK8 bundle as essentially their Black Friday salvo.

Anyway, since we're waiting for numbers if they ever arrive; given Nirolak's pretty accurate assessment earlier I have to wonder whether divesting is considered an option at all over in Kyoto. It's probably the most appropriate strategy at least from a theoretical perspective.

We're in an increasingly competitive market, with ever more ways to play. Their differential advantages essentially all lie in software brands. The market they are able to attract, the Nintendo-core or Nintendads as Wedbush calls them isn't substantial enough overall despite their loyalty.

Yay or nay? I'm guessing a lot of nay.
 
Smiles and Cries said:
Nintendo dropping home console hardware is as much a work of fantasy dreaming as it is for them to publish games for Playstation

I think we would need that new QOL arm to get cut off first before those guys wake up and see that their home console business is really this piss poor mess

they seem to be doubling down on WiiU support
Click to expand...

This is my feeling as well. I have high hopes for Nintendo's QOL though. If the sleep sensor is anything like Wii Fit, I'll be there night one.

(then again, perhaps a midnight launch for the Nintendo Snoozii (too Jersey Shore?) would be counterintuitive....)
 
At least Sunset Overdrive has a reason to be not on the NPD with it coming out so late in the month/bundles not counting/on a single platform but Alien not making the list is tragic. I really enjoyed that game, it's a bummer to see it performing so badly.
 
maxcriden said:
Genuinely, I'm not sure. I'm sure someone much more numbers-savvy knows. That's not a deflection of course, but my understanding was that even Nintendo's weaker-selling hardware has generally helped them make enough to be worthwhile, between hardware itself, royalties, and not having to pay royalties to another publisher. So I'm speculating here and I'd be glad to be corrected if I'm mistaken. I do think a portable you can play on your TV doesn't have to be any significantly more powerful than a Wii U is (but is that already shooting for the moon?) as I don't believe graphics are of utmost importance to most Nintendo fans.
Click to expand...
Modern Tegra parts are very competent and cost effective. It's probably the best bet currently if someone wanted to do that and have something that at least looked pretty similar to a Wii U. If we're talking a couple more years down the line then we'd be a lot closer to boot.

As for the other part of the question, I would say it depends on how much they can sell versus what they're selling on Wii U. There's no third party royalties on Wii U as it stands (since there's basically no third party games), so they'd have to make up the $12 a unit in licensing fees in terms of unit increase at minimum if we assume the hardware is break even between R&D and sales.

Smiles and Cries said:
Nintendo dropping home console hardware is as much a work of fantasy dreaming as it is for them to publish games for Playstation

I think we would need that new QOL arm to get cut off first before those guys wake up and see that their home console business is really this piss poor mess

they seem to be doubling down on WiiU support
Click to expand...
That's why I started the conversation as I did, which was assuming that Nintendo viewed launching a home console as an immutable fact, even if it's not necessarily an optimal business decision.

However, I think there's room for going "Well it would make more sense to do A, but assuming they're not doing A, here's what I feel is their best option for B."
 
shinra-bansho said:
I thought they had an MK8 bundle as essentially their Black Friday salvo.

Anyway, since we're waiting for numbers if they ever arrive; given Nirolak's pretty accurate assessment earlier I have to wonder whether divesting is considered an option at all over in Kyoto. It's probably the most appropriate strategy at least from a theoretical perspective.

Yay or nay? I'm guessing a lot of nay.
Click to expand...

Can I ask for a layman's explanation of what this would mean?
 
dancrane212 said:
At least Sunset Overdrive has a reason to be not on the NPD with it coming out so late in the month/bundles not counting/on a single platform but Alien not making the list is tragic. I really enjoyed that game, it's a bummer to see it performing so badly.
Click to expand...

Pick the wrong horse.
 
maxcriden said:
Can I ask for a layman's explanation of what this would mean?
Click to expand...

Divesting is the opposite of investing. Essentially I think he means would the best option be to drop at least home console hardware, focus on their notable strength as a software developer, and try to make more money by getting on everything possible.

There are a lot of hardware companies in tech industries that have essentially transitioned to being service and/or IP based, which is what this would be similar to.

Even Microsoft for example is now putting out Office for free on iPad despite the fact they make their own tablet, and AMD and IBM don't have hardware foundries anymore.
 
Tobor said:
They've already said goodbye to third party royalties.
Click to expand...

They could have a chance with another strategy, imagine if they dropped the 3DS too? having decent sales still and support from Japan.

But they would need to design a console more in common with Western tastes/development, with an aggresive price, and most important, fresh markerting.

Can they do it? i dont know, but just going third party can be a huge risk too.
 
Nirolak said:
Modern Tegra parts are very competent and cost effective. It's probably the best bet currently if someone wanted to do that and have something that at least looked pretty similar to a Wii U. If we're talking a couple more years down the line then we'd be a lot closer to boot.

As for the other part of the question, I would say it depends on how much they can sell versus what they're selling on Wii U. There's no third party royalties on Wii U as it stands (since there's basically no third party games), so they'd have to make up the $12 a unit in licensing fees in terms of unit increase at minimum if we assume the hardware is break even between R&D and sales.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! If it's technically a realistic option, then, I could readily see this being the sweet spot for Nintendo next time around, depending on how it's sold to consumers.
 
Sho_Nuff82 said:
So what were your expectations going in? Crackdown shipped a little over 1.5 million and it got a sequel. Two in fact, even though the second did worse.
Click to expand...
Didn't expect anything different. And I'm not talking about possible sequels.
I'm just saying these aren't good sales ("shipping ~1 mio) for a AAA game.
 
Sub Boss said:
They could have a chance with another strategy, imagine if they dropped the 3DS too? having decent sales still and support from Japan.

But they would need to design a console more in common with Western tastes/development, with an aggresive price, and most important, fresh markerting.

Can they do it? i dont know, but just going third party can have be a huge risk too.
Click to expand...

I think they either need to do that (which I don't know if they could feasibly do to be honest), or strike gold with something as unique and mass market as the Wii again.

Really Nintendo is in a tough spot right now. There's a lot of options for them to take with their next platform and none of them are easy to pull off.
 
maxcriden said:
Thanks for the info! If it's technically a realistic option, then, I could readily see this being the sweet spot for Nintendo next time around, depending on how it's sold to consumers.
Click to expand...

There were some hints they might be considering this between Miyamoto's software statements and an even older statement from Iwata about increasing the number of SKUs (hardware configurations), but essentially having them share a foundational platform base.

Now, this could mean common APIs that make porting between platforms easier, or it could mean they all use basically the same hardware a la iOS devices (especially last year, where the iPhone 5S, iPad Air, and iPad Mini 2 all used the same processor) and run all the same software despite being different form factors and products you can buy.

You can essentially sell people on the hardware configuration they like the most (or multiple if they want a home and portable version) and then just sell them games that work on any of the devices so you effectively only have to support one platform.
 
I'm not sure why people think sunset overdrive will chart next month. Most sales of a game are usually on the first few day when they are available. It bombed plain and simple just like driveclub.
Insomniac had to be really money hungry to take that xbone deal and make it exclusive. But a lot of people thought the xbone was going to dominate the ps4 and that's probably what they thought too.
I would laugh so hard if the ps4 comes out winning next month. Which it has a really strong chance. Word of mouth is more important than a price drop.
 
dancrane212 said:
At least Sunset Overdrive has a reason to be not on the NPD with it coming out so late in the month/bundles not counting/on a single platform but Alien not making the list is tragic. I really enjoyed that game, it's a bummer to see it performing so badly.
Click to expand...
AI May have done alright digitally.
 
Mpl90 said:
About amiibo: I'd say part of the kids audience could be interested. I'm actually wondering if some of them could be interested in just the toys, without having a Wii U.
Click to expand...


As potential toys, I don't think Nintendo characters have as much pull with today's kids as they used to when you have games like Minecraft and Angry Birds. Still they are relatively cheap so it could work.

shinra-bansho said:
@Niro, mostly agree, would respond more in depth but have to run.I think Amiibo will be good for generating revenue, but will largely be aimed at their (Nintendo-)core audience, so won't really end up moving hardware. But it's still a good way to increase monetisation of their current installed base.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how Amiibos are going to perform with Nintendo's core audience.

They don't provide much meaningful content to their games and the main use for Smash provides a leveling character you cannot control.
Outside of those who wish to collect them I'm not seeing the necessary incentive for the core audience to be interested in purchasing multiple figures.


jamesinclair said:
Wii u numbers shock me every month.

Why on earth are the sitting out black Friday?
Click to expand...

There's a bundle for Best Buy's Black Friday but other than that? No clue.
 
Nirolak said:
Divesting is the opposite of investing. Essentially I think he means would the best option be to drop at least home console hardware, focus on their notable strength as a software developer, and try to make more money by getting on everything possible.

There are a lot of hardware companies in tech industries that have essentially transitioned to being service and/or IP based, which is what this would be similar to.

Even Microsoft for example is now putting out Office for free on iPad despite the fact they make their own tablet, and AMD and IBM don't have hardware foundries anymore.
Click to expand...

shinra-bansho said:
Essentially exit. But it's more nuanced in terms of approach, time frame, customer transfer.

The major impediment is probably that their other business line is also facing serious issues.
Click to expand...

I see. Thank you both. While I'm happy whatever the setup provided Nintendo games are plentiful and quality, I do have trouble picturing this for at least a few years; I think amiibo and QoL would probably both have to bomb. I'm very curious how amiibo will do, though. On the one hand, I'm thinking kids will know they'd need a Wii U to utilize them at present, and...kids don't have Wii Us. On the other hand, maybe kids will just want them as neat toys with the promise of future 3DS functionality...?
 
Guess Sunset Overdrive was a bomb. Insomniac keeping their streak going across generations I guess.

Dat Smash tho. Only exclusive worth a shit this month it appears.
 
Percy said:
Guess Sunset Overdrive was a bomb. Insomniac keeping their streak going across generations I guess.

Dat Smash tho. Only exclusive worth a shit this month it appears.
Click to expand...

I don't know about that. Unique sku at #9 on the charts isn't bad not including the bundles which is pretty much sold out.
 
Super_Cobra said:
I'm not sure why people think sunset overdrive will chart next month. Most sales of a game are usually on the first few day when they are available. It bombed plain and simple just like driveclub.
Insomniac had to be really money hungry to take that xbone deal and make it exclusive. But a lot of people thought the xbone was going to dominate the ps4 and that's probably what they thought too.
I would laugh so hard if the ps4 comes out winning next month. Which it has a really strong chance. Word of mouth is more important than a price drop.
Click to expand...

Looking at it logically (like the Bayonetta situation), would SO even exist if it weren't for MS offering to publish it? For it to be a multiplatform game, they need one of the big 3rd party pubs to step up to the plate, and we saw what a focus-tested mess FUSE turned out to be under EA's banner. Insomniac is already publishing a game with Sony next fall, they hedged their bets.
 
I'm still not sure practically what a unified platform does for nintendo from a sales perspective. Their console business is kaput IMO unless there is very serious design reinvention (which is very possible). The handheld market is in irreversible and undeniable decline. What does a unified platform do except reduce nintendo's cost base? They are going to be facing revenue pressure for the foreseeable future. If the core idea is that one platform means nintendo can pad out the lineup a little easier--making it more feasible to "go it alone" as it were--then I think the long term objective should be dramatic investment to grow top line, not ebitda margins.

I don't really get the strategy but I am struggling to visualize the product. I am sure it will be great when it does come out.

But what they are doing with the 3ds is baffling to me. That thing wouldn't vroom if you put 60,000 volts in it.
 
maxcriden said:
I see. Thank you both. While I'm happy whatever the setup provided Nintendo games are plentiful and quality, I do have trouble picturing this for at least a few years; I think amiibo and QoL would probably both have to bomb. I'm very curious how amiibo will do, though. On the one hand, I'm thinking kids will know they'd need a Wii U to utilize them at present, and...kids don't have Wii Us. On the other hand, maybe kids will just want them as neat toys with the promise of future 3DS functionality...?
Click to expand...
They've basically stated in recent investor conferences that at minimum they're launching one more home console.

This is solely a hypothetical discussion about the results of their current platform position.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

NPD Sales Results For August 2016
3 4 5 6 7
318
183K
dgrdsv replied
NPD Sales Results For July 2016
2 3 4 5
237
108K
Hero of Legend replied
NPD Sales Results for May 2016
34 35 36 37 38
2K
342K
Conduit replied
NPD Sales Results for March 2016
42 43 44 45 46
2K
445K
Square2015 replied
NPD Sales Results For June 2016 (new format, read OP)
4 5 6 7 8
370
131K
entremet replied
Top Bottom