Support NeoGAF

[Merlin]

What exactly has this guy done?

NOA's been on snooze mode for a while now.

In the mid-90s NOA probably peaked in terms of power because Rare (which Howard Lincoln discovered) was doing so well, so they went ahead with Retro Studios and all those other 2nd party partnerships.

All of those 2nd party deals have pretty much since been nullified. What Retro is now is not exactly what they were supposed to be as originally envisoned by Lincoln either.

When Rare's games stopped selling and the whole Retro situation became a debacle circa 2000 or so ... that was probably when NCL decided to stop listening to NOA, lol. Silicon Knights' projects bombing probably didn't help either.

Actually, you're right. It's a good point about all the 2nd parties and Nintendo becoming more of a Japanese-centric company again. I remember before the GameCube launched there was even talk of Retro Studios doing a whole sports line-up AND NOA wanted to have online play in "car combat" Things could've been very different for sure.

Hopefully with Iwata stressing how good the Rev controller will be with first person shooters they'll aim to get some good partnerships.

 

[soundwave05]

Why did people really think the XBox 360 was going to do any better than the XBox in Japan anyway?

1.) Its a big bulky console from Microsoft.

2.) Its most notable game to the Japanese is ... Dead or Alive (again). And that's not even out yet.

Was it magically going to sell better because it's a different color casing or something?

 

[Fuzzy]

Someone should have started a GBA (classic)-XBox comparison months ago.

Momentum!

 

[+Aliken+]

Someone should have started a GBA (classic)-XBox comparison months ago.

:lol
We Want Graphs!
We Want Graphs!

 

[Gahiggidy]

DS  	408,770
PSP 	95,689
PS2 	55,342
GBASP 	19,098
GC 	17,849
GBM 	14,432
[b]Xbox360 	8,623[/b]
GBA 	416
Xbox 	182

That gloriously-low Xbox 360 number warm's my black-heart....

"I don't know what to do! I am as light as
a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am
as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as
a drunken man. A merry Christmas to every-
body!¹ A happy New Year to all the world!¹
Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!"



Notes: ¹ Exception. Goodwill not extended to xbots.

 

[Monk]

Why did people really think the XBox 360 was going to do any better than the XBox in Japan anyway?

1.) Its a big bulky console from Microsoft.

2.) Its most notable game to the Japanese is ... Dead or Alive (again). And that's not even out yet.

Was it magically going to sell better because it's a different color casing or something?

1) it is nto as bulky as the Xbox or PS3.

 

[Yamauchi]

Is the Xbox 360's launch worse than the original Xbox's in Japan?

 

[soundwave05]

1) it is nto as bulky as the Xbox or PS3.

It's the same size more or less as the original XBox when you take into account the HDD.

Not to mention the bulky as hell power supply.

This really is just another XBox ... I can't understand why people thought this would do any better than the first one.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

jebus the DS is a freaky monster.

 

[jj984jj]

Is the Xbox 360's launch worse than the original Xbox's in Japan?

Much.

 

[polg]

Someone should have started a GBA (classic)-XBox comparison months ago.

graphx rox...

 

[M3wThr33]

Is the Xbox 360's launch worse than the original Xbox's in Japan?

 

[soundwave05]

Didn't the PS2 sell like 980,000 units in the first day or something?

 

[M3wThr33]

I just used the numbers from the 360 JPN launch thread.

 

[littlewig]

Japanese third party developers should just abandon the PSP.

It sold 95k units but none of the games sold. These guys should be sending death threats to Sony.

 

[mutsu]

Japanese third party developers should just abandon the PSP.

It sold 95k units but none of the games sold. These guys should be sending death threats to Sony.

Proves that people buying the PSP are just watching UMD movies

Spoiler

and porns

.

 

[jamesinclair]

Someone should have started a GBA (classic)-XBox comparison months ago.

Best graph ever.

 

[GDJustin]

I don't like the new chart as much. Just the key releases, please!

 

[CrisKre]

This is amusing:

Time to change the gif probably?

 

[ioi]

Lol, don't people ever read back??

Yes this is the biggest non-launch week EVER for any console in history.

Yes the DS will do even more next week, 600k is almost a cert

Yes Animal Crossing will be the biggest game of the year and the biggest non-pokemon Nintendo game since Mario Kart 64 back in 1996 (I reckon it'll do 2m)

Yes Kingdom Hearts II will be huge next week, 650-700k is very possible, but as is 250k for Animal Crossing (1m+ LTD)

 

[PhoenixDark]

What exactly has this guy done?

NOA's been on snooze mode for a while now.

In the mid-90s NOA probably peaked in terms of power because Rare (which Howard Lincoln discovered) was doing so well, so they went ahead with Retro Studios and all those other 2nd party partnerships.

All of those 2nd party deals have pretty much since been nullified. What Retro is now is not exactly what they were supposed to be as originally envisoned by Lincoln either.

When Rare's games stopped selling and the whole Retro situation became a debacle circa 2000 or so ... that was probably when NCL decided to stop listening to NOA, lol. Silicon Knights' projects bombing probably didn't help either.

I agree 100% with you. Nintendo's biggest mistake in my eyes is their total ignorance of the western market. They just seem to show no interest in it, and many of their recent decisions seemed to be based on the fact that they'll work in Japan. It just doesn't make sense.

Retro is a great developer, and in my opinion they are Nintendo's best chance to appeal to the states. Metroid Prime was a big success, in part because it was something totally new that hadn't been seen on the Gamecube. MP2 was essentially more of the same, with some features added that some deemed to be tedious (the dark world mechanic for instance). MP3 is posed to be a revival of the series, mainly due to the Revolution controller. I think it's safe to say that the game will be more action oriented than the previous Prime games, so that Retro can show off the controller.

But, I can't help but think that Metroid was not meant for twitch shooting a ala Unreal Tournament or something. Retro needs to make a game that can fully exploit the controller as well as the Revolution's online features. Will Nintendo allow them to make this kind of game? Retro has said that after MP3, the Prime "saga" will be done. Hopefully we'll get a more action based FPS from them in the near future.

I think Retro needs to be expanded. Building them a bigger dev studio and bringing more western talent into the company would be a good idea. This could allow them to work on multiple projects easier.

A also think Reggie should be NOA's president. In the years he has worked with Nintendo, he has done much for them in terms of garnering western support, and he could do much more in that position.

 

[soundwave05]

Lol, don't people ever read back??

Yes this is the biggest non-launch week EVER for any console in history.

Yes the DS will do even more next week, 600k is almost a cert

Yes Animal Crossing will be the biggest game of the year and the biggest non-pokemon Nintendo game since Mario Kart 64 back in 1996 (I reckon it'll do 2m)

Yes Kingdom Hearts II will be huge next week, 650-700k is very possible, but as is 250k for Animal Crossing (1m+ LTD)

Are you sure the PSOne never topped 500k in Japan? Seems like it would have around when FFVII launched.

Still unbelievable sales for the DS. I think 500k+ is a safe bet, 600k is certainly possible but not gaurunteed.

 

[ioi]

Are you sure the PSOne never topped 500k in Japan? Seems like it would have around when FFVII launched.

Still unbelievable sales for the DS. I think 500k+ is a safe bet, 600k is certainly possible but not gaurunteed.

I'm pretty sure.

Software sales never produce massive hardware spikes (maybe 100-150k if it's a really huge game) but I'm gonna try and dig out some numbers.

Everything and Nothing has been updated with numbers, 6 DS games pass or close in on the million mark...

http://www.everythingandnothing.org.uk/vg/japweekly.php?date=38704

 

[marvelharvey]

I'm just waiting for Nintendo to place Rev adverts into the bootup sequence of all new DS games.

 

[ioi]

PS did 140k the week FF VII came out I believe...

 

[Culex]

Just got home from work. I didn't realize the numbers were going to be early today

Chart updated again. I had to change the scale quite a bit to fit in the increased sales

MAMMOTH DS sales! This is the second largest selling week for the DS since it's launch!

Another week with two more milestones broken, too. The DS has crossed the 3 million barrier for YTD and has now sold over 1 million more units than the PSP this year.

The DS is surely going to break 5 million before New Years'.

Nice Job Nintendo!

 

[soundwave05]

Yeah looking back at the PSX, Final Fantasy VII was released in Japan around Jan.31st (1997)... so that's well after the "holiday" rush season, so they probably didn't sell 500k hardware units even then either.

You may have to go back to Famicom or Super Famicom to find a week where a system sold 500k in a non-launch period.

 

[polg]

Just got home from work. I didn't realize the numbers were going to be early today

Chart updated again. I had to change the scale quite a bit to fit in the increased sales

MAMMOTH DS sales! This is the second largest selling week for the DS since it's launch!

Another week with two more milestones broken, too. The DS has crossed the 3 million barrier for YTD and has now sold over 1 million more units than the PSP this year.

The DS is surely going to break 5 million before New Years'.

Nice Job Nintendo!

I'll miss your graphs... when r u off? next week or the following?

 

[marvelharvey]

Just got home from work. I didn't realize the numbers were going to be early today

Chart updated again. I had to change the scale quite a bit to fit in the increased sales

Thanks Culex, I think I just found my new desktop background

 

[ioi]

Right, I've managed to find four really old charts I got hold of from a Japanese website years ago.

They are all based on Famitsu data, and show the period end of 94 to early 97 (week when FF VII was released ending 2nd Feb and you can see PS number shooting upto ~140k).

Now I think the numbers are way too low. Back then Famitsu was miles off with it's estimates and everything was about 70% of the actual numbers, but it gives a good guide to relative performances. So for example, the week Final Fantasy got released I think PS sales may have hit ~200k in reality.


WEEKLY HARDWARE SALES

CUMULATIVE HARDWARE SALES

WEEKLY SOFTWARE SALES

CUMULATIVE SOFTWARE SALES

 

[Culex]

I'll miss your graphs... when r u off? next week or the following?

I'll be around for next week's update.

I report to active duty on January 4th, and go to Fort Brag from there, then on to Afganistan.

 

[Akia]

I'll be around for next week's update.

I report to active duty on January 4th, and go to Fort Brag from there, then on to Afganistan.

Make sure to pass the baton to another Gaffer. PM the file around to whoever is intrested in keeping it up to date until you return.

 

[jj984jj]

DS = red
PSP = blue

Where is the word Easter? Phail.

Make sure to pass the baton to another Gaffer. PM the file around to whoever is intrested in keeping it up to date until you return.

*points to link quoted above*

 

[Yamauchi]

Where is the word Easter? Phail.

Don't be so harsh. Actually, it was a very good chart and served its purpose.

 

[polg]

Make sure to pass the baton to another Gaffer. PM the file around to whoever is intrested in keeping it up to date until you return.

I can do that... if nobody else is willing to...

 

[marvelharvey]

.

 

[jj984jj]

Don't be so harsh. Actually, it was a very good chart and served its purpose.

It'd be perfect if it only had the word Easter.

 

[Akia]

I can do that... if nobody else is willing to...

There we go! I can't imagine a week of sales without your chart Culex. Hopefully you'll agree to letting someone else take care of it until you return.

 

[ioi]

Actually, I'll correct myself, as of March 97 shipments into Japan were reported as:

2.01m N64
6.50m PS

So these numbers aren't that far off, maybe 80% of what they should be.

I tried to roughly read the values off the graph ages ago and this is what I got:

Date		N64	PSX	SAT
27-Nov-94				91
04-Dec-94			82	28
11-Dec-94			28	26
18-Dec-94			33	32
25-Dec-94			34	34
01-Jan-95			55	20
08-Jan-95			17	40
15-Jan-95			33	18
22-Jan-95			20	18
29-Jan-95			32	30
05-Feb-95			23	28
12-Feb-95			33	28
19-Feb-95			20	26
26-Feb-95			20	26
05-Mar-95			21	36
12-Mar-95			19	33
19-Mar-95			19	30
26-Mar-95			27	24
02-Apr-95			25	20
09-Apr-95			21	18
16-Apr-95			17	11
23-Apr-95			17	10
30-Apr-95			23	15
07-May-95			37	21
14-May-95			15	8
21-May-95			15	9
28-May-95			18	10
04-Jun-95			19	10
11-Jun-95			44	10
18-Jun-95			42	94
25-Jun-95			54	39
02-Jul-95			53	19
09-Jul-95			61	20
16-Jul-95			52	30
23-Jul-95			46	37
30-Jul-95			37	23
06-Aug-95			27	15
13-Aug-95			26	13
20-Aug-95			22	10
27-Aug-95			19	8
03-Sep-95			17	6
10-Sep-95			15	4
17-Sep-95			13	4
24-Sep-95			10	4
01-Oct-95			10	5
08-Oct-95			9	6
15-Oct-95			7	6
22-Oct-95			10	10
29-Oct-95			21	21
05-Nov-95			18	16
12-Nov-95			15	9
19-Nov-95			12	28
26-Nov-95			17	58
03-Dec-95			21	65
10-Dec-95			26	73
17-Dec-95			38	106
24-Dec-95			68	135
31-Dec-95			57	93
07-Jan-96			93	180
14-Jan-96			32	41
21-Jan-96			25	23
28-Jan-96			24	24
04-Feb-96			22	22
11-Feb-96			26	26
18-Feb-96			34	21
25-Feb-96			35	22
03-Mar-96			25	23
10-Mar-96			23	13
17-Mar-96			21	6
24-Mar-96			12	98
31-Mar-96			76	57
07-Apr-96			88	106
14-Apr-96			57	68
21-Apr-96			44	57
28-Apr-96			59	65
05-May-96			66	55
12-May-96			47	33
19-May-96			36	23
26-May-96			32	23
02-Jun-96			47	29
09-Jun-96			26	22
16-Jun-96			38	28
23-Jun-96		555	58	26
30-Jun-96		108	87	40
07-Jul-96		70	64	37
14-Jul-96		55	75	38
21-Jul-96		38	72	39
28-Jul-96		34	70	33
04-Aug-96		26	98	30
11-Aug-96		24	96	30
18-Aug-96		39	117	38
25-Aug-96		23	88	32
01-Sep-96		23	78	32
08-Sep-96		26	75	37
15-Sep-96		19	58	28
22-Sep-96		18	77	30
29-Sep-96		27	81	37
06-Oct-96		30	62	50
13-Oct-96		14	44	31
20-Oct-96		12	62	27
27-Oct-96		24	84	40
03-Nov-96		7	48	15
10-Nov-96		8	51	18
17-Nov-96		9	37	14
24-Nov-96		13	50	23
01-Dec-96		14	71	32
08-Dec-96		14	91	27
15-Dec-96		43	130	41
22-Dec-96		56	143	45
29-Dec-96		58	156	52
05-Jan-97		64	161	63
12-Jan-97		20	83	29
19-Jan-97		11	72	13
26-Jan-97		8	77	16
02-Feb-97		8	139	11

Total		1,498	5,333	3,786

 

[soundwave05]

Actually, I'll correct myself, as of March 97 shipments into Japan were reported as:

2.01m N64
6.50m PS

So these numbers aren't that far off, maybe 80% of what they should be.

I tried to roughly read the values off the graph ages ago and this is what I got:

Date		N64	PSX	SAT
27-Nov-94				91
04-Dec-94			82	28
11-Dec-94			28	26
18-Dec-94			33	32
25-Dec-94			34	34
01-Jan-95			55	20
08-Jan-95			17	40
15-Jan-95			33	18
22-Jan-95			20	18
29-Jan-95			32	30
05-Feb-95			23	28
12-Feb-95			33	28
19-Feb-95			20	26
26-Feb-95			20	26
05-Mar-95			21	36
12-Mar-95			19	33
19-Mar-95			19	30
26-Mar-95			27	24
02-Apr-95			25	20
09-Apr-95			21	18
16-Apr-95			17	11
23-Apr-95			17	10
30-Apr-95			23	15
07-May-95			37	21
14-May-95			15	8
21-May-95			15	9
28-May-95			18	10
04-Jun-95			19	10
11-Jun-95			44	10
18-Jun-95			42	94
25-Jun-95			54	39
02-Jul-95			53	19
09-Jul-95			61	20
16-Jul-95			52	30
23-Jul-95			46	37
30-Jul-95			37	23
06-Aug-95			27	15
13-Aug-95			26	13
20-Aug-95			22	10
27-Aug-95			19	8
03-Sep-95			17	6
10-Sep-95			15	4
17-Sep-95			13	4
24-Sep-95			10	4
01-Oct-95			10	5
08-Oct-95			9	6
15-Oct-95			7	6
22-Oct-95			10	10
29-Oct-95			21	21
05-Nov-95			18	16
12-Nov-95			15	9
19-Nov-95			12	28
26-Nov-95			17	58
03-Dec-95			21	65
10-Dec-95			26	73
17-Dec-95			38	106
24-Dec-95			68	135
31-Dec-95			57	93
07-Jan-96			93	180
14-Jan-96			32	41
21-Jan-96			25	23
28-Jan-96			24	24
04-Feb-96			22	22
11-Feb-96			26	26
18-Feb-96			34	21
25-Feb-96			35	22
03-Mar-96			25	23
10-Mar-96			23	13
17-Mar-96			21	6
24-Mar-96			12	98
31-Mar-96			76	57
07-Apr-96			88	106
14-Apr-96			57	68
21-Apr-96			44	57
28-Apr-96			59	65
05-May-96			66	55
12-May-96			47	33
19-May-96			36	23
26-May-96			32	23
02-Jun-96			47	29
09-Jun-96			26	22
16-Jun-96			38	28
23-Jun-96		555	58	26
30-Jun-96		108	87	40
07-Jul-96		70	64	37
14-Jul-96		55	75	38
21-Jul-96		38	72	39
28-Jul-96		34	70	33
04-Aug-96		26	98	30
11-Aug-96		24	96	30
18-Aug-96		39	117	38
25-Aug-96		23	88	32
01-Sep-96		23	78	32
08-Sep-96		26	75	37
15-Sep-96		19	58	28
22-Sep-96		18	77	30
29-Sep-96		27	81	37
06-Oct-96		30	62	50
13-Oct-96		14	44	31
20-Oct-96		12	62	27
27-Oct-96		24	84	40
03-Nov-96		7	48	15
10-Nov-96		8	51	18
17-Nov-96		9	37	14
24-Nov-96		13	50	23
01-Dec-96		14	71	32
08-Dec-96		14	91	27
15-Dec-96		43	130	41
22-Dec-96		56	143	45
29-Dec-96		58	156	52
05-Jan-97		64	161	63
12-Jan-97		20	83	29
19-Jan-97		11	72	13
26-Jan-97		8	77	16
02-Feb-97		8	139	11

Total		1,498	5,333	3,786

Cool thanks for that.

So the PSX sold about 200,000 the week FFVII ... man these DS numbers are just insane.

 

[Yamauchi]

Who developed/published Tamagotchi DS?

 

[soundwave05]

Who developed/published Tamagotchi DS?

I believe Bandai ... coincidentally Nintendo owns a small slice of Bandai I believe. Nintendo just can't do anything wrong when it comes to the DS in Japan :lol

 

[polg]

I'll be around for next week's update.

I report to active duty on January 4th, and go to Fort Brag from there, then on to Afganistan.

up to you Culex... I've put my hand up...

 

[Culex]

There we go! I can't imagine a week of sales without your chart Culex. Hopefully you'll agree to letting someone else take care of it until you return.

Yea, I thought I PM'd an older .xls to someone here (can't remember who). I didn't realize there was this fan following to my charts :lol. I only started doing it 2 months ago.

After the following week's numbers are out, I'll email the excel file to whoever wants it for their own use.

 

[Akia]

Who developed/published Tamagotchi DS?

Published by: Bandai
Developed by: Nana On Sha

After the following week's numbers are out, I'll email the excel file to whoever wants it for their own use.

Give it to polg he'll take care of it.

 

[ioi]

Cool thanks for that.

So the PSX sold about 200,000 the week FFVII ... man these DS numbers are just insane.

Well, no as I say those numbers actually aren't far off what Sony / Nintendo claimed they shipped. I'd say ~150k the week FF VII came out, although it had a pretty strong xmas the year before.

I think the only year that could come close is Xmas 97 for PS which would have been enormous but I don't have any numbers for that...

 

[Beowvlf]

Holy shit, is Koei insane?! I just noticed on MC's site that they have Samurai Warriors PSP selling for fucking ¥8190!!!

No wonder it didn't sell that much... Why MGA2 didn't even make the Top 50 completely blows me away though. I'd of thought at the very least an easy 50k was in the bag.

 

[soundwave05]

Well, no as I say those numbers actually aren't far off what Sony / Nintendo claimed they shipped. I'd say ~150k the week FF VII came out, although it had a pretty strong xmas the year before.

Well I was giving it a bit more of the benefit of the doubt, given that tracking back then may not have been quite as accurate. Still, DS numbers are far beyond even a generous estimate for PSX.

 

[cvxfreak]

Man, the N64 in Japan... started off so promising that first week, and then it fizzled.

 

[Yamauchi]

I believe Bandai ... coincidentally Nintendo owns a small slice of Bandai I believe. Nintendo just can't do anything wrong when it comes to the DS in Japan :lol

That's true. I think they've struck a chord with the population.

I have one last question. Is Sony selling the PSP at a loss? If it is, it seems like a poor business decision on Sony's part given the PSP's software sales (not much licensing fee revenue) and low tie ratio.