Pachterballs
Banned
agreed.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
NPD January 2013 Sales Results [Up7: Wii U 57K (CNET), Vita ~35K, PS3 201K]
- Thread starter Nirolak
- Start date
agreed.
UberTag
Member
There's a considerable difference for us. There may NOT be such a considerable difference for developers who get hung out to dry based on unrealistic sales expectations set by publishers.
If a game needs to sell 2 million units in order to break even, you're being set up to fail.
Additionally, more publishers need to embrace tiered release pricing instead of clinging to the $60 price point for the lowliest of shovelware crap.
Also, Call of Duty titles need to sell for $80 at launch.
kobashi100
Banned
Vita is dead for sure! 30k is pathetic
Wii U on serious life support.. 55k is just madness!
Wii U on serious life support.. 55k is just madness!
Bel_Air_Jeff
Banned
I think the problem is:
I'd rather sit on the internet and day dream about the games to come this year than play any of the games that have come out in the past 2 months..
I'd rather sit on the internet and day dream about the games to come this year than play any of the games that have come out in the past 2 months..
Steve Youngblood
Member
I don't think the Wii U's problems can be blamed on any sort of impending market crash. Even in better times, I think this thing would struggle. However, I do think it's worth noting that there isn't exactly a plethora of good indicators to suggest that the console market is particularly healthy right now relative to where it has been. I don't think Orbis or Durango are destined to struggle just because the Wii U is, but I also don't think there's anything to suggest that people are really antsy with money in hand to buy new video game hardware right now. They very well might, particularly if it's compelling hardware. But I don't think the market is necessarily primed and ready to pounce on the next piece of hardware that isn't terrible.
Incendiary
Banned
I think it's a combination of several factors. The tablet/phone/browser game market is here to stay, and I think a good chunk of declining game sales is that the console gaming companies are trying to tap into that market without understanding the overall picture.
Essentially, Sony and Microsoft and the third-party publishers are fighting a war on three fronts: they're trying to please/bring in the casual crowd (Kinect/Wonderbook/F2P + microtransactions/Netflix/etc.), they're trying to combat the used market (DLC/map packs/online pass codes/etc.), and they're trying to keep the "core" audience all at the same time. And without a firm focus, resources along with innovation get thin, and quality across the board suffers.
Meanwhile, the people releasing things on iPhone and iPad and whatever are completely oblivious to consoles. They're not trying to tap into the console market, they're simply designing games for people to buy on the iPad. Angry Birds and Words with Friends weren't designed to compete with the 360 or the PS3 or the Wii. And I think that's the big difference right now, and may be what kills the next generation. The big console manufacturers and AAA producers are saying "you have an iPad? well, you should also buy this because X!" or "you bought games on your Android? well, you should also buy games on this system because X!" They're looking at what's popular and trying to emulate it instead of trying to create something new that gains popularity on its own.
Randolph Freelander
Member
The market already has crashed. Games have been dead for years.
"Thank you for purchasing our game. Please enter your credit card number to play the first chapter."
"What's behind that door? Wouldn't you like to know! Please enter your credit card number to find out. Don't be left out!"
"Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice that you look like you need a pick-me-up. Perhaps you are suffering from Low T? Low T is nothing to be ashamed of, it impacts 1 out of every 4 men who play video games. Would you like us to refer you to a specialist? Please hit X to confirm. To cancel, please enter your credit card number."
"Hey hey hey, kids! Who wants some Mountain Dew? Please go through your mom's purse and then enter her credit card number."
Straight up bullshit. I played DMC4 the day before starting DmC. 4 is the inferior product in every way, shape, and form. 3 certainly has the most complex combat system of any of the games, but style switching still feels like a clumsy gimmick instead of fusing the combat in a coherent whole, and still carries plenty of terrible legacy baggage from DMC and that's Resident Evil roots. Having more stuff doesn't make something essentially better. Ninja Gaiden Black has a leaner combat system than any DMC, and it's combat flow is superior.
DmC has its faults, though most of them come from the DMC design doc, like the juvenile story and lesser enemies that don't put up a fight. The color-coded enemies feels gimmicky, though it makes it a challenge to deal with them on top of spacing out other enemies. The combo meter doesn't bleed fast enough, but I never found it hard to get S in previous DMC games so it strikes me as pretty minor. There's too much platforming. There's too much item collecting and optional nonsense, but DmC is probably the second best game in the franchise. I don't know how the original game holds up. I haven't played it in forever.
Baconsammy
Banned
They release new stuff about as often. Why not.
EmCeeGramr
Member
Meanwhile at Capcom, management is desperately trying to fax over their new bald rapper Dante concept art to High Moon Studios.
Randolph Freelander
Member
Nintendo Huts, perhaps.
Forceatowulf
G***n S**n*bi
I'm not very good at calculating these NPD numbers and what they mean long term. So, can anyone tell me if DmC can get to 5 million sold like Capcom wanted?
Hahaha...
Unknown One
Member
It's like they want it to crash because Nintendo is doing terrible or put Nintendo on a super high pedestal. 360 and PS3 is still doing well. Nintendo just outdid the launch PS3 and that was 600 dollars and didn't launch in Europe for a long time.
Bel_Air_Jeff
Banned
the lack of creativity recently in the console market has been apparent.
and when creative material comes out it's overshadowed by CoD and Halos.
haha lucky if it ever gets to 1.5 million
True. Man, poor WiiU. At least I'm having a lot of fun with mine lol
Fourth Storm
Member
That's actually something worth thinking about.
UberTag
Member
I blame these guys.
Well, 5 million less 200K is... 4.8 million away. They're on their way to achieving their goal. Good for them!
Probably another 300K between Europe and Japan, too.
Bel_Air_Jeff
Banned
As long as there is a shit ton of merchandise..
This could work out in their favor.
Bruno MB
Member
Wii U was released almost 3 months ago in North America and Nintendo haven't set a release date for any of their titles yet.
Well, in Japan Game & Wario is slated for March 25.
Not that Pikmin 3 was going to have a noticeable effect on hardware sales (hello GameCube) but c'mon, man!
Well, in Japan Game & Wario is slated for March 25.
Not that Pikmin 3 was going to have a noticeable effect on hardware sales (hello GameCube) but c'mon, man!
Pachterballs
Banned
Aaron Strife
Banned
Gamecube Hut. They can capitalize on the apparent nostalgia for that console.
It really just would not work. There was already a Wii U kiosk in every store around launch.
So many people were upset (me included) when Sega announced it had stopped production of the Dreamcast, it was such a cherished gaming system, and within a 2 year span it had built an outstanding library.
But I can't help but sit here, as a Wii U owner, and think if Nintendo came out and said they were stopping the production of the Wii U that not very many people would really care.
The system, least from a library standpoint, just doesn't seem to have the potential that most new consoles have... the limitless expectations one has when a new console launches just isn't there. I can't put my finger on it, but to me at least, the Wii U already feels like it's washed up.
But I can't help but sit here, as a Wii U owner, and think if Nintendo came out and said they were stopping the production of the Wii U that not very many people would really care.
The system, least from a library standpoint, just doesn't seem to have the potential that most new consoles have... the limitless expectations one has when a new console launches just isn't there. I can't put my finger on it, but to me at least, the Wii U already feels like it's washed up.
Yeah this is a problem. They should not have been relying on a mere two titles to carry them through more than a month or two. I'm talking internally-made 1st party titles here, and not simply publishing/promoting Lego like it was made in-house. Not sure what they were thinking not having some new titles ready for early Q1. They seemed much better prepared in GameCube days.
You gave the Dreamcast 2 years, I bet you may love the WiiU library in 18 months.
EmCeeGramr
Member
Wait no, High Moon got bought by Activision. Hold on, what mid-tier action game studios still exist and haven't gone under or been bought out.
Griptonite? Wait, shit, no, Ready At Dawn. That's who they'd pick.
Griptonite? Wait, shit, no, Ready At Dawn. That's who they'd pick.
StreetsAhead
Member
Well, Lego is first party and that's dated for the same month. Nothing outside of April for fist party for either system is dated, though.
Pikmin 1 & 2 sold a million each on GC though... world wide..
This is me right now. I would've bought DmC for consoles, but the PC performance gains were to great for me to ignore, but since I don't want to spend money for a PC controller it remains unbought.
With Durango and Orbis on the horizon, people are waiting and saving up for what may be, and anything that isn't "must have" is being left to rot. I wouldn't be surprised if Rising does DmC numbers.
bone_and_sinew
breaking down barriers in gratuitous nudity
I've got some major cognitive dissonance going on. Part of me is thinking "I should be the bigger man and move on from DmC, I'm getting Rising on Tuesday, it doesn't matter what happens with that game anymore". The other part is thinking "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, NO FUCK YOU!".
Same with the Wii U. One part: "oh man, this is bad for the industry". Other part: "well if Nintendo goes third party, then the few interesting Wii U exclusive games will too..."
Same with the Wii U. One part: "oh man, this is bad for the industry". Other part: "well if Nintendo goes third party, then the few interesting Wii U exclusive games will too..."
Phoenician_Viking
Banned
Very well done. Lol.
Nintendo's paying the price for microwaving last generation's strategy of shoehorning inorganic controller functionality to paper over a weak and effortless console. The Wii U's main problem is that most of it's library will be designed around a controller that nobody asked for. New controller functionality should always be added as needed for the content, like analog control for 3D gaming. People innately understand innovations that grew out of a need, like analog shoulder buttons for FPSs or racing games. The Wii U gamepad is a solution to a problem that never existed.
Aside from that the Wii U is 6 years behind technologically in an industry that builds to last 6 years in the future. The system was just a terrible idea to start with.
Aside from that the Wii U is 6 years behind technologically in an industry that builds to last 6 years in the future. The system was just a terrible idea to start with.
ViewtifulJC
Banned
Mega Man(gritty reboot), by Spark "Legendary" Unlimited
Marvel vs Capcom 4, by Superbot
Doublethink
Banned
They can give it to Gearbox and re-reboot the franchise as a first person shooter starring bald Dante. Maybe then they'll hit their sales projections.
I wonder which one you may be hoping for~
Gahiggidy
My aunt & uncle run a Mom & Pop store, "The Gamecube Hut", and sold 80k WiiU within minutes of opening.
Actually, I was thinking 'House of Wii' as a name.
We know Vita and Wii U are bad. I have a bad feeling about PS3...
Back in the day you could be coming off a terrible 10 million worldwide selling console and still get exclusive third party support of the caliber of Soul Calibur.
Gahiggidy
My aunt & uncle run a Mom & Pop store, "The Gamecube Hut", and sold 80k WiiU within minutes of opening.
Uggh! When will this myth die? Did we all dream that 'Japanese Garden Demo'?
The numbers are disastrous, there is no way around that. The comparison to the GameCube is even less favorable considering that WiiU has no next gen competitor, just very old consoles. The GC had to only compete with the Xbox, but the juggernaut that was the PS2.
I hope, that Nintendo does not panic too much and slash the price too much to gain market share, the focus should be on making the WiiU profitable. This is not a Wii repeat, most people kinda knew that when they saw the GamePad.
It is just "neat" but neat will never compare to the phenomenon that was the original Wii.
As anectdotal as it is, I do not hear anyone talk about the U, whereas that was the absolute case for the original.
I hope, that Nintendo does not panic too much and slash the price too much to gain market share, the focus should be on making the WiiU profitable. This is not a Wii repeat, most people kinda knew that when they saw the GamePad.
It is just "neat" but neat will never compare to the phenomenon that was the original Wii.
As anectdotal as it is, I do not hear anyone talk about the U, whereas that was the absolute case for the original.
metalslimer
Member
People's continued faith in the huge disaster that is Vita continue to surprise me. Ubisoft saying Vita is dead means nothing. They also said they have a many Wii U games in development as well and we'll see how that pans out. Vita just 7 freaking thousand units a week in North America. Stores got rid of PS2 and PSP stock before it got that bad. There is seriously very little reason for any retailer to carry Vita at this point especially if the digital market is as important for as many people say. The writing has been on the wall for Vita for a long time and at this point it will be extremely lucky to sell half of what the gamecube did with MUCH worse software sales to make up for it. Then again we have people saying Wii U doing horrendous is all part of the plan so the eternal optimism shouldn't be surprising.
Oh Gahiggidy....
Oh Gahiggidy....
Version 3.0
Member
If there's one game you can rush out the door, it's gotta be this. Personally, I think it'll bomb, though. I don't think anyone cares. There are lots of fitness games now. There's even one on the Wii U already (which bombed).
Might be due to the fact that the Dreamcast had an absolutely amazing library of new and unique IPs. Wii U doesn't have any of that. It's just washed up Nintendo IPs.
bone_and_sinew
breaking down barriers in gratuitous nudity
I don't know myself, lol. But the fact that I'm able to spot my cognitive dissonance probably means rationality will triumph over emotion.
I blame my stupid credit card not authorizing System Shock 2's purchase, lol. I'd be in a better mood.