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Media Create Sales: Week 16, 2014 (Apr 14 - Apr 20)

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
Funny how quickly Japan went from 3DS-land to ... sort-of-nothing-land

mobile-land?

Yes:

17.jpg
 
Hmm, bad sales for everyone, but the PS4's "hold" above the 10k barrier is something at least.

Damn, it really is a crappy situation when a hold is considered to be a good thing for a console that is going to cross streams with its predecessor in terms of the weekly aligned LTD in Japan. If I can just find that Chris1964 post listing it out side by side last week.

EDIT:-
Found it, modified to include this week's numbers. The PS3/PS4 streams should cross next week(!) at this rate. Not a good sign at all.

Don't think it's exactly fair comparison though as PS3 was released in November versus February for PS4. That ninth week for PS3 was first week of January that is strong week usually sales wise. PS3 was also doing sub 15k numbers in April (2007). Still of course rather lackluster sales but at least for me very expected. Also of course hoped that PS4 would start to trend better after launch.
 

Mpl90

Two copies sold? That's not a bomb guys, stop trolling!!!
I assume this was supposed to be 15 million as well. Otherwise, you are way wrong :p

:lol

Sorry, now it's right

@Nirolak. Eh, next gen seems to be Nintendo's big chance to go all in. Vita's successor could not exist, at least in the traditional space, PS4 will improve for sure, but who knows how much (announcements since TGS have been so bad...ports over ports over late ports over late ports...it's worse than a random anti-Sony fanboy would have ever imagined, seriously :lol ), so they could get the brands they didn't obtain to lock with 3DS.
 
Is this the worst we have ever seen in term of hardware and software sales? Everything is sub 20k on hardware and the best selling software sold only 36k. This is really terrible.
 
Total Hardware sales are down by 500k, despite the PS4 having a LTD of 500k and PSV increasing by 100k.

The reason is clear. 3DS has declined by a whopping 700k and its only been 4 months. PSP has declined notably by 180k, PS3 by 140k, and WiiU by 80k.

The only console that has any kind of excuse to decline by their respective extents is the PS3 and PSP due to their age.

Now that the PS4 has slowed down the gap is only going to get larger.
 

L Thammy

Member
3DS needs to target Vita's audience? This is so wrong even right now after 3DS has cooled down. You never aim to be second place, especially not an ridiculously distant second place in a 2-horse race.

Assuming that you aren't joking, sarcasm being so hard to detect on the Internet and all. Nintendo doesn't have to jettison their existing audience to target the new one. They can produce a mix of major titles and niche titles. They can produce a mix, and they can also court third party developers to improve their mix while paying attention to current key partners (e.g. Capcom).
 

kswiston

Member
I do think, though, that Nintendo must see the niche titles on Vita doing reasonably well, and should be considering making moves to secure the devs behind those games for the next Nintendo handheld.

I think the Vita is benefiting from having high enough specs that it can multiplatform with the PS3 without too many compromises. Especially in Japan where few devs ever push PS3 hardware. PS3 already had a healthy low-tier/mid-tier, so it seems like a natural extension.
 

cafemomo

Member
I do think, though, that Nintendo must see the niche titles on Vita doing reasonably well, and should be considering making moves to secure the devs behind those games for the next Nintendo handheld.

because their next handheld should have very fine games akin to Princess Arthur, Mind = 0, Valhalla Knights G, etc
 

Metallix87

Member
I think the Vita is benefiting from having high enough specs that it can multiplatform with the PS3 without too many compromises. Especially in Japan where few devs ever push PS3 hardware. PS3 already had a healthy low-tier/mid-tier, so it seems like a natural extension.

That will likely be the case with the 3DS's successor, if not moreso.

because their next handheld should have very fine games akin to Princess Arthur, Mind = 0, Valhalla Knights G, etc

It should have the games that people want to buy.
 

Vashetti

Banned
I realise there's the narrative of Japan transitioning to mobile (which obviously does hold weight).

But these numbers are horrifying.

Are the Japanese just not going to bother with handheld/console gaming soon? I don't understand how they can abandon it so readily. It's baffling to me.
 

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
:lol

Sorry, now it's right

@Nirolak. Eh, next gen seems to be Nintendo's big chance to go all in. Vita's successor could not exist, at least in the traditional space, PS4 will improve for sure, but who knows how much (announcements since TGS have been so bad...ports over ports over late ports over late ports...it's worse than a random anti-Sony fanboy would have ever imagined, seriously :lol ), so they could get the brands they didn't obtain to lock with 3DS.

I suspect they probably will, but the question is how much is left at that point and how much selling potential does it have.

The problem with lower hardware sales overall is the issue that you're also often not bringing in a lot of new customers.

One thing I miss about Keiji Inafune at Capcom was that he was always adamant at growing audience sizes as much as possible, and I think that showed a lot in the explosive growth of several of their franchises back when he was in charge (Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, Dead Rising, Street Fighter revival).

I don't feel that drive is really there anymore, and in the cases where it is, it's often notably mishandled.

While very common among Western publishers, I do feel it's become fairly rare among the big Japanese players, which is why we don't see as many big new hits as we used to.

Level 5 still goes for it, and we can see their success there even if they fall on their face from time to time.

And, for all the shit I give Square Enix, they did go all in on things like Tomb Raider, Hitman, and FFXIV to great success in terms of units sold/subscriptions, which has left them in one of the best positions of any of their compatriots.
 
Funny how quickly Japan went from 3DS-land to ... sort-of-nothing-land

We're all happy for the Vita rise, but numbers wise a Vita in heaven is a 3DS in hell

mobile-land?

I think the sharp rise in mobile in Japan is not a natural evolution of the gaming industry but a failure of home gaming consoles last gen and the Japanese devs... and Japanese insularity.

Japan is not a big consumer of western made games which have been going strong with the likes of Halo, COD, GTA, Skyrim etc or DOTA, LoL and WoW but Japanese gamers have ignored these for the most part.

JP devs have been spectacularly bad at making blockbuster games last/current gen that appeal to both JP and Western audiences and JP market alone isn't big enough to support $100m+ dev budget.
 

Jamix012

Member
I was thinking about this, but never mentioned it because it was super ridiculous, but honestly some part of me feels like the best way for the handheld market to go is for Sony and Nintendo to work together on the next handheld.

I'm assuming this handheld would be 1 screen'd in order to share (some??) software with the next Nintendo home console as has been implied.

Nintendo would benefit by through marginal gains, especially in Japan, less research into hardware (as the handheld would be a souped up Vita) and it would allow them to have backwards compatibility with at least the Vita, increasing the value proposition (if they went 1 screened, 3DS compatibility would be impossible.) Sony's might even contribute some first party titles.

Sony would obviously benefit through the far higher sales than the next Sony handheld could possibly produce, allowing them another ecosystem to develop software on if they desired and a new revenue stream. Crossovers with Nintendo IPs could become a possibility?

This is somewhat a fanboy dream and obviously there'd be issues and this will never happen and half of me still thinks its pretty nuts. But honestly, consolidating whats left of the handheld market may be the best way for it to continue vialbility.
 

SmokyDave

Member
I was thinking about this, but never mentioned it because it was super ridiculous, but honestly some part of me feels like the best way for the handheld market to go is for Sony and Nintendo to work together on the next handheld.
It is a ridiculous dream, but it's one that I share. Let Sony make the hardware and provide the services, let Nintendo flood it with their first party titles. Add in third party support from all Japanese devs and you have the perfect games machine.
 

RM8

Member
Japan absolutely buys Western games. When I switch my iOS account to Japan and check the most downloaded games, there's plenty of Western stuff there :p
 
I was thinking about this, but never mentioned it because it was super ridiculous, but honestly some part of me feels like the best way for the handheld market to go is for Sony and Nintendo to work together on the next handheld.

I'm assuming this handheld would be 1 screen'd in order to share (some??) software with the next Nintendo home console as has been implied.

Nintendo would benefit by through marginal gains, especially in Japan, less research into hardware (as the handheld would be a souped up Vita) and it would allow them to have backwards compatibility with at least the Vita, increasing the value proposition (if they went 1 screened, 3DS compatibility would be impossible.) Sony's might even contribute some first party titles.

Sony would obviously benefit through the far higher sales than the next Sony handheld could possibly produce, allowing them another ecosystem to develop software on if they desired and a new revenue stream. Crossovers with Nintendo IPs could become a possibility?

This is somewhat a fanboy dream and obviously there'd be issues and this will never happen and half of me still thinks its pretty nuts. But honestly, consolidating whats left of the handheld market may be the best way for it to continue vialbility.
Yes. Yes, please.
 

Beth Cyra

Member
It is a ridiculous dream, but it's one that I share. Let Sony make the hardware and provide the services, let Nintendo flood it with their first party titles. Add in third party support from all Japanese devs and you have the perfect games machine.

This is why I don't believe it will ever happen.

So long as Sony's the one whos name is on the Hardware and designed by them Nintendo will never do it. It would need to be the reverse for Nintendo to ever even consider it.
 

RM8

Member
If it comes to that, I'd be okay with a Nintendo/Sony handheld. Now, I know you guys love Vita, but even if Sony takes care of the hardware it just CAN'T be cutting-edge device, it would need to launch at a $99-120 price range to succeed. Overall having to own one handheld instead of too would be convenient.
 

SmokyDave

Member
This is why I don't believe it will ever happen.

So long as Sony's the one whos name is on the Hardware and designed by them Nintendo will never do it. It would need to be the reverse for Nintendo to ever even consider it.
Call it the Nintendo Gameboy for all I care, just let Sony design it! If there's only going to be one handheld, I don't want it to be weak as piss with one analogue stick and a 480p screen. I'd rather just play on my phone at that point.
 

Kagari

Crystal Bearer
FF14 did fine considering the free upgrade for PS3 to PS4 for players and the game is also available mainly as a digital download.
 

nordique

Member
I imagine they didn't warn to harm margin in what was their best territory, along with them thinking it's not an amazing fit given it's a portable centric market.

At this point they're heading into the dead zone though so it's about time to for them to wheel it out and hope they get a boost.

What about another 3ds update? It wouldn't be a stretch to see another revision this year.

That might spark the market a bit
 

AniHawk

Member
Call it the Nintendo Gameboy for all I care, just let Sony design it! If there's only going to be one handheld, I don't want it to be weak as piss with one analogue stick and a 480p screen. I'd rather just play on my phone at that point.

i would rather nintendo go back to the basics: focus on portability, battery life, and low cost to users and developers. handheld dedicated gaming devices should not be premium products.
 

iori9999

Banned
Dat slight Ps4 bump.. And while that occurs, the Vita falls :(

Just realized that FF XIV was the reason for the bump, but I thought it would have sold a little better.
 

impact

Banned
FF14 did fine considering the free upgrade for PS3 to PS4 for players and the game is also available mainly as a digital download.

It didn't move any hardware though, which a lot of people on here thought it would for some odd reason.
 

Prelude.

Member
Whats with the Hatsune Miku decline, can anyone explain?

Sega: "Last time we sold 158k on Vita and 113k later on PS3, why don't we release it on both platforms simultaneously this time, we'll make those numbers again in a single week, right?"

Japan: "Nope"
 

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
FF14 did fine considering the free upgrade for PS3 to PS4 for players and the game is also available mainly as a digital download.

I don't really see this as an issue for FF14 especially given the PS4 isn't very relevant in the Japanese market and the other scenarios surrounding it.

I do think it's less ideal for Sony though since they're seemingly not picking up many people who weren't playing the game already anyway, but I'm not sure much was expected in this regard anyway.

It does still leave the system on a collision course with the floor though for quite a while though.
 
The hypothetical Sontendo handheld doesn't really seem like it would be a worthwhile venture for Sony. The opportunity cost of sinking R&D dollars and manpower into a shrinking market for a platform royalty share? Exiting the market, which despite the reasonable success of the PSP has been something of a misadventure, would be a wiser course.

There are lucrative markets like medical imaging that those R&D dollars could be better spent.
 

RM8

Member
i would rather nintendo go back to the basics: focus on portability, battery life, and low cost to users and developers. handheld dedicated gaming devices should not be premium products.
I agree. A modest device launching at a very affordable price with appealing software is the key, IMO.
 

Metallix87

Member
i would rather nintendo go back to the basics: focus on portability, battery life, and low cost to users and developers. handheld dedicated gaming devices should not be premium products.

I actually agree. The PSP, 3DS, and Vita have gone out of their way to kill battery life, affordability, and portability for the sake of raw horsepower, and that needs to stop. Most of the best and best selling handheld games don't require state of the art visuals.
 

SmokyDave

Member
i would rather nintendo go back to the basics: focus on portability, battery life, and low cost to users and developers. handheld dedicated gaming devices should not be premium products.
You're undeniably right from a business perspective, sadly. Mobile gaming is where my portable future lies. I can't fuck with lo-fi hardware, it ruins my day.
 
Call it the Nintendo Gameboy for all I care, just let Sony design it! If there's only going to be one handheld, I don't want it to be weak as piss with one analogue stick and a 480p screen. I'd rather just play on my phone at that point.

Or how about Nintendo just allows another company design its next handheld, besides one that has a foothold in the video game market? Sony isn't the only Japanese tech giant.
 

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
The hypothetical Sontendo handheld doesn't really seem like it would be a worthwhile venture for Sony. The opportunity cost of sinking R&D dollars and manpower into a shrinking market for a platform royalty share? Exiting the market, which despite the reasonable success of the PSP, has been something of a misadventure would be a wiser course.

There are lucrative markets like medical imaging that those R&D dollars could be better spent.
I'd be really surprised if they tried a dedicated handheld again. There's not an audience for Sony portables anymore.

They could try selling a consumer electronics tablet with some buttons and sticks, but at that point the business model is basically entirely around hardware margins and it's not something you make games for in the same sense.

At this point they're just salvaging what they can out of the Vita with a minimal effort and trying to tide over their Japanese consumers until they either pick up a PS4 or they don't.

Losing what's left of the Japanese console market isn't really going to hurt them in the long run so there's no reason to run a loss leading handheld to entice people to their brand and thus the platform in the region.
 

RM8

Member
Regardless, it's going to be interesting to see what Nintendo does with their next handheld. Because even if it's a shrinking market, it's still bigger than their home console market, and I don't see them abandoning it.
 
Or how about Nintendo just allows another company design its next handheld, besides one that has a foothold in the video game market? Sony isn't the only Japanese tech giant.

On a related note:
I understand that cost is the king here and power/resolution/battery life will be defined almost entirely by it, but does anybody lurking this thread know anything about manufacturing the case of the system itself? Cause a more ergonomic body seems like the cheapest way to improve the next Nintendo handheld from my outsider's perspective.
 

SmokyDave

Member
Or how about Nintendo just allows another company design its next handheld, besides one that has a foothold in the video game market? Sony isn't the only Japanese tech giant.
Anyone, I don't care. Fucking LG for all it matters.

That said, AniHawk is totally correct. There's no place for a premium dedicated handheld. Except in my dreams :(
 

Takao

Banned
Nikkei is reporting that Sega will bring Chain Chronicle (phone game) to Vita this summer: http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDZ230CK_T20C14A4TI0000/

The lineup for F2P games on Vita is only growing, which indicates that money is being made. It's bewildering that Square Enix's high effort titles aren't touching it.

Nintendo has a cozy relationship with Panasonic so they could be a contender.

We don't want a Panasonic designed handheld:

6fwoDvG.jpg
 
You're undeniably right from a business perspective, sadly. Mobile gaming is where my portable future lies. I can't fuck with lo-fi hardware, it ruins my day.

My day is ruined more by f2p cash ins of once great franchises.

Ill take ds hardware for 20 bucks to prevent more of that
 

BadWolf

Member
i would rather nintendo go back to the basics: focus on portability, battery life, and low cost to users and developers. handheld dedicated gaming devices should not be premium products.

If there is no good boost in power then Nintendo will have to come up with another 'gimmick' as there would be little reason for consumers and developers to jump ship from the 3DS if there is no major difference to the thing (don't think battery life is a selling point for many).
 
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