Namco Not Happy With PS3 Sales, Announce Plans

Namco-Bandai has released an announcement regarding their software plans for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii. Namco-Bandai cites slower than expected sales of the PlayStation 3 leading them to a less-than-projected sales mark of 300,000 for Gundam Musou (the Gundam beam 'em up that plays like Dynasty Warriors). Namco-Bandai's original prediction for the game was 500,000 sold.

"PS3 did not make a good start, which will make the transition from the old game console to the next generation system more prolonged than we had earlier thought. "This will keep a lid on sales of our video games in the first half, although we believe that sales of PS3 will increase in the second half (to March 2008)," Namco-Bandai president Takeo Takasu said.

[Violater]

Way to spin a title, Kudos

[XxZxX]

it's gear who wrote this, what do you expect :D

[ItsDubC]

Regardless of Gears' "console allegiance", the title is copied word-for-word from the source, which happens to be a PS3 fan site.

[Gears]

I just copied and pasted for the source. Don't get all defensive over a shiny black box.

[XxZxX]

opps my bad.. my apology to Gears.

[ArduousAndy]

Now I'm no big city lawyer, me, I'm just a simple X-box player.

But it seems to me that nobody bought Gundam cause it sucked hard.

[hulk_bash1987]

...

[peksi]

..I think the Gundam series isn't that great, like the earlier guy said. And from what I've seen from the new Musou it looked strange. 1500 mechs being bumped by the player's character and doing nothing. Seems just like another strange japanese title... perverted people they are indeed. But I have great expectations from PS3 hardware and hope to see great games with deeper plots.

[ItsDubC]

lol, I simply stated the fact that the title was copied word-for-word from the source and 3 ppl disagreed w/ me? I feel like I'm dealing w/ children here.

[ITR]

"With that in mind, Namco-Bandai has announced that they have plans to release 23 PlayStation 3 games for fiscal 2008 (March 2007-March 2008). The Xbox 360 will see 24 games during the same period, and the Nintendo Wii will receive 37."

37 Wii games!
No Spiderman 3 crap, please.

[ItsDubC]

Ya that's pretty surprising as I always associated Namco w/ Sony. Namco releasing more Wii titles than PS3 titles because they are displeased w/ PS3 sales sorta makes them look money-hungry. It's probably wise from a business standpoint, but it kinda makes them look bad to "ditch" Sony like that.

The fact that they are planning 23 PS3 games and 24 360 games leads me to believe that these will simply be cross-platform titles for the most part.

With lower game development costs, it makes sense that Namco (or any other dev for that matter) would be able to pump out more Wii titles than PS3/360 titles, so I'm eager to see what they have planned and am keeping my fingers crossed that the titles aren't garbage.

[SomeAnalyst]

This week in Japan Wii software outsold PS3 software 33:1 !!
Even 360 software outsold PS3 software!

http://www.vgchartz.com/jap...

[bigmack]

ok, why is Namco-Bandai mad at sony? its there own fault for bringing out crappy games like Gundam. MSGundam games always suck. They should be mad at themselfs. I have the ps3 and i've tried them. they do suck.

[VirtualGamer]

Exactly! Funny RFoM and Motorstorm sold just fine because they are great games.

Yo developers! If you want your games to sell make them more then just average!

This service announcement brought to you by "GAMERS"

[Firewire]

I agree, the majority of there games suck! How about they develop something
new and interesting!
The only 2 good titles I see from them is RR7 (current) & Tekken 6
in the fall or early next year!

[Razzy]

Yeah really. They're upset that thier a$$tastic Gundam didn't sell? I can just imagine the garbage games they're developing for the Wii.

[kewlkat007]

RFoM and Motorstorm sold fine becasue there is nothing else decent to play. Nevertheless, I didn't think a FPS would sell as well on a PS3. Than again...yeah like I just said

[XxZxX]

correction my foot, no decent games to play. obviously this guy don't own a PS3 for sure, he has no idea what he is talking about.

[TheExecutive]

lol kewlkat you just named two good games for the PS3... Motorstorm is a blast. Play it sometime. RFOM is a blast. Play it sometime.

[ITR]

Gundam Musou isn't the same game as Gundam Crossfire.

http://gundam-musou.jp/movi...

Gundam Musou is probably the best MSG game to date.
GameSpot gave it an 8.9.

[VirtualGamer]

Well I guess the same could be said for Gears of War then since there is nothing as good on the 360. That must be why it sold so good if we go by your logic.. I would rather say it was an amazing game and thats why it got the sales it did. Stop trying to twist things and just accept that gamers should want developers to make great games. There is far to many average games being produced and for $60 bucks I am only buying the best ones. And sorry to say but Gundam is not one of them.

[kewlkat007]

I'm just stating the obvious, it aighn't hard to tell. Well why do you think I do not currently own a PS3. Exactly. MY ass is still waiting, as most gamers I know.

It is what it is...no sugar coating anything here, the PS3 is lacking great games, right now and those 2 games served a purpose. The only games worth to buy, I might add.

EDIT: Virtual GAMER,I knew you would bring Xbox360 into this. I'll stick to the subject. I gots no time to dabble game for game. Let the fanboys do that. Go ahead and see which games are more HIGHLY RATED for the PS3 and Xbox 360 early on.

I'm stating the obvious, its Ok to disagree, after all, it is what it is for the PS3.

All the Sudden NAMCO Sucks, and one Game is to BLAME. Ever think blaming Sony for not selling enough Consoles? That right, not selling like it should.
----------------------------- ------------------------------ - ----------------
EDIT: Virtual Gamer #3.11 , Yes unlike that guy below, I see what you are saying, The thing is DEVELOPERS have to understand the installment-Base is not the same as it was 10 years ago. So they should not be putting all their EGGS into one BASKET.
When a new Console is coming out, besides all the hype, SONY has not delivered (and you can disagree), so taking a risk early on in a console's life-cycle is still a big one.

Good point about SONIC,which brings me to, if a game did not sell well, even with the Developer not throwing all their EGGS into one BASKET, Of course the game must not be great. But when you support just SONY(which have had a huge installment-base the last 10 years), and have had plenty of success, you would Expect the Market leader to do their part. That my friend has not happened.

My point is, if this was like 6 years ago, that game everybody claims that sucks would of probably sold enough to break even. This time around it's not the case and it has a little more to do then just the game sucks or NAMCO is GARBAGE.
----------------------------- ------------------------------ -----------------------

[XxZxX]

hey guess what, I'm stating the obvious too.

[VirtualGamer]

No bro your not getting what I am saying. This is not a console war issue. That's why I brought an example for the 360. This is about any developer making a game for any system regardless of the install base. If they make a great game it will sell. Simple really, not complicated. Yes RFoM and Motorstorm are the 2 best games for the PS3 right now but had more of the games release been better then they could have also been up there with them and sold as well. Heck as PS3 owners and people who have not purchased one yet, we would like nothing better then to have more great games but the developers did not deliver. So they can blame the install base all they want but again had they made a great game they easily could have sold over a million copies as 2 great games did. Your going to argue Sonic did not sell well due to the install base or the fact it was crap?

And for the record I never said Namco sucked. I never said anything against Namco or any other developer. All I said is that as a developer if you want to sell copies of your game make it great and you won't have to worry.

[gowarriors]

XxZxX is right, Kewl definately a XBOX 360 owner. He is unaware that oblivion, F1 CE, Virtual Fighter 5, NBA Street Homecourt, Motorstorm, Ridge Racer 7, ROFM, Fight Round 3, The GodFather, NBA 2K7. All these are pretty decent games for PS3 to play. Get a PS3 for god sake.

[kewlkat007]

with 80% of that list of yours with games that are already on a 360, and R:FOM, and Motorstorm on there being the best games out there, umm

I don't see your point. That list haven't proved much about the PS3 having better games as of now, for which why them 2 games are so highly thought of and praised. With one being a FPS at that.

I remember at one point Ps3 gamers wanted nothing to do with FPS's. When you have nothing, the tune changes rather quick.

Plus you already know, if you ready my post why I don't have a PS3. If not then rehearse you list and read above..

[hulk_bash1987]

@ Kewlkat
Okay its one thing to state that RFoM and Motorstorm only sold well because they were the only good games out taking no account to the fact that they were good games. But how can u state something like "at one point PS3 gamers didnt want anything to do with FPS games", when one, you dont own a PS3, and two, Resistance was the most anticipated PS3 launch game and the reason I bought a PS3 during the lauch window and it was a FPS. And I was excited about this game when it was still known as I-8, 2 years prior to the PS3 launch.

[fenderputty]

lol .... the "plan" is to release almost as many games on the PS3 as the 360. Sounds like they're not too upset after all.

[PhinneousD]

namco is jumpin ship and developing for the 60 as well... they realize that the 60 is simpler to transfer over and might have better luck. yay! games for everyone!

[techie]

http://www.sharewatch.com/s...

put that tip up 2hours ago...except we get a sh*tty fanboy version of the news. Great.

[Diselage]

No body cares about the news, they only care about news that makes a certain console look good or bad.

[snoop_dizzle]

here we go again

[power of Green]

WoW just because they're releasing 20 something games on PS3 does not mean they cant be concerned about lack luster PS3 sales. Sony have better hope people will care about the PS3 in a year(ofcourse Hardcore gamers are waiting but what about the casual consumers?).

I keep hearing the PS3 will do well after its bombs hit that was said about games already released on the PS3. All the other consoles are cheaper and have their own "bombs" and although PS3 will sell more when the Bombs hit the other consoles will have their "bombs" hitting aswell that will create the same situation but with higher nimbers for all.

[TriggerHappy]

it would help a lot if people read around and not just posted whatever

[_insane_cobra]

They planned on selling 500,000 copies of Gundam Musou? I believe I've seen a video in which one of Namco Bandai execs said they plan on selling 1 million in Japan and 1 million in the rest of the world. Maybe he wasn't being serious or maybe it was just a crazy ass dream I had after stuffing myself with too much pizza.

[Observer]

23 ps3 games by bandai-namco compared with 24 and 37 respectively for the xbox360 and the wii is still a bad number.

PS3 should be a priority for Japanese companies like Squeenix, Namco BAndai, Konami etc.

But anyway, these numbers are bound to change if PS3 does exceptionally well when it's bombs start dropping ( Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Heavenly Sword, Killzone 2, MGS4, FF13, White Knight Story, etc. )

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Because the PS3 is nothing more than a 486 computer with a perdy screensaver.

[gta_cb]

lol nice

[kewlkat007]

You know whenever a developer is upset over a console's sale HYPED numbers, in relation to REALITY, and where we stand NOW, gamers get upset at the developer.(Oh look at thier games they are GARBAGE)ahhh what else is new?

NAMCO supports Sony to the fullest, just look at the last 2 Gen consoles. They have the right to be upset, some of the turds on this site have no idea, a business is still a business and you have to produce, and make the cheddar.

I'm sure Sony promised better numbers.

Anyhow, would be nice to see Tekken on the 360, if they are so worried, hopefully the next Soul Caliber will be great. Of course this was expected. Who really thought the PS3 was gonna continue to sell like Hot Muffins besides fanboys, (which got theirs early) and Sony?...

[Keyser]

The PS3 is selling better than the PS2 in the same span of time and the only competition was the Dreamcast. The PS3 has major competition with the 360 (out a year early and selling well) and the Wii (spectacular sales).

I assume Namco thought nobody would buy the Wii and people would stop buying the 360 (even though it has similar games out). That was a poor assumption even if Sony told them it was true. The PS3 is selling well with only 30 games out and 10 out of 30 pretty good games.

Namco is doing the right thing business wise, sell to as many gamers as possible. It split the games between the 360 & PS3 and are heaving games at the Wii because...no one else is and they can get a lot of sales being that the Wii has a very sizable install base with very few games.

[PhinneousD]

developers are realizing that the install base are blu-ray adopters, not so much gamers. my dad bought one, not a gamer, but got it for the blu-ray. i bet a lot of people are following suit as it is the cheapest br player that still maintains quality. i'm still waiting for the games.

[TheExecutive]

84 games for 3 consoles.... I wonder how great they will be. Namco sucks.

[ItsDubC]

I highly doubt it will be 84 completely different games. I think it's safe to say that some games will be released on all three consoles.

[gta_cb]

i just cant wait for them to release Dragon Ball online! i cant believe there going to be making it into an MMORPG! that is going to be seriously sweet!

[supaet]

you can see how the tide has turned. Namco was always a supporter of the playstation. Now for the next year they'll release one more 360 game than ps3 game, that's really suprising. I'm guessing now that which games are exclusives on the 360 and/or ps3

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

I hear you saying "Namco sucks" but if it were the other way around you would be saying "Haha Xbots 360 sucks" but its not so I'm just going to sit here and smile :-)while watching you try and wiggle your way out of this one.

[techie]

any fanboy is the same. People who like a console are not a breed, they don't think the same. So stop all this grouping people together please.

[LiquifiedArt]

Thats what happens when you release a crappy game. GO ahead BRING all the CRAP to NINTENDO, they already have so much it'll soon be overwhelming. I want Quality ONLY on the PS3.

[ItsDubC]

If you were a fan of gaming in general like a true gamer, you wouldn't want crappy games to be released on ANY console.

[Kuest]

well, I DO have to admit that Namco's wanting to sell 500,000 copies of, uh, Gundam Musuri (seriously?) was a little far-fetched to say the least. However, Namco "reorganizing" their console allegiance is not an isolated case. How else could you explain Virtual 5, Grand Theft Auto, Devil May Cry... And yeah, while there have also been Xbox games going multiplat, the fact of the matter is that Xbox, a relative newcomer to the gaming market, has made some serious headway against the TWO-TIME established PS console. The fact that the playing field is "leveling" out spells trouble more so for the PS than Xbox. But who knows... PS has only just come out and has yet to show potential. Then again, Mass Effect (BEST GAME EVER- you mark my words) is coming out soon.

[kewlkat007]

you have some logic. NAMCO, like all other Developers, right now have some big decisions to make. Like you said the playing field is getting more even, unlike the last ten years, when most developers that only dealt with SONY. They knew as sh!tty a game might be, there is a good chance it can sell enough, just to break even.(with the PS swallowing up all the user-base).

Well that's slowly changing , and developers are taking NOTICE.
So put your consoles SALE numbers where your mouth was BEFORE launch SONY.

NAMCO is a great developer, even if that game was whack, the real thing is, Developers have to understand the User-base has changed, and continues to. Of course the PS3 has not selling like Hot Cakes, so a RISK is a RISK early on with the PS3 whichever way you spin it.

[Keyser]

Kuest I was with you until you said the PS3 hasn't shown potential. If anything, I think its shown a lot of that.

So you're saying the 360 has more gaming potential?

Just asking...

[Violater]

Namco-Bandai doesn't suck, fact is a lot of games will be coming out for all systems.
Some exclusives if I'm hearing right as well.
2008 is going to be a very good year for gamers.
Enjoy!

[drtysouf21]

but the actual story doesn't match the title.

[Bathyj]

why not release something on the console worth buying that might actually help drive sales, instead of just adding to the FUD.

How about a bit of love for the platform whose success has been directly tied to your own for the last 2 gens.

[nice_cuppa]

its not good news is it !

[xfrgtr]

ITR ,gamespot didn't review Gundam musou

[ITR]

I must have miss read it then.

Here is Famitsu review numbers.

"Prominent Japanese game magazine Famitsu gave the game a total score of 33 out of 40.
On the first day of its release, Gundam Musou sold over a 100,000 copies, making it the first PS3 title to sell over 100,000 on its first day."

[Black Republican]

I don't think anybody is happy with PS3 sales. No matter what angle you look at it, the PS3 sales suck.

[Bonsai1214]

except for the part where its outselling most other consoles at the same point in its life cycle..

once again: ps2 did not take off until 1 year in..

[weekapaugh]

"except for the part where its outselling most other consoles at the same point in its life cycle."

the x-kiddies have short memories. 360 had a whole year with no competition as well.

[Black Republican]

and since launch Nintendo Wii has doubled sales of the PS3

and since luanch in the U.S. a year old system with appearently only 1 good game (gears of war)(that is better graphically then anything on ps3) is outselling the PS3 monthly

what is your point dip sh1t

[fenderputty]

What part of "life cycle" did you miss? Which part was unclear to you?

[Bonsai1214]

maybe you missed the part where i wrote "MOST other consoles.." i know wii outsold ps3, i just choose not to include it in my post :D

haha, which one of you pussies disagreed with my post and didn't even bother writing a response to it? what is there to disagree with here...

[chrisin3]

There are enough good games coming out for the PS3 that we do not need to sweat every single would be game. Furthermore, Namco is still planning to make many games for the PS3, so that's not bad news. If every prediction for game sales came true then we would all own a lot more games. I don't think this article warrants a bash session.

[Bigmac573]

LOOK AT THE MS SHEEP BAAAAAA'ING!!!! THEY'RE SO PISSED THEY LOST UNIVERSAL NOW THEIR HD DVD IS FVCKED AND YOUR GOING TO ADOPT BLU RAY HAHAHAHAHAHAHA DUMB FVCKS!!!!!!!!!! YOU JUST LOST THE CONSOLE WAR! HOW DOE SIT FEEL A$$HOLES!!!!!!!!

[Black Republican]

THE HDDVD LOOSING WILL NOT AFFECT THE X360 LOOSING IN ANY WAY YOU DUMB CUNT
JUST LIKE HOW IF BLU-RAY LOST THAT WILL NOT AFFECT THE PS3 IN ANY WAY YOU DUMB CUNT
HOW DOES IT FEEL?? PS3 BEING DEAD LAST IN THIS GEN??
HOW DOES IT FEEL A WHOLE BUNCH OF PPL BEING FIRED AT SONY???
HOW DOES IT FEEL TOP POSITIONS AT SONY BEING RETIRED BECAUSE THE FVCK UP OF THE PS3???
HOW DOES IT FEEL THAT YOU HAVE LOST SO MANY SPECIAL EXCLUSIVES?
HOW DOES IT FEEL DEVELOPERS LIKE THE X360 BETTER???

GO SUCK A C0CK U DUMB BIATCH
WAI I KNOW WHAT U WOULD LIKE BETTER
SUCKING THREE HUNDRED SIXTY WII C0CKS BIATCH

[naturalgamer]

dude ... but it means that the ps3 will win the console war ... because of bluray. that affects the 360.

[San anto]

to be honest im feeling so so, must ave been those dam eggs, thx for askin XD

[Sly]

Its namcos fault why they dont sell,they don't know how to use the PS3's processing power with the outcome of not games or they just make crappy games and they blame Sony.well thats the consumer's fault (not that i'm saying all of you don't like namco) but the consumer interest in namco games is not sony's fault.

Whats happening to this world.

[Saint Sony]

You sure blaming devs of not being able to adapt the system is right?.. Well, it's your call, you got plenty of devs to blame then.

[Kuest]

of "it's not PS's fault, blame those *gasp* lazy developer boogeymen who just don't GET the Advanced architecture of the PS 3" execuses. I mean okay, Gundam games typically suck but PS 3 CONSOLES have typically not been selling like they were supposed to, considering that the PS 2 was the dominant leader of the console industry (probably could have donated half their sales EACH to Microsoft and Nintendo and still maintain their lead). MAYBE, what Namco is saying is that fewer consoles sold in Japan than expected are counterproductive to a developers success since there are fewer CONSUMERS to market to. Therefore, developing for the 360 (11 million served) will probably be more PROFITABLE at this point in time.

[Keyser]

Yeah Kuest but Namco would be saying the same thing about the PS2 at the same point in it's life cycle. The PS2 didn't have 10million consoles sold its first 6months.

Namco expected people to buy their game because there is only 30 games on the PS3 at this point but Westeners didn't/don't want that game. That can't be Sony's fault. If they sold the same amount as either RFOM or Motorstorm this article would not be on this site or any site.

[BubblesDAVERAGE]

They really havent released any must have titles for ps3 yet s othe yshouldnt be mad and muso will sell its 500 , 000 copies sooner or later and when its released in amercia im getting it any so are many other people

[kewlkat007]

DEVELOPERS, DO NOT THROW ALL YOUR EGGS INTO ONE BASKET.
Especially when that basket>(PS3) is not HOT enough to keep the goods>(GAMES) warm.

1. A lot have changed since Sony was on TOP by THEMSELVES.

2. NAMCO, Your game, would of SOLD WELL, if it was 6 years ago , regardless of how SH!TTY it is.

3. A new ERA is upon us, so don't make SH!TTY games and SPREAD the love for all consoles for you will have a BETTER chance of BREAKING EVEN this generation.

-NAMCO will learn a lesson and others will soon FOLLOW.
-Now can we Enjoy the great titles to come out on BOTH consoles? by NAMCO of course.

EDIT FOR ME:
I awaits SOUL CALIBER 4. Remember how Kewl it was to have Soul Caliber 2 for all 3 consoles, with them having 3 extra characters? Then NAMCO goes exclusive with Soul Caliber 3, well lets just hope they learn their lessons.

[sandip787]

the 360 is hot enough to keep the eggs warm. in fact its hot enough to fry the eggs!
honestly, if these were AAA titles they were releasing, true, i wouldnt be happy that they're not happy. but the truth is, there not, so if there disappointed, its there own faults.

[Kuest]

Couldn't have put it better myself

[Bill Gates]

Gears,

Don't let the PS3 intimidate you bro. Although I can see how so much POWER, and innovation in one console can do that to you. I say fight brother, fight. Keep looking for anything negative about the PS3, because sleeping is a good thing in life, and if spending all day looking for negative news about the PS3 helps you sleep at night, then so be it brother. That and you also give your other buddies like TheMART, Bladefart, and power of green some HOPE. We all need hope, but you guys need it BADLY. hahahahaha

EDIT: To Bob Marley bellow. I'm a huge fan of your music. Oh wait, is that really you?....Oh Kuest, you got me brother, hahahaaha. I really thought it was Bob Marley. Your "TRICK" worked on me let me tell you. Stupid dipsh!t.

EDIT 2: HAHAHAHHHA...So let me get this straight, you're ordering me to change my "name" and to "keep" my avatar? Who tha fuk are you to tell people what "name" and "avatar" they're allowed to have? You're NOBODY, that's who. You're just a BITTER fanboy with NO sence of humor, get OVER IT LOSER. Fuking MORON!!!!

[Kuest]

Mis...Mister Bill Gates? Wow, I always wanted to speak to... Wait a minute, your not Bill Gates. Aw man, your just another PS fanboy with nothing better to do than make stpid @ss comments that make no d@mn sense. By the way, that whole putting Bill Gates as your avatar to... you know, TRICK people into thinking your Bill Gates. Genius, my man. Simply Genius.

Edit: to Bill Gates above

My goodness, how did you ever firgure out that I wans't Bob Marely. Maybe because my name is Kuest. My Avatar, by the way pays HOMAGE (you know... respect)to perhaps the best musician who ever lived. Not like you Bill Gates... only you aren't Bill Gates. Hmm... what should I call you then. You can keep the avatar, just change then name...
Dipsh!t

Edit 2: Ummm... I didn't order you to do anything, I was SUGGESTING. The funny thing is my advice would probably HELP you out, man. I mean, honestly, (that means tell the truth) when is the last time someone took you seriously. No need to get upset. I gots myself a sense of humor, just not for fanboys.

[Maddens Raiders]

so SNE announced today that it's closing it's doors and selling off all company assets at the swap meet on the corner of Crenshaw and Slawson. Sorry, but I'm trying to match the comment with the gravity (levity) of the story. /end sarcasm

Oh CELLIUS, Oh CELLIUS where art thou?

[23478ueyur_938223]

what a terrible game...

*shudders*

[ITR]

Stop confusing Musou with Crossfire.

[23478ueyur_938223]

This one's only out in Japan though, no?

No wonder it's not doing well.

Crossfire was sh!t though.

[naturalgamer]

this game is so bad.

[Gears]

Blu-Ray and the Cell weren't an advantage for Namco. LOL

[Babylonian]

LOL man, the Cell doesn't have to do anything with the sales Namco Bandai expected to have LOL. And by the way LOL, Hideo LOL Kojima LOL isn´t having LOL any LOL trouble with LOL the cell at all LOL. And LOL LOL LOL so do many LOL other LOL developers LOL.

I just know you can´t stand the PS3 having a good powerful proccesor which many people give recognition to. But why did you even bring this up, stay on the topic YOU posted which has a very misleading title. You are LOL probably proud with this flamewar. Grow up. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL to you dipstick.

[sajj316]

How many NAMCO games have been released on the PS3 so far? Does anyone have sales figures for the below titles outside of Gundam Musou?

(1) Ridge Racer VII (Most regions)
(2) Mobile Suit Gundam Crossfire (Most regions)
(3) Gundam Musou (Japan)

There expectation is to profit on every PS3 game made with 500,000+ copies sold. Expected way too much with a next generation console taking into consideration its current price point.

Basically NAMCO got burned with a very bad business decision. Did you ever think about why EIDOS said what they said with holding off support until 2008?

OK, fine ... NAMCO ... you expect to sell 500,000+ copies of your games. If you make junk, you will sell like junk. Its as simple as that. Now you want to make 37 Wii games. Good luck!

[Saint Sony]

It's pretty hard to sell PS3 games (even good ones) if there is not enough PS3 users.

37 Wii games is not even a problem, Wii has huge user base already, easy to sell.

[Cartesian3D]

@ 38.1 .... r u ok? he didnt say if u make a good game for ps3 instead of wii u can sell more...he said u can sell more with choosing quality istead of quantity.. and making 37 Good game for a console is nearly IMPOSSIBLE ..
IMPOSSIBLE ...IMPOSSIBLE!!

[Saint Sony]

Low PS3 user base = Hard to sell many games JUNK or NOT.
Huge Wii user base = Easier to sell many games JUNK or NOT.

Yes, I think I'm ok, but english is not my main language, so I guess I could not write it so well that you could understand it.

My reply to sajj316 was just a side comment, not a direct reply to his/her post. Sorry I messed your little mind.

[bootsielon]

Not only is it hard to sell many games on an expensive new console; it's harder to sell them if they SUCK.

Mobile Suit Gundam Crossfire has been reviewed as the WORST game available on PS3.

Ridge Racer was "meh", so was Gundam Musou. It only sold a lot in Japan because it's Gundam, but that's it. I don't understand how come they expected so much from their shi´t. The best thing they've done for PS3 is a port from a PS2 fighting game *sigh*.

[ThaGeNeCySt]

what would totally suck, was if a majority of those games they are releasing were the classic arcade ones lolol

[BrainDead]

Give me a reason to actually take you seriously gears.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Im not happy with playstation 3 sales either!

[DiLeCtioN]

you don't own a ps3 mate so why the heck are you bothering about their sales. wouldn't you like to know what bill is doing about the over heated boxes? or could he be selling them back to you with a new name, bigger hardrive, colour and hdmi port. (sounds like a ps3 clone) maybe he will use the spider man fonts and say PLAYSTATION 3

[Bonsai1214]

i'm not happy about it either.. but come this fall, i'll be singing a different tune

[DiLeCtioN]

gundam crossfire= a disguised crap game. gundam musou= a good game that deserves my money. so namco my advice to you is to produce games like tekken and musou instead of a crappy game that you expect consumers to buy because of your brand *sigh*

[Contra26]

that sucks.

watch tekken go to the 360. lol
that would be funny..

look at ace combat series.....so sad.

I'll buy PS3 when it has good games...

[MySwordIsHeavenly]

Of course it didn't sell well...it was ONLY released in Japan...and it plays like DYNASTY WARRIORS!!! Most Dynasty Warriors fans are 5-8 year olds that keep buying it every time a new one comes out...WITH THE SAME GAMEPLAY!

Once Katamari comes out...I think that should change.

[elliot_]

well namco...do some great games for ps3 and you will see them sell like cola...

[nice_cuppa]

???

[Firewire]

Not a chance!
And why would you bots want it anyways?
I thought all bots loved DOA!

[hamburgerhill]

I don't think any of the Xbox fans ever stated that DOA was better than Tekken and I don't see why it wouldn't come to 360! At this moment in time i wouldn't be surprised if any thing could happen! Tekken is a great franchise and I'm sure would be well welcomed on the 360!

[Saint Sony]

I doubt, but if that would happen, I would buy the game in a heart beat.
DOA is not my cup of tea.

[FeralPhoenix]

Wow, the animosity on this site is at an all time high. To be honest I have to agree with those who say Gundam was a poor game....and given PS3's current install base if its NOT very, very good then its NOT going to have huge sales, remember Namco the PS3 is not where the PS2 is in terms of sales which means even mediocore games can sell 500,000 copies with the current install base of the PS2. -Make some great games and give PS3 time. I know at the end of the day its just business but its wierd to see them release a statement with this tone to it....damm, Sony has carried you guys for many, many years. I like 360 alot and I think its good to see some love, but at the same time how about a little appreciation for your "old" buddy.

[TheMART]

A Japanese developer that make more games for an XBOX console (even if it's only one) compared to a Playstation is HUGE.

Bandai Namco probably see that this gen the war is shifting. Playstation won't be nr. 1 anymore like Nintendo became nr. 3 a little more then 10 years ago.

@ Elliot (below)

I bet they're working on Tekken 6 for the 360. Why? Because they want to fight VF5 on every platform it releases.

Mark my words. Tekken 6 will be on 360. Like all those other former PS3 exclusives that came over.

The war is already going strong baby

[elliot_]

probably the games that namco are preparing for xbox is games like pac man...and for wii...pac man revolution...sony? tekken6...
the war has just begun kid

[Tausch]

sucks for sony

[Russbomb]

I love it how they can take a game that didn't sell well and blame it on the console, only the creaters of one of the worst launch titles ever could make that statement. Gundam Crossfire heres to you for sucking so bad that it changes the gaming industry, if only for a minute when Namco-Bandai realizes that the PS3 is only on its first 6 months, then they will say, hey lets give this investment some time.

[FrostyMelon]

Bring RR7 to the 360!

[carlman23]

Even though I own a PS3, I'd have to agree with the Xboxers that Sony is partially to blame here. Their strategy behind the PS3 so far has been downright awful. Look at the next 8 months, there's no incentive to buy a PS3 over an Xbox 360. The 360 is cheaper, has more exclusives and, so far is getting a lot more positive press. Hey, I'd love to see Sony pull out of their rut, but for God's sake the company has to DO something (and that something involves more games).

[Bonsai1214]

that would put us in january.

slated for release in between:
Ninja Gaiden
Lair
Heavenly Sword
Uncharted: Drakes Adventure
Metal Gear Solid 4 (supposidly)
Home

those are the heavy hitters. thats not counting the many smaller games to be released by smaller studios as well as PSN demos and other content.

Wurwag, its highly speculated that a price cut is coming near the fall because the rise in supply of blue laser diodes. also, if sony is pushing a A/V version, it'll probably debut at 600, and the 60gb will probably drop to 500 (maybe less if we're lucky)

and if you don't mind me asking, if 5 A to AAA titles aren't reason enough to buy a ps3, (and i'm assuming here that you have a 360.. correct me if i'm wrong) what games did you buy a xbox for?

[Saint Sony]

^^ That is some nice stuff right there, but not nearly enough to get me buy PS3 with the current price. IF price drop would come soon (which I doubt) PS3 would get some serious air under its wings.

[carlman23]

But none of those titles is really compelling. Lair and Heavenly Sword may, for lack of a better term, suck. They're new and we have no idea how they'll turn out. One big game (Metal Gear Solid 4) isn't going to make anyone (other than an idiot like myself) shell out 600 bones. We can keep repeating the few remaining PS3 exclusives like a mantra but sales numbers are telling: people aren't caring. Hey, I'm as sad about it as anyone else, but I see a 360 in my near future...

[sajj316]

How much of what their making for the PS3 is new IP? I would gladly take fewer games from NAMCO if some were new IP. We already know that new IP is coming from Cellulus (sp?) and Tekken 6 and the new Time Crisis has pretty much been confirmed for the PS3. Heck I wouldn't even mind a Tekken Collection.

Let's review the list of games before blowing this out of proportion.

[midgard229]

namco ever think that all their gundam games suck? that and dynasty warriors style mixed with gundam? thats just disaster

[timmyp53]

blah blah
can we just all agree we dont care what games come out on either console... if their good or not.. it doesnt matter as long our console wins.. right? (exactly what some of you are thinking)

[Anego Montoya FTMFW]

I don`t like Namco.
Sony probaly doesn`t like Namco.
Namco doesn`t like Namco anymore.
That`s what happens when your games mainly suck.
seriously.
BYE NAMCO.

[Genki]

While I still like Namco myself, I think that one of their BIGGEST mistakes was getting rid of Monolith...who was one powerhouse of a dev team if you ask me, Xeno or not.

[Russbomb]

I'll agree that sony isn't doing so well, but you guys have to realize in relation to MSs first summer Sony blows it away.

You can't look at it and say that sony isn't doing well, it hasn't even been out for 6 months whereas the 360 has been out for a year and 6 months, look how far sony has come in online 40 players
40 PLAYERS IN A SINGLE MATCH and thats on a launch title.
HOME is all i need to say to convince anyone that sony will be as good as ms by the end of the year.
the games may take a while but I know that sony will bring out better games because of blue ray and it will show that because of its cell processor and blue ray drive that the games will be better. They will probably try to make multiplatformers have more levels on the ps3 because of blue ray to prove that it is better.
Just wait until the end of this holiday season and we will see that sony will be a force to be reconed with because its console is so ahead.

And yes the 360 is owning it right now I'll testify to that, I know that live destroys PSn right know but give the ps3 some time to judge it

[nice_cuppa]

and had a year to prepare !

plus initial numbers are not the best reference as 360 was only available in short supply and was sold out for a long time !
ps3 has never been low in supply anywere ever !

[Maddens Raiders]

...congratulations hoss. You've just won N4G's 2007 infamous, "person most likely to shoot someone over a game console" award. Now come on down! Dude I hope you fight for your girl with as much vigor. Something tells me, "no."

[Tausch]

this whole thing is messed up it sucks for Sony and people just need to DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!

[BIadestarX]

You can say all you want. But Namco produced lots of great games for the PS1 and PS2. The problem here is installbase. In order for games to sell on the PS3 they have to be AAA, and apeal to the mayority of gamers. For example, motorstorm apeal to the mayority of gamers.. same with resistance. Gundam does not apeal to all gamers. So, if 5% of the people that have a PS3 buy the game they are screw. Why do you think games like C&C3 and Ace Combat are only for the 360? (at least for now?)... because those type of games do not apeal to every gamer. They are great games... but not everyone will buy it. Not everyone cup of tea. and the install base is not big enough to get their money back.
That's why the 360 is getting such much love from these developers...
But this can have a domino effect on the PS3... take japan for example, the PS3 is not selling well in Japan because there are games they like to play... but if the install base stay low.. developers will continue to be afraid of making games for it... and then.. people will not buy the console because there arent any games.

[VirtualGamer]

I have not always agreed with you in the past..actually I usually don't agree with you at all but you have said something here that has made me look at the situation differently.

Your right a developer can make a great game but if its in a genre of gaming I don't like then chance are even if its the greatest game ever created I am not going to buy it because I simply don't like that kind of game. Hence why even Gears of War did not sell 10 million copies because not every 360 owner is into that kind of game. So in that respect having a bigger install base would help sell more games. Example would be if say FPS appeal to 50% of all gamers and you make a game for the PS3 thats a great FPS you should expect sales close to 50% of how ever many systems have been sold that your releasing your game on.

I think the biggest suprise in sales for the PS3 has been Japan who has always been a strong supporter of the PS brand. Traditionaly this game has done very well in Japan so again they must have anticipated greater PS3 sales in Japan and its been slower then expect so thus the less then expected sales. Fair enough.

Thanks for saying something that has allowed me to see the situation differently then I did. Thats why exchanging different views and opinons while being respectful to each other some times actually changes people opinions.

Bubble for you my friend!

[Whoooop]

You have a point, but like you said.. "you can say all you want", but developers most know with what they are dealing with... Everything is timing and strategy..

which one they used?? none..

They obviously knew that the PS3 had a very small installbase at that time.

They knew that the PS3 was and still is expensive for the common gamer (mass)

They had all the facts in hand and still came with a MAYOR SH*tty game..

I really doubt that NAMCO was surprised when the game didn't sale cause even with a small fanbase and with PS3 sales being slow, they knew it was a mediocre game..

So if they knew all the facts around them before doing something and they didn't take action in what they needed to do to make it successful then is their mistake..

Pardon ma English..

PS: The only reason they are mad is cause they couldn't make money off a poorly developed game which they didn't spent much developing..

[BIadestarX]

Whoooop, I agree with you.. that Namco knew this was going to be the case. But let's not forget that it's not on any 3rd developer best interest to have only one console in the market. They will do anything they can to help the PS3 by making games for it. Everyone loves the PS brand specially japanese developers. Many of them don't care that the installbase is low because they have lots of faith that the installbase will pickup. The bad thing is that they need to pay bills.
Other companies/developers are smarter and they are putting their games on hold until the installbase of the PS3 goes up. (Metal Gear and Final Fantasy). This in term hurts the PS3.
3rd party developers are afraid they will not be able to make the money they invested back. Sometimes when developers have to fight for a small installbase they don't take risks and creativity goes down the drains... they will only make games that they know will sell. Also, sometimes they have to go head 2 head with 1st or 2nd party games which have the advantage of being advertised by the console manufaturer (Resistance & Motorstorm) which usually will just run them over. It's hard for developers out there to make it. Not everyone likes the same games. So, the installbase is not there for all games. If a game sells 20% of the installbase is considered a big hit. 20% of 10,000,000 is 2,000,000.
With the PS2... pretty much any game would sell. or at least they would get their money. For a game to sell on the PS3 it has to be a AAA + apeal to most gamers... meaning.. that games like RTS, MMO, RPGs... may sells very poorly..

[LoveHateTragedy]

once they put out high-quality games.

[progx]

"slated for release in between:
Ninja Gaiden
Lair
Heavenly Sword
Uncharted: Drakes Adventure
Metal Gear Solid 4 (supposidly)
Home"

ninja gaiden sigma= remake
lair= 6 hour campaign/no online
heavenly sword= looks pretty cool
MGS 4= ITS MGS!
home= if i wanted to play the sims, id buy it

doesn't justify a ps3 purchase, sorry.

"ps3 has never been low in supply anywere ever !"

because nobody's buying them! every store i go to the ps3 sits theres while theres not a wii in sight. theres even less 360s.

[predator]

i completly agree with u there mate, like i sed on another post home is the sims, why oh why would you have that

[ZyKlOn]

Not Happy With namco

[naturalgamer]

everybody knows that the ps3 is the best system ... so what's up?

[THAMMER1]

Sony created the PS3 for developers to make MONEY on. It is not NAMCO's fault that Sony over projected what the amount of console sales VS development cost would be.

You should not hate NAMCO for this, they make the games that make it worth your while to buy a PS3. I have a friend who only plays games from Japan, he loves all the Gundam games no matter how much they suck.

You Sony fans are going to run out of Developers to hate real soon. You guys act like spoiled brats who need an @ss beating. Just own up to your true feelings. I think you are really not happy with the PS3, but would love to see it make some type of miracle come back like in the movies. So far it looks like that will not happen unless they drop the price and put out a game that can out do GEARS of War or Mario ect.

Until then I guess we are going to have to put up with more sad @ss fan boy belly aching. LOL

[PhinneousD]

Fanboy = owning 1 of the 3 consoles.

[chrisin3]

That was a ridiculous comment.

[THAMMER1]

I'm getting very sick of Sony fans acting like developers have some thing against them. It is just plain immature and stupid. Namco makes some of the best game around and should not be slandered by sorry @ss fan boys. I agree with your post #25. There are some good games coming out for the PS3, But until then Sony fans should STOP BASHING DEVELOPERS over stuff like this.

The Games cost allot of money make. If you do not make a return on them there is no Bank Roll fairy who will come and make everything better for your company. So Yeah I do agree that NAMCO deserves to belly ache a little bit. The launch gundam game was horrid, but once you just sit down and play, it's just like any other game button mash until you see the credits.

[Kratosnake]

Can XBOX even adopt Blu-ray?? Isn't it a sony technology? They're stuck between a rock and a hard place, poor guys.

[dominusbellum]

yes they can

[Kratosnake]

Dominus...Care to explain? or are you just another fanboy in denial?

I don't see how they can use Blu-ray since it's a sony technology, and Sony wouldn't be stupid enough to allow its rival a chance. would they?

[XerockX]

namco's a great company thats been around for years, but lets face. gundam?! who gives a sh*t!dynasty warriors?who gives a sh*t? Not me-not any of my friends.Poor sales? ok lets blame the console...hows aboot blamin' the lame games!!!

[Bathyj]

I mean what do you expect? Is PS3 suppossed sell 15 million in its first month just so Namco can sell a lot of copies of mediocre games?

Is this the first time a console has ever launched and we dont know it take a while to built a decent userbase. And talk about ungrateful. Namco owe alot of there success to Sony consoles.

Am I the only one who'se noticed PS3 has outsold Xbox world wide this year?

[Anego Montoya FTMFW]

Namco can`t just put out mediocre games and expect them to move units.
RR7 was OK, but cmon.
Gundam,nuff said.
Namco needs to go back to the drawing board, instead of runnin their mouths about anyone ps3/360/wii.

@alsef07 (below) your joking.
Ps3 has had a great first 6 months.
No fail problems.
A few Good games.
w/ more on the way
What do you want from a launch?
AAA titles and New Insane IP`s.
give it up.
and have a little patients.

As for the Devs.
they want $$$ so they go multi(360 has been out longer).
Do you honestly think if ps3 starts blowning away the 360 they wont come back?

GTA is only coming to 360 at the sametime this time for sure.
in the future it could go right back to PS and never be on 360 again.
Rockstar is not dumb. they have a big game comin and they need big $$$.

ps3 has had a great first 6 months.

[alsef07]

We are all aware that the ps3 isnt doing good...many company have turn them back on them by either cancelling games or making their exclusive multi platform...so anyway its funnny how all this fanboys try to make it seem like this system is doing great despiting all this s*it

[snoop_dizzle]

gosh

[solidt12]

I never bought a game from Namco. Who is NAMCO?

[skylar2000]

That's why they're mad

[rowdy 1]

That so called bad news for sony will sit on this site for hours as top story. But Bad news for M$ never stays around long. Can we move on now.

[VirtualGamer]

All Namco said was this.

"PS3 did not make a good start, which will make the transition from the old game console to the next generation system more prolonged than we had earlier thought. "This will keep a lid on sales of our video games in the first half, although we believe that sales of PS3 will increase in the second half (to March 2008)," Namco-Bandai president Takeo Takasu said.

This is not blaming Sony its simply stating the facts especially when it comes to sales for the PS3 in Japan which this game was only marketed to. Even though sales in Japan have been below expectations they still feel that the PS3 will sell better going forward it just going to take a bit longer then anticipated.

Some like the story writer assumes this means Namco is not happy. That is their assumtion. I don't see anywhere where Namco stated they where upset, unhappy, disappointed or blamed Sony for anything. They do however state that they feel Sony's PS3 sales will increase.

At the end of the day Namco is still making games for the PS3. Many if not all 3rd part developers are making games for all 3 consoles and this is no different for Namco. Namco has not in the past only made games for Sony. They have made games for all three consoles.

Some act like because of the less then expected sales of this game and the PS3, Namco has suddenly changed their game plan for what it planned to do in making games going forward. Unless you can show me that they had planned on making more games for the PS3 for the fiscal year 2008 then they announced here your just specualatiing with nothing to back you up.

So can we all just accept what Namco said that because of slower then expected sales of the PS3 (especially in Japan) its going to be a longer transition between the old to new console then they anticiapated and stop reading anything more into it then what is stated.

[chrisin3]

Your follow up post was well said, and i understand where you are coming from. However, there are other sony fans (like me) who don't have completely biased logic full of holes. I also don't become angered when a company like Namco makes that kind of statement, though a great portion of responsibility does fall on the developers to make stellar games if they want better sales. Overall responsibility does fall on Sony, but I do give them credence lately for trying to fix past mistakes and present a better overall console, even if it's not going to be overnight.

[THAMMER1]

I know there are allot of cool Sony fans. $#!t I have like 10 - 12 Sony only friends who are just cool about games period. I just do not like the freaks and fanatics that do not even care if the comments they post make any sense.

So in the future I'll try to make my posts less general.

[progx]

"Dominus...Care to explain? or are you just another fanboy in denial?

I don't see how they can use Blu-ray since it's a sony technology, and Sony wouldn't be stupid enough to allow its rival a chance. would they?"

Are you stupid? Its as easy as a blu-ray player add-on. Its choice, they already got the HD-DVD player. If blu-ray wins, they can do the same. DUH