200°

Nintendo Worried About Future As PS3 Beats Them In Sales In Japan

A recent article on Yahoo News comments on how the Wii may be losing its grip on the console war in Japan. Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, said that the Wii is in a very "unhealthy condition," right now, and that the PS3 is actually outselling the Wii for the first time ever in 16 months. That's a big deal!

The article also goes on to say that the one thing Nintendo DOESN'T want to do is have a price cut, as a price cut in a economicly vulnerable time like today wouldn't really bare any fruits in the long run, so it's not even worth doing. They might be right on that one.

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cinemablend.com
Smacktard5513d ago

"While it IS true that the Wii is pretty much lopsided when it comes to hardcore games to shovelware garbage, the games that ARE hardcore aren’t selling like apple fritters, either. Madworld, a game I reviewed on this site, isn’t posting up Wii Play like numbers, and neither was No More Heroes (In fact, with the latter, it’s amazing that they’re even making a sequel AT ALL for that one, as the first game didn’t do well)."

...The point isn't that the games are posting good numbers, it's that they're posting good numbers in relation to development costs. If No More Heroes sold enough to make a producer "weep with joy" then it has to be doing something right. Also, seeing as how no official numbers have been released on MadWorld, it's pretty tough to say whether or not the numbers are good, hey? Also, it's pretty hard to expect a violent game to sell over 10,000,000 copies (Wii Play numbers) when the violent game costs about $50-60, and Wii Play effectively costs $10 (subtracting the price of the Wiimote, of course, which is an incentive enough to buy the game).

"I mean, seriously, even a tried and true franchise like Resident Evil wasn’t posting big boy figures on the Wii."

...WAT. The Wii version of Resident Evil 4 sold 1.8 million copies. 2 years after it was published. Resident Evil 4 has sold 6 million copies total across 4 platforms (GC, PS2, PC, Wii). It sold 200,000 less than the PS2 version, like 2 years after its release, and the Wii has just only reached 1/3 or 1/4 of the PS2 lifetime sales.

This article has so many holes it could be used to strain spaghetti.

YungXclusive2K95513d ago

lol microsoft should be worried since the ps2 has been outselling 360 lol XD that system reached its saturation point years ago, microsoft is failing

ShabzS5513d ago (Edited 5513d ago )

uh ps 2 price cut ... hello? ... 100$ with over 2000 games to play... its sweet deal. and its outselling 360 in japan... 360 was already struggling over there as it is.

5513d ago
5513d ago
Doctor_Doom5513d ago (Edited 5513d ago )

Its not going to happen anytime soon and besides $ony can't afford any price cut right now. However, They have a great library (LBP,MGS4 and more ) but I think the price is still an issue for some people.

phosphor1125513d ago

Most Wii games are under half a gig of data. My friend has homebrew on his, and this new program lets you rip the games to a thumb drive. Links Bow Cross training was a whopping 200mbs, Animal Crossing was 400mbs.

I could see why dev costs are low.

SinnedNogara5513d ago

If I were working at Nintendo (my dream job) then I would start to pump out much more hardcore games at E3, and publish Winter for n-Space (and give the company a logo). Since Nintendo is making much more money, this could pull hardcore gamers in.

MadWorld sold 100,000 as of now, and remember that Wii owners are wait for the price to go down, since MadWorld is 7 hours long, and the fact that this is the time for testing in schools (just finished, YIPPEE!!).

Wii games have much longer legs, and usually sell much more slower.

EXCLUSIVEGAMER5513d ago

yungexclusive my head is still spinning, but i agree.

+bubbles.

phosphor1125513d ago

I stated the truth..get someone with homebrew on their Wii, get that program and you will see, almost all Wii games DO NOT use more than a gig of data. Im serious.

Smacktard5513d ago

Well, I got less disagrees than I expected. Still, nobody has really argued these disagrees.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 5513d ago
from the beach5513d ago

I find this parody account offensive, to be sure.

Figboy5513d ago

that avatar offensive. lol. Zelda CDI should be ripped from our memories, never to be spoken of again, and yet i'm reminded of it every time i look at your avatar. it burns us!!

EXCLUSIVEGAMER5513d ago

i agree with 2.2

lets ban 2.1 from this server

5513d ago Replies(3)
ShabzS5513d ago (Edited 5513d ago )

nintendo isnt bothered by sony or microsoft... they're sitting on the top and have shipped 50 mil units now.. how long did ps2 take? 5 yrs?

Edit : Just checked ... it took 5 yrs and 9 months

crck5513d ago

What does it matter how long the Ps2 took to sell 50 mill? Fact is Ps2 is at 145 mill. Which means the Wii needs to sell at its current pace for the next 5 years to catch it. That is also if Sony doesn't sell another ps2 from this day forward. Is it possible? Maybe but the Wii doesn't and never will have the library the PS2 does.

ShabzS5513d ago

its an example to show its HIGH demand in the market

raztad5513d ago (Edited 5513d ago )

@Shbz

The problem, as I see it, is that the BEST moment for the Wii is already passing, Japan sales are a clear indication that even the almighty casual market has a saturation point.

Dont know how long it will take for a slow down in US and EU Wii sales, but it will occurs sooner than later. In that moment Nintendo will need to up its game and push more games out. Im talking about QUALITY games, not WiiFit and all that casual sh*t. That will be good for YOU as a Nintendo, more games for you to play.

EDIT:
@shbz

Why makes you happy the fact that Wii is selling BECAUSE the crappy WiiFit? you should care about real GAMES, I dont think you are a WiiFit user.

And yes, this gen is barely beginning. hehehehehe, my PS3 is here to stay for a looong time and looking better everyday.

ShabzS5513d ago

haha... worst case senario for the wii... everyone in the world starts going to the gym like a real person... once wii fit dies... wii begins to die...

the sprint and marathon argument again... yah the only way it can be in the long haul will be if it pushes out more games... and its kinda trying with mad world dead space resident evil dead rising...

N4g_null5513d ago

raztad you are wrong about the casual market or the game market period. The sells are limitless yet the sells are based on what the market wants not select groups of fans. The nintendo president is not fearful of the PS3 he is fearful of the economic climate! Basicly he believe the market for gaming will shrink due to the money problems every one is having.

Then you top this off with the fact that we are in a recession and the lower incomes that would have gotten a Wii are now in saving mode. The big spenders and Americans on military bases will continue to buy their systems even if it's just to watch blue rays.

Then on top of that the PS3 is not totally crushing the Wii the way the Wii sold more systems than both the HD console combined in japan , EU, and USA separately.

This is actually show how hard the recession is hitting which is actually scarier than just video game fanboy. This problem is serious. But hey if you want to ignore than then I understand , it's no fun to talk about grown up things.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5513d ago
testerg355513d ago

Its going to take a long time before Nintendo has to worry. MS and Sony have a LONG way to go before even getting to close to Wiis numbers.

Show all comments (61)
110°

7 Deserving Games That Never Got Backward Compatibility

Backward compatibility works for many games on newer consoles, but titles such as The Simpsons: Hit and Run have been left out.

90°

20 Best Survival Games of All Time

From base building to swinging willies, here are the best survival games around, which include a couple of less than obvious picks.

Read Full Story >>
culturedvultures.com
Vader821d 10h ago

No 7 days to die is criminal

210°

Microsoft once tried to nab LittleBigPlanet from Sony after a few drinks

It turns out that many moons ago, Microsoft once had its eye on the Sony published LittleBigPlanet series.

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eurogamer.net
XiNatsuDragnel4d ago

Microsoft had a good idea but fumbled it again.

Cacabunga3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Project Spark idea was decent but they quickly gave up ..
LBP was wonderful

ApocalypseShadow3d ago

Microsoft in a nutshell. Always tried to poach Sony employees, games, 3rd party games and devices like the depth camera that was turned into Kinect but was running on PS2 before Xbox 360. Wouldn't be surprised they wanted LBP. Just like they worked behind the scenes pushing the MLB to bring Sony's baseball game to Xbox instead of making their own.
https://www.playstationlife...

They didn't spend years trying to develop their own baseball game. They wanted Sony's game.

They're scum.

Zachmo1822d ago

Microsoft didn't force MLB on Xbox. MLB gave Sony 2 options either go multiplat or risk losing the license.

Rynxie2d ago

And why do you think MLB said that? I believe Ms approached MLB.

ApocalypseShadow2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Totally ridiculous comment.

The only exclusivity Sony had was to their own creation of The Show. Microsoft could have paid the MLB for the license just like Sony did and made their own baseball game.

Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox. They're worth 3 TRILLION dollars. You think that's not enough money to make their own baseball game? Don't be delusional.

Microsoft spun it like they always do and told the media that they had to trust Sony with their hardware. After they put Sony in that position of not having a choice. Either go multiplatform or stop making one of their successful games. That's a no win scenario.

And what did Microsoft do? They didn't try to sell the game to the Xbox community. They put it on game pass to hurt Sony. Pushing the idea of why buy games that are $70 when you can play them in their cheap service for $10. It was a dirty tactic.

You fell for the Kool aid drink Microsoft served you instead of spitting it out. Hope it tasted good because you were fooled by Phil and the gang.

2d ago
Hereandthere2d ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Bond revealed that MLB The Show “always came up” in conversations between Microsoft and the Major League Baseball organization. “We always said, ‘We love this game. It would be a huge opportunity to bring it to Xbox.'” she recalled. However, when Microsoft’s efforts materialized, it put the company in an awkward situation where it had to send in pre-release consoles to a rival company.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2d ago
Notellin2d ago

"Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox."

Take a nap, conspiracies are rotting your brain.

2d ago
Hereandthere2d ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

ApocalypseShadow1d 14h ago

Lying to yourself is unbecoming.

Article link tells you all you need to know in Sarah Bond's own words.

Hereandthere2d ago

They were too cheap/inept/lazy to develop their own mlb game, so they port begged for years and bribed the mlb to make the show multiplatform. Like i said many times, xbox brought nothing to the table their 24 years, ZERO.

ApocalypseShadow1d 15h ago

At least you and others get it. Note drank the Kool aid and asked for seconds thinking it was refreshing.

Most don't even know how it all played out but it's there in black and white for all to see. Microsoft brought it up for years until the MLB forced Sony's hand. It was a win win for Microsoft. Kill one reason to buy a PlayStation or kill the game by dropping it in a cheap service to kill Sony's sales numbers on PlayStation.

OtterX3d ago

"However, Healey said Media Molecule wouldn't have felt right doing that, adding it would have been "morally corrupt"."

Major kudos to Media Molecule for being an upright studio with principles.

Cockney1d 9h ago

They chose well, Sony gave them the backing to pursue their dreams with no restrictions even tho their games especially dreams have very niche appeal. Media molecule and Sony deserve respect for this in an age of risk averse publishing.

RNTody3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Great, more stories like this please. Show the last of the zombies holding the line what we've been saying for years: Microsoft is anti competition, anti industry and has no interest in making games at all.

But hey, at least there's an Xbox Games Showcase to look forward to, right?

Inverno3d ago

Well considering SONY just killed the series, LBP would've been dead by now either way. Though MM probably wouldn't exist by now either, so I'm glad they stayed with SONY, hopefully they don't get shut down any time soon or ever honestly.

Inverno2d ago

They shut down the servers, that's millions of user created levels gone. That and dead are pretty much the same, it's also been years since 3 and they cancelled HUB soooo.

2d ago
fsfsxii2d ago

They shutdown the servers because no one was playing, no one in the community cared about the user created levels so why keep them up? Wtf you guys would never succeed in running a business.

Inverno2d ago

Yea dood no one was playing so they shut off the servers. Cause people with enough common sense can't just Google why they were actually shut of, right?

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