Japanese hardware sales, 10 July - 16 July: rapid weight gain
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Jul 21st 2006 at 10:25PM }
It seems Japanese gamers are still maliciously toying with the original DS, kicking it to the bottom of the charts one week and hoisting it back up again the next. Shortages and a shifting focus to the Lite are likely to blame, but we can't help but picture a somewhat nervous and haggard DS Phat staring into a cracked mirror, contemplating whether people want him ... or just want him dead. The ranking, according to number of units sold:- DS Lite: 140,858
8,596 (5.75%)- PSP: 35,283
3,324 (10.40%)- PS2: 23,927
595 (2.55%)- DS Phat: 11,821
10,812 (1071.56%)- GBA SP: 2,619
199 (7.06%)- Game Boy Micro: 1,581
202 (14.65%)- Xbox 360: 1,105
505 (31.37%)- Gamecube: 928
6 (0.64%)- GBA: 28
8 (40.00%)- Xbox: 10
3 (23.08%)The PSP continues to do well this week (despite boasting only half as many screens as its main competitor) while the Xbox 360 takes a bit of a tumble. The latter system's fortunes continue to look glum in Japan, a situation that could easily be reversed by one ingenious move -- releasing the console in pink. What else have they got to lose?
[Source: Media Create]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Squeezem Joe @ Jul 21st 2006 10:37PM
hell, sony could cancel the PS3 and still outsell the 360 with its PS2 until 2010
fwacce @ Jul 21st 2006 10:50PM
Why do you continue to do the Japanese chart but no other countries?
Isaac Klavsky @ Jul 21st 2006 10:59PM
They use the North American charts, but they're monthly, not weekly.
Vince @ Jul 21st 2006 11:04PM
Aye, the PlayStation brand is still holding it's own, even with the big budget campaign of the "new" ds and it's ugly sisters.
I still marvel at the way Nintendo make detention favourites like Sudoku a cash crop.
Gavin @ Jul 21st 2006 11:04PM
Thought the PSP was dead? Oh wait, that was just another pointless Joystiq article...
obo @ Jul 21st 2006 11:07PM
360 wtfpwned by the Game Boy... Micro.
Also funny: DS Fanboy is running the numbers, 360 & PSP Fanboys... not so much.
Jeff @ Jul 21st 2006 11:55PM
"Thought the PSP was dead? Oh wait, that was just another pointless Joystiq article..."
(points to the scoreboard)
I see the DS outselling the PSP by about 5 to 1 there, bub.
That's a bigger margin than the PSX had over the Jaguar before Atari called it quits.
In sports and war, we call that a rout.
Jeff @ Jul 21st 2006 11:58PM
btw, if you want a really good laugh, the DS (both iterations) is outselling the Xbox 360 by approximately 138 to 1.
Who said this wasn't a fair fight??
Zacky V @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:05AM
who the hell is buying 23,927 PS2's?
im under the suspicion that Sony is buying them
Raynre @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:07AM
These numbers amuse me. XD
Its a sad day when the Gameboy Micro outsells the XBox 360. If thats not a sign of failure, I dont know what is...
Darth Pixel @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:07AM
#7
Honestly, I don't think PSP and DS are targeting the same market. (in fact, representatives from both companies have stated that each system targets a different audience)
In the same way people say one should not compare sales of PS2 to sales of Xbox 360, I don't think one should compare sales of PSP to sales of DS.
Also, I sense a big turnaround for PSP.
Sony was mad to launch without games and for nearly 9 months the situation was bleak. Yet, at this point games have arrived and the picture looks much better...
Check the number of PSP games scoring above 8.0 @ GameSpot:
http://www.gamespot.com/reviews.html?type=reviews&platform=1024&mode=all&sort=score&dlx_type=all&sortdir=asc
Check the number of DS games scoring above 8.0 @ GameSpot:
http://www.gamespot.com/reviews.html?type=reviews&platform=1026&mode=all&sort=score&dlx_type=all&sortdir=asc
So, that's 30 PSP games vs. 18 DS games.
You could do a similar test using GameRankings.com and get a similar result.
PSP could rock if another batch of good games shows up for Christmas.
Zeromaru @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:14AM
Well... you have to remember that the 360 is quite a deal more expensive than a DS...
Taking prices into account, the DS still outsells 360s at a rate of 60 to 1. I'm not even going to bother taking profit into account, but I would guess Nintendo makes more profit on the DS than Microsoft LOSES on the 360. Now that's impressive.
Darth Pixel @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:18AM
I don't know if any of you noticed Microsoft's shift to reporting Xbox 360's transactions in terms of "total number of units shipped".
They used to report the total number of units sold. They kept bashing Sony for reporting their total number of units shipped.
Suddenly, they do the same...
Raynre @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:27AM
*gasp* Do you think it could have anything to do with the fact that the 360 is selling worse than the original XBox did?
G_D @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:55AM
Wow. I just ran the numbers, only to find:
DS Lite: 140,858 units
EVERY OTHER SYSTEM COMBINED: 77,302
And for a real laugh:
Nintendo Systems: 157,835*
Sony Systems: 59,110
Microsoft Systems: 1,115
*Yes, I do understand that Nintendo has 6 systems while Sony and MSoft have only 2 each.
AK @ Jul 22nd 2006 1:31AM
My console is better than yours, because more japanese people buy it.
Greg @ Jul 22nd 2006 1:32AM
Why Does this always come back to 360lynching
YES WE KNOW ITS NOT SELLING IN JAPAN>>>>... GEEZ let it go. Most people who own it enjoy...those who dont probably never played..or just dont pay it attention....Uhhh doesnt mean it sucks also doesnt mean it sucks cause japan dont want....thinking back to pearl harbor...I really couldnt give a F&*K what japan thinks it "cool" Damn whats next Iraq posting sales numbers and all of a sudden they're influencing what we like here....gimme a break....you people are hopless
Chris Berman @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:05AM
@16,
Fucking hilarious. Seriously people, calm the fuck down.
Mike @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:11AM
Forget the Micro, the XBox360s getting pwned by the ORIANAL GBA.
Hmmm, so japan dosnt count. Because of pearl harbor. Perfct sense. Also I'm thinkin most Iraqis are too poor for vid games.
Night Elve @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:53AM
@ 16.
The only Nintendo product that i own is the very first Gameboy, does that counts?
xDD
idioteraser @ Jul 22nd 2006 3:11AM
US sales charts do not count half of the actual stores selling games. The reports also cost over a grand to get.
So the Japanese charts which are released weekly, counting all game sales, released for free by the way are used. Blame NPD and other US marketing research firms as to why the US gets shitty sales data on video games. Only the publisher really knows how many games are sold in the US.
idioteraser @ Jul 22nd 2006 3:12AM
Oh Joystiq needs to report the DS phat is being haled in production. Lite is the way to go.
Paul Gale @ Jul 22nd 2006 3:19AM
Wow, another incredible week for the Nintendo DS Lite; it's going to be really sweet seeing the sales data after the pink model has been out for a week. Some cool things for next week are that the DS Lite will hit 3 million units sold and the PSP will reach 1 million. Meanwhile, here are some interesting stats as of July 16th, 2006 in Japan.
Nintendo systems to Sony systems sold for the year thus far:
2.34 to 1
Percent ownage of Japan for 2006 thus far:
Nintendo: 69.4
Sony: 29.6
Microsoft: 1.0
Paul Gale
1up.com
BPM? @ Jul 22nd 2006 4:08AM
"who the hell is buying 23,927 PS2's?"
People who already owned one, but it broke.
For as old as PS2 is, I can't imagine it possibly selling this well to NEW customers. The fact that PSP only sells more than PS2 by a small margin (it was bigger this week, but it's usually narrower) is kinda disturbing.
Yes, I am a Nintendo fan, but it does worry me than the 1-year-old PSP only sells slightly better than the 6-year-old PS2.
Sam @ Jul 22nd 2006 4:13AM
In an objective analysis, removing all culture bias regarding preferred game genres/producers, what does the DS have that makes it so much better than anything else in the market?
Is it really just the touch screen, a few Nintendo-made games and the 'touch generations'line that account for the DS's godzilla-like domination of the Japanese market?
All these sales figures prove is that some things in life just aren't fair.
What IS it with Japan?
bounchfx @ Jul 22nd 2006 4:21AM
@ #11.
if you want to go by review numbers, sure, go ahead and do that, but lets try it from another angle.
IGN. 9 and above DS games? 10. PSP? 6.
8 and above? DS - 27 PSP - 26
thats 37 to 32.
that still doesnt sound good to me. how about in terms of ORIGINAL games? (you may want to define original, go ahead and ds will still be in the lead any way you define it. unless you say RAW 2k6 is different from RAW 2k6 on ps2, which is just bullshit.)
8 and up.
DS - 30
PSP - 12, and thats being generous.
I dont know about you, but I have around 30 ds games and growing, and I love all of them, and have you seen the DS lineup lately? theres at least 10 A-AAA titles coming, not to mention zelda, starfox, harvest moon, diddy kong racing, elite beat agents, yoshis island 2, Final Fantasy 3, Mario 3 on 3, Pokemon, project exile, Megaman ZX, Castlevania, and MANY more meanwhile I cant find more than 4-6 psp games I'd go near. most of which being remakes and or ports. HMM. Sure it comes down to taste, but in all honesty of the better game..
I used to have a psp. I don't anymore because it was a waste of money and sucked ass, and not to mention had no games worth getting aside from a select few. (in my opinion, of course. I don't like spending 50$ for ports with triple the loading time and a 2-4 hour battery life.)
so, yeah, sorry, psp looks dead to me.
GameFreak42 @ Jul 22nd 2006 4:50AM
Am I the only one shocked by the fact that sales of the original DS are up 1071.56%?? Up 10,000 units from 1K units. Seriously, what's up with that?
Ubersnuber @ Jul 22nd 2006 5:24AM
To those xbox360 fanboys out there...*counting* ok, you..nd you:
Sales in Japan is very inportant because the rest of the world often follows.
ie: if xbox360 flunks in Japan chances r they will do so in US nd Europe allso.
n8 @ Jul 22nd 2006 6:41AM
bah....the world is coming to an end!!! Before that though....make sure you've picked alligiance to the best selling system and you will be saved!!!
*sigh* - play what's fun. Lists, Charts, & Fanboy's be dammed.
@ #11 Hush....you'll say the same thing if by chance the Wii outsells the PS3 (obviously 360 isn't on your list. I declare fanboyism! Relax, you don't have to deny it in a later post). First do us all a favor. Note the psp chart riddled with simple ports that should be polished to 9's or greater by the time they get release for psp (after a ps2, xbox, 360, ect... versions)
Better yet, why do I or most of us care as to what someone labels a games enjoyment factor in a numerical form? I understand getting a basis, but I've enjoyed several games during my life with sub-8's. At the same time, I've even loathed games with 9's or better.
Numerical reviews are useless. Read the text if anything. Get the synopis of the game. Find out the positive points. Discover the negatives. If they fit your gaming preference, then let the given rating be dammed. Enjoy the game.
Ignorance is bliss - do whatever you want, just don't try to make others fall into your cult....let them actually have a chance to enjoy something and not buy your system of choice just to improve its sales number by 1. WEEEEE*...go (system name here) FTW!!!1!
*disclaimer: not a console name reference - prior to 2k6 exclamation of joy as it is meant to be here
-----------------------------------------------------
I've now exhuasted my patience trying to open this world's inhabitants up to the concept of unbiased enjoyment
------------------------------------------------------
***note*** So many of you posters are insane, and some how you still made me read to the last post knowing full well it's a waste of my time and an incredible test of patience. Please, tell me your secrets to captivating an audience with such rubbish. With these skills you could get me to buy 3 or 4 PS3's in a year.
adeel @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:06AM
I can see psp sales growing stronger now that Tekken:DR has hit the handheld. and the good thing is the game is damn near perfect.
shame though, my brother broke my psp..
striderhayasa @ Jul 22nd 2006 9:44AM
@ Jeff
LOL amen to that man, a route it is and a brutal one at that since it's been going on for months.
@ Darth Pixel
I think there could be an upswing for the PSP as more quality games arrive but I think it's too late for a run for the number one spot. I don't believe that they cater to two entirely different markets. Sony Marketing and PR suggests this at times too. "taking portables out of the gaming ghetto" Right, and into the brothel. Thanks PSP, thanks for nuthin.
@ Bounchfx
You read my mind. Zelda and FFIII alone are going to destroy the sales charts this Christmas. It's going to be ugly. I have 12 games for my DS. All great all A+ titles. I just imported Bleach (finally) awesome game and better than the PSP versions. I didn't have the heart to break that news to some of my PSP loving friends, still trying to wave the support flag in the face of DS superior library. These were the dame people that said that DS would be dead in 2006 and Mario Kart and Animal Crossing would be crap games that would get owned by Madden and GTA on PSP. We all saw how that turned out, 4 million unit sales later for Mario Kart and Animal crossing. Where's GTA and MAdden?
1. DS Lite - 140,858 [2,930,521] units
2. PSP - 35,283 [988,181] units
3. PlayStation 2 - 23,927 [807,505] units
4. NDS - 11,821 [941,870] units
5. GBA SP - 2,619 [171,632] units
6. GB Micro - 1,581 [106,340] units
7. Xbox 360 - 1,105 [59,676] units
8. GameCube - 928 [57,398] units
9. GBA - 28 [2,893] units
10. Xbox - 10 [1,599] units
muggs @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:41AM
@ #11 other fun facts for you :
Sony PlayStation Portable games that have sold more than one million copies worldwide.
* Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2.85 million)
* Ridge Racer (1.04 million)
* Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee (1.00 million)
(and we all know what gta:lcs is used for)
versus
Nintendo DS games that have sold more than one million copies worldwide as of July 2006.
* Nintendogs (6.91 million)
* Animal Crossing: Wild World (4.44 million)
* Mario Kart DS (4.43 million)
* Super Mario 64 DS (3.72 million)
* Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day (2.85 million)
* Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training 2 (2.75 million)
* New Super Mario Bros. (2.16 million)
* WarioWare: Touched! (1.97 million)
* Big Brain Academy (1.27 million)
* Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (1.27 million)
* Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop (1.18 million)
* English Training (1.18 million)
* Tetris DS (1.06 million)
source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_selling_games
darryl @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:50AM
"I see the DS outselling the PSP by about 5 to 1 there, bub."
Yeah, but the PSP is out-selling everything else, including consoles... So, "bub", the PSP is selling very well, and the trend (10%+) is pointing up... the DS is on the decline.
Darth Pixel @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:53AM
You guys seem to ignore the fact there are pretty much as many PSPs in the market as DSs.
Nintendo is successful in making DS Phat owners rebuy the same hardware in the skin of the DS Lite.
That's making the difference right now.
If Sony uses the same strategy and puts the PSP in a new skin (the PSP Brite), its rebirth might become even more real.
As for those who say the DS has more original games, it's the most ridiculous statement I have ever read. The best rated DS games are ports or remakes of 20 year-old game franchises, for Christ sake!
As to the claim numerical game reviews don't count, it's also non-sense.
idioteraser @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:56AM
There are a great number of JRPGS coming out to the DS later this year along with other anticipated games.
DS game sales are decimating psp game sales.
The nongames make the DS very attractive to nongamers who are likely to check out the game software.
The DS easy to learn, easy to master controls is a huge fishing lure to nongamers with a very attractive bait in the form of usefull utility software like the English Trainer, Kanji Trainer, Talking interactive cookbook.
Heck even the gamers buy those things. Tons of US college aged people would love an interactive cookbook in the US.
The release of English Trainers for the German, Italian, French markets should also skyrocket DS sales six months after their release when word spreads among school teachers etc. Heck imagine all those teachers telling their kids in the English classes there is this great piece of software that is fun to use and helps you improve your english skills. Those students look into it and buy the DS with the software then they buy other pieces of DS software.
The DS is it's own advertising because family members often buy one as well.
darryl @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:59AM
"Who the hell is buying 140,858 DS Lite's?"
People who already owned a DS Phat, but were embarassed.
idioteraser @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:59AM
Darth Pixel appears to be the Joystiq liason of the Sony Defense Forces.
idioteraser @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:01AM
Strange how the DS phat was selling 100,000 a week for months before the lite hit and was going hundreds of dollars used or at auction. It seems the Japanese love the DS and aren't rebuying it.
Darth Pixel @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:06AM
#32
All I am telling you:
The situation has changed and is still changing...PSP has now excellent games and is going to have more...
Daxter is excellent.
Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is excellent.
Lumines is still excellent.
People loved "Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories".
Mega Man Powered Up has been getting excellent reviews.
Etc.
Statistics reflect the past. Things are changing.
PSP had a terrible start...with virtually no game.
Yet, from a game standpoint, the tide is turning.
The question is: Is it too late? It may be.
I still see the situation like this:
If you are less than 15, buy a DS.
If you are older than 15, the PSP is for you.
Obviously, it was stupid for Sony to think it would succeed long term without games. Yet, they shipped 18M+ of them without games. That's power marketing.
In closing, look at the most recent game review scores for the DS:
http://www.gamespot.com/reviews.html?type=reviews&platform=1026
Doesn't look too good to me.
idioteraser @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:14AM
Darth the psp sold on image.
Tell me why is it in anyline through Japan as well as just recently the states and Europe those buying and using the DS are overwhelmingly over 30 but the psp owners are predomintelty under 15?
idioteraser @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:15AM
Ahem Darth the DS year to date is killing the psp lifetime to date in numerous regions and is only increasing in number.
Zed @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:16AM
@Mike
"Also I'm thinkin most Iraqis are too poor for vid games".
Surprise, surprise.
Here (it's from 2003, but hey):
"I am going to describe videogaming in Iraq. (...) Videogames are a huge part of our society. Almost everyone I know, regardless of their socioeconomic status, either owns a console or has regular access to one. (...) Iraqis are hardcore gamers (...) Football games are favorites. Winning Eleven is a classic in Iraq. First Person Shooters and Adventure games are also highly respected. (...) Another thing you would find in every neighbourhood is LAN cafes. About 10-20 computers are linked together and gamers play for hours. Games played on LAN are: Red Alert, Empire Earth, Counter Strike, Unreal Tournament, Medal Of Honour, Fifa,..etc. Friends also meet regularly at someones house bringing their computers throwing in LAN parties".
Full text:
http://healingiraq.blogspot.com/archives/2003_10_01_healingiraq_archive.html#106733657806114184
idioteraser @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:22AM
Strange that Iraq didn't have electricity to most parts of it while those that did just had it a few hours each day or week.
Darth Pixel @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:29AM
#40
Listen, we have different opinions. That's all.
Believe it or not, I have a DS Lite. I still play NSMB and I rented many other games via GameFly...most of these games are bright-colored, cute and funny, but they clearly target children or early teens.
And really, really, Super Peach Princess is only 1 example of that:
http://media.ds.ign.com/media/711/711851/img_3411859.html
idioteraser @ Jul 22nd 2006 11:43AM
Ah darth the psp brain training games were about the best selling psp games in Japan on average. They sold psp systems. Now that those games are coming to the DS I predict the psp sales will fall a few months after those titles hit the DS.
Many psp titles are getting DS variants that will sell many a DS and sell better on the DS then the psp.
gameclu @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:01PM
darryl wrote "So, "bub", the PSP is selling very well, and the trend (10%+) is pointing up... the DS is on the decline."
The DS Phat is up 1071%. While the DS lite sold 8,596 less units, the phat sold 10,812 more units this week. The combined DS sales were up 1.01%, selling 2,216 more units this week than last.
As Twain once said, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
marcin @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:05PM
#28
where the hell did you get the idea that everyone follows the Japanese?
no one cares about their stupid anime bullshit. no one cares about their pedophilic games. no one cares about their nationalism.
Xbox did very well in North America and Europe, and Xbox 360 will only do better.
The fairies that are the Japanese can continue to live in their fantasies while we enjoy the next generation now.
LoOpey @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:58PM
What I find funny is this. The psp has yes, only shipped 17 million units, but at current the ds (all versions) has sold just over 20 million markets.
Now atleast think for a second that stores order games consoles they can sell, they order what they need, so the shipped figure cant be relly far off from the actual sales, a maximum of 2 million less and that is bieng very negative/unfair on the psp.
Also the ds is selling well pretty much all the time, so i would say to be fair we can put an extra 2 million extra sales on the current ds lite & ds and on ds sales.
So the psp is probably sold 15 million and the ds has sold probably 22 million.
Now lets think for a second that is 7 million units diffrence, do you not belive that sony can make 7 million units gap?
The psp 2 hasnt been relased yet, so you can never trully know whats gonna happen. Better psp games are finnally ariving, but some of the best ds franchises are already out, all thats left is zelda and ff3 remake.
Now that umd movies is dead, sony will focus on games. What happens when the protable mgs, grand turismo, ratchet and clank, ico game come out. Remeber that grand turismo has been the best selling game for 2 generations of gaming, on top with gt1 with the ps1 era, and gt3 aspec with the ps2 era. Even gran turismo 4 has sold 7 million copies.
Ds fans should actually be worried,this is a 5 year race, a 7 million lead is not that much, especially when most of the best franchises are already out.
The psp has sold this well with hardly any graet games out, when the titles start to flood in, the sales will increase, ds fanboys have shown remarkable confidence with hardly that great advantage.
Remebr also that psp has sold either above the ds or neck and neck with the ds in every other region. It is only japan that has made this perception that the psp has died, even though it sells more than every other console/handheld then the ds lite.
If you think the psp is dead be ready to see a ressurection, because 7 million more sold units is not game over, at all.
The ds has better games without a doubt over the psp, hell i own one, and it has certainly sold more than ds, im not trying to deny it. But dont allow seeing he week in week out sales of the ds to suddenly shape this perception in your head that the psp is dead.
Were only 2 years in right now, we still have 3 years to go.
Darth Pixel @ Jul 22nd 2006 12:58PM
#45
OK.
As long as they do not require too much power or graphical abilities, any game can be ported to the DS.
Those "brain" "games" are a mystery to me, I must say.
When teachers wanted their pupils to take those tests in class, we all hated them and revolted.
They show up on the DS and suddenly they are the coolest thing in town. It's mind boggling. Here is an example:
Performing additions, substractions, multiplications and divisions very fast is now called "gaming" and "having fun"!
I think we should also question Nintendo's candor here...
Once upon a time, Nintendo re-designed the GBA. Soon after, they realized GBA owners didn't want to be seen with the old GBA model and bought the new model without question.
Obviously, both models were essentially the same hardware, so they could run the same games and Nintendo could turn around and tell the world: "We now have twice as many decices in the market that can run GBA games."
A few years pass and they repeat the same trick with the DS.
DS Lite can run the same games DS Phat can run. No one wants to be seen with a DS Phat. People are buying the new DS Lite. Nintendo turns around and tell the world: "We now have twice as many decices in the market that can run DS games."
These cosmetic (in the sense that DS Phat can run any game DS Lite can run) re-designs really appear as a shameless tactic conceived to inflate their apparent installed base.
I say "apparent" because I doubt people who own both a DS Phat and now a DS Lite are going to buy 2 copies of each game they buy.
So, from a developer or publisher standpoint, if the DS installed based is 40M units, you have to wonder if 20M gamers or more own these 40M units.
I know Nintendo is perceived like this angelic corporation that has the best interest of gamers in mind, but...I think they are as business-minded as Sony and Microsoft.
Could they have produced the DS Lite in the first place?
Did they make the original DS not as good looking as they could have to ensure they would be able to come up with a re-design?
I must be the only fool on earth to wonder.
Ubersnuber @ Jul 22nd 2006 1:24PM
#47:
Lets just leave it there, shall we?
go back to ur 360, have fun.