Japan: PS3 near sell-out, Ridge Racer, Gundam popular
by Zack Stern 
{ Nov 13th 2006 at 11:00PM }
Reuters documents the Japanese PS3 frenzy, saying that the console sold nearly all of its stock -- 88,400 units -- in its first two days. Just over 60 percent moved were the 60GB version, but we expect gamers were just buying whatever was available.But what games do the Japanese players want? Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight and Ridge Racer 7 are the hottest titles, selling about 30,000 each. While other launch titles are picking up the slack, it sounds like Japanese gamers are spending most of their money on the console and not on games.
The PS3 already supports video downloads in Japan, so that audience may see it as a rounded entertainment system -- or a Blu-ray player. We're interested in how the number of games sold per-console averages out in different parts of the world.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Pedro Van Faulk @ Nov 13th 2006 11:11PM
Wow. Only 100k systems and it has taken them 2 days to sell them? That's pretty sad for the launch of the "next generation".
I absolutely cannot wait for the Japanese hardware sales this week. You can call it the "DS pwns everything...including PS3 edition."
hoola @ Nov 13th 2006 11:13PM
I thought it did sell out? Only 80k for launch, yes?
ME @ Nov 13th 2006 11:13PM
Yeah....I have to admit. I'm surprised. I figured it would have sold out on the first day. Hard to predict, the Japanese are.
copa @ Nov 13th 2006 11:20PM
Strangely enough, 78,000 PS3 listings showed up on Ebay Japan tonight.
Sub @ Nov 13th 2006 11:31PM
30,000 of each of those three games sold? My God, I feel bad for the companies that put out launch titles. That's hardly enough to make a profit.
nick @ Nov 13th 2006 11:36PM
Two days and it's 'nearly' sold out?
I wonder if we'll see this happen when it hits the U.S. Price, most likely, is a factor.
Pince @ Nov 13th 2006 11:39PM
I really wouldnt be surprised if many people bought a PS3 with no games figuring they might not even have another chance to possibly get a ps3 until spring. If there are any games they are interested in for PS3, it probably still seemed like a good idea to get the PS3 now, games later.
Or perhaps games were hard to find? I'm not sure how those game sales add up in comparison to other launch titles or to how much they ship. Are there still copies of gundam and ridge racer sitting on shelves or are those really good numbers anyways?
I'm not sure how to interpret the 30,000.
How do popular Japanese games usually sell?
Marty @ Nov 13th 2006 11:40PM
Heh, I am surprised that they are not sold out yet. Come on, it shouldn't be that hard to push 100k units at launch. Unless of course, you've made all the mistakes Sony has.
Optimus Prime @ Nov 13th 2006 11:48PM
What the heck are you guys talking about; you were the same ones bitching when Sony cut the Japan shipping units to 80k.. they didnt ship 100k (apparently more like 89k).. you need to keep you trolling consistent.
Colin @ Nov 13th 2006 11:49PM
This is a BS joystiq post. Everybody else has framed this as all the PS3s selling out. The 100k launch shipment was cut to ~80k, so selling 89k is not 'nearly selling out'. Its selling out.
Do you HONESTLY think that the thousands of people camped out at the stores would just go home empty handed if there was one available?
GamesIndustry Biz:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=21049
The number falls around halfway between the 100,000 launch-unit target Sony was aiming for and the 80,000 figure reported in the Nikkei Shimbun prior to launch.
The near-instant ***total*** depletion of hardware stock has led to a huge number of Internet auctions for so-called "used" PS3 consoles spring up, some with asking prices more than twice that charged by retail.
(emphasis added)
The simple fact is that the demand far outstripped the supply. To try to spin it as anything else is pathetic fanboyism. Come on Joystiq, you're (a little) better than this.
-Colin
fahmi @ Nov 14th 2006 12:03AM
dear sony fanboys,
80k shipped in japan is guestimated by analysis. However, last week I believe, one of the sony representative debunk this myth and they said Sony will ship 100k units to Japan. This is where 89k almost sold out comes from.
n2 @ Nov 13th 2006 11:59PM
(just posted on the net) According to Reuters, the PS3 does not run some PS1 and PS2 titles
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=internetNews&storyID=2006-11-14T041610Z_01_SP136538_RTRIDST_0_OUKIN-UK-SONY.XML
Sound is eliminated on some software titles when played on the PS3, while some other titles do not play on the latest machine at all.
Khuffie @ Nov 14th 2006 12:05AM
Colin, did you read the article Joystiq linked to?
" Sony Corp sold 88,400 units of its PlayStation 3 game console in the *first two* days after the launch in Japan, leaving *most* stores without any stock, video game magazine publisher Enterbrain said on Monday."
Emphasis mine. They just paraphrased the article. Stop reading bias where there isn't any.
Colin @ Nov 14th 2006 12:14AM
Interestingly, GamesIndustry.biz was quoting the same Enterbrain article that the AP story did. I was going off what they said, not AP.
Though as I said, it appears they were refrencing the same articles. Anybody speak japanese that can read the actual Enterbrain report?
"However, last week I believe, one of the sony representative debunk this myth and they said Sony will ship 100k units to Japan"
Okay, everybody makes fun of Sony for constantly lying about shipment numbers and then all of the sudden you start believing them and say their PR must be true?
Convenient change of faith, don't you think?
-Colin
Colin @ Nov 14th 2006 12:18AM
Gamespot also took the story as meaning a total sell-out:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6161589.html?tag=latestnews;title;0
"While a universal sell out was all but assured for the PlayStation 3's Japanese launch last weekend, there was still a question about how many units Sony would be able to provide for the country on the system's first day of sale last Saturday. The answer to that question is 88,400 units, according to a Reuters report citing figures from Famitsu publisher Enterbrain."
-Colin
Raynre @ Nov 14th 2006 12:31AM
Software to hardware sales are at about 0.98%. That means that the vast majority of people that bought the PS3 didnt even buy a game. (Since some people bought more than one game.)
Very sad for the launch of a console. I hope they keep track of the Wii sales as well...
Raynre @ Nov 14th 2006 12:32AM
Sorry, meant 98%, Im too tired to type out math apparently...
Akira @ Nov 14th 2006 12:37AM
Yeah I live in Japan (Tokyo) and I can confirm that the PS3 sold out in the night (early, early morning) BEFORE the scheduled released date. There is no more left. There must be something wrong (missinterpretation) with the "first two days" report. And I'm not a PS-fanboy.
Awol @ Nov 14th 2006 10:53AM
I can't wait until the wii crushes these pathetic numbers in it's first few hours.
nick @ Nov 14th 2006 1:17AM
Didn't the 360 sell out in the US in a matter of hours?
Pince @ Nov 14th 2006 1:24AM
Colin-
"Okay, everybody makes fun of Sony for constantly lying about shipment numbers and then all of the sudden you start believing them and say their PR must be true?"
I have nothing against the rest of your argument, but that statement right there is a pathetic cop-out response.
Are you suggesting that people not believe Sony's numbers? In that case, then why would making fun of them for lying about their numbers in the past be bad? You cant have it both ways: you cant ridicule people for saying Sony lied about its numbers, but then ridicule them again for choosing to believe Sony's numbers. Either way you are going to find a way to rip on them.
"Convenient change of faith dont you think?"
Yeah I bet you thought that snot-nosed comment was real clever. It wasn't. It just displays how you are trying to find a way to berate anyone who tries to disagree with you - its an ad hominem argument.
Furthermore, why are you accusing joystiq posters of making fun of Sony for something that you have no proof of them ever saying? Do you have a direct quote from some other post where fahmi is making fun of Sony? If you do, then I guess you have a point but if not then you are just making pointless accusations to try to get yourself out of a corner.
I can respect your argument but when someone makes a legitimate point against you, trying to turn it back on them with silly accusations like that is just childish and stupid. Why are you acting like someone is badmouthing your best friend and you have to come to their defense? No one is attacking you, they are just trying to get the facts straight and you are making ad hominem attacks in response.
Booh to that.
jopojelly @ Nov 14th 2006 1:34AM
What's sad is that the top 3 best selling launch games for the PS3 will most likely place at places 6,7,and 8 on the Japanese software charts, and the PS3 will place at #2 on the hardware charts...right behind the DS.
Matt Rix @ Nov 15th 2006 12:46PM
"5. 30,000 of each of those three games sold? My God, I feel bad for the companies that put out launch titles. That's hardly enough to make a profit."
Yeah 30k is so bad for a single day of sales... Oh wait.
Adam Campbell @ Nov 14th 2006 3:35AM
They can't really sell more games than consoles can they? How could they have been expected to ship 100,000 copies each of Ridge Racer, Gundam, etc when only 88,000 people have a PS3? Millions of people have a DS and so buying a game for it would actually make sense. When the next shipment of PS3s turn up, they'll sell out like this again and the number of software titles will move in proportion to the amount of console units again.
I just came from the video shop where high school boys are prowling around the PS3 section, picking up the box and putting it back down again, reading the cover of the same Gundam game over and over. It will and is selling just fine, problem is they don't have enough to sell because they launched with a crazy-small number.
Does anyone know when the next influx of units into Japan is likely to be? The best I was told was "next year" by a girl in one shop! I'm holding out hope for something a little earlier.
UsaChatNow @ Nov 14th 2006 3:31AM
Geesh i wish they would just release the damn thing here...all this talk and arguments is just building this damn thing up....RELEASE IT already!!!!
computer gamer @ Nov 14th 2006 3:40AM
A lot of PS3s are going to sell "By default" just to be auctioned on Ebay, this doesn't mean the demand is there from gamers (only time will tell that when a PROPER launch number of units is available).
Releasing ~100k and "nearly" selling out isn't that big a feat and was probably part of the reason they decided to release in small quantities so they were guaranteed their "sell out" status. Had they released 2 million in Japan I'm sure the story would be different.. it wouldn't be a near sell out.
And besides, apart from the flea-bayers you have the hardcore early adopters who will buy the console, it's the general gaming public who decide if a console is a success and we can't judge that until a few months after the US launch has been analysed!
Pulse @ Nov 14th 2006 5:05AM
They aren't sold out yet, simply because the retail outlets are releasing a selected number from the stock they have each day, if they were to just give them all out, they would have sold out in hours let alone a day.
mocax @ Nov 14th 2006 5:50AM
a third of them made their way to hong kong and the rest of asia
I see a few of them in a dubious looking little shop going for $1200, that equally suspicious-looking sales guy said the prices are gonna "fry" up next week.
poopsicle desu ne.....
primetime @ Nov 14th 2006 11:46AM
"I can't wait until the wii crushes these pathetic numbers in it's first few hours."
Well they can only sell what they have available. If the Wii has 4 million launch units available at launch, it is obviously going to sell more units compared to the less than 1 million available PS3 units worldwide.
Spartacus @ Nov 14th 2006 12:10PM
Sony's Playstation 2 never had a very good attach rate, so these numbers don't surprise me, especially with as few AAA titles that are available right now. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the 360 have a launch attach rate or somewhere between 3-4 games?
That said, someone mentioned that the PS3 would be coming in at 2nd place in Japanese hardware sales this week. Actually, it'll probably be coming in 3rd behind the DS AND THE PS2... Games for the PS3 will be coming in much lower on the chart.
devi8i @ Nov 14th 2006 12:26PM
Attach rates were artificially inflated due to big game shops selling bundles for 360 and I suspect teh atatch rate would have been much lower without the "mandatory" bundles......
Crazy number time: 30,000 copies of RIIIIIIIIDGE RACER sold to a population of 88,400 consoles means 34% of the installed base purchased the game.....developers kill for percentages like that...if EA could sell Madden to 34% of PS2 owners the world would end.....
devi8i @ Nov 14th 2006 12:57PM
# 24 you said "A lot of PS3s are going to sell "By default" just to be auctioned on Ebay, this doesn't mean the demand is there from gamers "
If there was not a demand for it then there would be no market for ebay sales of ps3 units. Why do you thing the going price for units on ebay is as high as it is? Becaus there is no market????
mesocool @ Nov 14th 2006 7:35PM
WOW took two days?
I guess ken should have said. ‘The high definition starts when we say (we can sell 90k) in two days’ LOL
Just like I been saying They are making sure that they had a sell out that’s why they cut it down to 80+k They really just cut down the projection! Most likely have some waiting.
LOL sad, sad!
Good thing they lowered the price in Japan before launch. They know they can count on
the good old USA fanboys to save them though. That’s what you get for answering a poll with enthusiasm I will pay up to $900 for a PS3
(with chest stuck out, Hint when you stick out your chest you also stick out you rear! And Sony is behind there!).
Ah hah ahhhhh! Yes Fantoy I’m giving it to you! (says Ken softly from behind your ear)
Colin Pay attention to the Detail of the sold numbers and the goal numbers. First you cant make the goal unless there is actually 100k at stores. What Sony did is only guaranteed 80k Didn’t say they would not ship that many. This way if they come close to selling out they will still look like they did. Because they are only shooting for 80k How else can you sell 89k if there is actually only 80k there?
Huffie When xbox360 sold out there was NO where to get it for real that’s why the price
Stay at 1200 dollars months after launch on ebay. With PS3 the price only went up $300 dollars on ebay. That’s sad! Should be 400-600% mock up not only 50%! Not extra demand.
Adam Campbell they are not talking about for each game. They are talking about for each customer. In other words if the average person only bought two games then there should be 80k x 2 = 160k games. Remember there are several titles during a launch not just one.
The attach ratio of the 360 is Japan was only 1.47 still 50% higher than PS3 but not that much. The 360 ratios stumps the PS3 ratio in Japan. Stomps by hundreds of percents.
mesocool @ Nov 14th 2006 7:35PM
WOW took two days?
I guess ken should have said. ‘The high definition starts when we say (we can sell 90k) in two days’ LOL
Just like I been saying They are making sure that they had a sell out that’s why they cut it down to 80+k They really just cut down the projection! Most likely have some waiting.
LOL sad, sad!
Good thing they lowered the price in Japan before launch. They know they can count on
the good old USA fanboys to save them though. That’s what you get for answering a poll with enthusiasm I will pay up to $900 for a PS3
(with chest stuck out, Hint when you stick out your chest you also stick out you rear! And Sony is behind there!).
Ah hah ahhhhh! Yes Fantoy I’m giving it to you! (says Ken softly from behind your ear)
Colin Pay attention to the Detail of the sold numbers and the goal numbers. First you cant make the goal unless there is actually 100k at stores. What Sony did is only guaranteed 80k Didn’t say they would not ship that many. This way if they come close to selling out they will still look like they did. Because they are only shooting for 80k How else can you sell 89k if there is actually only 80k there?
Huffie When xbox360 sold out there was NO where to get it for real that’s why the price
Stay at 1200 dollars months after launch on ebay. With PS3 the price only went up $300 dollars on ebay. That’s sad! Should be 400-600% mock up not only 50%! Not extra demand.
Adam Campbell they are not talking about for each game. They are talking about for each customer. In other words if the average person only bought two games then there should be 80k x 2 = 160k games. Remember there are several titles during a launch not just one.
The attach ratio of the 360 is Japan was only 1.47 still 50% higher than PS3 but not that much. The 360 ratios stumps the PS3 ratio in Japan. Stomps by hundreds of percents.
nick @ Nov 14th 2006 7:37PM
Here's another article published today that says the PS3 nearly sold out after 2 days, moving 88,400 units
http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20754579%5E15317%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html
According to the article, 100,000 units shipped for launch, which would mean 11,600 units are unaccounted. The article also says most electronic stores depleted their supply.