Japanese hardware sales, May 12 - May 18: Déjà vu edition
by Griffin McElroy 
{ May 25th 2008 at 8:00PM }
Could this seemingly innocuous pattern actually herald the movements of our discreet mechanical overlords, as revealed in "The Matrix"? Could Japan be stuck in some kind of temporal rift, causing them to repeat one week over and over again? Or could it be simpler than that -- perhaps the nation of Japan is trying to send us, the trackers of their sales charts, some sort of code. Let's see... "Pallid Westerners, Don't Listen to the Putrid Production of Xanadu." No, that can't be it -- everyone already knows to avoid that nightmare-on-rollerskates. What about "Porpoises and Whales Delight in Leaving Private Pictures in our Xeroxes." No, sea creatures aren't known for acts of office vulgarity.
Oh, wait a minute, we think we've cracked it: "Please, We Don't Like Purchasing or Playing Xbox 360s." Well of course you don't! We didn't need to go all Robert Langdon to glean that valuable piece of information!
- PSP: 70,536
19,348 (21.53%)- Wii: 41,572
25,736 (38.24%)- DS Lite: 34,905
16,323 (31.86%) - PS3: 7,701
353 (4.38%) - PS2: 7,022
422 (5.92%)- Xbox 360: 1,474
196 (13.56%)[Source: Media Create]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Fernando Rocker @ May 25th 2008 8:12PM
PS3 is doing 360-like numbers...
Ah, I know... just wait until MGS4, right?
=p
tmacairjordan87 @ May 25th 2008 8:17PM
What's the wii's next game? Oh that's right there is none.
Obie @ May 25th 2008 8:19PM
I am sure E3 will bring some new games forward.
But it seems the Wii sells even with nothing directly on the horizon.
Fernando Rocker @ May 25th 2008 8:30PM
Yes jordan, Nintendo just stoped developing games...
Nintendo announces games near the release of the games, like 1 year or 10 months before.
The PS3 games are games that were announced years ago... Killzone, 4 years ago, MGS4, 3 years, GT5 4 years, etc.
Jouten @ May 25th 2008 8:41PM
I have to agree with Fernando on the time line it takes to develop games now a days. No wonder Sony and maybe even Microsoft will HAVE TO consider maintaining support for their consoles for AT LEAST 10 years. If they don't, developers will only be able to make one game (maybe two if they are feeling really frisky) during a console's life-cycle.
Hyams @ May 25th 2008 8:47PM
Tell that to Insomniac, they seem intent on making a new PS3 game every year. It's like they never sleep. (Yay, I made a punny! I can be Joystiq writer now, plz?)
gamerprophet @ May 25th 2008 9:23PM
Fernando 360's development times are usually half of PS3's.
FrankTheCrank @ May 25th 2008 9:45PM
Fernando...
PSP is outselling Wii. Again. It's been like 5 straight weeks. The PSP is outselling the Wii nearly 2:1.
Forget PS3 or Wii...PSP is the hottest thing in Japan.
FrankTheCrank @ May 25th 2008 9:48PM
BTW Fernando...
Why do you even bother to stomp on the PS3 all the time?
Wii is killing everybody in the states...and 360 is in second place for now. Your two favorite consoles. You should have absolutely nothing to complain about...but you continue to. Kinda weird...kinda compulsive? Sup wit dat?
Ethan @ May 25th 2008 11:31PM
It isn't just shorter development times though. Nintendo does only release info about a game when they have a concrete idea when it's going to be released (in Japan, mind).
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ May 25th 2008 11:53PM
In an insecurity Fernando has ... I would hardly call it 360 like numbers but the numbers are not great ... MGS 4 will probably give it a bump in console sales
@Fernando
Why does it matter how many consoles the PS3 sells? Why have you made it your personal crusade to always point out the obvious to everyone?
If you like the Wii and 360 it doesn't mean you have to hate on the PS3 all the time ... Since when is sales numbers a direct indicator of whats better anyway?
Again I say to you that McDonald's sells more hamburgers than Wolgang Puck but that doesn't make them better ... Its just cheaper and more accessible to the everyday person ... ya know what I mean?
The PS3 games that are releasing now are some of the first games that were developed on the new architecture of the PS3 platform ... The cell is a completely different console than the 360, PC, PS2, Wii and origianl X-Box ... For better or worse its the truth ...
There is not much on the horizon for the Wii in terms of games over the next few months ... I don't think it will stop the Wii from selling because as I have said earlier it's cheaper and more accessible to the common person ... Nintendo also succeeded in making a console that appealed to more than just the typical hardcore gamer crowd ... Much like the PS2 was able to do last generation in which just about everyone had one ... Also the Wii has been revolutionary in bringing families and people in general together to play games even if they have little or no experience they can still play Wii ...
For better or worse the Wii, PS3 and 360 are what they are. They are all gaming machines but they all serve different purposes and appeal to different people ... I don't think anyone in their right mind would argue the Wii is more advanced hardware or as versatile as the PS3 or 360 ...
It is what it is ... An affordable console that is fun for everyone in the family (grandma and grandpa included) but easy enough for anyone to pick up and play (tiny children included) ...
Look no further than Hanna Montana for that ... I am going to assume she has sold more albums than say The Doors but does that make her better or more popular?
You are going to see more people buy Ford Mustangs than Porsche 911's but does that make it a better sports car?
Maybe Applesbees sells more steaks than Ruth Chris but does that mean the food is better?
You get my point!
I say again in regards to the Wii -
UNIVERSAL TRUTH IS NOT MEASURED IN MASS APPEAL
Ninjakamster (XBL: RNK2K) @ May 26th 2008 12:24AM
I don't see why FranktheCrank was downvoted, not like he was being really trollish or anything. Just goes to show that there are Microsoft and Nintendo fanboys that can also get riled up just like Sony fanboys. We're all the freaking same! : )
Yourself @ May 26th 2008 12:57AM
I think Fernando's overzeal is just leftover from last generation. Being a GCN owner caught you a lot of slack, and for some reason many still consider the console to have been a joke. So now that the Nintendo fans have another round on top, they're taking their chance to get back for all the mockery.
In spite of his occasional lack of articulation, and though he sometimes goes overboard, Fernando also tends to be good at making other fanboys eat their words.
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ May 26th 2008 1:44AM
@Yourself
I think the problem is Fernando sterotypes every PS3 owner and lumps them all into one category ... Its not as if he just calls out a handful of people who may have made some off the wall remarks ... He paints the whole lot of them with his fanboy brush ...
I don't think he even believes most of the stuff he says ... Its just for shock value and attention ... At this point he has to sleep in the bed he made
Its almost a microcosm of media in general in todays day and age ... shock and awe get more attention than just being genuine ... anything to get 3 hearts I guess
Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ May 26th 2008 3:08AM
Poop - I agree, he's after attention. But beyond that I tend to think that all of us posters are after exactly the same thing? Differing shades of gray for us to bicker about, in my opinion. I've given you guff before about the silly long posts (which I think ESC calls cement walls, or something or other) but c'mon, Fernando is tolerable because I have never actually seen him be insulting or really nasty before. I'm sure I have more than a few dbag posts to my name... And sorry to anybody I've been a dbag to. But 'Nando knows he's essentially guaranteed to get downvoted to a 1 heart at this point, and I don't see why that's anything anybody should care about anyway.
That being said, I spose I'll comment on the issue at hand. Hardware #s being what they are, it likely means the DS redesign will come sooner than we think so people (like myself) will rebuy the same hardware. The PSP rules, I like seeing the different colors that keep coming out, and the slim is a nice handheld.
Losers? Those of us that only can really only own one piece of hardware. Sorry, wouldn't want to be ya. We're likely in the best gen of gaming and too many morons get caught up in saying what is best and what is not.
Nixontech2071 @ May 26th 2008 7:25AM
Fernando, do us all a favor and shove a two foot long eel up your ass.
4MyFriends @ May 26th 2008 12:05PM
I liked how people minus Fernando's comment for telling the sad truth, the PS3 is doing horrible in Japan at the moment and MGS4 is not going to help outside the spike during that week's sales.
I also like how if anyone else would had said that, no one would have cared.
Alex @ May 26th 2008 12:40PM
FrankTheCrank,
"PSP is outselling Wii. Again. It's been like 5 straight weeks. The PSP is outselling the Wii nearly 2:1.
Forget PS3 or Wii...PSP is the hottest thing in Japan."
Your'e wrong. The hottest thing in Japan is Reon Kadena. Fact. Whoever disagrees is either blind or taking the word "hot" too literally.
Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 26th 2008 3:51PM
Ugh, fact of the matter, he puts words in peoples mouths and keeps making up these imaginary scenarios. Such as the "wait until" lists which, on this site, I haven't seen for damn near a year now.
But facing facts for me, I could give a shit if Wii is outselling everyone just as I gave a damn when DS was curbstomping PSP. Why? Well, it's simple.
Most Wii games do not interest me. Period, that's it. I know some people live in the world where being the market leader means getting the best games but that isn't really happening with Wii. You're seeing games going from announcement to ship date in under a month and for the most part, quality titles few and far between. And when they do come out, most of the time, they are not in the genres I enjoy or in the style of game I'd fancy. So whether Wii keeps the lead doesn't matter to me if I'm not interested the Game Party 3: The Partying Continues.
4MyFriends @ May 26th 2008 4:17PM
No one cares about your opinion Fidlious, you're no better than Fernando.
el serpiente @ May 26th 2008 4:58PM
I care. I care very deeply.
Jon @ May 26th 2008 7:06PM
You guys are all sad people.
bigsofty @ May 26th 2008 7:49PM
Who cares about who's buying what on the other side of the world? ...not me!
Jacksons @ May 26th 2008 8:43PM
@Hyams
I always look forward to Insomniac's yearly offering. I haven't been disappointed yet!
Obie @ May 25th 2008 8:13PM
Look at that green arrow next to the 360 numbers....that's good right?
Mr.ESC @ May 26th 2008 10:56AM
Awesome game indeed Markez. To be honest I never knew it was based on a comic but after reading the comic included in the game and well finishing the game I must insist that everyone needs to play this game. The Darkness was quickly left in Bioshock shadow but even so is an awesome game.
If you like GTA you will like the Darkness as well.
Oh Spawn why your games can't be like The Darkness.
Hashbrown Hunter @ May 26th 2008 1:06PM
As long as it's not a red arrow you shouldn't have to worry about calling customer service........again.
Mr.ESC @ May 26th 2008 3:41PM
I replied to the wrong post.
Damn this aperture science handheld portal device.
Amirisme @ May 25th 2008 8:26PM
Stop trying to push the xbox to where obviously noone wants it. Long live sony!
Poisoned Al @ May 25th 2008 8:33PM
You mean your mum wouldn't buy you both of them.
Mr.ESC @ May 25th 2008 8:47PM
Actually the Xbox is doing badly in that country precisely for not pushing it more.
Games that are released mostly worldwide like The Darkness aren't released at the same time in Japan. They just got The Darkness in Japan and I believe the sequel is coming soon.
Japanese gamers have a negative view on the Xbox 360 due the xbox 1.Just a handful of games were translated in Japanese, the support was lackluster and well you had to wait months before a title that was released in the U.S or Europe make it to Japan.
xFenixKnightx @ May 25th 2008 9:11PM
I'm with Mr Esc, they need to push it more. Better advertising, some budles like Ninja Gaiden 2 bundle. I actually think RROD does have something to do with it as well so. If it is indeed fixed they should send out a press release over there stating that things should be fine now.
If you look at the 360's library (I mean really really look) like I have theres a huge number a titles that are aimed just at them. Trust me I've made a list before.
If I were MS I'd do bundles, drop the price, better adverts. Have you seen NG2 commercial?
http://www.gametrailers.com/game/5481.html
They don't even show the game AT ALL lol and at the beginning of all j@panese360 commercials there is some dorky sound when the 360 logo displays on the screen. I would probably do a small redesign as well. Maybe MS just sees it as a no-win situation and it is what it is.
Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ May 26th 2008 3:11AM
I'll chime off ESC, just to throw in that The Darkness rules. Awesome game.
Benny @ May 26th 2008 2:07PM
Mr ESC, you're right and it's a testament to Japanese gamers: they won't tolerate being treated like crap.
Luckily for Nintendo (and to a lesser extent, Sony), European gamers don't have that same quality.
Raikage (LDF CRAB BATTLE!!!) @ May 25th 2008 8:29PM
Japan no like GTA?
Benny @ May 25th 2008 8:45PM
What's a GTA?
LaughingTarget @ May 25th 2008 10:56PM
I think it's Go To Akebeko, that beef shop in Ruroni Kenshin. Who would want a game solely about walking through the streets, no fighting, just to eat beef?
BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ May 25th 2008 11:37PM
It's not out there yet. Capcom publishes GTA in Japan, and it does pretty well, actually.
Ninjakamster (XBL: RNK2K) @ May 26th 2008 12:27AM
I don't even think GTA4 is out yet in Japan right?
Denden @ May 27th 2008 12:22AM
Acutally, you can buy GTA for Xbox 360 in Softmap in Akihabara. No PS3 version in sight, which may explain the green arrow =P
Jouten @ May 25th 2008 8:34PM
The Next Game that comes out from Nintendo will be 'Fanboy Olympics' and the FINAL BOSS will be Fernando Rocker, blog avatar and all. Nintendo will honor him with that prestigious reward to re-pay him for his consistent, rabid, psycho-fanaticism loyalty he demonstrates to Nintendo day-in, day-out.
Fernando Rocker @ May 25th 2008 8:35PM
I want that to happen... really. =)
Hyams @ May 25th 2008 8:48PM
I'd buy that.
Fernando Rocker @ May 25th 2008 8:53PM
"Super Paper Fernando: Fall of Sony"
Now, that would be a killer game... last boss would be KrazyKen, and sub-boss would be jordan.
Main character would be me, with a big and 80's mullet.
Coming this holiday season... I would buy it.
=p
Mr.ESC @ May 25th 2008 8:54PM
I was supposed to be an unlockable character it that game but the developers cut my character in the final version because according to them I wasn't fanboy-ish enough and to grey to know in which side I was. Too bad because my character had a rokitlawnchair, a shotgun that shots shurikens and electricity, a roflchainsaw and of course my trademark Shark with a friggin lazer on his head.
I heard you can still unlock Samfish full Peach picture if you beat the game in less than half an hour. Spoiler: It’s a trap.
tmacairjordan87 @ May 25th 2008 8:57PM
Out of all the SDF guys you pick me, someone who doesn't care about sony the company, as a sub-boss.
Wii60Warrior @ May 25th 2008 9:23PM
Fernando you completely forgot ninjamaster or w/e his name is, noshino, vidikron, and shag...
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ May 26th 2008 12:07AM
@Fernando
Funny thing is I am sure that game could sell 5 million on the Wii especially if it had cameos from Mario and friends ...
2 hearts vote downvote upReport
Ninjakamster (XBL: RNK2K) @ May 26th 2008 12:08AM
I'm here PremierAsshole. : D
I find it hilarious you judge me as a Sony fanboy just because I defend it from your blatant retardism. I have a 360 right now actually since my PS3 died. Will get a PS3 again later on.
I like Sony and Microsoft, not sure about Nintendo.
Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ May 26th 2008 3:14AM
I keep forgetting PreAss went with a new name, Ninja. You two are so adorable.