Japanese hardware sales, Sept. 21 - Sept. 27: Diminishing returns edition

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 4th 2009 at 8:30PM }

Okay, Japanese game consumers. It's time we had a heart to heart. Last week, Enterbrain analyzed the Japanese hardware and software sales figures for the first half of fiscal '09, and ... well, let's just say the numbers were pretty grim. We certainly understand that times are kinda tight -- as made evident by the surplus of red arrows witnessed this year -- but let's take a moment to step back, observe the big gaming industry movements from the past six months, and illustrate how much you guys dropped the ball.

Seriously, in the past six months, Japan has seen the release of a new Dragon Quest game, a new Monster Hunter game, two new Pokémon games, a sleeker version of the PS3 and a veritable rainbow of new color choices for most of our weekly contenders. What's gotten into you, Japan? Has your interest shifted away from video games? What's your new area of expertise -- tell us, so we can start tracking the sales of whatever that may be instead.

Oh, who're we kidding. The release of Final Fantasy XIII (and the accompanying Squeenix-branded PS3) will more than make up for this slow half-year. Go ahead and keep doing whatever it is you're doing that isn't purchasing video games. Come December 17, you'll flock back like moths drawn to a spiky-haired, turn-based flame.

- DSi: 63,342

2,731 (4.13%)
- PS3: 39,960

11,095 (21.73%)
- PSP: 17,334

3,739 (17.74%)
- DS Lite: 15,057

1,502 (11.08%)
- Wii: 11,731

4,967 (29.75%)
- Xbox 360: 4,854

111 (2.24%)
- PS2: 2,347

376 (13.81%)

[Source: Media Create]

See: The diminishing archives

Tags: JapaneseHardwareSales

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Anonymouse @ Oct 4th 2009 8:38PM

I'm pretty sure that when FFXIII comes out, PS3 sales will go up by

OVER 9000%!

The Return of Lieutenant Gunther (PSN: helghast102) @ Oct 4th 2009 8:46PM

Very forced, and very poorly executed, 3/10

Jrinswand @ Oct 4th 2009 8:47PM

Dead memes are dead.

fwacce @ Oct 4th 2009 8:49PM

You would have been better off going with FIRST!

Special Agent Steve @ Oct 4th 2009 8:52PM

Good thing your an anonymouse.

[ArchiGamer] [Featuring GRATIOUS ALIEN NUDITY] @ Oct 4th 2009 8:47PM

Everyone by now knows its fate that any Final Fantasy can -and- will sell far better than anything on the market, just like every installment of Guitar Hero.

And there is nothing you can do about it.

WREturns (Looking for a graphic designer) @ Oct 4th 2009 9:54PM

I don't think that's true, Archi. Unless I don't understand what you're saying, that is. Haven't Final Fantasy sales have been on the decline for quite awhile now?

Blank-Mage @ Oct 4th 2009 10:58PM

I believe they have, but a Final Fantasy in decline is still a sales juggernaut.

Sly (Now equipped with DS!) @ Oct 4th 2009 8:50PM

wait, i thought XIII was real-time, not turn based...

Hyams @ Oct 4th 2009 9:04PM

Actually, it's neither. It uses the ATB system, like FFVII, VIII, IX and X-2.

Although, really, the ATB system is really just another way of doing turned-based.

Versus is the real-time one.

Sly (Now equipped with DS!) @ Oct 4th 2009 10:23PM

ahh, silly me.

Ron @ Oct 4th 2009 9:13PM

Well here in Japan, I have noticed that the game market was on the downturn. But it does look like everyone here are buying DSLR's with HD video. Also touchscreen cell phones. A camera store is right next to a gaming store here in Tokyo. The camera joint is packed with people all day long. The gaming joint has 2 to 5 people in there at a time. The camera store has around 50 or so people in there at a time and these are semi small shops. You just see people coming out of there with Nikon and Canon bags with big boxes in them. So if you really want to know what the Japs care about here..it's Dslr's.

RKN @ Oct 4th 2009 10:16PM

Oh my goodness, you said Japs, you wiicist!

Stevetrop @ Oct 4th 2009 9:20PM

I would suppose the frightening thing about the sales in japan is what if the sales of FFXIII aren't long lasting. I'm sure it will make an impact on sales of both the ps3 and the game itself but how long could those sales last.

I wouldn't want to spell gloom and doom for the japanese market but things would look troubling if this continues on.

jbloss @ Oct 4th 2009 10:22PM

I agree. It also seems that many people have already bought a PS3 so they can get FFXIII when it comes out. Don't get me wrong, there will definitely be a noticeable spike in sales for PS3, but I don't feel like its going to be as big as everybody thinks. But hey, this is the Western hemisphere. I haven't seen the power of a huge JRPG first hand.

Mr Khan @ Oct 4th 2009 10:10PM

Eh, Wii's can be explained similarly to the miniscule PS3 sales that were experienced before the drop, and PS3 hasn't fallen back nearly as fast as some might have expected. The other drops were negligible, no more than could be experienced during the ins and outs of an off week.

scratch @ Oct 4th 2009 10:58PM

pretty significant drop in ps3 sales this week, though still selling almost 40k isnt too shabby.

Blank-Mage @ Oct 4th 2009 11:00PM

And for a second I thought those were the glasses from Gurren Lagann.

Where the hell did I think I was?

mahouneko @ Oct 5th 2009 12:27AM

But you have to admit, the red sunglasses in Gurren Lagann were awesome.

B3astofthe3ast @ Oct 4th 2009 11:23PM

DS lite sales went up, no doubt in part for their exclusive ability to import older pokemon.

Cheesus Crust @ Oct 4th 2009 11:27PM

I agree.

bongoes is no longer a Black Lantern. @ Oct 5th 2009 3:03PM

Ah, that makes sense. I was wondering why it keeps going up.

Mabui @ Oct 5th 2009 12:03AM

I feel like the fat kid at the dinner table - eyeing the skinny kids plate as he gets all the good food - but just picks at it!

"You gunna finish that Monster Hunter Japan? Pass it over here..."

Bagels: Almost certainly not as stupid as you think. Also, Memes. @ Oct 5th 2009 8:51AM

But being the fat kid, one could logically assume that you don't actually need that Monster Hunter, and this experience is building your willpower.

Das Boot @ Oct 5th 2009 12:06AM

In the words of Dave Mustaine, ahem.
"WHAADYA MEAN I DONT SUPPORT YOUR. SYSTEM?"

Moral of the story: Sells are down. Fuck.

chris @ Oct 5th 2009 12:20AM

Didn't the wii have a price drop already? No spike?

Johivin @ Oct 5th 2009 7:12AM

Price Drop occurred as of 10/1. This is only for 9-21-9/27

sk4r @ Oct 5th 2009 3:05AM

Dlite is teh only green lol.
People are finally wisening up :D

Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 5th 2009 3:35AM

40,00 is SUCH a low number.... Compare that to 360's 5,000. I'm extremely confused as to how you slip by being banned... Because you're annoying.

And since when did $ become a letter of the alphabet?

Twili.EB @ Oct 5th 2009 5:04AM

It's amazing some of those are still selling. The DS most of all.
Has the market not been saturated yet?

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 5th 2009 6:47AM

you cant use the '$' for Sony has they are STILL bleeding money, and most likely will until next year....

get out of here troll...

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 5th 2009 6:49AM

not surprising in the least. although I am a bit concerned for the Wii. Didn't the price drop on it last week there as well??

Rob S. @ Oct 5th 2009 10:46AM

This doesn't cover that, apparently it only includes sales up to September 27, and the price drop came in October 1

Rgz175 @ Oct 5th 2009 11:14AM

lol @ "concerned"!!!

I am sure Nintendo as a profit making company will do just fine!

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 5th 2009 1:34PM

Rob I thought it went on sale like last Sunday.....the 27thy

Johivin @ Oct 5th 2009 7:14AM

For the dates listed, the price drop wouldn't have occurred. Price drop began on 10/1. This listing is for the week prior.

Orion @ Oct 5th 2009 9:04AM

Wow.. the Wii went to go visit his long lost pal, the 360.

digiboi @ Oct 5th 2009 10:30AM

I would think hardware sales would have settled by now - all the gamers have their PS3 now that the slim has come out and all the non gamers have their wii and have moved on.

Should be monitoring software sales since this is where the real money is at. Attach rate means more than hardware sales for the 360 and the PS3 because its the licensing fees that end up on the balance sheet as positives.

Zo @ Oct 5th 2009 11:24AM

Lets see, strong Yen, low exports and highest unemployment in Japan in over 6 years may have a bit do with the sales hit.....but you guys keep making jokes because holiday sales in the US are not going to be much better as we near 10% unemployment here.