Japanese hardware sales, Oct. 26 - Nov. 1: Away we Go edition
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Nov 8th 2009 at 9:30PM }
Not that we require number-crunching software to accurately place the PSP Go into our weekly line-up. The system's one-day sales of 29,109 garnered it a somewhat disappointing fourth-place finish -- while simultaneously, the sales totals of every other console (save for the DSi) increased, reversing a recent downward trend for the region. Our theory on why this occurred is simple: Upon seeing the digital distribution-based future our world has in store, Japanese gamers began to hoard the tangible media-reading platforms, which will undoubtedly become priceless relics in the coming years.
Also, an action game featuring an attractive, gun-toting witch whose clothes frequently disappear was released. That might have contributed to the sales surge. Like, a little.
- DSi: 37,517
4,682 (11.10%)- PS3: 36,061
6,084 (20.30%) - PSP: 34,911
2,046 (6.23%)- PSP Go: 29,109 (New Entry!)
- Wii: 28,888
2,971 (11.46%)- DS Lite: 6,902
352 (5.37%)- Xbox 360: 6,047
1,577 (35.28%)- PS2: 1,966
15 (0.77%)[Source: Media Create]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Huey2k2 @ Nov 8th 2009 9:35PM
I wonder if there is anyone in Japan that doesn't own a DS?
Special Agent Steve @ Nov 8th 2009 9:53PM
DS- pshh. Everyone in Japan now owns a DSi. Next it's going to be XL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Skaz @ Nov 9th 2009 12:01AM
about 4 out of 5 Japanese people at the last count I think
DomoBraden @ Nov 9th 2009 2:01AM
A better question to ask might be "What percentage of the Japanese population own more than one iteration of the DS?".
Also, I'm going to make this a shameless post-hijack, (which I am adamantly apposed to 99.9% of the time), but I want this to be seen, (which is true for 99.9% of post-hijackers...). Downvote if you disagree with what follows...
Dear Joystiq, I feel that we have reached an unusual point in time in regards to the traditional hardware sales numbers. There is a current abundance of consoles/handhelds that, while having certain features to separate them from their predecessors, are essentially the same product in a different form. Because of these incremental hardware improvements, I feel that you should group the numbers of similar hardware together to give us a better picture of how any single system is doing.
For instance, it would only make sense for the PSP Go to be considered part of the sales for the PSP in general. Ditto for the DSi/DS Lite, (though there are potentially more significant differences there). Really, you're already doing this for the PS3. Although discontinued, the remaining "Phat" PS3's are still lumped together with the newer "Slim" models in the sales numbers. The differences between them are no different then those of the Go and the 3000 -- storage capacity and form-factor.
I do think that you should continue to note the separation of models, but only after clicking on the article from the mainpage, (i.e. the snippet shown on the main page shows the sales of varied models grouped together, but after going past the break the sales of the each individual system are shown).
Sorry for hijacking the post once again. If you disagree, or are just angry for derailing the topic, please feel free to downvote this into invisibility.
mahouneko @ Nov 9th 2009 3:14AM
@Domo:
While I understand where you're going with this, I have to disagree with the idea of putting the Go together with the PSP. The Go is essentially dependent on digital distribution for games and entertainment whereas the PSP still uses the UMD.
DSi and DS Lite are different enough that keeping them separate is logical. The DSi has actual firmware upgrades and its DSiWare is region-locked and even the new DSi-enhanced IdolM@ster game is region-locked. The DS Lite still sports the trusty GBA slot and most games work on the DS Lite, including the DSi-enhanced IdolM@ster game. This might be confusing, but let me explain: the game itself doesn't work on an American DSi whereas it'll load and play as usual (without the DSi features) on any DS Lite. You can find the evidence here:
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/dsi-enhanced-idolm-ster-is-region-locked/
Levi @ Nov 9th 2009 9:21AM
I view the hardware sales spot as a comparison between platforms, not between models. I would think the point of the article is to show how the PSP is doing vs the DS. I totally agree with the hijacker. You get the idea from the front page, and if you want to know how much of the PSP numbers are made up of Go sales, you can click the read link. I like it.
Mr Khan @ Nov 8th 2009 9:36PM
PS3 up for Tekken and Bayonetta, but not all that much. I figured the first Tekken would have featured much more prominently for sales
Wii might be up for Sin & Punishment 2, though i severely doubt that. Definition of niche, even in Japan.
Hyams @ Nov 8th 2009 10:30PM
Tekken 6 just isn't that good, which could be a factor.
I mean, it's not bad, but considering how long it took to release, I was expecting something that was noticeably better than the copy of Tekken 5 I downloaded for £12 off the PSN on launch day.
t_m @ Nov 9th 2009 3:12AM
There are loads of bayonetta adverts, but i haven't seen many for Tekken, or even for the Go.
Of course, I don't watch the tv at kids anime time. Maybe i missed them all.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 8th 2009 9:36PM
I'd hardly call outselling the Wii disappointing.
Still, I'd like to see what Sony's projections were for the launch.
Sly @ Nov 8th 2009 9:45PM
what i would call disappointing is the fact that the go sold less than the PSP-3000 did in the same time frame.
Jesus (PSN: Luttdawg) @ Nov 8th 2009 10:03PM
I like Quarter Pounders, with cheese!
dejopej @ Nov 8th 2009 10:06PM
The go in Japan came out on the 1st of November, so those are one day sales.
Kyammi @ Nov 8th 2009 10:08PM
Outselling the Wii? Pfft that's nothing these days. Wii is yesterday's news. Outselling PS3 is the new bar to beat!
Sly @ Nov 8th 2009 10:25PM
ahh crap, i was thinking Nov. 1 - Nov. 8 which is today. my bad...
psn: ijustw1n @ Nov 8th 2009 11:11PM
One day sales of 29,109 x $249 = $7,248,141.
I'd call it a success.
Ignatius @ Nov 9th 2009 2:04AM
For the million or so dollars worth of research and platform development, I'd say $7,500 is a healthy return.
Wait.. what?
Ignatius @ Nov 9th 2009 2:05AM
Oh god, I fail. I can't read. :(
This is why posting at midnight is a bad thing.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Nov 8th 2009 9:37PM
Still interested in seeing how the DSi XL does.
It's difficult avoiding fat jokes with a name like DSi XL.
DSi with cheese.
Special Agent Steve @ Nov 8th 2009 9:54PM
I like cheese. I like DS.
You may be on to something!
Peter Moore @ Nov 9th 2009 12:06AM
I prefer the Japanese 'LL' name to the westerned 'XL'
Ladies Love DSi.
Also, does LL mean anything in Japan? Is it their equivalent to our XL?
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 9th 2009 12:10AM
Yeah, Peter, LL in Japan is equal to XL.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Nov 8th 2009 9:40PM
For a minute there, is was trying to think of the game, for a minute i though "Bullet Witch?" and then I felt like an idiot
Special Agent Steve @ Nov 8th 2009 9:55PM
I've though-ed a lot of things in my life. They were also tough. And I thought about them a lot.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Nov 8th 2009 10:06PM
dammit, i guess that's why you're the special agent
Special Agent Steve @ Nov 8th 2009 10:31PM
Well, actually, that's just the title my mom gives me. I still have no idea why.
Special Agent Steve @ Nov 8th 2009 9:56PM
Lol at regular PSP outselling PSP Stop.... I mean GO!.
Guess the consumer knows what it wants.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 8th 2009 9:57PM
Yeah, the DSi.
brian @ Nov 8th 2009 11:12PM
2 different systems for 2 different customers.
both selling well.
Sony must be feeling terrible right now!
Kinsey @ Nov 9th 2009 1:18AM
A week of sales for the PSP 3000 vs a day of sales for the Go.
I think that's a success for the Go launch in Japan.
sam @ Nov 9th 2009 9:36AM
@Kinsey: If that's a success I don't want to see what failure looks like. Seriously this is just bad. Sure it's only a day of sales... but that was the LAUNCH DAY. The one that's heavily promoted in nationwide advertising and the lots of people have presumably been waiting for. The PSP-3000's seven days were just any old seven days and anyone who wanted the system could get it any time beforehand..
PSP (3000) is a success and is doing well, but the GO launch is definitely a failure on these numbers. Of course even though the launch was a failure, that doesn't mean the system will be - things could pick up gradually. Maybe word-of-mouth will be good. Who knows.
pax copia @ Nov 9th 2009 11:08AM
Don't be such a dingbat. Add the PSPs up and you get 64,020 versus the DSs 44,419.
Sony sold twenty thousand more.
Special Agent Steve @ Nov 9th 2009 10:56PM
I meant "The PSP 3000 is a better value than the GO!".
Who gives a shit if it sold more than the DS. It didn't outsell its predecessor. Also, it was launch week, and in most cases, the system does better during launch week. PSP GO! is weak compared to the 3000. Can't wait for the 4000.
AerialAngel @ Nov 8th 2009 10:02PM
Well if they just sold it at 200$ then im sure they would be around 30,000 - 40,000 sold.
I know i would be one to buy it if it wasnt at 250$ =/
Jesus (PSN: Luttdawg) @ Nov 8th 2009 10:05PM
PSP GO...it never had a chance.
Aaroniero Arruruerie @ Nov 8th 2009 10:25PM
But the PSP as a whole did, combine it beat the DS systems.....this week
Orion @ Nov 9th 2009 9:23AM
Which is why it's doing so badly in sales.... wait.
pax copia @ Nov 9th 2009 11:22AM
Sony sold twenty thousand more than its Nintendo competition.
Chromekreeper @ Nov 8th 2009 10:08PM
sigh, pspgo, you were a baby of the future
Chromekreeper @ Nov 8th 2009 10:09PM
and for the PS2, you were a baby of the past, time to retire
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 8th 2009 10:10PM
I want to see the US NPD numbers for October...so I can see Uncharted 2 on top, and find out how well the Go is doing here.
Hyams @ Nov 8th 2009 11:14PM
You're gonna be disappointed. It's sold very well, but it's not Halo/Gears/CoD numbers, which people on here tend to think is the standard (see: "lol, LBP flopped").
At least, according to VGChartrz, who had it at around half a million for the US in October.They tend to be pretty okay though. Don't expect them to be too far off.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 8th 2009 11:24PM
That is disappointing. It's such a great game.
Ah, well. The best games are rarely sales successes. See: Team ICO fare, Valkyria Chronicles, etc.
Hyams @ Nov 8th 2009 11:30PM
Oh no, it's a big success.
It's one of the best selling PS3 games, the second best selling PS3 exclusive (just behind MGS4), and selling far, far better than the original game (which sold decently in itself).
It's just that people here have really inflated expectations.
Mr Khan @ Nov 9th 2009 8:27AM
Yeah, 500k is great for any game in any region. Any launches higher than that come from the biggest, most front-loaded games in the industry. Halo, Madden, GTA 1st-month numbers, that sort of thing.
Rudy van DiSarzio, Jazz fusion guitarist. (I go by many names...) @ Nov 8th 2009 10:15PM
Xbox 360 is taking over slowly.
Looks like my plan is working to perfection.
muahahahaha!
xxLUANCHYxx @ Nov 8th 2009 11:00PM
We can all dream, can we? Surely you are. I'm a rockstar. See! It works. :)
(Xbox isn't taking over anything)
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 8th 2009 10:20PM
Honestly, I thought that the PSP Go was going to do a lot better... don't get me wrong... those are very good numbers, but I honestly expected similar numbers to the first week of the DSi in Japan (more than 150,000)... the PSP is a pretty popular system in Japan, and I thought that Japanese gamers would like even mode a device based on digital distribution.
I honestly expected 120,000 units for the Go's first week.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 8th 2009 10:26PM
It was only one day of sales, though. Next week, we'll be able to really tell whether Sony has a better read on the market than us.
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 8th 2009 10:31PM
Well... that was kinda my point... the DSi sold more than 100,000 first day, so I expected similar numbers for the Go.
I like the idea of the Go, but there is one thing I don't like about digital distribution: the lack of a box, a manual, art, etc... the only way I would like a fully digital distribution system is if we have the option to buy the cases at stores, with a voucher inside, kinda like Patapon 2 did.