Japanese hardware sales, December 5 - 11: Gobots edition
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The fact that Square Enix is releasing a transforming arcade game made us nostalgic for the first transforming car robots we encountered as youths. No, not the eponymous Transformers, but rather their oft-overlooked older siblings, the Gobots. Like everything cool in the 80s, the Gobots were originally Japanese, a toy line called "Machine Robo" localized for American consumers by Tonka.
Gobots debuted in American toy stores in 1983, with Hasbro's competing Transformers line arriving one year later. While time has certainly shown who won this battle of branding prowess, we'll always have a special place in our dark little hearts for our first experience with transforming Japanese robots.
3DS: 350,321 [UP] 144,359 (70.09%)
PSP: 51,191 [UP] 11,644 (29.44%)
Wii: 46,018 [UP] 14,987 (48.11%)
PS3: 44,661 [UP] 3,993 (9.82%)
DSi LL: 4,007 [UP] 1,108 (38.22%)
Xbox 360: 3,211 [UP] 1,551 (93.43%)
DSi: 2,609 [UP] 1,093 (72.10%)
PS2: 1,268 [DOWN] 232 (15.47%)
DS Lite: 14 [DOWN] 7 (33.33%)
Reader Comments (37)
Posted: Dec 18th 2011 11:46PM Zolbrod said
The boost in 3DS sales has an obvious TriG cause, but I'm kinda curious as to that almost-doubling of 360 sales...
Could it be Skyrim?
Could it be Skyrim?
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 12:30AM Eniko said
@Faenix Yup, the PS3 version outsold it 2:1, but it is strange nonetheless for it to be the one game that makes people want to buy one when it's available on other platforms.. maybe discounts for 360 games are higher now there? iono. would like to know though.
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Posted: Dec 19th 2011 3:31AM Zolbrod said
@pluupy Well, Christmas is not as much of a "throw each other to death with expensive gifts" in Japan as it is in the West. Kids get presents, sure, but it's not enough to account for a near 100% increase, especially not on what is essentially the least popular console around at the moment BY FAR (in Japan, obviously).
9 out of 10 times, an increase like this is due to a particular game, or a price drop. I'm not aware of the latter, and I was wondering what kind of game could have caused the former.
As has been said, though, it's kind of odd that people would go out and buy so many Xboxes for a Multiplatform game, when, to my knowledge, the Xbox isn't notably cheaper.
Was there a new Idol Master game released or something? ;)
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9 out of 10 times, an increase like this is due to a particular game, or a price drop. I'm not aware of the latter, and I was wondering what kind of game could have caused the former.
As has been said, though, it's kind of odd that people would go out and buy so many Xboxes for a Multiplatform game, when, to my knowledge, the Xbox isn't notably cheaper.
Was there a new Idol Master game released or something? ;)
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 12:13AM Shadowbender said
What's up 3DS?
...Ooh, and my boy 360. You've outdone yourselves this time, friends.
...Ooh, and my boy 360. You've outdone yourselves this time, friends.
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 12:29AM liquidsoap89 said
Woah which Wii game caused the Wii to go up so much? Is Zelda still selling buttloads?
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 12:45AM Gandkaidos said
Complete with awesome 80's theme song.
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 3:44AM PN04 said
@ShingoEX
The broke a lot easier that transformers though despite having diecast metal parts in some of them. Even worse their show sucked pretty hard, the writing was weak, the concepts were bland in comparison to Gi Joe and transformers... heck the Go-Bots weren't even robots! They revealed later on that they were all the organic brains of a dying race implanted in robot bodies which creates even bigger plot holes.
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The broke a lot easier that transformers though despite having diecast metal parts in some of them. Even worse their show sucked pretty hard, the writing was weak, the concepts were bland in comparison to Gi Joe and transformers... heck the Go-Bots weren't even robots! They revealed later on that they were all the organic brains of a dying race implanted in robot bodies which creates even bigger plot holes.
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 9:14AM (Unverified) said
@PN04 G.I. Joe and Transformers weren't written by Shakespeare and Michael Bay movies were more coherent in story/plot...
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Posted: Dec 19th 2011 2:06AM tendoboy1984 said
So is the Transformers brand owned by Hasbro or some Japanese company? Did it start in America or Japan? I never understood the logistics behind it all.
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 2:10AM ShingoEX said
@tendoboy1984 Transformers as a brand started in the US when Hasbro acquired the rights to two Takara-owned toy brands, known as "Diaclone" and "Microman". These two Japanese toy brands became Transformers when they were released in the same line in the US.
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Posted: Dec 19th 2011 2:08AM ShingoEX said
You are now aware that Hasbro, the company that owns Transformers, now owns Gobots. There's even a Transformer named Leader-1 now.
Look it up if you don't believe me.
Look it up if you don't believe me.
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 9:18AM (Unverified) said
@ShingoEX Go-Bots are now under the Transformers brand for preschoolers
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Posted: Dec 19th 2011 2:32AM My Prerogative said
240p... We meet again...
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 2:53AM Stevetrop Man of Mystery said
Let me cherish my 80's memories with a glass of red Flavor-aid, while watching the Go-Bots, and eating my bowl of Honey Graham Squares.
The good ol days
The good ol days
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 3:45AM RickGhastly said
@Stevetrop Man of Mystery
Honey Gram Squares? Psht. Swedish Chef "Croonchy Stars" is where it's at.
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Honey Gram Squares? Psht. Swedish Chef "Croonchy Stars" is where it's at.
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 12:44PM ShadowXIII said
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 4:50AM A11smart said
Are a lot of accounts being hacked of late? I'm surprised there's not more spam control on Joystiq/AOL's side.
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 3:36PM A11smart said
@pluupy
Thanks, Pluupy, that's at least reassuring to hear. As much as AOL is desperate to redefine themselves as an online destination, compounding errors like spam control really jar one from the experience. Especially in an article as specific and esoteric as this one (versus the content of other Joystiq articles).
Reply
Thanks, Pluupy, that's at least reassuring to hear. As much as AOL is desperate to redefine themselves as an online destination, compounding errors like spam control really jar one from the experience. Especially in an article as specific and esoteric as this one (versus the content of other Joystiq articles).
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 5:16AM Foetoid said
@birdester
Maybe she knows my uncles barbers steps-sons pet guinea pigs original breeders younger sisters goldfish then. I heard she's doing well on it.
Maybe she knows my uncles barbers steps-sons pet guinea pigs original breeders younger sisters goldfish then. I heard she's doing well on it.
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 9:33AM ItsameMatt03 said
The 3DS: It prints money!
Keeping a Nintendo tradition. Good job!
Keeping a Nintendo tradition. Good job!
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 9:53AM GrendelKhan said
Wow, way to wrestle the Gobots into a post that couldn't possibly have less to do with Gobots.
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 10:30AM CaptainProtonX said
The Gobots...the only thing from the 80s that wasn't cool then, and will never be cool now regardless of nostalgia.
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 1:29PM Supermanisdead said
Gobots was the thinking man's Transformers.
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 1:45PM Lordd G said
Although the toys were cheaper than TF, I loved sketching my own Gobots comic strips when I was younger, since their basic designs made them so much easier to draw than TF.
I even sketched multi-part comics of their adventures: e.g., "Gobots in the Snow" (c) 1987.
I even sketched multi-part comics of their adventures: e.g., "Gobots in the Snow" (c) 1987.
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 7:56PM (Unverified) said
I was thinking of making a live action gobots movie!!! I have some Ideas and yes it would be horrible!!!!!
Posted: Dec 19th 2011 7:59PM (Unverified) said
I will make the gobots live action movie!!!!!! It will suckith soooooooo bad!!!!!!!!






