Japanese hardware sales, January 16 - 22: Forbidden love edition

His back slammed against the metal examination table, its ice-cold surface a stark contrast to the heat between them. The colonial marine's standard-issue helmet began to slip as she pushed him down, her claws lightly scratching his skin in an all-too-familiar fashion. The sensation filled him with lust, and shame, and when his helmet finally hit the floor the resulting clang reverberated throughout the halls of the still-sleeping ship.

"Not here," he whispered, his breath clouding in the humid, recycled air. "They'll catch us for certain, we'll both be killed."

"SCREEEEEEEEEE," she cooed back, extending her ovipositor and whispering into his ear with her second mouth. "Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."

3DS: 80,960 [DOWN] 19,708 (19.58%)
PS3: 21,155 [DOWN] 9,117 (30.26%)
PSP: 17,181 [DOWN] 5,357 (23.77%)
Vita: 15,219 [DOWN] 3,142 (17.11%)
Wii: 10,173 [DOWN] 4,006 (28.25%)
Xbox 360: 1,588 [UP] 69 (4.54%)
DSi LL: 1,200 [DOWN] 315 (20.79%)
PS2: 903 [UP] 137 (17.89%)
DSi: 822 [DOWN] 384 (31.84%)

Reader Comments (76)

Can't remember where I've seen or read this at before, but the original Alien movie is totally based towards the violation of men by women. The design is brilliant, twisting a traditional monster horror flick onto something far more disturbing.

The design and sexual nature of it is talked about in the Wikipedia article on Aliens:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_%28creature_in_Alien_franchise%29#Concept_and_creation

@Courtney Cracked.com has brought up many times how the Alien movies are one big rape metaphor. Apparently this has been confirmed by the film makers

Hey, if I want intergalactic interspecies shmexy time, I'll play Mass Effect, thank you very much. :-p

My analysis of the data and some future predictions: The only game performing in sales for the Vita right now is Everybody's Golf 6. That's not the only good title. We have Wipeout, Uncharted, Ultimate Marvel, Ridge Racer for some surefire quality. In Japan, those titles fall under a niche, so it's not surprising none of those are selling or in demand right now. There's also re-releases or vita versions of console games like Katamari and Disgaea 3.

@chrisredfield31 In America and Europe, sales will most certainly be better for the Vita. What Japan does not like in their market, is the opposite in our market.

As for the price, I see where there might be a big deal about the memory cards, but I don't think that's going to stop people. The basic unit is 250 which is very competitive (currently the hottest selling version in JP)

@chrisredfield31 Now let's take a look at what the Vita are up against. The 3DS currently leads the race with such games as Mario Kart 7, Emperor Napoleon's Legacy Thief R, Monster Hunter 3 Tri, and Super Mario Land 3D. I don't know about that Legacy Thief game, but the other titles are surefire powerhouses that's guaranteed to be chart toppers.

@chrisredfield31 When you look at the chart, you cannot compare it to our market. That is because their market has different interests and tastes. Look at what the market is dominated by. 3DS and it's games which are tailored to a younger generation come in first. Next largest presence is the Wii, similar audience to the 3DS. Next up is PSP. PSP's games are tailored to a young adult crowd. The adult games are in the minority here. COD MW3 made it onto the charts, Skyrim came back, WSWE2012 made it.

@chrisredfield31 So with the above in mind. What can we really glean from this data? Japan's gaming market consists of the younger generation. Portables hold a larger share of the market rather than consoles. Japan is not a console majority market (and hasn't been for some time).

In America, things are radically different here. Consoles rule the day in our country. We have about a 50/50 split between 360 and PS3. The majority of our market is console and that is already a huge difference from Japan where they are predominantly portable.

As a gamer from America, Canada or the EU, don't look at the data and get discouraged. There is no way that our market would see the same games at the top of the charts (sans Nintendo first party).

@chrisredfield31

I see someone likes talking to himself, Mr. Sony.

@chrisredfield31

Wouldn't it be easier to just link to a personal blog or something? That's a lot of commentary.

@DekuTree is it really necessary to flame me even after I went through all the trouble to post an unbiased comment? I put a lot of effort into that and I did not deserve a single bit of it. Why did I get downvoted? Is this what the Joystiq community has really come down to?

@Brian333 I could do that, but I get flamed and downvoted either way. Apparently people get downvoted here for being intelligent and speaking out about the truth. I don't know what I posted that prompted them to downvote me the way they did.

@DekuTree http://www.internetmarketingninjas.com/blog/social-media/downvoting-etiquette/

@chrisredfield31

You're waaaay overestimating the amount of care people have for Joystiq comments...

@DekuTree In general, people just don't give a damn and say what they want. This sort of attitude comes from the gaming community more than anywhere else. I comment on Engadget and I don't nearly receive the same treatment over there.

@chrisredfield31

You must introduce me to that part of Engadget.. My experience with comments there are worse than youtube, and that's saying a lot.

@chrisredfield31
Ridge Racer is fairly popular in Japan. It's the gimped version that's worse then the 3DS version that isn't helping it out.

dat (alien) ass

That awkward moment when you're jealous that no one is thrusting an ovipositor into your face.

Mr. Mallory, we're looking forward to the next installment.
Did they get caught? Did she successfully deposit her secretion?

What will they name the spawn? Or will it be an early termination?
So many ways this could go. Don't leave us hanging. :)

Then nine months later a tiny little space marine shoots its way out of the alien's stomach.

This movie was rated R18months, Brood Mother Guidance Recommended.

Haha 3ds sold more than every system combined

Amazing - you guys found a way to make that image more horrifying. Now I can't get it out of my head.

I imagine this is how Sectoids were made.

Why does everyone always doom and gloom obnoxiously here? Vita DOESN'T have any good games right now with the exception of some console knock-offs. These knock-offs would not appeal to Japanese audiences. RE: Revelations just came out, going to majorly boost 3DS sales and hurt Vita launch. Monster Hunter on 3DS is obviously going to make 3DS dominate in the new portable market in Japan. Vita needs to get some games before it will find traction. It's not that people don't want the hardware, there just isn't anything interesting to play on it yet. On a side-note, why do systems always launch with zero worthwhile titles?

The only other annoying thing about Vita's lack of current appeal, means it will probably be a while before we see the dual analog redesign of the 3DS.

@nrkist2424
Systems always (in recent years) launch with zero good games because it takes time to develop good games and the final/near-final system isn't available that long before launch, plus before that there's secrecy about it. So you end up mainly with things that can easily be ported from whatever companies already have to hand.

I'm guessing 3DS redesign will probably be about the same time as DS -> DS Lite, i.e. not this year.

Previous 50 Comments

Japanese hardware sales, January 16 - 22: Forbidden love edition

Reader Comments (76)

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 1:30AM Courtney said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 9:56AM esbeekay said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 3:10AM FinderKeeper said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 3:55AM chrisredfield31 said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 4:04AM chrisredfield31 said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 4:08AM chrisredfield31 said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 4:20AM chrisredfield31 said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 4:37AM chrisredfield31 said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 6:46AM DekuTree said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 8:07AM Brian333 said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 10:08AM chrisredfield31 said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 10:11AM chrisredfield31 said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 10:17AM chrisredfield31 said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 10:57AM DekuTree said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 11:22AM chrisredfield31 said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 11:48AM DekuTree said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 12:43PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 4:35AM abnerayag said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 5:47AM archipelagos said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 9:24AM JonahStein said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 9:25AM Mujokan said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 10:51AM skbkoy65 said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 1:19PM Duke said

Posted: Jan 30th 2012 3:05PM luperis said

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