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[Elios83]

1)Lightning Returns bomba, I'd be happy for this if it had the purpose to send the message to SE that gamers want quality....but at this point they're just going to bring their mediocrity to mobiles if it fails on consoles....

2)The Mario/Wii U situation this week is a total deja vu of the Sunshine/Gamecube week but with worse numbers. I think that Nintendo will accept failure with WiU after this holiday season and plan their future support accordingly.

3)GAF totally overstimated the potential of the Vita TV, it's a niche thing.

 

[Father_Brain]

And what would that actually accomplish? It'd put the company in further turmoil and potentially end up destroying it because the new person in charge may decide to capitulate to shareholders and go iOS or third party.

Sticking with their current management would guarantee a continued decline into irrelevance. The risk you describe is real, but the devil we know has proven to be bad enough that I'd rather take a chance on the one we don't.

 

[Instro]

I wonder if it'll be a much better idea for NCL to swap the console side of their business for a Steam like infracstrature and then create a handheld top notch enough to play all from the NES to the WiiU...

I feel like it would be easier and more feasible to strike a deal with Valve for Nintendo branded Steam Machines.

 

[Anth0ny]

Holy shit <100k

Mutha fuckin Wii u is deeeeeeeaaaaaadddddd

 

[shinra-bansho]

3)GAF totally overstimated the potential of the Vita TV, it's a niche thing.

Meh, I don't think "GAF" did. It was always going to be a niche variant of what is already a niche product. I don't think it was meant for Japan, and it's always seemed odd that it's releasing in Japan first.

 

[RM8]

3)GAF totally overstimated the potential of the Vita TV, it's a niche thing.

I never thought it'd sell well, but then last week's numbers made me think maybe I was wrong. I thought it'd be appealing mostly because of the price, but Japan just truly doesn't care about it.

 

[botty]

Every time Final Fantasy 13 or Lightning are mentioned I just re-watch the Final Fantasy XV E3 trailer, 'cause I know better days are ahead.

 

[jnWake]

The only game I can think of that is exclusive and unique on the Wii U is Wonderful 101, which isn't even developed by Nintendo. In the future there's X, and what else?

It also has Pikmin, which raised Wii U sales more than 3DWorld iirc. I hope they have something unexpected like that Pokken Fighters game though, but it seems the 3DS is really hurting the Wii U.

 

[Vinnk]

I think this is reaching... gamers just don't care enough about the Wii U in totality IMO. It sold 20k units on the week of a fantastic 3D Mario game. I think it's dead in the water.

I'll agree I might be reaching here. There is market rejection going on. Used systems might be having an effect (like they did with the 360) but it is surely not the entire story.

But to be fair 3D Mario sales shouldn't be the catalyst. 3D mario games have never sold super well in Japan (only a fraction of their 2D brethren). The overall lack of traction the system has had for months speaks a lot more that the 3D Mario data point.

 

[cafemomo]

3)GAF totally overstimated the potential of the Vita TV, it's a niche thing.

Vita TV still has potential legs for the Christmas season + Sony is barely advertising the dang thing. If they put more effort into brining it out to the spotlight then it would sell.

 

[Scum]

I feel like it would be easier and more feasible to strike a deal with Valve for Nintendo branded Steam Machines.

Oh my God! I thought I was the only one thinking this. The very day that Valve announced SteamOS and mentioned Steam Machines, the "SteamOS powered WiiU" thought popped into my head. :lol

 

[fek]

Amazing first week for Aikatsu. Probably won't have legs as good as the first one, but should keep selling at least through the holidays.

 

[Metallix87]

Vita TV still has potential legs for the Christmas season + Sony is barely advertising the dang thing. If they put more effort into brining it out to the spotlight then it would sell.

I honestly doubt that.

 

[Dragon]

I was interested in vita tv when they first announced it, however, I saw a chromecast at best buy and impulse bought it ($35 bucks, can't beat it) and now I have no interest in vita tv whatsoever.

Chrome cast is severely limited comparably but obviously the price is tough to beat.

 

[Tripon]

Vita TV still has potential legs for the Christmas season + Sony is barely advertising the dang thing. If they put more effort into brining it out to the spotlight then it would sell.

The same was said for the Wii U. Japan just hates consoles, and I think its just a shift that we are all missed somewhat.

 

[pieatorium]

Meh, I don't think "GAF" did. It was always going to be a niche variant of what is already a niche product. I don't think it was meant for Japan, and it's always seemed odd that it's releasing in Japan first.

Its releasing there first cause thats where all the games for it are being made, getting anything out there to boost sales even a bit is all they can do.

 

[shinra-bansho]

Vita TV still has potential legs for the Christmas season + Sony is barely advertising the dang thing. If they put more effort into brining it out to the spotlight then it would sell.

Why do people think that advertising things that people don't want will suddenly make those people want them?

A bajillion Z10 ads isn't going to save BlackBerry from irrelevance. Massive advertising spends don't make the Surface suddenly appealing.

VitaTV's problem isn't advertising, it's in the core concept.

Its releasing there first cause thats where all the games for it are being made, getting anything out there to boost sales even a bit is all they can do.

It only really seems a viable product as a PS4 accessory, frankly, I don't think Vita's games even matter for the device. Except in Japan I suppose, where it really doesn't seem viable at all. I don't really think the Japanese market wants a microconsole, a screenless tethered Vita or a PS4 streamer.

 

[gamergirly]

Japan is still healthy, the WiiU is just doing like shit.

Um, look at the entire chart. It ain't just Wii U.

What worries me is that SM3DW's apparent failure in Japan greatly diminishes the incentive for Nintendo to put resources into developing big-budget titles for Wii U. Nobody wants to spent time and money on games that are destined to sell so very little. It's illogical to continue developing next-generation Zelda or Metroid for release on the Wii U. Maybe they should bring out a budget-priced Wii U, similar to what the 2DS is to the 3DS. Something that has no gamepad, better branding and a much, much lower price. If they:


-Further streamline their 1st party software development process to improve output rate, quality and decrease development costs.
-Improve their network infrastructure.
-Invest more on online gaming, dynamic and/or persistent game-worlds.
-Price their games more flexibly on a per game basis. Not all games are worth the same price.

...then it might go somewhere. But right now people are already far too detached from the traditional home-console/retail sales model and there's no way to make that work again.

Finally, I think maybe the most important thing is that Nintendo further works on their e-shop to define it as their main Steam-like hub and central node between all their current and future platforms, services and games. If Nintendo is to survive in this fast changing world then they need to become very computer-network oriented. They are a gaming-software company of the highest-possible caliber but that might not be enough anymore.

Not really. If the Japan home console market is getting really bad(starting to think this myself), they just can put more meat and potatoes into NOA over here. Expand into a big development center to go alongside Retro Studios.

 

[RM8]

Vita TV still has potential legs for the Christmas season + Sony is barely advertising the dang thing. If they put more effort into brining it out to the spotlight then it would sell.

With a second week lower than PSP Go I really doubt its potential, that's one sharp drop. And really, it's not surprising, Japan really likes handhelds these days and Vita TV is not one.

 

[omg_mjd]

The WiiU's misfortune (and the Vita TV's sharp decline) is making me wonder how the PS4 will do in Japan next year. Are Japanese gamers just waiting for the PS4 before they embrace console gaming again?

 

[Dr. Feel Good]

Meh, I don't think "GAF" did. It was always going to be a niche variant of what is already a niche product. I don't think it was meant for Japan, and it's always seemed odd that it's releasing in Japan first.

Reread the announcement thread, it's actually pretty pathetic. So many quotes of people saying Vita will do great, perfect business match with portable and home play, 3DS needs to do it, etc. etc. And for releasing in Japan, it's the only region that made sense.. why release an extension of a brand in a territory where that brand has no recognition or sales power whatsoever?

 

[Lexxism]

New Love Plus+ bundles are charting high on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/bestsellers/videogames/ref=sv_vg_3

Looks like the franchise is not ruined after all, still some fans left.

Wow. There's 3 of those game in top 5.

 

[Vyse The Legend]

What is stock like for PSVTina aguilera?

Having just returned from Japan where I spent a significant amount of time in Akiba, I can say that there was plenty of PS Vita TV stock. I had no trouble finding it on launch day either. Sadly, I passed on it due to the US accounts not working.

Still, I'm in on day 1 once it comes here.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

The WiiU's misfortune (and the Vita TV's sharp decline) is making me wonder how the PS4 will do in Japan next year. Are Japanese gamers just waiting for the PS4 before they embrace console gaming again?

One can only hope.

 

[Scum]

I'll agree I might be reaching here. There is market rejection going on. Used systems might be having an effect (like they did with the 360) but it is surely not the entire story.

But to be fair 3D Mario sales shouldn't be the catalyst. 3D mario games have never sold super well in Japan (only a fraction of their 2D brethren). The overall lack of traction the system has had for months speaks a lot more that the 3D Mario data point.

Maybe a better priced re-release of the titles available would be a bad idea. Provide a spot of padding between Dec. & Jan...

The WiiU's misfortune (and the Vita TV's sharp decline) is making me wonder how the PS4 will do in Japan next year. Are Japanese gamers just waiting for the PS4 before they embrace console gaming again?

The PS4 will do far better thanks to the promise of a better schedule of software output, especially from 3rd parties, but even I'm not so sure. :<

 

[saichi]

01./00. [PS3] Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII <RPG> (Square Enix) {2013.11.21} (¥7.770) - 301.181 / NEW <60-80%>

Even even with lower shipments, I don't imagine that they shipped fewer than they sold first week for the last game (500k+), so that would still place day-one sales at about 300k. Plus, it's hardly a bomba is it sells through the entire initial stock in a single week (Or close to it). A disappointment perhaps but a bomba that is not.

it didn't sell 300K day 1 and it is not that close to what XIII-2 sold.

On other topic, Wii U hardware this week is underwhelming. M3DW is underwhelming as well.

VITA TV is also dropping pretty hard in its second week. I still can't believe people are saying it will sell much better once PS4 is out.

 

[shinra-bansho]

Reread the announcement thread, it's actually pretty pathetic. So many quotes of people saying Vita will do great, perfect business match with portable and home play, 3DS needs to do it, etc. etc. And for releasing in Japan, it's the only region that made sense.. why release an extension of a brand in a territory where that brand has no recognition or sales power whatsoever?

I've don't recall if I read the announcement thread to begin with.

I've never personally really viewed the Vita as an extension of the Vita brand, but rather an admission that the base product is a failure, and instead re-purposing the core technology of that base product into an accessory device for the flagship product. I don't anticipate it will be released in Western markets as "Vita TV" but rather as PlayStation TV, and it will primarily sell to people who buy a PS4.

 

[sixteen-bit]

What's the sell-though on 3DW? I'm sure it underperformed.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Iwata4lyfe, yo is clearly a much better plan.

This mentality is so bizarre.

No its not. A company should stick to 1 CEO, otherwise how can you enact a plan if you're constantly changing leadership. Iwata is probably the best CEO that has ever lived. Give him a chance. He held up a banana once.

 

[liger05]

Man, I can't wait for that January NCL briefing now. Time for a complete change in management (though whether we get it is another story).

I agree with this. Not just Iwata either. There needs to be a complete shakeup @ Nintendo.

 

[test_account]

There's not enough room with all of the Vitas. Row after row. So sad.

Are you saying that there are no, or very few, used WiiU available?

 

[botty]

It also has Pikmin, which raised Wii U sales more than 3DWorld iirc. I hope they have something unexpected like that Pokken Fighters game though, but it seems the 3DS is really hurting the Wii U.

how is 3ds hurting wii u?

 

[Metallix87]

how is 3ds hurting wii u?

Too many similar games.

 

[Days like these...]

Are we now playing that game where we project WiiU's abysmal sales as representative of the entire console industry?

No, we are now playing let's ignore the writing on the wall everything is fine. The ps4 will save japan!

 

[RM8]

Pikmin, which raised Wii U sales more than 3DWorld iirc.

This is just out of this world, lol.

I hope 3D World performs better overseas, seems to be a great game. In any case, I never expected 3D Mario to set WiiU on fire in Japan when 2D Mario clearly didn't.

 

[liger05]

And what would that actually accomplish? It'd put the company in further turmoil and potentially end up destroying it because the new person in charge may decide to capitulate to shareholders and go iOS or third party.

Why are you assuming that a replacement for Iwata isnt possible of doing a better job?

 

[Linkhero1]

Fucking sheeit. I know Mario 3D World will probably have decent sales in the long run but this doesn't bode well for the Wii U.

 

[Ty4on]

Why do people think that advertising things that people don't want will suddenly make those people want them?

A bajillion Z10 ads isn't going to save BlackBerry from irrelevance. Massive advertising spends don't make the Surface suddenly appealing.

VitaTV's problem isn't advertising, it's in the core concept.
It only really seems a viable product as a PS4 accessory, frankly, I don't think Vita's games even matter for the device. Except in Japan I suppose, where it really doesn't seem viable at all. I don't really think the Japanese market wants a microconsole, a screenless tethered Vita or a PS4 streamer.

The Vita TV doesn't have a big competitor like the Z10 and Surface. It's the only new console you can get for 10k yen. I don't see it as an accessory, but a cheap console.

It can stream, but I really don't see why that would be a big feature unless you like to keep your console hooked up to the TV that other people use. I don't see why you wouldn't get a regular Vita instead if you're rich enough to have two (good) TVs.

It also has Pikmin, which raised Wii U sales more than 3DWorld iirc. I hope they have something unexpected like that Pokken Fighters game though, but it seems the 3DS is really hurting the Wii U.

In hindsight not that surprising when Pikmin 3 was something new not seen in a long time.

 

[Scum]

And what would that actually accomplish? It'd put the company in further turmoil and potentially end up destroying it because the new person in charge may decide to capitulate to shareholders and go iOS or third party.

There's no doubt a new President could just be as toxic, but Iwata perhaps needs to shadow a more prominent business minded man/woman who can get a far better software output/productivity not just out of NCL, but out of NoA and NoE too.

 

[metalslimer]

Why are you assuming that a replacement for Iwata isnt possible of doing a better job?

Because people think Iwata is their best friend

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

No, we are now playing let's ignore the writing on the wall everything is fine. The ps4 will save japan!

Ooooh can I see this writing on the wall?

 

[RM8]

The Vita TV doesn't have a big competitor like the Z10 and Surface. It's the only new console you can get for 10k yen. I don't see it as an accessory, but a cheap console.

It's not a new console, though. It's a Vita, a Vita you can't play on the train. In Japan.

 

[Snakeyes]

Ugh Nintendo, get your shit together.

 

[Scum]

how is 3ds hurting wii u?

There are too many similar titles on the 3DS and WiiU. A game like Smash Bros., with the way things are, will probably end up better on the handheld than the console. NCL should be doing new things on the WiiU.

 

[Spieler Eins]

There are too many similar titles on the 3DS and WiiU. A game like Smash Bros., with the way things are, will probably end up better on the handheld than the console. NCL should be doing new things on the WiiU.

Hence, not too shocking Pikmin actually helped the console better than 3D World...

 

[Coxy]

No, we are now playing let's ignore the writing on the wall everything is fine. The ps4 will save japan!

"Will wii u be the console of choice for jrpgs next gen?"

 

[shinra-bansho]

The Vita TV doesn't have a big competitor like the Z10 and Surface. It's the only new console you can get for 10k yen. I don't see it as an accessory, but a cheap console.

It can stream, but I really don't see why that would be a big feature unless you like to keep your console hooked up to the TV that other people use. I don't see why you wouldn't get a regular Vita instead if you're rich enough to have two (good) TVs.

It's not a new console though. It's a screenless Vita. In Japan at least, it's just a handheld that's had handheld functionality stripped from it.

 

[The Horror the horror]

At this point, Nintendo should assume that, outside of Mario Kart and Smash, their current roster of IPs is not qualified to exponentially raise the sales of their console. Iwata needs to get his designers together and force them to create new franchises to reflect the current interest of consumers and the gaming community.

 

[Days like these...]

Ooooh can I see this writing on the wall?

There is none more blind than he who chooses not to see or something like that

 

[JetSetRadio]

Let's wait for mariokart now I guess.