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[LJ11]

How was the marketing for Dragon's Dogma in NA? Felt like there wasn't much, didn't see ads during sports programming, which is pretty much the only time I see TV ads for games. Went up against Diablo too.

They'll probably port it to PC/Wii U, though they'll still take a big hit on it.

 

[jetjevons]

I guess if anything it's a little early to draw any conclusions regarding the 3DS's fate.

Because the current economy and attitudes towards mobile consoles pre-Apple proliferation are entirely comparable to now.

 

[joedick]

Why is everybody so concerned? These are 6 & 7 year old consoles. Are people really expecting sales to go up?

 

[walking fiend]

3DS

May 2011 - 97k
May 2012 - 113.5k

NDS

May 2005 - 57k
May 2006 - 146k
May 2007 - 423k
May 2008 - 452.6k
May 2009 - 633.5k
May 2010 - 383.7K

PSP

May 2005 - 250k
May 2006 - 159.6k
May 2007 - 221k
May 2008 - 182.3k
May 2009 - 100.4k
May 2010 - 59.4k

Interesting numbers; DS first and second may were worse than PSP?

Horrible numbers all around though, 3DS included. Is PC and iOS gaming just killing consoles and handhelds?

What's the reason for such low software numbers?

 

[Jonsoncao]

· Total retail spend on the Xbox 360 platform in May (hardware, software and accessories) reached $209 million, the most for any console in the U.S. and more than the spend on the other two current-generation consoles combined. (Source: NPD Group, May 2012)

I haven't followed NPD in a long time but has this been happening for awhile, or is this the first time? That's an absurd factoid to me, given how far the XBOX brand lagged behind once upon a time. Granted, everything is awful and it's just less awful, but the neck stabbing has worked

For a while already.

 

[TurtleSnatcher]

Looks like people are waiting for the huge fall lineup.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

How was the marketing for Dragon's Dogma in NA? Felt like there wasn't much, didn't see ads during sports programming, which is pretty much the only time I see TV ads for games. Went up against Diablo too.

They'll probably port it to PC/Wii U, though they'll still take a big hit on it.

The RE6 demo is the only bit of marketing I can think of

But it's with all new copies, the demo isn't due for a month, it's 360 exclusive, and Capcom didn't really push it.

 

[Alebrije]

record ipad/iphone sales would show that consumers will still buy things they want. This generation has just gone on too long and the market is basically saturated. What would make someone buy a 360/PS3/Wii at this point if they have not bought one in the last six years?

I also think saturation is the main factor but also economy has its share on poor hardware sales.

There is no reason now ( and I do not see one in the near future ) to get a PS3 or 360 if you currently have one of them. Also it seems people this year is getting less games than 2011. Last year i got 12 videogames this year just 3 and most of my friends have the same behavior.

This generation is saturated , people is getting bored of the same videogames so the "amazed" effect is lost. Wii U opened the can so people are waiting for Sony and MS to show their new consonsoles.

 

[Petrae]

Why is everybody so concerned? These are 6 & 7 year old consoles. Are people really expecting sales to go up?

The concern is that waiting too long may push consumers to other entertainment forms and that a lack of interest in the console sector may occur. Smartphone & tablet gaming is here and now; next console generation is still months away.

 

[Terbinator]

· Total retail spend on the Xbox 360 platform in May (hardware, software and accessories) reached $209 million, the most for any console in the U.S. and more than the spend on the other two current-generation consoles combined. (Source: NPD Group, May 2012)

I haven't followed NPD in a long time but has this been happening for awhile, or is this the first time? That's an absurd factoid to me, given how far the XBOX brand lagged behind once upon a time. Granted, everything is awful and it's just less awful, but the neck stabbing has worked

I think this has been a near-consistent trend for a good few years.

 

[outunderthestars]

Interesting numbers; DS first and second may were worse than PSP?

Horrible numbers all around though, 3DS included. Is PC and iOS gaming just killing consoles and handhelds?

What's the reason for such low software numbers?

Lack of compelling software coupled with large existing back catalogs.

 

[Conflict NZ]

This is good to see. I hope the market tanks and the first partys are forced to launch their new consoles sooner. I'm sick of this gen and all the rehashed crap coming out.

 

[A Human Becoming]

The concern is that waiting too long may push consumers to other entertainment forms and that a lack of interest in the console sector may occur. Smartphone & tablet gaming is here and now; next console generation is still months away.

I think all three companies are a year behind of when they should have released their new consoles. I wonder if that decision was made mostly because of cost or if there were other more important reasons.

 

[walking fiend]

Why is everybody so concerned? These are 6 & 7 year old consoles. Are people really expecting sales to go up?

Because the only next gen console on horizon is Wii U? And also because this gen, in the first year of 360 it was being outperformed by PS2?

Because the current economy and attitudes towards mobile consoles pre-Apple proliferation are entirely comparable to now.

It's all about whether the App market is more attractive to those who make better games compared to the eShop.

It'll be really difficult for Nintendo if the developers start moving to the iOS that are capable of providing AAA quality games (not graphically, but in terms of story, level design, music, etc.)

If developers are happy with selling their games at $1, then why should customers complain?

 

[HocusPocus]

Blizzard is PC Gaming. Without them the platform would die ahah.

 

[Foffy]

Interesting numbers; DS first and second may were worse than PSP?

Horrible numbers all around though, 3DS included. Is PC and iOS gaming just killing consoles and handhelds?

What's the reason for such low software numbers?

For handhelds, nothing came out in May to push 3DS hardware. Consoles seem to be the same thing, as the two big games for May were from PC franchises (though I assume MP3's sales here are for consoles).

It'll be time to judge hardware with software come Theatrhythm, Kingdom Hearts, and New Super Mario Bros 2.

 

[Tobor]

This is good to see. I hope the market tanks and the first partys are forced to launch their new consoles sooner. I'm sick of this gen and all the rehashed crap coming out.

Rehashed crap with better graphics, coming right up!

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Hardly surprising that the 3DS is not selling particularly well with just very few (good) games hitting the platform in the West. I remember when they claimed that they were aware of that problem and that games would come out that would push sales in the West, but quite frankly I'm not seeing too many of those.

The next six months actually look pretty rosy for the 3DS in terms of software, but there's caveats to basically every title.

It's Kingdom Hearts, but after so many shitty spin-offs, will anyone outside the fanbase care?
It's Castlevania, but Castlevania games have never really been big, and the hardcore Castlevania fans don't seem interested in this take.
It's Mickey, but it's a 2D sprite-based sidescroller.
It's Scribblenauts, but a gimped version compared to the Wii U and PC versions.

The rest are all Nintendo titles, but whether Luigi's Mansion or Paper Mario can move systems isn't something I'm willing to bet on. NSMB2 will probably move some, given the right marketing.

 

[Curufinwe]

Ouch at Dragon's Dogma. Gamers have bad taste confirmed.

More like Capcom fucked up by not including online co-op.

 

[Pooya]

Looks like people are waiting for the huge fall lineup.

fall line up this year isn't really huge, a lot of game delayed to next year

 

[ShockingAlberto]

This is good to see. I hope the market tanks and the first partys are forced to launch their new consoles sooner. I'm sick of this gen and all the rehashed crap coming out.

I call this viewpoint "Stolaring"

 

[lunchwithyuzo]

I'm betting Dragon's Dogma was probably under 100k

For reference, Monster Hunter Tri did just over 100k it's first NPD.

 

[CosmicQueso]

We keep talking about being in the 6th or 7th year and saturation- are software sales reflecting that everyone who wants a system has one? Are they in line with what they were at the end of last generation this time? Or is that a bad question?

I wonder how big of an impact price drops will have. I get the feeling that it'll be significant, but I don't really know.

The difference is the time span. The PS3 launched in year 7 of PS2's life. The X360 launched in year 5 of the Xbox. But this ain't the problem.

Problem 1 - Release slates are much smaller. "YTD 2012, there have been 27 percent fewer new software title introductions into retail"

Problem 2 - Wii and NDS software sales are falling rapidly.

X360 and PS3 software both increased last year, so while the first 2 quarters have been soft, and of course the sales have been very concerning on the titles that have released, average sales of new releases are only off in the single-digit percentages. These aren't panic inducers quite yet but alarms are ringing.

Finally, The first 5 months only account for 30% or so of annual sales, so the story of the year isn't being told in May.

 

[LJ11]

The RE6 demo is the only bit of marketing I can think of

But it's with all new copies, the demo isn't due for a month, it's 360 exclusive, and Capcom didn't really push it.

That's right, you'd normally expect at least a token ad that mentions RE6 demo exclusivity. Also interesting that MS didn't do any co-marketing even though they have the exclusive demo, but I guess it's normal this late in the generation.

 

[Penguin]

Reminder that today's May 2012 Games sales data release included Walmart (and other retailers

That doesn't help much but
https://twitter.com/amrie1206/status/213416141366886400

 

[Graphics Horse]

Hardly surprising that the 3DS is not selling particularly well with just very few (good) games hitting the platform in the West. I remember when they claimed that they were aware of that problem and that games would come out that would push sales in the West, but quite frankly I'm not seeing too many of those.

Epic Mickey, Scribblenauts, and Castlevania (?!) Were announced at near E3 so I'm assuming that was it.

 

[Petrae]

I think all three companies are a year behind of when they should have released their new consoles. I wonder if that decision was made mostly because of cost or if there were other more important reasons.

It's a good question. I honestly don't know the answer.

 

[AniHawk]

3ds sales actually didn't dip much over last month's. i wonder if it suggests that it will stabilize around the low 100ks.

the 360 sure took a beating though. what the fuck.

 

[zerodayPopbot]

Man the bombas keep coming for sony lately. Starhawk and Sorcery failed miserably last month and come to think of it I don't think they've had a decent hit the last couple years besides Uncharted 3.

Journey was successful...but, yeah I think Sony need to start being a little more...selective with what they develop.

 

[B.O.O.M]

man where is Nintendo!?

 

[see5harp]

I just noticed someone named Dan Race has replaced Patrick Seybold. I wonder if the latter finally had enough of trying to shine positive light on Sony's US sales.

Patrick probably saw the numbers, looked at his intern and said "go for it. Maybe mention a game that doesn't come out for another year."

 

[CosmicQueso]

That doesn't help much but
https://twitter.com/amrie1206/status/213416141366886400

NPD has always extrapolated for Wal-Mart, now they're getting the actual data. The difference between the two really isn't a big deal. Pretty much irrelevant in the big picture, in fact.

 

[Petrae]

man where is Nintendo!?

I don't know that you'll see anything from them, honestly. Maybe Joystiq or another site gets NoA to open up tomorrow, but these numbers are certainly not worth publicizing... especially with so much criticism aimed at Nintendo currently.

 

[witness]

Drop prices already.....

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Honestly, this Christmas would have been a smart time for Nintendo to release Animal Crossing. I wonder if that game is facing a troubled development.

 

[Striek]

Wow, pretty terrible all around. Every current gen system could really use a pricecut though, particularly PS3/360/Vita but also Wii/3DS.

 

[Conflict NZ]

I call this viewpoint "Stolaring"

A generation should never last more than 6 years. Especially now that the tablet and phone market exist and have significant upgrades each year. I've gone from buying ~30 retail games a year to ~5.

 

[jetjevons]

Drop prices already.....

How there weren't major REAL Sony and MS price drops at what everyone knows is the last E3 pre next gen announcements is just absolutely confounding to me.

 

[shinobi602]

We need new consoles ASAP.

 

[McHuj]

This was the year to launch the console successors.

IMO, Nintendo got the timing right with the WiiU. Just not sure of the WIiU as an actual product.

 

[lunchwithyuzo]

The RE6 demo is the only bit of marketing I can think of

But it's with all new copies, the demo isn't due for a month, it's 360 exclusive, and Capcom didn't really push it.

I've seen pretty frequent DD ads on tv, and they push the RE6 demo on 360 at the end. I'd say it's a comparable promotion to what SFXT got earlier this year, though less than REORC.

 

[LJ11]

How there weren't major REAL Sony and MS price drops at what everyone knows is the last E3 pre next gen announcements is just absolutely confounding to me.

Probably waiting to drop a couple of months before Wii U, August/Sept most likely.

I've seen pretty frequent DD ads on tv, and they push the RE6 demo on 360 at the end. I'd say it's a comparable promotion to what SFXT got earlier this year, though less than REORC.

I remember seeing REORC, didn't see SFxT ads though. Thanks for the info.

 

[theviolenthero]

The fact that they're still getting people to pay $200+ for PS360's this late in their life span is amazing.
A simple price drop and sales will bounce back big time.

 

[Ken Masters]

console gaming is really taking a hit, next gen systems should have come out this year

 

[Glix]

Honestly, this Christmas would have been a smart time for Nintendo to release Animal Crossing. I wonder if that game is facing a troubled development.

Considering their expertise in created online, social, connected games, I don't see how that could be the case.

 

[Phonomezer]

We need new consoles ASAP.

Next April/May would be a good time to do a soft launch for their hardware; milk the early adopters then drop the price by $20 to $50 for the holidays with a balls-out "relaunch"*

Spoiler

*perhaps this is why I don't run a company

 

[jett]

Because the current economy and attitudes towards mobile consoles pre-Apple proliferation are entirely comparable to now.

well excuuuuuuuuuuse me for not being overly negative.

but indeed, things aren't looking good for the future of the 3DS. I wonder what is the general feel at Nintendo. If the Wii U isn't a success they could be in serious trouble.

 

[AniHawk]

Honestly, this Christmas would have been a smart time for Nintendo to release Animal Crossing. I wonder if that game is facing a troubled development.

which begs the question: how is that possible?

 

[Dash Kappei]

Basically the best bet for a 3DS increase is to wait for August/Sept NPD with NSMB2?

Those are some weak ass numbers, depressing it's only +17% vs pre-price drop and pre-Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart (right?)?

 

[schuelma]

This was the year to launch the console successors.

IMO, Nintendo got the timing right with the WiiU. Just not sure of the WIiU as an actual product.

Agree with this. With a good showing and 3rd party support Nintendo could be in very strong position. But that is extremely questionable right now.