Sony's Platforms Set Sales Charts On Fire In Japan

[Xerxes]

I just found out those ass holes have Way of the Samurai 3. AND Way of the Samurai 1 on PSP. What's up with that shit.

Told Spigot I might buy WotS 3 to help with my Japanese studies.

[JayVe]

Originally Posted by Chris_D

Anyway, if I've somehow missed your point please feel free to correct me.

I think, and I may be way off base, that OJG is arguing that the actual cost of the PS3 has been cheaper in Japan than any other region. Regardless of how much income the average Japanese makes, the PS3 has been less expensive in Japan than any other country.

Now, my take is that price cuts won't help Sony very much, since if Sony drops the price, the competition can do the exact same thing, always leaving the PS3 as the most expensive console. Sure, it may be cheaper now here in the US than when it launched, but compared to other systems, it will always be the most expensive.

[Chris_D]

Hmm well I'm not sure why OJG was making that point then as it doesn't bring a lot to the table. As I pointed out, the PS3 was more affordable in the US than in Japan.

I take your point about competing directly on price but not all consoles are created equal. A lot of gamers are still playing the crap out of their PS2s (I would speculate it's still by far the most played console in Japan). If they're looking to play more PS2 style games they're probably not going to get interested in a Wii over a PS3 no matter what the price difference is. The key point is being able to afford the console in the first place.

[JayVe]

Originally Posted by Chris_D

Hmm well I'm not sure why OJG was making that point then as it doesn't bring a lot to the table. As I pointed out, the PS3 was more affordable in the US than in Japan.

I think what is considered 'affordable' is going to differ based on any region and socio-economic class. There are some states in the USA with a much average lower income than others, and some areas are simply downright poor compared to all of Japan. I don't know that 'affordability' is something that can easily be measured or argued since it varies by each family, unlike the actual price of the system.

Originally Posted by Chris_D

A lot of gamers are still playing the crap out of their PS2s (I would speculate it's still by far the most played console in Japan). If they're looking to play more PS2 style games they're probably not going to get interested in a Wii over a PS3 no matter what the price difference is. The key point is being able to afford the console in the first place.

Actually, a lot of Wii games are like PS2 games, even going so far as to sharing a code base sometimes. If people are looking for something like the PS2, the Wii would be a fine choice. A ton of PS2 titles appealed to the casual gamer who does not follow trends. There were more hunting / fishing / karoake / niche / wacky / simulator games on the PS2 than there were on the GameCube / Xbox. Same thing goes for the Wii. The Wii's lower cost of development, and wider install base means it can fill more niche markets than the more expensive rivals. Also, PS2 gamers generally don't care about graphics very much, or they would have picked up a more powerful console. That same demographic lines up perfectly with the Wii.

You are right that not all consoles are created equal. Game Library is a VERY large part of the decision making process. PS2 showed all of us that a wide install base, a large and diverse library, and a reasonable price spreads a LOT farther than horsepower any day of the week.

You'll find many people here on COG (a hardcore community) complaining that the Wii is too much like the PS2, and not enough like the 360 or PS3. That's not a common argument from people who are still playing and enjoying their PS2 though.

[OldJadedGamer]

Originally Posted by JayVe

I think, and I may be way off base, that OJG is arguing that the actual cost of the PS3 has been cheaper in Japan than any other region. Regardless of how much income the average Japanese makes, the PS3 has been less expensive in Japan than any other country.

That is the point. Looking at the facts of the numbers, the PS3 has always been the cheapest in Japan. Remember, they dropped the price of the unit in Japan before it was even launched.

Oh, and for record in Japan the PS2 (the most popular home system in the history of Japan) launched for 39,800 yen which by today's rates is $406.39 and it sold more systems in 48 hours then the PS3 did in 8 months and the PS3 was only about $100 more. Now the PS3 cost the same as the PS2 did at launch and it was still pulling numbers this year of 7,000 a week.

My argument is that it's not price that is holding the system back the lack of interest in that country. Again, Japan has ALWAYS been a one system nation.

[Chris_D]

Originally Posted by OldJadedGamer

That is the point. Looking at the facts of the numbers, the PS3 has always been the cheapest in Japan. Remember, they dropped the price of the unit in Japan before it was even launched.

What does cheapest have to do with it? Something being cheap and something being affordable are two different things. Price is just one of the factors that contributes to affordability.

Originally Posted by OldJadedGamer

Oh, and for record in Japan the PS2 (the most popular home system in the history of Japan) launched for 39,800 yen which by today's rates is $406.39 and it sold more systems in 48 hours then the PS3 did in 8 months and the PS3 was only about $100 more. Now the PS3 cost the same as the PS2 did at launch and it was still pulling numbers this year of 7,000 a week.

Japanese people are poorer today than when the PS2 was launched.

Originally Posted by OldJadedGamer

My argument is that it's not price that is holding the system back the lack of interest in that country. Again, Japan has ALWAYS been a one system nation.

The PSP seems to be doing just fine.

[Talon]

...let's not forget the wild success of portable gaming in Japan.

After all, DQ moved to the bloody DS.

[Chris_D]

Originally Posted by JayVe

I think what is considered 'affordable' is going to differ based on any region and socio-economic class. There are some states in the USA with a much average lower income than others, and some areas are simply downright poor compared to all of Japan. I don't know that 'affordability' is something that can easily be measured or argued since it varies by each family, unlike the actual price of the system.

Here you're just making things harder than it needs to be. Similarly, in some country areas of Japan people are dirt poor compared to pretty much anywhere in the US. It doesn't change the fact that, on average, an American has more disposable income than a Japanese. OJG keeps making such a big deal about a $100 difference in launch price (and that's the price of the Japanese 20G vs the American 60G even) when graduate salaries are literally half in Japan of what they are in the US. What am I missing here?

Originally Posted by JayVe

Actually, a lot of Wii games are like PS2 games, even going so far as to sharing a code base sometimes. If people are looking for something like the PS2, the Wii would be a fine choice. A ton of PS2 titles appealed to the casual gamer who does not follow trends. There were more hunting / fishing / karoake / niche / wacky / simulator games on the PS2 than there were on the GameCube / Xbox. Same thing goes for the Wii. The Wii's lower cost of development, and wider install base means it can fill more niche markets than the more expensive rivals. Also, PS2 gamers generally don't care about graphics very much, or they would have picked up a more powerful console. That same demographic lines up perfectly with the Wii.

Some PS2 gamers do care about graphics, the fact that they don't have a PS3/Xbox yet may just mean they can't afford it. Also, why would someone buy a Wii to play PS2 style games when the graphics are the same, and the PS2 still has 6 times the shelf space of the Wii in game stores along with a massive range of second hand games in great condition at dirt cheap prices.

Of course the Wii has Wii Fit etc. but the type of people I have in mind as future PS3 purchasers are not interested in that. Anyway, it may be that we have to agree to disagree but if you read through my blog series I think you can see where I'm coming from. The situation in Japan is definitely quite different from the US despite the fact that Wii is popular in both.

Originally Posted by JayVe

You'll find many people here on COG (a hardcore community) complaining that the Wii is too much like the PS2, and not enough like the 360 or PS3. That's not a common argument from people who are still playing and enjoying their PS2 though.

People on CoG are not really representative of the folks I've spoken to.

[JayVe]

Originally Posted by Chris_D

People on CoG are not really representative of the folks I've spoken to.

If you read what I wrote, you'll find I said the exact same thing.

[Chris_D]

Originally Posted by JayVe

If you read what I wrote, you'll find I said the exact same thing.

Oh you're right *slaps head* . OK, what I should say is, that I'm not basing my opinions / predictions on posts from CoGers, or indeed any of the video game news sites that I frequently visit (who often reveal themselves as not knowing shit about the Japanese market). Instead, I'm basing it on actually talking to Japanese people. Shocking I know .

[Chris_D]

Looks like March will be a good month overall for Sony. 360 sales trailing away badly though. I hope to do a blog talking a little about the 360's status in Japan this weekend if I have time .

Edge Online - PS3, PSP Continue to Top Japan

PSP/ 43,463
PS3/ 28,014
DSI/ 27,564
Wii/ 17,941
DS Lite/ 11,571
Xbox 360/ 8,378
PS2/ 4,844

[Chris_D]

Xbox 360 - Not Dead in Japan. Yet...

[Gorvi]

Continueing the trend for the most part:

DSi - 70,800
PSP - 61,800
PS3 - 25,200
Wii - 16,900
DSL - 9,900
X360 - 6,100
PS2 - 4,800

01. [NDS] Super Robot Taisen K (Namco Bandai) 117,000 / NEW
02. [PS2] Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2009 (Konami) 50,000 / NEW
03. [PS2] Amagami (Enterbrain) 42,000 / NEW
04. [NDS] Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (Nintendo) 39,000 / 428,000
05. [PS3] Musou Orochi Z (KOEI) 36,000 / 148,000
06. [PS3] Resident Evil 5 (Capcom) 29,000 / 410,000
07. [NDS] Rittai Picross 3D (Nintendo) 24,000 / 62,000
08. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2 G (PSP the Best) (Capcom) 23,000 / 506,000
09. [WII] Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu Next (Konami) 22,000 / NEW
10. [PSP] Shin Sangoku Musou: Multi Raid (KOEI) 19,000 / 335,000

Sources - Consoles, Games