Media Create Sales for 03/30 to 04/05 - Iwata Reacts to Slowing Wii Sales

[Doctor Setebos]

I analyze that, based on overall trends, bean has the potential to be a major jackass and should just be ignored whenever you get the impression that he's trying to rile you up. This is one of those times.

Chris_D - keep up the good work.

bean - keep fighting the lame fight.

[bean]

Originally Posted by RandoM51

Shouldn't Wii sales slowdown be expected? I'd think it would eventually saturate its market, at least up to a point.

When did the PS2 saturate it's market? I know a lot of them were repurchased due to the bad CD players in early models (I have owned 4 PS2s personally, but I also know that I play games a lot more than a normal person).

I do know that the PS2 has sold around 136 million (the number continues to go up, so that's a guestimate), which is a shit-ton more than the 49 million the Wii has sold thus far.

You can't get a console into everyone's home at $250. When they get it down to $100, I'll probably pick one up the same way I picked up a Gamecube. . . and I'll enjoy the 3-5 games each year that are worth a shit just like I did with my Gamecube.

However, I don't expect a price drop this year. It is still selling well at it's current price and Nintendo loves money.

[bean]

I don't know that I've seen an editor behave as classless as Doctor Seetebos before.

Do you disagree with my criticism, my tone and manner in criticizing, or do you simply think it is appropriate to behave like a child when someone criticizes the site's journalistic integrity?

Actually, don't answer that. Clearly by name-calling and the personal attacks you are trying to rile me up, and I should simply ignore you.

[Doctor Setebos]

Originally Posted by bean

I don't know that I've seen an editor behave as classless as Doctor Seetebos before.

I try to treat you with relatively the same amount of respect that you tend to treat other members of this community, which is fairly close to none. Golden Rule, and whatnot, right?

Originally Posted by bean

Actually, don't answer that. Clearly by name-calling and the personal attacks you are trying to rile me up, and I should simply ignore you.

Now you're getting it!

[Grifter]

Originally Posted by BEAN

A bunch of worthless drivel

Lets make this simple, either put up or shut up. You don't like the way others post news you do it better, if you can't do it better just stay out of the damn thread. You're being an obnoxious tool and stirring up shit for no reason.

Something to think about; If you're the only one in a thread throwing a tantrum and every body is telling you to shut the fuck up maybe the problem isn't the thread...

[mister slim]

Meh, no point in piling on at this point.

[bean]

Originally Posted by Doctor Setebos

I try to treat you with relatively the same amount of respect that you tend to treat other members of this community, which is fairly close to none. Golden Rule, and whatnot, right?

This is false. Feel free to criticize my news stories if they show sloppy journalism, but I have not called anyone names or made any personal attacks in this thread. You began and are continuing this classless behavior.

I'll ask my question again since you ignored it. What exactly do you think I'm doing wrong? Is it incorrect to criticize the site, or were you offended by my tone when I criticized Chris_D's journalism?

You are an editor here and your behavior is completely out of line. Look at how many "me toos" you spawned the moment you made childish personal attacks. You are teaching people that childish behavior is acceptable. This is just criticism about sloppy journalism, you should not sell your integrity and dignity this cheaply. Chris_D is more than capable (see above) of responding to criticism maturely. His mature response has gained my respect and is causing me to reconsider my positions.

[MagGnome]

Originally Posted by bean

So you think that sloppy journalism that includes conclusions that are not supported by the data (a week != a trend, a month or two of data does but that data is not present), false assumptions (that Xbox 360 exclusives are "rare") and undependable conclusions based on false assumptions are okay?

Or are you simply stepping into a thread without reading it or considering the merits to mindlessly "save the children" because you think Chris_D is too weak to grow from criticism and instead needs to be protected form it?

Edit - On second thought, Chris_D has proven that he is more than capable of standing up for himself, so I don't feel the need to get into this obnoxious discussion.

Your last paragraph is just ridiculous, thanks for that. As if I would have jumped in without reading the 11 other posts in this thread. What is that, five minutes worth of reading at the most? Nice try though.

[Doctor Setebos]

The problem I have with what you've said here, bean, is that you've taken Chris_D's hard work, gotten stuck on one tiny spec of information that you deem irresponsible for some inexplicable reason, and have disregarded the entire article as "sloppy journalism" due to this insignificant detail. That showed far less class than any hits I may have tossed your way.

And people were decrying your pathetic methods of derailing the conversation long before I entered the thread.

And Chris_D is perfectly capable of taking care of himself. I'm not here to come to his rescue, I'm here to make fun of you. As if that weren't already blatantly obvious.

[mister slim]

If only everyone in the thread had aspired to be as classy as this:

Originally Posted by bean

I think looking at a WEEK of sales and trying to detect a trend is about as useful as analyzing farts.

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by bean

Gorvi - You think sloppy journalism is okay at CoG because the subject matter is gaming?

Nope, but here's the thing: none of us are journalists. We're all people who have a strong interest in gaming who enjoy discussing it, sometimes very passionately. At the end of the day we're all just enthusiasts bullshitting with other enthusiasts.

[Chris_D]

Originally Posted by RandoM51

Shouldn't Wii sales slowdown be expected? I'd think it would eventually saturate its market, at least up to a point.

I think there hasn't been too much compelling software for the Wii for some time now. The top 50 still has lots of Wii titles, like Wii Fit, Mario Kart, Wii Sports, Animal Crossing. Also the re-release of Pikmin 2 is there at number 19. However, I think you need a new release that is selling 50-100k in it's first week to have a noticeable bump in Wii sales.

The 11 Eyes: Cross Over 360 game seems like a slight anomaly, that game only sold around 13k, but seems like it might have been responsible for moving a couple of thousand 360s (more than the previous week anyway).

There is some stuff coming that should see a nice bump in Wii sales. Watch out for the Monster Hunter 2g re-make - Apr 23, and the megaton bomb, Wii Sports Resort, due in June.

Even though the Wii sales are low, overall console sales are much lower than their handheld brethren (PSP and DS). Throw in mobile phone gaming as well and it's just a sign of the times for gaming in Japan I guess.

[Orca]

You have to wonder why we spend so much time wondering about the gaming market in Japan when the top selling console shifts under 100k in a month.

[Chris_D]

Because many of our childhood fascinations and memories lie with those incredible games from Japan. Even now, with such strong American and European developer communities, many of us still hang out for particular Japanese titles. As for sales in general, well the sales of today influence the games of tomorrow.

Another thing, the population of the US alone is now about 3 times what Japan's is. To compare, in 1980, it was about double. It just means a bigger market overall.

[DylonCorp]

Chris, appreciate the great weekly work and always enjoy your take.

Bean. Wow.

[Disgustipated]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

bean, just take a deep breath, step away from the keyboard, and remember this isn't as serious as you're making it out to be. It's just freakin' games.

VIDEOGAMES ARE SERIOUS BUSINESS, GORVI. For fuck's sake!

This is all par for the course behavior for bean. Why is everyone acting like this is a big deal? He always acts like this. It's the Internet, he can get away with it. Everyone is bad-ass behind an LCD.

[Orca]

Originally Posted by Chris_D

Because many of our childhood fascinations and memories lie with those incredible games from Japan. Even now, with such strong American and European developer communities, many of us still hang out for particular Japanese titles. As for sales in general, well the sales of today influence the games of tomorrow.

Another thing, the population of the US alone is now about 3 times what Japan's is. To compare, in 1980, it was about double. It just means a bigger market overall.

Japanese developer support is no longer tied to the console doing well in Japan, something that changed as the country became more handheld focused. Capcom is a great example - look at their support of the 360, which has made a bit of a better showing this time around, but still hardly dominant in Japan.

And the population of the two is more like 2:1 than 3:1 last I saw, not even that much of a disparity if you include the nearby countries that also 'shop Japanese'

[boratika]

Hey Chris, good work on these threads, always enjoy the update. I've followed the Media Create numbers avidly for some years now, so it's pretty convenient having them on the front page of CoG.

Originally Posted by Orca

And the population of the two is more like 2:1 than 3:1 last I saw, not even that much of a disparity if you include the nearby countries that also 'shop Japanese'

More like 2.409:1, Mister inaccuracy.

[Chris_D]

Originally Posted by boratika

More like 2.409:1, Mister inaccuracy.

Oh count me in for inaccuracy. I thought that the population of Japan was ~120m and the population of the U.S. was about 350m. Actually checking this website gives me 306,207,776. Although, if you include illegals maybe the number is bigger .

For 1980 I calculate the ratio as 227,726 : 116,807, or 1.95 : 1, using numbers from Wiki.

Orca's right. Japanese companies have been forced to look to other markets as the domestic market has shrunk, some being more successful than others.

Thanks to all for the feedback. I hope to keep delivering the numbers regularly every Friday .

[TheFlyingOrc]

Originally Posted by Kelegacy

It has always had that issue, but perhaps the fad is slowing down. Now the system needs software to stay afloat.

No, it really doesn't. They've sold enough so far this generation that its unlikely they'll lose or NOT make a bajillion dollars, even in the long term.