DS takes Japan once again, why not the US?

[dbiersdorf]

Wow, talk about another crazy week in Japan for Nintendo. According to Media-Create, a tracking service that follows the sales of software and hardware for video games on a weekly basis is reporting that the Nintendo DS has managed to continue it's huge climb with almost 600,000 units sold in just one week. Here's this weeks tally -

DS 597.000
PSP 161.000
PS2 97.000
GC 36.000
SP 35.000
GBM 19.000
360 5000

So instead of making this thread about bragging or whatever, and with hopes that it does not become a DS vs. PSP thread, I want to ask why do you guys think the DS is selling so well in Japan yet the sales are only a fraction of that in the US? In the last months the US still saw a great deal of amazing games that appeal to the mainstream (Mario Kart, Nintendogs bundle, Animal Crossing, Tony Hawk) yet it hasn't shown nearly the same effect on us.

So I ask, why?

[Darren870]

I sold a lot more DS systems then PSP systems this christmas. I was actually amazed on how many I sold.

[dbiersdorf]

Ok that's not my point. I want to know what people think when the DS both release a series of killer aps both in Japan and in the US yet the US is only selling a fraction of what the DS is selling in Japan.

Look at this way, NPD reports say that the DS sold 300,000 units in the month of November. Yet these first three weeks of December the DS has managed over 1,100,000 sales with much more to come considering Brain Training 2 was released just today.

So again, my question, why do you guys think this is happening?

[poloplayr]

Could it be that Japanese gamers have better taste on average?

[klausien]

Isn't the DS still doing better than the PSP in the US? When I last checked, Nintendo still held the lead in portable sales, and Mario Kart has no doubt helped even more.

The only thing the PSP really has going for it in the US is, strangely, PSP movies. I can't understand why people buy DVDs ripped to UMD sans features. You can get a decent portable DVD player for much less than the PSP and with a bigger screen to boot. The games simply aren't there yet, Liberty City Stories or not. Plus, I think people are finally starting to tire of the GTA formula.

[ubersaurus]

Probably because the japanese like weird game mechanics-note the rise of arcade games with specialized controls?

Though those are popular in the US too, it's not to the same degree.

[Haoie]

Probably because the japanese like weird game mechanics-note the rise of arcade games with specialized controls?

Though those are popular in the US too, it's not to the same degree.

That's pretty true. For simple starters, DDR, Beatmania, etc etc.

Then there are the more outlandish arcaders like the sniper barrel for Silent Scope, that shooting game where you duck down behind obstacles, virtual horse racing, endless.

The DS stylus is something that's never been done before. Innovation is amazing.

[njiska]

It's simple cultural differences. The japanes love japanese companies and a lot of the DS titles have wider appeal in Japan. The DS also is getting more games in Japan then it is in the US.

The other key factor is that the US has a 3 console makert and that Xbox/Xbox 360 is sucking a lot of money out of NOA's pockets.

Different regions, different tastes, nothing is global.

[Ed Oscuro]

It's simple cultural differences. The japanes love japanese companies
I thought Petewhitey shot that one down.

Regardless, still thinking of the quotes on Kotaku.com's 360 launch coverage (lost the link)...

Anyhow, that can't be 600K in one week, or was that the run-up to Christmas...how many millions would that make for the DS?

Besides, the DS seems to be doing much better over here as well.

[tholly]

The DS stylus is something that's never been done before. Innovation is amazing.


Tiger Game.com.....

[Cmtz]

The DS stylus is something that's never been done before. Innovation is amazing.


Tiger Game.com.....

Yea, but it was not focused on gaming with the stylus except for solitare.

[Raedon]

The DS price point with Wi-Fi makes it such the better machine right now.

[Griking]

The DS stylus is something that's never been done before. Innovation is amazing.


Tiger Game.com.....

Yea, but it was not focused on gaming with the stylus except for solitare.

I don't think that the DS is as popular as it is just because of the stylus control. I think it has more to do with the unique and original games that's out for it. I also think that it helps that Nintendo didn't try to shove 3D gaming down our throats like Sony is doing.

[petewhitley]

It's simple cultural differences. The japanes love japanese companies
I thought Petewhitey shot that one down.

I kinda did in another thread. There really isn't any prejudice amongst Japanese consumers when it comes to American products. In many cases, it's quite the opposite in fact. Sure, American cars aren't so popular, but it doesn't really make sense to drive a big-ass SUV in Japan either. But more importantly, Sony is a Japanese company. So even if there was some favoritism, it would have nothing to do with these stats. Nintendo is marketing the DS in Japan to a much wider range of consumers than previous consoles/handhelds. Alot of focus is on brain-training software and the like, targeted and selling to non-traditional gamers. Sony is starting to pick-up on that, but it's doubtful they'll be as successful at that market due to the lack of a touch-screen/stylus (which admittedly is very helpful for those type of "games").

[Ed Oscuro]

One comment on the Tiger Electronics Game.com...

Seven "touch screen pads" does NOT a precise system make. Imagine trying to stylus draw an image in a Game.com version of MSPaint - you'd end up just using the stylus to click sectors to steer the pixel selection in one direction or another. Not precise at all.

[Joker T]

It makes alot of sense that DS is doing so well. Tons of unique and strange games.

[waxpoet]

It has to do with the trains. A lot more teenagers & adults get portable gaming systems in Japan because if you live in or near a city then you are riding on the train a significant portion in a week. I see girls with gameboy micros all the time (cute girls not nerdy ones). To be honest though although I do see a lot of Nintendo DS, it seems to be more of the kids that are playing those...most adults are rocking a PSP.

So I would just say the kids market for DS is huge...and more adults buy portable systems...what with the brain games and kanji games that are available..it just sells a lot

[xmagxus]

Also keep in mind almost every gamer likes their systems to come in skittles form (all colors of the rainbow)

The US only has 4 colors for the ds, japan has what.. .triple that?

More people are buying more than one system over there than they are over here. I mean even I only own two DS's and that was just to get nintendogs:best friends over there there are tons of appealing and "cool" colors to "collect"

[dbiersdorf]

I think the only colors they have over us are black and white... and maybe a few other limited edition colors which are well beyond discontinued (PokePark, Jump Superstars, Pepsi Blue). I really doubt the amount of colored systems is sparking the sales over there.

[waxpoet]

^^very unlikely that very many gamers in Japan buy 2 colors of a console....I'm sure there are people that do but they aren't cute high school girls that want a DS to match each outfit. It would be the same type of guy that would do so in the US...so that is a definite misconception

However, I agree, the addition of colors and the fact that they have some celebrities on the DS commercials does increase the marketing power of the DS in Japan.