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Another week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 12/10-12/16

Posted Dec 19th 2007 5:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: Another Week in ...

Be careful with that DS of yours. It may be small and look all cute with its two screens, but that thing is a monster. How else could a system manage an 89,000 boost in hardware sales from last week's already ridiculously high numbers? The DS just continues to blow everything else away, selling 91,000 units more than the competing PSP (which also had a good week in Japan).

As for software sales, however, only three of the system's biggest contenders (Mario Party DS, Professor Layton II, and Dragon Quest IV) managed to make it into the top ten. Not only did these three games do well for the week, but their total sales are pretty outstanding. We wouldn't be surprised to see all of them reach the million mark at some point.

Check after the break to see Japan's hardware and software numbers for the week of 12/10-12/16.

Continue reading Another week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 12/10-12/16

Nintendo won't stop making hardware

Posted Nov 7th 2007 6:40PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: News

Sure, it may be a while before some new Nintendo hardware comes along, but according to Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata, the company will never dedicate itself to only making software.

Iwata was asked if the company would consider giving up on its hardware, as changes and additions to cell phones are making other portable devices irrelevant. He responded, "Nintendo is clearly much stronger when we can combine both hardware and software development than when we have to focus on software. I just cannot think of any reason why we would abandon a weapon which brings us such a great advantage. I just cannot imagine Nintendo's future as a dedicated software content provider."

Iwata also said that there is room for both the DS and mobile phones in the market, and therefore the two won't have to merge together. So, never fear folks. Even when if cell phones do take over the world, Nintendo will keep chugging out hardware for us all as long as you keep on buying it.

[Via Aussie-Nintendo]

Nintendo overtakes Sony in software sales

Posted Oct 31st 2007 3:40PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: News, Sales

Nintendo just took the reins from Sony as the software sales champ. In other words, the combined game sales for the DS and Wii in the third quarter of 2007 surpassed those for the PS2, PS3, and PSP.

Nintendo's software generated $1.2 billion last quarter, while Sony's amounted to $1 billion. We're not really surprised, considering that the DS pretty much dominates in every region. We've also heard that the Wii is pretty popular, so that might have moved quite a bit of software as well.

iSuppli, the analyst company tracking the numbers, predicts that Nintendo will remain on top in software sales in Q4 2008.

RedHalo helps you learn through your DS

Posted Oct 16th 2007 12:10PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

A new way to get your learn on has hit the handheld scene thanks to UK-based company RedHalo. Allowing users to access a "free, ultra-secure, Personal Learning Space," the company is hoping that you'll take time out of surfing the web or playing a game on your handheld device to access their service.

The basic package (which is free, by the way) allows up to 1GB of Personal Learning Space. This can be upgraded to 5GB with the Pro Edition, which will cost you an annual fee.

[Via QJ]

Forget E3, the DS wins everything else

Posted Jul 16th 2007 12:25PM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: News

While it may not have seemed like the DS was top priority -- or much of a priority at all, next to the Wii -- at last week's E3, the handheld continues to wreak sales havoc in Japan. Can anything stop the DS there? It continues, week after week, to lead sales by an embarrassing margin. For the week ending July 8, the DS led the Wii by more than 60,000 units sold, and the handheld boasted three of the top five game titles as well. There's no need to shame the other systems by talking about their sales, but some other handheld took the third slot in hardware.

Will the DS ever reach these epic levels of success in the US? It looks like the Wii may have more of a chance at that over here, but either way, Nintendo's continuing success is nothing to sneeze at.

The DS juggernaut continues to roll through Japan

Posted Jul 3rd 2007 4:00PM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: News, Sales

You guys aren't going to believe this one. Are you ready? Okay -- it seems that the DS Lite is somewhat popular in Japan, and has been for a long time. Wow, who knew?

Alright, all sarcasm aside, according to the Famitsu Marketing Data Report for June (covering May 28-June 24), Nintendo is the force driving the Japanese gaming market into the stratosphere. Overall sales numbers for the industry were up more than 25%, and most of that is due to the fact that hardware sales are up nearly 50%. Why? All signs point to the DS. For fifteen consecutive months, the handheld has moved more than 500,000 units in Japan. But it's not all about the DS, particularly when we turn to the software numbers. Combined, software for Nintendo platforms accounted for more than 81% of software sales.

With the release of two new DS Lite colors in Japan, it seems likely that at least part of the handheld's success is due to the variety of models available. Not that the DS needs any real help in the Americas, but we're willing to bet that a few new colors might produce results here as well.

[Via 1P Start]

Unofficial stat line: DS sales surpass GBA in Japan

Posted May 10th 2007 10:40AM by Jason Wishnov
Filed under: News, Rumors

Certainly, Japan's Golden Week is a triumphant one for Nintendo. The top nineteen titles in software belong to the House That Mario Built, as well as 82% of combined hardware sales. Still, one incredible milestone stands out among the fanfare: according to unofficial numbers, the DS has now officially outsold the powerhouse Game Boy Advance in Japan, 16,913,437 to 16,682,376.

It's important to note that these numbers differ slightly from our standard Media Create sales figures used in our regular edition posts. Furthermore, if the news is indeed true, we're sure Nintendo will send out a press release soon enough, touting their own brilliance and humanitarianism. They just love those things.

Japanese software sales, 4 September - 10 September

Posted Sep 14th 2006 11:00AM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News, Fan stuff

Yes, we know with all the excitement over Nintendo's other gaming console that the DS has had to take the back seat today. Surely, you all understand. We're working hard to find the needles of DS news within the haystack that is the influx of Wii news today. For the time being, why not check out some software figures from Japan?

1. Tales of Phantasia Full Voice Edition - PSP - Bandai Namco - 66,263
2. New Super Mario Bros. - DS - Nintendo - 53,011 / 3,027,038
3. Final Fantasy III - DS - Square Enix - 49,475 / 598,476
4. Mogitate Tingle no Bara Iro Rupee Land - DS - Nintendo- 32,792
5. More Brain Age - DS - Nintendo - 32,054 / 3,151,912
6. Shaberu! DS Cuisine Navi - DS - Nintendo - 25,458 / 445,191
7. Rhythm Tengoku - GBA - Nintendo - 24,676 / 148,108
8. Animal Crossing Wild World - DS - Nintendo - 24,027 / 3,205,762
9. Phantasy Star Universe - PS2 - Sega - 20,431 / 140,633
10. Mario Basket 3 on 3 - DS - Nintendo - 20,372 / 288,136

Japanese software sales, August 21 - August 27: coup d'etat edition

Posted Sep 7th 2006 2:30PM by Jason Wishnov
Filed under: News

Last week, in the land of the rising run, the DS reigned supreme. Unfortunately, however, Nintendo of Japan has one weakness: Role Playing Games.

1. Phantasy Star Universe - PS2 - 120,202 | NEW
2. New Super Mario Bros. - NDS - 72,763 | 2,974,027
3. More DS Brain Training - NDS - 46,662 | 3,119,857
4. Final Fantasy III - NDS - 45,949 | 549,001
5. Tingle RPG - NDS - 45,496 | NEW
6. Nintendo DS Talking Cooking Navi - NDS - 35,689 | 419,733
7. Mario Hoops 3-on-3 - NDS - 34,001 | 267,763
8. Animal Crossing : Wild World – NDS – 32,605 | 3,181,735
9. Rhythm Tengoku - GBA - 28,361 | 123,432
10. Tamagotchi Connexion Corner Shop 2 - NDS - 27,540 | 458,474

Yes, an RPG invariably ends up on this list upon its release in Japan, no matter how clichèd or unoriginal it may be. Final Fantasy III performed a similar feat last week, but looking at the impossibly attenuated sales, one can only assume they're running real short on copies over there. Oh well, we can't be kings forever, right?

(This post in no way bashes Phantasy Star Universe or any of its fine publishers or developers. It's just that the game can't possibly be as cool as any other on this list. No hard feelings.)

Japanese software sales: July 31 - August 6 [Update]

Posted Aug 10th 2006 11:00AM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

The latest software figures have come in from Japan and software on the DS has had yet another strong showing. What is most surprising, however, is the descent from the top spot to a lowly second for New Super Mario Bros. Still, over 2.5 million units sold is nothing to laugh at. The current rankings, according to number of units sold, are:

• SD Gundam G Generation Portable - PSP - 155,634 (155,634)
• New Super Mario Bros. - DS - 98,038 (2,614,228)
• Jissen Pachislot Hisshouhou! Hokuto no Ken SE - PS2 - 82,556 (82,556)
• Tamagotchi Connexion Corner Shop 2 - DS - 75,853 (268,311)
• Mario Hoops: 3-on-3 - DS - 48,564 (159,273)
• More DS Brain Training - DS - 48,206 (2,925,847)
• Nintendo DS Talking Cooking Navi - DS - 45,846 (233,703)
• Devil Kings 2 - PS2 - 40,094 (175,943)
• Rythm Tengoku - GBA - 37,473 (37,473)
• Growlancer V Generations - PS2 - 37,467 (37,467)

[Update: Repaired a typo. It is now stronger, faster...]

Carmack: Nintendo isn't really our thing

Posted Aug 9th 2006 9:30AM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

If you don't know the name John Carmack, then it's likely you aren't one who's ever traversed the hellish landscape of both Mars and, well...Hell. You've never taken a chainsaw to an Imp's face and you've likely never obliterated a Cyberdemon with a Big F**king Gun. Well, John Carmack, who is the id Software co-owner/technical director and helped bring all these wonderful scenarios to PC gamers the world over, recently spoke at Quakecon, commenting on both Nintendo platforms.

In regards to the DS, John stated that he could possibly see the company bringing its cell phone games to the handheld, but didn't really express much interest to do so, which goes against earlier reports. Stating that even if this were to happen, which he obviously could care less if it does by the sound of things, Carmack stated that the games would be instead published through another third-party rather than Nintendo directly. Eh, who needs him, anyway?

Nintendo DS worldwide software sales [Update 1]

Posted Aug 2nd 2006 7:15PM by Jason Wishnov
Filed under: News

Coming off the staggering news that the Nintendo DS is the fastest selling system of all time in Japan, we've got another doozy for you. Here are the current estimated numbers for worldwide sales for Nintendo DS software:

Nintendogs - 7.37 million
Animal Crossing: Wild World - 4.66 million
Mario Kart DS - 4.64 million
New Super Mario Bros - 3.84 million
Super Mario 64 DS - 3.76 million
Brain Training - 3.69 million
Brain Training 2 - 3.11 million
Wario Ware Touched - 1.97 million
Brain Flex - 1.58 million
Tamogotchi Connection: Corner Shop - 1.27 million
Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time - 1.22 million
Tetris DS - 1.19 million
English Training - 1.14 million

Utterly astonishing are the figures for Nintendogs, selling over seven million copies since its release in mid-2005. The best-selling game on Gamecube, Super Smash Bros: Melee, has been around since 2001 and has only managed to sell 6.05 million by comparison. Nintendo is indeed reaching a new audience, and that new audience seems to really like throwing frisbees with a stylus.

[Update 1: Apparently, many people missed the "estimated" at the top of the post. Though compiled by an individual, the numbers appear to be at least decently accurate after cross-referencing several other sources. Take the numbers with a grain of salt, and enjoy the picture of the cute puppy.]

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