Nintendo takes Japan Xmas sales crown
Wii, DS in demand
Nintendo took the crown last week for pre-Christmas console sales in Japan, with sales of Wiis and DS Lites higher than all the others combined.
The DS Lite topped the chart - again - with unit shipments totalling 279,551 consoles for the week to 23 December 2007, according to Japan's Media Create organisation. As you can see from the chart below, the console's week-on-week sales growth continues unabated.
Japanese Consoles Sales
Source: Media Create
Ditto the Wii, with weekly sales of 232,907 units. For the last four weeks, the total rises to 593,286, well behind the DS Lite's 794,529 but ahead of the PSP's 522,521 sales. Sony's handheld notched up sales of 171,804 units last week, down on the previous seven-day period's tally.
PS3 sales were down to, to 58,167 units. Japanese consumers aren't taking it to the their hearts. Gamers are, however, suggested by the steady weekly sales, mirrored in the continuing demand for the Xbox 360 and the PS2, which racked up weekly sales of 7908 and 20,391, respectively.
Four-week sales totals for the PS3, PS2 and 360 are 197,102; 64,106; and 31,977, respectively.
COMMENTS
prophets and profits
nintendo never make a loss on the consoles - unlike the other
2 players - okay, the retailers have to make profit or they wouldnt sell them - and on this score the xbox 360 makes the most markup (BOM for PS3 is very high). The Wii also has a wonderful 'trick' in that many people are encouraged to buy more wiimotes - its more a social console than the single-player experience (ignoring multiplayer online as thats still a single-player local exprience) of the 360 and PS3.
however, Wii will need to produce some more compelling content soon -as the current release schedule looks a little 'tacky' - simple/cheap 'game experiences' using the wiimote as a pointer (just one step up from those DVD games)
PS3 sales continue at a slow drip feed - but there are several AAA titles lurking in the first few months of this year - leading into the main easter games session - a situation that no other console has - 360 has done its major titles now until near summer - hoping that its drawn in all it can during this purchasing season.
360 is still best online experience
PS3 is slowly catching up - but still too fragmented
Wii - virtual console is delivering its promise but the new
DLC system will add onto this - but online playing is very very poor
Sony
One thing I have noticed a lot of people forget (especially the younger crowd) is that Sony have ENORMOUS perseverance and an almost unlimited pocketbook.
When they launch a product it is akin to launching a long grueling military campaign of attrition -- they often beat their opponents by simply outlasting them (regardless of their own losses). They are also very smart about product placement and consumer markets and thus usually end up being top dog in the long term.
This can be seen easily now by simply looking at the PSP and PS2 sales -- both of these consoles came under heavy criticism and negative media scrutiny in the first 2 years of their release and both were losses on Sony's books for quite some time. Now you can see that both platforms have reached peak maturity in the markets and are raking in cash nicely -- though imho I think the PSP still has a lot more potential to be gleaned out of it yet (if you don't own one yet, they are FANTASTIC little devices, especially if you also own a PS3). I predict the Playstation 3 will follow the same patterns over time.
My hat goes off to Sony for making great products and being a pro at making money.
Congrats also go to Nintendo for ressurecting itself in the non-handheld console market.
Japan Christmas
infact the only main thing is that Christmas in Japan is about young couples, you're supposed to spend it with your girlfriend, out in the snow and such like.
But yeah fellow anons speak truth.
PS3 will lose money for years, took the ps2 what, 3 years to break even? Sod the consoles money is made on games.
SONY PS3
they lose money on every console. Nintendo make a profit on ech sale fact. I assume news of them making a profit escaped some posters
Christmas in Japan doesn't really exist
Japan is not a Christian country so Christmas isn't a celebration in the same way as you or I are used to. In fact, Christmas Day is a working day and everything is open (I was at work).
The increase in sales is much more likely due to Westerners buying their consoles before flying home for Christmas.
