• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

April 2012 NPD Sales Results [Up3: Best selling game sold less than 236K, Kid Icarus]

I think you've over thought it. The real problem is that the "mature" audience that buys Sony's flagship IP really don't want a dedicated handheld to go with their PS3. Who really has the time to be playing games at home and then be playing them when they are out too?

Children. Nintendo's target audience.

People's time is finite, especially the audience that Sony target.

I still disagree. People go where the games are. Up until the DS Nintendo IP's on their handhelds have always underperformed compared to their console counterparts, even when the console sold much less than the handheld. However when the DS came around the trend reversed. Why? Because they started treating their handheld entries as well actual entries instead of second tier outsourced games or ports of ten year old games.

Yes Sony's demographic has something to do with it, but even little kids would prefer to play Mario on the big screen. If Sony put in as much effort as Nintendo on their IP's on Vita they and the Vita would sell better.

Hell by your argument Sony handheld software sales should be doing gangbusters in Japan but with the exception of Monster Hunter surges its been mediocre.
 

Haint

Member
I think you've over thought it. The real problem is that the "mature" audience that buys Sony's flagship IP really don't want a dedicated handheld to go with their PS3. Who really has the time to be playing games at home and then be playing them when they are out too?

Children. Nintendo's target audience.

People's time is finite, especially the audience that Sony target.

This is why it was (IMO) a blunderous oversight for Sony to omit video out. Vita (and especially its software) would do a lot better with its current 20-something target audience if it had HDMI out. For most adults, it simply doesn't make sense to sit at home hunched over a 5" portable while their 60" TV and surround sound sits dark. Unfortunately, they just had the bright idea that they could sell 2 copies of the same game, so they nixed out.
 
I couldn't disagree with this more that it wouldn't help. Actually I will say that this is the crux of the very issue why Nintendo handhelds sell easily while the Sony handhelds do not. Yes the problem is perception, but there is a reason why Nintendo doesn't have a problem with that perception while Sony does. The reason why Nintendo IP's on handhelds move the systems unit and not Sony's IPs on their handhelds is because Nintendo has earned the reputation of putting quality entries on the system. Mario Kart on the 3DS isn't a throw away entry, its the next addition hence the 7. Super Mario 3D land is the next big Mario game, even made by the Galaxy team. Nintendogs and Cats? Same thing. And looking at the future this seems to continue. Paper Mario 3DS is made by the team that makes the rest of the series, same thing with Animal Crossing. And honestly this isn't anything new. Nintendo has earned this. With the Nintendo DS they had a true sequel to Super Mario Bros, Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, etc. and have been rewarded for it. Hell they even the same thing happened with 3rd parties with games like Dragon Quest and you see the same effect today with Monster Hunter 4 on the platform.

Sony couldn't be any more different. During the PSP years by giving high profile games like God of War, Socom, and the like to 2nd tier (at best) 3rd party developers and while the games were enjoyable they weren't even close to the real thing. People knew this and that's why the games failed to move units because they weren't "the next mainline addition to the franchise" but more so a "spinoff" or "the handheld entry". And the sales reflect this.

So you believe that Ghost of Sparta is the best God of War game. So what? You are in a minority with this. And as someone who has played Ghost of Sparta and III I can't imagine how you could think that. But opinions are opinions, and yours is like I said in the minority. One of the games was a multimillion seller and on the top 5 of GAFs GOTY poll. The other only charted at #4 on the best PSP game of that year. Thats some disparity. "But I know plenty of people who think that the best version of Resistance and Socom are on the PSP!" So what? I know a fair amount of people who believe that Street Fighter EX 3 is the best Street Fighter game or that Metroid Prime Hunters DS is as good as the Gamecube versions (no I'm not making this shit up). You don't think sales will reflect this?

The reason why people don't get amped up to Sony's entries on their handheld is the same reason millions of people didn't flock to buy Resident Evil: Revelations. Because people know, or think they know that the game is the "handheld entry" or the "spin-off". They don't look at Resident Evil: Revelations and think "Oh my God! Its the next Resident Evil game!" they think "Oh they made a Resident Evil game for the 3DS. Cool." Again not the next mainline entry but merely another handheld entry.

And this is the reason why Uncharted won't move Vitas and why when Animal Crossing or New Super Mari Bros. 3DS comes out people will be lining up outside of Gamestop. Because with the Vita versions they aren't the next mainline entries. Not the same developer, not the same budget, not the same attention or care. With the 3DS games its the exact same developer, similar budget, and same attention and care. You may disagree with this, but the general populace does and the purchasing habits reflect this. And until Sony realizes that they need compelling content to sell their system and not just big title games developed by second string developers with the occasional niche game here and there they might as well bow out of the race.
Honestly, this is pretty much why I have a DS and 3DS but no PSP/Vita, but I have both a PS3 and a Wii. Very little that wasn't a rehash or budge game seemed to come out for the PSP. Now, that's not always the case, and over time the system gained some really nice titles, but I never felt like it came close to the DS. I am interested in buying the Vita to get two system's worth of games for one purchase, though.
 

salpa

Banned
Fun anecdote: I have NEVER seen a child with a DS or 3DS.

I HAVE seen tourists taking pictures with DSi consoles and I have seen college students with 3DS's and DSi's.
 

Ranger X

Member
Ok sorry, I just cliked on the thread its like I never seen such a drop (almost).
What the fuck happened? You guys were busy in April and didn't buy anything? (me I was broke as fuck but it was because of school)
 

Dunlop

Member
Fun anecdote: I have NEVER seen a child with a DS or 3DS.

I HAVE seen tourists taking pictures with DSi consoles and I have seen college students with 3DS's and DSi's.

Taking the commuter train and subway each day, I cannot remember the last time I saw a student (i see hundreds each day) have anything except a smartphone or Ipad (non Ipad tablets are a rare site also).

Until Nintendo/Sony adapt to this it will only get worse from them.

I have two 3ds's for the kids...and they fight over my 3 year old Ipod touch when we go on trips
 
Taking the commuter train and subway each day, I cannot remember the last time I saw a student (i see hundreds each day) have anything except a smartphone or Ipad (non Ipad tablets are a rare site also).

Until Nintendo/Sony adapt to this it will only get worse from them.

I have two 3ds's for the kids...and they fight over my 3 year old Ipod touch when we go on trips

What do you think Nintendo or Sony could realistically do to adapt? They wouldn't be able to create a smartphone or tablet that could compete with Apple.
 

BurntPork

Banned
Taking the commuter train and subway each day, I cannot remember the last time I saw a student (i see hundreds each day) have anything except a smartphone or Ipad (non Ipad tablets are a rare site also).

I do the same, and I see quite a few 3DS's daily. Most days I get 10 StreetPass hits, and I frequently SP new people.

Anecdotal evidence isn't reliable.
 

Dunlop

Member
What do you think Nintendo or Sony could realistically do to adapt? They wouldn't be able to create a smartphone or tablet that could compete with Apple.

They need to break from the model they have been using the past decade. They don't need $1 games but they need to realize that no one is going to pay $40 anymore.

I picked up an Optimus Black for $150 a couple of weeks ago, even removing the phone aspect I have a crapton more utility that the 3ds or Vita.

So games are too expensive...other portable alternatives for everything else for much much cheaper. Not a promising landscape without innovation on their end

Simply they need to find a compelling reason to make people want a portable system to turn the tide.
 

LuchaShaq

Banned
Fun anecdote: I have NEVER seen a child with a DS or 3DS.

I HAVE seen tourists taking pictures with DSi consoles and I have seen college students with 3DS's and DSi's.

Anecdotes mean nothing.

I have never seen anyone besides myself with a ds that could have been older than about ten.
 

stuminus3

Member
Taking the commuter train and subway each day, I cannot remember the last time I saw a student (i see hundreds each day) have anything except a smartphone or Ipad (non Ipad tablets are a rare site also).

Until Nintendo/Sony adapt to this it will only get worse from them.

I have two 3ds's for the kids...and they fight over my 3 year old Ipod touch when we go on trips
I haven't SEEN another passenger with a non-smartphone/iPad device. But I get shitloads of streetpass tags every single day on my train so I know there's a ton of 3DS players out there. I see smartphones and iPads everywhere, like every other passenger has a device like that, but very, very few of them are playing games, not even Angry Birds.

In conclusion, anecdotal evidence is irrelevant and somewhat shit.
 

ZenaxPure

Member
Taking the commuter train and subway each day, I cannot remember the last time I saw a student (i see hundreds each day) have anything except a smartphone or Ipad (non Ipad tablets are a rare site also).

Until Nintendo/Sony adapt to this it will only get worse from them.

I have two 3ds's for the kids...and they fight over my 3 year old Ipod touch when we go on trips

Anecdotes are pretty fun, here's mine:

I spent every day riding the bus to classes while in college, I saw plenty of people with DS/3DSes (usually playing Pokemon, unsurprisingly, also no PSPs, again unsurprisingly) and pretty much never saw anyone playing games on their phones (it was just all texting all the time).

Yes I sit in the back and am the creepy guy who likes to observe what everyone else is doing.
 

Izayoi

Banned
The sales kinda backup said evidence. If you think the current model used by Sony (and a lesser extend Nintendo who can bank on their first party titles) is still viable, then great
Boy, you sure don't seem to have a vested interest in this at all. Anecdotal evidence is completely worthless.

For every iDevice I saw at college I got three Streetpass tags.

Isn't this fun?
 

Dunlop

Member
damn you people get defensive.

I stated
- What I observe on my daily commute
- I own 2 3DS's
- kids prefer the Ipod touch when given the choice

Of course none of this is global facts, the sales of these portable systems are diminishing..that is fact

It's a box that entertains you on the go, why people have an emotional attachment to it is beyond me

Go read a nintendo power or play with sonic dolls to relive the glory days, times are changing and they need to change with them too to stay relivant.
 

ZenaxPure

Member
Of course none of this is global facts, the sales of these portable systems are diminishing..that is fact

How is this a fact when the very first post of this thread has a quote where the 3DS is currently outselling the DS 14 months into their respective lives? This is also ignoring for a moment that the 3DS has not had a big casual hit of its own yet and there is currently no 3DS pokemon game.

Now, will the 3DS have one of those big casual hits? That is certainly arguable, but so far you've posted no actual facts to back up your argument and there is a quote on the first page that states the exact opposite.
 
I think people prefer to have an iphone over a 3DS in the same way you'd prefer to have a car over a bicycle.

Incidentally, I don't have an iphone (but do have a car!), but the idea is that the iPhone (and touch and pad and all other similarly named devices) is a multi-functional device while the 3DS plays video games. Yes, it can play music and take photos, but it's not the main appeal of the device. The iphone combines several gadgets into one.

This is why I don't think 3DS vs. iphone is a fair comparison, and Nintendo generally isn't going for the same market as Apple. Apple makes its money selling hardware and promoting owning iproducts as the "hip" thing or whatever, and promote a certain identity for their hardware. Nintendo's hardware is merely the ecosystem in which the next mario, pokemon, zelda, etc. exists and can be found for the determined fan, who are in significant numbers. For Nintendo it's a means to an end, for Apple it is their entire business.

If they were to play it easy they could probably just release a mid-level console every five years or so, put all their major franchises on it and pull in the same 10 million gamers, but you know, go big or go home. If they did things easy they would have just released their games on iOS already.

3DS numbers will probably pick up when NSMB2 and Pokemon Black 2/White 2 come out (the latter is a DS game but I'm sure Nintendo will promote 3DS compatibility in their advertising for it first and foremost).
 

matmanx1

Member
Funnily enough I spent a fair chunk of change on gaming in April but most of it went to sources outside of NPD tracking.

I bought Disgaea 3 directly from the NIS online store.

I bought a Japanese 3DS from NCSX.com, Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project Mirai from Play-Asia.com and Code of Princess from AmiAmi.

I bought stuff. Just nothing that would have been counted in NPD.
 
Kid Icarus 83K..Damn.
Were people expecting that? I thought it would do at least 150+

Go read a nintendo power or play with sonic dolls to relive the glory days, times are changing and they need to change with them too to stay relivant.

Hahaha I actually had some sonic dolls when I was younger. Those things were bad ass.
 
After doing 135k in its first month? Really?

Didn't it only have 5 days in NPD last month or am I mixing stuff up?

In one month? No, but it's been top 10 individual sku the past 2 months which is better then I could have ever dreamed for the game. I also feel it'll be a game that continues to sell well even if it's under the radar.

Ah okay good.
I finally got a chance to play it this last week. Really great stuff.
 
Kid Icarus 83K..Damn.
Were people expecting that? I thought it would do at least 150+



Hahaha I actually had some sonic dolls when I was younger. Those things were bad ass.

In one month? No, but it's been top 10 individual sku the past 2 months which is better then I could have ever dreamed for the game. I also feel it'll be a game that continues to sell well even if it's under the radar.
 

A Human Becoming

More than a Member
No leaks on HW whatsoever? wow
352ol5.jpg

I know people have bitched since NPD stop releasing sales numbers but man, we're not even getting leaks anymore.

Fun anecdote: I have NEVER seen a child with a DS or 3DS.
My anecdote: I know at least 2-3 kids in the classroom I work with who have a 3DS.
 

Mpl90

Two copies sold? That's not a bomb guys, stop trolling!!!
0sDD6.png


So

April 2012 YTD approximation

Wii - 643.000
PS3 - 1.044.400
360 - 1.311.000

Considering the YTD since March ( based on MS and Nintendo PRs)

360 1.067m
PS3 0.885m
WII 0.555m

We would have for this month

Wii - 88.000
PS3 - 159.400
360 - 244.000

Considering 360 actually did 236k, this should, and I repeat, SHOULD be a good approximation. Tell me what you think about it.

EDIT: Probably miladsen's attempt is better XD
 

BKK

Member
According to several analyst comments, it appears that combined sales of Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles down 18% year-over-year.

PS3:
((204,300 + 297,000) x .82) - 236,000 = 175,066
 

mclem

Member
I think you've over thought it. The real problem is that the "mature" audience that buys Sony's flagship IP really don't want a dedicated handheld to go with their PS3. Who really has the time to be playing games at home and then be playing them when they are out too?

Children. Nintendo's target audience.

Commuters?
 

Miles X

Member
Wii would have also sold between 66k-116k going by Wii+PS3=266k and PS3=150k-200k.

And then the apparent Wii <100k thing plus vita under 83k thing...we can narrow to 83k-100k, which narrows ps3 to...never mind i'm confused somebody else try

Anyways Wii <100k is shockingly bad too, even though all the attention is going to Vita's shockingly bad.

I have Wii at 172k for April 11, so maybe as much as ~50% decline.

The thing for Wii is all hardware is dropping so drastically, 360 is having a harder time catching it. I've been expecting 360 to pick up 200k/month average (2m) on Wii life to date in the ten months Jan-12/Oct 12, but with absolute numbers this low it's tough.

It's doing better YoY. Jan - Apr last year 360 outsold Wii by 410k, this year it's 657k.

As long as it keeps that pace up it should be well below 2.5m by the end of the year.
 

mclem

Member
Ok sorry, I just cliked on the thread its like I never seen such a drop (almost).
What the fuck happened? You guys were busy in April and didn't buy anything? (me I was broke as fuck but it was because of school)

Everyone was spending money on Kickstarters instead, clearly.

(Actually, that was facetious, but I note that Wasteland 2 effectively sold 60k copies (WW) in April. I wonder how many US purchasers there were, and where it would chart)
 
Top Bottom