DS Sales Double In Japan (Thanks Dragon Quest IX!)

@WylieEunomia: Its because people are interested in seeing the numbers of one of the other main game producing regions in the world.

@NitroAML: The button is inside of the clamshell. Extra outside pressure seems to lead the upper screen to press down on the power button somehow shutting it off. Is the only explanation I can think of when I looked at my friends DSi. Plus with how he carries it around I see it being the most likely case.

@Leanid: One problem with Japan though is the low birthrate within the country now.

@GiffordTydeus: Call me crazy but I think Tecmo-Koei or whatever they call themselves now should go and make a portable DSi version of their Monster Farm series. Except use the camera to take pictures of objects in the world which would turn into monsters in game.

Or something along that line would be highly interesting. If anything it has the possibility of being a hit with kids.

@MooglesInMyFace: People make fun of Nintendo for going after kids, but it's perhaps one of the best markets to go after simply because how quickly it's replenished. Same as Disney.

Leanid

Because the handheld race is the most important in Japan, unlike the rest of the world, the DS sales boast due to Dragon Quest IX's success is helping the DS expand its lead over the PSP. How many DS units sold in Japan by the end of this generation is yet to be known, but we know that it has out-sold the PS2 as the best-selling gaming system in Japanese history.

Since the Japanese gaming market is down about 23% from last year, would the sales of DQIX help bring the market out of its slump?

VolettaHybris

I am waiting for NINTENDO to do something with the DSi cameras. I just got one and had to send it for repair, a week and a half after I bought it. A pixel was missing on the upper screen.
I bought the thing because I thought that they were going to use the cameras for games. Wario Snaped on the DSi Channel is fun, but gets a little annoying when trying to play it at different locations. It seems to work better in very bright rooms.

Anyway, I really would love to see NINTENDO go along with their plans of incorporating the DSi cameras within games as special features for DSi only.

GiffordTydeus

@Witzbold: How can you accidentally turn the DSi off in your pocket?

@SacGamer: I bought one and I play Pokemon all the time.

No way...

@fdisk: Not to mention if you carry the thing around in your pocket caseless or so there is a chance that the power button can get pressed shutting off the DS.



Its the same for the side switch, but still guess either one is a kick to the nuts if it occurs.



Happens to my friend quite often it seems. Since he carries his DSi around in his back pocket.

@ShadowOdin isn't american: No. You mean 3rd DS. Most of them probably already owned a DS lite, and a DSi.

Sheesh.. I'd like to know just how many video game consoles they have in every Japanese household.. XD

@ShadowOdin isn't american: In the UK, a lot of people buy Football Manager as their only video game each time a new version is being released. I suspect it might be the same for Japan and Dragon Quest.



Also, the nostalgic nature of the game, brings out of the woodwork many occasional/former gamers in their late 30s (that surprisingly did not buy a DS for Brain Training!).

@MelodyKitn:

GBA slot.

@MelodyKitn:

I bought a DS Lite instead of a DSi because I have not need nor desire for the camera, internal storage, or the 0.25 extra inches of screen real state. I'd rather save myself the $60 :)



I just want it for the old school JRPGs anyway.

This game is one of the reasons I finally gave in and bought a DS yesterday.

@WylieEunomia:




Well the more sales a system has the more customers there are. The bigger the userbase the more attractive the system is to developers. For example the gamecube in the last gen had a small user base compared to the PS2 and Xbox and so started to lose games. It just wasn't worth companies investing the money in developing games for it.

@ShadowOdin isn't american: No, that means that a lot of dragon quest fans (possibly ps2 users) finally decided to get one, I can´t belive the amount of mature people I see on the launch pictures, I think there are a lot of old gamers returning to the scene just for this one game.

@kingpan:



The DS isn't going to hit a saturation point as long as there's a group of kids each year who hit the age where they want a DS and the parents are ok with it.

MooglesInMyFace

You would think the DS saturation point would have been just around the corner.... Yet they just keep selling. Yet the DS seems to be able to do everything now....

@MelodyKitn: DSi still seems like a downgrade to me. You wouldn't want it if you play Pokemon...which many many DS owners do.

SacGamer

Does DQ IX have any extra features for the DSi? I wonder if some were upgrading so they wouldn't missout on some bonus features.

AncientUnknown1

@MelodyKitn: They are talking about the DSi, probably including the DS, too. The DS Lite is only selling around 5,000 a week or so ... the DSi is the one selling 50,000. Reuters just didn't make it clear.

@MelodyKitn:



who says they didn't? :D

So I guess that means that a lot of people bought a second DS just for this game

Are they just taping them to the older DS's they already own?

I'm surprised that those who bought a new DS didn't just splurge a little extra for the DSi.