@NnamkcebNairb: Ohh dear. Do you even know what Famicom stands for? Come back when you know who Nintendo's core market has *always* been.

iLov3

It's cooling off the UK too, from what I can tell at least. I was able to pick up a Wii a few weeks ago relatively easily, there was also a huge stock of Mario Kart and Brawl available as well.

That said, the hardcore crowd for Wii's in the UK seems to be what the Americans would refer to as Soccer Moms. They're hitting Wii fit, and they're hitting it hard.

Fallible

@El-Suave: Everyone knows that the "Others" are the real rulers of the island.

Vandor

This is what they get for their casual gaming bullshit and forgetting about us hardcore gamers.

NnamkcebNairb

Pretty much almost everyone in Japan that wants one has one (Same goes for U.S.) and almost everyone that doesn't want one, well doesn't have it.

shrek187

almost new colours time then.

eagle14

See!

The Wii is a just fad!!

GHz

There could be a couple turn-arounds:

1) Monster Hunter 3. In Japan, MH2 revived PSP, it may have the same effect for Wii.

2) Dragon Quest IX. The biggest title in Japan this gen, and it's a DS exclusive.

Fryfat2

All they have to do is make a new design change yet again and they will stimulate their growth.

topbravo222

As a European probably raking in the most cash for our Nintendo overlords I feel insulted to be labeled "other". ;-)

El-Suave

*referring to America's demand, of course.

Testamonium

I still will never understand how the demand for that thing keeps rising. I guess it's like the fruit of Tantalus or something, because I sure as hell know that when I ended up getting one, it was a very 'meh' affair. I can't even remember the last time I turned the thing on. Probably sometime shortly after Brawl came out.

Testamonium

This just seems like the natural market progression, no one buys what they already have.

SuperDrybones

What's been the maximum market penetration for a console or handheld in the past in Japan? Has Nintedo saturated the market with it's DS?

popadophalis

You also must surely consider that even with these 'cooling' figures, it's still 3-4 times higher sales figures than any other device or software from the competition.

While strong sales of PSP and Monster Hunter topped the charts, the ground the other systems have to 'make up' on the Wii/DS is staggering. Nintendo were selling some weeks 10 TIMES more units.

I think it's more a question of complete market saturation. The fact they shift enough units each week to still chart, and often at no.1 or 2, is just crazy.

RogueSquid

@enigma776:
One is comparing years, the other is comparing quarters.

Channing

Am I only one confused about this article? I mean it says software sales are down yet this article [kotaku.com] says there up? What Gives.

enigma776

Seeing how Japan has like what, 127 million inhabitants(?), they sold a DS to every 50th Japanese over those 6 months alone. With 22.9 million DSes sold in Japan, that would mean that 18% (or two out of eleven persons) of Japan owns a DS... but then a lot of those are probably people who bought the first one and a lite.

The Wii has sold 6.4 million units in total, which is 5% of the population. But if you would count an average household to be about 3 persons, that would roughly be a Wii in every 7th house.

The Whaleman

These figures really don't mean a great deal on their own imo. How about listing the figures for the same years for the PS2, PS3 and PSP too..?

I'd suspect that all consoles have had similar drops in sales given the state of the Japanese economy during the last few years.

Mind you, the Japanese economy going tits up can only be a good thing when you consider that the price of PC memory keeps on going down lol.

snowdog

@GHz: Yup. Because everyone knows that when your sales have increased, in some cases by millions, over the course of one year, you really are just a fad.

Dude. Numbers are down in Japan, UP everywhere else. I'd assume Japan is probably saturated, and everyone else is still eating this all up.

'tis been a good year for Nintendo (If you don't count E3)

Aerokii

These last four headlines have been confusing. Sales are down, but they're up. And Nintendo's profits are climbing, but nobody's buying their consoles?

*brain melts*

TRT-X

Wel....It did have to eventually hit the point where everyone in Japan ones a DS and a Wii.

Kaijumaster

i'd be suprised if software sales were going down, given that more people own wiis now than did last year... is wii/ds reaching critical mass in JP?

James, just James

I would really not be surprised to see DS *hardware* sales going down. Console sales don't surprise me either - Japan has not been console happy in the last few years, no matter what console it is.

@TRT-X: Nintendo makes profits off the royalties of every single piece of software sold. The money in the gaming industry isn't in the hardware, but what you can do with it.

Rebochan

Lots more great games were released last year for the DS. That and it's probably reaching a saturation point. No brainer really.

subnet6

Ot's not like no one saw this coming. Eventually everyone has a DS/Wii and see no reason to buy another. This is Just a market doing what is normal.

EmeraldDragon

@Rebochan: Majority of revenue does come from software sales, yeah, but as far as console sales go...

Well, it really helps when you sell your console it a profit from the get-go.

Aerokii

@The Whaleman: I was pretty much thinking the same thing. There's only so many people to buy stuff in a given area.

@Testamonium: I'm almost the same way, I played my Wii for about a 2-3 weeks(if that much) after Brawl came out and then turned it on once when I got WiiFit, after that I think my mom has used the Wii more than I have. :/

However, there are actually decent games coming to the Wii... we just have to make sure we don't die of decent game starvation first.

cainxavier

It's all fair enough. There are some really good games on the Gamecube. I really can't afford a Wii after getting my PS3, but a new Gamecube + game for £25? Deal.

Chupakun

Lame attempt at doom and gloom on otherwise incredible earnings Kotaku. This is normal market progression. Besides the PSP, nothing is lighting Japan on fire. DS sales are still robust for being as saturated as it is. And Wii sales are still miles ahead of PS3 sales at a stead 40k - 55k each week.

Kenology

@NnamkcebNairb: You mean making tons of money?
Yeah... let's watch them learn their lesson after making a few billion more dollars more than their competition every quarter for the next two years. That'll show them.

Auhim

For 5 articles in a row on the main page I felt like I was trapped in a endless cycle of the words, "Nintendo", "profits", "sales", "up", and "down".

For a second I thought I was going insane...

fatheadwilson

@Kenology: Agreed.

paeper

Well, I guess somebody realized that there's no new games coming out for either system...

SatansBestBuddy

Perhaps Japan is getting tired of the hometown favorite? Seems unlikely, but the lower figures were only in Japan. Everywhere else saw an increase.

Lazlo

@dipsetboy17: If by 'hardcore' you mean 'fps' games, then yes. It has plenty of 'hardcore games'.

Triple A titles? A decent amount, but Nintendo's had no shortage either. Within the console's first couple of years we were given Mario Galaxy, Legend of Zelda, Metroid 3, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros Brawl, RE4 (best on the wii, in my opinion), Okami (also improved on Wii), and many more franchise games to look forward to, most likely in 2009.

Saying Nintendo has no hardcore games is incorrect. Just because it doesn't have all the same stuff as the Xbox does not make it any less of a console.

Aerokii

I'd be interested in the general trend of console sales, among other electronics as well. I know the PS3 did better (I'm not sure how much of a feat that was), but the earlier report was that otherwise Sony took a hit. Keeping in mind that for a while now the US economy has been sluggish, how much does that affect Japan's economy? There are a myriad of other factors worth considering besides just "hey, we sold less consoles."

Saxboy

Japan's market is saturated with Wii and DS's. That's why the PSP is probably picking up pace.

Now that people have the DS and Wii, let's hope Nintendo revisits the linking of the two consoles idea. A new Four Swords would be most excellent. No cables to buy, only 4 DSes (which everyone should have one by now) and a Wii (which everyone should have one)... it's a no brainer.

emuc64

but is Nintendo forgetting about the hardcore? that's what i wanna know. when i bought the wii, i expected to play more games. i don't even play it anymore. i guess it's Nintendo cross to the casual side. oh well time for xbox 360 fun. at least the xbox 360 has lots of hardcore games that appeal to the hardcore. just so many AAA games it's just ridiculous.

dipsetboy17

Ummmm Bashcraft....just how DID you get numbers for Q1 2009? If you are in possession of a crystal ball, please allow me to use it on occasion. ;)

Knoxximus (360/PSN)

@Kenology: My DS gets used. My wii not so much. My PS3 is always on and my 360 and PSP gets used fairly regularly. It's not just him.

kingmanic

@Aerokii: I understand what you´re trying to defend, but take off of your list sequels and remakes and you would end up with nothing, the only new games Nintendo has done in the last months are games aimed to casual gamers, i guess that´s where the argument about hardor-forgetting Nintendo comes from...

Daisuash

@Heyyou27:

I only have cookies in mint chocolate chip and oatmeal. You'll have to do with one of those two.

cellshadedninja

Hopefully it keeps on going that way, so that Nintendo actually has to care again at there Fans who holded up there flag over so much struggles in past console generations and they have to come up with something that is worth to put back some electrizity into my Wii and play some real games again on it.

fELIXADER

@Heyyou27:
So, that's just you. No one cares.

Kenology

I just hope this pushes them to release better software and the third parties to release less shovelware. Also, i hope casual market dies in a horrible and slow way.

Daisuash

I own both the Wii and DS but haven't turned either on in weeks. My PS3 gets used the most, with my 360 pretty close behind.

Heyyou27

@kingmanic:

So, that's just you and Heyyou27. No one cares.

But seriously, you should never use anecdotal "evidence" to guage how a particular product is performing. Clearly, people are playing their Wii's if nintendo is selling fuck tons of software for it. If you don't play your Wii, tha's fine, do you. Not to crumble your ivory tower, but your gaming habits don't represent everyones.

Kenology

@kingmanic:

Holy crap. You mean a WHOLE TWO PEOPLE have the same gaming habits. OMG!!!

Oh shit, I almost forgot. People like you don't matter at all to the big corps. Thats why the DS and Wii rape the sales on all their competition.

cellshadedninja

@Rebochan: Nintendo Consoles and Sony consoles tend to make money on individual units. The only ones selling at a loss is MS. The PS3 may still be losing a bit per unit but that hasn't been confirmed or denied by sony. The highest margin is on the accesory crap. Like wii fit boards, controllers, memory cards, massively inflated 360 extra hardware, cases, cables, and useless plastic junk like the wii crossbow shit. Games kick back a little through licensing but makes up for it in volume.

kingmanic

@Daisuash:

"the only new games Nintendo has done in the last months are games aimed to casual gamers"

Not really. Mario Kart Wii and WiiFit were both released around the same time. Mario Kart has never been considered a casual game. Not on the N64, not on the Gamecube and it isn't now either except by fanboys who need something to bash.

Coming this fall, Nintendo is releasing Animal Crossing and WiiMusic.

This is their trend. One game for the more casual market and One game for the more traditional market. Also note, hardcore is a meaningless piece of terminology as there is no definitive definition for it.

NeoAkira

you are right aerokii, the wii does have hardcore games. it's just that lately, they have been focusing on the casual a little bit too much. i don't blame them for doing that at all, but i just don't want them to forget who played their consoles throughout the years. i have only been around since the ps1-n64 generation cause i was born in 1991. Nintendo had many hardcore games back then and still are making them for the loyal people. i guess they are focusing on the causal more because they don't want to be like the rest. i guess this bias against nintendo all of a sudden came up within me when e3 2008 came around. i still want to try the xbox 360 though. alot of my friends have xbox 360 more than wii. i like a little fps here and there. as long as it has a good story and awesome game play, I'll try it. i like adventure games also. the xbox 360 has lots of rpg's coming soon so i might want to play one of those because i haven't played a rpg since i got (the world ends with you)last month . i want all the companies to do good(Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony) but i just don't want them to forget about who really buys their systems and games.

dipsetboy17

Whoops! Got my Fiscal years crossed with the normal years. My bad!

Knoxximus (360/PSN)

They saturated the Japanese market. Plain and simple.

ViewtifulJason

@Kenology: Software attach rates show the interest is well... casual. That's a solid stat. People buy less games per unit time per unit machine.

kingmanic

so it does make sense to have a wii and a xbox 360 or a wii and a ps3. well i have a wii already and I'm just gonna get a xbox 360 and use the wii as a side console.

dipsetboy17

First off. How many hardcore wii games from nintendo came out? ITs also not even 2 years since launch. You guys complained about a lack of games for launch so nintendo said fine and released tons of their games for launch. No veerybody is complaining that there is a big gap.

Nintendo isnt gods. They can only make a certain amount of games at a shot. it takes what a year or so to make a hardcore game so we wont be seeing more nintendo character hardcore games till next year.

Also I still cant get wiifit . Its still sold out here (US) so nintendo must still be doing good here in the US at least.

majortom1029

@Daisuash: Hmm... didn't see any 'remakes' on my list... ports, yes, remakes, no. Alright, let's add a bit to my list that I chose to leave off last time, keeping in mind sales numbers don't (always) indicate the status of A's it has.. Boom Blox, Zack and Wiki, No More Heroes, and eventually, Mad World.

There could be more, I understand. But it really bugs me when people talk about how the Wii has no 'hardcore' titles, after the first two years when we were flooded with them, sequels or not.

@NeoAkira: Right as usual. Couldn't have said it better myself.

@dipsetboy17: Perhaps I overreacted a bit, and for this I apologize. By all means, try other consoles. The 360's got some great games, and that's not something I can even try to deny. Even the PS3 has a few gems here and there that I'd like to pick up (not that I can currently afford it.) Limiting yourself to one console, if you can get others, seems like a waste.

As for the combination you should get? Well, that's up to you. I recommend the 360/Wii combo, but it depends on wha games you like.

Aerokii

@kingmanic:

Then I guess the PS3 is also casual and even more so than the Wii since it has a lower attach rate. Lol you trolls and your failing arguments, it's the same thing thread after thread.

NeoAkira

@dipsetboy17:

I'd say Wii and PS3 because AFAIK many games that are on the Wii can be found on either 360 or PS3, but PS3 has more upcoming exclusives and such; plus you can use it to handle all your HD stuff, playing movies, etc...mostly multimedia stuff that the Xbox doesn't do.

man in gauze is king ramses II, silly.

@NeoAkira: Well, Mario Kart is a casual game, it´s just that it was released way before the casual trend started, i´m not saying MK is a bad game, it´s pretty good (specially the one in N64) but the truth about most of Nintendo games (except for Zelda and Metroid, Galaxy too) is that they´re aimed towards more casual and relaxed audiences, it´s just the fans that usually turns them into hardcore games. Like SSB, it´s just an attempt to make a cartoony fighter, but the fans are the ones who often say it is as deep as Virua fighter or tekken, something that´s very wrong. Also, i own a Wii, so i´m speaking with facts.

@Aerokii: Like i said, i own a Wii, and i never felt it was flooded with hardcore titles, maybe just in the first months, but after that became really false, the only thing i feel we´re being flooded with is shovelware and ports (my bad on the term, sorry) which i already own in other consoles. Boom Blox is casual, since is from EA casual development team...

Daisuash

@dipsetboy17: Yup, I saw it, but I like to apologize just in case- if not to you then to everyone forced to read when I believe myself to be overreacting like that.

But! Anyway... well, yeah, Nitendo HAD to support itself the past two generations. The N64 didn't have third party support, nor did the Gamecube. Now they're getting some, and Nintendo can rest a bit easier. Though this hasn't really changed them at all...

Nintendo hasn't ever really tried to make 'hardcore' games. They've made games that are easy to pick up and play. Simple, fun games. Just look at Mario. Super Mario Bros on the NES is simple and addictive, but it's got some challenge to it too, if you're a younger or inexperienced gamer. I doubt anyone would call it 'casual', especially not at the time. Things are no different now. Nintendo's making games that are possible for almost anyone to just pick up and play. That doesn't mean that there can't be difficulty or a good story to it. It just means that people who once found games too complex are getting into it now, which increases not only Nintendo's profits, but the amount of people willing to call themselves gamers. And that's gotta be good for the industry.

And like I said, get the 360 if you want. I would too if I had the money... I really want to play Ninja Giaden, sinec I enjoyed the first one on Xbox.

Aerokii

that's the combo that i would like to get aerokii. the 360/wii combo is great just in case either one comes with games that might appeal to me. as your your apology, you dont have to apologize. i understand where you are coming from. u see what i wrote earlier right? just look. and i know that the wii has a lot of games that might appeal to my liking, but it just doesn't feel right idk. i guess it's because all the other games are from third-party developers and i'm so used to first-party games from Nintendo themselves. aren't we all used to Nintendo being independent when it came to games being on their console? i'm gonna keep my wii just in case, and i want a xbox 360 later this year or early next year. i'm not in a rush to get one, but i would like one.

dipsetboy17

i wanna sell my nintendo ds and buy another one later. right now, my pc is keeping me from going insane from boredom. i'm not gonna sell my wii though cause nintendo always full of surprises. my nintendo ds mic doesnt even work lol and i lost both of my sticks so time to sell it.

dipsetboy17

@Qui-GonJim: It's a term I hate using, and hopefully one that fades fast. I don't even like 'core' gamer. Can't we all just be gamers?

Aerokii

DS Software
•Japan
Actual Apr. - June '07: 9,790,000
Actual Apr. - June '08: 4,930,000

No AAA titles this month?

Marduk

Is anyone else tired of the expression "hardcore gamer" and those that fancy themselves such?

Qui-GonJim

@dipsetboy17: I don't believe it's a fad. To all the casual gamers, it may seem like one, but ideally, we'll see some of them stick to it, or start trying harder games. Hopefully the Wii can act as a gateway to all sorts of different games and consoles- because before it, the market wasn't growing at near this rate.

and yeah, the DS is awesome. I'm almost done with my first run of FFIV, and I can't wait to start my second, with the bonus dungeons.

Aerokii

@Daisuash: Casual, heh? Tell that to my friend with a black eye. If beating the crap outta someone for going against an alliance doesn't count as hardcore, then I've got no idea what does.

Boom Blox's status aside, I wouldn't blame any of the shovelwear on Nintendo. Yes, they allow it to be made. But as long as they profit from it, what should they care? If you have complaints about shovelwear, take it to third party developers (mostly Ubisoft), and start from there.

As for the rest of what you said, once more I have to disagree. I ask now for your definition of hardcore, so that we may figure out what exactly we're talking about here. But before that, allow me to begin with SSBB. I don't believe that people are wrong if they say it's just as deep as Tekken or any of the rest. It doesn't have crazy insane long Combos like they do, but what it does have is extremely strategic play, with focus on air combat and a variety of unique characters, even if you remove the so called 'clones' from the roster. They removed some of the little tricks from melee, yes, but that's because they're no longer needed. You can become just as advanced at this game, just ask any tournament player. As I was saying to Dipset, Nintendo's always had a focus on games that are easy to pick up and play. Those same games, though, can be near impossible to master. So, for the casuals, they can have their fun and stand a chance against an average player, but if you take the time to master the game, people will have a tough time standing up to you. Just like any other fighter.

Aerokii

you are very correct aerokii. in earlier console generations, Nintendo had to stand on it's on because no third-party game developers believed in it. and it's always good to hear that the video game industry is still alive and well. i guess I'm just being spoiled too much with video games that always catered to me that i accept nothing less. in fact, i had strong memories of the game boy line then the game consoles. ill never forget those great times. Nintendo was strong in those times, and they still are. i just hope that this isn't some huge fad for the wii, that's all. i know it sure isnt for the nintendo ds because it has some great games.

dipsetboy17

@iLov3: I was a devoted Nintendo fanboy until the Wii came out. I know perfectly well what kind of games they produce and I see what garbage they're spewing out now. They have no interest in their roots anymore or the franchises that brought them to where they are.

NnamkcebNairb

naw, i still wanna sell my nintendo ds anyway so i can get a shiny new one.

dipsetboy17

@NnamkcebNairb:Take off those blinders. They haven't changed. You have and and the venom filled tit your sucking from is poisoning your view. It's also making you irrelevant

@dipsetboy17:Why don't you call Nintendo and send it in for repair? You do know that they do a disgusting amount of repairs for free, right? Also selling damaged hardware=bad mojo.

@Qui-GonJim:Seeing that most of the most narrow minded, venom drinking hatemongers on here live by it, yeah i'm really sick of it.

@kingmanic:Irrelevant you are.

Foxstar Sixtail

It does look like its legitimately cooling off. Just look at the software sales comparisons. One could say that wii gaming growth has definitely slowed in japan from those numbers. At least compared to April of the previous year.

Kounji

@dipsetboy17:It still wouldn't hurt to have a fully repaired system ready to sell. Also, it's not uncommon for Nintendo to simply swap out systems sent in for repair for brand new ones.

Foxstar Sixtail

Maybe it's because most of the people who want one already have one.

Placentasaurus

@dArk_stAr: actually, their rate of dominion gained is the only thing that's suffered, and that's only in Japan. Their actual quantity of dominion held over all hasn't really changed.

Aerokii

lots of Nintendo news, and it sums up them having slightly less dominion over all.

dArk_stAr

Companies are starting to care less about catering to Japan and this proves why. No doubt that Nintendo has made a more than tidy profit from the Japanese market but with a population of 127 million (with probably less than 50% being in the console market) there's only so much to sell and the fact that they have vastly different tastes in games from the rest of the world means that companies could make more profit from a totally NA and Europe-centric game than one that sells well in Japan.

blind_assassin

@GHz: Did you think that sales would continue to increase for the next ten years?

Hion

@kingmanic:

lolz! Try again good sir! [www.joystiq.com]

Next anti-Wii rallying point please.

Kenology

The sales may be on their way down, but havn't they already beaten all the records?

I'm guessing that the next nintendo console will be on another level.

I can't wait.

GOD

Here's hoping PSP and PS3 will pick up some steam, primarily because I am tired of seeing Wii Play, Wii Fit, Carnival Games, and Brain Training constantly on the top 10, while games that are actually good don't have more than a week or two impact on sales charts (MGS4 for example).

gencid

oh i reformatted my pc again to make it seem like a better computer. i have faith in nintendo that they will do the right thing for all audiences. i still wanna pick up a xbox 360 though cause u just cant lie about the amount of AAA games it has.

dipsetboy17

gonna have to say that's it only natural that the growth taper off. Everyone that wanted one badly's already got it. Now tehy're just trying to get the rest of the casual gaming crowd.

thegforceman

It's the same with broadband sales; this past quarter only ~50k new accounts. That compared to 500k every quarter strong for years. The market has been tapped. That, and the fact that after the innovation has been explored already, the novelty of a new gimmick isn't as appealing. People are going back to what they know to be fun and work; thus why the PS3 has seen a resurgence. That, and the looming HDTV deadline in February 2009 is making HDTV sales skyrocket; making the PS3 seem much more appealing. Mommy and Daddy will sacrifice the $400 for a shiny new Bluray player that will also shut the kids up. That, and WoW.

kRaSh32

i want that new castlevania that is coming out the nintendo ds. 2d castlevania games never get boring no matter how many of them come out lol. who agrees with me?

dipsetboy17

Doesn't everyone in Japan own 2 DS's already. I'm suprised the sales are still hanging in.

ten10