I think the reason the PS2 and PS3 are neck in neck has to do with the whole casual-focus of the PS2 right now (Japan does love its casual games, no?) whereas the PS3 is uber-expensive.

As for the success of the PSP? People realizing that it is a quality platform that lets them do things that a Gameboy/DS never could in terms of storage and graphics?

Or it could be that the Japanese are just out and out unpredictable. And insane in the good way.

armless-phelan

@Ad-hominem: And you actually believed them? That's just PR work for you, all bullshit and simply there for hype something that isn't true for the sake of creating demand for a product you normally wouldn't want.

Thunder-1

360's not doing all that horribly really. Especially when you consider that Sony isnt doing all that great with the PS3.

Everyones getting their casual fix though...

Hopefully MS will get prepared for the next several JRPG launches.

Altima NEO

Microsoft is making the same mistake Sony and Nintendo did their first time out this gen. Not enough systems to meet demand, so now they run the risk that when they actually DO get the systems to the country that needs them, they might not be so desired.

One thing I wish Namco would do is come out and say they are working on a PS3 enhanced version. Who are they kidding? I speak based on their history this gen. Enchanted Arms? 360 exclusive turned into an enhanced PS3 port. Eternal Sonata? 360 exclusive turned into an enhanced PS3 port. Why would I believe they wouldn't try and make more money, especially seeing as how many Tales games are already on Sony systems?

GKFinns

@Ad-hominem:

They found a few thousand spare units down the back of a couch.

Marlor

The only reason they would run out is if they didn't allocate as much to that territory in the first place because they didn't have huge sales projections.

HalcyonX12

@excel_excel: Yea I didn't mean just recently, they used to be a tad bit higher than that I believe. Some months ago.

Candlejack

@Candlejack: last few weeks its been practically, PS2 sales and with PS3 just a thousand more.

excel_excel

Xbox360 suddenly increases in price. Artificial supply problems? Like the Wii?

antisniper

@excel_excel:
MS needs to step up 360 production. I know they say they will have more in September, but with the JRPG exclusives they have upcoming they need to get the ball rolling, like NOW.

SpishackCola

@excel_excel: I think PS3 sales took quite a hit. They used to be around 14k.

Candlejack

DS back on top, man thats a big portable slice of the pie!

And 360 back to normal....thats disapointing...
hard to believe PS2 sales are practically the same as PS3's, but then looking at the sales charts its easy to see why

excel_excel

Playing it too safe, either bust open the floodates and hope the onslaught of JRPG's or let it trickle and let the train pass by.

PsycheE

anyone really surprised?

don't think so.

Lanhoj

Okay. I call bullshit somewhere. Microsoft claimed 360's were sold out two weeks ago, and said there wouldn't be more at all until September.

There should be NONE.
Which means they're lying.

Ad-hominem

@armless-phelan: lots of small developers, low profit margins, expensive devkits: developers have a choice of either quitting or just keep on making games for the PS2.

As for the PSP? Two words: Monster Hunter.

Gaff

It's a shame because so far, Vesperia has been a pretty good Tales game.

Shin-san

Thinkgs seem back to normal on this front.

EmeraldDragon

@Gaff: Maybe you are talking about the japanese market, but worldwide there is around 6 millions different monster hunter game sold for the PSP, and SONY already sold 38 millions PSP, I dont know maybe there is something else than monster hunter (I do not include homebrew).

Veltis

@97gsx: Well when they finally get more 360's down to Japan, maybe that will change. I'm not too hopeful for the game anywhere other than Japan though, so you may be on to something. Eternal Sonata being a good example of one that was exclusive but then went multi-plat.

NeVeRMoRe666

Namco is down on 75% on profit so i doubt Microsoft will see anymore exclusives especially after this.

97gsx

@Ad-hominem: I don't think its that exact when they say theres absolutely none anywhere. I'm sure theres some sitting at a factory somewhere or they managed to make/ship a measly 3500 consoles (IN ALL OF JAPAN) in two weeks to sell. Its just like when they said there was no Wii's to be found anywhere, when there was in fact some sitting at some Wal-Mart in the outskits of town somewhere. This could be the case here as well. Not everything has to be a conspiracy y'know. 3500 isn't alot at all.

When someone says theres absolutely none anywhere, how can you/they be so sure? Its like saying I have not seen a bee for two weeks, therefore all bees must have gone extinct. Even if it was like the movie, "The Happening", you can never know if there is actually none left anywhere in the world (silly argument I know). You can't account for that, but you can assume that its in very very very scarce supply. So while saying that the 360s are completely sold out is an exaggeration, I wouldn't exactly call it bullshit. It is in very few supplies at the moment. Besides, its not in the 360s best interest now to withhold stock, they should strike while the irons still hot so to speak.

NeVeRMoRe666

so greens back on the down. maybe some japanese have already experienced RROD?

kilikafinal

Yea, I just re-read my comment and I feel I come across as a bit of an arse. My point still kinda stands but re word it in your own heads in a somewhat less arsey way. or maybe I'm just tired. I dunno.

randomletters

@Altima NEO: Uhhh. The totals are PS3 at ~2.3 mil and 360 at ~600k. So yeah, I disagree.

@GKFinns: Doubt it. It's already been announced that PS3 gets it's own "Tales of..." game. Why would they port this one then?

Also, a supply shortage huh. Hmm. 360 got a spike from ToV. Then it got double it's normal sales. Now it's back to normal sales. Seems like some predictable sales numbers, yet there are no 360s, so there shouldn't really be any pattern. Funny.

mfwahwah

I@ really do find it hard to believe that there is a shortage of 360s in japan at the moment when the highest they've sold in a week is 24000. Yet this week they sell only 8000? what company would only have 32000 units in any given territory for sale at one moment?
Even when the Wii was selling out everywhere all over the world it was selling a LOT more units than that a week and they couldn't produce enough consoles to meet demand. Microsoft it seems just can't sell consoles in Japan even though they are getting all the RPGs that the public over there seem to want. I may be wrong so I'll wait till next week to really say I told you so...

randomletters

@Veltis: Yes but he mentioned the PS3 specifically.

Lumping together their aggregate sales has nothing to do with how the PS3 does, since Sony could sell 1,000,000 total hardware units but actually have 1000 PS3s returned for refunds with no new ones purchased. Sure, that's unlikely, but it shows why aggregating system units says nothing about a particular console.

When push comes to shove, the HD systems don't seem to be attracting many buyers in the region. If I had to guess why, it's because both have relatively few RPGs compared to the handhelds and that the Wii mostly attracts a different kind of audience than the HD systems do, so it doesn't receive the same hit for lacking hardcore-Japanese targeted games.

Nirolak

@Altima NEO:
"360's not doing all that horribly really. Especially when you consider that Sony isnt doing all that great with the PS3."
Thats a point of view, for me I see Sony just sold 65044 different console that month. MS : 3551.

Veltis

@Ad-hominem: @NeVeRMoRe666:

yes, it is BS. unlike the Wii situation where there was one sometimes sitting in a Yodobashi somewhere for 5 minutes, 360 is very available. I live in Tokyo and I have been shopping around for a new TV lately and since I read this hype about a 360 drought I checked to see if they had any in stock. I couldn't find a shop that didn't have them in stock.

TT

@randomletters:

Microsoft didn't ship many consoles to Japan. The initial launch shipment was 500k and the 360 so far has sold about 650k in Japan. So it isn't hard to believe that a shortage was caused. Tales pushed more consoles than any other game, including Ace combat 6, and most people looking to get a 360 and tales of vesperia wanted the bundle which was limited to something like 10-15k with(supposedly) another shipment on the way.

If sales are still like this by the last week of Sep then we can all agree that the sales just went back down because everyone who wanted tales got it that first week.

CCCombobreaker

Go go PSP, go!

GTA4er

i honestly don't know what's the big deal with the wii? i got one.. never play it.. the thing collects dust like... a dust mop? lol. really.. i put it in it's box today. might sell it sometime for $300 just to get some money.

i feel the same way for the PSP. i have games. i just don't PLAY them. i dunno why.. prolly cause i'm a console/PC guy. but i use it for Media a LOT. so at least it has one good use..

i guess.... cause it's cheap? whatever.. i don't care about the numbers. i still find it odd that the xbox is still doing so terrible in japan. even with all it's RPG games. and PS3 has like none. and japan in general likes RPG games, weird. :\

also, WHY IS THE PS2 STILL SELLING?! geez it's last gen now.. ehh i guess it was the same when PS2 came out. PS1 kept goin for a bit.

that's just my 2 cents... so argue all you want. :]

Akmed

hmm....

such low numbers makes me think MS may not be lying about low supply.

But this is what they usually get per week so i dont know what to beleive.

Deus_EpS

@Akmed: I'm gonna have to agree with you for a bit. I mean to be honest I loathe the Wii. I consider it to be another hype system for the herbs who think they game. That doesn't mean hardcore gamers don't own the system, it just means they probably barely play it. And if they do play it they are probably playing more VC games / Home Brew mods than actual Wii titles which really doesn't surprise me.

Like I still at least see the future purchase of a PS3 possible for myself. I just need more titles than just Metal Gear Solid 4 to justify the price tag. Now people can rant and rave all they want saying you can play all the same games on PS3. But here is my main point, if I already owned an Xbox 360 first why would I go out and purchase a PS3 just to play the same games I can already play on my 360.

Basically Killzone 2 better be incredible and secure that PS3 purchase otherwise the first reason it will probably find its way into my household is that ill needed Blu-ray player and no other reason.

Bootleg Zani

This is stupid. MS dropped the ball here; not only are they losing sales of their system at the only point where sales have spiked high, but Namco can't be pleased about losing sales on their latest exclusive.

Does Not Equal (ダズノット)

After flooding the market for 2 years, the 360 is sold out after just 20000 sold?

bullshit... even a small market like singapore got more stock then that.

There is no just demand for it anymore! and microsoft just wanted to use the we ran out of stock excuse at least once in every area.

lets wait for IU to see how?

tueac

Nice way to capitalize on that Demand Microsoft

Ice-9

Are you guys serious? After Microsoft claims "low supply" every month the PS3 outsells it in America, you now believe them in Japan?

This is marketing to try and alter the impression that they are dead in Japan, it has no basis in reality. They are doing better this week than pre-vesperia, but if anyone believes they would be selling tens of thousands of units without the "shortage" then you need to stop believing press releases.

Microsoft should just be happy with the 3.5k, it's not like the PS3 is doing much better right now.

Astrofox

About the PSP, it's not only Monster Hunter. They have:
Phantasy Star
Gundam thingy
Bleach games

And they have some more Gundam games and a bunch of RPGs coming up. So, there are alot of reason for The Japanese to keep buying the PSP.

AokiShinya

@TT: Well then if that's the case, what a silly thing to do. Why lie when there are readers out there like you who could see right through their lies with such ease? It just makes them look like douchebags, LYING douchebags, just the worse.

Anywho, thanks for the info :)

NeVeRMoRe666

@AokiShinya

There aren't really many reasons for the Japanaese to keep buying the PSP. It's been mentioned before how few games are coming out for it. I'm consistently surprised by PSPs ability to sell so well while selling so little software compared to the DS.

robbo_the_hood

MS is funny

darktorns

@AokiShinya: Dont forget FF Dissidia...That will sell a good number of systems too.

Deus_EpS

Supplies replenished? Anyone believing this is an assclown :) Xbox destroyed again by the PS2 is all I see.

mikeleddy83

@Akmed:If you don't get what's up with the Wii, then it's not for you. Also no one needs to read about how your system attracts dust, it's stupid, tired and reeks of a 'I can't find any better counter-points, so here's a tired meme.'

@Bootleg Zani:Assumptions are fun! I own every current home console and portable system and my Wii and DS get more play over my PSP, 360 and PS3. Now remember when you make such assumptions in the future, they not only have a strong chance to be wrong, but mean dick all in the grand plan of things.

Foxstar Sixtail

@Foxstar Sixtail:

"it just means they probably barely play it. And if they do play it they are probably playing more VC games / Home Brew mods than actual Wii titles which really doesn't surprise me."

not to be rude but he did say probably. now last i checked, probably leaves uncertainty so even if what he assumes is not 100% true, what he said could still be a valid statement.

i do agree wit him though, theres some hardcore gamers that DO appreciate the wii. its just that the majority of the vocal hardcore group do NOT. before u say im making a blanket statement, do take notice of the above word majority.

maraxusofk

I think that the reason PS3 isn't doing good results it's that they are waiting for the a smaller version, right now it's too big for them.

For example PSP sales improved a lot with the release of the slim version, the same happened with the DS.

So once the slim-version is released I can see a huge change in the hardware chart.

Legna

Microsoft finally has a chance to become actual competition in japan, they should have had lots of new shipments within a week, wasting golden opportunities ftw!

omgitslee

@Legna: The reason that the PS3 isn't doing well is the poor selection of games. That's it. Price MIGHT be a factor, but if there are excellent games on a console, people will buy it no matter what the price may be. At least in my humble opinion anyway.

EvilMetsFan

@Legna: Some decent RPGS would quickly boost PS3's sales in Japan. Unsure whether PS3 actually has a great RPG on the system yet.

You are right though, Legna. Many Japanese people are unhappy with the PS3 due to the sheer size of it. Could be that people interpret huge size as the company trying to make a statement about the quality of the system, which would not go down well.

Strong Arm

I think I read in Gizmodo that Microsoft may have delibrately shortened supplies to claim a sold out status.

JAGJEET

@EvilMetsFan: but even the PSP doesn't sell so many games except for Monster Hunter.
Before the slim was released it had a medium of 25K unit sold for week with the actual 50+K. It's the hardware that made a huge difference

Of course more good games would improve the sales but the effect would last for a short period like with MGS4 or Tales of Vesperia for the 360.

Legna

Can we get a new joke?

Please?

THE JAPANESE PEOPLE ARE NOT BUYING XBOX 360'S

IS THAT NOT JUST CRAZY

There have been 3000 versions of this same joke. You killed it. Can we please prank call other blogs to ask if their refrigerators are running, or laugh uproariously as we discuss that Bush really isn't the smartest guy in the world, or maybe we could all do that thing where a an article related to a robot is posted and we all comment while giggling about how it's going to conquer earth. ANYTHING.

ANYTHING BUT THE 360 JOKE.

(ps: IT PRINTS MONEY! no. that too.)

blamemyparents

I don't buy it for a second. Strange how the 360 averaged about 3500 units a week until the release, "sold out", and is now back to the same level.

theflux

Like it matters anymore now that FF13 isn't coming to Japan 360's. They can take their time.

Ryodestined

@Ad-hominem:

I think it's BS too. Like when they claimed 360 shortages when PS3 started outselling it month by month since the beginning of the year in the US.

dgonchild

@GKFinns: Its not just Namco but most ports are required to enhance the PS3 version with extra content to be released. (talking about the ones with exclusivitity rights from 360)

Its part of the Sony Agreement or something.

Willio

Amazon Japan has the Arcade and Standard version in stock. If they're talking about the Elite or the Tales bundle, then that's out of stock. But I've seen many resellers buying the Elite and Tales bundle and selling them for a higher price at auctions and such. I've even seen 2 guys buying 3 or 4 of the Tales bundle at Akihabara.

The number of PSP is down because of the newer PSP coming.

santa590

Amazon Japan has the Arcade and the standard version in stock. If they're talking about the Elite or the Tales bundle then it's out of stock and hard to find, but I know alot of resellers were buying them to sell them for a higher price. I saw at least 2 guys buying 3 or 4 of the Tales bundle at Akihabara.

The drop in PSP could be because of the newer version that's coming out.

santa590

Go Nintendo!

mentalchaos

Yah. I believe it's sold out. Uhuh.

Shinkan