By Jonti Davies
The latest Japanese sales figures from Enter Brain show that fewer than 10,000 PS3 consoles were sold here last week. It’s the first time since the machine’s launch that its weekly sales have slipped down into four-figure territory, but it’s been looking likely to happen for the past few months. Compare this performance with the six-figure week-on-week sales glory of Nintendo’s Wii and DS, and you can see that all the talk of Nintendo dominating these islands again is not at all hyperbolic: it’s irrefutable fact.
What’s the problem with the PS3 in Japan, then? I quizzed a few locals and the response was always the same: the PS3 is “Just too expensive”. If you shop around, you can get a (60GB) PS3 here for ¥50,000 – which is about £210 in real money.
“In the UK, though,” I mention, “the PS3 costs the equivalent of about ¥100,000.” They just look at me with disbelief. “You’re joking?”
The Wii, which remains hugely popular here, retails at ¥25,000 (roughly £105) although it can be difficult to find units in stock; and it must be largely because of the disparity in price between Wii and PS3 that the PS3 is perceived as being so expensive.
With the PS3, it has never (beyond the first couple of weeks) been difficult to find a console. Not only do most shops have a large number of new PS3s in stock, but there have also been plenty of second-hand PS3s kicking about since the beginning of the year. It’s not the sign of a healthy business, and the latest figures just reinforce the fact that Sony is having a hard time with the PS3 in Japan.
On the other hand, the PS2 and PSP are continuing to perform reasonably well. The PSP, in particular, has been experiencing something of a renaissance since the launch of Capcom’s million-selling Monster Hunter Portable 2nd. And the PSP party is continuing thanks to the input of SquareEnix. The top two games in the all-formats sales chart this week are both Final Fantasy games: DS Revenant Wings falls into second place as the PSP remake of Final Fantasy Tactics (which I’d heartily recommend for its wi-fi multiplayer battle mode, if nothing else) takes pole with impressive first week sales of 154,981 units.
Of course, the most important event of the week is Nintendo-related: today sees the Japanese launch of Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Tamashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2. The sequel to Elite Beat Agents (itself a quasi-sequel to the original Ouendan) -- which earned a solid 34/40 score in last week’s Famitsu -- takes cheerleading rhythm-action into outer space with the help of 19 J-pop classics, including Ken Hirai’s infuriatingly catchy ‘Pop Star’. In fact, if you don’t mind, I’m going to nip down to the shop and pick up my copy right now. “I wanna be a pop star!”
The latest Japanese sales figures from Enter Brain show that fewer than 10,000 PS3 consoles were sold here last week. It’s the first time since the machine’s launch that its weekly sales have slipped down into four-figure territory, but it’s been looking likely to happen for the past few months. Compare this performance with the six-figure week-on-week sales glory of Nintendo’s Wii and DS, and you can see that all the talk of Nintendo dominating these islands again is not at all hyperbolic: it’s irrefutable fact.
What’s the problem with the PS3 in Japan, then? I quizzed a few locals and the response was always the same: the PS3 is “Just too expensive”. If you shop around, you can get a (60GB) PS3 here for ¥50,000 – which is about £210 in real money.
“In the UK, though,” I mention, “the PS3 costs the equivalent of about ¥100,000.” They just look at me with disbelief. “You’re joking?”
The Wii, which remains hugely popular here, retails at ¥25,000 (roughly £105) although it can be difficult to find units in stock; and it must be largely because of the disparity in price between Wii and PS3 that the PS3 is perceived as being so expensive.
With the PS3, it has never (beyond the first couple of weeks) been difficult to find a console. Not only do most shops have a large number of new PS3s in stock, but there have also been plenty of second-hand PS3s kicking about since the beginning of the year. It’s not the sign of a healthy business, and the latest figures just reinforce the fact that Sony is having a hard time with the PS3 in Japan.
On the other hand, the PS2 and PSP are continuing to perform reasonably well. The PSP, in particular, has been experiencing something of a renaissance since the launch of Capcom’s million-selling Monster Hunter Portable 2nd. And the PSP party is continuing thanks to the input of SquareEnix. The top two games in the all-formats sales chart this week are both Final Fantasy games: DS Revenant Wings falls into second place as the PSP remake of Final Fantasy Tactics (which I’d heartily recommend for its wi-fi multiplayer battle mode, if nothing else) takes pole with impressive first week sales of 154,981 units.
Of course, the most important event of the week is Nintendo-related: today sees the Japanese launch of Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Tamashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2. The sequel to Elite Beat Agents (itself a quasi-sequel to the original Ouendan) -- which earned a solid 34/40 score in last week’s Famitsu -- takes cheerleading rhythm-action into outer space with the help of 19 J-pop classics, including Ken Hirai’s infuriatingly catchy ‘Pop Star’. In fact, if you don’t mind, I’m going to nip down to the shop and pick up my copy right now. “I wanna be a pop star!”
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Comments
Joji 17 May 2007 13:47
1/3
Oh dear, how the mighty have fallen. Who was it that said Blu Ray was a good idea again. Apathy for Xbox in japan is one thing, but apathy for PS3 that's even a worse sign that Sony are on the rocks. Surely some japanese will be tempted by 360's price too.
I like that part when you mentioned how much PS3 was over here, to the japanese person, seems everyone is right about that price.
If they want things to change, Sony should take a tip from MS's book, lower the price tag to £300 and things will change (even if you are selling at a loss), blu ray or not. And they'd better do it soon, because once 360 Elite turn up Sony will loose more sales to that, for now and ages after.
Yeah, you've got Ouendan 2 as well. My lovely import copy should be with me shortly. Thank you Inis. Where's EBA for europe though?
I like that part when you mentioned how much PS3 was over here, to the japanese person, seems everyone is right about that price.
If they want things to change, Sony should take a tip from MS's book, lower the price tag to £300 and things will change (even if you are selling at a loss), blu ray or not. And they'd better do it soon, because once 360 Elite turn up Sony will loose more sales to that, for now and ages after.
Yeah, you've got Ouendan 2 as well. My lovely import copy should be with me shortly. Thank you Inis. Where's EBA for europe though?
Dripping_Brain 18 May 2007 07:31
2/3
Surely Ouendan 2 is the sequel to Ouendan, not EBA?
RiseFromYourGrave 18 May 2007 09:03
3/3
well, EBA was kind of Ouendan westernised, not intended as a 'proper' sequel but i know what you mean
ive just woke up, and i thought it read " J-Pop classics, including Kaz Hirai's infuriatingly catchy 'Ridge Racer' "
riiiiidge racer. you know how when you fumble through a piece with bad eyesight and an clumsy mind your brain fills in the gaps, hah classy
ive just woke up, and i thought it read " J-Pop classics, including Kaz Hirai's infuriatingly catchy 'Ridge Racer' "
riiiiidge racer. you know how when you fumble through a piece with bad eyesight and an clumsy mind your brain fills in the gaps, hah classy