Having outsold Nintendo's Wii in Japan for a November week (see here) Sony’s PlayStation 3 has upped that to the entire month.
Sony sold 183,217 PS3s in Japan in the four weeks to November 25, while Nintendo sold 159,193 Wiis, according to game magazine publisher Enterbrain, publisher of Weekly Famitsu.
Is this the start of Sony’s sprint to catch up and eventually win its third console race?
"Overseas, I don't really see the PS3 doing that much at Christmas time primarily because it's still more expensive than the other machines and has less software," KBC Securities analyst Hiroshi Kamide told Reuters.
"It's nice to see the system selling much better than six months ago. But is it a sustainable trend? Is it going to really escalate from here? I'm not so sure", he continued.
Sony shares closed down 0.5 percent at 6,010 yen, while shares in Nintendo, Japan's third most valuable company behind Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.T), gained 3.7 percent to 67,500 yen.
So, Japan is looking better for Sony - but it still struggles to catch up in the US and Europe, though the company hopes that the line-up of exclusive games planned in for 2008 (Metal Gear Solid 4, LittleBigPlanet, new Final Fantasy…) will help to reverse that trend.
source: Reuters
Sony sold 183,217 PS3s in Japan in the four weeks to November 25, while Nintendo sold 159,193 Wiis, according to game magazine publisher Enterbrain, publisher of Weekly Famitsu.
Is this the start of Sony’s sprint to catch up and eventually win its third console race?
"Overseas, I don't really see the PS3 doing that much at Christmas time primarily because it's still more expensive than the other machines and has less software," KBC Securities analyst Hiroshi Kamide told Reuters.
"It's nice to see the system selling much better than six months ago. But is it a sustainable trend? Is it going to really escalate from here? I'm not so sure", he continued.
Sony shares closed down 0.5 percent at 6,010 yen, while shares in Nintendo, Japan's third most valuable company behind Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.T), gained 3.7 percent to 67,500 yen.
So, Japan is looking better for Sony - but it still struggles to catch up in the US and Europe, though the company hopes that the line-up of exclusive games planned in for 2008 (Metal Gear Solid 4, LittleBigPlanet, new Final Fantasy…) will help to reverse that trend.
source: Reuters
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Comments
SuperSaiyan4 30 Nov 2007 12:10
1/5
All the PS3 needs is those top games mentioned, if FF13 ends up getting top reviews it will be a killer hit in Japan and am sure the PS3 will get a huge spike in sales and MGS4 will probably help but even though the console has had an increase in sales it is lacking some top end games.
This year for me its been dismal on the PS3 front since I own a 360 as well but looking forward to seeing what PS3 gets next year.
PS3 has to compete against Ninja Gaiden 2 and Lost Odessy and not to forget Fable 2 some key names in non-shooting games but action/RPG titles.
This year for me its been dismal on the PS3 front since I own a 360 as well but looking forward to seeing what PS3 gets next year.
PS3 has to compete against Ninja Gaiden 2 and Lost Odessy and not to forget Fable 2 some key names in non-shooting games but action/RPG titles.
DoctorDee 30 Nov 2007 12:20
2/5
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
All the PS3 needs is those top games mentioned, if FF13 ends up getting top reviews it will be a killer hit in Japan.
Square has never, really, put a foot wrong with Final Fantasy, and you can be pretty sure they won't do this time. FF XIII will be huge in Japan, of course. And it'll be fairly big in Europe, I know I'm looking forward to it.
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chris 30 Nov 2007 12:28
3/5
2 Words
Wii Fit
Wii Fit
SuperSaiyan4 30 Nov 2007 12:35
4/5
DoctorDee wrote:
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
All the PS3 needs is those top games mentioned, if FF13 ends up getting top reviews it will be a killer hit in Japan.
Square has never, really, put a foot wrong with Final Fantasy, and you can be pretty sure they won't do this time. FF XIII will be huge in Japan, of course. And it'll be fairly big in Europe, I know I'm looking forward to it.
I would have to disagree there since some previous FF titles have done a bit poorly, for example was it FF12 on the PS2? That was apparently a terrible version in Japan and the Europe and USA version was revamped but still got poor scores due to some areas especially fighting side of it.
FF7 seems to be the only mega FF game ever released and its obvious that by re-releasing a revamped updated FF7 that would probably do better than any other game to date - am guessing.
To the other guy, well Wii Fit may do very well as well we will have to wait and see.
mrAnthony 2 Dec 2007 18:10
5/5
as far as i remember, FF12, is one of the only games in history to get 40/40 in famitsu magazine in japan. not a poor score by anyones standards. and it also got game of the year on edge magazine. those are the two most well respected games magazines in the world.. as far as i know.