3ds sales Search Results

Rumor: Luigi’s Mansion 2 – Wii U Edition

Posted May 14, 2012 at 2:27PM EST by Todd B Listed in: Wii U Tags: luigis mansion, luigis mansion nintendo 3ds, luigis mansion wii u

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Could the sequel to Luigi’s under-appreciated GameCube game be coming to Wii U? Please?


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Vita is Doing (A Little) Better in Japan

Posted May 4, 2012 at 1:26PM EST by Todd B Listed in: PS Vita Tags: nintendo 3ds sales, ps vita sales, psp sales, Shigeru Miyamoto

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Sony’s troubled handheld finally sees an uptick in sales. But how long can it last?


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Nintendo Gets All Digital on Us

Posted Apr 27, 2012 at 3:45PM EST by Todd B Listed in: Wii U Tags: nintendo digital distribution, origin, Steam

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Move over, Steam , Origin and….okay just you guys. Nintendo has its eye on digital distribution.


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NPD Report - Shitty Sales Overall, but at least someone doesn't totally suck!

Posted Apr 13, 2012 at 10:15AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: Wii, PS3, PC Gaming, Xbox 360 Tags: mass effect 3, NPD Group, video game sales

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Sales are down in the industry and things are rough all over. But hey, Mass Effect 3 has done well for itself.


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More Bad News for Sony as Japanese Vita Sales Plummet

Posted Apr 11, 2012 at 1:23PM EST by Todd B Listed in: PS Vita Tags: nintendo 3ds sales, ps vita sales, psp sales, Sony, xbox 360 sales

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The next-gen handheld is still struggling to find a user base in Japan, with last week’s sales being worse than any previously recorded tally.


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Rumor: Epic Mickey 2 Aimed at 3DS

Posted Mar 21, 2012 at 4:35PM EST by Todd B Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: Disney, epic mickey, epic mickey 3, nintendo 3ds, power of illusion

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A French gaming magazine accidentally spills the beans on Mickey’s latest adventure.


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Konami stops sales of Dating Sim due to bugs

Posted Mar 19, 2012 at 11:30AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: Nintendo DS Tags: 3ds bugs, dating sim, Konami, new love plus, nintendo ds bugs, patching

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A dating sim not being sold? Wait, lemme tell my girlfriend.


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Metal Gear series hits some serious sales numbers

Posted Mar 19, 2012 at 9:00AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS3 Tags: Hideo Kojima, metal gear, metal gear rising, metal gear solid, MGS, record breaking

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With the Metal Gear series dating back to the 80's, no one should be surprised.


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PoV: Nintendo’s Impending Destruction

Posted Mar 2, 2012 at 12:18PM EST by Listed in: PoV Tags: 3ds innovations, nintendo innovations, wii u innovation

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Why the innovative games company is headed for failure.

Nintendo is, by most accounts, one of the most innovative forces in the world of gaming. The company lays claim to breakthroughs like force-feedback technology, motion control, z-targeting and a whole host of other now-standard gaming mechanics. Unfortunately, Nintendo’s days of leading the pack are quickly coming to a close.

Nintendo has always performed well in the games marketplace because of its exclusive titles and accessible technologies. However, games aren’t really the future of the games industry. In 2012 and beyond, it’s not games that sell devices, but their multimedia capabilities. One of the fastest-growing groups of console owners is made up of people who primarily use their devices to watch Netflix, listen to music or rent movies.

Nintendo has failed to keep pace with its competitors in the realm of multimedia. And it has also failed to keep pace when it comes to online gaming (friend codes, seriously?). If the Wii U can’t make some major improvements to the way Nintendo delivers multimedia content and online gameplay, it’s simply not going to be the console of choice.

Consumers always flock to the device that provides them the most value. A large number of PS3 sales can be chalked up to Blu-Ray support, just as a large number of Wii sales can be chalked up to the initial hype concerning motion control. In the next console generation, the device with the most utility wins.

If Nintendo fails to recognize this trend, it’s going to find itself toppled from the throne faster than it can say “3DS Lite.”

Why the innovative games company is headed for failure.


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3DS Owners Screwed Out of Binding of Isaac

Posted Feb 29, 2012 at 4:34PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: 3ds eshop, binding of isaac, edmund mcmillen, Nintendo

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Nintendo apparently doesn’t want to risk offending its customers.

Indie Dev Edmund McMillen confirmed via Twitter earlier today that the Nintendo 3DS eShop would officially be declining to host his latest game, The Binding of Isaac. Citing “questionable religious content,” Nintendo has elected to dump the game from its eShop lineup.

Here’s McMillen’s tweet in full:

“Attention: After a long internal debate Nintendo has decided NOT to allow the Binding of Isaac on the 3ds. :(“

He continued, quite hilariously:

“As many assumed the reasons were due to the games "questionable religious content". Thank GOD Steam exists!”

The Binding of Isaac has moved over 450,000 copies on PC, and this silly controversy will likely spur more sales than the game would have gained with a quiet eShop release. Still, it’s an odd decision on the part of Nintendo and a bad precedent to set in terms of censorship.

What do you think of Nintendo’s decision? Should game companies choose which games you can play, or should the choice be left up to the consumer?

[Gamasutra]

Nintendo apparently doesn’t want to risk offending its customers.


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Sound Off: Success for the Vita

Posted Feb 28, 2012 at 12:16PM EST by Listed in: PS Vita Tags: nintendo 3ds, ps vita, Sony

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Sales numbers show a strong start, but what is the real measure of Vita’s performance?

Last week, I wrote a PoV article titled “Vita will Fail.” In that article, I used the device’s performance in Japan and the lackluster reviews of its launch titles to draw the conclusion that the device would not be able to overtake its primary competitor, the Nintendo DS.

The comment war that erupted was one-part insults, one-part thoughtful commentary, and one-part argument over why exactly the Vita needs to beat the 3DS in the first place. This third thread in the conversation is intriguing to me, as I had approached the situation strictly from a Vita vs. 3DS perspective.

Today, Sony announced that the Vita has officially sold 1.2 million units since launching in December. Breaking that figure apart, the device moved around 579,000 before global launch, and an additional 600,000 since last week. This number is apparently higher than Sony’s internal expectations, so by all accounts we can consider the first week of global launch a success.

Which brings me to the question I’d like to pose in this week’s Sound Off: How do you define success for the PS Vita? Does it need to topple the 3DS?

Let us know in the comments.

Sales numbers show a strong start, but what is the real measure of Vita’s performance?


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PoV: Vita Will Fail

Posted Feb 24, 2012 at 10:35AM EST by Listed in: PS Vita Tags: nintendo 3ds vs ps vita, ps vita sales, sony fails

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Sony’s savior is nothing more than PSP: the sequel.

Warning: This article contains – gasp! – my opinion. If your delicate sensibilities can’t grasp reading something counter to your own beliefs, perhaps you should mosey along to something you’ll find easier to digest. Here’s a suggestion.

Read the comments on this site, and you’ll see that I’m a bona fide Sony hater. Curiously enough, I’m also an Xbox, Android and Nintendo hater, depending on the comments you read. Basically, if you ask the readers of this site, I hate everything.

Reader contention aside, it is true that I’ve never been a fan of the Sony brand. This is the result of several factors: the “quantity over quality” approach they’ve always taken towards game development, their absurd comments about the superiority of their consoles despite sales data saying otherwise, and their documented tendency to screw their playerbase.

I believe the Sony Vita will fail. Not on the scale of the Virtual Boy or Jaguar, but in the sense that it will not overtake the Nintendo 3DS, and will not extend Sony’s grasp on the handheld market far beyond what the PSP already provided. This belief comes not from my admitted distaste for Sony, but from the tepid response the device has seen since Japanese launch, the lukewarm reviews offered to the system’s launch lineup, and the unfolding clusterfucks related to the new system that indicate Sony hasn’t learned how to make a system that’s easy to use and fun to own.

Put simply, the PS Vita is too little, too late. And no matter how you feel about Sony, it’s not going to change this simple fact: Nintendo remains the king of the handheld kingdom for the foreseeable future.

Sorry Sony fanboys; it looks like you’re out of luck.

Sony’s savior is nothing more than PSP: the sequel.


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Nintendo 3DS Moves 5 million in Japan

Posted Feb 20, 2012 at 2:23PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: nintendo 3ds, ps vita

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Suck it, Vita.

The Nintendo 3DS has quickly become the comeback kid of the games industry. Despite a weak launch that went so poorly Nintendo was forced to drop the price of the unit, the 3D handheld has surged in both western and eastern markets and dragged itself, somehow, to the top of the heap. 52 weeks after initially launching in Japan, the Nintendo 3DS has officially become the fastest system in history to land five million sales in Japan.

The previous record, naturally, belonged to the Nintendo DS, which moved five million units in 56 weeks. 3DS continues to perform well in Japan, even now that the Christmas holiday has passed and gamers are back to watching their wallets. The device moved 67,558 units last week, far outstripping new competitor PS Vita’s 13,939.

Things are a little different here in the west, with the PS Vita set for launch this week and a slightly less enthusiastic response to the Nintendo 3DS. We’ll just have to see how things play out over the next few weeks—can Vita stake its claim in a new market, or is the 3DS on its way to becoming yet another jewel in Nintendo’s increasingly heavy crown?

Given the choice, would you buy a Vita or 3DS?

[Game Informer]

Suck it, Vita.


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Nintendo Forecasts Huge Losses

Posted Jan 26, 2012 at 3:19PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: ds, Nintendo, nintendo 3ds, Wii

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Retailers can’t keep the 3DS on shelves, but Nintendo is still doing worse now than in years before.

Nintendo released its official numbers today, and things don’t look too good. Despite the fact that the Nintendo 3DS outsold all other systems combined last week (in Japan, of course), Nintendo is still reporting major losses for the last quarter. According to earnings reports released by the company, Nintendo lost $623 million between the months of April and December 2011.

The company doesn’t seem confident in the near future, revising its original forecast of $580 million in losses through March 2012 to $838. Nintendo noted that while Nintendo 3DS hardware is moving at a much higher rate, the massive price cut they dropped on the system is contributing to their financial ails.

In one last bit of bad news, Nintendo revised its original sales predictions for the 3DS, Wii, and DS dropping expected 3DS and Wii sales by two million each, and DS sales by about 500,000. The decreased sales projections have been taken into account for the new loss predictions for 2012.

It’s worth noting that while Nintendo reports these numbers as a “loss,” all it means is that the company made less money in a particular quarter than they did in the same quarter of the previous year. Nintendo is still churning out massive profits, and the company is far from being financially unstable. It’s just the way companies go about reporting their finances.

We’ll keep you posted as other companies release their sales numbers and financial forecasts. 2011 was likely a tough year for everyone, with console hardware aging and rumors of the next-gen on the horizon.

[IGN]

Retailers can’t keep the 3DS on shelves, but Nintendo is still doing worse now than in years before.


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Vita Now Selling Less Than PSP

Posted Jan 21, 2012 at 10:17AM EST by Mr Ham Listed in: PS Vita Tags: ps vita sales, vita vs psp

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This makes one sad.


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Sony Sees Hope for Vita in 3DS Sales

Posted Jan 19, 2012 at 5:01PM EST by Listed in: PS Vita Tags: andy house, nintendo 3ds, ps vita, SCEI

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The games giant interprets strong demand for Nintendo’s handheld as evidence the portable market is still going strong.

It seems like every week we have a report on how poorly the PS Vita is doing in Japan. The story is consistent enough that I’ve considered not even reporting on it for the time being, since we’re basically making the same post once a week when the sales numbers roll in. But despite the device’s sales troubles, Sony believes there’s still strong demand for portable gaming devices.

Speaking to Edge, SCEI President Andy House noted that while the PS Vita doesn’t have its own strong numbers yet, the company feels comfortable using the success of the 3DS as evidence of a robust “gaming-primary” device market. It may seem strange to see Sony using Nintendo as a benchmark, but with sales like the Vita’s, the company is essentially grasping at straws.

Of course, this is Sony we’re talking about, so House couldn’t resist taking a shot at the 3DS as a casual device:

“What I think we've done is point to a market that really has started out with potentially casual games on other devices but now wants a deeper, or better, or more premier gaming experience.”

It’s amazing to me that Sony still manages to dismiss Nintendo devices, despite the fact that those devices continually outperform Sony’s products. Regardless, House is right about one thing – there’s still definitely a market for handheld games.

Handheld Nintendo games, anyway. Awww snap!

But seriously, what do you think of Sony using Nintendo’s success as an indication of the Vita’s future?

[Destructoid]

The games giant interprets strong demand for Nintendo’s handheld as evidence the portable market is still going strong.


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Vita Sales Still Tumbling

Posted Jan 18, 2012 at 3:48PM EST by Listed in: PS Vita Tags: nintendo 3ds, vita

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PlayStation’s new handheld is still struggling in Japan.

In Japan, Vita sales have been continually sluggish since the device’s initial launch. Last week’s numbers don’t look any better, with the system moving just 18,361 units. If you’re keeping score, that’s three consecutive weeks of tanking sales – these numbers do not inspire hope in the future of the device, at least in the Japanese market.

Naturally, the Vita has yet to see a global release and many of the device’s launch titles are bigger draws here in the west. And while we’ve talked previously about the issues facing Vita, we’re certainly not going to issue a verdict on the handheld’s success before it launches in every available market. But for now, things don’t really look great.

By comparison, the Nintendo 3DS had sold 742,244 units in its first few weeks of launch, with the Vita moving 458,347 over the same time period. That means Vita sales are about 300,000 units behind the 3DS, a device that received a prompt price drop due to low numbers. Does this mean a price drop is on the horizon for Vita? Maybe, maybe not.

For now, it’s obvious Sony needs to get some better titles out for the device to sway Japanese consumers. As for us in the west, we’ll get a chance to see how the Vita performs when it hits shelves in February.

[Edge]

PlayStation’s new handheld is still struggling in Japan.


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Mario Kart 7 is Japan’s Best Selling Game of 2011

Posted Jan 17, 2012 at 2:00PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: Dragon Quest, mario kart 7, monster hunter, super mario 3d land, wii sports

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Nintendo 3DS titles score the top three slots for 2011 sales.

Japan’s gaming market is very, very different from the one here in the west. Japanese gamers are big fans of portable titles, and they’re not really that into the AAA FPS blockbusters that seem to do so well in the U.S. and in Europe. With that in mind, the 2011 software sales tallies for Japan don’t really come as much of a surprise.

Mario Kart 7 landed firmly in first place, followed by Super Mario 3D Land. In fact, of the top ten games, five were exclusively available on a Nintendo console. The rest of the list belongs to the PlayStation 3, with not one Xbox 360 title breaking into the top ten.

Here’s the full list, courtesy of Edge:

01. Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo, 3DS)

02. Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo, 3DS)

03. Monster Hunter Tri G (Capcom, 3DS)

04. Final Fantasy Type-0 (Square Enix, PSP)

05. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (Square Enix, PS3)

06. Monster Hunter Portable 3rd (Capcom, PSP)

07. Minna No Rhythm Tengoku (Nintendo, Wii)

08. Tales Of Xillia (Namco Bandai, PS3)

09. Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 Professional (DS)

10. Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo, Wii)

What’s really amazing about Mario Kart topping the charts for the year is that the game didn’t hit shelves until December 1. That means that every one of the 1.16 million units sold moved in just a rough 30-day period. Not too shabby there, Nintendo. Also interesting is Final Fantasy XIII-2’s presence on the list, despite the fact that the game opened relatively weak and many news outlets lamented it as a failure.

So what do these numbers tell us about the western market? Nothing at all, of course!

Nintendo 3DS titles score the top three slots for 2011 sales.


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Sony: Vita tracking within expectations

Posted Jan 14, 2012 at 8:58AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS Vita Tags: call of duty, joseph keller, Sony, vita sales

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Despite news of sales dropping in Japan Sony is unphased by it.


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PS Vita has Moved 500,000

Posted Jan 10, 2012 at 4:44PM EST by Listed in: PS Vita Tags: CES, Kaz Hirai, nintendo 3ds, ps vita

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Sony’s chief exec Kaz Hirai has some interesting figures for CES attendees.

CES is happening right now, though it’s a touch too early in the show for any colossally important announcements. However, we are getting little tidbits of information as the show rolls along, one of which addresses the current situation of the PlayStation Vita. Turns out, it’s probably going to be okay (surprise!)

Sony chief Kaz Hirai took the stage at Sony Computer Entertainment’s media briefing yesterday and shared some of the more important Vita figures with the press. The Vita has moved over 500,000 units since its Japanese release on December 17 – lower than expectations but still a relatively strong showing from a brand new and unproven console. It’s worth noting that these numbers represent sold Vita units, not merely shipped ones.

Many in the gaming media have rushed to question the future of Vita due to its shrinking weekly sales, but the Vita still hasn’t been released on a global scale and some of the most high profile launch titles for the system are more appealing to western gamers than those in Japan. Depending on Sony’s strategy, the Vita could still have plenty of fight – remember, it wasn’t until the 3DS’s price drop that the handheld really started to move.

We’ll keep you posted as more details from CES leak out; in the meantime, what do you think will eventually happen with Vita? Can it topple Nintendo’s hold on the handheld market?

[Gamasutra]

Sony’s chief exec Kaz Hirai has some interesting figures for CES attendees.


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3DS Breaking Records in Japan

Posted Jan 9, 2012 at 1:52PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: Nintendo, nintendo 3ds, ps vita, Sony

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At this point, it’s probably safe to call Nintendo’s handheld a hit.

The Nintendo 3DS, which had one of the shakiest launches Nintendo’s seen since the Virtual Boy, can now be placed comfortably in the “Win” column. Since dropping the unit price and adding a few games to its roster, Nintendo has seen increased interest in the once-maligned portable console. And new numbers out of Japan indicate the 3DS is as strong as it’s ever been.

According to Andriasang, the Nintendo 3DS moved a whopping 1,492,931 units during the month of December (in Japan). Not only is that a massive number in terms of raw sales, it’s apparently a record – since system sales data began being tracked in 1997, no device has ever sold so quickly.

The Nintendo 3DS has sat at the top of the Japanese hardware charts for seven months in a row, and shows no signs of slowing down, especially when you consider the relatively weak launch of the PS Vita, which still managed to land in second place for the month of December with 402,794 units moved. Not too shabby, considering the device didn’t launch until the 17th.

Do you think the 3DS has sufficiently proven its viability, or will people in the industry still doubt it?

[Edge]

At this point, it’s probably safe to call Nintendo’s handheld a hit.


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Vita Sales Still Struggling

Posted Jan 5, 2012 at 5:45PM EST by Listed in: PS Vita Tags: ps vita, uncharted: golden abyss

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Numbers for the Vita’s third week on the market don’t bode well for the new handheld.

PlayStation Vita launched to an impressive 325,000 units sold, but tanked hard in its second week, dropping to 72,000. Unfortunately for Sony, the third week’s sales numbers are even worse – the device only managed to move 42,000 devices. While it’s obviously too soon to start ringing death bells for the device, the lack of interest in the Vita certainly isn’t inspiring confidence in its upcoming western launch.

The Vita, launched in Japan on December 17th, was outsold by the PS3, 3DS and original PSP on the hardware charts. As we saw yesterday, some retailers have even resorted to dropping the device price in order to get it off their shelves.

Naturally, the Japanese launch has little to do with the western launch, where games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss will likely draw a much larger number of buyers to the handheld’s open arms. However, one can’t help but draw conclusions from the rapid drop in interest for the console – high profile devices don’t usually fall of the map like this.

One thing is for sure – Sony is eventually going to drop the Vita’s price, maybe sooner than expected. If so, gamers may wait to pick it up until the inevitable discount, hoping to avoid a burn.

What do you think of the Japanese numbers? Are they having any impact on your willingness to buy a Vita?

[Destructoid]

Numbers for the Vita’s third week on the market don’t bode well for the new handheld.


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Rumor: Japanese Retailer Drops Vita Price

Posted Jan 4, 2012 at 5:07PM EST by Listed in: PS Vita Tags: ps vita discount, ps vita sales, ps vita wifi

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In light of tough second week sales, it looks like some Japanese retailers are cutting the PS Vita’s sale price.

The PS Vita, as we mentioned earlier in the week, had a pretty rough second week. After opening strong with over 324,000 sales, the device tanked by 78% and was outsold by both the 3DS and the original PSP. The 3G model in particular isn’t moving well, with retailers reporting that only 56% of those units have been picked up compared to 85% of the WiFi only version.

The tough week has led many analysts to panic about the device’s future and clamor for a potential price drop, but Sony has remained mostly mute on the subject. Now, however, it looks like Japanese retailers are speaking for the software company, dropping prices of their own accord.

According to Edge, one retailer has dropped the price on the 3G Vita from ¥29,980 to ¥24,999, a drop of around 17%. While only one retailer appears to be engaged in the price drop, it may trigger a domino effect of discounts across the nation – either to stay competitive, or simply to entice more people to buy the device.

In the meantime, we’ll just have to wait and see how the events in Japan translate here in the west. Vita could do better and it could do worse ;most of the launch games have a bigger western following than they do in Japan.

What do you think will happen with Vita when it hits shelves in March?

[Edge]

In light of tough second week sales, it looks like some Japanese retailers are cutting the PS Vita’s sale price.


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3DS Sells 4 Million…in US Alone

Posted Jan 4, 2012 at 9:45AM EST by Mr Ham Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: 3ds sales, nintendo sales, npd figures, ocarina of time

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Nintendo really are doing well!


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PS Vita Price Drop Soon?

Posted Jan 1, 2012 at 1:45PM EST by Mr Ham Listed in: iPad, PS Vita Tags: ps vita launch, ps vita pricing, tero kuittinen, vita price drop

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Analysts say it might be necessary.


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Vita Sales Slump in Second Week

Posted Dec 28, 2011 at 4:04PM EST by Listed in: PS Vita Tags: 3ds sales, ps vita sales, ps3 sales, psp sales, wii sales

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Despite getting off to a roaring start, the PS Vita has completely tanked at is rolls beyond the first seven days.

In Japan, PS Vita certainly made its presence known during its launch week. The device moved over 320,000 units – putting it on par with first-week 3DS sales and far outstripping the initial haul of the original PSP. But the momentum doesn’t seem to have carried beyond early adopters, as the device managed to sell only 72,000 units in its second week.

Now, 72,000 devices sold certainly isn’t a terrible number, but it’s worth noting that the Vita was outsold by the 3DS, Wii, PS3 and original PSP – not a great sign for a device that’s supposedly the next handheld revolution. Gamers just aren’t flocking to the system as Sony might have hoped.

The software numbers aren’t any better, with not a single Vita game breaking the top 20. Of course, it’s hard to get a bead on exactly how well Vita games are selling, since many are available for download through PSN and Sony has yet to release their sales figures.

Vita is still young and we’ll have to see how the whole thing plays out, but dropping from 320,000 sold to 72,000 sold in just one week (in the middle of the holiday rush) certainly isn’t a good omen.

What do you think? Do these numbers indicate a problem for Vita, or is it just the natural progression of a new device finding its feet?

[Joystiq]

Despite getting off to a roaring start, the PS Vita has completely tanked at is rolls beyond the first seven days.


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Viacom Slammed for $383 Million in Harmonix Suit

Posted Dec 28, 2011 at 3:45PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: Harmonix, rock band law suit, viacom law suit

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The legal battle between Viacom and the creators of Rock Band rages on, with the latest blow being delivered straight to Viacom’s wallet.

Viacom and Harmonix have been in and out of courtrooms for months, trying (and failing) to work out an issue that stems from bonuses paid during the parent company’s acquisition of the small games developer. Both companies are trying to wring high, multi-million dollar settlements out of the other due to this disagreement, but it looks like Viacom is the big loser this morning.

In documents released this week, it was revealed that a private arbitrator ruled that Viacom owes Harmonix and its shareholders a whopping $383 million in unpaid bonuses - a number with which Viacom naturally disagrees.

Here’s a breakdown: In 2006, Viacom acquired Harmonix (and Rock Band). The deal required that Viacom pay big bonuses to Harmonix, with $175 million paid upfront and $150 million paid for Rock Band sales in 2007. However, the company paid no bonuses at all in 2008, and actually demanded that Harmonix return the previous two bonuses. Viacom had to give up Harmonix due to the Rock Band franchise losing money, but Harmonix filed a suit claiming that Viacom still owed $550 million in promised bonuses.

Now we’re just watching the drama unfold. Viacom plans to fight the ruling, which was issued December 19, and is claiming that some evidence was “improperly excluded” from the arbitration hearings.

This one probably has a few months to go and it’s unclear who exactly is right, but Viacom is certainly on the ropes for now. We’ll keep you posted as new details emerge.

[L.A. Times]

The legal battle between Viacom and the creators of Rock Band rages on, with the latest blow being delivered straight to Viacom’s wallet.


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3DS Breaks 4 Million Sold in Japan

Posted Dec 26, 2011 at 3:36PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: mario kart 7, monster hunter 3g, nintendo 3ds, super mario 3d land

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The Nintendo 3DS has a strong pre-Christmas week, moving over 500,000 systems.

It’s been a pretty great month for the Nintendo 3DS. Ever since the launch of Monster Hunter 3G, the device has been flying off shelves in Japan. Thanks to the last-minute rush of the holidays, Nintendo managed to snag 510,620 unit sales in just the last week – a 39 percent increase from the previous week.

The Nintendo 3DS outsold the PS Vita by 13%, but it’s not clear what, if anything, that could indicate, considering the relative age disparity of the units and possible availability problems with the Vita. Either way, Nintendo’s once-maligned system is making a strong case for its future.

Mario also had a good week, with fans snapping up over a million copies each of both Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land. There’s no longer any room for argument that the 3DS is a system in trouble – now it’s up to Nintendo to convince investors and get their finances back in the black.

In the meantime, we’ll just have to wait and see how these big Japanese successes ripple through the western market. They could mark a new trend for 3DS sales over here, but they might not.

What do you think?

[Joystiq]

The Nintendo 3DS has a strong pre-Christmas week, moving over 500,000 systems.


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Sony Reports on Vita Game Sales

Posted Dec 26, 2011 at 2:56PM EST by Listed in: PS Vita Tags: ps vita, psp, vita downloads

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The system is off to a strong start with excellent digital and retail game sales.

PlayStation Vita has had a solid launch over in Japan, selling well over 320,000 units and moving 300,000 launch games off shelves. While some news outlets are reporting the software totals as below par, what they don’t take into account are the digital downloads offered by Sony.

The Nintendo 3DS, for example, had a first-week attachment rate of 0.95, meaning almost everyone that bought a system bought a game. PSP’s was 1.06. Vita’s looks low, but without numbers on digital downloads, it’s hard to get a bead on exactly how well things are going.

Sony has confirmed that their in-store game sales are about what they were hoping for, but also that download versions are “exceeding expectations.” They didn’t drop an official number, though one will almost certainly be released in the coming weeks.

For now, it looks like Vita is having a relatively successful launch. First-week numbers are strong and the unit has fair momentum heading into the winter doldrums of entertainment properties.

Do you think these sales figures indicate a willingness on the part of gamers to shift to digital distribution? Steam and other services are already wildly successful, but what about for consoles and handhelds?

[CVG]

The system is off to a strong start with excellent digital and retail game sales.


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Nintendo Direct Event Scheduled for Tonight

Posted Dec 26, 2011 at 12:38PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: nintendo 3ds, nintendo direct, wii u

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Curious about the future of the Wii and Nintendo 3DS? Tune in tonight for details.

Later this evening, Nintendo will be holding one of their “Nintendo Direct” conferences for investors and other fans of the brand. Tonight’s update will focus largely on the Nintendo 3DS, though there are rumors that some Wii U information may also be forthcoming. There will also be updates regarding the future of the Wii, which has seen a steady decline in titles since Nintendo announced the Wii U.

The event is set to take place on Tuesday morning in Japan, putting it at 10pm EST or 7pm PST here in the States. Like other Nintendo Direct events, tonight’s will be broadcast on the Nintendo Ustream page – in Japanese. So if you want to tune in, you may want to find a translator. That, or wait for a translated version to pop up a few hours later.

Nintendo likely has a lot to talk about, with 3DS sales suddenly skyrocketing and the brand looking better than ever despite continuing to post financial losses. Tonight’s presentation will probably be designed to instill confidence in the company and let fans and shareholders know that good stuff is coming.

Will you watch the Nintendo Direct event?

[1Up]

Curious about the future of the Wii and Nintendo 3DS? Tune in tonight for details.


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FFXII-2 Tops Japanese Sales Charts

Posted Dec 22, 2011 at 4:57PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: final fantasy xiii, golden abyss, mario kart 7, monster hunter, super mario 3d land, uncharted

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Square Enix’s follow up to the maligned Final Fantasy XIII is off to a strong start in Japan. Duh.

If there’s one thing Japan loves, it’s Final Fantasy. So it’s not entirely surprising that Final Fantasy XIII-2, which launched earlier this week for Japanese gamers, has already rocketed to the top of the sales charts. The game moved 500,000 copies in its first week of release, toppling Monster Hunter 3G from the top of the charts and renewing confidence in the Final Fantasy brand.

Of course, Japanese sales trends aren’t always indicative of western performance (as I said, Monster Hunter was #1 until this happened), but it’s definitely good news for Square Enix that their hardcore fan base wasn’t so upset with FFXIII that they abandoned the brand entirely. The actual sales figure, around 525,000, accounts only for PS3 versions of the game.

Some Vita titles also managed to make the list, a good sign for the fledgling handheld. Here’s the top 20, for those of you that like tracking Japanese game sales:

01. [PS3] Final Fantasy XIII-2 (Square Enix, 12/15): 525,271

02. [3DS] Monster Hunter 3G (Capcom, 12/10): 208,427 (730,386)

03. [3DS] Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo, 12/01): 182,418 (789,871)

04. [3DS] Inazuma Eleven Go (Level-5, 12/15): 135,259

05. [3DS] Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo, 11/03): 112,533 (837,143)

06. [WII] Kirby Wii (Nintendo, 10/27): 71,028 (398,516)

07. [PSV] Hot Shots Golf 6 (Sony, 12/17): 61,412

08. [PSV] Uncharted Golden Abyss (Sony, 12/17): 48,224

09. [WII] Just Dance Wii (Nintendo, 10/13): 44,021 (323,293)

10. [WII] Poke Park 2 (Pokemon, 11/12): 43,829 (164,018)

11. [WII] Wii Party (Pokemon, 07/08/10): 42,632 (2,129,236)

12. [NDS] Magician's Quest: The Merchant's Store of Sorcery (Konami, 12/10): 35,068 (81,110)

13. [WII] Mario & Sonic at London Olympics (Pokemon, 11/12): 34,351 (64,573)

14. [PS3] Shin Kamaitachi no Yoru (Chunsoft, 12/17): 33,686

15. [PS3] BlazBlue Continuum Shift Extend (Arc System Works, 12/17): 32,992

16. [WII] Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo, 11/11/10): 30,804 (734,046)

17. [WII] Taiko Drum Master Wii Ultimate Version (Namco Bandai, 11/23): 30,046 (100,284)

18. [PSV] Dynasty Warriors Next (Tecmo Koei, 12/17): 29,181

19. [PSV] Lord of Apocalypse (Square Enix, 12/17): 28,742

20. [NDS] One Piece Gigant Battle! 2 (Namco Bandai, 11/17): 28,406 (207,458)

Nintendo is clearly the king of the party in Japan, despite the temporary dominance of one game or another. In the meantime, we’ll just have to wait and see how FFXIII-2 is received here in the west. The previous game was the best selling in the history of the franchise, but also landed to lukewarm reviews.

How do you think FFXIII-2 will do when it’s released in the west? Also, don’t you just hate typing “FFXIII-2?”

[Destructoid]

Square Enix’s follow up to the maligned Final Fantasy XIII is off to a strong start in Japan. Duh.


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Western Release Confirmed for Kingdom Hearts 3D

Posted Dec 20, 2011 at 1:01PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: Kingdom Hearts, nintendo 3ds, Square Enix

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Square Enix finally confirms that its latest collaboration with Disney will hit shelves in Europe and North America.

Kingdom Hearts is apparently about to celebrate its tenth anniversary (feel old?), and Square Enix and Disney are looking to mark the event with an all-new game in the franchise. This new title, slated for a 2012 release on the Nintendo 3DS, will mark the beginning of the end for the current Kingdom Hearts saga.

Square isn’t talking much about the game beyond that it will serve as the first part of the final chapter in the narrative that’s been running for the last couple of games, and that they’re excited to see what the Nintendo 3DS can do in terms of making the experience feel familiar, yet new. Some confirmed features include dual protagonists, new worlds, new creatures and “free-flow” action, whatever that means.

We knew this game was set for release in Japan, but it’s nice to get confirmation that the game will see release here in the States and over in Europe. Kingdom Hearts has a strong fan base – it will be interesting to see if the franchise spurs any new 3DS sales.

Look for Kingdom Hearts 3D sometime next year – that’s about as specific as we can get right now.

Are you excited for a new Kingdom Hearts game, or is the choice of device going to keep you away from this chapter?

[RPG Site]

Square Enix finally confirms that its latest collaboration with Disney will hit shelves in Europe and North America.


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3DS Ambassador Games Dated

Posted Dec 14, 2011 at 2:48PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: Fire Emblem, mario kart, metroid fusion, nf-zero, super mario advance, the legend of zelda

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Remember when Nintendo promised you some free games? Well, they’re officially on the way.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador program, here’s some backstory: First, the Nintendo DS was released to the general public for the astounding price of eight million U.S. gold bars. After a couple of months of terrible sales, Nintendo opted to drop the price to a much more agreeable $169.99. And, to help soothe the minds of those that purchase the handheld at the original price point, the company promised to give every early-adopter ten free Game Boy Advance games.

The release of those games was delayed a couple of times while Nintendo got everything figured out, but they’ve officially announced a real-life release date as well as a list of the games to be released. Look for your Ambassador titles on December 16 – if you live in Japan or Europe. There has been no confirmation from Nintendo’s North American branch quite yet, but it’s safe to assume the games will launch on the same day unless we’re told otherwise.

Here are the ten games you can pick up on Friday:

• F-Zero

• Super Mario Advance 3

• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

• Fire Emblem Seima no Kouseki

• Kirby & the Amazing Mirror

• Mario Kart Advance

• Mario vs. Donkey Kong

• Metroid Fusion

• Wario Land Advance

• Made in Wario

Pretty good titles, if you ask me. They could have given us ten terrible games, but instead seem to have dropped a “greatest hits” GBA list. Nice work, Nintendo.

Are you in the Ambassador program? Was it worth the extra cash?

[Destructoid]

Remember when Nintendo promised you some free games? Well, they’re officially on the way.


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Monster Hunter Release Gives 3DS Best Week Ever

Posted Dec 13, 2011 at 1:24PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: monster hunter, monster hunter 3g, nintendo 3ds

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In Japan, the Nintendo 3DS just smashed its own sales records, fueled largely by a hot new title.

Monster Hunter is a pretty big deal in Japan. It’s also a pretty big deal here in the west, but in Japan, it’s a full-fledged phenomenon similar to Pokémon or Call of Duty. Essentially, it’s a must-have. The latest entry in the franchise, Monster Hunter 3G, has raked in an impressive 471,055 units sold in just the first week of release.

Thanks to this (relatively) massive launch, Nintendo saw sales of its 3DS handheld go straight through the roof. The company reports selling 371,326 units in the week of Monster Hunter 3G’s release – the best sales week on record since the device hit shelves. To date, the 3DS has moved over three million units, despite the fact that people seem dedicated to shaming it as a niche peripheral.

On interesting fact – the “week” of sales data for Monster Hunter 3G only represents the first two days of actual data. When the full numbers for the week are released, they’re sure to be much higher. In the meantime, it looks like Satoru Iwata can relax a little bit about the future of his company. Assuming, of course, that Shigeru Miyamoto doesn’t make any more unplanned announcements.

[Destructoid]

In Japan, the Nintendo 3DS just smashed its own sales records, fueled largely by a hot new title.


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3DS first year sales Surpass DS first year in only 8 months

Posted Dec 2, 2011 at 9:00AM EST by Tim Curtin Listed in: Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS Tags: 3ds ambassador programme, 3ds gba, 3ds sales, 3ds vs ds, ds sales

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And, in other good news for Nintendo, the 10 Gameboy Advance games owed to early 3DS purchasers as compensation for the recent 3DS price drop are due before year end.


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Nintendo Banks on Bieber Fever

Posted Dec 1, 2011 at 3:25PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: 3ds justin bieber, celebrity gamers, mariah carey 3ds

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The games company is banking on the teen heartthrob to encourage new 3DS sales.

Black Friday treated Nintendo well, and the Nintendo 3DS has officially out-performed the original DS in terms of first year sales. But Nintendo isn’t one to rest on its laurels, and has a full-on media blitz planned to carry its products through the holiday season. One part of this blitz apparently includes spending what must have been a huge pile of money to have the 3DS prominently featured in a Justin Bieber/Mariah Carey video, which you can watch below.

Fair warning – Bieber is auto-tuned into oblivion and the video is absolutely obnoxious, so you can skip to the incredibly obvious product placement at 1:58 if you don’t want to sit through this whole thing.

Bieber is a big factor for parents with young teens, especially of the female variety. I’m not sure whether seeing young Justin load up on Nintendo 3DSs will encourage his fans to buy a few for themselves, but Nintendo certainly seems to think it’s a gamble worth taking. I can’t imagine they earned such a prominent position in the video without a sizeable investment.

One thing’s for sure – putting Justin Bieber on the same track as someone that can actually sing wasn’t the best idea. I’m sure his fans won’t care, but hearing that auto-tuned robot voice next to Mariah Carey makes it all the more obvious that this kid’s days in the industry are numbered.

Oh, and shame on whoever made that for ruining one of the few Christmas songs I actually (and embarrassingly) like.

What do you think of Nintendo’s idea? Will it generate more interest for the handheld?

[ZDNet]

The games company is banking on the teen heartthrob to encourage new 3DS sales.


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Microsoft Also Had a Good Week

Posted Nov 30, 2011 at 4:46PM EST by Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: kinect black friday, kinect sales, nintendo wii sales, xbox 360 sales, xbox black friday

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The Xbox 360 was a hot Black Friday item, with sales eclipsing that of the Nintendo Wii.

We talked yesterday about Nintendo’s very good Thanksgiving week, in which they sold over 500,000 Nintendo Wiis. I noted that I was curious to see how Microsoft and Sony fared during the holiday, and now we have the answer to half of that question. Here’s the answer in short: Microsoft did very, very well.

The Xbox 360 sold 960,000 units last week, thanks in large part to a Black Friday surge. 800,000 of the sold units moved within the same 24-hour period, so it’s safe to assume that the shopping holiday had at least something to do with the large success. Microsoft also reported that they sold 750,000 Kinects, but that number includes Kinect devices bundled with a console.

And here’s where we begin to see the big differences between the consoles. The Wii dominated early on, but as the hardware ages and interesting titles dry up, consumers increasingly turn to PS3 and 360 due to their flexibility. If you have a Wii, you can play Wii games. The online and multimedia capabilities of both the PS3 and 360 make them better buys this late in the product cycle, since you’ll keep using them even after new consoles launch. Half the time, when I turn my 360 on, I don’t play games at all.

I love the Wii and am a confessed Nintendo fanboy, but you can’t argue with sales numbers and common sense. Congratulations to Microsoft on a massive week – now let’s get some of Sony’s numbers!

[IGN]

The Xbox 360 was a hot Black Friday item, with sales eclipsing that of the Nintendo Wii.


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Firmware update for the 3DS Delayed until December 8th

Posted Nov 29, 2011 at 8:00PM EST by Tim Curtin Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: 3ds firmware, 3ds firmware update, new 3ds features

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On the back of some good sales figures for Black Friday, Nintendo lets us down a little by having to announce a slight delay in the 3DS firmware update.


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Nintendo Had a Good Week

Posted Nov 29, 2011 at 3:21PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: Black Friday, mario kart 7, Nintendo, skyward sword, super mario 3d land, the legend of zelda

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The games company and console maker reports huge numbers from the Black Friday sales rush.

Nintendo hasn’t been doing so great as of late, but most people figured they’d see a pretty nice boost once the holiday season rolled around. Well, the holiday season is here, and so is the predicted Nintendo boost. The company boasted astonishing sales numbers for the Thanksgiving weekend, fueled by Black Friday sales and the recent releases of two very good games.

Nintendo is reporting that since the launch of both games, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has sold over 535,000 copies and Super Mario 3D Land has sold 500,000, both with big surges during the holiday week. The Wii also saw the best Black Friday numbers since its release, with buyers purchasing an astonishing 500,000 units. I’d love to see how Microsoft and Sony did – I’m sure they crushed as well.

Perhaps the most important data for Nintendo, however, is the increased sales of its 3DS handheld unit. Sales of the device tripled in the last week, going up by 325%. The 3DS has now officially sold more units than the original DS managed to snag in its first year of release. Whatever Nintendo needed to happen with the 3DS, it looks like it’s finally happening. The 3DS will likely continue to sell well, with Mario Kart 7 on the horizon.

We’ll just have to wait and see how Nintendo carries this momentum into the holiday season. The Wii has always been a big Christmas buy, and the 3DS is fresh enough to be on some holiday wish lists.

What’s on your holiday wish list? Do you want a Wii, a 3DS, or something else entirely?

[1up]

The games company and console maker reports huge numbers from the Black Friday sales rush.


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Two New 3DS Bundles Due This Week

Posted Nov 21, 2011 at 3:00PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: ocarina of time, Star Fox, super mario 3d

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Pick up a Nintendo 3DS and one of two great games for $200. Party!

The Nintendo 3DS is staging quite a comeback. Faced with skepticism from the industry and a rough launch, the handheld device is quickly outpacing the sales pattern of the original Nintendo DS. As more games come out and the price continues to drop, the 3DS stands ever closer to success. And, to help cement this process into being, Nintendo is launching two more bundles this week.

Here’s the low-down on the two new bundles:

Super Mario 3D Land Bundle - $200

Fire Red Nintendo 3DS

Super Mario 3D Land

Ocarina of Time Bundle - $200

Cosmos Black Nintendo 3DS with Gold Accents

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

$200 is a pretty solid price point for the 3DS, especially when you consider that it’s only about $50 more than the current pricing of the various DS models. The holidays look like they’re going to treat Nintendo quite well, a good thing considering their recent financial woes.

Are you going to buy a 3DS? I feel like this question comes up every few days with all of these bundles and deals – if they make a Star Fox bundle, I’m sold.

[GamePro]

Pick up a Nintendo 3DS and one of two great games for $200. Party!


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Nintendo 3DS Hits 1.65 Million Sold

Posted Nov 12, 2011 at 3:36PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: mario kart 7, nintendo 3ds, skyward sword, super mario 3d land

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Though gamers and industry analysts have expressed concerns over the 3DS’s marketability, the handheld is finally making headway after a rocky start.

If you’re one of the people that though the Nintendo 3DS was destined to be a disaster, it looks like you’ll have to put your “Up Yours, Nintendo” shirt away - at least for the next few months. The company has reported that the Nintendo 3DS has moved 1.65 million units in the U.S. since its launch earlier this year, after a much-needed price drop helped to boost sales.

Nintendo is hoping that the 3DS will outstrip sales for its previous handheld, the Nintendo DS, which sold 2.37 million units in its first 12 months. With the holiday season pending, it’s possible they will actually meet this goal.

Another thing fueling the increased demand for the 3DS? Games. Though remakes like Ocarina of Time and StarFox 64 have helped to secure the 3DS a place in the hearts of passionate gamers and early adopters, upcoming titles like Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 are sure to move a few more units. Despite the new titles, Nintendo still has a serious software problem; those two games and Skyward Sword are pretty much all they have going on for the remainder of the year.

It seems like every time Nintendo releases a new console, people argue about whether or not it’s a good idea. The original DS didn’t get much love, if I recall correctly, until the Lite version surfaced, and the now-hilarious quotes from Sony regarding the Wii’s viability should be etched on the back of every PS Move controller shipped. But Nintendo always manages to find a way to make it work (except, you know, that one time) and it looks like the 3DS is here to stay.

Do you have a 3DS? Would you consider buying one based on these new titles?

Via Destructoid

Though gamers and industry analysts have expressed concerns over the 3DS’s marketability, the handheld is finally making headway after a rocky start.


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Skryim Takes the Top Slot on Steam

Posted Nov 12, 2011 at 2:24PM EST by Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: Bethesda, call of duty, mw3, skyrim

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Bethesda’s RPG epic knocks Call of Duty from its perch on one of the most popular services in PC gaming.

Sure, Modern Warfare 3 made a zillion dollars last week. Sure, it’s the biggest launch in history. But last night, gamers seemed to forget about Call of Duty for a few hours to focus on the new kid in town: Skyrim. Valve’s Steam tracker shows that Skyrim landed 231,583 users during the first 24 hours following its launch, while Modern Warfare 3 held the second place slot with 78,161.

Of course, these are only Steam numbers – sales tallies aren’t in and for the moment, there’s no real way to tell if this trend was reflected on consoles. But it’s still an impressive feat, and knocking the biggest game in history off the throne for even a few hours is an achievement Bethesda should celebrate. Skyrim is a hotly anticipated title so it’s no surprise to see it doing well; we’ll just have to wait and see how the numbers even out over the coming weeks.

Modern Warfare 3 will likely regain the top slot as the initial push of Skyrim players dissipates and things level out, especially once Skyward Sword hits shelves later this month. RPG fans can’t play both games at the same time, but shooter fans are pretty much done with choosing until next year’s inevitable Call of Duty sequel.

Which game are you spending your time with this weekend? Contrary to what the commenters on this post seem to believe, I’ll be playing Battlefield 3.

Via PC Gamer

Bethesda’s RPG epic knocks Call of Duty from its perch on one of the most popular services in PC gaming.


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Saturday Mash-Up: The Hottest QJ Posts of the Week

Posted Nov 12, 2011 at 1:11PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo DS Tags: battlefield 3, mw3, playstation 4, skyrim

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Five posts from the last few days that you may have missed, but shouldn’t have.

Saturdays can be slow news days, and it’s hard to keep up with everything that happens during the week. So, with that in mind, I’ve compiled a quick list of the most Jumped/Commented posts of the week, as well as a quick rundown on what you’ll find should you choose to read them yourself. Also, I’m giving one special QJ user the illustrious “Comment of the Week” award, so be sure to check that out at the end of this post.

Here goes:

Did You Kill a Rat in BF3 Single Player?

PETA is pretty upset about a scene in Battlefield 3 that has you pick up a rat, stab it with your tactical knife and toss it aside. Comments overfloweth on this post, but it looks like most people seem to agree that PETA needs to calm down. Read the full post and add your thoughts to the discussion – is in-game violence cause for real-life concern?

PoV: Is it Time for PlayStation 4?

In this post, I talked about the speed at which PC systems are outstripping consoles, and whether it’s time for an official announcement on the next Sony console. Sony probably isn’t dropping the system any time soon; analysts say it’s strong until 2015. Most commenters seem to feel that the PS3 has plenty of life in it – what do you think?

Colorado Man Loses His Mind Over MW3 Pre-Order

This post covers the very strange occurrence at a Colorado Best Buy on Tuesday night, when a man threatened to shoot employees and blow up the store because they ran out of copies of Modern Warfare 3. Commenters think the guy should have chilled out, but some have noted that Best Buy should have stocked enough games to cover their pre-orders. There’s also a fair bit of CoD bashing, if that’s the sort of thing you enjoy.

You Can Play Skyrim Forever

Bethesda recently revealed that Skyrim’s radiant story system will continue to create quests for as long as you own the game. This essentially gives you an infinite Skyrim experience. Comment reactions are pretty positive, though one commenter somehow manages to insult Modern Warfare 3 in the process. What do you think about a truly infinite experience?

Android and iOS Stomp Nintendo and Sony Handhelds

News that the mobile games market finally eclipsed traditional handheld games sales took the industry by storm. Games for these two mobile platforms have generated more revenue than PSP and DS games combined, but some savvy commenters noted that the DS and PSP are near the end of their lifespans, and the data may not be as impressive as some may think. Check out the post and decide for yourself!

And, finally, it’s time to present one special person with “Comment of the Week.” I’ve read through piles of comments – some good, some bad, and some absolutely awful – but the clear winner this week is doo che, for his/her comment on “You Can Play Skyrim Forever:”

“I HAVE NOT BEEN THIS EXCITED FOR ANYTHING IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

YOU COULD GIVE ME 18 HOOKERS AND AN INFINITE SUPPLY OF BACON AND I STILL WOULDN'T GIVE A SHIT, CAUSE SKYRIM COMES OUT TOMORROW!”

I hope the game turned out as good as you were expecting, doo che. Keep on trucking.

Five posts from the last few days that you may have missed, but shouldn’t have.


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Super Mario Land boosts 3DS sales

Posted Nov 12, 2011 at 11:51AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: japan sales, Nintendo, super mario land, super mario land 3ds

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Mario beats out Battlefield and Uncharted in first week Japanese Sales.


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Android and iOS Stomp Nintendo and Sony Handhelds

Posted Nov 10, 2011 at 4:19PM EST by Listed in: iPhone Tags: angry birds, psp games

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Recent numbers indicate that games for the two mobile platforms have outsold PSP and DS software. Like, by a lot.

Nintendo, I think, is considered the champion of handheld gaming. The Sony PSP has certainly made headway, and the shaky launch of the 3DS combined with Vita’s hype threatens Nintendo’s position in the market, but for the most part, they’ve ruled the handheld roost since launching the Game Boy way back in 1989. Pretty much everyone has a DS, right?

But a new challenger has appeared in recent years, one that has managed to put games in the hands of non-gamers and absolutely demolish both the PSP and Nintendo handhelds in terms of raw software sales: the mobile market.

According to numbers from Flurry, mobile games sales represented an astounding 58% of games sales in the last year, compared to 36% for the Nintendo DS and only 6% for the PSP. That means that mobile games have sold more software than the DS and PSP combined. Sony and Nintendo have earned around $1.4 billion in portable games sales this year, combined to $1.9 billion for Android market and iOS. The industry is certainly changing.

Mobile gaming is going to continue to dominate in terms of raw sales, but I think the writer over at TechCrunch has this point severely wrong: “I think Sony and Nintendo have to come to grips with the fact that iOS and Android are capable of much richer play experiences than PSP or 3DSs are.”

He then goes on to list Angry Birds and Disney’s Mobile AppMates as evidence of these “rich” play experiences. That’s a pretty big jump when you start looking at some of the incredible games we’ve seen on handheld consoles, and when you consider that some of the best games on mobile systems are dumbed-down DS or PSP games.

But he’s right about one thing – by not developing games for the mobile market, Nintendo and Sony are missing a big profit opportunity.

What do you think of these new numbers? Do you think mobile platforms provide “richer” games than the DS or PSP?

Recent numbers indicate that games for the two mobile platforms have outsold PSP and DS software. Like, by a lot.


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Nintendo Spreading out 3DS Games

Posted Nov 1, 2011 at 1:43PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: ocarina of time, Satoru Iwata, starfox

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The dearth of 3DS games this holiday season has been seen as a weakness, but it’s all part of Nintendo’s grand scheme.

If you ask people what’s holding them back from purchasing a 3DS, one of the common responses you’ll receive is “lack of games.” Since the launch of the device in March, we’ve yet to see any real push to fill the handheld with quality software. Sure, there are a few good titles here and there, but for the most part, we’ve been watching the future and hoping for some real releases. Ocarina of Time and StarFox can’t hold the line by themselves.

While the lack of 3DS titles may seem like a problem to some analysts, it’s actually a purposeful situation created by Nintendo in the hopes of generating more sales in the long haul. Their thought process seems to be, “Sure, we can make a pile of cash in November, or we can wait and release our games with fewer competitors.” Nintendo isn’t merely concerned about how a 3DS game will hold up against Skyrim, but also how each game will fare when released near other 3DS games.

Here’s a quote from Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo:

“For us to provide software titles one after another, one idea is, “Isn’t it possible for Nintendo to stock some of its software titles instead of launching them as soon as the development is completed?” Video games need to stay fresh, so it is not practical for us to put them on hold for too long, but we think that some of them may be held for a certain amount of time so that there will be a short interval between when they are completed and when they are launched.

“We are taking on this sort of challenge for the Nintendo 3DS. For example, when we look at the software lineup for the year-end sales season, it is so dense that, if we added any more software, the total sales would not increase. Accordingly, we have intentionally delayed the launch of some software titles to early next year.”

It makes sense that Nintendo would want to create a perceived scarcity with their releases. It makes no sense to drop ten new 3DS games in the next month when you look at the ridiculous amount of competition coming in from other consoles. Of course, the holiday season is always good for actual system sales, but we’ll have to see if Nintendo’s gamble pays off.

Do you think pushing big titles back to 2012 makes Nintendo more likely to achieve success?

Via Destructoid

The dearth of 3DS games this holiday season has been seen as a weakness, but it’s all part of Nintendo’s grand scheme.


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SEGA game sales and profits fall. Weak market or poor titles to blame?

Posted Nov 1, 2011 at 1:30PM EST by Tim Curtin Listed in: PoV Tags: captain america, Sega, sega game releases, sega profits, sega sammy, sonic generations

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How the mighty have fallen? Once revered for creating the only true competitor to Super Mario in Sonic the Hedgehog, SEGA profits continue to slide.


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Capcom Talks Resident Evil Revelations Raid Mode

Posted Oct 31, 2011 at 5:58PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: resident evil revelations raid mode, resident evil: revelations

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The games giant talks about a special mode found in the latest title in the Resident Evil series, and why gamers will want to play it.

Resident Evil: Revelations is an important title for the Nintendo 3DS. It’s one of the few top-notch games that are headed to the device that aren’t also proprietary brands or based entirely on taking care of fake animals, so Capcom and Nintendo both need to get it right. Though the 3DS has been seeing better sales as of late, strong software choices will help to keep this improvement going.

Resident Evil: Revelations is very much a Resident Evil game, with zombies, monsters and a variety of survival horror traditions, but Capcom is also looking to make the game a little more flexible. They’ve officially announced what they’re calling “Raid Mode,” which is a special game mode in which one or two players are given a set of missions and objectives and graded on completion. The points earned in Raid mode are then used for weapon and character upgrades.

It sort of sounds like the Spec Ops mode in Modern Warfare 2 (and maybe Black Op? I didn’t play that one), where there are short, targeted missions with specific time and points goals.

Here’s what assistant producer had to say about it:

"The story mode in the game is something we created with the single-player experience in mind. I would like everyone to play the game in their bedroom with the lights off and headphones on. That's the way to experience the mode.

At the same time, these games we create, we know they're really enjoyable when you're able to share some of that experience with a friend. Multiplayer is very important and that communication is something that resonates with everyone. We felt putting Raid Mode in, in this kind of structure, allowed us to do that for this game as well.”

Raid mode will function via Wi-Fi and the web and borrows levels from the solo campaign, but we’ll just have to see if it’s a viable multiplayer experience. I think the hard part would likely be finding someone else with a 3DS.

How do you feel about multiplayer in Resident Evil? It’s worked okay in the past, but is it right for the 3DS?

Via EuroGamer

The games giant talks about a special mode found in the latest title in the Resident Evil series, and why gamers will want to play it.