Ambassador of Kickyourassitor
I was browing through this months news at gamsutra.com and the Nintendo news for the month of October seemed overwhelming, as Gamasutra doesn't normally put up a bunch of console news. Here's what we've got for October, 2003:
PS2 Japanese Sales Drop
According to a report from Bloomberg, Sony has sold 33% less PlayStation 2 consoles in the first six months of 2003 in Japan, compared to the same period in 2002.
A total of 1,085,560 units were sold in the first half of 2003, compared to 1,620,239 in the same period last year. This data tallies with figures from the US, which show a similar slowdown in demand, which could indicate that the console is reaching saturation point amongst consumers.
At the same time sales of Nintendo’s GameCube console rose in the first six months of 2003 to 319,037 units, up 5% from the same period in 2002. Figures for the Xbox in Japan were not available, but are unlikely to provide comfortable reading for Microsoft. (sorry for the bolding, diffusionx.)
GameCube Outsells PS2 In US
It is being reported that in the last week of sales, the GameCube outsold both the Xbox and PS2 in the US. According to data gathered from nine major retailers, since the price of the GameCube was dropped to $99 last week, the sales figures are as follows:
GameCube: 64,405 units
PS2: 53,834 units
Xbox: 26,290 units
Namco Doubles Profit Guidance
Officials from Namco have indicated that the company expects its half-year net profit to be more than double its previous estimate, thanks to the success of Soulcalibur II and Japanese RPG Tales of Symphonia. Group net profits for the six months ended September 30 are now estimated at 3.2 billion yen ($29.1m), up 113% from the previous forecast.
The company’s full year net profit forecast also rose as a result to 6.6 billion yen ($60.2m), from 5.8 billion yen ($52.9m). This change raises the possibility of a dividend increase by 5 to 10 yen for the year to March 2004.
Nintendo Regains Japanese Top Spot
Representatives from Magazine publisher Enterbrain have released a list of the top selling publishers in Japan, in which Nintendo have regained the top spot for the first half year of 2003 from Konami.
The two companies have consistently been the main rivals for supremacy in the Japanese market, with Konami edging ahead of Nintendo for the first time in the April to September period last year.
Square Enix came third in this latest list, followed by Namco (rising from number eleven last year). Surprisingly American giant Electronic Arts actually dropped six places to number twenty.
GameCube UK Sales Rise By 400%
Representatives of Nintendo UK are claiming that since the console’s recent price drop to £79 ($132) sales have risen by 400%.
It is unclear though, exactly what effect this rise will have on specific units sales since the UK is currently one of Nintendo’s weakest territories and even such a large rise may not put it above the Xbox. It is certainly unlikely to see the console beat the PS2, which recently outsold the GameCube by a margin of 50:1 in the UK.
British retailers have certainly welcomed the price move though, with catalogue store Argos deciding to restock the format after dumping it earlier in the year.
****
Seems to me, Nintendo is positioned okay for the holidays and for 2004.
livejournal user guide vol 1
I've said since the start that it is in Sony's best interests that the Gamecube does well. If they were smart instead of immediately dropping the Playstation 2 to $99 (a move which would undoubtedly force Microsoft to do the same with the Xbox) they sit and let Nintendo reap the sales of the price cut. This would strengthen their position against Microsoft, and Sony would feel absolutely no change – they have won no matter what.
The Dreamcast picked up mad sales with every price drop. [/doom]
Outworld Neck Hair
I'm not sure how good this news is. Especially considering that 'Britain is the weakest territory'.Originally Posted by Scourge
Ambassador of Kickyourassitor
Very true. I think it would be in Sony's best interest to let one of their competition flail in the wind, boosting their already remarkably HUGE marketshare and shrinking the market share of Microsoft. Nobody can catch up, so that'd be smart strategy for Sony.
Yep, and the Gamecube only needed to be 80 dollars cheaper than the competition before people cared.
can't wake up
Exactly. I really think that the GameCube selling more than the PS2 and Xbox for that one week is not really indicative of anything except a short-term trend.
Count up your sins
Since Iwata stepped down, it's been nothing but bliss.
And the fact the Gamecube sells 145% more then the Xbox last week makes me laugh indefinetly.
Unashamed Sink Urinator.
Give it three weeks, if the trend stays the same, then we might have somthing. Until then...meh.
Ambassador of Kickyourassitor
So you guys just read that one little thing eh? Let's try again. *Before* the price drop, Nintendo's sales of Gamecube for the first half of the year (up through June) were up 5% over 2002. Not whopping, but PS2 sales were down 33% in the first half of the year. That was before the price drop. Since the price drop, Nintendo has sold enough consoles that it seems like they've secured the Number 2 spot away from Microsoft without question. I don't hear anyone saying that Microsoft is hearing the deathbells. Not at all. And do you think Xbox is going to sell a ton in the UK and Japan if they go to $99? Certainly not Japan; not like the surge Nintendo has seen elsewhere (I guess I can't guarantee that, but it's not as though Nintendo had the shitty sales in NA that the Xbox had in Japan).
It doesn't matter if they are the top selling console 3 or 4 weeks running because they've already moved securely into the number 2 spot. More units sold before the holidays means more software sold in 2004. And the next generation starts in 2005. How can you compare this to the Dreamcast when they died at what many saw as the *beginning* of the Next Gen back then? Nintendo isn't even in last place much less dead in the water before the competition puts their hardware out. And since Nintendo's balance sheet is sound, they aren't anywhere near folding the way SEGA did.
And at this point, if you don't own a Gamecube, you should have your gaming license revoked. Again.
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