Chart Get!: August 2008

MC 2008-08-18 and Famitsu 2008-08-04 & 2008-08-11: Things of Note

8/29/08

Based on the latest Famitsu numbers...

PSP comparisons: After 193 weeks, PSP is where PS2 was at 147.2 weeks (December 23, 2002), where DS was at 87.9 weeks (August 5, 2006), and where GBA was at 123.4 weeks (July 29, 2003).

PS3 comparisons: After 93 weeks, PS3 is where PS2 was at 20.8 weeks (July 21, 2000), where PSP was at 53.0 weeks (December 10, 2005), where GCN was at 99.3 weeks (August 4, 2003), and where Wii was at 22.9 weeks (May 5, 2007).

Wii comparisons: After 90 weeks, Wii is where GBA was at 88.7 weeks (November 28, 2002), where DS was at 69.6 weeks (March 29, 2006), where PS2 was at 96.9 weeks (January 5, 2002), and where PSP was at 151.2 weeks (October 29, 2007).

For a while now Wii will appear to get further behind GBA, since GBA is entering a holiday period. However, Wii is almost through PS2's biggest holiday period. If Wii has a weak next few months it might briefly fall behind PS2 before shooting ahead again due to its own holiday boost.

Famitsu software stuff:

Wario Land remains slow but steady.

Fatal Frame Wii (3062) remains well in the middle.

Rhythm Tengoku Gold continues to look ridiculous next to its predecessor.

Based on the latest Media Create numbers...
DS vs PSP: Weekly shares of 54.0 / 46.0 bring total shares to 69.5 / 30.5. If DS stopped selling and PSP continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 273.5 weeks (November 21, 2013).

PS3 vs Wii: Weekly shares of 20.4 / 79.6 bring total shares to 25.5 / 74.5. If Wii stopped selling and PS3 continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 484.5 weeks (December 7, 2017).

PS3 2008 falls back behind PS3 2007.

8/29/08

Media Create Sales: 08/18 - 08/24 (Handhelds)

8/28/08

Media Create Sales: 08/18 - 08/24 (Software)

8/27/08

Software:

1. [PS2] J-League Winning Eleven 2008 (Konami) (79,000) / NEW
2. [NDS] Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Nintendo) (57,000) / (536,000)
3. [NDS] Inazuma Eleven (Level 5) (41,000) / NEW
4. [NDS] Dragon Quest V:...Heavenly Bride (Square Enix) (32,000) / (1,125,000)
5. [PSP] Phantasy Star Portable (SEGA) (31,000) / (595,000)
6. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) (30,000) / (2,546,000)
7. [NDS] Harukanaru Toki no Naka de:.... (KOEI) (26,000) / NEW
8. [NDS] Sigma Harmonics (Square Enix) (23,000) / NEW
9. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo) (19,000) / (1,711,000)
10. [NDS] Daigasso! Band Brothers DX (Nintendo) (16,000) / (296,000)

11. [NDS] Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpucho
12. [NDS] Takio Drum Master DS: Seven Island...
13. [PS2] Powerful Pro Baseball 15
14. [PSP] Monster Hunder 2nd G
15. [Wii] Wii Sports
16. [PS2] Memmories 6 T-Wave
17. [Wii] Wario Land: Shake It
18. [NDS] Beautiful Letter Training
19. [PSP] Powerful Pro Portable 3
20. [NDS] We're Fossil Diggers
21. [360] Tales of Vesperia
22. [NDS] Mario Kart DS
23. [PSP] Gundam Battle Universe
24. [PS3] Soul Calibur IV
25. [NDS] New Super Mario Bros.
26. [Wii] Family Trainer
27. [Wii] Wii Play
28. [NDS] Summon Night 2
29. [NDS] Legendary Stafy: Confrontation!
30. [NGC] Mario Superstar Baseball

8/27/08

Poll III: Where Is NSMB2 Headed?

8/26/08

(click to enlarge)

Super Mario Bros. Release History:

NES:
Super Mario Bros. - 1985
Super Mario Bros. 2 - 1986
Super Mario Bros. 3 - 1988

Gameboy:
Super Mario Land - 1989
Super Mario Land 2 - 1992

SNES:
Super Mario Bros. 4 (SMW) - 1990

N64:
Super Mario 64 - 1996

GC:
Super Mario Sunshine - 2002

DS:
New Super Mario Bros. - 2006

Wii:
Super Mario Galaxy - 2007

Opinion/Analysis:
The above shows the proximity of main-line flagship Mario titles released per system and the years in which they were released. Notably, the last time a direct sequel for a flagship Mario game appeared on the same system as its predecessor was NINETEEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-TWO. That's 16 years, fellas.

Clearly, NSMB is the best selling Mario title since the original (please refer to the amazing chart produced and maintained by Stumpokapow), so those that would argue that NSMB2 is bound for the DS would have a convincing argument.

So what do you think? Will Nintendo follow the last decade and a half of precedent or will they take advantage of the enormous install base of the DS? Will they actually make a direct sequel, or will they continue with their history of reinventing Mario for their next machine?

8/26/08

Poll II: Most Likely to Happen?

8/25/08

Most Likely to Happen?

UPDATE: Looks like you guys overwhelmingly think the PS3 is the most likely to have a DS-style hardware revision.

Wii LX....34 votes (22%)
PS3 "Lite"...88 votes (59%)
360 eLite...26 votes (17%)

Original Article:
By "Lite," I mean a DS-like re imagining of the system. Think: a new standard shell, a new color, a new package, new marketing...all in the name of prolonging, reviving, or sparking a sales flurry and possibly salvaging (or hanging onto) a generation of gamers.

The DS Lite is clearly the most successful revision of a shell/marketing/packaging in history. It took a relatively mundane product, affectionately dubbed the DS Phat, and streamlined it so it was truly a mass-market product intended for all electronics users. Before it went on sale, it was running neck-and-neck with the PSP. When the Lite launched in March 2006, it became a worldwide phenomenon in comparison with the top 2 or 3 systems of all time.

Just in Japan:

In the same sense, the current gen of consoles might be able to capitalize on changing demographics to do the same thing mid-generation. Imagine, a Wii "LX," packaged with an HDD and released in piano black and WM+ built into the controllers. If the price stays the same, sales would explode.

Or how about a slimmed down version of the PS3 built in white and sold for $249? I'm thinking a PS3 Lite for $249 packaged with FFXIII might sell a few units here and there.

Each could provide an interesting redirection and could spark a change of momentum so distinct it could change the shape of hardware wars for years. The strategy involved would require a complete rethinking of target audiences, an intense commitment to making worthwhile and needed improvements, and the ability to anticipate what the consumer truly wants.

So, which is Most Likely to Happen?

8/25/08

MC 2008-08-11 and Famitsu 2008-07-28: Things of Note

8/22/08

Based on the latest Famitsu numbers...

PSP comparisons: After 191 weeks, PSP is where PS2 was at 146.4 weeks (December 17, 2002), where DS was at 87.0 weeks (July 30, 2006), and where GBA was at 120.8 weeks (July 11, 2003).

PS3 comparisons: After 91 weeks, PS3 is where PS2 was at 20.5 weeks (July 19, 2000), where PSP was at 52.7 weeks (December 8, 2005), where GCN was at 97.7 weeks (July 24, 2003), and where Wii was at 22.6 weeks (May 3, 2007).

Wii comparisons: After 88 weeks, Wii is where GBA was at 88.0 weeks (November 23, 2002), where DS was at 69.2 weeks (March 27, 2006), where PS2 was at 96.6 weeks (January 3, 2002), and where PSP was at 149.8 weeks (October 19, 2007).

New software groups:
Rhythm Tengoku Gold gets a fast start compared to its predecessor.

Soul Calibur The IVs are the one-week lines that aren't the smallest (which is II Xbox).

Other stuff:

Dragon Quest V DS's total remains lower than PS2's, but its third week number is ever so slightly higher. Better legs? They'd have to be significantly better to get far in catching up with the PS2 version's lead, though.

Fatal Frame IV's debut puts it way in the... middle.

Based on the latest Media Create numbers...

DS vs PSP: Weekly shares of 55.0 / 45.0, DS's strongest since the first week of the year. This brings total shares to 69.5 / 30.5. If DS stopped selling and PSP continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 202.0 weeks (July 2, 2012).

PS3 vs Wii: Weekly shares of 17.7 / 82.3, Wii's strongest since two weeks before MGS4. This brings total shares to 25.6 / 74.4. If Wii stopped selling and PS3 continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 381.3 weeks (December 9, 2015).

On week 33 of the year Wii passes 2 million. It did this last year on week 27.