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[Dr. Zoidberg]

So given that, why would we want to buy this device either? The Vita has zero market, zero games, zero future.

Wow!

Wow, quite a few folks are saying that the low numbers aren't surprising, but as a small business video game store owner, I'm blown away! We had a killer month of April.

Do you guys sell used games/hardware? If so, what percentage of April sales were used?

 

[tuffy]

Kid Icarus at 83K means Vita is between 50-83K

That basically confirms Vita's March numbers were a consequence of its late February launch, as many had theorized.

 

[StevieP]

Quoting from a few pages back, for context on the Xenoblade situation.

I knew it was you that said something like that

 

[EvilDick34]

Obviously i can only speak for the store i work at but it would not surprise me if Vita hardware sales we're around only 50k. After the launch at my store, which was not even that crazy, Vita sales fell off a cliff at my store and this was during March/April. Like no one was buying the hardware, games, accessories.

 

[btrboyev]

iPod Touch does all the thing the iPhone does except make phone calls. Under $200 and no contract.

I have to respond to this as it's factually not true. The ipod touch in it's current form is not as capable as an iphone 4 or an iphone 4s. It is limited by it's RAM and performance suffers as a result. The 4S also destroys the ipod on a hardware level. It also cannot do airplay mirroring like the 4S can do.

 

[AHA-Lambda]

XBLA and PSN used to be a fill for this gap, but it, along with other indy markets, is also becoming a hit business with higher and higher and higher budgets with more and more and more competition and sequelitis.
And it will happen to the IPad/Iphone market next if we don't learn from our mistakes, if it's not too late.

Isn't this the sort of thing that happens with EVERY entertainment sector though really?

 

[chubigans]

Wow!

You should have seen his other posts about the handheld market. Which reminds me, I need to update my ignore list.

Man, what a crapstorm April was. The sooner we get new consoles, the better.

ok i knew the vita numbers were bad but really i didn't expect any of this...
that's brutal...

I definitely thought it would be at least over 120k. Brutal indeed.

 

[sphinx]

I definitely thought it would be at least over 120k. Brutal indeed.

but since everything did pretty bad, is Vita/Sony/No-Games/whatever to blame or is it just that this particular month is bad?

not about to play the vita defender but is it genuingely alarming or is it just a bad month?

 

[kobashi100]

Man them Vita numbers are seriously brutal!!

How is Sony gonna turn this around? Please dont come with the just wait for COD answer.

 

[HamPster PamPster]

Oh wow at the estimated vita sales...

Is it to early to start designing our vita ambassador wish list for a potential E3 price drop? I want Unit 13 and Modnation with some extra Plus time

 

[Totobeni]

Wasn't Prototype 1 huge? What happened with the sequel?

 

[firehawk12]

Oh wow at the estimated vita sales...

Is it to early to start designing our vita ambassador wish list for a potential E3 price drop? I want Unit 13 and Modnation with some extra Plus time

Any two first party Vita games!

 

[Wyndstryker]

but since everything did pretty bad, is Vita/Sony/No-Games/whatever to blame or is it just that this particular month is bad?

not about to play the vita defender but is it genuingely alarming or is it just a bad month?

April is usually a bad month. But then there's bad on a bad month.

 

[timetokill]

but since everything did pretty bad, is Vita/Sony/No-Games/whatever to blame or is it just that this particular month is bad?

not about to play the vita defender but is it genuingely alarming or is it just a bad month?

It's not just a bad month. Vita is in the gutter elsewhere as well, selling worse than almost any platform in recent memory.

To consider Vita's problems as "oh it's just a bad month" is head-in-the-sand thinking that is probably exactly what Sony is doing right now.

 

[jman2050]

not about to play the vita defender but is it genuingely alarming or is it just a bad month?

It got outsold by the DS

Take that as you will.

 

[Kazerei]

but since everything did pretty bad, is Vita/Sony/No-Games/whatever to blame or is it just that this particular month is bad?

not about to play the vita defender but is it genuingely alarming or is it just a bad month?

I think it's alarming that the entire industry is doing very badly.

 

[Infinite Justice]

but since everything did pretty bad, is Vita/Sony/No-Games/whatever to blame or is it just that this particular month is bad?

not about to play the vita defender but is it genuingely alarming or is it just a bad month?

I would go with both tbh.

 

[bigtroyjon]

Vita did less than 120K in April in the US and Japan combined.

D.O.A.

 

[Evlar]

I spent money on gaming last month.

I bought a PS2.

 

[NEO0MJ]

I would go with both tbh.

It seems that the vita was already in a bad position, and the bad month made it even worse.

 

[Road]

GC (Apr 2002) ~ Xbox (Apr 2002) ~ PS3 (Apr 2007) ~ 80k

 

[AniHawk]

GC (Apr 2002) ~ Xbox (Apr 2002) ~ PS3 (Apr 2007) ~ 80k

it's actually kinda important to remember that 150k-230k used to be normal for consoles in slower months, even the ps2 (although when it was older). the insane levels of 250k-350k+ a month was something exclusive to this gen. we might just be seeing game sales returning to their previous levels from a decade ago.

if publishers want to keep sales up, they're going to need to adjust. software prices need to come down. the ps2/gc/dc/xbox gen with $39.99-$49.99 games being the norm and $29.99-$34.99 handheld games alongside them was the sweet spot.

 

[Jomjom]

With Vita numbers this low, I'm 99% certain that Sony will announce a price drop for it at E3.

Of course the drop will be to $199.99 (instead of the 169.99 it should be dropped to) and no one anywhere will care. If Sony doesn't make a boneheaded move like this, I will eat my hat.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Vita is a nice device, I love playing The Show on it, however, it appears that there is nothing that they can do. Sad state of affairs.

 

[BurntPork]

With Vita numbers this low, I'm 99% certain that Sony will announce a price drop for it at E3.

Of course the drop will be to $199.99 (instead of the 169.99 it should be dropped to) and no one anywhere will care. If Sony doesn't make a boneheaded move like this, I will eat my hat.

Yes, because I'm sure that Sony can afford an $80 drop right now.

Also, Nintendo needs to drop 3DS to $50 and Wii U should launch at $80 with a free game.

 

[sphinx]

I think it's alarming that the entire industry is doing very badly.

this is what I am thinking lately.

I think there is something wrong with the actual state of gaming, I really don't feel compelled to go to the videogame store to buy yet another crappy shooter for outrageous prices or yet another boring sequel or the next Mario Kart.

I wonder why won't everyone follow the DS in that it invigorated the industry like nothing else, there were new IPs left and right, hardcore, casual, everything, it was a great device. I don't see anything replicating that model and it's sad.

Since casual gaming moved to iOS, 3DS has an extremely tiny space on shelves with like 10 ultra hardcore games, and of course all sequels to known IPs.

 

[pvpness]

I think it's alarming that the entire industry is doing very badly.

Fuck that. They earned it.

 

[Last Hearth]

I know people are saying that this should push console maker to get the next-gen going, but it won't. Because the development time it takes to get the launch titles ready cannot be rushed.

Right now there is no way that Sony or Microsoft will have enough launch titles ready for a launch before holiday 2013, unless they simply push a lot of third parties to make their upcoming titles to be for both compatible with current and the next console, but if they did that then what's the incentive to buy a new console?

 

[NEO0MJ]

Yes, because I'm sure that Sony can afford an $80 drop right now.

Also, Nintendo needs to drop 3DS to $50 and Wii U should launch at $80 with a free game.

Maybe not right now, but the vita really needs a good price drop for both the system itself and its memory cards later this year when bigger games arrive if it wants to survive.

 

[Jomjom]

Yes, because I'm sure that Sony can afford an $80 drop right now.

Also, Nintendo needs to drop 3DS to $50 and Wii U should launch at $80 with a free game.

If Sony could not afford the drop they should have made the smarter choice and never have put enormous R&D into the production of this console in the first place. They already haven't put much money into marketing the damn thing and obviously haven't invested money in keeping sure-fire hits exclusive (read: MonHun). They've already released this system on the REAL cheap, and if they can't drop this to a point where it is on price parity of the 3DS, then they might as well stop all development for this system right now because in the state Sony is in now, they can't afford that either.

Even if the Vita was the same price as the 3DS, the 3DS would still have a huge advantage in quality software. Dropping the price to $169.99 is just the first step Sony needs to make to revitalize the vita.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

Fuck that. They earned it.

Yeah, many of the remaining old beasts will probably have to die as they are too much a product of the busted model to facilitate a change to match current market expectations.

 

[BurntPork]

Maybe not right now, but the vita really needs a good price drop for both the system itself and its memory cards later this year when bigger games arrive if it wants to survive.

It does, but I think $199 is good enough for now.

 

[AniHawk]

Yes, because I'm sure that Sony can afford an $80 drop right now.

Also, Nintendo needs to drop 3DS to $50 and Wii U should launch at $80 with a free game.

the 3ds should be way closer to $100, and its games around $30. the wii u is going to have to be $300 at launch, max, and at least have nsmb mii alongside it if it wants a fighting chance. of course, it will come bundled with software, so that's not too much a concern.

 

[sphinx]

the 3ds should be way closer to $100, and its games around $30.

If that's nintendo's only hope for the future, then so much for nintendo trying to sell the thing as an edgy technological gadget instead of a toy for kids.

 

[Ridley327]

Wasn't Prototype 1 huge? What happened with the sequel?

Nobody talked about it after release, outside of the odd inFamous vs. Prototype debate. The first game did do well, but I'd say that was easily attributed to it coming out at the right time than it being a product of notable quality. I know Activision thought differently, but I don't think anyone wanted a sequel.

 

[Tron 2.0]

You can't just handwave two games that would have made the top 10 this month as small and unquantifiable.

My intention was not to wave off any game.

Given all we know, digital downloads are certainly resulting in lower reported retail sales. But, collectively, by how much? We don't know and there's no way to determine it. It's unquantifiable.

However, we do know that whatever amount of digital downloads are being sold, it's not nearly enough to make up for the general malaise that has overtaken the industry. So, while there are exceptions, we can safely conclude that digital downloads are still a small portion of the overall pie.

 

[StevieP]

this is what I am thinking lately.

I think there is something wrong with the actual state of gaming, I really don't feel compelled to go to the videogame store to buy yet another crappy shooter for outrageous prices or yet another boring sequel or the next Mario Kart.

I wonder why won't everyone follow the DS in that it invigorated the industry like nothing else, there were new IPs left and right, hardcore, casual, everything, it was a great device. I don't see anything replicating that model and it's sad.

Since casual gaming moved to iOS, 3DS has an extremely tiny space on shelves with like 10 ultra hardcore games, and of course all sequels to known IPs.

Development costs, publishers risk-aversion, yadda yadda. There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes and at our HD-level budgets you're not going to get what you ask for outside of various digital-only smaller releases.

If that's nintendo's only hope for the future, then so much for nintendo trying to sell the thing as an edgy technological gadget instead of a toy for kids.

They're already losing money on it at its current price.

 

[BurntPork]

the 3ds should be way closer to $100, and its games around $30. the wii u is going to have to be $300 at launch, max, and at least have nsmb mii alongside it if it wants a fighting chance. of course, it will come bundled with software, so that's not too much a concern.

If Nintendo's losing money on 3DS now, they'd probably be better off discontinuing it outside of Japan than giving it another huge price cut. I agree about game prices, though.

 

[Mpl90]

If Nintendo's losing money on 3DS now, they'd probably be better off discontinuing it outside of Japan than giving it another huge price cut. I agree about game prices, though.

FUCK, NOT THIS SHIT AGAIN!!! XD

 

[sphinx]

Development costs, publishers risk-aversion, yadda yadda. There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes and at our HD-level budgets you're not going to get what you ask for outside of various digital-only smaller releases.

then I believe that the current path the gaming industry has taken, the one forged by Sony and Microsoft with their HD consoles, is unsustainable.

I really want to see their next gen consoles and their suggested prices, just to have a good laugh, I really think it will be ourtageous.

 

[StevieP]

then I believe that the current path the gaming industry has taken, the one forged by Sony and Microsoft with their HD consoles, is unsustainable.

I really want to see their next gen consoles and their suggested prices, just to have a good laugh, I really think it will be ourtageous.

Subscription model for hardware (though I think one of them will bring out a more vita-like design rather than a more ps3-like design thus negating the need for a subscription model or massive red ink), more DLC and anti-used system for software.

 

[BurntPork]

FUCK, NOT THIS SHIT AGAIN!!! XD

How did I know that would be taken out of context?

 

[Last Hearth]

then I believe that the current path the gaming industry has taken, the one forged by Sony and Microsoft with their HD consoles, is unsustainable.

I really want to see their next gen consoles and their suggested prices, just to have a good laugh, I really think it will be ourtageous.

Why blame Microsoft and Sony? Most of the big budget games weren't funded by them but 3rd party publishers. Microsoft actually made money this generation, so it's not their business model that's unsustainable.

 

[wrowa]

it's actually kinda important to remember that 150k-230k used to be normal for consoles in slower months, even the ps2 (although when it was older). the insane levels of 250k-350k+ a month was something exclusive to this gen. we might just be seeing game sales returning to their previous levels from a decade ago.

if publishers want to keep sales up, they're going to need to adjust. software prices need to come down. the ps2/gc/dc/xbox gen with $39.99-$49.99 games being the norm and $29.99-$34.99 handheld games alongside them was the sweet spot.

Well, but that's exactly the problem, isn't it? The gaming market can't go back to the levels of the last generations. Game development is much more expensive than 10 years ago, the industry desperately needs higher sales or otherwise most games will no longer be profitable.

Of course, we've already reached the point where a large amount of games don't turn a profit for the companies -- the question is where do we go from here? Many people are regarding the next-generation as the savior of declining sales, but a generation change might make matters only worse. With development getting more expensive yet again, the software also needs to reach new heights... Is that even possible anymore? Especially when the current gen is already facing problems?

I'm really drawing a blank when trying to imagine how the gaming world will look like 5 years from now. The traditional gaming market is too big to abandon, but at the same time there's currently just not enough money to be made. What is going to happen?

 

[NEO0MJ]

It does, but I think $199 is good enough for now.

I think $179 and lowering the price of 8GB to $19 will do the trick.

If that's nintendo's only hope for the future, then so much for nintendo trying to sell the thing as an edgy technological gadget instead of a toy for kids.

I bet the higher ups at Nintendo are still banging their heads against the wall for betting on 3D.

 

[NateDrake]

I bet the higher ups at Nintendo are still banging their heads against the wall for betting on 3D.

Why? It's an option & not a requirement. They are a company that take risks & live by them.

 

[Sky Chief]

I think it's alarming that the entire industry is doing very badly.

The next gen should have started last year

this is what I am thinking lately.

I think there is something wrong with the actual state of gaming, I really don't feel compelled to go to the videogame store to buy yet another crappy shooter for outrageous prices or yet another boring sequel or the next Mario Kart.

I could not agree more. Almost nothing that interests me has come out this year on consoles.

It does, but I think $199 is good enough for now.

As along as this includes a free memory card. Some advertising that actually shows the general population what a Vita is would help too. The advertising of this new product has been atrocious, it isn't even a blip on the general public's radar, even most gamers have no idea it exists.

 

[wrowa]

Why? It's an option & not a requirement. They are a company that take risks & live by them.

It was supposed to be the big selling point of the 3DS, but instead it's something people don't really pay any attention to. That's actually a pretty big problem for Nintendo -- 3D was supposed to cover up technical shortcomings of the hardware, after all. What other selling points does the hardware itself offer?

 

[sphinx]

Why blame Microsoft and Sony? Most of the big budget games weren't funded by them but 3rd party publishers. Microsoft actually made money this generation, so it's not their business model that's unsustainable.

the industry, as in, those who make the games, not the hardware, have shown that the current state is hostile as hell. it is Sony and Microsoft who dictate with their hardware the kind of experiencies they wanted to offer to their customers.

Innovation remains on the side of indies and XBLA or online services, but I don't think that model works as well either. There is some perception that download-only games are "cheap, easy, online store filler", which wasn't the case with many comparable retail DS games that could have easily been sold as download games, that's why I think we will miss the model proposed by the DS.

there is no viable enviroment for non costly, convenient but engaging and compelling games today. It's either the big, epic, hardcore games that are way too costly to produce and to buy or the download-only games with the " cheap and indie" stigma.

 

[Busaiku]

it's actually kinda important to remember that 150k-230k used to be normal for consoles in slower months, even the ps2 (although when it was older). the insane levels of 250k-350k+ a month was something exclusive to this gen. we might just be seeing game sales returning to their previous levels from a decade ago.

if publishers want to keep sales up, they're going to need to adjust. software prices need to come down. the ps2/gc/dc/xbox gen with $39.99-$49.99 games being the norm and $29.99-$34.99 handheld games alongside them was the sweet spot.

Well, since it seems like the casual crowd has moved on to iOS and whatnot, I don't think we'll ever see as big numbers as Wii again.