Dengeki Software Sales for 2002!

[Nintendarse]

It's that time of year...for Magic Box to compile all of its Dengeki numbers and flash them to the entire...three people that visit the site. But if you have any interest, here they are:

Rank_Name__System_Genre_Release Date__Amount Sold
1 Pocket Monster Sapphire Nintendo GBA RPG 11.21.02 1,391,612
2 Pocket Monster Ruby Nintendo GBA RPG 11.21.02 1,349,297
3 World Soccer Winning Eleven 6 Konami PS2 Sports 04.25.02 1,090,655
4 Onimusha 2 Capcom PS2 Action 03.07.02 949,325
5 Kingdom Hearts Square PS2 A.RPG 03.28.02 819,617
6 Shin Sangoku Musou 2 Mushouden Koei PS2 Action 08.29.02 741,185
7 Tales of Destiny 2 Namco PS2 RPG 11.28.02 736,129
8 Super Mario Sunshine Nintendo GC Action 7.19.02 655,136
9 Super Robot Taisen Impact Banpresto PS2 S.RPG 3.28.02 592,141
10 From TV Animation: One Piece Grand Battle 2 Bandai PSone Fighting 3.20.02 579,333
11 Mario Party 4 Nintendo GC Party 11.08.02 529,499
12 Virtua Fighter 4 Sega PS2 Fighting 01.31.02 521,705
13 SD Gundam G Generation Neo Bandai PS2 S.RPG 11.28.02 498,509
14 Let's Make a Pro Soccer Club 2002 Sega PS2 Simulation 03.07.02 496,943
15 Toruneko's Great Adventure 3: Mysterious Dungeons Enix PS2 RPG 10.31.02 494,224
16 Kirby Star: Fountain of Dream Nintendo GBA Action 10.25.02 462,184
17 Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 9 Konami PS2 Sports 07.18.02 431,291
18 My Summer 2: Chapter of Sea Adventure Sony PS2 Adventure 07.11.02 400,506
19 Legend of Zelda: Baton of Wind Nintendo GC A.RPG 12.13.02 396,932
20 Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles Bandai PS2 Action 08.01.02 383,903

Of interest: Pokemon is far from dead, selling a combined 2.74 million copies. Nintendo's traditionally popular properties did not fare as well. Released in late June, Mario sold big initially followed by an exponential drop in sales. Released on Dec. 13, Zelda has yet to establish legs. If it Zelda doesn't , it might finish its sales cycle below the million mark. This should concern the executives at Nintendo, considering the main Mario/Zelda titles on each system have sold well over 1 million copies (Majora' Mask sold about 650,000 copies, and the Capcom Zelda titles sold approximately 750,000 copies). Party software sells well, as Mario Party 4 looks to break Mario Party 3's sales of 615,507. Looking at the continued momentum of the title through the holidays, it seems to be riding a curve that will put it well beyond 650,000.

[OB1]

Boy, Nintendo really isn't doing too well...

[Private Hudson]

Mario Party 4 outsold Zelda.

That's appauling.

Still, no really huge sales this year. I was expecting pokemon to sell better than that.

[Laser Link]

And this is why Nintendo should have launched GameCube with a Pokémon game. Even Meowth's Party would have helped. The new GBA games are hardly technological masterpieces, and they still outsell everything else this year in a 2 month period.

[OB1]

Or at least announce an online Pokemon game for the 'cube. Nintendo's secrecy is going to be the death of them someday.

[A Black Falcon]

Somehow, I think that Sony has this generation locked up... in Japan, at least... but then again, that's been true almost since day one...
Heh, poor Microsoft. X-Box has been a total, complete failure in Japan... if they had any expectations at all, I'm sure they failed to meet them. At least NGC is ON the top 20 list... even if it is greatly outnumbered by PS2.

[Weltall]

Tales of Destiny 2 did surprisingly well.

[Dark Lord Neo]

Forgive my ignorence but what is Dengeki?
Would someone like to educate me?
I'm sure somebodies told me what it is before but oh well, I must have forgoten

[Private Hudson]

I believe Dengeki is a major Japanese magazine, like Famitsu. But I think their sales numbers are generally considered more reliable than Famitsu's.

[A Black Falcon]

You know, like if EGM did sales data lists instead of NPD TRSTS and PC Data...

[Nintendarse]

OB1, did you call it or what? Here's an article from Gamers.com, translated from Nihon Kazai Shinbum:


Gamers.com: News:

Breaking: Pokemon Headed for GameCube

By: John Ricciardi January 3, 2003 12:45 AM PST
According to Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Nintendo is planning to release a GameCube version of its child-hypnotizing, cash-sucking RPG series, Pokemon, in Japan before this summer.
Details are still scarce on this as-of-yet untitled game (we'll call it Pokemon GC from here on out), but the newspaper did release two very important points, which we've kindly laid out for you below (cash-conscious parents, sit down before you read the second one):

1) Pokemon GC will retail for less than the cost of a standard first party Game Boy Advance game (4,800 yen, or about $40).

2) Pokemon GC will only operate when coupled with a Game Boy Advance and one of the two upcoming GBA Pokemon games (Ruby and Sapphire, both due out in March in the U.S.).

While Nintendo has been keen to incorporate connectivity features in its GC and GBA games in the past, this will be the first time they actually require gamers to own both consoles in order to play.

Judging from the info released thus far, it sounds like Pokemon GC may wind up as more of a supplementary disc for owners of the GBA games (along the lines of the N64 Pokemon Stadiums) rather than a full-on "real" RPG. Disappointing, but not at all surprising.

Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire were released in Japan on Nov. 21 and have already sold through an alarming 2.7 million copies.

END

I'd like to add that the babelfish translation says nothing about Pokemon GC's gameplay, so when Ricciardi says, "Judging from the info released thus far, it sounds like Pokemon GC may wind up as more of a supplementary disc ...rather than a full-on "real" RPG," he's inferring that from the price and the connectivity.

Here's the Engrish "babelfishian" translation:

Source: Nikkei Net/ Nihon Keizai Shimbun morning paper

It is the "Pokemon" software to Nintendo and for home video game machines. -- A pocket machine and linkage

Within the limit of the summer of 2003, Nintendo puts the software of "Pocket Monsters" on the market for home video game machines. If the "Pokemon" software and handheld game machine for handheld game machines are not combined, it will design so that a game cannot be carried out. Power is put into the selling strategy of home use and carried type one.
New work software is put on the market for home video game machines "a NINTENDO game cube." In order to enjoy a game, two software, such as software "a Pocket-Monsters ruby" to handheld game machine "the Game Boy advance" of the company Turn, and an advance are required. A soft price is due for it to be [ for advances ] cheaper than 4800 yen, and to be carried out.

[Great Rumbler]

Instant million seller.

[Nintendarse]

Sorry guys about the previous list of Dengeki sales numbers. Apparently, that was year-to-date through December 22nd. There's still one more week in the year to cover! But luckily, it has arrived, so we have a clearer picture. It's only top 10 for the week 12/22 through 12/29. Sadly, Mario Party 4 continues to outsell Zelda.

01 - Pokemon Sapphire/Ruby - GBA - 385,614 (3,197,762)
02 - Kingdom Hearts Final Mix - PS2 - 163,668 (NEW)
03 - Mario Party 4 - GC - 126,220 (677,890)
04 - Unlimited Saga - PS2 - 82,293 (188,636)
05 - Ratchet & Clank - PS2 - 81,257 (275,740)
06 - Legend of Zelda ~Kaze no Takuto~ - GC - 76,391 (448,606)
07 - Battle Network Rockman EXE 3 - GBA - 64,034 (289,351)
08 - World Soccer Winning Eleven 6: Final Evolution - PS2 - 63,645 (406,234)
09 - Momotarou Dentetsu 11 - PS2 - 63,104 (239,711)
10 - Star Kirby - Fountain of Dream - GBA - 49,804 (480,738)

I was checking the math, and something's funky. I'm thinking these are different tracking services.

[Laser Link]

Nintendo must have something bigger planned for Pokémon. Please. I can't take another Pokémon Stadium thing. Haven't they been working on this forever? I remember they were going to reveal Pokémon GC info at Spaceworld 2001 and changed their mind at the last minute. AHA! Here's the story:

IGNCube

August 22, 2001 - Zelda, Mario, Metroid -- check. All of the big franchises made appearances at Space World 2001 in some form, and ever so briefly. But Nintendo's biggest franchise of all, Pokemon, was suspiciously absent. Given that Meowth's Party was previewed at Space World 2000, why hasn't reappeared? It could be that the game is seeing a drastic redesign similar to what Legend of Zelda went through.

"Our main focus of today was the international software to be introduced by this year. That's why we didn't include Pokemon and several other projects," said Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto. "But in the future we are going to show something on GameCube Pokemon. Of course, we have shown it once or twice and today we didn't show, so in that case please suspect there is something about it that isn't decided and something not yet ready to be shown. When it's ready, we will show it."

Seems Miyamoto is preparing us for change. Indeed, other Nintendo officials have gone on record to note that GameCube Pokemon is "not a small project," and that it's going to take quite a long time to realize. And so the wait is on.

A simple Pokémon Stadium type game would be a small project. All they would do is hire some artists to make the Pokémon models and copy the battle code. What I suspect may be more likely is a 3D version of the R/S games, where you can play on your GBA and then continue the game on your GameCube. Maybe they would even include online battling. It's not the complete Pokémon MMORPG I was hoping for, but it's something.

[OB1]

Heh, Pokemon is a no-brainer, Nintendarse. ;) It's like guessing that the sun will set tomorrow.

But shit, this is seriously dissapointing! Another stupid supplemental Pokemon game for the GC? Good grief, does Nintendo not learn?? They're really killing themselves. Seriously.

Microsoft is the smart one here, I'm afraid. Even though the X-Box came out at the same time as the GC, they're planning on releasing the X-Box 2 around the same time as Sony releases the PS3. MS knows that they can't win the war this round, so they're betting on the next generation and they realize that if they don't release their next system at the same time as the PS3 is released, they might as well call it quits. Nintendo doesn't seem to realize this. I'll bet each one of you that Nintendo's next system comes out at least eight months after the next PS and X-Box. And then RIP, Nintendo.

[WhiteFleck]

Maybe Nintendo should skip a generation (even if it seems they're sitting this one out anyways) and store up funds for the next next one. More money and less rush could make for a finer product... or moreso than the hurried PS3 and XBox Next.

[Dark Lord Neo]

But skiping a Generation would mean there would be less people who think well I have a Nintendo X and I liked it so I'll get a Nintendo Y

[A Black Falcon]

To have a chance in the next generation Nintendo MUST release its console as close as possible to the PS2. NGC proved that a year late is a insurmountable problem. However, doing that would somewhat sacrifice the NGC-- it will have only been out for 4 years at that point (I think, given that PS3, as far as I know, is going to be for 5 years after PS2), at which point (unlike the N64, which didn't have more than 1 or 2 games come out after its 4th anniversary) the NGC should still be alive... but Nintendo will have to do that to stay remotely competitive with Sony. Its too bad for us (buying hardware more), but they will have to.
The problem? Given that this is Nintendo we are talking about, I don't see that happening. They have never been able to release consoles at the beginning of a generation... they always come late... which doesn't make it look good for the future.
Will Nintendo close? No, I highly doubt it. Software only? Probably not. But, unless they surprise us by actually bringing out a console shortly after the PS3, I see no hope for them to catch up.
Microsoft, at least, understands this and will bring out the X-Box 2 (presumably backwards compatible, just like PS2 and probably PS3 will be... another thing Nintendo needs to take a long look at...) around the time the PS3 comes out...

[OB1]

According to some "reports" on a few gaming sites, the PS3 and X-Box 2 are coming out in 2005. Late 2005 would be my guess. There's no way Nintendo can survive another generation if their next system comes out a year after the other two big ones. Unless of course something crazy happens, like Nintendo buying Microsoft or Sony. Heh..

[Nintendarse]

Don't even start, OB1...

I agree with the sentiment that Nintendo is shooting itself in the foot with a late release. It has hurt them in the past (NGC, N64, SNES), but the company doesn't seem to correct its mistakes. To be frustrated with the company is to be a Nintendo fan.

I really hope that the GC game is more than a supplement to Pokemon R/S on GBA in the vein of Pokemon Stadium, It should at least be gameplay exquivalent of the GBA game with more advanced graphics, so that one can go directly from playing at home with Gamecube to playing on the road with GBA. I suggest reading the (bad) translation, because (at least to my eyes) it doesn't look like anything regarding gameplay is mentioned.

[WhiteFleck]

If Nintendo is going to be late it might as well wait until they can really produce a system that would take our collective breaths away. Who knows what it will be, but the GCN is focused more on fun games, and that COULD hold, if Nintendo markets it right. But who knows. As long as they keep making great games, I'll be happy, but the best games are made by the same hands that made the platform.

[Dark Jaguar]

Nintendo does do backwards compatibility, with the GBC and the GBA for instance (though the GBC was such a minor change that NOT making it backwards compatible would be suicidal), but as is known, the 'cube is not a cartridge system, and putting a slot on there would be silly. Of course, this doesn't excuse Nintendo's lack of backwards compatible thinking BEFORE the GBC, the SNES should have been NES compatible, and thus the N64 should have been SNES/NES compatible. Heck, they could still be selling NES and SNES classics in their original format if they just did that from the start! Well, they did stop with GB and some GBC game production even though the GBA can easily play those... In any case, with the future formats using a "laser" now, they can do backwards cube compatibility. We all know Nintendo at least announced they are working on the next system already, the question is to what degree... Would they be willing to cut back on some power features just to get it out in the same week as the PS3? They would really have to get it out on that week, hopefully same day, to really tie with Sony. They would also need to do that in BOTH Japan and US territories. Europe is smelly so they don't count (yeesh, only recently is the dentist getting the credit s/he deserves there, bunch of anti-dentites). Anyway, it's pretty certain that until a really major format change, backwards compatibility will be a mainstay. Hopefully all three companies will keep the easy to design for ideals (PS2 did horribly, but at least Nintendo and MS did well, keeping them stocked in 3rd parties I think), thus making them all ideal development platforms. Also hopefully, everyone will include some sort of online adaptor (hopefully, BOTH broadband and narrowband from the start), AND a hard drive already in the system (for that matter, correcting an MS design flaw and making it a removable HD, that can be replaced with seperatly buyable HD at the store).

[OB1]

Yes I believe a HDD is a must from now on, especially for downloadable content and things like that.

"Anti-dentite". I like that word.

[Private Hudson]

or moreso than the hurried PS3 and XBox Next.

The PS3 is not being rushed in the least. The XBox2, however..

Originally posted by Dark Jaguar:
AND a hard drive already in the system (for that matter, correcting an MS design flaw and making it a removable HD, that can be replaced with seperatly buyable HD at the store).

Originally posted by OB1
Yes I believe a HDD is a must from now on, especially for downloadable content and things like that.

I don't think HDD's are the way of the future for consoles. Right now, it is rumoured that Sony will be using the "Blu-Ray" disc for their next console. Storage capacity of 80GB's, but the most important feature being that they are re-writable.

I think a re-writable disc would make much more sense. And would also make the system cheaper to produce, not to mention more stable, and smaller.

(yeesh, only recently is the dentist getting the credit s/he deserves there, bunch of anti-dentites

That whole sentence was there merely to sneak in a Seinfeld reference!

[A Black Falcon]

console HDDs are great... but limiting it to one small 8 gb one isn't. It should either be upgradable or some form of removable media...
Oh, and once again, NINTENDO MUST GO ONLINE! (thought I doubt it will happen anytime soon, I wish it would!)
And given that the other two will be backwards compatible, Nintendo really should do it too. Its really nice...

[Private Hudson]

Whoever said that the PS3 will be backwards compatable?

The only reason the PS2 is backwards compatable is because Sony needed a cheap I/O processor. What better I/O processor than the chip from the PSX which they have been making for years, and is now very very tiny, and costs very very little (like.. 50c) to manufacture.

I doubt the EE will be included in the PS3 in any way/shape/form. In other words, don't hold your breath for PS2 compatability in the PS3.

XBox 2 backward compatability is very probable, though.

[Dark Jaguar]

It may not use the same I/O, or the same emotion engine, but they could still microsize a basic architecture similar to the PS2 and place that in there to handle the backwards compatibility. You are correct, they only did add the feature as an afterthought, after saying they would not, and only because it was easy to do. However, it's changed now. With MS prepairing to make their next system backwards compatible, and with the people expecting such a thing from the PS3 after the PS2 did it, Sony may just be forced to include it. Then, Nintendo will be forced to follow. No prob by me, as I'm all for it.

Oh, and yes ABF, 8GB isn't that much. However, 40 is, and unless I heard wrong (which is very likely), the PS2 HD has a capacity of 40 GB. I do believe future consoles will have larger drives. That's not something I'm worried about them not doing.

[Private Hudson]

It may not use the same I/O, or the same emotion engine, but they could still microsize a basic architecture similar to the PS2 and place that in there to handle the backwards compatibility.

I guess we'll see. I was being overly presumptious, as it has become a major selling point. Still, the point remains that it has not been confirmed, nor hinted at by Sony themselves. Also it depends on the architecture that Sony will be using, as to whether or not they will be able to emulate the EE in it. It's just been an assumption by everyone based on the PS2.

[WhiteFleck]

Why does Nintendo HAVE to release their system alongside the PS3? A crappy system won't sell, especially against a well-built one.

[EdenMaster]

You're a RAGING anti-dentite!

Anyhow, Nintendo has always been about polishing their games to such a degree that they are an amazing experience to play (Mario Sunshine, Metroid Prime, Melee, the list goes on) but this also means that the games take a long time before they're released. What Nintendo doesn't seem to realize is that if they announce things previously, even if it's a long time before it is released, could win a few future Gamecube owners, rather than having nothing coming and have gamers buy a PS2 or even an XBox if they're really desperate.

Also, Nintendo needs a new marketing team, bad :).

[OB1]

Originally posted by Private Hudson

I don't think HDD's are the way of the future for consoles. Right now, it is rumoured that Sony will be using the "Blu-Ray" disc for their next console. Storage capacity of 80GB's, but the most important feature being that they are re-writable.

I think a re-writable disc would make much more sense. And would also make the system cheaper to produce, not to mention more stable, and smaller.

A re-writable disc might be better, but I seriously doubt that Nintendo will use something like that for their next system.

[Private Hudson]

Then don't get Nintendo's next system

;)

[OB1]

Um... okay.

...

[Nick Burns]

Originally posted by EdenMaster

...Nintendo needs a new marketing team, bad :).

I didn't even know they had one :D

But seriously:
Something in the back of my head that has never failed me before says the the ps3 sales will be horrible. Better graphics don't always mean better gameplay. I get the same gameplay value when I play a game on the ps1 as I do with the ps2. It has yet to happen to me with nintendo. PS is just another fad, like pogs, yo-yos, and the dreamcast; they were good in their lifetime, but all things have an end.

[Private Hudson]

I get the same gameplay value when I play a game on the ps1 as I do with the ps2

No you don't. The PS2 is capable of greater AI, Physics etc. etc. than are possible on the PSX.

MGS2 would be impossible on the PSX, there just isn't enough RAM/Bandwidth for all the AI routines/calculations. (As one example).

PS is just another fad, like pogs, yo-yos, and the dreamcast; they were good in their lifetime, but all things have an end.

Pogs, yo-yo's and Dreamcast all dominated the largest entertainment industry on earth by a huge margain for over 8 years with no signs of slowing down or losing major support?

[Nick Burns]

FIRST OFF, Don't tell me how much enjoyment I get out of a game, unless you are my clone, shut up.

Second off, nothing lasts forever, not a thing. Even nintendo. Things move on and people change.

As for their games, how many sports games do you need for one system. Anyone can change the names of players and add a few teams and release it as a new title.

Oh and one last thing, since when does the latest technology make something better. I can play alot of the nes games and I'll still have alot of fun as a gamecube.

Don't get me wrong, ps2 is a good system. I just think it gets more hype than it deserves.

PS-I wonder how many people bought a ps2 just because they could play burned games with a modchip? I think a fraction of PS2 sales came from that factor alone.

Sorry if I sound like a dickhead, but i get pissed when people tell me howI should think and act.

[Private Hudson]

1) I never told you how to think/act, nor did I say how much enjoyment you get out of a game. I was merely pointing out that more than just graphics are improved when a system receives an upgrade.

I get the same gameplay value when I play a game on the ps1 as I do with the ps2

Implies that you are getting the same games you could get on the PSX, except with better graphics. This is false.

2) Of course nothing lasts forever, but that doesn't necessarily mean that everything is a "fad".

Oh and one last thing, since when does the latest technology make something better. I can play alot of the nes games and I'll still have alot of fun as a gamecube.

It makes things better when the developers take advantage of all the extra capabilities that come with more advanced hardware.

As for their games, how many sports games do you need for one system. Anyone can change the names of players and add a few teams and release it as a new title.

...

Don't get me wrong, ps2 is a good system. I just think it gets more hype than it deserves.

PS-I wonder how many people bought a ps2 just because they could play burned games with a modchip? I think a fraction of PS2 sales came from that factor alone.

Why did you bring these up? They're irrelevant.

[Dark Jaguar]

Sheesh, it's a debate. The whole point is to tell people how they should think :D, but of course in a logical fasion.

Um, I'm not sure I get your mod-chip comment. People could mod the PS1 and play burned games on that too. If your suggestion is that a number of PS2 sales were so people could play burned PS1 games, the logic is flawed based purely on the easy modibility of PS1 systems for that very purpose alone. Yes, that IS telling you your thinking is flawed. You don't need to change it, but it's still wrong :D, live with it. If your suggestion is that people bought PS2s to play burned PS2 games, then I don't see your point. All that statement does is support the idea that the PS2 has games people would want to play. The fact that they go about it illegally is another matter, and not Sony's fault if you might be implying that.

[OB1]

Awesome. A debate that I'm not a part of! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!