150°

Bah Humbug: December 2011 NPD Monthly Videogame Sales Numbers and Analysis

December sales disappoint industry observers and retailers alike with startling declines across the board as NPD reports the full videogame sales figures for December 2011.

Full sales analysis and colorful commentary by John "Black Luigi" Lucas.

SleazyChimp4478d ago

Agreed. Its hard to buy a console for some one as a gift if they already have one. I don't really know what people expect, the Xbox is going on it's 7th year and Ps3 is on its 6th year. I know that these console makers wish the 10yr life would work, but it seems sales are saying different. What do you think these numbers would look like 3-4 years from now if they wait that long for the next gen. I think we'll see new systems much sooner than most people think.

johnlucas4478d ago

I think that while a full 10 years may have been a stretch, it's not so impossible to see the 5-year rule be left behind.

The only reason the 5-year rule started was NOT because of technological advancement but REALLY because of new incoming competitors. New competition forced the one-upsmanship through technology so they could beat the newbie at their own game.

Nintendo was not looking forward to moving on from their Famicom/NES too soon. But new competitor NEC came out with the PC Engine/Turbo-Grafx 16 & Nintendo had to answer it. On top of that Sega was hungry for respect & moved on from the Mark III/Master System to make the Mega Drive/Genesis.

So Nintendo worked with Sony to make that Play Station project for their answer, the Super Famicom/SNES. Remember Nintendo was the LAST to the 4th gen because of so much tied up in the Famicom/NES (which was still holding off the Genesis in the beginning).

As soon as Nintendo got the Super Famicom/SNES in the race, Sega's making CD systems, Atari's showing up with Jaguars, SNK's putting out expensive but cool systems called Neo-Geo, Trip Hawkins is trying to get his revenge through the multimedia 3DO. And after the breakdown between Sony & Nintendo, Sony's taking that PlayStation project for their own.

Nintendo had to jump to the "Ultra 64" because of so many competitors & so many developments (Sega saw them too & made a Saturn through their schizophrenic productions). They were talking about "Project Reality" (Nintendo 64's original code name) only 2 years after the SNES was in the U.S. market (1991 to 1993). In 1993, Nintendo was still putting out games for the NES for goodness sake!

After all the would-be 5th gen competitors burnt out, here comes Microsoft talking about XBoxes. Nintendo had to move on again to the 6th gen with Gamecube to first reclaim their lost home console throne from Sony & second to keep up with the incoming competition.

Nintendo's move to the 7th gen with Wii was because Gamecube couldn't reclaim throne. They didn't have to move on so quickly once they got their throne back. Microsoft & Sony will find it hard to make the 8th gen transition, trust me. Wii killed the graphics argument so more power isn't the answer. Yet Microsoft's & Sony's "Wii-like" moves aren't doing the job either.

5-year home console cycles are unnecessary. The only reason Nintendo's doing this is because of Apple. Another new incoming competitor. One that doesn't seem like a direct competitor to most players' eyes. They're the biggest competitor yet. Probably Nintendo's last.
John Lucas

hazardman4478d ago

I was at my local Gamestop today, and they said its been real slow. I said cause everyones playing Skyrim, fucking game is like CRACK. Traded mine in I could've sworn I was having withdrawals. Not that I know, but POOKIE couldn't let go so....... I do believe things start picking back up nxt couple months with the new releases. Good Gaming!

Clarence4478d ago

PS3 only plays second fiddle to the 360 in NA. The PS3 is dominates in Japan and Europe. Thats the facts.

Not to mention the PS3 came out a year later yet it has just about caught up with the 360.

Last year everyone was surprised how close the PS3 was to the 360. The PS3 is a lot closer than most would think.

80°

Rolling the Dice: Do Modern RPGs Miss the Point of Team-Based Play?

It seems it was long time ago. A bunch of friends spending hours on end playing RPG games, sitting around the table with the box of cold pizza. Excited about the story, listening to the Game Master, they were completely engaged in the worlds only visible to them and their imaginations.

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gameskinny.com
Takwin2623d ago

The GM is the programmer, and in MMOs and co-ops, you can play with others. If you want to ONLY use your imagination for the visuals, read a book.

210°

Record of Agarest War 2 announced for PS3

Scrawl: "Looks like we know how that new Compile Heart countdown is going to end. The latest issue of Famitsu has confirmed that Agarest Senki 2, known as Record of Agarest War 2 in the US, is Compile Heart’s newest title."

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scrawlfx.com
Godmars2905067d ago

1) Hope they put it on disc this time.
2) Hope this is a positive for Neptune coming over as well.

Demons Souls5067d ago

If so, that's being developed & published by Idea Factory. Compile Heart has nothing to do with it (Thank God for that).

Godmars2905067d ago (Edited 5067d ago )

Thought Compile Heart was one of the companies lending characters.

Was also speaking in general as in regards to a US of Neptune. If these guys are offing a second game, NIS or Atlus, both of whom offer quirkier titles, will put that one out.

@kagon01:
My issue isn't - wholly - with the DL-only option, but the price. The first game should be $30. Maybe $40, and by that I mean $39.99. The only reason its $45 is the 360 disc version which has extras. Nevermind that by all rights its a PS2 game. Something that proabbly could have been done if the devs had the GOW2 engine or tools.

ClownBelt5067d ago

I approve of this god damn message.

Could have gotten my 60 bucks if they just put it on a disc.

5067d ago Replies(1)
Tripl3seis5067d ago

Another exclusive damnn the ps3 keeps on rollin wit games awesome ;)

Jack-Pyro5067d ago

Is this a half decent SRPG, porn aside, cause if it is, i might just decide to go and buy it for the 360.

Anon73495067d ago

There's no porn just some sexual innuendos but that's it.

Also it is a great game by itself, maybe not graphically but everything else is top tier.

RedDevils5067d ago

so it had some kind of "top tier" porn story jk

ThanatosDMC5067d ago

Yup, it's a decent game. I just hate that a move has to go first before any attack options.

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120°

Bless Online Korean MMORPG Gets Server Merge

This is not the first time that Bless Online receives a server merge in Korea. An announcement was made on the official Korean site.

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mmoexaminer.com
2659d ago
Bismarn2658d ago

Bless must be an amazing game to be on all these platforms (according to the tags): iPad iPhone Nintendo DS PC PS Vita PS2 PS3 PS4 PSP Wii Wii U Xbox Xbox 360 Xbox One