30°

Nintendo's core handheld market is stable

GamaSutra - Last week Nintendo released information about the first half of its current fiscal year, and as a numbers kind of person, I always enjoy adding the latest shipment figures to my personal trove of data. When I last looked at the state of Nintendo's handheld business back in June, we were looking at how the imminent launch of the Nintendo 3DS XL might affect the company's handheld sales.

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klecser4193d ago

The pro iOS crowd will completely ignore this article.

joeorc4193d ago (Edited 4193d ago )

"The pro iOS crowd will completely ignore this article."

Look its not the point of ignoring it , its the point of this being Moot to even have the idea that Nintendo's market share in the Mobile space is even that large in the grand scheme of things on the entire mobile market in as a whole.

Its pretty much moot to even bring it up because the number's speak for them selves.

While Nintendo has fantastic sales Apple, google and Microsoft windows PC %'s and market share are on a whole other level in sales and market %

"Nintendo had shipped 6.68 million systems worldwide. That includes shipments after the August 2011 price cut. By the end of 2011, the company had shipped 15.04 million systems in essentially 10 months.

During the past 12 months, which also includes the October - December 2011 period, total shipments for the Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL combined reached 15.51 million systems. That's a rather modest 3 percent increase from the system's former peak shipment figure"

Look no one is saying those are bad number's , because if they are they are just a sad lot. but you and other's have to get over the fact that the Mobile Market does not just revolve around the Dedicated Game handheld market as the top of the food chain. it never was.

the dedicated Gaming system market share is small vs the market share of iOS or Android or Windows there is no point in trying to point out the Market share of dedicated Gaming systems to the market share that is in somthing like the PC or smartphones. there is no point because the number of the dedicated game console sales while good for their market is no where near the level of Smartphones and PC's.

you taking a jab at the iOS crowd is pretty pointless because the numbers speak for themselves.

Example:

"the company had shipped 15.04 million systems in essentially 10 months."

while that is a fantastic number it still is no where near this level of sales:

Apple’s shipment totals at over 26 million for the period Q2 2012

think about that it takes Nintendo which by the way has the largest dedicated most selling most well known and the largest game handheld market share in dedicated Game handheld Market share 10 months to reach 15.04 While Apple has over 26 Million in 3 months! if you think that is alot , just look at samsung which has Samsung shipped 52.1 million units for Q2 2012 in 3 months the Samsung Galaxy SIII over 10 million in one month by itself. 10 million units for a single month!

their markets market share is not in the same % or numbers there is no point in trying to put them at in a vs contest, the dedicated game system will loose in market share number's that is just a fact.

ronin4life4193d ago (Edited 4193d ago )

You are comparing apples to oranges. They aren't the same market, so how is market share damaged or taken in such a direct manner? Should we consider Furby to be cutting into the game market if that beats out the vita in sales?

And if I misread your point, it is only because I am feeling lazy and didn't read all of your comment...
. _.;

joeorc4193d ago

"You are comparing apples to oranges. They aren't the same market, so how is market share damaged or taken in such a direct manner?"

thats where many are not looking at this in a take your market share manner. Its not about that, unlike your furby example: this has more bearing than you think, what i am pointing out is the example of the market that the dedicated PDA market HAD has more bearing on what is happening to the Mobile computing space and its effecting the Mobile Gaming market just like smartphone's effected the PDA they are in fact Having an effect on Dedicated Game machine's not in a Doomed Way, but its making the gap between the two markets that much more front and center, with Developer's also taking cue to support the Mobile platform investment increase their in house resources toward this expanding market.

klecser4193d ago (Edited 4193d ago )

Your entire argument is predicated on the assumption that more market share=good and less market share=bad.

If the market is SUSTAINABLE, then it doesn't matter how big the market is. If I sell honey out of my garage to three dozen people a month and I can make a profit off of that, then it doesn't MATTER that local grocery stores move one thousand units a month to their customers. I still have a profitable market. If I'm happy with that market, who are YOU to say that I should just "give up" selling honey out of my garage? There are tons of products on the market with low market shares. So why act like handheld game consoles are any different when the market exists? Why act like ONE MARKET is the only viable option?

So, I took the "jab" because all I hear from the iOS crowd is that "Nintendo and Sony are doomed", but that isn't how markets work. Just because you don't have the biggest market share doesn't mean that a smaller market is futile.

We wouldn't jab at you guys if you didn't keep hitting us with twisted interpretations of how markets work just to wound us. Someone who does that is ignorant or mean or both. There is no fourth option as I see it.

joeorc4193d ago (Edited 4193d ago )

you once again are just not getting it. the Mobile market is not playing in the back yard of the Dedicated Game console market. but many gamers seem to think it is, when its not. you can like i said have really great sales for what you sell, that still does not take away from the fact , that the mobile market as a whole is the leader not the lesser Market. Look i have a PSVita, a DS Light and they are in fact great gaming machines.

Im not implying they are not great gaming machines or they are doomed:

"So, I took the "jab" because all I hear from the iOS crowd is that "Nintendo and Sony are doomed", but that isn't how markets work. Just because you don't have the biggest market share doesn't mean that a smaller market is futile. "

I AM NOT SAYING THAT at all the smaller market is just as Viable as the larger one i agree 100%% on that!

what i am pointing out is that trying to say the iOS crowed would ignore these types of sales and say the dedicated Game Handhelds as Doomed ; does not really matter if they say it or not because, right now both Nintendo and Sony can make money in such a market. Though i am not so inclined to think that Nintendo or Sony will have the largest Market share in Mobile Gaming, that is just posturing that is no where near true at all.

Thats what i think the real issue is now, Nintendo or Sony sofar can never get to number 1 market share right now and many Gamers are upset at the thought that somehow someway that the mobile market is a threat to their gaming market. Lets put this out there, the Mobile market is not a threat its just the change in mobile computing that many gamer's i think are upset about. the Point is right now both Sony and Nintendo are expanding their platform into the Mobile market anyway, though Sony is doing it at a faster Pace than Nintendo but that's Ok Nintendo will further expand into the mobile market in due time.

History is repeating itself because. the exact same thing happened to the PDA. the Game console will still be here its just that it will change along with the rest of the market.

klecser4193d ago

I know the Mobile market is bigger. I understand that. What I am saying is that many iOS apologists are claiming that the rise of iOS markets means the demise of the mobile gaming market, and we know that isn't true.

Moonman4193d ago (Edited 4193d ago )

So many hot 3DS games incoming! Paper Mario, Bravely Default, Dragon Quest 7, Luigi's Mansion 2, Animal Crossing, Castlevania, Monster Hunter 3 and 4 etc.

80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."

280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10113d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref12d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde12d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197212d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville12d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218312d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos12d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 12d ago
isarai13d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref12d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan12d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00711d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197213d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

13d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197213d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

13d ago
12d ago
Zeref12d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde12d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197212d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier12d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto12d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218312d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto12d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 12d ago
Hofstaderman12d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts12d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts11d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic11d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)
90°

Nintendo's War Against Player-Made Content Will Hurt The Company In The End

Danish from eXputer: "Nintendo has historically gone against player-made content and emulation of its games. This has done much to harm the company's image."

XiNatsuDragnel19d ago

I agree nintendo hire some these folks to help in your games it'll help imo.

banger8818d ago

They need to stop announcing these mods and fan remakes until they're finished. Finish it, upload it, and then if Nintendo dmca's it tough shit. Once it's online, people can share it around, even if the original download gets taken down.

Jingsing18d ago

True, but most modders need constant admiration during the process to motivate them.

PRIMORDUS18d ago

Yup, once it's a torrent nothing can be done Nintendo is helpless at that point. But it would be wise if they just had a site on the dark web, it's also easy to use with Tor and no one will bother you.

mastershredder18d ago

This is all coming from the mouth of short-sighted fandom and grifting madness.
No.... it wont. There is a clear defined reason why they don't. This is nothing new. Make your own shi7 from your own original ideas especially if you are trying to capitalize of it it. Duh.

Yeah, hire people that have zero respect or understanding for an established process. Wow. Yep. Totally makes sense.

shinoff218317d ago

Those guys that made that sonic game got a gig from sega or something along those lines and that game was dope as hell. One of the best sonics as of late.