PS3, Rev and DS Score Big in Japanese Survey.

[Handycrap101]

PS3, Rev and DS Score Big in Japanese Survey
Most expect PS3 and Revolution to launch in December.
By: IGN Staff

February 1, 2006 - Based on a recent survey conducted by Japan's top gaming magazine Famitsu, the PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS and Nintendo Revolution are going to be the big stories for the year 2006. The magazine gathered the opinions 113 retailers and 47 game developers on a variety of game related issues. The Online version of Famitsu, Famitsu.com, gathered the opinion of 370 regular gamers.

Gamers and developers selected the PlayStation 3 to be the biggest game-related product for 2006, with Nintendo DS coming in second for both groups. For third place, gamers selected Revolution while developers picked a general category involving network services such as Nintendo's WiFi Connection. Retailers, meanwhile, went with the DS over the PlayStation 3. Revolution came in fourth amongst retailers.

With PS3 and Revolution ranking so highly, it should come as no surprise that both next generation systems are eagerly anticipated. PS3 was selected as most anticipated next generation system by 56.9% of retailers, 53.7% of developers and 46.3% of gamers. Revolution came in at, respectively, 43.9% and 41.4% amongst developers and retailers, but just narrowly missed the PS3 amongst gamers, 45.8% of whom selected it as their most anticipated system. Xbox 360 got the leftovers, to the tune of just 1.7% of retailers, 2.4% of developers and 7.9% of gamers.

Despite the release of the next generation systems, retailers and developers expect bigger things overall from a decidedly low-tech system. The DS was selected by 49.9% of developers and 38.3% of retailers to take the lead in the game hardware market for 2006. Retailers placed PS3 second at 31.5% and Revolution third at 12.3% while developers gave PS3 second with a low 16.7%, followed by Revolution in third with 10.0%. Amongst retailers, Xbox 360 and PSP tied at the bottom with a low 1.4% a piece. Developers expected more of the PSP, giving it 5.0% of the vote, but didn't seem all that confident in the Xbox 360, which got just 1.7% of the vote.

More telling in this last category, since they're the ones doing the buying, are the opinions of gamers. PS3 looks to be the hottest item for 2006, scoring 40.3% of the gamer vote. It was followed by DS at 32.6%, PS2 at 11.8% and Revolution at 11.5%. Xbox 360 came in at just 2.5%, but was far above PSP's 0.3%.

The magazine also got some opinions on expected price and release date for the PlayStation 3 and Revolution. For the PS3, most retailers and developers are expecting a price around the 40,000 yen mark, placing the system around the original price of the PS2. Gamers selected the 50,000 yen mark in greatest number. A few are expecting a 15,000 yen price for Sony's new system!

Revolution is expected to cost quite a bit lower. The most popular choice amongst gamers, retailers and developers was the 25,000 yen price point, followed closely by 30,000 yen and 20,000 yen.

In terms of release date, December was the most popular choice amongst developers and retailers for the PS3. Users were split pretty evenly between May and July as top choices. A good percentage of retailers also selected May and July, while a good number of developers selected September.

December was a popular selection for the Revolution's launch amongst developers, with November coming in second. Both gamers and retailers selected November first followed by December. A good number of developers and makers expect the Revolution to not make it out until 2007.

Source.

[Sypher]

Well this isnt really all that shocking. Is kind of what everyone has been saying for the most part since early 2005. I am surprised though by the PSP horrible ratings. Hopefully the PSP will get out of its first year slump in 2006.

Overall, good post!

[Phryne Astynome]

These surveys often have SERIOUS methodology problems. I wouldn't put much faith in them. Self selection has to be taken into account; the people who participate in these surveys are more likely to be hardcore gamers or "otakus" as they are called in Japan. Also, the people who read Famitsu are more or less hardcore gamers. Famitsu is a niche magazine that does not reflect the general populace.

One thing that boggles my mind is why people think Nintendo will win Japan in the next generation. What makes the Revolution so special? There has been no games announced and nothing is known about it. Also what makes the Japanese open to the new controller? It is racist to generalize that the Japanese will be open to the new controller just because it is unique. If you are going to mention the Nintendo DS as the reason, that logic is very flawed. What made the DS a hit, its unique controls or its games? Furthermore, if we go by that logic then the Virtual Boy would have been a hit and the Power Glove would have also been a hit. Also the logic that Nintendo will win Japan because it has the leading handheld is also flawed. If we went by that logic, then Sony would have the leading handheld because it has the leading console.

[venomv]

wow 370 gamers, that's going indepth.....

[Some Guest]

ouch for psp

[Hylian-Advocate]

Originally Posted by venomv

wow 370 gamers, that's going indepth.....

I know....why couldn't they get more than that...seriously

[Viper]

It's the 113 retailers and 47 game developers that grabbed my attention and provided more legitimacy to the poll (at least regarding their numbers respectively).

[Hylian-Advocate]

For Sure, Viper...

Thats why I posted a news article about it

[xbdestroya]

PSP just isn't that popular at the moment in Japan - luckily it's got the rest of the world pushing the sales. I'm sure it's appeal will go up greatly once PS3's PSP interactivity sees the light of day, but we'll just have to see.

As for the rest of the survey, I find the developer numbers the most interesting. Obviously the high DS scores reflect the low cost of development on that system as well as the systems popularity right now. PS3, well whatever. And for the 360 I have to say that the developer score of 1.9% reflects a development base in Japan - that despite some hype from the Mistwalker and Team Ninja side of things - seems quite down on the system's Japanese prospects. Makes one wonder if 360 will follow the same path as XBox did with a burst of Japanese development in the beginning, followed by a total dry-up of support, or whether Mistwalker and Team Ninja can jumpstart the 360 bandwagon in Japan.

360 will be getting a lot of cross-console ports in it's early life in Japan, as well as some big exclusives, so it'll be in that crucial period of time that we see whether it takes off in Japan or not. If not I don't expect that it will see too many more devs go to the effort of cross-console development for it in that territory.

[CrumCon]

Im surpriised PSP failed in the ratings, cause its 2nd best selling gaming machine since last year till today.

[SS]

Originally Posted by CrumCon

Im surpriised PSP failed in the ratings, cause its 2nd best selling gaming machine since last year till today.

probably means people arent buying them for the games