The PlayStation Vita had a somewhat decent start when it launched in Japan last week, but if Media Create was disappointed with the launch, it must be depressed by week two's figures. Sony's latest handheld shifted 72,479 units in the week following launch, placing it behind the 3DS, PSP, Wii and PlayStation 3.
The 3DS (which nobody at Dtoid ever said was "doomed" despite assertions to the contrary) sold a solid 482,200 units, while the PSP flogged a cool 101,121.
On the software side, Mario Kart 7 was a holiday winner with 260,836 sales, followed by Musou Orochi 2 (Warriors Orochi 3 in the West) at 200,526 and Super Mario 3D Land at 174,566. Not a single PS Vita game made it into the top ten software chart (Edit: Make that top twenty!).
Not a very pleasant start for the system at all. But hey, there's always a chance of dropping the price six months from now. That works pretty well!
[Via NeoGAF, thanks Fernando]
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
12:00 PM on 12.28.2011 | 
Then again, there are simply quite a bunch awesome 3DS games right now that can steal PSVita's spotlight.
It has tons of issues (the eShop was abysmally shitty for a long time), but I never doubted that once the holidays hit, and an actual Nintendo game came out for it, that it would sell like hotcakes.
Actually, not a single Vita game made it into the Top 20.
Get it out there and be content to let it simmer sales-wise.
Not sure if it's a sound strategy nowadays, but not quite doomed just yet.
Yep, that's pretty much what I'm waiting for.
But not me, nor anyone else I can think of, said it was doomed. I think that was fanboys themselves applying hyperbole to the criticisms they saw, and then retroactively using that hyperbole to act smug.
matter though, no portable does well in japan until monster hunter shows up. That will wrangle them up.
"I've always said the 3DS launched too early, that the 3DS was a risk, and that Nintendo fumbled when it pissed off its shareholders. I still stand by that totally."
Oh I agree with you. I've always had the same stance as you - it can be great, but Nintendo's ancient business models are preventing it from being as great as it possibly can be.
The software sells itself - parents see "Mario", and go apeshit. That won't change for a long time.
@Tim
Sony could still make money if the system was free, by selling $100 forced proprietary memory cards that cost them pennies to make, and selling digital content that fills up your card.
That's specifically why I *don't* say things like "Nintendo is doomed." When it's Nintendo, I don't think you can ever make a definitive prediction.
Both Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land are million sellers in Japan now. And the system is at 4 millions.
That's 20% of the market... for each one.
1) The 3DS beat it out to market and it dropped it price by a significant amount. If the 3DS was still at the cost it started at the Vita would be wiping the floor with it.
2) Buyers fatigue. Vita should have launched at the beginning of October at the latest. By the time they got it out the 3DS got some games released and all of the other sales of the holiday season probably diminished the impact of the Vita launch to only those who really wanted it badly.
Also Monster Hunter for this hasn't been released, right? When they release that, suddenly the Japanese sales figures will spike, everyone knows that by now.
Then again, I wasn't impressed with the 3DS either. or the DS when it launched. I like to give handhelds some time to drop in price and build a decent library.
OH. On an unrelated note, I think Stealth is Jim Sterling's alter-ego in a fight-club sort of twist.
Monster Hunter Tri G (expansion of MH3) was released for the 3DS three weeks ago. And Monster Hunter 4 (new mainline) was announced for the 3DS some months ago.
Sony is DOOOOMED!
The memory card prices don't help at all, you can get a 3DS with a few great games for the price of just a Vita and memory...
I'm still super excited for the Vita though, I'll be buying it on day one and even selling my 3DS for it. (I'll buy another one when they come out with some new colors)
Not at all!
I'm counting on it.
In your faces, Nintendo haters.
Your right! See, I guess this is why 3DS is popular right now, it's got a head start + better price...however of course if it were me (the Japanese gamers are probably the same), of course hearing a MH coming out on the VITA would be awesome because of the graphical capabilities over the 3DS (Their game cards are bigger capacities, right?)
However like a previous poster said I have buyer's fatigue and honestly don't know how I will come up with cash for this handheld in February...so I'm unfortunately part of the "Wait until it drops" or "more software" comes out crowd.
The game cards capacities are the same. Some 3DS games are using 4GB cards (like Resident Evil: Revelations) but they can be expanded to 16GB if I recall correctly.
This part always confused me as I thought SONY were going to expanding the tech-side on the game card capacity end too. In saying that its amazing what they are pushing out graphically with these cards. Especially Resident Evil Revelations which I am excited for (The RAID mode looked fun!).
"The Wii Vitality Sensor is doooooooomed!"
Say it isn't so!
Fuck Haters $ Get Hyped Bitches!!!
I think it's just they know this industry far more then anyone else does
All the Vita needs for it to succeed in NA is a Call of Duty game that comes close to the home console's CoD experience. Once kids see someone with a Vita at school playing CoD they'll be begging their parents for a vita for next years holiday season. Get ready to see lots of kids trash talking in public.
"I think it's just they know this industry far more then anyone else does"
Yep. Nintendo knows that no matter what it does (wrong), people will still buy its shit because it's fucking Nintendo; why change?
And that's this industry for you.
I seem to remember an HD port of Final Fantasy X being announced for both systems so maybe they'll move more in that direction. What they need to do is sell PS3 copies that allow the PSV version to be transferred. That might actually get me to consider buying one.
That is not true.
What systems do you think kids really want COD for? PC, PS3, 360. Thats it. You would be lucky if any portable COD sold well
Yep. They know that paying for research and development, and infrastructure costs for the eShop for six months before anything worthwhile hits it is a good way to spend your money.
Also, using the obtuse friend code system that no one likes is a great way to make sure people keep playing games online.
Nintendo will have their first paid DLC game in Fire Emblem, ever, next year. They also claim that the Wii-U will have a less obtuse online friend system. We'll see if they really "know the industry better" next year. As it stands, they know software better - but that's about it.
That's what I'm afraid of. I bought my PSP mosty to play the God of Wars and they both ended up on PS3. The Vita just seems like it won't be worth it unless I'm away from my consoles for weeks at a time.