Media Create/Famitsu/Dengeki - Nov 3 - Nov 9

[Mnementh]

Kresnik said:

the_dengle said:

But reiterating weekly that the Vita isn't putting up numbers anywhere near the PSP is boring, no one does it anymore because it's just stating the obvious. Comparing the 3DS to the DS is equally boring and obvious -- and even then, what I'm seeing are people comparing the 3DS YOY sales more than that, which is nonsensical because of course the 3DS is down YOY. I was just illustrating that typically consoles peak in their third year and then decline steadily from there, and that even the mighty DS was not an exception to this trend.

I typed a massive reply to you that was sadly lost due to my browser crashing, but here's a (shortened, but still long) version of my take on why PSP vs. Vita has less relevance than 3DS vs. DS does.

Think about what games Vita carried over from PSP (which had made that console a success).  Monster Hunter?  Metal Gear?  Square Enix stuff?  Western stuff with Japanese appeal?

Then consider the pieces of PSP support which did make it across - what form are they coming in?  Are they exclusive, or are they multi-plats (God Eater) & ports of older games (Persona)?

Do the same thing for 3DS vs. DS.  Did all the strong Nintendo IP's make it across?  Animal Crossing?  Mario?  Pokemon?  Are the Dragon Quest ports still there?  Did the relevant third party stuff like Layton and Ace Attorney continue?

And again, are these games being made exclusive to the 3DS, or are they appearing elsewhere?

Then consider whether anything was gained in the move across?  Did any mega PSP franchises make the jump across?  Any never-before-on-a-handheld survival horror IP's?  Any kid-friendly runaway smash hits?

 

Of course, the picture isn't as black and white as this - 3DS lost a hell of a lot of stuff too (i.e. Brain Training.  Not in terms of the actual game, since it's on 3DS, but apparently the audience for it).  But the point is (and it's the point I raised in my earlier post too) - 3DS has had so much going for it since launch.  In 4 years since launch it's received nearly every relevant IP in Japan in some form - with one just having arrived in September another new one on the way in December.  Vita has not had a similar situation at all, and as such I find it a bit absurd to compare.

And this comes down to what Nintendo do for their handheld compared to what Sony have done, absolutely, but that shouldn't come into the picture when you're comparing what is actually there and what effect that should be having on sales, in my opinion.

You are mixing up cause and outcome. 3DS didn't had the games from the start. It got them with solid sales. Companies tested the sales, before they broughjt over the games you name: Capcom had RE:Mercenaries before Revelations. Square Enix had Heroes of Ruins. Capcom brought MH4 not before they tested with MH3G. And so on. These tests also happened for the Vita. Persona 4G, AC:Liberation and so on. After that the decision came to avoid Vita.

Well, it is also OK to compare with the DS. The discussion is because of a YoY drop of the 3DS - in it's fourth year. The DS dropped 14% in 2007 in Japan. Sure, absolute numbers are smaller for 3DS than for DS. Still, DS only managed 65% market share, while 3DS has over 80% of a smaller market. So why people ere are picking on shrinking YoY-numbers without context? Should I point out shrinking YoY-numbers of PS4 in it's fourth year (or do you want to bet the PS4 will peak after it's third year)? It is pretty normal, that after such a time on market a saturation is reached. 3DS will not reach 100M, I think nobody doubts that. So saying it got games is not enough. Other platforms also got games and didn't even rech 3DS numbers.