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Iwata: 'Japan most challenging for console games'

Home console game sales struggling in the Far East
Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata has said that Japan is now the most challenging market for home console software.

"The total Japanese market size is less than one sixth of that of the US, and about one fourth of the four major European countries. There exists major differences in market size today," said Iwata.

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"When we compare the unit hardware sales, Japanese sales are about two-sevenths of the US, and more than half of the four major European countries. It can be said that Japan today is the challenging market for home console software to sell," he added.

Iwata goes on to reason the Wii's software sales decline. "Since the software we launched at the end of 2008 did not go on to sell for an extended period of time, and we were not able to launch very strong titles in the first half of this year, we have seen a significant drop in software sales this year. As a result Wii Software unit sales share is just below 50 percent of the entire home console software market so far in 2009."

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is out here on November 20. That should sort things out.

computerandvideogames.com
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Read all 3 commentsPost a Comment
Just get some deals done with decent RPG developers and start bringing out a load of RPG games. Isn't that their favourite genre? I seem to read about sales of consoles rising when a new RPG comes out (Thos good ones I gather) Possible solution for Nintendo? or any for that fact?
kimoak on 3 Nov '09
I always thought Japan was Nintendoland for all the support it got. I don't think they can do much about the smaller market, but them, every market is smaller than the US.
Desaima on 3 Nov '09
Is wish Nintendo could smarten up drop the act and get some actual real games out for the wii. And not this mini - game half a game bs for the wii. I cant take it , Nintendo used to have many valid video game franchises where the hell they go . Other M and Galaxy 2 , New Zelda , NMH2 need to hit store shelves sooner than they are being projected to be released. For the wii sake, catering to morons who barely play video games can only get you buy for soo long before they get bored of their wii, unhook it and it begins to collect dust in their closet. Why? Bc Nintendo refuses to put out more than just as example a game like science papa, or wheel of fortune jesus? WTF!! Thats not why i bought my wii. Now Metroid : Other M , New Zelda on the other hand..........
cb9983 on 4 Nov '09
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