Nintendo: Something Wrong with Japanese Games Market

[Emabulator]

In a QA session with members of the press Nintendo company president Satoru Iwata explained that he feels something is wrong with the Japanese games market, citing much better sales in the US. Edge Online has the story (http://www.edge-online.com/news/iwata%E2%80%AD-%E2%80%ACjapan%E2%80%AD-%E2%80%9C%E2%80%ACleast-robust%E2%80%AD%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%ACgames-market-world-%E2%80%AD).

When asked to elaborate on Nintendo’s business strategy for‭ ‬Japan,‭ ‬Iwata said:‭ “[‬One‭]‬ thing I would like to explain is the home console market.‭ ‬Perhaps,‭ ‬the Japanese market is the least robust market in the world today with regard to home console systems.‭”‬

“In the‭ ‬US the home console market is very robust,‭” ‬he said‭‬.‭ ‬“If the‭ ‬US sold two or three times as much as‭ ‬Japan,‭ ‬it would be tolerable.‭ ‬Yet,‭ ‬I feel that something is wrong when the‭ ‬US is selling ten times as much as‭ ‬Japan on a weekly basis.‭”

[RMan]

Although I'm sure he feels very right about the hand-held market. Yea, Japan seems to have a far higher sales rate of hand-held systems than other regions, overall they likely still have a stronger gaming culture, just don't play on their TVs as much as other regions.

[koorb]

It is likely because the market has changed in the US with the Wii being seen as a real family item and the same change in Japan not happening.

[RMan]

It is likely because the market has changed in the US with the Wii being seen as a real family item and the same change in Japan not happening.
Except it's not the Wii, it's all home consoles in Japan. The Wii is blowing away the competition just as soundly, in terms of percentages, it's just that home systems as a whole aren't as popular, and hand-helds have taken the spotlight.

[Zombosis]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Japan the country that has a higher death than birth rate?
Means less kids, less families, thus a smaller overall buying market.
I would imagine, at any rate...

[Demo_Boy]

But games arent just for kids anymore.
Its something else.

[lockwoodx]

The japanese are too busy going to college and earning money to have time for video games.

[JazGalaxy]

But games arent just for kids anymore.
Its something else.

You have to take into account that games never WERE "just for kids" in Japan.

I think there was just more room for growth in the U.S. than in japan.

The japanese have less time for playing games (with school and work), less population to sell games too, and a populace who has always been accepting of digital entertainment.

America has a populace that is embracing games at a faster and faster rate (not that new people are playing games, but that kids who are raised on it are replacing elderly people who woudl never play games).

[Virtuoso]

The japanese are too busy going to college and earning money to have time for video games.

...

What?

There are so many things wrongs with your post I don't even know where to begin.

[lockwoodx]

...

What?

There are so many things wrongs with your post I don't even know where to begin.

because you haven't put down the pipe yet...

See the last three posts you've blundered into and you might have a clue

[drakkarim]

sounds like the japanese are tired of the drivel nintendo's been putting out for the last few years.

and since the US/European technology markets are usually a year or two behind Japan, i'm guessing we all still have time to sell that wii before it becomes a doorstop :)

[ScottBravesFan]

The japanese are too busy going to college and earning money to have time for video games.

You do realize that Japan has been in a recession for over a decade now? They aren't making too much money. And Americans go to college too so not sure where you are going on that front either.