Though to be fair, there are plenty of people on the other gaming sites complaining about the interface being made for "casuals" instead of gamers.
Well you can't please everyone...
What's the point of a rewards program?? You don't see Sony having one for Playstation owners nor do you see Playstation owners wanting one.
I mean the Xbox One has XBL Rewards (it's practically non existent) and Wii U (Club Nintendo and DDP) had/have reward programs, but yet they are being outsold massively by PS4 which has no rewards program.
There is a clear trend here.
Also why make a successor to Club Nintendo, when Japanese complained about how bad Club Nintendo Japan was, EU folks complained about how bad Club Nintendo EU was, NA folks complained about how bad Club Nintendo NA was, Aussies complained about how bad Club Nintendo AUS was etc...
You don't hear Xbox owners complaining about how bad XBL Rewards are, nor do you hear Playstation and Steam owners complain about the lack of a rewards program on their platforms.
It's only going to get worse as this week goes on.
China had horrible economic numbers over the weekend. Chinese stock market are all very unstable. Chinese banks aren't financially secure. Chinese economy is tanking faster than the government knows what to do about it. Chinese and foreigners as they pulling their money out of China putting it into Western institutions. China is literally spending $100 Billion+ American a month (that's over $1.2 Trillion a year) just to stop their currency from fluctuating against the U.S. Dollar. China is rapidly depleting it's foreign currency reserves to keep their economy from entering into negative growth (it's over due).
Japan economy shrunk even further according to yesterday's numbers.
The U.S economy slowed to 0.7% growth in the last quarter of 2015 as of last weeks numbers. This means the U.S. is very close to dipping into a recession.
There is going to be a wild ride this week, so everyone buckle in.
I'm not pretending anything about those games you listed.
Uncharted 4 might be an AAA game if Sony spent the required amount to be classified as an AAA game.
You know Far Cry Primal is a spin off? It's not an AAA game, but a spin off to hold everyone off until 5 is complete.
Doom hasn't seen a release in 10 years and has switched studios numerous times, there is a good chance it is down right awful.
Dark Souls 3 is not a big game, it doesn't sell in the millions, hell it will be lucky to chart in the U.S. The last 2 games failed to break out of niche territory.
The list you posted is literally horrible for a "hardcore" American gamer, the ones who make up the userbase Xbox Ones and PS4s.
Hell that list will be vastly ignored by the majority of PC, PS4 and Xbox One owning Americans, who won't touch them because they lack AAA standing, graphics and other crap.
You do realize in there are already a lot of PS4 and Xbox One owners complaining about the lack of releases between now and August. Hell I've read plenty of articles talking about the "drought" of real games on PS4.
Sony is constantly being asked why the lack of "real" games on PS4.
Your list has games, just not "hardcore" games that PS4 and Xbox One owners aren't into.
I mean I buying a few games before June (provided they don't get delayed), though none of them have "hardcore" appeal. Though they might get lucky and hit 50k sold.
But I get where PS4 & Xbox Owners and the gaming media are coming from on their perceived drought of real games and a flood of lower cost games in the coming months.
I mean the developer of The Witness is still fighting to prove that his game is a "real" game and more than just an indie title.
Either way all those games on that list including Doom, Uncharted 4, and Far Cry spin off etc... will be lucky if they chart
February through July, is the "hardcore" gamers worst nightmare every year.
PS4 and Xbox One will hit new hardware sale lows in North America
NPD also has the exclusive right to data and retail sales tracking in North and South America and is funded by the industry including Nintendo.
Michael Pachter (this site's favorite analyst) and one of the most important analysts in gaming and NPD.
I will repeat there in nothing on your list that will drive console and PC market growth for the next 6 months in North America, especially the "hardcore" market.
I Predict PS4 will be sub 150k with Xbox One being sub 100k for February.
I'll revisit this next month when the NPD February main chart looks just like this chart.
@Yorumi As already pointed out, Awakening wasn't light on content.
This is how many chapters each Fire Emblem Fire Emblem Gaiden (NES) has 5 chapters
Genealogy of the Holy Wars (SNES) has 1 prologue, 10 chapters, and an endgame
Thracica 776 (SNES) has 24 chapters, 7 side chapters, and an endgame
Binding Blade (GBA) has 24 chapters, 6 side chapters, and an end game.
Fire Emblem (GBA) has 32 chapters, a prologue, an end game, and like 10 side chapters.
Sacred Stones (GBA)had 20 main chapters, a prologue and the end game.
Path of Radiance (GC) had 28 chapters, a prologue, and a end game.
Radiant Dawn (Wii) has 25 chapters, 4 prologues (at the beginning of each chapter) and an End Game with 4 stages.
Shadow Dragon (DS) has a prologue, 25 chapters, and a few side chapters.
Mystery of the Emblem remake (DS) has 26 chapters, 8 prologue chapters, 3 part end game, 6 side chapters, and 3 new episodes.
Awakening has an introduction level, prologue, 25 chapters, 23 optional side chapters, 25 optional DLC chapters.
Fates: Conquest has 27 chapters Fates: Birthright has 27 chapters Fates Revelations has 27 chapters The prologue and the first 5 are the same on each version. There are also 22 optional side chapters and 13 optional DLC chapters. http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Fire_Emblem:_Binding_Blade
As it stands the Fire Emblem games by required playable levels are: Fates > Fire Emblem (GBA)>Awakening> Path of Radiance
Based on total content then Fates and Awakening are neck and neck followed by Fire Emblem (GBA).
@Yorumi It's actually not over charging if you get 3 games each having the same amount of content as Awakeing.
Nintendo told IS, if Awakening sold on par with the GBA/GC/Wii/DS games, that Awakening would be the final game in the series.
IS was given a mandate to find away to make Fire Emblem sell well, if they wanted to continue the series.
Fire Emblem starting on GBA regularly struggled to 100k globally and this low sales trend continued all the way until Awakening.
The content added Awakening helped boost the sales to record heights leading to Nintendo green light Fates. Fates sold really well in Japan due to the Anime and Waifu stuff leading it to edge out Awakening in sales.
You seem to forget the huge outrage the Western gaming media and gamers had when they found out that Awakening had an easy/"casual" mode. They demanded that Nintendo break the game into two separate games, with one being for those who wanted an easy mode.
Nintendo and IS listened to the outrage and broke the game into two this time around.
Conquest = Traditional Birthright = easy mode
Revelations was released months after the Japanese original release and is for those who want closure on characters and sub plots.
@Peach64 Actually Microsoft hasn't revealed any Xbox One hardware and accessories sales numbers in almost 2 years. Their last Financial report in January, Microsoft withheld Xbox revenue. All Microsoft reported in January was Xbox Monthly Average Users numbers and Daily Average Users numbers, which are all massively greater than PS4 numbers.
All we have are the occasional NPD leak from NeoGaf and 3rd estimates.
Madcatz the other day said the combined install base of PS4 and Xbox One is at 60M by their estimate A week early EA said they sold 55M by their estimate Others companies have said it closer to 50M, based on estimates
We know that PS4 is nearing 38M sold globally, that leaves Xbox One between 11M-15M, depending on which estimate is closest to reality.
We know that Wii U is essentially ~11M as of last reporting. Wii U is currently facing a stock shortage in Japan due to shortage of components. This due to unexpected rise in sales mainly due to Splatoon taking off.
In the end the one thing we know from Microsoft is that more people play Xbox on a regular basis than Playstation.
@Hotfusion Have any links to the Fallout 4 sales numbers? Google hasn't turned up full sales numbers after launch day.
We have EA, Ubisoft, Activision, WB all on record claiming that Xbox One is the shooter box and makes more money per game than the PS4 (financial date just came out over the past week). That's due to Xbox One users buying more DLC and spending more on services than PS4 users.
Remember Ubisoft did canceled Assassins Creed 3DS due to "too many hardcore games coming to 3DS!"
@Yellowkoopa That's Hyperbole at it's finest. Most of Nintendo's releases for 2015 ranged from low 70s to high 80s on Metacritic. This was inline with the rest of the industry scores. I found plenty to buy and play on my Wii U and 3DS, including Splatoon.
@IceClimbers
Actually January sales this year in the U.S. were down a lot compared to last January (We had massive Polar Vortex which dropped temperatures to around -20 and -30 for most of the U.S. last January).
February - August will be very slow unless a major AAA blockbuster game drops to stimulate sales.
The North America console market is drive by AAA Blockbuster games, Realistic Sports, and Major shooters.
These types of games typically release in August through January on consoles first.
There aren't any scheduled for release that are big enough to stimulate the market.
PS4 already saw a huge bump this holiday season due to hardware deals and hype driving by E3 announcements.
When those E3 games finally release between Holiday 2016 and 2018, they won't have much of a bump on PS4 hardware sales.
Everyone who wanted one of those games at E3 bough the hardware following E3 and during the holiday period.
With no Assassins Creed this year, console sales should be down this holiday unless Bethesda has an ES game ready.
@electrolite77 Sony has nothing but lesser games and movie tie in stuff. All EA has is Wrestling game (Mirror's Edge doesn't count as a big game).
Major games are saved for the holiday period, where people buy the most games.
Sony does save their big and major guns for the holiday in order to counter Microsoft's offerings. Sony could go back to spreading their AAA games year long, but it would give Microsoft the narrative that only Microsoft cares about the most important gaming time of the year.
R&C is not big game, as each version struggled to sell 1 million on PS3 and should do worse on PS4 (Platformers do bad on PS4), if it can even break into the main NPD chart. Though being tied in with the movie, it could do better just based on that.
As it currently stands there are no games that fit the AAA Blockbuster status, schedule before August. These are the bread butter of the Western industry.
UFC Wrestling is the only game on that list you posted that constitutes a major release.
The rest of the list is essentially indie, low budget, mid budget, handheld, PC, ports, remasters, and niche Japanese games.
This is list is awful for the "hardcore" who essentially makes up the complete install base of PS4 and Xbox One.
It's a alright list if you like playing lower budget, indie stuff, PC games, and "casual" games.
But don't expect any of these games to chart in the main NPD chart outside of UFC Wrestling and maybe R&C (if the movie triggers sales).
The rest of the list will be lucky if they sell 100,000 in their release month on NPD. Never underestimate the negative stigma that is associated with being a lower budget game, niche game, and indie game has in North America when it comes to sales.
That is the sad reality of the North American market.
I also see PS4 and Xbox One hardware sales slowing further due to a lack of any big blockbuster AAA Games (these drive hardware sales) and a lack of major shooters (these also drive hardware sales).
Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised if Fates or something else manages to break into the NPD main charts before August.
As for Metacritic scores, NPD says it is one of the most important components to sales, with most game with sub 90 scores seeing their sales potential greatly reduced.
Western Developers last gen, started writing a base metacritic score into their contracts to determine bonuses and pay. Your game also has to sell a minimum amount to get full pay as well.
This is why EA, Bethesda, WB, Activision heavily talk Metacritic scores when give investors information.
@TheLastLugia That is true to a large extent. Though it really depends on what extent gaming companies sent instructions on how to "properly" review their games and to what pressures they applied to the site to get the higher scores (They regularly threaten blacklisting, withholding of ad revenue and lawsuits if the reviews don't meet their expectations).
I've also read that many gaming companies now make you submit your review to them first, to make sure it is done "correctly" for posting.
Literally all the major 3rd parties, Microsoft and Sony give out "punishments" for bad articles and bad reviews and "rewards" for good articles and reviews.
I mean Ubisoft blacklisted more than just Kotaku for calling them out over how unplayable both Assassins Creed games were at launch this year. They also are fighting Kotaku and others who posted the stories on how they treat their employees.
Now with Gametrailers official shut down as of earlier this week, there aren't many unbiased sites left who are willing to stand up to the big publishers.
Ironically Nintendo doesn't do anything to those who report and review their games.
They only do something when it is down right false.
They even give awards for good journalism, as Game Informer has shown.
@Yellowkoopa
Most of the games ranged from decent to mediocre from all the companies each year.
It's hard to get great and stellar reviews with reviewers being very fickle in what they like.
How a game is viewed is in the eye of the beholder.
It also depends on where you draw the line.
Most companies and NPD believe a Metacritic score of less than 90, isn't good.
Gamers are less likely to buy game that scores less than 90, which is why it's written in to most gaming contracts now from Western Developers
I mean in 2015 we received full retail Wii U releases:
Splatoon
Mario Maker
Yoshi's Wooly World
XCX
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
Art Academy: Home Studio (art app)
which are all well made games and one art app.
(the rest of the releases not worth mentioning for the sake of a massive argument).
on 3DS Nintendo released to retail for 2015:
Majora's Mask 3D
Code Name STEAM
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition
Yo-Kai Watch
(the rest of the releases not worth mentioning for the sake of a massive argument).
Which were all well made games and remasters.
The rest of the releases are controversial and subjective.
But it is more than what Ubisoft, EA, Bethesda, Taketwo, Activision, Sony, Konami, Square-Enix, Capcom, Atlus and Microsoft released to retail individually.
The first half the year already has more than the competition does until the E3 blow out.
Nintendo is developing and publishing 5 retail games (includes a few 3rd party games which they localized) until June.
There are 4 1st party retail games scheduled for NA release on Wii U before E3
This more than all the rest of the big 6 3rd parties, Microsoft and Sony have ready until E3.
If Nintendo saved all their games for the September to December holiday each year like the competition does, it would be more noticeable.
Gamers are shown to rarely notice and buy games outside of the Holiday period in NA.
Seriously nearly all the other 3rd parties, Microsoft and Sony release all their retail games in September to December Holiday period with practically nothing else for the rest of the year.
@IceClimbers Black Ops III openly states it's the best selling title this generation on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
Obviously GTAV has sold the majority on PS3 and Xbox 360. GTAV is the best selling title on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Actually Activision released it's financial report last night to shareholders.
It showed that Call of Duty sales on Xbox One edged out PS4 in it's main territories (U.S, Canada, UK, Australia, Ireland, and Mexico) with bundles of both systems included.
Call of Duty isn't as popular outside of Anglo-American markets.
Destiny is about even between the two systems in the main territories.
Nearly everything else Activision makes is down significantly, causing a massive stock drop.
Ubisoft's financial report came out last night and it showed their AAA games did better on Xbox One than PS4 with bundles included. Ubisoft claims that for every $1 PS4 users spend on "hardcore" games and DLC, Xbox One users spend $1.25. Also their data showed that Xbox One users have higher monthly and daily usage than PS4 users for their games.
EA's data also showed a near equal split in their main territories for shooters (U.S, Canada, UK, Australia, Ireland, and Mexico) between Xbox One and PS4 with bundles included. Though Xbox One users had higher usage of games.
Fall Out 4 is supposedly doing better on Xbox One than PS4.
@Yellowkoopa To be fair, it's very rare for any title that releases on 1 or 2 platforms to break into the NPD multiplatofrm chart regardless of system it is released on.
Microsoft only had Halo 5 and I do believe Tomb Raider for multiplaform charts in 2015.
Nintendo had Splatoon, Mario Maker, Yoshi Wooly World, ORAS, and a few others for multiplatform charts in 2015.
Sony had The Order and something else break into the multipatform charts in 2015.
Nintendo had more games in the multiplatform charts in 2015 than the competition did.
Though if NPD went back to using the single game chart, where each SKU counts individually, as their main charts, things would look massively different.
Paper Jam narrowly missed the top 10 on the main chart his month. XCX narrowly missed the top 10 on the main chart in December.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D narrowly missed the main chart in April.
etc...
It's really hard to break into the top 10 on the main chart, if you aren't one of the games normally listed on the yearly list.
Points of interest this month:
PS4 failed to break 200k Xbox One sold ~115k Wii U obviously saw a decent drop too, but no one cares. Paper Jam narrowly missed the main top 10 by a small amount. Ubisoft announced no Assassins Creed for 2016, which is rumored to be due to the impending NX launch. Shooters are still selling better on Xbox One than PS4 for some reason.
Oh the biggest news from NPD and Activision this month is...
CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS III IS THE BEST SELLING GAME OF THE GENERATION!!! BEATING OUT GTAV!!!
Black Ops III has outsold GTAV on PS4, Xbox One and PC making it the best selling game of this generation by far.
The game is nearing 25 million copies sold, almost entirely on PS4 and Xbox One.
Actually that is taken from the whole of the Western markets. It's been explained by NPD, Pacther, EEDAR, Nielsens, etc... It's based on the whole market, fans are swept up in the numbers and are put in the proper categories.
They literally survey thousands upon thousands of consumers online on their platforms they play and the games they play.
They literally survey all the major retailers in each market to get the data on the consumers who buy the platforms and games, then putting them in the categories.
They use Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Steam, PC, Mac, Mac App Store to determine what gamers are.
They do not use Nintendo systems in the data collection nor do they use handheld systems.
Again it is the segmentation and defining of the whole of each the Western Market.
There is believed to be ~60 Million people who fit the industry's definition of what a "hardcore" gamer is in the Western Markets. This out of over 300 Million plus people who buy games and systems.
AGAIN IT IS THE WHOLE WESTERN MARKET, NOT PLATFORM SPECIFIC.
That is why Sony keeps stating they are taking the "hardcore" gamers way from Microsoft and Nintendo.
You can label yourself whatever you want, but when the Western industry says "hardcore", you aren't included in that.
They literally have been spending 20 years to accurately define and segment the Western markets into the proper categories, to give the Western developers the necessary information to better cater to the industry.
When a label or word is set like this "hardcore", states there is no settled dictionary definition(s).
To repeat the Western industry has it's definition of "hardcore" gamer which based on market research, this is what "hardcore" gamers are in the Western markets to the industry.
Same goes for "casual" and the rest.
Again you can call yourself whatever you want, but to Sony, Microsoft and Western industry you aren't a "hardcore" gamer to them!!!!!
@JaxonH You realize that segment called "hardcore" by Western industry, is exactly who the PS4 is almost exclusively appealing to from launch.
I mean Sony said the PS4 is "primarily selling to shooter fans". The userbase of PS4 according to Sony's own data, is a very narrow base that is almost entirely the Western Industry's "hardcore" demographic.
Literally every game selling well on PS4 fits the Western industry's "hardcore" demographic.
Practically everything else is bombing PS4, except for Minecraft. Everything else is selling really low numbers.
Same goes for Xbox One.
Essentially if your game doesn't fit the Western industry's "hardcore demographic, you will do poorly in sales. This is harming Asian developers, Indies, and Western games that don't fit the Western "hardcore" demographics.
Wii U and 3DS those Western industry "hardcore" games do as bad as non Western industry "hardcore" games do on PS4 and Xbox One.
Though Wii U and 3DS are much better platforms for other games and E-rated games.
The same thing happened on Wii/DS and PS3/Xbox 360.
We have the sales charts from Europe, UK, U.S., Canada and Australia. We can see what is selling and what isn't on each system.
Sales charts don't lie.
To simply put it: Nintendo systems only sell Nintendo and Nintendo like games, PS4 and Xbox One sell only "hardcore" games in the West.
@JaxonH It is to the billions Western Developers make in profits and the speed of which PS4 is flying of the shelves.
Or you can measure it in the lack of hardware sales of Xbox One and Wii U.
Literally Western developers have committees focused on the data and to make sure their products fall in line with the data. It's one of the reasons why Western developers spend as much as they do.
But in the end profits are far more important to a publicly traded company and their shareholders than creativity
@aaronsullivan I actually played Happy Home Designer and briefly owned it.
It is a well made game and is well liked because it centers around personal choice and customization.
It also does well even NeoGaf because, you can take part in competitions hosted by Nintendo on Miiverse. You can also share designs with people too.
I grew bored with it fast, due to nature of the game and how annoying the animals are in that game. I play a wide variety of games except for shooters. most violent games, and most cinematic games. I love playing Nintendogs and virtual pets for some reason.... (I should finally boot back in after almost a year).
Actually gaming sites and stores is the best place. I mean even the mainstream media debates and reports on it, including the BBC World, Forbes, Fortune, CNN, Fox News, Local news, NY Times, USA Today, Detroit Free Press etc...
There is no place for this in the real world outside of gaming stores and events.
Every part of human society has a group with it's own definition, rules, and culture that you must follow. Go against it, you get punished by that group and/or expelled.
That's why a lot of people pay dear price for being different.
Sony literally researched Western markets and consumers to hell and back before designing and releasing the PS4.
The reason why the PS4 is selling so well in the West, is the fact that Sony took all the data and treated as gospel.
Sony openly has said they designed the PS4 using all that market research data to design a console the "hardcore" segment would want to buy.
The "hardcore"/core/real gamer listed in all the market research data spends more money on gaming than remaining 5 segments of gamers individually. Only when "casuals" and other 4 kinds of gamers are combined together, do they outspend the "hardcore" gamer.
EA, Activision, Ubisoft, Disney, WBi, Epic, Microsoft, Sony and other Western developers use all this data in determining what to fund, develop, release, and what platforms to release it on. Their marketing plans are also based on it too. This is why Western gaming for the most part has become stale and sterile
Hollywood uses market research data to determine what movies to make and how to market them. They have similar consumer segmentations. This is why movies are the way they are now
The TV show industry follows similar to Hollywood. This is why I hate the TV Shows Industry
In short if the product doesn't fit the what the data says, then it is retooled or canceled under the assumption that it won't sell.
Market Research exists to take the risk out of business
Even the Auto industry uses market research do determine what cars they should make and what features to put in them.
Market Research isn't always right and companies can do well without it, it just riskier.
Apple and Nintendo don't like to use market research when making products. This is why they both have a bigger amount failed products than most companies.
@World The industry has spent billions on market research and data collection to figure out what the different types of gamers play.
The majority of women have shown to have different buying habits than the "hardcore" gamers, which makes it quite hard for the most developers to sell games to them.
NPD and EEDAR actively track what customers buy and what their age, gender, religion, and income are to best help the industry make games.
Even Valve has data on what women and men buy on Steam. The difference is astounding with very little overlap.
Even when you review a game on the eShop, Nintendo asks you if the game is better suited for males or females.
They also ask other questions to better gauge who is buying the game and enjoying them. You can see the statics on the eShop.
@KingofSaiyans
Because most Nintendo fans and a lot of gamers are misinformed on what "hardcore"/core/real gamers are these days.
At the same time they are fighting each other over it, while hating on families, kids and "casuals".
They also hate Nintendo and publishers for abandoning "hardcore" gamers for "casuals" and women when it isn't true at all with official industry data.
Now if most Nintendo fans and many other gamers would accept the official definitions and terms when it comes to gamers, they wouldn't' feel the need to react so hatefully against official industry sources, Michael Pachter, Analysts, 3rd party responses and decisions, and even Nintendo's own responses.
Nintendo fans and the other gamers need to either educate themselves on the official industry definitions and make peace with fact they and their platform of choice aren't official "hardcore" and are "casual" or one of the other official definitions of gaming. They can also stop wondering why Major 3rd parties refuse to support said platform with said game, since Major 3rd parties and their developer take the official definitions and data to heart when developing and supporting platforms.
It's the same thing with mobile support.
Smart (mobile) gamers aren't officially part of the "casual" data.
Those who are upset are clinging to the relics of the past, in the same way the British are clinging to their notion of an empire.
This was developed by GameFreak and Nintendo. Released in February 2006 in North America. I don't think ever was released in the EU. It wasn't Nintendo only GBA offerings in NA in 2006.
Japan received much hailed Bit Generations, Mother 3 and few others.
Square released a bunch of RPGs in 2006 in NA Sega released a Sonic 1 GBA in NA and few other games. Take Two and EA released few installments of major sports games in 2006 on GBA in NA.
GBA was dead in the EU in late 2005.
The data I posted is what Sony and Microsoft design their consoles around. It is the same data the Valve uses for Steam.
The major 3rd parties use that data to determine what to make and where to release their games.
That's why Wii, DS, Wii U and 3DS received practically licensed games, shovelware and kid friendly IPs from major 3rd parties.
The NPD and UK charts and Eurotracker show those genres listed are what's selling on PS4 and Xbox One. Literally everything else is bombing on PS4 and Xbox One
They also show the people who are buying PS4 and Xbox literally only play the genres listed in the data as "hardcore" and are predominately male 15-35 years old.
You and me (and others) don't agree with what the data is defining but the industry does.
The industry has been going that way since PS2 launched, with the switch over being complete by 2012.
Literally in the industry is splitting down the middle, with that group that became the "hardcore" and "casuals" (everyone else)
@rjejr Actually it has been confirmed that Pokemon Go is free to play. Though there are confirmed IAPs, but we don't know what they are. You don't need the clip on to enjoy the game, it's just for those who are crazy into the game.
@Mister_Wu But Splatoon nickname in many media articles is "my first shooter". Splatoon isn't gaining traction with the "hardcore" because it is too colorful and anime.
I do love the game, but it's no surprise the "hardcore" is turned off by it.
@Yorumi
I'm not raging against AAA Games or M-rated games.
I have no issues with them.
The point they are the literal definition of "hardcore" games, which one must play exclusively to be "hardcore" gamers.
"
According to the NPD Group, 34 million core gamers spend an average of 22 hours a week playing video games. The NPD Group defines a core gamer as anyone who plays at least five hours a week on a Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, or Mac. I’m not sure why the NPD Group doesn’t think Nintendo consoles or portables like the Vita and 3DS count as hardcore, but, hey, it’s not my report. http://venturebeat.com/2014/05/13/34m-hardcore-gamers-play-an-average-of-22-hours-a-week-but-nintendo-isnt-core-enough-to-count/
"
NPD data shows that "hardcore" gamers do not play and own Nintendo systems and games. They also have no interested in handhelds systems. This was from their May 2014 survey on "hardcore" gamers.
Everything not listed in the platforms category was labeled "casual".
They same survey said to be "hardcore"/core you had to play these genres
@Yorumi Younger consumers aren't "casual" they are mostly in the kiddy segment.
Yes Women are considered casual, because they tend not to buy AAA Blockbuster titles, M-rated games, and realistic games (the "hardcore" genres) Women also take to the media when their games are broken and lack marketed features. They also return these broken and lacking games to get their money back and never buy from that company again.
A "hardcore" gamer doesn't complain about a broken game, they don't handheld game and they don't play Nintendo according to NPD and EEDAR data. "hardcore" gamer also keep buying broken and lacking games never asking for refund.
If you took action over a broken and lacking game and/or requested a refund then you are defined as "Casual" by the industry.
FYI: HARDCORE GAMERS do not own and play on handhelds according to decades of NPD and EEDAR data.
Handhelds are considered "casual" and kiddy systems in the West. Which is why the West doesn't take them seriously with development.
@Kolzig That's not true. GBA was still receiving 1st party releases (albeit smaller ones) and 3rd party support into 2007. GBA also was still selling 100k+ each month in the U.S. until late 2007 when Nintendo ended production.
It literally outsold PS3 until Christmas of 2007 in NA.
2 @Yorumi I fail to see where it mentions anything "casual" related.
Granted it's no big secret that Nintendo and it's games do not appeal to "hardcore" gamers.
@wayneyrob2
Sony is done in the handheld market, SCEA refused to support Vita from the beginning. Sony's own internal studios refused to take up handheld development except for like 3 games, because they didn't want to bother with handhelds.
Vita is dead primarily due to costs and due to Sony's fanbase hating handheld gaming.
@ericwithcheese2 There will be few decent sized titles left in the pipeline.
Just because a successor comes out, doesn't mean the existing system quits getting software.
DS, GBA, GBC all received decent software well into the first year of their successors.
PS3, PS2 and PS1 all received decent support well into the second year of their successors with PS1 and PS2 selling an extra 20-50 million after their successors were out the door.
Comments 950
Re: Guide: Setup and Key Facts for Nintendo Account and Miitomo Preregistration
Seriously... A GUIDE for this???
Though to be fair, there are plenty of people on the other gaming sites complaining about the interface being made for "casuals" instead of gamers.
Well you can't please everyone...
What's the point of a rewards program?? You don't see Sony having one for Playstation owners nor do you see Playstation owners wanting one.
I mean the Xbox One has XBL Rewards (it's practically non existent) and Wii U (Club Nintendo and DDP) had/have reward programs, but yet they are being outsold massively by PS4 which has no rewards program.
There is a clear trend here.
Also why make a successor to Club Nintendo, when Japanese complained about how bad Club Nintendo Japan was, EU folks complained about how bad Club Nintendo EU was, NA folks complained about how bad Club Nintendo NA was, Aussies complained about how bad Club Nintendo AUS was etc...
You don't hear Xbox owners complaining about how bad XBL Rewards are, nor do you hear Playstation and Steam owners complain about the lack of a rewards program on their platforms.
Re: Miitomo Preregistration is Now Open in 16 Countries
Can't wait to try Miimoto.
I think it looks interesting.
Re: Nintendo Shares Recover Nearly 10% of Value as Japanese Market Enjoys a Boost
It's only going to get worse as this week goes on.
China had horrible economic numbers over the weekend.
Chinese stock market are all very unstable.
Chinese banks aren't financially secure.
Chinese economy is tanking faster than the government knows what to do about it.
Chinese and foreigners as they pulling their money out of China putting it into Western institutions.
China is literally spending $100 Billion+ American a month (that's over $1.2 Trillion a year) just to stop their currency from fluctuating against the U.S. Dollar.
China is rapidly depleting it's foreign currency reserves to keep their economy from entering into negative growth (it's over due).
Japan economy shrunk even further according to yesterday's numbers.
The U.S economy slowed to 0.7% growth in the last quarter of 2015 as of last weeks numbers.
This means the U.S. is very close to dipping into a recession.
There is going to be a wild ride this week, so everyone buckle in.
Re: Talking Point: The Time is Right for a Nintendo Direct
I would like them to give us a tour of the new My Nintendo rewards.
But I can live until GDC or E3 for more news.
If they talk NX before GDC, they run the risk of putting "hardcore" gamers and Western 3rd parties off.
I bet we will hear much more news at GDC in a few weeks.
Either way I'm in no hurry for news with all the games and life stuff I have to do.
Re: Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Secures Top 10 Place in Single Format NPD Chart
@electrolite77
I'm not pretending anything about those games you listed.
Uncharted 4 might be an AAA game if Sony spent the required amount to be classified as an AAA game.
You know Far Cry Primal is a spin off? It's not an AAA game, but a spin off to hold everyone off until 5 is complete.
Doom hasn't seen a release in 10 years and has switched studios numerous times, there is a good chance it is down right awful.
Dark Souls 3 is not a big game, it doesn't sell in the millions, hell it will be lucky to chart in the U.S. The last 2 games failed to break out of niche territory.
The list you posted is literally horrible for a "hardcore" American gamer, the ones who make up the userbase Xbox Ones and PS4s.
Hell that list will be vastly ignored by the majority of PC, PS4 and Xbox One owning Americans, who won't touch them because they lack AAA standing, graphics and other crap.
You do realize in there are already a lot of PS4 and Xbox One owners complaining about the lack of releases between now and August.
Hell I've read plenty of articles talking about the "drought" of real games on PS4.
Sony is constantly being asked why the lack of "real" games on PS4.
Your list has games, just not "hardcore" games that PS4 and Xbox One owners aren't into.
I mean I buying a few games before June (provided they don't get delayed), though none of them have "hardcore" appeal. Though they might get lucky and hit 50k sold.
But I get where PS4 & Xbox Owners and the gaming media are coming from on their perceived drought of real games and a flood of lower cost games in the coming months.
I mean the developer of The Witness is still fighting to prove that his game is a "real" game and more than just an indie title.
Either way all those games on that list including Doom, Uncharted 4, and Far Cry spin off etc... will be lucky if they chart
February through July, is the "hardcore" gamers worst nightmare every year.
PS4 and Xbox One will hit new hardware sale lows in North America
NPD also has the exclusive right to data and retail sales tracking in North and South America and is funded by the industry including Nintendo.
Michael Pachter (this site's favorite analyst) and one of the most important analysts in gaming and NPD.
I will repeat there in nothing on your list that will drive console and PC market growth for the next 6 months in North America, especially the "hardcore" market.
I Predict PS4 will be sub 150k with Xbox One being sub 100k for February.
I'll revisit this next month when the NPD February main chart looks just like this chart.
Re: Video: Nintendo's Latest Fire Emblem Fates Presentation Focuses on Relationships and Classes
@Yorumi
As already pointed out, Awakening wasn't light on content.
This is how many chapters each Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem Gaiden (NES) has 5 chapters
Genealogy of the Holy Wars (SNES) has 1 prologue, 10 chapters, and an endgame
Thracica 776 (SNES) has 24 chapters, 7 side chapters, and an endgame
Binding Blade (GBA) has 24 chapters, 6 side chapters, and an end game.
Fire Emblem (GBA) has 32 chapters, a prologue, an end game, and like 10 side chapters.
Sacred Stones (GBA)had 20 main chapters, a prologue and the end game.
Path of Radiance (GC) had 28 chapters, a prologue, and a end game.
Radiant Dawn (Wii) has 25 chapters, 4 prologues (at the beginning of each chapter) and an End Game with 4 stages.
Shadow Dragon (DS) has a prologue, 25 chapters, and a few side chapters.
Mystery of the Emblem remake (DS) has 26 chapters, 8 prologue chapters, 3 part end game, 6 side chapters, and 3 new episodes.
Awakening has an introduction level, prologue, 25 chapters, 23 optional side chapters, 25 optional DLC chapters.
Fates: Conquest has 27 chapters
Fates: Birthright has 27 chapters
Fates Revelations has 27 chapters
The prologue and the first 5 are the same on each version.
There are also 22 optional side chapters and 13 optional DLC chapters.
http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Fire_Emblem:_Binding_Blade
As it stands the Fire Emblem games by required playable levels are:
Fates > Fire Emblem (GBA)>Awakening> Path of Radiance
Based on total content then Fates and Awakening are neck and neck followed by Fire Emblem (GBA).
Re: Video: Nintendo's Latest Fire Emblem Fates Presentation Focuses on Relationships and Classes
@JaxonH
Obviously.
As long you get your money's worth
Re: Video: Nintendo's Latest Fire Emblem Fates Presentation Focuses on Relationships and Classes
@JaxonH
I bet majority played on easy mode, just because they didn't want to pour all the time required to beat it the traditional way.
If PS Trophies, Xbox Live Achievements and Steam Achievements are anything to go by, the majority rarely finishes games.
You really overestimate how many gamers actually play all the content in any game.
Re: Video: Nintendo's Latest Fire Emblem Fates Presentation Focuses on Relationships and Classes
@Yorumi
It's actually not over charging if you get 3 games each having the same amount of content as Awakeing.
Nintendo told IS, if Awakening sold on par with the GBA/GC/Wii/DS games, that Awakening would be the final game in the series.
IS was given a mandate to find away to make Fire Emblem sell well, if they wanted to continue the series.
Fire Emblem starting on GBA regularly struggled to 100k globally and this low sales trend continued all the way until Awakening.
The content added Awakening helped boost the sales to record heights leading to Nintendo green light Fates.
Fates sold really well in Japan due to the Anime and Waifu stuff leading it to edge out Awakening in sales.
You seem to forget the huge outrage the Western gaming media and gamers had when they found out that Awakening had an easy/"casual" mode.
They demanded that Nintendo break the game into two separate games, with one being for those who wanted an easy mode.
Nintendo and IS listened to the outrage and broke the game into two this time around.
Conquest = Traditional
Birthright = easy mode
Revelations was released months after the Japanese original release and is for those who want closure on characters and sub plots.
Re: Video: Nintendo's Latest Fire Emblem Fates Presentation Focuses on Relationships and Classes
@JaxonH
It is dependent on how obsessive you are at unlocking for everything.
You can beat Awakening in under 30 hours, if you are just wanting to beat the story.
I bet most people didn't think Awakening was worth spending 60+ hours on.
You may have spent over 100+ hours on Awakening, I bet you are in the smallest minority.
Re: Feature: Looking Back at the New 3DS Launch, Nintendo's Perfect Valentine's Day Gift
I love my Majora's Mask N3DS XL!
Re: Video: Nintendo's Latest Fire Emblem Fates Presentation Focuses on Relationships and Classes
@rjejr
Each Fates version is literally equal to Awakening in size and content.
This means all 3 versions combined should net you ~100+ hours of play.
Remember peoples you get to buy the other version for 50% off on the eShop.
I can't wait to get the SE version on Friday morning (I preordered).
Re: Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Secures Top 10 Place in Single Format NPD Chart
@Peach64
Actually Microsoft hasn't revealed any Xbox One hardware and accessories sales numbers in almost 2 years.
Their last Financial report in January, Microsoft withheld Xbox revenue.
All Microsoft reported in January was Xbox Monthly Average Users numbers and Daily Average Users numbers, which are all massively greater than PS4 numbers.
All we have are the occasional NPD leak from NeoGaf and 3rd estimates.
Madcatz the other day said the combined install base of PS4 and Xbox One is at 60M by their estimate
A week early EA said they sold 55M by their estimate
Others companies have said it closer to 50M, based on estimates
We know that PS4 is nearing 38M sold globally, that leaves Xbox One between 11M-15M, depending on which estimate is closest to reality.
We know that Wii U is essentially ~11M as of last reporting.
Wii U is currently facing a stock shortage in Japan due to shortage of components.
This due to unexpected rise in sales mainly due to Splatoon taking off.
In the end the one thing we know from Microsoft is that more people play Xbox on a regular basis than Playstation.
Re: Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Secures Top 10 Place in Single Format NPD Chart
@Hotfusion
Have any links to the Fallout 4 sales numbers?
Google hasn't turned up full sales numbers after launch day.
We have EA, Ubisoft, Activision, WB all on record claiming that Xbox One is the shooter box and makes more money per game than the PS4 (financial date just came out over the past week).
That's due to Xbox One users buying more DLC and spending more on services than PS4 users.
Remember Ubisoft did canceled Assassins Creed 3DS due to "too many hardcore games coming to 3DS!"
Re: Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Secures Top 10 Place in Single Format NPD Chart
@Yellowkoopa
That's Hyperbole at it's finest.
Most of Nintendo's releases for 2015 ranged from low 70s to high 80s on Metacritic.
This was inline with the rest of the industry scores.
I found plenty to buy and play on my Wii U and 3DS, including Splatoon.
Re: Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Secures Top 10 Place in Single Format NPD Chart
@IceClimbers
Actually January sales this year in the U.S. were down a lot compared to last January (We had massive Polar Vortex which dropped temperatures to around -20 and -30 for most of the U.S. last January).
February - August will be very slow unless a major AAA blockbuster game drops to stimulate sales.
The North America console market is drive by AAA Blockbuster games, Realistic Sports, and Major shooters.
These types of games typically release in August through January on consoles first.
There aren't any scheduled for release that are big enough to stimulate the market.
PS4 already saw a huge bump this holiday season due to hardware deals and hype driving by E3 announcements.
When those E3 games finally release between Holiday 2016 and 2018, they won't have much of a bump on PS4 hardware sales.
Everyone who wanted one of those games at E3 bough the hardware following E3 and during the holiday period.
With no Assassins Creed this year, console sales should be down this holiday unless Bethesda has an ES game ready.
Re: Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Secures Top 10 Place in Single Format NPD Chart
@electrolite77
Sony has nothing but lesser games and movie tie in stuff.
All EA has is Wrestling game (Mirror's Edge doesn't count as a big game).
Major games are saved for the holiday period, where people buy the most games.
Sony does save their big and major guns for the holiday in order to counter Microsoft's offerings.
Sony could go back to spreading their AAA games year long, but it would give Microsoft the narrative that only Microsoft cares about the most important gaming time of the year.
R&C is not big game, as each version struggled to sell 1 million on PS3 and should do worse on PS4 (Platformers do bad on PS4), if it can even break into the main NPD chart.
Though being tied in with the movie, it could do better just based on that.
As it currently stands there are no games that fit the AAA Blockbuster status, schedule before August.
These are the bread butter of the Western industry.
UFC Wrestling is the only game on that list you posted that constitutes a major release.
The rest of the list is essentially indie, low budget, mid budget, handheld, PC, ports, remasters, and niche Japanese games.
This is list is awful for the "hardcore" who essentially makes up the complete install base of PS4 and Xbox One.
It's a alright list if you like playing lower budget, indie stuff, PC games, and "casual" games.
But don't expect any of these games to chart in the main NPD chart outside of UFC Wrestling and maybe R&C (if the movie triggers sales).
The rest of the list will be lucky if they sell 100,000 in their release month on NPD. Never underestimate the negative stigma that is associated with being a lower budget game, niche game, and indie game has in North America when it comes to sales.
That is the sad reality of the North American market.
I also see PS4 and Xbox One hardware sales slowing further due to a lack of any big blockbuster AAA Games (these drive hardware sales) and a lack of major shooters (these also drive hardware sales).
Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised if Fates or something else manages to break into the NPD main charts before August.
As for Metacritic scores, NPD says it is one of the most important components to sales, with most game with sub 90 scores seeing their sales potential greatly reduced.
Western Developers last gen, started writing a base metacritic score into their contracts to determine bonuses and pay.
Your game also has to sell a minimum amount to get full pay as well.
This is why EA, Bethesda, WB, Activision heavily talk Metacritic scores when give investors information.
Re: Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Secures Top 10 Place in Single Format NPD Chart
@TheLastLugia
That is true to a large extent.
Though it really depends on what extent gaming companies sent instructions on how to "properly" review their games and to what pressures they applied to the site to get the higher scores (They regularly threaten blacklisting, withholding of ad revenue and lawsuits if the reviews don't meet their expectations).
I've also read that many gaming companies now make you submit your review to them first, to make sure it is done "correctly" for posting.
Literally all the major 3rd parties, Microsoft and Sony give out "punishments" for bad articles and bad reviews and "rewards" for good articles and reviews.
I mean Ubisoft blacklisted more than just Kotaku for calling them out over how unplayable both Assassins Creed games were at launch this year.
They also are fighting Kotaku and others who posted the stories on how they treat their employees.
Now with Gametrailers official shut down as of earlier this week, there aren't many unbiased sites left who are willing to stand up to the big publishers.
Ironically Nintendo doesn't do anything to those who report and review their games.
They only do something when it is down right false.
They even give awards for good journalism, as Game Informer has shown.
Re: Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Secures Top 10 Place in Single Format NPD Chart
@Yellowkoopa
Most of the games ranged from decent to mediocre from all the companies each year.
It's hard to get great and stellar reviews with reviewers being very fickle in what they like.
How a game is viewed is in the eye of the beholder.
It also depends on where you draw the line.
Most companies and NPD believe a Metacritic score of less than 90, isn't good.
Gamers are less likely to buy game that scores less than 90, which is why it's written in to most gaming contracts now from Western Developers
I mean in 2015 we received full retail Wii U releases:
Splatoon
Mario Maker
Yoshi's Wooly World
XCX
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
Art Academy: Home Studio (art app)
which are all well made games and one art app.
(the rest of the releases not worth mentioning for the sake of a massive argument).
on 3DS Nintendo released to retail for 2015:
Majora's Mask 3D
Code Name STEAM
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition
Yo-Kai Watch
(the rest of the releases not worth mentioning for the sake of a massive argument).
Which were all well made games and remasters.
The rest of the releases are controversial and subjective.
But it is more than what Ubisoft, EA, Bethesda, Taketwo, Activision, Sony, Konami, Square-Enix, Capcom, Atlus and Microsoft released to retail individually.
The first half the year already has more than the competition does until the E3 blow out.
Nintendo is developing and publishing 5 retail games (includes a few 3rd party games which they localized) until June.
There are 4 1st party retail games scheduled for NA release on Wii U before E3
This more than all the rest of the big 6 3rd parties, Microsoft and Sony have ready until E3.
If Nintendo saved all their games for the September to December holiday each year like the competition does, it would be more noticeable.
Gamers are shown to rarely notice and buy games outside of the Holiday period in NA.
Seriously nearly all the other 3rd parties, Microsoft and Sony release all their retail games in September to December Holiday period with practically nothing else for the rest of the year.
Re: Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Secures Top 10 Place in Single Format NPD Chart
@JaxonH
It's rumors that are floating about last night after Ubisoft made the announcement.
Obviously they are just rumors.
But to be fair, Assassins Creed games have never sold on Nintendo systems to date, not even on DS leading to Ubisoft canceling the 3DS title.
Re: Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Secures Top 10 Place in Single Format NPD Chart
@IceClimbers
Black Ops III openly states it's the best selling title this generation on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
Obviously GTAV has sold the majority on PS3 and Xbox 360.
GTAV is the best selling title on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Actually Activision released it's financial report last night to shareholders.
It showed that Call of Duty sales on Xbox One edged out PS4 in it's main territories (U.S, Canada, UK, Australia, Ireland, and Mexico) with bundles of both systems included.
Call of Duty isn't as popular outside of Anglo-American markets.
Destiny is about even between the two systems in the main territories.
Nearly everything else Activision makes is down significantly, causing a massive stock drop.
Ubisoft's financial report came out last night and it showed their AAA games did better on Xbox One than PS4 with bundles included.
Ubisoft claims that for every $1 PS4 users spend on "hardcore" games and DLC, Xbox One users spend $1.25.
Also their data showed that Xbox One users have higher monthly and daily usage than PS4 users for their games.
EA's data also showed a near equal split in their main territories for shooters (U.S, Canada, UK, Australia, Ireland, and Mexico) between Xbox One and PS4 with bundles included.
Though Xbox One users had higher usage of games.
Fall Out 4 is supposedly doing better on Xbox One than PS4.
Re: Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Secures Top 10 Place in Single Format NPD Chart
@Yellowkoopa
To be fair, it's very rare for any title that releases on 1 or 2 platforms to break into the NPD multiplatofrm chart regardless of system it is released on.
Microsoft only had Halo 5 and I do believe Tomb Raider for multiplaform charts in 2015.
Nintendo had Splatoon, Mario Maker, Yoshi Wooly World, ORAS, and a few others for multiplatform charts in 2015.
Sony had The Order and something else break into the multipatform charts in 2015.
Nintendo had more games in the multiplatform charts in 2015 than the competition did.
Though if NPD went back to using the single game chart, where each SKU counts individually, as their main charts, things would look massively different.
Paper Jam narrowly missed the top 10 on the main chart his month.
XCX narrowly missed the top 10 on the main chart in December.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D narrowly missed the main chart in April.
etc...
It's really hard to break into the top 10 on the main chart, if you aren't one of the games normally listed on the yearly list.
Points of interest this month:
PS4 failed to break 200k
Xbox One sold ~115k
Wii U obviously saw a decent drop too, but no one cares.
Paper Jam narrowly missed the main top 10 by a small amount.
Ubisoft announced no Assassins Creed for 2016, which is rumored to be due to the impending NX launch.
Shooters are still selling better on Xbox One than PS4 for some reason.
Oh the biggest news from NPD and Activision this month is...
CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS III IS THE BEST SELLING GAME OF THE GENERATION!!! BEATING OUT GTAV!!!
Black Ops III has outsold GTAV on PS4, Xbox One and PC making it the best selling game of this generation by far.
The game is nearing 25 million copies sold, almost entirely on PS4 and Xbox One.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@JaxonH
Actually that is taken from the whole of the Western markets.
It's been explained by NPD, Pacther, EEDAR, Nielsens, etc...
It's based on the whole market, fans are swept up in the numbers and are put in the proper categories.
They literally survey thousands upon thousands of consumers online on their platforms they play and the games they play.
They literally survey all the major retailers in each market to get the data on the consumers who buy the platforms and games, then putting them in the categories.
They use Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Steam, PC, Mac, Mac App Store to determine what gamers are.
They do not use Nintendo systems in the data collection nor do they use handheld systems.
Again it is the segmentation and defining of the whole of each the Western Market.
There is believed to be ~60 Million people who fit the industry's definition of what a "hardcore" gamer is in the Western Markets.
This out of over 300 Million plus people who buy games and systems.
AGAIN IT IS THE WHOLE WESTERN MARKET, NOT PLATFORM SPECIFIC.
That is why Sony keeps stating they are taking the "hardcore" gamers way from Microsoft and Nintendo.
You can label yourself whatever you want, but when the Western industry says "hardcore", you aren't included in that.
They literally have been spending 20 years to accurately define and segment the Western markets into the proper categories, to give the Western developers the necessary information to better cater to the industry.
When a label or word is set like this "hardcore", states there is no settled dictionary definition(s).
To repeat the Western industry has it's definition of "hardcore" gamer which based on market research, this is what "hardcore" gamers are in the Western markets to the industry.
Same goes for "casual" and the rest.
Again you can call yourself whatever you want, but to Sony, Microsoft and Western industry you aren't a "hardcore" gamer to them!!!!!
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@JaxonH
You realize that segment called "hardcore" by Western industry, is exactly who the PS4 is almost exclusively appealing to from launch.
I mean Sony said the PS4 is "primarily selling to shooter fans".
The userbase of PS4 according to Sony's own data, is a very narrow base that is almost entirely the Western Industry's "hardcore" demographic.
Literally every game selling well on PS4 fits the Western industry's "hardcore" demographic.
Practically everything else is bombing PS4, except for Minecraft.
Everything else is selling really low numbers.
Same goes for Xbox One.
Essentially if your game doesn't fit the Western industry's "hardcore demographic, you will do poorly in sales.
This is harming Asian developers, Indies, and Western games that don't fit the Western "hardcore" demographics.
Wii U and 3DS those Western industry "hardcore" games do as bad as non Western industry "hardcore" games do on PS4 and Xbox One.
Though Wii U and 3DS are much better platforms for other games and E-rated games.
The same thing happened on Wii/DS and PS3/Xbox 360.
We have the sales charts from Europe, UK, U.S., Canada and Australia.
We can see what is selling and what isn't on each system.
Sales charts don't lie.
To simply put it: Nintendo systems only sell Nintendo and Nintendo like games, PS4 and Xbox One sell only "hardcore" games in the West.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@JaxonH
It is to the billions Western Developers make in profits and the speed of which PS4 is flying of the shelves.
Or you can measure it in the lack of hardware sales of Xbox One and Wii U.
Literally Western developers have committees focused on the data and to make sure their products fall in line with the data.
It's one of the reasons why Western developers spend as much as they do.
But in the end profits are far more important to a publicly traded company and their shareholders than creativity
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@aaronsullivan
I actually played Happy Home Designer and briefly owned it.
It is a well made game and is well liked because it centers around personal choice and customization.
It also does well even NeoGaf because, you can take part in competitions hosted by Nintendo on Miiverse.
You can also share designs with people too.
I grew bored with it fast, due to nature of the game and how annoying the animals are in that game.
I play a wide variety of games except for shooters. most violent games, and most cinematic games.
I love playing Nintendogs and virtual pets for some reason.... (I should finally boot back in after almost a year).
Actually gaming sites and stores is the best place.
I mean even the mainstream media debates and reports on it, including the BBC World, Forbes, Fortune, CNN, Fox News, Local news, NY Times, USA Today, Detroit Free Press etc...
There is no place for this in the real world outside of gaming stores and events.
Every part of human society has a group with it's own definition, rules, and culture that you must follow.
Go against it, you get punished by that group and/or expelled.
That's why a lot of people pay dear price for being different.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@belmont
Sony used proprietary memory cards for reason
I literally have had no issues with digital downloads and large files when using an ultra class SD card and Micro SD.
There could be something wrong with your system or your memory card.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@JaxonH
Go ahead.
But I should warn you they do the same research in Canada, UK, EU, and Australia.
Those markets mirror the U.S. data generally.
I mean even the list of the best selling games in 2015 in France mirrors the U.S. data.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1181796
Sony literally researched Western markets and consumers to hell and back before designing and releasing the PS4.
The reason why the PS4 is selling so well in the West, is the fact that Sony took all the data and treated as gospel.
Sony openly has said they designed the PS4 using all that market research data to design a console the "hardcore" segment would want to buy.
The "hardcore"/core/real gamer listed in all the market research data spends more money on gaming than remaining 5 segments of gamers individually.
Only when "casuals" and other 4 kinds of gamers are combined together, do they outspend the "hardcore" gamer.
EA, Activision, Ubisoft, Disney, WBi, Epic, Microsoft, Sony and other Western developers use all this data in determining what to fund, develop, release, and what platforms to release it on.
Their marketing plans are also based on it too.
This is why Western gaming for the most part has become stale and sterile
Hollywood uses market research data to determine what movies to make and how to market them.
They have similar consumer segmentations.
This is why movies are the way they are now
The TV show industry follows similar to Hollywood.
This is why I hate the TV Shows Industry
In short if the product doesn't fit the what the data says, then it is retooled or canceled under the assumption that it won't sell.
Market Research exists to take the risk out of business
Even the Auto industry uses market research do determine what cars they should make and what features to put in them.
Market Research isn't always right and companies can do well without it, it just riskier.
Apple and Nintendo don't like to use market research when making products.
This is why they both have a bigger amount failed products than most companies.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@belmont
The 3DS OS is heavily tied to the size and speed of the memory card.
Use a decent size class 10/ultra class memory card and the OS will be surprisingly snappy on both o3DS and n3DS.
I used one on my old 3DS and I have one in my n3DS, both are very snappy and near instant.
Re: Tatsumi Kimishima Places the Emphasis on Young Staff and Targeting Consumers Beyond Games
@KingofSaiyans
I know I am.
I plan to keep at it.
I've been gaming since 1989.
Also for fun, I posted this the other story.
Here is Pew Research on U.S. gaming demographics.
It includes where you live and your income.
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/12/survey-gamers-are-poorer-more-male-less-white-than-game-players/
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
Since we are talking about women.
On December 16th, 2015 Pew Research released their huge research on on who plays gamer games and who identifies with the label gamer.
Sadly this site owners didn't think it was worth posting.
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/12/survey-gamers-are-poorer-more-male-less-white-than-game-players/
Nintendo is the only hardware maker who doesn't take data like this to heart when making console.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@World
The industry has spent billions on market research and data collection to figure out what the different types of gamers play.
The majority of women have shown to have different buying habits than the "hardcore" gamers, which makes it quite hard for the most developers to sell games to them.
NPD and EEDAR actively track what customers buy and what their age, gender, religion, and income are to best help the industry make games.
Even Valve has data on what women and men buy on Steam.
The difference is astounding with very little overlap.
Even when you review a game on the eShop, Nintendo asks you if the game is better suited for males or females.
They also ask other questions to better gauge who is buying the game and enjoying them.
You can see the statics on the eShop.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@Yorumi
It has official release date of products in North America, which Nintendo expended resources on to release.
It counts in the same way that Sony says they supported PS3 with first support in 2015 and they plan to support PS3 this year with first party titles.
Do you want to argue against Sony who openly stated they plan to support PS3 with first party stuff this year and next?
Do you do sound like an bitter hateful "casual".
Re: Tatsumi Kimishima Places the Emphasis on Young Staff and Targeting Consumers Beyond Games
@KingofSaiyans
Because most Nintendo fans and a lot of gamers are misinformed on what "hardcore"/core/real gamers are these days.
At the same time they are fighting each other over it, while hating on families, kids and "casuals".
They also hate Nintendo and publishers for abandoning "hardcore" gamers for "casuals" and women when it isn't true at all with official industry data.
Now if most Nintendo fans and many other gamers would accept the official definitions and terms when it comes to gamers, they wouldn't' feel the need to react so hatefully against official industry sources, Michael Pachter, Analysts, 3rd party responses and decisions, and even Nintendo's own responses.
Nintendo fans and the other gamers need to either educate themselves on the official industry definitions and make peace with fact they and their platform of choice aren't official "hardcore" and are "casual" or one of the other official definitions of gaming. They can also stop wondering why Major 3rd parties refuse to support said platform with said game, since Major 3rd parties and their developer take the official definitions and data to heart when developing and supporting platforms.
It's the same thing with mobile support.
Smart (mobile) gamers aren't officially part of the "casual" data.
Those who are upset are clinging to the relics of the past, in the same way the British are clinging to their notion of an empire.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@Yorumi
I said was this "GBA was still receiving 1st party releases (albeit smaller ones) and 3rd party support into 2007. "
I stated it was smaller releases and 3rd parties and it trigged a massively negative response from you.
My statement is still correct.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@Yorumi
Yeah and they co-developed the game with help from Nintendo.
Re: Tatsumi Kimishima Places the Emphasis on Young Staff and Targeting Consumers Beyond Games
@Mister_Wu @NImH
The fabled "hardcore" has traditionally rejected bright colors, lack of gore, etc...
Which nearly every Nintendo game is designed around.
I personally would rather have my Nintendo style "causal" design instead of the "hardcore" design.
Either way it's their "loss"!
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@Yorumi
This was developed by GameFreak and Nintendo.
Released in February 2006 in North America.
I don't think ever was released in the EU.
It wasn't Nintendo only GBA offerings in NA in 2006.
Japan received much hailed Bit Generations, Mother 3 and few others.
Square released a bunch of RPGs in 2006 in NA
Sega released a Sonic 1 GBA in NA and few other games.
Take Two and EA released few installments of major sports games in 2006 on GBA in NA.
GBA was dead in the EU in late 2005.
The data I posted is what Sony and Microsoft design their consoles around.
It is the same data the Valve uses for Steam.
The major 3rd parties use that data to determine what to make and where to release their games.
That's why Wii, DS, Wii U and 3DS received practically licensed games, shovelware and kid friendly IPs from major 3rd parties.
The NPD and UK charts and Eurotracker show those genres listed are what's selling on PS4 and Xbox One.
Literally everything else is bombing on PS4 and Xbox One
They also show the people who are buying PS4 and Xbox literally only play the genres listed in the data as "hardcore" and are predominately male 15-35 years old.
You and me (and others) don't agree with what the data is defining but the industry does.
The industry has been going that way since PS2 launched, with the switch over being complete by 2012.
Literally in the industry is splitting down the middle, with that group that became the "hardcore" and "casuals" (everyone else)
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@rjejr
Actually it has been confirmed that Pokemon Go is free to play.
Though there are confirmed IAPs, but we don't know what they are.
You don't need the clip on to enjoy the game, it's just for those who are crazy into the game.
Re: Tatsumi Kimishima Places the Emphasis on Young Staff and Targeting Consumers Beyond Games
@Mister_Wu
But Splatoon nickname in many media articles is "my first shooter".
Splatoon isn't gaining traction with the "hardcore" because it is too colorful and anime.
I do love the game, but it's no surprise the "hardcore" is turned off by it.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@Yorumi
I'm not raging against AAA Games or M-rated games.
I have no issues with them.
The point they are the literal definition of "hardcore" games, which one must play exclusively to be "hardcore" gamers.
"
"
NPD data shows that "hardcore" gamers do not play and own Nintendo systems and games. They also have no interested in handhelds systems. This was from their May 2014 survey on "hardcore" gamers.
Everything not listed in the platforms category was labeled "casual".
They same survey said to be "hardcore"/core you had to play these genres
Genres not listed are considered "casual" too.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-08-10-core-console-software-sales-are-higher-than-ever-eedar
Last August, EEDAR's data showed that only action and shooters are the only genres that are full "hardcore"/core on their graph.
With everything else being "casual" to some degree.
So are you doing to disagree with the official industry data and classifications?
As for GBA Wikipedia says Nintendo developed and published games were still being released in late 2006 on GBA in the U.S.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Game_Boy_Advance_games
The last game Nintendo published in the West for GBA was FFVI in 2007
Though they released over 10 developed games through out 2006, depending on where in the world you live.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_products_published_by_Nintendo#Game_Boy_Advance
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@Yorumi
Younger consumers aren't "casual" they are mostly in the kiddy segment.
Yes Women are considered casual, because they tend not to buy AAA Blockbuster titles, M-rated games, and realistic games (the "hardcore" genres)
Women also take to the media when their games are broken and lack marketed features.
They also return these broken and lacking games to get their money back and never buy from that company again.
A "hardcore" gamer doesn't complain about a broken game, they don't handheld game and they don't play Nintendo according to NPD and EEDAR data.
"hardcore" gamer also keep buying broken and lacking games never asking for refund.
If you took action over a broken and lacking game and/or requested a refund then you are defined as "Casual" by the industry.
FYI: HARDCORE GAMERS do not own and play on handhelds according to decades of NPD and EEDAR data.
Handhelds are considered "casual" and kiddy systems in the West.
Which is why the West doesn't take them seriously with development.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@Zach777
NCL controls all the information and only sends stuff over when they are ready.
It's no different than Apple not telling it's other offices of what they are planning until they are ready to talk.
Re: Tatsumi Kimishima Pinpoints NX and Mobile as Key Areas to Deliver 'Nintendo-Like' Profits
Do gamers even want Nintendo to make non gaming products?
Re: Tatsumi Kimishima Places the Emphasis on Young Staff and Targeting Consumers Beyond Games
Are the younger generation capable of making Western/"hardcore" games or will they make Asain/"casual" games?
The Western Markets have been buying only Western/"hardcore" games and ignoring Asian/"casual" games.
Do they have what it takes to make Asian/"casual" games the dominate part of the industry again?
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@Kolzig
That's not true.
GBA was still receiving 1st party releases (albeit smaller ones) and 3rd party support into 2007.
GBA also was still selling 100k+ each month in the U.S. until late 2007 when Nintendo ended production.
It literally outsold PS3 until Christmas of 2007 in NA.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
2 @Yorumi
I fail to see where it mentions anything "casual" related.
Granted it's no big secret that Nintendo and it's games do not appeal to "hardcore" gamers.
@wayneyrob2
Sony is done in the handheld market, SCEA refused to support Vita from the beginning.
Sony's own internal studios refused to take up handheld development except for like 3 games, because they didn't want to bother with handhelds.
Vita is dead primarily due to costs and due to Sony's fanbase hating handheld gaming.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@Zach777
Well to be fair they spilled their load in the November Direct for both systems through May.
With My Nintendo Rewards and the New account system launching next month, they have their hands full.
They will probably announce something at GDC and get punished by the GDC people for making a huge announcement at GDC.
Re: 3DS to Continue as a 'Major Pillar' of Nintendo's Business
@ericwithcheese2
There will be few decent sized titles left in the pipeline.
Just because a successor comes out, doesn't mean the existing system quits getting software.
DS, GBA, GBC all received decent software well into the first year of their successors.
PS3, PS2 and PS1 all received decent support well into the second year of their successors with PS1 and PS2 selling an extra 20-50 million after their successors were out the door.
Re: Site News: Welcome To The Brand New Nintendo Life!
At least the new layout is snappier and mobile friendly.