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Nintendo raises profit forecast....again
Nintendo's stock has been going up like ... like, um ... like Apple's stock! But not even the bookies could predict such a dominating performance (sorry, I just couldn't resist that link ... go Gators!), and as such, Nintendo has had to once again raises its profits forecast thanks to extremely strong game sales for both the Nintendo DS and the Wii. How much, you ask? One billion dollars. That's USD, folks.We also have a gem of a quote from one Edwin Merner, president of Atlantis Investment Research Corp. in Tokyo: "Nintendo is going like gangbusters, and the Wii consoles are selling like hotcakes." Gangbusters, huh? According to UrbanDictionary.com, a gangbuster is: "a sexual advance made by someone in an attempt to turn on another person." Hot, Edwin. Very hot.
Wii sells a cool million in Japan
Like Roman conquerors of old who have returned to the city after taking a foreign territory and assimilating them into the empire, we blow our trumpets to herald this most excellent of occasions. We're happy to report, by way of Famitsu, that the Nintendo Wii has sold an excellent one million consoles in Japan. Since launching on December 2nd in Japan, the console has sold exactly 1,135,671 units. Now that is damn impressive for just over a month of being on the market!
Nintendo to launch 200 million dollar ad campaign
Nintendo has this nasty tendency to make money with their consoles, despite often being seen as the "loser" in the reputed console wars. Their stock holders are generally quite happy, especially in recent times, and believe it or not, Nintendo has a war chest of something like ten bazillion yen. Certainly a large R&D budget went into developing Wii technology, but everyone knows that the system is essentially a calculated risk. Nintendo needs to push its new brainchild, and it needs to push it hard; thus the chest springs open yet again.A recent Bloomberg article states that Nintendo will launch a year-long, $200 million ad campaign for the Wii. Further, 80% of that money will be solely devoted to marketing toward non-gamers, attempting to expand their market into the coveted (and excuse the generalization) "old people and women" demographic. That's a whole heck of a lot of money to get the word out ... be sure to do your part and invite your baby boomer neighbors for a quick session of Wii Sports. [via Joystiq]
Japanese first-party PS3 games 5980 ($50 USD)
Remember how PlayStation 3 games were supposed to cost a fortune in Japan? Like, $75 to $85 a pop? Well, you can clear that space in your brain, as Sony has announced first-party launch titles Resistance and Genji will be priced at ¥5980 (about $50 USD), as will future first-party title MotorStorm. Third-parties have already announced higher prices, like Sega's ¥7140 asking price for Sonic and Sega Golf Club.Of course, this is commensurate with US pricing for Xbox 360 titles, where first-party titles go for $50 and third-party titles fetch the princely sum of $60. Of course, the announcement that the Microsoft-published, but not developed, Gears of War will command the higher $60 was met with some mild hissing.According to Sony's own SonyStyle website, both first- and third-party games are going to be going for the full $60 in the US. Is this another case where Japan lucks out and gets the goods for less (like their $425 PS3), or has Sony not yet finalized their software pricing? As reliable as retail websites usually are for getting the scoop on video game news (uhhh), we're gonna wait this one out until Sony gives us the official official word ... like they just did Japan.
Japan not loco for Loco Roco
We really want Loco Roco to succeed, and it's pretty obvious considering all the coverage we give it. Regardless of all the advertising and the special Loco Roco bundles, the game simply hasn't sold too well. In fact, the game has been doing so poorly that it's already available in bargain bins for a low price of 1980 yen (about $18). Maybe Sony should reconsider making games for the PSP and focus solely on making brain games and cooking programs.[Via Kotaku]
