Posted Dec 10, 2006 at 02:51AM by Mabie A. Listed in: News Tags: Famitsu, Japan, Sony
Ó

Who's the king???Over at Japan, the fact of the matter is that Nintendo's DS has all but crushed Sony's PSP. In November alone, the DS Lite sprinted off the charts with a whopping 550,000 sales, while the PSP limped behind with a lowly 86,000 units sold. Now, we're not cooking up these numbers.

These were actually the numbers that came from the latest Famitsu Marketing survey. And there's more. According to the said survey, 7.5 million DS and DS Lites were purchased for the first 11 months of the year. As for the PSP, there were about 1.6 million sold. But it would seem that it is in the arena of software competition that the DS really showed it is the winner hands down. Currently, there are about 2.8 million games sold for the PSP, whereas Nintendo has sold a humongous 27 million copies.

Then again, these are statistics for Japan. In the U.S., Nintendo still appears to have the big lead, although it's not what you'd call "crushing". And besides, that's just really how it goes in the business. You win some, you lose some. It's just a matter of determining how long you want to be a winner, or how long before you get out of being the loser.

All's fair in gaming war.


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63 Comments


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   by Kev-in (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » whaha no first post for u n00bs

The psp still is the best console! big fat .!


   Re: BloodSail Bucaneer (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » DS PSP

I thought the PSP has DH their numbers would rise but now even DH can make ppl buy a psp... Its a grat console but the DS wins hands down. I own both and let me tell you the DS may not look as eye poppin as the PSP but the games are FUN!

Im playin castlevania portrait of ruin and final fantasy 3 and they are just awesome.

If it wasnt for GTA the PSP would be even worst than it is now and its a fact. Yeah Children buy the system but also lots of aults have it too. Here qhere I live you see more DSs than PSPs...

The PSP needs more and better games... Why the hell wipeout wasnt infrastructure? Sony is struggling with the PSP and doin a *****ty work so far with the PS3... If they dont get their ***** toguether they will be in serious problems...

now X360 will have grand theft auto too.... hmmmm

   Re: meh (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » ...

more and better games....
daxter
death jr. 2
breath of fire 3(eur)
valkyrie profile
tales of eternia(eur)
tales of phanatasia(jap)
spectral souls
justice league heroes
megaman maverick hunter x
megaman powered up
marvel ultimate alliance
power stone collection
ultima g'ng
monster hunter
bounty hounds
ace combat
def jam
dinasty warriors 2
lego star wars
killzone
one of the gtas
tekken
gitaroo man lives
jeanne d'arc(jap)
brave story(jap)
metal gear solid portable ops
medal of honor
dungeon siege

   Re: . (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » .

Just want to add a couple of upcoming games

Silent Hill Origins
Gurumin
Tales of the World
Tenchu Time of the Assassins(if it ever gets to America)
   by Strangler (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » re

you forgot to mention that the gba is still otuselling the psp despite the fact ds plays gba games. I think price is a factor although that doe snot explain the horrible software sales (xbox 360 has awesome software sales despite having a lower penetration abse than the psp and being more expensive for example), I would say piracy.

   by Anonymous Coward Who Really Has An Account (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » Wow, those are some HUGE numbers!

Weird thing is that everywhere I go where I live, all I see are PSPs, still yet to see anyone with a DS. Even more rare is seeing a DS Lite. In fact, I don't think I've even seen one in person! Wonder how Sony will react to this. Will the numbers for the PSP rise later once the PS3 hits mainstream?


   Re: Gimlyly - 2006-12-10
 » same here

I always see PSP's but I rarely see any DS's around where I live.

   Re: maqo (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » thats right

parents buys DS, but those children dont want to get outside with them.

DS sucks

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   by Info. (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » ...

This isn't anything new! The DS stomps the hell out of PSP number wise.

But I still love my PSP.

   by Dan (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » PSP sales

It's no surprise that PSP games doesn't sell, we all download them anyways :D

But the sales of the PSP itself was kinda sad.

And as someone mentioned in an earlier comment, I have also mostly just seen PSPs around here. Got 3 friends who got a PSP, I got one, and just in this house we got 4 PSPs including my own.

DS and GBA sells more because it's cheaper and for children. PSP which is more for an adult audience, have less customers who have the time to use a portable machine for playing and fun(Work, Education, Family).

I also think the "portable gamer customers" are still bound to Nintendo since Nintendo have owned the marked since 1980's Game&Watch and later Gameboy in 1989 - For 26 years in other words.


   Re: . (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » .

That's funny, all I see here in Sweden are fanboys with their Nintendo DS.

I've only seen one with a PSP.
Oh, and I own a PSP myself.
   by Random Thoughts (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » Another interesting point


Is the hugely lower price point in Japan for the DS - dont quote me, but i seem to remember around £69. Almost half that of the PSP. Likewise, nearly all the PSP AAA titles have been western types, with most of the RPGS being ports of older PS2 titles.

That said its worth noting that the PSP cant be labeled a failure, more that the DS is a unexpected runnaway success (bet Ninetendo are wishing that had given it the Gameboy brand now- still thats Brand protection for you). The PSP has done aw well as expected (uinlike the UMD format), were as the DS has outsold all expectations.

As far a Sony making up some of the mean ground, the solution is 'fairly' straight forward. A handful of more japanese focused big sellers that exclusive to the format (might cost a bit for that exclusivity - but hell the just re-release it on PS3 download service to recoup some later - Tekken Dark Resurrection), and possibly a hardware relaunch - is a 'cuter; redesign. I'd say wait for the FFVII game that in the works, and then re-release the harware in a scaled down form (physically)with the emphasis on small and cute (think GBA- GBA SP style). Likewise addressing those price points might be an idea. Currently the PSP is still over £50 more than tha DS in stores, with the games looking £10+ more. Thats were nintendo are winning. And really , is there any reason for a game like Loco Rocco to be be £35? Its a fairly simple game - a price point of £25 would have been suffcient.

Likewise cutting the production costs for UMDs might help developers and breath a little life into the UMD movie format.......


   Re: Chris SHaw (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » Its not the price.

Price has nothing to do with it. Money is nothing over there. They buy square watermelons for 150 bucks to save space. Its all games baby. Make no mistake.
   by Young Jeezy (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » the snow man speaks

japanese dont use hombrews and hacks thats why they whore over nintendo otherwise gba is pretty much useless

   by justin (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » (>)>(>)>(>)>(>)

its because of the price, nintendo lovers. i own both and i have 2 say i love my psp i still use it 2day and i got it as soon as they came out. the ds i have played 3x or so since i had my psp. i think people with both think the psp is better (+[__]::) but still good on nintendo they would b rapeing the cash!

   by jkh13 (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » ds over psp

It is because the DS has more innovative games I think, part of the success of the DS lies with games like Brain training, wario ware and also conventional games like new super mario. Nintendo are appealling to a broad spectrum of consumers instead of focusing on one group like they have with the PSP. Price also has a factor but the PSP has yet to have a true "killer app" whilst the DS has had many since release. The lack of innovation of sony and the psp developers are to blame. Most of the PSP games are rehashes of old games or just concentrate on the graphics to sell the game, the DS forces innovation for the game to suceed. I still love my psp for the homebrew though.

   by Bored (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » Brainwash

Innovation, innovation, innovation... Typical Nintendo/MS brainwash...
If Sony had spent millions spewing out the word "innovation" for everything they repeat or copy, everybody would now be saying FIFA on the PSP is new and original as well.

"Most of the PSP games are rehashes of old games"

Actually, most DS games are too.

"New" Super Mario Brothers?
Super Mario 64?
Tetris DS?
Advance Wars DS?
...
[insert old franchise name here] DS?

The PSP introduced innovation in it's own way, by giving additional media player functionality right out of the box. Sony got lazy and thought the PlayStation brand name was enough to sell it. Wrong. Too late now.

DS has as much unoriginality as the PSP in its software library - FACT. The ONLY credit Nintendo has is BETTER MARKETING, period.

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   by Zhah (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » DS sucks

I think DS is very poor console! It's sucks! I played both, a DS and a PSP! Look at the same game like tomb raider legend on both consoles! On the DS its sucks on the PSP its rocks! What else can i say! These numbers doesn't mean anything...

   by flai (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » .

^^Total n00b Zhah.

Anyway, I think these numbers speak the truth. Only in Britain is the DS not very popular but we're all stupid and do anything Sony tells us.


   Re: . (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » .

Why is he a noob?
Have you even seen TR for the PSP or DS?
   by Zhah (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » 123

Thank you flai! I'm so pleased! :)

   by Zhah (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » 2 flai

I eshe kstati, idi na huy mudilo, menya voobshe ne ebet tvoe mneniye DS ya ni u kogo u nas v rossii ne vizhu u vseh PSP. Igral v TRL na DS v magazine - otstoi pidorskiy. Esli ti takoy delovoy i krutoy to sidi i molchi.

   by Bryan (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » .

I dont care, PSP is still better.
SUck it.


   Re: . (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » .

WORD! DS SUCKS ASS!! *****
   by Mattia (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » It doesn't matter

Ds is for children...those who play pokemon and so on...and for the people that haven't a lot of money to spend...but PSP is much better and unfortunately for Sony is much more cracked!!! :D

   by demz? (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » its obvious..

if SONY were to stop being greedy about their ish, and lowered the PSP's price to 150, i bet the numbers would be a lot different..

to many, the PSP is not very practical in terms of affordability.. many parents don't want to spend SO much on a portable gaming console..

also the PSP is pirated a lot, and it attracts more of the older techno-geek types.. (myself included)

so SONY, bite the bullet and LOWER THE PRICE! you will see better results, i guaruntee it!

-demz..


   Re: td (Unregistered) - 2006-12-11
 » ...

hm, i actually agree.
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   by Twenty-Se7en - 2006-12-10
 » Not another PSP VS DS...

Alright. I own both. I love both. I don't really play my ds that much because i'm into homebrew to heavily and well, the ds is just a restrictive games machine. I like having full multimedia functionality - but let's just face the music. Nintendo has been pimping the handhelds for over 25 years ... people trust them and developers really trust them. If only Sony could find a way to get developers to make origional software other than ports - i'm sure the psp would kick some serious ass. As well, a price drop would be nice.

Anyway - not suprising that ds is owning the psp in sales. I don't see how this even classifies as 'new's ... it's 'old's *cough* that was corny

   by hmm (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » well well

psp stardom is getting a bit angry. Why the hate? Psp is a nice handheld, but no way will it ever compete directly at the mass userfriendly DS that targets ages 5-99 (yes that includes the 18-23 crowd as well). The psp only targets the 18-23 crowd that's why it's not selling like mad. The software sales say it alone people like to buy the system but in no way will they support the system for it's games.
Basically all I'm saying is Don't say the psp is the Best handheld ever if you don' use it for a handheld. Call it the cheapest best movie player out there or the best mp3 player becuase 8/10 psp owners use it for the other functions in it or they don't even buy games they just hack it. You so called psp lovers are crippling psp sales becuase you don't want to pay for something
so go put that in your pipe and smoke it

oh and DS is the best and the numbers back me up not your little biased opinion ^^


   Re: . (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » you are sir

is a DS fanboy

   Re: hmm (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » not really

more of a speaker of how it is

   Re: lavino (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » I will reply this time...

since I just bought off a DS from my co-worker and got myself the supercard etc. Ok, honestly it depends on what type of games you like plus your personalities. Just IMO, FPS like Metroid Prime Hunter the DS design win over PSP by far. The first time I pick it up and I have that smile that no psp FPS can offer me. Still I would favor the PSP more slight now that I have both to compare. DS sucks in no real support of image, movie etc unless you wanna do yet another conversion for the gbm files and etc. Some of the game DS is good, able to play all GBA games (except original Zelda for GBA) is a plus too. But then, that's pretty much it... Overall PSP still wins IMO.
   by sarita (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » no surprise

DS deserves all the praises it gets. Sony has done nothing to promote the PSP. Go Nintendo.

   by psp (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » So here it is

I have a psp 10 games (I bought from a store) along with 5 movies (I bought from a store) so yes sony likes me because I give them money to produce more fantastic games and items for my psp unlike this crowd in qj that just likes to take and say screw sony when they put out a new firmware...
I also have a DS and.. wait for it 20 games! (yes I bought from a store) So Nintendo likes me too because I give them money to make even more games.

See that's how you psp fanboys can help out with these surveys and number crunching things. You have to go to a store and BUY items not surf the web and figure out how to get it for free. Sure free stuff is nice but in no way is it helping the company stay in the black. psp is a faluire in Sony's eye just for the fact that there so called fans are putting them in the red and not staying in the black... for shame I thought I liked all you sony peeps in this website, but your all cheap bastards that want everything free.


   Re: Rok - 2006-12-10
 » ...

Go to hell!!! If Sony would lower the price of games and the psp itself the numbers would be very different im not saying that psp would be selling better than DS but im saying that it would be doing a lot better...
   by kanar-is-back (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » to hmm

"The psp only targets the 18-23 crowd that's why it's not selling like mad."

Sorry to contradict you, but nearly all the PSP possessors I ever saw were under that age, me included.

That's just to say that don't generalize, PSP and DS both have the same age cutomers.


   Re: hmm (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » well yea

I put that comment in because of all the post that are saying well psp isn't selling well because it targets adults where the ds targets kids and that's why it sells better.

   Re: spyder (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » I am only 12

I am 12 and i am still in the homebrew seen and have 2.71 se-c with loads of cool prxs and stuff so it does target youngers as well
   by DoubleDragon - 2006-12-10
 » Not surprised to be honest...

Like I've always said.... Price sells. Parents who quite often don't know the first thing about gaming will look at both the DS and PSP, see the price and then wonder "Is there any difference?" Obviously you and I both know otherwise, it's THEY who don't . The cheaper system will gather more sales based on that fact ALONE. I own both myself and I like both for different reasons. I think the PSP as a system overall is better. It can obviously do more than the DS. However, I think the DS has more appealing titles that will bring in a broader audience age range. My girlfriend loves playing Princess Peach and Yoshi's island but really isn't interested with anything I have for the PSP. If I had to pick one.... (glad I don't) but in the end I'd have to go with the PSP just for the multimedia features it offers although I'm a huge Castlevania fan so it would be a tough trade off to give up the DS.

   by dizzy (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » its a no brainer

nooooo duhhhhh!!!! look at the games they got and look at the games weve got should explain what happened ....

   by spyder (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » PSP rule

DS sucks

   by comedy - 2006-12-10
 » it's true, ds is more popular

but my psp can do more than your ds... absolutely no contest.

so, for me the psp is the best handheld - i have devhook 0.52 and so i get the web stuff and all that firmware jazz, as well as the multiple emulators (snes, genesis, gba, gbc, amiga, neogeo, and others which i don't use - oh yeah, n64 and psone!)
and then there's irshell, and sexypfs...

no comparison there... but how i wish i had mariokart ds!
i'll just keep playing mgs:portable ops.

   by kanar-is-back (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » Like before, if u want rockstar or any other producers to survive, don't pirate the games.

To make games, you need money. You get that money from selling games. If people pirate your games, you don't get money. So there is no game.
That's how it is, so when rockstar (for example) says there will be no other GTA on PSP, don't be surprised.

   by Uzumaki-Kun (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » Who Cares?

Who really cares?

   by Strangler (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » re

"japanese dont use hombrews and hacks thats why they whore over nintendo otherwise gba is pretty much useless"

they do use games and hacks, in fact alot of rom hacks and homebrew for psp is form japan. Isnt nester japanese?

   by . (Unregistered) - 2006-12-10
 » .

I think that people should buy Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops and show it off to as many friends as possible so that they will also buy it and then we get another sequel with Big Boss on the PSP. This will mean that the online portion of Ops will be better and we help Konami and Sony. Don't you people want to know more about Big Boss and his legacy.