The Consumer Entertainment Software Association or CESA if you prefer has now released their annual report for the japanese market, and it's not a pretty sight!
According to the report, sales were down by 11 per cent in 2003, and down by 40 percent from 1997. The japanese market is only 40 per cent of the american market which isn't that much when considering that Japan is known as the gaming country.
Apparently, only the Game Boy Advance has had constant sales, with the GameCube also having a slight boost in sales at the beginning of 2004. Other consoles haven't sold that well, except for the Playstation 2, but people now think that it is nearing saturation.
Analysts hope that the launch of the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP later this year help boosting sales. It is also good to note the fact that Nintendo has said that games are becoming too complicated and that they think that making more simple games for the casual gamers will help. Sales of the Famicom Mini games show that people are still extremely interested in old but simple games. Let's hope they are right.
According to the report, sales were down by 11 per cent in 2003, and down by 40 percent from 1997. The japanese market is only 40 per cent of the american market which isn't that much when considering that Japan is known as the gaming country.
Apparently, only the Game Boy Advance has had constant sales, with the GameCube also having a slight boost in sales at the beginning of 2004. Other consoles haven't sold that well, except for the Playstation 2, but people now think that it is nearing saturation.
Analysts hope that the launch of the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP later this year help boosting sales. It is also good to note the fact that Nintendo has said that games are becoming too complicated and that they think that making more simple games for the casual gamers will help. Sales of the Famicom Mini games show that people are still extremely interested in old but simple games. Let's hope they are right.
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