Enterbrain

playstation

Ken Kutaragi Offers His International Business Skills

Ever wonder what PlayStation father Ken Kutaragi is up to? After that messy, messy PS3 launch, Kutaragi was elbowed out of the limelight in favor of Sony Computer Entertainment of America honcho Kaz Hirai. Still connected with Sony Computer Entertainment, Kutaragi no longer works for SCE in any active function. More »

8:00 AM on Thu May 1 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
3,885 views, 32 comments

nintendo

Enterbrain Back Slowly Away From "New DS" Prediction

Earlier this week, according to Bloomberg, Enterbrain president Hirokazu Hamamura predicted a new DS would be unveiled at E3. You'd think he'd be the kind of guy - what with his company publishing Famitsu and all - to get that sort of thing right. But Nintendo quickly came out and, rather than say "no comment", went so far as to say "no dice". Now, Enterbrain themselves have felt the need to issue a statement, denying that Hamamura predicted any such thing.

He did not...make a comment about the possibility of an announcement by Nintendo concerning a new model or successor to the Nintendo DS due to its current scarce product availability caused by its worldwide popularity.

Maybe they're right, maybe Bloomberg are right, but either way, who am I to stand in the way of a good old-fashioned corporate back-tracking expedition? Full statement's after the jump if you're interested. More »

5:40 AM on Thu Apr 17 2008
By Luke Plunkett
1,470 views, 19 comments

Latest by Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: @thejakeman: probably disagrees with you: LOL...good point. True that... more »

sales

Enterbrain: Japan Console Market To Peak This Year

Famitsu publisher Enterbrain is not encouraged by the Japanese console market. In fact, they've predicted that game console and software sales will peak this year with spending of 710.4 billion yen and drop to 671.1 billion yen by 2010. More from Japan Today:

The market is likely to contract as brisk demand for games consoles, such as the Wii from Nintendo Co and the PlayStation 3 from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc, will run its course, Enterbrain Inc said.

We can't quite tell if that means Enterbrain singled out those two consoles, or if the publication just offered examples for clarity. Either way, it's not a good prediction for either of them...especially not the PS3, which is still fighting for a decent install base in its native land.

Video game console, software sales forecast to peak in 2008 [Japan Today via MaxConsole]

2:00 PM on Mon Apr 14 2008
By Mark Wilson
1,277 views, 28 comments

Latest by Soldrak: @EmeraldDragon: The predictions have turned out correct though. The Japanese market is in decline compared to the American market. Just as one day, with the enormous earnings potential the Chinese market will eventually pose, the American market will more »

rumor

New DS Coming To E3 2008?

According to Bloomberg Japan, Enterbrain (Famitsu's parent company) honcho Hirokazu Hamamura has said that Nintendo might unveil a new DS model at E3 2008. While Ash is asleep and our Google Translate only takes us so far, there doesn't appear to be any other information of note other than Nintendo declining to comment on the rumor.

Since it took about two years for the DS to become the DS Lite, the timeline for the DS Lite to become the DS Liter seems right on track. What would you like to see in the updated handheld if Hamamura's prediction comes to fruition?

Nintendo DS possibility of a new version [Bloomberg via NeoGAF]

10:40 AM on Fri Apr 11 2008
By Mark Wilson
10,906 views, 156 comments

japan

The NEC PlayStation 2 Dating Game Laptop

Japanese electronics company NEC has a deal for you! For only ¥76,258 (US $737), you can order a laptop engraved with dating sim KimiKiss from publisher Enterbrain. Check out these specs. Yep, seems like a novel way of NEC to clear out old older merchandise. Bravo, NEC. We're impressed.
Kimikiss [NEC Direct Thanks, muu!]

7:00 AM on Tue Mar 4 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
2,439 views, 22 comments

Latest by sovietspartan: My GF just bought one of these pink but without the marketing gimmick. They do sell these without the sticker or whatever the hell that is, and in different colors. more »

console wars

PS3 Wins November In Japan

While they might have dipped a bit this past week, but you don't have to win every battle to win the war. According to Enterbrain, the PlayStation 3 came out on top in monthly sales over the Wii for the month of November, pushing 183,217 consoles to Nintendo's 159,193. This marks the first time Sony came out on top since the PS3's release last November. Is this an indication that Sony is returning to its former glory in Japan? Analyst Hiroshi Kamide of KBC Securities isn't convinced.

"It's nice to see the system selling much better than six months ago. But is it a sustainable trend? Is it going to really escalate from here? I'm not so sure."

I'm hoping the momentum keeps up. Not to dismiss the popularity of the Wii, but the PS3, despite costs, has turned out to be an extremely reliable system, and with excellent games like Ratchet and Clank and Uncharted coming out this early in the console's life cycle, things can only get better. Feel free to twist this into a 'Kotaku Hates Sony' post in the comments section!

Sony PS3 tops Nintendo Wii in Japan for first time [Reuters via Next Generation]

8:20 AM on Fri Nov 30 2007
By Mike Fahey
4,220 views, 117 comments

Latest by inphanta: Pathetic. Sony sells a few units having previously sold virtually none, and the internet suddenly goes "OMFG!! The PS3 is catching up!! Nintendo is teh D00med!!!!111" Monthly aggregates don't mean a great deal overall. It's like not seeing the forest for more »

research says

Wiis Gathering Dust in Japan

Sure, the Nintendo Wii is selling well in Japan. But are people actually using it or is the console just room decor? President of Famitsu publisher Enterbrain Hirokazu Hamamura not only predicts 30 million DSes sold by 2009, but also shows figures that indicate something like 67 percent of Japanese Wii owners are not using the Wii console recently. Which probably means people bought the Wii and Wii Sports, played it until they got sick of it and have returned to their DSes. Sure, Super Mario Galaxy will have folks playing the crap out of their Wiis again. But until then? Damn, it's been a long, hard dry spell since the console launched.

Unscientific poll time: Who regularly plays their Nintendo Wii?
Enterbrain President [IGN]

9:00 PM on Mon Oct 15 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
6,744 views, 198 comments

Latest by Shachihoko: I've played my Wii few times a week when I'm not busy. Since it already the middle of my school semester and workload is just piling on top of me big time. Might have to wait till Thanksgiving holiday or more »

ichiban

Wii Sales Dominance Digest, Vol. 2, Issue 41

To anyone who follows the weekly Simple 2000: The Japanese Hardware Chart posts, this news won't come as a surprise. But, according to Japanese publisher Enterbrain, via Reuters, the Wii continues to outsell the PLAYSTATION 3 at home at a rate of four-to-one. The figures, compiled from April to September of this year, put Wii sales at 1.6 million with the PS3 selling through just 385,492 consoles. More »

5:20 PM on Mon Oct 1 2007
By Michael McWhertor
4,423 views, 93 comments

Latest by kftgr: "...the Japanese release of Super Mario Galaxy will drive Wii sales through the roof, as the PS3's response for the Wii sequel is Railfan Taiwan High Speed Rail." Ha ha...but really, can't underestimate Train sims in the Japanese market. That more »

sony

Wii Outselling PS3 Over Two To One In Japan

It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who religiously follows the Media Create weekly hardware sales, but a report from Enterbrain (publishers of Weekly Famitsu) shows that the Wii is outselling the PLAYSTATION 3 by a considerable margin. A gap wide enough to fill a blue ocean, you might say. More »

3:40 PM on Tue Apr 3 2007
By Michael McWhertor
3,684 views, 122 comments

Kotaku

ESA, Game Critics' Awards Debate "Best Of E3" Eligibility

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