9 replies to this topic

[BlueBlur]

Nintendolife

 

This year Nintendo announced it would be bringing a brand new Pokémon title to the 3DS in the form of Pokémon X & Y. This new iteration breaks the mould set by previous games and incorporates full 3D environments instead of the conventional top-down view we're all used to.

Of course, Pokémon Black & White Version 2 was released towards the end of 2012 and has sold 7.81 million copies since then, but it appears people are still buying the older Pokémon titles - perhaps spurred on by the announcement of the upcoming 3DS release.

Siliconera recently dug up some interesting worldwide sales figures for three Pokémon titles: Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver and Pokémon Black & White.

 

In the year ending 31st March 2013, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl managed to sell 20,000 more copies to hit 17.63 million, which is quite impressive for a game that was released six years ago.

 

Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver, which was released in 2010, saw a massive surge with an extra 270,000 copies sold, taking the total to 12.67 million, while Pokémon Black & White recorded a further 710,000 copies - 15.42 million overall.

 

Adding all these sales together rounds nicely to one million for the year, which is a staggering amount for games that have been around for a while.

Clearly people are still enjoying the older generation of Pokémon games as they gear up for the big 3DS release this October.

 

And this is why Pokemon is the killer app of Nintendo handhelds.

Edited by Jade Sceptile, 05 May 2013 - 08:26 PM.

[BanjoKazooie]

Ahhh, I can just see the amount of 3DS's being sold because of Pokemon! 1 million, 2 million, 3 million, 4 million, 5 million. Very large numbers indeed.

[PyroKinesis]

Ahhh, I can just see the amount of 3DS's being sold because of Pokemon! 1 million, 2 million, 3 million, 4 million, 5 million. Very large numbers indeed.

 

Pokemon is always and will always be the reason why I buy the Nintendo handhelds. I just wait until a version that requires the newest hardware is announced, then boom, mine.

[Julio93]

Wow. I guess some lost interest after the other generations.

[TheUltimateWaddleDee]

Pokemon is the reason why no other company can be competition to Nintendo handhelds. It literally has all demographics covered: It's primary audience is little kids, because of the overall look and feel of it, it has the teenage crowd due to nostalgia, and it has the adult, competitive players due to it's always-evolving metagame.

[BanjoKazooie]

Pokemon is the reason why no other company can be competition to Nintendo handhelds. It literally has all demographics covered: It's primary audience is little kids, because of the overall look and feel of it, it has the teenage crowd due to nostalgia, and it has the adult, competitive players due to it's always-evolving metagame.

ifit into 2 of those categories, I'm a teenager, who also is insanely competetive. Except, I play because items fun, not because of nastalgia.

[Alianjaro]

Pokemon is the reason why no other company can be competition to Nintendo handhelds. It literally has all demographics covered: It's primary audience is little kids, because of the overall look and feel of it, it has the teenage crowd due to nostalgia, and it has the adult, competitive players due to it's always-evolving metagame.

Yea, that's true. Pokemon became a trend again at school. I'm sixteen. LOL it's like Yu-Gi-Oh cards, they come and retreat from trends.

[umegames]

I really wanna go back and play heartgold and platnium, but i can't find them for cheaper than $30 :-(

I'm also kinda concerned if there'll be a transfer system to X and Y. I'm sure it will, but its a little unsettling since its not confirmed.

 

Pokemon is the reason why no other company can be competition to Nintendo handhelds. It literally has all demographics covered: It's primary audience is little kids, because of the overall look and feel of it, it has the teenage crowd due to nostalgia, and it has the adult, competitive players due to it's always-evolving metagame.

 

Right. As i've said before, Nintendo can never fail and is never doomed simply because of pokemon alone.

IMO, if it came down to ONE franchise saving and moving systems, whether handheld or console, i believe its pokemon. Sure Zelda is special, and mario pushes some nice sales, but nothing is as fast selling and enduring globally like pokemon.

Edited by umegames, 06 May 2013 - 11:46 AM.

[SoldMyWiiUAndLeftTheForums]

This is why we need the old games on eShop, c'mon Nintendo, how can you not see that this will just print money if you do it.

[Azure-Edge]

This is why we need the old games on eShop, c'mon Nintendo, how can you not see that this will just print money if you do it.

 

I've been saying this since day 1. Ever since I heard that the 3DS had a virtual console, I figured the original RBY games would be guaranteed to be on the system within the first year. What the hell Nintendo, what the hell. Those two little games not only have cemented them as the handheld king for generations, they also began what was essentially a worldwide phenomena that to this day has still not been replicated. I mean good lord, that horrible anime is STILL going on!!!! How can those two games not be available? I don't think there is any other pair of games they can release on the e-shop that would net them as much cash as those two. 

 

Part of me is still hoping that they might announce them at E3 as a means to build up hype for X and Y this fall, but I kinda doubt it.