Virtual Pop Star Drives Vita Sales in Japan

[The Wooster]

Virtual Pop Star Drives Vita Sales in Japan

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F powers a 400% Vita sales increase in Japan.

The PlayStation Vita has acquired an unlikely savior in the form of virtual pop star/future robot overlord, Hatsune Miku. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTXO7KGHtjI] The future of Sony's latest handheld has been looking bleaker with each passing week. As the company struggles to attract developers to the platform [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/118990-Vita-Having-Difficult-Time-Attracting-Third-Party-Support] and stave off hackers [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.387513-Hacker-Claims-to-Have-Found-Vita-Exploit], Japanese sales sank to an average of 10,000 units a week, way below those of the 3DS. However, sales shot up to 50,000 with the release of Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F, the latest in a series of rhythm games starring the titular, bobble-headed, voice-synth mascot.

The bad news is despite Diva F shifting some 159,000 copies in its first week, a wildly impressive figure for a Japan-only Vita title, it seems unlikely the game will receive a sequel. According to tweets from series spokesperson, Nakanohito, the game is actually selling slower than expected given its huge development costs. He also mentioned that digital downloads account for about 10% of sales.

Diva F is the only PSV game on the Japanese top 20 chart. Oddly enough, the game is having a much more successful opening week than Miku's 3DS debut, which only clocked up 88,000 sales in its first week despite the much larger install base of the 3DS.

It seems unlikely that the sales boost will be long-lasting. The releases of Persona 4: The Golden and Metal Gear Solid HD Edition (both of which are PS2 ports, if anyone's counting) increased sales in a similar manner, only for those numbers to return to around 10,000 the following week.

It turns out Miku is quite nice when she's not crushing old ladies. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.346370-Anime-Character-Crushes-Old-Lady]

Source: PlayStation LifeStyle [http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2012/09/05/miku-sings-vita-to-500-sales-increase/]

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[Nalgas D. Lemur]

Way to math. Going from 10k to 50k is five times higher, but that's only a 400% increase, not 500%.[/pedant]

Even though I mostly don't get the appeal, I'm not surprised at all. They sure are crazy nuts about their Vocaloid stuff.

 

[The Wooster]

Way to math. Going from 10k to 50k is five times higher, but that's only a 400% increase, not 500%.[/pedant]

You're absolutely correct. Updated with proper math.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I'd think PSY would sell it better. *PSP VITA STYLE*

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Well, I bought a copy. Bit sad that they're not going to do a sequel, seeing as they're adding more features and ramping up the difficulty with each release.

 

[gigastar]

Ive said it before and ill say it till i die;

If you want any handheld system to be successful in Japan, bait Capcom into putting a Monster Hunter game on it.

 

[Rabid Toilet]

Ive said it before and ill say it till i die;

If you want any handheld system to be successful in Japan, bait Capcom into putting a Monster Hunter game on it.

You'd think they would be jumping on it. They finally have a handheld with two analog sticks! Monster Hunter without horrible claw pains? Yes please.

 

[Nouw]

I demand Len & Rin and Megurine in this game! Why not add more Vocaloids?

 

[GenGenners]

Ive said it before and ill say it till i die;

If you want any handheld system to be successful in Japan, bait Capcom into putting a Monster Hunter game on it.

^This would probably save the Vita, ironically.

 

[King of Asgaard]

I'd think PSY would sell it better. *PSP VITA STYLE*

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY, sexy hardware!
Your post made me laugh pretty hard.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I'd think PSY would sell it better. *PSP VITA STYLE*

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY, sexy hardware!
Your post made me laugh pretty hard.

Thanks men, I really should animate a VITA dancing now.....

 

[Scarim Coral]

Doesn't exactly surpise me. Afterall she is an idol over there.

 

[Applejack]

A reason to buy a Vita! Oh wait they're still like $300. I'll play Project Diva 2 again and try to forget that I know about this.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

I demand Len & Rin and Megurine in this game! Why not add more Vocaloids?

They ARE in the game. So is Meiko and Kaito (shudder). Also, after three games without it (not counting Dreamy Theater), they finally added Black Rock Shooter. Whoo!

 

[Nouw]

I demand Len & Rin and Megurine in this game! Why not add more Vocaloids?

They ARE in the game. So is Meiko and Kaito (shudder). Also, after three games without it (not counting Dreamy Theater), they finally added Black Rock Shooter. Whoo!

Black Rock Shooter too? Awesome :3.

 

[OldNewNewOld]

I still think that a MH3G port, a new MH game or a DragonQuest game would increase the sales by over 1000% in Japan. Dunno how the people at Sony don't realize that and pay Capcome to make a MH game for the Vita. It would pay off for sure.

I'm a huge MH fan and a Nintendo fan (tho I don't hate other companies, to make it clear).
But if I had a choice between a 3DS and a Vita MH game, I would buy the Vita without thinking twice... after the mandatory price cut (300$, which is at least 320 euro in Europe is way to much for a handheld). 2 sticks vs 1 stick for a MH game... like there is anything to think about.

 

[1337mokro]

Damn it Japan!

She isn't real. She will never actually love you. She will never jump out of the screen and become a real girl. It's just you creepily walking around drooling at a rhythm game... which somehow couldn't sell enough copies to cover development?

It's just sad. I personally apologize for my gender. We're so easily manipulated. Sorry on behalf of all the lonely socially awkward men everywhere.

 

[RA92]

Oh Japan, how you love Miku a creepy amount.

So says Sexual Harassment Rainbow Dash.