Fri, Apr 04, 2008 | 21:11 BST

DS has peaked in Japan, says analyst

According to this Kotaku piece, KBC Securities Japan analyst Hiroshi Kamide reckons that DS’s day has dawned, both in Japan and abroad.

“Casual gaming growth has been driven over the last three years by the Nintendo DS platform,” he said. “Demand has peaked in Japan, and we believe is currently peaking overseas. Compounded by a less robust retail environment, we expect to see a decline in the handheld sector.”

Kamide added: “The casual market looks more exposed to an economic downturn, due to its non-essential nature. The sector remains ‘hit-driven’, which provides a positive outlook for the companies with strong core title line-ups.”

DS was shown yesterday to be the biggest selling machine in Japan last year, having moved 6.34 million units.

11 comment-trail-alt Posted in: DS, Japan, Nintendo, Retail, Trade
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11 comments

#1

Tonka
04/04/08, 8:32 am

No Shit Sherlock achievement unlocked.

#2

patlike
04/04/08, 8:39 am

I haven’t really thought past DS, to be honest. A back compat DS 2?

#3

Blerk
04/04/08, 8:42 am

Four screens. It’ll be like a cube that you put around your head.

Scratch and sniff?

#4

patlike
04/04/08, 8:44 am

They can’t really do what they did with Game Boy though, can they?

What am I talking about. Of course they can. DS, DS-Lite, DS Advance, DS Colour, DS Umbongo…

#5

Tonka
04/04/08, 9:34 am

A cube with four sides?

#6

Blerk
04/04/08, 9:36 am

Your neck and the top of your head provide the remaining two sides, obviously.

#7

Tonka
04/04/08, 9:52 am

Obviously. I’d say leaving the back of the head screen-less would be more beneficial.

Obviously

#8

Blerk
04/04/08, 10:05 am

But then how would you look behind you?

#9

patlike
04/04/08, 10:10 am

Mirrors. Two of them.

#10

Tonka
04/04/08, 10:20 am

The same way as you would look above you.
Obviously…

#11

morriss
04/04/08, 10:26 am

I want the DS Umbongo.

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