PS3 "too big" - Parappa creator

By Robert Purchese Published 15 May, 2007

NanaOn-Sha planning Wii game.

NanaOn-Sha boss Masaya Matsuura reckons the Wii is outselling the PS3 in Japan because Sony's console is "too big", GamesIndustry.biz is reporting.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz in an interview at the Nordic Game conference Matsuura observed that the PS3 is "currently" lagging behind but added "of course they have a chance to recover over time".

He said the problem is not the price or the range of software available for PS3 but simply the size of the machine itself: "It's too big for the Japanese."

Despite such issues the PlayStation 3 is still outselling the Xbox 360 which has yet to secure a solid foothold in the Japanese market.

According to Matsuura "with Xbox the problem is not the size of the hardware but the AC adaptor."

So what of the Wii, the most diminutive of the next-gen consoles? Matsuura offered praise for the machine, but said it also presents new challenges for developers.

"Wii is a very good piece of hardware. Many talented people from Nintendo make great ideas for game hardware, of course. Already I've been starting to think about Wii software, but it's very hard sometimes because can you keep shaking the controller for hours?

"Players can't spend a long time on gameplay, so this can be tough. So I respect Nintendo's activities, but for software designers like us, it's very hard."

However, Matsuura said he is currently in the planning stages of developing a game for Wii - with work set to officially begin "soon, maybe"

He went on to reveal that NanaOn-Sha has been working on "a very casual, one-button game" - but declined to offer any further details.

"Maybe the publisher will announce the release soon," Matsuura said. "It's a very simple game, but I hope it will be successful."

There's a fresh collection of industry news every day under the GamesIndustry.biz bed.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (69) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Syrok Verified Community Coordinator, Tarsier Studios #1 5 years ago

    So seize does matter...

  • Steroyd #2 5 years ago

    As crazy as this sounds it makes sense, if you look at the sales figures in Japan LOL.

  • Syrok Verified Community Coordinator, Tarsier Studios #3 5 years ago

    I dont really care how big a console is as long as it is not bigger then my tv.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #4 5 years ago

    I dont really care how big a console is as long as it is not bigger then my tv.

    :D

  • Aretak #5 5 years ago

    The difference in size between the 360 and the PS3 is minimal, so I'm not sure where he gets the idea that one's too big and the other is fine.

  • souljacker2000 #6 5 years ago

    Dont Japanese people have really small hands

  • #7 5 years ago

    LOL.

    The Xbox 360 is almost as big as the PS3 but it also has an external adapter. There you have the sales difference.

  • mankell #8 5 years ago

    maybe the japanese are too small.

  • Brianstorm #9 5 years ago

    The innovation with the Wii hardware is with things like the WiiConnect24 mode which uses very little power and still manages to keep the system cool even though it is 'on' all the time. As always with Nintendo innovation isn't about the biggest processing power but using existing technology in innovative ways.

  • souljacker2000 #10 5 years ago

    I agree with Kato

    The Wii is technically dated, new technology always begins on the large side, but eventually it will be downsized. Playstation PS1

    Nintendos next-gen console will be match box size

  • NthSimulachum #11 5 years ago

    Nintendo's next-next-gen console will be able to fit in a matchbox without taking the matches out first.

  • konniehuqfan #12 5 years ago

    the japanese have teeny tiny houses, they like small things.

    the ps3 would sell much better if it was small and cute like the pc engine :)

  • Overlush #13 5 years ago

    The PS3 isn't too big, it's just that the Japanese are too small

  • Zomoniac #14 5 years ago

    But WiiConnect24 doesn't work. If it has a permanent connection then why does it spend an eternity testing and establishing the internet connection every time you check for updates or enter the shop?

  • JayPee #15 5 years ago

    NO ONE IN JAPAN OWNS A PC

    FACT

    Although, the 360 probably could fulfill the winter heating requirements of the average Tokyo apartment. I have actually turned my radiator off at times.

  • RexRunti #16 5 years ago

    All though the 360 and PS3 are roughly the same size the Xbox360 looks smaller because it tapers in in the middle where as the PS3 bulges out. It's the same priciple as vericle vs horizontal stripes. See Trinnie and Suzanah for more details.

  • crouchy #17 5 years ago

    Eurogamers articles are getting more absurd everyday. THE REASON THE PS3 ISNT SELLING BIGTIME IS BECAUSE ONLY ONE GAME HAS BEEN RELEASED IN JAPAN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
    Edited by crouchy at 15/05/07 @ 13:22

  • souljacker2000 #18 5 years ago

    Thats because nobody wants to develop on it. Too pricey

  • Overlush #19 5 years ago

    "THE REASON THE PS3 ISNT SELLING BIGTIME IS BECAUSE ONLY ONE GAME HAS RELEASED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS"

    That's a bit of a flawed statement. Would the 360 sales stagnate if Halo 3 was the ONLY game released in a two month window? Surely what you mean is: it isn't selling because there's no killer apps out yet.

  • Overlush #20 5 years ago

    "Thats because nobody wants to develop on it. Too pricey"

    Another flawed statement. There's little (if any) evidence to suggest that developing with the PS3 as your lead platform is more or less expensive than developing for the 360, or PC for that matter. Modern games ARE generally expensive to develop, whatever HD platform.

    Come on guys, have a PS3 dig by all means but do on stable ground will you?

  • souljacker2000 #21 5 years ago

    I dont think its casual racism... Its the truth...

    @ Overlush

    Sorry didnt make myself clear, i meant the Unit is overly priced.. no1 has 1
    Edited by souljacker2000 at 15/05/07 @ 13:30

  • spongebob #22 5 years ago

    Eurogamers articles are getting more absurd everyday. THE REASON THE PS3 ISNT SELLING BIGTIME IS BECAUSE ONLY ONE GAME HAS BEEN RELEASED IN JAPAN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

    It's not EG's fault if a Japanese developer thinks that PS3 is too big in size. They're just quoting a man, so get over it.

  • PlugMonkey #23 5 years ago

    "The difference in size between the 360 and the PS3 is minimal, so I'm not sure where he gets the idea that one's too big and the other is fine."

    He doesn't really say that, he just points out that in the size stakes, the 360 also has a clunking great power supply against it.

    I think he's probably on to something. The original Xbox was laughed out of the country for it's size before anyone even bothered to take a look at the software. I don't see why that would change now.

    "THE REASON THE PS3 ISNT SELLING BIGTIME IS BECAUSE ONLY ONE GAME HAS BEEN RELEASED IN JAPAN THE LAST TWO MONTHS."

    Whereas there has been a landslide of Wii releases? And there's really no need to shout.

  • crouchy #24 5 years ago

    That's a bit of a flawed statement. Would the 360 sales stagnate if Halo 3 was the ONLY game released in a two month window? Surely what you mean is: it isn't selling because there's no killer apps out yet.
    ------

    Halo is ms one big game in 6 years of trying. Sony dont go for hype they go for quality. Which is what i'm saying they're starved at the mo.


    But read what i said dullard he. As far as Halo goes, a bizarre issue a decent game made big by obscene marketing. I'v played the beta which was pretty dull. But go to xbox fanboy forums and here wow wow wow. The power of marketing as a fanboy issue.

  • Nobuo #25 5 years ago

    "It's a very simple game, but I hope it will be successful."

    Aww. He sounds cute.

  • AcidSnake #26 5 years ago

    It's ok...we're taking it back....

  • crouchy #27 5 years ago

    Whereas there has been a landslide of Wii releases? And there's really no need to shout.
    -----
    If the wee doesnt sell now it never will. At the ps3's pricepoint it needs software to sell hardware comprende?.

  • Azazel #28 5 years ago

    LOUD NOISES!

  • kangarootoo #29 5 years ago

    Don't believe this for a second. Being a very talented developer does not grant infinite wisdom on all things games related. I would be interested to hear what he bases this theory on, 'cos currently it just sounds like personal supposition.

    It seems to me that this sort of critisism only serves as ammunition for people not actually interested in the system in question anyway. Plenty of people winged on about the size and weight of the original XBox (to the point of churlish idiocy), but for those that actually owned one it made no bloody difference at all once it was sat under their TV.

  • PlugMonkey #30 5 years ago

    "If the wee doesnt sell now it never will. At the ps3's pricepoint it needs software to sell hardware comprende?."

    LMAO. The last time someone said 'comprende' to me, it was 1986. And they were eight years old.

  • SBfistfun #31 5 years ago

    Sony dont go for hype they go for quality.

    That was sarcasm wasn't it????///

  • RandolphScott #32 5 years ago

    Can you all stand in a line so I can stab you all?

    Thanks

  • UncleLou #33 5 years ago

    I have no problem believeing that the size (and slightly impractical shape) might at least play a role. As it has been pointed out, look at the size of the average appartment in the bigger cities.

  • crouchy #34 5 years ago

    Xbox monkees + britains kotaku eurogamer still straggling i see.

  • crouchy #35 5 years ago


    LMAO. The last time someone said 'comprende' to me, it was 1986. And they were eight years old.
    ------
    Typical. Ad hominem attack how pathetic.

  • Overlush #36 5 years ago

    I drive a 2.8 BMW, I'm 6"3, I own a PS3 and my TV is 37". Big is beautiful.

    Those tiny Japs with their weeny Wiis....MWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    /ahem

  • onyxbox #37 5 years ago

    I think all this PS3 hate comes from most people already owning a 360 and defending their purchase.

    I like them both. At the moment I'd say the 360 has the edge but that doesn't make the PS3 a turd.

  • souljacker2000 #38 5 years ago

    @onyx

    Yes... yes it does

  • Jdoki #39 5 years ago

    The exact same comments came up when the original Xbox launched in Japan. It's just too big!

    Obviously that's not the only reason though...

  • Darren #40 5 years ago

    @Onyxbox - Good post. My sentiments too as an owner of all three current systems.

  • parablax #41 5 years ago

    @overlush

    you forgot to mention the size of your penis (small me thinks!)

  • The-Bodybuilder #42 5 years ago

    >"a very casual, one-button game"

    Oh great...

  • The-Bodybuilder #43 5 years ago

    >"Sony dont go for hype they go for quality"

    Kill....zone?

  • The-Bodybuilder #44 5 years ago

    >"I think all this PS3 hate comes from most people already owning a 360 and defending their purchase."

    So ninty fanboys don't exist?

  • souljacker2000 #45 5 years ago

    @parablax

    Got in there before i did

  • onyxbox #46 5 years ago

    So ninty fanboys don't exist?

    I think Wii vs anything is a different debate and one that concludes in Wii changing the mass perseption of what gaming is (perhaps).

  • chupachups #47 5 years ago

    The Gamecube did extremely badly in Japan, but it was physically the smallest console of its generation.

  • souljacker2000 #48 5 years ago

    wasnt the gamecube shite too compared to the other last gen consoles?

  • Nithron #49 5 years ago

    The gamecube was powered by God.
    Stop blaspheming.

  • souljacker2000 #50 5 years ago

    I do apologise, i just had a few goes on it, kept goin back to my xbox or my mates ps2

  • Kenshin001 #51 5 years ago

    I live in Tokyo and he is talking out his arse. This may come as a big surprise to people who do not live in Japan but plenty of people live in two/three story houses with plenty of room. People aren't buying the PS3 in droves because it is expensive and the amount of games is limited. His theory about the 360's adaptor is utter tosh too. MS as a console/games company just hasn't resonated with the Japanese market. It's like Microsoft introduced a new car against Toyota and Nissan.

  • Psychotext #52 5 years ago

    I was under the impression that the PS3 was being sold for fairly cheap in Japan. 50,000 yen for the 20gb and 60,000 yen for the 60gb. That's £210 / £250.

    For comparison: Wii is 33,000 yen (£140) and 360 is 31,000 yen (£130).

    Certainly none of them are expensive compared to the UK. Hell, I'd consider buying a 20gb PS3 for £210!

  • JayPee #53 5 years ago

    @Kenshin001

    I think it's fair to say the the Japanese on the whole are very loyal to Japanese brands - correct?

    Which is why it is odd that the PS3 hasn't been remarkably popular (over the 360 especially) over there. But I think that Nintendo have their finger on the Japanese pulse a lot more at the moment.

    In fact, this guy could be onto something...

    GB Light
    GBA SP
    GBA Micro
    DS Lite

    All fantastically popular.

  • konniehuqfan #54 5 years ago

    pc engine - small - big success in japan
    supergrafx - huge - miserable failure (the rubbish name was probably a handicap too)

  • captainrentboy #55 5 years ago

    ''Sony goes for quality over hype''
    HAHAHAHAHA, ohhhhhhh, that was brilliant, two games springing immedietely to mind, Killzone and 24, pretty much making that initial statement null and void.
    And anyone who refers to another poster as an Xbot, or anything similar, pretty much instantly tells everyone else that they too are a fanboy of one of the other big two.
    Anyway size has fack all to do with the shitty week on week sales of the PS3, or even if it did it's the least of the console's problems, it's the rediculous lack of games either out or coming out over the next 7 or so months. There just seems to be nothing worthwhile on the horizon, which surely puts people off purchasing one, as it certainly did me.

  • Dizzy #56 5 years ago

    Nothing to do with the size of the PS3. Japanese people don't give a f*ck about the PS3, Bluray and HD gaming at the moment because the Wii and DS are filling all gaming needs. I would go as far as to say that the traditional TV console will soon go the way of the dodo and the DS will be the main gaming platform in Japan.

  • smelly #57 5 years ago

    >wasnt the gamecube shite too compared to the other last gen consoles?

    Erm, you're confusing the gamecube with the ps2.

  • Kenshin001 #58 5 years ago

    @JayPee

    "I think it's fair to say the the Japanese on the whole are very loyal to Japanese brands - correct?"

    Depends. They buy a lot of Louis Vuitton bags and French wine. It's fair to say they like quality and Japan makes quality cars and electronic goods. What is odd is the PS3 is still selling around 45-50,000 per month at twice the price of the Wii and with no games.

  • captain-future #59 5 years ago

    PeniStation3 IT'S SOOOOO BIG! IT'S TOO BIG!!! OSU! ;)

    bruahahahahaa, now that's cocks.

  • chupachups #60 5 years ago

    "I think it's fair to say the the Japanese on the whole are very loyal to Japanese brands - correct? Which is why it is odd that the PS3 hasn't been remarkably popular (over the 360 especially) over there."

    Not odd at all, they're choosing one Japanese maker (Nintendo) over another (Sony).

    The PS3 has been far more popular than the 360 in Japan, it regularly outsells it by something like four to one, just as the Wii regularly outsells the PS3 by something like nine to one.
    Edited by chupachups at 15/05/07 @ 20:43

  • Sid-Nice #61 5 years ago

    Goldilocks and the Three Consoles

    Once upon a time Goldilocks was walking through the forest and came across a log cabin (no vermin was not inside) but 3 consoles. Goldilocks tried the Xbox 360 first and said "Oh my this is too noisy." Then she tried the PS3 and gasped "Oh my this is too big" Then she tried the Wii and said "Oh this is so cute, I love you little Wii" and took the Wii home.

    Someone else can do the "Who's been playing on my console?"

  • naes #62 5 years ago

    I think its based on what we consider next gen, here in the west we would look at getting a Nintendo Wii along side our 360`s and Ps3`s if not all three where as the Japanese see the Wii as one of the options not a sideline they would get a PSP or DS along side that, and the Japanese market has gone more causal in the years there all Mario party this and warioware that sure they love there RPG`s still but the likes of halo 3 and gears of war doesn't interest them as much as we do. so they have a choice of one of 3 consoles maybe 2 and 360 doesn't have prominent stance to take on Japanese branding, but the right software could shift units, look what blue dragon did for the 360 over there if Microsoft could create and mario party style game say viva pinata party maybe they would shift some units its all about social causal gaming not hardcore fanboyism like over here.

  • captain-future #63 5 years ago

    *LOL* @ Goldilocks story - do you also have a PG-13 version?

  • SexyBodyBuilderDude #64 5 years ago

    Playstation 3

    Blows BIG Donkey Penis when it comes to games.

    That's why it Sux and nobody buys it in any part of the world!

  • Sid-Nice #65 5 years ago

    naes What on earth are you babbling on about?

    The Mario Party franchise has been on a downward spiral since Mario Party 2 on the N64 which sold 1,081,736 units; Mario Party 7 on the NGC only sold 460,332 units. Warioware Smooth Moves on the Wii has only shifted 426,017 units. To say that these are the type of games that the Japanese go for is utter bullshit and a Mario Party style Viva Pinata would go down a treat in Japan, especially when the original game only sold a total of 12,627 units.

    So what has Blue dragon done for the Xbox 360? Blue Dragon has sold a total of 184,743 units in Japan; the 360 console has only shifted 380,000 units to date. Blue Dragon has a fantastic game to console ratio; but I don’t think that 180,000 Japanese gamers bought a 360 for Blue Dragon.

  • ShiroBen #66 5 years ago

    Gosh, so many experts on Japanese psychology here.

  • crouchy #67 5 years ago

    As i'v said already. Eurogamer in chasing short term profits you will pay the long term price, focking hell accepting payments from microsoft wow. Eurogamer is doomed.

  • Daikon #68 5 years ago

    NO ONE IN JAPAN OWNS A PC

    FACT

    Wow, that's the stupidest thing I've heard all week.

  • davisorle #69 5 years ago

    Post deleted at 20:44:35 16-04-2012