Video game hardware, software sales mostly flat in Sept.

While some might applaud the new batch of sales numbers for the month of Sept., they show that the sector, like many others in the world during this still shaky financial times, is feeling the bite just like everyone else. It is hard to imagine what hardware numbers might look like if Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft hadn’t slashed the prices on their respective home console systems. Even with those price cuts, NPD data for the month showed a meager 1 percent gain over the same period a year ago, with total videogame related sales in the U.S. of around $1.28. Again, if not for cuts, it would have been more downward trending for the sector. Still it’s hard to ignore that compared to August, sales were up considerably in Sept.

On the hardware front, the one relevant console that did not get a price cut, the DS (which includes the DSi and DS Lite), was at the top of the heap moving over half a million units in the month. The good news for Sony - if there really is any in a month that was mostly flat - is that it managed to beat out the Wii and Xbox 360 in the month with 491,000 units. The Wii was close by with almost 463,000 units and the Xbox 360 managed to move nearly 353,000 units. The PSP moved right around 190,000 units in Sept., - which we assume includes both the old model and the new PSP go. Finally, the PS2 managed to move 146,000 units.

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Popular Mechanics grills Miyamoto

As you probably know from countless news stories and interviews this week (and last week) Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto was recently in New York doing a press tour and answering questions about his newest game - New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii. It seems like every Tom, Dick and Seth is hanging out with the man behind such hit franchises as Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong, playing games, asking questions and getting Miyamoto’s odd little autograph.

In this latest interview Popular Mechanics talks to Miyamoto the origins of Mario, the mythological nature of Zelda and why blowing into your NES cartridges actually works. Thank god we don’t have to do that anymore. Here’s an interesting exchange about:

PM: A lot of your characters started out as villainous in earlier games, such as Bowser and Donkey Kong and Wario, and in later games they became more sympathetic and almost goofy. Is there a conscience effort to “de-villainize” evil characters in later games?

SM: One thing I’m not really good at is creating truly heroic characters or truly villainous characters, with the one exception being maybe the Zelda series, where I think we did a pretty good job of defining the roles in that series. I think we never really see anything all that serious come about in the Mario series, and then we have games that fall somewhere in between the two.

Yup, next thing you know Ganon will have his own racing game on the Wii. Be that as it may, you can check out the entire interview by visiting Popular Mechanics now:

Exclusive Interview With Nintendo Gaming Mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto

Capcom joins R4 lawsuit

According to a report on Game Politics, Capcom is the latest company to join in on a lawsuit against R4 flash cartridge makers using Japan’s Unfair Competition Prevention Act as the hammer.

Capcom joined Nintendo and 53 other game publishers in this lawsuit that hopes to curtail the use of this game copying device for the Nintendo DS. While Nintendo managed to get an injunction against the makers of these devices last year in a Tokyo court, that doesn’t seem to have had much impact of the situation.

“We are expecting the entire society including users to recognize that our company and other software manufactures have extremely sustained damages from proliferation of illegal instruments, such as the Game Copying Devices,” said Capcom is a statement today. “..and the computer industries have sustained serious damages because of those vendors, and we expect to influence the society to eliminate such illegal instruments from the market.”

It will be interesting to see if Nintendo and friends can do anything to curtail the use of the R4 in Japan. While it’s not impossible, it won’t be easy either. It will be a lot harder to deal with the use of the R4 in places like China where piracy and black markets are an integral part of the consumer shopping experience.

By the numbers: Tokyo Game Show

G4’s Reggie Fils-Aime Interview

Nintendo head honcho Reggie Fils-Aime sits down with G4TV’s Adam Sessler to answer questions about the Nintendo Wii price-cut, whether there’s a Wii 2 in the works, and if third-party developers are losing faith in the console when it comes to more mature games. Will Reggie crack under the pressure or will he and Adams finally make a love connection? Check out the video at G4TV or stay here and watch it below:

Wii price cut to $199.99 USD

Nintendo has finally decided that a price drop is in order, putting its Wii home console system in the familiar position of being the cheapest one on the market. Starting Sunday, Sept. 27, Nintendo will lower the suggested retail price for the system by $50 to $199.99. The new $199.99 Wii price point includes the same content as the original including 1 Wii Remote and Nunchuck, and Wii Sports.

“Wii has reached more video game players than any game system before because it attracts everyone—both men and women, and people of all ages,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Our research shows there are 50 million Americans thinking about becoming gamers, and this more affordable price point and our vast array of new software mean many of them can now make the leap and find experiences that appeal to them, whatever their tastes or level of gaming experience.“

This is the smartest move Nintendo could have made given that both Sony and Microsoft have already cut the price of their home consoles. 

Naturally this will open up new players to already popular franchises like Wii Fit, Wii Sports Resort, Metroid Prime Trilogy - and new stuff like New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Nov. 15), and Wii Fit Plus (Oct. 4). Nintendo also announced that it will run some in special events in select cities called World of Nintendo. Kicking off in Long Beach, Calif., World of Nintendo will show off the latest Nintendo Wii and DS games and give consumers hands on time with the likes of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit Plus, Punch-Out!! and WiiWare titles as well as DS/ DSi games like The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box and Nintendo DSiWare titles. A full list of dates for the month of Oct. after the break.

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Nintendo’s plans for PAX

Nintendo says that it is ready to Play at Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, giving consumers their first chance to play key upcoming Wii and Nintendo DS games like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story. The recently launched Metroid Prime: Trilogy, Wii Sports Resort and Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box will also be on hand at the Nintendo booth (#352).

Additionally, Nintendo will debut a new WiiWare game at the booth: Pokémon Rumble. Pokémon Rumble lets up to four players at once team up and unleash powerful attacks as enemies surround them in this action-themed game.

In addition to the playable games at the booth, Nintendo has invited artists to create one-of-a-kind animations using the Flipnote Studio application for the Nintendo DSi. Throughout the Sept. 4-6 show, a professional artist will be on hand nearly every hour at a special area in the South Lobby (#S-3) to showcase the many ways that people can use Flipnote Studio to create original works of art.

Some of the artists scheduled to be on hand include Scott Kurtz (PvP), Eric Jones (DC Comics: Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade), Christina Strain (Marvel Comics: Runaways), Mike Choi (Marvel: X-Force), Edison Yan (5th Cell: Scribblenauts) and Ryan Jones (Telltale Games: Tales of Monkey Island).