Via Gamasutra
As we've recently remarked here on Gamasutra, Nintendo's DS continues to dominate both hardware and software sales in Japan. But we looked to Ricciardi and Minamoto for some more explanation - is it that the DS is penetrating new retail stores, or is it just that existing stores are selling massive amounts of DS games? Riccardi comments of the games: "I think they're just being sold more in places they were already sold... Most people will buy their games at [large Japanese electronics retail stores] Bic Camera or Yodobashi Camera - you will get discounts [with a special loyalty card]."
But overall, Ricciardi noted that the DS has "...broken [games] into a much more mainstream thing than it used to be." For example, Minamoto's father recently bought a DS without any prompting from her. Ricciardi continues of the DS' near-total domination of the game charts: "I don't see it slowing down soon... [even though] you can't predict anything here.. it's penetrated so much." Minamoto adds: "So many people just bought the DS - they're not going to throw it out after 6 months.."
So why is DS especially popular in Japan - and may not ever reach that level in the West? Apart from the content being right, Ricciardi notes: "The culture here is more suitable to have a handheld game in the first place", with plenty of train journeys and other opportunities to play brief game sessions. Minamoto adds: "The Keitai [cellphone] industry opened up the possibility of playing games in such a way - that's why DS had an easier path."
