GameSpasm

Disgaea developer and publisher Nippon Ichi didn't have the best 2009, dood. Last week, the company announced its earnings for the first nine months of its fiscal year (ending December 31, 2009), recording operating profits 97.5% lower than those of 2008.

This week, reacting to the news of the precipitous drop, investors freaked out a bit and the price of NIS stock on the Japanese JASDAQ exchange dropped ¥7,000 ($78.42), almost 20%. JASDAQ froze the price, or it might have dropped further. Siliconera posted a list of all recent and upcoming NIS games. Have a look -- we're sure NIS America would really, really appreciate a purchase of Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love or Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman 2 in the next few months.

Nippon Ichi earnings plummet in 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: disgaea, earnings, Japan, Nippon ichi Software, nippon-ichi, recession

Related posts

• The weirdest trailer you’ll see today: Absolute Hero Modding Project (0)
• Prinny 2 named ‘Dawn of the Great Pantsu War,’ coming to Japan on March 25 (0)
• Nippon Ichi to focus on PS3, plans new Disgaea game (0)
• Nippon Ichi Software, This Can’t Be Good (Part II) [Prinny] (0)
• Nippon Ichi president resigning at the end of March (0)

The New York Times took a first look at holiday sales and, while finding that it didn't suck as bad as last year for retailers, found someone to remind us that stores aren't the only ones deserving of concern.

"This is not the year for silly stuff," said Keith Browning, 50 of Columbus, Ohio. He lost his job at a Honda plant and struck out on his own. "My brother gave me a Wii video game. I'm definitely returning that. We need some new pots and pans for the house. And I need tools to get my company going."

Last year, I bought my parents a Wii for Christmas, then was laid off from a gig in Silicon Valley. Mom demanded that I return the machine, and when I told her the Amazon reseller wouldn't take it, she insisted I sell it and pocket the money, which I did.

So I can understand where this guy is coming from, with the "silly stuff" comment. We've heard plenty about video games being high-value diversions similar to what movie houses provided back in the Depression. But for some people, when you're not working - or not working enough - giving or playing games just doesn't feel right.

Browning's quote is the definition of anecdotal, but I'm wondering if it portends a shopping mindset that means bad things for games this year.

A Tentative Sparkle Enlivens Holiday Shopping [The New York Times]

Tags: Holidays, recession, retail, shopping, Walmart

Related posts

• Walmart opens Gamecenter online store (0)
• Walmart and Best Buy cease used games trade-in operations (0)
• Toys ‘R Us Enters Holiday Sales Fray [Dealtaku] (0)
• NPD discovers why people braved the Black Friday crowds (0)
• Microsoft Stores printing PC games on location (0)

NPD, known in the video game world for its US sales charts, has released its first study of the Black Friday phenomenon. "The Anatomy of Black Friday 2009" is based on a survey of 1,700 shoppers about their Black Friday shopping activities. Why, exactly, did shoppers wake up at ridiculous times and stand out in the cold just for the privilege of being crammed into Best Buy or wherever like sardines? For 35% of Black Friday shoppers, it was a specific item. "I saw an item I wanted advertised on sale" was the top response, followed by "I was just curious to see what was out there."

The top reason for not subjecting themselves to the crowds and queues to buy anything on Black Friday? No, it wasn't "I'm not crazy," it was "no money."

NPD discovers why people braved the Black Friday crowds originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: anatomy-of-black-friday-2009, Black Friday, black-friday-2009, deals, npd, recession, shopping

Related posts

• Confirmed for Black Friday: Old Navy giving Lego Rock Band with $20 clothing purchase (0)
• Black Friday Deals Round-Up [Deals] (0)
• Steam’s Black Friday deals will probably put it out of business (0)
• Steam Deals Day Two: KOTOR, Dead Space, L4D2 discounted (0)
• Steam Deals Day Three: Resident Evil 5, Left 4 Dead, Borderlands on sale (0)

You can tell the recession is dramatically affecting folks all over the United States when stories about kidnappers forcing their detainee to buy them gaming consoles arise. That's exactly what Kyle Yarkosky is alleging that David Daniels and another unnamed suspect did to him, after forcing him at gunpoint into their vehicle, having him steal his stepfather's credit card, and then drive to the local Walmart where they made him buy them a PlayStation 3.

Naples News reports that the suspected assailants entered the Pebblebrooke Lakes gated community in a white truck, with Yarkosky following behind on foot, said to be headed to "meet a friend." Instead, the truck allegedly stopped, with Daniels and "an Asian-looking man" exiting and ordering Yarkosky into their vehicle. The two suspects are said to have forced Yarkosky to steal his stepfather's credit card and drive to a local Walmart, where Daniels intended on having a gun purchased. When the gun counter was closed, he then requested Yarkosky purchase a PlayStation 3. According to reports, Daniels then told Yarkosky he was "free to go," thus ending the ordeal.

[Thanks Kreyg!]

Man forced by kidnappers to purchase a PlayStation 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: collier-county, Crime, david-daniels, economy, Florida, kidnapping, kyle-yarkosky, naples-news, recession, robberytheft, TheFlamingLips, Wal-Mart Stores, Wal-martStores, walmart ad, WalmartAd

Related posts

• PS3: It Only Does Kidnapping … [Ruh Roh] (0)
• Wii-Bowling Drug Cops Get Off Lite [Ruh Roh] (0)
• This Warcraft Player Will Not Go Quietly Into The Night [Rage] (0)
• Pot, Video Games, Child Care: Which One Is Not Like the Other? [Tragedy] (0)
• Police Seek Woman Who Seduced Teen via PlayStation Home [Crime] (0)