PS3 at 1m in Asia, PSP at 6m

SCE Asia give hardware unit shipments for PS3 and PSP in this interesting interview:

PSP: 6,000,000
PS3: 1,000,000

They hope to sell 200,000 units of Final Fantasy XIII in the region. They released the Japanese version simultaneously with Japan in December, and will release the English version simultaneously with the West in March, followed by a Chinese version in May.

As I recently speculated on they also confirmed that they will shortly officially enter the Philippines market for the first time.

SCE Asia currently cover Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Singaporean market shares (GfK Asia)

Singaporean market shares:

PS3: 40%
360: 35%
Wii: 25%

Wii breaks 1 million in South Korea, DS past 3 million

Press Release

These figures should be sold to retail;

Hardware:

NDS: 3 million
Wii: 1 million

Software:

[WII] Wii Sports: 290,000
[WII] Wii Fit: 240,000
[NDS] New Super Mario Bros.: 460,000
[NDS] Brain Training 400,000
[NDS] Nintendogs: 310,000
[NDS] English Training 240k
[NDS] Magical Chinese Letters Training: 110,000

SCE Asia enters Vietnamese market

A while ago SCE Asia said it had abandoned efforts to enter mainland China after several years of attempts due to the lack of cooperation by the Chinese government in legalising video game consoles. Instead it said it would focus on expanding it's presence in South East Asia. This must also be the reason why the 2007 announcement by Nintendo of plans to launch the Wii in mainland China during 2008 never materialised.

Following it's entrance into the Indonesian market in November SCE Asia continues it's South East Asian expansion with the initiation of it's PlayStation business in Vietnam. Having already been present in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, along with Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan this now leaves the Philippines as the only significant market economy in East Asia without official operations by SCE Asia excluding mainland China. It would seem that the Philippines is likely to be the next and final territory in SCE Asia's SE Asian expansion plans.

Press Release

Hồ Chí Minh, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 16th January, 2010 – Sony Computer Entertainment Asia (SCE Asia) today announced that the company will initiate the PlayStation® business in Socialist Republic of Vietnam on 16th January, 2010, making the world’s popular computer entertainment systems and services available to the PlayStation fans and consumers in the country. Vietnam will be the 8th country and region in the SCE Asia territories.

Along with the initiation of the PlayStation business in Vietnam, SCE Asia will introduce to the market, PlayStation®3 (PS3™) (CECH-2006A) (body color: charcoal black) computer entertainment system featuring an extremely streamlined form factor with a 120GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD), PlayStation®2 (SCPH-90006CB) computer entertainment system, the world's most selling computer entertainment system and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) (PSP-3006) handheld entertainment system. The PS3, PlayStation 2 and PSP system will become available in stores from 16th January, 2010, at very attractive suggested retail prices of VND 9,990,000, VND 4,490,000 and VND 5,990,000 respectively (including tax). With the launch of the PlayStation platforms, users in Vietnam will be able to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment content including games, music and movies on the favorite entertainment systems.

PS3 launched in Thailand

PlayStation 3 launched locally

The increasing number of broadband users and the market to add the final pieces of the high-definition experience for consumers in Thailand led Sony Thailand to introduce PlayStation 3 here, said Yoji Higashida, senior director of consumer marketing group.

The company started selling the new slimmer and lighter PlayStation 3 (CECH-2006A) with a 120GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD) that can serve as a platform to enjoy home entertainment content including Blu-ray movies and games, at the suggested price of 15,590 baht, including VAT.

The launch in Thailand is nearly the same as the launch in Malaysia and Indonesia in the region since it first global launch in Japan, the US and Europe this September.

The suggested price may be higher than the grey market but it offers a 15-month service guarantee and after-sales service from Sony. Moreover, the import tax in Thailand is 20 percent higher than other countries in Asean, which range 0-10 percent.

Meanwhile, the game title import tax is high at 30 percent which makes the price high and it needs to audit for the content under Thai regulations which still has only a fifth of PS3 software available from Sony. Or users are able to store plenty of games available through the PlayStation Network which offers digital content including game titles, trailers and demos via the PlayStation Store.

Moreover, Sony Thailand and Sony Computer Entertainment Asia will explore opportunities to collaborate with universities in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore to educate and train students using their development tools writing game software on its platform.

The company plans to offers it synergy with its HD product lines. "For example, in this holiday season, we may offer a bundle promotion for customers who buy a Bravia LCD TV 40 inch will get special discount for PS3. This shows that PS3 is the last jigsaw piece to fill the HD world for Sony customer," Yoji said.

Link

SCE Asia officially enter Indonesian market

Press Release:

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT ASIA STARTS
ITS PLAYSTATION® BUSINESS IN REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
New Slimmer & Lighter PlayStation®3 and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) (PSP-3006) and
PSP® (PlayStation®Portable)go (PSP-N1006) First Hit to Indonesian Market on 1st of October 2009

Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia, October 1, 2009 – Sony Computer Entertainment Asia (SCE Asia) today announced that the company will initiate the PlayStation® business in Republic of Indonesia on October 1, 2009, making the world’s popular computer entertainment systems and services available to the PlayStation fans and consumers in the country. Indonesia will be the 7th country in the SCE Asia territories.

Along with the initiation of the PlayStation business in Indonesia, SCE Asia will introduce to the market, the new PlayStation®3 (PS3™) (CECH-2006A) computer entertainment system featuring an extremely streamlined form factor with a 120GB Hard Disk Drive, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) (PSP-3006) handheld entertainment system in 7 colors, a wide selection to choose from to match the user’s lifestyle and preference, as well as a new evolution of the PSP system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) go (PSP-N1006). The new PS3, PSP and PSPgo will become available in stores from 1st of October, 2009, at very attractive suggested retail prices of 4,499,000rb, 2,599,000rb and 3,599,000rb respectively (including tax). With the launch of the PlayStation platforms, users in Indonesia will be able to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment content including games, music, photos and movies as well as services through PlayStation®Network on the favorite entertainment systems.