That net income is more than? ?5? ?percent larger than what Konami made at its 2008 Q3? ?report,? ?and a considerably impressive gain in the context of? ?Japan’s ongoing recession and the global economic downturn.? Konami has however set its full fiscal year forecast to? ?¥18? ?billion,? ?a slight trimming from the full FY08? ?net income? of ?¥18.5? ?billion.
For the nine months ended December? ?2008,? ?total net revenues hit? ?¥234? ?billion and total operating income reached? ?¥34.7? ?billion,? ?up? ?5? ?percent and? ?25? ?percent respectively from the same period last year.
Software Sales.
While Konami's sales in Japan were trimmed by some 610,000 units, the publisher saw a sales surge in North America; rising more than 155 percent to reach 6.37 million sales for the first three FY09 quarters. Europe and Asia too saw steady gains:
Source: Konami FY09
This could largely be attributed to two series.? ?The first,? ?Metal Gear Solid,? ?singlehandedly drove FY09? ?unit sales by? ?4.5? ?million.? ?However,? ?Konami also states that the nine months ending December saw? ?7.41? ?million unit sales in its? “?soccer games?” ?category?; ?of which the Pro Evolution series is largely responsible for.
As shown below,? ?50? ?percent of Konami units sales in FY09? ?were for the PS3? ?and PS2? ?systems? (?split? ?32? ?and? ?18? ?percent respectively?)?.? ?The results bring into consideration how decisive Metal Gear Solid and Pro Evolution Soccer has been for the publisher?. Kojima’s fourth proper MGS title remains a PS3? ?exclusive,? ?and the brand association between Pro Evo and Playstation still remains deep-rooted into the European gaming conscience.
Source: Konami FY09
Top Image: Wired.