DS dominates Japanese game sales charts
by Kyle Orland 
{ Aug 31st 2006 at 10:25AM }
We already know that the Nintendo DS is hotter than sliced bread in Japan, but this week's Japanese sales charts show just how dominant the system is in the land of the rising sun -- the top ten best-selling games in Japan for the week of Aug. 21 - 27 were all Nintendo DS games. The list is dominated by the new DS remake of Final Fantasy III, which quickly sold over half a million copies in the Square-obsessed nation, but older games like the original Brain Age and Animal Crossing Wild World are also holding on to the top ten. The DS also dominated Japanese hardware sales, selling nearly three times as much as all other systems combined.
It would seem Nintendo's Japanese numbers have nowhere to go but down, but with the coming release of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, it's anyone's guess how large Nintendo's lead in the country could get.
Read - Japanese source numbers
Read - Translated rankings from NeoGAF
[Thanks Davis]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kye @ Aug 31st 2006 10:32AM
Nintendo! FTW!
(always wanted to do that)
LunarDuality @ Aug 31st 2006 10:35AM
I am sorry but that is amazing! The entire top ten?!? I love my DS and everything but this still boggles the mind. Lucky for Sony the PSP is doing decently in this country.
Zero_ @ Aug 31st 2006 10:42AM
500,000 in 1 week is more than most games will ever make. Crazy.
existonfile @ Aug 31st 2006 10:42AM
God! Doesn't every japanese citizen already have the DS? How is it still selling 150K units a week? I know it's been said many times before, but if this success translates to the Wii, then Sony is gonna be in for a hell of a fight this gen.
zero2dash @ Aug 31st 2006 10:44AM
Gameplay > graphics is the reason the DS is a success, and it's possible that the Wii will follow suit and continue the tradition.
John Lucas @ Aug 31st 2006 10:45AM
You think THAT'S something?
Wait until the Wii comes out.
(ignore the unintentional pun)
John Lucas
P.S.: the best part of all this is Nintendo profits on all of this by design. No losslead technique here. They're making dollars ON TOP of their dollars!
Antonio @ Aug 31st 2006 10:49AM
I knew this was going to happen and should have guessed that it would happen when FF3 was released. Incredible. If the Wii comes close to replicating sales of the DS, Sony will surely be relagated to second place in Japan. Who would have thought that two years ago?
James @ Aug 31st 2006 10:50AM
I know you've all heard this 5000 times... but does anyone know where i can find the North American sales charts?
Btw 360 > all
bm @ Aug 31st 2006 10:51AM
"God! Doesn't every japanese citizen already have the DS?"
Well, you'd wonder the same about the PS2 which is still near the top of the charts after all these years. =p So really, I don't think the DS is going anywhere soon.
Ryan @ Aug 31st 2006 10:56AM
Now, I like Nintendo about as much as the next average Joe, but I think that this may be a sign of the Apocalypse.
striderhayasa @ Aug 31st 2006 10:53AM
it's interesting too because Zelda is still due out for the DS. That's going to be another system seller for sure.
would a FFVII remake for PSP even matter at this point?
Is Metal Gear Portable Ops and Gran Turismo for PSP going to stop Nintendo's gravy train?
Jeez...I wouldn't want to be a member of Sony's PSP martketing team right about now...
David @ Aug 31st 2006 10:53AM
I'll cover all the flamers before they get here (copied from GamesAreFun.com):
--------------------------------------------
Yeah great, but exactly how many of those are GAMES and not stupid maths stupid stuff. Rune Factory is a FARMING SIM, NOT A GAME, so shouldn't even be on the chart.
And Every single one of them is from Nintendo, showing that 3rd party games can't sell on the DS. That's why no third parties are making games for it or Wii, because Final Fantasy needs Sony to sell.
And just because the DS succeeds doesn't mean the Wii will. Nintendo has always ruled handhelds. Absolutely no-one expected the PSP to beat the DS, so Nintendo haven't proved anything.
Anyway, it's just little kids buying DS because their parents wont get them a PSP because the games are TOO MATURE and for adults, not little kids games like Mario.
DJ_Nutz @ Aug 31st 2006 10:57AM
Seems like the video game taste divide between Japan and the rest of the world continues to grow. The further Japan gets away from the mainstream tastes of USA, Europe and the rest of Asia, the more they become a niche cultural market.
Derbeste @ Aug 31st 2006 11:16AM
So when is Nintendo going 3rd party again?
Anyway...I really hope this solidifies Square and Nintendo's relationship again for a while. It's clear they both benefit from a friendship.
I predict the DS will not be leaving the top spot in the hardware chart until the Wii/PS3 is released.
Next month you have the first DS designed Pokemon games. Shortly after, you have Zelda DS: Phantom Hourglass. That will take you close to November and a POSSIBLE release for the Wii and/or (probably or) PS3.
So basically....watching sales charts is going to be very boring (read not going to change at all) for the next few months. Then things are going to get entertaining.
Paul P. @ Aug 31st 2006 10:59AM
Wow, I can't believe that's a real post, David. Is gamesarefun usually like that? That's worse than gamefaqs.
Psaakyrn @ Aug 31st 2006 10:59AM
to #11 striderhayasa
Pokemon's coming out earlier. And I think it'll have a bigger effect than Zelda..
David @ Aug 31st 2006 11:02AM
"The further Japan gets away from the mainstream tastes of USA, Europe and the rest of Asia, the more they become a niche cultural market"
Erm... a 'niche cultural market' that make 85% of the best games, and 90% of the worlds gaming hardware?
Supes @ Aug 31st 2006 11:02AM
"Absolutely no-one expected the PSP to beat the DS, so Nintendo haven't proved anything."
You're joking, right? Practically the entire industry scoffed and scratched their heads when Iwata-san unveiled the DS several years ago. The whole press -- and I mean people like Matt from IGN, Dan from EGM, and the folks at Gamespot were skeptical how well the DS would do against the then perceived media powerhouse of the PSP.
The DS' success was surely mentioned by some, but I think it's a misconception to think that the majority held the view that it was going to be the success it has now become.
The same skepticism now surrounds the Wii. No one is banking on it taking the world by storm -- proof: check all those professional analyst reports. While a DS storm by no means predicts Wii's future, it does bode well for Nintendo that gamers -- casual or not -- appear to be gravitating towards different gameplay mechanics.
David @ Aug 31st 2006 11:03AM
#16 - nah, it's a joke post I copied from there.
James @ Aug 31st 2006 11:11AM
#18 i'm sorry but, what facts back up the statement of 85% of the best games?
Woody @ Aug 31st 2006 11:14AM
Who cares what "type" of games are selling, the fact is they are selling, LOTS. New cool games (of some sort) is selling Hardware units, which in turn is selling more games. I'm sure lots of people didn't own a DS until FF3 came out, now they will, and will probably buy other games. The same will happen (I'm hoping ) when SimCity comes out over here. Nintendo is creating a perfect storm in Japan and we are starting to see and feel the effects over here. The Top 10 of DS will only continue like everyone has said with more 'killer' games that sell more hardware which sells more games.
Now developers are starting to see this too and are making more games for the DS (which in turn will sell more units).
FYI, I own 12 DS games myself and have another 3 pre-ordered....
I'm NOT a fanboy....I like to play games.
Derbeste @ Aug 31st 2006 11:15AM
{Yeah great, but exactly how many of those are GAMES and not stupid maths stupid stuff. Rune Factory is a FARMING SIM, NOT A GAME, so shouldn't even be on the chart.}
So now the only argument Nintendo haters have left is to say "they don't count. They aren't really games". If you are interacting with it for ENTERTAINMENT...it's a GAME!! This proves how desparate haters are getting. That argument is REALLY grasping at straws.
{And Every single one of them is from Nintendo, showing that 3rd party games can't sell on the DS. That's why no third parties are making games for it or Wii, because Final Fantasy needs Sony to sell.}
FF3, 3on3 Mario, Tamogachi 2 (I believe) are 3rd party games. There may be others, but I'm too lazy to look them up. The argument is rediculous. Again....grasping at straws.
{And just because the DS succeeds doesn't mean the Wii will. Nintendo has always ruled handhelds. Absolutely no-one expected the PSP to beat the DS, so Nintendo haven't proved anything.}
The first sentence is logical. The last sentence is the most backpedaling I've seen in a VERY long time. Everyone said that Sony was the first to beat Nintendo in the home, so the PSP will obviously be the first to dethrone the gameboy.
{Anyway, it's just little kids buying DS because their parents wont get them a PSP because the games are TOO MATURE and for adults, not little kids games like Mario.}
Once again....coming up with reasons why "sales don't count". This statement is just as desparate as the "they aren't really games" argument. In case you haven't figured it out, kid's and parent's money IS STILL MONEY! Furthermore, haven't you figured out from the previous generations that kids grow up? It's easier to get their loyalty when they are little! This whole argument is the groanings of aging men lamenting that their time is past. It is the fear that the world has begun to slowly forget them because they aren't being targeted for every new product. The next generation is becoming more important. This was inevitable. Sucks when the world moves on, doesn't it?
Ichidou @ Aug 31st 2006 11:16AM
You know, I always said that the DS would best the PSP. Unfortunately, in my group of friends, I appeared to be the only person who believed so. So, with news like this, I can slap their sony-fanboy faces silly while playing this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD-5YZX16N0
on repeat.
indeed. Sweet victory ^_^
H-QB @ Aug 31st 2006 11:16AM
Pokemon is sooo going to make the world collapse.
I for one welcome our new DS Game Overlords. =D
James @ Aug 31st 2006 11:17AM
Everytime I go into game I see a 10-12 year old with his mum buying him a PSP or a PSP game.
Cabbage @ Aug 31st 2006 11:17AM
I know David's copied post was a joke, but I just want to clarify that there are third party titles on that list. Tamagotchi is by Namco-Bandai and the Final Fantasy series is obviously not published by Nintendo. Mario Hoops 3-on-3 was also developed by Squeenix, though published by Nintendo.
Were there no new games released for the PS2 this past week? Usually PS2 has at least one title up on the top 10 for being it's first week out. I'd hate to have my new release trounced by eight older games (some of them MUCH older).
James @ Aug 31st 2006 11:19AM
Once again, does anyknow know of a site where i can view the north american sales charts?
Derbeste @ Aug 31st 2006 11:21AM
James:
NA sales are not released weekly like in Japan.
They are released Monthly in NA.
You'll have to wait until the end of the month.......tomorrow.
James @ Aug 31st 2006 11:22AM
Yes I belive Gamespot have them.
James @ Aug 31st 2006 11:26AM
#29 i know, but even when they do come out, i swear i never see them posted here lol... that's why i was asking if there was somewhere i could see the results, even last months.
w00t @ Aug 31st 2006 11:30AM
FANBOYGASM! *FAINTS*
Sony Fanboy @ Aug 31st 2006 11:53AM
X360 failure in Japan
X360 failure in Japan
X360 failure in Japan
X360 failure in Japan
X360 failure in Japan
X360 failure in Japan
X360 failure in Japan
X360 failure in Japan
OTAM @ Aug 31st 2006 12:03PM
My favorite thing about Japan is how when they build a mental wall off from the rest of the world and their products they are "enlightened","intelligent" and "proud",but when I do it i'm a redneck,ignorant American.
pixelator @ Aug 31st 2006 12:12PM
"his whole argument is the groanings of aging men lamenting that their time is past. It is the fear that the world has begun to slowly forget them because they aren't being targeted for every new product."
How are Mario Kart & Starfox from the early 90's and Super Mario Bros. from the mid 80's NOT targeting the older males who remember the classics? Seems to me that's what the DS is all about, and probably one reason it's doing so well - the retro market, a goodly portion of which in Japan is older males (30-40).
Pip @ Aug 31st 2006 12:15PM
Huh? These games are selling like crazy all over the world, not just Japan. Do you think FF3 wont sell when it is released in the USA when it is released?
All of those games are respected by everyone on the planet, not just Japan. Sure, the USA has different tastes, but not by as much as you think.
Mark @ Sep 4th 2006 5:09AM
September 2005
PS2 = 268,000
GBA = 185,000
DS = 164,000
PSP = 151,000
Xbox = 124,000
GCN = 108,000
October 2005
PS2 = 252,000
GBA = 208,000
DS = 136,000
PSP = 131,000
Xbox = 110,000
GCN = 102,000
November 2005
GBA = 820 000
PS2 = 531 000
NDS = 370 000
PSP = 353 000
360 = 326 000
GCN = 272 000
XBOX = 197 000
December 2005
PS2 - 1,500,000 / 32,383,985
GBA/GBM - 1,213,196 / 31,805,929
PSP - 1,120,000 / 3,633,964
DS - 1,070,000 / 3,817,883
GC - 606,423 / 10,883,560
XB - 415,000 / 14,095,752
XB360 - 281,441 / 607,343
January 2006
PlayStation 2 - 272.000
Xbox 360 - 249.000
PSP - 179.000
GBA/GBM - 172.000
Nintendo DS - 158.000
Xbox - 89.000
Gamecube - 66.000
February 2006
PS2 - 299,000
GBA - 190,000
PSP - 170,000
360 - 161,000
DS - 150,000
Xbox - 88,000
GCN - 67,000
March 2006
PS2 = 273,000
GBA = 201,000
Xbox 360 = 192,000
PSP = 186,000
NDS = 184,000
Xbox = 83,000
GameCube = 63,000
April
Xbox 360 = 295,381
PS2 = 206,995
GBA = 169,115
PSP = 162,438
DS = 138,427
Xbox = 38,987
GameCube = 38,028
May
PS2 = 231,616
Xbox 360 = 220,877
PSP = 159,659
GBA = 152,023
NDS = 145,930
GameCube = 33,040
Xbox = 26,353
June
NDS = 593,000
PS2 = 312,000
Xbox 360 = 277,000
PSP = 221,000
GBA = 189,000
GameCube = 51,000
Xbox = 24,000
July
NDS = 377,000
PS2 = 241,000
360 = 206,000
GBA = 163,000
PSP = 161,000
GCN = 44,000
XBOX = 12,000
August probably wont be ready for a couple of weeks..
Gabriel @ Aug 31st 2006 12:29PM
@34.
That's because Japan builds a mental wall around it. And just live inside it...
Americans build the mental wall and place gigantic flashy
billboards on the outside saying "It's much better in here"
Jeff @ Aug 31st 2006 12:37PM
"My favorite thing about Japan is how when they build a mental wall off from the rest of the world and their products they are "enlightened","intelligent" and "proud",but when I do it i'm a redneck,ignorant American."
When our products start being better than theirs, then you won't be a redneck, ignorant American anymore.
The thing that people like you seem to continuously fail to realize, despite people like me pointing it out repeatedly, is that the Japanese buy western products *all the time*. There's no "mental wall" there. So their choice of games should be telling you there's a defect in the western product being offered, nothing else. The fact that it's telling you that they're a bunch of racists says more about you than it does about them.
Back in the 1980's, you probably would have bought a Cadillac Cimarron and said it was a better car than the Honda Accord. Then you would have complained how the Japanese are a bunch of racists because the Cimarron doesn't sell there.
Olsta @ Aug 31st 2006 12:47PM
Going back to post no.26 - I agree completely with James. I live in London and every time I go into GAME, there is almost always a 10-14 year old boy buying a PSP with his mum. However, the DS stand usually attracts girls, kids, adults and people like me who have grown up with Nintendo.
Now, I'm not saying that this is the case for the whole country, but it is a trend that I see in every games shop I've been into for the past 6 months.
I've never seen this amount of interest in Nintendo is England before - the DS really has worked wonders.
is @ Aug 31st 2006 12:59PM
Eveyone thought that the PSP would beat out the DS. Some sony fanboys still do, bless em. It was arguing with someone about that very point that earned me my negative star. Look at it now - its a behemoth that cannot be stopped.
Does the Ds's success fortell the future of Wii? Why shouldnt it, they operate on the exact same philosophy: innovative and intuitive control method, a mix of simple 'childish' (lol) games and in depth titles, and a reasonable price point. Likewise, the PSP and PS3 have the same parallel - a focus away from gaming to all round multimedia, with the power and versitility of the systems touted as their greatest strength, and of course, the hefty price tags.
Seems very logical to me to compare the handheld market to the home consoles in this case. Heh.
nick @ Aug 31st 2006 1:05PM
Iwata is golden.
H-QB @ Aug 31st 2006 1:09PM
Gabe (#37)
Self imposed inferiority complex is bad for your health, yo. (lol)
Olsta @ Aug 31st 2006 1:26PM
@40
I genuinely hope you are right, but I suspect that the PS3 will still be massively successful. I think Nintendo really needs to shed its childish image - I personally don't assume that cartoony graphics = childish game, but you'd be surprised how many narrow minded people there are out there. I know many people who won't even touch a Mario game because of the way it is presented.
The DS is doing well at destroying this myth, but I got my white DS Lite out at work last week and a rather overweight PSP owner remarked: "The DS - isn't that for children?"
THAT'S what Nintendo needs to address with the Wii.
geekRECON @ Sep 1st 2006 12:27AM
Wow, go DS!
is @ Aug 31st 2006 1:44PM
Olsta, I disagree. If fat sony fanboys want to miss out on great fun games because they dont get to see digital blood and breasts then so be it.
What I see with DS's success is people becoming aware that games are about fun, and nintendo do fun games better than anybody. Look at a game like brain age: hideously addictive, effortlessly simple and amazing fun. THATS what I want to see from the Wii (along with the less simple, addictive fun games like metroid zelda etc) and sony fans can continue to pay through the nose for high res blood all they want.
I don't want Nintendo to change to appease the masses, I want the masses to realise whats so great about Nintendo. Thats the trend DS has set that I see continuing with the Wii.
BPM? @ Aug 31st 2006 1:41PM
James, Joystiq ALWAYS posts the monthy US sales charts. And from time to time, they also post the UK sales.
Oh, and this needs to be posted:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/BPMdotEXE/Random/Animations/ItPrintsMoney.gif
Gabriel @ Aug 31st 2006 1:47PM
@42 (H-QB)
No inferiority complex, I'm not even american.
But before I get a stone inside my skull, it's not an anti-usa feeling either.
It's just that, you know, every people have its flaws.
I could point many stupid things we brazilians tend to do, but this is not the place.
On the "nintendos teh kiddish" subject, I think that this image will probably stick to the Wii even more
than it did with the NGC, the difference is that the Wii actually has the power to overcome this.
The way I see it, if Nintendo wins the console war and get rid of the kiddie image, it will probably be one of the most amazing brand repositioning cases in history...
(and a question:
If the PS2, NGC and XB are constantly refferred to as "last-gen" and the PS3, Wii and X360 are the "next-gen", wtf are the current-gen consoles?)
Evan @ Aug 31st 2006 2:58PM
"Everytime I go into game I see a 10-12 year old with his mum buying him a PSP or a PSP game."
Maybe that's the problem. The PSP's primary appeal is to 10-12 year old boys, who need their mum to buy their games for them. How many games is mum going to buy for little Johnny?
Meanwhile, the DS appeals to adults (in Japan). Half of those top selling DS titles are for adults (Brain Age, Brain Age 2, Cooking Navi, English Training), and many of the other titles have adult appeal (FF3 for fans who remember the original, Animal Crossing for teen girls, etc). Adults have a lot more disposible income to spend on a DS than a 12-year-old boy has to spend on a PSP.
However, the Wii will be a tougher sell to casual adult gamers than the DS. The DS fits perfectly into the stereotypical Japanese lifestyle. Playing a handheld adds leisure time into the day, but playing a tv-based console consumes already existing leisure time, and therefore has to compete with television and the internet.
Ichidou @ Aug 31st 2006 1:57PM
"
(and a question:
If the PS2, NGC and XB are constantly refferred to as "last-gen" and the PS3, Wii and X360 are the "next-gen", wtf are the current-gen consoles?"
Ngage, of course!
striderhayasa @ Aug 31st 2006 2:32PM
@ Psaakyrn
Good Point....well made.
@ is
I agree and I think a good example of that is StarFox Command. I bought it two days ago and played it and pondered over it. It was weird...I couldn't wrap my mind around it and was about to take it back to the store. Then I got to a mission that required three fighters and "poof" it clicked. I got it. I see the depth of it now. It's not perfect but Nintendo has something unique to build on with Starfox Command. I went online with it and after three matches "poof" again. I got it...the controls made sense to me. All Nintendo has to keep doing is making fun games.