Japanese software sales: week ending 02.25.07

by Jonti Davies { Mar 1st 2007 at 4:44AM }

Media Create's Japanese sales data for the past week has just been released, revealing a PS3-free Top 30 that is headed by a monster hit (yes) for the PSP at Number One. For more mixed signals, set your dials to receive this week's Top Ten:

Monster Hunter Portable 2nd - 705,281 units sold last week (new entry / Capcom, PSP)
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - 80,002 (new entry / Alchemist, PS2)
Fire Emblem: Dawn Goddess - 75,359 (new entry / Nintendo, Wii)
Sim City DS - 50,826 (new entry / EA, DS)
Professor Layton and the Mysterious Town - 49,979 (186,716 sales to date / Level-5, DS)
Wii Sports - 47,503 (1,090,736 / Nintendo, Wii)
Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen EX - 45,792 (new entry / Tomy, Wii)
Dragon Quest Monsters Joker - 40,507 (1,174,576 / SquareEnix, DS)
Wii Play - 35,811 (944,586 / Nintendo, Wii)
Picross DS - 26,693 (183,357 / Nintendo, DS)

And here are some lessons we can learn from the big figures:

The PSP is ALIVE, and Monster Hunter is the WINNER
EA ~~has~~ had a place in Japan, after all (see also: firing the whole Japanese studio was a really clever thing for EA to do)
There are as many Wii titles as there are DS games in this week's Top Ten -- Japan is bowing to its Nintendo duarchy

Tags: Capcom, Japan, Layton, Media Create, MediaCreate, Monster Hunter, MonsterHunter, sale, sales chart, SalesChart, Sim City DS, SimCityDs

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

MysticX @ Mar 1st 2007 5:07AM

One hit for the PSP is not enough. Even though this game has monstrous sales numbers.

And, it shows once again that Nintendo is dominating Japan with just as many DS games as Wii games.

NintendoFanbot @ Mar 1st 2007 5:26AM

Yay for Capcom!

^_^

Scumdog @ Mar 1st 2007 5:30AM

No PS3 games in the top 30? What about Virtua Fighter 5? Or the amazing Motor Storm?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!1

rico @ Mar 1st 2007 5:32AM

705,281 units. That is sick. I want that game now

Rubang B @ Mar 1st 2007 5:36AM

Damn, Kudos to Sony for having the top 2 slots with a PSP superkiller and a PS2 game. And kudos to Nintendo for having the next 8 slots and who knows how many more, considering the PS3 isn't in the top 30, and I'm sure the 360 isn't doing too well in Japan anyway.

You know, seriously Sony isn't doing that bad. It's just.... they should scrap all development for the PS2 and kill the thing, outsource all PSP development, and focus 100% on the PS3 right now. What is Sony's motivation for keeping the PS2 so alive right now? They can only be doing it for posterity, so in 20 years they can look back on how fucking ridiculous PS2 sales were. But in 20 years we'll also be looking back on how the PS3 never got a fair chance because of it.

It's like Sony isn't pitting the PS3 versus the Wii and 360 because they're busy looking at this historically and pitting the PS2 against the original Game Boy.

ShaleX @ Mar 1st 2007 5:55AM

Remember everybody, the Japanese are just like the US. A name brand can sell, and will sell. So... Goooooo 15th Naruto game released this year.

Aex @ Mar 1st 2007 5:57AM

"One hit for the PSP is not enough. Even though this game has monstrous sales numbers."

Maybe not, but 700k copies sold in 1 week sure shuts up the people who said the psp is dead. At least for a little while.

"What is Sony's motivation for keeping the PS2 so alive right now?"

Because the PS2 makes up for the loss on the PS3 and nearly every week they have a nice selling title on it meaning a nice source of revenue. That and Sony would like to keep their reputation for supporting their consoles well after the supposed "generation" ended. If they did it with the PS1, and they do it with the PS2, one could easily assume they could do it with the PS3, despite low sales to begin with.

Infil @ Mar 1st 2007 6:18AM

It's interesting. If you were to show this Top 10 list (just the top 10) to someone 3 years ago, they might think Sony was running away with the next-gen race, and all is as it was back then. Either that, or that the PSP was killing the DS.

Ahh, how statistics frozen in time can be so misleading.

Strangler @ Mar 1st 2007 6:19AM

"One hit for the PSP is not enough. Even though this game has monstrous sales numbers.
"

it isnt just one hit, tales of destiny 2 sold real well last week and I think metal slug anthology also did well (remember seeying it at liek 4 or something)>

Keif @ Mar 1st 2007 6:25AM

shaleX

Thats only because narutos been out for like 4-5 years now, and US is only now getting the games, its not like what we are getting here is new.

MustBeNice @ Mar 1st 2007 6:25AM

Did ANYONE look at the article, you Know CLICK THE READ ARTICLE BUTTON??????????? You can plainly see a PS3 title at #25. Just some more of the usual from JOYSTIQ!! AKA XBOX360STIQ. How sad keep on bashing the PS3. I guess everyone there has a real short meomory about the 360 launch, rember when Geometry Wars was ther killer Ap??? I DO!

smik @ Mar 1st 2007 6:30AM

"revealing a PS3-free Top 30"
BRILLIANT way to spin the fact that the top 2 are PS2 / PSP. Though PSP needs some more like this to catch up.

"What is Sony's motivation for keeping the PS2 so alive right now?"
Umm..because, unlike MS / Nintendo, they give full value to customers? Which would you prefer, a 3-4 year console (GC / XBOX) or one that launched One year earlier and is still superbly supported 1-2 years after the others died (PS2: 8-10 great games in 2006-07, incl FF12, Okami, GoW, Merc 2, Guitar Hero 2)
While Sony has loudly proclaimed the same kind of long support for PS3, it seems likely MS / Nint are likely to bring out another round in just 2-3 years with HD, bigger hard drive, etc.
Thats never mentioned when xbots talk about the PS3's price, 599/10 Y with BR, better quality, 60 GB, HDMI, free multiplayer vs 399/4Y for 360. (Though the Wii is very good value for money, albeit with older tech)

MustBeNice @ Mar 1st 2007 6:49AM

************EDIT YOUR POST JOYSTIQ**************

p.s. Read the article before you write a story!

Aeris130 @ Mar 1st 2007 6:50AM

Entire top-30, from NeoGAF. No PS3 in spot 25, but a 360 at 21(?).

And wo0t at the 4 Wii-titles in the top-10.

01. (PSP, Capcom) Monster Hunter Portable 2nd - 705,281 / NEW
02. (PS2, Alchemist) Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - 80,002 / NEW
03. (WII, Nintendo) Fire Emblem: Goddess of the Dawn - 75,359 / NEW
04. (NDS, EA) SimCity DS - 50,826 / NEW
05. (NDS, Level 5) Prof. Layton and the Mysterious Village - 49,979 / 186,716
06. (WII, Nintendo) Wii Sports - 47,053 / 1,090,736
07. (WII, Takara-Tomy) Naruto: Shippuuden Gekitou Ninja Taisen! EX - 45,792 / NEW
08. (NDS, Square-Enix) Dragon Quest Monsters Joker - 40,507 / 1,174,576
09. (WII, Nintendo) Wii Play - 35,811 / 944,586
10. (NDS, Nintendo) Picross DS - 26,693 / 183,357

11. (PS2, Banpresto) Lupin the 3rd: Death for Lupin from Love of Money
12. (NDS, Nintendo) More Brain Age
13. (NDS, Nintendo) New Super Mario Bros.
14. (NDS, Nintendo) Hotel Dusk: Room 215
15. (NDS, Nintendo) Animal Crossing Wild World
16. (NDS, Bandai-Namco) Keroro Gunsou Enshuu da yo! Zen-in Shuugou Part 2
17. (NDS, Nintendo) Wario: Master of Disguise
18. (NDS, Marvelous Interactive) Harvest Moon: The Island I Grew Up On
19. (NDS, Nintendo) Common Knowledge Training
20. (NDS, Nintendo) Mario Kart DS
21. (360, Microsoft) Crackdown
22. (NDS, Konami) Death Note
23. (NDS, Nintendo) Brain Age
24. (PS2, Nippon Ichi Software) Soul Cradle: Sekai wo Kurau Mono
25. (PSP, Bandai-Namco) Tales of Destiny 2
26. (NDS, Pokemon) Pokémon Diamond
27. (NDS, Nintendo) English Training
28. (NDS, IE Institute) Kanji Brain Test 2M
29. (NDS, Sega) Bleach DS 2nd: Kokui Hirameku Requiem
30. (PS2, Capcom) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

hegemonyhog @ Mar 1st 2007 7:00AM

They should edit the post to link to the right sales figures. In case you didn't notice, the top game on the linked list is a DS game...because the list is a week old.

BIAS!!!

...

...Towards last week.

moosey @ Mar 1st 2007 7:01AM

how is wii sports counted as a game when it comes with the console, i mean, is there wii sports that they sell singularly in its own case etc?

Rubang B @ Mar 1st 2007 7:03AM

@ comment #12, smik

Nintendo's consoles came out in 1983, 1990, 1996, 2001, and 2006, meaning they were 7, 6, 5, and 5 years apart.

Microsoft's consoles came out in 2001 and 2005, meaning they were 4 years apart.

Sony's consoles came out in 1994, 2000, and 2006, meaning they were 6 and 6 years apart.

You said Nintendo and Microsoft would have 3-4 year console cycles? You are either misinformed, lying, or a dick. Microsoft's a little fast, but damn, I don't even like Microsoft and I feel the need to tell you to shut up.

Anyway, the PS2 is 7 years old right now and needs to die if Sony gives a single shit about the PS3.

P.S. The Game Boy came out in 1989 and the Game Boy Color didn't come out until 1998. What the hell is that? (Answer: The most brutal domination ever.)

ss @ Mar 1st 2007 7:05AM

It's nice seeing the Sony fanboy @12 (smik) claiming the PS3 will be supported for 10 (ten) years.
Like anyone will be playing it by 2017? :))
Ten years, smik.
Like anyone today is playing their N64.
Or like anyone was playing their PSone in 2004.
Get your head out of Sony's ass and get back to reality, fanboys.

Rubang B @ Mar 1st 2007 7:14AM

Hey smik, sorry I quoted your 3-4 year comment. I forgot that later in your post you revised it to 2-3 years. You're totally right. The 360.2 is coming out in 2007 and the Wii^2 is coming out in 2008. The PS3 will dominate until 2016, and FINALLY the PS4 will come out and carry the torch from then on.

MustBeNice @ Mar 1st 2007 7:19AM

I dont know where #14 got that list from but its not the same one that Joystiq has for there link. Just some more of the same bashing on a console thats been out for 13 weeks. Sketchy "journalism" if you want to call bloggers, Journalist.

silkylove @ Mar 1st 2007 7:23AM

@ss

I still play my N64, Dreamcast regularly. Where else can I play the original Soul Calibur(best version) or Goldeneye with friends? I'm not saying that the PS3 will last that long because I don't think it will, but don't assume that it's not possible.

Jeff @ Mar 1st 2007 7:51AM

"It's nice seeing the Sony fanboy @12 (smik) claiming the PS3 will be supported for 10 (ten) years.
Like anyone will be playing it by 2017? :))
Ten years, smik.
Like anyone today is playing their N64.
Or like anyone was playing their PSone in 2004."

Production of the PSone ended in 2006. So yeah, I'd say enough people were buying them and playing them 11 years after launch to justify producing them that long.

The PS2 is on its way there too. It was launched in March of 2000 and is now a week away from being 7 years old, and it's still going strong - the #1 selling console in the United States last year and with the #1 home console game in Japan right now. It's going to continue to be a low-cost alternative for quite some time - popular consoles don't just drop off the face of the earth in the span of a year. Look up the history of the Famicom for proof of that.

I think it's *you* that needs to come back to reality. A 10 year lifespan is hardly an unrealistic goal.

idioteraser @ Mar 1st 2007 8:21AM

Wii sports is not sold with the Japanese wii console.

It is sold seperately. Brilliant move on Nintendo's part. They knew the Japanese either wouldn't care about a sports game pack meant to be tech demos or they would buy it in such numbers it was pratically a pack in.

I suspect the later since they would have to produce a million wii sports Japanese game discs to keep the sales of 100,000 a week. It takes time to make a second run and put it out even if the factories are in the same country.

Wii sports in Japan isn't budget priced either it costs as much as Wii play does if I recall correctly.

Jake @ Mar 1st 2007 8:04AM

MustBeNice,

lol at you being an idiot and proving it to everyone. PS3 is not at number 25 on the list Joystiq has. You are simply dumb and can't read. No sketchy journalism, no consipiracy, just self ownage by you.

And give it up with trying to compare the PS3 with last year's 360. Sony doesn't get a handicap. I guarantee a year ago you were convinced the PS3 would be blowing the 360 away out of the gate, not barely keeping up with a year old launch. Geo Wars and Flow are not killer apps, either.

Chris @ Mar 1st 2007 8:28AM

@ moosey

I might be wrong, but I don't think that Wii Sports came with the console in Japan.

Striderhayasa @ Mar 1st 2007 8:05AM

@ rubang b

Awesome post, you get cool points
------------------------------------

Nintendo dominating Japan is a sign of the times. I would have never thought Nintendo could have pulled it off with the hardware and games that are responsible for the results but I did think a change was needed from the constant "me-too" games we were getting.

As far as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd goes...I'm not surprised. Monster Hunter Freedom is one of the best games ever made...period. It's one of the reasons I have a PSP (two actually after buying a used one to hold me until I repair the nub on my original) and I've logged in over 400 hours and still playing. It's an awesome title and when the sequel arrives...

I

Will

Have iT

If Capcom were to announce a Monster Hunter exclusive to PS3, that would be major and would stop me from buying a 360 for another year or so.
------------------------------------------------
@ss
I'm still playing SNES and NES games if you want to count the VC. I just stopped playing DC and Saturn recently because I didn't have the time to squeeze them in. These older consoles still have games that you would be hard pressed to replace even in this era. Radiant Silvergun on Saturn is flatout brilliant and the ONLY game that comes close to it is Ikaruga. Soul Caliber on Dreamcast is arguably still the best in the series, Zelda LttP is still one of the best action RPGs ever made bar none, Contra III: The Alien Wars is one of the best Contras ever made, bar none...Mario 64, Super Mario III, Gunstar Heros, 1080 snowboarding... it goes on and on.

There's a reason why many of these games are imitated but never duplicated and constantly sought after by many knowledgable gamers.

Petey @ Mar 1st 2007 8:11AM

Props to Capcom for these sales, the marketing is not mentioned but this game was highly advertised in Japan, it's what you get when you make a good game, advertise it to death, and sell it on a device that has weak library... a bottle of the sourest water is gold in the middle of the desert... I assume this success is the exception that confirms the DS domination rule ;P

Jack of No Trades @ Mar 1st 2007 8:28AM

Glad to to See Sony in the #1 spot.

snapper @ Mar 1st 2007 12:22PM

The explanation is simple: the PSP has so few good games that ANY good one will be a runaway success. Behold the top spot.

PSP and PS3 both have potential. Keep waiting.

sheppy @ Mar 1st 2007 8:46AM

*sigh*

Sony has developed a reputation of supporting their consoles and this is seen as a bad thing? Hell, did you know the original Playstation actually received a copy of Madden 2005?

Now, we are all told how the casual gamers decide which way the battle goes (thus why Nintendo targets them so heavily) but the casual gamers buy consoles on the cheap. If they were not buying PS2s, they would be buying DSs or Gamecubes or Xboxs. But here's the dealio. Of the four mentioned, only DS and PS2 actually have a future. Games are still being announced on PS2 (see the recently released Princess Crown sequel video dropped yesterday) and what that means is while Nintendo and Microsoft are trying to convince cheap gamers to shell out $200+, here's Sony, and PS2, at $130. If you cannot find cheap games for PS2 you just aren't looking. And the point of the matter is, if PS2 wasn't there to sell, the casual gamers would NOT be buying a PS3 at $500+. So Sony continuing to support an old console not only increases brand loyalty (which according to many surveys, Sony has the highest) but once they finally do upgrade, their library being valid still is a major factor in a casual gamers purchase.

Sony continuing support for PS2 is merely strengthening their foundation, not weakening it.

smik @ Mar 1st 2007 9:40AM

Striderhayasa
"I'm still playing SNES and NES games if you want to count the VC."
That strikes a chord. A bit off topic but, as far as old being netter than new,
Best fighter: Soul caliber
Best racer: F-zero G / Roadrash
Best RPG: FF7 / Chrono cross
Best western RPG: Fallout
Best adventure game: Grim fandango / Monkey island
Best stealth: Thief 2
Best horror: Eternal darkness / Silent Hill 2
Best RTS: Starcraft

Your favorites may differ, but you still get the idea: except for graphics heavy FPS, the great titles of yesteryears can be BETTER than the ones you get now. And even for FPS, Goldeneye / Perfect dark / HL1 were all out in the last century and up to the best we have new.

F1ghter @ Mar 1st 2007 9:06AM

I agree with sheppy. Sony's continued support of the PS2 is really a smart business move (wow, I said 'smart' and 'Sony' in one sentence...). The PS2 is actually starting to make money now (on hardware) because the costs of producing it have fallen. It is pretty much a safety net for Sony, which is badly needed since they're losing so much money on every PS3 sold. PS2 is also a cash cow, and can be depended on to sell tons of games.

I've been considering purchasing a PS2 for quite some time now, though being a poor gamer it would only hamper my eventual purchase of a Wii. The PS2 has tons of solid games that I'd love to play, and is a great value right now.

To anyone saying negative things about Sony based on PS2's continued success, don't forget that Nintendo is still supporting the GBA quite strongly, even though the DS is a newer and higher-quality system. To anyone saying that Sony is the *only* company supporting an older system, you're wrong. Nintendo is still releasing new games for the 'Cube (albeit not many). The difference is that while PS2 is an insanely popular system, GC had a pretty small user-base. You can't expect games to sell better on a system that was never popular after its successor is out.

sheppy @ Mar 1st 2007 9:12AM

"Nintendo is still releasing new games for the 'Cube (albeit not many). The difference is that while PS2 is an insanely popular system, GC had a pretty small user-base. You can't expect games to sell better on a system that was never popular after its successor is out."

Umm, no they're not. The last two Gamecube games from Nintendo have officially been transplanted. Super Paper Mario and DK Bongo Blast are now Wii games. Leaving Gamecube in the tender hands Radio Allergy (NICHE), Backyard Sports (NICHE), and... well, hell. That's all I see on release lists.

Jake @ Mar 1st 2007 9:15AM

People way over-analyze this "keeping the PS2 alive" thing. The PS2 is making mad money, so they are keeping it around. That is it. End of story. If it wasn't making much money like the xbox and GC at the end of their cycles, it would be pretty much abandoned as well.

smik @ Mar 1st 2007 9:19AM

There is a reason why the difference in console life is not mentioned by the xbots (like the "massive damage" that the 360 takes with it huge failure rate) because the parallel is obvious. A Toyota is less likely to break down and runs for a longer time (just like the PS3). Despite heavy discounts on GM vehicles, which sells more?

And for all the xbots with the usual misinformation:
A console is dead when good, fresh titles stop coming out for it
PS1: launched mid-nineties, supported till 2003 or so.
PS2: launched 2000, 7 years now and you still have GoW2 / FF12 / mercenaries 2 / good RPGs / most stock sports titles
PS3: Sony stating again and again that they plan to support it for long – if not 10 years at least 8. Helped by the fact that they are “complete” in terms of next gen disc player (BR) as well as hard disc (60GB and far easier to upgrade)

Versus:
XBOX: launched 2001 dead 2005
GC: launched 2001 dead even before that
Wii / 360: NO repeat NO public support for a long life, and MS announcing 361 with 120GB less than 2 years in its life. What are the chances of a HD enabled “PS3-level” 360 by end -2008? By that time, very likely HD will be standard, and part of the new XBOX (making 360 incompatible and obsolete)

MustBeNice @ Mar 1st 2007 9:50AM

Jake,
It's not that I cant read its because "Joystiq" changed the link to the correct one. So looks like I got them them to change it, = Win for ME! And you now have Egg on your face, Loss for YOU! Of course joystiq wont admit they posted bad info but if you were on earlier when they posted the story you would have seen the the same page I did. Just like the post on #15 says.

Another loss for Jake.

Kevout @ Mar 1st 2007 9:54AM

smik I seem to recall a pretty big GameCube title being released last December,, certainly the console was not killed before 2005 as you suggest.

mushiking @ Mar 1st 2007 10:22AM

everybody's missing the big success story here: Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni sold 80,000 coopies. that is absolutely incredible for a doujin game.

Vidikron @ Mar 1st 2007 10:24AM

@smik
[Wii / 360: NO repeat NO public support for a long life, and MS announcing 361 with 120GB less than 2 years in its life. What are the chances of a HD enabled “PS3-level” 360 by end -2008? By that time, very likely HD will be standard, and part of the new XBOX (making 360 incompatible and obsolete)]

You were doing OK until you got here and then you went off the deep end. You are simply making predictions here. You have no idea how long either of these systems will be supported. Plus, if MS does release a newer revision of the 360 with an 120 GB HDD the current models will NOT be incompatible or obsolete. The 120 GB HDD would also likely be available as an accessory for the current models anyway. The only thing the current models won't have that the new version (if it does appear) will likely have is HDMI output... which won't make anything incompatible or obsolete... it's just a heavy dose of DRM.

smik @ Mar 1st 2007 10:47AM

"You have no idea how long either of these systems will be supported."
But we can guess. based on 1. what happened in the previous generation and 2. The COMPLETE lack of statements from MS / Nint regarding console life, unlike Sony.
"If MS does release a newer revision of the 360 with an 120 GB HDD the current models will NOT be incompatible or obsolete. "
Right. But thats the first major revision in 1.5 years and an indicator of things to come. My bet is the next revision will include HD as well - with DVDs filling up already - and then the 360 WILL be obselete because it cant play the new disc.

Vidikron @ Mar 1st 2007 10:57AM

@39

You're still just guessing. And, no, they will never makes games for the HD-DVD. They would never drop their first 10 million+ customers like that.

felipe @ Mar 1st 2007 11:06AM

smik that makes no sense.
its about the dominant system, not about sony.
when nes and snes sold more, nintendo didnt stop suporting it...
(you can look at the last game on the snes is Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 released in 2000, ten yers after super famicon launch in japan)
it will always be like that...
wichever system sells more this time it will have longer suport, even if its the "low powered" wii.

rarehero @ Mar 1st 2007 11:03AM

Better headline : PSP game sales crushes competing platforms in Japan!

Phil @ Mar 1st 2007 11:06AM

Smik, you said,
"PS3: Sony stating again and again that they plan to support it for long – if not 10 years at least 8. Helped by the fact that they are “complete” in terms of next gen disc player (BR) as well as hard disc (60GB and far easier to upgrade)"

How is an internal non-changeable hard drive easier to upgrade? What is it easier to upgrade than?

You make no sense.

Are you seriously trying to say it is easier than snapping off the 360's external hard drive?

Wow....just....WOW.

Vidikron @ Mar 1st 2007 11:11AM

@42

Actually, he's half-right about that point. The PS3 has a hatch on the side that allows the user to remove the HDD. The HDD is just a standard SATA laptop drive and can be replaced by the user anytime they want. The 360 also uses an laptop drive, but it is encased in that special housing and can't be upgrade by the user.

Aran @ Mar 1st 2007 11:18AM

"41. Better headline : PSP game sales crushes competing platforms in Japan!"

You know what is funny? DS outsold PSP even though PSP had the highest selling title last week.

Phil @ Mar 1st 2007 11:14AM

Vidikron,

That makes sense.

Thanks.

Easier to upgrade in terms of using a non-propriety (i.e., Non-Microsoft) hard drive.

Vidikron @ Mar 1st 2007 11:15AM

Oh, I forgot to say why I think he's only "half right". I really don't see how the HDD being easily user upgraded means longer support from Sony. Also, both are actually easily upgradeable, but with the 360 you have to wait till MS releases another official HDD while the HDD in the PS3 can be upgraded right now with a standard SATA laptop drive.